Michael Stark is the Executive Producer of the Truth & Life Bible. The Truth and Life app. is a free download that has taken the award winning Truth & Life Dramatized New Testament audio and synchronized it at verse level to the RSV-CE Bible text. This amazing audio brings the word of God to life in this 22-hour audio production, complete with movie-quality sound effects and an original music score. This award-winning audio New Testament is endorsed with an Imprimatur from the Vatican and including a foreword by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Voiced by internationally-renowned actors including: Neal McDonough, Stacy Keach, Kristen Bell, Sean Astin, Michael York, Blair Underwood, Malcolm McDowell, Brian Cox, Julia Ormond, John Rhys-Davies and many more.
1) I
wanted to start off with a question about your personal involvement with Sacred
Scripture. How has Scripture played an important role in your prayer life?
Has it always been that way?
Over the last 5 years I have grown in the sacred scripture
immensely. I have always loved the Lord and been faithful to the Catholic
Church. Growing up, it just seemed to be something that was there, but I wasn't
really dialed into it. I glossed over CCD and the Mass as a kid. I took it more
seriously after getting married and having my daughter. Now I go to daily Mass
and pray the Rosary 4 times a day.
2) Why do you think
the daily reading of Scripture is such an important part in the life of a
Catholic?
I post the daily Gospel on my Facebook page everyday. People
can't wait for me to post it. Some people in Europe have asked me to post it
before I go to bed the night before, because when I wake up in Chicago, their
day is half over. It's VERY important to have daily contact with GOD! We need
to know what he is saying to us. If we are out of touch, we are lost, in every
way! To me it seems as if Protestants are much more focused on the Bible than
us Catholics. That is a shame, because Catholics wrote the book.
3) Could you talk
about the Truth and Life Bible? How did it come about?
The Truth & Life Audio Bible came about when my best
friend and business partner Carl Amari went over to Rome to visit his friend
Jim Caviezel during the filming of The Passion. They discussed the idea of
creating an audio Bible. Carl has been in the audio production business since
he fell in love with the old radio shows from the 30's and 40's in high school.
He actually bought the rights to the old shows and re-mastered them for radio
shows and CDs for a new audience today. Nobody would fund a Catholic Audio
Bible, so he asked me. I thought we Catholics could use some "New
Evangelization", so I said yes. I am adopted out of a Catholic orphanage,
so I thought I should give back. I am so glad we made T&L because it is
truly changing lives and bringing people to the Bible in a whole new way.
Remember, scripture was originally spoken. It took several hundred years before
printing was invented.
4) What are some of
the features of the Truth & Life Bible and App?
Key Features in the app:
. Complete text of RSV-CE synchronized with audio for the
New Testament.
. FREE audio of St. Mark's Gospel (The remaining 20 hours is
available for just $19.99)
. An amazing search tool, which gives you a concordance for
any word or phrase you select.
. Direct, instant access to any Bible verse, so you can hear
and see the text instantly.
. Footnotes for the underlined words and people in the
context.
. A built-in playlist to listen to the whole New Testament
in just for 40 days or in Chronological order.
. Create your own playlist of verses.
. Remembers where you left off.
. Sleep timer
. Airplay support
. Support for headphone pause and play buttons
. Room to fit an entire 22 hours of audio on your
iPhone/iPad
.The Daily Mass Readings
Click for an audio sample: https://www.facebook.com/100004116644832/videos/483600431787174/?l=1143025227640027552
5) For someone who
might be content with their standard printed Bible, how would you encourage
them to try out something like the Truth & Life Bible?
It was said by My good friend Archbishop Listecki
(Milwaukee) "The Truth & Life Audio Bible puts you among Jesus and the
apostles. It is as if you were following them around with a boom microphone.
The music and sound effects take you right into the scene." Many have
told me they feel like they know Jesus because they are used to hearing his
voice, instead of reading. Everyone who listens has a completely different
picture in their minds. But everyone is definitely in a very good place. With
the app. you can do both. The text is highlighted as the audio progresses.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the
preaching of Christ. Saint John Paul II said "The question
confronting the Church today is not any longer whether the man in the street
can grasp a religious message, but how to employ the communications media so as
to let him have the full impact of the Gospel message." I think T&L
follows his suggestion quite well.
6) How can one get
started with the Truth & Life Bible App? What do you need and what
are the costs?
You can download the content for FREE, including the audio
and Ignatius Study Bible contents in Mark's Gospel. The additional 20 hours of
audio and Ignatius Study Bible content is $19.99 each, or combined for
$29.99 on up to 5 devices. The main goal is to share the Bible with everyone.
In the future we hope to make a Spanish version. Please share this. The sooner
we recover our costs, the sooner we can start making the Spanish version.
7) Could you share
with my audience your favorite verse or passage from Scripture?
Luke 4:24 And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet
is acceptable in his own country." I have met so much apathy &
ignorance when it comes to sharing the Truth & Life Bible with Catholics. I
thought it would be loved by everyone. You can listen instead of reading. A
FREE app., still many could care less. I believe the trend is changing, hopefully
sooner than later.
