Books I Read in 2014, Vol. I

 

WHATEVER IT TAKES: The True Story of a Fan Making It Into the NFL
Daniel Kelly

"...the amazing and true story of a fan growing up in a small town, dreaming of one day making it into the NFL. Without any college or pro playing or coaching experience and against all the odds, his dream came true....It's a story of overcoming the greatest adversities life has to offer. Perhaps the most incredible part is what he found on the other side of the dream."

I came by this book in a strange way. The author sent me a copy, including a note of thanks for a sermon he heard me preach that gave him the oomph to "lay it all on the line" and tell his story. That, of course, makes me want to give this a raving review.

56/5: This was home to the New York Islanders hockey team.

EVERYBODY KILLS SOMEBODY SOMETIME: A Rat Pack Mystery
Robert J. Bandisi

"Eddie Gianelli is a pit boss at the Sands, Las Vegas, 1960. After twelve years, he's got the whole town wired, but he's still surprised when Joey Bishop drops by his table and invites him to meet with Frank Sinatra in the Rat Pack's private steam room. Frank asks Eddie to find out who's been sending threatening letters to Deano..."

This is the first of a series of Rat Pack Mysteries (I read the second, Hey There, You with the Gun in Your Hand, last year). It sets up the story as a long memory of an aging Eddie, after the Sands is demolished. There is certainly more sexuality and vulgar language than Hey There..., but it's still a thoroughly enjoyable read. While the mystery element is present, it feels more like an homage to Vegas and the Rat Pack than a nail-biter of a thriller.

56/5: That the guy?

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference
Thom S. Rainer

"It is impossible to grow to spiritual maturity by yourself. You must be connected to the other parts of the body. This wonderful little book explains the power of belonging to a church family. (Rick Warren) If you love your church, are frustrated with your church, or don't understand why membership matters, I encourage you to pick this book up and read it. (Matt Chandler)"

I've copied the above endorsements because I agree with them. This is an easy, short (79 pages) read, but it packs a wallop when it comes to nailing down what kind of "church member" God calls us to be. If you don't feel connected in your local church, read this book and start living up to its challenges.

56/5: I was a young businessman in my early twenties.

THE WRECKING CREW: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret
Kent Hartman

"If you were a fan of popular music in the 1960s and early '70s, you were a fan of the Wrecking Crew - whether you knew it or not. On hit record after hit record by everyone from the Byrds, the Beach Boys, and the Monkees to the Grass Roots, the 5th Dimension, Sonny & Cher, and Simon & Garfunkel, this collection of West Coast musicians established themselves as the driving sound of pop music - sometimes over the objection of actual band members forced to make way for Wrecking Crew members."

My kind of book...behind-the-scenes tales of the creation of some of the most iconic songs of the 60s and 70s. Thoroughly interesting and enjoyable.

56/5: But all personal preferences aside, at least a song should be played cleanly and correctly before committing it to tape.

JUST SHY OF HARMONY
Philip Gulley

"Master storyteller Philip Gulley returns to the winsome ways of Harmony, Indiana, the small Midwestern town that captured the hearts of readers in his acclaimed debut novel, 'Home to Harmony.' ...follows the happenings of an eventful year spanning two Easters, in which Quaker pastor Sam Gardner and the members of his flock discover surprising answers to life's challenging mysteries."

"Surprising answers to life's challenging mysteries" sounds a lot heavier than this is. This has the same infusion of humor and real-life-osity as "Home...", but with more of an overarching narrative and fewer chapter-length episodes tied up with pithy moral statements. Engaging and pleasant.

56/5: Sometimes when their hips are touching, the stirrings unsettle him and he'll slide away.

I QUIT BEING A CHRISTIAN TO FOLLOW JESUS
Alan Scott

"HAS THE NAME 'CHRISTIAN' LOST ITS POWER? I know there’s more.  Don’t you really know this too?  That fish on the back of your car really DOES mean something.  Its purpose should be more than merely enticing someone to honk and wish you a nice day if,  indeed, you didn’t just cut them off. The best music --- the music and song we long to hear --- has not disappeared.  We’ve just stepped strangely and temporarily off the stage.  I sense God wants to bring us back for a first-pumping encore.  Let’s scream, cheer, write, pray, search, and hunger until the real music plays again. Maybe Christians and Jesus followers everywhere will raise their Bic lighters into the air and begin wearing, again, the impeccable name of Jesus.  Let’s explore some specific strategies to  help get us there."

Alan is a great guy I've had the privilege of knowing and working with...and now I've had the privilege of reading his book. He's got a light and breezy style that makes even challenges to a deeper walk with Christ easy to read and understand. Dig this quote: "Maybe we've dropped our nets, and turned the American Church into something pursuing self-actualization. 'Bless me, feed me, make me worship, and if you don't, I'm just going to go somewhere else'."

56/5: Landscape - Dr. Luke writes in his first chapter of Acts how Jesus commanded His followers to, "...not leave Jerusalem, but wait..." (Acts 1:4). Portrait - Mary and the baby were a threat and an embarrassment to the hopes of a Messiah.

ME, MYSELF, & BOB: A True Story About Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables
Phil Vischer

"Phil Vischer's dream, known to the world as VeggieTales, changed the landscape of children's videos. But most people have no idea of the intense struggle its creator would endure as he desperately tried to build - then witnessed the tremendous fall - of a new media empire for God."

This is, once again, my kind of book...a peek backstage into the world of entertainment...but with the addition in this case of a testimony of real-life struggles and questions and goals and, at long last, giving up and letting God do HIS thing, instead of asking Him to bless PHIL'S thing. I was never aware of the financial downfall and massive layoffs described in this book, and Vischer winds things up with not only what he learned spiritually, but as a business leader as well. A truly interesting read!

56/5: As daunting as that challenge appeared, an even more daunting challenge was staring me down first: Where would I get the money to buy the gear?.

WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
Spencer Johnson, M.D.

"...a simple parable that reveals profound truths about change. It is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a "Maze" and look for "Cheese" to nourish them and make them happy....you can discover for yourself how to deal with change, so that you can enjoy less stress and more success (however you define it) in your work and in your life."

I was given this book 14 years ago by my then-manager. I ran across it in my search to expand the offerings at Dewey's Gently Read Books (a now-defunct Facebook page of mine) and realized that just now would be an excellent time to reacquaint myself on how to deal with change (i.e., there's a ton of uncertainty at work right now). It's a little book (94 pages) with a lot of truth in it.

56/5: He took in some deep breaths and felt invigorated by the movement.

GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES
Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm

"The Project Gutenberg eBook, Illustrated by John B. Gruelle and R. Emmett Owen"

I don't really need to explain these stories, do I? Other than to say that it was cool receiving this at no cost through iBooks and that the unfamiliar stories in this volume are just as...strange and magical...as the familiar ones; and that the familiar stories are not very much like their Disney counterparts at all. I've been reading this in spurts and starts for quite a while...one or two stories here, another one there...and just happened to have finished it at this time.

56/5: Landscape - A good meal of milk and pancakes, with sugar, apples, and nuts, was spread on the table, and in the back room were two nice little beds, covered with white, where Hansel and Grethel laid themselves down, and thought themselves in heaven. Portrait - Not long afterwards the two brothers arrived.

TORN: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-Vs-Christians Debate
Justin Lee

"Nicknamed 'God Boy' as a teenager, Justin was committed to his evangelical faith and felt destined for a life in Christian ministry. But he had a secret: though he struggled to accept it, he also knew that he was gay. In this groundbreaking book, Justin recalls the events - his coming out to his Christian family and friends, his disillusioning experiences with the 'ex-gay' movement, and his in-depth study of the Bible - that transformed his life and faith, and led him to become one of the leading voices on the church's most polarizing issue....With grace and authority, Justin shows how people on both sides of the debate can respect, learn from, and love one another."

I've been waiting for this book to come to the library for many months...ever since Pastor Dave (https://www.blogger.com/profile/15915136880489138506) told me about it. Capsule review: TOTALLY WORTH THE WAIT! Everyone...absolutely everyone with any interest or concern or opinion about the issue of homosexuality and faith should read this book with an open mind and a tender heart. You can agree or disagree with Lee's interpretation of pertinent Bible verses, but the pressing need - and possibility - for mutual understanding and compassion has never been expressed so compellingly.

56/5: He blamed both mothers and fathers, but in his view, fathers got the lion's share of the blame.

Books I Read in 2013, Vol. III

HOME TO HARMONY
Philip Gulley

From the publisher: "In this acclaimed inaugural volume in the Harmony series, master American storyteller Philip Gulley draws us into the charming world of minister Sam Gardner in his first year back in his hometown, capturing the essence of small-town life with humor and wisdom."

From me: Having thoroughly enjoyed Gulley's memoir, I Love You, Miss Huddleston, and other inappropriate longings of my Indiana childhood, I was eager to dive into his Harmony book series, and I am not disappointed in the least. This fiction book reads very much like I Love You..., but with the added bonus of a little "lesson" at the end of each incident. Not a heavy-handed hit over the head with DOGMA, but a gentle "yeah, this was funny, but there's also something True here." On almost every page, there was something that made me say "Oh, I need to quote this in my review," which, of course, has left me with quoting nothing and just encouraging everyone to read this for themselves. (But if you've got 14 minutes to listen to me read an excellent chapter from the book, click over to https://soundcloud.com/deweyroth/miriam-and-ellis-by-philip.)

Page 56/5th sentence: He stood during the silence and said, "One saved soul, and all it cost was cookies."

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FUTURE...Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned
Michael J. Fox

"Michael draws on his own life experiences to make a case that real learning happens when 'it all goes skidding sideways.' He writes of coming to Los Angeles from Canada at age eighteen and attempting to make his way as an actor. Fox offers up a comically skewed take on how, in his own way, he fulfilled the requirements of a college syllabus."

I had thought this was going to be more of a How We Made Back to the Future memoir when I requested it from the library, but it's obviously meant to be given as a gift to someone graduating from high school (NOTE: the language is sometimes PG-13). It's a tidy little book, though, and includes just enough behind-the-scenes anecdotes to keep the lessons it's trying to teach interesting.

56/5: Understandably, the difficulty of running camera-dolly tracks through the rain forest, along with a plethora of other practical issues, made it impossible for our crew to work in the actual jungle.

THE BOURNE IDENTITY
Robert Ludlum

"He has no past. And he may have no future. His memory is blank. He only knows that he was flushed out of the Mediterranean Sea, his body riddled with bullets....But now Jason Bourne is marked for death, caught in a maddening puzzle, racing for survival through the deep layers of his buried past into a bizarre world of murderous conspirators - led by Carlos, the world's most dangerous assassin."

If you've only seen the movie and that last part of the above promotional blurb doesn't sound familiar, it's because there wasn't anything in the movie about Carlos...at least I don't remember anything about what is 80% of the plot of this book. It was good to be able to picture Matt Damon as Bourne, but it was also good that the book was SO different from the movie...it helped to be able to enjoy it on its own terms. And enjoyable it was. Ludlum keeps the reader in just as much of a fog as Bourne, doling out snippets of information just as they are needed to move the story along.

56/5: Once I'm out, I'll let you go.

GODS AT WAR: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Soul
Kyle Idleman

"According to Idleman, idolatry isn't an issue - it is the issue. By asking insightful questions, Idleman reveals which false gods each of us are allowing on the throne of our lives. What do you sacrifice for? What makes you mad? What do you worry about? We're all wired for worship, but we often end up valuing and honoring the idols of money, sex, food, romance, success, and many others that keep us from the intimate relationship with God that we desire."

Aside from my personal pet peeve of people confusing the first and second commandments and making them basically the same thing, when they're not, my other disappointment with this book is the repetitive nature of saying "It's a problem when we have THIS as a higher priority than God," chapter after chapter...just changing what THIS is. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book for folks who have never considered how the trappings of this world system can separate a person from a deep, meaningful relationship with Christ...it's just that I'm not one of those people.

56/5: But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.

700 SUNDAYS
Billy Crystal

"To support his family, Billy Crystal's father, Jack, worked two jobs and long hours and could spare only Sundays to spend with his loved ones. But these precious days would be in short supply - Jack's life was suddenly ended by a heart attack when Billy was just fifteen. 700 SUNDAYS refers to the sadly precise amount of time shared by a devoted father and his adoring son."

This book is based on Crystal's Tony Award-winning stage production of the same name, and you can definitely hear his vocal delivery throughout. It's not a "laugh riot," but is full of the gentle, good-natured humor you would expect from this comic/impressionist/actor.

56/5: [Heroes] can also have way too much makeup on and cotton candy hair, like my Aunt Sheila.

C. S. LEWIS LETTERS TO CHILDREN
Edited by Lyle W. Dorsett & Marjorie Lamp Mead

"Through his letters, C. S. Lewis shared with his young correspondents his feelings about school (he hated math), writing, and animals. And, of course, he talked about Narnia, explaining why there are only seven books in the Chronicles, how to pronounce Aslan's name...."

I rediscovered this book as I was going through my shelves looking for tomes to offer for sale at the Dewey's Gently Read Books Facebook page (now defunct). I had forgotten about it, but noticed a few highlighted passages inside, so I thought I'd give it another read before parting with it. The most surprising (and personally disappointing) discovery was that Lewis thought the 7 Narnia books should be read in the order in which they are now being published, starting with The Magician's Nephew instead of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I suppose that's only disappointing to me, because I read them in the order of their original publication and think you need to at LEAST read Wardrobe before Nephew could be as deeply meaningful as it is, but ah well.

56/5: I'm just back from the mountains of Donegal, which are very beautiful, and where I had some grand walks and bathes.

THE WEALTH FACTOR
Saint Matthew's Churches

No picture, no publisher's blurb, and no endorsement whatsoever. This is really more of a thick pamphlet than a book, and the only reason I read it was because a family member gave it to me and asked me to. The only reason I write about it here is in hopes of warning anyone who might be taken in by its mix of misused Scripture references, promises of health and wealth, and a totally-has-nothing-to-do-with-the-point section on patriotism. There are, within these pages, wonderful examples of twisting Scripture, saying that it says something it doesn't say, and subtly asking (again and again) for the reader to send money...without ever actually asking for money. Pretty ingenious, actually.

My other beef with this booklet is that it kept referring to the reader following "these clear principles," but nowhere in the book does it clearly list what principles it is talking about. It talks about "the seed principle," but never spells out what it is. There are vague, generic phrases about doing things God's way, but nothing that says what that way is, other than implying that if the reader plants seeds of money (with Saint Matthew's Churches, of course) that he/she will receive an abundant financial blessing in return: "You can have peace of mind, improved health, and a never-ceasing flow of financial blessings." Oh really? Try telling the Apostle Paul that.

56/5: Many suffer financially because they fail to give God regular seed gifts out of the blessings He gives them.

FINDING SERENITY: Anti-heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly
Jane Esperson, Editor

"Firefly's early demise left fans with a deep sense of loss and plenty of unanswered questions. From what was wrong wih the pilot to what was right with the Reavers, from the use of Chinese to how correspondence between Joss [Whedon, the show's creator] and network executives might have gone, from a philosopher's perspective on Objects in Space to a sex therapist's analysis of Inara, Finding Serenity is filled with writing as exciting, funny, and enthralling as the show itself."

Stumbled upon a reference to this book while looking for something else, found it in the library's catalog, and thoroughly enjoyed every page. While the audience for the book has got to be fairly limited, they are sure to NOT be disappointed. There's a great mixture of lightheartedness and semi-serious analysis.

56/5: Science fiction and fantasy shows have it much harder, as the one thing a genre show has to do that others don't is establish the setting.

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2013

KELLY JO (24) – The milestones this year were the birth of Anawynn Cecil in April (after 50 hours of labor!) and the wedding to Dustin in June (a beautiful outdoor ceremony, at which it didn't rain until the clean-up was over and Dewey shut the car's trunk). Kelly Jo is now nanny for just one family, with two children, plus caring for Anawynn. An excellent situation. Not so excellent was Dustin's teaching position being lost at the end of the school year, but he has been able to be busily substituting in the schools and teaching dance, with a few performance pieces to boot.

CURTIS (26) – A short-term missions trip to Romania in late June was an amazing experience. The loss of his soon-to-become-a-manager position at a local restaurant was not so amazing, but Curtis was able to see it as God's way of steering him into some kind of Christian ministry/leadership...whether it leads to vocational ministry or what is often referred to as "tentmaking" (working a "secular" job while performing spiritual service in volunteer positions) remains to be seen.

SHONDA (30) – John and Shonda were able to attend and help out with Kelly Jo and Dustin's wedding in June, and it was wonderful being able to spend a little time with Daughter Number Two after far too long. December saw an addition to their family...a 4-year-old German Shepherd named Rocky. He's retired from his service as a bomb-sniffer and has been very active giving their Arkansas home a thorough checking.

ANGEL (33) –is in the middle of her 10th year of teaching first grade, but won't be completing it...she and Phil are expecting a little brother for Jesse in late February. Jesse turned two December 4th, and liked the idea of people singing to him and giving him things! ( A week or two later, when Dewey started singing "their" song - ♪♪♫ I love you forever; I like you for always ♫♫♪ - Jesse said, "Birthday...done...Papaw.")

DEBBIE – January marked the 15th anniversary of working as an aid with disabled young adults in the school district’s Transition Plus program.  Also, Debbie is still spreading hope and encouragement through her speaking and singing ministry, Rest in Him. (Now's the time to get her scheduled for 2014. More info at http://www.restinhimministry.com) While she still enjoys vocal coaching members of a special needs choir and working with Giant Step Theatre, being a Grandma is the best and fills her with joy.

DEWEY – Added another hat/plate-to-spin this year. Let's see now...1) Technical Writer @ Harris IT Services (a position that may or may not last through 2014); 2) Actor/Choreographer/Acting Coach with Giant Step Theatre and the Dakota Chautauqua; 3) Humor Blogger for Almost the Truth at http://www.AlmostTheTruth.blogspot.com; 4) Spiritual Blogger for Truth is... at http://www.DeweyTruth.blogspot.com ; and now, to be able to make car payments on a vehicle to replace the one that died in March; 5) Key Holder/Sales Associate at Lifeway Christian Store in Burnsville.

Life continues to happen at the rate of 60 seconds per minute. Our hope is that your minutes will be filled with purpose and joy and comfort from the One who invented time and whose birth the calendar revolves around.

Books I Read in 2013, Vol. II

 

ALMOST THE TRUTH: The Blog Archive 2010-2012
Dewey Roth

"Almost the Truth is a humorous, widely-ignored blog that appears weekly at http://www.AlmostTheTruth.blogspot.com. This is your opportunity to have three years' worth of posts all in one place."

I actually DID need to read this to check for proper page breaks and table of contents and all that rot. Of course, it was totally self-serving to make sure I read it at a time that would put it first in this 4-month wrap-up...so its picture appears in my timeline and so I can remind everyone that it can only be purchased at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deweyroth. 

56/5: Steven Spielberg's first blockbuster about a resort town's sheriff hiring a crusty, old snowplow driver to conquer a freakishly large blizzard: Snows (My favorite quote: "You're gonna need a bigger blade.")

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LITTLE CROW: 150 Years after the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862
Curt Brown

"At its most basic, this is the story of how some of the Dakota, forced onto reservations, cheated out of money that was due them for the sale of their land, and starving, rose up against the settlers who were remaking the Upper Midwest into a white man's world. Some of the warriors committed terrible atrocities against settlers during the rebellion, before it ended in their defeat. It is also the story about how settlers, Army leaders, and governors exacted retribution by mass hangings, without representation or a real trial."

This eBook is actually a collection of a series of newspaper articles that ran in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. As such, the chapters sometimes overlap each other, but that is a minor nit to pick in the face of this small book's excellent style and obvious care for documenting details of an almost forgotten chapter of American history, overshadowed by the nation's focus on the Civil War.

56/5: Landscape: Little Crow would ride about six hours from his house near the Lower Sioux Agency at one end of the reservation to the Upper Sioux Agency more than 30 miles northwest. Portrait: Seven hundred picked warriors whipped by cowardly whites.

ISCARIOT: A Novel of Judas
Tosca Lee

"The most reviled man in biblical history comes to life. In Jesus, Judas believes he has found the One - the promised Messiah and future king destined to overthrow Roman rule.... But Judas' vision of a nation free from Roman rule is crushed by the inexplicable actions of the Nazarene himself, who will not bow to social or religious convention.... Judas must confront the fact that the master he loves is not the liberator he hoped for...."

A very interesting premise, fleshed out by a satisfying story, with a general historical accuracy that doesn't get in the way of the narrative...there aren't long paragraphs explaining "This is this, and that is that.". As far as Biblical accuracy, there is a LOT taken for granted here, and at one point, the author mentions Jesus' older brother (file under "I don't THINK so, Tosca"), but it's only a novel, not a Bible commentary. I especially liked the section that told about The Last Supper from inside Judas' mind. It has been quite a while since I've read a novel, and Biblical fiction was a good entryway drug for me.

56/5: No, what I'm about to tell you I could be killed for...even hung on a tree.

HEY THERE (YOU WITH THE GUN IN YOUR HAND): A Rat Pack Mystery
Robert J. Randisi

"It’s 1961 and Las Vegas is still the place to be. Eddie Gianelli, pit boss at the Sands Casino, now considers the Rat Pack his friends. And this time, his friend Frank Sinatra wants him to help Sammy [Davis, Jr.]. Someone has an embarrassing photo of Sammy and wants twenty-five grand for it…. At the rendezvous, in place of a blackmailer, Eddie finds a dead body greeting him."

Yes, it looks and sounds like a cheap, dime-store paperback, using real celebrities as fictional characters, but it’s a hardcover published in 2008 (which I borrowed from the library, of course), and a lot of fun to read. In keeping with the time frame, the swearing in the book is kept to a minimum, leaving plenty of room for plot twists and turns, including the presidential family of the era. This is the third in a series of Rat Pack Mysteries; I may need to see if I can find the first two.

56/5: "Don't touch—” I started.

THE FOUR SEASONS OF MARRIAGE: Secrets to a Lasting Marriage
Gary Chapman

"Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the perennial bestseller The Five Love Languages, provides an easy-to-grasp framework to help couples understand their marriage and seven practical strategies for strengthening or improving their marriage relationship. A valuable resource for couples regardless of how long they've been married, this biblically-based book is a reference tool to help couples through every season of marriage."

I read this because I got it for free on iBooks during a special promotion, but I must say it lives up to the (above) hype. The idea of "constructing" a book is very evident here, but that may just be a function of how it truly is a reference tool as opposed to a read-it-from-cover-to-cover tome. Several meaningful insights are on these pages, and I anticipate my own marriage getting stronger as I put some of what I've read into practice.

56/5: Landscape: Working through the season of winter may never be "fun" or "exciting," like sledding down a steep hill or a ski trip to Vail, but when couples persevere and begin to take positive steps to improve their marriage, they emerge stronger, more committed, and better able to work through their differences.  Portrait: Jeanette and Sam have been married for twenty-seven years.

Books I Read in 2013, Vol. I

 

SIMPLY JESUS
N. T. Wright

"Bestselling author and leading Bible scholar N. T. Wright breaks down the barriers that prevent us from fully engaging with the story of Jesus in the Bible. By appreciating the historical complexity of reading a 2,000-year-old story and the distorting effect of two millennia of debate over these stories, Wright reveals a breathtaking vision of Jesus that more than matches the needs and complexities of our time."

Wright does a great job of helping the reader understand the historical context of what Jesus did and said, but I spent the whole book holding Wright's words at arm's length. You see, early on, he would put affirmations of Jesus' identity as Son of God and Messiah in quotation marks...as if he had a different definition for those terms. And I practically held my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop and for him to clearly state an opinion on Jesus' deity/humanity...but that clarity never came; or else I missed it because of how long it took me to get through the book in spurts and sputters. I certainly think having the word "simply" in the title is misleading.

56/5: He took upon himself (this is one of the most secure starting points for historical investigation of Jesus) the role of a prophet, in other words, of a man sent from God to reaffirm God's intention of overthrowing the might of [the] pagan empire, but also to warn Israel that its present way of going about things was dangerously ill-conceived and leading to disaster.

I LOVE YOU, MISS HUDDLESTON and other inappropriate longings of my Indiana childhood
Philip Gulley

"We are transported to 1970's Danville, Indiana, the everyone-knows-your-business town where Philip Gulley still lives today, to witness the uproarious stories of his young life, including an infatuation with his comely sixth-grade teacher, his dalliance with sin - eating meat on Friday and inappropriate activities with a mannequin named Ginger - and his checkered start with organized religion: 'Sister Mary John had shown us a flannel graph of the apostles receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They looked quite happy except that their hair was on fire.... I was suspicious of a religion whose high point was the igniting of one's head, and my enthusiasm for church, which had never been great, began to fade'."

Gulley was recommended to me by a friend, and I am truly grateful. He is funny, clean, and writes in short chapters...a perfect combination. This book held particular interest for me because I grew up in the Northeast corner of Indiana, just four years ahead of the author, and there were a truckload of similarities. I'm looking forward to borrowing the rest of his works - both memoirs and light fiction - from the library...you'll be seeing more from me about his guy.

56/5: Then we noticed it smelled nice, so we put it in glass bottles and sold it as aftershave.

MAX ON LIFE: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions
Max Lucado

"In more than thirty years - as an author, pastor, husband, and father - Max Lucado has fielded a lot of questions. Questions born of doubt and pain or just plain curiosity. Big questions about life and faith, heaven and hell. Closer to home dilemmas about sex, managing money, or raising kids. This book gathers Max's responses to the most-often-asked questions. They're vintage Lucado. Simple without being simplistic. Knowledgeable without being know-it-all. Direct but compassionate, honest, and authoritative..."

This was a perfect book for my reading style: one- or two-page answers that stand on their own so I could pick up the book on my way to the restroom or while waiting for my popcorn to pop. But I must admit, while the questions rang true and were able to be related to, the answers were sometimes more poetic than practical. Lucado's chief role as a local pastor really came through, to the point of sometimes taking too much for granted. For example, I don't think any of my atheist friends would get much from his seven-paragraph answer to "How can we know God truly exists?" But for people of faith, with a predisposition for believing the Bible, this is a good resource for some clear ways to think about some real-life issues.

56/5: When you can't sleep, don't count sheep - read Scripture.

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2012

 

KELLY JO (23) – Well, the picture almost says it all, doesn’t it? Dustin Haug and KJ had been planning their June 2013 wedding for quite some time when they called us on Grandparent’s Day: “We’ve got some Really Good News to tell you. We are both really happy about this…” And so, we are expecting a second grandchild in early April, and Debbie has dibs on holding the two-and-a-half-month-old at the wedding!  Kelly Jo continues to be a well-loved nanny for two families in St. Paul, while Dustin teaches chemistry in a performing arts high school and leads dancing workshops and performs. As an extra creative outlet, KJ has been involved with a project called “The Book of Bartholomew,” writing and performing music…look it up online!

CURTIS (25) – Big changes for Curtis this year…after an acting/puppeteering job in a production of Little Shop of Horrors in Florida, he moved back home to Minnesota, where he and The Dad were reunited in the all-new Dakota Chautauqua tent show at the county fair in August. Curtis also did a show with the Minnesota Opera and is breaking records left and right as a server at the local Red Robin. He is also experiencing a spiritual revival and even plans to go on a short-term missions trip to Romania in late June 2013.

SHONDA (29) – With hubby, John, returned to the states after a 4-year stint in Germany and is now living near the Air Force base in Little Rock, Arkansas. John is still a firefighter with the AF, and Shonda is working in the base’s childcare program much as she did in Germany. John had to battle a pulmonary embolism, which has kept them from being able to visit us yet, but things are looking better now, and we hope to see them soon in the new year.

ANGEL (32) –is in her 9th year of teaching first grade, and is learning how to balance the necessity of a paying job with the joy of being a mommy to Jesse, who just turned one December 4th. Husband Phil is also still teaching art, splitting his time between two high schools. Not an ideal situation, but glad to still be employed.

DEBBIE – Vigorous walking and healthy eating has led to saying goodbye to over 35 pounds, with a goal of 20 more to go so she can be as healthy of a Grandma as possible, which she absolutely loves. December 4, 2012, represented 14 years cancer-free and mid-January will mark her 15th anniversary with the school district’s Transition Plus program, working as an aid with disabled young adults.  Debbie enjoys the opportunities she gets with her speaking and singing ministry, Rest in Him, to offer hope and encouragement. In fact, if you’ve got any pull with the women’s ministry of your church or any kind of support group, you should give her a call and let her be a blessing for your friends. (More info at http://www.restinhimministry.com)

DEWEY – Marked 5 years as a Technical Writer with Harris IT Services; 13 (in January) as Actor/Choreographer/Asst. Director with Giant Step Theatre; and had a great time not only performing in the Dakota Chautauqua again but co-writing and co-directing this time around, too. One other change, in addition to the attempt-at-being-humorous blog at almostthetruth.blogspot.com, he started an attempt-at-being-meaningful one at DeweyTruth.blogspot.com. Both can easily be found by going to the www.almostthetruth.com website.

MAY YOUR NEW YEAR BE MERRY AND BRIGHT AND CHRIST-FILLED!

Books I Read in 2012, Vol. III

 

CHOOSING TO SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope
Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn

"From the beginning, Mary Beth Chapman's life was not how she planned. All she wanted was a calm, peaceful life of stability and control. Instead, God gave her an award-winning singer/songwriter husband, crazy schedules, and a houseful of creatively rambunctious children. And then, she experienced the tragedy she never could have imagined."

No doubt, my interest in reading this book stemmed from wanting to read how the Chapman family dealt with the tragic death of their adopted daughter (when their son accidentally hit her with a car), but what kept me turning the pages was finding out so much more than just the details of death's aftermath. Mrs. Chapman had a whole lot of life before the loss of Maria, and she shares the whole story, before-during-and-after, with vulnerability, humor, and deep, abiding truth.

56/5: He said that "divorce is not a word in our vocabulary."

VOICE-OVER VOICE ACTOR
Yuri Lowenthal & Tara Platt

"I have never seen such a comprehensive and clear explanation of the ins and outs of the voice industry. Yuri and Tara offer up a book that is not only easy to follow, it's also in-depth, inspiring, and funny at the same time!"

A very enjoyable read, if you're interested in the topic, which I am, and that settles that. The authors have a helpful attitude about auditioning that I found refreshing: "This may sound like common sense, but if you're going to embark on this quest, you need to enjoy acting, because there's gonna be a whole lotta actin' goin' on. And most of the acting you do will come in the form of auditions for which you won't be getting paid - in money.... Remember, though, getting to audition is getting to act, and that's the fun stuff, right?"

56/5: Remember, you are enough.

THE SIGNATURE OF JESUS
Brennan Manning

"This book is offered to Christians who want to live by faith and not by mere 'religion;' for those who recognize that many of the burning theological issues in the church today are neither burning nor theological; who see Christianity neither as a moral code or a belief system but as a love affair; who have not forgotten that they are followers of a crucified Christ; who know that following him means living dangerously; who want to live the gospel without compromise; who have no greater desire than to have his signature written on the pages of their lives."

This book certainly lives up to the dust jacket...as I have come to fully expect from Manning. It was published in 1992, but shows no signs of age. Take this quote, for instance: "Writhing in agony on the cross, Jesus says, 'I know every moment of sin, selfishness, dishonesty, and degraded love that has disfigured your life, and I do not judge you unworthy of compassion, forgiveness, and salvation. Now you be like that with others. Judge no one.' ... As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, as if we are what we have, and as if we are what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to the need to put people in their place."

56/5: Landscape: Today many churches attempt to eliminate the risk and danger of this call.  Portrait: We Americans are programmed to be consumers.

Aesop's Fables
Aesop

This volume was a free download in iBooks, made possible by Project Gutenberg, which has the goal to "give away one trillion etext files by December 31, 2001.

I don't know if Project Gutenberg reached their goal, but I'm glad they made the attempt. Not only did I enjoy reading this compilation, but I am looking forward to moving on to Grimm's Fairy Stories. It was interesting to not only read the familiar tales like "The Fox and the Grapes" and "The Lion and the Mouse," but there were SEVERAL I had never heard before like "The Bald Man and the Fly" and "The Milkmaid and Her Pail." Scintillating! Well, not really...but as research for possible future Giant Step Theatre productions, fairly interesting.

56/5: Landscape: He pointed to the truss of hay and said: "What are those two curious things sticking out of the hay?"  Portrait: An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice.

FOR THE RECORD...the reading for the remainder of this calendar year will be focused on trying to finish Ron Chernow's WASHINGTON: A Life, which I said I read sometime between May and August 2011 (see Books I Read in 2011, Vol. II) but of which I still have several chapters to complete.