A mixed blessing?

An interestingly named bakery in Tooting, South London. Photo Tim Thornborough

"The weather was really hot on holiday - but it was a mixed blessing, because we all got sunburnt."
"Nuclear power is a mixed blessing - it gives us electricity but also weapons with terrible destructive power."
"Children are a mixed blessing - of course they bring us incredible joy and happiness - but the sleepless nights, the expense, the worry..."

I wonder if you've ever used this phrase in conversation? Many of us have.

We might also be tempted to think that being a Christian is a mixed blessing. The "upside" is enormous after all - forgiveness, eternal life, a new family, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the sure rock of the Bible as our guide in life, joy... I could go on.

But with it comes a whole heap of other stuff that is less pleasant. Misunderstanding, persecution, a task in life that seems impossible, the inner struggle against sin and temptation. None of these things are minor - many of them deeply painful, and last our whole lives.

So if someone said to us: "being a a Christian is a mixed blessing", we might be tempted to nod in agreement - until we looked at our Bibles.... continue reading

LIVE: the course your church may well have been waiting for

Rebecca Manley Pippert has done more to shape the church’s evangelism, and done more evangelism herself, than virtually anyone else in the last fifty years. Her bestselling Out of the Saltshaker was listed as one of the fifty most influential Christian books of the 20th century in Christianity Today. More recently, she has been based in Europe, encouraging Christians of all ages but particularly students to read the Bible with their non-Christian friends. The fruit right across the continent has been astonishing.

Now, Becky has turned her mind to a gap she’s noticed as she’s told people about Christ throughout the world. When people become Christians… what next? Or, when people have read the Bible with a friend, or done a course such as Christianity Explored or Alpha, and are interested but not yet converted… what next?

It’s worth asking yourself what you do. What your church does. What comes next for the nearly believer, or the new believer, or even the newly committed believer?... continue reading

Fighting the Monday feeling

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Six ways to pray for summer camps

They're going on now… and will throughout the summer. You may well know people you can pray these things for. If you don't, just pick a camp (Ventures is one place to find one) and pray these things for the people on it!

1. Pray for the Bible teaching: that the "gospel [would come] … not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep joy" (1 Thessalonians 1 v 5)
2. Pray that campers who aren't Christians would become Christians: that "they would turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven" (1 Thessalonians 2 v 9-10).
3. Pray that Christian campers would learn how to live out their faith: that they'd know "how to live in order to please God … [and] do this more and more" (1 Thessalonians 4 v 1)
4. Pray that leaders would have Christlike love: loving campers "so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well" (1 Thessalonians 2 v 8)
5. Pray that leaders would have eternal priorities: that they'd think of the campers as "our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes" (1 Thessalonians 2 v 19)
6. Pray that leaders would make be committed to prayer and practical support for their campers before, during and after camp: "How can we thank God enough for … you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith" (1 Thessalonians 3 v 9-10)

This post was originally posted on 24th July 2012.

Christianity in the News 24.07.14

Sudan 'apostasy' woman Meriam Yahia Ibrahim meets Pope

Modernised 'readable' Bible raises nearly £330,000 on Kickstarter

Iraqi Christians flee after Isis issue Mosul ultimatum

Iraqi Christians are raped, murdered and driven from their homes – and the West is silent

Persecution of Iraqi Christians a 'crime'

How Christianity Shapes Louisville's Coffee Culture

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.

That you may overflow with hope ...

• For those believers in Iraq facing uncertainty and death:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• For those believers in Nigeria abducted or searching for those who are lost:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• For persecuted believers throughout the world:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• For those believers experiencing any kind of weakness or pain:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• For ourselves, when despair begins to creep:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

My unusual prayer list

Half way down a long stretch of the A3, on my way to work last month, the smoke started pouring out of the car radio. The only time this had happened to me before the car was a blazing wreck within 5 minutes, so my heart raced a little as I looked for somewhere to pull over. But this time, with a gentle "POP" the radio went silent, the smoke stopped, and everything seemed fine.

I'm a bit of a news junkie, so the Today programme is my usual companion on the morning drive to work. It has become part of my morning ritual. Thought for the day; the headlines; the ten past eight interview have all filled my mind with thoughts on the commute. But now there is silence. An enforced "news fast".

And like the other kind of fasting, it has taken me through some stages. First of all irritation (at the cost of replacing the radio). Then hunger: "I wonder what's happening?" Then wondering what to do with my head in the silence. And then working out that this is a great opportunity to use the time proactively. Suddenly, my journey to work has become an opportunity to pray. And I've developed an unusual prayer list.

• Restaurants: Driving down the main street of the suburb I live in, I pray for the progress of the gospel in the home countries of the restaurants I pass. South and North Korea, Japan and Italy all get a look in - and later on, Turkey and India/Pakistan/Bangladesh. I know missionaries in some of those countries, so they get prayed for too.
• Road names: There are a few road names that trigger associations with people I know. So when I turn down Chesterfield Road, I remember to pray for an old friend who comes from there.
• Sports grounds: I pass a golf course and a couple of leisure centres, so Christians in Sport sometimes comes to mind.
• Churches: and of course there are dozens of churches I pass - sparking prayer for their ministry, and the work of evangelism in the local area.

I'm very thankful that the radio broke - and I'm in no hurry to fix it.

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