Changing Churches: A View From the Pew~

Changing Churches describes, through the eyes of one couple the difficult journey that “church switchers” travel—a journey often precipitated by disruptive church changes. The book encourages Christ-like transformative change in churches rather than man-devised makeovers. 76 % of “church switchers are mature Christians according to a Lifeway study. I looked down on “switchers” until I became one. Then I learned how painful this journey is. My book, Changing Churches will: • Give pastors and leaders an empathic understanding of church switchers, facilitating assimilation. • Help church switchers grieve their painful journey and resolve historic baggage, enabling them to fully engage in their new church. • Broaden members understanding of church changes and the need for prayerful change. • Teach members how to winsomely witness, bringing friends into the church. • Inspire members to serve in ministry and
missions,building up the church. 

About the Author: Dottie Parish Dottie Parish brings a seasoned counselor’s wise viewpoint and the soft heart of a child of God to her first book called Changing Churches: A View from the Pew. A longtime resident of the greater Cincinnati area, Parish holds a Master of Social Work degree from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University. She has more than 30 years of professional experience as a counselor at two family service agencies as well as in private practice. Her experience included diagnosing and treating individuals representing a wide variety of problems, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ages as well as short and long term therapy. Her private practice included individual, marital and family therapy with special interest in helping couples resolve marital differences. She organized and led The Third Option educational group for married couples from 1996-2007 – in two locations Parish also wrote a weekly advice column, “Family Counselor,” for more than fifteen years for the Hamilton Journal News, Hamilton, Ohio. Dottie Parish is a wife, mother and grandmother and she loves Jesus and His Church. Her current devotion to God and His church stems from extreme misgivings about drifting away from God and church after graduate school. She and her husband lived for decades without faith. Their return to faith in 1990 begins the journey described in Changing Churches.
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 Dottie blogs on a variety of subjects at  http://www.faithnotes-dottie.blogspot.com and on Marriage and Family issues on www.taberstruths.com. Stop by and check them out.   

I am so glad to have received this book to review for the Review Crew at Christian Women Affiliate. Dottie and her husband cleared up a lot of questions that I have had about fellow church members that leave the church with out a word to anyone. You think that they are your brothers and sisters in Christ. It would seem to me that so many folks wear their feelings on their sleeves and get them rubbed the wrong way too easy. There is always so many secrets being kept from most of the congregation. Even if you attend all of the business meetings. If you are a lay person and not a teacher, deacon or pastor, you are on a need to know basis only. The only time a person should leave their church is for personal reasons, not because someone stepped on your toes. If the pastor and other teachers are not teaching the Bible and its Commandments,,,run! You do not have to explain to anyone except God and He already knows why you are leaving. We should be in church to worship the Savior,,,not to walk on egg shells trying to not hurt someones feelings. I will tell you that this couple in the book is the writer and her husband. She tells of their experiences with the different churches they have attended. She explains why they have left those churches through the years. This book is a good read and could be used for book studies at your church. I do not believe that anyone actually plans on being a "church hopper" it just happens to you. When God is leading you, go the distance. It will be worth it. (Page 79 in the book. -------------------------------------------------- Facebook Profile: Click here -------------------------------------------------- Amazon.com Profile: Click here ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew

Dear Karen,
I have always been a little fat girl in my mind! I believe it is because I had two aunts that were always telling me that I was to fat and that I should eat the proper foods so that I would not be a fatty. I am not a size 2 nor am I a size 22. I have the love of God deep within me and I dearly loved my moms sisters. I am a forgiven child of God and He loves me no matter how much I weigh. I know this, but I have not been able to get unhooked from feeling that I am a little Fat Girl!
Your Friend,
Deanie

Reflections of Rosalyn, A Life of Victory by Theresa Franklin

Book Review

 Review for the book that is called "Reflections of Rosalyn" A Life of Victory~

Rosalyn is a recent widow facing life alone for the first time in over forty years. She spends time looking back at her life as a young girl, Rosie, and how each episode in her life was a stepping stone to get her where she is today. Rosie has a tumultuous childhood and a terrible relationship with her self-centered mother. As a teenager she faces an unplanned pregnancy. Her decision about that pregnancy will shape the decisions she must make for the rest of her life. The first decision she makes is to leave home. She finds work in an assisted living facility, which is the root of many comical interactions. The book is a series of flashbacks with events of today reminding Rosalyn of a time in her earlier life as Rosie. This is a book of laughter and tears. There were many times when I, as the author, had to stop writing and compose myself before I could continue. There were just as many when I actually laughed aloud as my characters interacted. This is a story that grew from my heart. It is a story of victory. Rosie, the teenager, must overcome many obstacles in her life to become Rosalyn, the woman.

 Author Bio: Theresa Franklin has lived outside of Beaumont, Texas for 38 years. Theresa taught for 12 years, then moved into administration. As she was preparing for retirement, she decided to fulfill her life-long desire of writing books.




This morning about 1:30 I finished the best book that I have read in a long time! I chose to read  the PDF copy of it  with my Adobe Reader XI. When I started reading it I had a difficult time keeping the times in the character's life straight in my mind. Then I noticed that there were these three little *** when the past or present was going to change in the book. I normally do not like stories that flash back and forth like this book does. I was really glad I chose to read this e-book by Theresa Franklin.
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It is a heart warming book of love and honesty that I find a very important quality in any person. I found myself feeling like it was about the writers own life, that is just how good the writer is at telling this story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who really enjoys a true to life book about real life situations.
 This is a book of laughter and tears. There were many times when I, as the reader like the author, had to stop and compose myself before I could continue reading. There were many times when I laughed aloud as her characters in the book interacted just like real life.  The Assisted Living Facility where Rosie lived and worked while she was getting her education was so real to me. I have had residents at my place of employment talk just like some of hers did who lived there.
 The love of God and her country was always a big part of the story line as it got more interesting as the story progressed. I am not going to tell the ending of the book because I would not want to spoil it for anyone who might want to enjoy this wonderful book.






You can find out more about Theresa Franklin here  http://thereadingsection.blogspot.com/
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Here is here Twitter: https: Theresa Franklin @theres2franklin
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 The CWA Review Crew is a brand new Division at Christian Women Affiliate. 
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Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew

"On a Quest for Christ: Tracing the Footsteps of Your Spiritual Journey. by Lisa Aré Wulf

"On a Quest for Christ: Tracing the Footsteps of Your Spiritual Journey. by Lisa Aré Wulf

This 30-day devotional traces your spiritual steps from the first whispers of faith to resting in God's arms. Gentle questions guide the telling of your story as comforting scripture and prayers enrich your reflections. The "Christ Quest Time Map" helps you see the path ahead as you look back on your journey. This insightful devotional will help you: Find Christ at critical points in your life Increase your spiritual self-awareness Experience healing and hope

About the Author: Lisa Are WulfAs a ministry leader and Fuller Seminary graduate, Lisa Aré Wulf has a gift for creative communication that touches hearts and transforms lives. A mid-life convert to Christ, Lisa's articles have appeared in dozens of Christian publications. She has spoken to women's groups and churches across the country. Before entering the ministry, Lisa served eight years on the Colorado Springs City Council. She is also a retired CPA, a former radio talk show host, an accounting professor, and was a violinist "Your spiritual story is significant. Who you are makes a difference. God ordained this path for your life even before the dawn of creation. It matters to you. It matters to me. In fact, it matters to the whole community of faith, both now and forever. The impact of your life is incalculable." —Lisa Aré Wulf Understanding your personal journey opens a door to new spiritual growth. "On a Quest for Christ," will help you trace your steps from the first whispers of faith to resting in God's arms. Gentle questions guide the telling of your story while prayers and comforting scripture enrich your reflections. The "Christ Quest Time Map" helps you see the path ahead as you look back on your journey. Experience healing and hope as you deepen your spiritual self-awareness and find Christ at critical points in your life.

As I was reading this book I have had a difficult time putting it down. I found it to be very informative. This book is a 30 Day Devotional Book based upon the writers life. The Spiritual Journey, as Lisa Aré Wulf states, it begins when we first breathe. Your spiritual journal may not be with Christ at first, not until you first believe that He is the One big part of your life that you have been missing all along. This book will trace your spiritual steps with Christ. Each chapter she tells what it is about, her story and a place to write your story. She then reflects on the subject with a scripture from the Bible. At the ending of each chapter there is a prayer and place to write your own prayer. One of the scriptures she refers to is Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. When God calls us together for His purpose, two people and God can be as a three-strand cord that can accomplish great things and may even change the world........... This book would be ideal for a Women's Book Study.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew

Book Review for "Peaceful Passage" by Kim West PhD

I am reviewing this book for The Review Crew at Christian Women Affiliate~

Peaceful Passage, by Kim West, PhD About the Author: Kim West holds a PhD in Clinical Pastoral Counseling and a M.Div. in Counseling and Family, but when her own mother became ill with terminal cancer she found that she had no hands-on knowledge of how to take care of her. As a counselor she knew to journal her own experience to help her process her grief at losing her mother and she knew how to help her mother finish her life well and be prepared for the life to come. But the day-to-day of taking care of her mother as she died would require learning a whole new set of caring skills. And learn she did. After completing her own journey with her mother she knew she had to help others who would travel this same path. Peaceful Passage is a merging of her years of counseling experience and the new skills she learned caring for her mother combined with her heart to help and to heal.

Here are my thoughts about the book. I am so glad that I have this book from Kim West that is called Peaceful Passage. It will take you and your loved one through the many times when you might just want to give up on yourself and let someone else care for your sick and dying loved one. While I was reading the experiences she had while caring for her mother, it brought back many memories that I have from my life when I went to work at the nursing facilities where I live. I learned so much from the elderly where I worked for eighteen years as an Activities Director. If you are considering the care of a member of your family at home, this is the ideal book for you to get and not only read at first, but refer to it real often. I believe it is a good idea to journal your days even if some of them are worse than others. At the end of most of the chapters there is a place to write your thoughts and follow through with the many changes in your loved ones life and your own life too. I am so thankful that Kim has expressed the fact how important it is to trust in God to help us during this time in our lives. This will happen to each one of us some time or another. Peaceful Passage is your all-in-one guide to handling every aspect of this often heart-wrenching and heartwarming journey. You will want to share this book with your family and your friends. Thank you Kim for your expertise information and help when a person needs it the most! *********************************************************************************** facebook *********************************************************************************** Books site *********************************************************************************** Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew

Welcome to my Blog! I am a wife and mother. I believe in the one true God, His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide me! I am heading into another adventure of learning new things on the big wide web! What ever I decide to write about on my blog will be the “Subject for the Day!” My friends and family call me Deanie! I hope that we can be friends!