Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Life Essentials Study Bible

Life Essentials Study Bible: Biblical Principles to Live By. Gene A. Getz. October 1, 2011. (Though Amazon appears to be selling it now. So it may be out a few days early.)

I am ALWAYS, ALWAYS curious to see the release of new Bibles--new study Bibles, new translations, etc. This study Bible is in the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation. I haven't looked at it in person yet, but I did discover that you can preview it on MyStudyBible.com.

There is a video introduction which will give you an idea of what this Bible has to offer. But the website also allows you to sample some of the teaching videos.



These videos can also be seen on YouTube's LifeEssentials channel. The three or four videos I've seen are about twelve to fifteen minutes in length.

For some, I think the video teaching might be really appealing! We don't all learn the same way.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Songs That Bring *Good* Tears

I am not sure if these are going to be listed in any particular order or not. But I thought I would share a few Christian songs that bring tears to my eyes. To clarify, I mean good tears.

Fingertips and Noses by Newsong. This is actually the only Newsong song that I like--or appreciate. I do only have that one album, so it's not like I've heard tons of their songs. But still this one song is just oh-so-magical for me. It's just a beautiful, beautiful song that gets me every single time.
Up in the hills somewhere in Kentucky
In a little old school way back in the nothing
Where special kids born with special needs
Are sent to learn life's ABCs

Their teacher, Mrs. Jones, tells them all about Jesus
How in the twinkling of an eye He's coming back to get us
About streets of gold and pearly gates
How they want to go, they just can't wait
And she can't keep them in their seats
They're all at the windows straining to see

And it's
Fingertips and noses pressed to the windowpanes
Longing eyes, expectant hearts for Him to come again
All they know is that they love Him so
And if He said He'd come, He's coming
And they can't keep their windows clean
For fingertips and noses

She tried to explain to the kids about His coming
She tried to calm them down, but they just wouldn't listen
They just giggled and they clapped their hands
They're so excited that He's coming for them
And the first thing you know they're out of their seats
Back at the windows straining to see

Where will Jesus find us when He comes again?
Will we be like little children waiting just for Him?

With our
Fingertips and noses pressed to the windowpanes
Longing eyes, expectant hearts for Him to come again
All we know is that we love Him so
And if He said He'd come, He's coming
And we can't keep our windows clean
For our fingertips and noses

When God Ran by Benny Hester. This was probably my first favorite, favorite song. I was six or seven, I think? Anyway, it's one of those oh-so-magical songs for me. Though to be honest Benny Hester's whole album, Benny From Here, makes me super-super-super happy. Dare I admit that I listen to it that much?!
Almighty God,
The Great I Am
Immoveable Rock,
Omnipotent powerful

Awesome Lord,
Victorious Warrior
Mighty Conquerer,
Commanding King of Kings
And the only time,
the only time I ever saw Him run
Was when

He ran to me,
Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest
And said "My son's come home again".
Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said "Son, do you know I still love you?"

It caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left Home,
I knew I'd broken His heart
I wondered if
Things would ever be the same,

Then one night,
I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road, ahead I could see
It was the only time,
the only time I ever saw Him run

Was when He ran to me,
Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest
And said "My son's come home again".
Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said "Son, do you know I still love you?"

It caught me by surprise, It dropped me to my knees
When God ran

Bridge
Holy God, Righteous One
Who turned my way
Now I know, You've been waiting
For this day
We are the Reason by David Meece. Oh, how I love, love, love this song. It's one of the reasons why, I think, I've always felt it oh-so-crucial for every Christmas celebration to include the Easter message. And it does work both ways, of course. David Meece's albums, again, are ones I grew up with. (I must say that I just love, love, love "Today is the Day.") I can *still* sing along with so many of these!



I've perhaps saved the best for last. For this is the song that inspired this post. For this is the song that I have newly discovered. I *did* know about it last December. I remember falling in love with it then. I remember desperately wanting it on an album. But then life got busy and I didn't notice that it is on his newest album--which was released last month I think? Anyway, MEANT TO BE is one of those powerful songs. One of those songs that move you.





© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

What's On My Nightstand (September)

What's On Your Nightstand is hosted at 5 Minutes for Books.

Read the Bible for Life: Your Guide to Understanding and Living God's Word by George Guthrie. I've been reading in this nonfiction book off and on most of the month. Each chapter is a conversation. One chapter is even a conversation with himself which is more than a little awkward. But the subject is a good one. There have been chapters on how to read the prophets, how to read the books of wisdom, how to read the historical books, how to read the gospels, etc. And I think the information is definitely good! It's just not a book that you can speed through--at least it's not a book that I can speed through!

I got a new, well, new-to-me Bible this month!!! It is the 21st Century King James Version--which came out in 1994. I've only had it three or four days, but I've read Luke, Ezra, Romans, and most of Acts. I am loving it!!!

Two books I should begin reading soon--because they're due in October for review--are A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes and Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist. Both look interesting!!! A Necessary Deception, I believe, is a Regency romance. And Love on the Line is set in Texas, and I believe the hero is a Texas Ranger.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

There ARE differences In Grandma's Attic

Well, yesterday I wrote reviews to the third and fourth books In the Grandma's Attic books. And I mentioned how there were missing stories that I could not account for. The original stories included in the first book:

Pride Goes Before a Fall
When God Knew Best
The Red Bonnet
Grandpa's Apron
Ma's Busy Day
Grandma's Mistake
The Button Basket
The Little Gray Shoes
Nellie and the Buttons
The Pearl Buttons
Nellie's Trips to Town
The New Pump
You Can't Always Believe
The Old Door
Pa and the Dishwater
The Dishes
Ma's Birthday Cake
Grandma's Warm Clothes
Grandma's Prayer
Molly Blue
Grandma and the Gun
What Grandma Lost
What Did You Expect?

The newly published edition excludes Grandpa's Apron and What Did You Expect. And, of course, they are also missing the lovely interior illustrations by Dora Leder.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Beneath the Night Tree

Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart. 2011. Tyndale. 400 pages.

Daniel hummed in his sleep. It was an unconscious song, a midnight lullaby, as familiar to me as the sigh of my own breath. I fell asleep at night listening to the cadence of his dreams, and when I woke in the morning, his quiet melody was a prelude to birdsong. 

Julia DeSmit, our heroine, is a single mom essentially raising two kids. One, Simon, is her half-brother, who's now ten. The second, Daniel, is her son. She isn't all on her own. She lives with her grandmother--the woman who raised her.

Julia DeSmit is used to feeling a bit lost, a bit of a wanderer--though that isn't really the case. She has strong family roots and unlike her mother she knows how to be responsible and loving and compassionate. Still, she has certain dreams of her own, a vague idea on how she wants her life to go. And so when one of those dreams seemingly starts to come true--a marriage proposal from Michael, her boyfriend, well, you'd think she'd be happier.

But Julia is learning that love isn't always simple, that some people are worth giving second chances. Parker, the biological father of her son, contacts her and wants to know if their one night together resulted in a child. And slowly--one or two words at a time--she catches him up on all he's been missing. But the decision to allow him into their son's life isn't automatic.

Parker may be just what Simon and Daniel need. A strong, smart father figure who gives his time and attention...he is the exact opposite of Michael in oh-so-many ways.

And that's just the beginning...

This is the third novel in the series and I enjoyed it very much. The first two are After the Leaves Fall and Summer Snow.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Monday, September 26, 2011

Have You Seen This Documentary?!

Today I watched a little documentary--just thirty-three minutes--called 180. It's a powerful little film to be sure--there is a public advisory for graphic content--I would definitely invite you to watch it as well. It begins with a discussion of Adolph Hitler and the Holocaust, and leads... in a direction you might not expect. I don't want to say too much about it really. Because I think it would be more effective for you to see it all come together yourself.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Treasures from Grandma's Attic

Treasures from Grandma's Attic. Arleta Richardson. 1984/2011. David C. Cook. 160 pages.

Treasures from Grandma's Attic is the fourth book in the series by Arleta Richardson. The first three are: In Grandma's AtticMore Stories from Grandma's Attic, and Still More Stories from Grandma's Attic. The first three books are shorts story collections, essentially. They are told within a storytelling framework, the stories are being told--passed on--between a grandmother and granddaughter. The fourth book, however, appears to be different. The framework is gone. Readers definitely learn more about Mabel's childhood years, but without the adult-reflection added in. The book reads more like a novel, a traditional historical novel for young readers.

The chapters:

Cousin Agatha
A New Friend
Christmas Spirit
The Perfect Paper
Wesley's Lesson
The Seamstress
The Autograph
The Farewell Party
Really Responsible
The Tangled Web
Gypsies!
The Expensive Bookcase
Monday's Child
The Fortune-Teller
Revenge

I enjoyed this one quite a bit! I didn't remember it being in a different format from the other three. But it has been *many, many* years since I last read them. I can't honestly say that I remember any of the stories from this one. But again, that isn't a bad thing at all! It is this reading that matters most. And I can tell you that I very much enjoyed the time I spent reading this one! It was such a quick read, a satisfying one too!


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Still More Stories from Grandma's Attic

Still More Stories from Grandma's Attic. Arleta Richardson. 1980/2011. David C. Cook. 160 pages.

In June, I reviewed the first two books in the Grandma's Attic series: In Grandma's Attic and More Stories from Grandma's Attic. This fall, two more books in the series have been released: Still More Stories from Grandma's Attic. And Treasures from Grandma's Attic.

I have really enjoyed revisiting these books from my childhood years. As I mentioned before, Mabel and her family were just as dear to me as the Ingalls family.

The stories included in this one:

  • Face Cream from Godey's Lady Book
  • It Rhymes with Mop
  • High Society
  • The Dog Who Could Spell
  • The Wrinkled Stockings
  • Whenever I'm Afraid
  • Grandpa Hobbs
  • The Spelling Bee
  • The Prettiest House in the County
  • My Own Boss
  • The Harvest Home Festival
  • The Surprise Birthday Present
  • The Perfect Party
  • Windfalls

While the first two books felt very, very familiar to me--like old friends--I admit that the third one almost felt unfamiliar. I remembered a few of the stories, but not most of them! Which isn't good or bad, I suppose! I am a bit puzzled at my memory though. For there are stories that I remember--somewhat clearly--that I haven't found in any of the four books. I kept thinking, it'll be in the next one, it has to be in the next one. I seem to remember more stories about a quilt--with the granddaughter asking about each fabric. And the fabrics used weren't just the grandmother's but almost each member of the family was connected in some way. And I remember one story having to do with an apron with TONS of pockets. And I haven't found that one.

I do recommend this series.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Fall Into Reading 2011

Fall Into Reading hosted at Callapidder Days. The info post is here. The sign up post goes up September 23rd.
The challenge is from 9/23 to 12/21.

I hope to read six books for the challenge. I know I want to read a blend of fiction AND nonfiction. I'm not sure if it will be equal or not. But here are a few books I'm wanting-needing to read.

Nonfiction:

Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke.

Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word by Stephen J. Nichols

Walking in the Spirit by Kenneth Berding

Read the Bible for Life: Your Guide to Understanding and Living God's Word by George Guthrie

The Jesus You Can't Ignore by John MacArthur

A Tale of Two Sons by John MacArthur

Ten Lies About God And How You Might Already Be Deceived by Erwin Lutzer

Fiction:

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

The Mercy by Beverly Lewis

The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

The Victory Club by Robin Lee Hatcher

Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes

What I Actually Read:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Updating Records

I've already completed the Bible in the King James Version and the New American Standard Bible. (I've read the Bible three times this year--so far--but the third 'completion' is a blend of about four to six different translations.) Here are the translations which I've read a good many books in this year, followed by the books I'd need to read to finish that translation (this year).

ESV (*22)

Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Ezekiel
Daniel

Revised English Bible (*26)

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Luke
Acts
Romans
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Hebrews

American Standard, 1901 (*25)

1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

HCSB (*34)

Genesis
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Mark
Luke
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James

I know I can't complete the Old Testament *that* many times in the remaining months of the year. I wouldn't want to even try! But here are a few translations where the NT seems possible:

Revised English Bible


Luke
Acts
Romans
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Hebrews

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Mark
Luke
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James

New King James Version (NKJV)

Matthew
Mark
Luke
Acts
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
Hebrews 
James
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

Revised Standard Version

Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Short Goals

I spent some time going over my reading records for this year, and discovered...

To complete the Old Testament four times,  I need to read:

Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Ezekiel

To complete the New Testament seven times, I need to read:

Luke
Acts
Hebrews

To complete the Old Testament five times, I need to read:

Numbers
Deuteronomy
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea

To complete the New Testament eight times, I need to read:

Luke
Acts
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Hebrews

I think I might be able to read the books needed to complete the OT four times, but I'm not sure I could manage to read enough to make it all the way through five times! But that probably won't stop me from trying!

And I do think I'll be able to read the New Testament quite a bit. I've grown quite addicted to it this year.  I've read it six times this year--so far--but of course, I want more, more, more. So we'll see how that goes.

To make 9 for the NT

Marks
Luke
Acts
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Hebrews
James

To make 10 for the NT

Matthew
Mark
Luke
Acts
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
Titus
Hebrews
James
Jude
Revelation

To make 11 for the NT

Matthew
Mark
Luke
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

To make 12 for the NT

Matthew
Mark
Luke
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week in Review: September 18-24

This week I read

Exodus in the ESV
Obadiah in the ESV
Jonah in the ESV
Micah in the ESV
Nahum in the ESV
Habakkuk in the ESV
Zephaniah in the ESV
Haggai in the ESV
Zechariah in the ESV
Malachi in the ESV
Romans in the KJ21

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Book Review: Deeply Devoted

Deeply Devoted. Maggie Brendan. 2011. Revell. 335 pages.

Catharine Olsen is a mail-order bride arriving in Wyoming with a few secrets. Two she won't be able to hide for long--for this bride is bringing with her two sisters, two younger sisters. And her groom is VERY VERY VERY surprised to learn that they will be coming home with him--for the duration, until they find jobs or marry. But one secret is dark and tragic and much more easily hidden. A secret from her past that she can't imagine sharing--at least not yet--with her husband.

Peter Andersen is very pleased with Catharine. She may not know how to cook, but she's willing to learn. And he knows that his love for her will only grow and grow through the weeks, months, years. And his attraction to her is very immediate. Her sisters, well, they're not unpleasant company. And one even seems to be a little helpful. But they definitely weren't in his plans.

This couple will face more than a few challenges in the months ahead. And NOT from her sisters. No, their biggest threat comes from HIS MOTHER who just doesn't know when enough is enough is enough.

I liked this one. It wasn't quite a love for me. But I definitely liked it. It was such a relief to go from A Heart Revealed to Deeply Devoted!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Sunday Salon: Week In Review September 11-17

This week I read

Psalms 35-103 in the King James Version
Isaiah in the KJV
Mark in the KJV
Ephesians in the KJV
Philippians in the KJV
Colossians in the KJV
1 Peter in the KJV
2 Peter in the KJV

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Book Review: A Heart Revealed

A Heart Revealed (Winds of Change Series #2) Julie Lessman. Revell. 500 pages.

Julie Lessman could learn a thing or two from romance author Julia Quinn. And I'm not talking about adding "steamy" scenes--I think Lessman's series has *more* than enough in that department. No, I'm talking about how to do a series of family-centered romances WITHOUT it all becoming much too much. Quinn's Bridgerton series is wonderful. Each of her romances focuses on ONE sibling and only one sibling. Other siblings may show up now and then--at home, in town, at social gatherings, etc. But it is never a crammed affair. When familiar characters show up, readers can smile and say it was great to see a glimpse of them again. But it is a glimpse. A welcome glimpse for the most part, but a glimpse. There is ONE couple, one romance, one story. And I don't mean that the books are without subplots or minor characters.

Readers are never allowed for a moment to say goodbye to any character previously introduced in any of her books. If ever Lessman enters a character's mind--that mind will be revisited again and again and again and again no matter whose story it's supposed to be. So instead of this book being a romance for one couple--we enter the jumbled marriages of at least five if not six couples! Which is just TOO MUCH. And with narration from each husband and each wife of the couple--it all gets to be messy and just uncomfortable.

Because readers are never allowed to say goodbye to any character, those characters that annoyed you in one book will keep on annoying you more and more and more and more with each subsequent book. Characters that you remembered liking--to a certain degree--can become burdensome too after awhile.

So it may not surprise you to learn that I was annoyed by almost every character in this one. I don't know who annoyed me most--Katie or Charity. The truth is all of the characters were tedious to me--some more than others, it's true, but there weren't really many redeeming characters that made it all worth it. This is an easy-to-yell-at book.

So the "main" characters of this one are Emma Malloy and Sean O'Connor. Emma is the married friend that Charity and Mitch brought back with them from Ireland. She is the one who owns/manages the store. And she is the saint if ever there was one. A saint in giving advice that is. If this book focuses SOLELY on how these two come together, then it probably wouldn't have annoyed me. It may not have been my favorite and best book. But it wouldn't have been a miserable read. But with the Charity drama and the Katie drama and even the Marcy drama, it was just too much.



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Wings of a Dream

Wings of a Dream. Anne Mateer. 2011. Bethany House. 319 pages.

"Rebekah Grace, if you don't hurry we'll be late for the lecture."

 I had my doubts about Wings of a Dream after reading the first chapter. But. I kept reading. And it didn't take me long to realize that I had judged it much, much too soon. This one hooked me. I ended up loving this sweet historical romance. Was it predictable? Yes. I won't lie. If you demand that your romance, your historical romance, be absolutely original and unpredictable...then you may be disappointed with this one. But if what you're looking for is a feel-good story, a satisfying read that is oh-so-cozy, then Wings of a Dream may just be for you.

This historical romance is set in Texas in 1918 during the last months of World War I. Our heroine, Rebekah Grace, travels to a small Texas town to care for her sick aunt. She arrives just in time--to meet the woman she barely knew, to make a difficult promise, to care for the children in her aunt's care. Rebekah is forced to grow up as she becomes the caregiver of four young children--one just a baby. (Their father is in the army, their mother is dead.)

There is plenty of drama in Wings of a Dream, and I must say that I liked it much more than I thought I would. I wouldn't say it is the best, best book I've ever read. But it was certainly enjoyable!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Doctor's Lady

The Doctor's Lady. Jody Hedlund. 2011. Bethany House. 384 pages.


"Indians!"

The Doctor's Lady is a fictionalized account of a missionary couple. The hero/heroine of this one is based on Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. Some of the names have been changed--though not all according to the author's note--but many of the events of the novel really happened.

The Doctor's Lady stars Priscilla White a woman oh-so-eager to be a missionary--to India--who is very reluctant to marry anyone. But when she learns that she won't be able to serve as a missionary--anywhere--if she remains single, she accepts the marriage proposal of a man in somewhat similar circumstances. Dr. Eli Ernest longs to return to Oregon territory to start a mission. But he's just learned that he'll need to take a wife. To answer God's call, these two may just have to wed...

The Doctor's Lady is a detailed accounting of the wagon trip west. For those that love pioneer stories, it's a good read! I definitely enjoyed it.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Sunday Salon: Week(s) In Review August 28 - September 10

In the past two weeks I've read

Psalms 1-34 in the KJV
Isaiah in the ESV
Matthew in the KJV
Luke in the KJV
John  in the KJV
Acts  in the KJV
Romans in the KJV
1 Corinthians  in the KJV
2 Corinthians  in the KJV
Galatians  in the KJV
1 Thessalonians  in the KJV
2 Thessalonians  in the KJV
1 Timothy  in the KJV
2 Timothy  in the KJV
Titus  in the KJV
Philemon  in the KJV
Hebrews  in the KJV
James  in the KJV
1 John  in the KJV
2 John  in the KJV
3 John  in the KJV
Jude  in the KJV
Revelation  in the KJV

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible