Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2001 12:53 AM Subject: Six Benefits of Memorizing Scripture From: Three Thirty Club Six Benefits of Memorizing and Meditating on Scripture ... 1. Meditation keeps us from backsliding! Psalm 37:31 "The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide." When Scripture is keep in the heart it keeps us from sin. 2. Meditation keeps us in God's will! Psalm 40:8 "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." Having meditated on God's will (the Word) it becomes our delight to do His will. 3. Meditation gives us wisdom! Proverbs 2:1 "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;" Proverbs 2:2 "So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;" Meditate (receive) and Memorize (hide ... with thee) the scriptures to employ (apply) wisdom and understanding. The above verse takes the position that "receiving" and "hiding" the verse brings wisdom and understanding that can be "applied." 4. Meditation is a way of Praising God! Psalm 143:5 "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands." Psalm 143:6 "I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah." Memorizing and meditating on the Word brings forth praise and thanksgiving to God. 5. Meditation replaces the evil in our mind with good! Psalm 119:22 "Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies." Psalm 119:23 "Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes." Psalm 119:24 "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors." The Psalmist used Meditation / Memorization as a replacement for bad news and bad advice. Psalm 119:78 "Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts." Don't consider how you have been mistreated but think on God's Word. Previous Meditations / Memorizations will anticipate future Meditations / Memorizations. Psalm 119:148 "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word." "Prevent" is to anticipate. 6. Meditation gives us True Understanding of God, and all He created! Psalm 119:99 "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation." Meditating / Memorizing brings understanding that the world has no knowledge of. Wisdom keeps and delivers (Knowledge, discretionary preservation, understanding) Proverbs 2:10 "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;" Proverbs 2:11 "Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:" Wisdom and understanding do not come by way of memorizing, but by meditating on Scripture which brings memorization and wisdom (understanding). Meditation / Memorization brings the truth so we can use it in a discretionary manner to keep us. Proverbs 2:12 "To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;" =============================================================================== Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2001 12:53 AM Subject: about memorizing From: Greetings from Germany <>< Dino Reasons not to memorize Bible-verses If you took the same excuses that people use for not going to church and applied them to other important areas of life, you'd realize how inconsistent we can be in our logic. For example: Reasons Not To Memorize Bible-verses 1. I was forced to as a child. 2. People who print Bibles are only after your money. 3. I memorize on special occasions like Christmas and Easter. 4. People who memorize are hypocrites -- they think they are holier than everyone else. 5. There are so many different kinds of verses, I can't decide which one is best to memorize. 6. I used to memorize, but it got boring so I stopped. 7. None of my friends memorize. 8. It is never warm enough in the winter or cool enough in the summer to memorize efficiently. 9. I'll start memorizing when I get older, when memorizing will be easier. 10. I can't spare the time =============================================================================== Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2001 12:52 AM Subject: To Clyde Price and all group members From: Dear Clyde, I can tell by your website and your memo to the group that you have a lot to offer in the way of scripture memory information. At the Three Thirty Club, http://www.threethirtyclub.com , we use coaches, which you call checkers. I have used initials as you did, but haven't been pushing the method lately. But for the new scripture memorizers, it might be good if you tell the group how to do the initials and punctuation bit. We use coaches at our Three Thirty Clubs. Fifteen minutes a week with a coach, really helps. You can get almost anyone to coach you. They don't have to be memorizers themselves. Blessings! Rev James L. Kephart =============================================================================== Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:14 PM Subject: Profile From: Hello, In response to your e-mail, let me introduce me to you. My name is Don, I live in Huber Heights, Oh (Dayton is asuburb :O))I am 65, and growing in the Lord DAILY! About 20yrs ago, My wife and I went to a Praise Gathering in Indianapolis, In. There among other things we heard a dramatic presentation of The Sermon on the Mount. I was so impressed by that, and I said "I could do that", but, as often happens, we get lost in the mundane things we "have to do", and it was about 10 yrs ago that He impressed on me that I should do something about it. So I did. I received help from my Mininster of music as far as presentation, and committed it to memory. HOWEVER, I have only presented it 6 times. I really thought that presenting it to people would help them understand better, and change lives. Hmmmmmm I wonder why my door isn't being pounded on to do this more often. I'm kidding, but I did think this could be a ministry. I have been considering doing this again with John 14-17. I've started several times, but can;t seem to stay with it. I used a similar program to help with the memory work to yours. I d/l'd yours, but haven't studied it yet to get familiar with it. I work part time (20 hrs), so I have time to memorize. I'm glad I found you, 'cause maybe you folks can help me to "GET WITH IT"! Thanks for listening, In His service, =============================================================================== Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:15 PM Subject: memorizing entire books From: Brian Janko I'm wondering how Rev. Kephart or the group goes about memorizing whole books of the Bible. Do you go verse by verse through the entire book, getting each verse only going back for stringing together after you have gotten through the entire book? Or do you memorize a chapter at a time -- verse by verse thru chap. 1, then go back to the beginning over and over till you know chap 1.... then move onto chap. 2 verse by verse, etc.? What's the correct way, or way preferred by some of you, about approaching book memorization? Thanks, Brian Janko brianjankonet.com =============================================================================== Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:15 PM Subject: Re: To Clyde Price and all group members From: X-Apparently- Rev. Kephart, Thanks for the welcome. After lots of soul-searching and vascillation, I've decided to stay with NASB and try to "upgrade" my memory work to the 95 Update, but even getting this material up to a "recite WITH the initials" level will take more than 15 minutes a week with a coach. (Being single and living alone more than 20 miles away from my church makes me feel pretty isolated.) I'm awfully glad to have found a fellowship of other Christians who WANT to memorize the Word of God. Somehow, even among Bible believers, this doesn't seem to be a common desire. Obviously, I'm praying and working to encourage others --especially in churches and small groups-- to memorize the Word in a way that will fit into most people's lifestyles. But my own "performance" has been so erratic that sometimes I feel that I'm bordering on the hypocritical... Thanks for the warm welcome and the encouragement. I need at least as much encouragement from Christians and God's powerful grace as anybody else. God bless you all richly! --Clyde Mrkephartaol.com wrote: > > Dear Clyde, > I can tell by your website and your memo to the group that you have a > lot to offer in the way of scripture memory > > Rev James L. Kephart -- * Clyde C. Price, Jr. Personal email: Founder & President, Christian Digital Library Foundation Free & freely distributable digital Christian & educational etexts. Volunteers needed! ___July 2001, over 3 Megs of new files! Come & see!__ _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com =============================================================================== Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:15 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: James Kephart Dear Brian, The Three Thirty Club doesn't memorize whole books. I would recommend doing it a chapter at a time. Getting the chapter good, then going on to the next chapter, and perhaps starting to string chapters after the second chapter. Our people in the club sometimes string their meditations together, but they do them one at a time first. We had two ladies in our church that memorized all thirty meditations, then said them at one sitting. Several of our people can do 3 to 10 meditations at one time. This is probably equal to some of the shorter books. Bless you and keep memorizing scripture! Jim Kephart =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:44 PM Subject: RE: memorizing entire books From: Shawn Nelson Hi Everyone, I just joined the listserv. I've been tryin to lay low for awhile and haven't been receiving any emails. This was the first one I got so I thought I'd ask a question I've been dying to ask. How many people out there memorize entire books of the Bible? Also, how many books and which ones? Check out our churches Bible Memory Fellowship when you get time: http://www.mvcf.com/church/ministries/suntereo/ That's me... the goofy looking guy on the page. I'm going back through all the books to "re-memorize" them again. I hope this isn't out of character or a question that everyone always asks. I ask the question to help motivate me to continue to memorize. I'd like to memorize the entire NT by the time I'm 50. Please let me know, Thank you! Shawn Nelson Mission Valley Christian Fellowship http://www.mvcf.com http://www.JesusGift.com > -----Original Message----- > From: Brian Janko [mailto:brianjankonet.com] > Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 5:15 PM > To: biblememmemoryverses.org > Subject: memorizing entire books > > > I'm wondering how Rev. Kephart or the group goes about memorizing > whole books of the Bible. Do you go verse by verse through the > entire book, > getting each verse only going back for stringing together > after you > have gotten through the entire book? > > Or do you memorize a chapter at a time -- verse by verse > thru chap. 1, > then go back to the beginning over and over till you know chap 1.... > then move onto chap. 2 verse by verse, etc.? > > What's the correct way, or way preferred by some of you, about > approaching book memorization? > > Thanks, > Brian Janko > brianjankonet.com > > > > > > > > =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:44 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: Whole chapters & books huh? I'm lucky if I can memorize a verse in a month! =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:45 PM Subject: Re: Profile From: Sonny C Agot Dear Don, I'm glad to hear from you and would like to thank God that there are many christians who desired to study and memorize God's words. Let me also introduce myself to you. My name is Sonny Agot I am a missionary Here in Philippines. I been working here as Missionary Pastor for 12 years. May the Lord richly bless you as you continue to serve him. I will always includes you in my prayers. In Christ Sonny Agot biblememmemoryverses.org wrote: >Hello, > >In response to your e-mail, let me introduce me to you. My name is Don, >I live in Huber Heights, Oh (Dayton is asuburb :O))I am 65, and growing >in the Lord DAILY! > >About 20yrs ago, My wife and I went to a Praise Gathering in >Indianapolis, In. There among other things we heard a dramatic >presentation of The Sermon on the >Mount. I was so impressed by that, and I said "I could do that", but, as >often >happens, we get lost in the mundane things we "have to do", and it was >about 10 >yrs ago that He impressed on me that I should do something about it. So I >did. >I received help from my Mininster of music as far as presentation, and >committed >it to memory. HOWEVER, I have only presented it 6 times. I really thought >that >presenting it to people would help them understand better, and change >lives. Hmmmmmm I wonder why my door isn't being pounded on to do this >more often. > >I'm kidding, but I did think this could be a ministry. > >I have been considering doing this again with John 14-17. >I've started several times, but can;t seem to stay with it. > >I used a similar program to help with the memory work to yours. I d/l'd >yours, but haven't studied it yet to get familiar with it. > >I work part time (20 hrs), so I have time to memorize. I'm glad I >found you, 'cause maybe you folks can help me to "GET WITH IT"! > >Thanks for listening, > >In His service, > > > > > > > > __________________________________ www.edsamail.com =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:45 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: Mark Harris Brian, My method for memorizing books of the Bible heavily involves 3x5 cards in a systematic method. First, I divide up the book into one or two sentence passages and write (or print) each passage on a 3x5 card. (i.e., for Colossians I have 1:1-2, 1:3-6a; 1:6b-8; 1:9, etc). Personally I found phrases are harder to retain in long term memory. The thought flow for the book is important to know what comes next, and sentences communicate that well. Second, I read through the passage several times to grasp the "main idea." Then on the reverse side of the 3x5 card I write a "main descriptive phrase" or word for the passage along with the Scripture reference (i.e., for Col 1:1-2 "Introduction," for Col 1:3-6a "Faith and Love," for Col 1:6b-8 "Gospel," etc). I use the main descriptive phrase as 1) a cue to recall the passage and Scripture reference, and 2) as a "bird's eye view" for the contents of the book. I found them invaluable for relating the detailed passages together. Third, I set a goal for memorizing the book systematically - 1 passage a day usually works well for me, which is about 7-10 verses a week. There really are two sets of interwoven information here - the sequence of main descriptive phrases and the passages themselves. Then I begin with the first 3x5 card - I read and memorize the whole passage on the card and main descriptive phrase on the reverse side. On the passage side of the card, I write at the bottom of it 6 future review dates: 1) 10 minutes later, 2) 1 day later, 3) 1 week later, 4) 2 weeks later, 5) 1 month later, and 6) 6 months later. I use these dates as a "formal check to see if I have really memorized it. This review method is based on commonly suggested memory book recommendations as well as my own experience. Typically if I can recall it at 6 months, I know it is in long-term memory. Fourth, once I have begun memorizing, I try to determine where my "break" points will be, which usually coincide with chapters. These "break" points help me to see what I have accomplished up to then in addition to making new "connections." That is, once I memorized the entire first chapter of Colossians, I went back and reviewed the first chapter until I could recite it all in one session. This is where the main descriptive phrases have greatly assisted me in navigating through the chapter, and then the passage memorization work helped me to recall the passages associated or "cued" with the phrases. What I'm doing at this point is connecting the passages together into a more unified whole, or getting the "flow" of it. Once I can reasonably recite the entire chapter, I typically review all of the verses together in the chapter instead of separately. That is basically about it, on a typical day I will have a new passage plus a couple of other passages to review. There are always "trouble" passages which need more attention than others. Also, events, moods, and just about anything else in life can disrupt the memorization process quite easily - but especially moods and emotions. I memorized Colossians (95 verses) in 31 days, but I initially spent 21 days on the first 29 verses. Then my enthusiasm from finishing the first chapter helped me to memorize the remaining 66 verses in 10 days. I can testify (at least for myself) that continued effort with memorization does make it much easier later. Its a discipline, like anything else, and ordinary Christians these days are quite capable of doing far more memorization than they realize they can. A final note - If you don't have a particular book in mind, then it is easier to begin with a short, one chapter book such as Philemon, or 2 John or 3 John. Mark Harris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Janko" To: Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:14 PM Subject: memorizing entire books > I'm wondering how Rev. Kephart or the group goes about memorizing > whole books of the Bible. Do you go verse by verse through the entire > book, getting each verse only going back for stringing together after > you have gotten through the entire book? > > Or do you memorize a chapter at a time -- verse by verse thru chap. 1, > then go back to the beginning over and over till you know chap 1.... > then move onto chap. 2 verse by verse, etc.? > > What's the correct way, or way preferred by some of you, about > approaching book memorization? > > Thanks, > Brian Janko > brianjankonet.com > > > > > > > > =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:45 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: Susan Schwartz Where is the best place to start?? At the beginning or with the psalms? Any good ideas?? Thanks Susan =============================================================================== Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2001 1:36 AM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: Edwards Hello Shawn, and WELCOME to the group! Many people memorize entire books of the Bible. I've been working on the Book of James with a group of like minded people. I've also memorized the Book of 1 John. I've found that shorter books are obviously easier to accomplish and the feeling of success comes more quickly. However, there are people on this mailing list that are trying to memorize the whole book of Psalms. I find that quite overwhelming myself. My favorite way of memorizing is by writing. I start out by typing the chapter I will be memorizing. After reading it through a number of times each day, I type the chapter again, leaving blanks. After I can successfully fill in the blanks, I type it again leaving more blanks, and so on. On the day I think I am ready for my "self-test", I sit down at the table with blank paper and start writing. If I get stuck, I go back to my last fill in the blank paper and work on it, then try again in a week or so. Other people use other methods, and even purchase computer programs to aid in memorization. My way works for me and is easy on the budget. God Bless You in your new adventure! Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: Shawn Nelson To: Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:44 PM Subject: RE: memorizing entire books > Hi Everyone, > > I just joined the listserv. I've been tryin to lay low for awhile and > haven't been receiving any emails. This was the first one I got so I > thought I'd ask a question I've been dying to ask. > > How many people out there memorize entire books of the Bible? > > Also, how many books and which ones? > > Check out our churches Bible Memory Fellowship when you get time: > http://www.mvcf.com/church/ministries/suntereo/ > > That's me... the goofy looking guy on the page. I'm going back > through all the books to "re-memorize" them again. > > I hope this isn't out of character or a question that everyone always > asks. I ask the question to help motivate me to continue to memorize. > I'd like to memorize the entire NT by the time I'm 50. > > Please let me know, > > Thank you! > > Shawn Nelson > Mission Valley Christian Fellowship > http://www.mvcf.com > http://www.JesusGift.com > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Brian Janko [mailto:brianjankonet.com] > > Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 5:15 PM > > To: biblememmemoryverses.org > > Subject: memorizing entire books > > > > > > I'm wondering how Rev. Kephart or the group goes about memorizing > > whole books of the Bible. Do you go verse by verse through the > > entire book, > > getting each verse only going back for stringing together > > after you > > have gotten through the entire book? > > > > Or do you memorize a chapter at a time -- verse by verse thru chap. > > 1, then go back to the beginning over and over till you know > > chap 1.... > > then move onto chap. 2 verse by verse, etc.? > > > > What's the correct way, or way preferred by some of you, about > > approaching book memorization? > > > > Thanks, > > Brian Janko > > brianjankonet.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > =============================================================================== Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2001 1:36 AM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: John is a good place to start. =============================================================================== Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2001 1:36 AM Subject: Re: Re: memorizing entire books From: Sonny C Agot Dear Susan, The best place to start is John 1:1-14; In Christ Sonny Agot biblememmemoryverses.org wrote: >Where is the best place to start?? At the beginning or with the >psalms? Any good ideas?? > >Thanks > >Susan > > > > > > =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 12:28 PM Subject: Easy on the Budget - Scripture Memory From: Drake Mariani This caught my attention...those of you that have been to the MEMLOK Bible Memory System's website may want to be aware of this. The $59 price for the 48 topics/700 hundred "word picture gets you started" system is being tested at $29.95 for a period. It prints business cards (color), coloring pages, auto tracks review, maintains a journal for each verse for each person, corrects you as you type, and... October's release will be free to anyone who buys at the current price. If the test works...it will be $29.95. If it doesn't produce double ministry/sales, the price will be adjusted. It has been $59 for 4 years. The most outstanding feature of the new version is that you will be able to add any verse or passage to the review system. The review system is the main feature of MEMLOK. I review the 700 verses regularly (weekend's off), yet my daily review time is 5 minutes. Used by kids 2-92. If they can form sentences, they can be forming His. It is at http://www.memlok.com/cart/ and has a money back guarantee. If you lose this email, Steve Simpson has had a link to it at his website for several years now. God's blessings on you all! Drake & Gina Mariani At 8/10/01 10:35 PM, you wrote: >Other people use other methods, and even purchase computer programs to >aid in memorization. My way works for me and is easy on the budget. > >God Bless You in your new adventure! >Linda =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 12:28 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: jean My name is Jean I did't do alot of memorizing untill James Kephart introducd the threethirtyclub. The way they memorize it makes it easy and you are really blessed doing it. I have never tried to memorize a whole book. Right now I am spending my time on the different meditations. There are thirty of them. So far I have done 6 and also 11 and 15. But I could not of done these if it wasn't for God first and than Thethreethirtyclub. I hope you try it. Love in Christ Jean =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 12:28 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: Brian Janko Mark: This is great information and very helpful.. I find that the more I learn about others' memorization metheds and techniues, the better it help me think through my own obstacles. Thanks! Brian Janko brianjankonet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Harris" To: Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 8:44 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books > Brian, > > My method for memorizing books of the Bible heavily involves 3x5 cards > in a > systematic method. First, I divide up the book into one or two > sentence passages and write (or print) each passage on a 3x5 card. > (i.e., for Colossians I have 1:1-2, 1:3-6a; 1:6b-8; 1:9, etc). > Personally I found phrases are harder to retain in long term memory. > The thought flow for the > book is important to know what comes next, and sentences communicate > that well. > > Second, I read through the passage several times to grasp the "main idea." > Then on the reverse side of the 3x5 card I write a "main descriptive > phrase" or word for the passage along with the Scripture reference > (i.e., for Col 1:1-2 "Introduction," for Col 1:3-6a "Faith and Love," > for Col 1:6b-8 "Gospel," etc). I use the main descriptive phrase as 1) > a cue to recall the > passage and Scripture reference, and 2) as a "bird's eye view" for the > contents of the book. I found them invaluable for relating the > detailed passages together. > > Third, I set a goal for memorizing the book systematically - 1 passage > a day usually works well for me, which is about 7-10 verses a week. > There really > are two sets of interwoven information here - the sequence of main > descriptive phrases and the passages themselves. Then I begin with the > first 3x5 card - I read and memorize the whole passage on the card and > main descriptive phrase on the reverse side. On the passage side of > the card, I > write at the bottom of it 6 future review dates: 1) 10 minutes later, > 2) 1 > day later, 3) 1 week later, 4) 2 weeks later, 5) 1 month later, and 6) > 6 months later. I use these dates as a "formal check to see if I have really > memorized it. This review method is based on commonly suggested memory book > recommendations as well as my own experience. Typically if I can > recall it > at 6 months, I know it is in long-term memory. > > Fourth, once I have begun memorizing, I try to determine where my > "break" points will be, which usually coincide with chapters. These > "break" points > help me to see what I have accomplished up to then in addition to > making new "connections." That is, once I memorized the entire first > chapter of Colossians, I went back and reviewed the first chapter > until I could recite > it all in one session. This is where the main descriptive phrases have > greatly assisted me in navigating through the chapter, and then the passage > memorization work helped me to recall the passages associated or > "cued" with the phrases. What I'm doing at this point is connecting > the passages together into a more unified whole, or getting the "flow" > of it. Once I can > reasonably recite the entire chapter, I typically review all of the verses > together in the chapter instead of separately. > > That is basically about it, on a typical day I will have a new passage plus > a couple of other passages to review. There are always "trouble" > passages which need more attention than others. Also, events, moods, > and just about > anything else in life can disrupt the memorization process quite > easily - but especially moods and emotions. I memorized Colossians (95 > verses) in 31 > days, but I initially spent 21 days on the first 29 verses. Then my > enthusiasm from finishing the first chapter helped me to memorize the > remaining 66 verses in 10 days. I can testify (at least for myself) > that continued effort with memorization does make it much easier > later. Its a discipline, like anything else, and ordinary Christians > these days are quite capable of doing far more memorization than they > realize they can. > > A final note - If you don't have a particular book in mind, then it is > easier to begin with a short, one chapter book such as Philemon, or 2 John > or 3 John. > > > Mark Harris > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brian Janko" > To: > Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:14 PM > Subject: memorizing entire books > > > > I'm wondering how Rev. Kephart or the group goes about memorizing > > whole books of the Bible. Do you go verse by verse through the > > entire book, getting each verse only going back for stringing > > together after you have gotten through the entire book? > > > > Or do you memorize a chapter at a time -- verse by verse thru chap. > > 1, then go back to the beginning over and over till you know chap > > 1.... then move onto chap. 2 verse by verse, etc.? > > > > What's the correct way, or way preferred by some of you, about > > approaching book memorization? > > > > Thanks, > > Brian Janko > > brianjankonet.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 12:28 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: Brian Janko I was also wondering how you feel about memorizing the exact chap and verse references and how you go about it. Brian Janko brianjankonet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Harris" To: Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 8:44 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books > Brian, > > My method for memorizing books of the Bible heavily involves 3x5 cards > in a > systematic method. First, I divide up the book into one or two > sentence passages and write (or print) each passage on a 3x5 card. > (i.e., for Colossians I have 1:1-2, 1:3-6a; 1:6b-8; 1:9, etc). > Personally I found phrases are harder to retain in long term memory. > The thought flow for the > book is important to know what comes next, and sentences communicate > that well. > > Second, I read through the passage several times to grasp the "main idea." > Then on the reverse side of the 3x5 card I write a "main descriptive > phrase" or word for the passage along with the Scripture reference > (i.e., for Col 1:1-2 "Introduction," for Col 1:3-6a "Faith and Love," > for Col 1:6b-8 "Gospel," etc). I use the main descriptive phrase as 1) > a cue to recall the > passage and Scripture reference, and 2) as a "bird's eye view" for the > contents of the book. I found them invaluable for relating the > detailed passages together. > > Third, I set a goal for memorizing the book systematically - 1 passage > a day usually works well for me, which is about 7-10 verses a week. > There really > are two sets of interwoven information here - the sequence of main > descriptive phrases and the passages themselves. Then I begin with the > first 3x5 card - I read and memorize the whole passage on the card and > main descriptive phrase on the reverse side. On the passage side of > the card, I > write at the bottom of it 6 future review dates: 1) 10 minutes later, > 2) 1 > day later, 3) 1 week later, 4) 2 weeks later, 5) 1 month later, and 6) > 6 months later. I use these dates as a "formal check to see if I have really > memorized it. This review method is based on commonly suggested memory book > recommendations as well as my own experience. Typically if I can > recall it > at 6 months, I know it is in long-term memory. > > Fourth, once I have begun memorizing, I try to determine where my > "break" points will be, which usually coincide with chapters. These > "break" points > help me to see what I have accomplished up to then in addition to > making new "connections." That is, once I memorized the entire first > chapter of Colossians, I went back and reviewed the first chapter > until I could recite > it all in one session. This is where the main descriptive phrases have > greatly assisted me in navigating through the chapter, and then the passage > memorization work helped me to recall the passages associated or > "cued" with the phrases. What I'm doing at this point is connecting > the passages together into a more unified whole, or getting the "flow" > of it. Once I can > reasonably recite the entire chapter, I typically review all of the verses > together in the chapter instead of separately. > > That is basically about it, on a typical day I will have a new passage plus > a couple of other passages to review. There are always "trouble" > passages which need more attention than others. Also, events, moods, > and just about > anything else in life can disrupt the memorization process quite > easily - but especially moods and emotions. I memorized Colossians (95 > verses) in 31 > days, but I initially spent 21 days on the first 29 verses. Then my > enthusiasm from finishing the first chapter helped me to memorize the > remaining 66 verses in 10 days. I can testify (at least for myself) > that continued effort with memorization does make it much easier > later. Its a discipline, like anything else, and ordinary Christians > these days are quite capable of doing far more memorization than they > realize they can. > > A final note - If you don't have a particular book in mind, then it is > easier to begin with a short, one chapter book such as Philemon, or 2 John > or 3 John. > > > Mark Harris > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brian Janko" > To: > Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:14 PM > Subject: memorizing entire books > > > > I'm wondering how Rev. Kephart or the group goes about memorizing > > whole books of the Bible. Do you go verse by verse through the > > entire book, getting each verse only going back for stringing > > together after you have gotten through the entire book? > > > > Or do you memorize a chapter at a time -- verse by verse thru chap. > > 1, then go back to the beginning over and over till you know chap > > 1.... then move onto chap. 2 verse by verse, etc.? > > > > What's the correct way, or way preferred by some of you, about > > approaching book memorization? > > > > Thanks, > > Brian Janko > > brianjankonet.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 12:28 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books From: Brian Janko Mark: This is great information. Thank you for sharing this. It is always helpful, to me at least, to hear others' methods on memorizing. It helps me get new ideas and have confidence in anything I might already be doing correctly. Thanks and regards, Brian Janko brianjankonet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Harris" To: Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 8:44 PM Subject: Re: memorizing entire books > Brian, > > My method for memorizing books of the Bible heavily involves 3x5 cards > in a > systematic method. First, I divide up the book into one or two > sentence passages and write (or print) each passage on a 3x5 card. > (i.e., for Colossians I have 1:1-2, 1:3-6a; 1:6b-8; 1:9, etc). > Personally I found phrases are harder to retain in long term memory. > The thought flow for the > book is important to know what comes next, and sentences communicate > that well. > > Second, I read through the passage several times to grasp the "main idea." > Then on the reverse side of the 3x5 card I write a "main descriptive > phrase" or word for the passage along with the Scripture reference > (i.e., for Col 1:1-2 "Introduction," for Col 1:3-6a "Faith and Love," > for Col 1:6b-8 "Gospel," etc). I use the main descriptive phrase as 1) > a cue to recall the > passage and Scripture reference, and 2) as a "bird's eye view" for the > contents of the book. I found them invaluable for relating the > detailed passages together. > > Third, I set a goal for memorizing the book systematically - 1 passage > a day usually works well for me, which is about 7-10 verses a week. > There really > are two sets of interwoven information here - the sequence of main > descriptive phrases and the passages themselves. Then I begin with the > first 3x5 card - I read and memorize the whole passage on the card and > main descriptive phrase on the reverse side. On the passage side of > the card, I > write at the bottom of it 6 future review dates: 1) 10 minutes later, > 2) 1 > day later, 3) 1 week later, 4) 2 weeks later, 5) 1 month later, and 6) > 6 months later. I use these dates as a "formal check to see if I have really > memorized it. This review method is based on commonly suggested memory book > recommendations as well as my own experience. Typically if I can > recall it > at 6 months, I know it is in long-term memory. > > Fourth, once I have begun memorizing, I try to determine where my > "break" points will be, which usually coincide with chapters. These > "break" points > help me to see what I have accomplished up to then in addition to > making new "connections." That is, once I memorized the entire first > chapter of Colossians, I went back and reviewed the first chapter > until I could recite > it all in one session. This is where the main descriptive phrases have > greatly assisted me in navigating through the chapter, and then the passage > memorization work helped me to recall the passages associated or > "cued" with the phrases. What I'm doing at this point is connecting > the passages together into a more unified whole, or getting the "flow" > of it. Once I can > reasonably recite the entire chapter, I typically review all of the verses > together in the chapter instead of separately. > > That is basically about it, on a typical day I will have a new passage plus > a couple of other passages to review. There are always "trouble" > passages which need more attention than others. Also, events, moods, > and just about > anything else in life can disrupt the memorization process quite > easily - but especially moods and emotions. I memorized Colossians (95 > verses) in 31 > days, but I initially spent 21 days on the first 29 verses. Then my > enthusiasm from finishing the first chapter helped me to memorize the > remaining 66 verses in 10 days. I can testify (at least for myself) > that continued effort with memorization does make it much easier > later. Its a discipline, like anything else, and ordinary Christians > these days are quite capable of doing far more memorization than they > realize they can. > > A final note - If you don't have a particular book in mind, then it is > easier to begin with a short, one chapter book such as Philemon, or 2 John > or 3 John. > > > Mark Harris > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brian Janko" > To: > Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:14 PM > Subject: memorizing entire books > > > > I'm wondering how Rev. Kephart or the group goes about memorizing > > whole books of the Bible. Do you go verse by verse through the > > entire book, getting each verse only going back for stringing > > together after you have gotten through the entire book? > > > > Or do you memorize a chapter at a time -- verse by verse thru chap. > > 1, then go back to the beginning over and over till you know chap > > 1.... then move onto chap. 2 verse by verse, etc.? > > > > What's the correct way, or way preferred by some of you, about > > approaching book memorization? > > > > Thanks, > > Brian Janko > > brianjankonet.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 12:28 PM Subject: RE: Profile From: Natalie Morgan What a great testimony, Don. God bless you in your venture to write the Good Word on the tables of your heart! For Peace & Love in the Kingdom, Natalie. -----Original Message----- From: dgwbridenetscape.net [mailto:dgwbridenetscape.net] Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:14 PM To: biblememmemoryverses.org Subject: Profile Hello, In response to your e-mail, let me introduce me to you. My name is Don, I live in Huber Heights, Oh (Dayton is asuburb :O))I am 65, and growing in the Lord DAILY! About 20yrs ago, My wife and I went to a Praise Gathering in Indianapolis, In. There among other things we heard a dramatic presentation of The Sermon on the Mount. I was so impressed by that, and I said "I could do that", but, as often happens, we get lost in the mundane things we "have to do", and it was about 10 yrs ago that He impressed on me that I should do something about it. So I did. I received help from my Mininster of music as far as presentation, and committed it to memory. HOWEVER, I have only presented it 6 times. I really thought that presenting it to people would help them understand better, and change lives. Hmmmmmm I wonder why my door isn't being pounded on to do this more often. I'm kidding, but I did think this could be a ministry. I have been considering doing this again with John 14-17. I've started several times, but can;t seem to stay with it. I used a similar program to help with the memory work to yours. I d/l'd yours, but haven't studied it yet to get familiar with it. I work part time (20 hrs), so I have time to memorize. I'm glad I found you, 'cause maybe you folks can help me to "GET WITH IT"! Thanks for listening, In His service, =============================================================================== Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 11:12 AM Subject: Memorize the Upper Room Discourse John 14-17 starting in From: lorry schoenly Brain and others: I've really enjoyed the brisk discussion about memorizing books of the Bible. I was encouraged and challenged to do that for the first time over 2 years ago by this very email list. I started into a subgroup where we struggled together to learn the Sermon on the Mount [Matthew 5,6,7]. I did it in about a year by learning 3 or 4 verses every fortnight [2 weeks]. Now I keep it in the forefront of my mind my reciting it weekly. Encouraged by my first success, I endeavored to learn the 5 chapters of the book of James last year and facilitated an email list of others. We just finished this month! After much prayer I decided to take on the challenge of learning Christ's last instructions to His disciples in the Upper Room [John 14-17]. If anyone on this list would like to join me in this adventure, you can join my email subgroup on the topic. You will receive reminders biweekly about the passages to memorize if you join. We start September 1. More information on the group and ability to join are found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/upper_room_discourse_memory OR, you can email me off the list at lorrycrosswalkmail.com Grace and Peace, Lorry Lorry Schoenly Spiritual Disciplines Webpage: http://spiritualdisciplines.net Spiritual Disciplines Email List: http://www.egroups.com/group/spiritualdisciplines James Memory Webpage: http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/IvyHall/lorryschoenly James Memory Email List: http://www.egroups.com/group/jamesmemory --------------------------------------------------- Get your free web based email from Crosswalk.com: http://mail.crosswalk.com =============================================================================== Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 12:45 AM Subject: resources & strategies From: Clyde C. PRICE, Jr. Brian, I started this as a personal reply, and decided to send it back to the mailinglist, in the hopes that it would be of interest to the others too. I hope that's okay with you. I apologize for any redundancies... I can be as bad as an evangelist at repeating myself. 8-) If Kephart's system of memorization is what I saw referred to in the list as, the matter of repeating, writing and reciting verses a certain number of times, I had not seen his exact formula before, but repetition and corrected recitation is the basic way to memorize. I've been delighted to learn of the Three Thirty Club and its encouragement for folks to memorize Scripture and recite to a "coach". .From the CDLF website , the short pieces "7 Minutes With God" on establishing a daily devotional time, and "Primer on Meditation" ...on Scripture, are both very profitable for folks seeking to memorize the Word, even though they don't give any "magic" strategies or techniques. MEDITATION (leading to obedience) should really be our goal, rather than merely memorizing the words. See James 1:21-25: We should be not merely hearers (or even memorizers) of the Word, but DOERS of the Word. Also Ps.1:1-3 and Josh 1:8. When I first started memorizing blocks of Scripture, I employed "Holy Hubert's Method" (similar I think to Kephart's formula), which was given to us as a class in Campus Crusade's Institute in Biblical Studies, and which --IMnsHO-- overemphasized the beginning of a passage and lightened up too much as you got to the end. I don't recommend it, and at the moment I feel too lazy to write out something I'm not recommending. Most of what I've actually been DOING over the years is to spend lots of time copying out Scripture by hand onto study-cards and notebook-leaves, and writing out initials-study-sheets (or really _notebooks_). And then, studying and reviewing during times of waiting, bus-riding, and legitimate in-between times on the job (like David's "night watches"). Side effects include more readable printing (some have said _pretty_ handwriting) and a hump on my right-middle finger, and thousands of cards scattered through my effects. I feel that I must disclose that I don't have anywhere near as much Scripture at "ready recall" _now_ as I did in the early 80s. I don't offer any _excuses_, but I believe that the lack of a "checker" or "coach" since that time has hurt me more than anything else. Memorizing whole books is a WONDERFUL goal. The first two that I memorized were Philippians and Colossians. I had some other shorter epistles nearly up to that level. The last one that I recall reciting all at once was James. But don't ask me to do it RIGHT NOW. I'm not re-checking my arithmetic, but at age 19 I switched from KJV to NASB, and set a goal of memorizing the entire NT, Psalms and Proverbs by the time I turned 30, and figured that I could do that with an average of about 40 chapters a year, and usually attempting about a chapter a week. Before I turned 30, I had actually recited a large fraction of Psalms and Proverbs and MOST of the NT to my "coach" using initials and receiving more prompting in some passages than others. (My coach was my mother. I shouldn't be as bashful as I sometimes am to admit that. Too many people seemed to think it strange that an unmarried adult Christian man would be close to his Christian parents. I think THEY'RE the ones who're messed up! I had the tremendous blessing of having parents who loved the Lord and were supportive of my ministry. If Mom hadn't been my checker/coach, I wouldn't have had one. I've never been married and have never stopped wanting to be married. I think it would be a TREMENDOUS blessing to have a partner/helpmeet who would routinely function as my "Scripture recitation coach" and could learn to love garlic. At the moment, I don't have anybody "within range" to be a coach, and I feel the lack keenly.) I recited only a few epistles and Psalms and several chapters in the Gospels without the initials, and needed the "crutch" for the rest of it. But the Holy Spirit has been faithful to bring to my mind Scripture to meet the need of the moment, and some folks have called me a "walking concordance". I'm 18 years beyond my youthful goal (concerning recitation WITHOUT notes, which was certainly what I originally intended), and still trying. But instead of being under condemnation about being tardy, I'm renewing my committment to TRY, and seeking to encourage others also to set ambitious goals. If you aim for the moon, you might hit the lamppost, but if you don't aim for anything, you might not hit anything. And a committed Spirit-filled Christian believer who's equipped with the memorized- meditated- and ready-to-apply Word WILL be used by God in lots of strategic places. YES, I think that memorizing the references is important. The references are a tremendous convenience! While the chapter and verse numbers are not inspired, and at times divide the text in odd places, I think that it is good to TRY to remember where the verse divisions are, and to be able to quote relevant passages by themselves. During the last years that I had a "coach" while using the "initials" strategy, I tried to work a chapter up to a level where I could recite it WITH initials and without error, and then I worked on reciting verses out of order, either by my choice or the coach's choice. All that said, the Word itself is more important than the "address". Nobody ever got saved by hearing a bunch of references without the cited texts. You didn't ask about mnemonics, but --especially if a disciple starts young-- I think that employing Harry-Lorayne/Jerry-Lucas -style mnemonic-number codes _might_ make recall of numbers easier. One reference-point would be _The Memory Book_ by Lorayne & Lucas, (c)1974, but they were refining and applying techniques that had been around for at least a century. A while after their collaboration, Jerry Lucas published "Remember the Word" which provided very silly visual images on which to hang detailed outlines of lots of the Bible. I haven't YET successfully used either Lucas' images or the number-codes for Scripture memory, but I have used number-codes to memorize phone numbers (some of which I still remember over 20 years later), and I still have it in mind to strengthen the recall of references mnemonically. I believe that starting with the number-codes COULD be easier to employ if children were introduced to them very early (ideally, when they're actually first learning their numbers). In my own experience, I combined an unhealthy fascination with mnemonic strategies with not-too-much facility in their use. (I had difficulty forging the necessary associations quickly enough, though alone with a notebook I could accomplish a lot.) For my own spiritual health, I needed to get away from it for a long season, but I feel that if these techniques were introduced properly --as nuts-&-bolts "toolbox"-type stuff-- that they could be employed in a spiritually-healthy way. Concerning other "nuts-&-bolts" stuff, it's good to have a "picnic Bible" with comfortable print which you can carry with you most of the time, and which you won't be traumatized by the loss or damage of. In my 20s this was often a tee-niny "quick-draw McGraw" Bible with microscopic print, which I would whip out of my pocket anytime I had an excuse to "draw my Sword". Now I usually carry a battered black canvas Eagle Creek gear bag with a larger print Bible, and a little room for other essential stuff. <"No, this is not my 'purse'! ...Or... maybe it IS, and American culture just won't let me call it that."> Some folks seeking to memorize chapters-books-etc. reduce the wear-&-tear even on their picnic Bibles by carrying with them separate study sheets for the chapter they're working on. Some folks use photocopies. (I tried that, and my hands usually react to the toner.) Some folks type out the text, or copy it out by hand, which I have often done, and which is good exercise. Some folks even protect these working copies with page-protectors or plastic card-sleeves. When I get a Bible program with NASB95 set up on my "main" computer and buy a new ink cartridge for my printer, I plan to print out chapters at a time (with LARGE print!), write the initials on the back of them, and carry the print-outs around with me. (If/when I can figure out how to print out to 8.5x5.5" notebook paper, I'll do that.) I'm not obsessive about the nuts-&-bolts (...I hope: maybe I am...), or the details that I would recommend to others. Different people learn differently, and strategies for memorizing and "programming" for ready recall MUST vary from person to person. The basic and most important tactic as to TRY to memorize, spend TIME on it, seek to USE and QUOTE the Scripture that you've already learned and are currently studying, and spend time with OTHER PEOPLE who're seeking to build the Scripture into their souls. Some time should be spent in _studying_ the Scriptures with study guides, conversational inductive Bible study groups, and maybe even commentaries, other translations, other languages, and teachers. Don't think that because you've memorized a chapter or book that you won't profit from hearing somebody preach or teach from it. Insights and applications come from LOTS of different sources. (Even children or unbelievers.) One slightly-eccentric thing that I do at times is to take a section of Scripture and grid the keywords into a crossword or word-search "puzzle". Writing crossword puzzles shifts me over into the sort of concentration that programmers and some writers and artists slip into which makes their divorces so common. I learned that I dared not do this on my job. I mention it because it has me interacting with the Scriptures in a different "mode" of thinking, and the puzzles themselves can pull others into interaction with the passage. Concerning the yearly schedules I posted to the CDLF website recently, I have mixed emotions. Most "Bible memory products" I'm aware of that you can purchase at Christian bookstores recommend two passages of 1 or 2 verses per week, and maybe just one if that seems too much. I think that's much too slow, but long-term experience and "market research" doesn't seem to agree with me. Dawson Trotman's original Topical Memory System, which --IIRC-- was 108 mostly NT passages, assigned one passage a day, and reports were that very few people were finishing the course. For folks who desire to memorize the New Testament in any reasonable time, the need would be to memorize routinely 15 to 30 verses every week for approximately a decade. Late-20th-century educational philosophy deemphasizing content, ridiculing rote memorization, and encouraging "self-esteem by grace apart from works" has erected a formidable obstacle to the promotion of MEMORIZING stuff, and most folks under 50 are hindered in varying degrees by this. We weren't required to memorize stuff in school, and beginning as an adult is not easy. In recommending that individuals and groups use the yearly schedules, which assign mostly 1 or 2 verses a day to attempt to memorize, I realize that MANY people will get behind, and most folks will have difficulty with review. But I stubbornly still don't think this is "too much" to have cell groups or even entire congregations to walk through together. The fact that most of the schedules lead disciples through the process of memorizing entire books of Scripture provides at least a "foretaste" for memorizing other books of the Bible, I pray. I have no desire at all to be a cult leader or a guru, and I do NOT want to ride a "gimmick" to fame & fortune. Cult leaders seldom want their followers to study the Bible on their own. I DO want to spend the rest of my life encouraging people to build the Scripture into their lives, and to find ways to understand, apply, and obey God's Word. I'm struggling to find a flashier way to say "Back to Basics!", but that's what the Body of Christ desperately needs right now, and that seems to be the emphasis of my entire life and ministry. Wouldn't it be WONDERFUL to raise a generation of young warriors who would START on bulk Scripture memory in childhood? What could God do with HUNDREDS of fully committed Spirit-filled young people who had the New Testament and much of the Old Testament written on their hearts? Wouldn't it be WONDERFUL to have entire congregations reading through the Bible together each year, and memorizing (or at least THINKING ABOUT) the same short passage of Scripture together every day, and TALKING TOGETHER about the Scriptures through which God is speaking to them? What would a congregation be like in which MANY had MEMORIZED Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Hebrews, James, Philippians, Colossians, many chapters from the Gospels, and Torrey's Toolbox? What could God do with such a church? Maybe I've gotten beyond answering your question, Bryan, and gotten over into daydreaming. But spiritual daydreaming can be GOOD! because God "is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask OR THINK, according to the power that works within us, TO HIM BE THE GLORY in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Eph 3:20-21 NASB95) Hallelujah! --Clyde -----------------< responding to: >----------------- Brian Janko wrote: Subject: Re: resources Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 16:03:14 -0700 From: "Brian Janko" To: "Clyde C. PRICE, Jr." Clyde: Thanks for your response. Do you have anything on your website, or any opinions, on those other issues I asked -- namely, Kephart's system of memorization; memorization of whole books; or whether to memorize chapter and verse numbers? Regards, Brian Janko brianjankonet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Clyde C. PRICE, Jr." To: "Brian Janko" Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 1:11 PM Subject: Re: resources > Brian, > > I'm pretty sure that the Downing book is out of print, although > NavPress Singapore was still printing it a few years ago, and some > copies MIGHT be available somehow... But I haven't checked any time > lately. > > Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles is still an ongoing > thing. I've never yet done a Websearch to see if they have a > cyberspace presence (which they might not, at least in their own > name), but most major cities around the country would have local > committees. The home office is Oak Brook Illinois (I think, Box One, > but I don't have the zipcode at hand). I recommend the seminar for > anybody, with the very slight caveat that I've developed a few minor > disagreements with BG over the years. But, hey, you're never supposed > to turn of the "sifters" anyway. Really "fanatical" followers of BG > have a tendency --IMO-- to be somewhat legalistic... but then to an > American mainstream person, anybody with lots of discipline and > personal "standards" will appear to be "legalistic". > > The Navigators used to have some good short stuff on meditation on > Scripture, and I have the etext of one of them (primrmed) on the CDLF > website. I've seen a couple of other books on meditation on Scripture > in the last few years, but haven't completely read any of them, so I > can't comment intelligently. > > God bless you richly! > > --Clyde > > > Brian Janko wrote: > > > > Clyde: > > > > This is a P.S. to my previous letter. > > > > On your "intials" page, you mention: > > > > "James Downing's book MEDITATION: THE BIBLE TELLS YOU HOW (if you > > can _find_ it), and Bill Gothard's teaching on this, which is part > > of his Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP)." > > > > Do you have any info to share about how might even go about finding > > these resources so I can check them out for myself? Are they on the > > web anywhere, or how would I find them? > > > > Thanks, > > Brian Janko > > brianjankonet.com > _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com =============================================================================== Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 6:06 PM From: Claudette Brown Hi Everyone I am Claudette from Jamaica - I am not sure where I found this address but I had a desire for something more in Christ and was searching for a way to study the Bible more. Anyway I have been watching from the sidelines and never really got involved. I have been studying but not seriously. I am now studying James and wish to complete this book. You are all doing a good job - I just want to keep the enthusiasm going. Bye =============================================================================== Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 6:36 PM Subject: re:subscribe biblemem From: I am interesting in 'trying' to memorize Books of Bible. John if possible. I am 63 and my brain is not the spunge it used to be. spelling is off too.!!! sigh. in our church youth and young adults have aready memorized the entire Book of Luke and God is using this around the community as they dramatize the Book in skits. truth. If you do not use .. you WILL lose it.!!!! proof in the pudding is in the eating. blessings. humbly, His child Myrna from Montana ===============================================================================