UPDATE 4/14/09: Wesley Sleep Program Puts Me To Sleep - That's A Good Thing!
We've got Biblically-based diets and cookbooks. We've got Christian books and music and movies and power drinks and sneakers and breath mints. If we can endorse a product with a Jesus fish, we do it.
And now, we have a Biblically-based sleep program? I don't mean to snark, really I don't. But ... a Biblically-based sleep program?
Billy Wilkins, one of the original members of the band Third Day, created the program after his own struggle with sleep problems. He tried medications but found relief in Scripture. The press release says:
Wilkins found so many scriptures that answered and supported his spiritual quest that he soon began to realize that this level of peace was God's desire for all of His children. He began to chronicle his findings, while following his musical instincts and researching music therapy, and was soon on the path to developing the Wesley Sleep Program.
The Wesley Sleep Program claims a 75% success rate, and at $14.99, has a lower cost than sleep and anxiety medications.
I don't have any problem with a guy who uses the Bible to find Scriptures related to sleep sharing that information. But really, do you need a whole program?:
The first portion of the audio CD is designed to soothingly equip the listener for real rest, while combating four common sleep hindrances. The remaining musical portion leads to even deeper levels of relaxation and calm sleep.
OK, here comes the snark:
People! Open up your own Bibles! Get a concordance and look up Scriptures about rest and peace and sleep for yourself! Why, why, why are we constantly looking to other people to read the Bible for us, learn from it and then regurgitate it for us in tiny, digestible pieces? When are we going to start being responsible for our own spiritual health and growth?
Ahem. Sorry about that.
And to help promote the new Wesley Sleep Program, creator Billy Wilkins is drawing on his credits as one of the original members of the group Third Day.
Wilkins was one of the three first members of the group, joining founders Mac Powell and Mark Lee in 1991, right after the Powell and Lee graduated from high school. (Powell and Lee has been playing together in a group called Nuclear Hoedown but wanted to form a group where they could sing about God. Now there's a bit of trivia for you: Nuclear Hoedown. Can't even begin to imagine that music. But I digress ...) In 1992, the band added Tai Anderson and David Carr, and Wilkins left the band in 1993. Third Day continuted, added Brad Avery, eventually signed with Reunion Records in 1996, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Wilkin's bio on the Wesley Sleep Program website says that he "remains a professional songwriter, studio musician, and performer, working with Third Day and other talented musicians since his departure from the band." (It also has this nifty picture of the band from 1992. The website ObscureGenius.com identifies them as L to R: Tai Anderson, David Carr, Mark Lee, Mac Powell, Billy Wilkins. Wow, look at Mac Powell.)
You can learn more about Billy Wilkins and the Wesley Sleep Program on the website.
You can learn more about the Bible at places like Bible Gateway, where you can actually search for terms like "sleep" and "rest" and "peace" all on your own and start your own study of what God has to say about the subject. And it's free!
UPDATE 3/2/09: Read Billy's response to this post!
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I think Billy Wilkins was lazy or disingenuous in his response to your blog. He saw an attack, when all you did was offer an example. And, if those are the only two definitions he could find for "snark" he needs better research sources. I did an internet search and couldn’t find either of the samples he offered. I had no problem finding five that defined it the way you meant.
I read your point to be that people need to do for themselves. That by reading the Bible, actually doing some research, they will enrich themselves and grow in God. Isn’t that, truly, what God would want.
In a related subject, I believe that our population is becoming lazy. There are almost always two (or more) sides to every story. Don’t just accept the first one you hear.
You may choose not to read a book because of what you have heard about it. But, do you really have the right to condemn that publication to others if you haven’t read it yourself?
Don’t be lazy. Your life will be better for it.
Steve, your point is well taken. Billy is sending me a copy of the CD so I can check it out myself. I shall strive to be lazy no more! :) Although my life motto as of last has been "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can put off until next week" ...
Joanne
host of the GS blog
As much as I love Joanne to death (weird expression, eh?), and enjoy her blog tremendously -- even though I'm not exactly a fan of gospel music -- have have to sympathize with poor Billy Watkins on this one. Seems to me that he does have a "program" that involves much more than pre-digesting Bible verses for lazy Christians; that it addresses a real need for people with sleep issues; and that it in no way attempts to substitute for personal Bible study. I've never had a problem sleeping, but I may have to cough up what seems like a reasonable, non-exorbitant sum, $14.99, for one of these CDs.
--Rob
Rob, honest, I told Billy that I could see how the program could help. I was just up on my soapbox about even more Christian consumer products. I mean yeeesh, in the Bible they just read Chronicles and zzzz .... LOL That's why I thought he should have a chance to share more about his journey and the program. I might be snarky but I am lovable. :)
To be fair, I'm also constantly telling my husband that Lewis and Clark explored the entire western US - and probably killed lots of deer! - without tree stands and camo in various patterns and gortex and gizmos that tell the temperature/mating season/wind speed and GPS and no scent laundry/bath soap and various other expensive hunting doodads.
It will probably not surprise you that I prefer pen and paper to computer. :)
Joanne
host of the GS blog
To respond to Steve: OK...I'm lazy...I went to www.dictionary.com for my definitions. I have used the word "snark" before, but I wanted to clarify it before I made an official response. I'm still unclear why people are thinking my product is a regurgitaion of researh I did. Not at all...I reasearched the Bible (which I belive holds the answer to virtually every problem) so that I could design something for a targeted audience: for people who lie awake and can't fall asleep. It's called "insomnia." It is not a substitute for studying. It is a has a purpose of helping people with that problem so that they may end their day with peace. Consumer Reports studies show that sleep sounds are about as effective as prescription medications. I thought I would provide sleep sounds with the words of Jesus. If you don't have insomnia, then the product is probably not for you. My goal is not fame or fortune. It is to provide help for people in that category. Why does that seem to irritate people? Thank you "Anonymous" for your nice words. Again...I'm spending more than I make and I'm giving away more copies than I'm selling. I just can't quite understand why my attempt to help people irritates people (???) Billy
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