GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION

I was looking for a Bible translation that’s clear and easy to understand when I came across GOD’S WORD Translation (GW). At first I was skeptical but as I browsed through a few pages I realized that it was a translation that every student of the Bible can depend on – from the original languages to their closest natural English equivalent.

Produced by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society, GW consciously combines scholarly fidelity with natural English.

The Rev. Billy Graham, one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century has this to say about GW: "GOD'S WORD is an easy-to-understand Bible translation....It is a wonderful version."

GOD'S WORD Translation (GW) accurately translates the meaning of the original texts into clear, everyday language. Readable and reliable, GW is living, active, and life-changing. It is ideally suited for devotional reading, in-depth study, memorization, discipleship, preaching, teaching, and worship.

The thinline edition features a special format. Books that are primarily prose are presented in two columns to create shorter, easier-to-read lines, while books that are primarily poetry are single-column to preserve parallelism, a key element of Hebrew poetry.

The thinline edition also offers these great features:
Convenient, portable size
Daily reading plan
Fast Track reading plan
Black-letter text
Ribbon marker
Presentation page
Translation and textual notes
Dictionary/Concordance
The Teachings of Jesus index
Application index

What I particularly appreciate is the inclusion of the Bible Study Helps – The Teachings of Jesus, Dictionary/Concordance and Reading Plans – at the end. It makes the Bible more useful.

Price: $24.99
ISBN: 978-0-8010-1360-7
ISBN-10: 0-8010-1360-7
Dimensions: 5.375 x 8.25
Number of pages: 1,216
Publication Date: Oct. 10
Formats: Bonded leather

I received a copy of GW Thinline Bible from Baker Publishing Group and was not required to give a positive review.

MY FIRST HANDY BIBLE

Denmark’s Scandinavia Publishing House Extends Its Reach Across the Pond

 

My First Handy Bible leads line-up of quality Bible materials now available in U.S.

Carry Me Everywhere

Babies and toddlers can now make the Bible their own! Thirty-three timeless Bible stories come alive in an attractive and fun “carry me” format. Complete with a handle and lock, pages invite the reader (and young viewers!) to take God’s word everywhere. The best-known stories from Genesis to Revelation stay faithful to the Scriptures and are beautifully illustrated and retold in simple sentences. It’s never too early to introduce young ones to the rich truths of God’s great love.

 

Lock and Key, 

This Bible’s for Me!

A fun, carry-me-everywhere Bible for babies and toddlers! Simple sentences retell classic Bible stories from Genesis to Revelation, and beautiful illustrations invite young ones into the timeless truths of God’s Word.

 

For children, ages three and under, but also suitable for older children...

As soon as they can talk, most little ones begin asking for a Bible to hold in their very own hands. Now, from Denmark to America, comes My First Handy Bible (Scandinavia Publishing) for babies and toddlers, with all the best stories from Genesis to Revelation. Young children delight in carrying around the compact and colorful Bible—taking it to church, “playing” church or cuddling up in a lap to have it read to them. My First Handy Bible has huge appeal for parents, grandparents, teachers and children’s ministry leaders, but especially for the kids!

For 40 years, Scandinavia Publishing House, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, has specialized in the production of illustrated children’s books, children’s Bibles, illustrated Bibles and inspirational and gift books. Scandinavia works with publishers, ministries, NGOs and distributors across the globe to create and develop high-quality books at affordable prices. For the first time, their complete product line, including My First Handy Bible and the best-selling The Children’s Bible, is being distributed in the United States. “We are thrilled to be able to establish a presence in the U.S. and to have an opportunity to share our excellent Christian publications with this great country,” says Jørgen Vium Olesen, president of Scandinavia Publishing. 

 

Jørgen founded Scandinavia Publishing in 1973. Beginning with a monthly paper, Scandinavia eventually expanded into publishing books that have sold around the world, with titles translated in over 80 different languages. Jørgen’s vision is to bring the good news of the Gospel to kids everywhere, breaking the barriers of language and culture. “After spending a year in India with a non-government organization, I learned the value of using literature as an evangelism tool,” Jørgen says. “My hope for My First Handy Bible, as well as our other children’s books, is that children will be enticed by the life of Jesus to want to know more about Him.”

 

My First Handy Bible aims to communicate God’s character and His love to the youngest of children, ages one to three. Beautifully illustrated in bright full color, My First Handy Bible has a cheerful padded hardcover with 61 child-friendly hardback pages and a handle and clasp that make it easy for small hands to tote and manipulate. The timeless stories are retold in simple sentences by author and artist Cecilie Olesen, illustrated by author and illustrator Gustavo Mazali and designed by Ben Alex, a C. S. Lewis Gold Medal winner author and designer.

 

Combining the benefits of modern technology with traditional bookmaking, Scandinavia continues its commitment to meet the global need for superior literature that builds a strong foundation on the Word of God. My First Handy Bible is available from www.amazon.com.

Scandinavia Publishing has been providing quality books for more than 40 years. Based in Denmark, they serve Christian publishers around the world with high quality Bible material. Jørgen Vium Olesen started the company in 1973 after learning the value of using literature as evangelism on a mission year in India. Best known for The Children’s Bible and My First Handy Bible, the entire list of products are now available for U.S. consumers.

BIBLES RESCUED IN JAMES BOND-STYLE OPERATION

Rare holy book (Photo: AP)

Holy books dating back 1,000 years, meticulously guarded by Jewish community, travel from Damascus to Israel in continent-wide, James Bond-style operation.

It was a James Bond-style, continent-wide operation with many participants. It began in Syria, continued in the United States and ended in Israel. And yet, not a single word has been published about it – until now.

Yedioth Ahronoth has revealed the amazing rescue of some of the world's most ancient Bibles from Damascus.

The 11 holy books, some dating back 1,000 years, were written by copyist of the Scriptures around the world and arrived in the Syrian capital in different periods. The Jewish community took pride in them and guarded them meticulously, helping them survive the political upheavals that took place in the city over the years.

The Damascus books are considered the world's most ancient Bibles after the Aleppo Codex, which compared to them is torn and shabby.

The Rabin government decided to bring the books to Israel in 1995. The defense establishment, governmental organizations and immigrants from Syria took part in the secret operation.

"It was one of the most important operations we participated in," says Eliyahu Hasson, chairman of the community of Damascus Jews in Israel, who served as director-general of the Transportation Ministry at the time.

Judy Feld Carr, a Canadian pensioner who turned helping Syria's Jewry into her life's work, lauds the operation as well. "Out of all the things I have done in my life, this operation was the most brilliant," she declares.

Mystery remains

On their way from Syria to Israel, the ancient Bibles made a stop in New York. They arrived at a safe haven thee, inside a grey container, without anyone guessing its priceless content.

The mystery surrounding the books' journey from Damascus has not been fully cleared, and some parts of the story cannot be published.

"I'm sorry, I can’t tell you exactly how I got it out of there," says Feld Carr about the book she personally helped bring to Israel. "When I had a famous rabbi look at it, a Tunisian Jew, he burst into tears and said, 'Get this book out of my house. I feel like I have just seen God.'"

The people involved in the operation say that its execution was very costly. "It cost a lot of money, a lot," says Hasson. "Whoever did it acted wisely and knocked on the right doors. One weak link would have been enough to break the entire chain."

Hasson explains that in light of the sensitivity of the operation, it was supervised by high-ranking officials. "I have no doubt that Yitzhak Rabin was in on the secret," he says. "Unfortunately, the prime minister was murdered before they arrived in Israel and did not get to see the mission accomplished."

Taken from: Jewish World

A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION

A lady who worried and fretted too much about the little things of life, and who was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, came to her physician for help.

She told the doctor how nervous she was, how little things worried her, how things which she had counted as trifles a few years ago now seemed so important and got on her nerves.

"I am cross and irritable, doctor," she said. "I can't be decent to my own family. I say unkind words. I get hysterical. I cry about nothing. My nerves are on edge all the time. What can I do?"

The doctor listened quietly and sympathetically while she told her symptoms, and asked her a few questions.

Then, much to her astonishment, he said, "Mrs. Cooper, what you need is to read your Bible more."

The lady was surprised. And it was not difficult for the doctor to see that she felt just a bit hurt. To go to a doctor for physical help and then be told in a roundabout way that there was really nothing wrong with her physically didn't make her feel any too kindly toward him.

Thinking that she had not made herself understood, she made another attempt to tell the doctor her symptoms. He stopped her and said: "Mrs. Cooper, you go home and read your Bible for at least one hour a day for a month. At the end of thirty days come back and see me again. Be sure to follow my advice carefully. I will be glad to see you at the end of the month. Good morning!"

Mrs. Cooper was inclined to be a bit upset. At first she thought she would see another doctor, one who might be more understanding and sympathetic. But as she thought about the doctor's advice, she concluded that it was not an expensive prescription anyway. And it was true that she had not opened her Bible in many, many months. She had a copy of the Book some place at home, but it had not been read for a long time. "I'll try his prescription," she said to herself. "It surely won't do me any harm."

So this Christian woman, a church member, went home determined to read the Bible at least an hour a day. She was faithful in following the doctor's orders, and at the end of the month went to see him again.

With a broad smile on his face he welcomed her, saying: "Well, Mrs. Cooper, you have followed my prescription, I see. And you are feeling better, aren't you? You don't want any medicine, do you?"

"No, doctor," she replied, "I don't need any medicine; I feel like a different person. The world looks different to me. I am much happier, and my family is happier too. I am ashamed that I neglected the Bible as I did."

Turning to his desk the doctor picked up a well-worn Bible. "I read it every day," he said. "If I did not, I would lose my greatest source of strength and skill. It provides help for difficult cases. I never go to an operation without reading something from this Book. I cannot tell you what help it has brought to me, and I felt you did not need medicine, but the peace and comfort which can be found in the Bible."

"To tell you the truth, doctor, I came very near not taking your prescription," said the lady.

"Many people have refused to take it," he replied. "It is so simple, they have no faith in it."

Strange, isn't it, that a doctor would give such a prescription! But this is a true story, and no doubt many others would profit by it. The Bible does change hearts.

Nothing like the Bible stirs the deeps within the soul;

Nothing like the Bible has such blessings to impart;

Nothing like the Bible brings such peace within the heart!

THE DECK OF CARDS

This is a story about a soldier in the North Africa Campaign in World War II. After heavy fighting the men returned to camp. The next day being Sunday, the Chaplain had set up church service. The men were asked to take out their Bibles or prayer book. The Chaplain noticed one soldier looking at a deck of cards. After the service he was taken by the Chaplain to see the Major.

The Chaplain explained to the Major of what he had seen. The Major told the young soldier how he would have to be punished if he could not explain himself. The young soldier told the Major that during the battle he had neither a Bible or prayer book, so he would use his deck of cards, and explained:

* "You see, Sir, when I look at the Ace, it tells me that there is one God and no other.

* When I see the 2 , it reminds me there is two parts of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments.

* The 3 tells me of the Trinity, of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

* The 4 reminds me of the four Gospels; There are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

* When I see the 5, it tells me of the five unwise virgins who were lost, and the five who were saved.

* The 6 makes me mindful that God created the earth in just six days, and God said that it was good. So He rested on the 7th day.

* As I look at the 8, I remembered that God destroyed all life by water except eight people. There were Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives.

* When I see the 9, I think of the nine ungrateful lepers that God healed. There were ten in all, but only one came back to thank Him.

* The 10 tells me of the "Ten Commandments" carved in stone by the hand of God.

* The Jack makes me remember the prince of darkness. Like a roaring lion, he devours those he can.

* When I look at the Queen, I see blessed Mary, mother of Jesus.

* As I look at the last card, I see the King. This reminds me Jesus is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!

* There are 365 spots on the cards, the number of days in a year.

* There are 52 cards to a deck, the number of weeks in a year.

* There are 12 picture cards, the number of months in a year.

* There are 4 cards to a suit, the number of months in a quarter.

* There are 13 suits, the number of weeks in a quarter."

And so the young soldier then said to the Major, "You see, Sir, that my intentions were honorable. My deck of cards serves as my Bible, my Prayer book, and my Almanac."

THE BIBLE IN 50 WORDS

God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained

SIGN OF THE TIMES

They lie on the table, side by side The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.

One is well worn, but cherished with pride (Not the Bible, but the TV Guide)

One is used daily to help folks decide. (Not the Bible: it's the TV Guide.)

As the pages are turned, what shall they see Oh, what does it matter?...turn on the TV.

Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree on what they shall watch on the old TV.

So they open the book in which they confide (No, not the Bible.....it's the TV Guide.)

The Word of God is seldom read. Maybe a verse e'er they fall into bed.

Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be... not from reading the Bible-from watching TV.

So then back to the table, side by side, lay the Holy Bible and the TV Guide.

No time for prayer....no time for the Word. The plan of salvation is seldom heard.

But forgiveness of sin so full and free is found in the Bible.....not on TV!