This Week in America features the interview of Dr. Peter J. Bylsma, the author of “The Simplified Short Bible”, with Ric Bratton
The prestigious radio show “This Week in America” is broadcast on numerous stations in the US. The program combines entertainment with education and information. Experienced broadcaster Ric Bratton serves as the host.
Ric Bratton has a long history in the broadcast profession, having worked with superstars such as Larry King, Hugh Downs, Chris Matthews, Jay Leno, George Clooney, and Katie Couric, among many others.
Bratton also anchors the daily segment, “Just So You Know,” which airs on over 40 radio stations across the country. His TV experience includes news reporting and anchoring, weather forecasting, and sports newscasts. The Ric Bratton Show was one of his longest-running and highest-rated local TV discussion shows in the country.
Dr. Peter J. Bylsma (Pete) spent ten years working in various Christian organizations, then worked for 30 years in public service positions at the international, federal, state, and local levels. He got a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Washington (Seattle), in addition to a magna cum laude BA in psychology from Wheaton College (IL). He has lived in seven states as well as in the Netherlands, Korea, Malaysia, and Germany. He now resides in Washington state’s Puget Sound region.
We are currently unable to see the entire course of our lives. However, the Bible illuminates the way. It can point you in the right direction; it’s your blueprint and provides you with an image of how your life should be. You can learn God’s will and how to lead a peaceful, joyful, and fulfilling life by reading the Bible.
What aspects of your life have the Bible transformed? We turn to His Word for guidance and sustenance when life gets tough. But what if the depth and complexity of the Bible challenged your level of comprehension and made it insufficiently understandable? For the billion people living today, that is the truth.
The Bible is considered the most profound collection of documents in all of history, and its messages and stories are still referenced today in the secular world. But it’s long, complicated, hard to understand, and not organized in chronological order.
After author Dr. Peter Bylsma published “The Simplified Short Bible: A Short Chronological Summary of the Old and New Testaments”, it became clear that a shorter version was needed that used simple language. This shorter, simplified version was written for those who are at least 10 years old and those with limited time. It summarizes all 66 books of the Old and New Testament in 24 short, easy-to-read chapters and captures the Bible’s epic stories, characters, and main ideas. It is structured like a modern book and includes a pronunciation guide as well as historical and geographical facts to help clarify the context of the events.
“The Simplified Short Bible: A Short Chronological Summary of the Old and New Testaments” is appropriate for those who are already familiar with the Bible but want a fresh look at its messages. Busy people who want to understand the stories and messages of the most read book of all time will also find it to be a thought-provoking read.
“…In contrast to Proverbs, wisdom is viewed more realistically — there is neither blind optimism for doing right nor skeptical pessimism for doing wrong. Instead, life is seen with its complexities and frustrations. Like life itself, the structure and content of the book’s 12 chapters are disjointed, rambling in different directions and often repetitious. This may be due to the likelihood that the book had several authors.”
Listen to the full interview below to understand the book’s message and purpose as the author explains them: