Engaging Today's Prodigal: Clear Thinking, New Approaches, and Reasons for Hope - Softcover

Barnier, Carol

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802405576 ISBN 13: 9780802405579

Publisher: Moody Publishers, 2012

Synopsis

Many families today experience the profound guilt and shame filled pain of seeing a child walk away from their faith and values. Churches and parents feel powerless to change the relationship and engage the prodigal in positive ways. Carol Barnier has the insight to help. She left the faith of her pastor father, became an active atheist, debated Christians, and explored a variety of worldviews before she found the truth in a relationship with Jesus.

But far more than her personal story, Engaging Today's Prodigal equips readers with a better understanding of a prodigal's motivation, useful responses that won't prevent reconciliation, clear boundaries to protect themselves and other children, actions to take when you know you have contributed to the problem, and the value of realistic expectations. With effective wit and humor, Carol provides material relevant for churches, parents and even the prodigals themselves.

Can your family or church interact with a prodigal in ways that build a relationship bridge that can provide a way back home when they are ready? Let Engaging Today's Prodigal equip you with clear, specific actions that can overcome the shame, hurt, and loss to bring real hope for the future.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Engaging Today’s Prodigal – BCC 1/27/12

(Headline) Change the Dance

Adult children who make poor life choices have been around since the garden of Eden. How do parents combat the fear, the guilt, and the shame caused when a son or daughter steps away from the plan God created for them? Their pain is fresh, real, and often . . . raw. So many families need ideas on what to do differently . . . what to do now that might change the cycle of angry words, bitter pronouncements, resentment, rejection, and regret that has played itself out yet again. But they need more than mere platitudes or “happy talk.” 

They need real, practical hope.

With wisdom and humor, former prodigal Carol Barnier takes you through lessons that she has learned firsthand. She discusses the myths you might be buying into, looks at a list of dos and don’ts that will serve to positively change the unproductive relationship patterns you may have fallen into, and offers some resources and helps, including what the church can do to assist rather than keep the issue hidden in the shadows.

Too many people need a better understanding of prodigals and ideas to develop and maintain a connection with them.  A connection that will, perhaps one day, be a bridge home. Take specific actions that make a difference, overcome the shame, hurt, and loss and bring real hope for the future!  This book may be the first step to “change the dance” between you and the prodigal you love.

“Carol’s analysis is insightful, her grasp of reality is true, her suggestions are so practical. The book is filled with love and truth, with help and hope and humor, and with the grace that makes redemption and restoration possible.” – Judy Douglass, author, speaker

                                                Campus Crusade for Christ

Founder, Prayer for Prodigals

Carol Barnier is a humorist and speaker, frequent radio guest and author, pastor's kid, Christian and . . . former atheist. These days she admits she takes her God, her faith and her theology very seriously, but herself? Not so much. To every task she brings along her slightly irreverent humor. But in her latest project – bringing tools and hope to the parents of prodigals – Carol rolls up her sleeves and shares ideas and stories from the heart and from her own journey. She lives in Connecticut with her husband of 25 years and her three kids.

About the Author

CAROL BARNIER is a humorist and speaker, frequent radio guest and author, Pastor's kid, Christian. . .and former atheist. These days she admits she takes her God, her faith and her theology very seriously, but herself. . .not so much. To every task she brings along her slightly irreverent humor, whether tackling the issues of being very ADHD, the discomfort at being asked to be the older woman in a Titus program (after all, Titus rhymes with phlebitis--proceed with caution), or how to love today's "woman at the well." But in her latest project--bringing tools and hope to the parents of prodigals, Carol rolls up her sleeves and shares ideas and stories from the heart and from her own journey. In every talk, every article, every interview and every book, it is her objective to not only inspire people, but to give them something they can take home and use immediately. She lives in Connecticut with her husband of 25 years and her three kids.

Edition details

• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0802405576
• ISBN 13: 9780802405579
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 176