Hotel Room Re-write

I'm off on another business trip, which tends to slow progress. I brought my paper and template so I could keep up with the writing.

Unfortunately, the first order of business this evening was to redo my last page of Matthew. I somehow skipped part of a chapter when I went from the front to the back of a page. The thought completed on the front side, and when I flipped, I apparently picked up in the wrong place. So I ended up with a skipped section.

I guess my plan to use loose paper is paying off. I only have to redo the messed up page, and toss the erroneous one! It's hard enough to keep this up -- but having to redo work is frustrating. I'm fixing it, though, and moving on.

This time the photo is an iPhone pic. I have my 7D with me...but thought I would go iPhone tonight. 

Matthew 8

My Two Column Template for Scribing the Bible

As mentioned previously, I use a template under the page I am writing on so that I can keep things straight and consistent.  I have received requests to provide this template, so here you go!

You can download the pdf version by clicking here.  I find that when I print it, it works best if I choose "actual size" rather than settings that try and "fit to page".

Here is a jpg representation so you can see what I am using:

Still Chugging Along...

I thought I would provide a status update.  I'm still chugging along, but as I expected life's schedule makes it difficult to spend a lot of time in one session.  Right now I'm trying to commit to a front and back page each time I sit down to write.  That may not sound like a lot, but it does take a while. 

I'm in Matthew 8 right now.  Slow and steady.

The Lord's Prayer

I had to stop for a moment to reflect on Matthew 6:9-13, The Lord's Prayer. There is something about this passage that resonates with so many people, whether prayed in its literal form or used as a model for prayer as laid out by Jesus Himself.

The Lord's Prayer

Pray then like this:

 

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil."

(Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)

Having the Bible in Your Own Language...

A friend of mine sent me a YouTube link because she said that reading my blog reminded me of this 5 minute video.  I was in awe by watching this.

The task that I am enjoying of hand-writing the Bible is a very simple one. It's a monkey-see-monkey-do sort of endeavor.  I read the text, I write the text.   This video highlights the fact that not all people are so lucky to even have a text that is in a language which they can understand.

The Kimyal Tribe of Indonesia didn't have a Bible they could understand.  They didn't' have the luxury... the joy ... of being able to sit down and just read God's Word.  In 2010, the New Testament was translated into their language and delivered to them.  What a powerful moment that must have been! It is awesome to see the Gospel continuing to spread around the world.  Of course, what amazes me most is the fact that this tribe was worshiping God even without the Bible in their own language!

As you will see in the video, when the New Testament was delivered, the tribe's Pastor, Siud, said a prayer.  Here it is.

O God, O God 

The plan which you had from the beginning regarding your Kimyals, 

which already existed in your Spirit.

The month that you had set, has come to pass today.

O my Father, my Father.

The promise that You gave Simeon that he would see Jesus Christ

and hold Him in his arms before he died

I also have been waiting under that same promise, O God.

You looked at all the different languages and chose which ones to be put into Your Word.

You thought that we should see Your Word in our language.

Today, the day you had chosen for this to be fulfilled, has come to pass.

O God, today, you have placed Your Word into my hands, just like You promised.

You have placed it here in our land.

And for all this, O God, I give You praise. 

Amen.

Regarding that promise...  These verses come immediately to mind:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (Jn 1:1)

 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn 1:14)

So indeed, Jesus is the Word, and as the Kimyal Tribe grasps the New Testament, they are in fact seeing Jesus Christ and holding Him in their arms!

As of last night I am up to Matthew 6 in my scribing effort.  This is a marathon...slow and steady.

Willing to Die for the Word...

How blessed am I that I have the privilege to hand-write the Bible as a devotional and personal experience?

Did you know there are many people in the world who live in areas where it is illegal to even own a Christian Bible?  Of course you did.  So did I.  The revelation I have today is that I can choose to do this.  I have the freedom to do this.

I was researching this morning, and there are tons of stories on the Internet detailing how persecuted Christians around the world are forced to create and read hand-copied versions of the Bible -- even today.  There are stories of Christian prayer meetings raided by government agents and police where participants are imprisoned with charges that relate to attempting to disrupt or overthrow the government.  Bibles are not readily available in these locations, and they must be smuggled in. Often there may be only one real Bible in a particular area, and Christians must copy by hand the books or scriptures they want to keep for their own personal reading and study.

Then, I look around my home office, and count Bibles I have just in this one room... There are at least 12 Bibles just within view of my chair.  That doesn't count the electronic versions that are at my fingertips at any given moment, or the 3-4 in the living room, or the one in my car.  I count myself blessed to have the Living Word of God so accessible to me at all times, yet feel condemned by the fact that there are times in my life where I am "too busy" to read even one of them.

People are dying in the streets and in prisons because of this Book. Those people would do anything to get their hands on one -- even a hand-written version that is hardly legible.  Let me not forget the value of this Word that so many people are willing to die for. 

Making My Own Fountain Pen Ink from Blackberries?

Fresh Blackberries!

I was thinking about how to make ink the way they did when the Bible was actually originally penned.  I decided it might be fun to make my own ink from blackberries.  Nah...I'm kidding.  I just ate them. I was in the middle of scribing the Sermon on the Mount, when it seemed like a good time to stop and have some of these gorgeously fresh blackberries my wife brought home from the store yesterday.

Sorry. My blog can't be all business.  That just wouldn't be me! ; ) Now...back to Matthew!

Sermon on the Mount

Fountain Pen Ink Management Tip :: Nalgene Bottles

One thing I found was that I needed a better solution for holding fountain pen ink than the default bottles that the Noodler's Ink comes in.  The normal 3 oz size bottles aren't too bad, but they are dark and you can't really see what you are doing when re-filling your fountain pen.  The 4.5 oz size bottles are almost impossible to fill from because of the depth of the bottle and the narrow mouth.  I also wanted something that would travel well.

The solution:  Nalgene Wide Mouth Bottles

Nalgene 1oz Wide Mouth Bottles

My preference was to use the 1 oz size.  This seems to be a perfect match of a generous amount of ink to have on hand, but being small enough to keep in a briefcase or backpack.  They are also perfect for travel.  I bought my bottles from REI for $1.40 each.  That sure beats the price of a fancy inkwell!

These Nalgene bottles are leak proof, and should be much less fragile than any glass container. They are also very light weight. Also, being made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the ink does not stick to or stain the plastic.

The Gear

Handwriting the Bible using a Fountain Pen

I figured I would let you all know what gear I am using on this project. I use the term "gear" because it sounds much cooler than to tell you I use a pen and paper.  In the end, however, yes... I just use a pen and paper to handwrite the Bible.  Simple enough, eh?  So if you think you need anything fancy, you can rest easy in the fact that if you have the following items, you have what it takes to scribe the Bible by hand:

1.  Bible (You kind of need to know what you are going to be writing...)
2.  Writing Utensil (Pen, Pencil, Marker, etc)
3.  Something to Write on (Paper, Cardboard, Animal Hide, etc)

See?  Simple. 

Well, I never stop at simple, so here is what I ended up with after careful thought and deliberation:

1.  Pens

I am using LAMY Safari Fountain Pens. These guys are inexpensive, write great, and come in a ton of colors. They are very lightweight pens, and I find I enjoy writing with lighter pens rather than heavy ones.  They are also rugged, as they are made of ABS plastic and have nice big wire clips.  You can learn more about the LAMY Safari here:  http://www.lamyusa.com/fountain_main_safari.php (This is the USA site, but you can also go to http://lamy.com for the full German/English site.)  LAMY is a Germany company -- and I am a fan of German engineering.

Both pens have the fine nib and I am using the converter (Z24) in both of them so I can use the ink of my choosing. However, the LAMY ink cartridges work great if you want to stick with those.

I now have two LAMYs.  I started with one, and quickly bought another one. I wanted to have a pen loaded with black ink, and another loaded with blue ink so I didn't have to change ink colors back and forth in the same pen. I have a yellow one loaded with the blue ink (I'll explain the inks later) and a charcoal (matte black) one loaded with black ink.  I love bright colors...especially yellow and orange.  When I found the yellow Safari with a fine nib...I took it home.  The matte black Safari was the one I was originally keen on, but it has been difficult to find.  Once I saw it at a local shop, I knew I should grab it up.  It took a few days to make the decision, but we're only talking about $30 here...so I went for it!  The charcoal Safari has a black nib and black clip.  It is so Tacti-Cool, and if you know me...you know I am a fan of being tactical...even in my writing instruments. It matches my handguns, knives, and flashlights! : )

2.  Ink

My ink of choice is Noodler's Ink.  I am using the Bulletproof Polar Black and Bulletproof Polar Blue. Deciding on an ink is tough stuff...but Noodler's is very well regarded by fountain pen users, and their Bulletproof inks had me sold. You can find out about Noodler's Ink at http://noodlersink.com/. They are made in the USA and there is a color or type of ink to suit you for sure.

I picked Bulletproof because of its uber-permanence.  From http://noodlersink.com/noodlers-durable-ink-classification/: 

• “Bulletproof” refers to any Noodler’s Ink that resists all the known tools of a forger, UV light, UV light wands, bleaches, alcohols, solvents, petrochemicals, oven cleaners, carpet cleaners, carpet stain lifters, and of course…they are also waterproof once permitted to dry upon cellulose paper. 

It may seem like overkill, but hey..this is the Bible we're talking about! : )  In all seriousness, I wanted permanent ink.  I don't really need fraud protection, but it's a bonus.  If you are not aware, fountain pen ink is water-based.  Very few inks can actually be classified as permanent, because the ink is soluble in water. Good if you get some on your clothes, bad if you spill a cup of coffee on your notebook.

I decided to go with the Polar line because it is in fact "bulletproof" but also happens to be freeze resistant.  Again, from http://noodlersink.com/noodlers-durable-ink-classification/:

• “Freeze Resistant Inks” include Polar Blue and Polar Black, which will resist forming a solid mass of ice within a glass ink bottle during most cold weather conditions (though they will form some harmless ice “slush” when very cold). The first “Polar” ink was “freeze proof” to -114° F, but the reformulated Polar inks made from 2006 and later have a faster dry time, better flow rate, and are basic “freeze resisting” inks to avoid expansion barrel cracks in pens and broken bottles in mail boxes on cold days.

Overkill?  Sure. I don't plan on writing in freezing temperatures...but I also don't want to have to worry if I leave my pen or ink in the car overnight in freezing temps.  I live in a colder climate where it is a very real possibility.  I have frozen water bottles in my car all the time.  So...why not?

Most important however...is the Black is black.  It was what I was looking for in a color (or lack of color?) for my pen. The blue is a decent blue. It's not quite as bright as I would like, but it's a good blue nonetheless.

Both inks do write nicely in the LAMY Safari. Flow is good, and they behave well on paper.  There is noticeable nib creep with both colors, but that doesn't bother me much. I can live with that, and even the LAMY ink seems to creep a tiny bit.

3.  Paper

For paper, I went with HP Premium Choice 32lb Laser Paper.  I didn't want to spend a fortune on paper, and after some research this was found to be a good choice for fountain pen writers.  It is thick, and very fountain pen friendly.  I am using both sides of the paper, and there is very little noticeable bleed-through between sides (almost none). I also wanted a paper with no lines.

I decided on loose paper rather than notebooks for several reasons.  First, I wanted to bind the final product, and loose paper is the ticket for that.  Second, I don't have to scribe the Bible in order.  Because I am using individual pages, I can bounce around as I see fit, and just put everything in order as I go. Not so simple with pre-bound notebooks.  Third, it allowed me to find the paper I want. Fourth, if I make a major mistake, I can just re-do a page (front and back) without having to deal with it inside of a notebook.  And finally, the loose laser paper is easily scanned should I want to make a pdf version of the writings for archival purposes.

4.  My Bible

This might sound like the easiest of all decisions to make, but there was some thought here. What version?  Are there copyright issues that I need to worry about?

My final decision was to scribe the version of the Bible I most often read:  ESV.  Are there copyright issues I need to worry about? Yes. However, I researched the fair use exception to copyright and I believe I am okay because this is a project that I am doing for personal use, not to be sold or generate profit, and not to be publicly reproduced or distributed.  You will need to do your own research on this, and make sure you feel comfortable with whatever version you scribe. There are several versions that can be copied without any question, such as KJV or even the modern NET Bible (which is clearly free to reproduce).

5.  My Style

I chose to scribe the Bible in a two-column-per-page format.  Not sure why...it just says "Bible" when I see it, rather than every other type of text that runs across the entire page.

I created a template sheet with lines and markers that I lay under the page I am writing so I can keep a consistent format and my lines don't wander too badly. It's hard to see through the 32lb paper, but I can see it enough to use as a guide.

I am writing in black ink, and using the blue for verse markers and other little items.

I am writing in a standard handwriting style...nothing fancy.  My handwriting isn't super pretty to read, but I figure it will get better as I go.

6.  My Starting Point

I decided to start with Matthew.  No particular reason why, it just seemed like a great place to start. I imagine I'll bounce to the Old Testament for the next book.  Time will tell.  I will say that starting in Matthew was a little tougher than I thought.  Chapter One is full of genealogy...and that' tough writing -- Very hard names to spell and lots of repetition.  Once I got to the story of the Birth of Jesus, it got easier to write, because I could read and write in chunks or sentences rather than almost word for word as I had to do with the genealogy section.

That's about it!  I'm off and running, so there is no turning back now.

BTW, if LAMY or Noodler's Ink or HP would like to sponsor me since I name dropped all of your products...just let me know.  I am sure we can work something out! : )

The Kickoff

First, I must admit something. I am afraid to start this journey.  It's going to take a long time, and it's going to take discipline. Why does that bother me? Well...because I know me pretty well, and I know this is going to be tough to stick with. In fact, I am setting up this blog not to brag about my journey, but in hopes that I will have some accountability.  I appreciate your help in this area.  I can use all of the prayers and encouragement I can get.

So, why am I hand writing the Bible (or scribing...or even better re-scribing)?  I have no idea. : ) But, here's how I ended up on this path.

As I was thinking of a New Year's Resolution...because that's what people do at the end of the year... I realized immediately that I needed more focus and dedication with regard to my Bible reading and prayer time, but more importantly, I needed to start journaling.  I haven't really taken to the discipline of writing down or otherwise documenting my walk with the Lord, but I wish I have.  He has done so many amazing things in my life, and blessed me in so many ways that it is enjoyable and encouraging to think back on it all.  I just wish I had written it all down.  It's so hard to remember everything.  A good friend of mine said that he journals, and it changed his life. Hmm...that sounds like something I should be doing. So that is where it started.  Journaling. This is much bigger than journaling...so how did I make the leap? Well, I have to assume it's a God thing.  I hope so, because it's a crazy idea. This could take YEARS...and I am not that type of guy to commit to something that will take years to complete. My attention span is much shorter than that! : )

I decided to kick off journaling the right way.  I bought a decent notebook to journal in, and invested in a new fountain pen and some ink to get me going.  I actually enjoy writing, even though my entire life is pretty much electronic.  But I find that if I have a cool pen, I enjoy writing even more.  So to give myself the best chance at success, I finally bought a fountain pen which I had been eying for quite some time. It's not about buying an expensive pen...in fact this one is very inexpensive as far as fountain pens go.  It was about getting a pen that motivates me.  There is something about fountain pens that sing to me in such a way. I'm not sure if it's the manual re-filling of ink, or the history, or the smoothness in writing, or seeing wet ink on paper and watching it dry as I write...  Likely, it's a combination of all of those things.

During this process of getting my journaling gear in place (pens, ink, notebooks, etc) and specifically looking for information as it pertains to keeping a journal as a devotion during Bible reading and prayer time, I ran across a post on a forum (http://www.fountainpennetwork.com) that was discussing hand writing of the Bible.  Wow! I thought to myself. What a crazy idea. It is crazy, but I couldn't shake the idea that maybe I should do it. How cool would it be to have a complete Bible, handwritten and bound?  How much more detail could be given to the Bible reading than to have to meticulously re-rewrite every scripture, word for word?

So here I am...hand writing the Bible. I am not the first, and I won't be the last. I have begun the journey, and hopefully it's one I can accomplish.  I WILL ACCOMPLISH. I need to set that in my head. I have started and stopped many things in my life.  Let this be the one that surprises me and all those who will witness this effort!