nkjv large print ultraslim bible

Mother Irene’s Journey Home

By Bernard J Fleury

It was evident in the early summer of 2005 when Mother Irene Carlberg was in her ninety-sixth year, that she was becoming increasingly feeble in body though her mind and spirit remained as sharp and deep as ever. She told me that she wanted to write the story of her life but couldn’t manage it. She began to give me little notes of events in her life, pictures, and newspaper articles about her. I decided to tape record our conversations that I did on three separate occasions. I knew why she was giving me all this information so I finally promised her as soon as I could I would put her story into a written account. I managed to get it written, my wife typed it, and we gave it to her for Christmas in 2005. Besides being a creative artist, seamstress, and daredevil, as I’ve noted, she was also deeply religious. I’ll let her tell you this part of her story as she recorded it in the summer of 2005.

“My father’s three girls went to the Catholic Church. My aunt was a cook who worked in a house on the way. My stepsisters would stop there for hot chocolate then go on their way to St. Mary’s. I went with them and the priest treated me good -his name was O’Connor too! I always wanted to be a Catholic but I didn’t want to hurt my mother’s feelings. She was a Seventh Day Adventist and I had attended some Sunday school there. As I got older, and even now I was afraid because I thought my kids would not approve.

I met Father Roy Duquette when I was in the nursing home waiting for the medicine to get out of my system so they could put the pacemaker in. He came around to visit and he was so nice. I just loved him! He had a workman’s hands. He had just shoveled snow and when I told him he should let somebody else do it, he replied that it had to be done and so he just did it. I was baptized as a Baptist so I was received into the Catholic Church through a simple profession of faith in 1996 when I was eighty-eight years old. I read my new large print Bible every day and say my Rosary.”

Mother must have learned to love the Bible and to make it a part of her life before she entered the Catholic Church. When I first really got to know her in early 1998 she was reading her old Seventh Day Adventist Bible but was having difficulty with the size of the print. So we gave her a new up-to-date large print Bible and she couldn’t get enough of it. She read without glasses! She was also saying her Rosary but was eager to know more about it. We spent several visits talking about it, and because of her love of scripture, her son gave her the booklet many now use that contains a scripture passage for each of the Rosary prayers. Her Bible and her Rosary were her constant companions.

There’s more to her spiritual story. Let her speak again for herself in the summer of 2005: The Church is my main thing now. I am the happiest I’ve ever been as I go to Church on Sundays, listen to the word of God, receive my Lord in Holy Communion and meet some wonderful people. My priest, Father Roy, is the greatest and my son, Deacon Bernie Fleury, and his wife are my very best friends. I never had a son, so in 1998 I adopted Bernie and he calls me ‘mother’.

It’s a privilege to watch my little great grandsons, the Savino boys. Do their duty as altar boys. They looked so proud when they’re carrying the cross or candles. My journey home to my Father’s house took eighty-eight years but I’m finally there. My life is full. I love my two daughters, my nine grandchildren, and all my great grandchildren too!

It’s been a wonderful life and there’s more to come!” And there was - nearly three years more!

nkjv bible study

The KJV Bible Comes Alive Online

By Susan Slobac

The King James Version (KJV) Bible has been used to teach the Word of God to millions of people around the world since it was first printed in 1611 AD. Since then, there have been many different translations that have brought the KJV Bible to even more countries and cultures, including the New International Version (NIV), which was published in 1973, and the New King James Version (NKJV), which was published in 1982, as a modern English version that maintained the style of the original King James Bible.

Since all of these Bibles are printed versions that require literate readers, there are still many people in the world who do not have the means to learn the teachings of Christ. Many of these individuals live in developing countries that do not have public schools or the type of educational opportunities found in more advanced areas of the world. This has been a concern for many dedicated Christian organizations located in the United States as well Europe, and much has been done in recent years to help remedy the situation.

Since hearing the King James audio Bible is a very easy way to spread the lessons and stories of the scripture, there are now Christian volunteers who bring villages the Bible on CD or other video and audio Bible formats that have been translated into over 300 languages. Oftentimes the King James Bible CDs can be played while villagers and children follow along in printed copies, which is a great way to teach villagers how to read as they are learning the scriptures. While some Bible listening groups take place in dangerous countries, it is inspiring to note that hundreds of villagers are often willing to accept the risk because they are hungry to hear the Word of God.

In addition to the clear benefits of bringing audio Bibles to underdeveloped countries, there are also many modern-day Christians that are taking advantage of these newer formats, including the King James audio Bible on CD and downloads of the King James Bible online. King James Bible CDs can be easily listened to while you are commuting to work everyday and you can listen to them while you are doing your daily chores or taking a morning jog - there are almost limitless possibilities. You can also download books from the King James Bible online and find different Podcasts to load onto your iPod or MP3 player.

As technology continues to provide new ways to spread the Word of God, many more people will have the chance to learn about the life and lessons of Jesus Christ. The Bible is already the most translated book in the world and soon it will be most translated book in audio and online formats as well.

You may want to check out my other guide on study bibles