Mark (info, intro, and becoming a warrior-shepherd)

Greetings, and welcome to the first installment of the great experiment in Mark.  I have completed a CMS (Chapter Memory System) study in several other books (even ones as long as Mark), but this is the first attemt to capture a narrative-style book in a memorizable format.  Again, my goal is not to memorize the whole book, but to memorize what is in and where it is in the book. 

The first hurdle was the chapter acronym.  With other CMS studies I have had an acronym assigned to the book to serve as a memory tool.  Sometimes it was as simple as the title of the book (or a truncated version) while other times it was a single 'theme word' that had the same number of letters as the book had chapters.  Having 16 chapters, Mark provides some interesting challenges.  First of all, 'M.A.R.K.' doesn't get us very far.  And while there are plenty of 16 letter words (most end in -ology or -ism), finding one word (and then spelling that word :) has proven difficult (although, there is a great web-site for finding specific words by first letter, number of letters, and words with no duplicate letters; wordnavigator)

So I began searching for key words throughout Mark so I could piece together a description or phrase that would fit the book.  (email me if you want to hear more about the process...it's a little nerdy :)  I read several commentators who pointed to Mark 10:45 as the theme verse of the book;

Mark 10:45 (ESV)
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

By mixing and matching words (with the right number of letters, and without too many duplicate letters) I came up with (what I hope) is the Chapter Memory Acrostic for Mark:  JESUS IS THE RANSOM. 

That said, the problem I ran into with previous studies was having to cram theme and content into words that began with a specific letter.  So I'm going to work through the first several chapters before I more firmly establish the acrostic. 

Ok, if you're reading this and you don't know me personally, you may think I'm treating the Bible like a text book or a manual instead of the Living Word of God.  That is not my approach or intent.  This study is my simple way of trying to get a better handle (to 'rightly handle' 2 Tim 2:15) on God's amazing, transforming, living Word. 

I picture this process as if I am a warrior with a sword (the Sword, as it were).  If I just carry it, but don't know how to use it, I'm not doing me, others, or the Kingdom of God much good.  If I just pick it up and start swinging it around aggressively and wildly, I'm more likely to hurt myself or my allies than I am to help lost people or fight off enemies.  But if I train with it, get to know it, get to know the One who made it, and let Him teach me how to wield it...then I can become more and more of the warrior-shepherd that He has called me to be for my family, my flock, and His kingdom. 

So I study.  And I study the way that my personality and learning style lead me to.  This is not THE way, but it's my way....for now.  

Stay tuned.  If my training is of any help to you, may we learn to wield His Word in a way that honors Him and advances His kingdom. 

Ethan

This blog has not been abandoned....

Hello again. It's been a few months. A lot has happened.

I wonder if there is such thing as online-overload? I was doing fine when this blog (my first) was the only one. Then I got a blog for church stuff, then I got a facebook account......I think I reached a limit.

But never fear, those of you who have been anxiously awaiting another entry to the 'His Word, my heart' archives, I believe there is more to come. I need to continue my reviewing (the current thread of 'Upon Further Review') but will also be starting a new study in Mark. I had put off trying to tackle a Gospel with the CMS system because of the differences in style and length. But alas, I felt that I was reading a lot about Jesus, and not much of Jesus Himself. Ergo a Gospel. Ergo the shortest one first :).

I would like to continue the same style and approach that I have taken with other books; overall outline theme, overall outline acronym (which is tricky with 16 chapters), chapter outline titles, and chapter memory passages. I'm currently working through the first few chapters to get an idea where to go with the acronym. Then, I will start and see how it goes.

I love Jesus. I love His Word. I don't want to just learn more verses and know more stuff. I want to know Him and walk with Him. This is how my brain seems to study and process best. And I freely share it with you.

talk with you soon,

epj