Looking at the act of giving as a way to bring greater happiness into the life of the giver as well as the receiver, this insightful exploration challenges contemporary concepts of service. Offering simple and practical techniques for open-minded volunteering, a wealth of quotes, narratives, and reflective pieces seek to motivate and inspire. Encouraging an attitude of selflessness with positive and timely action, this thought-provoking guide posits that serving is a gateway to higher consciousness. Comprised of brief, clear chapters, this perceptive meditation is easy to reference while attending the needs of others.

What are you giving up for Lent? What if instead of giving up chocolate or coffee, you give up apathy or indifference? If you're open to considering some habits to kick so that you can contribute to a more just and fair world, keep reading! It doesn't matter if you're Catholic, Lutheran, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Bahá'í, Agnostic, or Atheist...If you're interested in being the change you wish to see in the world, this book is for you.

In this book, Miguel Basáñez presents a provocative look at the impact of culture on global development. Drawing on data from governments, NGOs, the World Values Survey and more addressing over one hundred countries, he argues that values, as the "building blocks" of culture, are directly related to the speed with which social, cultural and economic development occurs. Basáñez utilizes quantitative survey data to delineate three cultural hyperclusters across the globe: cultures of honor, which prioritize political authority; cultures of achievement, which emphasize economic advancement; and cultures of joy, which focus on social interactions. According to Basáñez, these cultures evolved chronologically, mirroring the development of agrarian, industrial and service societies. He argues that a country's developmental path is profoundly influenced by its people's values and culture, as crystallized through its formal and informal governing institutions. Culture is passed down over generations through families, schools, the media, religious institutions, leadership, and the law. Although culture and values are in a permanent state of evolution, leaders and policymakers can also push cultural change in order to promote desirable goals such as economic growth, democratization, and equality. Over the course of the book, Basáñez introduces two new measures of development: the Objective Development Index (which blends rubrics such as health, education, income, gender equality, political rights and civil liberties, and economic inequality) and the Subjective Development Index (which uses responses to the World Values Survey to classify countries according to their values).

As Christians, we all want change in the world. But we don't just aim at change—we aim at faithfulness and out of faithfulness comes fruitfulness. Moving beyond theory, activist Ben Lowe renews our mission with key postures, practices and real-life examples of what it looks like to persevere in faithful activism and advocacy today.

A reminder from one of America's most trusted voices that after all else fails, Jesus is there. After two pressure-filled, life-changing years of professional exhaustion and personal turmoil, Anne Graham Lotz found herself with only one heart-cry, "Please, just give me Jesus." In this faith-inspiring book, she stares intently at the realities of life with her Savior. To those needing a fresh start, to those still searching for happiness, to those in need of forgiveness, to the suffering and the self-righteous alike, Jesus was, is, and will always be the answer.

Your gifts connect you to a world of giving Americans are generous with their pocketbooks, but trying to make a difference and actually making a difference are two different things. Where Am I Giving? by New York Times bestselling author Kelsey Timmerman takes you on a journey to meet people who will inspire you to live a purpose-filled, generous life and make the greatest impact you can through your career, time, consumer dollars, and donations. Starting in his hometown of Muncie, Indiana, and then traveling all over the world (Myanmar, Kenya, India, Nepal, and more), Kelsey explores not only different ways of giving—as a worker, consumer, volunteer, giver, local and global citizen—but also the benefits and effectiveness of these methods. He spends time with monks, students, a refugee, a Marine, a former Hollywood executive, Peace Corps Volunteers, and seasoned aid workers to explore how they give, as well as with the people on the receiving end of their giving. Along the way he struggles to be a more informed giver as he becomes a "voluntourist,” starts his own local non-profit, and searches for a balance between rationality and passion in how he gives. This book will help you: Reveal the amazing opportunities you have to make an impact using your own gifts—and it doesn't have to be money Understand the sociology, philosophy, anthropology, and neuroscience of giving See how giving can make you more connected and happier Examine types of giving, including microlending, volunteering, donating, ethical consumption, mission trips, voluntourism, child sponsorship, etc. Dive into a nuanced view of effectiveness of international aid and its intersection with development, politics, and culture Where Am I Giving? is a fast-paced narrative combining compelling stories collected over 15 years of travel to 90+ countries, mixed with practical advice on how to make giving a part of our everyday lives.

Examines recent developments in historical fiction, with particular attention to the way contemporary writers have portrayed Shakespearean England.