2022 Bible Reading #47

Bible reading week of 19-25 November 2022.

I am reading the BSB (Berean Standard Bible) for my Daily Offices from the Book of Common Prayer.

• Psalm 95-Psalm 119:1-104
• Proverbs 19-25
• 1 Samuel 13-31
• 2 Samuel
• 1 Kings
• 2 Kings
• Matthew

ESV

• Acts
• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Songs
• Joshua
• Judges
• Ruth
• 1 Chronicles
• 2 Chronicles

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 

• In November, I will be reading 2 Peter 1-3 for thirty days: BSB, NASB 77, BSB, NASB 95, RSV, BSB, LSB,
• In November, I will be reading Isaiah 55-60 for thirty days: BSB, NASB 77, BSB, NASB 95, RSV, BSB, LSB 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2022 Bible Reading Update #46

Bible reading week of 12-18 November 2022.

I am reading the BSB (Berean Standard Bible) for my Daily Offices from the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 62-94

Proverbs 12-18

Deuteronomy 

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel 1-12

Titus 

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

Darby (Power 60 Reading Plan)

• 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

NIV 2011

• Psalm 60-150
• John
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Jude
• Revelation

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 

• In November, I will be reading 2 Peter 1-3 for thirty days: NASB 77, NASB 95, NASB 2020, NRSVue, RSV, NASB 77, CSB, 
• In November, I will be reading Isaiah 55-60 for thirty days: NASB 77, NASB 95, NASB 2020, NRSVue, RSV, NASB 77, CSB, 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

41. A Model of Devotion

A Model of Devotion (The Lumber Baron's Daughters #3) Mary Connealy. 2022. 299 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Jilly Stiles always came back to the mansion on Nob Hill.

There are three books in the series: The Element of Love, Inventions of the Heart, and A Model of Devotion. Each book stars a different sister as the central protagonist, though all three books feature the sisters [and whole family] to a certain extent. This third book has the story focused on Jilly.

I have just about decided that A Model of Devotion will almost probably-probably be my last novel to read by Mary Connealy. [Unless I find more review copies from previous years. Those I'd probably still feel the need to read.] Mary Connealy's personal writing style is melodrama, melodrama, melodrama, and even more melodrama. I have just about decided that I am personally allergic to all the melodrama. This doesn't seem to be the case with most of the reviews I've read. Plenty of readers instead of seeing melodrama see ACTION and ADVENTURE and SUSPENSE. 

For those not allergic melodrama, Jilly's life [and the lives of anyone who's close to her, works with her, happens to be near her] is in great danger [still]. Will Jilly and Nick Ryder [the love interest] outsmart the bad guys.

I do recommend--well, loosely "recommend"-- reading the books in order. [If you read them at all. You should have a fairly good idea as to your own tolerance for melodrama.] So, all three books have had one overarching villainous group of bad guys. A hierarchy of bad-ness, if you will. The [wicked] stepfather naturally has super-evil schemes to take control of the family's lumber business. It isn't enough for him to have manipulated his way into marrying their mother. He wants "his men" [his cronies, his minions, his yes men] to marry the daughters. Together they will essentially take over this business. He has picked out a villain for each daughter. The sisters learn of this scheme and ESCAPE. [This is the one time that I don't mind the melodrama. It happens in the first chapter of the first book.] The loophole is that if each of the sisters marry, then the stepfather's plans will come to nothing. To be fair, if TWO of the three sisters marry, then the stepfather's plans will be thwarted completely. Since each book features a sister getting married, the third book should be irrelevant at this point. There's no way for the "bad guys" to win the day. 

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

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So the stepfather and the three men [though this number dwindles I think???] keep on cranking out evil plans--one after the other, for THREE BOOKS. Despite the fact that ALL THREE GIRLS HAVE GOTTEN MARRIED. Despite the fact that there is absolutely positively no way whatsoever that this company could ever pass into the hands of the stepfather or the would-have-been-husbands, the cronies, the minions, the bad guys, these MEN continue throwing resources away--ridiculously so. Not accounting for money spent, time wasted, or risk of getting caught, getting sent to jail, or being sentenced to death. They come up with plans that involve murder, more murder, kidnapping, assault, sabotage and tampering,  etc. Like the number of HOURS, WEEKS, MONTHS, spent calculating these super-elaborate schemes is ridiculous. When you know that even if every single little thing went according to your diabolical plan and you still would be no closer to your goal--because ALL THREE SISTERS/DAUGHTERS ARE MARRIED AND HAVE CONTROL OF THE COMPANY. I just can't fathom any reason why these villains wouldn't have moved on with their lives by this point. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

18. Darby Translation of the Bible

Darby Bible. God. 1890. 2304 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

This was my first time reading the Darby translation. I knew that it was from the nineteenth century and still used thees and thous. I knew it was more 'old-fashioned' and 'traditional.' As opposed to 'modern' and 'contemporary' like say the Message. I've been curious about this translation for years now.

From Bible Gateway: 

The Darby Bible was first published in 1890 by John Nelson Darby, an Anglo-Irish Bible teacher associated with the early years of the Plymouth Brethren. Darby also published translations of the Bible in French and German.

J. N. Darby's purpose was, as he states in the preface to his English New Testament, to make a modern translation for the unlearned who have neither access to manuscript texts nor training and knowledge of ancient languages of the Scriptures. Darby's translation work was not intended to be read aloud. His work was for study and private use. In his own oral ministry he generally used the English KJV Bible.

From the GoodReads book description:

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) went in 1853 to Germany, where he established congregations in Dusseldorf, in Elberfeld, and in other towns. He was dissatisfied with the existing Bible versions in French and German, and so he collaborated with German and French followers in the creation of new versions in those languages. With some German associates he produced the "Elberfelder Bible," and with French-speaking followers he produced the "Pau Bible." 

Darby did not feel such a need for a new translation in English, because he considered the King James Version to be adequate for most purposes, and he encouraged his followers to continue to use it. But, he decided to produce a highly literal English version of the New Testament for study purposes. This New Testament was completed in 1867. The version is exceedingly literal, based upon modern critical editions of the Greek text. After Darby's death in 1882, certain of his followers in England produced an English version of the Old Testament based upon Darby's French and German translations. In 1890 this was published as the Old Testament portion of The Holy Scriptures. A New Translation from the Original Languages by J. N. Darby (G. Morrish, 1890). The complete Darby Bible is still reprinted and used now a days.

Psalm 23:1-6 

Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters.

He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely, goodness and loving-kindness shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for the length of the days.

Psalm 100:1-5

Shout aloud unto Jehovah, all the earth!

Serve Jehovah with joy: come before his presence with exultation.

Know that Jehovah is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving [and] into his courts with praise; give thanks unto him, bless his name:

For Jehovah is good; his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever; and his faithfulness from generation to generation.

John 14:1-6

Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe on God, believe also on me.

In my Father's house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you: for I go to prepare you a place;

and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be.

And ye know where I go, and ye know the way.

Thomas says to him, Lord, we know not where thou goest, and how can we know the way?

Jesus says to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father unless by me.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

17. NIV Rainbow Study Bible

Holman Rainbow Study Bible: NIV Edition. New, Improved User-Friendly Design. Purple Leathertouch Indexed. B&H. 1632 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

The introduction states,

"The Holman Rainbow Study Bible is a simple yet thorough Bible based upon the premise that every verse of every Bible falls under one of twelve thematic headings. Each of the twelve headings is assigned a different color; then each verse of the Bible is color-coded to the heading to which it is most closely related…The Holman Rainbow Study Bible allows the serious Bible student the opportunity to study and teach the great Bible themes while avoiding a time-consuming or complicated system."

Start date: August 17, 2022. End date: November 17, 2022. 

It is the NIV translation of the Bible. 

It is in paragraph format! 

The font is a great size. It isn't too big or too small.

It is NOT red-letter! Instead, readers will find that all words spoken directly by God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit appear underlined throughout the Old and New Testaments. I love this concept. I do.

It is color-coded. There are twelve subjects (and colors) in this color-code system. 

God. Discipleship. Love. Faith. Sin. Evil. Salvation. Family. Outreach. Commandments. History. Prophecy. 

Each subject is a heading, of sorts, covering many subjects. For example:

Salvation: blessings; deliverance; holiness; Heaven; the tabernacle; angels; eternity; resurrection; second coming; judgement of the godly; grace

Love: joy; kindness; mercy; mourning; lament; comfort; compassion; peace; sympathy; humility; charity

Commandments: offerings; laws; priesthood; feasts; Sabbath; tithing; baptism; Lord's supper; church; deacon; growth

Prophecy: promises; covenants; revelations; vows; visions; dreams; oaths; pledges; insipiration; fulfillment; future

Every verse is color-coded; every verse has been categorized into one of the twelve main subject headings. At the bottom of each two-page spread, the colors/headings appear as reminders so you can easily interpret what the colors mean without having to refer back to the chart at the front of the Bible. However, I found it helpful to write on index cards the smaller subcategories under each. 

Here are three examples to give you a taste of what it feels like to read a color-coded Bible.

Hebrews 12:1-3(Discipleship, God, Faith)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.


Romans 5:6-11(Love, Salvation, Love)

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Matthew 11:27-30(God, Love)

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Is the system easy to learn? Yes and no. I won't lie. It may take you several weeks to memorize the colors and what they mean, ESPECIALLY, if you are concerned with distinguishing the subheadings and the headings. Yes, it's easy to learn that purple represents God and that pink represents outreach. The general headings aren't overly difficult. But the subheadings under each heading add depth and substance. And it's my recommendation that readers take the time to DECONSTRUCT the system, the color codes. And work with the verse, looking for layers of meaning and trying to figure out how it fits.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2022 Bible Reading Update #45

Bible reading week of 5 - 11 November 2022.

I am reading the BSB (Berean Standard Bible) for my Daily Offices from the Book of Common Prayer

• Psalms 22-61
• Proverbs 5-11
• Mark 6-16
• Genesis 26-50
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Galatians
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy

Darby (Power 60 Reading Plan)

• Jonah
• Micah
• Nahum
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai
• Zechariah
• Malachi
• Matthew
• Mark
• Luke
• John

NIV 2011

• Psalms 1-59
• Acts 12-28
• Hebrews
• James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 

• In November, I will be reading 2 Peter 1-3 for thirty days: KJV, NASB 95, NASB 77, CSB, ESV, NASB 77, NASB 95,
• In November, I will be reading Isaiah 55-60 for thirty days: KJV, NASB 95, NASB 77, CSB, ESV, NASB 77, NASB 95, 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2022 Bible Reading Update #44

Bible reading week of 29 October - 4 November 2022

I am reading the BSB (Berean Standard Bible) for my Daily Offices from the Book of Common Prayer

• Psalm 139-150 (from October)
• Proverbs 29-31 (from October)
• Psalm 1-21 (from November)
• Proverbs 1-4 (from November)
• Zechariah
• Malachi
• Ezra
• Nehemiah
• Esther
• Job 
• Luke 21-24
• Romans
• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians 
• Genesis 1-25
• Mark 1-5

Darby (Power 60 Reading Plan)

• Jeremiah 5-52
• Lamentations
• Ezekiel 
• Daniel
• Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah

NIV 2011

• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Luke 
• Acts 1-11

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 

• In October, I will be reading 1 Peter 1-5 for thirty days: NKJV, NASB 77,
• In October, I will be reading Isaiah 49-54 for thirty days: NKJV, NASB 77, 
• In November, I will be reading 2 Peter 1-3 for thirty days: NASB 77, NRSV, NASB 77, KJV,
• In November, I will be reading Isaiah 55-60 for thirty days: NASB 77, NRSV, NASB 77, KJV, 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

40. A Short Guide to Reading the Bible Better

A Short Guide to Reading the Bible Better. George H. Guthrie. 2022. [November] 176 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: This is a book about words. Words have already shaped your life a great deal, putting things in motion, setting trajectories for your relationships, work, interests, commitments, and hopes. Words have hurt or healed you, delighted or devastated you, instructed and informed you. In short, words have played a large role in defining who you are today. 

George H. Guthrie has written a handful of books about the Bible--namely how to read the Bible. This one strives to be short(er) and (more) concise. His mission (obviously) is to get his readers to read the Bible (the VERY WORD OF GOD) better. Guthrie writes, "If our purpose in life is to live for him and to his glory, and the Scriptures shape us for his mission, then God's Word provides us with a means to that very desirable end...The Scriptures play a vital role in us fulfilling our purpose in the world. Consequently, there is no more important task in life than hearing from God and trusting him on the basis of his Word... Everything else in our lives is shaped by whether or not we are living out of a life grounded in the Word of God, the Bible. We need to read it and read it better than we ever have before, so that we can live it well." 

 Each chapter seeks to help believers read the Bible better. It is essential, in Guthrie's opinion (and my own) for believers to live in the Word. His chapters cover a variety of topics all working together to help believers read the Word better. Topics include motivation and spiritual condition, how to better understand the message of Scriptures (including picking a translation), how to read the Bible with others, how to read for personal transformation, the big picture of the Bible, Bible reading plans, and selecting useful tools or resources for study. 

I love that first and foremost he makes this a heart issue. I think it is so easy to forget this. Our attitude is not something that we can just shrug off. It doesn't matter if my heart is open or closed--or distracted or engaged--so long as I check Bible reading off my list. That's not how it works. The Word of God is powerful and life-giving. It is food for our souls. Spending time in the Word should strengthen, encourage, convict, transform. It should be a joyous meeting of our souls with God.

I appreciated this one. At times--and I am not saying I could approach this topic any better--it felt a little like product placement. Read these books [a good many but definitely not all seemed to be published by his publisher]. I don't know a way around this. I don't. But overall, I greatly appreciated it and would recommend it. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible