Everyone has been enjoying "Hawkeye" at Wimbledon in the last 10 days. Any time a line call at the tennis championships is challenged, the slow handclap builds to a frenzy as the slow-mo animated replay tells us: was the ball in or out! Brilliant. If only all matters of legal judgement were as simple.
Take what happened outside a shopping centre in Wimbledon Town Centre last Monday. A retired Californian Police officer was preaching in the street when he was arrested after someone took offence at his describing homosexuality as a "sin". He spent the next 6 hours being interviewed by police and being held in a cell on suspicion of "hate speech" before being released without charge. You can watch a youtube video in this news report.... continue reading
We are always worshiping something, aren't we? Through our words, actions and decisions we are inherently allocating worth to one thing or another.
With everything going on around us it is sometimes hard to focus on the one true object of our worship: our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Matt Redman went through a spell when his music took over his life and left the Lord Jesus marginalised on the side lines. So hard did that fact hit Matt when he realised what was going on that he gave up his music totally for a long period of time. He came to realise just how much he was focused on delivering great music about the Lord Jesus Christ rather than immersing himself in the Lord and worshiping him totally and directly.... continue reading
Christian arrested for calling homosexuality a 'sin'
Half of Adults Say Religious Nones Are Bad for America
Men can be 'wives' and women 'husbands' as Government overrules the dictionary
Presidential Quotes For The 4th Of July
Not talking about death only makes it more lonely and frightening
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In a world filled with people who are looking to "change their lives" - what is the Christian response?
Of course change is exactly what Jesus does to those he calls to belong to him. Among other things he changes:
But here's the big difference between the change that Jesus brings and the "life change" that many others seem to be pursuing. Consider this:... continue reading
You hear the phrase all the time on TV talent shows. People with a dream. People with a talent looking to break through. People who have lived in obscurity and nursed an ambition; then suddenly found fame, fortune, adoration. Their lives have been changed.
Type those words into YouTube and you find a whole host of videos - many with passionate looking people who promise to share their story of Life change. They promote a massive variety of things that have done that for them: a book, a spiritual experience, a new way of looking at your life, a new way of investing, surgery, confidence therapy, a life coach, a money-making scheme or taking psychotropic drugs in the Peruvian rainforest.... continue reading
I imagine there aren’t many people who don’t know that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Wills and Kate) are due to have their first child shortly. So they are receiving masses of presents. Not so much a “baby shower” as a “baby thunderstorm”. But the one that caught my eye comes from the Finnish Government.
In Finland they have the brilliant idea of giving expectant mothers a baby box, with a wide range of clothing and accessories the new baby and parents might need: babygrows, romper suits, nappies, towels, wash cloth, teething toy etc. And the box itself has a fitted mattress and can act as the baby’s first cot.
The Finns have sent one of these baby boxes to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a gift. Their baby is a future king or queen – third in line to the throne. So the question is this: Will the baby sleep in a cardboard box?
Of course, everyone expects the answer to be No. A royal baby? In a cardboard box?? But it got me thinking. At least the cardboard box is new. It hasn’t been pre-used by a bunch of hungry animals. But that’s the “unsuitable” first bed of the most royal baby ever – the King of kings.
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2 v 6-7
1. Pastors Need Your Care
A short series of blogs from Jason Helopoulos on caring for your pastor:
Part 1
Part 2
2. Preaching Matters: William Taylor on Work
The next video in St. Helen's Preaching Matters series of videos.
3. The Four Essential Writing Skills
Nicholas McDonald shares four skills for writing.
4. What's So Great About the Doctrines of Grace? - Free eBook
Sign up for a free e-book by Richard D. Phillips.
5. 8 Resolutions for the Christian Husband
Trevin Wax highlights these 8 resolutions from The Real Win: A Man's Quest for Authentic Success by Matt Carter and Colt McCoy.
6. And finally…
Our video of the week, the new trailer for True by Sarah Bradley:
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
This summer, I have the privilege of reading through Graham Beynon's, Mirror Mirror with a friend at church. We're looking at one chapter a week, each dripping with exciting gospel truth. And this afternoon, weather permitting, we'll be sitting by the Thames, watching the ducks and reveling in God's grace as described in chapter 5.
In that chapter, there's a wonderful reminder of who we are if we are in Christ. We are undoubtedly sinners, but that's not the end of the story! Here's what's true of me, my friend and Christians everywhere. Please enjoy reveling with us in these truths today:
You may not be a fan of Eastenders but there's a good chance you've a heard the storyline. Lauren Branning - 19 - has a drink-problem. And the problem is getting worse. For nearly a year now, the character whose parents have split up and whose Mum has been seriously ill, has been drinking. At first she got drunk to forget. Now she's an addict. A teenage alcoholic with serious liver damage. The future is beginning to look bleak.
Or maybe, when you think "alcoholic" your mind conjures images of Shameless', Frank or The Simpson's, Barney? There are plenty of characters to choose from. Images of those with drink-problems flick across our screens daily.... continue reading
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing praise to His name, for that is pleasant.
For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be His own,
Israel to be His treasured possession.
I know that the LORD is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods.
The LORD does whatever pleases Him,
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and all their depths.
Psalm 135: 3-6
