THE BIBLE AVAILABLE ON IPHONE

STILL THE MOST-READ and top-selling book in history, the Bible is many things to many people.

For some, it is the living Word of God—a handbook and guidebook to life itself.

For others, it is a resource of great spiritual truths—an ever-flowing fountain of wisdom and inspiration.

For others still, it is a place to go in times of trouble and turmoil—a source of comfort during the storms of life.

For countless millions, it is all of the above.

Even today, the Bible remains a top-selling book—a fact evidenced by the never-ending variety of versions that are turned out each year.

With an increasingly high-tech population, the Bible now is available in many formats on the Internet.

And, now, it is going the iPhone route.

According to Christian Newswire, iPhone users have helped identify the most inspiring verses found in the Bible.

ReignDesign, developers of the "Bible Promises" application for iPhone, recently released a new version which allows people to "favorite" their most inspiring Bible verses.

By analyzing information from thousands of people around the world, ReignDesign was able to compile a list of the most popular Bible verses.

Here are the Top 5 verses.

1. Isaiah 40:31: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

2. Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

3. Psalms 103:2, 3: "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."

4. Galatians 6:9: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

5. Philippians 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." [all quotes from New International Version] ...

More than 500 Bible verses are organized by topic, including: Addiction, Anger, Belief, Children, Contentment, Courage, Death, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, Forgiveness, Grace, Healing, Health, Hope, Joy, Love, Lust, Marriage, Money, Patience, Peace, Perseverance, Prayer. Redemption from Sin, Repentance, Salvation, Suffering, Temptation, Trust, Truth, Wisdom, Work, Worry, and Worship.

Phil Anderson
"Top Bible verses identified"
cjonline.com (The Topeka Capital-Journal [Kansas]), August 14, 2009

NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDES RELIGIOUS PROFILE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

THIS YEAR marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. ... The more I learn about Lincoln the more fascinated I am by his range of intellectual curiosity, by his voracious reading, by his management skills, by his tolerance of ambiguity—and by his religious sensibilities, which are finally receiving the scholarly attention they deserve.

David Herbert Donald's 1995 portrait Lincoln limns not only the personal and political character of the 16th president, but also the contours of Lincoln's personal views on race (which, early in his life, were no more advanced than the average American's—but which did evolve) and on slavery (to which he was unalterably opposed from early on). As for religion, Donald mentions Phineas Densmore Gurley, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, which the Lincolns attended. ...

Civil War historian James M. McPherson says that Ronald C. White, Jr.'s book A. Lincoln: A Biography is the best biography of Lincoln since Donald's and that in some ways it is better because it incorporates recent scholarship and pays more attention to Lincoln's religious thinking.

Lincoln, we learn, spent a lot of time listening to sermons—by Gurley and James Smith at the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield [Illinois]. Both pastors were with Lincoln at the most painful moments of his life: the deaths of his sons. Both were "Old School" Presbyterians who preferred a rational form of Calvinism to "Now School" evangelical enthusiasm. Lincoln liked their literate and logical preaching, and he kept a copy of Smith's book, The Christian's Defence, on his shelf.

White suggests that Lincoln's approach to religion was shaped by his distaste for his father's emotional faith. Lincoln never joined a church, was uncomfortable with orthodox dogma, read Tom Paine's critiques of religion with great interest, and seems to have lived with a high degree of theological uncertainty. Yet his speeches contain many Biblical allusions, and he had memorized passages of Scripture, including the Sermon on the Mount and many psalms. White eloquently portrays Lincoln's struggles with discerning the will of God during the Civil War. Lincoln seems to have adopted Smith's and Gurley's view of God's providence at work in the world. Lincoln's spiritual struggles led theologian Elton Trueblood to call him "the theologian of American anguish."

John M. Buchanan
"Lincoln Log"
©2009 The Christian Century. July 28, 2009
Reprinted with permission.

WORLD TO UNITE IN PRAYERS FOR PEACE ON SEPTEMBER 21

ODYSSEY NETWORKS, the nation's largest coalition of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith groups dedicated to creating media that build bridges of understanding, is partnering with the United Nations in a multimedia campaign in observance of the 2009 International Day of Peace ("Peace Day"). Featured is "A Million Minutes for Peace." This effort aims to engage one million people to stop at noon EDT on September 21 to pray for peace, in their own way, for one minute. People are invited to pledge to take this time at www.odysseynetworks.org. The prayer pledge with all the signatories will be presented at the United Nations during the opening day events.

Peace Day brings individuals, organizations, and nations together to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. It is officially a day of global cease-fire.

Since its inception, Peace Day has grown to include millions of people worldwide, and each year events are organized to commemorate this day and to work toward its goals. Observances range from private gatherings to public forums to events attended by hundreds of thousands. Information about public events can be found at www.internationaldayofpeace.org

Peace Day is supported by numerous organizations, including Pathways to Peace, Service for Peace, Roots & Shoots (a youth program) and World Peace Prayer Society.

Mary Dickey
www.odysseynetworks.org
August 17, 2009