Wisdom-Trek © - Archive 1: Recent Episodes
H. Guthrie Chamberlain, III
Do you desire to gain wisdom, make an impact on your world, and create a living legacy? Through the use of positive/encouraging stories, parables, allegories and analogies we will explore the trails of everyday life in a practical and meaningful manner as we scale towards our summit of life. The purpose of our Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal is to teach you wisdom and discipline, to help you understand the insights of the wise, to teach you to live disciplined and successful lives, to help you do what is right, just, and fair. By obtaining this wisdom then you will be able to create a living legacy for today that will live on and be multiplied through the lives of others.
Wisdom-Trek.com is your portal to all things pertaining to the acquisition wisdom, insight, and knowledge. The Wisdom-Trek platform includes this website along with a daily journal, and a daily podcast on wisdom and creating a living legacy. It is your portal because it is our hope that everyone will share and participate in gaining wisdom, insight, and discernment. As we gain wisdom it is so we can share what we have learned with others. No single person is ‘all-wise’ and when we share with each other that we all gain wisdom. We encourage you to share insights, ask questions, and grow together. Join us today and become part of the Wisdom-Trek team.
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 296 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Cultivation Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 296 of our trek, and yesterday we hiked on the 16th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-295/ (Trail of Help). Today we will explore the importance of balance in all areas of our life as we hike the Trail of Cultivation.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek, we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/trail-of-cultivation.jpeg ()Trail of Cultivation We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. There is a lot of activity in and around The Big House this week. Sunday afternoon I invested several hours varnishing the woodwork in the library. I have the trim on two more walls to apply the 2nd coat to, and then it is onto the floor. Hopefully, we will have the library completed by the end of this week, and then we will move onto the other front room, which we call the parlor.
Our pair of hawks have been extremely busy this week and spending more time near their nest, which is right outside of our upstairs office, so it is enjoyable watching them. We can’t tell if they have actually laid their eggs yet as we do see both of them still flying around, but there is usually one of them near or on the nest. The female is noticeably larger than the male of this particular pair. If this is the same pair of hawks as in previous years, this is either their 5th or 6th year using the same nest.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/BW_4017p.jpg ()Broad Winged Hawk As spring is manifesting itself with daylight lasting longer, the temperature rising, and flowers blooming, it is time to start cultivating our gardens and fields in preparation for planting crops. As we head out on our hike for today, we want to explore this important concept of our spiritual lives on the Trail of Cultivation. This is the 17th of 18 trails, which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Cultivation The cultivation of good habits and character traits in all area of our lives is very important. As our children were growing up and still to this day, I emphasize the importance of balance in everything that we do or are involved in. There can be little question concerning the importance of balance. It is so vital in the mechanical, physical, aesthetic, and spiritual realms. Faulty balance often results in the breakdown and possible devastation to the surrounding area. This is true as we think about the cultivation and growing of crops in our spiritual lives.
In the agricultural world, there has to be the balance of the proper amount of rain, sun, nutrients, and temperature for proper growth to occur with any type of crop. When there is the proper balance, then the crops will produce a bountiful harvest that can be shared with many. As the crops are properly cultivated, all of its resources are initially used so that plant can grow to maturity. Once mature, it can then start producing what will later become the harvest....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 295 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Help Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 295 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 15th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-294/ (Trail of Rest). Today we will explore a trail that all of us occasionally require which is the Trail of Help.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_0390.jpg ()Trail of Help We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We drove up to Marietta on Saturday and arrived late Saturday evening. The daffodils are in full bloom and are beautiful. I have included a couple of pictures in today’s journal. It was cloudy and a bit rainy when we arrived, so I will try to get some additional pictures when it is sunny out this week. We do have a full week with work projects and renovation work ahead of us, so we will need to stay focused to meet our expectations. It does require coordination with Paula and me having a clear understanding of our individual strengths, so we can best serve our clients. We do not have to beg each other for help. We understand that help is available at all times. This allows us to maximize our effectiveness as we work closely with our clients assisting them with their businesses.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/File-Mar-20-6-33-57-PM.jpeg ()Granny’s Daffodils in Bloom https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/File-Mar-20-6-34-36-PM.jpeg ()Granny’s Daffodils in Bloom As we head out on our hike for today, an important aspect of our spiritual lives is to understand where our help comes from as we explore the Trail of Help. This is the 16th of 18 trails which makes up the Trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Help I would like to take a bit of a different approach to this concept of help. For most of us, it is time to stop asking God for help. He didn’t help us to be saved, and He doesn’t intend to help us live the Christian life. Now, this probably sounds somewhat far-reaching, but stay with me as I explain. We need to know and understand that God’s help has already been set aside for us. It is up to us to appropriate and apply that help to our lives each day. We do not have to continually beg for his help. His help is ours for the taking.
There is no question where our help comes from. Psalms 121:1-3 tells us, “I look up to the mountains, does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.”
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As a Christ follower, it is not a matter of continually asking God for help. It is Christ living His life in us that already has provided all the help and strength that we will ever need. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13:6&version=NLT (Hebrews 13:6) explains the confidence that we can have, “So we can say with confidence,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 294 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Rest Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 294 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 14th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-292/ (Trail of The Process of Discipleship). Today we will explore a very important aspect of our overall trek, and that is the Trail of Rest.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/168247-angel-s-rest-trail-feature.jpg ()The Trail of Rest We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. After several weeks of warmer than normal weather, it looks like this next week will be a bit cooler, especially since we will be farther north at The Big House for the next couple of weeks. As I mentioned, when we left from there the last time, the furnace has to be replaced due to a crack in the heat exchanger. Fortunately, the new furnace will be installed early this next week, so we should not be very many days without the furnace. All of the bedrooms do have gas inserts in them, and the kitchen/eating area has a separate large floor furnace. So, the house will not be without sources of heat. These situations are part of life, things wear out and break down, and we need to be prepared for these contingencies. In the same way, to make sure that our body, mind, and soul do not wear out prematurely, we need to exercise, eat properly, continue learning, and invest time in meditation and prayer. One very important area that I need to get better at is investing the proper time for sleep, rest, and relaxation.
As we head out on our hike for today, let us explore the very important Trail of Rest. This is the 15th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Rest To become more and more like the Master Christ requires a significant amount of focus on discipleship, which we explored during the past two days. Remember, first we must die to self, then be diligent in our growth, so that we can produce an abundant harvest, which will allow us to use that harvest to feed others that hunger and thirst for God’s justice. This process may appear to be exhausting. What this scenario of discipleship does not take into account is that God has already provided us with rest through this process.
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An analogy that is used in Hebrews 3-4 is the comparison that the nation of Israel who disobeyed God when they refused to enter The Promise Land, which is referred to as God’s rest for them. The nation refused to listen to Moses and forfeited the rest for 40 years. Now someone greater than Moses is here, which is Christ. In Hebrews 3:3-4 it explains this, “But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.”
What Moses and Joshua were unable to do was completely fulfilled in Christ. Hebrews 4:8-11 explains...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 293 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – The Process of Discipleship Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 293 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 13th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-292/ (Trail of Discipleship). Today we will explore a related trail which will help us to put practical content into what we explored yesterday as we hike the Trail of The Process of Discipleship.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy.
As we continue on each trial of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of the days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/22402290110_038e1089fe_k.jpg ()The Process of Discipleship Trail We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. If all goes according to plan, we should be heading to The Big House on the day this episode releases. We hope to get a lot more renovation work completed while we are in Marietta this time.
Paula should be back from her visit with Aunt Pauline late Friday. It has been a great visit for her, and we are certainly glad that she made the choice to invest the time with her.
Speaking of investing time, as we head out for our hike, today we want to discover how best to invest our time in the process of becoming a disciple of Christ. As with every activity that we integrate into our lives, let’s change our mentality from spending time to investing time. When we invest time, it has a return on it, just like a monetary investment. The difference is when we invest time, it can have an eternal return that is part of living our legacy each day. Our trail for today is the Trail of The Process of Discipleship as we learn the process to become an effective disciple. This is the 14th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – The Process of Discipleship One of the best analogies of the process of discipleship is found in the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:15 where it says, “And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” It shows a distinct process of growth through patience. A parallel passage to this which gives us an analogy of return is Mark 4:8, “Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” There is a theme throughout the Bible of what it takes for solid growth that produces a good return. It is integral to the process of discipleship if it is to be long lasting. A farmer completely understands that concept that is also mentioned in James 5:7, “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.”
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Within our lives, it has been a long season of growth from when the seed fell on the fertile soil of our hearts, sprouted, grew and is now
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 292 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Discipleship Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 292 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 12th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-291/ (Trail of The Cross). Today we will explore a trail that we should seek after in many areas of our lives and that is Trail of Discipleship.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. I have been able to stay focused this week on the tasks that need to be completed, so we are able to accomplish a good bit. AT&T cell coverage where Paula is in Fort Myers is nearly non-existent. Although phone calls can be made, the signal is certainly not strong enough to use as a computer hot-spot. I have been able to pick up the required daily duties that Paula provides for our client’s, so we are able to cover our duties as she is away.
Paula’s visit with her Aunt Pauline is going well, and they are finalizing the details needed for when God takes Aunt Pauline home whether it is soon or months away. Paula is her executor, and although they had all the planning and paperwork completed several years ago, it is best to recheck to make sure everyone is prepared and nothing has changed.
As we head out on our hike for today, it is necessary that we are also prepared for our daily trek. Many times we can learn from those that have traveled this path before. This is referred to as being a disciple of a master. Our trail for today is the Trail of Discipleship as we learn from the ultimate master, Jesus Christ. This is the 13th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Discipleship When we think of being a disciple of someone, it evokes the concept of learning. We are the student or the apprentice of someone who is a master in their craft or knowledge. As a Christ follower, we should desire to be a disciple of Christ. While the word disciple in my mind creates a positive image, the same root word discipline does not. How about you? Do these two words bring two different concepts in your mind? I like to think of myself as a disciplined person, but the thought of being disciplined by someone else does not give me the same sense.
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Let’s explore what Biblical discipleship means. A disciple is one who first maintains the fellowship of the cross, which results in fellowship with his Lord or Master, which is discipleship. Christ is the master, but the cross is needed to clear the way for Him. It was because of the cross that He also became our master.
As a true master would, in spiritual progress Christ never pushes. He gently leads us step by step both in word and deed. We struggle and fail through our self-effort, which sets up a yearning and desire to overcome the times of failure in our lives. We learn from our
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 291 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – The Cross Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 291 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 11th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-290/ (Trail of Self-Denial). Today we will focus on one of the most important trails which is the Trail of The Cross.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/304519.jpg ()The Trail of The Cross We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Paula had a long, but pleasant trip to Fort Myers on Tuesday to visit Aunt Pauline. Her aunt is very weak but is still living by herself. She has always been a very strong-willed person, but we are not sure how many more days on earth that God may grant to her. We are glad that our work situation and lifestyle allows for Paula to go and visit her on short notice. I was left to hold down the fort and have more work to do than hours in the day, so it was prudent that I remained in Charlotte although I would have liked to go. Paula is due back Friday night, and then we head to Marietta Ohio early on Saturday. We delayed returning to The Big House by a day so Paula could spend another day with Aunt Pauline.
As we move up the trail on our hike today, we are on the Trail of The Cross. The cross is where we gain our identity in Christ and the path to bring our image in line with God’s image. Until we learn how our lives as believers are completely integrated with Christ through the cross, we will have difficulty growing to maturity spiritually. This is the 12th of 18 trails, which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – The Cross Understanding and appropriating the facts of the cross proves to be one of the most difficult and trying of all phases for the growing believer. Our Lord holds His most vital and best things in store for those who desire to grow into a mature faith, for those who hunger and thirst for His very best as it is provided through our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:6 tells us, “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.” The believer’s understanding of the two aspects of the cross gives the key to both spiritual growth and life-giving service.
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The cross is the starting point from which all Godly living must grow. We shall never know the experience of Christ’s victory in our lives until we are prepared to put our faith in His victory at the cross as the solution for our personal victory today.
There is no victory for us which was not first His. What we are to experience He purchased, and what He purchased for us we ought to experience. The beginning of the life of holiness is faith in the crucified Christ which sees more than His substitutionary work. It is a faith which sees yourself identified with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
As our Substitute, He went to the cross...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 290 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Self-Denial Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 290 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 10th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-289/ (Trail of Self). Today we will expand on yesterday’s trail, as we hike the Trail of Self-Denial.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/robert_frost_trail_4_of_141.jpg ()Trail of Self-Denial We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a good week for work progress so far, and we have already completed several tasks that have been in the queue for a while and are making progress on others.
In a somewhat unexpected event, Paula headed to Fort Myers, Florida early Tuesday morning to spend a couple of days with her Aunt Pauline. She is not doing well, and it may be the last time she will be able to visit her. It’s a 12-hour drive, so it makes for a long trip to take alone. But, we both agreed that it would be best if I stayed and focused on our workload. Plus, it would be difficult to make arrangements on short notice for Paula’s mom who lives with us.
As we move from the Trail of Self, it is time now to hike a parallel trail called the Trail of Self-Denial. One of the most difficult tasks that we have in our lives is to deny ourselves those things which we crave. That could be food, drink, sex, power, or anything else that we struggle to overcome. Self-denial usually will not allow lasting victory through the struggles in our life because it is based on self. We established yesterday that left to ourselves, we will usually choose self over service to others or God. On our hike today, we will focus on why it requires a real change of heart and mind to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and certainly spiritually.
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This is the 11th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Self-Denial Remember that I have mentioned several times previously that the word for heart and mind is used interchangeably within God’s Word. To keep it simple, I will refer to the mind throughout this hike today.
Until we are willing to change our thinking by what we allow going into our minds about ourselves and our commitment to God, we will continue on the roller coaster of spiritual chaos. Self-denial will never work long-term unless we change the way we think. We change the way we think by what we permit through the filters of our mind. This is why diets rarely work and addicts have such a difficult time breaking free from the chains that bind them. Although you may desire to be free, until and unless you see yourself as being completely free in your mind, you will eventually slip back into your old mindset.
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In order to grow spiritually, you have to be convinced in your mind that it all happened at...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 289 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Self Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 289 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 9th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-288/ (Trail of Consecration). Today our hike takes us to the Trail of Self.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/1415412_10101699719640126_5697671967654369644_o.jpg ()Trail of Self We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We were able to take a break Sunday afternoon for a 4-mile walk as the weather was sunny and pleasant. Paula and I always enjoy our times of walking, as it spurs great conversations covering many aspects of our lives. Unless our plans change, we are heading back up to The Big House on Friday evening for a little over two weeks. We hope to get up there while the daffodils are still in bloom as we have missed seeing them in bloom the past couple of years. The daffodils come from ones that were around the property which my Granny planted, so they are special to us.
It is time to head out on our hike for today on the Trail of Self. This is a difficult trail because although we like to think of ourselves as being selfless, the contrary is true. Most of the thoughts that we have and the decisions that we make are centered on how we are going to benefit. Very few people, if any, are purely selfless in the decisions that they make. On our hike today, let us learn how to change our thinking about self when it comes to our relationship to God. This is the 10th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Self One of the most important factors in Christian growth is the Holy Spirit’s revelation of the self-life to the believer. Self is the fleshly, carnal life of nature, the life of the first Adam described in Ephesians 2:1, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.” Even the Apostle Paul in the height of his ministry understood how difficult it is for us not to be a selfish person when he wrote Romans 7:18, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.” Nowhere do spiritual principles mean more than here. Plato, with his “know thyself,” was more right than he knew but still only half right. Paul, in Galatians 2:20 says “…it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” and was 100% right!
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In order for you to get beyond just knowing about the Lord Jesus and enter into a consistent and growing personal knowledge of and fellowship with Him, you must first come to know yourself. This is more than just introspection. It is the Holy Spirit guiding and teaching us through God’s Word and trusted mentors.
Here are a few items that we must learn first to grow from self-centered to Christ-centered:
Galatians 2:20 – My old self has been crucified with Christ. It
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 288 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Consecration Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 288 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 7th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-287/ (Trail of Identification). Today our hike takes us to the Trail of Consecration.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trial of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/trail2-800x390.jpg ()Trail of Consecration We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We were able to make some good progress over the weekend, but I also felt the need to have some downtime to relax and recharge a bit. It has always been difficult for me to set aside the time to recharge. There is always so much to do, and I am energized by most of the projects that we are involved in. As I grow older and wiser, I do realize that all my activities, when consecrated to God, are worthwhile and beneficial. The times of rest and reflection are as important as the times of focus and pursuit.
Let us head out on the hike for today on the Trail of Consecration. The word consecration is not a word that is used much outside of religious circles but it means to be set apart for God. As we hike today, let us learn about this word and set this entire trek apart for God. This is the 9th of 18 trails, which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Consecration As we start out on today’s hike, we have to realize and understand that we do not have the capability to change other people in any aspects of life, and we certainly cannot force someone to be consecrated to God. It might be good to stress several points just here:
A Christ follower will never grow to healthy spiritual maturity through pressure, exhortation, or guilt. It is only when the Spirit has prepared a heart will a life change.
Healthy progress is based on the realization of a need combined with the understanding and appropriation of the truths in Christ which make for real growth.
The practical aspect of all truth and especially what are considered the deeper truths will not be evident until we are aware of our need to progress spiritually. If we do not become aware of our need, we will not grow spiritually and will remain an infant in Christ.
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Hebrews 6:1 – “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God…”
This subject of consecration seems to be badly misunderstood by so many Christ followers. Many, especially those who are young in the Lord, have been victimized time and time again in this matter of surrender or commitment. The club most commonly used is “The Lord Jesus gave His all for you, now the least you can do is give your all for Him!” The believer is exhorted and pressured to consecrate, surrender, and commit his life to Christ on the basis of his love
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 287 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Identification Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 287 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 7th trail of this trek, which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-286/ (Trail of Appropriation). Today our hike takes us to the Trail of Identification.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/whitetop-view-with-identifications.jpg ()Trail of Identification We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This weekend is focused on finalizing some company tax work and preparing returns for family members. Once we finish those up, we will be able to focus on our personal return. We did make further progress on business planning projects that we set aside because of our heavy workload.
For so many of us, our identity of who we are is tied to the work that we do. I fall victim to this thinking and have to continually remind myself that we should consider our work as the platform for which we create and live our legacy. The positive impact that we have on others’ lives is most important. With that, we did take a break from our work for a great nephew’s birthday party on Saturday, and we do plan to worship with our local congregation at church on Sunday. We may also get outdoors on Sunday for a nice long walk.
As we consider our identity, as Christ followers, our identity should be in Christ, which is why today on our hike on the Trail of Identification we will explore the various aspects of how we are to identify with Christ. This will give us a focus of what to consider and how this applies to our spiritual lives. This is the 8th of 18 trails, which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Identification As we head out on our hike for today, our direction moves from the core truths of our new birth in Christ to the discovery of what we would call the growth truths. The primary passage to understand our identification with Christ is Romans 6. We will dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found in that passage.
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The very foundation of Christianity is Christ in us. The Christian life is Christ living His life in and through the believer. The life of Christ is reproduced in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is a new life with new relationships. When Christ resided in a physical body while on earth, he was restricted by the limitations of that physical body. This is why after his ascension into heaven he sent the Spirit of Truth that could reside in all believers at once, allowing His impact to be much greater found in John 16:13-14, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”
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Our identification with...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 286 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Appropriation Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 286 of our trek. Yesterday we finished our hike on the 6th trail of this trek which was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-285/ (Trail of Complete in Him).
Today we head onto the Trail of Appropriation. There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. This book contains a series of practical lessons which were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will also find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/trail_011.jpg ()Trail of Appropriation We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we wrap up another busy week, it is our hope to utilize the weekend for additional business planning that we need to put in place. Even after all the years that we have been in business, it continues to be a balancing act of good priorities and plans. It sometimes becomes difficult to be patient and know how to exactly appropriate the time for all the activities that we would like to accomplish.
As we look at hiking the Trail of Appropriation today, especially during this election season in the U.S., it brings to mind how the various government entities appropriate funds for certain specific reasons. Once those monies are set aside, they are not to be used for other purposes. While that gives us some basis for the word appropriation, let us explore today how this would apply to our spiritual lives. This is the 7th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Appropriation Appropriation is an important subject that has to do with our faith and the practical reception of that which we are able to trust God for. Appropriation does not necessarily mean to gain something new but to set aside for our practical possession something that already belongs to us. In the government analogy, it is the setting aside certain government funds for a specific purpose.
In order to appropriate something for our daily walk in Christ, there are two essentials: (1.) to see what is already ours in Christ and (2.) to be aware of our need for it. These two factors of seeing and needing bring us from childish meandering into a responsible, specific walk of faith. They take us from the “help me” attitude to that of giving thanks; from begging to appropriation. If we examine Ephesians 1:3 we realize that all of the spiritual blessings from God are already set aside for us, all we need to do is to be prepared to accept them, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”
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This verse does not leave any room for interpretation. It is much more ironclad than if the government would appropriate or set aside resources for a particular purpose. This is God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms…It is all done. It is finished. This verse is either true, or God is a liar and a sham. I know I fall into this same trap of asking, and sometimes pleading God to bless in certain areas in my
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 285 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Complete in Him #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 285 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked the first part of our 6th trail of this trek, which is the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-284/ (Trail of Complete in Him). Today we will finish this same trail.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. This book contains a series of practical lessons and was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will also find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/download-34.jpe ()Complete in Him We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On Wednesday, it was time again for my annual physical and blood work, so unless there are any surprises with the lab results, I should be good for another year. Since I am very dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I do not expect anything out of normal ranges. Although it does take a little more effort on a daily basis to stay focused on exercising and eating properly, it is part of the overall holistic life that we have chosen to live. This is part of being a complete person physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. None of us is perfect in all of these areas all the time, but we need to incorporate into our lives the habits to help us reach these objectives.
So I will ask you the same question that we started with yesterday again, “Are you living a complete life physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?” All areas are important, but for our hike today, we want to focus on the spiritual aspect as we hike the second part of the Trail of Complete in Him. This is one of the foundational principles that we need to address in our life. This is the 6th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Complete in Him #2 We covered a lot of trail on yesterday’s hike on how we are complete in Christ. If you missed that podcast, it would be best that you listen to it or read the daily journal. One of the suggested practices for spiritual growth to understand what it means to be complete in Christ is to spend time meditating on God’s Word and in prayer. This is a very important concept if we are to effectively hike the Trail of Complete in Him. In chapter one of the book of John, Christ is referred to as the Word. Let’s look at verses 1-5 and 14, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
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In our finite mind, we do not have the capacity to comprehend how God, his Son Jesus Christ (the Word), and the Spirit can be three distinct entities and yet divinely one. By faith, we must accept the premise of the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 284 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Complete in Him #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 284 of our trek. Yesterday we finished hiking our 5th trail of this trek, which is the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-283/ (Trail of Preparation). Today and tomorrow we head out on our new trail called the Trail of Complete in Him. There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. This book contains a series of practical lessons and was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy.
I trust that you will also find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/AR-160209944.jpg ()The Trail of Complete in Him We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a beautiful early spring week here in Charlotte, and although I love the work we do, when the weather is nice, it sure makes this farm boy want to get outdoors and enjoy it.
On a different topic, another podcast in which I was interviewed on “Being a Better Man” was released this week. The podcast is hosted by Alf Hergistad and focuses on helping men to live an impactful life, especially on the lives of younger men. It is important that we take the time to help impact the lives of others, and I was privileged to have another opportunity to share our focus on legacy. We want to live complete and full lives.
The question for today is, “Are you living a complete life physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?” All areas are important, but for our hike today, we want to focus on the spiritual aspect as we hike the Trail of Complete in Him. Our spiritual core needs Christ to complete us. This is the 6th of 18 trails, which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Complete in Him #1 On today’s trail, we continue to deal with foundational facts of our spiritual growth since our life can be no better than our root, our source. Growth should include a maturing process. Youth and immaturity tend to act first and think later, if at all. If we mature properly, we learn to take the time to assess the facts. God, our patient father, is willing for us to take time and learn the eternal facts without which we cannot be brought to maturity.
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When Jesus was on earth, he so often used natural facts to teach the deepest spiritual truths. He first teaches us about our natural life that we have in Adam before we can understand and appreciate our new spiritual Christ-life. Genesis 5:3 tells us that all humans took on Adam’s image or attributes, “When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was just like him—in his very image. He named his son Seth.” This involves the source principle of inherited traits, or in the country we would say that you are the spitting image of Adam. Every believer first learns that he is complete in Adam. Romans 5:19a – Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. Or as Romans 7:18a states, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.” This sinful nature could also be thought of as the inherited image we have from the first Adam.
God, through our failures and struggles,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 283 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Preparation #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 283 of our trek. Yesterday and today we are hiking our 5th trail which is the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-282/ (Trail of Preparation). This entire 18 trail trek which we are currently navigating is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford.
This book contains a series of practical lessons and was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will also find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Hiking-up-the-Tunnel-Brook-Trail.jpg ()Hiking the Trail of Preparation We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our youngest son Fred was able to come over on Tuesday night for dinner, and we worked together on preparing his income tax return. Since we have been involved in tax preparation for companies and individuals for many years, we count it a privilege to assist him, at least until he feels comfortable enough to handle it on his own.
Paula finished up another quilt this week for a great niece who was born last month. We have three more nieces expecting so Paula’s quilt-making calendar is full. Her quilts are all beautiful, and she makes each one unique. I do help her in the preparation stage by going with her to select the fabrics, which provides us an enjoyable break from our otherwise busy workload.
Preparation in any aspect of life is important, and to have solid spiritual growth, God needs to prepare our hearts and minds. Let us continue today on the 2nd part of the Trail of Preparation. This is the 5th of 18 trails, which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Preparation #2 On the first part of the Trail of Preparation, we learned that solid growth takes time and may be filled with struggles. As we fulfill God’s purpose in our lives by becoming more like His image, we are also instructed that we can find rest from the struggles in Christ.
None of us like struggles and failures in our lives, but that is what life is made of. We need to acknowledge this fact, and accept life as it is, not as we wish it were. Much of God’s preparation in our lives consists of setting up this struggle, which allows us to see self for what it is, and the struggle to get free from its evil power and influence.
Life is made up of struggles and failures – Keep pushing anyways Paul described this in his letter to the Church found in Romans 7:18, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.” There is no hope of consistent abiding in the Lord Jesus as long as we are under the dominion of the self-life. So is there any hope? Yes, there is, as we explored on our trail yesterday in Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Once we are willing to allow God to unlock and remove the shackles of our old nature, we can then be set free. Oh yes, the struggle will continue. We have become accustomed to, and in a strange way, enjoy the shackles of life, but once removed, we do not have to allow them to...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 282 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Preparation #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 282 of our trek. Yesterday we finished hiking on our 4th trail on our current trek, which is the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-281/ (Trail of Purpose). Today and tomorrow we will hike our 5th trail which is the Trail of Preparation.
This entire 18 trail trek that we are currently navigating is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford. This book contains a series of practical lessons and was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will also find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of your spiritual background or perspective. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We have a variety of activities scheduled for this week. I am being interviewed on The Positivity Effect Podcast, we have one more company tax return and several personal tax returns to work on, we have time set aside for work on Your Life Plan Blueprint, and we have our usual client work to accomplish. It should be a busy but productive week. We have prepared well and will forge ahead taking one day at a time.
Speaking of preparing, before we set out on our daily activities for our trek of life, we need to make sure that we do prepare for whatever we may encounter. It is now time to break camp for today and head out on our new hike for the first part of the Trail of Preparation. This is the 5th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Preparation #1 We have already hiked the trails of faith, time, acceptance, and purpose. Once we know God’s eternal plan and purpose for us, we need to understand His method and process of preparation. In doing so, we will be able to reach the place of rest and confidence. Anytime we desire to grow, we must first understand our need. In the same manner, God’s basic ingredient for growth is need. Without the understanding of our personal needs, we will not grow in our Christian life. The reason our Father creates and allows needs in our lives is to shift our focus from all the religious trappings that are outside of Christ, centering us in Him alone. As part of this preparation process, we need to integrate the concept of Galatians 2:20 into our lives, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
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For both our growth and our service, it is all essential that we see and understand this principle. When we understand our need for Christ to live in us, it causes us to reach out and appropriate by faith, from our Lord Jesus, the strength which we require. The simple fact in everyone’s life is that the true value of anything is known only when it is desired. If we do not desire something, we will never know our need for it. God makes Himself known to us through our needs. Those needs could be material needs, but it is likely that we will determine that we can work to fill our material needs. Spiritual needs are something quite different. We can never fill our spiritual needs apart from God’s...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 281 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Purpose #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 281 of our trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-280/ (Yesterday) and today we are hiking on our 4th trail on our current trek which is the Trail of Purpose.
This entire 18 trail trek is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford. This practical information was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will also find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of your spiritual background or perspective. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We made good progress with the tax returns and other financial work that we needed to accomplished this weekend, which gives us a great sense of accomplishment. We were also able to attend our local church here in Charlotte. With us traveling back and forth to Ohio, we are only able to attend the services once or twice a month. It is always good to worship with our local Christ followers as we have the opportunity.
As we start this new work week, it is now time to break camp for today and head out on the 2nd part of the Trail of Purpose. This is the 4th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Purpose #2 Yesterday on the first part of the Trail of Purpose, we came to understand that regardless of our status or situation on our trek of life, our purpose in life is to reflect and then become more like God’s image. This is possible as 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
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It is one thing to know what God’s purpose is for our lives, and it is quite another to know how we integrate that purpose into the very fabric of our lives. One of God’s most effective means is through the process of failure. Most people, including believers, are simply frantic over the fact of failure in their lives. We will go to all lengths in trying to hide it, ignore it, or rationalize about it. All the time we may very well be resisting the main instrument in the Father’s hand for conforming us to the image of His Son!
Failure, where self is concerned in our Christian life, is allowed and often engineered by God. His purpose is to turn us completely from ourselves to His source for our life—Christ Jesus, who never fails. Instead of dreading failure, we are to rejoice in our need and hunger of the heart. Jesus told us in Matthew 5:6, “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.”
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We integrate more and more of God’s image as we recognize the fact that our old nature has been crucified with Christ which is told to us in Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
By our very nature, we will conform to those things in life that we focus our...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 280 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Purpose #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 280 of our trek. For the past two days, we hiked the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-279/ (Trail of Acceptance). Today we are heading out on the first part of the 4th trail which is the Trail of Purpose.
This entire 18 trail trek is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford. This practical information was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will also find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of your spiritual background or perspective. Each of the trails that we will hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We had the privilege of voting early in the primary elections on Friday. Regardless of your political persuasion, I encourage everyone to invest the time to exercise your right to vote. It is one of the many reasons the U.S. is a great nation.
This weekend we are focused on completing company tax returns for our two companies and a couple of client companies. Once we are done with those, we can then move onto the several personal tax returns that we must do for ourselves and family members. All of our work with clients and family certainly adds to our purpose on this trek of life.
It is now time to break camp for today and head out on a new hike on the Trail of Purpose. This is the 4th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Purpose #1 Do you ever wonder what your purpose in life is? I think we all have those thoughts at times. How wonderful and encouraging it is to know that our Heavenly Father has made it crystal clear in His Word exactly what His purpose is for each one of us. During these two days, we will explore His overriding purpose for your personal life.
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Let’s start at the beginning, when man and woman were created. In Genesis 1:26 it tells us that “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us…'” The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, were made in God’s image in the realm of personality, intellect, emotions, will, and choice. This was so that there could be communion, fellowship, and cooperation between them; with God sovereign and man subject—subject to His will, which is perfect freedom. But, we know that Adam and Eve chose their own way in preference to God’s way, relying on themselves only, loving just themselves. As a result, they immediately became self-centered instead of God-centered. They were dead to God, who is the source of all life, dead in trespasses and sins. In this self-centered condition, Genesis 4 and 5 describe how Adam and Eve had children of their own, in their image, including their disobedient character traits. These inherited traits were passed down to all humans from that point forward as mentioned in Ephesians 2:1, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.”
Adam and Eve’s wrong choices, and by extension our own choices, are not the end of God’s story. In ourselves, we have failed to maintain the character of God, so he provided an alternate solution. This is found in Hebrews 1:1-3, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 279 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Acceptance #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 279 of our trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-278/ (Yesterday) and today we are hiking the Trail of Acceptance. The entire 18 trail trek is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford.
This practical information was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will also find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of your spiritual background or perspective. Each of the trails that we will hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On a personal note, Paula is finally finishing up one of the last major details of her quest of braces, which started nearly six years ago. She had the rare situation where she still had five baby teeth that never fell out. She had to have those pulled before getting her braces, so the orthodontist shifted her teeth to leave a place for a molar to be implanted. The permanent implant was put in today, and now she has a mouth full of straight teeth. We are so pleased. One minor adjustment to her retainer next week, and this project will be complete. How our teeth look does impact our self-image and our perceived acceptance by others.
As we continue on our hike of the Trail of Acceptance today, we once again consider what it means to be accepted by others, but most importantly, how we perceive that God accepts us. The thought of acceptance is part of our hike on our 3rd of 18 trails, which make up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Acceptance #2 As we continue from yesterday, we have come to realize that God’s acceptance of us is unconditional and based solely on His acceptance of us in Christ. Christ bought our full pardon so that we are no longer under any condemnation.
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The Holy Spirit always reasons down from what God is, and this produces a total change in your soul. It is not that you necessarily dislike it when you live contrary to God’s precepts. In fact, you may quite well be enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin, as is mentioned in Hebrews [11:25]. Let’s look at how the Holy Spirit reasons. He shows us what we are in ourselves without God. That is one reason why the Spirit often seems to be very difficult and does not give peace to the soul because we are not comforted until we experientially, from our hearts, acknowledge what we are.
Until our soul comes to that point where we accept the Spirit’s leading and in agreement of our need for God, He does not give it peace. He could not. Anything less would be like placing a tiny Band-Aid on a gaping wound. The soul has to go on until it finds there is nothing to rest on but the goodness of God, and then we can acknowledge what Roman 8:31 says, “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
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Sadly today, most believers actually reason just the opposite—from themselves to God. When all is going well and God seems to be blessing, then it is that we feel He loves and accepts us. But, when we are stumbling and everything...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 278 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Acceptance #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 278 of our trek, and yesterday we finished our hike on the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-277/ (Trail of Time). Today and tomorrow we will hike the Trail of Acceptance.
The entire 18 trail trek is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford. This information was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of your spiritual background or perspective. Each of the trails that we will hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We made significant progress on projects today on multiple fronts, so although it was busy, there was a sense of accomplishment. This is partially because the remote technical support for one client was a bit less intense today. Paula and our friend Bev were also able to make some reviews and edits to Your Life Plan Blueprint today, so hopefully we will be able to get back on track soon with that important project.
As we hike the trails of life, we all desire to be part of the group, to be accepted. As we are leaving our campsite for today and heading out on a new trail, we all want to feel as if we are contributing to the progress that we make. This concept is part of our very nature. As humans, our acceptance of others is usually conditional.
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What we will learn on the Trail of Acceptance is whether God accepts us, and if He does, on what basis. These thoughts lead us to our hike on our 3rd of 18 trails, which will make up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Acceptance #1 There are two questions that every believer must settle as soon as possible in order to be able to live the rich and satisfying life that Jesus promised us.
Does God fully accept me?
If so, upon what basis does He do so?
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This is crucial. What devastation often permeates the life of one, young or old, rich or poor, saved or unsaved, who is not sure of being accepted, even on the human level.
Yet so many believers, whether “strugglers” or “sleepwalkers,” move through life without this precious fact to rest and build on from Ephesians 1:5-6, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.”
Every believer is accepted and made right by the Father, in Christ. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” The peace is God’s toward us, through His beloved Son—on this, our peace is to be based. God is able to be at peace with us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/12534371_1744401465788849_575593408_n.jpg ()Colossians 1:19-20 – For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 277 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Time #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 277 of our trek, and on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-275/ (Tuesday) of this week, we are started on an extended trek that contains 18 different trails that we will hike. Our first trail was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-275/ (Trail of Faith). Yesterday and today we are hiking on the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-276/ (Trail of Time).
The entire trek is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford. This information was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of your spiritual background or perspective. Each of the trails that we will hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since we are hiking on the Trail of Time for a couple of days, I am reminded just how brief our time is here on our trek of life.
Last week an online friend’s, who is a leader within one of the Facebook communities that I belong to, husband died un-expectantly. They also have two young children that have lost their father. While each day seems to rush by, and we may not accomplish all that we desire to, let us make sure that we take time for the most important people in our lives. We do not know when God may call us home, let’s make sure that we are living a legacy each day and leaving an impactful legacy for generations to come. Let’s not try to rush what is important.
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These thoughts lead us to our hike for today on the 2nd part of our Trail of Time. This will complete our 2nd of 18 trails which will make up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Time #2 As I mentioned yesterday, it seems that most Christ followers, including myself, have difficulty realizing and facing up to the unchangeable fact that God does not hurry in His development of our lives and the impact that we should have on our world. He is working from and for eternity! So many times we don’t feel that we are making enough progress unless we are swiftly and constantly forging ahead. Yesterday, we used the analogy of the oak tree and the squash. One takes decades to grow to maturity, and the other just a few months. It is only the oak tree that will be left standing for generations to come. It is the same with our Spiritual growth and renewal.
Spiritual renewal is a gradual process. All growth is progressive, and the stronger the organism, the longer the process. It is from measure to measure as Matthew 13:23 tells us, “The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” It is from stage to stage as Mark 4:28 says, “The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.” It is from day to day because God is not in a hurry as 2 Peter 3:8 describes, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.”
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 276 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Time #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 276 of our trek, and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-275/ (yesterday) we are started on an extended trek that contains 18 different trails that we will hike. In order to keep them short, we may split some of the trails over two days. Our first trail was the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-275/ (Trail of Faith).
Today and tomorrow we will hike the Trail of Time. This trek is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford. The truths contained in this book were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of your spiritual background or perspective. Each of the trails that we will hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This week is continuing the brisk pace that seems to be the norm for us in our workload. One company where I provide technical support has had an extra heavy caseload for the past month, so that has limited some of the time we had allocated for Wisdom-Trek journals and Your Life Plan Blueprint, but they still remain a very high priority for us.
I know that life gets in the way for all of us, but I try to make sure that I always fulfill previous commitments before moving onto new projects. We are thankful for the work we have to do and the ability to complete it effectively. Time is really the only finite commodity we have in our lives. How we effectively invest that time is very important.
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That leads us to our hike for today on the Trail of Time. Let us start on our 2nd of 18 trails which will make up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Time It seems that most Christ followers, including myself, have difficulty in realizing and facing up to the unchangeable fact that God does not hurry in His development of our Christian life. He is working from and for eternity! So many feel they are not making progress in any area of life unless they are swiftly and constantly forging ahead. Now it is true that the new Christ follower often begins and continues for some time at a fast rate. But this will not continue if there is to be healthy growth and ultimate maturity. God Himself will modify the pace. This is important to see, since in most instances when it seems like a decline in growth begins to set in, it is not, as so many think, a matter of backsliding.
To paraphrase theologian John Darby, “It is God’s way to set people aside after their first start so self-confidence may die down. With Moses, he was forty years tending sheep after being part of Pharaoh’s household. On his first start, he had to run away, but God was using this time to prepare Moses to lead His people. The Apostle Paul was in isolation for three years also, after his first testimony. Not that God did not approve the first earnest testimony. We must get to know ourselves and that we have no strength in ourselves. Therefore, we must learn, and then leaning on the Lord we can with more maturity, and more experience, be prepared in a greater way to do God’s work.”
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/14-moses7.jpg ()Moses 40 Years in Midian The Christian life matures and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 275 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Principles of Spiritual Growth – Faith Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 275 of our trek, and for the past three days we have been exploring what it means to be https://wisdom-trek.com/day-274/ (Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith). Today we are starting a longer trek that contains 18 different trails that we will hike.
This trek is adapted from a short book called Principles of Spiritual Growth written by Miles J. Stanford. This information was instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. I trust that you will find this trek valuable in your own life, regardless of your spiritual background or perspective. Each of the trails that we will hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to our usual workload, we hope to finish up the company tax returns that we need to prepare for our companies and a couple of our clients. We also hope to make further progress on the Your Life Plan Blueprint course that we creating.
As we consider this new trek that we are embarking on, you will find each daily hike contains the basic principles pertaining to the Christian’s spiritual life. These principles are stated in such practical form that you will find it rewarding to listen to the daily trek or read the journal multiple times, and of course, to put these principles into practice in your daily trek. Some aspects of the Christian life and walk which may have been puzzling to you will become clear as the Spirit of God is able to make them a reality in your daily life.
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While certain daily hikes may be of such interest as to entice you to jump to certain days first, it would be best to walk each daily hike in the order they appear. They are in a logical sequence, and principle is laid upon principle. Today we will build a bridge from the past three days where we were Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith and begin our first trail called the Trail of Faith on our trek of the…
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14695-trees-forest-path-road-reen-brown.1200w.tn_.jpg ()The Trail of Faith Principles of Spiritual Growth – Faith The aim of this trek is to carefully bring out some of the most important principles of spiritual growth to help build on a sound biblical foundation in Christ. He can honor no other.
The Holy Spirit has Paul write to each of us in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine,” and the recommendation is certainly not out of order at the very inception of this series of studies. First of all, we must remind ourselves that Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “…it is impossible to please God without faith.” Moreover, and this is all important, true faith must be based solely on scriptural facts, found in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” Unless our faith is established on facts, it is no more than conjecture, superstition, speculation, or presumption.
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Hebrews 11:1 leaves no question about this, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Faith standing on the facts of the Word of
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 274 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 274 of our trek, and for the past two days as well as today we are exploring what it means to be https://wisdom-trek.com/day-273/ (Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith). If you miss any of the days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I made good progress varnishing the library woodwork during the day Saturday. Saturday evening was invested with the grandkids as I was once again the monster and chased them throughout the house. I am glad I am limber and young at heart to be able to enjoy the time I can invest with them. Our daughter Elizabeth stayed, and we had homemade split pea and ham soup. It was a great way to invest the evening. Sunday we headed south once again to Charlotte. We dropped Kip off at his home and invested a little time with Buddy and Chelimo. We will be in Charlotte for a little less than three weeks and then head back to Marietta. We do enjoy being able to wander back and forth between the two homes.
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Speaking of wandering, on today’s trek, we continue to study of what it means to be…
Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith · The Faith That Saves To have faith in our lives is of utmost importance. Faith’s importance to salvation is emphasized in Ephesians 2:8, where Paul writes, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Faith plays a role in the entire process until we enter the Kingdom of God. It is the sum of what God is doing in our lives and is written in John 6:29, “Jesus told them, ‘This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.’”
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The faith that saves has its beginning when God, on His own initiative, calls us and leads us to repentance. He does this by His Spirit guiding us into all truth. Stirring up our minds to knowledge, His Spirit enables us to perceive from a perspective we never before seriously considered. This, combined with the confrontation that occurs with the carnal mind when we are forced to choose what to do with this precious truth, gives birth to a living faith, a faith that works, a faith that walks in godliness.
As miraculous and powerful as God’s liberation of Israel from bondage in Egypt was, even more so and of greater importance is the breaking of our bondage to Satan, this world, and human nature. This is why Ephesians 2:8 says the faith that saves is “the gift of God.” Israel’s release from Egypt was God’s gift too. Regardless of how much they cried out to Him, the Israelites would never have left Egypt without Him. If God had not been merciful and faithful, if He had not been trustworthy, they would never have been freed.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/gift.jpg ()What did God lead us to that sparked this saving faith in us? He led us to His Word. We can glean a measure of faith from observing God’s creation, but this faith cannot save because it does not reveal His purpose. The seeds of faith in us are planted through the proclamation of his Word as Romans 10:17 states, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” As Christ...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 273 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 273 of our trek, and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-272/ (yesterday) and for the next couple of days, we are exploring what it means to be Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith. If you miss any of the days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/caravan-in-dustorm.jpg ()Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Most of Saturday, I focused on varnishing the woodwork in the library and made significant progress. It is always such a great feeling of accomplishment to see the finished product. I find it a relaxing and good diversion from having to be so mentally focused throughout the week with client work. We also were able to have five of our six grandkids over Saturday evening for another night of fun. Paula and I desire to live intentional in all that we do and not find ourselves wandering through life without a sense of direction.
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On today’s trek, we will focus on living by faith, so that we do invest our time with purpose. This is day two of…
Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith · Living By Faith How important is faith? In Hebrews 10:37-38 we learn that “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
“My righteous ones will live by faith” is both a statement of fact about the basis of a Christian’s life and a command. It is so important that this same phrase is repeated once in the Old Testament and three times in the New (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans [1:17]; Galatians [3:11]). In each case, the context is somewhat different, but its importance to a Christian’s salvation is not lost.
The concept is not difficult to understand. Paul further clarifies it in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we live by believing and not by seeing.” A simple definition of “faith” in Webster’s New World Dictionary is “complete trust, confidence, or reliance.” At the end of the definitions, “belief” is listed as a synonym. “Belief” means “faith, esp. Religious faith; trust or confidence.” The dictionary definitions show that the two words are virtually synonymous. However, in the Bible and in practical application a very wide difference separates merely believing and living by faith.
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The practical application of faith is more than simply acknowledging the reality of God. Living by faith involves qualities that are better expressed by the word “trust.” This kind of faith produces loyalty or faithfulness expressed in the Christian’s life by works of obedience.
Do you think for a moment that the Israelites in the wilderness disbelieved that God existed? A few may have argued that the miracles they had experienced from the arrival of Moses in Egypt until they died in the wilderness were nothing more than natural phenomena. There are always some doubters and scoffers of that sort as is mentioned in 2 Peter 3:3, “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.”
The vast majority of Israelites could not deny to themselves God’s mighty acts on their behalf. They had heard the voice of God at Mount Sinai, had...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 272 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 272 of our trek, and yesterday I asked you, “How Heavy is Your Backpack?” I must follow up today with, “Have you taken steps to lighten your load?” This concept will be important during the next three or four days as we explore Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ForestPath-plaq1.jpg ()Wandering in the Wilderness We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a joy to have our grandson Kip with us this week. He has done so well working on Granny’s Surface Pro tablet during the day in our office with Granny and Gramps on either side of him. He worked on Thomas the Train and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood games for long stretches at a time. Both of these programs have great moral teaching principles built into them.
We were on-site with one of our clients in Marietta on Friday and took Kip along with us there also. It has taken many years to build a lifestyle business where we can work as we do. We still work hard, which usually includes many hours each week, but being location independent has become a reality. It allows us to wander from various locations and still be able to complete our work.
As we consider the concept of wandering, we want to ponder what it means to be…
Wandering in the Wilderness by Faith When I hear the phrase wandering in the wilderness, it brings to mind how the nation of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years on their way to the Promised Land. This was due to their lack of faith that God would help them to occupy the Promised Land. They could have possessed the land in less than a year from leaving Egypt, but because of their disbelief, the trip stretched out 40 times longer.
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We see that the older generation of the Israelites whom God had freed from slavery in Egypt die in the wilderness. The story of their journey through the wilderness shows that they never overcame their slave mentality, the mindset they brought with them from Egypt. They were set free, but in their minds, they were still as shackled as if they had never left. Their thinking—and thus their attitudes and conduct—constantly reverted to the way it had been molded in Egypt.
The nation of Israel witnessed the terrible plagues which were God’s punishment on the Egyptians. They also witnessed awesome miracles that demonstrated God’s mercy upon them. The Red Sea opened up for them. They lived under a cool cloud during the day and a warm pillar of fire at night. They had their daily needs supplied directly by God, and yet the Israelites found the wilderness to be nothing more than a huge cemetery in which they wandered for forty years.
It is not unusual for all humanity, and even Christ followers, to be slaves to past practices, teachings, and mindsets. We need to be free from our mentality of slavery. Galatians 5:1 tells us, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
What the nation of Israel experienced in their period of wander in the wilderness serves as an example for us as is mentioned in I Corinthians 10:11, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.”
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In this spiritual journey, Canaan, the Promised Land,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 271 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom How Heavy Is Your Backpack? Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 271 of our trek, and the past three days on our hike, we used a simile of how https://wisdom-trek.com/day-270/ (Life Is Like a)https://wisdom-trek.com/day-270/ ( Seed). Today we want to focus on the load that we carry on our trek of life each day. So I want to ask you, “How Heavy Is Your Backpack?” If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. On our daily trek called life, the hills that we climb, the twists and turns on the path that we face, and the steep slopes that we find ourselves on can be challenging and very interesting. On the home front, we have come across one of those situations. Paula’s Mom asked Tuesday why the furnace was only blowing cold air. Since our office is upstairs and the temperatures have been mild, I had not noticed it.
Upon investigating it, I discovered the flame was not lighting in the furnace although the blower continued to run. We called the company we purchased it from, and unfortunately, the heat exchanger has a crack in it causing it to overheat and shut off the flame. A more serious situation is that it can also leak carbon monoxide.
Since the furnace is over 20 years old, we will have to replace the entire unit. This is a major expense that we had not anticipated, so it is time to be extra frugal to cover the cost. Although this is something extra in our backpack of life that will be a burden for a while, we have learned over the years that it is best to take life as it is, not how we wished it were. So, the positive aspect of this is we will have a more efficient furnace that will work better.
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If we are not careful as we trek through life, we will allow our backpack to become full with cares and concerns that weigh us down and cause us issues. So, today as we start up the trail let me ask you…
How Heavy Is Your Backpack? Imagine carrying a backpack filled with rocks everywhere you go. Now that would be exhausting! It gives new meaning to the phrase “doing the heavy lifting.”
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If the weight of that backpack seems like too much to bear, just imagine the impact of the emotional baggage that we carry every day! Think about it…We fear getting fired, we complain about the service we receive, we express disgust over the politics of the nation, we envy the person “next door,” we worry about meeting deadlines, and we discredit our colleague for “stealing” the promotion. Emotional baggage? You bet.
Now ask yourself, “What do we gain by gossiping about a colleague, badmouthing politicians, or ranting about our frustrations on Facebook?” Answer: We get upset, with little to show for our efforts. It’s as though we believe that if we gossip, rant, and rave loud enough and often enough, people will accept our way of thinking. The truth is, besides being a colossal waste of time, nothing really changes — except that we’re not much fun to be around. Who needs that?
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Even when we don’t overtly express our negative feelings of worry, prejudice, fear, criticism, guilt, anger, and envy, we play out these “dramas” in our heads like a chess master plotting his next few moves. These negative thoughts race through
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 270 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Life is Like a Seed #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 270 of our trek, and the past two days on our hike, we used a simile of how https://wisdom-trek.com/day-269/ (Life is Like a)https://wisdom-trek.com/day-269/ ( Seed). Today we will finish this comparison with part three. There are many parallels from both a physical and spiritual perspective. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I am making some progress on varnishing the woodwork in the library. There is a lot of wood to cover, plus the floor. I could easily spend full time working on The Big House, but at this point in our lives, it is still required that we earn income to work, live, and meet our financial obligations. As always, our client workload remains busy, so it does require a lot of focus to complete all the work. This is how life is, one step in front of the other as we trek on each day.
On the past two days, we learned about seeds and the conditions needed for germination. Let’s continue on our trail today as we seek out more information about planting seeds and what is required for growth.
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This is the final day on how our…
Life is Like a Seed · The Work—Planting Seeds That Grow Ultimately, the seed’s sole purpose is to reproduce its own kind, but there are various levels of harvest. In front of a large crowd, Jesus told the Parable of the Famer Scattering Seed. This story is found in Luke chapter 8. In verse 5 it says, “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field…” We see there were different growing environments within this field, yielding varying rates of failure and success. Christ explained to his disciples privately the types of soil that were in the field in verses 11-15 where Jesus said, “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”
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We see that the purpose of doing God’s work is to scatter the seeds on whatever soil is around us. We are not responsible for the size of the harvest. God will take care of that.
Throughout the ages in the past, the way the seeds were scattered was through the technology that was available at that time. Today we have the capability of scattering God’s Word to practically the entire world from wherever God has placed us. The Internet has become a powerful tool in spreading the “seed” of God’s Word, and this is only the beginning! We must not pass up this opportunity.
We can compare
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 269 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Life is Like a Seed #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 269 of our trek, and yesterday and for the next couple of days on our hike, we want to understand how https://wisdom-trek.com/day-268/ (Life is Like a)https://wisdom-trek.com/day-268/ ( Seed). There are many parallels from both a physical and spiritual perspective. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Although it is still February, we know that spring will be here soon. Our pair of hawks have returned over the past month and are preparing their nest for laying their eggs in March. It is very interesting watching them each day from our office windows as they diligently and deliberately reconstruct and enlarge their nest.
Let’s continue on our trail today as we seek out more information on how our…
Life is Like a Seed · Five Basic Conditions In general, there are five basic physical conditions that all seeds need to germinate:
Light
Water
Soil
Time
Temperature
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Similarly, Christians need these five spiritual conditions to grow. Let’s look at how and why a seed needs each of these conditions and how they spiritually apply to a Christian’s life.
- Light Sunlight, which changes in length and intensity throughout the year, is a plant’s signal to start germinating at the right time. It also helps show the plant which way is up and where to send its leaves to receive light so that it can produce its own food.
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Notice what Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” God, in His Word, shows us through daily Bible study which way to go.
Alone, man does not know how to plan his own course as mentioned in Jeremiah. 10:23, “I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.”
As a result, he gropes in the darkness of this world, ignorant of the only way that produces true and lasting peace, happiness, and prosperity. The light of God’s Word reveals the path that leads to the kingdom of God and eternal life.
- Water Water is also a vital key for the life of every plant. As mentioned on yesterday’s hike, some seeds need to be immersed in water to germinate. All seeds need to absorb and fill up with water, which is the first step in germination. This happens by either a chemical trigger or a change in the seed coat.
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When we accept Christ as our substitution or sacrifice for our sins so that we become holy in God’s sight, we are washed clean. A comparison to how husbands are to love their wives is how Christ loved the church which is described in Ephesians 5:25-27, “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”
A parallel can also be considered with baptism and the story of the Samaritan woman at the well when Christ told her in John 4:13-14, “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 268 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Life is Like a Seed #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 268 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered https://wisdom-trek.com/day-267/ (9 lessons learned from hiking the mountains). Today and for the next couple of days on our hike, we want to understand how Life is Like a Seed. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Sunday evening was filled with laughter and squeals as we had five of our six grandchildren over for the evening. We had pizza and watermelon for dinner and then Gramps was changed into a monster, as I chased the kids all over the house in an attempt to catch them. By the end of the evening, my throat and body were a bit sore from all the monster growling and being piled on by the kids as they tried to free the captured ones. It was a great evening together.
Anytime we have the opportunity to impact our grandchildren positively we certainly want to plant those seeds within them. Fortunately, they all have very strong and loving homes, and we can reinforce good principles in their lives. This is an important part of living our legacy each day.
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As we consider planting those good seeds within our grandchildren’s lives, on our hike today we want to begin a short series that will allow us to consider how…
Life is Like a Seed · God instructs us to learn spiritual principles from Creation. Have you considered the example of the seed? Let time travel forward a couple of months and imagine that it is now springtime! Farmers are busy planting their fields. Gardeners are cleaning up their yards and preparing their gardens. They are taking little seeds and placing them in the ground so that they will grow into beautiful flowers and fruitful plants. There is nothing quite like a bouquet of fresh flowers or the taste of fresh vegetables from your own garden!
Growing up on the farm, our primary crop was apples from the 40 acres of apple trees in our orchard. We also had a very large vegetable and flower garden that we all worked in. Regardless if the plant was an apple tree, corn stalk, or hollyhock flower, each one starts with a seed of the same kind of plant.
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Seeds come in different shapes and sizes, with each type having different requirements for germination (the process in which seeds sprout and begin to grow). Small seeds must be placed as delicately as possible in the soil so that they do not get buried too deep. They are usually planted together in groups, ensuring that some will grow into thriving plants. Larger seeds, on the other hand, are buried deeper and generally with fewer in a group. Some seeds prefer warm, dry environments while others require environments that are cold and moist. There are seeds that will germinate in less than five days while others will take five months—or even longer!
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Because there is a wide range of seed types, man has learned a seemingly endless variety of methods to cause seeds to sprout and grow. One common treatment is exposing the seed to a cold, almost freezing, temperature for a specific length of time, mimicking winter. Certain seeds, such as some carnivorous plants from Australia or some pine cones germinate when they are exposed to fire....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 267 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 9 Lessons from the Mountains Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 267 of our trek, and yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-266/ (7 activities which we should all incorporate into our lives). Today we are going to discover 9 lessons learned from hiking the mountains. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. On Sunday, we went to church and dinner afterward with Dad in Cambridge, Ohio. It is always great to spend time with him worshipping God and visiting. It was extra special for Dad this time since we had Kip with us. It is a blessing for all of us that the great-grandchildren are able to know and spend time with Dad.
On Sunday afternoon, we did have some work to complete and additional planning for some of our clients, which are negatively impacted by low energy prices.
I was also able to do some final cleaning of the woodwork in the library in preparation of coating it with polyurethane. It will certainly look great when we are finished.
Each day of life is an opportunity to learn if we are receptive to its lessons. As we head out on the trail for today on our trek up the mountain of life we will learn…
9 Lessons from the Mountains Let’s imagine in our minds that we have just arrived in Seattle, Washington, in preparation for an expedition of mountain climbing. Set behind the Seattle skyline, standing elegantly at 14,411 feet is Mount Rainer, which can humble even the most experienced climbers. Our guide for our expedition has promised us an unforgettable adventure on Mount Rainer. We first hike to Camp Muir, the main base camp at 10,080 feet. From there we start the difficult part of the hike to the summit of Mount Rainer.
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The lessons from this experience are extremely relevant to our everyday life. Here are several key takeaways.
Preparation can mean life or death. If you were to actually take this trek, your journey would start long before your boots hit the dirt with careful consideration of every foreseeable scenario. As with your life plan, you want to have a plan for the various scenarios that you may encounter. Don’t just plan for the best case scenario. Plan for everything that could go wrong too. The moment you’re forced into survival situations, whether that is financial, health, relational, or otherwise, is not the right time to start developing a plan to get through it. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/By-failing-to-prepare-you-are-preparing-to-fail.jpg ()
Pace yourself. With all of the adrenaline and excitement of hitting a trailhead, it’s common for hikers to push too hard at the beginning and burn out during the climb. As you go through life, you need to keep your emotions in check, pace yourself, and maintain a steady pace. This will allow you to conserve emotional, financial, and spiritual resources that will be needed to tackle the difficult terrains of life as you encounter them. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Pace-Yourself.jpg ()
Just keep moving. There will be times in mountain climbing and in life when it doesn’t seem worth it. No one said it’d be easy. Remember that momentum is important. When you stop on a mountain above snow level, it doesn’t take long for the cold to set in. In the same manner,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 266 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 7 Activities to Integrate Into Your Life Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 266 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-265/ (7 insights to develop your personal philosophy of life). Today we will explore 7 activities which we should all incorporate into our lives. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. The trip north on Friday evening was uneventful, and we enjoyed the additional conversations with our grandson Kip, who came along with us this time. Saturday was spent cleaning up drywall dust and preparing to refinish the woodwork in the library and parlor. We also invested some additional time making edits to Your Life Plan Blueprint. It was a beautiful sunny day with temperatures around 70°, so we spent some time enjoying the day as Kip ran around and played on the swing set.
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It is so good to take these moments to relax and reflect because life for most of us seems to be overly busy to the point where we see diminishing returns with each new activity that we try to cram into our already busy schedules. As we head out on our trail for today, let us ponder the fact that maybe the type of activities that we are involved in are not leading us to fulfill our life purpose. Let us look for the mile markers along our trek that will point out the…
7 Activities to Integrate into Your Life As you consider the various activities that make up each day, if you are like me, you feel that there is just no way to add anything else to an already overflowing schedule. My question to you is, Are the activities you are involved in for this season of life congruent with your life purpose and objectives? Are these activities moving you closer to or farther away from your destination in life? These are hard choices that you will have to make, and you will need to learn how to say no to the good activities so we can say yes to the best activities.
There are some universal activities or habits though that all of us should integrate into our lives to ensure that we are moving toward a life that is both rich and satisfying.
Consider replacing some of your less productive activities/habits with ones that have better benefits. This will allow you to create and live your legacy each day. Here are the activities/habits that I recommend.
- Exercise Working out is good for the body, mind, and soul. According to various studies, people who exercise 30 minutes a day, five times a week, enjoy better overall brain health, including uplifted mood, reduced stress, increased creativity, and clearer thinking. Exercise is one of the best activities you can be involved in to stay alert and alive. For me the best time to exercise is early morning. I set aside about 70 minutes each morning for this activity. I do include listening to devotional materials, podcasts, and audio books into exercising to maximize the use of my time.
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- Hobbies Have you ever noticed that some of the most productive and successful people also lead rather interesting lifestyles in addition to their careers? That comes largely from the personal pastimes they choose to enjoy. Hobbies are a good outlet for stress and an excellent source of creativity. Although I really do love work, I also enjoy renovating The Big House and taking care of the grounds. These are times of relaxing and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 265 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 7 Insights for Developing Your Personal Philosophy Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 265 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-264/ (18 signposts for strong personal leadership). Today we will extend our trail and look for 7 more signposts to develop our personal philosophy of life. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On the day this episode is released we will be back in Ohio at The Big House. There is an extensive amount of renovation work that needs to be accomplished in the weeks that we spend in Marietta as we prepare for our Chamberlain reunion scheduled for July 4th weekend. We won’t be nearly finished in the entire house by then, but we have made significant progress in the past 5 years. We are anticipating between 75-100 people in attendance during that weekend.
As you can tell our personal philosophy about family is that it is very important to us. We desire to preserve the heritage that has been entrusted to us. We realize that few individuals in today’s fragmented and fast-paced society have this privilege. Just as we are aware of this, on the trails that we will hike today, we will look for additional signposts to discover…
7 Insights for Developing Your Personal Philosophy Your philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out. This is how to build a meaningful one.
While there are many puzzle pieces for success, without developing a sound philosophy, the other pieces are of little value. So as you go forward on this journey toward success, remember to:
- Set your sail. The winds of circumstance blow upon all of us. We all have experienced the winds of disappointment, despair, and heartbreak, but why do people arrive at such different places at the end of the journey? Have we not all sailed upon the same sea?
The major difference isn’t circumstance. It’s the set of your sail (or the way you think). It’s what you do after you have set your sails and the wind decides to change direction. When the winds change, you must change. You have to struggle to your feet and reset the sail in a manner that will steer you in the direction of your own deliberate choice. The set of your sail, or how you think and how you respond, has a far greater capacity to destroy your life than any challenges you face. How quickly you respond to adversity is far more important than adversity itself.
The great challenge of life is to control the process of your own thinking.
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- Learn from success and failure. The best way to establish a new and powerful personal philosophy is to objectively review the conclusions you’ve drawn about life. Any conclusion you’ve drawn that isn’t working for you could be working against you. The best way to counteract misinformation and wrong data is to input new and accurate information. Gather information from personal experience. If you’re doing something wrong, evaluate what you did wrong and change things.
Seek an objective, outside voice about how you are and what you’re doing. An objective opinion from someone you respect can lead you to early and accurate information about your decision-making process. Listen to the freshness of an outside voice—someone who can see the forest and isn’t lost in the trees.
Observe the successes and failures of other people. If people who failed were to give seminars, it would be helpful. You...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 264 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 18 Signs of Strong Personal Leadership Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 264 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-263/ (7 principles that make eagles amazing creatures). Today we will look for the 18 signposts for strong personal leadership. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are making progress on both our personal and company workload, but there is always much to do. After our appointments on Friday, we will swing by our son Buddy’s home and pick up our grandson Kip before heading north to Ohio. Kip is a bright and very inquisitive 4-year-old, so it should be an enjoyable and enlightening 10 days. There is a lot of renovation work waiting for us, so we are looking forward to a busy time while at The Big House.
Speaking of traveling, it is time to head up the trail and look for the new signposts located on today’s trek. These signposts will instruct us on how to obtain and grow strong personal leadership. What is personal leadership? It is simply leading yourself. You being the boss of you – strong in character and integrity every minute of every day.
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Let’s explore the…
18 Signs of Strong Personal Leadership Why do some leaders start strong and finish weak like Ken Lay, former CEO of Enron, and Linda Carne, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia? Others start weak and end up finishing strong like Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States.
What’s the difference between the leaders that finish strong and those that don’t? Personal leadership.
A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.
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Steven Covey put it this way, “Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them.”
You keep your commitments. You remain steady. You’re not tossed about like a ship on the sea. You’re resolved and resolute in your commitments whether it’s to another or to yourself.
You control your impulses. You don’t give in to knee-jerk reactions or flirt with temptation. You decide ahead of time how you will respond when tempted to be impulsive so that when the moment comes, you respond with integrity.
You are disciplined. You do what needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like it. You stop doing what’s not working and start doing what’s required.
You’re predictable. You consistently do the right thing, even when it’s hard.
You know yourself. Self-awareness is the first step to strong personal leadership. You know where you are strong and where you are weak. You don’t deceive yourself into thinking that you’re anything other than what you are.
Personal development is a high priority. You continue to learn, develop, and grow. You know that personal development is the key to growth and adding value wherever you are. It keeps you relevant.
You’re strong – body, mind, and spirit. You examine every area of your life. You know that you’re only as strong as the weakest area of your life. So...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 263 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 7 Amazing Principles of Eagles Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 263 of our trek, and yesterday, on our path of learning, we focused on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-262/ (what we can learn from children). Today we will look at the sky as we discover the 7 principles that make eagles such amazing creatures. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This week’s workload has been over-the-top busy with a lot of extra technical support work, financial work, preparing taxes, and editing of the Wisdom-Trek Journals and Your Life Plan Blueprint. It is an exciting time.
On Tuesday evening, we were able to take a bit of a break as my sister Rebecca who lives in Charlotte came over to share dinner with us. Afterward, we continued our time of looking through old family pictures together. It is always good for a few laughs and shared memories. We always look forward to the times we can spend sharing together.
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It is now time to head back out on our trail for today, as we will be looking for eagles and share what makes them such an exceptional creature. For all of my adult life, I have been a collector of eagle pictures and mountings. I especially love the Bald Eagle. They are so majestic. This also ties to one of my favorite Bible passages which is Isaiah [40:28]-31,
28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
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With this passage in our minds, let’s look at the…
7 Amazing Principles Of Eagles The eagle is the national bird in the United States and the symbol of almost all conquerors, be it Caesar or Hitler. The reason is the inspiration of the 7 amazing principles of an eagle.
- Eagles fly alone at a high altitude. They are not with sparrows or other smaller birds like geese. Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Even with eagles, other than their lifetime mate, it is rare to see them in a flock of other eagles.
Eagles fly with eagles. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/14-principles-from-eagle-geese-video-version-4-638.jpg ()
Eagles can focus up to 3 miles from the air. When an eagle sites prey, even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.
- Eagles have powerful vision. Eagles can focus up to 3 miles from the air. When an eagle sites prey- even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.
If you have a vision and remain focused, no matter what the obstacle, you will succeed. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/bald_eagle-normal.jpg ()
- Eagles do not eat dead things. Eagles always feeds on
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 262 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 4 Things You Can Learn From a Child Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 262 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-261/ (5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest). I am striving to implement these benefits into my life also. Today we want to continue on our path of learning as we focus on what we can learn from children. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We had a great working visit in Mesa, Arizona, with our friends and partners Charles and Alison Mecom, reviewing our Arizona construction project this past weekend. The flights and travel were uneventful, which is very good. The project is coming along well, and execution is starting to flow.
We are back in Charlotte for this week before heading to The Big House in Marietta on Friday evening. We have a special treat of taking our grandson, Kip, with us on this trip. It should be an interesting and fun time, as we are in the midst of renovating. Hopefully, he will want to assist. He usually has ideas, and you never know what we might learn from him.
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This brings us to our hike for today as we hit the trail to learn:
4 Things You Can Learn from Your Child Being an adult can be difficult. You need to be genuinely disciplined, which requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don’t need to be too hasty or frantic, but you also don’t want to waste much time. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by things or events that may never take place. You should look at life simplistically without being simple-minded. You can only control yourself and a few situations, so there is no sense fretting over the rest. As we consider our trail today, let’s keep in mind the innocence of children and the words of Jesus in Mark 10:13-16, “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”
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This is a major consideration for adults. Be like children and remember there are four ways to be more like a child no matter how old you get…
- Curiosity Be curious; embrace childish curiosity. What will kids do if they want to know something bad enough? You’re right. They will bug you. Kids can ask a million questions. You think they’re through, and then they’ve got another million. They will keep plaguing you. They can drive you right to the brink.
Kids use their curiosity to learn. Have you ever noticed that while adults are stepping on ants, children are studying them? A child’s curiosity is what helps them to reach, learn, and grow.
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- Excitement Learn to get excited like a child. There is nothing that has more magic than childish excitement – so excited that you hate to go to bed at night,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 261 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 261 of our trek, and yesterday we investigated https://wisdom-trek.com/day-260/ (3 Ways to Accept Criticism with Grace). When taking difficult trails, the need for rest is important, so today we will consider 5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest. I know I need to be better at applying these truths. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcasts ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on some short trails.
Let’s head out on the trail for today and learn…
5 Refreshing Benefits of Rest I have to admit that this is one area where I still have difficulties. I am driven and disciplined, and I realize that I push too far and hard at times. Slowing down can be scary when you’re used to running on the world’s treadmill. At times, I have avoided rest because subconsciously I am fearful of what I will discover. The fear of missing out is also a very real factor. There is always so much to do, and it feels like there is so little time to accomplish the tasks at hand. I do realize that it is all a choice, though.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/78ffb4bbf326e56bdd3a2ad510153632.jpg ()There is no need to be afraid. God loves us and wants His best for us. 1 John 4:18 tells us, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
Rest is something we are designed to do. God has both a purpose and a plan for it, so maybe it would be helpful to consider some of the benefits of rest.
- Rest re-orients our thinking patterns. When we are weary and fatigued, it’s the perfect time for the enemy to sow his lies and weave a blanket of discouragement we want to curl up under.
Rest brings our thinking into focus and allows us to clearly see what God says about what we are facing, in His word and through His past faithfulness.
Rest brings the reality of God’s strength and provision into view. We need to remind ourselves that He is the victor. We need truth so we can wield it against the enemy’s taunts. Rest enables us to see the devil as he really is: a liar, cheat, accuser, and more.
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- Rest refreshes us. Like a sip of cold water to the thirsty, we’ll never know how much we need rest until we put our feet up.
Worry and striving will fade away when we allow God to be our source for all things. When we give our mind and heart some wiggle room, we discover peace and the strength to open our hands to release the burdens that weigh us down.
I know I need to take to heart the words of Christ in Matthew 11:28-29, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'”
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- Rest recharges our batteries. We can simply be worn out. Stress, worry, busyness, over-commitment—all of this wears us down. We need to...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 260 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 3 Ways to Accept Criticism With Grace Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 260 of our trek, and yesterday we explored the trail of what it really means to be rich and happy. The majority of the story was from a blog post written by Jeff Haden. Today we will consider a story adapted from an article by Kristine Brown called 3 Ways to Accept Criticism with Grace. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcasts ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on some short trails.
Let’s head out on the trail for today and learn…
3 Ways to Accept Criticism with Grace Heat filled my cheeks as he spoke. His words pressed harder and harder until my heart felt trapped beneath them. What had I done to deserve such criticism? I sat in silent astonishment without a clue how to respond. I just wanted the conversation to be over.
We have all experienced times when a friend, co-worker, or relative offered harsh judgments. But there are also times when the words spoken, though hurtful at first, are exactly what we need to hear. So how do you discern between the two? How do you know if this person is giving constructive feedback or condemning your actions?
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Let’s look at a reference from Paul’s letter to the Church in Galatia found in Galatians [2:11]-12,
But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.
In Paul’s instruction to the Galatian church, he tells about a time he corrected Peter. Paul noticed Peter acting one way around Jews and another way when he was only with the Gentiles. I can imagine how difficult it was for Paul to address this matter with Peter. After all, Peter was one of the twelve disciples. He was a bold proclaimer of the gospel before Paul became a believer. Yet Paul followed God’s instruction and tackled this difficult topic with Peter.
So how do we handle these situations when they come up? Paul’s story gives us valuable insight into these often uncomfortable moments. The following three tips will help us determine a course of action when someone we know offers opinions we don’t want to hear.
- Listen up, and listen well. I was stunned that day by the unexpected turn in the conversation with my friend. For that reason, I missed part of what was said. Certain phrases stood out louder than the rest. You hold on to control… let other people help…more communication. I focused on the negative and blocked out most everything else.
So often we miss the message in its entirety because we don’t hear everything. As the discussion begins, let’s determine to focus our attention. Ask questions. Create open dialogue and keep the exchange going. Above all, we must resist getting defensive. Like Peter, God uses people of like faith to teach us valuable lessons. But we could miss the opportunity if we don’t listen.
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 259 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Why Doesn’t Anyone Ever Feel Rich or Happy? Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 259 of our trek, and yesterday we hiked the trail of The Wisdom of Being Teachable. Today we will explore why it seems that no one really feels rich or happy. I discovered this short story on Jeff Haden’s blog, and I feel it is worth sharing. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcasts ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on some short trails.
Let’s head out on the trail for today and learn…
Why Doesn’t Anyone Ever Feel Rich Or Happy? One day I’d like to meet someone who is actually rich. Sometimes I think I’ve found one, but it always turns out I’m wrong. No matter how rich I assumed the person to be, within a few minutes I find out just how “poor” that person really is.
Take the guy who sold his company for more than $40 million. (Well, actually $100 million in total; $40 million is his share.) I was sure he was rich. Then he told me how for tax and estate planning purposes he had structured the disbursement of funds over 10 years. So sure, on paper he may be “worth” $40 million, but he only gets around $4 million each year. And despite all that nifty financial planning the taxes are still so high he doesn’t see nearly that much. It’s a bummer.
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Another example is the guy who just splashed a cool $450 grand on a Lexus LFA with the Nürburgring package. His everyday car is a Porsche 911 Turbo S. I was sure he was rich. Then he told me what he wants most in life is a Bugatti Veyron only they cost about $2 million. Sure, he has money he said, but he doesn’t have that kind of money. He thinks about it all the time. It’s a bummer.
Then there is the guy with the 110-foot yacht. Strictly speaking, it’s a ship not a boat since it’s big enough to carry several small boats and a couple of jet skis on a platform at the stern. And, it has a pool. I was sure he was rich. Then he told me how expensive the yacht is just to own: fixed costs like cleaning, upkeep, dock fees, and crew run over six figures a year. And what about the expense of actually taking it for a cruise? He told me firing it up is so expensive he sometimes has to think twice about whether to take it out of the harbor. It’s a bummer.
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How about the story of the guy who – I know it’s a cliché, but it’s still true – started a company in his garage, financing it with credit cards and a loan from his father-in-law. A couple decades later his company owns its building (and a few more), employs 500 people, and generates tens of millions in annual revenue. He put his three kids through Ivy League schools and then gave them significant seed money to start their own businesses. I was sure he was rich. Then he explained how he still has to work 60- to 70-hour weeks and can maybe take one week of vacation a year. Sure, he would like to have more free time, but running a company that size requires constant and total attention. Why it could all go away in...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 258 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom The Wisdom of Being Teachable Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 258 of our trek, and yesterday we discovered https://wisdom-trek.com/day-257/ (a new definition of success). Today we want to hike the trail of The Wisdom of Being Teachable. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcast ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on some short trails.
Let’s head out for today and learn…
The Wisdom of Being Teachable If you examine many of the most highly regarded members in any field, one of the most consistent similarities in their personalities is their ability to constantly learn and their desire to improve both themselves and their work. The ability to learn — and the confidence that you can learn — is the most powerful weapon you have at your disposal during all stages of your life. There is an astonishing amount of research, both quantitative and anecdotal, showing that being teachable and able to adapt to whatever situation you find yourself in will be what ultimately makes or breaks you. Developing the humility required to be this way will be the most solid foundation you can lay to build a life worthy of God’s name.
Here are a few suggestions to help out.
- Be aware and perceptive. Watch and listen attentively. Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, once remarked, “We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak.” There’s no point in arguing with a famous philosopher, or more importantly, God’s design. Using your eyes and ears more than your mouth in all situations can pay unforeseen dividends. Speaking up is not a crime, but speaking without understanding or forethought usually makes us appear hasty and arrogant — two qualities that will not serve you well. Proverbs 10:19 puts it this way, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” Use the information that comes to you through listening and watching to learn and better yourself, mixing it with your own thoughts and ideas. In time, some small piece of information you might have missed had you not been paying attention may sway your life with unimagined power.
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- Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Be glad when things go wrong! It usually means you are pushing yourself, which is exactly what you should be doing. If nothing ever goes awry, how do you know that you are really doing anything? How do you know that the knowledge you are accumulating or the skill you are learning is truly sinking in? You will need to be able to distinguish the good from the bad. The best way to learn how to do this is to make mistakes yourself. There is no faster way to learn and no better opportunity that forces you to change what steered you wrong. Proverbs 12:1 tells us, “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.”
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- Cultivate a love of knowledge for its own sake. A lot of the time we learn things for a specific reason — to get through a class, to put on a resume, to make money…That mentality is troublesome to adopt and will not allow us
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 257 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom A New Definition of Success Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 257 of our trek, and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-256/ (yesterday) we finished our time at camp after exploring the “nuggets of wisdom” in Proverbs Chapter 7-9. These three chapters are considered the three great poems of King Solomon. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As mentioned previously, we will be in Arizona for 4 days, so I am recording some additional podcast ahead of time for while we are away. These days may be somewhat shorter as we will take quick daily treks on short trails.
Let’s head out for today on our first hike in several days as we look at what it really means to be successful. When we think of success, most of us gravitate towards being successful financially. This is just one area of true success. The primary reason that we may choose to pursue financial success is to have the resources to have a greater impact on the lives of others.
Success must cover all 7 areas of your Wheel of Life, which are Spiritual, Family, Physical, Mind, Personal, Financial, and Career. Success should also be balanced as much as possible over these 7 areas.
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As we head up the trail, let me ask you this question, “What does it mean to you to be successful?”
Let’s start looking for the answer by reading 2 Kings 18:5-7, “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did.”
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Success usually brings to mind financial achievement or being number one. Others would define success by the bumper sticker, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Some like to think that success is being busy—on the go, racing from one appointment to another and having too much to do with too little time to do it.
The problem with these definitions of success is they exact a high cost. The Executive Digest has noted, “The trouble with success is that the formula is the same as the one for a nervous breakdown.” That’s sobering, uncomfortable, and too often true.
Maybe the definition of success that you are familiar with is not the correct one. I would encourage you to reassess your definition of success before it is too late. May I propose a new look at the word S.U.C.C.E.S.S.?
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Service – There is no such thing as success without service. The secret of success lies in meeting the needs of others. And when we are meeting people’s needs, we will discover fulfillment.
Understanding contentment – Let’s not measure success by how much we own or how much money we have but by a sense of inner contentment. Real success is always internal, never external. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.”
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Character – Character is of greater value than how much money or status we have. A man’s...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 256 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs [9:13]-18 – Folly Calls for a Hearing Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 256 of our trek, and this will be our last day in camp for a while as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in Proverbs 9:13-18. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-255/ (Proverbs 9:7-12) where King Solomon presented the closing arguments for the woman Wisdom in her court hearing before the city gates. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our travels on Thursday of this week will take us to Atlanta where we will drop Paula’s mom off at her sister’s place, and then we will fly on to Phoenix to spend four days working with our construction project in Mesa. It is in very capable hands with our friends and partners Charles and Alison Mecom, but it is good to get close to the project every few months. We will be back in Charlotte for part of the next week before heading back to The Big House in Marietta on the 19th. It is an exciting season of life but challenging and tiring at times. I don’t think we will suffer from boredom anytime soon.
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For today, we will spend one final day at camp around the campfire making some s’mores and listening to the final portion of the third of three great poems written by King Solomon. We will need to be transported back in time for one more day as we complete our exploration of Proverbs 9. Let us imagine ourselves once again outside the city gates of Jerusalem. Today we have the opposing council who is calling for a hearing. It is the lawyer Folly. She will present a short testimony called…
Folly Calls for a Hearing We find out that Folly has a house in the city walls, and she is shouting her testimony from there attempting to capture the simple and foolish people coming into the city. I will read Proverbs [9:13]-18,
13 The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it. 14 She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city. 15 She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. 16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, 17 “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave.
In verse 13, we see the opposing counsel is a lawyer called Folly. She is a crude brash person, unlike Wisdom, who was well mannered and peaceful. As with many arrogant people, she was also ignorant but was oblivious to this fact.
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As we move onto verse 14, we remember that the woman called Wisdom prepared a fine meal for her guests. Wisdom even built a splendid house for them with the 7 columns that represented wisdom’s attributes.
But the lawyer Folly is lazy. Folly did none of these things. She does not even stand to invite her guests. We find her sitting in her doorway which was built high on the wall of the city. Calling from the high places was common, but sitting while making the proclamation showed disrespect.
The messages of the two lawyers both come from the highest place in the city, so everyone will hear both messages. Nobody will miss them. Everyone will receive both invitations. We cannot accept both invitations....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 255 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs 9:7-12 – Closing Arguments #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 255 of our trek, and for the next two days, we will remain in camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs Chapter 9. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-254/ (Proverbs 9:1-6) where King Solomon is presenting the closing arguments for the woman Wisdom in her court hearing before the city gates. Wisdom’s integrity has been validated by her hard work and hospitality. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am sure that I am not alone in the feeling of being overwhelmed at times with the amount of responsibilities and obligations that we have in our lives. This week is one of those times. There is a considerable amount of client work that needs to be completed before leaving for Mesa, Arizona on Thursday. I will have to take some of my own medicine and “eat the elephant one bite at a time.” I did make good progress on my review of Your Life Plan Blueprint on our way to and from the Biltmore Mansion on Sunday. We will continue steadfastly on that project as time permits. Hopefully our travels this week will allow for some editing on that project.
We will need to travel back in time for a couple more days as we complete our investigation of Proverbs Chapter 9. Let us visualize ourselves once again outside the city gates of Jerusalem. King Solomon is about to start day two of closing arguments for the hearing that was called by the lawyer Wisdom.
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This will be the last part of the section called…
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing Solomon will compare and contrast those who reject and those who accept Wisdom’s case as we read Chapter 9:7-9
7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. 8 So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.
In verse 7 Solomon calls the foolish person, a mocker. They mock others, and they also mock God. They will never listen to you. They refuse to follow advice. They refuse all correction. They have rejected Wisdom’s pleadings and have chosen the path of foolishness.
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The first part of verse 8 takes it one step further telling us that a mocker will hate those who attempt to correct them. This is contrasted with a wise person, or someone seeking wisdom. A wise person learns from the person who gently shows them their errors. If you love a person who is willing to correct you out of their love for you, then you are really wise.
Verse 9 tells us that you will know if someone is wise and living right because they will take the correction and instruction of others and become wiser and more knowledgeable.
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Solomon now concludes his closing arguments in verses 10-12 by stating where wisdom truly comes from and the final benefits of obtaining that wisdom.
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 254 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs 9:1-6 – Closing Arguments #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 254 of our trek, and today we will remain at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs Chapter 9. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-253/ (Proverbs 8:32-36) where the woman Wisdom has finished the presentation of her case in a legal proceeding before the city gates. She has presented a strong case which we can learn from. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On Sunday, we were able to attend our local church, and then we traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, to take the upstairs/downstairs tour at the Biltmore Mansion. It was very interesting to see several rooms that are not available on the regular tour. Paula and I always enjoy visiting Biltmore, as it was built at about the same time period as The Big House in Marietta and has some similar architectural features. Of course, Biltmore is a lot larger and grander, but it does provide some renovation ideas.
As we begin Chapter 9, which is the third of three great poems written by King Solomon, he presents the closing arguments in Wisdom’s hearing. Once again let’s transport ourselves back to ancient Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon. We take our place among those that are seated just outside of the gates of the city.
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The discourse and closing arguments that we will begin today will be presented by King Solomon himself and is still part of the section called…
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing Solomon starts with describing some of the work that the lawyer Wisdom is completing in Chapter 9:1-6,
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns. 2 She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. 3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. 4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, 5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”
In verse 1, Solomon supports Wisdom’s integrity as he positively describes the lawyer, called Wisdom, as a very hard worker. To adequately provide for those people who will follow her wise ways, she has built a great house with seven columns that are hand carved. Many times in the Bible, numbers have significant meanings. A basis for the 7 columns is that 7 is the number of completion or perfection, so the 7 columns of Wisdom’s house shows complete wisdom. As I studied this, I had to ask myself, what are the 7 columns that make up complete wisdom?
I searched for insight on this, both from other philosophers, students of the Bible, and my own study. Some scholars point back to Proverbs 8 and list prudence, knowledge, fear of the Lord, counsel, sound wisdom, understanding, and strength. While these are good traits to have, I have settled on the fact that these seven columns are described in a letter written by Christ’s half-brother James. I came to that conclusion with the realization that if ultimately all good wisdom comes from God, then the 7 columns must be listed in God’s Word.
In chapter 3 of the letter written by James, there is a listing of what wisdom
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 253 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs [8:32]-36 – Wisdom Calls for a Hearing #4 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 253 of our trek, and today we continue to remain at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-252/ (Proverbs 8:17-31) where the woman Wisdom is presenting her case in a legal proceeding before the city gates. We have come to understand the great value of learning from and loving Wisdom. She has an eternity of experience as she was the architect at God’s side during creation. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are looking forward to a busy but exciting week. On Thursday, we will travel to Mesa, Arizona, to work with our friends and partners Charles and Alison Mecom on the construction project underway there. We are making good progress on the project, but there are always challenges with projects of this size. We are thankful for the Mecom’s experience and commitment to the project as we all wish to honor and bring glory to God in all that we do.
This past Saturday we celebrated the 4th birthday of our grandson Kiprono at Discovery Place in Uptown Charlotte. Paula and I had never been there and it was very interesting. Of course, the best part was spending the time with our children Fred, Janet, Buddy, Chelimo, and of course Kip in celebration of his life. We do enjoy these times with family.
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As we remain in camp on our trek again today, let’s be transported in our minds back to ancient Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon. We take our place among those that are seated just outside of the gates of the city. The lawyer called Wisdom continues to build her case before those that are in attendance. This second of three great poems written by Solomon found in Proverbs 8 is titled…
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Wisdom Calls for a Hearing Let’s listen as Wisdom finishes her testimony starting with verse 32,
32 “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. 33 Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. 34 Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! 35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. 36 But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”
In verses 32 and 33 the lawyer, Wisdom uses a term of endearment as she refers to us as children. It is clear that she loves us and desires for us to love her. She asks us to listen to her. She will bless us and teach us to be wise. We should not ignore what she is teaching us.
In verses 34 and 35, she tells us if we listen to her testimony and follow her instructions, it will bring joy to our lives. We should desire to learn more from her every day. We need to pursue wisdom every day and watch for opportunities to obtain wisdom. We should seek for wisdom as if she were a literal treasure because figuratively she is much more valuable. What we discover when we find wisdom is a rich and satisfying life, and we receive God’s favor in our lives.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/download-24.jpe ()As we end Chapter 8 with verse 36, we find that if you refuse...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 252 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs [8:17]-31 – Wisdom Calls for a Hearing #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 252 of our trek, and today we continue to remain at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-251/ (Proverbs 8:6-16) where the woman Wisdom is presenting her case in a legal proceeding before the city gates. In Old Testament times the city gates were similar to our courtrooms today, where all legal matters and major business transactions were presented and decided. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This past week has been a very busy one, and the days just flew by. There will be plenty of projects and tasks for next week.
This weekend we do have two special events planned, in addition to watching the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl. On Saturday, we are celebrating the 4th birthday of our grandson Harold Guthrie Chamberlain, V, who goes by his Kenyan name Kiprono. We will start at Discovery Place and then return to his home afterward. It is a blessing they live in the Charlotte area also.
On Sunday after church, Paula and I will be going to the Biltmore Mansion again to take the “behind the scenes” Upstairs/Downstairs Tour. They have a special promotion during February – two for the price of one. We have wanted to take the tour, and saving money is a great incentive to go now. I will let you know about it in a couple of days.
For today, let’s move onto our trek as we are transported once again back to ancient Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon. We are seated just outside of the gates of the city as the lawyer called Wisdom continues to present her case before those that are in attendance. She has a very strong case, and today we find out the benefits of searching for and choosing to love wisdom. If you pay attention to her words and integrate them into the very fabric of your heart, mind, and soul, you will live that rich and satisfying life, which Christ spoke of in John [10:10].
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This second of three great poems written by Solomon found in Proverbs Chapter 8 is titled…
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing Let’s listen as Wisdom continues with verse 17,
17 “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. 18 I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. 19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! 20 I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. 21 Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.
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In verse 17, we are instructed to love wisdom and told if we seek for her, we will find her. This is a great invitation, and the benefits are outstanding. Wisdom sweetens the deal in verses 18 and 19 by offering both gifts and wages for the work we will complete. Wisdom possesses riches, honor, enduring wealth, and justice. The gifts she gives are better than 24 karat gold. The wages she pays are better than sterling silver. We do need to travel with Wisdom though with right living on the paths for justice…But, the rewards for taking this trek are wealth that will fill our lives with untold riches.
In verse 21 we can clearly see that the lawyer...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 251 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs 8:6-16 – Wisdom Calls for a Hearing #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 251 of our trek, and today we continue to remain at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-250/ (Proverbs 8:1-5) as the woman Wisdom is calling everyone together for an important hearing to present her case in a legal proceeding before the city gates. We learned yesterday that the city gates were similar to our courtrooms today, where all legal matters were presented and decided. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous ones, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Within our heavy work schedule, we are carving some time out for our Wisdom-Trek projects. We will be releasing Your Life Plan Blueprint and Wisdom-Trek Journal Volume 1 soon. Although it is taking longer than hoped, I want to keep mentioning it to hold us accountable to complete this phase of the task as soon as is feasible.
Let’s move on to our trek and visualize today as we remain in camp sitting around the campfire watching the flames and listening to the crackling of the wood as it burns. Campfires are a great setting for telling and listening to stories. For our story today, let’s transport ourselves back to ancient Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon. We are just outside of the gates of the city, and we hear the proclamation from the lawyer called Wisdom. Let’s pay attention as she presents her case taken from Proverbs Chapter 8, which is titled…
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Wisdom Calls for a Hearing This is the second of Solomon’s three great poems. We all will do well to listen to what she has to say as she sets up her case in Chapter 8:6-11,
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, 7 for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. 8 My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. 9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. 10 Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. 11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.
Let’s take a seat at the city gates of Jerusalem as the lawyer Wisdom begins her testimony. As a judge would instruct the jury or courtroom, starting in verse 6, we are instructed to listen to the woman called Wisdom for she has important things to tell us.
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She lays out her case by informing us that everything she has to tell us is right and that she speaks the truth. This is because she detests any kind of deception. Since her advice is wholesome, we can be sure that there is nothing deceitful or wrong with her testimony.
To make sure that we fully understand, she uses easy to understand language and not “legalese.” If we have a moral compass within us, her words will be clear.
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God uses the Bible to teach us. The Bible is the Word of God. Psalm 19:7-8 tells us,
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 250 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs 8:1-5 – Wisdom Calls for a Hearing #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 250 of our trek, and today we continue to remain at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Yesterday we finished exploring https://wisdom-trek.com/day-249/ (Proverbs 7:21-27), which was the story of the naïve young man who made several unwise life choices leading him toward the path of destruction. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a rainy couple of days for us with some localized flooding. In addition to our usual client workload, we are working on the final formatting and proofing of Volume 1 of the Wisdom-Trek Journal. The first volume will provide us a guideline and template for the other volumes, so hopefully creating subsequent volumes will be much quicker. Our objective is to produce a volume for each month. So far we have completed 8 months of Wisdom-Trek.
As mentioned on previous days, Paula and I are also refining all of these daily concepts along with worksheets for Your Life Plan Blueprint, which we covered in January, into an easy-to-use workbook. I will let you know when these projects are complete so that you can download them.
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Today we remain at camp sitting around the campfire, far away from lights and the noise of our everyday life, which provides an opportunity to relax and listen to the sounds of the woods. This is especially true during the night when an entirely new set of sounds emerge. We need to practice listening to what is important. As we are listening, it provides us with the opportunity to consider the words of the woman called Wisdom and Understanding in chapter 8 and 9. The title of this section is…
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing This is the second of Solomon’s three great poems. Wisdom, represented as a woman, gives a speech to all the people. We all will do well to listen to what she has to say. Let’s begin with Proverbs 8:1-5.
1 Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! 2 On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. 3 By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, 4 “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. 5 You, simple people, use good judgment. You, foolish people, show some understanding.
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In verse 1, there are not two women. Wisdom is one woman, but she has two names. Her names are Wisdom and Understanding. This is because wisdom is the same thing as understanding. Right decisions and accurate knowledge are also an indication of wisdom.
Wisdom ultimately comes from God, but it does not come immediately. We need to learn to be wise. This is a slow process. Each day, we should learn new lessons. God teaches us in different ways. Sometimes he teaches us from the Bible. Sometimes he uses other people to teach us. Sometimes he uses life’s experiences, nature or other methods to teach us. This concept is the entire premise for Wisdom-Trek.
It takes many years of life experiences and God’s teaching for us to obtain wisdom. I still pray every day for wisdom, because you never can become “all wise” – that...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 249 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs [7:21]-27 – Another Warning About Immoral Women #4 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 249 of our trek, and today we continue to remain at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-248/ (Proverbs 7:10-20). Since each day’s discussion builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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As mentioned on previous days, Paula and I are refining all of these daily concepts along with worksheets for Your Life Plan Blueprint, which we covered in January, into an easy to use workbook. I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The hours each day just fly by, and before I realize how much time has passed, it is time for me to make dinner. Dinner preparation is a time for me to sort of wind down from the day. I really enjoy preparing dinner, and we do strive to eat healthy each day. It is part of our overall life plan to remain physically, mentally, and spiritually fit for a long time into the future. It does take consistent persistence as we pursue our life purpose to be difference makers in our world. We had our son Fred over for dinner Tuesday evening, and it was a good time to get caught up with his daily life and routines.
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Let’s now return to camp for a time of sharing and telling stories around the campfire. The fire dancing off the logs is mesmerizing to me, and it is easy to get lost in my thoughts. As the flames reach for the sky and the smoke is blown back and forth in the light breeze, it reminds me of the story that we will continue with today from Proverbs Chapter 7.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/campfire-1.jpg ()The title of the story we began 3 days ago is…
Another Warning about Immoral Women https://wisdom-trek.com/day-248/ (Yesterday) we left off on our story about a simple, naïve young man who finds himself in the embrace of a beautiful woman who is very convincing. She is dressed seductively and tells this young man that she has prepared her bed specifically just for him. The young man finds himself in this situation because of the choices that he made earlier that evening. He may be thinking that this is where he really desires to be. We are told that he lacks common sense, and certainly he is thinking with his body and not his mind… But, he still has a choice. Does he stay, or does he flee? Let’s continue on to see how the story unfolds in Proverbs [7:21]–27. I will break this passage into two sections.
· Chapter 7 Unfortunately, he does not flee as we continue in verse 21-23:
21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. 22 He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, 23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.
We see that the naïve young man chose to remain. The woman’s seductive, pretty speech was more than he felt he could resist. She enticed him with flattery making him think that he was really something special in her eyes. This reminds me of Proverbs 5:3, “For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil.” She appeared...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 248 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs [7:10]-20 – Another Warning About Immoral Women #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 248 of our trek, and today we will remain at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-247/ (Chapter 7:6-9). Since each day’s discussion builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
As mentioned on previous days, Paula and I are refining the daily concepts along with worksheets for Your Life Plan Blueprint, which we covered in January, into an easy to use workbook. I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As expected, this week is keeping us very busy with life activities including work of course. We do not necessarily separate our work from other life activities since we look at each of the 7 areas of our lives as an integrated holistic entity. Our aim is to maintain a balanced Wheel of Life because a balanced life will allow us to live a full life that is rich and satisfying.
For most of us, to sit around a campfire on a pleasant summer evening chatting about life, reminiscing about the past, and dreaming about the future is one of the most enjoyable times of relaxing and living a full life. As we think about the stories told, we also realize that there are some people who are living a story that will not end well. Such is the case in the story that we are continuing with today in Proverbs Chapter 7.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Friends-at-Campfire.jpg ()The title of the story we began 2 days ago is…
Another Warning about Immoral Women https://wisdom-trek.com/day-247/ (Yesterday) we left off on our story with a simple, naïve young man, who lacks common sense, heading down a path that was not good for him. He started off with a group of his equally naïve friends, but apparently when he crossed the street, he went alone. We find him continuing down this street at dusk attracted to the nightlife. As mentioned yesterday, he made two conscious choices that led him to his current situation. One, he went out as night was approaching seeking fun, and two, he crossed the street to an area of town that was not a good environment to be in. Let’s continue on to see how the story unfolds in Chapter [7:10]-20. We will break it into shorter segments to adequately cover the passage.
· Chapter 7 10 The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart. 11 She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home. 12 She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner.
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The description in these three verses would indicate that this woman knew exactly how to dress and act to attract young naïve men. She was probably very attractive and would easily catch the wandering eye of anyone in the area. It is also evident this was not her first night on the streets. She was a professional at her craft. She had a rebellious heart, and a rebellious heart is the beginning of a wayward life. Let’s continue on.
13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, 14 “I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows. 15 You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 247 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs 7:6-9 – Another Warning About Immoral Women #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 247 of our trek, and for the next several days, we will be remaining at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-246/ (Chapter 7:1-5). If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We traveled back to Charlotte on Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, the weather had moderated, which allowed for a cool, but beautiful trip south. Our schedule for this week is full, as usual, with many life events. Even though we are now in February, we are continuing to fine tune aspects of our life plan for 2016. Life planning is an on-going process as we take each day and week and make minor course corrections to our overall plan.
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We are gathered around the campfire today, and we see the logs burning and crackling before us. If you are like me, I enjoy poking at the burning logs and watching the sparks fly into the air and smelling the scent of the logs as they burn. If you are not careful, though, it is easy to get too close and get burned or get smoke into your eyes blinding you with a sudden shift of the wind. This is a perfect analogy to our story today in the 7th Chapter of Proverbs. Let’s dig for the nuggets of wisdom contained in this chapter. We do not have to dig very deep to gain understanding.
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The subject of today’s passage is:
Another Warning about Immoral Women · Chapter 7 6 While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain, 7 I saw some naive young men and one in particular who lacked common sense. 8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house. 9 It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell.
The story begins here in verse 6. Solomon was watching the people. He was watching because he knew how easy it is for people to make unwise choices. He wanted to see the reason that other people made mistakes. He wanted to understand more. He wanted to become wiser so that he could better advise those who were being tempted.
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In verse 7, Solomon saw a young man who was naïve or “simple.” (See https://wisdom-trek.com/day-246/ (Day 246) for insights on a simple person.) This young man had not learned to be wise. He was in danger because he was not wise. He lacked common sense, and it was easy to tempt him. He did not think about what was right.
As we consider verse 8, we want to shout to the young man, “Stop!” This simple young man made an unwise choice by crossing the street and then found himself on the wrong path. He may have rationalized to himself that he was just crossing the street to get a closer look, but it would not hurt him. Sort of like getting a bit too close to the campfire. Remember anytime https://wisdom-trek.com/day-194/ (we rationalize our actions we are telling ourselves rational lies). We may convince ourselves that it is ok, but that does not make it so. He chose to cross the street which was clearly a naïve choice. Down that path, there was danger. He approached the place where the woman would tempt him....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 246 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs 7:1-5 – Another Warning About Immoral Women #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 246 of our trek, and yesterday we arrived back at base camp after a 25 day trek which covered our https://wisdom-trek.com/day-245/ (Wisdom-Trek Life Plan program called )https://wisdom-trek.com/day-245/ (Your Life Plan Blueprint). If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal. Paula and I are refining all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it.
For the next several days, we will be remaining at camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. We will continue with Chapter 7 where we left off in our previous study of Proverbs.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This past Friday evening we took Mom Jarvis, who lives with us, to Applebee’s for her 83rd birthday. We had a good meal, and mom had one of her favorites “Brownie Bites” for dessert. Afterward, we stopped by Elizabeth and Nat’s home and spent time with the grandkids and also had some birthday cake. It was a pleasant evening.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/12647367_10153889080974948_5642252317883187515_n.jpg ()Mom Jarvis and Hazel enjoying some cake. After returning home Friday, I had the privilege of being interviewed by Alf Herigstad for his newly released Being a Better Man podcast. I will let you know when it airs.
On Saturday, I made very good progress on the woodwork and floors in the library. When we return later in February, I will be ready to apply the polyurethane. On Sunday, we headed south back to our home in Indian Trail.
For today, let’s gather around the campfire and dig into the nuggets of wisdom which are found throughout the book of Proverbs. Sit back and relax as we share together. As you visualize the campsite today, take in the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Listen to the crackling of the fire as it whispers bits of wisdom. Let them permeate your heart, mind, and soul. Today we will continue with Chapter 7.
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If you recall, the first 9 chapters of Proverbs are considered Solomon’s Wise Lessons in which he instructs his children and specifically his sons how to gain wisdom and warns of the perils that will come to them if they do not follow these lessons.
Proverbs Chapters 7 through 9 are considered the last and greatest of Solomon’s lessons. Since Chapter 1, we have read the words that Solomon taught to his children. Solomon’s Wise Lessons end in Chapter 9. From Chapter 10 on, the remainder of the Book of Proverbs lists short distinct and, many times, contrasting proverbs or wisdom nuggets.
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In the Hebrew text of chapters 7-9, Solomon writes three great poems.
The first great poem is in chapter 7. This poem is about a woman who tempts a simple man. This man behaves like a fool because he trusts her. He does not realize what will happen to him.
The second great poem is in chapter 8 and the first part of chapter 9. This moves us as the readers into a court situation – in Old Testament times, legal matters were handled and settled at the city gates. This poem is a legal hearing, such as you would hear in front of a judges or elders of the town. The speaker who is a woman lawyer is called Wisdom. She argues the case that everyone should listen to her words and precepts.
The...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 245 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Final Recap #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 245 of our Trek, and today we will arrive back at base camp as we finish the 25th day of our Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Since our life planning series has covered many days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. When this episode is released, we will be heading back to our Charlotte home for about 20 days. In the middle of that time, we will be heading to Phoenix to invest four days with our business partners and friends Charles and Alison Mecom. We will be reviewing the progress on our construction project in Mesa and streamlining some more of the processes and procedures on the backend of the project.
As we finish our Life Plan trek today with a summary, this is day twenty-five of the hike which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© We will continue reviewing the major checkpoints of Your Life Plan Blueprint with the statement that was popularized by Steven Covey in his 7-Habits book:
Begin With the End in Mind In yesterday’s recap we explored at the following five checkpoints:
- Determine Your Life Purpose
- Determine Your Life Objective (Your Legacy)
- Understand Your Wheel of Life
- Understand the WESPER Framework
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Determine One Major 7-Year Objective for Each of the 7-Areas of Your Life Our next point of review is:
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Breakdown Your 7-Year Major Objectives into 1-Year Objective Goals For each of your 7-year objectives, ask yourself, “What will I need to accomplish by the end of Year 1 to be on track to meet my 7-year objective? What is your specific checkpoint to compare against?” This 1-year goal will have tasks or activities associated with it, but specific details are best left for the next three steps. Write down your 1-year goal in each area of life. Repeat this step at the beginning of each year.
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Breakdown Your 1-Year Objective Goals into 1-Month Activity Goals For each of your 1-year goals, ask yourself, “What will I need to accomplish by the end of Month 1 to stay on track to meet my 1-year goal?” You will start listing a few more detailed tasks and activities, but granular tasks are left for the final two steps. Write down your 1-month goal in each area of life. Repeat this step at the beginning of each month.
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Breakdown Your 1-Month Activity Goals into 1-Week Activity Tasks Goals For each of your 1-month goals, ask yourself, “What will I need to accomplish by the end of Week 1 to stay on track to meet my 1-month goal?” This goal should be specific, measurable, and clearly understood. It is crucial that you reach this objective. Write down your 1-week goal in each area of life. Repeat this step at the beginning of each week.
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- Breakdown Your 1-Week Activity Tasks Goals into Daily Tasks Activities (To-Do) For each of your 1-week goals, ask yourself, “What do I need to accomplish each day of this week to stay on track to meet my 1-week goal?” These are no longer goals but detailed specific and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 244 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Final Summary #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 244 of our Trek. Today and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-245/ (tomorrow) we will finish up our 24th and 25th day of our Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Since our life planning series has covered many days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Looking-at-Blueprint.jpg ()Final Summary I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We are finishing the week strong by accomplishing a significant amount within all areas of life. Life at times is challenging but also enjoyable as long as we maintain a good mindset.
The contractors have also made good progress in the upstairs hall and front stairwell. Hopefully their part will be completed before we return in the middle of February. If all goes according to plan, I should be able to focus most of Saturday on the woodwork in the library. We will then head back to Charlotte on Sunday morning.
As we finish up our Life Plan trek today and tomorrow with a recap, this is day twenty-four of the hike which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© As I started planning for the recap of Your Life Plan Blueprint, I found it more challenging than I initially thought to encapsulate the blueprint concept into a short overview. There is just so much valuable content. So, let’s move on.
Begin With the End in Mind Using a statement that was popularized by Steven Covey in his 7-Habits book, this is the context that we begin with Your Life Plan Blueprint. While the plan is simple and easy to implement, it is radically different than traditional goal setting programs. The concepts are not necessarily new, but the structure of Your Life Plan Blueprint changes the paradigm of most goal setting systems. The Wisdom-Trek system begins by looking at life holistically and from a long-term perspective. This foundational mindset will ensure that all objectives and goals set are working in harmony with each other and supporting your life’s purpose.
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- Determine Your Life Purpose Determining your life purpose is the first step in creating a dynamic and effective life plan. Your purpose could also be called your mission in life, which is a word that is used in most goal setting systems. I prefer the word “purpose” because it reflects more of a mindset and the reason for being, which is much more holistic. A mission reflects a finite task that is to be accomplished. Your purpose for life continues until God transforms your body to be with Him.
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- Determine Your Life Objective (Your Legacy) Once your life purpose has been established, next determine your overall objective for your life. Your life objective could also be called your vision for life, which again is a more commonly used term in most goal setting systems. I prefer the word “objective” because it creates a mindset of something that you will definitely complete in a practical and holistic manner. A vision reflects more of a dream or...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 243 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Goal Review #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 243 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Yesterday we started on the 6th phase of the WESPER framework which is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-242/ (review). While it is the last phase of the WESPER process, review is a continual process throughout Your Life Plan Blueprint. As with all steps of WESPER, the review process is extremely important. We will invest today focusing on the final aspects of the review process within the WESPER framework. Since our life planning series does cover many days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. After spending Thursday on-site with one of our Marietta clients, we are finishing up today with a full agenda. Paula continues to refine and tweak the course workbook for Your Life Plan Blueprint, and hopefully, our initial version will be available soon.
Saturday’s plans are to focus most of the day on the woodwork in the library, so if nothing interrupts the schedule, we should be able to make some good progress. We will then head back to Charlotte on Sunday.
We are continuing on our trek today as we hike the trail for day twenty-three of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© 2. Review Process Our trek today we will complete the review process that we started yesterday.
· Key Points to Consider When Reviewing Goals As you review the results of your actions throughout the process, ask yourself the following questions:
How are you progressing against your targets? Are you exceeding your expectations? Are you barely meeting your expectations? Are you falling behind?
What is helping you in your goal? Why is it working? How can you focus on this to further increase your results? Are there any opportunities to improve on what has been working?
What is not helping you reach your goal? Why is it not working? Can you do anything about it to turn it around? Should you abandon the task instead? What can you do differently in the future? How can you incorporate the lessons into your plan to maximize your chances of success?
When you meet/exceed your targets, give yourself a reward to congratulate yourself. Consider whether you want to increase your targets at this point. After all, there is nothing better than to keep the momentum going while it’s high!
If you are not meeting your daily and weekly activity tasks and goals, it is likely that something was not set properly in your strategy and/or plan. Reassess and revise them accordingly, then proceed to execute your revised plan.
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- Continuous Evaluation Considering that Your Life Plan Blueprint is a long-term plan, continuous evaluation is built into the plan. That being said, you do have opportunities and checkpoints to monitor your achievements with daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks, goals, and objectives....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 242 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Goal Review #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 242 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Yesterday we explored the 5th step or phase of our WESPER framework which is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-241/ (execution). Today we will start on the 6th phase which is review. While it is the last phase of the process, review is a continual process throughout Your Life Plan Blueprint. As with all steps of WESPER, the review process is extremely important. We will spend the next two days focusing on the review process within the WESPER framework. Since our life planning series does cover many days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We are making good progress this week on both the house and our client work. Our plans are to head back to Charlotte on Sunday, so I hope to invest Saturday on the woodwork in the library. The woodwork is in great shape but needs an old coat of varnish removed so I can seal it with a new coat of polyurethane. Reviewing the results is always rewarding.
Reviewing the results is the focus today of our trek as we hike the trail for day twenty-two of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© 1. Importance of Review Review serves two important objectives:
Accountability
Feedback
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Review-Process.png ()Accountability and Feedback Accountability: Review strengthens accountability to yourself. When you review, you make yourself answerable to your goals. You take ownership of and responsibility for your actions. If you don’t review, how will you know how you are reaching your goal? This is especially important if your progress is not immediately observable, such as how much weight you are losing or how much savings you generated in a month. You can always operate under the assumption that you are on track to meet your goal, but you will never know for sure until you review. Within Your Life Plan Blueprint your 7-year objectives are broken down into small daily and weekly tasks that are easy to track and hold yourself accountable.
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Feedback: Review is where you get feedback on everything you have strategized, planned, and executed. Reviewing lets you understand what’s working, what’s not working, and how you can improve. Without review, you will have no clue on whether your actions are leading you toward or away from your goals. You will be stabbing in the dark, blindly repeating the same steps, wondering why you do not seem to be getting closer to your goal. Measuring your progress against your daily and weekly tasks will provide a continual feedback loop.
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- Review Process Reviewing occurs from your daily tasks through your 7-year objectives. The frequency of review corresponds to the time...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 241 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Goal Execution Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 241 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Yesterday we finished the 4th step or phase of our WESPER framework which is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-240/ (planning). We focused our exploration on how best to schedule your tasks to ensure they are consistent with your strategy. Today we have reached our 5th step or phase of our WESPER framework which is execution. Although all steps are very crucial, if we do excellent on the first 4 steps, but fail to execute then we have accomplished nothing. Execution is paramount for success. Since our life planning series does cover many days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. The contractors are making good progress on the upstairs hallways and front stairs. It will look great once the project is completed. On the business side of life, we have a heavy workload this week, so it is requiring our full focus to accomplish everything. I do enjoy working, so the key is to keep it all balanced properly between the various tasks that need to be completed.
Let’s focus on the execution of our trek today as we hike the trail for day twenty-one of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© So far on this trek, we have traversed through the first four steps of the WESPER framework. Those four steps are Wisdom, Establish, Strategy, and Planning. Today we will focus on execution and then move on to review. All six steps of WESPER are important, and no step should be missed or marginalized. If we have one step that is absolutely imperative, it is execution. Execution is where your boots hit the trail, or as Thomas Edison put it, “Vision without execution is hallucination.” It could also be said that “Execution is all that the world sees.”
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Execution is the 5th step of the WESPER framework. This is the step where your objectives and goals really get brought to life in physical reality. Let’s see how the WESPER framework ties together into this execution.
When you were seeking wisdom you searched for it:
Through the study of the Bible
Through your network of family, friends, and mentors
By asking God directly for wisdom through prayer and meditation
Wisdom provides the seeds of hope that are being planted in your life to help you determine what your life purpose is and how you can fulfill that purpose. This is the foundation on which to build Your Life Plan Blueprint.
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When you were establishing your 7-year objectives and goals in each of the 7 areas of your life, you began the creation of Your Life Plan Blueprint. You started to see the virtual image in your mind and on paper of what you would accomplish it. You projected forward to what you would be and would accomplish in 7...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 240 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Planning Goals #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 240 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Yesterday we remained on our trail covering the 4th step or phase of our WESPER framework which is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-239/ (planning). We examined fitting your daily and weekly tasks into your schedule using a daily calendar, identifying the best times each day to work on your tasks, and learning to invest your time wisely.
Today we will focus our exploration on how best to schedule your tasks to ensure they are consistent with your strategy. Since our life planning series does cover many days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, please leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Our renovation contractors were back on Monday, and they started to drywall the ceiling and skim coat the walls. It will add to the dust and clean up but will be well worth it when finished. I am also making slow but steady progress on the woodwork in the library. On the outside, temperatures are moderating a bit this week, but it will take some time for the current snowfall to melt completely.
Let’s head out on the trail for day twenty of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© We started developing a plan for your long-term objective goals and short-term activity goals two days ago. These goals need to be based on your pre-planned strategy for proper execution and completion of those goals. You must allocate the time required to ensure success, which leads us to the trail that we will continue to explore today.
- Fit Your Plan Into Your Schedule c. Schedule your weekly and daily activity goals/tasks. After you have identified the best available times to work on your goals, schedule your goal tasks:
Schedule your key activities of success. Start filling your available time slots with your key activities of success first. These are the most important tasks in your goal setting and need to be placed first. As part of your long-term life plan, it is important to complete all activities, if possible, but focus on the tasks that will have the most impact first.
Schedule your remaining tasks. After giving priority to your key activities of success, fill in the other tasks. These are the remaining tasks that need to be done in the course of your goal pursuit. They are not necessarily all that critical in the bigger picture of your goals but need to be done anyway as part of the activity goals and your life plan.
Ensure you spend disproportionate time and energy on your key activities of success. Ideally, the majority of your time is allocated to your key activities of success. Your other tasks should be disproportionately skewed toward the former. The ratio will be dependent on the context of the activity goal to your overall life plan, but the general principle is to spend as much time and focus on your key activities of success as possible....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 239 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Planning Goals #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 239 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Yesterday we began the 4th step or phase of our WESPER framework, which is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-238/ (planning). We explored the five steps to success as you are planning your goals. These steps are easy to follow and repeatable across all 7 areas of your life. Since our life planning series does cover many days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy-to-use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Due to the snow event from Friday and Saturday, it was advised not to be on the roads unless necessary. We took advantage of the opportunity to relax this morning and listen to a podcast message from our church in Charlotte. After that, we spent the remainder of the day working on several client projects that needed to be completed and also made plane reservations for a trip in February to visit our construction project in Mesa, Arizona. It is coming along well, but there are always a lot of details and moving pieces to keep track of.
Let’s head on the trail for day twenty of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process, which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© Developing a plan for our long-term objective goals and short-term activity goals is crucial. These goals need to be based on your pre-planned strategy for proper execution and completion of those goals. You must allocate the time required to ensure success. This leads us to the trail that we need to explore today which is…
- Fit Your Plan into Your Schedule Once you set your 7-year objective goals and detailed activity goals in each of the 7 areas of your life, your weekly and daily activity task should be clear. Now you need to fit them into your schedule and integrate your plan into your daily life. Be proactive in allocating the time required. This will create certainty that the whole plan will be acted upon.
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a. Get a daily calendar. You will need a daily calendar and task list, which lists the hours as you schedule in your tasks. Depending on your preferences, you might like to use a web-based calendar, a calendar in your email client, a manually created calendar, or even a hard copy calendar.
I use Gmail and Google Calendar. It is web-based, so it can be accessed from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, making it extremely convenient. I find it extremely helpful in keeping me organized. Keep in mind that whatever you use, it is just a tool. Use what works best for you.
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b. Identify the best times to work on your daily activity goals. You must be clear on when you can work on your objective and goals. There are two factors that determine this. The first is your time. Determine when you will make available time for your goal-specific tasks. The second is your energy level. As you are allocating for those tasks, choose a time when you will be in a
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 238 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Planning Goals #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 238 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Yesterday we completed our trail of how to effectively https://wisdom-trek.com/day-237/ (set strategies for your objective and activity goals using the 10 guidelines). Today we are moving onto the 4th phase of our WESPER framework which is planning.
As a review, the Wisdom-Trek life planning system is built on the six-step WESPER framework. Those steps are Wisdom, Establish, Strategy, Planning, Execution and Review. Since our life planning series does cover many days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.
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I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We did end up with about 10” of snow on Friday and Saturday, and it is beautiful. The temperatures were not too cold, so it was a perfect winter snow.
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On Saturday, we were able to remove the ceiling tiles and wallpaper from the upstairs hallway and front stairs, so that area is ready for our renovation contractors to begin on Monday. Hopefully, they will be able to finish up their part in the next couple of weeks.
Let’s head on the trail for day nineteen of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© Now that you understand why strategy is such an important part of goal setting which creates your life plan, you are now ready to move into the planning stage of Your Life Plan Blueprint. Planning is primarily the organization of your long-term objective goals broken down into your short-term activity goals.
As A. A. Milne wrote, “Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.”
Proverbs 21:5
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
Planning is the fourth step of our WESPER framework. In the strategy step, you identify the overall principles to effectively complete your objectives and goals. In planning, you use the strategy principles to develop a fully structured plan, complete with all the specific details. In this step and the next, which is execution, you will find that your organization skills play a very important role. Even if you do not consider yourself an organized person, organizational skills can be developed and effectively implemented by following the Wisdom-Trek WESPER framework.
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The objective of developing a goal plan within your overall life plan is to:
Organize your tasks
Allocate your resources accordingly
This will allow you to achieve your specified activity goals within your desired time frame. It will give you a clear understanding on how you invest your time and energy. If your plan is well developed, it will keep you organized in the pursuit of your objective and activity goals. If your plan is not well...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 237 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Strategy Guidelines 6-10 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 237 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Two days ago we started our exploration of the third phase of the WESPER framework which is strategy. Yesterday we examined the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-236/ (first 5 guidelines for implementing an effective )https://wisdom-trek.com/day-236/ (strategy), and today we will discover the remaining 5 guidelines. As you are creating your life plan that fulfills your life purpose, you must establish goals as part of your plan. Setting a goal does nothing by itself. Strategy is the core of your blueprint which enables you to do planning which leads to execution and review.
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I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It started snowing about 2 pm Friday afternoon, and by the time it is finished on Saturday we should have between 6-9 inches. This was not the blizzard predicted for the eastern seaboard, but it is a very nice amount.
We met with our renovation contractors this week, and after how nice the two front rooms and downstairs hallway/foyer looked, we have decided to move forward with renovations on the upstairs hallway. My plans are to remove the ceiling tiles and wallpaper on Saturday so they can continue this next week. Here is a before picture.
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Due to time and budget limitations, this will probably be the last area we renovate for a few months. Of course, I still have a lot of work to do refinishing the massive amount of woodwork and hardwood floors, which will take me well into springtime.
Let’s head on the trail for day eighteen of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© Two days ago we explored three points about strategy which were:
What is strategy?
Strategy is underutilized.
Develop your strategy.
Yesterday we examined the first 5 guidelines for creating an effective strategy which were:
- Understand your goals thoroughly.
- Pre-plan for obstacles so you can address them.
- Identify the best route, but plan for alternatives.
- Identify key activities or best actions for success.
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Remain faithful and focused on your daily activity goals. On our trail today, we will discover the remaining 5 guidelines for creating a successful strategy for any goal or objective that you set.
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Do something different and something extra. Even if you have tried some of your objectives and goals previously without success, using the Wisdom-Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint will allow you to approach the goals from a new perspective and mindset. This is required if you expect to be successful in creating your life plan. As the saying goes, “If nothing changes, then nothing changes.” Your Life Plan Blueprint is much more than a goal setting system. It is a life changing system. If you want to get different results, you need to do something different. By...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 236 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Strategy Guidelines 1-5 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 236 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Yesterday we started our exploration of the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-235/ (third phase of the WESPER framework which is strategy). As you are creating your life plan that fulfills your life purpose, you must establish goals as part of your plan. But, setting a goal does nothing by itself. Strategy is the core of your blueprint, which enables you to do planning which leads to execution and review.
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I am incorporating all of these daily concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete so that you can download it. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It looks like we will be receiving a few inches of snow in southeastern Ohio on Friday night into Saturday – not nearly as much as the northeast but a decent amount. Even with all of the sophisticated radar and weather equipment available, you can never predict with certainty, so we will see. It is nice that on our virtual hike of Wisdom-Trek we can remain indoors during bad weather and visualize much warmer days.
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Let’s head on the trail for day seventeen of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© Yesterday we explored three points about strategy which were:
What is strategy?
Strategy is underutilized.
Develop your strategy.
On our trail today and tomorrow, we will discover the 10 guidelines for creating a successful strategy for any goal or objective that you set.
- Understand your goals thoroughly. Start with each of your 7-year objectives, and then I will ask you the following questions. What will you need to have completed by the end of year 1 to meet that objective? Then drill down. What do you need to be completed at the end of month 1 to stay on schedule? What will you need to complete by the end of week 1? What tasks do you need to accomplish each day for that week? Do you have all the information needed for the goal to create this strategy? What is the gap that exists between you and completing the 1st week of daily tasks? You must understand the overall objective including the information and knowledge needed to reach your short-term activity goals.
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- Pre-plan for obstacles so you can address them. Visualize that you are now pursuing your goal. What obstacles do you anticipate standing in your way of success? Write all these obstacles down and rank them in order of magnitude. The bigger the obstacle is in diverting you from the goal, the higher the rank.
Pre-plan for how you will handle each obstacle so if they do crop up they won’t derail you from completing your tasks or goals. Don’t leave life to chance, use the Boy Scout motto of “Always be prepared.” This concept should be applied to all areas of life. When you do this, you will have a set of ready solutions at your disposal when...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 235 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Goal Strategy Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 235 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/day-234/ (Your Life Plan Blueprint). Yesterday we explored the four checkpoints needed after establishing goals based on the 10 key principles. It is now time to head out on a new trail which is the third phase of the WESPER framework which is strategy.
As you are creating your life plan that fulfills your life purpose, you must establish goals as part of your plan. An important concept that you must understand is that establishing goals does not complete them. Strategy is the core of your blueprint which enables you to do planning which leads to execution and review.
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I am incorporating all of these concepts along with worksheets into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete. If you have any questions, or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Temperatures remain quite cold, and we are having some light snow today. It is not predicted that we get any significant amount, but it is really pretty. I am thankful that I can work indoors and enjoy the view from our 2nd-floor office with its large windows.
I am making slow but steady process on the woodwork in the library. Since our work schedule is quite heavy during the day, I am using my hour exercise time first thing in the morning to work on it. There is a lot of movement while I work, so I am still able to get in a workout while completing the work.
Let’s head on the trail for day sixteen of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© I mentioned earlier that our next step in the WESPER framework is creating a strategy for your goals. It is the catalyst for planning, executing, and reviewing those goals. Let me ask this question…
- What is strategy? Strategy refers to a game plan that enables effective pursuit of a specific goal or result. It is a set of underlying principles which determines your action plan toward achieving your end goal or objective. WESPER itself is the framework or underlying strategy for successful goal achievement. The “S” in WESPER refers to the specific strategies that pertain to your goals.
Strategy is a core part of Your Life Plan Blueprint for a rich and satisfying life. Think of strategy as the compass, trail map, or your GPS that shows you the best trail to lead you to your goal or plateau.
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In war, generals gather together to devise strategies to secure an ensuing victory. In the world of business, companies invest millions in research to develop strategies to win in the marketplace. In stock markets, the most successful traders spend years studying market trends of the past, identifying strategies and applying them. If you were to trek up Mt. Everest, you would need a detailed strategy to ensure success. It is really not much different when it comes to any of your goal achievement.
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Strategy is the one step that most people completely miss in the process of life...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 234 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – 4 Checkpoints Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 234 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Yesterday we discussed how the Wisdom-Trek plan is a powerful and unique concept and worthy of taking our trek slowly through the process. We also looked at some examples of how the blueprint is powerful, yet very easy to implement and achieve results. During the past four days, we hiked the trail of the 10 key principles of setting goals. Those goal setting principles are:
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-230/ (Ensure congruency with your life purpose.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-230/ (Ensure your purpose represents your Wheel of Life.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-231/ (Understand your motivations.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-231/ (Identify your objective goal first and then define your activity goals.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-232/ (Plan for B3 goals.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-232/ (Be specific with your goals.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-232/ (Make goals measurable.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-233/ (Start with long-term, and then break it down into short-term.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-233/ (Set your objective goals as end outcomes, not tasks.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-233/ (Use positive framing.)
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Today we will explore the checkpoints of how to manage goals once we create them.
These 10 principles and today’s follow-up are part of the establish phase of what we refer to as our WESPER framework which stands for: Wisdom, Establish, Strategy, Planning, Execution, and Review.
I am incorporating all of this information, along with worksheets, into an easy to use workbook, and I will let you know when it is complete. If you have any questions, or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. The single digit temperatures continue in southern Ohio this week, and it is possible we may receive some significant snowfall this coming weekend. It is still a bit too early to tell, but we will be watching. Since we have no place that we have to be, and since we work from home, I am inclined to say, “Let it snow.” I am not sure everyone would agree with me.
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Work is very brisk this week, which requires putting in a lot of hours to make sure we are able to accomplish everything necessary, particularly to meet the quickly approaching tax deadlines. For some reason, the tax entities don’t understand that we are just too busy.
Let’s head on the trail for day fifteen of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© After you have set your goals within the guidelines of the 10 principles, you are almost ready to move on to the third phase of the WESPER framework. However, before that, there are 4 steps, or checkpoints, about your goals you need to understand first.
- Write them down. Write down your final objective and activity goals in each of the 7 areas of life. Follow the example that we explored yesterday. Begin with the end in mind. Which is your overall objective goal in each of your 7 areas of life? Then move backward into your activity goals for 1 year, 1...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 233 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – 10 Principles (8-10) Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 233 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Since the Wisdom-Trek plan is a powerful and unique concept, we are taking our Trek through the process slowly. When Your Life Plan Blueprint trail is followed, it will result in an effective life that has impact and allows you to live your legacy each day. Even though the process is powerful and unique, it is more simplistic and easier to implement than traditional goal setting systems. Currently, we are hiking the trail of 10 key principles, or stepping stones, for setting goals. So far we have explored the first seven goal setting principles which were:
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-230/ (Ensure congruency with your life purpose.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-230/ (Ensure your purpose represents your Wheel of Life.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-231/ (Understand your motivations.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-231/ (Identify your objective goal first and then define your activity goals.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-232/ (Plan for B3 goals.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-232/ (Be specific with your goals.)
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-232/ (Make goals measurable.)
Today we will explore the remaining three key principles all of which are very important for setting and achieving effective goals and creating of your life plan.
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These 10 principles are part of the establish phase of what we refer to as our WESPER framework which stands for: Wisdom, Establish, Strategy, Planning, Execution, and Review. As we navigate through this process, I am assembling the daily journals of this series on Your Life Plan Blueprint, which I will release as a downloadable course/workbook for your use. I will let you know when it is complete.
If you have any questions, or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. Your Life Plan Blueprint Trek spans many days, and the concepts build on each other as we climb toward the summit. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Winter has finally hit the Mid-Ohio Valley this week. The temperature this morning was 7° with a wind chill well below 0°. We also received about an inch of snow. Our newly renovated upstairs office is remaining warm, as we have a vent right above the large floor furnace in the eating area below. The downstairs is a bit cool, especially with the front rooms empty due to our current renovations. The weather will remain cold for a couple of days before moderating again at the end of the week. I was able to start removing the old varnish from the woodwork in the library and will be working on that for several days. I always begin with the end results in mind. It keeps me focused on the tedious process.
Let’s head on the trail for day fourteen of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© Let’s begin with another question today. Based on our concept that we discussed yesterday setting B3 goals, which are big, brave, and bold, did you decide on your own B3 goals for the 7 sections of your Wheel of Life?
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 232 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – 10 Principles (5-7) Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 232 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/day-231/ (Your Life Plan Blueprint). Just like our trek through life, we are making slow but resolute progress learning how to integrate your life plan with effective goals and objectives. We are hiking the trail of 10 key principles or stepping stones for setting goals. So far we have explored the first four, goal setting principles which were:
Ensure congruency with your life purpose.
Ensure your purpose represents your Wheel of Life.
Understand your motivations.
Identify your objective goal first and then define your activity goals.
Today we will continue with the next three key principles which are very important for setting and achieving effective goals and creation of your life plan.
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These 10 principles are part of the establish phase of what we refer to as our WESPER framework which stands for: Wisdom, Establish, Strategy, Planning, Execution, and Review. As we navigate through this process, I am assembling the daily journals of this series on Your Life Plan Blueprint, which I will release as a downloadable course/workbook for your use. I will let you know when it is complete.
If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. Your Life Plan Blueprint trek spans many days, and the concepts build on each other as we climb toward the summit. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta. Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at the morning service at Putnam Congregational Church. I spoke on how Life is Like Brewing Coffee. There are certain steps that need to be taken to brew a great cup of coffee. In the same manner, there are certain steps that we need to take in our lives to create a great life. If you would like to hear this information, listen to Day 104 of our Wisdom-Trek.
This week will be busy with client work and meetings. Also, we need to process tax information for several of our clients within the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, I will also be able to get started on the woodwork and floors within the Big House. One thing for sure is that we will make it a great week.
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Let’s head on the trail for day thirteen of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as:
Your Life Plan Blueprint© Let’s begin with another question today. Based on yesterday’s hike, are you clear on the difference between objective goals and activity goals? If not, please listen to Day 231 or read the daily journal to gain the full concept. As a quick recap, an example of an objective goal is a long-range 7-year goal which gives you a destination or target in each of the 7 areas of your life. This is the basis for your life plan. Activity goals are the steps or task that we need to perform today, this week, this month, and this year to reach your 7-year objective goal.
A couple of objective goals that we should all pursue are:
1 Corinthians 14:1 – Let love be your highest goal.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 – Make it your goal to live...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 231 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – 10 Principles (3&4) Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 231 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current https://wisdom-trek.com/day-230/ (Trek )https://wisdom-trek.com/day-230/ (Your Life Plan Blueprint). Just like our trek through life, we are making slow but determined progress on the concept of your life plan and how goals/objectives are integrated into your overall concept. Yesterday we started down the trail of 10 key principles or stepping stones for setting goals. We were able to explore the first two goal setting principles, which were:
Ensure congruency with your life purpose.
Ensure your purpose represents your wheel of life.
Today we will continue with additional key principles that are very important for setting and achieving effective goals and creation of your life plan. These 10 principles are part of the establish phase of what we refer to as our WESPER framework, which stands for: Wisdom, Establish, Strategy, Planning, Execution, and Review. I am assembling the daily journals of this series on Your Life Plan Blueprint into a downloadable course/workbook for your use. I will let you know when it is complete.
If you have any questions, or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. Your Life Plan Blueprint trek spans many days, and the concepts build on each other as we climb towards the summit. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/stepping-stones.jpg ()The 10 Principles for Goal Setting We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta. Friday evening we drove up to Marietta and arrived around 10 pm. The renovation contractors are making good progress but still have the back stairway area to complete. There is drywall and plaster dust all over, but we will get that cleaned up this next week. The two front rooms and downstairs foyer/hallway are looking great and are ready for me to start refinishing the woodwork and floors. I also have some rewiring of the light fixtures that I need to complete before they are rehung. We are very pleased with the results.
Let’s head on the trail for day twelve of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© Let me start with a question today. Have you determined your purpose and overall goal for your life? Have you written it down? For an example, check back on Day 230 to review what I wrote for my life purpose and predominant goal. Remember that determining your purpose and overall goal of life is essential to create your life plan and establish your 7-year goals for each of the 7 areas of life.
Let’s move on to the next two key principles that are crucial in establishing your goals.
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- Understand your motivations. Have you ever had an experience where you went full throttle at pursuing a goal only to find out that once you completed it that it did not bring the satisfaction expected or the cost to you personally was too great?
In today’s mad pursuit towards wealth and success and in the endless chase to validate one’s self-worth, we buy things we do not need with money we do not have to impress people who do not care.
Is your motivation for your goals congruent with your true purpose in life? Tweet This There are some common symptoms which emerge when you set goals that do not align
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 230 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – 10 Principles (1&2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 230 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. Just like our trek through life, we are making slow but solid progress on the concept of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-229/ (a life plan and how goals/objectives are integrated into our overall concept). Today we are continuing our exploration of how to establish goals that are the stepping stones within our life plan. We are referring to this as our WESPER framework which stands for Wisdom, Establish, Strategy, Planning, Execution, and Review. I am assembling this series on Your Life Plan Blueprint into a downloadable course for your use. I will let you know when it is complete.
If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. By the time this episode is initially released we should be back at The Big House and will be staying there for a little over two weeks. I will be speaking again at Putnam Church on Sunday and plan on teaching a lesson from day 104 of our Wisdom-Trek on Life is Life Brewing Coffee. There is nothing like a great cup of warm coffee on a cold winter day. There is much to do with both our business and with the renovations while in Marietta. It is my hope that I will be able to make good progress on the woodwork and the floors in the two front rooms and downstairs foyer/hallway.
Let’s head on the trail for day eleven of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© On our trek yesterday, I encouraged you to write down one major objective or goal that you desire to complete by the end of 2022 (7 years from now) in each of the 7 areas of your life.
Those areas are:
Spiritual
Family
Physical/Health
Mind/Intellect
Personal/Social
Financial
Work/Career
I realize it may be difficult to predict that far in advance, but we need to initially think long term or begin with the end in mind. From there, we will backfill our yearly, monthly, weekly and daily goals or tasks that we must complete to reach our 7-year objective. Have you written down your objectives yet?
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Within our life and life planning, we will be making a series of minor course corrections as we go along, which is understandable. Even knowing that, we still need to plan. Long-term planning is important. Proverbs 24:27 instructs us, “Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.” This means to plan for the long-term outcome. While the crops are growing, then you will have time to build your house. It will not work in the opposite. Otherwise, you would have a shelter but no food.
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As we embark on establishing a 7-year goal for each of the 7 areas of life, there are 10 fundamental principles that we need to set for these goals and objectives. These principles are what will guide you to set the right goals so that you can pursue them.
Setting Your Goals 1. Ensure congruency with your life purpose. Your goals need to be defined in the context of your life...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 229 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – 7 Areas of Life Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 229 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. So far we have covered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-221/ (purposes for a life plan), https://wisdom-trek.com/day-224/ (basic goal setting), and an https://wisdom-trek.com/day-226/ (overview of the WESPER framework). Yesterday we explored why https://wisdom-trek.com/day-228/ (wisdom is so important) as we are creating or revising a life plan with its goals and objectives. Today we will begin to dig up nuggets of wisdom on establishing goals as part of our overall life plan. I am assembling this series on Your Life Plan Blueprint into a downloadable course for your use. I will let you know when it is complete. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, either leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We had my sister Rebecca over for dinner on Wednesday evening for our monthly get-together. It is always a blessing to spend time together as we went through some more of the old pictures from when we were kids. I found a picture of all 10 of us kids singing Silent Night on Christmas Eve as we headed to bed.
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We are wrapping up this week and will be heading to Marietta on Friday. We are interested to see if the contractors were able to complete their current project in the two front rooms and downstairs foyer/hallway. We know that we will have a lot of drywall and plaster dust to clean up, but it will be well worth it.
Let’s head on the trail for day ten of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint© We determined yesterday that the first and most important step, in creating or revising a life plan is wisdom. We also learned that wisdom can be gained in three ways:
Through the study of the Bible and other wise materials
Through your network of family, friends, and mentors
Through asking God directly for wisdom via prayer and meditation
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Before you go any further with the WESPER process on how to establish goals, you need to determine what your life plan will consist of. There are various ways to do this, but based on my experience, and personality, I believe that you do not need to over complicate life. Let’s keep it simple.
If you have been on our Trek over the past ten days, I showed you the Wheel of Life on day 224 that breaks your life down into 7 major areas. The Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint is segmented into 7 areas that comprise your life. Those areas are:
Spiritual
Family
Physical/Health
Mind/Intellect
Personal/Social
Financial
Work/Career
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I explained earlier on this Trek that the best way to create a life plan is to begin with the end in mind. So the first step in creating or revising a life plan is to reflect on the 7 areas of your life and determine where you would like to be in each area 7 years from now.
I realize it may be difficult to predict that far in advance, but in order to determine what you will do today, this...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 228 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Wisdom Goals Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 228 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek Your Life Plan Blueprint. We have already mapped out the framework that will assist you in setting goals and creating a life plan for yourself. We have also explored the purposes for an effective plan and some basic goal setting principles.
Over the past two days, our trails took us through the overall concepts of the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-227/ (6 step framework) to create a successful life plan through effective goal achievement. We caught a glimpse of this powerful but easy to implement framework, which is the core for Your Life Plan Blueprint. We are purposely taking it slow on this life planning trail, which will allow us to understand the map that we are following. If you have any questions, or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, either leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a busy week of work and life activities with much still to do before we head back to The Big House Friday evening. Based on our 2016 calendar that we have laid out, we will be spending a considerable amount of time in Marietta with additional home renovations and preparing for the Chamberlain reunion on July 4th weekend.
Let’s head on the trail for day nine of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as:
Your Life Plan Blueprint On today’s trail, we will explore the first step of our WESPER framework which refers to wisdom. This is one element that I have never seen included in any goal setting programs that I have reviewed or used, and yet without wisdom based on Biblical principles and advice from trusted mentors, how can we begin to formulate a life plan?
Wisdom, insight, discernment, understanding, prudence, and knowledge are the very bedrock and foundation for a rich and successful life.Tweet This With this knowledge, the Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint is based on what is commonly referred to as the Book of Wisdom which is Proverbs. The foundation for a solid life plan is found in Proverbs 1:2-7,
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
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While all wisdom ultimately stems from God’s Word, there are many friends, family members, and trusted mentors who have learned wisdom through their life trek and experiences. We should not hesitate to seek out these individuals for advice when we are working on our life plan and setting goals. Become part of an accountability group, a peer group, or a mastermind and utilize the experience and wisdom of others to assist in your trek of life. While experience is a...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 227 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Framework #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 227 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/day-226/ (Your Life Plan Blueprint). On this Trek, we are mapping out the framework that will assist you in setting goals and creating a life plan for yourself. We have explored the purposes for an effective plan, some basic goal setting principles, and yesterday and today we are exploring the overall concept of the 6 step framework to create a successful life plan through an effective goal achievement. This powerful but easy to implement framework is the core for Your Life Plan Blueprint. Just like our trek of life, we will take the life planning trail one step at a time. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek either leave a comment on Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
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Since our trek on life planning will take several days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are enjoying the time we are able to spend with our grandson Kip, who is staying with us for a few days while his parents are out of town. We cherish the teachable moments of everyday life and take our responsibility to be a positive role model very seriously, without the need to be too serious ourselves. Proverbs 13:22 tells us, “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.” This inheritance and wealth are so much more than money. It is the legacy that we live each day.
Let’s head on the trail for day eight of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint Yesterday on our trail, we started an overview of the framework that makes up the Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint and consists of 6 steps for which I use the acronym WESPER which stands for:
Wisdom: Seek guidance from God and trusted mentors.
Establish: Set the vision and goal in place.
Strategy: Devise strategies to succeed in the goal.
Planning: Identify plan elements based on the strategies.
Execution: Bring the plan and goal to life.
Review: Assess the outcome and next steps.
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Today we will explore some important facts about the WESPER framework.
Things to Know about WESPER
The framework is applicable for any goal.
As part of Your Life Plan Blueprint, we will explore setting at least one goal in each of the seven areas on our wheel of life that we described on day 224. Those seven areas are:
Spiritual
Family
Physical/Health
Mind/Intellect
Personal/Social
Financial
Work/Career
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The WESPER framework is applicable in all areas of your life. What goals do you have? Finding a job you love? Losing weight? Increasing traffic to your blog? Setting up your business? Improving your health? Buying a new home? Building stronger relationships? No matter what goal you have, WESPER is totally applicable and relevant. In short, it can be used for virtually any goal in the world.
Each step serves its own role and is pertinent to the success of the goal.
They are individual parts of a system that make it whole. While the only essential step is the fifth step of Execution, trying to skip any of the other steps will...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 226 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Framework #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 226 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/day-223/ (Your Life Plan Blueprint). On this Trek, we are slowly mapping out the framework that will assist you in setting goals and creating a life plan for yourself. So far we have explored the purposes for an effective plan and some basic goal setting principles. On our trail today and tomorrow, we will review the overall concept of the 6 step framework to create a successful life plan through effective goal achievement.
Your life plan does not have to be overly complex. A simple but concise life plan is sufficient to achieve significant results in your life. Just like our trek of life, we will take the life planning trail one step at a time. If you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, either leave a comment on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
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Since this trek on life planning will take several days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our delayed Chamberlain Christmas celebration this past weekend was such an enjoyable blessing for Paula and me. All five of our children, their spouses, and our six grandchildren were able to spend Friday evening and all day Saturday with us. While some of my time was spent on meal preparation, I was able to share in all the festivities as we have an open floor plan in our house that makes it great for hosting activities.
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Sunday evening through late Wednesday, we also have the blessing of having our grandson Kip staying with us as his parents take a few days off together. It is always a special time when we can share life with our grandkids. These amazing times with our children and grandchildren are part of our life plan. To make a lasting impact on them is a very important part of living our legacy each day.
Let’s head on the trail for day seven of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan process which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint I mentioned yesterday that the framework that makes up the Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint consists of 6 steps for which I use the acronym of WESPER, which stands for:
Wisdom: Seek guidance from God and trusted mentors.
Establish: Set the vision and goal in place.
Strategy: Devise strategies to succeed in the goal.
Planning: Identify plan elements based on the strategies.
Execution: Bring the plan and goal to life.
Review: Assess the outcome and next steps.
Through this WESPER framework, goals you never thought achievable that make up your overall life plan will start becoming within your reach and in a matter of time, achieved. I personally use this framework to achieve my goals, and it works wonders.
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Do not let the simplicity of the framework fool you. While these 6 steps...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 225 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Goals #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 225 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/day-224/ (Your Life Plan Blueprint). On this Trek, we are slowly mapping out the framework that will assist you in setting goals and creating a life plan for yourself. A simple but concise life plan is sufficient to achieve significant results in your life. Just like our trek of life, we will take the life planning trail one step at a time. As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek, either leave a comment on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
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Yesterday, I introduced the concept of the Wisdom-Trek Wheel of Life that has our lives segmented into 7 areas, which we will explore as part of our life planning process. I will be utilizing our daily journals for this trek to create a PDF workbook which you can use to create your life plan. Once the workbook is completed, I will let you know how you can obtain a copy of it.
Since this trek on life planning will take several days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a busy weekend celebrating Christmas with our children and grandchildren, we are embarking on another busy work week. We are still involved with our own life planning for 2016, so this week will be occupied with some of those details.
Let’s head on the trail for day six of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Trek which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint As we continue to consider some of the preliminary concepts of setting successful goals that make up the life planning process, I thought it would be helpful to share some of my own experiences.
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My Experience With My Goal Pursuits I have set and pursued many different goals and goal programs throughout my life. While I have utilized some different types of goal setting processes, which I will discuss tomorrow, the processes really did not include all the information that was needed to create a blueprint for a life plan. They focused on action and habit changes without getting to the root of the need for changing the way you think, which is the only way to ensure lasting change.
I do tend to be disciplined and driven, so I was able to achieve many of my goals that I set out to complete. I was able to lose about 30 pounds from my heaviest weight. I do exercise extensively at least five days a week, and I generally eat healthy to maintain good physical condition. I also spend time each day in meditation, prayer, the study of the Bible, and positive business training.
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All of these milestones that I have been able to achieve have been driven by a change in the way I thought about life and the legacy that I wanted to live each day. This is the reason why I have taken some of the best concepts of goal setting, life planning, and changing the way you think and have created the Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint.
I fully acknowledge that much of the information that I will be sharing during our daily Wisdom-Trek is not new, or necessarily original, but as Issac Newton is quoted as saying, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 224 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Goals #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 224 of our Trek, and we are continuing on our current Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/day-223/ (“Your Life Plan Blueprint.”) On this trek, we are slowly mapping out the framework that will assist you in setting goals and creating a life plan for yourself. As I stated yesterday, your life plan does not need to be overly complex to be effective. Just like our trek of life, we will take the life planning trail one step at a time. As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information as we go through our daily trek either leave a comment on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com.
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As we grow through the Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint process, I encourage you to begin thinking about your own life plan. I will be utilizing our daily journals for this trek to create a PDF workbook that you can use to create your life plan. Once the workbook is completed, I will let you know how you can obtain a copy of it.
Since this trek on life planning will take several days, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. By the time this episode airs, we will have completed our delayed Christmas celebration with our children and grandchildren. I will provide an update with some pictures within a couple of days. These types of celebrations need to be included as part of your life plan so you do not miss the most special moments of life.
Let’s head out on the trail for day five of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Trek, which we refer to as…
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Your Life Plan Blueprint Before we actually dig into the framework or blueprint to create your life plan, we will spend a couple of days of our trek exploring how to achieve your goals with success. The Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint is segmented into 7 areas that comprise your life. Those areas are:
Spiritual
Family
Physical/Health
Mind/Intellect
Personal/Social
Financial
Work/Career
One long-term objective of a life plan is to make sure that all 7 areas of life are in proper balance. If you find that your life is out of balance in any of these areas, it may take some time, even months or years, to bring all areas into balance. But with a well-developed life plan, you can work toward that objective. Check out the picture representation of the Wisdom-Trek Wheel of Life below.
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Before we explore the details of the wheel of life and overall blueprint in depth, let’s first study some basic principles of goal achievement. Goals that you set are the stepping stones of your overall life plan. So let’s look at…
An Introduction to Goal Achievement One of the most important elements in creating a life plan is to make sure that you bring your life into balance and to maintain balance when setting new goals.
In one or more of the seven areas listed above, what are some of your biggest goals in life? To lose weight? To earn more money? To be in your dream career? To set up your own business? To grow in your faith walk? To live in abundance? To be at the peak of your health? To meet your life partner? To have a loving family?
For any of these goals, have you ever had the determination
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 223 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Purposes #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 223 of our Trek, and on our current Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/day-222/ (“Your Life Plan Blueprint,”) we continue to lay out the framework in detail so that you can create a life plan for yourself. Your life plan does not need to be overly complex to be effective. Minor changes in your life can result in huge benefits. As we grow through the Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint process, I encourage you to come along with us and begin thinking about your own life plan. When we are finished with this Trek, I will put together a workbook that you can use to create your life plan.
The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is for you to gain wisdom through your daily trek of life and to create a living legacy each day. If you are going to be successful in creating a legacy, establishing a plan for your life is imperative. There are no excuses or factors that will prevent you from creating a well-established plan for your life. Your life plan doesn’t have to change the world, but it should positively impact you and your world. It is my goal and plan to provide you with the information and tools needed to create an on-going plan for your life. Just as with your trek of life, you will need to make continual adjustments to your plan, but your primary focus is fixed based on your values. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The day that this episode is originally airing is January 9th, which is the day we will be celebrating our family Christmas. It is a blessing that we are able to be with our children and grandchildren on this special weekend. The older four grandchildren were able to spend our “Christmas Eve” with Granny and Gramps. We cherish these special times together.
Let’s head on the trail for day four of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Trek which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint I mentioned a couple of days ago that there are 6 essential reasons why we should set goals and create a life plan. We have explored the first 4 reasons which are…
To Give Clarity To Your End Vision
To Drive You Forward Even When You Face Obstacles
To Give You Laser Focus
To Make You Accountable
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Today we will explore the final 2 reasons which are…
- Be The Best That You Can Be Goals help you achieve your highest potential. Without goals integrated into your life plan, you will slip back into your natural, default set of actions that make you feel safe and comfortable every day. To use an analogy, when we were growing up on the farm, ruts would form on the farm roads when the tractor would use the roads when it was muddy. After the ruts were formed, many times it was easier to drive in the ruts, even though they were rough, than to try driving on higher ground. Just like those ruts, the familiarity of your default life habits is the adversary of growth. It prevents you from growing. It does not enable you to become the best person you can be. It denies you from tapping into your God-given potential for a rich and satisfying life.
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By setting goals for your life plan, you set targets to aim for. These targets make you venture into new places, new contexts, and new situations, which puts...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 222 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Purposes #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 222 of our Trek. Yesterday we continued on a new and exciting trek which we are calling https://wisdom-trek.com/day-221/ (“Your Life Plan Blueprint.”) The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is for us to gain wisdom through our daily trek of life and to create a living legacy each day. If you are going to be successful in creating a legacy, establishing a plan for your life is imperative.
With a solid life plan in place, you will then be able to create and live your legacy today, which will leave a positive impact on your world. There are no factors that will prevent you from creating a well-established plan for your life. Your life plan doesn’t have to change the world, but it should positively impact you and your world. It is my goal and plan to provide you with the information and tools needed to create an on-going plan for your life. Just as with our trek of life, we are making continual adjustments to our plan, but our primary focus is fixed. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As this first week of 2016 is nearing the end, we are looking forward to our family Christmas celebration on Friday night and Saturday. With job changes, a new grandchild, and other financial obligations, our children decided to forego gift exchanges this year, except a few for the grandchildren. Instead, we will just focus on the time of celebration together and the true meaning of the Christmas season. We are very pleased with that decision and are looking forward to the time together with all of our children and grandchildren.
Let’s head out on the trail for day three of our Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Trek which we refer to as…
Your Life Plan Blueprint I mentioned yesterday that there are six essential reasons why we should set goals and create a life plan. We explored the first two reasons yesterday, which were:
To Give Clarity To Your End Vision
To Drive You Forward Even When You Face Obstacles
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If we are going to go through the process of creating a life plan, we need the wisdom to create an easy and tangible way of establishing the plan. We need a clear strategy for the plan, defined tasks that make up the plan, steps of execution of those tasks, and then a means of review to ensure that the plan has been completed properly and in a timely manner. This is why I refer to your life plan as a blueprint. The Wisdom-Trek Life Plan Blueprint provides everything that we need to ensure that the end result meets the original design.
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Today we will explore the next 2 essential reasons why setting goals and making plans are so important in creating a successful life plan.
- Give You Laser Focus Goals give you a single focal point to focus your attention. Whereas your purpose gives you a broad, directional focus to move your life in, goals give you laser focus on what exactly to spend your time and energy on. Think of your time, energy, and efforts as input, and results as the output. A goal acts as your funnel which guides and directs those inputs effectively into your desired output or result.
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When you don’t have...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 221 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan Blueprint – Purposes #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 221 of our Trek. Yesterday we began a new and exciting trek which we are calling https://wisdom-trek.com/day-220/ (“Your Life Plan Blueprint.”) Since the purpose of Wisdom-Trek is for us to gain wisdom through our daily trek of life, establishing a plan for your life is crucial, regardless of your current age or status in life. With a solid life plan in place, you will then be able to create and live your legacy today, which will leave a positive impact on your world.
The most certain way of living a rich and satisfying life and creating a life of purpose is to have a well-established plan for your life. It does not have to be a grand plan to change the world but a plan to positively impact your life and the lives of those that you have the privilege to impact. As we go through the life plan process, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. So far it has been a rather pleasant week of work and planning that is coordinating together well. January’s workload is always a bit busier with detailed financial work as we have to prepare budgets, process 1099s, W2s and other tax related work for our clients, including our own companies.
After our introduction to our life plan Trek yesterday, we are now ready to begin on the trail. There are six essential reasons why we should set goals and create a life plan. If we are going to go through the process of creating a life plan, we need an easy and tangible way of not only establishing the plan but also a clear strategy and review to ensure that the plan is realistic and completed in a timely manner. This is why I refer to your life plan as a blueprint. It provides everything that we need to ensure that the end result meets the original specifications. So our new Trek is called…
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Your Life Plan Blueprint Over the next three days we will explore the 6 essential reasons why setting goals and plans are so important in creating a successful life plan.
- Give Clarity To Your End Vision As the opening quote by Bill Copeland put it across very adeptly, if you don’t have a plan for your life, you are spending your life running around and not achieving anything for yourself. You may be busy, and you may get the illusion that you are doing a lot of things. But they aren’t what you want. If you do not plan your own life, you are just busy fulfilling everyone’s goals and plans.
If you don’t have a plan for your life, you are spending your life running around and not achieving anything for yourself.Tweet This There are so many things and people that are crying out for your attention that you find yourself continually spinning your wheels on the perpetual treadmill of life. The convenience of fast food outlets or highly processed quick fix meals are ruining your health. The consumer goods and pharmaceuticals industry inundate you with products that are supposed to make you look better, feel better, and perform better. You may be in a job that you don’t really care for, but it provides the false security of a steady income but requires you to spend all of your time there, just to make an adequate living. You get so trapped by the daily grind that you have no time to consider and plan what is best for you and your family....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 220 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Your Life Plan – An Introduction Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 220 of our Trek. We invested the first five days of 2016 on our https://wisdom-trek.com/day-219/ (trek up Transformation Mountain) where we explored the trails of trust, thankfulness, truth, timing, travail, the Tempter, and being teachable. As we hiked these trails, we learned that in order to enjoy the rich and satisfying life that we desire we must change the way we think in each of these areas. It is my hope that what we learned was beneficial as we start this new year.
Beginning today, we will link this changed mindset to learn how to create your life plan so that 2016 will be your best year ever, and that plan will continue for years to come. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We continue to work on our life planning to determine the direction and action steps needed to build additional features into Wisdom-Trek and also build the structure for Christian Podcasting Network. It is crucial that we take our time to ensure solid plans for growth. Life is a trek, not a sprint. It is very important that we are able to dovetail these new plans into our current client workload, other business projects, and renovation plans for The Big House. We want to make sure that we properly balance all areas of our lives so that we can truly enjoy the journey.
Today we are beginning a new Trek as we explore why it is so crucial for us to create a life plan. We will learn why it is important and then how to create, follow through, and complete this plan based on predefined milestones and timelines, which we will call our blueprint. So our new Trek is called…
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Your Life Plan Blueprint If you desire to achieve success and to create/build a living legacy, you must create a life plan with a means of measuring progress along the trails of life. It does not matter what your age is or what your current economic status is in life. It is never too late to begin.
This trek will be a lengthy one as we will first explore the 6 important reasons why we should create a life plan, and then we will travel through the trails of a detailed 5-Step life plan blueprint. Since I purposely keep the Wisdom-Trek episodes to between 7-9 minutes a day, we will break this life planning into small digestible nuggets of wisdom. When we complete the entire Trek, I will merge the entire plan into a separate PDF document that you can download for review.
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Before we begin the trails of laying out your actual life plan, I want to make sure that you understand why it is important. Creating and following your life plan is one of the most important events in life because it can change your course for the remainder of your life.
Creating and following your life plan is one of the most important events in life.Tweet This While I fully understand, that God will ultimately give us direction for our lives, He is also very concerned that we live our lives with purpose, on purpose. God addresses the issue of planning over 100 times in His Word. If we design our plans according to the principles and precepts in His Word, then we can rely on the wisdom in Proverbs
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 219 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life #5 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 219 of our Trek. We have invested the past four days on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-218/ (our trek up Transformation Mountain), and today will be our last trail to explore. I will emphasize again how important it is for us to have the proper mindset as we begin 2016. Today we will finish our 7th thought pattern to create a rich and satisfying life. Starting tomorrow, our trek will focus on setting our plans and goals for this new year. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are back into our normal work routine with our map of goals, plans, and timelines set for the year. We do realize that there will be obstacles, detours, and challenges along our trek for 2016, but by having our map laid out, we will continue making adjustments as needed.
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We are looking forward to this upcoming weekend as we will have our five kids, their spouses, and all six grandchildren in for our Christmas celebration here in Indian Trail. We strive to be as flexible as possible during the Christmas holiday so that the individual families can establish their own traditions while still being able to get together with our kids.
Let’s continue on this first trek for 2016, as we hike one final trail on the Mountain of Transformation. Changing the way you think through the renewing of your mind is the only way to obtain personal transformation in any area of your life. If you expect 2016 to be a better year than last, then it will only happen if you change how you think. On our final trail up Transformation Mountain, we will explore how to be teachable so that we can learn and apply lasting change in our lives. This is a nugget of wisdom that is so important, especially in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world. Alvin Toffler put it this way, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Today let us be teachable as we continue our exploration of the…
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7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life So far we have covered the thought patterns of trust, thankfulness, truth, timing, travail, and the Tempter. Today we will finish the first trek of 2016 as we explore how to be teachable. If you missed the first four days of this current trek, please listen to them or read the daily journal to learn the wisdom contained there. If you do not change your thought patterns through these seven elements that we are exploring, then you cannot expect your life to change. The other six elements that we explored are all based on this final one. To change you must learn, and to learn you must be teachable. So let’s explore…
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- Teachable If you want your life to be transformed, you must fill your mind with thoughts of obedience to the will of God. You must not have a rebellious and stubborn mind which refuses to submit to the will of God. You must be willing to submit to the ways and thoughts of God. You must be teachable and willing to learn from God. You must put away thoughts of pride and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 218 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life #4 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 218 of our Trek. We continue this week on our trek up Transformation Mountain, where I want to emphasize again how important it is for us to have the proper mindset as we begin 2016. We are exploring how we need to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-217/ (renew our minds so we can transform our lives). Today and tomorrow we will finish our seven thought patterns to create a rich and satisfying life. After that, we will spend a few days focusing on setting our plans and goals for this new year. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The weekend was both relaxing and productive. Paula and I were able to complete additional work on our life/business plan, and we went to see the new Star Wars movie. We also were able to worship with our local fellowship of believers and take a nice long walk on a cool but pleasant Sunday afternoon. It was quite an enjoyable New Year’s weekend, and we are prepared to start the first workweek of 2016 with new focus and direction.
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Let’s continue on our Wisdom-Trek for 2016, as we hike another trail today on the Mountain of Transformation. Personal transformation in any area of our lives first begins on the trails of renewing our minds, or it might be said, changing the way we think. The only way 2016 will be a better year is if we change how we think. Today on the trek up Transformation Mountain, we will explore the role that the Tempter has in our thought process. This is an important nugget of wisdom that is often overlooked when we consider making lasting positive changes in our life. Today we continue our exploration of the…
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7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life To make significant and lasting changes, it takes consistent and persistent commitment to change the way you think. You have to consciously have a gate-keeper monitoring what you allow into your mind each day. So far we have covered the thought patterns of trust, thankfulness, truth, timing, and travail. If you missed these first three days of this current trek, please listen to them or read the daily journal to learn the wisdom contained there. Today we will explore the 6th thought pattern which is the Tempter, the evil one.
As a Christ follower, I am convinced there are very real and present evil forces in the world who influence the bad that happens in our world today. If we do not change our thought patterns through the five elements that we covered previously, it opens up the possibility to be influenced by the Tempter. You need to learn how to prevent the Tempter from influencing your thought pattern so that you can make real and lasting changes in your life. So let’s explore…
- The Tempter If you want your lives to be transformed, you must recognize the attacks of the enemy on your mind. The Tempter will attack your minds with thoughts of evil, accusations, rebellion, strife, defeat, unworthiness, lies, and hate. These unclean spirits wage a relentless war on your minds. You must recognize the suggestions of these evil spirits and resist them at once. When you fill your mind with the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 217 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 217 of our Trek. As we start a new year, I want to emphasize again how important it is for us to have the proper mindset as we begin 2016. For the first few days of this year, we will explore how we need to renew our minds so we can transform our lives. After that, we will spend a few days focusing on setting our plans and goals for this new year. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Paula and I enjoyed a relaxing New Year’s Day watching the Rose Bowl Parade and visiting with her sister Ruth and her husband Joe. We enjoyed homemade chili and played a game of Carcassonne. This weekend will be dedicated to additional life/business planning as we get ready for the first work week of 2016.
Let’s continue on our Wisdom-Trek for 2016, as we hike our trail for today on the Mountain of Transformation. Personal transformation of any area in our life first begins on the trail of renewing our minds, or it might be said, changing the way we think. The only way 2016 will be a better year is if we change how we think. The trek up Transformation Mountain will take us a couple of days longer than anticipated to keep the Wisdom-Trek episodes between 7-9 minutes, but I want to make sure that we take our time as we explore these important nuggets of thought that will change our lives. Today we continue our exploration of the…
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7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life I stated on the first two days of this year that if you desire to live a life that is rich and satisfying in 2016 and beyond, then it starts with changing the way that you think. Why is it so hard to change the way we think – to choose the right, just, and good? It is such a simple concept, and yet for most of us, it is so difficult to do consistently each day. This is because changing our thoughts and changing our lives is hard work. Your thought patterns, your habits, and the manner in which you live is so engrained in you. To make significant and lasting changes, it takes consistent and persistent commitment. We have to consciously have a gate-keeper monitoring what we allow into our minds. Our minds have been programmed throughout our lives based on what we have allowed our minds to feed on each day.
So far we have covered the thought patterns of trust, thankfulness, truth, and timing. If you missed these first two days, please listen to them or read the daily journal to learn the wisdom contained there. Today we will explore the 5th thought pattern which is travail, or it could be referred to as hard work. You need to infuse this thought pattern into your life to make a real and lasting change. So let’s explore…
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- Travail If you want your life to be transformed, you must fill your minds with thoughts of diligence, labor, and travail. You must be a person who is responsible, reliable, hardworking, committed to excellence, and task-oriented. You must put away thoughts of laziness and apathy. You must not be a wandering and uncommitted person. You must avoid expecting everything to be easy and be prepared to handle difficult responsibilities. You must take responsibility for your lives and avoid...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 216 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 216 of our Trek. Yesterday was the start of a brand new year, and I want to emphasize again how important it is for us to have the proper mindset as we begin 2016. For the first three days of this year, we will explore how we need to renew our minds so we can transform our lives. After that, we will spend a few days focusing on setting our plans and goals for this new year. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Paula and I arrived back in Indian Trail late New Year’s Eve and were able to sleep in a little on New Year’s Day. The remainder of the day was invested in watching the Rose Bowl Parade, working on more life planning, and visiting with Paula’s sister Ruth and her husband Joe who brought Mom Jarvis back from her Christmas week with them.
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Let’s continue on our Wisdom-Trek for 2016, as we hike our trail for today on the Mountain of Transformation. Personal transformation of any area in our life first begins on the trail of renewing our minds, or it might be said, changing the way we think. The only way 2016 will be a better year is if we change how we think. The trek up Transformation Mountain will take us three days as we explore the…
7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life I stated yesterday that if you desire to live a life that is rich and satisfying in 2016 and beyond, then it starts with changing the way that you think. It is such a simple concept, and yet for most of us, it is so difficult to do consistently each day. Your thought patterns, your habits, and the manner in which you live is so engrained in you. To make significant and lasting changes, it takes consistent and persistent commitment to change the way you think. Changing the way you think first begins with what you allow to enter into your mind. Your mind is programmed for certain thought patterns and outcomes based on what you feed it. Yesterday we covered the first two thought patterns of trust and thankfulness. Today we will explore the next two thought patterns that you need to infuse into your lives to make a real and lasting change. The first of those is…
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- Truth If you want your life to be transformed, you must fill your mind with thoughts of truth. You must meditate on the Word of God and fill your heart and mind with the revelation of the truth from the Word of God, which will bring freedom and deliverance in your life. You should not be deceived by the lies of the devil. You must put away thoughts of lies, slander, gossip, impurity, falsehood, and evil. You must not allow your minds to be filled with the filth of this world and not allow your mind to dwell on the evil that may reach your ears. You must meditate on thoughts of goodness and purity and truth and not allow yourself to be deceived by appearances. When your minds are filled with the truth, your life will be transformed.
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 215 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom 7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 215 of our Trek. If you are listening to this podcast the day it is released, I would like to say Happy New Year! May 2016 be filled with blessings and be your best year ever!
For the final week of 2015, we explored two important areas of life. The first was how to live with purpose, on purpose. The second area we explored included the statements from the Apostle Paul that he proclaimed near the end of his life: “I have fought the Good Fight,” “I have finished the race,” and “I have remained faithful.” Let us resolve to be able to say this at the end of 2016 and every year of our life.
Listening to Wisdom-Trek daily is one thing that will help you to gain the wisdom you need to live your legacy today, which will also allow you to leave a legacy tomorrow. Today is the start of a brand new year, and I want to emphasize how important it is for us to have the proper mindset as we begin 2016. For the first three days of this year, we will explore how we need to renew our minds so we can transform our lives. After that, we will spend a few days focusing on setting our plans and goals for this new year. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Based on the life planning that Paula and I have completed so far, 2016 will be a very busy and eventful year. In preparation for the Chamberlain reunion in July, we will be spending a significant amount of time in Marietta this year working on and around The Big House. We are continuing our planning during this next week or so as we lay out the detailed plans for our new business focus.
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It is now time to begin our Wisdom-Trek for 2016, so let’s get started on our trail for today as we hike the mountain of transformation. Personal transformation of any area in our life first begins on the trail of renewing our minds, or it might be said, changing the way you think. The only way 2016 will be a better year is if we change how we think. The trek up Transformation Mountain will take us three days as we explore the…
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7 Thought Patterns for a Rich and Satisfying Life If you desire to live a life that is rich and satisfying in 2016 and beyond, then it starts with changing the way that you think. It is such a simple concept, and yet for most of us, it is so difficult to do consistently each day. Our thought patterns, our habits, and the manner in which we live is so engrained in us. To make significant and lasting changes, it takes consistent and persistent commitment to change the way we think. Changing the way we think first begins with what we allow to enter into our minds. Our minds are programmed for certain thought patterns and outcomes based on what we feed it. Today we will explore the first two thought patterns that we need to infuse into our lives to make a real and lasting change.
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- Trust If you want your life to be transformed, you must renew your mind. You must change your thinking before you can change your life. You must be thinking thoughts of trust and faith and confidence in God. You must put away thoughts of fear, unbelief, worry,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 214 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom How to Live a Legacy Each Day #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 214 of our Trek, and yesterday and today, we are exploring the trails that will help us learn how to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-213/ (live a legacy life each day). Listening to Wisdom-Trek daily is one thing that will help you to gain the wisdom needed to live your legacy today, which will also allow you to leave a legacy tomorrow. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is airing originally on the last day of 2015. How has the year turned out for you? Are you healthier and more joyful than you were a year ago? Did you achieve your dreams and goals that you had hoped to? If you answered yes to either of these questions, well done! If not, don’t be discouraged. Tomorrow starts a brand new year with all of its potentials.
For Paula and me, we have had many blessings, but we have also had some setbacks. On the positive side, our younger daughter Janet was married to Rowan Webster and our son Barney and his wife Leesha blessed us with another beautiful granddaughter. Our construction project in Arizona finally started this year, which was a real benefit, as we were just finishing up our work with another client. We also were able to start this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal this year, and it has opened up our eyes to additional business opportunities for 2016. But, one of our primary clients is in the oil and gas industry where prices have crashed by over 65% so that has impacted us financially. While I enjoy the low gas prices at the pump, it is not without significant ramifications. Through both the good and the difficult situations, we move forward living that rich and satisfying life that Christ has for us.
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It brings to my mind what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Church in Philippi 3:12-14, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Join me in being resolute for 2016 to live with purpose, on purpose. Let us choose each day to live a legacy of positive impact on our world. Let us not miss this opportunity.
On our Trek for today, let’s continue on our trail as we explore…
How to Live a Legacy Each Day #3 We finished yesterday with the understanding of what that Apostle Paul meant when he said, “I have fought the Good Fight.” Today we want to explore his last two proclamations which are…
“I have finished the race.”
“I have remained faithful.”
2. “I have finished the race.” Finishing the race means ensuring in the process that you are neither disqualified nor disheartened in the race of life and becoming a living legacy. The Apostle Paul fully understood what he meant when he made the statement, “I have finished the race.” He was near the end of his life and knew what the prize was as I mentioned in the verses earlier. “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 213 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom How to Live a Legacy Each Day #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 213 of our Trek, and yesterday and for the next few days, we will explore the trails that will help us learn how to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-212/ (live a legacy life each day). Listening to Wisdom-Trek daily is one thing that will help you gain the wisdom needed to live your legacy today, which will also allow you to leave a legacy tomorrow. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. As we look towards 2016, there are many dreams and goals which we need to sort out. We have to be prudent to set realistic steps based on the time and resources that are available. This is one reason our year-end planning sessions are so important. It allows us to set our budget based on the time, talent, and treasures that we have available. Of these three key elements, only time has a finite amount. That is why it is so imperative that we utilize our time wisely and maximize its value. Only then will we be able to improve our talents and increase our treasures. I sure wish it was easy to do that, but we all fall victim to wasting time, which in turn limits our talents and treasures. This is something that we all need to consider.
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The three elements that I just spoke of are very important on our Trek this week, so let’s head back out on our trail today as we consider and explore for more nuggets of wisdom that will enable us to effectively live our legacy each day. These are important concepts to grasp. Our positive impact on others should begin as early as possible on our life’s trek and grow each day. This will enable them to last throughout eternity in the lives of others. So let’s explore.
How to Live a Legacy Each Day #2 We finished yesterday considering the three short but impactful proclamations that the Apostle Paul pondered near the end of his life. He made three very simple statements about his legacy. He says by God’s grace:
“I have fought the Good Fight.”
“I have finished the race.”
“I have remained faithful.”
These are three simple but great statements concerning “a living legacy.” Let’s explore the impact of each of these statements. Today we will explore the first one and finish up with the other two tomorrow.
- “I have fought the good fight.” As my friend on this trek of life, you need to understand that if you want to live and leave a legacy that is greater than yourself, you must recognize each day that you are in a battle to either bring good into the world or to allow evil to flourish. Daily we must choose to do what is right, just, and fair. We learn in Proverbs 2:9 that one of the many benefits of wisdom is, “Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.”
To live and leave a legacy, we must prepare in advance. We need to choose to stand firm, clothed in your armor, as a spiritual warrior. All of these are a choice that we make in advance on how we will live.
To live and leave a legacy we must prepare in advance.Tweet This Here is what I think we sometimes miss. When you and I are casual about spiritual things, careless with the disciplines of the faith (like prayer, meditating, the study of the Bible and other good materials, and the fellowship with other...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 212 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom How to Live a Legacy Each Day #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 212 of our Trek, and for the past three days, we explored how to live life fully by https://wisdom-trek.com/day-211/ (living with a purpose and on purpose). Today we will explore another trail that will help us learn how to live a legacy life each day. Listening daily to Wisdom-Trek is one thing that will help you gain the wisdom needed to live your legacy today that will also allow you to leave a legacy tomorrow. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/65d6acbd560a7434f8ca021261dc3f6d.jpg () We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This final week of 2015 is a busy one for us wrapping up some work with a couple of clients and continuing with our 2016 life planning. It has been cool and very rainy all week in Ohio, but we have had no snow. Paula and I have dreams of being snowed in, but unless the Internet and electricity are off, most of our work can continue as usual.
Our renovation contractors are making good progress in the library, parlor, and downstairs foyer/hallway. The drywall is completed on the ceilings, and the walls are getting smoothed out in preparation for painting. Unavoidably there is drywall and plaster dust everywhere, but we will wait for any major clean up until they are finished. It is amazing how it seeps into rooms that are closed off, but it will be well worth it when it is completed.
Today and for the next couple of days, our trek does take us on a slightly different trail, as we consider what it means to live a legacy each day and not just wait to leave a legacy when we die. This is an important concept to grasp. Our positive impact on others should begin as early as possible on our life’s trek and grow each day and then last throughout eternity in the lives of others.
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How to Live a Legacy Each Day #1 As we start today’s Trek, I want to ask, “What kind of impact or legacy do you have on others? If someone were to describe your attributes in one or two sentences, what would they say? What do others think about you and the life that you live?”
Living a legacy each day is part of living with purpose and on purpose, which we explored over the past three days. It is part of living a rich and satisfying life. I am not referring to money but a rich life that money can’t buy.
In reality your life leaves a legacy each day – that is not an option. The question is “What type of legacy are you living?” However you frame that question, the truth is that every day you are leaving a legacy that will impact the lives of your family, friends, and others, which will last well beyond your time on earth.
What are you passing onto them daily? They are impacted by your life or legacy whether that is good or bad. The legacy you live impacts the legacy they live, and that will impact circles of influence and generations well beyond yourself. As a grandfather of 6 grandchildren so far, I am reminded of the verse in Proverbs 13:22, “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.”
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This inheritance is not just referring to money but...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 211 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Living Your Life with Purpose, On Purpose #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 211 of our Trek. Today we will continue on our Trek to live life fully by https://wisdom-trek.com/day-210/ (living with a purpose, on purpose). Listening to Wisdom-Trek daily is one thing that will help you live with purpose even through the difficult trails of life’s Trek. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Purpose-is-the-great-divider-that-separates-those-who-are-simply-living.jpg ()We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We are continuing this week with fine tuning our 2016 life plan. Our calendar is being set, and we are making slow but good progress. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we solidify our plan and goals. As we do plan, another verse that keeps us humble is Psalms 57:2, “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who will fulfill his purpose for me.” That is why we seek God’s guidance as we plan.
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We continue with our theme of life being a trek with its steep mountains to climb and deep valleys to navigate. We realize that as we stay focused on our purpose, even if we don’t always understand the trails of life that we end up on, we will live a life that is rich and satisfying. Let’s continue our Trek as we discover more wisdom nuggets on what is required for us to live life with purpose, on purpose. We started two days ago and will continue today. Let’s set our course and learn how to accomplish this. Let’s continue today with…
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Living a Life with Purpose, On Purpose #3 So far on our Trek for purpose, we have explored the following aspects of living a life of purpose, on purpose:
Everyone has a God-given purpose in life.
Your purpose makes you unique.
Your purpose is the key to your fulfillment.
God will accomplish His purpose.
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So where do we go from here? Our final point that we will explore today is to…
- Choose to live with purpose, on purpose. Throughout my years of experience in business and serving others, God has broken it down really simply for me. This may be because I am a rather simplistic person in the way I view life. Here is the conclusion and insight that I have been given…You don’t find your purpose. You learn it as you go. Now do not confuse purpose with destiny. Your destiny is what happens at the end of the journey. Your purpose is all about the journey. Your destiny is that you will rule and reign as perfected saints in glory in the presence of the Father.
Your purpose is all about the journey.Tweet This Your purpose is that you do what you do as a child of the King of Kings. Here are four simplistic steps on our trail today that will help you to choose to live with purpose, on purpose. The first step is…
A. Affirm Your Identity The journey of purpose begins with the question, “What was in the mind of the Maker when God created you?”
God knew your purpose when your name came to mind. Great care was taken to choose the individual components of your design. He carefully mixed the right heart motivation and temperament with a unique set of talents and gifts. He allowed life experience to shape your passions, exercise your strengths, and channel your steps. I realize that I have brought...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 210 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Living Your Life with Purpose, On Purpose #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 210 of our Trek. I hope that you are still able to relax and enjoy this Christmas holiday. If you have to work throughout this holiday, choose to enjoy it and spread cheer to those that you meet. Today we continue on our Trek that we started yesterday on our hike towards 2016. I mentioned yesterday that one commitment that I am making for 2016 is to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-209/ (live my life with purpose, on purpose). I encourage you to join me in living a life that is both rich and satisfying, to live life to the full. As we Trek through life, living fully does not imply that we won’t have setbacks but that we will be able to navigate through them while learning the lessons that they teach us. Wisdom-Trek is one way that will help you through the difficult days of our Trek. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_529ca15d045d5_f_1.jpg ()We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Our planning days have begun as Paula and I lay out our calendar for all of 2016. This year includes a Chamberlain Family Reunion July 4th weekend, as well as the Podcast Movement conference the week following that. We will also be making 3 or 4 trips to Arizona to work with our partners there on the construction projects. One of the big aspects of our planning for 2016 is to create and build the “Christian Podcasting Network.” This is a new direction for us and stems from an opportunity we see from creating Wisdom-Trek and working with other podcasters who are also Christ followers. There are many other areas that will also be involved in our planning, so it should be a very intense week. If you are a person who prays, we would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and insight during this planning process and throughout 2016. As we do plan, we realize that it is God that will give us direction in all areas as we humbly follow him as was mentioned in Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
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Keeping with our theme of life being a trek with its steep mountains to climb and deep valleys to navigate, let us focus on how we can live that rich and satisfying life each day. What is required for us to live life with purpose, on purpose? We started yesterday and will continue for the next few days to set our course and learn how to accomplish this. Our Trek for the next couple of days is…
Living a Life with Purpose, On Purpose #2 Yesterday we stopped on our hike and explored the fact that everything has purpose, and most importantly you and I are God’s masterpiece and He has a plan for us as written in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
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Now that we know we are God’s Masterpiece let’s explore the concept that…
- Your purpose makes you unique. Your purpose is different from the purpose of anybody else listening or reading this today, anybody else on the face of this globe, anybody since creation.
You are not a divine experiment. Let me tell you what I mean. God did not make you to see what He could possibly do with you when you were born. Isaiah [46:10] tells us this.
Only I can tell you the future...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 209 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Living Your Life with Purpose, On Purpose #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 209 of our Trek. I trust that you had a very blessed and merry Christmas. Yesterday, on Christmas Day, we finished up our https://wisdom-trek.com/day-208/ (hike along the Christmas Trail). We explored the lives of those individuals that had a significant impact on the story. It is my hope that you were able to learn from these stories that bring hope to the world, not only during Christmas but each day of the year. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
Today we look forward as we start on our Trek into 2016. One commitment that I am making for 2016 is to live my life with purpose, on purpose. I encourage you to join me in living a life that is both rich and satisfying, to live life to the full. This does not imply that we won’t have setbacks but rather that we will be able to traverse through them while learning the lessons that they teach us.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/753.jpg ()Trekking into the New Year We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We drove up to Marietta on Christmas Eve and had a relaxing Christmas Day. Since Paula and I will be celebrating Christmas with our kids and grandkids on January 9th, it was great to sleep in and then share a wonderful Christmas dinner with my brother Jack, his wife Ann, and our dad.
For the past few years, Paula and I take the last week of the year to assess what we were able to accomplish during the year, but more importantly, what our plans are for the New Year. We cannot predict with certainty what the future may hold during this next year, but we can confidently know who ultimately holds the future. With that then we can confidently make plans and map out the trails that we would like to hike. If we trip and fall or are detoured on our way, that is okay. We still have our destination set. That destination is to live life fully and to impact others positively each day which becomes our living legacy.
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Keeping with our theme of life being a trek with its steep mountains to climb and deep valleys to navigate, let us focus on how we can live that rich and satisfying life each day. What is required for us to live life with purpose, on purpose? For the next few days, let’s set our course to learn how to accomplish this. Our trek for today and the next couple of days is…
Living Your Life with Purpose, On Purpose #1 There seems to be an abundance of gurus of every kind that flood the TV and internet selling their secret formulas and magic juices for a more successful and more fulfilling existence. And there is, of course, no shortage of needy and sometimes very successful people in the market willing to part with their hard earned money to gain the insights that are being peddled.
This is because seeking fulfillment in life is almost a universal phenomenon. And the primary problem stems from the fact that while most everybody knows when they were born, very few know why they were born – and so they are searching for meaning. Your alarm clock can tell you what time to wake up in the morning, but it cannot tell you “why” to wake up in the morning.
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Even as a listener to this podcast or reader of our journal, if I were to ask you if you believe that God has a purpose for your lives, you would most likely reply that you do believe that....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 208 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Christmas Love: The Story of God’s Gift to Us #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 208 of our Trek, and this week we are hiking the Christmas Trail to learn about some of the key players in the Christmas story. It is my hope that we will learn from these stories that bring hope to the world, not only during Christmas but each day of the year. Today, we will explore the second part of the story titled Christmas Love: The Story of God’s Gift to Us. This is the last story in this week’s Christmas series. These stories are adapted from lessons taught originally by Raymond van Plesten. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode is airing on Christmas Day. If you are listening to the podcast or reading the journal on Christmas Day, I want to say Merry Christmas!!! May your day be a blessed time as we focus on the reason that we celebrate this day.
Christmas was always such a special time for our family growing up. Mom and Dad’s love for each other and for each of the 10 children was reflective of God’s love for us. They especially sacrificed what they had to bring the best possible time of celebration for us as a family. Let’s make sure that we do all that we can to show God’s love to others every day of the year.
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During this Christmas week, we have invested our time on our Trek together reflecting on the true stories surrounding the original Christmas. It is by design that our hike on the Christmas Trail today we are exploring the ultimate gift, which is God’s gift to us – salvation through Jesus Christ whose birth we are celebrating. Today we are exploring the final part of our story.
Christmas Love: The Story of God’s Gift To Us #2 2. God’s gift to you is measured by its cost. As we serve such a loving and Holy God, we are to give Him our best. He doesn’t want our leftovers. He doesn’t want cheap stuff. He wants the best you and I can give Him. Remember the story of the wise men when I referenced how King David insisted on paying the price for his offerings in 2 Samuel [24:24].
But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.
David said if he was going to give a sacrifice to the Lord he was going to give his best – something of value, something of worth. Why would David say that? Because that is what God has done for us. He has given us the most precious gift He could possibly give – something of worth, something of value, something that is one of a kind. He gave us His son.
Look at 1 John [4:10] again.
This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
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God knew what had to be done. He knew what price had to be paid. He knew what it was going to cost Him, and He sent the best for you and me. He sent Jesus Christ – born as a child for the salvation of the world. If He gave that much to me, what should I give Him?
FACT: God’s gift to me is valuable. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/54717c4e3a2e52bda3e0dd3a6704cf22.jpg ()
- God’s present to you is measured by its...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 207 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Christmas Love: The Story of God’s Gift to Us #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 207 of our Trek, and this week we are hiking the Christmas trail to learn about some of the key players in the Christmas story. It is my hope that we will learn from these stories that bring hope to the world, not only during Christmas but each day of the year. Each story will cover two days and for today, we will explore the first part of the story titled Christmas Love: The Story of God’s Gift to Us. These stories are adapted from lessons taught originally by Raymond van Plesten. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode is airing on the day before Christmas, as we are be heading north and arriving at The Big House late this evening. Since we are celebrating our family Christmas on January 9th in Charlotte, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day should be a nice relaxing time for Paula and me. We do plan on sharing Christmas dinner with my brother Jack, his wife Ann, and our dad. Jack and Ann are hosting the dinner, so all I have to prepare are my favorite creamy and buttery mashed potatoes. So, it will be a break from the usual cooking that I would be doing.
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During this Christmas week, we continue to invest our time in our Trek together reflecting on the true stories surrounding the original Christmas. It is by design that on our hike on the Christmas Trail today and tomorrow we will be exploring the ultimate gift, which is God’s gift to us – salvation through Jesus Christ whose birth we are celebrating. Today we are exploring the first part of our story.
Christmas Love: The Story of God’s Gift To Us #1 I want to start with a story that I read recently, and it goes like this…Christmas was an exciting time and Joie was excited too. He was only 10 years old, and he was as excited as any ten-year-old boy could be. For him, Christmas was still a time of wonder. He did the things most 10-year-olds do. He played ball, rode his bike, climbed trees, and went fishing with his dad. He was a happy kid. He just enjoyed life – every part of life. To him, life was full of wonder and amazement. And Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year.
It was Christmas Eve and the ground was white with snow. It was cold, and it was clear. The stars were bright that night and seemed so close that you would have thought you could reach out and touch them with your hands. The family was on their way to the grandparents’ house – that was the family tradition. Joie could hardly wait. He was excited, and his mind just raced with ideas about what he might receive this year. What present would be under the tree for him tonight?
Every year the family would gather at grandpa and grandma’s house. There was always a huge tree and there was always a present under the tree for each person there. The kids would sneak peeks at the presents and find out where theirs was located. Joie was usually one of the first to find out where his present was placed, but this year it was different. He didn’t find his right away, even though he searched all over.
He began to worry because he couldn’t find it. Then his eyes caught a big box in the corner. It was a huge box – the biggest present he had ever seen. He slowly walked over to it and sure...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 206 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Christmas Wisdom: The Story of the Wise Men #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 206 of our Trek, and this week we are hiking the Christmas Trail to learn about some of the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-205/ (key players in the Christmas story). It is my hope that we will learn from these stories that bring hope to the world, not only during Christmas but each day of the year. Each story will cover two days and for today, we will explore the second part of the story titled Christmas Wisdom: The Story of the Wise Men. These stories are adapted from lessons taught originally by Raymond van Plesten. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Final preparations and packing will be completed today so that we will be ready to head to The Big House for Christmas. We will remain there until New Year’s Day when we will return back to Home2.
During this Christmas week, we continue to invest our time on our trek together reflecting on the true stories surrounding the original Christmas. Today we will explore the first part of our story…
Christmas Wisdom: The Story of the Wise Men #2 As we hike the Christmas Trail together today, let me start by reading the story of the Wise Men in Matthew 2:1-12.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling citie] of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
After this interview, the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
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The second point I want to make on our trek is…
- A wise man’s journey is one of worship. When the wise men came on their journey, it was for the purpose of worship. They brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts have a lot of symbolism associated with them. Gold represents wealth. It is a gift fit for a king. (Jesus was the King of Kings.) Frankincense is the sap of a tree that was dried and hardened and used as incense to worship God. Thus, we see a gift...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 205 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Christmas Wisdom: The Story of the Wise Men #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 205 of our Trek, and this week we are hiking the Christmas Trail to learn about some of the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-204/ (key players in the Christmas story). It is my hope that we will learn from these stories that bring hope to the world, not only during Christmas but each day of the year. Each story will cover two days and for today, we will explore the first part of the story titled Christmas Wisdom: The Story of the Wise Men. These stories are adapted from lessons taught originally by Raymond van Plesten. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are many activities for this week as we wrap up before heading north on Christmas Eve. We should be leaving early in the day and dropping Paula’s mom off at her sister Ruth’s house in Spotsylvania, Virginia for Christmas. Then Paula and I will head on to Marietta and should get in late on Christmas Eve.
Fred and his friend Doug came over for dinner on Monday evening, and we watched the Grinch movie. We also were able to watch our grandson Kip on Monday, so Kip and Chelimo joined us for the evening. It is great to be able to spend time with family.
During this Christmas week, we continue to invest our time on our Trek together reflecting on the true stories surrounding the original Christmas. Today we will explore the first part of our story…
Christmas Wisdom: The Story of the Wise Men #1 As we hike the Christmas Trail together today, let me start by reading the story of the Wise Men in Matthew 2:1-12.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling citie] of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
After this interview, the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
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The story of the wise men is a story that is shrouded in mystery. From tradition, we seem to know all the facts and details. But, as...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 204 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Christmas Hope: The Story of Mary #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 204 of our Trek, and this week we started on a series of stories that we will study between now and Christmas as we hike the Christmas Trail to learn about some of the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-203/ (key players in the Christmas story). It is my hope that we will learn from these stories that bring hope to the world, not only during Christmas but each day of the year. Each story will cover two days and for today, we will explore the second part of the story titled Christmas Hope: The Story of Mary. These stories are adapted from lessons taught originally by Raymond van Plesten. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We were blessed to be able to attend our local fellowship of believers in Charlotte this week. It was a special Christmas service, and we are so glad that we were in town. It has been several months since we were able to attend two weeks in a row.
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With Christmas quickly approaching, we will spend our time together reflecting on the true stories surrounding the original Christmas. Today we will explore the second part of our story…
Christmas Hope: The Story of Mary #2 There are three parts to this story of hope that Mary had. Yesterday we covered Mary’s Hossana, which was her song of praise called The Magnificant. I will read it again today to tie in yesterday’s hike.
· The Magnificant: Mary’s Song of Praise Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”
Today we want to focus on Mary’s humility and her hope.
Mary’s Humility There are three key elements to humility. Do you know what they are?
First, realize you’re not in charge. Matthew 6:27 – Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
There are some things you can change. There are many things you can’t change. What you can’t change, put in God’s hands.
Second, accept your position as servant. Matthew 23:11 –The greatest among you must be a servant.
Third, submit yourself to God. James 4:6-7 – And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
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Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.Tweet This Mary knew that she would now live her whole life under a cloud of suspicion from her family and neighbors. Embedded in her decision to be fully submissive to God’s call was the willingness to suffer possible ridicule, loneliness, and contempt. God chose her, and she...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 203 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Christmas Hope: The Story of Mary #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 203 of our Trek, and this week we started on a series of stories that we will study between now and Christmas as we hike the Christmas Trail to learn about some of the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-202/ (key players in the Christmas story). It is my hope that we will learn from these stories that bring hope to the world, not only during Christmas but each day of the year. Each story will cover two days and for today, we will explore the first part of the story titled Christmas Hope: The Story of Mary. These stories are adapted from lessons taught originally by Raymond van Plesten. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Saturday we were able to visit the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, North Carolina. It was all decorated for Christmas and so beautiful. It has become a tradition for Paula and me and is a nice day trip from our home.
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With Christmas quickly approaching, we will spend our time together reflecting on the true stories surrounding the original Christmas. Today we will explore the first part of our story…
Christmas Hope: The Story of Mary #1 I want to start off this podcast by doing an exercise. Not a physical exercise but a mental exercise. I want you to remember being 15 years old. What were you doing at 15? Fifteen is an awkward age, isn’t it? You are no longer a child yet you’re not quite an adult. Hormones are doing all sorts of weird things in your body. Peer pressure is especially important at that age, and so is testing the waters of life. Wanting to be independent is also important at that age.
Scholars tell us that 15 was about the age of Mary when the angel came and visited her and told her she would become pregnant. In all likelihood, she was between the age of 13 and 16. Our views on maintaining purity until marriage may be somewhat tainted in the world today, but the issue is not new. Put yourself in Mary’s position as a young teenager who loves God and views remaining pure until marriage as one of her top priorities. She was already pledged to Joseph for marriage. If you were that age and received news like this, how would you respond? Let’s look and see how Mary did. The story of Mary is found in the book of Luke Chapter [1:26]-56. It is a rather long passage but crucial to learn the entire story of Mary.
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· The Birth of Jesus Foretold In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 202 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Christmas Courage: The Story of Joseph #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 202 of our Trek, and yesterday we started on a series of stories that we will study between now and Christmas to learn about some of the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-201/ (key players in the Christmas story). It is my hope that we will learn from these stories that bring hope to the world, not only during Christmas but each day of the year. Each story will cover two days, so for today, we will finish our story titled Christmas Courage: The Story of Joseph. These stories are adapted from lessons taught originally by Raymond van Plesten. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are coming to the end of another busy week but one that has been rich and satisfying. This term that I use frequently does not mean that everything is going splendid or as planned but that life is an adventure and we should enjoy all aspects of it, even the difficult times.
This week we packed up the containers of caramel corn and got them sent off to their intended destinations. I had to make some additional batches of caramel corn to complete what we needed, so we made a total of 18 batches so far this year although I do make a double batch in each pot. If I calculated properly that would equate to nearly 150 cups of popped corn and 10 cups of various types of nuts. My favorite is with almonds. It is the making of memories that makes the time extra special, but let’s move on down our trail for today.
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As mentioned on yesterday’s Trek with Christmas quickly approaching, we will spend our time together reflecting on the true stories surrounding the original Christmas. Today we will start with our story…
Christmas Courage: The Story of Joseph #2 I will re-read the passage from yesterday to set the continuation of our story today. This passage is Matthew [1:18]-25.
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A18-25&version=NLT#fen-NLT-23142b (b)] for he will save his people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
God gives us the courage to overcome our doubts and fears.
We can only imagine how Joseph must have felt when he found out that Mary was pregnant. His natural response would have been that she had been unfaithful to him.
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 201 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Christmas Courage: The Story of Joseph #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 201 of our Trek, and for the past five days, we stayed in camp to dig up the nuggets of wisdom that are found in https://wisdom-trek.com/day-200/ (Proverbs Chapter 6). Now through Christmas, we will hike the Christmas trail to learn about some of the key players in the story. It is my hope that we will learn from these stories that bring hope to the world not only during Christmas but for each day of the year. Each story will cover two days, so for today and tomorrow our story is Christmas Courage: The Story of Joseph. These stories are adapted from lessons taught originally by Raymond van Plesten. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2010_smart-christmas-trees_snow.jpg ()The Christmas Trail We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On Wednesday, we were able to pick up Kip from his preschool and watch him until Chelimo was able to get off work. After that, we had our monthly dinner date with my sister Rebecca, and we enjoyed a meal and time of fellowship together. We both look forward to this time each month to be able to catch up and share. Granny was also able to attend a Christmas breakfast and enjoy additional time with Kip at his school on Thursday. It is important to take time from our busy schedules to enjoy life, relax, and reflect.
With Christmas quickly approaching, we will spend our time together reflecting on the true stories surrounding the original Christmas. Today we will start with our story…
Christmas Courage: The Story of Joseph If you have seen the movie World Trade Center, you realize how courageous the rescuers were in the days following 9-11. The movie is about a team of rescuers who are searching for survivors in the rubble of the twin towers. The rescuers search through the rubble risking their own lives – they are men of courage – because at any moment the tangled mass of steel and concrete may collapse on them. The movie focuses in on one team of rescuers as they risk life and limb to save two firemen who were trapped in the collapse of the towers. The movie depicts the danger of the situation. The movie shows the risks of everyone involved. But the movie also shows the courage that everyone displays under life threatening conditions.
There is a story of courage that took place at the first Christmas. We often miss it because our focus is on a young mother and a baby. But the character I want us to focus on during today’s hike was in the story too. He heard firsthand that his bride-to-be was pregnant, and it was not his child. This was difficult for him to deal with, but he wanted to handle the situation properly. As he thought about what to do, he experienced a personal message from God because of the extraordinary event. He stood by the manger where the baby was laid. He provided protection for the mother and child during the early years of the child’s life. The man’s name, of course, is Joseph.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1-1.jpg ()A Humble Carpenter What can we learn from Joseph? Let’s read his story from Matthew [1:18]-25.
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 200 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs [6:30]-35 Lessons for Daily Life #5 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 200 of our Trek, and for one final day, we will stay at camp digging for nuggets of wisdom as we continue our exploration into the book of Proverbs Chapter 6. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-199/ (verses 20-29), and today we will dig into verses 30-35. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. There has been a lot of work and activities this week, but we continue on each day accomplishing all that we can.
Each day we have the opportunity to impact our world for good, let’s not miss an opportunity.Tweet This If our plans do not change, Paula and I will head to Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, North Carolina on Saturday for our annual Christmas visit. Biltmore is America’s largest home and with its 250 rooms is magnificent to visit any time of the year, but when it is decorated for Christmas, it is a site to behold. We do look forward to these short excursions that we are able to take, even with a busy schedule. As I continually try to learn to be a good and wise husband, I am still learning the importance of these times away from our work to spend with each other.
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We will remain at camp for another day as we finish up Proverbs Chapter 6 digging deep for additional nuggets of wisdom that we can digest. As we accumulate this wisdom, it helps us to create that living legacy each day so we can impact our world throughout eternity. Never underestimate the value that you bring into the world with just a single act of kindness.
Never underestimate the value that you bring into the world with just a single act of kindness.Tweet This To use an analogy for our life, gathering together with like-minded people around a campfire is always a reflective time – a time to share stories, to laugh, and to enjoy each other’s company. As I reflect back over this past year, we have been able to accomplish a significant amount by God’s grace and also your support. Today our Wisdom-Trek passes the 200th day of our trek. The time really has rushed by.
I want to thank you for being on this trek of life with me over these 200 days. I have really enjoyed being your guide and your mentor but most importantly your friend. Please leave a comment at Wisdom-Trek.com or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com, and let me know how our days together have impacted your life. Also, let me know how I can improve so the next 200 days bring an even greater impact. Thank you in advance.
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For today, let’s get started and dig for more nuggets of wisdom as we explore Proverbs Chapter [6:30:35]. This chapter in Proverbs is referred to as…
Lessons for Daily Life Today I will read the entire passage, and then we will break it down into small segments as we dive deeper into our exploration.
30 Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving. 31 But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house. 32 But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself. 33 He will be wounded and disgraced. His shame will never be erased. 34 For the woman’s jealous husband will be furious, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. 35 He will accept no...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 199 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs [6:20]-29 Lessons for Daily Life #4 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 199 of our Trek, and for this week, we will stay at camp digging for nuggets of wisdom as we continue our exploration into the book of Proverbs Chapter 6. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-198/ (verses 12-19), and today we will dig into verses 20-29. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. I know that Christmas is close when I make my world famous caramel corn. At least it is famous in my little world. I made 12 batches total with some batches including either pecans, almonds, or walnuts. We give most of it away to siblings and neighbors but do keep some of the delicious, mouthwatering treat for ourselves. These are a few of the huge walnut bowls where I place the finished product.
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It is great to have traditions in our lives which are part of our living legacy. I know that our grown kids will be looking forward to some fresh batches of caramel corn when we celebrate Christmas with them on January 9th. They won’t be disappointed.
As we remain in camp for this week in our study of Proverbs Chapter 6, it reminds me of several years when Paula and I took our kids, and usually many of their friends and church youth groups, for a week of primitive camping at a music festival in the hills of Pennsylvania called Creation Fest. We all have many fond memories of our times there. It is my hope that you and I are forming those fond memories and friendships as we share together each day on our Wisdom-Trek.
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Let’s get started for today and dig for more nuggets of wisdom as we explore Proverbs [6:20]-29. This chapter in Proverbs is referred to as…
Lessons for Daily Life Today I will read the entire passage, and then we will break it down into small segments as we dive deeper into our exploration.
20 My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 21 Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you. 23 For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life. 24 It will keep you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman. 25 Don’t lust for her beauty. Don’t let her coy glances seduce you. 26 For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man’s wife will cost you your life. 27 Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire? 28 Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? 29 So it is with the man who sleeps with another man’s wife. He who embraces her will not go unpunished.
So now let’s do a deep dive into the verses.
20 My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 21 Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck.
We should love wisdom. Wisdom should be in our hearts and in our minds. We keep wisdom in our minds or hearts by constantly being aware of the choices that we make. Wisdom should be so evident in our lives it is as if we are wearing a very noticeable necklace. We should always live in a wise manner....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 198 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs [6:12]-19 Lessons for Daily Life #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 198 of our Trek, and for this week, we will stay at camp digging for nuggets of wisdom as we continue our exploration into the book of Proverbs Chapter 6. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-197/ (verses 6-11), and today we will explore verses 12-19. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was nice to be able to attend church services on Sunday with our local gathering of Christ followers. Since we were in Marietta the last several weeks, it had been about a month since we were in Charlotte on a Sunday. On Sunday evening, we went on our annual shopping date at Ollie’s Discount Store to pick up a few items for the grandkids. They have one evening a year prior to Christmas when all toys are 25% off and everything else is 15% off, so Paula and I have set this time aside for several years. Both of us are rather frugal by nature, so this is an enjoyable time together, especially knowing the prices are extra low.
We did get a call from our renovation contractor on Friday about the work they are doing in The Big House, and we were glad to hear that they are making good progress. With us being out of the house and the fact that we prepared the two front rooms, the foyer, and downstairs hallway, they were able to get most of the drywall on the ceilings, start patchwork on the cracks in the walls, and fix a pocket door that had a broken track. We are excited to return on Christmas Eve to see the progress.
Let’s get started for today as we remain at camp sitting around a nice warm fire. Visualize the smoke’s gentle wisps in the air and the flames that leap from the logs burning brightly. I find staring into a campfire almost mesmerizing. In the same way, if we are not careful of who we associate with, we can become mesmerized by their philosophies. Let’s look for this today as we dig for more nuggets of wisdom as we explore Proverbs Chapter [6:12]-19. This chapter in Proverbs is referred to as…
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Lessons for Daily Life Today I will read this segment, and then we will dive deeper into our exploration.
12 What are worthless and wicked people like? They are constant liars, 13 signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye, a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers. 14 Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble. 15 But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.
Sometimes, an evil person is easy to identify, but other times, we must be careful. There are many that have perfected the practice of lying to the point it is even difficult for that person to realize it. Jesus was very stern when he described such a person. In John 8:44, Jesus was confronting the group of people that did not believe He was God’s son. Jesus said, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
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The basic nature of evil people in Proverbs 6:12-15 says that they are liars. They are dangerous to...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 197 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs 6:6-11 Lessons for Daily Life #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 198 of our Trek, and for this week, we will stay at camp digging for nuggets of wisdom as we continue our exploration into the book of Proverbs, starting with Chapter 6. Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-196/ (verses 1-5), and today we will explore verses 6-11. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Saturday Paula and I were able to finish up with a few Christmas decorations in the house which turned out simplistic but are a nice touch. The remainder of the day was spent working on financial transactions for our Arizona construction project. The project is significant in size, and we are catching up from a delay due to computer issues on the site. Although we initially had set aside the day for 2016 business planning, this project was certainly a top priority for Saturday. I am trying to learn the lessons from Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps...”
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As we enjoy the time at camp and around the campfire today, let’s start digging for those precious nuggets of wisdom as we explore Proverbs Chapter 6:6-11. This chapter in Proverbs is referred to as…
Lessons for Daily Life Today I will read this segment, and then we will dive deeper into our exploration.
6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
Now let’s dive into the individual verses starting with 6-8.
6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
As Christians, you should work at the tasks that God has given to you. You might have a job or work for yourself. You might stay at home and take care of your families. You might work for a church or other non-profit organization. Regardless of what you do, it is your ministry before God, and you should work on it with your full attention and do your very best. Whatever we do, we should not be lazy.
Whatever we do, we should not be lazy.Tweet This Solomon writes about the work ethics of ants. If you have ever studied how ants work or had an ant farm when you were young, you understand how very hard they do work. Ants work together in groups with no discernable leader except the instinctive behavior God made them with. They are wise because they store food. They do not waste their time, and they are very industrious.
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Dealing with lazy people is as old as creation. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13, some Christians refused to work. The church gave food to them. Paul told the church not to do this. “Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: ‘Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.’ Yet we
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 196 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Proverbs 6:1-5 Lessons for Daily Life #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 196 of our Trek, and yesterday we finished our hike to the summit of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-195/ (Rationalize Mountain) as we learned to make better and more logical decisions ourselves and to assist others in making better decisions. Today and for this next week, we will remain in camp digging for nuggets of wisdom as we continue our exploration into the book of Proverbs, starting with Chapter 6. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Friday evening Paula and I had the privilege of watching a live performance of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” put on by the Intune School of Arts. The acting and singing were excellent. They also had a short gospel message at the end, which tied in well with the storyline of the play.
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Today and throughout this next week, we will remain in camp and dig through Proverbs Chapter 6 for nuggets of wisdom. As if we were digging for real gold, the lessons learned may be difficult, and we will soon find out that all of us have dirty hands and mud caked under our fingernails. We will also learn, though, how we can wash that dirt away and be completely clean. Proverbs Chapter 6 is referred to as…
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Lessons for Daily Life Today we will dig through Verses 1-5, but let’s first look at Verses 1-2.
1 My child, if you have put up security for a friend’s debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger— 2 if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said—
In this poem, Solomon compares our mistakes to a hunter’s trap. When a hunter works, he may build traps. He hides his traps so that animals will not see them. He hopes that the animals will fall into his traps. Then he can kill and eat the animals.
In our lives, our mistakes can be like traps. Perhaps we want to do the right thing. Perhaps our plans are good. But our best plans could fail. Then, like a trap, our plans can destroy us.
In our lives, our mistakes can be like traps.Tweet This This passage specifically refers to co-signing on the debt for another person. In verse 1, Solomon’s son had good intentions. He wanted to help his friend because his friend did not have good credit to borrow money on his own. The son trusted the friend. The son tried to do the right thing, but in the end, the friend was unable to pay. In the agreement, Solomon’s son promised to pay if his friend could not. The lender now expects Solomon’s son to pay. The son’s plan failed, and now he is in danger.
Our own choices can become like traps, even when they seem harmless at first.Tweet This Sometimes we place ourselves in danger. Our own choices can become like traps, even when they seem harmless at first. In today’s society, many people suffer from all sorts of addictions. This could be alcohol, dangerous drugs, pornography, sex outside of marriage, or even food. Originally, you just want to enjoy yourself, even if you realize that it is outside of God’s precepts. Once addicted to the substance or behavior, though, when you try to stop, you will fail. Now you must turn back to God and ask Him to help you. God is greater than all addictions, of course, and he can free
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 195 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Rationalize or Rational Lies? Part 2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 195 of our Trek, and yesterday we started our hike up https://wisdom-trek.com/day-194/ (Rationalize Mountain) to determine some of the reasons why we rationalize all sorts of actions and behaviors in our lives. Today we will finish our hike to the summit as we learn to make better and more logical decisions ourselves and to assist others in making better decisions. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. If all goes according to our plan, we will spend most of Saturday laying out the groundwork and business plan for our new business segment. Starting in 2016 we will be creating a community of Christian podcasters called Christian Podcasting Network. We will start small, but during 2016, our plan is to grow the network to the level where we will be considered the authority and premier platform for podcasters who are Christ followers. This will include podcasts covering all areas of life and business. Some may be Christian themed podcasts while others will cover all areas of life and business from a Biblical worldview.
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The remainder of our hike today takes us to the summit, and we have a lot of ground to cover on the trail called…
Rationalize or Rational Lies – Which Is It? #2 3. Making Rational Decisions Here’s an interesting thought. Once you stop living under the illusion of being an entirely rational human being, it actually helps you to make more rational decisions!
When you realize emotions are driving your decisions, you can use that to your advantage. You realize that your feelings are an important part of the decision-making process. So how you feel about the decisions you make this week, this month, and this next year, especially from a moral and ethical standpoint, is much more important than satisfying your ego or self-image today. When making decisions, always consider the long term consequences physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. This will give you the strength to make rational decisions instead of rationalizing the decisions that you make.
When making decisions, always consider the long term consequences.Tweet This Let’s look at two examples:
First, say you love donuts. Who doesn’t love a warm Krispy Kreme glazed donut? They taste so yummy as they literally melt in your mouth. Yet, after eating several of them, you notice they actually make you feel pretty bad afterward. I don’t mean bad as in “Oh, I shouldn’t have eaten that” bad. I mean actually, physically bad. Starting about half an hour after eating the donuts, you start feeling bloated, lethargic, and slightly irritable.
Although donuts make you feel great while eating them, you also rationally realized they make you feel bad for hours afterward, not even considering the health implications. When you think logically, you can decide in advance that it simply isn’t worth eating the donuts. You will even feel better financially for not spending money. So you can use logic to control your decisions.
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To look at another example, consider this idea…I...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 194 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Rationalize or Rational Lies? Part 1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 194 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned the importance of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-193/ (collecting the dots on your trail of life so that you can connect the dots) as you move forward in your trek of life. Today and tomorrow we are going to hike Rationalize Mountain and determine some of the reasons why we rationalize all sorts of actions and behaviors in our lives. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Paula and I are looking forward to a “date-night” on Friday as we were gifted tickets to a performance of Charles Dickens, The Christmas Carol. It is one of our favorite stories of the Christmas season.
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Let’s begin our Trek for today to see how far we can hike, and then we will finish up the hike tomorrow. As we view Rationalize Mountain from the foothills, we start to come up with reasons why we just might not want to move forward. We might not want to face the fact that when we start to rationalize our actions in life, most of the time we are just telling ourselves “rational” lies to justify the actions that we take. So our Trek today will be called…
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Rationalize or Rational Lies – which is it? #1 Are you rationalizing your decisions? Let me answer that for you real quick. Yes, you are. We all do. I do and so do you. Even the very first two humans Adam and Eve rationalized their choice in the Garden of Eden as is written in Genesis 3:11-13, “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
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Let’s move forward on our hike and we will discover:
Why we humans rationalize our decisions
The difference between what we think influences our decisions, and what really influences our decisions
How being aware of this can help you make better decisions
How it can help you influence others by appealing to the right motives
- Why We Rationalize We humans rationalize our decisions. All of us. Every day. But I can show you how to spot when you’re rationalizing your decisions and how to discover the real reasons behind your decisions. Then, I will show you how to use this to start making rational decisions.
We rationalize to protect our egos.Tweet This Let’s say you go to an electronics store and a salesperson talks you into buying the newest gadget that has dozens of features you don’t need. Then you get home, and someone asks you why you bought it. You might well answer, “Well it does this and that, and it has this really cool feature, and look how useful this little feature is!”
The problem is that you find out that you really don’t end up using many of those features ever again after the first time you try them. This shows you that you didn’t really buy the gadget for those features. You bought it because you had a rush of emotions and you really wanted that gadget at the store. And when someone...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 193 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Collecting and Connecting the Dots Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 193 of our Trek, and yesterday we hiked the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-192/ (“Ink It” Trail where we learned how to “Ink it when we think it.”) Today we are going to collect the dots on our trail so that we can connect the dots as we move forward on our trek of life. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As I got up this morning at [5:30] as I usually do, I was really tired after a couple of nights of sleep that were way too short and a very busy workday yesterday. I was dragging a bit and not real enthused about a fast run on the treadmill…but I did push through and started on the first of two 5k maps that were next on my list of pre-programmed runs. As a side note, having Google Maps built into the treadmill through a wireless internet connection is really neat. I went ahead and set out at a fast pace. The front room where the treadmill is located in Home2 faces east, and as I looked out the window, I saw a sliver of moon and to the right of it, the bright and morning star. It was a beautiful picture. (Yes, I do realize that is actually the planet of Venus).
Seeing this was encouraging as I thought of how Christ is referred to as the morning star in 2 Peter 2:19, “Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.” It certainly made running the remainder of the 10k easier and more enjoyable. I want to encourage you to look for those special moments that are part of each day. Those moments are happening all around us, so make it a habit to collect them as we see how they connect to our lives.
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On today’s Trek, we want to make a habit of collecting the dots in life so that we can connect them to see how God is working through us each day. It is then that we will achieve true success and live the rich and satisfying life that we should. We will call our trek today…
Connecting the Dots In 2011, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computer and Pixar gave a commencement address to the graduating class at Stanford University. He talked about creating passion, life, and death, and “connecting the dots.” The dots were events in his life, many challenging and many positive, which led to his many successes. He shared with the audience that being fired from Apple Computer, the computer company he founded, he was able to step back and develop the idea for Pixar Animation Studios. By achieving the great success at Pixar, he was eventually asked to come back to lead Apple Computer. This eventually led him to spearhead the launching of one of the most revolutionary products of the 21st century…the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. He explained that he felt that he would never have achieved his successes without his failures and setbacks. He was able to connect the dots to see how it all added up.
So I ask you, “Have you connected your dots?”Tweet This Here are five reasons why taking the time to connect the dots will give you a roadmap for success in your life.
- All dots are good. Many times we face challenges in our lives that when we are in the middle of them they seem...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 192 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Productivity – Hiking the Ink It Trail Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 192 of our Trek, and yesterday we https://wisdom-trek.com/day-191/ (climbed and conquered Alibi Mountain as we bypassed all of the “If Only” rabbit trails). Today we are going to hike the Ink It Trail where we will learn how to “Ink it when we think it.” If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. What a great time to be alive! Just to think that through our computers, we can communicate with anyone all over the world nearly instantaneously is amazing. The adoption of the internet worldwide, and especially mobile technology, is growing so rapidly. We must not overlook the opportunities that will allow us to impact others.
One area that I will be pursuing going into 2016 is to establish a community of podcasters that are Christ followers to provide them with a platform for services and support. This will be called The Christian Podcasting Network, and if you are interested in receiving additional information about it when we roll it out, email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. The impact that we can have in the faith community has a tremendous potential worldwide.
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Increasing Productivity: If You Think It, Ink It! John Steinbeck said:
Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.Tweet This
Laura Stack’s father had a saying he used to repeat often. He always carried around one of those little Mead spiral notebooks, which he liked to call “his brain,” and whenever an idea would strike him he’d write it down and say, “If you think it, ink it!”
Laura’s dad was correct. You can’t depend on your brain to remember everything, especially when you’re in the middle of another task. Nor is it a good idea to drop the task you’re working on and go wandering off after the new idea. Oh, you can do that…But if you make a habit of it, you’ll never finish anything, and you will waste hours in your day. No wonder so many people feel they are ADHD. With sensory overload today, it so easy to get distracted.
So, when you have a random thought that sounds good, get it down on paper (or electronics) ASAP. You can use a little notebook, a handheld device like a smartphone, a compact voice recorder, 3 x 5 index card, or a standardized planner—whatever works for you.
I personally use Evernote which is loaded on my phone, tablet, and all computers because it syncs the exact information everywhere. For about a year before I
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 191 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Conquering Alibi Mountain Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 191 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned how to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-190/ (overcome the obstacles of conflict that may be blocking your trail to success). Today we are going to climb and conquer Alibi Mountain. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We traveled safely back to Indian Trail arriving late Sunday evening. As always, I am blessed to have Paula drive so that I am able to work on the Wisdom-Trek episodes. Our week is starting out busy as we had anticipated.
We were able to set up our outdoor silhouette Christmas Nativity set, which was made for us by a friend a few years ago. We are also decorating the house for Christmas. It is a little later than usual, but since we were at The Big House since before Thanksgiving, we did not have the prior opportunity. After discussing Christmas with our five grown children, we plan on having our family Christmas celebration on January 9th at our home in Indian Trail. This will allow them to have their own celebrations with their children on Christmas. Since we travel between The Big House and Home2 so often and the fact that The Big House has additional on-going renovations, this was the best solution where everyone could be present. We are looking forward to our delayed celebration.
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On today’s Trek, we want to climb and conquer Alibi Mountain, which is one of the most difficult hikes that we make in our lives. It is so easy to come up with excuses for why we are not able to do or accomplish certain things in life. In our hearts, though, we realize that it boils down to the fact that we don’t want to pay the price in time, energy, or resources to succeed at a certain task. We all do this, and none of us are exempt although there are certain individuals that are much better at coming up with convincing alibis.
It is so easy to come up with excuses for why we are not able to do or accomplish certain things in life. Just stop it!Tweet This So let’s head out now to…
Conquering Alibi Mountain People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure and have what they believe to be valid alibis that are impossible to overcome. Very few realistic goals or ambitions are unachievable, except for in our minds. Now it is true that at 5’ 4” in height, it would be very difficult for me to become a quarterback in the NFL or a center in the NBA, but we are speaking of realistic opportunities that we have in life.
Our true choices that we have available for this season of life are somewhat controlled by choices that we have made in the past. But be very careful that you do not manufacture alibis that are not true. As we hike up Alibi Mountain, let us destroy all of the “If Only” rabbit trails that we find ourselves going down. I will read off each trail as we pass them, and then we can move beyond each one as we scale to success summit.
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The “If Only” Rabbit Trails for not achieving in life are…
If only I had time…
If only times were better…
If only other people understood…
If only conditions around me were different…
If only I...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 190 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Overcoming Conflict Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 190 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored why it is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-189/ (wise to always discuss issues and not argue). Today on our trail to success, we will learn how to overcome the obstacles of conflict that may be blocking your trail. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Saturday I spent over 9 hours taking down acoustical ceiling tiles, trim, and wallpaper. It required a lot of going up and down on the ladder and removing hundreds of staples that were holding up the tiles using needle nose pliers. Fortunately, the wallpaper came off easily. To say that I was exhausted at the end of the day would be an understatement. The Marietta grandkids came over for the evening and assisted with some final wallpaper removal, and Paula and her mom were a big help picking up most of the tiles and wallpaper.
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On Sunday, I spoke at the morning service at Putnam Congregational Church. The lesson was the 5 Principles of Planting and Harvesting, which compared farming to planting and harvesting in our own personal lives. If you would like to hear a similar lesson, listen to Day 15 of our Wisdom-Trek, which is the outline that I used for the lesson today.
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After church, we finished packing up the car and headed to Home2 in Indian Trail, North Carolina. We will remain there until Christmas Eve when we will head back north again. We will be at Home2 for about 2 ½ weeks with much work and many activities already planned.
It is now time to head out on our Trek for today, and it has been reported that there are some major obstacles on our trail. The obstacles seem to be caused by conflicts that we are having with other people as well as conflicts that people are having with us. In both types of conflicts, we need to come up with a solution that will get us around or through these obstacles.
Overcome Conflicts Which Block Success Anytime you are making ground and moving toward success, there will inevitably be the opportunity for conflict. That is just a fact of life. You put two people or more in a group, and there is potential for conflict. And conflict, improperly handled, can destroy your ability to continue on and achieve your goals.
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This is true in many areas of life from home, to work, and even with school. It can happen in marriage, and it can happen to family members, friends, and business associates. And when conflict goes bad, success will be limited. The good news is that conflict, when handled properly, can be healthy and actually move you closer to success. Success is based on relationships and relationships offer the chance of conflict, so to get success, you must master conflict. With that in mind, here are some ideas for handling conflict.
When you are the one who is confronting the problem with someone else:
Don’t assume. Don’t assume the worst. Don’t assume that they meant what you think they did....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 189 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Discuss, Never Argue Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 189 of our Trek, and yesterday we studied https://wisdom-trek.com/day-188/ (The Science of Making Wise Decisions). Today we will explore why it is wise to always discuss issues and not argue. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. After meeting with our renovation contractor, we decided to go ahead and have the ceilings in the library, parlor and downstairs hallway/foyer all dry walled at the same time since it will save us the additional cost of mobilization and scheduling. Because of this, I will be working on Saturday to remove the acoustical ceiling tiles in the parlor and downstairs hallway/foyer. This was not part of our plan for this weekend, so I will have to work quickly to get it all completed. We will also be looking at replacing the windows in the library and parlor this spring. The original windows in the house are drafty and not as functional as they should be.
We are looking forward to the Marietta grandkids coming over Saturday evening, and I am sure they will love helping Gramps with additional renovations. I will leave the wallpaper for them to remove. It is quite old and comes off easily.
Let’s move on to our Trek for today as we set out on our trail to discover why it is wise and prudent to always discuss matters of differences and avoid arguing. When Paula and I were dating the year before being married, one ground rule that I set between us is that I would not argue with her. I wanted to set the guideline for our marriage and felt that as differences arose, then as intelligent and rational adults we could calmly discuss any issues that we may have. After over 36 years of marriage, I can say that we have kept that commitment and have never had any type of significant arguments between us. It is possible if you are committed to making it work.
It is wise and prudent to always discuss matters of differences and avoid arguing.Tweet This Now onto our trail for today, which we will call…
Discuss, Never Argue There are some personalities that can be labeled as argumentative and that shows in their behavior and relationships. Arguments can be avoided and a lot of heartaches prevented by being a little careful. The best way to win an argument is to avoid it. An argument is one thing you will never win. If you win, you lose; if you lose, you lose. If you win an argument but lose a good job, customer, friend, or marriage, what kind of victory is it? Pretty empty.
Arguments result from an inflated ego. Arguing is like fighting a losing battle. Even if one wins, the cost may be more than the victory is worth. Emotional battles leave a residual ill will, even if you win. In an argument, both people are trying to have the last word. The argument is nothing more than a battle of egos, which results in a yelling contest.
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· How do you “Argue” With Your Spouse or Close Friend? There should be no losers. Do you really want your spouse, whom you love, or friend to lose an argument with you? Think how constantly losing arguments with you plays on your spouse’s or friend’s self-esteem. Did you know spouses influence each other’s self-esteem more than any other factor during their married life? Arguments are usually started because one spouse...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 188 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Science of Making Wise Decisions Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 188 of our Trek, and yesterday we hiked the trail of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-187/ (10 Principles for Gaining Self-Confidence). Today we will study The Science of Making Wise Decisions. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We are making some progress on the library. After removing the ceiling tiles, we have determined that the plaster ceiling that was under them is not suitable to finish, so we will need to have that ceiling dry-walled. Since I am not skilled in installing drywall, we have contacted our renovation contractor to see if he has time in his schedule. We were hoping to avoid the extra expense of the drywall, but it was not to be. These are the joys of renovating an older large home.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/File-Dec-04-12-26-11-PM-e1449250255289.jpeg ()Library Ceiling Our client work has been extremely brisk this week, but we are making progress. It is my hope that I will be able to do some 2016 planning on Saturday before having our grandkids in for the evening.
It is time to shift now, and make some decisions about our trek today. Every day of our trek of life is filled with decisions. If we make wise decisions, then the opportunities and choices for our lives are expanded. If we make unwise decisions, then our opportunities and choices for life are limited by those decisions. On today’s trek we will explore…
The Science of Making Wise Decisions To think we go through our day, every day, making decision after decision without really thinking about how we do it. At least until something challenging pops up, and then we wring our hands and constantly repeat, “I just don’t know what to do.”
Even in those moments, we naturally seek out the opinions and advice of people we love and trust. But still, we hesitate, worry, and procrastinate, putting off the puzzling choice. We fear it will be the wrong choice. We fear the consequences of our perplexing decision. We worry about people getting hurt.
But, there is hope!
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The Study of Making Wise Decisions
People actually study the process of decision making! They develop models for making decisions with algorithms, equations, and even games of chance (flipping a coin). However, most studies agree on the 6 C’s of decision making:
Construct
Compile
Collect
Compare
Consider
Commit
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Yet, few take into consideration our access to the God of All – the very creator of the universe. Learn to make some big decisions using the 6 C’s plus a 7th C, which is Christ!
The 7 C’s of Making Wise Decisions
We must take an active role in the decisions that we make to ensure that they are good and wise, but we also have to realize that our wisdom actually comes from God as is mentioned in Proverbs 16:1-4,
We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.
As we take the advice from the above passage, let us then
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 187 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The 10 Principles of Self-Confidence Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 187 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-186/ (10 habits to create a better day). Today we will expand this concept as we hike the trail of 10 Principles for Gaining Self-Confidence. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It was a bit of a windy day, and the large wind chimes provided us nature’s music throughout the entire day. Our workload continues very full this week, so it has left little time for focusing on our 2016 business plans so far. As the Christmas holiday approaches, we hope that we will see a bit of a slowdown, and we will take advantage of those opportunities. We will be watching our four Marietta grandkids on Saturday evening while Elizabeth and Nat attend his company Christmas dinner. I also have the privilege of speaking again at Putnam Congregational Church this Sunday, so I am preparing for that as well.
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Time to head out on our trek for today as we hike the Self-Confidence trail and search for the 10 principles that we can apply to our lives that will allow us to gain confidence and esteem. Self-confidence is manifested as an opposite of arrogance, which is usually a result of low self-esteem.
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As we begin today, consider this quote from Malcolm Forbes, “Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.” This quote can be linked to a Bible verse that I have used a couple of times in the past week, which is Psalm 139:14, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Another verse that should help us to gain confidence is Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
As we meditate on these two verses, it is not arrogance that we should gain but a humble thankfulness to God for who we are in His sight.
Let us focus today on…
The 10 Principles of Self-Confidence
- The importance of self-confidence in our lives cannot be overstated. It is, after all, a lack of self-confidence that causes our lives to be tossed to and fro by the sway of culture. From the very beginning, we see the harmful effects of low self-confidence on our decision-making process while the fear of rejection becomes an all too common presence in our lives. It causes many to adopt the values of the group and engage in otherwise undesired behavior.
Simply put, the need for love, belonging, and acceptance becomes stronger than the internal compass within us. And many unhealthy life choices begin to emerge.
In adolescence, this need for acceptance begins to show itself in substance-abuse, underage-drinking, dangerous sexual practices, or mischievous behavior. As we get older, some of these habits remain, but new ones also begin to emerge.
The desire to find acceptance by impressing those around me with my possessions begins to motivate aspects of my life. And whether it be a certain home-size, vehicle-model, fashion trend, or latest technology, many of our purchases are made with a simple desire to keep up with the neighbors and not be regarded as “falling behind.”...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 186 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 10 Habits to Create a Better Day, Every Day Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 186 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored how https://wisdom-trek.com/day-185/ (success is achieved by giving to others). Today we will learn the 10 habits to have a better day. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I had a steady work day today with much still to do, but I take it a day at a time. I have so many plans for going into 2016 and would like some dedicated time for planning, so I will have to block it out in our busy schedule. It has been a rainy and cool week here in Marietta, and I am thankful for a work environment where I can enjoy it without having to be out in it.
Let’s start out today as we continue our trek. Whether we are on an actual hike or just hiking through each day of life, there will be some days that are just difficult. On those days, it seems like we are trudging up a steep slope that is strewn with loose rocks and limbs where it is difficult to make any progress. Each of us has those days occasionally, but we do want to keep them as few as possible. How can we overcome the potential of having “bad days”? On our Trek for today, I will share 10 habits that will help you to create a better day today and every day.
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10 Habits to Have a Better Day Every Day
Wake up 30 minutes early. Get up 30 minutes before your usual time and take the first half hour for yourself. Once you get busy and into the day, there never seems to be the time for yourself. Take this time to plan to get the most from the day. Start by making this a habit each day and reserve this time for you. For this season of life, I get up at [5:30] each morning so that I can be dressed and ready to exercise at about [5:45]. I spend about 70 minutes exercising, most of which is running on the treadmill. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/early-run.jpg ()
Read, listen, or watch something uplifting. Make this a daily habit. Get out of starting the day with no mental food. A great day does not begin with the news or the paper. It begins with ideas or energy that will propel you through the day. What you first hear will stay with you throughout the day. During my time of exercise, I listen to encouraging podcasts, meditations, and Scripture readings. This helps significantly in setting my mind in the proper thought pattern early. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/uplifting-songs-of-motivation.jpg ()
Eat a good breakfast to start you off right. Get something good into your body to wake it up and get it going. Think about the energy you will need to perform. Every day we run a marathon. What would you need to eat and drink to win it? After a shower, I usually have a breakfast of a protein drink, some carrots, water, and coffee. If you do exercise in the morning, it is important that your breakfast contains protein to rebuild your muscles. Stay away from excessive carbs for breakfast as they will be detrimental to your energy levels. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/15ca13f568649d90c1820c30b329a744.jpg ()
Choose your winning attitude. There are enough negative issues in the world to go wrong without sabotaging yourself. Your attitude is a choice you...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 185 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 7 Stepping Stones to Success Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 185 of our Trek, and yesterday we stopped by the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-184/ (12 Mile-Markers for building your character), which resulted in 6 character traits that you possess as a result. Today we will explore how success is achieved by giving to others. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. In addition to a full workload, today we were able to have Elizabeth and four of our grandchildren over. Elizabeth and Paula made split pea and ham soup with the ham that was left over from Thanksgiving. Homemade split pea soup is delicious.
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On today’s Trek, we are hiking the trail of success. I think that everyone desires to be successful, but what many people do not grasp is that the trail to success is paved by helping others obtain what they desire from us. One of my virtual mentors, Zig Ziglar, said it best in his famous quote, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”
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So let’s get started on our hike of the…
7 Stepping Stones to Success A major part of the process of achieving success and living the kind of life that you dream of is to give. Many people think that to get what you want you have to take it. There is a universal truth, though, that the true trail to get what you want is to give. When you give, you get. What you plant, you will harvest. The Bible mentions this correlation numerous times such as in Galatians 6:7, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”
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If this is true, then what is it we must give? I’ll show you the way…
Give others your honesty. The world we live in has a simple rule that most follow: Lie when you have to. Unfortunately, this may make some people wealthy, but it make us humans poor. To achieve success is to become wealthy not only in money but in character. To be successful, truly successful, is to be able to attain your goals and keep your character at the same time
How about you? Are you honest in all things? The problem with little lies is they become big ones. Lies spin out of control. You get caught in one lie and you lie to get out of it, etc. In all things and at all times, give others your honesty.
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Give others your respect. Most of the time we give people respect based on what they have done or what they have accomplished. We gauge whether or not they are “worthy” of it based on what we know of what they have achieved or who they know or are related to.
But I believe we should have a higher standard. We respect people not for what they have done or for who they are related to or for what they can do for us. Instead, we respect people for simply being themselves.
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Give others your vulnerability. We are taught to “be strong.” And yes, we should be strong. But we have also embraced something that I think keeps us from...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 184 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The 12 Markers + 6 Traits of Character Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 184 of our Trek, and yesterday we hiked the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-183/ (“Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail otherwise known as the Tyranny of the Should). For today’s trek, we will stop by the 12 Mile-Markers for building your character, which result in 6 character traits that you will possess as a result. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It is starting out as a busy week as expected, but we have been able to accomplish a significant amount and also complete some planning for 2016.
Over the weekend, we moved our large wind chimes to the back corner of The Big House so we can enjoy them while working in our 2nd-floor office. We are also enjoying the return of our Red Tail Hawk today. It appeared to be looking for some food, so the mice and chipmunks would do well to stay hidden.
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When we go for a difficult hike, one of the resulting benefits is building persistent resolve to continue on, even when we may not feel like it. This in turn helps to build strong character. It is time now to set out on our Trek, as we will search for the 12-mile markers that will help us to build good character and then explore the resulting 6 character traits that we should all obtain.
12 Markers for Building Your Character
I possess the Right Motivation: I realize that in some capacity, everyone is a leader. As a leader, I am called to be an example-setter of high character to the people to whom I am responsible — whether they are my peers, children, employees, and/or constituents. No matter if it seems inefficient, inconvenient, or ineffective, I will build character because it is the right thing to do.
I possess an Accurate Mindset: My character flaws undermine my leadership but are correctable. Character is who I am; competency is what I do. I will no longer confuse the two. Character is not only attractive to me but is irresistible.
I possess the Freedom to Choose: I am 100% in control of my character and my response to others. I choose to be a leader of character. I regret my past character-poor choices. I will do all within my power to change. I will become more like the mentors and models I most admire.
I possess a Teachable Spirit: I am designed to be a life-long learner. I am teachable and have a strong bias to apply what I learn to who I am and what I do.
I possess an Optimistic Vision: A few might remember my competence, but virtually all will remember my legacy of character, good or poor. Many will exceed me in various competencies, but I will set my sight on building a reputation of uncommon character.
I possess a Clear Target: I know the “bulls-eye” of high character. I know exactly what character-ethics are and the corresponding behaviors I desire, even though I may struggle to achieve them consistently.
I possess the Right Tools: I have taken the time to assess and acquire the correct resources to support my character-building journey, including a list of defined character-ethics and a support system of like-minded leaders.
I possess a Sensitive Conscience: I may not always act on its every conviction, but I have a conscience that consistently generates a sense of great personal peace when I act in high character and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 183 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Should Have, Would Have, Could Have Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 183 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored the 25 nuggets or https://wisdom-trek.com/day-182/ (Proverbs for Abundant Living). Today we are going to hike the “Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail otherwise known as the Tyranny of the Should. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. On Sunday, we went to church with my Dad, who lives about an hour north of The Big House. We also took him out for lunch at Cracker Barrel, which is his favorite place to eat. Our daughter Elizabeth and her four children came over for the evening to help us consume some Thanksgiving leftovers, and the grandkids helped Gramps get started on the renovations in the library. This week will be a busy work week with client work and planning for 2016.
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Have you ever had those times where you have felt or said, “I should have made a different choice or decision?” For example, your narrative may have gone like this…“I should have made a different decision, then I would have been in a better place. And, I could have so much more in life.” The trek that we will hike today is the “Should Have, Would Have, Could Have” trail, or as some may refer to it, The Tyranny or the Should of Trail.
Tyranny of the Should Learn how to free yourself from the destructive, incessant pressure to be perfect.
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Everyone lives with “shoulds.” One might say that Christianity and other faiths are a way of life built on shoulds, such as one should love others, one should keep themselves from bad practices, and one should give to charity. For many, their shoulds are experienced as positive and fulfilling. Meeting one’s moral obligations is a great source of pleasure. When we do the right thing, we feel good about ourselves and feel that life has meaning and purpose.
But there are others who do not experience shoulds in a positive way. They feel pressured and strangled by them. For such people, their inner shoulds are sources of great emotional suffering. Dr. Karen Horney named this experience, the “tyranny of the should.”
When we do the right thing, we feel good about ourselves and feel that life has meaning and purpose.Tweet This Here are some examples of shoulds that can become problematic:
I should always feel happy.
I should not dislike anyone.
I should feel strong and in control.
I should have perfect clarity.
I should always be giving.
I should not make mistakes.
I should never get angry.
I should never waste time.
I should always feel productive.
Shoulds become tyrannical when they are experienced as making impossible demands that are impossible to meet. “You should never be weak,” is an impossible demand to meet. The “tyranny of the should” is experienced as a demand to be perfect and, therefore, feels like an order given by an oppressive dictator who ruthlessly demands perfection and nothing less. Shoulds are rigid, unyielding, and devoid of compassion for your limitations and weaknesses. You are never able to relax because the pressure to be perfect is unrelenting....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 182 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 25 Proverbs for Abundant Living Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 182 of our Trek, and yesterday we completed our three-part series on the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-181/ (Psalm of Thanksgiving – Psalms 100). Today we are going to look at a list of inspirational sayings starting with “In life…” that are Proverbs for Abundant Living. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We had a very blessed day on Thanksgiving with our kids Elizabeth and Barnabas over for an evening dinner along with their spouses Nat and Leesha and five of our six grandchildren. Our niece Rebekah and her husband Victor along with their two children were also in.
Friday morning we were able to be on site with a client to assist with the month end billing. On Friday afternoon, we finished up cleaning out the gutters, completed the little bit we had left on the leaf harvest, and hung up the Christmas Star on the front of the house. On Saturday, we reran some cable TV wire to the two front rooms and cleared everything out of the library, including two large built-in bookshelves so that we will be able to start the renovations this next week. On Sunday, we will be going to church with Dad and going out for dinner afterward. It has been a great Thanksgiving weekend with so much to be thankful for.
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Let’s get started on our Trek today as we hike the trail of Abundant Living and look for the 25 proverbs that will provide direction and insight to our lives. We will call our trail today the…
Proverbs for Abundant Living After three days of exploring the requirements of being a thankful servant in Psalms 100, which was some fairly deep study, I wanted to switch to an easier trail today and dig up some nuggets of wisdom that we can ponder and reflect on. As usual, I will also intertwine wisdom from the Bible into the points. Let us take a leisurely hike today as we look at a series of points that we should always integrate into our lives to create a living legacy each day.
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In life we are to encourage and build up each other, not to discourage and tear down one another. (So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians [5:11])
In life we are to add not subtract, to multiply not divide. (Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. Proverbs [9:11])
In life we are to leave an enduring impression, not a careless dent. (Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Psalm 89:2)
In life we are to smooth out the rough roads along the journey, not create new potholes. (The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. Luke 3:5)
In life we are to sing a joyful song; not just drone a groan. (Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Psalm 66:1)
In life we are to add our harmonious strains to life’s symphony, not strain the symphony with clatter and clang. (Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians [3:14])
In life we are to soar on eagles’ wings, not to peck and cluck with our beaks in the dirt like chickens....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 181 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. A Thankful Servant Part 3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 181 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-180/ (second part of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, Psalm 100). Today we will explore part 3 of Psalms 100. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. If all goes according to plan and the weather cooperates, I should be able to finish up the final remains of the leaf harvest today. After this weekend, it will be time to start back in on the renovations in The Big House. The next room we are focusing on is the library. We will have furniture to move and the large bookshelves to clear out before the renovations begin. I will keep you posted on our progress.
On our Trek today, we will finish up this three-day Thanksgiving series as we learn to become a thankful servant through our study of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, which is Psalms 100. Our trail today is…
A Thankful Servant Part 3 Continuing on the section from https://wisdom-trek.com/day-180/ (yesterday’s Trek), we explored why your thank offerings must be intelligent. Intelligent worship also affirms God as Creator. Psalm 100:3 reminds, “He made us, and we are his.” This is a fact of which we are informed by the scriptures. It is also one with which every instinct of our nature agrees. Our own conscience also agrees with nature and the scriptures.
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Have you ever seen a child startled when he is told for the first time that he is the special creation of God? Within every little mind, there dwells a God-given instinct that accepts the statement. It takes a public school 12 years to try to make them believe they are the offspring of primordial soup.
Since the Lord made us, He has all rights over us just as a human potter has a right to make out of his clay a vessel for what use he pleases. We are entirely at His disposal and should serve Him with all our hearts.
The sculptor with his chisel may develop amazing beauty, but there is no life. But we are far different from canvas or marble, for within us is the mystery of life, the divine spark. Like God himself, your soul can know and reason, believe and understand, and also love. God created you with incredible abilities and has exalted you as His highest creation, surely then, it is your obligation to love and serve Him.
An ancient chronicle tells of a powerful, regal, Saxon king, who, riding through a dense forest, came upon a little church. Inside the church was a priest saying prayers. The priest was pitiful, lame, and hump-backed. The commanding, rough Saxon king looked down on the deformed priest in disgust and despised him until he heard the priest chant these words of Psalm 100:3, “He made us, and we are his.” The king was instantly wounded by the powerful convicting arrows of God’s truth and blushed and owned his guilt.
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If you aren’t the brightest, prettiest, or most talented, don’t complain, rather worship God. He has made us what we are, and God doesn’t make junk! If you enjoy great looks, intelligence, and health or ability, humble yourself and recognize that you are what you are by God’s grace.
Lastly, intelligent worship embraces Him as our Shepherd. Psalm 100:3, “We are his...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 180 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. A Thankful Servant Part 2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 180 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-179/ (first part of the Psalm of Thanksgiving, Psalm 100). Today we will explore part 2 of Psalms 100. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is the day after Thanksgiving, and it is my hope that it was a blessed time of thankfulness for you. Let us not forget to be thankful every day.
We are continuing our Trek today and tomorrow as we explore how to become a thankful servant as we once again look closely at the Psalm of Thanksgiving, which is Psalms 100. Our trail for today is…
A Thankful Servant Part 2 Psalm 100:2 tells us to “Worship the Lord with gladness!” We come before God as a lowly but glad servant, offering up what are our logical and reasonable acts of worship.
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The unspiritual man cannot understand this at all! For him to worship Christ seems foolish and a terrible imposition. Worshipping God is contrary to man’s proud, fallen nature. In the flesh, we stubbornly refuse to give God the worship and service He deserves. Man’s fallen nature begrudges service to anyone other than to themselves.
But, having been subdued by Christ’s overwhelming grace, we are radically transformed! Now, we want to serve God, even to the extent of what others may perceive as a loss. We do it gladly with a sense of joy and gladness.
A story that I read emphasizes this…Ten years ago, Nigerian Christians could expect a major attack against them about once every year by Muslims. Then the attacks began to occur monthly. In the past year, attacks have occurred nearly every other week. Today, simply attending church on Sunday puts a believer at risk, and those who actively tell Muslims about Christ are at greater risk still. Evangelist Johnson was seriously injured in a bomb explosion on his way to a Christian meeting. But Johnson exemplifies the persevering spirit of Nigerian believers. While many of these Christians could leave, they feel called to reach their Muslim neighbors. As Johnson says, “If I didn’t love my work, if I didn’t love Jesus, I would give up.”
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Christians gladly serve and suffer because they know they have been saved by God’s own suffering servant Jesus! Serving God is not always easy by any means and may cost you dearly in some parts of the world. But true and lasting joy comes from serving King Jesus and sensing His delight. A Christian is one who serves with genuine humility, mixed with unspeakable joy! 1 Peter 1:8 says, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
The Psalm continues and urges us to “Come before him, singing with joy.” He is the Great King of all the earth, the infinite and Holy Creator of the universe, and you are commanded to appear before him. But, when you come, come with a voice of victory, a shout of triumph and a joyous song! There is no moping in the King’s presence for to see him is to love him and rejoice in Him. Psalm 100:4 states, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.”
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 179 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. A Thankful Servant Part 1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 179 of our Trek, and yesterday we climbed the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-178/ (five steps to a Thankful Thanksgiving). Today and for the next two days, we will look at the Psalm of Thanksgiving, Psalm 100. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journa)l.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is a special day in the United States, one of the most special days of all year. It is Thanksgiving Day. This is a day to watch parades, enjoy a delicious meal, fellowship with our family and friends, and watch football or other fun activities.
As a Christ follower, it is also a day when we give thanks to God from whom all blessing flow. On our Trek today and the next two days, let us learn to become a thankful servant as we look closely at the Psalm of Thanksgiving, which is Psalms 100.
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A Thankful Servant Part 1 We all love to hear the story of the Pilgrims. In 1620, a ship full of 102 religious refugees and 30 crew members, set sail for Virginia. The Christians longed to build a community to the greater glory of God. But, having been blown off course, they landed on Cape Cod.
Coming ashore at Plymouth Rock they established a settlement and prepared as best they could for their first winter. Short on supplies and even with the aid of native Indians, just half the Pilgrims survived the bitter freeze. Only three couples that began their voyage together were spared the ravages of death in their family.
In the light of such bitter hardship and disappointment, what would be their disposition towards life and God? After all, they came to America precisely because they were convinced it was God’s will. They wanted to worship God without the interference of the state and to get their children away from the worldliness of Europe. But, rather than feeling sorry for themselves in the face of loss and succumbing to cynicism or fleeing back to Europe, they celebrated what has become known as the ideal American holiday, Thanksgiving. This simple act of faith is one of the most tenacious expressions of true spirituality in our history!
The observance of Thanksgiving comes directly out of the Old Testament tradition of Feast Days. A thank offering was prescribed in the Law of Moses as a special burnt offering for deliverance granted or blessings received. In the Old Testament we have a beautiful expression of thanksgiving that serves as a window into which we will peer to see the spirit of true, thankful worship of God.
Psalms 100 is the only Psalm entitled, “A Psalm of Thanksgiving.” The Psalm is written from the perspective of a worshipper who has come to the temple in order to present their thank offering. Psalm 100 is the pinnacle of praise in a series of Psalms that exalts the Covenant Lord of Israel as the great king of all the earth.
Imagine yourself back in Old Testament days coming to the temple, with your family to offer your thank offering. You enter into the outer court of the temple, and in front of you is the brazen altar. You feel the radiant heat from its fire and smell the savory aroma of its sacrifices. As you present your gift to the priest, he asks you, “What has God done for you for which you are thankful?” On this Thanksgiving, what are the reasons for which you have come to praise God?...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 178 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 5 Steps to a Thankful Thanksgiving Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 178 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-177/ (Thanksgiving through the Bible) as we focused on some key verses. Today we want to climb the five steps to a thankful Thanksgiving. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. With our client workload a little less this week, it is our hope to start putting some structure into our plans going into 2016. We see several areas of opportunity but want to make sure to focus on the wise opportunities for this season of life. As with many of the decisions that we make in our lives, it is not the choice between a good or bad option. Those are clear, but it is choosing the wisest option among several possible good options. The more you focus on making wise choices, the more you will realize just how very important it is.
Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, and as such, we have been focusing on Thanksgiving all week. We have learned much through these nuggets of wisdom and thankfulness, so today we want to climb the 5 steps to have a thankful Thanksgiving.
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5 Steps to a Thankful Thanksgiving If your home is like most, your Thanksgiving Day will be very busy, with either traveling to where you want to go or preparing your home to have others over for the day. Either way, that can be very hectic and emotionally trying, which doesn’t lend itself to preparing your heart to be reflective and thankful.
This means all the more that if we want to be the kind of people who are characterized by thankfulness, then we must make sure that we focus on it, not just on Thanksgiving Day but at all times during the year.
Here are a few key steps as well as some thoughts that are simple and practical to apply that you can use right away in your quest to become more thankful.
- Time Set aside time regularly to be quiet and to reflect. We live in the fastest paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we have the opportunity to go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule time every day during which we can be quiet and reflect, we will free our hearts and minds up from the tyranny of the urgent and rushed.
Psalms 119:15, “I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.”
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- Thought Give thought to the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, most of us are fully aware of what we do not have and how we absolutely must have “it.” But how often do we reflect upon that which we already have? Take some time each day and think of one or two things that you have that you may typically take for granted, and then take a moment and give thanks for those.
Psalms 85:12, “Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.”
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- Generosity Be generous toward those with less and not envious of those with more. We tend to look at others who may be wealthier than ourselves and think, “I sure wish I had what he does.” That kind...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 177 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 4 Essentials of Thanksgiving Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 177 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored the concept of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-176/ (“Thanksgiving or Thanks-living, What Is the Difference?”) Today we will explore the four essentials of Thanksgiving. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/350px-TraditionalThanksgiving.jpg ()Thanksgiving Essentials We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We drove up to Marietta late on Friday, and after sleeping in a bit on Saturday, we were able to spend the remainder of the day on the leaf harvest. It was a cool but sunny day, so it was a perfect day to be outside. Fortunately, Paula and I were able to pick up all of the leaves that were remaining on the property. My brother Jack had already picked up the leaves on his property which is all connected, so that enabled us to complete our task just as it was getting too dark to see clearly. It also started to rain just as I was parking the mower for the night. Even Paula’s mom who is 82 helped out with the blower, getting the leaves away from the house so I could pick them up with the mower and vacuum.
After I clean out the gutters and blow off the roofs next weekend, I will quickly run over the lawn once more to pick up any remaining leaves. It feels good to have the leaf harvest nearly completed for another year. We are thankful for the good health to be very active as well as the beauty that the trees bring to our property.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/File-Nov-23-4-51-31-PM.jpeg ()Leaf Harvest at The Big House It is a cool week in Marietta with temperatures in the 30’s, and it is nice to be able to work indoors as I am able to enjoy the view from our 2nd story office with large windows overlooking the property. We are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving later this week with two of our children and five of our six grandchildren along with a niece, her husband, and their two young children. We have many blessings and so much to be grateful for.
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It is time to head out on our Trek for today, and as we hike through each day, our focus and thoughts turn to the various aspects of Thanksgiving. As such, I thought that it would be appropriate to reflect on.
4 Essentials of Thanksgiving As we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States this Thursday, I began to wonder what the Bible says about “Thanksgiving.” Thankfulness plays an important part in the Scripture. In fact, some form of thanks is mentioned over 150 times. I knew that the Bible references thankfulness often, but I was curious about the specifics. Let’s explore a few of the many aspects of Thanksgiving found in scripture.
- Good Deeds Produce Thanksgiving Jesus died upon the cross to purify for Himself, a group of people zealous for good deeds as listed in Titus 2:14, “He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”
As Jesus’s people, we work diligently in our Lord’s kingdom to do the good works God prepared beforehand as written in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
As we do the Lord’s work, we affect the lives of...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 176 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Thanksgiving or Thanks-Living? Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 176 of our Trek, and yesterday we shared additional details about https://wisdom-trek.com/day-175/ (the Blessings of the First Thanksgiving). Today we want to explore the concept of Thanksgiving or Thanks-living to determine what the difference is. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode will air on Monday, and we are rapidly coming up on Thanksgiving this week. We still have much work and preparations that need to be completed before Thursday, but it is always such a special time of year. We have so much to be thankful for. We are thankful that we can once again celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends at The Big House. God has been gracious to allow us to be caretakers of this family heritage, and we are pleased that it can be shared by so many.
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It is time to head out on our Trek for today. As we hike, we have time to remember all the blessings in our own lives, and we want to consider these two questions:
Do our lives only show thankfulness and gratitude during special times or seasons?
Do our lives reveal that thankfulness and gratitude are part of the very fabric of who we are?
Thanksgiving or Thanks-living Our speech is a great revealer of what is in our hearts. It is from the abundance of the heart or mind that the mouth speaks. Jesus put it in these terms in http://www.blb.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Matt.+12.33-37&t=NKJV (Matthew 12:33-37), “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
You may be able to fake it for a while, but sooner or later what is in your heart or mind will come out when you speak.Tweet This Jesus said again in Matthew 15:8, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” We can say we are thankful, but our attitude and action will give us away. To quote Jesus for a third time in Matthew 12:37 he says, “The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” If we are truly thankful in our hearts, it will be reflected in how we live. Our Thanksgiving will become thanks-living.
Thanks-living is about attitude. Zig Ziglar is quoted saying, “Attitude determines your altitude.” I believe that is true in our spiritual and natural life. I know some gifted and talented people who seem to stay perpetually grounded and go nowhere simply because they have rotten attitudes.
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The Bible is full of people who lived a life of thanks-living. This attitude helped David endure years on the run, sleeping in caves and the wilderness, while being hunted like an animal to be slaughtered by Saul. Instead of becoming a victim or an old sour puss, David allowed God to use all this to make him into one of the greatest kings to ever walk...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 175 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The First Thanksgiving Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 175 of our Trek, and yesterday we located the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-174/ (7-mile markers to boost your gratitude). Today I will share additional details around the Blessings of the First Thanksgiving. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode is being released the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and if things go according to our plan, we should have most of the leaves harvested. I will update you with those details once it is accomplished.
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The sinusitis or cold that I have been battling for over a week now is finally starting to wane although it has really zapped my energy this week, which is unusual. I spoke with my brother Jack today, and his family has had the same type of cold. He also mentioned that it has really drained him of energy also. It is good to know that soon I will be back to normal, or at least normal for me.
It is time to head out on our trek for today. As we hike, it is a time to remember all the blessings in our own lives and discover how the first Thanksgiving Day was established. I will share this story with you so that we can remember it, gain wisdom from it, and apply it to creating our living legacy. Our story today is…
Remember the Blessings of the First Thanksgiving This week Americans across the country will sit down and devour their turkey dinner with all the trimmings, including pumpkin pie. Some will bow their heads and say a humble “thank you” to God for their blessings of the year while others will just dive in and eat. Regardless of your family’s practice, most people agree that this is one of our country’s most popular and enjoyable holidays. But how many of us talk about the history of this particular holiday that makes it so unique? Let’s do that right now!
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Thanksgiving is our oldest national holiday and is the only holiday in the United States decreed by a joint resolution of both houses of Congress and yearly proclamations by our presidents. Each proclamation has expressed gratitude to God, making Thanksgiving the only holiday of a religious nature that seems to be politically correct today. Thanksgiving is a holiday that can be celebrated without religious reservation by Jews, Christians (Roman Catholics and Protestants of all denominations), Muslims, or, for that matter, followers of any religion practiced in the United States. While a few other countries have similar celebrations, Thanksgiving as we know it is a holiday observed only in the United States. It truly is unique.
Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to give thanks to our creator for His bountiful provisions.Tweet This From our earliest days in school, we have heard the story of that first Thanksgiving. Having arrived in the United States after a very difficult sea voyage that took much longer than expected, a group of 102 people (44 men and 58 women and children) made their way to shore. It was on Dec. 21, 1620, and the bitter cold of winter had already set in.
They took shelter for the winter in a makeshift building that the men had gone ashore and built during the previous weeks. They had intended to land in Jamestown, VA, where friends...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 174 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 7 Ways to Boost Your Gratitude Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 174 of our Trek, and yesterday we hiked on the trails of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-173/ (unleashing gratitude in your life). Today as we hike on our trail, we will search for the 7-mile markers to boost your gratitude. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. By the time this episode is released, we will be back at The Big House for a couple of weeks. In addition to a smaller family Thanksgiving celebration, we will be headlong in the leaf harvest. Most of the leaves have fallen, and the ground is covered quite thick with leaves. With about three acres of open area to collect from, that is a lot of leaves. On Wednesday this past week, we were able to spend an evening out with my sister Rebecca, which is one of the monthly blessings that I look forward to as we always enjoy the time reminiscing and sharing God’s blessings in our lives. Rebecca is a marvelous piano player, and as I approached her door to let her know we had arrived, the beautiful playing of the old hymn “Count Your Blessings” was flowing from her fingertips. One of the best ways to boost your gratitude is to count your blessings and name them one by one. It is then you will see that your life is full.
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So let’s get started on our trek in our exploration for the…
7 Mile Markers to Boost Your Gratitude It is the season to be grateful. After all, the dictionary defines the word “thanksgiving” as “the expression of gratitude.”
Gratitude refers to feeling thankfulness and appreciation for people, places, and events. An attitude of gratitude can really change your life. As Willie Nelson once said, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.Tweet This How do you boost your attitude of gratitude? Okay, I will admit, there are times when we just don’t feel very thankful. Sometimes life deals us a bad hand, which may be completely out of our control. But how we play that hand is what counts. Let’s hike our trail today and look for the seven mile markers to help you boost your gratitude. I will let you in on a little secret here…Most of these take very little time and absolutely no money! I want to challenge you to make a point to try any one (or more) of these today to improve your attitude of gratitude.
- Say thank you more frequently. Thank everyone around you, from the people who serve you or those who simply exist in your life. No need to wait until someone does something huge for you. Just the mere fact that your spouse or friend is in your life can warrant a “thank you.”
More than just saying it, it is also important that you really feel it. President John F. Kennedy put it this way, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”
We focus so much on saying “thank you,” in our society (especially with children) that sometimes we don’t make the connection between the words and the genuine, heartfelt gratitude they should convey. Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful reminder for all of us to take some time to thank the people in our lives for all those intangible gifts they...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 173 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 4 Steps to Unleash Gratitude in Your Life Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 173 of our Trek, and yesterday we hiked on the trails of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-172/ (gratitude and thanksgiving through a series of inspirational stories for our trek of life). Today and for the next week, we will continue this hike on the trails of gratitude and thanksgiving. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we continue our focus on the season of Thanksgiving, regardless of how difficult life may or may not have been during this past year, each of us has much to be thankful for. The best way to maintain an attitude of gratitude is to make a gratitude list and review it daily to focus on those blessings that we have each day. It’s the best way to start each day.
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On today’s trek, we want to head down memory lane and learn how to…
Unleash Gratitude in Your Life! I have many wonderful memories of Thanksgiving on the Farm. Mom always prepared a huge turkey with all the trimmings and side dishes. I have continued that tradition with hosting family Thanksgivings at The Big House for many years. During my trek of life, I had a mom who loved us and taught all 10 of us to cook. I especially enjoyed the times in the kitchen that we spent together as she taught me the love of cooking. One of my favorite memories is mom and I making fruit cakes. It was one baking event that just mom and I did together.
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It’s been over 16 years since mom lost her battle with cancer, but I am so thankful for the 68 years of life that she was granted. She lived life to the fullest. While it would be wonderful if she were still with us to impact our lives and the lives of her grandchildren and now great-grandchildren, in a very real way she is through the impact that we can make each day. All who knew and loved her are reminded and thankful for all the great moments they shared. The laughter, the lessons, and the wisdom that she shared with me is invaluable. What I have learned is that she is not in my past but in my future. I celebrate her life and blessing of mentorship that she shared.
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During this next week in the United States, everybody is getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy spending time with my family, sitting around the table and enjoying good food and the incredible opportunity to express gratitude for all the many blessings in my life. Thanksgiving is not something that should be restricted to a day, though. Thanksgiving is a lifestyle that anybody can cultivate. Gratitude is one of my favorite things in the whole world. Here are a few lessons on how you can unleash gratitude in your life.
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- Gratitude is one of the most important habits you can ever develop. As a business person, church leader, gramps, dad, and husband, I have been privileged to influence and encourage many throughout the world to have a greater impact on their world. Many people wonder and desire to learn how to be happy and successful. However, many don’t...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 172 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 3 Trails of Gratitude Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 172 of our Trek. Yesterday we asked the question, https://wisdom-trek.com/day-171/ (“Are you affecting or infecting others that you impact?”) Starting today and for the next week, we will hike on the trails of gratitude and thanksgiving through a series of inspirational stories for our trek of life. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. While I enjoy all seasons of the year, fall seems to be extra special for me. It may be from growing up on an apple orchard when we would pick apples and make fresh apple cider and apple butter in the huge copper pot over an open fire. It may also be that the crisp fall air carries with it a fresh relief after the hot and humid days of summer.
Growing up in a family of 10 children with loving parents, for me fall also meant a huge Thanksgiving feast and then on to Christmas. Both holidays hold a very special meaning for me. As we trek through life, let us always be thankful for the bountiful blessings that we have. Let us also remember the birth of Christ who provides us with a rich and satisfying life on earth and eternal life.
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Even if you do not live in the United States, where we celebrate Thanksgiving in November, take this time to share in our celebration of thanks and gratitude.
Let’s hike three trails of gratitude today, which we will title…
Gratitude Stories With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the following gratitude stories might be helpful to you. They all fall under the theme of 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Of course, this verse doesn’t mean that everything that happens to us is God’s will. It’s not God’s will that we lose our jobs or get a diagnosis of cancer, or that our children make poor choices. What this verse does say is that it’s God’s will for us to be thankful people in all circumstances, even in hard times — especially in hard times.
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Consider these three trails.
- Robinson Crusoe When Robinson Crusoe was wrecked on his lonely island, he drew two columns and listed the good and bad of his situation. He was cast on a desolate island, but he was still alive. He was divided from humanity, but he was not starving. He had no clothes, but he was in a warm climate and didn’t need them. He had no means of defense but saw no wild beasts which threatened him. He had no one to talk to, but the destroyed ship was near the shore and he could get out of it all the things necessary for his basic survival. He concluded, therefore, that no condition in the world was so miserable that one could not find something to be grateful for.
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- John Claypool, Part 1 When the late John Claypool lost his ten-year-old daughter to leukemia, gratitude was the only way he survived. He tells about that experience in his profound book, Tracks of a Fellow Struggler. After his daughter’s death, John...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 171 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Do You Affect or Infect Others? Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 171 of our Trek, and yesterday we finished exploring the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-170/ (5 trails needed to get over yourself so you can trek on in life). Today we will ask the question, “Are you affecting or infecting others that you impact?” If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our workload continues briskly, but we continue on our trek, one step at a time. If we do not stop, I know we will reach our destination. My voice is starting to get a bit stronger, but I hope my raspy voice has not been too distracting this past week. It has been years since I have had any type of sinusitis or cold like has hit me pretty hard this past week. I am on the back side of it now, though, so hopefully my voice will improve each day.
Do You Affect or Infect Others? Words, words, words! In my opinion, when we talk about the connection between attitude and behavior, there are two words that come to mind, “affect” and “infect.” My first reaction is to think of “affect” as a positive verb and “infect” as a negative verb, but I guess they can be both.
According to http://www.dictionary.com (www.dictionary.com):
af•fect – verb (used with object) – 1. to act on; produce an effect or change in; 2. to impress the mind or move the feelings of; 3. (of pain, disease, etc.) to attack or lay hold of.
in•fect – verb (used with object) – 1. to affect or contaminate (a person, organ, wound, etc.) with disease-producing germs; 3. to taint or contaminate with something that affects quality, character, or condition unfavorably; 4. to corrupt or affect morally; 5. to imbue with some pernicious belief, opinion, etc.
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I love this quote attributed to, Eleanor Roosevelt, “Every one of us every day has choices to make about the kind of person we are and what we wish to become. You can decide to be someone who brings people together, or you can fall prey to those who wish to divide us. You can be someone who educates yourself, or you can believe that being negative is clever and being cynical is fashionable. You have a choice.”
How true…Which one are you? What would your family, friends, and/or work colleagues say about you?
If you have listened to many episodes of Wisdom-Trek or read the daily journals, you’ve heard me say over and over, “Attitude is a choice!” It’s a split second choice, 24/7/365!
We have the power to affect or infect our own lives, a situation, our relationships, and our workplaces in a positive or negative way every day.Tweet This As we begin winding down yet another year of ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies, let’s take a few moments to be thankful for all the good in our lives rather than focusing on the negative.
By making a conscious choice to be a “power surge” rather than a “power drain,” we can open ourselves to have a positive “affect” (influence) on ourselves and others regardless of the conditions around us. We can even “infect” our world in a positive way – spread the positive attitude virus, look for the good, and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 170 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 5 Trails to Hike to Get Over Yourself #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 170 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-169/ (trails 1-3 of the 5 trails needed to get over yourself) so you can trek on in life. Today we will complete trails 4 and 5. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journa)l.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2-mile-long-easy-hiking.jpg ()5 Trails to Get Over Yourself We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a relaxing, but productive weekend, the work week is full with activities that we need to wrap up before heading back to Marietta at the end of this week. Leaf harvest will keep us busy for a few days when we return to the Big House. We will remain in Marietta through the 1st week of December. The days, months, and years are rapidly passing us by. I have to continually remind myself to slow down and enjoy the journey.
5 Trails Hiked to Getting Over Yourself So You Can Trek On With Your Life Let’s review the introduction from yesterday’s exploration of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-169/ (trails 1 -3) to refresh your memory. If you did not trek with us yesterday, please listen to Day 169 before proceeding with us today so that you will experience the entire trek that we are taking.
Have you ever noticed that life just happens? It just does. And yet we spend so much time trying to control what happens in our lives, micro-managing how it happens and then telling everyone else what they should do to control and manage their lives that often we miss the point of what we are actually experiencing in ours.
The question is why do we expend so much energy trying to control things we really have no control over. At the end of the day, isn’t it just exhausting?
The question is why do we expend so much energy trying to control things we really have no control over.Tweet This Life is actually quite simple. We have two choices in any given situation, circumstance, or event. We can be a victim and believe that things are happening to us, that we have no control over our situation, and blame others for the injury we have suffered. Or, we can start taking responsibility for our own lives, our own thoughts, our own words, and our own actions and decide that regardless of the injury, we are going to choose to live life on our own terms, powerfully.
In our society, we are supported, encouraged, and even rewarded for being victims. And yet, does being a victim ever feel good? Not usually. Being a victim tends to make us feel weak, vulnerable, and powerless. And these feelings in turn can lead to depression, frustration, and uncertainty.
The difference between taking responsibility for ourselves when life throws us a curve ball versus being a victim of a situation is that we become far better equipped spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and many times even physically. We stop allowing energy vampires to suck the life out of us, and rather than feeling powerless, depressed, and frustrated, we are able to experience our situation as an opportunity to test our superpowers of strength, positivity, clarity, and focus.
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If you are sick and tired of feeling frustrated, drained, like you just can’t get a break, and are ready to get over yourself and on with your life, here are a few guidelines for living life on your own terms.
Yesterday we hiked the first three trails which were:
- Stop...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 169 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 5 Trails to Hike to Get Over Yourself #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 169 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-168/ (verses 15-23 of Proverbs Chapter 5). Today we are heading back out to the trails as we look for the 5 trails to getting over yourself so we can trek on in life. We will hike on trails 1-3 today. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/rock-cut-state-park-5-best-day-hikes-near-chicago-600x450.jpg ()5 Trails to Hike We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Last week seemed to zip by too quickly, but we did have a great time with Kip on Saturday picking out materials for his quilt that Granny will be making for him. On Sunday, we had a good time of fellowship and worship at our local church. This is the first time we have been in Charlotte for the weekend for nearly two months, so it was a great time to be back.
5 Trails Hiked to Getting Over Yourself So You Can Trek On With Your Life Have you ever noticed that life just happens? It just does. And yet we spend so much time trying to control what happens in our lives, micro-managing how it happens, and then telling everyone else what they should do to control and manage their lives that we often miss the point of what we are actually experiencing in ours.
The question is why do we expend so much energy trying to control things we really have no control over. At the end of the day, isn’t it just exhausting?
Life is actually quite simple. We have two choices in any given situation, circumstance, or event. We can be a victim and believe that things are happening to us that we have no control over our situation and blame others for the injury we have suffered. Or, we can start taking responsibility for our own lives, our own thoughts, our own words, and our own actions and decide that regardless of the injury, we are going to choose to live life on our own terms, powerfully.
In our society, we are supported, encouraged, and even rewarded for being victims. And yet, does being a victim ever feel good? Not usually. Being a victim tends to make us feel weak, vulnerable, and powerless. And these feelings in turn can lead to depression, frustration, and uncertainty.
Being a victim tends to make us feel weak, vulnerable, and powerless.Tweet This The difference between taking responsibility for ourselves when life throws us a curve ball versus being a victim of a situation is that we become far better equipped spiritually, mentally, emotionally and many times even physically. We stop allowing energy vampires to suck the life out of us, and rather than feeling powerless, depressed, and frustrated, we are able to experience our situation as an opportunity to test our superpowers of strength, positivity, clarity, and focus.
If you are sick and tired of feeling frustrated, drained, like you just can’t get a break, and are ready to get over yourself and on with your life, here are a few guidelines for living life on your own terms.
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- Stop blaming everyone else. Seriously, stop it. Stop giving your power away and blaming others for what is, or is not, happening in your life. Your life is not anybody else’s fault, and people are not doing anything to you. This reminds me of the old Bob Newhart episode clip where his diagnoses for all his patient issues was “Stop It.” You can view the clip...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 168 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs [5:15]-23 Making Wise Choices #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 168 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-167/ (verses 7-14 of Proverbs chapter 5). We will remain at camp for today as we finish up the 5th chapter of Proverbs before heading back out on the trails. If you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the daily journal.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This past week has been a productive week for us, and we accomplished a significant amount of work. I have been struggling somewhat with either severe allergies or a cold, which probably has been evident in the quality of my voice on our daily trek’s this week. I trust that this has not been too distracting and that the lessons we are learning are still effective.
This episode is being released on Sunday this week. Paula and I plan to take our grandson Kip with us on Saturday to Mary Jo’s, which is a fabric outlet in Gastonia, North Carolina. Granny wants Kip to help her select the materials that she will use for his planned quilt that she will be making. I also enjoy spending the time with Paula and helping her decide on material selection for her on-going quilt projects. She is very talented with quilting and cross stitch.
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For today, though, we want to spend one more day around our campfire as we explore the remaining verses in Proverbs Chapter 5. Just like a campfire can be extremely enjoyable when it is kept within the confines of its designated parameters, so the physical relationship between a husband and wife will bring much joy and pleasure when it is kept within the boundaries set out by God in His Word. The Bible is so full of practical wisdom for life, especially in the book of Proverbs. This includes what makes for a proper and fulfilling physical relationship within a marriage. I realize that not everyone has been as fortunate within a marriage relationship as Paula and I have for over 36 years now, but it is never too late to make a new beginning.
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Let’s look at what Solomon recommends to his sons when it comes to the proper physical relationship between a husband and wife. For today’s Trek, we will explore verses 15-23 of the 5th chapter of Proverbs. I trust that some of the candid language used in this passage will be taken in the light that it was written and not tainted by any secular views. There is nothing more pure or holy than the appropriate physical relationship between a husband and wife within the boundary of marriage. Let us start with verses 15-17.
15 Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. 16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? 17 You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.
Here Solomon uses the analogy of the physical relationship in marriage and compares it to water. In dry countries, which is the setting for which the book of Proverbs was written, water is valuable. Clean water is very precious. You should not waste water. It should not flow into the streets. It should not pour out, into the town. Your family and your animals should drink it. You should water your crops. Use it wisely!
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Think about your own life in the same way. You should use your strength wisely. If you follow your base physical and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 167 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs 5:7-14 Making Wise Choices #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 167 of our Trek, and yesterday explored the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-166/ (first six verses of Proverbs Chapter 5). We will remain at camp for a couple more days as we explore the remaining verses of Proverbs Chapter 5. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the daily journal.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we sojourn through each day of life, it is good to take time each day and reflect on all the blessings we have in our lives. Even if you are going through a difficult time, there are still many things in life that you can be thankful for. One way that I keep this focus is every morning when I get up, the first thing that I do is to read and pray through a list of items for which I am thankful. As new items come to mind, I add them to my list, and any items that may no longer be relevant I remove. Starting each day with my gratitude list helps to set the tone for my entire day.
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As I mentioned yesterday, I have discovered that as we sit around the campfire and the night wears on, the stories shared become more personal in nature. Today we will dig for more of these personal wisdom nuggets found in Proverbs Chapter 5. Solomon continues to warn his children with strong words about the dangers of stepping outside of God’s precepts for marriage and relationships. While this passage cautions about an inappropriate sexual relationship, it can also be applied to others areas of life when we choose to ignore the guidelines that are set out in Scripture. While we may not fully understand all the reasons, principles, and precepts that God has established in His Word, by faith we can trust that it is because of God’s love for us that he has established these boundaries in our lives.
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The next few chapters of Proverbs deal with some of the weaknesses we have as humans, and since God chose to leave them in His love letter to us, we will cover them as well as we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are contained in the verses.
Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have struggled with keeping God’s commands, especially when it comes to appropriate physical relationships, but it also applies to all relationships that we have. Sometimes we may think it is more than we can handle, but Paul addressed this in his 1st letter to the church in Corinth in Chapter 10 verse 13 where he wrote, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
Of course, it is up to us to choose the steps that lead up to that temptation. Just like the campfire that burns brightly before us at our camp, the closer we get to the fire and the more we play with the burning wood, we will likely get burnt by the very embers that we are playing with.
The overall subject in Proverbs Chapter 5 is avoiding immoral women although the same principle applies in avoiding immoral men also. If you missed https://wisdom-trek.com/day-166/ (yesterday’s Wisdom-Trek), it would be best if you listened to it first so that you will be familiar with the story before today’s passage.
Let’s continue and look at verses 7-14.
7 So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say: 8 Stay away
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 166 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs 5:1-6 Making Wise Choices #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 166 of our Trek, and yesterday we finished our exploration of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-165/ (Proverbs 4). We will remain at camp for a few more days as we explore Proverbs chapter 5. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is good to be back to somewhat of a routine this week. Being a disciplined person, I tend to like a structured schedule that allows me to get up at the same time each day for exercise and meditation. I find that I am able to accomplish much more when my schedule is set. I have been recording the Wisdom-Trek podcast early in the morning over the past few weeks, which seems to be working out well in my schedule as well. If I sound a bit raspy this week, it is due to allergies or a cold that seemed to flare up after returning from the cruise. It appears to be clearing up, so hopefully I will be over it soon.
In my hiking experiences, I have discovered that as the night wears on and we’re sitting around the campfire the stories shared become more personal in nature. So it is with the Bible, and especially in Proverbs. God does not sugar coat the subject discussed. Woven within scriptures we see the good, the bad, and the ugly of people’s lives. Even with all of the advances in information, technology, and medicine, people and societies have not changed all that much over the millenniums of human existence.
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The next few chapters of Proverbs deal with some of the weaknesses we have as humans, and since God chose to leave them in His love letter to us, we will cover them as well as we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are contained in the verses.
Just as the smoke from the campfire can drift into our eyes, temporarily blinding us and making our lives uncomfortable, there are times when we are blinded by desires and temptations in our lives which end up making our lives very uncomfortable. The question for today is “Do you stay in the same place allowing the smoke to continue to blind you, or will you take action and make the needed changes to avoid smoke getting in your eyes?” By God’s grace, regardless of past situations, we do not need to remain in the smoke.
The overall subject in Proverb chapter 5 is avoiding immoral women although the same principle applies in avoiding immoral men also.
As with part of the previous chapter, we see that chapter 5 is a poem. The poem has two subjects:
A married woman tempts a man who is not her husband.
Evil practices are like this woman because sometimes these things attract us. But evil practices offend God. We must obey God, and refuse to continue those evil practices or habits.
Solomon discusses both subjects at the same time. This is similar to Proverbs [2:16]-19. The actions of the woman show us how evil ideas can attract us.
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel. 2 Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
Solomon begins his lesson in the usual way. He reminds us why we need wisdom and knowledge. With wisdom and knowledge, we can avoid danger like what is described in the following verses.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil.
A married woman attracts a young man. She seems so beautiful. When he kisses her, her lips seem
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 165 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs [4:18]-27 Wisdom Provides Light Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 165 of our Trek, and yesterday we reviewed https://wisdom-trek.com/day-164/ (verses 10-17 of the 4th chapter of Proverbs). Today we are going to remain at camp and finish our exploration of Proverbs 4. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a joy to have our grandson Kip over for the day. At 3 1/2 he is very inquisitive, full of detailed conversations, and loves to listen to Gramp’s Wisdom-Treks on his way to pre-school each morning. What are you teaching your children or grandchildren? Are you guiding them on the path of wisdom?
As with our trek of life, we have many trails that we can take each day. We will remain in camp for today, and as we reflect around the campfire let’s continue our exploration of wisdom that is found in Proverbs chapter 4. Let these truths penetrate deep into our minds so that they will change the way we think, which will change the course of our lives. In doing so, we will be able to take the wise and correct trails each day.
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Proverbs [4:18]-27 Verses 18 and 19 are written in a short poem fashion and this is what they say:
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
This is a beautiful short poem. It contrasts a good man and an evil man. Sometimes people think that everyone is the same. Some people say that everyone is good. The Bible does not say this. The Bible says that we all have turned from God. We must turn back to him. Only God can make us good.
The good man has a good life. He does not yet know everything that God wants to teach him. He has not yet received all the gifts that God will give to him. His life is like a man who walks at dawn. At dawn, there is only a little light. But the light will soon become brighter. And soon the good man will know God better.
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Paul writes about this in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” Paul is writing about the time when he will see God in heaven.
The evil man has the opposite fate. He is like a man who hikes on a dark path. A trek during the dark of night is dangerous. A hiker cannot see in the darkness. Without any lights, the hiker will trip and fall. In the same way, the evil man is in great danger. He will suffer because of his evil behavior.
Many people, who are not Christians, want God in their lives. They know that they are in danger. They are like someone who travels at night. Christians should provide the light for them. We should share the light that God has given to us. God will help those who ask him. When these people first trust God, they will know little about God. In time, they will know more as they live God’s way. We won’t fully know God until we are in heaven. A path becomes brighter as the day begins. As they know more, they will trust God more.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 164 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs [4:10]-17 Life is Like a Journey for Wisdom Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 164 of our Trek, and yesterday we covered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-163/ (first nine verses of the 4th chapter in Proverbs). For the next few days, we are going to remain at camp as we continue to explore Proverbs 4. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The fall weather has set in with cooler temperatures. With being away for over a week, we have a substantial workload to complete but are very excited and grateful to be busy and have the ability to complete the work.
We also have the opportunity to watch our grandson Kip or Harold Guthrie Chamberlain, V, as he is off from his pre-school for Veteran’s Day and his parents have to work. The blessing of working from our homes is that we can include these special moments as part of our daily routine.
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For today, let’s gather back around the campfire as we continue our exploration for wisdom that is found in Proverbs Chapter 4. Take a moment right now and imagine that we are listening to the crackling of the burning wood of the campfire. If you listen closely, it sounds almost as if someone is whispering in your ear, and this is how the wisdom nuggets in the book of Proverbs are revealed to us. As we allow them to permeate our minds, they will provide insight, discernment, and understanding. This insight will help us on our daily trek through life, and as we digest these nuggets each day, they will help us to create our living legacy for life.
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Proverbs [4:10]-17 This passage returns to the idea that life is like a journey.
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.
If we plan our journeys wisely, then we are safer. We can avoid many dangers. In the same way, if we are wise, then our lives will be safer.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.
We shall not walk alone. Wisdom will be our guide and our guard. Remember that this whole book is about God’s wisdom! God protects us when we live our lives in his way. Jesus said in the good news according to Matthew 6:28-34, “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
God cares for us. He will provide what we need for each day. He will lead us to our home in heaven.
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The people who trust in God will become stronger. They will be so strong that they will be like the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 163 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs 4:1-9 Teaching Wisdom Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 163 of our Trek. Yesterday we discovered how https://wisdom-trek.com/day-162/ (Life is Like a Word Well Spoken), or in other words, we need to understand how important our words are every day. Today we are going to return to camp for a few days, sit around the campfire, and discuss the 4th chapter of Proverbs. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We have returned from the Podcasters Paradise cruise, and I have to say, it was one of the best and most valuable conferences that we have ever attended. The small group of podcasters and the high caliber speakers along with the cruise venue really made it a great week. We made new friends, and we have returned with a renewed vigor to make Wisdom-Trek even more impactful and have solidified plans for our next step within the podcasting community. I will be announcing those plans over the next few weeks as we begin to finalize some of the details. Keep listening each day for additional details.
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After such a busy trek over this past 10 days where we compared life to various topics, we will remain at camp for the next few days as we dig for more wisdom nuggets that are contained in the book of Proverbs chapter 4. Regardless of your spiritual persuasion, the book of Proverbs contains such great nuggets of wisdom that they can be applied to everyone’s life. As we sit around the campfire today, we drink in the crisp fall air and the smell of the burning wood, which sets the environment for reflection and contemplation. It is absolutely necessary that we take time in our lives, even on a daily basis, for reflection and contemplation. These are the times when we become creative and energized to make an impact on the lives of others.
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Proverbs 4:1-9 As we start digging into the 4th chapter of Proverbs, it is important to know that the first 9 verses of this chapter in the original Hebrew language were in the form of a poem. This poem is not just about Solomon’s family. It is about all families. As parents, we are responsible for teaching our children. Even as grandparents, we can have a significant impact on our grandchildren. This is training that needs to be passed down through each generation. As your children and grandchildren grow older, they are responsible for their own children.
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Solomon’s family was Israel’s royal family. In the poem, the father does not teach about being a king or royalty. He does not speak about wealth and money. He does not explain how to lead the nation. For this father, only one thing matters. His children must learn wisdom.
We can teach our children about many things. We must not forget to teach them wisdom. This is the most important lesson of all.
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Let’s start with verses 1 & 2.
1 My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, 2 for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.
The poem begins with commands to listen. The father will teach a valuable lesson to his children.
3 For I, too, was once my...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 162 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Like a Word Well Spoken Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 162 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why life is like a whirlwind. Today we are presenting our final short wisdom story for now, and tomorrow we will stay at camp and continue our https://wisdom-trek.com/day-163/ (commentary on the Book of Proverbs with Chapter 4). I hope that you have enjoyed these stories, and if you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode will be released on Monday when Paula, and I will be in Ft. Myers, Florida to visit Paula’s aunt for a few days. Tomorrow we will head back to Charlotte for about two weeks.
Today we will hike on the Word Well Spoken Trail where we will explore the power of our words.
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Today’s story is…
Life Is Like a Word Well Spoken We may not all be created equal in every attribute, but we all have several things in common.
So, what are these things?
Of course, Our Time… All of us have the same amount of seconds, minutes, and hours in a day to do with as we desire.
And there is Individual Power… We also have individual power although some may think not because they live in countries where they are ruled by a strict dictator or military government. But, even these people have power.
Can time and power combine in your words? The time you take and the power of your individual words – how you say them, what words you choose to use, and when to speak these words – make a difference. These words can be ones that ridicule, make fun, or chastise, or ones that encourage, praise, or demonstrate kindness, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
A Story Of Time and Power of Words I recall a story told to me about a man who used to commute to work daily on a train. Once disembarking the train, he always walked the short distance to his office building along with all the other throngs of people hurrying on their way to their work.
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Each morning, he passed an older man who was always at the same spot with a cup in hand hoping to get a bit of change from those who passed by. For most people, this person was someone to be ignored as if he didn’t exist, a person with whom they didn’t want to be bothered.
Invariably, though, this man would always say good morning to him and bid him have a good day. The stranger would smile back, say good morning and remain on station until all the commuters had gone on their way.
Occasionally, my friend would drop a dollar or two in his cup on his way by as he said hello.
This behavior went on for several years until one day, his last day on the job before retirement, the man stopped for a few moments to speak with the one whom some would consider a beggar.
He told the man that he would no longer be passing by because this was his last day on the job.
The man took his hand and shook it warmly saying that he had always looked forward to seeing his friend pass his way and not because he dropped a few dollars in his cup.
He said he would miss my friend because he was one of the few people out of thousands who passed him daily who ever said hello and was the only one who...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 161 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Like a Whirlwind Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 161 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at https://wisdom-trek.com/day-160/ (why life is like a mouse). Today and throughout this week, we will be presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is being released on Sunday, and Paula and I are in Ft. Myers, Florida, to visit Paula’s aunt for a few days. Beginning Tuesday I will start back focusing on each day’s podcast as we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/bfms_loverskey1.jpg ()Ft. Myers Florida Today we will hike on the Whirlwind Trail where we determine the importance of prioritizing the most important tasks each day.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/images-18.jpg ()The Trail of the Whirlwind Today’s story is…
Life Is Like a Whirlwind Run, run, run, and then run some more. It is so easy to be in a hurry today darting from one thing to another gaining little ground in any one thing. For a lot of us, our lives are a whirlwind of activity with household tasks, work, all of the messages on our latest technological device that seems to be attached to our hip, and piled up work to catch up on. It never seems to stop.
Determine your priorities and focus on them, Eileen McDargh.Tweet This In the past, you probably heard about establishing priorities and labeling these Priority A, B, and C where A is the most important and had to be done right away. It seems that most of us have forgotten this rule. However, recently, I watched a video online and was reacquainted with the absolute necessity of establishing priorities and not allowing oneself to become distracted by the myriad of information coming at us at full bore. The real challenge is to be able to control the extraneous demands coming to us demanding our attention.
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But, when it is all said and done, there are reasons to set priorities on a daily basis. If you do not, you will see yourself flitting like a hummingbird from flower to flower or a project or demand and on to the next without getting anything marked off the major to do list.
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An example of planning and prioritizing is found in Proverbs 24:27, “Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.”
If you haven’t set your daily priorities for quite some time, maybe a suggestion or two would be welcome.
The easiest and simplest of ways and still one of the most effective is to start to record your major priorities for the day on your calendar. This can be done on your iPad, iPhone, tablet, or any other electronic device, but some prefer to record it on a physical calendar with a pen. Whichever way works best for you, it is best to put it into place immediately. Some science seems to indicate that initially using a physical calendar and pen lets your brain understand the connection you are making, and it is this conscious connection that makes your note more effective.
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The real challenge comes next, and that is to remove...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 160 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Like a Mouse Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 160 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why https://wisdom-trek.com/day-159/ (life is like a storm). For the next three days, we are presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode is being released on Saturday as Paula and I are returning from our 7-day podcasting cruise. After we disembark, we will be traveling to Ft. Myer, Florida, to visit Paula’s aunt for a few days. This week while we are out at sea I will have a series of podcasts covering short stories about wisdom without a lot of additional commentary. Once we get back from the cruise, we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.
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Today we will hike on the Mouse Trail as we see that even the smallest act of kindness can have a huge impact.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Mouse-Tracks-in-Snow.jpg ()The Mouse Trail Today’s story is…
Life Is Like a Mouse There are times in http://www.wow4u.com/lifeq/index.html (life) when we don’t take action because we feel the act of http://www.wow4u.com/kindness/index.html (kindness) is too little or that it wouldn’t make a difference. However, sometimes the smallest gesture can make a huge impact on someone’s life.
There are many different ways we can show kindness to others, and it doesn't have to be in a big way.Tweet This The simplest of things may make the difference. A smile, a door being held open, a handwritten note, a kind word…The list can go on and on.
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I was recently reading some of Aesop’s fables and came across the story of The Lion and The Mouse. While this story has been around for a long time, it still has wisdom in its words. Below is the story.
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One day a Lion was asleep when a little Mouse began running up and down his back. This soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him and opened his big jaws to swallow him.
“Please don’t,” cried the little Mouse. “Forgive me this time, I shall never forget it. Who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?”
The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him that he lifted up his paw and let him go.
Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, he pulled with all his might, but the ropes were too strong. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him, and with his sharp little teeth gnawed away the ropes, setting the Lion free.
“You once laughed at me,” said the Mouse. You thought I was too little to do you a good turn. But see, you owe your life to a poor little mouse.”
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While you may think the story is far-fetched, the point I found in reading the story is not the size of the http://www.wow4u.com/action/index.html (action) that is important, but the difference that a small action made. Small acts of kindness http://www.wow4u.com/makingadifference/index.html (make a difference) in ways you may not realize!
Do you have...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 159 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Like a Storm Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 159 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why https://wisdom-trek.com/day-158/ (life is like money). Today and throughout this week, we will be presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is being released on Friday as Paula and I are on our 7-day podcasting cruise. This week while we are out at sea I have a series of podcasts covering short stories about wisdom without a lot of additional commentaries. Once we get back from the cruise, we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.
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Today we will hike on the Stormy Trail as we see that in every life a little, or a lot of rain will fall. Some of it may even be in the middle of very heavy storms.
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Today’s story is…
Life Is Like a Storm The day starts with the glory of the warming sunrise in the east as the mists of the night are slowly thrown back to their own beginnings. The silent warmth of the sun seeps slowly through the window as the birds are bouncing from branch to branch while high in the sky is seen the majestic eagle gliding smoothly on the updrafts created by the warming earth.
Does each day start with sunshine penetrating the deep of the night, and does your heart warm to the sights and sounds of nature around you? Does this sound too good to be true?
If your life is constantly full of sunshine where each day is transformed into beauty and each worldly gift is yours to use, then you are one of a few. To the rest of us, an idyllic world only exists in our fantasies. This is not to say, however, that we might not experience a day of warmth, sunshine, and beauty. It is only to say that within each life, rain must fall and this rain is in reality the pain, sorrow, disappointment, http://www.wow4u.com/rain/index.html (difficulties), and struggle of the true road of life.
Not too many years ago, I happened to meet a businessman who had started with nothing and was able to build a small fortune. It seemed that everything he touched turned to gold. It wasn’t really a gold-laden path he chose. It was more that he chose his ventures well and put in tremendous effort. He had a good life by most people’s standards; he also had a wonderful family and his son and daughter were the “apples” of his life. The children were blessed with a loving family, everything they needed, and were both moving along into fantastic careers of their own.
If you were to view the household from the viewpoint of a stranger looking in, their total life couldn’t have been better. But, within each life, there are struggles or turmoil unseen. In his case, while all appeared well, there was a looming family problem with his daughter. His daughter met a very controlling man who constantly mentally influenced her to the point she didn’t want anything to do with her family at all. She had moved in with him and the distance between her family grew further and further apart.
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Her father became more and more frustrated and hurt...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 158 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Like Money Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 158 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why https://wisdom-trek.com/day-157/ (life is like a triangle). Today and throughout this week, we will be presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is being released on Thursday as Paula and I are on our 7-day podcasting cruise. This week while we are out at sea, I have a series of podcasts covering short stories about wisdom without a lot of additional commentary. Once we get back from the cruise, we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.
Today we will hike on the Money Trail as we see that the value of life is not diminished regardless of its condition.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/download-3.jpe ()Today’s story is…
Life Is Like Money You probably wonder what life is like money relates to? It is not about having a significant amount of money, and it isn’t about having a great big bank account so you can do whatever you want either.
Value Beyond Crumpled And Wrinkled Instead, life is like money because, barring destroying it with fire, it always has value no matter how crumpled it is, how used it is, or if it is stained with coffee or magic marker or crayons used by a child thinking it is something to draw on.
Life is something like money in that you still have value no matter how many times you have been downtrodden or how often you have failed in your attempts to excel at a certain sport or how many times you have failed to succeed in starting a http://www.wow4u.com/success/index.html (successful) business.
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Who You Are Matters More The bright spot here is that your value does not come from what you have or what you own or how many homes you have around the world or any of these materialistic things. Your value is who you are not what you have.
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Value Behind Bars Even if someone is in prison for committing crimes against humanity, it does not lessen their value at all. To me, it doesn’t matter what criminal activity brings a person to prison. Instead, it is more about the value of the person within.
For a lot of prisoners, even when they are released, they wear the stigma of being a convict for the rest of their lives because they saw no value in themselves.
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Failure Does Not Diminish Value Many people who have failed often devalue themselves thinking that their failure demonstrated that they should never think of having more than they have had in the past. Unfortunately, these types of people do not learn the most valuable lesson there is and that is http://www.wow4u.com/failure/index.html (failures) are your best teacher.
The point is to learn from http://www.wow4u.com/mistakes/index.html (mistakes), take out what was done right, and then incorporate that planning and thinking into the next business or life event. I remember the story of a guy who started a small pre-cooked meal business hoping to move away from his current job that they loathed.
When this business did not produce the results he wanted, he just plain and simple gave up trying or even thinking of another business he could start that would move him to
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 157 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Like a Triangle Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 157 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why https://wisdom-trek.com/day-156/ (life is like a milk bottle). Today and throughout this week, we will be presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is being released on Wednesday as Paula and I are on our 7-day podcasting cruise. This week while we are out at sea, I have a series of podcasts covering short stories about wisdom without a lot of additional commentaries scheduled. Once we get back from the cruise, we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.
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Today we will hike on the Triangle Trail and see three bits of wisdom that will help us through each day of life.
Today’s story is…
Life Is Like a Triangle I like to spend time with and study older people whom I consider to be my wise mentors. My parents were wise in many areas of life, and my Granny and Gramps were considered as wise. I also study Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar to glean wisdom from them. All of these people faced challenges that we all face one way or the other. They have seen successes and many happy times throughout their lives, but they have also seen times of struggle and sorrow.
As I was preparing for today’s podcast, I settled on three nuggets of wisdom to share. I consider them an important triangle of practical wisdom for everyday life.
These nuggets have nothing to do with saving money or working hard, but these three important wisdom nuggets will provide the rich and satisfying life that we all seek to obtain.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/RPR.jpg () What are they? Well, here is what I would like to share with you today…
- Make each new day count by http://www.wow4u.com/helping/index.html (helping) someone or just making someone smile. Part of this personal philosophy is all about giving from within so that another person is happier for the fact that they spent time with you and know you. This strength to make someone happy comes from your own sense of well-being and happiness. So, to help someone or make them smile, you must have a sense of giving to others, which in turn is given back to you through their thanks or through their simple smile back to you. Life is not about receiving at all times; it is a combination of being thankful for what you have as blessings and sharing those blessings with others who need a little fraction of what you have. Luke 6:31 reminds us to, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”
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- Don’t dwell on life’s http://www.wow4u.com/trouble-quotes/index.html (troubles). Think of the good times. Everybody has troubles in life. No one is immune. But, troubles are no different than the bad weather in that bad weather affects everyone but passes sooner or later. When there is bad weather, the best thing to overcome its doom and gloom is to remember all the good weather you have experienced in the past and recall all those fun and enjoyable things that you did to appreciate the beauty of the day. For example, a simple walk in the park watching and listening to all the sounds and sights or an enjoyable...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 156 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Like a Milk Bottle Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 156 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why https://wisdom-trek.com/day-155/ (life is like a black dot). Today and throughout this next week, we will be presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is being released on Tuesday as Paula and I are on our 7-day podcasting cruise. This week while we are out at sea, I have a series of podcasts covering short stories about wisdom without a lot of additional commentaries. Once we get back from the cruise, we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.
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Today we will hike on the Milk Bottle Trail and see how our lives are shaped by the environment that we allow ourselves to be confined to.
Today’s story is…
Life Is Like a Milk Bottle My parents would always http://www.wow4u.com/encouragement-quotes/index.html (encourage) us to set goals and work hard to achieve them. They would tell us not to be a follower and not to set limits on what we could achieve. They truly believed that there were no limits and that you could achieve whatever you wanted.
There are no limits. You can achieve whatever you want.Tweet This
This reminds me of the following story about a radish and a milk bottle. It’s a story that I have never forgotten.
A Farmer’s Lesson In Life A farmer won a first prize at the country fair for his huge radish that was the exact shape and size of a quart milk bottle. Many were curious as to how the farmer was able to grow this radish that was the exact shape of a milk bottle.
Finally, one gentleman went up to the farmer and asked the question. The farmer replied, “It was easy. I got the seed growing and then I put it into the milk bottle. It had nowhere else to go.”
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You can use this story as an analogy to life. Our lives are shaped by the kind of surroundings we place ourselves in, the people that we allow to influence us, and the goals we give ourselves.
These Are Key Ingredients If we only dream and take no http://www.wow4u.com/action/index.html (action), then we get no further. But if we plan, set a goal, and take action then our life takes a different shape.
The important parts of http://www.wow4u.com/goals/index.html (goal setting) go way beyond just writing down a goal statement and thinking that somehow your goal will be reached.
To write a goal is only a minor part of the way forward. The rest of the elements of how to reach that goal must also be stated clearly and with a definite timeframe for each step.
This means that you must develop a detailed plan of action in which each action step is detailed on what you must do, when and how you must do it, and how much time it will take. If you do not make your plan detailed in this way and set specific target dates for completion, you will simply not be creating any expectation or urgency in your mind that helps keep you moving.
But what about the bumps along the path? Sometimes, even when you are following your action plan, you will run into a snag. Snags are not uncommon, and you should realize this before you even get started.
These snags, though, should be viewed only as little inconveniences; these...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 155 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Like a Black Dot Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 155 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at why https://wisdom-trek.com/day-154/ (life is like a bank account). Today and throughout this next week, we will be presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is being released on Monday as Paula and I are on our 7 day podcasting cruise. While we are out at sea this week, I will have a series of podcasts covering short stories about wisdom without a lot of additional commentary. Once we get back from the cruise, we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.
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Today we will hike on two similar trails, both dealing with how we view our world.
Today’s story is…
Life Is Like a Black Dot One day a professor entered his classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin.
The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over the papers.
To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions – just a black dot in the center of the paper. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the following, “I want you to write about what you see there.” The students, confused, got started on the inexplicable task.
At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams and started reading each one of them out loud in front of all the students.
All of them, with no exception, defined the black dot, trying to explain its position in the center of the sheet. After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor started to explain…
“I’m not going to grade you on this. I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot, and the same thing happens in our lives. However, we insist on focusing only on the black dot – the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relationship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend…The dark spots are very small when compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the ones that pollute our minds. Take your eyes away from the black dots in your lives. Enjoy each one of your blessings, each moment that life gives you. Be happy and live a life filled with love!”
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Ephesians 5:1-2, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
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Changing Our Vision There was a very wealthy man who was bothered by severe eye pain. He consulted many physicians and was being treated by several. He did not stop consulting a galaxy of medical experts. He consumed heavy loads of drugs and underwent hundreds of injections, but the ache persisted with more...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 154 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like a Bank Account Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 154 of our Trek. Yesterday we hiked the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-153/ (4 trails to destroy bad habits), and starting today and throughout this next week, we will be presenting a series of short wisdom stories. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is being released on Sunday as Paula and I are boarding the ship for our 7 day podcasting cruise. This week while we are out at sea I will have a series of podcasts covering short stories about wisdom without a lot of additional commentary. Once we get back from the cruise, we will remain at camp for a few days as we dive back into the commentary on the book of Proverbs.
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Today’s story is…
Life Is Like a Bank Account Imagine you have a bank account, and the bank deposits your account each morning with $86,400. This account carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every dollar to spend or invest, of course!
Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against “tomorrow.” Therefore, there is never not enough time or too much time. How we invest our time is decided by us alone and nobody else. It is always a choice that we make. It is never the case of us not having enough time to do things, but the case of whether we want to do it.
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You are personally responsible for being wise with the resources given to you each day, and the most precious of these resources is time. As long as you are alive the full day, every person on earth has the same amount of time to invest each day.
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You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success! The clock is running!! Make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who just missed a train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask someone who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal at the Olympics.
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Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 153 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 4 D’s That Will Destroy Bad Habits Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 153 of our Trek. Yesterday we explored the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-152/ (9 principles for a lasting legacy) and today we will hike the 4 trails to destroy bad habits. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the daily journal.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is releasing on Saturday as Paula and I are heading to Ft. Lauderdale in preparation for a 7 day podcasting cruise on Sunday. The week that we are out at sea I will have a series of podcasts covering short wisdom stories.
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Since we have 4 short trails to trek today, let’s get started right away by breaking camp and heading onto the trail. The trails today are very difficult, just like breaking bad habits is very difficult in our lives. When we start habits that are not good for us, we do not realize at the time or understand the inherent difficulty in changing old and persistent habits. But that does not mean that it is impossible.
The only way that habits begin to change is when we begin to change our perceptions. Most people are not successful in changing bad habits or addictions quickly. For most of us change comes as an evolutionary process of almost imperceptible changes. We just keep nudging ourselves in the right direction by forming one or two better habits. Changing habits permanently requires 4 distinct but interlocking steps. It is like the interlocking Lego blocks that connect to each other to build the steps to success. You must connect them together and in the proper order.
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The Four D’s to Break Bad Habits Emotions are the most powerful forces inside us. Under the power of emotions, human beings can perform the most heroic (as well as barbaric) acts. To a great degree, civilization itself can be defined as the intelligent channeling of human emotion. Emotions are fuel and the mind is the pilot, which together propel the ship of civilized progress.
There are four basic emotions or building blocks that can trigger the most incredible activity. The day that you channel these emotions to fuel your desire is the day you’ll turn your life around and overcome bad habits that are destroying you.
- Disgust with Yourself One does not usually equate the word “disgust” with positive action. And yet, properly channeled, disgust can change a person’s life. The person who feels disgusted has reached a point of no return. He or she is ready to throw down the gauntlet at life and say, “I’ve had it!”
Yes, productive feelings of disgust come when you say, “Enough is enough.”
You have had it with mediocrity. You have had it with those awful sick feelings of fear, pain and humiliation. You decide you are not going to live like this anymore. Call it what you will. It may be the “I’ve had it” day, the “never again” day, the “enough is enough” day…Whatever you call it, it’s powerful! There is nothing so life-changing as gut-wrenching disgust!
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- Decision Time – You Must Choose Most of us need to be pushed to the wall to make decisions. Once you reach this point, you have to deal with the conflicting emotions that come with making them. We have reached a fork in the trail....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 152 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 9 Principles for Creating a Legacy Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 152 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-151/ (7 steps for a successful life). Today we will continue on the same trail and look at 9 related principles for a lasting legacy. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is scheduled to air on Friday when Paula and I will be making last minute preparations for our podcasting cruise. On the day I am creating this journal and podcast, it is my Dad’s 85th birthday, which we will celebrate tomorrow. Three of my siblings as well as our three oldest children were able to make it in for the celebration. We enjoyed the time with them and their families, but it was particularly special for the grandchildren as this is the first time that all six of them were together. It is a blessing for Granny and Gramps, and of course, pictures of Dad and our grandkids are in today’s journal posting.
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As we get focused on our Trek today, we realize that each day on our trek of life can be challenging and full of unexpected detours and obstacles. While some days will be sunny and bright and give us the feeling that we can literally conquer mountains, there will be other days that are cloudy when the cold wind and rain blow against us to the point that it is difficult to move forward. If we anticipate and prepare for both the sunny and rainy days regardless of what we are facing on a particular day, we will keep in mind our ultimate destination and keep moving forward. Today’s trail is an extension of what we discovered on yesterday’s Trek but from a slightly different perspective. We will put our power of observation to the test once again and look for the 9 sign posts that will help us to be creating and living our legacy each day.
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This Is How You Create and Live a Legacy Daily As your guide and mentor on our daily wisdom-trek, I am a bit of a philosopher and also love principles. Yes, actions are great, and I talk about them regularly. But, the important stuff is what lies underneath are the principles or precepts – the very foundation from which our actions grow.
These are the principles we must commit to in order to create and live the legacy we desire.
Life is best lived in service to others.
This doesn’t mean that we do not strive for the best for ourselves. It does mean that in all things we serve other people, including our family, co-workers, and friends. We should practice what has been called “Servant-Leadership” as described in Matthew 20:25-28, “But Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 151 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 7 Steps to Become a Success Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 151 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-150/ (8 attributes of a healthy relationship). Today we will explore the 7 steps for a successful life. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is scheduled to air on Thursday when we will be spending a day on site with a client before heading back to Charlotte in the evening. Since Paula and I are heading out for our Podcasters cruise on Sunday, we will be dropping Mom Jarvis off at Paula’s sister Lois’s on our way south. As I am writing this journal as we are still traveling to Marietta on Friday, it is a bit of a challenge to work in the dark while traveling. However, the bright screen and lighted keyboard allows me to function fairly well.
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Our daily trek of life also has its challenges, but we should always give thanks for the good points of each day. We are shifting from a focus on relationships from yesterday’s hike and heading up the 7 steps that lead to success. If we navigate these steps properly, we will come closer to success in all areas of our lives. This is crucial as we are daily creating our living legacy.
7 Steps To Become a Success 1. You attract success. “Success is not to be pursued. It is to be attracted by the person you become.”Tweet This
So few people realize this. Success is not something that you chase. It’s something that you turn into. Success comes from growth. It comes from growing bigger than the problems and obstacles that surround you. Don’t search for success. Commit to grow, commit to become, commit to do what you know to do, and you will attract success. Proverbs 21:5 puts it this way, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”
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2. You must change. “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.”Tweet This
If you want change, you must change! You must work harder on yourself than you work on anything else. The greatest investment you will ever make is in yourself. Don’t invest in the stock market if you haven’t first invested in yourself. Labor to become a better person. Every day you want to be slightly better than you were the day before.
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- Never give up. “How long should you try? Until.”Tweet This
Never give up. If you just keep at it, eventually you will reach the top. It probably won’t happen in a year, but just imagine what could be achieved if you stayed focused for 20 or 30 years or longer. When I say never give up, I don’t mean to imply that you should wait around for something to happen. What I’m saying is that you should make something happen.
Success is not that complicated. I like what Jim Rohn said about success, “Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.”
Paul taught in in Galatians 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
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- Environment is
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 150 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 8 Signs of Healthy Relationships Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 150 of our Trek, and yesterday we discovered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-149/ (2 steps needed to overcome procrastination). Today we will learn the 8 attributes of a healthy relationship. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek podcasts, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to listen to them and read the https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is scheduled to air on Wednesday in the middle of a very busy week. As I am writing this journal, we are heading north to Marietta. I am so thankful that Paula is willing and able to drive on many of our trips so that I can maximize my time and continue to bring value to my fellow trekkers. The leaves on the trees are changing colors, and it is a beautiful evening drive. The majesty of God’s creation is a joy to observe.are changing colors and it is a beautiful evening drive. The majesty of God’s creation is joy to observe.
We have a long trail ahead of us today, so strap on your hiking boots tight because we are going to have to move quickly to finish the trail on time as we learn from each other on our trail of relationships. As we hike on this trail, we need to keep alert and use our power of observation to locate the 8 signs that will teach us to create and maintain healthy relationships with everyone that we meet on this trek of life.
8 Signs of Healthy Relationships Nothing can bring more joy to life than beautifully fulfilling relationships. The depth of meaning, understanding, and appreciation that these kinds of relationships bring is almost unfathomable. And, of course, as many people find out, nothing can bring so much pain as a broken relationship with someone dear to you.
Nothing can bring more joy to life than beautifully fulfilling relationships.Tweet This Yes, relationships make the world go ’round for better or for worse. But the exciting thing is that we can do much to increase our chances of having terrific relationships — relationships that are fulfilling and exciting, rich with meaning, joy, and love. There are basics that govern most human relationships and are the very basics I want to cover. So, here is my list of the eight signs that I believe comprise the basics of healthy relationships.
- Love Now, this all depends on your definition of love. Most people think that love is a feeling, but I would strongly debate that point. Actually, the concept of “like” is really about feelings. When you say you like someone, you are talking about how you feel. But when you say that you love someone, you are not necessarily talking about how you feel about them. Love is much deeper than a feeling. Love is a commitment we make to people to always treat that person right and honorably. Yes, for those we become especially close to, we will have feelings of love, but I believe it is time for us to re-examine what we mean by love. We must expand our definition of what love means by including the commitment aspect of love. For healthy relationships, we must love everyone. We may not like them based on how we feel about them, but we should love them based on our definition of love above, which in turn determines how we should act toward them. That is, we should treat them right and honorably. This is the basis of all healthy relationships.
I believe the best description of what love really is can be found in the 1st letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth in Chapter 13...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 149 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 2 Steps to Overcome Procrastination Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 149 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored the trail of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-148/ (how change begins with a choice and how making the proper choices in how we treat others will allow us to become a person of influence). Today we will explore that difficult trail of overcoming procrastination.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, although we will be at The Big House when this episode is released. It is really a blessing to be able to work remotely from any location as long as we have an internet connection. As technology continues to improve, it will become even easier in the future.
Today as we head out on our trail, we are having a discussion about how easy it is to put off our responsibilities and how we allow non-important interruptions to distract us from doing what is most important. This is an age old issue, but there are so many distractions both online and offline, it is very difficult not to procrastinate especially if you are not very disciplined in your focus. Perseverance is so important to make sure we continue on life’s trail towards the summit.
Perseverance is about as important to achievement as gasoline is to driving a car. Sure, there will be times when you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, but you’ll always get out of the rut with genuine perseverance. Without it, you won’t even be able to start your engine.
Perseverance is about as important to achievement as gasoline is to driving a car.Tweet This Perseverance vs. Procrastination The opposite of perseverance is procrastination. Perseverance means you never quit. Procrastination usually means you never get started although the inability to finish something is also a form of procrastination.
Ask people why they procrastinate and you’ll often hear something like this, “I’m a perfectionist. Everything has to be just right before I can get down to work. No distractions, not too much noise, no telephone calls interrupting me, and of course I have to be feeling well physically, too. I can’t work when I have a headache. ” The other end of procrastination – being unable to finish – also has a perfectionist explanation…”I’m just never satisfied. I’m my own harshest critic. Unless all the I’s are dotted and all the Tt’s are crossed, I just can’t consider that I’m done. That’s just the way I am, and I’ll probably never change.”
Do you see what’s going on here? A fault is being turned into a virtue. The perfectionist is saying that their standards are just too high for this world. This fault-into-virtue syndrome is a common defense when people are called upon to discuss their weaknesses, but in the end it’s just a very pious kind of excuse making. It certainly doesn’t have anything to do with what’s really behind procrastination.
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The basis of procrastination could be fear of failure. That’s what perfectionism really is once you take a hard look at it. What’s the difference whether you’re afraid of being less than perfect or afraid of anything else? You’re still paralyzed by fear. What’s the difference whether you never start or never finish? You’re still stuck. You’re still going nowhere. You’re still overwhelmed by whatever task is before you. You’re still allowing...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 148 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 7 Steps to Become a Person of Influence Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 148 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned https://wisdom-trek.com/day-147/ (how to face and then defeat the enemies that live within us and try to limit our potential). Today we will explore the trail of how change begins with a choice and how making the proper choices in how we treat others will allow us to become a person of influence. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or subscribe at iTunes or Spreaker to get caught up. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, although we will be at The Big House when this episode is released. The week is full of many activities to complete prior to heading back to Charlotte on Thursday and then on to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday as the Podcast cruise starts on Sunday.
The many activities we are involved in and our client workload are a result of choices that we have made over the years. An important attribute that I desire for my life is to be a person of influence. I feel certain that almost everyone would like to have a positive influence on the lives of others. In order to do so, you may have to make some changes in your life. Changes require that we make difficult choices at times. The choices that we have made in our lives up to this point determine the situation that we find ourselves in. So, let me ask a couple of questions…Do you desire to become a person of influence? What changes in your life will be required in order to reach that position? On our Trek today, we will hike the trails of choice and look for the seven sign posts that are crucial for becoming a person of influence.
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Change Begins with Choice Any day you wish, you can discipline yourself to change your life. Any day you wish, you can open a book that will open your mind to new knowledge. Any day you wish, you can start a new activity. Any day you wish, you can start the process of life change. You can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year. Zig Ziglar put it this way, Before you change your thinking, you have to change what goes into your mind.Tweet This
You can also do nothing. You can pretend rather than perform. If the idea of having to change yourself makes you uncomfortable, you can remain as you are. You can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are yours to make. But while you may desire change, you must be willing to make the choice to change. As Ecclesiastes 10:2 says, “A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.”
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The current situation of your life is largely based on past choices. You have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.
You cannot allow your errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead you down the wrong path. You must keep coming back to those basics that...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 147 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Conquer the Six Enemies Within Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 147 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-146/ (value of study and the high cost for ignorance). Today we want to prepare ourselves to face the enemies that live within us. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or subscribe at iTunes or Spreaker to get caught up. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina although this episode will originally be released on Sunday. We are preparing our podcast episodes a few days ahead of time in preparation for the Podcasters’ Paradise Cruise the first week of November since I will not have the equipment on the cruise to record and post the daily podcast.
We are in the middle of a very busy week of work and activities. It is a blessing that we are thankful for. We will be celebrating Dad’s 85th anniversary when this episode is released. One of the many blessings and lessons that I learned from my Dad is to take each day of life as it comes to you. There will be trails and difficulties but that should not stop us from continuing forward. He also taught us to enjoy each day and learn the lessons from that day.
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It is another great day of life as we trek together. The lessons that we can learn together and the strength that we can gain from one another helps our trek of life to be more enjoyable. Our goal is to live a rich and satisfying life while making a positive impact on everyone that we meet. By doing so, we can create a living legacy each day. One observation that I have made in life is that many of our problems with others and with situations of life are actually struggles that we are facing internally. We also tend to judge others in the same manner that we are judging ourselves. As Shakespeare wrote in his play The Hamlet, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks,” which suggests that those issues that we protest most strongly against are the very ones that we are struggling with. I have seen this play out in business, organizations, and even more so in churches. The Bible also refers to this in Matthew 7:1-3, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”
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So my exhortation on this is to be very careful when making a judgment against someone else because it may be the very demon that you struggle with internally. This brings us to the trail that we want to hike today which is:
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Let me tell you about six enemies we face from within.
- Fear The first enemy within is fear. We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Our fears are typically brought on by our own experiences, by what someone has told us, or by what we’ve read in the news. Some fears are valid, like walking alone in a bad part of town at two o’clock in the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 146 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Benefits of Study Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 146 of our Trek. Yesterday we learned https://wisdom-trek.com/day-145/ (how to become a miracle worke)r. Today we want to explore the value of study and the high cost for ignorance. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) or subscribe at iTunes or Spreaker to get caught up. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/good-study-habits.png ()The Value of Study We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. But this episode will air on Saturday, and we will be back at The Big House by then, cleaning and getting ready for Dad’s birthday celebration on Sunday. One blessing that we experience driving between North Carolina and Ohio as much as we do is to see the mountains along our drive as the leaves in the fall are changing colors. It certainly makes the drive more enjoyable.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/graveyard2.jpg ()Leaves in Fall As we head out on our Trek today, it is important to understand and realize the importance of studying the trail guide and learning as much as possible before we begin our Trek each day. In the same way, we need to be continuously improving ourselves by reading books, listening to podcasts, and putting what we learn into practice. Regardless of your economic situation, if you have access to a library or the internet, there is no excuse to remain ignorant on any subject matter that may be important to you. Even if you do not have a particular interest in a subject, anything that you learn can bring value to your life. The more you learn the greater your net worth and self-worth will become. Knowledge does not equate directly to the wisdom that we pursue each day, but when kept in the proper perspective, the more knowledge that you gain should allow you to understand how valuable wisdom really is in your life.
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Study To Show Yourself Approved When I refer to books today, I am referring to physical or electronic books and any other types of online or offline articles and courses.
All of the books that you will ever need to make you as rich, as healthy, as happy, as powerful, as sophisticated, and as successful as you want to be have already been written. They will provide you with the rich and satisfying life that is written of in John [10:10]. Always keep in mind that when Scripture refers to a rich and satisfying life, it has little to do with material wealth although that could be a facet of it if we keep it in proper perspective.
People from all walks of life, people with some of the most incredible life experiences, and people who have gone from pennies to fortune and from failure to success have taken the time to write down their experiences so that you might share in their wealth of knowledge. They have offered their wisdom and experience so that you can be inspired by it and instructed by it and so that you can amend your philosophy by it. Their contributions enable you to change the trails of life that you hike based upon their experiences. They have handed you the gift of their insights so that you can change your plans, if need be, in order to avoid their errors. You can rearrange your lives based on their wise advice.
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All of...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 145 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Becoming a Miracle Worker Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 145 of our Trek. Yesterday we explored the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-144/ (nine nuggets that are more valuable than money). Today we will learn how to become a miracle worker. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com or subscribe at iTunes or Spreaker to get caught up. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we finish out a busy week of work, even with the many side trails that we inevitably end up taking on our daily treks, we are still heading in the right direction and making progress. We will be heading back up to The Big House today as we finish preparations for Dad’s 85th birthday celebration. We are blessed to spend this time together as a family honoring Dad and his powerful contribution to our lives.
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On our Trek today, we are enjoying the changing seasons. The crisp air of fall, the beautiful leaves as they turn bright yellows and reds, and the ability to relish life in all of its grandeur. Life in itself is a miracle, and we need to make sure that we take time each day to be thankful for all of the miracles that we experience, both small and large. Regardless of our age or status in life, our ability to perform some sort of labor, whether little or much, has the capability to make an impact on our world and indeed the entire world to bring about miracles in the lives of others.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/seasons-oct-newsletter.jpg ()The Miracles of Seasons As we continue with the training that I have gained from one of my mentors Jim Rohn along with my own experiences, we will explore our role in the working of miracles.
Labor That Works Miracles While I don’t think any of us really enjoy paying taxes, we certainly do like some of the benefits that we receive from the taxes we do pay. Most of us would like to experience a phenomenon at tax time and have our taxes paid miraculously, but that is not how it works. Another tax situation is recorded in the Good News according to Matthew, who himself was a former tax collector. The story is recorded in Matthew 17:24-27. The tax collectors were out doing their work, and they accused Jesus of not paying his share of taxes although technically Jesus was required to pay it. In verse 27 Jesus said, “However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Peter-catches-fish-with-coin-in-mouth1.jpg ()Peter catches a fish with a coin in its mouth. We read in the passage that Jesus’ disciple Peter came to him and said it was time to pay taxes, but they had no money. In response to his disciple’s statement Jesus said, “No problem.” Now why could he say “no problem”? Well, word had it that Jesus was a miracle worker. If you hand a problem to a miracle worker they are inclined to say “no problem.” It is good when you are able to hang out with people like that.
I do not want to minimize the miracles of Jesus at all because they are truly miracles. When you really think about creation and so
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 144 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Nine Nuggets That Are More Valuable Than Money Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 144 of our Trek. Yesterday we explored the wisdom nuggets of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-143/ (being thankful and giving the best gifts). Today we will explore the nine nuggets that are more valuable than money. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com or subscribe at iTunes or Spreaker to get caught up. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We continue on this week with many tasks and activities ahead of us. We also wanted to let you know that two additional podcast episodes where we have been guests have been released. One is the Podcasters’ Paradise podcast in which I speak of being consistent and persistent with the Wisdom-Trek podcast. The second one is called Together 24/7 in which both Paula and I were on the interview discussing working together as a couple throughout our careers. If you would like to listen to either of these podcast episodes, they can be found on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) under https://wisdom-trek.com/thebighouse/ (The Big House tab).
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For today, let’s continue on our Trek for wisdom as we search for:
Nine Nuggets That Are More Valuable Than Money When starting any small business or any pursuit in life, whether it is full-time or part-time, we all know the value of having adequate capital or money… But you have probably heard of people who started a business or organization with no money and then went on to great success and fortune. “How?” you may ask.
Well, I believe there are actually some things that are more valuable than money that can lead to your entrepreneurial success. Let me give you the list.
- Time Time is more valuable than money. The time you set aside should not be wasted and not to be given away. Time you set aside to invest in a business that brings value to the marketplace with the hope of making a profit can be considered money time.
How valuable is time? Time properly invested is worth a fortune. Time wasted can be devastating. Time invested can perform miracles, so do not spend time as you would spending money. Invest your time so that it provides wealth for the future.
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Desperation When you have very little money you work from the perspective of desperation. Not in a stupid manner, but in a manner that is wise. You make sure that every dollar invested produces a good return because you have no choice. It is amazing how enterprising you can become when it is do or die financially. Desperation can be a powerful incentive. At this point you say, “I must make this work.”
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Determination Determination is the outgrowth of desperation. If you know you have no choice then you must become very determined. Just like a snowball gathers more snow as it rolls down the hill, so determination allows you to continue to grow when there are no other choices. You can say to yourself “If it works once, it will work again.”
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- Courage Courage is more valuable than money. If you only have a few...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 143 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Shaped by the Language We Use Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 143 of our Trek. Yesterday we explored the wisdom nuggets of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-142/ (being thankful and giving the best gifts). Today we will explore the subtlety of language, or in other words, being careful of the words that we use when we speak. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com or subscribe at iTunes or Spreaker to get caught up. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are headlong into our workweek with much to do before returning to Marietta on Friday in preparation for a family gathering to celebrate my dad’s 85th birthday on Sunday. We will be in Marietta for about a week and then will head south to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as Paula and I are going on a business cruise the first week of November. I will need to create and record our daily Wisdom-Trek episodes ahead of time since I won’t have the opportunity to do so while on the cruise, so I have a challenging few days ahead of me.
Let’s continue on our Trek for wisdom. Today we will discuss how what we say and how we say it can have a major impact on our lives. Our time of discovery for today will focus on:
The Subtlety Of Language I have found that sometimes the subtle difference in our attitude, which of course makes a major difference in our future, can be as simple as the language we use. The difference is even in how you talk to yourself or others. Consciously making a decision to quit saying what you don’t want and to start saying what you do want. In some aspects, I call that faith or confidence – believing the best, hoping for the best, and moving toward the best.
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A few examples could be instead of saying “What if somebody doesn’t respond to me?” start saying, “What if they do respond?”
Instead of saying “What if someone says no?” say, “What if they say yes?” Instead of “What if they start and quit?” say, “What if they start and stay?” Or instead of “What if it doesn’t work out?” you say, “What if it does work out?” And the list goes on and on.
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I found that when you start thinking and saying what you really want, then your mind automatically shifts and pulls you in that direction. And, sometimes it can be that simple, just a little twist in vocabulary that illustrates your attitude and philosophy.
Our language can also affect how others perform and behave around us. As an example, a teenager says to a parent, “I need $50.” And if the parent learns to say, “No comprende. That kind of language doesn’t work here. We have the money to give, but that’s not how you get $50,” then he teaches the teenager to ask, “How can I earn $50?”
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That is the magic of words. There is money available here. There is money for everybody, but you just have to learn the magic words to get them. If you just learn the philosophy of asking “How can I earn $50?” you can get everything you’d possibly want.
You...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 142 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is About Gratitude and Giving Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 142 of our Trek. Yesterday we explored the nuggets of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-141/ (creating your opportunity and why success is everything). Today we will explore the wisdom nuggets of being thankful and giving the best gifts. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com or subscribe at iTunes or Spreaker to get caught up. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We drove back late Sunday night and are in the middle of a busy week of client work before we head back to Marietta on Friday. Although our life is busy and involves a lot of activities, we do focus on the fact that we are to pursue the rich and satisfying life, or as in some translations say, the abundant life that Jesus spoke of in John [10:10]. We are looking forward to next Sunday as we have a family gathering to celebrate my dad’s 85th birthday.
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Let’s continue on our Trek for wisdom. Today we are in search of nuggets of gratitude, and the gifts that we can provide to others. Regardless of how difficult our life trails may be at times, we have so much to be thankful for. Our first discovery for today is:
Learn to Be Thankful for What You Already Have I want to start out today with a question. Is thankfulness a survival skill? Perhaps most of you would respond with, “No, Guthrie, thankfulness is not key to survival,” and I would tend to agree with you. Most of us have probably already solved the necessary problems of survival, gone beyond that, and are now working to achieve our desires. But let me give you this key phrase, “Learn to be thankful for what you already have while you pursue all that you want.” I believe one of the greatest and perhaps one of the simplest lessons in life we can learn is to be thankful for what we have already received and accomplished.
Both the years and the experiences have brought me to where I am today, sharing with you daily on our Wisdom-Trek as we pursue creating a living legacy. We have not arrived to this place on our Trek together by accident. It was by divine design. It is the attribute of thankfulness that opened the windows of opportunities, blessings, and unique experiences to flow my way. My gratitude started with my parents who raised me and gave me an incredible foundation that has lasted me all of these years, and it continues with the mentors that I’ve met along the way who have absolutely changed and revolutionized my life, my income, my resources, and my future. I am also very thankful for the people, the associations, the ideas, the chance to work and labor, and the opportunity to produce results that I have. All of that has brought me to this place on my trek of life. I’m grateful for it all.
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What a unique opportunity each one of us has, with so many of us representing different countries, nations, and cultures, to appreciate the uniqueness of our own experiences that has brought us all here together each day as we gain new wisdom, insight, and understanding and also reinforce what we have learned in the past. We know that each day...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 141 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is About Creating Your Opportunity Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 141 of our Trek. Yesterday we explored the nuggets of wisdom https://wisdom-trek.com/day-140/ (“A Time for Action and A Time to be Fruitful.”) I have learned these concepts from Jim Rohn, one of my virtual mentors, and we applied Wisdom-Trek logic to the nuggets that we discovered. We will continue on this trail of nugget exploration today in order to find the wisdom of creating your opportunity and why success is important. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages.)
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio, and by the time this episode airs, we will be back in Charlotte for the week. After a busy day Saturday working on our leaf harvest, on Sunday we were able to celebrate our grandson Gideon’s 6th birthday. It was a great day, and we are so glad to be able to be there. Afterward, we headed back to Charlotte for a busy week of activities before we head back to Marietta on Friday of this week.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/tumblr_mb4bjbuL3V1qdeuyro1_1280.jpg ()Leaf Harvest For today, let us enjoy the beautiful changing leaves on our hike as we seek additional nuggets of wisdom that will help us on our trek of life. As we travel through life, we need the keen sense of ability and shrewdness to take ordinary or even sub-par situations and create opportunities from them. It is important to our overall success. We need to seize the day and the opportunities while they are available. As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Ephesus in chapter 5 verses 15 through 17, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
So let’s first look at the wisdom nugget of:
Creating Your Opportunity An enterprising person is one who comes across a pile of scrap metal and sees the making of a wonderful sculpture. An innovative person is one who drives through an old decrepit part of town and sees a new housing development. An ingenious person is one who sees opportunity in all areas of life.
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To be resourceful is to keep your eyes open and your mind active. It’s to be skilled enough, confident enough, creative enough, and disciplined enough to seize opportunities that present themselves,regardless of the economy or other external situations.
A person with an enterprising attitude says, “Find out what you can before action is taken.” Do your homework. Do the research. Be prepared. Be resourceful. Do all you can in preparation for what is yet to come.
Enterprising people always see the future in the present.Tweet This Enterprising people always see the future in the present. Enterprising people always find a way to take advantage of a situation, not be burdened by it. And, enterprising people aren’t lazy. They don’t wait for opportunities to come to them. They create the opportunities. Enterprise means always finding a way to keep yourself actively working toward your ambition.
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Enterprise is two...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 140 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is About Taking Action Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 140 of our Trek. Yesterday we started digging up https://wisdom-trek.com/day-139/ (nuggets of wisdom that I have learned from Jim Rohn), one of my virtual mentors, and began applying Wisdom-Trek logic to the nuggets that we discover. We will continue on this trail of nugget exploration for the next several days. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio, as we came up just for the weekend to start the leaf harvest and share in our grandson Gideon’s 6th birthday celebration. When I refer to our leaf harvest, you have to understand that with about 4.5 acres of land with many very mature maple and oak trees. So, they produce an abundant amount of leaves. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) is also located in a residential community, so there are some expectations that we will maintain the property. As such, we do strive to keep the leaves gathered up on a timely basis so they don’t end up all over the community.
Today was just the first day of many that we will spend gathering leaves. Fortunately we have a very powerful vacuum system attached to our mower that takes much of the difficult work out of it. We were able to clean the entire mow-able portion of the yard today which consisted of 8 loads. Each load has a capacity of over 400 gallons. That is a lot of leaves, and today was rather light in comparison when most of the leaves fall. I do enjoy spending the time outside, though, so it was a good day.
We will head back to Charlotte late on Sunday since we have some commitments this next week. With a full schedule, the days will fly by before returning to Marietta again this coming Friday.
Let’s continue on our trail today and search for some more nuggets of wisdom. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” As we start today, we first want to explore the wisdom nugget regarding a time to take action.
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A Time to Take Action Engaging in genuine discipline requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don’t need to be hasty if it isn’t required, but you don’t want to lose much time either. The time to act is when the idea is hot and the emotion is strong.
Let’s say you would like to build your personal library of books, either physically or electronically. If that is a strong desire for you, what you’ve got to do is get the first book. Then get the second book. Take action as soon as possible before the feeling passes and the idea dims. If you don’t, you fall prey to the Law of Diminishing Intent.
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We intend to take action when the idea strikes us. We intend to do something when the emotion is high. But, if we don’t translate that intention into action fairly soon, the urgency starts to diminish. A month from now the passion is cold. A year from now it can’t be found. If nothing changes in your life, then your life will not change.
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So take action. Set up a...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 139 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like Being a Farmer Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 139 of our Trek. Yesterday we searched for https://wisdom-trek.com/day-138/ (11 mile-markers to create a living legacy). Today and for the next several days, we will be digging up nuggets of wisdom that I have learned from Jim Rohn, one of my virtual mentors, and applying Wisdom-Trek logic to these nuggets that we discover. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are heading to Marietta for the weekend to start the leaf harvest and share in our grandson Gideon’s 6th birthday celebration, but we will head back late on Sunday since we have some commitments in Charlotte this next week. And then, we will head back to Marietta at the end of next week and celebrate Dad’s 85th birthday. It is a lot of traveling, but we are so thankful that we are able to do so.
We also have a busy day on our Trek today, so let’s head onto the trail as we are in search of that hidden treasure called wisdom. This treasure is readily available, but few seek for it as if seeking for gold, silver, or precious jewels. If we desire to be joyful, we must seek for wisdom as Proverbs [3:13]-15 tells us,
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Along our trail today, we once again come across an overlook and down in the valley we see the farmers busy at the harvest. This scene reminds me of how wise it would be if we all would think like a farmer.
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.Tweet This Thinking Like a Farmer One of the difficulties we face in our industrialized and technology driven age is the fact we’ve lost our sense of seasons. Unlike the farmer whose priorities change with the seasons, we have become impervious to the natural rhythm of life. As a result, we have our priorities out of balance. Let me illustrate what I mean:
For a farmer, springtime is his most active time. It’s then when he must work around the clock, rising before the sun and still toiling at the stroke of midnight. He must keep his equipment running at full capacity because he has but a small window of time for the planting of his crop. Eventually winter comes when there is less for him to do to keep him busy.
Every farmer knows that you can’t sow and reap on the same day. There is a timetable for your harvest that requires both working and waiting. Patience is a small price to pay for what you will receive.
There is a lesson here. Learn to use the seasons of life. Decide when to pour it on and when to ease back, when to take advantage and when to let things ride. It’s easy to keep working 10-12 hour days, year in and year out, and lose a natural sense of priorities and cycles. Don’t let one year blend into another in a seemingly endless parade of tasks and responsibilities. Keep your eye on your own seasons, lest you lose sight of value and substance.
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Proverbs 23:3-5 encourages us to be careful of the continuous pursuit of wealth,
Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 138 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 11 Life-Changing Lessons Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 138 of our Trek. Yesterday we hiked the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-137/ (7 trails of creating opportunities). Today we will search for 11 mile-markers to creating a living legacy. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/day-138/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a pleasant week in the Charlotte area – sunny with temperatures in the mid-70s. Although I do love the work that we are doing, during weeks like this I yearn to be outside enjoying God’s creation and communing with nature. As we continue on our Trek through life, we will have to consciously choose to take more time for short excursions each day.
When we are hiking and in our daily lives, it is imperative that we enhance our power of observation. The more we increase our ability to observe, learn, and understand, the wiser we will become. Let’s continue on the trail of opportunity that we began yesterday and observe the 11-mile markers that will teach us some life-changing lessons. Once we have mastered these lessons, we will be able to more effectively impact the lives of others, which will allow us to create a living legacy that ripples through our world and through generations to come. I have gleaned these lessons from one of my virtual mentors, Zig Ziglar, who has impacted millions throughout the world.
The more we increase our ability to observe, learn, and understand, the wiser we will become.Tweet This The trail will be a little longer today, but it is a beautiful day for our Trek. As we meander down the trail, we are looking for the mile-markers that should be along the trail. We must use our keen sense of observation otherwise we may miss the markers, which at times are hidden in the underbrush. In the same way, many important markers in our lives become hidden with all the stuff that we buy or the activities we do, and we miss very important lessons. Finally, the first of 11 mile-markers comes into view.
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Mile-Marker #1 – First, Help Others · “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” It’s possible to get ahead in life by taking advantage of other people. But it’s far better (and easier) to get ahead by understanding what people want and then helping them get it. Once you’ve gone out of your way to solve somebody’s problem, they’ll go out of their way to help you achieve your goals. The goal of every successful person is to help as many people as possible as much as possible. When you create something that’s of great value to many people, your life or business is assured of success.
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Mile-Marker #2 – Success is Lived · “Success is in the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph.” Seeing success as an end goal is one of the biggest misconceptions of success. Success is actually an ongoing journey, more about enjoying the trail than the destination. According to Zig, the most rewarding part of becoming a successful person is the actual becoming. He said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
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Mile Marker #3...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 137 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The 7 Trails to Create Opportunities Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 137 of our Trek. Yesterday we explored the six reflection points for https://wisdom-trek.com/day-136/ (life’s transitions). Today we are going to hike the 7 trails of creating opportunities. We cannot sit idly by and wait for opportunities to come to us. We must create opportunities for ourselves and others. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Carmel-Mission-Trails-7.jpg ()Opportunity Trails We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today is as busy as expected, but at least we are a bit more rested than we were yesterday. There are so many opportunities in life to grow and excel if we are looking for them. With today’s technology those opportunities are more prevalent than ever. It does require that we step outside of our comfort zone, but that is what makes life exciting and worth our trek. Unfortunately, I think Thomas Edison was correct when he said, Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.Tweet This
As we start on our Trek for today, we want to shift our mindset from looking for opportunities to creating opportunities. There may be a fine line here, but if you are looking for opportunities, you are assuming that they are already available. Creating opportunity requires that we assemble the puzzle pieces of our life in order to create the opportunities that we desire. As we create these opportunities, we want to look at the 7 trails that will make a significant impact on our world each day.
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As we continue on the trail for today, we pass by a beautiful clear lake nestled in the mountains, and it provides us a time to consider our ability to impact everyone that we meet, either in person or online. In order to create those opportunities we desire, we must be seekers and have an unquenchable hunger to be difference makers. As I throw a huge rock into the lake, we see the ripples extending from it in ever-widening circles. In the same way, as we create opportunities, we will make an impact on our world that will send out never-ending ripples in our ever-widening circles of influence. This will allow us to “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” as http://www.mkgandhi.org/ (Mahatma Gandhi) shared.
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Some of the points in today’s Wisdom-Trek come from a Ted talk by Kare Anderson who shared this insight, “All of us have the capacity to do something exceptionally well and make a significant contribution.”Tweet This
Honing your greatest talents and skills through your authentic message is the key to successful contributions as an opportunity creator, which will lead you to survive and thrive in the fast-changing world. By making new opportunities through these 7 trails that we are hiking today, you have the capability of achieving immense accomplishments.
There is one caveat, though…To create real opportunities, you must focus on how others will also benefit from the opportunities that you create. None of us live in a vacuum. We must always be looking for ways to help others improve, and in doing so, we will also be creating positive opportunities for ourselves. As we explore these seven trails, I will first ask you a question, “What opportunities can we create...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 136 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Six Reflection Points for Life’s Transitions Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 136 of our Trek, and for the past six days we remained in camp and studied the map of wisdom trails as we explored Proverbs chapters 2 and 3. We will occasionally remain in camp and continue on in the book of Proverbs, but for today we will head back on the trail and learn six lessons on how to handle transitioning from one trail to another. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it has been a busy day of work after very little sleep on our red eye flight back from Phoenix last night. It is amazing as humans that we have the ability to continue on with a very limited amount of sleep. We should be able to re-energize before heading to Ohio on Friday for our grandson Gideon’s sixth birthday celebration on Sunday. It will be a quick trip coming back this weekend before heading back up the following weekend. Life is full, but we are enjoying the journey.
As we head out on our Trek today, we soon come to a split on the trail and find it difficult knowing which would be the best path to take. One leads upward through sparse growth but probably leads to a beautiful view at the summit. The other trail leads us downward into the valley where there is lush growth and a river flowing through it. Oh, which trail to take? These are the decisions that we must make in life. Most of the time our decisions will not be choices of a good trail over a bad trail, but which path to take where both seem equally attractive in their own way. When we come to a split in the trails of life or such transition points, how do we make the most of the decision that we do choose?
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Six Reflection Point for Life’s Transitions Major life transitions – moving to a new city, becoming a parent, deciding when to retire – can be an exciting and invigorating part of life if we view it in that manner. Yet transitions, even happy ones, can also be stressful and bring up mixed feelings. For most of us, change brings uncertainty and a certain measure of fear. This is natural, but we cannot allow fear to prevent us from moving forward.
Change brings uncertainty and a certain measure of fear. This is natural, but we cannot allow fear to prevent us from moving forward.Tweet This Moving from a rural community or farm into a big city with its excitement and challenges can be a bit overwhelming. The first few weeks after the move is usually much more difficult than anticipated. Similarly, no matter how exciting getting pregnant and having a child is, the magnitude of this life transition can be mindboggling. Although I don’t plan on retiring any time soon and it could be many years, even the thought of not working the majority of my time makes me realize what a transition time that will be for me when it arrives.
The best way to prepare for major transitions is to take some time for self-reflection. Use the following trail guide for six ways to help you to embrace change and make the most of your new life trail.
- Recognize that transitions are hard because they can shake your sense of identity. We naturally define ourselves in part by our surroundings. When these surroundings change, it can be disorienting. Getting married changes your identity from a single person to a partner. Having a child...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 135 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs Chapter [3:21]-35 – Trusting the Lord #4 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 135 of our Trek, and we are remaining at camp this week as we dig for the nuggets of wisdom contained within the book of Proverbs. We have discovered some precious treasure so far this week, so let us continue on our study of the map to wisdom.
Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-134/ (Chapter 3:13-20), and today we will finish Chapter 3:21-35 as we discover the value of having common sense and discernment. Once we complete the entire book of Proverbs, we will make the entire commentary available in an eBook although we will be going on many treks between our times at camp. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We just arrived back in Charlotte after a very busy but productive few days with our friends and business partners Charles and Alison Mecom. We are working together on a couple of large construction projects in the Phoenix, Arizona area. This podcast is being released a little later than usual due our travel schedule. We took a red eye flight back to Charlotte which delayed the initial release of this podcast.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/redeyeflight.jpg ()Red Eye Flight Home As we continue on our discussion of Proverbs 3, I trust that this time we spend at camp studying the map for wisdom has been and will continue to be valuable and beneficial. Even if you do not consider yourself a person of faith, my hope is that you will stay around and gather the wisdom that is universal to all.
As I mentioned the past couple of days, the title of Chapter 3 is…
Trusting in the Lord · Common sense in not always common. Let’s start out now and glean wisdom from Proverbs [3:21]-35.
21My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, 22For they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.
Verse 21-22 should encourage us. We need to keep our eyes and mind on common sense, discernment, love, and wisdom. We are to cling to them as we would if they were any precious stone. Gold, silver and gems may be beautiful. But, wisdom is more beautiful than any valuable objects. These attributes are to be so evident in our lives that it is like wearing a necklace. The beauty of these attributes should be very evident to everyone that sees us.
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23They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. 24You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. 25You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, 26for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
In verses 23-26, unlike gold and silver, which many would attempt to take from us, we can hold onto common sense and discernment, and no one can steal them from us. They are part of the very essence of who we are. Life is a trek, and when we have these attributes in our lives, we will we be less likely to make mistakes that would cause us to stumble and fall. We have nothing to fear. Verse 24 gives us special comfort. We should not be afraid of those things that go bump in the night because this passage teaches us that God will protect us. While I do not have this particular problem, I realize that many people...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 134 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs Chapter [3:13]-20 Trusting the Lord #3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 134 of our Trek, and we are remaining at camp this week as we dig for the nuggets of wisdom contained within the book of Proverbs. We have discovered some precious treasure so far this week, so let us continue on our study of the map to wisdom.
Yesterday we explored https://wisdom-trek.com/day-133/ (Chapter 3:7-12), and today we will continue to explore in Chapter 3 as we discover just how valuable wisdom really is. Once we complete the entire book of Proverbs, we will make the entire commentary available in an eBook although we will be going on many treks between our times at camp. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Looking back at this past week, it has been an interesting and exciting opportunity for growth. The three podcasts where I was a guest went well, and we are making progress and providing value to others that are also creating and publishing podcasts in their own areas of expertise.
The wisdom and insight that can be gleaned by sitting around a campfire, as we have been doing this week, is astounding. As we look at the verses today, we will see the tremendous value of obtaining wisdom and how wisdom was the very foundation for all of creation.
The title of Chapter 3 is…
Trusting in the Lord · The Value of Wisdom 13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. 14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. 15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. 17 She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. 18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.
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In Proverbs [1:20]-33, Solomon describes wisdom as a woman. This happens again in Proverbs [3:13]-18. There is a difference. In Proverbs 1, Wisdom is angry with evil people. They have refused her advice. In Proverbs 3, we read about the people who love Wisdom. Wisdom brings good things to them: long life, wealth and honor (verse 16). When we walk with Wisdom, our life is pleasant and beautiful (verse 17).
In verses 14-15, we see Wisdom compared to valuable objects. She is worth more than precious stones. Her value is more than silver or gold.
You can put your money in a bank. The bank will pay you an income. However, the bank is not as good as Wisdom. If you give your life to Wisdom, she will pay more than any bank. No bank can make your life longer, but Wisdom can give a long life. No bank can promise you a place in heaven, but Wisdom can promise this. No bank can make you right with God, but Wisdom can do this.
The happiness that wisdom brings is not just an emotion. This is the same happiness that Jesus describes in Matthew 5:3-12. Which are referred to as…
· The Beatitudes 1 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 133 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs Chapter 3:7-12 Trusting the Lord #2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 133 of our Trek, and we are remaining at camp this week as we dig for the nuggets of wisdom contained within the book of Proverbs. As the prospectors of old would pan for gold in the creeks and rivers, let us wash away the dirt from the many modern media outlets that want to pollute our minds each day and find the pure gold of wisdom that is located in the streams of Proverbs. Yesterday we began https://wisdom-trek.com/day-132/ (Chapter 3), and today we will continue to explore in Chapter 3 as we pan for additional nuggets of wisdom.
Once we complete the entire book of Proverbs, we will make the entire commentary available in an eBook although we will be going on many treks between our times at camp. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/article-0-0C68E08900000578-694_468x354.jpg ()Panning for God’s Gold We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we are busily completing the work that needs done and the podcasts that will be airing while we are on our short trip to Phoenix. Life seems to always be full, rich, and exciting. While we have the opportunity, we will continue on. As the old saying goes, you have to make hay when the sun shines.
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As we enjoy our time sitting around the campfire, let us share more wisdom nuggets from Solomon to see how they apply to our trek of life. For me, campfires have always been a time for reflection and relaxation. Cherish every moment of life to learn, to grow, to create a legacy of wisdom, and to seek out discernment and insight.
The title of Chapter 3 is…
Trusting in the Lord Wrong types of wisdom and intelligence Today we are starting with verse 7.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
There is a wrong type of wisdom. Verse 7 mentions “your own wisdom.”
There is also a wrong type of understanding, which we looked at yesterday in Verse 5 that mentions “your own understanding.”
There is a difference between our own wisdom and God’s wisdom. Also, there is a difference between our own thoughts and God’s thoughts. God is wiser than we are, and God is more intelligent than any person is as is stated in Isaiah 55:8-9.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
We must not be proud. All true wisdom comes from God. Our own ideas may be good, but they are never better than God’s wisdom.
God teaches his wisdom to us. It is God’s gift to us. Do not confuse your own ideas with God’s wisdom!
8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
Sometimes unwise choices cause illnesses. For example, consuming excess alcohol or eating the wrong food or too much food will make us ill. But, God’s wisdom does not hurt us. God is kind to us, and He helps us. He cares about our bodies. He also cares about our spirits. Nobody will be ill in heaven as Revelation 21:4 reveals, 4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
So the wisdom that we need is God’s...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 132 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs 3:1-6 – Trusting the Lord #1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 132 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-131/ (Yesterday) and for the next few days, we will remain at camp and dig for the nuggets of wisdom contained within the book of Proverbs. Yesterday we finished up with https://wisdom-trek.com/day-131/ (Chapter 2), and today we will begin to explore Chapter 3 as we mine for additional nuggets of wisdom. Once we complete the entire book of Proverbs, we will make the entire commentary available in an eBook. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and when this episode originally airs, we will be with our friends and business partners Charles and Alison as we continue to work through the detailed plans of our current construction project. It is an exciting time but always one for learning and growth both on a business and personal level.
At our campfire today, we continue to learn from the wisest man to ever live Solomon, as he shares personal wisdom with his children. This is a great reminder to us to impart wisdom as we have those teachable moments with our kids, grandkids, or any young person each day. Of course that also means that we must have first gained that wisdom, insight, and understanding ourselves. So, let’s begin to study the treasures found in Proverbs 3. Let us boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
Let us boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.Tweet This The title of Chapter 3 is…
Trusting in the Lord We’ll begin with verse 1.
1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart.
Chapter 3 begins, as usual, with advice for Solomon’s son. Solomon encourages his son to remember his commands. The son must remember the words, but he should also aim for a deeper experience. Wisdom should enter his heart. Wisdom should guide his thoughts. Wisdom should control his emotions and desires.
2 If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.
The son will benefit from wisdom. Solomon mentions health and wealth as two potential benefits.
Wisdom brings health because wisdom teaches safe actions. A wise person eats good food and takes care of his body.
Wisdom brings wealth because a wise person is careful. A wise person works hard and does not waste money.
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Do not think that health and wealth show wisdom. A thief can become wealthy because he steals. An evil person can take money from other people. Sometimes God gives health and wealth to a person but not always.
18 “Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath,” Deuteronomy [8:18].
True health is not only the health of the body. Your relationship with God must also be healthy. In fact, your relationship with God is more important than your body. See Matthew [5:29]-30.
Solomon was very wealthy. But he knew that true wealth is not money. See Proverbs [3:14]-15. Wisdom is worth more than silver or gold. Wisdom is worth more than all our money.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 131 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs Chapter [2:16]-22 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 131 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-130/ (Yesterday) we remained at camp and dug for the nuggets of wisdom contained within the book of Proverbs, and we will continue to do so for the next couple of days. Once we complete the entire book of Proverbs, we will make the entire commentary available in an eBook. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them on the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a late night of work last night and will probably be again tonight. We did have the pleasure of having pizza last evening with our oldest son Harry, his wife Chelimo, and their son Kip. Regardless of how busy our schedules are, we treasure these times that we can spend with our kids. Staying focused on what is most important is so crucial in living a rich and satisfying life.
I was also interviewed today on https://wisdom-trek.com/blog/igniting-your-passion-podcastblab-interview/ (The Heart of the Matter) podcast hosted by Brian King. It was conducted over a new technology called “Blab,” which allows up to four people to have a live video and audio chat while others can observe. It can also be recorded so that it can be replayed. If you are interested in watching this episode, check it out https://wisdom-trek.com/blog/igniting-your-passion-podcastblab-interview/ (here).
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https://blab.im/brian-r-king-lcsw-igniting-your-passion-with-h-guthrie-chamberlain-iii (The Heart of the Matter Podcast) As we sit around the campfire today, let’s continue to study our treasure map which is found in the book of Proverbs as we seek the hidden treasures that are contained in the book. We should seek these wisdom nuggets as if they were actually nuggets of gold because they are so much more valuable.
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The title for Proverbs Chapter 2 is the “Benefit of Wisdom,” and we looked at verses 1-15 yesterday. So, let’s continue in the section titled “The Journey of Life” as we start with verse 16 today.
The Benefits of Wisdom From here let’s move on to the “Journey of Life” in verses 16-19.
- The journey of life 16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman. 17 She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God. 18 Entering her house leads to death; it is the road to the grave. 19 The man who visits her is doomed. He will never reach the paths of life.
In these verses, a woman tries to tempt a man. Deuteronomy 5 lists 10 commands that God gave. One command was, “Do not have sex with someone else’s wife or husband,” Deuteronomy [5:18]. The woman in the Book of Proverbs refuses to follow this command. A man who goes to her is in danger.
Solomon is teaching us about other wrong actions. Sometimes wrong actions are attractive. Sometimes evil thoughts tempt us. Sometimes we might think that God’s law is not fair. Perhaps the man likes the woman. However, he must not go to her.
Sometimes wrong actions are attractive, but in the end they will turn ugly.Tweet This We must not do wrong actions when evil thoughts test us. The devil even tested Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). But, Jesus did nothing that was wrong against God. God gives his wisdom to...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 130 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs Chapter 2:1-15 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 130 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-129/ (Yesterday) we hiked the trail of Be->Do->Have and learned why it is so important to follow those steps each day to have a rich and satisfying life. Today and for the next few days, we will remain at camp and dig for the nuggets of wisdom contained within the book of Proverbs starting today in Chapter 2. Once we complete the entire book of Proverbs, we will make the entire commentary available in an eBook. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages).
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as we prepare for our short trip to Phoenix this weekend, I will be recording a few episodes in advance since I will not have the time to prepare and record while traveling. The next few days are jammed packed with work, so it will require a couple of late nights this week.
As we remain at camp during our study of Proverbs, it is similar to taking the proper time to study the trail maps so that we can have a safe and expedient hike. The book of Proverbs provides us a wisdom map so that we can navigate life safely and expediently as we gain wisdom, insight, and discernment.
The title for Proverbs Chapter 2 is the “Benefit of Wisdom,” and we will see there are many benefits for our life’s daily trek as we study Proverbs.
The Benefits of Wisdom I will begin our discussion today by reading Verses 1-4.
1 My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.
- The search for wisdom We must greatly desire wisdom. We must listen to it. We must desire it. We must ask questions so that we can learn more. We must hunt for wisdom like someone who searches for gold.
We must greatly desire wisdom. We must listen to it. We must desire it.Tweet This Psalm 42:1 is similar, “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.”
Also see Job 28. A man digs deep into the earth. He breaks through the rock. He enters places that no animal has seen. He finds gold and silver. He discovers many things. However, he cannot find wisdom there. Wisdom is not in the deep sea. You cannot buy wisdom, not even with gold. But Job tells us how to find wisdom in 28:28, “And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear (respect) of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’”
Let’s move onto Verses 5-8.
2. The reward of wisdom 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. 8 He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.
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If we respect God, then we shall become wise. God gives his wisdom to us. We are his people, and he guards us. He defends us, and he protects us. Psalm 23 compares God to a man who owns sheep. The farmer looks after his sheep. He provides their food and water. He cares about them. In the same way, God looks after us. When we are in danger, God protects us.
Psalm 23...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 129 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Follow the Trail of Be->Do->Have Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 129 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-128/ (Yesterday) we completed our fifth and final day on the trail of our reality, which is based on our beliefs. If you missed any of the episodes on this five day trek, it would be worthwhile for you to go back and listen to them or read the daily journals to get a complete picture.
If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we spend time together on our daily trek, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages). Today we are going to extend the concept of how our beliefs create our reality as we investigate the principles or trail of “Be –> Do –> Have.” Many times we get these principles out of order and then wonder why our lives are not what we expect.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the weather has certainly made an abrupt change to fall. We also had a significant amount of rain the past few days primarily due to the hurricane that skirted the east coast. However, the Charlotte area was spared from flooding, unlike many areas on the eastern seaboard. Our workload this week remains very heavy, but we are taking it one day at a time. As we discussed on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-65/ (Day 65) of our Trek, the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.
It is time to break camp for today and head back out onto the trail in pursuit of wisdom, insight, and understanding that will help us as we create our living legacy. I would encourage you to keep your eyes focused on the trail today because it is important that we follow the trail of “Be –> Do –> Have” in the proper order. On our way out of camp, I want to ask you this question, “Are you BEING the person you truly want to be?”
It is important that we follow the trail of Be –> Do –> Have in the proper order.Tweet This Take a few moments and really think about who you are being right now and compare that to who you really want to be. Do you want to be a better father/mother; be happier than you are right now; be wealthier, healthier, and skinnier? Or, do you want to be better at your job or to be a better business owner?
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Most of us have been taught that we need to have things in our life to allow us to do what we want, allowing us to be who we want to be. For example, “When I have more time, I will be able to do more activities with my children, therefore I will be a better father.”
In reality, we will never be the person we want to be if we wait to have first.
If you really want to have ultimate success in ALL areas of your life (personal and in business), you really need to start being the person you want to be right now!
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You really need to reverse this teaching of having, doing, and then being and begin with being the person you should be. This will drive you to do the things that reflect your character and integrity, so you can have the results that you desire in life. To switch the previous example, “I am being the best father I can be allowing me to do more activities with my children and now I have the time necessary for them.”
Our wisdom nugget for today is to flip the Have –> Do –> Be teaching on its head and explore the Be –> Do –> Have principle. As we examine this nugget, let’s look at why...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 128 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Your Beliefs Create Your Reality (5) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 128 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-127/ (Yesterday) was day four of five on the trail of our reality, which is based on our beliefs. Our focus throughout this five day trek is to help you to realize how crucial it is that your belief system is based on a solid foundation of truth. Yesterday we explored how to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-127/ (upgrade your beliefs) so that you can change limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs.
Today is our last day of our current trek, and we will determine how we can make the growing of your beliefs a regular part of your life’s trek. If you missed any of the previous episodes on this trek, make sure you go back and listen to them all to get a complete picture. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we share time together on our daily trek, please share them in the comment section of our daily journal pages.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/99412501.png ()Build on a solid foundation. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it is starting out to be a week completely full with our client workload and many other activities. I was the guest on another podcast, which was released over this past weekend. The podcast is titled https://wisdom-trek.com/blog/the-steep-side-of-the-mountain-interview/ (The Steep Side of the Mountain) with host Manny Wolfe, and we discussed our lives and how we are able to integrate with the difficult times.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/cover170x170.jpeg ()Interview with Guthrie Chamberlain Now it is time to break camp for today and head back out for our fifth and final day on our reality trail. So far on our Trek, we have focused mainly on the role of our internal map of reality. We have also talked about how our beliefs serve as our internal map makers.
Learning to create a reality that empowers us rather than limits us is certainly a powerful and advanced life skill. This skill, perhaps more than any other, has the ability to totally transform the quality of our lives.
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As the TV infomercials would say…
But wait, there’s more! Creating an internal map of reality based on empowering beliefs is definitely something everyone should endeavor to do. With that said, I don’t want you to conclude that mastering this ability constitutes the final frontier because it doesn’t.
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In fact, the real key to a rich and satisfying life is not found within the confines of an intricately detailed map of reality where every square inch is ruled over by some established law or belief. God created us with a free will to make choices in our lives. Following the strict written code of the law has been replaced by the freedom we have in Christ. We do have freedom and flexibility in the choices that we make. We may not all agree in what constitutes a rich and satisfying life, or even what constitutes a life of faith, but we should choose to live a life that empowers us to fulfill our God-given potential. To choose less would be a disservice to our creator. The real key to such a life actually lies…
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Part 5: Beyond the Map The problem with being too locked into a minutely detailed map is that everything is (seemingly) accounted for. Perhaps this point can be best made by looking at our earth.
What...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 127 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Your Beliefs Create Your Reality (4) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 127 of our Trek.https://wisdom-trek.com/day-126/ (Yesterday) was day three of five on the trail of our reality, which is based on our beliefs. Our focus throughout this five day trek is realizing how crucial it is that your belief system is on a solid foundation of truth.
This is day four of five on our exploration into the concept that our beliefs create our reality. Today we will discover how to upgrade our beliefs so that our realities are based on a solid foundation of truth. If you missed any of the previous episodes on this trek, make sure you go back and listen to them all to get a complete picture. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we share time together on our daily trek, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal pages.)
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sunday we headed back to Charlotte after a busy and productive time in Marietta the past 10 days. We have a very busy week coming up with our client workload, including three interviews on other podcasts, and a trip to Phoenix, Arizona, to spend four days with our friends and business partners Charles and Alison Mecom on Friday. We have been working together on various construction projects for about 10 years and are doing some planning on a large project began this past summer.
Now it is time to break camp for and head back out on day four on our reality trail. As we start out I would like to ask you another question. “If your beliefs create your reality, doesn’t that open up a whole world of possibilities?” So, the next question I will follow up with is “What kind of reality have you created?”
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By simply asking that question, we are actually accomplishing two important steps. First, we are acknowledging our creative ability, and at the same time, we are accepting responsibility for our current reality or situation on our trek of life.
During days 1 -3 of this trek, we examined several fundamental ways in which your beliefs influence our reality. One thing that should be abundantly clear by now is the fact that the quality of your life is a reflection of the quality of your beliefs about who you are and what you are capable of.
The quality of your life is a reflection of the quality of your beliefs about who you are and what you are capable of.Tweet This Knowing that empowering beliefs create a desirable reality and limiting beliefs do the opposite is a good place to start. Obviously, the next step needs to be learning how to eliminate the beliefs that don’t serve you and replacing them with beliefs that do. This brings us to our 4th major mile marker on our Trek today.
Part 4: Upgrading Your Beliefs There is an essential first step that must be taken before you can even think about upgrading your beliefs. Do you know what that step is? It’s simple really, you need to identify your current beliefs and figure out which ones need an upgrade.
On the surface, this sounds easy enough. But beliefs are shrouded in all kinds of confusing disguises. In fact, have you ever noticed that the word “lie” is at the center of the word belief?
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So, how do we get around the deceptive power of our limiting beliefs?
- Look at the results! The easiest way to identify your own limiting beliefs is to look at the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 126 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Your Beliefs Create Your Reality (3) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 126 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-125/ (Y)https://wisdom-trek.com/day-125/ (esterday) was day two of five on the trail of our reality, which is based on our beliefs. As I mentioned yesterday, we are wonderfully created, and we have a vast capacity to create our reality through our paradigms or belief systems.
It is so crucial that your belief system is on a solid foundation of truth. This is day three of five on our exploration into the concept that our beliefs create our reality. If you miss any of these episodes, make sure you go back and listen to them all to get a complete picture. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we share time together on our daily trek, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal) pages.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/540_293_resize_20121201_cbc7cc7fd4e1829adb355899f025f42b_jpg.jpg ()We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I was able to finish the dining room floor with two coats of polyurethane. Check out the pictures. I would encourage you to check out the journal each day as I include related pictures and tweetable quotes in each of them.
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We also attended our nephew Caleb’s wedding in Logan, Ohio, this weekend. He and his new bride Misheel will be living in Chicago where Caleb is an architect and Misheel is an accountant. It was a beautiful wedding and we had a great time together with family. I have been so blessed to have a close family where we can share these times together.
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Now it is time to break camp for today and head back out for day three on our reality trail. As we start out I would like to ask you a question. “Why is it that two people can see and experience the exact same situation at the same time, but have two completely different interpretations or reactions?” Which response is true? Both are reality to the person who experiences it. This example supports what we have been exploring for the past couple of days. Our beliefs about our world create our own reality. That reality is personal to us.
Our beliefs about our world create our reality.Tweet This On a subconscious level, each of us is convinced that our beliefs are both true and accurate. After all, they must be correct, otherwise why would we choose to believe them, right?
Here’s how the dictionary defines “belief” – “Acceptance by the mind that something is true or real, often underpinned by an emotional or spiritual sense of certainty.”
On the first day of our current Trek, we talked about how https://wisdom-trek.com/day-124/ (our beliefs provide a structured process through which we evaluate everything) in our lives. Yesterday we saw how our https://wisdom-trek.com/day-125/ (beliefs become the foundation for our internal map of reality.)
Today it’s time to take a closer look at how we subconsciously alter the meaning of our experiences and relationships...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 125 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Your Beliefs Create Your Reality (2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 125 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-124/ (Yesterday) we began down the trail of our reality, which is based on our beliefs. As humans, we are wonderfully created, but with our vast capacity we also have the ability to create our reality through our paradigms or belief systems. Our beliefs provide us with a life that is rich and satisfying or poor and miserable. To put it another way, our beliefs create a mindset of abundance or scarcity.
It is so crucial that your belief system is on a solid foundation of truth we will spend five days on the concept that our beliefs create our reality. If you miss any of these episodes, make sure you go back and listen to them all to get a complete picture. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we share time together on our daily trek, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal) pages.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a rainy week so far, so I have not been able to get out and mow. I am hoping that it will dry off enough before we head back to Charlotte to be able to mow. The leaves on the big trees outside of our office windows are starting to change, and the beautiful fall colors are being painted on a few of them.
By the time that you listen to this podcast, I should have the dining room floor completed with two coats of polyurethane. Our dining room has a special pattern in the floor that really makes it beautiful. I will post a couple of pictures in https://wisdom-trek.com/day-126/ (tomorrow’s journal pages).
Let’s break camp for today and head back out on our reality trail as we realize that even though we may be traveling on the same trail, each of us has our own perception on what the trail looks like to us.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/when-reality-meets-expectation-appalachian-trail-guide-match-2.jpg ()Our Trail to Reality Understanding that our mind is very creative can help us grasp the power of how our beliefs shape our reality. George Orwell once said that “Myths which are believed in tend to become true.” This is especially true on an individual basis.
Myths which are believed in tend to become true.Tweet This By now, most of us realize that our perception of reality is heavily influenced by our beliefs, but the full extent of this influence is often underestimated. Each of us has a variety of methods for altering our reality, so it conforms to what we believe to be real. Each of us is a reality alteration expert.
Yesterday we discussed how your https://wisdom-trek.com/day-124/ (beliefs provide a structured process through which you evaluate everything) in your life. Now it’s time to take that concept a step further and look at the influence of your beliefs on your reality.
Part 2: Your Internal Map of Reality From the moment you entered this life, your subconscious mind has been busy collecting and processing information. Combined with your experiences, this information is used to create your beliefs about who you are as a person, and how you fit into the world around you.
Because these beliefs are based on your evaluation, and emotional conclusions of your personal experiences, they are accepted by your subconscious as being absolutely true. Your subconscious mind then uses these personal “truths” to construct your personal version of the real world. In other words, your
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 124 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Your Beliefs Create Your Reality (1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 124 of our Trek. Yesterday we discovered how ourhttps://wisdom-trek.com/day-123/ ( beliefs affect our decisions which affect our outcomes). We are going to expand this subject over the next few days and explore how your beliefs actually create your reality. This is why it is so crucial to make sure that your belief system is on a solid foundation. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we share time together on our daily trek, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal) pages.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio, and this morning I was able to finish coating the woodwork in the dining room. I will put the first coat of polyurethane on the floor tomorrow, so by Saturday morning, I should be able to get the second coat applied. After that, we will allow it to dry over the next couple of weeks while we are in Charlotte before moving the furniture back into the room.
Our client workload continues to keep us busy, and it always seems to be a bit of a balancing act to cover the various and different demands of each client. I do have to admit that at times we feel like the proverbial plate spinner in the circus making sure that we keep all of the plates spinning without them crashing. Since we do the work remotely, it does allow us to work the hours needed to make sure we accomplish it all.
As we prepare for our Trek and the dangers that we may face today, we discuss the concern about depth perception on narrow trails that are strewn with loose rocks. This is a particular concern on downhill slopes where a misstep could send us tumbling down the trail or worse yet over a cliff. As we think of this, I am reminded that our perception is our reality in our trek of life.
Perceptions come from your beliefs; therefore, what you believe becomes your reality. As we trek today I want to ask you, “What if some of your beliefs about yourself and your worldview are not true?” What if you have self-limiting beliefs about your world that are restricting you from fulfilling your God-given potential?
We all have the imposter syndrome to some extent. Imposter syndrome can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident or potential success. Let us not confuse this success with material wealth; that is only one minor measure of a successful life. As we discovered on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-123/ (yesterday’s trek), what we allow to go into our mind impacts our beliefs.
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One of my virtual mentors put it this way, “You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.”
Remember Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart/mind, for everything you do flows from it.”
Since your beliefs are your reality, you need to make sure that your beliefs are based on truth. You need to make sure what you think about each day is based on Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Since your beliefs are your reality, you need to make sure that your...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 123 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Beliefs -> Decisions -> Outcomes Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 123 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-122/ (Yesterday) we continued our commentary of the book of Proverbs and completed Chapter 1 verses 8 through 33. We will be intermixing our Proverbs commentary occasionally throughout the daily treks.
Paula and I have a two trips planned over the next six weeks, so we will be recording some additional Proverbs episodes in advance to air while we are on these trips. As with all of the Wisdom-Trek episodes, if you miss any of the Proverbs episodes, they are located on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) along with the written https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journals). Today we will be discovering how our beliefs affect our decisions which affect our outcomes.
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As you spend time with us on our daily trek, if you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions, please share them in the comment section of our daily journal pages on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisom-Trek.com).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio, and this morning I continued to make some progress in our dining room and am still on track to finish it by the end of this week. Our contractors are also in this week to finalize some of the trim work that they needed to complete. So, hopefully we will be able to entirely complete the current projects before we move onto the next room, which will be the library.
As with our daily trek of life, it is important to take time to celebrate the small milestones, victories, and accomplishments. One of these accomplishments is the very positive feedback and gradual increase of trekkers who are joining with us each day on our Wisdom-Trek. Thank you so much for being part of our wisdom community. Joining us each day will positively impact your beliefs, which will impact your decisions as well as your outcomes or results. So, let’s head out on our trail for today and learn how to have positive outcomes in our lives.
It is important to take time to celebrate the small milestones, victories, and accomplishments.Tweet This If you have joined us on previous days, you realize that as a person of faith, I feel there is much wisdom that can be gained through God’s Word. What we allow to impact our beliefs will have a significant impact on the results that we achieve in life. The Bible tells us there are three reasons why what you believe is important. The first reason why you need to know what you believe and why you believe it is because it shapes your life.
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Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart/mind, for everything you do flows from it.”
The Bible tells us that our beliefs determine our decisions and behavior. If there are things in your life you want to change, you don’t change them from the outside in. You change them from the inside out. You start with your thought life, not by trying to change external things.
Change starts with your thought life, not by trying to change external things.Tweet This Second, if you have a faulty worldview, it’s going to cause all kinds of unnecessary problems in your life. Proverbs 29:18 says, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.”
When you don’t have God’s truth and a correct worldview, you stumble all over yourself. But when you pay attention to God’s revelation, then you are blessed.
Do you want your...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 122 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs – Chapter 1:8-33 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 122 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-121/ (Yesterday) we began the actual commentary of the book of Proverbs and completed Chapter 1 verses 1 through 7. Today we will continue on with verses 8 through 33. If you miss any of the commentary covering the book of Proverbs, I would suggest that you listen to any missed episodes. Every daily episode can be found at https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) along with the written https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journals).
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If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal) pages.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio, and today we worked all day at one of our client locations as we do each month to assist them with processing and printing of their customer billing. Being onsite also gives us an opportunity to catch up on some of the loose ends that need a little more attention. It was a good day of work, and overall everything ran smoothly. It is rewarding to be an integral part of our clients businesses and to bring them added value. In all of our interactions each day, we should nurture value and trust into our relationships.
During our Trek through the book of Proverbs, we will learn the correct trails to take each day. Some days these trails may appear very difficult for us as they will hit points in our lives that need correcting. This knowledge will be gained through the use of clear instructions, great truths, practical stories and experiences, comparisons and contrasts, and imagery and poems, all of which are contained in Proverbs. Using our skills of observation that we discussed https://wisdom-trek.com/day-121/ (yesterday), let’s head out for our Trek today as we continue on our trail of discovering wisdom in lessons from two different perspectives.
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A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom 8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
In Solomon’s time, both parents educated their children. It is good when children can learn from both parents. If you have children or grandchildren, use every day experiences of life to impart instruction. Make it enjoyable.
We should listen to wisdom. Wisdom is beautiful, and it is valuable. To possess it is like a crown on your head. Or, it is like a gold chain round your neck. To obtain wisdom, we must study, and we need discipline. Just like our trek of life, we cannot become wise quickly. But, wisdom will improve our lives.
To obtain wisdom, we must study, and we need discipline.Tweet This Some people imagine that they know a quicker way to improve their lives. Solomon warns about such people in verses 10-19. These type of people offer friendship (verse 14), but their friendship cannot last because their plan is evil. They offer rich rewards (verse 13), but really they will suffer a terrible fate (verse 19). Wisdom is much better than any evil plan.
· The thieves’ plan 10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 121 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs – Chapter 1:1-7 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 121 of our Trek. Yesterday we continued with the beginning of our commentary on the book of Proverbs, and we discovered https://wisdom-trek.com/day-120/ (why Proverbs is important in our pursuit of wisdom). As I mentioned yesterday we won’t go straight through the book of Proverbs consecutively, but we will intermix the commentary with other daily wisdom nuggets. Today we are beginning the actual commentary of the book of Proverbs.
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If you are not familiar with the structure of a commentary, I will read each verse or group of related verses and then share a brief observation or comment on that verse or group of verses. This type of study is one of the most effective ways to learn and apply information on a practical basis.
I would like to challenge you, though. You do not have to agree with my observations and comments of the verses. It is my hope that this format will give you an opportunity to think for yourself and grow in insight and discernment and then grow in wisdom. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal) pages.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/download-3.jpg ()Wisdom-Trek Journal – Commentary on Proverbs Before we get started, I want to remind you of the drawing in celebration of the 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek. We will have a drawing on October 5th when we will be giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts. There are only two more days to register.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a busy and full day of work activities and the day has rushed by once again. After some exercising this morning, I made additional progress on the woodwork in the formal dining room. I have it mapped out so I should be able to finish the woodwork and floors by the end of the week at least based on my current plans. I so enjoy the view from the office here, as I have the opportunity to observe the leaves just starting to change in colors.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/systematic-observation-psychology_62ca7bb505ed13ff.jpg ()Take time to observe God’s beauty. As we head out on our Proverbs trail today, one of the most powerful skills that we can possess while hiking is the skill of observation. If we are going to enjoy and learn from our daily journey in life, it is imperative that we hone our skills of observation so that we do not miss the critical and enjoyable moments of our lives.
During our discussion on our Trek through the book of Proverbs, we will be using the tool of observation. This is equivalent to using a pair of field glasses or binoculars while hiking. It allows us to see the crucial, awe-inspiring, and breathtaking moments of life up close and personal.
As we look at the verses in Proverbs through the binoculars of our mind, we will see the treasures of wisdom in detail so that we will be able to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insight, boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before, and live long and prosper.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ptg01726976.jpg ()The Power of Observation During our trek through the book of Proverbs, we will learn the correct trails to take each day. This knowledge will be gained through the use of clear instructions, great truths, practical stories, practical experience, comparisons, images and poems, all of which...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 120 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs – The Purpose Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 120 of our Trek. Yesterday we started a commentary on the book of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-119/ (Proverbs with a background introduction) of the book.
We won’t go straight through the book of Proverbs all at once, but we will intermix the commentary with other daily wisdom nuggets. Today we will look at why studying the book of Proverbs is so important for wisdom and lay out the six sections within the book.
Before we get started, I want to remind you of the drawing in celebration of the 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek. We will have a drawing on October 5th when we will be giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts. There are only three more days to register, and you can register once per day.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Today we drove to New Castle, Pennsylvania, to see our newest grandchild Evelyn Grace. She is the cutest little girl and her proud parents Barnabas and Leesha are doing well.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/File-Sep-27-4-15-48-PM-e1443385182534.jpeg ()Granny & Gramps with Evelyn Grace Chamberlain https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/File-Sep-27-4-15-25-PM.jpeg ()Granny & Gramps with Evelyn Grace Chamberlain Today our campfire is burning brightly, and as we listen to the crackling of the wood, it almost sounds as if is part of our conversation, sharing in the nuggets of wisdom that we are consuming. As we continue to share more introduction to the book of wisdom, you contemplate “What is the purpose of the Book of Proverbs?” As your mentor and your guide, I strongly believe if you desire to gain wisdom and desire a life built on wisdom, then Proverbs must be the foundation for your life.
I am going to keep our discussion of Proverbs more conversational as if we were literally sitting next to each other. Through the magic of our modern technology I am right there beside you. If you have any comments or questions, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal) pages.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/images-6.jpg ()Wisdom-Trek Campfire As I share the wisdom of Proverbs, I will also weave some related scriptures into our lessons as they apply. So, let’s get started.
- How do we gain wisdom in our lives? Since you are on our Wisdom-Trek with us, you have already taken proactive steps to gain wisdom. Congratulations and thank you for trekking with me. If you feel that you are lacking wisdom, as I do in so many areas of life, then all you need to do is ask God for wisdom as instructed by James, the half-brother of Jesus in his letter written to the dipersed believers in the 1st century AD.
James 1:5-8, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
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- Why is Proverbs so important? Proverbs accomplishes something no other biblical book does. It simply compiles numerous short instructions for living an effective life on earth. While other...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 119 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Proverbs – The Background Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 119 of our Trek. For the past three days, we had an extended trek as we explored the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-116/ (reasons we make excuses), which are primarily based in fear. Then, we discovered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-117/ (types of excuses we make), and yesterday we learned how we can https://wisdom-trek.com/day-118/ (eliminate excuses forever). If you missed any of the past three days, please check out the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal to catch up.
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Today we are going to deviate a bit from our scripted wisdom lessons and begin an overview and commentary of the ultimate book of wisdom, which is the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs has more nuggets of wisdom condensed into a short, easy to read book, than any other book ever written. The truths contained in Proverbs are the basis for most other books of wisdom. We won’t go straight through the book of Proverbs all at once, but we will intermix the commentary with other wisdom nuggets. As we go through the book of Proverbs, we will be assembling a complete commentary that will be available as an eBook in the future. I will also be assembling the Wisdom-Trek journals into a series of quarterly eBook volumes that will be available for downloading.
The truths contained in Proverbs are the basis for most other books of wisdom.Tweet This https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/BibleStudy.jpg ()The Book of Wisdom Before we get started, I want to remind you of the drawing in celebration of the 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek. There are only four more days to register and you can register once per day. We will have the drawing on October 5th and will be giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. On Saturday, we spent the morning with our four Marietta grandchildren as Elizabeth ran some errands. In the afternoon, we celebrated our granddaughter Hazel’s 1st birthday. She has just started to walk and is a sweet little redhead with bright eyes and a cute little smile. It was a treat. My dad was also able to attend, so it was really good to spend time together once again as family.
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On the days that we spend studying the book of Proverbs, we’ll just sit around our campfire, relax, and enjoy the wisdom nuggets that we will consume. These tidbits of wisdom that we will explore are like making s’mores over the fiery coals. They are sweet to our taste and delicious to consume. It also gives us an opportunity to reflect on gaining wisdom.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/smore-in-front-of-fire.jpg ()Nuggets of wisdom are like s’mores at a campsite. I am going to keep it more conversational as if we were literally sitting next to each other. Through the magic of our modern technology I am there right beside you. If you have any comments or questions, please share them in the comment section of our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (daily journal) pages.
As I share the wisdom of Proverbs, I will also weave some related scriptures into our lessons as they apply. So, let’s get started on our time together for today.
Proverbs – The Background All we will be able to cover today is a background to the book of Proverbs. Most of the book of Proverbs was written or assembled by King Solomon who ruled the nation of Israel for 40 years. He was the third King of Israel after Saul,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 118 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. How to Eliminate Excuses Forever Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 118 of our Trek. The past two days we explored the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-116/ (reasons we make excuses), which are primarily based in fear, and we discovered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-117/ (types of excuses we make). Today we will learn how we can eliminate excuses forever. Please make sure you listen to all three episode on excuses to understand the full story.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out Wisdom-Trek.com and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Our big news for today is that our sixth grandchild, Evelyn Grace was born at 12:53 am Friday morning. She is the daughter of our middle son Barnabas and his wife Leesha. All three of them are doing well. We are so thankful and blessed. We now have three grandsons and three granddaughters. Granny and Gramps hope to be able to visit Grace within the next few days after she and Leesha have time to rest.
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We drove up to Marietta today and will be up here for about 10 days with several activities planned. Hazel’s 1st birthday is on Saturday and our nephew Caleb Chamberlain is getting married on October 3rd in Lancaster Ohio so we are able to attend his wedding also. In addition, I will be continuing on with our renovations. It is slow, but life is a marathon. And, https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) will probably be around a lot longer than I will, so there is no real rush. Perseverance and consistency are always on the trail to long-lasting success.
Perseverance and consistency are always on the trail to long-lasting success.Tweet This One way to ensure success in our daily trek is to make sure that we eliminate excuses because excuses stifle our results and make us less effective. So, it is time to head out onto the trail today and look for the markers that will teach us to eliminate excuses forever. The markers are not hidden, but you do need to follow their instructions if you want to successfully navigate the trail of no more excuses.
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During the past two days of our Trek, we explored the trails of specific types of excuses and presented some ideas on how to overcome the excuse obstacles on our path. On today’s trail, we will study the markers that will give us some general ideas, suggestions, and techniques we can use to eliminate all excuses forever.
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As we study these trail markers, it’s important to understand that our excuses lead to stagnation and a life of regrets. Moreover, success in any field of endeavor requires a period of discomfort where we must venture into unfamiliar territories not knowing what to expect.
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· Trail Marker #1 – Avoid Making Comparisons Making comparisons between yourself and others will often make you feel disheartened if you are unable to live up to people’s standards and achievements. Instead, only compare yourself to your “best self.” No other comparisons are necessary. If through your highest efforts you surpass your personal best, then...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 117 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The 11 Mountains of Excuses Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 117 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-116/ (Yesterday) we explored the reasons we make excuses and realized that it boils down to fear. Today we want to extend this exploration and discover the types of excuses we make. Tomorrow we will learn how we can https://wisdom-trek.com/day-118/ (eliminate excuses forever). Please make sure you listen to all three episodes.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This has been one very exciting day for the Wisdom-Trek team. Our younger daughter Janet turned 30 today, and we were able to celebrate with her and Rowan, our son Fred and Doug, along with a few other family members and friends. I am not sure when Janet passed me in age, but I guess it happened. It was a nice evening together. We were also able to have our close friend Howard over for an early dinner this evening. It was great to get caught up on his recent activities.
Our niece Sarah Jenkins and husband Andrew also gave birth to their son Bennett today. Plus, I was featured in a podcast interview that was released today on the All In Podcast Show hosted by Dan Giordano. Take a minute to https://wisdom-trek.com/blog/all-in-podcast-show-interview/ (listen to the show). It was a great experience.
Last, but certainly not least, our middle son Barnabas and his wife Leesha went to the hospital today, and we are waiting for our sixth grandchild, Evelyn Grace to be born. Granny and Gramps are anxious for the news of her arrival.
With all this good news and the activities of the day, it was a bit hard to focus on the work at hand. We did not allow these events to keep us from our tasks that needed accomplished, though. It is so easy to use daily events in our lives, our current situation, or our upbringing as excuses, but we need to take responsibility for the outcomes or results in our lives. On today’s Trek, we want to examine the 11 most common excuses that we all use at times, and tomorrow we will https://wisdom-trek.com/day-118/ (learn how to overcome them). Our trail today is a longer one, so strap up your hiking boots and come along with me on a fast paced trek over the 11 Mountains of Excuses.
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The 11 Mountains of Excuses Excuses come in many forms, and we tend to make them in many different ways.
Even though excuses vary from person to person, there are certain excuses that we all tend to make at one point or another. On our trail today, we will break down these excuses and discuss what they mean and how we can deal with them when they crop up in our lives.
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· Excuse Mountain #1: There’s not enough time… This really means that you’re lacking passion, focus, discipline, and/or direction. Likewise, it suggests that your priorities are out of sorts and that you may be lacking the ability to manage your time effectively.
Alternatively, this excuse could indicate that you simply don’t value your time or just don’t want to take the time to do what you feel you must in order to achieve your desired outcomes. In fact, the causes for this excuse could very well be narrowed down to procrastination or even laziness....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 116 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Reasons We Make Excuses Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 116 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-115/ (Y)https://wisdom-trek.com/day-115/ (esterday) we explored the attributes of a person who achieves results. The opposite of results is excuses. All of us fall victim to making excuses in most areas of life. So, over the next three days, we will look at the reasons we make excuses, the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-117/ (types of excuses we make), and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-118/ (how we can eliminate excuses forever). Please make sure you listen to all three episodes.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The day just seemed to fly by today as most days do. I was able to accomplish some of the tasks that needed completed, but there will be some left for another day. I was interviewed for a podcast by a businessman in Australia today which was quite extensive. It will not air until November or December, though, since it is a new podcast that is just getting ready to launch. I will keep you informed as new episodes are released in which I have had the privilege of being interviewed. We should be able to announce several more podcast interviews that will be released over the next few weeks.
Many of these discussions bring out our Trek throughout our lives. While we have had our share of “valleys” that we have trekked through, we have also experienced some glorious summits on our way. It would be easy to gloss over some of these valleys and make excuses, but the realization is that all the choices that were made were our choices based on the experience and knowledge that we had at that time.
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It is easy to fall into the habit of making excuses when our trek of life does not turn out as we desired. For the next three days of our Trek, we will examine in detail the subject of excuses. So, let’s put all our excuses aside and head out on the trail. One quote from a very wise man, Benjamin Franklin, reminds us, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.Tweet This Do you ever catch yourself making excuses when things don’t turn out as you had expected? Have you ever neglected taking responsibility for the events and circumstances of your life? Or have you ever tried to explain away why you didn’t, couldn’t, shouldn’t or simply wouldn’t do something? These are all subtle signs that indicate you are living a life of excuses, which prevents you from living to your full potential. And, in Jesus’s words, your full potential is a rich and satisfying life.
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What Are Excuses? Excuses are rationalizations we make to ourselves about people, events, and circumstances. They are invented reasons we create to defend our behavior, to neglect taking a particular kind of action, or to simply negate responsibility. Excuses are in essence a means of placing blame of an internal problem on an external condition.
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Reasons We Make Excuses There are many reasons why people make excuses. In fact, everyone has different reasons for making them. However, when it boils down to it, all excuses are
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 115 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. How to Achieve Greater Results Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 115 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-114/ (Yesterday) we learned why the will to prepare is more important than the will to succeed. Today we will explore the attributes of a person that achieves results.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a busy but productive day of client work, an interview, and online training. I strive to focus on some avenue of learning each day which could be a webinar, online courses, or additional reading. Even when the work load is heavy, I feel that it is important for all of us to have a priority of learning and improving. We should see improving results in each of our lives.
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As we head out on our Trek today, this gives us a topic for discussion. So, I will ask you, “Why do some people seem to have the desirable ability to get things done — to get results — while others seem to continually spin their wheels?” This is an interesting point to ponder. Clearly we all have the same amount of time each day. We all have skills and abilities in certain areas. We all have the potential to achieve in our lives in some area.
We all have the potential to achieve great results in our lives.Tweet This As we study individuals that seem to achieve more than an average person, there are some common traits that reveal themselves. So, the question arises, “How can you become a high-achiever? If we want to be high-achievers, then we need to emulate, not duplicate, those individuals that are. The result-getters have three common qualities or traits: great self-talk, great alliances, and great ability. The complexity of these three traits is part of the mix.
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- Great Self-Talk Great self-talk is driven by a number of factors including:
Your personal experiences both positive and negative
Your environment
Your personal goals
The price that you are willing to pay for your success
Your personal desire to continually improve
Your minimal concern for what others say about you
The love that you have for yourself
Together these factors will create in you something that most of us would identify as passion.
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The question is can passion be taught or acquired, or does it have to be innate? Many believe that you have to be born with passion. I, on the contrary, do not believe this. There are too many examples today of people who are fanatical and passionate after they have become involved in an organization or movement. Even the conversion experience within a religious organization shows that one can become passionate about his or her cause. This is proof to me that passion can be taught or learned. If you are not enjoying the results you need or desire, positive self-talk is the first step toward results. What the mind dwells on, the body acts on. Positive self-talk will lead to positivity in your life. Negative self-talk will lead to negativity.
- Great Alliances Great alliances appear in many forms: camaraderie, friendship,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 114 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Will to Prepare is Required Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 114 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-113/ (Yesterday) we learned how to develop a solid and continual habit of humor. Just like any habit, good or bad, it is learned over time by continual practice of a particular behavior. Humor is no different. Today we will explore why your will to prepare is more important than your will to succeed.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are ramped up for a busy week of client work, which includes being interviewed on two podcasts, completing a training sales demo for our tech client, and watching a couple of live training webinars all before we head back north to https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) on Friday. It should be a busy but enjoyable week.
Our youngest grandchild Hazel, who is an adorable fiery red head, will be having her 1st birthday party on Saturday. We try not to miss any of the grand kids’ birthdays. Hazel is our daughter Elizabeth’s youngest of four, and they live in Marietta. So, we have the privilege of seeing them quite often. Their first day of school pictures are below.
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Before the end of this month our newest grandchild should arrive. She is the daughter to our middle son Barnabas and his wife Leesha. Leesha does all of the reviewing and editing for the Wisdom-Trek journal notes each day.
As we begin our Trek today, we are facing a very narrow and steep uphill climb that does not look like it will be easy. There are some of you that may thrive on this challenge while others will be a bit more apprehensive about the obstacles that lie ahead of us. Which one are you? Are you more competitive by nature and love a good challenge? Do you desire to be out front leading our team, or would you rather be toward the back, content to follow after the trail has been forged and determined to be safe?
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Hidden-Canyon-087.jpg ()Are you prepared? While I have observed that some people appear to be more competitive by nature, this competitiveness is based on the task that is to be completed. As an example, while I tend to be more of a risk taker and competitive, Paula appears less so. I have found through experience though, that given the right situations, Paula is very competitive. I rarely can claim victory at table games or games on the computer, for instance, as Paula’s competitive nature makes sure that she does her best to win.
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On our Trek today and in all areas of life, if we are going to reach at least some level of success, we need to have internal drive. But, a much bigger factor is that we need to be prepared. Preparation in all areas of life is important. In fact, the will to prepare is more important than the will to succeed. We will never be successful if we do not prepare. When we refer to preparation, it is much more than “getting ready to get ready.” Preparation is the blood,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 113 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Laughter is the Best Medicine (2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 113 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-112/ (Yesterday) we discovered the abundant health benefits of laughter. If you missed these life changing health facts, please listen to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-112/ (Day 112). Today we want to expand on those benefits so that you can bring more humor into your life by developing a solid and continual habit of humor. Just like any habit, good or bad, it is learned over time by continual practice of particular behavior. Humor is no different.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today we were able to attend and worship at our home church here in Charlotte. It was good to see many friends and fellowship together. We will be heading back to https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) this coming Friday, so this will be the only Sunday this month that we are able to attend church here. We do appreciate being able to worship with Christ followers wherever we happen to be any particular week.
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The remainder of today was spent relaxing and doing a little bit of light work. It has always been difficult for me to completely relax without any working on Sunday, but it is certainly a goal I desire to establish. Many Sunday’s we are traveling, but that is not quite the same as an unplugged day of relaxation.
For today, it is time to head back out on our humor trail and discover some interesting ways to establish the habit of humor in our lives. You will find that as you implement these humor nuggets into your life you will become a funnier and happier person in all that you do. You will be better able to enjoy the rich and satisfying life that you were meant to have.
Humor - It is truly a habit that can transform your life.Tweet This
- Bring more humor and laughter into your life. We are all born with the ability and desire to laugh. Laughter is your birthright, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. Infants begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months of being born. Even if you did not grow up in a household where laughter was a common sound, you can relearn to laugh at any stage of life. It is truly a habit that you can re-form in your life.
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Begin by setting aside special times to seek out humor and laughter, as you might with working out and build from there. Eventually, you’ll want to incorporate humor and laughter into the fabric of your life, finding it naturally in everything you do.
Here are some ways to start to weave humor into the fabric of who you are:
Smile. Smiling is the beginning of laughter. Like laughter, it’s contagious. Pioneers in “laugh therapy,” find it’s possible to laugh without even experiencing a funny event. The same holds true for smiling. When you look at someone or see something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling.
Count your blessings. Literally make a list. The simple act of considering the good things in your life will distance you from negative thoughts that are a barrier to humor and laughter. When you’re in a state of sadness, you have further to...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 112 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Laughter is the Best Medicine (1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 112 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-111/ (Yesterday) we asked the question “Have you taken your medicine today?” Referring to the medicines of laughter, joy, and kindness. Today and tomorrow, we want to expand on the actual health benefits of laughter.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. After sleeping in a bit, today was a casual day of work at home. This evening our friends Ken and Anne had us over for dinner along with another couple. Anne prepared a delicious meal, and it was a good time of fellowship and sharing. Ken and Anne are missionaries with Wycliffe and focus on training nationals in using translation software throughout the world, so they travel quite extensively. Our time together was filled with stories and laughter.
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It is always good to spend time with friends that share many common interest and values. These times together make our trek of life enjoyable and worthwhile. So, as we head out on the trail today, let us remember to take time with others sharing and laughing. Even during the most difficult situations of life, times of heartache and illness, never let us forget to take time to share and laugh together with family and friends.
The more medical professionals and scientists study the impact of laughter in our lives and on our health, the body of evidence continues to mount that proves laughter is the best medicine. Let us hike this mountain of evidence today and discover why science is proving this to be true.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/emily81.jpg ()Mountains of Laughter 1. Humor and laughter offer great health benefits. Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
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- Laughter is strong medicine for mind and body. “Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health,” Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.
Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.
With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.
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Laughter cheers our hearts and helps to clear our minds of worry and doubt. As we looked at on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-111/ (yesterday’s trek), “A...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 111 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Have You Taken Your Medicine Today? Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 111 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-110/ (Yesterday) we learned the 10 steps for taming your anger. If you missed these crucial tips, please listen to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-110/ (Day 110). Today I have a question for you. Have you taken your medicine today?
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Last night we went over to our daughter Janet and her husband Rowan’s home for dinner. Like us, they are always conscious and make sure that they eat healthy and wholesome foods. We had salmon, black rice, black beans, and cooked cabbage with apples in it. The meal was delicious, and we had a great time visiting.
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Janet also suggested a couple of changes with the Wisdom-Trek podcast, which we will be implementing. I realize that up to this point, the daily episodes have been fairly scripted, so we will experiment on future days to be a bit more natural and conversational. If you have any feedback on our podcast, we always look forward to your comments.
Today was a bit off schedule for work since Paula had some major dental work completed by our daughter Chelimo (Buddy’s wife). Paula is preparing to have a replacement tooth mounted in the next couple of months. Since we were not sure how the surgery would impact her, I went along to drive back afterwards. She will be on some strong medicine for a few days as the surgery heals. Our grandson Kip was out of school today, so we also stopped by to visit him some afterwards. It was a busy but enjoyable day.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dental-exam.jpg () While I am not a huge advocate for being on medicine long term if it can be avoided, there are three types of medicine that are listed in the Bible that I believe we should take daily and in abundance because we can never overdose on them.
There are three types of medicine that we should take in abundance – laughter, joy, kindness.Tweet This Medicines are supposed to treat ailments. They are supposed to make us feel better. Medicine is supposed to return us to health so that we can enjoy life more fully.
- Laughter is the best medicine. Psalms 126:2, “We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
As we grow into adulthood, we soon forget to take our daily dose of laughter medicine. Studies have shown babies and children laugh hundreds of times a day. Adults, on the other hand, often barely make it to double digits. Even joyful people can feel weighed down by the pressures and heartaches of life.
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But Jesus tells us, “So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven,” Matthew 18:4.
Maybe it’s time to turn your troubles over to God and become more like a child—full of joy and laughter. We need to take time and make time to laugh. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 4 remind us,
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
“A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”
If...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 110 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Taming Your Anger Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 110 of our Trek, and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-109/ (yesterday) we learned how to prevent our lives from becoming like garbage trucks. Today we will build on that topic and learn the 10 steps for taming your anger.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th. We are giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Last night we had my sister Rebecca over for our monthly get-together as we enjoyed eating a meal, talking about life, and looking through some more old pictures when we were both very young. It is great to be able to spend the time together and remember some of our past. While I am not one for living in or wishing for the past, it is good to reflect, enjoy, and learn from our past so that we can live with more significance and have a greater impact on our world.
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These times of relaxing and reflection are good for everyone. Getting out in nature and going for a hike is also an excellent opportunity to relax and have meaningful conversations about life and how we deal with the pressures and issues of life.
As we break camp and head out onto the trail, the subject of anger control comes up. All of us deal with anger in our lives and the lives of others. It is an issue that we need to prepare our minds for in advance, so that we know how to handle anger issues when they are directly impacting our lives. Yesterday we talked about how to handle the situation when someone dumps their garbage or anger on us. Do you internalize it? Do you take it and and then dump it onto someone else? Or, have you made your life a “https://wisdom-trek.com/day-109/ (no garbage zone)?”
As a Christ follower, I attempt to allow God’s Spirit to control my actions, but even if I endeavor not to accept or allow garbage in my life, I am human and have weaknesses. And, so do you. You will find at times that garbage will seep into your world and keeping your temper in check can be challenging.
Do you fume when someone cuts you off in traffic? Does your blood pressure rocket when your child refuses to cooperate? Anger is a normal and even healthy emotion, but it’s important to deal with and control it in a positive way. Uncontrolled anger can take a toll on both your health and your relationships.
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If you are ready to take responsibility for controlling the anger in your life when it occurs, then following these 10 anger management tips will be useful.
- Think before you speak. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to say something you’ll later regret. Take a few moments to collect your thoughts before saying anything, and allow others involved in the situation to do the same.
Proverbs 17:27, “A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.”
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- Once you’re calm, express your anger. As soon as you’re thinking clearly, express your frustration in a confident but non-confrontational way. State your concerns and needs clearly and directly without hurting others or trying to control them.
Proverbs 25:15, “Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 109 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like a Garbage Truck Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 109 of our Trek, and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-108/ (yesterday) we came to understand that our life is like flying in a jet. If the plane loses cabin pressure, we must put on our masks first, so that we can then assist others. It is the same in all areas of life. We need to take care of ourselves, so that we will have the ability to assist others. Today we want to learn how to prevent our lives from becoming like a garbage truck.
Collecting garbage is as old as humans. In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out Wisdom-Trek.com and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is amazing how quickly the hours rush by each day. I realize that we are making progress on the various projects that we are working on, but there never seems to be enough hours in the day. That is how life’s trek is. We slowly and deliberately continue climbing toward the summit one small step at a time. We know that if we continue to follow the trail each day, we will reach the destination eventually. What is slowing you down today?
As we head out of camp today, we notice that the garbage bins are overflowing onto the ground, and there is garbage strewn all around. We comment to each other that we sure hope that the garbage truck picks it up soon. What a mess it is! We then think about the purpose of a garbage truck, which is to pick up other people’s smelly and gross garbage and take it somewhere else and dump it. This reminds me of a story of how, if we are not careful, our lives can become like a garbage truck.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/garbage-truck.gif ()Life is like a garbage truck. This true story was experienced by David Pollay on a business trip to New York City, and it goes like this.
“I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, the car skidded, the tires squealed, and at the very last moment our car stopped just one inch from the other car’s back-end.
I couldn’t believe it. But then I couldn’t believe what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. How do I know? Ask any New Yorker, some words in New York come with a special face. And he even threw in a one finger salute! I couldn’t believe it!
But then here’s what really blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, ‘Why did you just do that!? This guy could have killed us!’ And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck®.” He said:
‘Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they look for a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. So when someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Believe me. You’ll be happier.’”
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This story should cause you to reflect. How often do you let other people’s garbage trucks dump their trash on you, and then how often do you transfer their garbage and spread it to other people – at work, at home, on the streets? We should not do this; however, that’s...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 108 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like Flying in a Jet Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 108 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-107/ (Yesterday) we learned howlife is like a bell and regardless of what type of bell we are, we need to serve that purpose faithfully and always ring true because we can never unring a bell. Today we want to see how life is like flying in a jet.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2132918259_f4cfcc9cbf_o1.jpg ()Life is Like Flying in a Jet In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are working hard to stay focused on some deadlines for our client work during the day as our evenings and weekend are filling up this week. We are having beautiful weather in the Charlotte area this week with sunshine and temperatures around 80°.
With this beautiful weather, it is a great day to continue on our Trek. As we enjoy our time in nature feeling the warm breeze, watching the rustling of the trees and grass, and hearing the birds sing their melodies, we stare up into the cloudless blue sky and stand in awe of God’s creation. As we continue looking into the sky, we notice the faint lines left by the jets as they pass through the air 35,000 feet above us going nearly 600 miles per hour. Some of the modern inventions, such as the jets that pass overhead, are truly miracles.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Image.jpg ()Enjoying God’s Creation As Paula and I are planning a trip to Arizona next month to visit the construction project that we are involved in, I have been thinking about flying again. During a three year time period, when I worked with a national consulting firm, I traveled every week, so I spent a lot of time on planes. I really enjoy flying, both commercially and privately, and understand the importance of safety and the checklist as part of that process.
One of the seemingly unusual instructions that we are given before taking off is “If cabin pressure should change, panels above your seat will open revealing oxygen masks; reach up and pull a mask towards you. Place it over your nose and mouth and secure it with the elastic band that can be adjusted to ensure a snug fit. The plastic bag will not fully inflate although oxygen is flowing. Secure your own mask first before helping others.”
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From an emotional standpoint, especially as a parent, your initial reaction would be to assist your children with putting their masks on first before you would put your own on. Is it not selfish of us to think of ourselves first?
Growing up in church, we were taught the children’s song Jesus and Others and You. What a wonderful way to spell JOY! And, while I understand that this was supposed to teach us to think of others first and not to be selfish, the song does lack some fundamental logic.
The logical conclusion in the flying scenario is if you do not take care of yourself first by making sure your mask is on and that you can breathe, you may be unable to assist anyone else to stay alive.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Image.png ()Living Fully I remember 30 years ago before this became a popular analogy with public speakers, Paula mentioned how this statement is what we should practice in our lives. If we do not take care of ourselves in all areas of life, we will not be able to assist others properly.
Both Paula and I have a heart...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 107 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like a Bell Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 107 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-106/ (Yesterday) you discovered that you are the leading character, or star, in the story of your life. You learned that if your life is like a movie, then you need to make it a great one – for you and your supporting characters, and it should be filled with the scenes that matter most. Today we want to determine how our life is like a bell.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Handbells_Whitechapel.jpg ()Life is Like a Bell In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt drawing that will take place on October 5th.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are getting focused on the client work that we need to accomplish this week. The first day after traveling is usually a bit of an adjustment, but we are making good progress catching up on some work details that were somewhat behind schedule. It will take us a couple of more days, though.
It is now time to break camp and head out on our Trek for today. We are making good progress over summits and through the valleys, past the meadows and the rivers. As we crest a hill, we hear from deep within the valley the distinct ringing of a church bell calling out to the people of the village that it is time to come, worship, and fellowship together. In today’s hectic and fast-paced world, we reflect fondly on a simpler time when we took the time to come together as a like-minded community.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Anglesey-Llanfihangel-Trer-Beirdd-Church-Bell-Tower-and-Carved-Faces.jpg ()Church Bell Just like people, there are different kinds of bells. Church bells ring melodious while the trolley goes clang, clang, clang. There are cow bells, sleigh bells, schools bells, dinner bells, door bells,and hand bells. Probably one of the most famous bells is the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/liberty-bell.jpg ()The Liberty Bell Bells have been an important part of my life. Growing up on the farm, we had a big train bell mounted on the back of the house which we could hear just about anywhere over the entire 100 acres. Mom would call us in from the orchard, the valley, or the lake for dinner or other important matters.
At https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House), we have a large train bell mounted outside the back door that my granny always rang loud and long when company was leaving after an extended stay as she waved and shouted good bye. We still use it for that purpose today.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2284844_1_l.jpg ()Train Bell When our kids are were still living at home, Paula had a different type of bell for each of the three floor – cow bell for the attic, a small dinner bell for the 2nd floor, and an electronic bell for the first floor. The kids always knew which floor to come to based on the bell used. It sure saved a lot of shouting to round up the children.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/image_12509.jpg ()Cow Bell This also reminds me that our lives are like a bell. Each bell was designed for a specific purpose. It can ring loud or soft, fast or slow, but it should always ring true based on the type of bell. One truth that is undeniable, though, is that you can never unring a bell.
The expression “You can’t unring the bell” has been frequently used in courts of law. Once an attorney makes a statement or presents evidence, jurors can’t...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 106 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like Starring in a Movie Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 106 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-105/ (Y)https://wisdom-trek.com/day-105/ (esterday) we enjoyed some humble pie while we explored the reasoning why all trails eventually end, specifically the trails of success and failure. Today we will investigate why life is like starring in a movie.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. After speaking at Putnam Church this morning, we headed back south. We stopped by Cracker Barrel for lunch with our friends from Charlotte, Bev and Katie, who came up for a short visit during the Marietta Sternwheel Festival. The fireworks last night at the Sternwheel Festival were spectacular, and the displays that we launched from the bridge over the Ohio River made it extra special.
We made a stop in Covington, Virginia, on our way back to Charlotte to pick up Mom Jarvis. She was able to spend the past three weeks with Paula’s sister Lois to see the grandkids and great grandkids who came in for a Labor Day weekend get-together. Time spent with family and friends during this trek of life is so important. We need to make sure that we never become so busy living life that we forget this.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Sternwheel-Festival.jpg ()Sternwheel Festival – Marietta Ohio As we break camp and head up the trail today, let us ponder how important making the most of every moment really is. On our hike today we come across an outdoor theater, and we discuss if our lives were a movie, what would they be like.
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Each of us is the screenwriter, director, and leading character in our movie of life. Our family, friends, associates, and everyone with whom we come in contact are cast members in our movie. Some of these people will be our co-stars and supporting actors while others will just be walk-ons.
Each of us is the screen writer, director, and leading character in our movie of life.Tweet This The important concept to grasp is that there are no practice days, and there is no dress rehearsal. Each day is an impromptu performance. Once we understand this, it may help us to perform at our best. With all impromptu performances, we must realize that we will miss ques, flub up lines, and draw cheers and boos from those watching our performance. We won’t perform perfectly every day, but the show must go on…
All too often we get so consumed with our “star role” that we lose site of the importance of our overall, lifelong movie and the crucial role that all the supporting cast members play. We miss the things that really matter in life. Before we know it, the seconds have become minutes, the days have become weeks, and the months have become years. And, when we finally take time to catch our breath, we look back in retrospect and think, “My performance is nearing the end, where did all the time go?”
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It’s so easy to be blinded by our own performance, ambition, power, and success that we miss including the simple pleasures of life into our script. For example, did your children’s birthday parties, Little League games, or dance recitals make it into your movie? Did you include the scenes where you...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 105 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like Eating Humble Pie Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 105 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-104/ (Y)https://wisdom-trek.com/day-104/ (esterday) we discussed the 9 Rules for making a great pot of coffee and a great life. Today we want to explore why all trails eventually end, specifically the trails of success and failure.
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In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek T-Shirt that will take place on October 5th.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It is somewhat cooler and a little rainy today, and we are hoping that it clears up completely before the grand fireworks display this evening as Marietta celebrates the 40th annual Sternwheel Festival. Our friends Bev & Katie arrived last night from Charlotte and will be spending Saturday and Sunday with us. While I am preparing for my message at church tomorrow and working on this podcast, Paula is showing them around Marietta, which has many grand old homes and is a beautiful small town. Marietta was on the western frontier of the fledgling nation after the U.S. declared its independence from Britain. The area is noted for its military outpost which was called Fort Harmar.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/image-3-fortharmar.jpg ()Fort Harmar My family has a long history of living in the Marietta area dating back to the earliest settlers. Marietta is the oldest organized settlement in the Northwest Territory. According to Wikipedia, “On April 7, 1788, Ebenezer Sproat and a group of American pioneers to the Northwest Territory, led by Rufus Putnam, arrived at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers to establish Marietta, Ohio, as the first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory.” It seems somewhat humorous to refer to southeast Ohio as the “Northwest Territory,” but it was at the time. Rufus Putnam was an ancestor of mine, so the bond to Marietta is strong. General George Washington was also one of the surveyors of the land around Marietta.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/PicketedPointMariettaOH.jpg ()Marietta at Pickett Point The adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in my blood, and two topics I am passionate about are success and failure, more specifically gaining the proper wisdom from both. So, let’s head out on our trail today to discover and understand that every trail, whether it is success or failure, will always come to an end. It is up to us to be prepared for both trails.
Whether it is an entrepreneur who thinks he is his own boss, a person who works for someone else, or one of the highest callings of all, a mom or dad who has the privilege of staying at home focused on their children, the outcome of their stories is all too common…After years of hard work pouring their lives into their calling, the trail of life takes an unexpected and seemingly disastrous turn.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/0.jpg ()Disastrous Trail So often when we experience success in any area of life we start taking credit for it and feel our success was based solely on what we did. We push aside colleagues who’ve helped us achieve success. We abandon the values and principles that have made us successful. We start making decisions and choices that are unwise.
We may also start believing that because we are successful in one area of life, we become experts in...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 104 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like Brewing Coffee Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 104 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-103/ (Y)https://wisdom-trek.com/day-103/ (esterday) we discovered 10 truths about how life is like hiking through the world. Today we will stay at camp and discuss how life is like a good cup of coffee.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/w-Giant-Coffee-Cup75917.jpg ()Now this is a good cup of coffee. In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. The refinishing of the woodwork in our dining room continues, and we are making progress. Today a couple of our friends from Charlotte are coming in for the weekend as Marietta celebrates the 40th annual Sternwheel Festival.
The Sternwheel Festival is the single largest event for Marietta each year, usually drawing in about 100,000 people. This is large for a city whose population is about 15,000 within the city limits. The fireworks display over the Ohio River is one of the most spectacular fireworks displays that we have seen anywhere. This year they will also have some of the firework displays set up on the bridge that crosses between Ohio and West Virginia. The last time they had that it was awe inspiring. We will round out the weekend with me speaking again at Putnam Congregational Church before heading back to Charlotte.
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We are sitting around the camp fire today sipping on a large mug of coffee, listening to the crackling of the firewood, and watching the smoke wisp into the air until it is no longer visible. As we are chatting about the day and enjoying our coffee, it brings to my mind the 9 rules on how life is like a brewing a good pot of coffee.
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Each day of your life is part of your story. Just like the coffee we are drinking, life is fluid with people and events moving around us, much like the coffee swirls around in our mugs. You don’t know with certainty how your story will end, but the choices that you make each day and your attitude will certainly impact the outcome of your story. Today let us learn how to both create a great pot of coffee and how to create a great life story.
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- Buy Fresh Beans Always fill your life with fresh, pertinent learning and information. Don’t allow your knowledge and significance to become stale and outdated. You need to invest in yourself by improving your body, mind, and soul.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/coffee-beans.jpg ()Buy coffee shortly after it is roasted. 2. Keep Coffee Beans Fresh Keep yourself relevant. Once you invest in self-improvement in any or all areas of life, continue using this information. Don’t stop improving. If it is knowledge, continue to stay fresh by updating yourself as it changes. If it is eating wholesome foods, don’t fall back into unhealthy habits. If it is exercise, continue to exercise regularly. If it is spiritual study and mediation, continue to learn. Stay fresh.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/coffee_glass_jar.jpg ()Storage is important. 3. Choose Good Coffee Invest in good books and audio study programs, wholesome foods, good exercise equipment, and sound meditation and Bible study materials from wise individuals...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 103 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like Hiking Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 103 of our Trek. Yesterday we used the simile of how life is like a river. As rivers start with a single drop of water and eventually help to fill the oceans so our lives go through similar cycles. I hope that it was a helpful comparison that allowed you to gain wisdom. Today we are exploring the 10 lessons of How Life is Like Hiking Through the World.
In celebration of our 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek, please check out https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com), and sign up for our drawing for a free Wisdom-Trek t-shirt that will take place on October 5th.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I am continuing to work on finishing the woodwork in our dining room and made additional progress this morning. It certainly will look nice once it is finished, but I probably will not reach my goal of completing the room before we leave for Charlotte on Sunday. If not, I will continue when we come back to https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) at the end of this month.
As we start out on our Trek, let us think about some of the small blessings that we experience when hiking and allow them to remind us to be thankful for the small blessings that we experience each day on our trek of life. As we hike through the woods today, visualize and enjoy feeling the soft earth on the path, the crackling of dry twigs under your feet, having your mind blown by the perfect sunset, and feeling the humbling exhaustion of a day’s hike as you finally approach a long-awaited viewpoint.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9534-e1440640140818.jpg ()The Joys of Hiking Hiking on a trail is a powerful, active force that teaches important life lessons. The trails, like life, have an undeniable ability to drive home simple but often overlooked truths as you trek into wild forests, persevere through mountains and rocky coastal paths, and venture out of your comfort zone.
Hiking is a powerful, active force that teaches you important life lessons.Tweet This Here are 10 truths I have come across for how life is like hiking through the world.
- Slowing Down Is Important As you travel through life, you need to experience what it means to follow a path for the love of the journey and not in a mad rush to get to the end, or you will miss out on life’s simple pleasures. Hiking teaches you to slow down, observe the world around you and to listen to your body. When your feet can no longer trudge the path ahead, you learn the power of slowing down and gain a new appreciation by realizing that not every path will take you where you intended.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1.jpg ()Observe the world around you. 2. Perseverance Pays Life is like a long hiking trail in various ways. Far too often, we give up on our hopes and dreams, overcome by dejection or disappointment. On the trail, you learn that as long as you put one foot in front of the other, you’re getting somewhere. “Keep moving forward” is a simple lesson, and when it’s applied to other aspects of life, it can produce major results. That crazy dream of yours that no one else believes in can come true if you just persevere and keep walking toward it.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Physical-activity-group-hiking.jpg ()Continue on without stopping. 3. Nature Is Powerful and Teaches You Humility If you’re suffering from an inflated ego or far too much vanity in your life, take a long hike. God’s creation is a raw force, unfettered and unforgiving,
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 102 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like a River Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 102 of our Trek.https://wisdom-trek.com/day-101/ (Yesterday) we studied a couple of analogies of how life is like a clock. I trust that you will allow these wisdom morsels to permeate you and help you to gain insight and understanding. As you do gain this wisdom, insight, and understanding as water flows in a river, let it flow through you to impact others in your world. This brings us to our focus for today as we compare how life is like a river.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/River-SUNSET-51.png ()Life is Like a River As I will mention each day this month, in celebration of passing the milestone of our 100th Day on our Wisdom-Trek, we have a special gift that we will be giving out to 7 of our fellow trekkers to show our appreciation to our faithful team members. On October 5th, we will have a drawing in which we will be giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts. There is an entry form on the main https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Base Camp) page of https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com), where you can enter once per day throughout the month of September. Thank you so much for coming along with us each day on our Wisdom-Trek.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I was able to start coating the woodwork in our dining room this morning. Although I did not make a lot of progress in the short time I was able to spend on it, I did make progress, and for that, I am thankful.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_9419.jpg ()Continued Renovations on The Big House It was a busy day of work today with several projects competing for the limited time that seems to rush by so quickly. I personally can’t imagine having a day of work that drags on just waiting for it to be over. Although I know accomplish much, my daily to-do list remains about the same length each day. I have always joked that I will live to 125, and I am not sure that is even enough time to get everything done I would like to do in life. While I do have many hectic and stressful days, I am grateful to be busy.
That is enough about my work. It is time to break camp and head out on our Trek. We travel a considerable distance, and as we continue on, we head down into a deep gorge on a long and very steep trail. As we near the bottom of the trail, we start to hear a rushing river. As we descend further, we come around a bend in the trail and see a beautiful river flowing swiftly before us. Since we have been hiking now for several hours, we find a clearing to stop for a meal. As we are resting and gaining nourishment, we explore how life is like a river.
All rivers start as a few drops of rain. In comparison, our birth is like the formation of a spring on a hillside, which has gathered its water from the rain or snowmelt trickling off the mountain slopes.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/life_is_like_a_river_by_daedae13-d3yhgb2.jpg ()All rivers come from the smallest streams. As a child grows from an infant to toddler and begins to jabber, so is the babbling of a brook as it gains both volume and intensity. Before long, the child is growing and gaining traits that he will carry throughout his life. The brook expands into a creek with more of a defined course that it follows, leaving its mark everywhere it flows.
As our children grow into their teen years they begin to show their independence from their youth, and they seem to be always on the go. In the same way, the creeks come together to form the rivers that cascade over rocks and trees, forming rushing waters
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 101 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like a Clock Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 101 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-100/ (Yesterday) we came to understand that life is like working in a farm field. We need to take time to look up in gratitude, look around to help others, and then to refocus on the work at hand. Today we want to understand how life is like a clock.
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In celebration of passing the milestone of our 100th Day on our Wisdom-Trek, we have a special gift that we will be giving out to 7 of our fellow trekkers to show our appreciation to our faithful team members. On October 5th, we will have a drawing in which we will be giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts. There is an entry form on the main https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Base Camp) page of https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com), where you can enter once per day throughout the month of September. Thank you so much for coming along with us each day on our Wisdom-Trek.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I was able to finish cleaning the woodwork and floors in our dining room this morning, and tomorrow morning, I should be able to start applying polyurethane to the woodwork. There is a significant amount of woodwork in the dining room, so time will determine how much I am able to accomplish.
Outside the house, our newest twin fawns and their mother spent a few moments outside of our office window this morning. Our office is on the 2nd floor with large windows. It was nice to observe them unnoticed. The fawns must be very young based on their size and the spots that are still clearly visible. The pair of hawks also graced us with some acrobatics today, which was interesting. It has been a pleasant day of work with focus both on our client work and podcasting today. We are making progress with both.
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It is time, though, to break camp and head out on our Trek, and as we do, you check your clock on your phone to determine the departure time this morning. You do some quick calculations to estimate how far we will be able to travel today if everything goes according to our planned hike. It then dawns on you that life is like a clock in so many ways.
While there is a certain reality to time, the measure of time, a clock, is a man-made creation. As Albert Einstein put it, “Time is an illusion,” yet nearly every moment of our lives is controlled by the clock. The clock tells us when to get up, when to go to work, when to eat, when to go home, when to sleep, and then the cycle repeats itself each day.
As such, we need to be careful on how much we allow the clock to control us. As H. G. Wells put it, “We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery.” We need to live a life that is rich and satisfying.
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As we continue on our trail today, let us examine the different ways that life is like a clock. In our first analogy within the created limitations of time, man sets his own boundaries, defining his life in quarters just as a clock has its time measured in fourths. The first quarter of life is childhood, the second is young adulthood, the third mature adulthood, and the fourth is old age.
Life, like time, does not stop for anyone.Tweet This Paula and I wonder where the years have gone. We still feel like we...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 100 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like Working in a Farm Field Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 100 of our Trek, and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-99/ (yesterday) we explored the 10 life lessons that we can learn while hiking. Today we want to determine why life is like working in a farm field.
During the remainder of September, we will be celebrating achieving the milestone of our 100th Day on our Wisdom-Trek. Very few podcasts last more than a few episodes, but we realize that as with anything worthwhile in life’s trek, podcasting takes consistent persistence. On October 5th, we will be having a drawing in which we will be giving away 7 free Wisdom-Trek T-Shirts. There is an entry form on the main https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Base Camp) page of https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com), where you can enter once per day throughout the month of September.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Wisdom-Trek-T-Shirt.png ()Wisdom-Trek 100th Episode Drawing We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I am creating this podcast on Labor Day in the US, so most of our client work was non-existent today, which gave me an extra day to work on our formal dining room. I finished removing the old varnish from the woodwork and was able to sand the floor. Tomorrow morning, I will finish vacuuming the dust and begin preparing to apply polyurethane to both the woodwork and floors this week. My goal is to have it finished no later than Saturday, prior to heading back to Charlotte on Sunday.
While it does require a lot of effort to renovate the various rooms in https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House), it does bring a great sense of satisfaction realizing that we are fixing up the house that was built by my great-grandparents to its original condition. In some rooms, we are making it even better. Paula and I feel strongly that this is part of the family legacy that God has entrusted to us. It is our hope that we will be able to set up a fund to help future family members to maintain the house. It is both time consuming and expensive to maintain but a heritage that we feel is worth the investment. Paula was also able to plant some crocus and Hyacinth flower bulbs down the front walk this morning so we can enjoy them in early spring next year.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_9419.jpg ()Renovations continue on The Big House. It is time, though, to break camp and head out on our Trek for today. As we move slowly up the trail, we come to a clearing overlooking a valley. In the valley are acres of fields containing crops, and we notice the workers stooped over, busily harvesting the crops by hand.
Growing up on a small farm and apple orchard, I am reminded of how life is like working in the field harvesting the crops. We worked many hours harvesting both vegetable crops and picking apples by hand one at a time. Apple harvest was an intense season, requiring a lot of work climbing both the trees and ladders to reach all of the apples. In addition to the physical labor of climbing, we had a picking bag strapped to our front, which when full would hold between 40 and 50 pounds of apples.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/PICT0312.jpg ()Working in the Fields As I remember the many years of growing up, I do reflect on how blessed I was to learn the value of hard work and many other lessons and wisdom that I can now apply to each day. This reminds me of a lesson taught by one of my virtual mentors Jim Rohn. His lesson was titled Look Up, Look Around, and then Back to Work. Let’s look at
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 99 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 10 Life Lessons Learned from Hiking Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 99 of our Trek, and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-98/ (yesterday) we discovered that life is a lot like hiking at night – filled with uncertainties and fears. Since none of us can know with certainty the future, life is like hiking at night with a headlamp on. We can only see a short distance in front of us, but if we continue on, we will see far enough to hike the entire distance.
Since we started Wisdom-Trek with https://wisdom-trek.com/day-0/ (Day 0), today we reach a podcasting milestone as we reach our 100th episode of Wisdom-Trek. We have used hiking as our analogy for Wisdom-Trek, since life is a trek during which we explore our world each day.
I thought it would be a fitting topic today to explore the 10 life lessons that we can learn while hiking, but before we proceed any further, I have a special message. In celebration of our 100th episode, I will be announcing a drawing later this week where we will be giving away 7 free Wisdom-Trek T-Shirts. We don’t have all of the information set up yet, so keep listening each day for the details.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. This morning I spoke at Putnam Congregational Church as we began a 2 part series of the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. I feel that the lesson went well, and the congregation seemed to enjoy and learn from it. Next Sunday I will present the 2nd part of the lesson. If you would also like to hear a similar teaching, please listen to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-2/ (Days 2-10) of our Trek.
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At https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) this past week, we have been able to enjoy our twin fawns and their mother that I discussed in previous episodes, as they come out to graze in our lawn each evening. We also have another mother deer with her set of twin fawns that are much younger and were probably born within the past month. This is a little late in the year for them, and their mother also looks younger. We enjoy watching them as they meander around in the evening. Our pair of hawks has been around this week again after some time of absence, so they may be checking on their nest. It is our hope that they will return again for next spring.
On this beautiful and sunny late summer day, let us break camp and head out on our trail to explore more lessons that we can learn from life’s trek. Life is filled with both wonderful and challenging expeditions. The key is to choose to enjoy your journey and to learn as much as possible from each experience.
Life is filled with both wonderful and challenging expeditions.Tweet This Here is a list of 10 life lessons you’ll learn that make your journey worthwhile.
You can’t just give up in the middle. Once you set out on life’s trek, you can’t turn back halfway to your destination. Some days our trails will be easy. Others will be very challenging. Always keep your eye on the destination. Only God determines when our Trek is over. Until then, we need to keep moving forward.
Take one step at a time. All we know for sure is that we can take one more step, and we must take them one at a time. Focus on the next step while keeping your eternal destination in mind. The trail you’re climbing may be steep and slick, but millions of others have climbed through life successfully, and so will you. Ignore the magnitude of the overall...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 98 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life is Like Hiking at Night Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast.This is Day 98 of our Trek. The past two days we explored the four zones of life, or as we referred to them as trails, where we can choose to spend most of our time. As much as is feasible we need to hike on the Trail of Genius where we can reach our full potential.
One interesting point, though, is that on the Trail of Genius, the trail ahead of us is less predictable. Sometimes we are not be able to know more than a short distance where the trail will take us. This is how life is. None of us know with certainty the future, so our trek of life is like hiking at night with a headlamp on. We can see a short distance in front of us, but if we continue on, we will see far enough to hike the entire distance. So today, we are taking a nighttime hike to prepare us for the various seasons that we will encounter in life.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/JLB93762.jpg ()Night Hike in Fog We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Today we were able to invest time with four of our grandkids watching the Washington County Fair Parade. After that, we went and looked at a modular home that Nat and Elizabeth are considering purchasing as they are looking to build out in the country. Then we headed back to https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) for the afternoon for some fish sticks and ice cream. It was a great time together with our grandchildren. We always enjoy the time we have together. I also spent some additional time preparing for the lessons that I will be teaching at church the next couple of Sundays.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_9584.jpg ()Watching the Washing County Fair Parade with the Grandkids It is time to break camp now and since we are going for a night hike, we need to prepare all the necessary gear for tonight’s trek. Hiking at night brings with it dangers and hazards that we may not encounter during a day hike. We cannot see nearly as far up the trail. The darkness hides familiar landmarks and renders those you can see in totally alien terms. On a dark night, depth perception becomes a guessing game, and a whole new set of animals comes out to play along with other perils, both real and imagined that can make the hike much scarier. We have our map, a GPS Unit, a very strong headlamp and the other necessary provisions, so let’s begin.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ormp-night-hike-on-the-trail.jpg ()The Fear of the Unknown When we think about life’s trek, it is a lot like hiking at night. You must keep your eyes on the trail and focus on the direction that you are going but not forget the importance of checking your map or GPS. If you are leading the expedition, you must be aware that those who follow you need your guidance and assurance that you know where you are heading, and that you will safely lead them on the trail you are on for this hike.
I like to plan and set goals for both our personal lives and business, and in reality they are one because all of life is integrated into my personal life. It is important to have your plans so that you can make choices that are prudent and wise. Your plans and goals are the GPS that you are following. As we move through each day of life, it is like hiking at night. We need to prepare, but as we are hiking we can only see a few feet in front of us. None of us have the guarantee of tomorrow. We need to live as if we are to die tomorrow, but plan as if we are going to live forever.
We need to live as if we are to die...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 97 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Hiking the Trail of Genius (2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 97 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-96/ (Yesterday) we started our exploration of the four zones of life, or as we referred to them as trails, where we can choose to spend most of our time. So far we have hiked the Trail of Incompetence and the Trail of Competence. Today we will explore the Trail of Excellence and the Trail of Genius. When we finish this two day hike, we will have a clearly marked map showing how we can navigate toward and spend most of our time on our personal Trail of Genius.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/genius-1.jpg ()Mind Mapping We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We are making slow but steady progress on the woodwork in the dining room. My hope is to be ready to complete a couple of coats of polyurethane on the woodwork and floors before we head back to Charlotte at the end of next week.
In addition to my client work and preparing for this daily podcast, I am also preparing to speak at Putnam Congregational Church the next two Sundays. I will be using a few of the notes from https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) as the lesson material. Life sometimes is quite busy, and we yearn for a less hectic pace. But in the same way, it is rich and satisfying. We do deal with the emotional rollercoaster each day, just like you, and it is with the preparation of this Wisdom-Trek journal that we are able to maintain a reasonable balance in life.
I trust that listening to the podcast or reading the journal helps you to find balance as well. Thank you for allowing me to share each day. Let us know in the comments on the daily journals how it is helping and what we can do to serve you better.
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It is time now to break camp and set out to explore the final two trails. If you missed our hike on the first two trails of Incompetence and Competence, please listen to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-96/ (Day 96 )of our Trek.
As I mentioned yesterday, the zones or trails that we are exploring were originally mapped out in a book called The Big Leap written by Gay Hendricks. In this book Gay plots the zones or trails that will help us to conquer fear and take life’s trek to the next level. This is possible, but only if we are willing to make the changes needed.
Trail #3 – Excellence The Trail of Excellence is where most proficient and successful people hike. This is a trail that you can excel on. You are more successful than most other hikers, and you are rewarded for it. This reward can be monetary, like in a job or business situation, or it can be recognition by others for your particular giftedness.
While you may have a sense of satisfaction on this trail, it is also easy to become too comfortable on this trail. Although you may be compensated and recognized for your achievements, there is a gnawing sense that you’re not making the kind of impact you want, and you live on a plateau of tolerance. You are on the brink of breaking through into genius, but you have to take that leap of faith and venture out of comfort.
A personal example for me would be the remote technical support work that I do for one of our clients. I have excelled in this field and enjoy the work most days but feel that I am on a plateau and desire to break through to the Trail of Genius. While I feel that God still wants me to use my gifts on this current trail, this podcast and some of the other business changes that I have briefly mentioned will help...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 96 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Hiking the Trail of Genius (1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 96 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-95/ (Yesterday) we finished the four habits that form habits. On our Trek today and tomorrow, we will explore the four zones, or as we will refer to them as trails, where we can choose to spend most of our time. When we finish this two day hike, we will have a clearly marked map on how we can navigate toward and spend most of our time on our personal trail of genius.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We continue to have full days of client work mixed with planning for changes in our business as we look toward next year.
Today Paula and I were interviewed for another podcast called Together 24/7, which is hosted and produced by Barry and Catherine Cohen. Their podcast focuses on couples that live and work together. It will not be aired until mid to late October, so I will let you know when the interview is available. I am also scheduled for three additional interviews on other podcasts during this next week. It is enjoyable to share our stories on these different shows.
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It is time now to break camp and set out to explore the four trails where we spend our time hiking each day. Our Trek today and tomorrow will help you move toward the trail that will best utilize your God-given talents. We are all unique and have a place in the various areas of life that are best suited for us. As King David wrote in Psalms 139:14, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it.”
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The trails that we will explore are mapped out in a book called The Big Leap written by Gay Hendricks. In this book Gay plots the zones or trails that will help us to conquer fear and take life’s trek to the next level. This is possible but only if we are willing to make the changes needed.
Conquer fear and take life’s trek to the next level.Tweet This I realize that there are circumstances and situations in our lives that we have little control over that may limit how high we can hike in this life, but more often than not, our limitations are ones that we place on ourselves. Those choices become weights that we have strapped to our own feet. We all have limiting circumstances that grow out of poor choices or a wrong attitude, but we have the ability to unstrap those weights and to rise above these limitations.
Think about his analogy. In the early days of the steam-powered train, respected scientists urged the engineers to limit the speed to thirty miles per hour because they believed that the human body exploded at speeds faster than that. Finally some brave people risked going beyond that limiting belief and found that they did not explode. The crew of NASA’s Apollo 10 moon mission reached a top speed of 24,791 mph relative to Earth as they rocketed back to our planet on May 26, 1969. Someday we will reach speeds much greater.
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Are you limiting your potential of what you can become? Do you have a negative and fearful attitude that restricts your ability to live the rich and satisfying life that Jesus spoke about in John [10:10]?
Think about it this way. As we pass by a tiny acorn on our trail, we realize that under the right conditions this tiny acorn will...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 95 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Habit of Forming Habits (2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 95 of our Trek. Yesterday we looked at the first of four habits that form habits. If you missed yesterday’s Trek, please check it out on iTunes or https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) so that you will be caught up with us.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I am making slow progress on the woodwork in the dining room, and it is a bit overwhelming with the amount of woodwork in that room. Since I am just using mineral spirits instead of paint and varnish stripper to take off the old varnish, it is somewhat difficult to tell where I have worked, but the towels I am using are evidence that we are making progress. As with our trek of life, we will continue to take it one day at a time, as that is all any of us has promise of.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Sunrise.jpg ()Each new sunrise brings us new hope, We will continue to traverse the trails of habit formation, and it is now time to break camp and move out for the day. On the first trail that we explored yesterday, we learned that the best way to establish lasting positive habits in our lives is to start exceedingly small, even if it seems ridiculous. I personally struggle with this as I want to jump headlong into everything that I am doing, but experience and science prove that if we want to create habits that we need to “Make it so easy you can’t say no and realize actually doing the habit is much more important than how much you do.”
Actually doing the habit is much more important than how much you do.Tweet This As a reminder, we need to understand that it is very important to realize that if we desire to rid ourselves of bad habits in any area of our lives, that we must, at the same time form new, positive habits, or we will just fall back into the same routine and never be free of the shackles that hold us back. A key law of life is that when we say “no” to one choice, we are automatically saying “yes” to another. As we begin to say “no” to our bad habits let us say “yes” to positive habits that replace them.
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When it comes to habit formation, we would do well to read and understand the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia 6:6-8, “Don’t be misled — you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.”
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On our trails https://wisdom-trek.com/day-94/ (yesterday) and today, we are exploring the research from habit creation specialist Leo Barbauta as we hike “The Four Habits that Form Habits” trails.
Habit Trail #2: Be Mindful of Negative Thoughts Most people will skip this habit, because they don’t think it’s necessary. Then they wonder why the habit failed.
Habit formation starts in the mind. You must learn to watch your thoughts. We all have a lot of self-talk that we may not be aware of. If you are trying to lose weight your mind will start rationalizing the idea of just one cookie, thinking “One won’t hurt! Why are you torturing yourself? Is this really worth it? Just give in. It’s much easier. You can’t do this. It’s too hard.”
Think about those...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 94 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Habit of Forming Habits (1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 94 of our Trek. Yesterday we completed looking at the trails that would help us to hike with a limp. Anything in our life that is restricting us from moving forward is considered our limp. These restrictions or barriers many times come from bad habits that we have allowed to creep into our lives over time. In order to rid ourselves of bad habits, we must replace them with good habits. Today and tomorrow we will hike the trails of life that will allow us to start forming the good habits that we want to control our lives.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/oldhabits.jpg ()Choosing our Habits We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Our lighter work days of last week resulted in an extra heavy backpack of client work this week. This was expected, and we were prepared for the busy trail that we encountered. Life’s trek is much easier to manage when we can prepare in advance.
I actually work better with a set schedule based on the routines and habits that I have established over the years. I enjoy rising early and having my exercise and devotional/meditation time before breakfast, as it sets the tone for the entire day of productivity. Habits are part of everyone’s life. We just need to make sure that they are positive and productive habits.
It is now time to break camp and study the trails of the habit of habit formation. This could be a very rough trail to hike today because we feel that habit formation is very difficult. Fortunately, we have a detailed map for our habit hike. There is a comprehensive path for setting habits in our lives, and if followed, we can form good habits, as we get rid of those that are bad.
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We recently had the opportunity to attend a trial where the defendant had shackles on his ankles, and it was very evident that it was difficult, very slow, and painful for him to walk. In the same way, if we have shackles of bad habits impacting our lives, it will hold us back, and we will never be able to fulfill our God-given potential until we are freed from these bad habits.
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It is very important to realize that if we desire to rid ourselves of bad habits in any area of our lives that we must at the same time form new, positive habits, or we will just fall back into the same routine and never be free of the shackles that restrict us. Remember that one key law of life is that when we say “no” to one choice, we are automatically saying “yes” to another. This applies to habits also.
When we say 'no' to one choice, we are automatically saying 'yes' to another.Tweet This This reminds me of the story that Jesus told when the religious leaders of his day accused him of casting out demons by the power of Satan. As I read this passage from Luke 11:24-26, where Jesus speaks of evicting demons from people, let’s use the comparison of the demons being bad habits in our lives. Many times we do refer to our bad habits as our demons. Consider the passage, “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”
The same principles apply to our habits as to the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 93 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Hiking With a Limp (3) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 93 of our Trek. Today we will continue on our Trek as we consider what it means to hike with a limp.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/WesleyTrimble4.jpg ()Hiking with a Limp We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. On Sunday of this week, we were able to attend church with our daughter Elizabeth, her husband Nat, and their four children, along with Nat’s parents. It is always a blessing to spend time with family and worship together. After church we all went to Los Hermanos in St. Marys, West Virginia for lunch. The food was good, and we enjoyed our time.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9545-e1440971549372.jpg ()Fun with the grandkids at Los Hermanos After a lighter week of client work last week as we celebrated our 36th anniversary, it is back to a full schedule this week. We are also spending some focused effort on the woodwork in our dining room, getting ready to refinish it and the floor.
It is now time to break camp and continue on our exploration of the trails of life that help us to understand how best to hike with a limp. I love life, and each day I endeavor to make the choice to live it in a rich and satisfying way. I realize that some days are more difficult to do so. Sometimes the rough and rugged trails that we have to navigate are difficult enough in themselves, but if we have to deal with a limp, or something that impedes us, it becomes challenging to take that next step.
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In order to set the stage for the exploration of our trails today, let’s look at someone else from the Bible that had to overcome obstacles to carry on. In his 2nd letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul reveals a struggle that he had.
This can be found in Chapter 12 verses 7 through 10.
“Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
We see that Paul made the choice to accept his weakness, and even take pleasure in it.
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That brings us to Trail #5.
Trail #5 – You can choose. While we don’t generally choose to suffer, we can choose how we respond to it. Only in our co-operative surrender does God have the freedom to mold us in His likeness. We do not stand outside of our being created; there is a decision, a will, and a choice to be made.
If then we choose to be willing participants in the process that suffering takes us through, what can we discover? If we choose to expect to find God in the dark and desolate trails of our suffering, will we discover that hope and meaning is found in the midst of our suffering? How can we gain wisdom through suffering?
In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl would say this is possible and even essential for us to navigate periods of suffering well. He puts it this way, “The way in which a man accepts his fate and
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 92 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Hiking With a Limp (2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 92 of our Trek. Today we will continue on our Trek as we consider what it means to hike with a limp.
If you always live with those who are lame, you will yourself learn to limp.Tweet This We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Our mower, which has been in the shop for the past three weeks, was returned on Saturday morning, which we were not expecting. While I was able to get some of the woodwork in the formal dining room stripped, since it was such as nice day out, I spent several hours mowing. We have not had much rain in Ohio for the past month, so the grass was not too far out of hand. But, there were some areas that had become quite long after a month of not being mowed. It was great to get outside and enjoy the time.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9071.jpg ()Mowing at The Big House https://wisdom-trek.com/day-91/ (Yesterday) we looked at the story of Jacob when he wrestled with God and his name was changed to Israel. Although God’s original call to start a new nation was to Jacob’s grandfather Abraham, with Jacob, who is now Israel, the new nation started to take shape. If you missed the story of Jacob’s wrestling match, please listen to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-91/ (Day 91) on iTunes or https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to get caught up. This wrestling match left Jacob with a limp that he would be inflicted with the remainder of his life as a reminder of being set apart to prepare for and build this new nation.
As we head out to explore new trails today, we realize that it will be very difficult to take this strenuous hike with a permanent limp or other disability, so we will have to be prepared for the journey. Preparation can come in many forms, but for our Trek today, let us take our rehabilitation instructions from Hebrews 12:1-3 & 12-13.
Prepare for your journey each day.Tweet This “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”
In this passage, we see that in order to learn and adapt to our limps in life, we need training and discipline. This does not mean that we will completely recover from our limps or be without pain, but it does mean that we will learn to live with both and still live the rich and satisfying life that Jesus promised us.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/download.jpg ()Live a rich and satisfying life. So, let’s hike on our new trails for today.
Trail #2 – Are you prepared? Our culture does little to prepare and equip us for hard things. We live in a culture designed to maximize our comfort and pleasure, celebrate these vanities, and distract us from what is real and lasting. If we take a look at what we’re sold by the media, we should expect life to be as easy as possible – filled with things that entertain and delight us amd that ensure
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 91 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Hiking With a Limp (1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 91 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-90/ (Yesterday) we finished exploring our trail with 10 waypoints on making wise decisions. For the next few days, we will consider what it means to hike with a limp.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/walking-hiking-elderly-cane-aging.jpg ()Hiking with a Limp We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I spent Saturday working in our formal dining room, stripping the old varnish off of the wood work, which is a lot of wood as there is quartersawn oak wainscoting about ¼ of the way up around the room as well as on the doors, windows, and two built-in cabinets. In other rooms that I have already completed, I used paint and varnish remover, which is quite caustic and messy. For this room, I decided to try a different tactic and use Scotch Bright pan scrubbers and mineral spirits. While it does not strip it quite as clean down to the bare wood, it did do a good job removing the varnish without as much of a mess, clean up, and toxic fumes.
With each room that I work on, I have come up with some slight way of improving the process. With the size of the house and the renovations left to do, I still have many opportunities for improvements. As with all the skills that we possess, if we continue to learn and practice, we can improve our craft. This is part of the refining process.
It is time now to head out on our Trek for today. As we climb a steep and very rugged trail, I want you to think about how difficult it would be to hike if you were recovering from a broken hip or a hip replacement? I have a few friends that have gone through this painful surgery and recovery. Some even within our Wisdom-Trek team that travels with us each day. While I have not personally experienced hip issues, from my understanding, it leaves many with a permanent limp and pain that may never fully go away.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/A00303F11.jpg ()Recovering is Painful All of us go through trials and tribulations in life that can leave us with a limp that affects us throughout our lives. This can be a very humbling and refining process for us. From a figurative standpoint, ask yourself, “What has caused me to limp, and what have I learned from it?” Has this situation changed who you are?
“Never trust a leader who doesn’t walk with a limp.”Tweet This There is a saying that we should “Never trust a leader who doesn’t walk with a limp.” This saying comes from the story of the start of the nation of Israel and is recorded in the Bible in the book of Genesis Chapter 32 verses 22-32 where Jacob, the grandson of Abraham and son of Isaac, wrestled with God. This is the story:
“During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions. This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ ‘What is your name?’ the man asked. He replied, ‘Jacob.’ ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob,’ the man told him. ‘From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.’...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 90 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 10 Principles to Make Wise Decisions (3) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 90 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-89/ (Yesterday) we continued to explore our trail on how to make wise decisions where we stopped by waypoints 3-6 along our path. Today we finish our trail as we explore waypoints 7-10.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/decisions1.jpg ()Decision-Making Waypoints We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Today we spent much of the day on site with one of our clients in Marietta as we do each month. We also continued with client work and training as we learn the nuances of social media promotions, podcasting, and more in-depth on the online business model. It is a fascinating and challenging business model, as it is still very much in its infancy stages. Just as a child grows and learns rapidly, so does online content marketing. While the segment is not new, the explosion of the use of internet-enabled smart phones on a global level is making this market segment erupt in a like manner.
As humans, most of us are resistant and hesitant to change as we are comfortable with the habits that we have formed over our life. Habits can be both good and bad. One good habit that we want to foster in our lives is that of making wise decisions. As with any skill in life, making wise decisions comes with practice and experience. C.S. Lewis said it well when he said, “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.”
The little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.Tweet This Since it is our desire to make wise decisions in all that we do, our 10 waypoints on this wisdom trail will help us to choose wisdom instead of folly in our decision-making. So, let’s break camp for today and finish our wise decision-making trail with waypoints 7 through 10. Because of my faith walk, I will base our discussions of decision-making on Biblical principles.
- Have I Honestly Considered The Warning Signs? When we desire to make a particular decision, we tend to highlight the benefits and minimize the potential bad outcomes. Making wise decisions requires that we are honest with our advisors and ourselves. Take into consideration all the good advice that you have solicited. If those advisors have your best interest at heart, then their advice must be considered.
Proverbs 10:17, “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.”
Proverbs 16:25, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”
Proverbs 27:6, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”
Points to consider:
Don’t think you are the “exception” to the rule. There are certain principles in life that are true for all persons. If a decision is not wise for someone else, be very cautious in thinking that it is okay for you. (self-delusion)
Remember that God’s way is the best way. If there are warning signs, then no amount of justification will make the decision right. It is one thing to take a chance and quite another to be stupid. Sometimes that is a fine line.
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- Have I Considered The Possible Outcomes For My Course Of Action? When making decisions, especially major ones, it is best to make a list of all possible outcomes from this decision. Write them down, with potential benefits on one side...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 89 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 10 Principles to Make Wise Decisions (2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 89 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-88/ (Yesterday) we started on a new trail and visited the first 2 out of 10 waypoints along our path, which will assist us in making wise decisions. Today we continue on our trail as we explore waypoints 3-6.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Today was spent catching up with some client work while listening to training and podcast. It is such a convenience to be able to listen and learn “on-demand” about any subject imaginable. Although I was not that great of a traditional student, exploring and learning new information through hands on training continues to fascinate me. As Paula and I make plans to provide online training, mentoring, and coaching for entrepreneurs and small business owners, there is a lot for us to learn on how to properly set up an online membership training platform.
This week we are honored to be guests on two other podcasts. The first one is called http://smallbusinessdrivers.com/14-guthrie-chamberlain-persistence-tenacity-and-determination-makes-the-difference/ (“Small Business Drivers”) and the host is Nicky Roche, a successful Australian small business owner. The second one is called http://www.journeyofamarriage.com/h-gutherie-paula-chamberlain-jom-017/ (“Journey of a Marriage”) and the host is Roy Chumley. He interviewed both Paula and I about our successful and lasting marriage. It was an appropriate time as we are celebrating our 36th anniversary this week. Links to both of these podcasts can be found in today’s journals or on https://wisdom-trek.com/blog/ (“The Big House”) section of the website.
As with any skill in life, making wise decisions comes with practice and experience. Many times that experience is gained by making unwise decisions. The fact is that if we learn from this experience then we will make increasingly wise decisions in all areas of life. If you agree that God is the author of wisdom, then decisions which are made in the light of God’s word are stable and show wisdom.
Decisions which are made in the light of God's Word are stable and show wisdom.Tweet This Since it our desire to make wise decisions in all that we do, our 10 waypoints on this wisdom trail will help us to choose wisdom instead of folly in our decision-making. It is time for us to break camp now as we continue on our trail of making wise decisions. On our Trek today we begin with waypoint 3 of 10, so let’s get started. Because of my faith walk I will base our discussions of decision-making on Biblical principles.
- Is There a Time Pressure Forcing Me To Make An Impulsive Decision? Unless it is absolutely unavoidable do not make a decision if someone is pressuring you with a deadline or scarcity. Scarcity and time pressure schemes are two of the most effective, and dangerous, methods that are used to try and force us into making decisions. Rarely are either reason a good reason to make a decision. In order to make a wise decision ask yourself, “Would I make this decision now if there was neither the scarcity or limited time pressure?” If the answer is “no,” then do not fall prey to these tactics.
Proverbs 19:2, “Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.”
Proverbs 21:5, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”
Points to consider if there is time or scarcity pressures put on you to make a decision:
Never fall
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 88 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 10 Principles to Make Wise Decisions (1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 88 of our Trek. We have just finished up exploring the 7 principles that enable you to put more life in your years. Today we are starting on a new trail, and we will be stopping by 10 waypoints along our path over the next few days, which will assist us in making wise decisions.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Today is day four of our Anniversary Week #36. Today Paula and I went to Mountwood Park in West Virginia. We started with a nice picnic, went for an hour long paddle boat ride, and then hiked about 4 miles. With temperatures in the low 70s it was perfect weather for our outing for today. It was a real blessing to get outside again to enjoy being with each other and God’s creation.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9516-e1440640027655.jpg ()Lake at Mountwood Park https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9534-e1440640140818.jpg ()The Caretakers Trail https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9497-e1440640165907.jpg ()Anniversary Picnic Since we work from home almost every day, one challenge with a staycation this week has been to stop after we complete some required work each morning and break for our planned activities. I have to admit that I love to work and enjoy just about everything that I have ever done in my career. This is partly due to my genetic make-up, my upbringing on the farm, and the values that were instilled in me from an early age. I would also say that a primary reason that I have loved just about every work environment is because I have chosen to like it. I enjoy learning, growing, and providing value to others.
Choose to enjoy learning, growing, and providing value to others.Tweet This Every day each of us is faced with numerous choices, which require us to make decisions. Our objective in producing Wisdom-Trek is not just to help you make decisions, but to teach you to make wise decisions, and to make legacy-creating decisions.
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Wisdom is an attribute that we should all strive for in our lives. As mentioned before, I personally rely on the Bible, which I consider to be God’s Word, as my basis and foundation for wisdom.
Gaining wisdom is not unlike establishing other good habits in our lives, whether those habits are eating properly, staying physically fit, or learning some new skill. We perfect those habits by properly practicing them each day. In the same manner, the more that we make wise decisions, the wiser we will become, and the easier it will be to make wise decisions in the future.
Making wise decisions can become a habit in your life.Tweet This While the Bible, other literature, and information we study do not address every decision that we will face each day specifically, there are principles in the Bible and elsewhere that help us to foster a wise decision-making matrix within our lives. The question that we are all faced with is what should we do when the Bible doesn’t seem to speak directly to the situations we face and the decisions we need to make?
On our Trek today and for the next few days, we will stop by 10 waypoints that will help us to make wise decisions when there are not clear commands, guidelines, or direction. Because of my faith walk, I will base our discussions of decision-making on Biblical principles. If you happen to have a different basis for your value system, these points...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 87 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It Is the Life in Your Years That Count Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 87 of our Trek. This week we are exploring the 7 principles that will enable you to put more life in your years. We are equating these principles to our hiking trails. So far we have explored trails 1-4, and today we will finish up with trails 5-7. Each day of life is a new trek. Let us always make the most of it.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Today is our actual anniversary and day three of our Anniversary Week #36. Today we visited Blennerhassett Island and Mansion, which is across the river in Parkersburg, West Virginia. We have talked about visiting for years, and now we finally did.
Paula and I are working on being more intentional in living life fully by taking action on our plans, instead of just making it a someday plan. After 36 wonderful years together, we realize just how fast the years slip by and taking actions on our plans must be done intentionally. The day was beautiful – in the mid-70s and sunny. It was such an enjoyable and relaxing day.
We also learned a bit more about the pioneer history of the Mid-Ohio Valley, which happened about the same time as my ancestors traveled to and settled in Marietta. We toured the museum, and then took a paddle wheel boat to the island where we spent about three hours touring the mansion and grounds. Thank you for sharing this special day with us. Tomorrow we plan to go over to Mountwood State Park, which is about 30 miles from us, for a picnic and hiking.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9437.jpg ()Blennerhassett Mansion https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9428.jpg ()Paddle Wheel to the Island https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9432-e1440546584997.jpg ()Paula – My Beautiful Bride of 36 Years As we venture out to explore three new trails today, don’t just listen to this podcast but apply these principles to each day. Remember that it is the life in your years that count. Regardless of what your life has been in the past, it is what you make of your life from this point forward that will make a positive impact on your world. This is what God thought about the Prostitute Rahab in James letter to the Jews in Chapter 2 verses 25-26, “Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”
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Believe in someone or something; don’t give up on your faith. · Trust Yourself In times of stress and challenge, we all question our choices. We can read and research more available information than any one library could house in less time than ever before. As more information is downloaded, our beliefs are clouded and we can become lost in a sea of information, looking for the “right” knowledge to move forward. The reality is each of us possesses an insight that we can harness. That little voice inside that some call “intuition.” In the midst of doubt, trust yourself to know how to take the next step, know that if you can find your inner comfort and listen closely, your choices will enhance your journey in ways that will nourish and strengthen your beliefs. As a Christ follower, I believe this comes from God’s Spirit that is integrated within me.
In the midst of doubt, trust yourself to know how to take the next step.Tweet This · Pray Daily...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 86 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It Is the Life in Your Years That Count Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 86 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-85/ (Yesterday) we began our exploration of the 7 principles in order to put more life in your years. We are equating these principles to our hiking trails. We explored the first two trails yesterday, so today we will continue on our exploration of additional trails.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9388.jpg ()Old Man’s Cave Trail We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Today is day two of our Anniversary Week #36. For many years I certainly did not focus on how important it is to celebrate these special moments of life, so three years ago I committed to make the week of our anniversary a special time. Since we are going on a cruise the first week of November this year, we decided to make this year’s anniversary week a staycation where we would relax and take some day trips.
Today we did have some work to take care of (the joys of entrepreneurship), but it was scaled back a bit. We went for a nice walk, had a special dinner at home alone, and enjoyed watching a movie. Although I am a bit too focused on business most of the time, I am working at taking the time to pause, reflect on what is truly important, and enjoy taking time to enjoy the special moments of life.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9389-e1440442051425.jpg ()At Cedar Falls – Old Man’s Cave Trek So, let’s head out today and explore some additional trails on how to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. We should fill our life with joy each day, as the Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Philippi in Chapter 4 verse 4, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice!”
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice!Tweet This
Today we will explore trails three and four.
- Leave your mark. You only have one chance at each day. Make it count. · Personal Growth Leaving your mark starts with knowing yourself. The ability to leave your mark also requires you to know what your mark is all about. Personal growth can begin with taking time to outline your intentions and desires in this life. Ask yourself who you are, who are you really, what is your living legacy today, and what will it be when you die? Your thoughts become your actions and your actions are what leave your mark in this world. Spend time in personal growth and understand your life’s focus.
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· Find Your Voice It’s okay to talk to yourself. Journaling is a great way to have a discussion with yourself about what is upsetting you and what matters to you. It is also a great way to find your voice, understand what you stand for and how you want to make an impact on the world. Another critical piece of finding your voice is telling others about your ideas and insights. Remain open to constructive feedback and practice non-judgmental behavior when others don’t see your point of view or disagree with you. Life is full of diversity — there is room enough for everyone’s voice. Don’t forget to circle back and reread your journal entries. We all come up with exceptional and very exciting ideas, but they can fade away if they are not cultivated. Returning to read your past journal entries can rekindle an idea whose time is now!
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· Give Back Be...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 85 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It Is the Life in Your Years That Count Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 85 of our Trek. Yesterday we finished our Trek through 10 waypoints, which contained practical wisdom on when it is best not to speak or to at least keep our speaking to a minimum. Saying 10 wise words is so much more effective than saying 100 words without substance. For the next few days, we will explore 7 principles in order to put more life in our years.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I am creating the journal for today’s podcast on our trip back home to The Big House. This morning we worshipped at Center Point Baptist Church in Lancaster, Ohio, where one of my nephews Eli Chamberlain was ordained into the ministry today. Afterwards we had a meal and fellowship with Eli and his wife Alyssa, her parents, my brother Martin and his wife Wanda (Eli’s parents), and five of their seven children and their families. It was a great blessing to be with family once again and to celebrate life.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/spirituality.jpg ()Celebrate Life After that time of celebration, Paula and I kicked off our anniversary week of activities. Since Hocking Hills State Park was nearby, we went on a nice trek this afternoon and hiked from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls and back. A total hike of about six miles, some parts of it were very challenging. It is the most beautiful state park in Ohio with thick woods, steep rolling hills, two small waterfalls, and a stream flowing through the gorge. The day was beautiful, and we had a great time enjoying God’s creation, talking, and spending time together outdoors.
As I mature and grow wiser, I am realizing how important these times together outside of our daily routine are. My encouragement to younger couples is don’t be so wrapped up in living life that you put off or miss these special moments. You don’t have to spend much, if any money, to create great adventures together. It is not about spending money to go to an event; it is about spending time together loving life.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9390.jpg ()Cedar Falls https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9409.jpg ()Old Man’s Cave Trail https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9383-e1440382704972.jpg ()Old Man’s Cave Gorge https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9406.jpg ()Old Man’s Cave Gorge As we head out on our Wisdom-Trek for today, the previous statements tie into the seven trails that we will explore over the next few days. We will explore how to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.
It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. Tweet This Jesus desires us to live a life that is lived with abundance, a life lived fully. This is not in reference to material abundances but internal abundance through Him. He does not want us to be robbed of the joy that is found in Him. In John 10:10 Jesus proclaimed, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
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Today we will explore the first two trails.
- Your attitude is a choice. You are in control. Create a positive attitude. You might say,”Yes, I hear you Guthrie, but how can you choose a positive attitude each moment of each day?”...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 84 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Learn to Shut Up (Part 2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 84 of our Trek. Yesterday and today we are stopping by 10 clearings on our trail and studying practical applications for our lives in order to gain wisdom and incorporate the discernment needed to know when to speak and when not to. To let you in on a little secret, when it comes to talking less is more. When it is necessary to speak, what you say and how you say it are also very important.
To let you in on a little secret, when it comes to talking less is more.Tweet This We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We had a very pleasant trip driving up. The weather was nice, and the traffic was not too heavy. As I am creating the journal for this podcast, Paula is driving which allows me to take advantage of the time in the car. We will switch off at our half way point, so that I can drive part of the way. We met Paula’s sister Lois on the way up and Mom Jarvis will be spending a couple of weeks with her. Paula and I have several day trip activities planned for this next week as it is our 36th wedding anniversary week. We are looking forward to a little time away from our usual workload and routine to enjoy some focused time together.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/11109593_836242793135259_4499181299317943570_n.jpg ()Paula & Guthrie – Taken at Janet & Rowan’s Wedding – April 2015 Yesterday on our Trek, we came to an understanding of https://wisdom-trek.com/day-83/ (just how difficult it is to control our tongue). As mentioned in James 3:7-8, “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” It has been over 2,000 years since this was written, and still we have not come up with an effective way to tame the tongue.
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As part of our Trek, we are focusing on 10 waypoints or clearings that will at least help to minimize the potential negative impact that our tongues may have. Unless you are a ventriloquist it all boils down to the fact that we need to think before opening our mouths to speak. We will continue on to clearing #3 today, and for each of these points we need to know to say “keep your mouth shut when…”
Clearing #3 – You want to gossip. When you want to say something negative about someone behind their back, don’t. Just don’t. There is almost never a good reason to do this. It makes you look petty, childish and mean-spirited. It might get back to the person you’re slandering. Never gossip, and if someone does something truly terrible, that will significantly harm someone or an organization, you might need to discuss it. If you are in an appropriate position, discuss it with that person privately first . If it is unresolved then discuss it with an appropriate person to decide what course of action to take.
Clearing #4 – The details of a plan or deal are not complete. Look to that old adage “Never count your chickens before they’re hatched,” or “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” If you’re making plans for some big activity, or making a deal of some kind, never announce it until the crucial details are worked out, or the paperwork is complete. You’ll feel embarrassed or stupid if things fall through.
Clearing #5 – You’re mad or upset with a person or situation. When someone annoys you, don’t respond right away, as you are likely to blow up and/or
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 83 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Learn to Shut Up (Part 1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 83 of our Trek. Yesterday we determined that all of the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-82/ (magic happens between our comfort zone and the danger zone), which is call the learning zone. In order to gain wisdom, one of the most important habits we need to learn is to know when to not talk, or as I like to refer to it cure the dreaded disease called “diarrhea of the mouth.”
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we come to the end of another day, we have much to be thankful for. We had a good day of work, a positive eye exam, and a small group of friends over for dinner as we celebrate a major victory and blessing in the life of a close friend who has come through a major trial over the past 19 months. Although the trail ahead for our friend still has many twists, turns, steep climbs, and precarious slopes in the next few weeks and months, our celebration together this evening had us praising God for his leading during these many months.
Many of the outcomes of our trek of life are determined by the choices that we make each day. While we cannot always control the path that lies in front of us, as we take one step at a time, we can make choices that will help us to navigate through trails successfully. As we take each step, we can learn the lessons which each new trail brings to us.
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One of the most difficult areas of our life to control consistently is the use of our tongue. We need to learn when to keep our mouth closed. Have you ever been with a group of people that you respect and you find yourself saying something completely out of place? Have you ever spoken to a loved one or associate in a way that cuts them to the core, and as soon as it comes out of your mouth you think to yourself, “How foolish it was to say such hurtful words!”? Our words can lift someone to the heights of heaven or plunge them into the very depths of hell.
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On our trails today and tomorrow, we will first explore just how difficult but important it is to control our tongues, and then weave in 10 practical suggestions on when it is best just to shut up. As mentioned from https://wisdom-trek.com/day-0/ (Day 0) of the Wisdom-Trek podcast, as a Christ follower, much of the wisdom that I have gained throughout my life comes from God’s Word, the Bible. It has much to say about how important it is to choose our words wisely and to limit our words to those that are helpful to others. Christ’s half-brother James wrote several paragraphs about how difficult it really is to control our tongues, in his letter to the Jews that were scattered across the Roman Empire. In Chapter 3 verses 1-12 he wrote,
“Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 82 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Where the Magic Happens Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 82 of our Trek, and now that we know and understand that we need to https://wisdom-trek.com/day-81/ (become comfortable with being uncomfortable,) we will expand this concept so that our legacy building will be strengthened and enhanced.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and today finds us making some preparations and finishing up details here as we will be heading back to Marietta and https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) on Saturday for another three week stay. In addition to more renovating work that I hope to complete while we are there, we have several other activities planned.
We have a nephew that is getting ordained on Sunday in Lancaster, Ohio, Tuesday is our 36th wedding anniversary for which we have several relaxing day trips planned, and Saturday will be my 59th birthday. Also, I will be speaking at the church we used to attend on September 6th and 13th, and the annual Sternwheel festival is held on the weekend of September 12th. The fireworks display they have at the festival every year is the best we have ever seen, and it draws a lot of people to our small town. It is quite magical. It will be a busy but enjoyable three weeks, and we are looking forward to it.
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As we begin our journey today, we want to continue on the same trail from yesterday but venture out of our comfort zone. When we leave our zone of comfort, although it may appear to be intimidating and less secure, most of the time it proves beneficial for us and our long term growth because outside of our comfort zone is where the magic happens. When we force ourselves outside this comfort zone it allows us to stretch and grow to become all that God has destined us to be.
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There are actually three zones where you can live. However, only one of these zones is optimal for your life in that it will have the most positive impact and allow you to grow and flourish.
Let’s explore these three zones of life in detail.
- The Comfort Zone Your comfort zone is a psychological place where you feel safe and in control. You experience low-anxiety, and you’re using a limited set of behaviors. This means you’re not growing or developing any new skills. Essentially you’re stuck on autopilot, and you’re just going through the motions. Clearly this is not the place that fosters growth. It’s in our comfort zone that we feel safe and secure. It’s the zone of routine and the place where we do those things we find safe, comfortable, easy and familiar.
The comfort zone is a place where nothing particularly challenging happens.
Growing up on an apple orchard, I can certainly relate to this quote from Will Rogers,
“You’ve got to go out on a limb sometimes because that’s where the fruit is.”Tweet This Scientists have researched the role anxiety plays in performance. They have found that too little anxiety results in poor performance while increasing anxiety increases performance. At the other extreme, too much anxiety reduces performance. The findings from this research show that if we want to maximize our performance, we need to be in a state of optimal anxiety. Take a look at the visual bell curve example of this below.
The optimal level of anxiety then is found in the learning zone, just outside the comfort zone, but before heading into the danger zone.
Although it may not be very evident, there are significant dangers that lurk in the comfort...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 81 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 81 of our Trek, and now that we have traveled the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-80/ (6 trails of overcoming mediocrity), we are in the position to excel at a greater pace on our path as we create and build on our living legacy.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today has been a busy but productive day, and we were able to make some headway on a couple of projects. We did receive some very good news about a friend that has been going through an extended time of trial, and we are very thankful for that. As we learn additional details and with his permission, I may be able to share his story on a future treks.
The trails of life can be unknown and unpredictable at times. We need to understand that life is not always how we would like it to be, but it is always how it is. We may become very uncomfortable with the paths that we travel, so we need to choose to enjoy those journeys even in less than ideal conditions. Change makes all of us a bit uncomfortable, even if the outcome of that change is beneficial long term. As our global community rapidly changes, as we eluded to yesterday, we must learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. That is the trail that we will travel together today.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/d5aahe82n8ycq75bwpdu.jpg ()Navy Seal Training This inspiring principle is actually taken from the Navy SEALS as one of their mantras is “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” Why is this so important? In your businesses and in your life, if you want to learn, grow, and succeed, you will have to go through a process of being uncomfortable to achieve growth. Anyone familiar with farming knows that in order to have a crop, the original seed is destroyed through the growth process. Also Jesus confirms this principle in John 12:24, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels — a plentiful harvest of new lives.”
Growth and success in life only comes after you have pushed and challenged yourself.Tweet This Let’s look at three practical examples: If you want to be physically fit, if you want to be healthy, or if you want to be somebody who’s got a lot of energy, what is required? You must exercise and work out on a regular basis. Many people go to a gym so that they have the proper equipment and are able to stay focused. But, the gym is not somewhere you go for comfort. It’s somewhere you go to get really uncomfortable for an hour, or a half an hour, or maybe for some of you, a couple of hours. And, you are going to push yourself. You’re going to see how much weight you can lift, how long you can run, or how hard you can push your body. And, during that time it’s going to be wildly uncomfortable. But, on the back side of that discomfort is better health, better energy, and a better physical appearance.
Tied to being physically fit, if you desire to be healthy, you must eat what is good and healthy for you, which will mean preparing your own meals using fresh, healthy, and whole foods. You’ll also have to turn away from comfort foods and other food items that may taste good as you are eating them but do major damage to your body, including the horrible side effect of gaining weight. You have to be comfortable with feeling hungry and being uncomfortable until your body adapts to the new types of food that you consume.
To be successful in business requires hard work, dedication, and, at times, long hours with very little reward. You have to stretch...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 80 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 6 Trails to Overcome Mediocrity Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 80 of our Trek. Yesterday we took the 10 trails to overcome complaining, and today we want to focus on the 6 trails to overcome mediocrity.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/10.-Franconia.jpg ()The Trails to Overcome Mediocrity We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. While Paula and I have been working on the front edge of technology for over 30 years and have always been acclimated to rapid changes in the market, it appears to me that we are just on the front end of the most rapid and radical change in world economics than in any time in history. This change will provide a lot of opportunities for individuals and small businesses to compete on a global market. I see a rise in entrepreneurship throughout the world that was unimagined just a few years ago. There will be a lot of individuals that are very successful, but there will be a lot of casualties also.
The bar to enter the market is becoming lower, but as with any time in business, it will take skill, forward thinking, and dynamic flexibility to survive. Many very large and established businesses and industries will also become casualties to this rapidly changing global economy. We must all be prepared for it both from a consumer and from a business perspective. We are making plans now to pivot our Venture Consulting business to focus on entrepreneurs and small businesses with online tools and training to assist this radical transformation in the market. It is in the early planning stages at this point, but if you would like more information as it becomes available, please email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. And, I will keep you informed as we move forward.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ACCA_Top_430_World.jpg ()Global Economic Change On our trek in life, we need to be prepared to effectively hike through these radical and ever changing landscapes that we will be forced to traverse. None of us can afford to be stuck in the ruts of mediocrity as the rest of the hikers in the world rapidly pass us by. We need wisdom and hope to make the journey. Today we have six trails to hike from the valley of mediocrity to the summit achievement and success as we scale to new heights in our lives .
With today's global change no one can afford to be stuck in the ruts of mediocrity.Tweet This In order to grow in wisdom and prepare for these changes that will impact all of us, we need to understand that hope is the foundational principle for all change. People change because they have hope for something better, and if you do not have hope, you will not change.
You are responsible for the changes that you make in your life.Tweet This Where does our hope come from? As a person of faith, my hope comes from the Lord, as is mentioned Psalms 37:34, “Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.”
So, let’s get started on our hike through the six trails out of the valley of mediocrity to the summit of positive change.
Trail #1: Changing your thinking leads to changing your beliefs. Change begins with the mind. Beliefs are nothing more than a byproduct of what you have thought about long enough or something that you have bought into — always remember that. What you believe and what you think are just a collection of continual thoughts that have formed themselves into a conviction or value. When you break down the process of thinking into a manageable number of steps, you reduce the perceived risk associated with change....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 79 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 10 Trails to Overcome Complaining Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 79 of our Trek, and the past two days we explored how to perform random acts of kindness each day because each day is unique and we will never have a second chance to live that day. Today we want to focus on the 10 trails to overcome complaining.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/long_trail_2.jpg ()10 Trails to Overcome Complaining We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we start out on life’s trek with its uphill slopes and downhill paths for another week, let us be resolute to make the most of every situation that we face. We may encounter smooth or rough trails, but regardless we have a destination to reach for this week and that is to make a positive impact on everyone that we meet. The destination is never as exciting or important as the journey itself. It is on the daily journey that we are creating and building that living legacy that will last for eternity. Let’s make it a great journey.
As we set out on our trail today, we run into a very rough trail that is narrow and scattered with rocks and loose dirt. It makes getting solid footing very difficult, but we must continue on our 20 mile hike. It certainly will be difficult.
Under the adverse conditions of life, it is very easy for each of us to start grumbling and complaining. We are all tempted to do so. We have to ask ourselves, “Is this grumbling and complaining going to help us along our Trek today?”
This reminds me of a time about 35 years ago when Paula and I would pick up an elderly lady Mrs. Borne every Sunday and take her to church. She was significantly crippled with arthritis, and it was difficult for her to walk and even get in the car. But, she faithfully came each week. We would ask her how she was doing each time we picked her up, and she would go on about how difficult it was to get around and talk about her husband who had died many years before. But, she would always end her story with, “I’m not complaining, mind ya.” Paula and I still jokingly use that phrase when we catch ourselves grumbling or complaining about something. As with most complaining, it is usually over something quite trivial.
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Certainly complaining and grumbling are as old as mankind itself. One of the greatest leaders of all time, Moses, had to deal with a nation of complainers as they trekked through the wilderness for over 40 years because of their lack of belief that God would take care of them. This was the case with the children of Israel as indicated in Exodus 16:6-8 when they were complaining to Moses about his leadership and the lacking food and water, “So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, ‘By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?’ Then Moses added, ‘The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.’”
If we are really honest with ourselves, when we find ourselves complaining, we are no different than the Hebrew nation. Ware actually complaining against God because we feel that our lot in life is unfair, which also shows a lack of faith on our part.
As we continue on our rough trail today, let’s...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 78 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. I Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Part 3) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 78 of our Trek. Yesterday we looked at steps 1-6, and today we will explore steps 7-15 of how to perform random acts of kindness each day because we will never be able to relive this day on the trek of life again.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This morning we were able to worship and fellowship at church, which was a blessing. We have been out of town so much this year that we miss the time together with our local fellowship. We have come to appreciate our faith community each week, regardless of where we are on a particular Sunday.
After church Paula and I ate at a restaurant that that we had not tried before. It was a Genghis Grill where they have you select all the ingredients from the serving line, and the cooks grill it on a massive round grill. The food was good, and the staff was very helpful. Paula and I do not eat out very often because we like to prepare and control what we are eating at meals, but we will probably revisit this location on occasion.
After lunch we did a little shopping, including our weekly grocery shopping. We love to spend time together regardless of the activity. This is a good thing since we work together every day in the same office. We certainly do count this a blessing.
So, let’s continue on our trail today looking for ways that we can show kindness to others. Sometimes the trails of life can be very rough and steep, and we don’t really feel like being kind. I certainly understand that. But, we have to realize that being kind is usually easy, and it benefits both the person that we are being kind to and us as we are kind. Never pass up this opportunity.
Today we will finish with steps 7-15 providing examples of random acts of kindness. Kindness is an essential part of creating a living legacy. As we practice kindness, even when we may not feel like it, we become kind people. It cannot be prevented.
Being kind is a choice that we make. Look for opportunities at all times to be kind. As you practice these acts of kindness with no expectations of return, you will be showing from within that you are kind.
Here are the last 7 steps on our trail for encouraging others with our random acts of kindness.
Step #7 Volunteer by offering helping hands.
Do you ever see homeless people and feel overwhelmed by your inability to make a difference? Even if you can’t help them all or change their long-term situation in life, you can do a lot with one small act. Buy a pair of gloves, provide a spare blanket, or make up food parcels for someone who is living on the cold streets, or provide them to any organization that serves the homeless.
Another way to volunteer is to clean up trash in public places without being asked. The next time you see someone littering,don’t just shake your head and look the other way. Be kind, pick up the litter, and throw it away. While you’re at it, look around the street for any other trash that needs to be removed. If you take a walk, take a plastic grocery bag so you can collect the trash that would otherwise just make you unhappy, and know that you’re doing a random act of kindness for the people who will come through after you!
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Step #8 Shower a coworker with kindness. Offer to take them out to lunch or provide them with money for a dinner they can take home with them after work. Finish off some of their work for them so they can go home early for their kid’s birthday party or after school activity.
If your coworker has
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 77 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. I Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Part 2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 77 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at how important it is to make sure that https://wisdom-trek.com/day-76/ (our impact on others through our spoken word is always good, helpful, and encouraging). Today and tomorrow we want to put our words into action through practicing both planned and random acts of kindness.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/16-random-acts-of-kindness-that-will-restore-your-2-8673-1416003498-9_big.jpg ()Be prepared and practice random acts of kindness. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was nice to be able to sleep in a bit this morning, as this was our first time in several weekends that we have been able to. I am not sure about you, but for me I need to occasionally have a day or two of sleeping in later than usual to recharge my batteries. I realize that it would be best if I got the proper sleep every night, which I am working toward, but sleeping in this morning was greatly needed. Weekends are also good for me to get caught up on some of the miscellaneous work related projects that seem to slip by during the week.
So, let’s start out on our trail today looking for ways that we can show kindness to others. Kindness, as we looked at way back on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-6/ (Day 6 of our Trek), is such an important attribute that we should have in our lives. Being kind to others is a powerful way to put our talk into actions and is one of the fruits, or outward manifestations, of a loving heart toward others.
Kindness should be planned, when possible, but performing random and unplanned acts of kindness to others each day should also be part of who we are as people. At first, completing random acts of kindness may not be natural for you, but the more times you do it, the easier it will become until it becomes a habit in your life.
So, as we hike on up our trail today and tomorrow, we will explore 15 steps that we can take on our trek of life to set these habits in place. Think about how kindness can be a fundamental part of creating a living legacy. Indeed it needs to be woven into the very fabric of our lives, so it is part of who we are.
Being kind is a choice that we make. Look for opportunities at all times to be kind. This is so important that Proverbs 3:3-4 puts it this way, “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.”
Random acts of kindness are a means by which we make a deliberate attempt to brighten another person’s day by doing something thoughtful, nice, and caring. Kindness is a way of showing others that they are special and important. Even when the world is unkind, we need to be known for our kindness to all. Our kindness should not be dependent on if a person deserves it but rather our desire to be kind.
Here are the first 6 steps on our trail for encouraging others with our random acts of kindness.
Step #1: Be kind. Kindness as an attitude is infectious. When you’re willing to share your kindness, others will be inspired by your example and think about doing something kind themselves. Fan that flame by being kind to everyone.
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Step #2: Be thoughtful. Random acts of kindness can be shown through thoughtfulness about the needs of others. How many times do you wish someone could have been more thoughtful before they did or said...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 76 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. I Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Part 1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 76 of our Trek, and yesterday we discovered the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-75/ (true meaning of encouragement). Today we will look at how that ties into the fact that we will not pass this way again, so we have to make life count today.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As I reflect on life regardless of our individual situations, I realize we have so much to be thankful for. At best we only have 100 or so years to impact our world.
The impact that we have on others and the generations to follow is what will live into eternity. We need to make each day count. I struggle with this as much as anyone – maybe more than most. There are always deadlines to meet, bills to pay, and people to deal with, but let us not confuse the urgent with the important. They are rarely the same.
The impact that we have on others and the generations to follow is what will live into eternityTweet This Although I don’t get outdoors nearly as much as I would like, the analogy of life being a trek is so important and fitting. We slowly go through life one day at a time. This morning was a reminder of how life is so much like hiking or trekking through difficult mountainous terrain. During my regular exercise routine each morning, I usually spend an hour running on our treadmill. Since both Paula and I use the treadmill nearly every day, a couple of years ago we invested in a treadmill that is connected to the internet and has walking, running, and hiking trails from all over the world through the use of Google Maps. The technology is really neat.
Although I usually choose running courses, this morning I chose two hiking trails. The first one was the Sierra Trail in California, which is about 2 miles long, and the second one was the Deer Mountain Trail in Colorado which is about 2.5 miles long. They were both uphill most of the way. While I usually jog or run, this morning it was only a fast walk at 4 miles per hour. The difficulties of these trails were certainly a stark reminder that some days life is an uphill climb and can be very painful for the moment, but if we keep at it, we will reach our destination…eventually. Sometimes it takes being infused with a little more courage to make it through.
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As we think about infusing courage into our lives and the lives of others as I mentioned yesterday, it is similar to what happens when a person receives a blood transfusion. The person receives a life-altering experience that will help them to be fully alive. What we say to others and how we treat others each day is either infusing them with life, or death. This also applies to what we speak into ourselves and how we treat ourselves.
Are you living daily or dying daily? Each day is a new day. We will never again have a chance at today with its unique situations or circumstances. Although some seasons of life feel like we are on the proverbial treadmill or are reliving the same day over and over like in the movie Groundhog Day that is not the case. We only have one chance to get today correct. As was written by William Penn, “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now.Tweet This Our...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 75 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. What Does Encouragement Mean? Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 75 of our Trek, and yesterday our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nugget) was why https://wisdom-trek.com/day-74/ (“Life is not a Spectator Sport.”) Today we want to consume what the true meaning is when we want to encourage another person.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today’s work pace moderated somewhat, so it was good to be focused on some of the projects that got pushed back some. Paula was able to take Kip to his first day of orientation at his new pre-school this morning, and we were able to spend the remainder of today with him before returning him home this evening. I also had a chance to visit a friend in need this afternoon and hopefully encourage him during this difficult time. His good spirits over these many months certainly have been an encouragement to me.
As we are heading out on our Trek today, it gives me pause to reflect on the word encourage or encouragement. What does it really mean to be able to encourage another person or have someone encourage us?
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Certainly, on our life’s trek, there are plenty of obstacles and rough terrain that we encounter each day where it is easy to get discouraged. That is how life rolls some days or even in some extended seasons. While I am generally a positive person and do not become easily discouraged for long periods of time, we are all susceptible to experiencing times where we do not feel, nor do we really desire to be, positive. I think that we can all relate to this.
One of the most common complaints we hear from many people today, especially in the workplace, but too many times also in our homes and places of worship, is that they never receive any feedback, except negative feedback. All of us like to be encouraged, but I tend not to need a constant dose of it myself. So, I was not always as free to give it as I should have been.
I know early on in my life as an entrepreneur and business owner, I made the same mistake with my team members. Paula had to remind me several times that encouragement does not come through sarcasm. Unfortunately, at times, this also carried over into my interaction with our kids. I did learn through the years to replace sarcasm with encouragement, but it took a while to make that transition. The good news is that any of us can learn to cultivate the ministry of encouragement in our lives.
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But first, we need to understand what it really means to encourage another person and even ourselves.
What is Encouragement? The word is a compound of the prefix “en,” which literally means to put into or infuse into someone. Think of a blood transfusion during which you are infusing donated blood from one individual into another person who is lacking blood. The second part of the word is “courage,” which means the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, without fear.
So, as we combine these two words, when we encourage someone it is to infuse them with courage that we have, so that another person will have peace of mind to face difficulties, danger, and pain without fear.
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Just as donating blood to someone else is both permanent and lifesaving, so when we encourage another person we are taking some of our courage and permanently infusing it into another person to help them to live life more fully. If we stick with the analogy of donating
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 74 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Life Is Not a Spectator Sport Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 74 of our Trek, and yesterday we finished a two day series on how we can overcome fear when we choose to focus on love. Today we want to look at why “Life Is Not a Spectator Sport.”
Life is not a spectator sport.Tweet This
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a very busy day of client work today, which included a great meeting with a couple from Florida about being involved in a potential technology project. This is a project that I wrote a business plan for nearly three years ago, but the timing was not right then. It is still in the very early stages, so we will be seeking God’s wisdom and guidance on moving forward. Tonight we have the privilege of watching our grandson Kiprono while his parents are involved in other activities, so that is always a blessing for Granny and Gramps.
While our life seems to be very full most days, I have to admit there are some days when I wish it were a bit slower. I can’t help but feel like a slower pace would allow me to check out and not have to deal with what appears to be competing demands. I remind myself, though, that most of these activities are of my own choosing, and that if I had to do it all over again, I would probably make the same choices. But, that does not stop the desire to step back and become a spectator in life instead of being so actively involved. However, I know “Life Is Not a Spectator Sport” and to fulfill my destiny in life I must be actively involved. This applies to you and those around you as well. For some people, this will be on a large, grand scale impacting thousands, but for others, it will be on a small intimate scale, impacting a few. Both are equally important.
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Although I am very much an optimist, I am also very much a realist. I understand fully that it’s not always easy to get through this thing we call life. If we allow it, day after day we are bombarded with constant negative images. We are told we are too fat, too lazy, too dumb, too old, too ugly, too far behind the rest of the world, and so on. And sadly, there are people in this world who derive pleasure from keeping others down.
For those who allow it, the world can be a scary, cold, and unwelcoming place. The world can be a place where we are afraid to take on challenges, try new things, express who we really are, or act like ourselves. As a result, it is important, imperative even, that each of us takes an active role in determining how our life is going to play out, and specifically, what role we are going to play in it – a starring role, a supporting role, or that of a spectator. The first two are equally admirable; however, the third role is one that requires us to have a change of mindset.
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Growing up, one of the highlights of our weeks that were otherwise filled with work and school was our Sunday nights when we would all sit around the TV, eat popcorn, and watch The Wonderful World of Disney. We rarely missed it.
That memory got me thinking of another Disney story The Hunchback of Notre Dame and its main character Quasimodo . We learn that he views life from the cathedral bell tower high above the village square too afraid to be a participant in the festivities and everyday happenings going on below and all around him.
His conscious decision to be a “spectator,” due to his various insecurities (most resulting from the abusive behavior of the reprehensible Judge Frollo)...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 73 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Choose Love Over Fear (Part 2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 73 of our Trek, and yesterday we reviewed the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-72/ (first 6 reasons why we should choose the trail of love over the trail of fear). Today we will continue with reasons 7-12 discussing how we can overcome fear when we choose to focus on love.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has been a steady day of work, and we have completed a variety of tasks. It just seems like each day races by, and before I know it, I am out of time, with only a fraction of my list of tasks completed. I do tend to be very task oriented so that I stay on path of what needs accomplished each day. Certainly learning the nuances of producing a daily podcast has added a bit to my schedule, but my hope is that you enjoy coming along our Trek each day and that you are learning as much as I am. Thank you again for joining me today.
As we set out on our Trek for today, we are once again faced with a choice – “Do we take the trail of fear or the trail of love?” Yesterday, we looked at 6 reasons for choosing love, so let’s finish the remaining six today.
12 Reasons Why You Should Always Choose the Trail of Love Over Fear Each day of life brings with it new trails of opportunities and challenges. Some trails are steep and rugged. Other times the trails are flat and smooth. While still other times, we are on a downhill slope. Each type of trail has its advantages and disadvantages. We could choose to be fearful, and never take the risks in life that will help us to reach the summit where we can see for miles, but that wouldn’t get us very far. Instead, let’s ponder the 6 remaining reasons why we should always choose love over fear in order to create a living legacy that will light the path for others to follow.
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So, let’s get started.
- Recognize that fear is an emotion. Fear is to be expected when something huge is taking place, but love will allow you to push through those obstacles. Fear is a natural human emotion, and you should understand that everyone becomes afraid at different times in life. You’re normal and healthy if you encounter fear from time to time. But moving forward under the visage of love shows you that fear only creates obstacles through our own choosing. You have the capacity to look past those obstacles when harnessing love.
Famous basketball player Michael Jordan shares his own thoughts on overcoming obstacles, “If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
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- Take a chance by doing what you love. In the words of Jim Carrey, “You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love.”
Jim Carrey delivers an excellent point about the battle between love and fear. Fear can keep you constrained within the belief that many things are “impossible.” Love is the key that unlocks the cage, showing you that it’s okay to mess up even when you’re pursuing what you love. I know that I mess up plenty, but we must continue on. Zig Ziglar puts it this way, “Failure is an event, not a person. Yesterday ended last night and today is a brand new day.”
“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love,” Jim Carrey.Tweet This...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 72 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Choose Love Over Fear (Part 1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 72 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned that we can https://wisdom-trek.com/day-71/ (overcome negativity by filling our minds and life with positive habits). Today we will learn that we can overcome fear when we choose to focus on love.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are back in the swing of our routine this week with a significant amount of client work on our plates, as well as meeting with a potential new client and watching our grandson Kip one day. Even when life is busy and hectic, we try to make sure that life is also rich and satisfying.
As we set out on our Trek for today, we are faced with a choice. We have to consider, “Do we take the trail of fear or the trail of love?”
12 Reasons Why You Should Always Choose the Trail of Love Over Fear Life is like an unpredictable whirlwind of activities, people, thoughts, and feelings. The trails of life are rough for everyone at some point, and it can be all too tempting to want to stay at camp in our tents and give into the lies of fear. We imagine the great obstacles ahead of us and think, “I’m never going to make it. I will stumble and fall.”
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We are each given the chance to choose between two trails at various milestones and seasons in life – the trails of fear or love. The way to live a rich and satisfying life of freedom is through love, and today and tomorrow we will explore the 12 reasons why you should always choose love over fear.
- Love is a natural pathway and provides motivation to travel towards something you can gain. If you’re excited about an opportunity ahead of you, it shows you recognize there’s something to gain from it. This opportunity to gain – whether it’s a new job, a valuable business partner, a new place to call home, or a romantic relationship – will be fully realized when you are acting through love. Embrace the sacrifices necessary to achieve your goal, and forget that fear was ever there.
Vince Lombardi, the famous football coach, reminds us that in order to be successful, we must embrace the kind of hard work that we love. He says, “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”
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- If you truly love something or someone, you will continue working towards success. Despite the appearance that some people have it all together, life’s trek is not easy for anyone. The truth is anyone who has established long-lasting success in life had to continually fight for it until it arrived. The exact same will be true of your story. Nothing that lasts comes easily, and nothing that’s easy will last. Allow your love for your quest to keep you fueled as you encounter hardships and rigorous trails.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once remarked about the need to collectively continue working towards success, saying, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable…Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
Nothing that lasts comes easily, and nothing that’s easy will last.Tweet This 3. Love requires sacrifice, and if you are willing to sacrifice for what you love, you will grow exponentially. When we find something we love in life, it requires sacrifice. The magnificent...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 71 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 10 Signposts for Establishing Positive Habits Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 71 of our Trek, and yesterday we learned that https://wisdom-trek.com/day-70/ (affirmations must always be connected to action) before any progress is made on our trek of life. On today’s trail, we will focus on overcoming negativity by filling our minds and life with positive habits.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Jarvis family gathering at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) this weekend was a real blessing and a great time with family. Paula and I are very fortunate and blessed to have close family ties on both sides of our family. After cleaning up Sunday morning, we headed back south to Home2 in Indian Trail, North Carolina for the next couple of weeks. As we split our time between the two locations, we find ourselves enjoying the different aspects of both locations. Each has its special benefits and nuances.
As we think about traveling, let’s break camp and move out on our Trek today. We will study the 10 signposts along the trail that will help us to infuse positive habits in our lives. These habits will benefit us when we face the difficult and rough areas of life’s trails. As these habits are woven into the fabric of our lives, they will help us navigate the rough parts of the trail that we encounter with less difficulty and stress.
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10 Signposts for Establishing Positive Habits It’s tough to argue against the power of positive habits that come through consistent positive thinking. A multitude of studies, data, and anecdotal evidence support the notion that optimists experience less stress, possess stronger immune systems, and have overall better health than their Debby Downer counterparts. But it’s not always easy to look on the bright side. In our overbooked and over-connected lives, getting caught up in a cycle of worry, anxiety, and negative thoughts is a norm in many of our lives.
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One of the many wonderful things about positive habits is that anyone can acquire positivity with consistent and persistent practice of these habit traits, and a good sense of humor always helps.
As a start, we need to practice not taking ourselves too serious. Most other people in our lives don’t either. It is certainly worthwhile to visit the 10 signposts for establishing positive habits each day. Take control over your thinking, your habits, and your own happiness.
Take control over your thinking, your habits, and your own happiness.Tweet This 1. Practice Gratitude Remembering all the good things that you have makes it a whole lot easier not to focus on what you don’t have. Be thankful and appreciate the abundance in your life rather than dwelling on what feels lacking. Practicing gratitude is rule #1 for shifting your thinking from negative to positive.
Ephesians 5:20, “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Practicing gratitude is rule #1 for shifting your thinking from negative to positive.Tweet This 2. Surround Yourself with Supportive People Do all that you can to minimize your interaction with anyone who is a “Negative Nancy” or a “Negative Ned.” Creating an inner circle filled with support and encouragement is the next step. Having people around who see the best in you will help you see the best in yourself. Jesus had his own inner circle, even among the small group of the 12...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 70 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Affirmation without Discipline Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 70 of our Trek, and now that we have https://wisdom-trek.com/day-69/ (gotten the pebbles out of our boots) from yesterday, we are once again ready to make progress on our Trek.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House )in Marietta, Ohio. We are having a blessed time at the Jarvis family gathering. Celebrating life with family is really enjoyable as we are able to get together and share stories and good times together. Sharing faith and family ties is great, and I am blessed to be part of the Jarvis family also.
As we head out on our Trek today, we are facing the steepest trail yet. It is going to be a grueling experience. You try to remain positive as you face this trail and draw on your past affirmation training, saying to yourself, “I can do it! I can do it! I can do it!” and similar incantations to focus your thoughts towards success.
As you prepare to leave camp these affirmations are meant to create a mindset of accomplishment. Think about this for a moment, though. If you just chanted the affirmations but never left camp, how far up the trail would you get? The problem is when you have an affirmation followed by no action, you are only deluding yourself. You must resolve to do something and then follow it up with action.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/YLB8C94HYI.jpg ()Life has some steep trails. Take action. Jim Rohn said it best in this quote, “Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.” He is saying you cannot just talk your way to success; you need to discipline yourself with action to make it happen.
Since we have Jim Rohn’s quote above, let’s add another of his statements along the same vein, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” Once you have your affirmations for success and discipline yourself to take action, it is then you have just made the connection between dreaming and reality.
Discipline takes you from wishing for success to achieving it. When you stay on track for a long period of time you can achieve any goal you set for yourself.
- Action vs. Self Delusion – What’s the Difference? Knowledge fueled by emotion equals action. Action is the ingredient that ensures results. The principle is for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The key is there must be action taken. Only action can cause reaction. Further, only positive action can cause positive reaction.
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Action – The whole world loves to watch those who make things happen, and it rewards them for causing waves of productive enterprise.
I stress this because today I see many people who are really sold on affirmations, but don’t necessarily have the discipline to go along with the affirmation.
Let’s look at affirmations as our faith, and action as good deeds, which reminds me of the discourse Jesus’s half-brother James mentioned in his letter in James 2:18, “Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’”
How true!
I have nothing against affirmations as a tool to create action. Repeated to reinforce a disciplined plan, affirmations can help create wonderful results.
But there is also a very thin line between faith and folly. You see, affirmations without action can be the beginnings of self-delusion. And, for your well-being there
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 69 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Remove the Pebble from Your Boot Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 69 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-68/ (6 essential components for a rich and satisfying life) and realized that it is the simple and small things of life that make a difference. Speaking of small things, today we will look at what we should do when we get a pebble in our hiking boots.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. When this podcast originally airs, we will have about 30 family members joining us for the weekend. It is always a great time of fellowship and fun. Although The Big House is always in some state of renovation, we did get most of the rooms back into a livable order for the weekend, as we will be having all six of the bedrooms occupied. Everything will fall into place as it should.
As we now shift our focus to our Trek today, we want to learn why we need to take care of the small details when they occur to prevent them from turning into major details. When we hike the rough mountainous trail of life, it is very important that we have the proper boots or shoes on for the type of trek we are taking. We need to make sure they fit correctly and are laced up snugly.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/700_sadie-hike-tina-tie-boot.jpg ()Proper fitting boots are essential. Boots and other types of shoes have always played a role in history and culture. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and the glass slipper or the tale of Puss and Boots. Remember Dorothy’s magic ruby shoes in the Wizard of Oz?
Language is littered with references to shoes. We wait for the other shoe to drop, or try to experience life in another person’s shoes. One has big shoes to fill when he takes on a new challenge. There is the phrase, “If the shoe fits, wear it.”
Shoe design can indicate a person’s wealth and social position, as reflected in the quality of material or the complexity of the workmanship used to make shoes. Shoes can show membership in a particular group, like cowboy boots or motorcycle boots. High heels make a social statement, as do a sensible pair of Oxfords. Celebrities are known for the number of pairs they own. For me, my favorite pair of shoes are my Birkenstock Super Noppy Sandals. They have small nubs on them which massage my feet all day. Since I use a standing desk at all times, I find myself on my feet for 10-12 hours each day, and these sandals are the only shoe that allows me to do so. My mom got me hooked on these in my early adult life, after she had purchased a pair for herself and I tried them out.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Super-noppy.jpg ()Birkenstock Super Noppy What one does with shoes also makes a statement. Mine is for comfort, but in Middle Eastern counties, for example, throwing shoes at someone is an insult.
Wearing the correct shoes or boots for the situation or occasion is important. This is especially true when you are hiking through rugged terrain over many miles. Even when you do have the correct boots and make the proper preparations, you can still get small pebbles in your hiking boots. At first it may not be noticeable and not present an issues, but let us look how the small, seemingly insignificant issues in life can create a major problem.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/emptying-boots.jpg ()Clear the pebbles from you boots. The following parable should help you to understand. A man was hiking on a steep mountain the other day when a tiny pebble about the size of a grape...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 68 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. 6 Essentials for a Rich and Satisfying Life Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 68 of our Trek, and yesterday we set up the framework to establish habits for https://wisdom-trek.com/day-67/ (“Creating Positive Results in our Lives.”) We move on down the trail a bit today and look for the 6 essential elements to live the good life.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We did find out today that our contractor was delayed returning to town, so our final trim work won’t be completed before our Jarvis family gathering. While we are a bit disappointed, we realize it is trivial compared to the time we can spend together with around 30 family members on Paula’s side of the family. We love hosting family activities at the Big House and are fortunate to be the managers of the family home. We have also been enjoying watching the mama deer and her twin fawns grazing in our back yard the past few days. The babies are growing, and it is great to take the time to enjoy watching them.
It is now time to break camp today, armed with the knowledge of overcoming self-limiting beliefs that allows us to create results in our lives each day. We not only want to live life, but we also want to live it fully. Jesus put it this way in John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give you a rich and satisfying life.”
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I have adapted this journal from one of my mentors, Jim Rohn, and want to share 6 essential elements that will help you to live a rich and satisfying life. You might think of them as the values that make up the foundation of a life well lived — and, no surprise, money isn’t one of them.
The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a thing or outward trapping. The ultimate expression of life is not even a million dollar bank account or a large and fancy home. The ultimate expression of life is living a rich and satisfying life.
The ultimate expression of life is living a rich and satisfying life.Tweet This Here’s what we must ask constantly, “What, for me, would be a good life?” And you have to keep going over and over the list — a list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation.
So, what would constitute a rich and satisfying life?
The Six Essentials for a Rich and Satisfying Life 1. Productivity You won’t be happy if you don’t produce. The game of life is not rest. Yes, we must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity.
What’s the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It’s to see what you can do with it — to try your hand to see what you can do.
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- Good Friends Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world, so don’t deny yourself the time to develop it. Nothing can match it. It’s extraordinary in its benefit.
Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you. A real friend is someone that would go to any length of pain and discomfort to help you out. A friend will laugh with you and cry with you.
And we’ve all got casual friends, who if we called them, they would say, “Hey, if you get back, call me, and we’ll have a party.”
Proverbs 18:24 puts it this way, “There are ‘friends’ who destroy each...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 67 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Creating Results in Life Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 67 of our Trek, and now that we have learned how to overcome our self-limiting beliefs during the last two days, we are shifting our focus to “Creating Results in Life.”
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We have plenty to accomplish this week before heading back to Charlotte on Sunday. Just so that you realize that we are just simple ordinary folks dealing with the same issues as you do, this week we have had to spray and knock down a large hornets nest under the eve in the front of our house, discovered the ice maker in a fairly new refrigerator is not making ice, and realized the lawn mower is not functioning properly which prevented me from mowing this week.
I am sure all will be taken care of, but if I had my choice, I would prefer not having to deal with any of these issues. But, that is the stuff that life is made of, and I am very thankful that the issues will be resolved. In the middle of this we are finalizing our plans for the family gathering this weekend and are looking forward to it. Please feel free to share with us through email or in the comments on the daily journals, so that we can help each other along life’s trails.
Over the past two days, we have conquered the trails of self-limiting beliefs in our lives. Now that we recognize and are in the process of overcoming those limitations, we will now head up the trail with vigor and explore the possibility of creating great results in life. This does not imply that it will be easy, but we are not going to allow any limitations to hold us back.
Creating Results in Life There are some basic principles that you will need to adopt to achieve success and happiness in life. Additionally, there are some fundamental processes that will shape your reality, and you have the power to use and control those processes to create happiness, success, and peace, at least on a daily basis. There is a chart in today’s journal that shows the flow that I will discuss on Day 67. Here is how I believe your reality and the results you get in life are shaped.
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In life, we receive endless information input, or what we sense with our bodies. These inputs have massive influence on our thoughts and on how we perceive reality. This perception of reality shapes our attitudes, or how we feel about and relate to reality. Our attitudes have a huge influence on our actions, or what we do in the world, which ultimately drive the results and shape our reality. This reality then becomes input which perpetuates the cycle. (This cycle is adapted from Joel Gardner, Ph.D.)
Using The Cycle for Success and Happiness We have the power to take advantage of this cycle and use it to achieve goals of happiness, success, and peace. Each of these elements – inputs, thoughts, attitudes, and actions – can be used to our advantage.
Inputs – We can choose to place information that is positive and true into our minds. It should be positive and provide motivation to act in a proactive manner. It should be true or based on what is real and useful.Here are a few tips.
Do:
Read motivational, empowering books by authors such as Stephen Covey, Zig Ziglar, and Jim Rohn.
Read sacred literature – the Bible.
Surround yourself with positive people who have similar goals and ambitions in life.
Listen to music and spoken words that are positive and uplifting.
Don’t:
Spend time with people who are negative or who complain excessively....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 66 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Train Your Fleas Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 66 of our Trek, and we will spend another day considering the obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that we face each day. Many times these obstacles are in our mind, and we need to learn to overcome them so we don’t continue to bang our heads on the false barriers that we impose on our lives. Let us not be like fleas that are so easily trained to limit themselves. We are certainly smarter than fleas, so let us break free from self-imposed limitations and jump to new heights in our lives.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. The preparations continue for our family gathering this weekend as we clean inside and out. Our contractor who is helping with some renovations for https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) is also in this week, finishing up some trim work in a couple of the rooms.
If we were to hike on rough trails with chains and shackles on, it would make the hike nearly impossible. At best, the progress that we would make would be very slow, and the danger of harm would be great. In the same way, if we allow the chains and shackles of our past to hold us back in our trek of life, any progress that we do make will be significantly limited.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/broken-chains.jpg ()Break free of your chains and shackles. As we start on our trek today, we make some good progress as we have removed the chains and shackles from yesterday. We come around a sharp curve in the trail to discover that a boulder rolled into the path last night and has completely blocked the trail before us. Since the path is so narrow at this point, we wonder how we will continue. The boulder is too large to climb over, and we can’t go around without falling off the cliff. Is it time to give up? We know that this path is now blocked “forever,” so we turn back.
For most people in life, once we run into these types of roadblocks, we never try again. We become fleas with the limiting belief that once we run into a block we can never get through it, so we adjust our expectations to the lower level. Let’s take a look at how this type of thinking can really stifle our potential in life.
Yesterday we looked at training the largest of animals, the elephant. Today we are looking at training one of the smallest of insects, the flea.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dscf3736.jpg ()Training Fleas Your beliefs about yourself have a profound influence on your success in learning and your success in life. Your beliefs are the foundation upon which you build many of your thought patterns, your attitudes, and your actions. Unfortunately, these beliefs, particularly self-beliefs can be limiting in nature. https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Self-limiting-Beliefs-Head-300x228.jpg ()
The Scenario We can learn about this principle (surprisingly) from a jar full of fleas. If you fill a jar with fleas and place the lid on the jar, the fleas will jump and hit their heads on the lid. But leave them for a few days, and the fleas will adapt to their environment. To avoid the pain of hitting their heads, eventually they will not jump as high as the lid. A very interesting phenomenon with the fleas is that once they have learned to jump only so high, even their offspring that are born after the lid is removed will not jump any higher than their parents.
The Lesson So, what do we learn from these fleas? Just as the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 65 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Unchain Your Elephant Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 65 of our Trek, and today we are going to look at overcoming the obstacles on the trails of life. Many times obstacles are self-imposed or caused by self-limiting beliefs. We need to learn how to un-chain the elephants in our lives.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Unchain-your-elephant.jpg ()Unchain Your Elephants We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. This week we are preparing to have Paula’s three siblings, their spouses, a few nieces and nephews, and four of our five children in for a gathering on Friday night and Saturday. It will be a great time together, and we feel very fortunate that we can host many family gatherings at ‘The Big House.” There is a lot to do, both inside and out, before Friday, so it should keep us plenty busy.
It is time to break camp and begin on our Trek. We are setting out on a different trail today, and as we gaze up the trail, we see that it is very steep with many rocks, trees, and other obstructions in our way. Additionally, the trail is narrow with a solid rock face on one side and steep cliffs on the other.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/drawbridge_inca_trail.jpg ()Narrow Trail As you look at the trail before you, you think to yourself, “I have never hiked on such a dangerous trail before. I don’t think I can do it.” Your thoughts continue, “After all, I have been told many times before that I am clumsy, and that I never am able to complete tasks.” You convince yourself that maybe it would be better that you stay at camp today, or better yet, you should just quit all together.
This is the type of thinking that limits so many people from achieving all that they could with their lives. If you are susceptible to this type of thinking, you will never to be able to reach your full potential to become all that God has destined for you. In our analogy today, we want to look at what causes these self-limiting beliefs and this “learned-helplessness” and determine how you can break free from the chains and shackles that bind you. So, let me share some interesting nuggets to help you today. You may have heard some of this information before, but it is always good to review and apply it anew to your life. This is the story of “Unchaining Your Elephant.”
Break free from the chains and shackles that bind you.Tweet This Do you know what they do to keep a circus or zoo elephant from running away? They tie a metal chain onto a collar around the mighty elephant’s leg and tie it to a small wooden peg that’s hammered into the ground. The 10-foot tall, 11,000 pound hulk could easily snap the chain, uproot the wooden peg, and escape to freedom. But, it does not do that. In fact, it does not even try. The world’s most powerful animal, which is nimble enough to pick up a blade of grass with its trunk, can also uproot a tree as easily as you and I can break a toothpick, and yet they remain tied down by a small peg and a flimsy chain. How come?
It’s because when the elephant was a baby, its trainers used exactly the same methods. A chain was tied around its leg and the other end of the chain was tied to a metal stake on the ground. The chain and peg were strong enough for the baby elephant. When it tried to break away, the metal chain would pull it back. Sometimes, tempted by the world it could see in the distance, the elephant would pull harder. But, the chain would cut into the skin on the elephant’s leg, making it bleed, and creating a wound that...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 64 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It’s Only Money (Part 7) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 64 of our Trek, and today we are finishing up our series on acquiring and investing wealth. Wealth accumulation serves us two purposes. One is that it frees us to be able to make wise choices in life that are not dependent on being a servant to others, and second, it allows us the ability to make a positive impact on the lives of others through the distribution of that wealth. As we practice this each day, it will create the living legacy, not to honor ourselves, but to honor our creator.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. This morning, we worshipped with Paula’s mom at the church where she used to attend when we lived in Marietta full time. This evening we were blessed to share time with our middle son Barnabas, his wife Leesha, and other family and friends at a baby shower for our soon to arrive granddaughter who is due in late September. As proud grandparents we are excited and looking forward to our sixth grandchild.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9259-e1438563904353.jpg ()Our three oldest grandchildren https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9258.jpg ()Barnabas & Leesha Chamberlain We are concluding our “It’s Only Money” Trek today. We have explored a different trail each day on our Trek to true wealth. As we approach our destination on this important trek, the land of financial freedom is in site, and I would like to share some concluding thoughts. So, let’s head out for another day and accumulate the additional https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets) that we find along the path.
Our guiding map for our Trek this week has primarily been the book of Proverbs, and we have learned that we must be willing to work in order to obtain wealth. There are no shortcuts on this trek of life. After you have done your part in planning, preparing, and executing your work, you must also realize that when you do prosper in any area of life, it is ultimately God that prospers you. When you forget where your material provisions come from, you start down the slippery trail of pride and arrogance thinking you have succeeded on your own. In reality, we are on this Trek together, and we should do all that we can to assist one another.
We must never forget that it is God that gives the ability and increase.Tweet This Here our four areas to consider. 1. Material wealth does not come to everyone. It is a gift that God has given some. In the eyes of most of the inhabitants of this world, all Americans are wealthy, and to a certain extent we are. Many people, though, are living a false sense of wealth that is dependent on loans and credit cards. There are certain natural and Biblical precepts that, if followed, will allow anyone to be in a position where they can use their wealth, whether it is small or great to positively impact the lives of others.
If you have material wealth now or obtain it in the future by practicing the principles we have gathered this week, please take to heart this advice that the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to his Protégé Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 63 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It’s Only Money (Part 6) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 63 of our Trek, and today we will look at setting the proper priorities for the use of wealth. Setting priorities in all areas of your trek of life is important, but how you set priorities with money will largely determine how you are able to set priorities in other areas that impact building your living legacy.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. In addition to the yard sale this morning, we had the blessing of sharing the 4th birthday with our granddaughter Aurora. She is “Princess Aurora” to family members, and we shared the afternoon with Aurora, her three siblings, and other family. My Dad and Paula’s mom were also there. It is grand to see four generations of family celebrating together. As a proud Gramps, I have included a couple of pictures in today’s journal – Day 63.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9219-e1438467729430.jpg ()Princess Aurora https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_9225.jpg ()Princess is 4 years old now. We are continuing today on our “It’s Only Money” Trek. Each day we will explore a different trail on our Trek to true wealth. As we accumulate wealth, it is also important to set priorities for the use of that wealth. So, let’s continue on our trail to financial independence as we examine these truths.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ID-10038840.jpg ()Financial Independence Biblical Priorities for the Use of Money Proverbs has much to say on the subject of our financial obligations. While there may be some disagreement with the exact order of the priority of the following obligations, I believe that we will all agree that these should be priorities which govern the use of the money God has permitted us to manage.
- We should give to the furtherance of the Good News. In the Old Testament, God carefully prescribed the tithes and sacrifices which He expected from His people. While we are no longer under the law, the spirit of giving still applies to us today. Proverbs teaches the need to give of the abundance He has provided, and that this will result in even greater blessings.
Proverbs 3:9-10, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.”
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Paula and I have personally found that our giving first to the Lord has developed our faith, and we have never lacked any necessity.
- We have an obligation to pay our debts to others without delay. Within the business world and for many personally, there is a tendency to withhold payment as long as possible. We should never withhold payments beyond the due date, even if there is a grace period. Others are depending on our prompt payments, even large companies. This also includes the taxes we owe. I don’t like paying more in taxes than is required, but if you owe it, then pay it.
Romans 13:6-7, “Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.”
Pay promptly and fairly in every situation. It is a reflection of your character.Tweet This If you are fortunate enough to own a business and have others working with you, always pay on time, including withholding taxes that are...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 62 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It’s Only Money (Part 5) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 62 of our Trek, and today we will learn the wisdom needed to avoid the dangerous cliffs on life’s trails so that we do not cascade in to the abyss of debt. Excessive debt will certainly hamper your ability to build your living legacy.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It’s been another busy day in the office today. I was hoping to take a break in the afternoon to get some outdoor work completed, but the work activities of the day consumed my time. I was able to spray for mosquitoes and help prepare a little for the 2nd weekend of our yard sale, though.
Today we are continuing on our “It’s Only Money” Trek. Each day we will explore a different trail on our Trek to true wealth. As we work hard and follow sound principles to acquire wealth, it is very important that we know which trails not to hike. Those are the dangerous trails that would cause us to lose everything that we have gained.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cliff_jump.jpg ()Do not cascade into the abyss of debt. How to NOT Lose Money As well as teaching us how to earn money, Proverbs warns us of the many ways in which we can quickly lose money. The following are some of the most commonly mentioned pitfalls.
- Don’t be lazy. A lazy person not only fails to obtain wealth because of his laziness, but he also neglects the resources he has.
Proverbs 24:31-31, “I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.”
If you are too lazy to take care of what you already have, it will soon come to ruins.Tweet This Proverbs 27:23-27, “Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls.”
- Don’t be greedy. Strangely enough, if you are greedy it will often contribute to being in poverty.
Proverbs 11:6, “The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.”
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Proverbs 28:22, “Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.”
Many company advertisements appeal to greed and pride. The companies have just the answer for us – a “limited time opportunity” that will fulfill our “needs” We see it so often in our society today because most people want instant everything, including wealth.
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Proverbs 13:11, “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.”
Proverbs 26:16, “Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.”
Proverbs 24:30, “I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.”
- Don’t be impulsive. If you are an impulse buyer, whether it is with things small or large, you will soon see any wealth accumulated quickly slip through your fingers. Worse yet is when you use credit to make impulsive purchases. Proverbs warns...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 61 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It’s Only Money (Part 4) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 61 of our Trek, and today we will discover the wisdom tools needed as we acquire money and wealth of any type. Let us trek together as we learn to build your living legacy each day.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Each day seems to bring new challenges and opportunities to learn. I do admit that sometimes those challenges can be well, challenging. I realize that you also go through “learning opportunities,” and as we share together each day, we can assist and help one another in a meaningful way.
We are continuing today on our “It’s Only Money” Trek. Each day we will explore a different trail on our Trek to true wealth. Today we will see what part wisdom plays on the “Acquisition of Money” trail.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/fotolia_3416162_XS.jpg ()Which is the wise path to the acquisition of money? On the first three days on our Money Trek, we looked at the Book of Proverbs as we focused on a proper attitude toward money. Now we will concentrate on what Proverbs making about the making and spending of money. Today is filled with bullet points from Proverbs as we gather many wisdom nuggets along the trail.
Wisdom and the Acquisition of Money It matters a great deal how money is obtained. Proverbs reminds us that God is intimately concerned with the way you earn a living. God is not indifferent to the way you obtain money.
Proverbs 16:11, “The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.”
Proverbs 22:22-23, “Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. For the Lord is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.”
Money which is gained in an ungodly way will not bring us any lasting benefit; instead, it will bring about our own misery. Proverbs 10:2, “Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.”
Proverbs 11:18,“Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.”
Proverbs 20:17, “Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.”
Proverbs 21:6, “Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.”
Some people make money by questionable, if not illegal, means, and then attempt to salve their consciences by giving a portion to the church or charity. In their minds, benevolence is the end that justifies their corrupt means.The tragedy is that there are all too many churches and organizations that are eager to relieve the guilt of unprincipled men by taking their money, helping them feel good about their dishonesty.
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Proverbs tells us that no sacrifice is pleasing to God that is wrongly gained.
Proverbs 21:3, “The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.” Proverbs 21:27, “The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.”
These principles sum up the teaching of Proverbs on how we should acquire money. Let me share this wisdom with a brief word of explanation on each.
- Money should not be pursued without a cost to us. You might call this the principle of toil and time. The fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden took place many centuries before Proverbs was written. The curse which God placed on man is found in.
Genesis 3:17,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 60 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It’s Only Money (Part 3) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 60 of our Trek, and today we will mine for some additional golden nuggets of wisdom. I hope you are ready to learn with me as you build your living legacy each day.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a hot and muggy week here in Ohio but somewhat typical for the last week of July. Our client workload remains busy this week, but I look forward to each day where we can share our daily lives together. It is my hope that this podcast and journal provide you with information that impacts your life in a positive way.
On our Trek this week, we started down new trails in a series “It’s Only Money” with the theme of being on the trail of true riches. Yesterday we hiked along the trails of “What Money Cannot Do For You” and “What Money Will Do For You.” On both trails, we came to understand that money does not bring lasting security because we will never have enough. Money can also sprout wings and fly off like an eagle leaving us to wonder where it has gone. I know that you can probably relate to this. I know I can.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Eagle2.jpg ()Money can also sprout wings and fly off like an eagle. Today we are going to examine the trail of “Money Attitudes.” So, let’s head on up the yellow brick trail to a land of financial contentment. This may very well be a foreign country to you.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Path-money.jpg ()Yellow Brick Trail There are a number of principles in the Book of Proverbs which should shape our attitude toward money. Some of these principles are:
- Neither the possession of money, nor the lack of it are proof of your goodness or worthiness. Within the faith community of our day, there are some that indicate that prosperity is proof of godliness. The rich, they suppose, are wealthy because they are more worthy. This camp gets caught up by the trappings of affluence. In other religious groups, there is a spoken or unspoken code that austerity of other is the sign of being spiritual, so their poverty becomes proof of goodness.
Both of these views are wrong for several reasons.
First, you may be rich for the wrong reasons. Illegal commerce or bad behavior, for example, could be the means by which you prosper.
Likewise, you may be poor for reasons other than being lazy. Some are poor due to injustice, not a lack of initiative.
Proverbs 13:23, “A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away.”
Proverbs 19:22, “Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.”
Money is never an indicator of morality. What most of us fail to grasp is that money is completely amoral. It all comes from the heart and mind. It is how you handle the wealth that you do have that is important. Don’t judge others by their perceived lifestyles.
It is how you handle the wealth that you do have that is important. Tweet This Proverb 13:7 shows why we should not judge by outward appearance.
“Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor.”
True riches can never be measured in terms of money.
- God has not promised to make every good or godly person wealthy. The question which you must first ask is, “Does God in His Word promise to financially prosper you? Is there a formula that will guarantee you financial success?” To be dogmatic about these questions would be foolish.
This is particularly difficult to
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 59 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It’s Only Money (Part 2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 59 of our Trek, and as we examine these nuggets of wisdom each day, we need to seek for them as if they were nuggets of gold. Speaking of gold, the next several days we will focus on the accumulation of wealth, both in money and the true riches of life.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I was able to put a coat of polyurethane on “The Eating Area” floor late last night and the second coat very early this morning. It is looking really nice. We will let it set for a couple of days before moving the furniture back into the room. This has been a much lengthier project than we anticipated, but it is nearing completion.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9186-e1438137497667.jpg ()Refinished floor in “The Eating Area” https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9187.jpg ()
On our Trek, we started down the money trail yesterday with a new series “It’s Only Money” and the theme of being on the trail of true riches. Yesterday we traveled on the money trail and considered https://wisdom-trek.com/day-58/ (“What is Better Than Wealth?”). We discovered that several items are. If you missed yesterday’s podcast, please check it out.
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Today we are going to explore a couple more precepts about money. So, let’s head on up the yellow brick trail to our land of true wealth.
What Money Cannot Do For You “Money isn’t everything,” someone has been quoted as saying “but it’s a long way ahead of whatever is in second place.” Proverbs informs us, however, that not only is money not in first place, but it is not even in the running for second place. One reason is that money simply cannot purchase those things in life which are most important.
- Money cannot buy you security. There are two primary reasons why money fails to make you secure. The first is that money simply cannot purchase security, for security cannot be bought. There are those who deceive themselves by thinking that wealth offers them security, but this is only imaginary.
Proverbs 18:11, “The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.”
The second reason money cannot offer us security is that wealth itself is often only temporary. Not only does our wealth fail to make us secure, our wealth itself is insecure.
Proverbs 23:4-5, “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.”
During the great recession of 2008, millions of people lost large portions of their retirements that they had worked so hard for. Millions of others lost their homes and possessions. We cannot place our hope in money as security because remember “It’s Only Money.”
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/33ec2fb.jpg ()Money will never provide security 2. Money cannot buy you wisdom. Proverbs 17:16, “It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.”
- Money cannot provide you with life’s most precious gift. We know that money cannot buy true friends because bought “friends” will forsake us when our time of need arrives.
Proverbs 19:7, “The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 58 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. It’s Only Money (Part 1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 58 of our Trek. As you consume the daily nuggets of wisdom and allow them to change you from the inside out, then you will be able to create and build that living legacy that you desire. The next several days we will focus on the accumulation of wealth, both in money and the true riches of life.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I have sanded and Paula completely dusted the floor in “The Eating Area” yesterday and today. We purchased the polyurethane and are ready to apply it. Hopefully within the next couple of days that portion of the project will be completed, and we can move the tables and chairs back in. I will provide some pictures once we are finished. There is also some minor trim work that needs finished by our contractor.
As we prepare for our Trek over the next several days, we will focus on the priority of money in our lives – how it is properly accumulated and how it is easily lost. I have titled this series “It’s Only Money” with the theme of being on the trail of true riches.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/True-Path-to-Financial-Abundance-and-Bliss.jpg ()Trail of True Riches One important indication that a person is wise is how they view and handle wealth. Wealth may be in money and riches, but it can also be in the most important things of life. Those important things are how we spend our reserve of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We will find that most of the time, the true nature of who we are with money is reflected throughout everything we do. So, let’s head on out and follow the yellow brick trail towards the summit of true wealth.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/yellow-brick-road-shutterstock.jpg ()Follow the Yellow Brick Trail We will begin by exploring the relationship of wisdom to wealth. One of the ways to determine if you are a wise person is by the way you handle money. Wisdom is not determined by the amount of money you possesses, but by your attitude toward money, by the way it is acquired, and by the way it is used. Within this Wisdom-Trek series, we will first explore the attitude of the wise toward wealth. Then, we will dissect the ways in which money should be obtained and used.
Keep in mind, as a Christ follower, I use principles for handling money that are primarily taken from the Bible. Even if you do not share the same beliefs, I know that you will find these principles applicable to your life also.
On our Trek this week, we are exploring how the character of the wise is integrated with money. This should not be misunderstood to suggest that I believe money is the most important attribute of the wise. It is not. In Luke [16:10] Jesus referred to money as “little things,” which is to say, not all that important.
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.”Tweet This There are several reasons, however, why such a little thing as money should be of importance to us. First of all, little as it may be, it is a major problem in most American homes, Christian and non-Christian. We, like our government, have become accustomed to operating on a deficit budget system, living more on credit than on cash. The result has been the need for one or both spouses to work more than is prudent or wise. Charitable giving is very low, and Christian giving is also declining.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/deficit-spending.jpg ()The Futility of Debt When something...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 57 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Only Constant in Life is Change Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 57 of our Trek, and as we consume the daily nuggets of wisdom, we need to realize that as a wise person that everything in life is changing. We need to be able to accept and manage change proactively and not try to stop life from changing, for that is impossible. Instead, let us embrace and then guide the changes in our lives so that it will allow us to leave a living legacy each day. Today we will look at why change is the only real constant in our lives.
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Today Paula and I drove about an hour north to Cambridge, Ohio, to go to church and have dinner with my dad. We try to get up to see him at least every other month. It is a blessing to share the time worshipping with and visiting Dad. He continues to provide good and godly council to our lives. We are always grateful that we have a strong heritage in our family, which we can trace back many generations. I realize that not everyone has had these blessings.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9182-e1437964757504.jpg ()Dinner with Dad at Cracker Barrel So let’s move on up the trail as we venture out today. As we trek through each day, we need to understand that we will never be in this exact same situation with these conditions. We need to make the most of every moment and never lose this opportunity.
As the Quaker Missionary Etienne de Grellet put it, “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” These are certainly some powerful thoughts to ponder as we start today.
“Change is the only constant in life” is a quote that is attributed to pre-Socractic Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus around 500bc. The same philosopher illustrated the point about change being ever present by saying “No man ever steps into the same river twice.” An ever flowing river is there and even has a name, yet the water in it keeps changing so that from one second to the next it is really a different river.
“No man ever steps into the same river twice.”Tweet This As I reflect on the times we are able to spend with my dad, I see that throughout my parents’ lives, although they would have liked things to stay the same, they embraced the changes in life. It just brought to my mind how my mom wanted to drive positive change in local public education, so she ran for and was elected to the school board for several terms. Another example was when Mom was in her late fifties, and she trained and became an EMT for the local rescue squad after she felt helpless when an elderly friend died when she was with him. Dad was always learning and changing in his work away from the farm, and he was constantly looking for ways to grow apples better, while maintaining the conviction to grow them organically.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PICT0245.jpg ()Mom and Dad showing us embracing is good, just like embracing change. I believe observing their lives was an example to welcome and even embrace change. As I consider why it is relatively easy for me to accept change, I ask myself why people are so afraid and so resistant to inevitable changes in their lives.
We expect night to change to day, seasons to change, and children to grow taller. We expect to grow older, to watch children marry, to...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 56 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. A Cowboy’s Guide to Life Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 56 of our Trek, and as we consume the daily nuggets of wisdom we need to realize that wisdom does not come from formal education. In fact, most of the time, those who are wise have learned wisdom from everyday living. Today we are going to look at “A Cowboy’s Guide to Life.”
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Our yard sale today went pretty well, and we got rid of some of the larger items. But there are still a lot of “things” that we desire to depart with, so we will probably do it again next Saturday. It should be easier next week since most items have been sorted and made ready. We will probably put additional stuff in the pile next week.
As mentioned in the introduction, today we are going to look at some practical wisdom taken from the life of a cowboy. While I have never been a cowboy myself, I still love a good western movie or TV program. We also lived in Kingman, Arizona for about 15 months a few years ago while working with our friends and business partners Charles and Alison Mecom, so I was able to experience some of the western lifestyle. We have the privilege of working with the Mecoms again on a project that is just starting in Mesa, Arizona.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMAGE_00122.jpg ()Cactus in Bloom While in Kingman, I took many weekend treks into the hills and mountains surrounding the city. I really enjoyed the desert environment, which is so different from the lush green hills of the east. I must admit that by God’s grace, we have been able to find contentment in each situation.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/P1010056.jpg ()Hiking in Kingman, Arizona So, let’s head out on our trail today over the Rocky Mountains and into the western deserts, where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. As I read through “A Cowboy’s Guide to Life” with no additional commentary, just sit back and enjoy the humorous sage wisdom and practical advice. Some of them are pretty funny, and all of them have real meaning. So, pull up a log, and let’s sit a spell around the camp fire and listen to Wild Bill share his wisdom.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cowboys.jpg ()Heading West A Cowboy’s Guide to Life –
Life’s tough. It’s even tougher if you’re stupid.
Don’t interfere with something that ain’t botherin’ you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
The easiest way to eat crow is while it’s still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
If it don’t seem like it’s worth the effort, it probably ain’t.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every morning.
Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.
Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a trotting horse.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don’t take a...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 55 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Turn Stress into Success Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 55 of our Trek and, as we consume the daily nuggets of wisdom, we need to apply that wisdom to know and understand ourselves better. As we looked at https://wisdom-trek.com/day-54/ (yesterday), the proper management of stress, not the stress itself, is paramount. As we grow in wisdom, we will learn the lessons needed to manage our stress proactively before it causes illness or death. Today we will learn how to move from “Stress to Success.”
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We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We are getting ready for our large yard sale, which will be the same day as this podcast is originally released. My plan today was to actively assist in organizing and preparing but during the day, I was not able to. Instead, the software technical support that I provide for one client filled the entire day. I am very thankful that I have the skills and opportunity to be utilized in this manner, but as we learned yesterday, when our expectations and plans are stifled it generally results in one outcome…
Stress!
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Stress is a normal part of contemporary busy lifestyles.We all have our share. Ignore it, and it will take years off your life. Accept it and deal with it creatively, and you too can turn your stress into success.
How can you do this?
First: Realize that some stress is actually helpful. It provides you motivation. For instance, if it weren’t for the stress of having to pay your bills, you may not want to go to work.
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Second: Be aware that stress is only troublesome when it continues for too long or if there is too much of it at one time.
I read recently about a ten-ton bridge that had been serving a community very well for over fifty years. During the course of those years it had carried millions of tons of weight. But one day the driver of a logging truck ignored the ten-ton load limit sign. The bridge collapsed. Life is like that. All of us can carry our ten-ton load day after day, year after year, but only one load at a time. Overload us and we collapse too.
You may be familiar with the research Thomas Holmes has done on stress. He found that too much change at one time was the greatest cause of stress. An accumulation of 300 or more “life changing points” in any one year may mean an overload of more stress than an individual can carry. On his scale, death of a spouse equals 100 units, divorce 73, marital separation 65, marriage 50, and so on. If you would like to see and take this “stress test” for yourself click on the image below or find it in the https://wisdom-trek.com/resources/ (Free Resources) section of our website.
https://venturecg.leadpages.co/leadbox/145ecb473f72a2%3A12b2efe39b46dc/5693341270278144/ ()Free Automatic Scoring Stress Test
Third: The next step in turning stress into success is to recognize symptoms as early as possible.
As mentioned in https://wisdom-trek.com/day-54/ (yesterday’s Wisdom-Trek), Fred Stansberry talks about “stress-related diseases such as cancer, arthritis, heart and respiratory diseases, migraines, allergies and a host of other psychological and physiological dysfunctions which are increasing at an alarming rate in our Western culture.”
Other symptoms of stress have been listed as, “fibromyalgia, tense muscles,...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 54 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Dealing With Stress Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 54 of our Trek. As we consider the daily nuggets of wisdom, one result that we should see in our lives as we grow in wisdom is learning how to manage stress more effectively. Today and tomorrow we will look at some of the causes, benefits, and dangers of stress.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It is good that we are going to look at stress for the next couple of days. Our client workload this week has had many more interruptions and challenges than we had anticipated.
Any time our expectations are not achieved, then we will start to experience stress.Tweet This https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/stress-is1.jpg ()
I am certainly not immune to stress although my stress is usually not visible externally. I do find that as I grow in wisdom and maturity that I am better able to manage stress. I am trying to understand and put into practice the ability to relax when I have a situation that is not within my control. This practice then frees up my energies to focus on those situations that are within my control. My problem is delineating when it is under my control and when it is not, as I tend want to control everything. Another aspect of stress that is hard to come to grips with is that stress is usually caused by our own selfishness. Life is not going as we expect, and we don’t like it.
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One good way to look at stress is to ask yourself, “Will this really matter next week, next month, next year or ten years from now?” Another question that we need to consider is…
If you knew that you only had 6 months to live, would you be stressing over this issue?Tweet This As we looked at a couple of days ago, https://wisdom-trek.com/day-52/ (there are no guarantees) in life. I understand that planning and preparation are important. But, let us strive to focus on those areas that are most important, like gaining wisdom and insight while creating your living legacy each day. Or, as Bob Marley put it, “Don’t worry. Be happy.”
So, on our trek of life today and tomorrow, let’s look at some of the causes of and cures for stress. Just as it can be stressful on a hike when we become lost or when we spot mountain lions or bears, many issues can cause us stress.
Stress can also be caused by carrying small burdens for too long. Let’s use the analogy of a glass of water, which weighs slightly more than ½ pound. Do you think you could hold that glass of water out with your arm extended to the side? Most of us could easily do that.
The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If you hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If you hold it for an hour, you’ll have an ache in your right arm. If you hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it’s the same weight, but the longer you hold it, the heavier it becomes. That’s the way it is with stress management. If you carry your burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, you won’t be able to carry on.
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As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When you’re refreshed, you can carry on with the burden.
So, before you settle in for tonight, put the burden of work or the day’s activities down. Don’t carry it at home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 53 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The 10 Tenets of Mother Teresa Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. The nuggets of wisdom that we consume each day provide us with the nourishment for our minds that allows us to think differently, to change our lives, and to impact the lives of everyone that we have contact with. Together these three elements allow us to remain on the trail of Creating a Living Legacy. This is Day 53 of our Trek, and today we are going to review the 10 tenets of Mother Teresa, along with other https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets) that she left as part of her legacy.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/motherteresaandlove.jpg ()The 10 Tenets of Mother Teresa We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. This week finds us preparing for a sizable yard sale on Saturday. While I am not a garage or yard sale person, we do have the need to declutter our house and garage of some of the things that we have collected over the years. At least we will make a small dent in it. We are also preparing to sand the wood floor in our eating area, and hopefully I will be able to seal it with polyurethane this weekend.
https://wisdom-trek.com/day-51/ (On our Trek two days ago), we were unexpectedly caught in a violent storm that washed out the trail before us. We learned that we have to deal with the issues of life as they are, not as we expect or desire them to be. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-52/ (Yesterday) we were able to construct a crude bridge over the chasm because we had planned properly and brought the tools needed. We learned that there are no guarantees in life, but we do have to plan the best that we can so that when the storms of life do hit, we can weather them with minimal long-term impact.
Let’s continue on today helping each other along a trail that is now much rougher than it would be otherwise due to the storms. As we lend a hand to each other, mile after rugged mile, I am reminded of another person that helped so many with her sacrificial life – Mother Teresa.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/hiking-trail.jpg ()Rough Hiking Trail As I have studied a little bit about her life, I have found that most of the reports of her work indicate that she led a life of self-sacrifice and pouring into others. As with any of us, she was not without detractors, but she did not allow those things to dissuade her.
As my virtual mentor Zig Ziglar puts it, “Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember ~ the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.”
The only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you, Zig Ziglar.Tweet This Personally I am a protestant and was not raised as a Catholic, therefore I may not agree with some of the Catholic teachings, but I have come to understand that our service to God is one of the heart and not one of following certain denominational practices. Mother Teresa certainly was known best for her sacrificial love and helping others in the slums of India.
Sacrificial Love Mother Teresa was described on http://www.biography.com/people/mother-teresa-9504160 (Biography.com) in the following manner, “For her unwavering commitment to aiding those most in need, Mother Teresa stands out as one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century. She combined profound empathy and a fervent commitment to her cause with incredible organizational and managerial skills that allowed her to develop a vast and effective international organization of missionaries to help impoverished citizens all across the globe.
However, despite the
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 52 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. There Are No Guarantees Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. As we consume these nuggets of wisdom each day and apply the principles to our lives, we gain wisdom and understanding that transforms how we think and the choices we make. This is Day 52 of our Trek, and today we are continuing on our trail and looking at how to handle life when there are no guarantees.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts%20 (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. When I look out my office windows on this beautiful sunny day and see all of the different types of trees that surround our home, it makes me think, ‘What type of tree (or person) do I want to be?”
There are a few evergreens, poplars, hickory trees and several varieties of large maples and oak trees. Paula and I are too fugal (i.e. cheap) to actually buy additional trees, so we have nurtured several trees from saplings that spring up in the yard each year. Very few remain after the squirrels and the deer have their way with them. Through our experience, we know that the oak trees are the hardest to get established. They grow slowly, but yet they are the largest and strongest of trees on our property.
So, would you prefer to be a pine tree that grows fast with wood that is soft and has limited use or the mighty oak that take decades to grow but has wood that is nearly indestructible. Through the wisdom and insights that we gain each day on Wisdom-Trek, let us emulate the mighty oak trees that last for many generations.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9070.jpg ()What type of tree are you? On our Trek yesterday, we found ourselves trapped by a storm, much like the storms of life. We could not very easily go back because our destination was ahead of us nor could we travel forward as the tail ahead was washed out by an unexpected flash flood that hit without notice. So, we were left with a choice to make – where do we go from here?
When we set out on our trail yesterday, we fully expected to reach our destination without any major difficulties, but unexpected events do happen. There are no guarantees in life, so we must do our best to plan and prepare for the unexpected. We may have avoided this situation by checking our weather a little closer, but popup summer storms are very difficult to predict, even with the best analysis.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/EDL9FU6A9F.jpg ()Summer Popup Storm The old idiom “The best laid plans of mice and men oft times go astray” is certainly true, but we should plan and prepare as best as possible. Once we have prepared, then we need to be ready and accept the detours of life that will come up. The better we plan and prepare, the less impact these diversions will have on us.
“The best laid plans of mice and men oft times go astray.” Tweet This Fortunately, on this Trek, we planned ahead enough that all of our food was sealed in weather proof containers, and we brought along adequate tools. Although it will delay us some, we are able to gather sturdy limbs and build a crude bridge over the chasm ahead of us. We have determined a suitable course of action that has provided a solution to our dilemma. We are now across the ravine and on our way again.The trail ahead is slippery and muddy with additional obstacles that were not expected, but we can be fairly certain that we will eventually arrive at our determined destination.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/203C255215.jpg ()Muddy Trails While there are no guarantees in life, we still need to be diligent in our planning and preparing on a daily basis. None of
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 51 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Suck it Up and Deal With It Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. Each day I will provide you with bite size nuggets of wisdom that if consumed and applied will become a part of the very fabric of who you are. As with any significant changes in life, these changes will take time, but the changes that result from this wisdom will start to take root and grow into a large and solid tree. This is Day 51 of our Trek, and today we are going to look at how to deal with those issues of life that are thrust on us, especially when we have little or no control over them.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Being able to work from our newly renovated office on the 2nd floor is a real blessing. The new large windows provide a nice view to work from.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9173.jpg ()Standing Office https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9172.jpg ()Office View https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9171.jpg ()Office View After spending the last nine days focusing on how changing your thinking can dramatically change your life, today we are going to put this newly learned information into practice. So, let’s break camp and head out on the trail.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/PYHWZLR8PR.jpg ()Breaking Camp and Heading Out As we are hiking along with our new knowledge gained from our twelve waypoints, our plan is to make use of this knowledge on our 20 mile Trek today. The first part of the trail is going rather smoothly, and we are making great progress. We find a nice clearing and break for lunch before heading out again.
Suddenly, we see dark, ominous-looking clouds on the horizon in the direction that we are heading. But, we must move on towards our destination anyway. As we continue on, the wind picks up and starts to blow dust and twigs at us. We don’t like the looks of what we are heading into, but we press forward.
Soon the rains starts – small drops at first, then larger, and then sheets of rain start plummeting at us. Before long, it becomes much more difficult to keep solid footing, but we continue forward. As we head down into a ravine, we hear and then see a rush of water from a flash flood about 100 yards in front of us. It completely obliterates the trail that we are supposed to take.
Now what do we do? We don’t want to go back, as that does not lead to our destination, but now we can’t go forward. At this time, we don’t have a safe trail in front of us. It is time to panic, to give up, and to wish we had never headed out today. None of those options will help, and so it is with life sometimes.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/O23L9K5KBK.jpg ()Approaching Mountain Storm When we run into these unforeseen events, we must put into practice all of the thinking skills that we just learned last week.
Crises and hardships are a part of everyone’s life and some of them are unavoidable.Tweet This I have lived enough years to realize that the crises, for many, are certainly inflated due to past unwise choices that have been made. Some people like to live in continual drama because it gives them a certain sense of purpose, attention, or accomplishment by having something to combat. I see this in personal and business interactions frequently.
Regardless if the crises are self-imposed or completely out of your control, how you deal with the issue is your choice. The tools that we gain each day on Wisdom-Trek will help to navigate life when it becomes treacherous as in our story today.
None of us are immune to crises, whether it
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 50 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part 7) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. When you consume these daily https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets), you can think of them as your daily supplements for your life. They will provide you with nutrients needed for daily health. This is Day 50 of our Trek, and we will visit our last waypoint #12 on our lessons about how changing our thinking changes our lives.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We arrived a couple of days ago and are ready for working on house renovations, meeting with clients, and gathering with family.
Yesterday we attended the annual Robb family reunion in Canton, Ohio. This is Paula’s mother side of the family, and it is always enjoyable to visit with family members, especially when we are able to share our lives of faith. Paula and I are fortunate to come from families that have strong faith, work ethic, and integrity. It shaped who we are and certainly aided in our strong marriage of nearly 36 years.
I consider all of our Wisdom-Trek listeners as Wisdom-Trek family members. I have the privilege of sharing with you each day, and I appreciate it when you share with me by leaving comments on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com).
We have nearly completed our current Trek, as we are visiting the 12 waypoints on the Trail of Thinking where we have sojourned for the last 7 days. So far, we have stopped by waypoints 1-11 and have only 1 more waypoint to visit.
I encourage you to apply each waypoint to your life so that you can become more wise and successful. If you have missed any of the previous podcasst this week, please take the time to listen to them or read the daily journals so that you will be all caught up on the trail with us. We certainly don’t want to leave anyone behind.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OM31.png ()The 12 waypoints of changing our thinking As in the previous days, when we ended our podcast yesterday, I asked you to deliberate on two more questions:
Am I continually considering others and their journey in order to think with maximum cooperation?
Do I stay focused on productive thinking so that I can gain the maximum results and reap the full potential of my thinking?
Study these daily questions, and then apply them to your life. Doing so will radically change your thinking and gradually change your life. Just like our trek in life, progress is usually slow and may be burdensome, but is required to become wise and successful.
As we reach waypoint #12 today, we are switching our focus from how to think are concentrating instead on what to think about.
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Concentrate on What you Think About
As we consider this last waypoint, I am reminded of a quote I recently came across from Peter Lord that I feel is quite appropriate as we look at how to concentrate on what you think about.
“We have no control over how we feel, how we act — our attitudes, and actions — except as they are determined by our thoughts. All these elements are irrevocably tied together. But since we do have control over what we think, it is possible to control our attitudes and actions…All thoughts can be divided into two basic categories: true and false. The thoughts that come from God are true. He is the God of all truth and has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and to guide us into all truth. If I can receive God’s thoughts, I can think the truth. Therefore I will have the right attitudes and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 49 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part 6) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. By consuming these daily https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets), you will grow in wisdom as you listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. You’ll also receive understanding and guidance on each day of life’s journey. This is Day 49 of our Trek, and we will continue today and tomorrow learning how changing our thinking can dramatically change our lives.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. By the time this episode airs on Sunday, July 19th, we will be back at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) for a little over three weeks, as we continue renovations and prepare for a family gathering on Paula’s side of the family.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/IMG_8762.jpg ()The Big House – Marietta Ohio Although this is day 49 of our trek, we started on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-0/ (Day Zero), so I am pleased to announce that this is our 50th episode! It has gone by quickly, and I want to thank everyone who has listened. My prayer is that each day’s trek has been encouraging and enlightening. Leave us comments at https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com), and let us know how we can improve and serve you more effectively.
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Life is a trek, and we are all in this trek together. Each day as we gain wisdom and insight, let us do all that we can to live life each day so that we are leaving a legacy.
We have stopped by waypoints 1-9 so far, so we only have three more to go. I encourage you to apply each waypoint to your life so that you can become more wise and successful. Let’s continue on life’s trail until we reach waypoints 10 and 11.
As we ended our podcast yesterday, I asked you to consider two more questions:
Am I consciously rejecting the limitations of common thinking in order to accomplish uncommon results?
Am I consistently searching the minds of others to think “over my head” and achieve compounding results?
Consider these questions each day and apply them to your life. This will help you to change your thinking and start down the trail to a changed life. As we are on this trek of life together, one of the most important ways of thinking is found at our 10th waypoint.
- Practice Unselfish Thinking Unselfish thinking is beneficial because it enables personal fulfillment, adds value to other people, and increases the quality of your life. When you engage in unselfish thinking, you become part of something greater than yourself. It is only possible to create a long lasting legacy by thinking unselfishly and investing in others. Here are five ways to cultivate the ability to think unselfishly:
Put others first. When you think unselfishly you make a commitment, both mentally and emotionally, to look out for others’ interests.
Find situations where people have needs. One way to practice unselfish thinking is for you to find situations where people have needs and then do something about it. At first, the kind of giving you provide is not all that important; the goal is for you to learn how to give.
Give quietly or anonymously. After learning how to give, you must learn how to give when nothing is provided to you in return. Anonymous giving results in spiritual, mental, and emotional benefits.
Invest in people intentionally. Consider different people and their journey, and then work together with them. To possess the characteristics of an unselfish thinker, you must make sure the other person in a relationship wins first....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 48 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part 5) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast and journal. By consuming these daily wisdom nuggets, you will discover the principles needed to help you live a disciplined and successful life, which will result in doing what is right, just, and fair on each day of life’s journey. This is Day 48 of our Trek, and we will continue looking at how changing our thinking can dramatically change our lives for the next three days.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are focused on client work and also preparing to head back to https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) on Friday. By the time this episode is released, we will be in Marietta and then heading north to the Akron/Canton area for the annual Robb reunion, which is Paula’s mom maiden name. We try to attend every year. Family ties are important, and it is a good time to celebrate together. I will give you an update in a few days on the day’s activities.
The hiking analogies that we use for Wisdom-Trek fit so well with our Trek through life each day. It is when we take one step at a time over a long period of time that we make the progress we desire. Being on life’s trail allows you to truly experience the full spectrum of human emotion, sometimes all in one day. A moment of frustration and despair is seamlessly followed by peace and beauty. And so it is with life.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Critical-and-Reflective-Thinking1a.jpg ()…so it is with life. Enjoy every moment! Just like in hiking, we need to plan and also take time to think and rest. So far we have stopped at waypoints 1-7 to analyze our thinking so that we will become more wise and successful. Today we are working towards waypoints 8 and 9.
As we ended our podcast yesterday, I asked you to consider two more questions:
Am I unleashing the enthusiasm of possibility thinking to find solutions for even seemingly impossible problems?
Am I regularly revisiting the past to gain a true perspective and think with understanding?
I do encourage you to consider these questions each day and apply them to your lives. This will help you to change your thinking and start down the trail to a changed life. One of the benefits of hiking on trails that are not used frequently is that we do not have to compete with masses of people as you would on a busy thoroughfare.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Hiking-on-log.jpg ()Don’t take the popular trails. This also applies to waypoint number 8 where we have just arrived.
- Question Popular Thinking Questioning popular thinking can be challenging, but there are valid reasons for you to do so. When people follow a trend, they usually do not give it much thought. Although you may view popular thinking as a source of safety and security, there is a large difference between acceptance and intelligence. Because popular thinking favors the status quo, it discourages innovation and brings average results. Being an entrepreneur and someone who tends to question anything that the masses are following all my life, I have not had a major issue with this point. Here are five different ways for you to question the acceptance of popular thinking:
Think before following. You need to consider what is best, rather than what is popular. When you challenge popular thinking it means that you will need to step off of the well-worn trail. When you go against popular thinking, you may be blazing your own trail, but it often hold the seed of vision and opportunity that others won’t recognize.
Appreciate different types of...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 47 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part 4) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast and journal. By consuming these daily https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets), you will digest the principles that will help you in your quest to become healthy, wealthy and wise as we trek through life together. This is Day 47 of our Trek, and we will continue for the next few days on our Trek to look at how changing our thinking can dramatically change our lives.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. After another very full workload today, it is good to be able to reflect on some words of wisdom to help refocus our priorities. One of the purposes for Wisdom-Trek is to provide mentoring to others. In order to gain wisdom, we need to be receptive to receive it and ready to apply it to our lives. It is through proper thinking that we are able to become wise and successful. As we change our thinking, our choices in life will change, which will also change our lives.
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So far we have visited waypoints 1-5, so we are making good progress on our Trek. Today as we search for waypoints 6 & 7 on our expedition, let us see what advice we can gain so that we can continue to change our thinking. If you missed any of the past five days of podcasts, please go back and listen to them, or read our daily journal entries. Doing so will enable you to be equipped with all of the information that you need to change your life.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/A5U913STPH.jpg ()Waypoints in Life As we ended our podcast yesterday, I asked you to consider two more questions:
Am I building a solid foundation on facts so that I can think with certainty?
Am I implementing strategic plans that give me direction for today and increase my potential for tomorrow?
I hope that you will take the time each day to reflect on these questions. This is crucial in gaining wisdom, as Proverbs 2:2-5 says,
“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.”
As we continue on our trail of life this beautiful day, enjoy the sunshine, the soft mountain breeze, and the fragrances of summer after a brief shower. As we visualize this, we soon come upon our 6th waypoint and find our first instructions.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/9EQJ62JMB3.jpg ()Beautiful Day 6. Explore Possibility Thinking To be a possibility thinker you must believe that solutions exist to even the most difficult problems. When you believe something challenging can be done and then succeed at doing it, doors open and others are attracted to you. When you make things happen, it inspires others to create possibilities. When you approach difficult tasks, you have the potential to attain exceptional results. When you embrace possibility thinking, you believe in what you are doing and are energized by it. There are six different ways to stimulate possibility thinking:
Do not focus on what is impossible. Instead focus on solutions to your problems or challenges in any situation.
Stay away from experts. This may seem counter-intuitive to having a mentor, but an expert may see all that could go wrong and may discourage your dreams. It is good to take wise advice, but be leery of those individuals who are self-proclaimed experts.
Look for possibilities in every situation. Opposite of the first...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 46 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part 3) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. By consuming these daily https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets), you will digest the principles will help you in your quest to become healthy, wealthy, and wise as we trek through life together. This is Day 46 of our Trek, and we will continue for the next few days on our Trek to look at how changing our thinking can dramatically change our lives.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We had the privilege of being interviewed on another podcast this past week, which was released on Monday. I count it a blessing to be able to share our story on other platforms as well. So far we have been on the Profit Pathway with Adam Farmer, PluggedIN Life with Mitch Kriegh, The Launching Point with Mike O’Toole, and Life Uncut with Tom Walter and John Allaire. If you would like to listen to any of these interviews, they can be found on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) and choose https://wisdom-trek.com/thebighouse/ (The Big House). There is another interview not yet released and a couple of more scheduled, so I will keep you informed when they are ready.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/podcast-guest-interview.jpg ()Podcast Interviews I am excited to continue on our Trek today as we visit waypoints 4 and 5 on our trail in our quest to change our thinking so that we can change our lives. There are 12 waypoints or rest stops plus a couple of planning discussions in all, so if you missed any of the past five days of podcasts, please go back and listen to them, or read our daily journal entries. This will give you the foundation for this week’s Trek.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Draw-and-save-waypoints.jpg ()The Waypoints on Life’s Trek As we ended our podcast yesterday, I asked you to consider two more questions:
Am I dedicated to removing distractions and mental clutter so that I can concentrate with clarity on the real issue?
Am I working to break out of my “box,” exploring ideas and options, so I can experience creative breakthrough?
Did you take time to reflect on and answer those question? How has your focus and creativity changed as a result of these two questions? Remember, we must grow ourselves before we can ever hope to help others grow.
Let’s start down the trail today towards the next waypoint or rest stop. While I am very much an optimist in life, I am also very much a realist. I always believe the glass is completely full, either with liquid, air or other substances, but I also know that I may not always want to drink what is in the cup.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/111.jpg ()How do you view life? So, let’s settle in at our first waypoint or rest stop.
- Employ Realistic Thinking Realistic thinking is absolutely essential for success in life. It minimizes your risk by determining in advance what the consequences of different actions might be. By understanding and acknowledging consequences, it is possible to plan for them.
By developing contingency plans, it allows you to feel and be more secure. Realistic thinking will also lead you to better define objectives or goals so that you can reach them. Through realistic thinking, you can create a solid foundation upon which your ideas can be built upon.
This reminds me of the parable that Christ taught us in Luke [6:47]-49,
“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 45 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part 2) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. By consuming these daily wisdom nuggets, you will digest the principles needed to help you in your quest to become healthy, wealthy, and wise as we trek through life together. This is Day 45 of our Trek, and for the next few days we will continue our Trek to look at how changing our thinking can dramatically change our lives.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The client workload and activities should be consistently busy this week. It will be a good week to spend indoors during the day as the temperatures in North Carolina are anticipated to be above 95° for the next two weeks. It certainly has been warm this summer.
We are continuing a several day Trek where we will stop at twelve waypoints or rest areas along our trail. When hiking long distances (as our life trek is), it is always good to plan in advance where your rest stops or waypoints will be. This will help to measure your progress and make sure that you do not get off the trail.
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At each waypoint along our Trek this week, we will have the occasion to reflect on and change how we think. By changing our thinking, these waypoints will also allow us to change our lives in a positive way.
Yesterday we reflected on the first waypoint which was https://wisdom-trek.com/day-44/ (Cultivating Big-Picture Thinking). It followed two days when we looked at https://wisdom-trek.com/day-42/ (the science) and https://wisdom-trek.com/day-43/ (results of big picture thinking). If you missed any of the past three days of podcasts, please go back and listen to them, or read our daily journal entries. This will give you the foundation for this week’s Trek.
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As we ended our podcast https://wisdom-trek.com/day-44/ (yesterday), I asked you to reflect on the question, “Am I thinking beyond myself and my world so that I process ideas with a holistic perspective?”
Did you take time to think about how you would answer this question? To grow in wisdom each day, we should be asking ourselves the difficult questions that cause us to reflect on our lives so that we can expand our world. It is then we will have the capability to impact others to a greater capacity.
It’s time to break camp now and head towards the next waypoint or rest stop. As we head down the trail today, let us focus on what we learn at each stop and think creatively on how this will help us to live abundantly in all areas as we are creating a living legacy.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/A150E71AFE.jpg ()Heading out on today’s Trek. Wise and successful people practice certain thinking habits, and in order for you to become wise and successful, you need to entrench these same thinking habits into you mind.
- Engage in Focused Thinking Focused thinking allows you to think clearly about a problem. This skill helps you to direct energy toward a specific objective, bring more clarity to issues, and take ideas to the next level. When engaging in focused thinking, you should select challenges or areas that are most likely to have the greatest impact.
Here are five ways that you can improve your focused thinking:
Eliminate distractions and focus on areas that will provide the greatest impact.
Devote time to focused thinking. Although multi-tasking is a popular word in today’s world, it is not conducive to focused thinking. New evidence has shown that we really cannot...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 44 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part 1) Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 44 of our Trek, and for the next few days we will continue our Trek to look at how changing our thinking can dramatically change our lives.
We are recording our podcast on Sunday from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was good to be in town and attend our regular church today. To be part of a faith-based community where you have friends that love and care for you is important. I would encourage you to make it a regular habit to join a community of friends and family where you share common values and beliefs. We are designed to be part of a tribe for fellowship and strength.
As we continue our thoughts about thinking, we are beginning a several day trek today during which we will stop at twelve waypoints or rest areas along the trail. At each waypoint, we will have the occasion to reflect on and change how we think. By changing our thinking, these waypoints will allow us to change our lives in a positive direction. Eleven of the waypoints that are used were taken from John Maxwell’s book How Successful People Think. The discussions for those waypoints will be based on the perspectives and wisdom that I have gained through a life of studying wise individuals that have trekked the trails of life and provided us wisdom and insights from their journeys.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/approach_map1.gif ()Waypoints for Thinking Before we reach our first waypoint let us contemplate this question. Can changing your thinking really change your life? As I have studied and observed wise and unwise people for over 35 years now, i have found there is a distinct difference between wise and successful people and unwise and unsuccessful people. It usually boils down to how they think! Correct thinking is the one thing that separates the wise from the unwise and the successful from the unsuccessful.
As we wander down a rabbit trail a bit further, I think it is necessary to explain a little about how we will view each of these waypoints. I will be using a wise and successful person as equivalent, or the same. In order to do this, we must first separate in our thoughts that a successful person is not necessarily just a wealthy person. Wealth does not determine overall success in a person’s life. Now, those individuals that are wise, many times, are also wealthy. This is because of the wise financial choices that they have made during their lives. But, there are many individuals who are wealthy financially, but are not successful in the most important areas of their lives. This is because they have made unwise choices in areas that matter most. Proverbs 28:11 says, “Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.”
To be truly successful we need to have achieved success in all areas of life. We need to have a well-rounded “wheel of life” so that our overall ride in life is smooth. In future Wisdom-Trek podcasts, we will explore how to be successful in all areas of life, but for this week’s journey, let’s focus on the 12 waypoints along our trail in order to change our thinking and change our lives.
The good news is that it’s possible for you to learn how to think like a wise and successful person. But, before you can learn from a good thinker, you need to know what he looks like.
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For me, the primary trait of a good thinker is a person who blends his wisdom and experience into every thought that he has and every decision that he makes. In addition to...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 43 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Results of Thinking Big Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast and journal. This is Day 43 of our Trek, and for the next few days, we will continue our trek about how significantly our thinking impacts our lives, both today and into eternity.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and this weekend Granny and Gramps had the privilege of watching our grandson Kiprono. His given name is Harold Guthrie Chamberlain, V, but he goes by his Kenyan name Kip for short. Our daughter-in-law Chelimo is from Kenyan heritage and married to our oldest son Harry. Harry and Kip listen to Wisdom-Trek (or as Kip calls them Gramps’ Wisdom Tracks) on their way to preschool each day. It is a blessing to be closely involved with our grown children and grandchildren. As we have continued opportunity to positively impact our family, one of the areas that we have always emphasized is how important thinking properly is. In addition to the science or power of thinking big, by changing our thinking we can literally change our lives.
It looks like the trail ahead today has some big boulders that we need to consider. Will these boulders prevent us on our Trek, or will we use them to our advantage as we learn to enjoy the journey each day? Big boulders or obstacles give us the opportunity to think big, achieve big, and succeed big. To me the ability to “Think BIG” is one of the cornerstones of extreme success.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/3DDBPRBS5U.jpg ()The boulders in life can be big, but so can our thinking. As we consider the concept of thinking big, we have to understand that there is effort exerted in thinking big or small. Take advantage of economies of scale. In many cases, thinking big and taking action on large tasks takes no more time and effort than working on small tasks. But, the results are much bigger and better, and the achievement is greater. I have seen people that have worked harder thinking about how to get out of doing something than if they would just think big and do the work.
It can be much easier to succeed by thinking big, rather than thinking small. So many individuals are thwarted in life because their thinking is so confined and small. I realize that not everyone has the opportunity to travel and stretch themselves and their world by experiencing other peoples and cultures. With today’s technology, though, there is no reason that you cannot expand your horizons and thinking through virtual travel and experiences. It is literally at our fingertips today.
How to Think and Achieve Big 1. Be Positive and Fearless Negative or fearful thoughts produce small thinking. Think positively. Eliminate the word “impossible.” Successful big thinkers come up with reasons why they “can.” Others find reasons why they “can’t.”
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9088.jpg ()Success comes in cans. Whichever way you think, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Big thinkers see problems as a challenge, and any challenge as an opportunity. Their big thinking creates unlimited possibilities, alternatives, and solutions. Turn your attention to being brave, bold and optimistic. I realize that Mark 10:27 is specifically dealing with the salvation experience, but the truth is still applicable if we are pursuing a right course of action for our lives. “Jesus looked at them intently and said,
- Visualize Without Restraint It is not a lack of resources that holds people back but a lack of resourcefulness. A big thinker visualizes what is possible in the future, rather than being stuck in the present or mired in the past. Look...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 42 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Science of Thinking Big Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast and journal. This is Day 42 of our Trek, and for the next few days, we are going ponder the science or concept of thinking big versus thinking small and how dramatically our thinking impacts us today and through eternity.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we end another week and start a new one, I like to reflect on what I was able to accomplish and look forward in anticipation to what I can accomplish in the next week. I ask myself, “What actions can I take to impact my world for good this coming week?” Many times our Trek is to just continue on what we are doing, to take one step after another, and to be faithful and consistent in doing what is right, just, and fair in every interaction or transaction that we have. Small incremental actions consistently practiced each day will have an enormous impact over time.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/12449720294_d75c530c68_o.jpg ()One day and one step at a time. So let’s start up the trail today on our Wisdom-Trek to continue to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before and to leave a living legacy each day. As we start on the trail today we see the huge mountains before us. As we view these mountains we can look at them in one of two ways. We can say:
These mountains are so huge that I will never be able to scale them
Or, we can look at the challenge before us with excitement and enthusiasm and think, “What a great day it is to Trek to the summit and see the beautiful view that waits for me there!”
Today’s trek is about the science of thinking big versus thinking small. I call it a science because it has been proven continually that what we think about a situation, or indeed life, largely determines how it will turn out. Now, if you find yourself in a valley of despair at the moment and desire to scale to the mountain peaks, it may take some time. As with everything in life, we need to take it one step at a time. Given enough time, being persistent and consistent, we can even move mountains. An old Chinese Proverb puts it this way, So, regardless of where you are on your trek, start carrying away small stones, and soon the mountains will be moved.
As a person of faith, I recognize there is also clear evidence from Scripture that our thinking or faith has a major impact on the outcomes in our lives. I always want to be very careful that I do not take verses of Scripture out of context in order to fit my point, but there are many instances within Scripture where Christ taught that our thinking, or faith, was a contributing factor in the outcome of healings and other miracles.
Now, I do not profess to fully understand how our thinking and/or faith intertwine with the sovereign will of God. I realize that people with great faith still become ill or have other problems in life, seemingly outside of their control. Things break down and fall apart, whether it is a car, washing machine, or even our bodies. This is due to the fact that we are part of a fallen world, and that there are certain “laws of nature” that God allows to play out in our lives. Obviously, the better we take care of any of these, the better chance that they will not break down as quickly.
Even though I do not fully understand the mind of God in many matters, I do understand there is a direct correlation between our thinking and beliefs (or faith) and the results. One example of this is when Christ disciples were unable to heal a demon possessed boy in Matthew 17:19-20, “Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, ‘Why couldn’t we
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 41 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. How to Become a Mentor Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 41 of our Trek, and today we are going to trek down the paths that will allow us to become leaders or mentors to others.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today was a very hot day in North Carolina with temperatures over 100°. Although we usually work entirely at our home, we ventured out into the heat to visit a friend in need and to pick up a new pair of eye glasses for me. The optometrist said they give me the Clark Kent look from Superman, which I guess is okay with me. This would actually fit my personality rather well since, as I remember, the old Superman episodes always referred to him as “the mild mannered Clark Kent. Of all of the superheroes, Superman is still my favorite.
Well, since I do not have any real superpowers myself, let’s break camp for today and head onto the trails of life. We want to consider the three character traits required which to create a living legacy. In order to create a legacy, we must be able to lead or mentor others. In order to lead and mentor others, we need to traverse certain trails, or you might say put into practice certain habits that will allow us to attain the status of a leader and mentor. I will be so brash today as to say that we cannot positively lead or mentor others unless we hike these three trails on a regular basis.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/mentorship-1024x932.jpg ()Mentor others. The model for our https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets) today, which shows us the three trails that we will travel, are learned from a Hebrew priest Ezra who was taken into exile in Babylon by King Artaxerxes. Ezra was allowed to return to Jerusalem to assess the city’s condition. In chapter 7 verses 8-10, “Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year. He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the New Year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.”
Verse 10 gives us the pattern to follow in order to become leaders and mentors.
- Learn it Our first trail that we will explore is the “Learn It” trail. Before you can ever hope to lead or mentor others you must first learn the practical lessons of life and grow in wisdom yourself. You need to foster the spirit of continual learning within yourself. With the resources that are available using today’s technology, there is no excuse for remaining unlearned or ignorant in any area of life. In fact as rapidly as the world is changing, if you are not continually learning, then you will quickly lose your skills and, therefore, your value in many areas of life.
Be a lifelong student. Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. “The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young,” Henry Ford.
The more you learn, the more you earn, and the more self-confidence you will have. Learning does take self-discipline. In fact Proverbs 12:1 says, “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.” And Proverbs 18:15 puts it this way, “Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.” As we look back at Ezra 7:10, we see that “Ezra had determined to study.”
- Live It The second trail that we explore is the “Live It” trail. You need to apply what you have learned to your life and live it each day. It
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 40 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Stepping off the Cliff Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 40 of our Trek, and today we are going to learn how to land on your feet when you step off the cliff.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Paula and I are settled back into our routines in North Carolina and focused on the client work that keeps us busy each day. Preparing for this daily podcast and journal continues to go well, but it does require a significant amount of time each day. It is our goal to get a couple of weeks of episodes prepared in advance if possible. It may take us a while to reach that goal.
Today as we consider the topic of stepping or maybe even slipping off a cliff, we need to consider how we are going to handle it in advance. Taking risks and the changes it brings, can be intimidating, even scary for some. Life is about having the faith to move forward, even when the path ahead is not clear or solid. To grow in wisdom, we need to gain the confidence to continue as we take one more step, even when the trail before us is shrouded with fog, and we cannot see our way. During those times, it is easy to lose our footing and not know how to recover.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/EQFIMETSQN.jpg ()Trail Shrouded by Fog So, let’s break camp and continue on our trail of life. Visualize we are hiking up a long, winding trail on a beautiful mountainside. The flowers are wafting their summer scents through the warm air. The hummingbirds are darting to and fro, seemingly effortless in their flight. The path is not smooth, but the rocks do not hinder your progress. Occasionally, a tree limb or root causes a short detour. We navigate around these minor obstructions and get back onto the path, winding its way to the peak.
As you round a sharp corner in front of you the trail suddenly narrows. As you place one sure foot in front of the other, there is a drop off that appears before you. There is sheer rock below you for hundreds of feet. It startles you as a few loose pebbles finds its way down into the apparently bottomless span before you. Then one of your feet slips, and you start to tumble.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/619C7F331F.jpg ()Mountain Edge Scary situation, isn’t it? It makes my heart pound just to ponder it!
Life’s Trek can be similar to this. Most days we can easily navigate across small detours, and it is easy enough to get back on the path. Some seasons though… as we traverse the trail before us, on this Trek we call “life,” dark shadows falls across our way. Some days we face torrential rainstorms that prevent any evident progress. Yet we must press on and on, ever upward. But what about that cliffs of life? What happens when we lose our footing or we step off the cliff?
Stepping off of a cliff is analogous to any major life change. How is the best way to deal with those changes so that you land on your feet and can walk away with little collateral damage?
Accept the Change
The most surefire way to make a big change more difficult for yourself is to fight it. Although having a hard time letting go is a natural reaction, a desire to live in the past will only cause more pain and prolong the adjustment period. Instead of dwelling on what you’re leaving behind on the solid path, such as a home, a job, close family, or security — focus on getting through the change right now and create a positive future. In order to do that successfully, you must first accept the reality that your life will no longer be the same.
Find Time for Reflection
Whether it’s journaling, meditation, prayer, Bible...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 39 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Secret Sauce of Success – Part 2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 39 of our Trek. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-38/ (Yesterday) and today we are looking at the 20 ingredients that make up the secret sauce that will make you successful. Just like secret sauces being applied to a good BBQ or steak, the ingredients that make up the Wisdom-Trek Secret Sauce should be applied to both our personal and business lives to help make us successful. We need these ingredients to permeate our very essences so that it brings out the best in everything that we do.
If you missed https://wisdom-trek.com/day-38/ (yesterday’s podcast or journal), make sure you listen to it or read the journal so you will learn what the first 10 ingredients are. As mentioned yesterday, apply these ingredients and then be authentic, be transparent, and be the person that you would like to see in others.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The workload continues to be very brisk as we are helping to ramp up a new construction project in Mesa, Arizona, along with a heavy workload with our other clients. Life is never boring, and daily we must remind ourselves to enjoy every step of the journey. That is what makes life worth living.
After mixing the first 10 ingredients into our secret sauce yesterday, today we will finish by adding the remaining 10 ingredients. The sauce is already starting to taste really awesome, and if we apply this sauce to our lives when we are finished, we will radiate success in every area.
Well, it’s time to break camp and look for the remaining 10 ingredients as we head on out on our Trek for today. The core ingredients we are using were adapted from ideas shared by Dan Walschmidt, author of the book Edgy Conversations. I have modified this list and added my own years of experience and wisdom to these items. Today we will mix in the remaining 10 ingredients that make our Secret Sauce for Success.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/secret-sauce-recipe.png ()Ingredients for the Secret Sauce for Success Here are the remaining 10 ingredients for our Secret Sauce for Success:
You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option. – To be successful, we cannot fall prey to making excuses as is so readily done today. Take responsibility for your actions, and do everything with excellence. As I have worked with team members within our businesses throughout the years, and with my own children, I have tried to emphasize that in everything I expected results, not excuses. The only way to learn how to ride a horse is to get back on every time you fall off. “It’s easier to go ahead and succeed than it is to spend all the time and energy it takes making excuses,” Jim Rohn. Success = No Excuses.
You have to search for your own explanations even when you’re told to accept the “facts.” To be successful, it is not always wise to just accept what you have been told, even if it is supposedly a fact. Discover the results for yourself. Forge a new path on your trek of life. “Discoveries are often made by not following instructions; by going off the main road; by trying the untried,” Frank Tyger.
You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot. There is nothing wrong with making honest mistakes, even if it casts you in a negative light. A life making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. Although none of us want to look like an idiot, we need to put away our pride and the façade that we try to portray to make us look better. We should not be afraid of making mistakes, but be afraid if we are...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 38 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. The Secret Sauce of Success – Part 1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 38 of our Trek, today and tomorrow we are going to look at the 20 ingredients that make up the secret sauce which will make you successful. These sauces can be applied to both personal and business success.
I feel strongly that it is not wise, if even possible, to compartmentalize your life into specific boxes or areas. We are a whole person with different areas of focus throughout a single day. To be a truly successful person, all areas of life need to be tightly integrated and use the same moral code. Values and integrity must be woven through the fabric of your entire life. Just as we cannot separate our body, soul, and mind, we cannot separate the areas of our life. What we do in one area of life impacts all areas. Be authentic. Be transparent. Be the person that you would like to see in others.
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Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On Sunday we drove back from Marietta with a stopover in Covington, Virginia, for church, a church potluck, and to pick up Paula’s mom who spent the week with Paula’s sister Lois, so they could visit other family members.
Let’s break camp now and head on out on our Trek for today. I recently read an article by Dan Walschmidt, author of the book Edgy Conversations, which listed several items to be successful. I have adapted this list and added my years of experience and wisdom to these items. Today and tomorrow we will sample the 20 ingredients that make up the Secret Sauce for Success.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Secret-Sauce-ingredients.jpg ()20 Ingredients for the Secret Sauce of Success
You have to make decisions you’re afraid to make. – All of us have fear to a certain extent. Some people are less risk tolerant than others, but unless the decision will cause bodily harm or death to you or others, then you should make the difficult and fearful decisions. Move forward with a decision based on the knowledge and experience you have at that point. . From a Biblical perspective, fear should not be an overriding character trait in us, especially if you are a person of faith. In 2 Timothy 1:7 the Apostle Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
You have to get up earlier than you want to get up. – As a morning person this is not a significant problem for me, but for my wife Paula it is much more difficult. I have long since learned that she will never be one, and that is fine. It’s not that you have to get up early every day, but to be successful, you must get up earlier than you would really like to. Most mornings, I desire to sleep longer. I think most people do, but it takes sacrifice to live a successful life.
You have to give more than you get in return right away. The principle of life is that you have to give first before you will see a return. Proverbs 11:25 puts it this way, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
You have to care more about others than they care about you. If your desire for success is driven from selfishness, then you will be frustrated most of the time and probably not successful long term. In all areas of life, we should care for others just because of our concern for them. This is true in both personal and business capacities. The rules are always the same for both. Philippians 2:3 reads, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 37 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Wisdom from Ben Franklin – Part 5 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 37 of our Trek, and in honor of Independence Day in the United States, https://wisdom-trek.com/day-33/ (Friday) we started a 5-day series of episodes during which we are consulting one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who was known for his wisdom and practical sage advice. Today we are finishing up that series.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We are looking forward to being back at Home2 for about 12 days to work on some projects there before returning to The Big House in Mid-July for a little over three weeks. We have a lot planned for the remainder of the summer, and my hope is that you are living life to the fullest also. Regardless of what you may have planned, make sure you plan to enjoy every moment. Life slips by all too quickly for us.
On our Trek today, we finish up our examination of the 85 practical tips written by Benjamin Franklin called The Way of Wealth. In order to keep our daily Wisdom-Trek near the 7 minute length, I have split up the remaining tips over the past two days, so this series is one day longer than expected. I hope you don’t mind. I want to keep our daily https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets) short and digestible. So, let’s venture on our trail today as we examine steps 72-85.
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When consumed regularly like nutritional supplements, these nuggets of truth and wisdom will enhance our bodies and minds. This will allow us to live in such a manner that we will be creating a living legacy each day.
Lying rides upon debt’s back. – As we think about our hiking analogy, debt becomes our heavy backpack. But, instead of the backpack being filled with the essential gear needed to make our Trek both safe and enjoyable, it is filled with useless items and rocks that weigh us down, providing little benefit. We then have to lie to ourselves and others to justify the burdensome life that we have chosen when we decide to borrow needlessly.
‘Tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright. – If your life is an empty shell without value and substance, then it is difficult to stand strong when the winds of life blow. We need to have a strong internal compass, a moral code and values that we live by. We must have integrity and never compromise it. Proverbs 10:9 reminds, “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.”
Creditors have better memories than debtors. – If you borrow money, never lie to yourself that you won’t have to pay it back or that your loan somehow will be forgiven. Although we may conveniently forget, those that loan the money to us will not.
The borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor. – Now old Ben took this one straight from the Bible. Any time you put yourself into subjection of another person or organization for any purpose, you voluntarily become their slave or bond servant. To my knowledge, no one can ever be forced to borrow money. You may feel you have no choice, but that is one of the lies that we tell ourselves. We may choose to borrow, or we can choose to radically change our lives to a new paradigm and not borrow the money. Proverbs 22:7 indicates, “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.”
Disdain the chain, preserve your freedom, and maintain your independency. Be industrious and free; be frugal and free. – Debt becomes a chain that binds...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 36 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Wisdom from Ben Franklin – Part 4 Hello and welcome to Wisdom-Trek! This is Guthrie Chamberlain, and I am your Guide to Wisdom. Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 36 of our Trek, and in honor of Independence Day in the United States, https://wisdom-trek.com/day-33/ (Friday) we started a 5-day series of episodes in which we are consulting one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who was known for his wisdom and practical sage advice.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a pleasant week although we have been getting a lot of rain in Ohio this summer. It sure keeps all of the foliage green and nice looking. We were unable to get started sanding the floor in the Eating Area prior to leaving for North Carolina on Sunday, so that project will be at the top of the list when we return in mid-July.
On our Trek today, we will continue our review of the 85 practical tips written by Benjamin Franklin called The Way of Wealth. In order to keep our daily Wisdom-Trek near the 7 minute length, I have split up the remaining tips over the next two days, so this series will be one day longer than expected. I hope you don’t mind. I want to keep our daily https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets) short and digestible. So, let’s venture on our trail today as we examine steps 58-71.
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When consumed regularly, these nuggets of truth and wisdom help us to grow and mature and to become healthy, wealthy, and wise in all areas of life.
Wise men learn by others’ harms, fools scarcely by their own. – When a wise person observes the wrongs done by others, he will learn and not fall trap to the same actions. A foolish person rarely learns from his own mistakes.
Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets put out the kitchen fire. – If you spend money on luxuries when you cannot really afford them (especially if the money is borrowed), then you will not have money for the basic necessities of life when you really need it.
A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees. – A honest hard working person, even in a common occupation, has more honor than a person of high status that is lazy and unethical. Proverbs 12:11 reminds, “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.”
Always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom. If we are always taking without giving back, then we will soon find there is nothing left to take. On the converse, if we give generously, we will have plenty to spare. Luke 6:38 reminds, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
When the well’s dry, they know the worth of water. – As with most things in life, we don’t really recognize the value of something until it is gone. This could be our health, our wealth, or our relationships. It has been said that
If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some. – While I am not a big proponent of borrowing money with the possible exception of a home purchase, I do realize there are times when it may be a necessity. If you have ever tried to borrow money through conventional channels, especially for a business or other major purposes, you soon realized that the banks require everything that you own or might possibly own as collateral. If you do need to borrow money, make sure...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 35 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Wisdom from Ben Franklin – Part 3 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 35 of our Trek, and in honor of Independence Day in the United States, https://wisdom-trek.com/day-33/ (Friday )we started a 5-day series of episodes in which we are consulting one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who was known for his wisdom and practical sage advice.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We have moved into our newly renovated office, and it is great. The room turned out very nice, and Paula and I are very pleased with the results. We invested in new windows, new hardwood floors and wainscoting on two of the walls. Check out the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-35/ (journal page for Day 35) on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com) to see some pictures. Also if you would like to be kept up-to-date on our Wisdom-Trek, please enter your name and email address at the bottom right hand of the sidebar which appears on every page.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/New-Office1.jpg ()https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/New-Office-6.jpg ()https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/New-Office-2.jpg ()
On our Trek today, we will continue our review of the 85 practical tips written by Benjamin Franklin called The Way of Wealth. In order to keep our daily Wisdom-Trek near the 7 minute length, I have split up the remaining 40 tips into three days, so this series will be one day longer than expected. I hope you don’t mind. I want to keep our daily https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-nuggets/ (wisdom nuggets) short and digestible. So, let’s venture on our trail today as we examine steps 46-57.
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These nuggets of truth and wisdom can dramatically impact our lives so that we all can grow in wisdom and insight.
A little neglect may breed great mischief. – If we do not pay attention to what is important in our business and personal lives, then we leave the door open for bad behavior, either from ourselves or others. Don’t neglect your responsibilities in all areas of life.
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost, and for want of a horse, the rider was lost. – Pay attention to the little details of life before they become big. If we neglect the small matters, whether it is in our marriage, family, health, or work, we will soon find that we have major issues in those areas of life. Life is like a wheel that needs to be well rounded in order for a smooth journey. If we are faithful in handling the small matters, then we will be given more responsibilities and prosper in life. Here is a snippet of a parable that Christ told in Matthew 25:23, “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” Along our Wisdom-Trek in the future, we will look deeper into the principles of faithfulness and loyalty.
A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. – The “groat” is the traditional name of a long-defunct English silver coin worth four English pennies. The principle here is that if we do not learn how to save and invest during our lives, we will have to work hard until we die, and we won’t have anything to show for it. This is not the type of legacy that we should desire.
If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting. – Regardless of how...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 34 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Wisdom from Ben Franklin – Part 2 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 34 of our Trek and in honor of Independence Day in the United States, https://wisdom-trek.com/day-33/ (yesterday) we started a 4-day series of episodes in which we are consulting one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who was known for his wisdom and practical sage advice.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It was a pretty light day for work, but I was able to get out and mow the entire lawn and just finished up before it started to rain. With the help of my brother Jack and his son Robert, who live next door, we were able to move most of the furniture into our newly renovated office upstairs. I just have to finish by moving the shelving units that I use for my standing desks. On the day this podcast airs, July 4th, I should be able to sand the floor in the “Eating Area.” I hope to be able to put a couple coats of polyurethane on it before we head back to North Carolina for 12 days.
On our Trek today, we continue our review of the 85 practical tips written by Benjamin Franklin which are called The Way of Wealth. Wealth here is not just referring to material gain but also what truly creates a life of abundance in all areas.
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Yesterday we covered tips 1-22, so let’s venture on our trail today as we review tips 23-45.
When consumed regularly, these nuggets of truth and wisdom help us to grow and mature and to become healthy, wealthy, and wise in all areas of life. Let’s start right in:
One today is worth two tomorrows. – Take advantage of what you have today and maximize it. There are no guarantees of tomorrow for any of us. Matthew 6:34 reminds, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today. – Never delay what you can and should do today. Accomplish all that you can today, so your tomorrows are free for greater opportunities.
Be ashamed to catch yourself idle. – Don’t waste your time and the time of others. There is a time for rest, but it is not when you should be doing something productive.
Let not the sun look down and say, “Inglorious here he lies.” – Never end the day in shame or loss of honor. If you have done something unethical during the day, fix it. Better yet, don’t do that action to begin with.
The cat in gloves catches no mice. – In order for a cat to catch a mouse, it needs its claws. If we are going to do any job properly, let’s make sure we have the proper tools and resources in place.
Constant dropping wears away stones. – Be persistent in all that you do.
By diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable. No matter how difficult the task or how large the project, take it a step at a time, and you will complete it. As we said on https://wisdom-trek.com/day-30/ (day 30), eat the elephant one bite at a time.
Little strokes fell great oaks. – This is another quote that is well known and one that was repeated to me many times growing up. Even the largest of obstacles can be overcome by the smallest of steps taken over and over.
Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure. – If you want the future benefits of a life well lived, then you must live your life well today and each day. Work now, play later. The opposite never works long term.
Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour. – Every moment of every day is important.
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 33 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Wisdom from Ben Franklin – Part 1 Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 33 of our Trek, and in honor of Independence Day in the United States, for the next four days we are going to consult one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who was known for his wisdom and practical sage advice.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a fairly busy day, but not quite as hectic as the first part of the week, so I have been able to get through some of the project work that was not quite as crucial.
Before we head back to North Carolina on Sunday, we do hope to start moving the furniture back into the renovated office, sand and varnish the floor in the eating area, and get the lawn mowed. It will be a challenge to accomplish it all, but we will try. Below is a picture of the new flooring and wainscoting in our renovated office.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/New-Office-1.jpg ()New Office in The Big House As we begin on our Trek today, we find a buried box near our camp and on opening it, we realize that it contains a listing of 85 Practical tips written by Benjamin Franklin. Let’s take the next few days to see how they apply to our lives. Old Ben was one of my mom’s favorite authors, and she read many of his quotes to us growing up in hope that his seeds of wisdom would be planted and grow in our lives.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/pine_creek_box960.jpg ()Pine Creek Box Canyon These nuggets of wisdom, when consumed regularly like the book of Proverbs, will teach us to live disciplined and successful lives and to help us do what is right, just, and fair. Now, it may take a few days for us to reflect on all 85 sayings, but I will add some of my own thoughts along with Ben’s so that we can apply them most effectively. Some of the sayings do contain words that are not used often today, but I think they are easily enough translated. So let’s get started.
God helps them that help themselves. – While this is not actually listed in the Bible as many have thought, it still contains Biblical truth. God is not going to miraculously do for us what He has already given us the capability of doing.
Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears while the used key is always bright. We will remain brighter, sharper and more useful by effectively working than we ever will by being lazy. Proverbs 6:6 says to, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!”
Dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of. – Ephesians 5:16 puts it this way, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”
The sleeping fox catches no poultry. – You can’t accomplish your goals if you don’t take action. Proverbs 6:9 puts it this way, “But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up?”
There will be sleeping enough in the grave. – I have to admit, that I do like to work. My kids think that the old hymn “Work for the Night is Coming” is my theme song. I have to admit that I may have repeated that phrase a time or two while they were growing up, but on a serious note, we do need to take advantage of the times in life when we can be productive. As John 9:4 says, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.”
Wasting time must be the greatest prodigality. – Prodigality is excessive or extravagant spending. Money you can always earn again, but time...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 32 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. How to Live a Life of Significance Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 32 of our Trek. Today we are going to look at how we gain significance in our lives by living intentionally and with purpose.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Although https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) is located in an older suburban neighborhood, it sits back off of the road a bit and is surrounded by very large mature trees with a nice wooded area beside it. This setting makes for a pleasant habitat for different wildlife. Besides the squirrels that are everywhere, today our newborn twin fawns are frolicking and resting on the lawn, the family of hawks that have taken up residence in a nearby tree are quite noisy, and both a large pileated woodpecker (think Woody Woodpecker) and a much smaller redheaded woodpecker are scavenging for grubs.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Yard.jpg ()Side yard of The Big House I believe all of us want to live a life of significance, knowing that we are making a positive impact on others and the world. The problem is that life for most of us is very hectic, and we have competing demands for our time, energy, and resources. Some days it is hard to keep our heads above water, and we constantly feel like we are being sucked into the cesspool of life’s activities, which is why it is so important to live life intentionally and with purpose.
If we are going to make this shift, we need to have an intentional mind shift from a life of activity to a life of purpose. Begin living a more simplistic life, one where you take time to stop and smell the roses along the trek of life and enjoy each day’s journey.
Living a simple life certainly requires intentionality. In a world that is hectic, busy, and hurried, simplicity is not. In a culture that encourages selfishness and excess, minimalism does not. And in a society that is rushing to gain more, satisfaction with less is counter-cultural.
To live an intentional life, we must begin by laying a proper foundation and then add practical steps on each day’s Trek on top of it.
First, find a solid path for life.
Realize that your life is made up of choices. Every morning is a new day full of decisions and opportunities. You get to pick your attitude and your decisions. You don’t have to let the circumstances of your past negatively determine the pattern of your life in the future. You have a choice in the matter. You do not need to be stuck in the same pattern of living that you have been for years. Realize that every morning is a new opportunity. Thinking of this brings to my mind the Bible verses in Lamentations that we can rest in. Chapter 3 verses 22 and 23 read,
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Evaluate the path you are taking and the tribe of people that you are trekking with. Life is not lived in a vacuum. You are on a certain path and live surrounded by a tribe with its own culture that are moving somewhere. This tribe and its culture form a steep downhill slope. Living an intentional life will require you to take a step off of the trail and evaluate the path you are on to determine where it is heading, how it is affecting you, and if it is taking you in a direction you desire. We can get guidance to make these decisions as we read in Psalm 32:8 the Lord says,
“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 31 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today I encourage you to Think and Grow Wise. Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 31 of our Trek. It is hard to believe that it has been a month already since we launched Wisdom-Trek. It has been both challenging and exciting to create Wisdom-Trek and to know that the podcast has been downloaded nearly 8,000 times in the first 30 days. Thank you so much for your support and please keep promoting Wisdom-Trek so that we can all grow boldly where few have chosen to grow before. Our purpose each day is to gain wisdom and insight which will help us to create a living legacy.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We have had the privilege of observing fairly young twin fawns in our yard the past couple of days. The deer seem to become less afraid each year. These two beautiful fawns have stayed fairly close to the house bedding down in our yard. I was getting concerned that maybe something had happened to their mama, but towards dinner time, she came sauntering through the yard herself. After they nursed for a bit, the three of them headed into the small wooded area behind the house. We all need to take time and be thankful for the little joys of life.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9006-e1435710568328.jpg ()Twin Fawns – 2015 As we come to the end of another very busy day, I am also thankful for all the experiences and opportunities that God has weaved into my life. Yes, it is overwhelming at times (okay, most of the time), but it is through the challenging times of daily life that we gain and grow in wisdom. Wisdom is obtained through years of proper thinking and experience. That is why today’s podcast is titled “Think and Grow Wise.”
As we continue our Trek, consider this: To become a wise person, you need to gain accurate, perceptive insights into human behavior and understand how this is integrated into everyday situations. You need to practice what Christ’s half-brother James wrote in his letter in Chapter 1 verses 19 and 20, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” You will need to be observers of human nature and master psychologists with excellent emotional intelligence.
You have to be willing to learn from real life experiences not just academic study. This may mean that you keep what you know to yourself but are willing to share what you know with certain individuals that are ready to think and learn.
You need to have discernment and give advice to open-minded learners. If you desire to become wise you will learn the talent of asking questions that lead to new understanding. This practice will bring a consciousness to yourself to communicate what you know when the situation is right and with those who are ready and willing to learn.
If you are to become wise you need to think about what you do and don’t do. You need to have a strong inner frame reference built on your integrity for your actions and statements. You need to learn to “read” situations well and understand others accurately, to see through the obvious, and to trust your intuition.
You will need to think through life issues and gain a sense of the hidden motives behind the actions of others. This practice will allow you to become less vulnerable to cons, threats, criticism, and manipulation. If you are able to learn this trait, then you can handle pressure and threats with humor. You will be able to remain stable and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 30 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we will look at Dealing with the Major Obstacles in Life. Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 30 of our Trek. Yesterday we discussed how https://wisdom-trek.com/day-29/ (trekking up mountains and though valleys) is much like life.
One of my hesitations in creating the various topics for our podcast and journal each day is that I have no excuse for not taking a dose of my own medicine. Today has been one of those days where working with our base of clients has forced us to scale steep mountains and cascade into deep valleys without much time to enjoy the scenery or rest. All day I have had to remind myself, as we will look at in today’s podcast, that no matter how huge the tasks appear, I need to stay focused on bite-sized manageable nuggets, and eventually I will work through it all. We do hike a lot of different types of trails on our podcasts – all with the purpose of gaining wisdom and insight that help us to create a living legacy.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. The specialty contractors that we have assisting us with our renovations are nearly finished. The new trim is complete and the new windows in our formal dining room have been installed. Once the rooms are completed, I will post a couple of pictures in our Wisdom-Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (journal )entries.
As we trudge along our trail today on our trek of life, we are confronted with some huge obstacles that are blocking our way. When we reach these points along our trail, which will occur more often than we desire, we need to prepare mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually how we are going to handle these seemingly insurmountable obstructions.
Today we want to determine, the best way to take huge and overwhelming tasks or goals and break them into manageable segments. Or, the question we will ask today is “How do you eat an elephant?” And the answer is always, “One bite at a time.” Let me assure you that no actual elephants were harmed during the creation of this podcast.
Most of us have heard this saying, probably many times. But that does not lessen its value. I know I have used it with my children throughout the years. Even now that they are all adults, when they come to me with a huge issue that they are facing, I always remind them, “Just eat the elephant one bite at a time.”
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Although I have used this phrase hundreds of times, like probably most of you, I often fail to apply this lesson in my life, as I am sure you do, too. If you view the elephant as one giant obstacle or goal that your whole life depends on, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. As we trek through life each day, we need to learn to enjoy the small bites along the way. Let’s break this into three segments.
It’s not just about big goals or huge obstacles.
Many people make a major mistake in being entirely overwhelmed by a huge obstacle, or focused on big goals. To keep with our hiking analogy, let’s say your goal is to become a Colorado fourteener, which is to hike all of the 53 Colorado Summits that are 14,000 feet or higher. To look at this goal all at once would be a very big obstacle to overcome, but if you strategically plan to accomplish this goal over a period of months and years one summit at a time, then it becomes doable. If you plan on becoming a fourteener in a matter of a few weeks or months, then you are probably in for a great disappointment....
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 29 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at Trekking the Mountains and Valleys of Life. Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 29 of our Trek. The past two days we looked at https://wisdom-trek.com/day-27/ (12 trails of life) that we can take to be https://wisdom-trek.com/day-28/ (infused with courage). Today we will consider how trekking up mountains and though valleys is much like life. We cover a lot of topics on our podcasts – all focused on gaining wisdom and insight that help us to create a living legacy. Many of the podcasts are in a series of steps that cover multiple days, so if you have missed any episodes please https://wisdom-trek.com/subscribe-to-podcast/ (subscribe) to Wisdom-Trek on iTunes or Stitcher or listen on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com).
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. The renovations on the house are coming along nicely, and it looks like I will be able to finish the wood floors in “The Eating Area” this week, which will allow us to put the room in use once again. The new wainscoting in the upstairs office looks great, and the specialty contractor has matched the woodwork in other parts of the house exactly. Once the rooms are completed I will post a couple of pictures in our Wisdom-Trek https://wisdom-trek.com/wisdom-trek-podcast/ (journal) entries.
So let’s continue up the trail today on our trek of life to see the analogies between our virtual trek and real life.
As we consider this analogy, most often it comes to our minds that we want to be on the mountaintops all the time and avoid the deep valleys at all cost. What we may fail to realize is that in order to reach the summit of a mountain, we have to traverse upwards on many rough and winding trails. Once we do reach the mountain tops if we desire to continue on with life, then we must move forward, which will require that we head back down into the valleys of life.
Climbing high mountains in life can be just as difficult and challenging as when we feel we are in the lowest of valleys.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mountains-and-Valleys-1.jpg ()Life is made up of mountains and valleys. Most of us do tend to associate difficult times in our lives with the idea of being in a valley. Maybe it’s a time of depression or despair. Maybe you’ve lost your job or are struggling financially. Maybe your job performance is just suffering. Maybe it’s a relationship that is broken and appears to be shattered.
I prefer to look at life more as seasons than mountains and valleys. Each of us experiences the upward climbs and the downward slopes, sometimes multiple times each day. There are seasons of life that are hard, terribly hard. During the difficult times, it seems our world is pitch black, and we are stuck in the valley of despair. We don’t know if a new day will dawn, or if the sun will ever peak above the next mountain. How should we handle these situations?
I realize there are some that have been mired in the valley for years, but that is usually the exception. One personal practice that I try to remember when times are difficult is to ask myself the question, “What crisis was I having or what was I worrying about last year on this same day?” Usually, I have no clue. Then I remind myself, so shall it be next year. The momentary crisis of today will pass like the storm in the night, and soon we will see a new day dawning with all of its glorious radiance.
One truth that we tend to forget is if we want to reach the summit climbing the mountain is also challenging. It may mean that we indeed...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 28 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at the 12 Trails of Courage (Trails 7-12). Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 28 of our Trek. Yesterday we looked at https://wisdom-trek.com/day-27/ (6 trails that we can take to gain courage), and today we are going to look at the remaining 6 trails of life where we can be infused with courage. We cover a lot of topics on our podcasts – all focused on gaining wisdom and insight that help us to create a living legacy. Many of the podcasts are in a series of steps that cover multiple days, so if you have missed any episodes, please subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on iTunes or Stitcher or listen on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, but by the time that it airs, we should be back at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. If you have not heard the story of our primary home in Ohio, please check out the https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (About Us) page. We are blessed to have a history rich with stories. The stories that all of us share about life are the spice that makes life interesting and allows us to live abundantly.
Let’s begin up the trails of courage, and see how we can apply them.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/trails-up.jpg ()Courage Trails
The Trail of Taking Bold Action
It takes courage to take bold action, but nothing changes if nothing changes. Have the guts to step boldly from your comfort zone to make the changes and take the chances that call you forward to fulfilling the potential within you. Courage allows you to trade procrastination and excuses for a commitment to being a person who is willing to do what it takes to live life abundantly. Whatever the risks you face on your trail of life, it is a much greater risk not to do anything.
The Trail of Perseverance
It takes courage to overcome the setbacks and failures that present themselves on the way to your goals, ambitions, and dreams. Perseverance and reaching those dreams is what brings the greatest sense of achievement. Face your challenges with a deep determination to stay the trail. When the trails become rough and the obstacles seem insurmountable, resist surrendering in the face of adversity. You can continue to climb, for any goal worth pursuing will require its share of determination and perseverance. Plug into the dreams and ambitions that make your spirit soar, and remember that it matters not that you reach the summit but that you had the guts to try. It is through perseverance in the face of adversity that the ordinary become extra-ordinary.
The Trail of Saying No
Sometimes we need the courage to say no to the good in order to make room for the great. Every time we say “yes” to a request or offering, we are automatically saying “no” to some other choice. However, finding the courage to say “no” first requires being clear about what you most want in life so you can say “yes” to the right choices. This practice will help you set boundaries in the midst of conflicting directions and requests. It will also teach people what you will and will not accept. Saying “no” when you need to may not be easy, but the price you pay for not doing so far exceeds any momentary discomfort.
10. The Trail of the Open Heart
It takes courage to be open to experiencing life’s pain as deeply as its joy, and yet this can be life’s richest fulfillment. Opening your heart fully to the depths of emotion that come with a life lived abundantly takes great courage, but it is the only way worth...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 27 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at the 12 Trails of Courage (Trails 1-6). Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 27 of our Trek and today and tomorrow we are going to look at 12 trails of life where we can be infused with courage. We will cover the first 6 today and the remaining 6 tomorrow. We cover a lot of various types of topics with many of them in a series of steps that cover multiple days. So, if you have missed any episodes please subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, or listen on https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com).
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, as we are wrapping up the week and will be heading to The Big House in Marietta, Ohio, to maintain the lawn and continue our internal renovations. We are excited to get back for a week and finish up the downstairs room off the kitchen, which we always referred to as the “eating area.” It was actually the milk porch when the house was originally built. We should also be able to move into the room directly above the “eating area,” which we always referred to as the sun-porch but now is being renovated into our new office. We converted the downstairs office to another bedroom, where Paula’s mom stays when we are in Marietta.
Let’s begin up the trails of courage, and see how we can apply them.
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The Trail of Personal Responsibility
Courage gives you the strength to take personal responsibility for your actions. You can’t always control your circumstances, but you can always choose how you will respond to each situation, regardless of how difficult. No matter what challenges, you face you can have the courage and power to make the ultimate choice, which is either to let the world impact you or to go out and impact the world. Resist the impulse to blame your woes on others or situations of life, but instead make the decision to own your life and be fully responsible.
The Trail of Living with Integrity
Courage gives you the strength to live with integrity at all times. Integrity is the only path in life upon which you will never get lost. Placing integrity at every step of the trail and with every decision you make requires a willingness to do what is right above what is convenient or politically expedient. At times, this means veering off the safe and comfortable trail onto one less traveled. By taking an alternate trail, the risk of failure or disapproval may run high. At all times, living with integrity calls you to forge your trail. At its core, integrity is about wholeness and alignment between your deepest values. It will control every decision you make and every action that you take. Integrity calls forth courage and greatness.
The Trail of Seeing New Worlds
Courage gives you the opportunity to see your world in a new perspective because you are unwilling to settle for how life is today. You usually will not see the trails of life or the world, as it is, but as you are. Too often we settle with answers to life’s questions because we do not have the courage to ask new questions. We contend with those who claim a monopoly on the truth. The fact is that none of us has a monopoly on the truth. We just have our own version of it.
While I feel that all truth ultimately was created and comes from God and can be found in His Word, I am not naïve enough to think that I have a corner on the truth market, and neither should you. We all should continue to study and to gain wisdom and truth. Have the courage to ask ourselves and others the difficult questions about life.
It does take courage to question our own...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 26 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at 25 Ways to Turn Failure into Success (Steps 21-25). We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Life is certainly interesting and each day brings its ebbs and flows. At the end of June, we will be finishing up a contract with a client which we have worked with closely for the past two years. While we will miss working with this client, we also just found out that a large project with another client, which we have been waiting to start for about five years, will begin next week.
While we try to plan and set the course of our lives, we have to realize that our trek of life will have its twists and turns that we cannot plan for. This is one reason we need to embrace each new day fully and live abundantly in all that we do.
We can and should plant and water the seeds, but ultimately, it is God who determines when that seed will sprout and how bountiful the harvest will be. This is such a difficult lesson to learn for most of us but one that is so valuable. With these lessons, we will inevitably run into failures along the path of life, whether those are caused by us or someone/something else. For this reason, we have spent this week looking at how we can bring beauty from ashes and success through failure. So let’s examine the final five failure scenarios 21-25.
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Failures teach us to let go of the past. We must accept that there’s nothing we can do to change the past. You did the best you could. When you’re facing your failures, know that you were as good, loving, and effective as you could have been. That you did the best that you could based on the information you had at that time. If you were to go back, you couldn’t do anything differently because that’s who you were and that’s what you knew then. It’s done. Let go of your past. Forgive yourself for your mistakes. That brings to my mind a paragraph from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. In chapter 3:12-14, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” “We run from failure…we run to success…but what really matters is not what we’re running from but where we are running to!”
Stepping stone #21 – Let go of the past.
Don’t feed the fire that burns you. We need to be very careful what we allow to roam within our minds. Most of our thoughts of failure only exist in our head and are merely ideas. It may not seem like that, but that is how it is. If you believe that you can’t or shouldn’t do something because it may lead to failure, then that’s a thought in your mind. If you believe you are better than others, that’s a thought. If you believe you are no good, that’s a thought. Our thoughts are linked together and constructed from other thoughts that we’ve learned and allowed to grow in our minds. These thoughts can be good or bad, but if you are feeding the thoughts of failure in your mind, then that fire that rages within you will consume you. We need to analyze our thoughts, choose the ones that are good and helpful, and discard the rest. As we looked on a previous day’s Trek in Scripture the word...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 25 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at 25 Ways to Turn Failure into Success (Steps 16-20). We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are in the middle of a busy week, as I am sure many of you are. Something that we all should make a habit of, especially when life is overwhelming and stress is mounting, is to pause and reflect on all the blessings that we have. Take time to thank your friends, family, and God for the wonderful aspects of your life. I realize that some days we have difficulties and hardships, where the storm clouds of life seem to be so dark, but always remember that the sun is always shining above those clouds. Maintain an attitude of gratitude and those rays of sunlight will start piercing the darkness.
As we start our trek today and look at the benefits that failures bring into our lives, imagine as we hike up the trail we see a thick covering of dark clouds. Those are the failures that we experience in life. As we look at those failures for what they are, we will start to see the sun beams piercing through them shining light on an otherwise dark trail. The more we realize and understand what we have learned from failures, the brighter our day will become until the clouds are insignificant by comparison. Some clouds may remain, just as the consequences of our failures do, but they do not need to control our lives. So, let’s examine failure scenarios 16-20.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/is-failure-the-key-to-success.jpg ()The dark clouds of failure are clearing
You are not a loser unless you accept the failure as final. Failure is the catalyst that allows us to make positive changes in our lives, and that allows us to move on to something different, maybe even bigger and better. Failure pushes us just a little bit closer to inevitable success, for in failure, we learn what won’t work or what more needs to be done. Only when you quit trying is it the real failure, since you give up hope of ever doing anything “right.” Keep in mind that it doesn’t matter how fast you run. What matters is how long you run. There may be many instances that knock you down on your journey; what makes you a winner is your ability to stand up and run again. “Never lose on your way; you are not a loser unless you accept it,” Author Unknown.
Stepping Stone #16 – Never look at failure as final.
It depends on how quick you learn from failures. The consequences of failure will be determined by how quick you learn, how quick you grow, and how fast you transform yourself into a new person, into a wonderful reflection of the beautiful creation you are. If you don’t allow yourself to grow and to learn from your failures, you’re doing a great disservice to yourself and to those people that you impact, who deserve to have you be the wonderful person you have the capability of becoming. “No matter how you fall, just think how to get up fast.”
Stepping Stone #17 – Learn quickly from your failures.
Have positive attitudes towards challenges. Look at the failures and shortcomings in your life as refinement, as you move on and become a beautiful example of what you can be. And remember, failure is not the absence of success; failure is a step towards success. “Your attitude towards your challenges is the key to your happy life.”
Stepping Stone #18 – Have a positive attitude even in failures.
Failures teach us to welcome changes. Change happens whether we want it to or not. We need to welcome change and find ways to turn the unexpected failures into an opportunity for growth. Don’t become frightened and simply react, instead take action. How we handle the inevitable changes in life is key
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 24 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at 25 Ways to Turn Failure into Success (Steps 11-15). We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina.The temps remain very warm this week with a temperature of 100° on Monday June 22nd. That temperature broke the previous record set in 1956, which was the same year I was born, so it has been a long time. Seriously, I really don’t picture myself as much over 30, though. And, fortunately I am in good physical condition, so hopefully I will stay that way for a long time. We should all strive to be young at heart, to allow the simple things of life to thrill us, and to enjoy the adventures of each new day. What are you going to do today to foster that spirit?
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Gramps-Grandkids.jpg ()Gramps & Grandkids As we are day dreaming, let us continue on our trail and explore five more stepping stones that are on the path before us. Remember that as we journey on, we will turn our failures into stepping stones for success. As with most issues of life, it is more about our perspective than the situation itself.
Overcome the fear; overcome the procrastination. Fear of failure, not the failure itself, is the biggest roadblock to your success. When you have overcome the fear of failure, you overcome your procrastination and excuses for inaction. Thereafter you are well on your way to fail, learn, and succeed like never before. When you run into fear that is blocking you from taking action, ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that can happen if I take this action?” Unless it is physical harm or death to you or someone else, then what is stopping you? Everything else can be overcome. Ralph Heath put it this way, “The quickest road to success is to possess an attitude toward failure of ‘no fear.’”
Stepping Stone #11 – Overcome the fear by taking action.
Not getting what you desire can be a blessing. Not obtaining success immediately can be a real blessing because it forces you to reevaluate things and gain a new perspective. It opens new doors to opportunities and information you would have otherwise overlooked. When the rewards of success are great, so are the challenges. Embracing the possibility of failure is key to taking on a variety of risks. Whether you’re reinventing yourself by starting a new business or allowing yourself to trust another person to build a deeper relationship. “Clouds in our lives are sent many times to bring showers of blessing.”
Stepping Stone #12 – Failure can be a blessing in disguise.
Failure teaches us to blame ourselves first and take responsibility. Our first reaction to failure is to blame anyone/anything but ourselves. If we perceive others are to blame, then there is nothing we can do to correct the problem. We cannot change people’s personalities, neither can they change ours. If we assume responsibility, then we can analyze what went wrong and take corrective action. This is the art of bouncing back from failure. To achieve your personal best, to reach unparalleled heights, and to make the impossible possible, you can’t fear failure. You have to take responsibility for your actions, you must think big, and you have to push yourself. “The more you take responsibility for your past and present, the more you are able to create the future you seek,” Celestine Chua.
Stepping Stone #13 – Failure teaches us to take responsibility
Failure forces us to do things right. Failure is discouraging. It drains energy and resources, but it forces us to do things right. Failure separates those who think they want success from those who are determined to succeed. Failure narrows the playing field. The...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 23 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at 25 Ways to Turn Failure into Success (Steps 6-10). We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we have another busy week lined up. In addition to our regular client work, I have been invited to be a guest on two other podcasts this week, we have an onsite visit with one client, and then we are headed back to https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio, this coming weekend. We are never wanting for something to do as we endeavor to enjoy life’s journey each day. Thank you so much for coming along with us on this trek of life as we consider you our friend. It is our desire to also be your guide and mentor as we navigate the rugged trails that each of us encounter daily.
As we continue on, we want to use five more stepping stones as we traverse the trails before us. Our lives will be filled with obstacles, difficulties, and, at times, failures. Here are five more ways we can navigate over, under, around and through the obstacles of life.
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The more you fail, the more you learn more. While we should not purposely fail, we need to thrive on the wisdom and experience that we gain from failing. We need to soak it in and embrace it. Our objective each day should be to make a positive difference in the lives of others through taking action. When we take smart action we should never fear failure. We need to persevere in spite of failures. Every failure is a learning opportunity on how not to do something or how to do it better. If we are going to be an achiever then to some extent failure is the way of life. Every failure makes us much more determined to succeed. “Failure and defeat are life’s greatest teachers but sadly, most people, don’t want to go there!” Ralph Heath.
Stepping Stone #6 – Learn from your failures.
Failure can be positive or negative. Failure is a learning tool. Thomas Edison failed a thousand times before he invented the lightbulb. Failure is trying to do things others have not considered. It is a temporary by product of creativity. It is challenging the learning process. A reporter once asked Thomas Edison “”How did it feel to fail 1,000 times? ‘ ‘I didn’t fail 1,000 times,’ Edison responded. ‘The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.’”
Stepping Stone #7 – Failures are steps to success.
Failure is experiential education at work. To be a real winner in life you need to endure failure and the agony it produces. Success is achieved when you are willing to take risks and lose. Most people choose to engage in occupations and activities that are safe and predictable. If you enjoy that, do the very best you can and enjoy each day. For many people, those occupations don’t deliver satisfaction, fulfillment or joy in living. If you find yourself in that position, then for you failure is not to move in the directions of your dreams. If you desire something more, then take action, “Decide whether or not the goal is worth the risks involved. If it is, stop worrying and pursue your dreams, or you will only fail by taking no action.”
Stepping Stone #8 – Failure provides experiential education.
Failure can be a weapon. We can learn discipline through failures. It allows us to sharpen ourselves against the grindstone of failure. We do not need to make excuses for failure. We need allow it to be the weapon of determination to succeed. Although you might fail incredibly, you might succeed incredibly, and that’s why incredible risk and courage are required. Fail or succeed either way, you’ll learn
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 22 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at 25 Ways to Turn Failure into Success (Steps 1-5). We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as we embark on another week I want to share some blessings of this past weekend. Saturday we were able to help our younger daughter Janet and her new husband Rowan Webster (They were married on April 11th of this year in a beautiful wedding on Holden Beach in North Carolina.) move from an old rented house into a much newer, single story home in a nice neighborhood in Charlotte.
Although temps were in the mid-nineties with high humidity, the day was enjoyable, and we were able to get most everything moved. My muscles are a bit sore, but other than that we were thankful that the move went smoothly. Harry, our oldest son who also lives in Charlotte and our grandson Kip were able to help out some, too.
On Father’s Day we went to church and lunch with Harry and Kip. Harry’s wife Chelimo is serving her two weeks of summer camp as an officer in the Army Reserves, so it was good to help fill the gap. I also heard from our other four children. It is a blessing to have a great relationship to all of our kids and to be a positive influence in their lives.
Let’s head up the trail on our Wisdom-Trek and begin our investigation of how obstacles or failures, if applied correctly, can actually become our stepping stones for a successful journey.
Obstacles or failures in life are always more significant when they are our failures. From my perspective, all of my failures are major failures. This reminds me of the saying, “Minor surgery is when it performed on someone else; major surgery is when it is performed on me.” The same concept also applies to obstacles and failures.
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Today we will look at the first five lessons we can learn by turning those failures or obstacles into stepping stones.
Always look for the positive side of the obstacle or failure. It’s easy to blame someone or something else (or even fate) for the events in our lives, but it takes courage to be able to see the bright side of a failure and move on. So be brave, be persistent, and be dedicated. Be committed, confident, and passionate; remember you have only one life to choose from. It takes time and focus to overcome fear and gain a positive mindset. The first lesson is to consciously maintain a positive attitude. If you do this, no matter what you encounter, you’ll be able to see the lessons of the experience and continue to push forward.
Stepping Stone #1 – Take courage and be positive.
Failure is a time for celebration. Failing is never fun, but if you celebrate the fact that you have gained knowledge, wisdom and discernment then the failure has served a useful purpose. The trail to success is littered with the failures of those individuals who chose to celebrate the opportunity that each failure provided. The most significant breakthroughs in all areas of life were built on the backs of failure. Whether it was Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney or a host of others, their celebration of failure, spurred them onto success. Ralph Heath states, “One of the biggest secrets to success is operating inside your strength zone but outside of your comfort zone.”
Stepping Stone #2 – Celebrate the wisdom gained.
Failure teaches us to calculate the risks we take. When we fail, we can analyze the risk that we had to take and readjust the process. Risk may not be eliminated, but we will better know what risk not to take and be better prepared. The risks you take should be calculated; you shouldn’t fly blindly into the night and simply hope for the best. Achieving...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 21 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at The Expectations and Realities of Life. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and although today has been another busy day with various projects, we are thankful to have the work to do and the skills needed to complete them successfully.
This episode will be released on Father’s Day the 21st day of June, and I just want to express my admiration and love to my dad, Hal Chamberlain, who is nearly 85, still living, and in relatively good health. Dad loves us without condition and has been a good and Godly example to all 10 of his kids, our spouses, his 40 grandchildren and at last count I believe 20 great-grandchildren (so far). Thanks Dad! We love you. Talk about planting and harvesting, Dad planted very well and has harvested in abundance.
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Just as in my personal life, Dad’s expectations of life as a young man and the reality of life as he is nearer to the finish line are drastically different. There have been many struggles, hardships, and difficulties that were not anticipated, but there were also blessings in abundance and the legacy that he and mom left will impact all of eternity. Even this podcast and journal are a direct result of their impact on me.
On our Trek today, we want to explore the difference between the expectations and realities of life. With most mountainous hiking trips, when you start out the trail is smooth and wide, and we think, “Wow! This is going to be easy.”
In the same manner, as we start into adulthood we know so much about life we feel that we have it all together, and our parents and older associates have missed the boat somehow.
We plan out our lives with dreams and ambitions, and we feel that the road to success will be typically smooth. And then, life gets in the way. We get busy living life, and the years just rush by. And, before you know it, you are in your 50s and 60s and you wonder, “What just happened?”
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If you have not reached that point in your life yet, realize that it will also happen to you and be prepared for life’s mountains and valley and the trails twist and turns. No matter what age you are or what season of life you are in, it is never too late to remember to enjoy and celebrate life each day, regardless of how rough the path is. This is what makes life worthwhile.
Let’s look at what the wisest man who ever lived had to say about life. This was King Solomon, who was the king of all Israel from approximately 970 – 931 BC. Towards the latter years of his reign, he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes and saw life from this perspective. In chapter 1:8-9 he wrote, “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.”
So we see that life is full of unexpected results, and our desire and pursuit is for more stuff. But, Solomon also wrote in Chapter 2:24-26, “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him.”
These are choices that we need to make early and often in life. Yes, work hard and succeed in whatever you are called to do, but take time to enjoy it.
Now, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. I am all for planning and...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 20 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at The Echoes of Life. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with another busy workload today with many projects demanding time. Sometimes we feel like the proverbial plate spinner in the circus trying to keep all the plates spinning without them falling and breaking. However, we do strive to balance this out towards the end of day by taking a break and having a healthy and nourishing dinner.
Paula and I work with our various clients together, but we each have our specific areas we work on. Paula usually focuses more of her time in the afternoons and evenings. While she is finishing up her work, it allows me to break at about 6pm in the evening to prepare dinner for us. I love to cook, and we both prefer to eat at home where we can control the cost, quality, and quantity of what we eat. It works very well for our situation.
As we invite you into our lives each day, it is our hope that you will consider us your friend, guide, and mentor on this trek of life. Life’s trails are not always smooth and can be rather difficult, but the key is to draw strength from each other and to seek joy in each situation.
Today on our Wisdom-Trek, let’s visualize ourselves on a narrow path with a wall of stone on our right side and a steep cliff on our left. Across the vast valley is another ridge of mountains. As with life on many days, our path today is steep and is strewn with rocks of all sizes. It certainly makes the trek today slow and difficult. As we are moving slowly along as a team, we hear someone from the group of trekkers shouts out, “I’m scared!” And, within a few seconds, we hear a voice coming back to us from across the valley “I’m scared!” Someone else calls out, “Me too!” Andc we hear back, “Me too!”
Realizing that this will not be good for our moral, our trek, or our safety, I call out, “You can do it!” And, from across the valley, the same words come back to us. Once more I holler out, “You are doing great! You are a champion!” And, the reassuring words are repeated back from the other mountain. With these reassuring words, peace comes to the team, and we successfully navigate this dangerous part of our trail.
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Such as it is with our trek of life. What we project out comes booming back to us as an echo. This is very similar to the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-15/ (principles of planting and harvesting) which we looked at on day 15. You will harvest what you plant but much more than you plant.
It is so important that we are always aware that what we say and do does have a significant impact on the lives of others, and as it is returned to us like an echo will impact us as well.
Zig Ziglar said it this way, “Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you.”
What we say can give nourishment and strength as Proverbs 16:24 explains that “Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
Our words can also:
Be a source of wisdom, “Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook,” Proverbs 18:4.
Satisfy like a good meal, “Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction,” Proverbs [18:20].
Are more valuable the any riches, “Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies,” Proverbs [20:15].
As we consider the words that we speak to others and even to ourselves, let us reflect on what Mother Teresa said.
Our actions can also echo back to us. How we treat...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 19 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at the 1° Difference. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it has been a hot week outside with temperatures hovering around 100° each day. And, it looks like it will extend into next week also. We are continuing to learn how to balance our daily client work load with the addition of creating our daily journal and podcast for Wisdom-Trek. At times life can be stressful, but we are gaining momentum and efficiency each day. I would like to thank each of you who takes the time to either listen to our daily podcast, read the daily journal, or both. It is appreciated.
As we continue our Trek today, we come upon a grass airstrip nestled among the mountain peaks, and it brings to mind how precise our flying would need to be in order to locate and land on this strip. From the air, it would be nearly unnoticeable. This got me thinking about how crucial it is that we stay on course when flying. A mere 1° off course could have a significant impact on whether we reach our destination safely.
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You might think out of the 360° in a circle being off by only 1° is not a big difference and for a very short distance, that may be true. Let’s look at what that means if we are hiking or more significantly flying.
Consider this. If you’re going somewhere and you’re off course by just one degree, after one foot, you’ll miss your target by 0.2 inches. Trivial, right? But what about as you get farther out?
After 100 yards, (one football field) you’ll be off by 5.2 feet. Not huge, but noticeable.
After a mile, you’ll be off by 92.2 feet. One degree is starting to make a difference.
After flying from San Francisco to L.A., you’ll be off by 6 miles.
If you were flying from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., you’d end up on the other side of Baltimore, 42.6 miles away.
Traveling around the globe from Washington, DC, you’d miss by 435 miles and end up in Boston.
In a rocket going to the moon, you’d be 4,169 miles off (nearly twice the diameter of the moon).
Going to the sun, you’d miss by over 1.6 million miles (nearly twice the diameter of the sun).
Traveling to the nearest star, you’d be off course by over 441 billion miles (120 times the distance from the earth to Pluto, or 4,745 times the distance from Earth to the sun).
Over time, a mere one-degree error in course makes a huge difference!
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It is much the same with our trek of life. We allow small, seemingly insignificant obstacles to divert us from our intended path. It may not seem like a big deal, but over days, weeks, months and years it will have a large impact.
What are you accepting in your life? What is your tolerance for being off course?
Neither a marriage nor a business fails overnight. Cataclysmic failure generally comes from a series of small, correctable failures. I like to call these failures “one-degree failures.”
Just as it is hard to recognize being one degree off while flying at 30,000 feet, it is hard to realize these “one-degree failures” in our own daily lives. That’s why we need a crystal clear flight plan for our life and business, an easy way to measure success or failure, and someone who cares enough about us to hold us accountable.
Straying off course doesn’t have to result in cataclysmic failure in life or business. In fact, when flying, a plane is rarely on true course, but the pilot is continually making small adjustments to its course to ensure that overtime that the true course is followed to its intended...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 18 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at Facing Adversity. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2’in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as I work in our home office today, I certainly count it a blessing that our training, experience, and current technology allows Paula and me to work from literally anywhere we have an internet connection. This gives us the freedom to work and travel together nearly every day. Take time today to think of a blessing in your life, that you might otherwise take for granted.
As we continue on our Trek today, we spot a small airplane flying above us, so I want to continue our theme of flying and ask the question, why do planes take off and land heading into the wind?
When I first started flying lessons many years ago, the concept of taking off into the wind seemed counterintuitive. Wouldn’t a pilot have an easier time if the wind were coming from behind the aircraft giving it a push, so to speak, instead of rushing into a strong wind?
The key to taking off into the wind is the concept of lift. The more wind that passes over the wing of the plane will allow the plane to lift off the ground sooner. In short, pilots like to take off into a headwind because it helps them achieve “wheels up” faster. A jetliner like a Boeing 747, needs at least 150 mph of airspeed to become airborne, without wind, the plane has to accelerate to a groundspeed of 180 mph to lift off, but when you have a 30 mph headwind, the plane only has to accelerate to 150 mph, thanks to the extra boost it gets from the headwind.
Even a small plane, like the Cessna 172 that I flew, would benefit from the oncoming wind. The small planes can fly at extremely slow speeds, so a little headwind while taking off certainly allows the plane to achieve lift sooner.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Cessna-Takeoff.png ()Cessna 172 on Takeoff Landing into the wind is also very crucial in aiding the airplane to slow its decent while maintaining adequate lift to keep it afloat until touch down. If you can slow your speed while descending at the proper rate it will provide a shorter roll out once you are on the runway.
As an aviation saying goes,
As with life, the wind won’t always blow exactly in the direction that is needed for taking off or landing, which is why most airports with more than one runway will have a runway that crosses the other, so there are alternative options. Even with that, good pilot training consists of taking off and landing in crosswinds also. Just like the Boy Scout motto reminds, one must “Always be prepared.”
Once you are airborne and at the right altitude, it is best if you can have the wind at your tail pushing you forward much faster than your calculated ground speed. All of these factors have to be calculated ahead of time. There is nothing worse than running short on fuel before you reach your intended destination.
There are many other factors that also need to be considered when flying, such as air-pressure and how it changes with temperatures. We do not have the time to get into the physics around the entire concept of flying, but as a pilot, it is good to have a working knowledge of this information.
Now that we understand, at least a little why it is best to take off and land into the winds, let us consider how that correlates to our trek of life. Most of us would like to “go with the flow,” to have the wind at our backs, and to have some external force drive us on to a life of ease and success. Well, sorry to break the news to you, but that is not how life is for most of us on most days.
This does not mean that we can’t have a joyful and abundant life because it is how we interpret and handle the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 17 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at The Value of a Checklist. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we are at the beginning of a new week, which should be a busy and exciting adventure as always. We are in for a hot spell in North Carolina this week with temps nearing 100° every day. It looks like the entire eastern US will experience much of the same.
As we continue upwards on our Trek today, the beautiful blue sky calls us higher and higher. As I look at the cloudless sky, it makes me desire to take up flying again to be able to soar above all the terrain and obstacles of life.
I obtained my private pilot’s license when our oldest son Harry was in high school. If fact, we had the blessing of taking lessons at the same time, and Harry was able to receive his private pilot’s license even before he got his driving license.
I went on to get my instrument rating at the time, both for my peace of mind and for safety’s sake. It was enjoyable, and I do miss not flying currently. But, with my current responsibilities and workload for this season of life, it is not a priority at this time. It does take a lot of commitment, in both time and resources, and my commitments are focused elsewhere for now.
Similar to flying, if we decided to set out on a long and difficult trek such as hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, which runs through the mountains of North Carolina, one of the first items that would be required is a complete checklist.
Every step in the process from flight planning, pre-flight inspection, flying, landing and safely parking the aircraft, is driven by a detailed checklist, even as private pilot. If these checklists are not followed exactly, it literally could be the difference between life and death.
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One of the most important elements of flight training is safety, and one of the most essential safety procedures is the preflight checklist. There are as many checklists as there are models of planes because the preflight checklist is of utmost importance. A good pilot knows that having a preflight checklist can avert a disaster.
Even with the most detailed checklist, though, pilot training includes always expecting the unexpected. The electrical system malfunctioned and we lost all lighting and communications with the tower during one flight when I took Paula with me. Fortunately, we flew out of a small regional airport near Marietta and were near the airport, so we were able to land safely and call the control tower after landing to explain the situation. The extra training we received on how to handle this type of situation came in very valuable that day.
Let’s get back on the ground and continue on our Trek. Imagine if we were going to hike the Appalachian Trail. What would be on our checklist? While I have never hiked anywhere close to that long or difficult of a trail, I have read several articles from those who have hiked all or part of it. The checklist is extensive, and if you are not prepared, the hike can be very dangerous.
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Completing the entire 2,185 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one trip is a mammoth undertaking, which can take three months or more. It requires great determination and commitment, but can potentially be accomplished by anyone with the ability to walk. That’s not to say hiking it is easy. The footpath of the Appalachian Trail is far more rugged than most anticipate, given the soft and gentle profiles of the mountains and relatively low elevations.
Each...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 16 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at The Aggregation of Marginal Gains. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and this week has been packed with work and activities. Even our evenings were busy as we had my sister over on Tuesday, a neighbor’s birthday dinner on Wednesday, and a night of worship at our church on Friday.
As we trek through life together, having a strong community both in person and online is crucial. While some downplay the concept of online communities, they can be very important and powerful in our lives. As we grow in wisdom it is important to reach out to others to both give and receive strength and encouragement.
Let us know how we can be of assistance to you as members of our Wisdom-Trek community. Please share your stories or questions with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us), we will work them into future podcasts so that everyone on our Trek can get to know each other.
On yesterday’s trek we learned https://wisdom-trek.com/day-15/ (The Five Principles of Planting and Harvesting) which also apply to our lives as we plant good seeds into our own lives and the lives of others. I have created a PDF of these five principles which can be found on our https://wisdom-trek.com/resources/ (Free Resources) page.
If you have missed any previous podcasts or journals, please go back and check them out on iTunes, Stitcher, or https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com).
As we leave the clearing of yesterday and continue upwards on our Trek, we will look at how important each small step is in the trek of life. So many times we are looking for the big changes, big results, and instant success in life. Instead of these huge breakthroughs (which usually never happen), we should focus instead on the small Aggregation of Marginal Gains.
While it is vital to know where we are heading or our destination, it is also important to know how we are going to get there. Vision and goals are important, but they will only be achieved one small step at a time. It is by connecting these small steps together that we will be able to make great strides.
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So, what is the Aggregation of Marginal Gains? It means the identification of a number of areas in which you can make small gains, which all add up to something much greater.
A phrase coined by one of the finest elite sports coaches in the world, Sir Dave Brailsford, this philosophy was used by the UK cycling team to win most of the medals at the 2004 Olympics in London, and by Team Sky to win the next year’s Tour de France. British Cycling has risen from nowhere to lead the world in a relatively short space of time, building a platform for lasting success.
While most people look for a few big improvements, usually without success, a wise person will look for a lot of small, even seemingly insignificant, areas of life to take action and improve on.
Let’s take an example that most of us can relate to – maintaining a healthy weight for our height and age. While I am currently pretty close to my ideal weight and in good shape physically, that has not always been the case. I have been as much as 30 pounds heavier than I am now, but I did not lose all of the weight at once. It took the aggregation of marginal gains to reach my current weight.
I did change what I was eating some, but the biggest impact was just choosing to eat a little less than I did previously. I also started exercising on a more regular basis, but I did not start our running a 10k every morning like I do most days now. It was small incremental changes in habits over a period of months that made the difference.
It’s so easy...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 15 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at The Five Principles of Planting and Harvesting. We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is good to be back for three weeks, as we focus on the many business projects that we have to complete.
As much as Paula and I love https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House), it is nice to also spend time in a much smaller and virtually maintenance-free home in Charlotte. The weather is rather warm this week around the 90+° mark for each day. I am thankful for the AC and being able to stay inside for the most part.
Tonight Rebecca, one of my sisters who lives in Charlotte and is a couple of years older, is coming over for dinner, and we plan on sorting through some boxes of old pictures from our childhood. We are going to set aside the ones that are worth scanning so that we can preserve them electronically and share them with our other siblings.
There are ten children in our family, and we are blessed that we are all still alive and healthy. The memories of our childhood are precious to us all. As we go through life’s trek together, it is good to have family and friends to encourage us along our way.
Here is one of those pictures of Mom with the ten kids, and then a recent picture of this past Thanksgiving where six of us were able to gather at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House). (I am the one on the back right.) Although Mom is no longer with us, Dad is still going strong – healthy and enjoying a life where he does not have to work hard to barely make ends meet. It was a great childhood, and although we were poor by most any standards, we learned to work hard, love always, and make the best of each day.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Family-with-Mom.jpg ()Mom with the ten children https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Thanksgiving-2014.jpg ()Six of the children with Dad – Thanksgiving 2014 Thank you for allowing us to share tidbits of our life trek with you as we are continually learning to enjoy the journey each day.
Please share your stories or questions with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us). We will work them into future podcasts so that everyone on our Trek can get to know each other.
Yesterday we looked at just how important the practice of sharing our experience and wisdom is as we share life’s road together. It has the potential to radically transform those that we teach or share with, and reinforces the lessons we have learned in our own lives as well. If you have missed any previous podcasts or journals, please go back and check them out on iTunes, Stitcher or https://wisdom-trek.com/ (Wisdom-Trek.com).
Today on our Trek, we have scaled to a little plateau where we can see through a clearing in the trees. As we look through this clearing we see a large field of wheat as it gently blows in the breeze. As we visualize this, can you feel the soft wind as it circles around you?
Our wisdom nugget today will be about the principles of planting and harvesting. If you grasp how these concepts impact all areas of life, they will lay the foundation for a life filled with abundance and joy, while you are creating that living legacy.
I would like to title today’s Trek The Five Principles of Planting and Harvesting. We will use the analogy of a farmer, as this is easiest for most of us to understand.
The farmer knows that planting is a choice. If we ever expect to see a harvest, we must first choose to plant a crop. In the same manner, if we expect to see positive results in any area of our lives, we must be willing to invest in...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 14 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at how sharing will create transformation. Hello and welcome to Wisdom-Trek! This is Guthrie Chamberlain, and I am your Guide to Wisdom. This is Day 14 of our Trek, and today we are looking at how you transform your thinking through sharing, which has the capability to transform your life.
Today we are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As I am creating these journal/podcast notes, we are on our way south from Marietta to our home south of Charlotte in Indian Trail. I am blessed to have Paula willing and able to drive on our many excursions, which allows me to work in what would otherwise be idle time.
As we finished up the latest two weeks in Marietta, I was able to get our large lawn mowed and some other outside activities completed. The flowers planted last month are really starting to accent the house nicely. The amount of continual work that needs done to keep the Big House in good shape is always enjoyable but can be somewhat overwhelming. Fortunately, I don’t have to trek these tasks alone. Paula helps out, as does one of my brothers, Jack, who lives next door on the same property. Even Paula’s 82 years young mom, who lives and travels back and forth with us, helps by weed whipping and blowing grass and leaves. So, it truly is a family affair.
As mentioned in https://wisdom-trek.com/day-13/ (yesterday’s podcast/journal), we were able to attend the opening night performance of Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama. If you are ever in the Chillicothe, Ohio area during the summer, it is well worth the time. It was an excellent performance.
Thank you for sharing our life trek with us as we are continually learning to enjoy the journey each day. Please share your stories or questions with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us). We will work them into future podcasts so that everyone on our Trek can get to know each other.
Yesterday we encouraged you to be https://wisdom-trek.com/day-13/ (more deliberate on choosing the right mindset) each day and being proactive on creating the day and life that you enjoy.
As we head out on our Trek today, we continue our previous thought about sharing with each other. This simple act of sharing wisdom and knowledge can transform the lives of others as well as our own lives.
One of my Virtual Mentors, Jim Rohn was considered one of the foremost business philosophers of our time. He discussed the importance of sharing, which is certainly what we want to foster within the Wisdom-Trek community.
Jim Rohn said it this way:
The key to make our life trek really unique and worthwhile is to share. As we travel through life each day, it is important that we grasp the concept of sharing by teaching others, and then participate in sharing by learning from others.
That is why I have encourage you each day to share your stories, experience, and wisdom with us, as it will be a benefit to both you and us.
As we share stories and experiences with each other, it allows all of us to learn, grow, and change.
This is what we can learn in sharing ideas, stories, experiences and wisdom:
If you share an idea with 10 different people, they get to hear it once and you get to hear it 10 times. Share wisdom and insight as you have opportunity with your family, friends, and with others that you meet on life’s trek.
When one person shares with another, two things could happen. If you share with someone else, they could be transformed—your paths may have crossed at just the right time. This may be their life changing moment. They may have most of their trail figured out, but need that extra bit of information that only you can share.
As we traverse through the trails of...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 13 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at the Importance of MindShift. Hello and welcome to Wisdom-Trek! This is Guthrie Chamberlain, and I am your Guide to Wisdom. This is Day 13 of our Trek, and today we are looking at the importance of always keeping a forward momentum as we travel on life’s trail, regardless if the trek is easy or difficult. In order to do so, we must keep moving forward with a positive mindset while making sure that our footing is secure.
Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. I am making these journal notes during the first week of June. It has been another very busy week for Paula and me.
We officially launched this Wisdom-Trek podcast this week, and trying to learn, coordinate, and balance the demands of this new and exciting project, while maintaining the normal client workload that we have through our consulting company, Venture Consulting Group, has proven challenging.
We are celebrating Paula’s birthday this week. On her birthday we had dinner at the Buckley House in Marietta, which was a very nice restaurant with good food. As I am making the journal notes for this podcast, we are our way to see Tecumseh! Which is an outdoor drama celebrating the Native Americans in southern Ohio. Paula is so gracious to drive, so that I can work on various projects while traveling.
It is certainly nice to be in a season of life where we can take the time for these types of activities and to have the wisdom to know that we need to. If you are younger in your trek of life, remember to take some time for relaxing and recharging. I have to admit that I did not do so near as much as I should have and still have a few lessons to learn.
That is my personal sharing for today. If you have any questions that you would like to ask of us or desire additional information, please leave a comment on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us), or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. We want to form a bond with you that will allow us to be your guide, mentor, and friend.
Please share your stories or questions with us through the links mentioned. We will work them into future podcasts so that everyone on our Trek can get to know each other.
Yesterday we came to understand the crucial difference between and the purposes of a compass and a clock. With the knowledge that we gained, we can now focus on life’s trail that is before us each day.
Each day when we rise, we have some initial crucial decisions to make. How we start the day will largely determine how well the remainder of the day goes. We will often chat on our Wisdom-Trek about the importance of what we allow into our minds. One of my favorite quotes from one of my Virtual Mentors Zig Ziglar is, “You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.”
Has your trek in life been difficult at times? Do you ever feel that you are standing in front of an impassable mountain? Life trails at times are rugged and rough, we may encounter difficulties that we have to overcome.
In some seasons of life the cold winter winds blow while other seasons are sunny and warm without a cloud in the sky.
Some nights are so dark that you can’t see your hand in front of your face while other days you can see for miles.
To imagine life as anything else is to not live in reality. The difference will always be how we perceive and then handle each day of life.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/332721.Clare_Boothe_Luce (Clare Boothe Luce) put it this way, What does your trail look like...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 12 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we look at the difference between The Compass and The Clock. Hello and welcome to Wisdom-Trek! This is Guthrie Chamberlain, and I am your Guide to Wisdom. This is Day 12 of our Trek, and today we are heading up the trail and will look at the differences between a compass and a clock (watch). They are both important on our Trek, but serve uniquely different purposes on our Wisdom-Trek.
Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Yesterday’s journal/podcast script was written on my trip from Columbus to Albuquerque. Today’s journal/podcast script is being written on my return trip home.
The technical software demo that I assisted our client with for the state of New Mexico went well, and I feel that we presented the product and its features in a very favorable light. We planted the necessary seeds, added the water needed, and now the harvest is in God’s hands. We must always do our part before we can expect God to do His.
I have come to realize that wisdom is gained by the varied experiences that we have in our lives. Some of these experiences have been great and some not so much so. As long as we learn from these experiences and apply the lessons to our lives in a positive and practical manner then those experiences are useful.
Life is not always easy, and sometimes it is just plain difficult, but our growth would be very limited if it were easy all the time. Friction is how the hardest of stones become smooth.
As Paula and I share our personal life experiences, and the lessons we have learned, our objective is for you to get to know us on a personal level, so that we can be your guide, mentor, and friend.
If you would like to know anything about our lives, please leave your comments or questions so we get to know each other on this trek of life. Also, please check out our website https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/About Wisdom-Trek).
We would like to get to know you better, so please feel free to share with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us), leave us a message on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WisdomTrek (Wisdom-Trek), or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com – I will personally respond to any inquiries.
During the first 12 podcast episodes, we have:
Set up https://wisdom-trek.com/day-0/ (base-camp)
Established https://wisdom-trek.com/day-1/ (7 habits and guidelines)
Learned about the https://wisdom-trek.com/day-2/ (9 tools we need for our Trek)
And built our Trek cabin with its 7 columns
It is now time to head out on our Trek, to begin to scale wisdom’s mountain and work towards creating our living legacy. Each day we will learn from life, pause to reflect, and apply what we see and hear to gain wisdom.
As we head up the trail today let us pick up and examine the two items we have in our hands. In our left hand we have a compass, and in our right we have a clock (watch). Let us inspect them closely to see how each will assist on our Trek today.
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The compass and the clock will only bring value to us if we know how to use them properly. These are two very important tools with two very different purposes. We do not want to confuse the two.
Let’s look at the true story of Roald Amundsen and his trek to be the first team to reach the South Pole in 1911. His destination was known from the very beginning, and that never changed. His compass provided the direction that he needed to be successful. It allowed his team to stay on course.
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 11 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we investigate the 7 Columns of Wisdom. Hello and welcome to Wisdom-Trek! This is Guthrie Chamberlain, and I am your Guide to Wisdom. This is Day 11 of our Trek, and today we will look at the 7 Columns of Wisdom’s House which provides us the structure for a successful Wisdom-Trek.
Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House ) in Marietta, Ohio. We continue living a full and rich life that some days makes my head spin. As I am starting to write this journal for day 11 of this podcast, I am sitting at gate C55 in the Columbus Ohio Airport and on my may to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Tomorrow I will perform a technical software demo for one of our clients. Our many years working with technology has given me a broad knowledge in this area. This trip hit my schedule on rather short notice, but I am thankful for this opportunity and the skills to fill this role. I have to admit one of the hurdles on planning, scripting, and recording these daily podcasts has been allocating enough time to produce a quality podcast while balancing a heavy client schedule. We are always grateful for the varied and rich opportunities of life although maintaining a balanced life as an entrepreneur is always challenging. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though.
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/22846078_775f863154_o.jpg ()Clouds over New Mexico As we share each day, our objective is for you to get to know us on a personal level, to enable us to not only be your mentor but also your friend. Please leave your comments or questions if you would like to know anything about our lives as we get to know each other on this trek of life. Also, please check out our website https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/About Wisdom-Trek).
We would also like to get to know you better, so please feel free to share with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us), leave us a message on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WisdomTrek (Wisdom-Trek), or email me at guthrie@venturecg.com – I will personally respond to any inquiries.
In the initial 11 episodes:
We first established a base camp.
Next we established a purpose for our Trek and discussed what is needed in order to stay on track towards our destination while still enjoying the journey.
Then, we laid out the foundation for a successful Wisdom-Trek by inspecting the tools needed to assist us in creating a living legacy.
Today we will build the structure on our foundation by looking at principles for obtaining the wisdom that we need for success.
After today, we will start looking at separate “wisdom nuggets” or topics that will assist us as we trek this life together. Some of these nuggets may string together over multiple days, but each day we will take time to stop and enjoy the scenery as we look at snapshots of wisdom.
As an analogy, think about these wisdom nuggets as our daily nutritional supplements. When taken along with your own life experiences, they will provide you with the nutrients you need to live long and prosper. It is my hope that you have enjoyed our trek so far as much as I have and that you will continue to join with us each day.
Today, we want to ask the question, if wisdom were to build a house, what would this “wisdom house” look like? Proverbs 9:1 indicates that this has happened, “Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out its seven columns.”
A basis for the 7 Columns is that 7 is the number of completion or perfection. So the 7 Columns of Wisdom’s house shows complete wisdom.
As I have...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 10 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we continue to investigate the tools needed for a successful Wisdom-Trek. Hello – and welcome to Wisdom-Trek! This is Guthrie Chamberlain and I am your Guide to Wisdom. This is Day 10 of our Trek as we continue to investigate the tools needed for a successful Wisdom-Trek.
Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. One of the pleasures of being at The Big House is to be able to walk around our property and realize that this is the same property that my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents walked on.
The Big House was built in 1903 by my great-grandparents and it is still in the family. We only have about 5 acres of the original farm, which was long ago sold off in parcels and is now an older, but well maintained, suburban neighborhood. The small remaining portion is still as beautiful as always and is like stepping back in time to a mystic and wonderful place. We are grateful to be able to live here. As I am creating this podcast/journal this week, the peonies that used to be along the pasture fence line are in full bloom, and they are beautiful this year.
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We would love for you to get to know us on a more personal level. Please leave your comments if you would like for me to continue to share some tidbits on a daily basis. Please also check out https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (About Wisdom-Trek).
We would also like to get to know you better, please feel free to share with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us) or leave us a message on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WisdomTrek (Wisdom-Trek).
During these first 11 days of our podcast/journal we have setup https://wisdom-trek.com/ (base camp), discussed some guidelines, and chatted about the tools needed for a successful trek. My hope is that you have enjoyed this part of the trek as much as I have.
Today, we are continuing our exploration into the tools or equipment we need in order to gain wisdom, live fully, and enjoy our trek of life while we create a living legacy.
Our wheel analogy, is nearing completion as we once again consider love as the hub of the wheel and the remaining tools or attributes as the spokes stemming from a perfectly round hub. So far we have inserted the spokes of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.
In our 2nd analogy of love being your backpack for our trek, we only have this last tool/attribute to complete the set. I hope that these analogies help you to understand the importance of each of these traits.
The remaining spoke to make our wheel complete (or my 2nd analogy the tools in our backpack) is self-control. As with the previous attributes, self-control is referred to in the Bible as the “Fruit of the Spirit.” This fruit is an outward manifestation of the seeds we possess internally. As these attributes grow in us and produce good fruit they will allow us to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insights, and boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In doing so, we will establish the framework in our lives that will truly allow us to “Live Long and Prosper.”
So onto our final attribute/tool which is self-control.
It is not by coincidence that self-control is our last attribute on the...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 9 of our Wisdom-Trek, thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, your guide to wisdom. Today we continue to investigate the tools needed for a successful Wisdom-Trek. Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We are back in Marietta for a couple weeks for more renovating and grounds keeping.
I had the opportunity of working outside mowing, trimming, and staking new tree saplings that spring up in our yard each year. An interesting phenomenon that we have discovered, though, is that the squirrels also wait for us to stake any new oak trees that have sprung up, so they can go and dig up the acorn. To say the least, it is very hard to get any new oak trees started from the acorns. There have been a few that have managed to grow and survive, but it is always a fun and interesting challenge to keep them hidden from our furry friends. We are hoping for 2-3 to survive this year. We also stake a few maple trees, which are not as hardy starting, but they usually don’t get rooted up.
We would love for you to get to know us on a more personal level. As we trek together I look forward to sharing and hope that our simple and authentic lives will be a blessing to you. Please check out more about us on https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/About Wisdom-Trek.)
We would also like to get to know you better, so please feel free to share with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us) or leave us a message on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WisdomTrek (Wisdom-Trek.)
During the first two or three weeks, we will lay the foundation of living an abundant life while creating a living legacy. Please make the time to review any podcasts or journals that you may have missed.
Today, we are continuing our research into the tools or equipment we need in order to gain wisdom, live fully, and enjoy our trek of life while we create a living legacy.
Our wheel analogy, is nearing completion as we once again consider love as the hub of that wheel and the remaining tools or attributes as the spokes stemming from a perfectly round hub. So far we have inserted the spokes of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.
In our 2nd analogy of love being your backpack for our trek, we only have a couple of more tools/attributes to complete the set. I hope that these analogies help you to understand the importance of each of these traits.
The two remaining spokes in our wheel (or my 2nd analogy the tools in our backpack) are gentleness and self-control. As with the ones that we have already discussed, these attributes are referred to in the Bible as the “Fruit of the Spirit” with these fruits being an outward manifestation of what we possess internally. These attributes allow us to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insights, and boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In doing so, we will establish the framework in our lives that will truly allow us to “Live Long and Prosper.”
So onto gentleness, which is the tool/spoke (attribute) that we will consider today.
Gentleness in our society is often misinterpreted and equated with weakness, especially with men. Very few men would probably seek out the description of “he is a gentle man,” but in the same line of thought, we seek to be considered gentlemen. Interesting thought considering they both mean the same thing.
Gentleness is one of the most powerful of all the tools within our backpack. It is born out of a person who also has great patience and is at peace with themselves. It is a person that does not need to control others by force. It is a reflection of a
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 8 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we continue to investigate the tools needed for a successful Wisdom-Trek. Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. We are back in Marietta for a couple weeks for more renovating and grounds keeping. With a large lawn to maintain, I look forward to the time I can be outside on the mower enjoying nature and listening to podcasts or audio books.
As of the time of making the notes for this podcast/journal we just found out that our sixth grandchild which is due in September is a girl. She is the daughter of our third child Barnabas and his wife Leesha. That will make 3 boy and 3 girl grandchildren. We are excited to welcome this new life into our family. Granny and Gramps can’t wait to meet her in person.
We would love for you to get to know us on a more personal level, so each day we will share a little personal information. We live a rather modest and simplistic life, but it is always full to the brim with activity and enjoyment. Please check out our website https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/About Wisdom-Trek).
We would also like to get to know you better, so please feel free to share with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us) or leave us a message on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WisdomTrek (Wisdom-Trek.)
During the first two or three weeks we lay the foundation of living an abundant life while creating a living legacy. I encourage you to listen to any previous episodes that you may have missed.
Today, we are continuing to consider what tools or equipment we need in order to gain wisdom, live fully, and enjoy our trek of life while we create a living legacy.
As we reflect back to our analogies, we recall that love is the hub of the wheel and the remaining tools or attributes are the spokes stemming from a perfectly round hub. So far we have inserted the spokes of joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness.
I also used a 2nd analogy of love being your backpack for our trek. our backpack is filling up with the attributes/tools we need for success. Word pictures and parables help us to learn much easier, so please use the word picture you best relate to. I also encourage you to work on strengthening these attributes in your life each day.
The three remaining spokes in our wheel (or my 2nd analogy the tools in our backpack) are faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes are referred to in the Bible as the “Fruit of the Spirit.” As we cultivate this fruit, it will grow in our lives as we build the foundation to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few chosen to grow before. In doing so, we will establish the framework in our lives that will truly allow us to “Live Long and Prosper.”
As a reminder, I have provided tools to assist in these areas on our https://wisdom-trek.com/resources/ (Free Resources) page.
I encourage you to take the 9 Tools Self-Assessment to see which attributes in your life need a little more nourishment and cultivating without ignoring the existing strong points.
Today we will look at the tool/spoke (attribute) of faithfulness.
As we consider faithfulness and look at the definition, we see that a faithful person has five facets to them:
Strict or thorough in the performance of duty – a faithful worker
True to one’s word, promises, vows – a faithful spouse
Steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant – a faithful friend
Reliable, trusted, or believed – a dependable person
Adhering or true to fact, a standard, or...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 7 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we continue to investigate the tools needed for a successful Wisdom-Trek. Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House) in Marietta, Ohio. Each day, as it is applicable, I will share stories and personal life experiences as we trek together.
As of the time of making the notes for this podcast/journal our personal trek has us traveling again. This week Paula was in For Myers, Florida for 4 days visiting her Aunt. We had a day trip from Charlotte to Savannah working with a client and headed back to The Big House in Marietta, Ohio, at the end of the week. Traveling does get wearisome at times, as does daily life, but we always endeavor to enjoy the journey as we continue our treks for this season of life.
We would love for you to get to know us better on a personal level. We are ordinary folks that have chosen to make our life extraordinary. If we hyphenate that word it is extra-ordinary, so I guess our lives must be more ordinary than most. Paula and I have many times joked that we are probably considered a boring couple, but within that steady, ordinary life we have experienced much, and for the most part, have enjoyed life fully. For more about us, please check out our website https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/About Wisdom-Trek.)
Likewise, we would like to get to know you better, so please feel free to share with us on https://wisdom-trek.com/contact/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/Contact Us) or leave us a message on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WisdomTrek (Wisdom-Trek).
I encourage you to listen to any previous episodes that you may have missed. During the first two or three weeks we are laying the foundation of living an abundant life while creating a living legacy.
Today, we are continuing to consider what tools or equipment we need in order to gain wisdom, live fully, and enjoy our trek of life while we create a living legacy.
We are visualizing life as a wheel or bicycle tire, with love being the hub of that wheel and the remaining tools or attributes making up the spokes stemming from a perfectly round hub. So far we have inserted the spokes of joy, peace, patience, and kindness.
I also used a 2nd analogy of love being your backpack for our trek and each of the attributes as tools we need for success. Whichever one you can visualize best, please use it. I also encourage you to work on strengthening these attributes in your life.
The four remaining spokes in our wheel (or my 2nd analogy, the tools in our backpack) are goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes are referred to in the Bible as the “Fruit of the Spirit” and as we cultivate this fruit it will grow in our lives as we build the foundation to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insights, and boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In doing so, we will establish the framework in our lives that will truly allow us to “Live Long and Prosper.”
I have provided tools to assist in these areas on our Free Resources webpage at https://wisdom-trek.com/resources/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/resources).
I encourage you to take the free 9-Tools Self-Assessment to see which attributes in your life need a little more nourishment and cultivating, without ignoring the existing strong points.
Today we will look at the tool/spoke (attribute) of goodness.
As we consider goodness we see that it is closely tied to yesterday’s lesson on kindness. If we are kind people and show kindness, then we will naturally do good to and for others.
When you think of a good person, you probably imagine a...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 6 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we continue to investigate the tools needed for a successful Wisdom-Trek. Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (Home 2) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Springtime in the Carolina’s is nice, and it is great to be able to get outside some. In late May, Paula and I spent a beautiful day at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. If you are ever in that area, it is well worth the time to spend a day or two there.
Each day, when is it applicable, I will share stories and personal life experiences as we trek together. If you are interested in getting to know us better, and have not done so already, please check out our website https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/About Wisdom-Trek).
Today, we are continuing to consider what tools or equipment we need in order to learn, gain wisdom, and enjoy our Wisdom-Trek.
On day 2 of our Trek, I challenged you to visualize your life as a wheel or bicycle tire, with love being the hub of that wheel and the remaining tools or attributes making up the spokes stemming from a perfectly round hub. So far we have inserted the spokes of joy, peace and patience.
I also used a second analogy of love being your backpack for our trek and each of the attributes as tools we need for success. Whichever one you can visualize the best please utilize it. I also encourage you to work on strengthening these attributes in your life.
I have provided tools to assist in these areas, which can be found on the journal for day 2 or on our Free Resources webpage at http://wisdom-Trek.com/Resources (Wisdom-Trek.com/resources).
If you have not taken the time to listen to the previous podcast episodes, I would encourage you to do so. During the first two or three weeks of our podcast/journal the nuggets of wisdom that we consume will build on each other as we lay the foundation of living an abundant life while creating a living legacy.
The remaining spokes in our wheel (or my second analogy the tools in our backpack) are kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes are referred to in the Bible as the “Fruit of the Spirit,” and as we cultivate this fruit it will grow in our lives as we build the foundation to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insights, and boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In doing so, we will establish the framework in our lives that will truly allow us to “Live Long and Prosper.”
If we use the analogy of farming, a healthy and abundant harvest of any kind is dependent on proper nourishment. In the same manner, if we expect positive results and habits in our lives, then we must cultivate our lives physically, emotionally, educationally, and spiritually. Only then can we expect our lives to produce an abundance of good habits and traits.
I encourage you to take the 9-Tools Self-Assessment to see which attributes in your life need a little more nourishment and cultivating without ignoring the existing strong points.
Today we will look at the tool/spoke (attribute) of kindness.
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As we consider kindness, it can be one of the most powerful and life-changing attributes/tools that we possess. To be kind to another person does not cost us anything. It should be easy for us, and it can change the world for others. We never know what another person may be going through and an act of kindness quite literally could be a matter of victory or defeat, even between life and death.
Kindness may be harder for...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 5 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we continue to investigate the tools needed for a successful Wisdom-Trek. Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (Home 2) in Charlotte, North Carolina. The pleasant weather continues and my desire is that I could really be outside on a trek through the North Carolina Mountains… but duty and responsibilities must be my priority. If you would like to know more about Wisdom-Trek or me personally please go to https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (Wisdom-Trek.com/About Wisdom-Trek).
We are continuing to consider what tools or equipment that we need in order to ensure and enjoy our Wisdom-Trek.
On https://wisdom-trek.com/day2 (day 2) of our Trek, I challenged you to visualize your life as a wheel or bicycle tire, with love being the hub of that wheel and the remaining tools or attributes making up the spokes stemming from a perfectly round hub. So far we have inserted the spokes of joy and peace. If you have not taken the time to listen to the previous podcast episodes, I would encourage you to do so. During the first two or three weeks of our podcast/journal the nuggets of wisdom, that we consume will build on each other as we lay the foundation of living an abundant life while creating a living legacy.
The remaining spokes in our wheel (or my 2nd analogy the tools in our backpack) are patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes are referred to in the Bible as the “Fruit of the Spirit” that should be manifested in our lives in the same manner that an apple tree produces apples.
Healthy and abundant fruit is an outward indication of a healthy tree. In the same manner, if we are living a healthy and abundant life, then we should be producing the “Fruit of the Spirit” in our lives.
An interesting aspect of producing a healthy crop of apples, or any other type of fruit, is that it requires that the less healthy branches be pruned from the trees. Doing this allows the healthy ones to utilize the available resources, which enables the tree to thrive and produce larger, more abundant fruit. In the same way, we need to continually prune the less healthy habits or practices in our lives, so that the healthy attributes are stronger and more vibrant. In that way, we can then live life fully and be creating a living legacy each day.
Today we will look at the tool/spoke (attribute) of patience.
As we consider patience today, we must realize that this may be one of the hardest attributes to instill into our lives. We all lack patience in certain areas of life, and if we allow impatience to grow, it will poison all other attributes.
The lack of patience may manifest itself while we are driving, waiting in line at a store, or attempting some task or obligation that is not going as planned. I have certainly been guilty, at times, of being impatient in all these situations and have to continually guard against it.
I know this may sound harsh, but impatience boils down to selfishness. We feel that our time, resources, and even ourselves are more important than someone else.
What we need to realize is that patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is timing; it waits on the right time to act, for the right principles and in the right way.
A patient person is a strong person. Proverbs 25:15 states, “Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.
As we learn patience along our trek of life, we will become stronger and gain endurance. Endurance will allow us to succeed long term.
Using our “trek” analogy, if we...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 4 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (Home 2 ) in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is starting to feel like summer in the south, but so far it has not been too humid. (See https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (About Wisdom-Trek).)
We are continuing to consider what tools or equipment that we need in order to ensure success and enjoy our Wisdom-Trek. Yesterday, on Day 3, we looked at the tool of joy, which is one of the 8 tools that is encased within our backpack of love. On day 2, I challenged you to visualize your life as a wheel or bicycle tire, with love being the hub of that wheel and the remaining tools or attributes making up the spokes stemming from a perfectly round hub.
The remaining spokes in our wheel (tools in our backpack) are peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes are referred to in the Bible as the “Fruit of the Spirit” and should be manifested in our lives in the same manner that an apple tree produce apples.
Growing up on an apple orchard, I have first-hand experience on just how much work is involved in cultivating, pruning, fertilizing, and spraying in order to have any hope of producing a decent crop. Even after doing all we could physically, we realized that God would ultimately have to provide the increase. We had many good crops, but also, many that were not. In the same way, in order to allow these 8 attributes to flourish we must cultivate them within our lives, and make sure they are rooted in the rich soil of love.
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Today we will look at the tool/spoke of peace. If you have not taken the time to review the previous episodes, I would encourage you to do so. During the first two or three weeks, the nuggets of wisdom that we digest will build on each other as we lay the foundation of living an abundant life while creating a living legacy.
As we consider peace today, it is very important that we grasp the concept that true peace is not the absence of strife or turmoil in our lives, but the ability to deal or cope with these situations with a minimal amount of stress and anxiety.
Along our trek of life we realize that we will run into obstacles and difficulties. That is the stuff of what life is made of. These difficulties may be caused by our own unwise choices, or they are beyond our control. We experience situations like a broken or troubled relationship we can’t mend or a tragedy we can’t reverse. We experience problems at home, at school, and at work.
We all desire to live peaceful lives, both individually and as nations, but few seem to obtain it. Wars rage on within us, peace seems to elude us and we are constantly anxious. As with both love and joy, peace is an attribute that we have to constantly and deliberately infuse into the fabric of our lives.
To be wise and create a living legacy, we need to have peace in our lives, allow peace to permeate us, and then be a peacemaker in the lives of others. Whenever possible, I like to break down any situation as simply as possible. So let’s look at the stress and anxiousness that we allow into our lives, which are the enemies of peace. Peace, or the lack of it, starts in our minds. Based on our thoughts, we are either making choices that are robbing us of peace or allowing other situations or other people to cause a lack of peace. The first case, we have complete control over our choices, the second one we cannot control the situations or people, but we can control how we respond. If we are lacking peace then, we need to start...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 3 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio in https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House )in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a beautiful, but slightly warm week for mid-spring in Ohio and it sure makes me want to be outside on a trek myself. Growing up on an apple orchard and small farm, even after working indoors most of my adult life, I still yearn to be outside, working in the dirt, and enjoying nature. (See https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (About Wisdom-Trek).)
We are continuing today to consider what tools or equipment that we need to have in order to ensure and enjoy our Wisdom-Trek. Yesterday, on Day 2 we looked at the core, or fundamental tool of love, which encapsulates all of the remaining eight tools that we will consider.
While the podcast that you listen to each day will be very similar in nature to the journal entries, you may want to review the journal entries also as they include pictures, “tweet-able” sayings and free downloadable PDF documents (tools) that will be helpful along our journey. You can access those tools from the https://wisdom-trek.com/resources/ (Free Resources) page on https://wisdom-trek.com (Wisdom-Trek.com)
On day 2, I challenged you to visualize your life as a wheel, with love being the hub of that wheel and the remaining tools or attributes as the spokes stemming from a perfectly round hub. If you have not listened to the previous episodes, day 0 through day 2, I would encourage you to listen to those podcasts or read my journal entries for those days.
Another analogy that I used was that we need to consider that the attribute of love in our lives is like our backpack on our trek that contains all the other tools or equipment needed for a successful Wisdom-Trek. The backpack is an essential component, for without a backpack the trek of life would be much more difficult.
The remaining spokes in our wheel (tools in our backpack) are joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Joy is a deep, abiding, internal sense of satisfaction, even when all conditions are not perfect, and life at times is out of our control. Unlike happiness, which is based on happenstances(or what happens around us), joy should remain during the tough times of life.
We can be sad about a situation/circumstance, but still maintain that deep sense of joy. To grow in wisdom is to realize that while circumstances can impact our happiness, our true internal joy is not impacted. To be a wise person we need to understand that sometimes life is rough and not everything turns out how we envisioned it.
Paula, my wonderful bride of nearly 36 years, and I have been through some deep valleys in both business and family issues, but we have also been able to experience some glorious summits in life. We will disappoint ourselves at times, and family or friends may disappoint us – this is a given…a fact of life. If we have the unconditional love for ourselves and others, we can maintain a joyful spirit.
Love is the hub that securely holds the spoke of joy in place. In our second analogy, love is the backpack that securely holds and protects our joy so that we will always have it with us.
Whenever possible, I like to understand the root, meanings, or definitions behind words. One that is related to joy would be to “enjoy,” or “enjoyment.” Those words indicate that we are infused with joy, that joy is part of who we are. Joy should be grafted into us so that external issues cannot tear that joy from the fabric of our lives.
It reminds me of growing up in our orchard when we would graft...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 2 of our Wisdom-Trek and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Today we are recording our podcast/journal from our studio in https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House )in Marietta, Ohio. Since I will be recording either from “https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (The Big House)“ in Marietta, or from our “Home 2,” which is located south of Charlotte, North Carolina, you may hear external sounds of the outdoors, such as birds singing or other noises which. Instead of being distracting, it will add to our authenticity of life. I may not always present a perfect podcast/journal, but I will provide valuable content in an excellent manner.
So let’s begin. Today I want to focus on what tools are needed to have a successful trek to gain wisdom. On Day 0 we set up base camp, and I was able to introduce myself so that you could get to know me better. On Day 1 we discussed the Guidelines for a Successful Trek.
If you have not taken the opportunity to listen to these podcasts or read the corresponding journals, I would encourage you to do so. I would also encourage you to subscribe on iTunes or your favorite media site, so that these daily episodes will download automatically for you.
I will use the analogies of hiking throughout my episodes, because it ties into our lives as we trek through each day. With any camping experience, hiking or trek that we experience, as with life each day, we need the proper tools and equipment to help us have a successful trek.
After we set up base camp on Day 0, on Day 1 we looked at the need to have a destination in mind, and establishing good habits or guidelines to reach that destination through the use of a compass, GPS, or map. We realized that we may get off the path, but with the proper guidelines, the destination set, and the proper habits ingrained into the fabric of our lives, we can stay the course.
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Today we want to look at the tools needed to have a successful trek, that will enable us to live abundantly (fully) and serve a purpose that is greater than ourselves. In other words, what tools are needed to create a living legacy that positively impacts everyone that is in our world?
What are the tools that we need to have in our backpack for a successful Wisdom-Trek? As a person of faith, many of my lessons and examples of wisdom will come from the Bible, because it has been the foundation for wisdom in my life. Today the tools or the attributes that we want to study are taken from the book of https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal+5%3A22-23&version=NLT (Galatians [5:22]-23). Just as I am your guide to wisdom, these tools should be part of everyone’s Trek for Wisdom. These attributes are provided by God’s Spirit which guides my life.
These tools/attributes are referred to in Galatians as the “Fruit of the Spirit.”
If we see fruit on a tree, such as an apple, then we know what kind of tree it is because of its fruit. In the same way, others will be able to tell what type of person we are, by the fruit or attributes that are manifested in our lives. This is an important concept to grasp as we look at the various tools/attributes that we will need in our lives in order to be wise and create a living legacy.
As we explore these tools, I would like you to visualize your life as a wheel, and particularly a bike tire with a hub and spokes extending from the hub. Without the hub as the core or foundation, the remaining tools/spokes would not have anything to attach to, and the wheel would be broken and useless. Click on the images below to access a
https://wisdom-trek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Summit-Adventure-version-1-non-editable-web-ready-file.jpg () Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Wisdom-Trek This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 1 of our Trek As I mentioned in our first episode on Day 0, I will strive to be transparent and authentic in all of our daily podcast/journals. This means that I am inviting you into our camp and our trek to join with us. I will not extensively edit these episodes, just for the sake of trying to have them sound perfect, any more than when we are sitting around base camp or on our trek, I would not be able to edit everything that I said. This is life, and I want to live it before you as if we were literally on this trek together, which through the magic of technology we are virtually sitting next to each other.
Since I will be recording either from https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-House/746104375506486?fref=ts (“The Big House”) in Marietta, or from our “Home 2” located south of Charlotte, North Carolina, you may hear external sounds of the outdoors, such as birds singing or other noises which, instead of being distracting, will add to our authenticity of life. I may not always present a perfect podcast/journal, but I will provide valuable content in an excellent manner If you have not taken the opportunity to listen to Day 0 or read the corresponding journal, I would encourage you to do so. Also read through the https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (About Wisdom-Trek) to learn more about the podcast and me personally.
As with any journey in life, it is best if we have a destination in mind before we begin. It is difficult or impossible to measure progress and success if we don’t know our destination. Once we determine our destination, we should know the best path to take to reach it. It is best if we remain on trails that have been forged before us by others.
Life will take us through many hardships and dangers. At times it will seem like no one has ever traversed the path that we are taking, but there are few, if any, circumstances in life that others have not already traveled. In fact http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon (King Solomon), the wisest person who ever lived, in the later years of his life wrote the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes (book of Ecclesiastes,) and in chapter 1:9 he declares, “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” So we can take “comfort” in the fact that others have been on the same path before us.
What is our destination? As we trek together our purpose is to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insights, and boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In doing so, we will setup the framework in our lives that will truly allow us to “Live Long and Prosper.”
I believe that most of us would desire to live a long life and to prosper. Prospering, though, will take many different forms. It could be financial, but that does not need to be our primary way of prospering. Becoming wise and creating a living legacy by making a positive impact on our world will allow us to truly prosper. The primary purpose for us pursuing and obtaining financial prosperity is to allow that impact to be even greater.
We need to be a river and not a reservoir with our financial gain. Allowing financial prosperity to flow through us to others, instead of hording it for ourselves, will help us to gain wisdom.
In addition to setting a destination, our best hope of arriving safely is to have suitable navigation tools. We need to follow a GPS, map, compass or other tools that will allow us to be reasonably sure that we are on the right path. These tools are important, but are only useful, if we follow them. As I am sure each of us has experienced, even with the best GPS or map we sometimes end up on a wrong road, and so it is...
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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy This first podcast/journal post is to set up “base camp” as we begin our Wisdom-Trek. Since this is the first episode, and I am laying the foundation for the Wisdom-Trek podcast, I am referring to this as Day 0 – The Journey has Begun. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Below I will share a little more about me personally, but also check out the https://wisdom-trek.com/about-wisdom-trek/ (About Wisdom-Trek) page on the website to get to know me better. My hope is that I will also have an opportunity to get to know each member of our Wisdom-Trek team throughout our journey together.
It will be an interesting, exciting and worthwhile trek, and it is my hope and desire that you will join me on this daily journey. We will learn from each other and share mutual joy as we travel together. While I do not believe that I “have arrived” in my personal quest, I have spent my adult life studying the Scriptures and learning from wise individuals that have hiked this trail of life before.
Each day we will explore and consume a small “nugget” of wisdom as we cover a different subject or terrain. This 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom will help us to live life abundantly, authentically, and with integrity. Along the way we will be seeking wisdom and discipline and striving to understand the insights of the wise. By doing so we will learn to live disciplined and successful lives and to do what is right, just, and fair. I will count it a privilege if you allow me to be your guide as we trek together.
I do want to note that the associated podcast to this journal will be “my authentic self” with limited editing. That is how life is – there are no dress rehearsals in life. We make mistakes, we make unwise choices, we stumble, and we fall sometimes. While we occasionally have opportunities for “do-overs,” the foibles of life remain with us, and that is okay.
While I will strive to produce error free, high quality podcast and journal entries, I also realize that I am human. I make mistakes. So you will hear me occasionally mispronounce words, have awkward pauses, and get my words twisted around . My goal with Wisdom-Trek, as with life, is to provide you with honest, authentic and excellent content, even though my presentation may not always be perfect. Thank you in advance for understanding, and let us enjoy this journey together. I would encourage you to share your stories with us so that we may also learn from you in our trek.
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So why have I titled our journey “Wisdom-Trek”? Being a Science Fiction enthusiast from childhood, I have always been enamored with the thought of exploring. As one of 10 children, I was blessed to grow up with loving parents on an apple orchard with acres of woods. Along with my siblings, I spent untold hours exploring the “lower 40 acres” with all of its ravines, trees, creeks and a nice size pond. Those experiences carried over into my fantasy of exploring the universe as I faithfully watched the Star-Trek original series on TV. As an adult, I continued to watch all Star-Trek series and other space related programs.
While I still love space programs and movies, my exploration has lead me to the pursuit of wisdom which has also intrigued me. As we trek together, it is my hope that we will create a legacy of wisdom, that we will seek out discernment and insights, and that we will boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In doing so, we will establish the framework in our lives that will truly allow us to “Live Long and Prosper.”
My journal and podcast will not necessarily be focused toward others who share my life of faith as a Christ...