Why We Focus on People First!

 

Even though your DNA is exactly the same as someone who lived over 5,000 years ago, you are not identical people. The same genomic recipe book created his body and your body. Even though a caveman with identical DNA might look a bit like you, DNA is an essential part of the story of your life, but it is only a small part of who you are! Continue reading at -- http://mailchi.mp/aa921e0515e5/why-we-focus-on-people-first

Gods and Humans Before Religions!

Accurately understanding the Jewish Scriptures and the teachings of the Jewish Jesus requires an awareness of the human realities which existed in the ancient near eastern world. This makes it possible for us to compare our beliefs about God to those who were the original authors of the books of the Bible and their audiences. It removes the barrier that has kept many people from seeing the words of the Bible through their eyes! Continue reading at -

http://mailchi.mp/22e43f0246a2/gods-and-humans-before-religions

Kingdom of God, Protestantism, Capitalism, and American Democracy?

 

My emails contain information that are like pieces of a puzzle. Today, I am going to put some of those pieces together that focus on two ways of thinking about “legal sayings” in the Bible. Different ways of thinking result in two different belief models for The Kingdom of God – and very important conflict that create new belief models about God, money, and government. Continue reading at -

http://mailchi.mp/04e4a786a742/kingdom-of-god-protestantism-capitalism-and-american-democracy

A Lesson on Belief Models from Our Great Granddaughter!

 

The other day, my wife Susan and I had a very special visitor. Our granddaughter needed someone to watch her daughter – our great granddaughter. Spending a few hours with a 13-month-old was fun, and educational. Two people reading or hearing the same word may have two very different belief models and two different realities! Continue reading at --

http://mailchi.mp/a3e060bb47e9/a-lesson-on-belief-models-from-our-great-granddaughter

The Importance of the Lists of the Jewish Jesus

 

In the ancient world lists served a purpose -- like dictionaries -- today. When hearers or readers of ancient documents want to know what important words meant – they looked for lists linked to them. For many years we have stressed the importance of identifying the Hebrew words Jesus spoke. Today there is a way for people who do not have the skill to work with Hebrew to increase the accuracy of their understanding of his words. Continue reading at –

http://mailchi.mp/ef16cb45cda0/the-importance-of-the-lists-of-the-jewish-jesus

Rediscovering How to Think the Wisdom Way

 

If we had been taught “the way of thinking” the author of the “Ten Commandments” intended for them to be thought about, we would call them “The Ten Legal Sayings. Members of the ancient audiences that heard Exodus 20 did not view them the way we view them. Jesus did think our way, either. The way we were taught to think was created after America was discovered. Thinking the Old Way has many benefits, beside accurately understanding the words of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. Continue reading at –

http://mailchi.mp/0a640a537e35/rediscovering-how-to-think-the-wisdom-way

What If Adam Had been Created from Eve’s Rib?

 

What if Adam had been created to be Eve’s helper or God had told Adam that Eve shall rule over him? Meanings of small words in Bible stories have affected billions of lives. Whose rib is involved in this story has made a very big difference over the past 1,700 years – and it is still impacting billions of lives today! Continue reading at -

http://mailchi.mp/8839c76e7f1a/what-if-adam-had-been-created-from-eves-rib