BibleStick Unboxing

The BibleStick from Faith Comes By Hearing I recently won (on Twitter of all places) showed up on my door step today so I thought I’d take a minute or two to show it off.

First things: The BibleStick is a dedicated digital audio player that comes pre-loaded with the entire New Testament in audio. I received the ESV audio version but apparently it also comes in an NIV, KJV, and Kids flavor as well.

Set up out of the box, as expected, was simple and the whole process was much more enjoyable because I didn’t have to fumble around the house trying to find the single AAA battery needed to fire it up. Battery is included. The sound quality of the supplied earbuds is surprisingly good. Paradoxically, the most complex part of the set up was associated with the L and R markings on the earbuds – are they designed for left or right handed people? It must make a difference otherwise they would not have been labeled. If I mistakenly put them in backwards would the audio play backwards? Finally I through caution to the wind and popped one in each ear  (which, incidentally, is much more comfortable than sticking both of them in one ear—not recommended) and powered the player on.

The player is small, only slightly larger than a thumb drive or a pack of gum but it has a solid feel. Time will tell, but my initial reaction is that it will endure my innate clumsiness and likely last longer than some of the cell phones, two laptops, and one very small kitten that had the misfortune of falling into (I should say out of) my hands. The volume up/down and next/previous track controls as well as the on/off button are well designed and have a pleasant tactile feel.

As I mentioned earlier the sound quality is good but really the most important part of the entire shabang is the fidelity of the audio to the Bible. In this respect, the BibleStick is excellent. The background sounds, great voice talent, and first class production quality is as good as any available commercial product in my opinion.  Given this and the mission of the Faith Comes By Hearing ministry, I will definitely pick up more BibleSticks in the future as gifts and giveaways and have no hesitation recommending it to others as well.

By the way, turns out that reversing the earbuds doesn’t cause the audio to run backwards after all.

Enjoy!

   

His Christmas Story

Free MP3 download:

His Christmas Story by Max McClean is available from ListenersBible.com.

Quote:

When we hear the Christmas story what do we feel? Is it just a nice story? Well, yes. But it is also telling us that a huge event has just taken place; an event so big that it changes everything. Why? Because the infinite, eternal being who created all things decided to pay us a visit, knock on our front door, get to know us and find out about our hurts and our pains.

Feel the weight of this extraordinary event in this new 25-minute scripture CD that explores the size and magnitude of Christmas. Make this a part of your holiday celebrations.

Happy Reformation Day

Free MP3 download of Martin Luther’s Here I Stand by Max McClean is available from ListenersBible.com. Offer ends Nov 1.

Quote:

In the late afternoon of April 18, 1521, in the city of Worms, Germany, Martin Luther, a 37 year-old Catholic monk was called to defend himself before Charles the Fifth, the Holy Roman Emperor. The speech he delivered that day, Here I Stand, marked the beginning of the Reformation, a critical turning point in Christian history, that decisively altered the spiritual map of the world.

In this recording, Max McLean introduces the events leading up to the Diet of Worms: Martin Luther’s prayer the night before he delivered his speech; Luther’s stirring defense; the Catholic church’s rebuttal; and, Luther’s final heartfelt response.

We Must All Up and Be Doing

 

 “I dread slack hands in the vineyard — we must all up and be doing.”  — Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon

MP3 Audio about this remarkable Christian woman available for download here. (Source: The Christian Institute, UK)

Baptism Part 1 – Paedobaptism and Credobaptism

Two excellent resources containing dialogue between proponents of infant and believer’s baptism:

1. R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur:

A. The Case for Infant Baptism: The Historic Paedo-Baptist Position by R.C. Sproul. (MP3 download)

B. The Case for Believer’s Baptism: The Credo Baptist Position by John MacArthur. (MP3 download)

2. Pastor William Shishko and Dr. James White (debate):

MP3 Download: Part 1, Part 2

Was Jesus a Myth? Debate MP3

Apologetics 315 has the full MP3 Audio available for download of the September 26, 2009 debate between Dr. James White and Dan Barker on the topic Was Jesus a Myth? The audio’s sound quality could be better but it is definitely much better than were the soundness and quality of the arguments offered by Dan Barker.

During the debate, Mr. Barker misused quotes from Justin Martyr’s First Apology even though he admitted to having never read the work. Dr. White addressed this during the debate and recently added this video on You Tube providing more complete details about the misuse, abuse, and distortions of Justin Martyr’s writings.

Related: Repudiate the Book Dan Barker.

Phil Johnson on Heresies

Heard any new heresies lately? I doubt it.

Quote:

“It’s important for Christians to have a grasp of heresies that the church has battled over the centuries, because they often return with new clothing, and the unprepared Christian is likely to fall into these old pits. Phil does an excellent job of looking at some of the major heresies that are revisiting the church today: Socinianism, Arianism, Pelagianism, Gnosticism, and Judaizing. This is an excellent 6 part series that will shore up some weak points in the church today.”

The series is available at the GraceLife Pulpit web site or you can download each MP3 individually below.

1. The Judaizers
2. The Gnostics
3. The Arians, #1
4. The Arians, #2
5. The Pelagians
6. The Socinians

Albert Mohler on the Apostle’s Creed

Dr. Albert Mohler’s 13 part sermon series on the Apostle’s Creed has been around for a couple of years. Nothing new here… but don’t move along too fast. Just as with the creed itself, this series is definitely worthy of thoughtful contemplation, of spending time with, and of being listened to again and again.

The series is available with other Chapel messages delivered by Dr. Mohler here or you can download each MP3 individually below.

 

1. The Apostles Creed: Credo: I Believe
2. The Apostles Creed: God the Father Almighty
3. The Apostles Creed: Maker of Heaven and Earth
4. The Apostles Creed: Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord
5. The Apostles Creed: Conceived of the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary
6. The Apostles Creed: Suffered Under Pontius Pilot
7. The Apostles Creed: Was Crucified, Died, and Was Buried
8. The Apostles Creed: He Ascended into Heaven and Sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty
9. The Apostles Creed: Whence He Shall Come to Judge the Living and the Dead
10. The Apostles Creed: The Holy Spirit
11. The Apostles Creed: The Holy Catholic Church and the Communion of the Saints
12. The Apostles Creed: The Forgiveness of Sins
13. The Apostles Creed: The Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting

S. Lewis Johnson on Prayer

In this 8 part series provided by the SLJ Institute, Dr. S. Lewis Johnson teaches on the theology of prayer in a way that is sadly, and unfortunately, lacking in many (so-called) churches today. Highly recommended for all Christians no matter their stage of spiritual maturity. Each lesson is available here or you can download each MP3 individually below.

1. The Theology of Prayer: the Nature, Object and Grounds of Prayer
2. Prayer and the Attributes, part I (Why Bother and Infinite, Omnipotent God of Love?)
3. Prayer and the Attributes, part II (Does Prayer Change an Unchanging God?)
4. Prayer and the Decrees
5. The Problem of Unanswered Prayer, part I
6. The Problem of Unanswered Prayer, part II
7. The Necessity of Prayer
8. Importunate Prayer

Daniel Akin: Survey of The New Testament

Daniel L. Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of Five Who Changed the World, is conducting a Survey of the New Testament. You can Subscribe to the Podcast to listen to the audio and download the notes and outlines here.

Already up:

1. Survey of the New Testament: How the Bible Came to Be
2. Survey of the New Testament: Why the 4 Gospels
3. Survey of the New Testament: Matthew
4. Survey of the New Testament: Mark
5. Survey of the New Testament: Luke
6. Survey of the New Testament: Acts
7. Survey of the New Testament: John
8. Survey of the New Testament: Romans
9. Survey of the New Testament: 1 Corinthians
10. Survey of the New Testament: 2 Corinthians