Open to the Spirit: God in Us, God with Us, God Transforming Us by Scot McKnight
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Giving this a 2-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. It was fair. Good to be challenged to a deeper openness to the Spirit of God and His role in my life. I do want to be open to the Spirit--and to walk in the Spirit. I felt there were a couple dubious interpretations, but overall pretty solid. I agree with the author that there has been probably a lesser emphasis overall in evangelical circles regarding the work & role of the Holy Spirit in believers and the church's life. So it's good to be challenged and exposed to think carefully about these things.


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In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finally got around to reading this book on the missionary couple--Martin & Gracia Burnham--taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist organization in the Philippines, back in 2001. They spent just over a year in captivity, unfortunately ending in Martin's death at the time of their rescue by the Philippine armed forces (who appear rather inept throughout). Gracia does an excellent job of giving insights into the hardships of their captivity--the constant hunger, walking/running/dropping ("mobiling"), the fire fights & explosions from numerous encounters with the Philippine armed forces (AFP)--who seem quite unaware of how many times they almost killed some/all of the hostages, and who would give up tracking them after a "day's work" and who also demanded percentages of ransom money paid for various hostages. Gracia gives a very gracious perspective on the Abu Sayyaf terrorists (some of whom were forcibly "recruited" from their villages)--who were lost souls seeking God's favor by going on jihad & hoping to be martyred in the fight. I loved the post-hostage update Gracia gives on her three children, as well as her transition back into "normal" life in the US and how God provided so wonderfully for her & her family. Also how she has started a foundation to support various projects among the most unreached--including supporting outreach in a Philippine prison which has seen some former Abu Sayyaf terrorists come to faith in Christ. I listened to this audiobook on my phone--purchased from Chirp.com, at a great price.


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A New Song by Jan Karon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hadn't read a Jan Karon book for forever...and so really enjoyed getting back into the lives of people from Mitford. In this book, Father Tim & his wife, Cynthia, actually spend most of the time on an island--White Cap--where Tim is doing an interim pastorate. So, an interesting set of new characters enter the series. Listened to this audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library. And there's lots more Mitford series audiobooks available--so I'm looking forward to reading more of them.


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Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good, thoughtful insights into why writing a Life Plan & keeping it tweaked is a good idea. Now I just have to buckle down and do it. Borrowed this from the library (had to check it out 2x, due to travels/meetings, etc.).


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Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'Nuff said...since it's possible that my every key stroke is still being noted & stored...and so is yours. Borrowed from the library.


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American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating & well-written & documented account of the radical vision of US President John F. Kennedy to put a man on the moon by the "end of the decade" (the 1960s). Great details on the origins of the US space program--reaching back to WWII and the development of the dreaded V2 rockets the Nazi scientists created to bomb England; also, lots of details on the so-called "space race" as it developed post-WWII with the Soviet Union. Listened to the audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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How To Really Ruin Your Financial Life and Portfolio by Ben Stein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pretty funny...and insightful. Thanks for the "reverse tips!" Borrowed from the library.


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Oswald Chambers, Abandoned to God: The Life Story of the Author of My Utmost for His Highest by David McCasland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm giving this biography of Oswald Chambers 3-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. It was good--and very sad toward the end, as Chambers dies in his prime at the age of only 43 years old. But, God has sovereignly used his writings/sermons/devotionals to speak to millions across the world--including this reader. Especially through the work of his wife, Biddy, who painstakingly compiled Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest. Biddy was an amazing lady--and God used her greatly, both during Chamber's lifetime and for many years following his death.


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Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent--and disturbing--book on the injustices of our supposed justice system, especially with respect to the state of Alabama, and many other southern states. Pure racism unmasked; blatant miscarriages of justice. Stevenson is a Harvard-educated lawyer who has been burdened to specifically take on death row cases--as well as cases of both death & life imprisonment handed down (disgracefully) to children as young as 13 and 14. Unbelievable. And, sadly, these are not generally cases that happened back in the 1960s or earlier...but many recent cases in the 21st century. Stevenson does a great job of humanizing these death row inmates--and chronicles history-making changes in court sentencing rules handed down in recent years by the Supreme Court of the U.S. Eye-opening reading. Borrowed from the library.


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Barkskins by Annie Proulx
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm giving this book 2-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. It had some interesting aspects, but overall, I didn't feel there was much of a pull for me to keep "reading" (I listened to this audiobook on my iPhone--and it was loooooong!--borrowed from the library, re-borrowed...); didn't feel there was enough of an engaging plot & some of the characters were just bland. The story took place over a couple hundred years--which is always a challenge to pull off in a novel--and had insights into the challenges & lifestyles of early loggers/barkskins. It also gave a window into life & challenges among the early native peoples of "New France" (Canada)--and early New Englanders.


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Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this latest foray from Gladwell. Insightful--and very, very sad hearing the details of cases like Sandra Bland's and the misapplication of the Kansas City policing procedures. Hard to believe how much our own intelligence agency has had the wool pulled over our eyes by the Cubans--and other, no doubt. Watch your implicit default-to-trust levels! Listened to the creative audiobook on my iPhone--borrowed from the library.


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