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Marriage, Sex, and Questions Kids Ask

Farrel_394 b p hugBestselling authors and relationship experts Bill and Pam Farrel have teamed up with Faithlife to host a book group centered on their new devotional, A Couple’s Journey with God. To better connect the book group with the authors, we sat down with Bill and Pam. Here’s what they told us.

Q: Is it true you have a formula in Red-Hot Monogamy that calculates how much time it takes for a couple to create a love that lasts a lifetime?

Yes, we explain how much T.I.M.E. investment it takes to keep a red-hot love life with a simple acrostic:

  1. Ten to twenty minutes a day of talk time to stay emotionally connected.
  2. Invest in a weekly date night to keep fanning the flame.
  3. Monthly all-day getaway to be sure that your needs for romance and sex are met.
  4. Escape yearly—or better yet, twice a year: once for a marriage conference, and once for some rest and romance, like on your anniversary.

Q: What are a few ways couples can keep the Bible central to their relationship?

Bill and I see Bible study like one wonderful adventure! Anytime we learn something about biblical history, context, or words, we run and share it with the other! We also encourage couples to do the simple basics so they can feel successful with the Bible:

  • Attend a Bible-teaching church together weekly.
  • Be involved in a Bible study group together.

Have a five-minute time in the Word, like we encourage in A Couple’s Journey with God.

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30% off the Marriage, Sex, and Questions Kids Ask book bundle:

Save 30% on three of Bill and Pam’s most popular books on Vyrso.com. The book bundle includes the authors’ latest release: 10 Questions Kids Ask about Sex. Sale ends May 14.

  1. Red-Hot Monogamy: Making Your Marriage Sizzle

    2. With their trademark insight, humor, and candid personal perspectives, Bill and Pam reveal the truth about sexual relationships in marriage and what husbands and wives need to know to keep the embers burning.

    • Sex is like fireworks!—why a little skill turns marriage into red-hot monogamy
    • How sex works best emotionally, physically, and physiologically
    • How to avoid the pleasure thieves that steal your chance for fulfillment
  2. 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband: How to Put a Smile on His Face

    3. With humor and creativity, Pam delivers humor and wisdom in a fun woman-to-woman style through inspirational stories, godly advice, and easy-to-read offerings that include:

    • Wow assignments: simple ways to support, love, and encourage husbands
    • Wow wisdom: Bible verses and wisdom to help women cover their spouse with prayer
    • Wow dates: creative ideas for everything from shared meals to weekend getaways
  3. 10 Questions Kids Ask about Sex

    4. Every parent wants to help their children make wise choices. Now Bill and Pam bring their trademark humor and characteristic wisdom to one of the scariest topics of all: teaching kids about sex.

    • Lay a foundation for healthy conversation.
    • Articulate God’s view of sex.
    • Protect your children by giving them the right information at the right time.

Sale ends May 14.

Want more from Bill and Pam? Check out the Vyrso blog for more posts by the Farrels, or join the Faithlife book group!

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I Believe in the Scriptures: David Bowden’s Journey of Faith

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Spoken-word poet David Bowden writes for activist movements and nonprofits around the country. He uses his voice to speak for those who have been chronically unheard. This piece, however, he wrote to express his own complicated relationship with the Scriptures.

Raised as a Christian, David came to believe that the Scriptures had become corrupted—but as he shares on his website, God has since shown him differently.

 However, God has started to wreck my heart concerning the Bible. I started to reconsider my stance. I began reading different books, found an amazing mentor (now incredible friend) and stepped back into the Bible.

It’s interesting that David came to understand the value of the Scriptures not only by examining the text alone, but also through study resources and a mentor. We are lucky. When we study the Scriptures, we can stand on the scholarly shoulders of great men and women.

With the Faithlife app, we can carry whole volumes of research in a pocket-sized device. Not only that, it can serve as a portal to countless others who are also walking this journey of faith. While there is certainly a place for solitude, God’s people have always been gatherers. We learn best when we learn together. (click to tweet) It’s our hope that we could all come a place of personal revival. A place of which David Bowden wrote:

 What I found was not a rekindling of an old flame, but an entire rediscovery of what the Bible really is. We don’t have some static book of law transcribed word for word like Paul was God’s secretary copying a dictation. What we have is the product of breath. In the beginning when God breathed on dirt he made man. When God breathed on man, man gave him words.

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Celebrate National Day of Prayer with Faithlife

ndop.2013

Today is the National Day of Prayer, a chance for us to unite in faith and pray for our country and community. Take this day to reflect and talk to God about:

Our Country— It has been a challenging year for America– Aurora, Sandy Hook, West Texas, and the Boston Marathon. Even those of us who were not directly affected felt the ripples because after all, “this land is your land, this land is my land.” While the National Day of Prayer is a traditionally American observance, instituted by President Truman in 1952, its spirit ignores nationalistic borders. There are a lot of hurting people this country, and every other. Let’s spend a day standing with all of them in prayer.

Your Community— There are hurting people in your city. In your neighborhood. On your block. National Day of Prayer is a great time to remember that. Pray for those nameless faces that you see every day. Pray for God to make himself known to them, but remember that sometimes, you are the answer to your own prayers. (click to tweet)

Your Church— It has been said that happy families are all the same, but unhappy families are unhappy in their own way. I think the same is true of churches. There are no perfect churches, just like there are no perfect families. Every church has its own unique strengths and pitfalls. Instead of focusing on the negative, spend some time thanking God for the faith community that he built around you.

As you celebrate National Day of Prayer, why not take advantage of the Prayer widget that we’ve built into the Faithlife Groups experience. With this simple tool it’s easy to keep track of prayer requests in your small group.

If you have not created one for your Faithlife group yet, it’s very easy. Click on “Group Settings” and look for it under the “sidebar” tab.

Prayer Widget

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Grow Closer to God with Mary: Devoted to God’s Plan

Mary-devoted-to-gods-planMary was a young, unmarried woman, and her plan from God was to birth our Savior, Jesus Christ. Afraid, scorned, and downright confused, Mary followed God’s will for her, trusting that his plan was better than she could ever imagine. Learn more about her life and faith this May with Mary: Devoted to God’s Plan, now available from Logos.com as a resource in your Faithlife Study Bible.

This eight-week study program covers topics like facing fear with faith, embracing the unexpected, and more—topics that, to this day, Christians struggle with. Each chapter is structured to maximize your study and time. You’ll learn about the cultural and historical events surrounding Mary and the theology behind her, and you’ll conclude each chapter with application questions to help you on your own faith journey.



Mary: Devoted to God’s Plan is 20% off for a limited time with coupon code FSBMARY. Start using your Faithlife Study Bible to get closer to God and his Word.

Get Mary: Devoted to God’s Plan for 20% off today with coupon code FSBMARY!

Want to use this in your church or small group? Click here to learn more.

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What Is A Devotional?

My-UtmostWhat is a devotional?

That’s not easy to answer. A devotional can be many things. It can be a Bible reading plan. It can be a series of meditations. It can be a liturgical exercise. It can be a daily selection of verses, accompanied by a thoughtful essay.

We all understand a devotional in an experiential sense—who hasn’t sat through some early hours with a cup of coffee and an aging copy of My Utmost for His Highest?—but few can explain in a concise way what a devotional is. We certainly know what it is not.

  • It’s not a doctrinal treatise.
  • It’s not a Bible commentary.
  • It’s not a theological textbook.

A devotional is not designed to change your mind; it’s meant to change your heart.

A clear understanding of God’s Word is very important. Study is essential. Few of us begin our spiritual journey with full knowledge, but as we study Scripture and sit under preaching, our knowledge base grows broader and our understanding grows deeper. Knowledge may be the first thing, but it is not everything. Knowledge must mature into virtue or it will spoil into vanity. Truth you know and do not practice is wasted truth. (click to tweet)

And that is what a devotional is for. More than what we ought to think, devotions show us how we ought to feel, so that our impulse decisions are as godly as our thoughtful ones.

It’s no wonder they do not come easily to the more pragmatic among us. We prefer to ignore our feelings, to treat them as vestigial. I harbored my own aversion to personal devotions until I became painfully aware of my need for them. I had a Romans 7:15 moment, like I’m sure we all have at some point. Actually, I had several of them in rapid succession. I realized that study was not quite enough. If I was going to grow into a spiritual father, like John describes in 1 John 2:14, I would need to do something more difficult than suppressing my emotions by force of will. I would need to bring my sinful heart, sometimes kicking and screaming, into a place of submission to the truth I had already learned. A daily devotional became one of the primary tools that I used to accomplish that.

Thankfully, the Faithlife app gave me access to several devotionals, all of them great, and many more were available to me through Logos, Faithlife’s parent company. These resources are available to you everywhere you go, so even if the devotional life is painfully convicting, at least it can be convenient.

Which Faithlife devotional have you enjoyed most?

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Faithlife Study Bible combines a modern English translation, 3 layers of detailed study notes, and rich multimedia to bring the scriptures to life in a whole new way. Download it for free from your favorite app store.

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3 Layers of Bible Study Notes (and How to Find Them)

The Faithlife Study Bible has three layers of Bible study notes. Here’s how to find them, use them, and navigate your way safely home.

Level 1: Define it

 The first level is made up of commentary notes. Written by expert scholars, these notes jump-start your study by giving you a little more information about the context of the passage. If you’re not sure what the passage means or how to apply it, the first-level notes are a great place to start. You’ll also find some word studies, cross references, charts, and infographics. All are fun to explore.

How do I find it?

 From the home screen, tap the “read” button and you’ll be whisked away into the text. The top panel is your Bible. The lower panel is your first layer of notes. These two panels follow one another, meaning if you swipe ahead in one of the panels, the other will stay in sync. You can unlink them if you need to by long-pressing on the small gray circle between the two panels. You can also resize the two panels by dragging the circle up or down.
level 1

Level 2 Notes: Explain it to Me

 In level 2, we dive a bit deeper. You’ll collect more detail and explore how your passage connects to other parts of Scripture.

How do I find it?

Look for the gray plus signs. Anywhere you see one, level 2 notes are waiting for you. Tap the plus signs to read them.
level 2

Level 3 Notes: Tell Me Everything

If you’d like to go even deeper, the end of most level 2 entries will include links to other resources. Tap any of them to reveal the third level of notes.

How do I find it?

Tapping any of the links will launch that resource in the study notes panel.  Any additional study resources from your Logos Library will also appear here.
level 3

Let’s Look at an Example: 1 John 2:7–10

1 John 2:7–10 holds an apparent contradiction. John says both “I am NOT writing a new commandment” and “I AM writing a new commandment.” If you were encountering this passage for the first time, you might be confused. How can he contradict himself in the same paragraph?
To the study notes!
The level 1 notes would point out Jesus’ words in John 13:34 and how similar they are. Tap the gray plus sign to expand some level 2 notes and you’ll find an explanation of paradox as a literary device that John uses to draw attention to words. The contrast draws attention and causes us to consider how his admonition is built upon unique information and, at the same time, the words of Christ. The link to level 3 reveals an article from The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (which you can purchase as an add on for EVEN MORE clarity) about how John uses the word “love” throughout his writing. Interesting.

So . . . How Do I Get Back?

Great question.
  • From level 3: tap the “X”

While you’re reading level 3 notes, a small “x” will be displayed in the top left of the study-notes panel. Tap it to close the level 3 notes and you’ll find yourself viewing level 2 notes.

  • From level 2: tap the minus icon

With level 2 notes expanded, the little gray cross will turn into a minus. Tap it to close the level 2 notes.

  • From level 1: return safely home

Tap anywhere on the screen to reveal the navigation menu. Tap again on the book icon in the top left corner to be taken to the home screen that you’ve come to know and love.

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“A Couple’s Journey with God” Book Group Starts Today

Join the FaithLife Reading GroupJoin nearly 100 other couples and bestselling authors Pam and Bill Farrel as we begin reading A Couple’s Journey with God. This book group is designed for busy couples, so each of the 58 daily devotionals takes five to ten minutes a day to read. Download the Faithlife app and you can participate in the group while waiting for the doctor, while riding in the car, or in the comfort of your favorite coffee shop.

Daily devotional chapters include:

  • Can You Hear Me Now?
  • Baby, I Want You!
  • Shared Confidence
  • Deep Roots
  • A Life Well Lived
  • Hot Stuff!

Plus, if you purchase the ebook on Vyrso (Faithlife’s sister company), it will seamlessly link to your Faithlife account. You’ll be able to highlight your favorite passages, share comments and questions with the group, add personal notes, and more. And now you can purchase the book from Vyrso at 25% off. Use coupon code JOURNEY at checkout.

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A book group designed for busy couples

Faithlife is hosting a reading group based on best-selling authors Bill and Pam Farrel’s devotional A Couple’s Journey with God. This reading group is designed specifically for busy couples, at any stage of life and relationship, who want to grow closer to each other and Christ. By joining, you’ll gain access to exclusive notes, discussion questions, and interviews with the authors. You can also join in the conversation by asking your own questions and posting notes.

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Bill and Pam Farrel will lead you through 58 short daily devotionals. Every day, you’ll encounter practical ideas for staying in love, questions to deepen your relationship, tips for great interactions, and passionate prompts.

See what 15 minutes a day with your spouse and God can do for your relationship. Reading begins April 23.

Learn more


Enjoy all of Faithlife’s digital features, such as Community Notes, by purchasing the book through Faithlife’s sister company Vyrso. For a limited time only, use coupon code JOURNEY at checkout and save 25%.

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About the authors: Pam and Bill Farrel have been married for 33 years, worked in ministry for over 25 years, and written over 38 books. They have devoted their lives to helping couples build stronger bonds with each other and with Christ. They want to connect love and wisdom in order to build happy, unbreakable marriages.

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Get a Free NIV through April 8!

For a limited time, you can get the world’s most popular Bible translation free with the Faithlife Study Bible. The New International Version (NIV) makes the Bible’s ancient text accessible without losing any of Scripture’s original form and beauty.

Download the Faithlife Study Bible by April 8, and you’ll get the NIV, along with the FSB’s several daily devotionals, three layers of in-depth study notes, custom highlighting and note-taking, and more.

The Faithlife Study Bible can be read on your iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire, or online at Bible.Faithlife.com. It’s the perfect resource to bring with you to church and Bible study, and allows you to study no matter where you are. The FSB is always growing and improving, and by downloading it today, you own the FSB and the NIV for life.

If you’re already using the Faithlife Study Bible, simply open it before April 8. That’s it. The NIV will automatically show up in your resource library. You’ll be able to use your favorite translation and our notes, media, and reading plans together—without having to pay for anything.

faithlife NIV

Get the NIV free. But hurry! You only have until April 8!

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There’s still time to join the 14 Days on Resurrection reading plan

Easter 2013Prepare for Easter in the Word

Even though the reading plan has already started, you can still join. You’ll get a simple way to focus on Scripture regarding Jesus’ resurrection; you can finish after Easter at your own pace. The reading plan follows the story of Christ’s resurrection through 14 days of guided scripture.

Reading plans with Faithlife are a terrific way to connect with other Christians around the Word. The reading plan allows you to interact with other readers by sharing comments and questions. You can explore the 3 layers of study notes within the Faithlife Study Bible app, gain new insight into the text, share your knowledge through Community Notes, and so much more. With Scripture only a click away, you’ll get closer to biblical truth, together. The reading plan helps you to explore the power of the resurrection individually or with others if you choose.

Join the 14 Days reading plan today!