New Children's Book

I've wanted to create BIBLE TELL ME: WHO for years.

When I was a kid, I learned all about the books of the Bible and picked up all kinds of trivia. I also learned of God's love for me and his plan of salvation.

The more I was introduced to the Bible, the more I found that I wanted to get to know one topic better: the people in the book.

Even as I teach Sunday School today or give talks to adults, I see how eyes light up when I start telling about the characters of the Bible. As readers, we love to identify with the people found in Scripture, relate to their struggles, and even share in their joys.

For 10 years, I've wanted to create a kid's book that traces the story of the Bible through the eyes of its people. During this last year, Time, Inc. gave me that opportunity with BIBLE TELL ME: WHO.  This special edition book is available now and will also appear on magazines shelves later in 2013.  This book tells the story of 90 Bible characters and offers short biographies that are coupled with a life lesson. 

Aimed at early readers (ages 4-8), this book introduces the Bible, its story, and its main characters in a colorful way. I'm grateful to Time for publishing and for the chance to work with the very talented Pascale Lafond who provided the illustrations. 

Below are some sample images from the book.

The book is available wherever books are sold. Here is a direct link.

Email Devotions

Do you want to read more of the Bible?I spend a lot of my day on email, I've been looking for ways to bring the Bible to my inbox. I've recently solved that with the help of one of my publishing partners (TheBiblePeople.com). Together we're making available some of my favorite Bible reading plans along with their devotional books available for free through email.

What are email devotions?
You choose from the reading plan below that looks most interesting to you. For the next 30 days, we'll email you a devotional or Bible reading every day.

How much does this cost?
Nothing. These plans are free.

Why are you doing this?
My publishing partner (TheBiblePeople) and I love the Bible. We want you to help you read it, too.

What kind of reading plans are available?
Our plan is unroll a number of these. Here  are the first seven.Click the picture to sign up.

       

     

      

   

Who is doing this?
My mission is to help people read, understand, and apply the Bible. My publishing partner (TheBiblePeople.com) has the same goal. Together we've teamed up to bring you God's word in a unique way. We both come to this from a conservative evangelical, Christian perspective.

Here is my bio.
Here is the facebook page for TheBiblePeople

Thanks for joining me. And may God bless the reading of His Word!!

Sacred Places (New Book)

My team and I recently created a photo-driven book called SACRED PLACES. Writing and editing this book really helped me understand the Bible better and I know it will do the same for you. Why?

Sacred Places explores actual Bible locations. The Red Sea, Mt. Sinai, Jericho, Golgotha — each forms a textured backdrop to a story in the Bible. 

The significance behind King David’s climb of the Mount of Olives is important. The passing references to Jesus’ ministry in Galilee are significant. No event in the Bible happened by chance, and each story’s unique time period and setting provide meaning and purpose. Sacred Places also reveals how the spreading of the gospel has influenced sacred structures around the world. This book will help you read the pages of Scripture with a new perspective. 

Do you remember that when Jacob and his family moved to Egypt, that Joseph urged them to request a home in the land of Goshen? Check out this page and you'll instantly understand why that was the best region for Jacob's sheep and cattle.

After the Hebrews left Egypt, do you remember how quickly they complained about the lack of food and water? If you are like me, maybe you just chalked that up to them being ungrateful. Check out this picture from the Sinai Desert and you may understand their complaint a little better. (Especially if they had been living in Goshen not so long before!)

Would a better picture of Jesus' world benefit you? Here are some of my favorite Sacred Places pages from the locations that involved Jesus' ministry.

This book was published by Time Inc., and in partnership with American Bible Society. It is available at Amazon here: Sacred Places

5 Surprising Things About God's Forgiveness

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Sometimes I think the apostle Paul stole a page from my journal when he said, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15). Does anyone else resonate with that line?

What surprises me the most is not the severity of my sin, but God's eagerness to forgive. Here are five truths about God's forgiveness that constantly surprise me.

1. When God forgives, He treats me as though my sin never happened.
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your  flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and  condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” Colossians 2:13-14.

Yes, I was guilty. Yes, I deserved to be punished, but God forgives. He took my sin and nailed it to the cross. He completely forgave the debt I owed him. It's gone. He won't wave it in my face or bring up the past. In God's eyes, it's over. It's as though my sin never occurred.

2. Being forgiven is who I am. It is not something I need to maintain."There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:1.

Jesus' work on the cross was final and perfect. There was nothing I could do to earn forgiveness and there's nothing I can do to maintain it. Being forgiven is just something I am.

 

3. God's forgiveness is final."For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Jeremiah 31:34

Did you know there isn't anything a Christian can do in the future to cause God to change his mind? He will not "unforgive" me. He can't. It's just not in his nature to do so. His choice to forgive was the final word and the final answer.

4. Jesus died for my future sins too. 
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18

It's easy to understand that Jesus forgave my past sins. But if Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was complete, then it also covers future sins--the ones I haven't even thought of yet. I will never sin so badly that Jesus' timeless forgiveness can not cover me.

5. Forgiveness is possible.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9

Perhaps this fact is the most mind blowing of all. Even though God is perfect and holy, he is willing--even eager--to forgive. If I face my sins and see them as ugly as they are, seek his forgiveness, he promises to forgive. He'll do the same for you.

That's the most surprising thing of all.

Video Bible Study (Exodus)

Please RSVP for Thursday's Video Bible Study on the book of Exodus.

This Bible study is designed for those reading in our Facebook Bible Study, but all are invited to attend. 

Content for the study is based on a book I've just completed called NAVIGATING THE BIBLE. This book will be published by Barbour Publishing in February, 2014.

Please RSVP by visiting the Spreecast site and then pressing the RSVP button.

Previous broadcasts in this series include:
Genesis, part 1
Genesis, part 2

Sponsored by: TheBiblePeople.com