345: December 11 Special Announcements

Hi Everyone!

I’m so glad that you are listening to this extra podcast episode, because something that may cause confusion is going to happen soon. If you are listening to the NLT podcast series, and if you are now ready to listen to episode 345, you are used to seeing your next episode appearing daily at the top of your app's list. Starting this Sunday, my volunteer secretary, Vicky, will be releasing seven episodes in a row, just minutes a part. So when you open your podcast player on next Monday, your Monday episode will be the 7th one down the list. Then no new episodes will be released until the next Sunday. In other words, every Sunday afternoon, episodes for Monday through next Sunday will be released.

With most podcast players, the episodes you have aready listened to are shown in a different color than your not-yet-listened-to episodes. So hopefully it will always be visually clear where in the list for your next episode is. For instance, in the Antenapod app, episodes I have listened to are listed with a gray overlay, and unlistened to episodes show up normally.

For these remaining days of 2024, the above change will only happen in the NLT podcast, while the GNT will start with this new release method on the week of January 1st, 2025.

Because 2024 has been a leap year, our current podcasts will end on December 30th instead of the 31st. So this is a perfect opportunity for YOU to record something that I can put into a special episode for the last day of the year. This is open to anyone listening to the Daily Bible Reading Podcast series, even if you are on day 12 or 300-something. What was the most valuable insight you gained so far from listening to the podcasts? To avoid an echo in your recording, try recording in your car, parked in some quiet place.

Let me tell you about the new ministry that I am trying to launch here in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. There is a printed publication of the New Living Translation that is called Immerse. The Immerse Bible splits the Bible into six paper-back books, in which the NLT text is given without verse numbers or section headings. Readers can interact with the uncluttered content without visual distractions, just like reading a novel.

This happens to be a very strategic time in the USA when many people want to find out what the Bible really says, and those interested are often not church goers. Have you heard the news? Sales of printed Bibles are up 22% this year.

So in Siloam Springs, I am starting what we're calling TheGoodBook Reading Clubs. Groups of 12 people will agree on how much they will read per week, and find a time to meet in a coffee shop or restaurant. The meetings will not resemble a church service. In fact, we will ban any talk about churches. Instead we will simply ask,”What stood out to you in the pages we read this week?”

The six books of the Immerse Bible are titled Beginnings, Kingdoms, Chronicles, Poets, Prophets, and Messiah. The Messiah book contains the whole New Testament, but the books are reordered in an engaging way, starting with Luke, Acts, I and 2 Thessalonians. We will start the year reading the Messiah book. The Immerse Messiah book costs $11 at many Internet bookstores.

Normally, around this time every year, I suggest to listeners to find a different Bible podcast to listen to. But this year I want to suggest to everyone to start a Bible Reading Club, to experience the encouragement and discipleship that can happen in a group.

Back to my previous announcements:

Please remember that the DBRP NLT series will now be released in a different way, which will be visible in your podcast app on Monday.

To send your recording, go to https://ddeeper.today and use the contact button.

And to all listeners, what was your most important insight from God's Word this year? Please share a recording of you answering that question.

May the Lord bless you ‘real good’!

Phil & Gale