Some recent research projects have made for sobering reading. Nearly half of the population of England say they feel lonely - up to a third say they have no-one to turn to in a crisis and would be reluctant to approach a voluntary body. Most severely affected are the elderly and infirm. The quote that broke my heart the most was the comment that for some, the TV is their best friend.
So, with that in mind I interviewed the frailest, most housebound old saint I know ... For the purposes of this post, we'll call her Edith, she's always liked that name.
What does an average day look like for you?
I wake about 5am when my night-time pain killers start to wear off. It takes me a while to get going in the morning and I like to have my breakfast well before my carers arrive. My washing and dressing ladies come about 9am. It's nice when I get the same carers for a few months in a row, I can get to know them then but often people's shifts get moved about and I have to get to know someone new every few weeks. Once I'm dressed I go into the living room and put on the TV. I stay there until my night time carers come about 5pm. The meals on wheels team let themselves in each lunchtime. On Tuesdays my cleaner comes round.... continue reading
Each Wednesday afternoon over the next few months we are going to be looking at how to answer some of the common questions we might get asked after the service on a Sunday. Today, our first post:
I’ve got a friend who struggles with… guilt
“It’s all my fault”
“I know it happened years ago but it preys on my mind every day”
“I don’t believe God will forgive me … I know I can’t forgive myself”
They’re the kind of phrases I hear each week. Each Sunday we praise God for his extraordinary gift of forgiveness but that doesn’t seem to help on Mondays. The guilt of sins past and present weigh heavy on many people’s hearts.... continue reading
1. Gospel-Centred Life ebook - just £1 until midday Thursday
Get your e-book copy of Gospel-Centred Life for just £1.
2. An All-Consuming Passion for Jesus (Free eBook)
A free e-book from John Piper.
3. The Printed Book Is Not Dead; Long Live the Book!
Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds shares an infographic about the printed book.
4. What makes a joyful home? 10 Reflections
Elisha Galotti shares her 10 reflections on joy at home.
5. A New Look for Worship Matters
Bob Kauflin’s useful blog, Worship Matters has a new design.
6. And finally…
This week’s video of the week, ‘Original Jesus Trailer’:
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
It's been headline news for weeks now. Pundits and politicians have been slugging it out but the questions remain largely unanswered. Most of us will have to continue to live in comparative ignorance about whether elements of our text messages have been scooped up by those tasked with defending national security - or not.
It's the sort of issue that can play on your mind a smidge. And as I was stirring my noodles last night, I was toying with a number of issues that the debate raises. I pondered the issue of personal liberty. I mused about defence. And then I got more personal: I caught my breath... What would people actually see if they did read my texts?!... continue reading
Following my recent trend of looking at Christian Lifestyle and the issues we all face in our ebook and tree book blog deals, here's another with a more general feel to it.
How can ordinary Christians live the truly extraordinary life God calls us to? What a challenge!
This world throws so many challenges at us and a whole raft of things that are capable of deflecting us from focusing on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Sympathetic to our struggles... clear and concise... rooted in the Bible... relevant to our everyday experience... The Gospel-Centred Life shows how every Christian can follow the way of the cross as they embrace the liberating grace of God in Christ.
Get the ebook HERE for just £1 until 12 noon (GMT) on Thursday 21st of January - use the code gcle0114 at the checkout
This is an extract from Timothy Keller’s latest title, Romans 1–7 For You. Launching on 4th February, you can pre-order it now.
Harvest Time in Rome
Paul didn’t just write a letter to the Roman church. He planned a trip to the Romans church, too: “… in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles” (Romans 1:13).
This “harvest” likely has two aspects. Paul is hoping for a harvest within the Roman church; what Jesus pictured when he talked of people who had heard and accepted the word producing “a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown” (Mark 4:20). But the next verses show that Paul also desires to reap a crop outside the church; what Jesus was talking of when he said to his followers: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38). Paul is coming to Rome both to encourage and to evangelize.... continue reading
Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures for ever –
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138:6-8
In today's modern era of communications we are never far away from some device or other that will put us in touch with family. friends, business colleague or anyone else we might want to talk to. In these days of smart phones, netbooks, tablets, Skype and all sorts of video-type conferencing it's so easy to speak with someone over a huge distance and to hear back just what they are saying to you. For many of us knowing what God is saying to us is a far harder proposition. How does he reveal himself to us? What is he saying? What direction is God pointing us in? All these can be difficult to discern.
God Speaks by Rich Alldritt and Ash Carter is a deceptively simple book. A quick read with a fast-paced and humorous narrative, it holds the attention of the reader with ease. But don’t be fooled, under the simplicity lay some of the most essential and necessary truths required for any Christian seeking to mature their relationship with God. As God reveals himself to us - this book makes the mystery of that revelation accessible. As God desires to speak with us - this book encourages that conversation to begin.
Read more HERE and get the book for just £5 using the code gs0114 at the checkout.
How bad are things for Christianity?
Evangelicals Find Themselves in the Midst of a Calvinist Revival
Six Evangelical Christians, Including Teenager, Murdered in El Salvador
Youthworks mourns lecturer’s sudden death
Sin? People think it's about sex and cream cakes, says Archdeacon in baptism service row
Christian Persecution Doubled In 2013, Reports Annual Survey By Open Doors
First-grader told to stop talking about Bible
Christians called to 'martyrdom' says Welby
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.
Sam Allberry is associate pastor of St Mary’s Maidenhead, in Berkshire, UK. Early last year, he went public with the fact that he experiences same-sex attraction. And then last June, he published Is God Anti-Gay?, which has had huge sales in both the UK and the US. I caught up with him to see how things are going in his life and ministry.
Sam, I wonder whether it’s easier or harder to fight this particular temptation personally, now that you’ve brought it into the public sphere?
In one sense, bringing it into the public sphere hasn’t changed the way in which I’ve been experiencing it. If anything it’s slightly helped, because I’ve had more opportunities to speak on the issue, and when I’m doing that I’m preaching to myself, reminding myself both what God’s word is on this issue, but also the goodness of that word. So it does me good to be thinking and teaching on it.
But actually the most thing has helped isn’t necessarily being public about it, but being open with friends about it. That’s the thing that has made the single biggest difference.... continue reading
