20. NIV 1984 Thompson Chain Reference (Large Print)

 20. NIV 1984, Thompson Chain Reference Bible, Large Print. God. 1984/1991. 1273 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Start date: August 7, 2024

End date: September 17, 2024

The translation is the NIV (New International Version) the 1984 edition. The first edition for the whole Bible was the 1978. The latest edition for the whole Bible was 2011. Some--myself included--do make a big distinction between the "NIV" and "NIV 84." The 84 has been out of print (and removed from the internet) since the 2011 was released. It can still be purchased second hand. It is relatively easy to thrift the 84. (Perhaps not as easy as it is to thrift KJV, but close).

I love the NIV 1984. I do. It is one I like to revisit semi-regularly. I don't read this one perhaps as much as other translations like the KJV and NASB, it is a FAVORITE that feels like home. 

The Thompson Chain Reference Bible  is a constant. It has been around for over a century. The first 'edition' was released circa 1908! It has been through many editions and updates. I have read it in the KJV, the NASB 77, the NASB 95, and now the NIV 84. 

This is a large print edition. Large print is a bit of a stretch, HOWEVER, when compared to the "regular" font type/size usually found in the Thompson Chain Reference, you can tell it is definitely larger. 

Double columns. TCR comes only in double columns. The sides of each column have reference chains. No bible text could ever be in the gutter, though perhaps a few of the chains might be in some editions. 

Red letter. This is a red letter edition. Some TCR are black letter, but most are red letter. I don't know if any NIV 84 TCR's exist. 

There is an edition of the NIV Thompson Chain Reference that uses the NIV 1978 text. 

Kirkbride was the original publisher, now it is published by Zondervan. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

44. Saved by the Matchmaker

44. Saved by the Matchmaker. (A Shanahan Match #2) Jody Hedlund. 2024. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

First sentence: World's biggest fool. The words felt engraved on Enya Shanahan's forehead.

Premise/plot: Enya Shanahan's marriage has been annulled. That is great news. However, she'll always carry something with her from her first marriage--a child. What her family wants to find her is a husband--and quickly. Someone who is willing to marry a pregnant woman and raise the child as his own. There is such a guy who is desperate to find a wife quickly for his own reasons--something to do with his father or father's business. These two marry out of convenience, will it turn into a love match?

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE marriage of convenience stories. This one was a thousand times better than the first book in the series which I truly despised. Okay, maybe that is taking it a couple steps too far. The good news is that I didn't get angry and stay angry at this book. So hooray?! 

There are two things that still bothered me about this one. 

First, this one still seemed to do a lot of line crossing when it comes to graphic content of the intimate sort. Though at least these two are technically married. But just because the fictional couple is married doesn't mean that the intimate scenes have to be written in an overly provocative, graphic way. In mainstream fiction, this would not be all that "steamy" or "smutty." This is a Christian novel, however, and I think there are plenty of readers who go out of their way to avoid just this. Not every Christian reader, mind you. 

Second, it could have been so much better if it was a bit shorter. One conversation could have saved about a hundred pages of prolonged silly misunderstandings. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #37

Bible reading

NIV 84 (Thompson Chain Reference)

Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings 1-10

Jeremiah 16-52, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel

1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

KJV (Center Column Reference)

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings

Isaiah 1-4

Psalms 42-87

NASB 95 (Large Print Pew Bible)

John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

LSB (Giant Print Reference)

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Hosea, Joel, amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, 

Genesis, Matthew 1-4

CSB Baker Illustrated 

2 Samuel 13-24; 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalm 1-72

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

43. Knowing God's Truth

Knowing God's Truth: An Introduction to Systematic Theology. Jon Nielson. 2023. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars]

First sentence from the introduction: This book is designed to help you think more deeply about the most important topic--the most important person--in the entire universe: God himself. 

First sentence from chapter one: What comes to mind when you hear the word theology? 

Knowing God's Truth is an introduction to systematic theology. Unfamiliar with theology? with systematic theology? No worries, this book was written for you. This book breaks everything down into basic building blocks so that anyone can understand the foundations of the christian faith. For those more familiar with theology and/or systematic theology, this one is a good refresher course. I'm guessing that even those with many years of study behind them have strengths and weaknesses. 

One thing that makes this one stand out is that it accessible, organized, precise, concise, logical. Each chapter is broken down into smaller chunks. Each chapter also BUILDS IN prayer time. I've never seen a book quite like this one that encourages readers to pray as they are reading/studying. It also includes summaries reviews at the end of each chapter. It is a thing of beauty in how simple yet uncompromising it is. 

There are twelve chapters. 

What is Theology?

The Doctrine of Scripture

The Doctrine of God

The Doctrine of Man

The Doctrine of Sin

The Doctrine of Jesus Christ

The Doctrine of Salvation

The Doctrine of Heaven and Hell

The Doctrine of the Church

The Doctrine of Angels and Demons

The Doctrine of Last Things

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

My only small complaint--and it is by no means a deal breaker--is why save the Holy Spirit for last???? Why not place the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit either before or after Salvation? I do think one needs to study the Holy Spirit before one studies the doctrine of the Church. 

I would recommend this one to essentially anyone and everyone. I think it would be good for individual use. But I also think it would be excellent for group(s). I could see it coming in handy for private Christian schools as curriculum. I could see it being a great fit for Christian homeschoolers. I could see it being good for Sunday school classes or bible studies. I think it would work for small Christian book clubs. (Though I don't know how many small Christian book clubs read nonfiction.)  

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

19. NASB 1995 Large Print Pew Bible

19. New American Standard Bible (1995 text) Large Print Pew Bible. (Lockman Foundation). 1995/2005. 1267 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Start date: July 11, 2024

End date: September 11, 2024

The NASB is one of my absolute favorite, favorite, favorite translations. It has had several editions: the first being in 1971 for the whole Bible and the last being in 2020. (It is also cousins with the Legacy Standard Bible, the LSB which released a few years ago). 

What should you know about this specific edition? 

It is compact in size being a pew Bible. Pew bibles are most similar perhaps to thinline bibles. Yet despite its compactness, it offers a "large print" font. According to Amazon it is listed as being a 10 point font. It is not in the newer "comfort print." It might be closer to a 9.5 font. 

It is double column. The text is not horrible about going into the gutter. It doesn't lay perfectly flat, however, I had no issue reading the inside column fully. 

It is black letter. SO many NASB bibles are red letter. Especially of the thinline sort. So it was a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL find to discover this as an option.

It has been over a decade since this one was published and so it may be harder to find. However, other pew Bibles have been released since 2005. I'm not sure if all are black letter. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #36

Bible reading

NIV 84 (Thompson Chain Reference)

Deuteronomy 14-34; Joshua; Judges; 

Psalms 138-150

Isaiah 45-66; Jeremiah 1-15

John 6-21

Hebrews; James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter

KJV (Center Column Reference)

Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua 1-7

Psalms 9-41

NASB 95 (Large Print Pew Bible)

Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum

Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Matthew, Mark, Luke

LSB (Giant Print Reference)

2 Kings; Job; Proverbs 1-15

CSB Baker Illustrated Study Bible

Numbers, Deuteronomy

Joshua, Judges, 

Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel 1-12

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

42. Shepherds for Sale

Shepherds for Sale. Megan Basham. 2024. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [Christian nonfiction] [4 stars]

First sentence from the introduction: When a group of friends from church invited Bailey Anderson to put on a pink knitted hat and join them at the 2017 Women's March, she assumed her confusion was a matter of geography.

Shepherds for Sale is a controversial new nonfiction book alleging a lot of missteps within the church leadership or community--namely the convenient-not-so-convenient label evangelical church. The allegations are serious leaning more towards being shocking, alarming, disheartening, discouraging, frustrating. The book without a doubt jumps right into politics, society, and culture, aka THE WORLDLY WORLD-WORLD. Each chapter has a subject. The overall theme of the entire book may be that the church is TOO influenced--literally, figuratively--by the world. But each chapter has a relatively narrow focus. Some leaders may feature into multiple chapters, but that is not always the case.

Chapter one focuses on the issue of climate change. Chapter two focuses on illegal immigration. Chapter three focuses on the pro-life movement. Chapter four focuses on so-called Christian media. Chapter five focuses on Covid-19. Chapter six focuses on critical race theory. Chapter seven focuses on the me too movement. Chapter eight focuses on the LGBTQ community.

These eight subjects typically cause strong, emotional reactions. Christians' opinions might be on a wide, broad spectrum on at least some of these issues. 

The book alleges that there are certain churches, certain denominations, that are ultimately compromised, sell-outs, that are intentionally or perhaps unintentionally trying to brainwash their members to align more closely with the world. In a few cases, she has discovered a money trail. Instances where leftist, liberal, and/or atheist organizations have paid huge sums of money to certain church denominations. But money doesn't have to exchange hands. There isn't always a money trail. (Obviously). There are many instances where it's more about wanting to please everyone, wanting to keep the peace, not wanting to offend,  or perhaps more NOT wanting to get canceled. Though the book title may imply that it is about money--selling out literally for money--I think more often than not the examples are more subtle. 

So I mentioned the book was controversial. It isn't the topics being covered so much that makes it controversial. Nor is it necessarily her positions on the topics covered that make it so. It is her naming-names and giving examples in each chapter. At least one person--perhaps others have as well--as come forward and said that the quotes attributed are absolutely not correct. That is, Basham is arguing a position that is on a foundation--in particular instances, circumstances--of inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information. Does one instance of shaky reporting mean the whole book is inaccurate or exaggerated???? I would venture forth no. But it does call for more critical thinking as you read it.

My thought is that even if only half of what she reports, alleges, argues is founded in truth, there is reason for concern. My other thought is that each chapter should be judged--evaluated--on its own. The subject matter varies greatly. Depending on the subject, you may already be familiar with some of the concerns, know the positions and people involved. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible