Listening To The Bible
Recently I have come across a tool that has helped to revitalize my connection with the Bible. It is a dramatized recording of the New Testament by Max McLean, which I downloaded from the website in mp3 format. The clincher for me was when they offered a 20% discount on an already reasonable price, thus I was able to secure all 26 books for about $15. I have found this to be a great investment. Since a good book, or cd/dvd could easily cost more, I think such to be more than a fair price for anyone with interest in the Bible.
What I do is listen with a portable mp3 player during morning and evening walks with my two dogs. Also I have transferred these recordings to cd, and sometimes listen while driving. I have found it to be energizing how the scriptures seem to fit this format so well. I think I know why. The original writings were penned with the purpose of being read out loud to Christian assemblies. This became the primary method of sharing the Word for centuries, since there was no process of mass production and so few people were literate. Interestingly, the scarcity of the availability of scriptures became a tool of manipulation for the professional “church”. The laity was forced to depend upon the clergy for scriptural understanding. It is easy, knowing human nature, to see how the clergy and the church would abuse such power. Thank God for the invention of the printing press, which made the Bible readily available to all. The masses would no longer have to depend upon the clergy. I need not require a priest, or preacher, in order to have to scriptures presented to me.
I am uncomfortable when I hear a minister deign that he/she is “preaching the Word of God.” How dare this person elevate what he has to say to the level of inspiration of the scriptures. I do not need him in order to receive the Word of God.
Here is the link:
http://www.listenersbible.com/productlisting.html?m=M" title="http://www.listenersbible.com/productlisting.html?m=M" target="_blank"http://www.listenersbible.com...
Check it out; I think you will like it.
They offer a free download of Philippians, which is probably the best short epistle of the New Testament. Download it and give it a try.
02.27.06 (10:05 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
Lurit (
reply)
post date:
02.27.06 (9:09 pm)
I'd like to return the comment, but I don't have much to say about this post; I'm not of the faith.
I'll check back for a post I can comment about; I'd like to leave one relevant to what you say.
posted by:
mercuryrising (
reply)
post date:
02.27.06 (10:37 pm)
Thanks for the link :)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
02.28.06 (4:56 am)
Reply to: Lurit
I understand your dilemma. Sometimes I will come across a piece, and want to make a comment, but will find it to be so foreign to me that I really do not know what to say. Such is sometimes the case with music posts. And programming posts. I think it is part of the great genius of t-blog that it brings folks like outselves together. I have thought about offering a challenge. I will listen to a suggested piece of music in exchange for someone who will listen to a book of the New Testament. Maybe I would listen and comment on a cd of Industrial Music in exchange for someone who would listen to Philippians and comment. It would be fun and a learning experience.
Theres is much about the Bible that would be beneficial even to an unbeliever. Some great writings, like the love chapter of I Corinthians 13, or the tremendous ethical teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5-7. The Bible is so ingrained into our culture, that I still run across references every day, even in current music and magazines. I think a knowledege of the Chistian Bible would be quite helpful fo anyone who wants a well-rounded education.
We'll find a subject with which to connect along the way. Thanks.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
02.28.06 (4:59 am)
Reply to: mercuryrising
You are very welcome. What I like about these particular readings is how realistic and easy they are. This is not Charleton Heston with dramatic flair. It is a great reading of quality literature. And it becomes so convenient when taking a walk or driving my car.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
02.28.06 (5:08 am)
careful, once done with the Bible, you'll be addicted and other audio books will follow.
(I go through about three a week and have for years... goofy huh?)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
02.28.06 (5:38 am)
I've played around a little with audio books. There's some challenges to making their use a regular discipline. The cassette tape players are bulky, use up batteries pretty fast, and tend to break with heavy use. Some with the cd players. I think mp3 is the the superior format. But, our libraries do not, as far as i can tell, offer much if anything. The book downloads are available from several sources, but are cost prohibitive. I love using the library. It is one of the few uses of my tax dollars that I wholeheartedly support.
I do know there are some public domain audio-book download sites on the internet. they offer some classics.
But I'm impressed. 2-3 books per week? That is tremendous.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
02.28.06 (6:07 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
Luckily for me, each of the three places I've lived the past three years has had libraries with outstanding selections and they order from other libraries if there's something out there i want that they don't have. I usually use a little cassette player because the library books are still mostly on casstte though that is changing. So far the major companies have been slow to put stuff on MP3 format on CD's, at least for the libraries, but that's coming, I'm sure. I listen all day while I'm working (my job is kind of mindless once I'm actually doing it) and driving and walking... it's a wonderful thing for me, though I probably look nuts with earphones in all the time. If it's unabridged and not a romance novel, I'll listen to it. (two alkalines a week... not too bad - get a sony that takes one battery!)
posted by:
bacardibreezer (
reply)
post date:
02.28.06 (7:21 am)
congrats on finding that! hope you enjoy :)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
02.28.06 (9:42 am)
Thanks bcb.
posted by:
graceshaker (
reply)
post date:
02.28.06 (12:22 pm)
might be interesting. sounds like fun. Ü
posted by:
ScubaDiva (
reply)
post date:
03.01.06 (3:34 am)
Something like the bible could potentially be overdramatized to the point it was a comedy...
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
03.01.06 (7:24 am)
I am perhaps a bit misleading with the use of the word "dramatized". This does not use sound effects, dramatic music, or multiple readers. Max McLean is a professional with his reading skills. His talent is known as "oral interpretation". He has to capacity to read a piece of literature and portray quite clearly the intended message. It is a tremendous skill. Sometimes I hear the Bible read with such lifelessness that I wonder if the reader truly believes it is the Word of God. I'm far from good at oral interpretation myself. This guy, however, is a master.
posted by:
ruined (
reply)
post date:
03.01.06 (9:44 am)
Well, interesting. I'll have to check that out!
posted by:
sweetsue (
reply)
post date:
03.02.06 (7:53 am)
Oh Wow...Congrats Pastor Pop-Pop!!!! You must be sooo happy...Bless you all..What an awesome baby...so happy for your family...Good wishes to you all^-^
posted by:
FireGoddess (
reply)
post date:
04.22.06 (7:14 pm)
thanks for the comment,i think we could heip each other i could help u understand ur teens sayin as i am one an u can help me understand life
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
04.22.06 (7:36 pm)
Boy, I can use all the help I can get! I have three teenagers, and I usually get along just fine with everybody else's kids, but mine are a mystery. Wonderful and mysterious, difficult and fun- that's a teenager. Thanks!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
04.22.06 (7:36 pm)
Reply to: FireGoddess
Boy, I can use all the help I can get! I have three teenagers, and I usually get along just fine with everybody else's kids, but mine are a mystery. Wonderful and mysterious, difficult and fun- that's a teenager. Thanks!
