In situations involving confrontation, many Christians either explode and feel guilty or suppress their convictions and become depressed. Here, now, is a way to counteract these experiences--a how-to guide to assertiveness based on sound evangelical principles.

This instructive, useful book, which can be used as a model for addressing ministries, church systems, and other non-profit organizations in conflict, offers ways of constraining those who act as antagonists and ways of collaborating with opponents.

This practical handbook takes a totally fresh approach to the work of pastoral counselors by drawing on recent research and developments in the health and behavioral sciences. Thoroughly revised and updated, this edition incorporates new or expanded coverage of topics such as: - a new chapter on Pastoral Self-Care which offers advice on maintaining psychological health, avoiding crisis, and preventing personal and occupational burnout - the integration of counseling with other pastoral roles and functions - pastoral counseling ethics - how to help people build personal motivation for change -grief counseling and crisis intervention - post-traumatic stress, physical and sexual abuse, and personality disorders

Hypnosis is a controversial practice with many myths about its power and dangers. 'Hypnosis, Healing and the Christian' cuts through the confusion to present a balanced defense of the use of hypnosis by Christians, arguing that it is a powerful tool in bringing about psychological change. John Court avoids minimizing the dangers of this powerful phenomenon, as he discusses examples of clinical hypnosis by Christians who have found emotional and spiritual benefits from its use. Setting ethical concerns about the use of hypnosis firmly within a framework of the biblical material, he argues that hypnosis is a morally neutral technique which may be used for good or ill. Its use by pagan and other religions should not prevent its constructive and godly use by Christians. This stimulating book will be of interest not only to those involved in counseling and healing ministries but also to Christians interested in broader understanding of how our human minds work.

Insight and commentary on fifteen issues that affect a pastor's effectiveness, including making a sermon flow, escaping predictability, and using narrative effectively.

Nineteen million Americans suffer from depression each year It can strike anyone, and being a Christian does not exempt you. But help is here. Understanding the ABCs of emotional life-Affect, Behavior, and Cognition-can shed light on the causes of depression. In this revised and updated edition of Coping with Depression, the authors look carefully at the ABCs, showing how your thoughts affect the way you feel and describing how each dimension is linked with depression. They balance the spiritual dimension of approaching depression with the most recent scientific research and offer highly practical and proven strategies for coping. If you suffer from depression or know someone who does, you will find encouragement and help in this reassuring book. "Tan and Ortberg educate and edify. They build on state-of-the-science understanding, state-of-the-treatment tips from therapy, and state-of-the-spirit nurture of the whole person. The result: an educational and uplifting book to guide people out of depression."-Everett L. Worthington Jr., Ph.D., chair of psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University "Coping with Depression is a spiritually sensitive, scientifically informed, and highly practical resource for people struggling with depression and those who would seek to understand and help them."-Stanton L. Jones, Ph.D., provost, Wheaton College Siang-Yang Tan (Ph.D., McGill University) is a graduate professor of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary. He also serves as senior pastor of First Evangelical Church of Glendale. John Ortberg (M.Div., Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is a pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and author of If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat and Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them.

Describing the difficulties of balancing a career and family life, The Pastor’s Family: The Challenges of Family Life and Pastoral Responsibilities is a personal narrative that discusses the all-too-familiar practice of neglecting your family for your job. Pastors will learn the importance of balancing time and attention between their families and religious careers by exploring the problems caused by one pastor’s prolonged absence from home. Containing research and first-hand experiences, The Pastor’s Family calls for a change in ministry policies that will enable pastors to devote as much time to their families as they do to their congregations.Containing stories and anecdotes from the author, his wife, and his two children, this book offers suggestions on how to improve the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of a pastor’s family. The information and insight provided by The Pastor’s Family will also help pastors’wives realize that they are not alone in their demanding roles and will help church policymakers discover the need to improve relations between the congregation and the pastor’s family. With the hope that the universal problems of pastors’families will be revealed, the author shares with you methods that have helped bring him and his family closer together, including: understanding the expectations of the stereotypical “superpastor” and learning how to set boundaries between family life and career realizing that a pastor’s family is subject to the same problems and challenges other families face and helping your family deal with this pressure learning the various definitions of codependency and how this can attribute to the neglect of your family discussing the history of abuse of pastors’families through the Bible and famous religious figures recognizing the discrimination of a pastor’s wife and her sufferings, such as coping with her husband’s various psychological challenges and being expected to always help her husband with his career discovering how conflicts can provoke communication, release emotions, identify and clarify problems, and permit individualization understanding why people feel a loss of power or personal rejection when their requests are not grantedEmphasizing the practice of setting boundaries, The Pastor’s Family examines ways to promote assertiveness through self-talk and self-differentiation that will help you defeat codependent behavior. This will teach you that it is all right to say “no”-- that it is all right to do things for yourself. From The Pastor’s Family, you will learn how to correct the ideology that makes many pastors feel they must honor every parishioner request, despite the effect it will have on his family. Through stories of hardship and personal revelations, this book will help you realize the need for church policy reforms that will allow pastors to be looked upon as humans who have familiesbesides their parishioners.

"A top Christian psychologist shows how to recognize a common but devastating problem--and offers solutions that work!"--Jacket subtitle.

Transform Your Home into a Haven of Faith and Love Imagine a home where love, faith, and discipline blend harmoniously to nurture resilient, God-loving children. Parenting with Purpose: A Christian Guide to Raising Children and Building a Christian Home is an enlightening journey that empowers Christian parents to embrace their parenting role with confidence and grace. Through practical guidance, biblical wisdom, and heartfelt insight, this comprehensive guide lays the foundation for raising children in a tumultuous world.Embark on an inspiring odyssey that begins with the core principles of Christian parenting. Discover how the fusion of love and discipline creates a nurturing environment where children thrive. Learn to establish a home that is a bastion of faith, modeling Christ-like behavior that inspires and guides. With Parenting with Purpose, your family will develop a deep, meaningful connection to scripture and prayer, integrating these pillars into the daily rhythm of your lives. Communication is the heartbeat of a strong family. Delve into strategies for communicating with compassion and clarity, ensuring your child feels heard and valued. Through examples and advice, you'll become a beacon of guidance and understanding, adept at navigating the complexities of your child's questions and doubts. Building a resilient Christian family requires not just internal strength, but also a vibrant connection to the larger body of Christ. Witness how integrating your family into the church community enhances support, fellowship, and spiritual growth. This book also addresses the crucial topics of education, discipline, technology, and peer relationships through the lens of Christian values, ensuring you're equipped for every aspect of parenting. With each chapter, you'll gain invaluable insights into creating a purposeful family life filled with worship, praise, and service. Whether it's choosing the right educational path, setting healthy media boundaries, or fostering servant leadership in your children, Parenting with Purpose offers the tools you need for every stage of your parenting journey. Join countless other Christian parents who have found solace and strength in these pages. Create a legacy of faith in your family that will last a lifetime. Embrace your parenting journey with purpose, love, and God's guiding light illuminating your path.