Posts Tagged ‘Bible Speak’
My Favorite Christmas Gifts from 2012
January 5, 2013 | 
Author My Favorite Christmas Gifts from 2012
The past couple of weeks have been a great blessing to me, especially with a few of the wonderfully awesome Christmas gifts I received. These gifts will be giving throughout the year and then for years to come, I am sure. Wait. Let me clarify and qualify those last statements. My favorite gift, hands down, is my ability (God provided) to be in relationship with the Triune God through Jesus Christ. Coming in next, are my wife and my sons…followed closely by my health. Now, we can proceed to the more trivial and material things *wink*
In no particular order, my favorite material things I received this year follow:
The Tyndale Chronological Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
The only thing this Bible is missing is a longer name…wait, it has that too. Seriously though, this is a wonderful Bible and I really like several things in this version. First, I really like the New Living Translation for reading. In my opinion, the NLT is the best reading version on today’s market. Second, I prefer reading chronologically over any other reading plan when I’m reading for story purposes; that is, trying to stay connected to the meta-narrative of Scripture. In addition to these reasons, the Life Application Bible helps to keep me connected to the Scripture and stirs me to respond to the words I am reading. Many other features in this study Bible make it one of my new favorites. I love the timeline system that flows through every page, which helps me to correlate the flow of God’s revelation to man through the Hebrew people as it laid over the global timeline of man. There are also hundreds of notes, maps, section introductions, sidebars, charts, and outlines. My tentative goal is to read this Bible through 2013 along with another Bible I received for Christmas.
This is another gift I received for Christmas; The New Revised Standard Version Bible is a Daily Reading Bible is set up for 365 daily readings. Each of the readings is accompanied by an excerpted writing from a Christian spiritual classic. Some of the classic writings include Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Frederick Buechner, Henri Nouwen and others. This Bible is geared toward the promotion of contemplative reading and prayerful meditation upon the text. I plan to use this alongside the Tyndale Chronological Bible, but instead of reading for story I will be using this Bible for my divine reading (Lectio Divina). I have grown to love the NRSV Bible for the combined attributes of accuracy and readability and look forward to the coming year that I will spend with God in this Bible.
Salt of the Earth: A Christian Seasons Calendar
I saw this calendar advertised at some point in my web browsing back in October or November of 2012. When I saw it, I immediately forwarded the link to my wife, Laurie, with a note stating “this would make a nice Christmas gift—hint, hint.” I was pleasantly surprised to find it wrapped under the tree on Christmas morning. This isn’t a “normal” calendar structured around the months (Jan, Feb, Mar, etc.). It is arranged around the Christian calendar. For instance, the first page of weeks is the Advent season, which was Dec. 2 through Dec. 24. When the page is turned to the next “month,” it is actually the season of Christmas, twelve days from Dec. 25 through Jan. 5th. The next page of weeks is the season of Epiphany, which begins January 6 and runs through February 12 (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and Lent). There are sidebars with information and devotional material relevant to the season of the calendar, and there are Scripture readings for each Sunday that come from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer. The most important aspect of this calendar that I like though, is the connection of God’s story in our time. I’ve made it no secret over the past several years how much the Liturgical Calendar has impacted my spiritual formation. This is another helpful tool to keep me remain connected to God’s time throughout the year. It’s not too late to pick up your own!
Posted in Advent, Bible Journey-Reading, Books, Media, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation | 
Tags: Bible reading, Bible Speak, Christian Year, Liturgical Calendar, Spiritual Formation | 
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Book Review: The Bible Questions
Book Review: The Bible Questions
Author: Hal Seed
Publisher: InterVarsity Press ISBN: 9780830856121
The Bible Questions: Shedding Light on the World’s Most Important Book
The back cover reads; “The Bible can be a scary book…” This is true, and this is why many people choose not to engage it. Hal Seed has done a wonderful job in collecting some of the “scary” thoughts or questions about the Bible and providing insightful answers to help take away some of the uncertainty and confusion surrounding this ancient text.
Seed arranges his exploration of The Bible Questions into four primary parts; Part One—Primary Questions, Part Two—Purpose Questions, Part Three—Probing Questions, and Part Four—Practical Questions. Each of these parts includes several chapters addressing some of the most popular questions about the Bible. As an example, Part One chapter titles include the following: Who Wrote the Bible?, How is the Bible Different From Other Books?, Who Decided What Went into the Bible?, and others.
I’ve been using this book for several weeks now in preparation for teaching a class on how to read the Bible. I have found it very useful with the information it provides, but even more, I have appreciated the conversational language Seed uses in talking about some of these topics. There are anecdotal commentaries and factoids that I have incorporated into my presentations that are helpful with keeping my audience engaged. I consider the same might be true for other readers.
The Bible Questions isn’t all about information though. At the end of each chapter, Seed provides some application suggestions and exercises with a Scripture reading and a few questions to ponder and/or discuss. There is also a comprehensive study guide at the end of the book. These exercises and the study guide would make the book a perfect fit for a small group book study, especially for a group that might be new to Bible reading. I really appreciated Part Four with the direction the author took regarding practical questions and application. It seemed to me this section was actually geared more to an introduction to inductive study. I don’t know if this was Seed’s original intent, but this is where my thoughts were drawn and I will be using these chapters when I start teaching an inductive method of study later this month.
I am so grateful and appreciative of the steady stream of great books coming from InterVarsity Press for the building up of the Church. The Bible Questions by Hal Seed is another great addition to my personal library, which I will use for years to come. I think it is a great overview of the Bible and many people, both new Bible readers and experienced readers, will find value in it.
Posted in Bible Journey-Reading, Books, Media | Tags: Bible reading, Bible Speak, Book Reviews, Books, Discipleship, Hal Seed, InterVarsity Press | No Comments »
The Word of God in Worship
Mac Powell and David Nasser released the second collaboration with the Glory Revealed project this week. I got the “album” yesterday from iTunes for $9.99 and haven’t stopped listening to it except to sleep. It is my new favorite album.
Posted in Dailyness..., Media | Tags: Bible Speak, David Nasser, Glory Revealed II, Jesus, Mac Powell, Word of God, Worship | 1 Comment »
Morning Meds and Questions to Follow
NLT Psalm 145
1 I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. 2 I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. 3 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. 4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. 5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. 6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. 7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. 8 The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. 10 All of your works will thank you, LORD, and your faithful followers will praise you. 11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. 12 They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. 13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.
This entire Psalm is about proclaiming the “GOD Story” from a first-hand experience. Look at the words…
The questions that came to me this morning as I pray this morning prayer and turn to meditate on this Psalm follow:
1. Is my experience personal?
2. How real is my experience?
3. Is my experience so real that I do not have any difficulty expressing it?
4. Is the expression my experience abundantly clear and profound that it captures the attention of others?
5. Does my life express my experience and relationship bathed in the wonder of God’s ever-present fellowship in it?
6. If this Psalm is not being fully realized in my life, what am I doing about it?
7. Is there an urgency to know God (The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit) in my life?
8. Is there an urgency to know God to the fullest capacity that He can be known or am I content to merely know about Him…or experience Him vicariously through the lives of others?
How about you? What comes to your mind when you ponder this Psalm? Do similar questions come to your mind???
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Becoming the Word, Bible Journey-Reading, Daily Meds, Meditations, Shaping Me | Tags: Bible reading, Bible Speak, Christianity, disciple, Follow Jesus, Meditation, Psalms, Spirituality | No Comments »
“Ordinary” Love
40 Days Living the Jesus Creed [Day 23-25]
O God, who has given us the great and saving truths of Your gospel: grant us, we ask You, to live amid these things, to meditate on them and seek them; for one who goes on seeking, finds. Help us, therefore, to learn those things on earth, the knowledge of which shall abide with us in heaven. Grant this for Jesus Christ’s sake. [Amen] Give us strength with changed heart, O Lord, to love You with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength…and help us, O Lord, for Your namesake to love our neighbor as ourselves. [Amen]
“Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace-in peace because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
“Scriptural living comes from trust in the Lord. When our eyes are fixed on the Lord Jesus and we trust in His word, we will be steadfast and mature.” Deep-Rooted in Christ; Joshua Choonmin Kang
“Your decrees are my meditation…” (Psalm 119:99) Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, Becoming the Word, Bible Speak, iCrucified, Meditations, Shaping Me, Spiritual Disciplines | Tags: 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, Bible Speak, Christianity, Deep-Rooted in Christ, disciple, Ezekiel, iCrucified, Isaiah, Jeff Borden, Joshua Choonmin Kang, Matthew, Religion, Scot McKnight, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality | No Comments »
Study Bibles
I’m not a huge fan of study Bibles, but I believe they are useful when they are used in the role they were intended. I happen to have a number of study Bibles in my library, so it’s not like I don’t use them. The reason I’m not a big fan of them is because I believe they have the tendency to lead our reading. I have witnessed all too often people referring to “study notes” as if they were inspired with equal standing of the scriptures themselves. They are often used as the lazy man’s crutch to explain “what this means.” On the other end of that bias is the usefulness of the study Bible; maps, background history, socio-political climate, cultural information, and other extremely helpful information useful in understanding what the intent of the writer might be and to whom he might be writing. These pieces of information are helpful in understanding the meaning, rather than rushing right to the commentary.
I recently acquired the NLT (New Living Translation) Study Bible as the newest edition to my Study Bible library. I have not spent much time with it yet, but from what I have looked at it appears that I will have a good relationship with it.
I think the latest translations of the NLT Bible are among the most readable and accurate dynamic translations of the English Bible we have today.
Another study Bible that I was eager to look at is the ESV (English Standard Version) Study Bible. It was just released today for public sale. I had placed an order for this version several months ago when I received a notice that it was soon to be 
published. I opened an email today that told me my new ESV Study Bible is in the mail and in route to me as of today!
I’ve heard good reviews about both of these study Bibles and think they will represent the best English translation Study Bibles available today. What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite study Bible? What version do you use and what do you like most about it? I look forward to hearing from you!
Posted in Bible Speak, Books | Tags: Bible Speak, ESV Study Bible, iCrucified, Jeff Borden, NLT Study Bible, Study Bibles | 2 Comments »
