It has stood the test of time.
00:00:07.23\00:00:12.03
God's book.
00:00:12.03\00:00:13.40
The Bible.
00:00:13.40\00:00:17.16
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:17.16\00:00:22.13
It is written sharing
hope around the globe.
00:00:22.13\00:00:43.70
Did you know that right
now, today, one out of three
00:00:43.70\00:00:47.56
people say that they're
dealing with EXTREME levels
00:00:47.56\00:00:50.70
of stress?
00:00:50.70\00:00:52.16
One out of three!
00:00:52.16\00:00:54.20
And about HALF of us are
lying awake at night because
00:00:54.20\00:00:57.00
we're having trouble coping
with the very real problems
00:00:57.00\00:00:59.30
of modern life.
00:00:59.30\00:01:07.60
We're getting angry, nervous,
exhausted, and depressed.
00:01:07.60\00:01:12.53
Well the good news is that
there's something very real
00:01:12.53\00:01:16.20
that can do about it.
00:01:16.20\00:01:21.06
You know, when I was a
kid, the futurists made us some
00:01:21.06\00:01:23.40
pretty incredible promises.
00:01:23.40\00:01:25.16
Technology was going to
make life a whole lot easier.
00:01:25.16\00:01:29.30
We'd only be working fifteen
or twenty hours a week, and
00:01:29.30\00:01:32.63
most of our household
chores would disappear - because
00:01:32.63\00:01:36.40
robots and other
machines would be doing the work
00:01:36.40\00:01:38.90
for us.
00:01:38.90\00:01:40.60
So here we are, thirty
or forty years later, and
00:01:40.60\00:01:42.00
honestly, I feel cheated.
00:01:42.00\00:01:43.20
The work week isn't
shorter - it's actually longer!
00:01:43.20\00:01:47.10
According to the National
Sleep Foundation, most people
00:01:47.10\00:01:49.93
are are working FORTY SIX
hours a week, and more than a
00:01:49.93\00:01:53.03
third of us are
doing more than fifty.
00:01:53.03\00:01:56.13
And while it's nice to
have microwaves and dishwashers,
00:01:56.13\00:01:58.13
the promise of more free
time seems like a cruel joke.
00:01:58.13\00:02:02.46
Families are gulping down
their meals and even eating
00:02:02.46\00:02:04.93
in the car because kids have
way too many extra-curricular
00:02:04.93\00:02:08.86
activities.
00:02:08.86\00:02:38.96
They promised us virtual
offices - we'd get to work at
00:02:38.96\00:02:42.13
the beach or by the pool.
00:02:42.13\00:02:44.10
But instead of liberating
us, computers and cell phones
00:02:44.10\00:02:46.43
have made slaves of us.
00:02:46.43\00:02:48.16
They're virtual leashes,
and now the office follows us
00:02:48.16\00:02:51.93
everywhere.
00:02:51.93\00:02:53.26
It's not at all
like they promised.
00:02:53.26\00:02:56.53
We kind of thought we'd be
living like the Jetsons, but
00:02:56.53\00:02:58.93
in reality, it looks a
lot more like Survivor.
00:02:58.93\00:03:02.83
Some economists have noticed
that we might be the first
00:03:02.83\00:03:05.16
generation in a long
time that stands no chance of
00:03:05.16\00:03:07.73
living better than our parents.
00:03:07.73\00:03:10.53
The price of energy is
shooting up, the cost of
00:03:10.53\00:03:13.16
quality food is rising,
and health care premiums are
00:03:13.16\00:03:16.60
going through the roof.
00:03:16.60\00:03:17.53
It takes two people, working
hard, to pay down a mortgage,
00:03:17.53\00:03:20.46
even after the
collapse of the market.
00:03:20.46\00:03:23.10
And we have far less time
for basic human activities like
00:03:23.10\00:03:27.36
sitting down for a family
meal or even getting a good
00:03:27.36\00:03:30.23
night's sleep.
00:03:30.23\00:03:31.70
Between 1960 and 1986, the
average American family, if
00:03:31.70\00:03:36.90
you can believe it, had
ten to twelve hours a week to
00:03:36.90\00:03:39.53
spend with their kids, but
not too many people have that
00:03:39.53\00:03:42.30
kind of time anymore.
00:03:42.30\00:03:44.13
Now that we're actually
living in the future, many
00:03:44.13\00:03:47.20
people are finding it
kind of disappointing.
00:03:47.20\00:03:49.83
And I could probably
live with the disappointment,
00:03:49.83\00:03:51.66
except for the fact that
the world we've built for
00:03:51.66\00:03:53.40
ourselves is actually
starting to KILL people.
00:03:53.40\00:03:57.36
Some people are
literally dropping dead from
00:03:57.36\00:04:00.16
unreasonable levels of
stress, from a lack of sleep
00:04:00.16\00:04:02.30
or from a lousy diet.
00:04:02.30\00:04:03.80
Our evening meal far
too often gets handed to us
00:04:03.80\00:04:07.56
through a little drive-up
window, complete with fries
00:04:07.56\00:04:10.03
and a soda.
00:04:10.03\00:04:11.30
We're getting lifestyle
diseases at rates that were
00:04:11.30\00:04:13.63
unheard of just a hundred
years ago, and a lot of them
00:04:13.63\00:04:17.16
are clearly stress-related.
00:04:17.16\00:04:19.43
It's becoming obvious, to
most of us, that something's
00:04:19.43\00:04:22.06
wrong.
00:04:22.06\00:04:23.76
And it's not just the
physical diseases that are
00:04:23.76\00:04:26.16
destroying us.
00:04:26.16\00:04:27.50
Some of us are dying inside.
00:04:27.50\00:04:29.70
We're tired, we're way
too busy, and our family lives
00:04:29.70\00:04:33.86
are crumbling or non-existent.
00:04:33.86\00:04:36.13
Too many people
wonder why they even bother.
00:04:36.13\00:04:39.16
The fun of life is gone.
00:04:39.16\00:04:42.73
Now today I'm going to show
you why people feel that way,
00:04:42.73\00:04:46.93
and I'm going to give some
simple, practical tools that
00:04:46.93\00:04:50.10
you can use - right now - to
take back your life and start
00:04:50.10\00:04:54.70
enjoying it more.
00:04:54.70\00:04:56.96
Modern life has become so
busy - so demanding - that
00:04:56.96\00:05:01.36
some people just assume
that huge loads of stress are
00:05:01.36\00:05:04.80
normal.
00:05:04.80\00:05:06.10
But it's not the
way we're meant to live.
00:05:06.10\00:05:08.06
Take a look around you: a lot
of us are getting moodier and
00:05:08.06\00:05:11.26
less happy.
00:05:11.26\00:05:12.73
We're not enjoying life.
00:05:12.73\00:05:14.30
We sleep less, we play
less, and some of us are even
00:05:14.30\00:05:18.00
developing nagging problems
that are a sign that your
00:05:18.00\00:05:20.63
body is breaking
down under stress.
00:05:20.63\00:05:24.16
It's protesting against
the modern lifestyle: too much
00:05:24.16\00:05:27.10
work, too much anxiety,
too much coffee, and not enough
00:05:27.10\00:05:31.23
sleep.
00:05:31.23\00:05:33.30
But that's NOT the way
life is supposed to be.
00:05:33.30\00:05:35.93
The Psalmist tells us
that we are "fearfully and
00:05:35.93\00:05:39.06
wonderfully made," (Ps. 139:14).
00:05:39.06\00:05:43.06
Our bodies have been
designed for a far more natural
00:05:43.06\00:05:46.00
rhythm.
00:05:46.00\00:05:47.80
For example, when it
gets dark outside, your pineal
00:05:47.80\00:05:50.33
gland starts producing a
substance called melatonin,
00:05:50.33\00:05:54.00
and that substance actually
lowers your body temperature
00:05:54.00\00:05:57.20
and makes you feel drowsy.
00:05:57.20\00:05:59.30
It's nature's way of
telling you to go to sleep.
00:05:59.30\00:06:02.70
But what do most
of us do at night?
00:06:02.70\00:06:04.83
We turn on all the lights -
we sit down in front of a TV
00:06:04.83\00:06:07.40
or a computer monitor -
and all that light (especially
00:06:07.40\00:06:10.63
the blue light) actually
slows down the production of
00:06:10.63\00:06:13.66
melatonin and prevents
us from falling asleep.
00:06:13.66\00:06:17.50
So, after living in a
constant state of anxiety and
00:06:17.50\00:06:20.36
high alert all day, we
actually cheat our bodies of
00:06:20.36\00:06:23.53
sleep and keep
ourselves from recovering.
00:06:23.53\00:06:27.76
Now let me ask you a
question: does any of this
00:06:27.76\00:06:31.40
kind of ring a bell for you?
00:06:31.40\00:06:32.66
Can you remember back to
a time when you just enjoyed
00:06:32.66\00:06:35.03
life more?
00:06:35.03\00:06:36.36
A time when you had more
energy - more enthusiasm?
00:06:36.36\00:06:40.26
Well, I've got
some great news for you.
00:06:40.26\00:06:42.76
You can have it back.
00:06:42.76\00:06:44.56
Really, you can.
00:06:44.56\00:06:46.10
In just a moment, I'm
going to show you how to get
00:06:46.10\00:06:48.50
started.
00:06:48.50\00:06:52.00
In Matthew 4:4 the Word of
God says "It is written 'Man
00:06:52.00\00:06:55.90
shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that
00:06:55.90\00:06:59.60
proceeds out of
the mouth of God'."
00:06:59.60\00:07:02.26
Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:07:02.26\00:07:05.10
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:07:05.10\00:07:07.90
especially for
busy people like you.
00:07:07.90\00:07:10.20
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:07:10.20\00:07:13.40
on-line everyday on our
website itiswritten.com.
00:07:13.40\00:07:17.46
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:07:17.46\00:07:19.90
Watch Every Word.
00:07:19.90\00:07:20.96
You'll be glad you did.
00:07:20.96\00:07:22.56
Here's a sample.
00:07:22.56\00:07:32.96
A short verse
speaks loudly to us today.
00:07:32.96\00:07:35.70
Acts 8:8 succinctly states,
"And there was great joy in
00:07:35.70\00:07:39.03
that city."
00:07:39.03\00:07:40.36
What city was that, and
why was there great joy there?
00:07:40.36\00:07:43.23
The city was Samaria,
and there was great joy there
00:07:43.23\00:07:46.03
because Philip went
there and preached Christ.
00:07:46.03\00:07:48.66
The people gladly heard what
he said, and God worked great
00:07:48.66\00:07:51.43
miracles.
00:07:51.43\00:07:52.76
How would you like to
experience great joy today?
00:07:52.76\00:07:55.80
If you'll bring Christ into
your environment, and gladly
00:07:55.80\00:07:58.80
hear what He says, God
will work miracles in your life.
00:07:58.80\00:08:01.40
Healing?
00:08:01.40\00:08:02.83
Money?
00:08:02.83\00:08:03.93
I don't know.
00:08:03.93\00:08:04.73
But certainly the greatest
miracle - a new heart and
00:08:04.73\00:08:07.33
true peace.
00:08:07.33\00:08:09.33
"And there was great joy
in that city," when Jesus was
00:08:09.33\00:08:11.73
made welcome.
00:08:11.73\00:08:13.13
Welcome Jesus into your
life - or through your witness,
00:08:13.13\00:08:15.83
bring Him into the lives
of others - and there'll be
00:08:15.83\00:08:17.86
great joy in your
city or home or life today.
00:08:17.86\00:08:21.13
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:08:21.13\00:08:26.06
If you're like most
human beings caught up in the
00:08:26.06\00:08:28.20
hectic pace of the 21st
century, you're probably
00:08:28.20\00:08:32.20
feeling more than
a little run down.
00:08:32.20\00:08:34.63
And yet the drive to produce
- the drive to be busy - to
00:08:34.63\00:08:37.26
be successful, it's
almost irresistible.
00:08:37.26\00:08:41.86
When you read through
the first few chapters of the
00:08:41.86\00:08:43.93
Bible, you'll find
something interesting.
00:08:43.93\00:08:46.16
Listen to this: Genesis
2:15 Then the Lord God took the
00:08:46.16\00:08:52.33
man and put him in the garden
of Eden to tend and keep it.
00:08:52.33\00:08:59.03
You might think that Adam and
Eve spent their time lounging
00:08:59.03\00:09:01.60
by the pool or playing a
round of golf, relaxing in
00:09:01.60\00:09:04.26
the easy life of
Paradise, but you'd be wrong.
00:09:04.26\00:09:07.60
In the very beginning, God
designed human beings to be
00:09:07.60\00:09:10.46
productive and busy.
00:09:10.46\00:09:12.66
Our job was to "tend
and keep" the garden.
00:09:12.66\00:09:16.10
Now, what I find really
interesting about that is the
00:09:16.10\00:09:19.63
way lots of people still
spend their day off in the
00:09:19.63\00:09:22.30
garden, "tending and
keeping" in the best of biblical
00:09:22.30\00:09:26.70
traditions.
00:09:26.70\00:09:28.50
There's just something about
working outside in the fresh
00:09:28.50\00:09:31.23
air and sunlight - with
your hands in the dirt - that
00:09:31.23\00:09:34.00
makes the troubles of a
stressful week just melt into
00:09:34.00\00:09:36.36
the background.
00:09:36.36\00:09:37.50
I love it.
00:09:37.50\00:09:38.23
And to add to that, I think
that, now this might not be
00:09:38.23\00:09:41.16
everybody's cup of tea - if
you get your hands on one of
00:09:41.16\00:09:42.96
them weed wackers, or your
hands on a chain saw (now I
00:09:42.96\00:09:45.73
know that may not be
tending and keeping but it's
00:09:45.73\00:09:48.53
tending), to me there's
something just great about
00:09:48.53\00:09:53.70
that, makes stress melt
away and somehow reconnects a
00:09:53.70\00:09:57.36
person with planet earth
and the things that are really
00:09:57.36\00:10:00.00
important.
00:10:00.00\00:10:01.20
And all of that ought to tell
us something: maybe work was
00:10:01.20\00:10:03.76
never meant to be stressful.
00:10:03.76\00:10:04.86
Maybe we're just doing it wrong.
00:10:04.86\00:10:08.13
And maybe - if we pay
attention to the details of
00:10:08.13\00:10:10.83
this ancient biblical story
- maybe we could find some way
00:10:10.83\00:10:14.80
back the joy of living -
the quality of life that God
00:10:14.80\00:10:18.13
originally intended.
00:10:18.13\00:10:21.40
Now, I know what
someone is thinking.
00:10:21.40\00:10:23.50
"John, you've got to be kidding.
00:10:23.50\00:10:25.76
In this day and age, you
want me to read the book of
00:10:25.76\00:10:28.43
Genesis to find
answers for modern problems?"
00:10:28.43\00:10:30.03
I know: to a lot of people,
the Bible seems like it's
00:10:30.03\00:10:32.53
kind of out of date
and sort of out of touch.
00:10:32.53\00:10:34.90
But what if I told you that
right now, millions of people
00:10:34.90\00:10:38.03
who are taking this book
quite seriously, are not only
00:10:38.03\00:10:41.33
living better lives,
they're also living longer ones!
00:10:41.33\00:10:45.13
It's true!
00:10:45.13\00:10:46.30
In fact, back in November
of 2005, National Geographic
00:10:46.30\00:10:50.00
featured three groups of
people who outlive everybody
00:10:50.00\00:10:52.33
else by a considerable
distance, and one of those
00:10:52.33\00:10:56.63
groups has built their
success by simply following
00:10:56.63\00:11:00.70
the advice given in the Bible.
00:11:00.70\00:11:02.26
And what have they discovered?
00:11:02.26\00:11:04.23
Let me point out some really
interesting things found in
00:11:04.23\00:11:05.70
the story of creation
that will get you started on a
00:11:05.70\00:11:09.00
better life.
00:11:09.00\00:11:10.70
First of all, take a look at
what was on the menu for Adam
00:11:10.70\00:11:13.43
and Eve: Genesis 1:29 And
God said, "See, I have given you
00:11:13.43\00:11:20.03
every herb that yields
seed which is on the face of all
00:11:20.03\00:11:23.36
the earth, and every tree
whose fruit yields seed; to
00:11:23.36\00:11:28.10
you it shall be for food.
00:11:28.10\00:11:31.26
According to the Bible,
the original diet was a whole
00:11:31.26\00:11:34.76
food diet.
00:11:34.76\00:11:35.96
It wasn't loaded with
preservatives or pre-cooked
00:11:35.96\00:11:38.83
and sold in the freezer
section of the grocery store.
00:11:38.83\00:11:42.63
Now here's something really
interesting: grab your laptop
00:11:42.63\00:11:45.83
or your iPad, and then Google
the words "healthy diet," and
00:11:45.83\00:11:49.16
see what you get.
00:11:49.16\00:11:50.43
Even better, do an image
search on Google - use the
00:11:50.43\00:11:53.86
words "healthy diet"
and see what comes up.
00:11:53.86\00:11:56.66
It's pretty amazing, the
pictures look a lot like the
00:11:56.66\00:12:00.43
description we just read
from the book of Genesis.
00:12:00.43\00:12:04.33
But unfortunately, it doesn't
look like the food found in
00:12:04.33\00:12:07.40
most Western refrigerators.
00:12:07.40\00:12:09.53
Health experts are
starting to catch on that the
00:12:09.53\00:12:11.96
over-processed, over-refined
foods we've been eating
00:12:11.96\00:12:16.80
aren't very good for us.
00:12:16.80\00:12:17.90
One of the key reasons we're
not feeling good like we used
00:12:17.90\00:12:20.53
to is because we're not
eating like we used to and
00:12:20.53\00:12:24.16
like what we
were designed to eat.
00:12:24.16\00:12:25.10
If we could raise a
historical figure from the
00:12:25.10\00:12:26.76
dead and bring him into a
modern kitchen - let's say
00:12:26.76\00:12:29.56
Abraham Lincoln -
I'm guessing he wouldn't
00:12:29.56\00:12:32.56
recognize half the stuff
we put in our mouths, because
00:12:32.56\00:12:35.66
back in his day, those
foods simply didn't exist.
00:12:35.66\00:12:39.56
And really, you wouldn't have
to go back as far as Abraham
00:12:39.56\00:12:41.56
Lincoln, because I'm guessing
my own grandmother wouldn't
00:12:41.56\00:12:44.33
be able to name half the
stuff we eat down here in the
00:12:44.33\00:12:46.46
21st century.
00:12:46.46\00:12:48.63
I heard someone say the other
day that "we are living in a
00:12:48.63\00:12:51.03
world today where lemonade
is made from artificial flavors
00:12:51.03\00:12:55.30
and furniture polish
is made from real lemons."
00:12:55.30\00:12:58.63
And you've got to
wonder: when you hear about an
00:12:58.63\00:13:01.13
obesity epidemic - and
rampant cancer - and heart
00:13:01.13\00:13:04.76
disease - and rising numbers
of people afflicted with Type
00:13:04.76\00:13:08.26
II diabetes - you've got
to wonder if the way we're
00:13:08.26\00:13:12.00
eating doesn't have
something to do with it.
00:13:12.00\00:13:15.06
According to some sources,
processed food now makes up
00:13:15.06\00:13:17.40
an amazing 90
percent of our diet.
00:13:17.40\00:13:20.90
And as people get sicker,
health experts are getting
00:13:20.90\00:13:23.40
more and more concerned.
00:13:23.40\00:13:24.86
They're warning us
to eat more REAL food.
00:13:24.86\00:13:28.23
They're telling us to
fill our plate with fruits, and
00:13:28.23\00:13:30.40
nuts, and
grains, and vegetables.
00:13:30.40\00:13:33.30
And that's remarkable,
because that was the original
00:13:33.30\00:13:37.60
diet in the Garden of Eden.
00:13:37.60\00:13:39.06
Now take a look at something
else: Genesis 2:18 And the
00:13:39.06\00:13:46.13
Lord God said, "It is
not good that man should be
00:13:46.13\00:13:50.06
alone; I will make him a
helper comparable to him."
00:13:50.06\00:13:56.90
I want you to notice that
human beings were made for
00:13:56.90\00:13:59.30
companionship.
00:13:59.30\00:14:00.60
The Bible says, it's
not good for us to be alone.
00:14:00.60\00:14:04.10
And yet the modern working
world has made most of us
00:14:04.10\00:14:07.50
functional hermits.
00:14:07.50\00:14:09.30
By the time we're done with
an exhausting day - cruising
00:14:09.30\00:14:12.20
by on not enough sleep -
and living in a cubicle under
00:14:12.20\00:14:15.10
artificial light - and then
fighting traffic all the way
00:14:15.10\00:14:17.53
home - and then eating yet
another meal out of a box -
00:14:17.53\00:14:21.33
by the time we're done,
we're too tired to spend any
00:14:21.33\00:14:23.76
quality time with
friends or family.
00:14:23.76\00:14:27.10
And even if we had a little
energy left, our friends and
00:14:27.10\00:14:29.56
family aren't really
available, because they also
00:14:29.56\00:14:32.13
are way too busy.
00:14:32.13\00:15:34.00
You know, there might be 7
billion people living on this
00:15:34.00\00:15:36.13
planet, but some of those
are some of the loneliest people
00:15:36.13\00:15:39.50
in the history of humanity.
00:15:39.50\00:15:41.70
The center of our
human activity used to be the
00:15:41.70\00:15:43.80
family, but in recent decades
that's all started to change.
00:15:43.80\00:15:48.60
I read the other day that
back in the 1950s, only one
00:15:48.60\00:15:51.33
out of ten households
had just one person living in
00:15:51.33\00:15:55.33
them, and most of those
single people were widows.
00:15:55.33\00:15:58.93
But now, with all the changes
we've seen, it's more like
00:15:58.93\00:16:01.70
one in three households
are single people living alone.
00:16:01.70\00:16:04.90
Of course, there's nothing
necessarily wrong with living
00:16:04.90\00:16:07.10
alone; some
people like it that way.
00:16:07.10\00:16:10.16
But it does point out
a trend: we appear to be
00:16:10.16\00:16:12.56
getting more isolated.
00:16:12.56\00:16:14.26
We don't enjoy the
same number of meaningful
00:16:14.26\00:16:16.56
relationships we used to.
00:16:16.56\00:16:18.46
There are more of us crowded
into every square mile than
00:16:18.46\00:16:22.26
at any time in history,
but we don't actually seem to
00:16:22.26\00:16:24.73
KNOW each other.
00:16:24.73\00:16:26.16
Our "friendships" are
carried out in Facebook and
00:16:26.16\00:16:28.46
Farmville.
00:16:28.46\00:16:29.93
We run home to watch Friends
on TV instead of going out
00:16:29.93\00:16:32.76
and getting some real ones.
00:16:32.76\00:16:35.06
And it's kind of ironic, but
as we get more "connected" on
00:16:35.06\00:16:38.30
the Internet, we seem to
get more disconnected from real,
00:16:38.30\00:16:41.20
live people.
00:16:41.20\00:16:44.30
All that loneliness is
starting to take a toll.
00:16:44.30\00:16:46.30
Think back to a time when
you used to actually hang out
00:16:46.30\00:16:48.66
with your friends, and think
about how energized you felt
00:16:48.66\00:16:50.70
when you all got together.
00:16:50.70\00:16:52.33
And then compare that feeling
to the way you might feel
00:16:52.33\00:16:56.06
right now: busy,
tired, and spent.
00:16:56.06\00:16:59.36
Ask yourself if the Bible
wasn't right: it isn't good
00:16:59.36\00:17:02.40
for people to be alone.
00:17:02.40\00:17:04.83
Part of taking back our lives
is making PEOPLE a priority,
00:17:04.83\00:17:09.56
refusing to allow
technological progress to rob
00:17:09.56\00:17:12.66
us of meaningful relationships.
00:17:12.66\00:17:15.36
At the end of your life,
you're not going to be glad
00:17:15.36\00:17:17.63
you spent more time working
or surfing the web - what's
00:17:17.63\00:17:21.03
going to make a real
difference is the people in
00:17:21.03\00:17:24.33
whom you invested your time.
00:17:24.33\00:17:25.93
In just a moment, I'm going
to show you one more critical
00:17:25.93\00:17:30.93
key to getting
back your balance.
00:17:30.93\00:17:33.66
Don't go channel surfing,
because I'll be right back.
00:17:33.66\00:17:52.86
Here's today's Bible question.
00:17:52.86\00:17:54.66
The question is: Are
there mistakes in the Bible?
00:17:54.66\00:17:59.93
Here's what we
believe as Christians.
00:17:59.93\00:18:02.13
2 Timothy 3:16 says,
"All Scripture is given by
00:18:02.13\00:18:05.23
inspiration of God."
00:18:05.23\00:18:07.23
2 Peter 1:21 says, "Holy
men of God spake as they were
00:18:07.23\00:18:10.73
moved by the Holy Ghost."
00:18:10.73\00:18:12.43
Same idea.
00:18:12.43\00:18:13.83
And as you read through the
Bible, you see that the Bible
00:18:13.83\00:18:15.73
writers themselves certainly
believed that the Bible was
00:18:15.73\00:18:18.73
inspired by God.
00:18:18.73\00:18:20.03
Paul quoted the Old
Testament Scriptures repeatedly.
00:18:20.03\00:18:22.93
As did Peter.
00:18:22.93\00:18:24.00
As did John who
wrote Revelation.
00:18:24.00\00:18:26.53
And as did Jesus.
00:18:26.53\00:18:28.03
Jesus quoted from
"about" every book in the Old
00:18:28.03\00:18:30.40
Testament at
one time or another.
00:18:30.40\00:18:32.43
But the Bible was
authored by humans.
00:18:32.43\00:18:35.26
They wrote divine ideas
while expressing them in human
00:18:35.26\00:18:38.70
terms, and they brought to
their task the limitations of
00:18:38.70\00:18:41.43
fallen humanity.
00:18:41.43\00:18:44.13
Now there are times when
you'll find what might be
00:18:44.13\00:18:47.03
called discrepancies
in the Bible- that's true.
00:18:47.03\00:18:49.13
In 2 Samuel 8 David is
reported to have taken 700
00:18:49.13\00:18:54.23
horsemen, while in 1
Chronicles 8 the number is
00:18:54.23\00:18:56.53
said to be 7000.
00:18:56.53\00:18:58.56
In one place it says Solomon
had 40,000 stalls for horses,
00:18:58.56\00:19:02.16
in another place it
says he had 4,000 stalls.
00:19:02.16\00:19:05.40
Now, it isn't hard to
imagine what might have happened
00:19:05.40\00:19:07.76
there, right?
00:19:07.76\00:19:09.40
Now in one place in the
New Testament, Jesus is met by
00:19:09.40\00:19:11.56
two demon possessed men
who had been living among the
00:19:11.56\00:19:14.90
tombs, in another
place he was met by one.
00:19:14.90\00:19:17.96
Ask yourself -
does it really matter?
00:19:17.96\00:19:21.40
Is this evidence that
the Bible cannot be trusted?
00:19:21.40\00:19:24.46
The point isn't really
how many demon-possessed men
00:19:24.46\00:19:26.76
there were.
00:19:26.76\00:19:27.70
The point was that there
were demon-possessed men - one,
00:19:27.70\00:19:29.46
two...
00:19:29.46\00:19:30.16
ten?
00:19:30.16\00:19:31.46
- and Jesus was able to
drive out the demons and set the
00:19:31.46\00:19:34.40
man - or the men - free.
00:19:34.40\00:19:37.10
Now try to hear this carefully.
00:19:37.10\00:19:38.96
Some people believe the
Bible is verbally inspired.
00:19:38.96\00:19:41.90
That is, its like God
dictated the Bible to the
00:19:41.90\00:19:44.73
writers.
00:19:44.73\00:19:46.00
You can imagine a Bible
writer, "Okay, okay, I'm
00:19:46.00\00:19:48.26
listening ...
00:19:48.26\00:19:49.20
For God so áwhatá?
00:19:49.20\00:19:50.80
For God so what?
00:19:50.80\00:19:51.96
I missed that.
00:19:51.96\00:19:52.93
Come again, what
do I write there?
00:19:52.93\00:19:54.80
I didn't catch that part!"
00:19:54.80\00:19:56.76
I don't think that's
the way it worked, do you?
00:19:56.76\00:19:58.96
A better way at understanding
this is to consider
00:19:58.96\00:20:01.76
inspiration as
being thought-inspiration.
00:20:01.76\00:20:05.70
The writers were inspired,
not the words themselves.
00:20:05.70\00:20:08.96
God inspired the writers,
then they did their very best
00:20:08.96\00:20:12.60
to express what God impressed
upon them in human terms.
00:20:12.60\00:20:16.90
And that system
worked pretty well.
00:20:16.90\00:20:18.86
Sometimes there are
perfectly good explanations for
00:20:18.86\00:20:21.86
apparent
discrepancies in the Bible.
00:20:21.86\00:20:24.56
Our human understanding
can be limited, and we need to
00:20:24.56\00:20:27.46
approach the
Bible with humility.
00:20:27.46\00:20:29.46
Sometimes maybe there
might have been a copyists error
00:20:29.46\00:20:33.10
years before.
00:20:33.10\00:20:33.93
Now, you don't get the
copyists saying there is no
00:20:33.93\00:20:35.53
heaven or that salvation
isn't by grace through faith
00:20:35.53\00:20:39.03
- anything odd is only
ever very small and doesn't ever
00:20:39.03\00:20:41.96
make a bit of
difference to the big picture.
00:20:41.96\00:20:44.53
Friend, you can trust the Bible.
00:20:44.53\00:20:46.70
It won't lead you astray.
00:20:46.70\00:20:47.66
If you have a question
you'd like answered, go to
00:20:47.66\00:20:50.86
ItIsWritten.com, click on the
questions tab and submit your
00:20:50.86\00:20:54.00
question.
00:20:54.00\00:20:55.33
And I hope I'll be able
to answer your question.
00:20:55.33\00:20:57.70
If you have a Bible question
for pastor John Bradshaw,
00:20:57.70\00:21:03.00
please write to It Is
Written, Box O, Thousand
00:21:03.00\00:21:06.26
Oaks, California
91359 or visit our website
00:21:06.26\00:21:10.06
itiswritten.com and send
us your questions on-line.
00:21:10.06\00:21:15.56
If you're a regular viewer
of It is Written, there's a
00:21:15.56\00:21:18.46
chance you are curious of
who we are and what we do.
00:21:18.46\00:21:21.50
This ministry is dedicated
to sharing the gospel around the
00:21:21.50\00:21:24.06
world.
00:21:24.06\00:21:26.60
There are many ways we
try to accomplish that.
00:21:26.60\00:21:28.56
To get an inside view through
written and visual reports,
00:21:28.56\00:21:30.96
photos and videos, visit
our website itiswritten.com and
00:21:30.96\00:21:38.76
while you are there you
will also discover the many
00:21:38.76\00:21:40.43
inspirational resources that
are available to help you in
00:21:40.43\00:21:42.43
your Christian walk.
00:21:42.43\00:21:43.70
I invite you to
visit itiswritten.com.
00:21:43.70\00:21:46.66
You'll be glad you did.
00:21:46.66\00:21:47.86
Today we're talking about
the way that modern life has
00:21:47.86\00:21:52.06
taken its toll on
millions of people.
00:21:52.06\00:21:55.73
We're working longer these
days and enjoying life less
00:21:55.73\00:21:58.86
than ever before - and in
the book of Genesis, we've
00:21:58.86\00:22:01.43
discovered a number of
important keys that will help
00:22:01.43\00:22:04.26
you take back your
life and find some balance.
00:22:04.26\00:22:07.83
Here is another good key.
00:22:07.83\00:22:09.23
Take a look at this
often overlooked passage from
00:22:09.23\00:22:12.70
Genesis chapter two, the
Bible says: Genesis 2:3 Then
00:22:12.70\00:22:16.00
God blessed the seventh day
and sanctified it, because in
00:22:16.00\00:22:18.93
it He rested from all His
work which God had created
00:22:18.93\00:22:22.00
and made.
00:22:22.00\00:22:23.63
It's remarkable: after
creating the heavens and the
00:22:23.63\00:22:26.63
earth, the Bible says
that God STOPPED and took a day
00:22:26.63\00:22:29.60
off!
00:22:29.60\00:22:31.03
Now, we know that
God doesn't get tired.
00:22:31.03\00:22:33.66
So why did He do it?
00:22:33.66\00:22:34.73
Why did He take a day off?
00:22:34.73\00:22:36.10
Well, maybe He was
trying to teach US something.
00:22:36.10\00:22:38.73
Maybe, as the manufacturer,
He knew what the human body
00:22:38.73\00:22:42.20
needed.
00:22:42.20\00:22:43.73
Maybe He didn't design
the human body to slave away
00:22:43.73\00:22:45.80
seven days a week, to the
point of absolute exhaustion.
00:22:45.80\00:22:48.03
And maybe there's a rhythm
to life we've forgotten about.
00:22:48.03\00:22:52.93
The Bible says that on the
seventh day God rested from
00:22:52.93\00:22:56.33
all His work - and you've
got to think that if God can
00:22:56.33\00:22:59.06
afford to take a day of rest,
then maybe we can afford to
00:22:59.06\00:23:01.46
do it, too.
00:23:01.46\00:23:03.10
In fact, God not only
recommends a day of rest; He
00:23:03.10\00:23:05.90
asks us to do it.
00:23:05.90\00:23:08.96
You'll find it right
in the heart of the Ten
00:23:08.96\00:23:11.86
Commandments, Exodus 20:8.
00:23:11.86\00:23:13.46
The Bible says, "Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
00:23:13.46\00:23:18.96
Six days you shall labor
and do all your work, but the
00:23:18.96\00:23:22.46
seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord your God.
00:23:22.46\00:23:25.80
In it you shall do no work."
00:23:25.80\00:23:29.00
(Exodus 20:8-10) Take a
look at the human race - the way
00:23:29.00\00:23:32.20
it is right now - and you
start to get the sense that
00:23:32.20\00:23:34.86
God knew what He
was talking about.
00:23:34.86\00:23:37.13
This isn't just about
rules and regulations.
00:23:37.13\00:23:39.00
Peoples' jaws are clenched;
their shoulders are stooped
00:23:39.00\00:23:41.30
and rounded, and
their muscles are tight.
00:23:41.30\00:23:43.96
Our tempers are shorter,
getting shorter by the day
00:23:43.96\00:23:46.73
and our blood pressure is
rising, rising by the moment.
00:23:46.73\00:23:50.00
So, maybe that sacred time
in the fourth commandment is
00:23:50.00\00:23:53.00
worth a second look.
00:23:53.00\00:23:54.73
Maybe God was doing us a favor.
00:23:54.73\00:23:57.13
Think about it: what would
happen if we actually started
00:23:57.13\00:24:01.03
to live the way God designed us?
00:24:01.03\00:24:04.83
What if life was full
of satisfying work, and
00:24:04.83\00:24:06.96
meaningful relationships?
00:24:06.96\00:24:08.56
What if we had some
space to breathe - some time to
00:24:08.56\00:24:11.93
actually live?
00:24:11.93\00:24:24.20
What if we had a whole day
- every week - for people, and
00:24:24.20\00:24:27.63
for God?
00:24:27.63\00:24:29.03
What if, instead of the
artificial rhythms set by
00:24:29.03\00:24:31.70
alarm clocks and digital
planners, we started to live
00:24:31.70\00:24:35.03
by the rhythms
designed for us by God?
00:24:35.03\00:24:38.63
Ask yourself how much
you're getting out of life.
00:24:38.63\00:24:42.43
And I think you'll agree
that you were born for something
00:24:42.43\00:24:44.30
more.
00:24:44.30\00:24:45.60
The way we're living today
just isn't working for many
00:24:45.60\00:24:48.23
of us, but there is a better
way to live, and it's well
00:24:48.23\00:24:52.46
within your reach.
00:24:52.46\00:24:53.76
It's the plan developed
by God in the beginning and I
00:24:53.76\00:24:56.96
invite you today to consider
reaching back and adopting
00:24:56.96\00:25:00.53
the original lifestyle
designed by the Creator.
00:25:00.53\00:25:04.30
Why don't we pray that you
and me will find the balance,
00:25:04.30\00:25:08.56
the harmony and the peace
of mind God meant for us to
00:25:08.56\00:25:11.83
have.
00:25:11.83\00:25:13.50
Let's pray together right now.
00:25:13.50\00:25:15.40
Father in heaven, there is
no doubt that we are living in a
00:25:15.40\00:25:17.63
stress-filled world and
so many of us right now are
00:25:17.63\00:25:21.80
stressed to the max.
00:25:21.80\00:25:24.60
That wasn't your plan.
00:25:24.60\00:25:26.40
I pray that you'll help us
to reconnect, live that healthy,
00:25:26.40\00:25:29.60
restful lifestyle with
you at the very center.
00:25:29.60\00:25:34.30
Show us, Lord, the way to
optimum health and optimum
00:25:34.30\00:25:37.70
life.
00:25:37.70\00:25:39.90
And thank you that we
were made for the purpose of
00:25:39.90\00:25:43.13
enjoying life in this world,
for being blessed and being a
00:25:43.13\00:25:46.70
blessing to others and then
enjoying life in the world to
00:25:46.70\00:25:49.90
come where there
will be no stress at all.
00:25:49.90\00:25:54.93
Let that day come soon, I
pray, and may we live today
00:25:54.93\00:25:57.03
in your presence,
your way, by your grace.
00:25:57.03\00:26:00.86
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
00:26:00.86\00:26:29.00
If you've ever questioned
whether relentless activity
00:26:29.00\00:26:32.06
is really necessary, or
if something is broken in the
00:26:32.06\00:26:35.20
way we spend our time;
discover some answers in a
00:26:35.20\00:26:38.30
FREE book called
A MONUMENT IN TIME.
00:26:38.30\00:26:41.50
This book will help you
realize that if we stopped
00:26:41.50\00:26:44.20
our endless cycle of activity
for even a few moments we
00:26:44.20\00:26:47.96
would discover something
amazing: the presence of God.
00:26:47.96\00:26:50.00
A MONUMENT IN TIME describes
how you can achieve a more
00:26:50.00\00:26:55.30
rewarding life by following
a specific plan God has
00:26:55.30\00:26:59.33
designed for you.
00:26:59.33\00:27:01.06
Right now, this practical
book is available FREE from
00:27:01.06\00:27:03.56
It Is Written.
00:27:03.56\00:27:04.63
Just call 1-800-253-3000,
ask for the book: A MONUMENT IN
00:27:04.63\00:27:10.53
TIME.
00:27:10.53\00:27:11.63
Or write to: It Is Written,
Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA
00:27:11.63\00:27:15.76
91359, and we will mail a
copy to your address in North
00:27:15.76\00:27:19.36
America.
00:27:19.36\00:27:20.56
Please note: This free
book is limited to the supply on
00:27:20.56\00:27:23.13
hand.
00:27:23.13\00:27:24.53
For immediate access, you
can download a FREE electronic
00:27:24.53\00:27:27.40
version of the book A
MONUMENT IN TIME directly
00:27:27.40\00:27:30.63
from our website:
itiswritten.com It Is Written
00:27:30.63\00:27:33.26
is a faith-based outreach
made possible by viewers like
00:27:33.26\00:27:36.53
you.
00:27:36.53\00:27:37.90
Thank you for your letters
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00:27:37.90\00:27:41.13
Our toll-free
number is: 1-800-253-3000.
00:27:41.13\00:27:45.40
And our web address:
itiswritten.com Thanks for
00:27:45.40\00:27:48.20
joining me today and look
forward to seeing you again
00:27:48.20\00:27:51.46
next time.
00:27:51.46\00:27:52.23
And until then, remember-
It Is Written: man shall not
00:27:52.23\00:27:56.66
live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds from
00:27:56.66\00:28:00.66
the mouth of God.
00:28:00.66\00:28:02.40