Reading Challenges Update 1

Yes! I've been reading books. Not all for challenges, but a few. Some I'm still getting through, but they will be read before the year is out.

I thought I'd do an update for both challenges - 2015 TBR Pile Challenge and 2015 Bingo Reading Challenge.

First up is the 2015 TBR Pile Challenge.



I'll get on with what I've read shortly, but there has been one change. Two books on the pile have been removed from the challenge. My sister read the books before I did, and recommended that I don't read them. Her opinion is one that I highly value and listen to, so I won't be reading Strong and Stubborn by Kelly Eileen Hake and An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus. This means there are now a total of 18 books for the challenge.

So far I have finished 3 books and am currently in the process of reading 3 others (those 3 are all non-fiction and at least 2 are devotional books that I read a small section of each day).

The 3 books I have finished are:

• Light Force by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen (this one was one that I didn't read in last year's challenge)
• Finding Spiritual Whitespace by Bonnie Gray
• The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith

I found Light Force to be really interesting. It is a sequel to Brother Andrew's first book - God's Smuggler - and talks about what he has been doing since the publishing of that book made it impossible for him to continue his ministry in Europe. I found it most interesting the way his ministry focus has changed to focus on Palestinians - both Christians and Muslims - and the way his life has impacted world leaders and the influence he has had on the way Palestinian Christians have outreached to their own community, particularly in the face of war and terrorism.

Reading Finding Spiritual Whitespace has become part of a study for me, this year, on what true spiritual rest is. Over a few week I was often left with the thought that rest was important in my life and wanted to discover how I could rest in the middle of a busy life. Many people have a word for the year, and this year my word is REST. I'm not talking about getting enough sleep (although that is important), but true rest that is offered by God. The journey is not over, even though I have finished this book - there is still much more to learn on this topic.

So with these 3 books read and 2 books off the list for good, I'm at 3 out of 18 read.

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And now for the 2105 Bingo Reading Challenge.

My Bingo card has just one book read, but I'm working on how to read a few more. I will have one other square filled soon (thanks to a book I got to review).

The book I read for a genre that I don't normally read was The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith. It was a science-fiction book, and that is something I really don't usually read, but you might have read the blog tour and review post I did about it. Yes, it made it on both of my challenges for the year! But that's not against the rules.

So that's where I'm at with my reading challenges this year. Stay tuned for further updates, reviews and whatever else I think about and post!