Sunday Salon #37

Bible reading

NIV 84 (Thompson Chain Reference)

Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings 1-10

Jeremiah 16-52, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel

1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

KJV (Center Column Reference)

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings

Isaiah 1-4

Psalms 42-87

NASB 95 (Large Print Pew Bible)

John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation

LSB (Giant Print Reference)

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Hosea, Joel, amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, 

Genesis, Matthew 1-4

CSB Baker Illustrated 

2 Samuel 13-24; 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalm 1-72

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

43. Knowing God's Truth

Knowing God's Truth: An Introduction to Systematic Theology. Jon Nielson. 2023. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars]

First sentence from the introduction: This book is designed to help you think more deeply about the most important topic--the most important person--in the entire universe: God himself. 

First sentence from chapter one: What comes to mind when you hear the word theology? 

Knowing God's Truth is an introduction to systematic theology. Unfamiliar with theology? with systematic theology? No worries, this book was written for you. This book breaks everything down into basic building blocks so that anyone can understand the foundations of the christian faith. For those more familiar with theology and/or systematic theology, this one is a good refresher course. I'm guessing that even those with many years of study behind them have strengths and weaknesses. 

One thing that makes this one stand out is that it accessible, organized, precise, concise, logical. Each chapter is broken down into smaller chunks. Each chapter also BUILDS IN prayer time. I've never seen a book quite like this one that encourages readers to pray as they are reading/studying. It also includes summaries reviews at the end of each chapter. It is a thing of beauty in how simple yet uncompromising it is. 

There are twelve chapters. 

What is Theology?

The Doctrine of Scripture

The Doctrine of God

The Doctrine of Man

The Doctrine of Sin

The Doctrine of Jesus Christ

The Doctrine of Salvation

The Doctrine of Heaven and Hell

The Doctrine of the Church

The Doctrine of Angels and Demons

The Doctrine of Last Things

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

My only small complaint--and it is by no means a deal breaker--is why save the Holy Spirit for last???? Why not place the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit either before or after Salvation? I do think one needs to study the Holy Spirit before one studies the doctrine of the Church. 

I would recommend this one to essentially anyone and everyone. I think it would be good for individual use. But I also think it would be excellent for group(s). I could see it coming in handy for private Christian schools as curriculum. I could see it being a great fit for Christian homeschoolers. I could see it being good for Sunday school classes or bible studies. I think it would work for small Christian book clubs. (Though I don't know how many small Christian book clubs read nonfiction.)  

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

19. NASB 1995 Large Print Pew Bible

19. New American Standard Bible (1995 text) Large Print Pew Bible. (Lockman Foundation). 1995/2005. 1267 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Start date: July 11, 2024

End date: September 11, 2024

The NASB is one of my absolute favorite, favorite, favorite translations. It has had several editions: the first being in 1971 for the whole Bible and the last being in 2020. (It is also cousins with the Legacy Standard Bible, the LSB which released a few years ago). 

What should you know about this specific edition? 

It is compact in size being a pew Bible. Pew bibles are most similar perhaps to thinline bibles. Yet despite its compactness, it offers a "large print" font. According to Amazon it is listed as being a 10 point font. It is not in the newer "comfort print." It might be closer to a 9.5 font. 

It is double column. The text is not horrible about going into the gutter. It doesn't lay perfectly flat, however, I had no issue reading the inside column fully. 

It is black letter. SO many NASB bibles are red letter. Especially of the thinline sort. So it was a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL find to discover this as an option.

It has been over a decade since this one was published and so it may be harder to find. However, other pew Bibles have been released since 2005. I'm not sure if all are black letter. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #36

Bible reading

NIV 84 (Thompson Chain Reference)

Deuteronomy 14-34; Joshua; Judges; 

Psalms 138-150

Isaiah 45-66; Jeremiah 1-15

John 6-21

Hebrews; James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter

KJV (Center Column Reference)

Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua 1-7

Psalms 9-41

NASB 95 (Large Print Pew Bible)

Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum

Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Matthew, Mark, Luke

LSB (Giant Print Reference)

2 Kings; Job; Proverbs 1-15

CSB Baker Illustrated Study Bible

Numbers, Deuteronomy

Joshua, Judges, 

Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel 1-12

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

42. Shepherds for Sale

Shepherds for Sale. Megan Basham. 2024. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [Christian nonfiction] [4 stars]

First sentence from the introduction: When a group of friends from church invited Bailey Anderson to put on a pink knitted hat and join them at the 2017 Women's March, she assumed her confusion was a matter of geography.

Shepherds for Sale is a controversial new nonfiction book alleging a lot of missteps within the church leadership or community--namely the convenient-not-so-convenient label evangelical church. The allegations are serious leaning more towards being shocking, alarming, disheartening, discouraging, frustrating. The book without a doubt jumps right into politics, society, and culture, aka THE WORLDLY WORLD-WORLD. Each chapter has a subject. The overall theme of the entire book may be that the church is TOO influenced--literally, figuratively--by the world. But each chapter has a relatively narrow focus. Some leaders may feature into multiple chapters, but that is not always the case.

Chapter one focuses on the issue of climate change. Chapter two focuses on illegal immigration. Chapter three focuses on the pro-life movement. Chapter four focuses on so-called Christian media. Chapter five focuses on Covid-19. Chapter six focuses on critical race theory. Chapter seven focuses on the me too movement. Chapter eight focuses on the LGBTQ community.

These eight subjects typically cause strong, emotional reactions. Christians' opinions might be on a wide, broad spectrum on at least some of these issues. 

The book alleges that there are certain churches, certain denominations, that are ultimately compromised, sell-outs, that are intentionally or perhaps unintentionally trying to brainwash their members to align more closely with the world. In a few cases, she has discovered a money trail. Instances where leftist, liberal, and/or atheist organizations have paid huge sums of money to certain church denominations. But money doesn't have to exchange hands. There isn't always a money trail. (Obviously). There are many instances where it's more about wanting to please everyone, wanting to keep the peace, not wanting to offend,  or perhaps more NOT wanting to get canceled. Though the book title may imply that it is about money--selling out literally for money--I think more often than not the examples are more subtle. 

So I mentioned the book was controversial. It isn't the topics being covered so much that makes it controversial. Nor is it necessarily her positions on the topics covered that make it so. It is her naming-names and giving examples in each chapter. At least one person--perhaps others have as well--as come forward and said that the quotes attributed are absolutely not correct. That is, Basham is arguing a position that is on a foundation--in particular instances, circumstances--of inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information. Does one instance of shaky reporting mean the whole book is inaccurate or exaggerated???? I would venture forth no. But it does call for more critical thinking as you read it.

My thought is that even if only half of what she reports, alleges, argues is founded in truth, there is reason for concern. My other thought is that each chapter should be judged--evaluated--on its own. The subject matter varies greatly. Depending on the subject, you may already be familiar with some of the concerns, know the positions and people involved. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Anywhere But Genesis Bible Reading Plan #1

This is the semi-random-not-random order I read the NASB 1977 in back in the summer of 2024.

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Song of Solomon

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezekiel

Daniel

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Job

Ecclesiastes

Proverbs

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Isaiah

Psalms

Matthew

James

Mark

1 Peter

2 Peter

Luke

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

John

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday Salon #35

Bible reading:

NIV 84 (Thompson Chain Reference)

• Numbers 22-36; Deuteronomy 1-13
• Psalms 104-137; 
• Isaiah 6-44
• Luke 12-24; John 1-5
• Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

KJV (Center Column Reference)

• Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms 1-8
• Exodus, Leviticus

NASB 95

• Jeremiah
• Lamentations
• Ezekiel
• Daniel
• Hosea

LSB

• Judges; 
• Ruth; 
• 1 Samuel; 
• 2 Samuel; 
• 1 Kings; 

CSB Baker Illustrated Study Bible

• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible