Meanwhile, Back in 1985: Books I Read in 2026, Vol. IV

 

FUTURE BOY: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum
Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry

"Fox's nightly commute from a soundstage at Paramount to the backlot at Universal Studios, from one dream job to another, would become his own space-time continuum. It was in this time portal that Alex P. Keaton handed the baton to Marty McFly while Michael J. Fox tried to catch a few minutes of sleep. Alex's bravado, Marty's flair, and Fox's comedic virtuosity all swirled together to create something truly special.

In Future Boy, Fox tells the remarkable story of playing two landmark roles at the same time  -  a slice of entertainment history that's never been told. Featuring new interviews with the cast and crew of both projects, this book is a vividly drawn and eye-opening story of creative achievement by a beloved icon."

I bought this book using a Target gift card I had been given. Sure, I could have purchased a supply of socks or underwear instead, but where's the joy in that? The Back to the Future trilogy was our first DVD purchase, and attending a 40th Anniversary screening with Curtis and Dustin was a highlight of 2025...how could I not own this book full of behind-the-scenes anecdotes? It's like a several-hour special feature in book form...just my cup of Tab.

First Line: The concept of the space-time continuum was first introduced by Albert Einstein in his theory of general relativity, which revolutionized our understanding of gravity and the nature of the universe.

Page 56 / Line 5: I had a work visa, granted because producers were able to make the case that I was special and unique in America: old enough to work the long hours of an adult, but with a look that allowed me to play a much younger character.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: I worked harder on the "Johnny B. Goode" scene than any other portion of the movie.

Last Line: It's a reminder that some of the best parts of our future can come from the past. One more gift from the year 1985.

 

Liberty and Justice for All?

 For Renee Good & Alex Pretti

I've watched enough cop shows in my life to be familiar with what happens when there is an officer-involved shooting: The officer involved hands over their gun and badge (or shield, as the case may be) and is put on administrative duty while an investigation takes place.

Regarding the recent officer-involved shootings in the streets of Minneapolis, I'm wondering if that protocol is being followed.

I'm forced to wonder about that because all I've heard from the governmental entities overseeing the work of the involved officers are immediate statements of exoneration: Statements that are direct contradictions to the available video evidence.

In all fairness, the February 6 statement from the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is hopeful, but not exhaustive.

In no news conference have I heard an official say anything close to "The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation."

I reserve the right to be wrong about that. I mean, I admit to not seeing or hearing every statement made by every deputy director of this or that acronym. I had to turn things off for a bit. I was overwhelmed by the level of lies spewing out of the mouths of government spokespeople.

So...

I'm left wondering. What is happening with the people who pulled the triggers? Has the news cycle moved on already and now we're all upset about the Epstein files (again) and Border Patrol is breathing a sigh of relief because the spotlight is no longer on them?

American citizens have been killed. I'm wondering where the liberty and justice for all is.

Wisdom from an Empath: Books I Read in 2026, Vol. III

EGO AT THE HELM: The Hidden Cost of Narcissism in Leadership
Robert A. Damon

In [this book, the author] pulls back the curtain on an extraordinarily painful season he endured, and shares lessons learned. He paints a compelling and disturbing picture of a narcissist who wounded countless people, including his own family. Robert's description of the events will leave you a little breathless, but the story is not just about identifying the danger but also dealing with the destructive aftermath. To all who have been pushed out by a narcissist, or who are trying to outlast a narcissist, there are vital nuggets of encouragement, hope, and wisdom throughout this book. Read through these insights thoughtfully and prayerfully and integrate these principles into your life (~Dr. David Timms, from the Foreword).

I bought this book because I know the author; used to be his co-worker during my final youth ministry gig. We even shared an office. What he writes about took place in the church he went to after leaving where we were, and I confess to being grateful I didn't have to go through it with him. It sounds absolutely horrible, and yet he not only lived through it, but grew because of it and became a major pathfinder toward the church's healing.

Bob has always been an empathetic pastor, and he demonstrates both aspects of that two-word phrase throughout the pages of this book. He doesn't just recount his experiences under narcissistic leadership; he provides wise counsel and practical resources to help others in a similar boat.

First Line: Narcissism is a growing issue for organizations, especially when leadership roles require visible trust and interaction with the community to achieve mission success.

Page 56 / Line 5: Personally, I have come to realize that while there are many causes for discouragement in all this, I have several major disappointments that will require time and effort to overcome.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: Narcissism is not the same as being self-centered or selfish; there is a fine distinction here.

Last Line: May that never be true when talking about faith-based leadership, and may our informed leadership be a benchmark for others coming behind us to face successes and challenges with humor, grace, and tact.

 

Soundtrack to a Life: Books I Read in 2026, Vol. II

 

SING IT OUT
Ryan Weaver

Some people journal. Some people run. I’ve always had songs. Music cuts through the noise. Sometimes, it cuts right through you. It goes straight to your heart before your head even has a chance to catch up. A single lyric can say what you’ve been trying to put into words for months. A melody can calm you down, or get you hyped up, depending on the day.

These chapters are stories from my life, each one connected to a song that helped me get through something, or helped me understand who I’m becoming. It’s part memoir, part mixtape, and 100% real.

This book hasn't been published yet. I got to read it as I was formatting and editing it... preparing it so the author can self-publish. Ryan is the son of a couple Beloved and I were in a Sunday School class with back at our Home church in Markle, Indiana.

I think the concept for the book is really interesting, and Ryan does a great job at weaving the story of his life around the songs he listened to and was influenced by through the years. He also proves he has the heart of a pastor by having a strong life lesson as part of each chapter so it all goes far beyond just "strolling through the park and reminiscing." (Not that he quotes that song. The boy ain't that old.)

4 out of 5 stars. Look for it on Amazon later this year.

First Line: Life's a journey.

Page 56 / Line 5: And I hope that, as I continue on this journey of faith, I can give others the same gift of accountability, honesty, and grace that I received in that D Group.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: The seats were piled with empty fast food bags, the air smelled like a mixture of gasoline and freedom, and we always had enough space for one more person.

Last Line: And He always will be.

Well, When You Look at It THAT Way: Books I Read in 2026, Vol. I

 

STAR WARS FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW: 40 Stories Celebrating 40 Years
Various Authors

On May 25, 1977, the world was introduced to Han, Luke, Leia, a pair of droids, a Wookie, an old wizard, a villain in black, and a galaxy full of possibilities. Forty years on, Star Wars remains an unparalleled cultural phenomenon, having inspired and influenced generations of fans and creators. Decades of rich storytelling were sparked by one film, in part because the Star Wars galaxy feels alive. Strange and wonderful characters fill the edges of the screen and make us wonder: What are their stories? This unique anthology celebrates that legacy, as more than 40 contributors lend their vision to this retelling of the original film. Each of the 40 short stories reimagines a moment from the film through the eyes of a supporting character.

I stumbled onto the sequel to this volume, based on The Empire Strikes Back, while browsing the library shelves and thoroughly enjoyed it. (Read about that by clicking here.) I vowed to back up and read this as well ... and well ... here I am.

This collection does a much better job than the first book I read (which is the second book in the series, blah blah blah...) of revealing the thoughts and off-screen activities of characters you actually remember seeing. It tells the tales of a member of Jabba the Hutt's house band, the stormtrooper whose mind was tricked by Obi-Wan ("These are not the droids you're looking for"), Greedo, and even the creature in the trash compactor that nearly drowns Luke. If you're a fan of the movie, I think you'll end up enjoying these short stories, too.

First Line: "What is it they've sent us?"

Page 56 / Line 5: She cast about until she found a long, heavy bar with a notch at the end.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: It is strange, still, to think of death as only the beginning of wisdom.

Last Line: Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plan that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy.

The First Time I've Ever Recommended a Podcast

ONCE WE WERE SPACEMEN
A Podcast with Nathan Fillion & Alan Tudyk

"Since co-starring on Firefly, they have also been aliens, mystery writers, veterinarians, superheroes, chickens, robots, and policemen. 

Now, they’re doing a podcast where they get to know their fellow creatives, learning about who they once were and what they’re up to now.

So, if you are looking to learn something new that will alter the course of your life, or discover something that will change the way you see the world, or you are simply looking to better yourself… keep looking. 

But, if you’d like to have the feeling of hanging out with two old buddies… You’ve come to the right place."

Can't argue with the final two paragraphs of this podcast's self-description. I've listened to the first six episodes and it is abundantly clear these two guys formed a lasting, hilarious bond when they worked together on the short-lived and much-missed TV series, Firefly. In those six episodes, they have had a guest half the time, but I've got to say I have a slight preference for the episodes where they are just chatting with each other.

There is talk about the unglamorous realities of an acting career, least-favorite auditions, how to not be a jerk, and plenty of mutual admiration that sometimes dissolves into self-deprecating humor and sarcastic digs into each other's humble egos.

So far, there hasn't been much PG-13 language, which I appreciate, so I feel fairly safe in recommending the show to the adult members of the elite group of friends who read Dewdrops.

You can find the show practically anywhere you find podcasts, but here's a link to its website and the YouTube introductory trailer.

Song Sung Blue: Proving There's More to Neil Diamond Than "Sweet Caroline" (And It's Not Even a Biography)

 

SONG SUNG BLUE: Inspired by a Legend. Bound by a Dream.
Starring Hugh Jackman & Kate Hudson

"Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act, experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together."

When I first saw the poster for this, I thought it was a biopic, and I thought, "What a perfect choice for someone to play Neil Diamond!" Then, when I saw the trailer and realized it wasn't actually about Diamond but about, in the words of Kate Hudson's character, "Not a Neil Diamond impersonator, but a Neil Diamond interpreter," I was a little disappointed but still no less enthusiastic about the casting.

In terms of the overall effect of the movie, it is really "just" another love story with obstacles to overcome and troubles to live through until love conquers all, but the added spice of Neil Diamond's music and Jackman and Hudson's musical chops made it more fun than that description sounds. There were moments of pure joy and also times when my tears almost broke through.

And then, on top of that, add the fact that it's all based on fact.

Cool.

Weird Thing: I don't know if it was like this in the theaters, but watching this through Fandango at Home, there were times when the lip-syncing to the pre-recorded vocals was PDB: Pretty Dang Bad.

4 out of 5 stars

Watching and Weeping in the Land of the Free

 

I know, I know, I said I was going to avoid “current events” in my posts, but when a trusted friend shares something so unimaginable, to say nothing feels like complicity. FATHER GOD, open our eyes to what You would have us do in these troubling times!

From my friend: This is a hard post to write but last night I was in an ICE ambush raid & witnessed the abduction of 5 U.S. citizens. 

This horrific ICE abduction was the most violent assault on human life I have ever seen in my life.

No due process was followed. Not one ICE agent identified themselves. Not one ICE agent asked for names, legal status, or paperwork. These “men” were masked & heavily armed and immediately & viciously assaulted the young Latino men, workers from my local Mexican restaurant. 

They immediately attempted to try to also illegally seize me, a U.S. citizen and legal observer, but by a true miracle I was able to get into my car and lock the door. The ICE agents were ripping at my doors and threatening me and the other peaceful observers with huge guns like AR-15s, handguns, tasers, batons & devices to break car windows. They attempted to box me in with multiple vehicles but I escaped. The other car of men was violently broken into & taken. 

This is NOT the land of the free. Watching firsthand as U.S. citizens are brutally beaten & dragged by a paramilitary group of 8 unidentifiable men is unconscionable. This is not the FREEDOM my husband, my grandpas or my friends fought & continue to fight for. I am appalled and you should be too. This is both unconstitutional AND illegal. If you’re not already, wake up to this reality right now of ALL U.S. citizens, regardless of OUR skin color. 

It could be you next.

To Post or Not to Post

 

I'm struggling.

It seems like every day, there is a shocking event or executive order or tragic occurrence that overtakes the news cycle and results in a flood of social media posts:

• The Left Wing decries the echoes of Nazi Germany and the waves of racism and authoritarianism and, yes, I'll say it, Trumpism.
• The Right Wing explains how the tragic event wasn't really tragic, the illegal action wasn't really illegal, and the nonsensical rant really made sense . . . besides, if a Democrat had done it or said it, the News Media would be praising it.

And me?

With a very few exceptions, I have avoided weighing in. Pouring gasoline on a fire seldom results in the fire going out. That has proven to be true on the occasion of those few exceptions.

Besides, I honestly am more interested in people falling in love with Jesus than in hating Trump or Woke Culture or whatever either side views as The Enemy.

In addition to that, what will my cries into the void change or accomplish, anyway?

But then I think of the famous quote from Martin Niemöller:

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

I really have been struggling, but I think that writing this down has helped me come to a conclusion.

I think the long-term betterment of life as we know it will be best served by me if I lift up the name of Jesus and pray for his words in John 12:32 to be fulfilled:

"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."

Cramming Two Months' Worth of Study Into 52 Weeks: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XVIII

 

EXPERIENCING THE HEART OF JESUS FOR 52 WEEKS: A Year-Long Bible Study
Max Lucado

Jesus' name is familiar and his story is universal, but few of us could really call him a close friend. Just as over time we learn the familiar expressions of our closest friends, so we can come to know the personality of our Savior. This book is about really knowing him. In this study, Max Lucado invites you to step closer to Jesus.

I started this workbook in January, aiming to complete one of its 52 chapters each week as designed—and for the first time in a long time, I actually met that goal! I suppose I was successful partly because the "work" part of each week consisted of 6-8 content-oriented questions about two short Scripture passages...certainly not a week's worth of reading or contemplation. (When I say "content-oriented," I mean that the questions asked to follow up each reading had very little to do with considering how the truth I had just read might influence my attitudes and behaviors, and an awful lot to do with testing whether I actually read the verses, e.g., Having read a statement about Jesus similar to "I have come that you may have life and have it to the full," the workbook would then ask, "What did Jesus say he came to accomplish?").

In terms of a good collection of Lucado stories and analogies, I give it 5 stars. In terms of a Bible study resource, 2.5. There is more Scripture in Beloved's 9-week study, Blue Tassels, than in this 52-week "study."

First Line: When I was young, we used to take our family vacations in Colorado.

Page 56 / Line 5: We come to Christ as is  -  or we cannot come to him at all.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: We say our prayers as casually as we would order a burger at the drive-through: "I'll have one solved problem and two blessings, cut the hassles, please."

Last Line: What especially stands out to you about what you have learned?

A Good Read that Needs to be Proofread: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XVII

 

THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE: A Brit in the FBI Thriller
Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison

FBI Special Agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine are the government's Covert Eyes  -  leading a top-notch handpicked team of agents to tackle crimes and criminals both international and deadly. But their first case threatens their fledgling team when the enigmatic and dangerous thief known as the Fox calls from Venice asking for help.

Fourth in the series, this adventure brings back a villain from the first book: the aforementioned "Fox." It's a quick-moving story, and I was three-quarters of the way through it before I knew it. On an unrelated note, I just about had a cardiac incident when I read the following un-proofread "sentence" on page 350: Ajax tooks her hand, squezed her fingers."

First Line: The light was dying, and so was Da Vinci.

Page 56 / Line 5: They took up nearly all the wall space, and he sat in the center in front of them at his solitary command post, his comfortable chair on wheels so he could easily scoot across to any of the screens he wished.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: Ten minutes later, Cassandra sat at her cypress desk, shining with the rubbed-in oil the housekeepers used that smelled of sweet oranges. [I will leave it up to you to decide whether it was Cassandra or her desk that was shining!]

Last Line: And she nodded at his small son.

Roth Christmas Epistle 2025

The Year That Was

January  -  Curtis turned 38.  *  Debbie spoke at a church-wide Ladies’ Birthday Party for Valley Christian Church.

February  -  Thomas turned 11.  *. Debbie spent 3 1/2 days in San Luis Potosí, Mexico getting Casa de Ninos ready for its new house parents and children.  *  Dewey got to see Anawynn in “SpongeBob the Musical.”  *  We thoroughly enjoyed the movie, The Unbreakable Boy.  *  On the 23rd, Shonda turned 42 and Kelly Jo turned 36.

March  -  Ivy June turned 5.  *  Enjoyed a meal with nephew-in-law Raju during his overnight stop in the Twin Cities. (Raju is a flight attendant.)

April  -  Anawynn turned 12.  *  Debbie was interviewed (mostly about her book Blue Tassels) by national women's speakers advocate, Marnie Swedberg.  *  Dewey preached at Valley Christian Church on the 6th.  *  Debbie spoke to almost 200 ladies at Hosanna Church.

May  -  Curtis & Abbey said hello to Shepherd Arlo Roth, born 10:18 AM, May 23, 9lbs, 9 oz, 21.25 inches. We welcome Goober to the clan!  *  Dewey preached again at VCC on the 25th.

June  -  The first weekend had us attending The Well Conference for Christian Creatives in Hudsonville, MI. Debbie sang for the assembled masses and they each received a copy of her book, Drenched: Only Hope in the Storm.  *  The 9th was our 46th anniversary!

July  -  Crazy month. Debbie drove to Grand Rapids, MI, to attend Carol Kent's Speak Up Conference, but skipped the final day to be able to see her oldest niece for the first time in 35 years! She then drove down to Fort Wayne, IN, to meet that niece's husband and son and hang out with dear, dear friends from Markle until I flew in on Tuesday to attend Norwell High School Class of 1975's 50th Class Reunion on Saturday. A lot of laughs and too much food all week long.

August  -  Dewey turned 68.  *  Road trip to Wyoming and back that included the wedding of Debbie's great-niece, Shania, and ended up being one of our most fun, spontaneous vacations ever, e.g., a helicopter ride around Mount Rushmore, a day in Yellowstone, the Wyoming State Barbecue Championship & Bluegrass Festival.

September  -  LOTS of birthdays: Ezra Ann 4. Clarence "Clay" 2.  Angel 45. Debbie 67. Maverick 9.  *  Debbie spoke and sang to a group of about 70 ladies at an area-wide retreat in Texas.

October  -  A nice-but-too-short visit in Arkansas with Shonda and her family. Their new house is fairly amazing.  *  Enjoyed the 3rd year of greeting trick-or-treaters as SantaDewey.

November  -  The 1st was the official release date for Dewey's book, The Best of Truth Is.  *  Dewey had a good time with Dustin and Curtis at a 40th anniversary screening of Back to the Future.  *  Shonda was thankful for the end of the government shutdown so she could get back to work.  *  Thanksgiving found us at Curtis’ in-laws, and the following Sunday, Angel and Curtis brought their crews to our place for round two. #TrueConfession: Curtis and Shepherd represented their household solo, as the rest were under the weather.  *  On Black Friday, our only excursion was to the movie theater for Wicked: For Good.

December  -  Jesse turned 14.  *  Debbie celebrated 27 years of cancer-free living.  *  Thanks to Angel's in-laws, we experienced the Hosanna Christmas Concert for the first time. What an impressive display of talent and creativity!  *  The 30th, Debbie had (will have) surgery on her left shoulder to repair the rotator cuff.  *  The Most Wonderful Time of the Year was celebrated with 3/4 of the Rothchilds gathered with their families under our roof (SOME year, Shonda!), an event that makes whenEVER it happens one of the best days of the year for us.

Many warm wishes to you all. May the light that has come into the world (Jesus) illuminate your life and fill you with joy all year long!

On Our Unpresidential President

 

I refuse to lay down and accept all the hurtful, ugly, immoral words and actions of the U.S.A.'s current president.

Say what you can about his policies, it's his character that I cannot condone.

Now, there are plenty of things about his policies and executive orders that anger me to no end, but I recognize the possibility of reasonable people having different opinions about economics, immigration, and EBT cards.

What I cannot comprehend is allowing a pass to someone who treats people with the utmost disrespect while expecting unflinching loyalty. This man talks and behaves like a spoiled preschooler, ignoring the rulings of judges and the intent of the laws of our land.

You wouldn't allow your child to behave this way. Why are you accepting it from a grown man? How can you say, "He's doing what I voted for?"

"Wicked: For Good" Not Too Bad

 

Wicked: For Good (also known as Wicked: Part Two) is a 2025 American musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The sequel to Wicked (2024), it adapts the second act of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which was loosely based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, a reimagining of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation. (Wikipedia)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Beloved had enjoyed Wicked so much when she saw it with Angel and Kelly Jo, she said, "You've got to see this," and took me as she watched it a second time (a VERY rare occurrence for her to watch a movie she's already seen). Because of that, I bought tickets for us to see For Good as well.

Because it had been a year since I had seen the first part ... and had only seen it once ... we rented it through Fandango at Home and watched it the day before Thanksgiving. Well ... when I say that we watched it, I mean that I watched it while Beloved sat beside me on the couch, paying more attention to her phone and the laundry. Can't really blame her. If seeing the movie twice was a rarity, you can imagine her lack of interest in seeing it a third time.

Be that as it may, if you have NOT seen Part 1, don't bother watching Part 2. You would be absolutely and irrevocably lost.

For those fans who are wondering, yes, what you've heard about how most of the musical's best songs were in Part 1 is true. There are only a couple in Part 2 that I even recognized. The music in For Good seemed to be more integrated as part of the narrative ... less "we will now pause the story so we can do a song". Some will like that, others will not.

The other noticeable difference between the two films is that For Good gets down to the business of intertwining with the Oz story as we know it from the 1939 film. That made it a bit more satisfying for me (speaking as a former Scarecrow).

Should you see it? If you loved Wicked, Part One, do yourself the favor of seeing the story come to its conclusion. 3.5 out of 5 stars

Current Events Note: MAGAphiles won't necessarily appreciate the whole plotline about the Wizard's anti-animal campaigning...unless they fail to see how it parallels a current political figure's rhetoric about immigrants.

Good Author, Bad Theologian: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XVI

 

THE LIFE OF OUR LORD: Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849
Charles Dickens

In this charming, simple retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, adapted from the Gospel of St. Luke, Dickens hoped to teach his young children about religion and faith. Since he wrote it exclusively for his children, Dickens refused to allow publication. When Dickens died in 1870, the manuscript was left to his sister-in-law, Georgina Hogarth. From there it fell to Dickens's son, Sir Henry Fielding Dickens, with the admonition that it should not be published while any child of Dickens lived.

Just before the 1933 holidays, Sir Henry died, leaving his father's manuscript to his wife and children. He also bequeathed to them the right to make the decision to publish. By majority vote, they decided to publish the book in London. In 1934, Simon & Schuster published the first American edition, which became one the year's biggest bestsellers.

I confess I was not aware of the existence of this book until I saw it while browsing the library shelves. I immediately took it home, having great expectations for my reading experience. (See what I did there?) While the general story certainly was Dickensian, there were a few factual errors that went beyond narrative license. For instance: Mr. D. said that Herodias was Herod’s daughter instead of his wife and he had a centurian asking Jesus to raise his dead daughter back to life (while what really happened was the soldier asking Jesus to heal his sick daughter, but then she died while they were on the way there). But the biggest disappointment of all was this line, placed in the mouth of the herald angel speaking to the shepherds: "There is a child born today in the city of Bethlehem near here, who will grow up to be so good that God will love Him as His own Son." Wow...so Jesus earned his spot as God's Son because of how he lived? Sorry, Charlie, but that's just plain wrong. And truth be told, there's an awful lot of works-based salvation scattered throughout the book. Maybe it was an attempt to get his children to behave, but it's bad theology.

First Line: My Dear Children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ.

Page 56 / Line 5: "Hear ye Him!"

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: [Speaking of camels] At all events, they are brought over here, sometimes; and if you would like to see one, I will show you one.

Last Line: And pray God to bless and preserve us all, this night, and forevermore, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Devils Tower & the Sturgis Bike Rally: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XV

 

AN OBVIOUS FACT: A Longmire Mystery
Craig Johnson

In the twelfth novel in the New York Times bestselling Longmire series, Walt, Henry, and Vic discover much more than they bargained for when they are called in to investigate a hit-and-run accident involving a young motorcyclist near Devils Tower.

I can hardly believe there have been eleven Longmire novels before this one. And yet, counting a collection of short stories and two novellas, this marks the fifteenth time I’ve written about the Wyoming lawman. That alone should testify to how much I enjoy Craig Johnson’s work. If I haven’t convinced anyone to read about Longmire by now, maybe it’s time I stopped trying. Still, Johnson’s vivid descriptions of place, action, and character make his books a non-guilty pleasure I’m always happy to recommend  -  but with a fair warning: while not overflowing with profanity, there’s enough to give it an R rating if filmed word for word. 

First Line: I tried to think how many times I'd kneeled down on asphalt to read the signs, but I knew this was the first time I'd done it in Hulett.

Page 56 / Line 5: "Wow."

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: I swear you’re like this detective for the disenfranchised.

Last Line: She had no resort but to let the shiny chrome molding of the windshield slip from her grasp as we pulled away, and I wasn't tempted to look into the rearview mirror, not even once.

What Are Shepherds Like?: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XIV

 

THEY SMELL LIKE SHEEP: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century
Dr Lynn Anderson

What kind of leadership will effectively lead the church into the morally turbulent twenty-first century? The same kind of leadership that lead it through the morally and politically chaotic first century. Shepherding. This is the kind of leadership Jesus used, and this is the kind of leadership that will take his church where he wants it to go. While the term "shepherd" produces warm images of love, care, and tenderness, it also describes a form of leadership that is perilously protective, dangerous, dirty, and smelly.

This is the second time I’ve read this book. The first was well over a decade ago—maybe even two—when all the elders at Valley Christian Church read and discussed it together. This time, I revisited it to discuss it with a man in our congregation who’s going through an internship on the path toward becoming an elder. After so many years, it felt almost like reading it for the first time, filled not so much with “ah-ha” moments but with several quiet “ah-so” reflections. I highly recommend this book—not only for potential elders, but for all members of a congregation. For both audiences, it’s rich with Scriptural truth and offers a healthy challenge to what can too easily become “business as usual” in North American “churchianity.”

First Line: Christian people everywhere are crying out for spiritual leaders  -  men and women grounded in the Word of God, made wise by the experiences of life, and filled with the love and compassion of Christ.

Page 56 / Line 5: If we don't provide the flock with positive mentors, many sheep will flock to negative mentors by default.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: Decision making, having meetings, and administrating  -  while they may have a place in implementing certain minor parts of an elder's role  -  do not constitute the biblical focus of God's calling for shepherds.

Last Line: So we disentangle ourselves from all the others and move out behind him into the morning.

Faithfully Funny: Books I "Read" in 2025, Vol. XIII

 

OF MOOSE AND MEN: Lost and Found in Alaska
Torry Martin & Doug Peterson

Torry Martin — a comedian, actor, and hippie — fled from California to the wilderness of Alaska, searching for answers to life's big questions. He found what he was looking for...and a lot more! A moose got its head stuck in Torry's window. A reindeer was trapped in his kitchen. A bear almost prevented him from reaching his airplane. He once woke up frozen to his cabin floor.

Like the Israelites of old, Torry experienced plenty of miracles and mishaps in the wilderness. And like them, he came face-to-face with God and was changed forever.

Each of these true stories of Torry's hilarious blunders and misfortunes contains a nugget of truth, but one theme prevails: If God can reclaim and repurpose Torry Martin's life, He can do the same for you and those you love.

This is the second book from Martin I've read, but the first one he wrote. I am happy to report it doesn't matter which order you experience them in. But it DOES matter that this time, this tome was HEARD and not seen. Torry's performance of this book is flawless, and the added sound effects, etc., make it come across as episodes of a radio comedy/drama (one of which, Adventures in Odyssey, Martin used to write for). I highly recommend experiencing this book in its audio form, which is presented as a podcast and can be found by CLICKING HERE. Honestly, I hope they produce another one for his 2nd book, The Call of the Mild.

First Line: The 400-pound reindeer was going berserk, wildly trying to make an escape.

Page 56 / Line 5 (estimated): As I looked over at my balcony mates, one man and one woman, I got a strange feeling that something just wasn't quite right.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: I slept wearing gloves, a hat, and a heavy coat because the only heat in our camper came from a small electrical heater and the propane stove, which I couldn't use too much if I wanted to keep up my life-long habit of breathing.

Last Line: Let the feasting begin.

A Real Book by a Fictional Author: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XII

 

DRIVING HEAT
Richard Castle

“Nikki Heat, the NYPD’s top homicide detective, has been promoted to captain just in time to face a thrilling case with a very personal twist. In this gripping follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Raging Heat, Captain Heat’s job is compromised when her fiancé, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jameson Rook becomes a distraction at best, and an obstacle at worst, as their parallel lives not only cross, but collide.”

Once upon a time, there was a dramedy TV series on ABC titled “Castle” about a mystery novelist named Richard Castle who was “attached” to an NYPD homicide squad to aid in his research. (He was friends with the mayor.) He, of course, was not a silent observer, and actually ended up helping several cases get solved…and fell in love with the implausibly beautiful and high-heeled leader of the squad. In the show, it all resulted in a best-selling series of novels about an implausibly beautiful and high-heeled Nikki Heat and an investigative journalist, Jameson Rook (chess players will get the joke).

[Take a breath.]

This book is, supposedly, one of those novels. And it reads pretty much like an episode, or more appropriately, several episodes of the TV series. Same witty repartee, same bursts of action…but with the addition of (unnecessary, in my view) several instances of PG-13 language (and just enough instances of the F-bomb to bump it to R).

All that said, I really enjoyed this and will be browsing the library for more titles in the series.

First Line: The last thing Nikki Heat expected when she received her promotion to captain of the NYPD was how much the proud expression on Rook’s face in the audience would make her want him.

Page 56 / Line 5: When was the last time you fired one of your weapons?

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: Detective Ramey laughed. “Jealousy’s an ugly thing, Randall.” “Which explains your face,” said Ochoa.

Last Line: All in.

Local Free Spirit Tells All: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XI

 

OLD SHORTS AND POETREE: Book One
Ron Runeborg

“An anthology of short stories and poetry; some factual, some fiction, and some trueish." From Bookscape: "[This book,] published by Lulu Press, stands as a beacon of knowledge and inspiration. With its insightful content and engaging narrative style, this book transcends genres, offering something valuable for every reader." From the back cover: "Ron Runeborg writes for the love of the craft. He lives in Lakeville, Minnesota, where his lovely wife Linda and little dog-child Montague work tirelessly to appreciate his many eccentricities."

This guy's self-description and a quick glance at the contents persuaded me to spend the quarter (library book sale!) and take this home. It's a wide-ranging collection of short stories, poems, smatterings of thoughts, and autobiographical verbal sketches. As to be expected, some are amusing, some are disturbing, some are thoughtful, and some are absurd. There's a bit of PG-13 language widely scattered throughout, but not enough to make me go "Eww." I'm giving it 3 out of 4 stars.

First Line: This book is an anthology, a smattering, a hodgepodge, a text melange of the stuff that wanders around in the dark recesses of my rather odd brain.

Page 56 / Line 5: Jack started waving his arms as he did every time he had a light bulb.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: The guy never knows what he's sayin'; he just babbles off some story like his lips are a nail gun and he's building a house.

Last Line: Once comes my reawakening, I'll tell you all I've known.