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Writing
    Not in Vain: 1 Corinthians Devotional
    Explore Lamentations
    eBook: Good News People
    eBook: Filtered Grace
    Gospel Coalition Articles
    Church Society Articles
    Threads Articles
    Explore Ecclesiastes
    Explore Galatians
    Evangelicals Now Articles
Book Reviews
Interviews
Join Us
  • Writing
    • Not in Vain: 1 Corinthians Devotional
    • Explore Lamentations
    • eBook: Good News People
    • eBook: Filtered Grace
    • Gospel Coalition Articles
    • Church Society Articles
    • Threads Articles
    • Explore Ecclesiastes
    • Explore Galatians
    • Evangelicals Now Articles
  • Book Reviews
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That Happy Certainty - Gospel | Culture | Planting
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365 Days with Toby

A video scrapbook from the crazy paths of parenthood…

On 31st October 2018, Tobias Onyx (ahem, pronounced ‘Onix’ not ‘Oinks’…) popped out into the world at South Lakes Birth Centre here in Barrow.

As has become Ham tradition, we’ve tried to capture a second of video for each day of his first year.

Why? Well, at one level I’ve always been a bit of a sucker for a emotional montage, but as one of our favourite singer-songwriters JJ Heller puts it:

“Everything is sacred when you take time to notice,
Big love happens in the small moments…”

We’ve tried to capture the mundane and the mediocre, as well as the memorable. There’s the tears, Calpol-heavy high temperatures, and a whole lot of tiredness. Admittedly, there’s also been a fair few parental tantrums, but they tended not to get filmed! You might even spot a paramedic…

But through the daily rhythms of family life, the LORD is good (‘Tobias’)!

Onyx, if you’re wondering, is a precious stone that crops up all through the Bible’s story, from creation to new creation – and a few significant places in between (like the Temple and the High Priest’s breastplate). There’s a lot of pressure these days on kids to ‘find themselves’, but we chose it for a middle name as a reminder that Toby doesn’t need to craft an identity or a story for himself, but rather we find life, hope and identity as we look outside of ourselves and discover God’s big story, centred on Jesus Christ.

Thank you to everyone who’s been alongside us in this first precious year of Toby’s life: family, church family, friends…

And Zoe, it’s been a joy to walk/laugh/crawl along this crazy path with you… life is meant to be spent! #OurLifeForTheirs

If you’re really trying to kill time, here’s the rest of the gang…

365 Days with Rafa

366 Days with Hudson

365 Days with Evie

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November 1, 2019by Robin Ham
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How Are You Feeling About Making Disciples? 14 Feelings and 14 Truths From God’s Word

What feelings come to mind as you think about sharing the good news of Jesus and being involved in God’s mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ?

As part of the Thy Kingdom Come initiative, at Grace Church we spent some time reflecting on the different feelings we might have that make us apprehensive or generally negative about speaking or pointing to Jesus Christ – and how we might prayerfully counter those feelings with God’s word…

Feeling like you’re on your own?

Jesus: ”The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37–38).

Feeling like it’s just not politically correct?

Jesus: ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20).

Feeling like people are too bruised for religion?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Feeling apathetic?

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)

Feeling afraid of what others will think?

“Do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honuor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:12–13)

Feeling inadequate for the task?

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say” (Luke 12:11-12).

Feeling too weak?

“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1–2).

Feeling like Jesus is nothing to be proud of?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16).

Feel like it’s someone else’s job?

“How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10)

Feel like Christianity is insignificant?

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

Feeling like nothing seems to make a difference?

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:6–9, NIV).

Feeling unsure what steps to take next?

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:2–6).

Feeling opposed or isolated?

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:8-9).

Feeling you’ve got nothing to say?

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

…

What other feelings would you include and what Bible verses would you point someone to in response?

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June 6, 2019by Robin Ham
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The Sunday Refill – 7 Links for Your Weekend (28/4/19)

Seven up…

1) The Word Speaks Again and Again – A really encouraging little anecdote about the power of God’s word.

2) The Scruton tapes: an anatomy of a modern hit job – Following on from the news about rugby player Israel Folau last week, here’s another example of the intolerance of tolerance and our culture’s worrying rush to feel offended.

3) Sri Lankan Sunday School Was ‘Willing to Die for Christ’ on Easter. Half Did. – We’ve all seen the news reports after last Sunday’s devastating bombings in Sri Lanka. As Christians around the world were celebrating Christ’s resurrection and its personal significance, for Christians in Sri Lanka that personal significance was all too real. This is a helpful report from Christianity Today.

4) How our capacity for wonder was challenged by the black hole image – Perceptive cultural reflection on the way we responded to the US National Science Foundation announcement a few weeks back about the first photo of a black hole.

5) Free eBook: The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson – This is well worth snapping up whilst it’s available for free from Crossway. It’s probably the book I’ve heard most commended over the last 3 years. While we’re on free books, Richard Coekin’s rich and devotional book on Ephesians is also free to download if you sign up to the Good Book Company’s mailing list.

6) Don’t Crash Your Ministry Trying to Fly Like an Ace – What’s ministry got to do with German fighter pilots in WW2? John Stevens has a word of warning…

7) Avengers: Endgame Cast Sings ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ – For something a bit different, if the opening of the final (?) Avengers’ Movie was a big deal for you this week, then maybe you’ll enjoy this.

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April 28, 2019by Robin Ham
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About Me

Hello, my name is Robin. Welcome to That Happy Certainty, where I write and collate on Christianity, culture, and church-planting. I’m based in Barrow in South Cumbria, England, where my family & I are part of Grace Church Barrow.

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“If we could be fully persuaded that we are in the good grace of God, that our sins are forgiven, that we have the Spirit of Christ, that we are the beloved children of God, we would be ever so happy and grateful to God. But because we often fear and doubt we cannot come to that happy certainty.”
- Martin Luther

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