I Have A Stupid Dilemma

Boidae · Nov 14, 2017

At least it seems like a dilemma to me.

Since I started working as an EMT last year, I have found it hard to read my bible. Especially on the days that I work because of my long hours. I can work as much as 17 - 18 hours a day. I come home and all I want to do is sleep because I have to be back in work in about 6 hours or less most days. That alone doesn't give me time to read my bible as I need to sleep to be as well rested as I can be for safety at my job.

This has bled into every day that I don't work not reading my bible. Either I am catching up on sleep that I have missed or I am busy doing stuff that I couldn't do during the week while working, such as taking my kids out to do something fun since I only get them three days a week, grocery shopping, etc... I may read a verse here and there.

I am Lutheran, so I am reading from the Lutheran Study Bible, which if you are aware isn't a light book. I enjoy this bible because of the law and gospel application notes it provides as well as the short prayer after said law and gospel notes. There is an electronic version of it, but after trying it out I found out that I didn't much like it as it's not laid out well or easy to get to those notes on a mobile device. Which leads me to my other issue, I have a dislike of electronic bibles.

I just cannot stick with them to read them and much prefer paper bibles. However, I cannot bring my bible to work as it just isn't a practical sized bible. I don't relish the idea of bringing any kind of bible into the ambulance because unless it's stowed away somewhere it can get damaged relatively quickly and there is no room to stow it in what we call a vambulance. I do not drive a box truck that has compartments, but rather a van ambulance.

With an electronic version I also do not get the law and gospel application notes that are in my bible of choice. I am also a systematic person. If I'm reading from one bible that has the stuff that I am looking for, I want to only read from that bible. It doesn't make any sense for me to read from another bible. Why would I want to do that since it doesn't have the tools that I want in it?

I am probably being stupid, but this is my dilemma. I am not sure what I can do to remedy the situation.

What can I do?

faroukfarouk · Nov 14, 2017

Hi; well, a general comment would be that you seem to have a healthy thirst for God's Word. To keep wanting more is a sign of a healthy thirst. To be content with neglecting it - so easy to get into - is unhealthy.

I'm not familiar with the edition you mention. Some Epistles such as 1 John and Philippians are short and pithy to read, but with a lot of scope for profound meditation.

Boidae · Nov 14, 2017

faroukfarouk said:
Hi; well, a general comment would be that you seem to have a healthy thirst for God's Word. To keep wanting more is a sign of a healthy thirst. To be content with neglecting it - so easy to get into - is unhealthy.

I'm not familiar with the edition you mention. Some Epistles such as 1 John and Philippians are short and pithy to read, but with a lot of scope for profound meditation.

I should have mentioned that also because I am systematic that I don't read books out of order. I read cover to cover.

chevyontheriver · Nov 14, 2017

Boidae said:
At least it seems like a dilemma to me.

Since I started working as an EMT last year, I have found it hard to read my bible. Especially on the days that I work because of my long hours. I can work as much as 17 - 18 hours a day. I come home and all I want to do is sleep because I have to be back in work in about 6 hours or less most days. That alone doesn't give me time to read my bible as I need to sleep to be as well rested as I can be for safety at my job.

This has bled into every day that I don't work not reading my bible. Either I am catching up on sleep that I have missed or I am busy doing stuff that I couldn't do during the week while working, such as taking my kids out to do something fun since I only get them three days a week, grocery shopping, etc... I may read a verse here and there.

I am Lutheran, so I am reading from the Lutheran Study Bible, which if you are aware isn't a light book. I enjoy this bible because of the law and gospel application notes it provides as well as the short prayer after said law and gospel notes. There is an electronic version of it, but after trying it out I found out that I didn't much like it as it's not laid out well or easy to get to those notes on a mobile device. Which leads me to my other issue, I have a dislike of electronic bibles.

I just cannot stick with them to read them and much prefer paper bibles. However, I cannot bring my bible to work as it just isn't a practical sized bible. I don't relish the idea of bringing any kind of bible into the ambulance because unless it's stowed away somewhere it can get damaged relatively quickly and there is no room to stow it in what we call a vambulance. I do not drive a box truck that has compartments, but rather a van ambulance.

With an electronic version I also do not get the law and gospel application notes that are in my bible of choice. I am also a systematic person. If I'm reading from one bible that has the stuff that I am looking for, I want to only read from that bible. It doesn't make any sense for me to read from another bible. Why would I want to do that since it doesn't have the tools that I want in it?

I am probably being stupid, but this is my dilemma. I am not sure what I can do to remedy the situation.

What can I do?

You need a pocket Bible, small enough to take with you so you can use it anywhere when you have down time. You don't need a big fat heavy study Bible for every time you read the Bible.

Boidae · Nov 14, 2017

chevyontheriver said:
You need a pocket Bible, small enough to take with you so you can use it anywhere when you have down time. You don't need a big fat heavy study Bible for every time you read the Bible.

I want to be able to read the notes though from the scripture that i am reading. I want to be able to see the law and gospel application for what I am reading.

I cannot do that with a pocket bible.

Boidae · Nov 14, 2017

Maybe there isn't a solution that works for me the way I need it to and I should just keep doing what I have been doing.

I am still reading, just not alot.

chevyontheriver · Nov 14, 2017

Boidae said:
I want to be able to read the notes though from the scripture that i am reading. I want to be able to see the law and gospel application for what I am reading.

I cannot do that with a pocket bible.

Well then I guess you either lug around a big study Bible or you just skip reading the Bible. Sounds like even on days off you are reading your Bible less and less.

Which is better? To read a fancy study Bible occasionally or to read a pocket Bible more regularly and the study Bible when you can?

And you mentioned that you don't have a place to stow a Bible on the ambulance. It might get trampled or get blood on it or something. A pocket Bible is cheap and easy to replace.

chevyontheriver · Nov 14, 2017

Boidae said:
I should have mentioned that also because I am systematic that I don't read books out of order. I read cover to cover.

Cover to cover is not actually systematic. It is certainly not chronological. Nor is it actually thematic. Paul's letters are placed by order of length, not chronology. The book of Job is one of the oldest books of the OT, but nowhere near first in standard Bible layout. A Bible time line would be advantageous in being more systematic.

Boidae · Nov 14, 2017

chevyontheriver said:
Well then I guess you either lug around a big study Bible or you just skip reading the Bible. Sounds like even on days off you are reading your Bible less and less.

Which is better? To read a fancy study Bible occasionally or to read a pocket Bible more regularly?

And you mentioned that you don't have a place to stow a Bible on the ambulance. It might get trampled or get blood on it or something. A pocket Bible is cheap and easy to replace.

Thanks, but I don't think you are truly understanding what I am saying.

Essentially, reading a pocket bible will do nothing for me. It's just reading for me and nothing else. At least with the study bible I have application notes regarding the law and gospel and are a huge help to me.

Boidae · Nov 14, 2017

chevyontheriver said:
Cover to cover is not actually systematic. It is certainly not chronological. Nor is it actually thematic. Paul's letters are placed by order of length, not chronology. The book of Job is one of the oldest books of the OT, but nowhere near first in standard Bible layout. A Bible time line would be advantageous in being more systematic.

To me, cover to cover is systematic. I am not skipping here and there.

Thank you for the explanation and maybe I can look into a chronological reading plan or something. Still doesn't help me from my original post though.

blackribbon · Nov 14, 2017

Excuses. You do have down time. Buy a cheaper version of the Bible, in full size ... or download a single chapter or book from the computer and put it in a 3 ring binder. You can also print study notes for the book at the same time. If you think that this is a less effective way to study, then pick a second place in the Bible to study when at work that is different from your home study. I bet you are smart enough to be able to handle this. If not, find a good Christian book to study on the days when you are at work...maybe one that focuses on Biblical history or something.

RaymondG · Nov 14, 2017

You are very busy.....like most adults. Yet you find time, to eat, sleep, shower.....you know....the important stuff. Raise , reading your bible, up on your list of important stuff, and you will find that there is time to do that as well....just like all of the other important stuff you do.

I should add, that living the word has must more value than reading it.

chevyontheriver · Nov 14, 2017

Boidae said:
Thanks, but I don't think you are truly understanding what I am saying.

Essentially, reading a pocket bible will do nothing for me. It's just reading for me and nothing else. At least with the study bible I have application notes regarding the law and gospel and are a huge help to me.

OK.

Sola Scriptura takes on a whole new meaning. Not that I believe in Sola Scriptura but I can take up and read a plain Bible from time to time without a problem.

I wish you well with your dilemma.

faroukfarouk · Nov 14, 2017

blackribbon said:
Excuses. You do have down time. Buy a cheaper version of the Bible, in full size ... or download a single chapter or book from the computer and put it in a 3 ring binder. You can also print study notes for the book at the same time. If you think that this is a less effective way to study, then pick a second place in the Bible to study when at work that is different from your home study. I bet you are smart enough to be able to handle this. If not, find a good Christian book to study on the days when you are at work...maybe one that focuses on Biblical history or something.

Hi; my wife and I like to read a balance of Old and New Testaments in our reading together. At the moment we are in the Psalms.

Boidae · Nov 14, 2017

blackribbon said:
Excuses.

That is a good way to be sure I don't read or care for what the rest of what you wrote.

They may be excuses to you, but this is my reality.

blackribbon · Nov 14, 2017

Boidae said:
That is a good way to be sure I don't read or care for what the rest of what you wrote.

They may be excuses to you, but this is my reality.

To believe that this is a real dilemma is to say that you are the only EMT who cares about reading his Bible. This is not true. There are options...they may not be perfect, but God doesn't give us permission to only seek Him when it is easy or convenient.

I am a nurse. I work the same long hours as you do...except I don't have down time during my shift. My son is an EMT. I do "get it". If you aren't willing to read suggestions, I tend to believe that you don't really want to find a solution. If that is the case, then I am not sure if you are wanting permission to not read the Bible on your work days or if you just want permission to quit your job. Either are also valid options. I thought you wanted suggestion on how to make this work.

blackribbon · Nov 14, 2017

Okay. For the acceptable Godly advice version. I will pray that you find a way to stay in touch with God when you are working. It must be very hard to work all those hours. Have you considered printing out a a few chapters or a book at a time and putting it in a 3 ring binder along with study notes? Or possibly doing a second study when you are at work with less study notes. I am sure that an EMT is smart enough to handle two topics at the same time. An additional option would be to buy a Christian book that focuses on a topic like history or maybe even a even a book focusing on the same book you are reading during your regular focused study time.

Kit Sigmon · Nov 14, 2017

Boidae said:
At least it seems like a dilemma to me.

Since I started working as an EMT last year, I have found it hard to read my bible. Especially on the days that I work because of my long hours. I can work as much as 17 - 18 hours a day. I come home and all I want to do is sleep because I have to be back in work in about 6 hours or less most days. That alone doesn't give me time to read my bible as I need to sleep to be as well rested as I can be for safety at my job.

This has bled into every day that I don't work not reading my bible. Either I am catching up on sleep that I have missed or I am busy doing stuff that I couldn't do during the week while working, such as taking my kids out to do something fun since I only get them three days a week, grocery shopping, etc... I may read a verse here and there.

I am Lutheran, so I am reading from the Lutheran Study Bible, which if you are aware isn't a light book. I enjoy this bible because of the law and gospel application notes it provides as well as the short prayer after said law and gospel notes. There is an electronic version of it, but after trying it out I found out that I didn't much like it as it's not laid out well or easy to get to those notes on a mobile device. Which leads me to my other issue, I have a dislike of electronic bibles.

I just cannot stick with them to read them and much prefer paper bibles. However, I cannot bring my bible to work as it just isn't a practical sized bible. I don't relish the idea of bringing any kind of bible into the ambulance because unless it's stowed away somewhere it can get damaged relatively quickly and there is no room to stow it in what we call a vambulance. I do not drive a box truck that has compartments, but rather a van ambulance.

With an electronic version I also do not get the law and gospel application notes that are in my bible of choice. I am also a systematic person. If I'm reading from one bible that has the stuff that I am looking for, I want to only read from that bible. It doesn't make any sense for me to read from another bible. Why would I want to do that since it doesn't have the tools that I want in it?

I am probably being stupid, but this is my dilemma. I am not sure what I can do to remedy the situation.

What can I do?

I would suggest printing off copies of where you're reading in your bible...print off several chapters...that way you can fold them up and take them with you.

jsimms615 · Nov 14, 2017

Boidae said:
At least it seems like a dilemma to me.

Since I started working as an EMT last year, I have found it hard to read my bible. Especially on the days that I work because of my long hours. I can work as much as 17 - 18 hours a day. I come home and all I want to do is sleep because I have to be back in work in about 6 hours or less most days. That alone doesn't give me time to read my bible as I need to sleep to be as well rested as I can be for safety at my job.

This has bled into every day that I don't work not reading my bible. Either I am catching up on sleep that I have missed or I am busy doing stuff that I couldn't do during the week while working, such as taking my kids out to do something fun since I only get them three days a week, grocery shopping, etc... I may read a verse here and there.

I am Lutheran, so I am reading from the Lutheran Study Bible, which if you are aware isn't a light book. I enjoy this bible because of the law and gospel application notes it provides as well as the short prayer after said law and gospel notes. There is an electronic version of it, but after trying it out I found out that I didn't much like it as it's not laid out well or easy to get to those notes on a mobile device. Which leads me to my other issue, I have a dislike of electronic bibles.

I just cannot stick with them to read them and much prefer paper bibles. However, I cannot bring my bible to work as it just isn't a practical sized bible. I don't relish the idea of bringing any kind of bible into the ambulance because unless it's stowed away somewhere it can get damaged relatively quickly and there is no room to stow it in what we call a vambulance. I do not drive a box truck that has compartments, but rather a van ambulance.

With an electronic version I also do not get the law and gospel application notes that are in my bible of choice. I am also a systematic person. If I'm reading from one bible that has the stuff that I am looking for, I want to only read from that bible. It doesn't make any sense for me to read from another bible. Why would I want to do that since it doesn't have the tools that I want in it?

I am probably being stupid, but this is my dilemma. I am not sure what I can do to remedy the situation.

What can I do?

i don't know how long your commute is to work, but maybe getting an audio bible and listening to it while you drive would help?

SpiritRehab · Nov 15, 2017

Boidae said:
What can I do?

God says to seek first the Kingdom of God & His righteousness and everything else will be added to you freely.

So I dropped out of Highschool, began a serious search for God and became Born Again. Thinking that's good enough, I went to College and started working, until I got into your situation. Several decreasingly compromising jobs later, I quit work altogether and began studying the Bible Full Time.

Now I am near finished my Discipleship directly under the Holy Spirit of God Himself; and so I will be returning to the work force soon.

The problem we share is that society teaches us to prioritize education & career above our Spiritual Growth; but in according to the Bible, we should have taken a break from school & work, from age 12+ to age 16+ to become disciples of Messiah. Then we'd be fit to continue our education and make a living for ourselves & fund our personal ministry activities for God.

I took the time, I sacrificed everything to become a disciple of Messiah and now I'm 37 and ready to get back to work. In 3 years I could become an EMT, Teacher, Post Man, Police Man, Utility Worker, Mechanic, etc. and no one will think any less of me for being a 40 year old public serviceman.

Prioritize your life the way your heart desires. Not the way society has told you to. Seek first the Kingdom of God & His Righteousness and everything else will be added to you freely.

ps. Since I've gone through it already, I can give you a focused study plan. To help you prioritize all the practical truths, ahead of all the astonishing mysteries of the Bible.

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