Christian Girl Guide leaders defy decision to drop God from pledge
Is the Bible to be cast away by 'Desert Island Discs'?
New Archbishop to take his seat
'Persecuted' British Christians need to 'grow up', says former Archbishop Rowan Williams
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
My middle daughter has got me into Manga - and I'm loving it.
It started for her when we watched a TV series called Naruto together and went on from there to the wonderful anime stories produced by Studio Gibli. I have just finished reading a massive series that is wildly popular among Manga readers, called Deathnote - and it blew away all my preconceptions about how this medium works, and the kinds of ideas that it can communicate.
Originally, I had thought that Manga - a style of comic book that originated in Japan, but has been picked up and copied around the world - was filled with stock characters and lame stories. How wrong could I be. Turns out there are several different kinds of Manga - shojo is aimed at girls, shonen at boys, which tends to have darker themes and more violent plotlines. Deathnote is definitely the latter.... continue reading
I was 13 when my Nan moved in. I loved my Nan. She was absolutely wonderful in every way. And what’s more she looked like Nans should: slightly plump, white wavy hair, rosy cheeks and a big smile. She spent her time doing what Nan’s (of her era) should: talking about the war, eating boiled sweets and sewing. She had an uncanny ability to make pretty much anything out of scraps of material. And I mean anything … When she had some fingers amputated and was told she was too old for prosthetics she simply went to her “rag bag”, dug out some leatherette, some old tights and some ribbon and made herself some fingers that she could tie on each morning. Best - Nan - ever!... continue reading
