Character Matters

In "Why Character Matters," a leader in the character education movement and author of the landmark book, "Educating for Character," Likona now lays out 100 specific strategies that will help parents as well as teachers instill children with the values that will help them lead good and successful lives.

DIV Restore the cornerstone of this country! Character Matters You are best remembered for your character! The virtues you value are the ones that leave a mark for the whole world to see. Character matters... It’s the evidence of God at work in your life! What can you do to restore character in your neighborhood, community or country? Character matters… America’s core convictions have been chipped away, but now it’s time for rebuilding. Step away from that “so what” mentality and restore those unfulfilled dreams. Character matters… Mark Rutland discusses nine specific qualities that everyone needs. You’ll learn what godly character looks and acts like, and how character undergirds and redeems every aspect of society. You cannot live long or well without it! You need character in your life. /div

Award-winning psychologist and educator Thomas Lickona offers more than one hundred practical strategies that parents and schools have used to help kids build strong personal character as the foundation for a purposeful, productive, and fulfilling life. Succeeding in life takes character, and Lickona shows how irresponsible and destructive behavior can invariably be traced to the absence of good character and its ten essential qualities: wisdom, justice, fortitude, self-control, love, a positive attitude, hard work, integrity, gratitude, and humility. The culmination of a lifetime’s work in character education from one the preeminent psychologists of our time, this landmark book gives us the tools we need to raise respectful and responsible children, create safe and effective schools, and build the caring and decent society in which we all want to live.

Pastor, it’s time to turn down the noise and focus on what matters. Today’s pastoral world is packed with books, conferences, and seminars teaching you different techniques for being an all-star pastor, growing your church quickly, and changing the world. But the key to true success is much harder and much simpler. Pastors are called to be faithful, to have exemplary character, and to love Jesus. Without faithfulness, their ministry ends up harming others rather than helping them. Churches need pastors with sound doctrine and a sound life. Character Matters was written to help you slow down, cut through the noise and distractions, and focus on what matters—the fruit of the Spirit. Each chapter is a guided, biblical meditation on one aspect of each piece of the fruit of the Spirit. As you reflect and focus on the simple things that matter, you’ll see your heart change and your ministry follow, slowly, surely, and by the power of the Spirit.

The charm of Ziggy is that he lives a sweetly simple life. Things often don't go his way, but he always perseveres and maintains his sunny outlook. Ziggy is Everyperson, the part of us that harbors warm feelings and good intentions but sometimes gets stepped on by a reckless world. In the great tradition of Ben Franklin, Roy Rogers, and Forrest Gump, Ziggy delivers his own homespun philosophy and retains his individualism and character, regardless of the transforming forces at work in a swiftly changing world. Since 1971, Ziggy has remained true to himself. The world has changed, and the topics addressed in the cartoon have changed along with it, but at his core, Ziggy himself has not changed. Readers wouldn't have it any other way. Comforted and inspired by his steadfastness, his tenacity, and his gentle spirit, Ziggy fans have been intensely loyal for over three decades-and that hasn't changed, either.Ziggy runs in more than 600 newspapers and reaches 75 million readers.

If life is a game, what are the rules of life? Is there a winner?" Comprising" more than 40 lessons based on reproducible handouts, this book of discussion starters presents anecdotes and debatable assertions, then follows up with open-ended questions. Many of the situations are mysterious, many of the questions intriguing, and only a few of the lessons can be resolved into clear-cut cases of right or wrong. The purpose is to prod students into actively exploring their personal, social, and community values. Many of the topics focus on everyday life at home and school (such as cheating, bullies, substitute teachers, responsibility to a team), while others begin with abstractions (giving and receiving, taking responsibility, intervening, controlling) but bring the abstractions to life by asking provocative questions. Grades 6-8. Illustrated. Good Year Books. 128 pages.

Former Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush and New York Times bestselling author of The Man I Knew, Jean Becker shares touching and pivotal life lessons from a leader that left a mark on people's hearts and souls. As America heads into what promises to be a tumultuous 2024 presidential election year, Character Matters will be a good reminder of the importance of character when defining true leadership. Colleagues, friends, and family will share their often very personal stories of what they learned from watching and listening to President Bush, including former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Secretary of State James A. Baker; stand-up comedian Dana Carvey; "Queen of Country" star Reba McEntire; American columnist for The New York Times Maureen Dowd; American novelist Brad Meltzer; presidential biographer Jon Meacham; former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom John Major; former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney; Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; the Oak Ridge Boys and best-selling author Christopher Buckley; and of course his grandchildren. Character Matters will illustrate how George Bush never stopped showing us the way to lead by example.