This week on Gospel.com we’re looking at The Transfiguration, that awesome event in which Jesus shone like the sun, spoke with Elijah and Moses and was blessed by God. The apostles’ terror is understandable.

Read the story of the transfiguration from Matthew 17v1-9.

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Without Mission Network News I’d be largely ignorant of the impact of missions in the world. They’re an organization that consistently works to keep evangelical Christians informed of missions related news.

Their purpose:

Mission Network News is a mission news service dedicated to keeping Christians informed on evangelical mission activity around the world. In doing so we hope to educate and motivate Christians to prayer, participation, and support of missionary work to help further the Great Commission.

And their reasoning:

We have found that many Christians are highly interested in missions, but they’re not getting the information they need to motivate them to get involved. MNN is committed to providing the most current, relevant and compelling mission news available. Our radio network, satellite links, and internet affiliates enable us to reach millions with mission news within hours of the event!

I went through today and read over what’s been going on in the past week. There are—of course—many things to pray about, but also many things to offer praise about. Here are a few recent news items worth reading:

Anti-blasphemy resolution impact brought to forefront

Financial crisis brings Wall Street to God

Proclaimer brings hope to Rwanda

Bible translation team issues call for help in Asia

Iran feeling the tensions between faith and religious freedoms

The featured topic on Gospel.com is recovery. While putting an end to some types of sin is as simple as “just saying no,” other sins and behaviors can cause so much damage to our lives, relationships, and spiritual health that breaking free requires serious time and commitment—a process of recovery.

The recovery process is frequently necessary when addiction—to alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, etc.—is involved. Recovery is sometimes also necessary even when your own behavior wasn’t responsible for the damage, as in the case of abuse. Today we’ll point out a few links to general recovery resources from around the Gospel.com community; tomorrow we’ll focus on recovery resources for more specific problems. Whatever the reasons you’re seeking recovery, here are some good starting points:

• Discipleship Tools has a very extensive collection of free online recovery resources. From 12-step recovery guides to detailed biblical essays about the recovery process, there’s a great deal of useful material here.
• The Encyclopedia of Recovery and Addiction Wiki has compiled a huge list of online recovery resources, covering all types of addiction from drug abuse to overeating.
• Safe Families has a slightly more narrow focus—it primarily addresses sexual addiction and pornography—but links to a large number of resources for both recovering addicts and their families.

Between those three ministries, there are hundreds of essays and other tools to help you get started down the long hard road to recovery. Explore those links, and we’ll be back tomorrow with some more specific resources!