Week in Review #26

Bible reading

KJV Cambridge Clarion

• Psalms 107-150
• Hebrews
• James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Jude
• Revelation 

KJV Thompson Chain

• Genesis 1-11
• 1 Chronicles 1-13
• Song of Solomon
• Isaiah 1-5
• Matthew 1-4
• Titus (2 times)
• Philemon

ESV

• Mark
• Luke 1-6

NASB 95

• 1 Samuel 21-31
• 2 Samuel
• 1 Kings
• 2 Kings
• 1 Chronicles 1-10
• Psalms 33-43
• Ezekiel 6-48
• Daniel
• Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah
• Jonah
• Micah
• Nahum
• Matthew 21-28
• Acts 9-28

NKJV

• Isaiah 54-66
• 2 Kings 21-23
• 2 Chronicles 33-35
• Nahum
• Zephaniah
• Habakkuk
• Joel
• Jeremiah 1-8

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

52. Every Hour Until Then

52. Every Hour Until Then (Timeless #5) Gabrielle Meyer. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [speculative fiction, historical fiction, time travel, christian fiction, 5 stars]

First sentence: A cold wind rattled the window frame in my bedroom at 11 Wilton Crescent as the edges of a tree branch scraped across the glass.

Premise/plot: The Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer are speculative fiction heavy on the romance. Each is a 'timeslip' novel where the heroine is living in two time periods. She lives each day twice: once in each time period. She alternates where she wakes up essentially. Her first name is the same in both timelines. Kathryn, our heroine, is living in 1888 and 1938. In one timeline, JACK THE RIPPER is splashed across the newspapers. IN the other timeline, ADOLF HITLER is. She loves history in both timelines. But she has perhaps a better job in 1938. She is, in fact, hired to put together an exhibit on Jack the Ripper in 1938 for the London Museum. For better or worse, her time in the 'present day' of 1938 is effecting how she is living life in 1888. She knows WHO the victims will be and the details surrounding their death. She knows that the killer will not be brought to justice and is in fact still very much a mystery. She is tempted to see for herself if she can figure out WHO he is by hiding at the scene of his crimes. Especially when she knows one of the future victims. Will she risk it all to save a life?

My thoughts: This might be my favorite of the series. Perhaps. For the record, some of the books in this series I have not cared for at all. This one was extremely different from previous books. It was more MYSTERY and SUSPENSE then romance. That's not to say the love interest in the past lacked charm, he did. It's just that there was no love triangle--like in previous titles in the series where some attempt is made to be angsty in the love department. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

51. To Love a Beast

51. To Love A Beast. (Once Upon a Time in Texas #1) Karen Witemeyer. 2025. 229 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical romance, Christian romance]

First sentence: Everett Griffin strutted through the halls of the Union Club like a thoroughbred stallion on the auction block--for that's what he was. New York's Golden Boy. The American Adonis. The bachelor who would barter his handsome face along with his freedom for the right price. A very high price.

Premise/plot: To Love a Beast is a historical retelling of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast--minus everything that makes a fairy tale an actual fairy tale--the magical, fantastical elements. The 'beast' Everett Griffin is a scarred man who has essentially run away from trauma and is now living in Texas. The 'beauty'  Callista Rosenfeld is a book-loving bookbinder who works alongside her father in their book-binding business. When his health falters, she takes his place with an important new client, Everett Griffin. She'll spend a few months at his home rebinding his library--rebinding several books a day in leather with artistic designs as well. Slowly but surely, this Beauty will fall for the Beast.

My thoughts: I listened on audio as that was the only way my library offered it. It is narrated by Cara Firestone. I was not a fan of Cara Firestone's narration. I didn't care for how she portrayed the different characters with her voice acting. It was often rough-going. Overall, a very monotone, almost lifeless rendering of a story that I am almost sure would have been all kinds of awesome if read by another narrator or in print form. (Though I did hear that the font size of the print edition was small.) 

I am a BIG, BIG, BIG fan of Karen Witemeyer's books. I definitely enjoyed this one. I'm very glad I read it. It is not my favorite and best of her fairytale retellings. It is solidly good however. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

5. KJV (King James Version) Clarion Reference

5. King James Version. (KJV) Clarion Reference Bible (Cambridge). God. 1970 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, Bible]

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

I 'thrifted' this Cambridge Clarion. It was a more expensive thrift, for sure it being a more 'premium' Bible, but I think it was a good decision. 

The Clarion is more compact in size than your average, regular Bible. It is highly portable.

The Clarion is single column.

It is also black letter (as opposed to Words of Christ in red). 

It is also in paragraph format (as opposed to verse by verse). 

The references are on the outside margins of the text.  

It lays flat beautifully. The text does not run into the gutter.

There are two ribbon bookmarks.

I absolutely love the King James Version of the Bible. While I am not KJV only, I do lean towards KJV preferred. It would never be my one-and-only translation. Yet, I honestly can't imagine a day without reading from the KJV.

My favorite books to read from the KJV are the four gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--and the books of Psalms and Proverbs. It is harder perhaps to untangle Paul's complex ideas in the KJV, but, I still love this translation overall. It pairs nicely with other translations that are easier to understand. 

The Clarion is a Bible that I definitely see myself reading again. And if I ever come across Clarions in other translations, I'd definitely be interested. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

50. Whitefield on the Christian Life

50. Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God. Tom Schwanda and Ian Maddock. 2025. 232 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, christian nonfiction, biography]

First sentence from the introduction: George Whitefield's life as a Christian was dedicated to knowing God and making him known. His transformative personal experience of the new birth in Christ undergirded and propelled a remarkable public preaching ministry that not only transcended denominations and oceans but also attracted listeners from all segments of society.

First sentence from chapter one: Central to George Whitefield's life and ministry was the new birth. In 1769, one year before his death, he recounted a retrospective review of his conversion in which he narrated his struggle to find peace with God. His listeners were reminded that baptism alone does not assure anyone of entering heaven. He vulnerably rehearsed his misguided journey of excessive asceticism that almost killed him and the futility of seeking God solely by external human efforts.  He joyfully credited Charles Wesley's gift of The Life of God in the Soul of Man by the Scottish minister and professor Henry Scougal (1650-1678) which confronted him with his need to be born again. With a tinge of delight, he then added, "Whenever I go to Oxford, I cannot help running to that place where Jesus Christ first revealed himself to me, and gave the new birth."

Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God is a biography of George Whitefield. It is one of many in a long, continuing series published by Crossway. (I have read a handful of books from the series.) The books focus just as much--if not more--on the theology and doctrine of a particular man than on his actual life. Though the book does to some extent do a bit of both. The book is more arranged thematically than chronologically. (Though, of course, it follows some chronology, but when it comes down to choosing between the doctrinal subject (or theme) and following a strict chronology, doctrinal theme wins out.) 

This book--like many others in the series--works to place the subject--George Whitefield--in the context of his times. It shows what influenced him, and subsequently how he influenced others. 

Whitefield's focus was on PREACHING and then perhaps on having his sermons published. He preached 18,000 SERMONS, AN AVERAGE OF 530 SERMONS A YEAR FROM 1736 TO 1770. That number is staggering. 

I learned plenty while reading this book. 

Quotes:

As a preacher of one book, Whitefield did not regard the Bible as simply providing the raw material or content for his sermons: as a founding father of the evangelical movement, he let Scripture shape both where and how he urged his listeners to experience the new birth. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review #25

Bible reading

NKJV

• Isaiah 18-53,
• 2 Kings 18-20
• 2 Chronicles 29-32
• Psalms 48, 76, 46, 80, 135

KJV

• Psalms 75-106
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus 
• Philemon

ESV

• Proverbs 15-31
• Matthew 

NASB 95

• Dt. 6-34
• Joshua
• Judges
• Ruth
• 1 Samuel 1-20
• Psalms 11-32
• Jeremiah
• Lamentations
• Ezekiel 1-5
• Matthew 11-20
• Acts 1-8

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

49. Board book: Jesus Loves the Little Children

49. Jesus Loves the Little Children. Tara Hackney. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, children's book]

First sentence: Jesus loves the little children,

all the children of the world.

Every color, every shade,

just exactly as he made,

Jesus loves the little

children of the world!

Premise/plot: New lyrics for the classic song Jesus Loves the Little Children. Other 'fresh' lyrics include:

"that means you and that means me, made and loved so perfectly," and "everyone from here to there, down and up and everywhere." 

The new lyrics do fit the old tune; the song is just as singable with its 'fresh' lyrics. 

My thoughts: I definitely like this one. I LOVE the use of photographs in this board book. I would much rather have photographs than illustrations. (The illustrations for Christian children's books are rarely ever super amazing. There are of course exceptions to the rule.) I think this would be a good fit for many Christian families. 

Did the lyrics need to be updated? Yes? No? Maybe? I think they certainly were of a different time and place and you could read into them anything you wanted. If you wanted to find and take great offense, you certainly could. These new lyrics are not obnoxious in any way. And are not in any way unbiblical. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review #24

Bible reading

KJV

• Psalms 38-74
• Acts 17-28
• Romans
• 1 Corinthians

ESV

• Ezekiel 
• Proverbs 1-14

NASB 95

• Numbers 12-36
• Deuteronomy 1-
• Psalms 127-150; 1-10
• Isaiah 40-66
• John 19-21; Matthew 1-10
• Jude
• Revelation

NKJV

• Isaiah 1-17
• Micah
• 2 Kings 16-17
• 2 Chronicles 28

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

48. Sharing Christ in Joy and Sorrow

48. Sharing Christ In Joy and Sorrow: A Theology of Philippians. Chris Bruno. 2025. 112 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, christian theology]

First sentence from the introduction: When I was completing this book, my dad was hospitalized with late stage cancer. As I write these words, I'm sitting in his hospital room while we prepare for the Lord to take him home. 

First sentence from chapter one: Any study of Philippians must begin with Christ, for his person and work pervade the letter from beginning to end. 

Sharing Christ in Joy and Sorrow is primarily for an audience of pastors, elders, seminary students, those who take theological study deep, deep, deep. It is not necessarily ideal for the average Christian who enjoys reading and studying the Bible yet doesn't have the background and experience to be scholars. Crossway certainly publishes books for a wide audience--some more scholarly, some more approachable. They do commentaries for example that would be a good fit for the 'average Christian.' 

In the introduction, Chris Bruno gives readers a preview of what to expect in each chapter....

I quote...

• We will begin in chapter 1 by considering the humiliation and exaltation of Christ in Philippians 2:1-11 as foundational for much of the letter. From this we will see how Paul, the Philippians, and all Christians are called to imitate Christ in joy and sorrow.
• Chapter 2 will look more closely at union with Christ, a theme that appears over twenty times in the letter and is foundational for all of Paul's instructions for the church. We will see the central role that union with Christ plays in the theology of Philippians, from beginning to end. 
• In chapter 3, we will see that Paul calls the church to unity and shared humility because of its shared union with Christ (Philippians 2:2-3) As a result, the church ought to recognize and honor the pastors and teachers that God uses in her midst (Philippians 2:19-30). In addition, the church is an outpost of the coming kingdom, not Rome (Philippians 3:20-21); therefore it ought to strive for unity among its members (Philippians 4:2-3) and with other congregations (Philippians 4:14-19).
• Chapter 4 considers Paul's instructions about gospel proclamation in view of both our union with Christ and his robust confidence in the sovereignty of God in salvation (Philippians 2:12-13). 
• In chapter 5, we will see how the hope of Christ's return and the new creation animated our life in this age. 
• In chapter 6, we will conclude by considering how Paul calls the Philippians to ongoing joy through suffering. 

I read the book in one day. Perhaps that was a mistake on my part. Perhaps I should have taken the time to read each chapter through several times. Would it have helped me? Maybe. Maybe not. 

Readers should definitely be prepared for foot notes, more foot notes, and even more foot notes. 

I do love the book of Philippians. While this one is not particularly the right fit for me, it certainly appears to be well-researched, supported through end notes, and with a strong focus on connecting everything back to Scripture itself. For the right reader, this one might be beneficial. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Brief Thoughts on Bible Translations

Do I believe that there is just ONE translation that is 'good'? NO.

Do I believe that there is ONE translation that is 'the best' for every single person? NO. Definitely not.

Do I believe that one translation philosophy is better than the other? Again no. I'm speaking in terms of the spectrum word for word versus thought for thought. The truth is it's a spectrum and there is so much room in the middle. 

Do I find translation bashing or slamming damaging? Yes. For the most part. At the very least it can be confusing. It can be confusing for someone who is truly just trying to read the Bible--perhaps for the first time--to actually read the Bible if there's so much fussing and fighting about choosing THIS one and not THAT one. 

For example, there are those who would bash the NIV.... I'm choosing this as one example... it could just as easily be the NASB 2020 or any other translation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with reading the NIV if that is the translation that you find easiest to comprehend, understand, that feels like home, that keeps you in the Word.

A very specific question to be answered....

the KJV21 is not a replacement for the NKJV. It is a very light update to the KJV. Very light. I believe the BibleGateway has it online. 

Do I believe that there a very small handful that are slightly 'less good'? Perhaps slightly. But I'll explain if I can. There are certain groups--I won't necessarily call them denominations--that have produced their own Scriptures. I would probably suggest staying away from those. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Operation Actually Turns Seventeen

Does it feel like my youngest blog should be turning seventeen? No. Am I happy that it is? Yes. These are seventeen years where I've prioritized reading the Word of God in a consistent way. 

My first post was called THE MISSION.

My goal--obvious as it may be--is to actually read the Bible. You might think that I've not read it. But that wouldn't be the case. I've read it a dozen or so times over the past twenty years. However, I've not been in the habit of reading it lately. For the past three or four years, my reading of the Bible has been pitiful to nil. I know--rationally speaking--that I NEED to read the Bible...that I NEED to study and read and pray. But it's not a part of my daily routine. Hence why I'm challenging myself to ACTUALLY read the Bible instead of just talking about how I need to start one day soon.

I usually look back on the past year by sharing posts from the previous year--June 9, 2024 through June 8, 2025.

From November 2024, Absolute Bare Minimum Expectations for Pastors

From October 2024, Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion. Allie Beth Stuckey. 

From September 2024, Shepherds for Sale. Megan Basham. 
From December 2024, Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life. Paul David Tripp.

From August 2024, Psalms in 30 Days: A Prayer Guide through the Psalter. Trevin K. Wax. 

From July 2024, The Open Bible (1975) King James Version. Royal Publishers/Nelson. 

From June 2024, The Hiding Place A Graphic Novel. Corrie ten Boom. With Elizabeth and John Sherrill. Adapted by Mario DeMatteo. 

From January 2025, Cloaked in Beauty. (Texas Ever After #3) Karen Witemeyer.

From February 2025, Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World. Melissa Dougherty.

From March 2025, Praying the Bible. Donald S. Whitney. 

From April 2025, [Expository Thoughts on the] Gospel of John. J.C. Ryle. 

From May 2025, The Pursuit of Elena Bradford. Ann H. Gabhart. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review #23

Bible reading

KJV

• Psalms 1-37
• John 8-21
• Acts 1-16

NASB 95

• Leviticus
• Numbers 1-11
• Psalms 99-126
• Isaiah 1-39
• John 2-18
• Hebrews 6-13
• James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John

ESV

• Jeremiah 20-52
• Lamentations

NKJV

• Jonah
• Amos
• Hosea

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

47. Some Like It Scot

47. Some Like It Scot. Pepper Basham. 2025. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, christian romance, contemporary Christian]

First sentence: I'd love to say I became famous because of my excellent writing skills.

Premise/plot: Katie Campbell is a travel writer for an international magazine, World on a Page. In her spare time when she's not having MISadventures, she is secretly writing a children's book series that is also about world adventures and traveling. She goes to Scotland to participate in a three-week cosplay of sorts for the Edwardian period. She meets a Scottish man, Graeme, who is of course the 'hot Scot' and the two go viral because of course they do. He is a carpenter hired on as a butler and extra dance partner.

Narration alternates between Katie and Graeme. Some scenes overlap and you get both perspectives.  

My thoughts: Three stars is generous. Reading is subjective. What almost worked for me: the setting and some of the side characters, particularly Graeme's family and some of the villagers. What didn't work for me? The premise of this three-week 'Edwardian' experience. It came across to me like the author was confused at times as to what was Edwardian. Or maybe Katie was? But they kept slipping into a lot of Regency and Austen references. I also didn't particularly like the objectification of Graeme as the 'hot scot' and how she's essentially tagging a complete stranger on social media and 'using' him to go viral. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

46. Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John

46. Exalting Jesus in 1, 2, 3 John. (Christ Centered Exposition) Daniel L. Akin. Edited by David Platt and Tony Merida.  2014. 187 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, christian nonfiction, commentary]

First sentence: Christianity stands or falls on the person and work of Jesus Christ. It succeeds or fails on whether or not a true and genuine incarnation actually took place in space and time. The options as to who Jesus is and what Jesus did can basically be reduced to four. He could have been a liar--someone who simply was not who he claimed to be and knew it. He could have been a lunatic--someone who thought he was somebody, but in fact he was not. He could have been a legend--someone who was not who others later imagined him to be. Or He could be the Lord--He is who He said He is, and His birth, life, death, and resurrection prove it to be true.

What you see is what you get. This commentary is part of the Christ-Centered Exposition series by Holman Bible Publishers. It is a commentary of 1 John, 2 John, 3 John.

The book is well-organized. It is clear, easy to understand, easy to follow. It isn't so incredibly scholarly that you feel overwhelmed having to look up words every few sentences. It is not as casual and conversational as say J. Vernon McGee, but it isn't dense or dull. I really LOVED some of the quotes Daniel Akin uses in the book. 

Each chapter features discussion questions. I think this one would be good for Bible study or Sunday School.

Quotes:

• This is the stumbling block of the incarnation--when God becomes a man, he strips away every pretense of man to be God. 
• We must receive Jesus--the Word of life, the eternal life, the Son of God--not as we imagine Him to be, or as we like to think of Him, or as someone else believes Him to be. We do not truly receive Jesus if we do not accept Him as He defines Himself. We know that we are Christians and have received God's salvation when we humbly accept the Word of life, which means to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who appeared in our flesh, was crucified to take our punishment from our sin, was raised from the grave three days later for our justification with God, and is coming again to bring the fullness of God's kingdom. Is that the Jesus you have received? ~ Thabiti Anyabwile

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review #22

Bible reading

NKJV

• 1 Kings 17-22
• 2 Kings 1-15
• 2 Chronicles 18-27

BSB

• Psalms 119-150
• Proverbs 1-2
• 1 John

KJV

• Psalms 1-5
• Daniel
• Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah
• Jonah
• Micah
• Nahum
• Habakkuk
• Luke 11-24
• John 1-7

NASB 95

• Exodus 11-40
• Psalms 67-98
• Proverbs 17-31
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Solomon
• Luke 9-24
• Philippians
• Colossians
• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
• Philemon
• Hebrews 1-5

ESV

• Micah
• Nahum
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai
• Zechariah
• Malachi
• Jeremiah 1-19

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible