Wisdom-Trek © - Archive 2

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 546 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails, we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 1st half of chapter 30.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. In our study of Proverbs, we switch focus from King Solomon who wrote most of Proverbs to a man we know little of who name was Agur. In some translations it indicates that Agur was writing “to Ithiel and Ucal;” these men could have been disciples or friends of Agur, although some Bibles translate the meaning of the two names with the assumption that they do not refer to actual people. Most commentators believe Agur lived in the same era as Solomon. We don’t know much about Agur except what we can glean from this one chapter. This is one of my favorite chapters in Proverbs because of its rich imagery and contrasting statements.

The name Agur comes from a Hebrew word meaning “collector.” Agur and his father Jakeh are only mentioned here in the Bible and are otherwise unknown. From the very first verse, Agur’s talent for relating to the obvious shines through. I am sure that many of us can relate to him from his first statement which is…

Let’s dig for the nuggets of wisdom today that Agur shares in verses 1-17.

1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.

I am weary, O God;

I am weary and worn out, O God.

In today’s ever changing, fast paced society, we have more technology available to us that should make life so much simpler, and yet we are rushing through life at ever-increasing speeds. Nearly everyone seems to be involved in more work and activities than we can possibly fit into our schedules. Our sleep suffers, our diets suffer, and we are weary and worn out. Well, I guess not all that much has changed since Agur wrote these proverbs. We do need to take note and make the needed changes in our lives.

2 I am too stupid to be human,

and I lack common sense.

3 I have not mastered human wisdom,

nor do I know the Holy One.

Although probably a highly educated person in a position of authority, Agur finds himself feeling inadequate, especially when it comes to his knowledge and understanding of God, whom he refers to as the Holy One. We should dedicate our lives to learning and understanding God’s precepts.

4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?

Who holds the wind in his fists?

Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?

Who has created the whole wide world?

What is his name—and his son’s name?

Tell me if you know!

We have made great advances in gaining knowledge of our world and even the universe, but the more we discover, the more evidence we find of what we do not know. There are signs everywhere of an intelligent creator, but society’s lack of acknowledging God as that creator is ever-increasing. God created all things, and God embodied as His son was Jesus Christ.

5 Every word of God proves true.

He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

6 Do not add to his words,

or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

God’s Word, through the Bible is true, every word contained in it. He does protect and shield us for eternity. We need to do all that we can to understand it and not add to it.

7 O God, I beg two favors from you;

let me have them before I die.

8 First, help me never to tell a lie.

Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!

Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.

9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”

And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Augur had two simple desires for life, which were to be a person of integrity whose words are truthful and to have enough material things to satisfy his daily needs. So often we ignore these two important concepts. So often we are tempted to lie, cheat, and steal to gain more and more material possessions that will never satisfy us. May we seek to be honest and satisfied with enough to meet our daily needs.

10 Never slander a worker to the employer,

or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.

We should never slander another person but be willing to care for and love them. Otherwise, we will suffer the consequences for our misspoken words.

11 Some people curse their father

and do not thank their mother.

12 They are pure in their own eyes,

but they are filthy and unwashed.

13 They look proudly around,

casting disdainful glances.

14 They have teeth like swords

and fangs like knives.

They devour the poor from the earth

and the needy from among humanity.

Our hearts and minds are the reservoirs of our soul containing the contents of who we truly are. If it is full of corruption and pride, then it will be evident in our actions. No amount of self-justification will make it right. Let us fill this reservoir with that which is good to help others.

15 The leech has two suckers

that cry out, “More, more!”

There are three things that are never satisfied—

no, four that never say, “Enough!”:

16 the grave,

the barren womb,

the thirsty desert,

the blazing fire.

Here Agur begins some of his beautiful analogies and descriptions about life. The poetic style is designed for emphasis. The reality is that we are rarely satisfied with what God has given us. We are always crying out for more. Agur describes our lives with four unquenchable desires – the grave who takes the life of everyone, a barren womb who so desperately desires to be filled with life, a desert which drinks all the water that is poured out on it, but desires more, and a blazing fire that will consume everything in its site.

17 The eye that mocks a father

and despises a mother’s instructions

will be plucked out by ravens of the valley

and eaten by vultures.

We should honor and be respectful to our parents – they gave us life. I realize some may not have come from a great family situation, but we should love our parents for who they are. If they were good, loving, and nurturing parents, replicate their good traits. If they were not, resolve to be a good parent or mentor yourself.

Today on our Wisdom Trail we were able to see a little of the rich imagery of life that is presented by Agur. Next week we will finish this chapter and learn even more. All of the proverbs provide us with wisdom, insight, and understanding on a myriad of relationship and life issues. Regardless of where you are in your faith walk, if the you follow the precepts in Proverbs, your life will be rich and satisfying. Take them and plant them in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of wisdom. I would challenge you to take just one precept that we learn today in Proverbs and commit yourself to applying it to your life.

Tomorrow we will hike another short trail of Wisdom Unplugged where we will discover an inspirational wisdom quote. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. If you would like to listen to any of our past treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 545 of our trek, and it’s time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from John Adams, who said, “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.”

After a contentious election cycle in the US last year, this quote gives us a great point to ponder. The fact is that regardless of what the constitution or laws of any country say, it is the heart of the people that will determine the general direction of the country. If the populous chooses to live with integrity and honor, then the constitution and laws will follow the path of what is right, just, and fair.

On the contrary, if the populous chooses to live by a code of situational ethics instead of a fixed moral code, then the constitution and laws will be interpreted in such a way to fit the situation and rationalization of those people. Regardless of the political correctness that seems to permeate much of our political realm today, there are truths and moral codes that do not change. For nations to exist over a long period of time, these fixed moral codes must be followed, both for the general populous as well as the leaders of the nation. God’s truth will ultimately win out for all nations of the earth.

Psalms 33:11-13 shares this insight, “But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.”

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged. If you enjoy these quotes, I have created and published a searchable database of over 10,000 quotes that I have collected for many years. If you would like free access to my database of inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com.

As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow for Wisdom Wednesday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 544 of our trek, and we are hiking a series of trails called The Tools in Gramps’ Backpack. Each Monday for a total of 20 weeks we will explore a different tool that is needed to equip parents and grandparents to train their children and grandchildren to be successful on their trek of life. If you don’t have children or grandchildren of your own, use these tools to train others that you do influence. Today the seventh tool from Gramps’ Backpack is Leadership.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. All of us are leaders in some area of our lives. It may be with our children and grandchildren or in a large company or church. Regardless of who your lead, your role is important. Being a leader is a responsibility that we should take seriously as it allows us to impact the lives of others, possibly for all eternity. That is why this tool is so important. Let us open Gramps’ backpack today as we explore the tools of…

The old saying is familiar and true, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” As believers, we are called to imitate, as best we can, the carpenter from Galilee. The task of imitating Christ is often difficult and sometimes nearly impossible, but as Christ followers, that should be our objective.

Our world and our families need leaders who willingly honor Christ with their words and their actions, but not necessarily in that order. If you seek to be such a leader, then you must begin by making yourself a worthy example for your family, your friends, your church, your work, and in your community. Your words of instruction as you disciple and mentor others will never make an impact unless you are willing to practice them yourself. Most learning is caught by your actions rather than taught by your words.

Christ-centered leadership is an exercise in serving. First serving God by following the precepts in His Word, and then serving others by example and word. Christ was the ultimate servant-leader. He became a servant to all that he led, and you must seek to do the same for those that you lead.

Ask yourself, “Are you the kind of servant-leader whom you would desire to follow?”

The example that best describes what our attitude should be like as a leader is found in Philippians 2:3-5, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

An example for leaders in the church is found in 2 Peter 5:2-3. This pattern is an excellent model for leadership at every level and in any home or organization, “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.”

There is no higher calling than to lead your children, grandchildren, and others that you have an impact and influence on. It is also our responsibility to train them to be good leaders themselves. True and effective leaders are not afraid to surround themselves with people of ability and are not afraid to give those people opportunities for greatness.

With these thoughts in mind, we will conclude our trek for today and close Gramps’ backpack. Before I do, I will pass the tool of Leadership onto you. Once you have this tool in your backpack, it is up to you to start effectively using it to disciple and mentor others. Teach them how to live a life of full of integrity and love. A life that is both rich and satisfying. Groom them to become leaders themselves. This is the model to be used with your children, grandchildren, and others that you lead. They will learn from both your actions and your words.

Next Monday we will investigate the eighth tool in Gramps’ backpack, which is Attitude. On tomorrow’s trek, we will explore another wisdom quote. This 3-minute wisdom supplement will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise each day. Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy podcast. This is Day 543 of our trek, and today is Philosophy Friday. Every Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. Currently, we are on an extended multi-week trek as we explore the teachings from some of my virtual mentors such as Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, and Earl Nightingale.

The core of our current trek is based primarily on Jim Rohn’s book called The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle. I have learned a considerable amount from reading and re-reading this book on my own trek of life, and I trust that it will benefit you also. Keeping with the continuity of Wisdom-Trek, I have adapted it to The Five Trails on Life’s Trek.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We have now completed 3 of the 5 trails on this extended trek, and today we start on the Trail of Results. Having a correct philosophy about life is crucial. Having a proper attitude in life is essential. It is imperative that you have the correct and sufficient activity to succeed…But none of this matters if your results are not adequate.

If you have missed the past few Philosophy Friday treks, it would be good to go back and review them to get caught up on our progress so far. We have a lot of ground to cover today, so let’s break camp and start on the fourth trail of this extended trek as we cover…

Any business or personal activity undertaken in the proper season and combined with the passage of enough time will produce a predictable result. The reason for the seasons is productivity, and the purpose of your activity is results.

Results are the harvest that comes from your past efforts. If the farmer has planted only a handful of seeds in the spring, he cannot expect to reap a very bountiful harvest in the fall. Likewise, if a person has engaged in only minimal activity in the past, he should not expect significant results in the present. As the Apostle Paul wrote in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians 9:6, “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.”

Results are always in direct proportion to effort. Those who rest in the spring do not harvest in the fall, regardless of need and regardless of desire. Results are the reward reserved for those who had the foresight to seize an earlier opportunity. If the opportunity was missed, the reward will be withheld. The opportunity of springtime is brief. Opportunity approaches, arrives, and then quickly passes. It does not linger; nor does it pause to look back. Opportunity merely presents itself, and those who respond to its arrival with intelligent activity will realize a full measure of the desired result.

All that you do determines your future results. Like the farmer who tills the soil in preparation for planting the seed, you must work to develop a sound philosophy. Like the farmer who cultivates and fertilizes his crop to destroy the weeds and nourish the growing seeds, you must strive to develop a new attitude. Like the farmer who tends his crop from morning until nightfall in anticipation of the future harvest, you must engage in labor, or that is to say, in daily activity.

If your past labors have produced a poor harvest, there is nothing you can do about it. You cannot alter the past. You cannot ask God to make an exception to the rules no matter how hungry you are. Nor will God permit you to ask the soil for an advance. The only thing you can do is to prepare for the inevitable arrival of another spring, another opportunity, and then plant, nourish, and tend your new crop as diligently as possible, remembering the painful consequences of your past neglect. In remembering the consequences, however, you must not allow yourself to be overcome by them. Their lessons must serve you, not overwhelm you.

Throughout your life, you will experience a number of springtimes and a number of harvests. Your future happiness is seldom the product of any one harvest. Rather, it is the result of many small individual opportunities that are either capitalized on or sadly neglected. For your happiness lies in the accumulative effect of your past activity. This is why it is so important to study results, your own and that of others. Checking your results on a regular basis provides you with an excellent indicator of how well you are using your opportunities. Your current results are an early indicator of what the future will likely hold in store as you continue on your present course. If your current results are satisfying, then the future will likely produce the same bountiful harvest. If your current results are not as you would like them to be, then you need to take a closer look at those factors that may have nudged or even pushed you in the wrong direction.

The law of planting and harvesting is immutable. You are responsible for being diligent in the planting seasons of life and to work hard during the growing seasons, so that you will have plenty during the harvest season. Galatians 6:4-5 it well, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”

We are deliberately taking our trek slowly on The Five Trails on Life’s Trek as we hike today on the Trail of Results. Today we learned that the law of planting and harvesting is immutable and that our results are in proportion to our activity.

Next Philosophy Friday we will explore How to Measure Your Results. So join us next Friday for these additional insights. I know you will find these insights interesting and profitable in living a rich and satisfying life.

Our next trek is on Monday, and we will continue our series called The Tools in Gramps’ Backpack as we equip you with the tools needed to impact the lives of others. So encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you Monday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is day 542 of our trek, and it is time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from Dwight D. Eisenhower who said, “Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.”People who are wise and brave do not sit passively by waiting for life to happen to them. They make life happen. They are proactive preparing for opportunities to come their way. There is no such thing as luck. Yes, there are those individuals that happen to be at the right place at the right time, but that does not guarantee their success. They also had to be prepared to take advantage of the situation when it was presented to them.

Luck or success is what happens with preparation meets opportunity. It is too late to prepare once the train of opportunity arrives. So don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. A weak person waits for opportunities, a strong person creates them.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians 5:15-17, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 10,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com. As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly I am your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 541 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 2nd half of chapter 29.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. On the day this trek is released we will be on the last full day of the Podcast Movement cruise. It is our hope that it will be both relaxing and a good opportunity to listen and learn from others who podcast. On Wisdom-Trek Day 537 we explored the concept of how we can do better at listening. We need to listen to learn. Anytime we are speaking, we cannot be learning, and verse 20 of this passage reminds us that if a person speaks without thinking…

Let’s start our trek as we explore verses 15-27.

15 To discipline a child produces wisdom,

but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.

Most of us think of discipline in a negative connotation. It definitely does not need to be. The root of discipline means to disciple or mentor another person. Children and even adults need to be a disciple throughout their lives. A parent is neglecting his or her children if he or she does not discipline them because that is how they learn and gain wisdom. Otherwise, they will disgrace themselves and their parents.

16 When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes,

but the godly will live to see their downfall.

This is so evident in a nation, in businesses, in organizations, in schools, and even in families. When they are led by a person without integrity, then bad practices and wicked deeds will flourish. If we have integrity, do what is correct, and follow God’s precepts, then we will see victory over those who do not.

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind

and will make your heart glad.

This is the same concept as verse 15. We as parents and grandparents need to actively disciple and mentor those whom we influence. When they learn the lessons, it will bring peace of mind and a glad heart to all.

18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.

But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Whether as children or adults, if they do not accept the lessons that are being taught there will be chaos, heartbreak, and anger. Those who do learn the lessons will have joy.

19 Words alone will not discipline a servant;

the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.

As part of discipline and mentoring we just cannot tell someone, we must actively show them both through lessons and examples. It is one thing to have “head knowledge” about a matter, quite different to have a working “hands on” knowledge.

20 There is more hope for a fool

than for someone who speaks without thinking.

We all fall victim at times to engaging our tongue without engaging our brain. When we do this, what spews out of our mouth is not good. If we continually make this a habit, then we become a fool, and a fool that is without hope.

21 A servant pampered from childhood

will become a rebel.

Everyone needs to be disciplined as part of their training. Whether it is a servant, employee, or child if we do not have discipline in our lives, we will rebel and do that which is foolish.

22 An angry person starts fights;

a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.

Controlling your anger is so important. When we cannot control ourselves, then we will all the time be getting into fights and all sorts of trouble. As with many other verses in this passage, the lack of discipline in a person’s life will result in unruly behavior. Self-discipline is so important.

23 Pride ends in humiliation,

while humility brings honor.

Pride is the downfall of many. In fact, most sinful or wicked behavior has its roots in pride. Inevitably a person who is full of pride will end up in a very humiliating situation which could impact multiple areas of life. If instead, we choose to remain humble ourselves we will find that honor is granted to us. It is important, though, that honor does not lead us to become prideful.

24 If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself.

You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.

We should not assist or support those who do wrong. In this verse, it mentions a thief, but could apply to other actions. If we assist those who do wrong, when we are called into a legal battle, we will either have to lie or avoid testifying to protect ourselves. Neither is a good or right option.

25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap,

but trusting the Lord means safety.

We should not be fearful of other people. I realize that in certain situations they could cause us harm either physically or emotionally, but they should not be able to harm us spiritually. By trusting in the Lord, we will have His safety over us.

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,

but justice comes from the Lord.

We all have a tendency to seek approval from those who are in authority over us. While there is not anything inherently wrong with that, as long as it is with pure motives, realize that true and pure justice comes only from God.

27 The righteous despise the unjust;

the wicked despise the godly.

This is as old as time itself. Those who follow God’s precepts have difficulty dealing with those who do not. On the flip side of that, those who practice wickedness despise those who strive to follow God and His precepts found in His Word.

Today on our Wisdom Trail we continue to explore a series of Solomon’s Proverbs that were assembled by King Hezekiah. Next week we move onto the final segment of Proverbs. All of the proverbs provide us with wisdom, insight, and understanding on a myriad of relationship and life issues. Regardless of where you are in your faith walk, if you follow the precepts in Proverbs, your life will be rich and satisfying. Take them and plant them in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of wisdom. I would challenge you to take just one precept that we learn today in Proverbs and commit yourself to applying it to your life.

Tomorrow we will hike another short trail of Wisdom Unplugged where we will discover an inspirational wisdom quote. So encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. If you would like to listen to any of our past treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is day 540 of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who said, “Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear.”On our trek of life, we can learn from past experiences, but we cannot live in the past. It is behind us. Any fond memories we may have of the good old days are embellished and probably not nearly as good as we remember. King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:10 tells us, “Don’t long for ‘the good old days.’ This is not wise.”Let’s make the most of today by both improving ourselves and the lives of those we have an opportunity to impact. Be about creating a living legacy each day. Keep in mind that today will be tomorrow in 24 hours. And it will then be in our past.

Instead of getting bogged down in the past or the burdens of today, let us press forward into the future by planning and living in such a manner that those we do impact will impact the lives of others so that our legacy will span into eternity. As the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 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.”

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged. If you enjoy these quotes, I have created and published a searchable database of over 10,000 quotes that I have collected for many years. If you would like free access to my database of inspirational quotes the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com.

As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow for Wisdom Wednesday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 539 of our trek, and we are hiking a series of trails called The Tools in Gramps’ Backpack. Each Monday for a total of 20 weeks, we will explore a different tool that is needed to equip parents and grandparents to train their children and grandchildren to be successful on their trek of life. If you don’t have children or grandchildren of your own, use these tools to train others that you do influence. Today the sixth tool from Gramps’ Backpack is Supporting Others.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. As persons of influence, we have certain moral obligations that we should pass on to our children, grandchildren, and others on whom we have influence. The tool from Gramps’ backpack that we will explore on our trek today needs to become part of the very fabric of our lives. That tool is…

I believe all of us would like to make a difference in our world and to make it a better place, but we are not sure of the best way to make an impact. Jesus told the story in Luke 10 that we refer to as The Good Samaritan – a story about an individual who helped a fellow traveler when no one else would. The uniqueness of this story is that the Good Samaritan was a social outcast and enemy to the Hebrew traveler that was assaulted. We too should be “Good Samaritans” when we encounter people who need our help, regardless of who they are. Galatians 6:2 tells us, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”

The words of Jesus are clear as to the extent that we should help others. In Matthew 10:8 he said, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”

As followers of Christ, we are commanded to be generous with our family, with our friends, and with others that are in need. We must give freely of our time, our possessions, and most importantly, our love.

John Maxwell said,

“No one stands taller in the climb to success than when he bends over to help up someone else.”

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The tool of supporting others has its origins in the law of planting and harvesting as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” 

For this tool to be effective, you must use it. Wherever you happen to be on your trek of life be a “Good Samaritan.” Your children and grandchildren, others you impact, and even complete strangers need this tool.

John Wesley summed it up well when he said, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

There are times when we are called to love, expecting nothing in return. There are times when we are called to give money to people who will never say thanks. We are to forgive those who won’t forgive us. We are to serve even when no one else notices. We are only fully alive when we are helping others.

With these thoughts in mind, we will conclude our trek for today and close Gramps’ backpack. Before I do, I will pass the tool of Supporting Others on to you. Once you have this tool in your backpack, it is up to you to start effectively using this tool to help others. Become a “Good Samaritan” every day and your children, grandchildren, and others will see your example and learn your ways. Make it an integral part of your life and then teach these principles to others.

Next Monday we will investigate the seventh tool in Gramps’ backpack, which is Leadership. On tomorrow’s trek, we will explore another wisdom quote. This 3-minute wisdom supplement will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise each day.

Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy podcast. This is Day 538 of our trek, and today is Philosophy Friday. Every Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. Currently, we are on an extended multi-week trek as we explore the teachings from some of my virtual mentors such as Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, and Earl Nightingale. The core of our current trek is based primarily on Jim Rohn’s book called The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle. I have learned a considerable amount from reading and re-reading this book on my own trek of life, and I trust that it will benefit you also. Keeping with the continuity of Wisdom-Trek, I have adapted it to The Five Trails on Life’s Trek.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. With tasks or activity that we are involved in, it requires consistent persistence in a disciplined manner. This ties into the topic of our final trek today on the Trail of Activity as we will explore why Activity Must Be Disciplined and determining the Starting Point of Disciplined Activity.

If you have missed the past few Philosophy Friday treks, it would be good to go back and review them to get caught up on our progress so far. We have a lot of ground to cover today, so let’s break camp and continue on the third trail of this extended trek as we cover…

Discipline is a word that we have repeatedly used throughout this extended trek for very good reason. There is a tendency for the negative side of life to infiltrate your plans, your dreams, and your activities in an effort to seize control. There is a tendency for optimism to surrender to doubt. There is a tendency for a simple plan to become a complex plan. There is a tendency for courage to give way to fear and for confidence to be overwhelmed by worry.

Only through the consistent application of discipline can you prevent the negative tendencies of life from destroying your plans. With the passing of a little time and the attainment of a little success, you can become careless. That is why those in pursuit of a rich and satisfying life must develop a new sense of appreciation for discipline, and become aware of all that they can do and all that they can have.

What you can do is remarkable. You can do the most amazing things, once you have made the decision to tackle the disciplines that lead to a new philosophy, a new attitude, and a new and intense level of activity. What you will do is your choice and is sometimes disappointing.

Any day you choose, you can walk away from wherever you are regardless of the circumstances. Step by step, one page at a time, one paragraph at a time, one new discipline at a time…you can begin the process of amending your activity to such a degree that today can become the starting point of a whole new life.

Anyone can do it, so you can do it!

You do it by designing a good plan. You do it by setting new goals. You do it by working every day on the little things that will make a major difference in how your life turns out. Like everything else that success requires, developing the discipline that it takes to achieve your dreams is easy to do…and it is also easy not to do.

Here is one of the best places to start on the process of working on new disciplines. Everyone has a mental list of “I should haves.” For instance:

• “I should have written to my mother this weekend.”
• “I should have told her how much I really care long before now.”
• “I should have called that creditor and told the truth last month.”
• “I should have started my exercise program years ago.”

Any day you choose, you can go to work on the basics – on a host of small activities that will start the process of self-discipline. The joy that comes from this small achievement will start the miracle process.

The early inspiration that comes from the practice of new and simple disciplines will start a process called “soaring self-worth.” It does not matter how small or how insignificant the activity is because it is within those obscure but important disciplines that the great opportunities exist.

This kind of simple progress will build a ladder leading out of the abyss of failure and neglect that once was your dwelling place. With each new discipline, you will have constructed a new rung that will enable you to climb out of the darkness where the failures, the complainers, the confused, and the misguided gather to share their sad stories of how unfair life is.

Building the ladder is easy to do. The smallest of disciplines practiced every day starts an incredible process that can change your life forever.

Until you have learned to take care of the little opportunities life brings your way, you will never master the disciplines for living a rich and satisfying life. The major accomplishments in life begin with the mastery of the small disciplines. The mental, emotional and philosophical “muscles” required to write a letter, clean the garage, or pay your bills on time are the very same “muscles” involved in running a company or managing a department. As Galatians 6:9 tells us, “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.”

You cannot rule the city until you can rule your spirit. You cannot rule the nation until you can rule yourself. You cannot design your future until you have redesigned your habits. You cannot increase your rewards until you increase your level of intelligent activity.

The place to start is within yourself through the development of new disciplines. That is where success really starts – by becoming the master of the small details of your life. All of the great rewards in life are available to you if you will discipline yourself to walk through those early stages of growth without neglecting any of the disciplines. You must not permit any small activity to rob you of your future health, wealth, friendships, and lifestyle. You cannot allow any error in judgment to delude you into thinking that “letting the little things slide” will not make a major difference. You cannot say to yourself, “This is the only area where I am letting down on my self-discipline.” It is this “only area” that will start the process of erosion on all of your other disciplines.

One of the great challenges facing you is disciplined activity. You must discipline the reach of your knowledge, for you can have too much as well as too little. You must discipline yourself to maintain a proper attitude, for you are surrounded by sources that can quickly erode the attitude you have worked so hard to develop. Also, you must discipline yourself to convert dreams into plans, and plans into goals, and goals into those small daily activities that will lead you, one sure step at a time, toward a better future.

Finally, you must use the power of your imagination. You must ponder all that is possible. You must remind yourself that to do what is possible and sometimes challenge yourself with the impossible. As an ancient warrior once wrote, “It is better to aim the spear at the moon and strike the eagle, than to aim at the eagle and strike only a rock.”

It is better to aim the spear at the moon and strike the eagle, than to aim at the eagle and strike only a rock.

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Planning, imagination and intense activity are awesome forces that have the power to dramatically change the quality of your life.

Activity is a major part of life’s trek. It is the power that gives substance and meaning to your philosophy and your attitude. Intelligent, planned, intense, and consistent activity creates new energy and keeps you moving toward the exciting future that your thoughts and desires have already designed for you.

We are deliberately taking our trek slowly on The Five Trails on Life’s Trek as we complete our hike on the Trail of Activity. Today we learned that our activity must be disciplined, and we detailed what that means.

Next Philosophy Friday we will begin our fourth of five trails, which is the Trail of Results. Our trek next week will focus on how to measure those results. Join us next Friday for these additional insights. I know you will find these insights interesting and profitable in living a rich and satisfying life.

Our next trek is on Monday, and we will continue our series called The Tools in Gramps’ Backpack in which we will equip you with the tools needed to impact the lives of others. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you on Monday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is day 537 of our trek, and it is time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today quote is from Margaret J. Wheatley, who said, “Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don’t have to do anything else. We don’t have to advise, or coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen.”How well do you listen? I mean really focus on what the other person is saying without interruption or forming your response before they finish. This is such a difficult habit to learn, but it is possible. Most of the time we have already determined in our minds what is being said and are formulating our response before we hear what is actually said.

Intentional listening is so rare in our conversations today. We desire to spew our “wisdom and knowledge” that we barely hear, let alone acknowledge, what is being said. We all need to slow down our conversations so that we can communicate much more effectively.

One of the 7 habits that I list at the end of each podcast is to Listen Intentionally. This means listening with the intent of hearing what is being said before responding appropriately. I am as guilty of this as anyone, but one habit that I am intentionally working on. One practice that I have started is when Paula comes over to my desk to talk, I stop all other activities, face her, and really attempt to listen. I am certainly not perfect yet, but I am improving.

I am concerned that for most of us, we also are lacking in listening to God through His Word. When God speaks to us, we also need to put into practice what we learn as James 1:22 tells us, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 10,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com. As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!