Category: Bible

My original Bible

February 2, 2024

This year I have decided to go back to my original Bible. It was a hard cover Good New Bible. I must say that when I say my original Bible, I do not mean my first Bible, but my main first one that I used most.

I remember I got it on holiday when I was visiting my sister in Queensland. We went to her local Christian store and I looked for about half an hour until I made my choice.

We then went back her house and we put the Bible tabs on it. It seemed like it took hours to do, but it was probably not that long. It did not matter anyway as we talked a lot.

I chose a Good News Bible as it was very simple and plain English. I was not a big reader so it was perfect for me. I probably used it for the first five years of being a Christian.

It is funny how when I picked it up again recently it felt so familiar. It felt good in my hands and the pages opened nicely to my favourite passages. In many ways it feels like meeting an old friend again.

Over the years I have used a variety of translations. I started with the Good News, went to the New International Version at Bible college, then changed to New Living Translation for my devotions. I found I had so many verses memorised in the NIV that I was not reading the text deeply enough.

So why the change back to the GNB? I guess just for a change. It is nice to switch things up every now and then to give you a fresh perspective. It is very similar to the NLT, but different enough to make me read closely.

If you are interested here is some information about the translation style from their website…

“The Good News Translation (GNT), formerly called the Good News Bible or Today’s English Version, was first published as a full Bible in 1976 by the American Bible Society as a “common language” Bible. It is a clear and simple modern translation that is faithful to the original Hebrew, Koine Greek, and Aramaic texts.

This Bible uses simple everyday language and vocabulary shared by everyone regardless of age or background. The “dynamic equivalence” in translation communicates the meaning and style of the original in a unique way.”

Book I want to read

January 27, 2024

What books do you want to read?

I have to admit I was never a great reader at school. Getting me to read was like pulling teeth for my teachers. I loved sport and maths, but reading was not my thing.

After leaving school this continued until my early twenties. All of a sudden though, I had a desire to read the Bible. I did not have one so I went to the local church and purchased one.

After getting a Bible of my own I found I actually loved reading for the first time in my life. It was nothing to read for an hour of more. Looking back I now know this was God drawing me to His Word and enabling me to do it.

Many years later the Bible is still my go to book. I very rarely read other books as I prefer to listen to them while I am travelling. But I can always just sit down and read my Bible. I can pick it up any time of the day or night and just read.

I just love the fact that the Bible has 40 different authors, it is made up of 66 books, was written over a 1600 year time period, but it has one central theme – God’s love and saving message for mankind. He loves us all and He wants us to be in relationship with Him.

This is why I love the Bible so much. It tells us how we got here, who we are, that God loves us and He has a plan for our lives. For me there is no other book that compares or even comes close to it.

So which book do I want to read? It is the Bible for me by a long long way.

Two weeks on women of the Bible

January 14, 2024

I have added four new Bible readings plans today to our website. The plan below looks at women of the Bible.

Two Weeks on Women of the Bible

Day 1 – Genesis 2 – Eve, the first woman.
Day 2 – Genesis 18 – Sarah laughs at God’s promise.
Day 3 – Genesis 24 – Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac.
Day 4 – Genesis 27 – Rebekah, the manipulative mother
Day 5 – Judges 4 – Deborah’s leadership frees her people.
Day 6 – Ruth 1 – Ruth and Naomi’s deep friendship.
Day 7 – 1 Samuel 1 – Hannah prays for a son.
Day 8 – 1 Kings 17 – A poor widow and the prophet Elijah.
Day 9 – 1 Kings 21 – Jezebel, an emblem of wickedness.
Day 10 – Esther 2 – Esther is chosen as queen.
Day 11 – Esther 4 – Esther’s courage at the risk of death.
Day 12 – Luke 1 – Mary and Elizabeth receive great news.
Day 13 – Luke 2 – Mary gives birth to Jesus.
Day 14 – John 11 – Mary and Martha and their brother’s death.

Living a long life?

January 8, 2024

What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

Another good question to reflect on. I can honestly say I am aiming for a long healthy life, but I know ultimately my life is in God’s hands.

I do my best to eat a healthy vegetarian diet. Studies looking at the Blue Zones show people who eat mostly plant based live on average 10 years longer and are much healthier. Some live to be 100 and still work in their gardens or fields!

I do other things mentioned in the Blue Zone studies like exercise regularly, have a sense of purpose in helping others, I have a strong faith and I have people around me who love and care for me and I them. So from that perspective I am travelling well.

In saying this though, I know my life is 100% completely and totally in God’s hands. He holds my life, my destiny and my breath. When He takes my breath, I will go to be with Him… for eternity.

Knowing this, my life is about God and His Kingdom. I am here because He wants and needs me here. I still have things to do for Him if I still have breath and my heart is beating.

Does this mean I do not think about my life and the things I want to do? Of course not. I want to be here to enjoy this world, love my family, achieve some of my personal goals and look after my body. But this is overshadowed by the eternal realities of life. I am just here for a season and one day it will end.

The key for me is to live my life in light of eternity. I need to set my heart and mind on things above and not on earthy things (Colossians 3:1-2). I need to remember that ultimately I am a citizen of heaven and I need to eagerly await the return of my Lord Jesus (Philippians 3:20). This is the eternal hope we have in Christ.

So yes I want to live a long and healthy life. Maybe even make it to 90 or 100. But this all depends on God and He can call me home at any time. My life is in His hands and I would not want it any other way. He is my life now, and will be my life for all eternity.

Read the New Testament this year

January 8, 2024

If you would like to read the New Testament in 2024 you can download our free reading plan. In this plan you can read one chapter a day and you will finish it in September. If you read one chapter five days a week you will finish it in December.

If you are interested you can download it here. If you do not have a Bible you can find one online at www.biblegateway.com.