Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

“Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” At least that’s how we remember old movies showing the latest and greatest news releases to the public, as an “extra” printing with new juicy details. Some kid is standing on the corner crying out, “Extra!” You could spend a dime filling your lack of knowledge by grabbing the latest.

Sensational News! One release at a time.

Behind the scenes, reporters and editors scurry to “Hold the presses!” Who cares about deadlines when you have something to share! “Our advertisers will appreciate more newspapers being bought!” Those who set up the pages are madly creating a new front-page headline. They rushed the finished product to the press room. The printing press crews would load the machines with stories, paper, and ink. Lord, help us if we have a power failure! Did we stock enough paper? Where do we buy more ink?

Messy and noisy, these scenes of machinations to get the paper in your hand for a few minutes.

Then, along came the internet. Online production. Social stories. Constant release and updates of stories blast us. An avalanche of information that is dated as soon as you read it because someone else has some new twist to add.

In today’s world? I seldom look deeper than the headline. We are overwhelmed by the onslaught of advertisers-supported news between all the electronic and news media sources.

Give Me A Book

There is comfort in curling up with a good book. The story never changes no matter how many times you read it. “Hondo!” by Louis L’Amour. I’ve probably read it 20-30 times. Since I have a “great forgetter,” I can re-read books and not remember everything I’ve read. Every time the words feel new, the story fresh and yet hauntingly familiar. Alaska, Texas, Poland, Chesapeake, The Source, The Covenant, Space, Hawaii. My, oh my, the list is endless. James Michener’s books call to me during certain times of life. Instead of fast reads, I slow down and absorb the history and expanse of time and story.

“Show me a family of readers,
and I will show you the people who move the world.”
~Napoleon Bonaparte

But here’s my insight. Since I have a “good forgetter,” every time I read a book, I’m surprised by what I learn that feels new. Insights gleaned because I’ve lived life for a while before re-reading. My experiences give me an understanding that I did not have ten years ago. The news cycles have updated our current history, but a good book builds my foundation that’s been a generation in the building.

Mark Twain said, “The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can’t.” I wonder about the mind of a good storyteller.

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”
~Walt Disney

Agreed! Wealth comes from my insatiable desire to read and not hunt for buried treasure!

There are times I read for relaxing pleasure. But when I sink my mind into a story, I want it to be broad, deep, full of undercurrents revealed after I’ve spent time treading the waters the writer has developed.

Why Not Read The Bible Like A Good Book?

As old as the hills and with more far-reaching, life-changing information, the Bible often collects dust on many library shelves. It is seldom touched, except to move it out of the way as we look for something, must less read or opened.

Why do we read the bible? It’s not to know the ancient history and wonder about the times. Instead, it’s to learn about God!

Reading the Bible can be like meeting someone you don’t know who,
oddly, somehow seems to know you deeply. It’s uncanny.
~Max Lucado

The unique thing about understanding the Bible better? It comes to light in everything you do. Your thoughts, words, and deeds are underpinned foundational. You are developing a better way of looking at the world around you.

On the one hand, you think differently,
and on the other hand, you act differently!
But with both hands, you live better because you are better.

This is why it’s a great plan to read the Bible many times… We’ve Changed!

The other thing about reading the Bible? It is always affirming itself through the years and across the miles. It never changes!

Can I Be Successful?

Let me give you a hint about reading the bible successfully.

Get you a good chronological Bible. That’s where the sequence of history and life orders the entire Bible, and not only by book, chapter, and verse. Structured bibles often put boundaries upon our time spent with the Word of God. But if you let it flow like a story, you will investigate it more fully when you find it in order of time.

How do you find such a book? It can take you some time to find what you are looking for, but you know better what you want after you begin the journey of reading.

I’m still looking for the perfect version of what would make the best chronological bible for me!

First? Make a list of what you want in such a bible. It could follow this line of thinking:

• Translation – Some are scintillating in their use of language. I prefer something closer to the translation I grew up with. Where KJV was my go-to for decades, I now look for something that sounds more modern but follows the same word usage. Today and right now, I’m using New King James.
• Binding Style – Hardback? Leather? Softcover?
• Bible Usage– Will you use it as a Reader, for Study, or for Devotion?
• Layout – I’m still looking for a single-column page that makes the bible look more readable instead of multiple columns like most bibles we grew up with. This is also an excellent time to consider if you will make notes in the margins and how much space you need.

Go to your favorite search engine. That can even include non-typical engines like Amazon. Yes! Amazon is a search engine that is getting better all the time.

Here’s a starting place: [Click Here] It’s just a link to Amazon searching for Chronological Bibles. You can see where you can click on options to fine-tune your research on the left.

Now, get what you want but expect it not to be perfect for your needs. The styles are constantly changing, and the day will come when you will find what you want.

Again, what’s the key? Start reading no matter if you find what you are looking for. Why? You will not do this once! Through your years as you roll through life across the miles.

One Last Thought

As with most books, there are some we keep for years and years. But the best gift you can share is a bible you’ve already read, and yes, even marked up. Show you care by giving someone a Bible that shows how you care for God’s Word.