A New (Free!) e-book for You!

A New (Free!) e-book for You!

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The ​Book of Psalms is one of the most important books of the Bible.  It is the biblical book Jesus quoted more often than any other, and he constantly used it to explain his own purpose and ministry.  Psalms is also the book of the Old Testament quoted most (almost a hundred times) throughout the New Testament – it is quoted by almost every writer and in a great majority of the New Testament books.

Today the Book of Psalms is the Old Testament book most Christians know best, and the one to which many frequently turn for encouragement and inspiration. But Psalms is a treasure house of virtually inexhaustible riches, and even if you have read the book many times, we think you will find Spotlight on the Psalms worth your time.

Our new e-book, published today, uses background information from the time the psalms were composed to enrich a practical commentary on selected psalms that can help you both to better understand the psalms themselves and to better apply its messages in your own life.

You can download this new e-book in Kindle or ePub formats for your e-book reader, or as a PDF file to simply read on your computer.  Download the book for free here.


Twelve Favorites of 2015

Twelve Favorites of 2015

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During the course of this past year we published well over a hundred blog posts here and on our sister site.

This list of “Twelve Favorites” gives you the posts that were most popular on this site, so check out the list to see how it compares with your own favorites and to see if you missed any…


Six Word Memoir of Jesus Christ
The Second Step of Forgiveness
The Three Things that Define Us
Healthy Incompatibility
How Spies Are Turned
The Man from the Ends of the Earth
Walking Wisely with Others
Smuggled Pearls
Words for a Time of Persecution
We Are All in This Together
Blessings and Honor
IF Mentality 

If you would like to check the favorites on our sister site, LivingWithFaith.org, you will be able to see them in a couple of days, on December 30th, here.


Running with Vision

Running with Vision

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By Naomi A. HernandezChristian Athlete, Biathlete, Ultra-Runner.

​“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)

Do you have a dream? A vision? A goal? I was reminded today of one of my favorite verses: Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” 

One of my goals for the remainder of this year, and that I’m committed to next year, is to diligently journal, especially my short and long term goals that are upcoming.

If we write down our goals, thoughts, dreams, and heart’s desires, we imprint this message into our own mind and allow it to sink in to our soul. Your vision and dreams will become more apparent and real, as you meditate on them on a daily basis.

When your dreams are clearly written down in any form, whether it be in journals, a dream board, post it notes, or even a collage of magazine clippings, it can’t be easily mistaken. What is written down is reduced to certainty and clarity, even when you are having a bad day and want to talk yourself out of your dreams.

Not only declaring goals and dreams in writing is important for your future aspirations and gauging what you have accomplished, but writing down visions is a way to bless God. Every day, we have a reason to bless God and declare His goodness and what He has done for us. Deliberate annotations of God’s goodness will not allow us just a cursory view of what God has delivered us from, but an in-depth, heart felt reflection of His Ever Lasting Mercies.

What has God done in your life? I encourage you to write it down. What dreams has God dropped in to your heart? Create a daily journal or dream board. Put them in a place that you visit daily, to remind yourself of your purpose, and how you will inspire others. Today is December 6. Make the vision plain for 2016, as you end this year.
 
*Adapted from the author’s #RunWithSoul Instagram post.


The Bible in Five Verses:  New Free eBook

The Bible in Five Verses:  New Free eBook

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ur new free eBook, THE BIBLE IN FIVE VERSES: KEY SCRIPTURES ON 36 BIBLICAL TOPICS by R. Herbert, is now online and ready for download from our sister site, LivingWithFaith.org.

This eBook is a basic introduction to Christianity and was designed for personal study or missionary use. It explains thirty-six “key” Christian beliefs and principles of living in a straightforward, easy to understand manner, with introductory text and five key verses for each subject.

​The book also includes a question for personal reflection on each topic and can be used to review key scriptures, for sermon and Bible Study preparation, or for inspirational reading.
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As is the case with all our eBooks, THE BIBLE IN FIVE VERSES is completely free and you can download a copy for yourself without any kind of registration or hassle.  Just download the book in the format you prefer here.


Conquest and Cravings                                  

Conquest and Cravings                                  

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Today we uploaded an extract from an article by Bible Advocate editor Jason Overman originally published back in 2007. Called “Conquest and Cravings: Food, Sex, and Baal Peor,” this unusual article looks at the use and misuse of  the twin pulls of food and sex throughout biblical history.  

As the article states: “The Bible explores food and sex and their potential for blessing or curse throughout its pages.  In story, in law, in poetry, the pairing of the two — in ways subtle or obvious — admonishes us of their dangers and delights.  They warn that we must master our appetite or be mastered by it.”  

The combination  of food, sex, and the ancient pagan god Baal frequently led to the downfall of the ancient Israelites.  Read our extract from “Conquest and Cravings” and see how the lesson from these ancient attractions is one from which we can still profit today. You can read the extract here.