How safe is your marriage? The answer may surprise you. The biggest threat to any marriage isn’t infidelity or miscommunication. The greatest enemy is ordinary. Ordinary marriages lose hope. Ordinary marriages lack vision. Ordinary marriages give in to compromise. Ordinary is the belief that this is as good as it will ever get. And when we begin to settle for ordinary, it’s easy to move from “I do” to “I’m done.” Justin and Trisha Davis know just how dangerous ordinary can be. In this beautifully written book, Justin and Trisha take us inside the slow fade that occurred in their own marriage—each telling the story from their own perspective. Together, they reveal the mistakes they made, the work they avoided, the thoughts and feelings that led to an affair and near divorce, and finally, the heart-change that had to occur in both of them before they could experience the hope, healing, and restoration of a truly extraordinary marriage.
Taking an intricate look at vitality and health in congregations based on information gathered from the 2001 U.S. Congregational Life Survey, the authors conclude that congregations have ten strengths, and that by building upon these strengths, congregations can transform their futures.
Reflecting on the work of one of the field's most influential scholars, the twenty essays in this book explore the evolution and application of Holocaust historiography, identify key insights into genocidal settings and point to gaps in our knowledge of humanity's most haunting problem. Why do they kill? The publication in 1992 of Christopher R. Browning's Ordinary Men raised crucial, previously unasked questions about the Holocaust: what made the members of a German police battalion - middle-aged family men of working- and lower-class background - become mass murderers of Jewish children, women, and men? How does motivation tie in with other factors that prompt participation in the final solution? And what can survivor accounts convey about genocide perpetration? Reflecting on the work of one of the field's most influential scholars, the twenty essays in this book explore the evolution and application of Holocaust historiography, identify key insights into genocidal settings and point to gaps in our knowledge of humanity's most haunting problem.
Can you outrun your past? Angel Donovan can't. The moment she crosses the town limits of Ordinary, Montana, she feels the weight of who she used to be looming. But there's one person who sees beyond her former wild-child self—Timm Franck. Too bad he's also the one person she's wary of…with good reason. Thanks to his journalistic skills, the private details of her scandalous upbringing are a matter of public record. Despite her efforts, avoiding Timm is an impossible task. The man has made it his business to stay close. To make amends? Or to give them a shot at a relationship they never had? Whatever his motivation, Angel can honestly say this is the last place she expected to find something—someone— so extraordinary.
Although you may see yourself as merely one among millions of Christian women, God has great plans for you to leave an eternal impression on others. He has created and called you to spiritually influence those around you—your children, friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. This practical guide will help you grow in the six fundamentals of spiritual leadership and encourage you on your own journey from ordinary woman to spiritual leader. “I not only recommend this book, I know I will be using it as I minister to women.” —Dr. Beverly Hislop, author of Shepherding a Woman’s Heart and Shepherding Women in Pain “Kay’s own experience and the stories of women that are included illustrate how powerful these truths are and how crucial they are for women who truly desire to serve God in an extraordinary way.” —Susie Hawkins, author of From One Ministry Wife to Another
Over the Past few decades mainline Protestant congregations have not easily embraced the notion of spirituality. As much as any aspect of church life, spirituality has been misunderstood, misused, and resisted by both clergy and laity. Yet times are changing. Today many people feel a deep spiritual hunger and are out looking for fulfillment in a wide variety of settings. In this new context, mainline congregations need to awaken to the presence of the Spirit in their midst and equip leaders to nurture both the personal and corporate spirituality of their congregations. Beyond the Ordinary is explicitly written to help church leaders who have had no formal training in spiritual formation. Drawing from years of experience teaching Christian spirituality, Ben Campbell Johnson and Andrew Dreitcer explore the spiritual dimensions of leadership, looking in depth at the meaning of spirituality as it relates to the tasks of ministry. This friendly, inspiring book will enable readers to erase the negative stereotypes of spirituality and develop vital models and practices for the church today. The book introduces a faithful understanding and practice of the spiritual life to those who have not yet dipped into the well that is Christian spirituality. For those who have already tasted this water and still thirst, it offers a way to dip even more deeply. Chapters discuss the issues surrounding a meaningful spirituality for our changing times, the importance of holding prayer and mission in tension, and the crucial role of Scripture in the formation of our lives. The authors also underscore the importance of vision, myth, and discernment in the spiritual life of the church. And they discuss the power of spiritual practices like discernment and visioning for enhancing the spirituality of congregations and helping them become agents of social transformation. Intended for personal and group use by pastors, elders, other church leaders, and those preparing for service in the church, the book includes questions for reflection and discussion as well as journaling exercises to encourage learning and growth.
This volume challenges the idea of wage employment as the global norm, comparing lived experiences of ‘ordinary work’ across conceptual and geographical boundaries and opening up new possibilities for how work, income, identity and care might be woven together differently.
“What a gripping story of a modern-day Nehemiah dramatically called to rebuild the broken people of Orlando, my hometown. . . . If you want to be inspired to do something beyond ordinary, this is the book for you!” —Pat Morley Author, Founder of Man in the Mirror “Pastor Scott George is somewhat of a hero in our community—a man who acted out of faith and loved out of compassion. This book will not only inspire you, it will make you want to help someone . . . even accomplish your own God-given dreams.” —Dr. Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor Northland, A Church Distributed “Scott’s vision has motivated many people in our community to help thousands of families obtain a better quality of life. I admire and appreciate his vision and insight.” —Mayor Buddy Dyer City of Orlando “Living Beyond Ordinary is the inspirational account of how an ordinary life, fueled by an extraordinary vision, can help to change a community one life at a time.” —Congressman Daniel Webster When you were young, did you dream of being ordinary—of living an average life? Of course not. You didn’t settle for ordinary or average then . . . refuse to do so now. You Were Born to Be Extraordinary In Living Beyond Ordinary: Discovering Authentic Significance and Purpose, leadership authority Scott George unpacks in inspiring detail the principles and practices of those who live beyond ordinary lives. Energized by a compelling combination of the enthralling story and vision behind Orlando’s Community Food and Outreach Center (CFOC), and heartwarming, inspiring, real-life accounts of those given a hand up through the center, these pages will embolden and equip you to live out your own dream. In Living Beyond Ordinary, discover the key habits, words, thoughts, attitudes, and actions of those who refuse to live ordinary lives, choosing instead to achieve a beyond ordinary destiny and leave behind a beyond ordinary legacy. Living Beyond Ordinary: Discovering Authentic Significance and Purpose will get you started on your journey to living a beyond ordinary life. [email protected][email protected] www.livingbeyondordinary.org www.communityfoodoutreach.org Twitter: @RevJScottGeorge Facebook: J scott george Video: http://www.jscottgeorge.com
Make the most of your reading instruction through innovative approaches that will change the way you work with learners in their efforts to build comprehension skills. Developed in conjunction with the Dr. Timothy Rasinski, renowned fluency expert, this book provides background information, an explanation of reading comprehension, important research, tested strategies, differentiation ideas, tips, and more. This resource is geared towards providing you with the important information you need to help you get started with practical strategies you'll want to implement immediately. You'll feel empowered with a new confidence to improve reading instruction in all content areas, including difficult content. You'll learn what proficient readers do, how to capture student interest, and how to identify difficulties in reading comprehension. Throughout the book you'll find several tips along the way to aid you in your quest to help learners become lifelong readers. This resource supports the Common Core State Standards. 144pp.
