The Book Luke

Right now I'm working on memorizing the book of Luke.   Here's the process we go through:

1)  Textual analysis--Know who is speaking, why, what time, season, location, where people are at in the text, etc...

2)  Take each line and create a movie in your mind.  Use every line to create your own paraphrase until you can create the story easily flowing in your mind.

3)  Once the story is firmly established in your mind and in our own words, then begin to add the actual words.

4)  Practice the story in front of others to learn the people connection.


Ok, that's a short and sweet overview if there's anyone here doing memorization.

:)

Surprised by Grace

It's a time of review when we look back over the year and it was interesting comparing this year's memorization progress to last.  Last year I dug in hard as you can see from the posts, blazing through Matthew at about 15-20 verses per day.  But around March I started to fizzle out and stopped in the summer altogether.  This year after much wrestling I went slower and meditated more.  I came to understand "the grace of gears" (Sept 26, 2011 post).  Sometimes we are in first gear and sometimes in fifth.  On occasion we are even stopped but only for a short time.  That is how we make any journey.  And that's how I made this year's journey with the process of memorizing.   And lo and behold, I came farther and did more chapters this year than last.  And I got more out of it.  In fact, memorizing James simply changed me in a way I didn't even expect.  At the end of the day, grace got me farther.  Imagine that. 

Pondering with the Persecuted...

I haven't written in a few weeks as I have a new job and had to train out of state for a couple of weeks.  I'm back in town and now learning the ropes locally.  In the meantime I've been working on Psalm 119 which as you know is the longest chapter in the Bible, surpassing the length of several shorter books.  It's been good and progress feels slow from the sheer length, but I'm about 40 verses in at this point.

In the meantime I've been reading some stories of the persecuted church.  I have a heart for the persecuted church and getting the Word into their hands.  So many of them face horrific torture if found to have a Bible or meeting together for worship.  The other night it really made me think/dream.  Most of history has been an oral culture, not a written.  It has only been since the Gutenberg press that the world shifted to a predominantly written/visual culture.  What if there were a training manual for extensive memorization that was put into the hands of believers in countries that prohibit owning a Bible? What if in addition to this a system was put in place as one of my friends is doing in a closed country, in training people in an oral form of story-telling of the gospel?  The stories of the Bible are learned to a great measure of accuracy, practiced over and over so that they can be retold and retold.  Could this be a tool that would be of benefit to the church in difficult circumstances?  It's not to take away from having a Bible as that is always ideal, but I have read of one country in particular that people who get a Bible bury it for up to 10 years until they feel safe to use it.  What if the Scripture was tucked deeply into minds and hearts and could be retold, re-memorized as a means of gospel "distribution?" 

When I ponder these things, it makes me want to write a manual/book.  A few things come into my head.  1)  I don't feel qualified.  I haven't refined a system, haven't memorized enough, etc...  2)  Could I write a book/manual that would be engaging, interesting and useful?  There are a couple of books out there and I have bought them all (almost) and of the ones I know of, I find only one that I would recommend (His Word in My Heart).  Could I do something different and/or better than what's already out on the market?  3)  Is this something that the church as a whole and the persecuted church would find useful?  Would they rather just have the Scripture itself and not a different book?  Then again, if they were beaten, imprisoned or tortured, how much better would it be to have the Scriptures in their/our heart? 

I don't have an answer to these questions, but if anyone happens to read this and would like to weigh in their honest and sincere thoughts, I would appreciate it.

The Grace of Gears

Life has seasons and it also has gears. One thing that has helped in this journey of memorization is knowing that it is Ok to have those gears, as long as we understand what is and what is not a gear. Prayer and the meditation on God's Word is not a gear. It is the fuel. Without these we will not go far to the heart of Jesus.

Memorization though is one of those things that does have gears. I'm not talking automatic gears but those gears we have in the old standard cars (still the best) where there is first through fifth gears you put the car into to drive. Memorization has gears. Sometimes I'm in first and not going very fast or I may even be stopped. At other times I'm just cruising right along in fifth gear. Gears are only a problem if I just stop for long periods of time.

Right now is one of those times I'm somewhere between first gear and slowed to a stop. Hopefully for only a few more days as I've missed the memorization process. In fact if anything this pause has helped me to see how much memorization really is influential my daily life. But the last couple of weeks I've been working on moving to a different city. It's only 30 miles away but I'm living half here half there. You probably know what I mean. I hope to moved there by this weekend but for now, I'm at the Stop sign and packing boxes.

The grace of gears is that if we give ourselves this grace for different gears, we're more likely to pick things up again. No discouragement, no condemnation, just the wonderful grace of gears. I hope to at least be back in third or higher soon. :)

6 Month Review

Six months have come and six months have gone. While I am not on my original schedule, I have to look where I've come. I've been able to memorize

James
1 Peter 1-4 (can't remember if I did ch 5 or not)
2 Peter 1
Psalms 1-6,16,19,23,24

It's been like driving a car--sometimes I'm in first gear, sometimes fifth, and sometimes I just stop, but I'm still on the journey. The nice thing is that I've slowed down a bit and am engaging more and more from the heart and the spirit. This is what I want in the first place so it's been a good thing. It just might not work into my plan to memorize the Psalms and the New Testament in 10 years but I'm Ok with that.

I do feel changed, and surprisingly in ways that I wasn't expecting. I thought change would be a choice from the study of Scriptures, but it's actually happened as the overflow, not on deliberation on my part.

For example when I memorized the book of James, I was surprised at how much of it deals with the poor. I thought it was great but I went on to memorize other chapters from other books. A few months later I realized that out of nowhere I had really developed a heart and a burden for the poor. I've been yearning to be more generous and reading more and more about ministries to the poor. I was thinking one day where that came from when I realized I think it came from memorizing James. That move of my heart for the poor welled up out of the overflow of the Scriptures. I didn't work for it, try to develop it, make it happen, or made my emotions dive into it, it was just one day there. Cool.

I also have had Scriptures come to my mind when I am thinking of things throughout the day. For example what I spoke about the other day that "the sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods." I've also had the Scripture in Peter that says "he who loves his life and would see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit." My tongue and a good life go hand in hand. This one has come back to me often.

So all in all it's been good. I don't know where I'll end up over the next 6 months but I'm glad with where things have gone so far. The Lord has been good to me. Then again, every good thing I have comes from him (Ps 19)--another verse that keeps popping in my head. :)

Mid-June Update

As you notice the memorization side of things came to a screeching halt.  I became overwhelmed and off track.  Lately though I've been using the time for more meditation.  Some of the last few posts are ones I have written for the newspaper as you can probably tell they have a little different tone.  I don't know what the upcoming days hold but right now but I do know that all things are a process.  I'm still in the process, but am leaning toward the meditation side of things for awhile.  Perhaps this blog was appropriately named.

Whew!

The last couple of weeks I have been knocked way off track.  I got behind and took a break for a bit.  Actually it's been kind of good to do so.  I'm still definitely in the learning process.  The good news is that clinicals are OVER as of yesterday and graduation happens next week.  That means sleep and sanity have opportunity to return, as well as getting back in the saddle not just with memorization but with other areas in life.  It's a journey!

End of Month Review for March

Wow!  This has been a challenging month.  I've moved to a different house as I'm in a different clinical location.  So the review part has gone out the window, but the memorization is still on track.  The only thing is that without the review driving it home, I feel like I'm missing things big time.  If any thing this is a good thing to know.  Review isn't just for the sake of review, but it continues to flesh out the big picture making the parts more meaningful to thew whole.  I have 5 more weeks of clinical so I don't know how it will unfold.  I do need to be back into more of a rhythm.   Plus there are so many things I wanted to blog about in 1 Peter but haven't got to yet.  Still learning.

The Real Test

As you see I've been a few days without posting.  The real test has begun.  Schedule is taking its toll on my body.  BUT, even though I've missed a few day so of memorization and I'm very rusty on review, I'm still on schedule.  I had a few grace days plugged into the plan and I've used those up.  But as of today, I'm still on track.

I feel like I'm being distracted by many things--internet/facebook, the memory course I'm taking, school, moving this weekend, etc...  But at the end of the day all I want is Jesus.  I went to get back to the place of His Presence.  I definitely am in a season of needing his wisdom to know how to spend the time I have.   Stay tuned.  Why?  Because I serve a God who says "if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault" (Jms 1). 

Monthly Progress Report for February

So the test that I've been waiting for her has arrived, or at least the beginning stages of it.  I've been break-neck busy, falling in bed at nights exhausted and hanging on by a thread some days.  But the results so far?  My memorization has stayed on track!  This has been so encouraging as I feel like I've latched on to something that is doable with this pace.  Now my review schedule has slipped the last week, but I am Ok with that.  I can pick it up again. 

So far this year I've memorized Psalm 1-5, James, and 1 Peter 1 and in a few days it will be chapter 2 also.  So pretty good. 

Now for new challenges.  I started a memorization course.  I found it on someone's post on memorizing the whole Bible.  This is good and bad.  It will be good if I can increase my ability to memorize (though at this point I'm not necessarily looking for quantity), but at the same time I don't want to lose sight of the meditation.  If I memorize the whole Bible and can recite it easily, what good is it if it has not gone deep into my soul?  So this is something I have to balance.  Also, my homework is competing a little bit for my thoughts and attention.  At this point, I don't know whether it is a good thing or bad--the verdict is still out.

20-30-10 Review

The 20 days of consecutive reciting of each chapter is perfect, but I think the 30 days off is too many.  Going to rethink how this is all structured.  I think I'll try 20-15-10--Twenty days of reciting a chapter, 15 days off, then 10 days of reciting it again.  Still on a learning curve.  My spreadsheets seem to be changing monthly but things are still going well.

The Big Test

So last year when I was hitting this gung ho, as in about 20 verses per day, I began to fade away during the February/March season.  The reason being that I had a very heavy workload and wasn't keeping up.  At 20 verses a day, it was becoming words without meaning.

 In this year so far I've had a pretty light schedule...until now.  For the next 3 months my days will be packed full.  Already one night I fell asleep at 8 pm in all my clothes as I was just so tired (needless to say memorization didn't happen that night).

I'm actually anticipating this challenge as I will be able to see if my fading away was because of too many verses and/or because of life's heavy workload.   I've also dropped from 20 verses to 3.  This seems doable but I also know that throughout the day my full concentration is on my work.  I'm not at a desk job where there are brain breaks.  So this is where it starts to become interesting.


(On track for today with Psalm 5:7-8)

The Mirror

One thing that has been very difficult (and good) is the problem of the mirror.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, it does not make yourself more Godly to memorize large portions of Scriptures.  If anything, it exposes the ungodliness. 

James has been a real mess for me.  Every chapter it seems to say something about the tongue--do not slander one another, don't grumble against each other, don't swear (keep your word), etc... And the last few weeks every time I turn around my mouth is spewing evil, and those Scriptures I've memorized are right there before me.  Ever before me.

Then one of my prayers often is that I will be wise.  But "wisdom" is living well--"pure, then peace-loving, consider, submissive, full of mercy and good works, impartial and sincere."  I applied this to a conflictual situation in my life that I've been grumbling about, and I think I have not been exemplifying any of these.    At all.

James is right.  To look at the Word is the equivalent of looking at a mirror, and it isn't pretty (Jms 1).  It's worse than morning hair.  And trying to change...that's harder yet.  I can only throw myself on his mercy and trust that He will finish the work He began in me.

Translations

The issue of which Bible translation has been a bit of a challenge.  I've memorized so many things in the NIV, but I really like, especially in the Psalms, how the NASB translates.  I've already decided to memorize the New Testament in NIV, but I've been debating which translation in which to memorize the Psalms.  So far it's been NIV, but it has been a wrestling match.  I note this as something one should decide on before embarking on the journey. 

Random Thoughts

• I came across another person who has memorized about 1/3 of the New Testament, but they are using their influence to slander authority.  I'm reminded yet again--Memorization does not equal godliness.
• So how does one become more godly?  My thoughts tonight can be summed up in one word:  responsiveness.
• When I think of the tongue as an agent that sets the 'whole course of someone's life on fire' (James 3), I think of Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks.  Whether you agree with it or not, that random comment altered the whole course of her life.
• How I pray for someone affects my attitude toward them.  I have been seeing someone's sin and having turned away, asking God to convict their hearts and turn back.  Good prayer.  But when I pray instead that God will bring them into the freedom, joy and fullness they have, my eyes begin to see what they can be, and my perspective towards them changes.  Hm. 

Context (James 4)

If there's one thing I can say is a clear benefit of memorizing Scripture is that the understanding of verses in their context puts a light on everything.  For example, how often have we memorized verses such as Jms 4:7-8a "Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you."  Nice verses.  Sweet ones.

But what about the next words in the same sentence?  "...Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom."

Then we pick up the next verses, memorize it and quote it to others:  "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

But these verses are all together, not separated as would like them to be or memorize as such.  The reality of our sporadic memorization is that we wonder if the writer had a schizophrenic moment and his other personality jumped right into the middle of these sweet verses and threw a dark shadow on them.

But the issue is the context.  These are not just general, nice admonitions but from beginning to end these are a call to a serious repentance.  God's people were 'adulterating' themselves by mimicking the yearnings of the world.  Yet God's overflowing grace allowed that they could repent from this adultery and this is what repentance was to look like:  "Submit yourselves, then, to God...resist the devil...come near to God...grieve, mourn and wail...humble yourselves before the Lord and he will life you up."

These "nice" admonitions are given a powerful punch when placed in context.  And that is probably where they best remain.

#4--Another Lesson Learned

#4)  Start the day memorizing the Scripture and that means have it written out the night before.  The difference is significant. 

I also sense (maybe?) that once a chapter has been review the 20x, that I'm to take a month away from it and then come back to it for 10 more days of review.  We will give it a go.

30 Day Progress Review

If you read about a month ago, you will know that I asked the Lord how many verses to memorize a day and I felt he told me 3.  So far it has gone well.  Three verses gives me the ability to meditate (which I don't always do to the extent that I want) but also to memorize well the texts.  Some paragraphs have 4 verses and some 2 verses so when that happens, I memorize that amount so as not to break up the continuity of the flow of thought.  Other than though I am sticking with 3 and am happy about it.  I feel like there's definite potential for longevity.  Last time I made it through March before I hit the wall.  So this will in many ways be a test to see if it really was the number of verses that was the problem, or personal motivation. 

I also have recently felt that the Lord said to review each chapter 20 times.  Each day I review several chapters.  It doesn't take long and it actually does solidify it in my mind over and over.  Also I begin to see new things as well as old things I really don't understand.  What I wonder about next is when to come back to a chapter after I've reviewed it 20 times (1x/day) and let it sit for awhile.  I think it's important to let it sit, but also important to return to it.  I pray the Lord will show me. 

So far I've memorized Ps 1-3 and James 1-3.  As of yesterday I started in on ch 4 of James.  Chapter 3 is still a bit rough in the review process but it's only been a couple of days of reviewing it all.

If I have the whole Bible but have not obedience...

I am reminded lately of a guy I knew of who in his early college days memorized 17 books of the Bible.  This is quite impressive!  The problem was that there was one significant area of his life that he refused to walk in obedience.  And it was not a small area.  The reality is that if I memorize the whole Bible but do not align my life to its Word, then I'm actually in a worse place than before.

Another jewel for the journey

Last night I was getting ready to review the Scriptures I've learned (Ps 1-3, James 1-2) when it came to me that part of the reason the Scriptures were getting boring and mundane is because that I was treating them as such.  When I went to review them, I rotely recited them fast and in a blah, blah manner.  I felt like the Lord showed me last night that I need to review and recite the Scriptures in a posture and tone that is fresh and honors the Lord.

When a musician stands up at a concert, they've probably sung that song a couple of hundred times, but to honor the people, they sing it as if it were the very first time.  In doing so they often find a connection with the music.  When someone you love tells you kind words about you, if they say it to you in a blah, boring, monotone way, it doesn't connect and receive.  This is the same with Scripture.  If I am reciting and reviewing it by just speeding through it in a monotone way, it loses something and is not as honoring as it could be.

So last night I got on my knees and recited the Scripture in a way that felt from the heart and meaningful.  It did indeed make a difference.  Definitely got to add that to my list of things learned.  Here's the other part of the list:

1)  Ask God how many verses a day for you to memorize
2)  Review throughout the day.  Ps 1 says "day and night."  A quick memorization right before you go to bad loses impact.
3)  When reviewing the Scripture outloud or in your mind, make the intonation and tone meaningful.  It honors the Word and somehow finds a way to connect to your own heart and spirit.