Wisdom-Trek ©

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 64 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It's Only Money (Part 7)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 64 of our Trek, and today we are finishing up our series on acquiring and investing wealth. Wealth accumulation serves us two purposes. One is that it frees us to be able to make wise choices in life that are not dependent on being a servant to others, and second, it allows us the ability to make a positive impact on the lives of others through the distribution of that wealth. As we practice this each day, it will create the living legacy, not to honor ourselves, but to honor our creator.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This morning, we worshipped with Paula’s mom at the church where she used to attend when we lived in Marietta full time.  This evening we were blessed to share time with our middle son Barnabas, his wife Leesha, and other family and friends at a baby shower for our soon to arrive granddaughter who is due in late September. As proud grandparents we are excited and looking forward to our sixth grandchild.

We are concluding our “It’s Only Money” Trek today. We have explored a different trail each day on our Trek to true wealth. As we approach our destination on this important trek, the land of financial freedom is in site, and I would like to share some concluding thoughts. So, let’s head out for another day and accumulate the additional wisdom nuggets that we find along the path.

Our guiding map for our Trek this week has primarily been the book of Proverbs, and we have learned that we must be willing to work in order to obtain wealth. There are no shortcuts on this trek of life. After you have done your part in planning, preparing, and executing your work, you must also realize that when you do prosper in any area of life, it is ultimately God that prospers you. When you forget where your material provisions come from, you start down the slippery trail of pride and arrogance thinking you have succeeded on your own. In reality, we are on this Trek together, and we should do all that we can to assist one another.

Here our four areas to consider.

1. Material wealth does not come to everyone. It is a gift that God has given some. In the eyes of most of the inhabitants of this world, all Americans are wealthy, and to a certain extent we are.  Many people, though, are living a false sense of wealth that is dependent on loans and credit cards. There are certain natural and Biblical precepts that, if followed, will allow anyone to be in a position where they can use their wealth, whether it is small or great to positively impact the lives of others.

If you have material wealth now or obtain it in the future by practicing the principles we have gathered this week, please take to heart this advice that the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to his Protégé Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

2. We should always look at our material possessions in terms of the principle of stewardship. A steward does not own anything, but he has been put in charge of its use. This is hard for many to grasp, and I think it is more prevalent in America where we take great pride in ownership.

If you think about this principle, you will realize that all of life is this way. We come into this world with nothing, and we certainly cannot take anything with us ...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 63 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It's Only Money (Part 6)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 63 of our Trek, and today we will look at setting the proper priorities for the use of wealth. Setting priorities in all areas of your trek of life is important, but how you set priorities with money will largely determine how you are able to set priorities in other areas that impact building your living legacy.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. In addition to the yard sale this morning, we had the blessing of sharing the 4th birthday with our granddaughter Aurora. She is "Princess Aurora" to family members, and we shared the afternoon with Aurora, her three siblings, and other family.  My Dad and Paula’s mom were also there. It is grand to see four generations of family celebrating together. As a proud Gramps, I have included a couple of pictures in today’s journal – Day 63.

We are continuing today on our “It’s Only Money” Trek. Each day we will explore a different trail on our Trek to true wealth.  As we accumulate wealth, it is also important to set priorities for the use of that wealth. So, let’s continue on our trail to financial independence as we examine these truths.

Biblical Priorities for the Use of Money

Proverbs has much to say on the subject of our financial obligations. While there may be some disagreement with the exact order of the priority of the following obligations, I believe that we will all agree that these should be priorities which govern the use of the money God has permitted us to manage.

1. We should give to the furtherance of the Good News.

In the Old Testament, God carefully prescribed the tithes and sacrifices which He expected from His people. While we are no longer under the law, the spirit of giving still applies to us today. Proverbs teaches the need to give of the abundance He has provided, and that this will result in even greater blessings.

Proverbs 3:9-10, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine."

Paula and I have personally found that our giving first to the Lord has developed our faith, and we have never lacked any necessity.

2. We have an obligation to pay our debts to others without delay.

Within the business world and for many personally, there is a tendency to withhold payment as long as possible. We should never withhold payments beyond the due date, even if there is a grace period. Others are depending on our prompt payments, even large companies. This also includes the taxes we owe. I don’t like paying more in taxes than is required, but if you owe it, then pay it.

Romans 13:6-7,  "Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.  Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority."

If you are fortunate enough to own a business and have others working with you, always pay on time, including withholding taxes that are due.

James 5:4, "For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies."

3. We have a responsibility to provide for the needs of our own household.

While this concept is woven throughout Proverbs, it is clearly stated in 1 Timothy 5:8, "But those who won’t care for their relatives,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 62 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It's Only Money (Part 5)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 62 of our Trek, and today we will learn the wisdom needed to avoid the dangerous cliffs on life’s trails so that we do not cascade in to the abyss of debt. Excessive debt will certainly hamper your ability to build your living legacy.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It's been another busy day in the office today. I was hoping to take a break in the afternoon to get some outdoor work completed, but the work activities of the day consumed my time. I was able to spray for mosquitoes and help prepare a little for the 2nd weekend of our yard sale, though.

Today we are continuing on our “It’s Only Money” Trek. Each day we will explore a different trail on our Trek to true wealth. As we work hard and follow sound principles to acquire wealth, it is very important that we know which trails not to hike. Those are the dangerous trails that would cause us to lose everything that we have gained.

How to NOT Lose Money

As well as teaching us how to earn money, Proverbs warns us of the many ways in which we can quickly lose money. The following are some of the most commonly mentioned pitfalls.

1. Don’t be lazy.

A lazy person not only fails to obtain wealth because of his laziness, but he also neglects the resources he has.

Proverbs 24:31-31, "I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down."

Proverbs 27:23-27, "Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls."

2. Don’t be greedy.

Strangely enough, if you are greedy it will often contribute to being in poverty.

Proverbs 11:6, "The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them."

Proverbs 28:22, "Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty."

Many company advertisements appeal to greed and pride. The companies have just the answer for us – a "limited time opportunity" that will fulfill our "needs" We see it so often in our society today because most people want instant everything, including wealth.

Proverbs 13:11, "Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time."

Proverbs 26:16, "Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors."

Proverbs 24:30, "I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense."

3. Don’t be impulsive.

If you are an impulse buyer, whether it is with things small or large, you will soon see any wealth accumulated quickly slip through your fingers. Worse yet is when you use credit to make impulsive purchases. Proverbs warns that being greedy and impulsive brings about poverty.

Proverbs 21:5, "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Marketers of all kinds of products and services entice all of us with sales through deadlines and scarcity. A good practice for you to follow is to ask yourself these questions before buying something on sale.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 61 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It's Only Money (Part 4)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 61 of our Trek, and today we will discover the wisdom tools needed as we acquire money and wealth of any type.  Let us trek together as we learn to build your living legacy each day.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Each day seems to bring new challenges and opportunities to learn. I do admit that sometimes those challenges can be well, challenging. I realize that you also go through "learning opportunities," and as we share together each day, we can assist and help one another in a meaningful way.

We are continuing today on our “It’s Only Money” Trek. Each day we will explore a different trail on our Trek to true wealth. Today we will see what part wisdom plays on the "Acquisition of Money" trail.

On the first three days on our Money Trek, we looked at the Book of Proverbs as we focused on a proper attitude toward money. Now we will concentrate on what Proverbs making about the making and spending of money. Today is filled with bullet points from Proverbs as we gather many wisdom nuggets along the trail.

Wisdom and the Acquisition of Money

It matters a great deal how money is obtained. Proverbs reminds us that God is intimately concerned with the way you earn a living. God is not indifferent to the way you obtain money.

Proverbs 16:11, "The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness."

Proverbs 22:22-23, "Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. For the Lord is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them."

Money which is gained in an ungodly way will not bring us any lasting benefit; instead, it will bring about our own misery.

Proverbs 10:2, "Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life."

Proverbs 11:18,"Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last."

Proverbs 20:17, "Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth."

Proverbs 21:6, "Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap."

Some people make money by questionable, if not illegal, means, and then attempt to salve their consciences by giving a portion to the church or charity. In their minds, benevolence is the end that justifies their corrupt means.The tragedy is that there are all too many churches and organizations that are eager to relieve the guilt of unprincipled men by taking their money, helping them feel good about their dishonesty.

Proverbs tells us that no sacrifice is pleasing to God that is wrongly gained.

Proverbs 21:3, "The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just

than when we offer him sacrifices."

Proverbs 21:27, "The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives."

These principles sum up the teaching of Proverbs on how we should acquire money. Let me share this wisdom with a brief word of explanation on each.

1. Money should not be pursued without a cost to us.

You might call this the principle of toil and time. The fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden took place many centuries before Proverbs was written. The curse which God placed on man is found in.

Genesis 3:17, "And to the man he said, 'Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.'"

There is an underpinning of this principle of toil and time.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 60 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It's Only Money (Part 3)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 60 of our Trek, and today we will mine for some additional golden nuggets of wisdom. I hope you are ready to learn with me as you build your living legacy each day.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a hot and muggy week here in Ohio but somewhat typical for the last week of July.  Our client workload remains busy this week, but I look forward to each day where we can share our daily lives together.  It is my hope that this podcast and journal provide you with information that impacts your life in a positive way.

On our Trek this week, we started down new trails in a series “It’s Only Money” with the theme of being on the trail of true riches. Yesterday we hiked along the trails of "What Money Cannot Do For You" and "What Money Will Do For You." On both trails, we came to understand that money does not bring lasting security because we will never have enough. Money can also sprout wings and fly off like an eagle leaving us to wonder where it has gone. I know that you can probably relate to this. I know I can.

Today we are going to examine the trail of "Money Attitudes." So, let’s head on up the yellow brick trail to a land of financial contentment. This may very well be a foreign country to you.

There are a number of principles in the Book of Proverbs which should shape our attitude toward money. Some of these principles are:

1. Neither the possession of money, nor the lack of it are proof of your goodness or worthiness.

Within the faith community of our day, there are some that indicate that prosperity is proof of godliness. The rich, they suppose, are wealthy because they are more worthy. This camp gets caught up by the trappings of affluence. In other religious groups, there is a spoken or unspoken code that austerity of other is the sign of being spiritual, so their poverty becomes proof of goodness.

Both of these views are wrong for several reasons.

First, you may be rich for the wrong reasons. Illegal commerce or bad behavior, for example, could be the means by which you prosper.

Likewise, you may be poor for reasons other than being lazy. Some are poor due to injustice, not a lack of initiative.

Proverbs 13:23, "A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away."

Proverbs 19:22, "Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest."

Money is never an indicator of morality. What most of us fail to grasp is that money is completely amoral. It all comes from the heart and mind. It is how you handle the wealth that you do have that is important. Don’t judge others by their perceived lifestyles.

Proverb 13:7 shows why we should not judge by outward appearance.

"Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor."

True riches can never be measured in terms of money.

2. God has not promised to make every good or godly person wealthy.

The question which you must first ask is, “Does God in His Word promise to financially prosper you?  Is there a formula that will guarantee you financial success?" To be dogmatic about these questions would be foolish.

This is particularly difficult to understand in our western societies. Even the poorest of people would be considered wealthy in many other places of the world. Regardless of where you live or your standard of living, there are certain principles in the Bible that, if followed,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 59 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It's Only Money (Part 2)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 59 of our Trek, and as we examine these nuggets of wisdom each day, we need to seek for them as if they were nuggets of gold. Speaking of gold, the next several days we will focus on the accumulation of wealth, both in money and the true riches of life.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I was able to put a coat of polyurethane on "The Eating Area" floor late last night and the second coat very early this morning. It is looking really nice. We will let it set for a couple of days before moving the furniture back into the room. This has been a much lengthier project than we anticipated, but it is nearing completion.

On our Trek, we started down the money trail yesterday with a new series “It’s Only Money” and the theme of being on the trail of true riches. Yesterday we traveled on the money trail and considered "What is Better Than Wealth?".  We discovered that several items are. If you missed yesterday’s podcast, please check it out.

Today we are going to explore a couple more precepts about money. So, let’s head on up the yellow brick trail to our land of true wealth.

What Money Cannot Do For You

“Money isn’t everything,” someone has been quoted as saying “but it’s a long way ahead of whatever is in second place.” Proverbs informs us, however, that not only is money not in first place, but it is not even in the running for second place. One reason is that money simply cannot purchase those things in life which are most important.

1. Money cannot buy you security.

There are two primary reasons why money fails to make you secure. The first is that money simply cannot purchase security, for security cannot be bought. There are those who deceive themselves by thinking that wealth offers them security, but this is only imaginary.

Proverbs 18:11, "The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety."

The second reason money cannot offer us security is that wealth itself is often only temporary. Not only does our wealth fail to make us secure, our wealth itself is insecure.

Proverbs 23:4-5, "Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle."

During the great recession of 2008, millions of people lost large portions of their retirements that they had worked so hard for. Millions of others lost their homes and possessions. We cannot place our hope in money as security because remember "It’s Only Money."

2. Money cannot buy you wisdom.

Proverbs 17:16, "It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning."

3. Money cannot provide you with life’s most precious gift.

We know that money cannot buy true friends because bought “friends” will forsake us when our time of need arrives.

Proverbs 19:7, "The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone."

The Prodigal Son in Luke 15 illustrates this principle clearly, but we will leave that story for another day.

I can attest personally to the fact that a godly wife cannot be purchased, but is a gift of God’s grace.  Paula is my gift of God’s grace.

Proverbs 18:22, "The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord."

Proverbs 19:14,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 58 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It's Only Money (Part 1)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 58 of our Trek. As you consume the daily nuggets of wisdom and allow them to change you from the inside out, then you will be able to create and build that living legacy that you desire. The next several days we will focus on the accumulation of wealth, both in money and the true riches of life.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I have sanded and Paula completely dusted the floor in "The Eating Area" yesterday and today.  We purchased the polyurethane and are ready to apply it. Hopefully within the next couple of days that portion of the project will be completed, and we can move the tables and chairs back in. I will provide some pictures once we are finished. There is also some minor trim work that needs finished by our contractor.

As we prepare for our Trek over the next several days, we will focus on the priority of money in our lives – how it is  properly accumulated and how it is easily lost.  I have titled this series “It’s Only Money” with the theme of being on the trail of true riches.

One important indication that a person is wise is how they view and handle wealth. Wealth may be in money and riches, but it can also be in the most important things of life. Those important things are how we spend our reserve of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We will find that most of the time, the true nature of who we are with money is reflected throughout everything we do. So, let’s head on out and follow the yellow brick trail towards the summit of true wealth.

We will begin by exploring the relationship of wisdom to wealth. One of the ways to determine if you are a wise person is by the way you handle money. Wisdom is not determined by the amount of money you possesses, but by your attitude toward money, by the way it is acquired, and by the way it is used. Within this Wisdom-Trek series, we will first explore the attitude of the wise toward wealth. Then, we will dissect the ways in which money should be obtained and used.

Keep in mind, as a Christ follower, I use principles for handling money that are primarily taken from the Bible.  Even if you do not share the same beliefs, I know that you will find these principles applicable to your life also.

On our Trek this week, we are exploring how the character of the wise is integrated with money. This should not be misunderstood to suggest that I believe money is the most important attribute of the wise. It is not. In Luke 16:10 Jesus referred to money as “little things,” which is to say, not all that important.

There are several reasons, however, why such a little thing as money should be of importance to us. First of all, little as it may be, it is a major problem in most American homes, Christian and non-Christian.  We, like our government, have become accustomed to operating on a deficit budget system, living more on credit than on cash. The result has been the need for one or both spouses to work more than is prudent or wise. Charitable giving is very low, and Christian giving is also declining.

When something which is a “little thing” becomes a “big thing” in our lives, it is a problem of priorities. Furthermore, Jesus taught that if we are not faithful in this “little thing” of money, we will not be faithful in those matters of greater importance. Luke 16:10 reads, “But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” Let us seek to be wise in the way we use money.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 57 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

The Only Constant in Life is Change

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 57 of our Trek, and as we consume the daily nuggets of wisdom, we need to realize that as a wise person that everything in life is changing. We need to be able to accept and manage change proactively and not try to stop life from changing, for that is impossible. Instead, let us embrace and then guide the changes in our lives so that it will allow us to leave a living legacy each day.  Today we will look at why change is the only real constant in our lives.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today Paula and I drove about an hour north to Cambridge, Ohio, to go to church and have dinner with my dad. We try to get up to see him at least every other month. It is a blessing to share the time worshipping with and visiting Dad.  He continues to provide good and godly council to our lives.  We are always grateful that we have a strong heritage in our family, which we can trace back many generations. I realize that not everyone has had these blessings.

So let’s move on up the trail as we venture out today. As we trek through each day, we need to understand that we will never be in this exact same situation with these conditions. We need to make the most of every moment and never lose this opportunity.

As the Quaker Missionary Etienne de Grellet put it, "I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." These are certainly some powerful thoughts to ponder as we start today.

“Change is the only constant in life” is a quote that is attributed to pre-Socractic Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus around 500bc. The same philosopher illustrated the point about change being ever present by saying “No man ever steps into the same river twice.” An ever flowing river is there and even has a name, yet the water in it keeps changing so that from one second to the next it is really a different river.

As I reflect on the times we are able to spend with my dad, I see that throughout my parents' lives, although they would have liked things to stay the same, they embraced the changes in life. It just brought to my mind how my mom wanted to drive positive change in local public education, so she ran for and was elected to the school board for several terms. Another example was when Mom was in her late fifties, and she trained and became an EMT for the local rescue squad after she felt helpless when an elderly friend died when she was with him. Dad was always learning and changing in his work away from the farm, and he was constantly looking for ways to grow apples better, while maintaining the conviction to grow them organically.

I believe observing their lives was an example to welcome and even embrace change. As I consider why it is relatively easy for me to accept change, I ask myself why people are so afraid and so resistant to inevitable changes in their lives.

We expect night to change to day, seasons to change, and children to grow taller. We expect to grow older, to watch children marry, to retire from our jobs, and to play with our grandchildren.

We all face changes every day whether it is a simple change of the weather, our schedule, or what we choose to eat that day. We each deal with change in a different way, and change affects us each differently as well. For the most part, we are generally left to deal with the daily ebb and flow of life and are contented with the small changes we see a...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 56 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

A Cowboy's Guide to Life

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 56 of our Trek, and as we consume the daily nuggets of wisdom we need to realize that wisdom does not come from formal education. In fact, most of the time, those who are wise have learned wisdom from everyday living.  Today we are going to look at "A Cowboy's Guide to Life."

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Our yard sale today went pretty well, and we got rid of some of the larger items. But there are still a lot of "things" that we desire to depart with, so we will probably do it again next Saturday. It should be easier next week since most items have been sorted and made ready. We will probably put additional stuff in the pile next week.

As mentioned in the introduction, today we are going to look at some practical wisdom taken from the life of a cowboy. While I have never been a cowboy myself, I still love a good western movie or TV program.  We also lived in Kingman, Arizona for about 15 months a few years ago while working with our friends and business partners Charles and Alison Mecom, so I was able to experience some of the western lifestyle. We have the privilege of working with the Mecoms again on a project that is just starting in Mesa, Arizona.

While in Kingman, I took many weekend treks into the hills and mountains surrounding the city.  I really enjoyed the desert environment, which is so different from the lush green hills of the east.  I must admit that by God’s grace, we have been able to find contentment in each situation.

So, let’s head out on our trail today over the Rocky Mountains and into the western deserts, where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day.  As I read through "A Cowboy’s Guide to Life" with no additional commentary, just sit back and enjoy the humorous sage wisdom and practical advice. Some of them are pretty funny, and all of them have real meaning. So, pull up a log, and let’s sit a spell around the camp fire and listen to Wild Bill share his wisdom.

A Cowboy's Guide to Life –

Life's tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid.

Don't interfere with something that ain't botherin' you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

The easiest way to eat crow is while it's still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

If it don't seem like it's worth the effort, it probably ain't.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every morning.

Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.

Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a trotting horse.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answ...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 55 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Turn Stress into Success

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 55 of our Trek and, as we consume the daily nuggets of wisdom, we need to apply that wisdom to know and understand ourselves better. As we looked at yesterday, the proper management of stress, not the stress itself, is paramount. As we grow in wisdom, we will learn the lessons needed to manage our stress proactively before it causes illness or death. Today we will learn how to move from "Stress to Success."

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We are getting ready for our large yard sale, which will be the same day as this podcast is originally released. My plan today was to actively assist in organizing and preparing but during the day, I was not able to. Instead, the software technical support that I provide for one client filled the entire day. I am very thankful that I have the skills and opportunity to be utilized in this manner, but as we learned yesterday, when our expectations and plans are stifled it generally results in one outcome…

Stress!

Stress is a normal part of contemporary busy lifestyles.We all have our share. Ignore it, and it will take years off your life. Accept it and deal with it creatively, and you too can turn your stress into success.

How can you do this?

First: Realize that some stress is actually helpful. It provides you motivation. For instance, if it weren't for the stress of having to pay your bills, you may not want to go to work.

Second: Be aware that stress is only troublesome when it continues for too long or if there is too much of it at one time.

I read recently about a ten-ton bridge that had been serving a community very well for over fifty years. During the course of those years it had carried millions of tons of weight. But one day the driver of a logging truck ignored the ten-ton load limit sign. The bridge collapsed. Life is like that. All of us can carry our ten-ton load day after day, year after year, but only one load at a time. Overload us and we collapse too.

You may be familiar with the research Thomas Holmes has done on stress. He found that too much change at one time was the greatest cause of stress. An accumulation of 300 or more "life changing points" in any one year may mean an overload of more stress than an individual can carry. On his scale, death of a spouse equals 100 units, divorce 73, marital separation 65, marriage 50, and so on. If you would like to see and take this "stress test" for yourself click on the image below or find it in the Free Resources section of our website.

Third: The next step in turning stress into success is to recognize symptoms as early as possible.

As mentioned in yesterday’s Wisdom-Trek, Fred Stansberry talks about "stress-related diseases such as cancer, arthritis, heart and respiratory diseases, migraines, allergies and a host of other psychological and physiological dysfunctions which are increasing at an alarming rate in our Western culture."

Other symptoms of stress have been listed as, "fibromyalgia, tense muscles, sore neck, shoulders and back, insomnia, fatigue, boredom, depression, listlessness, dullness, lack of interest, drinking too much, eating too much or too little, diarrhea, cramps, flatulence, constipation, palpitations-heart skip, phobias, twitches, restlessness and itching." This list sounds like the side effects of most modern medicine..

Fourth: Identify causes. As already mentioned, change is one of the chief causes of stress.