Gay marriage bill: Peers back government plans
Church of England gives up fight against gay marriage
Atheists challenge churches' free parking permits
Bible outpaces Fifty Shades of Grey to become surprise hit in Norway
Church of England leaders propose female bishops by 2015
Campaign aims to make faith schools open to all
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.
I'm trying something different at my homegroup this week.
As we're starting looking at the book of James, we're going to read the whole thing in one as a starter to the series. I'll ask individuals or pairs (if enough turn up!) to focus their minds particularly on a specific chapter. But from everyone at the end of reading right through it, I'll ask them two questions:
We'll then think a bit about the context, author and first readers of the letter by looking at the opening few verses and the closing verses.... continue reading
1. New eBook: Piper Celebrates the Influence of Lewis
A free e-book by John Piper about C.S. Lewis.
2. TGC Worship
A new blog from The Gospel Coalition, TGC Worship.
3. Bibles Open
A helpful article for preachers. When you preach, how long do Bibles stay open?
4. Reading Profitably
Joe Thorn shares some words from Henry Scudder.
5. I Was a Pragmatist
An interesting article from one of our authors, Jeramie Rinne.
6. And finally…
Our video of the week, the Questions Christians Ask 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
Dear Bishops with seats in the House of Lords,
Today is the vote in the Lords on the redefinition of marriage. There’s pressure on you not to attend, and not to vote against it if you do. People are making the point that if you stand against this measure, there may be moves to deprive the bishops of your seats in the Lords. You’ve been made well aware that by convention only two of you vote on any one measure. And some of you, of course, don’t want to oppose taking marriage out of its biblical context and definition anyway.... continue reading
"I hate the summer - God goes on holiday every year".
The comment caught me surprise. As someone who has a relatively busy lifestyle - and no children - I quite look forward to the summer months. Fewer meetings, more BBQs - an outside chance that the weather might just be warm enough to get a small tan. The weeks when school is out bring a welcome change to the pace to life - a chance to spend more time enjoying my relationship with God without the hamster wheel of responsibilities that crowd most other months. But not everyone feels that way.
There are those who are elderly and frail - those who only leave their home to go to church events or a medical appointment. As summer approaches, they don't see "holiday" they see a 6-week gaping hole in their diary that increases isolation and intensifies their pain.... continue reading
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.
I have suffered much;
preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.
Psalm 119: 105-108
Yesterday’s news held an interesting revelation: turns out Jesus has been born again! But this time round he’s come in the form of an Aussie called Alan John Miller. Not convinced? Here’s the evidence… AJ remembers.
He describes the crucifixion as not so “harrowing for [him] as it was for others like Mary who [were] present” and claims not to have been in a state of fear or pain. The Bible, he says, is a distortion of his original ‘lessons’ and his current campaign is an attempt to “reverse the untruth taught on earth associated with beliefs attached to the Bible.” The irony is that he continually refers back to what he believes is a corrupted book for support. Mentioning his ‘good friend’ Lazarus, for example, AJ reminds us of the biblical records. However, the only verification of his relationship with his partner Mary – whom he argues was his first-century wife, pregnant with their daughter when he died – apparently stems from the renowned Da Vinci Code.... continue reading
Insolvency experts predict that more and more people who are short of money are going to turn to pay day lenders for a short term loan.
On the surface it sounds simple. You borrow a few hundred pounds from a payday loan company to tide you over until you receive your next pay cheque. It fills a gap and enables you to pay that urgent or unexpected bill, rent or mortgage. But the loans are very expensive with extraordinarily high rates of interest and all too often you find you cannot repay the loan as planned and end up in more mess than at the start.
No surprise then that debt charities and consumer groups are warning that such lenders can lure the unwary into taking on debt that easily balloons out of control.
These payday loans are very much in the news at the moment but they are just one facet of a much bigger question: how should we manage our money? Or more to the point, as Christians, what does the Bible tell us about managing our finances?
Sadly, money is a subject many of us prefer not to think about and we rarely sit down to work out what the Bible has to teach us about it. Cash Values is designed to get us to do just that.
In this series of short, thoroughly readable studies, we are guided through the important Bible passages about money, explaining how the subject is significant to our relationship with God and our fellowship with other Christians. Straightforward discussion blended with responsible attention to the Scriptures make this book a valuable resource for both churches and individuals.
Get it here with a 20% discount.
Christians' discrimination cases rejected by human rights court
Digital Bible will be 'personalised'
Boy Scouts' Membership Change May Grow Christian Youth Clubs
Church of England leaders propose female bishops by 2015
Most Undocumented Immigrants Are Christians From Latin America and Caribbean
British Christianity dies while Islam thrives. Why?
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.
The headlines this week have been stomach-churning. Women beaten in Syria having been forced into sham marriages with much older men. Disgusting images on Facebook like the one showing a lady pushed down some stairs bearing the caption, "next time, don't get pregnant". In the 21st century, violence against women is still far from rare.
So, today on The Good Book Blog we talk with one UK Christian who knows just what it's like to be at the sharp end of a man's fist.... continue reading
