The hope of finding someone wonderful to marry is the most intense dream most of us ever experience. Yet the challenge seems impossibly great for so many of us. In this compassionate and deeply practical book, Blaine Smith offers a mountain of advice and encouragement to those at their wits end searching for a spouse. Drawing on decades of experience teaching and counseling singles, he provides multiple strategies for finding a marriage partner, including many you haven't likely thought of before. Smith writes with a heart for the special issues Christians face in looking for marriage. Yet...

"It was the most terrifying experience of my life. It took most of the year to get up my resolve. Finally I sat down by the phone, a friend at my side coaxing me on. I began to dial the number . . . but then my finger pressed the receiver button and the call was canceled.

"This went on for several evenings. Wednesday night had a sense of now or never. If I waited any longer, it would be too late in the week. Finally, I completed dialing the number. Her father answered, and I asked if she was home. Now I was fully committed. I wondered if I would faint."

Blaine Smith did get that...

(Originally The Optimism Factor: Outrageous Faith Against the Odds)

There's a strange connection between the exercise of our faith (wobbly though it may be) and the growth of optimistic hope in our hearts. Outrageous faith, Blaine Smith calls it. And he explains why, as he examines the role of positive expectation in the Christian life.

Blaine believes that faith is the most underappreciated benefit in the Christian life today. Christians who do emphasize faith often take it to an unhealthy extreme--just believe anything can happen and God will accomplish it for you. Yet most...

The world needs what makes you unique

In this classic on Christian self-image, Blaine Smith stresses the importance of cherishing your personal distinctiveness - as a gift of God, and a vital indication of what he wants you to do with your life. And he looks carefully at what this means. He considers how self-esteem and humility should fit together for the Christian. And he gives you solid biblical reasons to view your personality, talents and gifts, physical features, and special circumstances positively and appreciatively. His accent is on encouragement and re-inventing the way you...

WHAT ARE YOUR STRONGEST DESIRES FOR THE FUTURE?

A new job or career? Marriage? A lifestyle change? Mastering a skill? A creative accomplishment? An athletic triumph? Your dreams are often far more within your reach than you realize. God has ordained each of our lives to certain accomplishment, Blaine Smith stresses. He has given us the capacity to dream big -- and those dreams that stand the test of time are often a vital indication of what he wants us to do with our lives. We must not be too inclined to "play it safe," but need to stay open to new steps of faith.

In this new book...

WHAT A RADICAL DIFFERENCE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MAKES With this extraordinary benefit, we're happier, more productive and successful. We love and help others more effectively. Our health likely improves as well. Without it, our emotions so often defeat us. We worry incessantly about catastrophes that never occur. We lose our temper easily. We cave in to despair over a setback, missing any silver lining. We give in to the urge to rescue someone, when we're already overextended. We tire unnecessarily.

The emotionally intelligent person is far less susceptible. She understands her...

SOLUTIONS TO YOUR NEEDS MAY BE MORE WITHIN YOUR REACH THAN YOU REALIZE In this short book (71 pages), Blaine Smith stresses that we Christians too often fail to take needed initiative toward meeting needs we have, solving problems, and pursuing goals and dreams. We assume faith requires us to wait passively for the Lord to provide. Yet so often we would show greater faith and trust in Christ by taking initiative. We would find ourselves happier and more successful by being active, and would contribute more to the mission of Christ. Smith explains why, and he offers a simple principle for...