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Favorite Bibles!

How awesome is it that we have so many Bibles as options today!

Lifeway stores are having a great sale this next week or so if you are looking for a Bible, so I thought I might share my top 3 recommendations!

The MacArthur Study Bible is my favorite! It has an awesome commentary on every page that gives applicable historical, cultural, linguistic, theological, and contextual points...it helps you to understand the Bible in a much richer and in-depth way!

The Archaelogical Study Bible is awesome! I just used it on a three-week trip to Israel and its photos and descriptions of Biblical sites in accurate, concise and useful. It was a resource I used to prepare myself the night before visiting every site I went to. I highly recommend it if you want to see pictures and descriptions of the Biblical sites as you read the text.

The Apologetics Study Bible is one of the latest out. I have it, but unfortunately have not used it a lot yet. It has a TON of great articles and comments that enable the reader to better defend and understand their beliefs.

As for translations, I can explain more in a future blog, but I really trust and would recommend the ESV, NASB, HCSB, and NIV translations. There are many other great translations out there, these are simply the four I feel comfortable going to.

WORD OF CAUTION: I would not recommend the NRSV, TNIV, NLT, NCV, GNB, and CEV for reasons of gender-neutral translation controversy (this link has good info on the differences in translations as well). I would never, ever recommend the New World Translation that has been put forth by Jehovah's Witnesses in support of their maligned theology.

BOTTOM LINE: Find a trustworthy Bible that you enjoy and will inspire your daily reading of God's Word!








Modest is Hottest: Keep on Keeping It On!

I am excited! Brittney and I are getting to help lead our youth in a True Love Waits focus over the month of March and April at our church. It is wonderful to see how clear God's plan and love for us is in desiring us to glorify Him in all aspects of our life.
Anyhow, I saw a great message the other day by Ed Young on Sexual Purity. Here are links (on pics) to two of his sermon series. I was impressed in his relevance while not straying from a Biblical foundation. Although I haven't seen them all, the messages sound right on...
The picture here is of my future sister-in-law with a cool shirt! Modesty is a big area we men need women's help in! I like the motto..."Modest is Hottest: Keep On Keepin' It On!"
I know my wife's own modesty (in dress and behavior) when I first met her (and still today) was and is a big plus in my book :) We look forward to talking about modesty as part of the "Issues for Girls" in our upcoming TLW study.
Random trivia: Ed's dad...Dr. Ed Young, Sr. was my pastor growing up...big church in Houston...one of his other sons (Cliff) plays in Caedmon's Call and I grew up hearing them play at our church quite often

1 Timothy 2:9-10 "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."




Parent Resources

When you hear the term catechism, what do you think of? My mind immediately thinks of a Catholic structured and disciplined approach to instructing children & youth. It is sometimes described as "a summary of principles, often in question-and-answer format." The term ironically seems to have arisen out of the reformation with Martin Luther in 1529.
Anyway, today I heard of a Baptist version both in text and audio. Although most parents might not attempt this approach to structured teaching of the Bible and God's truths to their children it is encouraging to think of the level of investment that can occur in laying a foundation of spiritual beliefs.
Although I have no children of my own, I hope to one day...two encouraging books I have on my shelves (I have yet to finish, but these are highly recommended by many!) are:
Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis (check out the connection to Men's Fraternity)
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp (also nationally known, good articles and other books on website)
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Proverbs 13:24 "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. "
Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
p.s. a proverb is not a promise/guarantee, but a general truth/observance about life...especially relevant when looking at Pro 22:6

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