BIBLE NEWS: Online Bible reading at an all-time high

It is no secret that Coach Matt and I are techies.  We've been reading the Bible in electronic forms since the 1990s!  But for many Christians, the idea of reading the Word of God outside of paper is still quite strange.  Still, a new study indicates that more people than ever before are reading the Bible online!

“The data shows a continual shift to digital content. The number of Bible readers who use their smartphone or cell phone to search for Bible content has increased each year, with a 6 percent increase in the use of this format from 2012,” said the Society. “Use of Internet to find Bible content has also increased, up 4 percent from 2011.”
...However, the report also found a decrease in Bible ownership: 92 percent of American households owned a physical copy of the book in 1993, while only 88 percent do today. That's still a tremendous number, of course; the decrease is likely more indicative of the increased access to scripture online than lessened interest.

 The day is fast approaching when anyone in the world can access the Bible anytime they need it.  But the day may also be fast approaching when finding a paper Bible is next to impossible.

WEEKLY COMIC: Unpublishable grief

HUMOR: Groan-inducing humor.

Not mine.  From here.

Q. Why couldn’t Jonah trust the ocean? A. Because he knew there was something fishy about it. 

Q. Why didn’t Noah go fishing?A. He only had two worms.  

Q. Where is the first tennis match mentioned in the Bible?A. When Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court. 

Q. How do we know Peter was a rich fisherman?A. By his net income. 

Q. Who was the fastest runner in the race?A. Adam, because he was first in the human race. 

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married?A. Ruthless.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Illuminated Manuscript - Christ on the Water

In previous centuries, Bible were often sources of fine art as artists (often monks) painted dramatic scenes from the book for the benefit of those who were illiterate in their flock.  This is an example of such an "illuminated" manuscript.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Love Take Me Over

BIBLE NEWS: Returning a stolen Bible... after 42 years!

I guess the phrase "Better late than never" comes to mind here.  A man who stole a Bible decades ago from an English church has finally returned it.  The church from whom it was stolen is both amused and pleased to have a little piece of its history returned.

Simon Scott, treasurer of the Holy Trinity Church, in the coastal resort of Hastings, England, received the large, leather bound, book in the mail earlier this month.It followed an anonymous note, inside an envelope marked with a German return address, that he'd received a few days earlier from the man who said he's taken the text back in 1971...The anonymous note said: "I've never managed to pluck up the courage to come and hand it back personally. But now that I've retired, I've definitely decided to get on the right side of things.""Whenever I came across the bible I would have this guilty conscience about doing it," he added.

God says His word never returns void.  Perhaps it did some good in the life of this man, in the end.

REFERENCE QUESTIONS: Romans 1

Remember, the full list of Reference Questions can always be found in the sidebar or at this link.

QUESTION:  According to Romans 1:17, what is written?

ANSWER:  “The righteous shall live by faith.” (cf Rom 1:17; 2:24;3:4, 10; 4:17; 8:36; 9:13, 33; 10:15; 11:8, 26; 12:19;14:11; 15:3, 9, 21)

QUESTION:  According to Romans 1:23, they exchanged what?

ANSWER:  The glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (cf Rom 1:23, 25, 26)

QUESTION:  According to Romans 1:24, God gave them up to what?

ANSWER:  Impurity(to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, in the lusts of their hearts). (cf Rom 1:24, 26, 28)

QUESTION:  According to Romans 1:25, they exchanged what?

ANSWER:  The truth about God for a lie. (cf *Rom 1:23, 25, 26)

QUESTION:  According to Romans 1:25, who is blessed forever?

ANSWER:  The Creator. (cf *Rom 9:5)

QUESTION:  According to Romans 1:26, God gave them up to what?

ANSWER:  Dishonorable passions. (cf Rom 1: 24, 26, 28)

QUESTION:  According to Romans 1:28, God gave them up to what?

ANSWER:  A debased mind (to do what ought not to be done).(cf Rom 1: 24, 26, 28)