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Welcome to Day 2700 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomDay 2700 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 81:8-16 – Daily WisdomWisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2700Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2700 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Heart's Hardness – A Plea for Unwavering Loyalty - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 81:8-16Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome back to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we reach the powerful and poignant conclusion of our trek through Psalm 81 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its final verses, 8 through 16.In our last conversation, we began Psalm 81 with a vibrant, celebratory call to worship, a joyful festival meant to be a perpetual reminder of God's deliverance. The psalmist then recounted a dramatic shift to God's direct voice, recalling His mighty act of removing the "burden from your shoulders" and freeing Israel's "hands from their heavy baskets" of slavery in Egypt (Psalm 81:6). We heard how God answered their cry from the "hidden place of thunder," the awe-inspiring moment at Sinai when He gave them His law.Now, God's direct address continues, moving from a remembrance of His saving acts to a strong command for exclusive loyalty and a heartbreaking lament over His people's persistent disobedience. This section is a profound expression of God's own heart, revealing His deep desire for a relationship of trust and His sorrow over their stubborn rebellion. It culminates in a beautiful, almost wistful, promise of the boundless blessings they would have received if only they had listened.So, let's listen carefully, not just to the words, but to the yearning heart of God as He pleads with His people. A Divine Demand for Exclusive Loyalty(Reads Psalm 81:8-10 NLT)"Listen to me, O my people, if you would only listen to me, O Israel!You must never have a foreign god;you must not worship a foreign god.For I am the Lord your God,who rescued you from the land of Egypt.Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things."Guthrie Chamberlain: God's voice begins with an urgent, repeated, and intimate plea: "Listen to me, O my people, if you would only listen to me, O Israel!" The repetition of "if you would only listen to me" expresses a profound, almost desperate desire for His people to pay attention. He is calling to them as "my people" and "Israel," using covenant names that signify their special, chosen relationship with Him. This is not the voice of a distant commander, but of a personal God who yearns for His people's attention and obedience.The command that follows is absolute and foundational to their covenant: "You must never have a foreign god; you must not worship a foreign god." This is the first and second commandment of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-3). God demands exclusive loyalty and allegiance. In the ancient Near East, it was common for people to worship multiple gods, adding a new god to their pantheon whenever they encountered a new nation or experienced a new need. But God, the God of Israel, forbade this practice completely. He is not one god among many; He is the one true God,...

Welcome to Day 2699 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2699 – “A Clean Life – Wise Words From a Family Meeting.” - 1 John 2:1-11 Putnam Church Message – 08/17/2025 Sermon Series: 1, 2, & 3 John “A Clean Life – Wise Words From a Family Meeting.”   Last week, we explored 1 John 1:5-10 with the focus of “God's Light and Our Blight.” This week, we continue through the letter of 1 John, and we will cover 1 John 2:1-11 as we explore how to live a ‘Clean Life' with “Wise Words from a Family Meeting.” Let's read 1 John 2:1-11 from the NIV, which is found on page 1899 of your Pew Bibles. 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word,/love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. Opening Prayer Books of the Bible are a little like museums. Some are large, focused on several themes treated in a logical, linear manner. Others are small, narrowing in on one particular topic. The book of 1 John is a moderately long letter and follows a meandering path around several themes that are on...

Welcome to Day 2698 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2698 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 81:1-7 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2698 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2698 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Sound of Freedom – A Festival of Joy and Remembrance - A Trek Through Psalm 81:1-7 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we open a new chapter in our journey through the Psalms, a chapter filled with vibrant celebration and a powerful word from God Himself. We're embarking on a trek through Psalm 81 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 7. Psalm 81, like many of the psalms in this collection, is attributed to Asaph. But after the months of dwelling in the heavy emotions of lament, communal suffering, and national tragedy from Psalms 74, 77, and 80, this psalm is like a breath of fresh air. It is a powerful, joyous, and liturgical psalm, likely intended for a major national festival like the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) or the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). It is a vibrant call to a nation to gather, to make music, to shout with joy, and to remember the God who delivered them from slavery. This psalm reminds us that while lament is a sacred and necessary expression of faith, so too is exuberant, celebratory praise. It's a powerful transition from a people crying out for restoration to a people actively celebrating the God who is worthy of all worship. The psalm then takes an extraordinary turn, as God himself speaks directly, recalling His mighty acts and warning His people of the consequences of disobedience. So, let's immerse ourselves in this joyful call to worship and listen for the voice of God in the midst of our celebration. The Call to a Joyful Festival (Reads Psalm 81:1-4 NLT) Sing out loud to God our strength! Shout for joy to the God of Jacob. Sing your psalms, beat the tambourine, and play the sweet lyre and harp. Sound the ram's horn at the new moon, and again at the full moon to announce our festive holidays. For this is a decree in Israel, an ordinance from the God of Jacob. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with an immediate, energetic command to the entire nation: "Sing out loud to God our strength! Shout for joy to the God of Jacob." This isn't a quiet suggestion for private meditation. The Hebrew word for "sing out loud" (ranan) implies a ringing cry, a joyful shout of triumph. The call is to "shout for joy" (rua), a word often used for a war cry or a triumphant blast of a horn, signifying a full-throated, exuberant, and unrestrained expression of praise. The praise is directed at "God our strength" (Elohim ‘uzzenu), the one who gives us power, and to "the God of Jacob," the covenant-keeping God who has a long and faithful history with His people. The psalmist then...

Welcome to Day 2697 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomDay 2697 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 80:14-19 – Daily WisdomWisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2697Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2697 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Gardener's Return, The Leader's Hand - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 80:14-19Today, we reach the powerful and ultimately hope-filled conclusion of our trek through Psalm 80 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its final verses, 14 through 19.In our journey through Psalm 80, we've heard the poignant cry of a people reeling from national turmoil. In verses 1-6, the psalmist, Asaph, lamented God's prolonged anger, asking "How long, O Lord God of Heaven's Armies, will you be angry with our prayers?" He spoke of being fed with sorrow and drinking tears by the cupful, all while being the public scorn of his neighbors. Then, in verses 7-13, the lament intensified through a magnificent agricultural metaphor: Israel as a vine that God Himself had rescued, planted, and nurtured, but whose walls had been broken down, leaving it vulnerable to wild animals and devastation. The central plea was for God to "restore us" and to "smile on us and save us."Now, in these concluding verses, the lament culminates in a final, desperate appeal. The psalmist pleads for the divine Gardener to return to His vineyard and to act on behalf of His people. He then introduces a powerful, messianic plea for God's hand of favor to rest upon a specific leader, "the man of your right hand," a chosen leader who will bring about this restoration. The psalm concludes with a final, three-fold repetition of the central prayer, signifying a persistent, unwavering hope in God's ultimate salvation.So, let's step into this prayer of deep longing and resolute hope, as we witness a people entrusting their future into God's sovereign hands. The Plea for the Gardener's Return(Reads Psalm 80:14-16 NLT)Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven's Armies.Look down from heaven and see our plight.Take care of this grapevine,this shoot you have planted with your own strong hand!For your enemies have cut it down and burned it.May they be destroyed by your rebuke.Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist begins this section with an urgent, heartfelt plea for God's return: "Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven's Armies. Look down from heaven and see our plight." The phrase "Come back" is a desperate cry for God to reverse His apparent absence. The lamenting community understands their dire situation, but they need God to see it, to "look down from heaven and see our plight" (literally, "our suffering" or "our affliction"). This is an appeal for God to witness their devastation firsthand, a hope that seeing their ruin will compel Him to act. The title "O God of Heaven's Armies" is a reminder that this is not a cry to a helpless deity, but to the commander of all celestial forces, the very one capable of intervening with overwhelming power.The plea for God's attention is then specified to the metaphor of the vine: "Take care of this...

Welcome to Day 2696 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Supernatural Intent” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2696 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2696 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 11th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter eleven: “Supernatural Intent.” In the last chapter, we saw how the Old Testament presents the messiah by hiding him in plain sight. The key to God's plan to restore Eden and redeem humanity was for the messiah, Jesus, to die on the cross and then rise from the dead. Only by becoming a man could God ensure that a human king from the line of David would rule over his people without falling into sin and straying spiritually. Only if that king died in the place of his people and rose from the dead could God rightly judge sin and provide salvation all at the same time. Only by the messiah's death and resurrection would fallen people still have a place in God's family council, ruling in that renewed Edenic kingdom, as originally planned. But think about all that required: Jesus had to somehow make sure the supernatural powers of darkness manipulated men to kill him—without understanding what they were really doing. As Paul had said to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 2:6–8), if they really knew what the results were going to be, they never would have crucified the Lord. The life and ministry of Jesus may make more sense when viewed against that backdrop. It's easy for readers of the New Testament, for instance, to get the impression that Jesus' ministry leading up to the cross was somewhat random. After all, the Gospels don't always present the same episodes—for example, the birth of Jesus is found in only two of them (Matthew and Luke), and only one mentions the wise men (Matt. 2). Sometimes scenes appear in a slightly different order in different gospels. But those acts of Jesus recorded in the Gospels leading up to the crucifixion—healing the sick, preaching about the kingdom of God, forgiving sinners, confronting hypocrisy​—were more than the random acts of a traveling wise man who occasionally did miraculous things. There's more going on in the gospel stories than meets the eye. There's an important subtext to what Jesus was doing. Outwitting Evil The event that marked the beginning of Jesus' public ministry was his baptism. It was there that God publicly identified Jesus as his Son (Mark 1:11), and there that John the Baptist identified him as the one who “takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When we read those words from John, we think immediately about the crucifixion. But John's disciples weren't thinking about that. Frankly, no one was. When, close to the end of his ministry—over three years after his baptism—Jesus began to speak of his death, his own disciples rejected the idea (Matt. 17:22–23; Mark 9:30–32). The last thing they...

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Welcome to Day 2695 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2695 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 80:7-13 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2695 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2695 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Vine from Egypt – A Garden Left to Ruin - A Trek Through Psalm 80:7-13 Today, we continue our deeply moving trek through Psalm 80 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 7 through 13. In our last conversation, we heard a desperate communal lament from the psalmist, Asaph. We felt the anguish of a people crying out to God as their Shepherd, questioning, "How long, O Lord God of Heaven's Armies, will you be angry with our prayers?" (Psalm 80:4). We saw the bitter reality of their lives: feeding on sorrow and drinking tears by the cupful, becoming the public "scorn of our neighbors." Their primary plea was for God to "restore us" and to "smile on us and save us" (Psalm 80:3). Now, as we move into this next section, the psalmist continues this prayer for restoration, but he does so through a magnificent and poignant agricultural metaphor. He portrays Israel as a vine, one that God Himself rescued, planted, and tenderly cared for, a vine that once flourished and covered the earth. He then contrasts that glorious past with the vine's present state of ruin and desecration, all to intensify his plea for God, the divine Gardener, to return and care for His vineyard once again. This metaphor would have resonated deeply with the ancient Israelites, a people whose identity and heritage were intrinsically linked to the land and its fruitfulness. It's a powerful picture of a relationship that has fallen into disrepair, and the desperate hope for its renewal. So, let's immerse ourselves in this beautiful and heartbreaking metaphor of a vine planted by God. A Glorious Vine Planted by God (Reads Psalm 80:7-11 NLT) Restore us, O God of Heaven's Armies. Smile on us and save us. You brought a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it here. You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade; the mighty cedars with its branches. The vine spread its branches west to the Mediterranean Sea and east to the Euphrates River. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist begins this section by reiterating the central plea, a refrain that will run throughout the psalm: "Restore us, O God of Heaven's Armies. Smile on us and save us." This repetition serves to reinforce the gravity and single-mindedness of their desire for a complete reversal of their fortunes. They are begging for God's favor to return, for Him to turn His face back to them, for they know that in His smile is their salvation. The psalmist then introduces the magnificent vine metaphor, recounting...

In this episode of the Child Psych Podcast, Tania Johnson, registered psychologist and co-founder of the Institute of Child Psychology, reads Chapter 4 from "The Parenting handbook: Your Guide to Raising Resilient Children." This chapter explores what happens when we parent from a place of reactivity, often driven by stress, overwhelm, or our own unresolved triggers,and how it impacts our connection with our children. Tania and Tammy gently guide listeners through real-life examples, reflective questions, and practical strategies to move from reaction to intention, helping parents cultivate more mindful, attuned responses in everyday moments.Whether you've found yourself yelling more than you'd like or just want to better understand your emotional patterns, this chapter is an invitation to pause, reflect, and grow.Get your free chapter now: https://instituteofchildpsychology.com/myparentinghandbook/?srsltid=AfmBOorLpc0Nr3Se1mhz27nAY6IYa418Ukp0zLuGq60-hnu5HgubzZck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Day 2694 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomDay 2694 – A Joyful Life - God is Light and Our Blight - 1 John 1:5-10Putnam Church Message – 08/10/2025Sermon Series: 1, 2, & 3 John“A Joyful Life – God's Light and Our Blight.” Last week, we explored “A Joyful Life - God is Life,” from 1 John 1:1-4, and we focused on Communion and Joy with God and each other.This week, we continue through the letter of 1 John, and we will cover 1 John 1:5-10 as we explore “God's Light and Our Blight.” Let's read 1 John 1:5-10 from the NIV, which is found on page 1899 of your Pew Bibles.Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.Opening PrayerAt some point in each of our lives, we transition from childhood to adulthood, from student to teacher, from mentee to mentor. Wisely, my parents had me wait a year after high school before entering college. I needed that extra year to mature and earn additional money. By God's grace and planning, it also allowed me to meet Paula in her first year; otherwise, God would have had to work out our meeting in another way. I remember when I was on my way out, heading to college for the first time, I knew that I would be on my own for the rest of my life. My parents did all they could to raise me right, to instill in me solid values, words of wisdom, and examples to follow. When I had to cross the threshold of the house that marked the moment of my transition from dependent child to independent adult, my parents knew that they had taught me the best they knew how, and now the decisions to continue walking in that knowledge were up to me.I may have been on my own physically, at least for a season—until I began to build my own family and emulate the wisdom and lessons my parents had taught me. But I wasn't on my own spiritually. The words and examples of my parents were always there, becoming increasingly relevant and meaningful as I faced my own real-life situations. As I continued to mature as an adult, I can't remember how many times the words of my mom or dad came back to me, and I thought, “That's what they meant!” They also left me a priceless spiritual legacy, introducing me to the Lord Jesus, a respect for God's Word, and a love for others, especially fellow believers.I imagine something similar happened with Jesus' original disciples. They continued to mature in their understanding of the faith after the Lord Jesus pushed His disciples out of the nest and sent...

Welcome to Day 2693 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2693 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 780:1-6 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2693 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2693 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Shepherd's Hidden Face – A Cry for Restoration - A Trek Through Psalm 80:1-6 Today, we begin a powerful and deeply moving trek through Psalm 80 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 6. Psalm 80 is a communal lament, a desperate and repeated cry for God to restore His people. Like the lament psalms we've recently explored, such as Psalms 74 and 79, it is steeped in national tragedy and the anguish of God's apparent absence. However, this psalm is unique in its focus on God's identity as a Shepherd and its use of agricultural and shepherding metaphors to articulate the nation's pain and their fervent desire for revival. The psalmist pleads for God, the Shepherd of Israel, to remember His flock, to turn His face back to them, and to act with His saving power. This psalm gives voice to that difficult, often-long season of suffering when God's anger feels prolonged, and our pleas seem to go unanswered. It's a prayer for a fresh start, a powerful yearning for divine intervention to reverse a season of national turmoil and public disgrace. So, let's immerse ourselves in this desperate plea for divine restoration, feeling the weight of a people crying out from the wilderness of God's silence. The Shepherd's Call to Action (Reads Psalm 80:1-3 NLT) Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead the descendants of Joseph like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your glory and power! Stir up your mighty power! Come to our rescue and save us. Restore us, O God of Heaven's Armies. Smile on us and save us. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with a tender and intimate plea to God as the Shepherd: "Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead the descendants of Joseph like a flock." This imagery is both ancient and deeply personal to the Israelite people. God is not just a distant king; He is a caring Shepherd, and Israel is His flock. This echoes the portrayal of God's leadership in Psalm 78, where "he led his own people like sheep through the wilderness." It's an appeal to God's paternal, protective, and nurturing nature. The psalmist specifically mentions "the descendants of Joseph," which refers to the prominent tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Given their significance, this might suggest the lament comes from the Northern Kingdom, or it could be a general plea for the entire nation, with Joseph representing all of Israel. Regardless, the appeal is to God's faithfulness as their leader, a plea for Him to remember His flock and return to His shepherding duties. The plea for God to act is filled with anticipation and

Feeling scattered, anxious, or like your brain's been hijacked by push notifications and endless scrolling? You're not alone.  This week, we're diving into the digital chaos with anxiety and OCD specialist Jennie Ketcham Crooks, founder of the West Coast Anxiety Clinic, who's helping us understand what our devices are doing to our minds… and what we can do to reclaim our focus, peace, and power. Jennie brings clinical expertise, research experience, and guest spots on everything from Oprah to The View — and offers a smart, practical path to digital detoxing that doesn't involve tossing your phone in a lake or moving to a cabin in the woods. We unpack: How your phone is rewiring your brain (yes, really) Signs it's time for a digital reset — and how to actually do it Why tech isn't the enemy (but your habits might be) What boundaries actually work — and what makes them stick How to return to you — the you that exists offline This isn't about demonizing tech. It's about creating space — space to think clearly, feel deeply, and live intentionally. And if that's not woman's work, then what is? Connect with Jennie:  Website: https://westcoastanxiety.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/becomingjennie/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/jennie.ketcham Related Podcast Episodes: Digital Decluttering: How to Make Tech Your Assistant, Not Your Adversary with Amanda Jefferson | 312 Your Guide to a More Organized & Intentional Life with Shira Gill | 304 Women, Addiction and Recovery with Patti Clark | 324 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!

Welcome to Day 2692 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2692 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 79:9-13 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2692 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2692 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: For Your Name's Sake – The Ultimate Appeal - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 79:9-13 Today, we reach the powerful and ultimately hopeful conclusion of our poignant trek through Psalm 79 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its final verses, 9 through 13. In our journey through Psalm 79, we've plunged deep into the raw agony of a communal lament. In verses 1-4, we witnessed the utter devastation of Jerusalem and the desecration of God's holy Temple, hearing the cries over unburied dead and crushing national shame. Then, in verses 5-8, Asaph, the psalmist, questioned God about the duration of His anger, pleading "How long, O Lord?" while simultaneously redirecting God's wrath toward the pagan nations who did not know Him. He also humbly acknowledged Israel's own past sins, appealing for God's swift mercy despite their unworthiness. Now, in these concluding verses, the lament reaches its climax and finds its resolution in a powerful appeal to God's own glory. The psalmist shifts the primary argument for divine intervention from Israel's suffering or even their partial repentance to the ultimate stakes: God's own glorious name and reputation among the nations. It's a fervent prayer for vindication, not just for Israel, but for the very character of God. The psalm culminates in a profound promise of perpetual praise, even from a people still reeling from catastrophe. So, let's immerse ourselves in this final, desperate, and ultimately hope-filled plea for God to act for His name's sake. (Reads Psalm 79:9-10 NLT) Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Rescue us and purge away our sins for the honor of your name. Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?” Show us your mighty power, and take revenge for the spilled blood of your servants. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm opens this final section with an urgent, desperate plea, grounded in God's redemptive character: "Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name." The psalmist appeals to God as the "God of our salvation," emphasizing His proven track record as a deliverer. The repetition of "Help us!" underscores the extremity of their need. But the key argument here, repeated twice, is "for the glory of your name." This is the ultimate appeal in a lament of national catastrophe. It's not primarily for Israel's comfort, or even just for their justice, but for the sake of God's own reputation and honor among the nations. If Israel, God's chosen people, remains in such utter ruin, humiliated and without recourse, God's glory is diminished in the eyes of the world. This appeal is far broader than mere self-interest; it's a profound concern for the worldwide recognition of God's power and...

Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for FreeBSD Project, Your Guide to Lock-In Free Infrastructure, and we interview David Gwynne from the University of Queensland and developer on the OpenBSD project. NOTES This episode of BSDNow is brought to you by Tarsnap (https://www.tarsnap.com/bsdnow) and the BSDNow Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/bsdnow) Headlines Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for FreeBSD Project (https://freebsdfoundation.org/blog/software-bill-of-materials-sbom-for-freebsd-project/) FreeBSD Summer 2025 Roundup: Your Guide to Lock-In Free Infrastructure (https://klarasystems.com/articles/freebsd-guide-to-lock-in-free-infrastructure) Interview David Gwynne from the University of Queensland and developer on the OpenBSD project. Interview thoughts from Benedict and Jason Tarsnap This weeks episode of BSDNow was sponsored by our friends at Tarsnap, the only secure online backup you can trust your data to. Even paranoids need backups. Send questions, comments, show ideas/topics, or stories you want mentioned on the show to feedback@bsdnow.tv (mailto:feedback@bsdnow.tv) Join us and other BSD Fans in our BSD Now Telegram channel (https://t.me/bsdnow) Special Guest: David Gwynne.

Welcome to Day 2690 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2690 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 79:5-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2690 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2690 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: How Long, O Lord? – A Plea for Mercy, A Cry for Justice - A Trek Through Psalm 79:5-8 Today, we continue our poignant and urgent trek through Psalm 79 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 5 through 8. In our last conversation, we plunged into the raw, unspeakable anguish of Psalm 79:1-4. We witnessed the utter devastation of Jerusalem and the desecration of God's holy Temple by invading pagan armies. We felt the horror of the unburied dead, left as food for wild animals, and the crushing burden of being mocked by surrounding nations, all of which amounted to a direct insult to God Himself. It was a cry born from unprecedented sacrilege and profound national dishonor. Now, as we move into this next section, Asaph, the psalmist, shifts from describing the catastrophe to directly questioning God about the duration of His anger. He then transitions to fervent imprecations—prayers for God's judgment—against the pagan nations who do not know God, acknowledging Israel's own past sins as a contributing factor, yet appealing desperately for God's mercy rather than His continued wrath. This tension between recognizing their own culpability and pleading for justice against their oppressors is a hallmark of communal laments. So, let's immerse ourselves in this anguished yet hopeful appeal, feeling the weight of their desperate longing for an end to suffering and a demonstration of God's righteous power. (Reads Psalm 79:5-6 NLT) How long, O Lord? Will you be angry with us forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out your wrath on the nations that don't acknowledge you— on kingdoms that don't call on your name. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins this section with an agonizing, direct question to God about the duration of their suffering: "How long, O Lord? Will you be angry with us forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?" This "How long?" is a quintessential lament cry in the Psalms (Psalm 13, 74, 89). It signifies an unbearable continuation of distress and a desperate longing for an end to divine wrath. The psalmist acknowledges that their suffering is perceived as stemming from God's anger, fueled by His "jealousy"—His righteous intolerance of idolatry and unfaithfulness, which burns intensely like consuming fire. This is a theological wrestling match. If God's anger is indeed burning, how long will it last? Will it be "forever"? This expresses the profound fear of a permanent, unending state of divine displeasure and abandonment, a terrifying thought for a people whose very existence depended on God's favor. This very fear echoes the question in Psalm 74:1: "Why have you abandoned us forever?" Here, the focus is on the anger that underpins that perceived abandonment. The psalmist then immediately redirects...

Welcome to Day 2689 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2689 – A Joyful Life Because God Is Life Putnam Church Message – 08/03/2025 Sermon Series: 1, 2, & 3 John “A Joyful Life - God is Life.”   Last week, we began a new systematic verse-by-verse study of the letters 1, 2, & 3 John, followed by Jude with insights and introduction to 1, 2, & 3 John., This week, we will begin going through these letters, and today, we will cover 1 John 1:1-4 as we explore “A Joyful Life - God is Life.” Let's read 1 John 1:1-4 from the NIV, which is found on page 1898 of your Pew Bibles. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared;/ we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father/ and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete. Opening Prayer The Old Elder's Sacred Hymnal Imagine, if you will, a community nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains, where generations had always found their deepest solace and strongest unity in the act of worship. At the very heart of their gatherings was a sacred treasure: the Sacred Hymnal. It was an ancient, hand-bound volume, filled not just with words and notes, but with the very deep and rich hymns of the faith that had been the core of their Christian community for centuries. This Hymnal held the essence of their spiritual identity,> their history with the Lord, their enduring promises, and their profound, unshakeable joy. Its melodies and truths had been intimately given and taught by the Divine Composer Himself, who had shared His very heart in song through His Beloved Son. Now, only a few, very old members of this community, the Original Witness Bearers, had actually walked and sung with the Beloved Son. They had seen Him teach the very first hymns, had heard His voice ring out with divine authority, and had even felt the tangible presence of His Spirit as their hands held the first copies of the Hymnal's truths. Their lives were utterly intertwined with these living songs. But as years turned into decades, and the younger generations grew up, many had begun to rely on distant echoes of the hymns. Some knew the words on the page, but the melody had faded in their hearts. Others listened to flimsy, modern tunes, catchy but shallow, that lacked the profound depth and spiritual weight of the originals. A subtle, lethargic boredom, a kind of spiritual apathy, crept into the community. The initial thrill of shared worship

Welcome to Day 2691 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Hidden In Plain Site” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2691 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2686 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 10th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter ten: “Hidden in Plain Sight.” Since the fall, God had been trying to revive his original goal for Eden: to live with both his divine and human family on earth. God had told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply, thereby spreading God's good rule over the rest of the planet. God wanted the whole earth to be a place where heaven and earth met, where humanity could enjoy the divine, and where the divine could enjoy earth and humanity. We know how that went. A History of Failure Humanity sinned and was expelled from God's presence. Eden was shut down. The divine enemy, the Serpent, was banished—cast or cut down—from God's presence to earth, the place where death reigns, where life is not everlasting. He became lord of the dead, and therefore had claim to every human being who would ever live—because they sin, and sin's wages is death (Rom. 6:23). After the flood, God had repeated the goal of Eden to Noah and his family: be fruitful and multiply. It was a do-over. Instead, humanity rebelled. Rather than obey God and spread the knowledge and rule of God everywhere, they would build a tower where God could come to them. Failure again. God wouldn't go for it. He mixed up the nations' languages and turned the nations over to his divine council to rule. Then he decided to start over with a new human family—through Abraham and Sarah. He would get back to the other nations—through Abraham's descendants—once his kingdom rule was revived (Gen. 12:3). This, too, was a failure. So was the next attempt, bringing Israel out of Egypt, then to Sinai, and then finally to the Promised Land. Israel failed. Eventually God raised up David, and then Solomon. But after Solomon died, Israel followed other gods and the Israelites turned on each other. God had to expel them from the Promised Land in exile. The human story, apart from God's presence, is the story of failure. This is because humanity is lost since the fall. All humans are imperfect and estranged from God. No human leader could be trusted with starting and maintaining God's kingdom. They would resist loyalty to God alone. They would go their own way. Humans would sin, fail, and join the lord of the dead, God's great enemy. But God's vision of sharing the blessing of being steward-kings over a new Eden couldn't happen without humans. And the only way humans would ever be able to hold up their end of God's plan would be for them to be made new again. The curse of the fall must be lifted. And for that, God had a plan. The Solution—and a Problem God needed a man who was more than

Welcome to Day 2688 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2688 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 79:1-4 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2688 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2688 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: A City Desecrated, A People Dishonored – A Cry from the Rubble - A Trek Through Psalm 79:1-4 Guthrie Chamberlain: Today, we begin another poignant and heart-wrenching trek, as we open Psalm 79 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 4. Psalm 79, like so many we've explored recently, is attributed to Asaph. But after the sweeping historical narrative of Psalm 78, which culminated in God's faithful establishment of David as shepherd-king despite Israel's constant rebellion, Psalm 79 thrusts us abruptly back into the darkest depths of national tragedy. This psalm serves as a powerful communal lament, echoing the anguish we felt in Psalm 74, specifically crying out in the immediate aftermath of the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and its holy Temple, most likely by the Babylonians in 586 BC. While Psalm 74 expressed the shock and confusion of the Temple's ruin and God's apparent abandonment, Psalm 79 focuses with a horrifying intensity on the desecration of the sacred city itself, the brutal slaughter of its inhabitants, and the profound, unspeakable shame caused by the unburied dead. It's a desperate, visceral cry for God's immediate attention and vengeance in the face of unprecedented sacrilege and dishonor. For the ancient Israelites, this was not just a military defeat; it was a cosmic catastrophe, an assault on God's very dwelling place and His chosen people, whose identity was inextricably linked to their land, their city, and their Temple. The horror described here was the ultimate nightmare, a complete reversal of all covenant blessings. So, let's immerse ourselves in this raw, agonizing lament, feeling the weight of their despair and the profound pain of utter desecration and dishonor. (Reads Psalm 79:1-4 NLT) O God, your inheritance has been invaded! Your holy Temple has been defiled, and Jerusalem is a heap of ruins. The bodies of your servants and your godly people have been left as food for the vultures and wild animals. The blood of your people has been poured out like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one left to bury them. We are mocked by our neighbors, scoffed at by those around us. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with a cry of profound violation and outrage directed straight to God: "O God, your inheritance has been invaded! Your holy Temple has been defiled, and Jerusalem is a heap of ruins." This is an immediate, gut-wrenching appeal. The psalmist doesn't just say their land has been invaded; he says "your inheritance." This implies God's...

Welcome to Day 2687 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomDay 2687 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 78:56-72 – Daily WisdomWisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2687Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2687 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Heart's Persistent Wanderings – From Abandonment to the Shepherd-King - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 78:56-72Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome back to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we reach the poignant and pivotal conclusion of our extensive trek through Psalm 78 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its final verses, 56 through 72.In our journey through this monumental didactic psalm, Asaph, the psalmist, has meticulously recounted Israel's history. We've seen their early failures, their ungrateful rebellion in the wilderness despite God's astounding miracles—from the splitting of the Red Sea to the daily manna and water from rocks. We also explored God's righteous judgment for their persistent unbelief, even as His enduring compassion spared them from complete annihilation. We watched as God faithfully led them into the Promised Land, driving out nations and settling them securely in their inheritance.Now, as we delve into this final segment, the story unfolds into a new phase of Israel's unfaithfulness, occurring after they had entered and settled the Promised Land. This leads to profound divine judgment: God's abandonment of His dwelling place at Shiloh and His subsequent, sovereign choice of Mount Zion and the Davidic dynasty. This narrative culminates in the powerful affirmation of David as the shepherd-king, foreshadowing the ultimate Shepherd-King, Jesus Christ.This section explains a critical shift in God's dealings with Israel, shedding light on the reasons behind the establishment of Jerusalem as the spiritual center and the unique covenant with David. It's a sobering reminder of the consequences of persistent unfaithfulness, but also a beautiful testament to God's ultimate plan and His ability to choose and raise up faithful leaders.So, let's lean in and absorb the final, crucial lessons from Israel's history of wandering hearts and God's sovereign direction.(Reads Psalm 78:56-64 NLT)But they continued to test and rebel against God Most High,refusing to obey his decrees.They turned away and were disloyal like their ancestors;they were as unreliable as a crooked bow.They angered him by building pagan shrines;they made him furious with their idols.When God heard them, he was furiousand completely rejected Israel.He abandoned his Tabernacle at Shiloh,the tent where he had lived among them.He allowed their Ark of the Covenant—his glory—to be captured;he surrendered his people to their enemies.He sent fire to consume their young menand caused their young women to die in battle.Their priests were slaughtered by the sword,and their widows could not mourn.Guthrie Chamberlain: Asaph brings the historical lesson into the period after the conquest of Canaan, demonstrating that entering the Promised Land did not end Israel's cycle of rebellion: "But they continued to test and rebel against God Most High, refusing to obey his decrees." The persistent nature of their sin, already...

Welcome to Day 2686 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Holy War” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2686 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2686 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 9th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter nine: “Holy War.” The Bible is a controversial book. People who don't see it as the Word of God often object to what it says. But some parts of the Bible make even Christians uncomfortable. Israel's war to conquer the Promised Land is a case in point. Why? Mostly because of the killing. It seems indiscriminate and far too thorough. Why was it necessary to kill entire populations in some cities—men, women, children, and even livestock? Why not let the inhabitants surrender? Wouldn't it be better to exile them than to slaughter them? There's an answer to those objections—but I've discovered that the answer seems to make Christians as uncomfortable as the problem. You can only understand the rationale and motive of the conquest accounts when you see them through the supernatural worldview of an Israelite. Israel's Supernatural Logic The battles for the Promised Land were framed by two factors, both deeply rooted in Israel's understanding of their world as not only the abode of humankind but also the prize in an unseen spiritual war. We've talked about both of them already, but let's review. One factor is the fallout from the events at the Tower of Babel, when God decided, after the nations rebelled against him, that he no longer wanted a direct relationship with the people of those nations. Instead, he assigned members of his divine council, the sons of God, to govern them (Deut. 4:19–20; 32:8–9). Afterward, he called Abraham and enabled him and his wife Sarah to have a child (Isaac), from whom the people of Israel would come. We learned in Psalm 82 that these lesser gods became corrupt. They allowed injustice. People came to worship them instead of the Most High God. Thus, they became enemies of God and his people, Israel. Since some of those nations were within the land of Canaan, which God purposed to give to his nation Israel after the exodus, Moses and the Israelites believed the people who occupied those lands were their mortal enemies and their gods would do all they could to destroy Israel. The second factor was even more frightening for the Israelites. It's best explained by what happened when the Israelites arrived at the border of Canaan, the Promised Land. Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan to report on the land and its inhabitants. The spies came back with evidence that the land itself was wonderful—it flows “with milk and honey”—just as God had told them (Num. 13:27). But then they dropped a bombshell: “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it...

Welcome to Day 2685 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2685 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 78:40-55 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2685 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2685 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: Unyielding Rebellion Meets Unwavering Faithfulness - A Trek Through Psalm 78:40-55 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome back to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we continue our crucial and comprehensive trek through Psalm 78 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 40 through 55. In our journey through Psalm 78, Asaph, the psalmist, has been delivering a solemn history lesson to future generations. We've seen Israel's early failure, the Ephraimites turning away from battle because they forgot God's covenant. We then witnessed God's amazing, yet sometimes punitive, provision in the wilderness – water from rocks, manna, and quail, followed by judgment for their greedy, unbelieving hearts. Most recently, in verses 32-39, we reflected on Israel's superficial repentance, their deceitful hearts, and God's incredible, enduring compassion despite their persistent unfaithfulness, remembering they were merely mortal. Now, as we move into this next chapter of Israel's story, Asaph intensifies his account of Israel's repeated rebellion and their blatant provocation of God, even while recounting the truly devastating plagues God unleashed on Egypt for their sake. This section powerfully contrasts Israel's obstinacy and forgetfulness with God's unwavering faithfulness, His overwhelming power, and His meticulous fulfillment of His covenant promises to bring them into the Promised Land. It reveals a pattern of human failure that, tragically, even divine miracles often failed to break. So, let's lean in and absorb the humbling lessons of Israel's persistent provocation and God's relentless, powerful love. (Reads Psalm 78:40-42 NLT) Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland. Again and again they tested God's patience and put the Holy One of Israel to the test. They did not remember his power or the day when he rescued them from their enemies. Guthrie Chamberlain: Asaph returns to the agonizing theme of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, summarizing their wilderness behavior: "Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland." The exclamation "Oh, how often" (Hebrew: kamah) emphasizes the frequency and multitude of their acts of rebellion. This wasn't a single incident; it was a continuous pattern throughout their forty years in the desert. Their actions "grieved his heart" (literally, "pained him," "vexed him") – a powerful anthropomorphism (attributing human emotion to God) showing God's deep sorrow and distress over their constant defiance. The "dry...

Welcome to Day 2684 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2684 – Insights and Introduction: 1, 2 & 3 John Putnam Church Message – 07/27/2025 Sermon Series: 1, 2, & 3 John Insights and Introduction: 1, 2 & 3 John   Last week was the final message in our New Testament Orientation Series, and we learned about: The Church, Salvation, and Eschatology: God's Unfolding Plan.” This week, we begin a new systematic verse-by-verse study of the letters 1, 2, & 3 John, followed by Jude. If it goes as planned, it should take us up to Thanksgiving. Today, we will cover some insights and an introduction to the letters from John. While we won't focus on any verses, we will anchor today's teaching on 1 John 1:3-4 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.[b] Opening Prayer The Old Storyteller's Ancient Text Imagine, if you will, a community nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains, where generations had always depended on the wisdom passed down through cherished narratives. Their most precious possession was the Ancient Text, a truly sacred book of wisdom. It wasn't just old parchment; it held the very essence of their mountain identity, their family history, their enduring promises, and their profound joy. This Text had been intimately penned and bestowed by the Founding Elder himself, a wise and benevolent patriarch who had received its truths directly from the very Source of Ancient Wisdom. Now, only a few, very old members of this community, the Original Scribes and Storytellers, had actually lived with the Founding Elder. They had seen him write the Text with his own hand, heard his direct explanations of its profound truths, and literally handled its pages, studying its intricate details. Their lives were interwoven with the Text's living story. As the Original Scribes and Storytellers grew older, nearing the twilight of their days, they noticed a troubling trend in the valley. Younger folks, who had never personally met the Founding Elder, were starting to forget the true nature of the Ancient Text. Instead of seeking out the Original Scribes for genuine understanding, they were listening to "Whispers from the Fading Pages." These whispers weren't outright lies, not at first. Some claimed, "Oh, the Text is purely for personal interpretation; you don't need to actually read its words or live by its wisdom, just feel its presence." Others spread rumors that "the Text's wisdom is too old-fashioned for these new times." Still others introduced cheap, flimsy pamphlets, filled with easy platitudes, that looked shiny and new but utterly lacked the profound truth and life-changing power of the Ancient Text. These whispers created confusion, apathy, and subtle divisions within the extended mountain family. The most...

Welcome to Day 2683 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2683 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 78:32-39 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2683 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2683 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Heart's Deceit – God's Enduring Compassion - A Trek Through Psalm 78:32-39 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome back to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we continue our crucial and comprehensive trek through Psalm 78 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 32 through 39. In our last conversation, we delved into a sobering chapter of Israel's history recounted by Asaph in Psalm 78:17-31. We saw their persistent rebellion and direct testing of God, demanding food in the wilderness despite His astounding provision of water from rock. We then witnessed God's righteous fury and His miraculous, abundant provision of manna and quail, which, for their ungrateful and unbelieving hearts, turned into an instrument of swift judgment. God struck down their strongest men while the very meat they craved was still in their mouths. It was a stark lesson on the cost of demanding, ungrateful faith. Now, as we move into this next section, the narrative continues to unfold, revealing a disturbing cycle: Israel's seemingly superficial repentance, their deceitful hearts, and their short-lived loyalty, juxtaposed with God's incredible, unwavering compassion and patience. This portion of the psalm offers a profound insight into the human heart's capacity for backsliding and God's enduring commitment to a people who often failed Him. So, let's lean in and absorb the humbling lessons of human frailty and the breathtaking truth of divine steadfastness. (Reads Psalm 78:32-33 NLT) But despite all this, they kept on sinning; they refused to believe in his wonders. So he ended their days in a puff of wind; their years vanished in terror. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist opens this section with a heartbreaking continuation of Israel's pattern: "But despite all this, they kept on sinning; they refused to believe in his wonders." The phrase "despite all this" refers directly to the mighty acts of God and even His recent judgments described in the previous verses—the miraculous provision of manna and quail, and the subsequent plague. Even after witnessing such undeniable power and experiencing such direct consequences, they "kept on sinning." This highlights their profound spiritual stubbornness and resistance. Their fundamental flaw was persistent unbelief: "they refused to believe in his wonders." They saw the miracles, they experienced the divine provision, they even endured the judgment, yet they still refused to truly trust in God's power, His goodness, and His faithfulness. This wasn't ignorance; it was active disbelief in the face of overwhelming evidence. This unbelief was the root cause of their continuous sin. The consequence of this sustained unbelief and...

Welcome to Day 2682 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2682 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 78:17-31 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2682 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2682 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: Testing the Almighty – The Cost of Ungrateful Hearts - A Trek Through Psalm 78:17-31 Today, we continue our crucial and comprehensive trek through Psalm 78 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 17 through 31. In our last conversation, we began Asaph's solemn history lesson for future generations. We saw the painful example of the Ephraimites' failure in battle due to their unfaithfulness, their refusal to keep God's covenant, and their tragic forgetfulness of God's glorious deeds. Then, Asaph immediately reminded us of those very deeds: God's astounding miracles in Egypt, His splitting of the Red Sea, His constant guidance by cloud and fire, and His miraculous provision of water from solid rock in the wilderness (Psalm 78:9-16). The contrast was stark: human rebellion against divine faithfulness. Now, as we move into this next section, the story continues, detailing a new, disturbing chapter in Israel's journey: their persistent rebellion and direct testing of God, even in the face of His overwhelming provision. It reveals the devastating consequences of demanding hearts that question God's power and generosity, demonstrating that God provides, but also justly judges ungrateful unbelief. So, let's lean in and absorb the sobering lessons of Israel's continued rebellion and God's mighty, yet sometimes punitive, response. (Reads Psalm 78:17-20 NLT) But they continued to sin against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved. They even spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? Yes, he hit the rock, and water gushed out, and streams flowed like rivers! But can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?” Guthrie Chamberlain: Despite the astonishing miracles of water from the rock, the constant guidance by cloud and fire, and the fresh memory of Red Sea deliverance, Asaph immediately reveals Israel's shocking reversion to rebellion: "But they continued to sin against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert." The word "continued" (yâsaph) emphasizes the persistent, habitual nature of their sin. They weren't just making a one-time mistake; this was a pattern of defiance. They rebelled "against the Most High" – El Elyon, emphasizing God's supreme authority and transcendence. This rebellion occurred "in the desert," a place of utter dependence on God, making their unfaithfulness even more grievous. Their rebellion manifested as a direct, stubborn challenge to God's power: "They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved." To "test...

Welcome to Day 2681 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Sacred Space” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2681 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2681 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 8th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter eight: “Sacred Space.” The Israelites spent over a year at Mount Sinai. Why so long? They had already entered into a covenant with God and received the Ten Commandments. But they still had a lot to learn. It was one thing to promise to believe in and be loyal to the God of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was another to know what God expected and what he was like. The Concept of Holiness Many of the strange laws and practices of the Old Testament are grounded in the need to teach people that God is unlike everything else. In his nature and character, he is unique; he is completely other than humanity and anything else. For Israel, that was a truth that had to be reinforced at all times. Otherwise, God might be thought of as ordinary. The biblical word for the idea of God's unique otherness is holiness. It means “to be set apart” or “to be distinct.” The concept isn't necessarily about moral conduct​—about the idea that we should behave a certain way to reflect God's distinct moral standards—though that is included (Lev. 19:2). God wasn't content to simply give Israelites an intellectual explanation of holiness. He wanted the concept of his otherness to permeate life in ancient Israel. The Bible tells us this was accomplished through rituals (symbolic acts) and by rules for approaching sacred areas. How Is God “Other”? The short answer to this question is “in every way,” but that's too abstract. The Bible is much more down-to-earth, and the rituals and rules for Israelite community living reflect that. For example, the Bible teaches us that God was not only the source of Israel's life—he was life. God is not of this earth, a place where there is death, disease, and imperfection. His realm is supernatural. Our realm is terrestrial. The earthly space he occupies is made sacred and otherworldly by his presence. The space we occupy is ordinary. God is the polar opposite of ordinary. In ancient Israel, these ideas were conveyed by the fact that people had to be invited and purified to occupy the same space as God. Many laws in the Old Testament regulate this purifying. Israelites could be disqualified (made “unclean”) from sacred space by a variety of activities and conditions. Having sex, losing blood, certain physical handicaps, and touching a dead body (human or animal) all rendered an Israelite unclean. Israelites were forbidden from eating certain birds of prey that ate from dead animals (e.g., vultures, hawks; Lev. 11:13–19) or animals that might be found on or inside a carcass (e.g., lizards, mice; Lev....

Welcome to Day 2680 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2680 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 78:9-16 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2680 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2680 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: Remembering God's Wonders, Recalling Our Failures - A Trek Through Psalm 78:9-16 Today, we continue our crucial and comprehensive trek through Psalm 78 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 9 through 16. In our last conversation, we opened Psalm 78, a powerful didactic psalm by Asaph. We heard his solemn call for God's people to listen to his "teaching" and "parables" – profound truths from their collective past. The purpose was clear: to ensure that the next generation would "not hide these truths from our children," but would learn from history, set their "hope anew on God," obey His commands, and avoid being "stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful" like their ancestors (Psalm 78:1-8). Asaph was setting the stage for a critical history lesson, explaining why it was so vital to pass on the glorious deeds of the Lord. Now, Asaph begins that very history lesson, starting with a stark example of early Israelite failure, followed immediately by a powerful reminder of God's overwhelming, miraculous power during the Exodus and wilderness journey. This juxtaposition is key: human unfaithfulness contrasted with divine faithfulness. It challenges us to examine our own patterns of forgetting God's past goodness when faced with new trials. So, let's lean in and absorb the hard-learned lessons and awe-inspiring wonders of Israel's early history. (Reads Psalm 78:9-11 NLT) The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned and fled on the day of battle. They did not keep God's covenant; they refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done— the wonderful miracles he had shown them. Guthrie Chamberlain: Asaph immediately plunges into a painful historical example of Israelite failure, focusing on a prominent tribe: "The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned and fled on the day of battle." Ephraim was a powerful and numerous tribe, the descendants of Joseph, and often held a leadership role in the Northern Kingdom. The "bow" was a significant weapon in ancient warfare, implying they were well-equipped and prepared for battle. Yet, despite their military readiness, they "turned and fled" when it counted most – "on the day of battle." This wasn't a strategic retreat; it was a humiliating defection, a failure of courage and commitment. This military failure, however, was not simply due to a lack of skill or strength. Asaph reveals its deeper, spiritual root: "They did not keep God's covenant; they refused to live by his law." Their military cowardice was a symptom of their spiritual unfaithfulness. The "covenant" (berit) was the foundational agreement between God and Israel, establishing their...

Welcome to Day 2679 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomDay 2679 – New Testament Orientation – “The Church, Salvation, and Eschatology: God's Unfolding Plan”Putnam Church Message – 07/20/2025Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 12: “The Church, Salvation, and Eschatology: God's Unfolding Plan” Last week, we explored "The General Letters of the New Testament:” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT) 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[a] a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.”[b]This week is the 12th and final message in our New Testament Orientation Series, and we will learn: The Church, Salvation, and Eschatology: God's Unfolding Plan” Ephesians 2:13-14 (NLT) "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united us both into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us."Opening PrayerOur Loving and Sovereign God, as we reach the culmination of our journey through Your New Testament, we pause to reflect on the grand tapestry of Your plan for Your Church, for our salvation, and the culmination of all things. We pray that You would open our eyes to see these profound truths with the clarity and anticipation of the early believers. May we grasp the depth of Your reconciliation, the wonder of Your salvation, and the glorious hope of Your coming kingdom. Empower us, by Your Spirit, to live as Your unified people, eagerly awaiting the Day of Christ. Amen.Introduction: The Final Unveiling of God's Purpose We've journeyed from the Jewish roots of the Gospels, through the explosive growth in Acts, and explored the profound theology of Paul's letters and the General Epistles. Today, we bring it all together by considering three essential topics that define the conclusion of God's unfolding story: the Church, the nature of Salvation, and Eschatology—the doctrine of last things.Our core verses from Ephesians 2:13-14 serve as a magnificent summary of the radical new reality Jesus inaugurated: "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united us both into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us." This passage speaks of a profound reconciliation, not just between humanity and God, but between the two great divisions of humanity: Jew and Gentile. This reconciliation defines the very nature of the Church.For the early...

Welcome to Day 2678 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2678 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 78:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2678 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2678 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: Passing on the Legacy – Learning from Our Past - A Trek Through Psalm 78:1-8 (Intro Music: Reflective, instructive theme fades in and out) Today, we begin a crucial and comprehensive trek through Psalm 78 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 8. Psalm 78, like Psalms 73 through Pslam 77, is attributed to Asaph, one of King David's chief musicians and a prophet. However, this psalm stands out as one of the longest in the Psalter, acting as a grand historical narrative. It's a didactic psalm, meaning its primary purpose is to teach. After Asaph's personal spiritual crisis in Psalm 73, his communal lament in Psalm 74, and his triumphant declarations in Psalms 75-77 that anchored his faith in God's past deeds, Psalm 78 now explicitly lays out the vital importance of recounting that history, not just for reassurance, but for instruction. This psalm, often referred to as a "history lesson," delves deep into Israel's past, recounting their repeated cycles of rebellion and God's unwavering faithfulness. But it's not merely a historical record; it's a living lesson for every generation, particularly for the youth. In the ancient Israelite worldview, the transmission of national and spiritual heritage was paramount, ensuring that future generations understood their identity, their covenant with God, and the consequences of obedience and disobedience. This psalm is a powerful call for elders to teach and for the young to listen, so they can break the cycle of past failures. So, let's lean in and absorb the wisdom of this profound call to remember and learn. (Reads Psalm 78:1-4 NLT) O my people, listen to my teaching. Open your ears to what I say. For I will speak to you in parables; I will explain mysteries from the past— stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm opens with an urgent and authoritative call to attention from Asaph, the teacher: "O my people, listen to my teaching. Open your ears to what I say." This isn't a casual invitation; it's a solemn command, delivered with the weight of someone who has profound and essential truths to impart. "My people" emphasizes his pastoral care and his sense of shared destiny with the community. The call to "listen" and "open your ears" highlights the critical importance of receptive hearts and attentive minds for what is about to be revealed. Asaph describes the nature of his instruction: "For I will...

Welcome to Day 2677 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2677 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 77:13-20 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2677 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2677 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Unseen Path of the Unchanging God - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 77:13-20 Today, we reach the powerful and awe-inspiring conclusion of our trek through Psalm 77 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 13 through 20. In our last conversation, we plunged into the raw, personal anguish of Asaph, the psalmist. We heard his desperate cries in the night, his sleepless torment, and the agonizing questions that plagued his soul: "Has the Lord abandoned us forever? Will he never again be kind to us? Has his unfailing love vanished forever?" He was a man drowning in doubt, unable to find comfort, even from the thought of God. But then, a pivotal moment occurred: Asaph intentionally shifted his focus, resolving to "recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago." This act of remembering God's ancient wonders became his lifeline, the first step out of the mire of despair. Now, in these concluding verses, we witness the glorious outcome of that deliberate act of remembrance. Asaph's perspective completely transforms from anguish and questioning to profound awe and unwavering trust. He no longer asks if God has changed; instead, he declares God's unchanging holiness, His incomparable power, and His unfailing, sovereign leadership, even when His path is hidden. This is the ultimate resolution of his spiritual crisis, leading to a powerful affirmation of God as the Shepherd-King. So, let's allow our hearts to be filled with awe as we witness the triumph of faith over doubt, anchored in the undeniable truth of who God is and what He has done. (Reads Psalm 77:13-15 NLT) O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist begins this section with a triumphant declaration of God's unparalleled character, a stark contrast to his earlier questions about God's mercy and love: "O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as great as our God?" The word "holy" (qadosh) here signifies not just moral purity but also God's separateness, His transcendence, His utterly unique and unapproachable majesty. God's ways, His actions, His very nature, are completely set apart from all human imperfection and doubt. This is a foundational truth that silences all questioning. The rhetorical question, "Is there any god as great as our God?" echoes the triumphant certainty we saw in Psalm 71, "Who can compare with you, O God?" It's a resounding affirmation of God's incomparability, a direct refutation of any doubt that might have crept into...

Welcome to Day 2676 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Rules of Engagement.” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2676 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2676 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 7th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter seven: “Rules of Engagement.” Our story so far: God cast aside the nations and their peoples at Babel. The lesser gods assigned to them took dominion (Deut. 32:8–9). When God started over with Abraham, it was clear that he planned to one day reclaim the nations through the influence of Israel (Gen. 12:3). But the gods of the nations would have to be forced to surrender their power and worship (Ps. 82:6–8). That meant conflict—in both the seen and unseen realms. As soon as there was an Israel, she was in the crosshairs of the gods.  Who Is Yahweh? It doesn't take long in the biblical story for Israel to wind up in a precarious position. The story of Joseph (Gen. 37–50) explains why Israel went to Egypt. God's providence turned the harm intended Joseph by his brothers to the salvation of Israel from famine (Gen. 46:3–4; 50:20). That God didn't tell Israel to leave Egypt right away was also intentional. God knew the pharaoh who honored Joseph would die and be replaced by an enemy (Ex. 1). He had foreseen that Egypt would put the Israelites into forced labor (Gen. 15:13–16). He also knew he would rescue Israel when the time was right (Gen. 46:4). But why wait? God always has a good reason for suffering. We just can't always see it. In this case, though, Scripture makes it clear. After Moses had fled Egypt and taken up residence in the wilderness, God called him at the burning bush (Ex. 3:1–14) to send him back to Egypt. His orders were simple: Tell Pharaoh “Let my people go” (Ex. 5:1). Pharaoh had other ideas. He was god in the flesh in Egypt, the emblem of all its glory and power. He wasn't going to let some invisible God of Hebrew shepherds tell him what to do. He didn't even know whether the God of Moses was real. He mockingly replied, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?” (Ex. 5:2). He was about to get an answer—one that would hurt. God had set him up. God had told Moses, “I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go” (Ex. 4:21). God had a fight to pick. After they had oppressed the Israelites for centuries, it was time for Egypt and its gods to be punished. Pharaoh's hardening was part of that plot. The Bible tells us the plagues were aimed at Egypt's gods—especially the last one, the death of the firstborn (Ex. 12:12; Num. 33:4), which turned out to be a direct assault on Pharaoh's house: “At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of...

Welcome to Day 2675 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2675 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 77:1-12 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2675 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2675 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled Wrestling with Doubt, Anchored in Ancient Wonders - A Trek Through Psalm 77:1-12 Today, we begin a deeply personal and emotionally charged trek through Psalm 77 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 12. Psalm 77, like many we've explored recently, is attributed to Asaph. But after the triumphant declarations of God's ultimate judgment in Psalm 75, and the awe-inspiring celebration of God's protective power in Psalm 76—where Jerusalem was defended and enemies shattered—Psalm 77 takes a sharp turn. It brings us back to the raw, intimate struggle of an individual soul wrestling with profound spiritual distress. This is not a national lament over a devastated Temple, but a personal cry from the depths of a troubled spirit, plagued by sleeplessness and agonizing questions about God's faithfulness. This psalm vividly captures the experience of spiritual darkness, where past blessings seem distant, and doubt whispers insidious questions about God's unchanging nature. Yet, it also provides a powerful pathway out of that darkness: by intentionally remembering and meditating on God's mighty acts and wonders from ancient times. It is a profound lesson in how to fight for our faith when our feelings betray us. So, let's immerse ourselves in this raw, honest, and ultimately redemptive journey of faith. (Reads Psalm 77:1-6 NLT) I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in trouble, I sought the Lord. All night long I prayed with hands uplifted, but my soul refused to be comforted. I recall the days of my prosperity— but then I groan. I think of God, and I am troubled; I grow faint as I think about it. Interlude You have held my eyelids open; I am too distressed to speak. I keep thinking of the good old days, the long years of the past. I ponder my sad songs in the night. My heart questions in the darkness: Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist opens with an immediate and intense expression of distress, leaving no doubt about the depth of his anguish: "I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me!" This isn't a polite prayer; it's a desperate, almost violent, cry. He is "shouting" to God, indicating extreme urgency and pain. The plea "Oh, that God would listen to me!" (literally, "My voice to God and He will give ear to me") highlights his desperate longing for divine attention, implying that he feels unheard or ignored. His distress drives him to seek the Lord, even through sleepless...

Welcome to Day 2674 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2674 – New Testament Orientation – “The General Letters of the New Testament” Putnam Church Message – 07/13/2025 Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 11: “The General Letters of the New Testament”   Last week, we explored the "Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law" Core Verse: Galatians 2:16 (NLT)  "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God by faith in Christ and not by obeying the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." This week is the eleventh of 12 messages in our New Testament Orientation Series, and we will learn: "The General Letters of the New Testament:” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT)  9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[a] a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.”[b] Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, we approach Your presence today with hearts full of anticipation. As we open the “General Letters” of the New Testament, we pray that Your Spirit would illuminate these precious words. May we, like the early believers, grasp our true identity as Your chosen people, a holy nation, called out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Grant us wisdom to understand these messages forged in the crucible of early Christian life, and empower us to live out the living hope that is ours in Jesus Christ. Amen. Introduction: Voices from the Scattered Flock This is our eleventh lesson in this New Testament Orientation series! We're nearing the completion of our journey, and today we turn our attention to a collection of profound letters often called the "General Letters" or "Catholic Epistles." Unlike Paul's letters, which were typically addressed to specific churches or individuals, these are often broader in their intended audience, offering vital guidance to scattered communities of believers—both Jews and Gentiles—living throughout the Roman world. Our core verses from 1 Peter 2:9-10 beautifully capture the essence of what these letters emphasize: "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 'Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy;...

Welcome to Day 2673 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2673 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 76:1-12 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2673 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2673 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: God's Triumphant Vindication – A Fortress Unconquerable: A Trek Through Psalm 76:1-12. Today, we embark on a truly triumphant trek through Psalm 76 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 12. Psalm 76, another psalm attributed to Asaph, bursts forth with a powerful declaration of God's awesome glory and His decisive victory over His enemies. Unlike the agonizing communal lament of Psalm 74, where the Temple lay in ruins and God seemed absent, or even Psalm 75, which proclaimed God's future judgment, Psalm 76 celebrates a past divine intervention, a resounding triumph where God Himself defended Jerusalem and shattered the might of those who defied Him. While the specific historical event is not named, many scholars believe this psalm likely celebrates a victory like God's miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army under Sennacherib (as recounted in 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37). In that astounding event, 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were struck down by the angel of the Lord in a single night, without a single battle fought by human hands. This psalm captures the awe and gratitude of a people who witnessed God's supernatural power turn the tide of war. It contrasts the fleeting glory and might of human kings with the enduring, terrifying power of the Almighty, who acts decisively to defend the humble and silence the proud. This psalm reminds us that our God is not only the ultimate Judge but also the invincible Defender of His people. So, let's immerse ourselves in this hymn of triumph, recognizing the God who makes His dwelling a fortress and crushes all who oppose Him. (Reads Psalm 76:1-3 NLT) God is known in Judah; he is great in Israel. His Tabernacle is in Salem; he lives on Mount Zion. There he broke the flaming arrows, the shields, swords, and weapons of war. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm opens with a declaration of God's renown and His chosen dwelling place: "God is known in Judah; he is great in Israel." This isn't a speculative statement; it's a confident affirmation. God's character and power are not hidden; they are clearly "known" and "great" throughout the lands of Judah and Israel. His deeds have made Him famous, undeniable. This sets a tone of certainty and assurance, immediately establishing God's active presence and influence among His people. The reason for His renown is then specified: His presence in His sanctuary. "His Tabernacle is in Salem; he lives on Mount Zion." "Salem" is an ancient name for Jerusalem, and "Mount Zion" is the hill on which Jerusalem, and later the Temple, stood. The "Tabernacle" here refers to God's dwelling place, later formalized as the Temple. This emphasizes that God's presence is localized in...

Welcome to Day 2672 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2672 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 75:1-10– Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2672 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2672 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: God, The Ultimate Judge – No Boasting Before Him - A Trek Through Psalm 75:1-10. Today, we embark on a powerful new trek through Psalm 75 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 10. Psalm 75, like the last two psalms we explored, is also penned by Asaph, one of King David's chief musicians. However, after the raw, desperate cries of Psalm 74—a communal lament over the utter devastation and desecration of the Temple, and a fervent plea for God to remember His covenant and His honor—Psalm 75 strikes a decidedly different and triumphant note. It's a psalm of thanksgiving, yes, but also a bold proclamation of God's righteous judgment and absolute sovereignty. It addresses one of the most agonizing questions we face: why do the wicked often seem to get away with their wickedness, even prospering, while the righteous suffer? Asaph wrestled with this very question in Psalm 73, nearly losing his spiritual footing. Psalm 75 now provides God's definitive answer: He is the ultimate Judge. He sets the time, He determines who rises and who falls, and He will ensure that justice is served. This psalm is a direct, authoritative word from God that brings order and reassurance after the chaos and despair of the previous psalm. So, let's immerse ourselves in this powerful declaration of God's ultimate control, allowing its truth to anchor our trust in His perfect justice. (Reads Psalm 75:1-3 NLT) We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks, for you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. "For at the time I appoint," says the Lord, "I will judge everyone fairly. The earth and its people tremble, but I keep its foundations firm." Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with an outpouring of thanksgiving, immediately countering the despair we felt in Psalm 74: "We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks, for you are near." The repetition of "We give thanks" emphasizes the depth and sincerity of their gratitude. This isn't a forced thanks; it's a genuine outpouring from a community that has experienced God's presence despite deep suffering. The reason for their thanks is profound: "for you are near." This stands in stark contrast to the agonizing question in Psalm 74:1, "Why have you abandoned us forever?" The answer here is a resounding affirmation: God has not abandoned them; He is near, even in the midst of their trials. Because God is near and active, "People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds." This refers to God's miraculous acts of deliverance and His interventions in history. The community is now proclaiming God's mighty works, indicating a renewed sense of His power and...

An episode that shares advice for Autistics, because advice is one of the fastest ways we build culture!In Episode 148 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr Angela Kingdon shares her most powerful advice for newly identified autistic adults—and invites you to do the same in just 100 words or less.This episode is part of our 12-week writing series created specifically for autistic writers, creatives, and self-discovery seekers who use storytelling as a tool for healing, identity integration, and unmasking.All this, and we announce our amazing winners from our ninth writing contest!Here are our top two entries.OUR WINNER

Welcome to Day 2671 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “The Word, the Name and the Angel.” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2671 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2671 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 6th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter six: “The Word, the Name and the Angel.” In the last chapter, we learned about the cosmic geography of the Bible. In response to human rebellion at the Tower of Babel, God forsook the nations. He assigned them to members of his heavenly council, the sons of God (Deut. 32:8-9). To replace the now-forsaken nations, he would create a new people, a nation of his own. They would be his agents to renew his kingdom on earth. But that task would prove to be an awful struggle, as the other gods and the people of their domains would become fierce enemies of Israel and God. God's new people would begin with a man named Abram, whose name he would later change to Abraham. Soon after the judgment at Babel, God paid him a visit.  Abraham Meets the Word. Most Christians are familiar with God's visit to Abraham in Genesis 12. God tells Abraham to leave his home and go to a place he's never seen. God promises to guide him. He tells Abraham he will be his God and gives him special covenant promises. He'll enable Abraham and Sarah to have a son, though they are both elderly. From that son will come multitudes of people—people who will form the new earthly family of God. Through them, the nations will be blessed. We tend to think Abraham's encounters with God were a voice from heaven or in Abraham's head. Or perhaps God came in a dream. The Bible is clear that God did that sort of thing with the prophets and other people. But that isn't what happened with Abraham. God did something more dramatic. He came as a man. He and Abraham talked face-to-face. We get a hint of this in Genesis 12:6-7. The Bible says God appeared to Abraham. Three chapters later, God appears again (Gen. 15:16). This time, God comes to Abraham as “the word of the Lord” in a vision. This wasn't a voice in the head, since the “word” brought Abraham outside and showed him the stars to make the point that his offspring would be uncountable (Gen. 15:5). God appeared to Abraham as a man on other occasions (Gen. 18). He did the same to Isaac (Gen. 26:1–5), the son God had promised, and Jacob, the son of Isaac (Gen. 28:10–22; 31:11–12; 32:24–30). The “word” or voice of God as a way of expressing God in human form shows up in unexpected places. One of my favorite instances is found in 1 Samuel 3. The boy Samuel kept hearing a voice calling him at night while he was trying to sleep. Eventually, Eli, the priest with whom Samuel lived and for whom he worked, figured out it was God. In verse 10, God came back to Samuel: “The Lord came and stood there, and...

Welcome to Day 2670 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2670 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 74:18-23– Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2670 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2670 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: God's Honor at Stake – A Final Plea for Justice - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 74:18-23 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome back to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we reach the powerful, urgent conclusion of our trek through Psalm 74 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its final verses, 18 through 23. In our journey through Psalm 74, we have plunged deep into the raw agony of a communal lament. In verses 1-8, we witnessed a people devastated by the destruction and desecration of their beloved Temple, crying out, "O God, why have you abandoned us forever?" We saw the enemy's brutal rampage, their triumphant shouts echoing in the very sanctuary where God's praise once resonated, leaving behind only "perpetual ruins." Then, in verses 9-17, Asaph, the psalmist, voiced their spiritual desolation – the absence of prophetic signs, the agonizing uncertainty of "how long?" But he then masterfully pivoted, grounding his plea in God's unparalleled past acts of cosmic power. He reminded God of His eternal kingship, His splitting of the sea, His crushing of sea monsters, and His establishment of the very order of creation. The argument was clear: if God could do that in ancient times, He could surely intervene in this present crisis. Now, in these concluding verses, Asaph brings the full weight of their suffering and the enemy's continued blasphemy to God's attention, making a final, desperate appeal for God to rise up and contend for His own honor, His own cause, and His own downtrodden people. It's a prayer that implicitly asks: "If You don't act now, Lord, what will become of Your name and Your covenant?" Let's immerse ourselves in this final, impassioned plea for divine intervention and ultimate vindication. (Reads Psalm 74:18-23 NLT) See how these fools insult you, Lord. How they blaspheme your name. Don't let your dove be hunted by hawks. Don't forget your downtrodden people forever. Remember your covenant, O Lord, for the dark places of the earth are full of violence. Don't let the oppressed be humiliated; instead, let them praise your name. Arise, O God, and plead your cause! Remember how these fools insult you all day long. Don't overlook the shouts of your enemies, which grow louder and louder. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist returns with searing intensity to the core offense that demands God's attention: the enemy's direct affront to God Himself. He pleads: "See how these fools insult you, Lord. How...

Welcome to Day 2664 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2669 – New Testament Orientation – “Christ, The Fulfillment of the Law” Putnam Church Message – 07/06/2025 Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 10: “Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law”   Last week we explored “The Letters of Paul: God's Design for a New Humanity.” Core Verses: Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ, for it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is by faith that a righteous person will live.'” This week is the tenth of 12 messages in our New Testament Orientation Series, and we will learn: "Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law" Core Verse: Galatians 2:16 (NLT) "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God by faith in Christ and not by obeying the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law."   Opening Prayer Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we stand before You today, humbled by the depth of Your wisdom and the mystery of Your ways. As we delve into the intricate relationship between Your holy Law and the glorious Person of Jesus Christ, we pray for clarity of mind and open hearts. May Your Holy Spirit guide us to understand how Christ perfectly fulfilled Your purposes, shattering the barriers that separated humanity from Your presence and from one another. Transform our understanding, deepen our devotion, and empower us to live in the freedom and righteousness He secured. In the mighty name of Jesus, our Living Torah, we pray. Amen. Introduction: The Enduring Question of the Law We've navigated the Gospels, explored the explosive growth of the early church in Acts, and journeyed through Paul's foundational letters. Today, we confront a topic that has puzzled, divided, and sometimes even hurt believers throughout history: the Law. For ancient Israelites, the Torah was a gift, a privilege, a source of joy and identity. As the psalmist declared, "Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long." (Psalm 119:97, NLT). So, if the Law was so good, what changed with the coming of Christ? Our core verse from Galatians 2:16 boldly states: "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God by faith in Christ and not by obeying the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." This statement, from a Jew who once fiercely kept the Law, demands our careful attention. How can something so celebrated in the Old Testament suddenly be portrayed in a way that suggests it cannot make one "right with God"? Today, we will explore three interconnected concepts that help us understand this profound shift: the "curse of the Law," the...

Welcome to Day 2668 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2668 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 74:9-17– Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2668 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2668 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: Remembering Ancient Wonders – A Plea for Present Deliverance - A Trek Through Psalm 74:9-17 Today, we continue our poignant trek through Psalm 74 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 9 through 17. In our last conversation, we plunged into the raw agony of communal lament found in Psalm 74:1-8. We experienced the profound despair of a people whose sacred Temple, the very dwelling place of God, lay in "perpetual ruins," desecrated by enemies who "shouted their victorious battle cries" where God's praise once resonated. We heard their desperate plea: "O God, why have you abandoned us forever?" as they wrestled with the unimaginable horror of God's apparent absence and the systematic destruction of their places of worship. The weight of their loss and the depth of the sacrilege were palpable. Now, as we move into this next section, the psalmist, Asaph, continues to voice their anguish, lamenting the continued mockery of the enemy and, crucially, the disheartening silence from heaven itself. But then, in a dramatic shift, he pivots to a powerful rhetorical strategy: he reminds God – and himself – of God's awesome, unparalleled acts of cosmic power and historical deliverance in the ancient past. This becomes the foundation for his desperate plea for present intervention. It's a profound lesson in how to appeal to God's character and past faithfulness when facing seemingly insurmountable present crises. So, let's immerse ourselves in this cry for divine memory and a demonstration of power. (Reads Psalm 74:9-11 NLT) We see no miraculous signs. There are no prophets among us. And who can tell us how long this will last? How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to mock you? Will they insult your name forever? Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your power and destroy them. Guthrie Chamberlain: The lament continues, but now it highlights a particularly agonizing aspect of their suffering: the spiritual silence and uncertainty. The psalmist cries: "We see no miraculous signs. There are no prophets among us. And who can tell us how long this will last?" In ancient Israel, God often communicated His will and demonstrated His presence through "miraculous signs" (Hebrew: otot), powerful demonstrations of His intervention, like those at the Exodus. He also spoke through "prophets," individuals who delivered direct messages from Him, offering guidance, warning, and comfort. To have no miraculous signs and no prophets was a profound crisis of spiritual guidance. It meant God seemed utterly silent, His presence hidden, and His will unknown. The most agonizing part was the unknown duration: "And...

I'm excited to be joined by Dr. Kate White on today's Egg Whisperer Show podcast! As a practicing gynecologist, she teaches women how to better understand their bodies. She helps women be unafraid of seeing the doctor, and arms them with questions to ask. Dr. Kate is the Vice-Chair of Academics and the director of the Fellowship in Complex Family Planning at Boston Medical Center, and an associate professor of OB/GYN at the Boston University School of Medicine. She is the author of "Your Guide to Miscarriage & Pregnancy Loss: hope and healing when you're no longer expecting." I'm excited to talk to her about how fertility patients can get the information they need to make the best choices for themselves and their lives so that they can grow their families. Listen on Dr. Aimee's website  You can find Dr. Kate White's website by clicking here.   Would you like to learn more about IVF?Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class. The next live class call is on Monday, July 14, 2025 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.   Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips! Join Egg Whisperer School Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

Welcome to Day 2667 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2667 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 74:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2667 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2667 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: A Cry from the Ashes – When God Seems Absent - A Trek Through Psalm 74:1-8 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we shift our focus from a personal spiritual crisis to a national tragedy, as we begin our trek through Psalm 74 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 8. Psalm 74, like the Psalm 73 we just concluded, is attributed to Asaph, one of the chief musicians. However, the tone and context are dramatically different. While Psalm 73 wrestled with individual suffering and the prosperity of the wicked, Psalm 74 is a raw, agonizing communal lament, born from a devastating national catastrophe. Scholars generally believe this psalm was written in the aftermath of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, most likely by the Babylonians in 586 BC. For the ancient Israelites, the Temple was more than just a building. It was the physical dwelling place of God's presence, the center of their worship, their national identity, and the very symbol of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. Its destruction was an unimaginable horror, a theological crisis of monumental proportions. It wasn't just a military defeat; it felt like God Himself had abandoned them, allowing His sacred dwelling to be utterly desecrated. This psalm gives voice to the profound anguish, confusion, and desperate pleading of a people reeling from unspeakable loss and wondering if God has truly turned His back on them forever. It offers a powerful model for how to lament when tragedy strikes, and when God's apparent silence is deafening. So, let's immerse ourselves in this cry from the ashes, feeling the weight of their despair and the desperate longing for God to remember. (Reads Psalm 74:1-3 NLT) O God, why have you abandoned us forever? Why does your anger burn against your own sheep? Remember your people, whom you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession. Remember Mount Zion, where you live. Walk through these perpetual ruins, see the appalling destruction the enemy has done to your sanctuary. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm opens with an immediate, piercing cry of abandonment: "O God, why have you abandoned us forever? Why does your anger burn against your own sheep?" This isn't a gentle query; it's a desperate, almost accusatory question hurled at God. The phrase "abandoned us forever" expresses profound despair and a fear of permanent divine rejection. This feeling of being utterly forsaken by God, especially after such a catastrophe, was a terrifying reality for them. The psalmist uses the intimate metaphor of "your own sheep" –

Welcome to Day 2666 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Cosmic Geography” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2666 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2666 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we begin a new focus on the 5th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter five: “Cosmic Geography.” The divine transgressions we looked at in the previous podcast had something in common. They were both supernatural rebellions aimed at co-opting God's plan for humanity and the restoration of his rule. In this podcast we'll look at another rebellion, one that originated with people. This rebellion produced a predicament that we're all still part of, and that predicament involves supernatural beings. The titanic struggle for God's restoration strategy took a turn for the worse that only the return of Jesus will finally resolve. The Tower of Babel The story of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1–9) is simultaneously one of the best-known and least-understood accounts in the Bible. Children learn about it in Sunday school as the time when God confused earth's human languages. After the flood, God repeated the command he'd given to Adam and Eve to cover the earth. He was trying to kick-start the spread of his ruling influence through humanity. Once again, it didn't work. People refused. Rebellion in their hearts, they had a better idea, or so they thought. They decided to build a tower to avoid being scattered (Gen. 11:4). The logic seems odd. Sure, an amazing tower would make them famous (Gen. 11:4), but how would that prevent scattering across the earth? The answer lies in the tower. Bible scholars and archaeologists know ancient Babylon and cities around it built towers called ziggurats. The purpose of the ziggurats was to provide places where people could meet the gods. They were part of temple zones. Rather than make the world like Eden—to spread the knowledge and rule of God everywhere—the people wanted to bring God down at one spot. That wasn't God's plan, and he wasn't pleased. Hence his statement—again to the members of his council—“Let us go down and mix up their language” (Gen. 11:7 gnt, emphasis added). God did so, and humanity was separated and scattered. The incident explains how the nations listed a chapter earlier in Genesis 10 came to be. That's the story most Christians know. Now for the one they don't. The Gods and Their Nations Genesis 11 isn't the only passage that describes what happened at the Tower of Babel. Deuteronomy 32:8–9 describes it this way: When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. Some Bible translations have “sons of Israel” instead of “sons of God” in that first sentence. But Israel didn't exist at the time of the Tower of Babel. God only called Abraham after Babel...

Welcome to Day 2665 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2665 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 73:21-28 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2665 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2665 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: From Bitterness to Brilliant Clarity - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 73:21-28 Today, we reach the powerful and transformative conclusion of our trek through Psalm 73 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 21 through 28. We've journeyed alongside Asaph, the psalmist, through his profound spiritual crisis. We heard his agonizing confession of almost stumbling, his feet nearly slipping, because he envied the apparent prosperity and carefree lives of the wicked. We saw his perplexity over his own suffering despite his efforts to live purely, and the immense burden this intellectual and spiritual dilemma placed upon him. Then, in our last trek, we witnessed the pivotal turning point: Asaph's revelation in the sanctuary of God, where he gained divine insight into the wicked's true, terrifying, and sudden end. Their prosperity was but a fleeting dream, a fantasy soon to vanish. Now, as we delve into these final verses, we witness the glorious resolution of Asaph's crisis. He moves from deep-seated bitterness and self-reproach for his foolishness to a profound affirmation of God's constant presence, His guiding hand, and His ultimate value as his true strength and eternal portion. This is the heart of what it means to truly resolve doubt and re-center our lives on God's unchanging truth. So, let's step into this moment of profound humility and renewed devotion, allowing Asaph's journey to illuminate our own. (Reads Psalm 73:21-22 NLT) Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist begins this section with a stark and humbling confession, a moment of profound self-awareness that comes after his revelation in the sanctuary: "Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside." The truth he had gained about the wicked's fleeting destiny didn't just resolve his intellectual confusion; it exposed the spiritual state of his own heart. "Bitter" (chametz) implies sourness, resentment, even fermented anger. His envy and questioning of God's justice had poisoned his inner being, leaving him "all torn up inside" (literally, "pricked in my kidneys/inward parts," the seat of emotions and conscience in ancient thought). This signifies deep emotional pain and guilt over his misplaced focus. This realization leads to a confession of profound foolishness: "I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you." This is a powerful and humbling admission. "Foolish" (ba'ar) in biblical wisdom literature often refers to someone lacking moral discernment, acting without true understanding. "Ignorant" speaks to his inability to grasp God's ways from a human perspective. The simile "like a senseless animal"...

Welcome to Day 2664 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2664 – New Testament Orientation – “The Letters of Paul: God's Design for a New Humanity” Putnam Church Message – 06/29/2025 Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 9: “The Letters of Paul: God's Design for a New Humanity”   Last week, we had a wonderful missions focus with the Filsingers, and two weeks ago, we explored “The Interpretation and Proclamation of the Gospel.” Core Verses: Acts 8:4 Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. This week marks Message 9 of 12 in our New Testament Orientation, with the message title: “The Letters of Paul: God's Design for a New Humanity.” Core Verses: Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ, for it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is by faith that a righteous person will live.'” Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, we come before You, grateful for the profound wisdom contained within the letters of Your servant, Paul. As we open these ancient texts today, we pray for Your Holy Spirit to illuminate our understanding. Help us to grasp the revolutionary truths Paul proclaimed—the Good News that powerfully unites Jew and Gentile in Christ. May these words challenge our assumptions, deepen our loyalty to Jesus, and embolden us to live as true members of Your diverse and glorious family. In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Messiah, we pray. Amen. Introduction: Paul's Epistles – Shaping the New Israel Today, we embark on a swift but essential journey through the 13 letters attributed to the Apostle Paul. These are not merely theological treatises; they are living documents, forged in the crucible of real-life challenges faced by fledgling communities of believers—Jews and Gentiles—grappling with what it truly meant to follow Jesus as Lord. Our core verses from Romans 1:16-17 serve as a magnificent declaration of Paul's unwavering conviction: “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ, for it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is by faith that a righteous person will live.'” This statement,/from the longest and arguably most influential letter,/encapsulates the revolutionary message that pulsed through all of Paul's writings. For the early believers, rooted in ancient Israelite culture, the concept of God's “salvation” was deeply tied to joining the family of Abraham and to a covenant relationship with Yahweh, the one true God. It wasn't primarily about an individual's escape from hell, but about a transformation of identity and allegiance, leading to a new way of life under the kingship of Jesus. Paul's letters systematically unpack how this new reality, initiated by Christ,...

Welcome to Day 2663 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2663 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 73:13-20 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2663 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2663 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled The Sanctuary's Clarity – From Perplexity to Profound Peace - A Trek Through Psalm 73:13-20 Today, we continue our deeply honest and transformative trek through Psalm 73 in the New Living Translation, covering verses 13 through 20. In our last conversation, we opened Psalm 73, penned by Asaph, and stepped into his profound spiritual crisis. We heard his agonizing confession: his feet almost slipped, he nearly stumbled from faith, because he envied the wicked. He vividly described their seemingly carefree lives – healthy, plump, free from the troubles of ordinary people, proudly draped in arrogance and violence, their greed knowing no bounds, openly scoffing at God himself. He saw how even others, disheartened, began to "drink in their words," questioning if God even knew what was happening. It was a raw, unfiltered expression of one of life's most perplexing mysteries: why do the ungodly prosper while the righteous suffer? Now, as we delve into this next section, we witness the turning point in Asaph's agonizing struggle. He recounts his despair over his own efforts to live righteously, but then, in a moment of divine clarity within God's sanctuary, his entire perspective shifts. He finally understands the true, terrifying end of the wicked, and his crisis of faith begins to resolve. Let's immerse ourselves in this powerful transition from deep perplexity to profound revelation. (Reads Psalm 73:13-16 NLT) Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence? All I got was trouble all day long; every morning I was punished. If I had said, “I will talk like that,” I would have betrayed your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it was! Guthrie Chamberlain: Asaph opens this section by articulating the painful conclusion he had drawn in his moments of doubt: "Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence?" This is the agonizing cry of someone who has genuinely striven for righteousness, who has sought to live a life pleasing to God. "Kept my heart pure" refers to internal integrity, sincere devotion, and freedom from malicious intent. To "wash my hands in innocence" was an ancient gesture signifying freedom from guilt or responsibility for wrongdoing (Psalm 26:6). He felt that his efforts were in vain, that his integrity was unrewarded. This is a common human experience when faced with apparent injustice – "What's the point of doing good if evil goes unpunished and even thrives?" This question strikes at the very heart of divine justice and the value of righteousness. His personal suffering...

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Welcome to Day 2662 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2662 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 73:1-12 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2662 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2662 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Stumbling Block of Prosperity - A Trek Through Psalm 73:1-12 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and Today, we begin a deeply honest and challenging trek through Psalm 73 in the New Living Translation, starting with its opening verses, 1 through 12. Psalm 73 is penned by Asaph, one of the chief musicians and seers appointed by King David. Unlike many psalms that begin with an immediate cry for help or a declaration of praise, Psalm 73 opens with a profound struggle, a crisis of faith that many of us can intimately relate to. Asaph grapples with one of life's most perplexing mysteries: why do the wicked often prosper, seemingly enjoying an easy life, while the righteous suffer? This question has troubled believers in every generation. In the ancient Israelite worldview, there was a strong emphasis on divine justice being dispensed in this life. Obedience to God was expected to bring blessing and prosperity, while wickedness would lead to suffering and misfortune. So, when a faithful servant like Asaph observed the opposite – the ungodly thriving without apparent consequence – it created a serious spiritual dilemma, shaking the very foundations of his faith. Let's immerse ourselves in Asaph's raw honesty as he confronts this agonizing truth and nearly loses his footing on the path of faith. (Reads Psalm 73:1-3 NLT) Truly God is good to Israel— to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost slipped; my feet were nearly gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. Guthrie Chamberlain: Asaph begins with a declaration that is simultaneously an affirmation and a struggle: “Truly God is good to Israel—to those whose hearts are pure.” On the surface, this sounds like a statement of unwavering faith. It's a theological truth, a bedrock conviction for an Israelite. God is inherently good, and His goodness is particularly directed towards His covenant people, especially those whose hearts are “pure” or upright. This purity isn't sinless perfection, but sincere devotion and integrity of intention towards God. However, the “But as for me” immediately introduces a stark contrast, revealing Asaph's personal crisis: “But as for me, I almost slipped; my feet were nearly gone.” This is powerful imagery. Imagine walking on a treacherous path, perhaps a slippery incline or a narrow ledge. One false step, one moment of distraction, and you could fall completely, losing all your progress, perhaps even your life. Asaph's faith was...

Welcome to Day 2661 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Divine Rebellions” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2661 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2661 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we begin a new focus on this 4th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book Supernatural, written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor, the late Dr. Michael S. Heiser. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter two: ‘Divine Rebellions.' I ended the previous Theology Thursday poscast with the thought that free will in the hands of imperfect beings, whether divine or human, can have disastrous results. That's an understatement. Some catastrophes in the early chapters of the Bible, all of them involving both humans and supernatural beings, illustrate the point. Recall that God decided to share his authority with both divine beings in the supernatural realm and human beings on earth. That was the backdrop to God's statement, “Let us make humankind in our image” (Gen. 1:26, emphasis added) and the fact that God then created humans in his image. Spiritual beings and humans are imagers of God. We share his authority and represent him as co-rulers. On one hand, that was a wonderful decision. Free will is part of being like God. We couldn't be like him if we didn't have it. Without free will, concepts like love and self-sacrifice die. If you are merely programmed to “love,” there is no decision in it. It isn't real. Scripted words and acts aren't genuine. Thinking about this takes me back to the last of the original Star Wars movies, The Return of the Jedi. The spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke his father, Darth Vader, “is more machine now than man.” And yet, in the end, we find that isn't true. Vader saves Luke from the emperor at the cost of his own life. He wasn't just a programmed machine. His decision came from the heart, his humanity—his own free will. But there's a dark side to God's decision. Granting intelligent beings freedom means they can and will make wrong choices or intentionally rebel. And that's basically guaranteed to happen, since the only truly perfect being is God. He's the only one he can really trust. This is why things could, and did, go wrong in Eden. Trouble in Paradise. Think about the setting in Eden. Adam and Eve aren't alone. God is there with his council. Eden is the divine/human headquarters for “subduing” the rest of the earth (Gen. 1:26–28)—spreading the life of Eden to the rest of the planet. But at least one member of the council isn't happy with God's plans. Just as we saw in Genesis 1, there are hints in Genesis 3 that Eden is home to other divine beings. In verse 22, after Adam and Eve have sinned, God says: “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil” (emphasis added). That phrase is the same sort of signpost we saw in Genesis 1:26 (“our image”). We know the main character of Genesis 3, the Serpent, was not really a...

Welcome to Day 2660 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2660 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 72:15-20 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2660 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2660 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: An Eternal Legacy of Blessing and Glory - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 72:15-20 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we reach the glorious, overflowing conclusion of our trek through Psalm 72 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 15 through 20. This royal psalm has painted an extraordinary portrait of an ideal king – one whose reign is characterized by divine justice, righteousness, and profound compassion for the poor and oppressed. We've envisioned a rule as refreshing as rain, extending to the ends of the earth, where enemies submit, and distant nations bring tribute. Now, in these final verses, the psalmist adds to this grand vision, depicting the king's enduring life, the boundless prosperity of his realm, the lasting renown of his name, and culminates in a magnificent doxology of praise to the God who makes all these wonders possible. This conclusion reinforces the prophetic nature of the psalm, pointing far beyond any earthly monarch to the eternal reign of the Messiah. It would have filled the ancient Israelites with an even deeper longing for that perfect kingdom, where God's glory truly fills the whole earth. So, let's allow our hearts to swell with hope as we immerse ourselves in these final words of aspiration and praise. (Reads Psalm 72:15-17 NLT) Long live the king! May he be given gold from Sheba. May prayers be offered for him continually, and may he be blessed all day long. May there be abundant grain throughout the land, even on the tops of the mountains. May the crops flourish like cedars of Lebanon and fill the cities like grass in a field. May the king's name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. May all nations be blessed through him and proclaim him blessed. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm continues with a fervent wish for the king's enduring life and prosperity: “Long live the king! May he be given gold from Sheba.” The exclamation “Long live the king!” (Hebrew: Yechi ha'melekh!) was a common acclamation, a fervent wish for a long and prosperous reign. The desire for “gold from Sheba” directly links back to the tribute from Sheba mentioned in previous verses (v. 10). Gold symbolized immense wealth and honor. This isn't just about personal enrichment for the king; it's an affirmation that his just and prosperous reign attracts such tribute, further validating his universal acceptance and the richness of his kingdom. But beyond material wealth, the psalmist desires spiritual blessing:...

Welcome to Day 2659 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2659 – Mission Sunday - Gilberto and Helen Filsinger Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2659 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Each Tuesday, I will share the messages I have delivered at Putnam Congregational Church this year. This past Sunday was a special Mission Sunday, so the message today was presented by Gilberto and Helen Filsinger, who are missionaries to Brazil and are supported by our church. I pray it will be a conduit for learning and encouragement for you.

Welcome to Day 2658 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2658 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 72:6-14 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2658 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2658 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: A Reign Like Rain, A Compassion Unbound - A Trek Through Psalm 72:6-14 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we continue our majestic trek through Psalm 72 in the New Living Translation, delving deeper into its prophetic vision of an ideal king, covering verses 6 through 14. In our last trek, we began this royal psalm, a prayer for a king, which also serves as a profound prophecy of the Messiah's righteous reign. We saw how the psalmist appealed to God to grant the king divine justice and righteousness, enabling him to rule impartially and, most importantly, to give justice to the poor. Now, as we move into this next section, the vision expands dramatically, detailing the pervasive blessing, universal dominion, and boundless compassion that characterize this ideal king's rule. This psalm would have stirred the hearts of ancient Israelites with hope, painting a picture of a ruler truly aligned with God's heart – a king whose reign brings flourishing to the land and protection to the vulnerable, extending his influence far beyond Israel's borders. It points us forward to the ultimate King, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies every aspiration of this prayer. So, let's immerse ourselves in this beautiful portrayal of righteous kingship and consider its implications for a world longing for true peace and justice. (Reads Psalm 72:6-8 NLT) May the king's rule be like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. May all the godly flourish during his reign; may there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more. May he rule from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist begins by describing the refreshing and life-giving nature of the king's reign: “May the king's rule be like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.” This is a powerful and deeply significant metaphor, especially in an ancient agrarian society in the Near East, where rain was absolutely essential for life and prosperity. Imagine a field of grass, freshly mown or parched from drought. When gentle, abundant rain falls upon it, it brings immediate refreshment, new growth, and renewed vitality. The king's rule is envisioned not as a destructive flood or a harsh storm, but as life-giving rain – gentle, pervasive, and beneficial. It brings refreshment and renewal to the land and its people, fostering growth and flourishing. This signifies a reign that is benevolent, restorative, and brings true well-being to all it touches. The direct result of such a reign is flourishing: “May all the godly flourish during his reign; may there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.” “The godly” (or “righteous”) are those who align themselves with God's ways, seeking to