Operation Actually Read Bible

Professor Horner Update #3 (January 15-21)

2012-01-22T15:14:00.001-06:00

This is my third week using Professor Horner's Bible Reading System. If you're using this system I'd love to hear from you! I'd like to know what you like or don't like about it! I have definitely modified it some, and may need to make additional modifications in the coming week. I just haven't decided exactly how much needs to change. Except for Acts--I'm sticking to the one chapter per day--I've finished the New Testament. And I'm well on my way to completing the NT letters a second time. I would love to find a way to get to the OT minor prophets quicker--without having to wait until I've finished the longer ones like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea. So many of these could be read in one sitting.

This week I completed:

Exodus in KJV
Ruth in KJV
1 Samuel in KJV
Jeremiah in KJV
Lamentations in KJV
Luke in KJV
John in KJV
Romans in KJV
Colossians in KJV
1 Thessalonians in KJV
2 Thessalonians in KJV
1 Timothy in KJV
2 Timothy in KJV
Titus in KJV
Philemon in KJV
Hebrews in KJV
James in KJV
1 Peter in KJV

This week I read:

1 Corinthians 1-4
Ecclesiastes 4-10
Psalms 81-120
Proverbs 15-21
Acts 15-21

Key Verses this week:

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD has prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. (Psalm 103:1-19)

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. (Psalm 84:10-12)

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou has delivered my soul from the lowest hell. (Psalm 86:11-13)

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:1-7)

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100)

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. (Jeremiah 17:14)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy. and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3)

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28-39)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. (John 10:27-30)

Songs on my mind this week:

Never Been a Greater Love, Aaron Shust

Greater is He, Aaron Shust

Sing of My Redeemer, Aaron Shust

Jesus, Friend of Sinners, Casting Crowns

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Christless Christianity

2012-01-21T19:16:00.000-06:00

Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church. Michael Horton. 2008. Baker Publishing. 272 pages.

What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city? Over a half century ago, Presbyterian minister Donald Grey Barnhouse offered his own scenario in his weekly sermon that was also broadcast nationwide on CBS radio, Barnhouse speculated that if Satan took over Philadelphia, all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, "Yes, sir" and "No, ma'am," and the churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached.
It is easy to become distracted from Christ as the only hope for sinners. Where everything is measured by our happiness rather than by God's holiness, the sense of our being sinners becomes secondary, if not offensive. If we are good people who have lost our way but with the proper instructions and motivation can become a better person, we need only a life coach, not a redeemer. (15-16)

In Christless Christianity Michael Horton argues that many American churches--many American denominations--have lost sight of the most important thing, they've taken their eyes off Jesus Christ. Instead of reflecting on Christ--who He is, what He has done, what He has accomplished already--they are reflecting on what they need to do, how they should act and behave. They've become distracted by works-righteousness, though they may not admit that is what they're doing. But they've shifted their messages from the works and person of Jesus Christ, to focus instead on being relevant and practical. By giving their followers, their listeners, lists of things to do to have a better life now, to be happy, to be successful now. In some cases, major doctrines have been set aside. But in other cases, the changes have been so small, so slight, that you'd think they just wouldn't make that big of a difference. But. Horton argues that anything you add to Christ is not only unnecessary, not only unwise, but dangerous. There is nothing more we need to say or do to gain salvation. Jesus paid it all. We are saved through Jesus. We are saved through his life; we are saved through his death; we are saved through his resurrection. Need a perfect life of obedience to get into heaven? Jesus has done it. For you. For me. For all who believe. He has taken our sin and given us his righteousness. We do not need to piece together fig leaves for ourselves. Christ has clothed us himself. We don't need to add to what he has done. We don't. We need to worship God. We need to keep Christ the center of our faith. We don't need to worry about what we're doing or not doing right. We don't need to worry that we're not doing enough. We don't need to be proud that we're doing so well. Our faith shouldn't be showing off all the things we've done. We need to love more, but we don't love more by trying to love more, by trying to make ourselves more loving, more caring, more compassionate. We love more when we're so focused on Christ that Christ's love spills over into our lives. The more we know him--the more we love him. The more we reflect on Christ, the more we can reflect him to others.

Christless Christianity was an amazing read. I'd definitely recommend it!

My favorite quotes:

I am a Christian not because I think that I can walk in Jesus's footsteps but because he is the only one who can carry me. I am not the gospel; Jesus Christ alone is the gospel. His story saves me, not only by bringing me justification but by baptizing me into his resurrection life. (117)

I think that the church in America today is so obsessed with being practical, relevant, helpful, successful, and perhaps even well-liked that it nearly mirrors the world itself. (16)

Is the Word of God a resource for what we have already decided we want and need, or is it God's living and active criticism of our religion, morality, and pious experience? In other words, is the Bible God's story, centering on Christ's redeeming work, that rewrites our stories, or is it something we use to make our stories a little more exciting and interesting? (24)

Does Christ come to boost our ego or to crucify our ego and raise us up as new creatures with our identity in him? (33)

"How can I, a sinner, be right before a holy God?" is simply off the radar in a therapeutic mind-set. Once the self is enthroned as the source, judge, and goal of all of life, the gospel need not be denied because it's beside the point. But people need to see--for their own good--that self-realization, self-fulfillment, and self-help are all contemporary twists on an old heresy, which Paul identified as works-righteousness. (40)

If we are not explicitly and regularly taught out of it, we will always turn the message of God's rescue operation into a message of self-help. (42)

As much as we might talk about a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, there doesn't actually seem to be much of a relationship at all, except with the self. (43)

Original sin, as G.K. Chesterton observes, is 'the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved'. (63)

"Smooth talk and flattery" is part of the staple-diet of successful American religion today. And it is almost always advertised simply as more effective mission and relevance. (66)

When even good, holy, and proper things become confused with the gospel, it is only a matter of time before we end up with Christless Christianity: a story about us instead of a story about the Triune God that sweeps us into the unfolding drama. (109)

The worst thing that can happen to the church is to confuse law and gospel. When we soften the law, we never give up on our own attempts to offer our rags of "righteousness" to God. When we turn the gospel into demands, it is no longer the saving Word of redemption in Jesus Christ alone. (122)

The gospel is for Christians too. We need to be evangelized every week. It is not by following Christ's example but by actually being inserted into Christ, clothed with Christ, united to Christ--as the Spirit creates faith through the gospel--that we are not only justified but sanctified as well. (125)

The church exists in order to change the subject from us and our deeds to God and his deeds of salvation, from our various missions to save the world to Christ's mission that has already accomplished redemption. He sends us into the world, to be sure, but not to save it. Rather, he sends us into the world to witness to Christ as the only Savior and to love and serve our neighbor in our secular vocations. Evil lies not outside us but inside; it is salvation that comes from outside ourselves. Nothing the church does extends, completes, or fulfills Christ's all-sufficient, once-and-for-all, completed work of living, dying, and rising for sinners. So enough about us! (141)

If the message the church proclaims makes sense without conversion, if it does not offend even lifelong believers from time to time so that they too need to die more to themselves and live more to Christ, then it is not the gospel. When Christ is talked about, a lot of things can happen, none of which necessarily have any lasting impact. When Christ is proclaimed in his saving office, the church becomes a theater of death and resurrection. (141)

Isn't it amazing that, according to Jesus, the whole Bible is about him and Peter says that the angels long to understand the Good News that is (or should be) brought weekly by heralds, but we decide that someone or something else should be the focus of our sermon and worship this week? (143)

It is just as easy to lose Christ by distraction as it is by denial. (143)

However frequently his name is invoked, a religion that turns on "What Would Jesus Do?" is not the Christian faith. (146)

When people ask for more practical preaching, for a more relevant message than Christ and him crucified, what they are falling back on is law rather than gospel. (146)

The gospel changes lives; it is not our changed life. (156)

Where Christ is not King, he is neither Prophet nor Priest. Christ rules his church--instituting its structure and methods--precisely so that he can effectively deliver his good gifts to the world. (205)

Read Christless Christianity

If you're a believer looking for a good nonfiction read
If you're a believer wanting to grow in Christ
If you're looking for the answers--what is the gospel? what is sin? how can I be saved?
If you're looking for a critique of Joel Osteen, the emerging church movement--particularly Brian McLaren, Charles Finney, pelagianism and/or semi-pelagianism, and gnosticism.

Music Review: David Crowder Band's Give Us Rest

2012-01-16T12:26:00.000-06:00

The full title of David Crowder's Band final release is Give Us Rest, Or, A Requiem Mass in C (The Happiest of All Keys). This album is quite long, an hour and forty minutes; it has two discs with a total of thirty-four songs. (True, eighteen of these are under three minutes, but, depending on the song in question, that's not a bad thing.)

This album definitely is a concept album. The theme is death. But before you conclude that the songs are dreary and lifeless, consider just how much of the Bible concerns the believer's FUTURE GLORY, and just how many verses, how many passages, give believers assurance--hope--that heaven is indeed a wonderful place.

Are some of the songs dreary and lifeless? Are some of the songs just a little too weird for my taste? Yes and yes. I personally find the seven piece sequence more annoying than pleasing. (The songs are Sequence 1, Sequence 2, Sequence 3, etc.)

Here is an example of the 'concept' of the album:

The song, "A Burial"

The song, "Sequence 2"

The song, "The Great Amen,"

The song, Why Me?

But there are MANY, MANY great songs on this album.

The song, Oh Great God, Give Us Rest

The song, After All (Holy)

The song, Come Find Me

The song, Fall On Your Knees

The song, Because He Lives

The song, Oh Great Love of God

The song, There Is A Sound

I would say that there are at least a dozen great songs on this album. While I doubt you'll love each and every song on the entire album, I think you'll probably find some to enjoy, some to love.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Not a Fan

2012-01-15T19:26:00.000-06:00

Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus. Kyle Idleman. 2011. Zondervan. 224 pages.

Are you a follower of Jesus?
I would say the chances are pretty good that you just skipped over that question. You may have read it, but I doubt it carried much weight or had any real impact. But would you let me ask you this question again? It's the most important question you will ever answer.
Are you a follower of Jesus?

Kyle Idleman urges believers to be followers of Jesus Christ, not just fans of Jesus. Most of the book is spent defining and illustrating the differences between those who are fans and those who are followers. Fans follow on their terms. Followers follow on Christ's terms. They're willing to put Christ first, and give Christ all. They're willing to deny themselves and carry a cross daily. Fans follow when it's convenient to them, they follow for the benefits it might bring them. But when it comes to the hard sayings of Jesus, when it comes down to some of the harder teachings, the ones that make you squirm, the ones that you wish you didn't really understand because you don't want to have to live by them, they turn away, they don't listen or obey. Fans follow superficially. Followers are committed no matter what.

Not a Fan was very readable. Idleman's style is very reader-friendly. As a narrator, he is easy to relate to. He can make you smile with some of his illustrations. But he wins you over, wins your respect, with his biblical illustrations. He uses the Bible to illustrate his points time and time again. The focus on the Bible, the focus on what Jesus' teaching, makes this one a must-read. While it is readable, while it is entertaining, it is also thought-provoking. This book asks you to decide for yourself. It challenges you to reflect on your own life, to reflect about what it is you truly believe, what you truly love, what you truly need to have Jesus be Lord of your life.

I would definitely recommend this one. You don't have to be a scholar or a pastor. This book is for everyone.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Accidental Bride

2012-01-15T18:53:00.000-06:00

The Accidental Bride. Denise Hunter. 2012. January 2012. Thomas Nelson. 304 pages.

The bell above the diner's door jingled and--despite her most valiant effort--Shay Brandenberger's eyes darted toward the entry. An unfamiliar couple entered, tourists. She could tell by their khaki Eddie Bauer vests and spanking new hiking boots. Look out, Yellowstone.

The Accidental Bride is a contemporary Christian romance set in Wyoming. The heroine, Shay, has been chosen to portray one of the town's founders in a re-enactment of a wedding ceremony. (This is an annual event.) The man chosen--at the last minute--to play the groom is Shay's former fiance, Travis McCoy. The two were supposed to marry, but he jilted her the day of the wedding. There are some in this small community of Moose Creek that would love to see these two reunite, and they may get their wish. For this fake marriage ceremony becomes all too real, their marriage license filled out all those years ago all too valid.

How does the couple feel about this surprise? Well, the groom is excited. He has regretted hurting Shay for close to fourteen years now. The only thing stopping him from trying to win her back was her marriage to someone else--but now that he is out of the picture, now that 'fate' has thrown them together again, well, he WANTS her to be his wife. And the bride, well, she is shocked and confused and angry. She has never forgiven him. But now she needs him...to help save her ranch, to help her take care of her daughter.

So can this 'accidental' marriage work out for the best?

The Accidental Bride is predictable, as you might expect. Readers know that Travis and Shay will get their happily ever after. But predictability isn't a bad thing when it comes to Christian romance--or romance in general. There can be something comforting and satisfying about these kinds of reads.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Gospel Story Bible

2012-01-15T17:54:00.000-06:00

The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments. Marty Machowski. 2011. Illustrated by A.E. Macha. New Growth Press. 328 pages.

While I can't say I absolutely loved this storybook Bible, I can say that it has many strengths. There were a few things about this one that--for me--count as weaknesses. I'll just mention those briefly. First, the layout or style of this one just didn't thrill me. The colored pages WERE colorful. And bold, bright colors are for some people a positive. But each two-page spread is a different color, and the font color varies based on the background color of the page. Some of these color combinations were hard on my eyes. (Granted, they may not be hard on your eyes. Because of my headaches, I'm sensitive to things others aren't.) I'm old-fashioned in a way. I'm just as happy with black font on a white page and illustrations on one side or another. This more artistic approach may please many readers, but, for me, less is more. Second, the glossiness of the pages reflected the light horribly. Again, I think this is something that will only bother people with light-sensitivity. (I don't like the pages of any book to glare at me!) Third, I found the illustrations ~~ugly~~ too taste specific. The illustrations are just different.

I do feel the book has definite strengths. It's a BIG story collection. There are a wide variety of stories from both the Old and New Testaments. Most story collections have weaknesses. They may offer a dozen (or so) stories from Genesis, and most are good for stories about Moses and David and Jonah. But many collections just don't offer enough from all the other books in the Old Testament. Not many, for example, include Elijah and Elisha. And with the New Testament, many focus exclusively on the gospels. They don't offer much of anything to share with young readers about the epistles in the New Testament. Perhaps feeling that theology doesn't lend well to storytelling. But this story collection seems to include many things that other collections have chosen not to include. So it was refreshing to see these included.

78 stories from The Gospel Story Bible are from the Old Testament.
78 stories from The Gospel Story Bible are from the New Testament.
26 stories from The Gospel Story Bible are from Genesis.
16 stories from The Gospel Story Bible are from Exodus and Numbers
36 stories from The Gospel Story Bible are about the nation/kingdom of Israel, full circle (entering and conquering the land, the times of the judges, the establishing of kings, the division of the kingdom, the rise of prophets, the judgment and exile, the restoration)
43 stories from The Gospel Story Bible are from the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
35 stories from The Gospel Story Bible are from Acts and other New Testament books (the epistles)

Each story is a two-page spread. The Scripture reference for the story is included. In just a few paragraphs, the heart of the passage is retold. The last paragraph (or two) always includes some theology. A few sentences to help readers connect the story with the big picture. To tie in that one story to the gospel and to Christ.

The publisher of The Gospel Story Bible has also created a three year curriculum for three different age groups: preschool, lower elementary, upper elementary. I believe the Old Testament curriculum is available now, and the New Testament will be published in January 2013. There are two devotional books available for families as well. Long Story Short: Ten Minute Devotionals to Dray Your Family to God (Old Testament) and Old Story New: Ten Minute Devotionals to Draw Your Family to God (New Testament). (Again, I think the Old Testament is available before the New Testament). These devotionals complement the curriculum. The storybook Bible, I'm assuming, complements them both.

Professor Horner Update #2 (January 8-14)

2012-01-15T16:47:00.000-06:00

This is my second week using Professor Horner's Bible Reading System. I have modified it some--as I mentioned last week. It has been a GREAT week. All of my daily readings seem to be connecting and pointing to just a handful of themes. By reading in so very many places at once, these connections just pop out at you. It's wonderful!

This week I completed:

Genesis in KJV
Judges in KJV
Job in KJV
Isaiah in KJV
Mark in KJV
1 Corinthians in KJV
2 Corinthians in KJV
Galatians in KJV
Ephesians in KJV
Philippians in KJV
1 Peter in KJV
2 Peter in KJV
1 John in KJV
2 John in KJV
3 John in KJV
Jude in KJV
Revelation in KJV

This week, I read

Luke 1-8
Ecclesiastes 1-3
Psalms 36-80
Proverbs 8-14
Jeremiah 1-10
Acts 8-14

Key Verses:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:24)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10)

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:6-11)

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planing, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. (Isaiah 60:19-21)

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:17)

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:8-14)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:1-7)

Ephesians 1:2-23
Ephesians 3:16-21

Songs on my mind this week:

I Saw the Light, David Crowder Band

More by Andrew Peterson

After the Last Tear Falls, Andrew Peterson

The Reckoning, (How Long), Andrew Peterson

Because He Lives, David Crowder Band

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Healer's Apprentice

2012-01-14T09:46:00.001-06:00

The Healer's Apprentice. Melanie Dickerson. 2010. Zondervan. 272 pages.

The townspeople of Hagenheim craned their necks as they peered down the cobblestone street, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duke of Hagenheim's two handsome sons. The top-heavy, half-timbered houses hovered above the crowd as if they too were eager to get a peek at Lord Hamlin and Lord Rupert.

Melanie Dickerson may just be a new favorite of mine. In December, I reviewed The Merchant's Daughter, a fairy tale retelling of Beauty and The Beast set in the fourteenth century. Now I've had the chance to read her first novel, The Healer's Apprentice, a fairy tale retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Are either books true retellings? Well. The 'beast' is just a scarred man, and Rose, the heroine of The Healer's Apprentice never falls into an enchanted sleep. But. I think both books capture the spirit of the original fairy tales.

In The Healer's Apprentice, readers meet a young woman named Rose. She does not want to be forced into a marriage of her mother's choosing, so she is very thankful that the village's healer has chosen her to be her apprentice. She'll be living with the healer, living within the castle. It's an exciting time in her life, and it only seems to be getting better. Rose even captures the attention of both the older son, Lord Hamlin (Wilhelm is his first name) and the younger son, Lord Rupert, who's 'destined' for the church since his older brother will inherit everything when their father dies. At first, she's confused by the attention. Why would any of the nobility pay attention to her?! She's just a woodcutter's daughter. She may be beautiful, but she could never hope to marry someone that above her station, her class.

The Healer's Apprentice is narrated by Rose and Wilhelm. Wilhelm is a good man, a kind man. And he wants to do the right thing, he wants to do his duty. He's been betrothed practically forever to a young woman he's never met. He doesn't even know where she is--just that her life is in danger from someone. He's supposed to be seeking out the threat and protecting her. And that is his plan, his intention, but he keeps noticing how wonderful Rose is. He's so drawn to her. He knows it's wrong to fall in love with anyone but his betrothed, he knows it's not fair to anyone. But. He just can't help feeling what he feels....

I liked this one. I really, really, really liked this one. I think I loved The Merchant's Daughter a little bit more. But I would still recommend this one!!!

Read The Healer's Apprentice

If you like fairy tale retellings
If you like historical novels set in the fourteenth century
If you like clean romance
If you like inspirational/Christian romances
If you are looking for a great Christian YA novel

and here is the trailer for The Merchant's Daughter:

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: His Steadfast Love

2012-01-14T08:14:00.002-06:00

His Steadfast Love. Golden Keyes Parson. 2011. Thomas Nelson. 336 pages.

The sweet, gooey peach pie filling had overflowed its crust and dribbled down the side of the plate.

His Steadfast Love is set in Texas during the Civil War. The heroine of His Steadfast Love is a young woman named Amanda. Before the war, Amanda meets a young soldier, Captain Kent Littlefield. He's attracted to her despite their different backgrounds--he's from the North, from Pennsylvania; she's from the South, from Texas. He doesn't 'like' the fact that her father owns slaves. And Amanda's father doesn't really see him as a good match for his daughter, he wants a Southerner, a Southern gentleman. So even before war is declared this courtship is problematic...

Most of this novel is rushed. Readers see all the years of the Civil War. Readers see it from Amanda's side. As a concerned sister with a brother in the Confederate army. And as a sweetheart. She knows that she loves Kent. He has told her that he loves her and that he wants to marry her...after the war...with or without her father's or brother's approval. Readers also see it from Kent's perspective and Daniel's perspective. (Daniel is the brother.) Though mainly it's focused on Amanda and Kent.

I liked this one. But I didn't exactly love it. I never really came to care strongly about the characters. It was a quick read, an enjoyable one. I just didn't find it to be amazing or wonderful.

Read His Steadfast Love

If you're a fan of Christian historical romance. In my opinion this is stronger as historical than romance, but that could just be me.
If you're a fan of historical fiction set during the Civil War
If you're a fan of fiction set in Texas

Professor Horner Update #1 (January 1-January 7)

2012-01-08T15:05:00.000-06:00

For the month of January, I have committed to trying Professor Horner's Bible Reading System. I first learned about this system on my friend's blog, A Well-Watered Garden.

I thought I would share my experiences with you as I try this new-to-me system.

I am using the King James Version of the Bible. I'm not sure I'll stick with this translation throughout the year--though he does recommend picking just one Bible to read. But for January, this is what I'm using.

The system has you reading in ten different books of the Bible at a time.

1) The Gospels
2) Books of Moses
3) Longer Epistles (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Hebrews)
4) Shorter Epistles & Revelation (1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3 John, Jude, Revelation)
5) Books of Wisdom minus Psalms and Proverbs
6) Psalms
7) Proverbs
8) Books of History (Joshua-Esther)
9) Major and Minor Prophets (Isaiah-Malachi)
10) Acts

He has you reading one chapter from each of the ten books--for a total of 10 chapters per day.

I knew if I was going to stick with this system, I'd have to make it my own. So here are the changes I've made...so far.

First. With the exception of Proverbs and Acts, I'm going to be reading more than one chapter per book.
I am definitely going to be reading five psalms a day. To read Psalms once a month, all you need to do is read five a day. Why make plans to read Proverbs twelve times a year and not Psalms?! After all, Psalms is much more to my liking!!!!
At least with the shorter epistles (those with six or so chapters), I am going to read the whole book at once. For longer epistles (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Hebrews) I will take a few days more.
I am going to try to read several chapters at least in the gospel reading. I'm not sure if it will be possible to read one gospel per week, but I'm going to try my best to read all four gospels each month.
The reading I am going to struggle the very most with is List 5. Because, to be honest, I don't 'like' any of these books. And I really, really, really don't like Song of Songs. The thought of having to read it multiple times in a year doesn't thrill me. So I don't want to go too quickly through these books--or else I'll be reading these books too much.

This week, I completed:

Joshua in KJV
Matthew in KJV
Romans in KJV
1 Thessalonians in KJV
2 Thessalonians in KJV
1 Timothy in KJV
2 Timothy in KJV
Titus in KJV
Philemon in KJV
James in KJV

This week, I read

Genesis 1-25
1 Corinthians 1-8
Job 1-21
Psalms 1-35
Proverbs 1-7
Isaiah 1-35
Acts 1-7

Key Verses this week:

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16)

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:9-10)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:8-12)

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:1-10)

Songs on my mind this week:

Nothin' by Chris Rice

And this little medley by Carman

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

2012-01-03T20:20:00.001-06:00

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. Julie Klassen. 2012. Bethany House. 416 pages.

London
August 1815
He is reading my letters now too...
Margaret Elinor Macy sat at her dressing table, heart pounding. Her face in the looking glass shone pale beneath curly dark hair, her light blue eyes anxious. She glanced from her reflection to the letter in her hand. The seal had been pried open and unsuccessfully re-pressed. Her mother's new husband had obviously begun checking her post--perhaps fearful the next invitation she received would not be to a ball but rather to take refuge in another house, out of reach and out from under his power.

Did I love it? Yes. I'm not sure I would say that I loved, loved, loved it. But I definitely loved it. It was a good, clean historical romance set during one of my favorite, favorite time periods--the regency. The heroine, Margaret Macy, is determined to escape her new stepfather's influence. He wants her to marry his nephew. They're both after her inheritance which she'll receive on her next birthday. The nephew is determined to do whatever it takes to get her to marry him. So she flees her home--with her maid, Joan. (Joan was fired for 'stealing.' She was innocent.) Determined to find a hiding place, a place she can be safe from harassment until her birthday, she becomes a maid. She just happens to become a maid at the home of one of her former suitors. She didn't marry Nathaniel Upchurch--the former suitor--because she was more attracted to his older brother, Lewis. (Lewis did flirt with her, but then again, he'll flirt with just about any girl once or twice. It never means what the woman thinks it means.) She is wearing a disguise, and she does barely have contact with the family. But. Still she's curious. Will either brother recognize her now? Now that she's emptying chamber pots and such?! And if they do recognize her, will they help her?

I enjoyed this one. I did. I really thought it was great fun. A good, light romance with interesting characters. (There's even a poet pirate.)

Read The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

If you're a fan of Julie Klassen. If you enjoyed--or loved--any of her previous novels--Lady of Milkweed Manor, The Apothecary's Daughter, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse--then chances are good The Maid of Fairbourne Hall will NOT disappoint.
If you're a fan of Regency romances (like Georgette Heyer, etc.)
If you're a fan of clean historical romances
If you're a fan of inspirational and/or Christian romances (of the historical variety)
If you enjoy romances where the heroine wears a disguise

2012's New Testament In A Week

2012-01-01T12:00:00.000-06:00

In April, I'll be hosting a special event. I'm asking you to join me in reading the New Testament the week before Easter. I'm asking you to set aside time during the week of April 1-8 to read the New Testament.

Does it have to be the whole New Testament?

My goal is to read the entire New Testament this week. But that does NOT have to be your goal. You can set your own goals. Your goal might be to read one gospel and a letter or two. Read 27 books, read 3 books. Just read something.

You may read from any translation of the Bible.
You may switch translations throughout the week, if you want.
You may use a text-only Bible, or a study Bible.
You may use an audio bible, an e-Bible, or an online Bible.
You may read the books in ANY order.
If you would like to follow an exact plan, you may. Here is one I found to do the New Testament in a week.
You may reread certain books if you would like to take some time to meditate on what you're reading.
If you finish reading the New Testament early, consider reading Psalm 119, Psalm 22, Psalms 113-118, Exodus 12, Isaiah 40-66.
No blog is required, but you may blog your progress if you like.

I wanted to announce this early so you'd have time to think about it, to plan for it. If you are interested leave a comment. You can sign up now if you like. But you don't have to commit just yet.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Genesis 1:1

2012-01-01T07:49:00.000-06:00

Genesis 1:1 is such a familiar passage, one that often gets translated the same way in many, many translations.

Here are the translations that change it up a bit:

The Amplified Bible: In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.
Common English Bible: When God began to create the heavens and the earth--
Young's Literal Translation: In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth--
The Basic Bible 1949 Samuel Hooke: At the first God made the heaven and the earth.
The Message: First this: God created the Heavens and the Earth--all you see, all you don't see.
New English Bible: In the beginning of creation, when God made heaven and earth,
Revised English Bible: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Expanded Bible: In the beginning [or In the beginning when] God created [this Hebrew verb is used only when God is the one creating] the sky [heavens] and the earth.
Living: When God began creating the heavens and the earth,
NRSV: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,
New Century: In the beginning God created the sky and the earth.
God's Word: In the beginning God created heaven and earth.
Good News Translation: In the beginning, when God created the universe,

Here are the translations that don't.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

(NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB, KJV, ASV, Darby, ERV, Webster's Bible Translation, World English Bible, CEV, HCSB, NKJV, Complete Jewish Bible, RSV, TNIV)

Do you have a favorite or least favorite?

If you want to see what the Hebrews words used in this verse are, you can always look it up at mystudybible.com.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2012 Mini-Challenge: Read ONE 'Armchair Theologian' book

2011-12-31T11:52:00.001-06:00

Read ONE book from the Armchair Theologian Series!

Westminster John Knox Press has published a series of books for 'Armchair Theologians.' Here they are in alphabetical order:

Aquinas for Armchair Theologians by Timothy M. Renick
Augustine for Armchair Theologians by Stephen A. Cooper
Barth for Armchair Theologians by John R. Franke
Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians by Stephen Haynes
Calvin for Armchair Theologians by Christopher Elwood
Heretics for Armchair Theologians by Justo L. Gonzalez and Catherine Gunsalus Gonzalez
Jonathan Edwards for Armchair Theologians by James P. Byrd
Luther for Armchair Theologians by Steven Paulson
Martin Luther King Jr. for Armchair Theologians by Rufus Burrow Jr.
Reformation for Armchair Theologians by Glenn Sunshine
Wesley for Armchair Theologians by William J. Abraham

The goal of this mini-challenge--which lasts all year long, to give you plenty of time to join in--is to read just ONE of these books. I'm not asking you to read them all. (I certainly don't plan on reading them all.)

Christianbook.com has many of these in paperback and on audiobook. Quite a handful--at least for the moment--are available for just $3.69!

Martin Luther King, Jr -- $3.69
Jonathan Edwards -- $3.69
Heretics for Armchair Theologians -- $3.69
Barth for Armchair Theologians -- $3.69
Reformation for Armchair Theologians -- $3.69
Augustine for Armchair Theologians -- $3.69
Aquinas for Amrchair Theologians -- $3.69

To sign up for this mini-challenge, just leave a comment saying you want to join!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2011 Bible-Reading Reflections

2011-12-31T10:18:00.015-06:00

In 2011:

I read the Old Testament five times!
The translations I read completely--both OT and NT--were: NASB, HCSB, KJV.
I read the New Testament ten times!
I completed the NT in these translations: NASB, HCSB, KJV, KJ21, ESV, REB, NEB, ASV.
The gospel I read most was John--14!
The NT epistle(s) I read most were: Philippians (18), Ephesians (17), Galatians and Colossians (16), Romans, 1 and 2 Peter (15).
The OT books I read most were: Ruth (9), Genesis, Isaiah, Jonah (8).
April 2011 was my best month for Bible reading, apparently, with 92 books read!
May (86), March (80), November (73), and July (65) were also good months.
The translations I read most were: KJV (24%) NASB (15%) HCSB (15%) ESV (13%) REB (10%) ASV (9%), KJ21 (7%), NEB (7%).

2012 Challenges: Mount TBR Reading Challenge

2011-12-31T07:21:00.024-06:00

I am joining My Reader's Block Mount TBR Reading Challenge. I am going to start by joining at the level of Pike's Peak, which is twelve books. My true goal is 24 books--two books a month. But since the next level is 25 books, and since I don't always, always, always read according to plan, I'm going to go with Pike's Peak. I hope I can manage at least twelve books from the TBR pile next year!!!

So. I'll fill in the books I read on this post...

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

But. I thought I would share my ideas/intentions that I have now, in December 2011. I am going to try to stick with these authors and meet these goals. Because these authors have had multiple books (many, many, many, many books) in my TBR pile for years. And while I could never hope to pick specific books for this challenge--well, at least not and stick with them--I hope I can stick with these authors. But any twelve Christian nonfiction books from my shelves will count.

Two books written by Michael Horton

1.
2.

Two books written by John MacArthur

1.
2.

Two books written by John Piper

1.
2.

Two books written by R.C. Sproul

1.
2.

One book written by Charles Spurgeon

1.

One book written by Erwin Lutzer

1.

One book written by Jonathan Edwards

1.

One book written by J.I. Packer

1.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Signing Up for my own Operation Deepen Faith challenge

2011-12-28T14:32:00.002-06:00

Last year was my first year hosting Operation Deepen Faith. I never created a post with my own goals for the challenge, and so I didn't "accomplish" any goals. This year, I am going to do better! I am going to create a list of goals to meet my own challenge! If you want to join the challenge, comment on the sign-up post.

I. Deep and Wide; Read multiple books of the Bible in multiple translations

I have chosen to read five books (Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 John) in six translations each.

Romans

1. King James Version (January 2012)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Ephesians

1. King James Version (January 2012)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Philippians

1. King James Version (January 2012)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Colossians

1. King James Version (January 2012)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

1 John

1. King James Version (January 2012)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

II. Going Deep: Study one book of the Bible throughout the year.

I have chosen the gospel of John. My goal is to read the gospel of John in three study Bibles.

1.
2.
3.

In addition, my goal is to read it in at least ten more translations:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

III. Meditate or Memorize. This goal or commitment will be trickier. But ideally, I would choose at least one to two verses or one to two passages to share on the blog each month. For example, like how I did John 3:16, John 1:14, Philippians 1:9-11, Philippians 4, or like how I did some of my 'Taste and See' posts.) That's ideally. Realistically speaking, twelve for the whole year might be a good, fair goal.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

IV. Christian Nonfiction. My goal is to read 18 books.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

It's NOT as much pressure as saying I have to read two books per month. And there's no reason they'd ever have to be spread out evenly through the whole year.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Reading God's Story (A Partial Review, A Whole-Hearted Recommendation!)

2011-12-28T13:49:00.003-06:00

Reading God's Story: A Chronological Daily Bible. (Holman Christian Standard Bible). Ed. George H. Guthrie. 2011. Holman Bible Publishers. 1440 pages.

I bought Reading God's Story the day it released this November. I'd been anticipating its release since the summer. And I mean anticipating. (Buying a new Bible makes me giddy.) I started using it immediately. If I'd been a more patient person, perhaps, I might have seen the logic in waiting until January 1. Since this is a daily Bible. (Though NOT DATED). The readings are divided into weeks and days. 52 weeks for the entire Bible, six readings per week. But I just couldn't wait.

I love many, many, many things about Reading God's Story. But I'll try to pick a few to highlight for you.

It is divided into acts and scenes. Each act and scene are introduced. These serve as a way of understanding, comprehending the big picture.

Act 1, Scene 1: Creation: The God of All of Life
Act 1, Scene 2: The Fall: Rejecting God's Vision for Life
Act 1, Scene 3: The Flood: God Judges and Makes a Covenant to Preserve Life
Act 2, Scene 1: The People: God Calls a Covenant People
Act 2, Scene 2: Deliverance: God Rescues His People
Act 2, Scene 3: The Sinai Covenant and Law: God Embraces and Instructs His People
Act 2, Scene 4: The Land: God's Place for His People
Act 2, Scene 5: Kings and Prophets: God Shapes a Kingdom People
Act 2, Scene 6: Kings and Prophets: God Divides the Kingdom People
Act 2, Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The Southern Kingdom as God's People
Act 2, Scene 8: Exile: God Disciplines His People
Act 2, Scene 9: Return: God Delivers His People Again
Act 3, Scene 1: Christ's Coming: God's True King Arrives
Act 3, Scene 2: Christ's Ministry: God's True King Manifests His Kingdom
Act 3, Scene 3: Christ's Deliverance of His People: God's Work Through the Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement of the King
Act 3, Scene 4: Christ's Church: God's People Advance the Kingdom
Act 3, Scene 5: Christ's Second Coming and Reign: God's Future for the Kingdom

The readings are chronological. That may not seem all that helpful when you're in the books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), but once you really get started, it's very helpful having 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings--not to mention ALL those prophets--integrated with 1 and 2 Chronicles. You'll be able to read the prophets at the the historical place they were prophesying to Judah (or Israel, etc). And all of the stories about the kings will be together. The New Testament is also arranged differently. (If you've never looked at a chronological Bible you might just be surprised at how different it is.)

Each day's readings are clearly marked. But they're not dated. You can read at your own comfortable-to-you pace. If you do follow the Bible's reading plan, you'll finish in a year. But it doesn't have to be that strict. I don't know about you, but dated reading plans can intimidate me. Reading "January 25" in February or March, etc., it's hard to not feel guilty or disappointed.

2011 is the first year I read the Holman Christian Standard Bible. And I am a little surprised at just how much I do like it. But it's a good translation, and I'm happy to have it in this chronological Bible. Before buying this Bible--weeks before, actually--I read the New Testament in this translation. I then made it a goal to read the Old Testament in Reading God's Story. I plan to read the New Testament in Reading God's Story at some point next year. (Maybe even for my Read-the-New-Testament-in-a-Week event the first week of April!)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Goals for January 2012

2011-12-26T11:35:00.005-06:00

Last year, I set goals for the whole year. And. That didn't quite work for me. What I thought I wanted last December, I didn't really want once the year began. So I thought this year, I would just have flexible goals. Goals that I'd decide each month.

This January I will...

Try Professor Horner's Bible Reading System (the link opens a pdf file). He is emphatic that you pick a Bible and stick with it. Not just a translation, but a specific Bible. So that you get to know the book, really know the book. And that would be a challenge for me if I wasn't just 'trying' it for one month. If the system is working for me, then I may stick with it. If it's not, then I'll try something else. I may change translations after the first month. What translation did I choose? The translation I read most in 2011. The translation that I hadn't ever read before 2011. The King James Version. I won't go into details on the whole reading plan. But essentially he has you reading TEN chapters per day from TEN sections of the Bible. Psalms is by itself. Proverbs is by itself. Acts is by itself. But other sections are grouped. Like the four gospels. Like the books of Moses. Like the history books. Like the prophets. Like the NT epistles. There are ten 'lists' in all. And one chapter from each of the ten lists is read each day. (Though if you miss a day or get behind, nothing horrible happens to you.)

Update #1
Update #2

Try to read--yes, try--the New Testament in the Tyndale translation. I may not get the chance to read all of it. And if I don't, I don't.

The Gospel of St. Matthew
The Gospel of St. Mark
The Gospel of St. Luke
The Gospel of Saint John
The Acts of the Apostles
The Epistle of the Apostle St. Paul to the Romans
The First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
The Second Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
The Epistle of St. Paul unto the Galatians
The Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians
The Epistle of St. Paul unto the Philippians
The Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians
The First Epistle of St. Paul unto the Thessalonians
The Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians
The First Epistle of St. Paul unto Timothy
The Second Epistle of St. Paul unto Timothy
The Epistle of St. Paul unto Titus
The Epistle of St. Paul unto Philemon
The First Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle
The Second Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle
The First Epistle of St. John the Apostle
The Second Epistle of St. John
The Third Epistle of St. John
The Epistle of St. Paul unto the Hebrews
The Epistle of St. James
The Epistle of St. Jude
The Revelation of St. John the Divine

Read Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God An English Voice by David Teems. (I received a review copy of this from Thomas Nelson, and I'd like to read it soon.)

Read Not A Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman. This one (published by Zondervan) was a Christmas present. I am very excited to start reading it!!! [My review of Not A Fan, posted January 15, 2012]

Read The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen. I have received a review copy of this for the CFBA Blog tour. [My review]

Read His Steadfast Love by Golden Parsons. Another CFBA Blog Tour book. [My review]

Read A Suitor for Jenny by Margaret Brownley. (This one I bought myself.)

Read Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer. (This one I bought myself.)

Read Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church by Michael Horton. (Another Christmas present. I've been wanting this one for a few years now!!!)

Try to LISTEN to two sermon podcasts.

1) God's Will is Not Secret by John MacArthur
2) Looking for God's Will by R. C. Sproul [aired on Oneplace, January 16, 2012]
3) A Call to Commitment by Alistair Begg (part of Shaped by Grace series) [aired on Oneplace, January 2, 2012]

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Excerpts from 1 John

2011-12-25T11:11:00.001-06:00

1 John 3:1-3

From the King James:

¹Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
³And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 4:7-21

From the King James:

⁷Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
⁹In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
¹²No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
¹³Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
¹⁵Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
¹⁹We love him, because he first loved us.
²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
²¹And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 5:12

From the King James:

¹²He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

The Sunday Salon: Week In Review: December 18-24

2011-12-25T08:19:00.001-06:00

This week I read

1 Corinthians in the CEB
2 Corinthians in the CEB
Galatians in the CEB
Ephesians in the CEB

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: English Standard Version 2001

2011-12-24T10:57:00.002-06:00

Romans 5:6-21

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousnessleads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Two Fresh Life Bible Study Books

2011-12-24T10:01:00.000-06:00

Live Reflectively: Lessons from the Watershed Moments of Moses. Lenya Heitzig. 2011. David C. Cook. 285 pages.

Live Abundantly: A Study in the Book of Ephesians. Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose. 2011. David C. Cook. 302 pages.

I was recently given the opportunity to review two Bible studies published by David C. Cook. Live Reflectively: Lessons from the Watershed Moments of Moses by Lenya Heitzig and Live Abundantly A Study in the Book of Ephesians by Lenya Heitzig & Penny Rose. Other titles in the series include: Live Relationally: Lessons from the Women of Genesis by Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose, Live Intimately: Lessons from the Upper Room by Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose, Live Deeply: A Study in the Parables of Jesus by Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose, Live Fearlessly: A Study in the Book of Joshua by Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose, Live Tastefully: Savoring Encounters with Jesus by Lenya Heitzig, Live Beautifully: A Study in the Books of Ruth and Esther by Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose. (Live Tastefully and Live Beautifully are spring 2012 releases.) These series of Bible studies could be used for personal study at home OR for group study.

Live Abundantly: A Study in the Book of Ephesians:

There are twelve lessons.
Each lesson is divided into five days of personal study.
Each lesson is designed to take twenty minutes...

Lesson one, for example, is "Are You In the Will?"
In week one--lesson one--participants would study the first fourteen verses of Ephesians 1.

Day 1: Ephesians 1:1 (The Messenger)
Day 2: Ephesians 1:1-2 (The Beneficiaries)
Day 3: Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Benefactor)
Day 4: Ephesians 1:7-12 (The Redeemer)
Day 5: Ephesians 1:13-14 (The Guarantor)

Each day's study consists of five elements:

Lift Up
Look At
Learn About
Live Out
Listen To

Live Reflectively Lessons From the Watershed Moments of Moses

There are ten lessons.
Each lesson is divided into five days of personal study.
Each lesson is designed to take twenty-minutes a day.
Each day's study consists of five elements: lift up, look at, learn about, live out, listen to.

Celebrating the Story: Matthew 2:1-12

2011-12-23T10:52:00.001-06:00

Matthew 2:1-12

From the King James

¹Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
²Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
³When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
⁴And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
⁵And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
⁶And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
⁷Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
⁹When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
¹¹And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
¹²And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Luke 2:1-20

2011-12-22T10:50:00.000-06:00

Luke 2:1-20

From the King James:

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Fall Into Reading 2011 Completed

2011-12-22T09:46:00.000-06:00

I wanted to read six books for this challenge. I listed a few books in my original post:

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
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

This is what I was able to actually read:

Lit: A Christian Guide to Reading Books. Tony Reinke.
Ten Lies About God And How You Might Already Be Deceived. Erwin Lutzer.
Hope Underground. Carolos Parra Diaz.
Love on the Line. Deeanne Gist.
Wonderland Creek. Lynn Austin.
Who Stole My Church? Gordon MacDonald.
Do I Know God? Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship. Tullian Tchividjian.
A Necessary Deception. Laurie Alice Eakes.
Going Deep. Gordon MacDonald.
Jesus + Nothing = Everything. Tullian Tchividjian.
My First Read and Learn Countdown to Christmas. Dr. Mary Manz Simon.
The Mercy. Beverly Lewis.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Merchant's Daughter

2011-12-21T14:10:00.000-06:00

The Merchant's Daughter. Melanie Dickerson. 2011. Zondervan. 285 pages.

Annabel sat in the kitchen shelling peas into a kettle at her feet.

I loved this one. I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. It was just a perfect, perfect fit for me. It's a Christian fairy tale retelling!!! Of my most FAVORITE fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. It's set in England in the 1350s. And it was such a sweet, delightful read. I really don't know how it could have been any better!!!

Annabel's family owes a debt--a large debt--to the lord of the village. While her brothers hope to marry Annabel off to Bailiff Tom (boo, hiss), Annabel dreams of becoming a nun and reading Scripture for herself. (Yes, she knows Latin. Yes, she can read.) Her brothers hope is that Annabel's husband would pay off the family's debt and enable them to keep their home. But Annabel knows there is another way to pay that debt, to enter the lord's service as an indentured servant, to serve her three years without grumbling or complaining. If Annabel was of the complaining sort, she would have much to say. For her two older brothers are the ones refusing to work. They are unwilling to do anything at all--except arrange unwanted marriages--to help the family.

The newly-arrived lord (Lord le Wyse) is an intimidating figure to be sure. He has many, many scars on his face. And his hand is disfigured. He's rumored to be quite beastly--in his temper. But after a few days in his service, Annabel sees him with different eyes. She sees someone brave and honorable and heroic. She sees that he is far from cursed, far from a monster.

Readers get this story from Annabel's point of view and Ranulf's point of view. And it was so great to get this story from 'the beast's' perspective!!! It made a good story, great.

There are many, many, many things that brings these two together. But one of the main things, perhaps, is his desire to be read to. He is thrilled to learn that one of his servants can read Latin for he has a Bible and a great desire to learn from it.

Read The Merchant's Daughter

If you're a fan of Beauty and the Beast
If you're a fan of fairy tale retellings
If you're a fan of historical fiction
If you're a fan of historical romances
If you're looking for good, clean YA reads

Celebrating the Story: Luke 1:57-80

2011-12-21T10:43:00.004-06:00

Luke 1:57-80

From the King James:

⁵⁷Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
⁵⁸And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
⁵⁹And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
⁶⁰And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
⁶¹And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
⁶²And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
⁶³And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
⁶⁴And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
⁶⁵And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
⁶⁶And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
⁶⁷And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
⁶⁸Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
⁶⁹And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
⁷⁰As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
⁷¹That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
⁷²To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
⁷³The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
⁷⁴That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
⁷⁵In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
⁷⁶And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
⁷⁷To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
⁷⁸Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
⁷⁹To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
⁸⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: God With Us

2011-12-20T15:39:00.001-06:00

God With Us: Divine Condescension And the Attributes of God. K. Scott Oliphint. 2011. Crossway. 303 pages.

To clarify, this isn't a proper review of God With Us. I cannot judge--cannot judge fairly or well--the theology of a book that I can't begin to comprehend. The theology of this book could be perfectly, completely sound. That is it could contain biblically sound doctrine; it could contain truth-treasures within its pages. So I hesitate to say that this is a 'bad book' especially since if you label a Christian book a 'bad book' most people would assume, perhaps naturally assume, that you're critiquing the doctrine of a book, the theological merits of a book. Making a statement that this book goes against the Word of God. That isn't the case here. That is not my argument or position.

Honestly, I wish the author had condescended more in his writing. For it is my opinion that this book is too challenging to be a practical recommendation. There are different ways a book can be challenging. The subject could just be WAY, WAY, WAY over someone's understanding or comprehending. In that it doesn't matter HOW it's presented. Or it could be written in such a way--presented in such a way-- that it's difficult to understand, difficult to follow. In the case of GOD WITH US, I felt it was MADE too difficult. That the author further complicated the subject matter. That instead of making it easier to understand, instead of reaching out to you and me--the average Christian without professional theological training--he chose to talk to a select few.

God With Us is an intimidating book. For starters, it uses Latin a little too casually. It sprinkles in foreign words--I'm assuming Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Though I only am certain on the Hebrew and Latin--a little too often. In that if you don't understand these words, these ideas or concepts, you've lost the flow of the argument all together. It's not a simple matter of, well, I don't understand that sentence OR that paragraph, but I'll start on the next one and see if I can pick up what it all means by context. It isn't a matter of guessing what a word means and continuing on with the book. For it requires too much pretending, too much guessing, to work. For there are just too many unknown words in each sentence, each paragraph, each page. (For example, for every ten pages of text, I might clearly grasp eight or nine sentences.)

The book is about the attributes of God. This wasn't my first attempt to read on the subject. In fact, this is one of my favorite areas to read about--the character of God, the attributes of God, the names of God, etc. I've read books by J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, and John MacArthur--to name a few--on the subject of God. And I've benefited by this study. I do believe the proper study for mankind is God--not man. But I think this book, God With Us, is overly complicated.

I think one reason it is overly complicated is because it is trying to do too much. It isn't trying to be a book. It is too clever to be just a book. It wants to be a text book, I think. On every single page--at least it felt like it was each and every page--Oliphint drops names, uses quotes, introduces new ideas, and makes arguments. Sometimes he's quoting people he disagrees with, sometimes he's quoting people he agrees with. Sometimes he becomes so focuses in presenting different viewpoints--perhaps to stress that his is the correct viewpoint?--that it becomes almost impossible to see what really matters. When a reader can't easily see which points are the main ideas. When the book becomes a maze of philosophical and theological ideas sprinkled with sentences that are comprehensible, it becomes a mess.

The introduction has seventy-nine footnotes.
Chapter one has eighty-four footnotes.
Chapter two has 103 footnotes.
Chapter three has eighty-five footnotes.
Chapter four has a mere seventy-six footnotes.
Chapter five has 121 footnotes.

Maybe if you're in the field and are familiar with even a fourth of the names he's mentioning, familiar with who they are, their theological position, their associations, etc., then perhaps the argument might make sense to you. Especially if you've had classes on logic and rhetoric. Or even debate.

I can easily say that I found it easier to read Stephen Charnock's The Existence and Attributes of God, a book first published in 1682. I expected a language barrier--of sorts--when I read it. But with work and patience and pen (for taking notes) I was able to benefit from reading it.

I was disappointed with God With Us. I wanted an intelligent book, true, but intelligent and comprehensible. I wanted a straightforward book that presented basic, essential truths about God, about Jesus. I wanted to find a challenging book that would help me think more, appreciate more. I wanted a book with substance, I appreciate books with substance. I wanted a book to help me celebrate Christ, to rejoice in Him and His works. I wanted a book as rich and deep as some of the other books Crossway has published in the past.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Luke 1:39-56

2011-12-20T10:40:00.000-06:00

Luke 1:39-56

From the King James Version:

³⁹And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
⁴⁰And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
⁴¹And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
⁴²And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
⁴³And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
⁴⁴For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
⁴⁵And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
⁴⁶And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
⁴⁸For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
⁴⁹For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
⁵¹He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
⁵²He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
⁵³He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
⁵⁴He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
⁵⁵As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Luke 1:26-38

2011-12-19T10:37:00.001-06:00

Luke 1:26-38

From the King James Version:

²⁶And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
²⁷To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
²⁸And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
²⁹And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
³⁰And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
³³And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
³⁴Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
³⁵And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
³⁶And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
³⁷For with God nothing shall be impossible.
³⁸And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Luke 1:5-25

2011-12-18T10:34:00.001-06:00

Luke 1:5-25

From the King James Version:

⁵THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
⁷And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
⁸And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
⁹According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
¹¹And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
¹²And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
¹³But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
¹⁴And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
¹⁵For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
¹⁶And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
¹⁷And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
¹⁸And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
¹⁹And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
²⁰And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
²¹And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
²²And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
²³And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
²⁴And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
²⁵Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week In Review December 11-17

2011-12-18T08:37:00.001-06:00

This week I read...

Psalms in the HCSB
Nehemiah in the HCSB
Luke in the CEB
Romans in the CEB

Reminder: You can now sign up for 2012's Operation Deepen Faith.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: John 3:16

2011-12-17T10:04:00.003-06:00

John 3:16

Common English Bible: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.

Revised English Bible: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith in him may not perish but have eternal life.

Revised Standard Version: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Living Bible: For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

New American Standard Bible: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

King James: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

New Living Translation: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

English Standard Version: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

New International Version: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

New King James: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The Message: This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

God's Word: God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.

American Standard Version: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Weymouth: For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.

Good News Translation: For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

Amplified Bible: For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Holman Christian Standard Bible: "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Contemporary English Version: God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

Celebrating the Story: God's Word 1995

2011-12-16T10:00:00.001-06:00

Isaiah 9:6-7

A child will be born for us.
   A son will be given to us.
      The government will rest on his shoulders.
      He will be named:
         Wonderful Counselor,
         Mighty God,
         Everlasting Father,
         Prince of Peace.
His government and peace will have unlimited growth.
      He will establish David’s throne and kingdom.
      He will uphold it with justice and righteousness now and forever.
   The Lord of Armies is determined to do this!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sign up for 2012 Operation Deepen Faith

2011-12-15T15:30:00.000-06:00

This challenge has multiple parts. (You wouldn't have to sign up for each part. But. Ideally participants would be interested in doing more than just one.)

I. Deep and Wide; Goal: read multiple books of the bible in multiple translations.

For example that might mean reading four to six books of the Bible (OT or NT, whatever you prefer) in four to six different translations. The books wouldn't have to be long books. You might choose Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, etc. Or you might choose John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Revelation. Or Luke, Acts, Romans, Hebrews. You can choose a group of books that makes sense to you. Books that you want to explore further. You choose the books, you choose the translations. You choose the pace.

II. Going Deep; Goal: STUDY one book of the Bible throughout the year. Read it in at least four translations. Read the notes in a study Bible. Read a commentary book about it. Read or listen to sermons on it. Read it as often as possible--whether that is once a week or once a month or even once a day. Get to know that one book well. Let God speak to you through it. You might even choose to take notes or journal as you read. Whatever you want to do.

For example, Annette studied Romans last year. She read Romans 10 Times in 10 Different Translations. You wouldn't have to commit to ten times. You do choose the number of times, and the number of translations.

III. Meditate or Memorize. Note the OR! Not everyone is comfortable committing to memorize Scripture. (I'm one of them!) Goal: Choose about a verse a week--or a verse every other week--to reflect and meditate on. It might mean memorizing it. It might mean writing or journaling about it. (Or blogging about it if you like.) It might mean praying it. Or studying it. It's taking the reading of Scripture into something a little more--worship. These verses would not be chosen ahead of time. I'm not asking for a list. This is all about choosing-as-you-go, choosing as you read, let Scripture speak to you.

IV. Christian Nonfiction. Don't be afraid to give it a try. Read some theology. You choose the number of books to aim for. A beginner might not feel comfortable committing to more than two books. And that's fine. I want to challenge you to start somewhere. This challenge is for everyone. Not just for people who want to commit to reading twenty! It isn't about reading the most. It isn't about reading fast.

books about God (his attributes, his character, his names, etc.)
books about the birth, life, death, resurrection of Jesus
books about the Bible
books about Bible characters (Moses, David, Solomon, Abraham, Jesus, Peter, etc.)
books about prayer, fasting
books about worship or worship music
books about church life or church growth or church leadership
books about missions
sermon collections (sermon note collections), essay collections
biographies/memoirs of theologians, preachers, missionaries, etc.
books about pain, suffering, tough questions, etc.
books about apologetics
books about evangelism
books about end times

Sign up by leaving a comment. Be sure to let me know which of the four you're interested in joining. You don't have to commit to specifics. (You don't have to tell me which one book you're going to study. Or how many books/how many translations you're going to read. Or the number of theology books you're wanting to commit to.) Though if you have decided, then feel free to share! But you don't have to have it all exactly planned out in order to join!

You should also know that I am planning to host a special event in April 2012. I'll be hosting the 'read-the-new-testament-in-a-week' challenge or event. April 1 through April 8th. (Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday.) If you are interested in participating, let me know. And I'll try to keep you updated with details if you leave a blog address or email address. Of course, I'll be sharing those details on my blog as well.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Today's New International Version (2005)

2011-12-15T09:56:00.001-06:00

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
   there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
   and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
   with justice and righteousness
   from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
   will accomplish this.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: John 1:14

2011-12-14T09:07:00.067-06:00

John 1:14

Common English Bible: The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

New American Standard Bible: And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

English Standard Version: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Wycliffe Bible: And the word was made man, and dwelled among us, and we have seen the glory of him, as the glory of the one begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and of truth.

Tyndale: And that word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw the glory of it, as the glory of the only begotten son of the father, which word was full of grace, and verity.

New English Bible: So the Word became flesh; he came to dwell among us, and we saw his glory, such glory as befits the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.

King James Version: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

New Living Translation: So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

Living Bible: And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and truth. And some of us have seen his glory--the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father!

Revised Standard Version: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

Holman Christian Standard Bible: The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

NIV (2011): The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Revised English Bible: So the Word became flesh; he made his home among us, and we saw his glory, such glory as befits the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.

New King James Version: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Good News Translation: The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.

God's Word: The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindnessand truth.

J.B. Phillips: So the word of God became a human being and lived among us. We saw his splendour (the splendour as of a father’s only son), full of grace and truth.

Contemporary English Version: The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us.

The Message: The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

New Century Version: The Word became a human and lived among us. We saw his glory--the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father--and he was full of grace and truth.

Weymouth: And the Word came in the flesh, and lived for a time in our midst, so that we saw His glory--the glory as of the Father's only Son, sent from His presence. He was full of grace and truth.

Young's Literal Translation: And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth.

International Standard Version: The Word became flesh and lived among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Father's unique Son, who is full of grace and truth.

William Godbey: The Word was made flesh, and tented among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten with the Father), full of grace and truth.

Emphasised Bible Rotherham Version: And, the Word, became, flesh, and pitched his tent among us, and we gazed upon his glory,––a glory, as an Only–begotten from his Father. Full of favour and truth.

Goodspeed: So the Word became flesh and blood and lived for a while among us, abounding in blessing and truth, and we saw the honor God had given him, such honor as an only son receives from his father.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: New English Bible, 1961

2011-12-13T08:58:00.003-06:00

Matthew 1:18-25

This is the story of the birth of the Messiah. Mary his mother was betrothed to Joseph; before their marriage she found that she was with child by the Holy Spirit. Being a man of principle, and at the same time wanting to save her from exposure, Joseph desired to have the marriage contract set aside quietly. He had resolved on this, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. 'Joseph son of David,' said the angel, 'do not be afraid to take Mary home with you as your wife. It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child. She will bear a son; and you shall give him the name Jesus (Savior), for he will save his people from their sins.' All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord declared through the prophet: 'The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel,' a name which means 'God is with us'. Rising from sleep Joseph did as the angel had directed him; he took Mary home to be his wife, but had no intercourse with her until her son was born. And he named the child Jesus.

New English Bible, online here.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Weymouth, 1903

2011-12-12T08:40:00.001-06:00

Matthew 1:18-25

The circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. But Joseph her husband, being a kind-hearted man and unwilling publicly to disgrace her, had determined to release her privately from the betrothal. But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name JESUS for He it is who will save His People from their sins." All this took place in fulfillment of what the Lord had spoken through the Prophet, "Mark! The maiden will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call His name Immanuel" --a word which signifies 'God with us.' When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and brought home his wife, but did not live with her until she had given birth to a son. The child's name he called JESUS.

Weymouth online here.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: New King James Version (1982)

2011-12-11T08:35:00.000-06:00

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

The Sunday Salon: Week In Review: December 4-10

2011-12-11T08:27:00.000-06:00

This week I read

Jeremiah in the HCSB*
2 Kings in HCSB*
2 Chronicles in HCSB*
Obadiah in HCSB
Lamentations in HCSB
Ezekiel in HCSB
John in Common English Bible
Daniel in HCSB
Haggai in HCSB
Zechariah in HCSB
Esther in HCSB
Ezra in HCSB
Malachi in HCSB
1 Peter in CEB
2 Peter in CEB
Hebrews in CEB
1 John in CEB
2 John in CEB
3 John in CEB
Jude in CEB
Revelation in CEB
James in CEB
Titus in CEB
Philemon in CEB

*Books I finished this week, but the majority of the these books were read in previous weeks...

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: NIV (2011)

2011-12-10T08:29:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:15-20

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Holman Christian Standard Bible, 2003

2011-12-09T08:20:00.001-06:00

Colossians 1:15-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation; because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
For God was pleased [to have] all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross--whether things on earth or things in heaven.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Tyndale 1526

2011-12-08T14:38:00.000-06:00

Luke 2:1-20

It followed in those days: that there went out a commandment from August the Emperor, that all the world should be valued. This taxing was first executed when Syrenus was leftenant in Syria. And every man went into his own shire town, there to be taxed. And Ioseph also ascended from Galilee, out of a city called Nazareth, into jewry: into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary his wedded wife, which was with child.
And it fortuned while they were there, her time was come that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first begotten son. And wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them within, in the hostry.
And there were in the same region shepherds abiding in the field, and watching their flock by night. And lo: the angel of the Lord stood hard by them, and the brightness of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them: Be not afraid: Behold I bring you tidings of great joy, that shall come to all the people: for unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And take this for a sign: ye shall find the child swaddled, and laid in a manger. And straight way there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly soldiers, lauding God, and saying: Glory to God on high, and peace on the earth: and unto men rejoicing.
And it fortuned, as soon as the angels were gone away into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: let us go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is happened, which the Lord hath shewed unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Ioseph, and the babe laid in a manger. And when they had seen it, they published abroad the saying, which was told them of that child. And all that heard it wondered, at those things which were told them of the shepherds. But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, praising and lauding God for all that they had heard and seen, even as it was told unto them.

Tyndale's New Testament online.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Mercy

2011-12-07T15:48:00.000-06:00

The Mercy. Beverly Lewis. 2011. Bethany House. 310 pages.

A solemn pallor covers the landscape of our lives since Bishop Aaron Petersheim was removed from his ministerial duties.

The Mercy concludes Beverly Lewis' The Rose Trilogy. The first two novels are The Thorn and The Judgment.

The good news? Well, I liked the two sisters Rose and Hen (Hannah). I liked the dual narration. I thought both stories--or perspectives--offered readers something.

The not-as-good news? Well, the story didn't hold my attention through all three novels. I'd have preferred one really great novel instead of three slow-moving ones. Lewis was giving her characters time to grow, time to change, time to adapt. Both Rose and Hannah are being challenged--though Hannah's challenge is perhaps more obvious.

Hannah's marriage is in trouble AND she's having an identity crisis. Hannah is worried about her little girl. And she's torn between her faith and her traditions and the modern world. On the one hand, she did marry an outsider. She wanted to escape for some reason, there was something appealing to her from the modern, contemporary world or culture. But on the other hand, she has a hard time fully letting go of her past. And what she wants is to feel safe and secure and comfortable. So she does long to return to the simplicity of her former life, the familiarity of it. As for her marriage, she has difficulty communicating with her husband. You might interpret that to he doesn't listen or he doesn't care or whatever. But I think she has a hard time listening to him too.

Rose. Well, I said her 'issue' was less obvious perhaps. Rose's "problem" is that she's single. Rose's problem is that she's expected to not be single. She's reached the age where almost everyone has found an attachment, someone to court, someone to marry, someone to start a family with. And Rose, well, Rose hasn't found that someone just yet. There have been a few guys--from the community, from the Amish faith, that have shown interest. But Rose hasn't been able to fully make a commitment to anyone. The one time she did, well, it didn't work out. He was in love with someone else. And she wasn't in love with him either. Rose's story was perhaps more frustrating to me as a reader because every love interest lacked character. That is, each love interest was under-developed. Rose didn't care, AND I, as a reader, didn't care. It was also annoying in that from the first or second chapter of the first book, readers could guess exactly who she was going to end up marrying. And when there are three books to read to get to that one happy ending, well, it feels SLOW.

So in the third book, readers know almost exactly what is going to happen to both sisters, but they still have to read the journey of how they got there. These three books were certainly predictable--in a way--though I certainly didn't guess Brandon's accident and his blindness. But there are worse things for a book to be besides predictable.

I suppose I liked the series well enough. (It's not like I needed encouraging or prompting to read the second and third books.) I just felt tired with them after a while.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Common English Bible 2011

2011-12-07T14:45:00.000-06:00

Luke 2:1-20

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. ² This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. ³ Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. ⁴ Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. ⁵ He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. ⁷ She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.
⁸ Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. ⁹ The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.
¹⁰ The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. ¹¹ Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. ¹² This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”
¹⁵ When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” ¹⁶ They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. ¹⁸ Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. ²⁰ The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: My First Read and Learn Countdown to Christmas

2011-12-07T10:31:00.000-06:00

My First Read and Learn Countdown to Christmas. Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Illustrated by Siobhan Harrison. 2009. Scholastic.

The sights and sounds of the season make this a magical time, especially for a young child. A child is immersed in a world of twinkling lights, ringing bells, and sweet smells. Because your child is a concrete thinker, he relates easily to the signs of the season that he sees, hears, and smells. It's an exciting time! However, the seemingly endless wait for December 25 can be almost overwhelming. Refocus that childhood anticipation into the daily activities suggested in Countdown to Christmas. Your child will learn that the birth of God's Son is the reason we celebrate. So pause for a moment, connect with your child, and begin the countdown to Christmas!

I like this one. I really like this one. There is a reading, activity, and prayer for each day of Advent. (Well, each day from December 1 through December 25). Day one, for example, has us making red-and-green paper chains to countdown until Christmas. Day one may not be the best example of how fun this book is--since it serves mainly as an introduction to the season of advent (it means coming) and this book in particular. But I thought I'd share a few days with you so you can see for yourself what this book has to offer families.

December 4

After the angel told Mary she would have a baby, Mary sang a pretty song. The songs we sing only at Christmas are called carols. Long ago, carol meant "to sing and dance." Some Christmas music is such fun that you might want to sing and dance, like people did with the first Christmas carols.

Sing and dance to "Jingle Bells" or another Christmas carol.

Dear God,
I am so excited about Christmas that I want to sing and dance. Amen.

Praise God with songs. Psalm 47:6

and

December 10

Mary was getting ready to have her baby soon. But first Mary and her husband Joseph had to take a long trip. They didn't have a car. They couldn't ride in a bus. They couldn't fly in a plane. so Joseph walked and walked and walked and walked. Mary rode on a donkey, bumpety, bumpety, bumpety. It was a very long trip to the town of Bethlehem.

Using your fingers, trace a donkey trip on someone's back. Make the donkey jump over a rock, leap across a brook, and stop suddenly. Then ask someone to trace a donkey trip on your back. Whenever it tickles, say "hee-haw!"

Dear God,
Thank you for being with me even when I am away from home. Amen.

She (Mary) was soon going to have a baby. Luke 2:6

and, last one:

December 13

Mary wrapped up her baby in some cloths. She had him on a bed of hay in a manger, which was a feeding dish for the animals. Then Mary rested. She and Joseph were very tired, but they still thanked God. They thanked God for the safe trip. They thanked God for the stable in which they could sleep. But most of all, they thanked God for baby Jesus, asleep in the manger.

Wrap a stuffed animal or doll in a towel. If you pull the towel snug, it is called "swaddling." Babies like to be swaddled when they sleep, because it feels cozy. Use your doll or animal to practice the safe way to hold a baby.

Dear God,
Thank you for the people who take care of me. Amen.

Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem. Matthew 2:1

If you've got small children--preschoolers and toddlers--in your family, you might consider using this one to help everyone prepare for Christmas.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Good News Translation (1992)

2011-12-06T08:09:00.000-06:00

Philippians 2:6-11

He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remainequal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death--his death on the cross. For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: New Living Translation, 1996 (2007)

2011-12-05T07:58:00.000-06:00

Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was God,
he did not think of equality
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: New American Standard, 1971 (1995)

2011-12-04T07:56:00.000-06:00

John 1:1-6

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week in Review November 27-December 3

2011-12-04T07:36:00.000-06:00

This week I read

Amos in the HCSB
Hosea in the HCSB
Micah in the HCSB
Isaiah in HCSB
Nahum in HCSB
Zephaniah in HCSB
Habakkuk in HCSB
Joel in HCSB
Mark in the Wycliffe New Testament
Luke in Wycliffe New Testament

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: Living Bible 1971

2011-12-03T19:45:00.000-06:00

John 1:1-6

Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is--nothing exists that he didn't make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness--and the darkness can never extinguish it.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Celebrating the Story: English Revised Version 1881

2011-12-02T14:35:00.002-06:00

Luke 2:1-20

Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enroll himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

Online ERV 1881.

Celebrating the Story: American Standard Version 1901

2011-12-01T14:20:00.003-06:00

Luke 2:1-20

Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

American Standard Version online.

Without a Bible...

2011-11-27T15:57:00.000-06:00

I did share this earlier in the year. But it is National Bible Week, and I thought this was a great time to share it...again.

I'm happy to share (yet) another quote from Woodrow Kroll's How To Find God in the Bible.

There is much about God that you would never know apart from His Word. Sure, you may become convinced that God exists by what you see in the world. You may even philosophically come to the conclusion that the order in our universe demands an almighty Creator to bring it about. But if the Bible had never been written, think about all the things you would never know about God.

Without a Bible, you would never know that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)

Without a Bible, you would never know that God "will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV)

Without a Bible, you would never know that "the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Without a Bible you would never know that "those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31)

Without a Bible, you would never know that God takes no pleasure in punishing sinners: "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23)

Without a Bible, you would never hear Jesus' invitation: "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Without a Bible, you would never realize that "salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved," but the name Jesus (Acts 4:12).

Without a Bible, you would never know that "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men" (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Without a Bible, you would not have God's promise that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NKJV)

Without a Bible, you would not appreciate that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Without a Bible, you would not recognize the fact that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8)

Without a Bible, you would never guess that a day is coming when God "will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4)

Without a Bible, you would not be encouraged, "Behold I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 22:12-13)

Without a Bible, you would know very little about God, His character, His promises and plans for you, or what awaits you in the future. All this and more is revealed only through the pages of His Word. If you want to encounter God and His truth, becoming one with nature just isn't enough. (28-30)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week In Review November 20-26

2011-11-27T06:58:00.000-06:00

This week I read...

1 Kings in the HCSB
Psalms in the KJV
Proverbs in HCSB
Ecclesiastes in HCSB
Song of Songs in HCSB
Jonah in HCSB
Matthew in RSV and Wycliffe
Mark in RSV
Galatians in RSV
Ephesians in RSV
Philippians in RSV
1 Thessalonians in RSV
2 Thessalonians in RSV
Titus in RSV
Philemon in RSV
Jude in RSV

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

A Little Experiment with TWO translations!

2011-11-26T14:54:00.000-06:00

I thought it would be interesting (and fun!!!) to compare one of the oldest translations with one of the newest translations. The Wycliffe New Testament is the one I chose to represent the oldest translation in English. It is from 1388! (I used this edition with modern spelling.) The Common English Bible is the one I chose to represent the newest translation. (I'm not sure if it is *really* the very, very newest translation. But it certainly is close. 2011 saw the publication of the whole Bible in this translation.)

I began this little 'experiment' by reading Matthew in the Wycliffe New Testament. I took notes--lots of notes!!!--as I read. I highlighted the phrases that I loved, the phrases that sounded unique, different, quirky.

Matthew 1:18

"having of the Holy Ghost in the womb" (Wycliffe)
"she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit" (Common English Bible

Matthew 1:21

"because he will save his people from their sins" (Common English Bible)
"for He shall make the people safe from their sins" (Wycliffe)

Matthew 2:12

"And when they had taken an answer in sleep that they should not turn again to Herod..." (Wycliffe)
"Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route." (Common English Bible)

Matthew 4:8

"Eftsoon the fiend took Him into a full high hill, and showed to Him all the realms of the world and the joy of them..." (Wycliffe)
"Then the devil brought him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (Common English Bible)

Matthew 6:2-4

"Therefore when thou does alms nil ye trump tofore thee as hypocrites do in synagogues and streets, that they may be worshipped of men. Soothly I say to you, they have received their meed. But when thou do alms, know not thy left hand why thy right hand does, that thine alms may be in hidles. And thy Father that sees in hidles, shall quite thee." (Wycliffe)
"Whenever you give to the poor, don't blow your trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may get praise from people. I assure you, that's the only reward they'll get. But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that you may give to the poor in secret. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you. (Common English Bible)

Matthew 6:6

"But when thou shall pray, enter into thy couch, and when the door is shut, pray thy Father in hidles. And thy Father that sees in hidles, shall yield to thee." (Wycliffe)
"But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you. (Common English Bible)

The Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9-13

"Our Father that are in heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come to. Be Thy will done in earth as in heaven. Give to us this day our bread over other substance, and forgive to us our debts as we forgive to our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen" (Wycliffe)
"Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it's done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don't lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. (Common English Bible)

Matthew 6:34

"nil ye be busy to the morrow" (Wycliffe)
"stop worrying about tomorrow" (Common English Bible)

And that's just the start of my notes!!! If/when I have time, I'll be back to share more with you.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

We are 'the one'...

2011-11-25T14:10:00.084-06:00

Today I'm sharing a few more passages from the Common English Bible. They share some imagery in common!

Matthew 18:12-14

If someone had one hundred sheep and one of them wandered off, wouldn't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go in search for the one that wandered off? If he finds it, I assure you that he is happier about having that one sheep than about the ninety-nine who didn't wander off. In the same way, my Father who is in heaven doesn't want to lose one of these little ones. (Common English Bible)

Luke 15:3-7

Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose someone among you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them. Wouldn't he leave the other ninety-nine in the pasture and search for the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he is thrilled and places it on his shoulders. When he arrives home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Celebrate with me because I've found my lost sheep.' In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes both heart and life than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to change their hearts and lives. (Common English Bible)

I think it is important to remember that we are all 'the one' out of a hundred sheep that have wandered away. For NONE of us are righteous apart from Christ. We are all sinners.

Isaiah 53:6

Like sheep we had all wandered away, each going its own way, but the LORD let fall on him all our crimes. (Common English Bible)

Isaiah 40:11

Like a shepherd, God will tend the flock; he will gather lambs in his arms and lift them onto his lap. He will gently guide the nursing ewes. (Common English Bible)

Psalm 100:3

Know that the LORD is God--he made us; we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his own pasture. (Common English Bible)

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff--they protect me. You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over! Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the LORD's house as long as I live. (Common English Bible)

John 10:1-18

¹ I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. ² The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying. ⁷So Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest. ¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. That’s because he isn’t the shepherd; the sheep aren’t really his. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ He’s only a hired hand and the sheep don’t matter to him. ¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd.¹⁷ “This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again.¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father.” (Common English Bible)

Book Review: Jesus + Nothing = Everything

2011-11-24T15:20:00.001-06:00

Jesus + Nothing = Everything. Tullian Tchividjian. 2011. Crossway Books. 220 pages.

Never had I experienced anything so tough. I could hardly eat, had trouble sleeping, and was continually battling nausea. I felt at the absolute end of myself.

What can I say about Jesus + Nothing = Everything?! No words can do it true justice. For it might just be a life-changing book for you. I HOPE it is a life-changing book for you. I really do. For it is a book rich in truth, abounding in gospel-treasure.

It's a short book. But don't let the size trick you. This one has SO MUCH to offer readers.

So what is it about? Well, it's about how Jesus Christ has accomplished it all. It is about how believers can be reassured by Christ's saying IT IS FINISHED. It is about how we cannot possibly hope to earn God's love. It is about how God couldn't possibly love us more than he already does. It is about how we don't have to earn God's favor, we don't have to have our own righteousness. It is about how the Christian faith IS NOT about keeping rules and obeying laws and commandments.

This book is all about God's grace, God's mercy. It is about how the Christian life SHOULD be led. It is all about learning simple truths that can free you from yourself, free you from guilt and shame, free you from lies. It is all about accepting God's word as truth and living day by day in his grace, in his love.

As I said, this book does have the potential--the power--to change your life, to open your eyes. It is one of those books that is SO VERY VERY good that if you only have time to read one book per year, this is THAT book. Well, I'll amend that...one book in addition to the Holy Bible!

It's a book that I hope to reread soon! And when I do reread it, I'll try to share my quotes with you.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Ten Chapters I'm thankful for...

2011-11-24T08:51:00.009-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I thought I would share with you ten chapters (from the Bible) that I'm very thankful for!

Ezekiel 37. Some readers may not exactly be on friendly terms with the book of Ezekiel. Because, to be honest, it can be a little intimidating. More than a little intimidating depending on where you are in the book. But. There is something wonderful about the imagery in Ezekiel 37. The "valley of dry bones" is such a great illustration of what happens in regeneration--in being born again. We are dead--yes, DEAD, in our sins, past the point of needing a little boost, a little healing. We need God to breathe life in us.

Ezekiel 37:4-6

He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, Dry bones, hear the LORD's word! The LORD God proclaims to these bones: I am about to put breath in you, and you will live again. I will put sinews on you, place flesh on you, and cover you with skin. When I put breath in you, and you come to life, you will know that I am the LORD. (Common English Bible)

Jeremiah 31. I love reading about God's new covenant. If you spend (much) time reading in the Old Testament, you know that a new covenant was very much needed. Because it was obvious from the start, that the old covenant could not be kept by the people. Keeping the law couldn't save them, for they could never keep the law.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (English Standard Version)

Psalm 139. This psalm is such a great one--from start to finish. A bit humbling, a bit refreshing, a bit encouraging. We learn so much about God, but we also learn a little something about ourselves. That we do have purpose, that our lives do have meaning, that we are part of God's plan.

Psalm 139:1-12

LORD, you have examined me. You know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. Even from far away, you comprehend my plans. You study my traveling and resting. You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways. There isn't a word on my tongue, LORD, that you don't already know completely. You surround me--front and back. You put your hand on me. That kind of knowledge is too much for me; it's so high above me that I can't fathom it. Where could I go to get away from your spirit? Where could I go to escape your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there. If I went down to the grave, you would be there too! If I could fly on the wings of dawn, stopping to rest only on the far side of the ocean--even there your hand would guide me; even there your strong hand would hold me tight! If I said, "The darkness will definitely hide me; the light will become night around me," even the darkness isn't too dark for you! Nighttime would shine bright as day because darkness is the same as light to you! (Common English Bible)

Luke 15. Luke is a gospel with many highlights. But Luke 15, for me, has to be one of the best. I love the parables found in Luke 15. I especially love the parable of the prodigal son. I love what it shows us, what it teaches us. I love how we can learn from the prodigal son and from the 'good' son who stayed behind.

Luke 15:11-32

¹¹ Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. ¹² The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ Then the father divided his estate between them. ¹³ Soon afterward, the younger son gathered everything together and took a trip to a land far away. There, he wasted his wealth through extravagant living.
¹⁴ “When he had used up his resources, a severe food shortage arose in that country and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ He hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to eat his fill from what the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, but I’m starving to death! ¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I no longer deserve to be called your son. Take me on as one of your hired hands.” ’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.
“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. His father ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him. ²¹ Then his son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! ²³ Fetch the fattened calf and slaughter it. We must celebrate with feasting ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. ²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field. Coming in from the field, he approached the house and heard music and dancing. ²⁶ He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. ²⁷ The servant replied, ‘Your brother has arrived, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he received his son back safe and sound.’ ²⁸ Then the older son was furious and didn’t want to enter in, but his father came out and begged him. ²⁹ He answered his father, ‘Look, I’ve served you all these years, and I never disobeyed your instruction. Yet you’ve never given me as much as a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours returned, after gobbling up your estate on prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ ³¹ Then his father said, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive. He was lost and is found.’” (Common English Bible)

Revelation 21. Before this year, I read Revelation fearfully and reluctantly. I saw it more as horror than a worship book full of rich promises for God's children. But this year I've read and reread and reread Revelation. And I've found much to rejoice in. Including chapter 21!!!

Revelation 21:1-7

¹ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ⁵ Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring. ⁷ Those who emerge victorious will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my sons and daughters. (Common English Bible)

1 John 4. I love the entire book of 1 John. And to pick just one chapter, well, it seemed almost impossible. The whole book is just full of treasure. There is so much to think about, so much to reflect on. The book is beautiful AND challenging. But I chose 1 John 4 because of these verses:

1 John 4:9-21

⁹In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ¹⁰In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. ¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. ²¹And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (English Standard Version)

Romans 5. Romans is one of my favorite, favorite books. One of those oh-so-essential books that is much-needed for building a foundation of faith. Romans 5 is potentially life-changing. At least it was for me. For in this little chapter we learn about what the cross means--more about what the cross means. It's all about imputation. Exchanging our sins for HIS righteousness. Our sins just aren't wiped away. We just don't have a clean slate or new beginning. God counts Christ's righteous life as ours. As I just recently read--not only is justification about 'just-as-if-I-never-sinned' it's also 'just-as-if-I-always-obeyed.' Anyway, there is something wonderful about realizing that you don't have to earn God's love.

Romans 5:8-11

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (English Standard Version)

Ephesians 1. And I thought it was impossible to choose a favorite chapter in 1 John!!!! How could I ever begin to choose one in Ephesians??? I did narrow it down to Ephesians 1, 2, and 3. Which was a good start, I suppose, but then I decided to go with the first chapter. But I can't choose just a few verses from it. I just can't. Read the whole thing. And keep going!!!

Ephesians 1:3-10
Ephesians 1:11-14
Ephesians 1:15-23

Romans 8. This was an easy choice, of course. And probably expected. After all it is one of the greatest chapters in the whole Bible. It says SO much. And we could all profit from it if we read it each and every day. It's one of those chapters that just satisfies and uplifts. It's a much-needed chapter, a much-needed comfort.

Romans 8:18-25
Romans 8:26-27
Romans 8:28-30

²⁸And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (ESV)

Romans 8:31-39

³¹What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be^[h] against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.^[i] ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

John 14. I love, love, love John 14. I love the whole gospel of John. It is definitely my favorite gospel. And it is, in fact, my favorite book of the whole Bible. I just love each and every chapter of John. But John 14 is so wonderful, so comforting, so perfect.

John 14:1-6

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (King James Version)

Looking to read a book ABOUT the Bible?

2011-11-23T10:26:00.010-06:00

I've read some GREAT books this year--and last year, for that matter--about the Bible! Here are a few of the books I'd recommend:

Taking Back the Good Book: How America Forgot the Bible and Why It Matters To You by Woodrow Kroll, 2007. (Crossway).

A few quotes:

Reading [the Bible] is fundamental, but it isn't enough. You have to read the Bible and then interpret it and apply it to your life. Those are the initial steps in Bible literacy. They are also the first steps toward spiritual maturity. (58)

The Bible is read by people who choose to read it. Bible reading is neglected by people who choose to neglect it. It's just that simple. No excuses. Just honesty. (77)

When you win the battle for Bible literacy in your own life, you not only discover the joy of God, you are the joy of God. He delights in our getting to know him, and the most direct way to make that happen is by reading what he has revealed about himself in his Word (145).

If you don't take the Book in your life and read it consistently, you are saying to its Author, "I don't care enough about you or your Book to read it." That's what Bible literacy means to God. It means you love him, and you show it. It means you worship him, and you show it. It means you thirst for him, and you show it. Isn't it time we did some serious thinking about just how Bible-literate we are? Isn't it time for you to do some thinking? (151)

How to Find God in the Bible: A Personal Plan For the Encounter of Your Life. Woodrow Kroll. 2004. Multnomah. 204 pages.

Don't fail to read the Bible simply because you have difficulty relating to the translation. Find a version you do understand. I'm often asked which version of the Bible I think is the best, and I always respond, "The one you read." It doesn't matter if you are convinced your version is the most accurate there is. If you don't read it, you won't connect with God. Hurdle the language barrier by choosing a Bible that is comfortable for you. Then read it for all it's worth. (61)

I have often said that if Christians blew the dust off their Bibles at the same time, we'd all get killed in the dust storm. If you are to benefit from God's Word, you're going to have to read it. It's how you connect with God. (173)

Read Your Bible One Book At A Time: A Refreshing Way To Read God's Word. Woodrow Kroll. 2002. Gospel Light Publications. 150 pages.

If you wanted to read one book of the Bible--the whole book, beginning to end--which ones could you read during the same time it takes to watch It's a Wonderful Life? Hold on to your hat. You could read any book of the Bible except twelve. Only a dozen books of the Bible take longer to read than watching that classic Christmas movie. Nearly forty books of the Bible can be read in an hour or less. Half the books of the Bible can be read in less than thirty minutes. And twenty-six books can be read in fifteen minutes or less. That's pretty amazing for a book that many people think is too massive to read. When you think about it, time really isn't the problem when it comes to reading the Bible. It's a good excuse, but not good enough. How much we read of the only book God ever wrote depends mostly on how much of it we want to read. Reading God's Word is less dependent on our schedule and more dependent on our desire and discipline. (12-13)

How To Get The Most From God's Word. John MacArthur. 1997. Thomas Nelson. 168 pages.

Everything revealed on the pages of both the Old Testament and New Testament is associated with those five categories. Scripture is always teaching or illustrating: 1) the character and attributes of God; 2) the tragedy of sin and disobedience to God's holy standard; 3) the blessedness of faith and obedience to God's standard; 4) the need for a Savior by whose righteousness and substitution sinners can be forgiven, declared just, and transformed to obey God's standard; 5) the coming glorious end of redemptive history in the Lord Savior's earthly kingdom and the subsequent eternal reign and glory of God and Christ. It is essential as one studies Scripture to grasp these recurring categories like great hooks on which to hang the passages. (147)

There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible. Only four of them don't involve a fallen world: the first two and the last two--before the fall and after the creation of the new heaven and new earth. The rest is a chronicle of the tragedy of sin. (148)

Knowing Scripture. R.C. Sproul. 1977/2009. IVP. 152 pages.

We fail in our duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy. (17)

If you have read the whole Bible, you are in a small minority of Christian people. If you have studied the Bible, you are in an even smaller minority. (18)

To be sure knowledge of God's Word does not guarantee that we will do what it says, but at least we will know what we are supposed to be doing in our quest for human fulfillment. The issue of faith is not so much whether we believe in God, but whether we believe the God we believe in. (30)

Dig Deeper: Tools for Understanding God's Word. By Nigel Beynon and Andrew Sach. 2010. Crossway. 160 pages.

Someone who isn't a Christian (i.e. the 'natural person') won't be able fully to understand the Bible, no matter how many qualifications or degrees in theology he or she may have. We should be wary of the "expert" on television or the professor who's written the latest controversial book about Christianity. It's easy to bow to what seems to be impressive knowledge, but if they don't have the Spirit of God working within them, then they have no hope of grasping the Bible's message. (21-22)

On the other hand, all Christians can understand the Bible for themselves, since all Christians have the Spirit . . . Yet we need continually to express our dependence on God for a right understanding of him and his ways. He is the one who grants insight. So we must pray. Pray before you open the Bible. Pray when you get stuck and don't understand. Pray again when you do understand it--say thank you! Pray, pray, pray! (22)

How To Study The Bible. R.A. Torrey. 1896. Hendrickson Publishers. 90 pages.

...the Bible contains gold, and almost anyone is willing to dig for gold, especially if it is certain that he will find it. It is certain that one will find gold in the Bible, if he digs."

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Trying a new translation...

2011-11-22T08:30:00.002-06:00

While I'll probably always have a favorite translation (or two, or three, or four), I do like to experiment with trying new versions. I like seeing how different translators choose to translate different passages. I was recently asked to 'try' the Common English Bible. So I thought I would share the process with you. There are plenty of passages that I "judge" a translation by. Here are just a few of them:

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word
and without the Word
nothing came into being
through the Word was life,
and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness doesn't extinguish the light. (Common English Bible)

John 3:13-18

No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Human One. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Human One be lifted up so that everyone who believes him will have eternal life. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him isn't judged; whoever doesn't believe in him is already judged, because they don't believe in the name of God's only Son. (Common English Bible)

John 14:1-6

Don't be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. My Father's house has room to spare. If that weren't the case, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you? When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too. You know the way to the place I'm going. Thomas asked, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Common English Bible)

Initial thoughts: Well, at the very least, I can say I like it MUCH better than the Message. (I don't think I've talked about it on the blog, but, reading The Message is like nails on a chalkboard for me. We're just NOT a good match for each other.) These passages in the CEB are more casual, more relaxed, more informal than what I'd typically prefer in a translation. I love beauty and majesty. (I'd rather it be more literary than common.) Take for example, John 1:5:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (ESV)
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (NASB)
That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. (HCSB)
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (KJV)
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (NKJV)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (NIV)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (NLT)
His life is the light that shines through the darkness--and the darkness can never extinguish it. (Living Bible)
The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it. (God's Word)
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out. (The Message)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. (GNT)
The light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out. (Phillips)
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it. (NCV)

Yes, they all essentially (for the most part) say the same thing--mean the same thing. No BIG changes in meaning. But don't some translations *sound* better?!

Another example, and I'll keep it shorter. It comes from John 14:2.

"more than enough room" (NLT)
"many rooms" (NIV, ESV, NCV, GW, CEV, Phillips, GNT, RSV)
"many mansions" (KJV, NKJV, Young's, Webster's, English Revised Version, American Standard Version)
"many dwelling places" (NASB, HCSB, Lexham English Bible, NET Bible)
"many resting places" (Weymouth)
"many homes" (World English Bible, Living Bible)
"plenty of room" (The Message)

I don't know that I exactly have a favorite. I'm torn between mansions and dwelling places. CEB translating it 'room to spare' doesn't bother me at all. I actually like the way it sounds.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

What do you crave?

2011-11-21T13:37:00.000-06:00

Crave the word of God. Be desperate for it! Seek it. Yearn for it. Long for it. Desire it. Tolerate nothing in your life that might diminish your hunger for God's Word. And apply it with vigor and spiritual energy! The Word of God, whether it is preached and heard or read and memorized is more than simply true. It is effectual. The Word of God does more than merely announce: it accomplishes! It doesn't just impart information: it creates life! Sam Storms, Note to Self, Foreword, 19

1 Chronicles 16:10-11

Give praise to God's holy name! Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the LORD! Pursue the LORD and his strength; seek his face always! (Common English Bible)

Psalm 27:8

Come, my heart says, seek God's face. LORD, I do seek your face! (Common English Bible)

Psalm 40:16

But let all who seek you celebrate and rejoice in you. Let those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD is great!" (Common English Bible)

Psalms 42:1-2

Just like a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God. My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God. When will come and see God's face? (Common English Bible)

1 Peter 2:2-3

Instead, like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good. (Common English Bible)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Let's Celebrate the Bible!

2011-11-20T15:16:00.001-06:00

I love to read the Bible. I do. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read the Bible. And this week is National Bible Week. So I thought I'd try to post a little something every day this week...

We will never love God purely--wholeheartedly--apart from immersing ourselves in God's Word because it is only in Scripture that we learn what God is like. To know him is to love him, and we always desire more of what we love most. ~ Lydia Brownback, Purity, 23

Hebrews 4:12-13

...God's word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the morrow. It's able to judge the heart's thoughts and intentions. No creature is hidden from it, but rather everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we have to give an answer. (Common English Bible)

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good. (Common English Bible)

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Common English Bible)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week In Review November 13-19

2011-11-20T06:47:00.000-06:00

This week I read...

Judges in HCSB
Ruth in HCSB
Mark in KJ21
James in KJ21
1 Peter in KJ21
2 Peter in KJ21
1 John in KJ21 and NKJV
2 John in KJ21 and NKJV
3 John in KJ21 and NKJV
Jude in KJ21 and NKJV
1 Samuel in HCSB
John in KJ21
Revelation in KJ21
Romans in NKJV
2 Samuel in HCSB
1 Chronicles in HCSB
Colossians in RSV
Romans in RSV

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

The Names of God Bible

2011-11-19T14:05:00.001-06:00

The Names of God Bible. General Editor: Ann Spangler. Translation: God's Word. (Though that translation is considerably modified especially in the Old Testament.) 2011. Revell. 1730 pages.

This Bible will appeal to any believer with a genuine curiosity in learning more about God. For it's a devotional Bible that focuses on how God's character is revealed through his names and titles. There's a feature article on each one of God's names (or titles). And there's a reference system in place so readers can study each use of a particular name.

What makes this bible unique? Well, it "restores" more than 10,000 occurrences of specific names of God--like Yahweh, El Shadday, El Elyon, and Adonay (just to name a few)--in the translation itself.

In the beginning Elohim created heaven and earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The Ruach Elohim was hovering over the water. (Genesis 1:1-2)
Then Yahweh Elohim formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
Abram asked, "Adonay Yahweh, how can I be certain that I will take possession of it?" (Genesis 15:8)
When Abram was 99 years old, Yahweh appeared to him. He said to Abram, I am El Shadday. Live in my presence with integrity. (Genesis 17:1)
Yahweh is my Roeh. I am never in need. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. (Psalm 23:1-3)
Yahweh is my strength and my Magen. My heart trusted him, so I received help. My heart is triumphant; I give thanks to him with my song. (Psalm 28:7)
Don't you know? Haven't you heard? El Olam, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't grow tired or become weary. His understanding is beyond reach. (Isaiah 40:28)

Each book introduction lists the key names of God in that book. And it provides a translation so that readers know what these words mean. Some of the names readers might pick up quickly--others might take a bit more work. For example, it is relatively easy to remember that Yahweh translates to LORD and El or Elohim translates to God...but it might take a bit more work to remember that El Olam translates to Everlasting God or Eternal God and Magen translates to Shield, etc.

Curious about the names David called God? This Bible will tell you...

Elohim Chay
Yahweh
Yahweh Tsebaoth
Elohim
Adonay Yahweh
Metsuda
Elyon
Ruach Yahwh
Magen
Melek
Machseh
Go'el
Roeh
Ruach
Ruach Qodesh
Migdal-Oz
Shadday
Tsur
Magen

Solomon--David's son--has his own list too...but it is much shorter! Elohim, Yahweh, and Adonay Yahweh.

It's a nice feature to have especially for those fascinated with the Bible already.

For those believers with a fascination, a curiosity for knowing more about God--AS REVEALED THROUGH HIS HEBREW NAMES--then this is a must.

The strength of this Bible is its uniqueness. No doubt about it, The Names of God Bible would be great for the reference shelf.

But. Are there enough strengths to make this one particular Bible your everyday Bible? I'm not so sure....

I see two potential weaknesses. First, because this Bible is so unique, because this modified translation is unlike anything you'll most likely see in Sunday Schools and Bible Studies (not to mention the worship service), you might have a difficult time following in group situations. If you're reading this Bible aloud, for example, your listeners may have problems trying to make sense of it. It probably wouldn't be the best choice in that situation.

The second issue I have with The Names of God Bible is the translation choice. The translation "God's Word" is one I find a little lacking. My expectations don't match the translation philosophy--you might say--of this one.

From the preface...

"One of the challenges faces by the translators of GW was finding words that accurately communicate the meaning of important theological concepts in the Bible. Many of these concepts have traditionally been translated by words that no longer communicate to most English speakers. Examples of these theological terms include covenant, grace, justify, repent, and righteousness. While these words continue to be used by theologians and even by many Christians, the meanings that readers assign to them in everyday use do not equate to the meaning of the Hebrew or Greek words they are intended to translate. God's Word avoids using these terms and substitutes words that carry the same meaning in clear, natural English." (xxii)

Although not mentioned, the word resurrection also falls into this category apparently.

What we need are readers--believers, individuals--willing to learn, willing to grow, willing to try. Are people unwilling to learn? Or are people unwilling to teach? Are people falling asleep during sermons? Or are preachers not trying to teach or instruct? I could see with words like propitiation perhaps...but words like GRACE?! SERIOUSLY?!

This 'weakness' may not impact one's reading of the Old Testament. But for the New Testament, I couldn't--wouldn't--want to read this translation.

If this Bible were available in another translation--NLT, NIV, NKJV--it would work so much better for me. It would probably become more than a reference tool.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Going Deep

2011-11-14T15:06:00.001-06:00

Going Deep. Gordon MacDonald. 2011. Thomas Nelson. 383 pages.

It was on July 6, at an evening baseball game in Boston's Fenway Park, that the great idea first started coming to life.

Where to begin? Let's start with some simple facts. Going Deep is a follow-up book to Who Stole My Church. The 'fictional' approach is similar. Readers are granted a behind the scenes look at a New England church community led by Gordon and Gail MacDonald--the only two "real" characters from the book. It is not a sequel, however. So you can read this one even if you haven't read Who Stole My Church.

Writing style. Instead of writing a nonfiction book on spiritual growth and church leadership, MacDonald went with a fictional approach. He uses his fictional self--how closely he's connected with this fictional self I'm not sure, not sure I want to know--to "illustrate" his ideas. This novel is didactic. It is super didactic. It isn't practical enough to be actually instructive, but I get the idea that it's supposed to be inspiring. (It has an infomercial feel to it almost.) The style of this one suffers because of it. The author TELLS way too much instead of showing. His characterization is practically non-existent. What readers get are profiles--some slightly more detailed than others.

So Going Deep is about how one pastor is "inspired" by his non-Christian neighbor, Hank Soriano. His friend is asking questions and he doesn't really have the answers, or enough of an answer to satisfy himself. His thinking leads him to the realization that the church will run out of leaders if something isn't done to "grow" them. That is, there is not enough spiritual training (as opposed to job training perhaps?) to equip the next generation to lead the church. He becomes almost obsessed with the idea of 'deep people' and the process of 'cultivation.' He asks what a deep person looks like, etc.

Anyway, his "big idea" is to form a group of 14 to 18 people to fellowship with in his home weekly for forty weeks. This small group is "designed" to grow or cultivate deep people. To turn individuals with potential and genuine interest or desire into deep people ready to inspire others to grow. It takes a year to develop the ideas, the lessons, and a year to actually do it. Readers are "treated" to both years.

So this book is singing the praises of small groups--or a small group. How a small gathering of believers committed to meeting weekly will encourage, inspire, and challenge growth. How accountability is a good thing. How praying together, sharing together, talking together, listening to one another, are all good things that 'cultivate' individuals into "deep people."

One thing to keep in mind while reading is that this small group has an extremely, extremely narrow focus. The pastor is looking to hand-select the next generation of LEADERS for his church. He isn't trying to reach out to the congregation at large. He isn't trying to teach or train just anybody or everybody. His purpose, his goal, is not to grow an entire congregation of deep people. He's looking for people with leadership potential.

He's not looking for struggling people, for broken people. He's not exactly looking for seekers. He's looking for people who are showing displays of holiness and so-called righteous influence already. They've already got to have something there, something visible, something recognizable. Here are the list of qualities he's looking for in potential members:

demonstrate a consistent loyalty to Jesus and speak of him as their redeemer and Lord;
have a hunger to keep on growing in every aspect of their lives, regardless of age;
have a clear sense of how a Christian conducts him/herself in the larger world;
maintain personal relationships that appear to be healthy and life-giving;
are respected because of their wisdom and integrity;
are aware of how the Holy Spirit has gifted them and possess a sense of personal mission or call;
love to inspire and lead others toward Christian growth;
have firm convictions about faith, yet are not rigid, pushy, or judgmental;
are generous with what they have and always seem to know just how to serve others;
are compassionate, the first ones to spot people who need counsel or encouragement;
are people you love to be with because they love life and seem to know the best ways to live it; and
are influential wherever they go.

As you can imagine from that list, he does not want anyone volunteering for the group. Asking to be considered for the group will get you a firm, stern look. The pastor feels the church has enough groups being offered to deal with the masses, to deal with people who are hurting, broken, discouraged, struggling, etc. No, this new group isn't for people deemed 'problematic' or 'difficult.' And he's not looking for your typical, average believer either.

Of course, his group that he hand selects isn't perfect. Here is an initial-impressions list the pastor shares:

more than a few had only a superficial knowledge of the Bible;
busyness and priorities were a perpetual challenge;
only a few came from stable family backgrounds;
some struggled to understand the place of prayer or personal worship;
most of them spent little time with anyone outside of their generation, and
many thought highly of Jesus but were often embarrassed to be called Christians.

I went into the book thinking that it was a book for how EVERYONE should be deep, how everyone should be discipled, how everyone should grow in the spiritual disciplines, how everyone should abide in Christ; how we all should live that deeper life. How we should all answer God's call--his command--to be in relationship with him. And instead, this book is all about one thing and one thing only: the church. He wants deep people...but deep people for the church's benefit. He wants to cultivate deep people so that the church will have LEADERSHIP. He wants what is best for the church and what is best for the church is select leadership training. Hand-picked leaders trained carefully.

The exclusiveness bothered me at first. It bothered me a lot. For I kept thinking about how Christ came to call sinners, the lost, the least of these. Christ had a heart to reach the people who needed him most. And Christ's disciples, well, they were far, far, far from perfect! They sure wouldn't have met this Pastor's qualifications. Not even close. They didn't always show much potential! They could get into trouble! They could get into arguments! They missed the point time and time again. They weren't always that quick to understand, to comprehend. They could be very selfish, very proud, and jealous. In other words, they were very very human. They were all flawed souls. They weren't chosen because of who they were, because of how great they were, because of how influential they were, or because they were socially gifted. They did, however, answer Christ's call to follow. I think it's important to see the disciples as real people like you and me, people who struggled, people who were tempted. They weren't perfect, but they were chosen by God; they weren't perfect but they were part of God's plan. They weren't perfect, but they were loved. To be used by God, to be a part of His plan, to be a part of His will, you don't have to be perfect. You just have to respond to his call. You just have to follow God, to love God, to put Him first.

What softened me a bit towards this book, however, was reading some New Testament epistles. I read in several places lists of qualifications for leaders--for bishops or elders, etc. I realized that the Bible is very, very specific when it comes to what it wants--what it needs--from leaders. That strict guidelines of who can be a leader weren't a bad thing, but a good thing. That the emphasis on qualified leaders for the church is very important.

Even though I've softened some on this one, I still didn't really like this book. There were still things that bothered me about it.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week In Review November 6 - 12

2011-11-13T06:24:00.001-06:00

This week I read...

Exodus in the HCSB
Leviticus in the HCSB
Numbers in the HCSB
Deuteronomy in the HCSB
Joshua in the HCSB
Job in the HCSB
Ecclesiastes in the ESV and KJ21
Matthew in the KJ21
Mark in HCSB
Romans in HCSB and KJV
Hebrews in the KJV and KJ21

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Ten Lies About God

2011-11-07T10:09:00.001-06:00

Ten Lies About God And How You Might Already Be Deceived. Erwin Lutzer. 2000. Thomas Nelson. 238 pages. (Newly reprinted as paperback by Kregel publications in January 2009).

Does what you believe about God matter? Does believing wrong things about God put you in danger? It may if the God you profess and worship is more of your making than His. If your 'vain imaginings' of God are held more strongly, perhaps, than those revealed in His Holy Word. Of course, no one knows God completely--except the Son (and Spirit). But the Bible does communicate with us. From the Bible we learn of God, of his nature, of his commands. We learn who he is. We learn what he has done. We learn what he is going to do. We see brief glimpses of the big picture. We learn truths that cannot be put aside without risk. When you choose to put your ideas about what God is like over and above the revealed Word of God, well, it may be time to think and rethink.

I love Ten Lies About God. I do. I wouldn't say it was my first Christian nonfiction read--that would probably be Knowing God by J.I. Packer--but it is one of the first that made a BIG, BIG, BIG, BIG difference in my life. (There were probably about five or six that did all around the same time period.)

So here are the ten lies:

Lie 1: God is whatever we want him to be.
Lie 2: Many paths lead into God's presence.
Lie 3: God is more tolerant than He used to be.
Lie 4: God has personally never suffered.
Lie 5: God is obligated to save followers of other religions.
Lie 6: God takes no responsibility for natural disasters.
Lie 7: God does not know our decisions before we make them.
Lie 8: The Fall ruined God's plan.
Lie 9: We must choose between God's pleasures and our own.
Lie 10: God helps those who help themselves.

Each chapter discusses 'the lie' and uses the Bible to present the truth of the matter. Each chapter is clearly written. Each chapter is relevant. Each chapter invites you to THINK DEEPLY about what you believe, what you actually believe. Do you say you believe one thing but act as if you don't? This book may challenge you to reconsider matters. Honestly, some of these "lies" were about issues that I'd truly never thought deeply about before. (The first time that is! This book is a reread for me.) And I imagine your experience may be similar to mine. I believe this book encourages and invites you to seek God as He is, and challenges you to grow stronger in your faith.

I also love how rich this book is in quotes by others. For example, this one by A.W. Tozer:

what we believe about God is the most important thing about us. (ix)

Here are some of my other favorite quotes. If it is Lutzer quoting someone else, I'll let you know who.

as much as possible we must ask not what we want the Bible to say, but what the Bible does say. (xi)

No man can know himself unless he first knows God ~ John Calvin (xii)

Our temptation is to invite ideas of God into our minds that are either just wrong or are notions that diminish Him. (3)

Idolatry is giving respectability to our own opinions of God, formed after our likeness. (3)

To be thoroughly biblical is to be controversial; it is to challenge cultural myths that have developed over generations. It is also to be confronted with a God who will not leave us as He finds us. (15)

The majesty of God should not discourage us but invite us to draw near in contrition and humility. Only a God who judges us can save us. Idols do not judge us, but neither can they redeem us. If we are put off by God's holiness, we probably will also be put off by His grace. (19)

We are invited to come into the "Most Holy Place," but we cannot come alone. (29)

Only in Christianity do we find that the mediator and the sacrifice are the same person. (36)

The more clearly we see our sin, the more clearly we must see the wonder of Christ's sacrifice and intercession. (37)

The command to love the unlovable is rooted in the very character of God. (45)

God has built a bridge to us and paid the entire cost of its construction. (63)

If you want to see how much God is angered by the sin of the world, look at the cross. (74)

I would definitely encourage you to read this one! It is one of the best books I've ever read!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week In Review October 30 - November 5

2011-11-06T06:04:00.000-06:00

This week I read

Revelation in The Names of God Bible (God's Word, revised)
Isaiah in The Names of God Bible
Genesis in HCSB
Job 1-24 in HCSB
Acts in HCSB
1 Peter in HCSB
2 Peter in HCSB
Matthew 1-11 in KJ21
1 Timothy in KJ21
2 Timothy in KJ21
Titus in KJ21
Philemon in KJ21
Mark in King James

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Hope Underground

2011-11-02T09:59:00.000-05:00

Hope Underground. Carolos Parra Diaz. As told to Mario Veloso & Jeanette Windle. 2011. Imago Dei Books. 191 pages.

Planet Earth holds few places less conducive to human habitation than the Atacama Desert.

The full title of this one is Hope Underground: the 34 Chilean Miners: A Story of Faith and Miracles.

Underground Hope is a compelling read! A quick read too. Even if you know the happy ending, you may just find yourself wanting to know the behind-the-scenes story of how God was working and moving during this crisis.

The story is told from a Christian perspective, of course. By a man who ministered and served a community in great need. Readers get a little of his background and learn how he came to be there during this time, during this crisis. Readers also learn of his projects. For example, he gave away copies of the Bible to each of the miners' families. And once the miners were found, he began a project to get bibles--tiny Bibles--down to the miners.

The book talks about how prayer and Bible-reading helped bond the community together. How God's presence was felt above and below ground.

I do recommend this one.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week in Review October 23 - 29

2011-10-30T08:41:00.000-05:00

This week I read:

Luke in the Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 Timothy in the HCSB
2 Timothy in the HCSB
Titus in the HCSB
Philemon in the HCSB
Hebrews in the HCSB
James in the HCSB
1 Corinthians in the HCSB
2 Corinthians in the HCSB
2 Samuel in the American Standard Version, 1901
Genesis in The Names of God Bible (God's Word, modified translation)
Ruth in The Names of God Bible (God's Word, modified translation)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

What's On Your Nightstand (October)

2011-10-25T14:46:00.001-05:00

What's On Your Nightstand is hosted by 5 Minutes for Books. Here's what I'm currently reading:

Going Deep by Gordon MacDonald. This is the second "fictional" book set in a New England community that features the author and his wife as characters. The first "novel" was Who Stole My Church. Going Deep is annoying me more than the first book. I'm not sure if it's me or the book...reading is subjective after all. But it has a me, me, me, I love myself feel to it. A few too many conversations with people in the book praising him for being so absolutely wonderful. It's not quite what I was expecting either--based on the description of the book. I thought it would be a book about how God calls each and every one of us to grow and abide in Him. Calls us to discipleship. Calls us to walk and walk and walk and walk in faith, in relationship. Instead it's ALL about training people for leadership positions in the church. It seems the focus is slightly off--grow deep in Christ so that you can be a leader instead of grow deep in Christ because that is what he's saved us for, that is what he wants for us--a deep, ongoing relationship.

10 Lies About God And How You May Already Be Deceived by Erwin Lutzer. I read and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book about a decade ago. I just wish it was still in print. Here's the book description:

The clearer we see God, the clearer we shall see ourselves. With this conviction firmly in mind, Dr. Erwin Lutzer examines ten lies about our Maker that have crept into spiritual thought in postmodern times. And he notes that these deceits are prominent not only in non-Christian minds but in the professing church as well.
On the surface, each of these lies may appear at least partially true or even harmless. But, as Dr. Lutzer reveals, each harbors a distinct danger: It isn't biblical, so it puts our faith at risk. In Ten Lies About God he challenges the accuracy of these beliefs:
Lie 1: God is whatever we want him to be.
Lie 2: Many paths lead into God's presence.
Lie 3: God is more tolerant than He used to be.
Lie 4: God has personally never suffered.
Lie 5: God is obligated to save followers of other religions.
Lie 6: God takes no responsibility for natural disasters.
Lie 7: God does not know our decisions before we make them.
Lie 8: The Fall ruined God's plan.
Lie 9: We must choose between God's pleasures and our own.
Lie 10: God helps those who help themselves.
The goal of Dr. Lutzer's study is not only purity of spiritual belief, but an enhanced worship of God.

I am working to finish the New Testament in the Holman Christian Standard Bible. I lack Mark, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

The Sunday Salon: Week In Review October 16 - 22

2011-10-23T18:46:00.003-05:00

This week I read

1 Samuel in the American Standard 1901
Luke in the Revised English Bible
Romans in the Revised English Bible
Hebrews in the Revised English Bible
Acts in the Revised English Bible

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Love On the Line

2011-10-21T15:01:00.000-05:00

Love on the Line. Deeanne Gist. 2011. Bethany House. 365 pages.

"Everybody off the train."

Love on the Line had me hooked from the start. Texas Ranger, Lucius Landrum, is trying his best to catch a gang of train robbers, a gang led by Frank Comer. His quest leads him on an undercover job. He'll be coming to the small Texas town as Luke Palmer, a troubleman for the phone company. He'll be putting up new lines for the company, repairing lines, trying to get new customers, etc. The town has a phone operator, Georgie Gail, who's VERY independent and a bit unsure about Luke--at least in the beginning.

Luke is trying to catch the bad guys, but he's undercover, so he has to go about it in a certain way. He has to become very friendly with all sorts of different people in the town. Including Miss Gail.

Miss Gail is trying to fight injustice in her own way. The milliner in town infuriates her by his use--his over-use--of bird parts on his hats and accessories. She thinks ANY use of a dead bird is over use. And she's appalled that fashion is so out of control that it is threatening the bird populations. She LOVES birds and wants to see a change. So she's out to organize the women and children in the community.

I enjoyed both characters very much. Loved how the story came together.

The novel is set at the turn of the century.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Wonderland Creek

2011-10-21T14:59:00.000-05:00

Wonderland Creek. Lynn Austin. 2011. Bethany House. 400 pages.

If my life were a book, no one would read it. People would say it was too boring, too predictable. A story told a million times. But I was perfectly content with my life--that is, until the pages of my story were ripped out before I had a chance to live happily ever after.

Our heroine, Alice Grace Ripley, has spent most of her life in Illinois taking things for granted. Things like her job at the library, even though it's the middle of the Depression, Alice assumes that work at the library will continue on. After all, don't people need to read more than ever? And she completely takes her boyfriend, Gordon, for granted. Assuming that he will always be by her side--even though the two have little in common. She's not interested in his work--he's an undertaker, or at the very least he works in the funeral home business. And he's definitely not interested in her work, the number of books she's read that week, the characters in those books, plot elements and twists, etc. So when Gordon discovers her reading a book at a funeral, well, he makes the decision that their relationship would never work. Soon after this disappointment, she learns that the library will have to change its hours and let go of their newest hire; yes, that would be Alice.

Her parents--her father in particular--are big on lists. So Alice won't be allowed time at home to be depressed. So when her Aunt and Uncle mention a trip to a spa--a trip that will take them through Kentucky, well, she asks--almost begs--to join them. For there is a small town (a mountain town) in Kentucky in need of books. Alice has been having a book drive for them, and she's got five boxes of books. She'd love to deliver them herself.

What Alice couldn't predict was her welcome in that town. And how VERY different this rural life would be from everything she's ever known. The librarian, Leslie MacDougal (Mack), isn't all that thrilled with her when she arrives. Where will she stay? Where will she sleep? There isn't exactly a hotel or boarding room about?! And Alice is shocked to discover that the librarian is a man! Which definitely complicates things!

But soon SOMETHING happens that changes everything, it seems that God had a very clear purpose for Alice coming to stay just when she did...

Will her friends and family ever believe her story?!

Wonderland Creek is a great book. Alice is a librarian, a book lover. Though her life in Kentucky does not offer much opportunity to read. The book is a fascinating look at packhorse librarians. Librarians who deliver books to their patrons--by horse. And, of course, it's an interesting look at Appalachian life as well.

If you enjoy historical fiction--set in the 1930s--or mysteries, or romance, then you should try Wonderland Creek. I loved the setting. (It reminded me--in a good way, of course--of Christy.) I loved the characters. And the story.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Who Stole My Church?

2011-10-19T14:32:00.000-05:00

Who Stole My Church? Gordon MacDonald. 2007. Thomas Nelson. 250 pages.

I began our meeting with words I'd rehearsed several times during my drive through the rain to the church: "I feel as if I've failed you."

I honestly don't know what to think about this one. It is fiction. But if it's to be considered truly fiction, then it's didactic fiction. Fiction meant to teach, to illustrate, to amuse, to persuade. Because this "fiction" book is all about trying to persuade the reader to share the author's view point: that the church NEEDS to change--and change drastically--if it's to survive or thrive in the 21st Century. His points are many. The main point being is that the church has ALWAYS changed and adapted throughout the centuries. That the "traditions" of today--or even the traditions of yesterday--were new and controversial when first introduced. Another main point, perhaps it should be THE main point, is that the church does not belong to you and me. It doesn't belong to one generation over another. The church belongs to Jesus, the church is his bride. And he paid a price for his bride, and the church MATTERS to Christ. The church is not something that one individual can "own" or "possess" or "control" or "manipulate." Well, not if it's a healthy church. Not if it's a gospel-driven, Bible-preaching, church.

So essentially the author has made himself and his wife into characters in this fictional church, fictional community. He has created a dozen or so characters and put words in their mouths. He frames the novel into a dialogue between people with different--sometimes very different--points of view. His character then tries to reason and persuade this committee to see things his way.

I could see some of the author's points. But not necessarily every point. For example, he stresses over and over again how today's generation is not familiar with hymns and that singing hymns in church is a turn off. That these 'new' believers will go somewhere else. That if the church is to stay relevant, then it needs to set aside hymns and embrace the songs these 'young' people want to hear, want to sing, etc. The way he phrased it--and I'm not sure he quite intended it to be like this--was that today's generation just can't be bothered with hymns. That hymns weren't worth introducing to new believers, a new generation. It almost sounded like an excuse, today's generation doesn't want to work at learning them or today's generation can't appreciate them, doesn't want to even try to appreciate them. I'm not sure that's fair or true. But it sounded like he was making big assumptions. I *do* think there is value in knowing hymns, in singing hymns. I do think there is great value in some of the lyrics. The lyrics MEAN SOMETHING. And they can be a great foundation in the faith.

I just don't think you can "outgrow" songs like Amazing Grace, Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus, The Old Rugged Cross, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, etc.

I think the book has some value. But it also could be slightly annoying in places.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Do I Know God?

2011-10-18T14:22:00.003-05:00

Do I Know God? Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship. Tullian Tchividjian. 2007. 215 pages.

It was the week after Christmas, and the office was quiet.

The good news is that I remember really liking this one when I read it. The bad news? Well, I read it three weeks ago and I've forgotten everything I wanted to say about it. Almost everything that is.

I do remember that it is conversational and relevant. That it was a practical book that was easy to read. A book that was meant to be read--and understood--by everyone. Not just scholars. Not just theologians. It's a book that ADDRESSES important questions.

Because I read a library copy of this one, I didn't get a chance to mark this one up. So I don't have passages to share with you. (It isn't always convenient to carry around post-it-notes.) I do remember finding many passages that I wanted to remember to mention, to quote. I wouldn't say that there was one for every single chapter, but there were enough that I considered it a rich read.

I'd definitely recommend this one!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Necessary Deception

2011-10-17T14:07:00.001-05:00

A Necessary Deception. Laurie Alice Eakes. 2011. Revell. 346 pages.

Entree into the prison proved easy for Lady Lydia Gale.

If A Necessary Deception is your first introduction to Regency romance, then I think you'll be pleased and satisfied with Laurie Alice Eakes' A Necessary Deception. If you're a big fan of the time period, if Georgette Heyer is your favorite and best author, I think you'll still enjoy it quite a bit because who doesn't want one more delightful story?

I am a BIG BIG BIG fan of Regency romance novels. And so I was very excited to get the opportunity to read and review this one. Lady Lydia Gale, our heroine, is a widow who takes a big risk. She chooses to honor her husband's last request to help out his friend should he ever be in need. When this friend is imprisoned, she does what she can to see to his release. The problem? He's French. She's English. The two countries are at war.

There's a bit of mystery in this one. A bit of espionage and blackmail. A crazy family full of dysfunction. And, of course, there's romance.

I liked this one. I did. It was an enjoyable read for me. I wouldn't say I loved it. But it was such a nice, pleasant book for me. Just a good way to spend an afternoon.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

The Sunday Salon: Week(s) in Review: October 2-15

2011-10-16T14:00:00.002-05:00

In the past two weeks, I've read

Ezekiel in the KJ21
1 Corinthians in the KJ21
2 Corinthians in the KJ21
Galatians in the KJ21
Ephesians in the KJ21
Philippians in the KJ21
Colossians in the KJ21
1 Thessalonians in the KJ21
2 Thessalonians in the KJ21
Leviticus in the ESV
Numbers in the ESV
Deuteronomy in the ESV

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books

2011-10-02T23:00:00.002-05:00

Lit: A Christian Guide to Reading Books. Tony Reinke. 2011. Crossway Books. 208 pages.

Lit! was almost a must-read for me. As a reader, as a book blogger, I felt it important that I read this one. A book about reading books, a book about reading books with a distinctively Christian perspective, it seemed like a must.

Before you get too excited, you should know that you may not be the target audience for this one. For better or worse, Lit! is written primarily for non-readers. Those people who pick up books--fiction or nonfiction--quite reluctantly. Lit! is like a not-so-gentle shove for non-readers. He is passionately trying to persuade non-readers that reading is important. He assumes that his readers will find reading unpleasant, undesirable, unnatural. He assumes that his readers are rebellious, that they will fight the reading process every time they pick up a book. He assumes that reading books regularly is not normal, that reading a book a week is almost unheard of.

The first four chapters focus on the Bible, explaining to readers that the Bible is THE BOOK. It is the eternal book. It is the ONE book that must be the most important to readers.

Scripture is perfect, sufficient, and eternal. All other books, to some degree, are imperfect, deficient, and temporary. That means that when we pick books from the bookstore shelves, we read those imperfect books in light of the perfect Book, the deficient books in light of the sufficient Book, and the temporary books in light of the eternal Book. (26)

Many authors are average (grass). Other authors are incredibly talented, fruitful, and colorful (flowers). But all authors (grass or flowers) are fragile. (27)

If we fail to make this distinction, if we fail to prioritize the eternal Word over temporary books, our reading will never be distinctly Christian. (28)

The first four chapters stress the importance of discernment and having a biblical worldview. If there is one thing he emphasizes it's the importance of KNOWING the Word of God, of being grounded in the faith, in the gospel. The Bible is the ONLY place to gain--or build--a biblical worldview.

Christian book reading is never a solitary experience, but an open invitation to commune with God. By opening a book we can stop talking and we begin listening. We can turn from the distractions of life. We can focus our minds. Sometimes we even lose all sense of time. Although it's difficult to protect, this reading environment can be the atmosphere that sustains the life of interaction with God. (37)

By reading Scripture under the illuminating grace of the Holy Spirit, we develop biblical convictions that make us competent to discern truth from lies, goodness from evil, and beauty from ugliness. Before we can be discerning, we must be informed by a direct study of Scripture. (53)

We read more safely when our understanding of Scripture is sharp. (60)

The fifth chapter, "The Giver's Voice" offers readers seven benefits of reading non-Christian books. The sixth chapter, "The God Who Slays Dragons" argues that reading imaginative fiction can be good for us.

The remaining (nine) chapters deal with reading practically.

"Read with Resolve" urges readers to prioritize their reading, to have goals, to have a purpose, to think seriously and deeply about every book that they choose to read.

For every one book that you choose to read, you must ignore ten thousand other books simply because you don't have the time (or money). (94)

"How to Read a Book" offers readers 20 tips and tricks for reading nonfiction books.

One of the tricks is knowing when to quit.

So how far into a book should a reader go before quitting? This is where the one hundred-pages-minus-your-age rule comes in handy. This rule states that readers should start with one hundred pages and subtract their age. If you are twenty years old, you should give a book eighty pages before quitting. If you're fifty years old, give it fifty pages. The more years, the more reading experience, the less time you need before you can close and shelve a book. And it means that, when you are one hundred, you are free to judge a book by its covers. (115)

"Literature Is Life" on the other hand is all about reading fiction. The author does perhaps stress reading classics a little too much. But. that's not a horrible thing. This chapter also goes where MANY blog posts have gone before. It discusses how 'realistic' Christian fiction should be. How far it should go--or not go--in its content.

"Too Busy To Read" discusses six ways to find time to read. This chapter is all about excuses.

We neglect books because our hearts reject the discipline required to read them. (131)

Our reading may not be disciplined, efficient, or fruitful until we read with purpose. Before you begin reading a book, determine why you are reading it. (133)

He does recommend that readers read more than one book at a time. (I always have more than one book going.) He suggests three.

"Driven to Distraction" argues that the Internet is bad for readers, that the more time we spend online the less time we spend reading books the traditional way. The Internet is "ruining" our attention spans and altering our expectations.

In order to feel deeply about spiritual truths we must think deeply. And to think deeply we must read deeply. And to read deeply we must read attentively, not hastily. If we discipline ourselves to read attentively and to think deeply about our reading, we will position our souls to delight. But our souls cannot delight in what our minds merely skim. (144)

"Marginalia" is a chapter about how readers should write in their books. He is very, very, very passionate about this.

"Reading Together" is a chapter about how you should not be reading by yourself. You should be trying to find others to read with. You should be reading with friends or family. How you should be mentoring others to read, showing them how to read, showing them how GREAT it is to read.

"Raising Readers" is directed to parents and pastors. He provides lists for both--but primarily for parents. How reading in the home is an absolute must.

"Happily Ever After" is a good conclusion to the book. He discusses the five marks of a healthy book reader. This chapter is VERY important, I think, for any Christian who LOVES to read.

What I liked about Lit! was that it was thought provoking. It challenges readers to THINK about what they've just read. Each chapter gives you SOMETHING to think about, to react to. For example, I rarely agreed with every little thing. Even if I agreed with his big picture, his main points, there were some sentences that I just wanted to argue with. For example, in chapter nine "Read with Resolve" he quotes another author who is discussing women and theology.

"Many women are intimidated by the thought of studying something that is 'theological' in nature. They are afraid of being bored, looking foolish, becoming unattractive to men, or becoming divisive." (96)

And she confronts women who would rather read only novels as a way to escape personal disappointments, and who read these books to "build fantasy castles filled with knights on white steeds who will come to rescue her from her mundane, stressful, empty, or disappointing life." (97)

I'm not sure if this general description is true or close to true, and I certainly can't speak for every woman. But seriously?! Women DON'T read theology books because they're worried about what MEN will think of them?! Or they're worried that if they read theology books--and actually think deep thoughts--that it will just lead to arguments?! If the generalized statement was that MEN AND WOMEN avoid theology because they find it intimidating or dry or boring, that would be one thing. Or even to just be completely honest and say that many people just don't want to read theology, they're just too lazy to try to read it. To say that MEN AND WOMEN struggle to read the bible, struggle to read Christian nonfiction, to read theology, that I could tolerate. But to single out women... I'm not sure that's exactly fair. And then the quote about how women [mainly] read romance to the exclusion of everything else, well, I felt insulted.

And I'm not sure I liked this one: "Before you begin reading a book, determine why you are reading it." That sounds like that would take all the joy out of it if you have to find a 'real' purpose clearly defined. PLEASURE and SATISFACTION are reason enough alone to pick up any book. And for nonfiction, "to learn" is sufficient.

But for the most part, I found Lit! a beneficial read. I thought he had some good ideas. Especially when it comes to prioritizing what you're reading. Urging readers to read more deliberately, to choose wisely. I thought it gave some practical advice.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Thinking about 2012 Goals

2011-10-02T17:09:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking and rethinking my yearly goals the past two or three weeks. And while I'm not ready to officially commit to these goals being MY goals for next year, these are the goals that I am--at the moment--considering.

Commit to reading the New Testament 12 times in 2012. I wouldn't necessarily be committing to read twelve different translations of the New Testament, though, of course, that would be one way to go with it. I'm thinking a balance of translations--new and old, familiar and unfamiliar--would be the way to go. I *know* that it's possible to read the New Testament in a month. I've done it in seven days. But I'm not sure I could keep on reading it once a month. That would be the challenge, I believe, not in accomplishing it the first or even second time. But could I stay committed all twelve months?

Commit to reading the Old Testament twice. (I've read the Old Testament four times this year--and the New Testament seven times.) If I spend all my time reading the New Testament, will I still find time to read the Old Testament twice? I don't know. I couldn't begin to predict...

Commit to reading 40 Christian Books A Year. I know, I know. It's not 100 books. But it is REALLY STRESSFUL trying to make that big a number. And weeks where I don't get two in, well, I start thinking about how I'm falling behind. And months with low totals, instead of feeling pleased with what I was able to read, I regret that I didn't get more read.

Commit to meditating on one hymn or worship song per week. Sometimes I'm surprised by how trivial my memory is. I find myself knowing all the words to completely irrelevant songs. Yet I don't know all the words (without looking) to my favorite hymns. Something is wrong with that picture. I remember my mom talking about how her grandmother would sing hymns all the time. And it made me realize that something is missing in my life. I am NOT committing to memorizing songs word by word, verse and chorus. Though I hope that repetition--reading morning and evening, all week long--might be beneficial.

Commit to listening to one ministry per month on the radio or OnePlace, etc. There would be NO MINIMUM requirements. Though, of course, if you didn't listen to at least ONE broadcast that month it would be a failure. But it wouldn't be requiring you to listen to five sermons a week for four or five weeks. My goal is to acquaint myself with different preachers and teachers, to see which ones work best for me. Each month would be a DIFFERENT ministry. Perhaps each month I would do one post on which ministry I chose and talk about the series/sermons I listened to?

Desiring God (John Piper)
Grace To You (John MacArthur)
Running to Win (Erwin Lutzer)
Renewing Your Mind (R.C. Sproul)
Truth for Life (Alistair Begg)
Turning Point (Dr. David Jeremiah)
Back to the Bible (Woodrow Kroll)
Leading the Way (Dr. Michael Youssef)
The Bible Study Hour with Dr. James Boice
The Connection with Pastor Skip Heitzig
In His Grip (Dr. Chuck Betters)
A New Beginning (Greg Laurie)
Bible Answer Man (Hank Hanegraaff)
Key Life (Steve Brown)
Every Last Word (Dr. Philip Graham Ryken)
Insight for Living (Chuck Swindoll)
Just Thinking (Ravi Zacharias) or Let My People Think
Living Grace (Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Living on the Edge (Chip Ingram)
Living Waters -- Way of the Master (Kirk Cameron, Ray Comfort, Todd Friel)
PowerPoint with Jack Graham
Renewal Radio with Dr. Gene Getz
Thru the Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee
Unlocking the Bible with Colin Smith
Walk in the Word with Dr. James MacDonald
White Horse Inn (Dr. Michael Horton)
Winning Walk Radio (Dr. Ed Young)

I do still plan on listening to as many sermons as possible from Bethlehem Bible Church. But I don't think I'm going to make a separate goal for that.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week In Review (September 25-October 1)

2011-10-02T08:54:00.001-05:00

This week I read...

Ezra in the KJ21
Nehemiah in the KJ21
Esther in the KJ21
Ezekiel 1-22 in the KJ21
Luke in the KJ21
Acts in the KJ21
Hebrews in the KJ21

The shortlists for the Inspys have been announced. If you only have time to read one of these, I'd recommend CITY OF TRANQUIL LIGHT by Bo Caldwell. It's just one of the best, best, best books ever!

Have you made time to watch this thirty-three minute documentary yet? It's such a great film--very powerful, very compelling. I do recommend that you give it a view!!!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Life Essentials Study Bible

2011-09-28T10:20:00.000-05:00

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

Songs That Bring Good Tears

2011-09-27T19:27:00.002-05:00

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)

2011-09-27T18:08:00.001-05:00

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