Arithmetic and The Bible

I found How To Teach Arithmetic by J. C. Brown (published in 1914) the other week. It has been an interesting read with lots to think about in how I teach and how I can better prepare people wanting to teach high school mathematics.

One quote that Brown used was from Herbert Spencer ...

While rules lying isolated in the mind—not joined to its other contents as outgrowths from them—are continually forgotten, the principles which these rules express piecemeal become, when once reached by the understanding, enduring possessions. While the rule-taught youth is at sea when beyond his rules, the youth instructed in principles solves a new case as readily as an old one. Between a mind of rules and a mind of principles, there exists a difference such as that between a confused heap of materials and the same materials organized into a complete whole with all its parts bound together.

That quote was used in conjunction with a discussion about teaching arithmetic as memorized rules versus understanding the principles. But, as I thought about it, it brought to mind the difference between the Law and Christ.

The Law is a list of rules. Those things we should do or not do. I can always try to just memorize them for later ... but they "are continually forgotten" after a short while. The Law, standing alone, sits there isolated in my mind as a confusing checklist of wrongs and rights. And I can feel as if I am lost at sea when life dumps problems outside of any the rules and laws I happen to remember.

But Christ made it all simpler, and harder, at the same time. The principles are: Love the LORD and Love others. With this all the rules are no longer a "confused heap of materials". They are a "complete whole with all its parts bound together". And I no longer have to feel as if my insides are a confused heap. Unsure and never knowing what to do. I just need to do and act on these principles and I can become a complete whole capable of dealing with new the problems in life.

There are lots of problems out there I will never comprehend or solve. But, I can love the LORD and act up and act out in showing others kindness and love.

Yeah ... I can do that.

Day 43

As You Rise ... 2 Chronicles 17-19

Chapter 17 in mp3
Chapter 18 in mp3
Chapter 19 in mp3

... and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.”

How much more justice would be in our culture today if the law was still based on the above. That those in the jury and those in the robes had the fear of the LORD upon them. There really is no injustice with the LORD and neither should we act unjustly.

Once it was true that men understood truth and justice came only from God and that everyone answers to Him. And all laws had to conform that the justice of God. Then just over 100 years ago that changed. It changed from the justice of God to laws being based on previous decisions and cases. And the wisdom of man and "case law" became the disaster we have today.

As You Walk By The Way ...2 Chronicles 20-22

Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3

I wonder when God calls us to labor for the victory and when we are called to stand back and watch His hand work. The easy example is that you don't stand in the street praying: "Oh LORD. Deliver me from the bus rushing down the street to kill me!" The answer is obviously: "MOVE!"

Thinking about this I guess my only idea was to trust in God and go out to battle. If His hand works a miracle ... stand and be amazed. If He calls you to fight ... fight with all that you have.

When You Lie Down ... John 13-14

Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Love each other as you love your family. For your children are of your blood and you love them. Your parents are of your blood and you love them. And you brothers and sisters are of your blood and you love them (sometimes).

But, as Christians we are family by the Blood of Christ. A blood that is deeper and stronger than the flesh of which we are made.

Day 22

As You Rise ... Joshua 13-18

Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3
Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3
Chapter 17 in mp3
Chapter 18 in mp3

I knew a Caleb.

He was in his eighties and could still work me into the ground at the farm. He talked to me about reading Proverbs and being a godly man. His prayers were to God, and we just happened to listen in on them. He had a kind heart and a quick smile.

I knew a Caleb. His name was Grandpa.

As You Walk By The Way ... Joshua 19-24

Chapter 19 in mp3
Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3
Chapter 23 in mp3
Chapter 24 in mp3

When I was listening to the passages about the Cities of Refuge the phrase that came to me was 'house arrest'. There were no prisons like today for involuntary manslaughter ( which the laws concerning the Cities of Refuge deal with ). But, a City of Refuge is basically the same. Except you still had to work for your living rather than be taken care of on societies dollar.

When You Lie Down ... Luke 2-3

Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3

... share with him who has none.
... collect no more than you are authorized.
... do not extort money from anyone.
... be content with your wages.

I do believe that C.S. Lewis was correct in saying that God has written the Laws of what is right and wrong upon our hearts. And we do not do it. We know ... and yet we do not do.

How simple the words of John were. And how simple our minds are in not doing them. We rather listen to our flesh and desires than the prompting of God.

Day 19

As You Rise ... Deuteronomy 22-25

Chapter 22 in mp3
Chapter 23 in mp3
Chapter 24 in mp3
Chapter 25 in mp3

I think we would help marriages along if we focused, as a church family, on helping them to just be happy for their first year. Not asking for things or doing work at the church. Try to keep them together at home. Try to focus on building them up for each other. Try to help them understand what it means to be one body in the eyes of God.

As we raise up our children ... maybe we could also raise up our newly married.

As You Walk By The Way ... Deuteronomy 26-29

Chapter 26 in mp3
Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3
Chapter 29 in mp3

Moses had quite the prophesy concerning what would happen to Israel when they turned away from God. I can't imagine the hunger during a siege of a city that would turn parents to eating their dead children. And all that he prophesied in these versus came about for them.

To often we look at the blessing and ignore the curses. Both are the LORD's word. Because sometimes a carrot works to lead us to the path. And sometimes a stick is needed to guide us to the path.

When You Lie Down ... Mark 14

Chapter 14 in mp3

Is it I?

They wondered if they would betray Jesus. They loved Jesus and Jesus loved them ... and they didn't know. They didn't look around and say: "I'm sure it is going to be Peter or Judas". It was: "Is it me? Am I going to do it?"

Taking an honest look in my life I can ask the same question. Actually I suppose it is: "Am I going to betray Jesus, again." I've failed and I've run and I've denied in my heart at times. And I am so glad He as welcomed me back.

LORD ... I pray for courage and strength of character.

Day 11

As You Rise ... Leviticus 15-18

Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3
Chapter 17 in mp3
Chapter 18 in mp3

Don't we all love getting a stomach virus? Most people call it the stomach flu, but flu is usually short for influenza which is a viral lung infection. So you should rather call it a stomach virus so as not to confuse the people who get the flu shot ( for influenza ).

Anyway, for the sake of the reader I will stick the Leviticus version of the hated problem we all get to face with the stomach bug: discharges. One word for either the "praying to the porcelain god" kind or the sitting kind. We had the wonderful joy of everyone in the family getting discharges within about two days.

And having the greatest nurse on the face of the planet like I do ... does anyone want to guess the best way to keep others from getting discharges? Consider everything you touch or wear dirty. Wash regularly. Don't touch anything the sick-ie touched or slept on. Keep your food stuff separate. And after they are all done being "sick" expect them to be still contagious for a bit. At the end of all this CLEAN EVERYTHING.

Our problem was that we were on vacation and living much closer than normal. Usually we have the 'sick bathroom' and keep the sick-ie somewhat quarantined. But, we couldn't. Interesting how useful Leviticus would be on keep the stomach virus 'plague of all plagues' from spreading.

As You Walk By The Way ... Leviticus 19-22

Chapter 19 in mp3
Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3

Molech, Ba'al, Kronos, or a god by many other names was worshiped far and wide in the lands near Israel. Many years later after the city of Carthage was defeated by the Romans is was said by Cleitarchus ...

There stands in their midst a bronze statue of Kronos, its hands extended over a bronze brazier, the flames of which engulf the child. When the flames fall upon the body, the limbs contract and the open mouth seems almost to be laughing until the contracted body slips quietly into the brazier. Thus it is that the 'grin' is known as 'sardonic laughter,' since they die laughing.

God's commands about love and sacrifice are rather strange in comparison to the lands that surrounded them. But, today are we any different? Today we sacrifice our children to the gods of greed, lust, and wealth. We now have a president who argued as a senator to take newborn children and set them upon a shelf to die. A practice that still goes on today. We take the life of the unborn just because we do not want them. And fathers take the future of their children by leaving the home.

How far we are from loving others as if they are you.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 27-28

Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3

Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani ... My God, my God, why have you forsaken me

If I said the words: "On a hill far away. Stood an old ....". Would you know what came next. How about "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me". Do you know what comes next?

Psalm 22


Why Have You Forsaken Me?
To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.

...

16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet —
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.

...

29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
even the one who could not keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him;
it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it.

Day 8

As You Rise ... Exodus 31-35

Chapter 31 in mp3
Chapter 32 in mp3
Chapter 33 in mp3
Chapter 34 in mp3
Chapter 35 in mp3

Ever have a "He made me do it!" moment? Growing up everyone has had lots of "they did it first" comments. And part of growing up is about admitting your mistakes and taking your lumps. None of this ...

So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.

Wow. I never knew gold would form a calf if you threw it into a fire. I so wanted a ... And Moses smacked Aaron over the head with a stick. And the LORD from heaven said: 'Are you stupid?!'

Eventually we all need to grow up and face the music. Part of becoming a new man before God is throwing off the old. Don't point fingers at those around you. Admit you have holes in your coat, take it off, and put on the new life God has given you!

As You Walk By The Way ... Exodus 36-40

Chapter 36 in mp3
Chapter 37 in mp3
Chapter 38 in mp3
Chapter 39 in mp3
Chapter 40 in mp3

Short comment here: You know you have given enough when those that receive tell you to stop. For you have given enough.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 22-23

Chapter 22 in mp3
Chapter 23 in mp3

Rules are so much easier to follow then the "Law of Nature". This Law of Nature is in the definition given by C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity. It is that voice that God has given us to know right and wrong. It is the nature of us being made in His image, and of tasting of the knowledge of good and evil. Not the law of the physical world and our physical desires as non-Christians like to believe.

Christ lays it out rather easily for us. Love God with all that you are and love others as if they are you. Of course we all already knew this, we just do not actually DO IT.

We like rules and laws because we can still sin and follow the rules. Like the child who points their finger and whines. But in our hearts, where Christ is looking, we know we are wrong.

Day 7

As You Rise ... Exodus 23-26

Chapter 23 in mp3
Chapter 24 in mp3
Chapter 25 in mp3
Chapter 26 in mp3

Be honest in all things. It is obvious to us that we should not join with the wicked. But, at times we also pervert justice with a false sense of righteousness.

You shall not spread a false report .... Yep I can do that.

You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness ... Oh that one is easy. I can do that.

You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice ... There is another one, I'm OK with that.

Nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit ... Huh? Well, you know he is poor. I should help him out shouldn't I?

Actually, no we should not be partial. We are called to be honest and stand for the truth. If you lie, cheat, or deny the truth that is sin. For before God everyone is equal.

As You Walk By The Way ... Exodus 27-30

Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3
Chapter 29 in mp3
Chapter 30 in mp3

Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

As Aaron bore the names of all the tribes over his heart, Christ now bears us before the LORD. His sacrifice and presence before God are the perfection of what is shown within the law in Exodus.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 20-21

Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3

First we aren't supposed to be partial to the rich or poor. Now Christ talks about given guys who worked an hour the same as those that worked an entire day. Where is the fairness?

How fair is it that a servant of God that is saved and then works his entire life for the kingdom ... and an evil man that confesses on his death bed ... both go to heaven?

What we tend to forget is that ALL have sinned. None of us are truly good. We know that the first man is not getting to heaven on his works. For nothing we do earns our way to heaven because only Christ's sacrifice pays our due. Our actions pay nothing and Christ is the perfect sacrifice demanded by God. And that God grants any of us salvation at all is a miracle. So be thankful for your salvation and do not be resentful of someone else coming to God.

So what is the purpose of living for God? Our good works are the way we show Him our thankfulness for His kindness. And what better way to show that than to emulate Him?