Category Archives: Read with Me
Deconstructed Scripture
A few years back the rage was all about deconstructed food. Over-priced restaurants would invite you to partake of their newest creations: a sandwich in parts. Instead of the completed meal, you would receive all the components. The theory was that people could experience a broader range of tastes by combining the elements in different proportions or sequences.
You all remember Remi in Pixar’s Ratatouille? Remember the scene when he tastes a strawberry and then the cheese and then the two together? That’s kind of what we’re talking about here. One plays jazz on your tongue while the other a soft classic, but together you get something truly inspiring.
I fear we often deconstruct Scripture, more often forgetting to reassemble the pieces. Read the rest of this entry
Reading without me.
Today is Friday (the 13th) which means it’s time for Read with Me.
If you’re new to my blog, Read with Me is an accountability challenge I started well over a year ago. The intent was for me and those who joined to encourage one another to read the entire Bible — all 66 books — in one year. When some of us completed the challenge and some of us didn’t, it turned into a two-year initiative. Read the rest of this entry
Reading through the chaos
Within the past two weeks this household has endured a stomach virus (Zach), two separate floods (our basement), at least three encounters with strep throat (but thankfully no catching of it … yet) and today Rick is home with a fever. It’s been eventful, to say the least. (Though absolutely nothing compared to what people in Japan and Libya have endured during the same timeframe.)
The good news: Even with all this craziness, I’m still reading! I’m halfway through Job and am chugging along in 1 Corinthians and Psalms. Again, since I’m on the two-year plan, it’s tough to gauge whether or not I’m “on schedule”, but I’m content with my progress.
Your Turn: How are you doing? I’d love to hear what you’re reading this week and how it is impacting you.
For the Love of a Good Book
Sometimes I disappear from the blog due to personal or family dramas. Sometimes it’s because of an internal struggle I’m having with God or myself. Sometimes, though, it’s just because a good book has taken over my life. Such is the case this week.
Believe it or not, I actually created a whole schedule for upcoming posts. I wanted to write about a recent parenting dilemma (Yes, I have them frequently.), about my daughter’s birthday (She turned seven yesterday. Can you believe it?!), about some cool insights gathered from our pastor, about our recent trip to Disney (It was awesome!), and a few other things, but … well, I chucked it all for the love of a good book. Okay, maybe “chuck” is a strong word. I’ll get back to my schedule. Eventually. It’s just that I feel like I’ve discovered a new friend!
Everyone loves a good how-did-you-meet story, so let me tell you ours. (She doesn’t know we’ve met yet, or that we’re destined to be best friends, so I guess it’s not “our” story. This is all beside the point.)
This past weekend for our once-a-month date, my friend Lauralin and I got our nails done then headed to a new independent bookstore not too far from here. She had been nudging me for months to check it out. I walked in and it was love at first sight. Fresh coffee and tea, cozy leather armchairs, serene lighting and an entire room filled with books and quiet. *Cue the collective sigh.*
After three hours of talking books and authors and “have you read this?” and “I can’t believe you’ve never heard of her!” and “Oh, you can borrow this one, but you absolutely must buy that one” — After three-plus hours of delight, I realized that I had completely forgotten about my family at home whom I had abandoned without dinner plans (and who were obviously starving, evidenced by the phone call I received shortly thereafter inquiring about sustenance) and dutifully bee-lined it to the register with my final selections. The owners, clearly identifying us as bibliophiles, directed us toward a few shelves we had not yet noticed. They were filled with ARCs — Advanced Reader Copies.
I love ARCs. As uncorrected proofs, they consistently contain errors, but I would much rather find errors with disclaimers, than errors in something I know has gone through several editors’ hands, for which I paid full price, and that possesses no hope of being rectified any time soon. BONUS: ARCs are free, typically offered in exchange for reviews. In this case, for a positive shelf-talker.
And there it was: Dolci di Love by Sarah-Kate Lynch. Okay, actually Lauralin grabbed it first and I grabbed something else, but we quickly decided we had the wrong ones and swapped, to the delight of us both. I expected a heart-wrenching family drama, but received a wondrous story of beauty, mistakes, love and forgiveness, all dappled with an amusing group of meddling Italian widows. If you’re a movie-watcher, imagine touches of IQ and Under the Tuscan Sun but with a more intricate plot; deeper, far more endearing characters; and much better actors. Okay, so maybe it’s not like those movies at all, but parts of the book made me think of those movies. And all of the book made me want to visit Italy.
While I treasure the safety of beloved authors who consistently satisfy, there is nothing quite as exciting as finding a new-to-me author. It’s a thrill coupled with the hope of a fresh new well. I finished Dolci di Love this morning, promptly jumped on the author’s website and wrote her an email. Imagine my wonder to discover she has several other books! I can’t wait to start reading them all. It’s just … well, joyful! Once I get my bookshelf back in order, I’ll post a full review for you all. This, her newest novel, is already available in New Zealand. The US version (which I read) releases March 29th.
If you’re new to me or this site, you may assume that, because I am a Christian, I only read Christian or faith-based books. This would be a false assumption. Yes, I do read many books distributed by Christian publishers, but this is not one of them.
Read with Me: Girls, it is Friday, so it’s time to check-in. I’m still reading. Are you?
Read with Me: Choosing a Bible
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with one another! Are you all still with me? Who’s reading? Who’s wishing they were?
I’m happy with how I’ve done this week. Since I’m on the two-year plan, it’s difficult to say if I’m “on track” or not. More important than the plan or the track, however, is the fact that I am reading on a pretty regular basis. I’ve restarted the habit of reading before I get out of bed. This helps me to (1) not forget to do it and (2) center my focus before the day begins.
Oh, and Ellie is still with us! She is reading through the Psalms this year in her own Bible, a pink NIrV that she prizes.
Do you know about the NIrV? The New International Reader’s Version is distributed by ZonderKidz (a division of Zondervan Publishers) and targets emerging readers, ages 6-10. The language is very similar to the traditional NIV (which I am sorry to say got a new revision in 2010), but the sentence structure is slightly more simplistic. She still comes across a number of words she doesn’t know or can’t sound out, but for the most part it is perfect for her. As with most Bible versions, you can find this in a number of covers. Hers is pink leather with a bright green dragonfly. Zach’s is a two-tone blue with an icthus. But you can also find it in paperback or hardback, with adventure devotionals, super hero illustrations or in a read-to-me format.
Last year we talked a little bit about Bible versions. Because of the nature of this challenge, many of us who were raised in the church chose to read The Message. It’s less familiar and flows very naturally. But at some point in the year, I stopped reading that. I found a few too many discrepancies between that and other versions of the Bible. I still read it from time to time, but I grew tired of feeling like I always needed to check another source to see if what I had read was right.
This reminds me of a very interesting conversation I had with a taxi driver in London. It was more than ago, but it still sticks with me. While on our way to the airport, I asked the driver what he believes about God. He was very excited to talk and shared his testimony of how he was raised Muslim and then became a Christian, but converted back to Islam for his wife. He tried to convince me that Islam and Christianity are exactly the same — exactly the same except that the Bible frequently changes and the Koran never does.
I ran into this same argument against Christianity while witnessing to Muslims in Bosnia. That was more than twelve years ago.
This frustrates me because, while I know the Bible is the unchanging Word of God, I understand what they mean!
Go into any bookstore and look at the section on Bibles. You’ll find hundreds of different kinds! True: many of the differences include specific devotionals or formats. But forgiving those, there are still dozens of different versions of the Bible. How does anyone new to Christianity know where to start? Or which one is right? Which one is best?
Maybe you’re wondering the same questions.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing a Bible.
- Is it a translation or a paraphrase? The Message is a paraphrase. So is the NIV and the NIrV and most versions used in children’s Bibles. Paraphrases word the truths of the Bible into common, contemporary language. They re-state it in a way similar to how people normally talk in a certain time or culture. These are wonderful if you’re doing a challenge like Read with Me in which you just want to see the big picture. They can, however, reflect personal commentary or interpretation by those who wrote the paraphrase.
A translation is exactly that: a translation from the original languages of Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic into English or whatever language chosen. Good examples of this include the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and the NET Bible.
- What will you use it for? We are very blessed to have many Bibles available and affordable to us in this nation. You may want to have different Bibles for different reasons. If you want do an in-depth study, you need a translation. If you’re doing a reading challenge or preparing something for younger audiences, paraphrases are usually best.
- Does it make sense to you? The reason we have so many different versions is because we have such an extensive vocabulary within English. We have a vast range of educations which leads to many different reference, inferences and understood meanings within our language. Find a version that makes sense to you, one that engages you and makes you WANT to read more.
- Is there anything else that would help you get into your Bible more often? Some people are naturals at independent Bible study. Others need a devotional or a journal. Some want commentary notes, while others prefer historical details and archeological supports. Some require cross-references while other people find those distracting. There is something available for just about everyone and every purpose. Find one that works for you.
Enough from me.
YOUR TURN: Are you still with us? How do you choose a Bible for yourself or others?
Read with Me: Dori’s Testimony
As we enter our second year of Bible-reading accountability, I’ve asked a few of our champions (those who read all 66 books in 2010) to share their testimonies.
Sometimes we wrongfully believe that if we only had different circumstances, we could be better Christians. We could read our Bible more regularly and pray with more passion. It’s those kids that take up so much of my time and energy! Or maybe it’s my job or my boss or all the blase people around me. The truth, however, is that any type of discipline — including spiritual disciplines like prayer, consistent Bible reading, humility and service — require concerted effort. Sure, some of us have more obstacles to overcome to get to where we are, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for anyone.
My point is that we all need encouragement once in a while. My hope is that these testimonies shared over the next few weeks will offer just that to those of us still reaching toward the goal of consistent time shared with God and His exceedingly powerful Word.
First up is Dori, a friend of mine from college. Dori and I re-connected a couple years ago via facebook, and I’m so glad we did. She’s such a sweet, sweet person. Here’s what she has to say about our challenge.
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My journey with Jesus has been going on my whole life. Devotions, however, have been strong and not so strong at different times. In Jr. High, I had an amazing teacher who encouraged us to do devotions, provided us with materials and I’ve got to say, that was the best it ever was. It was the Word of Life devos where you read a passage and answered 2 ?’s. A few years later, I actually won a Read Thru the Bible in a Year Bible and did it! So it was over half my life till I took the challenge again with Tanya.
I needed the challenge and needed the accountability. I LOVED reading through and enjoyed several books. About halfway through the year, I coverted myself to my own schedule and would read through some books quicker and not do so many at a time. This year, I wanted to do more studying. So, I am taking the book of Job, and using my Inductive Study Bible and trying to answer the questions it tells me to think about, underline certain things, etc. I bought a notebook and write some things that “hit” me. Most importantly, I write prayer requests and as I write them I pray for the person and request. There’s some connection with writing that I just can’t explain, but it makes you think for an extra second and chew on it or something.
Some mornings I choose to read a teacher devotional book, or the book that my house church is working on, and I think that’s all good. Flexibilty is important, but I just pray I can stay on track better with consistency. Accomplishing a lot one day, just to (oops..) skip the next 5, is not what I’m trying to do. So pray for me to find that time daily and MAKE that time daily!!!! Thanks!
Read with Me: Seizing the Quiet
Today is the first afternoon in I don’t know how long that I have had a quiet, empty house and no pressing deadlines. The kids are in school. My dear husband is at work. I have no appointments, no errands to run, no writing deadlines that must be met within the next twelve hours. Oh, I have stuff to do — the washer and dryer whisper their cycles from the basement — but I choose to seize this quiet. I’m grabbing my Bible, a cozy blanket and my favorite spot on the couch.
I found my list (Woo-hoo!) and am now reading through Romans. I’m not sure how I missed this book last year, but I did. I rather like this two-year program I’m doing. It allows me to focus on one book of the Bible at a time rather than dividing my attention over four different tracks. This works well for me.
Over the next few weeks these Friday posts will include what has worked well for others. Past champions of our challenge will share their testimonies of what they learned on the journey toward reaching their goal. How did they find a groove and stick with it? How did they keep a routine, but also keep their reading fresh?
I pray you all are doing well. Whether you’re “with” me or not, I pray you are seeking God on a daily basis, that He is making Himself known to you in tangible ways. I pray that together we will all fall in love with Him all over again.
Your turn: How are you doing with your reading? What helps you seize your quiet moments?
Seek and Ye Shall Find: Discipline? (Read with Me Check-in)
I hold great aspirations of discipline. I envision a life in which my dishes are always done before they turn crusty, in which I am prepared for my children before they come home from school, and in which I can easily balance all of my hats with a simple schedule and Excel spreadsheet. In this wonderful life I would have meals planned in advanced and always deliciously ready (not burnt) on time. I would never realize halfway through a recipe that we’re missing a major ingredient. I would be organized. Calm. Collected. In control.
This week I dreamed of a chore chart for my kids, one that would not only teach them responsibility, but would also give them confidence and foster new skills. I imagined handing over one night a week to my daughter. It would be her night to cook. This means she would choose the menu, help me make the grocery list and then learn to follow the recipe. Of course, this delightful chore, which I know she would treasure, would only be granted after she finishes her other less-treasured chores like cleaning her room and sorting socks. I love the idea! But I fear failing once again.
I’m just not that organized. I want to be! And sometimes I am, but consistency eludes me. The stamina to remain organized … well, there’s a scientific law (don’t ask me what it’s called) that states all things naturally move from order to disorder. I am living proof of that law.
What does this have to do with our challenge? Unfortunately, everything.
The longer this challenge continues, the less orderly I am about it. Same as last week, I’m struggling to find the motivation to keep reading. Worse: I’m struggling to find my chart! Yes, I lost my chart with all the nifty little check-marks on it. While I generally know which parts I’ve read and which ones I haven’t, I’m not entirely sure. I skipped around quite a bit last year. So now I’m stuck, debating whether to start all over again or … I don’t know what. I’m seeking discipline and not finding it. Meanwhile, that slimy thought of quitting slowly inches its way toward the center of my brain.
So, you all have to help me!
Your turn: What do you do to stay motivated? What tips do can you share for keeping discipline fresh rather than rote? How do you revitalize a dimming passion?
In other news, please welcome Misty and Robin to our group! Both are new to the challenge this year. Ladies, I’m so glad you’ve joined us!
Read without me?
Our kids have had two different responses to their parents doing this Bible reading challenge.
Ellie has started her own. Completely of her own volition, she decided that she will read one Psalm every day from her own “real” Bible. She started on January 1st and has only missed a couple days. I’m so proud of her! I’m also humbled by her pure and sincere desire.
Zach has a different motivation. Right around New Year’s, he asked me if Daddy won. I replied that this wasn’t a competition; it’s just something we want to do together.
“But Daddy finished, right?”
I replied that he had.
“And you didn’t, right?”
“Yes, that’s true, but I’m still working on it.”
“That means you’re the loser.”
I gotta be honest with you here. I know the boy is only five, but I’m feeling the sting of his assessment. That sting has affected my reading, which has been nearly nonexistent since that discussion. I’m not quitting, but I am truly struggling to find motivation.
Sequel Peeps: How do you stay motivated?
Just so we know, here is a list of who is with us for the Sequel:
- Kellie
- Mary Jo
- Rach
- Misty *New this year!*
- Rebecca
- me
It’s not too late to join! If you want some accountability for your Bible reading, sign-up and check back here for encouragement and fellowship.
Need a reading plan? Here is a link to the plan we used last year. If you want something different, Rachel recommends www.youversion.com.
Questions? Send them my way!
Read with Me in 2011!
Last year we started the Read with Me Challenge with over thirty women and a handful of silent men committed to reading the entire Bible. Originally it was a one-year initiative, a goal begun and completed in less than 365 days.
Some of us finished on time — WOO-HOO!! I would love to get a head-count. How many of you read the entire Bible, all 66 books in 2010?
Some of us, however, didn’t quite make it — BUT WE CAN! We, myself included, are now on the two-year plan, which is why we need to continue our Friday check-ins for accountability. WE CAN DO IT, PEOPLE!!
Now, I don’t want to be exclusive here. Some of you may not have signed up last year, but want to take the challenge this year. That’s great! Many of you who DID finish on time were so fired up by the challenge that you’ve already started new Bible-reading schedules for the new year. I’m absolutely thrilled that God has started this raging fire for His Word. One of you, when nearing the end of the challenge, told me that you just wanted more. “It’s like getting to the end of a great novel and knowing there isn’t a sequel.”
Consider this the sequel.
Here’s how it works:
- If you’re still with us, whether pressing on to complete last year’s challenge or starting a new one for 2011, sign up in the comments section of this post.
- Let us know which plan you’re using. If you have a link to it, even better. (This is the plan most of us used last year.) This isn’t for accountability, but rather so those who don’t have plans can browse and choose one. It’s perfectly acceptable to change tracks throughout the year. Whatever it takes to keep reading and growing.
- Please stop by each week to check in. Just like last year, I’ll have regular posts (usually on Fridays) dedicated to this challenge. The purpose is to challenge, encourage, and spur one another on in our pursuit of God. Many of us desperately need that accountability. Besides I love hearing about what you glean from your reading!
If you still have questions, check out our “ground rules” and FAQs from last year.
So, who’s reading with me?
