Saturday, December 02, 2017

Books read December 2017

1. Exposition on ancestral spirits by Samuel Adekoya

The author gave me this when I met him on a coach en route to Leeds. Spirit possession is a real problem in Africa though rare in the West. The author is a Pentecostal pastor with a deliverance ministry in a large African denomination. I believe in spiritual warfare and the reality of the spirit world. but I believe this book goes beyond what the Bible says. Nimrod we are told was a mighty hunter. 'Semiramis (Assyrian;ܫܲܡܝܼܪܵܡ Shamiram, /sɛˈmɪrəməs/; Greek: Σεμίραμις, Armenian: ՇամիրամShamiram) was the legendary wife of Onnes, and Ninus later on, succeeding the latter to the throne of Assyria.The legends narrated by Diodorus Siculus, who drew from the works of Ctesias of Cnidus[4]describes her and her relationships to Onnes and King Ninus, a mythical king of Assyria not attested in the far older and more comprehensive Assyrian King List.The real and historical Shammuramat (the original Akkadian and Aramaic form of the name) was the Assyrian wife of Shamshi-Adad V (ruled 824 BC–811 BC), king of Assyria and ruler of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, and its regent for five years until her son Adad-nirari III came of age and took the reins of power.' - Wikipedia This is but the first extra-scriptural teachings here. 

2. Victory over Spirit Husbands and Wives by Sam and Dami Adekoya

The second book given to me by the author when travelling by coach to Leeds. I found this better than the first above. The Asmodee described as in control of 20,000 demons is according to Wiki,'The Asmodeus of the Book of Tobit is hostile to Sarah, Raguel's daughter, (Tobit 6:13); and slays seven successive husbands on their wedding nights, impeding the sexual consummation of the marriages. He is described as 'the worst of demons'. When the young Tobias is about to marry her, Asmodeus proposes the same fate for him, but Tobias is enabled, through the counsels of his attendant angel Raphael, to render him innocuous. By placing a fish's heart and liver on red-hot cinders, Tobias produces a smoky vapor that causes the demon to flee to Egypt, where Raphael binds him (Tobit 8:2-3). According to some translations Asmodeus is strangled.' So this fits.
A couple of mistakes spotted, alter for altar and new for knew. So the proof reader needs to up their game. A very African bilk of benefit to others too.

3. Breaking the Yoke of Ancestral Curse by Samuel O Adekoye

The third book the author gave me. Such curses are feared by Africans but not mentioned in the West. There is indeed victory in Christ. I found the warning against souvenirs from Africa most interesting. Read and learn.

4.The Path to Rome by Dwight Longenecker Editor),‎ Cyprian Blamires (Editor)

I cannot give five stars as that is "I love it' and this is a subject I do not like. Yes this does explain why people have converted to Rome.most have gone via Canterbury. As one who cannot even get to Canterbury from Geneva, Rome has no attractions whatsoever. but here the attraction of the ancient tradition is explained. I once asked the late Malcolm Muggeridge, 'why Rome?'. He had a one word answer. Abortion. Rome certainly gives the impression it knows what it believes and is unashamed in teaching it. That has its attraction. For others there is the sticking to what has been the ancient tradition, e.g male priesthood. Ironically that is one thing where I too am with Rome, an all male presbyterate.  

5.The Chibok Girls: The Boko Haram Kidnappings & Islamic Militancy in Nigeria by Helon Habila (Author)

The best book on the subject. The author hails from this part of Nigeria and understands it. I lived there in the seventies which he describes as the golden decade for Nigeria. It was post civil war. There were shortages but there was peace all over Nigeria as there had been under Pax Britannica.  The book starts with the difficult visit to Chibok, scene of the brutal kidnapping. One may be surprised to find this is a majority Christian town in a Muslim state, Borno. The horror of lawlessness is communicated as well as the general corruption of Nigerian life. The Chibouk scene is movingly elaborated. Very well told is the history of Islamism in the country which he dates from Maitatsine decades ago. But the tension predates this. It is the result of an older jihad. It is rare to read an explicit account of how the Middle Belt was a slave catching area for the Muslims taking those who would not convert if given that option. Today, the Muslim may despise those not of the faith, the Islamist despises all not of his brand of Islam and the Christian has the historic dislike of the former enslavers. Rarely is this atmosphere mentioned or confronted. This book is open, honest and moving. Weep for the Middle Belt. 

6. A Way to Pray: A Biblical Method for Enriching Your Prayer Life and Language by Shaping Your Words with Scripture by Matthew Henry  (Author),‎ O Palmer Robertson (Editor)

Matthew Henry is justly famous as a biblical commentator so I am surprised this excellent volume is not so well known. O Palmer Robinson deserves thanks for revising and modernising it. You will not realise it is modernised until you find that prayer for travellers now encompassed travel by air as well as sea. I consider this the most helpful aid to prayer I have ever read. It shows Henry's amazing knowledge of Scripture that he could take countless biblical texts and form them into prayers which are there to stimulate and aid the reader's praying. This is the one book I will have with my Bible to aid daily devotions. It is a book I shall read more than once.
   I have too. Now reread it twice in 2017. Still the tops for prayer.

7.  Token of Truth by Jean Hamilton (Author)

I knew the late author. She lived in the area described and I should love to know how much of this story is true. It is the tale of a young girl grown-up pagan in a Gwoza hill village who is helped to health my missionaries and is attracted to the message they bring. But there is a struggle. The story is told through her perception. It is reminiscent of the brilliant, Descent from the Hills, by locals; colonial officer Stanhope White. He told the area's history over half a century through local eyes. Met him too. One slight criticism of the illustrations by Florence Chandler who was the wife of the first Gwoza doctor. The sketches have been somewhat prudishly altered from the reality of female nakedness in the area at the time. Women in the hills were scary taken even in the mid seventies when I lived in the area. But a great story well told.

8. His Workmanship by Christine Cheal (Author)

In 1907 the first Anglican missionaries came to panama on the Jos Plateau. Daniel Lot was the first convert, baptised in 1916. he was the first evangelist appointed to reach his own people then as missionary to the neighbouring tribe. His eldest son became the first pastor in the area and before Daniel died in 1962 his son David was the first MP for the area in the parliament established even before independence.His story spans the birth of the church in the area and is told by the author who herself was missionary there for over thirty years.

9. The Meaning of Baptism by D W B Robinson (Author)

A brief but fairly comprehensive booklet on the mode and subjects of baptism. Central is covenant and cleansing. A suitable primer and challenge to the Baptist view which is so prevalent in England.

10. Who Are We: The Challenges to America's National Identity by Albert J Weatherhead III University Professor Samuel P Huntington(Author)

Huntington made his name with Cash of Civilisations. IMO this is better and more important. I wish he or someone would do this book for the UK where the crisis of identity is IMO more acute. America is a nation of settlers first of all. They precede the immigrants. They came to set a city on a hill, to escape the restrictive laws of Stuart England and they are the founders of the nation. They gave an Anglo-Protestant culture. Religion and Christianity remain to the fore. Grat importance is given to the Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th centuries. Now there is deconstruction of this America. There is assimilation, ampersands and erosion of citizenship. Mexican immigration and Hispanisation are particular problems. America merges with the world. There is a new enemy the Islamists. Elites are out of step with the public. Diasporas affect the politics. Ethnicity fades though race is constant. The creed is changing. America has turned to religion ,a global phenomenon. A great book falloff facts and stimulation.

11.The Everyday Diabetic Cookbook by Stella Bowling  (Author)

Glossy but hardly used. I am diabetic but do not restrict my diet being asymptomatic class 2. When I was diagnosed my wife bought this to be helpful. She has hardly used it. Found what we tried was rather bland.It all looks good but we are not enthusiastic.

12. More-with-less Cook Book by Doris Janzen Longacre  (Author)

We first bought this back in the seventies when we lived in Nigeria and worked alongside Mennonites. Out first copy was swell used it had tube replaced so now we have a shiny new one. Good recipes. Nourishing frugal food. The best.

13. Mansoul by Ruth Burke and Bruce Hyatt (Author)

Vividly and lavishly illustrated retelling of The Holy War. One minor typo, duals for duels p. 54.

14. Young Fred. The Yorkshire lad who never grows up. by Will Clemence (Author)

Mine is the same date but the cover shows the picture of Fred as he appeared month by month in the Dalesman. My review will be brief. Unlike the book it is ti quote Fred, Summat An' Nowt. Wonderful stuff.Brings back my youth. So true to life and funny. Even off comes runs will appreciate this. The universally and Tyke lad bi gum.

15. Kellet's Christmas by Arnold Kellett  (Author),‎ Philip Spence (Illustrator)

Mine is 1997 with a grumpy Puritan on the cover. 100 excellent poems giving the true meaning of the season. My favourite,'The Unnoticed Guest' lamenting the Commonwealth abolishing the festival 1652. Kellett mocks the commercialisation and the drunkenness and buts Christ in his proper place. Get collection of poems for the nativity.

16. Study Bible: American English Standard Version (ESV) Hardcover

I have over my 71 years gone from AV to RSV to NIV and now ESB. I have enjoyed study bibles for the last three and this one is the best. But first the translation. More literal and faithful than the NIV which being more dynamic reads better at the cost of some fidelity. ESV is a very faithful translation and the study notes, articles and introductions are excellently evangelical. There is web access too, so if you travel you do not need the heavy hard copy. Mine was a gift for Christmas 2009. Daily use has taken its toll on the binding which is now enhanced by tape. In the past year I have read the whole Bible once, the New Testament twice and the Psalms 25 or so times. I enjoy my daily spiritual food.

17. This Present Darkness: A History of Nigerian Organised Crime by Stephen Ellis

The title does not do this book justice. It is a book that surveys the history of Nigeria and explains the origins of its corruption. It is an absolute eye-opener even to those of us who have lived in and thought we knew Nigeria. It shows the African world view traditionally held includes a spirit world with law not written. It shows the conflict brought by colonial rule for it imposed alien values and foreign concepts of justice. We are told of secret societies, university fraternities and the power of the spirit world. Western secularists will find it hard to fathom. Those who know Africa will be enlightened. How Nigeria became endemically corrupt and exported fraud, drug trade and sex work is well described. The frightening thing is the all pervading corruption of life in Nigeria but also the understanding that this corruption may be viewed very differently through traditional African eyes where public and private interests are not clearly delineated. To understand Nigeria you must read this. It is a primer on African culture and the modern world.

18. Amazon Echo Dot: Echo Dot User Manual: From Newbie to Expert in One Hour: Echo Dot 2nd Generation User Guide: (Amazon Echo, Amazon Dot, Echo Dot, ... Manual, Alexa, User Manual, Echo Dot ebook) by Ray Higgins  (Author)

Not fit for purpose. I am told to download the Alexa app. It is not in the Apple store which offers Reverb to connect. From then on the next steps are not as the manual. How I eventually got set up I cannot relate but it was no thanks too this waste of money. 

19. Selfish Whining Monkeys: How we Ended Up Greedy, Narcissistic and Unhappy by Rod Liddle

First thing I noted. Liddle needs to wash his mouth. I do not want to read the f word and its like when such profanity is totally unnecessary. Four times in the first chapter. So I gave up.

20. Transactions of the Yorkshire Dialect Society 2017

My collection of Transactions goes back to the sixties when I became a life member of the society. They publish twice a year. This is the academic one, the summer bulletin is popular writing.

21. Knowing God and Ourselves: Reading Calvin's Institutes Devotionally by David Calhoun (Author)

I cannot praise this book too highly. Calvin's Institutes are justly famous but what for me is special about them is that I know of no other systematic theology which is so warming devotional. Here Prof. Calhoun gives even more devotions. I in fact read this as part of daily devotions. I think it best red in small sections and savoured. Full of prayers and very quotable there are excerpts from much more of Calvin than The Institutes and quotes from many other authors commenting on Calvin too. It is a pity that there is no index. Apart from that lack my only criticism is on the last chapter,  Civil Government. A most helpful and clear chapter but I dissent from the assertion that Servetus was burned as a heretic with Calvin's approval. AFAIK Calvin approved of execution but not the method, by burning. Execution for heresy was universal at the time.Wanting something more merciful than burning shows Calvin was not merely following the spirit of the age.  I shall be reading it again.

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