Share a comment

The party ends, the house quiets, and two newlyweds discover the real work of love. We follow the arc of the Song of Songs from the glow of romance to the grit of daily choice, unpacking how a marriage survives missed moments, wounded pride, and the slow fade of novelty. Instead of promising shortcuts, we talk about what actually builds a home: remembering your spouse’s best qualities, speaking belonging out loud, and turning conflict into a path back to each other.

We revisit the nighttime knock—desire met with hesitation—and the ripple of indifference and withdrawal that so many couples know. Then we move toward repair. Gratitude becomes a practice, not a mood. “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” shifts from poetry to policy—commitment and exclusivity that quiet outside noise and steady the bond. We also address the debated imagery of queens and concubines to highlight the unmistakable point: focused praise aimed at one person, the spouse you chose.

To land the plane, we shape three stepping stones for a love that lasts: permanence that seals affection to heart and strength, perseverance that stays aboard when the waters rise, and pricelessness that refuses to turn love into a transaction. Along the way, we weave in simple habits—apology without defensiveness, prayer that is honest and regular, and specific words of admiration that make trust grow again. If you’re past the confetti and into the calendar, this conversation offers a map for building a marriage that holds when feelings dip and storms roll through.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope for their home, and leave a review telling us which stepping stone you’re working on next.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

Gold glints in the sun, incense rises like a banner, and a bride walks toward a love that has learned to speak with care. We step into Solomon’s wedding day to watch more than ceremony; we watch character revealed. From the royal litter to the careful poetry of praise, every detail shows what honor looks like when desire is guided by dignity.

We unpack the metaphors—hair like a flock of goats, teeth like shorn ewes, a neck like the Tower of David—and translate them into modern insight: attentive praise, wholeness, and noble strength. The turning point arrives with “a garden locked,” a phrase that restores the moral beauty of guarded desire and the joy of covenant intimacy. When the gate opens, the Song’s garden imagery protects privacy while celebrating delight, modeling a way to talk about sex that is sacred, modest, and deeply affirming.

The story widens into theology as we connect the wedding night to the gospel. Ephesians 5 reframes romance as self-giving love, calling us to a cross-shaped pattern where affection and sacrifice grow together. We explore how real couples can build that kind of home: rhythms of prayer, honest confession, forgiveness that disarms pride, and habits that keep trust strong. “Unless the Lord builds the house” is more than a motto; it’s a method for love that lasts.

If you’re longing for a marriage that blends joy with depth, this conversation offers a roadmap: honor before intimacy, covenant before celebration, and grace at the center. Listen, share with someone who needs hope for their relationship, and leave a review to help others find these timeless truths.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

Desire can be holy, joyful, and beautifully intense—and still be wiser when it waits. We open the Song of Songs and find a love story that pairs longing with restraint, poetry with practice, and romance with a vision of marriage that protects what it prizes most.

We walk through the courtship as the bride wrestles with insecurity—sun-darkened skin, calloused hands, family pressure—and hears Solomon’s honoring words in return. From the surprising “mare among Pharaoh’s chariots” to the oasis of Engedi, we unpack the ancient imagery and show how it dignifies the whole person. Along the way, we face the question many readers ask: How can a king with a broken record on relationships teach wisdom about love? The answer points to grace and inspiration—the value of the text rests on God’s character, not the author’s perfection.

At the heart is the repeated refrain: “Do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.” We explore this as a sacred boundary, not a killjoy. Passion is meant to flourish under covenant, and guardrails help desire ripen rather than spoil. Expect practical steps: open conversations about limits, shared accountability, and a plan that honors marriage before the wedding day. If you’ve ever wondered where to draw the line or how to speak love that heals insecurity, this conversation offers clarity, courage, and hope.

If this journey through biblical romance helped you think differently about love and timing, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Your feedback helps more listeners find thoughtful, faith-centered conversations about relationships and wisdom.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

A king who had everything admits he almost drowned. We walk through Solomon’s final words in Ecclesiastes 12 and explore how a man who tasted every pleasure came back to shore with three clear steps for a meaningful life: fear God, keep His commandments, and prepare for the day when every secret is brought to light. The journey starts with Scripture’s uncomfortable kindness—words that delight, yet prod like goads and fix us like nails—because they’re given by one Shepherd who still leads people home.

We share why the source of wisdom matters as much as the content, tracing how God breathed truth through human voices without flattening their personality. That foundation frames a practical path forward. “Fear” becomes posture, not panic: favor God’s company, exalt His glory, acknowledge His sovereignty, remember His generosity. Obedience turns from a burdensome rulebook into a coherent, liberating way to live. And preparation shifts our timeline from urgent to eternal, helping us invest in what lasts when the spotlight is off and the motives are hidden.

Along the way, we contrast drifting with being anchored, name the risks of chasing meaning beyond God’s word, and offer everyday ways to live today for that day. From the ocean of sin to the safety of the Shepherd, the thread is simple and strong: truth that stings can save, and a life with the Son brings the wholeness life under the sun can’t deliver.

If this conversation helped you think and live with more intention, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a nudge toward hope, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. What’s one “nail” you’re fastening this week?

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

A tiny choice can tip a life. We open Ecclesiastes to watch Solomon craft an unforgettable image—dead flies turning costly perfume into a stench—and we sit with what that means for integrity, leadership, and the stories we’re writing with our daily decisions. The thread runs through every scene: small sins lead to large consequences, trust is slow to build and fast to break, and wisdom is the courage to act early while the damage is still small.

From there, we pivot to joy and gratitude—not as clichés, but as strategies for a steady heart. Solomon urges us to rejoice in our youth and to practice thanksgiving as a counterweight to envy and despair. We talk about training your eyes to see God’s gifts in ordinary moments, building a habit of honesty, and choosing the kind of pleasure that doesn’t sabotage tomorrow. Desire isn’t the villain; disordered desire is. That’s why we hold freedom and fences together: walk in the ways of your heart, and remember that every choice lives under God’s good accountability.

We close by remembering our Creator while strength is fresh and choices still shape the future. Memory in Scripture means commitment—actions that align with who made you and what you’re for. You are crafted, not random; accountable, not autonomous; finite, not disposable. Whether you’re guarding a reputation under pressure or starting again after a misstep, the path is the same: tell the truth, keep short accounts, rejoice daily, and choose the long road over shortcuts that stink up the room. If this conversation helps you swat a few “flies” and clear the air, share it with a friend, subscribe for more wisdom from Ecclesiastes, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

A donkey chases a carrot toward a cliff—that’s the picture Solomon paints as we walk through Ecclesiastes 6–9. We explore how a life built on appetite can look full from the outside yet feel empty at the core, and why promotions, knowledge, or polish can’t satisfy a hungry soul. Instead of racing after the next thing, we talk about the surprising wisdom of enjoying what’s already in front of us and letting God reshape our desires.

From there, we tackle one of Scripture’s most misunderstood lines: be not overly righteous and be not overly wicked. We pull back the curtain on two dangerous detours—self-righteous performance and reckless indulgence—and lay out the humble, honest middle path of wisdom. Along the way, we wrestle with the frustration of slow justice. Why do some hypocrites receive praise and respectful farewells? We revisit a striking example in Al Capone, “Mr. Gooddeed,” and reflect on how delayed accountability invites cynicism, yet never cancels the certainty of judgment.

Finally, we face the inevitability of death without despair. The grave is impartial, but that reality frees us to live fully now. Solomon’s invitation is bold and practical: eat your bread with joy, drink your wine with a merry heart, and let white garments and oil mark your days with celebration. Joy becomes a daily act of faith—evidence that we trust God’s approval and goodness in ordinary life. If you’re tired of chasing wind, come reconsider what it means to pursue Christ, receive today as gift, and practice resilient joy.

If this conversation sparked something in you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find it. Your support helps us keep these thoughtful, hope-filled episodes coming.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

If pleasure promises the world yet leaves you empty, Solomon’s journal feels uncomfortably current. We walk through Ecclesiastes 2–5 and trace a journey from chasing laughter and wine to discovering why contentment, friendship, and sincere worship hold more weight than any quick fix. The heart of the message is simple and searching: without God at the center, good things fade into noise; with God, ordinary moments become gifts that carry real joy.

We start with Solomon’s candid experiment—testing comedy, drink, and self-focused achievement—and the stark verdict of vanity. Then we widen the lens to time itself: the small dash between our first and last day, with seasons to plant and to harvest, to mourn and to dance, to keep silence and to speak. Rather than slip into cynicism, we lean into the claim that God makes everything fitting in its time, even when we cannot map the threads. That clarity awakens an ache for forever—eternity set in the human heart—which explains why our biggest wins still feel incomplete and points us toward meaning that outlives the moment.

From there, we turn practical. Better one handful with quiet contentment than two hands clenched with toil. Two are better than one, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken—friendship, prayer, and shared resilience beat lonely ambition every time. We close with a sober word on worship: guard your steps, keep your vows, and trade self-made dreams for God’s will. When we receive our work, daily bread, and limits as gifts, God grants the power to enjoy them. That kind of joy doesn’t erase hardship, but it steadies the soul and brightens the dash.

If this conversation helps you reframe your season, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review with the one handful you’re ready to choose today.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

A seasoned fighter pilot’s night mission is more than a gripping story—it’s a compass for the moments when life tilts and you can’t trust your senses. We open with that razor-edge image and follow it into the life of Solomon, a king who began with blazing clarity and drifted into darkness before turning back. The question isn’t whether you’re smart or successful; it’s what gauges you trust when the horizon disappears.

We walk through the arc of Solomon’s story: a divine blank check answered with “wisdom,” the bright years of Proverbs and a golden temple, and the slow turn toward divided loves and bored ambition. Ecclesiastes becomes his recovered journal, a field report from “under the sun” that names the ache: vapor, repetition, the lure of newness that isn’t new. Solomon spies out learning, labor, pleasure, and legacy, only to find that when the Giver is ignored, the gifts dissolve in your hands. The line that lingers—what is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted—calls for a realism our age resists.

But the realism is hopeful. If life under the sun is not enough, we can re-center above the sun. We talk about remembering the Creator in youth, why “vanity” means vapor rather than ego, and how Scripture functions like an instrument panel calibrated to reality when emotions, headlines, or habits blur our view. For skeptics, the hollowness you feel is a helpful alarm, not a verdict. For believers, there’s a path back: open the Word, name the drift, realign your course, and recover joy with roots deeper than novelty.

If this conversation helps you see the gauges more clearly, share it with a friend who’s flying through fog, subscribe for more wisdom-rich journeys, and leave a review with the one idea you’re taking into your week. Your story might help someone else pull up in time.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

A mother’s voice can carry a lifetime of lessons, and this conversation brings that wisdom into sharp focus. We begin with kitchen-table memories and a few well-earned laughs, then turn to Proverbs 31, where a mother’s counsel to her son unfolds with striking clarity. Her first charge is bracing: don’t give your strength to destructive desires, and don’t let alcohol blur the judgment that protects the vulnerable. These aren’t abstract warnings; they are born from the wreckage that unchecked appetite can leave behind, especially in leadership.

From there we explore the famed portrait of the virtuous woman, not as a crushing checklist but as a poetic vision of wisdom embodied. She buys fields, plants vineyards, turns craft into commerce, plans for winter, and opens her hands to the poor. The text dignifies both domestic and public work, showing how prudence, industry, and compassion can thrive together. Far from glamorizing burnout, it champions purpose: effort aimed at service, foresight aligned with generosity, and excellence anchored in reverence for God.

We also consider reputation and influence. The husband known in the gates stands taller because of her integrity, a reminder that private character shapes public credibility. Beauty makes an appearance, but only to be put in its place. Charm can mislead. Beauty passes. Fear of the Lord endures. That’s the throughline—character over image, substance over sparkle, legacy over moment. By the end, we’re invited to set guardrails around desire and drink, steward our resources with wisdom, and build what time cannot erode. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the one principle you plan to practice this week.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show

Share a comment

Start with a jolt of honesty: “Surely I am too stupid to be a man.” Agur’s opening line in Proverbs 30 disarms pride and sets the stage for a vivid tour through humility, desire, and the kind of wisdom you can practice on Monday morning. We unpack why reverence for God isn’t anti-intellectual; it’s the posture that makes learning possible. Those five piercing questions about who gathers the wind and establishes the earth reset our perspective and point to a wisdom that is personal, not abstract.

From there, we name the pitfalls we’re most tempted to excuse: dishonor toward parents, self-righteous posturing, quiet arrogance, and using the poor as fuel for our gain. Each one fractures relationships and clouds our judgment, and each one is painfully modern. Agur then turns our gaze to cravings that never say “enough”—the grave, the barren longing, thirsty ground, an unfed fire—and shows how greed mimics those appetites. The cure isn’t to kill desire but to order it through gratitude and clear limits.

Wonder returns with images that haunt the imagination: an eagle’s effortless path, a serpent’s precise glide, a ship carving the sea, a love that awakens the heart. Set against this beauty is a warning about denial and the fallout of untethered intimacy. To ground it all, we look to four small teachers—the ant, rock badger, locust, and lizard—each modeling preparation, placement, coordination, and persistence. Finally, we consider stately strength and why chasing the front of the line corrodes the soul, while trusting God for timing and placement brings peace and steady growth.

If you’re ready to trade restless hustle for wise ambition—and swap loud self-promotion for grounded confidence—press play. Share the moment that challenged you most, subscribe for more wisdom journeys, and leave a review so others can find the show.

Make a special donation and receive one of more of Stephen's books in the Legacies of Light series. Follow this link:

https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legacies

Support the show