The sense of panic began to rise. Her heart-beat quickened. Her throat tightened. Her stomach began to churn. And she knew that yet again, she would flee the room, the meal lovingly cooked by her friends left uneaten. A true story - a not uncommon story - but one that is desperately misunderstood.
In churches, and the wider society, anorexia and bulimia get quite a lot of press. The issues are known. The patterns for recovery, discussed. But food phobias - that's another matter. All too often considered strange or just plain attention-seeking, the people in our congregations who are genuinely terrified of certain foodstuffs are misunderstood.
So, what is a food phobia? It's when specific foods trigger reactions of anxiety or panic. At their most mild, phobias involve feelings of nervousness and nausea. At their worst, full panic-attacks ensue with strugglers reporting an inability to swallow, breath normally or even be in the same room as their trigger food.... continue reading
What an awesome day!
So many of us had been yearning for it for years. So many times, it seemed to be close but then had slipped away. So much hard work. So many prayers. So many sighs of frustration. So much disappointment in the past.
But on 7th July 2013 everything changed.
I couldn't quite believe it at first. It didn't seem real. But then my pulse started to race. My heart skipped a beat. I wanted to cheer, punch the air and hug someone. It was so wonderful...
A friend who has been convinced that God dislikes her, suddenly got it. "Because of Jesus, he delights in me!" came her words. A great, great outcome of God's good work.
Oh, and Murray won the tennis too. That was quite good then ...
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6
Everyone has been enjoying "Hawkeye" at Wimbledon in the last 10 days. Any time a line call at the tennis championships is challenged, the slow handclap builds to a frenzy as the slow-mo animated replay tells us: was the ball in or out! Brilliant. If only all matters of legal judgement were as simple.
Take what happened outside a shopping centre in Wimbledon Town Centre last Monday. A retired Californian Police officer was preaching in the street when he was arrested after someone took offence at his describing homosexuality as a "sin". He spent the next 6 hours being interviewed by police and being held in a cell on suspicion of "hate speech" before being released without charge. You can watch a youtube video in this news report.... continue reading
Christian arrested for calling homosexuality a 'sin'
Half of Adults Say Religious Nones Are Bad for America
Men can be 'wives' and women 'husbands' as Government overrules the dictionary
Presidential Quotes For The 4th Of July
Not talking about death only makes it more lonely and frightening
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.
In a world filled with people who are looking to "change their lives" - what is the Christian response?
Of course change is exactly what Jesus does to those he calls to belong to him. Among other things he changes:
But here's the big difference between the change that Jesus brings and the "life change" that many others seem to be pursuing. Consider this:... continue reading
You hear the phrase all the time on TV talent shows. People with a dream. People with a talent looking to break through. People who have lived in obscurity and nursed an ambition; then suddenly found fame, fortune, adoration. Their lives have been changed.
Type those words into YouTube and you find a whole host of videos - many with passionate looking people who promise to share their story of Life change. They promote a massive variety of things that have done that for them: a book, a spiritual experience, a new way of looking at your life, a new way of investing, surgery, confidence therapy, a life coach, a money-making scheme or taking psychotropic drugs in the Peruvian rainforest.... continue reading
I imagine there aren’t many people who don’t know that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Wills and Kate) are due to have their first child shortly. So they are receiving masses of presents. Not so much a “baby shower” as a “baby thunderstorm”. But the one that caught my eye comes from the Finnish Government.
In Finland they have the brilliant idea of giving expectant mothers a baby box, with a wide range of clothing and accessories the new baby and parents might need: babygrows, romper suits, nappies, towels, wash cloth, teething toy etc. And the box itself has a fitted mattress and can act as the baby’s first cot.
The Finns have sent one of these baby boxes to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a gift. Their baby is a future king or queen – third in line to the throne. So the question is this: Will the baby sleep in a cardboard box?
Of course, everyone expects the answer to be No. A royal baby? In a cardboard box?? But it got me thinking. At least the cardboard box is new. It hasn’t been pre-used by a bunch of hungry animals. But that’s the “unsuitable” first bed of the most royal baby ever – the King of kings.
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2 v 6-7
1. Pastors Need Your Care
A short series of blogs from Jason Helopoulos on caring for your pastor:
Part 1
Part 2
2. Preaching Matters: William Taylor on Work
The next video in St. Helen's Preaching Matters series of videos.
3. The Four Essential Writing Skills
Nicholas McDonald shares four skills for writing.
4. What's So Great About the Doctrines of Grace? - Free eBook
Sign up for a free e-book by Richard D. Phillips.
5. 8 Resolutions for the Christian Husband
Trevin Wax highlights these 8 resolutions from The Real Win: A Man's Quest for Authentic Success by Matt Carter and Colt McCoy.
6. And finally…
Our video of the week, the new trailer for True by Sarah Bradley:
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
This summer, I have the privilege of reading through Graham Beynon's, Mirror Mirror with a friend at church. We're looking at one chapter a week, each dripping with exciting gospel truth. And this afternoon, weather permitting, we'll be sitting by the Thames, watching the ducks and reveling in God's grace as described in chapter 5.
In that chapter, there's a wonderful reminder of who we are if we are in Christ. We are undoubtedly sinners, but that's not the end of the story! Here's what's true of me, my friend and Christians everywhere. Please enjoy reveling with us in these truths today:
