Book Review: The Open Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers

I'm a connoisseur of Bibles. I'm also a firm believer that rightly dividing the word of truth requires diligent study. Though I prefer my Bibles to be plain, no center or margin references, no additional notations at the bottom of the pages, no glitz or "eye candy", a quality study Bible is a necessity for the serious student.

THE OPEN BIBLE SIGNATURE SERIES

The name of this study Bible, The Open Bible, is an excellent description of what it's about. This Bible is a part of the Signature Series of Thomas Nelson Bibles and is available in hardcover and bonded leather. It's 1800 pages of Bible text with a generous wealth of features and study helps.

Some of the major features are:

• The Biblical Cyclopedic Index, a detailed index of subjects with categories, subcategories, definitions, and references.
• Book Introductions and Outlines detailing the author of the book, the era of time covered by the book, the keys to the book, the key verses of the book, and a survey of the book. The outlines are very detailed.
• The Christian's Guide to the New Life giving explanations to underlined verse text.
• A Visual Survey of the Bible sandwiched between the two testaments loaded with charts, maps, and time lines.

I MIGHT BE A NITPICK!

I don't like paperback Bibles! I didn't think I could be a fan of a hardcover Bible either. I like my leather-covered Bibles but I do like how this hardcover version of The Open Bible lies flat on the desk without having to use another object to keep the pages from flipping on their own (a nitpick)!

I like my Bibles plain in the text area because I write my own references and notes within the text area of the Bibles I use to preach and teach from (another nitpick). This Bible places the references are at the end of the individual verses, which helps to make the scripture text more cohesive (I can't stand center references, another nitpick!).

I put some of the features to the test starting with a search of the word worship in the Biblical Cyclopedic Index. I soon found myself in the Christian's Guide to the New Life when I read the scripture text under Worship Commanded from the Index. The Guide bears the title, The Meaning of Worship. Then I found myself following the chain to The Expressions of Worship. I was surprised at how seamless this was and how I was drawn to follow the subject deeper (very nice!).

MY RECOMMENDATION

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11 NKJV)."

You can't hide the Word in your heart if you don't read it. You must understand the Word to use it as a protection against sin. You must study the Word to understand it. The Open Bible will assist in opening your understanding of the Scriptures through diligent study under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

I can easily recommend this version of a study Bible to the new student of the Word as a first Bible. I can recommend it as a reference tool to the intermediate and advanced student of the Bible.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Rules of Engagement by Derek Prince: A Review

Our battle is not with flesh and blood. We wrestle against powers and rulers of darkness. We must take on the whole armor of God to endure the battle.

Rules of Engagement, Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle is a textbook to be used in the classroom to prepare for battle. It's a battlefield manual providing information at hand in the heat of the battle. This is an updated and expanded version from the late Derek Prince.

THE RULES OF CHARACTER AND PREPARATION

Spiritual warfare is about character. Rules of Engagement, Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle is a book about character. It begins with building character and finishes with living character.

Christians are at war and the enemy fights for total destruction. The outcome of the war is eternal. Preparation is the message of this book. Author Derek Prince gives excellent instruction and advice to the warrior preparing to take his or her place on the battlefield of the Lord.

THE REVIEW

Rules of Engagement, Preparing for your Role in the Spiritual Battle is divided into four parts:

• Building A Soldier's Character
• Holy Spirit Training
• Battle in the Heavenlies
• Enduring to the End

and each chapter concludes with questions which provoke you to think about your answers. The book is abundant with illustrations from Scripture.

This is the first book I have read by Derek Prince. I've heard him quoted often but have never read anything written by him. This book provides a fresh look at an old subject. The author does an outstanding job in offering clean insights which helps to bring clear understanding about the battle Christians are engaged in. The writing is engaging and easy to read.

MY CONCLUSION

Stay in the Word. Again, Rules of Engagement, Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle starts with building character and concludes with living character. This is character transformed by the Holy Spirit into the character of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 speaks of looking at the things we cannot see and how they are eternal. It is character which allows us to see the unseen. I quote Derek Prince from the book: "Those things are the things that are eternal. They do not change. They are in the Word."

Stay in the Word. I recommend this book highly for any seeking to understand and to be equipped to take his or her place on the spiritual battlefield.

I received this book from Chosen Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

THE POWER OF PROPHETIC BLESSING by JOHN HAGEE

Can you have the prophetic blessing? What is the prophetic blessing? Can it be passed from generation to generation? Is the prophetic blessing only for the Jews and Israel? If you can have it then how do you get it?

John Hagee answers these questions and many more in his book The Power of the Prophetic Blessing, An Astonishing revelation For A New Generation.

THEN GOD BLESSED THEM

The Power of the Prophetic Blessing starts with the first blessing given to humanity recorded in the Bible. It then proceeds to the blessing given by God to Abram. Then comes the blessing given by Isaac to Jacob. The book then leads us to the command of God to Moses concerning the priestly blessing, "This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel."

It is the three promises of this priestly blessing which lay the foundation of the prophetic blessing and its application to you and I. Author John Hagee clearly details the power of the prophetic blessing and how we can apply it to our lives and to the generations to come.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE POWER OF THE PROPHETIC BLESSING

This is my first review of a John Hagee book. I am thrilled at the opportunity to do so. John Hagee writes with a fluid style, each concept flowing clearly and cleanly into the next. This makes The Power of the Prophetic Blessing easy to read.

The author goes into great detail in presenting the prophetic blessings of Jesus given in the sermon on the mount. We know them as the beatitudes. John Hagee titles these eight prophetic blessings of Jesus as The Secrets of the Good Life. The case in made soundly for the scriptural basis for the prophetic blessing and the command we have to pass it on.

I must say this book has touched my life and it will touch the lives of my children and my grandchildren. It is one thing to be a hearer of the Word, and another to do the Word. The Power of the Prophetic Blessing is biblically based and in order for the blessing to transform our lives, we must believe it, receive it, and do it.

RECOMMENDATION

The Power of the Prophetic Blessing is real. John Hagee does an excellent job explaining it and detailing the need of humanity to receive it and pass it to the next generation.

I highly recommend The Power of the Prophetic Blessing to anyone desiring to know more about it and how to apply it to life.

I received this book free from Handlebar Marketing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."