First posted on 14th January 2013.
You may have heard people talk about the “big but’s” of the Bible; for example: “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. BUT now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” Colossians 1 v 21-22. But I’ve been thinking about the “yet’s” of the Bible.
I know many people who have had a hard time during the autumn, including illness, bereavement, church issues… Others are facing a difficult start to 2013. And some of us are experiencing both. Which is what got me thinking about biblical “yet’s”. Here are a couple to mull over:
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will YET praise him,
my Saviour and my God.
Psalm 42 v 5... continue reading
1. Captive to Glory (Free eBook)
A free ebook from Desiring God celebrating the vision and influence of Jonathan Edwards.
2. 5 Ways to Pray for Your Pastor in 2014
Ligonier Ministries look at five ways to pray for your pastor this year.
3. Preaching and Preachers by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
A helpful 18-part MP3 lecture series and free PDF resource from Monergism.
4. PrayerMate on Android
A free app to help you organise your prayer life is now available on Android.
5. Some Thoughts on the Reading of Books
Al Mohler shares some of his thoughts on reading.
6. 100,000 Hours: Eight Aims for Your Career
Marshall Segal at Desiring God looks at eight aims that "should drive every Christian career path".
7. And finally...
This week's video of the week, 'God's Word For You 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
Being a parent isn't easy. Being a child isn't a walk in the park either. And, even though I am currently neither, I'm often party to conversations that end with a statement like, "not yet ... maybe when you're older". Whether it's a heated conversation with an 11-year old about why they can't play Grand Theft Auto or a heart-felt discussion with a 12-year old about whether they are old enough to stay at home on a Sunday morning when the rest of the family are at church, the question of when you become old enough to decide is a hot topic.
So, where would you draw the line? Say you're a parent, grandparent, aunt or youth leader to a 12-year old. Would you let them choose their clothes? Their menu? Their school? Their hobbies? Their attitude to cleaning their teeth? Their attendance at church youth group? The colour of their hair?
How about their right to die ...? No, really, I'm not joking. Would you let them choose to die under medically controlled conditions if they were suffering with a terminal condition?... continue reading
New Year's resolutions continue to be mentioned even though it's nearly the middle of January. Many of those resolutions will focus on health and diets. Many of us strive to look better, get fitter, lose weight and so on. The new year brings a new determination (or does it?) to curb our appetite for food and all things unhealthy.
But what of our appetite for God? That isn't something we want to suppress, many of us need to re-awaken our appetite for him.
Our appetites dictate the direction of our lives - whether it be the cravings of our stomachs, the passionate desire for possessions or power, or the longings of our spirits for God. But for the Christian, the hunger for anything besides God can be an arch-enemy. While our hunger for God - and him alone - is the only thing that will bring victory.
Between the dangers of self-denial and self-indulgence is a path of pleasant pain called fasting. It is the path John Piper invites you to travel in his ebook, A Hunger For God. For when God is the supreme hunger of your heart, he will be supreme in everything.
Read more and get the ebook HERE for just £5 until midday Thursday. Use the code ahfg0114e at the checkout.
What would you guess this is a photo of? A cloud of butterflies against an exotic sunset? A man taking home the fruits of a hard, but satisfying, day’s labour?
What this photo really shows is a swarm of migratory locusts, which last year destroyed a massive 25% of Madagascar’s food crops and put the food security of 13 million people at risk. So what looks beautiful at first glance is actually life threatening.
And the sack that the man is carrying is full of dead locusts which he has spent the day catching; so the photo also reflects a futile toil. How discouraging to be under the weight of that heavy sack, while seeing all around you that the threat to your livelihood continues unabated, despite your best efforts.
Maybe, just over a week into the new year, you’re already feeling a bit like this man. Perhaps it’s a struggle with sin that’s weighing us down—with each temptation we successfully resist, opportunities to sin keep gathering like a swarm. So much so that sometimes, when you look at it in the right light, sin starts to look less deadly and actually kind of attractive…
But take heart:
“This is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” - 1 John 5 v 3-4
[God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, and the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
Following our theme of new year resolutions, I'm sure many of us will be reviewing and refocusing on many aspects of our Christian lives. This might be our planned giving, prayer needs for the first part of the year (however long we deem that to be), what evangelism we might do or get involved in, how can we serve our particular church more / better or perhaps just how we live out our Christian lives.
Maybe the New Year is a good time to remind ourselves of just what we believe. Time maybe to take a step back and refresh ourselves and our minds, get to grips again with the key areas of our beliefs. Well Rock Solid is just the book to help us do that.
Doctrine is never dull in this short and clearly-written book. Glancing down the list of contents may fill you with dread but the (many) authors bring things like justification, penal substitution and the sovereignty of God to life. Throughout the text there is a clear biblical basis given for each gospel truth and there's even a little Bible study in each chapter to help you go to Scripture and think things through and apply them personally. One of the highlights is that most chapters also contain mini-biographies of key church figures from across the ages which shows the way in which they have developed or defended the doctrine under consideration. A really helpful intro to some important and practical gospel truths.
Read more HERE and get the book for just £1 until midday on Monday. Use code rs0114 at the checkout.
It was not going well.
She was a professional, and liked to tie everything down. Her team knew what was expected of them, and had worked enough big events not to get in a panic when something went wrong.
She'd handled drunks and accidents, and the time when the chicken turned out to be decidedly "off". She'd even stepped in and rescued the situation when a fight broke out between the two families.
Who'd be a wedding planner?... continue reading
The rain may be dampening a few spirits but there are plenty of things to look forward to in 2014. Of course, the most exciting thing to enjoy in the coming months will be the opportunity to grow in our understanding of the Lord and the privilege of serving him. There are many ways that can happen but joining together with other Christians at conferences can be a huge spur to our spiritual lives, so here is a smattering of what's on offer in the coming few months. Why not treat yourself to some training and encouragement this term - and bring a friend along too?... continue reading
Stuck on the sofa over the past week with a horrible bug, I've been able to indulge in a few TV favourites. One blast from the past that never fails to please is an episode or two of Frasier: a sitcom about about radio psychiatrist whose life is gloriously ridiculous. His catchphrase is well-known to fans across the globe: "I'm listening" starts every one of his radio shows, uttered in the silky smooth tones that only talented actors can muster. It's a phrase that is, at times, spoken insincerely but he tries... when on air, he wants to be there for his listeners.
The way we listen to someone shows a lot about our relationship with them:
You can always spot a young couple in the first flush of love. They hang on each other's words with eyes wide open. Even the most mundane of communications is met with delight because the mere sound of the other person's voice brings warmth to the heart.... continue reading
