41. Psalms in 30 Days

Psalms in 30 Days: A Prayer Guide through the Psalter. Trevin K. Wax. 2020. 353 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars] 

First sentence: For generations, Christians have prayed and sung the psalms. It was the prayer book of Jesus. It is the Old Testament book most often quoted in the New. The songs found in this book form the bedrock of both corporate worship and individual devotion.

Psalms in 30 Days is a PSALTER using the Christian Standard Bible as its basis. This one is not the Book of Common Prayer. But it is similarly inspired. It is too similar to be a coincidence in my opinion. That is neither good nor bad. It is also somewhat similar to BE THOU MY VISION and its follow up books. 

Readers get a liturgical prayer book to follow for morning, noon, and evening for thirty days. This takes the Book of Common Prayer one step further. Since most Books of Common Prayer only have morning and evening liturgies. The 1979 has a midday prayer liturgy, however, the psalms remain the same for each day of the month. 

This one does not stick exclusively to the Book of Common Prayer's confessions and canticles, if you will. It does expand beyond that for quotes and songs. 

Morning prayers include 

Call to prayer

Confession of faith

Canticle

Psalms

Gloria

The Lord's Prayer

Intercessions and personal requests

Prayer of the church (quotes)

Blessing

Midday prayers include

Call to prayer

Psalms

Gloria

Lord's Prayer

Blessing

Evening prayers include

Call to prayer

Confession of sin

Canticle

Psalms

Gloria

Lord's Prayer

Intercession and personal requests

Prayer of the church

Blessing

I followed the Book of Common Prayer for about two years. I've read through Be Thou My Vision two or three times. I've done this book once. I will say that while I do appreciate the liturgy and devotional practice it encourages, I am not that big a fan of the CSB. I think if this book utilized a translation of the Bible that I appreciated more, I would in turn like this book more. That being said, I have nothing against the CSB in general or people who use it as their primary translation. I do think that this book could be a great fit for others. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

40. Tell Me About Jesus

Tell Me About Jesus. Mary Alice Jones. Illustrated by Pelagie Doane. 1944. 72 pages. [Source: Bought] [4 stars] [children's picture book]

First sentence: Bobby and his mother had been for a walk. On their way home they passed their church. 

Bobby asks his mother to tell him ALL about Jesus. The book is NOT an illustrated bible story book. The title might be ambiguous on that. This is a book of family conversations of a parent and child ABOUT the christian faith. In each "chapter" Bobby and his mother talk about Jesus. The book also features Bobby's younger sister, Mary, who is a toddler. 

Deuteronomy 11:19 reads as follows, "You shall also teach them to your sons, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up." This book brings that sentiment to life: a parent giving spiritual instruction to a child. 

This is a VINTAGE children's book. It is illustrated. There are sixteen "chapters" or sections. These are sixteen conversations or scenes between Bobby and his mother. They take place over many months. It was first published in 1944. It features colored illustrations AND black and white illustrations. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #34

Bible reading:

NIV 84 (TCR):

Exodus 23-40; Leviticus; Numbers 1-21;

Psalms 70-103;

Proverbs 17-31; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Isaiah 1-5

Mark 10-16; Luke 1-11

1 Corinthians 7-16; 2 Corinthians; Galatians

KJV Regency (reviewed here)

Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

NASB 95:

Proverbs 16-31; 

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Isaiah

LSB:

1 Chronicles 18-29;

2 Chronicles;

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi;

Joshua

KJV Center Column Reference:

Genesis 

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

18. King James Version, Regency 883MC

18. KJV Nelson Regency, 883MC, Giant Print. 1990. Thomas Nelson. 1600 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]

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

Start date: July 8, 2024

End date: August 18, 2024

I love, love, love the King James Version. This is not shocking to anyone who regularly reads my reviews. This is, I believe, the fifth read-through of the King James Version for 2024. On paper, the KJV Regency seems like it would be a great fit for me. However, I didn't really love this particular text block or text layout. 

It is GIANT PRINT. Which is great--mostly. But this one had absolute horrible ghosting. So the words may be giant in size, but the bleed through kept it from being easy on the eyes. 

And the red letters--Words of Christ appear in red--were not ideal in color. Again, this layout was a bit of a strain when it didn't have to be. I do wonder if the *color* of red varies in individual Bibles. Looking at Bibles printed thirty plus years ago, has the color faded? Maybe, maybe not. 

But the basics are that this one is double column, words of Christ in red, giant print, minimal end of verse references. 

This one is relatively easy to find thrifting, and if the King James is not your favorite and best translation, this one wouldn't be a bad choice for a King James to have for reference or occasional use. I don't regret buying it, but I don't this being my favorite and best edition of the King James. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #33

Bible reading:

NIV 84 (Thompson Chain Reference)

• Genesis 25-50; Exodus 1-22
• Job 4-42; Proverbs 1-15
• Psalms 27-69
• Matthew 18-28; Mark 1-9
• Acts 17-28; Romans; 1 Corinthians 1-6;

NASB 95

• Job 9-42
• Psalms
• Proverbs 1-15

 KJV

• 1 Kings 4-22; 2 Kings 1-25; 
• Psalms 141-150; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon
• 1 Corinthians 7-16, 2 Corinthians,
• Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 
• 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

LSB

• Daniel 7-12
• Jeremiah, Lamentations
• Song of Solomon
• 1 Chronicles 1-17

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #32

Bible reading:

I finished TWO bibles this week. I ADDED two new Bibles this week.

Living: Ezekiel, Daniel, 1 Peter; 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

NASB 1977: John 12-21; 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

NASB 1995: 1 Chronicles 21-29; 2 Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Job 1-8

KJV: 1 Samuel; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1-3; Psalms 103-140; Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi; Acts 12-28; Romans, 1 Corinthians 1-6

LSB: Ezekiel; Daniel 1-6

NIV 1984 (Thompson Chain Reference): Genesis 1-24; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Job 1-3; Psalms 1-26; Matthew 1-17; Acts 1-16

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

17. Life Application Bible for Students (Living)

17. Life Application Bible for Students. (Living Translation). 1992. God. 1326 pages. [Source: Bought] [5/5 stars]

First sentence: When God began creating the heavens and the earth, the earth was a shapeless, chaotic mass, with the Spirit of God brooding over the dark vapors.

Start date: June 4, 2024

End date: August 7, 2024

The Living translation was the PARAPHRASE I used when I first came to faith as a child. It was the first Bible that I read through cover to cover. Did it hold up decades later...for me? I'm not sure it did. I'll clarify. I do think it serves or at the very least served a purpose. But for me, I have so many other translations that I prefer that it makes less sense for me to come back to the Living Bible for my daily bible reading. 

When it was first released in 1971, it would have been extremely refreshing, useful, and practical to read the Bible in a more accessible translation [paraphrase.] When it was first released, it would have been competing with the King James Version, the Good News Bible (1966), Revised Standard Version (1952), Amplified Bible (1965), New English Bible (1970), New American Standard Bible (1971). Perhaps with the exception of the Good News Bible, the Bible was more formal than not. This seemed to be "the" translation to hand to new believers, to "the youth" coming to Christ. The focus seems to be making the Bible WIDELY understood--removing many/most barriers to comprehension. All translations have some commentary creep in here and there. I think this is more the case in paraphrase than translations. It seems to focus on one meaning instead of layers of meaning that require further food for thought. 

Though Life Application is part of the name, it's very different to the LIFE APPLICATION series of Bibles you are likely familiar with. This does not have study notes necessarily. Or application notes if you want to be nitpicky. It has character profiles. It has "stories" from teens. It has book introductions. But instead of notes, it has STUDY QUESTIONS at the end of each book. Instead of study notes, it asks readers to ANSWER the questions for themselves. These questions are genuinely thought provoking and serious. These are not silly, light-hearted questions. 

When this one released, I do not believe there were any "children" translations available. So I do think the Living served a major purpose for helping new believers of all ages--but particularly those on the younger side--come to know more. Now that there are MANY translations--some for children, some for adults--that are more accessible with the added benefit of being genuine translations instead of paraphrase, the Living is not as necessary or needed. There are most likely better options available for those new to the faith. 

This one is two column, black letter. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

16. NASB 1977 New Inductive Study Bible

The New Inductive Study Bible. NASB (New American Standard, 1977). God. 1992. 2296 pages. [Source: Bought] [5/5 stars] 

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

Start date: June 28, 2024

End date: August 6, 2024

I absolutely love, love, love the New American Standard Bible, in particular I love, love, love the 1977 edition of the NASB. 

This will not be a review of the "new inductive" features. There is a massive system of bible study--bible marking--involved in the inductive study method. I did not seek to try to learn it. 

Believe it or not, I did *slow* down my reading for this read through. I read ONE book at a time. I underlined. I wrote in the wide margins. I jotted down questions. I intentionally thought about how verses fit into chapters, and how chapters fit into books. I was more observant when it came to recurring themes. I finished the book quickly because I was enthusiastic about spending time in the Word of God. I read twice a day for varying amounts of time.

This one is SINGLE column, black letter, fairly large print. Though I didn't follow the instructions for the inductive method, I did enjoy some of the charts, illustrations, and books introductions. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

39. Advent for Exiles

Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Heart. Caroline Cobb. 2024. [September 2024] 240 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 out of 5 Stars]

First sentence: The Old Testament tells the story of two tragic exiles. 

Devotional books are not my first go-to, usually. However, I wanted to read this one because I love, love, love, love, LOVE Caroline Cobb's music. One of the things I love most about her music is that it is saturated in Scripture. Every song, every verse and chorus--all can be drawn back to Scripture. There is something edifying about listening to her music. I think she is under-appreciated. Just my opinion. But if you haven't given her music a try, do so. 

There is a playlist that goes with this advent devotional. I HIGHLY recommend it. In fact, I'm not sure the devotional would be as impactful as it is without listening to the music. The music should not be seen as "an extra" but as the main attraction. Again, just my opinion. The playlist is on Spotify. 

The devotional is written "for those who have felt--or at least feel ready to acknowledge--the long groan of exile."

Caroline Cobb has used seven essential threads to weave together this advent devotional. The seven essential threads are: the season of Advent, the book of Isaiah, the theme of exile, biblical imagery and metaphor, music and lyrics, narrative storytelling, and responsive exercises. 

There are eight "parts" to this advent devotional: 

• The First Exile
• In the Darkness of Exile, a Sunrise
• In the Wilderness of Exile, a Seed and a Highway
• For the Lost Sheep in Exile, a Shepherd-King
• In the Silence of Exile, God Speaks
• In the Ashes and Ruin of Exile, a New Home for God
• In our Present Exile, a Future Hope
• Emmanuel

Readers do get to explore the big picture of Scripture which isn't always the case with advent devotional books.

I personally did not always "enjoy" the responsive suggestions. The suggestions--to me, again this is subjective--seemed unlikely activities for me to actually do. However, perhaps for others it's a better fit. Not every devotional reading has a physical activity to do. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #31

Bible reading:

NASB 77: Acts 15-28; Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, John 1-11

NASB 95: 1 Samuel 22-31; 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles 1-20

KJV: Deuteronomy 20-34; Joshua, Judges; Ruth; Psalms 50-102; Ezekiel; John 5-21; Acts 1-11;

Living: Jeremiah, Lamentations; 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible