Customer Reviews

The Message Remix NT Dark Gray Lthr Lk: The New Testament in Contemporary Language

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3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This Christmas, I found myself searching for a new devotional for our son, who is nearly a teenager. He has a very good teen devotional (Thrive), but it's shorter than most and he was ready for something different and daily.

My searching led me to Solo: The Uncommon Devotional. The book is designed for both adults and students, and neither will feel out of place. It is by Eugene Patterson and uses his Message Bible. When we gave it to him on Christmas morning, it was quickly clear that this is the best devotional we have ever found.

My son started reading it immediately, and every day since, and loves it. What's more impressive though, is that my wife became intrigued, read a few pages, and is now reading it daily. Not wanting to be left out, I did the same and am now enjoying it more than I have enjoyed a devotional before (and more consistently, too).

The book covers an entire year and you can easily begin anywhere and at anytime. It begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation, but it's a subtle rhythm that you're only vaguely aware of. In other words, it doesn't feel like a one-year Bible.

Each day takes just 10-15 minutes, but what I particularly enjoy is that most of that time is spent interacting with the text; reflecting on it, praying, sometimes writing or reading it out loud. Like the Message itself, it's written conversationally and is just a pleasure to spend time with. Solo is exactly what all three of us have been looking for in a devotional, and was easily the best $10 we spent at Christmas. Whether for yourself or a student in your life, I (well, we, actually) highly recommend it.

At first glance you might think, "yippee - another edition of the Message bible with a new cover." And you'd be wrong. SOLO is about prayer. SOLO is about sacred space. SOLO is about finding those moments of the day to stop and enter God's word. This isn't a devotional to take to a quiet brook and sit down and read as you listen to lapping water. This isn't for your quiet time when you want to "wrap it all up" with some inspirational words of prose. As the cover says, this is an "uncommon devotional." I bought this in my attempts to get back into a serious prayer time. I wanted something I could use for Lectio Divina [divine reading] and this fit the bill for me in both a relevant and edgy way. Each day's scripture reads different from the day before - so you don't ever feel like you're in a boring routine. The book is artistically laid out and feels truly authentic to read. Out of all those dated and "dated" devotionals I have used in the past, this is the one I could see reading again next year.

I am privileged to have experienced this daily devotional based on The Message translation of The Bible written by Eugene Peterson. There are selected passages for all 365 days of the year and I'm a quarter of the way through it so far and it truly is the best daily devotional I've ever read and experienced.

First off, I've never actually read The Message translation although I love the contemporary language. I'm looking forward to reading all of the translations throughout this year and comparing them to my favorite NIV Bible verses. This book has given me both the opportunity to read a new modern translation AND experience the verses by doing a devotional. My pastor J.R. Briggs, along with Jan Johnson and Katie Peckham wrote the daily devotional content.

One of the studies I really enjoy is called Lectio Divina. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally pray from God's Word. Mostly this involves focusing on a certain word or phrase from the text and meditating and praying over that text.

I truly find this to be an uncommonly great devotional. I spend about 15-30 minutes per day delving into God's Word and experiencing what God has to say to me. I highly recommend this book.

God Bless!

I'm a 38 year old seminarian. While I strongly suggest the ESV translation for Bible study (which provides word for word Greek to English translation), it is nice to have a NT Bible that is a thought by thought translation in contemporary language. No, if you are a student of the New Testament, you should not base your theology on this book, since the translation is very loose, but if you A) already know the Bible well via the ESV, NIV, KJV or Greek OR B) want to understand the basic concepts in the Bible, then this is a great book to have. He understands the general thoughts of what the Bible is teaching and he explains it in today's language. It's a GREAT travel or bedtime Bible. Don't let the Bible snobs tell you different. While this shouldn't be your only Biblical text, it should be one of them.

The Message is a paraphrase by Pastor Eugene Peterson. He recommends that you keep (and use) your regular Bible translations and study Bibles ... but that you find the joy of reading through the Bible using the Message ... and what a joy it is! I am not sure why many of the reviews refer to "devotional" in their title and narrative, so just to be clear, The Message is a paraphrase version of the Bible. Mr. Peterson's goal was to put the Bible into the language of the commoners of today, just as the original Bible was written in the language of the commoners at that time (the King James Version has left us unfortunately thinking that the original Greek was written in a very formal and somewhat haughty manner when in fact it was not).

This product is the New Testament only. The leather cover and binding is very nice, the size is ideal (it's easy to hold and you just want to pick it up), the paper is white, the font is clear and readable (9pt), and the text reads like a sermon from a well-known, well-traveled, well-loved pastor of 1990. One of our sons actually calls The Message version of the Bible, "The Sermon" ... and that's just perfect :)

The "remix" version of the Message now includes chapter numbers, passage headings ("the story of the greedy farmer" for example), and verse number references in the margins (the original message did not include verse numbers so cross referencing to other bibles was more difficult). The words of Jesus are not in red letter and there is no ribbon for place keeping, but at $10 it's understandable.

Do you plan to read the Word of God regularly to fill your heart with its truths, challenges, and inspiration? Do you fall short of your plan?? Get this Bible and experience the blessing of The Message.

(And for a wonderful study bible to complement your Message ~ I recommend NIV Life Application® Study Bible (New International Version))

Bon Appetit!

I love this book! It's called me to examine scripture more closely in language I can easily understand.

this was given to me as a present for graduating high school. i think its a great first idea to give anyone, but not so much appreciated by those that are older and already into reading the bible regularly.

this bible is great if you've never really gotten into reading the bible much because you found it too boring.

This is a different type of devotional that I find very helpful in learning to listen for God during one's "quiet time". Most devotionals have a verse of Scripture and maybe an inspirational story which is fine but one can read through those and still not really have quieted their spirit and tried to hear what God might be saying to them through His Word.

I bought three of these for my sons ages 17, 19, and 21. They have also liked the format and it is the first thing that they have really stuck with and enjoyed.

I think Eugene Peterson offers just the right amount of comments to stimulate your thinking but not so much that it overpowers what God might be trying to say.

I would recommend this to anyone ages 15 and up.

I have tried to read through the bible many times and the translation always gets to me. But this version is amazing if you just want to get through all the books and stories. I understand things much clearer as if someone was explaining it to me. Thanks.

Its an awesome devotional. It a daily thing but once your comitted and start really getting into it its gets really good. it is really short so it doesnt take up much of your time (i like to have them a bit longer) but other then that I really enjoy it.