Biblical Heritage Center Blog

  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/108485b89456/exploring-god-in-the-bible-part-1

  When Jeffrey (Rabbi Leynor) and I first began studying the Bible together, he didn’t know anything about the linguistic research I had been doing for over five years. He was still trying to determine if my agenda was converting Jews to Christianity. So, I used a an example I had been using to show people what I was doing, instead of trying to explain it. I suggested that we read Geneis 1:1 in Hebrew and translate it into English. Then, I asked Jeffrey to visualize “heaven” in his mind and then draw a picture of what he visualized. If knew Jeffrey, you will probably be able to see the look he gave me! Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/0df70ad103f9/being-right-or-acknowledging-observable-difficulties

  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/63e7eefd9f11/what-are-we

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/41bc749cbe6a/how-to-make-a-tov-list  

  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/30575895c1e7/the-power-of-ancient-list-thinking-to-transform-lives

  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/e40552720f82/two-scrolls-and-a-very-interesting-situation

  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/8f8c1ed06ab5/the-persians-the-temple-and-the-torah

  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/68574084f53c/why-most-people-cannot-understand-bible-stories

  A belief system contains belief models, which the brain created from life experiences. Belief models are located in neural networks of the brain. They are like pieces of a puzzle that the brain uses to generate and stream an individual’s reality. Everything you can name is linked to a belief model. Two of the functions of belief models are attaching meanings to the thing named, and predicting how it will affect our lives. Continue reading at - http://mailchi.mp/1a8543280ab7/why-we-focus-on-people-first-part-2

  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/f360d3825813/why-we-focus-on-people-first

  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/abc008c3a3b7/gods-and-humans-before-religions