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A Moral Guidepost in Modern Times
Like any good Christian, I recognize that I am not perfect. Still, it’s important for a man or woman of faith to strive hard to live life the way Jesus taught us to do. At times when my faith is tested and I’m led into the temptation of sin, I like to be able to fall back on a cornerstone of strength called the New Jerusalem bible. Its wording is plain and straightforward, and the parables within are easily relatable to my own life experiences.
This Catholic translation was first published in 1985. Since then, many Catholics from around the globe have sought it out time and again as a moral and religious guidepost in these confusing modern times. By now my copy has become well worn with use, and I’m planning to go online to purchase a replacement very soon. With any luck, I’ll get just as much spiritual advice from it as I have the old one.
The Inspirational Story of David and Goliath
My son’s religious education began early, and over the years I’ve purchased various bible translations for him to study. The first few were little more than glorified picture books. In time, his knowledge base and reading skills matured enough to allow him to graduate to the actual translations of the bible. His favorite bible story comes from 1 Samuel, chapter 17. It should be immediately familiar even to those who don’t study the Old Testament.
The story of David and Goliath is a rather violent one, but like many Old Testament parables it teaches a solid moral lesson. My son grew up enjoying the story so much in part because of his own diminutive size, which he used to view as a detriment. Now it’s clear to him that if David could go from being a nobody to the king of the Israelites, he could also grow up to do great things. Most recently I bought him an NIV audio bible so that he could enjoy the story even in the car.
Audio Bibles Available for Christmas
I live in the Los Angeles area. Commuting on the freeways took over 2 hours each work day. Do you think that a knowledge of the Bible is only possible if you sit down and read it? I can’t say that studying the Bible should be done while driving on the freeway, but you can certainly prepare for serious study or learn more about what is in the Bible by listening to an audio Bible while driving. And it makes the drive a lot more enjoyable. CDs are available from many sources.
Listening to James Earl Jones or Johnny Cash reading the Bible, or to a dramatic presentation of the complete Bible by 400 well known performers, complete with music is certainly an inspiring experience and a way to spend some time relaxing at home as well as on the road. Audio Bibles are available for purchase online. The audio Bible is available in the New International Version (NIV) and many other versions. If anyone likes an English accent, there is an audio English Standard Version Bible (ESV) available on CDs in MP3 format
Finding Comfort Away from Home
Have you ever been away from home on a business trip? I have. I would eat my meals alone at fast food joints or bring something back to the motel. I was busy during the day, but I missed the time I used to spend with my wife and daughter. Talking to them on the phone helped somewhat, but it wasn’t enough.
Just when I was hitting a new emotional low, I was surfing the Internet and found some Bible audio books. It turned out to be exactly what I was missing – a reassuring presence for the long, lonely nights. My faith was restored and I was given some comfort that I was doing the best thing to help my family. Not only that, but it helped me brush up on Bible stories I hadn’t thought about in ages. The Gideon Bible found in many hotel and motel rooms just can’t compare with an audio Bible.
Is the Bible Still Relevant Today?
It’s not uncommon to hear skeptics on TV and in movies questioning whether the Bible still has meaning all these centuries after it was written. Doesn’t a book need to be timely and “up-to-date” in order to be relatable to a wide audience? In an era when 24-hour news cycles and rapidly updated blogs are the norm, it might be tempting to think so. On the other hand, I like to think of the Bible as the greatest work of literature ever.
Whether or not you believe its words to the letter, there’s no denying the quality of the parables and lessons that can be found within a modern King James Bible. Even though the stories describe an unfamiliar place and time – at least to us as modern Western readers – the conflicts and actions of the characters are instantly recognizable. If you think such an ancient book has nothing to offer you in the 21st century, you’ve got a lot to learn.