O.K., fair warning....
This is a bit of a rant!
And no...It's not because my bible reading plan has been going through Leviticus and Numbers....Very slowly! And no, it's not because of an issue I'm personally having with my journey in scripture. This is my struggle with the majority of the bibles on the market these days....
First a little back story!
I used to buy a lot of books. One of my favorite things to do was...Sit in bookstores, with a coffee in hand and stroll up and down the aisles. But since my walk with Jesus really took hold, my desire to read worldly books has disappeared. Now it's.....
Researching and buying bibles!
I spend hours a night, watching YouTube videos of the latest bible reviews, what publishing companies are developing and the newest releases of my favorite translations. It's become quite a hobby and I've ben on the search for the 'perfect reading bible' over the past month.
This is becoming...Quite the challenge.
Here's why.....
Can you see them...All?
Cross references!
Now you may look at that bible I took a photo of and say...What's the big deal, all the references are at the bottom. And that's fair, but for some reason I feel like I need a bible with....Nothing but text!
Sounds simple right?
Well not where I live lol. Remember, I enjoy the physical act of GOING to bookstores, so sure I can find a bible online that'll fit the bill...But in the city I live near, there is none to be found.
Heck, even my decade old 'well used' copy has references everywhere and I didn't even realize it until I started searching for a plain text bible...
These are just everywhere in scripture and for some people, they love the cross reference systems. Personally, I'm not a fan. I have my study bibles for that purpose, but just for a 'reader' I want scripture and nothing else...
Anywho....
I caved in and ended up ordered a copy of a 'only text' bible online late last night and it kind of pained me to do it. However, I've literally been to every book store in Northern Alberta, and you would be blown away at how hard it is to find a bible...With just the bible in it lol
That's my struggle...Very much self inflicted though :)