The Message in 2010

I've started reading The Daily Message ... it's a through-the-Bible-in-a-year-book in the Message translation. The Message is a very modern translation, written by a pastor (Eugene Peterson) who not only has a passion for the Word of God but a passion for words and writing as well.

It translates from the Greek thought-for-thought, more so than word for word.

You can learn more about this translation and it's author here.

When I first came to Christ, I read the New King James Version. I still have lots of verses committed to memory in the NKJ. Then after several years, I moved to the New International Version, and memorized many in NIV as well. After years in that, I moved to the New Living Translation, which I've loved for the last several years. And this year, I'm diving into The Message.


I realize some people take issue with newer translations, feeling that they can get too far away from the original language. I respect their passion for purity. But I've found it really helps me to hear things I've read for years said in a different way. I notice more, or notice it afresh. And that invigorates my walk with God, which is a main reason I'm reading the Bible.

So if you'd like to read through The Message too, click on the photo above to buy the book and just jump in at whatever day it is when it arrives. Don't worry that you didn't start on January 1. You know how the book starts (there's creation, and a garden called Eden, and a guy named Adam ...).

Don't even worry if it's already summer, or fall, when you find this invitation -- dive in and start now. You can finish up at the beginning in January 2011 if you want and complete the journey. The important thing is to just start reading the Bible regularly - yes?

So sit down your inner-perfectionist-gotta-start-January-1st-or-it's-ruined self, and tape her mouth shut. Contrary to her beliefs, she isn't always right! Then jump in at today's date and enjoy the journey. The readings take maybe 15 minutes a day, and end with 2 thought provoking questions by Peterson.

What? You have trouble silencing your inner perfectionist, you say? Well, I've been reading the hardback book version, but I think I'm going to order the audio version as well so I can listen to it on my treadmill. If your inner perfectionist insists, through the tape, that you start at the beginning, get the audio version too and listen to it while cooking, folding laundry or running errands and you should get caught up fairly quick.

I'll be posting here periodically (not daily, but regularly) on things that strike me as I read this Bible this year. So feel free to chime in, even if you're not reading thru The Message this year.

Thankful for the freedom to read the Bible.

Message - too many possesions

I'm reading through the Bible this year in THE MESSAGE translation. I'm using the book to the left if you want to join me - just buy it now on Amazon or at your local store and jump in at whatever day it arrives ... it's not like you don't know how the book begins!

So the other day (day 6), I was reading about Abram and Lot returning to Negev from Egypt -- where Abram passed his wife Sarai off as his sister and let the Pharaoh take her into his harem - paying Abram handsomely in livestock and possessions for the privilege.

It says, "By now Abram was very rich, loaded with cattle and silver and gold" (Gen 13:2), and that, "Lot, who was traveling with Abram, was also rich in sheep and cattle and tents. But the land couldn't support both of them; they had too many possessions" (Gen 13:5).

And that's the part that jumped out at me: the land couldn't support them because they had too many possessions.

I don't know if you are anything like me in this new year, but I'm looking to streamline, organize, de-clutter, and once again re-evaluate my spending habits. I'm quite certain I have more possessions than I need. And my land - my home - doesn't support it well. My house has the smallest closets you've ever seen. I kid you not. My kitchen pantry is 24" wide by 13" deep. That's 2 feet by 1 foot, people. Plus, my coat closet and linen closet are the same size! See, I told you. I don't know why the builder made these closets so small - or why I thought I could live with them!

(my tiny kitchen pantry)

The next line in Genesis 13 says, "They couldn't both live there—quarrels broke out between Abram's shepherds and Lot's shepherds." I assume they were fighting over who got to graze the limited pasture land ... who got to decide how the limited closet space and budget would be spent.

Too many possessions.

I'm not a "neat freak" by any stretch, but it does bother me when things are piling up, or cluttered. That happens either because I don't know where to store it or I don't really have the space for it. And when I'm bothered by the mess, I get testy and easily irritated. Same goes for my husband ... quarrels can break out.

So today I'm readying a load to take to the women's consignment shop and another load to take to Good Will. And if I have the time and energy later, I'll clean out that pantry. I'm pretty sure that box of blackberry Jello has been in there for 3 years.

What's the status of your closets? Clean and organized? Or busting at the seams?

Do you suspect you have too many possessions to live with harmoniously?

At least, I bet you feel happier about your own closet space after hearing about mine!

You're welcome.

Giving thanks today for my warm home with tiny closets.

TMI, lattes and The Message

Hey there. I don't really have anything important, insightful, or witty to say but nonetheless I need to say something because 1) it's been awhile, and more importantly 2) I want to bump down the last post where I published the actual true circumference of the widest part of my thigh.


WHAT WAS I THINKING?!


Girls, that is a prime example of the dangers of blogging. Or at least the dangers of blogging alone. Friends should not let friends blog alone, at least not with tape measure in hand.

I reckon I'll just ramble for a few paragraphs to fill some space ...

Let's see, I've just finished teaching my class at the university, then I had dinner with the fam, and now I'm in the coffee shop at Barnes and Nobel. But I'm not having any coffee. I found out months ago that too many pumpkin-spice lattes make my thigh circumference stats go up.

Instead, I'm waiting for my appointment at the professional massage spa next door. Today they are doing a fundraiser for the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. All massages are half price and that money is donated to the foundation. I'm pretty sure if Martha were here she would deem it "a good thing." This is soooo my kind of fundraising.

I'm also toying with the idea of reading through the entire Bible in The Message translation in 2010. Anybody done that? They have it out in book form (see here). Anybody interested in doing it with me? Each day's reading ends with just two questions for reflection or application. We could read and then post our answers to one or both of the questions. Just a thought I'm mulling around.


I've already started making homemade soups - something I do all fall and winter. But I'm waiting for the cold weather to officially start before I make a pot of chili. I'm chili-dreaming. Or would that be chilly-dreaming?

(I warned you I didn't have anything intelligent or witty to say.)

Well, I've sufficiently bumped that post down now, so off I go to lay face down on a table while inhaling aromatherapy, listening to calming zen music, and letting a complete stranger named Kay coax the tension from my back.
Is that weird? Suddenly that seems weird.
Well, if it helps cure breast cancer ...

I fear this is turning into another one of those posts where I need somebody to tell me to stop typing and back away from the computer before I create more bloggy regrets.

PS. I just realized I have no idea how much to tip for a half-price, fundraising massage.

Alive

Welcome if you've come over from my devotion today at Proverbs 31.

My pastor has a saying ... think about it for a moment:

"Every longing at its core is a longing for life."

John the Baptist said, "What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out." (MSG)

Jesus is always the key to life - our lives have their source and fulfillment in Him.

Longing to feel truly alive today? Immerse yourself in worship - in Him.

I'm hoping to get back to the beach today. Got another chapter to work on first - but can't wait to wade into the water as my reward when I'm done.