One More Time: brand new course on waking up early

Back in March I wrote a series of blog posts on my practice of waking up early. Those were some of my more popular posts, and it has continued to be a passion of mine and didn't feel like I've yet said everything on the subject. So today I'm happy to announce on my blog that I've created a brand new course called Waking Up Early: get in shape, gain focus, achieve your goals. And for being a loyal blog reader, I'll give it to you for 50% off (only $5!) until the end of the week.

For those of you who have enrolled in one of my online courses before, you will notice that I am now using a new platform. I have previously published on Udemy and will continue to do so, but my main publishing spot will now be my own course page that you can see right here:

All of my courses will first be published on my own course page, and only later will arrive on Udemy. And the Udemy course will probably be a higher price as well. If you'd like to read more about what to expect in this course, check out the course page right here.

I hope to see you in the course!

The Misuse of 1 Corinthians 11 in Most Churches Today

It has been awhile since I made a YouTube video and thought it was about time! I chose a passage of scripture that for pretty much my entire Christian life I have seen misused in the context of a communion service. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and please be sure to share this post if you liked the video, so more can see it! (below is a transcript if you'd rather read it than watch it).

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**TRANSCRIPT**

In  this video I want to talk about what I think is a very misunderstood and misused passage in churches today. So let’s dive right in.

Depending on how often your church practices communion, inevitably the words from 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 is read. Verses 17 to 22 states this:

“But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.”

So here’s the scenario — when the early church got together to celebrate the Lord’s supper it was a communal meal together. Churches today don’t really do this anymore, rather it has become a part of a larger service, usually with just a small piece of bread and a small cup of wine or juice. But the early church wasn’t that way - They got together for a full meal - just like Jesus and his disciples. Now the problem was that they were not actually sitting down together as a church. Because of the divisions in the church - whether the divisions were over loyalties to one apostle or another, or social and class divisions -  when they were coming together some people were having their fill, thinking that it was just about the food, and not the communion that they were to have together with the Lord. So some people came early, ate and drank too much or all of the food, and then later groups would come and not have anything or very little. Paul tells those people who were eating everything and drinking everything, “you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing.” This was the context under which Paul wrote this passage. This was the problem he was addressing.

Paul states in the next few verses: "“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

 So here’s  where the English language fails us a little, and consequently we don’t fully hear what Paul is saying. You see, in English the word “you" can be either singular you, or plural you (as in you all). That’s why I like to tell my students when I teach them Greek to use the word “y’all” for the plural form. So look at this passage again and let me show you where  you is plural. “I also delivered to y’all”, “which is for y’all,” as often as y’all drink it,” “as often as y'all eat this bread,” “y’all proclaim the Lord’s death.”  Paul is reminding the reader’s that the practice of the Lord’s supper is a Congregational practice. It’s not something that should be subject to the whims of certain individuals or groups. He’s reminding them that right from the beginning this was an act done together as disciples of Jesus. And of course at the very end, he emphasizes that the act, done together, is the proclamation of the Lord’s death until he comes. The implication of course, is that what the Corinthian church was doing was not properly proclaiming the Lord’s death because they weren’t doing it together.

So now we get to the misused portion in many of our churches. Paul continues and says: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself … So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home. (1 Corinthians 11:27–29, 33–34, ESV)

So as you can see, now that we’ve understood the context, Paul’s correction makes sense. I’ve underlined and bolded – "so then my brothers when you come together to eat wait for one another.”  Paul has told us in the previous verses what the  “unworthy manner” was –  Eating to get your fill as if it was just a common potluck dinner, instead of together as a congregation proclaiming the Lord’s death.  Readers today have misunderstood the "unworthy manner" because of not understanding the context, and of course this one line “let a a person examine himself” has come to be used very differently.

For Paul, "let a person examine himself," was his reminder to remember  what communion was really about, "to proclaim the Lord’s death together." He was reminding them that it is a communal act, and was so since its inception. So he was telling them suppress your appetite, and eat together.  But today in most churches, we ignore the original context of this one line. We tend to under-emphasize the communal aspect of this meal.  Obviously most churches today don’t actually do a communal meal, And even in the way that we do take the bread and the wine, it is often more of a solo practice done in the presence of the church - and I think churches today would do well to find creative ways of making this more of a communal act. But most importantly, we have pulled this one line, “let a person examine himself," and we use it to ask the individual congregation member to see if their heart is right with the Lord, if they feel worthy, prior to partaking in the bread and the wine. This is clearly not what Paul was saying. First off, what exactly does it mean for my heart to be right with the Lord?  I would wager to say that if you feel worthy to take the Lord’s supper, as in you are worthy of this free gift of salvation, then your heart is in fact not right with the Lord! Just think about the very first Lord’s supper – Jesus sitting around with his disciples, knowing full well that Judas was about to betray him, Peter was about to deny him, and the rest of them are going to flee. None of them were worthy, and yet he passed out the bread and wine anyway.  But most importantly, in individualizing this passage to be about the individual congregation member and how they might be feeling or living in that moment and whether they have dealt with their sin or not, ignores the whole point of what Paul was saying the Lord’s supper was about. This wasn’t an individual act from the Christian to God. It is a communal  proclamation of the Lord’s death.

 So what is the proper use of this passage in the context of the of communion today? First of all we need to recognize that most churches are not at all in danger of doing this in the unworthy manner to which Paul was referring. It might be that your church does do communal meals every time you practice the Lord’s supper, and if that is the case good on you because you  are practicing it just like the early church did. But most churches aren't, so this danger no longer applies. We of course need to remember what Paul was actually talking about. And to use this passage properly in our churches today we need to:  1) remind the congregation that this is a communal, and joyous!, proclamation of Christ’s finished work on the cross. 2) we need to remind believers that they have been made worthy by Jesus himself and commanded to partake. I emphasize the believer portion because  this is a practice specifically for born-again believers, and we have been commanded by Jesus himself to do this together. And finally 3), we need to stop misusing the line about examining oneself to reflect on their individual worthiness. None of us are “worthy” of God’s grace, it is a free gift! If every one of us, including every pastor who administers communion on Sundays, were to truly examine their hearts to see if they were worthy  – well, no one should be taking communion! Luckily, it is not about you and your righteousness, but rather Christ and his.

Don't Spare the Rod! Recovering The Biblical Perspective on Disciplining Your Children

In this post, I want to talk about recovering the biblical mandate for proper discipline of children. Having 3 children of my own, I see a lot of parents interacting with children. Some of what I see is great, some isn't. In my own parenting, I see some that is good and some not so good. Too many children, it seems to me, are very much lacking in discipline.

The phrase "Spare the rod, spoil the child" is often thought to be a proverb from the Bible, but it actually comes from a guy named Samuel Butler in a 1662 poem. However, it is clearly built upon Proverbs 13:24: "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." A number of other Proverbs are cited when talking about this issue as well. See Proverbs 19:18, Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 29:15, and especially Proverbs 23:13-14 (though this one is better translated as "servant" or "young man," not child).

The Biblical Rod

To gain a clear perspective on what the Bible teaches, it is necessary to take a look at the word "rod" in the Hebrew, šēbeṭ (kind of pronounced like shave it). It occurs 190 times in the Old Testament, and depending on the context can mean numerous things:

• Most frequently it actually means "tribe." This usage is wholly different from the "rod" scenario encountered in Proverbs.

• The next most numerous is a "(thin) rod" typically made of metal or wood and was a small instrument used for beating seed, and also at times as an instrument to hit (see Exodus 21:20). This rod was something many would carry around as a tool to do many things.

• The word could be used more specifically to mean a weapon of some sort, like "javelin," "club," or "mace." In these instances, it was often still translated as rod.

• The word could also mean "scepter." This was more ornamental and ceremonial. It was a sign of authority and rulership.

• The final usage is "shepherd staff" or "shepherd crook."

Removing "tribe" from the discussion, we can break down the way the word was used based upon the contexts it was used:

1. Rod — In the case of some sort of work being done Eg. Isaiah 28:27. In the particular case of Exodus 21:20, it was used to punish a slave (considered a person's property).

2. Scepter — In the case of ceremony or ruling. Eg. Genesis 49:10.

3. Club/Mace — In the context of battle, war, or fighting (typically still translated as "Rod" in the Old Testament). Eg. Proverbs 22:8, Isaiah 30:31, Isaiah 11:4.

4. Shepherd Staff/Crook — In the context of shepherding. Eg. Leviticus 27:32, Micah 7:14.

The question that remains, then, is under what circumstances a verse like Proverbs 13:24 is using the word "rod." The two most viable options in my opinion is: 1) the rod used as an instrument of work, with common rods often used for beating slaves, or 2) the shepherd's rod (i.e. a crook). Although obviously parents who use spanking as discipline wouldn't consider it "beating," understanding "rod" in this manner from a context like Proverbs 13:24 would best equate to the usage of the common rod for hitting a slave. However, I believe the better understanding is that of the shepherd's rod.

The Traditional Understanding

This is where I diverge from what has been the common understanding in the church for a long while. This Proverb (and the later version of it by Samuel Butler) has been the base upon which we have justified the physical punishment of children (typically spanking). In fact, I will be up front with you that this was my view up until only 2 or 3 years ago. But I no longer think that is the correct way to view this verse, nor does it jive with the whole of scripture (see below). There is a growing body of literature on the subject of physical correction that says that spanking and hitting are not nearly as effective in disciplining children as boundaries and logical consequences (just Google it, there is lots). Furthermore, it often ends up hard for parents to NOT spank when emotions are running high. This ends up sending the wrong message too and can end up being emotionally scarring for children.

My own change of opinion on this subject came from this type of research, from the biblical view of shepherding (see below), and from my increasing recognition that too many children today (including my own) are growing up both feeling entitled and not actually given logical consequences. But life is largely about the consequences to our actions (good and bad). If my goal is not to raise great kids, but to raise kids to be great adults, then that means I need to prepare them for life. Unless they grow up to be in some sort of dangerous profession, being physically hit is never going to be a logical consequence that they will face in life. So why, during this time of preparing and molding them to be great adults, would I choose such an unrealistic consequence that isn't even that effective? Perhaps some of the reasons parents spank are: 1) tradition [like being taught that it is biblical), 2) it is the only way they know to discipline, or 3) it happened to them and they turned out okay. But I've hopefully shown that this is not actually the best understanding of the Bible. And logical consequences is a much better teacher. Finally, for those to whom spanking was the norm and they turned out okay, I don't think that it was actually the spanking that made you okay (if you are indeed okay). It was, rather, the character of your parents and the myriad of other things they did to prepare you for life. Think long and hard — if you were to pull spanking out of your past (replacing it with some other discipline) would you be a lesser person than you are today? I doubt it.

Parents as Shepherds

So if you're still not convinced, indulge me for a moment to consider if the shepherding motif is the better option for parents today. Shepherding was/is about the care, supervision, and leading of the flock from one place to another. The Bible uses numerous metaphors to describe the relationship between God and his people: parent/child, shepherd/sheep, husband/wife, master/slave. Of these metaphors, the first two are by far the most dominant. This does not change in the New Testament, as Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd too, and the master/slave motif is largely confined to Paul, who often uses it to juxtapose the reality of being slaves to sin and to the law. Shepherding imagery was a very natural thing for the Biblical authors to use given the society of the early Israelites. The Bible also uses this imagery to describe the religious leaders of the Israelite nation. Given the dominance of this metaphor, and given the Christian desire to be image-bearers of Christ, it would seem logical that we model our parenting upon the model of God/Jesus himself, the good shepherd.

To reiterate, we should not spare the rod from our children. But in proper biblical context, this now looks much different than has been traditionally assumed:

1. The rod was constantly in the shepherd's hand as he walked in front of the sheep and led the way. Sheep have a wide field of vision that is better on the periphery than directly ahead (part of the reason they wander off). The shepherd stayed close. And when the sheep started to follow the other sheep around them, this usually led to trouble.

2. The rod corrected the course for the sheep. Because the sheep were distracted by the things they saw in their periphery, they quite often wandered from the pack, or could very casually veer from the group. The shepherd's rod was used to push and guide them back into the way they were supposed to go. Striking the sheep would actually be counter-intuitive, as it may slow down the animal, or make it wary of the shepherd.

3. To remove from harm or corral stubborn sheep. The nicer shepherd's crook would have the circular hook around the top. This was used in the case of extreme danger to hook around the head and pull, or in the case of a stubborn sheep, to get them where they needed to go. This was the more extreme kind of course correction.

4. As a weapon against predators. The rod did indeed become a weapon, but it was not to hit the sheep, but rather to hit the wolves and mountain lions that threatened the sheep.

5. As an extension of the hand. The reason rod's were carried so often was as a general instrument and extension of the hand. In the case of the shepherd, it was sometimes used to lift and carry a sheep, or to push back the wool to examine the skin for injury.

I'm hoping that by now you see how wonderfully this imagery that the Bible uses can apply to parents and can provide us with a biblical model for not sparing the rod:

1. We lead our children by teaching and modeling the behaviors and values we expect. If you want to see or change an attitude, action, or behavior in your child, change it in yourself. Explain the expectations you have of them, telling them why. And, like the sheep in the front of the pack who gets to the feeding trough first, catch your kids doing right and affirm it. Furthermore, the parents as the primary care-givers need to also be the primary influencers. We have made the mistake that thinking kids need more time with friends, to the point that we think teens "need their space." But it is adults, those who have become wise with age and experience, who should be the primary influencers through the entire journey to adulthood.

2. We correct the course. Stay firm with your kids and stick to the boundaries you set. The phenomena of parents giving empty threats, not following through, and not actually meaning what they say seems to be an epidemic. Children have learned to get just what they want via whining, tantrums, crying, or just ignoring. Parents are supposed to be the ones in charge. But real life is filled with consequences, both good and bad. Your children's bosses and teachers will all keep their word. Instead of physical correction, we discipline by giving natural consequences — just like life.

3. We keep a watchful eye. Parents watch and encourage and teach their children how not to stray. The shepherd couldn't form a permanent moving fence around the sheep as they walked in order to always keep them safe, but neither did they leave them alone for long, especially in places of potential danger. Parents shouldn't shield their children from everything, that doesn't prepare them for life. But there are places and situations that need your direct intervention and clear boundaries, otherwise children will be going in the wrong direction, perhaps following along behind the other strays. The most practical example today, I think, is the amount of online and screen time kids have today. Kids are losing their imagination and their ability to interact with live people because of over-consumption.

4. We protect. Every situation is different, but it is a universal that children need protection from something. Sometimes it is protection from a bully. Sometimes it is protection from bad friends. Sometimes it is protection from their own poor choices. Sometimes it is protection from garbage on the internet. Whatever it is, have your rod in hand, ready to protect.

5. We make parenting an everything and everyday process. Jesus' 12 disciples learned what he taught and eventually learned to be like him by hanging out with him for 3 years. They ate with him, ministered with him, traveled with him. To discipline a child is to mold a disciple. Your children are to be your disciples, learning from your everyday walk how to live, how to act, how to treat others, how to treat themselves. It is both a blessing and a curse that the majority of what my kids learn from me is not from the lectures I give but the everyday simple choices I live out. "Do as I say but not as I do" is a command that children simply cannot and will not follow — and they shouldn't have to.

I want to end by echoing the mantra of pro-spankers — spared the rod, spoil the child. Unfortunately, what it means to spare the rod has been misunderstood, and I hope this post has helped to recover the biblical understanding of disciplining our children. A (very) paraphrased translation of Proverbs 13:24 would be "to withhold your leadership and any consequences would be spoiling your child."  It was not about physical punishment. The use of the shepherd's rod actually represented much MORE responsibility of the rod-bearer. Parents have actually let themselves off the hook by assuming it was just about physical punishment. As you aim to raise kids to be great adults, do not spare the shepherd's rod.

photo credit: Young Shepherd via photopin (license)

I've Just Discovered the Perfect Word to Describe Myself

I came across the word Edupreneur two weeks ago in a random comment somewhere on the internet and I instantly new that this was the perfect label to describe myself. In the online world, I never quite knew what niche I fit it, and often knowing your niche is important for getting lots of readers for a blog. But I like to talk about a lot of things: productivity, technology, education, biblical studies, parenting, etc. There aren't a ton of blogs that cover that range of topics (if you know of any, please let me know in the comments!).

Beyond just blogging, I have also published traditional and self-published books, publish apps, as well as online courses. As far as where I spend most of my online reading time, it is usually in leadership, entrepreneurship, and productivity, and my book reading time is devoted to my academic specialty. All of these things mix into the big pot that is me.

And that's why EduPreneur is the perfect word to describe me. I am a teacher. I believe teaching is my spiritual gift, and I am so very blessed to be in a full time position where I can use my gift to teach and mold future leaders of the church. But I am not merely content to only teach those who come to Acadia Divinity College. Nor am I content to only touch a handful of academics through exclusively academic publishing. My entrepreneurial heartbeat affects my desire to educate well beyond the classroom setting as well. All of my apps, video courses, and blog posts flow out of my passion to educate and equip others — and of course my entrepreneurial heartbeat is happy that some of these ventures help to pay the bills.

Now why was it such a big deal to find this word EduPreneur? Well, I like labels. And for some reason, when I stumbled across this word, it helped me to understand myself a little more, and it made my whole world make a little more sense. I hope you can find that description for yourself too.

Hand Off! How To Be More Productive on your Mac By Using Your Mouse Less

Every laptop comes with a trackpad and every computer has a mouse. We recognize how much our hands are on our keyboard, but often it escapes us how much time moving our right hand back and forth goes to the keyboard and the mouse. Using the mouse, while sometimes necessary, is actually used a LOT more than it actually needs to be. I would wager a guess that 50-75% of what you do with your mouse could have been done without it.

The following hacks are Mac specific, because I'm a Mac user. But while the apps I might mention are specific to Mac, many of the suggestions should be just as helpful for PC users.

Shortcut keys

The most important thing you can do to use your keyboard more, your mouse less, and generally work faster, is to learn the shortcut keys for your most used apps. Learning how to quickly highlight a word, a whole line to the front/end, or a whole document from the cursor to the beginning/end of the document, will save you tons of time. Along with those, know the much used Cut, Copy, and Paste shortcut keys. In your browser, know how to open and close tabs, move the page up and down, etc. Bottom line, you can do almost everything in an app without the mouse.

app 1: Cheat Sheet

The Mac app called Cheat Sheet is a great little app to help you learn your keyboard shortcuts when you forget them. Once the little app is installed and running in the background, all you need to do is hold down the command key for 1 second to bring up a sheet showing you all of the current keyboard shortcuts available to you. While I have most of my essential keyboard shortcuts memorized, I still pull of Cheat Sheet from time to time.

The Help Menu

One of the most helpful aspects of the help menu in every app is that you can type in the menu item you are looking for. This is particularly helpful for apps with massive menus (hello photoshop!). Test it out and try if for yourself. After you click the help menu, type in the menu item you want - it will highlight the item, and you can launch it by hitting enter.

What I just mentioned above still requires one mouse-click. One additional hack will remove the need for clicking the help menu with your mouse. Go to System Preferences>Keyboard>Shortcuts>App Shortcuts. Create a new shortcut in the "All Applications" called Show Help menu, and assign Command+/ to this.

Now what you have is a global keyboard shortcut that will do the equivalent of clicking the Help menu. After doing this, you simply type the menu item you are looking for, then hit enter.

app 2: Alfred or Launchbar

For productivity specifically, Launchbar is the most important app I have installed on my Mac Alfred is almost identical, and the advantage is that there is a free version of Alfred on the Mac store (though I do recommend purchasing the upgrade anyway). If you are totally unfamiliar with either of these, then Alfred is cheaper, so go with that.

These apps are launching apps. The latest version of Spotlight tried to be more like them, but still falls WAY short. I have control+space assigned a global shortcut key for Launchbar, which brings up a small menu. From here, I can do an unbelievable amount of things:

• launch an app
• open any file
• launch a bookmark
• run a google search
• create a calendar event
• look up a contact
• bring up the last 20 items from my clipboard (i.e. what has been cut and pasted)
• do a math calculation
• play/pause iTunes
• For the more tech savvy, run workflows of applescripts
• and so much more (including customizing it for yourself)

To top all of this off, these apps learn your typing. For instance, my play/pause iTunes is simply typing in "pp" in launchbar. I had to do that a few times, but now it knows that "pp" means play/pause iTunes. It will do this for everything you use it for.

Launchbar is a constant in my workday. It is so second-nature to me, that I frequently do my Launchbar shortcut when I'm on a different computer, and then HATE it when I realize I have to work on a computer without it. Alfred or Launchbar will change your Mac experience for the better.

Speak It!

I've mentioned elsewhere my use of Dragon Dictate for Mac. While I tend to just use it for Dictation, the reality is that Dragon Dictate can actually do voice commands as well - effectively making keyboard shortcuts into spoken commands. Again, I'm so quick on my keyboard that I don't feel like messing with my flow. But if you just can 't seem to remember those keyboard shortcuts but do want to save time with this type of stuff, Dragon Dictate may be able to help.

Do you have any other keyboard hacks that I missed? Let me know in the comments!

A Big Update for ParseGreek is in the Works! Here is What You Can Expect

Today marks the three year anniversary since the release of my first App ParseGreek for iOS. I followed it up later with the Android release, and followed later by FlashGreek. I've been so pleased with how it was received and continues to be received. It currently has 14 five★ rating on the Android store (average is 4.2), and 14 five★ reviews on iTunes (average 4.5). 

ParseGreek is near and dear to my heart because it was my first foray into being an entrepreneur, and combining two of my skill sets: Biblical studies and Technology.  I've learned a lot of things along the way and will continue to do so. And it has certainly helped that ParseGreek has created another small stream of income for me and my family.

ParseGreek will continue to move forward and with this blog post I'm happy to announce that version 2 of ParseGreek is actively being worked on as we speak. In addition to telling you about some of the new things that are in the pipeline, as well as the new interface, I would also invite any of you to put in the comments any questions, critiques, or update requests that you would like to see in ParseGreek's future.

 

The Set Up Screen

ParseGreek's current setup screen is functional, but pretty ugly :-) Version 2 of ParseGreek will have a revamped, multipage setup screen for users:

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As you can see, a single page has turned into 3 pages that can quickly be swiped through (image 2 and 3 above would be the second page, depending on the choice you make on page 1). At the bottom of each page is a "default" check box. So, if you are always studying be frequency, checking that as the default means the startup of the app will bring you to page 2 rather than page 1. I am also considering right now including a few more full set words (like λυω and the article on page 2 of the setup). If I do this, I will choose full paradigms of some of the highest frequency words. If you have some thoughts on this, I am eager to hear about them in the comments below.

Page 3 is where some new features will also be added. Currently, word types can be narrowed down to one of five options. I have added a sixth option (pronouns), and we will add the ability to choose multiple options.

One of the most frequent suggestions (for both ParseGreek and FlashGreek) is having the ability to effectively ignore words that you always get correct. The next version of ParseGreek will keep a count of how often words have been answered correctly. You can then use this information to tailor your quiz. So you will be able to tell ParseGreek "don't include words I've answered correctly 5 times."

Finally, in the new set up screen you will also be able to restrict the quiz to a certain number of test words. Another frequent gripe was that the quizzes could end up being too massive to actually finish. This will allow you to make smaller random quizzes of, say, only 25 words — even if the previous criteria you chose resulted in 75 words.

The Quiz Screen

After talking with some designer friends and getting some crowd-sourced twitter feedback, I'm very happy with the new look of the ParseGreek quiz screen. Here are 3 shots (participle example, verb example, noun example).

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As you can see, ParseGreek will have a new look and color scheme. It still has the same feel, but I've moved several things around to give even more space for larger buttons. A few of the changes above are:

1. The correct/incorrect count is now in the top right corner
2. The hint button is now a direct tap on the word itself
3. The space for the word definition is now the entire bottom left corner
4. The Check and the Next buttons are now a combined single button that is larger.

So that's it! My baby is growing up and continuing to evolve. Thanks to all of you who have purchased and made use of ParseGreek. If you have any other suggestions or feedback on what you've read in this post, or anything else you'd like to see in ParseGreek, let it fly in the comments!

How I Read, Take Notes, and Process Information from Books

A critical part of my job and career is to continue to educate myself in my field of expertise as well as cognate fields. This means reading a lot. Over time I have developed a fairly solid way of reading and processing the information from my readings that I want to share with readers.

I have not been blessed with a photographic, or near-photographic memory. I have had students who did. I have colleagues who are pretty close. I wish that was me, but it isn't. Chances are, that isn't you either. But we can do some things to try and help ourselves retain more of the information we read, and most importantly to have it at the ready to find when needed in the future. So here is how I read, take notes, and process information from books:

1. READ WITH A PENCIL IN HAND. A big mistake for many is stopping too frequently when reading a book (non-fiction specifically). The starting and stopping really slows down reading time. Now there are, of course, times when this is perfectly acceptable (like when you're working on an essay or assignment). But when you are reading a book to learn, don't let anything distract you from continuing to read. The pencil that I hold in my hand is for 2 main things: to keep my eye moving along the page (this will effectively double your reading speed btw) and to make a little dot, bracket, or occasionally an underline. I try to stick to the dot, as it is the quickest, but I may put a bracket around a section if the relevant content spans a larger section on the page. After I make that dot or bracket, I keep reading.
2. WRITE A CHAPTER SUMMARY. For most books, I write a chapter summary immediately after finishing the chapter. Only on occasions when a book is a little bit shorter will I wait until the end before writing the chapter summaries.  Abstracting chapters this way helps me to process immediately what I read  and, as I will keep this on hand, it will be helpful later. I place these chapter summaries in my reference manager (for more on reference managers see my related posts)
3. PROCESS THE DOTS.  If you are reading a book for information extraction, the worst thing you can do if you are someone like me is to close the book and put it back on the shelf when you are done. I am too forgetful to do that. This step in my reading process can at times take just as long as reading the book itself, though thankfully that does not happen too often. What has helped significantly is the use of dictation software. If you are a Mac user, invoking Siri for dictation is free. Siri wasn't as reliable as I wanted her to be, so I use Dragon for dictation (PC and Mac). If you want to speed up your workflow, Dragon might be just the thing you need.
   I begin to go through the book page by page. I stop at every dot or bracket which I made while reading. These dots and brackets now move into one of 3 places:
   • In my reference manager. If it is a juicy quote, I include the direct quotation, along with page number, and create a note for it in my reference manager. If it is good information, but not necessarily a quote that I want to keep, I make a brief note and attach the page number.
   • Into a Logos Commentary-type note file. If the information is something directly tied to a Scripture verse or passage, I place the information within a Logos note file, and directly attach it to that Scripture verse. I am, and have been for awhile, creating a Logos note file which is like my own commentary on the scripture (If you do not know how to attach a note like this in Logos, I recommend taking my Logos video course)
   •  I have another Logos file which holds relatively random bits of information that I nonetheless want to have in Logos. If there was a particular table, chart, etc., in the book, this is the place where I keep that. I will replicate the information in this file. If it is too complicated of a chart or table, I will instead keep it in my reference manager, as I can take a picture of it with my phone, and attach the resulting picture to my reference manager.
   • Occasionally some of the dots or brackets I decide are not worth keeping long-term.
4. FLASHCARD IT. I don't do this as often, but if I am learning some new terms, or there are particular dates or events that I really want to remember permanently, I will create a flashcard for them in my flashcard program. I currently use Mental Case, but I also like Brainscape.
5. TAG IT. The last thing I do before sticking the book back on the shelf is adding any necessary tags into my reference manager. This is important, because it provides more words that in the future will help me to find any relevant information in the book that I have just read. I want to make it as easy as possible to find this information in the future.

 The process described above has several advantages to it. First, it keeps me reading and moving forward. As I mentioned above, using a pencil to keep your eyes going will speed up your reading significantly. Second, writing the chapter summaries and then later processing the dots forces you to revisit and review the information you found. This review will make it more likely that you will retain it so that you can recall it again later, or at least remember where you read it. Finally, adding the notes (and tags) to places where it is easily retrievable and viewable when you are studying (i.e. my reference manager and Logos) means that the information which you found has become that much more usable and useful to you in the future.

So, this is how I do it. What about you? If you have any good tips or tricks, tell us about it in the comments! I'm always looking for ways to improve the acquisition of knowledge.

NEED MORE? Check out my online course...

Tips to Help You Get Up Early

In this final post on getting up early I want to provide some tips on waking up early and making the most of your morning time (see part 1 and part 2). I've at the very least convinced you how important my morning ritual is to me, and hopefully I have perhaps intrigued you at the possibility of you having your own morning routine. That doesn't mean that it is always easy for me to get up. I still struggle at times with rolling out of bed. And my struggles don't always end there. Sometimes I distract myself and sabotage my own morning plan. So in no particular order, here are some tips on getting up early and having a good routine:

 

You Still Need Sleep

In telling you to get up early, I hope that I have not given you the impression that you should cut back on sleep. Nothing could be further than the truth. You need to determine what amount of sleep you need. And once you do that, then you need to aim for that each night. This often means going to bed a little earlier. For instance, I'm usually in bed and off to dreamland by 10:30, because I want to get up at 5:30. But, if for some reason I am up until 11, my alarm is set to 6:00. This is because I need 7 hours. If I sleep less than 7 hours for more than 2 or 3 days, I get neck cramps and have trouble concentrating.

 

Nap

Part of the reason that I can function on around 7 hours of sleep is because I have no qualms about taking a quick 20 minute nap at my desk if I feel the need. A short nap is very rejuvenating. Check out my post on the subject here.

 

Move Your Alarm Clock

If you struggle to get up, putting the alarm clock right next to you is not a good spot — it is too easy to hit the snooze without becoming full conscious. What may help you is to move your alarm so that you have to actually get out of your bed to turn it off. And once you're up, stretch a bit, and DON'T LAY BACK DOWN.

 

Start With a Tall Glass of Water

I start every morning with my "inner bath." I drink a nice big glass of water very quickly, and then go on to drink another 1 to 2 glasses during my morning routine. This is good for your system, as it is naturally dehydrated from your sleep. And the cold starts to awaken your senses.

Give Yourself Another Reason to Get Up Early

Sometimes you need something or someone else to motivate you. Instead of getting up just for your own morning routine, add something to the morning that needs to be done for your house or another family member. For instance, as a family of 5, we do laundry every day. I set our washer for 4:30am, and it is done at 5:30. I need to get up after it is done so that I can stick the clothes in the dryer. This gives me added motivation to get out of bed and get started with the day. Find some other motivation to get up early, like a house chore or a pet chore.

Do Something the Night Before to Free Up Morning Time

If you feel like your morning time is already too busy, think through the things you do every morning — is there anything that can be done the night before to free up some of your morning time? If so, do it!

Don't Get Sucked into eMail/Facebook/Twitter

The one thing that derails my morning routine more than anything else is Facebook. I start reading my feed, and next thing you know, half of my time that I had planned for more important things in the morning disappear. On my better days, I am disciplined enough not to bother looking at Facebook until much later in the day.

Time Your Morning so it Doesn't Get Away From You

I mentioned this in my first post, but whatever you decide to do in the morning, have a timer keeping you to it (I'll mention the great Seconds app again).

Even 7 Minutes of Exercise Can Do Wonders

Even if you don't have a lot of time, you still do have some time. It is amazing what even a little bit can do for you, both reading, meditation, and exercise. I recommend that even if you can't get more than 15 minutes in the morning, do 5 minutes of silence/meditation, and do a 7-minute workout. There are all sorts of 7-minute videos and apps, etc. Here is the one I use.

Thanks to everyone who has read and shared these last few posts on getting up early. I hope I've encouraged you to do the same!

Getting Up Early: The Difference It Can Make For You

In my last post, I briefly described my morning routine. In this post I will explain the positive benefits it has had for me, and hopefully convince you that it can make changes in your life too. Following this post will be my last post on the subject, which will provide you with some tips and tools to start your own morning routine.

The Difference It Has Made For Me

Getting up early consistently has made some significant differences for me in my life, and they are directly tied to the different components that make up my morning.

1. Keeping Sight of My Goals

I have numerous goals I am always working on, but goals mean nothing if they aren't on your mind and you aren't constantly moving towards completing them. I would wager to guess that most everyone has goals in their life, and at the same time those very people have not completed those goals. I aim to complete them. My morning routine has provided me a consistent time, at the beginning of every weekday, to remind myself what my goals are and to renew my resolve to complete them.

It is important also to tie your goals with the most immediate actionable item(s). For instance, one of my current goals is to achieve my ideal weight. But that high and lofty goal needs some concrete actionable items. For me, the actionable items are: 1) counting my calories in MyFitnessPal app, 2) exercising every day, and 3) weighing myself weekly. These are daily/weekly things I must do to achieve my goal.

 

2. Connecting With My Creator

I believe the ultimate reason for my existence is to live in relationship with my Creator – something I am able to do by God's Spirit and through the cross of my redeemer. My morning time of meditation and Bible reading gives me a consistent time and routine every day to hear from God.

 

3. Pushing to Be the Best Version of Myself

We all fight against the resistance — that inner saboteur that pushes us to mediocrity and bad decisions. By reviewing my mission every morning, I encourage myself to act and live to be the best version of myself.

 

4. To Stimulate My Mind

Beginning the morning with some book reading (not to mention Bible reading) and morning exercise (even if just a few minutes) awakens my senses, gets my body moving, and makes my mind alert and ready for the day. Imagine heading out of the door every morning alert and ready to go rather than groggy and wishing you were still in bed.

5. It Provides Extra Time to Work on Current Projects

Particularly on weekend mornings when I don't do my weekday routine, waking up early (when the rest of the family sleeps in) provides me with extra time to work on any current projects I might be working on. Or, if I don't feel like working, it gives me extra time to read another book on my ever-increasing books to read list.

Hopefully you can see that what my morning routine has done for me can make the same difference for you. Can you imagine feeling better every morning? Walking out of the house with more energy? You can put boots to the ground and accomplish your goals. You can be healthier than you've ever been.

Go on, I dare you.

photo credit: Sunrise over Brigsley 2 via photopin (license)

A Digital Supplement to the SBL Handbook of Style, 2nd Ed.

I am launching a new product today for my fellow colleagues in Biblical Studies and theology called A Digital Supplement for the SBL Style Guide, 2nd Ed. $5

I have continued to provide the full SBL Series and Journals Abbreviations list free of charge here.

Purchase Below

This digital supplement complements the SBL Style guide, second edition. This file contains the following:

 

1. Primary Literature Abbreviations

The main component of this digital supplement is an excel sheet with multiple tabs, which contains all of the serial and journal abbreviations contained in the second edition of the SBL Handbook, as well as popular alternative abbreviations. The remaining tabs cover all of the primary literature:

• Hebrew Bible

• New Testament

• Apocrypha

• Targums

• OT Pseudepigrapha

• Dead Sea Scrolls

• Greek and Latin works

• Apostolic Fathers

• NT Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

• Philo and Josephus

• Mishnah and Talmud

• Rabbinic Works

• Nag Hammadi

All of this is, of course, is fully searchable and usable for your needs, and conforms the 2nd edition of the SBL Handbook.

 

2. Serial and Abbreviations List in Word

While the serial and abbreviations list is in the main excel file, for many it will be more usable to have the abbreviations in a tabbed Word document file, again to use as one sees fit.

 

3. How To Create A Scripture Index on a Mac

I've learned a thing or two while I was a TA for Craig Evans, and now an editor of essay collections. In this PDF I offer a step by step process for creating a scripture index on a Mac. This is a detailed (and long) process, but this process significantly cuts down the time it takes.

 

4. Screencast Tutorial for Creating an Abbreviations List

Another common job for authors and editors is to create an abbreviations list. Using the abbreviations list in this digital supplement, I show you how to quickly create an abbreviations list for your published work.

A big thanks to my TA Evan Colford for helping me finalize this product and get it ready for distribution.

The Ordinary Practice Regular People Do To Achieve Great Results

There is a very ordinary and unassuming practice that many people just like you subscribe to — I'm one of them. It helps them feel better, get more done, and feel more focused and centered.

Waking Up Early.

I've been doing this consistently for quite a while now, and more recently in the past few months my practice has become a more strict routine that is very effective. Let me break down exactly what I do each morning (weekday mornings that is, weekends are a little more casual), and in my next post I'll talk about the benefits and why you should think about doing this too. So here are the five things I do in the morning after I get up,  before the morning routine of getting myself and the kids ready commences:

1. Silent prayer and meditation. I close my eyes and stay totally silent. I try hard not to focus on random things. But if a concern arises, or a person comes to mind, I pray for them/it.
2. Review my Goals. I have a list of goals that I am working towards as well as what is essentially my personal mission statement. I review this every morning. In the world of personal development, this is akin to what is often called "Affirmations."
3. Dream Big and Realistic. For a short amount of time, I imagine what it will be like when I complete one of my goals. But I'm also realistic and remind myself of the things which I actually need to do in order to achieve these goals. In the personal development world, this is often called "Visualization."
4. Read. A spend a few minutes reading. I have been (and probably will continue) to read some Christian spiritual classics. Right now I'm reading The Wounded Healer, and plan to read The Imitation of Christ next. I have a whole long list of books I would like to read that aren't directly related to my field of study and this is the place that I am slowing working through that list.
5. Bible Reading. I read my Bible, typically in Greek, and spend time reflecting on what I read.
6. Journal. Some people recount their whole day in a journal, and maybe one day I will too. But for now, my journaling is pretty simple. I make notations on whether I finished my 6 morning rituals in this list, and make quick notes about anything on my mind, anything I'm excited about, concerned about, etc.
7. Exercise. I have been doing a 25-35 minute kettle bell routine on M/W/F, and a 7-minute workout on Tu/Th. I'll be actually doing the 25-35 each day now, as I'm currently doing a fundraising weight loss challenge with several colleagues at Acadia Divinity College.

This doesn't take as long as it looks, and I often change up the routine based on the time I have. My average morning I am in silence for 8 minutes, review goals for 5, dream for 2, read for 8, read the bible for 8, journal for 4, and then exercise. That's 36 minutes plus exercise, so just over an hour. And in case you're wondering, I do keep myself to that time using the wonderful Seconds app on my iOS device. Days when I was up late and so slept longer, I cut back. Days I'm up early, I do a longer routine.

While I've told you what I do, I probably haven't convinced you to give it a try. I'll talk about the benefits in my next post.

My Encouragement & Challenge To Fellow Dads About Being Present

Two weeks back we had our annual Simpson Lectures at Acadia Divinity College. This particular lectureship was more intense and demanding than past events, which resulted in me being very busy from Monday to Wednesday. I saw my children for a few minutes in the morning, and about 15 minutes for each supper time. I really don't like being away that much. And neither do my kids.

It was driven home to me by my oldest son Lex. Lex is an introvert and a homebody. He likes being home. He likes to play on his own. His ideal day is laying on the couch under a blanket reading a good novel, uninterrupted. He is quite often in his own little world. He sometimes can forget to even say hello or good morning. I sometimes wonder if Lex forgets that there are others in the room with him.

So I was struck once again as I quickly picked him up from his after-school lego club to drop him off when he asked me:
"Are you working again tonight?"
"Yes buddy, I'll be gone."
"Oh. Okay."
"Is there something you needed help with or needed to talk about?"
"No, I just like it when you're home."

That was the end of the conversation (we are boys after all). But that has stuck with me. I mentioned it to my wife Maria and she said very simply "all the kids feel that way. They like you home." It reminded me of a story I read in Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker. She talks about her own experience with an introverted father, but how she was grounded, safe, secure, and felt loved simply by his consistent presence. They wouldn't talk a lot, but they were together a lot.

Fathers Just Need To Be There

This small encounter with Lex reminded me anew that fathers just need to be there. There are many kids in single-parent homes being raised by just mom (single-moms, you are rockstars!). If dad is in the picture at all, it is sporadic and with no consistency. But there is also a second reality: traditional two-parent families with a dad that is rarely home when he easily could be.

Now, I'm not talking about men who do shift work, or who have a hobby or sport they participate in once a week. I'm talking about men who could be home, but aren't. They are doing things they enjoy, but doing them 4 nights a week. Or perhaps it is hanging out with friends after work for a lot longer than they need to. Perhaps you are having difficulty in your marriage, and so are just avoiding your spouse at the time. Or perhaps you feel inadequate as a parent or dad. You had an idea of what fatherhood was supposed to look like, but your wife does it better than you and you feel a little like a fish out of water.

Whatever your reason might be, you aren't home as much as you could be. Fellow dads, you need to understand - you're kids just need you to be there. I'm often reminded by my wife who jokes about my snoring, but tells me that her father snored. And from her bedroom she could hear him night after night, and it was comforting. You're mere presence at home on a consistent basis (whatever consistency means in your context) is a source of comfort and safety for your children. They want to know that you are there if they need you.

You're Doing Good

Let me encourage you, that if you indeed are home consistently, you are doing good. In fact, you are doing better than many fathers and your children are lucky to have a consistent father in their lives like you.

You may say, though, something that I often say to myself: "when I am home, I'm so busy. There is always something that needs fixing. There are always little tasks to do. There is always chores to be done." Please know, if you feel that way, you are not alone. But please know this too — in the minds and hearts of your children, you are home. They are safe. They feel comfortable. They know you are near and you will drop everything if they urgently need you. This is the gift of presence that so many kids desperately need and that you are providing for your family.

You And I Can Do Better

But you can continue to improve too — to not only be present but also to be engaged. Let me suggest several ways that you can be even more present for your kids:

1. Plan a date with your kids. This may be a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, or annual thing, depending on your time, resources, and amount of kids. I'm at about a quarterly schedule. This can be as big as going to a movie or hockey game, or as simple as going for a hot chocolate and donut. Your kids will love it. (BUT, this is second in priority to going on dates with your wife).
2. Get them to help. If you are fixing things or doing outdoor chores, get them to help. I try and be especially conscious of this if I can introduce them to a new skill or a new tool. I know it is faster and easier to do it on your own, but these are opportunities to pass skills on to your kids and spend time with them.
3. Wake them up with a book. A few weeks ago I had a (bitter) realization that I had not been reading enough to my youngest daughter. My two oldest boys were close in age and I read to them all of the time when they were young. But as they grew up, we all together ended up reading bigger chapter books. I had one of those hard-to-swallow moments when I realized that I had neglected reading picture books with my daughter - I have missed out on something precious that I can't fully get back. It is something I can never get back, but I can try my best now to make up for it. So for the past month (and I'm not planning on stopping any time soon) I have waken my youngest up 5-10 minutes earlier than normal to read her a book. Did this make a difference? My valentine from her last week said "I love my daddy because he reads to me." Now, I'm not sure I'll ever stop this morning routine :-)  (p.s. this means YOU need to wake up a little earlier too so that you don't throw the morning out of balance)
4. Be engaged. My wife's biggest (legitimate) critique of me is that I'm too often looking at my computer, iPad, or iPhone. This is a big struggle for many people. But you can do better. Make a conscious effort to put your devices somewhere they won't be distracting you so that you can be not only present, but also engaged with those around you.
5. Ask for highs and lows. If you're introverted or struggle to come up with conversation, just ask them each day what the best part of their day was, and what the worst part was, and talk about those. (for more dinner time tips, see my post on the topic) And if you desire even more conversation starters, Focus on the Family made an app for that!
6. Linger at bedtime. This is the tip that I most need to work on in my own life right now. My wife is great at this. You will be amazed how much kids want to talk about when they are supposed to go to bed :-)  While this can sometimes get to be an annoyance, some quick retooling can make this a great connecting time. First, just work a little harder to get them to bed 5 minutes earlier. But once you do tuck them in, instead of trying to cut off their conversation by trying to leave, kneel down beside their bed to talk with them for a few minutes. It doesn't have to be every night, and again there are always other constraints (like having more than one kid). But even if you try and do it once a week, or once a month, it is an additional connection time.
7. Tell them you love them. I tell every one of my kids I love them at least once a day. No matter how little you may see them on a given day, no matter how angry you might be with them, no matter how much you bottle your feelings up, and no matter how introverted you might be: look them right in the eyes and tell them you love them once a day. And accompany it with a hug, high five, or fist bump.

Fellow dads, you and I have the honor and privilege of being one of the primary influences in the life of our kids. Your mere presence is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Keep up the good work of being present, and continually challenge yourself to do even better. Your kids are worth it.

Hermosa Beach - 2593 via photopin (license)

Challenging Yourself to Read Over Your Head

It may sound backwards at first, but even people who read a lot of non-fiction can become stuck intellectually on the same speed. They continue to learn new things of course, but they are a bit stuck on a single lane of learning. The cure for this, I think, is jumping into the deep end and occasionally reading over your head. Let me tell you my story to illustrate.

My Jump Into The Deep End

I few weeks back I completed a book by the philosopher Edward Feser called The Last Superstition: a refutation of the new atheism. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it. But this post is not about the content of that book. I mention this book because I really felt in over my head.

This particular book by Feser was 312 pages — so really only about 275 or so pages of reading when you discount the front matter and endnotes. Despite being 275 pages, it took me a LONG time to read. Why? Because it was philosophy. Feser was re-introducing me to my intro philosophy class that I took over a decade ago, and pushing me beyond that. I was reintroduced to Aristotle and Plato, final and efficient causes, and introduced for the first time to Thomas Aquinas.

This was very unlike most books I read. The lion's share of my time is reading biblical studies, particularly New Testament. When I do read fiction for enjoyment, I generally fly through it quickly. Reading in my area of New Testament, I'm fairly quick too. For instance, the book I read immediately after Feser's was 220 pages and with note-taking and creating chapter abstracts for my reference manager, it still only took me a few hours. But this philosophical work by Feser was one that I would have to stop, reread paragraphs or pages, and sometimes reread them again. I would have to at times look up definitions as well. This was a SLOW process, a mountain climb.

Brain Exercise

In short, this was brain exercise for me. And that was a very good thing. As a seminary professor and friend to many pastors, I often get concerned with the reading of my fellow ministers and former students. First, most pastor friends and former students are readers - and that is a fantastic thing, because leaders are readers and readers are leaders. But...the reading often becomes just the next best-seller by one of the US mega-church pastors. Much of the reading is fodder for sermons or strategies for growth, etc. This is excellent and much needed (so don't stop!). My concern, though, is the same concern that I have for myself: Am I exercising my mind and pushing the boundaries of my knowledge to grow and learn more in order to become a better reader and gain further wisdom? Am I intentionally jumping into the deep end?

Pause and think back to your first college class, or perhaps the first time you read Shakespeare. I recall, for instance, reading a book by Sire called The Universe Next Door. I remember finishing that book and having no idea what the book was about. Now I consider that a good but fairly basic book. As we jump into the deep end and read over our heads (or listen to lectures that are over our heads) you not only exercise your mind and learn something new, but you also expand your own personal reading level. In short, this brand new area of reading has a domino affect on your reading level everywhere else.

My Challenge To You

So let me challenge you — continue your vigorous reading schedule. But don't just stay in your comfort zone. You as a leader are very often asking those you lead to go outside their comfort zone. Challenge yourself to do the same, by intentionally adding every once in awhile into the rotation a book (or listening to a lecture) that is outside your area of expertise. Jump into the deep end and exercise those mind muscles!

photo credit: The little house on the praire via photopin (license)

Logos Freebies Every Biblical Scholar Should Know About

Logos is recognized as having the largest digital library for Biblical and Theological studies. Most people don't realize that Logos as a software is itself free - just go to the download page and download it.

Furthermore, creating a Logos account is free as well – again, just go to Logos.com and create an account. The log in credentials you create is what you use to sign in to the app.

While Logos is a business that is out to make money, they do provide some great free content as well. In fact, even a casual user can get some fairly good content to do some basic Bible study. What I want to do in the remainder of this post is highlight this free content, particularly the resources that would be of interest to academics.

First, you can see a full list of everything that costs $0 by going to this page. The list below will highlight the most important ones.

1. Faith life Study Bible. Not only is this one of the best study bibles out there, but it is much more than a study bible. It includes videos, infographics, tables, and timelines.

2. Lexham Bible Dictionary. This is destined, I think, to be the premiere (mid-sized articles) Bible dictionary. It is already huge, and continues to expand.

3. Lexham English Bible (with audio). The LEB is a fantastic translation. It is a more word for word translation, so it does not necessarily always read flowingly, but is great for study. You can also grab the free audio version of the ESV here.

4. SBL Edition of the Greek New Testament. This is a fully-tagged and fully searchable version of the Greek NT. It includes the apparatus.

5. Abridged BDB Hebrew Lexicon.

6. Perseus Classics Collection. The entire Perseus collection, over 1,000 volumes, tagged and searchable in Logos. This covers (I think) all of the ancient classical Greek and Latin literature. Because the collection is so big, the parsing is not always accurate. I'm not sure if Logos is working to correct this or not. Nonetheless, this is invaluable.

7. Duke Database of Documentary Papyri. Part of the larger Perseus collection, this contains 256 volumes of primary texts in Greek, Latin, Coptic, and other languages.

8. Codex Bezae. One of the most important uncial manuscripts in transcribed form. Dated to the 5th century.

9. Codex Sinaiticus. One of the most important manuscripts in transcribed form, dated to the 4th century.

10. Books.logos.com. A new beta program for Logos is a bit of a google books type project. They are digitizing some old works from particular libraries, and there certainly are some gems there. There are currently some limitations on these books – for instance it isn't easy to browse the books on the site right now. The biggest downside that I sincerely hope is remedied is that these are treated in Logos as media collections - in other words every page is treated as an image. This means they aren't searchable. As I said, I hope Logos runs OCR on these and makes them searchable in the future. Also, because these are image collections, it takes up more space than other resources. For primary literature, here are a few gems:

    • Migne's Patrologiae Graeca

    • The Oxyrhynchus papyri volumes

Go forth, download, and enjoy!

Utilizing Logos 6 for Academic Research 3: Canon Lists

See Video Below

Logos 6 has introduced a total of 24 brand new interactive media resources to their library. Much of this interactive media is cross-linked throughout the software (in the guides, factbook, etc.) but can also be accessed in both the tools menu as well as in the library, where they are categorized as "interactive."

There is some absolute gold in these new interactive media resources, and I'll highlight a few in upcoming blogposts. But there are a few new interactive media that for me as a biblical scholar stand out as offering a wealth of information that was previously more difficult to come by. The one that stands out for me as my favorite of the new interactive media is the new Canon Comparison resource.

The Canon Comparison resource catalogued:

• 6 church traditions;

• 21 documents from church history with canon lists; and

• 13 manuscripts

The result is an impressive interactive dataset for understanding the various lists. Each of these can be viewed on their own, with a brief summary of the document/manuscript/tradition if you are unfamiliar with it.

This is already a huge list. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of any other previously published resource that has offered this many canon lists in one place. Previous to this, I have always turned to the appendices of Lee McDonald's book The Biblical Canon, and even that (which is a must for anyone interested in canon studies) did not have this much info.

What supercharges this resource is the ability to compare any of these lists with one another. With a few simple clicks, one can compare the books of Codex Alexandrinus with Codex Sinaiticus, and throw in the canon list of the Muratorian fragment for good measure.

Kudos to Logos for this great new interactive media. And my sincere thanks to the hard work of Eli Evans and Martha J. Smith. You have done us a great service!

Check out the brief video below so you can see the Canon Comparison resource in action

Let Me Teach You Some Practical Study Skills With My New Online Course

If you've visited my website before you know that I have two published eBooks devoted to helping students. Surviving and Thriving in Seminary is aimed at seminary students, while Crush It at College (co-authored by Bryan Tinlin) is aimed more generally at college and university students.

I'm happy to announce today that I am working hard on video courses aimed at these same groups using my go-to platform Udemy. Just last week, the first of these courses went live. It is called Practical Study Skills: Set Yourself Up For Success. This course is aimed at the general college and university student. My next course, tentatively titled Seminary Bootcamp, will go live sometime in the next few months.

Now, I have some good news and some bad news for my blog readers. First, the bad news (for some of you). You may or may not know that I have an email list (you can sign up for it on the front page of my website). Last week, the people on my email list received this new course FOR FREE. And I plan on giving these types of perks to people on my email list in the future, so you really should sign up.

But I still have much love and affection for my blog readers. So the good news is that you (or anyone you give the link to) can enroll in this new course for just $5 by using this link. This coupon is good only until the end of the month, so don't waste time.

One last thing, when you enroll for the course, I would be most grateful if you could take a minute to leave an honest rating and review in Udemy. This really helps me with promotion.

The Singing Grammarian is Now FREE!!

Chances are that if you've visited my site, and definitely if you've been my student, you know about my Singing Grammarian publication. In case you don't know about it, the Singing Grammarian is 18 songs and visual presentations for learning New Testament Greek.

I'm happy to announce that as of today the whole collection is now entirely free on YouTube!

I had originally published this product with Kregel Academic publisher, which is a great publisher and who were a pleasure to work with.

However – I just wasn't happy with the distribution. I, and my friend Michael Fredericks, put a ton of work into this project, and I created it first and foremost to help students. So I made the decision to terminate the contract with Kregel.

So as of now, all 18 songs are entirely free on Youtube. YAY!

I've also made them available for a small fee if you would like to download HD video and audio copies of the product.

So start singing away! Check them out on Youtube or purchase them here.

Some Geek-Talk On Organizing Your Library

The simple truth is that most scholars and pastors are bibliophiles. We like to build our library. We like having lots of books. We jump at the chance for free books. And we're pretty regularly spending money on new books. While I personally now prefer to have my books in Logos format, not every book makes it into the Logos library, so there will always be books on my shelf. Lots of books in fact.

It was a few years ago that I was getting increasingly frustrated with scanning my shelves and not being able to find a book I knew I owned. So I decided to geek-out and organize my library according to the LOC (library of congress system). The other option is the dewey decimal system, but as I was more familiar with the LOC system, and my university library uses the LOC system, I went with that.

Why would this be helpful you say? Well, if you read my blog you know that one of my favorite apps is my reference manager (Sente). Every book and article I have is catalogued in Sente. Part of that catalogue of information is (now) the LOC number.

I am lucky enough to have a TA in my position. So a number of years ago I had my TA (and now friend) Roy Medeiros fill out my database with any missing LOC numbers. We (mostly he) then used a label maker to begin printing off all of the LOC numbers and placing them on the spine of each book. Finally, they were all placed in order on my shelves. Once the backlog was done, it has not been difficult to continue this process of labeling each new book and putting it in its proper place.

So now, the frustration is gone. When I need to reach for a book, I don't spin my chair and scan my shelves. I bring up Sente, type a few words of the title, get the LOC number, and quickly locate it on my shelf. And every time I do that, the geek in my rejoices at the organization of it all!

Book Recommendation for Aspiring Biblical Scholars: Inking the Deal

By the time I was into my second year of undergrad, I was firmly set upon going forward in my studies, working on a PhD in New Testament, and teaching the New Testament as my vocation. I am very grateful that I have been able to realize my goals, and I'm in a wonderful position as an Assistant Professor at Acadia Divinity College.

As I was finishing up my undergrad, I was deciding where to do my grad studies, and I focused my attention on Craig Evans, who is one of the top NT scholars on the planet. What impressed me most at that time, and even more so now that he is my mentor and colleague, is his work ethic and prolific writing. I remember asking Craig quite often how he does it, and was able to gain some insights. But I continue to stand in awe of evangelical scholars who both teach and publish at high standards.

So imagine my delight when an equally prolific New Testament scholar, who also resides in Canada, published in 2010 a book that specifically encourages and explains to up and coming scholars how to live a "publishing lifestyle." Stanley Porter's book Inking the Deal: A Guide for Successful Academic Publishing

Here is the TOC:

1. Types of Publication
2. Basic Principles of a Publishable Manuscript
3. Always Writing for Publication
4. Pick your Poison: Selection of a Publisher
5. Presentation is Almost Everything
6. Handling Rejection—it will come
7. Handling Acceptance—it too will come
8. Will I Run Out of Publishable Ideas?
9. Living a Publishing Lifestyle
10. Learning the Trade with Others
11. Final Words of Encouragement

I loved this book and would recommend it to every almost-PhD, current-PhD, and just-finished-PhD student in Biblical Studies. It gives you insight that previously you could only get if you were shooting the breeze with a prolific scholar. Stan opens up his life to help readers understand the mindset and practices which brings about regular publishing.

The practical insight regarding publishing and dealing with publishers is great. But what really stood out to me when I read this, and what has shaped my mindset, is the chapters about lifestyle (chapters 1, 3, 8-11). The advice in these chapters is much-needed lifestyle advice for young scholars.

Take the time and check it out, you won't be disappointed!

You're So Busy That You Now Need a Not-to-Do List

As readers of my blog and book Surviving and Thriving in Seminary know, I think quite a bit about productivity. And finishing a PhD while working full time and having a family shows that I'm not half-bad at it :-) In this short post I want to talk about a new type of list that you need to have. It is called the "Not-to-Do List."

Having task lists is very important I think. I follow loosely the very popular GTD method by David Allen in his very influential productivity book Getting Things Done. For my to-do list, I use an app called 2Do (Mac and iOS), but there are quite literally hundreds of great to-do apps out there, so just take your pick. To-do lists are great, and they keep you on task and moving forward.

But...the problem for many is that we're getting too busy. And, if you are like me, you are a people pleaser. When someone asks you for a favor, you like to do it because it is helpful for that other person. Even if you're not a people pleaser, tasks and assignments may often get dumped on you and you wonder "why I am I the one doing this?"

For those of you struggling with this, a solution is a not-to-do list. This list may be a permanent thing, or may change from season to season. As a seminary prof, mine tends to change by the semester. In this list, you basically need to put those things which you will not do (it may be something you really want to do, but need to hold off on) as well as those tasks which may get defaulted to you.

As an employee, you of course need to be careful with this. I hate filling out expense claim reports, but that is something I am required to do. You cannot go up to your boss and just declare that this task is now on your not-to-do list!

Having said that, you may indeed need to talk to your boss or supervisor about some tasks that are eating up your time. Think about it this way: you have been hired to excel at your job, which entails excellence in certain areas. But if secondary tasks keep distracting you from things that only you can do, then it is something that can potentially go on that not-to-do list.

While the not-to-do list can help you to focus and free up some time for the important things, it doesn't make it easy. It may involve some difficult conversations, and for people-pleasers it may involve facing those looks of disappointment.

photo credit: Mufidah Kassalias via photopin cc