"You Are What You Love" (James K.A. Smith)

TITLE: You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit
AUTHOR: James K.A. Smith
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2016, (224 pages).

We worship what we love. Out of what we love, we worship. This relationship is tight and indispensable. It has implications for what it means to be human, and reflects what exactly we do want. Author and professor James K.A. Smith observes in the gospels how Jesus is more interested in what the disciples want rather than what they believe or know. Smith believes that many people have become stuck in Descartes-style of "I Think Therefore I Am" to the detriment of the lack of holistic living. Interestingly, he does not argue for less but more knowledge and learning that pulls together holistic living and learning. We need to cultivate a lifestyle of living and loving, of learning and labouring toward a model of centering our behaviour according to the heart of loving. Out of this identity arises our true motivation for thinking; for spirituality; for calling; for discipleship; worship; and spiritual formation. Describing the heart as our center of spiritual gravity, Smith also tells us that this goes way beyond the head. The virtues of love in the heart form our "erotic compass."  He believes that it is possible to acquire such virtues through imitation and practice. This book is about the latter that uses habit as the way to cultivate and to calibrate this compass.

"Paradox Lost" (Richard P. Hansen)

TITLE: Paradox Lost: Rediscovering the Mystery of God
AUTHOR: Richard P. Hansen
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016, (224 pages).

What are we to do with mysteries and strange phenemonon of life? How do we live with paradox? What about biblical paradoxes? Is it worth the effort to try to fit everything into one box? In this fascinating book about the perceived contradictions of biblical ideas, we find an honest and bold attempt to accept that we are limited in our understanding of the things of God. The best way forward is not to reject or to blindly accept the paradoxes we encounter, but to embrace the Sovereignty of God. Contradictions such as:

• Free will of man vs the Holy will of God
• Humanity vs Divinity
• Visible things vs Invisible things
• Exaltation vs Humility
• Foolishness vs Wisdom
• Living vs Dying
• Knowing God vs inability to fully comprehend God
• ..

Richard Hansen, pastor and former missionary professor at Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia writes this challenging book about how we can deal with the mysteries and the paradoxes of life. He first compares it with the Person of God, reminding us of the paradox of the Trinity, the Incarnation, the salvation, and many aspects of theology. He argues that these "tensions must not be resolved" because of the dangers of falling into various aspects of heresy. History has taught us that. Thus begins a book about the extent in which we can address mysteries and the way we solve problems. The appropriate response to problems is due diligence to do whatever we can to resolve it. The appropriate response to mysteries is awe and wonder. We need both. More importantly, Hansen teaches us that if we want to experience the mystery of God, we must learn to "reclaim and embrace biblical paradoxes." He goes on to explain that in four parts.

"Making All Things New" (Benjamin L. Gladd and Matthew S. Harmon)

TITLE: Making All Things New: Inaugurated Eschatology for the Life of the Church
AUTHOR: Benjamin L. Gladd and Matthew S. Harmon
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2016, (224 pages).

At the onset, the authors make it clear that this is no conventional book on eschatology, or theology of the last days. Rather than to reserve the end times to the short period leading to the second coming of Christ, Benjamin Gladd and Matthew Harmon believe that eschatology is about the entire time period between the first and the second coming of Christ. This is also known as "inaugurated eschatology." The key idea in this book is that a good understanding of the already-not yet theological framework will inform how we live and minister in Church. Recognizing the divisions that often ensue when people talk about eschatology, such as between covenant theology and the dispensationalism, the authors seek a middle ground, which is one reason why this book is written by a professors teaching in seminaries of both persuasions. Gladd teaches at Reformed Theological Seminary (Covena Theology) while Harmon teaches at Grace Theological Seminary (Dispensationalist). Together, they hope to demonstrate that there is a way forward even when eschatological views differ sharply. What better way than to invite their esteemed professor, G.K. Beale to articulate the general landscape of the already-not yet theological truths.

"An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture" (Andrew M. Davis)

TITLE: An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture
AUTHOR: Andrew M. Davis
PUBLISHER: Greenville, SC: Ambassador International, 2014, (31 pages).

"Memorize the Bible? You've got to be kidding!"

It is a tall order, a tough project, almost impossible perhaps. Yet, for those who are willing, the opportunities and techniques are there. All it takes is commitment, a strategy, and a discipline to follow through on a system of memorization. Underpinning this desire to memorize the Bible is the conviction that the Bible is worth committing to memory. Dr Andrew M. Davis aims not just to help us memorize verses, but chunks of verses. As author and pastor, Dr Davis has memorized at least 35 Bible books in his lifetime. He believes:

• God has commanded it;
• Memorizing books is better than mere verses
• Commitment is necessary
• Repetition and review are keys to keeping the Bible in our minds and our hearts.

With a system that is proven to work, Dr Davis shows us a simple way to memorize which includes beginning with shorter books; survey each book for the total number of verses; remember verse numbers; choosing one that stirs our passions; make a schedule; commit it to the Lord. The rest is plain and simple: Put it into practice over and over again. Besides teaching us to memorize new verses and books, Davis also shows us the techniques to review and the keep our old verses fresh in our minds. Learning to recite it out loud also helps Use visual aids if necessary, such as taking a visual photograph of the passages in our minds. Gradually, we learn to move from shorter to longer books of the Bible.

Bible memorization is an essential discipline of any believer in Christ. In fact, it should not simply be labeled a 'have-to' item in our Christian life, but a 'want-to' desire as Christians. Anyone claiming to be a Bible-believing Christian will not have problems appreciating the benefits of memorizing Scripture. The difference is in the priorities we put to it. In a Twitter generation where people's patience is only as long as a maximum of 140 characters, memorizing the Bible helps us grow deep, to plant the seed of the Word in our hearts. Regular review waters and helps our hearts be nourished by what we have remembered. Sow deep. If necessary, go slow. The methodology suggested in this book is not rocket science, but the commitment to follow through is the real deal. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Let me close with the words of the famous missionary to China, James Hudson Taylor who once said: "There are three stages in the work of God: impossible, difficult, done." I would put memorization of the Bible under this same work of God.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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