NIV Fast Facts Bible ~ With 1000 Facts

Book Description

A Bible that points out interesting facts and challenges the reader to dig deeper into God’s Word.

The NIV Fast Facts Bible is designed to creatively engage Bible readers who have a passion for finding out interesting facts about the Bible. It features unique Bible book introductions that point to fascinating details that can be found in each of the Bible's 66 books. At the end of each book is a full page of intriguing questions that will drive readers back into the text to discover the answers for themselves. Includes the complete text of the NIV, the world's bestselling modern English translation.

• Paperback: 1280 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Special edition (April 22, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310432162
• ISBN-13: 978-0310432166

My review:

I always enjoy finding a new Bible but with the NIV Fast Facts Bible I was a bit disappointed. Some of the things that I liked about this Bible was the NIV translation,and it is a nice size. I enjoyed answering the questions in the Fast Fact trivia quizzes but truthfully that alone wouldn't make me pay the retail price for this Bible. The Fast Facts that introduce each book of the Bible weren't that informative, and most of it was information that I already knew.Another negative about this Bible is the small print. While I am a fan of paperback Bibles this one didn't feel sturdy, and honestly it seems overpriced, for the quality.  Overall, if your looking for a paperback Bible in NIV this might be the Bible for you,but honestly for me  this Bible is one of my least favorite and will probably become a shelf sitter.

A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided for review.

A Mother's Secret by Amy Clipston

Carolyn Lapp wants to marry but she wants to marry for love but at the age of 31 she is considered well past marrying age. Even though she never married she does have a fifteen year old son, and that is something her brother just can't get over, so her brother thinks she ought to marry Saul Beiler who lost his wife and now needs a mother for his daughter. When she meets Joshua Glick feelings develop but there is something he doesn't know.

Easy to connect with characters made this book a page turning read for me. While this is an Amish story Carolyn could be anyone really, and that's what I like about this series, the characters have  real life issues, not Amish or English but real life. They aren't perfect, they have depth which makes them feel real. While the format of being torn between two men is sort of standard stuff  and one can sort of predict where the story is going it's the getting there that makes the reading worthwhile.
A Mother's Secret is the second book in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel Series, but I think it could probably be read as a stand alone just because Ms. Clipston is great at filling in enough information so that a reader wouldn't feel lost, that said, it's such an interesting series that I would say readers should read both books. Fans of Amish romance will find plenty to enjoy, but the author provides enough turmoil, secrets and everyday life to make this a fast read for anyone just looking for a story that pulls you in and leaves you wanting more.

A copy of this book was provided by Booklook.com

Heaven &Hell ~ Are They Real by Christopher Hudson

Heaven and Hell ~ are they real, well this book gives us the answer. The author tackles more than sixty questions regarding heaven and hell. While the Bible offers clear answers for some questions such as whether Hell exists, or if there is a Heaven, for some of the questions there are no true answers, instead there are hints as to what we might expect, and the author shares scripture guiding us allowing the user to come to an informed decision. Written in two different sections the first section deals with the topic of heaven and touches on things such as what happens right after death, life in heaven, descriptions of Heaven, the people we will find there and looking forward to Heaven. The second section deals with the topic of Hell including descriptions, whether hell is a choice we make and how we can avoid going to Hell. Written in a clear and easy to understand way, this book really shares true insight into what one might expect once they die. I found the list of Bible verses on heaven and hell to be quite informative and they really encouraged me to pull out my Bible to study further. There is an appendix included that makes it easy to navigate to topics that really interest the user. Overall a handy little book that tackles subjects that many wonder about. This book would make an interesting Bible study and there are even questions included if one wants to dig deeper into what they learn. Overall, the answers are in our Bible, but this book guides us to those answers, the insights from many of today's prominent Christian leaders provide fuel for thought and the scripture verses shared really provide clarity into what the Bible really says about Heaven and Hell! Recommended for anyone looking to further their Bible knowledge.

A complementary copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson for review.

Compass ~ The Study Bible For Navigating Your Life~

The Compass Study Bible~ A Review~ The Compass Study Bible is one that I have been using for several weeks, and I must say in the beginning it was hard for me to get used to the formatting and the way it is written,(it is sort of written like a a movie script) once I got into the format though, the Bible was brought to life in a whole new way for me! I felt like I was reading a novel of sorts instead of a Bible, which is a good thing if you have trouble understanding the Bible or get bogged down in the thee's thou's and thus's that are often a part of Bible reading!  Additions to this Bible are a few reading plans that will help the user navigate the Bible including a 40 day retreat with Jesus which will allow the user to connect with Jesus, there is also a 365 days thru the whole Bible.Some other handy features include a topical guide to the notes, a topical guide to scripture, along with a few black and white maps. Overall, if your looking for a Bible that isn't just the same old same old then you might enjoy the Compass. Not my favorite, but I do like it.

The Modern Life Study Bible

• Hardcover: 1984 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 21, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140167514X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401675141

My thoughts on this Bible:

This is truly an amazing study Bible filled with so many features that I almost felt overwhelmed with everything there was to offer, I did say almost! To start with I wish that the cover had been full color like the dust jacket but honestly that isn't a big deal, because the colors used inside the pages really made this a visually eye appealing Bible. I really liked the NKJV because it was easy for me to understand what I was reading. Some of the stand out features were the person and place profiles. I found myself flipping thru just to read some of the profiles of some of the many people  in the Bible that I wanted to learn more about.There is an index of the person and place  profiles in the back of the Bible making it easy to find the particular people I was interested in. The life studies are one page biographies that are distributed thru the text according to their relevance. They are the stories of sixty-six followers of God from all over the world from different times and all walks of life. Colorful maps make it easy to visualize the lands I was reading about. There is a list of themes to study that is something that will allow me to do an indepth study of particular topics that interest me, this is actually the first Bible that I have found a list of themes included. There are several blank pages included for study notes, and the presentation page makes this a great gift. I found this Bible very helpful in so many ways, the focus articles allow the user to explore the scripture in depth and really provides fuel for thought about how the scripture might pertain to us today. Some of my favorite focus articles were found in the book of Psalms, including hope for the heartbroken, and the benefits of obedience. I think this would be a wonderful Bible for a new Christian, but also would be quite helpful for anyone who is looking to increase their bond with the heavenly father.

Synopsis of The Modern Life Study Bible:

As members of the modern age, we sometimes feel disconnected from the world of the Bible. But if we look closely, we can see that although cultures change, our basic challenges stay the same. We still struggle with issues like community, justice, economic stress, political tensions, and cultural and ethnic differences. We still wonder who God is, how to discern His will, and how we fit into His plan.

Using historical context and fresh insights backed by biblical scholars, The Modern Life Study Bible explores the timeless truths that connect the people and stories of the Bible to the opportunities and demands we face today. God is at work in our world, inviting us to experience His presence.

With innovative, full-color illustrations, maps, and diagrams, along with special information on occupations of the Bible, profiles of people and places, theme indexes, and inspirational biographies of believers who put their faith to work, The Modern Life Study Bible will draw you in, helping you to know and embrace what it means to follow Christ in today’s world.

Features include:

• More than 2,400 concise articles and book introductions
• More than 220 full-color maps
• Hundreds of  diagrams, tables, and illustrations
• 66 inspirational biographies
• Indexes to aid navigation and study

NIV Essentials Study Bible

• Hardcover: 1728 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (November 26, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310442419
• ISBN-13: 978-0310442417

My thoughts on this Bible:

The NIV Essentials Study Bible really is an essential tool for anyone wanting to not only dig deeper into God's word but because this Bible is written in the NIV translation you're actually going to understand what you are reading.

The cover of this one says that it grasps the fundamentals of scripture through the lenses of 6 bestselling NIV resources such as the NIV Study Bible, Quest Study Bible, Archaeological Study Bible, Student Bible, Great Rescue Bible and the Essential Bible Companion, so really it's like getting six Bibles rolled into one. The first thing that I noticed is this isn't a heavy Bible which makes it great for me to take along to church, the next thing that really jumped out at me was the size of the font, it's actually very easy on the eye. There are so many useful features included that I am only going to touch on the ones that really were the most helpful for me. Each book of the Bible has an introduction which is so much more detailed than most that I have seen, it provides key concepts, verses, teachings and terms for each book, as well as maps photos and a timeline which really makes it easy to grasp the time period in which the events in that particular book took place. Other useful features were People in Focus that shines a spotlight on particular characters of the Bible, highlights peppered thru the scripture are really short notes that explain some of the tougher to understand scripture. Of course there are plenty of study notes alone the bottom of each page as well.  Also included are several reading plans, a subject index,a concordance,several color maps and a place to jot down notes as well. I really find this Bible an essential tool in my daily study, and feel like it is one of the most useful study Bibles that I own. Anyone looking for an in depth study Bible that will expand your knowledge and perhaps strengthen your faith can't go wrong with this one. Perfect for every new Christian and would make a wonderful gift for the new convert!

Publisher's Synopsis:

The NIV Essentials Study Bible helps you quickly and easily understand, interpret, and apply God's Word to your life. The variety of features in this Bible presents a multifaceted, exciting format for studying Scripture. There are many different ways to explore God's Word: question-and-answer studies; detailed in-text study notes; timelines, photos and charts; helpful devotional insights; and profiles of Bible characters. Now you don't have to choose, because the NIV Essentials Study Bible provides you the chance to explore the Bible using all these study methods and more. With each of these lenses included in one Bible, you will discover how to best understand the essentials of Scripture.This edition includes the entire NIV Bible text with the world's best notes for learning. It incorporates the finest content, images, and study tools from the most popular Bibles that are loved and used by Bible readers just like you. It features:* Flyover Lens: Start each book of the Bible with the right perspective from easy-to-read introductions from the popular Essential Bible Companion.* Unpack Lens: Easily understand and interpret Bible passages with bottom-of-the page study notes and in-text charts from the best-in-class NIV Study Bible.* Dig Deep, Look Close Lens: Understand the fascinating historical significance of the Bible with articles and photos from the bestselling NIV Archaeological Study Bible.* Qand amp;A Lens: Get concise, easy-to-grasp answers to your most perplexing questions about the Bible with questions and answers from the beloved NIV Quest Study Bible.* People Lens: View Scripture from the perspective of the 100 most important people in the Bible with notes for the student of any age excerpted from the timeless NIV Student Bible.* Guided Tour Lens: Get a bird's eyes view of Scripture with a Guided Tour, also excerpted from the category-leading NIV Student Bible.* Insight Lens: Find meaning in the Bible by reading these magazine-style call-outs from the NIV Student Bible.* Rand amp;R Lens: Reflect and amp; Respond with this quick inspirational focus time, which unveils the sweeping narrative of the Bible as seen in the award-winning The Great Rescue, NIV.

A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided for review.

The Ragamuffin Bible

Format: Hardcover, Jacketed Printed

Language: English

ISBN 13: 9780310405238

UPC: 025986405236

Weight: 2.24 lb

Size: 8.81 × 5.63 × 0 in

Length: 1472 Pages

Synopsis:

Do you believe that God not only loves you, but that he also likes you?
It's just one of the soul-searching questions posed by bestselling author Brennan Manning who confesses he has been 'John the beloved, Peter the coward, and Thomas the doubter all before the waitress brought the check.'
The NIV Ragamuffin Bible offers a collection of Manning’s raw, painfully honest, yet grace-filled devotions, meditations, and reflections of his journey limping back to---like the prodigal son---his overjoyed father. When you journey through this Bible, you will likewise find yourself returning to your Heavenly Father, basking in the knowledge that God not only loves you, he delights in you.
Features:* Complete text of the world’s most popular modern-English Bible, the NIV* 104 Devotions guide you into a deeper connection to God and his Word * 250 Reflections help you understand what it means to be a child of God* 150 Quotes offer short but thoughtful insights into God’s kingdom.



My thoughts on The Ragamuffin Bible:
The Ragamuffin Bible is for anyone and everyone who has ever struggled with their christian identity, wondering whether God even loves them. I found this a delightful Bible to use that was easy on the eye because of the nice size of the print. It is a dual column that does have a few footnotes. Brennan Manning's insights are peppered thru the scripture with 104 devotions that guide to a deeper connection to God and his word, 250 reflections help explain what it means to be a child of God, along with 150 quotes for thoughtful insight. Each insight is placed strategically with the scripture that it pertains to, allowing for reflection as well as the author's thoughts on particular topics. I found myself just flipping thru this Bible in order to read Mr. Manning's writings because they are so uplifting and encouraging. I also need to comment on the cover of this Bible, I like that fact that the hardbound cover is actually identical to the jacket,which is bright and colorful, something that isn't always the case with a Bible. The Ragamuffin Bible would be wonderful to use as a devotional Bible, and would also make a great gift for anyone who might need a spiritual boost. My only complaint where this one is concerned is that I would have loved more of Mr. Manning's writings. 
4/5
A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided for review.