Illuminated Bible

 The Lifeway Christian Bookstore 

closed near us recently.

 There are no more Christian bookstores

 in my normal driving radius anymore.

Bibles went on sale 

and I looked at many that interested me.

But, this beautiful one was 

the one that came home with me.

The Illuminated Bible- 

English Standard Version,

Art Journaling Edition.

As I sat down to read a section today, 

I came to one of my favorite verses.

Mark 8:36.

The pages are just beautiful.

Not really sure if I will add 

art processing in this Bible.

It is beautiful just the way it is-- 

will have to see.
That makes me think 
of a favorite song by Toby Mac-

"Lose My Soul"
(feat. Kirk Franklin, Mandisa)

Man I wanna tell y'all something, man.
Man I'm not gon' let these material things get in my way, y'all.
I'm tryna get somewhere.
I'm tryna get somewhere,
That's real and pure and true and eternal.

Toby, can you go with your boy
Let's go!

Father God, I am clay in your hands,
Help me to stay that way through all life's demands,
'Cause they chip and they nag and they pull at me,
And every little thing I make up my mind to be,
Like I'mma be a daddy who's in the mix,
And I'mma be a husband who stays legit,
And I pray that I'm an artist who rises above,
The road that is wide and filled with self love,
Everything that I see draws me,
Though it's only in you that I can truly see 

that it's a feast for the eyes- a low blow to purpose.
And I'm a little kid at a three-ring circus.

I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.

Mr. Franklin, step up to the mic, sir

Check it out,
The paparazzi flashes, and that they think that it's you,
But they don't know that who you are is not what you do,
True, we get it twisted when we peek at the charts,
Yo before we part from the start,
Where's your heart?
You a pimp, hustler?
Tell me what's your title,
America has no more stars, now we call them idols,
You sit idle while we teach prosperity,
The first thing to prosper should be inside of me.
We're free...
Not because of .22s on the range,
But Christ came in range, we said yes now we changed,
Not the same, even though I made a fall,
Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I'm Paul.

I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, let me hear the people say.
Don't wanna walk away,
Don't wanna walk away

Mandisa come on

How do I sense the tide that's rising?
De-sensitizing me from living in the light of eternity, eternity, watch me now
How do I sense the tide that's rising?
It's hypnotizing me from living in the light of eternity

Tell me how do I sense the tide that's rising?
De-sensitizing me from living in the light, living in the light of eternity.

Lord what we gonna do,
We're relying on you,
All eyes are on you Lord,
All eyes are on you, all eyes are on you Jesus.

I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Light a candle y'all lift it higher y'all come on

I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
...man against the whole world and lose your soul
I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Every ... now every ...
This is my honest plea, Father, won't you cover me.
Come on

I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna walk away, and all those people say
I don't wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
Don't wanna lose, I don't wanna lose my soul.

Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
That fight for our love, and our passion,
As our eyes are open wide and on you.
Grant us the privilege of your world view,
And may your kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down.

Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Don't wanna lose our soul,
No, don't wanna lose my soul.

Hey excuse me,
I'm looking for some dude named Toby.
Ha ha, yeah, last door on the left, you'll hear it.
Thanks,
No problem.

Don't let me lose my soul, I never wanna walk away,
I don't wanna lose my soul,
No, no, no.
Don't let me, don't let me, lose my soul,
I don't wanna walk away,
Don't let me walk away,

Don't let me lose, my soul,
I'm never gonna walk away.

AMEN.