Thoughts on My Mini/Many Horner Bible Reading Plan

I have adjusted, readjusted, re-readjusted, many, many times. This time around I decided to go with FIVE bookmarks instead of ten. (This time being the key word). I have long since learned that I am so fickle with this system that it is best to just handwrite on slips of paper my "bookmarks." Each "reset" involves a LOT of experimenting. I have yet to find the perfect-perfect adjustment.

This time I kept the Tanakh order of the Old Testament in mind.

My first four bookmarks were:

The Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

Nevi'im Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings)

Nevi'im Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

Ketuvim "The Writings" (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles)

My fifth bookmark was the New Testament.

Now usually in my adaptations and adjustments I stick with ten bookmarks or perhaps eight or nine. 

But this was my "mini" system. It was also my "many" system.

For whatever reason--for better or worse--I did not want to read one chapter per bookmark. I did not even want to read two chapters per bookmark. I set out--especially in the beginning--to read five chapters per bookmark. I was reading MORE in fewer places. I didn't stick with this five per bookmark rule. But I did try to keep the twenty to twenty-five chapters per day "guideline." (Think Pirates of the Caribbean). 

I am more than halfway through the Bible with this system. I have finished three of the five bookmarks. I have the "Writings" bookmark and the New Testament going strong still.

I don't know that I'd repeat these bookmarks exactly. Probably this revision was better. I did like reading twenty-five-ish chapters per day. I liked reading more in fewer places. So that was something that I definitely liked. And I liked having less bookmarks overall. Five may have been too few, but ten may be too much. Next time I might combine the Former and Latter Prophets together. I might add a bookmark to the New Testament section. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #13

Current Bible reading:

1 Year KJV for women: Deuteronomy 21-34; Joshua 1-4; Luke 9:51-14:35; Psalms 74-80; Proverbs 12:12-28; 

ESV Creeds (finished this week!!!) 1 Kings 10-22; 2 Kings; 1 Chronicles; 2 Chronicles;  Ezekiel 40-46; Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi; 

KJV Cambridge: Proverbs 18-31; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel 1-2; Acts 23-28; Romans; 1 Corinthians

NASB 1995 (Thompson Chain) Psalms 116-150; Proverbs;  2 Kings 10-25; Proverbs; Jeremiah 15-52; Lamentations; Ezekiel; Romans 1-11

NIV 2011: Numbers 17-36; Deuteronomy; 2 Kings 5-25; Job; Song of Songs; Proverbs; Ezekiel 21-48; Hosea; Acts 16-28; Romans; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi; 

NKJV Word Study: Amos; Obadiah; Exodus 24-40; Jonah; Matthew 1-19; Leviticus 1-14; 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Thoughts on my M'Cheyne 52 DAY reading plan

I have so many conflicting feelings about the M'Cheyne reading plan. I know for many--for centuries--it has been THE plan. It was first published in 1842. 

I would imagine plenty of people have used the plan without reading the original tract which lists the dangers and advantages of using a bible reading plan AND then continues to give specific directions on how to use his plan. I do encourage you to take the time to read the tract. This was my first time to do so. I have not used the plan with M'Cheyne's actual directions. 

The M'Cheyne reading plan has you read through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. (One also reads through the book of Psalms twice). There are two readings for "family" devotions and two for "secret" devotions. 

The Gospel Coalition article I read (published in 2019) shares that in 1837, M'Cheyne compiled a plan for reading the Bible in a month! Now THAT is the reading plan I'd dearly love to get my hands on! 

My main issue with the original plan is that it is too slow or too drawn out. I read at a faster pace; feast at a faster pace. Whether "reading" or "feeding" on the Word of God, I don't want a tiny, dainty, delicate portion. 

In 2020, I read through the Bible using the M'Cheyne reading plan and was able to stick with it because I combined it with reading through Matthew Henry's complete commentary. I'd read the Scripture and then the commentary. That worked, but I didn't love it enough to repeat it.

In 2023, I attempted to read through the Bible with the M'Cheyne reading plan again. This time using a Bible app. I found myself skimming lightly and not engaging. Whether it was because it was a digital bible OR because of my translation choice OR my vision issues, I gave it up in August. 

In the fall of 2023 I fooled around with the idea of turning the YEAR-long plan into a 52 day reading plan. I spent a lot of time typing it up and doing math. The math was the worst part. (Well, maybe not. I apparently had typos as well. When I actually used the plan this spring, I circled so many corrections.) 

What I liked: I really LOVED reading so many chapters at a time. It just makes for a much better reading experience to read in longer sections. For example, to read Genesis 1-7 in one sitting instead of one chapter at a time over seven days. It makes better SENSE when it comes to comprehension. It requires less effort. That could so easily be taken out of context. When you break up sections of Scripture into dainty, bite-size pieces AND mix sleep into it...you have to recall what you read the day before and the day before and the day before and the day before. You build momentum as well. I also appreciated reading from four different sections of Scripture. That works great. 

What I didn't like: Because I was trying to group each week's reading into one day's readings, there were some unusual breaks. There would be no weirdness in the original plan, but it was introduced in the super-quick speed run. It also made less sense in the speed run to read through Psalms and the New Testament twice. 

Would I repeat my super-quick-speed-run???? Probably not. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

4. ESV Creeds

ESV Bible with Creeds and Confessions. Crossway. 2020. 1424 pages. [Source: Review copy]

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

How do I feel about the newly published ESV Bible with Creeds and Confessions?! I absolutely love, love, love, love, love, crazy love and adore this one. [ETA: I do wish the pages were less glaring or shiny when read under bright light. I have had to choose *where* to read this one so it is read in dimmer light.]

I read the TruTone edition of the ESV Creeds Bible. It was without a doubt the best FEELING Tru-Tone I've ever held in my hands. It is LOVELY. I typically make covers for my Bibles--this one won't be getting one. I love the feel of it too much. 

It is the text of the ESV translation. I do love the ESV. It is in my top three definitely. I love, love, love the ESV, the NASB, and the KJV. Those are my top three--have been for the past decade--and they take turns being the top. A little friendly competition between translations, I suppose! [ETA: I have found myself liking other translations more these days. The NKJV has moved up and the ESV has moved down one notch.]

Font size vs. Weight. I thought this was PERFECTLY BALANCED. The weight of the overall bible is just about perfect. The font size is 10.5. That is so much larger than the average Bible being printed nowadays. (The ESV Prayer Bible is 9.25; the ESV Study Bible is 9 point; ESV Student Study Bible is 8 point; The ESV Reformation Study Bible is 9 point.) It's light enough that you can hold the Bible and read--as opposed to a Bible you HAVE to read at a table because it's too heavy for the lap to sustain. Because it's light weight, the font size was very manageable even though my vision is poor.

Double column. The ESV Creeds Bible is double column. The bleed-through was on the minimal side. I didn't need to use black construction paper. I think the text was blocked in such a way that it helped prevent bleed-through.

Black letter. The ESV Creeds Bible is a black letter Bible. The words of Christ are not printed in red. I am thankful for this!

The Creeds and Confessions were found in the back of the Bible. They include the Apostles Creed (ca. 200-400), the Nicene Creed (325), the Athanasian Creed (381), the Chalcedonian Definition (451), the Augsburg Confession (1530), the Belgic Confession (1561), the Articles of Religion (1563), the Canons of Dort (1618-19), the Westminster Confession (1646), the London Baptist Confession (1689), the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), the Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), and the Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647).

I loved the variety of what they included. Some were familiar to me; others were new-to-me. They didn't include every single creed, confession, or catechism. One they did leave out was the Scots Confession (1560). Another was the Second Helvetic Confession (1566). 

It does include more creeds than the ESV Reformation Study Bible which only includes the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Definition of Chalcedon, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, the Westminster Confession, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the 1689 London Baptist Confession. 

It also has more creeds than the KJV Reformation Heritage Bible which only includes the Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort, Westminster Confession, Westminster Shorter Confession, Westminster Larger Catechism.

I think the ESV Creeds Bible would make a great Bible to carry to church. It would be a great only Bible as well.

I think ESV should publish a Bible perhaps with families in mind and include the full text of the NEW CITY CATECHISM.

ETA: I read the ESV Creeds Bible the second time (I believe) in February and March of 2024. Start date was February 14, 2024 and end date was March 27, 2024.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #12

Current Bible reading

1 Year KJV for Women: Deuteronomy 4-20; Luke 6:39-49; Luke 7-8, Luke 9:1-50; Psalms 68-73; Proverbs 11:28-31; 12:1-10;

KJV (Cambridge): 1 Chronicles 21-29; 2 Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Job; Psalms; Proverbs 1-17; John 9-21; Acts 1-22

NASB 95 (Thompson Chain Reference): Psalms 86-115; Judges 19-21; Ruth; 1 Samuel; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings; 2 Kings 1-9; Jeremiah 1-15;

NIV 2011: Leviticus; Numbers 1-16; 2 Samuel 6-24; 1 Kings; 2 Kings 1-4; Psalms 95-150; Jeremiah 31-52; Ezekiel 1-20; John 11-21; Acts 1-15

ESV Creeds: Judges 13-21; Ruth; 1 Samuel; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1-9;  Jeremiah 26-52; Lamentations; Ezekiel 1-39; 

NKJV Word Study: Ezekiel 21-48; Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Genesis 37-50; Exodus 1-23; 

BSB Isaiah 46-54; John 15-17

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

25. In this Moment

In This Moment. (Timeless #2) Gabrielle Meyer. 2023. 416 pages. [Source: Library] [Speculative fiction; historical romance]

First sentence: Most days, I could pretend that my life was normal. I was a twenty-year old woman searching for my place in the world, trying to decide my future. The only difference was that I had three normal lives, and on my twenty-first birthday, just eight and a half months from now, I would have to choose which one to keep and which to forfeit. Forever. 

Our heroine is "Margaret Wakefield," "Maggie Hollingsworth," and "Meg Clarke." Her timelines are respectively 1861, 1941, and 2001. In each timeline she has an interest in medicine be it as a nurse or doctor/surgeon. A little bit of backstory, she is the daughter of TWO time slippers or two time travelers. She bears two birthmarks which signify that she has this special ability; one is inherited from her father and the other is inherited from her mother. 

This is the second novel in the series. Unlike the first book, I really LOVED this one. Mainly because it was so much improved from the first novel. What I appreciated about his novel is the characterization and storytelling. Characters are fully fleshed out in all three timelines. Well, mostly. Two of the timelines definitely get more attention to detail. However, I felt that the stories in all three were actually engaging and well-balanced. I did not feel that there was a super incredible obvious choice within the first three or four pages. I did not feel that there was one obvious HERO that would be THE ONE within the first three chapters. I think the balance between the three storylines, the cast of characters in each timeline, were well done. Most importantly, I think the heroine was actually likable. And that makes all the difference in the world. If you can't stand to be anywhere near the main character and you think she is off-putting, it's hard to like a book well enough to finish it.

Loose lips apparently don't sink ships in the world Meyer has created. Our main character can't really keep her abilities to herself. She confides in friends, family, and love interests. In every timeline she has a support system in place which allows her to talk relatively freely about her other lives, other families, other love interests. I don't know how I feel about this to be honest. 

There was one scene that I thought was theologically iffy. But I think the theology of this speculative fiction is just necessarily iffy. Because it is all make believe and has a different set of rules. God somehow seems less sovereign and less in charge of his universe. Like he's waiting on his special time-travelers to figure out how the story is going to play out. 

"Sometimes I wish God would just choose for me."

"You wouldn't really want that, would you?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. It would be easier." 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

24. This Special Blessing for You

This Special Blessing for You. Eric and Meredith Schrotenboer. Illustrated by Denise Hughes. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book, children's book]

First sentence: Today is the day the world gets to see the beautiful person God made you to be. Wherever you go, it's God's love you're expressing, so God sends you out with this special blessing. May the Lord bless you with strength from above and fill you with power to give and to love. May God protect you all through the day. God's always close--that's where God will stay.

This picture book is a VERY loose adaptation of Numbers 6:22-27. It is absolutely a beautiful blessing from Scripture. It is grounded in a time and place, and, like many other blessings found in Scripture, it isn't unconditional. [This is absolutely not the position taken by the authors. They don't really address the context of these verses at all. That isn't their aim or mission.] 

The picture book is inspired by this bit of Scripture. It is a soft, warm, fuzzy, comfy, cozy. It is reassuring and self-affirming. It sometimes reads vaguely, intentionally unoffensive.  It is written in rhyme. 

I have read this one twice now. Each stanza [or spread] hits differently when I read or reread it. I think each stanza could lead to some substantive discussion. But I'm not sure that in actuality that is how the book will be used. And there isn't really a "wrong" way to read this one with little ones. 

It is inspired by Numbers 6:22-27. These verses are from the Old Testament. The gospel isn't necessarily obvious and straightforward in this passage. What this book is missing--and this is my personal opinion--is Jesus Christ and the gospel. Again, it isn't that the authors removed the gospel or twisted the gospel. They just didn't add in the gospel. There were phrases that just hit slightly off--again my own personal opinion. 

"So God has a plan--it's you that God sends to share with the world that God's love never ends. So be kind to others, your sister and brother, to show what God's like as we love one another. May your life be "good news" to all those that you meet--your family and neighbors and friends down the street." 

There are at least two ways to read the book. One way is to give the authors the full benefit of the doubt, to assume that they were not implying anything weird theologically or equating God's expression of love in Jesus Christ with our expression of love as we share tacos with everyone. The second way is to have doubt, to begin to question every statement to see how it lines up with Scripture. 

It is a very loose adaptation. You can't pair up stanzas with specific lines or phrases from Scripture. And the picture book goes above and beyond the words and their meanings. It expands the theology from Numbers 6:22-27. Part of me is like--show your work. Where in Scripture does it teach this, show that, which verses led you to make this statement as fact. Many of the statements--surface level at least--sound true, feel true. But just because something sounds nice, sounds true-ish doesn't necessarily make it theologically sound. 

The note to parents reads,

The Hebrew understanding of "blessing" is that it is a "divine filling." When the priests raised their hands and spoke these words, God's Spirit flowed through the priests on to the people. With this blessing, God's people were filled with power to live out who God called them to be in the world. The same is true today. God sends us out into the world so we can show everyone what God is like. We get to carry God's name with us wherever we go. Use this book as a resource to speak God's blessing over the children in your life. With this blessing, you will equip them with God's power to live out who God is calling them to be and what God is calling them to do as they go through their day.

The note just feels theologically iffy, off, strange. One of the authors is a certified Enneagram coach and facilitator. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

23. Live Your Truth and Other Lies

Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted and Self-Obsessed. Alisa Childers. 2022. 240 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: My finger was literally on the button. Everything in me wanted to click Like and Share. Why am I not doing it? I thought. The author of the meme was a Christian, the quote sounded positive and life-affirming, and it would surely encourage and uplift my social media friends. I still can't do it. But why? 

Live Your Truth and Other Lies is a book that challenges so-called "truths" of society and culture. Childers is encouraging her readers to logically, reasonably, thoughtfully examine their world views and beliefs, the truths by which they live. To do so in light of Scripture I might add. This whole book is essentially be discerning at all times, don't just soak up any and every "truth" that you hear--especially if it comes in a bite-size quote shared on social media. Not that lies can only be found on social media. Lies, half-truths, barely-truths can be found anywhere and everywhere in our lives, our cultures, our circles. Childers encourages--promotes--study of God's Word and reliance on it. 

This book is not unique. There are probably a few each year along these same lines. Books that are calling out the LIES and half-truths of our culture and society. Books that encourage living in the Word and by the Word. Books that promote living counterculturally, not compromising with the world but holding to Scripture. This one is in some ways basic. But here's the thing, there doesn't have to be one and only one book on this subject. Just because it's been said before doesn't mean it's less important if said another time. There are people who will pick this one up and be blessed by it. 

I liked the conversational tone of this one. I do love her YouTube channel and podcast. This was a pleasant, enjoyable read for me. I did like some of the charts within the chapters. I do wish it was easier to see which "lie" was being addressed in each chapter. The chapter titles could be more helpful. It isn't that they were horrible the first time through--when reading cover to cover. But if I wanted to use this as a reference, to come back to specific chapters to find something again, or to try to find a specific quote to share with someone, the chapter titles are not going to be helpful. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #11

Current Bible reading:

1 Year Bible for Women, KJV, Numbers 26-36; Deuteronomy 1-3; Psalm 60-67; Luke 2:36-52; Luke 3-5; Luke 6:1-11; Luke 6:12-38; Proverbs 11:15-27;

NASB 95 Thompson Chain Reference: Psalms 50-; Deuteronomy; Joshua; Judges 1-18; 2 Corinthians; Galatians;

KJV Cambridge: Joshua 18-24; Judges; Ruth; 1 Samuel; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings; 2 Kings; 1 Chronicles 1-20; Luke 2-24; John 1-8;

ESV Creeds: Deuteronomy 16-34; Joshua; Judges 1-12; Psalms 103-150; Isaiah 43-66; Jeremiah 1-25; Revelation 13-22; 

NIV 2011: EX 6-40; 1 Samuel; 2 Samuel 1-5; Psalms 50-94; Isaiah 50-66; Jeremiah 1-30; Luke; John 1-10;

NKJV Word Study Bible: Genesis 1-36; Colossians; Lamentations; Ezekiel 1-20

BSB: Isaiah 38-45; John 11-14;

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

22. When the Day Comes

When the Day Comes. (Timeless #1) Gabrielle Meyer. 2022. 384 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: For as long as I could remember, my mama had told me that my life was a gift. But at the age of nineteen, I had yet to see how this life I was living--or rather the lives I was living--could be anything other than a burden.

Premise/plot: When the Day Comes is a "timeslip" novel I believe. The premise is that there are a select number of human beings gifted/blessed by God with an unusual ability. They live two lives. When they fall asleep in one life, they wake up in the other. That's the keeping it simple summary. On her twenty-first birthday, the individual--in this case, Libby--must choose between her two lives and commit to living in one time period. Libby lives in Colonial Williamsburg in 1774--so essentially the country is on the verge of the war--and New York in 1914--again, Libby is living on the verge of war, though she probably doesn't know that bit. Her mother is also a "time traveler" (her lives were Colonial America and the 1990s). 

Libby is 100000000% certain that she knows her choice already. She is going to stay with her widowed mother and siblings in Colonial America, and, above all she is going to stay with her much beloved sweetheart, Henry. She hates almost every moment of her "modern" life in 1914. She doesn't hate her father, she might miss him a little bit. But she has no bond or connection with anyone else. Everything is a drudge.

But God may have different plans for her life. Will He work all things out for good?

My thoughts: I don't hate the premise. I don't. I actually think it has a LOT of potential. I do. I think it could be done really well. There could be great characterization, immersion into different time periods, and genuine tension and conflict. Like what if she *equally* enjoyed/loved both lives. What if she actually cared about both families. What if she actually lived life to the fullest in both lives. What if she authentically belonged to both timelines. But as it is, the characterization just isn't there. The characters lack fleshing out. The relationships feel flat, for the most part. The book does not read historical for either time period because the main character doesn't really 'belong' anywhere. She knows too much about Colonial America [and American history up through 1914 at least]. And through conversations with her mother, she has hints of even more. At one point her mother gives her a brief overview of the twentieth century. 

I think the biggest problem for me was the NON love triangle. We have one of the weakest love triangles ever. Which is fine, completely fine. Many people hate love triangles. But when you've got the main character in relationships in both timelines, but she loves one madly and despises the other...then it is just wearisome. The modern timeline depicts S.A. 

I take back what I said about the biggest problem. The solution tie-a-bow-on-it-ending was 1000000% convenient and felt cheater-pants. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #10

Current Bible reading:

1 Year Bible for Women KJV: Numbers 10-25; Mark 14-16; Luke 1-2:1-35; Psalms 51-59; Proverbs 10:31-32; Proverbs 11:1-14; 

Thompson Chain Reference NASB 95: Exodus 29-40; Leviticus; Numbers;  Psalms 15-49; Acts 9-28; Hebrews; 1 Corinthians;

KJV Cambridge: Exodus 18-40; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua 1-17; Matthew 17-28; Mark; Luke 1;

ESV Creeds and Confessions: Leviticus 26-27; Numbers; Deuteronomy 1-15; Psalms 33-102; Ecclesiastes 9-12; Song of Songs; Isaiah 1-42; Titus; Philemon; Hebrews; James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter; 1 John; 2 John; 3 John; Jude; Revelation 1-12; 

NIV 2011: Genesis 6-50; Exodus 1-5; Joshua 6-24; Judges; Psalms 7-49; Isaiah 6-49; Matthew 5-28; Mark;

BSB Isaiah 29-37; John 8-10; 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

21. Rand McNally Book of Favorite Stories of Jesus

The Rand McNally Book of Favorite Stories of Jesus. Mary Alice Jones (according to GoodReads). Illustrated by Elizabeth Webbe, Eleanor Corwin, Manning de V. Lee, and Janet Robson Kennedy. 1981. 109 pages. [Source: Bought]

This book consists of four previously published (presumably) children's books: The Baby Jesus, Jesus and the Children, Jesus Who Helped People, and Friends of Jesus. These books were originally published in the 1960s between 1961 and 1964. (IF I read Roman numerals correctly.) The first story, as you can surmise from the title, is the Christmas nativity story. The other three titles are thematically grouped narratives. Jesus and the Children focuses in on passages of scripture in which Jesus interacted with children. Jesus Who Helped People has the broadest narrative. Readers get a series of vignettes. Friends of Jesus tells two stories. First it tells of the calling of [early] disciples Peter and Andrew. Second, it tells the story of Zacchaeus. 

The first two books seem to go together well. The last two books seem to go together well. 

I bought the book because I have a weakness for vintage children's books. The books have a narrative style that reads vintage or old-fashioned. For better or worse. I'm not saying it is always, always, always better. But it's definitely not for the worse in this instance in my opinion. The books almost have the same narrative flow as Dick and Jane. These are books meant to be read by kids. 

First paragraph of The Baby Jesus,

Mary and Joseph were going to Bethlehem. Mary was riding on a little gray donkey. Joseph was walking, leading the donkey. Soon it would be dark. Mary was tired. She knew it was time for her baby to be born. She drew her shawl closer about her to keep warm. "There," Joseph said. "There is Bethlehem. It is not far now." Mary looked up and saw the town. "We are almost there," she said. Mary and Joseph came to the town. They went to the inn where the travelers stayed. The door was closed. Joseph knocked at the door. He knocked again and again. 

I appreciate older texts and seeing snapshots of the times.

I know there can be some debate among Christians on if [artistic] illustrations are a violation of the second commandment, but, for those that are not so convinced [at least not in regards to bible story books for children as opposed to art hanging in sanctuaries or icons] vintage art can be quite delightful. The first two books in particular I really enjoyed the artwork. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #9

Current Bible reading:

KJV -- One Year Bible for Women -- Leviticus 19-27 Numbers 1-9; Mark 8:11-38; 9-13; Psalms 42-50; Proverbs 10:17-30; 

NASB 95 TCR -- Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, Job; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum, Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi; Psalms 1-14; Exodus 1-28; Acts 1-8

KJV (World) -- Mark 8-16; Luke; John; Acts; Romans; Philippians; Colossians; 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy; 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; Hebrews; James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter; 1 John; 2 John; 3 John

KJV (Cambridge) Genesis; Exodus 1-17; Matthew 1-16; 

BSB -- Isaiah 17-28; John 6-7; 

ESV Creeds -- Exodus 15-40; Leviticus 1-25; Luke 18-24; John; Psalms 1-32;  Job 33-42; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes 1-8;  2 Corinthians 3-13; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy; 2 Timothy; 

NIV 2011 -- Genesis 1-5; Joshua 1-5; Psalms 1-6; Isaiah 1-5; Matthew 1-4; 

LSB Revelation 9-12

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

20. Eve and Adam and Their Very First Day

Eve and Adam and Their Very First Day. Leslie Kimmelman. Illustrated by Irina Avgustinovich. 2023. [October 24] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It was Eve's first day in the Garden of Eden. Actually, it was her first day anywhere, since she was newly created. God had made her wonderfully well. Eve was not afraid of anything. She was not afraid of the wild green tangle of the garden. Not afraid of the tall leafy trees soaring up into the sky. Not afraid of the vivid, rainbow-colored flowers growing all around her, their sweet scents perfuming the air.

Eve is the star of the show in Leslie Kimmelman's light-hearted retelling of the creation story. (Note the shift from Adam and Eve to Eve and Adam. Adam perhaps should join Ken in singing "I'm Just Ken." Adam is introduced four pages into the text.) 

The main theme seems to be that Eve (and Adam) were created by God and lived fearlessly (well, mostly).  (And to give credit where credit is due, I do think that Adam and Eve were free from fear--as we know and experience fear. I do think fear is a result of sin, of the fall of creation.) 

Eve finds Adam super cute and adorable but a little lacking in imagination and intelligence. Quote from the text, "Maybe it was because Adam had been first. Eve came second, and, well, practice makes perfect." (To be fair to the author, Eve does admit she is NOT perfect two seconds after saying that she was perfect.) 

About a third of the way through the story, the pair are startled and frightened by rain, thunder, and lightning. This is the first time they've experienced fear but they turn to faith in God that all will be well...again. (I suppose theologians might have differing opinions on IF rain occurred before the Flood or not. I suppose this isn't the most critical issue one could have in the evangelical faith. [Note: when I say evangelical I do NOT mean anything related to politics.]) 

Soon one fright leads to another. Turns out ADAM is afraid of the dark. Good thing Eve isn't scared of the dark and can help calm him down. But as the darkness becomes truly darkness, even Eve becomes worried. Though not as bad as shivering Adam. The stars eventually make their appearance and the two nestle up comfy-cozy together. (The whole book presents Eve and Adam without clothes. So this nestling picture seems an odd choice. It is in some ways sweet. But in other ways, a little daring for a children's book.) 

The book ends with Eve (and Adam) declaring everything GOOD. Here is where I go from mildly perturbed to indignant. God has been an "extra" at best in this little play of creation. Definitely not front and center. The book itself has been very cutesy and light-hearted. In a way. Perhaps not a harmless way. Definitely a more pointed way. A way that makes Adam look weak, pathetic, a sidekick to Eve, her companion sure enough but not her equal. But I think the "slap in the face," if you will is when the author takes Scripture--God's declaration of creation's goodness [see Genesis 1:1-31]--and ends her story this way, "Eve and Adam saw that it was good." God barely registers as a footnote in the text. In Genesis 1 and 2, God is on the move--he is ACTIVELY creating, speaking, working, declaring. Make no mistake, any [intelligent] reading of the text reveals that God is front and center, the "main character" if you will, the whole point. This picture book pushes out the Creator and makes CREATION--specifically Eve--the focal point. 

As the title suggests, the picture book is "the first day, first night, second morning." The scene fades before Genesis 3.

I think I could be unimpressed but not particularly disgruntled if the picture book did not end with the phrase, "And Eve and Adam saw that it was good." I think it isn't so much the sentiment behind the literal words. I am 99.9% sure that Adam and Eve did look at God's creation and see goodness. It is the parroting of the biblical narrative and attributing God's declaration as originating from Eve that is unsettling. 

The book is in the difficult position. On the one hand, it isn't theologically or biblically sound enough for [some] Christians to want to share with little ones. And Adam and Eve narratives abound in Bible storybooks. This one isn't remarkable enough to be better than those. Will every Christian see this one as twisting Scripture? Maybe. Maybe not. Probably not. On the other hand, the subject matter itself--Adam, Eve, Garden of Eden, God--makes it a difficult sell to a general audience, a secular audience that may not want any hint of religion. For those wanting an Eve that more closely resembles the Barbie character from 2023's Barbie movie instead of the book of Genesis from the very Word of God, this one may be a good fit. 

Now, I will say--and I doubt anyone is still reading--that I did not dislike the artwork. I think the story is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, playful, light-hearted, fun and silly. I don't think the author truly has made a decision to play around with the truth of Scripture. It may come off as irreverent to me, but I don't assume that that was authorial intent. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

3. King James Version, World Publishing,

The Holy Bible, King James Version, Red-Letter Edition, Self-Pronouncing Text. God. 1769. 1246 pages. [Source: Bought]

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

I am hoping that this will be the only "messy" review of a Bible. Messy in that I literally read from three different physical Bibles--all the King James Version. I do typically try to read physical bibles cover to cover. I don't usually mix-and-match physical bibles. However, circumstances. I read from the RAINBOW STUDY BIBLE, the KJV Creedal Bible, and a vintage KJV published by World. I read probably fifty percent from the World one. There is NO copyright date. It is not in GoodReads or Amazon's databases. 

I love, love, love the King James Version. I especially love older editions of the King James Version. The print seems to be blacker, darker. The paper can often be nicer--better quality. The gilding of this one is red. It is double column. Words of Christ in red. Self-pronouncing text. No cross references. Separate pagination for Old and New Testaments. 954 for the Old Testament. 292 for the New Testament. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible