Wisdom-Trek ©

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 1373 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomHope Beyond The Horizon – Ask GrampsWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1373 of our Trek and time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we will ponder some of the fundamental 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, this is not possible. 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 may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to [email protected]

So the question for this week is:

“Hey, Gramps, I am struggling with keeping my hope alive with the social-distancing restrictions in place. Even though there seems to be some possibility of slowly lifting those restrictions, what advice do you have to help me strengthen my hope?

Hope Beyond The HorizonThe entire world is still, for the most part, under shelter in place orders due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been such a trying and uncertain time for so many people. I see that many have lost their hope. Some have lost their jobs. Some may lose their businesses. Some have become ill, and yes, some have lost their life. It is so easy to lose hope during these times.

It appears that throughout the world, these sacrifices have prevented many from becoming ill and dying. While there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon because it seems that some business can start gradually opening back up, there is in the back of our minds, will this cause a resurgence of the virus. This certainly creates a dampening of that hope.

If we put our hope solely in government officials, disease experts, statistics, modeling, and news reports, it becomes difficult to maintain that hope. It seems like their stories change every week. As Christ-followers, our hope is not based on any of these, although they may keep us informed. We are not responsible for this virus and its restrictions, but we are responsible for how we react to our current situation. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A14-15andversion=NLT (1 Peter 3:14-15) But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.I have to admit, though, even for the most mature Christ-followers, there are days where it is difficult to maintain a reasonable level of hope. Our world, as we knew it will probably never return to what was normal. We have to make sure that we are prepared, in our minds and heart, for whatever our new normal becomes. Nobody on earth, at this point, knows what that will be. So today, I would like to offer four steps along the road of having a life with hope, meaning, and purpose, even during these days.

I believe that the first thing we must accept is that hope exists. There is hope. Before we can decide what to believe in, we need to understand that there is something to believe in. Some people look at the world and dismiss hope, choosing to focus on

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 1372 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomA Hamster Story – Humor UnpluggedWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1372 of our Trek, and time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life. Something to cheer you and give a bit a levity in your life. We are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30andversion=NLT (Proverbs 15:30) A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health. We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22andversion=NLT (Proverbs 17:22) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s funny which is titled:

A Hamster StoryThe Smith family consisted of Mom, Dad, and the six kids ranging in age from six to fourteen. The kids always wanted a pet, but their house was just not large enough for a dog, and Dad was allergic to cats. The kids got together and decided maybe a hamster would be a good alternative. They presented their case to mom and dad. At first, the parents were adamant that they did not want any pets in the house. As the weeks went by, with constant begging every night at the dinner table, mom and dad finally relented, but only after the kids promised that they would take complete care of the hamster. The next day they all went to the local pet store and fell in love with a hamster which they named Butch. The kids fawned over their new pet, and everything went fine for the first couple of weeks. They were diligent with feeding and caring for Butch. Soon the novelty of Butch wore off, and mom and dad’s primary concern started to manifest itself. They had to remind the kids of their promise continually, but that seemed to fall on to deaf ears. Soon mom found herself feeding, providing water, and cleaning the cage each week. This situation went on for about a month when one evening after changing a smelly cage, mom stormed into the kid’s bedroom, and with exasperation, in her voice, she shouted. “How many times do you think Butch would have died if I hadn’t looked after him?”

After a moment of silence, all the kids lowered their heads in shame. That is except for the youngest, little Johnny. He looked at mom, cocked his head slightly, and then replied quizzically, “Once?”I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did pass your smile onto some else, we all could use a kind smile each day. Our Thursday thought is, “Have you ever just looked at someone and knew the wheel was turning, but the hamster was dead?”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3:15andversion=NLT (Ecclesiastes 3:15)

What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Just as you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’ If you would like to listen to any of our past 1371 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most...

Welcome to Day 1371 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomMastering the Bible – Biblical Agendas and Translations – Worldview WednesdayWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. Today is https://wisdom-trek.com/captivate-podcast/day-1371/ (Day 1371) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical Worldview is essential to have a proper perspective on today’s current events.

To establish a Biblical worldview, you must have a proper understanding of God and His Word. Our focus for the next several months on Worldview Wednesday is Mastering the Bible, through a series of brief insights. These insights are extracted from a book of the same title from one of today’s most prominent Hebrew Scholars, Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. This book is a collection of insights designed to help you understand the Bible better. When we let the Bible be what it is, we can understand it as the original readers did and as its writers intended. Each week we will explore two insights.

Mastering The Bible – Biblical Agendas and TranslationsInsight Fifty-Seven: Each Gospel Writer Had His Own Agenda

There are four Gospels for a reason. Their existence isn’t an accident. The fact that more than one was written suggests that each writer had a slightly different audience in mind. Examining their content validates that hunch.

Unlike other gospels, the Gospel of Matthew nowhere states a specific purpose or occasion for Matthew’s enterprise. Determining Matthew’s audience and objective can only be accomplished by careful reading. Matthew references the Old Testament more than the other Gospels, with a special interest in messianic themes such as establishing that Jesus was the “son of David” and how his life fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. Matthew uses distinctive phrases from Jewish literature (e.g., “Father in heaven”) more than other Gospels. He includes Jewish customs and terms without explaining them to readers (23:5, 27; 15:2; compared to Mark 7:2-4). All of these things, and others indicate that Matthew was writing to a Jewish audience to convince them that Jesus was their Messiah.

One of the unusual things scholars have noticed about Mark’s Gospel is the frequent use (forty-two times) of the Greek adverb euthus (often translated “immediately”). Mark consistently presents Jesus as a man of action—getting things done with expediency. Mark omits Jesus’s birth and childhood, and there is no genealogy. These things don’t matter to Mark’s audience. He writes to people more concerned about what Jesus does than who he is, which is very different from Matthew. These features make Mark’s account conform to Roman cultural values. This is especially important because of the way Jesus died as a criminal by the heinous method of crucifixion. Mark needs to explain why the crucifixion happened to this audience, and so he blends a description of a man they can admire with a defense of the Gospel.

Luke tells us at the outset that he is writing to a Greek friend, Theophilus. Luke (Loukas) is a Greek name. Luke uses Greek terms not found in the other Gospels. He seeks to reach a Hellenized world, not Jews or Romans, with the Gospel of Jesus. His strategy is a lengthy letter—his Gospel—to Theophilus, that he “might have certainty” concerning what he’d heard about Jesus (Luke 1:1-4).

Lastly, we come to John, the Gospel with the most unique material. John’s agenda is nevertheless transparent. His Gospel devotes the most concerted effort to presenting the deity of Jesus Christ. Only in John do we get the...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 1370 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomWatch Your Words – Wisdom UnpluggedWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1370 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 Blaise Pascal, and it is: Cold words freeze people, and hot words scorch them, and bitter words make them bitter, and wrathful words make them wrathful. Kind words also produce their image on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is. They smooth, and quiet, and comfort the hearer.

Watch Your WordsIn today’s politically charged societal environment, all too many people are not at all careful about how they speak to others. This is especially true online where cowards can hide behind their computers in a shroud of anonymity and spew all sorts of cold or hot or bitter or wrathful words. These cowards show little concern that they are destroying people who are created as bearers of God’s image. Especially in these times of crisis that we find ourselves in today, it is more important than ever to watch what we say, and how we speak to others. We all are well-advised by the golden rule found in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7:12andversion=NLT (Matthew 7:12) Do (or say) to others whatever you would like them to do (or say) to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. How you speak to others is a clear indication of what is in your heart. It is also an indication of what you think about yourself. If you are speaking cold, hot, bitter, or wrathful words to others, it is because that is what you feel about yourself. Your self-talk stems from your mind. Your self-talk not only poisons those who you are speaking to, but also your very soul. Instead, we should only speak words of kindness, love, and compassion. Regardless of whether you agree with others, that is no reason to treat them as if they are worthless. In its place, practice words of encouragement. Especially in these uncertain and chaotic times, let us show love to one another.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+10%3A20-21andversion=NLT (Proverbs 10:20-21)

The words of the godly are like sterling silver;

the heart of a fool is worthless.

The words of the godly encourage many,

but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 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 ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.' If you would like to listen to any of our past 1369 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player 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 in through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

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

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 1369 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomPeace of Mind and Heart – Meditation MondayWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1369 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 you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, Meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and in prayer. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and making 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.

None of us like uncertainty, but that seems to be all there is in the entire world at this time. We see possible, glimmers of hope being discussed, but we may have a long and slow recovery before we start feeling that we can be sure about our plans for the future. This is understandable, but during these times of uncertainty, we need to meditate on:

Peace of Mind and HeartLet’s face it; we like to be in control of our lives, and the situations that impact us. Every week that goes by, we wonder, will life ever return to some sort of normalcy? It causes us all to be on edge. Many of you may have lost your jobs, or are fearful that you will. We don’t know if it is safe to leave our homes, just to pick up a few supplies. We don’t know if we will be homeschooling the remainder of this year, or even during the summer. We just don’t know a lot of things right now. For some of us, life has not changed dramatically, but for many it has. Regardless, it is causing all of us stress that we don’t want, and wish would go away. When we stop, take a breath, relax, reflect, and are honest about our current situation, we have to admit, our lives before Covid-19 also had it share of stress. It is just different now.

Most of us realize that chronic negative stress is not good for our health. Stress can manifest itself in a myriad of symptoms such as lethargy, lack of productivity, angry outburst, sadness, and irritability. If left uncontrolled, stress can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Yes, these are uncertain times, but we can change our outlook to incorporate this uncertainty as at least a temporary part of life. There is always some stress in our lives. Sometimes we need to change how we view and handle that stress. Some stress will spur us on to achieve and accomplish much good in our world. How can we deal with stress, so that it produces good, and not harm? As a Christ-follower, we need to control our minds. Controlling our thoughts is best accomplished through the washing of our minds with God’s Word. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A2andversion=NLT (Romans 12:2) tells us, 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.

Stress is unavoidable, but not uncontrollable. You may need to work with your doctor to help in certain circumstances. There are other outlets that we can turn to on a daily basis. Physical activity, set times for relaxation, and as indicated in the verse above, getting into God’s Word. Plus, the ultimate stress buster in your life is the peace of

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 1368 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomShare Some Good News – Ask GrampsWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1368 of our Trek and time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we will ponder some of the fundamental 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, this is not possible. 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 may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to [email protected]

So the question for this week is:

“Hey, Gramps, I have many family members, local friends, and online friends who are very concerned about their future. I am sensing that they are on the brink of desperation. What can I do to encourage them while we ride out the shelter in place orders throughout the world?

Share Some Good NewsIf you spend much time watching or reading news from the mainstream news outlets, or much of what is on social media, you need to stop now, and encourage those you know to stop. For the most part, they are talking heads, and their purpose is to sensationalize the news to attract viewers. This is not the type of communication that we need now, or ever.

There is an alternative. Let us share some good news. There’s nothing more natural than sharing good news. Good news is for sharing. Think about it, even during these times of crises for many, when we land a new job or have a new baby, we want to tell other people about it. In any different situation, when we find a restaurant we like or watch a well-made film, we want others to have the same experience. You can still do that for those food establishments who deliver or have take out. Let us make sure we treat everyone we interact with, pleasantly. Thank them for all they are doing. It’s a natural thing to share good news. It should be no different now. Now, more than ever, we need to actively promote hope and encouragement to those who may be wavering in their faith and confidence.

Far too often, we make telling others about Jesus into an unnatural exercise. Sometimes we do that by making people memorize polished presentations of the gospel. Other times, we limit evangelism to mission trips to faraway places. We forget that the story of Jesus is good news, something that should be naturally shared with people we know.

Just ponder a little bit about how great it is to live in a time where our technology is so advanced that we know on an hourly basis the status of this pandemic worldwide. We see equipment and medicines created in record time. For the most part, our grocery stores are still well-stocked, and no one is starving through the minor inconvenience of social distancing.

In addition to these physical blessings, if you are a Christ-follower, we have within us The Good News that will last for eternity. So, part of our sharing of the good news should naturally be the hope that we have within us. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A15andversion=NLT (1 Peter 3:15)

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 1367 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomA Golf Story – Humor UnpluggedWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1367 of our Trek, and time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Humor Unplugged. Our Thursday podcast will provide a short and clean funny story to help you lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life. Something to cheer you and give a bit a levity in your life. We are told in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15:30andversion=NLT (Proverbs 15:30) A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health. We are also encouraged in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:22andversion=NLT (Proverbs 17:22) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Consider this your vitamin supplement of cheer for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s funny which is titled:

A Golf StoryHank, an avid golfer, was on the golf course as usual on a beautiful, sunny, Saturday morning. Hank took golf very seriously, and considered himself a rather good duffer. He was on the first hole, which was right in front of the pro shop. Hank stepped up to the red ladies’ tee and took his stance, preparing for what he hoped to be a long drive. As he began his backstroke, a voice boomed over the public address system: “Would the man hitting his ball from the ladies tee, please move it back to the men’s tee?!”

Hank glared over his shoulder, and then he stepped back up to the tee to prepare to hit his ball.

The loudspeaker again shattered the silence, repeating, “Will the man hitting his ball from the ladies tee, please move it back to the white, men’s tee?!”

At that, Hank stepped away from the tee, threw his golf club to the ground, and faced the clubhouse. Cupping his hands to his mouth, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Will the man in the clubhouse; please be quiet so that I can take my second shot?!”

I hope that brought a smile to your face today. If it did pass your smile onto some else, we all could use a kind smile each day. Our Thursday thought is, “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots. Either way, you have to play the ball where it lies.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A44-45andversion=NLT (Matthew 5:44-45)

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Just as you enjoy these nuggets of humor, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’ If you would like to listen to any of our past 1366 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

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 of life together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to ’Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your...

Welcome to Day 1366 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomMastering the Bible – Biblical Genealogies and John's Gospel is Different – Worldview WednesdayWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. Today is https://wisdom-trek.com/captivate-podcast/day-1366/ (Day 1366) of our trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical Worldview is essential to have a proper perspective on today’s current events.

To establish a Biblical Worldview, you must have a proper understanding of God and His Word. Our focus for the next several months on Worldview Wednesday is Mastering the Bible, through a series of brief insights. These insights are extracted from a book of the same title from one of today’s most prominent Hebrew Scholars, Dr. Micheal S. Heiser. This book is a collection of insights designed to help you understand the Bible better. When we let the Bible be what it is, we can understand it as the original readers did and as its writers intended. Each week we will explore two insights, and this week we finish up in the Old Testament and begin in the New Testament.

Mastering The Bible – Biblical Genealogies and John’s Gospel is DifferentInsight Fifty-Five: Biblical Genealogies Are at Times Artificial

Most Bible students would not regard biblical genealogies as very interesting. The assumption is that they are in the Bible to accomplish only one thing basically: give us generational lineages between people. That isn’t the case. Genealogies are not always of the same type. Some genealogies are deliberately artificial since they seek to convey some specific point of teaching.

Perhaps the best example of a deliberately artificial genealogy is the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. Scholars have long known that Matthew arranges Jesus’ genealogy in three groups of fourteen names. Many of the names come from Old Testament genealogical lists for Israelite kings and patriarchs. And that is precisely how the artificial nature of the genealogy is known.

If one compares the genealogy put forth by Matthew with the Old Testament genealogies, which contain the names in Jesus’s genealogy, it becomes obvious that the time span covered by the three sections of Matthew’s genealogy is too great for the generations Matthew lists. We know how old many of the people in Matthew’s genealogy were at death, and so the numbers don’t add up. But the most transparent result of comparing the genealogies is that Matthew omits names in the Old Testament lists. Luke, who also provides a genealogy for Jesus, does the same thing— and his names don’t always match Matthew’s.

Our modern mind is quick to think that Matthew made mistakes. That isn’t the case. Matthew was telegraphing something by his three-by-fourteen structure.

Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic used letters in their alphabets for numbers. Other ancient languages do the same. Many scholars believe that the best explanation for Matthew’s structuring of Jesus’s genealogy is that the number fourteen is the numerical equivalent of the name David. In essence, the three groups of fourteen said “David, David, David” and then ended with Jesus, the son of David, the rightful heir to David’s throne. Since Matthew spends a great deal of time on validating Jesus’s claim to be the messiah in his Gospel, this playful way of pointing to David and the messianic son of David makes sense.

Not every genealogy is as interesting as this one, but they often convey important information by their omissions and selectivity. We need to be mindful that ancient writers did things differently...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 1365 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomA Sense of Purpose – Wisdom UnpluggedWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/captivate-podcast/day-1365/ (Day 1365) 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 R. Ruth Barton, and it is, "As we begin to see the package God is putting together in our lives and discover his purposes for bringing us to our world, it will provide us with the framework we need to make wise choices. In addition, we will find that a sense of purpose gives hope in the midst of tragedy and difficulty, gives meaning to the mundane aspects of our lives, and helps us to make our lives count for God."

A Sense of Purpose

There is no doubt that many of you may be dealing with tragedy and difficulty during these trying times of quarantine, self-isolation, job loss, sickness, and possibly even death. Many others are dealing with how mundane life is with staying at home apart from their usual routine. Just trying to remember what day it is has become a challenge for some, let alone having to balance work at home with homeschooling your children.

As we all deal with Covid-19 issues that are unique to all of us, let us daily take time to reflect on how God is putting together in our lives a new and better purpose for why He has created us. When we take time to ponder this unprecedented time in the world, it will give us a more transparent framework that we need to make wiser choices for our lives, the lives of our families, and those whom we impact in our world.

It is then that we can have hope in the middle of tragedy and difficulties. It is then that we can have hope in the midst of what may appear mundane. It is then that our lives can count for God by building His kingdom and making an impact that will last into eternity.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1%3A3-7andversion=NLT (2 Peter 1:3-7)

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 11,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of https://wisdom-trek.com (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 1364 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at https://wisdom-trek.com...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 1364 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomWhere Is Your Joy? – Meditation MondayWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is https://wisdom-trek.com/captivate-podcast/day-1364/ (Day 1364) 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 you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You 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.

Covid-19 has implanted within most of us a sense of uncertainty. Your life has been completely disrupted, even if you are still gainfully employed. You may be working from home now and trying to balance a life that is unfamiliar to you. You may be homeschooling your kids or just anxious about being separated from your family, your routine, and those with whom you work and socialize. Have you lost your joy in life? Today, let us meditate on…

Where Is Your Joy?

During these uncertain times, you may feel anxious instead of joyful. I can understand these feelings. Even though our work and schedules have remained pretty much the same for both Paula and me, we find ourselves feeling somewhat anxious due to the global uncertainties. As Christ-followers, we have a hope that should provide a continuous flow of joy in our hearts each day. How do we maintain that joy? Let’s explore some passages that will give a firm foundation for our joy and happiness.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1%3A1-3andversion=NLT (Psalm 1:1-3)

Oh, the joys of those who do not

follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners,

or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the Lord,

meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank,

bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither,

and they prosper in all they do.

Did you catch what our lives can be like when we meditate on God’s Word? Like trees planted along a river, abounding with fruit.

Even when we are weak and at the end of our strength to carry on, God will empower us with His power and restore the joy within us.

Psalm 28:6-8

Praise the Lord!

For he has heard my cry for mercy.

The Lord is my strength and shield.

I trust him with all my heart.

He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

The Lord gives his people strength.

He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.

While trials and tribulations can be the result of our lives being lived in disobedience to God’s Word, most times, it is for a much higher purpose that may be difficult for us to understand. A worldwide pandemic is one such case. God is not punishing the world, nor is he punishing you as a person, even if it seems like your world has collapsed around you. God does have a purpose for such an event, though.

Since it is impacting the world as a whole, God may be setting in motion a significant change in the hearts of humankind. It is a chance for the church to rise up and continue to build His kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven as we read in...