Computer Stores and Christian Bookshops

The secular side of me would probably want to go to a computer store. I don’t think in terms of cities for shopping sprees. Perhaps that applies more to fashion. Still, back in the 1990s, you didn’t see much in terms of computer stores in the Republic of Ireland. I used to like visiting Belfast and looking at all the “IBM-compatible” computers in shop windows 😀. But later in the 1990s and 2000s, Argos, Dixons, Currys, PC World, and Harvey Norman opened in cities in the Republic of Ireland. I can’t remember seeing any Apple-branded stores in Ireland, but some stores certainly stock Apple computers. I used to buy most of my computers directly from Dell, but when I bought my last one, I found little of interest on the Dell site. So, I got it in Harvey Norman, here in Limerick.

Nowadays you can find all sorts of things on Amazon, but I still enjoy visiting computer stores, and I try to support them if I can by buying locally.

Spiritually, Christian bookshops are where I used to go on shopping sprees. We did have some in the Republic, but back in the 1990s, I used to enjoy visiting the Christian bookshops in Belfast, such as The Evangelical Bookshop and the Faith Mission bookshop, which was huge. Sometimes I’d look at the bargain or second-hand sections. Other times I’d be seeking a specific book. I have such a backlog and such good resources on the Web that I rarely buy any books nowadays. The last few I bought were hymn books. And many Christian bookshops are closing now. Perhaps people avail of web resources or buy their books online.

But times change. And with the Web, there are so many new opportunities to avail of excellent resources. I frequently ask Microsoft Copilot questions about the Bible, and I’m generally pleased with the replies. Evangelical Christians tend to be cautious and suspicious about change. Because so many Protestants drifted away from the Bible and “reinvented” Christianity, we fear going down the path of liberalism and modernism. But my experience of the web is that there’s no shortage of good evangelical resources. But I love my old books too. To be honest, I’m beginning to think that I love looking at them on my shelf more than reading them. I’m more into audio books nowadays. I’ve so many excellent books on Audible. My favourite is Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, which comes in two parts.

I used to distribute gospel leaflets in Cork, Limerick, London and elsewhere in my earlier years. Not everyone took them, and those who were polite enough to take them might not have read them. And those who read them might not have taken notice of them. But there’s always the potential for someone to hear and respond to the gospel. I know a lady who committed her life to Christ after finding a leaflet in her sister’s shopping bag. You never know what the Holy Spirit might use.

Writing blog posts is a little like distributing leaflets. You could get likes from anywhere in the world. You don’t know if people read your posts. But even if they don’t, I like mutual encouragement to post. And those who read them mightn’t make much of them. But it’s always my hope that something that I say will encourage someone to explore the message of the gospel. I leave it in God’s hands.