Many changes in marketing have occurred in recent years as a result of our changing culture.

People used to hand write letters in a flowery cursive style to communicate.  Then we migrated to email.  The art of cursive writing was left behind and many of the younger generation can no longer read it.

Yet, today if you predominately use emails it could be sign that you've again been left behind as the world shifts to the new communication of texting and social media such as Facebook, MySpace, and others.  As a result some marketers have returned to direct mail letters since a personal letter now stands out once again.

But there have been other significant changes in the way we market.

As a child growing up in the '50's and '60's I remember Publix supermarkets taking out full page ads in the Sunday paper showing a picture of an empty parking lot in front of their closed store.  There whole "marketing" campaign was to emphasize taking a day of rest.  They closed on Sundays.  Where did they get that idea?  From the Bible...

"God blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because on it He rested from all HIs work..." Genesis chapter 2.

Then again, God reminds us by putting it squarely in the middle of the 10 Commandments. "Remember the Sabbath, to set it apart...six days you shall labor, and shall do all your work..." Exodus chapter 20.

So, how did that kind of marketing benefit Publix?  Well, perhaps they believed -as many still do - that it's a good thing to have the blessings of God.  There was a time when almost all business was closed on Sunday. Sadly a new generation now runs Publix and they no longer care about a day of rest.

To my knowledge only Chick-fil-lay still honors the Sabbath as a day of rest.  And they have had massive success.

Let's ask ourselves this question..."In the 50 years that our marketing values have moved away from Biblical values, has our society grown more kind and gracious...are the streets safer...our children secure from the influences of drugs and other attacks on our morals?  Or has society grown more violent, ugly, and immoral?"

What about you?  Does your marketing reflect your values?  Maybe it's time to drop out of the crowd and secure first the blessings of God.  You may just find yourself a pioneer in a new (old) wave of doing business.