January Reflections

Will I always post reflections for the month? Doubtful. Highly doubtful. 

Current Bibles and Projects (Honest Thoughts and Reflections)

I am VERY conflicted about my plan using the ESV with Apocrypha. It's not necessarily the fault of the Bible I am using. It isn't helping. It isn't hurting. I am using the Daily Office Daily Lectionary plan. It has two Old Testament readings per day. Two New Testament readings per day. The plan has a tendency to break up chapters over several days. I am not the biggest fan of this. Or, perhaps I should say that I am not used to that. It is not "regular" for me. It is taking some adjustment. On the one hand, IF I was in the habit of genuinely meditating on a small chunk of Scripture--truly soaking it in, absorbing it in, focusing on gaining all the good I can, paying attention to meaning and interpretation, sitting with the verse(s) long enough to get fed...then I could see how this would be beneficial. One could easily find *some* verse(s) within one of the four readings to take further, to look deeper. On the other hand, IF I don't take those next steps, initiate a more contemplative approach, the reading plan is more like eating a two pack of Saltine crackers while waiting for the main course. (Think old school restaurant). I'm not sure if I want to keep up with this plan in February, or call it quits. IF I do call it quits, I could read this Bible--the ESV Bible with Apocrypha using another plan. I wouldn't be giving up on this Bible or this translation. 

I am LOVING the NASB 1973 (Single Column) Bible. I bought this one used. It was already broken in and well loved. It just feels like HOME to me. I will definitely be continuing this one into February. I wouldn't be surprised if I finished it by the end of February or possibly early March. 

NKJV Wide Margin. I am so close to finishing this one!!! I am absolutely loving this one. IT is part of the Sovereign collection by Thomas Nelson. Highly recommended.

KJV. I am reading the One Year Bible for Women in the KJV. I am through January 8??? I bought it on January 27th at a thrift shop for a little over $3. Right now I am doing both this AND the ESV Daily Office lectionary. I am considering, however, just using this KJV One Year Bible. I could do one "daily" reading for Morning Office. And I could do a second "daily" reading for Evening Office. When I finish this one,  I could start something else. Regardless, I have every intention of keeping up with this one.

I am also using a text-only edition of the King James Bible. I started off the year with a Rainbow Study Bible (another thrift store find) but am finding the rainbow colors just too distracting for my eyes. I have switched to the KJV Creedal Bible which is large(r) print. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Tea-ology #1 (KJV)

• A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9
• O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23
• But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Psalms 40:17

I had big plans for the start of the year. Everything was put on pause when I got sick on January 1. It was weeks before I felt well enough to even begin thinking about getting around to those plans. What I once was so confident about, I was now feeling a bit overwhelmed. Not discouraged. Not "ultimately" frustrated. Just overwhelmed. 

[For the record, my "big plans" or "grand goals" was to kick off my year of reading and rereading and rereading and rereading and rereading the King James Bible. I wanted to LIVE in this translation. I wanted to celebrate it. Show my gushy-love and affection.]

I got a slower start to reading the King James Bible than I wanted. I went from spending HOURS a day reading the Bible to spending hours a day napping. When I was awake and sitting up, I wasn't always able to read in a way to which I'd grown accustomed. But closeness to God is not determined by closeness to his Word.

My "baby steps" included finding a King James audio bible on YouTube. I listened to Psalms. The familiarity of the Psalms brought much peace. 

I did eventually start in a physical Bible. Though not the one I necessarily "wanted." It was a 'spare' thrifted Bible of the Rainbow Study Bible sort. I've put that one aside now that I'm feeling better. I'm currently reading the KJV Creedal Bible, published by Holman. It is larger print. 

But what is really exciting me at the moment is finding a One Year Bible for Women in the King James Bible for $3. I've never used a One Year Bible before. I am reading one "day" in the morning and another "day" in the evening. At least until I catch up in time. Maybe I will keep it up even after I catch up in time. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

11. After the Shadows

After the Shadows (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #1) Amanda Cabot. 2023. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [historical fiction, Texas fiction, historical romance, mystery and suspense]

First sentence: Everything looked the same. The live oaks in the park still shadowed this block of Main Street, providing a welcome respite from the early afternoon sun.

Premise/plot: Emily Leland, widow, is returning home to Sweetwater, Texas. It is not a joyous homecoming. Her mother has died without the two reconciling. Her father is hours away from his own death. (If the publisher description spoils it so why shouldn't I?) Her sister despises her--mostly. Emily's now-dead husband was super-controlling and abusive. Nobody knew. Well, not anybody in Sweetwater. She soon finds herself with an opportunity. It's not one she expected--to open up her house, almost like a boarding house. But there is a definite need. After several fires in town leave the new school teacher (a widower) with a young son AND an older widow woman [longstanding family friend] homeless, she opens up her home and makes a new start. Her sister [who will be the star of book two] leaves soon after. A third guest--a week day guest--a young girl with "special needs" is incoming. 

Meanwhile while all these new beginnings are beginning to flourish, relationships being formed, much comfort and encouragement all around....Emily begins to investigate her father's death....and soon there's a WHOLE PILE of bodies stacking up to investigate.

My thoughts: After the Shadows is a slower-paced book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it personally. Perhaps slower-paced isn't the right word. Right words can be hard to come by. I mean that there are so many sub-genres going on at the same time, that the story plot sometimes seems confused and hesitating. It has a cozy feel in the historical romance camp or genre. It happily could have lived there and pleased everyone. I also love the focus on friendships--strong friendships--between women. I loved the advocacy. One of the characters--one of the students--has Down's syndrome. (Not that it was called that in this book.) Emily is 1000% supportive and loving and kind. In a community where everyone is stand-offish and judgmental, Emily is a breath of fresh air to this little girl. The mystery comes and goes. There's always new dead bodies. So it's never far from your mind that something is FISHY about this community, but if the mystery element is what you're there for....then you'll be waiting forever and ever and ever. It isn't until the end of the novel when the book seems to remember that it is a mystery as well. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #4

Week in Bible reading:

ESV (with apocrypha): Genesis 21-26; John 10:22-42; 11-13; 14:1-14; Jeremiah 20-26; 1 Corinthians 4:18-21; 5-11; Acts 9:1-22; 

One Year Bible for Women (KjV) Genesis 1, 2:1-25; Matthew 1, 2:1-12; Psalms 1:1-6; Proverbs 1:1-6

KJV (rainbow): Proverbs 16-31; Deuteronomy; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Galatians; Ephesians

NKJV: Psalms 28-150; 2 Kings; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Isaiah 1-39; 

NASB 73: Exodus 11-40; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; Psalms 101-150; Acts 1-11; 

New American (Catholic translation): 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation 1-4;

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Movie Review: Journey to Bethlehem

Journey to Bethlehem is a musical adaptation of the nativity story. Is the source material for Journey to Bethlehem found in Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:1-22, Luke 1:26-56, Luke 2:1-39? I doubt it. Seriously doubt it. I am not sure despite their opening claim that the movie is "inspired by a true story the greatest one ever told." Did the script writers, the lyricists, the directors, the producers read from any gospel while working on the project? It feels more like they were remembering the nativity story as told from pageants of yore after decades of busy life. It does feel more inspired by Christmas hymns and carols [or even Christmas cards] than it does actual Scripture.

The problem is not the music. Let me reiterate that. In a lot of reviews, people were so focused on the musical numbers AND the tone of those musical numbers that they neglected to comment on any other aspect of the film. The concern being, the nativity story should be approached with AWE, with WONDER, with REVERENCE, with respect, with worship. It shouldn't be a romantic comedy with a meet-cute. It shouldn't remind you of George of the Jungle, Bride and Prejudice, or the Three Stooges. I want to revise my statement, the problem isn't only the music. The scenes that personally bothered me most were NOT the musical numbers. 

I have problems with what they left out. Which is almost the entirety of the biblical narrative. [See  Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:1-22, Luke 1:26-56, Luke 2:1-39] One example being the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-56. This is a MUSICAL. This song of Mary's is one of the most well-known in the Bible. You don't get closer to the source material--Mary herself--than this bit of Scripture. In a movie that strives so hard to give Mary a voice, this one omits all of Mary's actual words from Scripture. Perhaps all is too harsh a word. Most. They don't even keep the scene with Mary and Elizabeth special greeting: Luke 1:39-45. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, her babe leapt in her womb, and she professed a great blessing on Mary. The shepherds are a no show as well.

I have problems with what they changed. I have problems with what they added. These two blend and blur. The Wise Men are a good example of things changed. It is not that they are absent from the Bible. It is that the writers/producers decided to insert the 3 Wise Men in almost all the scenes. They start their journey to worship the Child before Mary is even betrothed to Joseph. They alert Herod to this future king before Mary even goes to stay with Elizabeth. Herod spends at least six to eight months searching for an unmarried pregnant woman with the intent to kill her. Herod's soldiers--and son--arrive at Elizabeth's house searching for Mary. Good thing that Joseph arrives a few minutes ahead of the soldiers and is able to hide Mary under some hay. After Joseph saves her from immediate danger, Mary pops the question and proposes to Joseph. Zacharias marries the two immediately. The Wise Men head off to Bethlehem months before Mary and Joseph do. But I digress.

They made some unique/interesting choices when it came to plot and characters. One choice being Antipater (the son of Herod). Throwing out history, obviously, they turn him into an anti-hero of sort. If this was not a musical, he would be the "unsung" hero of the movie. As it is, he gets several songs and is found in many pivotal scenes. He is the oh-so-conflicted son who wants to stop his father from murdering women and children. The most problematic sequence of scenes, in my opinion, is Joseph and Mary's arrival in Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, the arrival of the three wise men, and the flight into Egypt. What is not found in Scripture: a) Joseph seeing Antipater and other Roman soldiers in the front of the census line and deciding NOT to stand in line b) Joseph and Mary trying to sneak into Bethlehem through a secret tunnel c) Joseph scouting ahead to see if they can reach his parents' house safely d) guards being at Josephs' parents' home waiting for them, e) a DONKEY kicking a soldier as he approaches a laboring Mary, f) a donkey pacing back and forth outside the stable as he waits for Jesus to be born g) the angels appearing to the WISE MEN (not the non-existent shepherds), h) everyone being able to see the angels including Herod in Jerusalem and Mary's parents (and sisters) in Nazareth, including all the soldiers looking for the birth of a newborn king i) snow fall j) Antipater arriving at the stable to find Joseph, Mary, and the three wise men fast asleep, k) Joseph and Mary begging and pleading with Antipater to spare their lives l) Antipater deciding that he didn't have to be like his father and he could choose better m) Antipater placing the family under HIS protection and keeping his soldiers from harming them, n) the Wise Men and Joseph weren't warned in a dream so much as told by Antipater directly to flee the country. 

I find all the additions to the nativity story a) insulting (as if you could improve the story) b) distracting (taking all the focus away from the incarnation) c) exceedingly stupid. 

The overall tone of the movie is COMEDY. A blend of ROMANTIC comedy and SLAP-STICK. There are a few minutes here and there that counteract that tone. Scenes that stand in sharp contrast to comedy. A few minutes here and there where the true story does emerge. For example, there's a few minutes where the "three wise guys" stop acting like the three stooges and seem to genuinely be worshipping the Christ child. It's a blink and you miss it moment. 

Most of the scenes with the wisemen are so cringe that it's near unbearable. The jokes are so bad. 

You wouldn't expect the scene with GABRIEL the angel to be cringe. But you'd be wrong. This Gabriel is bumbling-stumbling. He practices his speech to Mary--fumbling about with the words several times--and then bumps his head when he does emerge in Mary's presence. When he fails to wake her from slumber [the Bible never says she was sleeping, but that is neither here nor there] he uses his super-scary artificial robot voice and makes his eyes glow. Hence why he needs to tell her not to be afraid. These are sacred moments of Scripture that are being turned [and poorly turned] into a joke. 

Joseph doesn't have a dream or vision confirming the truth of what Mary is saying. Not as you'd expect. In this "dream/vision" Joseph almost literally has a dance-off with himself. Okay, I exaggerate. It is Joseph versus Joseph. Mary is in the center--dressed in red, head to toe. One Joseph (dressed in black) wants to stone her and condemn her as a liar giving into all her desires. The other Joseph (dressed in white) wants to believe her because he loves her. They do dance. They do sing. They do choreographed battle. There's a fog machine--by my reckoning--and cruel soldiers and jeering peasants. You do hear Gabriel's voice speak out of dream-Mary's mouth, also her eyes glow blue. 

I mentioned that the movie seems to throw out history. I think they throw out culture as well. (And I think indirectly you can conclude my opinion that they threw out much of the source material--the Bible.) Mary comes across--particularly at the first half--as whining and thoroughly modern in all the worst possible ways. Why did I have to be born a girl. I'm so oppressed. I have no choices in life. My dreams are over. Her words exactly, "Every girl I know helped choose their husband. Why am I forced to marry someone I haven't even met?" and "What about my dream of becoming a teacher?" Her father responds, you're fortunate anyone wants you with your CRAZY IDEAS. She tells Joseph, "My whole life I wanted to be a teacher and then marry someone I actually love." His feelings aren't hurt though since he wants to be an inventor who changes the world with his inventions. He's being forced to marry by his parents. 

Some reviewers made a big deal out of the fact that these two have a meet-cute at the market place. Joseph and Mary bump into each other. He says "You're Welcome" (which is his catch-phrase that is repeated again and again and again). He offers to buy her a piece of fruit. She says, nope I'm engaged to be married. I can't accept a piece of fruit from you. He is like it can be a wedding present. Later when they meet again, she throws this in his face as proof that he can't be the one for her. He was FLIRTING while engaged. I just don't see why this alone from the movie is alarming. Not when there's so much other stuff to offend. It wasn't that flirtatious. And sure there could be layers of hidden subtext to make it mean something much, much, much more. But that would assume that the writers/producers were actually putting culture into the movie in the first place. If you look at the movie as a whole, first-century culture [Roman, Jewish] just seems non-important. 

There were some enjoyable moments. "Brand New Life" is a very catchy song. It plays at their betrothal party AND the end credits. "We Become We" is beautiful. This is the song that plays during their hasty marriage. "Mary's Getting Married" is equal parts cringe and delight. Very Bride and Prejudice. 

If the big-picture plan was to set up Herod [the Great] as [the first] Anti-Christ, I think they visually accomplished this. Is it historically accurate? Who knows. But they went hard in this direction. Always dressed in red and black. His throne room has an open-mouthed lion [sculpture?]. (The throne is in the lion's mouth). The eyes glow red. (As do the teeth when the lights go out). There are open flames EVERYWHERE. I think the intent was like let's make this look like a stereotypical image of hell itself. His song has the chorus of MINE IS THE KINGDOM, MINE IS THE POWER, MINE IS THE GLORY. FOREVER MORE. And this refrain pops up again in contrast. The Wise Men (who would have probably heard this song (Herod really likes singing about himself) sing to the Newborn king (in the melody of Herod's villain song) Thine is the kingdom, thine is the power, thine is the glory forever and ever. 

I think my favorite brief moment of the film was Herod giving his son Antipater a priceless puzzled look when Antipater and the guards break out in the most ridiculous choreography. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #3

Week in Bible reading:

ESV with Apocrypha: Genesis 14-20; John 7-10:1-21; Jeremiah 13-19; 2 Thessalonians 2-3; 1 Corinthians 1-4:1-17;

KJV: Exodus 18-40; Leviticus; Numbers; Psalms 104-150; Proverbs 1-15; 2 Corinthians;

NASB 1973: Genesis; Exodus 1-10; 1 Chronicles; 2 Chronicles; Zephaniah; Psalms 1-100; Mark; Hebrews; 

NKJV: Psalms 1-27

G4L: Revelation 1-4: KJV

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

10. God Is Here

God Is Here. Lisa Tawn Bergren. Illustrated by Greg Stobbs. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book; children's book]

First sentence: "Mama, where is God?" 

God is Here is a picture book for Christian parents to share with little ones. (Well, I think it goes beyond "little ones." I think it can be read aloud, shared, with a wide range of ages. It is a picture book--not a board book. There is a moderate amount of text per page. Not heavy. Not light--moderate.) It teaches the doctrine of God's omnipresence. God is EVERYWHERE all the time. God is on heaven and earth. God is with us from birth to death--on earth. We will spend eternity with God in heaven. Forever and ever and ever and ever and ever God is with us. No matter what--all situations, all circumstances. 

It does contain a full gospel presentation. (Well, a full-ish gospel presentation. It doesn't come right out and define what sin in and why we need a Savior, so parents might want to paint a bigger picture of what God is saving us from.) 

Here's the text:

"Another name for Jesus is Immanuel," Mama whispered. "It means 'God is with us.' God sent his Son to live with us, to show us how much he loves us." "That was nice of him," the girl said. "It was the nicest, best thing anybody could've ever done for us," Mama said with a nod. "But then Jesus died?" "He did--to save us. Because he lived and died for us, he'll always be in our hearts." "Whew," the girl said. "You can't get closer than that." 

As this theological discussion is taking place, the girl and her mother are being the "hands and feet" of the Lord as they go about their lives in the city. They are shown being "the light of the world" and the "city on a hill." The illustrations reveal faith in action. The text is doctrinally substantive. For example, in not so many words, the conversation is had where is God when bad things happen. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

9. The Devil Shall Not Prevail

The Devil Shall Not Prevail. A.W. Tozer (with James L. Snyder) 2023. 160 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Every battle begins with understanding who the enemy is. If soldiers do not know who the enemy is, how then are they going to be prepared to deal with them? I believe a lot of Christians today do not know their real enemy. The enemy is not in the church pews. Many Christians spend a lot of time in conflict with one another, much to the great delight of our enemy the devil. It's in our understanding of the enemy that we can begin to prepare ourselves for the battle and ongoing conflict that is before us. As Christians, we are engaged in what is called spiritual warfare, and this war cannot be fought with physical or military might, guns, and torpedoes. How we comprehend spiritual warfare says a lot about our relationship with Christ. 

Almost all of the A.W. Tozer books being published in the past forty to fifty years are really more compilations of sermons grouped together by theme, subject or topic. The topic in this one is either a) spiritual warfare in general or b) the tactics of the devil our adversary. 

The chapter titles:

Facing Our Real Enemy

The Danger of Compromising Our Confidence

Causes of Backsliding, the Devil's Toolbox

Symptoms of Backsliding the Devil Uses

Self-confidence vs. Confidence in God

How We Can Prevent the Devil from Taking Advantage of Us

Discouragement: A Valuable Tool of the Devil Against Christians

The Mistakes of Israel and Possibly Ours

How the Devil Manipulates the Plague of the Heart

The Dangers of Arrogance and Defeat

The Root of Our Spiritual Warfare

The Wall Between Us and the Devil

The Ultimate Spiritual Temptation

Standing Against the Wiles of the Devil

I will say you can tell this is a compilation of different sermons. The flow isn't super-polished; the chapters don't always build upon one another. All of the chapters--many of which have a stand-alone feel--do share a common theme or subject. Some chapters were incredibly helpful and beneficial--true must reads. Other chapters perhaps less so.

A.W. Tozer, I believe, died in 1963. In some ways, his writings turned out to be prophetic. Yet if Tozer was alive and preaching, it would be a whole new world to him. I don't know that the state of the church in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s is similar enough to the state of the church the past twenty or thirty years that his statements still ring true. I will try to clarify. Truth does not change. I believe--and Tozer believed--in absolute truth. The Bible is the VERY Word of God--inerrant, infallible, inspired, God-breathed, TRUE. When Tozer is preaching the Word (which is often, his sermons are saturated in the Word) then he's always going to be relevant and worth reading. I am referring to Tozer's assessment of the world, the culture, the church. Like when he says that the enemy is NOT in the church. I think enemies can be found IN the church--in positions of power and influence, coming from the top down. I think that spiritual warfare includes discerning the dangers within the church as well as those outside the church. Tozer lived at a time perhaps when that was rarer. He saw no reason at all for denominations and saw [almost] all differences between denominations as insignificant and petty. While I do tend to agree that there won't be divisions and denominations in heaven, I do see them as a 'necessary evil' of sorts in the here and now. We are called to discern between truth and error. 

Quotes: 

You cannot have the armor of God and indulge the flesh.

 

Confidence in God releases us from the need to understand all that God is doing.

 

Whatever threat to our spiritual health we choose to ignore, the enemy twists around so as to compromise our confidence in God.

 

Because of the fall, we have been robbed of the power and desire to do this naturally. Sin remade our nature, thus it's not natural when we go to pray. We must override all the accumulated ages of sin if we are to say with sincerity, "Our Father in heaven." If sin hadn't entered the picture, we wouldn't have anything to override. Rather, we'd simply raise our voices like the songbirds that sing God's praises without effort.

People, then, tend to turn away from God, their desire and passion for Him growing cold, and go back to what comes natural to them. 

 

We are backsliding when we have lost the relish for the Bible we once had. 

We are backsliding when we're more tolerant of evil than we once were, when we don't have the horror of sin that we pray and sing about.

We are backsliding when we have less enthusiasm for spiritual things than we used to have.

 

I doubt that discouragement is the greatest enemy the Christian has, but it can easily be the greatest nuisance a Christian has to deal with. It is valuable to the devil in his war against us because it is seldom recognized for what it is. When Christians become discouraged, common sense tells them they are just begin realistic. We forget that it is not realism but discouragement, and it often works when no other temptation will. A Christian who would not be guilty of any sin willingly, and who has victory enough not to fall into temptation unwillingly, may yet be visited by this infernal dark shadow from the pit, which we call discouragement. And this greatly hinders the Christian life. Discouragement can easily become a ruling emotion. It is more than an emotion; after a while, it becomes a disposition, an outlook, and an attitude. A darkened lens through which we view everything before us. The mood is the mental climate. IT isn't the individual person so much as the weather on the landscape of their life, which has captivated the person. Just as the weather isn't the field or the farm, and yet it goes a long way in determining if the farm will yield a good crop or not. 

You must go to God completely alone as if He were in the desert or in a cave.

 

We must respond to God's Word with a "Yes, He means what He says, and I surrender my life to Him."

 

We need to restore in the Church today that passionate love for God that nothing else can satisfy. If you're satisfied with something else, you haven't met the God of the Bible. The more of God you have, the more of God you want.

 

If you're not worshiping God in our prayers, we're not praying. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

8. How To Get A Mommy To Sleep

How To Get a Mommy To Sleep. Amy Parker. Illustrated by Natalia Moore. 2020. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Children's book, picture book]

First sentence: Getting Mom to take a rest

is hard to do--it's true!

She seems to want to stay up late

No matter what you do!

The key is starting early!

When you get out of bed,

Make sure you're right by Mommy's side

Before she lifts her head.

Premise/plot: This picture book has some role reversal going on. A young child is telling readers how to properly take care of Mom--all day and all night. 

My thoughts: This one was cute. There are clues throughout that give it a Christian twist. Like a banner/sign/decoration in their home that says, "Be still and know that I am God." The illustrations celebrate the ordinary home life--a blessing from the Lord for sure. In one illustration, for example, the mom is surrounded by her two kids and her CAT. The illustrations don't always match perfectly with the narrative. Sometimes they reveal the messiness of life instead of good intentions. Sometimes the illustrations hold all the humor. For example, the child is encouraging you, the reader, to help your mom at the store by keeping the list and checking things off. Meanwhile the illustrations reveal, him putting FIVE boxes of Dino O's in the cart. I'm going to guess this is a sugary cereal that they maybe don't need five boxes of! (Though I could be wrong and it could be dinosaur shaped pasta.) The book ends with a prayer.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

1 (New Testament Only)

The Amplified New Testament. Lockman Foundation. God. 1958. 989 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: The book of the ancestry (genealogy) of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed, the son (descendant) of David, the son (descendant) of Abraham. [Psalm 132:11; Isaiah 11:1]

I found this [relatively] tiny New Testament in the Amplified translation at a thrift store for a few dollars. I had not read this translation before, but, was really to try out the New Testament. (Part of me wishes that I'd gone ahead to buy the two Old Testament volumes as well. They were gone the next time I went. Though they were not in great condition, so perhaps all is well after all.) 

I had heard of the Amplified translation, but, was not aware that it dates from the 1950s. It is meant to be a supplement (or help), I believe, to the King James Version of the Bible. Would this have been the Lockman Foundation's first project? I'm guessing it would have been. The New American Standard Version would be published--in the New Testament--in the 1960s and the whole Bible beginning in the 1970s. I've always had a lot of respect for the NASB. Not so much respect for the Amplified. I was under the impression that it was like the Message. (I was SO wrong). 

The Amplified translation has been updated several times. There is a "classic" version, I believe from the 1980s on several websites, and the most recent update as well under "Amplified." Both versions are different from the 1958 that I read. 

I read this translation in December of 2023 and January of 2024. It is single column, black letter. After reading this one, I have decided that I'd like to try to read the whole Bible in the Amplified translation. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

7. The Letter Tree

The Letter Tree. Rachel Fordham. 2023. [October] 352 pages. [Source: Library] 

First sentence from the prologue: "Fairy tales," Laura Bradshaw mumbled as she ran her fingertip along the embossed letters on the newly purchased book, wishing it were a different title. Years ago, she'd loved the stories of Rapunzel, Briar-Rose, and the little cinder girl, but at nearly fourteen, she found her interests lying elsewhere--Shakespeare, animal care, and poetry. 

First sentence from chapter one: Laura tightened her grip on her beaded handbag as she walked the maze of paths through the zoo, bound for her tree. 

The Letter Tree is strongly influenced by Shop Around the Corner (aka You've Got Mail) and Romeo and Juliet. There are two feuding families. Each family has a shoe company/factory. The Bradshaws and the Campbells. The two families used to get along--quite close friends. NOT anymore. Laura can barely remember a time when her father didn't hate the Campbells. She has fond memories of the Campbell son, Isaac. The novel opens with Laura writing a secret pen pal. There isn't a post office box (like in Shop Around the Corner), but there is a special tree with a hollow spot perfect for letters. Laura and her pen pal do not use their real names nor give personal details about their lives. They do share hopes, dreams, and fears. 

Laura's home life is less than ideal. Her father is horrible--understandable or not. She's encouraged to court someone her father wants to do business with. She doesn't hate him. So she decides to end her pen pal relationship, at least temporarily. If she is going to give it her all to form a romantic relationship with marriage potential, then she shouldn't be writing another man. 

Isaac, the pen pal in question, is quite upset that the letters will be stopping. He's become quite fond of his "letter girl." He suggests the two meet in person...

This one is set in 1924 in New York. 

I really enjoyed this one. I absolutely love the source material--Shop Around the Corner and You've Got Mail. The feuding families comes from Romeo and Juliet--as does the name of a pet bird--but most of this one is from the other. It was a DELIGHT to read this one. Highly recommended. 

My only note to the author and publisher is please, please, please don't make the cursive letters in super-tiny font. It's hard enough to read cursive and italics, when you make the font size two times smaller than the main narrative font, it's just torture.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

6. Short-Straw Bride

Short-Straw Bride. Karen Witemeyer. 2012. Bethany House. 368 pages. [Source: Library]

From the prologue: Ten-year-old Meredith Hayes balled her hands into fists as she faced her tormentor, "Hiram Ellis! Give me back my lunch bucket this instant!"

From chapter one: "I don't think I can do it, Cass." Meredith peered up at her cousin through the reflection in the vanity mirror. Cassandra pulled the hairpin from her mouth and secured another section of Meredith's braided chignon. "Do what?" "Marry a man who wants me only for the land I can bring him." 

Short-Straw Bride is one of my all-time favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite books. I absolutely love this marriage-of-convenience. Is it a true marriage of convenience? Maybe. Maybe not. The two marry due to circumstances, close to a "shot-gun wedding" if you will. (Though our hero and heroine are innocent of any impropriety.) 

Meredith Hayes, our wonderful heroine, overhears a terrible-horrible plot. She's being "courted" by a villain (though she didn't know it at the time). She rides out to the Archer ranch to warn the four Archer brothers....and her time there on the ranch becomes extended after she suffers an injury....her guardian/uncle demands that one of the Archer brothers steps up and does the right thing and marry Meredith.

I really love this super-sweet and delightful romance. I loved Travis Archer. I loved Meredith. I loved ALL of the Archer brothers. I loved everything about this one.

My original review:

This isn't my first Karen Witemeyer book; however, it is the first Karen Witemeyer book that I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. Short-Straw Bride is a Christian historical romance; it is set in Palestine, Texas in the 1880s.

In the prologue, Travis Archer saves the then-ten-year-old Meredith, her leg having gotten trapped in a hunting trap. The incident stays with her, as you might imagine. First, because she can't forget Travis Archer, he is forever her hero, the stuff of her dreams, despite the fact that that isolated incident is the only time she's seen him. Second, because it left a scar on her leg and the damage to the bone prevented it from growing as it should; one leg being slightly longer than the other. 

The novel opens with Meredith all grown up and living with her aunt and uncle who are her guardians. They have arranged a marriage for her with an up-and-coming businessman, Roy Mitchell. Meredith prays for a sign, an indication one way or another if she should marry the man her guardians have chosen for her, or, if she should be stubborn and refuse their choice. And the sign, when it comes, is definite: she not only overhears him calling her a cripple, she overhears him making unethical arrangements to acquire land. He WANTS the Archer land, and since the Archer brothers won't sell, won't negotiate, won't budge, he's decided that if he burns their barn down, it will be a good first step to getting what he wants.

So what's a woman to do? Well, she does try going to the sheriff--or the deputy?--but when she's not taken seriously, when she's instead ridiculed for being a silly woman with a vivid imagination, she does what she must: she rides out to the Archer land herself to warn them. The problem? She doesn't have the time to ride out there and back before nightfall. And she wasn't counting on her cousin giving into the pressure of revealing her whereabouts. So her heroic ride to warn them just in time turns into a compromising reputation-killer. Her uncle demanding that one of the four Archer brothers step forward to marry her....

I admit this one could sound a bit silly to some readers, but, oh how I loved it!!!! I loved Meredith! I loved Travis! I loved their relationship, their marriage, their courtship-coming-after-marriage. I loved seeing how Meredith's presence on the Archer farm transforms the place, transforms the brothers. I loved just about everything in this one!!! There were quite a few giddy-making scenes!

Will Short-Straw Bride appeal to every reader? I doubt it. It's definitely for those that love Christian fiction, those that love Christian historical romance. I could see it having some appeal to non-Christians who love and seek out clean romance novels (smut-free romance novels).

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #2

Week in Bible Reading:

ESV with Apocrypha: Genesis 1-13; John 1-6; Galatians; 1 Thessalonians; Jeremiah 1-12; Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:8-21; 

KJV Rainbow Bible: Genesis 6-50; Exodus 1-17; Psalms 39-103; Romans; 1 Corinthians.

Amplified New Testament Revelation 7-22

LSB Genesis; Exodus

G4L Revelation 1-4: LSB, LSB, LSB, LSB

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

5. A Tailor-Made Bride

A Tailor-Made Bride. Karen Witemeyer. 2010. 348 pages. [Source: Library] [Historical fiction; historical romance, christian fiction, reread]

First sentence: "Red? Have you no shame, Auntie Vic? You can't be buried in a scarlet gown."

Hannah Richards inherits a piece of property in Coventry, Texas. At last she'll have a place to open up a dress shop of her own (she's a seamstress.) Not everyone in town is pleased to see her. Jericho "J.T." Tucker had previous plans for that property. He's also cranky and stand-offish because he is quick to judge. In his eyes, ANY person who encourages vanity is suspect. And what could promote vanity more quickly than a shop that sells new fashions??? That's how he judges the situation--after three seconds of knowing her. Fortunately, his sister, Delia, is kinder and more open-minded. In fact, she becomes quite friendly with his sister. Others in town seem to open up to her as well--though there is a big difference between being friendly, having cocoa, making small talk, and spending cash in the shop. There's a good chance that her business fails if no one in town comes to buy anything. But Hannah does find herself belonging in town...for the most part. 

Delia, Jericho's sister, has a cross on Ike Franklin (the postmaster? telegraph operator?). Warren (I can't remember his last name, but it might start with an H????) feels some ownership over Delia simply because Delia is super-sweet and super-nice and super-friendly. She doesn't single him out for extra attention. But she doesn't treat him differently than how she treats everyone. And in this friendless guy's perspective, that makes her the one. A woman that doesn't shun him? Obviously, she's the one who will make him happy forever and ever. When Delia begins to correct Warren--remind him that she does not like-like him, that she has no interest in him courting her, that she does not want to marry him, that she does not welcome his attention or advances, Warren decides that it is Hannah's fault. These two are now besties.

Can Jericho keep his sister and Hannah safe?

One of the slight issues that I have with this one is that Hannah strongly encourages Delia to lose weight in order to feel more beautiful and confident so that she can begin to pursue Ike Franklin's attention more directly. It's a not so subtle message that if you want to get the attention of a man, then lose weight, buy a new dress, get a new haircut and you're well on your way to everything you want in life. Hannah herself is big on exercise. I am NOT on Team Warren. Warren argues that Delia is being given bad advice. That Hannah is trying to transform Delia into something she's not. I think you can NOT be on Team Creepy-Stalker and still question the messages. Delia is SUCH an awesome character, she doesn't need to be "fixed" to get her happy ending. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

4. Calling On the Matchmaker

Calling On the Matchmaker. Jody Hedlund. 2023. [December] 352 pages. [Source: Library] [historical romance, historical fiction]

First sentence: "Nip along with you now, Finola." Madigan bounded onto Broadway, dodging an omnibus that was slogging through the thick mud. "The matchmaker is waiting."

If Calling On the Matchmaker was published by a SECULAR publishing company or publishing house, then I would not be rating it one star. As it is published by a Christian publishing company and one who is not particularly known for being "edgy" or "pushing boundaries," I think the one star is fair enough to warn Christian readers that compromises have been made.

The premise of this one is relatively straightforward: Finola Shanahan, our heroine, does NOT want to get married. For better or worse, she thinks becoming a nun is the answer. (In my opinion (as a non-Catholic at that) I think wanting to avoid getting married out of fear of having children only to lose them to death is a HORRIBLE reason to pledge yourself--your life, your service--to the church. She does not seem motivated by a love for Jesus Christ OR having genuinely felt the call to a life of service to Jesus Christ.) Her family disagrees. They don't want their daughter to give up on love just yet. A matchmaker is being employed to help Finola find a husband. Finola's goal--as it has been the past dozen times--is to sabotage the experience. To become the exact opposite of whatever her would-be-husband is looking for. This plan backfires when sources become compromised.

Riley Rafferty, our hero, has a one track mind. Well, that's not fair. He isn't only thinking of sex, sex, sex, sex. He's also thinking of who he can save and who can see him saving. Riley saves people--that's what he does. And he aspires to be a politician. Finola is one of the people he saves--though not the only one. 

Riley doesn't want to get married--not exactly--but he does want Finola in his bed. By the second chapter, he's already seen her mostly naked. He is willing to court her through a matchmaker. Maybe the marriage will happen, maybe it won't. But in the meantime, he can hold her in his arms and have a little fun. 

Finola isn't interested in marriage--obviously--but a little physical fun with the oh-so-dreamy Riley is a great way to kill time. But can these two explore physical pleasures in their "courting" outings without having to pay the price? Will these two reluctant suitors end up married after all?

This one is set in 1849 in St. Louis. 

To pretend that this one hasn't crossed all sorts of lines and boundaries in so-called Christian romance, would be wrong. Yet so many reviews don't mention the CONTENT. A few do. I am thankful that there are some reviewers out there who want to warn readers when Christian romance novels are anything but Christian. 

I do think there are certain expectations that readers have of Christian publishing companies and Christian authors. One of the most basic being that what is being published (and promoted as Christian) actually lives up to a standard. There was no standard here. NO standard. 

The outings and meetings these two had were COMPLETELY and totally inappropriate. These are the kinds of scenes I'd expect in secular smut. The matchmaker (whose name I've forgotten, he's taking over from his grandfather, I think???) and the two main characters are HORRIBLE characters if you are looking for Christian role models.

Other than the content being lust-forward, is there Christian content to balance out their hormones???? NO. Not really. Not every Christian novel is going to have their characters living out a spiritually rich faith. Some take a more subtle approach. There are no moral or spiritual lessons in this one. No gospel to be found. No Savior being glorified. No scripture verses being shared, prayed, meditated on. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

3. Busy Nativity

Busy Nativity. Campbell Books. Illustrated by Emily Bolam. 2023. [September] 10 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book, children's book, Christmas, holiday]

First sentence: Mary and Joseph had so far to go. On a donkey to Bethlehem, steady and slow. No room at the inn, so where could they stay? In a cozy, warm stable with plenty of hay!

Premise/plot: Busy Nativity is an interactive board book to share with little ones. There are elements to push, pull, or slide on each spread. The story itself is the nativity story told in rhyme. The story is simple, short, yet satisfying enough.

My thoughts: I enjoyed the elements in this one. They add a bit of fun. Does the nativity story need extras to make it fun? No. Not really. But the elements are harmless fun. Animals that appear, for example. In one scene (the one about the stable), little ones can watch sheep pop up and down in the scene. The peek-a-boo sheep are harmless enough and just delightful. Perhaps it would be a different story if it was Santa popping up in the manger scene. In another scene, little ones can rock baby Jesus to sleep. 

I liked this one. Definitely recommended reading for this age group during the holidays. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2. Mortimer's Christmas Manger

Mortimer's Christmas Manger. Karma Wilson. Illustrated by Jane Chapman. 2005. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book, holiday, animal fantasy]

First sentence: In a big house lived a wee mouse named Mortimer. He dwelled in a dark hole under the stairs. Nobody ever noticed little Mortimer. And Mortimer liked it that way. But he didn't like his hole. "Too cold. Too cramped. Too creepy," squeaked Mortimer.

ETA: I've reread this one several times now. It is one I always find myself coming back to because it is a great example of how a picture book can include Christian themes without being too-much. 

Premise/plot: Mortimer is in search of a new home, a better home. To his surprise, he finds such a home…easily. But it's a home filled with statues. There is even a statue of a baby of all things?! The baby is easily shoved OUT of the way. And Mortimer settles into a MOUSE-SIZE bed, happy at last. But will that happiness last? And why do the humans keep putting the statues back up day after day?!

My thoughts: When Mortimer encounters Jesus (Or "statue-baby-Jesus") for the first time, his response was quick: THERE'S NO ROOM FOR YOU HERE, OUT YOU GO. I think Mortimer's response is the natural human response to the actual Jesus. People may "have room" for baby Jesus a couple of days each December. Shoved in amongst other activities or festivities. But is there a place for Jesus in their actual lives, year round? Not just the baby Jesus, the harmless, inoffensive Jesus. But the born-to-die, Savior-Rescuer. (Jesus can't be squeezed into little corners, little pockets of our lives. He's the LORD of the universe.  But I digress.) 

Mortimer has a second encounter with Jesus. This time it's the Jesus of the Word. He overhears the family reading the Christmas story. He learns who Jesus is, he learns what Jesus came to do. This changes everything…for Mortimer. Jesus must come. He must go. They can't both sleep in the manger. And Mortimer surrenders what was never really "his" to Jesus. He also offers up a prayer. 

The story has a happy ending because the family has been busy making a gingerbread house. Of course Mortimer thinks it's a direct answer to his prayers! 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #1

When I lie down I say, When shall I arise and the night be gone? And I am full of tossing to and fro till the dawning of the day. Job 7:4

[As for me] I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me. You are my Help and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry! Psalms 40:17

Week in Bible Reading

NKJV Wide Margin: Proverbs 8-31; Psalms 1-14; 1 Peter; 2 Peter;

Amplified New Testament: 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 1-7

1611 KJV Genesis 1-15

KJV Audio: Psalms 1-60

KJV Rainbow Psalms 1-37; Genesis 1-5

G4L Revelation 1-4 

KJV, LSB, KJV, KJV, NASB 77

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

1. A Winter by The Sea

A Winter by The Sea (On Devonshire Shore #2) Julie Klassen. 2023. [December] 448 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: If a quill pen was truly more powerful than a rapier, as Shakespeare suggested, then a pen must also be more powerful than a needle. Emily Summers mused on this as she sat in the parlour, writing in a notebook. Around her, her mother and sisters sewed together over tea and pleasant conversation. Even Viola, her recently married twin, had come over from Westmount with her needlework bag to join them. Only their oldest sister, Claire, was absent.

Genre(s): Christian fiction, clean romance, historical fiction, Regency fiction

A Winter by the Sea is the sequel to The Sisters of Sea View. The Summer family continues opening their home [in Devonshire] as a guest house to paying guests. The excitement surrounding the community is the soon to be arrival of members of the royal family--the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the infant Victoria. While they will not be lodging at their "guest house" (aka boarding house) some of their staff will be...including a Mr. James Thompson. 

Julie Klassen has done research on the community for this time period, and the royal visit indeed did take place. This was where the Duke of Kent died. [Hopefully that doesn't count as a true spoiler]. 

The book follows the personal lives of the Summer sisters--Sarah, Emily, Viola, and Georgiana. Viola was married off [had her big romance] in the first book. This book is Emily's turn. Emily isn't a silly, flighty girl in search of a husband. (Though she does want to find her one true love). She is also interested in reading, writing, and editing. She is NOT interested in embroidery. 

I definitely enjoyed this one. I loved both books in this series so much. I'm not sure I loved it more than the first book. I'm not sure I loved it less either. I liked that a handful of characters in this one were real historical people. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible