Monday, October 19, 2009

Mosaic Bible - Review and *Giveaway*

The Mosaic Bible by Tyndale House
New Living Translation
Link to Amazon from which I receive nothing (for your convenience)
Released September, 2009

I've been using my copy of the Mosaic Bible for about 3 weeks, now, so I feel comfortable talking about its pluses and minuses. The Mosaic Bible is really two books in one. The Bible is the latter portion of the book. In the front section is a 52-week devotional that contains beautiful artwork and thoughtful devotions with quotes. I particularly loved the fact that the referenced scriptures have the page number listed, so that you can quickly and easily locate them. The pages in the devotional section are nice and thick in order to allow writing on them without tearing up the pages. Lessons are designed to coordinate with the Christian year (beginning with Advent) but that's just a guideline. You can pick up the book and read at random or start from the beginning at any time. It's nice to have that extra reading material handy in case you just need a little inspiration.

As to the Biblical text, it contains the entire Bible and the print is a little small but not tiny; it's comfortably readable. The Bible portion is printed on thinner pages (the typical delicate paper), written in the easy-to-read New Living Translation. There are very thin margins with center-column references, no superfluous study material, a nice concordance and a Greek/Hebrew dictionary. The maps at the back are quite nice -- again, printed on thicker paper and all relevant, including the World of the Patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, and Paul's journeys, among others.

Because there isn't extra study material with the text, I really enjoy using this particular Bible for doing my Beth Moore Bible study. It's easy to find the scriptures because there aren't any extra notes to get in the way. And, sometimes, I just like flipping to the front to read something different, so I enjoy having that devotion section -- you just never know when you're going to have a quiet moment in church before everyone else shows up. It's not a Bible to write notes in because the margins are narrow, but I'm a purist in the sense of not wanting any writing in my Bible, so I consider that a plus.

The devotional section in the front can get in the way a bit if you're at church and trying to quickly flip to a scripture, but it's not a major nuisance and I'm getting used to it. Sometimes I've found that the NLT text is just too far removed from the NIV that is typically used in my Bible study. Fortunately, I'm a Bible nut. I'm taking the Mosaic Bible with me to church, but I also have a slim-line in Revised Standard Version, which is a wee bit closer to the NIV typically quoted. I take both with me to church and use whatever feels comfortable at the time.

In general, I just love this Bible and I'm sure I'll be using it for many, many years.

And, now on to the *Giveaway*. I have one certificate for a copy of the Mosaic Bible to give away. It can be redeemed from anywhere in the world. If you don't have a store nearby, you just fill out the information and mail it to Tyndale House -- the address is on the back.

Rules:

1. This drawing is open internationally.

2. Leave your email address so that I can contact the winner. No email, no entry.

3. Tell me why you'd like to win a copy of the Mosaic Bible. What appeals to you most?

4. The only people who are not eligible are those who have already won a copy/certificate or received one from Tyndale House for review.

5. Drawing will be held November 18 in the evening; I'll close off comments around 6pm U.S. Central (I think that's GMT - 5, but I'm not certain). The winner will have approximately 48-72 hours to contact me, so I advise following this blog if you don't, already. I will email, as well, but sometimes emails go astray.

6. Good luck!

Many thanks to Tyndale House for my review copy! I'll have a guest post by one of the editors of the Mosaic Bible, later this week.

24 comments:

  1. Please enter me in this contest! Enter me good! This is the first one of your drawings lately that I can participate in!!!

    I would like a copy of this Bible because I collect all different versions of the Bible and would love to add this one to my collection.

    Email: nikki (dot) demarco (at) gmail (dot) com

    Please pick meeeeeeeee!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would love to have a copy of this Bible because not only is it the Word of God which I must digest but also I love the art that is in this book. I could just get lost into the pictures. Thanks.Like your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Would love to get a copy of this bible as our new dog from boxer rescue recently ate my bible (honest, i have pictures if needed)as well as tv remotes, wii controllers, and more DVD cases than I care to list. I've heard many great things of this bible and would love to check it out for myself.

    Email: derekjberg at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12:01 PM

    Uh oh, I forgot to leave my e-mail address. Must be Monday. :)
    It is hueyl@bellsouth.net

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would love to win this for the devotionals and because it looks beautiful
    dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. shetreadssoftly(at)gmail(dot)com

    I'd love to win a copy of the Mosaic Bible because:
    1. I have wanted a New Living Translation Bible for my personal Bible study time for quite a while now.
    2. I like the idea of a devotional in the front of it.
    3. All the extras sound good for my needs (concordance, maps, dictionary)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I probably wouldn't take it to church but I'd love to have it for my personal Bible study and for the devotions.

    mj.coward[at]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Don't worry about entering me in the giveaway, I am sure other people would appreciate it more than me, but I must say it is really a pretty book!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cool! Sign me up. You've got my email and I love the idea of combining the artwork with The Bible itself. It sounds like a wordfully enriching edition.

    cjh

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kelly,

    I'm really enjoying my copy!! Okay, I won't enter you. But, when you're in the store some time, you should definitely flip through it and tell me what you think. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Please count me in. To be honest, the devotional section of this one is what seems to draw me to this one. I really liked your thoughts on using both sections.
    Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Bible looks amazing. And since I'm always looking for ways to introduce my parishioners to devotional pieces from the historic writings of the church, having a copy of the Mosaic Bible in hand would be a great way to guide them through our observance of the liturgical year.

    palatino@juno.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am pretty darn sure you know my email address, but in the interest of fairness:

    hsfargis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ;)

    I would like a copy of this bible because I need the devotional part. I have my own KJV bible, but need something that will help me understand the word of God. And this bible sounds excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This sounds great! I like that it is the Bible and a devotional in one, and I love devotionals but need to read more of the Bible. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric
    diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Please enter me in the drawing. I'd love to have a copy of this beautiful book. I am primarily interested because I do not have a NLT + I think it would make a wonderful devotional resource.
    jbell2k at hotmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Tyndale House published the first Bible I read all the way through: The Living Paraphrase translation (when I was 13). Since then I have read the Bible through in a myriad of translations: KJV, NKJ, RSV, NIV, American Standard...but, I am always eager to advance my knowledge and foundation in the Word. I'd love a copy of this new translations, but I rejoice in whomever's hands it will fall. The spreading of the Word is a good thing.

    (Bellezza.mjs@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'd love to win this for a friend!

    BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd love to win this Mosaic Bible because I've never had a Bible like this before and I feel that I do need to be closer to God. I need more Jesus in my life. I need to learn more about Him. I think the devotional section will help me a lot with my race. And one reason more is that I LOVE the God's Word.

    Thnaks for this giveaway. You'll bless so much someone's life.

    marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'd like to be entered for this as I havent seen a bible here with weekly devotional sections which you can then really concentrate on section by section. It would also help in understanding the overall picture better.

    Thanks for opening it for overseas readers. Much appreciated.

    mystica123athotmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  20. Isaias Fortes7:20 PM

    I would like to have this Bible because I'm learning English. Reading the Holy Bible is gonna be an excellent way to improve my English and learn more about God's Word.

    isaias_fortes(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love to win this bible because I have never had one of
    my own.
    I follow by google reader.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would like to win a copy to give to my art teacher sister who teaches sunday School. I know she would love this.

    kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hey, I would really love to win this Bible because I have never owned at NLT Bible, but have heard many good things about it and that it's accurate and easy to understand. It would be so awesome to finally own at NLT Bible! Thanks :)
    dueck.matt@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mathew,

    The Mosaic Bible is great - I've really enjoyed my copy. But, I'm afraid this drawing was held in November of 2009. Still, I highly recommend it. I'm a big fan of the NLT and I like the features of the Mosaic.

    ReplyDelete

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