The Message REMIX

The Message //REMIX
By Eugene H, Peterson
Published at NavPress

About The Message

The Message//REMIX features expanded introductions to each book of the Bible that explain the purpose of the book, who wrote it, and for whom it was written. The introductions help set the stage for the book and help you understand each book's unique message.

Now in paperback for the very first time,The Message//REMIX also has a unique verse-numbering system, charts and maps, and a topical guide for students. It makes a great graduation gift and is perfect to have on hand in Sunday school rooms.

My Thoughts

I am familiar with the message edition.   I originally got introduced to it when my husband-to-be purchased the New Testament edition more than 16 years ago for me.  Then over time we got a smaller version with only the Psalms and Proverbs in it.   Since then the author of The Message version of the Bible has completed the Old Testament and it is now available complete in one book. 

I have been eyeing The Message full version for a couple of years but never got into the mode of purchasing it yet.  So when I got the opportunity of reviewing The Message Remix I jumped on it.   I knew that the Remix edition was specifically designed for youth but that didn’t stopped me.   After all, with four kids in the house, I think this Bible will allow them to get introduced to a different version of the Bible – a version that can be read more like a novel, a version that will opens up passages and makes you wonder if it’s really in the NIV or NLT or any other version you might have.   When you start wondering if it’s really in the “regular” Bible version that you read, your first reaction would be to go check it out.  And that’s when your eyes are opened and you realized that yes indeed it is in your NIV version and The Message is accurate.

Not everyone like to read The Message but I think it is beneficial for anyone to explore other version of the Bible in order to discover a new way to see and read the Bible.   I love changing the Bible I read through the years.  Right now, I am blessed in going through a version of the Bible that also contains devotions for homeschooling moms.   I really need the encouragement found in there.   I am planning to use this one until August next year (I have started in August…). 

My oldest son, who is twelve, doesn’t like the pages found in this Bible.  He finds them too thin…  Personally, I like the fact that the pages are thinner as it encourages me to be more careful with it.     I really enjoy the fact that The Message makes Scriptures easier to understand – particularly for harder passages – and that it’s fabulous for new believers who might be struggling understanding the words found in another version like NIV or KJV.   I am delighted to have The Message as I find it opens up a whole new way of reading the Bible and brings definitively more understanding in my life.   I am planning to use this version during our Advent devotions with the kids this year.

You can visit Read Think Pray Live for more details on The Message //REMIX Bible.  On this site you will be able to see some videos showing the new youth Bible covers as well as read a letter from Eugene Peterson himself telling about how The Message came to be.  It’s a very interesting read by the way and I would like to encourage you to swing by Read Think Pray Live to see what he has to say.   Also blogger Jonathan Merritt from RNS (Religion News Service) has recently did a wonderful interview with Eugene Peterson.     If you want to discover who is the man behind The Message Bible is, I would like to encourage you to go read the interview on RNS.

“The Message is a reading Bible. It is not intended to replace the excellent study Bibles that are available. My intent here is simply to get people reading it who don’t know that the Bible is read-able at all, at least by them, and to get people who long ago lost interest in the Bible to read it again.”

Eugene H. Peterson

The Message Remix is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for review purposes from NavPress and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.