Here's your chance you number crunching CofE people, and anyone else who wants to wade in - what is your take on these findings? Is it discerning? Is it far-sighted? Or have they missed something important? Offer your thoughts below and we'll share our thoughts next week on this issue... Full report details HERE.
Do you have a bucket-list? I wrote one once - I'm not alone - Barack Obama has one too. He ticked off "visit Stonehenge" last week and why not? The world in all its beauty and history is a fascinating place.
Since the US President's trawl around the stones, the web has been awash with bucket-list ideas. There's even now a "Great British Bucket-List" - I've done 14 out of the 50 - clearly I still have plenty to do on my days off in the coming years!
It's all very well to have hope and dreams - personally, I would love to bottle-feed a baby panther and I make no apology for that - but there's a danger that we can get so focused on the here and now that we forget what's truly important. Visiting the Giant's Causeway, climbing Ben Nevis and eating a deep-fried Mars bar may all bring a smile to our face but they pale into insignificance when compared with the glory of knowing Christ, the privilege of serving Christ and wonder of going to be with Christ in eternal bliss.... continue reading
It was a sad day yesterday as we said farewell to Timmy Barker. Timmy has been an outstanding print buyer at The Good Book Company over recent years and his efficiency, servant-heartedness, quirky t-shirts and stunning ability to consume mountainous burgers will be sorely missed ...
Praying for you, brother, as you head to pastures new!
A couple of days ago I received an Ice Bucket Challenge on Facebook. I was delighted—and have decided not to do it. Here’s why.
I had actually started to work out how I could perform the challenge in my allotted 24-hour period (if this blog has completely lost you, the Ice Bucket Challenge is where a friend nominates you, you give a donation of £3 or more to a particular charity, film yourself tipping a bucket of icy water over your head within a day of receiving your nomination, and then challenge some friends to do likewise). Then a Christian who is wiser and more thoughtful than me encouraged me to just check that I was thinking Christian-ly about it. To be honest, I hadn’t thought much at all. But the Bible tells me to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10 v 5). Every thought—even thoughts about ice buckets and giving to charity.
So I thought about it. And as I did so, I ended up deciding not to be part of it. Why? Well, here’s where I’m at. First and foremost, this is not an issue of Christian obedience. I’ve watched (and laughed at) Christians far more godly than me doing the Challenge, and I’m not saying they were disobeying Christ. If ever there were an issue where the Bible does not speak specifically, tipping ice-cold water over your own head would be it.
But I am saying that my best attempt at thinking with Christian wisdom is suggesting to my conscience that I shouldn’t do it. Here are my five reasons:... continue reading
Porn in unexpected places
I walked down the office carrying a pile of pornography. I'd wrapped it in two bags so my colleagues wouldn't see it, but I still worried. What if I tripped and broke my neck? After failing to resucitate me, the first thing people would discover was my pile of porn.
Thankfully, it wasn't as bad as it sounds, but is a salutary tale nonetheless.
It started on my ride to work. The subway under the A3 always collects litter - usually crisp packets, coke cans and the odd condom. Not cards. Not a full pack of playing cards. And certainly not pornographic cards. I glanced down as I wheeled the bike through the tunnel, wondering who'd dropped their playing cards, to be faced with umpteen nude women. I was slightly shocked, but late for work so kept on going.... continue reading
Whenever we talk about abortion, it's important, as Christians, to say three things:
But for those in society who don't agree with those statements ... Dawkins is right.
Here’s why.... continue reading
For students up and down the land, today is the day. Will all the work of the last year or two have been worth it? Did I achieve what I set out to achieve? Is that place at university or college secure? Is my future on track? Will my parents be proud? Or will life begin to unravel in disappointment and confusion about what happens next?
Here at The Good Book Company we're an eclectic bunch. Some sailed through A'levels with straight As and went up to an Oxbridge university. Others found A'levels a hard hurdle to overcome. We're all doing OK though - one happy family, serving Jesus with a range of results on our CVs. So what thoughts can we pass on to the students finding out their results today? Here are a few thoughts ...... continue reading
There have been comings and goings in the US office this past week.
We've said "farewell" to Daniel (Brodi) Broaddus. Brodi has been the engine of The Good Book Company US looking after customer services, logistics, finance and much, much more - and he has done an outstanding job. Please do pray for him as he goes off to seminary. He will be much missed but we're excited about the gospel work he's heading towards in the future.
But we've said "hello" to not one but two new members of staff as well!
Angela Esatto is the US office's new part-time Executive Assistant where she will be responsible for human resources, book-keeping and making sure her colleagues are in the right place at the right time (no small challenge). A homeschooling mum of five boys (yes, five boys) Angela is an avid blog-reader, a keen cook and a big fan of the great outdoors.
Matthew Endres is a recent graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and he's been married a whole 3 weeks! Matt is going to be responsible for product administration and customer services, making sure you get the products you need at the time you need them.
We thank the Lord for all our staff. Please do pray for Angela and Matt - that they will settle into the Good Book family quickly; that they will enjoy serving God through Christian publishing and that they will enjoy helping you open up the Bible ...
This week we're thrilled to welcome a new member of staff into the UK office. Here's a little about him ...
What are you going to be doing at TGBC?
You tell me! I’m coming here to be the print buyer. [Blank Look] Oh you don’t know what that is? Well me neith… I mean, I will be finding the best deals to get our books printed with different printers, and helping advise the team here about what can be realistically and cost effectively printed when they are considering design questions. Then I think I’ll also be helping out with some IT stuff, so I have something cooler to talk about at dinner parties.
What were you doing before TGBC?
Before starting here I was working as the centre manager of a local charity in Basingstoke, that worked with mainly young people in the community to help grow confidence and boost social interaction, primarily through the performing arts. Despite this I’m still as wooden and uncoordinated as they come, and worked behind the scenes, specialising as a jack of all trades, managing their IT, Website, Policies and the staff & volunteer team, while dabbling in the finances, fund raising, event planning and general admin sides, all with a major in crisis control.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?
In my spare time I’m a theoretical fiction writer (which is to say I think about writing more than I actually write). I enjoy watching high quality TV Drama, and can wax lyrical about Breaking Bad for hours on end. I enjoy playing football and other sports, and am a big New England Patriots fan, and love watching all and any American Football as the ultimate sporting fusion of brains and brawn. I also enjoy any excuse to cook or eat good food, especially if there is some nice wine and half decent company involved.
What can we be praying for you this week?
If you could please pray for me as I adjust to starting my new job and all that it involves. For a smooth process of finding somewhere to move to and commuting in until I do. And for good gospel opportunities with friends and ex-colleagues before I leave Basingstoke.
