Resource

A RESOURCE might be websites, sources for printed materials, art, videos, charts, outlines, or any other materials that might be used in teaching, preaching, creating presentations, or doing personal study and research. It is distinct from LIBRARY in that you probably are not purchasing something in print and putting on a bookshelf.

Pick of the Week: The “Bible Across America” NIV Bible

By in Library, Resource, Teaching & Study

Have you heard of the NIV Bible Across America Project that took place in 2008-2009? Sadly, probably not. Let me fill in some background from my own experience.

The first edition New International Version of the New Testament became my English translation of choice in about 1973 soon after it was first published. The print copy I still preach and teach from is the 1984 printing of the NIV whole Bible, which I purchased when it was first released and I had rebound when the covers were falling off somewhere around 2005.

In 2008 Zondervan wanted to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the NIV Bible’s release. They announced a nationwide tour covering 40+ states and at least 140 cities in a specially equipped motorhome. Their goal was to have some 31,100 volunteers each handwrite one single verse of the Bible (NIV translation, of course). Those verses taken together made up a complete copy of the Bible written by hand by 31,100 people!

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Pick of the Week: “The Book Club” Podcast

By 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.

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Pick of the Week: Google Slides Online Presentation Software

By 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.

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Resource: “The Bible Project” Animated Videos

By in Resource, Teaching & Study

The Bible Project (www.thebibleproject.com) is a unique and valuable internet resource I greatly enjoy and regularly use for personal study. The project began in 2014 when Timothy Mackie and Jonathan Collins wanted to present the overall story, themes, and beauty of the Bible in a way that would connect with our modern media-centric culture.

Eventually they assembled an entire animation studio which is funded by freewill donations. They describe their misson on their website homepage this way: “We believe the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus and our mission is to make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere.”

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