Download or read book Faith and Optimism Positive Expectation in the Christian Life written by M. Blaine Smith and published by . This book was released on 2011-12 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: (Originally The Optimism Factor: Outrageous Faith Against the Odds) There's a strange connection between the exercise of our faith (wobbly though it may be) and the growth of optimistic hope in our hearts. Outrageous faith, Blaine Smith calls it. And he explains why, as he examines the role of positive expectation in the Christian life. Blaine believes that faith is the most underappreciated benefit in the Christian life today. Christians who do emphasize faith often take it to an unhealthy extreme--just believe anything can happen and God will accomplish it for you. Yet most Christians don't emphasize faith enough, even though it is upheld constantly in Scripture as the means by which we receive the grace of God and every benefit he provides. In this book Blaine looks closely at what the biblical attitude of faith involves. He concludes that it means an overwhelmingly optimistic view of God and of his willingness to provide the best for each of us. He considers how we can exercise faith in the most authentic sense, by taking challenging steps to realize our personal potential. And he offers practical wisdom on how to: rekindle our optimism when it's lost rebound from disappointment distinguish healthy faith from unreasonable expectations find the heart to make new beginnings overcome our fears of change handle our shifting view of God let go of problems that aren't ours Blaine Smith's The Optimism Factor, first published by InterVarsity Press, is republished by SilverCrest Books Praise for The Optimism Factor "A profound, practical and positive exposition of the importance of living our faith, and in the process, seeing our lives both realistically and with the optimism that comes only from surrender to Christ." - JACK KEMP, former New York congressman and secretary of HUD "Smith helps readers move from discouragement to hope, learning to win through failure." - Bookstore Journal "Read this book and you will find your misconceptions of faith trashed . . . . The twenty-six chapters make this book an ideal daily devotional." - Moody Monthly Editors' Choice - Family Bookshelf, 1995

Download or read book The Optimism Factor written by M. Blaine Smith and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: M. Blaine Smith helps readers get from discouragement to hope, offering advice for handling our shifting views of God, confronting our fears of change, discerning between healthy and unhealthy self-talk, breaking the inertia when we're stuck, winning through failure, letting go of problems that aren't ours, and much more. A Saltshaker(R) book. 192 pages, paper

Download or read book Into Thy Word written by Richard Krejcir and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2000-12-20 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is about how to read and study the Bible. This book is about getting the non-Christian to learn how to study the Bible, and this book is for the Pastor and theologian who needs to have their "refresh" button pressed. This book is in fact for anybody desiring to know the Book of ages. If you are new to the Word or are a seasoned teacher. If you do not know where to begin, or you have tried countless times and feel overwhelmed and frustrated, this is the book for you!

Download or read book Opting for Optimism written by Gary D. Moyer and published by Fulton Books, Inc.. This book was released on 2022-04-04 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Simply Captivating" - Tom Ziglar, CEO of Zig Ziglar Let's face it: we live in a predominantly negative world, and it seems to be getting worse. You see it in the economy, our politics, and our relationships. It's evident in the social unrest and the social media. And it's easy to get caught in the current of negativity and swept away in pessimism. When that happens it can make our lives and those around us less than joyful - even downright miserable. Been there? What's worse - if you happen to be a Bible believer who struggles with negativity you can feel ashamed - especially if you've been told that people of faith should be happy all the time. Maybe some of the "optimists" you've met have been so extreme in their positivity they're scary. Or, perhaps you're just simply not a natural optimist and want to learn how to have a happier, more fulfilling life. If any of this sounds familiar - get ready for some good news. There is hope! There are things you can do to become more optimistic. You can actually choose optimism! Gary D. Moyer is living proof. Gary grew up with a negative mindset -a natural talent for finding the downside to life. Today he is known as an optimist and encourager, sharing with people everywhere how to embrace a more positive life. This book is not just a compilation of some nice ideas about optimism, but is results-oriented, giving practical steps you can take right away to begin a new, optimistic, more fulfilling life - including the "missing link" other self-help books miss, to help convert your learning into action.

Download or read book Powered by Hope Positivity and Optimism written by Ekram Haque and published by LifeRich Publishing. This book was released on 2018-09-12 with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The prevalence of evil has clouded our vision and our judgment, causing us to sink in despair. We are unable to see that there is also good in this world. We are forgetting to be hopeful, positive, and optimistic. This book demonstrates that the good is more powerful than the evil, no matter how prevalent the latter is. It implores us to never stop hoping, thinking positive, and being optimistic in the face of despair and evil. And it reminds us that religion, science, and our own innate nature testify to the power of hope, positivity, and optimism.

Download or read book The Tough Minded Optimist written by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2007-11-01 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "If you want to live in this tough world and still have some real faith and optimism, this book is for you." -- Norman Vincent Peale The many ills of the modern world can be debilitating. With so much seemingly senseless violence, pain, and destruction, we need a lot of inner strength to overcome cynicism and despair -- and to remain hopeful about the future. With Dr. Peale's careful guidance, you can achieve happiness and security by learning how to: • Conquer your fear • Free yourself of guilty feelings • Live well and prosper, personally and professionally • Become physically healthy -- the natural way • Stay enthusiastic even in poor circumstances • Tackle problems hopefully and creatively • Harness the power of prayer

Download or read book Gratitude in Life s Trenches written by Robin Phillips and published by . This book was released on 2020-08-25 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No end of books these days offer us techniques for self-improvement. Taking a different tack, Robin Phillips shows that God meets us where we are, in the pain and heartache of the present moment. Instead of looking for a way to escape from hardship, we can cultivate an attitude of gratitude, peace, and self-acceptance that will transform our experience of suffering. Drawing on his own experiences and his work as a consultant in the behavioral health industry-as well as stories of saints and sufferers, teachings of the Fathers, and recent discoveries in neuroscience-Phillips shows us that the journey to personal well-being is one we can all travel, regardless of the hardships we may face.

Download or read book The Joy of the Gospel written by Pope Francis and published by Image. This book was released on 2014-10-07 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage

Download or read book Agnostic Ish written by Josh Buoy and published by . This book was released on 2016-04-09 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a book about science, religion, and the world in between. I was born into a Christian family, but fell out of religion and in love with the scientific method. I had little need of faith, I thought, when science could tell me so much more about the world, and ask so little of me in return. But as I aged into young adulthood, a new chapter of my story began. Did I really know why I believed what I believed? How could I be so certain of my convictions when I hadn't even honestly considered the evidence? This book traces my journey through the furthest reaches of thought, a journey that took me through the realms of psychology, biology, physics, and belief. Could I find a place for faith in the modern world? Or was I right to cast it off as I did?

Download or read book The Healing Power of Hope written by Jean Maalouf and published by Twenty-Third Publications. This book was released on 2004-10 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book makes a beautiful gift of encouragement. The author discusses the difference between mere optimism and true hope. He helps readers examine how faith influences the hope in their lives, and he helps them recognize that hope is the basis for continued achievement and existence.

Download or read book Faith and Well being in Later Life written by Amy L. Ai and published by Nova Science Publishers. This book was released on 2009 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: According to the US Census Bureau, about 40 million Americans will be age 65 or older in 2010. By the year 2040, the population of older adults in the United States (US) will double to about 80 million, with the greatest rate of increase in those aged 85 years and older. This population-ageing trend is likely to parallel the increase in the incidence of disability and chronic conditions and to bring about challenges to late life well-being. Despite advances and popularity of science and technology over the past century, national surveys have consistently recorded high rates of religious or spiritual involvement in the US, especially among older persons and disadvantaged populations. In the past decade, scientific investigation in the protective effects of faith on physical and mental health has surged. Yet, how faith factors precisely influence health-related functions and well-being in late life remains under-investigated. Clearly, more comprehensive research evidence is needed to meet ageing Americans' spiritual needs. The chapters in this book explore common topics during the later part of life, including disability, declining functioning, nursing home residency, death-and-dying, terminal illness, heart failure, major medical operation, vision impairment, and exercise and fitness. In our interdisciplinary investigations, contributors include gerontologists from various disciplines and professions (i.e., psychology, sociology, social work, theology, public health, and medicine). All these empirical studies are based on social science theories. To meet the needs of a broad array of various audiences, they also offer some evidence-based implications for practices.

Download or read book Living As If written by William R. Miller and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2020-07-10 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is faith? William R. Miller answers: “It is a way of looking at the world, at other people, and at ourselves. It is a vision not given so much as chosen. It is that by which we understand our past, live in the present, and create our future. It is Living as If, even and especially when we are not sure, and in so doing releasing a power that can transform ourselves and those we touch.” Miller’s fresh understanding of the meaning of faith—Living as If—and how it works can lead to a new approach to life and the fashioning of a more positive and hope-filled future. In this book he takes into account pertinent psychological findings, case histories, personal stories, and profound religious thought. As he explores the role of “as if” processes, he looks at self-concept, change, influence on others, healing, religious belief, and social change. Writing sensitively and sensibly, Miller sets an undeniably optimistic tone, emphasizing that within certain limits each person can design a course for the present and future as well.

Download or read book Faith Hope and Love written by Troy DuJardin and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-07-22 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These essays consider the three traditional theological virtues—faith, hope, and love—alongside their opposites—doubt, despair, and hate, from a scholarly perspective. The volume includes contributions not just from philosophers of religion, but also from psychologists, sociologists, and film and literature scholars, to paint a complex and nuanced picture of these virtues, both of how we might understand them, and how we can hope to embody them ourselves. While these virtues make up a core part of the Christian tradition, the chapters here go far and wide in search of different cultural conceptions of these universal human concerns. Inquiries are made into these virtues within Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, and Islamic thought, alongside philosophers including Aristotle, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Levinas, and Murdoch. The resulting tapestry is often beautiful, sometimes horrific, but always thoroughly human. This text appeals to students and researchers working in these fields. Chapter [9] is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Download or read book The Power of Positive Thinking in Business written by Scott W. Ventrella and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2001-06-24 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the most powerful forces in business today is the positive psychology movement -- overcoming self-defeating attitudes and developing our talents and positive traits. Much of the new thinking, in fact, stems directly from the concepts in Norman Vincent Peale's great classic bestseller, The Power of Positive Thinking, which has been translated into forty-two languages and has sold over 22 million copies. Now, after years of extensive research and field testing, working in cooperation with the Peale Center and major corporations nationwide, Scott Ventrella has adapted those concepts into a systematic program for people in business to achieve greater levels of personal and professional performance. The Power of Positive Thinking in Business provides a practical way for each of us to develop and actually strengthen the ten traits of a positive thinker. Inevitably, our performance rises to new levels when we learn how to overcome negative attitudinal barriers such as fear, lack of self-confidence, and low self-esteem, and instead develop the traits that characterize a positive thinker: optimism, enthusiasm, belief, integrity, courage, confidence, determination, patience, calmness, and focus. The Power of Positive Thinking in Business encourages us to concentrate on objective, rational thinking instead of self-limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. The result is an increased ability to deal effectively with tough situations and difficult people, in both business environments and personal lives. Together, rational thinking and the ten traits of a positive thinker can turn defeatist behavior into productive actions that will overcome the toughest of challenges with powerful, positive results. Best of all, these practical yet powerful concepts are applicable to businesspeople at all levels, disciplines, and functions within an organization, and have been adapted to appeal to people of all faiths.

Download or read book Love Life Again written by Tracie Miles and published by David C Cook. This book was released on 2018-08-01 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Love Life Again, Tracie reminds readers they each get only one life to live and inspires them not to take it for granted. Through compelling personal stories and powerful insights from Scripture, she helps women identify the stumbling blocks to their joy and offers tools and insights to take back control of their happiness. Every chapter ends with a practical call to action to motivate readers to begin loving their lives again. She also offers reflection questions, prayers, and creative ideas to help readers smile. Love Life Again helps readers learn how to live the abundant lives Jesus died for them to have, despite the circumstances they may face.

Download or read book Irresistible Faith written by Scott Sauls and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2019-01-22 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I love everything that Scott Sauls writes." -- Christine Caine What if Christians became the best advertisement for Jesus? Jesus said his followers would be a light to the world and a city on a hill--a warmly inviting, neighbor-loving, grace- and truth-filled destination for all. He envisioned his followers as life-giving neighbors, bosses, employees, and friends, the kind of people who return insults with kindness and persecution with prayers. Rooted in biblical convictions, they would extend love, empathy, and care to one another as well as to those who don't share their beliefs. Over time their movement would become irresistible to every nation, tribe, and tongue. Irresistible Faith is a blueprint for pursuing this vision in our current moment, of redeemed individuals and a renewed community working for a restored world. This is a way of being that gives a tired, cynical world good reason to pause and reconsider Christianity--and to start wishing it was true. "I miss the kind of church Scott describes in this book, and I don’t think I am alone." -- Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz and Building a StoryBrand "An important call to resist the urge to lobby and position ourselves, but rather to be driven by gospel-powered love." -- Raechel Myers, founder and CEO of She Reads Truth "An antidote to much that is wrong with our Western, American version of Christianity. " -- Gabe and Rebekah Lyons, authors and founders of Q

Download or read book Christus Vivit written by Pope Francis and published by Our Sunday Visitor. This book was released on 2019-04-04 with total page 109 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To young Christians of the world, Pope Francis has a message for you: "Christ is alive, and he wants you to be alive!" In his fourth apostolic exhortation, Christus Vivit, Pope Francis encapsulates the work of the 2018 synod of bishops on "Young People, The Faith, and Vocational Discernment." Pope Francis has always had a special relationship with young people, and in his fatherly love for you he shows that: You can relate to young people in Scripture who made a difference You identify with the Christ who is always young You face difficult issues in the world today You yearn for the truth of the Gospel You are capable of amazing things when you respond to the Gospel You learn and grow with help from the faithful of all generations You need bold and creative youth ministry You can discover who God made you to be You are urged to pray for discernment Christus Vivit is written for and to young people, but Pope Francis also wrote it for the entire Church, because, as he says, reflecting on our young people inspires us all. "May the Holy Spirit urge you on as you run this race. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us."