Balancing Acts: Obligation, Liberation, and Contemporary Christian Conflicts

Balancing Acts: Obligation, Liberation, and Contemporary Christian Conflicts
Average customer rating:

Prophetic Probing and Dialectic Tension

An Important book for us in the pews and pulpits

The Road to Christian Unity

The Missing Piece

Dialogues in the Pews

Balancing Acts: Obligation, Liberation, and Contemporary Christian Conflicts
Henry G. Brinton
Manufacturer: CSS Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0788023861

Customer Reviews:

Prophetic Probing and Dialectic Tension.......2007-04-02

Henry Brinton has been tackling challenging issues for many years. His church, in Northern Virginia, is in the midst of the DC Beltway ethos of compromise and euphemism, however, he maintains a uniquely clear and accessible perspective. He has honed his insight as a frequent contributor to the Washington Post.

Pastor Brinton provides a gyroscope for many of the dividing issues within mainline Protestantism. Following traditions like Jacques Ellul - he uses the tension between issues of Liberty and Obligation as glue instead of as a wedge.

Henry provides a perspective that every lay person needs in order to arrive at a sure foundation in uncertain times.

An Important book for us in the pews and pulpits.......2006-09-17

I want to commend Henry Brinton for his successful effort to define the critical issues the Presbyterian Church (USA) and other "main line" churches face today and into the near future and encouraging us to zero in on these issues in the every day life of the church. John McLellan

The Road to Christian Unity.......2006-09-13

I have long enjoyed Henry Brinton's columns in The Washington Post and USA Today. Balancing Acts is another outstanding example of Brinton's understanding of the spiritual crisis in America created by our own diversity and certainty in our own opinions. This is honest, straightforward, and necessary talk about the division so prevalant in Christianity on both theological and social issues. Brinton does not simply offer these topics lip service--he offers practical examples of how to bring about unity in a faith divided. This should be required reading for pastors and lay people alike.

The Missing Piece.......2006-09-07

Pastor Brinton does an excellent job of describing Obligation (the individual with God) and Liberation (the individual with the unknown masses). What is missing is the individual with family.
Our God has revealed Himself to us as Father.
Not Hermit-Monk (Obligation) or social-Christian reformer (Liberation).
Our culture minimizes the role of Father and reduces it to a sitcom. Thereby, the clever devil undermines the paradigm of God the Father.
I challenge Pastor Brinton to write a book on "Intentionally Unfruitful". How can we moderns understand God's revelation if we had no father, were abandoned by a father, or choose to flee from responsibilities of fatherhood?

Dialogues in the Pews.......2006-08-07

Henry G. Brinton, pastor sequentially of two medium to large mainstream churches in the northern Virginia suburbs, writes with engaging nuance of one of the most complex jobs around.

"What does God require of pastors?" seems to be the underlying question. Brinton's answer: "balancing acts." The image evoked for me was of a high-wire artist, juggling a red-hot pole with a cluster of strongly held beliefs dealing with "obligation"--purity, moral clarity, exclusiveness--on one end, and a cluster of beliefs-in-progress, dubbed "liberation"--diversity, charity, inclusiveness--on the other end.

These theological tensions, as mediated by pastors, are the meat of the book, "a balancing act between the truth of God and the grace of God." (Brinton, quoting Rev. Dr. Susan Andrews, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (PC(USA)).

The analytic use of moral categories like Obligation (Abraham, covenant) and Liberation (Moses, exodus) is designed to help us understand a source of conflicting group passions in theologically and demographically diverse congregations, in cultural politics, and ecumenism. In this genre, the Berkeley linguist, George Lakoff's "strict father"/"nurturant parent" come to mind, or Jack Haberer's five types of "God Views."

Brinton opens up (a) mismatches between young pastor expectations and deep-seated ways of doing that involve comfort, maintenance, tradition; (b) the impact of wholesale incorporation of immigrant groups into progressive churches; (c) the ambivalent reception by committees on the preparation for ministry of the flood of women inquirers and candidates; (d) government faith-based involvement; (e) relation with other denominations; (f) gays and lesbians; (g) youth and mission; (h) the unchurched and self-help spirituality; and (i) living in a nation at war.

The text is sprinkled with insights from the Pulpit & Pew research project at Duke (where 46-year-old Brinton did his undergraduate work; his M.Div. is from Yale), and from his wide-ranging reading. Parishioneres and leading lights, academic and ecumenical, serve as quotable resources in Brinton's conversation with the reader.

Things 'get in balance', in Brinton's view, when people work together, learn to respect one another in outreach and church work, and in loving, joyful worship. The chapters are thematic and lend themselves to good small group discussion.

Finding True Balance: Great Balancing Acts of Life

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A Rich Philosophy On Life - No Matter Your Income Bracket

Finding True Balance: Great Balancing Acts of Life
James Levoy Sorenson
Manufacturer: Bookcraft
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Personal Transformation | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

A Rich Philosophy On Life - No Matter Your Income Bracket.......2002-11-20

Many know of Jim Sorensen the billionaire, even if he is a very private man. But in this one of a kind book, he opens a window into his life, his philosophy, and his prescriptions for happy living. "Finding True Balance" is hardly an elitist discourse in academic philosophy, but it combines the wisdom of a well-lived life with the well-written insight and charm that I find unique to Sorensen. There's almost a sense of sitting at the feet of a well-traveled sage as he expounds on the simple but often overlooked truths about business, family, wealth, religion, charity, and health. Thank you, Jim Sorensen, for sharing your wisdom.

Balancing Act: How Managers Can Integrate Successful Careers and Fulfilling Personal Lives (Jossey Bass Business and Management Series)

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Balancing Act: How Managers Can Integrate Successful Careers and Fulfilling Personal Lives (Jossey Bass Business and Management Series)
Joan R. Kofodimos
Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1555425089

Book Description

Examines the shifting demographic, economic, and social forces--the changing gender roles, harsher economic realities, and dual career families--that pull managers and executives out of balance. Draws on ten years of research, consulting, and training on the topic to describe the cost of imbalance to individuals and organizations and tells how to restore equilibrium. Provides numerous checklists and self-assessment tools to help determine the degree and the nature of imbalance in our lives and in our organizations. Outlines a step-by-step process for personal change that can lead to an improved quality of life and provides individuals with a blueprint for initiating organizational changes that jointly optimize personal development and organizational effectiveness.

Book Description

Working adults desperately searching for ways to ""do it all"" will discover how to let go of guilt and start blending personal priorities into their workday. Managers and executives will find dozens of suggestions for fulfilling their employees' needs for personal time and space, from family-friendly policies to everyday acts of kindness.

Instead of feeling guilty about spending the bulk of their time and energy on their careers, readers will recognize and accept where they are in their lives today, and start blending their personal life with their worklife. Featuring dozens of simple, creative, low-cost strategies, Balancing Acts gives busy, stressed-out professionals permission to work hard and to every day find opportunities to honor family and friends, nourish spiritual growth, give back to their communities, and enhance their health. Managers and executives will discover how to create the kind of supportive environment that promotes employee well-being and leads to long-term company loyalty.

Customer Reviews:

This Book is Fully Loaded.......2003-06-29

Barbara Glanz is balanced. Well, no she's not either. Barbara Glanz is multi-focused, coming from her heart (the soft stuff) as well as from her head (loads of information and advice). Result: she produced a heart-felt tool to enrich your life.

The title is deceiving, but is clarified in the subtitle. Balancing Acts. Hey, we're all trying to be better balanced in today's rush-rush life where work, family, personal, spiritual, and community aspects compete for our time, attention, and devotion. Glanz's advice? Give it up. That elusive "balance" won't happen. Instead, blend your work and non-work lives so the ever-changing combination works for you. The formula will be different for each of us, and many of us need some good ideas about how to design our own personal mix. As the subtitle tells us, this easy-to-use volume delivers more than 250 blending ideas for your consideration.

The chapters are well-organized, following an introduction that nicely sets the stage for why this issue is so important-for people like you and me and for employers. Following a foundation chapter and a section on understanding the various facets of our lives, the text is organized into chapters exploring ideas to blend work with family, friends, health, spirit, and service. A summary chapter pulls it all together.

The writing is conversational in tone; this is a very comfortable book to read. Call-outs and cartoons enhance the ease and fun of the experience. Supplementing the chapters are an appendix of questions that will prompt productive discussions with family (and yourself). You'll also find pages of resources, including notes and a bibliography that will empower you to continue growing even beyond where this book will take you.

Expect to mark up the pages, turn down the corners, and keep this book around for a while. This attachment means you'll probably purchase additional copies for your friends, relatives, and co-workers. Be sure to inscribe the copy you give to your boss!

BALANCE YOUR LIFE AND WORK!.......2003-05-11

Barbara Glanz is a tried and true author who speaks to your heart as well as to your head - and she has done it again! "Balancing Acts" is a practical how-to book that offers specific, proven techniques for dealing with the guilt associated with trying to do everything you feel responsible for in your life.

Glanz looks realistically at the typical situations most of us have to cope with at different points in our lives. She provides creative, proven solutions for blending work and life along with the guilt-busters that will allow you to apply these ideas guiltfree and change the way you live, and enjoy, your life.

This is not your basic read. As usual, Barbara has based this, her sixth, book on deep research, which is impeccable, as well as her own personal experiences. You will find this book entertaining as well as enlightening. Includes helpful exercises and lists great additional resources.

Authentic and immediately usable. Highly recommended.

Balancing Act (Heidi Elliott Series #1)
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HIlarious, Honest and Hopeful

Humor and Heart

A MOTHER'S CHOICE: WHEN BABY MAKES THREE

I laughed, I sighed, but never was I bored!

Entertaining mom-lit

Balancing Act (Heidi Elliott Series #1)
Kimberly Stuart
Manufacturer: Navpress Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1600060765

Book Description

As maternity leave comes to an end for Heidi Elliott, so does virtually everything she thought she knew.

Customer Reviews:

HIlarious, Honest and Hopeful.......2007-04-01

What a fun read! I read Kimberly Stuart's debut novel while in bed with a bad case of bronchitis--and it was the perfect antidote to the "gloomies." As a mom who has juggled work, kids, hubby and church responsibilities, I understood the main character, Heidi, and her dilemma...to keep juggling, or to let a few balls drop and see what happens. Stuart's tone is just-right, and I laughed out loud several times (always a good sign). I also loved the fact that this novelist wasn't afraid to let her characters say what women really think...and I was glad her publisher let her! Kudos on this book. I'm looking forward the the sequel!

Humor and Heart .......2007-02-07

In Kimberly Stuart's debut novel, Balancing Act, we find Heidi Elliot loving motherhood, but itching to get back to teaching high school Spanish. After all, how hard will it be to balance both jobs? Mothers have managed for years.

Heidi soon finds out. Even though Nora is an 'easy' baby, it's overwhelming at times to balance motherhood, teaching, and being the wife she wants to be to her husband, Jake - who seems to be getting more than enough attention from one of his new clients. Throw in Heidi's old boyfriend who just moved into her neighborhood, and you have the kind of chaotic life with which all wives and mothers can identify.

As a mom, I enjoyed the realism along with hilarious moments Ms. Stuart interspersed. I could feel Heidi's panic, the stress, and the ever-present question of, "What do I do now?" With so many choices to make, Heidi needs more than practical advice, and finds the grace and wisdom to make right choices in an unlikely place - the dreaded "Moms' Group" she'd felt pressured to attend.

Ms. Stuart writes about marriage and motherhood with great insight and humor. Balancing Act is smart and fun. I look forward to more novels from Kimberly Stuart.

A MOTHER'S CHOICE: WHEN BABY MAKES THREE.......2007-01-26

Here's a book I could not put down. Stay-home moms and working moms alike will adore Kimberly Stuart's breakout novel. Don't we all know how hard it is to balance love, marriage, friendship, and career? But oh, how the challenges mount when baby makes three.

Heidi Elliot has it all - an award-winning career as a Spanish teacher, a cute home in a historical part of town, and a handsome hubby who loves the Lord. Six-month baby Nora sparkles with laughter and joy. (Insert Jaws music here.)

Then along comes a gorgeous, wealthy client who pays a little too much attention to Heidi's husband, Jake. And surprise! Heidi's old flame moves down the street, working as a freelance photographer for his big-shot New York editors. Meanwhile, Heidi's breast-pump stays in action as she's gone back to work early to solve a crisis. How will she cope?

Stuart's plot is full of pizzazz, giving tribute to every woman's need for the bonds of sisterhood.

-- Christian Women Online Book Buzz

I laughed, I sighed, but never was I bored!.......2006-12-16

Stuart has aptly named this book. She employs a perfect balance of humor and tender moments in this rollicking good read. I carried it everywhere with me for two days. Whether standing in line at the grocery store or picking up the dry-cleaning, I was reading and either laughing or sighing, but never was I bored.

Balancing Act is delightful and fresh. The spiritual thread is honest and definitely not preachy. It's a book a non-Christian could enjoy without rolling their eyes. Heidi's sarcastic wit lightens the moments that could easily have become schmaltzy or lumbering.

Like a virtuoso, Stuart delivered the denouement with a fresh approach that rang with honesty--a huge debut novel, in this reviewer's opinion. Balancing Act receives Novel Reviews' highest recommendation.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
www.anemulligan.com

Entertaining mom-lit.......2006-12-10

While it's been almost too long for me to remember what a pain *ahem* joy it was having a baby in the house, I enjoyed reading this witty story about a new mom practically going crazy trying to "do it all". I must admit it brought back painful memories I thought I had stuffed away and some cherished ones as well.

Kim Stuart does a superb job of getting inside a mom's mind, letting us feel the frustration of a world crashing in and the hope of future sanity. Even if it did have maybe too happy of an ending, it was very well-written. I recommend it to young moms everywhere.

Balancing Act: How Women Can Lose Their Roles & Find Their Callings

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Pressures women face?
Transforming
Coming Home
Best work on women's roles and biblical teaching in years
A must-read book for all Christian women

Balancing Act: How Women Can Lose Their Roles & Find Their Callings
Mary Ellen Ashcroft
Manufacturer: InterVarsity Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Ethics | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0830819576

Customer Reviews:

Pressures women face?.......2002-06-03

Mz Ashcroft clothes this book in scant scripture which leads one to believe that a woman's calling is only "real" if it includes her leaving home and children to "do" something more worthy. The scripture she chooses - the Mary/ Martha scene - is drawn out to stretching point. Mz Ashcroft ignores pertinent scriptures like Titus 2 verses 4 & 5. One finishes the book thinking what is a "calling"? Also, as a white South African woman I took offense at the comments about such. It smacks of the very judgemental attitude that the author professes to eschew.

Transforming.......2002-04-16

Unlike much Christian culture which thrives on creating a forced dichotomy between the career women and the stay-at-home mom, Ashcroft's enlightening book transcends the traditional arguments by re-focusing on the Word of God and what it tells us about God's plans and expectations of women. Finally, we have a book that acknowledges that a single women is a valuable assett to God, regardless of whether marriage is ever in her future; that God's ultimate calling for mothers is not to be their children's personal assistant and a craft guru; that women are created different but equal; that women have different callings at different stages of our lives; and that none of these calling will look the same for any two women. This book doesn't challenge the roles - it challenges us as women to seek and follow the call of God, above the call of Man. We've been guilted into feeling that it's more important to please Man than God, and Ashcroft shows us that to deny our calling is a horrible desertion of God's plan. She shows how God's call for women is freeing, exciting, and full of growth. I've grown up seeing so many women waste their "calling," doing damage to their lives and the lives of their families, all the while defending themselves as though they were model Christian women, and often criticizeing their peers who followed God's calling. What's different about this book is that it turns the table. It doesn't defend some "liberal" cause - it defends God and his Word. It convicts us as women, if we try to pretend that God doesn't have a calling for us. If you have any interest in this topic, please do not hesitate to read this book. It not only helped me in terms of career direction, but it helped me to clarify my understanding of God's great love for women, his grace and his expectations of us in all aspects of our lives.

Interestingly, Ashcroft's principles for relationships parrallel the popular Boundaries books that are put out by New Life Ministries (Steve Arterburn, Henry Cloud, etc.) Just goes to show that when we dig into the Word, we find that God has given us a wealth of principles to become healthy, growing people. But we must be in the Word to find this out. We can't rely on what other on the radio, in the Church, etc. are telling us.

Coming Home.......2002-01-02

This is by far the most liberating book that I have read as a Christian woman, especially being as I was the kind of woman of whom Mary Ellen Ashcroft made reference to when she talked of women who come to Christianity only to walk away from it believing it to be a tool of manipulation.

I usually find that too many words sometimes cloud over without shedding adequate light over some subjects. This is especially so of truly remarkable works - or literature or otherwise. So all I can say to any Christian woman who is not satisfied with the status quo as it has been taught by the world is, get a copy of Balancing Act. Your only regret will be that you didn't read it sooner.

Best work on women's roles and biblical teaching in years.......2001-07-31

I found this book both enlightening and empowering. I applaud Ashcroft for taking seriously the Bible's admonition to shun conformity to the dominant culture, with its gender-stereotypes, and to allow our minds to be renewed and transformed. While the egalitarian position she espouses may not bode-well in highly conservative Christian circles, Ashcroft carefully demonstrates that this position is clearly a biblical one, and so deserves the church's serious consideration. It is a must-read for all women look to find their place in the world according to God's plan.

A must-read book for all Christian women.......1998-11-13

This book is a real eye opener to the Christian - both male and female. Ashcroft's careful analysis of the female role in the church and society today, and how we came to acquire it - is startling. Those caught in 'roles' designated by culture may feel threatened but her thesis is scriptural - equality before God - and is a real liberator for male and female. Get ready, men and women to be moved out of cultural conformity into godly equality - and an exciting future with limitless possibilities.

Average customer rating:

Yes! A book to help us remember what life is about
Wonderful
Think About It
Balancing Act Reflections

Life is a Balancing Act... A Fun Book
Debbie Lessin
Manufacturer: Balancing Act Productions, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0972892419

Book Description

Life Is a Balancing Act is a fun and beautifully illustrated gift book that offers 66 versatile ideas for juggling work and play, friends and family, heart and soul, and mind and body in this balancing act we call life. The ideas are practical and often whimsical. Many of the ideas may sound familiar but may, in fact, have become forgotten or lost in the day-to-day shuffle of life.

Customer Reviews:

Yes! A book to help us remember what life is about.......2006-05-05

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (4/06)

Debbie Lessin, a CPA, entrepreneur, speaker and author, presents 66 resourceful ideas for managing and coping with life challenges. Although the book is small, it is powerful and realistic, yet fun and entertaining. Each page gives the reader a new idea or an opportunity to remember an act that can be followed through to attain balance in life.

For example, on the page for "Expand Your Horizons" Lessin suggests to: ride a motorcycle, train for a marathon, cycle the trail. In "Arrange a Girl's Night Out" she suggests: Laughing, sharing and telling the stories of sisterhood. Lessin suggests in "Just Say No!" to: remind yourself often that you don't have to be a super-woman or super-mom.

Illustrations by Janet Jaffke are amusing and reflective at the same time. In the back of this little treasure Lessin provides an epilogue with items like: things to remember about balance, beat the clock activities, and, free or less than $20 activities. She also provides space for your balance inventory and balance wish list. In the end, Lessin reminds us that "there is no such thing as perfect balance!" We are encouraged to have fun, explore the mystery of life, and move on.

Debbie Lessin's "Life is a Balancing Act" is a perfect little gift book for any woman - mother, sister, grandmother, friend, yourself. Her words of wisdom touch aspects of everyday life and give us the encouragement to strive for balance in our lives. This is not a book to taken lightly, but to delve into and reflect on the quality of life we deserve and manifest. Recommended!

Wonderful.......2004-09-16

This book is wonderful. I found that it gives me insights into things that I knew the answers to but was refusing to put them into motion. This book let me know that it's ok. Learning how to balance your personal and professional lives is a very difficult thing, "Life is a Balancing Act" helped show me that it doesn't have to be as difficult as we make it.

I truly enjoyed it.

Think About It.......2004-07-23

Balance is the key to all our lives. Without Balance, we may become burned out, dysfuntional, or just stress out our friends and family. Therefore this book really can help with it's bottom line solutions. Being a small business man, I loved this book because Ms. Lessin has very specific actions to take which definitely will add Balance and reduce stress in your life. My favorite thing in the book is the suggestion to stay home on a Saturday night. My wife and I love doing this and it really helps keep the rushing around at bay.
The book is creatively illustrated and it makes for a very comfortable and enjoyable read. I think it should be on the Best Sellers List because it's full of real and very good ideas and wont take a year and a day to read. It really makes you see that life is too short not to have Balance. I love Ms. Lessin's introduction too.

Balancing Act Reflections.......2004-07-20

I really enjoyed reading all of its philosophy of life. It is not the first book of its' type to be published however, for whatever reason, it got my thought processes churning. Perhaps due to my age, my time of life or just by it's
contents, it caused me to do some mental research on my past and future life.

Like so many people, my life has been consumed with trying to do the best possible job for my employers and the people who worked for me and trying to provide the best standard of living for my family. I don't think this was done to the exclusion of my family responsibilities but, at times, and maybe too many times, it certainly impacted them. As I reflected on the ideas in the book, I realized that it is probable my goals could have been accomplished with a better focus on the things in life that are really most important.

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT BIOGRAPHY.......2007-02-10

If you are an Angela Lansbury fan like I am, you will love this book. It tells of her family, her marriage, children, her days at MGM, her talks and encounters with movie stars, her movie career, Murder She Wrote and after. It is a well-written book not trashy like the Kitty Kelly biographies or sugar coated. I enjoyed reading this book. A GREAT READ.

Interesting, Especially About Her Fans.......2003-05-28

This authorized biography of Angela Lansbury is interesting and well-written...but she was a part of the project, had final say over what was and wasn't included, and left SO MUCH out! Her personal life is covered much better in the other two unauthorized biographies of Angela Lansbury. But what really floored me in this one was her descriptions of "fan psychology" and the way she talks about teenagers who looked up to the character she portrayed in shows like "Mame." She describes the kids' adulation of her in terms of being "a tragedy." While one fan clearly became out of control in terms of following her around and pestering her, the rest of us - legions of us - didn't. Hello! What's so tragic about children looking up to, and being inspired by, a responsible celebrity?

Superb.......2002-01-26

With angela Lansbury's cooperation, the author was able to construct the life of the star and her dreams without being intrusive into episodes of her life. He truly respected the subject and the star rewarded him with candor. it is too often that authors choose biographies to sensationalize a life. In this case, the author told it straight but with humanity and dignity and affection for a woman of icnredible talent and character.

Outstanding Biography Of An Outstanding Performer.......2000-09-16

This is one of the finest celebrity biographies that I have ever read. Actress Angela Lansbury is profiled with candor and wit in Martin Gottfried's "Balancing Act". Gottfried conducted countless interviews with the star herself of whom he says, "No biographical subject could have been more cooperative.", and many, many of those who knew her and worked with her. The book details her early life in London, her arrival in America during WWII, and her first film, at MGM, where they promptly decided to change her name to "Angela Marlow". The book writes with candor about her first failed marriage and her Hollywood years into the late forties, when she married Peter Shaw (and the marriage is still going strong). In the early fifties, she gave birth to her son Anthony and daughter Deidre Shaw, and in the late sixties, with her Hollywood career in a slump, she bounced back on Broadway in her Tony-Award winning title role in the musical "Mame". The book is at its most exciting when detailing her Broadway career, and not just with "Mame", but with her three other Tony-Award winning roles in "Dear World", "Gypsy", and "Sweeney Todd". And after Broadway, Lansbury conquered television with her ever-popular "Murder, She Wrote" series. Since then, Lansbury has enjoyed steady acting and puttering in her rose garden. Many humorous anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories told by Lansbury concern stars like Ingrid Bergman, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and Bea Arthur among them. She is a rueful raconteur and thrilled with her extraordinary professional and personal life. With the color and gusto of "Balancing Act", Angela Lansbury is profiled up close and personal and, as always, absolutely great!

Not only a mere biography of a great Star!.......2000-04-22

This is not a mere biography of a great Hollywood and Broadway Star. Here you can "listen" to her voice too, you can share her best and worst moments while acting in Broadway and Hollywood. You should read it even if you think you already know Angela Lansbury; and if you're a big fan of this wonderful actress, you HAVE to read it.

The Balancing Act: Mastering the Five Elements of Success in Life, Relationships, and Work

Average customer rating:

A Spiritual Approach to Life Balance
A valuable tool in the therapeutic process.
a book with soul
Brilliant!

The Balancing Act: Mastering the Five Elements of Success in Life, Relationships, and Work
Sharon Seivert
Manufacturer: Park Street Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Motivation & Self-Improvement | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0892817763
Release Date: 2001-10-01

Book Description

• Highly effective strategies that help people and businesses succeed using the five elements of water, air, earth, fire, and ether.

• The five elements represent emotion, mind, body, drive, and soul.

• Presents case studies from Seivert's organizational and executive clients in financial services, health care, government, academics, technology, retail, and marketing.

• The unique tools in The Balancing Act can be applied equally well to businesses, families, or personal relationships.

Have you ever had one of those days when everything went right? When the initiatives you started at work came together like clockwork, when a family outing seemed like fun and not labor, when you and that special someone felt your relationship taking off under its own power? Those times were not accidental. They happen when the key elements of any system--a business, a family, a relationship--come into balance, and then function in a state of synergy where the whole becomes much more than the sum of the parts. In The Balancing Act, consultant and personal coach Sharon Seivert shows how you can create this magical state of affairs in your life, love, and work on a daily basis.

Starting with an extensive questionnaire that lets you evaluate the health of your business, relationships, and self, Seivert teaches you how to recognize which of the five traditional elements that make up any system are in balance and which need more of your attention. Exercises and tips for nourishing each element demonstrate how you can take a proactive role in bringing your life successfully into a state of balanced harmony.

Customer Reviews:

A Spiritual Approach to Life Balance.......2002-11-20

More Americans are talking about seeking balance in their lives. Many of them have actually gone beyond talking and are on the quest. The Balancing Act is one of a number of books that have been written (and will be written) on this topic. Seivert, a business consultant and executive coach, has put together a design that suggests five areas that need to be brought into an appropriate balance for you: Personal Life, Relationships, Leadership, Organizations, and World.

Various chapters of this book are keyed to the five elements; others are presented as being of general interest to the reader. This approach and book organization (the chapters are coded in the table of contents) enables the reader to concentrate, during first or subsequent readings, on those areas of greatest interest. Two appendices and an index provide additional support.

The book is organized into three parts: Finding Your Balance in Life, Relationships, and Work; The Five Elements of Success; and The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts. The first section, pre-chapters, offers almost three dozen pages of introductory material on Finding Your Balance, The Elements of Success, and The Great Ally Inside You. Readers will find a collection of worksheets to engage in some self-analysis before proceeding into the meat of the book.

The text is heavy on spirituality, as opposed to books focused on life activities and common sense advice. Seivert's elements: air, fire, water, and earth are discussed in the context of balancing them in the way you lead your life. If you are receptive to a deep spiritual approach to life, you'll enjoy this book. If you are not engaged by this approach, it will be difficult to connect with this presentation.

A valuable tool in the therapeutic process........2002-05-01

Sharon Seivert's insightful understanding of the process of emotional growth provides clients with new avenues to deepen their involvement in their own therapy.

a book with soul.......2002-02-28

I have "The Balancing Act" side-by-side with my "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." I find this book to be even more insightful than Mr. Covey's in helping me articulate who I am, what my core beliefs are, and how to balance this with the rest of my other elements.... It's like soul music that just reaches into your very being.

Brilliant!.......2001-12-30

Sharon Seivert is a very wise woman who has developed a powerful model that will indeed improve the quality of your relationships to your life, your work, and your community. Using Sharon's simple yet not simplistic assessment tools, you will discover where you are out of balance in your life or your organization, and then learn how to create an alignment of the five elements. Her lessons are comprehensive yet practical and clearly defined. If you are ready to change your life, get this book!

Mamaphonic: Balancing Motherhood and Other Creative Acts

Average customer rating:

A mix
Read this book!
Rather dull

Mamaphonic: Balancing Motherhood and Other Creative Acts

Manufacturer: Soft Skull Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Creativity | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Motherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Parenting Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

A Question of Balance: Artists and Writers on Motherhood
The Essential Hip Mama: Writing from the Cutting Edge of Parenting (Live Girls)
The Mother Trip: Hip Mama's Guide to Staying Sane in the Chaos of Motherhood (Live Girls)
Mothers Who Think: Tales Of Real-life Parenthood
Job Hopper: The Checkered Career of a Down-Market Dilettante

Accessories:

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 1932360646

Book Description

Brought to the kitchen table by Hip Mama managing director Bee Lavender and editor Maia Rossini, Mamaphonic collects confessions and conversations about the exhilarating, entertaining, and difficult aspects of remaining creative while raising children. Essays range from the hilarious, such as "The Rudest Muse" by Lisa Peet, an illustrator and specialty baker who, by listening to her teenage son, finds new directions for her work; to the heart-wrenching "Childish Things" by Lori Pfeiffer, a writer diagnosed with a terminal illness during her pregnancy, who asks, "If you had only six months to live, what would you write?" Including voices as diverse as a transgendered teenage couple, an academic feminist, a punk rocker, and a poet, this eclectic mix of musings proves that becoming a mother is not the end but the beginning. Contributors include Ingrid Wendt, Ayun Halliday, Phoebe Gloeckner, Jen Thorpe, Gayle Brandeis, and others.

Customer Reviews:

A mix.......2005-06-03

Let me preface this by saying that I really appreciate that we are able to hear the voices of a variety of different mothers, and their parenting styles. I purchased this book because I thought I would get some input on how to balance the struggling-artist type lifestyle of my husband and myself, with new parenthood. The end sentence on the back of the book "...becoming a mother is an expression of creativity, not its silencing" really got me to buy this. Some stories are very good and touching, but others just weren't interesting and were poorly written. The editing is also poor, as there are mistakes in many of the stories. The vast majority of the stories were written by women attempting to balance a writing career with motherhood. I really questioned the judgment of a few of these women, since I don't think it's appropriate to feed your kids junk food all day and have frozen waffles for dinner so that you can have time to be 'creative.' Some stories read to me as if these mothers were more concerned with their own achievement than with raising their children, and that the goal of the day was usually to get away from the kids and find time to work. However, most of the mothers did mention that their children were incredible boosts to their creativity, and some were very insightful. I just got the overriding impression that the work of motherhood mostly sucks, but ends up paying off somewhere down the road.

Read this book!.......2004-12-13

If you're at all familiar with the Hip Mama website or the Mamaphonic website, then you know that this book rocks! This book is a wonderful anthology filled w/ honest excerpts about women's lives.
Some of the essays are heartbreaking and poignant and others will make you laugh so hard that you'll cry. I'm going to give this book to all my friends with kids. It's a perfect gift.
If you liked Bitch in the House, Slacker Mom or read zines like like Edgy Catin' Mama, Hip Mama, or East Village Inky then you'll "get" what these mamas are saying.

Read and enjoy!

Rather dull.......2004-12-09

I didn't find this book very exciting. The writing styles were poor and none of the stories really caught my attention. I really question how these children turn out when their mothers are so focused on themselves.

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