I Love Math

With school starting back, my thoughts have been on the three R's lately.  You know, Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic.  (Who ever thought of calling them the three R's wasn't a spelling major, that's for sure!)  I've especially been thinking about Math.  It was always my favorite subject in school.  I can hear some of you through cyberspace saying "Ugh!" and "You're crazy!"  Think about this for just a moment and you'll understand some key reasons why I loved math. 

First and foremost - MATH DIDN'T HAVE GRAY AREAS!

• In 1st grade - 2 + 2 = 4
• In 5th grade - 2 + 2 = 4
• Believe it or not, even when new math after I graduated  - 2 + 2 = 4

You can probably figure out that I hated English. ('I' before 'E' except after.... Drove me crazy!) Math was not given to any private interpretation. In math, we all understood and agreed (sometimes after a little debate) there was only one answer.

The 2nd reason I loved math is because there were formulas.  There was always a pattern, a process or a principle that helped you determine the answer.  Once you understood, believed and followed the formula you could solve more complex questions.  Remember adding double, triple and quadruple digits?  Once you grasped the concept of addition and carrying it didn't matter how long the numbers were.  You just stuck to the principle you learned.  Ahhh, math.  Now that's a subject that's easy to love.

The final reason I loved math is really just a combination of the first two reasons.  The lack of gray areas and the principle of formulas remained whether it was addition, subtraction, multiplication, division... As a matter of fact, the same principle of formulas remained in Algebra (stop all the groaning), Geometry, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus (that's as far as I got in High School).  You see, the principle of success didn't change because the problems became more complex.  You simply had to be willing to stay with the teacher long enough to learn the process.

Can you see the math in God's Word?  Think about it with me for a few minutes.

• God's Word doesn't have gray areas.  It's not given to any private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20)
• No matter how difficult or complex life's challenges and problems, once you learn the principles you can always come through with the answer. (Note: Important to stay tuned in to the teacher to learn the process!)
• The word of God is full of formulas.  Simple, direct, applicable formulas.  When learned and followed you always arrive at the Answer. Let me finish out with a few formulas I've found for you to think on.

Formulas:

• Jesus + you = Majority
• Jesus + you + belief = All things are possible  (Mark 9:23)
• Jesus + you + me = 10,000 of the enemy to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30)
• 1 Cross + 3 Nails = 4 Given (John 3:16, Luke 23:34)
• Death + Burial + Resurrection = Saving Message (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
• Repentace + Baptism in Jesus Name = You will receive gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38)
• One of my personal favorites -  JESUS in me > he that's in the world (1 John 4:4)

You may have noticed, every "math" problem presented above has a common denominator.  JESUS.  He is the Answer.

I'd welcome your comments and ADDitional formulas you've gleaned from the Bible in the comments section below.  Have a blessed Back to School season.

Let the Wind Blow

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - Jesus Christ in John 3:8

"The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where its going.  So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - AMP

The wind.  There is no identifying precisely where it will come from and its destination can't be determined.  Its effects are evident.  The activity of it is undeniable.  It can be heard, but not seen.  It can be harnessed, but not controlled.  It can be gentle and strong; and accomplish much in either form.

Is it any wonder that Jesus likened His Spirit to the wind?  But wait, He didn't stop there.  He was so direct and bold to say that every one that is born of the Spirit is like the wind.  EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit.  What's He suggesting?  Is He saying that the Spirit-filled, His body - the church, is just all over the place?  Of course not.  He is giving us a clear understanding of how He designed the Spirit-filled church to function.

In central WA near Thorpe there is a hillside covered with 100+ foot tall windmills.  They stand firm like soldiers in a company waiting for the blowing of the wind.  Their blades outstretched like arms begging the wind to come their direction.


These turbines have been strategically placed to capture the wind when it blows. As their symmetrical blades are rotated by the wind they are generating power to places unseen.  Ironically, there are times when the blades simply stand still.  No movement.  No wind.  It's an interesting design to say the least.  These turbines are created to start moving when the wind hits a certain velocity, but they are also designed to shut down when the wind exceeds a certain velocity.

Why is that?

Great question!

The answer is quite simple.  While the blades are made to capture the wind, the windmills have a huge problem.  They can not move across the landscape with the wind.  Try as they might, they are fixed in their position.

Yes, they are strategically positioned to capture the wind, but they are not capable of flowing and going with the wind.  Because of their fixed position, when the velocity of the wind increases they must shut down.  Failure to shut down in a strong wind can cause damage to all around.  As beautiful as the clean energy they generate is, their fixed position is designed to draw power from the wind by resisting the wind.

It's absolutely true that they are fulfilling a purpose, but they are going nowhere.  They are meeting a need, but their fixed position limits their ability to be consistently effective. They are set in their position and must now simply wait for the wind to pass from time to time.

Is it possible that Christ's church, His body of Spirit-filled believers, has become like this mass of windmills?  Is it fixed in it's position and only interested in the wind to generate power? 
Does it have no interest to flow and move with His Spirit beyond pre-determined parameters?
Has it been designed (not by Him) to shut down when the wind blows too strong because the fixed position is actually a resistant to the moving of His Spirit?

Consider an alternative wind capturer.  A ship with many sails.  It's design is not meant to merely gain power from the wind, but to be taken by and with the wind.  It's creation is not for the purpose of staying put.  One writer expressed it like this:

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is designed for."

The ship gets direction from light, maps, reference points and the like.  But, never forget, the ship is dependent on the wind. All of the movement is dependent on the wind.  It's speed is determined by the wind.  Proper positioning is critical to allow the wind to take it to it's destination.

Yes, the seas can be rough.  Ships can be turned and tossed.  Rest assured that the one who controls the wind also controls the waves.  Doesn't it make sense to set sail and allow the wind of His Spirit to direct His body where He wills?

Throughout the book of Acts it's evident that His church moved with His Spirit.  That didn't always mean physical relocation, but rather a constant moving where His Spirit led to be in front of people.  The church wasn't and shouldn't be "tossed about with every wind of doctrine", but it must be mobile and willing to move with and when and where His Spirit leads.

Consider Acts 2:2-4.
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Some modern day methods would say "put up a sign and start services in the upper room."  Is it any wonder the church went almost three hundred years from house-to-house and grew by thousands? 

Consider Philip in Acts 8:26-27 & 37-40.
Consider Paul & Timothy in Acts 16:6-10

There are over six billion souls in the earth today.  The Spirit of God will blow where it wills.  Will the church be fixed in it's locale or move with His Spirit? 

Which will the church of 2011 be? 

If it's a Spirit-filled church it's already determined by Jesus Christ.

"The wind blows where it wills.  You hear its sound, but you can't tell where it's coming from or where it's going.  So is EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit."