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Books I Read in 2025
Orville Boyd Jenkins
As of 31 December 2025
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I will not be posting 2026 or subsequent reading lists.What I read in 2024Finished (108)
Andrews, Andy. How Do You Kill 11 Million People: Why the Truth Matters More than You Think. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011. 84p. (This is a poignant and insightful book, as Andrews always produces. He reviews the models of leadership of countries whose leaders and economic systems have affected the world, reviews the negative trends and their cost to the world. He provides insights into negative trends in these systems, evaluating American tendencies over the last few years.) Bought 16 June 2018 and read at that time. Read again 26 April 2025. American Politics and Culture
Andrews, Andy. The Little Things: Why You Really Should Sweat the Small Stuff. Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2017. 169p. Bought March 2017 in Dallas, Texas and read at that time. Read again 28-29 April 2025. Business
Andrews, Andy. The Noticer: Sometimes all a person needs is a little perspective. Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2009. 169p. Bought 10 October 2017 in Arlington, Texas and read at that time. Read again 16-19 May 2025. Faith & Life
Bakeman, Willard. Conviction Overturned: Jesus, the Bible, Evidence, and Reason: A Trial Attorney’s Perspective. Coppell, Texas: No Publisher, 2024. 330p. (A forensic history analyzing the Gospels and historical evidence for the story of Jesus and early Christianity. The author does a very thorough comparative analysis of the various Gospel stories and the writings of the New Testament in analytical comparison with each other and historical clues and evidence. The analysis and conclusions along the way involve good, critical logic. He deals at length with the contradictions in the various stories of the four Gospels. Bakeman knows his historical sources and can make a detailed analysis understandable and meaningful. He also repeats key factors at each step so his reasoning is fairly easy to follow. A great limitation of this analysis and conclusions he draws are that he insists on reading the New Testament documents as though they were modern journalistic reports or historical reconstructions. He seems unaware of the cultural differences between the modern linear-analytical era of logic and the first century pattern of writing in a concrete-relational culture. There is no evidence of any awareness of well-known literary analysis techniques, and common motifs and story-telling formats. He follows fundamentalist literalism in his attempt to defeat Christian apologists using this same mindset. He therefore misreads the texts the same way the fundamentalists do by insisting they be read as though the writers were writing from a modern scientific and historical perspective. He makes some very good points about the text, but insists that the texts be read as though they were eye-witness testimonies or researched investigative accounts of events. Thus his reductionistic logic deduces they are either true (in the sense of representing overt verifiable events) or a lie. He seems unaware of the extensive academic discipline of Orality, or Storying which reveals and explores the dynamic relational, figurative character of ancient story-telling and its expressive motifs and use of symbols and metaphors. He also accepts and follows the fundamentalist literalists in assuming that “prophecy” as used by the New Testament writers was simple prediction of future events. So he can easily dismiss the obvious misapplication of ancient passages. This he does rightly, because “prophecy” in the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) was primarily proclamations, preaching to and within the historical context of that prophet, not prediction of the far distant future. Fortune-telling is not the focus, and that understanding and use of the word “prophecy” in the biblical context is actually a misuse and misunderstanding of that ancient discipline. Academic and missional studies of the New Testament writers confirms that they used references from Old Testament writings that would have been very familiar to their Jewish hearers (the New Testament letters and Gospel stories would have been read orally to gatherings of followers, not read individually like in modern literate times). They were analogies or metaphors to illustrate the story the Gospelers were writing about Jesus and Old Testament passages would help create interpretive contexts for seeing who Jesus was to the writers who followed Jesus as the Messiah. The writings themselves do not indicate that they thought the original writers of the passages they reference were telling the future as predictions. They were addressing real-time situations of their time and place. The New Testament writers had the Old Testament writings before them (or in memory) for reference. There was no miracle in the “fulfillment” of the Old Testament prophecies. They had those ready for reference and used them to illustrate and confirm or emphasize their claims about Jesus. Bakeman is correct in pointing this out. It is a major weakness of fundamentalist (literalist) Christian “apologists” that they would claim there was something miraculous in the “fulfilled prophecies” of Jesus. The writers (storytellers) of the Gospels had those stories right there for reference. The book is poorly edited, apparently self-published, not even a publisher name. That in itself is not a knock against Bakeman/ But the book is rife with misspelling, mismatches of singular-plural uses of noun-noun or verb-noun and tense problems. Syntax is incorrect or confusing in many places. A good edit would improve the book’s readability. The wooden insistence of raw literalist analysis is the weakest characteristic of the book. But the alert and interested reader can learn many details about the historical situation and historical references pertinent to the validity of the New Testament documents.) Borrowed from a friend 1 June 2025. Read 4-26 June 2025. Bible Background (Use of Prophecy; Contradictions in the Gospel stories; Concept of Evidence)
Battaglia, Joe. Make America Good Again: Biblical Principles to Unite our Nation, Restore True Greatness, and Reshape Our Political Rhetoric. Savage, Minnesota: Broadstreet, 2020. 141p. (This purports to be a Christian Nationalist, far-right manifesto. But then he has a mishmash of various ideas here that are not very coherent. He starts off with a series of extensive complaints about what he calls “Political Correctness, speaking against the concept of the attempt to avoid using offensive language and pejorative references. It sounds like he is complaining that it is not considered OK anymore to call people names, use ethnic slurs or discriminate against certain individuals or groups. He sounds like an advocate for he right to verbally abuse others. But then he goes into fantasy by saying that what he calls PC has its roots in Marxism in Europe. It baffles me that he claims the purpose of political correctness was originally to implement Marxist ideas. A major base of motivation for what was called “political correctness” is found in the teachings of Jesus. “Treat other people the way you would like to be treated.” What used to be called the Golden Rule. Battaglia does not explain how he came to this bizarre association. He then tries to interpret the times of Jesus in terms of this special disdain he has for PC to account for the Jewish establishment as PC and Jesus as the “counter-cultural” force. I would agree that Jesus was counter-cultural. But it is beyond me how that could be tied to some perceived right to talk pejoratively about other people or put down certain ethnic or social groups or legally discriminate against anyone. But then he praises figures like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela as positive examples of the social and personal moral values in our culture. He then spends several chapters outlining ideas of morality and attitudes that go counter to the MAGA rightwing use of anger, hatred, dismissal and anti-PC attitudes. He then, in self-contradiction, proceeds to outline and recommend moral, social and civic values that seem to parallel those attitudes that rightwingers label “liberal.” His closing tries to bring back the anti-political correctness theme he very poorly introduced early on as an example of how we should implement the Gospel values he has been laying out that sound like the social values and programs of liberals in the USA. I am puzzled. It is hard to give him the benefit of the doubt since this book was written in 2020, after the first Trump term. He seems to have no firm footing of philosophy or any clear grasp of the teachings of Jesus or of any current political philosophy.) Bought 4 August 2025. Read 30 August 2025. American Politics and Culture
Bieber, Michael R. Growing in the Dark: A Conversation with My Father. No publication information, 2024. 316p. (An inferred biography that Bieber writes about his father, who died in 1980, Bieber writes a biography of his father based on memories and later discoveries about his father. He writes this reflection in the form of a dialogue over time. Bieber is a PhD psychoanalyst, and writes from this field of expertise as he reflects upon his lack of relationship with his father. This extended dialogue represents conversations he wishes he could have had with his father, who was very secretive and mysterious, and never really present for the family. The books was actually finished and edited by his wife, because Bieber died before he finished these reflections. She includes an afterword and some notes and essays that her husband also wrote. This book was interesting, but I found it hard to read. The invented dialogue seemed stilted and artificial. Much was assumed line to line and the responses did not seem to fit. Answers and implications in responses seems strained. It was psychologically stimulating and informative, fostering reflection on my own upbringing and self-reflection. But it was not an enjoyable read. The author appears to be a competent psychoanalyst, but a writer he is not.) Borrowed from a friend 24 April 2025. Read 7-20 May 2025. Biography (Psychology, Fiction, Family Dynamics)
Benson, Peggy. Listening for a God Who Whispers. Nashville: Nelson, 1991; condensed edition by Guideposts, Carmel NY, 1993. 66p. (An interesting testimonial of a widow learning to deal with the loss of her spouse, written by a self-confessed compulsive talker who has to learn the discipline of being silent to hear God’s voice and gain a new peace in dealing with her new life circumstances.) Received from International Baptist Church of Arlington, Texas 9 November 2025. Read 20-21 November 2025. Faith & Life (Spiritual Disciplines: Meditation, Listening)
Block, Daniel I and Richard L Schultz. Bind Up the Testimony: Explanations in the Genesis of the Book of Isaiah. Peabody Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 2015. 354p. (A series of essays by Bible scholars on the authorship of the biblical book of the prophet Isaiah. They probe at great academic and historical depth the possibility of single or multiple authors. The essays involve extensive Hebrew linguistic comparison, comparison of the passages, motifs and literary styles in different sections of the book with other writings form Mesopotamian cultures. Some of the writers propose a single author, while others defend a multi-author composition of the book as we now have it. All write within the evangelical framework.) Bought 15 March 2024 from Christianbook. Read 8-12 July 2025. Bible (Bible Backgrounds, Cultural and Historical Context; Faith and Life)
Boselli, Goffredo. Fire of Love, Water of Life: Exploring the Meaning and the Beauty of the Easter Vigil. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1959. 92p. (A theological interpretation fo the practical steps of the Easter Liturgy. Very helpful to understand in contemporary terms and context the intentions and original values of the liturgy of the Resurrection Easter Sunrise service outdoors. A special value is the declaration of how Vatican II recovered a value for the Eucharist in the Easter resurrection service by relinking the resurrection of Christ to the death of Jesus and the last supper. Eucharist had been focused only on the death of Jesus for about 1000 years, separating it from the remembrance with the resurrection in mind. Related to this is the refocus here on the Paschal Mystery, aligning the western liturgy more closer to the Eastern liturgy of atonement as mystery.) Bought 16 October 2025 from Christianbook. Read 15-17 November 2025. Theology (Easter, Resurrection, Baptism and Eucharist)
Brechin, Gray. Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin. Berkeley/LA: University of California Press, 1999. 402p. Bought 6 April 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Read 25 July - 1 August 2025. (The history of San Francisco, California, from the date of its founding as a US city after accession from Mexico, through the destructive years of the Gold Rush and early industrialization and resultant despoiling of the forests and rivers of the Bay region, through the imperial pretensions of San Francisco as a city-province and the US concept of their inherent right as a superior race to domination in the East, from the San Francisco base. Marvelous detail and biographical portraits of the key personages over those decades, up to the end of World World II. A political-ecological-military-industrial biography of a city and the criminal ethos that built it.) American Politics and Culture (Poetry)
Briggs, Alan. Everyone’s a Genius: Unleashing Creativity for the Sake of the World. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2017. 234p. Bought 4 August 2025 from Christianbook. Read 28 November - 1 December 2025. Church & Culture (Relevancy of the Church, Discipleship, Spiritual Gifts, Creativity)
Campbell, Ted A. Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials (Revised Edition). Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011. 159p. Received 30 April 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 5-6 May 2025. Theology (Church History)
Campolo, Tony. How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshiping Nature. Nashville: Nelson, 1992; condensed edition by Guideposts, Carmel NY, 1993. 89p. Received from International Baptist Church of Arlington, Texas 9 November 2025. Read 15 November 2025. Faith & Life (Stewardship of Nature)
Carter, Jimmy. Talking Peace: A Vision for the Next Generation. NY: Dutton Children’s Books, 1993. 192p. Received from International Baptist Church of Arlington 8 October 2025. Read 14-15 October 2025. History (Middle East, World Affairs, War and Peace)
Carter, James E. Cowboys, Cowtown and Crosses: A Centennial History of the Tarrant Baptist Association. Ft Worth: Tarrant Baptist Association, 1986. 242p. Received 30 April 2025 from International Baptist Church of Arlington, Arlington, Texas. Read 23-25 November 2025. History
Carter, Jimmy. The Blood of Abraham: Insights Into the Middle East. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin Company, 1985. 257p. (Carter writes here a survey of the countries of the Middle East and their conflicts in the 20th century since the founding of the state of Israel. He writes country by country, starting with their foundational ancient history, modern history related to the great empires of the last 2000 years and the focuses of his involvement with them during his presidency and afterwards. Carter has continued to be involved in world affairs and especially the countries of the Middle East through his Carter Center, established after his presidency.) Received from International Baptist Church of Arlington 9 October 2025. Read 25-29 October 2025. History (Middle East, War and Peace)
Caskie, Susan, Executive Ed. The Week: Iran on the Brink. NY: Future US LLC, Vol 25, Issue 1241, 27 June 2025. 35p. Finished 26 September 2025. American Politics and Culture (“The Best of the US and International Media”)
Caskie, Susan, Executive Ed. The Week: Unleashing the Law, Trump Demands the Prosecution of His Political Enemies. NY: Future US LLC, Vol 25, Issue 1255, 3 October 2025. 35p. Finished 23 December 2025. American Politics and Culture (“The Best of the US and International Media”)
Childers, Alisa and Tim Barnett. The Deconstruction of Christianity: What it Is, Why it’s Destructive and How to Respond. Carol Stream, Illinois: Elevate (Tyndale), 2023. 276p. Read 28-31 January 2025. Philosophy (Religion and Philosophy; Sociology; Postmodernism)
Clayton, John, with Nils Jansma. The Source: Creation -- Eternal Design or Infinite Accident?. West Monroe, Louisiana: Howard Publishing Company, 2001. 278p. Gift 13 September 2025. Read 30 October - 3 November 2025. Science and Faith
Coiné, Ted and Mark Babbitt. A World Gone Social: How Companies Must Adapt to Survive. NY: American Management Association, 2014. 238p. Bought 4 August 2025 from Christianbook. Read 30 August - 2 September 2025. Business (Communication, Integrity, Flat-Level Teams)
Cornwell, Patricia. Predator. NY: Penguin Audio, 2005. Audiobook. (A very complex case for pathologist Kay Scarpeta, involving multiple murders and several lines of intrigue and personality conflicts within and outside the law enforcement and forensic circles.) Bought 23 September 2023 from the Arlington Library. Heard 10 March - 15 April 2025. Fiction (Murder Mystery, Forensics)
de Chardin, Pierre Teilhard. The Phenomenon of Man. NY: HarperPerennial Modern Thought, 2008. 276p. (A 1955 classic of palaeontology and cosmological philosophy. Chardin was a French Jesuit priest who was also a world-renowned palaeontologist. Chardin was involved in some of the earliest discovery of prehistoric human fossils, and is best known for his consultations on Peking Man, for which he is considered a codiscoverer. He wrote on cosmology and was a thoughtful philosophical theologian. Most of his works were proscribed by the Pope during his lifetime. They have all been published since his death in 1955 and this volume is his best-known work. Here he provides a philosophical cosmology giving perspectives on the origins of the universe and life on earth from a scientific perspective.) Gift from a friend 9 July 2025. Read 12-17 July 2025. Philosophy (Cosmology, Philosophy, Consciousness)
de Chardin, Teilhard. The Divine Milieu. NY: Harper and Row, 1968 (revised edition). 155p. Bought December 2003. Read in 2004. Reread 8-12 November 2025. Science and Faith
Dennis, Jon M. Christ + City: Why the Greatest Need of the City is the Greatest News of All. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. 205p. Bought 23 September 2024 from Christianbook. Read 5-7 January 2025. Church & Culture (Urbanization, Morality, Diversity)
Dooley, Mike. The Top Ten Things Dead People Want to Tell Out. NY: Hay House, 2014. 215p. Borrowed 27 March 2025 from a friend. Read 1-12 April 2025. Philosophy (Metaphysics, Occult)
Duffy, Eamon. John Henry Newman: A Very Brief History. London: SPCK, 2019. 145p. Bought 4 August 2025. Read 26-28 August 2025. Biography (Theology, British Christianity, The Oxford Movement)
Enns, Peter. The Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn’t Say About Human Origins. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2021. 251p. (Enns looks deeply into the worldview background and context of the Old Testament documents, especially at the Creation stories and the role of Adam. He explores how Hebrew writers and later rabbinic interpreters read the biblical texts in their context. He then investigates how Paul uses the story of Adam and how he interprets the concept of sin and the role of Adam. He looks at the development of interpretation of the role and status of Adam (Humanity in Hebrew) and the scientific theories related to human origins.) Bought 4 August 2025 on Christianbook. Read 6-10 June 2025. Bible Background (Archaeology, Ancient Worldview, Historical and Cultural Context)
Evans, Jimmy and Karen. Marriage on the Rock: Your Dream Marriage. Ventura, California: Regal (Gospel Light), 1994. 282p. Read 25-28 February 2025. Personal Development (Marriage, Faith, Relationships)
Evans, Patricia. The Verbally Abusive Man: Can He Change?: A Woman’s Guide to Deciding Whether to Stay or Go. Avon, Massachusetts: Adams Media, 2006. 269p. Received September 2023. Read 16 October - 15 November 2024. Mental Health (Psychology, Counseling, Morality)
Fathea’zam, Hooshmand. The New Garden. New Delhi, India: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1980. 134p. (This books explains the origins, beliefs and practices of the Baha’i religion. This religion affirms the unity of all prior religions and revelations, teaches one God and aligns the movement with the Abrahamic (monotheistic) religions. It focuses on inner relationships with God and community, fosters peace and harmony across all humanity. The book outlines how local regional or national and international bodies of “Spiritual Assemblies” relate and work for peace. The movement focuses on cooperation and dialogue with all other religions. And emphasizes benevolence ministries. The historical foundation start with the Manifestation of God for our time, Baha’u’llah, and his successor Abd-ul-Bahá and his successor Shogi Effendi and their writings. These are the sacred texts of Baha’i, along with the previous biblical texts and the Hindu Vedas. The annual calendar of events, called Feasts, and their meaning and procedures, are explained in this book. Baha’is have no priests, and the leadership and work of the assemblies (local to international bodies for worship and fellowship) are “lay” members. Outreach is their primary focus. I had not studied Baha’i for a long while, and had never read this whole volume fully all the way through. It was informative and instructive.) Bought 25 September 1981 at the Nairobi Show, the national Exposition of Kenya. Portions previously read for reference. Read 23-26 May 2025. Religions (Unity, Peace and Harmony)
George, Jim. One-Minute Insights for Men. Eugene Oregon: Harvest House, 2013. 62p. Bought 4 August 2025 from Christianbook. Read 6 August 2025. Personal Development
Gurman, Dan. The Kid Who Ran for President. NY: Recorded Books, 2001. Audiobook. Bought 23 September 2023 from the Arlington Library. Heard 31 May 2025. Fiction (Social Comment, Comedy)
Halpin, Chris. The Mind’s Eye Collection. London/NY: Austin-McCauley Publishers, 2023. 116p. (Poetry, expressing life concerns as well as presenting the perspective from the viewpoint of an autistic mental state.) Borrowed from a friend 24 April 2025. Read 30 April - 1 May 2025. Personal Development (Mental Health, Autism)
Hamilton, Adam. Christianity and World Religions: Wrestling With Questions People Ask. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005. 133p. (This author is the past of the largest United Methodist Church in the World with about 25,000 members at the time the book was published in 2005. This is the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City, a megachurch, one of the largest in the USA. Hamilton is a world-renowned author on religion, spirituality and Bible study. He is a leader in the United Methodist Church, a prolific author and active on social media. He writes this book to inform Christians of the primary religions of the world and to reflect on a Christian perspective on these religious expressions n how Christians may relate to them. He does a good job presenting each in its historical context and social development, as well as the main beliefs and practices, then deftly analyzes them in simple terms and evaluates similarities and details differences of each from the Christian faith. He deals with Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism.) Received 2 April 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 21-22 May 2025. Religions (Christianity and World Religions; Theology)
Hamilton, Adam. Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2023. 166p. Received from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Previously read in 2024. Read again in 2025; dates of receipt and reading not recorded. Faith & Life (Discipleship, Theology)
Hamilton, Adam. Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005. 157p. Received 20 August 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 28-29 August 2025. Faith & Life (Moral Theology, Church and Culture)
Hearn, Mark, with Darcy Wiley. Hearing in Technicolor: Mindset Shifts within a Multicultural Congregation. Nashville: B & H Press, 2021. 220p. Bought 13 December 2024 on Christianbook. Read 16-18 January 2025. Church and Culture (Cultural Diversity, Church Renewal, Church Unity)
Heitzig, Lenya. Reload Love: Transforming Bullets to Beauty and Battlegrounds to Playgrounds. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2018. 193p. (Helping refugees in various countries, working with peoples of various religions and cultures. Christian service in areas of war, creating peace and reclamation after or during wars.) Bought 13 December 2024 from Christianbook. Read 22-24 February 2025. Peoples & Cultures, Sociology
Holland, Sarah Stewart and Beth Silvers. Now What?: How to Move Forward When We’re Divided (About Basically Everything). Grand Rapids: Revell (Baker Publishing), 2022. 233p. Bought 16 October 2025 from Christianbook. Read 24October 2025. American Politics and Culture (Civility, Reconciling and Accepting Differences)
Hudson, Winthrop S. Walter Rauschenbusch: Selected Writings. NY: Paulist Press, 1984. 252p. Received 27 March 2025 as a gift from a friend. Read 26-31 May 2025. Theology (Church and Society, Social Gospel, History)
Jenkins, Beverly. Night Hawk. NY: Recorded Books, 2012. Audiobook. Bought 23 September 2023 from the Arlington Library. Finished 28 May 2025. Historical Fiction (Native American, American West)
Johnson, Doris Miller. Golden Prologue to The Future: A History of Highland Park Methodist Church. Dallas: Highland Park Methodist Church, 1966. 143p. Bought 20 August 2025 from Arlington Library. Read 26-27 November 2025. History (Dallas, SMU, Church History)
Johnstone, Patrick, with Dean Merrill. Serving God in Today’s Cities. Downer’s Grove, Illinois: IVP Books, 2018. 117p. Bought 13 December 2024 on Christianbook. Read 24-25 January 2025. Church and Culture
Kristian, Bonnie. Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2022. 225p. Bought 4 August 2025 on Christianbook. Read 14-16 August 2025. American Politics and Culture (Poetry)
Leeman, Jonathan. The Rule of Love: How the Local Church Should Reflect God’s Love and Authority. Wheaton: Crossway, 2018. 174p. Bought 13 December 2024 on Christianbook. Read 3-4 January 2025. Church and Culture (Theology; Church Renewal)
Knight, George R. Myths in Adventism: An Interpretive Study Study of Ellen White, Education, and Related Issues. USA: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1999. 272p. Received 25 June 2024 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read June - 3 July 2025. Religions (Church History, Denominational Controversy)
Lemann, Nicholas. Redemption: The Last Battle of the Civil War. NY: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2006. 257p. Bought 9 October 2023 from the Arlington Library. Read 4-8 November 2025. History (US Reconstruction after the Civil War)
Levesque, James. 10 Prophetic Values for Today: Hearing, Glorifying and Restoring God’s Voice. Minneapolis: Chosen (Baker Books), 2022. 190p. Bought 16 October 2025 from Christianbook. Read 9-12 December 2025. Theology (Spiritual Gifts; Prophecy; Social Justice)
Levi, Allen. The Last Sweet Mile: A Journey of Brothers. Cane Ridge, Tennessee: Rabbit Room Press, 2022. 227p. (A biography of brothers with the story of Gary Levi, who had cancer that curtailed his world-traveling mission work. A bachelor, like his brother Allen, they were close friends and companions. Allen, a lawyer and singer-songwriter, writes their story.) Borrowed 10 December 2025 from a friend. Read 13-16 December 2025. Biography (Cancer; Grief)
Levine, Amy-Jill. The Gospel of Mark: A Beginner’s Guide to the Good News. Nashville: Abingdon, 2023. 154p. (A scholarly study of this gospel written for non-academics by a renowned Jewish New Testament scholar.) Received 5 March 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 16-19 March 2025. Bible (Cultural and Historical Context; Faith and Life)
Lithgow, John. Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse. San Francisco: Chronicle Prism, 2019. 112p. Borrowed 27 March 2025 from a friend. Read 28-31 March 2025. American Politics and Culture (Poetry)
Livingston, Mike, Ed. Explore the Bible: 1, 2 Kings. Nashville: Lifeway, Vol 8, Number 4, Summer 2022. 130p.Recevied 15 May 2022 at Geyer Springs Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas. Read 10-11 October 2025. Bible
Lobell, Jarrett A, Editor in Chief. Archaeology. NY: Archaeological Institute of America, Vol 75, No 4, July/August 2022. 68p. Received from Dave Wilson 20 August 2025. Read 21-25 August 2025. Science (Paleoanthropology, Archaeology)
Lobell, Jarrett A, Editor in Chief. Archaeology. NY: Archaeological Institute of America, Vol 75, No 5, November/December 2022. 68p. Received from Dave Wilson 20 August 2025. Read 21-24 August 2025. Science (History, Paleoanthropology, Pyramids)
Luker, Lamontte M. The Land of the Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the Holy Land, Its People, and Its History. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2019. 194p. (Written by an archaeologist as a visitor’s guidebook for the modern land of Israel and the Palestinian West Bank. He provides historical and archaeological information on each location, information from biblical history and church history, and specific history of key events that took place in each local and when churches were built. Layers of history and archaeology are built into this excellent travelogue of history, with color photos all through the volume. Pocket size.) Borrowed from a friend 1 June 2025. Read 4-26 June 2025. Bible Background (History, Archaeology)
Lupton, Robert D. Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor. Grand Rapids: BakerBooks, 2007. 139p. Read 25 August 2025. Faith and Life (Church and Culture)
Maathai, Wangari. Unbowed: A Memoir. NY: Anchor Books, 2007. 326p. (An autobiography by this Kenyan environmentalist who tells the story of her whole life and how she became a central icon is the fight to save Kenya’s fast-diminishing forests from the corruption of Kenyan politicians clear-cutting and allotting public lands to enrichment schemes for leaders. Ultimately recognized and protected by other countries and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She tells in great detail the ins and outs of the fight for democracy in Kenya under ever more oppressive dictatorial governments. I lived in Kenya during much of the time she recounts here, yet learned more details of persons and events from her in this book.) Bought 26 September 2024 from the Arlington Library. Read 8-16 February 2025. Biography (Kenyan History, The Environmental Movement, Pro-Democracy Activism)
Marty, Peter, ed. The Christian Century: Real Life at the Border. Chicago: The Christian Century, Vol 142, No 7, July 2025. 96p. Read 14-19 September 2025. Church and Culture (Faith and Life, American Politics and Culture, Sociology)
McCarty, Doran. Teilhard de Chardin. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1976. 149p. (A volume in the series Makers of the Modern Theological Mind, ed Bob Patterson.) Bought 2 February 2011 in Arlington, Texas. Read in 2011. Reread 6-9 December 2025. Theology (Biography)
McClellan, Albert. Creative Expectancy. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971. 128p. Received from International Baptist Church of Arlington 8 October 2025. Read 12-14 October 2025. Personal Development (Living in Faith and Hope, Mysticism, Unity of Life and Creation)
McCord, Beth and Jeff. Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage. Nashville/NY: Morgan James Publishing, 2020. 232p. Read 14-23 July 2025. Faith & Life (Spiritual Disciplines)
Miller, Bruce B. Leading a Church in a Time of Sexual Questioning: Grace-Filled Wisdom for Day-to-Day Ministry. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2019. 245p. Bought 27 May 2023 from Christianbook. Read 5-8 June 2025. Church & Culture (Sexuality and Gender Identity, Christian Attitudes)
Milligan, Jonathan. Your Message Matters: How Companies Must Adapt to Survive. Grand Rapids: BakerBooks, 2020. 264p. Bought 4 August 2025 from Christianbook. Read 2-3 September 2025. Business (Communication, Integrity, Humility, Service)
Mithen, Steven. The Language Puzzle: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved. NY: Basic Books (Hachette Book Group), 2024. 534p. Borrowed from a friend 6 August 2025. Read 13 August - 9 October 2025. Science (Language; Neurology; Epistemology)
Montefiore, Simon Sebag. Jerusalem: The Biography. NY: Vintage (Random House), 2011. 649p. Borrowed 11 September 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Read passim, finished 24 December 2025. History (History of Jerusalem)
Moore, Beth. All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale Momentum, 2023. 295p. Received 18 December 2023 from the Little Library of St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 8-18 January 2025. Biography (Theology, Southern Baptists; Integrity)
Moore, Russell. Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel. Nashville: B & H Press, 2015. 224p. Bought 4 August 2025 on Christianbook. Read 16-20 August 2025. Church and Culture (Social Ministry, Counter-Cultural Life)
Morrison, Erika. Bandersnatch: An Invitation to Explore Your Unconventional Soul. Nashville: W Publishing (Thomas Nelson), 2015. 13 December 2024 on Christianbook. Read 18-22 February 2025. Faith and Life (Art, Anthropology and Change)
Nappa, Amy and Mike. Hard Way Home: A Woman’s Inspiring Battle with Cancer and the Lives She Touched. Eugene Oregon: Harvest House, 2019. 251p. Bought 13 December 2024 on Christianbook. Read 22-24 January 2025. Inspiration
Pagels, Elaine. The Origin of Satan: How Christians Demonized Jews, Pagans and Heretics. NY: Vintage Books (Random House), 1996. 214p. Received 2 April 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 30 May - 3 June 2025. Theology (Philosophy, Cultural History)
Payne, Philip B. The Bible vs Biblical Womanhood: How God’s Word Consistently Affirms Gender Equality. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2023. 223p. Bought 13 December 2024 from Christianbook. Read 31 December 2024 - 3 January 2025. Church and Culture (Biblical Textual Criticism; Role of Women; Paul’s Theology)
Patterson, James. Humans, Bow Down. NY: Hachette Audio (Little-Brown), 2017. Audiobook. (A look into the future after humans have created sentient robots, who then decided to take over the world and remove humans. A remnant remain as slaves and second-class, despised entities after 90% of the world human population has been wiped out. A Q-bot police detective, one of the elite robots that has developed emotions and a conscience, works with human teenage rebels to fight the system. Thoughtful and exciting adventure and science concepts.) Bought 23 September 2023 from the Arlington Library. Heard over a long period, finished 3 February 2025. Fiction (Science Fiction, Artificial Intelligence, Robots)
Patterson, James. Kill Me If You Can. NY: Hachette Audio (Little-Brown), 2011. Audiobook. Bought 23 September 2023 from the Arlington Library. Finished 30 June 2025. Fiction (Murder for Hire)
Patterson, James. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross. NY: Hachette Audio (Little-Brown), 2012. Audiobook. Bought 23 September 2023 from the Arlington Library. Heard 16-17 June 2025. Fiction (Terrorism, Murder)
Peterson, Michael L, ed. The Problem of Evil: Selected Readings. Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame University Press, 1992, 2006 printing. 391p. (A collection of essays by past and current philosophical and theological thinkers on the logical problem of evil in the world and how that fits with traditional and common concepts of God. One Interesting and helpful line of thought distinguishes between a theodicy and a freewill defense in accounting for the existence of evil in a moral universe with a good God. Details are considered for the logical options for a divinity in considering creation and the kind of creation a divinity might want or be able to create with moral options and the value of free choice. Considers deterministic lines of thought in contrast to freewill lines of thought. Some writers detail the deficiency of the atheological charges that leave the concept undetailed and theological objections or answers to the atheological arguments unanswered. Stimulating. Written within the western philosophical-theological stream of culture and thought in the western Christian historical context.) Bought 8 March 2024 from the Arlington Public Library. Read 1-6 August 2025. Philosophy (Moral Philosophy, Concepts of God and atheism)
Piper, John. A Sweet and Bitter Providence. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010. 159p. Bought 18 October 2012 in Arlington, Texas. First read 21-23 October 2012. Read again 22 November 2025. Bible
Pivec, Holly and R Douglas Geivett. Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices. Brentwood: B & H Publishing, 2022. 257p. Bought 10 December 2024 on Christianbook. Read 26-28 January 2025. Theology (American Christianity, Church History, Pentecostalism)
Powery, Emerson B. The Good Samaritan: Luke 10 for the Life of the Church. Grand Rapids: BakerAcademic, 2022. 176p. Bought 4 August 2025 on Christianbook. Read 5-8 September 2025. Faith & Life (Bible, Application of the Parable in our Culture)
Prince Harry. Spare. NY: Random House, 2023. 410p. (An autobiography that takes us through his whole life within his own thoughts and feelings, how the world looked to him as a child losing his mother, through his schooling and military service in great detail and up to his separation for the royal family identity. He never got to really grieve over the loss of his mother Princess Diana. He always felt treated as the Spare to his brother Willy, the Heir to the throne after their father Charles. So he refers often to the Heir and the Spare. He sees himself as a neglected spare, of value only as a backup son in case anything happened to older brother William. Poignant and brave. Because of royal protocols and expectations, he was limited in most ways, to the schools he could choose, the type of activities or professions he could learn and engage in. His military service in Afghanistan gave him PTSD, and there was little help available. He details the oppression of the paparazzi, whom he blamed for his mother’s death in France, and clearly expresses the distress and stress they caused him and his family, his friends and especially his girlfriends, then his wife Meghan Markle. He gradually realized he already had PTSD from his mother's death and his inability to grieve, partly due to the formal requirements of the royal ritual and limitations on the royal family's public and internal protocols. Hard to read, in places, due to cumbersome syntax and sometimes assumed context that brought up unanswered questions and was puzzling at times. Slow reading because of backtracking to check out and clarify.) Borrowed 8 March 2024 from the Little Library of St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 4 March - 24 April 2024. Biography (Royal Family)
Reno, R R. The End of Interpretation: Reclaiming the Priority of Ecclesial Exegesis. Grand Rapids: BakerAcademic, 2022. 171p. (The role of doctrine and creed in biblical exegesis. Deals with the historical models through the Christian era and suggests approaches for faithful exegesis with prophetic application to the culture of today.) Bought 4 August 2025 on Christianbook. Read 11-14 August 2025. Theology (Theology vs Bible Interpretation, Church Fathers)
Rittenhouse, Flora. Our Story Matters: Reflections on a Lifetime of Cross-Cultural Ministry. Flora Rittenhouse, 2025. 144p. Bought 28 February 2025 from Amazon. Read 1-3 March 2025. Biography (Faith and Life)
Roberts, Nora. Hideaway. (No Location): Macmillan Audio, 2020. Audiobook. Bought 23 September 2023 from the Arlington Library. Heard 20 June - 14 August 2025. Fiction (Kidnapping and Murder, Theater, Family Dairy Business, Ireland, California & New York)
Roesdahl, Else. The Vikings. NY: Penguin, 1998. 324p. Received as a gift September 2022. Read 23 March - 7 April 2025. History (Scandinavia, Viking Age, 700s-1100.)
Rohr, Richard. The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe. NY: Convergent, 2021. 265p. Bought from Arlington Library 9 October 2025. Read 16-21 October 2025. Philosophy (Mysticism; Theology; Metaphysics; Christian Monism)
Runyon, Theodore. The New Creation: John Wesley’s Theology Today. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998. 270p. Received 30 April 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 12-15 May 2025. Theology (Faith and Life, Ecology)
Scott, Josh. Bible Stories for Grownups: Reading the Scripture with New Eyes. Nashville: Abingdon, 2023. 122p. Borrowed 17 June 2025 from a friend. Read 26-30 June 2025. Bible (History; Bible Backgrounds)
Sanctified Art Team. What Do You Fear: Insisting On Hope This Advent. SanctifiedArt.org, 2025. 157p. (An Advent Devotional Set, Art, Poetry and Reflections for the 7 Weeks of Advent) Received 30 November 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 2 December 2025. Faith & Life (Advent, Hope, Inspiration)
Scroggins, Clay. How to Lead in a World of Distraction: Maximizing Your Influence by turning Down the Noise. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Reflective, 2019. 214p. Bought 4 August 2025 from Christianbook. Read 3-5 September 2025. American Politics and Culture (Dealing with Distraction in American Society)
Slaughter, Mike. First: Putting God first in Living and Giving. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013. 93p. Dates of purchase and reading not recorded. Personal Development (Generosity, Moral Character)
Smith, Efrem. Killing Us Softly: Reborn in the Upside-Down Image of God. La Mirada, California: Talbot School of Theology, September 2024. (The Gospel Life as counter-culture, following Jesus in the way of death to bring life. The Way of Jesus as a new way, opposite way of the world’s way of death, power, violence and domination. Dying to self to gain power of life for self and others. It was a refreshing read, in light of what is happening right now in American social movements and political events, with the new threat of Christian Nationalism and authoritarianism.) Bought 13 December 2024 from Christianbook. Read 31 January - 3 February 2024. Church & Culture (Counter-Cultural Life, Life through Death)
Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian (Official Journal), Vol 55, No 2, June 2024. 85p. Read 23-27 December 2025. Peoples & Cultures (Archaeology, History)
Steele, Danielle. The Duchess. NY: Recorded Books, 2017. Audiobook. Bought 23 September 2024 from the Arlington Library. Finished 1 March 2025. Fiction (19th Century English Nobility)
Stone, Rachel Marie. Birthing Hope: Giving Fear to the Light. Downer’s Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2018. 210p. Bought 4 August on Christianbook. Read 21-22 November 2025. Theology (God in Daily Life, Light and Life; Feminine Biblical Motifs for God)
Timothy, David. He Ain’t No Billy Graham. Coppell, Texas: Amazon.com (Self-published), 2020. 124p. Borrowed 27 August 2025 from the Little Library at St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 30 August 2025. Faith & Life (Service, Church for the Homeless)
Tenbusch, Mike. The Jonathan Effect: Helping Kids and Schools Win the Battle Against Poverty. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Books, 2016. Bought 13 December 2024 from Christianbook. Read 24-25 July 2025. Church & Culture (Counter-Cultural Life, Life through Death)
Tripp, Paul David. Reactivity: How the Gospel Transforms Our Actions and Reactions. Wheaton: Crossway, 2022. 170p. Bought 13 December 2024 on Christianbook. Read 18-21 January 2025. Faith and Life
Trump, Mary, PhD. Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man. NY: Simon & Schuster, 2020. 225p. Bought 12 December 2025 in Arlington, Texas. Read 16-18 December 2025. Biography (American Politics; Psychology; Childhood Trauma and Dysfunctional Families)
Ward, Mariel. Penetrating the Stronghold: An Insider’s Perspective from a Bible Translation Team. Lake Mary, Florida: Creation House, 2008. 164p. Read 17-20 November 2025. Religions (Islam; Autobiography; Bible Translation)
Warner, Lacye C. Knowing Who We Are: The Wesleyan Way of Grace: What We Believe, What We Do, and Why. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2024. 138p. Received 30 April 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 1-4 May 2025. Theology (Faith and Life, Church History)
Warren, Elizabeth. This is Our Fight: The Battle to Save the Middle Class. NY: Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt & Company, 2017. 337p. Bought 9 October 2025 from the Arlington, Texas, Library. Read 2-6 December 2025. American Politics and Culture (Economics, History, Democracy)
Weatherhead, Leslie D. The Manner of the Resurrection: In the Light of Modern Science and Psychical Research. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1959. 92p. Received 30 April 2025 from St Barnabas United Methodist Church, Arlington, Texas. Read 6-7 May 2025. Theology (Faith and Life, Church History)
Whitney, Donald S. Praying the Bible. Wheaton: Crossway, 2015. 107p. Received from the Better Together Church in Arlington, Texas 11 June 2025. Read 11 June 2025. Faith & Life (Spiritual Disciplines)
Wilder, Jim. Renovated: An Introduction to Epistemology. Colorado Springs, Colorado: NavPress (Navigators/Tyndale House), 2020. 220p. Read 3-7 February 2025. Philosophy (Epistemology; Neurology; Metaphysics; Spirit Filling, “Attachment Love”)
Willis, Dustin. Life In Community: Joining Together to Display the Gospel. Chicago: Wheaton, 2015. 191p. Read 17 November 2025. Faith & Life (The Church as Community, Family; Love as Life)
Wright, Chris etal. John Stott: Pastor, Leader and Friend: A Man Who Embodied ‘the Spirit of Lausanne’. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2012. 80p. (A biography and tribute to Dr John Stott, world-renowned Anglican Evangelical Scholar, professor and mentor. I never got to meet John personally, but I have read several of his many books. I did hear him speak in person in 1976 at the World Congress on World Evangelization in Nairobi, Kenya. I was the news reporter for that conference for Religious News Service in North America from my office at the Baptist Communications Centre in Nairobi. It was also at this conference that I did personally meet and speak with Dr Billy Graham, one of the organizers of the conference and a founder of the sponsoring Lausanne Movement.) Bought 4 August 2024 from Christianbook. Read 2-7 October 2024. Biography (World Christianity)
Wright, N T. God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and Its Aftermath. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Reflective, 2020. 76p. (The leading theologian of the Anglican communion discusses the problems with simplistic theology and judgement on disasters, the problems of anti-intellectual forms of folk religion, the overall problem of evil, modern false prophets and bad theology, in regard to the worldwide pandemic of the deadly COVID-19 SARS virus) Bought 4 August 2025 on Christianbook. Read 13-14 August 2025. Faith & Life (Spiritual Discernment, Theology)
Young, Ed. In the Zone: Hitting the Bullseye of God’s Blessings. Dallas: Creality Publishing, 2025. 100p. Read 19-22 January 2025. Personal Development (Finances, Generosity)
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