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There's no getting away from it - it doesn't matter how much you love your job - the first day back at work after the summer holidays is a nightmare. The sudden gear-shift from sloth to productivity; the overflowing inbox; the mini-crises (and sometimes not so mini ones) that have crept on to your desk - they all seem to conspire to make day 1 a pressure-cooker of despair. It might be nice to see your colleagues again but few people skip home that first day back ...
Some of that is tiredness, pure and simple. But mixed up in there, all too often, is our inability to divorce ourselves from the world's way of thinking. We get our identity from what we do rather than who we know ourselves to be in Christ. Or we forget who we are really working for and what our true purpose is. And so, when what we do is hard, we feel rubbish.
If that sounds like you, why not dip into Tim Chester's, Gospel Centred Work and refresh your view of work today ...... continue reading
There are a lot of books about! And it can be hard to know what to pop in your suitcase or download onto your Kindle as you prepare to relax on holiday. So we thought we’d share with you what the blog team here are reading this summer – Christian and secular:
Carl Laferton
“Wolf Hall”, by Hilary Mantel because I love history; it's won loads of prizes; my wife loved it; and because reading good, character-based fiction that's fantastically written stretches my brain in ways that non-fiction stuff doesn't.... continue reading
In Judges 7, under Gideon’s leadership, God gives his people a victory over the occupying Midianites with an army of 300 men, none of whom end up actually fighting. God does it this way to show his people that he is the rescuer; God’s people don’t rescue themselves. But Gideon soon forgets “the lesson of the 300.” When in the next chapter two towns—Succoth and Peniel—refuse to support him as he pursues the fleeing Midianites (8 v 6, 8), Gideon responds with furious threats (v 7, 9).
Gideon’s anger shows that he expects to be given glory for his achievements (which he is forgetting were, in fact, God’s). When Succoth and Peniel fail to trust that Gideon will triumph over Midian, he does not say to them: Yes, I know it is hard to believe we can beat them. But God in his grace is using us to win the battle, so don’t trust my strength, but do trust in his. Instead, he says: You dare to doubt me? I’ll show you my power when I get back. You’ll learn to have respect for me.... continue reading
We live and work among a great variety of gods—not only those of other formal religions, but also the gods of wealth, celebrity, pleasure, ideology, achievement. Our era can be characterized by the phrase which sums up the book of Judges: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25, ESV).
So despite the gap of over three millennia, there are many parallels between our situation and the time of the book of Judges, which recounts the history of God’s people, Israel, between the time of Moses and Joshua, and that of the first kings—around 1200BC. This was a time of spiritual pluralism. The society of Canaan—the land God had promised to give his people, and where they were now living intermingled with other nations—was a mixture of believing and pagan people. It was a time when God’s people daily faced the choice between looking to God as their Lord, or following the spirit and preferences of their age. It is mainly the story of how they failed in this task—of how they constantly turned from knowing, loving and obeying God to do “what was right in [their] own eyes.”... continue reading
You've seen the trailer. You may have ordered the book. You might have even read it. Is God anti-gay? is flying off the shelves! So, now, why not find out more about the author and the thinking behind the book? Watch an interview with author, Sam Allberry:
This is an extract from Is God Anti-Gay? by Sam Allberry - launching today at The Good Book Company.
One of the arguments commonly made today in favour of same-sex partnerships is that what must surely count above all else is faithfulness and commitment. Shouldn’t faithfulness within a relationship be what determines its moral goodness rather than the gender of those involved in it? A promiscuous gay lifestyle with multiple partners and one-night stands might be wrong, but two people who love each other and are faithful to whatever promises they have made—surely that’s OK?
It can seem a compelling argument, and it is increasingly common to find Christians allowing for this kind of expression of homosexual practice. But a number of important things need to be said in response.... continue reading
It's a question that's on many lips at the moment: If the Bible genuinely does teach that sex is only for heterosexual marriage, then doesn't that mean that God is anti-gay?
It's a good question. A great question. A question that, in the current climate, needs a good answer. And so, today, we are thrilled to be launching the latest in our Questions Christians Ask series - Is God anti-gay?
This short, sensitive book, written by Sam Allberry, takes readers on a journey into the key biblical issues at stake in this hotly debated area. But it's no dry academic, text - it also gives helpful hints on dealing with any personal struggles with homosexuality; pointers on how we can lovingly support those who are experiencing same-sex attraction and encouragement to engage, faithfully, with an increasingly liberal society.
Described as "truly marvellous" by Carl Trueman, this clear, but never strident, little book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to be better equipped to live faithfully and humbly in today's confusing climate. Click here to order Is God anti-gay?
Once you've got it, why not join us in tweeting the sentences that you find most helpful using #IsGodAntiGay.
And if you want to encourage others in your congregation to be reading it too, you can download our video trailer.
Today, the peers will be debating the third reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. Christians have been encouraged to lobby and pray. Last week, a local church was lambasted in the press for allegedly refusing to welcome a homosexual couple into their service. And every day, as such stories get debated in public and private, real people struggling with same-sex attraction get stuck in the middle. What does that feel like? We talk to one evangelical woman who struggles with same-sex attraction to find out.
How long have you struggled with same-sex attraction?
The thoughts began when I was at primary school. I knew I was different at the point when my friends were starting to talk about boys. I wasn't interested. I wanted to find out more about girls. It's been part of my life ever since.... continue reading
This summer, I have the privilege of reading through Graham Beynon's, Mirror Mirror with a friend at church. We're looking at one chapter a week, each dripping with exciting gospel truth. And this afternoon, weather permitting, we'll be sitting by the Thames, watching the ducks and reveling in God's grace as described in chapter 5.
In that chapter, there's a wonderful reminder of who we are if we are in Christ. We are undoubtedly sinners, but that's not the end of the story! Here's what's true of me, my friend and Christians everywhere. Please enjoy reveling with us in these truths today:
Wonderful news!
We are thrilled to announced that, at the National Brazilian Christian Publishers´Fair held in São Paulo, the Portuguese version of Christianity Explored – Investigando o Cristianismo – won the prestigious ARETE AWARD in the Evangelism section as the best foreign publication, translated into Portuguese. [Arete being the Greek word for “Excellence”]. It is such a privilege to receive encouragements such as these...
Of course, while awards are lovely, what we want to see most from Christianity Explored is gospel fruit and the news from Brazil on that front is even more wonderful!
One local church mobilized the whole congregation for a seven-week mission entitled "Journey for a new life through Christianity Explored". They had no less than 50 groups running - most in homes, but one or two in factories, one in the shopping centre, and one in the local square organised by the youth. So far there have been 15 baptisms - with more to follow. One homeless man was baptised on Sunday night – he's a new man now clothed in righteousness and, after he was baptized, his new church family gave him physical new clothes to wear and are now helping him find a job as well.
Please do praise God for the wonderful way the Christianity Explored material is being used in Brazil and please do continue to pray for the growth of the Kingdom in that beautiful nation.
