This book makes the startling claim that the pulpit is the appropriate place to address suicide. In A Preacher’s Guide to Suicide Johnson chisels through the rusty prison bars of cultural pretense and the oppressive myths of suicide. Using history, the social and behavioral sciences, and biblical inquiry over the centuries of varied Christian voices, Johnson demonstrates that suicide is part of the very fabric of Christian identity. And to preach suicide awareness is to preach life into the very act of dying. While grappling with the contemporary understanding of neuroscience, psychopathology, societal values, and individualism, Johnson seeks to present suicide in a hopeful light as we all approach death in those daily moments of confession, forgiveness, and prayer. Johnson hopes to provoke further conversation within the Christian community about the richness of suicide within the Scriptures and seeks to be a source of inspiration for preachers.
This book makes the startling claim that the pulpit is the appropriate place to address suicide. In A Preacher's Guide to Suicide Johnson chisels through the rusty prison bars of cultural pretense and the oppressive myths of suicide. Using history, the social and behavioral sciences, and biblical inquiry over the centuries of varied Christian voices, Johnson demonstrates that suicide is part of the very fabric of Christian identity. And to preach suicide awareness is to preach life into the very act of dying. While grappling with the contemporary understanding of neuroscience, psychopathology, societal values, and individualism, Johnson seeks to present suicide in a hopeful light as we all approach death in those daily moments of confession, forgiveness, and prayer. Johnson hopes to provoke further conversation within the Christian community about the richness of suicide within the Scriptures and seeks to be a source of inspiration for preachers.
Twelve stories, fraught with an unapologetic voice of firsthand experience, that pry the lock off of the addiction, fanaticism, violence, and fear of characters whose lives are mired in the darkness of isolation and the horror and the hilarity of the mundane. This is the Deep South: the dark territory of brine, pine, gravel, and red clay, where pavement still fears to tread. Contains interior illustrations by Ryan Murray and Patrick Traylor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Schuler Benson writes like the spawn of Chuck Palahniuk and Barry Hannah. While approaching his subjects with empathy, humor, and a keen eye for detail, he creates a world of snake-charming preachers, meth heads, and spurned lovers. This collection will make you laugh, make you anxious, and keep you turning the pages. Read this damn book." -Kody Ford, The Idle Class Magazine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "A Breece D'J Pancake of the plains, Benson writes with a hell of a knack for dialect. His characters are dirty, flawed, and all-too familiar. There are no heroes here. Yet in these stories, Benson manages to lift his people to another plane; someplace where they might achieve a little redemption." -Eric Shonkwiler, author of Above All Men ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Schuler Benson has a playwright's ear for dialogue, a poet's eye for scene, and a comic's sense for when the sane is actually crazy, the crazy actually sane. The Poor Man's Guide to an Affordable, Painless Suicide announces Benson's place in the tradition of Wells Tower, Barry Hannah, and Mark Twain: here comes another great documentarian of the agonized and hilarious souls who inhabit Rural America." -Brian Ted Jones, Electric Literature ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find out more about Alternating Current Press at http://www.press.alternatingcurrentarts.com.
A collection of sermons in which preachers deal with the deaths of children and young adults, this volume includes the words of Craig Barnes, Karl Barth, David L. Bartlett, Ronald P. Byars, John Claypool, William Sloan Coffin, Stephen T. Davis, J. Howard Edington, Jonathan Edwards, Laura Mendenhall, and more. (Ministry and Pastoral Resources)
Discover this beautiful country with the most incisive and entertaining guidebook on the market. Whether you plan to hike through the wilds of Snowdonia, follow in Wordsworth's footsteps at Tintern Abbey or explore Welsh music and theatre in Swansea, The Rough Guide to Wales will show you the ideal places to sleep, eat, drink and shop along the way. Inside The Rough Guide to Wales - Independent, trusted reviews written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and insight, to help you get the most out of your visit, with options to suit every budget - Full-colour maps throughout - navigate the arcades of central Cardiff or the peaks of Brecon Beacons National Park without needing to get online. - Stunning, inspirational images - Itineraries - carefully planned routes to help you organize your trip. - Detailed regional coverage - whether off the beaten track or in more mainstream tourist destinations, this travel guide has in-depth practical advice for every step of the way. Areas covered include: Cardiff, Swansea and the southeast; the southwest; the Brecon Beacons and Powys; the Cambrian coast; the Dee Valley; Snowdonia and the Llyn; the north coast and Anglesey. Attractions include: Cardiff Bay; St David's Cathedral; Pembrokeshire National Park; Conwy Castle; Cadair Idris; Ffestiniog Railway; Hay Festival; the beaches of the Llyn and Gower peninsulas. - Basics - essential pre-departure practical information including getting there, local transport, accommodation, food and drink, the media, health, festivals and events, maps, sports and outdoor activities and LGBT Wales. - Background information - a Contexts chapter devoted to Welsh history, politics, natural history, music, film and books, plus a handy language section. Make the Most of Your Time on Earth with the Rough Guide to Wales.
Meyer offers level-headed advice for coping with death and its aftermath. Surviving Death includes chapters on "Pulling the Plug", "Hastening the Inevitable", and the issue of an afterlife. A useful resource for pastoral staff, counselors, and the grieving.
This practical travel guide to England features detailed factual travel tips and points-of-interest structured lists of all iconic must-see sights as well as some off-the-beaten-track treasures. Our itinerary suggestions and expert author picks of things to see and do will make it a perfect companion both, ahead of your trip and on the ground. This England guide book is packed full of details on how to get there and around, pre-departure information and top time-saving tips, including a visual list of things not to miss. Our colour-coded maps make England easier to navigate while you're there. This guide book to England has been fully updated post-COVID-19. The Rough Guide to ENGLAND covers: London, the Southeast, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Oxford, the Cotswolds, Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, East Anglia, West Midlands, Peak District, East Midlands, Northwest, Cumbria, Lake District, Yorkshire, Northeast. Inside this England travel guide you'll find: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER Experiences selected for every kind of trip to England, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in the North York Moors or Lake District to family activities in child-friendly places, like Devon and Cornwall or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like London or Manchester. PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS Essential pre-departure information including England entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more. TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES Includes carefully planned routes covering the best of England, which give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip. DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter of this England travel guide includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options. INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for shopping, eating, hiking and cycling.. HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS Rough Guides' rundown of Liverpool, Brighton, York, Durham and Oxford's best sights and top experiences helps to make the most of each trip to England, even in a short time. HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, this England guide book will help you find the best places, matching different needs. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter of this travel guide to England features fascinating insights into England, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary. FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Peak District and the spectacular Dartmoor wilderness. COLOUR-CODED MAPPING Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in Cambridge, Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol and many more locations in England, reduce the need to go online. USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.
The new Rough Guide to England is the definitive insider's guide to a country rich in history, heritage and culture. Now in full colour throughout, this fully updated guide has clear maps, detailed itineraries and regional highlights. Now available in PDF format. There's practical information and advice on visiting England's beautiful countryside and coastline, as well as the many diverse cities, towns and picture-postcard villages. Don't miss a thing with up-to-date reviews of the best places to stay, from boutique hotels to budget hostels, the most authentic pubs and new-on-the-scene restaurants, and the most exciting activities and experiences. Whether you're camping on a remote Cornish peninsula, hiking in the Peak District, being pampered in a spa town or browsing markets in London's East End, explore every corner of this superb country with easy-to-use maps and detailed sights information. Make the most of your time on EarthTM with The Rough Guide to England.