Resources
In an ongoing effort to meet the needs of our PCA families, the PCA Campus Ministry Team provides a number of resources to assist families. The PCA Parent Pages are documents seeking to help facilitate meaningful and intentional conversations in the home on issues facing our students and their families. This page will be updated and added to frequently. The Ministry Resource List is a listing of various resources from books, articles from websites and professional Christian counselors (recommended, not endorsed), which may provide much needed insight, wisdom, hope and healing for your family in the areas listed.
PCA Parent Pages
- Parenting Resources on...
- Recommended Reading Lists for Students
- Recommended Churches in College Communities
Parenting Resources on...
Recommended Reading Lists for Students
Recommended Churches in College Communities
Listed in this document is not an exhaustive list of churches, but a place to begin your search for a good, solid Bible-believing, Christ-centered church while you are in college.
Ministry Resource List
- Abuse/Self-Injury
- Addiction
- Anxiety/Fear/Stress
- Conflict and Forgiveness
- Counseling
- Depression
- Divorce
- Eating Disorders
- Grief (Loss of Parent/Loved One)
- Healthy Body Image
- Marriage (and Pre-Marital)
- Parenting
- Relationships
- Sexual Purity
- Sexuality/Gender Issues
- Single Parenting
Abuse/Self-Injury
Books/Articles
by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
By Diane Langberg
There are over 90,000 reported cases of child sexual abuse per year in the US. In the last ten years there has been an average of 70 child abuse allegations in American churches every week. Many who sit in our pews have suffered greatly as a result. It is critical that pastors and counselors understand the impact of sexual abuse on a life and know how to respond redemptively to those who are suffering.
By Ed Welch
You married someone you trusted, and now you are facing unpredictable anger or outright physical abuse. This is betrayal at its worst. Most likely you are numb, scared, confused, and paralyzed. How do you take a step when you are so afraid?
Edward T. Welch shares how hope and change come from knowing the God who hears you and promises to deliver you. He has the power to fill you with his love--a love that is patient, kind, and says no to injustice. As you are guided by God's love, you will have the courage to take the practical steps outlined in this booklet.
By Patrick J. Carnes
Excellent book for those who are in or have been in abusive relationships, whether emotional, physical, or sexual, and who can’t understand why it was so hard to leave.
By Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Boundaries impact all areas of our lives: Physical boundaries help us determine who may touch us and under what circumstances. Mental boundaries give us the freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions. Emotional boundaries help us to deal with our own emotions and disengage from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others. Spiritual boundaries help us to distinguish God's will from our own and give us renewed awe for our Creator. Often, Christians focus so much on being loving and unselfish that they forget their own limits and limitations. When confronted with their lack of boundaries, they ask:
Can I set limits and still be a loving person?
What are legitimate boundaries?
What if someone is upset or hurt by my boundaries?
How do I answer someone who wants my time, love, energy, or money?
Aren't boundaries selfish?
Why do I feel guilty or afraid when I consider setting boundaries?
Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend offer biblically-based answers to these and other tough questions, showing us how to set healthy boundaries with our parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and even ourselves.
Addiction
Books/Articles
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today. We all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic book titled "The Mark of a Christian," and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other. Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
Men everywhere are under attack-your neighbor, your coworker, your pastor, even your husband. And, even in Christian homes, 40% of men have fallen to this foe that can destroy marriages and ruin lives. Who is this devastating adversary? Pornography. It floods our airwaves and PCs, assaulting the senses, and luring its prey to return again and again.
Drawing from seventeen years of counseling practice, and using material that he's taught for more than ten years, Joe Dallas is helping readers face this enemy. Equipping those who have been caught up in pornography or other forms of sexual sin with the ability to abandon that behavior and never return. Using the acronym ROUTE-Repentance, Order, Understanding, Training, and Endurance-Dallas walks readers through the steps necessary to attain-and maintain-sexual integrity.
Everyone of us is a potential addict. Eventually, every addict finds himself at a crossroads. In a pressure-filled world, the prospect of instant escape can be exhilarating. No matter the object-drugs, alcohol, food, gambling, or sex, just to name a few-addictions lure us. They extend the promise of pleasure. In the end, they deliver emptiness, death, and destruction. What began as an escape from the hassles of life becomes a form of bondage. Addiction is a voluntary slavery. Change doesn't come easily. But change is possible!
Crossroads was designed as a group study for those struggling with addiction. These ten steps, presented in author Ed Welch's trademark direct, no-nonsense style, provide a biblical and practical framework for change. Welch is a wise and loving partner who walks beside readers on their journey to freedom. Along the way, they will learn to recognize the patterns of addiction, to choose wisdom over foolish desires, and to cling to the hope they have in Jesus, who sets captives free. The path away from addiction has been laid by a God who is full of surprises, who faithfully pursues those enslaved even though they have deliberately avoided him.
Addiction and Grace offers an inspiring and hope–filled vision for those who desire to explore the mystery of who and what they really are. May examines the "processes of attachment" that lead to addiction and describes the relationship between addiction and spiritual awareness. He also details the various addictions from which we can suffer, not only to substances like alcohol and drugs, but to work, sex, performance, responsibility, and intimacy.
Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist working with the chemically dependent, May emphasizes that addiction represents an attempt to assert complete control over our lives. Addiction and Grace is a compassionate and wise treatment of a topic of major concern in these most addictive of times, one that can provide a critical yet hopeful guide to a place of freedom based on contemplative spirituality.
- The Twelve Steps for Christians by Friends in Recovery
Anxiety/Fear/Stress
Books/Articles
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
- Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Ed Welch
One of the haunting dilemmas of the human condition is that fear is "an inescapable feature of earthly life." Every person who has lived on this earth has encountered fear. Tragically, for this reason our race for the good life finds us all too often "running scared." In his new release, Running Scared, Edward T. Welch investigates the roots of fear in the human soul and the ramifications of living in the grips of anxiety, worry, and dread.
- Media/Presentations
- Winston Smith – How C.S. Lewis Helped Me Through Anxiety
From the CCEF channel on YouTube (CCEF is the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation. For more info, visit us at http://www.ccef.org)
Conflict and Forgiveness
Books/Articles
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
Escape the enemy's deadly trap! The Bait of Satan exposes one of the most deceptive snares Satan uses to get believers out of the will of God-offense. Most people who are ensnared by the bait of Satan don't even realize it. Don't be fooled! You will encounter offense, and it's up to you how it will affect your relationship with God. Your response will determine your future. If offense is handled correctly, you will become stronger rather than bitter. In this tenth anniversary edition of his best-selling book, John Bevere shows you how to stay free from offense and escape the victim mentality. With more than 400,000 copies in print, this book includes testimonials of transformed people who have read copies in print, this book includes testimonials of transformed people who have read the original book and a devotional supplement, featuring discussion questions, scriptures, and prayers.
- Media/Presentations
Dr. Everett Worthington, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, presents six-steps to self-forgiveness at a Dallas Theological Seminary chapel on February 10, 2012.
Counseling
Depression
Media/Presentations
- A Christian Looks at Depression (video)
Pastor Tommy Nelson, Senior Pastor of Denton Bible Church, shares his experience of depression at a chapel service at Dallas Theological Seminary on March 27, 2007
Books/Articles
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
- How can I help my spouse through depression? (MP3 audio file)
By: Winston Smith and Cecelia Bernhardt (Published: Mar 30, 2012)
This week our host Andrew Ray sits down with Winston Smith, author of the book "Marriage Matters", and Cecelia Bernhardt, to discuss how to love a spouse who is walking through depression.
Length: 06:57
Where Is God in the Struggle? Looking away from despair towards hope can feel risky. What if God doesn't come through for you? What if you don't feel instantly better? Instead of offering simple platitudes or unrealistic "cure-all" formulas, Edward T. Welch addresses the complex nature of depression with compassion and insight, applying the rich treasures of the gospel, and giving fresh hope to those who struggle. Originally published as Depression: A Stubborn Darkness Light for the Path, this new edition is updated with added content.
Divorce
Books/Articles
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
- Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce by Elizabeth Marquardt
Marquardt is the director of the Center for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values, a nonpartisan think tank focused on children, families, and civil society. Her essays and op-ed pieces have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and elsewhere. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children.
Is there really such a thing as a good divorce? Determined to uncover the truth, Elizabeth Marquardt herself a child of divorce conducted, with Professor Norval Glenn, a pioneering national study of children of divorce, surveying 1,500 young adults from both divorced and intact families between 2001 and 2003. In Between Two Worlds, she weaves the findings of that study together with powerful, unsentimental stories of the childhoods of young people from divorced families.
- The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25 Year Landmark Study (not written from a Christian perspective) by Judith S. Wallerstein, Julia M. Lewis, and Sandra Blakeslee
In this compelling, thought-provoking book, Judith Wallerstein explains that, while children do learn to cope with divorce, it in fact takes its greatest toll in adulthood, when the sons and daughters of divorced parents embark on romantic relationships of their own. Wallerstein sensitively illustrates how children of divorce often feel that their relationships are doomed, seek to avoid conflict, and fear commitment. Failure in their loving relationships often seems to them preordained, even when things are going smoothly. As Wallerstein checks in on the adults she first encountered as youngsters more than twenty-five years ago, she finds that their experiences mesh with those of the millions of other children of divorce, who will find themselves on every page.
With more than 100,000 copies in print, The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce spent three weeks on the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Denver Post bestseller lists. The book was also featured on two episodes of Oprah as well as on the front cover of Time and the New York Times Book Review.
Media/Presentations
- CCEF faculty member Julie Lowe offers answers the question of “How to walk with a child through separation and/or divorce?” For more information, visit our website at http://www.ccef.org.
- CCEF faculty member Dr. David Powlison responds to the question “What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?” For more information, visit us on the web at http://www.CCEF.org.
Eating Disorders
Media/Presentations
- Rebecca from BarlowGirl once struggled with eating disorders. Isaiah 62 helped her through that time and showed her that she was ‘beloved.' Watch her YouTube video testimony.
Books/Articles
- In Fighting Anorexia, Recovery Is Elusive (NY Times article) by Abby Ellin (Published: April 25, 2011)
- An Older Generation Falls Prey to Eating Disorders by Tara Parker-Pope (March 28, 2011)
- Wanting to Be Her: Body Image Secrets Victoria Won't Tell You by Michelle Graham
How do you feel when you look at a magazine cover? Do you ever look at the models and wish you looked like them? Most women have had that experience. When you go to the health club, you notice how buff the woman to the left is and how skinny the woman to the right is. And when you go out, you see the guys flocking to talk with certain women and wonder if your looks stack up to theirs. When you get dressed in the morning, do you worry about whether your jeans are flattering? Do you think about who you are going to see when you decide how to do your hair? When you eat a meal, do you think about those magazine models again? Most women do. And they are buying into a lie. In this book Michelle Graham reveals how easy it is to fall into the trap of viewing your body through the lens of culture rather than through the eyes of God. She helps you understand that these are not the things that God wants you to dwell on. And these are not the true qualities of beauty. As you read this book you will discover that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colors, and it cannot be airbrushed or faked. In these pages you will discover the true secrets of a positive body image.
- Who Calls Me Beautiful?: Finding Our True Image in the Mirror of God by Regina Franklin
From the magazines at the grocery store checkout to home shopping, from billboards to TV shows, its hard to escape the worlds idea of a beautiful woman. The seduction to be beautiful is strong, but rarely is the question asked, What is Gods ideal? Who Calls Me Beautiful? helps you to identify the forces that influence your life and affect how you understand beauty, and encourages you to embrace a biblical and spiritual balance that honors the God who created you. I am an ordinary woman who has faced the same struggles that other women face, says Regina Franklin. But we have an extraordinary God who sees us as His beautiful vessels.
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
- The Body Betrayed: A Deeper Understanding of Women, Eating Disorders, and Treatment by Kathryn J. Zerbe
This sensitive look at the complex causes and treatments of eating disorders, written by a leading authority interlaces clearly written clinical discussion with personal stories about individuals who have valiantly engaged in recovery. Topics include: body image, sexual abuse, feminism, athletes, medical complications, nutrition, obesity, chemical dependency, and more.
- Father Hunger: Fathers, Daughters, and the Pursuit of Thinness by Margo Maine Ph.D.
This book pioneered the term "father hunger" — the emptiness, and resulting food and body image disorders, experienced by women whose fathers were physically or emotionally absent. Based on ten years of further study, this second edition of Father Hunger details the origins of the syndrome and its effect on the family, with new practical solutions to help dads and daughters understand and improve their relationships. An expanded section for educators and therapists offers strategies and techniques for preventing and treating this complex problem.
Grief (Loss of Parent/Loved One)
Books/Articles
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
- Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse by Zonnebelt-Smeenge and DeVrie
Very practical; may not be ready for later chapters, depending on where you are in the grief process
- Let Me Grieve, But Not Forever: A Journey Out of the Darkness of Loss by Verdell Davis
Written after her husband died in a plane crash from material from her journals; with honesty, courage, and generosity, she shares how to examine grief and ultimately find healing in the process.
- From One Widow to Another: Conversations on the New You by Miriam Nef
fThis book assumes you have already been working through your grief and gives encouragement to step forward into your new life.
- Everyday Comfort: Meditations for Seasons of Grief by Randy Bector
Good book for those at the beginning of the grief process, short meditations on different Psalms, easy to pick up and read short pieces when your mind can't focus on anything longer
- When Your World Falls Apart: Seeing Past the Pain of the Present by David Jeremiah
For pain of all types, not solely grief; each chapter elaborates on a Psalm
- Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On: Trusting God in the Tough Times by Stomie O’Martian
Not grief-specific. A collection of devotional readings for dealing with the pain and pressures of today’s world, written with candor and courage; Encourages the reader to examine their own faith journey and deepen their trust
- One Thousand Gifts by Anne Voskamp
Not grief-specific, but a good book to focus on gratitude and deepening your trust in God as you deal with the pains of life
- Websites:
It may be hard for you to feel optimistic about the future right now. If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member or friend, you’ve probably found there are not many people who understand the deep hurt you feel. This can be a confusing time when you feel isolated and have many questions about things you’ve never faced before. GriefShare groups meet weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Each GriefShare session has three distinct elements:
- Each week your GriefShare group will watch a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects. These videos are produced in an interesting-to-watch television magazine format featuring expert interviews, real-life case studies, dramatic reenactments and on-location video.
- After viewing the video, you and the other group members will spend time as a support group, discussing what was presented in that week’s video seminar and what is going on in your lives.
- During the week you will have the opportunity to use your workbook for further personal study of the grieving process and to help sort out your emotions through journaling. Your group will spend time discussing questions and comments from the workbook study.
The Vision of Widow’s Walk is to facilitate and fund this widow-sensitive mission through the development of strategies, programs and relationships that:
- Establish and exalt God as the foundation and strength of the widow’s walk
- Encourage and escort the widow in her journey toward achieving a “new normalcy”
- Enable and enrich the widow in her role and relationship as the mother of her children and as new head of household
- Empower and energize family members to strategically and effectively respond to the needs of widowed members
- Enlist and enhance the efforts of friends, neighbors and co-workers as they collaborate to become the widow’s life support system
- Engage and equip the church in its responsibility to care for widows as revealed in James 1:27 and I Timothy 5
- Educate and enlighten the public dialogue and cultural response to the issues of widowhood
Healthy Body Image
Books/Articles
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
Marriage (and Pre-Marital)
Media/Presentations
- I Promise is a new premarital resource designed by Marriage Mentors to help dating or engaged couples prepare for marriage. This resource is intentionally designed to engage each participant both individually and as a couple by using thought provoking questions about biblical truth, each other’s unique personalities and their life experiences. To learn more visit http://ipromise.marriagementors.org/
Books/Articles
- Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy by Gary Thomas
Everything about your marriage--everything--is filled with prophetic potential, with the capacity for discovering and revealing Christ’s character. The respect you accord your partner; the forgiveness you humbly seek and graciously extend; the ecstasy, awe, and sheer fun of lovemaking; the history you and your spouse build with one another--in these and other facets of your marriage, Sacred Marriage uncovers the mystery of God’s overarching purpose.
This book may very well alter profoundly the contours of your marriage. It will most certainly change you. Because whether it is delightful or difficult, your marriage can become a doorway to a closer walk with God, and to a spiritual integrity that, like salt, seasons the world around you with the savor of Christ.
Using the Bible as his guide, coupled with insightful commentary from his wife of thirty-six years, Kathy, Timothy Keller shows that God created marriage to bring us closer to him and to bring us more joy in our lives. It is a glorious relationship that is also the most misunderstood and mysterious. With a clear-eyed understanding of the Bible, and meaningful instruction on how to have a successful marriage, The Meaning of Marriage is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life.
- The Love Dare (from Fireproof the movie) by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick
Unconditional love is eagerly promised at weddings, but rarely practiced in real life. As a result, romantic hopes are often replaced with disappointment in the home. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
The Love Dare, as featured in the popular new movie Fireproof (from the makers of Facing the Giants), is a 40-day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. Whether your marriage is hanging by a thread or healthy and strong, The Love Dare is a journey you need to take. It’s time to learn the keys to finding true intimacy and developing a dynamic marriage. Take the dare!
Parenting
Books/Articles
- Vaccines: What's Right for Your Baby? by Aviva Patz (popular article from Parenting.com)
- As Bullies Go Digital, Parents Play Catch-Up (NY Times article) by Jan Hoffman (Published: December 4, 2010)
- Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Second Edition (Resources for Changing Lives) by Paul David Tripp
Tripp encourages parents to find a balance between protecting them from the world and allowing them to assimilate themselves into the world. Tripp knows that many parents of teens are tired and worn out - but he thinks that the reason is because they are spending too much time and energy addressing the wrong thing. Tripp warns parents that they should not focus on behavior modification, but be willing to spend the time and energy to find out the root causes which underlie their behavior. One theme constantly running through Age of Opportunity is the emphasis given to conversation - parents making the effort to talk with their children. While the intended audience is parents with teenage children, much of the sage advice is applicable to parents with any age children and the book might be a better read for parents before their children hit the teen years.
- Parenting With Love And Logic (Updated and Expanded Edition) by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
This parenting book shows you how to raise self-confident, motivated children who are ready for the real world. Learn how to parent effectively while teaching your children responsibility and growing their character. Establish healthy control through easy-to-implement steps without anger, threats, nagging, or power struggles.
Relationships
Books/Articles
- When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Ed Welch
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
Escape the enemy's deadly trap! The Bait of Satan exposes one of the most deceptive snares Satan uses to get believers out of the will of God-offense. Most people who are ensnared by the bait of Satan don't even realize it. Don't be fooled! You will encounter offense, and it's up to you how it will affect your relationship with God. Your response will determine your future. If offense is handled correctly, you will become stronger rather than bitter. In this tenth anniversary edition of his best-selling book, John Bevere shows you how to stay free from offense and escape the victim mentality. With more than 400,000 copies in print, this book includes testimonials of transformed people who have read copies in print, this book includes testimonials of transformed people who have read the original book and a devotional supplement, featuring discussion questions, scriptures, and prayers.
- The Ten Commandments of Dating: Time-Tested Laws for Building Successful Relationships by Ben Young and Dr. Samuel Adams
The Ten Commandments of Dating, completely revised and updated, offers hope and sanity to singles who are sick and tired of the dating scene. Many people are tired of pouring time, energy, and money into relationships that start off great and end with heartache. Because of that, they need The Ten Commandments of Dating to give them the hard-hitting, black-and-white, practical guidelines that will address their questions and frustrations about dating. Revised and updated for a new generation of daters, this guide will help men and women keep their head as they search for the desires of their hearts. The Ten Commandments of Dating isn't more relationship advice; it's relationship common sense. If people keep the ten commandments of dating, their relationships will run more smoothly, they will be protected from the pain of contemporary dating pitfalls, and they'll be on their way to building living, lasting relationships.
Sexual Purity
Books/Articles
Men everywhere are under attack-your neighbor, your coworker, your pastor, even your husband. And, even in Christian homes, 40% of men have fallen to this foe that can destroy marriages and ruin lives. Who is this devastating adversary? Pornography. It floods our airwaves and PCs, assaulting the senses, and luring its prey to return again and again.
Drawing from seventeen years of counseling practice, and using material that he's taught for more than ten years, Joe Dallas is helping readers face this enemy. Equipping those who have been caught up in pornography or other forms of sexual sin with the ability to abandon that behavior and never return. Using the acronym ROUTE-Repentance, Order, Understanding, Training, and Endurance-Dallas walks readers through the steps necessary to attain-and maintain-sexual integrity.
How far can I go? It's the question of a generation wanting straight answers. Often the very questions we ask reveal our hearts better than anything else. In Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry, Lisa Bevere tackles these tough issues by moving us from rules to relationship. There is no question we need a renewal of purity, but what we're doing is not working. How far can you go? Ask yourself: What do you ultimately want? Immediate and temporary gratification that wanes with the passage of time? Or passion and exclusive intimacy that endures and intensifies?
Sexuality/Gender Issues
Books/Articles
Men everywhere are under attack-your neighbor, your coworker, your pastor, even your husband. And, even in Christian homes, 40% of men have fallen to this foe that can destroy marriages and ruin lives. Who is this devastating adversary? Pornography. It floods our airwaves and PCs, assaulting the senses, and luring its prey to return again and again.
Drawing from seventeen years of counseling practice, and using material that he's taught for more than ten years, Joe Dallas is helping readers face this enemy. Equipping those who have been caught up in pornography or other forms of sexual sin with the ability to abandon that behavior and never return. Using the acronym ROUTE-Repentance, Order, Understanding, Training, and Endurance-Dallas walks readers through the steps necessary to attain-and maintain-sexual integrity.
- What Does The Bible Actually Say by Robert Gagnon
Have you been confused by "biblically based" arguments justifying homosexuality? There are many of them. They range from assertions that Jesus was not concerned about maintaining the heterosexual character of sexual relations to citing the inclusive nature of the New Testament. It has even been argued that because the Bible has been incorrectly used to uphold slavery and oppress women, that it is now being used in the same way to oppose homosexuality. This elective will critique these are other arguments used to discount Scripture's witness to a male-female prerequisite for sexual relations.
Single Parenting
Books/Articles
- Single Parenting That Works: Six Keys to Raising Happy, Healthy Children in a Single-Parent Home by Kevin Leman
Being a parent is challenging enough. Being a single parent can seem downright impossible—until now. Drawing on material from his successful Single Parenting That Works curriculum guide and video series, America's favorite parenting expert, Dr. Kevin Leman, brings help and hope to the legions of single parents struggling to raise happy, healthy, well-adjusted children in a loving, caring and biblically grounded way. Using his trademark quirky, no-nonsense approach, Dr. Leman shows parents how to build healthy, mature relationships with their former spouses, how to develop their children's self-esteem, and how to discipline and relate to their kids in accordance with their unique God-given personalities.
- Raising Great Kids on Your Own: A Guide and Companion for Every Single Parent by David Frisbie and Lisa Frisbie
One-parent households frame the new landscape of American family life. But raising kids alone is hard work, and single parenting is a struggle for most. David and Lisa Frisbie provide a practical and proactive plan single moms or single dads can use to...
- nourish their own souls, maintaining a vibrant faith in God and a vital connection to family and friends
- nurture their children, empowering kids to successfully process the trauma of divorce
- manage their households as they assume roles and tasks that may lie well outside their comfort zone
- build a future they can enjoy, making choices about education, careers, finances, and relationships