On Holidays

At the outset of the holiday season, it seems important to take some time to consider what holidays are. Holidays aren't just a break from the every day grind; that's a vacation. As the name implies, these are holy days, set apart for remembrance and reflection. A 24/7/365 world tends to blur the seasons and anniversaries that give a year shape. The more hurried we all become, the more we risk losing the significance of our connection to prior generations who celebrated these special days of the year not only as markers of time but as opportunities to gather, feast, and give thanks. If we could take the time to reflect and refocus, we may find that life is bigger than our needs and schedules.

ESV Study Bible

I purchased an ESV Study last night and am pretty excited about it. It's gotten excellent reviews and I think it will be a great aid for teaching and personal study. It did strike me though how expensive this bible is. Granted, I spent a little extra for the faux leather as opposed to the Dictionary-looking hardback version. The former retails at $74.99 and the latter at $49.99. I might not have taken plunge except that Lifeway was offering a 20% discount. Specific numbers aside though, I wonder about the ethical ramifications of producing and marketing a super-bible with a high price tag. I'm all for not muzzling the ox, but I really hope that these price points were considered in terms of kingdom impact and not just margins. I applaud The Standard Bible Society for making the ESV text freely available and searchable online. In this regard, anyone can read it.