I am ninety- four years of age, and I have begun looking back over seventy-four years of being an ordained minister. I decided I should write a testimony of what God has done in the combined lives of my wife Maria and myself. We were married for almost seventy-two years when she died in 2009. This volume has the history of a long successful marriage. At the beginning if the Great Depression, both of our parents lost control of their farms and had to depend on the government for income. Both of us were penniless farm teenagers. Taking a clue from the Scriptures that often refers to the experiences of life as a walk; we have used that term for our life together. We started lives in the valley of poverty and moved uphill from one achievement to another. This book is the story of that journey. The main part of this book is a record of being a minister, a professor and over two decades of retirement. Without the expert assistance and encouragement of Maria, this goal would not have happened.

The demands of everyday life almost always pull husbands and wives in different directions. And even when they are together, there’s very little opportunity to just be a couple. Work, children, and other commitments make it a constant challenge to find quality time alone. Hugh and Cindi McMenamin have put together an innovative devotional about meaningful ways that husbands and wives can draw closer together. Each reading in this 31-day book offers simple, helpful (and fun!) steps a husband and wife can take to nourish closeness and intimacy. Among the topics are the power of a note making a memory extending grace splurging on love finding a getaway lighten the load flirting again sharing your heart Key thoughts from Scripture are interwoven into each devotion, and each ends with “Points to Ponder Together” as well as a couple’s prayer. Especially helpful are the frequent anecdotal tips from a woman’s perspective (Cindi) and a man’s (Hugh).

"The landscape of discipleship in the American Church consists of a vast array of different ideas, programs, and processes, many of which rely on works as a litmus test to measure people's faith. But discipleship looks different when it is founded on our identity in the Gospel and fueled by the good gifts God gives to us. This Lutheran sacramental outlook shows that discipleship is a simple but difficult process lived in the daily rhythms of life. Simply put, discipleship is trusting the promises of Jesus and seeking to follow Him. The author will lead readers on a journey to discover the rhythm of simple discipleship as they trust Christ's Word, seek God's wisdom, and follow His will"--

In Walking Together: Discovering the Catholic Tradition of Spiritual Friendship, author, journalist, and speaker Mary DeTurris Poust examines rich and nurturing examples of spiritual friendship from well-known saints, writers, and spiritual Catholic leaders who serve as exemplars for cultivating meaningful Catholic friendship in a world of Twitter and Facebook. Addressing a growing modern hunger for deep soul friendships, popular Catholic New York columnist and Our Sunday Visitor blogger Mary DeTurris Poust looks honestly but hopefully at today's culture, where people feel increasingly isolated despite the advent of myriad gadgets designed to keep them “connected.” In ten practical chapters, Poust explores issues such as commitment and acceptance, the virtues that make for a lasting friendship, the importance of listening, open communication, and praying together. Readers will find here the guidance and encouragement to take the next step in developing spiritual friendships in their lives, one of the basic necessities of spiritual life. Poust profiles inspiring spiritual friendships from the past such as St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare, and St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. She also examines famous contemporary friendships, like those between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien or Thomas Merton and famous Zen master D. T. Suzuki. Each chapter concludes with “Food for Thought” reflection questions and a prayerful meditation.

A celebration of friendship and community from bestselling author Mark Nepo In his newest book, New York Times bestselling author Mark Nepo turns his attention to the value of community, offering another insightful and inspiring take on our shared human experience. You Don’t Have to Do It Alone is an earnest exploration and joyous affirmation of one of the most important aspects of being human: friendship. Sharing examples from history, mythology, and his own life, Mark unravels the nuances of close friendships, and reveals how a true friend can be the key to our own aliveness—because only in the presence of unconditional love can we feel safe enough to be who we truly are. Journal prompts and thought-provoking quotes from notable philosophers enhance Mark’s reflections, providing readers with the tools necessary to understand and cultivate the friendships in their own lives. Mark Nepo explores all that it takes to love another and be loved, ultimately showing that—despite what we’ve been taught—you don’t have to do it alone.

Next Generation Planetary fitness Issues like Covid-19 and global warming Calling the next generation To be one choir Singing, “We Shall Overcome” Walking together in solidarity and solitude Know we are all descends from cosmic stardust Wrapped in love for each other and the earth. This poetry is designed to open your inner mystic, a bridge between our deep longings and the present moment. A path connecting our solitude with membership in community helping to create solidarity. A stimulus to ask new questions of ourselves and are fellow travelers, sustaining and deepening our intuitive and spiritual journey. Hopefully these writings like a day at the beach will open us to hear what the surf is saying to the sand. What our hearts are saying to our heads!

Full of practical advice, personal reflections, and spiritual inspiration, Walk with Me is an indispensable resource for Spiritual Directors and their directees. Those in fields such as coaching, hospice work, or chaplaincy work will find this text helpful and inspiring as well. Cathy AJ Hardy shares from her own experiences with “spiritual companions” and from her time as a Spiritual Director to others. By covering issues such as trauma, projecting, and masculine and feminine energies, she engages a wide variety of readers at different points on the spiritual journey. Well organized and clearly written, this book will make a valuable addition to the libraries of professionals and lay people alike.

Ken thinks he and Becky are just having fun together. Becky is already picking out bridesmaid dresses. Melissa has decided to break up with Tony. Tony thinks Melissa is “the one.” Are miscommunications like this unavoidable? What’s the best way to end a relationship–or to take it to a more serious level? Chances are, you’ve heard of “The Talk.” Every romantic relationship comes to the point where things need to be defined or redefined: Do we become romantically exclusive? Is our relationship ready (or not ready) to move to the next level? What are our boundaries and expectations? Is it possible to “just be friends”? Getting all the cards on the table. Communicating openly and honestly. It sounds like a great idea, right? The tough question is, how do you communicate in a way that significantly benefits you both–and doesn’t leave you dreading those important conversations in the future? In Define the Relationship, you’ll find everything you need to know about positively defining and redefining your current or future dating relationships. Written in light of the complexities of dating today, this long-needed resource will help you avoid painful and confusing dating dilemmas and experience instead the freedom of well-defined, spiritually grounded, and truly rewarding relationships.

Phoebe, Rick, Stephanie, and Max are kids from the Tan clan. They’re your regular school kids, but the school scene isn’t for the faint-hearted. Jealousy and bullying are rife, along with the pressure to fit in—and, of course, crushes. How does Stephanie handle catty Chloe? Will Rick’s and Alden’s friendship survive a Stormtrooper misunderstanding? What’s up with Phoebe’s veggie-only diet? And what’s Max to do with the girl who has feelings for him? Join the Tan family as they discover wisdom from the book of Proverbs and relate God’s truths to everyday experiences. Twenty fun-to-read stories written just for children 9–12 years old, with reflection questions you can discuss together.

Bill and Pam Farrel, bestselling authors of Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti (more than 260,000 copies sold) and The 10 Best Decisions a Couple Can Make, now lead single men and women through the ten most influential decisions they can make to embrace faith, fulfillment, and purpose. With candor and humor, the Farrels present ten decisions that will help singles live a full life instead of a “life on hold” choose celibacy for the purpose of ultimate fulfillment choose community and activity over isolation or self-focus wake up to the significance of their life and the opportunities ahead give their dreams, relationships, careers, and decisions to God Biblical insights and life examples offer spiritual encouragement and practical guidance for those desiring a complete life as a single and as a person who is open to God’s plan for their future.