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My Vote -
Now the best Bible App for iPhone, iPad, & iPod users!
The newest update came out this morning for the Logos Bible Software app on the iPhone, iPad, & iPod touch… and its still free!
Make sure to update (or download for those who didn’t have it) & check it out! In my opinion, the new new features make it FAR better than any other Bible app out there.
Here is why:
Highlighting
You will be amazed at all the different highlighting palettes & options available. from basic colors, underlining, inductive (graphical) and much more. one great thing about the new Logos app over the ESV app, is you are not forced to highlight an entire verse, but can highlight a single word, a phrase, or the whole verse. Its really wonderful.
Notes
Logos now has notes for the mobile iOS! This is phenomenal as you can now use this as your all-inclusive Bible and note taking application. During your quiet time, something jumps out at you… take a note. Had a great prayer time over a verse? Write it in your notes. Have a question? Take a note and even mark it with a question mark graphic. Listening to a sermon is great, as you can now take notes in your Logos Bible app! Notes also comes with a full selection of color and graphic markers so you can systematize it however you prefer to.
Faster
One of the reasons I preferred the ESV app over Logos was because it seemed “snappier”. Meaning it seemed to be faster in response to page turning, etc. This is no longer the case. Logos Bible app is very responsive and excellent to work with in study & keeping up with teaching/preaching. One quick note of advice – make your favorite Bible translation & commentary available offline (download it to your device) for even quick responses!
Cloud Sync
Another thing I truly love about Logos Bible Software and its App is that they are cloud based. So all of your preferences, books, highlighting, notes, etc. are saved on a cloud server that automatically syncs with all of your computers and devices. Highlight a verse on your iPhone, and it will show up on your desktop that way. Add a note while studying at home, and your iPad will have it on it when you travel. Its amazing and seamless.
Bible Word Study
Logos iPhone & iPad app allows for you to do a Bible Word Study just by tapping a word with your finger. Its that easy! Find a word that you find interesting or would like to study, tap it, and click “Look Up”. If you have a Logos base package with original language support, you will then see the Greek/Hebrew along with morphology and much more. You can also click “Bible Word Study” to get much more detailed information from your resources that you have available.
Two Resource Panels
Logos not only gives you access to your Bibles, commentaries, and all other resources, it even allows you to see two at the same time! With their split-screen view, you can have your Bible on one screen, and your commentary on the other one. Want a different commentary or resource, you can easily switch them out from something else in your library. You can also choose for the panels to follow each other, so you don’t have to update them both. Turn your Bible to Ephesians 2, and your commentary automatically follows. Its that easy!
Its the Best!
All in all, this is the best Bible app I have seen on the iPhone and the iPad. I will now be using this for further study, teaching & preaching prep, and for my quiet time. You can get a free account to sign up for free resources. Even better, if you already have a Logos base package, you get almost your entire virtual library available at your fingertips. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an iPod touch, an iPhone, or iPad! Excellent job Logos! Click here to get it for free!
Here is a brief video to show you more of these features in action:
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What does the Bible teach about the miracle of rebirth? In his book Finally Alive, Pastor John explores Jesus’ peculiar command, “You must be born again.”
You can now order the book for just $5.
Or, if you’d like to purchase a case, you can order 60 books for a suggested donation of $160, and shipping is free within the continental United States. For this option, please call 1-888-346-4700 Monday to Friday, 9am – 3pm (CST).
(Because our inventory is limited, this offer is good while supplies last)
Yesterday I shared that a new faith based radio station was starting this Spring. They desire to have less of the “upbeat” contemporary music and more sacred and classical music along with an emphasis on community events and building up your Christian faith. They will be featuring preachers like R.C. Sproul, Ravi Zacharius, Michael Horton, and more. I, for one, am very excited to hear about this new station and their programming!
What does this have to do with River?
After doing much research, they have decided to feature a few select preachers from within their coverage area. I was contacted by their general manager to let me know that, after their board had reviewed our church website, doctrine, & a handful of sermons, they would like to feature the preaching of River of Life Church. This would involve a weekly sermon broadcast, including a produced intro & conclusion promo with information about our church. They may also feature audio snippets during the week to help promote the church & its weekly broadcast.
Coverage Area
The FM station has been in planning & developing since 2005 and will be based out of Baraboo. Their coverage area will be extensive. You may click the map to the left to get a better picture.
The signal will go as far north as Montello, Mauston, & Friendship; as far west as Richland Center & Spring Green; as far south as Madison & Dodgeville; and as far east as Green Lake & Fox Lake.
As you can see by the map, the strongest signal strength will be Baraboo, Reedsburg, Portage, Montello, Wisconsin Dells, Poynette, etc.
You can visit the station’s website and “like” their page on Facebook for more info. Make sure to watch their video as it gives some clear insight into the station’s vision. We will be posting more information about this station as they approach launching in June or July.
What does this mean for the church?
As a church, we have been praying that 2012 would be the year where we would “Cast a Wider Net”. We are praying about some exciting things for this year including: adding an 8 AM Sunday service, the purchase of office & meeting buildings next door, Theology on Tap, mentoring kids from troubled homes, & much more. In addition to all of this, I asked you as a church to also pray in general for God to give us opportunities to “Cast a Wider Net” to spread the gospel further. We honestly see this as God answering your prayers and catching us off-guard with something much bigger that He had planned for us. This means that we get to take the gospel much further and through a completely different and new avenue than we ever have before!
The new station wants to promote a select few churches (ministries, location, services, website, etc.) based on their stance for sound doctrine and solid Biblical preaching. We are very honored to be selected of the few they are feature and broadcast.
To God be the Glory!
For all of you who work so hard so that the good news of Jesus Christ would go forth unhindered to the lost & the saved, I want to say – Thank you for partnering together for the good of the gospel!
May the Lord use this new radio station & our upcoming sermon broadcast for the glory of His name! May He use this new station to call the lost sheep into the fold and to further sanctify the found sheep to walk in truth! May this station broadcast their vision into fruition. May they offer inspiring music, the sharing of community, and the truth of God’s Word… to the praise of His glorious grace!
I found a very troubling news article & video report regarding Ed Young.
Here is the video:
Praising God for Your Election
“Having been predestined according to [God’s] purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11).
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God took the initiative in salvation by choosing you and granting you saving faith.
In Ephesians 1:4 Paul says that God “chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” In verse 11 he reiterates that marvelous truth by affirming that believers have been predestined to salvation according to God’s own purpose and will.
Many reject the teaching that God chose (“predestined”) believers to salvation. They think believers chose God. In one sense they’re right. Salvation involves an act of the will in turning from sin to embrace Christ. But the issue in predestination goes deeper than that. It’s a question of initiative. Did God choose you on the basis of your faith in Him, or did He, by choosing you, enable you to respond in faith?
The answer is clear in Scripture. Romans 3:11 says that no one seeks for God on his own. Unregenerate people have no capacity to understand spiritual truth; it’s all foolishness to them (1 Cor. 2:14). They are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), blind (2 Cor. 4:4), and ignorant (Eph. 4:18).
How can people in that condition initiate saving faith? They can’t! That’s why Jesus said, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him. … All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:44, 37). Paul added, “God … has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim. 1:8–9).
God took the initiative. He chose you and gave you saving faith (Eph. 2:8–9). Rejoice in that truth. Rest in His power to conform all things to His will. Draw strength and assurance from His promise never to let you go (John 10:27–29). Then live each day as God’s elected one by shunning sin and following after holiness.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for placing His love upon you and for granting you salvation.
✧ Pray for the salvation of others, and seek opportunities to share Christ with them today.
For Further Study: Read Ezekiel 36:22–32.
✧ Why will God one day redeem Israel? ✧ What does that passage teach you about God’s initiative in salvation?
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- from Drawing Near – Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith by John MacArthur (Logos Bible Software)
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” — Joel 2:32 (a)
Why do I not call on his name?
Why do I run to this neighbour and that, when God is so near and will hear my faintest call? Why do I sit down, and devise schemes, and invent plans? Why not at once roll myself and my burden upon the Lord? Straightforward is the best runner—why do I not run at once to the living God? In vain shall I look for deliverance anywhere else; but with God I shall find it; for here I have his royal shall to make it sure.
I need not ask whether I may call on him or not, for that word “Whosoever” is a very wide and comprehensive one. Whosoever means me, for it means anybody and everybody who calls upon God. I will therefore follow the leading of the text, and at once call upon the glorious Lord who has made so large a promise.
My case is urgent, and I do not see how I am to be delivered; but this is no business of mine. He who makes the promise will find out ways and means of keeping it. It is mine to obey his commands; it is not mine to direct his counsels. I am his servant, not his solicitor. I call upon him, and he will deliver me.
- C. H. Spurgeon, The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith (Logos Bible Software)
Here is a great downloadable infographic on the order of salvation.
For the full-size printable version: Order of Salvation InfoGraphic
Temptation and Sin
by John Owen
John Owen’s treatises on temptation and sin stem from his pastoral concern for the church in England. These works have provided invaluable insight into the human condition and God’s grace to Christians for centuries.
Included in this volume:
- On the Mortification of Sin
- On Temptation
- On Indwelling Sin in Believers
- Exposition of Psalm 130
“I owe more to John Owen than to any other theologian, ancient or modern; and I owe more to The Mortification of Sin than to anything else he wrote.” —J. I. Packer
A few months ago my wife came home from a Christian women’s conference with a few books that were given to her. As we browsed through them I noticed one that seemed to stand out. It was a devotional called “Jesus Calling” with the subtitle: “Enjoying Peace in His Presence”. Intrigued, I started to look through it. Immediately I was horrified to find out that the words I was reading were supposed to be from Jesus, written in the first person, and yet were not directly from Scripture. If you are a follower of Christ, this should be a major red flag to you! I have noticed there is a children’s devotional of this as well, please do not make the mistake of buying this for your children! You might ask: “Why?”… which is the reason I am posting this book review and beginning it with a bold “Not Recommend”!
False Prophecy
One reason I would strongly warn you to stay clear of this book is that it is filled with false prophecy. A prophet is one who speaks the words of God to the people. Therefore, false prophecy is defined as words that are proclaimed to be from God, but were not derived directly from Him as the actual Author. The Scriptures are very clear on this warning to us. Allow me to show you a few that should cause you concern for anyone reading this “devotional”. In the times of Jeremiah, there were men who were claiming to speak for God (prophets) and have a positive message for the people. They proclaimed that God told them of a quick relief & restoration that would come in just a few years. Angered by these lies, and especially that they would speak as if quoting God, the Lord sends word through His true prophet, Jeremiah. He was sent by God to warn the people regarding these false prophets. Please hover over & click on the following Scripture references for examples:
Jeremiah 14:14–15, 28:15–17, 29:8–9, 29.15-23
I could go on & on with much more Bible references, but to put it plainly, God does not look lightly on false prophets nor the false prophecy that they profess in order to deceive the people. As you can see, He also doesn’t look kindly to those who adhere to such garbage. ”Jesus Calling” speaks in the first person as if directly from Jesus Christ, and is not quoting Scripture directly. By definition, this entire book of devotional material is false prophecy and blasphemy.
Idolatry
Phase two of my “Not Recommend” is due to idolatry. I am always leery of any Bible teacher, preacher, book, etc. that tries to promote our God in an unbalanced form. This is very popular these days. This is done by focusing on one or a select few attributes of God told in Scripture while blatantly ignoring others revealed in the Bible just as clearly. Today, in our age, this is almost always done by promoting the “niceties” of Jesus. This is done by promoting His love while sweeping His wrath under the rug. Let me say plainly, there is nothing wrong with teaching that Jesus Christ loves sinners enough to die for them and save them. However, we must understand WHY He needed to die in order to save them. This involves God’s wrath upon sin. This is only one aspect that is a glaring and obvious (easy) one to point out, but I think you get the point. In light of this, my problem with such a book like this is that in its false prophetic declarations from “Jesus” it seems to all be sweet and nice, at least from the little that I observed. This is not a balanced view of our Lord and thus creates an unhealthy & unbalanced theology. I have warned my people at River of Life Church that they should beware of anyone who only quotes & teaches on the “nice verses” of Scripture. This person seeks to create an teddy bear version of an idol called “Jesus” so you might worship Him rather than the true Jesus, the Eternal God of the Bible.
Bad Hermeneutics
One thing that the author does do in this book is include some paraphrasing & referencing of Scripture. She italicizes Scripture paraphrasing and includes a couple of references to singled out Bible verses. If you attended my hermeneutic teaching called “Grasping God’s Word” on how we read & interpret the Bible, you already understand yet another reason why this book is problematic. Day 1 begins by quoting the famous Jeremiah 29.11 “nice verse” while ignoring its full context, intended original audience, and therefore, its true meaning. It also wrongly applies this verse directly to every single reader in the mix of its false message from Jesus. This is a red flag and very dangerous ground as people trust this book as a “devotional” in connecting with Jesus Christ. A slippery slope indeed.
Why Not Read the Bible?
I will close this book review with a question that seems to be glaring at me. If you want to read something daily that comes from God, that reveals Who He is, that are Words directly from Him, that is Jesus calling to you… Why not read the Bible!?
Free eBooks
Answering Common Objections to Christianity from Skeptics (eBook)
by Steve Hays
Kindle .mobi and ePub
The Doctrine of Particular Redemption Stated and Defended,
In Two Sermons (ebook)
Mr. John Sladen
Kindle .mobi and ePub
God Sovereign and Man Free (eBook) by N.L. Rice
Kindle .mobi and ePub
