Bible Road Map - Or the Road Less Traveled
Has using the bible as a guide, ethics, common decency and plain old fashioned horse sense all become relics in America. Let’s just say, it is not looking good.
In the last few years we have witnessed a woman who drowned her children just to keep her rich boyfriend. An ice skating competitor who had the legs of her top rival broken so she could win. We have seen a mother hire a hit man to eliminate her daughter’s competition in baton twirling championships. Another man destroyed his pregnant wife to be able to play the field, and live the life of a playboy.
Perhaps the most unbelievable of all was a woman who killed a pregnant woman then cut her open and stole her unborn baby. I take exception with those who take exception with me for saying, that we have a nation of potential criminals and crackpots in our own children.
We have created this dangerous potential by giving our children anything and everything they want or call for. When they enter the real world, the work a day world where they must fend for themselves suddenly the silver platter is withdrawn and the reality is too much to handle for some. We have forgotten the days of our austerity when as pioneers, plainsmen, and immigrants we were thankful to have our most basic needs met. We have elevated our wants and desires to the level of the sacred.
We imitate and borrow from the language of the greedy with our preoccupation with the prosperity gospel of today’s preachers. You will be just as likely to find today’s churches teaching us how to invest our money as how to get saved. Being born again is mocked and set aside in favor of instruction in the stock market, retirement funds and get rich schemes. Add to this, that modern psychology, sociology and other behavioral and environmental scientists have repeatedly warned us that poverty leads to crime and social upheaval of every kind. You can only imagine what America would look like if virtually every extra and almost all essentials were at a premium, if they could be found at all. It does not paint a very good picture.
The ancient city of Sodom was rebuked by the prophet Ezekiel. Everyone knows the sins of ancient Sodom but in Ezekiel’s rebuke, the root cause for Sodom’s sin is revealed. In Ezekiel’s rebuke there is a warning for us to recognize the same cause festering in our land today. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Eze.16:49
Ezekiel’s rebuke comes to my mind every time I hear some one refuse to give a few dollars to a children’s organization because they think the child won’t get all the money. But no one seems to even notice, much less demand a tax refund when a four hundred million dollar Jupiter probes go haywire and becomes useless. Movies are made that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to produce, whose messages and images would he better left in a garbage can. Tax money is spent on everything from the study of the flow of ketchup to the nocturnal habits of lesbians. Concupiscence and waste are rampant in every level of society and government, while personal responsibility and prudent stewardship has become an ethical relic of sorts. Where does it end?
I have no doubt that the chastisements of America will be the sudden and complete removal of nearly all essential goods and personal wealth. Something on the order of the dust bowl and the stock market crash combined, but multiplied many times over will soon befall this country. How this will come about is not certain but that is not my concern at this moment. I would prefer to see millions of Americans coming to their senses and turning back to God in humility and thereby avoiding this great portent, but I am sure that this is not what they are going to do.
A few years ago I was singing and playing guitar in some folk music venues. I produced three albums of Irish, folk, bluegrass and gospel songs before I published a compilation of my original songs. Among them is one I named An American Lament, I tried to present it as a Christian song but in the most subdued fashion. I wanted a message without the mush. I think I was able to accomplish that and that is why I present it here to appendage this section.
Many tall mountains, many long valleys
Many the white plains, that stretch out so far
All deep flowing rivers, rise cresting to meet me
Two shimmering oceans, with soft sandy shore
Darkly thick are the woodlands, the tall trees are bending
From beyond the soft west wind, drives the waves to the shore
Free flies the eagle, free rolling in blue skies
On high still the master, of all he surveys
Her people have proud eyes, all resting so carefree
They've left their strong towers, passing on to and fro
All beauty before them, great mountains and rivers
Yet groping like blind men, who can't find the door
Bard, prophet and poet, sing haply their bright songs
But the heart that is searching, can see somethings wrong
To pierce through the dark cloud, the heart always wonders
But to grow into greatness, the hearts made to cry
But this land is not my land, this home its not my home
For I've never yet been there, not now or before
Rev Bresciani is the author of two popular Christian books, one on the second coming of Christ. He has hundreds of articles published both online and in print.
Visit the website at www.americanprophet.org
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
An Online Bible Resource and Daily Devotional for the Christian Community
An Online Bible Resource and Daily Devotional for the Christian Community
We offer this online bible resource for the edification of the whole person in Christ. We are to know God and not just know about God. This is a profound and counterintuitive quest that requires the miraculous power of God at work in us to achieve the end in mind.
This website is an online bible dialogue of spiritual things, for those who want to experience God intimately and intelligently, based on the message from Scripture that is - above all things - God’s personal objective communication to us from outside of time and space.
It is our particular interest to invite those who are seeking a deeper experience from God, who is the personification of Truth itself, to take a spiritual journey with us through a thought provoking dialogue about the concepts in Scripture that are hard to both teach and to grasp.
We rely on this key thought from the New Covenant promise: That God Himself is our Teacher by virtue of His inner presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Wow...there’s a few concepts from the Bible that we can start chewing on right away!
Perhaps we can grow together into a faith-based community of believers who cannot get enough of the Truth and who desire to be transformed by God’s love! We’ll see. But first we need to begin by reading and thinking together. What has God spoken and how can we know it? How can we take these objective truths and experience God Himself in accordance with the terms He has laid out for us?
We join together in our progressive quest of lifelong learning, as an online bible community of faith, searching out the mind of Christ in developing the inner life.
We are the Body of Christ... meeting online... Spirit led... Bible based... spiritually alive in Christ... raised from the dead... forever!
We offer this online bible resource for the edification of the whole person in Christ. We are to know God and not just know about God. This is a profound and counterintuitive quest that requires the miraculous power of God at work in us to achieve the end in mind.
This website is an online bible dialogue of spiritual things, for those who want to experience God intimately and intelligently, based on the message from Scripture that is - above all things - God’s personal objective communication to us from outside of time and space.
It is our particular interest to invite those who are seeking a deeper experience from God, who is the personification of Truth itself, to take a spiritual journey with us through a thought provoking dialogue about the concepts in Scripture that are hard to both teach and to grasp.
We rely on this key thought from the New Covenant promise: That God Himself is our Teacher by virtue of His inner presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Wow...there’s a few concepts from the Bible that we can start chewing on right away!
Perhaps we can grow together into a faith-based community of believers who cannot get enough of the Truth and who desire to be transformed by God’s love! We’ll see. But first we need to begin by reading and thinking together. What has God spoken and how can we know it? How can we take these objective truths and experience God Himself in accordance with the terms He has laid out for us?
We join together in our progressive quest of lifelong learning, as an online bible community of faith, searching out the mind of Christ in developing the inner life.
We are the Body of Christ... meeting online... Spirit led... Bible based... spiritually alive in Christ... raised from the dead... forever!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Pass It On – A Rule For Good Bible Interpretation
Pass It On – A Rule For Good Bible InterpretationWith dozens of bible translations available today and a myriad of voices preaching and teaching from theses bibles how do we know which is trustworthy? It is simpler than you think.
During the dark ages the scriptures were chained to pedestals in the major cathedrals of the world. The common people could not read the bible and even the clergy were limited to reading it only where it stood. Those days have been eliminated by the courageous efforts of clergy and reformers like Luther, Calvin, Tyndale and a host of others who in some cases gave their lives in the effort. We now enjoy the fruit of their labors throughout most of the free world. Not only are all the versions of the bible available here in America but one publisher has begun offering the bible bound and covered in your choice of designer colors!
Yet for all of this profusion of bibles one of the flimsiest excuses for not reading or trusting the bible is still being used everywhere throughout the land. Who has not heard someone say, “The bible is open to interpretation and that’s why it can’t be trusted”?
If honestly examined, this excuse will be found to be just another one of those “common wisdom of the day” utterances that has no more truth in it than water in the desert. It is grown out of ignorance, watered by indifference and harvested in laziness. It is used glibly but has dire consequences; in fact it could cost a person their entire future.
The first rule of interpretation says that no one has the right to interpret the scripture in a merely personal or private way. …Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. I Peter 1:20 If the bible is not open to private interpretation then it must only be open to public interpretation. That is the key. The universal bible believing church the world over has an interpretation that qualifies this fact, the minor doctrinal differences and the trend toward liberalism notwithstanding. Whether Pentecostal, Evangelical, Baptist, Methodist or any other major historical denomination the bible is interpreted the same. Jesus death and resurrection is the key to salvation and his teachings are the key to our best behavior. When people stray very far from this kind of interpretation of the bible they are bordering on heresy, cultism or something worse.
Another great rule of sound biblical interpretation is to let the bible interpret itself. Let the whole bible reflect on any part of it in particular. You will rarely ever go wrong by applying this rule. This of course implies that you would have to study the whole bible. That alone would just about eliminate any problem with bible interpretation you will ever encounter.
An old preacher from Vermont once told me of a basic rule of interpretation he had learned while attending Bible College. I have never forgotten it and I’ve never failed to use it. He said, “If the scripture makes plain sense, seek no other sense”. Being complicated is not a prerequisite to being a bible student so don’t bury your self in hidden meanings and obscurities, just get on with what is known and apparent.
Finally take a lesson from the smallest child. Ask them what Jesus meant when he said we should love each other, or that we should forgive others. They know what these things mean even when those who hide behind the idea that the bible is riddled with too many interpretations don’t. Some passages are simple but that does not mean they aren’t profound. Other passages are more complex but can be clearly understood by the simplest approach, much like that of a child. The child like approach to scriptural interpretation is the shortest route to understanding; in fact it is also the shortest route to salvation itself. Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10:15
We must cease to view the bible as some deep manual of religion only to be known by the initiated or specially trained. Someone once said that the bible and more so, the New Testament is a letter from God the Father to his children. Who would think a letter from your father was meant to create confusion. It would speak of his love, his intentions, his ongoing plans and his final return home. It would give instructions and details on what to do until he returns. No one would throw a letter from their father in a corner and say I don’t understand any of that so I’ll just do what I want to until he returns home and take it up with him then.
The words of the bible never create confusion. In fact it is the dismissing of these words that creates confusion. If we hide behind the worn out clich about “it is all open to interpretation” we will find ourselves with no where to hide in the final day. Jesus said the very opposite about his words, He said they would illuminate our lives and bring peace to us, not confusion. In fact they would produce life itself within us…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:33
Monday, December 28, 2009
Miracles: What The Bible Has To Say About Them
Miracles: What The Bible Has To Say About Them
It was a miracle! How many times have you heard someone say that? Probably hundreds of times. But they don't really mean that it was a miracle – what they really mean is that the event they witnessed was amazing, improbable, or inexplicable.
But are there real miracles? Have there been times that the natural laws of the universe, such as gravity, or even death, have been stopped, changed, or reversed? To find the answer to this question, we must turn to the Bible.
Fact #1: Jesus performed many miracles
In the four gospels, we find many instances were Jesus performed miracles, such as “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.” (Matthew 12:22) Perhaps one of the most famous of Jesus' miracles was the raising of Lazarus from the dead, which we read about in John 11: “Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days...Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out.”
Fact #2: Jesus performed these miracles to prove that he was God
In the book of Acts, Peter says that “Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”
Fact #3: Jesus gave authority to his disciples to perform miracles
In Matthew 10:1, we're told that Jesus “called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Fact #4: God has given authority to his servants at various times to perform miracles
The Bible has many stories of miracles performed by God's servants – Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and others. The question is – does God still empower his followers to work miracles in his name? That is a tough question. The answer is beyond the scope of this article, but I hope that you will think and study the Bible to find the answer!
It was a miracle! How many times have you heard someone say that? Probably hundreds of times. But they don't really mean that it was a miracle – what they really mean is that the event they witnessed was amazing, improbable, or inexplicable.
But are there real miracles? Have there been times that the natural laws of the universe, such as gravity, or even death, have been stopped, changed, or reversed? To find the answer to this question, we must turn to the Bible.
Fact #1: Jesus performed many miracles
In the four gospels, we find many instances were Jesus performed miracles, such as “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.” (Matthew 12:22) Perhaps one of the most famous of Jesus' miracles was the raising of Lazarus from the dead, which we read about in John 11: “Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days...Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out.”
Fact #2: Jesus performed these miracles to prove that he was God
In the book of Acts, Peter says that “Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”
Fact #3: Jesus gave authority to his disciples to perform miracles
In Matthew 10:1, we're told that Jesus “called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Fact #4: God has given authority to his servants at various times to perform miracles
The Bible has many stories of miracles performed by God's servants – Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and others. The question is – does God still empower his followers to work miracles in his name? That is a tough question. The answer is beyond the scope of this article, but I hope that you will think and study the Bible to find the answer!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Everyone Needs Some Bible Software
Everyone Needs Some Bible SoftwareIf you are serious about studying the Bible and about learning more about Scripture, then there is no doubt in my mind that you need to invest into some Bible software. Why? Because Bible software is the newest and best way to learn all there is to know about a variety of things surrounding the Bible.
Just like any other work of literature, the Bible is hard to understand just by reading it if you do not have the appropriate knowledge of the background and the culture in which it was written. You will never get the fullness out of the Bible if you just read it devotionally and never dig in for the deeper meanings. Bible software is the perfect thing to supplement personal Bible reading in order to get the most out of study.
If you're looking for great Bible software, then it is important to first have an idea of your goals and purposes for getting the software. There is a wide variety of software available, so be sure that you know your goals and that you find Bible software that will accomplish what you want out of your study. For example, wanting to understand the book of Psalms is a little different than wanting to become fluent in Ancient Greek.
Another important way to learn about Bible software is to borrow software from family, friends, pastors or teachers that might have Bible software that interests you. It is always a good idea to try software programs before you buy them. So gather as many kinds as you can and spend a little time getting familiar. You might simply find that one Bible software program suits you and your needs the best.
Look for Bible software in a variety of locations. Check out a local Christian bookstore or any bookstore in your area to get some ideas of your options and of the price ranges. Or look online and see what is available that way. It is possible to get great deals on Bible software, you just need to know where to look. So take your time, do some research, and then look for package deals or ways to make buying Bible software more reasonable. There is no doubt that purchasing Bible software is valuable, but you still need to be wise with your purchases.
I have been using and enjoying Bible software for the past few years and I strongly suggest it to anyone that is serious about learning more about Scripture.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Unlocking the Bible Codes
Unlocking the Bible Codes
Did you read the DaVinci Code or maybe see the movie? Did it get you interested in history and secret codes? You do not have to travel to Europe to see the true secrets from history; technology now lets us unlock the oldest secret code in the world, the bible code. For centuries there have been rumors about the secret codes of the bible. Now with the power of your home computer you can unlock the bible codes and see the truth for your self. Whether you are a true believer or a doubtful skeptic, evidence can be found with your own research on the secret codes of the bible.
Bible codes, sometimes referred to as Torah codes, have been part of the Jewish tradition and mystery for over 2000 years. In Hebrew (the language of the original bible) the bible codes are called Gematria which is a translation from ancient Greek which when translated in to English is numerology. Around the time that the Old Testament was written the Greeks were the world leaders in math, so it would be natural that they would influence the composers of the original bible codes. It is information like this that can be found in the software responsible for unlocking the bible codes.
The bible codes can also be seen in other forms of the bible not just the original Hebrew. The King James Version has hidden bible codes and mysteries just waiting to be unlocked. The Greek version of the bible was the first ever translation of the bible and it too has many secrets waiting for you.
Using your home computer you can unlock the bible codes and explore history on your own. There are plenty of wonderful programs and DVDs which reveal the secrets of the bibles codes, and let you explore the magical Holy Land from home. One program called Holy Land Journey takes you on an interactive tour of the Holy Land and matches up bible stories with pictures. There are several bible decoders which are made to work in your native language and help you to start unlocking the secrets of the bible in a simple way so that you can understand.
Start your research now on the Bible codes.
Did you read the DaVinci Code or maybe see the movie? Did it get you interested in history and secret codes? You do not have to travel to Europe to see the true secrets from history; technology now lets us unlock the oldest secret code in the world, the bible code. For centuries there have been rumors about the secret codes of the bible. Now with the power of your home computer you can unlock the bible codes and see the truth for your self. Whether you are a true believer or a doubtful skeptic, evidence can be found with your own research on the secret codes of the bible.
Bible codes, sometimes referred to as Torah codes, have been part of the Jewish tradition and mystery for over 2000 years. In Hebrew (the language of the original bible) the bible codes are called Gematria which is a translation from ancient Greek which when translated in to English is numerology. Around the time that the Old Testament was written the Greeks were the world leaders in math, so it would be natural that they would influence the composers of the original bible codes. It is information like this that can be found in the software responsible for unlocking the bible codes.
The bible codes can also be seen in other forms of the bible not just the original Hebrew. The King James Version has hidden bible codes and mysteries just waiting to be unlocked. The Greek version of the bible was the first ever translation of the bible and it too has many secrets waiting for you.
Using your home computer you can unlock the bible codes and explore history on your own. There are plenty of wonderful programs and DVDs which reveal the secrets of the bibles codes, and let you explore the magical Holy Land from home. One program called Holy Land Journey takes you on an interactive tour of the Holy Land and matches up bible stories with pictures. There are several bible decoders which are made to work in your native language and help you to start unlocking the secrets of the bible in a simple way so that you can understand.
Start your research now on the Bible codes.
Friday, December 25, 2009
The Bible - The Source Of All Copywriting Secrets
The Bible - The Source Of All Copywriting Secrets
I've been a student of the Bible for practically all my life. There is a lot of reason why this book remains the number one best-seller year after year. I think that it is the source of ALL wisdom, yes, including successful copywriting!
What do I mean by this?
Simply put, every copywriting strategy can be found FIRST in the Bible. This may appear to be a strong statement but I challenge the reader to prove otherwise. As I did the research for my latest ebook "77 Ways to Skyrocket Your Website's Conversion", I kept saying to myself "but that's in the Bible … that's in the Bible."
I would like to take a look at FIVE copywriting principles and show you that they are as old as the Scriptures. This article is not meant to 'convert' you so read with an open mind ... ready? Let's go!
1. Stress benefits not features.
It's the Garden of Eden. The serpent approaches the woman Eve to get her to take of the forbidden fruit. Does he rave about the color, taste and texture of the fruit? No, he sells Eve on benefits. "Your eyes will be opened, you will be like God ..." (Genesis 3:4). Now that's a benefit, not a feature at all. And did Eve fall for it? She surely did.
That may seem like a 'negative' example - a plain deception. But look at what the book of Revelation promises the "overcomer". Eternal life, health, recognition, wealth and mansions without mortgages.
2. Use lots of testimonials.
If you have just a cursory knowledge of the Bible you know that the gospels of Matthew, Mark Luke and John make up the first four books of the New Testament. They all cover the same ground and share many common stories. So why would we need four different people saying practically the same thing?
You see they all wanted to tell THEIR story about the Rabbi Jesus Christ. So the writers (all satisfied customers) relate the life-changing encounter they each had - the more testimonies the better.
The entire Bible relates stories of peoples encounter with the supernatural and how it affected their lives. In fact, Jesus related to the disciples after His miraculous resurrection that all the Old Testament was really about Him.
3. "Create a damaging admission and address flaws openly"
That's the title to chapter 3 of the master copywriter Dan Kennedy's book "The Ultimate Sales Letter". He goes on to explain that if you openly admit the drawbacks of your offer then your credibility goes up instantly with the customer. For example, your price may be higher than your competitors so you may say: "If you are looking to save a few bucks then you can find many other companies who will be willing to give you some 'quick fixes'. But we provide a very thorough and expert service, hence the higher price"
You are admitting that you are expensive but showing why - the customer gets a superior service.
In the gospels we see many potential disciples who wanted to follow Jesus and he told them openly that it was a sacrificial walk. He told them in no uncertain terms that it involved a "cross", leaving father and mother behind, even possible death - but you will gain eternal life in the process. Talk about a "damaging admission.
4. Place a limit on your offer to motivate procrastinators.
This is a very important element of the "call to action" section of any sales letter. Humans are naturally procrastinators. We always put off what should be done now for a 'later' that never arrives. That is why the copywriter must show that supplies are limited or the special offer is for a 'limited time only'.
In many 'call to action' sections of the Bible we see the same warning to procrastinators. "Today if you hear my voice do not harden your heart .." (Hebrews 3:7). In the story of the great flood procrastinators were found outside the ark. Jesus told the story of the covetous farmer who built bigger barns to store his grains not knowing that death would come knocking on his door that very night.
Jesus never sent one of his listeners to go away and think about it. Today ... now, was the only time that anyone had. His message was "ACT NOW!"
5. Research your potential customers to know their problems and needs.
Dan Kennedy refers to this as "getting into the customer". Getting into the head and experiences of the customer -walk in his moccasins.
The whole Christmas story is about Jesus getting into the skin - literally - of the customer. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus is touched by our feelings and infirmities. He became like one of us so that He may understand "the customer" better. That is why he could speak to the needs of the human heart with such authority because he knows what is in man.
I've just briefly looked at 5 copywriting principles but this applies across the board. Whether you accept the Bible as just another book or as inspired writings, there is no denying that the principles are there.
I would love to hear from the reader if he or she would like to challenge me on finding a useful copywriting principle that's not in the Bible.
What do I mean by this?
Simply put, every copywriting strategy can be found FIRST in the Bible. This may appear to be a strong statement but I challenge the reader to prove otherwise. As I did the research for my latest ebook "77 Ways to Skyrocket Your Website's Conversion", I kept saying to myself "but that's in the Bible … that's in the Bible."
I would like to take a look at FIVE copywriting principles and show you that they are as old as the Scriptures. This article is not meant to 'convert' you so read with an open mind ... ready? Let's go!
1. Stress benefits not features.
It's the Garden of Eden. The serpent approaches the woman Eve to get her to take of the forbidden fruit. Does he rave about the color, taste and texture of the fruit? No, he sells Eve on benefits. "Your eyes will be opened, you will be like God ..." (Genesis 3:4). Now that's a benefit, not a feature at all. And did Eve fall for it? She surely did.
That may seem like a 'negative' example - a plain deception. But look at what the book of Revelation promises the "overcomer". Eternal life, health, recognition, wealth and mansions without mortgages.
2. Use lots of testimonials.
If you have just a cursory knowledge of the Bible you know that the gospels of Matthew, Mark Luke and John make up the first four books of the New Testament. They all cover the same ground and share many common stories. So why would we need four different people saying practically the same thing?
You see they all wanted to tell THEIR story about the Rabbi Jesus Christ. So the writers (all satisfied customers) relate the life-changing encounter they each had - the more testimonies the better.
The entire Bible relates stories of peoples encounter with the supernatural and how it affected their lives. In fact, Jesus related to the disciples after His miraculous resurrection that all the Old Testament was really about Him.
3. "Create a damaging admission and address flaws openly"
That's the title to chapter 3 of the master copywriter Dan Kennedy's book "The Ultimate Sales Letter". He goes on to explain that if you openly admit the drawbacks of your offer then your credibility goes up instantly with the customer. For example, your price may be higher than your competitors so you may say: "If you are looking to save a few bucks then you can find many other companies who will be willing to give you some 'quick fixes'. But we provide a very thorough and expert service, hence the higher price"
You are admitting that you are expensive but showing why - the customer gets a superior service.
In the gospels we see many potential disciples who wanted to follow Jesus and he told them openly that it was a sacrificial walk. He told them in no uncertain terms that it involved a "cross", leaving father and mother behind, even possible death - but you will gain eternal life in the process. Talk about a "damaging admission.
4. Place a limit on your offer to motivate procrastinators.
This is a very important element of the "call to action" section of any sales letter. Humans are naturally procrastinators. We always put off what should be done now for a 'later' that never arrives. That is why the copywriter must show that supplies are limited or the special offer is for a 'limited time only'.
In many 'call to action' sections of the Bible we see the same warning to procrastinators. "Today if you hear my voice do not harden your heart .." (Hebrews 3:7). In the story of the great flood procrastinators were found outside the ark. Jesus told the story of the covetous farmer who built bigger barns to store his grains not knowing that death would come knocking on his door that very night.
Jesus never sent one of his listeners to go away and think about it. Today ... now, was the only time that anyone had. His message was "ACT NOW!"
5. Research your potential customers to know their problems and needs.
Dan Kennedy refers to this as "getting into the customer". Getting into the head and experiences of the customer -walk in his moccasins.
The whole Christmas story is about Jesus getting into the skin - literally - of the customer. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus is touched by our feelings and infirmities. He became like one of us so that He may understand "the customer" better. That is why he could speak to the needs of the human heart with such authority because he knows what is in man.
I've just briefly looked at 5 copywriting principles but this applies across the board. Whether you accept the Bible as just another book or as inspired writings, there is no denying that the principles are there.
I would love to hear from the reader if he or she would like to challenge me on finding a useful copywriting principle that's not in the Bible.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Status of Women in the Bible
Status of Women in the Bible
Women have been put in a subservient role within Christian Churches because of Male dominance, fear/prejudice, and a misunderstanding/misuse of the Bible.
How the Status of Women Changed in the Bible?
Why is it that the Bible seems so unfriendly to women? After all it would appear that most of the members and committee volunteers in a congregation are female. Yet holding office, being ordained, serving in any real capacity is pretty much forbidden. Some congregations even hold up the marital status of a woman (i.e., divorced or not) as to whether or not a woman can truly advance within the denomination’s hierarchy.
Other than male dominance, prejudiced tradition, and/or a misunderstanding of the scriptures, why is that? The short answer is: male dominance, prejudiced tradition, and a misuse of the Bible. This short article cannot discuss male dominance or prejudiced tradition. We’ll focus on the misuse of the scriptures.
To read and digest the Bible we must understand several things: the mind and situation of the writer; the mind and situation of the audience; and the message the writer was trying to communicate. Having understood that, we can begin to strip away the external “trappings” of the writer (e.g., those elements of the Old Testament texts that clearly belong in the late Bronze Age or of the New Testament texts that clearly belong to the culture of the early first century) and concentrate on the true underlying message.
In short, just like us, the writers of biblical scripture were people of their times and their cultures. It shows.
In the Old Testament the whole concept of eternal life – important in any religious system – was understood as the growth and survival of one’s clan or progeny. Similar to the early cultures of our Native Americans, it was the tribe or clan that was the integral unit of society – not the individual. Preservation of the tribe was paramount. This was most certainly the case in the Bronze and Iron Ages of the nomadic tribes/clans of the Fertile Crescent in the mid-East – known as the cradle of western civilization.
Cultural norms followed and supported that critical concept. Since men were the fighters and could impregnate more than one woman at a time, men were more expendable. For a man to have multiple wives was a sanctioned practice – provided he could financially take care of them. The use of a dowry in exchange for a daughter was an integral foundation of the nomadic economy. Underlying all of this was the preeminent notion of preserving the tribe or clan.
This religious/social/economic concept worked. It was successful for a long time – over 3,000 years (from 3,500 BCE to the rise of city-states under Alexander the Great’s rule about 350 BCE, when urban dwelling began the slow process of breaking this down). It was not unique to the Old Testament Israelites. It was true throughout the Mesopotamian Region: Sumerians, Akkadians, Philistines, Amorites, Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians, etc.
This patriarchal social structure is evident throughout the Old Testament and was, by our standards, very demeaning for women. Women were not much better than chattel property. Abraham had his wife Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar, after Sarah could not get pregnant. Once Sarah did get pregnant, Abraham banished Hagar and their son, Ishmael. Legend has it that mother and son are buried in Mecca and Ishmael is generally considered to be the patriarchal father of Islam. (cf. Genesis 21:8-21)
During the time of the New Testament, the role of women was denigrated during the first 100 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. We can only speculate about how and why that happened. The earliest writer in the New Testament was the Apostle Paul, who wrote between 45-55 CE. We have eight of his original letters: Galatians; I-II Thessalonians; I-II Corinthians; Philemon, Philippians; and Romans. In these letters Paul routinely praises local female parishioners in his epistles. For example, in Romans 16:1-15, he praises Phoebe, who holds office in the congregation of Cenchreae, as well as quite a few other women.
However, when he begins discussing specific congregational issues, he lets the cultural values of his Jewish upbringing show through (I Cor. 11:2-16). Yes, Paul admonishes his congregations to have women’s head covered or to remain subservient to men. Yet, even so, he concludes by saying, “If push comes to shove, however, we have none of these customs in a Christian congregation” (I Cor 11:16). Why the confusion? I can only speculate that in the early beginnings, when congregations were meeting informally in homes, the role of the women in making that happen and in spreading the word was much more significant and critical for success. Although Paul was aware of his Jewish customs and could recommend them, it was really no big deal to him.
As these congregations grew and became more organized, the male-dominated culture took sway and women began getting pushed out. Compare Paul’s letter to the Galatians (his earliest, c. 45) or his epistle to the Romans (his latest, c. 55/60) with passages like I Timothy 2:8-15, written (c.110/120) in Paul’s name but decades after his death. You can see the difference. The denigration of women is even more pronounced.
However, we have to keep in mind that all of Paul ‘s letters were written in his firm belief that the end of the world and the permanent coming of the kingdom of heaven was – literally – just around the corner. “What I mean, my friends, is this. The time we live in will not last long. While it lasts, married men should be as if they had no wives; mourners should be as if they had nothing to grieve them, the joyful as if they did not rejoice; buyers must not count on keeping what they buy, nor those who use the world’s wealth on using it to the full. For the whole frame of this world is passing away.” I Cor. 7: 29-31. Understanding this puts the onus on us to interpret all the cultural trappings of Paul’s writings within the context of being intended by him as very “short-term” advice.
By the time of the beginning of the second century, there was a formal church organization in place. The organization consisted of various offices: Bishops (episcopoi) or overseers; elders (presbyteroi) or leaders; and deacons (diaconoi) or trusted servers of the Lord. Together these offices formed the backbone and structure of the embryonic Christian church. They were generally all male. The secondary role of women became more and more pronounced as time went by. Culturally, we can understand this. We can understand this when it’s reflected in scripture because we know that biblical writers reflected their times. But to ascribe this as God’s will is to misread the scripture by refusing to winnow away the cultural bias of the writer’s times.
We continue to maintain a second-class role for women in many of our congregations today. We refuse ordination for them as ministers or the priesthood. We maintain the subservient role they are to fill in the household. We do this by erroneously holding onto literal interpretations of the scripture when it suits us.
What can we conclude from this? Those today proclaiming the lower role for women in the church structure and citing biblical references to buttress their position are doing so more as an act of their machismo than as an exposition of biblical knowledge. Paul felt fully free to restate the accepted narrative of Israel’s history as he wrestled with deriving an answer to the question: “Who was Jesus and why did he die?” If Paul felt confident enough to reconstruct his scriptural heritage, we should have the courage to do the same. For us it simply means to strip the New Testament of the cultural trappings of the accepted male dominance and let Spirit, not sexual traditions, reign in our ecclesiastical organizations.
Women have been put in a subservient role within Christian Churches because of Male dominance, fear/prejudice, and a misunderstanding/misuse of the Bible.
Why is it that the Bible seems so unfriendly to women? After all it would appear that most of the members and committee volunteers in a congregation are female. Yet holding office, being ordained, serving in any real capacity is pretty much forbidden. Some congregations even hold up the marital status of a woman (i.e., divorced or not) as to whether or not a woman can truly advance within the denomination’s hierarchy.
Other than male dominance, prejudiced tradition, and/or a misunderstanding of the scriptures, why is that? The short answer is: male dominance, prejudiced tradition, and a misuse of the Bible. This short article cannot discuss male dominance or prejudiced tradition. We’ll focus on the misuse of the scriptures.
To read and digest the Bible we must understand several things: the mind and situation of the writer; the mind and situation of the audience; and the message the writer was trying to communicate. Having understood that, we can begin to strip away the external “trappings” of the writer (e.g., those elements of the Old Testament texts that clearly belong in the late Bronze Age or of the New Testament texts that clearly belong to the culture of the early first century) and concentrate on the true underlying message.
In short, just like us, the writers of biblical scripture were people of their times and their cultures. It shows.
In the Old Testament the whole concept of eternal life – important in any religious system – was understood as the growth and survival of one’s clan or progeny. Similar to the early cultures of our Native Americans, it was the tribe or clan that was the integral unit of society – not the individual. Preservation of the tribe was paramount. This was most certainly the case in the Bronze and Iron Ages of the nomadic tribes/clans of the Fertile Crescent in the mid-East – known as the cradle of western civilization.
Cultural norms followed and supported that critical concept. Since men were the fighters and could impregnate more than one woman at a time, men were more expendable. For a man to have multiple wives was a sanctioned practice – provided he could financially take care of them. The use of a dowry in exchange for a daughter was an integral foundation of the nomadic economy. Underlying all of this was the preeminent notion of preserving the tribe or clan.
This religious/social/economic concept worked. It was successful for a long time – over 3,000 years (from 3,500 BCE to the rise of city-states under Alexander the Great’s rule about 350 BCE, when urban dwelling began the slow process of breaking this down). It was not unique to the Old Testament Israelites. It was true throughout the Mesopotamian Region: Sumerians, Akkadians, Philistines, Amorites, Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians, etc.
This patriarchal social structure is evident throughout the Old Testament and was, by our standards, very demeaning for women. Women were not much better than chattel property. Abraham had his wife Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar, after Sarah could not get pregnant. Once Sarah did get pregnant, Abraham banished Hagar and their son, Ishmael. Legend has it that mother and son are buried in Mecca and Ishmael is generally considered to be the patriarchal father of Islam. (cf. Genesis 21:8-21)
During the time of the New Testament, the role of women was denigrated during the first 100 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. We can only speculate about how and why that happened. The earliest writer in the New Testament was the Apostle Paul, who wrote between 45-55 CE. We have eight of his original letters: Galatians; I-II Thessalonians; I-II Corinthians; Philemon, Philippians; and Romans. In these letters Paul routinely praises local female parishioners in his epistles. For example, in Romans 16:1-15, he praises Phoebe, who holds office in the congregation of Cenchreae, as well as quite a few other women.
However, when he begins discussing specific congregational issues, he lets the cultural values of his Jewish upbringing show through (I Cor. 11:2-16). Yes, Paul admonishes his congregations to have women’s head covered or to remain subservient to men. Yet, even so, he concludes by saying, “If push comes to shove, however, we have none of these customs in a Christian congregation” (I Cor 11:16). Why the confusion? I can only speculate that in the early beginnings, when congregations were meeting informally in homes, the role of the women in making that happen and in spreading the word was much more significant and critical for success. Although Paul was aware of his Jewish customs and could recommend them, it was really no big deal to him.
As these congregations grew and became more organized, the male-dominated culture took sway and women began getting pushed out. Compare Paul’s letter to the Galatians (his earliest, c. 45) or his epistle to the Romans (his latest, c. 55/60) with passages like I Timothy 2:8-15, written (c.110/120) in Paul’s name but decades after his death. You can see the difference. The denigration of women is even more pronounced.
However, we have to keep in mind that all of Paul ‘s letters were written in his firm belief that the end of the world and the permanent coming of the kingdom of heaven was – literally – just around the corner. “What I mean, my friends, is this. The time we live in will not last long. While it lasts, married men should be as if they had no wives; mourners should be as if they had nothing to grieve them, the joyful as if they did not rejoice; buyers must not count on keeping what they buy, nor those who use the world’s wealth on using it to the full. For the whole frame of this world is passing away.” I Cor. 7: 29-31. Understanding this puts the onus on us to interpret all the cultural trappings of Paul’s writings within the context of being intended by him as very “short-term” advice.
By the time of the beginning of the second century, there was a formal church organization in place. The organization consisted of various offices: Bishops (episcopoi) or overseers; elders (presbyteroi) or leaders; and deacons (diaconoi) or trusted servers of the Lord. Together these offices formed the backbone and structure of the embryonic Christian church. They were generally all male. The secondary role of women became more and more pronounced as time went by. Culturally, we can understand this. We can understand this when it’s reflected in scripture because we know that biblical writers reflected their times. But to ascribe this as God’s will is to misread the scripture by refusing to winnow away the cultural bias of the writer’s times.
We continue to maintain a second-class role for women in many of our congregations today. We refuse ordination for them as ministers or the priesthood. We maintain the subservient role they are to fill in the household. We do this by erroneously holding onto literal interpretations of the scripture when it suits us.
What can we conclude from this? Those today proclaiming the lower role for women in the church structure and citing biblical references to buttress their position are doing so more as an act of their machismo than as an exposition of biblical knowledge. Paul felt fully free to restate the accepted narrative of Israel’s history as he wrestled with deriving an answer to the question: “Who was Jesus and why did he die?” If Paul felt confident enough to reconstruct his scriptural heritage, we should have the courage to do the same. For us it simply means to strip the New Testament of the cultural trappings of the accepted male dominance and let Spirit, not sexual traditions, reign in our ecclesiastical organizations.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Is the Bible Reliable?
The Bible is a Book that is loved around the world. Its followers live in every country and in every climate. Those who read it regularly love its pages and often do not get enough of it. Many even devote their life to the study of it, going after many degrees. But is it a love well-placed, or is it an obvious blind-sidedeness? Is there some real proof that the Bible is reliable? Is it for the people of today?If one is honest, and will take the time to honestly learn the truth, the answer is that there is plenty of proof about the veracity of the Bible. While there are many books that deal with the subject (apologetics), most know very little about them. This article will deal with how you can know that the Bible is reliable.
Its Claim To Reliability
This is most important, simply because if the Bible claims to be true and it isn't, then it is not reliable. One of the many places that the Bible claims to be infallible is in Psalms 12:6,7, which says: "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever" (KJV). Here the Bible is spoken of as being as purified silver - having been refined seven times. In that day, a seven-fold purification process meant the silver had no dross, or error, in it. The next phrase shows how long it will be kept that pure - for ever.
After having studied the Bible for many years, and looking at it with open, and believing eyes, many find it to be just as was predicted - without error. Here are some ways that we can know the Bible is indeed the Word of God.
It Is Reliable In...
1. Its Theme
From cover to cover the Bible has but one theme - redemption. To have this degree of unification of thought, by 40 different men, who spanned over 1600 years of time, is most incredible. Redemption is always by faith, through blood.
2. Its Historical Records
For many years scoffers mocked the Bible because it mentioned a large and very powerful nation called the Hittites. They mocked because there was not one shred of evidence archeologically that they ever existed. But one day, archeology caught up with what the Bible taught, and shovel full after shovel began, around the turn of the last century, to uncover the truth. Others have also wondered about Sodom and Gomorrah - until recently. These cities have been found - and yes, they were burned by sulfur and brimstone, near the edge of the Dead Sea, just like God said. Other archeological findings have revealed seashells at the tops of mountains - all around the earth - sounds like evidence of a world-wide flood - just like the Bible says.
3. Its Scientific Facts
While it is true that the Bible is not a textbook for a science class, where it does mention science, it is always scientifically correct. Interestingly, many of the facts of science that are referred to, were written more than 700 BC! The Bible speaks of the "circle of the earth" (Isaiah 40:22 – written around 700BC); of the hydrologic cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:6,7 – about 1000BC); of the wind traveling in circuits (cells) - Ecclesiastes 1:6; and physiology, "the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11 – around 1460BC!) - which if man only believed its truths, they would not have bled George Washington to death!
4. Its Prophecies
Many of today's so-called astrologers make very general predictions - simply because that makes it harder to show that they are ever wrong. But the Bible is very different here. First, the Bible declares that if any so called prophet is ever wrong - then they were not sent by God (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). God is not afraid that He will ever be shown to be wrong. A second thing is that the Bible gives very detailed prophecies. Concerning the life of Christ, there were many prophecies. Peter Stoner, once Chairman of the Departments of Math and Astronomy at Pasadena City College and at Westmont College however, in his book Science Speaks, wrote of the probability of just eight of these coming to pass. The odds that he calculated, which was verified by the American Scientific Affiliation, was said to be 1 in 10 to the 17th power! This means a ten followed by 17 zeroes; or, to put it in plain English, only one man in 1X1017 could possibly have fulfilled just eight of those prophecies! And when you think about it, there are currently only 6 billion people (6X108) on earth now. But there were actually more than 400 prophecies, not just 8!
In conclusion, it should be easy to say along with David, "Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known that thou hast founded them forever"
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
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