Latest books

We have had quite a few new books in recently which we haven't yet had time to add to the website. Please ring if you want any further information:
Daily Remembrancer - James Smith - £15
Same Lake, Different Boat - S O Hubach - £8.95
Can We Be Good Without God? - J Blanchard - £1.50
Little Pillows & Morning Bells - F R Havergal - £9.95
The Sherwood Gypsy - Unknown Author - £2.75
Salvation Freely Given - H B Bulteel - £2.20
Sprouting of God's Seed - A Tuinman - £2.95
Face to Face with David (vol 2) - M Bentley - £5.00
Travel with William Cowper - P Williams - £10.00
Truth, Lies and Science Education - P Taylor - £7.00
365 Days with Wilberforce - W Wilberforce - £12.00
Exploring the Bible, Habakkuk - T Shenton - £6.00
How to Run Children's Clubs and Meetings - S Walker - £7.00
People in the Passion of Jesus - R Ellsworth - £5.00
Holy God, Holy People - H D Morgan - £7.95
Pages from Church History - S J Nichols - £7.95
On Fire for God - V Bugden - £11.95
The Evangelical Doctor - D C Wood - £12.95

Window Shopping

A themed window at the shop...

Amazing Grace

It's the best film I've seen all year - but then again it's the only one. Wilberforce was rather more dashing than real life portraits suggest, and there was a hint of Bob Geldof about his dishevelled looks at times. Was this a deliberate ploy to link the two at a subliminal level? But they are poles apart in the motivations that drive them, although Wilber's evangelical Christianity is not given emphasis by this film. Sadly, John Newton is also poorly portrayed. This is best redressed by reading his 'Letters' (Banner of Truth paperback edition available, hardback due April) or better still, the original 'Cardiphonia' or 'Utterance of the Heart' as it is now rendered in the Gospel Mission edition.

The lesson is simple - see the film, and then read the books. You won't regret it.

Jeremy

Birthday Treat

It was my birthday yesterday. Don't ask how old. When I told Matt he kindly commented 'that's old' with GREAT emphasis! We had a customer in looking at Wilberforce books and it got us going on the Wilberforce theme -one thing led to another and we decided to go and see the film 'Amazing Grace' (a sort of 'birthday treat'!). For those of you that don't know, 'Amazing Grace' tells the story of William Wilberforce and his battle with the British establishment in bringing about the abolition of the slave trade. It has certainly given me further appetite for reading about both Wilberforce and also John Newton. Wilberforce was influenced by the ministry of John Newton and was supported by him in his fight against slavery. I will be taking a copy of 'Out of the Depths' (the autobiography of John Newton) home. I'll let you know how I get on with it...
Lorna
p.s. yes the film was worth seeing -birthday or no birthday!

Wilberforce

As 25th March approaches, the 200th Anniversary of the passing of the Bill to abolish the Slave Trade will be observed in various ways. Christian publishers have certainly not forgotten it. Here is a listing, by no means comprehensive, of the books we have on Wilberforce:-

Day One have weighed in with another in the 'Travel with...' Series. Rather confusingly they have another of a similar name for children in their large format 'Footsteps of the Past' Series. For devotees there is a '365 Days with...', and most recently, a new study by John Pollock - 'Abolition!'

Kingsway have republished the classic Pollock biography 'Wilberforce'.

Christian Focus have had 'William Wilberforce - Vital Christianity' by Murray Pura out for some time. They have also added 'The Freedom Fighter' by Derick Bingham to their 'Trailblazers' Series for children, as well as an interesting book on the slave trade itself called 'Voices Against Slavery' also aimed at young people.

One other book - only just out in time from Crossway - is 'Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce' by John Piper. This follows a theme not lost on other writers, of the relationship between old John Newton and Wilberforce, especially in the way that Newton encouraged him to believe that just because he had been converted didn't mean that Wilberforce should think that his career in politics was over.

You really are spoilt for choice now!

Jeremy

Mother's Day

Well, I may be overseas, but I am still closely involved in the life of the shop. Technology helps of course. For example, it is through this blog I have discovered that Jeremy is thinking about Mother's Day! (Matt our 3yr old also let out a secret when chatting on the webcam yesterday 'Mummy, we've got you a present....'). Actually, I would like to read 'More Love to Thee', or even better 'Stepping Heavenward' which is the book by Elisabeth Prentiss telling of her journey through many trials.
One book I have read recently that I found very thought provoking was 'Damsels in Distress'. Without wanting to be offensive to our overseas customers it was very 'American', however, if this can be overlooked I thought it a worthwhile book for women. The first chapter talks of the dangers of idle gossip. Other topics cover legalism and PMT. The author has also written a book called 'The Excellent Wife' which has a lot of good points. Interestingly, we have a book 'The Exemplary Husband' which is intended to be used alongside 'The Excellent Wife' and we sell alot more copies of the Husband book than the Wife book. Do we women think we already know it all???
Other suitable Mother's Day books could include 'Legacy of Faith' by L Brownback, 'God's Little Women in the Bible' by B Edwards, 'Selina Countess of Huntingdon' by F Cook...um, well there are lots of options, you really need to have a browse round the website/shop.
Lorna

Mother's Day Conundrum

You have braved the decision of getting your mother (or wife via the children) a book for this Sunday, but now the real difficulty presents itself. What do you choose? A wrong move here and all your good intentions will be wasted. Will a book on parenting rebound on you - literally in severe cases. Are 'women of faith' books patronising or stimulating? Are women going to like a book just because it has a stylish cover with a flower on and deals with 'soft' issues, seen as female-orientated? The questions arise more easily than the answers. Well, on perhaps the one day in the year when she is made to feel valued, a woman is entitled to expect a thoughtful choice, where you put yourself in her position and say 'Would I want this?'
An opening suggestion is to go for a biography. How about 'Elizabeth Prentiss: More Love to Thee' by Sharon James www.banneroftruth.org/pages/item_detail_index.php?5005 ? But don't get it from them when you could get it from us. One thing, you certainly can't be accused of going down the stylish cover route with this!
Any more ideas, please comment.
Jeremy