Ministers often differ from church members in their expectations of what constitutes proper pastoral ministry. Had the ministers been aware of these differences earlier, they might have avoided some of the problems which later occurred. I Wish Someone Had Told Me is terrific. It's just the sort of thing that students coming out of seminar need to have at their disposal. Even better, it would be great if they had that little book before they went to seminary. Tony Campolo, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA

Issues are something that we all have, and some more than others. But it is okay. It is absolutely okay to have issues, as long as you can put things in perspective. Sometimes our issues are something that gives you strength, or they can zap the very strength from you! I am here to tell you having issues can be a blessing, as long as you can match them up with the word of God, and stand on top of them instead of them standing on top of you! I am excited about my issues! That hasn't been the case, a long time ago, but now I see the blessings, and I rejoice and praise the Lord for my issues, and the freedom I have received. Every t time I think about how many times in the name of Jesus, I have been blessed, because of, and in spite of my issues! I found out we are going to be alright!

Compiled practical tips for new moms from a mom who suffered postpartum anxiety. Lessons learned, self help, and a reminder that we're just all trying our best.

Mothers' hilarious, outrageous, heartfelt admissions "Sometimes I lock myself in the bathroom." "I put an educational DVD on so I could have sex. It wasn't with my husband." Romi Lassally provides a judgment-free zone where women can reveal their mommy misdemeanors. From not feeling like cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night, to barking something completely inappropriate to the children, to wanting to be pawed by hands that aren't covered in jelly, the confessions pour in daily. Heartfelt and hilarious, naughty and nasty, frank and outrageous, the confessions culled together for this book represent the best-or the worst?-of those humbling hidden secrets of motherhood in all its glorious messiness as improvisation and triage. They dare to suggest that it's okay for moms to make mistakes, to have unkind thoughts, to publicly or privately embarrass themselves-and above all to be human.

Born into a preaching and musical family, Bishop Ralph "Donnie" Graves recognizes the paradoxical realities of the preacher who preaches healing, wholeness and fulfillment while his or her personal life reek with the foul odor of sickness and eventually death. The main objective of this book is to heighten the awareness of the reader, both preacher and congregant, to the serious struggles each minister encounters. My prayer is that God will give every reader a specific stone to slay the giants assigned to the formation of their ministry. Because of the significant role the preacher plays in the development of individuals' faith, it is imperative that we closely examine the core conflicts that can "sift the preacher as wheat". May each reader find the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit which speak and breathe life into dead dry bones until the broken pulpit is restored.

Provides a collection of letters to young black men offering advice and encouragement.

A toolkit for managers wanting to create inclusive cultures by addressing toxic behaviors that stagnate innovation, fracture work communities, and drive out top employees and as a lifeline for employees suffering through workplace abuse. Workplace Bullying: A Guide to Understanding and Overcoming is a lifeline for people who have been targets of workplace abuse and are desperately trying to make sense of the trauma. It is a resource for partners trying to help their loved ones heal. And, it is a toolkit for managers and industry leaders inspiring to create inclusive cultures by proactively addressing toxic behaviors that stagnate innovation, fracture work communities, and drive out top employees. To simplify a complex topic and make the book readable and engaging for a wide audience, the author uses eight elements of story to structure the reader's travel through the treacherous trials of workplace abuse: The Journey, The Characters (The Archetypes), The Plotlines, The Conflict, The Setting, The Fall, The Rise, and The Final Act.

A creative writing group unites and inspires girls of the first South African generation “born free.” Born into post-apartheid South Africa, the young women of the townships around Cape Town still face daunting challenges. Their families and communities have been ravaged by poverty, violence, sexual abuse, and AIDS. Yet, as Kimberly Burge discovered when she set up a writing group in the township of Gugulethu, the spirit of these girls outshines their circumstances. Girls such as irrepressible Annasuena, whose late mother was one of South Africa’s most celebrated singers; bubbly Sharon, already career-bound; and shy Ntombi, determined to finish high school and pursue further studies, find reassurance and courage in writing. Together they also find temporary escape from the travails of their lives, anxieties beyond boyfriends and futures: for some of them, worries that include HIV medication regimens, conflicts with indifferent guardians, struggles with depression. Driven by a desire to claim their own voices and define themselves, their writing in the group Amazw’Entombi, “Voices of the Girls,” provides a lodestar for what freedom might mean.

In an unflinching account Brooks poignantly captures the struggle of living with a child who appears to see the world through broken glass.

When Sharde M. Davis turned to social media during the summer of racial reckoning in 2020, she meant only to share how racism against Black people affects her personally. But her hashtag, BlackintheIvory, went viral, fostering a flood of Black scholars sharing similar stories. Soon the posts were being quoted during summer institutes and workshops on social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. And in fall 2020, faculty assigned the tweets as material for course curriculum. This curated collection of original personal narratives from Black scholars across the country seeks to continue the conversation that started with BlackintheIvory. Put together, the stories reveal how racism eats its way through higher education, how academia systemically ejects Black scholars in overt and covert ways, and how academic institutions—and their individual members—might make lasting change. While anti-Black racism in academia is a behemoth with many entry points to the conversation, this book marshals a diverse group of Black voices to bring to light what for too long has been hidden in the shadow of the ivory tower.