Wisdom-Trek © - Archive 3

Today is Day 836 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. The past several months on Wednesday we have been focusing on interpreting current events through a Biblical worldview. To establish a Biblical worldview, it is important that you also have a proper understanding of God’s Word.

Especially in our western cultures, we do not fully understand the Scriptures from the mindset and culture of the authors. In order to help us all have a better understanding of God’s Word, we are investing the next several months on Wednesday reviewing a series of essays from one of today’s most prominent Hebrew Scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser, which he has compiled into a book titled I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Being abandoned as a child is one of the worst things that can happen to a person. That abandonment can include both physical and emotional abandonment. It would make most of us a basket case as adults. As we continue to explore the Old Testament from the time frame and culture in which it was written, the topic of our essay today is…

In modern stories, people destined for greatness rarely start off privileged. They are dropped off at the doorstep of an orphanage or abandoned in the rain. This literary motif goes back to ancient stories, where writers use the abandoned child theme to identify a character that rises from obscurity to privileged hero status. It’s a motif found in the biblical account of Moses’ birth. But is that really the whole story?

Moses’ story begins when Pharaoh feels threatened by the growing Hebrew population in Egypt and commands that all Hebrew male infants be killed. This narrative is found in Exodus [1:16]-22. Moses’ mother hides her newborn son for three months and then devises a risky but calculated plan: She sets him adrift on the Nile in a small basket made of papyrus reeds, waterproofed with tar and pitch as described in Exodus 2:1-3.

About this time, a man, and woman from the tribe of Levi got married.   The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months.  But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.

Moses’ older sister, Miriam, watches as the basket floats to where the daughter of Pharaoh bathes. God uses these circumstances to bring Moses under the protection of Egypt’s ruler portrayed in Exodus 2:4-10.

Ancient literature outside the Bible attests to several stories in which a child, perceived as a threat by an enemy, is abandoned and later spared by divine intervention or otherworldly circumstance. Roughly 30 stories like this survive from the literature of ancient Mesopotamia, Canaan, Greece, Egypt, Rome, and India.

The Mesopotamian work known as the Sargon Birth Legend offers the most striking parallels to the biblical story. It relates the birth story of Sargon the Great, an Akkadian emperor who ruled a number of Sumerian city-states around 2000 BC, centuries before the time of Moses. The infant boy is born into great peril: His mother is a high priestess, and he is illegitimate. Consequently, his mother sets him adrift on a river in a reed basket. The boy is rescued and raised by a gardener named Akki in the town of Kish. He becomes a humble gardener in Akki’s service until the goddess Ishtar takes an interest in him, setting him on the path to kingship.

Some assume that the biblical story of Moses birth was based on the Sargon Birth Legend, but this is unlikely. Although ancient Sumerian accounts of Sargon the Great date back to his lifetime, the legendary account of his birth is known from only four fragmentary tablets—three from the Neo-Assyrian period (934-605 BC) and one from the Neo-Babylonian period (626-539 BC).

During the Neo-Assyrian period, an Assyrian king took the name Sargon II and likely commanded the legends to be written about his namesake (722-705 BC). In doing so, he would have linked himself to the ancient hero and glorified himself as a “revived” Sargon figure. This would suggest that the birth legend was composed for propaganda purposes well after the biblical story of Moses.

The existence of stories like the Sargon Birth Legend helps us understand the biblical story. They show that the abandoned child theme was a popular literary strategy for the ancients. They used it to introduce a figure who rises from mundane origins after gaining favor from fate or the divine.  The common elements in these rags-to-riches stories helped ancient audiences identify with the central figure and develop respect for his achievements.

Moses’ story is about more than parallels, though. While Moses briefly seems to find favor and protection in the household of Pharaoh, a quasi-divine figure for the Egyptians, his life takes a surprising turn. He ends up leaving the kingdom of Egypt fearing that Pharaoh will kill him. From there, the story is re-patterned: In a wilderness of Midian, Yahweh appears to Moses, who is now an obscure shepherd and he describes himself in Exodus 4:10 in this manner. “But Moses pleaded with the Lord, ‘O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.'” Regardless, God tells Moses to act as His spokesperson before Pharaoh and lead His people out of Egypt.

Moses stands out against the stories of the ancient cultures because he isn’t promoted like their chosen figures, but saved and demoted to poverty so that he can lead others to salvation. He is the new archetype of the chosen hero, one who is promoted only for the benefit of others. Over and against the stories of worldly kingdoms, Moses’ story articulates God’s remarkable work for His kingdom. His values are different from ours, and as is often the case in retrospect, we can be grateful for that.

Next Wisdom Wednesday we will continue with Moses as we look at Dr. Heiser’s next essay titled “A Tale of Courage We Never Teach.”  I believe you will find this another interesting topic to consider as we build our Biblical Worldview.

Tomorrow we will continue with our 3-minute wisdom nugget that will provide you with a bit of wisdom that, if followed will allow you to grow healthier, wealthier and wiser each day.  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 835 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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 together, let us always:

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

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 835 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 bit of 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 Ike Reighad, and it is, “Integrity is when you are one with God, yourself, and your loved ones.”

To have integrity is to be without pretense or subterfuge. It is being true to yourself and to be able to stand before God and your loved ones without a trace of guile or deceit. It means to be honest and transparent in all transactions and interactions with everyone.

Pure integrity means that every action you take, every decision you make, in every possible situation, you can unashamedly stand before God and your close loved ones who know you best. To be one with God means that you can stand before Him with complete transparency. To be a person of integrity is to be sincere.

The word “sincere” comes from the Latin words sine cera, which means “without wax.” The phrase comes from a practice where people would hide the cracks in cheap pottery with wax in order to pass the pottery off as being worth more than it actually was. Quality products were often stamped with the words sine cera to show it had not been doctored. It would be similar to those products today that are stamped “all natural” or “100% pure.” So should a life of integrity be…100% pure.

As the Apostle John tells us in 1 John 3:18-19, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.”

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.

If you would like to listen to any of our past 834 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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 together, let us always:

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

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 834 of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy.

For some, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. Some may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and praying.  It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind. 

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. The most prominent issue that faces most of us in our daily lives, especially in western cultures is the earning and use of money. We never seem to have enough. We struggle to make ends meet. We fight for it. We work long and hard to earn it, all the while neglecting what is really important in life. In today’s meditation, let us explore…

Throughout the ages, it has been the same. People freely talked with each other about almost everything, except how they spend or invest their money. Once the talk about managing earthly, monetary, physical blessings starts, people tend to get defensive and exaggerate their situation to try and impress others.

I appreciate the authors of the gospels and their accounts of Jesus’s life and the way they emphasize many practical and spiritual teachings about Jesus’s ministry. They instruct us about food and feasts, prayer and praise, the work of the Holy Spirit, poor and rich people, and Jesus’s teaching on the use of money.

Let’s explore one of those passages about money and how you should manage your assets for spiritual ends. This is found in Matthew 6:19-21 where Jesus us, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

We lose sight of the most important principle about money and other resources. We don’t own and never will own anything. We are stewards of God’s resources to manage them for the furtherance of God’s kingdom.

Use the money and physical assets that the Father has entrusted to you to store up heavenly treasures. Why? Because the Father is going to know how you use your money and where you invested it.

Your heart is always drawn to where your treasure is invested. So use your assets to bless those who cannot repay you, to empower the mission which Jesus gave you, to redeem the lost, to restore life, to renew opportunity for those who are left out and forgotten, and to give hope to the marginalized. Isn’t that what you saw Jesus investing His life doing? That is where Jesus invested His energy and time; shouldn’t you do the same?

When you read from the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings, what we call the Old Testament, what do you see about the heart of God and where He wants you to invest your assets? His focus and Jesus focus are perfectly aligned. Does your focus align with what Jesus taught?

The problems in your life don’t need to include money if your heart is on the things that matter most to your Father in heaven. This principle is true whether your assets are small or large. However, if the way you use your assets gets out of sync with what Jesus taught us, then watch out! You are trying to serve two masters, and the One you end up neglecting will be the only One that matters, your Father in heaven.

Here is one of the most interesting parables in the Gospels as recorded by Dr. Luke. It is called the Parable of the Shrewd Manager.

Listen as I read Luke 16:1-17

Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money.  So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’ 

“The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’

“So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’  The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ 

“‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’

“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.  Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?  And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” 

The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him.  Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God. “Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.  But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned.

Next week we will continue our trek on Meditation Monday as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. 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.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 833 daily treks or read the daily journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast and Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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 together, let us always:

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

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 833 of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time where we can Ask Gramps.

Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason are unable to. No matter how old you are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We will address areas such as finances, relationships, health/fitness, business/work, home repairs/renovations, seasons of life, spiritual/Biblical questions, and any others areas that come our way.

As your fellow sojourner and mentor on this trek that we call life, it is Gramps’s goal to provide you with practical wisdom and advice about any area of life. It is crucial that I receive a constant flow of questions, so please submit your questions to [email protected], and Gramps will answer your questions on our Friday podcast.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. As we transition from winter into spring, we see once again the dead of winter spring into new life. We enjoy the birds singing and the flowers poking their heads through the soil like magic displaying their beauty to all.

When we take the time to reflect upon the natural environment, we begin to observe a complex, yet very beautiful world cycling through patterns, phases, and stages of transition. We also quickly realize that nothing ever stands still, that nothing ever maintains its current state, identity, or shape for very long. In fact, all of nature cycles through seasons of change and transformation, effortlessly and naturally.

So our question for today is:

“Hey Gramps, it seems like life is rushing by so quickly and I am having difficulty just enjoying life where I am today. How can I change my perspective so that I enjoy every season of life to make an impact where I can and accept what I cannot change?”

Life cycles through phases of transformation and change that are unavoidable, inevitable, and yet very manageable. These natural cycles of life are beneficial for our personal emotional and spiritual growth.

The seasons of life are constantly changing as a result of the choices and decisions that we make on a daily basis.

A seemingly insignificant choice today could very well change the tide of the seasons as we move into tomorrow.

For things not to change, we must stay the same. However, we cannot remain unchanged if we are constantly making new choices and decisions about our conditions and circumstances.

Life is all about change, we are constantly changing, and our circumstances are simply a reflection of the choices we make.

The seasons of life transition naturally from one phase to another as a result of the thoughts, values, and beliefs we are consistently cultivating in our minds.

We transition through each of these seasons naturally because they are simply a reflection of our human nature and even the smallest of choices that we make each day.

The seasons of life are as temporary as the raindrops that fall on your head, as the thunder that rages outside, or as the wind that blows up the storm. None of these events will last forever. They are temporary in nature, just as the seasons of life are temporary on a psychological level.

The joy you experience during certain seasons will not last forever. There will inevitably be a moment when your thoughts, decisions, and actions will naturally move you into another phase of life, which may lead to pain and anguish.

However, this too is only temporary, and this too will also eventually pass.

The length of time it takes us to progress through each season is simply a reflection of our state-of-mind — a reflection of our ability to adapt to the conditions and circumstances we find ourselves in. If we adapt successfully, we will move through difficult and unpleasant phases quickly. On the other hand, if we are unable to adapt, then we will suffer the consequences of failing to capitalize on the opportunities that life inevitably throws our way.

The seasons of life are there to teach us lessons about our creator, ourselves, others and life. They are there to help us grow emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. They are there to harden our resolve, to brighten our spirit, and to strengthen our emotional and spiritual resilience in the face of adversity and opportunity.

When we succeed, we celebrate. When we fail, we complain and blame, but eventually we begin to contemplate who we are, what we want, and how we would like to progress from this moment onward. These periods of life shape our character and paint the canvas of the life we are yet to experience. Moreover, these times help us to grow and fulfill our God-given potential as bearers of His image.

We naturally create and transition between the seasons of life as a result of our responses and reactions to people, events, and circumstances. This essentially means that how we respond and the choices that we make will directly influence what we get back from the world around us, whether they are problems or opportunities.

For most of us, we are not where we thought we would be at any stage of life, but that is ok.  We need to learn to enjoy the journey, to relish each day. As you transition through the various seasons of life run in such a way as to win the eternal prize. Let us follow the exhortation that the Apostle Paul wrote to us in 1 Corinthians 9:23-25, “I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.”

Next week we will have a different question to Ask Gramps. Gramps will answer any questions you may have about life and will provide you with practical wisdom about any area of life. Please submit questions that you have to [email protected], and Gramps will answer them on our Friday podcast with wisdom and philosophy that Gramps has gained over the years of experience and study. I know you will find these insights interesting, practical, and profitable in living a rich and satisfying life.

Our next trek is Mediation Monday where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life. 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.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 832 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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 together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you on Monday!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 832 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 bit of 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 D. MacDonald, and it is, “Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn’t blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won’t cheat, then you know he never will.”

Integrity, like the truth, does not change based on political correctness, or the latest philosophy about right and wrong. Your integrity is a mirror reflecting who you really are. You may attempt to put a mask on to change how others may perceive you, but in the end, the mask will fall away. And you will be seen for who you truly are.

A person of integrity is honest, truthful, full of honor, reliable, and upright. A person of integrity does not change his values to fit in or be accepted. He stands for what is right and truthful, no matter the cost to him personally.

We cannot open ourselves up to situational ethics or situational integrity. It is never right to do wrong in order to have the opportunity to do right in the future. Right is right even if no one is doing it, and wrong is still wrong even if everyone else is doing it.

Our integrity impacts our standing before God as we are told in Psalm 15:1-3.

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?

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.

If you would like to listen to any of our past 831 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on Apple Podcast or Google Play so each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

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 together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 831 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. The past several weeks on Wednesday we have been focusing on interpreting current events through a Biblical Worldview.

To establish a Biblical worldview, it is important that you also have a proper understanding of God’s Word. Especially in our western cultures, we do not fully understand the scriptures from the mindset and culture of the authors. In order to help us all have a better understanding of God’s Word, I would like to invest the next several weeks reviewing a series of essays from one of today’s most prominent Hebrew Scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser, which he has compiled into a book titled I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. If you study local customs or cultures within nations around the world, you are likely to find certain practices that just will not make sense to you. This may apply to diet, dress, rituals, superstitions, or physical changes. One such practice that God set forth as a sign of separation from the world and dedication to Him was the practice of circumcision for all males that are the decedents of Abraham. These descendants became the Nation of Israel.  So the topic of our essay today is…

Circumcision is mentioned nearly 100 times in the Bible. It is a central focus for Old Testament and New Testament theology as mentioned in Romans 4:9-12.

Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles?  Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised! 

Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.  And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

More details about circumcision in the New Testament is also found in Galatians 2 and 5.

If we’re honest, circumcision as a covenant sign just sounds absurd. Was it unique to the Abraham and the Nation of Israel? Not really. Circumcision was the sign or mark of God’s covenant with Abraham and is found in Genesis 17:9-14, “Then God said to Abraham, ‘Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility.  This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised.  You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you.  From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased.  All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant.  Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.'”

If you study the cultures in that area where Abraham was from, you will find that it was also widely practiced in the ancient Near East although the method wasn’t always the same. Jeremiah 9:25-26 notes that Israel’s neighbors were circumcised, “A time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit. The Egyptians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, the people who live in the desert in remote places,  and yes, even the people of Judah. And like all these pagan nations, the people of Israel also have uncircumcised hearts.”

Archaeologists have also found that it was practiced in Syria and Phoenicia. Textual remains indicate that circumcision in Egypt goes back to at least 2200 BC, centuries before the Israelites were enslaved. Israelite men may have even submitted to Egyptian circumcision while in Egypt, since Joshua commanded the men crossing into the Promised Land to be re-circumcised in order to “roll away the reproach of Egypt,” which is found in Joshua 5:2-9. The evidence suggests that circumcision did not distinguish Israelite men from their foreign neighbors.

When God told Abraham to be circumcised, he was past the age of bearing children and his wife, Sarah, was incapable of having children. As we are told in Genesis [18:11]. Nevertheless, it would be through Sarah’s womb that God would fulfill His promise of innumerable offspring to Abraham. God’s covenant with Abraham could only be realized by miraculous intervention.

The miraculous nature of Isaac’s birth is the key to understanding circumcision as the sign of the covenant. After God made His promise to Abraham, every male member of Abraham’s household was required to be circumcised which is described in Genesis [17:15]-27.  Every male and every woman, since the males were all incapacitated for a time, knew that circumcision was connected to God’s promise. It probably didn’t make any sense, though, until Sarah became pregnant.

Everyone in Abraham’s household witnessed the miracle of Isaac’s birth. From that point on, every male understood why they had been circumcised: Their entire race—their very existence—began with a miraculous act of God. Every woman was reminded of this when she had sexual relations with her Israelite husband and when her sons were circumcised. Circumcision was a visible, continuous reminder that Israel owed its existence to Yahweh, who created them out of nothing.

This is not the same under the new covenant. In the New Testament, membership in God’s family is “circumcision neutral” Galatians 5:6 tells us, “For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”

It is faith in Christ, not a Jewish identity signified by circumcision, that makes someone part of the Church. Paul even connects baptism to circumcision in Colossians 2:10-12, “So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.  When you came to Christ, you were ‘circumcised,’ but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision, the cutting away of your sinful nature.  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.”

Like circumcision, baptism is a response driven by faith. It is the outward manifestation of an inward change of heart. Both signs are for men and women.

Next Wisdom Wednesday, we will look at Dr. Heiser’s next essay titled The Abandoned Child is a Basket Case. I believe you will find this another interesting topic to consider as we build our Biblical worldview.

Tomorrow we will continue with our 3-minute wisdom nugget that will provide you with a bit of wisdom that, if followed will allow you to grow healthier, wealthier, and wiser each day. 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 830 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe to iTunes or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you so much 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.

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 together, let us always:

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

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 830 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 bit of 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 Michael Baisden, and it is,“Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on your values rather than personal gain.”

If you find yourself making choices based on personal gain, it is time to reexamine your values and indeed your entire moral compass. These choices include both your thoughts and your actions. There is a very short distance between thinking about taking action and the actual action itself. That is why is it so important to guard your thoughts.

No amount of personal gain, fame, power, or fortune is worth compromising the foundation on which your values are based. Your value foundation must be strong and must be based on a moral code. The superior moral code that is solid and has stood the test of all time is the moral code found in God’s Word.

It is God’s Word on which your values must be established. It represents that solid foundation on which to build a life of integrity. This reminds me of the parable that Jesus taught His disciples about building, which is found in Matthew [7:24]-27

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

What type of foundation is your value system built on? This will determine your level of integrity.

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. Just 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.

If you would like to listen to any of our past 829 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe to iTunes or Google play, so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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 together, let us always:

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

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 829 of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For some, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. Some may utilize structured meditation practices.

In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind. 

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Last Meditation Monday we considered the topic of fear. Today let’s ponder what it means to worry and the sins that lie behind so many of our worries, such as greed and insufficient faith! Listen carefully as we explore three key principles in the verses of today’s meditation. Jesus gave these principles to His disciples to help them defeat the power of worry in their lives. Please know that Luke wrote about these three principles to help you defeat worry, too! In today’s meditation, let us explore…

You’d better be on your guard against any type of greed, for a person’s life is not about having a lot of possessions.

Greed is insidious and destructive — in fact, it is a form of idolatry Colossians 3:5.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Greed means the things you have are never enough. Greed opens the door for you to trample all over people to get things. Greed makes you think you deserve and own the things that you have, rather than seeing them as blessings from the Father, Son, and Spirit to be used to bring the influence of God’s kingdom into your fallen world.

Don’t reduce your life to the pursuit of food and drink; don’t let your mind be filled with anxiety. People of the world who don’t know God pursue these things, but you have a Father caring for you, a Father Who knows all your needs.

When we considered fear in last week’s Meditation Monday, we were reminded that you are precious to God the Father, Son, and Spirit. Please remember and believe that truth. Why would the Father send Jesus to be sacrificed for you if you were not precious? Why would Jesus pour out the Holy Spirit upon you to live within you if you are not precious? With so many less important things in your world that receive God’s gracious provision, why would the triune God ever abandon you when you are so precious?

Since you don’t need to worry — about security and safety, about food and clothing — then pursue God’s kingdom first and foremost, and these other things will come to you as well. We do not need to be afraid. God is your Father, and your Father’s great joy is to give you His kingdom.

Worry is often the byproduct of having your focus on the wrong things and not having sufficient faith in God and His promises. If your consuming passion is to follow Jesus Christ and to bring the gracious benefits of God’s kingdom to your broken world, then you are not going to have time to focus on temporary stuff that doesn’t ultimately matter. Honor the Father with all of your heart. Love people as He loves you. You must believe that when you focus on these two important things, all the other things in your life will fall into their proper place.

Let’s explore Jesus’s words to us as found in Luke [12:13]-34.

Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?”  Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.  He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’  Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.  And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.  For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.  Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

 “Look at the lilies 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 flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Next week we will continue our trek on Meditation Monday as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. 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.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 828 daily treks or read the daily journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe to Apple Podcast and Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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.

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 together, let us always:

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

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 828 of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy.

As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time where we can Ask Gramps. Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, you are not able to.

No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas. We will address areas such as finances, relationships, health/fitness, business/work, home repairs/renovations, seasons of life, spiritual/Biblical questions, and any others areas that come our way. As your fellow sojourner and mentor on this trek that we call life, it is Gramps goal to provide you with practical wisdom and advice about any area of life. It is crucial that I receive a constant flow of questions, so please submit your questions to [email protected], and Gramps will answer your questions on our Friday podcast.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Nearly everyone is concerned about their health, and most of us will say we want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. There is a huge difference, though, between being passively involved in your health journey and being committed to good health. It reminds me of a breakfast of eggs and bacon. The chicken is passively involved in the breakfast, the pig is committed to making it happen. Maintaining a truly healthy lifestyle takes commitment.

So our question for today is…

“Hey Gramps, I would like to start living a healthy lifestyle, including losing some weight. There are so many diets and supplements on the market today that it is really confusing. Can you give me some advice on how I can live a healthy lifestyle including losing the weight that I need to?”

This topic is a plateful for sure…pun intended. There have been thousands of books written about healthy lifestyles and diets. Much of that information could be useful, but we also find that much of it is contradictory. While I am not a doctor and have never played one on TV, but I will be 62 this August and have been able to maintain a healthy lifestyle and my current weight for many years. I have never followed a structured diet, nor participated in a structured exercise or wellness program. For some people, this may be needed to maintain the discipline to stick with it, but ultimately it must be an internal desire for change.

By learning a few simple principles and sticking to them, I feel that anyone who is committed to living a healthy lifestyle can be successful. I do realize that genetics and environment can play a role in being successful, but unless you are committed, then there will be no transformation. It is no easier for me to maintain my weight and lifestyle than it is for anyone else, but I do have a commitment and burning desire to do so.

So here are some basic principles that will lead to a healthy lifestyle which includes: strengthening your body, losing weight, and refreshing your mind and soul.

First, is to get some exercise each day. You may never enjoy this, but it is imperative if you are committed to a healthy lifestyle. At a minimum, walk as briskly as you can for 30 minutes. This could be inside your home, on a treadmill, or outside if at all possible. If you can’t walk for 30 minutes at once, build up to it by three 10 minutes walks during the day. Walking all at one time is preferred to get your heart rate up, but anything is better than nothing. If you can’t get outside, walk around the room or even in place while watching TV. The time will go much quicker that way. During the day, stand whenever possible instead of sitting.

Although I never feel like getting up early to exercise, I am committed, so I do. I will usually invest about an hour on the treadmill or HIIT trainer, which is a combination elliptical/stair stepper, which usually results in about 17,000 steps. I also listen to devotional materials and podcasts as I exercise to help take my mind off the exercise and expand my mind at the same time. I use a standing desk during the day to help keep me alert while strengthening my core.

Second, is to get adequate sleep. All research points to the fact that we need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep to restore our body, mind, and soul. We cannot neglect this, or the other efforts to a healthy lifestyle will be slowed down. If you think your life is too busy to get adequate sleep, then you need focus on what is most important and drop the other items. The world will not end if you get a couple of hours more sleep a night. If you neglect this, your world may end prematurely.

The third is, you are what you eat. Eating properly is not as difficult as it may appear, and certainly no more expensive than eating poorly.

The first principle about eating is to eat less. Especially in the US and most western cultures, we just eat too much. Gradually reduce that amount that you eat. Next, eat out less. It is much more expensive, and most restaurant foods are overly processed with limited nutritional value. When eating at home, limit your sugar and carbohydrate intake. This includes all types of sugar, breads, potatoes, pasta, and anything else that is made from flour. You must minimize overly processed foods. If your meals come from a box, then it is probably overly processed. Starches like what I listed above turn immediately to sugar once they are broken down in your stomach. Whole grain products are better because they do not break down as quickly but still, limit their consumption.

Are you committed? As you start limiting starches, you will find that over time your desire for them is reduced. Replace starches with whole fresh foods or fresh frozen foods. Our grocery stores are filled with these foods. Learn to prepare wholesome meals that are also high in protein. For breakfast, this can be eggs and breakfast meat with limited bread. For lunch a low sugar protein bar, nuts, seeds, or a protein based smoothie. For dinner, switch between various types of meat, such as salmon, chicken, and beef with a good portion of stir-fried vegetables. Season these to taste, but limit using sauces or other fillers. Be sensible; be committed.

Too many people are not committed to a healthy lifestyle, but we must be different as we are told in Romans 12:2,“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

I realize that we have only briefly covered this issue, so if you have further questions or need additional information, email Gramps at [email protected]. You don’t have to be overly rigid, but you must be committed to transformation to a healthy lifestyle. It does take discipline, but if you desire it enough, then you will find that it is worth it. In making the change, may you “Live Long and Prosper.”

Next week we will have a different question to Ask Gramps. Gramps will answer any questions you may have about life and will provide you with practical wisdom about any area of life. Please submit questions that you have to [email protected], and Gramps will answer them on our Friday podcast with wisdom and philosophy that Gramps has gained over the years of experience and study.

I know you will find these insights interesting, practical, and profitable in living a rich and satisfying life. Our next trek is Mediation Monday where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life. 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.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 827 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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 together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you on Monday!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 827 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 bit 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 Warren Buffet, and it is, “In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”

As a business owner or manager, one of the most crucial tasks is to hire team members that fit your culture and have the ability to excel personally as they help the company to excel and prosper. The culture of an organization is passed down from its leaders.

If there is a lack of integrity, intelligence, and energy among team members, then most certainly that is because there are flaws in those individuals who are leading and directing that business or organization. If you desire to succeed as a business or organization, then it is imperative that everyone maintains the highest possible level of integrity.

This starts with the hiring process. It needs to be crystal clear to potential team members that only the highest of ethical and moral standards will be tolerated. It is also to be clear that integrity is valued more importantly than natural talents and abilities because, without integrity, all else will suffer.

Within any business or organization, it would be good to adopt the principles located in Ephesians 5:3-4, “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.”

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.

If you would like to listen to any of our past 826 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 importantly I am your friend as I serve you in through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!