The (2015) ESV New Classic Reference Bible in TruTone Synthetic Cover.

October 11, 2015October 11, 2015 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Let’s see what the 2015 New Classic Reference looks like, and compare it briefly to the edition it replaces. I think you’ll find that there aren’t very many changes. I ordered this Bible from Amazon. It arrived in generally good shape. It does not have a retail box. Instead, it has a sleeve. I prefer clamshell or two piece style boxes for storage. You tend to see clamshell style with premium Bibles, not value editions.

After tossing the sleeve away, I scrutinized the cover. I like synthetic covers more than bonded leather. If I can afford them, I purchase ones that are edge lined and covered in goatskin leather. This synthetic cover was not bad. It was soft and flexible. I did get a crease in it by folding it over. Once you get the paper liner creased it shows through the cover. I don’t know how durable it will be. I’ll get back to you on that on in a couple of years. There is a good lifetime warranty on these Bibles. I’m not worried about service should anything go wrong.

Here is the old edition in genuine leather

Both Bibles have family records pages and presentation pages in the front

One of the major qualities that I love about Crossway Bibles, is even their value Bibles use better paper than almost all of their competitors. The paper in this thing is as good as some of the paper in the cost prohibitive premium Bibles. It is very opaque and seems pretty heavy. The old edition was printed on 24 pound (36 g.s.m.) Thincoat™. The paper in the new edition is uncoated. It remains the same weight. It is whiter than the earlier edition which in comparison seems a little more off white. It could be that since I’ve had the other Bible for a few years the paper has yellowed a bit, but I doubt it. It is more likely that the coated paper of the earlier edition was responsible for the slight color difference.

Here is a look at the previous edition.

There is a slight tradeoff when using a heavier paper. The Bible, by necessity of finites becomes thicker. That being said, I would much rather a Bible be thicker and very legible than be thinner and barely legible. Ghosting is a real problem on thinner paper and can make daily reading a near impossible task. The New Classic Reference is not too heavy or big. It feels good to hold and read from. The fact that it is a tad bit thicker doesn’t make it uncomfortable to use. I find it to be subjectively, one of the most comfortable Bibles I’ve spent hours reading from.

Both the older edition and the new one, offer good contrast between the paper and the text. The text is a modern setting of Lexicon font in 9 pt size. It is sharp and crisp against the backdrop of the page. This is a red letter edition with the words of Christ printed in red. Some people like this feature and others think it detracts from the entirety of the word being inspired. I don’t have an opinion either way. If it is done well, I like it. The red and black ink is consistent throughout.

Here is the new one

Here is the old one

There are book introductions at the beginning of each book.

This is pretty helpful without adding the bulk that a study Bible would have. The New Classic Reference is laid out in a double column, paragraph format, with center column references.

This is pretty standard, but again due to the paper quality, uniform printing, and smyth-sewn binding this Bible stands out. I am thinking about rebinding it in goatskin leather. It is an excellent candidate for rebind because of the low initial purchase price, paper, print, and the sewn binding. If you couldn’t tell by now, this does have a sewn binding making it flexible and durable.

It has one ribbon marker that matches the color scheme of the Bible. It is a pretty thin ribbon.

The spine has also been rounded.

The older edition has a flatter spine that doesn’t appear rounded.

The older edition was manufactured in the United States, while this one was manufactured in China. As long as Crossway can ensure quality control, this shouldn’t be a problem. Other publishers have not been able to, and have suffered the consequential negative effects to their reputations.

An excellent three column concordance is included in the back with 32, color maps and illustrations.

The overall impression I got was that this is still the same reference Bible that so many people have loved over the years with some small changes. The most important qualities have not changed. It remains very legible, and easy on the eyes for long bouts of reading. It wins, hands down over many other similarly priced Bibles due to the paper, print, and binding. Throw in the formal equivalent English Standard Version (ESV) translation and you have a great reference Bible.

Make sure to check out all the pictures of the New Classic Reference here, and the old one here.

Here are the stats and info from the Crossway product page,

About the ESV New Classic Reference Bible

The ESV New Classic Reference Bible is a new edition of the first ESV Bible edition ever published in 2001—the ESV Classic Reference Bible. This practical and popular format combines the ESV text with a robust concordance and one of the most comprehensive and useful cross-reference systems available today—more than 80,000 references conveniently located in the center column on each page. This edition adds 32 pages of full-color maps of Bible lands and illustrations of historic biblical sites, structures, and objects for ready reference and insight. The ESV New Classic Reference Bible’s balance of helpful reference features and convenient size make it an ideal Bible for everyday use—at home, at church, at school, and on the road.

Size: 5.5″ x 8.4375″
9.0-point type
1,344 pages
Double-column, paragraph format
Words of Christ in red
More than 80,000 center-column cross-references
32 full-color pages of maps and illustrations
Introductions to each Bible book
Extensive concordance
Ribbon marker
Presentation pages
Smyth-sewn binding
Lifetime guarantee

Specifications

Format:	TruTone
Page Count:	1,344
ISBN-10:	1-4335-4557-8
ISBN-13:	978-1-4335-4557-3
Trim Size:	5.5 in x 8.4375 in
Weight:	31.8 ounces
Published:	January 31, 2015
Type Size:	9.0
Page Layout:	Double Column
Additional Features:	Sewn Binding Maps Illustrations Lifetime Guarantee Cross-references Concordance Book intros Ribbon Gilded edges Words of Christ Red

ISBN-13: 978-1-4335-4557-3
ISBN-13: 9781433545573

Two Types of Repentance.

October 11, 2015October 11, 2015 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

There are two types of repentance. One that leads to death and one that leads to life. Which one do you have?

There is one repentance that leads to death. That is the ritualistic, self-righteous act of atoning for your own sin. There is another that leads to life. That is the one of truly realizing that it is God who you have sinned against. Having true shame and sorrow over the sin that you have committed against God. A sorrow that leads you to hate the sins that you do. A sorrow that makes you zealous for God’s will and obedience to Him. One comes from a self-centered heart that is dead in sin. The other comes from a heart that is after God’s own will.

2 Corinthians 7:9-11 NASB [9] I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. [10] For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. [11] For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

Acts 13:22-24 NASB “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’ [23] “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, [24] after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Uncategorized

Trigger Words, Microaggressions, and Further Idiocy Oh My!

October 9, 2015October 9, 2015 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

We’ve lost the ability to reason and now feel everything. It is insane!

If you’ve been to a college campus, public school, or work lately, you probably have had to sit through a class on, “Micro-Aggressions and Trigger Words.” For those of you lucky enough to have not been exposed to this, consider yourselves blessed. This is one of the most insidious forms of attack on free speech that I have seen in many years. It is very sneaky and subtle, masquerading as consideration for others feelings, but in reality it is being used to litigate you into keeping your mouth shut all the time. Just like the mind policing in the book, “1984.”

It is all so very subjective as well. I can declare my lil’ ol’ self a victim and become a victim, at the same time transforming you into a vile offender, just by feeling an affront, whether intended or not. The offender is guilty solely based on my subjective, hurt feelers. Look out! Be on the watch! Haven’t you heard? Words come from feelings and thoughts. Feelings and thoughts come from your heart and your head. Watch and control what you think and feel or they might make their way out into dangerous words. Words that cause trauma.

I seem to remember a saying from my childhood, “Sticks and stones, may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This little axiom has served me well over the years, but what do I know? I mean, afterall I live in the real world. I’ve been a Corrections Officer for the last 20 years. I’ve been assaulted. I’ve seen savage assaults. People have died due to these assaults. I’ve defended my family with physical force. I’ve defended nice people in public from being physically assaulted. The people claiming trauma from microaggressions have never truly been exposed to real aggression or experienced real trauma. They sit like tiny wisps of web in a dark corner yearning to come out into the light, only to be blown away by the first slight breeze that comes along. They have no anchor. They have no steadfastness. They are worthless under true strain and toil. They have placed their feelings and themselves on the throne of God to be worshipped by all others. There is no humility in being the perpetual victim. There is no right of, “Not being offended.” There is however a right to be able to say what you want and express your thoughts, however inane you are. We can’t infringe upon this Constitutionally protected right.

Imagine this nonsense playing out in a country where people worry about thugs breaking down their doors and killing them. News flash, the people who use these weapons of unreasonable emotion against us are the thugs. They are taking our right to free speech and expression with their new shiny gotcha guns. “Oh, you hurt my poor wittle feelings wif your microaggressions” Wipe the tears from your eyes nancy-boy and get a job in the real world. Maybe lump loading freight onto pallets so the forklift driver can take them away will help you? Maybe pulling green-chain at a wood mill will toughen you up? Perhaps a job in a meat packing plant or slaughter house will help you? Maybe, working for a living instead of existing off of tax-fed government programs will help you see the light? Who am I kidding? We all know that your type couldn’t survive in the world without help.

That’s why you have to pervert it into some parasitical facade, subsiding off the labor of others is the only way a limp wristed, slack jawed, maggot like you could survive. You’re killing the host that sustains you! Idiots!!!

I can’t put all the blame on you. There is plenty for men like me. We should have tormented you until you died and were born again hard. As soon as we discerned your weakness, we should have planned for your redemption. We should have made it our personal mission to help you grow into a man. We should have realized that we have a vested interest in your development. We failed you, and I am regretful. I apologize for not seeing your great need of a beating, shame, or harsh words, at the opportune time. I apologize for not teaching you the difference between real and imagined suffering. I apologize for letting you get by at work. I apologize for not making everything into a competition, where all involved would learn to excel. Even the loser produces more when honor is important and on the line. I apologize for not saying something to you when your children misbehave in the store. I apologise for not shaming you when you deserved it.

Too many weaklings, too many cowards, not enough men punching idiots in the face. Seriously, if you said something stupid when I was young, you got socked in the jaw. Guess what, you learn a lot from a good beating. I’m not talking the type of gang-land honorless beatings you see doled out by gutless wonders on the street. I’m talking about a good honest, put up your dukes, one on one fight, over an issue worthy of fisticuffs. To all the people who say you can’t solve problems with violence, I say, “You’ve never made a friend by beating him in a fight.” When you know a man will fight for his rights, or what he believes is right, and you know this because he fought you over them, whoever wins can respect the one who lost, because he knows that man is a man of action and character. Now, we lockem’ up and label them violent offenders. We have a society of sissified, self-important, entitled, leeches, bleeding the rest of us dry and vilifying us. When we are all gone, and you delicates are left alone, to watch in horror as your real enemies crawl over the unkept walls of our dead constitution to slit your throats in broad daylight, remember this… it is all your fault.

For those of you who think this is unbecoming of a Christian man, or think that I’m not demonstrating grace, well, you may be right. I am angry. I am frustrated. I don’t like what I’m seeing and hearing. It has sickened me. So this is a knee-jerk, polemic against the overly sensitive. I still think it was necessary and good for people to see. They need to know that we are on to them. Maybe I could have been more diplomatic or considerate, but given the topic, I thought it fitting to be blunt. I might well be sinning by being so open with my thoughts and feelings on the topic, but hey, “that is a microaggression and you’re causing me trauma” goes both ways.

Theology

Job 28 and the Source of Wisdom.

October 5, 2015October 5, 2015 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

What’s precious to man? Silver, gold, ores, and jewels? We know where they come from. We mine them from the Earth, but where does wisdom, the most precious thing come from? Can we mine it from the Earth? Has God hidden it there? Can we buy it and become wise with a purchase? Where does wisdom come from? Let’s read what Job’s answer was in Job 28.
Job 28:1-28 NASB
[1] “Surely there is a mine for silver And a place where they refine gold.
[2] “Iron is taken from the dust, And copper is smelted from rock.
[3] “Man puts an end to darkness, And to the farthest limit he searches out The rock in gloom and deep shadow.
[4] “He sinks a shaft far from habitation, Forgotten by the foot; They hang and swing to and fro far from men.
[5] “The earth, from it comes food, And underneath it is turned up as fire.
[6] “Its rocks are the source of sapphires, And its dust contains gold.
[7] “The path no bird of prey knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye caught sight of it.
[8] “The proud beasts have not trodden it, Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
[9] “He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the base.
[10] “He hews out channels through the rocks, And his eye sees anything precious.
[11] “He dams up the streams from flowing, And what is hidden he brings out to the light.
[12] “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
[13] “Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
[14] “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
[15] “Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it, Nor can silver be weighed as its price.
[16] “It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx, or sapphire.
[17] “Gold or glass cannot equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.
[18] “Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.
[19] “The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.
[20] “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?
[21] “Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living And concealed from the birds of the sky.
[22] “Abaddon and Death say, ‘With our ears we have heard a report of it.’
[23] “God understands its way, And He knows its place.
[24] “For He looks to the ends of the earth And sees everything under the heavens.
[25] “When He imparted weight to the wind And meted out the waters by measure,
[26] When He set a limit for the rain And a course for the thunderbolt,
[27] Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out.
[28] “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'”

Gill’s commentary on Chapter 28

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 28

The design of this chapter is either to show the folly of such who are very diligent in their search and pursuit after earthly things, and neglect an inquiry after that which is infinitely more valuable, true wisdom; or rather to observe, that though things the most secret, and which are hidden in the bowels of the earth, may be investigated and discovered by the sagacity and diligence of men, yet wisdom cannot, especially the wisdom of God in his providences, which are past finding out; and particularly in what concerns the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous; the reason of which men should be content to be ignorant of for the present, and be studious to possess that wisdom which is attainable, and be thankful for it, if they have it; which lies in the fear of the Lord, and a departure from evil, with which this chapter concludes. It begins with setting forth the sagacity of men in searching and finding out useful metals, and other things the earth produces; the difficulty, fatigue, and labour, that attend such a search, and the dangers they are exposed unto in it, Job_28:1; then it declares the unsearchableness of wisdom, its superior excellency to things the most valuable, and that it is not to be found by sea or land, or among any of the creatures, Job_28:12; and that God only knows its way and place, who has sought it out, prepared and declared it, Job_28:23; and that which he has thought fit to make known of it, and is most for his glory and the good of men, is, that it is to fear God, and depart from evil, Job_28:28.

Bible Reviews

A Review of the NKJV Foundation Study Bible, in Hardcover

October 2, 2015October 4, 2015 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

The Bible was shipped to me free in return for an honest review. It arrived undamaged and in generally good condition except for a bent corner. It is a hardcover with a dustjacket. It is case bound, and smyth-sewn. It is produced in China and does not seem to suffer major quality problems that you might find in other Chinese made Bibles. I have a general dislike of dustjackets and remove them.

The spine is rounded, there are plain jane, white, head and tail bands. There are no ribbon markers.

The paper is sufficiently white and opaque.

This is a value edition in my opinion. It is nothing spectacular. The price is very low and affordable. The font seems smallish at about 8 point. The notes are even smaller. There are book introductions at the start of each book. It is laid out in a double column, verse format, red letter edition with center column references and notes at the bottom of the page. It is a pretty typical layout, so no surprises there. I actually like the layout.

At 8 ¾” by 5 ½” by about 1 ½” this is not a large study Bible. Matter of opinion, I wouldn’t call it a study Bible. I would call it an enhanced reference Bible. The notes are very basic and limited. I understand the intended audience is immature Christians. I believe they would be better served from a true study Bible. This would be good for a person who wants a smaller hardcover reference Bible with a bit more in the way of notes. If you want a study Bible, get a MacArthur Study Bible, or an ESV Study Bible. There is a concordance and some maps in the back of this Bible. The maps are printed on a matte paper and should hold up better than the high gloss ones of yesterday. So to sum up, I would recommend this to someone looking for an inexpensive reference Bible with some extra notes. I wouldn’t recommend this for someone to use as a serious study aid. This would be a good Bible to give away to people.

Take a look at the pictures here on my Flickr page.

ISBN-13: 9780718034320

blood moons · cultural · eschatology · hagee · perry stone

Shemitahs, blood moons, and apocalypse oh my.

September 26, 2015September 26, 2015 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Shemitahs, blood moons, and apocalypse oh my.

I know some of our more charismatic friends and television sensationalists like John Hagee and Perry Stone have gone coo coo for blood moons. Waiting for the Shemitah to come and go can be nerve wrecking. If the end doesn’t come they will have to make a list of all the big bad scary things that happen during the year to prove their point. It will be the same with the blood moon. The lack of an apocalypse will have to be explained away again. That is the thing with making predictions and going further than what the text of the Bible actually says, you end up explaining things away out of necessity, or run the risk of having your followers leave you for the next doomsayer to fuel their fantasies. I encourage you all to not get, “caught up” in all of the scares. Don’t sell your house and buy a purple sweat suite with nikes and pudding just yet. Let’s just go as far as the Bible says and not make it say things it doesn’t say, mmmkay? There is a reason most credible theologians don’t write tons of commentary on Revelation, or other unfulfilled apocalyptic, prophetic, writings in the Bible. It is one thing to theorize or speculate, it is another to actually teach people that God has given you some personal revelation that makes you the false-prophet du jour. So for the love of God and His word please stop making false claims, stop getting people all upset and scared for no reason other than to profit from their fear.

Book Reviews

A Necessary Book for your Christian Library, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs from Hendrickson’s Classics.

September 16, 2015September 16, 2015 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Most of you are familiar with this title. It is an edifying record of several martyrs from the early Church. Every Christian should own a copy of this book, and read it for their growth. We need to know what happened and the culture in which it happened. We need to understand that it could happen again in our own country, and that it is happening now all over the world. If you don’t have a hard copy of this book and only have a digital copy, I suggest you get this one. It is affordable, well done, and printed in the U.S.A.

Digital copies are fine, but what happens when tech doesn’t work? What happens if a ruling class decides to issue an electronic update and your devices all rewrite your Christian books? Hard copies, put away in a library are insurance against that. I know, they take up a lot of room, and cost money, and can burn up in a fire, but they are important for archiving valuable information. This book contains content that would help us to act appropriately, in future situations that could be similar or the same. Reading about Christians who were pursued, persecuted, and killed for their faith, should help us understand that their convictions were strong. Stronger than their fear of death. We should all hope that if we, by God’s providence are to be martyred, that He would grant us the grace that these precious ones of His received.

We can read about the Apostles, and men like Polycarp who knew John. Here is an excerpt from the book,
“Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, hearing that persons were seeking for him, escaped, but was discovered by a child. After feasting the guards who apprehended him, he desired an hour in prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with such fervency, that his guards repented that they had been instrumental in taking him. He was, however, carried before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in the market place.
The proconsul then urged him, saying, “Swear, and I will release thee;–reproach Christ.”
Polycarp answered, “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?” At the stake to which he was only tied, but not nailed as usual, as he assured them he should stand immovable, the flames, on their kindling the fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without touching him; and the executioner, on seeing this, was ordered to pierce him with a sword, when so great a quantity of blood flowed out as extinguished the fire. But his body, at the instigation of the enemies of the Gospel, especially Jews, was ordered to be consumed in the pile, and the request of his friends, who wished to give it Christian burial, rejected. They nevertheless collected his bones and as much of his remains as possible, and caused them to be decently interred.”

We can also read about men from the Reformation like, John Wickliffe, John Huss, and Martin Luther. What these people did to preserve and spread God’s word, so that we could have it today, should make us appreciate their dedication and spur us on to remain faithful during persecution.

American Made · economics

A Review of No-Mes Fingernail Clippers, American Made by Industrial Tool and Die Co. Inc. Happy Labor Day!

September 7, 2015September 7, 2015 Bob Snyder1 Comment

Today we are going to take a look at something a little bit different on the Soapbox. Usually we do Bible reviews and post Christian articles. We are going to look at No-Mes Fingernail clippers. I know this is unusual, but I think it will be a good thing. I found myself looking for a replacement set of clippers. I had inherited a set of American made clippers from my Father. I keep them on my key ring as a functional memento. My Dad passed away a few years ago. He was a big fan of good tools and American craftsmanship. He used to fabricate his own tools when he was a mechanic. When I use them, I think about him. I wanted to get another pair of American made nail clippers to keep on my key chain so I could put my Father’s up. I didn’t want to lose them. So, I set out to find an American made set of clippers.

I have had several Chinese made nailclippers. They are dull, they smash the nail, they tear the nail, they break, and they cost too much for what they are. I know there are at least 8 sets of clippers sitting in drawers at my house unused, because they are garbage. Everyone shares the one sharp set of clippers in the house. We all ask, “Hey, where are the clippers at? Who had them last?”

As a Christian, I am opposed to communism. It is a godless system that forces the worship of the government and created things instead of God. Communism is not good for human flourishing. I grew up during the cold war and remember the horrors of communism reported to us on the nightly news. This was back when news was not yellow journalism, a term I fear the youth of this nation knows nothing about. My Dad and his brothers were all vets. My Uncle Larry was in the first class of Air Commandos. He flew three tours in Vietnam fighting communism. Before the Air Force he was a Marine. My Dad was in the Air Force and served in Northern Africa in between the Korean War and the Vietnam war.

I began looking for some clippers by doing a search on the internet for, “American made fingernail clippers.” This lead me to Amazon. I saw several pop up but only one was truly American made, the No-Mes clippers from Industrial Tool and Die Co. Inc. in Troy, New Jersey. I felt angry. I’m not going to lie. I was angry that much of our industry has been shut down and shipped out. Not just shipped out, but shipped out to communists who enslave their own people to make shoddy quality goods for us to buy at low prices. Then the anger turned to a fondness. Fondness for a company started by one man and kept in the family. I’ve never met anyone from Industrial Tool and Die Co. Inc. I’ve never talked with them outside of my e-mails. I know nothing about them other than what their site says. Just the fact that they are in America making a quality product, for a decent value, warmed my heart. When I went looking for them on the web, I was surprised to see that they didn’t have much of a web presence, so I decided I would e-mail them and ask them for some clippers to review. They graciously accepted and here we are. I hope to bring some recognition to them and their product.

The clippers arrived in a padded envelope.

They were packed in a little white box with some padding and an instruction card with the warranty information on the other side.

The clippers were in a little plastic bag. When I took them out, I noticed they were a bit larger than my old clippers.

They also had a tool that was noticeably missing. The nail file/nail cleaner. I wondered why this was absent. After using the clippers, it was obvious that a nail file was not needed. The clippers cut the nail cleanly leaving no burs or rough spots. You just don’t have any snags to file. I was pretty impressed by that. I noticed something these clippers had that most do not, is the bin that catches the clippings.

No finding them later on the floor or seeing them snap and fly out into the room. The nails are cut cleanly, not smashed or torn. The blades are sharp and there were no irregularities on them to cause the clippers to malfunction.

They simply, did what they were intended to do! Amazing! I know, a product that did what it is supposed to do… How could we demand such a thing? Kids, you don’t know what you are missing. When you grow up using substandard tools and equipment, then replacing them with more of the same when they break, you never get to know what it is like to work with something of quality. These clippers are just good quality clippers. They are not gimmicky at all. The bin works the way that it is supposed to. I noticed there isn’t much travel with the handle the way that it functions and it is easy to hold.

They are a bit wider and have good flat spots for you to squeeze the handles. There are also grooves in the surfaces to help you keep hold of them. They were much easier to use than traditional styled clippers.

Traditional styled clippers allow the handle to swing around 360 degrees. These do not. They won’t pop out from under your thumb the way others will. They also have a hole in the end so they can be kept on a key ring.

The little metal flap that you fold over the bin is also the surface that the cam on the handle engages to actuate the clippers. It has two protrusions, one on each side. I think a person could use them to clean under a nail if they had to.

These would make a great stocking stuffer, or gift for the man in your life. They are a good value as well. You can pick them up on Amazon for about $13. Here is the product description from the Amazon product page,

The patented no-post/no-swivel design offers a simpler no fumbling method of trimming nails. Clippings stay inside a specially designed compartment, unlike ordinary nail clippers that launch your nail clippings across the room. The “No-Mes” nail clipper is easily emptied by opening the handle, then folds up for compact storage. All hardened tool steel with precision ground cutting edges, polished and chrome plated finish. The “No-mes” nail clipper is designed and manufactured in the USA to last forever and is guaranteed for life!

I really appreciate having a good pair of nail clippers handy. Don’t be fooled by imitators or cheap Chinese made knock-offs. Make sure to get the No-Mes clippers. Here is their web address, www.nomesnailclipper.com Here is a link to them on Amazon, No-Mes Clippers. If only they could figure out a way to put a knife blade, laser beam, grappling hook, and internet on these… nope, just kidding. They are great the way they are. Make sure to look at all the high resolution pictures of these clippers on my Flickr album page here.

You can watch my youtube video review of them here.

Book Reviews

Richard Baxter’s, “The Reformed Pastor” published by, “The Banner of Truth” is just as relevant today as it was in 1651.

September 4, 2015September 5, 2015 Bob Snyder1 Comment

Richard Baxter’s, “The Reformed Pastor” published by, “The Banner of Truth” is just as relevant today as it was in 1651. It is a timeless classic of Christian writing and should be in every Pastor’s library and read by every Christian. This book was written to address problems Baxter saw with his contemporaries. He was going to address them with a speech, but fell ill. Instead, he wrote to them, the words recorded in this book. Some Pastors were unbelievers, some were, cold intellectuals with great educations, others were passionate, but not qualified to serve as Pastors, yet still others were just as crass and base as the carnal world they wallowed in. Baxter took them all to task, and not just them, but himself also.

Don’t be mistaken. This book is not a polemic, but a call to repent and be a loyal and true servant of God. The work is broken down into three chapters. Chapter one, “The oversight of ourselves” starts as a check up or a self-diagnostic per se. Baxter effectively brings to light the necessity of a Pastor being truly regenerated. Then, he warns Pastors about pitfalls of bad practices, as well encourages them. Chapter two, “The oversight of the flock” is just that. Instruction on how to perform the vocation dutifully for the Lord’s service and man’s benefit. If it weren’t full enough of good applicable information, then comes chapter three, “Application.” This Chapter is the largest of the book, and encompasses the most directly applicable information for Pastors. The book in its entirety, convicts, informs, and exhorts.

Some of you might be concerned that this book will be difficult to read due to it being in Modern English. (like the King James) I want to assure you that it was not a difficult read. Baxter put much emphasis on being comprehensible. He encourage the Pastors of the time to employ language and nomenclature that the common man would readily understand. With that in mind, Baxter wrote. This book, at times might slow you down, but not excessively or without easy remedy.

One of the points that grabbed my attention and seemed anachronistic was his preaching against Pastors using their positions as a means to easy and comfortable lives. It brought to mind many of the Television Pastors living in sixteen thousand square foot palatial homes, while owning fleets of private jets. I guess bilking the hurting and needy in the name of God has been around for a long time. That is why it, “seemed” anachronistic when it actually wasn’t.

There is so much in this book to like. I found myself underlining and highlighting entire sections. It is extremely relevant for today, just as I am sure it was for the time in which Baxter wrote. It reminds me of, “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan, but only for Pastors and from the perspective of a Pastor. That being said, there are theological notions that Baxter held that I do not affirm. He held to a sort of middle way when it came to soteriology. He wasn’t Arminian and he wasn’t Reformed. While I may not hold to Baxter’s theological convictions, I did thoroughly enjoy this book and will probably read it again and again over the years to come. You can purchase your copy from the Banner of Truth here, or Amazon here, and finally Christianbook here.

Bible Reviews

A Review of the Local Church Bible Publishers Hand Size Text Bible in Black 1 piece Ironed Calfskin Leather, the Item #: 180E1B.

September 1, 2015September 1, 2015 Bob SnyderLeave a comment

I know many of you haven’t heard of Local Church Bible Publishers, or LCBP. I would like to remedy that problem for you. I say that it is a problem because you are missing out on a very well made Bible. The only caveat is that you must be a fan of the Authorized Version of the King James. LCBP only prints KJV Bibles. If that is not a problem for you, then you have a good selection of low priced, high quality, edge lined Bibles to choose from. Usually Bibles of this quality would sell for $100 or more. These range from the $20 New Testaments up to the $70 Super Giant Print. Here is a link to their page, Local Church Bible Publishers

The 180E1B is the 180 Hand Size, Text Bible in the Executive line, with a one piece cover, in black ironed calfskin leather. When closed, it measures 6″ x 8.5″ x 1.5″ It is an attractive looking Bible. The grain has been ironed out of it.

It is smooth and flexible. There are decorative spine hubs and gold gilt page edges. On the spine is written, “Holy Bible” at the head, “Authorized King James” at the middle, and, “Church” at the tail.

There are decorative gold and black, head and tail bands. It comes with two, black ribbon markers.

There is a perimeter line on the cover. The cover is perimeter stitched to the inside liner.

The Bible is edge lined and smyth-sewn, making it very durable and flexible. You would not get this quality without spending much more. LCBP Bibles are an extremely good value.

When you open this Bible you first see some blank pages made from a heavier card stock, then the presentation page, and the family records pages. Then the Title page as well as the Preface to the King James Version 1611, “THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER.” We then get into the meat of the Bible. It is laid out in a double column, verse format, with a line separating the columns. This is a text Bible so there are no cross-references or footnotes. It is also a black letter edition that utilizes the self-pronouncing text in a 10.5 pt medium font. It looks like an old typesetting of the text. The font is not sharply printed like modern methods would produce. It is well inked and dark. The paper makes up for the font. It is very opaque and heavy.

If I could only get this Bible in NASB I’d be happy. I know the people at LCBP would not like that last bit 🙂 There is a robust 197 page concordance in the back as well as some blank sheets for note taking. There are six maps printed on the same cardstock paper as were in the front of the Bible.
If you are in the market for an AV KJV Bible that will outlast you, and don’t want to spend a bunch give LCBP a look. You might be pleasantly surprised. Make sure to check out all the pictures of this Bible on my Flickr page.

About the ESV New Classic Reference Bible

Specifications

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

There are two types of repentance. One that leads to death and one that leads to life. Which one do you have?

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

We’ve lost the ability to reason and now feel everything. It is insane!

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Shemitahs, blood moons, and apocalypse oh my.

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)