2016 ISSUE 3 | REAL LIFE CHRISTIANITY | RECOMMENDED CHRISTIAN RESOURCES
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? Are you working for cash, a career or a calling? What we need is a calling. Those who see their work as a calling experience a rich integration in their lives. They sense a purpose, a direction to their activities. Work has intrinsic meaning, rather than being simply a means to an end. In many ways this is precisely what the Spirit of God does in our lives. When we are in the flow of the Spirit, we are cooperating fully in our God-given callings. When people embrace their callings, they love their work, can manage inevitable tensions that arise, and are welcomed by their colleagues, who sense that there is something beyond the cash or career objectives. But how do we get there? Ken Costa of God at Work writes with one objective: to help you find your life’s calling so that you can be more satisfied, fulfilled, and happier at work.
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“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit— fruit that will last.” — John 15:16 niv
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Know Your Why Ken Costa RRP: £10.99 | 9780718087715
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Marriage & Parenting
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Christian life classics from C.S. Lewis SAVE £1
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Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis
The Four Loves C.S. Lewis
The Problem of Pain C.S. Lewis
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EVERYDAY SUPERNATURAL
Living a Spirit-Led Life without Being Weird “Mike and Andy show us you don’t have to be an expert ...to walk in the everyday supernatural.” Matt Redman
“Mike Pilavachi and Andy Croft are ideal guides for anyone wanting to live daily in the power of the Holy Spirit. They are fun, insightful, and have an infectious passion for Jesus.” Nicky Gumbel
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Everyday Supernatural Mike Pilavachi & Andy Croft £9.99 | 9780781414999
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL CHRISTIAN BOOKSHOP YOU’RE ENABLING US TO SUPPORT LITERATURE MINISTRIES AROUND THE WORLD
Welcome to Take Note Supporting local Christian bookshops in the UK. Take Note is available at all participating UK Christian bookshops.
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Welcome to a new issue of Take Note. Our theme this time is ‘real life Christianity’, and we’re pleased to offer a range of books and resources with the aim of helping you in your daily walk with Christ, as you face all sorts of questions, challenges, joys and disappointments. In Ephesians 1 verses 1-2 Paul urges us to ‘walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.’ How do we do that in our busy lives at work, at home, and when facing difficult situations? How do we apply the Bible’s teaching to real life?
Take Note is produced by CLC Wholesale, Unit 5, Glendale Avenue, Sandycroft, Deeside, CH5 2QP. Prices correct at time of going to print. Promotional prices valid only while stocks last.
Throughout the pages of this magazine we have books to help us in areas of family life, work and busyness, suffering, and living for Christ – and also have a special feature on the Life Application Study Bible for all ages. Over the page we have an extract from the late Jerry Bridges in his final book ‘The Blessing of Humility’ which is full of godly wisdom and links directly with the quote from Ephesians above. Finally, on the inside back cover, we have a selection of the latest inspirational films on DVD, and below feature a new 3CD set of the best praise and worship songs to help keep your eyes fixed on Christ as you walk with him day-by-day.
Daryl Wearring Editor
Offers valid until 30/9/16.
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Looking deeper at The Blessing of Humility
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Fruitfulness in busy SAVE £1 lives
Inspiring new DVDs
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The World’s Favourite Praise & Worship Songs 3CD Various Artists Following on from the hugely popular World’s Favourite Worship Songs 3CD, comes The World’s Favourite Praise & Worship Songs which is possibly the best praise and worship collection ever made. It features 50 of the finest modern worship songs sung the world over. With songs that cross the nations and span the generations The World’s Favourite Praise & Worship Songs showcases what the world’s churches are singing today, and will prove inspirational for you in your daily walk with God. RRP: £14.99 | 0000768673928
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Looking deeper at The Blessing of Humility the BLESSING of HUMILITY
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The Blessing of Humility Jerry Bridges We all admire humility when we see it. But how do we practice it? How does humility—the foundational virtue of the normal Christian life—become a normal part of our everyday lives? Jerry Bridges sees in the Beatitudes a series of blessings from Jesus, a pattern for humility in action. Starting with poverty in spirit—an acknowledgment that in and of ourselves we are incapable of living holy lives pleasing to God—and proceeding through our mourning over personal sin, our hunger and thirst for righteousness, our experience of persecutions large and small, and more, we discover that humility is itself a blessing: At every turn, God is present to us, giving grace to the humble and lifting us up to blessing. RRP: £9.50 | 9781631466236
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I heard at a Bible study in I still vividly remember a statement my life. The essence of the January 1952. It literally changed be applied in your everyday to t mean is Bible statement was, “The , it was a brand-new thought life.” As obvious as that is to me today h and had never strayed churc in up n that night. I had grow far as I can remember, the beyond its moral boundaries, but as life had never been taught daily one’s to application of Scripture in our church. ment, it was as if someone But that night, upon hearing that state a young officer in the was I . mind my in light had turned on a ship, I prayed, “God, my to navy at that time, so on my way back the Bible to my apply to me help you d woul starting tonight, everyday life?” life-changing statement. “Everyday life” is the crucial part of that in a manner worthy of “walk to us s urge Paul 4:1, In Ephesians .” In that context walk called the calling to which you have been whether it’s working life, daily ary ordin one’s out means to live ping, or a myriad of shop ry at your job, doing the laundry, groce ary day. ordin an of e cours the in do we other things a worthy walk, the first thing As Paul expands on the meaning of that means: As I drive down what of he mentions is humility. Think or my children, or with my se spou my with act inter I as the street, the grocery store, I am to at clerk coworkers at a job, or with the ility. hum with do all of it day, humility was a despised In the Greco- Roman world of Paul’s ness. And our culture today weak of trait. They viewed it as a sign thousand years ago. Maybe is no different from that world of two s. We may even admire circle tian Chris it’s a little different in our little desire to practice have we but else, one some in humility it ourselves. all humility,” he was not just But when Paul wrote, “walk . . . with king as God’s spokesman speaking for himself; rather he was spea and us to walk in comm to right the … Paul does not have to his friends (and king spea humility, but God does. And though, is still conveying he ), (urge word r softe a to us today), Paul uses an option for a believer to not is ility hum of life a that idea the God. choose or reject. It is a command of
ight © 2016 by Jerry Bridges. Used Taken from The Blessing of Humility copyr reserved. Represented by Tyndale rights All ess. NavPr of ission perm by House Publishers, Inc.
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Marriage & Parenting The Life You Never Expected Andrew & Rachel Wilson Sometimes you end up living the life you never expected. When Andrew and Rachel found out that one, and then both, of their children had severe autism, their world was turned on its head. With clarity and biblical insight, they share their experience of grief and worship, struggle and hope. As well as reflecting on the specific challenges of raising children with special needs, they speak to broader questions as well: the problem of suffering, building a marriage under pressure, fighting for joy and trusting in the goodness of God.
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This is not just a book for families and friends of special needs children, but for all who have been thrown a curve ball in life, and need to know how to lament, worship, pray and hope RRP: £8.99 | 9781783593521
The Really, Really Busy Person’s... Rob Parsons & Katharine Hill This delightful pair of books are a great gift to celebrate the joys and bring encouragement on the journey, with wise and witty insights and thoughtful reminders to help couples and parents thrive. Amusing and touching, with laugh-out-loud cartoons which so accurately capture the highs and lows of domestic trials and bliss.
READ TIME
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well, at least the ceiling is tidy!
CATCH YOUR KIDS DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
...BOOK ON PARENTING
THE REALLY REALLY BUSY PERSON’S...
READ TIME
SECONDS READ TIME
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WHAT DID YOU DO?! Give your wife flowers
when it’s not your anniversary.
Book on Parenting RRP: £7.50 | 9781910012284 Book on Marriage RRP: £7.50 | 9781910012307
THE REALLY REALLY BUSY PERSON’S... ...BOOK ON MARRIAGE
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Fruitfulness in busy lives
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Fruitfulness on the Frontline Mark Greene
Your Days Are Numbered John Perritt
Daily life may never be quite the same…
Wasting time might not seem like a big deal to some, except for the fact that our time really isn’t ours, but God’s. Not only that, but it is a limited resource. You can be the richest person in the world and you still can’t buy more time.
In this horizon-expanding, spiritlifting, heart-warming book Mark Greene serves up a liberating view of how God can and does work in and through us in our daily lives. Whether you’re a student or retired, at the gym or at work, at the school gate or in the supermarket, here is a fresh and original framework for fruitfulness which will open up a host of possibilities to make a difference for Christ among the people you naturally meet in the places you find yourself day by day.
If we want a heart of wisdom, according to the psalmist, we must number our days. Your Days are Numbered takes a biblical look at the way in which we spend our time to cultivate this mind-set of seeing each day as a vital opportunity to live for the glory of God.
Shopping for Time Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore & Janelle Bradshaw Overwhelmed. Miserable. Exhausted. These are the words that women often use to describe their busy lifestyles. How are women expected to keep up with all the demands of work, family, and ministry? The authors present five key practices to help women see that they really can do all that God has called them to do – finding joy, peace, and rest in the one who has designed every season of their lives. RRP: £9.50 | 9781433552991
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When life is hard A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Suffering Brian H. Cosby
When Trouble Comes Phil Ryken
A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Suffering seeks to simply, but clearly, present a biblical view of suffering so that your feet might land on the solid foundation of God’s Word and the God of that Word and, there, find understanding and hope. All other ground is sinking sand.
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RRP: £4.99 | 9781781916469
Whether we’re dealing with suffering, temptation, sin, grief, or persecution, it’s easy to feel alone in our troubles. But the reality is that everyone experiences trouble at some point, and we have a Father in SAVE £3 heaven who promises to always be with us. In this honest and encouraging book, Phil Ryken offers hope and practical examples from his own life, the lives of major characters from the Bible, and Jesus himself to show us that we’re never alone in our pain.
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Inspiration
from
Catherine Campbell
NEW
Forty short devotions each expressing an aspect of God’s love in hard times. Foreword by Canon Andrew White.
In 40 short devotional readings, accompanied by beautiful illustrations, Catherine encourages us to make living in the Light a daily practice by accessing the power available to us in Jesus.
978-0-85721-289-4 £7.99
978-0-85721-738-7 £7.99
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Real Life Christianity
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Different Simon Ponsonby
Simplify Bill Hybels
Just Living Ruth Valerio
A passionate challenge to walk in the way of holiness, from one of today’s most compelling Bible teachers.
Overscheduled. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Sound familiar? Too familiar?
Globalisation and consumerism affect every area of our lives. But it’s not just about shopping; these powerful forces shape our personal lives, how we relate to one another, how we view the world - and they are having a seriously detrimental impact both on the lives of the global poor, and on the health of the planet itself.
In this punchy new book Simon sets out the challenge for all of us to look hard at our own lives and think about the life God is calling us to - to deal with the things that prevent us from following in spirit and in truth, and to face up to our failure to be true to the task God has set us. Tackling tough issues from porn to family life and digging deep into Bible stories from classics like Daniel and the Lion’s Den to hard passages like those dealing with the Israelites’ worship of Baal and Asherah, Simon takes us with him on a wide-ranging journey into the heart of what God wants for his people. RRP: £13.99 | 9781473617810
You are living at a velocity you know deep down is unsustainable. Your life is off course - too crammed with busyness, too out of focus. You keep waiting for things to get better, but they never do. In Simplify, bestselling author Bill Hybels identifies core issues that drive this kind of living and offers action steps to help you live a better way. By eradicating clutter from your inner world, you can experience immediate rewards: greater energy, clearer purpose, richer relationships and more. Your life won’t simplify itself. You must act. Isn’t it time? RRP: £9.99 | 9781473604834
Every Christian in every generation down through the history of the church has had to work out what it means to be a follower of Jesus in their particular culture; for us in the twenty-first century, we must think about discipleship in a globalised, consumerist context. Environmentalist and theologian Ruth Valerio examines these issues in a book that is intellectually rigorous yet practical, and as inspiring as it is challenging. RRP: £13.99 | 9781473613331
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More Life Application Study Bibles NIV Compact Life Application Study Bible, Anglicised The bestselling NIV Life Application Study Bible is unparalleled among study Bibles as an invaluable aid to devotional reading, quiet times and Bible study. Now available in these new compact editions.
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HB | RRP: £24.99 | 9781473626645
Leather-Like RRP: £28.99 | 9781473627277
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Living for Jesus You Always Have a Friend in Jesus For Boys Jim George
You Always Have a Friend in Jesus For Girls Elizabeth George
Athletes, musicians, actors, and other grown-ups – these are the people you look up to. But the best role model of all? That’s Jesus – the hero who’s also your best friend.
Silly jokes, shared interests, laughter and giggles, and whispered dreams – best friends truly get each other. And your best friend of all – Jesus – truly gets you!
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Explore ten ways you can live like Jesus every single day. With His help, you can have: confidence to be who you are; courage to do the right thing; discipline to get stuff done; faith that it’s all going to turn out okay; focus to reach your goals. RRP: £8.99 | 9780736964173
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SAVE £2 Always the perfect friend, Jesus modelled ten character traits that help you live your days with more and more excitement, such as: confidence to be the real you; faithfulness to be someone others; trust; focus to get stuff done; friendliness that draws others to you; graciousness to let you move on from mistakes.
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OFF EACH
e ry v e s g n i th eds e n d l i Ch to k n o w These are the Topz Gang’s top ten things to know about life spent with God! From knowing how much God loves us, to thinking about what He made us for, these amazing discoveries will guide young readers and help shape the rest of their lives. Full of Bible verses, puzzles and quizzes. 10 CLC - topz.indd 1
AGE 7-11 S Topz 10 Things Every Boy Needs to Know ISBN: 978-1-78259-496-3 RRP £5.99
Special offer £4.99 Topz 10 Things Every Girl Needs to Know ISBN: 978-1-78259-497-0 RRP £5.99
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL CHRISTIAN BOOKSHOP YOU’RE ENABLING US TO SUPPORT LITERATURE MINISTRIES AROUND THE WORLD 04/07/2016 17:00
Inspiring new DVDs
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God’s Compass
Risen
Return to the Hiding Place
Suzanne Waters (Karen Abercrombie - War Room) has just passed the baton as the principal of the local high school. Having spent a lifetime teaching life lessons, the journey into retirement is about to bring her one of her greatest lessons. Her lesson plan will come from a troubled young man, Eli, as she invests in his life.
The epic Biblical story of the Resurrection and the weeks that followed, as seen through the eyes of an unbelieving Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a high-ranking Roman Military Tribune. Clavius and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) are instructed by Pontius Pilate to ensure Jesus’ radical followers don’t steal his body and claim resurrection. When the body goes missing within days, Clavius sets out on a mission to locate the missing body in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.
Corrie ten Boom, Holland’s first ever licensed female watchmaker, leads a secret resistance made of university students who work together to save the lives of hundreds of Jews.
Suzanne also becomes a first-time grandmother, and the new life of the baby brings renewed hope to the family as each member discovers their core value in God’s path for their lives. As Suzanne reflects back on her life of faithfulness, we are reminded that there are no accidents in God’s Kingdom, no chance meetings, no purposeless steps taken.
DVD | RRP: £12.99 | 5035822307131
Based on a true story, climaxing in the true, breath-taking rescue of an entire orphanage of Jewish children marked for mass execution by Hitler’s assassins, Return to the Hiding Place brings you back into the tense world of the original film and boasts a stellar cast including John Rhys-Davies (Gimli from the Lord of the Rings trilogy), Mimi Sagadin (Princess Cut), and Joanie Stewart (Alone Yet Not Alone). DVD | RRP: £12.99 | TICM007
DVD | RRP: £14.99 | 5060424955725
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“LET THE WORLDS OF MONEY, SEX, & POWER FIND THEIR TRUE AND BEAUTIFUL ORDER.” Whether we’re rich or poor, married or single, in a position of great influence or not—all of us face temptation in the areas of money, sex and power. They are the dangerous opportunities of our time. John Piper shows us that when we have the blazing glory of Christ at the centre of our spiritual solar system, the planets of money, sex and power find their true and beautiful orbits.
“John Piper shows how living in the light will eclipse all the idols this world has to offer—and put money, sex and power in their rightful, Godglorifying place.” Andrew Wilson, Pastor, King’s Church, Eastbourne
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Hardback | £8.99 ISBN: 9781784980511
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