Your life's calling is too important to let toxic people take it away. In When to Walk Away, Gary Thomas--bestselling author of Sacred Marriage--draws from biblical and modern stories to equip you with practical insights to handle toxic people in your life and live true to your God-given purpose. As Christians, we often feel the guilt and responsibility of meeting the needs of unhealthy people in our lives. Whether a sibling, parent, spouse, coworker, or friend, toxic people frequently seek to frustrate our life's calling. While you're seeking first God's kingdom, they're seeking first to distract your focus and delay your work. Instead of attempting the impossible task of mollifying toxic people, it's time we dedicate our energy to the only worthwhile effort: completing the work God has given us by investing in reliable people. It's only when we learn to say no to bad patterns that we can say yes to the good work God has planned for us. Bestselling author of Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas looks at biblical examples from the lives of Jesus, Paul, and Nehemiah. Drawing from years serving as a pastor, Thomas shares modern stories and practical examples for dealing with the toxic people in our lives. Each chapter includes insightful takeaways that you can apply right away. You'll discover how to: Learn the difference between difficult people and toxic people Find refuge in God when you feel under attack Discern when to walk away from a toxic situation Keep a tender heart even in unhealthy relationships Grow your inner strength and invest in reliable people We can't let others steal our joy or our mission. It's time to strengthen our defense, learn to set healthy boundaries, and focus on our God-given purpose. It's time to know When to Walk Away.

In this autobiography by Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade," you have the opportunity to read the behind-the-scenes report of one of this century's most surprising and public confessions of faith.

Sacred Pathways reveals nine distinct spiritual temperaments--and their strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies--to help you improve your spiritual life and deepen your personal walk with God. It's time to strip away the frustration of a one-size-fits-all spirituality and discover a path of worship that frees you to be you. Experienced spiritual directors, pastors, and church leaders recognize that all of us engage with God differently, and it's about time we do too. In this updated and expanded edition of Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas details nine spiritual temperaments and--like the Enneagram and other tools do with personality--encourages you to investigate the ways you most naturally express yourself in your relationship with God. He encourages you to dig into the traits, strengths, and pitfalls in your devotional approach so you can eliminate the barriers that keep you locked into rigid methods of worship and praise. Plus, as you begin to identify and understand your own temperament, you'll soon learn about the temperaments that aren't necessarily "you" but that may help you understand the spiritual tendencies of friends, family, and others around you. Whatever temperament or blend of temperaments best describes you, rest assured it's not by accident. It's by the design of a Creator who knew what he was doing when he made you according to his own unique intentions. If your spiritual walk is not what you'd like it to be, you can change that, starting here. Sacred Pathways will show you the route you were made to travel, marked by growth and filled with the riches of a close walk with God. A Sacred Pathways video Bible study is also available for group or individual use, sold separately.

No one has said life is easy-but for some, life seems to be so much harder than it is for others. If you are one whose life is difficult, it can seem as though it will never get better.

In his memoir, "From Crack to Gary: My Journey to Our Savior, Jesus Christ," author Gary Thomas shows that does not have to be the case. Thomas shares his personal story of rising from a difficult childhood to become one of God's beloved. Despite the troubles that Thomas faced, God had his hand in his life and saved him from several dangerous situations. God covered him with his mercy and grace, and he can do the same for you..

"From Crack to Gary: My Journey to Our Savior, Jesus Christ" also teaches and demonstrates how anyone can be delivered from worldly sins and live their life for Jesus Christ. God can transform your mind to be more like Jesus Christ, so you will know about his loving arms that surround us every minute of every day.

The nature of classroom practice is undergoing change as more and more adults are being brought into classrooms in response to such trends as parental involvement and the integration of children with special educational needs. The parents, teachers, ancillary staff and support workers comprising these new groups probably fail to recognize themselves as teams, but nonetheless they are characterized by the same stresses which mark teamwork in any other setting. "Effective Classroom Teamwork" is a guide to working together as an effective team, designed to show that the new teams can function with great success if team members recognize that they are part of a team, and employ strategies to minimize chances of failure. Gary Thomas identifies key areas of concern, including poor communication, status barriers and inadequate role definition, and offers guidelines for dealing with these stresses and tensions in teamwork. This book should be of interest to undergraduates and academics, those involved in classroom management, and heads and teachers in schools.

Discover new ways of connecting with God by understanding how he uniquely created you to worship him. The Sacred Pathways video study will help you learn: How you naturally express yourself in your relationship with God How to develop new ways of drawing near to him Key biblical figures who share your spiritual temperament How to understand others who connect with the Creator differently As believers in Christ, many of us today fall into the trap of thinking we have to approach God in a certain way. But our Creator made us all unique, and he designed us to connect with him in our own ways. For some, this might look like quiet contemplation. Others express praise through caregiving or theological discussions. It's important to discover the particular pathway that will best help you to experience God's presence. Bestselling author and speaker Gary Thomas reveals nine distinct spiritual temperaments to give you insight into how you naturally worship and how your personal walk with God might look different from those around you. Unlike the Enneagram and other personality assessment tools, Sacred Pathways gives you tools to investigate how you naturally relate to God. You will discover the strengths and impulses in your devotional approach so that you can eliminate the barriers that keep you locked into scripted methods of worship and praise. There is one thing that each of us as Christians can do that nobody else can--give our personal love and affection to God. This Study Guide includes: Discussion questions, reflection questions, and a personal assessment test to discover your pathway Personal Bible study for between sessions A guide with best practices for leading groups Sessions include: The Journey of the Soul - Introduction to the Pathways Pathways of Wonder - the Naturalist, Sensate, and Traditionalist Pathways of Contemplation - the Intellectual, Ascetic, and Contemplative Pathways of Action - the Caregiver, Activist, and Enthusiast Tending the Garden of the Soul - How the Pathways Apply to Your Life Designed for use with the Sacred Pathways Video Study available on DVD or streaming video, sold separately.

Where are you? Life is uncertain. Skyscrapers crash and so do stock markets. Bodies get broken, and so do relationships. Our health declines and marriages fail. Ground Zero brings us to places where we see how little is in our control, and how God still gives people a second chance to bounce back in life.

Parenting is a school for spiritual formation, says author Gary Thomas, and our children are our teachers. The journey of caring for, rearing, training, and loving our children profoundly alters us forever...even when the journey is sometimes a rough one.Sacred Parenting is unlike any other parenting book on the market. This is not a "how-to" book that teaches readers the ways to discipline their kids or help them achieve their full potential. Instead of a discussion about how parents change their children, Sacred Parenting turns the tables and demonstrates how God uses children to change their parents.Stepping beyond the overly-tilled soil of method books, parents can learn a whole new side of parenting. They'll be encouraged by stories that tell how other parents handled the challenges and difficulties of being a parent - and how their children transformed their relationship with God.The lessons the author writes about are timeless. But in this edition, Thomas adds in some additional insights and stories that he's learned and lived over the past fifteen years of his own parenting. Gary has found that the lessons have remained much the same but there are new applications for the readers in this generation who are just now coming to his book.

Starting your research project can feel daunting, but this best-selling project guide has your back! Now in its fourth edition, the book provides easy to follow advice to navigate every step of your research project, from choosing your research question, deciding on your research design and methodology, collecting and analysing your data, and writing up your finished project. Presenting a clear and detailed roadmap to ensure you don't miss a step, the book includes: * Case studies and real-life examples from a range of disciplines so you can learn from other researchers who have been in your shoes * DIY activities so you can practise your skills and get to grips with key concepts * Practical advice on how to organise your writing, develop your flow and build strong arguments * Further guidance on assessing ethical risk, including examples of high, medium, and low risk projects Written in Gary's signature straightforward style, this book is an essential companion for anyone undertaking a research project in the applied social sciences.

Are you worn out from life's ought-to's and should-do's? It's so easy to give away our time to things un-appointed by God. We commit to something because it's a good cause or there's a great need. Or maybe because no one else will help out. The result? The days blur together and we find ourselves overworked and underjoyed, desperate for a faith awakening. In this practical and liberating book, Susie shares biblical ways to: * Learn how--and when--to say no without guilt or shame * Find a pace and perspective that matches God's best for you * Discern man-made obligations from God-given invitations Will you say yes to the One who will rejuvenate your soul? Includes Reflection Questions for Personal or Group Use. A DVD Study Companion Is Also Available Separately. "If your days feel more life-draining than life-giving, let Susie Larson show you how to reclaim the joyful, fruitful life God wants for you."--Mark Batterson, bestselling author and lead pastor of National Community Church "Susie really opened my eyes to look for God's best when deciding where I spend my time. He doesn't give up on us because we made mistakes. He has a design and purpose to fulfill, and the enemy would love nothing more than to take us out with exhaustion and wasted time."--Caroline Barnett, co-pastor of The Dream Center and author of Willing to Walk on Water "Saying yes to God is the most important decision you can make, but it shouldn't stop there. After beginning a relationship with Christ, we must constantly say yes to His influence, wisdom, and power in our lives. Your Sacred Yes will empower and equip you to say yes to a life of freedom, fulfillment, and significance. Say yes!"--Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv and author of From This Day Forward "Challenging us to carefully consider our sacred responsibilities, Susie Larson uses her trademark transparent stories to compel us to rest more and to make the difficult decisions that will prioritize our relationship with God. If you find yourself in the rat race of life, Your Sacred Yes will give you the courage to slow down and say yes to the right things."--Pastor Nate and Jodi Ruch, Emmanuel Christian Center "This is such a timely book for all of us. I am grateful that Susie said yes to writing these sacred truths. This book will strengthen and empower all of us to follow the voice of God with more boldness and clarity."--Brady Boyd, pastor of New Life Church and author of Addicted to Busy

In this six-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Sacred Marriage, writer and speaker Gary Thomas invites you to see how God can use marriage as a discipline and a motivation to reflect more of the character of Jesus. Your marriage is much more than a union between you and your spouse. It is a spiritual discipline ideally suited to help you know God more fully and intimately. Sacred Marriage shifts the focus from marital enrichment to spiritual enrichment in ways that can help you love your mate more. Whether it is delightful or difficult, your marriage can become a doorway to a closer walk with God. Everything about your marriage-from the history you and your spouse create, to the love you share, to the forgiveness you both offer and seek by turn-is filled with the capacity to help you grow in Christ's character. In addition to life-changing insights, you'll find a wealth of discussion questions in this Participant's Guide that will spark meaningful conversation in your group, between you and your spouse, or to simply ponder by yourself. You'll also find self-assessments, activities, and highlights all created to help you engage deeply and prayerfully with the content of this study. Sessions include: God's Purpose for Marriage: More Than We Imagine The Refining Power of Marriage The God-Centered Spouse Sacred History Sexual Saints Marriage: The Love Laboratory Designed for use with the Sacred Marriage Video Study (sold separately).

Life is often chaotic. And no matter how hard you try to find space, to slow down, the chaos always seems to win. Tricia Rhodes's life is chaotic too. But in the midst of a time of household turmoil, Tricia learned to see God and coummunicate with him in whole new ways--not on a spiritual retreat, but right in the midst of the chaos of life. She offers us here a fresh view of connecting to God, one that focuses on quality time and frees us from the rigidity of a devotional life that may feel stifled, grow stagnant or bring about guilt when we can't keep up. These pages will help awaken you to the reality of God's presence in your life--just as it is--providing new ways to pray, to listen to God, to view others the way God sees them, to be guided by God. Ideas at the end of each chapter and suggestions for prayer experiments give practical suggestions for connecting with God and noticing his work throughout each day. God is not afraid of chaos. If a chaotic life has you running, let Tricia's words offered here help you run to God in the midst of it and discover the ways he can turn even chaos into something sacred.

The perfect gift for engaged, newlywed, or married couples! This two-in-one book and devotional from bestselling author Gary Thomas helps couples discover how marriage can become a doorway to a closer walk with God and each other. Marriage is much more than a union between you and your spouse. From the love you share to the forgiveness you both offer and seek in turn, it is a spiritual discipline ideally suited to help you know God more fully and intimately. Shifting the focus from marital enrichment to spiritual enrichment, Thomas offers practical tools and techniques to make your marriage happier by becoming holier husbands and wives. This special-edition two-in-one book and devotional includes: Sacred Marriage Starting with the discovery that the goal of marriage goes beyond personal happiness, writer and speaker Gary Thomas invites you to see how God can use your marriage as a discipline and a motivation to love him more and reflect more of the character of his Son. Devotions for a Sacred Marriage A companion to Sacred Marriage, this book of 52 devotions encourages you to build your marriage around God's priorities. From learning to live with a fellow sinner to the process of two becoming one to sharing our lives as brothers and sisters in Christ, Devotions for a Sacred Marriage challenges couples to embrace the profound and soul-stretching reality of Christian marriage.

Inclusion means educating students of all abilities in mainstream schools, it has become an important topic - politicians now stress their commitments to inclusion as proof of their commitment to wider social justice. The inclusive mood, which is about including everyone in society's institutions, has created a growing demand for schools to find effective ways of including and teaching all children - even those who at one time would have been sent to special schools. The book combines a theoretical examination of inclusion and its rationale with the story of a group of schools in which teachers, assistants and children have striven to make inclusion happen. It explores the arguments for inclusive schools; examines the international evidence about children's well-being and academic progress in inclusive schools; describes how the pioneers have developed their practice for inclusion; and presents the findings of an in-depth 18 month study of a group of schools which have striven to make inclusion happen.

Inclusion is a buzzword of the 1990s. Politicians now stress their commitment to inclusion and social justice - not competition. For schools, inclusion means accepting and educating all children, irrespective of their difficulties.
The new inclusive mood is about including everyone in society's institutions. It has created a growing demand for schools to find effective ways of including and teaching all children - even those who at one time would have been sent to special schools.
The book combines a theoretical examination of inclusion and its rationale with the story of a group of schools in which teachers, assistants and children have striven to make inclusion happen.
This new book
* explores the arguments for inclusive schools
* examines the international evidence about children's well-being and academic progress in inclusive schools
* describes how the pioneers have developed their practice for inclusion
* presents the findings of an in-depth 18 month study of a group of schools which have striven to make inclusion happen

If a person has extra time, nothing to do, and finds themself looking for ways to fill their empty days...this book is definitely not for them. No Is a Beautiful Word is designed and crafted for people whose plate is full, whose margin is thin, and whose life feels overloaded. They are looking for help, relief, and wisdom to navigate the countless options that life offers on a daily basis. This book is needed by people who: Go to bed with a "To Do" list that never seems to get totally done. Kindly say, "Yes" and secretly regret it five minutes later. Feel pain and live with guilt when they have to say, "No." Were taught that "No" is a dirty word. Believe that saying "No" is a sign of weakness. Feel trapped by unwise past commitments. Want to say "Yes" to what matters most in life but are too exhausted. Know that their life is out of balance and are seeking to fix it! It will be valuable for: Leaders who have a tough time making the hard decisions because they fear hurting someone's feelings. Executives who feel over extended and pressed to the edges of their capacity. Parents who feel overworked and under appreciated. Students who are trying to balance the intensity of school, work, and their relational world. Retired people who find themselves saying, with subtle humor but aching regret, "I am more busy now than I have ever been!" Single people who go to bed at night exhausted because the day left no margin and offered no oasis of peace. Married people who love their life but secretly dream about time to play, space to relax, and taking a nap. No Is a Beautiful Word is designed to be read briskly, chewed on thoroughly, and acted on practically. The chapters are brief by intention. They range from one paragraph (that's right, some chapters are only a few sentences long!) to four pages. The goal of this book is give people clear concepts, paint a picture of what it looks like to live out the idea, and then move on to the next thought. The vision is to help people learn to say "No" to the things that don't matter (or don't matter as much) so they can say "Yes" to the things that bring life, hope, peace, and lasting meaning.