When I was seven, I “won” a trip to Schlitterbahn because I memorized all the books in the Bible and could recite them to our small, West Texas congregation. There is nothing quite like trying to say “Habakkuk” while standing on a milk crate (and three hymnals) in order to see over my dad’s oak pulpit. It was quite the balancing act.
Next up were Bible Drills. It was time to put that knowledge to use.
Ready?
Draw swords!
Proverbs 3:4 – Go!
Our classroom of fifth and sixth graders would flip urgently through the pages of our Bibles, scouring to find the called out scripture. There was nothing holy about it. Elbows were thrown, feet were mashed, voices were raised, tampers were thrown…but, by golly, did I ever know my Bible.
Fueled by competition, I went home to study, over and over again, where the books were located in my Bible. Trying to remember themes and stories and memorize the frequented verses so even if I didn’t actually find them in the Bible, I could ramble them off like I had.
Again.
Nothing.
Holy.
About it.
Over the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to do several interviews for radio stations or by phone and I’ll think of a verse in the Bible I want to reference. I typically fumble around,
“Well, um, I think Paul said….”
(If it’s something in the New Testament, you’re pretty safe going with either Jesus or Paul).
“In the Old Testament, it says….”
(By narrowing it down to the Old or New Testaments, you have a 50/50 shot of getting it right).
I know these verses. I know a LOT of verses. I just have no clue where they are anymore.
I’ve realized the Bible I use most often for research is online. It’s so easy to search for a keyword or topic and be flooded with a variety of results. Which, when you’re researching something, is really quite efficient.
Gone are the days I am digging through cross references and skimming down chapters and chapters looking for a specific verse. And you know what? I kind of miss it.
There was something very life-giving that comes from sitting down with Scripture in its paper form. There’s something about scanning and reading through Scripture intentionally, yet never knowing what other treasure you may find along the way. Granted, it takes more time, effort, and patience, but I have to say in the end, it’s more than worth it – at least it seems to be for me.
What are your thoughts? Have you seen how your personal scripture reading habits or knowledge has changed with the use of technology? I know for many people it enhances the experience. I guess I’m just wondering if I’m crazy for wanting to go back in time.
Comments
68 responses to “The Computer Ate My Bible”
Yep. I used to remember when on the page the verse was and could find it fairly easily. Now I read on a phone or a kindle or a computer and there isn’t any visual clues to where someone is located, since the verse might be anywhere on the screen at any particular reading.
But I also think I mis-remember how much I actually knew about the bible. I was pretty good a bible drills and I remembering where something was when I was in bible classes in college or seminary.
Now I still read, but I am rarely looking for something to defend a position, I am usually reading for personal reasons. So I think it is as much a change in reasons as it is a change in technology.
And there is the benefit of a commentary, dictionary and complete search being on my digital devices that were not a part of my old “analog” bible.
Adam S?s last blog post..President Obama?s Speech to Notre Dame
I never knew the Bible super well as a kid, but I definitely appreciate the sentiment you’re expressing here, Anne. And that’s why these days I like reading The Books of the Bible, a Bible put out by International Bible Society. It has no chapters or verses, which, as we all know, is how the Bible was originally written (save the Psalms and Proverbs, which had chapter-like breakdowns). And all the notes from the TNIV translation are at the end of each book, not at the bottom of the page or in the margins. At the bottom of each page, thankfully, is the range of chapters and verses that page contains, so you can know, at least to an extent, where you are in the book. It’s a challenge to find the right verse, but like you say in this post, I like having to scan the page to find whatever verse I’m looking for. The benefit for me is that I end up understanding the verse in its fuller context.
All that to say, I’m with you.
I remember those days well! :) I have been feeling that ‘unknown’ feeling, lately, too, when I am not sure of a reference, and really don’t even remember most of what I ‘memorized’ at a young age, and so have been working on tackling scripture at a slow pace. I want to really think about, remember it, and meditate on it, so I’m not going ot feel bad about going as slow as I am. Glad to know I’m not the only one! :)
I do understand where you are coming from. I was a Bible drill kid and PK myself. But really, I have found so much in being able to say, “Ohhh…what’s that??” and instantly search a phrase in the original text or in 20 different translations of scripture. I just love it, and it’s the only way I STUDY anymore. But if I am just reading in bed, or reading over my children, I’m usually reading from my old tattered Bible.
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Seems like it’s best to read anything of significance in paper form anyways. Texture, smell, weight, you can’t replicate that on an electronic device.
Anne, I remember similar contests growing up! I too use online bibles (home PC, laptop, iPhone (app & browser). I do still try and use my printed version though…but the search capabilities of online/app are so incredible!
At our church this summer during our Sunday School time, we are reading through the bible in 90 days (http://www.biblein90days.com/). I am totally jazzed about this and my plan is to exclusively read from my printed version! We start this Sunday!
Dennis?s last blog post..From, Through, and To
I was always the best in my class at memorization and Bible drills, too (not a PK, but I’m a pastor now). I used to be able to remember the exact place on the page that the verse would be.
While I agree that computer-based Bibles (online or not) don’t have that familiarity, they give tremendous exegetical and study help far beyond what “study” Bibles could ever offer.
Another thing I miss is a common version that we all memorized and used. That’s not to say that I miss a particular Bible version, just that since I use so many different translations any more, memorizing has become almost non-existent for me. The passages that I *have* learned recently have come from a variety of Bibles, not just one.
Daniel Goepfrich?s last blog post..Vacation 2009: Days 2-3
first thought that came to mind (and i want to attribute to John Ortberg, but he may have been quoting someone; Dallas Willard, maybe? anyhoo…):
“God”s intent is not that we would get all the way (rote memorization) through Scripture, it is that Scripture would get all the way (changed heart and mind) through us.”
i am with you when it comes to sitting down with a printed Bible – the tactile factor, the smell, handwritten notes, the legacy of printed Bibles vs. electronic. i have not quickly warmed to the admittedly cool technology of Kindle for these reasons.
that said, there is no doubt that the efficiency and ease of on-line tools can dull the sharpness of my fluency with the whole canon of Scripture.
be well, friend!
Okay Anne I really feel like a dinosaur now. While all of my pastor friends went to online bibles, online commentaries, online everything, copying & pasting, I still like to pull out my Bible, my commentaries, my computer and write out my message in manuscript. I will Google occasionally if I want to research some item but I still enjoy the struggle that comes with “sweat equity.” I type out my message, print it out and then edit as I ready it for Sunday. The only thing that has changed over the years is I no longer write it out longhand and the process is streamlined. I like being a dinosaur. :)
bill (cycleguy)?s last blog post..Marketing the Church???
Just like you said, Anne, I used to have/make time to read my actual bible… the old one is held together by many pieces of packing and duct tape because I almost wore it out. My kids gave me a new ESV bible for Christmas and I love all of the notes and cross references that it contains… but it also came with access to the on-line version and now I don’t even know where that big, hard-bound copy is.
I need to get back to that place of quiet reading, studying and meditation on scripture… and away from the interface that makes it all too easy to pop over to all of the other tabs that distract me.
Thanks for the reminder.
Steve Murphy?s last blog post..Constant Location Scouting
I very much agree with you when you said:
“There was something very life-giving that comes from sitting down with Scripture in its paper form. There?s something about scanning and reading through Scripture intentionally, yet never knowing what other treasure you may find along the way.”
I have to have my real paper bible with me to read and study, yes I do use a computer version at time, but the real study happens when I open the paper one. I love digging through cross references and skimming through page looking for notes and highlighting that grab my attention.
Got to have my paper bible!
I know that I don’t memorize scripture as much as I used to, but that’s no fault of technology. It is more priority and accountability. When I was in grad school I had a good friend who challenged me to memorize scripture regularly and well I did more so then. Now I don’t have that accountability and I don’t memorize scripture. Interestingly I have some friends who have created a Facebook group for this purpose, but last I checked it was pretty quiet. What technology has afforded me is the opportunity to read scripture more often and to study it more deeply. Not sure if there is a biblical call to one or both of those. I mean the Bible is pretty clear about “hiding God’s Word in our hearts” its not as clear about depth of knowledge…maybe someone else can “dig up” a scripture on that as well.
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@Steve Murphy
Dang.
Nailed it.
“I need to get back to that place of quiet reading, studying and meditation on scripture? and away from the interface that makes it all too easy to pop over to all of the other tabs that distract me.”
I will shut up now. That’s exactly my distraction. Thank you.
for me, i likely study the Bible more as a result of having it so accessible and so easily. the whole book in front of me… has always been intimidating. i didn’t grow up IN the bible and doing all of the scripture memorization and bible drills. and all of that. in a lot of ways, i am still new to scripture and new to the bible… compared to a lot of people around me.
i can think of scripture and look it up by keyword, i then KNOW where it is. easy. and i don’t forget. and i love knowing where a scripture is… go to my real Bible and highlight it and note when and why i looked it up. i don’t think there’s anything wrong with getting a little help from technology.
so, different strokes for different folks, i suppose.
Crystal Renaud?s last blog post..My Autobiography
@crystal. nothing wrong with getting help. i have just been missing the paper and the unexpected surprises that come when searching for something that way.
I completely agree with Steve! Also, I must add that the sound of Bible pages turning brings me great joy! I too need to get away and set aside time to quiety hear from the Lord and His Word!
I think the other major issue is the availability of a ton of good translations. I am someone that thinks that it is good to read different translations and styles. I have enough Greek to know that I don’t know Greek and no Hebrew, so I have to rely on translations. So reading a number of translations helps to insure you are not out in left field on a particular verse. But it does make memory and retention hard.
Adam S?s last blog post..President Obama?s Speech to Notre Dame
I use to have an awful time with Bible memorization. To me having the computer software was a blessing. However a friend challenged me to put as much emphasis on reading and remembering the Word as I do baseball stats, history, etc.
Basically if I can remember the “important” things about my interests and hobbies I should be able to do the same with the Word of God.
My verse recall has grown. I can quote the Scripture now though I still need the assist to find the exact location.
Rick Apperson?s last blog post..It’s All (Church) Politics!
It’s interesting that you mention this, and not just because we relentlessly tease my friend C because she always cheated at Bible drill as a kid. I just finished graduate school, and my advisor was talking about just this issue a few weeks ago, only with regards to academic research (on a topic that has nothing to do with the Bible). She thinks there’s something very important about the learning process that requires actual engagement with the physical text in a way that’s virtually impossible to duplicate electronically. I’m inclined to agree. I definitely remember the articles I print out, underline, and take notes on better than I remember all the stuff I read online.
Maybe there’s something essential about the way our brains develop that requires us to engage in the ways we first did. I wonder if the same is true of the kids today who grew up entirely electronically. We know their brains are developing differently (eg, they have the ability to hold multiple conversations at once. If you’re over 25 or so, you didn’t develop that ability at a young age and won’t ever have it.)
Texas in Africa?s last blog post..this & that
I used to collect lots of versions of the Bible so that I could cross reference and get a rounded out picture and explore from different angles. That morphed into e-Sword, a computer program you can download for free (mostly) and I still have it and it’s a great tool with lots of extras. But I too felt kind of bogged down and I guess in a way kind of separate from an intimate Scriptural experience.
So, I found the version I like the best (chosen by accuracy/readability/amount of people working on it) and have one normal sized one in my office that I use exclusively for all my reading and preparing. I like how it has my notes in it and underlinings and I feel very comfortable using it. I think it has also helped me to become more familiar with Scripture and they’re easier to recall as I only read one version.
I also have a small, pocket-sized version of the same translation, which has it’s own set of underlinings and notes in it that I take to Bible studies with me. It’s interesting for it’s own reasons, but still helps re-emphasize the verses as it reads the same.
I feel like I was trying to do too much with Scripture before, trying to pull tons of resources. But I only need One Source, and since I simplified my many tools/versions I feel that I know the Word better and it feels more unified to me. Simple is good.
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You are not crazy for wanting to go back in time (I have friends that re-enact the civil war on the weekends for fun … why?) unless you think that sitting down with a non-electronic Bible looking things up is more ‘holy’ than using modern tech to do it.
For centuries, there was no paper Bible, only stories told about God and what he’s done. I assume when the Bible was first in written form, some folks missed the days of only storytelling.
Janet?s last blog post..Healing
I was just thinking about this the other day!!
I too could ramble off all of the books of the bible and find them super fast with a little help of nifty sayings to remember where they were (ie: General Electric Power Company).
My main go to resource now is biblegateway.com and I miss thumbing through my Bible. I’ve been trying to do it more often for the very reasons you said.
Glad I’m not the only one that feels this way!
Heidi?s last blog post..quotable
I know I read the Bible far more because of doing it online, and I was never a book person (I’d find a million reasons to get distracted from reading a book). Not just read, study.
But on the other hand, my wife is very much a book person, so I understand the dilemma. As Crystal said – different strokes for different folks. So do what works to keep you in the Word and not the world (especially if it’s the world masquerading as the Word…)
David?s last blog post..Let?s Talk About Love
Weird. This morning I started reading my “paper” Bible again for the first time this year for 2 reasons: 1) I realized that I want to leave my kids the treasure of a Bible that I’ve studied from and written in so that they can learn from my struggles and insights (ok, there are more struggles) and 2) I can’t remember what I read sometimes when I use youversion. Confession: I read on my phone and am always tempted to check email, read new stories, etc between chapters.
Josh?s last blog post..Where the shift begins
I heart irony:). my nephew T-rev just one an award for highest achievement in his class/grade, so for an “atta boy” we all pitched in and bought him his first “real” bible. the super heroes NtIV. it emphasizes good triumphs over evil and you don’t have to be the “best” but God wants us to always “try” our best:). its really a cool version for a seven year old boy and he (and his parents) LOVED it!
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I totally agree. I LOVE searching through the scriptures…feeling the pages between my fingers. I tend to do a combination of computer and Bible searching though. I am young and don’t have a lot of space for books where I live, so I love being able to have access to great resources online. My favorite is biblegateway. I do a search on there and then copy down the verses so that I can look them up in my Bible. That way, if something sticks out I can underline or write in the margins right then.
There’s just something about reading from The Book instead of my screen!
I have to be honest, I still reference my Bible like that. Once in awhile, if I am looking for a verse about a topic quickly, I will double check it on the computer, but I still use my Bible just as I was taught to. It’s always in my bag. I keep it with me all day long, everyday, and it’s so worn, it’s probably going to fall apart sooner than later. But that’s still my Bible. My lifeline. My strength.
It makes me feel better to have it with me. I love it.
I remember Bible Quizzing and memorizing almost all of Matthew in KJV. Today Quizzing seems antiquated. But reading it, on a paper page, is still essential.
Jim Kane?s last blog post..Character and Personality
I’m with you. I, too, a product of drawing my Sword thru too many bible drills to count. But I learned alot in those days, and I can still feel my way to Psalms and Proverbs with my thumbs. While I TOTALLY enjoy my YouVersion for Blackberry, there’s nothing like the feel of God’s Word in my lap and the sound of the pages turning in search of His truths.
Pam?s last blog post..Alright Already
I’m with Steve Murphy waaaay up there somewhere re:using online Bibles for personal study and meditation. I don’t have the self-discipline to ignore all the other yummy stuff on the computer. (Enter unhandy cycle: need personal time with God to get self-discipline…. need self-discipline to make it through a personal time with God…) I really have to get a physical Bible book in my hand to focus on it. I also have to have a physical journal; can’t do that on my laptop. But I totally use online versions for looking up verses for specific things while planning worship, etc.
kim?s last blog post..What I (Don?t) Know
Having the Bible always with me on my iPhone with the YouVersion app has changed the way I read the Bible.
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I’m with you. I use an online Bible for finding the references I need when writing devotions, but I do prefer to read a “real” Bible otherwise.
Kind of the same way I never made a wholehearted transition to only putting the verses of the day on Powerpoint for church services. We miss so much when we don’t see all the words around the 27 we’re ‘studying’ for the day.
If the Bible was the first book to come into print for the masses, I hope it will also be the last to fade into digital oblivion.
Mary Hampton
I’m completely with you. I personally believe that there is something deeply spiritual about the written word…something about pages turning and words on a page, rather than on the screen. My husband suggests otherwise, but I think technology can never truly eat up the old fashioned page.
I love the sound of the pages turning in my Bible- that thinner than tissue paper page. And writing in the margins, and underlining, circling…just something about the interaction between me and the page. *sigh* I’m going to go read now… :)
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Thanks for sharing this. I did the same thing as a kid growing up in a Southern Baptist Church. It was definitely a sport. Extreme Bible Drills. As I look back now, I’m thankful for it. I really did learn a lot.
I love the touch, sound and smell of my Bible, but the glow of the computer screen usually draws me in. I’ve let my memorization slip.
Maybe it’s time for Bible Drills again?
Aubrey (SimplyAubs)?s last blog post..Project: Today (Day 3)
Never been any good at memorizing verses. As a kid at church we were always given one verse to learn each week if we could repeat it back the following week we would get some sweet. I practiced all week but very rarely received the prize.
The computer especially You Version has revolutionised my personal devotions. Its been brilliant.
I have tried various software packages for studying but still seem to be drawn back to those lovely big books on my shelf. They seem to give me some comfort even though I have to put some things called glasses on my eyes to read the print now as my eyes seem to be having some problems. :-)
Billy Ritchie?s last blog post..Being & Doing in Community
Oh the memories! But I’m with you on this one, too. At this very moment I’m sitting here with BibleGateway open on the computer, my Application NIV Study Bible open on the table sitting on the Nelson’s New Illustrated Commentary. I use the online version to easily search for the reference and to compare several versions. Then I look it up to read the footnotes in the study bible and the commentary for further exploration. I’ve been thinking of expanding my Kindle 2 with some commentaries simply for the sake of portability and convenience. My computer bag is heavy enough as it is…
But thanks for the trip down memory lane – we called them Sword Drills way back when. Gave a whole new meaning to the paper cuts we got! :-)
Cindy?s last blog post..Hope…
I remember a song that we would sing to memorize the books of the Bible, and then the verse drills in Sunday school too. I still use the song in my head today sometimes :) I know they’re still doing drills etc because my nephews come home quoting like pros, and they are 6 and under.
I use my iPhone now, as well as various online versions for Bible reading and study. I too miss that paper and leather where I could make notes and leave sticky’s to mark pages and write more notes. And somehow my iPhone doesn’t have that same leathery book smell, miss that too. Bet that’s coming tho. Love/Hate technology.
Nothing beats having my Bible, Bible Dictionary, & Concordance available on my shelf at any moment that I want to pick them up and read them for Scripture, Cross Reference, etc.
Having my PC makes it easier to read scripture (I must admit) because I visit sites such as biblegateway.com and have a plethora of versions of the bible at my finger tips.
The only thing that bugs me, is trying to spell correctly things like: Habakkuk…lol I actually had to look that one up online just so I would post the correct spelling in this post. LOL
Anyway…It’s nice to have a lot of resources available, both online and off.
Shawn?s last blog post..Life?
Anne,
Loved the post. I like the electronic, but love the Indian paper Bible. I can imagine my grandsons explaining to their grandsons how “bramps” used to use something called a “Paper Bible” instead of the Bpod like everyone uses today. He even told me that years ago it was on scrolls.
Larry Wishard
I have the same problem. In college I made it my personal mission to know as much about the Bible as possible, verses, history, themes, the whole nine yards. It was fueled by feeling like non-Catholic Christians knew the Bible better than Catholics, and I was going to be the one to change it. I took every scripture class, read every book in the Bible & book about the Bible I could get my hands on. Now 3 years out of college I can say bits and pieces of verses but never where in the Bible they are. It’s frustrating!
I feel you, Anne. I use technology for sermon prep, and to help me study, but that’s it. I don’t read as deeply or meditate as much if I’m not underlining and highlighting and turning pages.
Lex?s last blog post..Finney Friday
I always feel weird busting out my iPhone to read the Bible in church. I wonder if people actually know that I am reading my Bible and not playing flightcontrol.
Question for you Anne, you talked a little about this in MCD, but the whole idea of having church kids play Bible Swords (I never got the opportunity, but I am sure that I would have literally used a sword to win) what kind of affect this has had on their attitude towards the Bible?
Not that it is bad for students to be learning where things are located in the Bible, but it seems like often times the Bible is reduced down to a competition (Bible Swords, Memorizing for Candy) or is used a text book from hell (Private School).
I have noticed that a lot of students start to look at the Bible in a different way when seeing it in this light and wonder what you have to say about this?
Kyle Reed?s last blog post..Best Decision You Haven?t Made
Sometimes in my blog I’ll allude to a passage rather than quote it, because the reference thing is rather intimidating to some people. Plus, I find I’m not being truly transparent with people when I’m saying, “As it says in Amos 4:2…” when in fact I used Bible Gateway online to find it.
However, let me throw a question back at ya, Anne. Even if you can’t pinpoint chapters and verses, don’t you feel that you know more now about the nature of God than you ever did back then? Don’t you feel you’ve got a better ‘big picture’ view of what the scriptures are saying? Isn’t it more important to know what whole books of the Bible are teaching than to get hung up on verse numbers that never existed in the first place?
Paul Wilkinson?s last blog post..Economics Without Consequences
Could not aggree more. Thats why I just laded you version to my black berry. I have been doing the daily reading it suggest, only I do it from my paper bible most days. I was feeling the same way as you.
3 weeks into it.
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@kyle – one thing i don’t regret (as “legalistic” and wrongly-motivated as it may have been) was the major emphasis the churches i attended as a child put on knowing scripture.
to flow into @paul’s question, as with anything, knowing/intellectual knowledge means nothing if the heart isn’t right.
i do feel that as i have lost touch with a passage’s origination, i personally do lose some of the meaning. what was the context and history surrounding it? who wrote it? when? why? to whom? how does it relate to other passages in the bible?
that’s just the way i personally learn though, and that’s why i’ve been missing it by doing most of my study online.
@Anne for my entire life, sword drills or not, I have not been able to memorize the book, chapter and verse of a scripture. Now I got John 3:16 down and Philippians 1:21, my favorite verse in the entire bible, plus a few others but for the most part I am goofed. I might be able to quote you a paragraph from the bible but I couldn’t tell you where to find it to save my life.
A friend of mine used to challenge me on this. I would quote the scripture and he would always shout out “What’s the address”.
Well Cliff, about the only address I know is http://crosswalk.com
Harold?s last blog post..The Difference Between hungry and HUNGRY
Yes! And the days when we actually took our Bibles to church instead of just reading the versus off the big screens at the front! I fought this trend until I had babies to hold and rock and nurse in church, and now I’m kind of thankful that they’re up there, but I miss the feel of my Bible in my hands, the familiarity of the pages and seeing the versus I’ve marked and notated.
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Ok, Miss Anne I have to ask. Where in West Texas were you “raised” being as I am in Angelo State Land. I was raised in church, but was not involved in church, so I do not remember the bible drills. I do understand what you mean about having a Bible in your hand. I have one or two at home along with the one that sits open on my desk at work. I use to go to garage sales with a friend, and I hated seeing Bibles being sold. I always buy, take home and hold on to until someone comes along that needs it. I also so use several online Bibles, but there is nothing like a book and a highlighter at the end of the day.
Thats funny. I didnt grow up in the church so i didnt grown up with Bible drills and all that stuff. I find my Bible reading habits interesting. I typically read on my phone. I use YouVersion to read daily but if i am wanting to study i use my paper Bible. It is a sweeter read and you can underline and makes notes in the sides….I love my paper Bible.
I feel like i get more out of my Bible reading experience when it is on paper. There is something about pulling out my Bible and reading the words printed on the page….i love it. But i like my phone Bible for convience….like waiting for a meeting to start, or when i want to do a particular search for a keyword. Then its good…but for me, when i want to study its paper all the way.
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@Sallye – all over, but actually spent a few years outside San Angelo in Veribest – on the way out to Miles/Wall/Paintrock :)
Your post brought to my mind this verse:
“You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name” (Psalm 61:5).
Well-used Bibles are a part of the heritage we can give to those we love. My Grandmother’s Bible is a treasure in our family. It is a tangible reminder of her faith in the Lord. I want my children to see my Bible and know that it is my most treasured possession. I was given a Bible for my 40th birthday and I am looking forward to the day when it looks rugged!
Sara Ross?s last blog post..His mouth-my mouth
I went to a private school until 7th grade… we memorized the bible, Luther’s small catechism (we’re lutheran) and many other things like that… apostle’s creed…
This was all before things like YouVersion and BibleGateway… our early attempt at finding the books of the bible was putting those tabs on all my bibles. In fact… I think my teacher made everyone in the class put tabs on their bible so we could find verses faster. I have something like 7 or 8 bibles now… all on a bookshelf in my office. But the one I use most frequently is YouVersion… I can’t copy/paste from the hard copy. :)
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I totally get this! I am in a love/hate relationship with online Bible tools. I so love how easy it is to find what I’m looking for, but I so know that there’s nothing the same as physically paging through my Bible (I also write and color in mine). I still do both. From Len Sweet (in “Soul Salsa”) I got the idea to dedicate my Bible to my godson Paul and so I am always writing notes to him in there and illustrating what I find. I am studying the Word and praying for Paul almost everyday.
Sue Steege?s last blog post..Has Anyone Seen Sue Brese?
Is God’s world really small or what? Back in the late 70’s (probably before you were born), my oldest daughter’s dad worked at “the plant” in Veribest. Did a lot of camping and fishing at the little park on the river (that is now closed). I can see you nodding your head and that slight memory smile on your face from here.
I do have to ask, that with modern technolgy, have we gotten lazy when it comes to our Bibles? It’s so much easier to just point and click, or listen to someone read it to us then it is to pick up a Bible and hunt for ourselves. Pastor’s now put the scripture up on the big screen, so we don’t have to look it up. Are we letting go of our personal love letter? I think we get so hung up in “researching” that we forget to just “search”.
Sallye
@sallye that is crazy. was it the ammonia plant or the animal processing one? i went to school and my best friend’s dad worked at the ammonia plant. (i was born in 80, we were there from 88-92/93) and would go fishing in that same spot. crazy!
The processing one. It does sound crazy, but it’s really not. It’s a gift to me. To know that some one knows exactly where and what I am talking about when I San Angelo. Or talk about the fall festivals and mention the sausage out at Wall, Olfen or Rowena. The Lowake Steakhouse is still there. She is not aging well, but still can’t beat the steakes or onion rings. I bet you are one of the few people running around that if I say six man football, you would know what was being discussed and even how it’s played.
Have a question for you. When you give up you iphone, are you going to go to a new carrier or just switch phones? Also you can bargin you carrier down on your rate. Just tell them what another company is offering, and that if they can match or beat it you will stay with them. If you are going to go to a new carrier, you can take your phone number with you. Just tell the new carrier that you want to port your number. If you use email through AT&T, the new carrier may or may not buy your existing email account.
I’ve never gotten into the Bible on-line thing except once or twice when I didn’t have a concordance handy. I love being able to see other verses along the way. There’s just something better about having the whole thing right there in your hands to see. It’s also not the same seeing verses on the big screen at church. Something about having them right there at your finger tips.
@sallye – so funny. all so familiar.
fortunately my hubs is a manager of a sprint store, so i get as hooked up as one can legally and morally be :)
Hi again. I commented much earlier, but I just thought of something about online Bibles. If you have enough high school French or Spanish you can get some insights from some of the Bibles in other languages.
When I was preparing for something a few weeks ago, I was looking at the verse in I Samuel that says, “…man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart;” and in the French bible it was something like “Man looks at what strikes the eyes, but God looks at the heart.” So I used it that way. Many times I find the French bibles have unique ways of rendering familiar things.
[BTW, don’t let the “last blog post” title (below) scare you; it’s just a teaser title.]
Paul Wilkinson?s last blog post..Why I Recently Walked Away From Christianity
Awesome post Anne!
There’s a verse I’ve been looking for and I know roughly where the page is and exactly where it is on the page in my bible but I don’t have a clue of the verse reference.
I can’t find it in my electronic bible on my phone though because it doesn’t lay things out the same way as the paper version….
Now, if I could only find my bible…
Peter P?s last blog post..Sunday Thoughts – 7th June 2009
I used to love Bible drills when I was a child! It was so satisfying to learn the books of the Bible, memorize verses, and stuff. Man, I miss that too!
But, I quit using my computer for my Bible awhile back. I realized that I wasn’t studying it like I should and only using it to look up stuff … fast. I want to wear out my Bible, not click it … so I switched back to my Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible (my favorite) and I haven’t looked back. :)
Angel?s last blog post..It’s My Birthday
Yes. But I think I still live there too. Unless I am emailing or referencing something for my blog, I still cross reference in the Bible. I only use Bible Gateway or others for like I said email or blog purposes. I am no good at it otherwise. I think you do find God in the time spent and if you allow the computer to do it for you even if you are “saving time” you are missing out. I know that might be an old school way of thinking…but whatever. I still wear high tops. Seriously.
kristiapplesauce?s last blog post..Adorned with Humility
I didn’t grow up in a church setting at all, so when I starting following Christ 4 years ago, I was completely lost when it came to all matters Bible related, (what’s the difference between the old and the new testament?). Since that time, I’ve noticed that in reading through scripture on paper, it sticks so much more than a quick verse lookup online. Online is great for ease of use and a quick lookup, but I’ve noticed that I absorb more when I sit down and read it off of the page instead of the laptop screen.
Dustin?s last blog post..Epic Rest
I use both. When I going through an online bible study (which I love – the interaction with people from such diverse backgrounds is great!) I find that it is easier to sit here with biblegateway or esword open in 1 window, the bible study open in another, the forum for the study and my blog in other windows. I love the ability to cross reference between versions at the click of a button – I get so much more out of each verse when I can read it in 6 different translations.
That being said, for my personal time, I pull out the bible and read (and read and read). There is something about a tangible bible that you can feel and smell and hear that adds to the experience of studying God’s word.
Since I don’t have an iPhone, my paper bible goes with me everywhere. I have one in my car that is always in there for times when I am sitting and waiting for the girls @ school or in stopped traffic (yes, it does often stop long enough to get in quite a bit, unfortunately!)
One thing I plan to start this week? Downloading the bible onto my iPod so I can hear God’s word while I take my walk.
The beautiful side of technology is that it has made God’s Word available to us in so many different formats – and if we use them wisely, they can enhance the experience.
Jennifer?s last blog post..Sunday Setlist 6-7-09
Anne, great post. The timing is pretty cool for me because I just recently finished the book “Flickering Pixels” by Shane Hipps. The subtitle of the book is “How Technology Shapes Our Faith.” I won’t go into a big book review here (I’ll leave that for my blog), but I wanted to share a couple of things.
In the opening chapter Hipps shares a story from Socrates where an inventor introduces writing to the king and tells him how it is “a sure receipt for memory and wisdom.” The king’s response is that, instead, “[t]hose who acquire it will cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful.”
How much more has the even more readily accessible internet affected both sides of this equation.
Later in the book, Hipps discusses the “Disappearing Bible.” What he means is that large portions of the Bible are weighty left-brained issues that often require study and concentration on linear progression through the text. Electronic mediums, especially the internet, cater to the right brain more. This new right brain shift can cause a shift in how we understand or even remember the Bible.
All that being said, I love YouVersion and BibleGateway for light study and “fact finding” stuff for teaching. But for my “it’s me and God” time where I’m more concerned with understanding and relating with my Father, I need something in my hands and not on a screen. I need something to draw my focus to what I am doing; not something that can distract me away.
Thanks for opening up the discussion…
Bubba?s last blog post..Book Review: Crazy Love
Just read the following blog post, which made me think of this post of yours. Thought you might appreciate it.
http://www.challies.com/archives/christian-living/your-ipod-in-church.php
Lisa?s last blog post..Take the glory
I truly appreciate this forum.Really thank you! Cool.