A Word to the Wise: Resolved to read the good book cover to cover

I am not a big fan of the New Year resolution. To me, any day of the year should be motivation enough to initiate any needed changes in my life. The imposed motivation of an artificially created calendar day lacks the power to do what my heart should have been doing all along.Having said that, let me tell you what I am doing this year that I haven't done for a long time — read the Bible through cover to cover. Call it a resolution or a big decision.Either way, it's a tall order. After all, you're talking some 1,400 pages and 31,000 chapters. Some of us have done it before, many times. But that was before and this is now.I usually read the old King James Version by force of habit. This time it's going to be The Message translation. Notice I said "translation." Those with knowledge of the distinction acknowledge that a "paraphrase" (like the Living Bible) remains within the same language. That is, you put an English version like the King James into other words of the English language. However, a "translation" goes from one language into a different one.Anyway, the start of a new year is as good a time as any to also start on the trek through the scriptures. Former president Woodrow Wilson said, "I am sorry for the men who do not read the Bible every day. I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and of the pleasure."Eighteenth century Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon said, "I usually find that the greatest doubters are those who do not read the Bible. Holy Scripture has within itself a mighty convincing power, and when you lie a-soak in it, it soon penetrates into your very souls."Those old-timers sure had a way with words, didn't they?In Bible school we learned this five-step plan — read the Bible, pray it in, put it down, work it out, pass it on. Join me in "resolving" to read it through.Tom Rupp can be reached at truppfolsom@yahoo.com or through his blog at thomaswrupp.blogspot.com.