Updated HCSB Minister’s Bible with 2009 Text revision

 

I just received a review copy of the HCSB Minister’s Bible in the mail. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I really like the HCSB translation. My first impressions of the Bible is that the formatting is the best I have seen. I absolutely love the single column paragraph format. It is also a black-letter Bible, thank you B&H Publishing! The Bible itself has all of the technical textual notations at the bottom of the page. It is not a reference Bible. I have absolutely no problems with this at all. Typically the references do not run parallel to my train of thought.

There are some articles in the back of the Bible that would be helpful for those in ministry. The Bible does include the normal HCSB text Bible features: plan of salvation, concordance, bullet note index, and several tables. I will have much more on this Bible in the future. Everything that I has seen so far is absolutely wonderful.

The Bible is smyth sewn which makes it possible for the Bible to lay flat and will also ensure that the binding lasts longer (kudos to Holman for making the majority of their Bibles with sewn bindings – we appreciate it). The cover itself is genuine cowhide leather, which in my opinion is just as nice as many of the calfskin Bibles on the market.

The font is very easy on the eyes in regard to size. It is a different font character than I have seen in other Bibles. It is different than the font in the original HCSB Minister’s Bible, but it appears to be the same font utilized in the HCSB Study Bible.  I like it.  It gives it less of a “bubbly” look that the original edition’s font had.

Christians are unique when it comes to Bibles. There is a large segment which does not want to see any variation between Bible translations (font, format, translation theory, etc…) so I don’t know how this will effect potential customers. I like that this is a black letter text. The truth is that there was no such thing in the original letters. A black letter text forces readers to recognize that every single word in the Bible carries equal inspiration and weight.

The text is in a paragraph format with a single column of text. I prefer this layout of the biblical text. It allows you to focus on the text at hand rather than all of the visual noise on the rest of the page. It does feature the textual notes at the bottom of the page which is very a useful feature. The notes provide pertinent information for alternate renderings, Hebrew or Greek textual manuscript information, or literal translations.

This is a wide margin edition. It has ample amount of space on the outside of the text which allows users to record their own studies and thoughts on the biblical text. I have been able to record notes from my own studies in the margins and have had sufficient room to write. I think that this is an excellent feature in a Bible. The Bible paper is better than average. There is some bleed through from the text on the opposite side of a page. The boldness of the font on the facing page actually makes the bleed through less of an issue. The font on the facing page grabs your attention and minimizes the distraction.

There is a pastoral helps section. I am a pastor but do not choose to use the helps. The helps are well done and could be very useful. I choose to use this as more of a study/teaching/preaching Bible, not a minister’s manual (not that there is anything wrong with such a use). There is a full concordance in the back of the Bible.

Since the HCSB is an optimal equivalence translation such a feature is a useful tool. All things considered, I think that this is an excellent edition of the HCSB. I would encourage others, who like the HCSB and want a Bible to record their study notes in, to purchase this Bible.

Review of the Children’s Book “Grumpy Day” by Stephanie Carmichael and Jessica Green

I learned of this children’s book “Grumpy Day” through the Matthias Media blogger review program. I am very pleased to have learned of this quality work. I really appreciate that Matthias Media published such a work for children. As believers we recognize that there are plenty of times when things do not operate according to our desires. If we read and understand our Bibles accurately we realize that even the “bad” days are under the sovereign control of God. The book presents this reality in a few short pages. There are some unpleasant issues that we can address by adjusting our plans/approach. Yet, there are times when we must recognize that God has a purpose that is much larger than us, and will be unpleasant to us in the present. I think that the authors did a very nice job of setting forth these realities – the sovereignty of God, trust in God’s character, patience, and praising God in the midst of waiting. My kids enjoyed the book, as did my wife and I.

 

I received this book as a part of Matthias Media’s blogger review program.

Review of Paws & Tails “Being Kind and Caring.”

I had previously heard a few Paws & Tails episodes on the radio and was intrigued by the prospect of reviewing the animated version on DVD. The storylines of the episodes were fine. The first episode dealt with the choice to seek revenge or to forgive. I thought that the concepts were clear and it will give children the opportunity to place themselves in the position of the characters for the purpose of exploring how they would respond personally. This was a highlight. The second episode dealt with the concept of teamwork. The characters must choose between personal fulfillment/glory and teamwork for the greater good. Again, I thought that the storyline was well-done and the stakes were clearly presented.

 

But, there were a couple of negatives in my opinion. I thought that there were a few unnecessary “cutting” comments made by the characters which were negative in my mind (Eph. 4:29). They did not do anything to add to the storyline. Maybe the creators would suggest that such “cutting” comments are commonplace among children, which I would suggest is a reason to tell a story without adding the very elements that are present in non-Christian media. The second negative is the animation. I know that production is expensive and I am sure that this was a cost-conscious move, but I think that it was choppy and not as high in quality as it could be.

 

I received this product as part of the review program at Tyndale Blog Review Network.

God is enough

The surrender of our ambitions is incredibly difficult.  The joy and satisfaction of delighting in God alone is infinitely greater.  If we lose all else, God is enough.  Consider the truth contained in these lyrics by Tenth Avenue North in their song, “Empty my Hands.” 

I’ve got voices in my head
And they are so strong
And I’m getting sick of this
Oh Lord, how long will I be haunted by the fear that I believe?
My hands like locks on cages of these dreams I can’t set free
But if I let these dreams die
If I lay down all my wounded pride
If I let these dreams die
Will I find, that letting go lets me come alive?

So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh, empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
With You
With You, Lord

‘Cause these voices speak instead
What’s right is wrong
And I’m giving into them
Oh please Lord, how long will I be held captive by the lies that I believe?
My heart’s in constant chaos
And it keeps me so deceived
But if I let these dreams die
If I could lay down my dark desire
‘Cause if I let these dreams die
Will I find, You brought me back to life?

So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh Lord, empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
With You

‘Cause my mind is like a building burning down
I need Your grace to keep me
Well keep me from the ground
My heart is just a prisoner of war
A slave to what it wants and to what I’m fighting for
So won’t You…

So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh, empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
With You

With You
I need You now
I need You now Lord
With You
With You
I need You now Lord

NASB Topical Reference Bible Review (Updated with Images)

When I first learned of this edition of the Bible was being produced by Foundation Publications, I became very intrigued.  I have used the NASB as my primary translation since my freshman year of Bible college (2000).  As I came to discover, most editions of the NASB (especially at that time) were in verse format.  Over time I found an Ultrathin Reference edition of the NASB produced by Foundation Publications, which was in paragraph format, had a sewn binding, and was genuine leather.  After learning of the high quality of Foundation’s Bibles, I also purchased the following editions – a wide margin single column reference NASB; and a large print, ultrathin reference NASB (I also have the calfskin edition of this Bible – beautiful).  I have found the editions which Foundation Publications produces to be of the highest quality and very reasonable in price.

Now, on to the review at hand.  The Topical Reference Bible which I received from Lockman Foundation (produced by Foundation Publications) is the burgundy, leathertex edition (the material other publishers refer to as – duo tone, or tru tone).  I have seen the publication shot on the Lockman site which promotes the Topical Reference edition and it does in deed show the details of the cover, but I have to say that the lighting of the picture does not do justice to the visual beauty of the Bible in hand.  It is a very attractive, deep burgundy color.  It is not washed out as the picture may lead one to believe (this is the difficulty of camera shots, at times the image does not accurately capture the quality of the item).  The cover is very soft to the touch and feels great in hand.  This edition is similar in size to the HCSB Hand-Size Giant Print Reference Bible and it seems slightly larger than the ESV Classic Reference Bible.  It does have a ribbon marker which is a good length (not too stubby).  In my personal estimation, the size of this Bible in hand is perfect.  It is not too bulky or cumbersome, making possible to hold the Bible in one hand.

The text formatting inside of the Topical Reference edition is identical to the Foundation Ultrathin Reference Bible.  This means that the text is in paragraph format and it is a red-letter text.  I am so glad that it is in paragraph format, which makes responsible textual study easier on the mind and eyes.  The size of the text is not large print, but to me it is very visible on the page.  It also features center-column references, which are a strength of the NASB (95,000 references).  Some will not care for this feature, but more on this later.  As is true of all other Foundation Bibles which I have had the pleasure of using, this edition uses quality Bible paper.  There is some bleed-through but not enough to be troublesome.

The one area where the Topical Reference edition sets itself apart from other references Bibles is what Lockman included in the front and back of this Bible.  Located in the front of the Bible is a 255 page Topical Index, which alphabetically arranges various relevant topics (from abandon to Zion).  As previously noted, many do not care for the cross-reference systems in most Bibles because they do not appear closely related the subject to which they are linked.  I think that usually the disconnect is that the person studying is thinking topically and the references are connected grammatically (associated because of a common word).  Well, this edition features the aforementioned Topical Index, which will point out the verses and sections of Scripture dealing with the desired topic/area of study.  This index also contains detailed explanations of certain topics which may need such as mystery.  It provides a very clear and concise explanation of the biblical usage of the word mystery.  I think this is a very valuable tool for engaging in inductive Bible study, letting the text interpret the text.

Located in the back of the Bible is a 210 page Dictionary-Concordance-Thesaurus.  This tool features, “main entries followed by explanatory notes or by synonyms or related words, which are intended to assist the reader in locating a verse.”  It is arranged like a concordance but with more detailed information.

Following the 210 page Dictionary-Concordance-Thesaurus is: a one page genealogical chart for Jesus Christ; a two page reference featuring biblical promises and where to find them; a one page reference detailing the miracles of Christ; two pages of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Christ; one page listing the parables of Christ; one page of the titles of Christ and a listing the twelve apostles; a section providing introductions to each biblical book; a one year Bible reading plan; and the color maps usually found in Foundation Bibles.

This Bible is truly a quality piece of craftsmanship (quality Bible paper, sewn binding, soft leathertex cover).  The size of this edition in my opinion is perfect.  It is truly a hand-size, personal reference Bible in paragraph format.  It is produced by Foundation Publications, which means that it will be of high quality and affordable.  The 255 page Topical Reference guide at the beginning of the Bible, along with the 210 page Dictionary-Concordance-Thesaurus make this the ideal Bible for doing inductive Bible study.  I would encourage anyone who is looking for a high quality Bible with all of the features I have mentioned to purchase this one.

Concerns for Young Pastors

I am uncomfortable with some of the things that James MacDonald is doing lately, which I will not take time to address specifically, but I did appreciate some of the thoughts shared by the panel at ER2 about young pastors.  It resonated with me for sure.  I would encourage you to check it out.

Recipe for a Successful Pastor

Paul Tripp penned an excellent article on the Recipe for a Successful Pastor which can be found on the Gospel Coalition site.  I encourage all who profess to know Christ and attend a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church to read what he has written.

Perseverance in Pastoral Ministry

Men of God involved in pastoral ministry have face difficult trials and temptations since the first elder was appointed in the N.T. church age.  Paul informed Timothy that, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (1 Tim. 3:12).  Prior to that he mentioned, “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ” (1 Tim. 2:3).  The ministry of pastor-teachers is an important one, but it is also a difficult one.

Two men who have been involved in pastoral ministry for a number of years have spoken about Paul’s example of perseverance and even their own lives – John MacArthur at a Desiring God conference (here and here) and James MacDonald at a 9 Marks Conference.  Jerry Bridges, though not a pastor, did provide sound biblical teaching on the topic of finishing well at a Desiring God conference.

 

Update:  C.J. Mahaney recently spoke at Together for the Gospel 2012 and spoke on a similar topic.