New ATM Fav: ASB Bible

A group of Christian leaders from across the African continent have gotten together and created a wonderful new study Bible. The Africa Study Bible was created to better help Africans relate to and understand God's word. Often, study Bibles are directed at believers with a background in Western culture and use Western references and proverbs in order to help the believer make the Bible applicable to their lives. So, the ASB was designed to help believers from various African cultures make sense of God's word.

Here's some information about the ASB project:

• Over 2,200 features speak truth with a uniquely African perspective. Written by more than 300 contributors from over 50 countries in four major languages, the Africa Study Bible may be the most ethnically diverse, one volume biblical resource to date.
• While our goal is to eventually publish the Africa Study Bible (ASB) in all of Africa's major languages, it will initially be published in English using the New Living Translation followed by French and Portuguese translations in the years to come. By printing in these three languages, the ASB will have its greatest impact, reaching up to 70% of literate African Christians.
• We expect to launch this year in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. We have formed local African-led launch committees in each of these countries and are partnering with them to orchestrate all the details.
• The ASB will feature:

1. Application Notes inspire readers to reflect on issues and apply truth to everyday life. 
2. Proverbs and Stories enlighten readers through the parallels of Scripture and cultural wisdom found in wise sayings and fables. 
3. Learn Notes teach the foundations, values, and doctrine of the Christian faith. 
4. Touch Points show where the culture of the Bible meets African cultures and how Africans shaped Christian belief.
5. Book Introductions explain the history of each book and connect themes to issues close to African hearts.  
6. Articles give practical advice on how to live out the Christian life focusing on critical concerns facing the African Church and its people. 
7. Topical Index and Concordance lists the biblical texts and ASB features by topic and defines difficult to understand words connecting concepts from Genesis to Revelation.
8. One-year Bible Reading Plan guides readers through an overview of the whole story of the Bible.  
9. Maps, Graphical Timelines, and Other Features spread throughout the Bible help provide insight and understanding.

I believe this is a wonderful project as it is a study resource created by Africans, for Africans. Leaders, scholars, preachers and students have all come together to create this amazing resource, but they need your help to make their concept become a reality. Click here to visit their Kickstarter campaign page and donate. If you can't donate, please share this information with others! (Incentives for donating include a trip to Kenya, goat skin lined copies of the ASB and ASB inspired artwork.)

You can check out a video about the ASB here.

“The Africa Study Bible is unique because it contains study notes written by Africans for Africans. For the first time, the African church will have a Bible with application notes that address the real-life issues that Africans deal with every day. Combine those features with an easy-to-understand Bible translation that speaks directly to the heart... and you have the potential to transform the lives of multitudes of leaders, lay people, and seekers. I’m delighted that the Africa Study Bible will soon be available to my African brothers and sisters.” —Mark D. Taylor, Chairman/CEO of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Book Review: One Dress. One Year. by: Bethany Winz with Susanna Aughtmon

One Dress. One Year. is the true story of a teenage girl who wore the same dress everyday for a year. Bethany made a black dress and wore it everyday in order to raise awareness about the fact that slavery and trafficking still exist in the modern world. The book chronicles her life and lessons learned throughout her project.

The book is basically her blog recycled and then extra thoughts explaining what was happening in her life that day. I would have preferred a more fluid story. I thought this book read more like a project summary than a memoir. Although Bethany was assisted with her writing you could tell that this was the work of a young author. At times it was nice because it is the story of a young girl starting to "grow up" at other times it affected the flow of the writing.

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nothing is Too Big or Too Small

God is great.

He is great for the big things and great for the small.

When I went into work today, I set my purse on the desk and it tipped over. I collected my things and stored my purse.

At lunch I grabbed my purse and headed for the door. Just before clocking out, I paused. I couldn't find my guess. I remembered my purse spilling and went over to that area and searched the floor. I even searched the trash can directly next to where my purse fell, Nothing.

Others came to help me shake out my purse, retrace my steps and re-search the trashcan. Nothing. Nada.

My office manager offered me her car for my lunch break. I accepted and nervously drove it home to collect my spare key. Before returning to work, I prayed and turned the matter over to God.

I resumed work and as it got close to 5:00 the thought crossed my mind that I still didn't have my keys. I scanned the floor as I prayed for God to lead me to my keys.

I stood and retraced my steps from the morning. From the door, to the kitchen, and back to my office. I wandered over to a large accordion file that sits on a table behind me. I started flipping through the file and saw a piece of metal sticking out from the side. I grabbed it and discovered it was my keys!

That file was sitting on the floor when I first came in the office, I called the client and then put it back in the table. But it has been on the floor when my purse fell and I'd forgotten about it all day!

God led me to that file and showed me my keys. It was almost 5:00 but it wasn't yet. He is never too late.

Never.

Book Review: If My Heart Could Talk by Dodie Osteen

Dodie Osteen is the mother of Joel Osteen and widow of John Osteen. In her book, she tells the story of how her parents came to faith, how she met her husband and watched his ministry grow and transform.

If My Heart Could Talk is broken into bite-sized chapters which I like because it encourages people who aren't really into reading to give the book a go as it feels more manageable.

I really enjoyed reading about the life and principles of the Osteen family. Reading about their family life was very interesting. Although Dodie is best known for her supporting roles as wife and mother to two influential pastors, she is a minister in her own right. Her message is very encouraging and filled with love. She offers biblical references to support and reinforce her claims.

I also love the appendices at the back of the book. They include: The Plan of Salvation, Scriptural Confessions, and Healing Scriptures. I found this resource very helpful.

I highly recommend reading the book that Dodie Osteen carried in her heart for so many years.

*This book was given to me in exchange for my honest opinion.