ResponsiveReiding

Ever heard of it? Me neither. Until just recently. In all places, in a Kevin Hart comedy.

What is it? Www.ADDitude.com defines it thus: “Dyscalculia is a math learning disability that impairs an individual’s ability to learn number-related concepts, perform accurate math calculations, reason and problem solve, and perform other basic math skills. ¹. Dyscalculia is sometimes called “number dyslexia” or “math dyslexia.”

Now, why do I bring you this breaking news? Because maybe like me, you’ve suffered from this disability all your life, and it was never discovered. Taking a test today, I finally found out why math, after the rudimentary basics, scrambles my brain into oblivion.

In school, my one Guidance Counselor queried how it was I scored fairly high on my I.Q. Test, but flunked 9th grade math? Algebra was hugely anxiety producing. Both years. I barely passed the 2nd time. Geometry was little better. But one thing I knew, numbers, formulae, etc., were a dark and scary morass I had no business mucking around in.

The assumption and implications were, from teachers etc., that I just wasn’t applying myself. I was acing English. Did OK in History (except for dates, they practically mean nothing to me, I can’t retain them) my other courses were all breeze. But math. Math was wicked. Confusing. Illogical. It just plain made no sense.

Better than most with it, I can balance my checkbook. I can do basic calculations. At one time, I even got pretty proficient with spreadsheets. But beyond that, brother, I panic and freeze and numbers become the ultimate puzzle for which I do not have even a slight key.

It is frustrating beyond words.

But now I know something. I know that this is a diagnosable brain issue. It can be greatly helped by one-on-one tutoring – which I was never privy to. And by God’s grace it has not held me back in most areas – although in The Scriptures, while I can burrow into all things theological, I can barely retain chapter and verse locations. The numbers mess it all up.

It is just a relief to know. To know there is really something there, and I’m not just lazy.

A few years ago, I self-diagnosed myself as a “mathaphobe.” I said I have a genuine fear of numbers. A dear friend, a physics professor recommended I read “The Joy of X” by Steven Strogatz. I bought it, and got through the first 3 chapters and thought – “this is it, it’s all finally going to make sense!” Then chapter 4. Oh, the dreaded Ch. 4. I got lost every time within the first few pages. It utterly defied me. My mind just could not go there. 3 or four times I re-read the first 3 – where all was fine and dandy, and then I hit 4. And I was done. I couldn’t’ go a step further. I finally gave up.

Maybe you’ve got something like this in your life. I know I’ve had to go somewhere with it before God, and where I’ve ended up is Ex. 4 – when Moses told God he could not fulfill his mission because he could not speak well – for whatever reason, we do not know. And as the account goes: Exodus 4:10–11 (ESV): “But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”

Aha! Even our disabilities fall under the watchful, careful, loving eye and hand of our perfect Father. He designs even our challenges. And does so in perfect wisdom.

Someday, I’ll get the whole story. But for today, I get this: He is my Heavenly Father. And I can trust Him. Even in the things I cannot understand, and have to grapple with.

My God, is good.

I don’t get why I’ve had this particular thing to wrestle with. But I know Him. And I know it is best in His all-knowing and all loving eyes, that it be so.

Mine, is to trust Him. His, is to love me perfectly in Christ.

He’s keeping up His end.

I need to keep up mine.

In the past number of years, many have noted how those leaving Evangelicalism, seem to be streaming into two tributaries: Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.

For those who have come out of one of those two traditions into Gospel-centered, Christ-centered Biblical Christianity, it is virtually unthinkable. And yet, it is not without precedent. For after the Israelites were delivered from Egypt, many preferred to go back to the familiarity of their pagan captivity, and to the religious systems they began to imbibe there. It is the case (as my Dad used to say) that when there is no true regeneration, men will follow after “smells and bells” to try and make up for the void. It is the peculiar temptation and sin of the religious without the Spirit of Christ. And thus we read in Stephen’s discourse in Acts 7: “ Acts 7:39–43 (ESV): Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.”

Jude notes that in fact their problem, was unbelief, albeit dressed in the lush garb of idolatry.

If this trend troubles you, and you are looking for solid help I give you the following link to Doreen Virtue’s episode where she gives a platform to Pastor Samuel Farag. Raised in the Eastern Orthodox Church and converted to saving faith in Jesus, he exposes the real dangers behind Eastern Orthodoxy and by connection, Roman Catholicism in ways you may have never heard before. It is an eye-opening video. And more so as it progresses.

May the Lord be pleased to us this material to help many seduced into this false and blasphemous system to find freedom and faith in Christ.

rom Matthew 25:1-13 / The Ten Virgins

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (as it is called) is a familiar one, and though some of its key points are subtle, they are powerful. It is unique to Matthew’s Gospel.

We should note that this parable appears to be a re-casting of the parable in the previous chapter regarding the “master of the house” being ready in 24:43-44. But it bears this addition – the warning that when the time of Jesus’ arrival comes, no human being can help you. Even Christians. It is too late then. The summary in vs. 13 IS the point.

Now he picture of all ten being virgins is meant to let us know that there are those in the visible Church, those among us who profess Christ and to all outward appearances are Christ’s, but who nevertheless are not prepared for His coming and being gathered to Him. In the final analysis, they will prove to be professors only.

This is vitally important: Merely being “moral” (symbolized here by all 10 being virgins) is not the same as having the saving righteousness of Christ by faith.

Many are those who have it in their mind that they want and expect the blessings of Heaven. But in truth, some of those do not have the key essential to a good and proper expectation – the indwelling, illuminating Spirit of Christ. They want the joys and the privileges of Christ, but have done nothing to be prepared for His coming and what it means. They have not been born again.

This parable illustrates the same concept as 2 Timothy 3:5 – that there are those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of true godliness. Only the Spirit can illumine the heart and mind and make us ready for Jesus’ coming. Nothing less or else is sufficient. One may indeed have a lamp that looks like everyone else’s – but if it is empty – we will be lost.

So note 3 things:

1. Those without “oil” have no provision for the long haul – to endure while Christ delays. Indeed, they profess to be those who will celebrate His coming, but they are not prepared for it at all. They are bereft of the central need – union to Him in the Spirit.

2. And when He comes, such provision cannot be gotten from others, you must have it within yourself. The Spirit is not a borrowed commodity. No one else can give you some of the Holy Spirit from themselves. He must be had personally as given by Jesus.

You cannot borrow grace.

No one goes to Heaven on someone else’s coat tails. No is saved through association. Each must be a full partaker of the covenant and the Spirit of the covenant themselves. The foolish virgins here are like those Israelites of which Hebrews warns: They came out of Egypt, saw the miracles, ate the manna and were those who tasted of the age to come, but in the end were not men and women of faith. In truth, they disbelieved even though they were found among the faithful.

How many in our churches are like that today?

3. Only those who have set their hearts and minds upon receiving Him and being in right condition for that hour will be His. He returns for those who “love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8), none else.

And how many there are today who claim to be waiting for the return of Christ, but are in fact not really waiting, not truly prepared, but empty vessels even though they are among the company of the genuine. They look the same in every way, but they are not prepared, they are imposters. Virgins in external sense, but not at all looking to Christ’s return as their great expectation. And as such, their zeal is but on the surface, and not a passionate drive.

Now is a good time to ask yourself if you are one who truly loves His appearing, anticipates it with genuine joy, or one who simply owns it as a piece of religious dogma? Is Jesus’ return an authentic and motivating hope? If not, why not? And what are you going to do about it?