It is God’s leading that makes 1 Thess. 5:21-22 (NASB) possible: “examine everything carefully, hold fast to what is good, abstain from every evil.” This “biblical sleuthing” is what John MacArthur points out as the “responsibility of every Christian… discernment is not optional for the believer–it is required.” Read the transcript for Discernment: The Commitment to Choosing Well Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email...
Mar 06, 2022•6 min•Ep. 96
Our being wounded or wondering should be a hint that we’re running the risk of attracting unwanted attention, which is why Peter urges us to think clearly and remain vigilant. When you take a good look at yourself, are you giving the “roaring lion” any reason to target you? Are you unknowingly or unnecessarily vulnerable? Read the transcript for The Roaring Lion Hunts the Wounded and the Wanderers Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email...
Feb 19, 2022•7 min•Ep. 95
I mean for us to “noodle” in the best possible way. While enjoying the practical benefits of journaling, we gain all the more by recording this intentional quest for wisdom. To the point John Piper makes about “living for the glory of Christ”, this is a quest worthy of capturing and remembering. Read the transcript for Journaling to Capture Wisdom In All Things Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email...
Feb 05, 2022•11 min•Ep. 94
We’re getting it from the inside, from the outside, and when we trace it back to its source, it leads us directly to Satan, The Father of Lies. Satan is a pro at reflecting the light, deep deception, and manipulation. We need to pay particular attention to this because of the severity of the consequences. Satan’s single aim is to utterly destroy you by any means he is allowed. This makes guarding our hearts, minds, and souls of paramount importance. Read the transcript for How Easily Are You Dec...
Jan 26, 2022•8 min•Ep. 93
Just as the 10 Commandments prescribe for us what we are to avoid, did you know they also point to a “positive side”? They provide for us a framework for living out the character of God, and how are lives are to be distinct. In front of the commandment is that positive application that we can recite in our quiet times, if not at the start of each day. Read the transcript for The 10 Commandments: How Are Lives Are To Be Distinct Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email...
Jan 15, 2022•10 min•Ep. 92
Finding rest in God can be somewhat deceptive because it can too easily be confused with relief. Relief is beneficial, but it is not rest. The rest that Jesus provides isn’t physical, emotional, or mental relief–but is restorative and rejuvenating and frees us from soul-weariness. He addresses the problem, not the symptoms. Read the transcript of Finding Rest, Not Relief, in God Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email...
Sep 11, 2021•6 min•Ep. 91
We’ve talked in the past about having a good decision analysis and developing a heuristic to better ensure we make the right decisions. But how can we expect to keep making the right decision when there are so many to make? Fortunately, we have what is revealed through Scripture to reign in our random and conflicting thoughts and feelings. But our reception of, and response to, God’s leading is going to require a quieted mind and heart. Read the transcript of Taking the Fatigue Out of Decision M...
Aug 28, 2021•7 min•Ep. 90
Living life on mission, does not mean we need to be a missionary. However, we can easily see how our lives might look strikingly similar. Learning Mission from Missionaries transcript. Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email.
Aug 14, 2021•8 min•Ep. 89
"The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavor to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms..." - George Washington in a memo to his army Profanity demonstrates a lack of character and a propensity for the foolish. Both are not only unbecoming behavior for a me...
Aug 06, 2021•5 min•Ep. 88
God cannot lie (Titus 2:1), and we are called to reflect that by being “truth-tellers worthy of trust.” From his book The 10 Greatest Struggles of Your Life, Pastor Colin Smith goes on to reveal that this means we are to “deal in truth rather than lies, in precision rather than distortion, and in honesty rather than deception.” Trust truly defines our relationships, and we earn trust by demonstrating that we are trustworthy. Read the transcript of Developing, or Regaining, the Trait of Trust Sig...
Aug 01, 2021•5 min•Ep. 87
Here, I think, is where the pandemic provided a benefit. We were forced to give our full attention to what was most important. There was nothing to fear missing out on. The world had all but stopped. The pandemic provided some relief from FOMO, if not an opportunity to self-correct, and allowed us to, as they say, not let a ‘perfectly good crisis go to waste’. But in order to do that, we needed to have given our full attention to those things that are worth finishing. Read the transcript of The ...
Jul 10, 2021•7 min•Ep. 86
Usually, it is the inverse of J. R. R. Tolkien’s aphorism from The Fellowship of the Ring that we hear: ‘all that glitters isn’t gold’. However, his quote more aptly points us to what we should keep in mind when investing: "all that is gold does not glitter". We shouldn’t be fooled by what something costs. We can pay far too much for far too little–career, property, what makes us happy. Yet, there may also be opportunities where we will give everything we have to something whose value is incalcu...
May 22, 2021•6 min•Ep. 85
“Without proper self-evaluation, failure is inevitable.” – John Wooden (a warning he made in Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court when our excuses interfere with our ability to evaluate ourselves.) Wooden echoes the bolder statement made by Socrates that “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Which is to say, that a life worth living is only possible when examined. How could one argue that they are truly living if not for introspection? Read the transcript ...
May 15, 2021•6 min•Ep. 84
While God is capable of granting our every request, He is especially pleased to grant our request for discernment and understanding. Solomon first worships God before humbly approaching Him to ask not for fame and fortune, but to know right and wrong so that he may lead God’s people, and influence others, honorably. Read the transcript for The Kind of Request That Pleases God Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email...
May 08, 2021•8 min•Ep. 83
Solomon’s request of God for wisdom teaches us that more important than asking good questions is that we ask the right questions of the right person. Solomon made two very important requests of God and did so after properly positioning his heart to receive God’s response. Read the transcript for Solomon Makes His Request for Wisdom Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email...
May 01, 2021•7 min•Ep. 82
Solomon’s first missteps as King are a reminder to us that our obedience cannot be partial. When that is the case, our hearts become divided and our lives a contradiction to what exercising God’s power and wisdom truly looks like. Read the transcript for Solomon's Missteps as King Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email
Apr 24, 2021•7 min•Ep. 81
David loved his son Solomon. In wanting the very best for him, he gave his son–and us–the wisest counsel a person could ever give to someone they cared about. To realize the potential of what God has called us to be, we must heed the charge that David gives his son Solomon: walk in God’s ways. Read the transcript for Walk in God's Ways: David's Charge to Solomon Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email...
Apr 16, 2021•9 min•Ep. 80
The rise and fall of Solomon centers on how a divided heart can destroy a kingdom. It is imperative that we follow God’s ways in order to see God’s desired outcomes. Read the transcript for The Rise and Fall of Solomon Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email
Apr 05, 2021•10 min•Ep. 79
Asking for wisdom is necessary, but asking the right person is crucial. King Solomon’s demonstrates for us that we should not only be willing, but that we ask for wisdom from the right person. Read the transcript for Ask for Wisdom as Solomon Asked for Wisdom Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email.
Mar 27, 2021•6 min•Ep. 78
I think it goes without saying—the world we live in is increasingly wolf-infested, and growing more so by the week. While we have our challenges and opposition to face, one could argue that the disciples had it even worse. Setting aside their obvious lack of creature comforts and technological advances, they were surrounded by a hostile culture and government—I have yet to hear of anyone in these times threatened with being thrown to the lions. Regardless, we too are being sent out into this wor...
Mar 20, 2021•5 min•Ep. 77
Marriage was designed as the sole place for the purpose of venery to be satisfied. At least what Franklin points out—personal health and the wellbeing of a family—are realized when the expression of our sexual desires remains within the context of marriage. If not for chastity, our unbridled expression leads to depletion. We’ll have less excitement, strength, peace, reputation, and most discouragingly, less to offer our spouse in marriage. Read the transcript for Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues -...
Feb 21, 2021•8 min•Ep. 76
Clean, like, really clean—the way mom would clean something—is clean in back, and underneath, not just where someone might see. To do that, you need to pick up whatever you’re cleaning and inspect it. Cleanliness is being thoughtful, meticulous–and thorough. A quick dusting just doesn’t cut it. While most of the virtues are applicable across our lives, I find that this one, in particular, is made for “wisdom in all things”. It necessarily applies to our minds, bodies, and souls. But more than a ...
Feb 12, 2021•5 min•Ep. 75
Franklin’s admonition is to “keep calm and carry on”. We can’t allow trifles and those events and circumstances that are common and unavoidable to trip us up or pull us away from what is actually important. The inability to find tranquility can develop into a perpetual state of being perturbed. Read the transcript for Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues - Tranquility Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email...
Feb 12, 2021•9 min•Ep. 74
Both Merriam-Webster and Franklin are in direct opposition to the mindset, and behavior, of exactly where our culture has been tracking for some time. Now, moderation is what you avoid, while extremes are what you embrace, pursue, live for—as if to argue that moderation is an extreme to be avoided. More to the point is that moderation is to be applied broadly. That is, we are to moderate the expression of our opinions, just as we moderate the consumption of ice cream. Read the transcript for Ben...
Jan 30, 2021•9 min•Ep. 73
Unfortunately, we don’t hear much of duty these days. I feel that the idea of duty has been absorbed and used as a form of narcissism. That is, we have a duty unto ourselves to ensure that we get justice. However, Benjamin rightly prescribed justice as being toward others. The responsibility we have to be “morally right and fair” is outward-facing. What he doesn’t state, but I believe he would agree with, is that our duty to others may mean a sacrifice on our part. Read the transcript for Benjam...
Jan 24, 2021•7 min•Ep. 72
We do have the option of not speaking. Fewer words are normally more prudent. And, our being “slow to speak” (James 1:19), gives speaking and acting with sincerity its truest aim. Franklin’s first four words ("Use no hurtful deceit") really describe a principle. The foundation on which we should first, govern what we think, and then, guide what may follow from those thoughts. Read the transcript for Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues - Sincerity Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email...
Jan 16, 2021•4 min•Ep. 71
First, consider that there must be no room for waste in being industrious. No minute is left unscrutinized or unaccounted for. If you’re going to spend any time, spend it constructively. Time is not lost or wasted, as long as we’re moving forward on what is worthwhile. Industry requires that we be vigilant as with a machete, whacking away at anything that resembles the unnecessary. Read the transcript for Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues - Industry Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email...
Jan 10, 2021•12 min•Ep. 70
There really are two aspects to enabling growth. Stop doing what you shouldn’t, and start doing what you should. It would be counterproductive to only do one or the other. Pursuing frugality should lead us to “backfill the hole”, but also produce a level of wealth and autonomy that puts us in the driver’s seat. Being free and clear puts us in a better position to say 'yes' when presented with the right opportunity. Having a choice is freeing! Read the transcript for Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtue...
Dec 05, 2020•7 min•Ep. 69
To not have the right understanding of what “ought” to be, you, well, end up with what Nike declared in 1978: Just Do It. What’s it? Anything you want it to be. Essentially, Benjamin is saying: get ‘it’ right–with conviction. Acknowledgment, or intellectual assent, is not the same as having a resolve. Like a soldier under command, our conviction should lead to the commitment of carrying out the right course of action. Read the transcript for Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues - Resolution Sign up fo...
Nov 29, 2020•5 min•Ep. 68
Benjamin hoped having order “would allow [him] more time for attending to [his] project and [his] studies.” To ensure that order would allow him the space to tackle more pressing and valuable concerns. I was immediately taken by the fact that he had an excellent morning routine, not to mention that he allowed 3 hours for it! He started his day with the proper order of things. Read the transcript for Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues - Order Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email...
Nov 22, 2020•5 min•Ep. 67
