The mystery of the missing men can be answered in one sentence: The church has forgotten how to speak to men. While the church’s language has excluded women in its use of nouns and pronouns, it has excluded men in everything else. Its content, character, and construction say, “You don’t belong here.” Church Talk Makes Men Walk: • Corrects the myth that men are innately non-religious or non-spiritual; • Demonstrates how the culture increasingly reflected in church talk has filtered action-oriented people out of the church in favor of relationally orientated ones; • Demonstrates that the same factors that have driven most men from the church have also driven like-minded women away; • Provides research-based and theologically informed solutions to the problem of the missing action-oriented men and women. Chapters presenting well-documented social science research alternate with chapters presenting practical steps that answer the question, “So what should the church do?” Written in a conversational, humorous, and sometimes confessional style, Church Talk bridges the gap between the academy and the local church. It shows how language that is inclusive of both women and men, relational and action-oriented, can create a church that is once again gender-balanced and missional.

"Starting a new organization is risky business. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, most startups fail; half of them do not reach the five-year mark. Protestant churches are not immune to these trends. Most new churches are not established with denominational support-more than 50% are actually non-denominational-and, therefore, have many of the same vulnerabilities other infant organizations must overcome. Research on both congregants and congregations has shown that millions of Americans are leaving churches, half of all churches do not add any new members, and thousands of churches shutter their doors each year. These numbers suggest that American religion is not a growth industry. Yet, more than 1000 new churches are started in any given year. What are the forces that move people who might otherwise be satisfied working for churches to the more risky role of starting one as a religion entrepreneur? In Church Planters, sociologist Richard Pitt uses more than 125 in-depth interviews with church planters to understand their motivations. First, he uncovers themes in their sometimes miraculous, sometimes mundane answers to the question: "why take on these risks?" Then he examines how they approach three common entrepreneurial challenges-recognizing opportunities, marshalling resources, and framing success-in ways that reduce uncertainty and lead them to believe they will be successful. The book combines their evocative stories with insights from research on commercial and social entrepreneurship to explain how these religion entrepreneurs come to believe their organizational goals must be accomplished, that they are capable of being accomplished, and that they would accomplish them over time"--

Making use of the formerly secret archives of the Soviet government, interviews, and first-hand personal experiences, Nathaniel Davis describes how the Russian Orthodox Church hung on the brink of institutional extinction twice in the past sixty-five years. In 1939, only a few score widely scattered priests were still functioning openly. Ironically, Hitler's invasion and Stalin's reaction to it rescued the church -- and parishes reopened, new clergy and bishops were consecrated, a patriarch was elected, and seminaries and convents were reinstituted. However, after Stalin's death, Khrushchev resumed the onslaught against religion. Davis reveals that the erosion of church strength between 1948 and 1988 was greater than previously known and it was none too soon when the Soviet government changed policy in anticipation of the millennium of Russia's conversion to Christianity. More recently, the collapse of communism has created a mixture of dizzying opportunity and daunting trouble for Russian Orthodoxy. The newly revised and updated edition addresses the tumultuous events of recent years, including schisms in Ukraine, Estonia, and Moldova, and confrontations between church traditionalists, conservatives and reformers. The author also covers battles against Greek-Catholics, Roman Catholics, Protestant evangelists, and pagans in the south and east, the canonization of the last Czar, the church's financial crisis, and hard data on the slowing Russian orthodox recovery and growth. Institutional rebuilding and moral leadership now beckon between promise and possibility.

An indispensable, pocket-sized guide for incorporating labyrinths into your spiritual walk. For centuries, labyrinths have served as an essential meditation aid for Christians seeking to deepen their personal relationships with God. In this portable edition—perfect for mobile use at home or in church—Robert Elsner unravels the mysteries of the labyrinth, laying out a clear roadmap to a regular meditative practice. Following the liturgical calendar, each entry offers scripture to contemplate, prayers or mantras, a reflection, and questions to inspire further thought. Suggestions for alternate labyrinth forms ensure that these meditations can be practiced by the faithful of all physical abilities.

Discover the grit you need to persevere through life's hard times—with the resilience, honesty, and unshakeable joy of Jesus—with the popular pastor and host of Hillsong Channel’s Real with Daniel Fusco and Jesus Is Real Radio “You’re Gonna Make It will give you the kind of resilience that doesn’t just help you survive hardship, but helps you bounce back even stronger.”—Levi Lusko, lead pastor of Fresh Life Church and bestselling author Most of us are just trying to get through the next twenty-four hours . . . let alone being ready to deal with the stress, anxiety, and suffering that arise when least expected. But it’s possible to move from fear and worry to the positive anticipation life should hold. See, there’s a way to survive the maddening chaos of this world, but it is only found in Jesus. Pastor and author Daniel Fusco discovered this the hard way. He’s experienced his share of loss, including the death of loved ones. Through diving into the Bible and deep times of prayer and reflection, Daniel has found a new closeness to Jesus and uncovered a way of resilience, perseverance, and grit. Jesus never promised a life of ease. He promised to be with us through everything. God can create good from all things, leading us into His promise of abundant life. We can persevere in hope. Right here. Right now. You can persevere in God’s promise. Because you’re gonna make it.

This set includes The 5 Love Languages, The 5 Love Languages for Men, The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers, and The 5 Love Languages of Children. In The 5 Love Languages, #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman guides couples in identifying, understanding, and speaking their spouse’s primary love language—quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch. By learning the five love languages, you and your spouse will discover your unique love languages and learn practical steps in truly loving each other. Chapters are categorized by love language for easy reference, and each one ends with simple steps to express a specific language to your spouse and guide your marriage in the right direction. A newly designed love languages assessment will help you understand and strengthen your relationship. You can build a lasting, loving marriage together. In The 5 Love Languages for Men, Dr. Chapman guides husbands in identifying, understanding, and speaking their wife’s love language. Husbands are commanded to love their wives, but do you know what really makes your wife feel loved? Are you tired of missed cues and confusing signals? Everyone has a primary love language—quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch. Each chapter concludes with ten simple and practical ideas for expressing that love language to your wife. You’ll both enjoy taking the new love languages assessment and building a lasting, loving marriage. Includes a promotional code to gain exclusive online access to the new comprehensive love languages assessment. In The 5 Love Languages of Children, the author examines the different languages your children speak. Sometimes they wager for your attention, and other times they ignore you completely. Sometimes they are filled with gratitude and affection, and other times they seem totally indifferent. Attitude. Behavior. Development. Everything depends on the love relationship between you and your child. When children feel loved, they do their best. But how can you make sure your child feels loved? Since 1992, Dr. Gary Chapman's best-selling book The Five Love Languages has helped more than 300,000 couples develop stronger, more fulfilling relationships by teaching them to speak each others love language. Each child, too, expresses and receives love through one of five different communication styles. And your love language may be totally different from that of your child. While you are doing all you can to show your child love, he may be hearing it as something completely opposite.Discover your child's primary language and learn what you can do to effectively convey unconditional feelings of respect, affection, and commitment that will resonate in your child's emotions and behavior. In The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers, Dr. Gary Chapman explores the world in which teenagers live; explains the developmental changes; and give tools to help you identify and appropriately communicate in your teens love language. Socially, mentally, and spiritually teenagers face a variety of pressures and stresses each day. Despite these peer pressures; it is still parents who can influence teens the most. Are you equipped to love your teenager effectively? Get practical tips on loving your teen effectively and explore key issues in your teen’s life including anger and independence. Finally learn how to set boundaries that are enforced with discipline and consequences, and discover useful ways for the difficult task of loving when your teen fails. Get ready to discover how the principles of the five love languages can really work in the lives of your teens and family. Over 400,000 copies sold!

Can’t Stop Walking: Every Walk Must First Begin with a Step, Purpose, and Direction is a stunning and incisive nonfictional narrative which critiques some of the cultural, traditional, and societal issues which impacted and challenged the lives of many Liberians, especially the youth who suffered, bled, and died in their ignorance during the Liberian Civil War. This is a book uniquely written to bring the readers mentally closer to some information and experiences that may seem unrealistic but true, inconceivable or trivia but factual. The book reveals the tireless and unwavering efforts made by two friends bound together in one faith and purpose with a desire to change the mindset of youths who were actively involved in a civil war. It discusses how these two friends nonviolently challenged the culture, tradition, and societal elites of a small town by engaging the youth and elders through the “Trinity Plan” and helped transform a struggling church threatened by dogmas and traditional practices.