Mac Bible Software from Logos

It is finally (almost) here. Logos for the Mac has been greatly anticipated and it is going to be here for Christmas. If you own a Mac, then this is for you. If you don't - I don't want to know. (Actually, if you are still on a lame PC, then you need to check out the Logos for PC - it is amazing.)


Logos Bible Software: mac from Logos Bible Software on Vimeo.

If you have been used to the PC version, you will realize that this is the first release and I am sure there will be more to come in the next year with this program. It is very exciting to see Logos in the Mac world and I have no doubt that this program will harness all of the advantages of the Mac OS.

Matching study Bibles

Leslie and I have a pretty firm value about not having "matching" anything. We don't even like to wear the same color shirt on the same day. But, today we made an exception.

you can find out more about the ESV Study Bible here...

Bible software

One of the best things about living as a believer in the 21st century- bible software. What use to be inaccessible or takes countless hours is now available to everyone with a computer.

Desiring God has a great post on a few bible softwares and discount offers from the companies.

On Bible Software

Bible translations

Dr. Dan Wallace has weighed in on the Bible translations (ESV, NIV and NET). It is a great read and Dr. Wallace is candid and fair.

NET, NIV, ESV: A Brief Historical Comparison

HT: Benji

Thoughts on Pilgrim Psalms

The book of Psalms has long since been the hymnbook of praise. Prayer, confession, admiration, and intercession are all familiar to the psalmist. The entire book was written over a thousand years and the authors range from Moses to David to the Minor Prophets. God, his work and his word are the central themes in the collection of the psalms. While the Psalms were not written in the order they appear, they were compiled in such a way as to facilitate worship.

The key to pure living all throughout the psalms is the word of God. The “law of the Lord” is celebrated as the main ingredient for righteousness. The psalms were memorized and rehearsed whenever the covenant community of believers would gather. Whether sharing a meal, burying a family member, or making sacrifices to God, the psalms have guided believers in all manners of worship.

Psalms 120-134 are called the “Pilgrim Psalms.” As the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem for the annual feasts of the Temple, these psalms marked the physical and spiritual “steps” of this journey. Psalm 122 marks the arrival in Jerusalem. Psalms 123-134 lead the worshipper to the Temple. They were meant to be read aloud and evoke preparation for this very sacred time.

In the psalms, we see man standing before God in worship, doubt, celebration and mourning. The soul of the believer is poured out before the creator in way that remains relevant 3000 years later. The psalms instruct us on the faithfulness of God and encourage us to honestly lay our lives before his throne. We are taught to pray and sing and dance and cry out to our Lord and Savior. Thanks be to God for the psalms of the Bible.

*NOTE: thank you!

A look at 2 John - Part 3

Love
If someone were to ask you what the book of 2 John was about, the answer would be “truth and love.” I guess if someone were to ask you what being a Christian was all about, the answer would also be “truth and love.” Truth and love go hand and hand. They are weaved throughout the words and pages of scripture. In fact, in John’s writings alone (John, 1, 2, 3 John, Revelation), he uses the word love 117 times. He uses the word truth 47 times. These are major themes from the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20). It is good to be reminded that this man who spent 3 years with Jesus writes, “Love means doing what God has commanded us…” (v.6). And what is it that God has commanded us to do? “Love one another” (v.6). Where did John get this? Look at John 13:34 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Love always involves the truth. This is especially true for Christians. We all have a variety of relationships. We are children and brothers and sisters and cousins and friends. We all have people that we are close to. There are also people that we come into contact with everyday at school or work. I believe that John is telling us that we are to love them all. That doesn’t mean that we are never going to mess up and say or do the wrong thing sometimes. Perfection is not the point.

The love that John is talking about is not complicated. I think it is as easy as sharing your life with those around you. And to the degree that your life reflects the truth of Jesus Christ, you will be loving as Christ loved. When our life is filled up with the truth of Jesus Christ we are better able to pour love into those around us. I am not talking about some weird kind of mushy love. I am talking about being yourself, with all of the gifts and ability and personality that God gave you. And then unselfishly sharing yourself with others.

Questions
1. Who in your life is hard to love?

2. Think of one thing that you can do to show that person love.

3. Spend some time praying and thanking God for the truth of his Son Jesus Christ.

A look at 2 John - Part 2

2 John

Truth
The first thing we must notice about this letter is that John is writing it for a reason. It appears from verses 7-11 that John is concerned about “deceivers.” He even calls their work “evil” (v.11). The word that John uses here literally means “evildoers.” That is the same word that President George W. Bush used to describe the terrorists that attacked America. It is also the same word that Jesus used in Matthew 6:13 when he prays “…deliver us from the evil one.” John is not just a little bit upset about what these deceivers are doing. He is ticked off in a major way. These deceivers were not teaching the truth about Jesus Christ. It is important to notice that it is not just that the deceivers were not teaching about Jesus… they were. The problem is that they weren’t teaching the truth. Listen to what the prophet Isaiah says about such people, “Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter” (Is. 5:20).

We live in a world today that does not want to draw lines between what is good and evil. Terrorists believe that the evil they do is really good. College campuses all over the nation have professors that teach there are “no absolutes.” In other words, there is no good or bad, it only depends on how you feel about it. I had a professor in college that “preached” the greatest sin for any human being was to cling to one “idea” as truth and reject other “ideas” as false. His point was that truth was different for everybody.

It is evident that the apostle John and my professor do not share the same philosophy. In fact, John, in this letter, is adamant that we as Christians absolutely reject any false teaching about Jesus Christ. He states it this way, “For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God” (v.9).

The false teachers (deceivers) did not believe that Jesus came in a real body (v.7). They wanted to deny that Jesus was a man. There have been other false teachers throughout the years that have wanted to deny that Jesus was God. The truth about Christ is that he is both man and God. It is essential to the Christian faith. Jesus was the perfect man that physically died on the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus was also the Son of God and was raised from the dead. He conquered both sin and death and bridged the gap between man and God. Because of Jesus Christ, man can enter into relationship with God. Some people would like to say there are many ways to God. The truth, the absolute truth, is that belief in Jesus Christ is the only way.

Questions
1. Read v.3. What are the two things that John is telling us to “live in?”

2. Why is the truth so important? (see 1 John 4:10-12).

3. When is the last time you had a chance to share the “truth” with somebody?

A look at 2 John - Part 1

Over the next few days I am going to be reflecting on John's second letter. It is short, very short. It is easy to read and because of that we tend to blow by it. I know I have. But, over the past couple of days, it has arrested my attention. So, I'm going to share a few thoughts with you. Here is part 1:

“Can’t Have One Without The Other”

2 John 6 – “Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.”

Love is such a weird concept. Some people get starry eyed and mushy feeling when they think about it. Romantic dinners, boxes of chocolate, and red roses. For some it is little notes. For others, love is sharing a long walk at sunset. There is also the group of people that try to avoid love. It feels uncomfortable. It requires too much energy. They’re afraid they won’t be loved back. Maybe they were hurt or abused by someone in their past and they have decided they would never get that close again.

Love is easily confused. It is confused with sex. It is confused with being taken advantage of. It is also confuse with selfishness. Selfish love says “I will love you if…” Rather than being concerned about the good of another, it is being concerned only with self.

Interestingly enough, love is also used to score a zero in tennis matches. Some claim that the term “love” comes from the French word “l’oeuf” (which means egg). The zero on the scoreboard looks like an egg. Whether that is the truth or not, I have no idea. But nonetheless, the word love covers a lot of ground in our English language.

So the question becomes: What does John mean when he tells us that we should love one another? It is probably safe to say that he doesn’t mean we should be out trying to beat everyone in a game of tennis. But, what does he mean? And most importantly, what are the truths in this little letter that are vital for us today?

We will look at these questions tomorrow and Saturday... but for now, think about this for a minute:
1. Think for a moment about someone that loves you. How you KNOW that they love you.

2. How do others KNOW that you love them? How do you express love?

New On-Line Bible

Logos Bible Software has launched a new free on-line Bible. It has several versions (including Greek), a quick word search feature and looks like there will be more to come. It is a great place to link to in blogs and on websites. Very simple and elegant interface.

Check it out. Well done Logos!

ESV Study Bible

It is true that I have an affinity for the English Standard Version. I have been using it since seminary and find it to be the most helpful version for my personal Bible study and teaching.

This Fall, Crossway is publishing the ESV Study Bible. I think it is really going to be the next level of Study Bible. The list of scholars that were assembled to prepare the notes and outlines and historical backgrounds and timelines is unparalleled.

So, go over the ESV Study Bible site and check out the Introduction Video (about 5min).

I’m about to order mine! (and yours too Les....)

A few endorsements:

“With the myriad of new Bible translations on the market today, few stand out. The ESV is one of the few, and surpasses the others in its simple yet elegant style. In many respects the ESV has accomplished in the 21st century what the KJV accomplished in the 17th: a trustworthy, literary Bible that is suitable for daily reading, memorizing, and preaching.”
Daniel B. Wallace, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts

“I believe the ESV is the Bible of the future. It is readable, accurate, and reverent.”
Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner
Professor of New Testament, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“The ESV is a solid translation… that is faithful to the text and clear to the mind and ear. It is a pleasure to commend it.”
Dr. Darrell L. Bock
Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

“An excellent translation that can be trusted.”
Dr. John F. Walvoord
Chancellor, Dallas Theological Seminary