Years ago The Living Bible (TLB) came out.
It was released in stages.
In 1962 some of the NT books came out and were called Living Letters.
I got a copy and since I was a staunch KJV only person, I openly condemned the Living Letters version.
Then in July 1971 the whole Bible became available.
I was in a Bible Study group at GE (worked there from 1966 to 1998) around 1974 and I put that version down, calling it a paraphrase and not a real translation.

Some time later I read an interview with Dr. Kenneth Taylor (author of TLB) about how it was developed and how through it some people were drawn closer to the Lord and how some people came to know the Lord through it. By that time my KJV only bias was mellowing.

Some time before that I had seen a UPC pastor whom I had known from Bible School reading a book while he was on the platform before a Youth Rally. I asked his wife what he was reading. She told me he had bought an Amplified NT and could hardly lay it down. I soon got one in paper back and wore it out.

Later, I got a NT called The Layman's Parallel New Testament. It had 4 translations in it: KJV, Amplified, Living New Testament, RSV. I took that NT to work and used it for several years in the Bible Study Groups. Later on, in the nineteen nineties I got a copy of The Spirit Filled Life Bible (NKJV) and that became the Bible I used at work.

I've come to like The Living Bible. It's pretty readable. Yes, it is a paraphrase but I like reading it as an alternative. I have a NLT and have read that through twice but I have never read TLB through. I have the Message but it is only the NT and is in a NT that I have which has 8 translations. The book is called The Contemporary Parallel New Testament and has: KJV, NCV, NIV, CEV, NIV, NKJV, NLT, and The Message. One problem (to me) with the Message and The Living Bible is that the wording is a little too contemporary and since our language is constantly changing, some of the words and phrases can become dated.

Rico,
I think you should cut Bill Price a little slack. He's a very sincere young man. He's been through several phases in his "search for truth." When he grabs onto something he grabs hard and believes that "this is it --anything else is wrong." He has been accused of flip-flopping and I guess that's a pretty descriptive term. He comes off as narrow minded and judgmental but I think it's just his zeal. Years ago I read an article called "Zeal Without Knowledge is a Runaway Horse." I think it was in the Apostolic Sentinel which was published by the Texas Dist. of the UPC and Bro. Murray Burr was editor. I don't remember for sure if that's where it was or who was the author. Bro. Price is young and young in the Lord. He has lots of learning to do. Meanwhile, when he comes off strong and narrow minded, just let some of it roll off your back. If you feel secure in the Lord and in your beliefs, you don't have to defend yourself or fight back all the time.

Bro. Price,
I'm not talking behind your back. This is posted publicly so you can read it. I'm not judging you. I do believe you really Love the Lord. I just think you should show more love and respect for those who differ with you. We are all brothers and sisters here. We can disagree without being disagreeable and we can object without being objectionable.

Grant is hanging out with Jason, along with Steve and Brian (and their tech van).