...While Reading Your Bible
Do you have trouble reading your Bible on a consistent
basis? Do you find your mind wandering or yourself spending more time seeing
how far you have read (or how far you have to go) instead of focusing on what you
are reading? Do you end up justifying reading a short portion simply because it
feels like a lot of work just to read a chapter or more? Maybe this will help
you.
There are many audio Bibles out there- in which someone is
reading the passage of the Bible for you to read along with. They started out with Alexander Scourby
reading the King James Version. I sincerely appreciate Mr. Scourby taking on
this massive feat for the benefit of others, but personally, it was boring to
me! It was simply a single person reading monotone. Yawn!
James Earl Jones put
a New Testament KJV out once, but that was more expensive and harder to find.
Apparently Johnny Cash put one out also.
Then they came out with the dramatized version. It seemed
like it would be more exciting, but apparently “dramatized” simply meant “music
in the background.” Some of them would record a few different voices for other
characters, but they were few and far between. And the monotone was back for
the majority of it, since Jesus, God and the narrator all had to be done by the
same guy.
Finally, some new innovations came out. First, a talented
orator named Max McLean put out The Listener’s Bible in the NIV (he has since
also done the KJV and the ESV). While it is only him, he is literally acting as
he records this. He studied in college focusing on acting through narration.
His voice is beautiful.
Then the idea came out to do a full fledged
dramatization using several different people! The first is The Bible
Experience, using the TNIV.
Dozens of professional actors, actresses and
orators were used, along with a professional orchestra.
This leads up to my personal favorite- The Word of Promise
Audio Bible. It features over 200 professional actors and actresses, including
Jim Caviezel as Jesus (you may remember him portraying Jesus in The Passion of
the Christ). This performance uses the NKJV word for word and is well done.
I have listened to the book of Matthew so far. There were some
features I noticed that I really enjoy, and that sets this apart from other
audio Bibles I’ve heard before. First, the narrator does not say, “chapter 1,
chapter 2, etc.” before each chapter. While this may be slightly confusing
(especially if your CD player or iPod accidentally gets set to “shuffle,” which
happened to me), it allows the reading to flow better. Also, some slight
wording is removed for the sake of flowing more like a conversation. I do not
mean in ANY way that verses or important passages are removed. I mean when it
is written that someone says something, or someone replied, it is removed,
because it is implied in the audio.
For example: Matthew 16: 13-17a says, “13 When Jesus came
into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do
men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the
Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said
to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him,
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to
you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
Here is what you hear read:
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He
asked His disciples, saying,
“Who do men say that I,
the Son of Man, am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”
for flesh and blood has
not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
This has been out for a couple of years now. You can
purchase it in different options. You can buy the CDs (total Bible is about 70
CDs), or MP3 CD (about 8 CDs). You probably could also order the digital
version, but I like having hard copy originals. You can also order the entire
Bible CDs, only New Testament CDs, only Old Testament CDs, entire Bible MP3
CDs, and only New Testament MP3 CDs. I ordered the last one, and immediately
copied all the files into my iTunes. I ordered my copy online through Amazon.
Amazon has their discounted rate, but also have approved sellers who list their
items- often at a much more discounted price. I ordered mine brand new, but
opened, from an approved seller. The discs looked like they were never even
used. The retail price is $34.99. Amazon sells it for $31.49. Mine cost $8.78
plus $3.99 shipping, for a total of $12.77. WIN!
Looking at the website created for the Word of Promise Audio Bible, they
also encourage a small group 40 day study. With their reading schedule, small
group participants read along as they listen to the audio Bible. Over about
30-40 minutes a day, readers can get through the New Testament in 40 days.
I think this will greatly strengthen your Bible reading.
Because of being bombarded by entertainment on a daily basis, it is easy for
our minds to be distracted. A radio-like performance of reading the Bible,
along with occasional music and even sound effects, may help you keep attention
and even bring what you are reading even more alive and real to you.
I encourage you to try this out. You can even start with
free samples. You can find several different chapters on The Word of Promise’s
iTunes podcast page. Click this pic to go straight to that page:
You can also download the Book of John for free from Max
McLean’s website. Click this pic to go straight to the webpage:
I hope this tool will help you in your Bible reading. I pray
it will become even more powerful and real to you, and that God’s Word will
change your life!
So then faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
-Romans 10: 17
Now all the people
gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water
Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses,
which the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before
the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the
first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that
was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and
women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were
attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all
the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it,
all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the
people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed
their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
-Nehemiah 8:
1,2, 5-7a
No comments:
Post a Comment