Cracked Open Never Broken

When she was six-years-old, Iman Gatti witnessed the tragic death of her mother. This began a journey in which her childhood and culture were stripped away from her only to be replaced by a decade of abuse and neglect at the hands of those appointed to protect her. Yet in this darkness, Iman held on to the light within her. A light her mother taught her was far too bright to ever be extinguished. In Cracked Open - Never Broken, Iman takes readers on a journey through a childhood of loss, heartbreak, and isolation as she clings to the hope of a life she always dreamed of. Her memoir is for anyone who refuses to succumb to the role of the victim, and instead chooses to live with an unbreakable spirit and overflowing compassion. Through sheer determination, strength, and resilience Iman overcomes the unimaginable. She is proof that, when faced with extreme suffering, the power of the human spirit can endure and transcend. Iman believes we all possess the power of forgiveness and that we can transform our trauma into triumph.

Two souls separated, only to return to each other a decade later. Their foundation was a lie. When Andi met Colby, she was sure he was the one for her. His reckless bad boy ways only pulled her closer. As an aspiring lawyer bartending her way through college, she was strangely drawn to him and his shady ways. She was certain he was the one for her--until he disappeared. Dominic loved Andi with everything he had, but how could he be with her when she didn't even know his name? His days undercover as Colby were some of the best--and most dangerous--of his life. However, once he made the bust, his life as Colby was over and so was his time with Andi. Ten years later, their paths cross again. This time Andi meets Dominic as himself. Newly divorced and constantly spurned by love, will she be able to open her heart to him again? And can Dominic earn her forgiveness and win Andi back when their previous relationship was based on a lie?

"This book will make a profound difference for the church in this moment in history." — The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry Sometimes it takes disruption and loss to break us open and call us home to God. It’s not surprising that a global pandemic and once-in-a-generation reckoning with white supremacy—on top of decades of systemic decline—have spurred Christians everywhere to ask who we are, why God placed us here and what difference that makes to the world. In this critical yet loving book, the author explores the American story and the Episcopal story in order to find out how communities steeped in racism, establishment, and privilege can at last fall in love with Jesus, walk humbly with the most vulnerable and embody beloved community in our own broken but beautiful way. The Church Cracked Open invites us to surrender privilege and redefine church, not just for the sake of others, but for our own salvation and liberation.

A WOMAN’S BATTLE WITH THE BILLION-DOLLAR BABY BUSINESS Cracked Open is Miriam Zoll's eye-opening account of growing into womanhood with the simultaneous opportunities offered by the U.S. women's movement and new discoveries in reproductive technologies. Influenced by the pervasive media and cultural messages suggesting that science had finally eclipsed Mother Nature, Zoll postponed motherhood until the age of 40. When things don't progress as she had hoped, she enters a world of medical seduction and bioethical quagmires. Desperate to conceive, she surrenders to unproven treatments and procedures only to learn that the odds of becoming a mother through reproductive technologies are far less than she and her generation had been led to believe.

So many of us feel lost. We don't know where to turn. We don't trust ourselves or those around us. We're destabilized by uncertainty. We feel disappointed, disoriented, and disillusioned. We're overwhelmed. We lean too easily on fear instead of faith. There's a reason for that. It's because we don't know how to cope with Change. But Change is the very definition of what it means to live because life is experienced only through Change. So what happens when we resist, defy, or avoid Change? We interrupt the natural order and create disorder in our lives. The very fabric of our reality is imbued with Change. When we defy it, we defy ourselves. We lose our way. This process unfolds simply and predictably over time: Change appears in the form of something unforeseen. We feel uncertain, anxious, frustrated, worried, and fearful at this unexpected turn of events. We resist Change by creating stories of how we think things should've turned out. Our stories cause us to suffer because they are incongruent with reality. Suffering is disorienting and makes us give up our power of free will. When we feel powerless to choose, we abandon ourselves and feel lost. Change can be scary to experience, difficult to process, and harder yet to accept. But it's also the law of life. Whether it's a brutal breakup, a devastating death, a jarring job loss, a debilitating diagnosis, or a perilous pandemic; Change has a way of breaking open our hearts for something bigger, better, and more beautiful to enter our lives. But only if we know how to converse with it. In this thought-provoking self-help debut, Rackliffe shows you how to not just embrace Change, but completely transform your relationship with it--diving deep into the four steps of his RACE Model for Change: 1. Resist one thing only: Your resistance to Change. 2. Accept what you cannot Change so you may let go. 3. Choose to Change what you can by reclaiming your power to choose. 4. Embrace Change by remaining open to it in the future. This is how you find your way back to your true self when you feel lost. First, you stop identifying with the pain of your past. You quit telling yourself stories about how horrific or painful it was. You refuse to be a victim any longer. Next, you embrace your path of highest good in the present. This means using the light of your awareness to make more conscious choices that will support and nourish you, that will help you accept your opportunities to grow. The final step is to stop resisting Change in the future. When something unexpected happens that triggers you, do not react. Learn to lean on your faith. Trust that what happens is for your ultimate benefit even if you can't fathom how. Accept every unforeseen plot twist and embrace every perceived obstacle as an impetus to evolve. This is what it means to heal. This is what it means to find peace. This is what it means to truly live. As Rackliffe writes in the opening pages: "You've been guided to this book for a reason. If you've been looking for a sign, wishing for clarity, or hoping for direction, this is it. Your life is speaking to you through the words on these pages. Should you choose to listen, you will rediscover the truth of who you are. Should you accept this assignment, you will awaken the parts of you that you thought were lost forever. A homecoming of the soul awaits those who are brave enough to choose this path. All you have to do is give yourself permission to embrace it." From the pain of resistance to the peace of acceptance, and from the power of choosing to the bliss of being open to life, this is a voyage of resilience and redemption, fear and forgiveness, judgment and joy. Follow the RACE model for Change and you will always find your way back home to you. Choose to embark on this journey and you will learn to befriend Change. Choose the path of highest good laid out for you and you will finally be able to say, "It's Good to See Me Again."

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This inspiring guide to healing and growth illuminates the richness and potential of every life, even in the face of loss and adversity—now updated with additional toolbox materials and a new preface by the author In the more than twenty-five years since she co-founded Omega Institute—now the world’s largest center for spiritual retreat and personal growth—Elizabeth Lesser has been an intimate witness to the ways in which people weather change and transition. In a beautifully crafted blend of moving stories, humorous insights, practical guidance, and personal memoir, she offers tools to help us make the choice we all face in times of challenge: Will we be broken down and defeated, or broken open and transformed? Lesser shares tales of ordinary people who have risen from the ashes of illness, divorce, loss of a job or a loved one—stronger, wiser, and more in touch with their purpose and passion. And she draws on the world’s great spiritual and psychological traditions to support us as we too learn to break open and blossom into who we were meant to be.

In this young adult novel debut, the story of a girl too smart for her own good who, after one tragic night, decides to reject the popular life in exchange for one of solitude. Perfect Parker Fadley isn't so perfect anymore. She's quit the cheerleading squad, she's dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she's failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she's playing games...but what they don't know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn't something she can say out loud. It isn't even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her. “Cracked Up To Be gives you Parker, her world, her friends, straight up, no chaser. You won't forget her.” —Kathe Koja author of Kissing The Bee

Baking delicious treats does not have to be an intimidating process. In fact, it can be easier and less mystifying than many home bakers think. Chef Gail Sokol breaks down the art of baking into easy and understandable steps while encouraging home bakers to create an array of spectacular treats. Together with her delicious recipes that include photographs and links to YouTube how-to videos, Sokol delves into the science of baking, shares common sense tips, and offers lessons drawn from her own experiences. Home bakers will learn the most important ingredients in baking, the proper tools, and how to make scrumptious treats such as chocolate cream pie with brled marshmallow topping, ricotta zeppole with salted caramel sauce, chocolate babka, ice cream-filled cream puffs, and nutty praline tuiles. Baking with Success teaches home bakers how to execute tasty desserts, have fun in the kitchen, and embark on a rewarding lifelong baking journey.