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

Upon Further Review; 2 John

Maybe reviewing 3 John before I reveiewed 2 John opened my eyes to something I missed before.  In my attempt to 'dig in' and get everything possible out of each of these letters, I think I missed the elements that tie them together.  There are two words that appear the most in each letter; and they're the same words.  In 2 John we find 'love' 4 times and 'truth' 5 times; in 3 John we find 'love/beloved' 6 times, and truth 7 times. 
These two things themes hold true even though the focus of each letter is slightly different. 
In 2 John, John urges his readers to 'walk in truth and love one another' (4-5) in the face of opposition and false teaching from the outside the fellowship.  Apparently there were some who 'went out' from the fellowship and were deceiving others with false teaching.  John implores them to 'watch themselves' (8) and 'abide in the teaching of Christ' (9).  Holding to the truth of Christ and to love for one another is a strong defense against the opposition from the outside.

In 3 John the same teaching is applied to opposition from within the fellowship.  John commends the fellowshp for 'walking in the truth ' (3-4) and in love (5-6) as expressed in their tremendous hospitality for those traveling with the Gospel.  And while there is always persecution from the world to deal with, the focus of this letter is dissention within the fellowship.  John identifies an individual, Diotrephes, who is selfish, insubordinate, deceitful, and inhospitable.  The fellowship is not to imitate this evil example, but is to imitate the good example of walking in truth and love. 

I tried really hard in the original CMS to find a distinct outline for each of these letters.  Upon further review, I think it would be most helpful to remember them as a set; Walking in Truth and Love both Outside and Inside the fellowship.  A good shepherd must always be on guard against wolves from the outside, and 'wolves in sheep's clothing' from the inside. 

Now I have to think of a clever way to outline these.....