Sunday, October 23, 2022

16. New American Standard Bible 1973


New American Standard Reference Edition. 1973. God. 1899 pages. [Source: Bought]

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

This was my second time to read the 1973 text edition of the New American Standard Bible. [I have read the 1971, 1973, 1977, 1995, and 2020.] I read it through the first time in February 2021. I did start underlining in it. [Since I bought it used, for about $2, and since it already had handwriting in it.] I continued underlining more the second time through. It is always interesting to me how different verses "pop" at you when you read. [Of course, some always pop at you.] 

I used the NASB 1973 for my Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer. I started this read through on August 29, 2022 and finished on October 23, 2022. 

PSALM 23
The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

What do you need to know about it?

1) It's out of print and long out of print. Lockman is unlikely to reprint the 1971 or the 1973 editions of the New American Standard Bible. Though the 1977 can be found now and then newly published. IF you want to find the 1973, used is the only way to get it I'd imagine. 
2) It is a REFERENCE edition. Cross references are found on the side--the outside side as opposed to the center column. Those that love side column references, this one is great!
3) It features at least 25 completely blank pages. I don't know what note-takers would consider generous (versus stingy) in terms of blank pages and space to write...but I thought it was generous all things considered. I don't know of any (non-note-taker, non-journaling) modern Bibles that offer so much room for writing. 
4) It is verse by verse. I know some Bible readers would rejoice over this verse by verse format. New paragraphs are noted by a bold verse number.
5) It is black letter. It does NOT present the Words of Christ in red. (Again there was much rejoicing...at least by some).
6) I don't have a font size; but if I had to guess I'd say somewhere between 8 and 9. That's a complete guess on my part. It's not overly large font but it wasn't hard to read. The paper wasn't amazing, but it wasn't horrible for bleed-through either. Nice in-between neither great nor horrible. 
7) The 'bells and whistles' of this one: 

*foreword
*Fourfold Aim of the Lockman Foundation
*Preface to the New American Standard Bible
*Explanation of General Format
*Old Testament Table of Contents
*New Testament Table of Contents
*Concordance (115 pages)
*16 color maps

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, October 22, 2022

2022 Bible Reading Week of #42


Bible reading week of 15-21 October 2022. 

I am reading the NASB 1973 for my Book of Common Prayer Daily Offices.
  • Psalm 75-106
  • Proverbs 15-21
  • Isaiah 44-66
  • Jeremiah
  • Lamentations
  • Ezekiel
  • Daniel
  • Hosea
  • James
  • 1 Peter
  • 2 Peter
  • 1 John
  • 2 John
  • 3 John
  • Jude
  • Revelation 1-13

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible
  • John 7-21
  • Revelation
Darby (Power 60 Reading Plan)
  • 2 Chronicles
  • Ezra
  • Nehemiah
  • Esther
  • Job 
  • Psalm 1-84

NIV 2011
  • Ezekiel 
  • Daniel
  • Hosea
  • Joel
  • Mark

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 
  • In October, I will be reading 1 Peter 1-5 for thirty days: NKJV, ESV, NASB 77, NASB 77, NASB 2020, NASB 95, BSB,
  • In October, I will be reading Isaiah 49-54 for thirty days: NKJV, ESV, NASB 77, NASB 77, NASB 2020, NASB 95, BSB,  

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Monday, October 17, 2022

15. ESV Gospel Transformation Bible


ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible: Christ In All of Scripture, Grace for All of Life. 2019 (this edition). 2096 pages. [Source: Gift]

First sentence: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

I read and reviewed the first edition of the Gospel Transformation Study Bible when it first released. They have since come out with a second edition.

One thing that has changed from then to now is my eyesight. I wasn't able to fully utilize the notes this time around. But if memory serves me, then the notes were all sorts of amazing and awesome. (I'm sure that is still the case). For the record, I tried to read the notes for about two or three weeks, it was just too much of a strain on my eyes to commit to reading each and every word of the notes. If I came across a particular passage where I felt I needed some clarification or a boost, then short spurts of reading the notes worked. 

I love the premise of this one--that Christ is to be found in ALL of Scripture. This Bible erases or perhaps bridges the disconnect between testaments that some struggle with. 

I started this Bible on June 28, 2022 and finished it on October 17, 2022. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, October 15, 2022

2022 Bible Reading Update #41


Bible reading week of 8 - 14 October 2022

I am reading the NASB 1973 for my Book of Common Prayer Daily Offices.

  • Psalm 38-74
  • Proverbs 8-14
  • 1 Kings
  • 2 Kings
  • Ecclesiastes
  • Song of Songs
  • Isaiah 1-43
  • Ephesians
  • Philippians
  • Colossians
  • 1 Thessalonians
  • 2 Thessalonians
  • 1 Timothy
  • 2 Timothy
  • Titus
  • Philemon
  • Hebrews

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible
  • Jeremiah 21-52
  • Lamentations
  • Ezekiel
  • Hebrews
  • James
  • 1 John
  • 2 John
  • 3 John
  • Jude
  • John 1-6

Darby (Power 60 Reading Plan)
  • Ruth
  • 1 Samuel
  • 2 Samuel
  • 1 Kings
  • 2 Kings
  • 1 Chronicles

NIV 2011
  • Jeremiah
  • Lamentations
  • Matthew

I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 
  • In October, I will be reading 1 Peter 1-5 for thirty days: NASB 95, NASB 77, NASB 95, RSV, NASB 77, NASB 77,
  • In October, I will be reading Isaiah 49-54 for thirty days: NASB 95, NASB 77, NASB 95, RSV, NASB 77, NASB 77, 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Thursday, October 13, 2022

36. Counterfeit Kingdom


Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church. Holly Pivec and R. Douglas Geivett. 2022. [November] 272 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: With more than 780,000 instagram followers, Bethel Church in Redding, California, is one of the best known churches in America and around the world. 

Readers may or may not have heard of the "NAR" (aka New Apostolic Reformation), but there's a definite possibility that readers have heard of Bethel Church, Bethel Music, Hillsong, Elevation Worship, etc., (Even if you can't quite put into words what teachings are unique to this church.) 

This new book examines NAR beliefs, teachings, practices, etc. to see if they are actually biblical. Or if what NAR stands for (promotes, establishes, etc) is a counterfeit kingdom. It also serves as an introduction of sorts. This book isn't exclusively for those with an interest in exposing the dangers of NAR. It is truly suitable as an introduction to the subject.

The book is packed with information. And it is arranged/organized in a clear and helpful way. It balances personal stories with theology. The authors have compiled stories from people who have left the NAR, or, people who have lost family members to NAR. The book is written passionately, zealously, persuasively to warn the mainstream about the dangers of this counterfeit kingdom.

Chapter titles:
  • Wake Up, Olive
  • Who Are The New Apostles and Prophets
  • Hogwarts for Christians
  • Jesus's Overlooked Warning
  • The Apostolic Takeover and Spiritual Abuse
  • Counterfeit Revival
  • The Passionately Wrong "Bible"
  • Toxic Worship Music
  • Is It Always God's Will To Heal?
  • Deception-Proofing Your Children
  • Joining the Resistance
I found this a fascinating read cover to cover. What I thought I knew about Bethel church and her famous pastors, is just the tip of the iceberg. I had no clue on most of this stuff. [Chances are, you won't either.] I found much of what I learned to be alarming, shocking, disconcerting. After reading this one, I was like, yes, I see WHY the authors wrote this book. Definitely would recommend it to any Christian who reads. [Sadly, not all Christians do read.] I thought the subject was broken down in an easy-to-digest way. 


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Monday, October 10, 2022

Checking In On Current Bibles

Normally, I wouldn't write a post just to check in on the progress of my current Bibles. But as it's getting to be October and I'm running out of months to finish those Bibles this year...it seemed like a good idea.

Power Read The Bible (60 Days). I am using the Darby translation of the Bible. My sixty days are officially up on November 24. There's a slight chance I'll finish a day or two early (or for that matter, a day or two late). I have 2 Samuel through Revelation. 

ESV (Gospel Transformation). I stopped reading the notes a month or two ago. The print is just too tiny and I was tired of squinting. These are the books I have left to read.

  • Jeremiah
  • Lamentations
  • Ezekiel
  • John
  • Hebrews
  • James
  • 1 John
  • 2 John
  • 3 John
  • Jude
  • Revelation 

NIV 2011

  • Psalms
  • Jeremiah
  • Lamentations
  • Ezekiel
  • Daniel
  • Hosea
  • Joel
  • Amos
  • Obadiah
  • Jonah
  • Micah
  • Nahum
  • Habakkuk
  • Zephaniah
  • Haggai
  • Zechariah
  • Malachi
  • Matthew
  • Mark
  • Luke
  • John
  • Acts
  • Romans
  • 1 Corinthians
  • 2 Corinthains
  • 1 Timothy
  • 2 Timothy
  • Titus
  • Philemon
  • Hebrews
  • James
  • 1 Peter
  • 2 Peter
  • Jude
  • Revelation

NASB 73. I am reading this for my Book of Common Prayer offices.

  • 2 Kings
  • Ezra
  • Nehemiah
  • Esther
  • Ecclesiastes
  • Song of Songs
  • Isaiah
  • Jeremiah
  • Lamentations
  • Ezekiel
  • Daniel
  • Hosea
  • Joel
  • Amos
  • Obadiah
  • Jonah
  • Micah
  • Nahum
  • Habakkuk
  • Zephaniah
  • Haggai
  • Zechariah
  • Malachi
  • 1 Thessalonians
  • 2 Thessalonians
  • 1 Timothy
  • 2 Timothy
  • Titus
  • Philemon
  • Hebrews
  • James
  • 1 Peter
  • 2 Peter
  • 1 John
  • 2 John
  • 3 John
  • Jude
  • Revelation


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, October 8, 2022

2022 Bible Reading Update #40


Bible reading update week of 1-7 October 2022.

I am reading the NASB 1973 for my Book of Common Prayer Daily Offices.

  • Psalms 1-37
  • Proverbs 1-7
  • Judges
  • Ruth
  • 1 Samuel
  • 2 Samuel
  • Romans 12-16
  • 1 Corinthians
  • 2 Corinthians
  • Galatians

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible

  • Isaiah 40-66
  • 1 Corinthians
  • 2 Corinthians
  • Jeremiah 1-20

Darby (Power 60 Reading Plan)
  • Leviticus 7-27
  • Deuteronomy
  • Joshua
  • Judges

NIV 2011
  • Exodus 31-40
  • Leviticus
  • Numbers
  • Deuteronomy
I have TWO ongoing year-long 30 Day MacArthur plans going. 
  • In October, I will be reading 1 Peter 1-5 for thirty days: NKJV, NASB 95, NASB 2020, RSV, NLT, NASB 95, ESV
  • In October, I will be reading Isaiah 49-54 for thirty days: NKJV, NASB 95, NASB 2020, RSV, NLT, NASB 95, ESV


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible