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Day 541 – There Is More Hope for a Fool – Proverbs 29:15-27

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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 541 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

There Is More Hope for a Fool – Proverbs [29:15]-27

Wisdom-Wednesday

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

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

There Is More Hope for a Fool

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

These are More Proverbs of Solomon recorded by King Hezekiah.

15 To discipline a child produces wisdom,
but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.

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

Hope Fool 4-disciplining-children

16 When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes,
but the godly will live to see their downfall.

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

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind
and will make your heart glad.

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

18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.
But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

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

19 Words alone will not discipline a servant;
the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.

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

20 There is more hope for a fool
than for someone who speaks without thinking.

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

Hope fool

21 A servant pampered from childhood
will become a rebel.

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

22 An angry person starts fights;
a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.

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

23 Pride ends in humiliation,
while humility brings honor.

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

24 If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself.
You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.

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

25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
but trusting the Lord means safety.

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

Hope Fool Fear Trust

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but justice comes from the Lord.

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

27 The righteous despise the unjust;
the wicked despise the godly.

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

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

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

Hope Fool

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

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

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

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

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

Day 540 – Forgetting the Past – Wisdom Unplugged

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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 540 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Forgetting the Past – Wisdom Unplugged

Wisdom Unplugged - Leaf

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

Today’s quote is from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who said, “Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear.”

Forgetting the past

On our trek of life, we can learn from past experiences, but we cannot live in the past. It is behind us. Any fond memories we may have of the good old days are embellished and probably not nearly as good as we remember. King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:10 tells us, “Don’t long for ‘the good old days.’ This is not wise.”

Forgetting the past2

Let’s make the most of today by both improving ourselves and the lives of those we have an opportunity to impact. Be about creating a living legacy each day. Keep in mind that today will be tomorrow in 24 hours. And it will then be in our past.

Instead of getting bogged down in the past or the burdens of today, let us press forward into the future by planning and living in such a manner that those we do impact will impact the lives of others so that our legacy will span into eternity. As the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,  but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

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

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

Forgetting the Past and Looking Forward in 2015

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

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

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

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

Day 539 – Supporting Others – The Tools in Gramps’ Backpack

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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 539 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Supporting Others – The Tools in Gramps’ Backpack

The Tools in Gramps Backback

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

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

Supporting Others

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

Supporting Others3

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

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

John Maxwell said,

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

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

Supporting Others4

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supporting Others

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

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

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

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

Day 538 – The Need for Disciplined Activity – Activity (6)

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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 538 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

The Need for Disciplined Activity

Philosophy Friday - Activity

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

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

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

The Five Trails on Life’s Trek – Activity Part 6

As a reminder, our overall extended trek covers these five trails:

  1. Philosophy

  2. Attitude

  3. Activity

  4. Results

  5. Lifestyle

1. Activity Must Be Disciplined

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

disciplined activity

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

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

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

Anyone can do it, so you can do it!

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

2. The Starting Point of Disciplined Activity

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

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

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

disciplined activity2

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

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

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

Until you have learned to take care of the little opportunities life brings your way, you will never master the disciplines for living a rich and satisfying life. The major accomplishments in life begin with the mastery of the small disciplines. The mental, emotional and philosophical “muscles” required to write a letter, clean the garage, or pay your bills on time are the very same “muscles” involved in running a company or managing a department. As Galatians 6:9 tells us, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your-level-of-success-is-determined-by-your-level-of-discipline-and-perseverance.

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

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

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

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

Day 537 – Listen Intentionally – Wisdom Unplugged

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Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 537 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Listen Intentionally – Wisdom Unplugged

wisdom-unplugged-character

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

Today quote is from Margaret J. Wheatley, who said, “Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don’t have to do anything else. We don’t have to advise, or coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen.”

Listen intentionally 2

How well do you listen? I mean really focus on what the other person is saying without interruption or forming your response before they finish. This is such a difficult habit to learn, but it is possible. Most of the time we have already determined in our minds what is being said and are formulating our response before we hear what is actually said.

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

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

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

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

Listen intentionally

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

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

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

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