I was just thinking about cooking. In fact I even remember when mom taught me how to cook. Boy I can remember how I was much more willing to dust, mop and clean than to spend time in the kitchen. Maybe that's why mom's cooking is the talk around; and I'm still dusting and mopping and cleaning out drawers! (LOL)
She has a recipe for Bar-B-Que chicken and a secret receipe for sweet and sour chicken that would win any persons taste buds!I can taste it right now as I type. Mom even gave me the instructions on how to make them. But I knew the simple secret lay in doing it. This is the way I sometimes handle spiritual "dishes" that I've tasted. I know they're wonderful, good, profitable, and possible -- and that it's all in the doing.
I came across the following study analysis somewhere. It applies here. We will retain 5 to 10 percent of what we hear. We will retain 30 percent of what we read. We will retain 50 percent of what we hear and read. We will retain 90 percent of what we hear, read, and do. I bet that somewhere between the 50 and 90 percent we could place "writing it down." Doing, of course, is the most effective learning process. Writing down the method of accomplishment, the success or failure of the procedure, etc., will increase our understanding, give fingertip access to notes, and record our perception, appropriation, and commitment levels.
So let's add that to our analysis: We will retain 75 percent of what we hear, read and write.
Well, after years of eating Bar-B-Que & sweet and sour chicken at the restaurant, I finally tried my hand at it. Did I have to talk myself into this gourmet endeavor? Yes.(Those of you may remember that the kitchen is the last place that I want to be in.) I had all kinds of excuses as to why I couldn't do it. Time consuming? Yes -- all afternoon to put it together. Concentrated effort? Yes. Worth it all? Yes. No one really praises me for the cleaning, but the praise was hot and heavy that night at the dinner table.
And so it goes with the sermon or tape I hear, the book I read. I know that the truth I've tasted is wonderful, good, profitable, and possible...
But does it take discipline? Yes.
And does it take time? Yes.
Is there work involved? Yes.
And is it worth the effort? Yes.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
