In the past decade various studies have examined how political humor may influence various political attitudes and voting behavior; whether it affects learning, cognition and media literacy, how it might shape political participation; how people process different forms of political humor; and more. This book is devoted to anticipating and addressing where the field of political humor and its effects will move in the next generation of scholarship, exploring the continued evolution of the s...

How can we be made well?From hurting bodies and souls to hurting relationships and communities, it’s clear that things are not as they should be. Some of us live with varying degrees of physical pain, and others of us harbor the emotional pain of loneliness, shame, and guilt. Looking at our culture more broadly, we see the harm of our social divisions and the unyielding reality and impact of injustice and inequity. The gospels brim with stories of Jesus healing peo...

Almost every day, one of Amy Julia’s children says something or asks something that prompts her to think more carefully: “Why Mommy crying?” (Marilee, when the family learned a young boy had died of cancer); “Booful, Mommy” (“Beautiful, Mommy,” as Penny proclaimed just as Amy Julia was looking in the mirror and critiquing her post-pregnancy body in her head); “What lasting mean?” (William, when he heard a song in church about God being an everlasting God). These conversations deepen her re...

Winner, 2020 Liz Carpenter Award For Best Book on the History of WomenThe realm of ranching history has long been dominated by men, from tales—tall or true—of cowboys and cattlemen, to a century’s worth of male writers and historians who have been the primary chroniclers of Texas history. As women’s history has increasingly gained a foothold not only as a field worthy of study but as a bold and innovative way of understanding the past, new generations of scholars ...

An Honest, Hopeful Look at Unexpected ChallengesChallenging surprises often lead to unexpected joy. Amy Julia opens eyes and softens hearts as she brings readers into her own story of disappointment turned to blessing. This is a journey of discovering strength through weakness, and the author learns to embrace the face that we are all dependent on God and one another. This books will inspire readers who appreciate beautiful writing coupled with deep insights about life and faith.

How can we be made well?From hurting bodies and souls to hurting relationships and communities, it's clear that things are not as they should be. Some of us live with varying degrees of physical pain, and others of us harbor the emotional pain of loneliness, shame, and guilt. Looking at our culture more broadly, we see the harm of our social divisions and the unyielding reality and impact of injustice and inequity. The gospels brim with stories of Jesus healing peo...

A Gentle Invitation into the Challenging Topic of PrivilegeThe notion that some might have it better than others, for no good reason, offends our sensibilities. Yet, until we talk about privilege, we'll never fully understand it or find our way forward.Amy Julia Becker welcomes us into her life, from the charm of her privileged southern childhood to her adult experience in the northeast, and the denials she has faced as the mother of a child with special nee...

Spiritual TrailblazingGrowing up, we all learned in school about the explorers-the individuals who ventured into the unknown and discovered new lands. We learned about inventors-the discovery of electricity, the first airplane flight, and the first computer ever created.We marveled at their courage to take risks and seek adventure. So why are we so hesitant to do it in our own lives? Many of these individuals didn't have a map nor a blueprint for how to acc...

Almost every day, one of Amy Julia's children says something or asks something that prompts her to think more carefully: "What 'lasting' mean?" William wonders when he hears a song about God being an everlasting God. "If the children who died went to heaven, then why are we sad?" Penny asks, when she passes by a funeral for a victim of the Sandy Hook shootings. "I don't wanna get 'tized!" says Marilee about baptism. These conversations deepen her relationships with her children, but they a...

Floods. Blizzards. Landslides. Earthquakes. Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Severe weather happens every day across the globe. We see and hear of the devastating consequences whenever we tune into the evening news: property ravaged, communities destroyed, and lives lost. But although these events are unstoppable, you can prepare.In Weather Disasters, veteran authors and disaster survivors Mark and Amy Williams provide vital information on prepping for and surviving every major type...

Was mir passiert ist, ist nicht meine Schuld. Aber es ist meine Verantwortung damit heute als Erwachsene einen Umgang zu finden. Ich bin in mitten von völliger Entwertung aufgewachsen, doch erst als Erwachsene lerne ich, was das (die Rede ist von Narzissmus) überhaupt ist und warum meine Eltern so mit mir umgegangen sind, obwohl sie mich doch lieben sollten.Meine Geschichte hinterlässt meist entgleiste, erschrockene Gesichtszüge oder ersatzweise verstörte Emoijs. Emoijs bzw. "Smileys" gab ...

The fourth edition of Community Organizing and Community Building for Health and Social Equity provides both classic and recent contributions to the field, with a special accent on how these approaches can contribute to health and social equity. The 23 chapters offer conceptual frameworks, skill- building and case studies in areas like coalition building, organizing by and with women of color, community assessment, and the power of the arts, the Internet, social media, and policy ...