Week in Review #24

Bible reading

KJV

• Psalms 38-74
• Acts 17-28
• Romans
• 1 Corinthians

ESV

• Ezekiel 
• Proverbs 1-14

NASB 95

• Numbers 12-36
• Deuteronomy 1-
• Psalms 127-150; 1-10
• Isaiah 40-66
• John 19-21; Matthew 1-10
• Jude
• Revelation

NKJV

• Isaiah 1-17
• Micah
• 2 Kings 16-17
• 2 Chronicles 28

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

48. Sharing Christ in Joy and Sorrow

48. Sharing Christ In Joy and Sorrow: A Theology of Philippians. Chris Bruno. 2025. 112 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, christian theology]

First sentence from the introduction: When I was completing this book, my dad was hospitalized with late stage cancer. As I write these words, I'm sitting in his hospital room while we prepare for the Lord to take him home. 

First sentence from chapter one: Any study of Philippians must begin with Christ, for his person and work pervade the letter from beginning to end. 

Sharing Christ in Joy and Sorrow is primarily for an audience of pastors, elders, seminary students, those who take theological study deep, deep, deep. It is not necessarily ideal for the average Christian who enjoys reading and studying the Bible yet doesn't have the background and experience to be scholars. Crossway certainly publishes books for a wide audience--some more scholarly, some more approachable. They do commentaries for example that would be a good fit for the 'average Christian.' 

In the introduction, Chris Bruno gives readers a preview of what to expect in each chapter....

I quote...

• We will begin in chapter 1 by considering the humiliation and exaltation of Christ in Philippians 2:1-11 as foundational for much of the letter. From this we will see how Paul, the Philippians, and all Christians are called to imitate Christ in joy and sorrow.
• Chapter 2 will look more closely at union with Christ, a theme that appears over twenty times in the letter and is foundational for all of Paul's instructions for the church. We will see the central role that union with Christ plays in the theology of Philippians, from beginning to end. 
• In chapter 3, we will see that Paul calls the church to unity and shared humility because of its shared union with Christ (Philippians 2:2-3) As a result, the church ought to recognize and honor the pastors and teachers that God uses in her midst (Philippians 2:19-30). In addition, the church is an outpost of the coming kingdom, not Rome (Philippians 3:20-21); therefore it ought to strive for unity among its members (Philippians 4:2-3) and with other congregations (Philippians 4:14-19).
• Chapter 4 considers Paul's instructions about gospel proclamation in view of both our union with Christ and his robust confidence in the sovereignty of God in salvation (Philippians 2:12-13). 
• In chapter 5, we will see how the hope of Christ's return and the new creation animated our life in this age. 
• In chapter 6, we will conclude by considering how Paul calls the Philippians to ongoing joy through suffering. 

I read the book in one day. Perhaps that was a mistake on my part. Perhaps I should have taken the time to read each chapter through several times. Would it have helped me? Maybe. Maybe not. 

Readers should definitely be prepared for foot notes, more foot notes, and even more foot notes. 

I do love the book of Philippians. While this one is not particularly the right fit for me, it certainly appears to be well-researched, supported through end notes, and with a strong focus on connecting everything back to Scripture itself. For the right reader, this one might be beneficial. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Brief Thoughts on Bible Translations

Do I believe that there is just ONE translation that is 'good'? NO.

Do I believe that there is ONE translation that is 'the best' for every single person? NO. Definitely not.

Do I believe that one translation philosophy is better than the other? Again no. I'm speaking in terms of the spectrum word for word versus thought for thought. The truth is it's a spectrum and there is so much room in the middle. 

Do I find translation bashing or slamming damaging? Yes. For the most part. At the very least it can be confusing. It can be confusing for someone who is truly just trying to read the Bible--perhaps for the first time--to actually read the Bible if there's so much fussing and fighting about choosing THIS one and not THAT one. 

For example, there are those who would bash the NIV.... I'm choosing this as one example... it could just as easily be the NASB 2020 or any other translation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with reading the NIV if that is the translation that you find easiest to comprehend, understand, that feels like home, that keeps you in the Word.

A very specific question to be answered....

the KJV21 is not a replacement for the NKJV. It is a very light update to the KJV. Very light. I believe the BibleGateway has it online. 

Do I believe that there a very small handful that are slightly 'less good'? Perhaps slightly. But I'll explain if I can. There are certain groups--I won't necessarily call them denominations--that have produced their own Scriptures. I would probably suggest staying away from those. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Operation Actually Turns Seventeen

Does it feel like my youngest blog should be turning seventeen? No. Am I happy that it is? Yes. These are seventeen years where I've prioritized reading the Word of God in a consistent way. 

My first post was called THE MISSION.

My goal--obvious as it may be--is to actually read the Bible. You might think that I've not read it. But that wouldn't be the case. I've read it a dozen or so times over the past twenty years. However, I've not been in the habit of reading it lately. For the past three or four years, my reading of the Bible has been pitiful to nil. I know--rationally speaking--that I NEED to read the Bible...that I NEED to study and read and pray. But it's not a part of my daily routine. Hence why I'm challenging myself to ACTUALLY read the Bible instead of just talking about how I need to start one day soon.

I usually look back on the past year by sharing posts from the previous year--June 9, 2024 through June 8, 2025.

From November 2024, Absolute Bare Minimum Expectations for Pastors

From October 2024, Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion. Allie Beth Stuckey. 

From September 2024, Shepherds for Sale. Megan Basham. 
From December 2024, Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life. Paul David Tripp.

From August 2024, Psalms in 30 Days: A Prayer Guide through the Psalter. Trevin K. Wax. 

From July 2024, The Open Bible (1975) King James Version. Royal Publishers/Nelson. 

From June 2024, The Hiding Place A Graphic Novel. Corrie ten Boom. With Elizabeth and John Sherrill. Adapted by Mario DeMatteo. 

From January 2025, Cloaked in Beauty. (Texas Ever After #3) Karen Witemeyer.

From February 2025, Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World. Melissa Dougherty.

From March 2025, Praying the Bible. Donald S. Whitney. 

From April 2025, [Expository Thoughts on the] Gospel of John. J.C. Ryle. 

From May 2025, The Pursuit of Elena Bradford. Ann H. Gabhart. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review #23

Bible reading

KJV

• Psalms 1-37
• John 8-21
• Acts 1-16

NASB 95

• Leviticus
• Numbers 1-11
• Psalms 99-126
• Isaiah 1-39
• John 2-18
• Hebrews 6-13
• James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John

ESV

• Jeremiah 20-52
• Lamentations

NKJV

• Jonah
• Amos
• Hosea

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

47. Some Like It Scot

47. Some Like It Scot. Pepper Basham. 2025. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, christian romance, contemporary Christian]

First sentence: I'd love to say I became famous because of my excellent writing skills.

Premise/plot: Katie Campbell is a travel writer for an international magazine, World on a Page. In her spare time when she's not having MISadventures, she is secretly writing a children's book series that is also about world adventures and traveling. She goes to Scotland to participate in a three-week cosplay of sorts for the Edwardian period. She meets a Scottish man, Graeme, who is of course the 'hot Scot' and the two go viral because of course they do. He is a carpenter hired on as a butler and extra dance partner.

Narration alternates between Katie and Graeme. Some scenes overlap and you get both perspectives.  

My thoughts: Three stars is generous. Reading is subjective. What almost worked for me: the setting and some of the side characters, particularly Graeme's family and some of the villagers. What didn't work for me? The premise of this three-week 'Edwardian' experience. It came across to me like the author was confused at times as to what was Edwardian. Or maybe Katie was? But they kept slipping into a lot of Regency and Austen references. I also didn't particularly like the objectification of Graeme as the 'hot scot' and how she's essentially tagging a complete stranger on social media and 'using' him to go viral. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

46. Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John

46. Exalting Jesus in 1, 2, 3 John. (Christ Centered Exposition) Daniel L. Akin. Edited by David Platt and Tony Merida.  2014. 187 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, christian nonfiction, commentary]

First sentence: Christianity stands or falls on the person and work of Jesus Christ. It succeeds or fails on whether or not a true and genuine incarnation actually took place in space and time. The options as to who Jesus is and what Jesus did can basically be reduced to four. He could have been a liar--someone who simply was not who he claimed to be and knew it. He could have been a lunatic--someone who thought he was somebody, but in fact he was not. He could have been a legend--someone who was not who others later imagined him to be. Or He could be the Lord--He is who He said He is, and His birth, life, death, and resurrection prove it to be true.

What you see is what you get. This commentary is part of the Christ-Centered Exposition series by Holman Bible Publishers. It is a commentary of 1 John, 2 John, 3 John.

The book is well-organized. It is clear, easy to understand, easy to follow. It isn't so incredibly scholarly that you feel overwhelmed having to look up words every few sentences. It is not as casual and conversational as say J. Vernon McGee, but it isn't dense or dull. I really LOVED some of the quotes Daniel Akin uses in the book. 

Each chapter features discussion questions. I think this one would be good for Bible study or Sunday School.

Quotes:

• This is the stumbling block of the incarnation--when God becomes a man, he strips away every pretense of man to be God. 
• We must receive Jesus--the Word of life, the eternal life, the Son of God--not as we imagine Him to be, or as we like to think of Him, or as someone else believes Him to be. We do not truly receive Jesus if we do not accept Him as He defines Himself. We know that we are Christians and have received God's salvation when we humbly accept the Word of life, which means to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who appeared in our flesh, was crucified to take our punishment from our sin, was raised from the grave three days later for our justification with God, and is coming again to bring the fullness of God's kingdom. Is that the Jesus you have received? ~ Thabiti Anyabwile

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible