In these 12 complete, high-impact retreats you'll dig deep into a Bible story or character and apply Bible truth to teen-interest topics through interaction and discussion. In this resource, you'll get: 12 complete, high-impact retreats! Large group sessions, small group sessions, schedules, activities, reproducible quiet time pages, tips and suggestions all included! Bible Truth Applied to Top Teen-Interest Topics! Focused on a specific Bible story or character, each retreat will take students deeper in their faith through intense study and discussion. 12 alternate 1-night lock-in plans! Adapted from each retreat plan, these provide a smaller, more compact event that is still spiritually challenging and fun! Tons of extra ideas, tips, suggestions--even modifications for middle school! Save time, save effort, and ensure you have an awesome retreat with these bonus ideas and helpful hints.

So you're involved in youth ministry. How do you lead? How do you know yourself and keep yourself connected? What personal practices do you embrace? How do you optimize your time with youth so that they (and you) may come to know God more fully? What resources might you use for practical help? Where would you find these ideas? Go Deep! Open Doris Kizinna's book and read about how to prepare and ground yourself, as youth leader, in your personal spiritual practice. Then, using practices drawn from many traditions and designed to open hearts and minds to an all-encompassing wonder of the Holy One, engage and mentor youth on the path of Christian spirituality. Go Deep offers inspiration and practical tools to youth leaders who want to develop and deepen their youth ministry, both for themselves and for the youth they minister to. The book is divided into two sections: Part 1 addresses the leader and Part 2 describes the various spiritual practices. Part 2 also includes prayer practices: to engage the senses of written and spoken word of creativity of movement and body of compassion of community of worship and song

We all live with fear. It hangs around, whispering in our ears, reminding us of all we can't do or will never be. But that's not the end of the story. We also have a God who draws close to say, Fear not. I am with you. This Spirit transforms us into fear fighters--women breaking free of trepidation to find bold dedication to God's peace-, purpose- and joy-filled callings. With remarkable compassion born from personal experience, Kelly Balarie shows women how to · Cultivate unstoppable faith by harnessing God's Word and promptings · Pray panic-, blood pressure- and stress-reducing prayers to usher in lasting peace · Discover clear and immediate action plans to exchange worry for God's greatest gifts · Implement daily bravery decrees to stand armed through the day · Participate in a 12-week study guide to foster new courageous habits Kelly pulls back the curtain of fear so you can find the beautiful woman God created you to be.

When we choose retreat we make a generous investment in our friendship with Christ. Seasoned spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton gently and eloquently leads us into an exploration of retreat as a key practice that opens us to God, guiding us through seven invitations to retreat. You will discover how to say yes to God's winsome invitation to greater freedom and surrender.

In the aftermath of 9/11 . . . Larry, a successful young Los Angeles lawyer, and his dog, Zeus, negotiate a life-changing, two-and-a-half-day odyssey that leads them to Joshua Tree National Park. There, Larry encounters an array of unlikely teachers including talking trees and stones, white buffaloes, and a rap-spouting raccoon. These unorthodox characters mock conventional wisdom with irreverential humor to reveal to him the back-stage mechanics of Creation. Larry for the first time understands who he really is and why he has chosen to be born on Earth at this precise time. He also comes to appreciate the perfection of the Great Experiment and the extraordinary possibilities awaiting the human race; should it awaken before it's too late.

This Old House meets Wayne’s World in this zany guide to designing and building tiny homes Derek Diedricksen has always had a love for small, modest houses ever since his father gave him the book Tiny Tiny Houses by Lester Walker for his tenth birthday. Combining his artistic abilities, wild imagination, and his passion for small houses, he self-published Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts, and Whatever the Heck Else we could Squeeze in Here in 2009. This book is a collection of Diedricksen’s creative/imaginative sketches for building small houses, shacks, cottages, and forts. The sketches are accompanied with hand-written commentary, both instructive and comical. Derek’s main purpose is to get your creative juices flowing and encourage you to get off the couch and use your hands. Believing that specific building plans squash creativity, he avoids too many detailed instructions, giving you the chance to put your own creative spin on your very own small abode (even if it is just in your imagination).

What if you could experience a personal retreat in the truest sense of the word personal: on your own time, in your own way, in a location of your choosing? With Retreat in the Real World by Andy Alexander, SJ, and Maureen McCann Waldron, a personal Ignatian retreat is literally no farther away than your fingertips. This 34-week retreat can be started at any point in the calendar year, can be done anywhere, and can be experienced on your own or in conjunction with others. Each of the weeks includes background information, a simple reflection, prayer helps, and Scripture readings, along with beautiful photography by Don Doll, SJ. This highly popular personal retreat was originally offered online through Creighton University's Online Ministries.

We all want to impact the world around us, but too many of us struggle to realize visions tucked into our hearts and minds. Feelings of doubt, loneliness, and insignificance are all too common. What is holding us back? Jaclyn M. Loween, Christian education director at New Testament Church in Alexandria, Minnesota, urges you to uncover the gifts you have been given in this guide to understanding your God-designed mission. Learn how to: • look to the Bible to find inspiring truths to motivate you; • appreciate the role that God’s eternal purposes play in your daily life; • invite the Holy Spirit to lead you on your journey; • understand the gifts and story that God has given you. The stories and step-by-step activities provided in each lesson are rooted in Biblical teachings and highlight the importance of relationships and community. Get a better understanding of your personal history, natural and spiritual gifts, and why you must invest in the lives of those around you to fulfill your purpose.

Retreats to Go: Twelve Creative Programs that Renew and Refresh offers everything you need to plan your next retreat. Each Scripture-based theme includes resources for ice breakers, music, quotes, small and large group activities, reflection questions, worship materials, and craft ideas. Designed for those who wish to lead retreats but may not have time for research and planning, this helpful guide offers engaging, easy-to-use programs for adults and older teens. The flexible format can be used for a weekend retreat, a day away, or weekly study group gatherings.

A trauma psychologist explores the inner workings of her own grief—and leaves an invaluable guide for those seeking hope in the aftermath of loss. As a therapist, Dr. Sherry Walling knew all the “right” things to say to help people through grief. But when she lost her father to cancer and her brother to suicide within six months of each other, she had the unfortunate chance to encounter two types of mourning up close—the slowly unfolding terminal illness and the sudden and stigmatized death by suicide. She realized we’re getting grief all wrong. In Touching Two Worlds, this trusted expert dares to open the inner workings of her own grief—and in the process, provides an invaluable resource for those seeking hope in the aftermath of loss. Written with honesty, gentle humor, and deep understanding, this book was created to bring comfort to friends and family when there are few helpful words to say. Dr. Walling grieves as a sister, daughter, mother, and mental health expert. She shares moving personal stories while offering a broad range of healing strategies and exercises derived from neuroscience—like how to heal through movement, how to cry in public, how to talk to kids about death, and how to cope with survivor’s guilt. These are tips from someone who has been there, as well as approaches informed by professional expertise. Touching Two Worlds is a story of love, sadness, and renewal. Whether your loss is recent and sharp or old and familiar, Dr. Walling delivers wise and tender guidance to help you carry the weight of grief while finding your own path forward.