"We know from the facts and figures the average age of starting to watch pornography is about 11." So runs a sentence in a recent BBC article.
Of course, not every 11 year old is watching porn. But it seems some are. And as children progress through their teens, it is more and more likely that they will engage with pornographic material. There's so much out there - in magazines, in books and, above all, on the internet. No longer are our adolescents having to sneak mags off the top shelf and hide them under their beds, there's a whole world of explicit material just a click away. And - unless internet accountability systems are put in place - a simple "clear browser history" manoeuvre often hides the evidence from the responsible adults of the house.
Much as it would be convenient to do so, it would be unwise to assume that children from Christian homes are immune from such temptation. Whether it's driven by natural curiosity about the sexual experience (which every child has at some stage) or peer pressure to conform to the porn-watching that slips somewhat un-naturally between video-games and eating chocolate at teenage sleepovers, some of our young people will be confronted with the sorts of images that make our hearts sink.... continue reading
That's how one church in Brazil is taking part in Jesus' Great Commission - and they're doing so with the Portuguese version of Christianity Explored structuring all they do.
There is a great hunger for God's Word in South America. The Lord is calling his elect to himself. And it's a huge privilege for us to be playing a small part in that.
So, please do join with us in praying for these Christianity Explored courses in Brazil throughout April, May and June: that the workers will be faithful and that the harvest will be plentiful as the Spirit opens blind eyes and unchains captive hearts.
And do please let us know how your Christianity Explored courses are going too ... you may not have quite as much going on as our Brazilian brothers and sisters but we'd still love to hear your news!
You turned my wailing into dancing;
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise You forever.
Psalm 30: 11-12
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I have a fridge magnet. On it is a cupcake. And, underneath, those words we all know so well: "I can resist everything except temptation".
So often that magnet can feel true. So often we mess up and fall into the same traps time and time again. Temptation leads to sin leads to guilt. It certainly feels true for me today as I fail - yet again - to stick to the new low-fat diet recommended by the doctor. And, more importantly, fail to keep control of my thoughts and my speech.
In part, the magnet is true because we are sinful human beings who are not yet free from the snare of our wayward hearts and our fallen environment. Temptation and sin are inevitable this side of Jesus' return. But partly it feels true because we see battling temptation as a predominantly negative thing. We think of it purely in terms of giving things up, denying ourselves, being austere, missing out.... continue reading
There was much interest in the office yesterday at a new survey ranking 200 jobs, from best to worst. The big question: which TGBC employee had the best (and worst) job?
IT guru Jonny Barker won the contest; software engineer came in at third on the US-produced list, which ranks jobs based on five criteria: physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook.
The editorial team lost, collectively; publication editor is down at 168, four below carpet installer and eight below refuse collector. It could be worse, though: newspaper reporter (which I used to be) is rock bottom, at 200. You can see the whole list here.... continue reading
1. The Digital World of Teens - Infographic
An interesting infographic on the digital world of teens.
2. 5 Tools Needed to Reach Today's Teens
Five essential tools from Cameron Cole at The Gospel Coalition.
3. 7 Things I've Learned from John Piper
Mark Driscoll shares seven things he has learnt.
4. Lyrical Theology and Fal$e Teacher$: Shai Linne on Hip-Hop Polemics
An interview with Shai Linne on his new album, Lyrical Theology Part 1: Theology.
5. Margaret Thatcher 1925-2013: 11 Lessons Christian Leaders Can Learn
John Stevens, FIEC National Directior, looks at 11 lessons Christian leaders can learn from Margaret Thatcher.
6. And finally…
Our video of the week, Nate Morgan Locke talks about the CY course for 11-14 year olds:
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
Mirror, mirror on the wall ... Familiar words from a familiar tale. A woman, consumed with envy, repeatedly checking her magic mirror to see if she is beautiful enough. A caricature maybe. But she is not alone. Women, it seems, are particularly bad at seeing themselves as they truly are.
And that is something that has been borne out by a little experiment conducted by multinational company, Dove. They asked a series of women to describe themselves to a forensic artist - someone used to sketching faces from oral descriptions. Then, they asked someone else who had met the women to describe them to the same artist. Two sketches of each woman resulted - one as described by the woman herself; one described by an acquaintance. And what a difference there was!... continue reading
We're trying to grapple with the future at The Good Book Company. Are we heading towards the day when there will be few bookshops and all texts are read on an electronic device? Should we be heading towards that day with enthusiasm?
Many adults I speak to throw up their hands in horror at the thought. They have a love affair with tree books - the feel, the smell, the portability, the comfort all combine to make them staunch defenders of the traditional paperback.
But there are commercial pressures. The expense of printing, storing, transporting and handling all disappear when the "book" becomes information on a computer to be downloaded in a moment. And there are cultural pressures from the younger generation, that do everything on the device they carry round with them - talk, interact, read, write and explore.... continue reading
Preserve me, O God,
for in You I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from You.’
Psalm 16: 1-2
