Book Review: "Scripture By Heart"

Reviewed by: Conrade Yap

Title: Scripture By Heart - devotional practices for memorizing God's Word
Author: Joshua ChoonMing KANG
Publisher: IVP Press, 2010 (150 pages)

This book is an easy read, but involves some effort in order to practice it. It invites the reader to begin an age old practice: Memorizing Scripture. The book was first written in Korean. Now translated in the form of 30 short chapters, the author gently guides the reader to begin the long journey of what he calls the 'memorization divina.' Just as the 'lectio divina' implies a slow and intentional reading, the memorization divina implies a perseverance that over time, in short sound bites.

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

The author provides 4 reasons for memorizing the Word.

1. 1) For Knowing God;
2. 2) For Imitating Christ;
3. 3) For Worshiping God;
4. 4) For Fulfilling the Will of God.

I will add that the reasons for memorizing God's word is basically for loving God. How I love thy Word, says the Psalmist. Ps 119 alone should motivate us to put the Word of God in our hearts. For this reason alone, you should read this book and learn some memorization skills. This book can also be used as a companion to Spiritual Formation.

Praying for Our Pastor(s)

Written by: Conrade Yap

Date: 8 Feb 2010

Last week, our pastor asked the congregation to pray. He shares with all who were there listening, "Pray for your pastor." This is something that has been requested over and over again by many servants of God. The most wonderful gift any pastor can give to the Church is constant prayer for the sheep. Likewise, the best response is for sheep to pray. The shepherd prays for the sheep. Let the sheep also pray for the shepherd. We need praying shepherds as well as praying sheep. We need leaders who pray. We need members to pray. Blessed is the Church whose leaders and members regularly pray for each other. A Church that does not pray becomes easy prey for the evil one. A Church with praying leaders and praying members form a tight defense against any spiritual attacks.

This is a condensed version of the original, published at Yapdates.blogspot.com

I am starting a series which I call the "Anti-Busyness Campaign." I have not decided how many articles as yet. This will be the first which talks about work.

Here I am again, talking about one of my favourite things to bash. It is the face of busyness. Signs can be intriguing. Sometimes, while construction is going on within part of a shop, the owners will put a prominent sign to tell customers that they are still in business. In other words, despite the ongoing construction, business will be as usual. I want to contend that no matter how we look at the word 'busyness,' it is not the normal state for the human being. In other words, man is not created to be busy 7 days a week.

Busyness As Usual?

We live a busy lifestyle. One major factor is survival related. We have bills to be paid. Without a job, one can ill-afford the monthly mortgage for the house, the preferred car or the dream vacation to an exotic destination. We push ourselves to meet the quarterly targets, and to reap our financial rewards. We push ourselves to meet deadlines, and to accomplish an important milestone for a significant business project. We push ourselves to get things done, to stay ahead of the competition that threatens to eat our lunch. We become pushy people. We push the authorities. We push for our voices to be heard. We push others. We push ourselves. Busyness is a continued state of pushing without pausing.