Speeding Up & Fixing Bugs - What We're Working on and How to Contact Us!

The big launch made the new app slow way down, and loading thousands of new users revealed a few bugs that we didn’t see in testing. We’re already making improvements, so here’s a list of what we’re working on now, and what you can do if you find a bug.  

 - To read our TTW 2.0 welcome blog first, tap here - 

What to do if something doesn’t work right (or look right). First - sorry for the frustration, and thanks for your patience. If you have a problem on the TTW app, first please check below to see if we’re already working on it. Second, check the app store for updates to the app - all the fixes will get to you via updates. After that, you can tell us about the issue at facebook.com/throughtheword or by email at info@throughtheword.org. It helps a lot if you tell us what kind of device you’re using, and if possible take a screenshot to show us just what the issue looks like on your screen. Thanks so much for helping us improve TTW. And thanks for praying for our team as we keep improving!

Speeding Up (& Ending the Orange Dots of Doom). On launch day we jumped from a few beta testers to thousands of users all at once, and the app slooowed waaaaay doooooown. So sorry for the frustration! As you know, TTW is all about helping you have a great Bible study in a short time to fit your busy schedule. We respect your time, and that slow wheel was driving us crazy. Our programmer Zach got to work on it immediately and got us moving again. The wait is still longer than we want, so you can expect more speed improvements as we launch updates.

Missing Bible Books in Guide Selection. This bug popped up strangely right after we launched. If you don’t see all the books, they’ll be there soon. In the meantime, you can still open to any book directly by opening the Bible up, and tapping the book title to navigate from there. And all the book guides will be back soon!

Tablet/iPad Graphics Issues. A few elements don’t quite look right when they resize to fit some tablets. We'll fix that one in the next few weeks.

Think/Journal Quirks.  While the journal is working great for most users, there have been a few reports of the screen acting jumpy, or content copying from one day to another. Also it will not save what you type unless you tap “Return” on the keyboard. So hit return for now, and we’re working on the fix!

Connect Screen on Some Android. Some Android phones do not get the right dialog box to share their notes on the Connect page. Working on it!

Unable to Register. A few users have not been able to register. Generally this has been resolved by deleting the app and reloading it from the app store. But we’re working on the fix!

Anything Else? Let us know! Contact us at facebook.com/throughtheword, or info@throughtheword.org. Thanks again for your patience. Launching the new app is a little like opening Disneyland - lots of excited people, and lots of stuff that can go wrong! Okay, so we’re not as cool as Disney’s opening day, but we are so glad to have you with us on this big step forward in our great adventure.

Check our Other Blogposts for Tips & Helps. You can find a welcome and overview of the new app here, plus get help with writing a good Bible journal, or check out this blog on how to pick the right TTW guide for you. Check them out! As we move forward, we'll be adding video tutorials - so keep an eye here in the blog.

On the Journey,

Pastor Kris

Welcome to TTW 2.0! Check out what’s new!

Hello friends! Kris Langham here for the TTW team. We’re so glad that you found the new app! Maybe you had the old TTW app, or maybe you just found us. Either way, I want to welcome you and give you a quick guide to new features and the new layout. The new TTW has the same great audio guides and the same easy chapter-a-day reading concept, but with some awesome new features that we think you’ll love. Here’s a quick overview of what’s new, with links for more details:

Register Your Account (new): You can switch devices now! For the first time, TTW allows you to register an account with us. It’s free, and it only takes 30 seconds. With your account you’ll be able to access your progress and your journals from any device, and (coming soon) even from the website. What’s Different: Remember there were no accounts on the old TTW app, so go ahead a register a new one.

18 Journeys & 66 Books. 
Selecting a Guide (new): TTW wants to help you set a clear plan to read through the Bible. What’s Different: On the old app, we had year-long reading plans all starting January 1, but those left some readers behind. On the new TTW, we’re giving you more control and a clearer plan. You pick the plan, you pick the start date, you select the pace. We call our reading plans guides, because each one guides you chapter-by-chapter through part of the Bible. Our guides come in three varieties: Journeys, Books, and Topicals:

• 18 Journeys: Each journey takes on several complete Bible books in about 90 days. Our pastors carefully set out the books of the Bible to follow themes, balance Old and New Testaments, follow OT chronology, and guide you on a clear path. 
• 66 Books: For those wanting to choose their own path, you can sign up for one book at a time. You’ll get the same audio from the journeys, but more control on the order. Note that completing a book guide will not mark it complete in the journey.
• Topical Guides: (coming soon) We’re adding topical guides soon, so watch for those!

Where do I start? The app comes preloaded with Journey #1, so try that first.

Where do I find them? From your home page, just tap “All Guides” in the top left.

Can I follow more than one? Yes! You can subscribe to one each for: morning and evening, family Bible time, small group, disciple a friend, etc. It’s all up to you.

Do I have to subscribe to a guide to hear the audio? No. You can find any audio guide any time by navigating the Bible to the chapter you want to hear.

For more info and help selecting a TTW guide, tap here!

Listen/Think/Pray/Connect. 

Your new 4-steps daily. Your daily time in the Bible now follows four easy steps:

• Listen to the audio guide, then read the Bible for yourself. Or listen to an Audio Bible.
• Think about what you read and record your thoughts in your own Bible journal. Your journal is saved alongside each Bible chapter. Find tips on Bible journaling and how to use SOAP here.
• Pray through a personalized prayer list.
• Connect with friends, family, or small groups via text or social media.

Easy Bible Navigation (new): 
Now you can move around the Bible quickly and easily. Open the Bible from anywhere - just tap the top right slide out menu, then tap the Bible book (eg. Genesis) for a simple Bible menu.

TTW 2.0 FAQ
Where do I Start? Journey #1! The new app starts you off with Journey #1 already set up. This all new 25-day plan gives you a grand tour of the Bible’s core themes and stories in 25 key chapters. But you can change or add plans any time.

What if something doesn’t work? On a brand new app, there’s bound to be something out of place. Here’s a few things we’re already working on:

• Speeding up: If the app moves slowly (the wheel of dots takes a little too long), we're working on that. Thanks for your patience! 
• Journey #1 shows up twice: A little glitch might cause Journey #1 to appear twice in your home page. If so, just open the second one (tap "My progress"), then tap "unsubscribe." We're fixing it.
• Think page doesn't save it all: Just make sure you hit return on your keyboard when you finish your journal entry, and it will save.
• A few Bible books are missing or out of order on Guide selection. Not sure how that happened, but it will be fixed soon.
• Anything other issues? Message us at facebook.com/throughtheword or info@throughtheword.org

No Fees. No Ads. Ever. As always, all of our content is free. TTW is fully listener supported, and we’ve added a donate button on the main menu. Just tap the hamburger top right.

TTW Blog for helps, announcements, & more. We’ll use this blog to keep you informed about things like new audio guides, added features, and local events. Watch for new blogposts on the app’s main menu.

More Coming Soon

• TTW Together: We’re working now on features and content to help small groups use TTW together. 
• Bible Translation Options: We’re adding the NIV, KJV, and CSB. Licensing issues have made this tricky, but watch for announcements here on the blog.
• Better Audio Bible: If you don't like the dramatic version of the ESV, or if you miss the audio from the old TTW, we're adding more Bible audio options soon.

Now go check it out! What are you waiting for? There’s a whole Bible to explore! And thanks so much for taking us with you on the journey!

- Pastor Kris  = ]

Think! Using SOAP, plus tips for a great Bible journal.

Before you begin, I need you to put down that bar of Dove. I know, I did say that you were going to use SOAP, but you won’t need soap. Confused? Sorry. Let’s get back to Bible journaling.

Note: if you’re Bible journal didn’t save properly, please read the FAQ at the bottom of this page.  

The Think Step. The TTW app provides a place to record your thoughts with every Bible chapter. We call it the think step, and it’s basically your own private Bible journal. Journaling through the Bible is great. When you take the time to record your thoughts, you end up actually reading it, instead of skimming it while your brain is trying to remember where you put your cup of coffee. (By the way, if you’re a parent, check the microwave. You tried reheating your coffee a while back.)

What do I write? You can write down anything in your journal: insights, questions, answers, confusions, applications, prayers. It’s private, so feel free to open up. But if you’re like me, there’s something scary about that blank page. Where do I start? If you need help, start with SOAP.

How to SOAP. SOAP is an acronym. It stands for: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. It’s a simple journaling method used all over the world. And TTW makes it easy! After you read a Bible chapter, tap the “Think” button at the bottom of your screen to open the journal page. Up at the top of the journal, there’s a small bar of soap. Tap it, and the journal will be formatted for you to use SOAP!

Ready to jump in? Here’s a simple step-by-step.

SCRIPTURE: Write out a verse or passage from the chapter that is meaningful to you. You can copy and paste it in, or you can take the time to type it out. Typing gives you more time to meditate on it, but pasting is good too.

OBSERVATION: What do you see in the verse? You can write the verse in your own words, and write some thoughts about it. What does it say? How does it fit the context of the chapter, or the audience? Are there repeated words that give you clues? Write your insights and even questions here.

APPLICATION: This is where we get personal. How does the passage apply to your life? What does it say to you about your present situation, trials, and challenges? Make it personal – don’t write how people should respond – write how you should respond to this passage.

PRAYER: Pray about God’s Word. Ask Him to change your heart or life, in accordance with this passage. If there is a sin you are convicted of through the passage, confess it. If there is something you feel called to do to follow up, pray for strength to do it. Writing your prayer will help you to focus and be clear.

That’s it! The entire process will take you between 5-15 minutes, depending on how deep you want to go in the passage. When I finish, I like to go back to the top and add a title for the entry (even though TSOAP doesn't make a very good acronym).

Here’s an example:

Title: Deep Roots, Bearing Fruits

Scripture: "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

   whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water

   that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

   its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

   and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Observation: Who is blessed? Those who trust in the Lord, who have faith in Him.

And what kind of blessing is it? It isn’t financial or material, but spiritual in nature. Even when trials come (heat, drought), it doesn’t bring fear, because the blessing is rooted deep in the water. We are like this tree with we trust in God, and when trials come our way, we can stand strong without fear, for God will continue to supply our needs.

Application: Having gone through difficult times, I know that when I stay firmly planted in God, and trust in Him, He carries me through the trials. I must remain firm in my foundation, trusting in Him for all my needs. Doing so, I will continue to bear fruit, bringing life to others who are walking through the drought with me.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in You always. When I face times of difficulty and drought, may you continue to provide for me. Help me to trust in you, and not my own ways. Help me to be a source of life to those struggling around me. My I always be rooted in your word. Amen.

Think Step (journal) FAQ

• Do I have to journal? No. You can mark a chapter complete without a journal, but you’ll get more out of it if you take time to write.
• Do I have to follow the SOAP acronym? Of course not. You’re free to write as you please. You can write freeform, or even change up the acronym. I’ve been known to record SOASAOAOOP in my own journal. 
• Can I record two journals in the same chapter? If you arrive at the same chapter a second time, just add more content at the end of the first entry.  Add a new title, and start writing again. In the future, we plan to add features to create separate pages for the same chapter. For now, just add more at the end.
• Can I share my journal? Yes! Just highlight any portion that you want to share, tap “Copy”, then tap the Connect step at the bottom right. That will give you options to share your journal by text or social media. We’re working on features to speed up the process. 
• Can I export my journal? Not yet, except by cut and paste. But we’re working on an easier solution for a future TTW upgrade.
• Help! My journal didn’t save the last thing I typed! We found a minor glitch in the new TTW and we’re working on a fix. The issue is this: if you type a journal entry, the app will only save when you tap the “Return” button on your keyboard. If you type a sentence, then tap “Done” without tapping “Return,” it may not save the last bit that you typed. Sorry for the frustration. For now, just tap “Return” each time before you finish your journal.  We’ll launch the fix as soon as we have it for you.

Journey, Book, or Topic? Choosing a TTW Guide (aka Reading Plan)

There are more than eight million web pages about Bible reading plans. Eight million. But how many of us have started strong through one of those plans, only to wind up lost in the desert.  Lost… in Leviticus.

Reading the Bible can be difficult, and reading plans can get overwhelming. It’s sort of like being lost in a museum. Lost and confused. Someone hands you a map. Which helps. Some. At least you know the room layout. But what you really need is a guide - someone to walk you through and explain as you go. That’s Through the Word. TTW provides a simple daily plan with a clear path through the Bible. It’s more than a reading plan, it’s a guide through the Bible. Because the Bible is more than a book, it’s a journey. 

So here’s how our guides (aka reading plans) work. There are three types to choose from: Journey, Book, or Topical.

18 Journeys

We want you to make it through the Bible (our name is Through the Word, after all), so we have divided the Bible into 18 Journeys. The first Journey, Start, takes you on a grand tour of the Bible in 25 essential chapters. The remaining 17 Journeys each take about 90 days to cover 90 chapters, though you’re free to set your own pace. Each journey walks you through several Bible books, reading every chapter. Our pastors carefully organized the journeys to balance Old and New Testaments, follow the various themes and stories of the Bible, and weave together the Bible’s many genres. For example, Journey 2, Foundations, will walk you through Mark, Colossians, Genesis and Romans, four foundational books to understanding what the Bible is about.

If you’re looking for a clearly guided path, and especially if you’re new to the Bible, we recommend the journeys. We’ll get you moving on a clear path through the entire Bible, one chapter at a time. In four years, you’ll study through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. You control the pace, of course, but remember that the goal is not simply to get through the Bible, but to understand it as you go.

66 Books

Journeys are great, but you may just want to head directly to a particular book. Maybe your small group is going to study Matthew, or perhaps you’ve been meaning to tackle Jeremiah for some time. You can subscribe to a guide through a particular book, just like taking a Journey. On the guide selection page, select “Books” from the pulldown menu, then select the book you want from the second menu. Currently there is just one teacher for each Bible book, and it is the same audio that you will find on the journeys. In the future, we plan to add additional audio to give you options from more teachers in each book. 

Studying the books at your own pace is great – but we have found that it can lead to skipping over tough books or entire sections (ahem, the prophets?), so we recommend you jump back into a Journey when you are done with your book study. Note that completing a book guide will not mark that same book complete in the Journey. However, you will find your journals accessible in both locations, and you can easily mark chapters complete if you don’t want to read again.

Topical (coming soon!) 

TTW is working now on adding topical guides through important life issues and Bible themes. They’re not available yet, but we’ll have guides on relationships, manhood, science & the Bible, prophecy, and much more. Each topical guide will focus on what the Bible has to say about the topic, leading you through key passages and chapters so you can see the big picture in the full counsel of the Word. Those are in the works, and we’ll announce new guides here on the blog - so check back here to watch for it!

It’s All About Habit

No matter what reading plan you choose, getting into the Word of God daily is important. Developing a regular Bible reading habit will help fuel your day – like a spiritual breakfast. Your daily Bible time will give you the wisdom and energy you need to face the day ahead of you. But even more important than that, it gives you a chance to hear from God. Imagine going days without talking to your spouse or best friend. We want to spend time with those we love, and talking to them only once a week just wouldn’t cut it. In the same way, spending time in the Bible allows you to hear from God – the one who loves you more than anyone else. So go pick a reading plan, and start your habit (and help us cure Lost-in-Leviticus syndrome!).

Guide Selection FAQ:

• Can I follow the journeys out of order? Of course! You’re free to sign up for journeys in any order you like. You may be curious about end-times and skip to #17, or have a heart for restoration and jump in #18. However, you will mix up the OT chronology if you jump around.
• How do I choose my pace? When you sign up for a journey, it will give you two options for timing your plan:
• Keep me on track allows you to set your own pace without missing a chapter. Every time you open that guide, it will pick up right where you left off. You can read twice a day, or every two days, or whatever you like.
• Keep me on schedule sets your plan to a calendar, one chapter each day. If you miss a day, you’ll have to go back to catch up. This is ideal for groups who want to follow together, or for procrastinators who need a reminder to keep up!
• Do I have to subscribe to a guide to hear the audio? No. You can find any audio guide at any time by navigating the Bible to the chapter you want to hear. However, you cannot mark a chapter complete without subscribing to a guide.
• Can I follow more than one guide? Yes! You can subscribe to one each for: morning and evening, family Bible time, small group, disciple a friend, etc. It’s all up to you. All of subscribed guides will appear on your home page.
• Where do I find all the guides? From your home page, just tap “All Guides” in the top left. Then select Journey, Book, or Teacher to see what’s available.
• Can I change my mind? Yes. You can unsubscribe to a guide at any time. From the home page, find the guide, tap My progress, then tap unsubscribe.