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Guest Post
November 13, 2019

The God Who Meets You Where You Are

Michele CushattBy Michele Cushatt

There are times when I read the Old Testament and struggle to make sense of it. The dysfunctional families, murderous agendas, strange dreams and experiences. It seems left field, far-fetched, impossible. When I look at what God does or doesn’t do, I struggle to understand Him. How could a real and loving God act the way He does? I don’t get it.

Until a day comes when, somehow, I get a glimpse of the bigger picture, the greater story. Then, if I’m able to stand back if only for a moment, I can see the beauty of the whole.

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Mel Lawrenz
November 13, 2019

How to Live the Bible — Getting Rescued

howtostudythebible

This is the eighty-first lesson in author and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ How to Live the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email here.

See Mel Lawrenz’s new book, Christmas Joy for Kids: A Devotional.

What about the issue of whether Jesus is the only way to God? This is a point of agitated conflict between Christians and non-Christians. Some would say that it is pure arrogance to say that Jesus is the only way to God. Others would say it just sounds confusing, because it would seem only fair to say that there are many different ways to God.

The Last Supper illustrating Jesus' teaching

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Jonathan Petersen
November 12, 2019

Bible Connection Podcast: Bloom in the Dark

Go to the Bible Connection Podcast index page

Watch and hear the Bible Connection Podcast about Bloom in the Dark

Bible Gateway presents the Bible Connection Podcast, where we talk about the Bible and how it connects to every facet of life.

Our third episode of the Bible Connection Podcast focuses on a ministry for victims of abuse. After suffering decades of abuse of all kinds, Paula found herself as a single mom in a new city, jobless, with three young boys to homeschool. In these circumstances, she heard God’s call to start a ministry helping people still caught in the darkness of brokenness and shame. Bloom in the Dark started with real, raw stories of people who found hope and restoration in the gospel with the slogan, “Use the fertilizer of your past to bloom in your future.”

Go to the page to view this podcast episode

Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for Bloom in the Dark.

Learn more about the Bible by becoming a member of Bible Gateway Plus. Try it right now!

Guest Post
November 11, 2019

The Four Boldest Claims of the Bible

Steve GreenBy Steve Green

The Bible tells a story—a story of a creator God who creates man for relationship with himself, but man’s disobedience breaks that relationship. And God the Redeemer, out of love, provides the way of restoration. It’s a beautiful story.

But there’s more to the story. There’s something different about the Bible. The Bible makes some very bold claims. Let’s take a look at a few.

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Jonathan Petersen
November 11, 2019

Prevailing as a Prisoner of War: An Interview with Col. Carlyle Smitty Harris

Col. Carlyle "Smitty" Harris, author of Tap CodeHow does love, honor, courage, and faith sustain a US Air Force pilot for eight years as a prisoner of war? And how does an old, long-unused World War II method of communicating by tapping on a common water pipe offer a lifeline, give strength, boost morale, and build unity among other POWs during their solitary internment?

Bible Gateway interviewed Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris about his book, Tap Code: The Epic Survival Tale of a Vietnam POW and the Secret Code That Changed Everything (Zondervan, 2019).

How did you come to write your book?

Buy your copy of Tap Code in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris: I had written a chronicle of my incarceration covering the first two years back in the mid-1970s. It was not intended for publication—just a record for my family to have. My life became so busy with work, study, and family time that I put the chronicle aside. But I did attend many recitals and sports events and had quality time with Louise and the kids. They, in turn, asked for me to finish it many times, but that just never happened.

My daughter, Robin, had become good friends with Sara Berry, and she found out that Sara was a very gifted writer and might be coerced into helping me finish the book. Sara was a godsend. She had many work sessions with Louise and me and poured over many books and other sources to get and present an accurate account for Tap Code. It was Robin’s friendship with Sara and her desire to get a better story of her mother and her dad’s lives during almost eight years of their separation that prompted the writing of the book.

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Jonathan Petersen
November 10, 2019

Bible News Roundup – Week of November 10, 2019

[Return daily during the coming week for updates]

See the Bible News Roundup archive on Bible Gateway

Support Bible Gateway—Browse the Bible Gateway Store
⇨ BibleGatewayStore.com
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Latest Bible Translation Figures Show Progress, but More Work Is Needed
⇨ Bible Gateway Blog
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The Fight for National Bible Week (and Christmas Trees)
⇨ Church Leaders
⇨ WISCTV: Wisconsin Assembly Recognizes National Bible Week
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Jonathan Petersen
November 8, 2019

Latest Bible Translation Figures Show Progress, but More Work Is Needed

The Bible has now been translated into 15 more languages worldwide since 2018. According to Wycliffe Bible Translators (@wycliffeuk), as of October 2019, 698 languages have the complete Bible (up from 683 in 2018), and 1,548 languages have a complete New Testament (up from 1,534). A further 1,138 have translated portions of the Bible (up from 1,133). But still more than 250 million people around the world are totally without Scripture in their language.

[Read the Bible in multiple languages on Bible Gateway]

Active translation or preparatory work is progressing in 2,617 languages in 161 countries. Wycliffe and its partner organization SIL are involved in about three-quarters of this work.

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Jonathan Petersen
November 7, 2019

Gospel Hope for the Discouraged Soul: An Interview with Jason Meyer

Jason Meyer, author of Don't Lose Heart: Gospel Hope for the Discouraged SoulIn a world surrounded by 24-hour news and reminders on social media of tragedy and heartache, it’s easy to fall into the abyss of discouragement and anxiety. Even Jesus followers struggle to hold on to hope. What is the hopeful guidance from God’s Word for times when you feel overwhelmed, defeated, and worthless? How can the Bible help you conquer despair when the past paralyzes, today disappoints, and the future is frightening?

Bible Gateway interviewed Jason Meyer (@WePreachChrist) about his book, Don’t Lose Heart: Gospel Hope for the Discouraged Soul (Baker Books, 2019).

What do you mean “discouragement is a liar”?

Buy your copy of Don't Lose Heart in the Bible Gateway Store where you'll enjoy low prices every day

Jason Meyer: Discouragement is a sophisticated lie because it comes clothed in a half-truth. Discouragement gets only half of reality right. It reminds us of all that is against us. And that is true. A fallen world is full of real reasons to lose heart. The Bible recognizes this reality. It was natural for Elisha’s servant to lose heart when he saw that the Syrian army was surrounding them. But Elisha prayed that his servant would see the full truth, not the half-truth. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). We lose heart when we believe the lie that all that is against us is greater than the one who is for us. We lose heart when we lose sight of all we have in Christ. There are real reasons to lose heart, but the reasons to take heart are always greater.

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Mel Lawrenz
November 6, 2019

How to Live the Bible — Truth in Person

howtostudythebible

This is the eightieth lesson in author and pastor Mel Lawrenz’ How to Live the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, they can get more info and sign up to receive these essays via email here.

See Mel Lawrenz’s new book, Christmas Joy for Kids: A Devotional.

What did Jesus mean when he said, “I am the truth.”

It is hard to overstate how bold this claim is. It is bold to say, “I know the truth.” In these days it is even bold to say “I believe there is truth.” But when Jesus said: “I am the truth” he was raising the issue to a whole new level. Remember, when Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” it was on the evening of that dividing line between his life and his death. Just hours later, after Jesus’ arrest, he would stand before Pontius Pilate and say “for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” And then came the chilling question of Pontius Pilate: “what is truth?”

The Last Supper illustrating Jesus' teaching

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Jonathan Petersen
November 5, 2019

Bible Connection Podcast: The Blueprint

Go to the Bible Connection Podcast index page

Watch and hear the Bible Connection Podcast about The Blueprint

Bible Gateway presents the Bible Connection Podcast, where we talk about the Bible and how it connects to every facet of life.

Our second episode of the Bible Connection Podcast focuses on how the Harris Creek Baptist Church uses the Bible as a blueprint given by a loving God to a culture hungry for answers and hope.

Go to the page to view this podcast episode

Go to the Bible Connection podcast episode page for The Blueprint.

Learn more about the Bible by becoming a member of Bible Gateway Plus. Try it right now!

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    The Bible Gateway Blog features the latest news, announcements, and reflections from Bible Gateway. We hope what you find here will add to your understanding of and appreciation for the Bible.