[sword-devel] Cool idea: Commercial Linux /Windows Bible prog ram based on Sword

[David Burry]

At 04:10 PM 1/31/2001 -0800, Bob Pritchett wrote:
>It could be argued that the Bible should be free to everyone everywhere, and
>that if there isn't money to translate it into a small language in Asia than
>churches and individuals should contribute. I agree, and this is the case to
>an extent. But, tithing and good intentions aside, it's often easier for the
>Bible translation community as a whole to get $10-20 from you for every copy
>of the Bible you personally desire, and send it off to the many projects
>around the world that they participate in, than to give the Bibles to you
>for free and hope you'll remember to send a gift. :-)

You make a valid point.  A non-profit organization I'm working with just went through a difficult process of converting from offering "free" web hosting services to charging everyone a small "membership fee" and then providing the web hosting services at no extra charge after that.  Some people complain about sending a couple dollars per year, but most understand and wonder why we're charging so little!  The problem is, while it would be great to do everything for free to everyone, most people take and don't give anything back, when it comes to free services!  We had to do something to keep from closing our doors completely!

I am happy to send a few dollars here and there to Bible societies to further their work... I'm only annoyed at some of them who refuse any permission whatsoever at any price whatsoever for certain things (like putting a browsable, searchable Bible online, for instance), because they are so overly worried about control issues.  They are hindering God's work.

Dave