Favourite Books - 2010

I read a stack of books - mostly worthwhile - last year. Here's the cream of the crop. Fiction first.

The Bronze Ladder

On my trip to Tunisia I came across a book called "The Bronze Ladder" based on the story of the Christian martyrs Perpetua and Blandina. Perpetua's prison diary was a fascinating discovery, unveiling previously unknown experiences of the Christian community in North Africa. Malcom Lyon's book is based on her story. He states that it is a work of fiction based on the available facts, but I found it all very plausible. A lot of this is down to the author's extensive research not to mention the years he has spent living in North Africa.

I read the book whilst travelling throughout Tunisia and visiting the ruins of Christian churches. The story came alive to me. Tears came to my eyes as I looked out upon the amphitheatre in Carthage where Perpetua and her friends met such a cruel death. The faith and courage of early Christians is vividly shown on every page of the book and is a story deserving a far wider audience.

Lords of the earth

Many have heard of the brilliant book "Peace Child", in which Don Richardson told how the love of God invaded the desperately dark cannabilistic tribes of Irian Jaya. But fewer have read his later book "The Lords of the Earth". This book is just as compelling as the first, though a little more dark and gruesome. But please don't let this put you off one of the best missionary tales ever told. First, the reader is plunged into the depth of the most pagan culture imaginable. Here is the hopeless existence of life without Christ Jesus. Suicides, revenge killings, subjugated women, ignorance, hatred and fear.

Then the unlikely 'hero' of the story is introduced: Stanley Dale. He had grown up to be a fighter in every sense in a bid to lose the 'weakling' label. But the Holy Spirit softened his heart, filled him and made him a soldier of Christ in the foothills of Irian Jaya. With a boldness rarely seen, Stan, along with his colleagues, did battle with the spiritual forces of darkness that bound so many thousands of Yali people. The pages of this book are full of great miracles, amazing deliverance, but also immense personal sacrifice. Prepare to be challenged and inspired!