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There's a ticking time bomb in your ministry. Is it you? With vivid pictures of both self-destructive patterns and reconstructive grace, counselor Michael MacKenzie helps pastors avert moral failures and repair shipwrecked ministries. Addressing issues like shame, burnout, sexual misconduct, and more, this resource will help you become both the pastor and the person God intends you to be.

2008 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title From beer ads in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue to four-year-old boys and girls playing soccer; from male athletes' sexual violence against women to homophobia and racism in sport, Out of Play analyzes connections between gender and sport from the 1980s to the present. The book illuminates a wide range of contemporary issues in popular culture, children's sports, and women's and men's college and professional sports. Each chapter is preceded by a short introduction that lays out the context in which the piece was written. Drawing on his own memories as a former athlete, informal observations of his children's sports activities, and more formal research such as life-history interviews with athletes and content analyses of sports media, Michael A. Messner presents a multifaceted picture of gender constructed through an array of personalities, institutions, cultural symbols, and everyday interactions.

Uncover the intricate artistry behind Geoffrey Chaucer's storytelling in this compelling study that redefines our understanding of his narratives and their profound social and moral dimensions. This book offers a fresh perspective on Chaucer's role as a storyteller, emphasizing his dedication to the collective wisdom of "olde bokes" and the communal experience of reading. Through a blend of historical and theoretical exploration, alongside close readings of The Canterbury Tales, it reveals how Chaucer's narratives create a shared space for reflection, blending medieval traditions with universal themes. By exploring concepts like "parabolic listening" and the moral implications of storytelling, the book connects Chaucer's tales to their historical roots while showcasing their enduring relevance. Challenging long-held assumptions, Chaucer and the Art of Storytelling argues that Chaucer's works are not cryptic puzzles but accessible narratives designed to inspire collective understanding and individual self-awareness. Through in-depth analyses of tales like the Merchant's Tale, the Wife of Bath's Tale, and the Parson’s Tale, the book illustrates Chaucer's ability to balance humor, morality, and social commentary. A must-read for anyone interested in medieval literature, this study illuminates Chaucer’s narratives as living texts that connect readers across time, offering both historical insight and a celebration of the timeless art of storytelling. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1988.