Christian US parents to sue over school yoga classes
Bridging the gap between Judaism and Christianity
New Archbishop will miss the north east
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.
They’re everywhere at the moment. There are the small children – usually girls – swathed in white sheets and gold tinsel all poised to enter stage left and address the tea-towel clad shepherds and associated stuffed sheep with “tidings of great joy”. There are the cards we’re sending and receiving. There may even be one on the top of your tree. But what exactly are angels? And what do they do when they’re not announcing the birth of our Saviour? Here, this Christmas time, is a quick Q&A about our angelic neighbours:
How many are there?
Lots! They are described as being “innumerable” (Hebrews 12:22) and numbering “thousands and thousands” (Revelation 5:11). Heaven is thronging with angelic beings.... continue reading
I've just written my to-do list. It's festive. But it's long. And, if I'm honest, I'm not quite sure how I'm going to manage to deliver all the cards and presents at the same time as taking part in various services, cooking large quantities of food, holding down my job, going to parties and maintaining some kind of residual sanity. Far from reflecting on a "silent night", I feel more as if I'm living in a whirlwind of activity which threatens to suck me into oblivion.
Which is why I'm very grateful to have stumbled across the post-it note I wrote for myself last Christmas (sandwiched in the middle of the amorphous mass of tinsel that lurks in the decorations box). There's only one word on it. And that word is this:
PRIORITIES... continue reading
The On to a Good Thing Christmas Special!
1. Mini-movies for ChristmasWe're used to images of the Jolly fat guy who is kind to everyone. And even though he supposedly makes a list of "who's naughty and nice" - he never really leaves the naughty kids off the list - it's just a feeble attempt by parents to introduce justification by works into the Christmas story.
But the real St Nic was quite different, although stories about his life are more in the realm of folklore and legend than accredited historic fact. As the pastor of a church in Myra (in the SE of modern Turkey), he was a tough Gospel-preaching evangelist. His elevation to universal gift giver stems from a story about him throwing gold coins through a window to provide a dowry for three young Christian women whose family had fallen on hard times. Some versions have him dropping them down the chimney and/or the coins ending up in their stockings hanging to dry by the fire. But note the difference. His are not gifts to give delight to the already wealthy. They are gifts of compassion to rescue poor young women from a life of slavery or prostitution for a Christian future.... continue reading
It’s such a privilege to praise God through song. And one of the things I love best about Christmas services is being able to belt out some great carols. While I’m happy to sing (or, more usually, play) a whole range of songs, if I’m honest I do have a few favourites. Those carols that I long to sing and sing again at this time of year. And it seems I’m not alone.
Here are some of our blog team’s favourite Christmas songs:
Alison: “O come, O come, Emmanuel” - It gives the Old Testament background to the coming of Christ and shows God’s faithfulness to His promises – and the tune is great too!... continue reading
Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.... continue reading
Struggling to think of a good present? Here are some last minute gift ideas that are perfect...
For her: Compared to her 30% off
For him: The Hard Corps 30% off
For both: Every Good Endeavour 30% off
For children - The Beginner's Bible 30% off
For teens - The Graphic Bible 30% off
For everyone - The Cross of Christ 30% off
Simply use the code lastminute at the checkout.
Offer expires 20/12/2012.
Christians could be minority by 2018, census analysis reveals
Number of Christians in England and Wales falls by more than 4 million
Actually, Evangelicals Were Quite Enthusiastic About Romney
Does Science Refute God? Christians, Atheists Debate
West Point cadet quits over religion
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.
Weeks late, I finally got around to watching the latest Bond blockbuster Skyfall. An interesting experience, because I was only able to book to see it with subtitles in English. Having watched loads of foreign-language films with English subtitles, I thought it would be no problem.
How wrong could I be? It absolutely ruined it!
Seeing the words flash up, slightly before they were spoken made it look like they were just actors reading lines - not like Bond, Q, M and Moneypenny at all - just actors in a play. The subtle timing of jokes was spoiled. The scenes where there was supposed to be smouldering romance were emptied of passion as it became obvious that they were just pretending. The delicate illusion of the theatre had been torn away by the simple addition of some words along the bottom.... continue reading
