Okay, so here’s how this is going to work. Regarding the subject
matter of my blogs, they will include pretty much anything that comes into my
mind while reading. Because I’m used to thinking about modern religious issues,
the material will probably extend to current day applications of what the text,
rather than just the text itself. The title of this blog, "the meditation
of my heart", comes from Psalm 19:14, which reads, "Let the words of
my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD,
my strength, and my redeemer." I ask that of God regarding this blog,
which will not shy away from addressing these important and controversial
issues. As with all such issues, the answers are sometimes not clear cut, and
will require a subjective interpretation. Just because the Bible is an
important and authoritative text doesn't mean everyone agrees on that
interpretation, it's meaning, or its practical implications on our lives. That
means I have to express opinions on those matters which may offend some readers
who disagree. In such cases, or any time you'd like to chime in, I invite you
to leave a comment. I would be happy to reply as soon as I see it.
Regarding my religious beliefs as they stand now, I would classify
myself as a Lutheran, but that’s not very descriptive of what I really feel. I’m
also not completely attached to that title; that denomination could change. Later
tonight, I will post a couple of my old blogs on religion to get you caught up
on my views as I’ve articulated them most recently.
Regarding the version of the Bible I’ll be reading, I've chosen
the New International Version for two main reasons. Firstly, it is one of the
two bibles my family owns. Secondly, it is viewed as a good blend of accuracy
and readability. On most charts it is smack in the middle between the
"word for word" translations (like the King James Version) and the
more "dynamic" modern English Versions (like the Good News Bible).
Specifically, it’s classified mostly as a "thought for thought"
translation that both keeps the original meaning and also expresses that
meaning in the language of the times. When I take out specific, important passages
for examination, I will consult the King James for more exact word order and
more traditional scholarly perspectives.
Regarding my timeline, I've mapped out my summer, and subtracted days which I'm not sure I'll have time to read due to an exchange program to Germany, and discovered that I have about 55 days in which to accomplish my goal. The New International Version I’m using is 1284 pages long, which means I’ll need to read about 24 pages a day (or one page an hour, coincidentally) to finish the Bible before the summer ends. That seems a reasonable pace to both finish on time and leave time to think about the text I read as I read it. Right now, I plan to do my reading and blog posts in the morning, but that could change based on my daily schedule (and discipline at waking up!) If I miss a day, I can always just read double the next day.
That’s all for now – I’ll repost my religion blogs from last year soon, and then tomorrow it’s time to start!
Regarding my timeline, I've mapped out my summer, and subtracted days which I'm not sure I'll have time to read due to an exchange program to Germany, and discovered that I have about 55 days in which to accomplish my goal. The New International Version I’m using is 1284 pages long, which means I’ll need to read about 24 pages a day (or one page an hour, coincidentally) to finish the Bible before the summer ends. That seems a reasonable pace to both finish on time and leave time to think about the text I read as I read it. Right now, I plan to do my reading and blog posts in the morning, but that could change based on my daily schedule (and discipline at waking up!) If I miss a day, I can always just read double the next day.
That’s all for now – I’ll repost my religion blogs from last year soon, and then tomorrow it’s time to start!
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