One and a half days. That's the total I've reached. That's the time I have spent over recent months playing Candy Crush saga, usually late in the evenings after the to do list has been sufficiently conquered. I did the maths yesterday afternoon after a point in a sermon sparked my thinking... I don't think it's a statistic I'm proud of!
I'm not knocking computer games - many of them are fun and a great way to relax. And while there is a risk that playing online can isolate you from friends and get in the way of Christian service, it isn't inevitable these things will happen. Indeed, the giving and receiving of "lives" has brought me back in contact with a number of friends who had previously drifted from my life ... I've liked that. But, in the grand scheme of things, when I stand before the throne of heaven I'm beginning to wonder if 36 hours making striped candies and clearing jelly will be seen as an entirely wise use of my time. And whether I find the game (with its frustrating levels) truly restful at all ...... continue reading
When I'm hurting, I like to act the victim - blaming the people around me for the surrounding mess. It means:
When I'm hurting, I like to act the hero - pretending I can soar through the pain unaffected. It means:
When I'm hurting, I like to live up to my calling as a precious child of God. It means:
Who would you like to be today?
I was reading the book of Jonah the other day (not as part of a reading plan, I'd been watching a TV programme on oceans and it started a train of thought in my mind... ). And, as I did so, it struck me afresh just what a grump Jonah was. He was clearly chosen by God and he was used significantly by God but he had a profound ability to be really miserable, stubborn and plain awkward along the way. He was:
1. Grumpy about God's call to mission
He didn't want to go. It's as simple as that. God called him to proclaim a message of judgement to the Ninevites and Jonah responded by legging it. It's not that Jonah minded the travelling (he was only too keen to get to Tarshish, in the opposite direction); it's not that he minded a spot of financial sacrifice (he didn't hesitate to pay the fare for his "let's run away from God" trip) - but he was desperate not to go to Nineveh and tell the people there that God doesn't treat rebellion lightly. Hand-picked by God to be the bearer of a divine message, he said "no way!"... continue reading
It's upon us again. That time when school, college and uni students are buried under a pile of revision and struggling with the stress of exams. Some are aiming for As, others hoping to scrape a pass. Some are burdened, others couldn't care less (indeed, we might wish they cared more!)
So how can we support them as they navigate the difficult weeks of revision and writing?
1. Pray
It's obvious, I know, but I forget all too often. Let's pray that they will concentrate well, write well and keep perspective well ... remembering both that it's great to give of their best this season but also that exam results have no bearing on their eternal destiny only their temporary career prospects.... continue reading
Have you seen this doing the rounds on the social media sites? It's been causing quite a stir.
To have a book with the creator's visible signature - well, that would be quite something! I’m sure if there were a Bible signed by Almighty God himself, it would be a major source of Bible envy.
But perhaps you suffer from that already?
You know; that feeling you get when God appears to be speaking to your friend in some electrifying way during their quiet times, but when you open your Bible, it’s frankly underwhelming.
Or when you’re at home group, and the person sitting next to you is bursting with insightful comments on the passage, while your mind strays elsewhere.... continue reading
We've all been there. That moment when we inwardly flinch with the pain. That moment when someone we care about says something that cuts to the quick. Maybe they meant to wound, maybe they were trying to be helpful but either way the hurt runs deep and it mars the next few minutes, if not hours or days ... Sometimes such interactions leave us angry or despondent, on other occasions resolving to keep our distance in the future. All too often we allow the feelings to fester and, let's face it, that never ends well - it certainly never ends up glorifying Jesus.
So how can we simply and faithfully work through the pain? One way is to work through the P-A-I-N!... continue reading
Preachers and Bible teachers spend a lot of time trying to hone their craft. There are some great books out there to help you with ideas and techniques whether you're giving a talk at a camp to teenagers, or preaching in a formal setting to hundreds or thousands.* But there's another place we should be looking to learn how to communicate better - the World!
There are some very gifted communicators out there - some of them communicating to make us laugh. Some of them to make us wealthy, or better businessmen. Others wanting to convince us that their philosophy is worth believing in. And all of them are able to draw immense crowds who pay good money to sit and listen. Here are just three things we can learn from our contemporary orators:... continue reading
1. Pray as you travel
If you're anything like me, you'll see many of the same faces every morning. Each day I can be fairly sure I'll cross paths with Marks and Spencer breakfast man in his trendy black trainers (he bought a fruit salad and sausage roll this morning), grumpy grey-haired lady in wrinkly socks (who invariably expresses her discontent at something to a disinterested world) and desperate-for-a-cigarette guy (who only stubs out when the bus arrives and lights up immediately he alights) to name but three. I find their consistency in my life quite pleasing - they bring structure to a part of my day when my brain barely functions well. Who do you see morning by morning, week by week? Why not pray for them? Let your eyes wander along the platform or the queue and ask God to give each person a clear opportunity to get to know God better. Of course, you can pray for your friends and family too.
2. Read Scripture as you travel
I know it's more common to read the paper, listen to an iPod or mindlessly scroll through the headlines on your smartphone but there's no rule. Why not get your Bible out - as tree book or ebook? Everyone peers over everyone else's shoulder at some point in a journey so give them something great to look at. And feed yourself something inspirational as you do. The Explore app can be a great help.... continue reading
It happens in nearly every office, pub, restaurant, park and theatre. That moment when, in the middle of a relaxed conversation, someone suddenly takes God's name in vain. In a split second, our heavenly Father's title becomes little more than an expression of exasperation; our precious Saviour's name a swear word. Sometimes the speaker intends to offend, more often they are indulging in mindless, culturally-approved emphases with little or no thought for anything or anyone spiritual. And as they do, our hearts sink and our palms sweat. Part of us saddened by the devaluing of something so dear to us - the rest, panic-stricken by that niggling suspicion that we probably ought to say something but we have no idea what.
So how can we respond in such situations? It's a question that one of our blog readers posed last week.... continue reading
In recent years, there has been a swathe of stories reporting the alleged involvement of celebrities in child molestation. The behaviour of a small number of paedophiles has been scrutinized online and a watching world has been left feeling sickened. Silhouettes of victims on newsreels tearfully tell of trauma past and the ongoing struggles of a life ruined forever. The awfulness of such stories can barely be quantified.
In quiet conversations in churches around the globe, there are Christians who tell their stories too … those who know just what it feels like to be sexually abused as a child. They know how deep the pain pierces. They have shared in the tears that flow for so many years. But, in Christ, they can testify to a different ending. The abuse can never be forgotten but theirs is not a life ruined forever. They know the reality of a life being rebuilt. Today, on The Good Book Blog, we hear from one such survivor:... continue reading
