Scripture Memory Tips

Hey everybody,

Memorizing stuff - it brings back painful memories of cramming for calculus exams at 4 AM hyped up on Mountain Dew or long lists of French vocabulary with the guttural "r" sound.  Memorizing God's word is a whole different story.  It molds my thinking and, unlike calculus, I use it every day.  It brings life.

After yesterday's message on sticking to God's word, I thought I'd pass on a few memorization tips.  You can use them to create an unforgettable experience this summer by training in righteousness as you memorize God's word.

1. An aggressive goal for memorization is seven verses a week.  You should be able to do this in about 20 minutes per day.
   
   
2. An easy goal is one verse a week.  This can be done in five minutes a day.
   
   
3. Put your verses in small cards to carry in your wallet, purse, daytimer or in your PDA.  That way, you can memorize them in the cracks of your day as you wait for appointments, planes, etc.
   
   
4. Memorize something you like.  Some of my favorites are: Psalm 23, Psalm 100, the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Romans 8, Romans 12, Hebrews 12, Matthew 5-7.  Consider trying a whole book like Philippians or 2 Timothy.
   
   
5. Even 2 and 3-year-olds can memorize scripture.  My kids learned Psalm 23 as I repeated it every night before bed.  Soon they were saying it along with me.  The grandparents were very impressed.
   
   
6. Older kids can be motivated with treats or cold hard cash.  Shameless? Yes, but it works.  I know one dad who told his kids he would give them $100 if they memorized the Declaration of Independence word perfect. One week later he watched a $100 bill move from his wallet to his 14-year-old daughter's.  He said it was "the best money I ever spent on her education."
   
   
7. Tell somebody about your goal.  Have them quiz you weekly, or challenge your Journey Group, spouse or roommate to do it with you.  Weekly check-ins keep you motivated.
   
   
8. Remember the formula:
   
• 7 times/day for 7 days
• 7 times/week for 7 weeks
• 7 times/month for 7 months
  

 OK, that's enough tips.  Enjoy memorizing, and may God's Word make you wise, full of life and righteousness!

Justice Journey

Hey Friends,

I woke up in my Birmingham hotel room last week, and my mind was buzzing with thoughts of justice, righteousness and the role of the church.  After spending three days with white and black church leaders from Omaha, my learning curve was high, my frustration level was high and my sense of having any ability solve the situations we face was low.  From Selma, AL to Atlanta and Birmingham we traveled, learning, confronting, repenting, praying and loving across our differences.

I knew so little about the struggle for civil rights; it was embarrassing.  There are problems in North Omaha that I barely ever think about out in the southwest corner of town. Here are some of the things that I heard:

• 59% of African American kids in Omaha live in poverty, more than any U.S. city;
• despite the fact that income is adjusted for cost of living, Omaha has the second highest median income in the country;
• an African American male entering OPS has less than a 50% chance of graduating, while a Caucasian student in Elkhorn has a 96% chance; and
• African Americans in the prison system in Nebraska get sentences three times as long as Caucasians.

The list could continue, but I am motivated to pray - for our city, for unity, for justice, for God's kingdom to be manifest in our midst and for CCC to be the church the way God meant it to be.

I think about our nation. The economy is struggling, massive changes are taking place in the halls of Washington and we are at war. Shifting our focus, we are overspending by trillions of dollars, unborn babies are being killed, born babies are being neglected and abuse is rampant.

Again, I am motivated to pray.  I'm motivated to pray for wisdom for our leaders, for truth to be known, for protection, for love to be spread and for God's kingdom to come.  Our problems are deeply rooted in spiritual issues.  The solution must begin with God and tapping into His power of prayer.

Most of my fifty friends from this trip are coming to CCC on Thursday night for the National Day of Prayer (7 PM / Worship Center / Old Mill Campus).  They are bringing people from their congregations: white, black, Hispanic, young, old, rich and poor.  We will be joining together in prayer for our city and our country. 

I want to invite you to come for a couple of reasons.

1. It will be good to host the city-church well.  CCC doesn't get this opportunity very often, so let's do it right.
2. We need to pray, to be connected with God, to intercede for our city and country and to unite as a city around the things that bring community.

If there has ever been a time for prayer, it is now.  Our city is desperate, our nation is hurting and we need to stay connected to the vine of life.