A Gospel Primer - Received!

I heard Amy recite the Gospel Narrative at the end of January and was so moved by the personal nature of this confession of faith. Hearing the words "My God is immense beyond imagination" to "but this is my salvation, and herein I stand. Thank You, Jesus" spoken so simply and sincerely was beautiful. I think the personal pronouns were what impacted me the most. This was a personal testimony about a personal God, His work for me, His undeserved love for me. I felt like Amy was telling me her own story as the recited, but that her story was my story, too. It was beautiful.

Then I learned that the publishers of A Gospel Primer had given Amy some copies of A Gospel Primer and the pocket version which she was using as a give away on her blog. So I entered. And I was one of the ones chosen to receive the pocket version!

Yesterday I received it in the mail, and I'm so excited. It is as beautiful to read as it is to listen to! I've even had an opportunity to show it to a friend, and she also thinks it's something she'd like to have nearby!

Thank you Amy, for this lovely gift. It will soon become worn!

January is over. February has begun. The days are getting longer. What blessings!

And another blessing is that Dea at For His Glory - By His Grace is challenging us to memorize from 1 Corinthians 13 this month.



There are no special rules for this challenge, but Dea is going to be posting about her word studies as she works through the passage.

I won't be typing this passage into the blog every Monday (you can breathe a sigh of relief now) but I certainly hope to post about how I'm seeing the words of the passage permeate my days. After all, that is the point of memorizing Scripture, isn't it? To have it change us, to have it always at hand to serve whatever purpose God gives it in that moment?

Celebration Time

Ann Kroeker initiated Mega Memory Month last fall, and I jumped in with both feet. So when it returned for January, I was ready to try to make a big step toward memorizing the book of Philippians, which I'd begun in 1994-1995. But I wasn't the only one who decided to tackle something Mega. If you visit Ann you'll find links to all the participants in MMM, and you can see the projects they've taken on. Someone went with poetry, someone else went with "Milton Vincent's fantastic little book: A Gospel Primer for Christians". And there were others who chose Scripture, too. You'll find them all through Ann's blog.

Mega Memory Month Celebration Time

January has been filled with Philippians. Anyone who just started visiting PeaceLedge in January might wonder if typing out Philippians over and over is my hobby! It's taken up a lot of blog space this month, that's for sure!

But that means that it has also begun to take up a lot of 'mind space' too, and that's a very good thing.

This month I did my final recitation to my Dear Man. That's how I celebrated! I know that it doesn't sound like much of a celebration, but for me it was. Usually I type it into the computer and check it myself. Sometimes I've had My Girl check it as I recite. So for me this was different.

In fact, one of the neat things about doing it with my Dear Man was that he hasn't heard it over and over the way that My Girl and I have, so it was like sharing something new with him, something that has, to me, become very familiar, special, even personal. I really thought about the meaning of the passage as I recited, because I was thinking about what he'd be hearing as he listened.

And it seems that more and more often I'm seeing applications of different parts of this passage in ordinary things. That's a blessing beyond measure as the Word makes its home in my heart.

So, if you can bear it one more time, here's Philippians 1:1-4:1 for the last time. (At least for a while.) It's all for Him and all through Him!

Green = a word inserted
Red = replaced (by the following word in green)
Blue = omitted
Purple = inverted

Philippians
Chapter 1

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by (in) life or by (in) death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this (that) will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on (in) him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Chapter 2

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave (has given) him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in ('of') the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too (also) should be glad and rejoice with me.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad (cheered) and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him, because he almost died for the work (sake) of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Chapter 3

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is (minds are) on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring (put) everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be (and make them) like his glorious body.

Chapter 4

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that (this) is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Penultimate MMM Check In for January 2009

This week's check in is not a whole lot farther along than last week's. I know that it's because I wasn't at all diligent in reviewing the passage through the week, but let myself get distracted by other things. It is my goal to have this entire piece ready for the end of MMM, and I'm going to work at it, "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead"!

So, here it is:

::

Philippians Chapter 1:1-4:1 (NIV)

Chapter 1

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (omitted).

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through (Jesus Christ) inverted—to the glory and praise of God.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill (substituted 'love'). The latter do so in love, (prompt) knowing that (end prompt) I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Chapter 2

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on (substituted 'upon') the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because (substituted 'for') as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Chapter 3

Finally, my (omitted) brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— (added 'even') though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is (substituted 'comes') through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, (omitted) I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win (substituted 'reach') the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us (prompt) live up (end prompt) to what we have already attained.

(prompt) Join with others (end prompt) in following my (substituted 'the') example (added 'we gave you'), brothers, and (prompt) take note (end prompt) of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we (prompt) eagerly await (end prompt) a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will (substituted 'is able to') transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Chapter 4

Therefore, my brothers, you whom (substituted 'who') I love and long for, my joy and (added 'my') crown, that is how you should (prompt) stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! (end prompt)

Half Way Through January 2009 Mega Memory Month

These words are going through my head all the time. Whenever I have a moment that I'm not thinking about anything, it seems that my brain switches into "MMM" mode, and I start reciting my passage in my head. It's nice that it has become so automatic to think about it. Now if I could just get some of those spots that are consistently in need of prompting to come as automatically.

There is one spot in Chapter 2, right after the lovely passage about Jesus Christ humbling himself and being exalted by God for the glory of God, that I always seem to miss. It begins, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed..." and I think I skip it because it seems similar to an earlier part from Chapter 1 where Paul writes "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel..." Both passages talk about Paul wanting the Philippians to continue in the right way whether he is with them or not. I guess I need to remember that it wasn't enough for him to tell them that in the first part alone: he had to repeat it yet again!

I suppose that's true for me, too. It isn't enough for me to hear good advice, good counsel only once. I need to hear it again and again, in different settings, from different voices. I'm so glad that the Lord doesn't only instruct me once, but is willing to keep repeating His Words until I understand them, internalize them, and obey them. (And then He says them again when I've moved on to other things and am neglecting them yet again!) What grace He has for me!

So, here's check-in 2 for January 2009's Mega Memory Month:

Philippians Chapter 1:1-4:1 (NIV)
Chapter 1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through (Jesus Christ) inverted—to the glory and praise of God.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of (Jesus Christ) inverted, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and (I) omitted will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Chapter 2

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. prompt Therefore end prompt I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Chapter 3

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the (cross) substituted "gospel" of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour added "who will come" from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to (bring) substitued "put" everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Chapter 4

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should (stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!) completely blanked out!

::

Progress was made this week, and for that I glorify the Lord! This has not been easy, but it has shown me what I can do with His strength and with commitment to consistent review.
Now I'm going to hop over and visit Ann and see what everyone else has managed for MMM this week. Why don't you take a look, too, and see if there's someone you can offer encouragement to?

MMM Week 1 Check In - Philippians

Below is the text of Philippians 1:1-4:1 (NIV) which is the complete passage I am working on this month. I recited it to My Girl and she marked up a written copy of the text. I've transferred her record of my errors onto this copy.
<> = omitted word(s) in orange
( ) = corrected
__ = prompted
words in blue were additions
- - = just plain goofed up this section
other editorial comments in green

I've spent most of the first week of MMM trying to solidify Chapter 1:1-3:14 which I've previously memorized, and have only in the last couple of days begun adding in the remainder of Chapter 3 and 4:1. I decided to include the first verse of Chapter 4 as it seemed to be more of a unit with the end of Chapter 3 than with the rest of Chapter 4.

So, now that you know what I'm working on, here it is:

Philippians

Chapter 1

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you (<may be able to discern what is best and>) may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of -Jesus Christ- (inverted and corrected), what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ <and> but to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to <depart and> be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

_prompt_Whatever happens, _end prompt_ conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Chapter 2

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, (<if any comfort from his love,>) if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. <Each of you> Everyone should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

(<almost omitted - began the next paragraph and then corrected>) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. >)

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of -Jesus Christ- inverted. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. _prompt I hope, therefore, end prompt_ to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. _prompt Therefore end prompt_ I am all the more eager to send him, <so> that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give (-me-).

Chapter 3

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—even though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which (<is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that>) comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. My Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to (-win the prize-) for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, _prompt that too God end prompt_ will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

_prompt Join with others end prompt_ in following <my> the example I gave you, brothers, _prompt and take note of those end prompt_ who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, <as> I have <often> told you before and now say again even with tears, (-many- there are those) live as enemies of the _prompt cross end prompt_ of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. <Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Chapter 4

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! >

So, there it is. Obviously lots to do in the latter section, but I'm really pleased how well the review of the first 2 1/2 chapters has gone! Those words from all those years ago really are still there!

100 Posts on PeaceLedge -- And Mega Memory Month is Back

Maybe it's fitting that this 100th post is a return to memorization. (Or maybe I'd have thought it fitting no matter what the topic was!)

Scripture memorization is something that I've worked at off and on for a long time, starting with Sunday School and Catechism classes, moving into Bible Studies and personal Bible times.
Fourteen years ago, while Dear Man and I were missionaries in Russia, our team made a specific commitment to memorizing Scripture, focusing on the passages that went with our "Scriptural Roots of Ministry" weekly team Bible Study.

After at least a dozen weeks of choosing different passages of, probably, 1-6 verses, I decided that I wanted to try something more cohesive: memorizing the book of Philippians. I started on it in Krasnodar, and made it through the first 2 chapters. The team accountability helped tremendously as I knew that each week I'd be called on to recite the new verses I'd learned as well as portions someone else picked from what I'd previously learned.

When I returned to Canada, I tried to keep it up, but going it alone was a lot harder, and slowly I began to slack off. So as of today I have Philippians 1 quite securely in place, chapter 2 more fuzzy, but there with promptings, and the first 16 or so verses of chapter 3 aren't too bad either.

All this to say that:

Ann's sea coral MMM button

It's Mega Memory Month again!

Here’s the info on how to participate, pulled from Ann Kroeker's MMM blog post:

1. Pick something you’d like to memorize. Something long. Something formidable. Something mega. (Mega to you may not be mega to me–simply challenge yourself relative to what you’ve tackled in the past.) Could be poetry, a famous speech, or a passage of Scripture. Your choice.
2. Announce it on your blog whenever you like. If you find out about MMM late or forget about it until halfway through the month, no problem. Jump in and do what you can in the time that remains.
3. Leave me a link (in comments or via e-mail) that will take readers to your own blog’s MMM post. Non-bloggers of course may participate as well. I'll update this post and place names and links in a prominent spot.
4. Please include the new MMM button to tie us together visually. It helps interested readers find and join the challenge!
5. Start memorizing!
6. Consider a final celebration project. I’m encouraging MMM participants to come up with some kind of end-of-month project to celebrate how far they’ve come. MMM Celebration Day will be on the last day of January–Saturday the 31st.

(I hope you realize that all the occurrences of "me" and "I" in the instructions are referring to Ann. She's the lovely soul who is hosting this event.)

My goal for MMM January 2009 is to solidify the first 2 1/2 chapters and to add on to the end of chapter 3. I really want to do this, so the motivation is there, but I know that it will be work of the greatest kind. By the grace of God, I will move ahead with this and have these precious words inscribed in my heart.

So here goes. Will you try it, too?

On Memorization

For anyone who has tried to memorize extended passages, be they Scripture, poetry, Shakespeare, or whatever, it quickly becomes clear that the "say a line over and over until you know it and then add another line" method really doesn't work. Nor does trying to cram it into the mind quickly before being 'tested' on it (as I and so many others I know did for English class and Sunday School); the words are there for the 'test' but fly out the window of the mind as soon as the direct attention to remembering is done.

This fall my children and I worked on memorizing a parable. Sixteen verses of Scripture. Not a huge chunk, by any means, but one of several longer portions that we've done as a family. Our memorization method was simple. I read the passage out loud every morning after breakfast, and again (most days) after lunch. Sometimes I'd read it a couple of times, but mostly just once. When it was quite familiar, I would sometimes pause part way through a line and let them finish the sentence, which they did quite easily, quite naturally, and quite happily. By the end of a month my two eldest children (12 and 6) and I could recite the passage without error. Now, almost 2 months after completing our memorization, we can still do it!

This week there is a new post on the ChildLight USA blog on memorization. Tina Fillmer has written an interesting piece entitled Memorization "Learnt Without Labour". I hope you will take a couple of minutes to read her article. It fit so well with my family's experience this fall that I felt I ought to share the news.

If you're interested, you can read about my family's experiences memorizing the parable by visiting PeaceLedge and clicking on the 'memorization' topic on the left.

Mega Memory Month Comes to an End

Well, I had high hopes for the culminating activity for Mega Memory Month. The children and I recorded ourselves reciting the passage using the web-cam, and I was going to upload it to the blog. But, we don't have high speed, so the upload was taking FOREVER, and I needed to do other things, so we scrapped that idea. Instead I've typed my passage below. The video recording was unintentionally funny, as Brown Eyed Boy and Little Man were sitting on my lap and discovered that they could see themselves in real time on the computer monitor! So the silliness began, and as it went on, My Girl and I tried to keep on going with the recitation. I figure that it shows that you know a passage really well if you can make it to the end with little boys giggling, squirming, sticking out little fat tongues, pointing, making circles with heads, etc.! I call that a victory! Too bad you can't see the recording, too!

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, "You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right." So they went.

He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, "Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?"
"Because no one has hired us," they answered.
He said to them, "You also go and work in my vineyard."

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first."

The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came, and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more,. bBut each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. "These men who were hired last worked only one hour," they said, "and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day."

But he answered one of them, "Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?"

So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

Matthew 20:1-16

This has been an interesting process for us. We've run the gamut of responses, from 'this is easy' to 'this is boring'; from 'I didn't want to do this parable' to finding application of it in our daily lives. We'll continue with our regular memorization, but won't be posting weekly anymore. And I still do want to try to finish Philippians. I'll keep you posted from time to time.

Visit Ann's blog where Mega Memory Month got started, and see what the other participants have been up to and how they celebrated the end to the challenge.

My Girl's Final Mega Memory Month Recitation

My Girl typed her passage into the computer, checked for spelling mistakes and such, and then showed me. What follows is her written recitation of the parable of the workers in the vineyard (with spelling and punctuation mistakes removed). Small blue letters are errors, regular sized orange letters are the correct version. She did a super job, and I'm so proud of her!

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in the vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

“He went out again About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the market-place. He said to them ‘You also go and work in my vineyard and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

“He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out again and found still others standing around. doing nothing. He said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them there their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

So (when) The workers who where hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last only worked one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and heat of the day.’
But he answered one of them ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’”

So the last will be first, and the first will be last.


Matthew 20:1-16

Mega Memory Month Update

This is the last Monday for Mega Memory Month, but I have until Friday to work on this passage. I'm pleased with the progress I've made, and I'm even more pleased with the way the children are writing the Word on their hearts. Our only strategy for memorizing this passage has been to read it (almost) every morning a few times, and to try saying it once we thought we knew it - or parts of it. There was no drill of difficult sections, there was no constant repeating of phrases. There was simply abiding with the passage in its entirety for the whole time we were working on it. And it worked!

Now, I'm not sure that it would be as effective a strategy with a long passage (like the book of Philippians, for example), but maybe to break that long passage into several smaller, yet still significant parts would work. It was certainly more enjoyable for me to do it this way than to do one or two verses at a time and tack on new ones as we mastered them.

So, you can expect to see one more Mega Memory Month post on Friday(ish) when I'll give the final rundown on the project and what we do for a culminating activity.

But before I go, here's the Parable of the Vineyard as I was able to do it this morning:

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

About the third hour he went out and saw others standing around in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, "You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right." So they went.

He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, "Why have you been standing here in the marketplace all day long doing nothing?"

"Because no one has hired us," they answered.
He said to them, "You also go and work in my vineyard."

When evening came the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first."

The workers who were hired at the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. "These men who were hired last worked only one hour," they said, "and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day."

But he answered one of them, "Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?"

So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

Matthew 20:1-16

"It's Easier for Me"

Me: I'm impressed with how well you are doing, memorizing our parable when you can't read it. You can only go by what you hear us say as we read it to you and recite it ourselves.

Little Man: I think it's easier for me because I don't have to think about what the words look like.

::

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

Mega Memory Month update

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into the his vineyard.

About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, "you also go and work in my vineyard," he told them, "and I will pay you whatever is right."
So they went.

He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and saw found still others standing around. He asked them, "Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?"
"Because no one has hired us," they answered.
He said to them, "You also go and work in my vineyard."

When evening came the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first."

The men who had been hired last workers who were hired at the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when the men those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. "Those These men who were hired last worked only one hour," they said, "and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day."

But he answered one of them, "Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?"

So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

Matthew
20:1-16

I'm making progress, but there are still some parts that I'm unsure of, even when I get them right. I need to read it over and over and over the correct way - silently, aloud - so that the words are pressed onto my heart and mind. It's still amazing to me how well the children are doing with memorizing the parable, especially when Little Man can't see the words for himself but is only going by what he hears when we read it. We'll keep on keeping on!

See the Mega Memory Month posts for inspiration, challenge, and tips.

Parable Memory

Since we have been working on this passage for a little while, I decided to write it out and see how much I already know. I typed it as best I could remember it, and then I went through and made corrections. The things I did wrong I have (bracketed in tiny red), and the correct version is beside it in red. I hope that's clear enough to you as you look it over, but even if it's not, I know what I was doing, and it's clear to me!

For the (The) kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the
morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius
for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

About the third hour he went out and (found) saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He (said to) told them, "You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right." So they went.

He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. (At) About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, "Why have you been standing here in the marketplace all day doing
nothing?" (he asked them.)

(They said to him,) "Because no one has hired us," they answered.
He said to them, "You also go and work in my vineyard." (he told them.)

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, "Call the
workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going
on to the first."

(When those who had been) The workers who were hired at the eleventh hour came (, they) and each received a denarius. So when (the men came who had been) those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But (they) each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. "These men who were hired last worked only one hour," they said, "(but) and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day."

(The owner) But he answered one of them, "Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the (one) man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what(ever) I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?"

So the last (shall) will be first, and the first (shall) will be last.

Matthew 20:1-16 (NIV)

So I can see that I have the flow of the story pretty well down, but there are little style and language differences that I need to pay more attention to. Now I know what to focus on over the next week. I'll see how I do next Monday.

Challenging the Memory

We're joining a little late, but we aren't behind: we've been working on memorizing Matthew 20:1-16 as part of our Bible times and we're well on our way. So here's the scoop on Mega Memory Month from Ann Kroeker:

Here’s how to participate:

1. Pick something you’d like to memorize. Something long. Something formidable. Something Mega. (Mega to you may not be mega to me–simply challenge yourself relative to what you’ve tackled in the past.)

2. Announce it on your blog whenever you like.

3. Return with a link to your blog post talking about how you’re going to take the challenge and participate in October’s Mega Memory Month carnival. I’ll update this post so that participants are front-and-center.

4. On Mondays, because it offers the best alliteration, I’ll write a Mega Memory Month post. Chime in with your own progress report that day (or any time during the week) in the comments or at your own blog (it won’t be instant, but I’ll update to your linkage if you supply it). That way we can visit and encourage each other.

5. Try typing out what you’ve mastered little by little.

6. Post any memory techniques you’re using, so we can borrow ideas that work.

7. By the end of the month, present a creative culmination of your work (a video of you–and your family, if they’re participating–reciting it by heart; or write it out by hand and take a photo; or just type it up on the blog).

Our minds build up an ability to memorize: the more we do it, the easier it becomes. I'm amazed at how much the Little Man already knows of this parable just from hearing it. He's not reading yet, so he has none of the visual cues that My Girl and I are able to get, and maybe that's an advantage for him as he isn't leaning on that visual crutch. We'll post again next Monday to let you know how we're doing.

Oh, and once this is done, I really want to get back to memorizing the book of Philippians. I began years ago and stalled part way through chapter 3. This book has so many of my favourite passages in it, and I can still recite most of chapters 1 and 2, although I get stuck with the transitions. So now it's out there. I'm really going to do it!