Incorporate the Amazing Power of the Creator’s TOV Standard in Your Life!

The Bible contains a lot of very valuable wisdom principles. At the top of list of biblical books with the most important wisdom principles is the book of Genesis. And of all the stories in Genesis, the most valued wisdom of all is found in the first story.

An unnamed god created Heaven and Earth.

The first wisdom lesson in this story is this:

If your “creator” has a name it may or may not be this god.

Measure your god by this Creator’s standard.

What is the Creator’s standard? It is the TOV Standard. In the first story in the Bible (Genesis 1:1-2:4a), human life is the highest value and the primary purpose behind everything the Creator said, created, made or did. Continue reading at --

https://mailchi.mp/d5c73578a58a/incorporate-the-amazing-power-of-the-creators-tov-standard-in-your-life

Eve: Attacked by a Snake, not a Devil, and Destroyed by Theologians

What do most Christians think of when they hear the name “Eve”? “. . . she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband . . .” That’s it! One reason is because of what Tertullian wrote about her and you if you are a woman – “you are (each) an Eve . . . you are the devil’s gateway . . . you destroyed God’s image. Continue reading at -

https://mailchi.mp/daccca205f01/eve-attacked-by-a-snake-not-a-devil-and-destroyed-by-theologians

Some Things You Probably Don’t Know About Adam But Should

In the last email, we left the newly created man (I will now call him “Adam”) standing in a garden in Eden alone – the garden of the god Yahweh. Adam is surrounded by trees that produce beautiful and appealing fruit. But, even though its fruit is beautiful too, Yahweh commanded Adam to not eat from one tree. The penalty for eating the forbidden fruit is death! Continue reading at --

https://mailchi.mp/2c2b155ceb60/some-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-adam-but-should

Treasures Most Bible Readers Cannot See

The Bible opens with two polar opposite stories about the creation of humans – but I could not see that for a very long time. I had been taught to read my Bible from an “authority first” perspective. “Authority first” is a very “religious” way of reading the Bible and in my religion it meant – submit, comply, obey and don’t question authority! For us, God was the highest authority of all and the leaders of our religion were God’s authorized agents, therefore “good Christians” were supposed to submit, comply, obey and not question God’s authorized agents either!!! Continue reading at --

https://mailchi.mp/e72e41a9bbe2/treasures-most-bible-readers-cannot-see

Why American Democracy Does Not Work for Citizens Today.

Educating people about Belief Systems is an important part of the TOV Center’s mission. Why?

Beliefs drive behaviors.

When beliefs change behaviors change.

If you were born before 1980 you know the way people behave in America has changed dramatically in your lifetime. However, very few people consider the changes in belief systems that produced those behavioral changes. Continue reading at --

https://mailchi.mp/d0f5379abcc0/why-american-democracy-does-not-work-for-citizens-today

Building a God Talk Vocabulary.

“God” is the “big elephant in the room” in many conversations and relationships. Everyone knows the elephant is there but no one talks about it – even though it is often a key factor in disagreements over some very important things. In order to have those conversations people need a “God Talk Vocabulary!”

https://mailchi.mp/d0d195350eed/building-a-god-talk-vocabulary

The Mystery of the Third Blessing

The first account in Genesis begins and ends with mysteries. The first mystery is that before the beginning, the unidentified god (the Creator), darkness and deep waters existed. The account ends with the second mystery -- Creator’s blessing of the Seventh Day. in the eyes of ancient readers the Seventh Day would have be seen as the most important of the seven days. Continue reading at -

https://mailchi.mp/551e162300c7/the-mystery-of-the-third-blessing