10 Sessions

I was going to call this Python in 10 Hours, but that’s not accurate.

10 Hours is the goal for class time. With questions and interaction, it really comes to about 10 sessions of 60-90 minutes.

Plus preparation and homework, making it more like Python in 30-40 hours. A week, give or take, which is how long we spend teaching this material in our live courses.

If you have some aptitude and desire, do the readings before class and make sure you understand the homework (and do it :-]!) you will have a solid working knowledge of Python.

You get back what you put in.

A day for important odds and ends.

Other Bible Texts. One of the strengths of our software, Paratext, is that it gives translators access to many versions of Scripture. They can look at the Greek and Hebrew, the NIV or the RSV, a Portuguese version, you name it.

So we just looked at what was added this year, and what we’d like to add. Someone is working on Net Bible notes. Someone asked (again) for the ASV—an older version which is very nice for glossing.

Translators Handbook

A new set of Translators’ Notes is being produced, (used also by Logos software). A group of mostl

You go to a church. You sing songs. You hear a sermon. All of these things point to the most important thing of all: the Living God who is for us, the Resurrected Christ Jesus, who is for us, the Spirit who is for us. But all our activity in that worship uses a common tool: Scripture. What if it weren’t there? Nonsense, what a pretend things to think, you say at first. But without the sacrifice and labors of many like us, we would not have this primary tool, this Word, which is so key to creating disciples and helping them grow.

Middle of the week. Long days of meetings. I was tired today. I feel almost foolish trying to explain what talked about today. It will seem like a waste of time to most people, I’m sure.

Standards matter. Just like plumbers have standard pipe sizes and threading, just like lumber comes in standard sizes, people who print Bible’s have standards.

Many of the world’s Bible texts are stored in a format called Standard Format Markers – SFM. It was a format derived from a piece of software called Ventura Publisher, very popular with Wycliffe projects over the years. The software got the job done, and it was flexible enough to do the sort of changes needed in the field.

This morning we talked about two worlds.

First, the world of people, specifically Africa and Asia. There are believers and non-believers waiting for Scripture. About 250 in Africa and 350 in Asia-Pacific. Among those, huge efforts, like the Chinese Bible revision, Thai Bible revision, and about 20 projects in Myanmar.

Second, the world of software…

What do we do? In short, we translate the Bible. But actually that’s not the full truth. Better to say, "We help indigenous peoples translate the Bible." Talk about empowerment. Scripture speaks into and outside time. But the way its voice gets out doesn't look like it used to.

In short, we help get God’s Word translated so people can receive it.

But that’s not very accurate. We is really much bigger, and it’s really God’s work.

Identity

I am a Christian. I belong to God. I am a father and a husband.

I’m an ordained minister. The best part of seminary was learning how to read Scripture in the original languages.

I’m a programmer. I’ve also been programming computers since 1974. Computers have been for me just another tool to help get done what needs doing.

I’m a teacher. My favorite parts of ministry have been preaching and teaching. I love helping groups of people find new understanding and ability.

Role

I have always wanted to serve God through Scripture translation. In a strange twist of events, I was able to begin doing just that in 2004.

History

For the past 10 years or so, I have been supporting the work of Bible Translation in North, Central and South America.

I visit projects in these regions, training translators and encouraging them in their work.

Hope

Translating the Bible takes a tremendous amount of work and the computer helps to speed up this task and also helps to do it better.

We’d rather meet you in person, but until we get that chance, here’s a little bit about us.

We share much in common:

Our Faith. Both of us are Christians. We confess Jesus Christ—revealed in Scripture, resurrected in power, returning to reign—as the one savior for this world.

Our Mission. We are both called to serve Christ in the labor of bringing Scripture to more people in this world in this age.

The United Bible Societies. Both of us serve as missionaries on loan to the United Bible Societies. The UBS represent Christians in nearly all the nations of the world, devoted to bringing the Bible to all peoples.