Book Review : Connecting with God in the Small Spaces of your Day

Aimed at  the Teen Market, this book is filled with devotions that are short, relevant, edgy & true.

Small SpacesThe writers of WordSpace get that being a young person today can be tough ….They get that life is often crazy busy …. They get that trying to figure out life with God as a teenager can be both exhilarating and just plain scary …. They get that many young people are looking for authentic, honest truth.   And they believe that you will find that in this book.

Each post has been written by a youth leader who loves Jesus and young people too.  They have paired each devotion with an image that will help to give you space to connect with a personal God.  You can use that space in whatever way is helpful to you.

Some topics in this devotional include:-

  • Temptation Diaries;
  • God’s view of you;
  • Your Soundtrack;
  • Holy people in unholy places;

Encounter God in a fresh way through this collection of WordSpace posts & images.

CBD Special Promotional Price: R85.00 (valid until end September 2014 or while stocks last)

Teens can also subscribe to receive free daily WordSpace messages directly to their cell phones.  Find out more here: www.thewordspace.mobi

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Christians can get depressed & lose hope too …..

Do Christians get depressed?  … How can we as Christians support and encourage loved ones around us who suffer from this condition? … How do we find hope when life doesn’t make sense & God feels distant?

Depression in the Christian Family : Author: Herbert Carson

Depression in Christian FamilyDepression is a personal and deeply painful problem.  It not only causes great trials for the sufferer but also for the family and friends who have watch their anguish.  They want to help but don’t know how to respond, knowing that a wrongly spoken word or attitude can cause further hurt.

This book is primarily designed for those who are facing depressing, but is also directed at Christians who are in a position of supporting and ministering to those suffering from depression.  The book seeks to equip the reader to be able to help depression sufferers and to show that the Bible has the answer as to how we should face it.

CBD PRICE: R77.00

PROMOTIONAL PRICE: R50.00

 

God is just not Fair : Jennifer Rothschild

This is a book about finding more than just answers. It’s for anyone who needs hope when life doesn’t make sense – for all who reach for a God who feels distant. 

God is Just Not FairDo you believe God is just not fair? If you’re like Jennifer Rothschild, you wrestle with questions when you experience painful circumstances. Does God care? Does he hear my prayers? Is he even there?
Blinded as a teenager, Jennifer overcame daunting obstacles, found strength in God, and launched a successful speaking and writing ministry. Then in her 40’s, everything changed.
Jennifer hit a wall of depression and discontent that shook her to her core, undermining many of her past assumptions about her faith. Jennifer wondered who God was and why he continued to allow her to struggle and doubt. Where, Jennifer pleaded, is his hand of healing and hope in my life now?
As Jennifer tackles the six big questions of faith, she will help you:
  • Trust God more than your feelings.
  • Strengthen your faith when you feel beat up by life.
  • Embrace your obstacles and start experiencing their purpose.
  • Face your disappointment and grow stronger from your loss.

CBD PRICE: 185.00

Please note that this offer is available from our Head Office Store and is valid until end September 2014.

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Moments with a Mom : How to raise your kids to be world changers (Part 2)

Candice

Candice is a busy wife to Matt and mom of Noah (5) and Tyler (3 going on 21). Candice also works part-time at our Rosebank Store of Christian Book Discounters. In her spare time Candice writes for her own blog and is a travel consultant.

SUSPENDED COFFEE AND GROCERIES

I read up a couple of weeks ago about this idea of suspended coffee. I’d never heard of it, and its apparently an idea that’s in operation all over the USA but I was totally keen to try it.

Family, TheSuspended coffee works in some coffee shops, where if you buy a coffee, you can say “One decaf to go and one suspended.” In essence, you’re paying for two coffees but one is suspended. Someone in need, for example, a homeless person, a family in need ~ when they come into the coffee shop, they know to ask for a suspended coffee and they receive a free one because of you, paying for one. Stunning idea and really just demonstrates an act of kindness and giving to those who can’t even afford a simple luxury of coffee in the morning.

So, because I’m not really a coffee drinker, I decided to rope my kids in when we do grocery shopping, in a kinda “Suspended Grocery Shopping” idea. When I take my two Gospel Centred Familylittle ninjas in the trolley down the aisle at the grocery store, whatever they choose as a treat, they throw another one in the trolley for “a baby who doesn’t have one.” Living in South Africa, my kids come into contact with loads of kids who are less fortunate than they are so I pack the extra goodies in my car. It’s never anything big, maybe like a sucker, or a packet of chips, or a boxed juice, but my kids are slowly learning that things that they have, some kiddies aren’t fortunate to have themselves. When we come across a little girl or boy that is in need, we can dig into the stockpile we have and hand it out. Not only is it a blessing to the little kiddie in need, but it’s a HUGE blessing to my two babies to see how much joy they bring to someone by just sharing something they take for granted everyday. Again, it’s being someone’s smile, even just for a few moments.

8 Great Dates for Moms and DaughtersBeing only 3 and 5 years old, my children still have so much to learn. They are only just beginning to find out what they’re capable of, and just because they’re tiny, doesn’t mean they can’t change the world for good, for Jesus. My kids and I have this little line we always say. I say to them “I may be small” and they end it off with “But with God’s help, I can do big things.” Me, as their mommy ~ I have to show them now that even the smallest things now, make an eternal impact ~ and that’s not restricted to their age at all. I pray every day that my kids, starting now at 3 and 5 years old, will start to realise the kind of impact they can make on the world.

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Equip Book of the Month : August

Scriptures Testify about Me, TheScriptures Testify About Me : DA Carson

Jesus and the Gospel in the Old Testament

The Bible’s storyline is grand in its sweep, beautiful in its form, and unified in its message. However, many of us still struggle both to understand and to best communicate how the Old and New Testaments fit together, especially in relation to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Eight prominent evangelical pastors and scholars demonstrate what it looks like to preach Christ from the Old Testament in this collection of expositions of various Old Testament texts:

Albert Mohler — Studying the Scriptures and Finding Jesus (John 5:31–47)

Tim Keller — Getting Out (Exodus 14)

Alistair Begg — From a Foreigner to King Jesus (Ruth)

James MacDonald — When You Don’t Know What to Do (Psalm 25)

Conrad Mbewe — The Righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:1–8)

Matt Chandler — Youth (Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8)

Mike Bullmore — God’s Great Heart of Love toward His Own (Zephaniah)

D. A. Carson — Getting Excited about Melchizedek (Psalm 110)

From the experience of the Israelites during the exodus, to the cryptic words about Melchizedek in the Psalms, here are 8 helpful examples of successful approaches to preaching the gospel from the Old Testament by some of the most skilled expositors of our day.

Usual CBD Price: R190

Special Equip Price: R140

(price valid until 7 September 2014)

Available here: https://www.christianbooks.co.za/shop/scriptures-testify-about-me-the/ or from any of our branches

https://www.christianbooks.co.za/

The Never Ending Conflict in the Middle East

The current conflict between Israel and Palestine is uppermost in most Christian minds and conversation.  Renewed violence …… fresh calls for peace negotiations …. broken cease fires ….  Between perplexing contradictions and inflammatory rhetoric, it is often difficult to find out what is really going on in the Middle East.

The Mirage of PeaceLike it or not, the problems of the Middle East are here to stay.  Like it or not, what is happening in the Middle East is going to impact the lives of all of us.  What happens in the Middle East affects our lives in some way or another.  Understanding the region and its conflicts is no longer a luxury and no longer the concern of only academics and dilettante travelers, it is vital for all of us.

Former TIME magazine Jerusalem bureau chief, David Aikman, has spent decades reporting on Middle-East issues.  Aikman takes a sober, balanced look at a region aflame and brings a journalist’s mind and a believer’s heart to his exploration of the political and religious factors in play.  He goes beyond the media’s chronic over-simplification to carefully examine recent history and the leaders who have made that history.

Aikman turns a critical eye on the policies of the region’s prime players.  He resorts neither to blind pro-Israeli sentiment nor to reactionary pro-Palestinian bias.  He challenges fellow Christians to a similar approach to the Middle East: respect, reason and love.

CBD PRICE: R133.00 (Hardcover edition)

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Let’s Be Frank : Thought for the Day

Frank Retief 2

Frank Retief was pastor at St James Church Cape Town for 31 years, having planted the church in 1968 with his wife Beulah.  He became the Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa until he retired in 2010.  Frank remains active in ministry through preaching, teaching, pastoral work & writing, and has authored a number of books.

BEING RIGHTEOUS
Romans 3:21 “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify.”
COUNTED RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST (2)Just think for a moment how much good the noble deeds of great men have accomplished in the world. Although our world is fallen we must not forget that we are still created in God’s image and therefore mankind is capable of great and good things as well as great evil and darkness. Philanthropists over the years have made possible hospitals for the sick, schools for the poor children, food for the hungry and various ingenuous endeavours to help those who cannot help themselves for some reason. One only has to remember some recent natural disaster such as an earthquake or flood to see the world respond in great acts of goodwill and generosity.But however good, noble and praiseworthy all these efforts are, we must never lose sight of the bible’s teachings that by our good deeds and noble efforts, i.e., our “righteousness” we can still not know God. Our fallenness is too great, so no matter how we try we cannot know God until he makes Himself known to usRoot of the Righteous. But here in this verse we read that this is exactly what He has done. “A righteousness from God has been made known”. What righteousness is this? It is the righteousness of Christ which supercedes all the noble acts of humankind, over all the ages. And what makes His righteousness so special? It is that He offered His righteous soul up as an atonement for our sins. God’s promise is that to all who believe, the righteousness which belongs only to His Son will be imputed or given to us  sinners, while our sins are attributed to Him who pays for them on the Cross. This means that I need no longer strive to make myself acceptable to God – for that is an impossible task. Rather the impeccable righteousness of Christ, given to me, speaks for all and makes me acceptable to the Father. So I may feel a failure, I may feel especially low but now I know that my feelings are not important. It is what is true about me that is important and that is that I now have a “Righteousness from God”. I am saved, forgiven and free from guilt.

Moreover, this is what the Old Testament law and prophets were pointing to all the time. So it’s not new. It’s what God intended from the beginning.

Let’s not stop our noble deeds, rather let us increase them, but this time with the knowledge that they do not gain us Heaven, but are rather proof that we belong to God and that Heaven is our ultimate destiny.

Prayer:

“Heavenly Father

Words fail us as we think of your mighty Grace extended to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. I praise you and thank you for the righteousness He gave us which makes us acceptable to you. Please help me to live in such a way that I demonstrate this daily to all I meet. Amen”

Follow Frank Retief’s daily blog on http://frankretief.co.za/

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Book Review: The Feminist Mistake

By Mary Kassian

Reviewed by Tim Challies

Feminist MistakeThe Feminist Mistake, by Mary Kassian traces the rise of feminism through the twentieth century. It shows how a movement at first designed to protect women’s rights, soon morphed into a movement of incredibly destructive power – a movement that has ultimately caused great harm to society and to the church. “Looking back over the past fifty years is a sobering exercise. Feminism was the dream that promised women happiness and fulfillment. But I suspect … we would find that women are unhappier and less fulfilled than ever. The feminist paradigm simply does not match the reality of who God created women and men to be. Hence it cannot deliver on its promise” (page 299).

Read more about this book here.

CBD Price: R165.00

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL PRICE: R145.00  (valid until end August 2014)

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ANOTHER GREAT STUDY FROM TIMOTHY KELLER

ROMANS 1-7 FOR YOU : TIMOTHY KELLER

Join Dr Timothy Keller as he opens up the first half of the book of Romans, helping you to Romans 1-7 for Youget to grips with its meaning and showing how it transforms our hearts and lives today. 
Written for people of every age and stage, from enquirers to new believers to pastors and teachers, this flexible resource is for you to:

  • READ: As a guide to this wonderful letter, helping you appreciate the great gift of righteousness with God.
  • FEED: As a daily devotional to help you grow in Christ as you read and meditate on this portion of God s word.
  • LEAD: As notes to aid you in explaining, illustrating and applying Romans 1 7 as you preach or lead a Bible study.

Whoever you are, and however you use it, this is… Romans 1-7 For You.

CBD PRICE: R165.00

PROMOTIONAL PRICE: R150.00

Timothy Keller was educated at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary.  He is the Senior Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City.  Timothy is the New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God, The Prodigal God and Galations for you.

Prices valid until end August 2014 or while stocks last.

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When sin looks delicious …

By Author & Speaker Tim ChalliesStill Deadly

Do you ever have those days where you just want to sin? Sin looks delicious while righteousness looks distasteful. Sin looks satisfying and holiness looks frustrating. You wake up in the morning with a desire to do what you know you should not desire to do. Your heart echoes with what God said to Cain: “Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you.” And your desire is for it.

What do you do on a day like that?Battling Unbelief

Tim Challies offers 8 practical points on how to face the temptation of sin in your life head -on, read more here.

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Coffee with Sylvia : South Africa’s Forgotten Revival

Sylvia Bester Picture

Sylvia Bester has been part of the CBD family since August 2009 after retiring from her career in banking.  She has always loved books (the smell and feel of them). Sylvia is a Social Media junkie, passionate about people and how she can make a difference in their lives by encouraging them to read good books. 

 By Olea Nel

The story of the Cape’s great awakening in 1860

In this very informative and uplifting book, Dr Nel recounts the facts around the almost “overnight” revival that changed the lives of many South African people. It is evident that this is an exceptional piece of historical research about a period that has been “forgotten” by many.

South Africa's Forgotten RevivalThis is the story of the Cape’s Great Awakening in 1860 which left a precious heritage that is still evident today.

This is the story of Andrew Murray, a young minister from Scotland who defended the Church against the onslaught of liberalism and illiteracy. Andrew was one of the most important and blessed church leaders in South African history. His books have been translated into many languages and are still beloved by millions of Christians all over the world.

It is also the story of Nicolaas Hofmeyr and Gotlieb van der Lingen who, in spite of their robust faith, could not  in their own strength, breathe life into their congregations and awaken their frigid hearts to persevere in prayer. It is the story of how God in his Mercy had to take the initiative and place the desire for communal prayer into the hearts of believers.

On page 25 we  are told of the quandary the semi-literate Afrikaners found themselves. “The clergy considered their vernacular, Afrikaans to be unworthy of religious observances, including personal devotions” Fortunately we read that our sovereign God had no intention of leaving the situation that way and we find out exactly what God’s goals for the Afrikaner were.

We are reminded that the best weapon of attack is the sword. This sword is the sword of the Spirit- the Word of God.

It is with this weapon that Andrew Murray arms himself to break down every barrier to worship.

Dr Christo Nel says in the foreword: May God help us to remember what it is like when our Lord works sovereignly  and uniquely”

As you  begin to read this story you will find, as I  did, that you cannot put it down you and will be encouraged and amazed at the wonderful and glorious works of our Lord!

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Ultimate Questions – New Format

By John Blanchard

Ultimate Questions (ESV Booklet Edition)Health, finance, family, the future – life is full of questions…….

There are deeper questions too.  Who am I?  Why am I here?  Where am I going?  Does life have any purpose?

But the ultimate questions are about God.  Does he exist?  What is he like?  Can I know him and experience His power in my life?  And if so, how?

This booklet tackles these vital questions head-on, and answers them simply, clearly and directly.  Read it carefully.  It could change your life ….. forever.

PRICE:  R20.00

Printed for the first time in South Africa.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SPECIAL PRICES CAN BE ARRANGED FOR BULK PURCHASES.

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