14. The War for Middle-Earth

14. The War for Middle-Earth: J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Confront the Gathering Storm, 1933-1945. Joseph Loconte. 2025. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy] [nonfiction, world war II, literature, 4 stars]

First sentence: The agreement that officially ended the First World War has borne an impossibly heavy burden.

This book is a great fit for readers who

a) have an interest in the INKLINGS--including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

b) have an interest in literature past and present

c) enjoy making connections between ideas and concepts found in literature with the real world or perhaps switch those around making connections between the real world and ideas, concepts, themes found in literature

d) have an interest in both the first and second world wars

e) have an interest in sociology and culture of the early to mid twentieth centuries

f) essentially anyone who enjoys diving deep into all the layers of context

I am not sure that I meet all these criteria, but I do have an interest in world war II and I have read some Tolkien and some Lewis. This definitely dives deeper into all the literature aspects. For example, some of the layers of context involve what works, what authors, that Lewis, Tolkien (and perhaps their contemporaries) read at various points of their lives and were influenced by. How did reading x influence author y into writing abc. What themes from book x and y can be seen in the works of author c and d. How does reading these themes, these ideas, these concepts change who readers are, change how they think, how they interpret the world around them. 

It was a good read, but, lots of depth.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Operation Actually Reads Bible Turns 18!!!!

Does it feel like my youngest blog should be turning eighteen? No. Am I happy that it is? Yes. These are eighteen years where I've prioritized reading the Word of God in a consistent way. 

My first post was called THE MISSION.

My goal--obvious as it may be--is to actually read the Bible. You might think that I've not read it. But that wouldn't be the case. I've read it a dozen or so times over the past twenty years. However, I've not been in the habit of reading it lately. For the past three or four years, my reading of the Bible has been pitiful to nil. I know--rationally speaking--that I NEED to read the Bible...that I NEED to study and read and pray. But it's not a part of my daily routine. Hence why I'm challenging myself to ACTUALLY read the Bible instead of just talking about how I need to start one day soon.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Reading #23

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Tyndale New Testament 1534

Matthew 1-10;

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

1 Samuel 23-31; Romans 12-16;

KJV MacLaren Reference Bible

Job 25-34; Psalms 93-96; Proverbs 14-15; Mark 15-16;

NASB 1977 Ryrie

Exodus 11-12

NASB 1971 Reference

Genesis 1-11

Monday, June 1, 2026

Tyndale New Testament 1534

Matthew 11-20

KJV MacLaren Reference Bible

Job 35-42; Psalms 97-102; Proverbs 16-19; Zechariah 1-6; Luke 1

NASB 1971 Reference

Genesis 12-25

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Tyndale New Testament 1534

Matthew 21-28

KJV MacLaren Reference

Exodus 1-4; Psalms 103-104; Proverbs 20-22; Zechariah 7-14; Luke 2-3;

NASB 1971 Reference

Genesis 26-36

NASB 1995

Song of Songs

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Tyndale New Testament 1534

Mark

KJV MacLaren Reference

Exodus 5-9; Psalms 105-106; Proverbs 23-26; Malachi; Luke 4-5;

NASB 1971 Reference

Genesis 37-50

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Tyndale NT 1534

Luke 1-8

KJV MacLaren Reference

Exodus 10-17; Psalms 107-112; Proverbs 27-31; Luke 6-7

NASB 1971 Reference

Exodus 1-11

Friday, June 5, 2026

Tyndale NT 1534

Luke 9-17;

KJV MacLaren Reference

Exodus 18-21; Psalms 113-116; Ecclesiastes 1-2; Luke 8;

NASB 1971 Reference

Exodus 12-18

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Tyndale NT 1534

Luke 18-24

KJV MacLaren Reference

Exodus 22-29; Psalms 117-119; Ecclesiastes 3-5; Luke 9-11

NASB 1971 Reference 

Exodus 19-31

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

13. Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology

13. Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology. Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley. 2025. 1088 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, theology, Christian nonfiction]

First sentence: In Christian theology, the church explains and applies the Bible's doctrine, or teaching, about God. Theology is human reflection on the knowledge and wisdom revealed in God's Word. The goal of theology is that we may know God and live unto him through Jesus Christ.

Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology is a condensed adaptation of a four volume systematic theology. The four original titles are: Reformed Systematic Theology Volume 1: Revelation and God, Reformed Systematic Theology Volume 2: Man and Christ, Reformed Systematic Theology Volume 3: Spirit and Salvation, and Reformed Systematic Theology Volume 4: Church and Last Things.

The book is systematic, organized. It is an abridgment of literally THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of pages into a little over one thousand. So it's concise, but, NOT concise at the same time. Each chapter includes summaries and explanations as well as discussion questions. 

Reading it cover to cover over the course of several months, I feel it was good, but, at the same time it was a LOT to process. And for better or worse my brain can't retain that level of detail for long periods of times. I think this one may be a great RESOURCE or reference book. It might be good for deep diving specific subjects as they come up in your life--through sermons, through Bible reading, through questions asked at Bible studies or small groups. I can think of many reasons why this might be a good reference book or belong in a church library or home library of a pastor or elder or teacher. 

The book literally covers every imaginable subject, topic, doctrine. It would be nearly impossible for you to agree 100% with every single one all the time, every time. The book definitely has strong opinions, but, it also balances those strong opinions with a few other options. It may say the other side thinks this and then comes back with and here is an argument against that. BUT it doesn't exclusively present only one side for every doctrine. It obviously depends on the doctrine. Some doctrines might be more 'simply' presented. But for the more complex, somewhat controversial positions, it is a more complex overview. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible