Do Christians need recovery? Or is recovery something needed by the church itself? Addiction—whether to a substance or to a behavior—is a problem within faith communities, just like it is everywhere else. But because churches are rarely experienced as safe places for dealing with addiction, co-addiction, or the legacy of family dysfunction, Christians tend to seek recovery from these conditions in Twelve-Step fellowships. Once they become accustomed to the ethos of vulnerability, acceptance, and healing that these fellowships provide, however, they are often left feeling that the church has failed them, with many asking: why can’t church be more like an AA meeting? Inspired by his own quest to find in church the sort of mutual support and healing he discovered in Twelve-Step fellowships, Stephen Haynes explores the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and its relationship to American Christianity. He shows that, while AA eventually separated from the Christian parachurch movement out of which it emerged, it retained aspects of Christian experience that the church itself has largely lost: comfort with brokenness and vulnerability, an emphasis on honesty and transparency, and suspicion toward claims to piety and respectability. Haynes encourages Christians to reclaim these distinctive elements of the Twelve-Step movement in the process of “recovering church.” He argues that this process must begin with he calls “Step 0,” which, as he knows from personal experience, can be the hardest step: the admission that, despite appearances, we are not fine.

Is there really any hope for a spiritual way of living that actually works? Admiration, comfort, love, power, success, pleasure, escape, control: we're all addicted to something, whether we realize it or not. In this deeply heartfelt book, author John Ortberg offers a guide for transformation when we know something needs to change but we can't do it on our own. Rooted in the teachings of Jesus and using the framework of AAs 12 steps as a guide, Ortberg offers all of us a freeing roadmap for: Giving up our exhausting and fruitless efforts to fix, manage, and control our own lives Distinguishing between when willpower is essential and when it is futile Discovering how God can do for us what we can't do for ourselves, and living authentically, joyfully and in communion with God and other people. Ortberg shows us how to discover: Our spiritual attachment styles Our core doubts The benefits of practices like prayer, meditation, and mindfulness God's sufficiency in our inadequacy In Steps, find what's needed to experience a new freedom, a new fellowship and a new happiness no matter our circumstances.

Book Summary Forgiveness. It¿s the cry of the human heart and yet few of us ever really live in it. Instead we strive to establish our worth through our performance, the approval of others, the latest self-help plan, or even religion. Do you struggle to shake the mistakes of your past? Do thoughts of the future bring anxiety? Are you troubled by unwanted patterns that have developed in your life? Maybe you¿re convinced that God is somewhere in the mix but the often contradictory expressions of religion have left your head spinning and heart wanting. Perhaps you¿re weary of an ¿us against them¿ brand of Christianity. Could it be that Jesus Christ has been lost in a religion that bears His name? Live Forgiven offers real answers for real life from a fellow traveler. Liberating truths combined with practical application will help you discover the unexpected freedom and boundless joy of living forgiven. Everything is about to change as you discover the life you never thought possible.

Kendall looks at wrongdoing and the judgment of ministry leaders and laypeople, assuring those who've fallen that they can be used again--and warning those who condemn them. Exploring his own vulnerabilities, he presents a compassionate, biblically balanced case for a God of second chances.

Life is a complex journey, and each of us must find our own way. But sometimes we take a wrong turn and get lost. When that happens we have to backtrack and begin again. We are living in a time when many young adults who dropped out of church in high school or college are seeking to reconnect with their faith, while older Christians are feeling a need to turn their own lives around. Finding the Way offers help for all Christians who are hungry for an intimate relationship with God and want to restart their spiritual journey on a path they can see clearly, explain simply, follow faithfully, and share with others. This is a book for those who want to practice Christian faith as a way of life, not merely accept it as a system of doctrine. We are not lost in a trackless, twenty-first-century spiritual wasteland. There is a Way that can lead us home to God. We have companions on the journey, and the Good Shepherd himself will guide us. Finding the Way calls us to brave the steep, upward journey with Jesus--to rededicate ourselves boldly to the imitation of Christ.

"The story of your life is a story worth telling." So sings Grammy-nominated recording artist Matthew West on his bestselling album The Story of Your Life. In this new book, Matthew develops that theme, showing how everyone's life is a story in progress and how knowing that truth can change people for the better. Filled with powerful personal stories from Matthew and his fans, The Story of Your Life Interactive Journey is a guidebook that will help readers heal from the hurts of their past and develop a deeper compassion toward others whose life stories are filled with pain. Readers will find that God, the author of their stories, is willing and able to rewrite the broken chapters of their lives. The Story of Your Life Interactive Journey is the perfect companion to the The Story of Your Life DVD. It includes extensive study questions for individuals or small groups and plenty of space for readers' insights.

'God can use anybody. If he could use Peter, Moses, Jonah, David, Judah or Gideon, he can use you and me.' The empowering new book by bestselling Christian writer, R. T. Kendall. All of us have fallen short of God's standards, and it may be that you have fallen further than most. It is easy for you, and those who know you, to believe that you have blown your chance to fulfil God's plan for your life. But God has not finished yet! He is the God of second chances. His love is everlasting and unconditional, no matter what we have done to grieve him in the past. The path to restoration will not be easy but, through faith, God can use you again. R. T. Kendall's inspiring new book will show you how.

London’s suburbs. Latin America’s megacities. West Africa’s villages. China’s skyscrapers. North America’s homes. Addiction is a worldwide and at home epidemic. A powerful look at the gospel for the addicted, Hope in Addiction helps us think about what it means to be the Church in light of this growing—and heartbreaking—epidemic. How did we get here? And how can we find freedom from addiction? This book is not just about drug or alcohol abuse. It’s about gambling addictions, porn dependencies, workaholism, and internet addictions. It’s a book about how slaves to addiction become children of the Living God and family in the community of God. Wherever they are. Whatever has enslaved them. With clarity and compassion, Andy Partington brings together personal stories, compelling research, and frontline ministry experience. This book is for Christian leaders, influencers, counselors, and educators. For the friends and family of those gripped by addiction. And, for those who themselves battle addiction. This book is for all of us. There is hope in addiction. Hope for freedom. Hope for wholeness. Hope for eternity.

This book tells how I got to AA and stopped drinking. It describes the many AA meetings I attended in the US and abroad and what I learned in those meeting I had to do in order to change to a better life and to get on and stay on the happy road to recovery.

On March 13, 2013, the Catholic Church changed dramatically when Pope Francis I, the Argentine slum walker, immediately began to redefine the papacy. His refreshing yet humble leadership collides with the approach of previous popes and revives the themes of the Second Vatican Council. In Church Chat, author Tom Smith catalogues that remarkable transition in an entertaining and thought provoking style. A collection of previously published columns dating from 2009 and into 2014, Church Chat fearlessly displays some flaws of the Catholic Church while applauding the leadership of Pope Francis. It is written by a progressive, and still practicing, Catholic who insists Its my Church, too! Transition times stir things up, cause unusual hopes and fears, bring stuff at the bottom to the top and take one set of priorities and replace them with another. Things move quickly during major transitions, what was standard at one time is replaced by a new approach. Since this new period is just beginning, we dont know how it will turn out, but one thing is certain: these are historic times in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis is moving quickly on many fronts and the vision of Vatican II is growing some flesh. Finally. Every Catholic -- liberal, conservative, or confused -- will benefit from Tom Smiths intelligent book Church Chat. I highly recommend this lively and loving book. Michael Leach, author of Why Stay Catholic? Unexpected Answers to a Life-Changing Question Church Chat is a great read for veteran Church reformers as well as for people in the pews. The issue treatment is very comprehensive and right on... all done in a friendly conversational style. The reader thus comes away with a window into a hope filled near future for the People of God as well as a warm connection with Tom on his soulful journey forward. Dan and Sheila Daley, Co-Founders of Call to Action