In a day when words don’t seem to mean much, the need for precision in Christian doctrine and practice has never been more critical. The purpose of this daily reading/devotional book is to share the richness of some of the Greek words used in the New Testament and help make them practical in the reader’s Christian living.

Each daily entry in A Word for the Day examines the nuances of a particular New Testament Greek word. All of the Greek is transliterated (written phonetically in English letters) so you don’t have to know how to read Greek to make use of it.

In addition to entries for each day there’s also a complete index of all the Greek words, English translations, and Strong’s numbers referenced in each reading. (For ease of reference, these additional indexes appear as “readings” at the end of the year.)

A Word for the Day retails for $14.99 and is available for the following platforms:

Windows Mobile  |  Windows PC  |  iPhone/iPod touch/iPad

A few weeks ago we posted a request on our Facebook page for users to suggest reference titles for us to do for PocketBible. Several people mentioned they wanted an English dictionary, so we went exploring on the Internet and found a database of English words and definitions (WordNet 3.0). With some concentrated effort by our programmers, we now have the Laridian English Dictionary—about 150,000 words and over 200,000 definitions, all indexed to work inside PocketBible or MyBible for quick and easy access to definitions of anything you might be reading that is outside your normal vocabulary.

The Laridian English Dictionary contains entries for almost 150,000 unique words and provides part-of-speech, concise definitions for each sense of usage of the word, and sample sentences when necessary for clarification of meaning. Each entry and its variations (i.e. -ed, -ly, -ing forms of the word) are indexed for easy access using the “look up” functionality built into PocketBible and our other readers.

The Laridian English Dictionary retails for $12.99 and is available for the following platforms:

Palm OS  |  Windows Mobile  |  Windows PC  |  iPhone/iPod touch/iPad

We recently released a fiction series, Oracle of Fire, for use with PocketBible and MyBible. The Series by Bryan Davis contains four titles:

• Eye of the Oracle
• Enoch’s Ghost
• Last of the Nephilim
• The Bones of Makaidos

The books are fantasy adventure with clear spirital insight targeted at readers 13 and up. Available for the following platforms:

Palm OS  |  Windows Mobile  |  Windows PC  |  iPhone/iPod touch/iPad

We recently released The Expanded Bible New Testament for use with PocketBible for Windows PC and iPhone/iPod touch/iPad.

The Expanded Bible is a unique translation which offers study aids right in line with the Bible text. Expanded translations and other helps make it possible for you to study the Bible while you read.

Sample Verse:

“But Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth [literally, Truly, Truly I say to you], unless you are born from water and the Spirit [equivalent to being born again (3:3); water could symbolize spiritual cleansing which brings renewal; Ezek. 36:25-27] you cannot enter God’s kingdom.” John 3:5

We have released the IVP (InterVarsity Press) Pocket Reference books for use with PocketBible for iPhone/iPod Touch, Windows Mobile or Windows PC.

The IVP Pocket Reference Series includes the following 10 individual reference titles:

• Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion
• Pocket Dictionary of Biblical Studies
• Pocket Dictionary of Church History
• Pocket Dictionary of Ethics
• Pocket Dictionary of Liturgy & Worship
• Pocket Dictionary of New Religious Movements
• Pocket Dictionary of North American Denominations
• Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms
• Pocket Handbook of Christian Apologyetiocs
• Pocket History of the Church

Each of the titles in this series are designed to be brief, informative, clear and affordable. They provide a quick but thorough reference to topics important to Bible study and Christianity.

The IVP Pocket Reference Series (all 10 books) sells for $39.99. Each book is also available separately for $4.99 to $5.49 each. For more information, click on your desired platform:

iPhone/iPod Touch | Windows Mobile | Windows PC

We’ve just released our final volume of the IVP New Testament Commentary Series: 2 Peter & Jude. This completes the 20-volume set.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series offers readable commentary and reliable research on the New Testament. Great for those who teach or preach!

20 volumes, each available separately - $7.99 to $9.99 each. Or as a set for $129.99.

Available for iPhone/iPod Touch, Windows Mobile, Windows PC and Palm OS.

If you’ve previously purchased the series, this last volume is available to you at no charge by logging into your Laridian account and redownloading the IVP New Testament Series file. Simply reinstall to get the new volume included as part of the series.

We’ve known about the NET Bible since its beginnings, and several years ago we licensed the NET Bible for use in our products. We knew the Bible had extensive notes but didn’t think that would be a problem for PocketBible.

We put one of our employees to work on it and after several months it became clear that the challenges it presented were going to be greater than the potential revenue we could gain from it would justify. The problems were related to converting the original language references in the notes from a variety of proprietary fonts into the standard Unicode notation we use in PocketBible. I don’t recall all the details but do recall a meeting in which we decided to just drop the project.

A year or so later we heard from a programmer who had extensive experience with the NET Bible and wondered why we hadn’t yet made it available. I explained the issues and he said he’d be happy to tackle it. I sent him everything he needed to tag the NET Bible and notes for PocketBible. He asked a couple questions over the next week or two, but then disappeared. The NET Bible had taken another victim.

Then last November I heard from David Richards. David is a long-time Laridian customer and a fan of the NET Bible. He had been experimenting with our BookBuilder program, which allows anyone to create reference materials that are compatible with PocketBible, and wondered if we had plans to publish the NET Bible. I told him the story and warned him of the bodies it had left in its path. He seemed undeterred, so we came to terms on a price for his work and he set out to work on it. I figured that would be the last we’d hear from him, and went about my business.

Surprisingly, when I heard from David it wasn’t to ask questions. It was to give me samples from what he had gotten done. Before long he had made it through all 60,000 notes. We ran a brief test with a group of testers left over from PocketBible for iPhone and after just one update the NET Bible was ready to ship.

I wanted to tell you David’s story for a couple reasons. First is that we’re pretty excited about finally having the NET Bible and know what an accomplishment it was for him. He deserves a little recognition for his efforts.

Second is that David’s is a story we’ve seen play out a couple of times in the past and we’d like to see it happen more often. We’ll be releasing a collection of reference books in the next couple of weeks that were tagged by another customer who got interested in BookBuilder a year or two ago and has since tagged a couple of projects for us after doing some of his own. Our A.W. Pink, F.B. Meyer, and Andrew Murray collections were tagged by a customer, as was the Dake Study Bible Notes.

Of course tagging books isn’t for everyone. It usually requires extensive use of what’s called “pattern matching”, “regular expression”, or “grep” search-and-replace operations to convert a book from whatever format it might be to begin with into our HTML-based format for BookBuilder. You need to have a head for details and it doesn’t hurt to have a little programming background.

David and each of these other taggers are being compensated in some way for their work. We’d love to add you to our list of available taggers for new projects. You can get the standard BookBuilder program for $29.99 and see if it’s something you want to try. We have an inexhaustible list of books that need to be tagged. Maybe you have a favorite commentary series or reference title you’d like to see in PocketBible. Rather than wait for us to get around to it, why not volunteer to do it yourself?

Feel free to contact me directly if you’re interested: craigr@laridian.com.

We have released the often-requested Bible translation: The NET BIBLE for use with PocketBible for iPhone/iPod Touch, Windows Mobile or Windows PC.

The NET BIBLE is a completely new translation of the Bible from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. The translation has been optimized for readability and elegance and is accompanied by over 60,000 Translator Notes that provide additional accuracy and insight into the meaning of the original languages.

The NET BIBLE sells for $14.99. For more information, click on your desired platform:

iPhone/iPod Touch | Windows Mobile | Windows PC

We have released five new devotionals just in time for the New Year.

	Daily with the King by W. Glyn Evans offers 366 revealing, personal messages that will stir you, strengthen you, and bring you closer to God, the King, in a way you never imagined. Whether you’ve been away from God for a while, or you’re looking for a way to keep your daily devotions fresh, you now have a new appointment book.    Palm OS | Windows Mobile | Windows PC | iPhone or iPod touch
	Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Volume One offers 365 devotional readings from the Gospel of Matthew by John MacArthur. The goal of the series is to help you develop consistency in reading and meditating on the truths of the Bible—and to equip you for your journey with directions you can understand from a trustworthy guide.    Palm OS | Windows Mobile | Windows PC | iPhone or iPod touch
	Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Volume Two focuses primarily on the gospel of John. Practical and encouraging, these devotions by John MacArthur are sure to challenge and uplift your heart as you come face-to-face with the infinite wonders of our Savior’s life on earth.    Palm OS | Windows Mobile | Windows PC | iPhone or iPod touch
	Heart Aflame These select daily readings from Calvin’s Commentaries on the Psalms provide you with a year’s worth of sure-footed daily meditations. Calvin wrote as one whose own experience is mirrored in the Psalms. Here we witness his remarkable knack for seeing the real issues, particularly how Christ is the focus of all of Scripture.    Palm OS | Windows Mobile | Windows PC | iPhone or iPod touch
	Daily Seeds from Women who Walk in Faith Written by more than seventy contributors from an array of life experiences, these selections will meet you on the paths you walk—of busyness, loneliness, search for purpose, financial stress, envy, loss, changing friendships, and many others.    Learn from women like yourself how you can wait on God for His perfect gifts, honor Him with your work, savor the simple pleasures He gives, exercise your imagination, and, as one writer puts it, “keep your eyes on the Instructor of the dance of life.” Palm OS | Windows Mobile | Windows PC | iPhone or iPod touch

Devotional Sale! Now until January 3, 2010 get these new titles and all our devotional and Bible reading titles for 20% off by using Priority Code DEVSALE on the order form. Titles above are regularly $9.99 each, now only $7.99 each. Other devotional titles range in price from $7.99 to $14.99.

If you like the classics, you’ll be glad to know we’ve made the following titles available for free:

• Augustine’s Writings
• Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia
• Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
• Hitchcock Bible Names Dictionary
• Imitation of Christ
• Jamieson-Faussett-Brown Commentary
• Nave’s Topical Bible
• The Pilgrim’s Progress
• Scofields Reference Notes (1917)
• Torrey’s Topical Textbook
• Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

These titles are all available for iPhone/iPod Touch, Windows Mobile, Palm OS and Windows PC with the exception of Augustine’s Writings which are not currently available for Palm OS or iPhone and Pilgrim’s Progress which is not available for Palm OS. To download these books, select the items on the iPhone, Windows Mobile, Palm or Windows PC Order Forms and add them to your account. From there you can follow the instructions to download them from your account and install to your device.

	The AMG Concise Introduction to the Bible is for every person who has ever wanted to get a firm grasp on Bible history and Bible meaning, but didn’t have a clue how to do it or where to begin. Where did we come from? How did we get where we are? What is our future? Preeminent among all literature about the big questions of life is the Holy Bible. Nowhere else can one get the insight, perspective and answers that God’s Word provides. Find the answers to the big questions of life through the recounting of Bible history made relevant to today’s readers.
	The AMG Concise Bible Doctrine takes hard to comprehend Biblical doctrine and makes it readily understandable for the contemporary Bible scholar. Includes: How to Interpret the Bible Who God Is The Present Ministry of Jesus Christ The Present Ministry of the Holy Spirit The Works of Angels The Nature of Satan and Demon Activity The Nature of Prophecy The Signs of the Times and the Rapture The Eternal Abode of the Unsaved The Eternal Home of the Saved
	AMG’s Encyclopedia of Bible Facts is more than a trivia book, more than an introduction to the Bible, more than a dictionary, and more than a word almanac of the Bible. It’s everything you ever wanted to know about the Bible and then some. Christianity is an historic religion based on countless verifiable facts. Whether you want to inquire about archaeological findings, New Testament manuscripts, culture, people, prophecies or many, many other areas, you will find what you need here. Over 100,000 fun-filled and interesting Bible facts.
	Reese Chronological Encyclopedia of Christian Biographies is a virtual “Who’s Who” of Christian History form the First Century AD to Today! Reggie White | C.S.Lewis | Martin Luther | John Knox | Bill Bright | Francis Bacon | John Milton | John B Phillips | Amy Carmichael | Frinces Ridley Havergal | Merrill Unger | Oswald Chambers | …and thousands more With over five thousand biographical sketches of Christian leaders spanning twenty centuries, readers will be hard-pressed to find someone of note not mentioned in this volume.

Until June 9, 2009 get all four titles for only $39.99 (33% off the list price)!

Click for Palm | WindowsMobile | Windows | iPhone/iPod Touch

The ESV Study Bible is now available for PocketBible for Windows, WindowsMobile and iPhone (Palm is coming)!

The ESV Study Bible recently received the “Christian Book of the Year” award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. It contains new study notes, maps, illustrations, charts, timelines, articles and introductions. All of this and the ESV text (if you already have the ESV text watch your email for a special discount on purchasing the ESV Study Bible). It’s the equivalent of having a 20 volume Bible resource library all in one study Bible (and all in the palm of your hand if you’re purchasing it for WindowsMobile or iPhone). The ESV was created to help people understand the timeless truths of the Bible in a deeper way. It was created by a team of 95 evangelical Christian scholars and teachers. I’ve been using it for a while now, both in print and in PocketBible and have found it extremely useful. It really is like having a reference library in the palm of your hand! The ESV Study Bible is regularly priced at $29.99. Until the end of April you can purchase it for $23.99 (20% off).

Click your platform to go to the product page and add the study Bible to your order form.
Windows | WindowsMobile | iPhone (subscription required)

If you’ve purchased the ESV in the past, watch your email for a discount off of the ESV Study Bible.

UPDATE 3/28/2009 6:50AM EST…We released the Palm version of the ESV Study Bible last night! Check your email for the announcement.

There has been some confusion about the status of the ESV Study Bible for PocketBible/MyBible. We frequently get asked when it will be done. The answer is we don’t know, because we’re not doing the development work for it.

As you know, Laridian is the only mobile Bible software company that offers a complete publishing solution that allows the owners of Bibles and Bible reference materials to self-publish in our format, and we’re one of very few non-mobile Bible software companies to do so. When we were approached by Crossway to publish the ESV Study Bible notes, one of the options we presented to them was self-publishing using BookBuilder. This was the option they chose.

In order to save the time and effort of learning our system, Crossway is actually using a third-party to create this product. The company doing the work is one that we also use. They know our system inside and out and have tools that make it easier for them to publish books for us than it would be for Crossway to do it on their own.

The result of all this is that we aren’t in control of the schedule for this product. We hear it’s coming soon. Unfortunately not everyone at Crossway (and maybe not even everyone at Laridian) understands how this project is being done, so there’s been some confusion when customers contact them (or us) and ask about the status. So this is the official word: This is a Crossway project, not a Laridian project. We hear it will be done “soon” but don’t know the exact schedule. When it is done, we’ll post a message here on the blog and send out an email to all our customers to let them know. You’ll be able to purchase it right here at the Laridian Web site.

We just released two titles that will probably not be making the email schedule over the next couple of months, but I wanted to let you know about them anyway.

The NIV Study Bible Notes (2008 edition) for PocketBible for Windows
	Yes, it is finally available for PocketBible for Windows thanks to our friends over at Zondervan. You can now have the NIV Study Bible Notes on your Windows Desktop as well as your Windows Mobile, Palm or iPhone. If you have already purchased the NIV Study Bible Notes (2008 edition) for a different Laridian platform and you own PocketBible for Windows then this version will automatically be added to your download page. If you haven’t yet purchased either the NIVSBN or PocketBible for Windows you can click the link below and get the program for $26.99 (regularly $29.99) and the notes for $11.99 (regularly $14.99). To purchase the NIV Study Bible Notes (2008 edition) for Windows click here.
IVP New Testament Commentary: Mark
	I know some of you have been waiting for this one for a while. It is available by itself or as part of the complete 20 vol collection. If you have purchased the complete collection previously you simply need to download the updated file from you download page. We are now offering Mark (by itself) at an introductory price of $7.99. If you would like to purchase the complete set of commentaries click the platform link below to receive a 10% discount. To purchase IVP NT Commentary: Mark by itself for $7.99 click your preferred platform: Windows | Windows Mobile | iPhone (subscription based) To purchase the complete IVP NT Commentary set for $116.99 (regularly $129.99) click your preferred platform: Windows | Windows Mobile | iPhone (subscription based)

These discounts are available to you if you use priority code 090123BLG (already built into the links).
This priority code expires 2/23/09!