Tag: Book of Matthew

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Bible Marketing

The Golden Rule of Marketing

Every day, we are bombarded by messages. Some of them are based on fear. Other messages attempt to smear an opponent. Many invade our lives without us realizing it. But a quote by Garth Brooks reminds me what should be the golden rule of marketing.

“Here’s my whole marketing idea: treat people the way you want to be treated.”

Garth Brooks

If we followed this rule, there would be little fear-based marketing. We would not experience deceptive advertising practices or false claims. There would be no scams or pyramid schemes. Perhaps, we could get to the point where we could trust others because all marketing would have integrity.

It is a requote of The Golden Rule, from the Bible.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

We can spot unfair rules fairly easily. This rule, when equally applied, makes it impossible to be unfair, deceptive, or manipulative. In addition, this rule makes us think of long-term gain instead of short-term results.

Would we make the same decisions if we knew we would face the person we were marketing to? Do we look at our targets as people or objects?

Practical Marketing?

Is this type of marketing practical? After all, we must focus on the metrics. We must meet the monthly sales goal or else! Can we treat others the way we want to be treated and still have a marketing career?

I believe we can. We must if we want to be a part of the solution instead of the problem. Marketing is a powerful tool. When we combine it with psychology, we can subtly influence others.

When we treat others well, we make our surroundings better. We can believe in a product or service and market it well. But at the least, we should treat others with integrity and respect. That should be the golden rule of marketing.

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judgment

Tempted to Judge

Tempted to Judge

It’s so easy to be tempted to judge, isn’t it? Last night, my wife and I watched the 1955 version of Oklahoma. I had two major observations from the movie:

  • My mother learned to sing from Shirley Jones because she loved the movie and when my Mom sang, she sounded just like her.
  • It is so easy to judge others, even fictional characters
landscape sky water clouds
Photo by Raychel Sanner on Pexels.com

Mom and Shirley Jones

I grew up with my mother singing The Surrey With the Fringe on Top. She sang other tunes from the movie, I’m sure. But that is the one that sticks out to me. She is a big fan of Rogers and Hammerstein musicals. After all, one of my earliest memories is of my parents taking me to a drive-in to see The Sound of Music. I don’t remember much except the opening scene and how comfy the back seat was for a long nap.

My mother loves to sing. And besides hymns, her repertoire included a heaping helping of Rogers and Hammerstein tunes. During a certain time in the sixties, she would also pepper her performances with The Girl From Ipanema.

Too Easy to Judge

I found myself judging the Curly, Laurie and Jud from the moment I saw them. I suppose that is a main objective in any play, movie or TV show. If you don’t know who the hero and the villain is from the outset, the show may fall flat. Yet, when we are led to believe a character is a hero, only to discover they are a villain, we are even more glued to a show.

We are prone to judge characters in a show. But aren’t we also apt to do so in other circumstances?

  • How many times do we judge someone we never met, but are in the news?
  • Don’t we judge others because of their appearance?
  • Doesn’t gossip color our perception of someone? Does it matter if we know them or not?

The movie reminded me of how tempting it is to judge others we barely know. It can also ruin or close relationships when it leads to criticism. No wonder Jesus warned us about the trap of judging others.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 7:1–2 (NIV)

Yes, everyday we are tempted to judge others. I shudder everytime I think I could be judged by the same standards I judge others. I hope Curly, Laurie and Jud will forgive me.

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Christianity Christmas holiday

Christmas Stress

Christmas Stress

Frequently, we feel less peace and joy and more Christmas stress. With two days to go, it feels like the stress level has gotten to an all-time high.

  • That special toy the daughter wants won’t be available until next Christmas… or the next decade
  • Travel looks to be getting complicated with another wave of the virus. Should we even go to Granny’s?
  • The office has never been this busy before Christmas. Where did all this business come from anyway?

Christmas stress has always been prevalent. I wrote about it and drew this cartoon in 2012. But of course, the last two years have had added layers of stress. We just don’t know what the future holds. Short-term and long-term planning seems impossible.

Cartoon of a boy with a wreath on his head

What do we do when the stress is getting to us? How can we keep from taking it out on our loved ones with a strategically placed wreath? Slow down, take a deep breath and remember the reason for the season.

“When they [Magi or Wise Men] saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”

Matthew 2:10–11 (KJV) via Bible Gateway.com

Remember the Why

Why do we celebrate? It isn’t about any of these:

  • The perfect present under the tree
  • Getting together with family
  • A Martha Stewart, or Pioneer Woman-inspired spread on a snowy Christmas morning

It is about a baby and the hope he brought a cold, dark world. The winter solstice has come and the days are already getting longer. Winter will be here for a while, but summer is coming. The Light of the World has come into the world as well. We can slow down, celebrate, and know things will be all right.

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motivation

Worry Rarely Works

Worry Rarely Works

Yesterday was Charles Schulz’s birthday. He was the reason this kid would go out and get the newspaper before anyone else had the chance and he inspired me to draw cartoons. A quote attributed to him reminds me why worry rarely works.

“Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.”

Charles M. Schulz on BrainyQuote.com

The reason worry rarely works is it neutralizes faith and hope. Worry says that we don’t trust and we fear. It’s an acknowledgment that there are so many factors out of our control. If we fear our lack of control, it leads to worry. But if we rest in the hope things will be better, It can be empowering.

Worry is a waste of creativity. When we imagine the worst, what is the point of doing anything to improve the future? If we’ve done all that we can, shouldn’t we rest in the comfort that God can take it from there? Jesus had a little to say on this subject.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:34 (NIV) via Bible Gateway

Stay in the moment and don’t worry about tomorrow. There are things I worried about forty years ago that never came to be. And none of us could have foreseen the challenges of today. None of our worries from yesterday made a difference for today, except it may have raised our blood pressure and caused us to age a little quicker.

Besides, when did worry really work for us?

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motivation

Being Wise as Serpents While Harmless as Doves

Cartoon of two boys. One has a box. He says, "It's a magic box. It starts up when you insert twenty dollars."

In any crisis, you’ll have scammers that try to take advantage of a situation. There will be people that will attempt to act like your friend when you are lonely. There will be those who will threaten and cajole because they can manipulate a person’s fear.

Yet there will be others that will be kind, generous and an inspiration to the world. A crisis doesn’t necessarily make good people bad. It merely magnifies what is in a person’s heart; the good and the bad.

I used to be very puzzled by the following Bible verse. But in light of today’s environment, it makes perfect sense to me.

Be ye, therefore, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:16 (KJV)

Jesus gave his disciples a great paradox. The wicked (and anyone who tries to scam another is doing a wicked act) will be among us. We need not be naive but be as wise as a serpent that is alert for danger and taking evasive action.

At the same time, we are not called to let the wicked affect us and turn us into evildoers. We are to be as harmless as doves. We can do good and be kind without falling into the traps of scammers, spammers, and the generally unethical tricksters.

So beware of the kid with the magical, empty box that only starts up when you insert twenty dollars. and don’t follow his lead!

Cartoon of two boys. One has a box. He says, "It's a magic box. It starts up when you insert twenty dollars."