TheVirtualWord » Encouragement http://www.thevirtualword.org Reflections on evangelical Christianity and the contemporary world Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:10:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 The Prodigal http://www.thevirtualword.org/2010/06/02/the-prodigal/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2010/06/02/the-prodigal/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:26:52 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=251 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)

Here is a beautiful song from Sovereign Grace Music with a very moving animation to illustrate the parable.

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2010/06/02/the-prodigal/feed/ 0 Christ is Risen! The hope which keeps us going. http://www.thevirtualword.org/2010/04/04/christ-is-risen-the-hope-which-keeps-us-going/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2010/04/04/christ-is-risen-the-hope-which-keeps-us-going/#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2010 10:39:18 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=223 It is somehow strangely fitting that on Easter Sunday I should hear of the death of Mark Ashton (yesterday). Mark was the minister of the church I attended when I first became a Christian at university, and so like many others I owe him a huge debt of thanks for his ministry and example.

How wonderful, on Easter Sunday, to celebrate the Christian hope – that death is not the end, and that we will be raised with Christ. Here are a few words from Mark, recorded about 8 months ago, which show how that hope has transformed his life.

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2010/04/04/christ-is-risen-the-hope-which-keeps-us-going/feed/ 3 A book on the go… http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/10/12/a-book-on-the-go/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/10/12/a-book-on-the-go/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:52:46 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=150 Whiter than snow. (that all rhymes – how lovely!)

This is a refreshing little series of meditations on Psalm 51. They will warm your soul and keep grace where it should be – at the forefront of our hearts and minds.

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/10/12/a-book-on-the-go/feed/ 0 Go on… encourage your pastor http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/09/30/go-on-encourage-your-pastor/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/09/30/go-on-encourage-your-pastor/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:44:19 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=147 I have heard good things about the Living Leadership project, which hosts an annual conference for those in pastoral ministry, focusing on their own spiritual refreshment – something too easily neglected in the busyness of ministry. And they have very generously made all their conference talks from the last few years available online. A great resource.

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/09/30/go-on-encourage-your-pastor/feed/ 0 Words for the weary… http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/09/16/words-for-the-weary/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/09/16/words-for-the-weary/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:45:31 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=132

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case beloved, we feel sure of better things – things that belong to salvation. For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

(Hebrews 6:9-12)

This was a great encouragement to me this morning as I was walking in to church.

And what good news that our promises are guaranteed by the Lord Jesus “who has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.”

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/09/16/words-for-the-weary/feed/ 0 Living Simply http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/08/27/living-simply/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/08/27/living-simply/#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:58:35 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=122 I’ve been having a look this morning at an interesting campaign from the Evangelical Alliance called Simplify. It’s a great and a timely call to the discipleship Jesus taught – and more relevant than ever in a time of Credit Crunch. Do have a look. There is a free download of a very helpful chapter from John Ortberg’s book When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box which is well worth a read.

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/08/27/living-simply/feed/ 0 More Wordles (whole Bible and Gospel) http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/05/14/more-wordles-whole-bible-and-gospel/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/05/14/more-wordles-whole-bible-and-gospel/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 11:08:26 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=113 Here are some more Wordles from Josh Donegani.

Whole Bible Wordle
Whole Bible Wordle
 

Gospel Wordle
Gospel Wordle

Enjoy…

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/05/14/more-wordles-whole-bible-and-gospel/feed/ 0 A new look at the Bible http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/05/12/a-new-look-at-the-bible/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/05/12/a-new-look-at-the-bible/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 19:24:41 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=106 A friend of mine, Josh Donegani, has created some interesting graphics using Wordle.

The way these work is the size of a word is proportional to its frequency within a given text. So, at one level, the more important the word in a text, the larger it will be.

I will post a couple today, and some of the others at a later stage. But for now, have a look at the difference between the Old and the New Testament when viewed through the eyes of a Wordle based on the ESV. It highlights some interesting features…

Old Testament Wordle
Old Testament Wordle

New Testament Wordle
New Testament Wordle

Enjoy…

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/05/12/a-new-look-at-the-bible/feed/ 0 Hallelujah! Christ is Risen! http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/04/12/hallelujah-christ-is-risen/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/04/12/hallelujah-christ-is-risen/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:11:00 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=96 He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!

]]> http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/04/12/hallelujah-christ-is-risen/feed/ 4 For your encouragement http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/03/02/for-your-encouragement/ http://www.thevirtualword.org/2009/03/02/for-your-encouragement/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:50:41 +0000 admin http://www.thevirtualword.org/?p=89 Two things which have been a blessing to me. They’re not new, but they’re well worth a look…

First, Woodland Presbyterian Church. This is the church where Dale Ralph Davis pastors, and they are publishing his sermons online. Always worth hearing. (But be warned – some of the older ones are in .wma not .mp3 format.)

Second, Future Grace. This is a wonderful book by John Piper, first published many years ago, but I recently picked up in a second hand shop. It is a really encouraging read. He seeks to motivate us to live the Christian life in the light of God’s promises for the future. Wonderful.

If you want a free preview – chapters 1-3 are available at Desiring God. Or you can pick it up at Amazon…

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