#8 - Get Computing! - B

Of the 50 or so Bible computing principles, this is one of my favorites. I love to share it with others and you will too.

Principle #3 – A special list.

.

Turn to Mark 8:19-21

1. The third principle involves the way that Jesus was quizzing His disciples as He taught them about the Pharisees. He demonstrates the structure of a database with an attitude in that teaching.

A database is simply a list with with structure. That is, the way the information in each line is ordered.

A telephone book is a printed database we are comfortable in using every day. It’s a list containing records that contain LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, ADDRESS, then PHONE NUMBER. Each line(record) has the same order. But Mark 8 shows us a database with an important twist.

When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

Do you see the two records; the two questions Jesus asked His disciples?

5 Loaves, 5 Thou, Leftovers ? Food – Fed – Fragments.

7 Loaves, 4 Thou, Leftovers ? Food – Fed – Fragments.

The important twist is that He kept asking about the leftovers.

Computer Programmers work at being good DATA MINERS. They look at the leftover data for even more ways to make the organization more productive.

POWER PRINCIPLE in this reference

Look at leftovers – wasted resources, space, talents, and tools

Like a goldminer’s pan, there’s golden resources in the leftovers, and maybe even a lost soul.

Can you create a small database that might include some friends and newcomers and some of your activities with them?

1. _____________________ ____________________ ______________________ _________

2. _____________________ ____________________ ______________________ _________

3. _____________________ ____________________ ______________________ _________

4. _____________________ ____________________ ______________________ _________

5. _____________________ ____________________ ______________________ _________

#8 - Get Computing! - C

This blockbuster principle is a thrill to share with others, as it comes from the Bible. What makes it even juicier is that it’s a computing principle found in the OLD TESTAMENT. More than that, it involves what many believe to be boring rules for the Jews.

Searching Boolean Math Lev 11 old testament dietary rules for Jews

Many powerful principles in scripture are located in probably the most shunned part of scripture – Old Testament directives about the Israelite menu.

Our principles so far have covered Preparation, Testimony, about databases and leftovers.

Principle #4 – Searching (for food)

One of my favorite fast food places often sends me and my food to my table with the receipt that says something like this: 
++++++++++++++++++
3 Piece Fish Dinner 
Medium Soft Drink
+ Baked Potato
+ Bread Stick
– French Fries
– Hush Puppies

           ++++++++++++++++

Note: Hush Puppies are small ball-shaped spiced breading

The test question is “what was on my tray?”

You can also substitute the +’s for “and”; and the –‘s for “not”.

In the 1800’s Geo. Boole ‘invented’ written logic “so called Boolean Logic” – or so he thought.

Turn to some of that shunned scripture to find my favorite computing principle in scripture. Turn to Leviticus 11:2.

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

The following VERSES give contrasting examples to further explain this important rule. Then comes what fish, birds etc are on the menu.

The following CHAPTERS teach grouping principles than technology will never approach.

We use Boolean searches at the library and on Google and other search engines..

POWER PRINCIPLE of this reference

Whether it’s lessons in parables or computing principles in shunned ‘shadow’ scripture, there is more of God’s provision that you could have imagined, in places you still need to look.

Is there a child or adult in your sight, missing a shoelace or shiney shoes? Maybe just below the surface is a heart begging God for someone like you to care… just as they are.

#8 - Get Computing! - D

Principle number 5 has to do with the all important grouping and storage of files.

Grouping is orderly; it’s efficient.

We use this kind of grouping every day, when we create outlines of tasks to do project order and inventories. On our computer with hundreds of thousands of files, we’d be very inefficient if we didn’t use the File Explorer that groups our files by drives, then folders, then subfolders etc.

Look at this verse that speaks to us about location, efficiency – grouping. Jesus is getting ready to feed the multitude that had gathered around Him to hear His words of truth, hope, and purpose.

And he(Jesus) commanded them(disciples) to make all(the multitude) sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. Mark 6:39, 40.

This action shows the order and efficiency in handling a large task by grouping or dividing the task. It might be better described as grouping within groups, that’s the companies, 100’s and 50’s. What is before you, whether task or resources, always produces better results when we apply apply this grouping technique as reinforced by other scripture. One might be: Let all things be done decently and in order. 1Corinthians 14:40.

Grouping in fatal results.

Lets take a look in Joshua 7:16-18 at a use of this style of grouping that resulted in several deaths.In clear disobedience, Achan stole and hid some of the spoils of a war. God showed Joshua how to find the culprit from so many, very easily.

So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken: And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

Joshua was able to zero in on the sin in the camp that had already caused many deaths to Israel. And it wasn’t over, as you read the remainder of the chapter.

Do you find it interesting that God uses computing principles in scripture to remind us of His provision and also His hatred of sin in His sheepfold?

POWER PRINCIPLE in this reference

Be wise in grouping our actions and possessions. His Word gives directives for the process. It can be honoring to God and even save lives.

And with a little creativity and a couple old computers with free typing programs installed, and most of all – the scriptures, you could have a little workshop ending with an invitation.

Don’t forget about the leftover souls.

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