W. Paul Jones – författare

In this very personal book, W. Paul Jones sees the diverse experience of individuals as the backbone of spirituality, and claims that the Trinity affirms a rich diversity within God and within God's way of relating to the world. He considers each Person of the Trinity as being involved in each "function" of God--as creator, redeemer and sanctifier--and arrives at nine dimensions of God's life that invite a response. Jones develops each of the nine dimensions with an extended meditation, followed by a series of practical and creative spiritual exercises.

Here is a tightly-focused, reader-friendly guide to making sense of--and using--any of the diagnostic systems used by the outside mental health professionals you encounter. It will help you cut through the jargon and get to the real meaning of what's bothering "Johnnie" or "Janie". You'll learn to understand the coded language of the mental health professionals you deal with. Become familiar with the coded vocabulary of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). You'll be able to sharpen your counseling skills and become a greater asset to your school and to the students you serve. You'll be able to * Cut through the jargon * Translate diagnostic codes into language that makes sense to everyone * Sharpen your knowledge of learning disorders, attention-deficit disorders, and conditions specifically related to problems of adolescence You'll be able to communicate the results of diagnostic testing to educators and parents in terms they can understand. This is an essential reference that belongs on the shelf of every school counselor.

Do you ever find yourself drowning in secularization and commercialization, being pulled under as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas intermingle and fly by in a frantic blur? Have you ever wondered if there is any way to reclaim the true meaning of such seasons as Advent and Lent, and be helped to live more intentionally and meaningfully the other Christian celebrations?Reasons for the Seasons makes that possible in a delightfully engaging manner. With humor and rich illustrations, this widely read spiritual author draws upon life experiences from childhood in Appalachia to his teaching at Princeton University and into his spiritual pilgrimage intent on uniting his Protestant mind with a Catholic heart. Focus is given to the church''s central seasons of Advent/Christmas/Epiphany and Lent/Easter/Pentecost. Lesser-known Christian celebrations are engaged, such as Candlemas, Trinity Sunday, and the Feast of the Transfiguration. Additionally, illumination is provided for exploring such secular holidays as New Year''s, Mother''s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Halloween. This book will be informative and engaging not only for personal use but also in enabling families to deepen their celebrative time together. Groups will also find it helpful for study, as will churches in giving depth to their liturgical planning.

The contemporary Christian church is in critical decline, both in membership and finances. All attempts at reversal are failing, primarily because of the consuming socioeconomic-secular dynamic in which society is immersed in its self-destructive course. Consequently, Christian imagery is losing its conceivability and credibility, and past motivations that once encouraged belief have lost their appeal. Without these as points of contact, the demise of the institutional church will be relentless, despite all efforts to halt it. Yet, as at other crisis points in history, the divine promise has been to raise a "e;faithful remnant"e; with sufficient promise to outlast whatever the societal demise. After carefully analyzing the ingredients of our societal crisis, the author develops the contours of a "e;Remnant Church"e; to be set in place now within the present institutional churches. This necessitates distilling a vital spirituality and discerning the heart of a preservable tradition, sufficient to claim both personal and communal commitment. Thereby prepared for the long haul, the Remnant Church can emerge as a prophetic alternative.