Okay...I just finished doing a giveaway for the new Tony Evans Study Bible. And I thought I would be writing just a regular blog post on the subject of Thanksgiving and being grateful right about now. But...as the saying goes...the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. So I will spend the rest of my week with family, being thankful for said family and pondering the many reasons I have to live a life of gratitude. In the meantime, I'm running another quick giveaway as I have been blessed with the opportunity to bless someone once again with a copy of the new Tony Evens Study Bible. So many of you entered that last giveaway and I'm so pleased that you have one more chance to win.
I wrote a blog post and review about the Study Bible here: Tony Evans Study Bible: A Giveaway and Review So go check it out and if you want a chance to win come back to this post to leave a comment and enter on the rafflecopter below.
Giveaway
You can win your own copy of the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible in the Black/Brown Leather Touch Edition, as pictured in my review (a $69.99 Retail Value)!
Just leave a comment on this blog below and then come back to the Rafflecopter here to do all the things to be entered in the contest: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Note: only US bloggers and giveaway winners are eligible due to publisher shipping limitations outside of the US as well as a later global product release date.Contest runs through December 6, 2019. A copy will be mailed out to the winner via the publisher at the end of this campaign. #TonyEvansStudyBibleL3 I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Well, not really time for one but since Tony Evans is a favorite of both myself and the hubs, I couldn't pass by this opportunity. And since I have a short time frame in which to run this giveaway let's get going.
About Tony Evans
Dr. Tony Evans is one of the most influential church leaders of our time and has been studying and preaching the Gospel for over 50 years. He serves as senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, TX, and founder of The Urban Alternative, a ministry that promotes a kingdom agenda philosophy designed to enable people to live all of life underneath the comprehensive rule of God. His preaching can be heard on broadcasts airing on over 1,400 radio outlets and in over 130 countries, reaching millions each week. I just love that his preaching honors the Word of God over the word of man. He has the ability to communicate the profound truths of God's Word through practical teaching and application.
About the Study Bible
The Tony Evans Study Bible includes extensive study notes and other ancillary resources carefully crafted and curated by Dr. Tony Evans as General Editor and adapted from his sermons, teachings, and writings. These features are strategically placed alongside the biblical text to explain God’s Word in a fresh way. Applying these truths will empower readers to have transformed lives that then transfer the values of the kingdom of God to others.
Features
Elegant design
Study notes crafted from Tony Evans sermons and writings
40 inspirational articles
50 “Lessons on Kingdom Living,”
60 "Questions & Answers"
40 “Hope Words”
120+ personal application questions
Digital links to over 150 videos of devotionals, sermons, and teaching from Dr. Evans
Page-edge cross-reference system
Black-letter text
Presentation page
Introductory front matter
Special back matter section with key definitions, theological and doctrinal charts, and other study helps
Concordance
Bible reading plans. 3 year and 1year plans
Full-color maps
Review I have to say that I really love this study Bible. I've had been pouring over its contents since I received it from the publisher, thinking that this would be a great study Bible for the hubs. But this is not a study Bible for men only. It is for everyone. In the Introduction, it says, "This study Bible is based on a simple yet profound biblical worldview: the glory of God through the advancement of His kingdom. This is the unifying theme of scripture from Genesis to Revelation." And with this study Bible Dr. Evans endeavors to "help us study the Scripture with a kingdom mindset, seeking to identify God's rule over every area of our life." There are some unique features in this Bible that I have not seen in other study Bibles. One such feature is the "Hope Words" placed throughout this Bible. They are such encouraging words to encounter as you are reading through a passage of scripture. They are set apart in a simple but decorative box and say such things as, "Stop focusing on what you can't do. Start focusing on what God can do." This particular one was placed in Pauls' letter to the Ephesians at the end of chapter 3...after his prayer for the Ephesians. Beautiful. Or in John among the verses where Jesus is praying for His disciples, "God calls us to go against the grain when the grain is going against God. Be in the world, not of the world." Another unique feature is the digital links to video devotionals and teachings from Dr. Evans. They are QR codes that you can scan with your phone or iPad and they take you to the videos. And yes, I have watched a few of the videos and they contain such good scriptural teaching designed to enhance your study experience by helping you dive deeper into a topic or providing encouragement in your study. There are also links to videos that take you to video introductions to each book of the Bible as well as Overview videos of both the Old and New Testament found in the front material, "How to Study the Bible" section. So you not only have the written intro that you would expect in a study Bible, you have video teaching to get you into the study. You will love it! There are multiple covers available for this cover:
Hardcover
Black/Brown Leather Touch
Black Genuine Leather
British Tan Leather Touch
Purple Leather Touch
You can view these covers and more about the Tony Evans Study Bible at this link: https://csbtonyevansstudybible.com I'm giving away the Black/Brown Leather Touch edition. It's a beautiful cover with feels like butter, soft leather. I'm thinking I will give my personal copy to the hubs and then save up to get the purple cover for myself. I'm not a huge purple color fan, but this one looks to be a lovely lavender.
Giveaway
You can win your own copy of the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible in the Black/Brown Leather Touch Edition, as pictured in my review (a $69.99 Retail Value)!
Just leave a comment on the blog below and then come back to the Rafflecopter here to do all the things to be entered in the contest: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Note: only US bloggers and giveaway winners are eligible due to publisher shipping limitations outside of the US as well as a later global product release date.Contest runs through November 18, 2019. A copy will be mailed out to the winner via the publisher at the end of this campaign. #TonyEvansStudyBibleL3
Okay...so I was sure I was going to get another post written before I did another giveaway, but the opportunity came up to run a giveaway for Father's Day and I couldn't resist. With Father's Day coming up so quickly make sure you enter right away for a chance to win this great Bible for your favorite guy.
Which could be you if you're a guy...so...
Speaking of being a guy. Why call it He Reads Truth Bible?
There is this worldwide community of men on a mission to read God's Word together every day. They don't just read the Bible but engage with Scripture through daily reading plans, devotions, and study tools.
And YES, there's an App for that.
This community was founded in 2015 and called, He Reads Truth. (See what they did there?) So the He Reads Truth Bible was developed to offer the community's favorite Bible engagement and study tools all in one place. This Bible invites every man to count himself as part of the He Reads Truth community of "Men in the Word of God every day."
You can read more about this community and check out the He Reads Truth App here: About He Reads Truth
Review
The He Reads Truth Bible uses the Christian Standard Bible(CSB). If you are not familiar with this version, it is a highly reliable and easily readable text(much like the ESV). It stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity. So it is very readable to today's reader.
I love doing Bible giveaways because I believe God's Word is THE most important book you will ever read, should you read it. And one of the many things I do love about this particular Bible is that it begins with a section called, How to Read the Bible.
If picking up a Bible and just reading it seems a bit intimidating to you, don't skip the How to Read the Bible section. It will help ease you into the reading by giving you tips on how to approach God's Word, how to understand God's Word, and how to prayerfully read it and to apply it. So helpful!
You are invited into this story...HIS story. So don't skip the first pages...they are priceless.
Features
66 hand-lettered key verses
126 infographics (including charts, lists, and illustrations)
17 full-color timelines
21 full-color maps
Reading plans for every book of the Bible
One-year Bible reading plan
Detailed book introductions and outlines
Key verse list
2 colored ribbon markers
Smyth-sewn binding
Wide margins for journaling and note-taking
Color-coded by genre
Bible Serif typeface designed for optimal Bible reading
I love that these are not all features stuck at the back of the Bible as some do, making you flip back and forth as you are reading. No. These features are placed throughout the text, where they are relevant to what you are reading. Which really brings the scripture to life as you begin to make connections that might be missed otherwise.
But I think the feature I love most is that it gives a reading plan mapped out at the beginning of each book of the Bible which includes relevant supplemental passages from other parts of God's Word.
Scripture itself is the best interpreter of Scripture with the help and leading of the Holy Spirit. This reading plan will help you apply this method of interpretation. I love this so much!
There are so many great features in this Bible it makes me want to get one for myself, but I'm a girl so...
Note: only US bloggers and giveaway winners are eligible due to publisher shipping limitations outside of the US as well as a later global product release date.Contest runs through June 22, 2019. A copy will be mailed out to the winner via the publisher at the end of this campaign. #HeReadsTruthL3
Have you heard about the new movie coming out Easter Weekend? If not keep reading. I've had the privilege of viewing a pre-screening of the movie and I'm giving you a quick review here on the blog. Make sure you keep reading to the end of this post because I have an awesome giveaway too!!
Revelation Media and Fathom Events
About the book...
The Pilgrim's Progress. First published in 1678, this book has remained one of the most widely read Christian allegories still in print! More copies of this epic tale have been sold than any other Christian book, second only to the Bible. It has been translated in more than 200 languages and has never been out of print. The author of the story, John Bunyan, was a pastor imprisoned for unauthorized (not sanctioned by the Church of England) preaching of the gospel in small house meetings. During the 12 years of imprisonment, Bunyan wrote many books, one of which was The Pilgrim's Progress.
It has been said that no-one just finds the book. But rather the book finds them.
This powerful allegory gives us a tangible description of the spiritual journey a Christian must embark upon. It gives us a name for our struggle with doubt...even more, a place...a dungeon where lives the Giant Despair. The Slough of Despond accurately gives a name to our times of discouragement and despair. Vanity Fair is a town that represents the indulgence of our own sinful desires. It gives a name to those who would walk beside us on our journey, Faithful and Hopeful. Each of these encounters and so many more in Bunyan's book give us a bird's eye view of what our spiritual journey requires, and in doing so brings hope and encouragement to the reader.
Throughout Christian's journey, the King sends reminders that he is not alone.
About the movie...
The movie is based on John Bunyan's epic masterpiece,The Pilgrim's Progress. A family-friendly feature-length CGI animated film and it is coming to theaters Easter Weekend! April 18 & 20th. Check this site to find a theater near you: https://www.pilgrims.movie/theaters
Copyright Revelation Media and
Fathom Events
In watching the movie I was quickly drawn into Christian's journey. It is so rich in allegory, that I could not help but make comparisons of the obstacles that Christian encounters along his journey (to the Celestial City) with my own faith journey. Who would ever expect that an animated movie would bring about so much introspection?
If you are looking for movies that give your children the courage to do the right thing...to stay true to the path that God has laid out for them, take them to see this movie.
I really enjoyed this movie and I think you will too. It is a vivid retelling of the original tale. I would recommend families watch it together and after the movie take some time to talk about Christian's journey.
The Evil Apollyon will stop at nothing to keep Christian from the Celestial City.
Age appropriateness: I will say that this is probably not for very young(2-4 yrs) children as some of the scenes may be a bit intense, if not frightening, as there are times where it depicts the attacks on Christian...bringing to light the battle in the Spiritual realms as the attacks are demonic in nature.
As for 5-6 years olds, it would depend on the sensitive nature and maturity of your child. For 7 year old to adults, I most definitely recommend going to see this movie.
The Hill of Salvation! Where Christian's burdens are released and his journey takes a turn.
Watch the Official movie trailer here and then scroll down to enter the giveaway!! Trailer
Here's the giveaway...
6 Movie tickets!!! 2 movie tickets each to 3 separate winners!!!
A beautiful full-color coffee table style hardcover edition of The Pilgrim's Progress Illustrated Storybook($24.95 retail value)!! I have 3 copies to give away to 3 separate winners!!!
To enter leave a comment on this post. Then enter your info on the rafflecopter. I'll need your email to send your Fandango e-gift card for your tickets and to contact you to find out where to send the book. So...enter on the rafflecopter and then leave a comment in the comment section under this blog post.
Note: only US-based giveaway winners are eligible due to Fandango limitations in Canada and outside the US Oh...and if you have a group of 10 or more people, or if the movie is not scheduled to come to your town, the Group Tickets team can help you out. Just go to this link to fill out the form: GROUP TICKETS See you at the movies!! #ThePilgrimsProgressL3
Faithful Pathfinder has gone missing! He has ventured beyond the borders. Everyone is alarmed as they are ordered to collect the notes and drawings that he has left behind. Perhaps to find clues as to where he has gone and why. Why? Why would anyone go beyond the borders? Obstinate expresses his opinion about anyone who would do such a thing. He must be mad! "... only a madman would be foolish enough to venture beyond the borders! Nothing good comes from veering from the rules, I always say. Nothing at all." But as Christian Pilgrim begins to clean up what Faithful has left behind, he wonders what Faithful was thinking. And what was this book he left?
"It has been said that no one just finds the book, but rather the book finds them."
And so Christian began to read the book, and he read and he read until... in the reading... he begins to feel a heavy burden. He knows what he must do. And the journey begins.
The storyline above is just a teaser of my review for the upcoming movie, The Pilgrim's Progress. Coming to theaters Easter Weekend! April 18 & 20. If you are looking for movies that give your children the courage to do the right thing...to stay true to the path that God has laid out for them, take them to see this movie. This film is based on one of the most popular books of all time, The Pilgrim's Progress written by John Bunyan, a pastor who was imprisoned for his faith. And is second only to the Bible in total copies and translations printed. I'll be doing a full review closer to the release date and doing another giveaway...possibly involving movie tickets and a book! In the meantime, I would encourage you to make sure you get your tickets early and bring a group. You can visit this page to find a theater near you and get your tickets now: Pilgrim's Movie Tickets
The Trailer...
The Giveaway...
And don't forget to enter my giveaway. I'm giving away a Digital Interactive Storybook, a $20 value! One each for three separate contest winners! So be sure to enter on the rafflecopter below!! a Rafflecopter giveaway Note: only US-based giveaway winners are eligible due to Fandango limitations in Canada and outside the US. WINNERS!! Congratulations to Ashley Ivey, Martha Mason, and Alona Beech. I will be contacting you shortly about your prize! See you at the movies! #PilgrimsProgressL3
It's been a while since I've joined the Five Minute Friday writer's in the FMF Link-up. It's a weekly link-up where we write for five minutes flat on a one-word prompt. This week's word has resonated with me so I'm joining in.
Place
"Hold my place." "It's not your place!" "Whose place is it?" "My place." "My place in this world." "A place in my heart." "A place of worship." "A place to belong." "My favorite place to be." "A place to call home." "I go to prepare a place for you..." "...but I can't be in two places at once."
"Feeling out of place." All familiar phrases ... how many times have I heard them? Or said the words? We all long to find our place in this world. We long to belong. To have a place to call home...a place to come home to. Our true home is one where we are known, loved, accepted. Where we belong. So where do we belong? Is it home? For some, home is a safe haven. A place to return. A place to just be. For others, home is a place to escape from. Because deep in the core of their heart they know that their home is nothing but a dark shadow of what a true home should be. In place of being known, there is ignorance. In place of love, there is resentment. In place of acceptance, there is rejection. But there is hope.
He reached down from heaven and rescued me: He drew me out of deep waters. He delivered me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was weakest, but the LORD upheld me. He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.
~Psalm 18:16-19
This earthly home is only temporary...and yet even here you can experience home in its truest sense. For those who choose to accept the heart of Christ will find their home in Him. His grace provides a safe place. A place where we are known...truly known. A place where we are accepted just as we are. A place where we are loved so much that we are not left there...at the point of acceptance...but are led to realize the fullness of who we were created to be. A place to be. A place to belong. A place in this world and the one to come.
And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ~Jesus, John 14:3
That's a promise I can take hold of. A sure hope in the One who holds the future and the present.
It's hard to believe we are already 24 days into 2019! This has been a month of new adjustments for me...literally. I've been getting used to a new chiropractor after a long search for one that would not 'twist' or 'pop' me. I have a neck issue, severe scoliosis in my back, and a lot of nerve blockage, so I needed a very gentle approach to getting me to the point where I can function more efficiently. Less pain...less brain fog, which interferes with my ability to write. Managing the pain has been an interesting journey since I don't take any pain meds stronger than ibuprofen and I won't get steroid shots. But I believe I'm back on the road to better back and neck health and less pain to manage...so for that, I am very thankful. I don't usually write about my own personal health...which thankfully is really pretty good at the age of 60, despite the neck and back issues. So, I'll quit the health update and get to what I really want to talk about...adjusting to my new Bible reading plan.
Old Plan...
Through the years I've tried different methods of reading through the Bible in a year but the one that has worked most consistently for me has been The Daily Walk Bible (NLT) from Bruce Wilkinson's Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, Tyndale House Publishers. I've read through the Bible cover to cover for more than 8 years with this one...and the pages are starting to fall out. I use other Bibles for study but this has been my morning coffee & the Word go to for so long that I've decided to make a change and say goodbye to this old friend. I don't tend to work off of a Bible Reading Plan 'list' very well so I needed to find an actual Bible that was already laid out with daily readings sectioned off. I find that reading through the Bible in this way helps me to keep an overview of scripture and how the books fit together to create a larger narrative of what God is doing in the world...both throughout history and today. By doing this, I tend to get so much more out of the other more in-depth studies I do both privately and in Bible study groups.
New Plan...
As I began to think and pray about what to do for 2019, I was offered the opportunity to review the Day-by-Day Chronological Bible. So I thought, perfect, it's in a reliable translation, Christian Standard Bible Translation(CSB), so that will be a good change from my previous reading in the NLT. So I signed up to do the review. They sent me this beauty! This Bible has a very nice soft as butter brown leathertouch cover. It's a bit hefty, but still comfortable to hold in my lap as I read from it. (It's about 7X9" and 2" thick). It has two ribbons to hold your place as you read. One for the front of the Bible and the other, I presume, for the second half.
So, I'm thinking this will hold up to many years of reading on a daily basis. This Bible is arranged into a chronological reading plan with daily readings guided by Dr. George Guthrie, professor of New Testament at Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. And I kind of love his approach. The Bible is a grand story...His story...and it includes you and I. But in order to understand where we fit, our place, in the story, we need to understand how the "Bible's Grand Story fits together, how it develops, where its climax comes, and how it invites us to join in a never-ending script that God continues to write in and through the lives of real people like you and me." Dr. Guthrie gives us tips on reading through the Bible and understanding how to keep the Big Story in view, by dividing it into three acts and seventeen scenes, while also divided by weeks(52) and 6 days of reading with the 7th day of each week reserved for a recap and prayer/meditation. He begins each reading by reminding us where we are in the story and gives tips for reading that day's section. The pages are not dated so you can begin at any time, and there are diamond shaped boxes at the end of each day so that you can check off when you have completed the reading for the day. In fact, there are 5 of those boxes so you can keep track of how many years you have read through this Bible. I love that! I think this particular Chronological Bible is different from others in that the readings are arranged by content according to where it falls within the storyline of the scriptures and not necessarily by the date each book was written. For instance, on day 2 of week one, the readings are from Psalm 8, Psalm 104, and John 1:1-3. Because they all echo the creation story in Genesis 1 & 2.
Large margins for note taking and journaling.
I have many days more to go to get the full impact of this Bible reading plan. But I love the direction of the journey already. I'm a story girl as many of you know. I love a great story. I've even written a series of articles on Story that begins here: Story...The Great Connector. I believe we all have an innate desire to either hear or tell a good story. History is told through story. More than just a string of facts, it gives us a treasury of lessons learned and points us to a better way of living into the future. History gives us heroes to emulate...teaches us to dream big. It shows us that there is always something to be learned…even through failure.
John Steinbeck said, "…a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last." There is a great and lasting story…in HIS story, God's Word. And yes…we are all a very important part of that story. Our creator speaks to us through His Word using 'story' as one avenue to tell us many stories that bring understanding to our own stories, our own purpose, as it fits into the bigger picture of His Story. It is the very promises within that great story that keep us going and give us hope. Do you have a 'read through the Bible' plan for 2019? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. If you don't, you might consider the Day-by-Day Chronological Bible. I have a giveaway going through January 30th. You can win your own copy of the Day-By-Day Chronological Bible, Brown Leathertouch($39.99 retail value)! So be sure to enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Note: only US-based bloggers and giveaway winners are eligible due to publisher shipping limitations outside of the US as well as a later global product release date. A copy will be mailed out to the winner via the publisher at the end of this campaign. #csbBibleL3
