different Bible translations

As I was writing the post just before this one (that I posted just a few minutes ago) I started thinking about the different Bible translations we have available to us in our world. Sometimes when I'm in the Christian bookstore I'm surprised when I look at the number of different translations of Scripture we have available for us to purchase. There are a lot of them.

For many of us we're most familiar with the NIV. It's the one we use most often in churches and Bible studies because it is easier than some of the others to read and understand. But, if you're like me and have grown up in church, there is a danger that comes with the familiarity of the NIV . . . you know what's coming next so you stop really reading it. You begin to just skim over many passages because you figure you know what it is going to say.

I've been there. And that's one of the reasons I started reading other translations. I may know generally what is coming next but because the language used to say that same thing is slightly different I find myself slowing down and actually reading the words on the page. I don't always know what the next word will be, so I have to read it. And it's good for me, it makes me pay attention to what I'm reading and to what God wants to say to me through what I'm reading. For more specific study I still use the NIV, but when I'm reading to hear from God I find that other translations can be helpful in slowing me down enough and making me pay enough attention that I actually listen.

The other translations available in the Christian bookstore shelves or various places online can be very helpful in our growth as followers of Christ. In the English language, we can be thankful that we have so many options.

a verse we usually reserve just for Christmas

The other day I was reading the prophet Isaiah. Rather than reading it out of the familiar NIV, I was reading it in the Message paraphrase. One of the verses just jumped off the page at me and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. Isaiah 9:6 is a verse that we often hear only at Christmas.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (NIV)

This verse is familiar enough that I hardly think twice about it when I read it in the NIV, but when I read it in The Message something stayed with me.

"For a child has been born—for us! The gift of a son—for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness."

It was the names that Jesus will be called that have stuck with me since I read it. They just seemed to really make me think again about Who Jesus is . . . Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. I have definitely been reminded of Who my Jesus is and why He alone is worthy of my worship and praise.

Amazing Counselor . . . There is no counsel that we could receive from a friend, a family member, or a professional counselor that compares to Jesus words in our lives. He gives the greatest insight and wisdom into decisions I'm making and into how to deal with things that have happened in my life. We could ask for ne better Counselor.

Strong God . . . nothing is stronger than God! Nothing is impossible for Him! Nothing is too big for Him! My God is stronger than it all.

Eternal Father . . . No matter the situation we never face it alone. Our Father is there with us protecting us, comforting us, encouraging us, strengthening us. No matter what, I never have to doubt that I am alone or that God has left me. He is eternally there!

Prince of Wholeness . . . Jesus came to make us whole. He wants to take the broken pieces that we are and put them together into wholeness. We are His masterpiece that He desires to bring wholeness to! I can trust Him with my broken pieces.

dreams

What would you do for the rest of your life if money was no object?

That's a question I have been asked a few times in my life, mostly in "get-to-know-you" type situations with a group of people. It's a bit of an overwhelming question and more difficult to answer than it seem at first glance. Or to take the question in a bit of a different direction and, at least in some way, make it more difficult to answer:

How would you serve God for the rest of your life if you didn't have to work and you didn't have to worry about money?

I can't remember where I was first asked that one, but it was definitely more difficult than the first one for me to answer. In fact, I'm not even sure what my answer was or if I answered it.

I've been thinking about these two questions recently. Really, what they are is invitations to dream - to think big about what you would want to do with life. And to think big about how you would most love to serve God. And, I think that's a good thing. Much of mission work, both overseas and in our own backyards, in the church today came because people were willing to dream and think big about how they could serve God.

I've been wondering lately if sometimes we - the church in North America - have become so comfortable in our lives that we don't dream God-sized dreams anymore. And those that do dream those dreams are looked on as strange or out of touch. But, I also wonder if dreaming God-sized dreams again is what would shake us out of our complacency and get us back out in the world making a difference.

So, what about you: How would you serve God for the rest of your life if you didn't have to work and you didn't have to worry about money?

Now, think about how you could begin to do even a small part of that now - in your current life situation?