Sunday, October 27, 2013

New Bible helps new Christians navigate easier


As a pastor, I often get asked about Bible recommendations. So, I was very intrigued by this newest Bible offered by Tyndale called The Wayfinding Bible. This is a New Living Translation version, and it would be wonderful for young adults, new Christians, and those who might like to take a journey through God’s Word in a new way. 

What makes this Bible different is that the reader is able to choose their itinerary. There are three main routes offered using an innovative Bible mapping system. Each route takes the reader through a series of chronological readings that capture the main storyline and God’s word. One route includes 54 readings to gain a chronological overview of the Bible. Another route takes the reader to 215 readings to gain a full perspective of the Bible. In the third route, through 366 readings, the reader will discover the depth and richness of God’s word as he/she wanders through various passages. [There is also a fourth route offered called the “thru-hike” which will take the reader chronologically through every word of the Bible.]

This mapping system gives new readers a choice of how they want to jump in and navigate the Bible, and encourages and directs them through Scripture with confidence as readers explore God’s alive Word in a unique way. 

Many people, when they start to read the Bible from beginning to end, can get hung up in chapters like Leviticus. But The Wayfinding Bible directs readers in a fun (yes fun!) new way giving them the big story of God and engaging them with key people, places, and teachings so they can begin to connect more fully to the Bible as a whole. 

There are beautiful color maps throughout, simple book introductions, scenic overlooks, and historical markers, as well as “side trips” on various topics.

If you know someone who is a new Christian or starting to explore the Bible but doesn’t know how, they will likely have fun and enjoy the journey they will embark on it The Wayfinding Bible!

For more information on The Wayfinding Bible, visit http://goo.gl/9qpoal 

*Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this Bible for my unbiased review.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Highly recommended read


5 STAR
REVIEW: Clear Winter Nights by Trevin Wax

This is a wonderful little book! Through a fictional fable, Christian theology comes to life through story.
This is a quick read, but packed full of powerful truths and takeaways.

The story centers on a college-age student who is questioning his Christian faith. But after a visit to his wise, pastor grandfather, things start to make more sense. This will likely hit home with most all Christians, as they have struggled with deep questions at one time or another in their lives.

This is a perfect book in which to grab a cup of coffee and curl up to read. It would also make a good book to pass on to others who are struggling with their faith, and even college students since the main character is a college student himself.


*I received this book for free from Blogging for  Books for this unbiased review.

For more information, check out:

Thursday, October 3, 2013

“Epic Grace” not an epic success

3 STARS
REVIEW: Epic Grace: Chronicles of a Recovering Idiot by Kurt W. Bubna

This book is true and based on a person's life, so it’s is hard to say it is not good. But, I found myself waning toward the middle and started to get a tad uninterested.
 
The book is filled with chapters based on small testimony stories of author Kurt Bubna’s life. Some are downright funny and some are sad. He tries to illustrate through each story how he has seen God’s grace in his life.
 
This book does show how we need to be on the lookout for testimony stories in our own lives of how God is always at work. For me, possibly adding practical, thought-provoking questions that could help the reader see and make sense of their own stories of God’s grace would have been helpful.
 
One thing I did like that is unique, is at the back of the book there are QR codes, that when read by a smart phone, offer seven videos of the author explaining the book on an even deeper level.


You can see one of those videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ_mE5vdx5E - Week 1 – What do you think about grace?
 
So, it wasn’t an epic failure, but it also wasn’t an epic success.
*Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my unbiased review.