Valued and Cherished

Had a great flight from Boise to Birmingham. Relationships! What a blessing. Connected with three families in Birmingham last night. What a joy to renew fellowship. Salmers, Kims and hosted by Chuck Morgan. Reminds me of Philippians 4:1 where Paul calls the people of Philippi his beloved friends - his joy and crown. What a joy to connect again with dear friends of over 10 years ago.

A thought that has become pregnant lately is this. If a man's deepest need is to experience significance and a woman's is security, then the wife's role in part is to value her husband. A husband: to cherish his wife. How would each of these challenges look in shoe leather? Ponder that with me. Send me your thoughts, if you would. rburwick@mindspring.com

Back at you

Roger and LInda REdding (my sister) and us.

I've been negligent in writing. Reasons? Or Excuses. Busy! BAsketball has started. I have the privilege of being the chaplain for the Northwest Nazarene University basketball team. That involves giving a devotional to the team once a week and meeting with some of the guys one on one.

I'm reworking that Philippians Four study - examining more thoroughly what appears to me as 13 keys to successful living. I'm using it for the Lighthouse Mission gang that I teach once a week. Mentoring, some counseling and small groups involvement consume a lot of time. The opportunities are a real blessing. Just having been diagnosed with diabetes means I must be more consistent with exercise.

Am I complaining? No. Just making excuses. I've got a great one for this next week. Some friends from Birmingham are flying Theresa and I to Alabama and then on to Orlando to be with my daughter, Gretchen. What a special gift, to see friends who while Ann (first wife) and I lived there, had a ministry to adult singles. About 30 of us became like a close knit family. I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with "you'all."

What I've been learning lately? A quicker response time from natural reactions to adversity transitioning to supernatural (Godly). For example, in the last couple weeks, I've been confronted with the challenges of diabetes and basal cell carcinoma on my schnoz. Diabetes and Parkinson's don't mix real well. Natural response? Fear. Godly response? Trusting God. Giving thanks in and for all things. Rejoicing evermore. I'm working on that transition.

It's important not to spiritualize which can repress the human feelings. So, to help avoid that, I'm getting back into journaling to I can articulate on paper what I'm feeling and the growth I want to make. That helps me avoid repressing.

Being 70 years old and having walked with God for 63 years, observing in retrospect how He has worked adversity in the past for my good, HIs glory and for the good of others - makes the transition to a Godly response much easier.

Well, I'll check back with you all in a little over a week. Blessings to you.

Aids to Memorization

It must be understood that memorization of scripture is not an easy task. Those who think it should be simple give up quickly, deciding they can't memorize. Instead, it requires diligence. If hearing about the power of God's Word has encouraged you to memorize, but you don't know how, here are some things that have helped me.

It takes time. Set aside time to memorize, about 15 minutes, at least five times a week. Allow yourself at least six weeks to learn a passage of 20 - 30 verses.

Choose a version. Choose one Bible from which to memorize. You can use any version with which you are comfortable. I like the NIV or NLT because they have a nice flow, but I still have many KJV verses in my brain from childhood.

Choose longer passages. I would encourage you to try a longer passage rather than just one or two verses. Not only does it broaden your understanding by giving you the context of the verses, but it is also easier to remember an entire chapter, than many individual references.

Begin by reading. Before starting to memorize, I like to spend a week just reading over the passage. Reading it out loud three times each day helps you remember because both your ears and eyes are taking in the information.

Next is the actual memorizing. When you are ready to memorize read the whole chapter. Next review a smaller section again and again, until you can say it without looking. Then, finish off by reading the whole passage through again. Hopefully, you will find that by the time you near the end of the chapter, the flow of the words will be so familiar that it is easier to remember.

Index cards are useful here. Just pick the verse or short passage you want to memorize, write it down on an index card, and read it aloud several times. Then try reciting it aloud without looking at it, until you get it right. Do it from memory several times, checking your performance against what you have written down after each time. Then, as you have opportunity, test your memory of the verse over the next several days and continue to test it periodically. If you write the verse on one side and the chapter and verse reference on the other, you can use the index card as a sort of flash card to quiz yourself.

Keep on repeating. To retain a passage once it is memorized, say it often. Use quiet times of highway driving, “shoveling snow,” or before you drift off to sleep at night, to say the verses quietly in your head.

Meditate on the Word. Do what it says. You will be successful and will prosper. (Joshua 1:8)

Memorize for spiritual formation

Another profitable purpose for memorizing Scripture is for spiritual formation.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, “Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs.

Chuck Swindoll, prolific author and pastor, wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.”

These two men are among the highest respected spiritual growth people living. Do you want to grow in your character of God? Memorize Scripture as part of the game plan.

Tomorrow we'll look at aids to memorize

Scripture Memory - 2

I'm on the band wagon again encouraging Christians to memorize passages of the Bible. Today it is: Memorize for brain and body healing

Dr. Frank Minirth, world renown Christian psychiatrist, gives insight into transformation as he writes in Christian Counseling Today,

"Simple behavioral Scriptural techniques are so powerful. I think they have the ability to change the brain's chemistry. What we see comes into the eyes, into the frontal lobe. It will rearrange the neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters rearrange secondary messenger systems that store memory. So who we are to some degree is controlled by what we take in. Therefore, the more Scripture we take in, especially loving it and enjoying it, really changes the very essence of who we are. "

Dr. Minirth goes on to say, “So the emphasis, I hope, in the future will be to get people to memorize more Scripture so it can change them. The more Christ-like we become, the more He can remove symptoms." Symptoms like: anxiety, fear, unhealthy anger, depression, poor self esteem, etc. that are often caused by wrong mindsets. Mindsets not corresponding to the mind of Christ. The mind is the ruling member of our whole person. What we do with our minds affects the whole body.

Many of my good friends at the Lighthouse Mission are finding that memorization of Scripture brings about a healing of their drug-fractured / muddled brains.

Significance of Scripture Memorization

Montana Gary responded to “Bible Bored” with this comment: “It always amazes me just how much more I see in a passage when I write it out longhand. It is so easy to take computer shortcuts but I find so much more when I am forced to write each word. It may not be quick or easy but it is worthwhile if we really want to know the Word.”

I’ve mentioned the Significance of Scripture Memorization previously; however, as my capacity to memorize is dwindling, I’d like to challenge you all to consider memorizing the Bible (if that is not a part of your regimen.)

We are told in Psalm 119:11 to treasure God’s Word by hiding it in our hearts so that we will not sin against God. In memorizing Scripture, we are cultivating a biblical sense of the presence of God and developing a resource that will be used by the Holy Spirit to bring relevant thoughts or insight, to mind (for ourselves and for others.)

The Bible is the spiritual nutrients that energizes and empowers us. “I have not strayed from God’s commands. I have treasured His words – they are more essential than my basic need for food.” (Job 23:12) The words of Scripture are used by God to penetrate and transform the hearts of His people.

In tomorrow’s post, we’ll discuss again the healing impact of memorizing Scripture.

Bible Bored

Are you going through a dry stage in Bible reading? Lost you ardor for the Word? If so, you can:
1. keep on keeping on and benefit just from the discipline of being in the Word; or,
2.take a break from it and lose out on the nourishment; or,
3.take a more aggressive stance.

Suggestions for a more aggressive pursuit:
Write out the Scripture, Wilson Green suggests, getting a small journal and asking the Lord what passage He would have your to write. Write between seven and 10 verses per day, focusing and meditating on what you’re writing.

Another thought: read Psalm 119, section by section, on a daily basis. Pray that God would revive your zeal for the Word.

Try different translations of the Bible.

Summarize on paper one of the shorter books.

Mentor someone younger using Scripture as your guide.

Establish a new mind set about the Bible. See it not as a list of laws but as God’s love letter of grace and mercy meant to show us the path of abundant living.

Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Learn more about it by being a person of the Word.