Sunday Salon #36 and more...

Bible reading

NIV 84 (Thompson Chain Reference)

Deuteronomy 14-34; Joshua; Judges; 

Psalms 138-150

Isaiah 45-66; Jeremiah 1-15

John 6-21

Hebrews; James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter

KJV (Center Column Reference)

Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua 1-7

Psalms 9-41

NASB 95 (Large Print Pew Bible)

Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum

Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Matthew, Mark, Luke

LSB (Giant Print Reference)

2 Kings; Job; Proverbs 1-15

CSB Baker Illustrated Study Bible

Numbers, Deuteronomy

Joshua, Judges, 

Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel 1-12

   

• View comments • Track comments •

Shepherds for Sale. Megan Basham. 2024. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [Christian nonfiction] [4 stars]

First sentence from the introduction: When a group of friends from church invited Bailey Anderson to put on a pink knitted hat and join them at the 2017 Women's March, she assumed her confusion was a matter of geography.

Shepherds for Sale is a controversial new nonfiction book alleging a lot of missteps within the church leadership or community--namely the convenient-not-so-convenient label evangelical church. The allegations are serious leaning more towards being shocking, alarming, disheartening, discouraging, frustrating. The book without a doubt jumps right into politics, society, and culture, aka THE WORLDLY WORLD-WORLD. Each chapter has a subject. The overall theme of the entire book may be that the church is TOO influenced--literally, figuratively--by the world. But each chapter has a relatively narrow focus. Some leaders may feature into multiple chapters, but that is not always the case.

Chapter one focuses on the issue of climate change. Chapter two focuses on illegal immigration. Chapter three focuses on the pro-life movement. Chapter four focuses on so-called Christian media. Chapter five focuses on Covid-19. Chapter six focuses on critical race theory. Chapter seven focuses on the me too movement. Chapter eight focuses on the LGBTQ community.

These eight subjects typically cause strong, emotional reactions. Christians' opinions might be on a wide, broad spectrum on at least some of these issues. 

The book alleges that there are certain churches, certain denominations, that are ultimately compromised, sell-outs, that are intentionally or perhaps unintentionally trying to brainwash their members to align more closely with the world. In a few cases, she has discovered a money trail. Instances where leftist, liberal, and/or atheist organizations have paid huge sums of money to certain church denominations. But money doesn't have to exchange hands. There isn't always a money trail. (Obviously). There are many instances where it's more about wanting to please everyone, wanting to keep the peace, not wanting to offend,  or perhaps more NOT wanting to get canceled. Though the book title may imply that it is about money--selling out literally for money--I think more often than not the examples are more subtle. 

So I mentioned the book was controversial. It isn't the topics being covered so much that makes it controversial. Nor is it necessarily her positions on the topics covered that make it so. It is her naming-names and giving examples in each chapter. At least one person--perhaps others have as well--as come forward and said that the quotes attributed are absolutely not correct. That is, Basham is arguing a position that is on a foundation--in particular instances, circumstances--of inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information. Does one instance of shaky reporting mean the whole book is inaccurate or exaggerated???? I would venture forth no. But it does call for more critical thinking as you read it.

My thought is that even if only half of what she reports, alleges, argues is founded in truth, there is reason for concern. My other thought is that each chapter should be judged--evaluated--on its own. The subject matter varies greatly. Depending on the subject, you may already be familiar with some of the concerns, know the positions and people involved. 

   

• View comments • Track comments •

This is the semi-random-not-random order I read the NASB 1977 in back in the summer of 2024.

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Song of Solomon

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezekiel

Daniel

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Job

Ecclesiastes

Proverbs

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Isaiah

Psalms

Matthew

James

Mark

1 Peter

2 Peter

Luke

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

John

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation 

   

• View comments • Track comments •

NIV 84 (Thompson Chain Reference)

KJV (Center Column Reference)

NASB 95

LSB

CSB Baker Illustrated Study Bible

   

• View comments • Track comments •

Psalms in 30 Days: A Prayer Guide through the Psalter. Trevin K. Wax. 2020. 353 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars] 

First sentence: For generations, Christians have prayed and sung the psalms. It was the prayer book of Jesus. It is the Old Testament book most often quoted in the New. The songs found in this book form the bedrock of both corporate worship and individual devotion.

Psalms in 30 Days is a PSALTER using the Christian Standard Bible as its basis. This one is not the Book of Common Prayer. But it is similarly inspired. It is too similar to be a coincidence in my opinion. That is neither good nor bad. It is also somewhat similar to BE THOU MY VISION and its follow up books. 

Readers get a liturgical prayer book to follow for morning, noon, and evening for thirty days. This takes the Book of Common Prayer one step further. Since most Books of Common Prayer only have morning and evening liturgies. The 1979 has a midday prayer liturgy, however, the psalms remain the same for each day of the month. 

This one does not stick exclusively to the Book of Common Prayer's confessions and canticles, if you will. It does expand beyond that for quotes and songs. 

Morning prayers include 

Call to prayer

Confession of faith

Canticle

Psalms

Gloria

The Lord's Prayer

Intercessions and personal requests

Prayer of the church (quotes)

Blessing

Midday prayers include

Call to prayer

Psalms

Gloria

Lord's Prayer

Blessing

Evening prayers include

Call to prayer

Confession of sin

Canticle

Psalms

Gloria

Lord's Prayer

Intercession and personal requests

Prayer of the church

Blessing

I followed the Book of Common Prayer for about two years. I've read through Be Thou My Vision two or three times. I've done this book once. I will say that while I do appreciate the liturgy and devotional practice it encourages, I am not that big a fan of the CSB. I think if this book utilized a translation of the Bible that I appreciated more, I would in turn like this book more. That being said, I have nothing against the CSB in general or people who use it as their primary translation. I do think that this book could be a great fit for others. 

   

• View comments • Track comments •