How to Improve Memory, part I

I'm beginning to wonder what little tricks and tips there are to help me remember things. I know by practicing you get better, and I've read that is true for memory. I also think I do well when I write things down. But does that mean it will work for typing too?

So I want to learn Eph 5:8-10

"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light ( for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."

Ephesians 5:8-10

I would also like to remember life better. So maybe I can do that by blogging more consistently? Or maybe I just need to go back to the tried and true journaling.

Perhaps I will start by doing a bit of research on some "expert" tips and tricks for memory.

Another Bike Commuting update

Well, I didn't realize how I would just stop blogging pretty much, then use this to track commuting.

Today was my first ride with a bike trunk bag instead of a backpack. It was great. My back wasn't all sweaty and the ride just felt better.

On Tuesday I bought a bike rack and bag from Tom's bicycle shop, but had trouble installing it my bike doesn't have any attachment points for a rack, and the p-clamps that came with it are too small for my frame. Ended up going for a walk with the family to ace hardware and bought some bigger p-clamps and some washers because the clamps had larger holes that the nuts could fit through. Went on well, took some work to get it level.

So now the problems I have with it. The bag doesn't fit on the rack if I have my saddle bag, not sure why, this seems unusual, though I haven't researched it. Also, the rack bag is much smaller than my back pack and my clothes arrived wrinkled. I read that I could roll them and that should help prevent wrinkles, but I'm tempted to upgrade to a larger bag. Currently I have the banjo brothers #01040, and I'm looking at upgrading to the #01070. The 1070 has bungee cords on top and side panniers, not too found of the side panniers, because I was thinking I may want to get real ones, and it requires more effort to attach and remove. But I do like the bungee cord on top to strap things down that don't fit in the bag.

My goal with the bag is to carry my lunch and clothes, so I want to be able to take it off and on the bike easily. But maybe that shouldn't be the solution. Maybe I should just take things out of the bag and leave the bag attached to the rack.

So many options.

Great Ride today

Had a great ride today. I'm learning just how much motorists influence my ride. Everyone was really polite, and there were some people out exercising that exchanged "good morning" and a smile.

A bit warm, I do think getting rid of the backpack will help, but it is a surprising amount of money needed to get a rack and bag. Should be under $100, but over $70.

Made some adjustments to fit on my bike because after some long rides I wasn't feeling great. Actually the only adjustment I made was to move my seat to the front after watching and reading some articles on bike fit. I can tell I'm getting better at working with a bike too.

Anyways, got to work this morning feeling wonderful so I thought I would share.

Bike Commuting Link

http://commuteorlando.com/ontheroad/animations/narrowlane/narrowlane.html

I know most are drivers, but please understand some of the challenges presented in this video.

Again failing to keep up with basic habits

Ephesians 5:8-10

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord, therefore walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Learning move about parenting

So I listened to a good radio broadcast from Family Life. Link It is on discipline. The point is to address the heart. Get the child to answer easy questions and admit disobeying. One thing that caught my attention is when they talk about how much you have to do it, and how exhausting it can be. So they offered this verse, which I think I'll work on memorizing this week.

Gal 6:9

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."

I decide to add verse 10 after looking it up.

" ¹⁰So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."

Galations 6:9-10

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."

Gal 6:9-10

Verse 9 seems to say more about being a parent, but verse 10 really belongs with it, and I feel the verses still apply to parenting just fine. It might be somewhat harder to memorize, but not that bad.

Priorities

So I was writing out some priorities I felt I should have in my life. I used a tree structure, and started with growth as the root. That branched out to spiritual, mental, physical. Spiritual and mental came together for memory. I can improve my memory by memorizing scripture which contributes to spiritual growth. Physical growth was boring and only went on to working out, which is something I should probably do, if you need any scriptural reasons just ask my brother, or consider you body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God. Mental growth had some more areas, but most overlapped with spiritual, one that didn't was learning new things, so keeping up with news, improving my vocabulary...

For some reason spiritual growth seemed to have the most, leading to fellowship, prayer, daily scripture reading, studying the scripture (which again lapsed with mental growth).

So after doing this I looked and was wondering where parenting fit in. I hadn't written it down yet. What about leadership in my family, and teaching others? Then I thought about the "With me" principle. These is basically that we are all on a road toward maturity, and we should be doing it with others. So all of these items should be done and encouraged with others. To make it all even possible I will need accountability.

This may not make much sense to people, but it was a fun little exercise. Still needs some evaluating. Like evangelism needs a place. But maybe that is simple an application that is done when studying and reading scripture.

I am to grow my relationship with God and with others.

Happy Sad

Rom 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."

Same event, as long as you know the person that died is in heaven in glory. But they will be missed.

Titus 3:7 "so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

New Project

Need some design help. The main idea is a castle bed for Katie on her 3rd birthday. May end up waiting longer, not sure. I have a main structure idea and hopefully will get around to posting some pics of my sketches, or even screen shots of the model.

I have three towers that I'm not sure what to do with.

I've thought of boring things like shelves or drawers that will be useful for organizing things, but it would be nice if it was geared more to play. A tower is about 2ft square, so there isn't a whole lot of room to work with.

Maybe a ladder on the inside that goes up to a trap door to enter the top bunk?

Maybe a fireman's pole to slide down?

What other features are there to make this more interesting.

The reason there is no forth tower is that I plan to make a tunnel to a slide in the back right corner.

One tower I plan to cut windows in to climb up from the outside. This would be the main way of accessing the top level.

I would like to make a sliding door/secret passage, but not sure where to put it.

What about some board space? Chalk board, white board? Should I put a metal plate behind it so you can stick magnets on it?

What about doors? I was planning on making the front just an open arch, but kids seem to love doors. Windows to the outside of the house will be in the back center, so I was wanting to do some cut outs that would project a fun image inside.

What about a light switch that controls a rope light that runs around the inside?

Right now the design is for the top bunk to be empty, but what about putting a tower or room up there?

Climbing net? Maybe a rope bridge between two towers instead of a wood platform.

Fake fireplace would be fun, not sure where to put it, but probably in the lower section. Though that area I want for sleeping mainly.

So I could use some more ideas as I design this. I have a basic structure design that I like, but want to add more.

The Basics

So what should some basics of Christian discipline be?

Scripture Memory

Reading the Word

Prayer

What else? Also, what are some reasonable goals, and then what is too much?

My guess:

Memorize a passage a week. Ps 53:10 is for this week. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." NASB

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." ESV (matches the song better)

Would it be reasonable for a small group leader to expect and challenge the group to memorize a passage such as Ps 53:10 in two weeks? I think a month is too much time and doesn't offer a real challenge.

Reading the Word. Daily. Good place to start is 3 times a week I think.

Prayer, pretty much hand in hand with the Word. But probably more so than reading the Word. Pray with your kids, pray at a meal, pray before bed, pray when studying God's word, pray with a group.

Is it unreasonable to expect this from a Christian group? Why does this basic foundation seem to be such a challenge sometimes? Writing it down and looking at it, it seems so easy.

First Place

Col 1:17-18 "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything."

So I have been neglecting this blog, but I think it helps me memorize, so I decided to post. Went over the life response today, interesting question to answer.

In what specific area will you make Jesus first in your...

personal life

family life

professional life

social life

So it is a multi-part question, but I think it helps. Similar to making new year's resolution in my opinion, but at least this way it really matters.