The Encourager

Joni Eareckson Tada is the founder and president of Joni and friends [JAF], an organisation accelerating ministry in the disability community worldwide. A diving accident in 1967 left her [then a teenager] a quadraplegic [ paralized from the neck down]. One of the things that organisation has done is publish this New International Version of the Bible. From someone who doesn’t enjoy general reading much I can say that this bible has encouraged me to read the bible again. In the front is information about the work of JAF and two of Joni’s paintings done by a brush held in her mouth.

But it’s when you get into the bible itself that you really begin to benefit. As you turn over the pages you will find as well as the life changing word of the bible on the left of many pages ”Encouragement from the classics”. Words from people like E. Prentiss, Dwight L. Moody and Thomas a Kempis amongst others.There are also many other helps from Joni and from Dave and Jan Dravecky. They both know pain, Dave having been a former all star pitcher with the San Fransisco Giants until he lost his pitching arm to cancer and his wife Jan struggles with clinical depression. Yet these people have come out on top and have written many words of encouragement in this bible. There are also in several places throughout sections of 4 pages of 1. Questions in the valley 2. Questions in the desert 3. Questions in the oasis and 4. Questions in the high places with further bible reading to look up on real life questions that real people ask like, Does God really hear my prayers?,  What is the ”fear of the Lord”? and even What will I do in heaven”?

So if your bible is getting worn out or maybe you are I suggest you try getting a copy of this excelent easy to read version of God’s precious word. It will do you the world of good.  Maybe give a copy to someone you feel would read and appreciate it for a special occasion.?