I'm sure it's not just rose-tinted nostalgia - but I don't remember my own teenage years being quite so angst-ridden as what I see going on now.
Of course, I had all the same things to deal with as everyone has always had:
It's annual appraisal week here at The Good Book Company. That yearly chance for staff to get together with their managers to talk about how things are going. We're a friendly bunch. There are rarely any major problems. But I like to do well in my appraisal so when, in a doctor's waiting room, I saw an article on making progress in your job, I thought I'd have a read.
"In today's employment market, where competition to get a job, hold onto it and get promoted is tougher than ever, it's important you learn to use your wiles to stay on top" it began. A slightly more ambitious tone than I generally adopt but I was still interested in its advice. How did it continue? To stay on top you should do 7 things:... continue reading
To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
Proverbs 16 v 1-9
God has the last word. Ultimate control is in his hands. There's a limit to human wisdom: even the wisest people must recognise that God's in charge. It's hugely reassuring that no matter how things appear and whatever we do, God's in control.
Tim Chester takes a look at what the Bible says about the practical issues modern marriages face and how our understanding of the Gospel can help shape the way we deal with them.
If you or someone you know is looking to make sense of the everyday demands of modern living in this fast paced unforgiving society then grab a copy today.
Simply use code gcm2203 at the checkout or on the phone to get this book with 35% off.
Offer expires 25.03.13
Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury – in his own words
Justin Welby speaks of same-sex challenges for Church
David Cameron: I will oppose "aggressive secularisation" of British society
Christian protesters decry Muslim mob's arson spree following blasphemy charge
Christian guesthouse owners find way to carry on banning gay couples
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.
Having started up and pastored a new “plant service”, aiming to reach an unreached demographic; and now being a “punter” in a young church plant, I’ve fallen into all these traps, one way or another… (by the way, I'm assuming that the plant is Christ-centred, and Bible-preaching. Obviously, the biggest pitfall is not to preach Christ from His word, relying on His Spirit!)
1. Forgetting what you're doing
A church plant is a kingdom-building project; a new structure of bricks in the only building that will last forever (1 Peter 2 v 4-6). Every week a new church meets is a miracle of God’s grace. Every new believer or growing believer is a result of God’s mercy. Church planting is hard, can be lonely, is often slow work. It’s easy to forget what it is that is happening when a new church begins in an area, or reaching a section of society, that hasn’t heard the gospel for years, decades, centuries, or ever. In 200 years, what you do for, with and in that church (whether a pastor or a pew-sitter) will still matter. What else do you want to do with your life?... continue reading
It was cold; I was tired; so I gave in and jumped on a bus. It was packed (clearly everyone else had the same idea). Standing room only. Most were glued to their phones—texting, tweeting, surfing and occasionally even phoning. But then I tuned in to a conversation behind me. Someone was witnessing to the stranger beside him. Brave.
I couldn’t see either of them, so drew a picture in my mind as I listened.
As the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer prepares to bring a swathe of economic challenges and incentives in his budget today, a quick reminder from Scripture about where our true security resides:
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:22-43
As human beings we don’t always do a great job at helping ourselves. Whether that’s battling sin, organizing our priorities, taking the exercise we need to stay healthy or keeping our finances under control, all too often we make our lives harder than they need to be.
In an idle moment (or, if I’m honest, a moment in which I was avoiding doing something far more important) I logged on to Twitter and typed in #ownworstenemy. And it seems I’m not the only person to have noticed this trend! Whether it’s a rant about a favourite football team failing to defend and haemorrhaging goals; a student’s plaintive cry that they’ve left reading War and Peace until the night before the seminar or a diet gone astray after the latest trip to the doughnut shop, there’s a whole world of people out there who seem to be shooting themselves in the foot on a regular basis.... continue reading
