The Christian life is hard. I'm sure you will have noticed! We are saved from sin and heading for eternal bliss but at this moment in time we're far from perfect and still rubbing shoulders with messed up people in a messed up place. We live in tension. The tension that comes from having a foot in two worlds - the present age and the age to come. And every day brings a struggle of some description.
Of course, we don't like that tension. Most of us would prefer it to disappear. Sometimes we try to make it disappear either by compromising our faith to make life easier or by believing the misinformation that some teachers spout - that we can have wealth, ease, almost complete victory over sickness and temptation in the here and now. If only!
John Chapman's book is to the point. It's real about what life is like. It helps us to gain perspective on this daily tension. It teaches what the Bible says about life between Jesus' first coming and his second. And it spurs us on to live faithfully, in the power of the Spirit, gradually becoming more like Jesus while in the thick of the mess that characterises our world and our hearts. And it does all that in about 75 pages.
As with all books penned by Chapman, it's accessible, engaging, biblical and practical. There are moments which will make you smile and moments that will convict your heart. It's packed with examples from his personal experience which brings great warmth to the writing. But its real strength lies in its simplicity. It's perfect to read in one sitting (though if you want to move more slowly and use the discussion guide at the back, that's fine too). And it simply spurs you to keep persevering in the present and keep rejoicing in the future. No compromise. No false hope. Just a clear call to fix your eyes on the wonder of Jesus and keep putting one foot in front of the other. And, quite frankly, that's message we all need to hear from time to time.
Want to buy a copy of A Foot In Two Worlds? Click HERE.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
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How do people forgive a crime like murder?
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.
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
There's no getting away from it - it doesn't matter how much you love your job - the first day back at work after the summer holidays is a nightmare. The sudden gear-shift from sloth to productivity; the overflowing inbox; the mini-crises (and sometimes not so mini ones) that have crept on to your desk - they all seem to conspire to make day 1 a pressure-cooker of despair. It might be nice to see your colleagues again but few people skip home that first day back ...
Some of that is tiredness, pure and simple. But mixed up in there, all too often, is our inability to divorce ourselves from the world's way of thinking. We get our identity from what we do rather than who we know ourselves to be in Christ. Or we forget who we are really working for and what our true purpose is. And so, when what we do is hard, we feel rubbish.
If that sounds like you, why not dip into Tim Chester's, Gospel Centred Work and refresh your view of work today ...... continue reading
After a 2 week summer break, On to a Good Thing is back!
1. Show Then Tell
A free e-book from Eric McKiddie with original, hand-crafted illustrations that will point the people you teach to Jesus..
2. 19+1 Ways to Lead a Bible Study
Twenty ideas to try with your Bible study group.
3. The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Two free e-books from The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
4. Making the most of the year's easiest invite
Jonathan Greenaway thinks it's time for us to be planning our church Christmas activities. Here's some information about his new project.
5. It Happens At The Table
An interesting article from The Christian Pundit.
6. How do your favourite preachers do sermon prep?
Some videos from some of today's great preachers explaining their process in writing a sermon.
7. And finally…
Our video of the week, from Open Up the Bible, 'Bible reading at every opportunity':.
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
Who: Thomas Cranmer
When: 1489 – 1556
Where: Archbishop of Canterbury
So what?
There is very little about the Anglican Church—its offical theology, its rhythms of worship, its relationship to the monarch—that Cranmer didn’t have a hand in. He was integral to King Henry VIII’s efforts to get a divorce from his first wife, so that he could marry Anne Boleyn, who he hoped would give him a son and heir (she didn’t manage the first, but kind of achieved the second—her daughter was Elizabeth I). He became Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry and then Edward VI, and having slowly moved to committed Protestantism himself, he slowly moved England in the same direction: very cautiously under Henry (who was a Catholic who didn’t like the Pope), then quite quickly under Edward (a convinced Protestant, the son of Henry’s third wife).... continue reading
This is an unusual book. It has daily thoughts, usually just one page, sometimes with a well-chosen Bible text, giving 50 practical ways to care for a loved one with cancer.
The author, June Hunt, is an American who has herself suffered from cancer and experienced the blessing of family and friends rallying around to give specific, practical help, who herself now joins with others to help care for loved ones with cancer.
June is founder of Hope for the Heart, a worldwide biblical counselling ministry and a half-hour radio broadcast of the same name, and is also the author of numerous books and devotionals.
Each day she shares at least one tip from her own experience as to how to express practical care – on pain relief, physical comfort, stimulating the mind and senses, where to seek medical advice etc. There is a tremendous variety of ideas given, many extremely creative - or just simple, but excellent.... continue reading
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counsellor?’
‘Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?’
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
Romans 11:33-36
There are likely to be carers in your congregation – among those who are fully integrated or those on the periphery. Some will be coping. Some wont. Here are our top 6 tips on supporting those who care for others.
Pray
In your services, on your notice-sheets, in your own personal quiet times pray for the physical, emotional and spiritual perseverance of those who care. Ask them for their own specific pray requests too.... continue reading
