Wisdom-Trek © - Archive 4

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1196 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom What Does a Disciple Do? – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1196 of our Trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical Worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical worldview, you must also have a proper understanding of God and His word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew Scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” What Does a Disciple Do? It might surprise you, but Jesus didn't command his disciples to do that many things. His vision for loving God and others wasn't complicated. But the things he did command them to do are profound and life-changing when put into practice. We'll start with the most important point of being a disciple. Disciples love God, their neighbors, and each other. We already know how Jesus summed up a life dedicated to God. The greatest commands are listed in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A36-40&version=NLT (Matthew [22:36]-40): “’Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses? Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’” Jesus did these things. He told his disciples in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A31&version=NLT (John 14:31), “But I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going.” How did Jesus show he loved God, his Father? He obeyed God. He fulfilled God’s plan for him. He also told them in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A9&version=NLT (John 15:9), “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” Jesus asked his disciples to do the same, as his comments on the two greatest commandments make clear. Jesus went further by using himself as an example. He told his disciples to love each other as he had loved them. When they did that, they'd be obeying him and pleasing God. He said to them in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A13-17&version=NLT (John 15:13-17,) “‘There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.  You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.'” Love for God and love for each other are, according to Jesus, the fundamental, indispensable marks of his disciples. Jesus did not see these two commands as in any way contradictory. They were not in tension. They were two sides of the same coin. They were inseparable. But how do we love people? The highest expression is giving one’s...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1195 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Obstacles to Overcome – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1195/ (Day 1195) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from Booker T. Washington, and it is, “I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” Obstacles to Overcome What constitutes a truly successful person? So often we only consider financial success, but that is only one portion of an overall successful life. If a person has gained their wealth through inheritance, but did not really work for it, can that person be considered successful? A successful person is one who is successful in all areas of life. A person who has not only faced obstacles but has also successfully overcome the obstacles and trials of life with perseverance.  The true test of an individual is how far they have trekked from their original starting point and what types of adversities that they have navigated through to reach their level of success. Success is also subjective to each individual. For one person, success may be an intact family and no debt. For another person, they may choose to achieve a large financial portfolio so that they can assist others. Regardless of your definition of success, it is important to remember, ultimate success is achieved when we can have a positive impact on the lives of others through living a positive legacy each day. So ask yourself, “What type of daily inheritance am I providing to those in my world?”https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+20:21&version=NLT (Proverbs [20:21]) An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+13:22&version=NLT (Proverbs [13:22]) Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner's wealth passes to the godly. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+3:24&version=NLT (Lamentations [3:24]) I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1194 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1194 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Birth Springs from Death – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1194 of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  Does the thought of dying scare you and cause anxiety? In today's meditation, let us consider… Birth Springs from Death We are all only one heartbeat away from our own funeral, which from God's perspective, is nothing to grieve. He responds to these grave facts with this great news King Solomon wrote in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eccl+7%3A1&version=NLT (Ecclesiastes 7:1,) “A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born.” Now there is a twist. Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch expectantly for the last breath of believers the same way grandparents wait expectantly for the first breath of a grandchild. “He'll be coming through any minute!” They can't wait to see the new arrival. While we're driving hearses and wearing black, the angels are in exuberant celebration. We don't grieve when babies enter the world. The hosts of heaven don't weep when we leave it. Oh, but many of us weep at the thought of death. Do you? Do you dread your death? And is your dread of death robbing your joy of life? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+2%3A15+&version=NLT (Hebrews 2:15) tells us that Jesus’s death sets us free as “only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” Your death may surprise you and sadden others, but heaven knows no untimely death as https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+139%3A16&version=NLT (Psalms 1[39:16]) records: You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. The dread of death ends when you know heaven is your true home. I have had the opportunity to travel many times by plane, and I've never seen one passenger weep when the plane landed. Never. No one clings to the armrests and begs, “Don't make me leave. Don't make me leave. Let me stay and eat more peanuts.” We're willing to exit because the plane has no permanent mailing address. Nor does this world. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A20&version=NLT (Philippians 3:20) reminds, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” That is a wrap for today's meditation. Next week, we will continue our trek on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1199/ (Meditation Monday) as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. On https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1195/ (tomorrow's trek), we will explore another wisdom quote. This...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1193 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Five Steps to Start the Day Early with a Plan for Success – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1193/ (Day 1193) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, you are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but we will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, I often have difficulties getting going and organized in the mornings. Can you provide me with a plan that will help me to establish habits which will allow me to start my day early and to be more productive?”  Five Steps to Start the Day Early with a Plan for Success Mornings are a great time for getting things done. Of course, this is spoken from the perspective of a natural morning person. Seriously, though, you're less likely to be interrupted than you are later in the day. Your supply of willpower is fresh after a good night's sleep. That makes it possible to turn personal priorities, like exercise or strategic thinking, into reality. But if you've got big goals and a chaotic a.m. schedule, how can you make over your mornings to make these goals happen? Track Your Time Part of investing your time better is knowing how you're investing it now. Write down what you're doing as often as you can. Use a simple spreadsheet, a Word/Pages document, or a pad and pen. While measuring your mornings, track at least an entire week. The solution to morning dilemmas often lies at other times of the day. Observe how you are investing other times of the day that affect your mornings (i.e., interruptions, evening routines, bedtimes, etc.). Question your assumptions: Is what you do in the morning of highest importance? Discover what are your top priorities. Picture the Perfect Morning After you know how you're investing your time, ask yourself what a great morning would look like, especially very early mornings, before work starts. Set aside time for personal growth Bible study & prayer Exercise Personal training & projects Set aside time for professional growth Strategize with team members. Use your mornings to keep the vision of what you want to achieve professionally in your career and your company/organization. Take time for online training and webinars. Think Through the Logistics How could the vision above mesh with your life currently? Fill the morning hours with the most important activities. In doing so, it will crowd out the less important time wasters. Make sure you are clear on what is most important. Map out a morning schedule (preferably the day before). What time would you have to get up, and what time do you need to go to bed to get enough sleep? As for the mornings themselves, what would

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1192 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom What Time Is It? – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1192/ (Day 1192) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,) “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny, which is titled… What Time Is It? Sam, who was ninety years old, was sitting in his rocking chair beside his neighbor and best friend Joe as they were sipping on some cold sweet tea on a hot afternoon.  They were listening to their favorite baseball team as they played a doubleheader game. When the game came to a commercial break, Sam leaned over in his chair and tells Joe, “I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it’s the state of the art…it’s perfect, I can hear much better.” “Really?” answered Joe, “What kind is it?” Sam then looks at his watch and says to Joe, “Well, I’ll tell you. It’s two thirty-three.” I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, please pass that smile on to someone else who may need a smile. Our Thursday thought is “Don't believe everything that you hear.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13:12&version=NLT (Matthew [13:12]) To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. As you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1191 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so each day will be downloaded to you automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1193/ (Philosophy Friday)!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1191 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Why Should We Live Like Jesus? – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge.  Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy.  Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1191 of our Trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday.  Creating a Biblical Worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events.  To establish a Biblical Worldview, it is required that you also have a proper understanding of God and His Word.  On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew Scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser.  We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book: ‘What Does God Want?' Why Should We Live Like Jesus? Last week we discovered there are a lot of reasons to live like Jesus, but earning God’s love isn’t one of them. What are those reasons? First, sin is self-destructive and harms not only us, but those around us. In my own extended family, I’ve seen the effects of alcoholism, drug addiction, and infidelity. It’s obvious that these things destroy lives. It should be equally obvious that the things the world—the unbelieving culture—offers for pleasure and self-gratification are temporary and have no enduring value. The culture tells us to “live life” to gratify our own “happiness” regardless of the misery our decisions create. It offers no eternal perspective. It beckons us to live only for now. There is no higher calling. The Bible exposes this mindset for what it is in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A15-17&version=NLT (1 John 2:15-17): Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.  And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. Second, and in many respects the opposite of the first, living a godly life blesses others. The truth is that the way we live and think either blesses other people or curses them. Jesus served people and was a blessing to them. Pursuing a lifestyle driven by self-gratification and self-absorption isn’t fulfilling. Every supermarket tabloid offers examples of that reality. Blessing people not only reflects Jesus, but leads to personal fulfillment. Your life matters when it’s lived in service to others.Third, a godly life allows us to be a consistent witness for the gospel. If people look at our lives and don’t see any distinction from the unbelieving world, and don’t see a life lived in service of others, they won’t find the gospel believable (or at best they'll be confused). They will see our lives as a contradiction of the message of Jesus. In other words, people will expect us to live like Jesus, the person we say loves them. That’s not unreasonable. The alternative is hypocrisy, and no one appreciates hypocrisy. Living a godly life isn’t about earning a place in heaven. It’s not about putting God in our debt because of the “spirituality points ” we've racked up. Passages like these have an altogether different focus.  First let's look at...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1190 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Learning to Overcome Failure – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1190/ (Day 1190) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is fromReggie Jackson,and it is, “I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it.” Learning To Overcome Failure Failure is never final, unless you choose for it to be. Success will only come through failure, but only if you learn from your failure and are willing to try again. Trying again does not mean doing the same thing with extra effort to see if it will work another time. It means adjusting your trail, or maybe even taking a different trail completely on your trek of life. It means applying the lessons learned from your failures, in order to pivot your approach until you are able to achieve the success desired. Yes, we do have to learn how to tolerate our failures, which may be difficult, but it also means that we do not accept the failure as inevitable. Our trek through life will be filled with obstacles, disappointments, and yes, even tragedies at times. We may need to occasionally pause, reflect, reenergize, and then get back on the trail and continue on towards our summit. It is only when we go through these trials can we fully appreciate the success when we achieve it. It is the refining fires of life which allow us to come out pure as gold. In fact, we are not only to endure these trials, but we should also consider them an opportunity for great joy and then move on and grow through the experience. James, the half brother of Jesus, describes our trials in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A2-4&version=NLT (James 1:2-4,)“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com). As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1189 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1189 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Waiting Prayerfully– Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1189 of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's Word and praying. It is a time, to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind. Do you have a problem with waiting patiently? I know that I do at times. It may stem from the fact that we have never learned to wait prayerfully. In today's meditation, let us consider… Waiting Prayerfully The Biblical writer Luke teaches us about the earliest believers waiting prayerfully in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1:14&version=NLT (Acts 1:14,) “They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.” Mark uses the same Greek word here translated “constantly” to describe a boat floating in the water, constantly waiting on Jesus in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A9&version=NLT (Mark 3:9)., “Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him.” The boat was “constantly” in the presence of Christ for His use. So are the Upper Room disciples. One day passes. Then two. Then a week. For all, they know a hundred more will come and go. But they aren't leaving. They constantly persist in the presence of Christ. The followers were willing to do one thing: wait in the right place for power. We are many times so reluctant to do what the early disciples did. Who has time to wait? Waiting requires trusting in God. We don't really like trusting in anyone other than ourselves. We groan at such a thought. But waiting doesn't mean inactivity—rather it is being in a constant vigil waiting to do kingdom work. While waiting, we pray and trust. Waiting means watching for him. If you are waiting on a bus, you are watching for the bus. If you are waiting on God, you are watching for God, searching for God, hoping in God, trusting in God. Great promises come to those who do. We are reminded of this in one of my favorite verses https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40%3A31&version=NLT (Isaiah [40:31]), But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. To those who still struggle, God says, “Wait on me.” And wait in the right place. Jesus doesn't tell us to stay in Jerusalem, but he does tell us to stay honest, stay faithful, stay true, and trust in Him. Do you desire power for your life? It will come as you pray. For ten days, the disciples prayed. Ten days of prayer plus a few minutes of preaching led to three thousand saved souls. Maybe it is that perhaps we invert the numbers. We are prone to pray for a few minutes and preach for ten days. Not the apostles. Like the boat waiting for Christ, they lingered in his presence. They never left...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1188 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Passing on a Positive Legacy – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1188/ (Day 1188) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, you are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but we will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, you often speak about leaving a living legacy each day. What are some practical steps I can incorporate into my life that will help me to live and leave a legacy throughout my life?”  Passing on a Positive Legacy Let me start out with a quote from John Wooden, “There is a choice you make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.” A legacy is something over which we have control, unlike the shadow that follows us down the sidewalk on a sunny day. Rather, we can choose the way in which our influence impacts others each day and long into the future once we're gone. Here are a few suggestions for how you can purposefully pass-on a positive legacy daily. Integrate a daily focus with a long-term perspective. People who have an enduring influence keep one eye on the compass and the other eye on the clock. That is, they look ahead without losing sight of what needs to happen each day. They give their best to activities and appointments, or the daily living of life, while not forgetting their orienting vision and values. Establish a direction that is clearly observable. When your time on this earth draws to a close, people will describe your life in a single sentence. What would that sentence be right now? Be intentional about the sort of influence and impact you have on the world around you each day. I strive to live each day with my legacy statement at the forefront of my mind: “I positively impact the lives of everyone I interact with so that their lives will impact others for the building of God's kingdom.” Being aware of how I want to be thought of today and remembered gives me perspective on what's truly important. Develop a network of meaningful relationships. Legacy is influence, and relationships are the foundation of creating a legacy. Throughout life, I try to be intentional with those I have the opportunity to impact most. Those closest to me determine the level of my success in creating a living legacy. Perhaps nothing is more predictive of your legacy than the quality of people surrounding you. Commit to a positive learning attitude that guarantees growth. Personal growth is linked to a teachable disposition. Again to quote John Wooden, “It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.” I credit my growth as a person to a set of learning attitudes that I developed early in life. a) Every day, I will learn as...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1187 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom The Pearly Gates – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1187/ (Day 1187) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,) “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny, which is titled… The Pearly Gates Peter is very busy in Heaven, so he leaves a sign by the pearly gates for newcomers: “For Service Ring Bell.” Away he goes about his heavenly task, but he barely gets started when BING! The bell rings. Peter rushes back to the gates, but no one’s there. Peter goes back to work when suddenly BING! The bell rings again. He rushes back to the gates, but no one’s there. A little annoyed, Peter goes back to work. Suddenly, BING! The bell rings again. Peter goes back to the gate; again, no one’s there. “Okay, that’s it,” Peter says. “I’m going to hide and watch to see what’s going on.” So Peter hides, and a moment later, Sam, a little old man, walks up and rings the bell. Peter jumps out and yells, “Aha! Are you the guy who keeps ringing the bell?” “Yes, that’s me,” Sam says. “Well, why do you keep ringing the bell and going away?” Peter asks. “This is really becoming annoying.” “I can’t help it,” Sam replies. “They keep resuscitating me!” Well, I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, pass that smile on to someone who really needs it. Our Thursday Thought is “Death never takes a wise man by surprise; he is always ready to go.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings+17:23&version=NLT (1 Kings [17:23]) Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” Just as you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1186 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com).  I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so each day will be downloaded to you automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1186 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom What Is Discipleship? – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1186/ (Day 1186) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical Worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical worldview, you must also have a proper understanding of God and His word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew Scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” What Is Discipleship? The gospel is intended to be transformative. Anyone who has embraced the gospel has been transformed according to https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&version=NLT (2 Corinthians 5:17,) “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” What does that actually look like? You may recall the answer to this question. Earlier I said that a disciple was a follower—specifically a follower of Jesus. I defined “following” as imitating or imaging Jesus. Being “he choose them to become like his Son” is our ultimate destiny (Roman [8:29]; 2 Corinthians [3:18]; Colossians [3:10]). Our motive for imitating Jesus is not to make God love us so he'll let us into heaven. God already loved each of us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8) and were God's “while we were still his enemies” (Romans [5:10]). We get to heaven—we become part of God s family—when we believe the gospel. On our own, we are lost, in need of a Savior (Luke [19:10]), alienated from God (Ephesians [4:18]). When that was our situation, God loved us. He didn’t wait until we cleaned up our act to love us. Our motive for imitating Jesus is also not to keep God loving us so we'll be saved in the end. That which cannot be achieved by performance cannot be lost by performance. Salvation has nothing to do with our own worth or merit. It has everything to do with what someone—Jesus—did for us as we are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Cor+5%3A21&version=NLT (2 Corinthians 5:21), “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” We can take no credit for salvation. Jesus gets all the credit. That is why it is important that we are thinking clearly about discipleship. We need to think carefully about how all that applies to discipleship. Because of the performance trap I talked about earlier, we need to have a clear grasp of the fact that salvation and discipleship are not the same thing.  Many believers unconsciously begin to add their own works or performance to the gospel because of guilt for their sin. The result is spiritual bondage, not the rich and satisfying life Jesus wants us to have (John [10:10]; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Ephesians [3:20]). Salvation is a gift given to us by God when we believe the gospel. It is undeserved. Nevertheless, God offers it to us despite our sin and hostility toward him. Discipleship is something we do as a result of believing the gospel. We imitate Jesus to show our love for him and for God. Jesus was the ultimate imager of...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1185 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom The Art of Creation – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1185/ (Day 1185) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from Nikola Tesla, and it is, “I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success.” The Art of Creation I believe that everyone has an inherent ability to create. We are imagers of God, who created all things, and thus, those attributes are also embedded within us. We need to seek what pumps our creative juices and pursue a career or hobby that allows us to utilize our God-given abilities and talents to create. Nikola Tesla was one of the greatest inventors of all time, and he understood the thrill that comes from inventing and seeing the works of your hands and mind result in a successful product or service. Pursue your passions and desires for the creativity that flows through you. No one is born without the ability to create something, it may take some digging, and you may not be able to make a living from it, but it is there.  Seek for the wisdom, insight, and understanding that will help you to open the eyes of your heart and allow you to pursue your creative abilities. God has given us the abilities that we have, use them for His glory as he did for the building of the tabernacle in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+31%3A1-5&version=NLT (Exodus 31:1-5,) “Then the Lord said to Moses,  ‘Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel, son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, an expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!'” That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com). As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1184 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Worldview Wednesday!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1184 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom In God’s Presence – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1184/ (Day 1184) of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's word and praying. It is a time, to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and making sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  How do you live in God's presence? How do you detect his unseen hand on your shoulder and his inaudible voice in you ear? A sheep grows familiar with the voice of the shepherd. How can you and I grow familiar with the voice of God?  In today's meditation, let us consider… In God's Presence Put first things first.  Give God your waking thoughts. Before you face the day, face the Father. Before you step out of bed, step into his presence. I have heard of a person who makes it a habit to roll out of his bed onto his knees and begin his day in prayer. Personally, once I am out of bed, I read the verse of the day, and share it with others. I begin meditation and listening to God's Word. I offer God the first moments of my day. The prayer is not lengthy and far from formal. Sometimes I pray for those for whom I am burdened, those who may be going through a trial. Sometimes, it is just thanking God for a new day, a day that He has given me to further His kingdom. Give God your waiting thoughts. While exercising, I fill my thoughts from His Word, as I listen to Bible passages on my phone. In silence, I wait on God to renew my mind for the new day. The mature married couple has learned the treasure of shared silence; they don't need to fill the air with constant chatter. Just being together is sufficient. Try being silent with God. Awareness of God is a fruit of stillness before God. Allow Him to be honored as we are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+46%3A10&version=NLT (Psalms 46:10,) “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Give God your whispering thoughts. Through the centuries, Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers, prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting. Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By giving God your whispering thoughts throughout the day, the common becomes uncommon. Simple phrases such as “Thank you, Father;” “Be sovereign in this hour, O Lord;” “Please encourage and strengthen this person;” “Give me wisdom for the decisions that I must make;” or “You are my resting place, Jesus.” When you are in this mindset, you can turn the trek of each day into a pilgrimage. You needn't leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. Just pray where you are. Let the kitchen become a cathedral or the classroom a chapel. And last, give God your waning thoughts. At the end of the day, let your mind settle on him. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God. Thank him for the good parts. Question him about the hard parts. Seek his mercy....

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1183 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom The Five Vs of Success – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1183/ (Day 1183) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time where we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, you are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but we will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, I am thinking about starting my own business, do you have some wisdom nuggets that you can provide me that will help me to be successful?” The Five Vs of Success All success begins in your mind. What you think about determines your course of life. If you think right, you will take actions that are right, which will lead you to successful results. Some years ago, I saw a picture in a magazine of a man staring out of a window; the caption read: “Why does this company pay this man $100,000 to look out a window?” The answer: Because the lifeblood of any organization lies in ideas and creative (right) thinking. Thinking is powerful. Flying a plane, air conditioning, cell phones, vaccines, the internet—without right thinking, these would have been impossible. Everything begins with a simple thought. Ideas are a great moving force of history. We are never free to do what we cannot conceive. Having a Godly mind enlarges our thinking capacity. A leader’s thinking must be shaped by the following: Vision: What is our dream? Carl Sandburg was right: “Nothing happens unless it is first a dream.” Vision is a process of the mind—it’s mental, not visual. Vision is seeing what everybody has seen but thinking what nobody has thought. What is needed to build a pyramid? One person who can think and ten thousand people who can grunt. Values: What is important? Values have to do with how we treat people, how we do our work. What is vital and important to us? Values are the standards, principles, and the code of conduct that characterize the organization. It is our integrity. Values aren’t dreamt; they already exist. Leaders shape and form the organization’s values. Some universities decide to pour sidewalks after students have first worn a path. Where are the well-worn paths—the actions, the beliefs, the attitudes—that matter most to you? Those are your values. Venture: What are we willing to risk? People and organizations that make a difference are willing to think outside the box. For example, a company that was in the well-digging business began to think in terms of efficient and effective means of making holes, and they soon discovered that lasers dug holes better than augers. They achieved the same goal but accomplished it more efficiently. Vehicle: What will get us there? How can we accomplish our desired outcome? A dream without a strategy is merely wishful...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1182 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom The Correct Answer – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge.  Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1182/ (Day 1182) of our trek, and it is time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,) “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny, which is titled… The Correct Answer Miss Smith, the 5th-grade teacher, asked her students which state they thought has the most cows. Little Suzy raised her hand and proudly proclaimed, “Texas!” Miss Smith said, “That is right, Suzy. Well done; you get an ‘A.'” Next, Miss Smith asked, “Which state do you think has the most sheep?” Little Sammy raised his hand and said, “That would be Montana, Miss Smith.” She replied, “Very good, Sammy; you get an ‘A.'” “Now for the final question, who can tell me which state has the most turkeys?” Little Johnny excitedly raised his hand and said,”That’s easy; my dad just told me that last night! According to my dad, Washington, D.C., is full of turkeys.” Miss Smith chuckled a bit and said, “Johnny, that is truer than we would like to admit. You get an A+ for that answer.” Well, I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, pass that smile on to someone who really needs it. Our Thursday Thought is “Many a true word is spoken in jest.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+126:2&version=NLT (Psalm 126:2) We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” As you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1181 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so each day will be downloaded to you automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1181 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom What The Gospel Isn’t – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1181/ (Day 1181) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical worldview, you must also have a proper understanding of God and His Word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” What The Gospel Isn't In previous weeks, our discussion about https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1171/ (the content of the gospel) makes it clear that the gospel is about what Jesus accomplished on our behalf. Everlasting life, salvation, is a gift given to those who believe in what Jesus accomplished on our behalf. Our culture tries to muddle this clarity. It offers self-improvement or vague “spirituality” as substitutes. But the biblical description of the gospel defies such things. The gospel (and salvation) has nothing to do with personal enlightenment, “looking within” on a journey of self-discovery. The gospel is not about exploring ideas from a spiritual smorgasbord. These are intellectual or psychological efforts and activities. They aren’t the gospel. But these sorts of “alternative gospels” are the easy ones to detect and eliminate. There’s a much more difficult hurdle that impedes many people from resting in the simplicity of the salvation God offers. Dr. Heiser suggested earlier that a lot of people you meet in church struggle with the gospel. The reason is that they are caught in a performance trap. You or someone you know may be able to define the term gospel and perhaps even the content of its meaning. But the idea that believing what Jesus did for you is the sum total of what's necessary for everlasting life just doesn’t seem right. Surely we have to do something. Otherwise, how could we deserve it? If you comprehend the Bible’s story and the content of the gospel, you should grasp immediately that we don’t deserve what God offers. And that’s a struggle for many people. We want to feel like we've earned the good things we have. We don’t want to be a charity case. It feels wrong to get something good without having worked for it, at least a little. Guilt distorts thinking in even more subtle ways. It can paralyze our ability to see the gospel as the unconditional gift it is. Guilt is what drives some people to justify a gift by concluding it’s deserved because of something they did for the gift-giver at some point. And if they can’t convince themselves of that, they determine to do something after the fact to make themselves feel deserving of the gift. Guilt blinds us to the love of God shown in the gospel. Ultimately, we must come to grips with how self-centered this thinking is. That may sound harsh, but hear me out…Working hard to make someone else think you have value requires you to focus on yourself. You can’t be focused on someone else when the goal is to make another person think you are worthy of their attention or love. We want to feel good about ourselves (i.e., we legitimately...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1180 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Don’t Wait for Success – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1180/ (Day 1180) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged.  This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from Jonathan Winters, and it is, “I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.” Don't Wait For Success While this quote from Jonathan Winters, who was a comedian, is supposed to be funny, there is some real truth to it, as there is with most comedy. If we sit around waiting for success to happen, it never will. It is only when we first put in the blood, sweat, and tears over a long period of time will we realize any level of success. There are times in life when you do need to pause, reflect, and reenergize, but you cannot remain in that state for an extended period of time and expect the results that you wish to achieve. You must keep moving forward, one step at a time. It is not necessarily the pace of progress that you are making, but the fact that you are making progress each day. So pause and wait if required, just don't get stuck in that mode.  Success will never come to you; it must be pursued. So while waiting for success, move ahead without it, and in time, you will find the success that you desire. This reminds me of a verse in Exodus, where the Israelites had a decision before them to either cross the Red Sea, which would bring success, or be recaptured by the Egyptians. This is what God told Moses. In https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+14:15&version=NLT (Exodus 14:15,)“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!'” Sometimes, no most of the time, we just need to get moving. That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com). Just as you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1179 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Worldview Wednesday!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1179 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Anger, A Peculiar Yet Predictable Emotion – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1179/ (Day 1179) of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  Anger, we all struggle with controlling it in our lives. For some, it is easily kindled, and as a result, it is external and very evident. For others, it bubbles just under the surface and comes out in passive aggressive ways. In today's meditation, let us consider: Anger – A Peculiar Yet Predictable Emotion Anger. It's a peculiar yet predictable emotion. It begins as a drop of water. An irritant. A frustration. Nothing big, just an aggravation. Someone gets your parking place. Someone pulls in front of you on the freeway. A waitress is slow, and you are in a hurry. The toast burns. Drops of water. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Yet, get enough of these seemingly innocent drops of anger, and before long, you've got a bucket full of rage. Walking revenge. Blind bitterness. Unharnessed hatred. We trust no one and bare our teeth at anyone who gets near. We become walking time bombs that, given just the right tension and fear, could explode. Yet, what do we do? We can't deny that our anger exists. How do we harness it? A good option is found in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A34&version=NLT (Luke 23:34). Here, Jesus speaks about the mob that killed him. Jesus said, “’Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.’ And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” Look carefully. It's as if Jesus considered this bloodthirsty, death-hungry crowd not as murderers, but as victims. It's as if he saw in their faces, not hatred but confusion. It's as if he regarded them not as a militant mob but, as he put it in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9:36&version=NLT (Matthew 9:36), “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Yet, Jesus said, “They don't know what they are doing.” When you think about it, they didn't. They hadn't the faintest idea of what they were doing. They were a stir-crazy mob, mad at something they couldn't see, so they took it out on, of all people, God. But they didn't know what they were doing. And many times, neither do we. We are still, as much as we hate to admit it, as we are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53:6&version=NLT (Isaiah 53:6,) “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” There are so many situations in life that will add to the drip, drip, drip that leads to anger. Nearly always inappropriate anger stems because something is stifling or blocking what we...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1178 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 12 Guidelines to Increase Productivity – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1178/ (Day 1178) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask dad or gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, you seem to remain very productive in all areas of life while I struggle with productivity and feel like I can‘t keep my head above water to complete even some of the basic tasks that I should. What are some wise tips that you can give me that will help to become much more productive?” 12 Guidelines to Increase Productivity While it may appear that I am very productive, I have to admit, that I too struggle, at times, to remain productive. I am very agenda-driven and attempt to follow my daily tasks list, but when unexpected, or expected, interruptions enter my day, I too can find myself heading down a rabbit trail. Here are 12 guidelines, or rules, that I have found to be helpful, and if you apply them, they should help you also. Choose the right time. Nearly everyone has times of the day when they are most effective and times when they tend to drag. It's smart to schedule the most critical tasks for your most effective time of the day. For me, it is definitely between 7 AM and 12 PM. Toss it. If a task doesn't really need to be done, just get rid of it altogether. So often we get bogged down with non-essential tasks. They are just fillers. Get the bad stuff out of the way. Do the unpleasant items quickly and as early in the day as possible. That way they are clear from your mind, and you can stop procrastinating because you know they still need to be done. Create your task list the night before or at the very beginning of each day. This way, as you begin each morning, you will know what you need to accomplish that day. This can be even more effective when planned the night before. Once you have a sense of direction, you can spend all your time getting things done! Eliminate all communication. While you're working, turn off your phone/cell phone, and don't check your email. Hang a sign that says, “Do not disturb,” if necessary. You don't have to do this for all your tasks, but at least do it during the more difficult items. There are very few calls or emails that require immediate attention. Batch similar tasks together. Do all your emailing at one time. Make all your phone calls at another. Open your snail mail during a set block of time. You'll waste less time doing your work in this fashion. Set a timer. Even if a task might take hours, starting will seem easier if you simply give yourself 30 minutes to get as much done as you can. A time limit seems to help many people concentrate and...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1177 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Three Envelopes – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1177/ (Day 1177) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,)  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny which is titled… Three Envelopes John, the CEO of a large multi-national corporation, had presented his resignation to the board of directors. In order to facilitate a smooth transition, he met with Phillip, the incoming CEO, and presented him with three numbered envelopes.  John said, “Open one of these in numeric sequence if you run up against a problem you don’t think you can solve.” At first, things went along very smoothly. About six months later, sales took a significant downturn, and the CEO, Phillip, was catching a lot of heat. Then he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope. The message read: “Blame your predecessor.” With this advice, Phillip called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO, John. The press and Wall Street responded positively, sales began to pick up, and the problem was soon behind him. About a year after the company experienced another dip in sales plus some product problems. Having learned from his previous experience, Phillip quickly opened the second envelope. The message was: “Reorganize.” Phillip put a superb reorganization plan in place, and the company quickly rebounded. After several consecutive profitable years, the company once again fell on difficult times.  Phillip, the CEO, went to his office, closed the door, and opened the third envelope. The message said: “Prepare three envelopes.” Well, I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, pass that smile on to someone who really needs it. Our Thursday Thought is “Always be prepared, but be ready and willing to work.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+24:27&version=NLT (Proverbs [24:27]) Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house. As you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1176 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so each day will be downloaded to you automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day. As we take this trek together, let us...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1176 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Why Do We Need the Gospel? – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1176/ (Day 1176) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical worldview, you must also have a proper understanding of God and His Word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew Scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser.  We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” Why Do We Need The Gospel? You might think Dr. Heiser answered this already. He sort of did, at least in a roundabout way. But in light of his experience in Christian circles, he felt he needs to be blunt. Why do we need the gospel? Because without it, we have no hope of everlasting life with God. Zero. We are estranged from God because of sin. Believing the gospel is the remedy. The Bible describes our predicament in several ways. Jesus said in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019%3A10&version=NLT (Luke 19:10), “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” In https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A4-5&version=NLT" (Ephesians 2:4-5) we are told, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)” We were “alienated from God” (Ephesians 4:18) and “hostile” toward him (Colossians 1:21) because we were his “enemies” (Romans [5:10]). It’s not a pretty picture. The biblical story we walked through explains why we are what we are. We aren’t born into the family of God. We’re outsiders. Yet God wants us in the family. Lacking God’s nature, we abuse our intelligence and freedom to get what we want, often harming others in the process. We live in self-destructive ways. When we don’t image God and break his laws and when we violate, manipulate, and otherwise abuse others, we sin. We are, by nature, sinners—self-absorbed and rebellious. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A23&version=NLT (Romans 3:23) makes it clear, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.” It is easy to read these verses and be depressed or angry. But the good news of the gospel story is that God knew all that and loved us anyway. It’s also useful for the reason that may never have occurred to you. It’s what makes the gospel entirely different than any other religion’s teaching about salvation. Every other religion either denies sin is a problem or says the solution is human performance—repeating rituals, saying prayers, observing religious days, or otherwise being good. To be blunt, only the gospel is honest about the human situation and human inability to do a thing about it. Other religions in effect “lie to you”— they tell you that you can fix the problem of your own distance from God or that you don’t have a problem. The gospel is the only truth that tells you God had to provide the solution and did. The gospel is transparently...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1175 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Think and Follow Through – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy.  Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1175/ (Day 1175) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged.  This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek.  Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today.  So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from E.V. Rickenbacker,and it is, “I can give you a six-word formula for success: Think things through — then follow through.” Think and Follow Through Many times while we were growing up our dad would tell us boys as we approached a problem to think through it slow and methodically. So often my brothers and I just wanted to rush through a task or project to get it completed. Dad knew that if we would take time to think through the issue and come up with a method or plan for completing the task before we took action, that our chance of being successful in that task or project would be greatly improved. While our impatience during those growing up years caused us to ignore Dad's advice many times, the older we grew, the more we realized that his advice was very wise and that he was training us to be prepared for the many obstacles that we would face in life. His instructions have come back to me many times, and still, to this day, I recognize it is an excellent piece of advice that I continue to apply. Just as our quote today instructs us, the formula for success is to first think things through, that is to create a plan of action, and then follow through the plan that we thought through. This is truly what we need to do in order to be successful. Think, then follow through. Let us make a habit of this with each task we have to complete, project we are working on, or obstacle that we encounter on our path to success. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+21:5&version=NLT;ESV (Proverbs 21:5) Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1174 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all, your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Worldview Wednesday!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1174 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Are You a Victim of Your Thoughts? – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1174/ (Day 1174) of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  Life does not always go smoothly. At times it seems that we are bombarded by negative influences on all sides. That is why it is so important to be continually renewing your mind. In today's meditation, let us consider… Are You a Victim of Your Thoughts? Life has a way of unloading her rubbish on our doorstep! It is as if the garbage truck backs up to our houses and empties the contents right into the clean living room. It may be that your spouse works too much and is always tired when he or she is home. It may be that your spouse gripes too much about every little issue. Maybe it's your boss expects too much and keeps piling more onto your overly busy workload. When you are home, is it that your kids who whine too much? If you are facing any of these situations, what is the result?  Your mind is filled with trash…Loads of pessimism, guilt, anxiety—it all piles up.  Your thoughts can become polluted with all the foul trash that is accumulating…unless you continually make a habit of washing it clean through renewal. Remember this very important concept, “Today's thoughts are tomorrow's actions.” Think about what the Jewish leader did at the time of Christ. They killed Christ in their hearts before they killed him on the cross. Could that be why Paul writes in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A2&version=NLT (Romans 12:2,) “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect”? Paul also told us in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A4-5&version=NLT (I Corinthians 13:4-5,) “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” We do have a choice of what we allow to remain in our minds each day. The thoughts may pop into our minds, be we do not have to allow them to take up residence there. Paul says we can get rid of them when he writes in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+10%3A5&version=NLT (2 Corinthians 10:5,) “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” You can proclaim: Negative thoughts, be gone. Selfishness, step back!  Envy…get lost! You are not a victim of your thoughts. If today's thoughts are tomorrow's actions, then what happens when we fill our minds with thoughts of God's love and continue

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1173 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 5 Barriers to Success With Solutions – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1173/ (Day 1173) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, this is not possible. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but we will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, even though you have had times of hardship and adversity, you always seem to recover and succeed. What are some wise tips that you can give me that will help to emulate the pattern of success, in spite of failures?” 5 Barriers to Success With Solutions These five barriers to success are actually easy to overcome, but only when you know they are there. Why do some people achieve their goals while others fail? I believe it's because successful people manage to overcome five barriers that, in many cases, guarantee failure. Here are those barriers and how to overcome them… Uninspiring Goals When most people set goals, they envision a “thing,” such as a particular amount of money, an object (like a new car), or a specific achievement (like writing a book). Unfortunately, these “things I'm going to get or do” goals don't appeal to the core of what motivates you because they miss the point that what you're actually seeking in life. It is POSITIVE EMOTIONS, or how you will feel when you are able to obtain those “things” or “achievements.” This is why “vision boards” rarely work. The Solution: You must know the “WHY” of what you want to obtain or achieve. Ask yourself, “How will I feel when I achieve the goal?” Maybe more importantly, “What will I become, through the process of achieving this goal?” That way, you'll be inspired to do whatever it takes (within legal and ethical bounds) to achieve that goal. Fear of Failure If you're afraid of failing, you won't take the necessary risks required to achieve your goal. For example, you won't make that important phone call, because you're afraid that you'll be rebuffed. Or you won't quit your dead-end job and start your own business because you're afraid that you might end up without any money. The Solution: Decide–right now–that failure, for you, is a strictly temporary condition, not who you are. If things don't go the way you'd like, it's only a setback that, at most, delays your eventual success. In other words, accept the fact that you will sometimes fail, plan for it, but treat that failure as an unavoidable (yet vital) component in your quest. Fear of Success In many ways, this fear is even more debilitating than the fear of failure. Suppose you achieved something spectacular, like enormous wealth. What if it didn't make you happy? What then? What if you ended up losing all of it? What then? Would your friends start...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1172 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Double or Nothing – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1172/ (Day 1172) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,) “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny, which is titled… Double or Nothing The IRS decides to audit Grandpa Jones and summons him to the IRS office. The IRS auditor Sam Smith was not surprised when Grandpa Jones showed up with his attorney. The auditor said, “Well, sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, which you explain by saying that you win money gambling. I’m not sure the IRS finds that believable.” I’m a great gambler, and I can prove it,” says Grandpa Jones. “How about a demonstration?” The auditor, Sam, thinks for a moment and says, “Okay. Go ahead.” Grandpa Jones says, “I’ll bet you a thousand dollars that I can bite my own eye.” Sam, the auditor thinks a moment and says, “It’s a bet.” Grandpa Jones removes his glass eye and bites it. Sam, the auditor’s jaw drops. Grandpa Jones then says, “Now, I’ll bet you two thousand dollars that I can bite my other eye.” Sam, the auditor, can tell Grandpa Jones isn’t blind, so he takes the bet. Grandpa Jones removes his dentures and bites his good eye. Sam, very stunned, now realizes he has wagered and lost three grand, with Grandpa Jones’s attorney as a witness. He starts to get nervous. “Want to go double or nothing?” Grandpa Jones asks. “I’ll bet you six thousand dollars that I can stand on one side of your desk, throw that full glass of water into the wastebasket on the other side, and never get a drop anywhere in between.” Sam, the auditor, twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides there’s no way this old guy could possibly manage that stunt, so he agrees again. Grandpa Jones stands on the desk and takes careful aim, but when he throws the glass, water covers the man’s desk, jacket, briefcase, and everything around it. In addition to that, the glass shatters on the floor. Sam, the auditor, leaps with joy, realizing that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win. But Grandpa Jones’s own attorney, John starts sobbing profusely and puts his head in his hands. “Are you okay?” the auditor asks. “Not really,” says John, the attorney. “This morning, when Grandpa Jones told me he’d been summoned for an audit, he bet me twenty-five thousand dollars that he could come in here and throw water all over your office and that you’d be happy about it!” Well, I hope that...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1171 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom What Is the Good News? – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1171/ (Day 1171) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical Worldview, you must also have a proper understanding of God and His Word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” What Is The Good News? As we continue on with Dr. Heiser's book, it may sound odd to ask that question at this juncture. We have invested several weeks walking through the story of the Bible, the story of how God wants us in his family. We join that family by believing the good news, referred to as the gospel. I've discovered that a lot of people who attend church don’t really understand the gospel. Some can’t articulate it. Others who can express it coherently often struggle with truly surrendering to its simplicity. They suffer inside over truly believing that the gospel is all that’s necessary for everlasting life. Some of you may wonder what I’m talking about. I'm willing to bet, though, that as I explain what I mean, you’ll either see yourself or someone you know in what follows. We’ll start by defining the gospel. I’ll ask some questions along the way that are important to consider for clarity. We also need to talk about what the gospel isn’t, but we will save that for next week. When we get to that part of the conversation, you’ll see what I mean by the struggle I mentioned. If people struggle to define it, what is The Gospel? It’s fairly easy to define what the term “gospel” means. The biblical word “gospel” refers to the message of salvation. The English word “gospel” is a translation of a Greek word (the original language of the New Testament) that referred to a reward given to someone who brought good news. Hence you’ll often hear the term “gospel” equated with “good news” — the good news about the message of salvation. Let's think about that. It might feel like we learned something. I suppose we did, but we didn’t actually learn the thing we needed to know. It’s nice that we can now define a term. But we actually haven’t said anything about the content of the message of salvation. We've defined what the word “gospel” refers to, but not what the gospel actually is. So let’s talk about what the gospel means. What is the content of God's offer of salvation? What are the details of the good news? And why is it good news? The word appears almost 100 times in the New Testament so we ought to be able to figure this out. The apostle Paul probably talks about the gospel message more than any other New Testament writer. He uses the word “gospel” for the message he preached about Jesus in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I+Corinthians+15%3A1-4&version=NLT (I Corinthians 15:1-4.) Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.  It is this Good News...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1170 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom True Success Is Balanced Success – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1170/ (Day 1170) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek.  Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from Zig Ziglar, and it is, “I believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life. You can’t truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles.” True Success Is Balanced Success Since my college years in the late 70s, I have considered Zig Ziglar one of my virtual mentors, as have thousands of people who have been impacted by his life. Not only did he inspire many in all walks of life, but it was evident that his success in life was rooted in his deep commitment and faith which was grounded in his spiritual walk with God. His quote that I read today is certainly grounded in the same worldview that I possess. We as image bearers of God cannot be considered successful in life unless our entire being is dedicated to Him. To be truly successful, we need to be successful in all areas of life. That means that we are whole in the very essence of our lives.   We need to focus and obtain success in each of the following seven areas.  Spiritual, Family, Physical-Health, Mind-Intellect, Personal-Social, Financial, Work-Career. As Christ followers, we are to be the very best that we can be by fully utilizing our God-given abilities and talents. You have to BE the right person, so that you can DO the right actions, in order to HAVE the success that you should. In each of the seven areas of life above, ask yourself how you can BE, DO, and HAVE so that you can bring honor and glory to God as you should. This can be summed up in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+10:31&version=NLT (1 Corinthians 10:31,) “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1169 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all, your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1169 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Are You Listening? – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1169/ (Day 1169) of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  In order to restore us to His Kingdom, God had to become one of us and speak to us in our language. God is not only the creator of everything; He also speaks personally to us. In today's meditation, let us consider… Are You Listening? God communicates to us in our language, just as He did when Jesus was crucified and caused Pilot to list the three main languages of that day as we are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A19&version=NLT (John 19:19), “And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'” The framer of our destiny is familiar with how dull we can be at times. God knows we sometimes miss the signs. Maybe that’s why he has given us so many. The rainbow after the flood signifies God’s covenant. Circumcision identifies God’s chosen, and the stars portray the size of his family. Even today, we see signs in the New Testament church. Communion is a sign of his death, and baptism is a sign of our spiritual birth. Each of these signs symbolizes a greater spiritual truth. The most moving sign, however, was found on the cross. A trilingual, hand-painted, Roman-commissioned sign. Every passerby could read the sign, for every passerby could read Hebrew, Latin, or Greek—the three great languages of the ancient world. “Hebrew was the language of Israel, the language of religion; Latin the language of the Romans, the language of law and government; and Greek the language of Greece, the language of culture. Christ was declared the king of the known world of that day.” God had a message for each, “Christ is king.” The message was the same, but the languages were different. Since Jesus was a king for all people, the message would be in the tongues of all people. There is no language God will not speak, which leads us to a delightful question. What language is He speaking to you? I’m not referring to an idiom or dialect but to the day-to-day drama of your life. God does speak, you know. He speaks to us in whatever language we will understand. There are times He speaks the “language of abundance.” Did you eat today? Are your bills paid? Got a little bit of change in your pocket? Don’t be so proud of what you have that you miss what you need to hear. Do you hear the “language of need”? Or how about the “language of affliction”? Talk about phrases we avoid. But you and I both know how clearly God speaks in hospital hallways, sickbeds, and yes, even funeral homes. God speaks all languages—including yours. Listen to what He said in...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1168 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Self-Motivation – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1168/ (Day 1168) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time where we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, you are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but we will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, it seems like you don't have a real problem staying motivated, but staying motivated for me is a real struggle. I am constantly assaulted by negative thoughts and anxiety about the future. Do you have any wisdom to help me stay motivated more?” Self-Motivation Staying motivated is a struggle for nearly everyone. Even though I tend to be highly disciplined, I also have to be constantly vigilant so that I can remain on task. I have to admit that our drive is constantly assaulted by negative thoughts and anxiety about the future. Nearly everyone faces doubt and depression, but that doesn't mean we should give up. What separates the highly successful from the unsuccessful is the ability to keep moving forward. There is no simple solution for lack of motivation. Even after beating it, the problem reappears at the first sign of failure or discouragement. The key is understanding your thoughts and how they drive your emotions. By learning how to nurture motivating thoughts, neutralize negative ones, and focus on the task at hand, you can pull yourself out of a slump before it gains momentum. I have boiled it down to three primary reasons we lose motivation. Lack of confidence – If you don't believe you can succeed, what's the point in trying? Lack of focus – If you don't know what you want, do you really want anything? Lack of direction – If you don't know what to do, how can you be motivated to do it? First, let's explore how to boost confidence because the first motivation killer is a lack of confidence. When this happens to me, it's usually because I'm focusing entirely on what I think I want and neglecting being grateful for what I already have. When you only think about what you want, your mind creates explanations for why you aren't getting it. This creates negative thoughts. Past failures, bad breaks, and personal weaknesses dominate your mind. You become jealous of others and start making excuses for why you can't succeed. In this state, you tend to make a bad impression, assume the worst about others, and lose self-confidence. The way to get out of this thought pattern is to focus on gratitude. Set aside time to focus on everything positive in your life. Make a mental list of your strengths, past successes, and current advantages. We tend to take our strengths for granted and dwell on our failures. By making an effort to feel grateful, you'll realize how competent and successful you already are. This...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1167 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom A Suspicious Excuse – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1167/ (Day 1167) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22), “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny, which is titled… A Suspicious Excuse Joe, a college student, texted Professor Wellborn early one morning and stated that he could not take his seminar final exam that day because of a funeral. Professor Wellborn texted him back and told Joe that it would not be a problem and that he could make it up the following week. That week came, and again, Joe texted Professor Wellborn and explained that he couldn’t take the test that day either, due to another funeral. Professor Wellborn, being a little irritated, but feeling sorry for Joe texted him back once again and said, “You’ll have to take the test early next week, I can’t keep postponing it.” Joe replies back thanking Professor Wellborn and also said, “I’ll take the test next week if no one dies.” By now Professor Wellborn was really suspicious. And texted back, “How can you have so many people you know pass away in three weeks?” Joe texted, “I don’t know any of these people, but I’m the only gravedigger in town, and I have no choice but to be there.” Well, I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, pass that smile on to someone who really needs it. Our Thursday Thought is “Make sure you understand the situation before passing judgment.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+18:17&version=NLT (Proverbs [18:17]) The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins. As you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1166 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com.) I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so each day will be downloaded to you automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1166 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom God’s Forever Family Part 2 – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1166/ (Day 1166) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical worldview, it is required that you also have a proper understanding of God and His Word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes, we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” God's Forever Family Part 2 As we continue our book review, as part of God's forever family, we will first focus on our everlasting identity with God. Today as part of His Kingdom, we are to be imagers of God. That is, others should see God through us. We cannot fully portray God today, but we will someday be transformed and made like Jesus. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I+John+3%3A2&version=NLT (1 John 3:2) declares, “Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.” The same thought is expressed in different ways in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A29&version=NLT (Romans 8:29), “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A20-21&version=NLT (Philippians 3:20-21) explains, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+3%3A18&version=NLT (2 Corinthians 3:18) also says, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” Our destiny, which is already in process, is to become completed imagers of God in the manner of the ultimate image of God—Jesus. The Bible finishes our story with resurrection and transformation. We are raised to everlasting life and given a glorified body, akin to the one Jesus had after his resurrection. Paul refers to it as a ‘‘immortal body” (l Corinthians [15:35]-58). My favorite passage about our final destiny and glorification is a little more obscure. It’s a scene in the book of Hebrews, where Jesus introduces us to God and God to us. Jesus stands before God and “the congregation,” the heavenly sons of God. He confesses boldly that he feels no shame in having us as siblings in the family and then speaks to God and the supernatural members of the family. This passage is in Hebrews 2:11-12, “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.  For he said to God,...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1165 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Never An Excuse – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1165/ (Day 1165) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from Florence Nightingale, and it is, “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.” Never an Excuse When we fail at anything in life, the first thing that most of us want to do is to either place blame or create an excuse for why we failed.  We have to realize that ultimately, we have to take responsibility for every time we fall short of the mark. Yes, there may be mitigating circumstances that make failure inevitable in certain situations, but there is no reason to give or take an excuse. Analyze the situation, determine why the failure occurred, and then set out to try again. There are very few situations in life that require an excuse. Just begin again with the wisdom of what caused the failure. It may be necessary to retry multiple times if success is not achieved. But as long as you learn from each setback and apply your knowledge to the next attempt, then you will continue to move forward with the additional wisdom that was gained on each previous attempt. Be patient and forgiving with yourself and others. We don't have control of every circumstance, but we certainly have control over how we respond to each situation. Love what you pursue, be diligent, persevere, and endeavor to continue on. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+13:7&version=NLT (1 Corinthians 13:7) Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com).  As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1166/ (tomorrow) for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1164 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1166/ (Worldview Wednesday)!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1164 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Persistent Prayer – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1164/ (Day 1164) of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  Prayer…how do you know when you have prayed enough for a particular situation? How many times do we need to ask God for something we desire or for the care and concern of a loved one? What does the Bible teach about continuing to pray? Does God get tired of our prayers? These are questions that we all have about prayer. So in today's meditation, let us consider… Persistent Prayer Let's start our meditation today with the reading of https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+62%3A6-7&version=NLT (Isaiah )https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+62%3A6-7&version=NLT (62:6-7,) O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. How much you pray and what you ask for reveals a lot about your view of God and your relationship with Him. Generally speaking, the more kind and capable you think He is, the more you desire to pray, and the more you will pray honestly, boldly, and expectantly. As I learn more about God and grow closer to Him, the more my prayers become less about what I desire, and the more they become what God desires for me and to work through me. God encourages us to keep praying until His answer is clear to us. He desires us to keep engaging with Him in prayer. As the verses we just read suggest, we should “take no rest, and give the Lord no rest until He completes His work through us.” Of course, we should not ask selfishly, but for what God desires for us. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A3&version=NLT (James 4:3 )tells us, “And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” God, in His wisdom, does not grant us our selfish desires, which would do harm to us or others. This is especially true if what we asked would draw us away from fellowship with Him. He loves us too much to cause us harm. We should ask for what we desire, if we do so with all sincerity. God is able to sort out the good requests, from our misguided requests, and also teach us the difference as we continue to grow in Him. Think about how children ask for what they want. They may not know the difference between what is good or bad for them in their requests, but as their parents, we should discern the difference and only grant those which are good for them. God is the same with our prayer requests. God is much more generous than even the best parents. He is not reluctant to bless His children. Our prayer lives should reflect...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1163 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Go Bird Watching – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1163/ (Day 1163) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but we will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, there are so many circumstances and situations that I face in life, which cause me to worry often. Whether it is my family, my job and finances, my health, or a number of other issues, at times I feel impending doom, although nothing, in particular, is wrong at the moment. Do you have some wisdom to help me change my mindset so that I do not worry and fear as much?” Go Bird Watching Although I personally don't have a significant issue with worry or fear, I realize that most people do. If it continues over a long period of time, and it is to the point of paralyzing you from living a normal life, then you may need to seek professional counseling or medical assistance. That being said, there are certain truths that you need to grasp hold of and apply to your life that will help alleviate most of this unwarranted worry or fear. Most worry and fear is not real and resides solely in your mind. To change that, you need to change your mindset. We are instructed in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12:2&version=NLT (Romans 12:2,) “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” This takes time and focus, but it can be done. Once you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own thinking, then the process can begin. Jesus was (and is) The Master Teacher, but we need to be willing to learn. He often spoke in parables or stories, and although they are not always easy to understand, they are told in such a way as to be memorable. They are told to force us to think. They challenge us to believe more, to exercise our faith more, and to trust Him more, regardless of what we may see or feel. You see, worry and fear is not only a mental issue, but wrong thinking also affects our heart, the center of our emotions. Jesus' teachings in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A19-34&version=NLT (Matthew [6:19]-34) is a powerful lesson on worry and how to overcome it. Let me read that for you to help us frame a response to worry. “Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1162 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom The Value of a Plumber – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1162/ (Day 1162) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,) “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny, which is titled… The Value of a Plumber Dr. Milton was anticipating a relaxing Saturday morning at home after a very long and hectic week. As he headed to the basement, he thought he heard water running. Upon further investigation, he saw that one of the main pipes was leaking and water was spewing into the laundry room. With all due haste, he called Sam the plumber, who was the best plumber in town and also one of his patients. Sam arrived promptly, unpacked his tools, worked his mysterious plumber-type things and within 30 minutes had the leak fixed, and the excess water all vacuumed up. He then presented Dr. Milton with a bill for $600. Dr. Milton, upon looking at the bill, excitedly exclaimed, “This is ridiculous! I don’t even make that much as a doctor!” Sam, the plumber, just smiled at Dr. Milton and said, “Neither did I when I was a doctor.” Well, I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, pass that smile on to someone who really needs it. Our Thursday Thought is “There is a huge difference between the cost of a service and its actual value.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+8:11&version=NLT (Proverbs [8:11]) For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it. As you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1161 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com).  I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so each day will be downloaded to you automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1163/ (Philosophy Friday)!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1161 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom God’s Forever Family Part 1 – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1161/ (Day 1161) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical Worldview, you must also have a proper understanding of God and His Word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” God's Forever Family Part 1 In last week's lesson, we ended with a firm grasp on some obvious points. Christ is risen. All those who have put their trust in what he did on the cross and his resurrection as the only means of salvation will have everlasting life. But while we are already members of Christ's kingdom (Colossians [1:13]), that kingdom has not yet come in its fullness and finality. The same is true of the defeat and destruction of Satan and various fallen sons of God. It is already in progress, but not yet fully realized. Satan has no claim—no ownership, no power of death—over any member of the kingdom of God. We belong to God through Jesus, and Jesus conquered death so that we might be resurrected to everlasting life with him and God the Father (Romans 6:8-9; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:42-49). Nevertheless, as we are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A2&version=NLT (Ephesians 2:2,) “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” Likewise, the powers of darkness have been dethroned. But they have not surrendered. They resist, fighting a losing battle. Every person who embraces the salvation offered by God through Jesus has been rescued, and their freedom purchased already. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Col+1%3A13-14&version=NLT (Colossians 1:13-14) says, “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” As the kingdom of God grows, the kingdom of darkness diminishes. It's easy to get lost in the still-present evil and suffering of the world instead of looking to the future. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that “Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live,” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1%3A4&version=NLT (Galatians 1:4). The Bible doesn’t condemn this dilemma. It’s honest about it in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A19&version=NLT (Romans 8:19,) “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.” In what remains of the story, Dr. Heiser focuses on the amazing ending. Every great epic has a memorable ending. The biblical story is no exception. Although, if you're expecting harps and clouds get used to disappointment. We tend to process the final act of the Bible's story in...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1160 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom The Secret of a Diplomat – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1160/ (Day 1160) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from Robert Estabrook, and it is, “He who has learned to disagree without being disagreeable has discovered the most valuable secret of a diplomat.” The Secret of a Diplomat Being civil with one another seems to be a lost art in today's divisive world. This is especially true on social media where it is so easy to hide behind the mask of technology. It may be that we just hear from the vocal few who are intolerant on the extreme right and extreme left. With the 24/7 propaganda (i.e., news) outlets, we are bombarded with the same sound bites continually. Pile on top of that when we include all of the amateur experts on social media, spewing their opinions and hate-filled speech, it fuels intolerance on a much grander scale. We, as a human race, are better than that. Especially if we claim to be Christ followers, we should never become embroiled or participate in such situations. We will never agree on all issues with others, not even our close loved ones. We need to learn and understand that it is okay if we do not agree on most issues. We need to learn how to disagree, without being disagreeable. We need to restrain our arguments for the sake of love for others. Even if the issue you disagree on is of significant moral consequence, you can still disagree without being ugly about it. You don't have to be intolerant to the point that your love for others turns to hate.  Our love should transcend our disagreement. We can never reach others for God's Kingdom if they see us as hateful, spiteful, and unwilling to accept them as a person, even if we cannot accept their viewpoint or opinion.  In order to promote and grow God's Kingdom as His image bearers, we need to show His love to everyone that we meet and impact. We need to be diplomats for God's good news to bring His enemies to the table of salvation. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+4%3A5-6&version=NLT (Colossians 4:5-6) Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter+3:15-17&version=NLT (1 Peter [3:15]-17) Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.  But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.  Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1159 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Beauty from Ashes – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1159/ (Day 1159) of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's Word and praying. It is a time, to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  There are times in our lives when it seems that our lives are destroyed as with a raging wildfire through the agony of a death of a spouse or close loved one. Or it may be that your life has crumbled like a building destroyed in an earthquake because of the betrayal of a spouse, and now you have to make it on your own as a single parent. When you are in the dark, it is hard to imagine the light that will ever shine again. In today's meditation, let us consider… Beauty from Ashes Let me share a story of a time when Dan literally experienced beauty from ashes. On June 26, 2012, a wildfire rolled over the mountains and into the city of Colorado Springs. Spurred on by 65 mph wind gusts and fueled by one of the driest seasons on record, the Waldo Canyon fire crested a ridge and drove into the Mountain Shadows neighborhood. In just a few hours, nearly 350 homes burned to the ground. Dan, one of 32,000 people evacuated from their homes, watched events unfold on TV in a living room across town. Surrounded by his family and closest friends, he waited to see whether his home survived. It did, but his neighbors were not as fortunate. When Dan's family was finally able to return home, only a handful of houses still stood on his street. The devastation was shocking. Dan walked his neighborhood, helping those whose homes had been damaged or destroyed. Charred wood and ash coated the area, giving it an ominous black feeling. But just a few weeks after the tragedy, Dan saw the greenest grass imaginable growing up through the ashes. Vibrant, hopeful new life peeked through the black destruction. Though it may have been just a few blades of grass, it reminded Dan that God brings beauty from ashes. God brings good news to the oppressed as spoke through his prophet Isaiah in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+61%3A1-3&version=NLT (Isaiah 61:1-3), The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. I look out my office windows and see the great oaks towering above everything, realizing they have withstood many storms over the years and yet they continue to lift...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1158 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Move Away From Anger – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1158/ (Day 1158) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life, and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, I desire to be a patient and kind person, but there are times when it seems my anger gets the better of me, and I lash out, only to feel defeated afterward. Do you have any wisdom to help me control my anger?” Move Away From Anger I believe that all of us have an issue with anger. There may be times and seasons when it is harder to control, but it still is possible to live a life in which we control our anger or direct our anger in a constructive and beneficial direction. Some people don't seem to get angry on the surface, but underneath their calm demeanor is a boiling cauldron of rage that is likely to explode. Others become very passive/aggressive with their anger, which can be just as destructive to those who are on the receiving end of it. There was a man who tried to defend his bad temper by saying, “I explode, and then it's over with.” It may be to that person, but just like a volcano, that man does not understand or realize that his anger leaves behind a path of carnage. As Aristotle once wrote, “Anyone can get angry…but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy.” I would say that is very true. Few are the persons that can fill all of those categories. The Apostle Paul teaches us in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A26-27&version=NLT (Ephesians 4:26-27,) “And don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry,  for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” God does permit us to be angry on certain occasions. In other words, it is not always sinful to experience or even display anger, but in the same verse, Paul warns us not to let our anger lead us to sin. Anger can be so destructive because actions taken and words spoken in anger cannot be taken back, nor is the damage easy to repair. Anger gives the devil a foothold in our lives that if allowed to continue will destroy us and those with whom we become angry. We need to allow God's Holy Spirit, who resides within us to warn us when our anger becomes sinful, so we can avoid those situations. This is usually more obvious to others, than it may even be to ourselves. We may need to allow those close to us to help us with this. Bursts of temper resulting in rage, lack of control, the desire to hurt another person, and profanity are not righteous anger. Far from it.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1157 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom A Great Night Sleep – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1157/ (Day 1157) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,) “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny, which is titled: A Great Night Sleep Bill always seemed to have the problem of oversleeping. He set multiple alarms, but he was just not a morning person. He continually showed up for work late, and Frank, his boss, was really starting to get irritated with his continual excuses. It got so bad that Frank finally told Bill that he had to either do something to change his ways or his job may be in jeopardy. Bill pondered this for quite some time because he was concerned about losing his job. Frank suggested that maybe he should go see a doctor to see if he had a chronic sleep problem or possibly sleep apnea. Bill took his advice and scheduled a doctor's appointment for that same evening. He mentioned this to Frank, who was pleased that Bill was finally taking some proactive steps to correct his sleep issues. Doctor Phil gave him a complete checkup and determined that it was not sleep apnea, but that maybe Bill was just not sleeping soundly. He prescribed some new sleep aid medicine that had just been released that should allow Bill to sleep soundly and wake the next day well rested. Bill took the pills as prescribed right before bedtime. That night he slept better than he ever had and woke up even before the alarm! He had a leisurely breakfast and drove happily to work very pleased with the results. Bill came in all smiles to the office that day and proclaimed to Frank his boss, “The pill the doctor gave me actually worked!” “That’s fine,” said Frank, “but where were you yesterday?” Well, I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, pass that smile onto someone who really needs it. Our Thursday Thought is “Hard work and a clear conscience is the best sleep aid.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+5:12&version=NLT (Ecclesiastes [5:12]) People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night's sleep. As you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1158/ (tomorrow) for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1156 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so each day will be downloaded to you automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide,...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1156 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Supernatural Infiltration – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1156/ (Day 1156) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical Worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical Worldview, you must also have a proper understanding of God and His Word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” Supernatural Infiltration Remember in last week's lesson what happened in Acts 2 about the coming of the Spirit. The arrival of God's Spirit was the crucial element of a new covenant—a new set of promises God was giving to humanity. Many Christians don’t realize that this also meant God was launching a spiritual war to reclaim not only Jews who had rejected Jesus but also Gentiles, people from the nations he had rejected back at the Tower of Babel. God was in pursuit of his family, and it didn’t matter where his children lived. He wanted them and would find them. The passage I read last week in Acts 2 tells us the Spirit came with wind and fire. Let me again read https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A2-3&version=NLT (Acts 2:2-3, )“Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.” Fire and “burning smoke” were common elements in visions of God’s presence in the Old Testament (Exodus [13:21]-22; Ezekiel 1:4, 13, 27). God at times, came in a “whirlwind” (Isaiah 6:4, 6; Ezekiel 1:4; Job 38:1; 40:6). Jews who heard Peter’s message and saw the coming of the Spirit with their own eyes knew the day of salvation had come. Think about what happened in this scene. Three thousand Jews, living abroad in the nations where their ancestors had been scattered, had come to Jerusalem for a religious feast day. They witnessed the coming of the Spirit and heard about Jesus, the Messiah, and what he had done. They believed in Jesus. They became Christ followers. What do you suppose they did next? They went home. Why does that matter? Because now the lost, divorced nations had three thousand evangelists planted in them. They were like secret agents, embedded in hostile territory held by other gods. They would be God’s initial means to multiply the size of his human family. They were the first wave. Their mission? The same one Jesus had given to his disciples: the Great Commission. Christians know the verses well as we find in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19-20&version=NLT (Matthew 28:19-20,) “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” But again, something is missed. That's the Great Commission all right. But I skipped verse 18, the one that’s usually skipped when people talk about our mission to...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1155 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Rich In Compassion – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1155/ (Day 1155) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek.  Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from Rabbi Mervin Romsky, and it is, “He is a failure as a human being, no matter what his other achievements, whose heart does not hurt for his fellow man. And he is a successful human being, no matter where else he may be lacking, who is rich in compassion.” Rich In Compassion Success in today's age, and probably throughout most of history, has been centered around monetary success and the accumulation of resources. Countries have gone to war over it. Humans are willing to lie, cheat, steal, and murder in order to obtain money and resources. True success is not based on money or resources, although both can be used as a tool to help others. If  a person, including you, focuses on becoming successful, at the expense of the goodwill of others, then that success is worthless and futile. True success is only achieved through money and resources when we use them to help others that are in need of our help. Riches do not come in the accumulation of wealth, but in the distribution of love. If you are willing to sacrifice compassion for another in order to be successful, then any success achieved is a failure. If you are willing to forego your own success and wealth in order to show love and compassion to another person, then even if you do not achieve the success desired, you are truly successful. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A1-7&version=NLT (1 Corinthians 13:1-7) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing.  If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1154 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you for allowing me...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1154 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom All Work Is Kingdom Work – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1154/ (Day 1154) of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  It is easy to get the impression that work done at church or being in a “full time” ministry is somehow more holy or honored than work done in other professions, but that is just not true. In today's meditation, let us consider… All Work Is Kingdom Work The Apostle Peter was tired from a long night of fishing with no catch, but at Jesus' request, he put his boat out in the water again a bit from the shore. As the crowds came near, the staple of Peter's livelihood, his boat, became a floating pulpit from which Jesus preached the Word of God. It's not just those in what we usually consider “full-time” ministry who are called to serve Jesus at work. As long as your work is not illegal or immoral, then as a Christ follower, your work and career is work for God's Kingdom. You may need to be more willing to push out a little bit from the shore, but you do have an impact on the world for the Kingdom. All it takes is a surrendered heart, the faith to believe that God is working in and through you, and the knowledge that what you are doing really matters to God. As we are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A58&version=NLT (1 Corinthians 15:58,) “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” This refers to what is traditionally considered ministry, but all work is Kingdom work, so thereby all work is ministry work. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A23-24&version=NLT (Colossians 3:23) says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” After speaking to the crowds, Jesus told Peter to go out into deep water one last time for a catch. Peter must have thought, “It is in the middle of the day, and good fishing happens at night when the fish are feeding.” He may have also thought, “I am a professional fisherman, and you are a carpenter…Don't you think I know what I am doing? On top of that, he had just finished cleaning his nets, which was no small chore. Instead, Peter was obedient, and his reply is found in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A5&version=NLT (Luke 5:5,) “’Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again.’” To Peter's credit, he trusted Jesus with his work life, every last bit of it. The result was a...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1153 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Be Faithful with Little – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1153/ (Day 1153) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, this is not possible. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, I don't have much in the way of money or resources in my life. What is the best way to make sure I am a good manager of what I have so that it will increase?” Be Faithful with Little It is pretty evident in today's culture that most people are not really good managers with their money. Even among Christ Followers, the lack of good money management is evident, and this has been backed up by many Christian financial counselors. There is basic shortsightedness when it comes to properly managing the money and resources that most people have. Money is important for us to build God's kingdom, but it is more than just money. It includes our time, our talents, and our treasures. There are many aspects of our lives that demand good management, which includes our family, work, time, abilities, and resources. Our resources not only include the money that we earn, but also our property and other possessions. Each of us is responsible for doing our best with what we have materially, while also contributing to the work of God on earth, which includes being generous to those in need. How can we do that if we do not have anything extra to give? Good management of resources is our duty to God, and we must pursue it with diligence. Here are a few items that should be on your financial management checklist. First, know your financial picture, which includes your checking account balances, all debt including your credit card balances, investments, and all monthly commitments. Second, prayerfully build an accurate financial budget and stick to it. Include all members of your family in the planning process. You must have an agreement with everyone for a budget to be effective. Teach your children and grandchildren that money must be earned; it is not an entitlement. Third, focus on paying off your debt as quickly as possible.  Pay off the smaller, high-interest debt first, then work on the larger school loans and mortgages. Fourth, start saving and investing any additional monies that you may have. Fifth, give generously to those who are legitimately in need. Being financially stable is never about how much you make, it is only about how much you spend or invest. We are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+27%3A23-24&version=NLT (Proverbs [27:23]-24,) Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don't last forever, and the crown might not be passed...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1152 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Silence Screams Loudly – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1152/ (Day 1152) of our trek, and it is time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,)  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny, which is titled… Silence Screams Loudly Jim, a member of the local church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, Pastor Peter decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. Pastor Peter found Jim at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, Jim welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. Pastor Peter made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, Jim contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, Pastor Peter took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. Jim was a bit puzzled at such a peculiar move, but he watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow, and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Then Pastor Peter glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As Pastor Peter reached the door to leave, Jim said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.” We live in a world today that tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken. I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, pass that smile on to someone who really needs it. Our Thursday Thought is “Listen to silence; it has much to say.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A25&version=NLT (Hebrews [10:25]) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. As you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1151 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1151 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom God Pursues His Family – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1151/ (Day 1151) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical worldview, you must also have a proper understanding of God and His Word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes, we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” God Pursues His Family As was mentioned from Dr. Heiser in last week's episode (Day 1146), the coming of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of the new covenant described by Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jeremiah [31:31]-34; Ezekiel [36:22]-28). The Spirit’s ministry in each believer makes victory over depravity possible. Think of it as a slap in the face to the supernatural fallen sons of God. But it’s an even more direct assault on another set of supernatural villains. The Spirit’s arrival to dwell within each Christ follower launched an infiltration campaign against the sons of God to whom God assigned the nations he divorced (Deuteronomy 32:8)—the supernatural beings who defected from serving God and became corrupt, abusing the people under their dominion (Psalm 82). Jesus knew all that. We habitually miss it in our reading of the New Testament books that come after the resurrection starting in the book of Acts to the end, the book of Revelation. · The Beginning of the End Jesus’s departure put the coming of the Spirit into motion (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7; Luke 24:49). While the resurrected Jesus was still on earth, he told his followers what was coming right around the corner in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A4-8&version=NLT (Acts 1:4-8), Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” If you keep reading the book of Acts, it doesn’t take long to figure out what Jesus was forecasting. Once he leaves (Acts 1:9-11) the Spirit arrives in (literally) a blaze of glory in the next chapter. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A1-4&version=NLT (Acts 2:1-4) reads, On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1150 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Through Failure – Wisdom Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1150/ (Day 1150) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today's trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let's jump right in with today's nugget. Today's quote is from Gramps, and it is, “Successful people who are also good are good because they’ve come to wisdom through failure. Not much wisdom is gained when success comes easy.” Wisdom Through Failure Some people who appear to achieve easy success do so by taking advantage of and exploiting others. Some people may achieve what appears to be a success through the hard work and inheritance of others. A truly successful person, who is also a good and wise person, or you might say a person of integrity, achieved that success through wisdom and  integrity by working hard and persevering through trials and failures. Wisdom is more often gained through the lessons of failure, than through the rewards of success. Success that is gained too easily does not provide the valuable lessons needed to appreciate success. Hardships and trials are the foundry of life that allows us to be molded and shaped into people of integrity. A person who is wise is also successful, for gaining wisdom is the ultimate level of success. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+20:21&version=NLT (Proverbs [20:21]) An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A13-18&version=NLT (Proverbs [3:13]-15) Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. That's a wrap for today's Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1149 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day's trek will be downloaded automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously Lend to others Generously Lead with Integrity Leave a Living Legacy Each Day I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1149 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Forgiving Others – Meditation Monday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1149/ (Day 1149) of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God's Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.  How easy is it for you to forgive others, especially when the offense was unwarranted? There is a clear example that we can follow, but it is still not easy. In today's meditation, let us consider… Forgiving Others For many people, forgiving others is very difficult, and they struggle with it daily. We would much rather see justice and lean towards revenge instead. Jesus clearly taught in what we refer to as the “Lord's Prayer” that our own forgiveness is tied to how we forgive those who have committed sin against us. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6:12&version=NLT (Matthew [6:12])  says, “And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” The actions of others do not determine our role in the forgiveness process. Let me share with you the story of Jesus's crucifixion and His response to an abundance of unwarranted abuse. The dialogue that day was bitter. It was what we now refer to as “Good Friday,” although it seemed anything but good. From the onlookers https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27:40&version=NLT (Matthew [27:40],) “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” And in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+15:32&version=NLT (Mark [15:32],) “Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.” Bitter words. Sharp with sarcasm. Hateful. Irreverent. Wasn't it enough that he was being crucified? Wasn't it enough that he was being shamed as a criminal? Were the nails insufficient? Was the crown of thorns too soft? Had the flogging been too short? For some, apparently so… Of all the scenes around the cross, this scene as it plays out in my mind always brings tears to my eyes. What kind of people, I ask myself, would mock a dying man? Who would be so base as to pour the salt of scorn upon open wounds? How low and perverted to sneer at one who is laced with pain… The words thrown that day were meant to wound. And there is nothing more painful than words meant to hurt… Jesus was God wrapped in flesh and had all the frailty of a human as he willingly submitted himself to such ridicule and abuse. What would your response have been in the same situation? One of Jesus's closest friends, who had denied Him tells us in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A23&version=NLT (1 Peter [2:23],) He did not retaliate when...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1148 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Muzzle Yourself – Ask Gramps Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1148/ (Day 1148) of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask dad or gramps questions about life in many areas. We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com. So the question for this week is… “Hey, Gramps, How can I be more careful with the words that I speak, and what I say to others? Sometimes I hurt those I love most because of my careless speech.” Muzzle Yourself This is an issue that certainly all of us continually struggle with. James, the half-brother of Jesus, had this to say about our speech in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A1-12&version=NLT (James 3:1-12)… Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring. The book of wisdom, which is Proverbs, also has much to say about our speech. For example, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17%3A28&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:28) says, “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.” When we say the wrong thing at the wrong time, there can be many consequences. It seems, though, that sometimes we just can't help ourselves. We need to realize and remember that we are responsible for everything we say. Sometimes we use our mouth to put others down, to reveal confidences disguised as prayer requests, or to build ourselves up in the eyes of others, even if it is a subtle way...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1147 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Give Half to the Poor – Humor Unplugged Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1147/ (Day 1147) of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life – something to cheer you and provide a bit a levity in your life. We are told in  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30&version=NLT (Proverbs 15:30,) “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22&version=NLT (Proverbs 17:22,)  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let's jump right in with today's funny which is titled… Give Half to the Poor Pastor Peter, the pastor of the local community church in the village, was preaching a rousing sermon about being willing to give to those in need. As he ramps up on his final point, he emphasized it with this statement, “The trouble with the world today is that some people have too much and others have too little. We must give of ourselves and our worldly goods to help the less fortunate.” To drive his point home he caught the attention of one of the church deacons Brother John, and Pastor Peter asked him, “Brother John, If you had a million dollars would you be willing to give half of it to the poor?” Brother John speaks up and proudly said, “Amen, Pastor, I would indeed.” Excitedly, Pastor Peter then says, and Brother John, “If you had two cars, wouldn’t you give one of them to your neighbor next door if they needed it?” Looking a bit embarrassed at this, Brother John sheepishly says…“Well, I don't think I would be able to Pastor.” Pastor Peter then asked, “And why not?”  Brother John replied, “That's different, Pastor, I already have two cars.” Well, I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did, pass that smile on to someone who really needs it. Our Thursday Thought is…“Give of yourself. Be of service to others. Only what you give can be multiplied back into your own life.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6:38&version=NLT (Luke [6:38]) “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Just as you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1148/ (tomorrow) for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 1146 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com). I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so each day will be downloaded to you automatically. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day. As we take this trek together, let us always: Live Abundantly (Fully) Love Unconditionally Listen Intentionally Learn Continuously

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 1146 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom God Became Human – Fixing More than the Fall – Worldview Wednesday Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1146/ (Day 1146) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical worldview is important to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical worldview, it is required that you also have a proper understanding of God and His Word. On our Worldview Wednesday episodes we are in a series in which we are covering another detailed review of a book from one of today's most prominent Hebrew scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. We are taking a deep dive and will share Dr. Heiser’s insights into the question, which is also the title of his book “What Does God Want?” God Became Human – Fixing More Than The Fall On previous weeks, we learned that the only way which God could rescue us from our fallen state and keep the covenants that He made with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David was to become a human and join His human family on earth. Because God became a man in Jesus, he could die. That was important because death could only be defeated by resurrection. You can’t have resurrection without a prior death. Since Jesus was also God, he had the power to bring himself back to life in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A17-18&version=NLT (John 10:17-18), “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.  No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” Since the death of Jesus was God’s plan, God knew from before the foundation of the world that he would raise Jesus from the dead (Acts [2:23]-24, 32; [3:15]; [10:40]; Galatians 1:1). Because of the resurrection, our distance from God was bridged. Death was overcome. Those were the effects of the rebellion in Eden. The Adam and Eve problems, caused by the temptation of the serpent (Satan), were solved. Everyone who believes that Jesus’ death and resurrection provided forgiveness of sin and everlasting life will be in God’s family forever (Romans [4:16]-25; [8:10]-11; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians [6:14]). Once Jesus rose from the dead, he had to return (“ascend”) to heaven. Jesus ascended to heaven and took his throne next to God the Father (Mark [16:19]; John [20:17]; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 12:2). This was a precursor to sending the Holy Spirit, who would indwell believers (Acts [2:33]; Romans 8:9- 11). Jesus had to leave so the Spirit could come (John [14:25]-26; [15:26]; 16:7; Luke [24:49]). The coming of the Spirit was the fulfillment of the new covenant described by Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jeremiah [31:31]-34; Ezekiel [36:22]-28). It would be the Spirit who would provide victory over depravity (Galatians [5:16]-17), and whose works would be “greater” than Jesus’s own (John [14:12]). Jesus knew his death and resurrection were key to the new covenant coming to pass. This is why at the Last Supper Jesus told the disciples that his blood was “the blood of the covenant” poured out for them (Matthew [26:28]; Mark [14:24]; Luke [22:20]). Once Jesus ascended back to heaven, and the Spirit descended to earth, humanity was not helpless against depravity. The bottom line is that for God to clean up the problems with...