Serving Time Serving Others

These inspiring and true stories reveal the restorative benevolence that is alive and well behind prison walls. Whether through a helping hand from another inmate, a gesture of kindness from a prison volunteer, or caring treatment and respect from a correctional officer, counselor, chaplain or other staff person, you will be uplifted as you read about amazing people who have performed humane acts in inhumane surroundings. Serving Time, Serving Others is for those who have ever spent time behind bars; who have ever had a loved-one imprisoned; who work or volunteer in a correctional facility; who have ever been a victim of crime; and, who understand that we all share the responsibility of helping others—no matter who they are, where they live, or what they've done. Each heartfelt story captures the essence of genuine kindness and illustrates that even the darkest pits of despair and hopelessness can be illuminated by just one good deed. Genuine kindheartedness has the miraculous power to heal, transform and inspire—even those behind bars. It can also foster forgiveness and a desire to change. Serving Time, Serving Others will leave you with a renewed appreciation of the restorative power of kindness and the resilience of the human spirit—whether or not you live or work behind the razor wire. “Laura and Tom Lagana have brought together an extraordinary collection of inspiring stories by ordinary people, uplifting our world in the darkest of places.” Jack Canfield, Co-creator, #1 New York Times best-selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul.

No one wants to end life's journey wondering: Did my life count for something? Did I have a reason for being here? The stories in this book show that for people of all ages, income levels, and expertise, the answer can be a resounding " Yes!" From extraordinary examples -- relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina or work in refugee camps in Afghanistan -- to localized, everyday actions, the authors demonstrate that living a life of service to others, and seeing how lives are changed as a result, establishes the meaning and significance all humans long for. Moreover, the book provides strategies for creating a purposeful life through daily service. The authors prove that the ability to find fulfillment is within reach, and that the discovery is waiting to be made in homes, workplaces, communities, neighborhoods, and schools all across America.

This book is about changing our world. It's not about a revolution, but it is revolutionary. It's about serving others--looking at others as people who could use a hand. It's about looking at our hands and realizing that they already contain what others need. This book starts with some assumptions--mainly that people really do want to help one another and make the world better, but they often don't know how to do it. It also assumes that people are looking for meaning and significance in their lives, but they don't know how to find them. They've tried accumulating wealth, tried increasing excitement, tried exercising authority, but those attempts left them empty.

What prompted the Samaritan man to pause? Why did Jesus prefer Marys actions over Marthas? And the seventy-two anonymous recruits in Luke 10, who were they? In our personal lives and as a church, a life geared toward service is the best way to live. So what does it look like to live a serve-oriented life? How would the church shift its influence if it loved through action? A life of service can be different. When we are tired, and our schedules are haggard and crazy. It's hard to put others before ourselves. And yet, at the end of the day we question the big things like purpose and contentment. We wonder, "How could this look different?" In SERVE, we dive into Luke 10 and discover that Jesus was the advocate and voice of SERVE. From watching Him, we learn what it looks like to serve with excitement, creativity, excellence, discipline, vigor and yes, even how to take rest stops along the way. Join the journey and learn how to put others first in a me-first world.

"UNSHAKABLE BELIEFS" is a comprehensive guide to strengthening and defending your faith in today's fast-paced and often challenging world. The book provides practical strategies and tools to help you build a solid foundation of faith that will withstand the test of time. Through chapters on prayer, Bible study, apologetics, fellowship, and more, you will gain the knowledge and confidence you need to defend your beliefs and live out your faith with conviction. With its insightful advice and encouragement, "Unshakable Beliefs" will help you develop a stronger, more resilient faith that can withstand the obstacles and temptations of daily life. Whether you are a seasoned believer or just starting out on your faith journey, this book is an essential resource for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with God and grow in their faith.

THIS BOOK CONTAINS 50 COLOR PHOTOS. Do you want a unique travelogue that advocates for volunteer adventures around the world as inspiration for serving others? Here is a resource that can provide encouragement for doing different things and motivation to consider the amazing experiences waiting for you. The book is organized thematically and not chronologically with full details of twenty-seven adventures with fifty color photographs. Chapter One is general information; Two uses trips to illustrate the Magic of First Events and Challenging Changes; Three introduces Friends and Family to the joy of volunteering with two guest contributors each reporting on their individual experience; Chapters Four through Nine cover specific topics- Archaeology, Education, Housing, Senior and Women's Programs, Miscellaneous Projects, and Support for the Cuban People. Chapter Ten describes the process I used for preparation to Start the Journey- (follow the template or use it for ideas to create your personal volunteering goals for serving others) and Appreciation for all who supported my passion for participating in domestic and international opportunities by sharing many of their experiences with me. Finally, the Supplements are a synopsis of highlights for an additional eight projects with interesting contributions. Since each trip is identified by number, location, solo or with a companion, and project type as a mini essay, it is not necessary to read it from page one to the end. Peruse the Table of Contents and select an order that appeals to you. Travel is not required, but it expedites the transformation of expanding your horizons. Turn Dreams of Volunteering into Reality. I noticed that after I have been to a country and there is a news article, I usually check it out. Reported news is frequently only unfortunate events (weather disasters, political upheavals, etc.), but I recall my time there and wonder how everyone is coping. Extensive time spent together reinforces similarities and minimizes differences. Now I want to share why I decided it was time to capture these experiences in a book. There are multiple reasons with creating a legacy by presenting a mini memoir for this aspect of my life which shares honors with inspiration and motivation for considering volunteer service including an education component. I have accumulated a repertoire of a variety of projects with destinations all over the world to use as samples of opportunity choices. I'll start at the beginning. My first international expedition is also the description of the first Memorable Event which I think is deposited in a vault in my mind that can be retrieved by a thought. I had never considered writing a book and throughout the journey I never kept a journal or any type of diary. However, as soon as I decided to feature this trip, it was if all these details were as vivid as if it happened yesterday instead of mid-1986. That pattern persisted while preparing all the chapters. The only document that I had was a spreadsheet tracking the forty-six trips in almost forty years. I was fortunate to have a valued colleague agree to be my Content Clarification editor whose job was to identify any situations, topics or words that needed to be defined in the text so the reader wasn't interrupted and required to search the internet for the answer. The goal was to find 100% of these situations and at least discover and fix most of them. Hope we were successful! I was an active participant during the evolution years of the volunteer choices and opportunities available for ordinary citizens. I continue to use 501(c)(3) designated non-profit organizations which utilize local resources, support the economy, and allow community projects to be maintained after the volunteers have departed; plus schedule tourist events that don't interfere with the volunteer activity.

The Road to Freedom is the path of hope for all of us who are stuck. With practical application and inspiration, Johnny Baker shares his story of recovering from alcoholism and offers the truths he has learned from his 25 years with Celebrate Recovery. Baker’s father, John, founded Celebrate Recovery when Baker was 15 years old. Later, Baker became involved with alcohol himself. Even though he saw his parents’ marriage heal and watched his dad become a new person, he had to experience his own journey of healing. Baker began the process of recovery as a young adult. Now he serves on the leadership team of Celebrate Recovery, sharing his testimony of how God brought him back home. In the years since leaving alcohol behind, Baker has witnessed thousands of other lives change through the power of Christ. Whether you are dealing with substance abuse, relational struggles, or eating challenges, or you simply want to let go of what is holding you back in life, you will find answers in The Road to Freedom. In addition to telling his own story, Baker offers ten principles of healing. These life lessons remind you that pain has a purpose, small and steady improvement lasts longer than overnight change, serving others leads to deeper healing, and facing your problems is the only way to heal. The Road to Freedom will help you move from coping with hurts, hang-ups, and habits to the hope and health that only Jesus can bring.

Church growth experts Stetzer and Dodson explain why most congregations plateau and then eventually decline, and they reveal how to revive a body of believers. Readers can learn the importance of lighting a spiritual fire, intentional evangelism, making disciples, forming small groups, and then watch pews fill up again. (Church Life)