Ken Lewis is a Chartered Psychologist, who held Practising Certificates for the British Psychological Society's Divisions of Counselling and Occupational Psychology. His principal interest has been as a practitioner, supervisor and educator in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy.

The Revd Canon Dr Trevor Dennis taught Old Testament Studies at Salisbury and Wells Theological College before joining the staff of Chester Cathedral, where he was Vice Dean until his retirement in 2010. He is the author of many titles for SPCK, and of The Book of Books (Lion, 2003), a retelling of the story of God's people for children.

The Church is very good at inviting or challenging people to love their neighbours. It is not so strong on encouraging us to love ourselves.

This book illuminates the healing truth that encountering the love of God sets us free to live as we were intended to live – loving ourselves and those around us. Through Bible passages, stories and exercises, the authors encourage us to throw off the sense of apprehension that bothers so many, and to enjoy living to the full in God's exhilarating company.

A much-needed book which gives people – Christians in particular – permission to love themselves as they should.

Trevor Dennis

Cover page

Title page

Imprint

Dedication

Second Commandment

About the authors

Acknowledgements

1. ‘You’re worth the effort’: the basics

2. ‘Don’t trust me; I’m a doctor’: the experiments

3. A bit more about God

4. ‘And there is no health in us’: depression

5. ‘Consider the lilies of the field’: anxiety

6. ‘Even the hairs of your head are all counted’: worry

7. ‘But I am a worm’: self-esteem

8. ‘It’s all very well, but . . .’

Notes

The Church is very good at inviting or challenging people to love their neighbours. It is not so strong on encouraging us to love ourselves.

This book illuminates the healing truth that encountering the love of God sets us free to live as we were intended to live – loving ourselves and those around us. Through Bible passages, stories and exercises, the authors encourage us to throw off the sense of apprehension that bothers so many, and to enjoy living to the full in God’s exhilarating company.

A book which gives people - Christians in particular - permission to love themselves as they should. The Church is very good at inviting or challenging people to love their neighbours. It is not so strong on encouraging us to love ourselves.

A much-needed book which gives people - Christians in particular - permission to love themselves as they should. Written by a Chartered Psychologist and a priest with a distinguished teaching and pastoral ministry. Offers an encouraging hand to those who want to experiment with making beneficial changes in their life, especially those bothered by anxiety, depression, low self-esteem or feelings of helplessness. Full of reassuring and engaging stories. Includes practical exercises throughout to enable people to understand where discomfort originates and to discover ways forward. The Church is very good at inviting or challenging people to love their neighbours. It is not so strong on encouraging us to love ourselves. This book illuminates the healing truth that encountering the love of God sets us free to live as we were intended to live - loving ourselves and those around us. Through Bible passages, stories and exercises, the authors encourage us to throw off the sense of apprehension that bothers so many, and to enjoy living to the full in God's exhilarating company.

Ken Lewis is a Chartered Psychologist, who held Practising Certificates for the British Psychological Society's Divisions of Counselling and Occupational Psychology. His principal interest has been as a practitioner, supervisor and educator in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy. The Revd Canon Dr Trevor Dennis taught Old Testament Studies at Salisbury and Wells Theological College before joining the staff of Chester Cathedral, where he was Vice Dean until his retirement in 2010. He is the author of many titles for SPCK, and of The Book of Books (Lion, 2003), a retelling of the story of God's people for children.

Circle of Peace

This book is about Peace for those who are experience some of the every day niggling distress than many of us encounter as we live our lives. It does this by the use of stories that reflect the everyday experiences of Christians' lives, and invites them to experiment with ways of thinking and living that can bring about change. Woven through it all is an offer to the reader of an understanding of God as a loving friend and companion.

The book's objective is to help Christians give themselves not only permission to love themselves, but ways and means of doing so. By loving themselves they will become better at loving their neighbours. People with a sense of wellbeing are more comfortable and effective in loving others. Not for nothing did Jesus place such emphasis on the Jewish commandment, 'Love your neighbour as yourself'. Loving yourself is not selfish and self-centered, as sometimes it is presented, but an enabler of enacting love.

There are chapters dealing with depression, anxiety, worry, and self-esteem, and all of them deal with matters of faith and what the Bible has to say, while suggesting tried and tested ways of coping better, practical steps which readers can take which will get them closer to life in all its abundance, the life that God wants for us all.

The book is unusual in that the authors come from different backgrounds and have brought together and integrated contrasting perspectives on the lives of Christians. One of them, Trevor Dennis, is a biblical scholar, prolific author, and past Vice Dean of Chester Cathedral, the other, Ken Lewis, is a Chartered Counselling and Occupational Psychologist and Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. As far as the authors are aware, the book is the first to offer theological and biblical comment on some of the out workings of the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

 The authors have learned a great deal from each other while writing this book, and hope it will be of help to a great many people.

Taking a new look at the interrelationship of the Father and the Son at Calvary, Mark Stibbe explores the Father's agony at seeing his son in pain; the son suffering the Father's absence, and the Holy Spirit as the bond of love between the two, holding them in an eternal embrace. The author relates this to the orphan condition of separation and shame he has known personally in his own life. He suggests that in the excruciating picture of the grieving Father and the abandoned Son, we paradoxically discover the exhilarating Good News: that our true identity is as the adopted, much-loved children of a God who longs to honour and heal us.

Circle of Peace

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Circle of Peace

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