Challenge Updates

Operation Deepen Faith
Host: Operation Actually Read Bible (sign-up post)
January - December 2014

I. Wonderful Words of Life. Goal: Read the Bible using a Bible Plan

This has not been a failure exactly. My first stated goal was to use the John MacArthur 30 days plan. So far, I've done 30 days of 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians. I'm currently doing 30 days of Hebrews. Ideally, I'd be able to do the 30 day project one or two more times this year. 

At one time, I thought my focus would be on a chronological reading plan. I bought myself the KJV Life Application Bible for Christmas, and I was super-excited to try to read it in one year. But. I lost momentum. And I've discovered I really do prefer text-only bibles. So I may try to read the rest of the Bible in KJV so that I complete that translation at least this year. But I don't see myself getting back to the Life Application side of it.

MacArthur Study Bible. This was my most ambitious goal. I've owned a MacArthur Study Bible for over fifteen years and I have yet to complete it in any translation. So far I've read 13 OT books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, and Joel. I've also read 10 NT books: Mark, John, Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Hebrews, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. I don't plan on giving up. But I can't imagine that I'll finish all of the OT and NT in just one year. 

I've also hosted two "Read With Me" projects. One was Genesis. I don't think a single person besides myself joined me. But that's okay. The second was John in April. That one did a bit better! 

II. How Firm A Foundation. Goal: STUDY one book of the Bible throughout the year.

I chose the Gospel of John.

January
1. NKJV
2. KJV
February
3. KJV
4. ESV
March
5. NIV
6. 1599 Geneva Bible
April
7. RSV
8. KJV
9. New English Bible
10. ESV
11. NASB
12. ASV
13. Revised Version 1885
14. NKJV
15. Revised English Bible
16. Living Bible
17. Third Millennium Bible
May
18. NIV
June

VI. Christian Nonfiction

I list the fiction and nonfiction I read on one page. Here are the nonfiction titles I've read January through May. June hasn't been added yet. 

1. How To Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens: A Guide to Christ-Focused Reading of Scripture. Michael James Williams. 2012. Zondervan. 288 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
2. Crazy Busy. Kevin DeYoung. 2013. Crossway. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
3. Bruce and Stan's Pocket Guide To Studying Your Bible: A User-Friendly Approach. Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz. 2001. Harvest House. 112 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
4. Woman's Guide to Reading the Bible In A Year. Diane Stortz. 2013. Bethany House. 144 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] 
5. Knowledge of the Holy. A.W. Tozer. 1961/1978. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
6. Isaiah 36-66 (Thru the Bible #23). J. Vernon McGee. Thomas Nelson. 204 pages. [Source: Book I bought] 
7. A Heart Like His: Intimate Reflections On The Life of David. Beth Moore. 1996. B&H. 297 pages. [Source: Book I bought] 
8. A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology. Kelly M. Kapic. 2012. IVP. 126 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
9. More Precious Than Gold: 50 Daily Meditations on the Psalms. Sam Storms. 2009. Crossway. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
10. The Storytelling God: Seeing the Glory of Jesus in His Parables. Jared C. Wilson. 2014. Crossway. 192 pages.  
11. A Loving Life. Paul E. Miller. 2014. Crossway. 160 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
12. The Attributes of God. A.W. Tozer. 1996. Christian Publications. 176 pages. [Book I Bought]
13. Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending The Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship. John MacArthur. 2013. Thomas Nelson. 333 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
14. 52 Words Every Christian Should Know. Kendell Easley. 2010. B&H. 124 pages. [Source: Bought]  
15. Now That I'm A Christian: What It Means to Follow Jesus. C. Michael Patton. 2014. Crossway. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
16. The Attributes of God, volume 2: Deeper Into the Father's Heart. A.W. Tozer. 2001/2007. Wingspread. 203 pages. [Source: Bought] 
17. Discovering the Power of Christ's Prayer Life. Charles Spurgeon. Compiled and Edited by Lance Wubbels. 1995. Emerald Books. 204 pages. [Source: Bought] 
18. God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy-love of God Reorients Our World. David F. Wells. 2014. Crossway. 272 pages. [Source: Library] 
19. Practical Theology for Women. Wendy Horger Alsup. 2008. Crossway. 154 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
20. Taking God At His Word. Kevin DeYoung. 2014. Crossway. 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]
21. Everyone's A Theologian. R.C. Sproul. 2014. Reformation Trust. 360 pages. [Source: Borrowed from friend] 
22. In My Place Condemned He Stood: Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement. J.I. Packer and Mark Dever. 2008. Crossway. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
23. And He Dwelt Among Us: Teachings From the Gospel of John. A.W. Tozer. 2009. Regal. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]  
24. Saved In Eternity (The Assurance of Salvation #1) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1988. Crossway. 187 pages. [Source: Bought] 
25. Safe in the World (The Assurance of Salvation #2). D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1988. Crossway. 160 pages. [Source: Bought] 
26. The Life of Our Lord: Written For His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849. Charles Dickens. 1934/1999. Simon & Schuster. 128 pages. [Source: Bought]
27.  Sanctified Through the Truth. (The Assurance of Salvation #3) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1989. Crossway. 153 pages. [Source: Bought]  
28. Growing in the Spirit (Assurance of Salvation #4) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1989. Crossway. 158 pages. [Source: Bought]  
29. Calvin on the Christian Life: Glorifying and Enjoying God Forever. Michael S. Horton. 2014. Crossway. 271 pages.   
30. The Everlasting Tradition: Jewish Customs, Holidays, and Historical Events That Reveal Biblical Truth. Galen Peterson. 1995. Kregel Publications. 160 pages. [Source: Bought]  
31. All Loves Excelling (The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love)John Bunyan. 1692/1998. Banner of Truth. 144 pages. [Source: Bought] 
32. What's Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions. James N. Anderson. 2014. Crossway. 112 pages. [Source: Bought]
33. The Beloved Disciple: Following John to the Heart of Jesus. Beth Moore. 2003. B&H. 352 pages. [Source: Bought]
34. In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life. Sinclair Ferguson. 2007. 243 pages. [Source: Bought]  
35. Reclaiming Christianity: A Call to Authentic Faith. A.W. Tozer. 2009. Regal. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]  
36. Fellowship with God (Life in Christ: Studies in 1 John #1) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1993. Crossway. 142 pages. [Source: Bought]
37. (Puritan Pulpit) Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758. (Containing 16 Sermons Unpublished In Edwards' Lifetime) Compiled and Edited by Dr. Don Kistler. Soli Deo Gloria. 286 pages. [Source: Bought]
38. The Great Exchange: My Sin for His Righteousness. Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington. 2007. Crossway. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy]
39. Growing in Christ. J.I. Packer. 1977/1994/2007. Crossway. 288 pages. [Source: Bought] 

Cloud of Witnesses Reading Challenge
Host: Operation Actually Read Bible; sign up post
January - December 2014
# of Books: my goal is 12 books

I had picked 12 authors for my cloud. I haven't done as great a job sticking with those specific twelve. But I have read plenty of books.

What I read:

1. Knowledge of the Holy. A.W. Tozer. 1961/1978. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
2. Isaiah 36-66 (Thru the Bible #23). J. Vernon McGee. Thomas Nelson. 204 pages. [Source: Book I bought]
3. The Attributes of God. A.W. Tozer. 1996. Christian Publications. 176 pages. [Book I Bought]
4. The Attributes of God, volume 2: Deeper Into the Father's Heart. A.W. Tozer. 2001/2007. Wingspread. 203 pages. [Source: Bought] 
5. Discovering the Power of Christ's Prayer Life. Charles Spurgeon. Compiled and Edited by Lance Wubbels. 1995. Emerald Books. 204 pages. [Source: Bought] 
6. And He Dwelt Among Us: Teachings From the Gospel of John. A.W. Tozer. 2009. Regal. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]  
7. Saved In Eternity (The Assurance of Salvation #1) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1988. Crossway. 187 pages. [Source: Bought] 
8. Safe in the World (The Assurance of Salvation #2). D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1988. Crossway. 160 pages. [Source: Bought] 
9.  Sanctified Through the Truth. (The Assurance of Salvation #3) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1989. Crossway. 153 pages. [Source: Bought]  
10. Growing in the Spirit (Assurance of Salvation #4) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1989. Crossway. 158 pages. [Source: Bought]  
11. All Loves Excelling (The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love)John Bunyan. 1692/1998. Banner of Truth. 144 pages. [Source: Bought] 
12. Reclaiming Christianity: A Call to Authentic Faith. A.W. Tozer. 2009. Regal. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]  
13. Fellowship with God (Life in Christ: Studies in 1 John #1) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1993. Crossway. 142 pages. [Source: Bought]
14. (Puritan Pulpit) Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758. (Containing 16 Sermons Unpublished In Edwards' Lifetime) Compiled and Edited by Dr. Don Kistler. Soli Deo Gloria. 286 pages. [Source: Bought]
15. Calvin on the Christian Life: Glorifying and Enjoying God Forever. Michael S. Horton. 2014. Crossway. 271 pages.   

My Cloud:

Charles Spurgeon
J.C. Ryle
Dwight Moody
George Whitefield
Horatius Bonar
Andrew Murray
B.B. Warfield
A.W. Tozer
Martyn Lloyd Jones
A.W. Pink
G. Campbell Morgan
A.B. Simpson

Alternates not pictured in 'my cloud'

J. Vernon McGee
James Montgomery Boice
Loraine Boettner
R.A. Torrey
Matthew Henry
Stephen Charnock
Martin Luther
Jonathan Edwards
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
John Calvin

I've also continued My Year With Spurgeon, which, should probably count for something, right?! Since each week is at least one sermon! Over the course of a year, that adds up!

I've also done monthly quote posts for Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible