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Predestination, the Doctrine of Election, Universalism

By on October 1, 2010 in Faith

Since a sermon preached at our church a couple of weeks ago challenged the doctrine of election and promoted universalism (the belief that everyone will be saved) Ive been gathering teaching and putting here – mainly so I have a central collection as I learn more, but if you have comments they will contribute to the learning as well.

Hosea 4.6 – “My people are perishing for lack of knowledge”

Jesus

  • John 15.16 – You did not choose me, I chose you”

Paul

  • Romans 8.28 – “and we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
  • Titus 1.1 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness

 

The Gospel Coalition

Interview with Rob Bell  - actually admits to not believing in Hell – here

John Macarthur

JI Packer

RC Sproul

  • video – “Does God really want all people to be saved?”

Tim Keller

Mark Driscoll

Scott Thomas

Wikipedia

  • Predestination
  • Doctrine of election
  • Universalism
  • Calvinism
  • Arminianism
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HCSB Online Study Bible

By on September 8, 2010 in Faith, Learning, Technologies

Came across this today – and while it’s still in beta it looks to have good potential.  Many of the features that users will expect are not live yet (Search, Notes, Articles) but hey that’s what Beta is right?   Give it a go and maybe suggest features/inclusions to Lifeway – using the Feedback form link in the sites footer.  Lifeway are the folks behind ‘Bible Navigator X‘ the XBox360 Bible.

http://beta.mystudybible.com/

hcsbonline HCSB Online Study Bible

HCSB Online Study Bible

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Open Library for Local Learning Communities

By on September 8, 2010 in Faith, Learning, MAF, Technologies

The Open Library for Local Learning Communities (OL3C) is a large project that MAFLT has been asked to take a major role in by Wycliffe / SIL (Gary Simons, Chief Research Officer), Shell books (Mike Trainum, CEO), and ARCA Associates (Peter Clark, CEO). The purpose of the project is to facilitate the development and distribution of SALT, LIGHT, and Multilingual Learning Resources for limited literate education needs around the world. Several documents and audio sessions are attached to explain the project by the key initiators from Wycliffe and ARCA and Shellbooks. litejazz logo Open Library for Local Learning Communities

The first attached document #1 gives an introduction to the OL3C project with an early initial proposal. By the end of the three year project the following four outcomes are expected:

  • Shell book Creation: Hundreds of resource shells are available in Shell book format for localization by local learning communities, and thousands of localized editions are available to demonstrate the success of the approach.
  • Library System: Development agencies and local learning communities alike are using the Open Library for Local Learning Communities (OL3C) to share both resource shells and localized editions.
  • Training Development: Development agencies and local learning communities have access to the training they need for creating resource shells, making localized editions, and using the Open Library.
  • Community of Practice: A self-sustaining consortium of all the agencies participating in the OL3C is functioning as a community of practice to share results, promote best practices, establish standards, and make strategic decisions regarding the future of the OL3C.

The specific tasks and responsibilities to accomplish these goals are given in attached document #2. OL3C Preliminary Plan. In this document the detailed objectives that MAFLT has been asked to be responsible for are given in 1.1a through 1.1L. We are being asked to manage the development of the online open library that will allow worldwide multilingual sharing of shell book and PDF resources. The online library will facilitate the search for and downloading of existing resources in major trade or national languages so that they can be contextually moved to local heart language resources and uploaded to the online open library.

A preliminary model of this functional concept has been created and is located at www.worldvision.ol3c.org This pilot site will guide you through the extensive shell books resources it contains and gives access to. This is mean to only be a concept example and not a GUI design for the OL3C project. It is an example of a tailored agency portal within OL3C.

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Testimonies from Zambia – Audio Bibles

By on July 28, 2010 in Faith, Learning, Technologies

Zambian pastor, Michael Mutale, writes to MAF-LT’s Mike Holman,

Mike,

Am fine. I have been doing trainings. I had a group of pastors who had interest in Digital library and we had a good time together.

Please do pray for me as I go next week out to meet 60 pastors from the North western part of Zambia.

Please do check some of the testimonies from the brothers here. I will send more testimonies.

Thank you for everything.

Michael

Continue Reading →

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Comparison of Free Bible Study Software

By on July 27, 2010 in Faith, Learning, Technologies

Brian Ward (MAF LT staff, based in Nampa Idaho) reviewed some of the free Bible study software available online.  The results of his review are below:

Top Choices:

  1. xulSword code.google.com/p/xulsword www.ibt.org.ru/english/bible/info_bible_en.htm
    Top choice for reading and general study
  2. TheWord www.theword.gr
    Top choice for advanced study and for creating custom modules
  3. BPBible bpbible.com
    Top choice for distribution on USB due to Portable Apps installer

Key Features compared to DigiStudy:

    xulSword BP Bible The Word DigiStudy
    1. Ability to Import Bibles and books from common formats The Sword Project
    crosswire.org/sword

    Perl scripts for converting from SFM to OSIS and from OSIS to SWORD

    		 The Sword Project crosswire.org/sword E-Sword www.e-sword.net
    Unbound unicode Bibles unbound.biola.edu (click downloads) &
    Zefania XML sourceforge.net/projects/zefania-sharp/files with importer tool    		 No
    2. Ability to create own books from RTF formating No No Yes with importer tool
    www.theword.gr/index.php?article.tools    		 No
    3. Use common formats as Go Bible Mobile Phone software gobible.blogspot.com Converters to thml Sword Yes (Zefania, Sword) Yes (Zefania) No
    4. Ability to install and run on desktop and USB drive Yes Yes (already a Portable App installer) Yes No
    5. Bibles in many languages and can add more Yes Yes Yes Difficult
    6. Interface in many languages and can add more Yes Yes Yes Yes
    7. Ability to package application with certain modules (especially nice if can set interface language and layout also) Yes ? need to ask ? need to ask Yes
    8. Flexible Interface Yes Yes Yes No
    9. Simple Interface Very Simple Yes No (not without work) Yes
    10. Easily Readable Text Yes, Very Readable
    especially in two-pane mode    		 Not as good as others Yes Yes
    11. Double-click or Right-click to define word ?? Right-click Both (actually single-click), also auto-syncs the commentary Both
    12. Double-click or Right-click to search word Double or Right-click Right-click Right-clck Right-click
    13. Ability to View Bible and Commentary/Dictionary/Other Book concurrently Yes, however three at once is not very satisfactory Yes Yes Yes
    14. Ability to Compare 2 or more Bible Versions Yes Yes Yes Yes
    15. Ability to index and search Bibles and other books Yes Yes Yes Yes
    16. Ability to add own notes and cross references Yes Yes Yes Not cross references
    17. Ability to publish user-created commentaries/dictionaries Not very easily, can export to “bookmarks”, but not really satisfactory No Yes, can build commentaries/dictionaries on the fly and then publish them when ready. No

Other software reviewed:

Mac OS Bible Study Software

Other Reviews of Free Bible Study Software:

Concordance Building Software

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