Don’t laugh that I am reviewing a “mom” Bible! I was interested in the additional material and notes that would be included plus I don’t have a New Century Version Bible and was interested in the translation.

In general, a Bible is a Bible. And this one was no different. I didn’t particularly like the New Century Version (NCV) translation but I did not feel like it was a “bad” or untrue translation. To me, if felt over-simplified. The NCV has been described in the following way  “a completely new translation published by the American Bible Society in 1995. Originally intended as a children’s translation, it uses a very simple, contemporary style. It is independent of traditional translations and freer of “biblical” terms. This is an especially good translation for people who speak English as a second language.”

A few other comments on the translation itself:

• Rhetorical Questions: The NCV states rhetorical questions more directly and according to their implied answer. For example, “What god is so great as our God.” is translated “No god is as great as our God.”
• Figures of Speech: These are translated according to their meanings as opposed to the original words.
  
• Obscure Items: These are clarified in the NCV. For example “high places” is translated “places where gods were worshiped.”
  

The “Mom” Bible includes several special features:

• Each book is introduced to help you understand the historical, emotional, and spiritual context of the book using modern day analogies and situations.
• “Walking In” feature takes a look at our daily attitudes.
• “Passing It On” feature challenges us to focus on what really matters and what legacy we are leaving for our children.
• “Moms in the Bible” feature profiles moms and what we can learn from their lives.
• “Insights” provide short snipets of thoughts related to a specific Bible verse/verses.
• Other features include: Our God Is, Godly Character, Wonderful Counselor, and Questions Kids Ask

I did enjoy the “extra” material in this version. It is like a built in devotional book just for moms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What does it mean to love your enemies? Who are our enemies? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? Who are our neighbors? Could our enemies and neighbors be the same?

Two of the greatest commands in the Bible are “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In Luke 10 Jesus was asked by an expert in the law “Who is my neighbor?” And Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Samaritans were HATED by Jews – they would cross the Jordan River when traveling rather than go through a Samaritan town. That the Samaritan would be the “neighbor” in the parable was disgusting to the Jew – so much so that when Jesus asks “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” in Luke 10:36 the Jewish man cannot even utter the word Samaritan but responds “The one who had mercy on him.”

How do we live out these commandments? Do we? Do others? This was the question that sent Ted Dekker & Carl Medearis across the world and deep into “enemy” territory. Their goal was not to engage in political discussions but to find out if people really believe and live by the command to love your enemies. They also seek to show the one thing we all have in common: humanity.

I did not have any expectations of this book. I had not looked too deeply into the purpose of its writing but Dekker is my favorite fiction author and another of his non- fiction books The Slumber of Christianity is one of my top-ranked books of all time, so of course I was going to read it.

The book takes you on a fascinating adventure through the Middle East where Dekker & Medearis meet with the top Islamic thinkers, military, freedom fighters and activists in the world. They meet with a top university administrator, a freedom fighter, a peace activisit, Hezbollah and Hamas – each meeting is laid out in transcript form so that the reader can form their own conclusions.

The book is fascinating and well written. The narrative of their Middle East journey is complimented by easy to understand history of the region and a modern-day parable to drive the point home. The overarching theme of the book is our humanity – we are all humans with families, joys, sorrow and obstacles.

So, how do we love our enemies? We can start by trying to understand them as our neighbors.

I have read a couple of books by Francine Rivers (Atonement Child and maybe 1 other) and thoroughly enjoyed them but generally I tend to “shun” her books. I don’t know if this is true but in my mind her books were too “old-timey” or were about pioneer women and that did not really interest me.

But, my Mimi LOVES Francine Rivers – she may have read all of her books. We were at her house visiting and she had just finished The Scarlet Thread and asked if I wanted to borrow it. I said, “No.” Then I changed my mind and decided to borrow it – I didn’t have to finish it if I didn’t like it did I?!?! Well, I did fnish it and it was a great read.

The story follows “two women centuries apart, joined through a tattered journal as they content with God, husbands – even themselves- until they fall into the arms of the One who loves them unconditionally.”

Sierra Madrid is the modern woman who had it all – until her husband takes a job in southern California and turns her life inside out. And Mary Kathryn McMurray is a pioneer woman trying to survive the Oregon Trail. Their life circumstances are similar yet are worlds apart as they try to depend on their own strength to get through hard times yet fail until they find God’s grace and love.

The one theme that really stuck out to me from this novel was that when we are feeling sorry for ourselves, or playing the part of the victim, we fail to see how we have (or are) contributing to the problem. It was a good reminder to take a step back and look at the big picture from an objective place every once in a while.

The Scarlet Thread is a great story about love, family, forgiveness and restoration.