In her first year as a missionary to a small group of native women in the Ecuadorian jungle, Elisabeth Elliot faced physical and spiritual trials. In Made for the Journey, Elliot captures the mysteries and stark realities surrounding the colorful and primitive world in which she ministered. More than just a recounting of her early days, this is a beautifully crafted and deeply personal reflection on the important questions of life and a remarkable testimony to authentic Christian obedience to God.

Instead of asking the usual questions about Japanese aid ? Why is Japanese aid so different from that of other donors? Is Japanese aid effective? ? this collection takes it as axiomatic that Japanese aid actors are now working in a contentious environment affected by changing global norms of aid.

Japanese Aid and the Construction of Global Development analyses the changing political contexts, both at home and abroad, within which Japanese aid officials develop their programs. It tracks the tensions facing aid officials as they seek to negotiate between a long-term organizational bias in the Japanese government of promoting "growth-oriented" policies, and new demands for Japan to engage a broader array of "human security" concerns. In the third section, contributors provide case studies of new policies designed to cope with transnational human security issues, particularly involving environmental protection, gender equality, and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Finally, the book turns its lens back to Japan with chapters on how changing aid relationships alter Japan's ability to cope with transnational problems like refugee flows, sex trafficking, and terrorism.

This book will be of interest to students and scholars of the politics and culture of global development, Japanese politics and foreign policy, international relations and international law.

Lace up your running shoes and discover
how your daily run can enrich your spiritual life.

We run for exercise, relaxation and sometimes to indulge our competitive spirit. Now Warren A. Kay takes you on an exploration of an often-overlooked facet of the sport: running as an intentional spiritual practice.

Kay s approach is more than just blissing out on a run. He combines penetrating reflections on God, creation and the role of Spirit in our lives with practical, concise tips for starting your own spiritual running journal. He helps turn your ordinary runs into extraordinary opportunities for spiritual growth. Whether you ve logged thousands of miles or are new to the sport, you ll find the guidance and inspiration you need in this unique book.

Experience your daily runs as: Sanctuary running time is sacred time Prayer open yourself to conversation with God Meditation reach inside yourself to find spiritual comfort Sacrament experience the Divine in the physicality of running Pilgrimage a run is the journey and the destination

Passionate Bible teacher Kay Warren shows women that a joy-filled life is within their reach. This study guide is designed to follow the Choose Joy Women's Study DVD.

Life as a pastor's wife offers meaningful opportunities to play a significant part in God's work, to witness and participate in the beauty of changed lives. Yet it also carries the potential for deep wounds and great conflict that can drain the joy out of service. Is it worth it? Oh, yes, says Kay Warren, wife of Pastor Rick Warren and cofounder of Saddleback Church. It is more than worth the risk--it's a sacred privilege. Drawing on more than forty years in ministry in every possible size church, Kay provides encouraging principles and life lessons, along with intimate personal stories, that will give readers the confidence needed to lead and live well. Pastor's wives learn to - accept who they are - adapt to change - help their children survive and thrive - protect their private lives - deal with criticism - live with integrity - develop an eternal perspective Whether she is excited, struggling, or feeling broken and tired, every pastor's wife will find hope and encouragement for their calling in Kay's warm and wise words.

How do you turn your struggles into strengths? Beloved Bible teacher Sheila Walsh teaches readers how the daily spiritual practices of confession, meditation on God's Word, and prayer result in fresh freedom in Christ. In her long-awaited book, Sheila Walsh equips women with a practical method for connecting with God's strength in the midst of struggle. From daily frustrations that can feel like overwhelming obstacles to hard challenges that turn into rock-bottom crises, women will find the means to equip themselves for standing strong with God. Using the spiritual applications of confession, prayer, and meditation on Scripture to form a daily connection to Jesus, women will learn how to experience new joy as a child of God who is fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted. In In the Middle of the Mess, Walsh reveals the hardened defenses that kept her from allowing God into her deepest hurts and shares how entering into a safe place with God and practicing this daily connection with him have saved her from the devil's prowling attacks. Though we will never be completely "fixed" on earth, we are continually held by Jesus, whatever our circumstances. Sheila Walsh acts as our guardian in In the Middle of the Mess as she shows us we're not alone in our struggles, guides us through a courageous journey of self-discovery, and reminds us where to find hope, comfort, and strength in tough times.

Instead of asking the usual questions about Japanese aid - Why is Japanese aid so different from that of other donors? Is Japanese aid effective? - this collection takes it as axiomatic that Japanese aid actors are now working in a contentious environment affected by changing global norms of aid. Japanese Aid and the Construction of Global Development analyses the changing political contexts, both at home and abroad, within which Japanese aid officials develop their programs. It tracks the tensions facing aid officials as they seek to negotiate between a long-term organizational bias in the Japanese government of promoting "growth-oriented" policies, and new demands for Japan to engage a broader array of "human security" concerns. In the third section, contributors provide case studies of new policies designed to cope with transnational human security issues, particularly involving environmental protection, gender equality, and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Finally, the book turns its lens back to Japan with chapters on how changing aid relationships alter Japan's ability to cope with transnational problems like refugee flows, sex trafficking, and terrorism. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of the politics and culture of global development, Japanese politics and foreign policy, international relations and international law.

The Violence Within explores a range of contemporary conflicts in which culture has become an explicit issue: ethnic nationalism, religious fundamentalism, the militarization of civilian life, opposition movements in authoritarian states, political resistance to redistributive agrarian reforms, and racism in racial democracies. The case studies for

This 60-day prayer experience can change a woman's life forever. Sixty influential Christian women-such as author Liz Curtis Higgs; author Ruth Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham; singer and songwriter Babby Mason; and author Kay Warren, wife of Pastor Rick Warren- share how their lives have changed. This book can be used by itself as a daily devotional. However, if women read through Praying for Purpose for Women as a devotional while reading Pathway to Purpose for Women, their whole experience will be deepened and solidified.

For many women, knowing God s five purposes for their lives---worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism---leads to the natural questions, What am I doing in the midst of deadlines, diapers, to-do lists, laundry, and daily schedules? What is the connection between my life purposes and the daily existence I am living now? In these three companion volumes, Katie Brazelton helps women connect the dots between living amidst the details of their lives and living out God s purposes for their lives. She provides road-tested tools that have become the stepping stones for women along the pathway to living in purpose. Pathway to Purpose for Women: Connecting Your To-Do List, Your Passions, and God s Purposes for Your Life How does a woman live through---see through---the ordinary when she yearns for the significant? This how-to guide, filled with true personal stories, provides stepping stones through the challenges of not only discovering your universal purposes, but also discerning your unique purposes in this life. Praying for Purpose for Women: A Prayer Experience That Will Change Your Life Forever Do you want God to tell you more about his specific plan for your life? This 60-day prayer experience will guide you to ask God to mentor you in your life s purposes. Included are insights from modern-day role models, examples of biblical characters, specific questions to ask yourself and to seek God s answers, and an eye-opening analysis of your life patterns and purposes. Conversations on Purpose for Women: Ten Appointments That Will Change Your Life Forever Designed to be used with a Purpose Partner, this workbook is filled with conversation starters, Scripture verses, questions, and specific self-assessment exercises to help you uncover God s Dream for your life, moving you from an initial sneak preview to the most challenging steps you will want to take on your journey toward purpose-filled living. Consumers may purchase Pathway to Purpose or Praying for Purpose independently of the other. Conversations on Purpose should be sold as a companion book to Pathway to Purpose."

In Praise of When Life and Beliefs Collide. Sooner or later, life's difficulties bring every Christian woman to God's doorstep with questions too personal to ignore. "Why does God let me go through such painful circumstances?" "Why does he seem indifferent to my prayers?" We're tired of spiritual pie in the sky. We want authentic, God-as-he-really-is faith-the kind that holds us together when our world is falling apart and equips us to offer strength and hope to others. When Life and Beliefs Collide raises a long-overdue call for us to think seriously about what we believe about God. With passion, brilliance, and eloquence, Carolyn Custis James weaves stories of contemporary women with episodes from the life of Mary of Bethany to illustrate the practical benefits of knowing God deeply. Examining the misperceptions and abuses that discourage women from pursuing a deeper understanding of God, this insightful book demonstrates how practical and down to earth knowing God can be. "This outstanding book offers the best demonstration that everyone needs theology, the best expository account of Mary and Martha, and the best trajectory for women's ministry in modern North America that I have yet read." -James I. Packer "Thoughtful, scholarly, and motivating . . . should inspire and encourage women for years to come." -Joni Eareckson Tada "You will not think the same way, nor hopefully be the same, after reading this thought-provoking book." -Vonette Zachary Bright ". . . affirms women in their calling, chosen-ness, and gifting, and makes us know we are cherished and planned for." -Jill Briscoe

You have a plan for the rest of your life. God has a plan for the rest of your life. Are they the same? Say Yes to God--formerly titled Dangerous Surrender--will help you find the answer. You have expectations for how your life will play out, and you hope those plans will become realities. But what if God's plan for your life is far different from what you had in mind? Can you accept that? Will you surrender your goals for God's? Kay Warren had a plan. Together with her husband, Rick Warren, author of the megaseller The Purpose Driven Life, she planned that after her kids were grown, she'd travel the world, teaching and encouraging couples in ministry. It was a good plan. But it wasn't what God had in mind for her. In her own startling wake-up call, Kay discovered the shocking realities of the AIDS pandemic in Africa while reading a magazine. "I want to use you!" she heard God say. That began the struggle--first to avoid God's call and then to surrender herself to God. She cried out to God, "Why are you bothering me with this? There's nothing I can do about it. I'm just an ordinary person. What could one person do about such a gigantic problem?" But God had grabbed her attention and wouldn't let go. If you've ever struggled with knowing and doing God's will, this book is for you. With raw honesty, Kay goes straight to the heart of the matter: the bottom line is surrender. Will you say yes to God? Along the way she'll introduce you to others--people like you--who have said yes to God and have made a difference in the world. Using their skills, energy, faith, and a willingness to take risks, they became powerful instruments of change and tools in God's hands. Giving in to God isn't easy. It's not for cowards. It's the boldest, riskiest step you'll ever take. This dangerous surrender can bring both joy and pain, both heartache and ecstasy, but it enables you to know God in a far deeper way than ever before. "I had to make a conscious decision. Would I retreat to my comfortable life and to my settled plans? Or would I surrender to God's call and let my heart engage with the cause to which he called me, one that I was pretty sure would include buckets of pain and sorrow? I felt like I was standing on the edge of a giant precipice; I couldn't go back, and yet the way forward looked like stepping into a void." Kay Warren took that step, choosing to say yes to God. That decision transformed her life and reshaped her future. She invites you to do the same. You'll benefit most by discussing this book with others. A Readers' Group Discussion Guide is provided in the back of the book. Additional help can be found at www.kaywarren.com.

The Violence Within explores a range of contemporary conflicts in which culture has become an explicit issue: ethnic nationalism, religious fundamentalism, the militarization of civilian life, opposition movements in authoritarian states, political resistance to redistributive agrarian reforms, and racism in racial democracies. The case studies for this volume focus on movements and communities in Guatemala, Brazil, Israel/Palestine, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, the Philippines, and Northern Ireland.

In April 5, 2013, Kay Warren's life changed forever. That was the day she lost her son Matthew to suicide. Most of us will not face anything so devastating, but every single day we will face something that threatens our attempts to live with joy. Health problems, financial worries, marriage issues, loneliness, unresolved relational conflicts, anxiety about our nation or our world, stress over how our kids are turning out. In those moments, how do we choose joy over fear, apathy, or despair? In Choose Joy, Kay shares the path to experiencing soul-satisfying joy no matter what you're going through. She helps you send your spiritual roots deep into the soil of God's love so that you can develop convictions and certainties about him that will become the source of your strength when happiness isn't enough. "The only thing that would allow me to survive the loss of my son was what I knew and believed about God . . . and joy," says Kay. Let her lead you toward true and lasting joy in your life.

Dozens of influential leaders have heard the pleas of mothers and children in developing countries. Raising their voices to inspire a movement to increase healthy pregnancies and lower death rates, Melinda Gates, Kay Warren, Bill Frist, Kimberly Williams Paisley, Michael W. Smith and more speak out about why people of faith must get involved in The Mother and Child Project: Raising Our Voices for Health and Hope. Almost 287,000 women die each year because of pregnancy and birth complications. Many orphans are left behind in the wake of this tragedy, and without a mother, many of those children die as well. If only enough people knew. We have the resources to prevent this crisis, but we must take action. Fortunately, Hope Through Healing Hands, a nonprofit organization promoting awareness for healthy mothers and children worldwide, is already spreading the word. Not only can we save lives, reduce abortions, and decrease death rates, but also we can help build healthier, thriving families and bring stability and sustainability to families, communities and nations. The question is, will you join them?

A Purpose Driven Discipleship Resource Ideal for a Sunday-Night or midweek series, Weekday Bible Studies, Sunday school classes, and study groups of any size The complete communicator's resource for teaching Saddleback Church's blockbuster Foundations course in your church or group. Teaching others the essential truths of Christianity will challenge you, but nothing can beat the rewards of seeing men and women gain a transforming, Biblical perspective on God, the world around them, and their own lives and relationships. Foundations Teacher's Guide, Volume 1 greatly simplifies your job with its easy-to-follow format. Everything you need to teach the introductory session and lessons 1--10 of the 24-session Foundations curriculum is clearly and methodically laid out for you, with tools, tips, and options to help you meet the unique needs of your group. * Teaching notes---Extensive notes guide you through what you will say and include illustrations and applications of each doctrine under discussion. * Highlight sections---Four kinds of sidebars help your group connect with God's truths through key words, thought-provoking insights, personal implications, and personal applications. * Teaching tips---Proven tips help you strengthen your skills as a communicator. * Discussion questions---Questions at the end of each study can also be interspersed throughout the lesson. * Split-session plan---Each lesson has an optional cutoff point that allows you to break it into two sessions. Subdivide a single lesson, several lessons, or break the entire program into 46 lessons at your discretion. * Appendices---Additional, supporting material for some studies may be found at the end of those studies. * Memory cards---Reproducible cards contain a key theme and verse for each of the 11 doctrines covered. This teacher's guide also includes icons to guide your use of the PowerPoint Foundations will take your group for thought-provoking, life-changing explorations of 11 core Christian truths: 1. The Bible 2. God 3. Jesus 4. The Holy Spirit 5. Creation 6. Salvation 7. Sanctification 8. Good and Evil 9. The Afterlife 10. The Church 11. The Second Coming From Saddleback Church This is a proven, tested curriculum that has helped change thousands of lives For the past ten years, Foundations has been used as the doctrinal course at Saddleback Church, one of America's largest and best-known churches. Thousands of Saddleback members have benefited from this life-transforming experience. This course is explained in detail in Rick Warren's groundbreaking book, 'The Purpose Driven Church'. Currently, Purpose Driven churches all around the world are using Foundations to raise up an army of mature believers equipped for ministry in the church and prepared for mission work in the world. Foundations kit includes: * 2 Teacher's Guides (volumes 1 and 2) * 1 Participant's Guide * 1 CD-ROM with PowerPoint notes, programming resources, and additional handouts All materials also sold separately

FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE THE USA. A rare book by an uncommon woman, Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren, dares you to go deeper with God and his purposes on earth. Destined to be a classic, it will shake, challenge, and stretch you to become more than you?ve ever imagined. Your world is waiting.

Tomando las ensenanzas centrales del libro 'Una Vida con proposito' del Dr. Rick Warren, los autores conformaron este curriculo de discipulado cristiano que consiste en 24 sesiones de estudio teologico y biblico sistematico. Cada tema incluye preguntas y reactivos para discusiones. Es un programa de discipulado probado y refinado durante diez anos con mas de 3,000 miembros de la iglesia Saddleback en California. El libro para el lider contiene tambien sugerencias para la ensenanza eficaz de este programa. hojas para distribuir y material promocional para aplicar el programa en las iglesias"