Is all sin equal in God’s eyes?

25 June 2014Blog, DevotionalsChristian Books

Is all sin equal in God’s eyes? It is a common question, and the answer is of the variety that is always a little bit unsatisfying: It is one of those “yes and no” answers.

There is a sense in which all sin is the same. Every sin is an act of rebellion against God. Any sin, no matter whether it is an angry thought or outright murder, is a declaration of independence from God, a means of saying, “I am going to do this my way instead of your way. I choose my will rather than your will.” In that sense every sin is sufficient to justify an eternity of separation from God. Every sin grieves God and arouses his just wrath. God hates sin because his very nature is contrary to sin. This is not God being mean or arbitrary, but God simply giving us the wages due to our rebellion.

However, it is equally correct to express that some sins are more serious than others. Certain sins are more significant than others because the consequences are more significant.. online shopping cart,
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Coffee with Sylvia : Crazy Love

23 June 2014Blog, Book ReviewsChristian Books

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.

AUTHOR: FRANCIS CHAN

Overwhelmed by a Relentless God …..

God is love. Crazy, relentless, all-powerful love. Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it? It?s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe–the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor–loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs and pray when we remember.

Whether you’ve verbalized it yet or not…we all know somethings wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts – it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis Chan describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

Francis reminds us in this book about , the lukewarm, serving God left-overs, obsession and challenges us to reconsider. He asks us if we are hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world.

“if life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream.” Page 95

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Promotion on RT Kendall Books

20 June 2014Blog, Special PromotionsChristian Books

Meekness to Majesty: Rediscovering Jesus & Changing your Life

Jesus laid aside his majesty and “emptied himself” and took the form of a servant. Focusing on this theme, R T challenges us to live in true humility – “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” He looks at the mystery of Christ being fully God and fully man and Christ’s vindication and exaltation and what that means for us.

Based on Philippians 2: 5-11, R.T. Kendall helps us to understand how to be more like Jesus, and aims to give us the desire to do so.

CBD PRICE: R 95.00

PROMOTION PRICE: R 80.00

Power of Humility: The Power & Freedom of a Humble Life

Pride is often the true reason why we get our feelings hurt, why we feel rejection, why we won’t admit to mistakes, why we want to be seen with certain people, and why we stay angry.

Jesus gives us the perfect example of a powerful life lived without conceit, smugness, or arrogance. So why do we not want to admit to our pride? It is because of our pride!

In The Power of Humility, R. T. Kendall challenges us to look deeply into our hearts and motives to recognize the pride and self-righteousness there. Using personal stories and enlightening examples from the Bible, he demonstrates how pride interferes with a close relationship with God and reveals how to overcome pride and become more like Jesus.

CBD PRICE: R190.00

PROMOTION PRICE: R 160.00

Finding your Heart’s Desire : Ambition, Motivation & True Success

Biblical Teaching on Ambition Offers Surprising, Discerning Insights. What drives a person to seek significance on this earth? Is it okay to want to feel important? Is ambition wrong?

R. T. Kendall explores what makes a human tick – and why it is important to know. Ambition, he states, is not inherently good or evil. It is a gift, and one of the main ways God motivates his children to do his will. Readers will delight in self-discovery as they:-

• Become aware of their hidden motives
• Understand what it means to be objective about themselves
• Learn patience before judging others
• Channel their ambition into actions that please God

The greatest satisfaction comes from experiencing praise that God alone can give. Whatever their level of ambition, readers will discover honor and significance as God means for them to enjoy it. This, says is true fulfillment and success.

CBD Price : R182.00

Promotional Price: R165.00

Unashamed to Bear His Name : Embracing the stigma of being a Christian

In our increasingly secular society, being a Christian carries a cost. Whether through public criticism or the quiet loss of respect, it is hard – and becoming harder – to be known as a Christian. Even as believers try to follow the will of God, they are often misunderstood and left to deal with the awkward, sometimes painful results of feeling disconnected from their fellow man.

R. T. Kendall offers hope. Turning the idea of stigma on its head, he shares his own story of rejection and embarrassment in the name of Christ – and how it became the source of unimaginable blessing. With warmth and understanding, he urges readers to embrace the offense that comes from their commitment to Jesus Christ, showing that when they do, the Lord will unleash into their lives incalculable blessing.

CBD Price : R135.00

Promotional Price: R120.00

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Promotion: Gospel Story Bible & Preacher on the Run

20 June 2014Blog, Special PromotionsChristian Books

Gospel Story Bible : Marty Machowski

It is easy to forget Jesus in the midst of frantic schedules, family squabbles, and conflicting priorities. But the truth is that he is the hero of every story, including these ordinary ones. This easy-to-read storybook introduces your family to many captivating people, places, and events from the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, showing how each one ultimately points to Jesus. As you share these Bible Stories together, you and your family will meet Jesus and learn a new, life-changing way of recognizing Christ as the hero of every story.

You will be delighted to discover how easily even a young child can understand the original text of a story that he or she has already come to love. Ideal as a storybook for your preschooler, a devotional for your grade school student, a refresher for the adult believer, or an introduction for the new one, The Gospel Story Bible is also a companion to Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God .

CBD PRICE: R 305.00

PROMOTION PRICE: R 250.00

Preacher on the Run : Gordon Keddie

All the prophets of the Old Testament are milestones along the road to Calvary, but the prophecy of Jonah opens a special window on the New Testament age, when the Lord Jesus Christ would be proclaimed to all the ends of the earth. Here Gordon Keddie manages with concise clarity not only to display the meaning of the book of Jonah, but also to apply its teaching to many aspects of Christian living.

The popular Welwyn Commentary Series provides clear and concise insight into the Scriptures from respected authors, many of whom are pastors and Bible teachers. Currently covering 26 Old Testament and 20 New Testament books of the Bible, these accessible and highly practical works are ideal for personal study, Bible class and sermon preparation. Worthy of the widest readership.

CBD PRICE: R 85.00

PROMOTION PRICE: R 70.00

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Moments with a Mom : I have a dream

18 June 2014Blog, DevotionalsChristian Books

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.

I have a dream …… wait, I do?!?

The other day, I watched Chicago, the movie. It’s one of my favorite movies and mostly, because of the music. I’m a sucker for musicals as it is – my kids have watched Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang since they could get them to sit still for longer than 5 minutes. Old classical musicals are quality.

Anyway, this all got me thinking about dreams and when last I’d actually thought about mine. Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to be on Broadway. Theatre has always been my first love. Musical theatre – that’s my game. I was in musicals all through my school career and since I would talk, I’ve loved to sing. There’s an electricity you get from performing for a live audience. There’s a certain camaraderie between a cast on stage that’s you can’t describe. . It’s like an artistic chemistry that buzzes between people who share a common passion for the stage. Ok, I’m gushing.

So, since I’ve had my kiddies, I subconsciously gave up dreaming. Ok, I have dreams that are mommy-specific like “oh I dream of the day that I can sleep uninterrupted, longer than five hours at a time” or “oh I dream of the day that my living room doesn’t look like a toy factory that blew up and I can see the floor.” But I terms of MY DREAMS, the ones I had from when I was a baby and disappeared when I had my own babies? Those were packed so far away in the attics and basements of my mind, that I had all but forgotten them. Watching Chicago the other night, it was like a trip into the back roads of my mind.

When you become a mom, it’s almost as if God turns a switch on in your being and you automatically push everything related to you – your dreams, your needs and wants, your sleep! – onto the back burner and the funny thing is, you’re happy to do it! The very essence of being a mom, in my opinion, is ensuring your children are cared for – emotionally, physically, spiritually – and whether you have one child or five children, that means that you’re always at least second or third in the queue, and you’re totally happy and content with that.

Don’t get me wrong. I think that’s the way it’s meant to be. It’s a season of a mother’s life. But I think once your kids reach a certain age, while kids should always be a top priority, life starts to allow you space to dream for yourself again. Your kids will start to follow their own dreams and you’re bound to be an integral part of helping them reach their goals and aspirations. They start to spread their wings, which will gives you chance to spread yours.

C S Lewis said: “You’re never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” So……….

Hold on, Mommy and keep dreaming, for you. There will come a time when you can once again follow your dreams if you want to, and on the sidelines, you’ll see your babies (who aren’t so baby anymore), cheering you on, knowing how much you’ve given up to watch them chase theirs first.

Oh and keep your eye on Broadway. You might see me flying in on an umbrella, singing a cracking version of Spoonful of Sugar – hey, I’ve got the experience looking after kiddies, don’t I? 🙂 Mary Poppins, I’m coming for you. Give me ten years or so……

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Book Review : Shining Like Stars

16 June 2014Blog, Special PromotionsChristian Books

Author: Lindsay Brown

The Power of the gospel in the world’s universities.

Lindsay Brown takes readers on a world tour, bringing stories of remarkable faith and courage from students and graduates in some of the toughest social and political arenas.

Students display energy and creativity in their evangelism. Gripped by the gospel, they can go on to exercise far-reaching influence in their universities, in their professions, in society and in the Church worldwide.

This inspirational book goes right back to Daniel in the Old Testament, studying with his three friends in Iraq. It engages from beginning to end with biblical thinking and strategy.

The author opens our eyes to what is going on in the world: he helps us become ‘global Christians’. Read these chapters and you will wonder, you will reflect, you will laugh, you will weep.

Normal Price : R70.00

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Let’s be Frank

11 June 2014Blog, DevotionalsChristian Books

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.

Just Do It ……

Proverbs 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbour, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow” – when you now have it with you.

Here is a word in season for all of us. There is within our fallen nature a basic tendency toward stinginess in thought, word and deed. We often find it hard to rejoice when others prosper and sometimes are perversely satisfied when others fail. We also tend to criticise rather than build up and to think negatively about people rather than lovingly.

This proverb takes an opposite view. For believers in Israel’s God fairness and justice should pervade all of life. As indeed should generosity and compassion.

So when someone has done well and deserves a word of encouragement, why not pass in on? It costs us nothing and we never know what that “reward” may reproduce in their lives. Many a tale could be told of a young man or woman making a crucial decision at a vulnerable time in their lives, as the result of a word in season from a friend, and their lives then turning out to be a blessing to many others. And with the electronic tools available to us today it is so easy to say something positive, uplifting and encouraging to someone who is trying hard to do the right thing but is currently feeling discouraged.

So, too, with the giving of material help. With the huge needs around us at the present time it is not easy to know who to give to, or how we should do it. But this is not the problem in this proverb. Rather it is the inner spontaneity to want to help. Often we try to get out of giving money or goods – especially with the amount of begging and con artists we have in our society. Still, there are also, very often genuine needs brought before us, where we can help, be it ever so little. The bible says, in effect “Give now” – not tomorrow.

I had a missionary friend once, long ago, who was invited to a very needy area to present the Gospel. However he did not have the money to pay for the ferry to take him there. He prayed and waited, but nothing happened. As a result he could not go and the opportunity was lost. The next day he received a letter from a supporter with the exact amount of money in it that he needed for the fare. The supporter said: “I meant to get this to you yesterday. I felt a strong urge to do so, but I was distracted.” I hope you can use this gift for the Gospel.” It was good of him to give, but he delayed, and as a result a good opportunity to spread the good news was lost.

Compare the words of these Proverbs with James 2:14-17. Let’s determine to be open-hearted, encouraging and as generous as our circumstances allow so that we may imitate our Father in Heaven.

Prayer:

“Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to our world to save us. He is your only Son. Please forgive my tendency to selfishness and stinginess. Give me an open heart and make me a blessing to others who need encouragement. Amen”

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Book Review: Seekers of the Lost Boy

9 June 2014Book ReviewsChristian Books

By local Author Taryn Hayes

This is the story set in a post-apartheid South Africa, writing about life during the apartheid era… We are transported along by a homeschooling family who are searching for the answers to a question they found in a Message in a Bottle that was thrown into the sea thirty years before.

When 12 year old Simon spots a mysterious object on the beach one cold winter’s morning, he never imagines that it will change his life. Together with Nic and Kim, his 10 year old twin siblings, Simon decides to track down the origin of the object. What they discover reveals a family secret, a history they never understood, and the answer to a question they never asked:

Who is God and does he care about me?

For a great review on this book by Se7en as well as an interview of the author, follow this link:

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Father’s Day 2014

6 June 2014Blog, Special PromotionsChristian Books

How about choosing a nice book to give to Dad this Father’s Day?

Sleeping Giant: No Movement of God without Men of God (Kenny Luck)

Many pastors see the need but are at a loss for how to really engage men in their culture and church context. Deep down, they know they haven’t yet inspired men into the mission and vision of the local church on the same scale as women. Meanwhile, most men feel further detached from worship, left only with worldly expressions of manhood to fuel their identity.

Sleeping Giant is a punch in the gut and pat on the back for pastors and men worldwide, a powerful biblical approach that will bring them together and awaken some serious ministry potential. And a church that gets men right can slay another dragon: Global injustice.

Injustice against women, children, and all innocents is rooted in broken male culture. The Bible says “Just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). As the church disciples men into an identity and purpose that transcends culture, they will move from Adam and death over to Jesus and life.

You can see it taking place in Acts 2 following Pentecost, when widespread repentance and changing of men’s hearts brought God’s justice and relief to people. A masculine revolution happened then, and it can happen today.

CBD Price: R180.00

This resource is also available as a small group bible study. Click here for more details.

A man after God’s own heart : God’s Relationship with David – and with you (R.T. Kendall)

Twice God says that in King David he had found ‘a man after my own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). David was one of God’s favourites. This was so despite David having sinned so deeply. What is encouraging is that the Lord continued to use David after his time of backsliding.

David was a man with deep feelings. He was a poet and musician as well as being Israel’s greatest King and one of the greatest ever military leaders. David wrote that ‘the Lord confides in those who fear him’ (Psalm 25:14). It is a great honour to have someone confide in you – but to think that God would confide in a human being is amazing! David was someone with whom God chose to share his heart. If you wish to know what it is like to be confided in by God – to become a person after God’s own heart too – then this book will help you discover what such a relationship is like.

CBD Price: R165.00

The Exemplary Husband : A Biblical Perspective (Stuart Scott)

God ordained marriage between a man and a woman so man would have a helper suitable, for companionship, and for procreation. He created marriage to be a picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Christ was willing to sacrifice His life for the Church, and God expects no less from husbands today.

This book assists husbands towards purposeful and lasting Christlikeness for the glory of God. It was written to be a companion book for The Excellent Wife by Martha Pearce. Couples who commit to the biblical principles presented in these books will find a oneness in marriage that will give God glory and bring His blessing.

CBD Price : R150.00

Making the Most of your Devotional Life (Derek Thomas)

Is the Bible able to provide answers to the struggles and difficulties facing Christians at the beginning of the twenty-first century? Does it have anything realistic and genuinely helpful to say to those who are feeling jaded in their spiritual lives as a result of the stresses and pressures of life in a modern world? Derek Thomas gives a resounding ‘yes’ in response to these questions.

By leading his readers through fifteen meditations on the Psalms of Ascent ( Psalms 120-134), Dr Thomas shows them that the Word of God is a rich resource, full of the practical wisdom needed to meet the challenges of life in the home, at work, in the community and at worship. This book will assist Christians in restoring a vital relationship of worship and communion with God; establishing the daily discipline of reading the Scriptures; developing the habit of meditating on the Word of God and prayer; keeping a journal which helps to apply the teaching of Scripture and records one’s spiritual progress.

Special CBD Price : R55.00

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Rock Bottom

4 June 2014Blog, DevotionalsChristian Books

Psalm 40 vs 16: But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”

Do you ever feel you have hit “rock bottom?” Well, take heart because you are not alone! The Psalmist David experienced the same thoughts and wrote about them for us in Psalm 40.

His extremely painful soul may have been caused by loneliness, a rebellious son, family members who had rejected him, or maybe even a combination of these. But in the midst of “rock bottom” circumstances, David reminds us to:

wait for the LORD who hears our cries (verse 1)
remember that God will lift us out of the slimy pit and set our feet on a firm place to stand (verse 2)

God also “puts a new song in our mouth, a hymn of praise to our God (verse 3a).” I experienced this first hand and share this to encourage you. While driving along the coast, I was listening to 3rd Day and was so moved as I saw at the same time His creation of a crystal clear blue Atlantic Ocean, sun shining brightly, and mountain upon mountain. Tears of joy flowed as I considered the words of the song that:

the Lord of all creation is our God who takes us out of rock bottom situations
the universe declares His majesty, love, and holiness

David frequently used music to encourage his soul. So find some dvd’s with worship music on them and put up the volume …. Enjoy and worship our creator for who He is in your life, and trust Him that your rock bottom circumstances are known about by the Lord of all creation!

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Equip Book of the Month: June

2 June 2014Blog, Book Reviews, Equip Book ClubChristian Books

Invest your Suffering: Paul Mallard

Unexpected Intimacy with a loving God.

‘Let me be honest, during the last twenty years there have been times when my faith has seemed frail and fragile and almost ready to collapse. I have struggled with seeing my wife stripped of her dignity and reduced by her agony. I have doubted all kinds of things. I have exploded and lashed out. I do not like what is happening to my sweetheart one little bit.

Chronic illness never goes away. Come on, realistically, how much more can we take?’ ‘But one thing I have never doubted is that, in the darkest circumstances, we were only ever in the hands of God. That has been the ultimate source of comfort and hope.’

As Paul Mallard knows only too well, the crucible of suffering is a horrible place to be. But lessons learned there can be powerful and memorable. And it was there that Paul and Edrie experienced unexpected intimacy with a loving God who is no stranger to suffering. They feel personally challenged to use their experience and insights to help fellow sufferers too.

~~CBD Price: R125.00~~

Special Book of the Month Price: R90

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New Arrival : Beth Moore’s latest Bible Study

30 May 2014Blog, New ReleasesChristian Books

Children of the Day : 1 & 2 Thessalonians

Your circumstances and conditions are not coincidental in your journey. God’s timing is impeccable. Join Beth Moore on the Thessalonian shores as you face real crises, real medical diagnoses, real afflictions, real relationships, real doubts, real concerns, and real fears. Let’s not brush the sand off quickly. Let’s sit a while and let the tide come in and wash our eyes with fresh vision for 8 beautiful weeks. We don’t have to always see eye-to-eye to be glad we’re side by side. Let’s pat the sand beside us and welcome each other along.

Gather around the letters postmarked Thessalonica. Don’t let pride or timidity come between you and the presence of God. Press in tightly, professing Christ and, yes, in the company of others but also intimately by your name, circumstance, and condition. You have a place here. A purpose. And not one floating like a fleck in the air, loosed and free from your raw realities. This is your journey to the shores of Thessalonica where you’ll write your name and a slice of your biography in the sand.

Workbook: R190 each

Leader’s Guide: R85 each

DVD: R890 each

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