New Year!

It's January! We had a very busy run up to Christmas, for which we are thankful. We very much appreciate the loyalty and support we receive for our small independent shop. Suddenly we have arrived in January and are needing to do a long awaited sort out (not just of books, but of our desks 😨).  In the meantime, many of you will be settling down to a new daily reading book.  If you haven't yet found a suitable one, we have some suggestions in our latest eBulletin... click here to view.
Don't forget though, that a sort out around here means that lots of books will be heading onto our sale lists - especially the £3 list. So go on, pick up a bargain while you can!

Spring Cleaning

Things are a little quieter in the shop at this time of the year so we are having a spring clean.  Our office and storerooms are getting cramped and untidy with all the extra stock so we are clearing out.  Keep an eye on our sale list because it is regularly being updated with all sorts of bargains!  Some bargains may have signs of shelf wear but others are in tip top condition (but we just have too many of them).  As a hoarder, I struggle with getting rid of stuff so the sooner it's gone the better or I may just sneak it back into the storeroom where it can sit happily for another year or two!

The full sale list

Books reduced to £3.50, buy 4 for £12

Books reduced to £5, buy 3 for £12

Go on, sneak a peek!
Lorna

Happy New Year!

By the grace of God the shop has survived another year when so many independent Christian bookshops have had to close, and we look forward to continuing in this ministry for as long as He sees fit.  Many thanks go to our loyal customers who have stuck with us through this recession even when we are unable to compete with the price cuts of the bookselling giants.  
We do make reductions when we can and it is always worth checking our sale pages to see the many bargains that can be had. We are now selling our 2011 calendars half price and some remaining Christmas cards are also reduced.
The ladies reading club is just starting its second book so for anyone interested in joining, now is a good time.  This book is more contemporary than the last and is by Martyn Lloyd-Jones.  If your new year's resolution is to read more, then the club is perfect for helping you achieve this. Let me know if you are interested.
Lorna

June Children's Books Promotion

I don't think there could be a better opportunity to pick up a few books to replenish the young people's section of your church library, or buy presents for youngsters. Our marketing manager has obviously failed to get the message across. Let me make it clear now. On offer at Buy 1 Get 1 Free are the Bibletime and Biblewise series (14 books in each to choose from on a Bible character - in the 3 to 7 age range). And yes you can mix 'n match. Also two sets of boardbooks for under 3 yr olds.

Then some great series of books are being offered at £2 off. This is very good when you consider that their selling price is £4.99 or £5.99. Hence in the roughly 8-12 yr old category, 1/3rd off 'Trailblazers', an extensive range about pioneering men and women of faith - whether scientists, writers, missionaries, preachers - all action-packed biographies. Also, 1/3rd off my old favourite 'Jungle Doctor' books - stories (semi-fictional?) with a compelling African flavour. 'Ivan' is another series down to £2.99 for this month only. Stretching up to 14 yr olds it is fiction based on cold war fact for Russian christians back in the Soviet era. Finally, how could you pass over £2 off the 'History Lives' series? There are 4 books now taking you from Apostolic times to some of the figures in the Great Awakening of the C18th. This really shows history for the great drama it is, told with flair. I reckon this could reach ages from 14 to 41. Pick one up and you will learn more than you'd care to admit.

Jeremy

Bundles of Joy

We've got six of these to be had during the month of April only. Don't get over excited, I'm not referring to babies - just books! But excitement is still an appropriate emotion when up to 40% can be saved on them.
Each bundle deal consists of three books, all related to a well known person. One of the three is always a biography/autobiography, then another is generally an easier/shorter read, before you get to something to really chew on.
So, in chronological order we have Martin Luther - some interestingly different books related to him. Read about the influence his wife had on him. John Bunyan, where we have made a selection mainly aimed at younger readers. Then the great Baptist theologian John Gill - includes a good little extract on Justification. Next comes William Gadsby, so much more to him than just a hymnwriter. Then stepping up to modern times, an introductory pack to Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Finally, a lady! Faith Cook has written much, but here you get the full mixture. One about herself, one work of fiction, and one about ten less well known christians.
Three of the bundles cost £12 each, and the other three cost £15 each. Go to our website front page and click onto the pdf file there to find out which costs which. http://www.christianbookshopossett.co.uk
Jeremy

'Easter' Books

We've had to hit the ground running for our March promotion, because it's based around an Easter theme. I call it such for convenience' sake only, because the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are of course central to the faith, and the gospel as a 'word of reconciliation' must be preached week in week out, all year every year. So please forgive the terminology.
We've made a careful, very focused selection of books, with something for every age group. You will see them from off our website homepage, or click
http://www.christianbookshopossett.co.uk/March%20Offers.pdf
These are books which we like and which we can do at prices so low you will still have change left over to buy all your easter eggs for the children (supposing you were going to anyway). In fact, I would go so far as to make a price promise - find them cheaper elsewhere, let me know, and I'll match it! Can't say fairer than that, even though my name's not Asda.
Jeremy
PS. If you live locally, don't miss our late evening opening before Easter on Monday 17th March. Tea and cakes, plus choc egg with every purchase (if I'm at the till) 7pm - 10pm.
PPS. If you wonder how on earth that pile of books in the photo stands up at its Pisa-like angle, remember there are 20 years of civil engineering experience behind me!

Honey out of the Rock

This is the free booklet we are giving away with each purchase during our Sale Week. From the 'Apples of Gold' series of Puritan reprints, it is worth buying anything else just to get it! Willcox was a Particular Baptist pastor among those incredibly brave men and women who dared to be nonconformists in the England of the 1660's. He was buried in Bunhill Fields (the dissenter's burial ground in London) alongside more famous names like Bunyan and Gill, but his short tract based on Psalm 81 v 16 is not worthy of any such treatment. It was recommended by William Romaine in his day. Even today, with very light editing, this tract is very readable. Willcox is direct and pithy. He gets at the essence of true religion - a personal experience of God-given faith in Christ, and its results. This is really searching stuff. I know of a local pastor who reads this booklet every year in self examination. It was blessed to his soul many years ago and he recommends it to everyone. The tract has been translated into foreign languages over the years. At the back of the booklet there is a short but remarkable account of how it was used by God to bring about a revival in Finland in the 18th century. We still want it to be freely circulated - may it be greatly blessed yet.
Jeremy

Sale Week Jan 21st - 26th

We spent the afternoon today re-arranging the shop for our sale week next week, all I have to do now is some baking - more than one of our customers has said they intend to come along to our late nights (7pm-10pm Monday & Thursday) for the cakes -hum, better not burn the buns or they may never come back! For those who are not yet in the know, these are the deals...
20% off all the books in the shop
Lots of selected books at massive discounts - up to 75%
A free booklet with every purchase (I'll get Jeremy to tell you more about that in a later post)
For those of you who are not local, don't worry, the only thing you will miss out on is the cakes (they don't travel well in jiffy bags). Just browse the site remembering that everything will cost you 20% less than normal and then check our special sale page for all the higher discounts on selected books. There really are some bargains not to be missed.
Lorna

Struggling Start to Silver

We've been decimated by germs since New Year. Not the friendliest welcome to 2008, but one that serves to remind us of how fragile we and the bookshop work are. I reckon bugs and nasties must just love all those family gatherings at Christmas and New Year, like crocodiles watching with amazement as the wildebeest decide to join each other in a relaxing bathe in their waterhole!
Still, the orders have been dealt with so far, and emails answered, often from home. There's no let up either on preparations for this month's amazing Sale week (January 21st - 26th). Posters should go out this week about it. If you are around and free on Monday or Thursday evening we'll be staying open until 10pm to allow you to get at heavily discounted books. The basic is 20% on stock (plus the tea and cakes which were so sought after at our last evening event). I just hope we're back to full fitness by then.
Jeremy

Books on offer

Grace & Truth Online Publications are a small publisher who are worthy of note. We stock all three of their titles, which are currently being sold at cut-down prices. Here they are, with the publisher's blurb...

Sovereign Grace: Past and Present, I Potts (ed), was £12, now £8.50

Collected writings from both past and present preachers of God's Gospel of Free and Sovereign Grace through Jesus Christ. Includes works by William Tiptaft, Tobias Crisp, William Huntington, William Gadsby, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, J.C. Philpot, John Kershaw, James Bourne, Eli Ashdown, Francis Covell, John Vinall, John Warburton, Don Fortner, Henry Mahan, Don Bell, Gary Shepard, Todd Nibert, Tom Harding, Peter Meney and Benjamin A. Ramsbottom.The book also includes an Introduction on 'Sovereign Grace', background information about each author and a useful appendix containing much information about other works written by or about the authors.These works are by authors whose lives span several hundred years, yet their message is the same - they proclaim the grace of God which brings salvation - because the One of whom they speak never changes, He is "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever".

The Fountain of Life, W Huntington, was £10.50, now £7.50

This publication contains six chapters taken from the works of William Huntington S.S. All the chapters are Christ-exalting and experimental as they set forth the true work of God in the salvation of sinners. We trust that this book will prove edifying and also provide a welcome introduction to the writings of Huntington to those who may be unfamiliar with the works of this man who was greatly used by God in his day and generation.

Christ the Sun of Righteousness, I Potts, was £6.95, now £4.50

This work sets forth pictures of Christ as He is revealed throughout scripture. The whole message of the Bible regards the person and work of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. He is to be found on every page of Holy Writ. He is the sum and substance of God’s message to lost mankind, the One through whom God reveals Himself to man, the One through whom God reconciles sinners to Himself, the One in whom all the blessings of God to His people are revealed. The Gospel of God concerns His Son, Jesus Christ, and the message of the Bible is of the salvation of sinners through Christ, by Free and Sovereign Grace.May the reader be pointed towards Christ, the Saviour, the “Sun of righteousness”.

If you want any further info, read these reviews on our site.

Lorna

N.B. The sale won't last forever, so take advantage of it now!

Sale Books

Having a shop in the local community, we like to maintain an attractive display of books in the windows in order to entice the locals in through the doors. Sadly (for us), this means that a lot of the books tend to get sun damaged. Happily (for you), this means that we then reduce a lot of the books to bargain prices.

Check out our Sale list to find 100 books currently on offer - first come, first served.

Lorna