Then and Now Bible Maps Insert and KJV Bible Bundle

     This bundle is a combination of Rose Publishing Then and Now Bible Maps Insert and Hendrickson Publisher KJV Thinline Reference Bible. They have been combined to form a compact, informative package at a more reasonable price than buying each individually.

THEN AND NOW BIBLE MAPS INSERT:
     This map insert is printed full-color on glossy paper that is dry-erase marker friendly. It measures roughly 5 1/2'' x 7 1/2'' and about 1/4'' thick. The detail is impressive. I counted 23 maps, 8 of which had clear overlays you could flip over the map to see the difference between Bible and modern times. It is a very neat feature, and fun to see the differences and relations between then and now places. The overlays use red ink to differentiate from the black ink on the original map. Existing cities are underlined so you can see which ones survived. The insert is far more informative than just the maps though. There are several charts with details about key Bible events. They are:

---A timeline of the Old Testament, from Adam through Jesus. It shows geneology from Adam to Joseph, then other key characters. It includes dates, years lived, Bible references, which maps to look at for that time, the kings and events of Israel and Judah, and the prophets.
---A family tree of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that shows which of Jacob's sons are from which wife/handmaiden. Also includes key events/moves during their times.
---A chart of the judges, how long they judged, sometimes who was oppressing Israel and for how long.
---Layout of the tabernacle and how the tribes were arranged around it.
---A timeline of the New Testament, from Jesus through AD100, around which Revelation was possibly written. It includes a few key events in Jesus' life, and from the next few years including when a few of the disciples were martyred, Paul's journeys, and the destruction of the temple.
---A list of each of Paul's journeys including dates, destinations, companions, and Bible references. There is also a clue to remembering the order/places of his trips.

In the back there is an index where you can find which maps to look at for a certain city.


KJV THINLINE REFERENCE BIBLE:
     The Bible is roughly 8 1/2'' x 5 1/2'' and about 1'' thick. It is a simple black imitation leather with white pages. It features words of Jesus in red, cross reference behind the relevant verses, a ribbon marker, 8 maps, and a decent concordance. It lays open very well without feeling like it hurts the spine. I doesn't really lay open on its own well, but with a little help will soon be able to.

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     I was impressed with this bundle. It is very useful to have around. There are a few negative aspects I found:

---The maps are very busy. But after a bit you figure out how to read it.
---The insert doesn't fit into the Bible quite like it should. It sticks out 1/2'' and feels hard on the back cover.
---The Bible pages are on the thin side, the ink almost bleeds through. And the cover extends over the pages in a cardboard-feeling way.

But overall I would give this a good rating for what it is and what it costs. The idea certainly cannot be faulted.

I received a copy of this book from HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS and was not required to write a positive review. 

Scatter

     BOOK REVIEW:   "God has repeatedly told us to fill the earth... The people of God have constantly gotten stuck, settled, and soft, and He has had to shake us out of this state. My prayer is that we will be the first generation to scatter on purpose... That we will go into every sector of society--business, the arts, education, and more--and be the Daniels of our day: being good at what we do, gaining favor in our workplace, and having the credibility and freedom to share our faith boldly. " --Andrew Scott

     MY REVIEW:   This book focuses on missions, but not in the traditional sense. Andrew Scott presents the idea that we as Christians need to stop considering missionaries to be only those who travel to destinations afar and sacrifice their American/etc lifestyles in order to witness to the lost. He declares that EVERY Christian is a missionary, right where they are. More precisely, right in our workplace. He puts forth that each one of us needs to be a witness and a missionary to our co-workers, bosses, and anyone we come in contact with via our jobs (everyone we meet, yes, but that's a different point). Away with only select Christians being considered missionaries.
     Along with this principle, Andrew presents another idea--we have been given talents, areas of expertise in which we excel, occupations that we sincerely enjoy. His thought is that we should be pursuing these careers, and not a career that you think you should do, or that someone else wants you to do. Or even, a career that you think would be fun. Do what you are good at, what you were made for. He says that we should be excelling in our work, even top of the line, as we are backed by the Spirit of God. Now I don't know about always being the top of the line, but there is a difference between the average work person, and a Christian who is living his life for God.
     This book does not rattle on for 200 pages just about being a light at work. There are other points made that tie directly to the subject. There are chapters on accepting who you are and were created to be, being aware of comforts in life tying you down, and seeing life as a big picture instead of just your "puzzle piece"---to name a few. A few quotes I underlined in the book are:

"When we lose our 'why' we lose our way" (Andy Stanley). When we fail to keep the main thing the main thing, our focus, energy, and efforts all seem to get distracted on things that do not matter as much. They may still be important, but not as important as our primary reason for being. -pg 63

As we look at our hurting world today and as we scatter into the hardest and dirtiest places we will be confronted by the reality of suffering and lostness like we have never seen before. Recently some have encouraged us to realize that the world is not ours to save, but God's. While there is truth in this, I want to caution us against going too far. I recognize that God is in control and that He will win the war against Satan. But He included us in His plans, He made us to participate in His plans, and as part of His family, surely our hearts should break with the things that break our Father's heart. If it is not His will that any should perish then I want to be about that as well. If He is about binding up the wounds of the weary, giving sight to the blind, then I want to be about that also. If He is about the least of these, every people group, then I want to be about that too. The war is not mine but I am certainly called into the battle. -pg 169

     I enjoyed this book. The reading was thought-provoking, but easy to get through. Andrew laces his writing with humor and hilarious parables (for instance--a farmer training mules to run as thoroughbreds by feeding them a special diet and so on) that effectively make a point in a way that is easy to grasp. There are definitely a few points that I have to decide whether or not I agree with him, but I found the overall book to be one worth reading.

 I received a copy of this book from MOODY PUBLISHERS and was not required to give a positive review. 


   

Cover Expressions Bible

Tyndale has a new bible out that features a design-it-yourself cover. Here is the website, it looks really neat: https://coverexpressions.com/