Porn in unexpected places
I walked down the office carrying a pile of pornography. I'd wrapped it in two bags so my colleagues wouldn't see it, but I still worried. What if I tripped and broke my neck? After failing to resucitate me, the first thing people would discover was my pile of porn.
Thankfully, it wasn't as bad as it sounds, but is a salutary tale nonetheless.
It started on my ride to work. The subway under the A3 always collects litter - usually crisp packets, coke cans and the odd condom. Not cards. Not a full pack of playing cards. And certainly not pornographic cards. I glanced down as I wheeled the bike through the tunnel, wondering who'd dropped their playing cards, to be faced with umpteen nude women. I was slightly shocked, but late for work so kept on going.... continue reading
We're conscious, here at The Good Book Company, of our need for prayer. We want to be working in God's strength - for God's glory - in God's Kingdom not just pottering about doing what we think is good and right. If you could remembers us in your prayers occasionally, that would be so much appreciated. To that end, this Wednesday we're continuing to pop up some prayer requests - asking you to pray for us department by department. This week, the creative team:
At our end of the office there are seven of us, who select and initiate publishing projects, who encourage and interact with authors, who edit, design proofread and nurse those books to the point where they are ready to be printed and deployed to edify, encourage and challenge. We sometimes even write whole resources ourselves!... continue reading
1. Six ways your iPhone is changing you
Own an iPhone? Love it? Tim Chester helpfully gives us 6 things to think about...
2. On Coming Out
In the wake of Vicky Beeching's recent announcment that she is gay, here are 4 articles that shed some interesting light on the issue.
3. Struggling to organise your prayers?
PrayerMate is a Christian prayer app that seeks to help you actually pray for all the people and causes you care about.
4. 10 greatest Hymns of All time
Well, according to Tim Challies anyway. Here are his 10 favourite.
5. Time to get back into your Quiet Times?
Our video of the week this week is an encouragment, with the holidays ending, to get into new habits of reading the Bible. We think Explore Bible reading notes will help with that:
Found something that you think should make it on to the On to a Good Thing round-up? Send it to: ontoagoodthing@thegoodbook.co.uk
How often do you hear someone (and I don't just mean politicians) say politics and faith don't mix? Or that the Church has no place in government?
Throughout history people have been divided: does our faith mix with social action and intervention? Where do evangelism and practical ministry come together?
People like Wilberforce and Carey to name but a couple of individuals over the years say the two do surely need to come together. And in more modern times try telling Mez McConnell in the poorest parts of Edinburgh or Dai Hankey in the valleys of South Wales that the Church should stay away from helping the needy.
Tim Chester argues passionately in his book Good News to the Poor, that evangelism and social action are inseparable as two arms of the church's mission. He presents a biblical case for truly evangelical social action that is shaped and inspired by the gospel. He urges conservatives not to marginalize those who uphold the cause of the oppressed, and those involved in social action not to neglect the preaching of the Word.
Get the ebook for half price (£4.99) until midday on Thursday by using the code poor0814 at the checkout.
God is a generous God. He gives us life, salvation, hope and a whole host of gifts so we can serve him and each other in the local church.
We don't deserve the gifts God gives us but we can make sure we use them well - humbly, lovingly, enthusiastically and for his glory. And we can make sure we hone them, so we learn more about what the Bible says on teaching, caring, administrating, encouraging, welcoming, evangelising as the years go on and become more aligned to God's desires.
That's where some structured studying can help.
In the busyness of preparing talks and craft activities, it can be easy to lose sight of what it means to teach the whole counsel of God to the children in our care. Beneath the piles of paperwork, we can forget just how missional administration truly is. Amid the texts and calls from hurting friends, we can let our eyes shift away from the pastorally liberating words of truth found within the pages of Scripture. Setting aside some time to study can help put all those things back on the map.
So this term, whether you're interested in Administration, Mission and Ministry, Pastoral Care, Women's Ministry or Youth and Children's Work, why not set aside some time to do one of The Good Book College's short courses?
Biblical, accessible and practical, these distance-learning courses will inspire you to read God's word and encourage you to serve God's people. All in the comfort of your own home without the pressure of fixed deadlines.
For more details and to enrol online, click HERE.
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
The seas have lifted up, Lord,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea –
the Lord on high is mighty.
Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.
Psalm 93
Whenever we talk about abortion, it's important, as Christians, to say three things:
But for those in society who don't agree with those statements ... Dawkins is right.
Here’s why.... continue reading
How often do we see a high profile politician, sporting personality or celebrity let us down? They have done or said something that tarnishes (or worse) their apparent good reputation. Lies, theft, deceit and more can cause people's downfall.
And the same can happen to us as Christians. We aren't above it and not immune to the same stuff everyone else is. But whether we are dealing with failures, trying to cope with financial matters or personal weaknesses, we need to focus on gospel-truths and priorities to work things through.
And help is at hand. In his book Integrity, Jonathan Lamb examines the disciplines and priorities that enable us to live a life of Christian integrity.
Read more HERE and get the book for half price until midday on Monday. Please use code int0814 at the checkout.
Travelodge removes the Bibles from its rooms on grounds of 'diversity'. Were Satanists complaining?
Iraq crisis: Cameron warns of IS threat to UK
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby's first Australian interview
Australia to offer refugee visas to Iraqi Christians and Yazidis
Disclaimer: The Good Book Company is not responsible for the content of external sites and does not necessarily agree with the content of articles listed.
Summer camps can be great times of growth. Young people seeing Jesus for the first time... Teenagers getting equipped to be faithful witnesses at school or college ... Sins being addressed and lifestyles turning around ... Leaders sharpening their teaching gift as they handle tough questions from curious minds ... But once summer draws to a close, the excitement (along with the exhaustion) of Bible camps can begin to disappear. And as our excitement dissipates, so our prayers can drift into oblivion too.
So, how can we keep praying for our young people and fellow leaders? Here are five ideas - to put into action before we all forget!... continue reading
