Why did Supernatural just appear in my library?

I just had "Supernatural" and its companion study guide by Michael Heiser appear in my library. I'm not sure why this is, since the Logos Now resources are 6 other volumes this month. I really cannot understand why this has happened. I'm certainly not unhappy about it, but I'm trying to find out if this is simply a cruel April Fool's joke and it will be removed before long.

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Mark Smith

I just had "Supernatural" and its companion study guide by Michael Heiser appear in my library.

I will refrain from the obvious answer.

However, I, too, find it is in my library, and have no 'normal' explanation for its appearance

Mathew Voth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813963#Comment_813963

I have it now too! And I am not even a Now subscriber. Perhaps they've given it to people who own The Unseen Realm? Seeing as it is essentially an abridgement this would seem to make some sense...

???

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813964#Comment_813964

Think Faithlife group with temporary access for a month then permanent ownership ...

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813968#Comment_813968

Think Faithlife group with temporary access for a month then permanent ownership ...

To elaborate slightly:

There is a Faithlife group which FL uses to give away a free resource once a month... or so. A "temporary" license is granted, which is supposed to turn into a permanent license at the end of the month. I have no idea why that is the case.

NB.Mick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813970#Comment_813970

There is a Faithlife group which FL uses to give away a free resource once a month... or so. A "temporary" license is granted, which is supposed to turn into a permanent license at the end of the month. I have no idea why that is the case.

You could either call it unmerited grace, or a reward for steadfastness to the group, or looking forward to the next month, or customer binding....

I'm thanful for it.

HJ. van der Wal

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813970#Comment_813970

There is a Faithlife group which FL uses to give away a free resource once a month... or so. A "temporary" license is granted, which is supposed to turn into a permanent license at the end of the month.

Link: https://faithlife.com/faithlife-free-book/activity

Last month's free book was John Milton's Paradise Lost.

You could either call it unmerited grace, or a reward for steadfastness to the group, or looking forward to the next month, or customer binding....

I'm thanful for it.

+1 [Y]

Andrew Zoll

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813968#Comment_813968

Think Faithlife group with temporary access for a month then permanent ownership ...

And once again, points to MJ for knowing exactly what's going on. Thanks!

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813963#Comment_813963

I just had "Supernatural" and its companion study guide by Michael Heiser appear in my library.

I will refrain from the obvious answer.

However, I, too, find it is in my library, and have no 'normal' explanation for its appearance

Many are called, but few are chosen. I don't have it.

Yasmin Stephen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814048#Comment_814048

Many are called, but few are chosen. I don't have it.

Are you a follower of the group? https://faithlife.com/faithlife-free-book/activity

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814055#Comment_814055

Many are called, but few are chosen. I don't have it.

Are you a follower of the group? https://faithlife.com/faithlife-free-book/activity

I'm not sure — I'll have to check. Normally I'm not a groupie.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814055#Comment_814055

Many are called, but few are chosen. I don't have it.

Are you a follower of the group? https://faithlife.com/faithlife-free-book/activity

I did an "update resources" and now have it. I leave Logos open and only update when I expect something.

Yasmin Stephen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814056#Comment_814056

Normally I'm not a groupie.

I was expecting something like this from you [:)]

I did an "update resources" and now have it.

[Y]

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814060#Comment_814060

I did an "update resources" and now have it.

Good that you are part of the Group(ie) [:P]

Anonymous

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813970#Comment_813970

Yep! This is a promotion running in the Faithlife Free Book group. However, an important note to clarify - this month is different. Supernatural is only available for free access during this month. When May hits, you'll need to purchase it to continue reading.

If this comes as a surprise and you don't want the free book access, you can leave the group (or send me a message and I can remove you)

David Carter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814141#Comment_814141

If this comes as a surprise

Given that this is the Faithlife Free Book group I would think it would be a surprise to the vast majority of people. What makes you think it wouldn't be?

Dave Thawley

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814141#Comment_814141

Yep! This is a promotion running in the Faithlife Free Book group. However, an important note to clarify - this month is different. Supernatural is only available for free access during this month. When May hits, you'll need to purchase it to continue reading.

If this comes as a surprise and you don't want the free book access, you can leave the group (or send me a message and I can remove you)

So the free book of the month club is now free book access for a month club :-)

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814141#Comment_814141

Yep! This is a promotion running in the Faithlife Free Book group. However, an important note to clarify - this month is different. Supernatural is only available for free access during this month. When May hits, you'll need to purchase it to continue reading.

If this is a one-time occurrence, then I can live with it. However, if this is a permanent change to "free book of the month," count me out. This is very close to a broken promise—or maybe it is more than close.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/815962#Comment_815962

Yep! This is a promotion running in the Faithlife Free Book group. However, an important note to clarify - this month is different. Supernatural is only available for free access during this month. When May hits, you'll need to purchase it to continue reading.

If this is a one-time occurrence, then I can live with it. However, if this is a permanent change to "free book of the month," count me out. This is very close to a broken promise—or maybe it is more than close.

I agree.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/815962#Comment_815962

Yep! This is a promotion running in the Faithlife Free Book group. However, an important note to clarify - this month is different. Supernatural is only available for free access during this month. When May hits, you'll need to purchase it to continue reading.

If this is a one-time occurrence, then I can live with it. However, if this is a permanent change to "free book of the month," count me out. This is very close to a broken promise—or maybe it is more than close.

Whether it is for 30 days or permanent, it is a gift. We are not owed this. Just be thankful for it. BTW: I can read most books in 30 days.

Andrew Zoll

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/815962#Comment_815962

Yep! This is a promotion running in the Faithlife Free Book group. However, an important note to clarify - this month is different. Supernatural is only available for free access during this month. When May hits, you'll need to purchase it to continue reading.

If this is a one-time occurrence, then I can live with it. However, if this is a permanent change to "free book of the month," count me out. This is very close to a broken promise—or maybe it is more than close.

Jack, I'm assuming you are coming into this conversation with a fundamental misunderstanding of what is being communicated, so let me clarify:

This has nothing to do with the "Free Book of the Month". This conversation revolves around a faithlife.com group in which Faithlife has graciously given away extra resources in months past. This is not an entitlement. There was no agreement or bargain to give us these gifts. It was the graciousness of Faithlife and people like Dustin who put this stuff together for us.

Please change your tone and chill on the accusations.

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/815971#Comment_815971

so let me clarify

Without starting a large argument, let me say that I do know how to read.

I understand that FL is not obligated to give me anything free, unless they promise to do so. If they promise to give group members permanent access to a free book each month and then change it to a free preview, that is a broken promise.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/815971#Comment_815971

"Faithlife Free Book" posting from 6 months ago => https://faithlife.com/faithlife-free-book/activity

Feb 2016 thread => Faithlife Free Book - Discontinued??? included => https://community.logos.com/forums/p/123505/806828.aspx#806828

Faithlife Free Book about => https://faithlife.com/faithlife-free-book/about now shows:

"Faithlife Free Book" morphed from monthly free book promise (Thanks Faithlife [:D]) to being discontinued (promise broken [:(]) followed by free access for a month (promise partially restored; Thanks Faithlife [:)]). Thankful for Base Packages, Builders, Bundles, and Collections with many resources so free book may add nothing to my library.

Possibility for "Faithlife Free Book" is personal sale price for preview resources, especially ones that were partially or completely read.

Keep Smiling [:)]

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/815971#Comment_815971

Faithlife Free Book recent activity => https://faithlife.com/faithlife-free-book/activity

I must say that I was very surprised to hear that your organization has decided to do away with the free ownership rights for your "free book of the month" program. It was a nice program and made Logos look good and religiously generous with sharing the word. I don't know the reasoning behind why Logos did away with this but I will tell you this, it certainly doesn't make you guys look good, and tends to cast a shadow of financial greed on your organization. I think if anything, I would've at least extended the program's availability to your customers that had purchased one of your Base Packages. I'm not just suggesting this for my own self interest but rather for the interest of all your customers; as a business point of view, you should really reconsider your business decision on this matter.

Mark (Faithlife Customer)

Hi Mark, we still run our other free book of the month programs with permanent ownership, such as this one: https://www.logos.com/free-book-of-the-month. The change was only made to the "Faithlife Free Book" program (this group). Sorry we let you down.

Thankful for Faithlife response plus share concern about promise made six months ago not being fiscally prudent (especially with subsequent layoffs); do desire for Faithlife Corporation to remain profitable (Profit = Revenue - Expenses). Free book(s) increase Expenses, which may not increase Revenue.

Keep Smiling [:)]

Andrew Zoll

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/816017#Comment_816017

so let me clarify

Without starting a large argument, let me say that I do know how to read.

I understand that FL is not obligated to give me anything free, unless they promise to do so. If they promise to give group members permanent access to a free book each month and then change it to a free preview, that is a broken promise.

Then I apologize for implying that you didn't follow the discussion. My problem with the language "broken promise" is that it implies some sort of ad infinitum or perpetuity component to a program. If you aren't making that assumption, then there is no "broken promise". Basically, all such accusations against Faithlife boil down to almost exactly that.

The problem with that line of thinking is that it doesn't examine the author's intended meaning, as any who study the Bible (indeed, all historical documents) should seek. Instead, that line of thinking employs eisegesis of the worst kind. It does not account for Faithlife to imply that this would continue so long as it remained profitable/financially viable to do so.

In my mind, the only way that Faithlife could "break a promise" would be to withdraw already purchased resources from a customer. And that would indeed be troubling, but until such time, I do and will continue to take issue with the "broken promise" accusation against them.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/816017#Comment_816017

If they promise to give group members permanent access to a free book each month and then change it to a free preview, that is a broken promise.

Er .. ah.. your logic is correct if and only if they made a promise concerning the duration of the program.

It is such a nice spring day to let fallacy hound out for a romp.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/814141#Comment_814141

Yep! This is a promotion running in the Faithlife Free Book group. However, an important note to clarify - this month is different. Supernatural is only available for free access during this month. When May hits, you'll need to purchase it to continue reading.

Thank you for the book, even if it is only for the month. I will say this seems short sighted since this is suppose to be a condensation of his longer book. I will admit having read it I have not decided it or the larger work are ones I need in my library. That is not to say others may not find it a great book, just not one I can imagine wanting to refer back to or likely to recommend. This one great passage towards the middle of the book did make it worth while for my time reading though:

It doesn’t necessarily take supernatural power to “bind up the brokenhearted” and “proclaim liberty to the captives” in the steps of the messiah (Isa. 61:1), but these are supernatural acts at the core. They demand resistance to darkness and strategic vision. No act of kindness will fail to be used by the Spirit to direct someone’s heart. No articulation of the gospel will be fruitless. Jesus’ kindness was congruent with his message. Neither diminished the other. This is a pattern any believer can imitate—and it is the job description for kingdom vision.

Michael S. Heiser, Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters, ed. David Lambert (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 116.