New Thru 30

My last post was about LifeChurch.tv's Bible app for the iPhone/iPod Touch. One of my favorite features of the app is the extensive catalog of Bible reading plans. I'm attempting to work my way through two of them, the M'Cheyne (which takes you through the Bible in a year) and Elevation Church's New Thru 30 (which takes you through the New Testament in 30 days).

Like so much of what they do at Elevation (which is in Charlotte, NC, by the way--mmm, Charlotte...), the New Thru 30 reading plan is intense and ambitious. It amounts to roughly 10 chapters of reading each day, though there is nothing scheduled for 2 days each week. I assume they do this so that you can catch up on what you weren't able to get through during the week.

One of the things I like best about the New Thru 30 is that, because you're reading so much at a time, you get a better sense for the structure and story of each book. (I'm still in the gospels at this point.) I've found that it's so much easier to understand a book of the Bible if you read it all in one sitting, or, for the longer books, read them over the period of just a couple days.

It has been difficult to keep up with the New Thru 30, as this has been one of the busier times for me and my family in recent memory. So it will probably be closer to the New Thru 45 for me. But whether you're reading 10 chapters a day or just a few verses, it's always good to consistently get into God's Word. His words nourish and refresh, rebuke and correct, encourage and enlighten. Read the Word, friends!

The Bible App

I love churches that think outside of their own walls and seek to bless the body of Christ at large. Lifechurch.tv seems to be one of those churches. If you're a Christian and you own an iPhone or an iPod Touch, first of all, shame on you for being so materialistic. Secondly, you've probably downloaded Lifechurch's free Bible app. It was one of the first apps I downloaded after I sold my soul and got an iPod Touch. (And thank you, Verizon, for not supporting the iPhone. Jerks.)

There's a lot to like about this app. First of all, it's free! And they carry a wide range of translations, including the NIV, TNIV, NLT, The Message, ESV, and many more. I'm sure that's a hefty licensing fee on their part, but they swallow all the cost and pass it on to us for free. Thanks, Lifechurch! (And some of those translations are even available for download!)

Probably my favorite feature is the reading plans. There are a lot to choose from, and they're all linked to their website, www.youversion.com. This was a smart move because the app has proved less than reliable at times, and it would be a major drag to lose track of where you are in your reading plan if the app crashes.

There is also a nice Contribs feature where you can publish your own thoughts on particular passages. I have yet to take full advantage of this feature, but I can see the potential. All in all this is a fantastic app, and because it's free and offers so much, I really can't complain about the occasional crashing. The only thing it doesn't have now that would put it over the top (and make it worth paying for) is Hebrew and Greek versions. Or maybe BibleWorks or Accordance should just put out an app.