David Capes is the Thomas Nelson Research Professor at Houston Baptist University. He is the author of numerous publications and is one of the top scholars and writers for The Voice, a new Bible translation that reads like a story with all of the truth and wisdom of God's Word. To illustrate how The Voice transports the reader into the Bible's narrative, Dr. Capes shows how the Bible's first verse reads in this new dynamic rendering of Scripture compared to a more traditional Bible version.

Here is Genesis 1:1 in the King James Version:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

That is a brilliant, simple, accurate translation of the Hebrew.  As we thought about our intended audience, however, it dawned on us how different the word “heavens” and “earth” are for us today compared to the ancients. 

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Last year ConversantLife is partnered with Thomas Nelson, Inc. and World Vision in a unique and biblical campaign called "God's Word in Action." Through this comprehensive campaign, Thomas Nelson's Bible Group pledged $100,000 to World Vision to help eradicate poverty and preventable deaths among children.

As a follow up to this inspiring campaign, Thomas Nelson has introduced the Take Action Bible as a way to encourage everyday people and families to put their own faith into action by serving Jesus somwhere in the world, whether it's at home or abroad.

"If you had asked me a year ago if I would travel to a third world country to build a home for someone who did not have a home, my answer would have been, 'Not right now.' Ask me that same question today,  and my answer would be, 'Absoluely yes.'" Such is the dynamic testimony of Jason and Lisa, who traveled with seven friends to Haiti, where they built two homes in connection with a local church.

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader opens in theatres worldwide on Friday, December 10th.

Pastors can take their congregations right now on a very special journey by hosting their very own NARNIA NIGHT! All the materials are FREE and located at:

http://www.narniafaith.com/engage/narnia-night/

As part of the worldwide release of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, 20th Century Fox and Walden Media have created an exclusive event just for churches – Narnia Night. This totally customizable event includes a multi-part documentary on renowned author and theologian C.S. Lewis, a behind-the-scenes look at how the filmmakers used a little Hollywood magic to make the bedroom flood with water, the popular “Undragon Your Life” testimony from Jim Burgen of Denver’s Flatirons Church, and an exclusive, never-before-seen look inside the new film!

All of these elements are available as fully downloadable hi-res files (all the visual materials can be previewed in low-res form). Everything is free so pastors can create their very own Narnia Night to engage their church as well as their community at large!

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Bestselling author Max Lucado has done many things to put God's Word into action over the years and has inspired many others to do the same. This year, in commemoration of Max's 25th year of inspirational writing, he has made it his personal goal to help World Vision raise up sponsors for 25,000 children, in conjunction with this fall's Make a Difference Tour.

One hundred percent of Max's royalties from Outlive Your Life products will benefit children and families through World Vision and other ministries of faith-based compassion.

ConversantLife is excited to partner with Thomas Nelson, Inc. and World Vision in a unique and biblical campaign called "God's Word in Action." Through this comprehensive campaign, Thomas Nelson's Bible Group is donating at least $100,000 through March 2012 to World Vision to help eradicate poverty and preventable deaths among children.

At ConversantLife, we're all about content that encourages conversations about faith and culture. So when we heard about a leading Bible publisher teaming with the world's largest relief organization, we immediately wanted to be involved. The way we see it, the Bible contains life's most important content, and helping "the least of these" is at the heart of the gospel message.

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Operation Christmas Child is partnering with the upcoming film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, set for release on Dec. 10. Through this partnership, Narnia fans will be encouraged to participate in the world’s largest Christmas project by packing shoe box gifts that will make a difference in the lives of needy children.

In Narnia, it was always winter and never Christmas until Aslan arrived with hope. In the same way, simple shoe box gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items can bring hope to children around the world by reminding them they are loved and not forgotten.

“We’re very excited to participate in the upcoming release of the movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” said Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse. “We want children around the world to know the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of Jesus Christ—and the joy ­­­­­­­­­­­­­and hope that this brings.”

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Together with Grace Hill Media, ConversantLife is giving away three DVD copies of the inspirational and moving family film, Letters to God.

Letters to God is the heartfelt and inspiring story of what happens when one boy's journey touches the lives of his family, friends, and community. Hope is contagious in this uplifting new DVD, arriving on August 10 from Possibility Pictures and Vivendi Entertainment.

An intimate, moving and often funny story, the film follows thepath of a young child with a terminal illness who through his battle becomes a warrior for hope and a champion to everyone around him. Surrounded by a loving family and community, the young boy takes comfort in prayers written as letters to God. These letters find their way to a conflicted postman who is at a crossroads in his life, searching for meaning.

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Anybody who says the book is dead hasn't been keeping up with current events. Truth is, more books are being published now than ever before. Way more.

More than a million book titles were published in 2009--a quarter of those by "traditional" publishers and the rest by self-publishers and micro-niche publishers--including five titles by ConversantLife writers published by Conversant Media Group and Harvest House:

• Apologetics for a New Generation by Sean McDowell: Helping you effectively share the answers to life's big questions with a new generation.
• I Can't See God Because I'm in the Way by Stan Jantz and Bruce Bickel: Showing that a fresh view of God is more accessible than you think.
• The Last TV Evangelist by Phil Cooke: Knowing why the next generation couldn't care less about religious media, and why it matters.
• The God Question by J.P. Moreland: An invitation to honestly explore an entirely new way of living--the way of Jesus.
• The Forecast by Caroline Ferdinandsen: A counterfeit memoir the lets the author lie the entire time and still tell you the absolute truth.

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More than a dozen award-winning artists are combining their musical talents to help make sure desperately needed relief supplies continue flowing into Haiti, where the struggle for survival continues for hundreds of thousands of earthquake victims.    

Healing 4 Haiti is a collection of 15 songs from Christian music’s leading artists and worship leaders and includes the anthem “Come Together Now (Music City Unites For Haiti),” penned by Michael W. Smith, Cindy Morgan and David Mullen. The song list also includes tracks from Israel Houghton, DecembeRadio, Kari Jobe, The Afters, Hawk Nelson and many more plus an exclusive version of Jared Anderson’s new song, “Carry Me.”

Healing 4 Haiti will be released by Integrity Music at iTunes on Tuesday, March 2 with a retail release slated for March 16. A minimum of $5.00 per copy of the album sold will be donated to Haiti earthquake relief. The donations will be used to provide clean water, shelter, medical care and other critical aid from Samaritan's Purse. It will also support the work of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Rapid Response Team, which had chaplains on the ground within 24 hours of the earthquake providing emotional and spiritual comfort to survivors. Additionally, proceeds from “Come Together Now (Music City Unites for Haiti)” will go to the Haiti relief efforts of Samaritan’s Purse and the American Red Cross.

“Every artist and every individual who can use their talent and ability to shed light on those in need, when it’s all added together, it makes a huge difference,” says Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association/Samaritan’s Purse. “My prayer is that God will use Healing 4 Haiti to touch the hearts of this nation to give generously to the suffering people of Haiti.”

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Every once in a while, we have the opportunity to give away some free stuff, and this is one of those times.  Thanks to our friends at Grace Hill Media, we have a few DVDs of the groundbreaking television program, Touched by an Angel. This top-rated show, starring Roma Downey and Della Reese as angels who brought messages from God to ordinary people, was the first prime-time show to successfully and skillfully integrate themes of faith into everyday life in a prime-time television show. Basically, it was a program that made God look good!

Now there is a new special edition DVD series called "Touched by an Angel: Inspiration Collection"  Each of these "Faith and Love" editions feature four thematic episodes specially selected by executive producer Martha Williamson. These special DVDs will be available January 26 at your local Christian store, or they can be ordered online.

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