Bob Creson

Stories of hope through the lens of Bible Translation—Scripture in the language of the heart. All Scripture points to Christ, the author and perfect or of our faith. The Finish Line is insight when everyone will have some access to the Good News message about Jesus in a language they understand best. Also available as a download for Kindle.

The next day, [after Jesus’ death] on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. (Matthew 27:62-66 NLT)

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. (Matthew 28:1, 6 NLT)

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:26-29 NLT)

“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. And his name will be the hope of all the world.” (Matthew 12:18, 21 NLT)

Celebrating the reality that more people have more access to this Hope than at any other time in history.

I spoke at a missions festival last weekend using Luke 15 as the basis.  In this passage Luke says that tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach–he was even eating with them!  A paraphrase says Jesus was treating sinners like “old friends.” Using the story Jesus told of the prodigal or lost son,  I found myself saying to the audience, “God goes to extremes extending grace to people who need it.  Am I extending this kind of grace?” Exhibiting grace–unmerited favor–should be one of the things that sets me a part. Continue reading →

I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure. (Psalms 119:162 NLT)

*Photo courtesy Tom Born

“Bible translation is reconciliation work—bridging the gap for those who have long been marginalized educationally, spiritually, economically, socially, and politically. To have access to God’s Word in your mother tongue is to not only have access to God’s truth, it is also to have access to education and information…Wycliffe’s work because it serves the whole person and the whole community.”

Shamelessly ‘borrowed’ from Ruth Hubbard.