A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” Theodore Roosevelt

“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.” Ronald Reagan

Studying, not just reading Scriptures, has changed the course of my life forever.

Anyone who knows me intimately understands that I approach reading the Bible a little differently. For example, in the 26 years since becoming a Christian, I have never followed a “read the bible in one year” reading plan. I also don’t read long stretches of scriptures. I take the bible in bite-sizes, chapter by chapter, with different study bibles open to the chapter I am reading, dictionaries, or the Logos software open to various commentaries.

I began this habit shortly after becoming a Christian and when I received my first study bible. The Life Application Bible that my (then boyfriend) gave me upon my first visit to America opened my eyes to understanding and applying the truths of God’s Word to my everyday life. I was a fairly new Christian and, even though I had been an ESL teacher for many years when we got married and I moved to the US, these study bibles have been instrumental in helping me better understand certain passages of Scripture in my second language.

What started with a way of better applying biblical principles to my life became a passion to unravel Scriptures. By understanding the historical background, correlations between the Old and New Testament, my faith has been strengthened, renewed, and God has helped me navigate life’s difficult trials in victory by the power of His Word.

So when BibleGateway invited certain #BibleGatewayPartners to review newly published study bibles, I was glad to sign up. Since then, I have had the privilege to receive free copies of bibles such as Zonderman’s new Life Application Bible (NIV version), The Jesus Bible, The Quest Bible, and the NIV Journal the Word Bible for girls. You can find my reviews by clicking on the bible titles in this paragraph.

This past month, I received a free copy of the new Halley’s Study Bible for review.

Henry H. Halley was an author, minister, and Bible lecturer who lived from 1874 to 1965 and is best known for the Halley’s Bible Handbook – a resource that has become a favorite for many believers through the years.

His handbook was born from a belief that we both share: everyone can and should be not just a reader, but a student of God’s Word. Henry began memorizing scriptures after starting a contractor career and spending hours commuting on a train. It was during one of those trips that God gave him the idea to start memorizing Scriptures. He started with the Sermon of the Mount. Next he memorized the book of James. As it stated in the foreword of the Halley Study Bible: “Over a period of about ten years, the preacher-builder spent at least ten thousand hours in achieving probably one of the greatest feats of memorization of Scripture know to humankind.” Eventually, he was able to recite 25 hours of Scripture!

In 1922, God directed him to put together a leaflet titled: “Suggestions Concerning Bible Study”. This booklet was the first draft of what later became the Halley’s Pocket Bible Handbook. In 1960, Henry granted Zondervan Publishing the rights to the handbook. It became one of the most influential and bestselling resources Zondervan ever printed. in 1962, Billy Graham’s crusade started giving away that resource to all those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior during their events. Today, there are over 6 million copies to print.

I received my free copy of the NIV Halley’s Study Bible half-way through my current study of the book of Jeremiah. Even though it is not printed in my translation of choice (NASB), the resources inside this bible added much-appreciated insights to my study. Here are some of the added resources for the reader:

• Insightful introduction about the author and these of each book of the bible, which some historical and scholarly knowledge concerning the era.

• Beautiful, colorful illustration of places and objects as found in archeological sites, tying these to the passages of Scriptures.

• A short introduction and explanation before certain chapters, always with an application of the meaning to Israel (or to the reader) – a much-needed feature when studying prophetic books.

• On the footnotes, this bible adds not only the life-application principles but also highlights words and their subjective meaning in the original Hebrew and Greek, whenever applicable. This is a feature I really appreciate!

• An explanation of contemporary characters (in Jeremiah’s case, contemporary prophets), which ties historical books to the prophetic books of the bible – a much-needed resource to better understand prophecy.

I have to say – of all the study bibles I have reviewed so far, the Halley’s Study bible has been my favorite, in great part because it offers resources that the other ones did not have. It has not returned to my bookshelf. Rather, it is now another resource that my husband and I started using daily as we spend time with the Lord in our prayer room.

You can find this bible at Amazon and nationwide retailers online and in-store. If you have personal experience with the Halley’s Bible Handbook, I would love to hear about it. Please share in the comments below!

The post Digging Deep – A New Study Bible Review appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“The goal of the New International Version (NIV) is to enable English-Speaking people from around the world to read and hear God’s eternal Word in their own language. Our work as translators is motivated by our conviction that the Bible is God’s Word in written form. We believe that the Bible contains divine answers to the deeps need of humanity.”

Bible translations are certainly a theme that generates much discussion and diverging opinions among believers. Not long ago, I received a message on a social media platform from an avid defender of the King James translation. I appreciate the sentiments of those who firmly hold on to the oldest translation of the original manuscripts to English, but I take issue when someone goes as far as to state that all other translations are trash. This person went as far as saying that all other translations are the work of Satan. Good Heavens! He certainly needs prayers.

My first English bible was a gift from my husband when we started dating. The first time I visited him and his family in America, he gave me the most beautiful bible I had ever laid eyes on. Leather-bound and with my maiden name engraved on its cover, the Life-Principles bible became my first bible “commentary.” I was a fairly new Christian and did not own any books or bibles containing applications of explanations of passages of Scriptures. That Bible is a treasure to me to this day, and it stays in my War Room.

BUT… I have to say, when I opened to read it, I honestly could not understand it.

For those who follow my blog for a while, you know that I am originally from Brazil. Even though I had been an ESL teacher for many years when I met Steve, I certainly had not been exposed to 17th century English! Yikes! I might as well be reading straight from Hebrew or Greek.

When I started searching for a good American translation of the Bible, my pastor introduced me to the New American Standard Bible. It is the modern American translation that is truest to the original manuscripts in a “word-for-word” sense, and so I’ve used it for my daily devotionals and writings for the past 20 years.

As my children became teenagers, I realized that many kids in their generation and pastors use the New Internation Version. When I started a bible study with my daughters on Proverbs, I realized that the translation seemed to miss certain important words. While doing some research on the NIV translation, I found the following quote in a helpful article by Ra McLaughlin, Vice President of Finance and Administration at Third Millennium Ministries:

“The NIV is a very good translation. It is, however, a “dynamic equivalent” translation. That is, they translate “thought for thought” rather than “word for word.” That makes it more “readable” than the NASB and other “word for word” translations. This means that in some cases its translations do not precisely correspond to the actual Hebrew/Greek/Aramaic words. For instance, “mountains of God” is translated “mighty mountains” (Ps. 36:6), since most scholars agree that “mountains of God” is simply a superlative form of “mountains.”  

So, should I be concerned if my kids are not reading a “word for word” translation of the bible?

The answer is a resounding NO.

Should I be concerned if my kids are not reading a 'word for word' translation of the bible? The answer is a resounding NO. #BibleGatewayPartner #Bibletranslation
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Do you know what our concern should be? We should be concerned if our children do not open God’s Word. Period.

Since the mission of Soaring with Him Ministries is to instill in the heart of God’s people the desire to commit to studying and obeying the full counsel of God’s Word, bible translations are certainly important. But from that perspective, I firmly believe that provided that the translation contains the full counsel of God’s Word and is translated by a group of scholars using the original texts, we should simply embrace the fact that our children open God’s Word, in any credible translation.

If a bible translation contains the full counsel of God's Word and is done by a group of scholars using the original texts, we should simply embrace the fact that our children open God's Word. #BibleGatewayPartner #Bibletranslation
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The NIV was first published in 1978 and was translated by over a hundred scholars working directly with the best available Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. It offers an international scope since it involved translators from England, Australia, the United States, Canada and New Zeland.

As a BibleGateway Blogger Grid partner, I have been invited to review several bibles in the past year. Bible Gateway has sent me FREE copies of newly published bibles for my review. This time, I was sent a free copy of Zondervan’s new Artisan Collection Bible for girls.

When I opened the box, I immediately thought of a friend’s daughter, whom I will be giving this copy to after my review. It is the prettiest cover I have ever seen for a young girl or teenager. The marble look uses a layering technique, making this an exquisite bible for a one-of-a-kind girl I know. Among its features, you will find:

• Stunning marble-look cover designed in a durable cloth (the pictures really don’t do it justice!)
• Page edges with shimmering foil art gilding
• Lined, wide margins for journaling (something my girls absolutely LOVE – and so do I).
• Words of Jesus in Red (love me those Red Letters!)
• Comfort print makes reading easy for an early reader (9.5 print size).

All in all, another great quality product by Zondervan and a wonderful idea for a gift! My little friend just turned 9, so I can’t wait to see her beautiful face when I give her this beauty.

You can also find this beautiful bible in different colors – and for adults as well. A must-see indeed! Here’s where you can buy it: BibleGateway Store

The post My Opinion on Bible Translations {Plus a New Bible Review} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

P.r.i.c.e.l.e.s.s.

Thank God for Pastor Louie Giglio and his wife Shelley. Their ministry at Passion City and through the annual Passion Conference has impacted thousands, if not millions of young people throughout the globe.

I know there are many pastors and ministries that focus on the next generation, but there are also many who fail to teach the relevance of the full counsel of God’s Word. Whether by blatantly refuting certain texts in Scriptures or by lightly (and sometimes heavily) treading on dangerous compromises, there is no question that there is a war raging against the Word of God.

Nothing new, of course. The devil started his war against God’s Word in the Garden of Eden, by deliberately planting doubt in Eve’s mind:

“And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1,4-5)

His strategies worked then, and they still work now.

That’s why I was super excited when BibleGateway.com invited me to review “The Jesus Bible” as a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG2).

I first heard about it from my youngest daughter. She has been attending Passion City’s “Rising” events for the past two years and was excited when she flipped through her best friend’s Jesus Bible.

When I received my FREE copy for review, I waited to open it together with my daughter. As she opened the box, her eyes lit up.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous – colorful and with the stylish cross that has become known through the Passion Movement events and resources printed in gold.

As you open the book, the title is displayed on the first page and it sums it up:

The Jesus Bible:

sixty-six books. One Story. All about One Name.

Louie Giglio is the Editor in Chief, but this study bible features articles from some pretty amazing pastors and authors: Randy Alcorn, Max Lucado, Dr. John Piper, Dr. Ravi Zacharias and Giglio himself.

Several wonderful contributing writers shared their insights in the pages of this amazing bible, including some names I recognize for their scholarly insights and knowledge, like Karen Woodall and John Kramp.

As one opens the bible’s website: thejesusbible.com, the following words are found, in big letters:

There is no B.C.

Before Jesus walked on water, he walked in the Garden.

Before Jesus chose his disciples, he chose Abraham.

That is the central purpose of this Bible – to dispel any doubts about the fact that Jesus is as relevant in Genesis as He is in the gospels. He was in the beginning and will be the one who will open the scroll (Revelations 5).

He was and is and is to come.

As Giglio says in the Introduction:

“It’s not uncommon for people to approach the Bible with preconceived notions about where it came from or what it has to say. Some assert it is a fable, created by men. Others view it as just another religious manual, while some see it simply as a helpful roadmap for those seeking spiritual guidance.

But ultimately the Bible defines itself, claiming to be a book like no other. The Bible declares that it is altogether different – the holy, sacred, inspired, alive and active Word of God. It is the unique story of God from beginning to end, with one central character – Jesus Christ.”

The Bible declares that it is altogether different – the holy, sacred, inspired, alive and active Word of God. @louiegiglio
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I could not agree more.

Only through studying Scriptures one truly realizes how God’s perfect salvation plan is weaved through the pages of the Old Testament. From the freedom offered in Exodus to the grace extended throughout Israel’s history. From the promised suffering Messiah in Isaiah to the kinsman Redeemer in Ruth.

The whole story, with its dramatic lows and mountain highs. With its peoples’ flaws and God’s mercy and grace lavishing them over and over again. All of it culminating in the climactic victory of the One and only protagonist of the Story.

The Jesus Bible ties it all for you with insightful introductions, timelines and commentaries, all highlighting the presence of the Christ throughout Scriptures.

As for me, I finish this post with a prayer of thanksgiving for these leaders of my children’s generation – godly, gifted and God-fearing men and women who dare to stand up for Christ.

Unwavering and unapologetically, they shout to those who come behind us:

Do not forget Genesis. For if the enemy allows you to doubt it, he can easily convince you to dismiss the cross.

Do not forget Genesis. For if the enemy allows you to doubt it, he can easily convince you to dismiss the cross.
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And in case you wonder, my baby girl did claim this Bible. I had to get my own.

You can find the Jesus Bible in all major bookstores, Amazon and other retailers. (I found it at Walmart!)

The post The Jesus Bible – What’s the hype all about? appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“I think you will like this.”

I picked up the heavy bag and placed it on the table.

“Should I open it now?” I asked.

“Yes. Go ahead,” he said with a smile. His excitement made me chuckle.

When I removed the tissue paper, I saw a beautiful box inside. I lifted it and read it aloud: “Life Application Study Bible.”

The puzzled look on my face said it all.

“You haven’t seen one of these, have you?” he asked.

I nodded while quickly reaching for the box. Inside it, a fancy-looking, leather-bound bible displayed my maiden name, beautifully engraved on the cover.

I crossed to the other side and gave my boyfriend a bear hug.

I was thankful for his thoughtfulness, yet completely unaware of how his simple, strategic gift would begin a journey that would change my life forever. I was 27 years old and had been a Christian for a little over 2 years when Steve gave me my first study Bible.

We met in 1996 in Brazil, and as cliche as it may sound, the truth is that what brought us together was, no question about it, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He was in Brazil with his family for an international drag racing event. The language institute I owned had been chosen to perform all translations between the American teams, the press and the public. I led the group of eight interpreters who worked with the Americans for one week. Steve and I had talked to each other, but, it had been nothing but a business association until the first day of the race, when he saw me assemble the group of translators and hold hands to pray before the day started at the track.

Later on, he used what he saw to spark the conversation that started a friendship that later became our love story.

His gift is still one of my greatest treasures. My first Life Application Study Bible. It has been my daily companion for my devotional time for 23 years… and it has instilled in me the desire to know my God in a deeper, more personal way.

But to be honest, I have always used my Life Application Bible in conjunction with my New American Standards Bible, because the copy Steve gave me is a King James’ Version – not the easiest translation for a new believer, I must say… much less a foreigner! 🙂 Therefore, I have read the Bible text on my NAS translation, and then switched to my LAB for the commentaries and studies for all these years.

When BibleGateway offered some of its Blogger grid members the opportunity to get a FREE copy to review Zondervan‘s new NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition about a month ago, I immediately replied. Less than a week later, I received my copy of the NIV Life Application Bible. I felt like a kid with a new toy a Christmas and dove into my current studies of the book of Isaiah using the new Bible.

I must say, this is one of the best revisions I have ever seen!

The cover is beautiful, the designs of the pages are rich and the content is even better than my beloved first LASB. Zondervan has also included three pages containing information about the 400-year “interlude” between the Old Testament and the New Testament, filled with wonderful insight that not many Christians know about the 400 years of silence between the last prophet of the Old Testament and John the Baptist.

There are many reasons every layperson who loves Jesus and wants to know God’s ways in a deeper way should own a copy of the Life Application Bible.

Below, I will list only five of these reasons. Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments below or add any other aspects of this wonderful tool that I may not have listed.

Reason #1 – It “opens up” Scriptures

As a new Christian, I was thirsty to know the Lord in a more intimate way. But I honestly found myself skipping certain passages because they were too hard to comprehend. My LASB helped me understand what the author meant, the context of Scriptures and the application of certain principles to my life in a practical way.

Reason #2 – The History and Geography of Biblical Accounts

Nothing validates our faith more than to realize that the Bible is not a collection of nice stories, but rather, the true history of God’s people and His love letter to us. This Bible explains the historical and geographical context of the texts of Scripture in an easy-to-follow manner, making studying each book much more interesting and applicable.

Reason #3 – Character Studies

Sometimes we forget that the men and women of the Bible are people like you and me, who struggled and triumphed as we do. One of my favorite traits of the LASB is the character studies. Some are the great leaders of our faith such as King David and the Apostles. But others are more obscure characters such as Zerubabbel and King Xerxes. As we read their character studies in the pages of the LASB, we learn from their mistakes and find guidance in their strengths. It’s a priceless feature of this Bible, which has been enhanced even more in this Third Edition.

Reason #4 – Book Introductions

Have you ever read a book of the Bible and found yourself confused about the sequence of events or accounts? I know I have!

In this LASB, every book is preceded by an insightful introduction, containing traits such as key places, intended audience, setting, key people, the blueprint of the book and megathemes. These introductions read as an exciting trailer of a blockbuster and will get you yearning to learn more.

Reason # 5 – The Applications

I cannot begin to tell you how many times the Holy Spirit used the applications of certain passages of Scriptures as written in this Bible to minister to me. Many have been the days when I’ve found myself crying over a passage because the application written in my precious Bible directed me to understand His heart in a way that shaped the way I think, act and live.

In a nutshell: If I were to be taken to exile, and was told that I could only take one item with me, I would not hesitate: Give me my Life Applications Bible. Why? Because it has been while reading this inspired Study Bible that I have learned to better understand my Lord’s heart.

If I were to be taken to exile, and was told that I could only take one item with me, I would not hesitate: Give me my Life Applications Bible. #BibleGateway Bloggergrid #BibleGatewayPartner #NIVLifeApplicationStudyBible
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Christmas is around the corner! What better gift to give someone you love than something that will make them want more of Jesus? Here’s a link to purchase it from Amazon, but you can get it just about anywhere: NIV Life Application Bible

#BibleGatewayPartner

The post 5 Reasons You Should Own this NEW Bible appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Why would children have to pay for the sins of their ancestors?

Why did Moab have to be destroyed?

Why would Egyptians speak Hebrew, the language of Cannan?

The longer I dig into the insightful tools of the new NIV Quest Study Bible, the more excited I get.

I received an email from BibleGateway, inviting me and several other bloggers who are part of the BibleGateway blogger grid to review Zondevan’s new Study Bible.

I read the email, and thought, “Why not?” A study Bible nerd, I could not say no to getting a FREE copy of a study bible that promised to answer many common questions about the texts.

Now, the Quest Study Bible is not a new concept. In 1989 Zondervan and Christianity Today International worked together to develop a bible that would answer challenging questions that arose as people would read Scriptures. Focus groups around the United States evaluated the resources that would eventually be included in this Bible. Users loved it so much and the two publishers continued to update this bible throughout the years. This new edition includes the most updated questions and resources, as well as a copyrighted print that makes reading it very enjoyable and easy.

I received my copy shortly after signing up and could not wait to dig in. I laid it down on my prayer room – the place where I go to read Scriptures and pray every morning.

I take a long time to finish a book in Scriptures because of how I read them. I never just read the Bible. I stop after each chapter and get some of my favorite study tools to explore the text.

I’ve been studying the book of Isaiah again for the past several weeks.

Now, if you have ever studied Isaiah, you know that the writings of the most prominent prophet of the Old Testament contained certain prophecies which were fulfilled during his lifetime, some which came to pass shortly after his death, others in the first coming of Christ, as well as prophecies yet to be fulfilled during the millennium reign of Christ.

It’s a complex book. Mainly because, as much as one can derive strength and peace in prophecies that are timeless for the believer, such as the words of Isaiah 40 and 41, among others, one must understand the historical context in which many of the prophecies were given in order to realize their fulfillment.

I could not have been studying a better book when I started reviewing the Quest Study Bible. As I read through it, this resourceful book has answered certain questions that I’ve never even thought of while studying Isaiah. The study bible brings back history and connects dots as complex commentaries do, however in a much simpler, straightforward manner.

In a nutshell, the NIV Quest Study Bible is a God-sent to the believer who wants to “study to present himself approved” (2 Timothy 2:15) but does not wish to go to seminary to do so.

As you read the text, you will find yourselves asking questions which will naturally be addressed in the margins of this bible, together with applicable explanatory texts at the bottom of the pages.

It’s a must-have and a new favorite for my daily readings.

Practical. Insightful. Easy-to-ready.

Five Stars, indeed!

#BibleGatewayPartner

Buy it on Amazon: NIV Quest Study Bible

The post Book Review: The Quest Study Bible – Five Stars! appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.