Pick of the Week

Pick of the Week: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series

November 28, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Resource, Reviews, Teaching & Study

I was taught early on in my ministry to consult the commentaries about a passage only after doing all my own research and study, and have followed this pattern almost without fail. This includes studying the historical and cultural background of a Bible book or passage, doing word studies of the key words, outlining to discern the biblical author’s flow of thought, and seeking to fully understand the meaning and application to the original audience. Only then do I feel the need to access those who have studied the text before me, particularly widely respected, (usually) conservative commentators. Those writers which I consult or read after most often include the older College Press series (i.e., “green commentaries”), Warren Wiersbe’s “Be Series,” Albert Barnes, Baker’s New Testament Commentary Series (Hendrikson & Kistemaker), and William Barclay’s original Daily Study Bible.

To this list I have added over the last few years the John MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series. This is a 33-volume, 13,080 page set available in printed hardback as well digital formats for Kindle, Apple Books, and Bible software by companies like Logos, Wordsearch Bible, Accordance, and Olive Tree.

Pick of the Week (again): E-Sword Bible Software

November 7, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Resource, Teaching & Study

Modern technology has made it possible for any Christian in western culture to have an extensive Bible library and resources on their smartphone, tablet or computer. Being something of a computer geek (I work in IT support at SIBI), I am no exception.

The software packages I own and use on my devices include Logos, Olive Tree, Laridian PocketBible, and WordSearch Bible. But the one I use the most and find the easiest to use is the one that costs the least – e-Sword. There are a few other Bible software packages also on the market beyond those listed above which I do not own. And each of the first four I listed above definitely have specific things to commend them, which is why I continue to invest in them and their libraries of resources.

Pick of the Week: “5 Minutes in Church History” Podcast

October 31, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Tech & Internet

I am a fervent believer in listening to podcasts. These free online video and audio series allow me to learn, grow and even be entertained by listening while driving. My favorite podcasts include those by good Bible teachers, on technology, and other topics I have a particular interest in. One I always listen to without fail comes out every Wednesday, entitled, “5Minutes in Church History.” It can be found through the podcast apps on iPhone, iPad, Google Play store, etc. It can also be accessed through Dr. Nichols’ website, www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com.

Pick of the Week: “Bible Land Passages” Videos

October 17, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Resource

World Video Bible School is a ministry in Maxwell, Texas serving the churches of Christ since 1986. They provide a large number of online video courses, DVDs, books, charts, audio files and other teaching materials. Many videos and courses are available free of charge through their website, with most of their physical media like books and DVDs, while not free, very reasonably priced. Thousands of individuals and congregations have been using their excellent materials for evangelism, Bible classes and small group studies for years.

Pick of the Week: The Visual Bible’s “Gospel of John” Movie (2003)

October 11, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Reviews, Teaching & Study

Ever since the movie industry began, stories from the Bible have provided the scripts for movies, even before sound and color were a part of film-making. But of all the movies about Jesus I have watched and/or own, by far my favorite is The Gospel of John(2003) created by the Visual Bible Project. Earlier films produced included Matthew (1993) and Acts(1994), but used different actors than The Gospel of John.

The Gospel of John reproduces verbatim essentially the entire Gospel of John from the American Bible Society’s Today’s English Version (alternately called the Good News Bible). While perhaps not considered as literally accurate as some other translations, its easy-to-understand style helps the movie dialogue seem natural instead of “preachy.” Christopher Plummer is the narrator for the non-conversation parts of John, while Henry Ian Cusick plays the part of Jesus, and both do masterful jobs.

Pick of the Week: Google Keep Note-taking App

September 26, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Reviews, Software, Teaching & Study, Tech & Internet

For much of my early ministry I carried a small notebook around in my pocket to write down and keep random bits of information I might need later. This would include (before cellphones!) phone numbers, addresses, to do lists, shopping lists, and various thoughts about upcoming lessons I might be working on. While I still have a few of these pocket notebooks around, I no longer use them.

Instead I now use my Samsung Galaxy Note 9 smart phone with the free Google Keep notes app on it. What a useful, versatile and handy app this is! Everything I enter in it immediately is available on the Google Keep app on my Apple iPad, in the Google Keep app in my laptop and desktop’s Chrome web browser, and even by going to the https://keep.google.com website and logging in using my Google Gmail account.

I use Keep mostly as a place to type in the various bits of info I want to keep, but it has many additional features I have not even tried. Read about some of the many things you can do with Google Keep at these websites: PCWorld, Lifewire, and PCMag.

There are numerous other apps available which do more or less the same thing as Google Keep – think Evernote, Apple Notes, etc. But I wholeheartedly recommend the free Keep app for its combination of ease of use, versatility, and almost universal accessibility on any device.

Pick of the Week: “The Book Club” Podcast

September 19, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Resource, Reviews, Teaching & Study

A great way for me to learn more about a topic dear to my heart is through “podcasts.” These are series of audio or video programs put up on the internet and usually available free to download or stream using almost any device which can connect to the internet. This includes smart phones, tablets, Windows and Mac computers, Chromebook computers, and even devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home internet connected speakers; they are also available through the Spotify music program installed in many new automobile stereo systems. Rather than saying more about podcasts, you can go read this well-done article on www.howtogeek.com.

Pick of the Week: Google Slides Online Presentation Software

September 13, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Resource, Software, Tech & Internet

For some time now, preachers and teachers have joined the education and business communities in using visual presentations with their teaching. This usually means the use of either Microsoft PowerPoint (for both Windows and Mac OS) or Apple Keynote (Mac OS). And these are the two software packages I have used for years as well.

But recently I decided to be adventurous and try an online slide creation and presentation software available free from Google. I had tried Google Slides several years ago but found it too awkward, unintuitive and lacking in features to continue using. Many changes for the better have come to Slides since then. The cost of admission is simply a Gmail email account login, which is itself free.

Pick of the Week: The Sketchnote Ideabook for Notetaking

September 5, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Reviews

I know that every teacher, preacher and serious student of Scripture has their own “comfort zone” method of studying and preparing their lessons.

For me, that method involves a great notepad or notebook for taking notes and organizing my thoughts. (More details on what else I use and do in a later post.) So I have been especially excited at the approaching release of a well-crafted bound notebook from Mike Rohde of Sketchnote fame. Mike and the team from Airship Notebooks have a Kickstarter Project going on right now in anticipation of the October (?) release of this specific notebook, called the Sketchnote Ideabook.

Pick of the Week: e-Sword 12.0.1 Bible Software Released

August 26, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Pick of the Week, Software, Teaching & Study

My favorite Bible software program has just had a significant update to v. 12.0.1 for the Windows version. I believe I first discovered e-Sword, this FREE Windows Bible program, back at V. 5 in about 2001. At the time I was giving about equal time to two other packages, Quickverse and PC Study Bible. I soon abandoned those programs altogether in favor of e-Sword because it just seemed so much more intuitive and easy to use.

With this new version by Rick Meyers and his team, some of the features I noticed right way include:

App Themes for changing the color of the basic interface window borders. Before, only gray was available.
The ability to choose low light (soft off-white) and night light (black) backgrounds in addition to the standard white.
A revised Resources Window making access to books in that windows easier to manage and use.

Pick of the Week: Kindle eBooks by Warren Wiersbe

August 13, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Library, Pick of the Week

The “Be Series” commentaries by Warren Wiersbe are a favorite of many, including me. The series consists of 50 volumes with titles like Be Confident (Hebrews), Be Right (Romans), Be Resolute (Daniel), etc. The individual volumes are usually available in paperback or Kindle ebook format on Amazon for about $10 each. At the moment, at least ~~eight~~ five volumes of the Kindle edition are on sale for 79Â¢ to 99Â¢ each through either the Kindle app, Kindle readers or the Amazon website. Those are Hebrews, Ezekiel, Deuteronomy, Genesis (12-25),and Acts (13-28). Purchasing them on sale now would cost under $5.00 versus about $50.00 regular price. You can click here if you want to check the website to see what is available. At the website ask to sort results with “Price: Low to High” so the low priced items will appear near the top. Also look only for those titles beginning with “Be.” (Updated 08/14/2019) Note that EBS may earn a small commission off any merchandise purchased through links on this page.

Over about two years I was able to purchase the entire 50 volume series in Kindle format just this way. It just required checking at least weekly in the Kindle Store. Remember that you can then read all purchased books on any tablet, phone or computer which has the Kindle app available.