"So, Helen, what are your plans for retirement?"
The question stung. Partly because I don't like to admit that I am now half way through my working life. It's sobering to realise that I am (just) closer to retirement age than the moment I graduated and got my first "proper" job providing therapeutic support to adults with severe brain injuries. But partly because as soon as the honest answer to that question entered my mind, I knew it wasn't particularly godly!... continue reading
1. Worship Jesus
A website full of resources for worship leaders & musicians from Olly Knight.
2. 14 Free eBooks for You
A collection of free e-books from Desiring God.
3. 21 Simple Ways to be an Exceptional Dad
Josh Mcpherson shares these ways that he's learnt from his Dad.
4. 4 Key Ingredients for Youth Ministry
Check out these key ingredients from Dave Wright at The Gospel Coalition.
5. And finally…
Our video of the week, part of the Open up the Bible campaign, 'Bible reading before work':
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 past Saturday evening New York City saw the launch of a new author and a great new resource. Bernard Howard, son of Lord Michael Howard (former leader of the Conservative Party in the UK) is ministering at Christ Church in the West Village, NYC. Howard was on hand at Elsa's to sign copies of his new book, The Book of the Covenant. The event saw a venue full of loyal fans and curious NYC locals. It was great to be able to provide copies of the book direct to Howard's readers. Of course, everyone was anxious to get their copy signed and have a chat with him about his thoughts on the covenants. It was the first time several of those in attendance had come into contact with The Good Book Company. But others, some from as far a field as Perth Australia, had a good knowledge of our resources.
Don't forget that over the rest of the month you still have an opportunity to pick up this great title and interact with Mr. Howard via Facebook or Twitter regarding questions and comments you might have. To get the book at a discount for the remainder of the month, be sure to use code: acctheo at check out.
Domestic violence is in the news again. That's what happens when 2 celebrities have a very public row. And quite right too. Domestic violence is a hideous phenomenon that affects approximately 25% of women at some stage of their married / partnered life. It needs to be exposed. It needs to stop.
But there is another aspect to this crime. One which goes largely unreported. According to the National Centre for Domestic Violence, approximately 4 million men are affected by domestic violence every year. Every third victim of domestic violence is male. One man dies every 3 weeks at the hands of their partner.... continue reading
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgements, 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 him?’
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:33-36
The first look took me completely by surprise.
Everything else we had spent the last six months researching, planning, working towards. The cot was installed. The room freshly painted yellow - we decided to be surprised by the sex, rather than find out from the scan so we could paint blue or pink. I had read up abut the technicalities of baby care, and how to be a supportive husband for a new mother. The visit from my mum had been planned. The plane ticket for her mum had been booked. Time off work scheduled. The technology researched and in place.
Everything was ready except me.... continue reading
Christians shut out by officials because of equalities 'obsession', MPs warn
Crowd stunned after valedictorian rips up speech, recites Lord’s prayer
Eager to Adopt, Evangelicals Find Perils Abroad
Lutheran assembly elects first openly gay bishop
Cathedral gears up for Archbishop farewell
Archbishop Justin Welby: The 'muscular Christian’ setting a fine example to his flock
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.
I'll admit that I am slightly cat-mad but that's not the only reason the headline feature on the BBC site caught my eye today. Recently a team of scientists attached GPS locator chips and small cameras to the collars of a selection of friendly felines from a village in Surrey and tracked their behaviour. Data was transmitted to a central computer every time the cats moved giving an accurate representation of where they went and what they saw. If you happen to be interested in the life of Chip, Rosie, Coco, Hermie or their friends you can follow your chosen moggy or tom's cat-cam here.
But cute furriness and biological intrigue aside, the articles got me thinking. What would people see if someone attached a GPS and a camera to my neck? What would be flashed across the screens of computers worldwide if I live-streamed everything that I looked at and everywhere I went?... continue reading
It wasn't the easiest conversation I've had this week. An elderly friend is coming to terms with an unpleasant realisation: she is getting old.
She doesn't feel it. Well, she feels it in her arthritis-riddled bones. But she doesn't feel it in her heart and in her mind. She still thinks of herself as the motorbike-riding, hill-walking, party-loving woman that she has always been. So it seems wrong, so wrong to be considering going into a care home. "They're for old people" she exclaimed. I probably could have been more subtle in the way I pointed out that 88 years and several strokes on, she is no spring chicken any more.... continue reading
I’d been praying for a chance for months. A chance to share my faith with this guy I saw each week after church. But when the opportunity finally arose, I ended up talking about brownies instead of the Bible! And as I left the room I knew I’d blown it. I’d completely messed up.
Ever felt like that? Useless? Utterly unprepared? It’s not pleasant. But at some point in our lives – in school or at home, in relationships or at work – all of us will discover how truly weak we are.
And that’s what Hero (UK and US) is about. Author Jonty Allcock shows how God uses and equips weak people to bring about his great plans with a famous account from the book of Judges.... continue reading
