Sunday, July 31, 2011

The Sunday Salon: Week In Review: July 24-30

This week I read...

2 Kings in the Revised English Bible
Joel in the Revised English Bible
Amos in the Revised English Bible
Obadiah in the Revised English Bible
Jonah in the Revised English Bible
Micah in the Revised English Bible
Nahum in the Revised English Bible
Habakkuk in the Revised English Bible
Zephaniah in the Revised English Bible
Haggai in the Revised English Bible
Matthew in the Revised English Bible
1 Corinthians in the Revised English Bible
2 Corinthians in the Revised English Bible
Ephesians in the Revised English Bible
1 Thessalonians in the Revised English Bible
2 Thessalonians in the Revised English Bible
Philemon in the Revised English Bible
James in the Revised English Bible
1 Peter in the Revised English Bible
2 Peter in the Revised English Bible
Jude in the Revised English Bible


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Spotlight on Woodrow Kroll

July's author of the month was Woodrow Kroll. I read (or reread) three of his books this month: Taking Back The Good Book, How To Find God in the Bible, and Read Your Bible One Book At A Time. (I didn't write a new review of Taking Back the Good Book though I did reread it, but the other two were new to me.) His books inspired me to write quite a handful of posts:

Taste and See: Eating a Balanced Diet
So What's Your Excuse
Looking for Answers?
Taste and See: Redeeming the Time
Christ in the Pages of the Bible
Without a Bible...
Ten Reasons Why Family Devotions Are Important
Five Questions From Taking Back the Good Book

From Read Your Bible One Book at a Time:

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)
From How To Find God in the Bible:

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) 

From Taking Back the Good Book:
The most common excuse for not reading the Bible is our busy lives. We don't seem to have time to do the things we need to do. There's work and school, running to the store, soccer practice, dinner--life is just a bit harried. Who has time to sit and read?
You do. Here's why: time is a set quantity. It's not elastic. We all have sixty seconds in every minute, sixty minutes in every hour, twenty-four hours in every day. Time may fly, but it doesn't change. You have 1,440 golden minutes in every day and so do I.
The issue is never about time; it's always about what we choose to do get done in the time we have. Is reading God's Word, meditating and benefiting from it, something you wish to take the time to do or not? If not, the convenient but pathetic excuse is to say, "I don't have time."
A couple of years ago, I took a stopwatch with me everywhere I flew. I would read my Bible while in flight and time how long it took to read each book of the Bible. Once when I was returning from Frankfurt on a flight to Chicago, a flight attendant saw the stopwatch and asked, "Are you timing our service?" I chuckled and said, "No, I'm timing how long it takes me to read my Bible." Puzzled, she asked why someone would want to do that. I said, "Because everybody tells me they would read their Bible but they don't have time. I want to know how much time they don't have."
Did you know that you can read half the books of the Bible in less than thirty minutes each? You can read twenty-six of them in less than fifteen minutes. The whole Bible, cover to cover, can be read by an average reader in less than seventy-two hours.
Maybe it's time we rethink our reasons for not reading the Bible and just call them what they are--excuses. Take another look at these "Top Ten." How many of them have you used with God as an excuse for not reading his Word? If you can see through the excuses so quickly, imagine how easily he can see through them.
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. (76-77)
We typically think of tithing in monetary terms, but have you ever thought about tithing your time? Suppose you spent 10 percent of your day with God? What would that mean? Mathematically, there are twenty-four hours in a day, which equals 1440 minutes. If you gave the Lord 10 percent of that time, he would receive 144 minutes every day. That's over two hours. Is that how much time you spend in reading the Word and in prayer now? Probably not. But let's be fair. You have to work and sleep each for eight hours. You can't really tithe that time. So we're really talking about tithing in terms of your third eight-hour period in the day. That's 480 minutes, and a tithe of 480 minutes is forty-eight minutes daily. If you gave God forty-eight minutes daily, you'd be giving him one-tenth of one-third of your day. Does that sound reasonable? But how are you going to find forty-eight minutes in a day? You start here: instead of tacking God onto your schedule where you can, instead of watching your third reality show of the night, turn off the television, shut out everything else, and spend forty-eight quality minutes with God. If you do that, you could actually read the Bible through four times in one year--pretty amazing! (160)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Five Questions From...Taking Back the Good Book

I love to read nonfiction. I do. (You may have noticed that!) I love it when authors ask really great questions in their books. I love questions that challenge me and make me think.

I thought I would start sharing *some* of these questions with you. I would LOVE to hear what you think...



This week's questions come from Woodrow Kroll's Taking Back the Good Book: How America Forgot the Bible and Why It Matters To You
  1. Do you want to get to know God better?
  2. What will we miss if we don't read the Bible?
  3. If we want to know God's Word better, what's stopping us?
  4. What am I receiving from my Bible that truly influences my life and connects me with God and service to him?
  5. Is it really important whether what you believe is true or not?


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Ten Reasons Why (Family) Devotions Are Important

From Woodrow Kroll's Taking Back The Good Book. (Chapter twenty-one, "What Parents Can Do.")
Having family devotions is crucial. I'm sold on family devotions. They kept my family connected as the kids were growing up. Now they are keeping my grandchildren connected to their families. Here are ten good reasons why you should have consistent family devotions in God's Word:

1) Devotions provide communication with God (Ps. 25:4-5; Ps. 119:145-52)
2) Devotions quench our spiritual thirst (Ps. 42:1-2; Ps. 84:2; Phil. 3:10)
3) Devotions are the basis for personal spiritual growth (1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18)
4) Devotions provide a safeguard against spiritual immaturity (1 Cor. 3:1-3; Ps. 119:9-11)
5) Devotions provide insight for daily living (Prov. 10:4; Prov. 17:27-28)
6) Devotions prevent schizophrenic faith (1 John 4:1; Eph. 4:11-15)
7) Devotions provide daily comfort and encouragement (Ps. 119:81; Rom. 15:4)
8) Devotions prepare us to share our faith (1 Pet. 3:15; Luke 24:27)
9) Devotions provide daily direction (Deut. 5:27; Ps. 119:105)
10) Devotions show our respect for the Bible's Author. (Ps. 19:9-10; Ps. 119:127-28)

Having a family time in the Bible will not only be a link between family members, but it will also provide a safeguard against creeping Bible illiteracy in the next generation. (170-171)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Book Review: Mixed Signals

Mixed Signals. Liz Curtis Higgs. 1999. Multnomah. 384 pages.

Rainy days and Mondays never got Belle O'Brien down. Not when her radio listeners were waiting. 

Mixed Signals is the second contemporary romance novel I've read by Liz Curtis Higgs. I enjoyed both Bookends and Mixed Signals, but I think I definitely liked Mixed Signals more.

The heroine of this one is radio personality, Belle O'Brien. When the novel opens, Belle's having a really bad day. She's just learned that her oldies station--the radio station that she works at--has been bought out. It is now sports radio. (Oh the horror!) She's the only one who hasn't lost her job--and it's not because Belle is a sports fan. No, they've 'creatively' imagined ways to still use her voice on air. (Think Betty Boop).

So when Belle gets a phone call a week or so later, a call from her first boss, Patrick Reese, offering her a job at his brand new oldies station, well, she's thrilled. She counts Patrick as one of her closest friends. And when she worked for him, well, she had a HUGE crush on him. She's not moving just because she's hoping for a romance between the two of them. She's moving because any job (almost) has to be better than her current one. Even if it means moving from Chicago to Abingdon, Virginia.

Belle is very excited about her new job, and she makes an almost instant connection with her landlady, Norah. Who wouldn't love Norah? She's a Christian woman with a big, big, big heart, and she is a GREAT cook. Her home is always inviting and welcoming. And spending any amount of time with Norah makes you want to set your burdens down to share. And Belle confides with Norah about her past with Patrick, which isn't the easiest for Norah to hear since she has a crush on him now.

Patrick may be the most vocal about his interest in Belle, but he's not the only man in town impressed by her. No, David, the radio engineer can't stop thinking about her either. And Christmas may just be an enlightening time for everybody...

I liked this one. I really liked it. I thought the characters were great. It was just very fun, very satisfying.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Monday, July 25, 2011

Book Review: Safely Home

Safely Home. Randy C. Alcorn. 2011. Tyndale. 434 pages.

Three men watched intently as peculiar events occurred, one right after the other, on opposite sides of the globe.

I read the tenth anniversary edition of Randy Alcorn's Safely Home. In some ways, it was just what I was looking for. Since reading The Evangelicals: What They Believe, Where They Are, and Their Politics, I've been looking to read more about Christians who are suffering persecution for their beliefs, about Christians living in countries with little religious freedom. And to a certain extent more about missionaries and martyrs. (Through Gates of Splendor, China Cry, City of Tranquil Light.)

If Safely Home had been nonfiction, I think I would have absolutely loved it. I think I would have found it challenging and fascinating and inspiring. I would have loved to hear stories--directly or indirectly--about real Christians living in China. I would love to hear more about the illegal home churches. I would love to hear more about the people's thirst for knowledge--thirst for the Word of God. The sections of Safely Home where they talk about home churches and underground (secret) seminaries where the Word of God is taught so that people can teach others and spread the word. I'm sure there would be plenty of sad or tragic stories--though depending on your perspective--but I'm sure there would always, always be a thread of hope as well. I don't think the truth would need embellishing. I don't think you'd need to work to make it emotional and dramatic. I think the simple telling of facts would do the job just fine.

But Safely Home isn't nonfiction. It's fiction. The story is compelling, emotional, a bit manipulative, perhaps, at times. This is a book that almost demands you slow down to process everything. I don't think that's a bad thing at all. It's just that this isn't a book you can rush through. For the story to mean something, you have to be willing to slow down. You have to see the big picture. You have to step back a little, to see it as a whole, to consider it as a whole.

So Safely Home is the journey of a business man, Ben Fielding, who had to journey to China to meet Jesus Christ. That's a one sentence summary for you. Of course, that is just the beginning....

Ben Fielding is an American business man. He's mean. He's cranky. He's selfish. He's all money, money, money. If he had a heart at one point, he's left it behind him because it's bad for business. He's divorced. He's got two kids--two daughters--that he barely knows. He's just all about getting ahead. He is Vice President of a company, Getz International, and Getz has been doing big business in China--in two major Chinese cities. And it was all his idea. His idea to partner with China. His idea that it was crucial for him to learn Mandarin all those years ago. When the novel opens, he is getting ready to go to China. The company thinks it would be a good idea for him to spend six to eight weeks in China living among the people, the "common" people of China. Live as they live, see the world through their eyes, prove to everyone that you really care. So when Ben Fielding mentions that his former college roommate was from China, well, they decide that would be just about perfect.

Li Quan is the roommate. And it's almost too easy to say he's the complete opposite of Ben Fielding. He's got a big, big heart. And his heart and mind and soul belong to Jesus. He loves his wife. He loves his son. But he knows that God comes first. Not just before his family. But before his life. He asks himself every day will this be the day that I die? Will this be the day that I face that choice of deny God and live, or stand firm in the faith and die? He prays for the strength to endure to the end--to suffer anything and everything for Christ's sake. He's already been arrested a handful of times, and been in prison for months at a time. His own father died a martyr's death. Only at the time Quan was not a believer. No, Quan found Jesus in America, he came to faith when he went to church (or a Bible study perhaps?) with his American roommate, Ben Fielding.

So for the most of the novel you've got Li Quan and Ben Fielding deep in discussion with one another. Ben Fielding trying to persuade Li Quan that he's got all these wrong ideas about China. That he's exaggerating everything. That Christians couldn't possibly be suffering persecution from the government. Not the government he does business with. He keeps trying to convince Quan that all this rule-breaking is unnecessary. I mean, why make such a big deal about how the government-approved churches and government-approved seminaries aren't really free. Can't Quan just go about his business peaceably? Why can't he keep his faith a secret? Why can't he keep his faith private? Why doesn't Quan see that he's only asking for trouble? Quan is patient--tremendously patient with Ben. Some of his actions seem a little risky.

These discussions can--at times--feel a little forced. Like the reader is being invited to a debate between two opposing forces. One voice being morally-relativistic and politically correct and all-too-modern. The other voice being the voice of truth as revealed in the Word of God. Their is a right way and a wrong way to see things--little things, big things, everything--and Ben almost always represents those blinded to the truth, those lost in slavery to sin. At least for most of this one. So the novel is definitely issue-driven. There is a message in this one for readers.

But these discussions aren't unrealistic. For example, Ben is asking questions about God's goodness. If God exists, why is there suffering? If God exists, if God cares for me, then why did my son die? If God is good why did my family fall apart? If God is good why did my mother die? Why does God let people I love suffer or die? Not all of the questions--not all of the discussions--are that personal, that private. Some are more related to politics and society and business and morality and ethics.

Through Li Quan, readers learn about the spread of Christianity in China. How it is thriving in persecution. How desperate they are for Bibles. How desperate they are for teachers/preachers. How strong these believers are--how they're willing to face suffering, imprisonment, torture, even death, for the Lord. How their faith actually MEANS something. How they don't take anything for granted.

So the message is a compelling one. I definitely am glad I read this one. I liked seeing Ben take this journey. And I am happy with how it ended--for the most part.  

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Sunday Salon: Week In Review: July 17-23

This week I read...

1 Kings in the Revised English Bible
2 Kings 1-9 in the Revised English Bible
Galatians in the Revised English Bible

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Without a Bible...

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

Book Review: Bookends

Bookends. Liz Curtis Higgs. 2000. Multnomah. 340 pages.

It isn't possible! Emilie Getz peered into the window of Benner's Pharmacy, amazed to find every detail exactly as she'd remembered. The soda counter were she'd sat as a child and ordered cherry colas, the stout glass jar stuffed with locally baked pretzels, the racks of colorful greeting cards, the customers--regulars, no doubt--perched on vinyl-covered stools. Gazing out at her, gazing in.

Dr. Emilie Getz, our heroine, has returned to her home town of Lititz, Pennsylvania, to do some historical research for a book she's writing about the 250th anniversary of the Moravian Congregation in Lititz. The novel opens with her attending a Christmas Eve service, she's distracted a bit by the man who sits beside her in the pew. Jonas Fielding, our hero, seems destined to fight with Emilie from the very start. The question, for readers, is not will these two fall or love or when will these two get together. But how will it happen, how will these two admit that what they're feeling is love.

Jonas is her opposite in many, many ways. But this land-developer isn't as evil, as mean, as cruel as Emilie first suspects. He's not out to "destroy" history and "remuddle" things. No, he's a good guy, a very good guy. And she'd be a fool not to realize how great a match he'd be....

As a reader, I often feels less is more especially when it comes to romance. I am not convinced that the Nathan story line was completely necessary to the story--at least for the development of the romance. I think there were enough obstacles between Jonas and Emilie already. And these two were clearly already in love with one another before Nathan arrived to "complicate" things by his desperate actions. And Nathan's scenes, well, they took me away from the characters I did care about. I would never say that Nathan "ruined" the book for me. I wouldn't ever be that silly. But I do think that I would have liked the novel a little more if the Nathan story had been less dramatic.

I don't read a lot of contemporary romance. I tend to prefer historical romance. But. I am SO glad I read this one. While I wouldn't say I loved it, or loved it absolutely, it was such a good read. Maybe not the best, best romance I'd ever read....but it was such a satisfying read!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Sunday Salon: Week In Review: July 10-16

This week I read

Numbers in the American Standard Version
Ruth in the New English Bible, Revised English Bible
1 Samuel in the Revised English Bible
2 Samuel in the Revised English Bible
Song of Songs in the New English Bible
Isaiah 28-66 in the American Standard Version
Zechariah in the Revised English Bible
Malachi in the Revised English Bible
Mark in the Revised English Bible
Luke 13-24 in the American Standard Version
John in the Revised English Bible
Philippians in the New English Bible, Revised English Bible
Colossians in the Revised English Bible
1 John in the Revised English Bible
2 John in the Revised English Bible
3 John in the Revised English Bible
Revelation in the Revised English Bible

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Friday, July 15, 2011

Book review: Embrace Grace

Embrace Grace: Welcome to the Forgiven Life. Liz Curtis Higgs. 2006. Waterbrook Press. 160 pages.

I've been waiting for you. Holding this good news close to my heart, longing to share it. And now here you are, standing on the threshold. 

Embrace Grace is a nice devotional book for women. The book creatively yet effectively combines quotes from people like you and me--people who've written to Liz Curtis Higgs through the years to share their stories, their struggles, their frustrations, their hopes--with passages from Scripture. I don't know if this will make sense to you or not, but the book has a very communal feel to it which was nice. I think no matter who you are, no matter where you are in your life, in your spiritual life, you can feel isolated and out of sorts or out of touch. Am I the only one who feels like this? Am I the only one who struggles with this? The book can feel very intimate, very personal in places. It's nice to know that you're not alone, that other people have been where you are, that there is hope and grace and forgiveness. And the Scripture!!! Well, let's just say that I loved how she incorporated Scripture in her narrative. It was encouraging and uplifting, very supportive, very motivational.

If you want to know more about the Father, more about his Son, more about the Holy Spirit--and lots more about human nature--look no further: the Bible is the book for you. And if your spiritual life is starting to wilt, nothing refreshes like Scripture. We can fall in love with him all over again, just by opening his Word. God knew hope alone would not sustain us. We need something to hold in our hands and read with our eyes and study with our minds and speak with our mouths and store in our hearts. Something tangible. Something trustworthy. Something timeless. Whenever I long to get my heart in tune with God, I read the gospel of John. As a writer, I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the language. As a woman, I am undone by the beauty of the Savior. (51-2)
The more I read, the more I am convinced the Bible isn't simply a book. It's a love letter. (56)
The place God's Word holds in our lives is crucial. Because interspersed among the verses that uplift and inspire us are equally important verses that admonish and convict us. You know... the verses we don't underline or memorize. The ones we gloss over, hoping they mean something other than what they clearly state. (70)
Guilt is an unwanted gift from below. Grace is a much-needed gift from above. (109)


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Christ in the Pages of the Bible

As you may have noticed, I've been loving the Woodrow Kroll books I've recently read!!! In How To Find God in the Bible, he shares this little list called "Christ in the Pages of the Bible." (It is on pages 162-164). I LOVE this list, I do, because in it I see 66 wonderful reasons to read the Bible. Why read the Old Testament? Why read the New Testament? To learn about God, our Savior, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! The Bible is *anything* but boring! You can meet God in all sixty-six books. He has something to say to you in His Word...will you take the time to read it for yourself?!

Genesis: Seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18)
Exodus: Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:3-8, 12-13)
Leviticus: Great High Priest (Leviticus 21:10-12)
Numbers: Star of Jacob (Numbers 24:17)
Deuteronomy: Prophet Like Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)
Joshua: Commander of the Lord's Army (Joshua 4:14-15)
Judges: Messenger of Jehovah (Judges 13:8-10, 17-21)
Ruth: Kinsman-Redeemer (Ruth 4:14)
1 Samuel: Man After God's Own Heart (1 Samuel 13:14)
2 Samuel: Seed of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
1 Kings: Still, Small Voice of God (1 Kings 19:12, NKJV)
2 Kings: King of Kings (2 Kings 23:25)
1 Chronicles: One Who Searches Our Hearts (1 Chronicles 28:9)
2 Chronicles: God Who Will Dwell on Earth (2 Chronicles 6:18)
Ezra: Lord of Heaven and Earth (Ezra 5:11)
Nehemiah: Joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10)
Esther: God Above Time (Esther 4:14)
Job: Our Risen Redeemer (Job 19:25-27)
Psalms: Our Shepherd (Psalms 23:1); Our Secret Place (Psalms 91:1)
Proverbs: Wisdom of God (Proverbs 4:5-8)
Ecclesiastes: One Who Makes All Things Beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Song of Solomon: Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valley (Song of Solomon 2:1)
Isaiah: Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:2-7)
Jeremiah: The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
Lamentations: The God of Faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Ezekiel: Coming Prince (Ezekiel 44:1-3)
Daniel: Fourth Man in the Fire (Daniel 3:25)
Hosea: Lover of Those Who Go Astray (Hosea 14:4)
Joel: Outpourer of the Spirit (Joel 2:28)
Amos: Living Word of God (Amos 8:11)
Obadiah: Lord of His Kingdom (Obadiah 1:21)
Jonah: God of the Second Chance (Jonah 3:1)
Micah: The Bethlehemite (Micah 5:2)
Nahum: One Who Brings Good News (Nahum 1:15)
Habakkuk: Lord in His Holy Temple (Habakkuk 2:20)
Zephaniah: Lord in Israel's Midst (Zephaniah 3:15)
Haggai: Desire of All Nations (Haggai 2:7)
Zechariah: Branch (Zechariah 6:12); Coming King (Zechariah 9:9)
Malachi: Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2)
Matthew: King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2, Matthew 27:11)
Mark: Servant of the Lord (Mark 10:43-45)
Luke: Son of Man (Luke 19:10)
John: Son of God (John 19:7)
Acts: The Ascended Lord (Acts 1:9-11)
Romans: The Lord Our Righteousness (Romans 10:4)
1 Corinthians: Firstfruits of the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:20)
2 Corinthians: Our Sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5, NKJV)
Galatians: Our Freedom (Galatians 5:1)
Ephesians: Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23)
Philippians: Highly Exalted Lord (Philippians 2:9)
Colossians: Fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9, NKJV)
1 Thessalonians: The Coming Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
2 Thessalonians: The Coming Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)
1 Timothy: Mediator Between God and Man (1 Timothy 2:5)
2 Timothy: One Who Stands By Our Side (2 Timothy 4:17)
Titus: Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
Philemon: The One Who Paid Our Debt (Philemon 1:18)
Hebrews: Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14)
James: Lord Drawing Near (James 4:8)
1 Peter: The Suffering Lamb (1 Peter 1:19)
2 Peter: Lord of Glory (2 Peter 1:16-17)
1 John: Coming Son of God (1 John 2:28)
2 John: Son of God and Son of Man (2 John 1:7)
3 John: The Truth (3 John 1:3-4)
Jude: Coming Judge (Jude 1:14-15)
Revelation: The Lord's Christ (Revelation 11:15)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Book Review: To The One Who Conquers

To The One Who Conquers: 50 Daily Meditations on the Seven Letters of Revelation 2-3. Sam Storms. 2008. Crossway Books. 240 pages.

In To The One Who Conquers, Sam Storms examines--in great detail--the seven letters to the seven churches found in the book of Revelation. The church in Ephesus has nine meditations. The church in Smyrna has five meditations. The church in Pergamum has six meditations. The church in Thyatira has seven meditations. The church in Sardis has six meditations. The church in Philadelphia has six meditations. The church in Laodicea has eleven meditations. The book addresses how they were relevant to the original audience--first century believers--and are relevant to the church today. I believe it is important to keep both in mind when you're reading. If you focus only on future-fulfillment, then what exactly did the promises and warnings mean to those churches? If you focus only on the past, well, you have other problems to address.  Storms goes through these two chapters verse by verse by verse. Sometimes phrase by phrase.

I chose to read this book of meditations--or devotions--with two things in mind. How is this message relevant to the church--as a whole, as a body of believers, as a community--and how is this relevant to me as a believer, as an individual. What can I learn from reading this letter or that letter. Are the problems facing those churches familiar to me? Are there churches still struggling with these problems? Am I contributing to the problem? Are there things in my own life I need to address? Is there anything I need to be praying about?

Sam Storms does address some of the problems facing modern churches. He does ask some tough questions, asking readers to challenge themselves to really contemplate what they're reading.In "Christ In and Over His Church," he writes:
Do you care what Christ thinks of the church? Or are you more attuned to the latest trend in worship, the most innovative strategy for growth, the most "relevant" way in which to engage the surrounding culture? Yes, Jesus cares deeply about worship. Of course he wants the church to grow. And he longs to see the culture redeemed for his own glory. All the more reason to pray that God might quicken us to read and heed the words of Christ to the church in Ephesus then and to the church now, whatever its name, denomination, or size. It obviously matters to him. Out it not to us as well? (31)

And in "Our Knowledge of God's Knowledge of Us":
Sin is strengthened by the illusion of secrecy. (32)
How does your knowledge of God's knowledge of you change your life? If it doesn't, it should. (32)

In "The Limits of Love,"
Does love have its limits? Are there places it won't go, people it won't embrace, ideas it won't endorse? Or is true love indiscriminate, universal, and all-inclusive? These questions are clearly and decisively answered in our Lord's words to the church in ancient Ephesus. And his perspective is anything but politically correct! Jesus had already commended the Ephesians for their hard work and perseverance. He now turns his attention to their orthodoxy. Far from being blinded by love, they had 20/20 discernment. They hated evil--period. No ifs, ands, or buts. Whatever form evil took, whatever ethical or theological, they stood resolute in their opposition. No compromise. No cutting of corners. Their love was revealed in their intolerance. Unsanctified mercy had no place in the church at Ephesus. We would do well to learn from their example. (41)
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Focus on Philippians 1:9-11

In May, I did a little post on Philippians 4:4-7. I was studying Philippians at the time, and I had discovered just how many differences there are--in word choices, in phrases--between translations. More than you might expect from casually reading other books of the Bible. I happened to read in the New English Bible and the Revised English Bible...this time.

Some of the differences are subtle, others jump out--at least to me they do! After reading them all, do any stand out to you? Which is the easiest to understand? Which is the one that resonates most with you? Are there any that you don't like?

And this is my prayer, that your love may grow ever richer in knowledge and insight of every kind, enabling you to learn by experience what things really matter. Then on the day of Christ you will be flawless and without blame, yielding the full harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11, REB)
And this is my prayer, that your love may grow ever richer and richer in knowledge and insight of every kind, and may thus bring you the gift of true discrimination. Then on the Day of Christ you will be flawless and without blame, reaping the full harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11, NEB)
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11, ESV)
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11, NASB)
And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11, HCSB)
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11, NKJV)
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV)
I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding. Then you will be able to know what is best. You will be pure and without blame until the day Christ returns. You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All of those things bring glory and praise to God. (Philippians 1:9-11, NIRV)
Highlights from other translations...
"keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgment, so that you will be able to choose what is best" (Good News Translation)
"For I want you to understand what really matters...May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ..." (New Living Translation)
"might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight..." (Common English Bible)
"that you will see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good;" (New Century Version)
"...that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head..." (Message)
"...that you may have a sense of what is vital, and may be men of transparent character and blameless life, in preparation for the Day of Christ." (New Testament, American Translation, Edgar Goodspeed, 1923)
"... accompanied by clear knowledge and keen perception, for testing things that differ, so that you may be men of transparent character..." (New Testament in Modern Speech, Weymouth New Testament, Richard Weymouth, 1912)
"...in order that you may distinguish those things that differ; that you may be pure and without offence..." (Translation of the New Testament from the Original Greek, William Godbey, 1902)
"...that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best..." (NRSV)
"...so that you may approve what is superior, in order that you may be sincere..." (Lexham English Bible)
"...I want you to be able always to recognize the highest and the best..." (J.B. Phillips New Testament)
"My prayer for you is that you will overflow more and more with love for others, and at the same time keep on growing in spiritual knowledge and insight, for I want you always to see clearly the difference between right and wrong, and to be inwardly clean, no one being able to criticize you from now until our Lord returns. May you always be doing those good, kind things which show that you are a child of God, for this will bring much praise and glory to the Lord. (Philippians 1:9-11, Living Bible)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Taste and See: Redeeming The Time

Do you spend your time wisely? Do any of us? Do you want to?! Perhaps that is the first step. Realizing that there are things in our lives that are a complete waste of time, and other things that are more redeeming in nature. Ephesians 5:15-17 in the American Standard Bible:
Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
.  

What does it mean to redeem the time? Well, a few verses later--in Ephesians--we're told to be filled with the Spirit.
"Be filled with the Spirit; speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father." (Ephesians 5:18-20)

And in Philippians 4, we're given further instructions:
 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise--dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:4-9) I quoted it from the HCSB. 

And in Colossians 3, we're given quite a lot to digest:
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:12-17) I quoted the NASB.
I think a foundational truth is there: whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus is to be so real to us, such a part of our thoughts, our hearts, our lives, that he not only IS present but FEELS present to us. To live like he is ever-present, to live in HIS presence, to cherish each moment as an opportunity to be with Him, perhaps that is a clue as to how to redeem the time. Do you live like that? Do you want to?

Do you only acknowledge God one day a week? Do you only acknowledge Him two hours a week? Or do you give him more of yourself, more of your time, more of your heart and mind and soul? Do you only remember Him when you're in great need? Do you only remember Him on holidays?

How much of our lives do we owe to our Creator and Savior? How much of our lives are we giving Him? Are we giving even that willingly or grudgingly? Have you discovered the truth that we are to DELIGHT in being with Him? Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 84:10, etc.

How do we get to know God? How do we discover God's will? Through reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing Scripture, and through prayer.

In chapter twenty of Taking Back The Good Book, Woodrow Kroll shares some good ideas, one of which is tithing our time.
We typically think of tithing in monetary terms, but have you ever thought about tithing your time? Suppose you spent 10 percent of your day with God? What would that mean? Mathematically, there are twenty-four hours in a day, which equals 1440 minutes. If you gave the Lord 10 percent of that time, he would receive 144 minutes every day. That's over two hours. Is that how much time you spend in reading the Word and in prayer now? Probably not. But let's be fair. You have to work and sleep each for eight hours. You can't really tithe that time. So we're really talking about tithing in terms of your third eight-hour period in the day. That's 480 minutes, and a tithe of 480 minutes is forty-eight minutes daily. If you gave God forty-eight minutes daily, you'd be giving him one-tenth of one-third of your day. Does that sound reasonable? But how are you going to find forty-eight minutes in a day? You start here: instead of tacking God onto your schedule where you can, instead of watching your third reality show of the night, turn off the television, shut out everything else, and spend forty-eight quality minutes with God. If you do that, you could actually read the Bible through four times in one year--pretty amazing! (160)
And in O Love That Will Not Let Me Go, a collection of essays, Randy Alcorn writes in his "Finishing with Few Regrets":

The key to spirituality is the development of little habits, such as Bible reading and memorization and prayer. In putting one foot in front of the other day after day, we become the kind of person who grows and endures rather than withers and dies. (57)
Renewing our minds requires conscious, deliberate effort. (56)
When our life here is over, what will we wish we'd done less of and more of? (62)

I believe that once you start ABIDING in the Word, you'll find it easier to take God with you throughout your day.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Book Review: City of Tranquil Light

City of Tranquil Light. Bo Caldwell. 2010. Henry Holt. 304 pages.

Suppose it is an autumn day, fine and clear and cool. Late afternoon, when the sun nears the horizon and turns the sky into a watercolor of pastels. It is beautiful, as though God is showing off. 

I don't know if I could love this book more if I tried. It's just that good. I didn't just love it. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. I found myself slowing down as I read it just because I didn't want to say goodbye to it. (How often does that happen? Not very often, especially with contemporary literature!) The fact that this book was NOT published by a Christian publishing company, yet so clearly and emphatically brought glory to God and his kingdom, well, it thrilled me!

So what is it about? Well, it's about a husband-wife missionary team. Will Kiehn, our hero, is just an ordinary young man from Oklahoma, who feels called by God to join a mission team heading to China. He meets his future wife, Katherine, on the mission trip. For she has felt the call as well. She's a nurse. Both Americans are eager to go to China, to learn the language, to learn the culture. They want to be used by God where they're needed. And it doesn't take long for them to fall in love with China and with each other. (He picks up the language faster than she does, so naturally, he decides to tutor her in her studies.)

Growing up, Will never thought he'd be anything but a farmer, but, God had different plans for him. And soon he's doing God's work in a foreign country with his wife by his side. It is NOT an easy life. Far from it. But even in the hardest times, even with tears running down their faces, both feel that this is where they belong, this is their home now, their country. For better or worse, they're there to stay. There are plenty of dramatic moments with City of Tranquil Light. There were many places where I felt such a STRONG emotional reaction to the book. I just came to care so much, so deeply, for the characters. And their story was both beautiful and inspiring. Not that they were perfect. Not that they were goody-goody.  They never come across that way at all. It's just that the book is so God-centered, in my opinion. A true testament to how God uses real people to do his work here on Earth.

Most of the novel tells of their lives in China, from 1906 to 1933. After they returned to the United States, they settled near Los Angeles, he became a pastor at a Chinese church--where he was able to teach and preach in Mandarin! So even though they were no longer able to live in China--as they both would have wished in the best of circumstances--they were still able to minister to the Chinese! I won't tell you how this one ends, but it was sadly, perfectly beautiful.

As I said, I LOVED this one. I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. I thought the writing was beautiful. And the characters, well, I just LOVED them so, so, so much.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Monday, July 11, 2011

Book Review: How To Find God in the Bible

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

How to Find God in the Bible is a great little book. I found it to be practical and substantive. You would think that there is only so much that can be said about the Bible. After all, this year I've read Taking Back the Good Book by Woodrow Kroll, Read Your Bible One Book at A Time by Woodrow Kroll, How To Study The Bible. R.A. Torrey, Discovering Jesus: Why Four Gospels to Portray One Person? T.D. Alexander, Knowing Scripture. R.C. Sproul, and How To Get The Most From God's Word. John MacArthur. Yet I haven't found that to be the case. Yes, some chapters may touch on the same subjects, but for the most part each book has been unique; each written in its own style with its own goals.

I am not sure that How to Find God in the Bible is the best of the best of the best of the best. BUT. I do know that I loved it. I found it informative. Each chapter was packed with information. Information that was practical and relevant. And it was written in a very straightforward, reader-friendly style. It wasn't trying to do too much. It wasn't trying to turn the reader into the BEST BIBLE SCHOLAR ever. It wasn't trying to convince the average reader to try to learn Hebrew and Greek. It wasn't trying to persuade you to spend ten hours a day in study and meditation. It also wasn't trying to defend the Bible against skeptics, agnostics, and atheists. You won't find theories and arguments and rhetoric here. No this is a practical book for practical people who want to read the Bible for themselves.

The book is written in three parts. Part One is "Prepare to Encounter God." Part Two is "Why the Bible Can Change Your Life." Part Three is "Four Amazing Bible Discoveries."

Each chapter has an "In this chapter" feature which I just loved. (Maybe because I'm a reviewer who is always trying to find specific things that I want to include in my post. But I believe it has to be useful for other reasons too!)

I'm not a *big* list person--or chart person--but for some reason, I just LOVED the use of charts and lists in this one. For example, there's a list of "people with whom God spoke directly" and "people with whom God spoke through angels" in chapter one. And then there is the list in chapter seven "fourteen reasons to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ."

Favorite quotes:
Every time you read the Bible, you should be prepared for anything. You never know what will happen. (41)
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)
God doesn't buy the idea of hopelessness because "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). (109)
"...people have chosen to use the Bible to support their point of view instead of trusting the Bible enough to let it change their point of view--and their way of life." (121)
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) 

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Book Review: Read Your Bible One Book at a Time

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

From the introduction:

Have you ever come home in the evening after a long day, clicked on the TV, and found yourself in the middle of a movie? You've missed the first half hour, so you missed the setup. What's the plot? Who are these characters? How do they relate to one another? Or maybe you're quietly watching your favorite TV program when the phone rings. It's your friend from work and she wants to talk. You mute the television. Yak, yak, yak. Finally you give up and just turn it off. You talk for almost an hour. You like your friend, but you're a little upset because you're never going to find out how your program ended. Some people read their Bible this way. They pick it up, begin in the middle of a book, and wonder why they can't figure out the story line. Or they let everything in life interrupt them. They read a chapter or two, lay God's Word aside, and never get back to it to find out how the story ends. You've probably struggled to make sense of the Bible, as everyone has. Maybe this book will help you in that endeavor. Reading whole books of the Bible in one sitting sounds like a crazy idea, but it works...Sometimes the more unusual the idea, the more likely it is to work.

Read Your Bible One Book At A Time is a refreshing way to discover the story line, uncover the plot, and find out how it all turns out. How does the plan work? It's embarrassingly simple. Just read one book of your Bible all the way through in one sitting. "You mean...?" Yes, read the whole book. Get the full story the writer intended you to get. Start at the beginning and don't quit until you reach the end. It sounds a little nutty, I know, but don't dismiss it until you've tried it. It's not really a novel idea, except as it applies to reading the Bible.
He continues,
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)
Chapter one explains the features of the book (Read Your Bible One Book at a Time). It explains how to  best use the book. Chapter two provides readers with seven sensible reasons for reading the Bible one book at a time. (What do readers get from reading the Bible this way as opposed to reading it in other ways. What makes this system worth it...) Chapter three contains hints on how to succeed. He notes the importance of thinking inside the Book, but outside the box.
Reading through your Bible one book a time does not require a year. In fact, there is no minimum or maximum time to do this. But it does require you to think outside of the box. Most people believe the books of the Bible are too long, the language too difficult to understand, and those names--some of them are simply unpronounceable. But as we have seen, most books are not as long as people think. And the language used in the Bible can be quite user-friendly, especially if you read from your favorite translation or a new translation in which the language is more contemporary. And as for the names of people and places? Well, give it your best shot. If you stumble over them you have joined the majority of people who also have stumbled over them. (30)
In other words, the biggest challenge may just be you. You thinking that you can't do it, that it can't be done, that it's too impossible. But you can do it.

Chapter four is the LONGEST chapter! Kroll devotes one or two pages to each book of the Bible. These can be used as a resource when you're reading the Bible. Here is an idea of what each introduction covers:

John
The Book of Christ the Son of God
Written:
Author: John
Audience: Christians and non-Christians of the first century
Date: A.D. 85-95

Overview:
Subject: the life, teachings, death, resurrection, and post resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ
Scope: the events recorded in John's gospel cover from eternity past to the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus Christ in Galilee
Setting: the Holy Land--the Jordan Valley, Galilee, Samaria, Bethany, and Jerusalem

Three keys:
Key chapters: 3 (Jesus, only-begotten of the Father, Savior of the world); 10 (the believer's relationship with Jesus Christ); 15 (abiding in Christ); 19 (the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ)
Key verses: John 1:1-3, 11-12, 29; John 3:14-18, 36; John 5:24, John 6:66-69; John 8:32, 36; John 14:1-6; John 17:17; John 18:38; John 19:16-21, 30, 38-42; John 20:13-16, 30-31; John 21:15-17
Key people: Jesus, John the Baptist, the disciples, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Jesus' mother, Peter, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea

Book profiles:
Number of chapters: 21
Number of verses: 879
Average reading time: 1 hour, 54 minutes

What to look for:
  • Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 19:7)
  • John's careful presentation of the facts so as to bring his readers to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world
  • word pictures of who Jesus is, such as water, lamb, bread, light, shepherd, and vine
Why you should read John:
Nowhere is the gospel more clearly presented than in the Gospel of John. If you are looking for a way to share the gospel story with a friend. John has some classic passages that God's servants have used for generations, such as chapter three, five, and ten. Become familiar with these passages and you will never be a witless witness. (81-82)
I think these short introductions are great! I have really been loving reading text-only Bibles this year, but I have missed having short book introductions. This little book may come in very handy for me!!!

The book has SEVEN appendices. Appendix A provides short biographical paragraphs on all the authors of the books of the Bible. Appendix B is a detailed listing of every book in the Old Testament and New Testament. It includes how many chapters each book has and how many verses a book has. Appendix C lists the average reading time for every book in the Bible. The list goes from longest (Psalms and Jeremiah) to shortest (Jude, Malachi). The 'average reading time' listed in this appendix differs from that shared in each book profile. The times have been rounded up, I believe. (For example, Obadiah's time is listed as four minutes in the book profile on page 69, and as 1/4 of an hour in the appendix.) Still, the list does show you--at a glance--which books will take the most of your time. Appendices D-G are reading plans.

Appendix D A plan to read your Bible one book a time by reading Sundays only. If you prefer to read on Saturdays only (or any other day of the week), you could do that instead. By following this five-star plan you will complete your reading in one year of Sundays. Be sure to record the date on which you read each book.

First month
First Sunday -- Genesis -- 3 1/4 hours
Second Sunday -- Romans -- 1 hour
Third Sunday -- Exodus -- 2 1/2 hours
Fourth Sunday -- 1 Samuel -- 2 1/2 hours
Appendix E A plan to read your Bible one book at a time by reading just two days a week and one weekend day. You will complete your reading in six months with this five-star plan. Be sure to record the date on which you read each book.

First Month:
First Monday -- Ruth -- 1/4 hour
First Friday -- Zechariah -- 1/2 hour
First Sunday -- Psalms -- 3 3/4 hours
Second Tuesday -- Philippians -- 1/4 hour
Second Saturday -- 1 Kings -- 1 1/4 hours
Third Monday -- Song of Solomon -- 1/4 hour
Third Friday -- Romans -- 1 hour
Third Sunday -- Revelation -- 1 1/4 hours
Fourth Tuesday -- Colossians -- 1/4 hour
Fourth Thursday -- Ephesians -- 1/2 hour
Fourth Saturday -- Jeremiah -- 3 3/4 hours
Appendix F If you're looking for a real challenge and you want to read the Bible as expediently as possible in order to understand the complete message of the Book, this reading plan is for you. Be sure to record the date on which you read the books.

Appendix G Read in thirty-minute blocks of time over adjacent weekends to read your Bible one book at a time. For those who cannot read for more than half an hour at a time, or cannot read a book all the way through in one sitting, this is the next-best plan to maintain continuity and context. Plus, it allows you to read the Bible in order and only involves weekends. Start any weekend you like. Be sure to record the date on which you read each book. 
I am excited about this book! I am! While I've never tried reading the longer books--the longer Old Testament books--in one sitting, I do try to do that with the New Testament when possible. I've done this with most of the gospels and the book of Revelation, for example. And I think it does make a difference!

What do you think? Is this something you'd ever contemplate doing yourself? Why or why not?!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon: Week In Review: July 3-9

This week I read

Genesis 17-50 in the American Standard Bible
Exodus in the American Standard Bible
Leviticus in the American Standard Bible
Isaiah 1-27 in the American Standard Bible
Luke 1-12 in the American Standard Bible

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Looking for Answers?

I'm back once again with a post 'inspired by' Woodrow Kroll's Taking Back the Good Book. In chapter twelve, he writes:
Many people say there are just too many unanswered questions in life. But the real questions of life, the serious questions, are not left unanswered. If we fail to get answers to our most painful questions, it is not due to the silence of God but to our failure to read his Word.

One of the consequences of Bible illiteracy is that those searching for answers to the great questions of life are left clueless. Without God's eternal Word, they have no place to go for certain truth. Questioners are left to wonder about the deep things of life, or, worse, to rely on the explanations of people who change their minds as often as some baseball players change teams.
What types of questions go unanswered? Well, Kroll lists seven BIG questions that the Bible answers...

  • Question 1: How Can I Know the Truth?
  • Question 2: Does God Really Exist?
  • Question 3: Why is There Evil?
  • Question 4: Do All Religions Lead to God?
  • Question 5: Why Am I Here?
  • Question 6: Can God Ever Forgive Me?
  • Question 7: What Happens After I Die? 

Wouldn't you agree that those are good questions that NEED answers? I'll highlight two of the questions, "Why Is There Evil?" and "Do All Religions Lead to God?"

Let's face it: life is full of trouble and heartache. One of the reasons many of us go through life asking, Why is life so unfair? is that we don't understand what life is all about. So why is it like that?

Read the first two chapters of Genesis. The Garden of Eden was a perfect place. Adam and Eve had everything they needed. So what happened to God's "very good" creation? Sin happened. Read Genesis 3:6 and look at the powerful words in the next immediately after it. There Adam and Eve disobeyed God and the results of mankind's sin were fear (Genesis 3:10), shame (Genesis 3:10), deception (Genesis 3:13), enmity (Genesis 3:15), pain (Genesis 3:16), curse (Genesis 3:17), death (Genesis 3:19), and more--all the unfair things we experience today. Sin caused that evil, not God. God didn't create sin and the consequences of it. Disobedience to God caused sin and the suffering and death we see all around us.

Now you might be thinking, but if God is so loving, why doesn't he put a stop to this? Read the Bible and you'll find out. It's all in there. God will put a stop to sin and its consequences. It's a part of his redemptive plan (John 3:16, John 14:1-3, Revelation 11:15, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 22:3). Not knowing the Bible causes us to question God needlessly and often foolishly. It's as if God laid out all the answers for us in an instruction manual, and we didn't take the time to read it. (103-04)

and

Research has shown that most Americans, including most Christians, believe that there is some truth in all the religions of the world. The fact is the Bible says that no religions lead to God. People don't go to heaven because they are religious. It's not about religion; it is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. Salvation is not about demographics or denominations. It's about the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary and whether or not you believe that what he did there is all that God required to pay the penalty for your sin.

But if a person is sincere, isn't that all that matters? Sincerity isn't the road to God; faith is, and not just any faith, but faith in the right person. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31).

Don't all roads lead to God? You don't believe that either. Do all roads in the United States lead to Chicago? Go ahead: get on Interstate 40 or Interstate 5 or even Interstate 95. See if you get to Chicago. Only the roads designed to take you to Chicago will actually get you there. God designed a road to himself. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Don't get lost on the back roads of religion. Read God's roadmap and you'll find your way to God. It's always been through his Son. (104-105)
Do you take your questions to God? Do you search for answers in His Word? Or do you like to supply your own answers, and write your own truths? Do you script in God's answers for Him?

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Friday, July 8, 2011

New Bibles for 2011, part two!

Be sure to read the first post celebrating Bibles releasing in 2011!

Reading God's Story: A Chronological Daily Bible by George Guthrie. November 2011. B&H Publishing Group.

From the publisher:


Stories are basic to life. Everybody loves a good story. We have been reading, listening to, or watching stories all of our lives, so we intuitively know a lot about how they work. Yet, more and more, Christians are unfamiliar with the stories of the Bible and how the grand narrative of God's Word fits together. Indeed, God gave us the stories of the Bible to reveal great truth about Himself and about our lives, and He wants to draw us into the ongoing story of what He is doing in the world. By focusing on the narrative framework of Scripture we can better understand what the Bible teaches and live out its instruction more effectively.
Reading God's Story takes that clear narrative approach to the Bible, arranging the complete text into a fresh chronological reading plan developed for the Read the Bible for Life biblical literacy initiative. In this plan the books, chapters, and verses of the Bible are thoughtfully arranged so readers can track the story of Scripture, day by day, from beginning to end, understanding the flow of events and how all the different parts fit together to make sense.
Reading God's Story features two-color interior page layout and is organized into 52 weeks of readings (six readings per week). It presents Scripture in three main acts (God's Plan for All People; God's Covenant People; God's New Covenant People) and seventeen total scenes, providing an introduction for each act and scene to orient the reader to its importance in the grand story. Unlike other chronological Bibles, this arrangement is not date specific (e.g. "January 1"), so a person can begin using this edition at any point in the calendar year.


Take Action Teen Bible, NKJV (September 2011)

From the publisher:

Put the Word of God into action! TheTake Action Teen Bible features real-life stories and full-color photos of teens who are putting their faith into action. Read their inspiring stories and follow their examples with 52 ideas for you to put God's Word into action.
Features include:
  • 48 full-color pages
  • 15 real-life stories show teens how to take action with God's Word
  • 52 Take Action ideas
  • Personal Take Action note pages
  • New King James Version® (NKJV) Compact UltraSlim Bible text
  • Translation and text notes
  • Words of Jesus in red
  • Concordance
  • Bible reading plan

Take Action Bible, NKJV: Together We Can Change The World (April 2011)

From the publisher:
Put the Word of God into action. The Take ActionTM Bible features real-life stories and full-color photos of people who are putting their faith into action. Actions range from raising money with a lemonade stand to relocating on the mission field. Read their inspiring stories, and follow their examples with 52 ideas for you to put God's Word into action.
Features include:
  • 48 full-color pages
  • 15 real-life stories show how to take action with God's Word
  • 52 Take ActionTM ideas
  • Personal Take ActionTM note pages
  • New King James VersionR (NKJV) UltraSlim Bible text
  • Translation and text notes
  • Words of Jesus in red
  • Concordance
  • Bible reading plan
Max Lucado's Children's Daily Devotional Bible. (International Children's Bible) September 2011.

From the publisher:


Now, especially for children, a devotional Bible that brings together words of encouragement and the gentle wisdom of Max Lucado with the Word of God.
The International Children's Bible® was written on a level that kids can read and understand. It is the perfect translation to start kids on a lifetime of meaningful Bible reading.
Features include: 366 Daily Discovery Devos; Power Prayers (great prayers of the Bible); "Set the Stage" (66 book intros); Promise Pointers (promises of the Bible); Dictionary; 50 suggested memory verses and prayer; and 24 topical articles on forgiveness, heaven, faith, family, grace, abundant life, etc., especially from Max Lucado

The Essential Study Bible (CEV). American Bible Society. September 2011.

From the publisher:

Now in a beautifully designed- and specially priced-paperback edition, The Essential Study Bible is the resource for everyone who wants a better understanding of the Bible.
Featuring the full text of the Contemporary English Version of the Bible-the most reliable, readable, and relevant translation on the market today-The Essential Study Bible includes:
- sixteen color maps
- color charts and time lines
- special overviews, outlines, and introductions
- two easy-to-understand categories of notes that explain the key geographical, historical, and cultural references and the most important theological concepts in the Bible
- pull-out quotes for memorization
Provided and edited by the American Bible Society-the marquee name in Bible scholarship in America-the supplementary information is organized in a clear, user-friendly fashion.
Accessible, informative, but not overwhelming, The Essential Study Bible will allow you, for the first time, to fully experience the Bible.

Life Essentials Study Bible (HCSB) Gene A Getz, editor. October 2011. 

From the publisher:


"So what?" That's the response many people have to the Bible. Read a passage, interpret it, and still they ask, "So, what difference does that make in my life?"
In the Life Essentials Study Bible, renowned Bible teacher Gene Getz complements the full text of the popular HCSB translation by elaborating on 1,500 principles in Scripture that are as relevant today as when the sixty- six books of the Bible were written. Distilling these truths into principles, Getz helps the reader more easily remember and effectively apply the Bible's wisdom to everyday life. He explains how each of these principles represents a supracultural truth - one that can and should be applied at any moment in history and in every cultural situation.
In addition, the Life Essentials Study Bible was created with an integrated digital study system—more than 250 hours of free online coaching content led by Getz—that fosters a greater understanding of the Bible's grand story.
Along the way, Getz adds pertinent questions in print to inspire personal reflection or group discussion of each principle. There's also an introduction to each book of the Bible and its list of corresponding principles, plus a topical index and cross references for all 1,500 principles. Other features of this dynamic study Bible - available in six different editions - include a two-piece gift box (leather editions only) as well as a presentation page.




The English Bible, King James Version volumes 1 and 2. Norton Critical. October 2011. 

From the publisher:

"The Norton Critical Edition of The English Bible, King James Version, appearing on the four hundredth anniversary of the great translation, is a real gift to the English-reading world, making this classical version freshly accessible. The introductions to the different biblical books are apt and often illuminating; the generous annotation clarifies archaic terms, corrects translation errors, and provides insight into the texts; and the appended critical and historical materials give readers a wealth of relevant contexts for both Old and New Testament."—Robert Alter

NLT Parallel Study Bible. September 2011. 

From the publisher:

Discovery and Application on the Same Page for the First Time! Now you don’t have to choose between context and application. Expository study notes help you understand the Bible like a 1st-century believer. Number one–selling Life Application notes help you apply its truths in a 21st-century world. This Bible recognizes that Bible application is best done with a thorough knowledge of historical and literary context. The NLT Study Bible is excellent at establishing this base. The Life Application Study Bible content can then guide the reader in concrete steps toward application.
The New Living Translation is an authoritative Bible translation, rendered faithfully into today’s English from the ancient texts by 90 leading Bible scholars. The NLT’s scholarship and clarity breathe life into even the most difficult-to-understand Bible passages. That’s why we call it “The Truth Made Clear.”

KJV/NLT Bound for Glory Bible February 2011.

From the publisher:

When the King James Version was first published in 1611, it united literary quality with poetic beauty to make God’s word accessible to the reader in the common English of its day.
In the years that followed, thousands of Africans would be brought as slaves to a new country—a country founded, ironically, on the principles of liberty and justice.
Most would never enjoy those freedoms. Yet, through faith, they found a freedom that no man could take away.
The Bound for Glory Parallel Bible features sixteen of the best-known African-American spirituals, honoring the enduring faith of generations of people who found freedom in the midst of slavery. These spirituals are presented in the emotive style of renowned calligrapher Timothy R. Botts.
This Bible brings together the #1 time-honored classic translation, the King James Version, and the New Living Translation, with its living language and precise scholarship. The NLT has set a new standard for Bible translation in the English language.
Reading the two translation side-by-side delivers a rich contrast in literary style while yielding new insights into the meaning of even the most familiar verses.
Combining these two highly respected translations into one volume makes this one of today’s most popular English parallel Bibles.
FEATURES:
Lyrics of Features Spirituals lists the songs in the order they are presented.
Tyndale Bible Verse Finder helps you find verses according to more than 175 life-related topics.
365-Day Reading Plan provides an outline for reading the entire Bible in one year.
Introduction to the King James Version gives the history of its heritage and legacy, honoring the 400th anniversary of its first printing.
The work of Timothy R. Botts reaches back to letterforms as old as the first century and combines with them contemporary graphic design principles in order to express the meaning of great words. With a BFA in graphic design from Carnegie-Mellon University, he has designed more than 600 books. In addition, Tim has published 9 volumes of his own work, including titles such as Doorposts, Messiah, and a Bible illustrated in his calligraphy. Hi is a part-time instructor with College of DuPage and has taught workshops internationally. He is artistic director for Masterpiece Ministries, an annual arts camp for high school students. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Newberry Library. The Bound for Glory works are dedicated to his three African-American grandchildren—Naomi, Miriam, and Moses—who are helping him to become color-blind.

The New Life Bible for Girls. October 2011. 

From the publisher:

Here’s a potentially life-changing gift for any young girl: the entire Bible in the easy-to-read New Life Version, packaged for fun and excitement! Featuring 24 pages of brightly colored illustrations and bonus material, The New Life Bible for Girls highlights the heroines of scripture—Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Ruth, Esther, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and more—in dramatic pictures and interesting facts and trivia. With its carefully-limited vocabulary, the New Life Version is perfect for younger readers, using explanatory words and phrases to illuminate some of the harder terms and ideas of scripture. Perfect as a “first Bible,” The New Life Bible for Girls can take young readers well through their grade school years.

The New Life Bible for Boys. October 2011.

From the publisher:

Here’s a potentially life-changing gift for any young boy: the entire Bible in the easy-to-read New Life Version, packaged for fun and excitement! Featuring 24 pages of brightly colored illustrations and bonus material, The New Life Bible for Boys highlights the heroes of scripture—Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, David, Daniel, Peter, Paul, Jesus, and more—in dramatic pictures and interesting facts and trivia. With its carefully-limited vocabulary, the New Life Version is perfect for younger readers, using explanatory words and phrases to illuminate some of the harder terms and ideas of scripture. Perfect as a “first Bible,” The New Life Bible for Boys can take young readers well through their grade school years.

Other Bibles:

NIV Life Journey Bible (Henry Cloud and John Townsend)
NIV Liberty Bible
Devotional Daily Bible, KJV
Devotional Daily Bible, NKJV
The Daily Contemplative Bible (NRSV)
The One Year Study Bible (NLT)
Berenstain Bears Holy Bible (NIrV)
The Young American Patriot's Bible (NKJV)
God Watches Over Me Bible, NIrV
Prayer Journey Bible (KJV)
The Evidence Bible, NKJV
Essentials of the Christian Faith New Testament (NIV)
The New Testament, Revised English Bible, BBC4, audio bible
Video Bible, KJV, NASB, NKJV, NLT


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible