Welcome to Day 2103 of  Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Sermon on the Mount 1 - The Upside-Down Culture – Daily Wisdom Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2103 of our trek to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Beginning today, I will share the messages I delivered at Putnam Congregational Church over the past couple of years. This first series of messages will cover the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5-7. I pray that it will be a conduit for learning and encouragement. Putnam Church Message – 05/16/2021 Sermon on the Mount – The Upside-Down Culture Matthew 5:1-2   The Sermon on the Mount covering Matthew 5-7 is Matthew’s version of the good news.  It is probably the best-known part of the teaching of Jesus, though possibly it is the least understood, and indeed, it is the least obeyed. Nevertheless, it is the nearest thing to a manifesto that Jesus ever uttered, for it is his description of what he wanted his followers to be and to do. In my mind, no two words better summarize its intention or indicate its challenge to the modern world more clearly than the expression ‘Christian counter-culture.’  You might say it is an upside-down culture. Let me tell you why.   I realize that King Solomon tells us there is nothing new ‘under the sun.’ Still, with our ever-advancing technology and ability to communicate instantly to the entire world at once, it appears that a Christian counter-culture is more necessary than ever before when we take to heart the manifesto that Christ preached in The Sermon on the Mount.   We have seen through the past several decades a spirit of disillusion. Each rising generation is disillusioned with the world it has inherited. Sometimes the reaction has been naive, though that is not to say it has been insincere. For example, there were times of unrest in the recent past coming out of the Vietnam War.  There were riots and bombings in our country and many other places worldwide. But, unfortunately, we tend to forget those events quickly.   The pandemic of the past 18 months has brought to the forefront what has been brewing under the surface for several decades.  The events and philosophies have been put into overdrive.  When you consider the Violent Uprisings, Riots, BLM, Critical Race Theory, Wokeness, Cancel Culture, Entitlement Mentality, and many other movements that we read about nearly every day, it seems like the wheels have fallen off the bus called common sense.  It looks like someone has been passing out crazy pills.  It is not just young adults anymore; adults of all ages have been influenced. Of course, with 24/7 always-on opinion newscasts, the talking heads constantly push an agenda.  Add to that instant online social media; anyone can have their bully pulpit to spew their doctrine anywhere. When we begin to despair, we have to remind ourselves again. Although the noise may be louder today, there is nothing new under the sun.   In a way, Christians should find this disturbing alternative reality prevalent in our culture one of the most hopeful, even exciting, signs of the times. For we recognize in it the activity of God’s Spirit within us who before he was our comforter was our disturber.  We know for our current society to find true peace and comfort, it will only find it through the Spirit of Peace.   Those pressing so hard against this Christian counter-culture are...