New American Standard

There are five main translation families that make up over 90 percent of all Bibles sold. The main translation families include:

1. The New International Version Family: New International Verion (NIV), Today's New International Version (TNIV), New International Reader's Version (NIrV), and La Bíblia Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI).

2. The King James Version Family: King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV).

3. The New Living Translation (NLT).

4. The New American Standard Bible (NASB).

5. Paraphrase Bibles such as The Message.


In addition to these five translation families, there are a number of other translations available.
Thanks to Zondervan publishers for this information. More information about individual translations can be found on their website www.zondervan.com

There are several reasons that I mostly use the New American Standard for daily use. (I have an interlinear Bible that I prefer, but it is enormous and not at all the most convenient book to haul around.)

The Book

This book is one of the single most influential books of my life. It looks like a textbook, perhaps because it is. Don't read it like a textbook. Read through it as if it were a novel, absorb every minute detail. Read and re-read passages that are beautiful. The high-res images of illuminated manuscripts are unbelievable. The way Christopher DeHamel sticks to facts is a welcome breath amidst a world of anger and hostility and defensiveness. This book was the start of a quest. This book sparked my interest in Biblical archeology and in the preservation of Biblical manuscripts. This book is a work of art in itself. Christopher DeHamel scholasticism is not haughty and self righteous but confident and assured.

Finished Flowers for Victoria

This book finally picked up the last few chapters. I guess I can understand why it received the award for best inspirational fiction of the year. It probably got this based more on the theme of the story and the outcome of the choices that the main character makes in the end. The writing is not one of the strong points and there was a mess of legal jargon and business lingo that made reading more tiresome. There are a couple of interesting twists and some reconciliation that takes place between mother and daughter.

The Four Seasons of Marriage

This book is by Gary Chapman, author of the Five Love Languages. It details the stages of a relationship in comparison to the four seasons. Spring when love is blossoming, Summer when the love is hot, Fall when the relationship is growing apart and Winter when love seems dormant. It demonstrates that relationships can be mended and growth can take place at any of these stages and helps us to realize that love happens in cycles.

We the Living

Capitalism, pride, selfishness and objectivism is what drew me to Ayn Rand's books. I've read almost all of her novels, short stories and play along with her non fiction too. I guess I'm an Ayn Rand junkie. I read her for the thrill of knowing this idealistic society is unattainable and quite possibly terrible. But I read on...
I hadn't yet read "We the Living" and started it as my lunch break book. It's based in Russia and so far it's slow moving. I've been interrupted several times while reading it and getting distracted so it's quite possible I'm just not that into it yet. Though I still have hope that this will be a good one and comparable to her other works.

White Coat

I finished White Coat and I must say it was worth the read. Anyone seeking information on the ins and outs of med school will find this read delightfully informative. It seemed to end abruptly and her last year of med school seemed to pass far more quickly than the other three years. There are times when the detail is a little much, or the story of a patient tears at your heart, but just keep reading; all ends well.