I’ve written before that I love reviewing Bibles and I have two I’ve been using that are extremely useful and visually appealing. While the Word of God is just as powerful in black and white text on thin white paper with red letters for Jesus’ words, it’s nice when publishers go a little further to invite readers into the story. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but when looking at the Mosaic Bible (Tyndale House), I want to rip open its covers and start reading
The beginning of the book is filled with 52 weekly meditations from church history to modern musing that show a true connectedness between the worldwide communities of Christians. There are meditations for Advent, Lent, Epiphany, fasting, worship, justice, and many more. Each meditation includes suggested Bible reading, commentary, and quotes pulled from saints, both living and dead. To make things even more marvelous, each meditation is also accompanied by traditional and contemporary artwork, which thrills one’s aesthetic sensibilities as well. Written in the easy-to-read New Living Translation (NLT), the Mosaic Bible contains the Word of God, liturgy and art. It is truly a magnificent Bible.
The other Bible I’ve been using is GLO: The Bible for a Digital World (Zondervan). Even though Glo takes a bit if time to install (under two hours), it is time well spent. You can sit at your computer and catch up on some reading like I did. Once familiarized with Glo’s navigation, using the program is easy (and to be honest, I found it pretty user-friendly, which is good because the “help” section isn’t all that helpful.)
Scripture is available in both NIV and KJV with easy-to-read text whose size can be adjusted to the reader’s preference. Although, admittedly, I hoped Glo would have more translations like The Message or NLT included.
Of course the coolest thing about this digital Bible are its interactive media features. While reading Bible text, one can also peruse study notes; look at historical maps, timelines, and art, as well as modern maps and photos. Also included are videos that delve further into various topics, including one featuring William P. Young, author of The Shack, speaking about Satan’s showdown with Jesus in the desert.
Glo is not without its problems though. The interface can be slow, the text notes in an NIV Study Bible can prove more interesting, and errors do pop up from time to time. The benefits of this program far outweigh the negatives. Glo would make a great edition to anyone’s media library, primarily Bible teachers or pastors that use digital projectors. Instead of just talking about places in the Bible, a teacher can actually show his or her audience the Temple Mount or Golgotha, which helps the Bible come alive—literally.
She is Beloved 