We're doing 50% off this great book by Ben Cooper. It covers the difficult doctrine of how a loving God has to punish sin. Born out of Ben's own thinking through on this topic he provides a straight-forward explanation that points us back to the cross with a deeper vision of what Jesus did for His people there.
By using the code justlove at checkout on our UK, US or Australian website you'll get this massive saving. To make it even better......it also works for the eBook versions too!
Offer expires 15/06/2012.
If you're looking for a short book on the justice and the compassion of God, maybe this is the one for you ... We're going to be doing a great deal on it this weekend so do check back later today!
And another small person has recently arrived in the Good Book family! Congratulations to our graphic designer, Andre Parker and his wife on the arrival of their fourth child - baby Jacob.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
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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 say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that's certainly true when it comes to grabbing attention, and helping people engage with the Gospel.
In the pulpit, we paint "word pictures" to engage the imagination and interest of our listeners. When it comes to the Gospel in print - pictures help most of us engage effectively with the big ideas of the Bible in memorable and impactful ways. Bridge to life; Christianity Explored; Two ways to live. I rest my case.
To try to find new ways of adorning the gospel for adults and children, we are hunting for fresh illustrators to work with, so this blog is a request to anyone out there to ask: do you know of people who God has gifted in this skill who we might think about working with? Please get in touch and let us know. Paste a link to their illustration online in the reply box, or email us at creative@thegoodbook.co.uk.
I don't like being ill. I don't think I know anyone who does. It hurts. It drains. It's a stark reminder of the fallenness of the world in which we live. And it confronts us with our own mortality.
If we're honest, many of us don't respond well to those days, weeks or months of suffering that we are called to endure. Grumbling, bitterness, impatience, self-pitying, discontent all seem to thrive when we're "laid-up".
But it doesn't have to be that way!... continue reading
A Swedish designer has put together a new range of clerical clothing CasualPriest.com for women that aims to express stylish and confident femininity.
Is it just us ... or does this look suspiciously like a Star Trek uniform?
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11 v 9-13
A good but flawed human father gives his children the good things they ask for.
How much more will our perfect, flawless, heavenly Father! Above all, He gives us His Spirit, to keep us loving Him, to change us to be like Him, to bring us safely home to Him.
What a Father!
This weekend will be filled with street parties, the magnificent spectacle of the royal flotilla sailing down the Thames, and a joyful celebration of a British tradition, and a wonderful woman who has served her country so well over the last 60 years.
But, as we have seen over the last few days, the idea of Jubilee in the Bible is filled with a much richer meaning.
The Bible is one book, one story. And at its centre is Jesus, who is the fulfillment of all the law. Yes, even of the law of the Jubilee celebration. How?
Rest: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11 v 28
Rejoice: “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven…" Luke 6 v 22-23
Reliance: "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6 v 31-33
Restoration: "In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." John 14 v 2-3
Release: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down ... And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4 v 19-21
So let's join in the praise for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, but reserve our full passion and joy for the One True King - Jesus our Lord. He's our real Jubilee.
From all of us at The Good Book Company, have a great weekend.
As the Queen's Jubilee celebration approaches, we've been looking at the origin of the Jubilee festival and made some fascinating discoveries.
The trumpet blast that started the Jubilee 50th year was the sign that anyone who was a slave was released. But there was another important economic aspect of the Jubilee as outlined in Leviticus 25. The land itself as restored to its original owners. In other words - there is no such thing as freehold.When someone sold a field or a plot of land, they were only leasing it for the time until the next Year of Jubilee. Why? As a reminder that: "The land is mine, and you are to reside in my land as foreigners and strangers." (Leviticus 25 v 23)
This whole economic system of land ownership has some very interesting implications for the way that business was conducted - not least that relationships and families became more important than money. But did you get the spiritual dimension of the command for restoration? It was a constant reminder to remember that the land they lived in was not theirs at all - but held as a gift from God.
It was the Lord who had rescued them from Egypt. It was the Lord who brought them through the wilderness to the land of Milk and Honey. It was with the Lord's strength that the Canaanites were driven out. It was the Lord's promise to Abraham that was fulfilled by the Lord's hand. The Jubilee enshrined in the rhythm of life the reminder that what they have comes as a gift to them from a gracious God. They must hold onto it lightly. They must live in it and enjoy its blessings with gratitude.
Many people admire the hard work and dedication to duty that has marked the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. She has worked hard to fulfill her role. She deserves to be celebrated this weekend. But I am sure that Her Majesty would echo the sentiments of the original Jubilee. That it is a time for recognising that all the good things we enjoy come from the hand of God. Your house, our country, your work, your bank account, your stuff. It's all his really.
Tomorrow: the real Jubilee!
