Kate Bruce argues that imagination can help to engage the hearer in a sermon which seeks to evoke rather than to inform. Imagination frames how we see the world and ourselves in it. As such it has a vital role in how preachers see the preaching task itself, which in turn affects how we go about the task.

God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage to captivate them for Himself. In the arid wilderness He planned to reveal His nature and ways to them, but they drew back. How different are we today? Many confess the Lordship of Jesus and acknowledge His saving power, yet like Israel, they've drawn back. Rather than pursuing His heart they have cleaved to this world's form of worship-the worship of self. As a result we have changed the image of Jesus to be like us. Fire can alter these images. The fire we need is found in the Holiness of God. God is calling us to draw nearer still...to tremble on Mt. Zion...transformed to touch others.

Start with the heart to build a school climate in which achievement will flourish. In this easy-to-read, inspiring book, educational consultant and former high school principal Michelle Trujillo shows how positive school culture is anchored in social and emotional learning as a way of being. She guides educators to explore their own SEL aptitudes, inspires schoolwide investment in a philosophy of connection, and offers ample tools, strategies, and solutions for integrating five SEL competencies into schools. Jumpstart conscientious connections in your school community and create a foundation for trust that allows students and educators to feel appreciated, effective, and productive.

It has been said that the day of the sermon is over. Kate Bruce argues that the day of the poorly conceived, ill prepared, dull, disconnected, boring, irrelevant, authoritarian, yawn-inducing, patronizing, pontificating, pointless and badly delivered sermon, is indeed over. Imagination can help to engage the hearer in a sermon which seeks to evoke rather than to inform. Imagination frames how we see the world and ourselves in it. As such it has a vital role in how preachers see the preaching task itself, which in turn affects how we go about the task. A theology of imagination is presented to demonstrate the central importance of imagination in the life of faith. Allied to this is an analysis of the sacramental nature of preaching and the role of imagination in enabling the ‘aha, now I get it’ moment of sacramental ‘seeing-as’. Connected to enabling new seeing, preaching in the lyrical voice is defined and discussed along with the importance of preachers shaping sermons for the ear.

INSPIRING STORIES OF FOURTEEN VISIONARIES WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD—AND A BOLD CALL TO ACTION TO MOTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS There’s Amy Lehman, a gutsy single mother who is building a floating health clinic on Lake Tanganyika; Jimmie Briggs, a journalist campaigning to stop violence against girls and women; and Jacob Lief, a young American who founded a school for street children in South Africa. You will discover how Josh Nesbit, Isaac Holeman, and Nadim Mahmud are connecting rural patients to hospitals using cellphone technology, how Susana De Anda is bringing fresh water to the migrant workers in California’s San Joaquin Valley, and how Andeisha Farid is establishing, in the face of war, orphanages for Afghanistan’s child victims of war and poverty. These are just some of the stories that will inspire you. Visionaries don’t wait for others to take action. They step out. They are brave. They walk the walk. And they connect with others in deep and real ways. Jill Iscol’s message is that everyone has the talent and compassion to make the world a better place. Hearts on Fire is a call to action for all of us. Praise for Hearts on Fire “Attention must be paid to these lives and these stories. In Jill Iscol’s capable hands, their stories offer us hope—just when we need it.”—Brian Williams, NBC News “What inspiring stories of people who have made meaningful lives through service and sacrifice—one person at a time. These are our world leaders!”—Richard Gere “Hearts on Fire is one of the most inspiring books I’ve read.”—Tina Brown, editor-in-chief, The Daily Beast and Newsweek “Clear and compelling . . . I know you will be inspired by the visionaries in Hearts on Fire.”—President Bill Clinton “A powerful call to action for each of us to marry passion with purpose and act boldly in the quest for a more just and sustainable world.”—Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green “Powerful and eloquent, Hearts on Fire is a passionate and infectious invitation to get involved and help make the world a better place.”—Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University “A beautifully appointed treasure box filled with inspiration and possibility. You cannot read this book without wanting to do more.”—Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of Acumen Fund “A desperately needed antidote for those discouraged by the dysfunctional politics that have left so many on our planet vulnerable and voiceless.”—Billy Shore, founder and executive director of Share Our Strength “Hearts on Fire reminds us that we need to dream again, inspire again, and act again.”—Wes Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Wes Moore “Vivid, down-to-earth, and well-told, Hearts on Fire will comfort and inspire anybody trying to do a little bit to make this world a more connected and compassionate place.”—Ethan Nichtern, founder of The InterDependence Project, and author of One City: A Declaration of Interdependence

This fun, rhyming read for parents and children teaches how to ignite a child's greatness, no matter how challenging the child.

As a teen, Mike Papale had one dream: to play college basketball. He was laser-focused—training like an Olympic hopeful to make his dream reality. Out of nowhere, his world changed. August 24, 2006, while coaching a summer camp basketball game, he slumped over, unresponsive, turning blue within minutes. He was 17, and had gone into cardiac arrest. With no AED on site, he was given a one in a million chance to survive. He was soon diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, or HCM, which, left undiagnosed and untreated, can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. At the time, he was crushed—processing the life-altering news he would never be able to play competitive basketball again. He quickly realized he was fortunate to be alive, and redefined his life’s purpose. A Big Heart brings the reader on Mike’s story of reinvention, hope, and survival. It is guaranteed to inspire readers to battle adversity and attack their dreams!