Josh and I found ourselves rummaging the shelves at Barnes and Noble last night. We had 2 missions: 1) I wanted to see what are popular recent reads for teens, teen girls in particular; and 2) I've been wanting to get a new Bible for a little while.
I love my Bible I use for almost everything. Some people laugh because it's a large print, leather bound New King James Version! Now I'll have you know my eye sight is probably no worse off usual, nor do I claim to be an avid reader of the old English verbage. I actually treasure this Bible. My parents gave it to me when I graduated the 8th grade. It's been through high school, college, multiple youth events and camps. It's well marked up, well loved and well read. The binding started falling apart a few years ago and I had to resort to a stip of ducktape to hold it all together. Yes, it's seen quite a lot.
If you've every experienced reading the same thing, same version over and over again and are dying for a new, fresh way of looking at things scriptually...welcome to my world.
I don't want people to get the impression that I will use this translation for every time I study the word, but I did pick up a version of "The Message: Remix." So far, I'm eating up every word. I thought I'd be trendy and really girly and I picked out a pink one! Now you can all laugh...but I really like it. I began reading Eugene Petersons notes on the first few pages, something I don't often delight in doing for my other Bible translations, and I automatically sensed his passion with writing "The Message." He was a pastor for 40 years and out of those years, his passion grew with communicating God's eternal word with the audience of his day. He didn't attempt to water down, but tried to stay intuned with the original languages (he use to teach Hebrew and Greek).
All in all, this has been another way of getting me into the word. Josh and I are both trying harder when it comes to our personal times with the Lord and consciously making time to immerse ourselves daily. Just as we try to physically get fit, our hearts and minds also require training and committment to seek the heart of God.
If you're struggling with your personal times with the Lord, might I suggest reading the Bible in a new way. This may mean a new translation, a new devotional that highlights the Bible, a read through the Bible in a year method, etc. Whatever it takes to refresh your heart and your mind. "Renew your mind!" draft
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