On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns finally fell silent after the brutal war tore Europe apart. Today we are all encouraged to spend 2 minute's silence at that time, in order to remember those who died, not just in World War 1 but in every conflict since then.
Remembrance Day continues to be of relevance. Not just for the "old soldiers" who served in the first and second world wars - but for the new soldiers and their families, who remember loss and pain that is much more recent. The death toll of British service personnel in Afghanistan now stands at 446 since Operation Enduring Freedom began.... continue reading
It's been a week of change here at The Good Book Company, UK office.
Yesterday we were sad to say "goodbye" to Dave McArthur after 8 years of humble service within the team. Dave has been answering phones, sending out orders and keeping our warehouse spotless throughout his time with us in our New Malden and Epsom offices - his hard work and tendency to sing God's praises as he walks up and down the stairs will be much missed. Dave told The Good Book Blog just how much he has appreciated his colleagues' support and friendship over the years - the feeling is definitely mutual. He's off to work for Bible distribution company, RL Allan and we would love it if you would join with us in praying for him as he embarks on this new phase of ministry.
But we've also been thrilled to welcome our new logistics assistant, Neil Challis to The Good Book family. Neil, who has worked for Sainsbury's in the past, will be picking up the reins of the warehouse operation and is already getting to grips with our stock, pallets and lifting equipment. If you receive an order from us, there's a good chance the books will have been through his hands at some point! He's an active member of his local church and an ardent Chelsea FC supporter ... a fact that fuels a spot of office banter here and there! Please do pray for him too as he settles in and joins with us in Kingdom work.
As the presenter on BBC Radio Four put it, when it comes to where humans come from, evolutionists are having to “rethink what we thought we knew”.
The discovery of the skull of a human (or human ancestor, depending on how you choose to label it) in the Republic of Georgia, is being seen by some scientists as evidence that humans are all descended from a common ancestor. This overturns the prevailing theory of the last forty years, which was that there were several human-type species around, out of which humanity evolved.
So Justin Webb, interviewing one of the scientists who had been analyzing the skull, really wasn’t exaggerating when he spoke of the science community needing to rethink what they thought they knew. And in saying that, he pointed out a nuance in how science is “done” which is rarely mentioned in school lessons or in Richard Dawkins’ books.... continue reading
When people don't respond to the gospel, it's easy for us to hide behind the powerful truths of 2 Corinthians 4 v 4:
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
We should not let ourselves off so lightly.
Last week I was involved in three superb conferences. The Evangelists' Conference in London and Manchester, and then to Southampton for the first of our Growing Young Disciples conferences for those involved in youth and children's ministry. Both conferences were addressing the same issue from a different direction. How can we present the gospel in a way that means people really hear it?... continue reading
The suicide bombing of a church in Pakistan a couple of weeks ago, in which at least 85 people were killed, is a horrendous reminder of what Christians in countries throughout the world risk each week simply by going to church.
And, coming as it did at the same time as the Nairobi shopping-centre terrorist attack, in which people were targeted indiscriminately, rather than on the basis of their faith, it has raised a question in the western media, a question which is worth Christians thinking through:
Does it make any difference when the people affected by tragedy are Christians?... continue reading
Oliver Barclay, second General Secretary of IVF/UCCF, died on 12 September 2013, aged 94.
He was born in Kobe, Japan, on 22 February 1919, the son of Joseph Gurney Barclay (who served with what is now the Church Mission Society). His great grandfather was the MP Thomas Fowell Buxton who campaigned with William Wilberforce as part of the influential Clapham Sect.
A memorial service will be held in Leicester on Saturday 5th October (see details at the end of this obituary).
Oliver first joined the small IVF team in 1945, having completed a doctorate in zoology. His original hope was to teach in one of China’s newer universities, but Douglas Johnson, IVF founding General Secretary (always known as DJ), persuaded him to defer his departure by two years. As Oliver’s newly-created role as Assistant Secretary took shape, it soon became clear that the universities of Britain and Ireland would instead be his life’s work.... continue reading
If you are interested in any of the entry-level opportunities at The Good Book Company, there are just 2 days left to apply.
We are looking to recruit:
and...
...to begin work in October.
For more details, please see our Careers website.
And please do be praying for us as we short-list and interview in the coming couple of weeks.
It's no secret that some parents have preferences about the gender of their unborn child. Some long for a boy to take to the big game or, as a friend said to me recently, a girl to wear pretty dresses. Some want a child of a specific gender to balance out their family which is currently largely male - or female. Others still come from cultures where having a first born male still counts for a lot. Occasionally there are health issues at play with parents desperate for their child to avoid a genetic condition most prevalent in men. Whether it's for deeply held priorities, or something rather more superficial, some parents really do yearn for either a girl or a boy.
But how far would you go to ensure that your next child was of the gender of your choosing?... continue reading
Do you share The Good Book Company's vision and values? Are you looking for an entry-level position? Are you happy to work in Surrey, England? Then one of our three fixed-term vacancies may be for you!
We are currently recruiting for an IT Intern, an Editorial Intern and an Operations Assistant. Each post is for 6 months and will include on-the-job training.
Job specifications and details of how to apply can be found on our website.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Can you forgive someone who killed your grandmother? That’s the question posed by a deeply moving article on the BBC news website. Bill Pelke’s grandmother was 78 when a group of teenage girls broke into her home, ransacked the place and stabbed her to death. The girls were quickly caught; found guilty at trial; given huge prison sentences – apart from the ringleader, Paula Cooper. She got the death penalty.
At the time, Bill Pelke approved the death sentence, as I imagine many others would. But then, 18 months later, things took an unexpected twist. His grandmother had been a devout Christian, and he became convinced she would have shown compassion to this girl and her family. So he chose to forgive the very person who had murdered his grandmother.... continue reading
