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No Need to Pay the Piper (Books for Free!)

Submitted by akarobby on Fri, 12/14/2007 - 2:19pm
in

As I was looking over past Truth is Still Truth postings, especially ones which discussed the potential and, at times, prohibitive cost involved in creating and maintaining a worthwhile Bible software library, I was reminded of a online discussion that took place not too long ago on the "family forum" of my home church. It was about Christian books we enjoyed and benefited from reading, specifically (this day) about the different works of John Piper. As one who owns both the 24-book John Piper collection for WORDsearch (I got it before Logos announced plans to publish the books in the Libronix format) and Piper's Sermon collection in Libronix, I jumped right in. Three postings into the "discussion" it was revealed to me that ALL of John Piper's resources, including the text of his best selling books, are available for FREE on his website, www.DesiringGod.com. (Most are in pdf format, which integrates well into some Bible software programs. None are in a specific Bible software-compatible format like Libronix, CROSS or STEP.) So if you are a John Piper fan on a tight budget, check it out.

I have to confess that I felt (and still feel) a little "foolish" for purchasing both resources to live on my hard drive at a total cost of about $180 after I discovered they were all available for free, but I also love having his books available to search, highlight (I love that Bible programs let me do that) and add notes to at any time, all of which is difficult, if not impossible to do when reading the books online.

Finally, and of most interest for some people based on other blog entries and comments I've read, I've included a link below to an article on John Piper's website which explains the intriguing thought process behind the decision to provide his Christian books and other solid spiritual content online at absolutely NO cost. It's entitled "Making it Free."

"Making it Free" Article: www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/RecentlyAdded/2458_Make_it_Free

Also of Interest:
Blog Discussion of the Concept: www.joshuablankenship.com/blog/2007/10/29/give-away-all-your-content-online
Blog Response to "Objections": www.desiringgod.org/Blog/895_objections_to_making_it_free

Take care and ENJOY your day! (Ps. 118:24)

Comments

Free Online Books by Ray Stedman

Submitted by akarobby on Sun, 12/16/2007 - 7:15pm.

I wanted to add that 36 books and a wealth of other great resources by pastor and author Ray C. Stedman can be found online in their entirety at his website www.RayStedman.org. You can simply click the link "Books by Cover" on his site to see all of his works, including may great expository references on New Testament books. One of my personal favorite works is his simple and solid study on prayer entitled "Talks with My Father: Jesus Teaches on Prayer." The site even has the complete text of the IVP New Testament Commentary of Hebrews which Stedman authored. The "Ray Stedman Library" also offers access to a great collection of expository messages on different books of the Bible in audio format and a wealth of other great and useful tools, all at no cost. Check it out. It's another great online source of free quality Christian books by a knowledgeable and well-respected author and servant of God.

If you are aware of similar type collections of works by other authors that are totally accessible at no cost, please make me and others aware of them through a comment so that we can all enjoy and benefit from them, as well. After all, that's why the authors and publishers have graciously chosen to make them available for everyone to access and study in this way. Thanks!

Just a correction--it is

Submitted by Cal H (not verified) on Tue, 12/18/2007 - 3:05pm.

Just a correction--it is www.desiringgod. ORG

Thanks! It's www.DesiringGod.org

Submitted by akarobby on Tue, 12/18/2007 - 7:58pm.

Thanks! John Piper's website is www.DesiringGod.org. Not .com. (Sorry!) Check it out!