Herbert Anderson

Being in Ministry

Church Leadership & Ministry

“"As if he were painting on one of his canvases, Doug Purnell has created an amazingly detailed landscape that includes his own struggles to reclaim his call to ministry amidst the lived experiences of the people of St. Ives Parish. The reader is invited inside an intimate, fiercely honest reflection on pastoral practice as we listen to a pastor listen to himself for the sake of being in ministry authentically.”

Creating a Healthier Church

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Every congregation that has struggled to maintain a balance between individuality and togetherness, closeness and distance, unity and difference, and every leader who has determined to stay out of the emotional muddles of congregational life will find help in this book.”

Empowering Couples

Marriage, Family & Relationships

“Empowering Couples is an excellent text, one for which I have been waiting. Duane Bidwell has pulled together three powerful resources—Narrative Therapy, John Gottman's long-term research on couples, and desert spirituality—to create a comprehensive and practical model for spiritual care with couples experiencing struggles and challenges in their lives together. This book is uniquely valuable and is a must read for seminary students, pastoral counselors, and parish pastors." —Christie Cozad Neuger United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities "Duane Bidwell combines the unique understanding of passions from the desert mothers and fathers with the insights of marriage and family therapist John Gottman to create a consultative approach for spiritual care that aims to empower couples to reframe conflict as an external force and rewrite their narratives so that preferred meanings can emerge in order to refashion their relationship as a covenant friendship.”

Healing in the Bible

Theology

“Healing in the Bible is a bold, countercultural word for people of faith who struggle to understand how God heals even as they live in a society preoccupied with infinite expectations of health and health care. Traditional wisdom about healing from Zimbabwe, such as ‘I am well if you are well,’ is woven together with biblical insights about health and healing in new and fresh ways. Throughout this appreciative reading of biblical stories of healing, one theme is constant: the cross will color all Christian ideas of health and healing. Healing in the Bible is a book that informs and inspires and even heals as it transforms.”

In the Midst of Chaos

Marriage, Family & Relationships

“This absorbing book transforms the chaos of parenting into an arena for spiritual practice in which parents discover the ‘clearest truths about our deepest values.’”

Living Devotions

“If you like minestrone soup, you will enjoy this book. It is a rich mixture of social history, a study of the practices of devotional piety, storytelling, and theological reflection--all done with respect and a spirit of appreciative inquiry toward the good people of Mary Star of the Sea Church and San Pedro, California.”

Losses in Later Life, Second Edition

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“Continues to be a timely and helpful book. There is an empathetic tone throughout, even though the book is a bold challenge to grieve for the sake of growth and maturity and faithfulness . . . An important book.”

Steward of Stories

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Pastor Post, as she is known to many, has written a boldly transparent, 'experience near' book that connects the Christian story and the life of faith through real stories and wise reflection. Sometimes stories conceal. Not so here. These stories reveal a faithful presence, a compassionate heart, a rapier mind, and a ministry of imperfect excellence. These are encouraging words of grace for ministers young and old. Because Pastor Post is a consummate wordsmith, every reader will encounter common questions and familiar themes of life and faith in fresh ways.”

Trauma and Evil

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“Jeffrey Means and Mary Ann Nelson have woven a rich and evocative dialogue between object relations and a theology of personal evil. Trauma and Evil is an excellent resource for both pastoral care and theological reflection.”

Trauma and Grief

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“Trauma and Grief is an eminently readable book with abundant insights, generously sprinkled with engaging stories. It will certainly be a valued resource for ministers and other caregivers as they accompany people through grief and trauma. This book may also be a trustworthy companion for anyone on the journey from trauma—through grief work—to spiritual growth and a renewed understanding of God’s compassionate presence.”