I've got a good friend who's probably a lot like you.  He loves the Bible and does his best to read it and live it every day.  There's one problem.  Some of his friends say the Bible isn’t true, and he's not always sure how to respond.   So I've created a list of the best arguments I can find for the credibility of the Bible. Interested?  Okay, here are my Top 10 Reasons the Bible is True. (If I missed any that are important to you, please add them in the comment section below.  I'd love to hear from you.)

1. Manuscript Evidence.  There are way more copies of the biblical manuscripts, with remarkable consistency between them, than there are for any of the classics like Plato, Aristotle and Socrates.  "There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament."  F.F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?
2. Archaeological Evidence.  Again and again archaeological discoveries have verified the accuracy of the historical and cultural references in the Bible.  The more they dig, the more it confirms the Bible.  “It is important to note that Near Eastern archaeology has demonstrated the historical and geographical reliability of the Bible in many important areas.” E.M. Blaiklock, The New International Dictionary of Biblical Archaeology.
3. Eyewitness Accounts.  The Bible was written by people who witnessed the events it describes; many were persecuted or martyred but never changed their story.  Would you die for something you knew was untrue? “It is no moderate approbation of Scripture that it has been sealed by the blood of so many witnesses, especially when we reflect that they died to render testimony to the faith …with a firm and constant, yet sober, zeal toward God.” John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion.
4. Corroborating Accounts. There are plenty of references in non-biblical sources to the events described in the Bible. The Jewish historian Josephus, born in 37 AD, “provide(s) indispensable background material for the student of…New Testament history. In them, we meet many figures well known to us from the New Testament. Some of his writings provide direct commentary on New Testament references.”  J.D. Douglas, ed., The New Bible Dictionary.
5. Literary Consistency.  The Bible contains 66 books written over 1,500 years by 40 different writers but it tells one "big story" of God's plan of salvation that culminated in Jesus Christ.  You can't even pass a secret around a circle of 12 people and get the same message at the end. “There is indeed a wide variety of human authors and themes (in the Bible). Yet behind these…there lies a single divine author with a single unifying theme.” John R.W. Stott, Understanding the Bible.
6. Prophetic Consistency.  There are over 300 specific prophecies in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.  “The very dimension of the sheer fulfillment of prophecy of the Old Testament Scriptures should be enough to convince anyone that we are dealing with a supernatural piece of literature….God has himself planted within the scriptures an internal consistency that bears witness that this is his Word.” R.C. Sproul, Now That’s a Good Question.
7. Expert Scrutiny. The early church had extremely high standards for what books were judged to be authentic and therefore included in the Bible. A book had to have been written by an Apostle or someone in their immediate circle, had to conform to basic Christian faith and had to be in widespread use among many churches. This was a careful process of “the people of God in many different places, coming to recognize what other believers elsewhere found to be true”; these writings were truly God’s word. G.J. Wenham, J.A. Motyer, D.A. Carson and R.T. France, The New Bible Commentary.
8. Leader Acceptance.  A majority of the greatest leaders and thinkers in history have affirmed the truth and impact of the Bible. "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong.” Abraham Lincoln.
9. Global Influence.  The Bible has had a greater influence on the laws, art, ethics, music and literature of world civilization than any other book in history.  Can you think of one that even comes close?  “Christianity”, as set forth in the Bible “is responsible for a disproportionately large number of the humanitarian advances in the history of civilization—in education, medicine, law, the fine arts, working for human rights and even in the natural sciences….” Craig L. Blomberg, in Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith.
10. Changed Lives.  From St. Augustine to Martin Luther to Joni Eareckson Tada to countless everyday men, women and children, the words of the Bible have transformed lives unmistakably and forever.  “As unnamed masses of Christians down through the ages have shown us, the Bible is the most reliable place to turn for finding the key to a life of love and good works.” T.M. Moore, The Case for the Bible.

I hope this list helps you become more confident about the Bible.  But don’t forget: whenever you have an opportunity to defend God's Word, be sure to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).  No one listens to an angry Bible reader.  (If I missed any reasons that are important to you, please add them in the comment section below.  I'd love to hear from you.)

I bet you're wondering what to do on Sunday nights in March, right?  No worries; I've got the answer.  You can watch The Bible on The History Channel.  This incredible 10-part miniseries premieres March 3 at 8:00 pm (7:00 Central) and was produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor and The Voice) and features Roma Downey (Touched by and Angel).  What's unique about the show is that it combines live action and computer generated imagery to tell the whole story of the Bible in a fast-paced, unforgettable way.  Scripture Union is one of several ministries involved in getting the word out.  Check out the video trailer below. Then watch out for The Bible in March!

A recent study by The Barna Group found that most Americans believe pro athletes have more influence on society than pastors or other faith leaders.  If that's true, then people like Tony Dungy are among the most influential advocates for God's Word in America today. Just listen below to what the Super Bowl-winning coach and analyst for NBC Sports said just before Super Bowl XLVII.  Imagine a nationwide Bible reading revival beginning in the NFL. (For more video about Bible reading in the NFL go to Scripture Union.org)

Most of the people I hang out with love the Bible. They read it every day and promote it whenever they can.  But lately I've been thinking about those who don't like the Bible.  How should the Christian community respond to them?

In a recent interview in TIME Magazine, Ian McKellen, the actor who masterfully plays Gandalf in the new movie The Hobbit (as well as in the Lord of the Rings movies), said that as a long-time gay rights advocate he regularly rips Leviticus 18 out of hotel Bibles. A self-admitted atheist, McKellan has sometimes attacked the credibility of the Bible in his public interviews. So how should those who love God's Word respond to such high-profile opposition?

It's a tricky issue, but I believe if we respond in a Christlike way, Christians may be able to turn public criticism of the Bible into effective promotion of it.  So let me offer three simple ways we can do this.

• First, we need to be regular Bible readers ourselves. It does no good to tell the world to do something the church is failing to do. And to honest, recent studies of Bible reading among church-goers show that we have a lot of work to do here.

• Second, we need to make sure the tone of our response is loving. I disagree with Mr. McKellen on his views of the Bible, but if I respond as an "angry Bible reader," then I've missed the point; I'm only a "resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

• Third, we need to pray for those who reject the Bible. In spite of how it appears, Ian McKellen may be spiritually searching. I'm no psychologist, but I know that sometimes external resistance can mask an internal question. I also know that if we ever hope to see "Bible reading revival," then Bible groupies like me need to become more effective at reaching out to Bible bashers like McKellen. 

In an odd way, Mr. McKellen's interview may have promoted Bible reading. Thousands of TIME readers are likely to dust off their Bibles to find out what Leviticus 18 says. I admit, it's not the easiest place to begin, but it's a start.

So if you decide to watch The Hobbit over the next few weeks, use it as a reminder to pray for Ian McKellen and anyone else you know who's skeptical about the Bible.  Ask God to reveal his love and truth to them, perhaps through you, in a fresh new way.

I've just returned from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where I participated in a very unique gathering called Living Hope--five days of worshiping, praying and working with Scripture Union International leaders from around the world.

What a joy and privilege it was to stand with my sisters and brothers from every tribe and every nation; it was a picture of heaven on earth.  But I have to say the experience also left me with a question, "Why has Scripture Union spread to 120 countries, and lasted for over 145 years?"

In other words, what's Scripture Union's secret?

I think part of the answer is our Aims: Bible engagement and children's outreach.  Since the founding of Scripture Union in 1867, those have been the twin rails that have guided the movement.  And as it turns out, research now shows those are two of the most strategic mission opportunities in the world today.  Another part of the answer is our commitment to contextual ministry: we encourage each country to develop programs that fit their culture.

But as I interacted with my colleagues at Living Hope, I was reminded that the distinctive feature of Scripture Union is something far more basic: we are a fellowship of people from all countries, cultures and Christian denominations who have built our lives around the simple practice Bible reading and prayer.  And we do so not just out of a desire for more biblical knowledge or for greater spiritual discipline.  Rather, what drives Scripture Union is a quiet passion for meeting God every day in his Word.

That's what inspires us to help people of all ages read God's Word.  That's what motivates us to present God's Good News to the next generation.  That's what compels us to reach out to a world in need.  And that, I realized as I made the long trek home from Malaysia, is the Scripture Union secret.  And I thank God Scripture Union USA is part of such an amazing global family.

As we come down to the wire in the US election, both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are nervously watching for an "October Surprise," a significant, unscripted event that will push momentum (aka "Big Mo") their way. Well, I've come up with a "Christian October Surprise" that either candidate could use to dramatically influence the tone and outcome of the election. And I'm going to reveal what it is, right here, right now, in this lowly, little Bible reading blog.

Thirty years ago, Ronald Reagan asked, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" That tipped momentum his way and propelled him to victory over Jimmy Carter. Ever since, politicians have pounded voters with variations of that question like it was a game of Whack-a-Mole.

So I have my own variation of the question, one I believe every Christian should be asking this political season: "Are you more loving today than you were four years ago?" What if either President Obama or Governor Romney made that the theme of their next debate or stump speech? Better yet, what if they both did? Now that would be an October Surprise.

I know, it probably won't happen. But as Bible-believing Christians, isn't that the question we should be asking ourselves, regardless of our political affiliation? If we don't, then all our well-meaning Christian activism runs the risk of making us sound like noisy political gongs or clanging partisan cymbals (1 Cor. 13:1).

Does it ever bother you that the Bible seems to get such bad PR in the mainstream media?  Yeah, me too.  But that's why I'm interested in a new TV show that's recruited the Bible as its star.

The show is called The American Bible Challenge (premiering August 23 on the Game Show Network) and it's hosted by comedian, author and television personality, Jeff Foxworthy.  He also hosts another game show on the Fox Network, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?

But The American Bible Challenge is like no other game show because it helps people have fun putting their knowledge of the Good Book to the test.  "The thing I loved about it," says Foxworthy, "is the people weren't playing for themselves.  They were playing for a charity or a ministry.  It's a win-win."

The show has the backing of two ministries that Scripture Union has partnered with over the years:  The Salvation Army is the main sponsor, and the American Bible Society is the behind-the-scenes Bible study engine.

The producers of The American Bible Challenge claim it's a game show that's been "3,400 years in the making."  Whoa.  That's a lot of market research.  I just hope it's a big hit because in addition to getting some good PR for the Bible, it'll expose more people to the life-changing message of God's Word. 

With St. Ignatius "whose heart was always striding forth in eager desire for Jesus." (From the plaque)

Do you ever feel like your devotional life has become dry and lifeless, like a hot summer day? You try to read God's Word, and you try to pray. But you feel like you’re spiritually wilting away inside. I've been there, many times. But recently I discovered a way to experience personal Bible reading revival that surprised me because it was so simple.

Here's what happened. I went on a 3-day silent retreat at a Jesuit Center near Reading, PA. I've taken personal retreats before and usually I study a book of the Bible then pray for long chunks of time. But this time I was tired and stressed out, and had to force myself to go. When I arrived, I struggled to get into retreat mode, but it just wasn't happening. I was sitting there in a daze.

So I gave up and went for a walk. After a while I stopped and began reading the Psalms aloud, beginning with Psalm 1. No thinking, no analysis. I just read aloud with expression, then moved on to the next one. I was amazed at how that simple practice made the Bible come alive again for me. Then I started praying aloud too. And the more I read and prayed aloud, the more I felt God was present with me, and that we were having a dialog.

By the end of the 3 days I had done a lot of walking, and a lot of Bible reading and prayer outside. I made it all the way to Psalm 81. I learned that experiencing God's presence comes in "moments," 5 minutes or so when I become very aware of the Spirit's presence. Those are times of pure joy and renewal. But then, the moment dissipates and I realize I'm thinking about golf, or work, or something I want to buy. My attentiveness to God drifts. Instead of feeling guilty, I just say, "OK, that's it for now...", and get up and walk to a new place and begin again.

If you're experiencing the dog days in your devotional life right now, I’d encourage you to take a walk with a small Bible and begin reading it aloud and talking to God. You’ll be amazed at how soon you’ll feel in step with the Spirit once again (Galatians 5:25).

I've just returned from a 23-day speaking trip to England, Scotland and South Korea. Before I left I wondered if my "Bible reading revival" message would resonate outside the USA. Now that I'm back, I realize I received a very clear answer.

I think the best way to help you understand what happened is to let you read my Mission Trip Report which has excerpts from a journal I kept on my trip and photos that were taken along the way (like the one of me preaching in bedroom slippers!) But here's the bottom line: after speaking 4 times in Scotland and 10 times in South Korea I discovered that the vision of Bible reading revival does resonate in different countries. And E100 is transferable to different cultures.

I’m now convinced that Scripture Union's "essential vision" is a global message and E100 is a global program. And it's spreading much faster than I ever imagined when God put the idea in my heart while I was doing my own devotions 10 year ago. Amazing!

Check out the Mission Trip Report I prepared for the folks who were praying for me. And if you were one of them...thanks so much!