I'm tired. It's been a tough day at work. The to-do list is calling. And the meal isn't going to cook itself. All I want is a quiet night. Every bone in my body is screaming for a few moments of peace. And just then, the phone explodes into action. I'm not talking about a pleasant "dinner invitation" phonecall - I'm talking "one of those" phonecalls. One of those circular calls of desperation.
It's not that I don't love my friends with severe mental health struggles - I am privileged to have them in my life - but the phonecalls, oh the phonecalls can be so hard. The suicidal intentions that are no longer an isolated act of desperation but a daily topic of conversations; the irrational arguments that involve dragging the reputation of others through the mud or the wild tangents that are almost impossible to follow - these are the fodder of the recurring conversations that can easily last an hour or more unless boundaries are put down (and a "you don't really care about me" rant risked).... continue reading
1. Cross Examined ebook just £5 till midday Thursday
Get the ebook version of Cross Examined by Mark Meynell for just £5!
2. Bible Debate: Steve Chalke & Andrew Wilson
Justin Brierley hosts a series of debates between Steve Chalke and Andrew Wilson. Watch Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
3. Infographic: The New Calvinism
An infographic from Tim Challies, ‘Where Did All These Calvinists Come From? A Visual History’.
4. The Problem with Jesus
An article from our very own Carl Laferton at Desiring God.
5. And finally...
This week's video of the week, ‘Something More’ by Moving Works:
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
The cross of Christ is central to the Christian faith. At the cross God exposes our deepest need, meets it fully and enables us to live transformed lives. But so many of us forget just how much he achieved when he was crucified.
In his book, Cross Examined, Mark Meynell takes a familiar and ancient story and, without watering it down or changing it, brings it to life for a modern audience. So why not dig deeper into what the cross means for you and those around you?
Read more and get the ebook HERE for just £5 until midday on Thursday. Simply use the code cee0314 at the checkout.
Welcome to March 10th: international day of awesomeness.
I kid you not ... a bunch of laugh-loving people are inviting you and I to spend today displaying awesome acts. Their strapline: no-one's perfect but everyone can be awesome! The ideas are diverse but, at their heart, quite simple - validate someone else's awesomeness, affirm your own awesomeness - then do something awesome (be that having an amazing meal or doing something profoundly life-fulfilling) and blog about it. The primary aim is to have fun. Lots of it!
On balance, I don't think I'm going to be engaging with this day of awesomeness in any specific way but it did get me musing on the journey to work today ... As Christians:... continue reading
‘Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendour,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honour come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.'
1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Is your value higher than you think? Or lower? And can it be both?
Here's part of a self-help email that popped into my Inbox this week:
"Unless we value ourselves enough to say no to certain people and situations, while even explaining why that is, we devalue ourselves. No one will place a greater value on you than you place on yourself."
After tussling with that for a while, I've drawn three conclusions:
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So much of the modern culture around us is anti establishment and anti institution. And marriage, like every other "commodity" these days, has become a throw-away item. If it doesn't work, no matter, just split up and start again with someone else. It seems it is all too easy not to have to work at our relationship with our partner. Maybe it was never really meant to be! Really?
As Christians I guess the onus is on us to "set an example" of godly living and a loving marriage. But from personal experience, I am well aware that this is often a difficult thing to do and that Christian marriages like any other will suffer from hard times whatever the reason or source. This when we need God most and look to Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Christopher Ash, in his book Married for God, takes a look at the bare essentials of marriage. He provides an invaluable challenge to deepen and strengthen relationships, through a fresh understanding of God's purpose for marriage. The book is firmly biblically focused but also well related to realities of the modern life.
Read More and get the book HERE for just £4.99 (Half Price) until midday on Monday. Use code mfg0307 at the checkout.
Working for A levels or a degree? Recently graduated? Love Jesus? Enjoy writing? Considering a career in Christian publishing? Then why not apply to come on The Good Book Company work experience week?
From June 30th to July 4th 2014, we will be offering 5 young people a glimpse into the wonderful world of The Good Book.
Based at our offices in Epsom, Surrey, there will be opportunities to try your hand at proofreading, editing, manuscript-assessing and putting together design-briefs plus writing for marketing and the blog. And you’ll get a great overview of how the different parts of a publishing company work together too...
If you have a genuine interest in serving Jesus through publishing, please apply to join us. Simply send in your CV and a covering note, setting out why you’d like to be part of our experience week, to Helen at careers@thegoodbook.co.uk by Tuesday 15th April
Making sense of the Law
Do you struggle with the Old Testament? In particular what do you make of the Old Testament laws? What about “make tassels on the four corners of your cloak”? (Deuteronomy 22:12). Or the instruction to stone a rebellious son? (Deuteronomy 21:21) Should we just pass over these passages, and be a little embarrassed that they exist in our Bibles?
Paul Barker – minister, author and teacher - has written a new book Teaching Deuteronomy designed to help pastors and bible teachers in the developing world to faithfully explain and apply these difficult scriptures. It is part is part of the Good Book Company’s Pray, Prepare, Preach series.
In it, Paul provides a useful checklist when looking at Old Testament laws and how to work out their application in today’s world: What is the reason for each law? Try to think, “What is the reason for the law?” Some laws may have the reason to love your neighbour. Some are about worshipping only God. Some are because the people of Israel must be different from other nations. Some laws are about safety. Some are about fair justice. Some protect the poor. It is not always easy to find the reason for a law. What is the reason for the law that you shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk? It is hard for us to know. But probably the reason is to stop the people of Israel following the behaviour of people of other religions.
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As churches throughout the country prepare to get into high gear for their Easter outreach, a report by the Bible Society offers some sobering perspectives on how we need to share the good news today. The study revealed a generation of children with little knowledge of the most important stories forming the basis of Christianity, and parents who often knew little more. The poll of 800 children between the ages of 8 and 15, and 1100 adults found that:
