Books read in October 2012

1. A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle

A murderously violent hero is not one to endear him to the reader unless I suppose you share his brand of Irish republicanism. We do not seem to be given the historic context which produced such nationalism, only the outworkings of it. But as the author tells us that the 1916 captured rebels were jeered by the Dublin populace, I think I am not alone in my dislike of how Henry fought.

2. How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes:  by Peter D. Schiff

Believing that government has a duty to give us sound money and prevent that legalised theft called inflation I enjoyed this cleverly told tale of the folly that is Keynsian economics. Here is the Austrian school for dummies. In an era when our government loves to print money and call it quantitive easing not inflation, we need the message of this book as we continue to speed to an even bigger crash than the last one. One interesting but undeveloped theme in the book is that universal suffrage could be held to blame for our parlous economic state.

NIGERIA – At least 14 killed in raids on Christian villages near Jos

Release partners say that militants have killed at least 14 ethnic Berom Christians in raids on villages in Plateau state this week. Stefanos Foundation, which supports Christian survivors of violent attacks, reports that the raids took place in the Riyom and Barkin Ladi areas near the state capital, Jos. A mother and her three children were among the dead in Riyom – while two half-brothers were reportedly ambushed in their car and shot dead in Barkin Ladi. Villagers hearing of this second assault later killed a Muslim man in retaliation, according to Associated Press news agency. Stefanos reports that a 33-year-old man named as Yohana Tengwong was shot in Kashingwol, Barkin Ladi, yesterday morning. Christian villages in this part of central Nigeria suffer frequent attacks by suspected Fulani militants against a backdrop of heightened religious, ethnic and political tensions. (Sources: AFP, AP, Stefanos Foundation) For more news and a country profile about Nigeria, click here • Thank God that He binds up the broken-hearted (Isaiah 61:1). Ask Him to comfort and strengthen all those who mourn. • Pray for an end to the cycle of violence in central Nigeria. Pray that Christians will find ways to protect themselves without being tempted to retaliate.

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