Today as I was warming up my lunch, a coworker asked me if I was getting Christmas shopping done early. She had seen something next to my door, and apparently I had walked right past it (if you're reading this on Facebook, by the way, click the link to see the pictures):
![A Box Arrives](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4113966304_ac4c923b3d.jpg)
It turns out that there were actually two packages I was waiting for, both approximately the same size, and I couldn't wait to see which one it was. I was not disappointed:
![First Look](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4113967672_936687a21a.jpg)
"Black Calfskin Leather"... AWESOME!
I was dying to look at it, but I also wanted to share the experience with you, my blog readers, so I waited until after work to do my unboxing. Here's what came out of the shipping box:
![The Box](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/4113968840_2b617d67c4.jpg)
My first look at the Bible itself wasn't terribly striking:
![There It Is!](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4113974058_1da1ffeef9.jpg)
Just looks like a plain old black Bible, doesn't it?
![Wrapped](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2609/4113205829_a2516a547c.jpg)
Bibles always have plastic on them, but I don't think I've ever seen one completely sealed like this. Even with the plastic on it, though, I could start to smell that "new-Bible" smell... yay!
![Beautiful!](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4113206755_2e6a8f47f5.jpg)
It's a fairly hefty Bible, pretty thick... the print is nice and big, so there are a lot of pages to fit in there. The cover doesn't look like much, but it is SO soft. You can't really appreciate the cover just by touching it... you have to open it and feel the cover on its own, between your fingers. It's very supple.
I definitely need to fill this out:
![This Bible was presented to...](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/4113209899_ffe16ec619.jpg)
The Bible sits open comfortably right out of the box, as though it were already well broken in:
![Ezekiel 13](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/4113977108_20d9ce72ea.jpg)
It has two ribbon bookmarks, one of which was marking Ezekiel Chapter 13 and one of which was marking 1 Samuel Chapters 21-22.
I've been slowly studying Ephesians from the ESV, so I decided I would read it first (which is what I did later):
![Ephesians 1](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2549/4113978138_9ceffbefcf.jpg)
There is an essay in the back about all of the books of the Bible:
![Introductions to the Books of the Bible](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4113979832_7d0585ce60.jpg)
I thought this map of the locations in Jesus' ministry was really nice:
![Map: The Ministry of Jesus](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/4113211447_554178d264.jpg)
There is also a concordance in the back.
This Bible is SUCH a blessing to me. It lists for almost $150, and most of that price is the cover (for comparison, the hardback version lists for $25). I expect the cover to basically last forever. The cover of the ESV Compact Trutone Bible that I've been carrying around is getting pretty worn after several years, and it doesn't have very many study helps. My favorite Bible for studying is still my ESV Study Bible, but this may be the last "carry-it-to-church" Bible I ever need. I can't wait for Sunday!
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