Bible History Through the Stages

 I remember the day, when I was about six years old, our neighbours had a huge bonfire in their backyard. Tree limbs, branches, old household items, pieces of furniture, old toys...going up in flames. Then I spotted it. A coverless Bible tossed onto the pile. My eyes widened as I watched the yellow flames envelope the pages and turn them to curly ashes. I was stunned. I remember an overwhelming feeling that I had just observed a horrid event. I don't remember anyone ever telling me that throwing Bibles away is wrong, but somehow my young mind felt very strongly that I had just witnessed something tragic. I felt sad and afraid at the same time. 

I think that's why, to this day, I have a really hard time letting go of Bibles. It just seems wrong to throw them out, even if they are missing pages or the cover is torn, or I'm onto a new translation. I am emotionally attached to all of them.  Hence, a variety of Bibles sit on our bookshelf downstairs, all with a history of their own.

I have an old KJV black leatherbound Bible downstairs on the bookshelf,and whenever I pick it up and hold it, my young teenage years come flooding  back to me. It was the Bible I used when we attended a holy roller Pentecostal Jesus People church in the 70's. I took so many notes, and underlined verses here and there and everywhere. I was totally into it. Even the FONT in that Bible is special to me. And the smell and feel of the pages. Oh, and I still have the old faux leather puffy Bible cover to go with it.

I remember when my dad brought us  teen kids all home a copy of the newfangled  NT "Good News for Modern Man". I absolutely LOVED the simple continuous line drawing sketches in that Bible. I would study them for hours. They added a lot of meaning to the Bible passages.

I happen to use the NIV Study Bible. My mom gave this Bible to me probably 20 years ago for my birthday, and as much as I love it, it is honkin' big, and not one I care to take along with me anywhere. But I am emotionally attached to it, so I'll never let it go. Even though I sometimes disagree with the study notes at the bottom of the pages. ;)

There's a row of Wee College Bibles and Early Reader Bibles down there, too. I'm keeping those to pass on to my children for their children, and so on and so on..

I would like to own a  Life Application Bible. Or a Parallel Translation one. Or the New King James. Oh, and the New Living Translation. Of course all of these are accessible online if I so desire.But that's not quite the same.

Actually, what I REALLY want now is a hand held  electronic Bible device.  I think it would be great to have a Bible the size of a cell phone in my purse. Then I won't feel guilty when the pastor says 'please turn in your Bibles to such-and-such'  (because I don't take  my GIGANTIC one with me to church). I will promptly pull out my little electronic Bible, turn it on, choose a translation and font size, and scroll down to the said chapter. Would that not be awesome?

I don't think it will ever take the place of a REAL paper-based Bible, though. I've got a soft spot in my heart for that.