I don't own a Kindle...or a Sony reader...or any other electronic device for reading books. Kay and I just upgraded from our flip-phones to "smart phones" two months ago, and I'm continually amazed by what these things can do. However, I'm also discovering that they're smarter than I am at times, and that's something I find hard to tolerate.Our smart phones aren't iPhones, although several of our children have moved in that direction. One of them has downloaded the entire Bible onto his iPhone, and when we were in church a few Sundays ago, at the time that everyone else was flipping pages in their Bible to find the Scripture reference under discussion, David ran his finger along the screen of his phone and was reading the words while I was still trying to recall whether II Timothy came before or after Titus. (It's before, in case you're wondering). Neat, I thought. But then, while I was jotting notes in the margin of my text, I had to wonder how the people using these e-Bibles were handling it. Could they take notes? And how did it feel reading Scripture off a tiny screen?
I think my question was answered the next Sunday, when he showed up with a leather-bound volume under his arm. Soon, he was flipping pages with the rest of us. Score one for the old-fashioned printed word.
I use several utilities to access Bible passages and do research on my computer. I confess that I plan to download a Bible version to my smart phone. But I'll still be tucking my Bible under my arm on Sunday (although it's one of the more modern translations). What about you?
9 comments:
This post amuses me. My husband is all about the electronics. Neither of us have an iPhone or any electronic reading devices, but he'd definitely get one of he had the opportunity. I'm more old fashioned, particularly when it comes to my Bible. There are so many notes and highlighted verses in there that I would miss if I couldn't hold onto them. When I read them through months or years later, I get new insight and a quick but poignant memory of what I thought was important during that time--and it means a lot to me.
The whole reason I wanted an iPod was to have in the palm of my hand the NKJV that I use, the NIV that my church uses, and the entire Bible keyed to Strong's Hebrew/Greek concordance (along with definitions of every Hebrew/Greek word).
I still use my study Bible for personal study, and do find that writing notes on the pages and reading from paper nourishes my soul in a certain way. Nonetheless, the forty some translations and resources I rely upon on the computer are invaluable to my work and writing.
I pray the Lord allows me to never be forced to choose only one. I am incredibly blessed to be SO rich in His Word!
I still love the page-turning. I feel selfish, however, when I think of all that is available to us when there are millions around the world still awaiting the day they can hold a Bible in their own language in their hands. I pray the Lord will make me love His word more each day.
i've got the real deal and the digital deal (on my iphone). i take both to church. :)
richard, I wanted to let you know about my blog address change. *sigh* If you're following me, my posts now won't show up in your feed, dashboard, sidebar, whatever. So please forgive me, but you'll have to change the address for my main writing blog, Where Romance Meets Therapy, to http://jeanniecampbell.blogspot.com. To do this, you have to "unfollow" me and follow me again. Sorry for the confusion!
Jeannie
The Character Therapist
I wouldn't want to give up either my Bible or my electronic version (software on my laptop computer). Each is invaluable, but in different situations. If I had to choose just one, however, it would be the Bible. It doesn't freeze, delete verses, or go down in a power outage!
I have to take notes in my Bible margins so I could never do without the real thing in church! I do admit that the electronic readers are intriguing more than I imagined they would, but not for my Bible. That is definitely an interactive book for me!
I have an iPhone and have looked at the downloadable Bible options but so far haven't tried one. Anyone have a favorite Bible app?
I will probably always prefer the "real thing" to the electronic version, but when you're out and about without your favorite Bible, it sure would be nice to have the electronic option.
BTW, I also have Logos Bible Software on my Mac--great for doing searches and finding just the right passage.
I have an iPhone and have looked at the downloadable Bible options but so far haven't tried one. Anyone have a favorite Bible app?
I will probably always prefer the "real thing" to the electronic version, but when you're out and about without your favorite Bible, it sure would be nice to have the electronic option.
BTW, I also have Logos Bible Software on my Mac--great for doing searches and finding just the right passage.
i've got the real deal and the digital deal (on my iphone). i take both to church. :)
richard, I wanted to let you know about my blog address change. *sigh* If you're following me, my posts now won't show up in your feed, dashboard, sidebar, whatever. So please forgive me, but you'll have to change the address for my main writing blog, Where Romance Meets Therapy, to http://jeanniecampbell.blogspot.com. To do this, you have to "unfollow" me and follow me again. Sorry for the confusion!
Jeannie
The Character Therapist
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