Exploring “God” in the Bible: Part 1

 

Exploring the Bible is designed to be a team activity, like a sport. We live in a highly individualized “it’s all about me culture,” where sports are one of few human activities that publicly demonstrate the power of human cooperation in real life. Before you can explore “God” in the Bible, you must become aware of the belief models linked to the word “God” that your elephant is now using to analyze my words. And, before you can do that – you must learn how to ride an elephant! Continue readings at -

http://mailchi.mp/b2c16e0edfcb/exploring-god-in-the-bible-part-1

What Are We?

 

According to science, humans are creatures created by a DNA code. The kind of life people live is dependent on the experiences they have with other people in the world – beginning with their parents. This is something that both science and the Wisdom of Genesis completely agree on. The Wisdom of Genesis lays the information foundation upon that plays a major in what we are. Continue reading at –

http://mailchi.mp/73302d6f0508/what-are-we

How to Make a “TOV List”

People often ask me what TOV means. I give them a one sentence answer. Why do I do this? I do it because that is what is expected because we have been taught “to find THE answer.” They do not want me to give them two or more answers or a list – they want “THE” answer! People living before the 16^th century CE, did not expect “THE” answer, they were “list thinkers.” Today, you are going to learn how to “list think.” Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/a954d41c784c/how-to-make-a-tov-list

 

The Power of Ancient “List Thinking” to Transform Lives

 

I have been writing about life in ancient cultures that had many gods. Creation stories reveal things people in a culture will focus on and value. I will begin this email by reviewing two of those stories -- and then begin a series on examining the creation story in the Bible. Creation stories create belief models that are used to generate the realities of individuals and civilizations. Continue reading at -

http://mailchi.mp/47fc76d2860e/the-power-of-ancient-list-thinking-to-transform-lives

Two Scrolls and a Very Interesting Situation

 

The Babylonians left a wide path of destruction in Judah as they leveled and ransacked villages and towns, including Jerusalem. Against all odds, the captives taken to Babylon from Jerusalem, seem to have not only endured, but prospered. A century later, Ezra the scribe carried two scrolls to Jerusalem – The Torah and The Law of King Artaxerxes I. Continue reading at –

http://mailchi.mp/01460bce5b0e/two-scrolls-and-a-very-interesting-situation

The Persians, the Temple and the Torah

 

When the Persians invaded Babylon, they brought a new language, new gods, new stories, and new values with them. For over 200 years they ruled lands written about in the Bible. The Babylonians welcomed them. They codified the laws of Egypt and Judah. Unknowingly, as we will learn later, what they did will affect the teachings of Jesus and the Declaration of Independence! Continue reading at -

http://mailchi.mp/3aab2c1825b8/the-persians-the-temple-and-the-torah

Why Most People Cannot Understand Bible Stories

 

Everyone in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, lived in polytheistic societies. People had to know which gods and goddesses were responsible for things related to life. Gods and goddesses were not responsible for only one area, their responsibilities overlapped. A good example of the complexity of life in a polytheistic world is Ishtar – the goddess of love and war; a perpetual virgin and a prostitute. Try to wrap your 21^st century belief models around those words! Continue reading at –

http://mailchi.mp/e58da4d38127/why-most-people-cannot-understand-bible-stories