Something for you furious note-takers out there to take a note about:
Has anyone else been there—you’re listening to a sermon and the pastor casually mentions something that makes the entirety of the passage click? You need to write this down. This nugget of prophetic excellence has to be remembered each and every time you open to page 764.
But you don’t have space in the margin to do it justice. There’s never enough space in the margin.
So, you’re forced to squeeze this epic spiritual insight perpendicular to the text. Maybe with messy arrows and cramped lines, and five years later that inspired knowledge is a blob of illegible ink.
Apparently, I’m not alone in thinking that being able to fuse my journal and bible would be extremely advantageous.
The concept is relatively simple. Remove the spine from your bible and add in some blank pages (there’s a great liberal or fundamentalist joke in there that I refuse to make). After rebinding you have a bible with plenty of space for notetaking.
Anyone else hack one of these together? Or do you have any other methods of keeping notes on the bible?
Here’s another one: The successful attempt
Loading ...
January 17, 2008 at 14:48
Interesting enough, Chris. Redesigning a “living-Word” is a task not to be taken lightly. However, before purchasing a Bible, it would be prudent to make sure that there are blank note pages, maps, and introductory pages already fabricated into the book.
Using blank pages effectively.
I have found in the past, to write down more expanded topical researches and results on these full pages. For example, topical preached messages (and extensive Borean-like research) on spiritual warfare, promises, tithing, or angels depicted throughout the Bible need more room than margins can offer. Also, a ‘word-search’, such as bless, spirit, or courage, will require a researcher to find many forms of the word, and as well as it’s applicable uses, and target them back to a outline written on one of the blank pages. Over the months of listening to wonderfully encouraging preached messages from God, these pages can fill up.
Using Maps effectively.
Many maps offer a lot of free space (as in water areas like oceans and lakes) where there are fewer texts to read and more space to leave notation. For example, listing the passages where all your memory verses, God’s promises, and favorite verses are located.
Taking care of your ‘sword’.
The advantage of note-taking in your Bible is that as we gleam through our notes, we will notice, often times, that there will be a different perspective applied at the time the note was first written. This is wonderful – a sure sign of growth, faith, and maturing in the Word of God – at first there was milk, now spiritual meat. Moreover, guard the messages and notes deep in our hearts, because as we grow from faith to faith, we’ll need God’s Word that energizes our weariness, lights our path, and blesses us.
OMOtunde
January 17, 2008 at 15:35
It’s not exactly the same as re-binding a Bible with blank leaves, but there’s any number of wide-margin Bibles on the market.
Christian Book Distributors has a large selection.
I personally prefer not to write on the pages themselves. I take notes on separate paper and put them into file folders in canonical order. The only reason I do it is so that I can have a fresh, tabula rasa look at the Biblical text and don’t immediately jump to the interpretations and questions I had last time. If I want those, they’re on file, but the Bible can stay as a fresh encounter with the living Word.
January 17, 2008 at 16:27
I think this is an area that new technology could really shine. Right now we have good Bible Software (Logos being my favorite) PDA Mobile Bibles (MyBible, Olive Tree being my favorites) and also e-ink and touch screen (and multiple touch screens in development). Imagine taking a device like Sony’s eReader, adding Tablet PC type of handwritting software, and the power of Bible software all together. You would have the unlimited note taking ability tagged to the text you are studying (and ability to cross reference to a whole host of info) in a “portable” format. Now if only I have a technology degree and unlimited resource to invent such a device
January 17, 2008 at 16:40
I’ve always wanted to print my own copies of books of the Bible that had half-page of text, half blank. I’m sure I’ll do it when it’s time to change Bibles. For now, my Bible had margins that are nearly large enough.
January 17, 2008 at 18:14
i love my ESV journalling bible to bits! not only is it a great translation, but the layout allows for some ample not taking and jotting down personal thoughts and revelations.
check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Standard-Journaling-Original/dp/158134838X
January 17, 2008 at 18:38
As my spiritual journey progresses I look at Bibles that I have “filled up” with notes from my past and often I am brought back to a spiritual truth I had forgotten or let go of.
January 18, 2008 at 13:49
Hi Christian friends…
I tend to circle verses that speak to my heart. I have done this consistently so that when I leaf through my bible I tend to feel God speaks to me through these verses. After time they guide me as I come to them repeatedly.
Blessings…Sandy
January 18, 2008 at 21:32
I agree with Jason…
Having a clean text to read the scripture keeps my mind clear to “trust in the Lord” so that I “lean not on my own understanding”.
For research and reference, however I do keep a notebook, tabbed in canonical order. I also keep a file system that covers doctrinal themes and biblical application to socio-political issues.
January 18, 2008 at 22:23
The “loose-leaf” bible (available in standard versions) may be what you are looking for. It is basically the Bible without a binding. You can stick the whole Bible in a 3-ring binder. You can add pages whereever you want. There is no limit on how many pages you can add, and where you can add. God bless,
Josh
January 20, 2008 at 02:42
I have a few blank pages in my current Bible in front and in back that I use for memorials – like Old Testament guys used to pile up stones to remember something God did in a certain place. I record moments when I’ve experienced God’s provision, revelation, and reassurance.
In the Bible text I underline a verse or passage and do the notes up the side thing. I like Pastor Mike’s electronic idea. I tend to do most of my actual studying with electronic text so I can read it clean then jump to various commentaries and start a Word documents to cut and paste verses, commentary and add my own thoughts.
January 20, 2008 at 04:43
I have absolutely no problem doodling in my Bible (although I prefer pencil in the event I need to erase something and it doesn’t bleed…)
The Bible is God’s word and it is meant to be used. If you’d like to keep a Bible clean that’s your prerogative but there is not one place in the Bible that forbids the use and or writing of the Bible. Honestly that’s a personal conviction.
I think its important not to lose sight of what the Bible is there for. To instruct you and guide you in following the Lord.
Follow me closely. The physical book in of itself is not sacred. We’re not a religious society that holds physical items as sacred. It is the words IN that physical book that are sacred and living. Not to say said physical book should be mistreated or used irreverently, but just realize that book you’re holding will someday decay and rot. The words that are carried in that book WILL NOT.
Underlining and taking notes helps me with my walk. It may be a distraction to some and I understand and respect that. But as for me the Lord has used my own underlinings and notes to seriously impact me down the line. I’ll half read a verse think “Oh that’s neat.” underline it. Only in a great time of crisis years later my eyes are drawn to those underline words and I find myself overwhelmed and in tears at how the Lord had directed me and always knew what He was doing and is doing in my life.
I wouldn’t chop up my bible and insert pages. First, the pages would probably be made out of a paper much thicker than my Bible and it’d also probably be tough finding pages the same size as my Bible’s pages. It’d also be irritating putting the whole thing back together. I’d risk losing a page or putting a page in one place and wow it’d just be such a pain.
I’d LOVE to see a Christian publishing company release a journal Bible…one page the Word, the other page designed specifically for notes. I’d buy it most definitely.
January 28, 2008 at 16:44
Blank Bible.
The bible I have has a blank page every other page. Its good to put and outline. I also have a loose leaf Bible, that is, you can put sheets of paper the size of the pages. Goodness its been forty years when I got this Bible. And have 100’s of pages of notes in the Bible. Great way of keeping notes.
Charles