Material Monday: DailyBible Email

Yesterday, our pastor challenged us to increase the time we spend reading the Bible, to just start where we're at and make it more. This was very convicting to me since I realized that where I was at was practically zero.
Since I love things like email and online bill pay and blogging and surfing and online shopping, I figured I could harness technology to get me past this block, so I searched yesterday for 'daily bible reading' and found lots of possibilities. Most are geared toward reading the entire Bible in a year like this one from Crosswalk (which also features an audio feed) but I'm for biting off a smaller chunk, at least to start.
The service I'm trialing is called DailyBible Email from Global Networks. I didn't read any of the fine print so don't know if they have a particular ax to grind, but I like the parallel format (NIV, CEV and KJV) and the low-key approach. Today's passage was so inspiring; it drove home to me what I've been missing by not making this a regular part of my life. Read the passage below and see if you don't agree. One question for you Greek scholars out there: Both the NIV and the KJV read 'cloud of witnesses' but the CEV says 'crowd of witnesses'? Which is more correct? I prefer 'cloud' - it paints an image of being surrounded by saints.

Hebrews 11.29-12.2 from the New International Version (NIV)
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 12
God Disciplines His Sons
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.