I Will Rise Above It

The spirit of depression does not need an invitation to dinner because it just shows up unexpectedly and brings nothing but turmoil and self-destruction. One never knows when the spirit of depression will visit, but it is my hope this book will prepare you through awareness, worship and the power of our Lord and Savior. If the devil wrote a book, it would be Murder He Wrote, because he comes to kill, steal, and destroy our hopes and dreams. I believe God has used me as a vehicle to write this book, so that we can make this declaration together: I will rise above it! This is not your end, but only your beginning. Lets get started.

Rise Above will encourage and motivate you to search your heart and strive for your ultimate goals: real freedom from the desire to overeat and a deep, lasting relationship with God. Gwen shares what she has learned through her relationship with God as she has watched The Weigh Down Workshop dramatically change and grow. She also includes stories of many people who, by replacing their focus on food with a passion for God, are experiencing a freedom and a joy they had never known.

Rise Above It: Spiritual Development for College Students is a textbook for a course in practical spirituality for young adults in general, and specifically for college students. In this course, "rise above it" refers to rising into higher states of consciousness through practicing universal spiritual principles. In these higher states, above ego concerns, students become more self-aware and gain a broader, deeper perspective on the issues that confront them. While this course does not deal directly with the pressing social issues of our day (violence, substance abuse, global warming, gender identity, poverty, etc.), it does encourage students to examine themselves in the light of universal truth. This leads to an awareness in which they can make decisions that are grounded in the highest human values. Using the Ten Commandments as a framework for universal spiritual principles, this book demonstrates how spiritual practice is the core of every major religion-regardless of differences in doctrine or ritual. Students will not only learn how the commandments occur in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, they will also have the opportunity to practice these spiritual principles in their own lives-especially in regard to the college experience. Each chapter has four parts: Part One: Introductory Story An opening story based on world history, famous literature, or current events, intended to introduce the spiritual practice to be discussed in the chapter. Part Two: World Scriptures A survey of the major religions, with a focus on how each religion contributes to a fuller and deeper understanding of the spiritual practice being studied that week. Many perspectives on the same truth reveal multiple facets of the same gem. Part Three: Journal Entries Excerpts from journal entries and weekly reports, selected from over 12,000 journal entries written by students who have taken this course over the past eighteen years. The book contains over 100 of these anonymous journal entries, reproduced with permission. Part Four: Suggestions for further reflection and practice. Many participants in this course have described themselves as "spiritual but not religious," "evangelical," "agnostic" and even "atheist." Regardless of how students initially describe themselves, they find this course tremendously useful in becoming a finer version of themselves. This course has been taught in a variety of formats for both undergraduate and graduate credit at Bryn Athyn College, the Graduate Theological Foundation, Lincoln University, Mercer University, and the Pacific School of Religion. It is recommended for courses in Practical Spirituality, Religious Ethics, Comparative Religion, Professional Ethics, Moral Life, and Ethical Decision-Making. It could also provide the framework for a First-Year Studies program. A 22-page index, along with a bibliography that includes multiple web sources is designed to help students pursue further research interests.

The war rages on. This book deals with all the little battles I have had to deal with as life moves forward. Written in many different styles, love, hate, humor and maybe even crazy. Whatever the style or theme, it helps me cope and continue to heal. This book is written from the heart, with no fancy words pulled from a thesaurus that nobody would understand. My hope is when you read this book, you become inspired. You are engaged in a life long struggle. Perhaps one of the pieces in this book is just the ammunition you need to fight another day. I truly believe that addicts or family and friends who have an addict in their lives, will relate to what I have written. My objective in writing this book was to inform. Not through clinical or text book jargon but with poetry. Talking and working with people with real life addiction was always the best therapy for me.

In Rise Above, a book of devotions, teen surfing star Bethany Hamilton shares with young girls her courage and enthusiasm for God, inspiring them to face life head on and stand strong in their faith.

Beyond Abuse: Moving Forward One Day At A Time is a collection of poems that expresses or shows a journey from a place of pain and darkness to a place of purpose and hope. Divided into three sections, witness the changes from a lowly caterpillar, a transformational cocoon and an emerging butterfly.

Poetry glorifying your undying Faith and the Glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Whenever you need your spirit and heart lifted in his name with visions of Heaven and Earth in ways to assuage your soul! Sit back and read my humble words of praise for our Lord.