Bible Atlas Adventure

If you’re anything like me, and need to check from time to time on the location of some place in the Bible, you may find the maps attached to many Bibles are sparse and uninspiring, to say the least.

They just don’t stick in the mind – or convey the reality that you’re seeking.

That’s why I was delighted yesterday to find a site called Casual English Bible produced by Stephen M Miller – an award-winning, bestselling Christian author of easy-reading books about the Bible and Christianity.

The subtitle of this site is “Folks who don’t read the Bible need a Bible they can read”.

I’ll say ‘amen’ to that because though I’ve read the KJV on and off since I was about 8 years old, I can appreciate full well how difficult the Bible can be for some folks to read comfortably and in a way that is meaningful and moreover sticks in their memory.

Folks Who Don’t Read The Bible
Need a Bible They Can Read

Now, for me this site has 2 great ‘pluses’, even aside from the Leader’s Guides, for those who may want to lead group study or help friends:

• The products are downloadable.  This is in fact HUGE.  People who live in the USA seem not to realize what a mighty deterrent postal charges really are for the rest of us when buying ‘real’ books.  I used to buy from Amazon quite regularly, but over the past 5 years or so, International postal charges have skyrocketed, added to which it can be sometimes nigh impossible to find out what the postal charges on your purchase are likely to be without actually going through the order process: not good.  Nobody wants to be caught by that trick.
• The Bible Atlases.  These maps are magnificent google earth / diorama-type aerial maps that display the features and places in such a way that the whole setting of the Bible becomes more easily understood and much more readily remembered.

The maps give place-names, distances and events, as well as showing the topography realistically.  There are separate editions of the Guide + Atlas for individual books, as well as 2 Compendiums – one of the Guides, and the other of the Atlases.

Illustrations Copyright © 2017 Stephen M Miller Inc.

This is still a work in progress.  Additionally, Stephen Miller the author tells me he has been asked by Leaders if he can also provide the maps with no lettering on them, and he is currently working on that project also.

Do check out the Casual English Bible website – prices are very reasonable and I believe it’s a great resource for bringing the Bible ALIVE!

Catching Men

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’

“For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

“And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’   So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him..”
Luke 5:8-11

The stunning miracle that Jesus performed in these verses caught the attention of all those present, and caused Simon Peter to recognize immediately who Jesus was.

This event can be interpreted as an illustration of the power of the Lord to bring prosperity to His followers. However, as Pastor John points out in a video on this scripture, the words hold a far more important message, and Jesus lost no time in delivering it.

As Pastor John says, “This story is not about how to get rich – it’s about how to get free from riches.”

It’s all about freedom – about getting free and about giving freedom to others.

How important that is! Here were four businessmen whose business had just been blessed with an enormous gift of business resources (perishable goods, incidentally, and ripe for selling at a profit). Yet such was the power of the Lord and of His presence, that having brought their boats to land, “they forsook all and followed Him.”

He had made it plain (as He would do many times during His ministry) that there are far more important priorities than riches, to be pursued in this life.

What a powerful story – and what a powerful lesson for us all.

That freedom is still available today, while most people are stressing and straining at this business of living – struggling with a changing and ever more difficult world.  While we focus our minds on the problems around us, we only magnify and increase them, and give them more power in our lives.

He holds the answer.

Digital – vector: Pierre Bézier tool in Macromedia Fireworks.

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