Books I Read in 2022, Vol. I

 

GUERRILLAS OF GRACE: Prayers for the Battle
Ted Loder

An embarrassingly beautiful collection of prayers that compels readers to level with themselves about some of the most intimately delicate areas of human life. To read Loder's writing is to look with penetrating honesty into one's own personality, relationship with God, and need for neighbor. (Dr. William Muehl, Professor Emeritus, Yale University Divinity School)
       [This book] puts into words so much of what [we've] longed to say. It is Loder's creativity, blended with penetrating honesty and unexpected humor, that lifts these prayers out of the ordinary, making them experiences to be savored and shared. (St. Anthony Messenger)

Somewhere in early-to-mid-2020, I started hosting an online time of prayer on Valley Christian Church's private Facebook page. It is structured by using the acronym CHAT, which stands for Confess, Honor, Ask, and Thank. I've been using a selection from this book to either confess to God or honor Him almost every week. These prayers are everything they are said to be in the above quotes...at the very least. I am so grateful to Brad Dewing for gifting me this book. Methinks I may need to track down the other two books of prayer by Loder as well.

First Line: Why would anyone call a book of prayers Guerrillas of Grace?

Page 56/Line 5: Release me from the dangerous illusions of independence when the human family summons me to the realities and promises of interdependence among races, sexes, nations.

Last Line: In the darkness I see the light and find in it comfort, confidence, cause for celebration, for the darkness cannot overcome it; and I rejoice to nourish it in myself, in other people, in the world for the sake of him in whom it was born and shines forever, even Jesus the Christ.

Books I Read in 2021, Vol. XV

 

JUNKYARD DOGS: A Walt Longmire Mystery
Craig Johnson

"Missing body parts and dead developers are only the beginning when Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire finds himself in the throes of a modern-day range war. It's a volatile new economy in Durant when the owners of a multi-million dollar development of ranchettes want to get rid of the adjacent Stewart junkyard. The notorious Stewart clan is an adventure unto itself and, when conflicts erupt, Walt, Dog, Henry Standing Bear, and deputies Santiago and Victoria find themselves in a small town that feels like a high plains pressure cooker."

This is the sixth Longmire novel I've read. I started reading them because Beloved and I liked the TV series based on the characters, but now, I'm fairly hooked on Johnson's easy-going, down-to-earth style of storytelling. ("As helpful as an accordion on an elk hunt") Yes, there are enough F-bombs to warrant an R rating, but nowhere near as many as a Scorsese movie, and all in line with the character of the characters.

First Line: I tried to get a straight answer from his grandson and granddaughter-in-law as to why their grandfather had been tied with a hundred feet of nylon rope to the rear bumper of the 1968 Oldsmobile Toronado.

Page 56/Sentence 5: What are you shooting, Geo?

Last Line: I glanced at the Cheyenne Nation with my one eye, and things didn't look half-bad.

Roth Christmas Epistle 2021

 

A year of blessings...

After a year of missing our weekly Thursday night visits with Anawynn as Dustin and Kelly Jo do their dance thing, it was a tearful reunion when she ran into our arms again. So happy to be in the process of putting the pandemic behind us (at least we're heading in the right direction). SweetCheeks is a bundle of artistic expression, be it dance, drawing, crafts...

That 21-month old joy-bringer, Ivy June, amazes "Debbie-Da" and "Deweee" with her intelligence and love of people. It came in handy as she, Curtis, and Abbey welcomed baby sister Ezra Ann to the family this year.

Johnathan, Shonda, and Maverick have settled into post-military life in Arkansas, even as Mom and Dad work on the Air Force base (and Maggot works hard on his social and verbal skills in pre-school).

Phil, though still officially on a temporary break from teaching high school art, is fully-engaged as an apprentice electrician and by all accounts is enjoying the change. Angel continues her work as a reading specialist, adjusting to the ever-changing Covid quirks of education. Jesse sent shock waves through the family when he became our first grandchild to reach double digits and Thomas is shining his own light of love and energy.

Debbie was so grateful to be able to get back to doing some in-person events with Rest in Him Ministry, the most notable of which was singing for the Sunday morning Boat-In Worship on beautiful Lake Wawasee in northeastern Indiana. It was an amazing sight as the boats just kept coming to hear the Word preached and sung. She would love to come to YOUR church or faith-based organization and share some encouragement and hope.

Dewey started working a six-month contract position in November, which got extended to April 1...though he is still seeking a full-time direct-hire position and has a couple irons in the fire even as we speak. Creatively, he started two podcasts this fall. You can find out all the particulars by going HERE.

Our deepest desire for all who read these words is for you to be healthy, happy, and secure in the knowledge that God put on flesh because he loves you. He thinks you're to die for! Have a blessed new year!

Books I Read in 2021, Vol. XIV

 

FOOD: A Love Story
Jim Gaffigan

Have you ever finished a meal that tasted horrible but not noticed until the last bite? Eaten in your car so you wouldn't have to share with your children? Gotten hungry while watching a dog food commercial?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are pretty pathetic, but you are not alone. Feast along with America's favorite food comedian, best-selling author, and male supermodel Jim Gaffigan as he digs into his specialty: stuffing his face. [This book] is an in-depth, thoroughly uninformed look at everything from health food to things that people actually enjoy eating.

Having enjoyed Dad Is Fat and being fond of Gaffigan's stand-up comedy, I've been looking forward to reading this book for a while. As expected, there was plenty to laugh about, though I must say I was slightly disappointed that a lot of the book is just the written-down version of several of his routines. I laughed the most at the totally new stuff.

First Line: As many of you know, I am a comedian who, with the immeasurable assistance of my wife, Jeannie, wrote a book called Dad Is Fat, which chronicled my life as the father of five young children in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City.

Page 56/Sentence 5: You arrive at Uno's, Giordano's, Gino's East, or Lou Malnati's and place your order, and then you wait and wait for what seems like a lifetime.

Last Line: Am I right or what?

This Grinds My Gears: Job Search Edition

 

What a wonderful resource is LinkedIn. Do a simple search, and you are presented with multiple employment opportunities for positions that fit you to a T.

"Oh good!" you say. "This was posted only 18 hours ago. I love getting my iron in the fire when it's hot."

And so you click Apply to start the process and see THIS...

And you think, "No longer exists??? How is that even POSSible?!!?" and little wisps of smoke escape from your ears and nostrils.

Books I Read in 2021, Vol XIII

 

THE FURIOUS LONGING OF GOD Brennan Manning

Imagine a stormy day at sea, your ship yielding to a relentless wind, pummeled by crashing waves, subject to the awesome force of nature. A force that is both fierce and majestic. A power that is nothing short of furious. Such is God's intense, consuming love for His children. It's a love that knows no limits and no boundaries. A love that will go to any lengths, and take any risks, to pursue us.

Renowned author and ragamuffin Brennan Manning presents a love story for the brokenhearted. For those who are burdened by heavy religion. For those who feel they can never measure up. It is a provocative and poignant look at the radical, no-holds-barred love of our Heavenly Father.

I've lost track of how many of Manning's books I've read, but I agree with Mark Batterson's opening sentence of the Foreword: "If Brennan Manning writes it, I'm going to read it." I also agree with something else Batterson wrote: "To say that Brennan Manning has blazed new trails in this book would not be true. He has not. But to say that Brennan Manning is attempting once more to plow up the hardened ground of our hearts, now that would be a true statement."

I highlighted a smattering of quotes throughout the book (not the least of which is "God loves me as much as He loves Jesus. Wow!") but the penultimate chapter ("Giving") is worth the price of the whole thing. Read the November 18 edition of Truth Is... if you want a sample.

First Line: I'm Brennan. I'm an alcoholic.

Page 56, Line 5: And let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful.

Last Line: Or, with radical amazement, I can stay on deck and boldly stand in surrendered faith to the truth of my belovedness, caught up in the reckless raging fury that they call the love of God. And learn to pray.

Behind the Scenes with a Musical Powerhouse

 

If you've ever had any experience with alcoholism or an alcoholic...

If you're a Jesus Music kind of person...

If you like documentaries...

Allow me to call Russ Taff: I Still Believe to your attention for your edification and education.

"This gripping documentary chronicles the multi- GRAMMY® and Dove Award-winning star’s musical journey and behind-the-scenes battle with alcoholism. Re-live Taff’s iconic career, and the childhood trauma he suffered at the hands of an alcoholic father and abusive mother."

Russ Taff has a set of pipes on him that any singer would covet, and they took him to the heights of fame as a gospel singer...all while suffering from a toxic self-image and a crippling battle with alcohol dependency.

Russ and his wife, Tori, are transparent as they talk through their life together in and out of the spotlight. It's fascinating and heartbreaking and, I think, an encouragement for everyone to take off the masks and get real with whatever baggage they've carried into whatever relationship they have, human or spiritual.

And the really good news is that you can watch this FOR FREE on YouTube. Here's the link, along with my hardy recommendation.

https://youtu.be/fpHdjcCfrSg