Wisdom In All Things

I like to think of instinct as being a balance of the art and science of decision making.  The art comes with experience, and the science begins with the right decision making process and can be refined to allow you to make the best decision possible, in the least amount of time. Read the transcript for Better Instincts from Better Decision Making Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email

There is something to be said for focusing on what’s most important and what will have the greatest impact.  In that sense, you’re wise to make the most of it.  Are you?  When you consider that we have an audience with the One who controls all, created all, knows all, can grant all, shouldn’t we be sure to make it count?  A safe bet is a request for wisdom. Read the transcript for It is a Wise Req...

Intended to help the United States track terrorists and prevent any further terror attacks, the watch list can be a very helpful list. For someone on this list, every movement, conversation, and action is tracked, evaluated, and logged.  That level of scrutiny reveals an important lesson: something so dangerous needs to be monitored thoroughly and consistently. However, there is a watch list that...

A balanced approach to productivity could be in our being better about keeping focused on, and accomplishing, only what we need to--do well in doing only what you should be doing. So, as you think about your New Year's “wish list”, maybe hearing this side of productivity will come as a relief. Read the transcript for Doing Less, Slowing Down, Makes for the Happiest New Year Sign up for the Wisdom...

When God makes us wait, we too must lock on to what matters most, while ignoring our nagging questions and lingering doubt, which multiplies the longer we need to wait, and is further compounded when an answer is most urgently needed.  But we’ll also see that it is neither a solitary or sedentary endeavor. Read the transcript for What to do When God Makes You Wait Sign up for the Wisdom in All Thi...

It was Blaise Pascal that pointed to the “infinite abyss” in our souls and stated it could only be filled by God himself.  If he is right, then we could never put together a bucket list that would soothe this deep soul ache.  Indeed, it is only the abundant life that God provides that would truly satisfy. Read the transcript for The Bucket List is a Cover Up - Part 2 Sign up for the Wisdom in All...

There simply isn’t a bucket list that could account for the plentiful quantity and quality of life that Jesus provides.  When He provides life, is it life that is “all-around, “more than”, beyond what is anticipated, exceeding expectation, going past the expected limit.” –  Strong’s Concordance definition of “abundant” What would it look like to kick the bucket [list] for the abundant life? Read t...

“Judge not.”  It’s so useful.  A ready-made defense for any occasion.  This may very well be the reason why many believe the “judge not” verse to be one of the most widely misinterpreted verses.  How convenient to be able to throw a “judge not” at the end of your judgment. Read the transcript for Judge Not?  You be the Judge of That Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email

I like this definition of priority: “the right to take precedence…” Prayer certainly has that right.  Because of its value and benefit, it is set apart, above and before all things. Putting prayer in its proper place gives light to our path, and the ability to navigate its twists and turns.  Now, to put it in its proper place. Read the transcript for Finding the Inspiration to Make Prayer a Priori...

There is a right time to wait.  There is a right time to act.  This sensibility is an underlying trait of wisdom.  You certainly need to know what to do, but it requires that it be coupled with when it should be done. Read the transcript for Developing Poise - Keeping Your Cool When Things Get Hot Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email

This ‘5 Hour Rule’ could be considered a reductionist view of the more profound concept put forth by Cal Newport and detailed in his book “ Deep Work .”  For me, it was a fascinating look into the subject of mastery.  Newport explains how “it enables you to quickly (and deliberately) learn complicated new skills and produce high-value output at a high rate.” Here's how to set aside an hour a day o...

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”  Not half, or most, but ALL your heart. Trust–complete trust–is a thing to behold. Our minds tell us we shouldn’t have an issue with this, but our hearts drag their little feet. Read the transcript for The Ultimate Dare: Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email

Breaking through with the truth looks a lot like that scene in the movie where the main character is running toward the monster, while the whole of humanity is running the opposite direction in an attempt to escape.  Understood this way, ‘interesting’ probably won’t cut it.  Delivering the truth in a timely, compelling way in the face of opposition will be perceived as very peculiar. Read the tran...

Knowledge puffs up, if there is no place for it to go.   If we’re not doing anything with it, the heart grows weak, and the body… withers.  In other words, head knowledge should lead to action. James makes a pretty clear, bold statement about keeping it all in our heads: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” – James 1:22 (empha...

With self-improvement getting such attention this time of year, it might be too easy to hear ‘spiritual growth’ and think ‘self-improvement’.  Our ‘being better’ is not spiritual growth.  And, it probably doesn’t mean ‘doing more.’ The risk here is to get formulaic or throw a checklist or two together, but spiritual growth is first, and perhaps primarily, a question for the heart. Read the transcr...

"Goal setting has been such an important concept in the vernacular of success that some have come to view it as sacred.” – Mark Sanborn Thoughtful questions have been raised about goal setting that might not only temper our rush to bang out a list in time for the New Year but help us see beyond “the list” to the better pursuit of setting a vision for the New Year. Read the transcript for How About...

While most of us probably don’t wake up each morning looking for preventive cancer options, this bit of news should have us smiling all the way to the coffee machine: coffee helps protect against several cancers, reduces inflammation, increases mortality, and even helps mitigate sun damage.  We should also mind the downsides, but all-in-all, be sure to celebrate its goodness.  Read the transcript...

Certainly, the presidency, not to mention our form of government, matters.  As does exercising, with sincerity and understanding, our right to vote... when it comes to how we should live, does it really matter who is president, or for that matter, that we even have one? Read the transcript for Trump or Hilary or Does it Matter? Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email

Passionate perseverance.  It is grit distilled down to it’s simplest form.  Which is the focus of Part 2.  Passionately persevere (read: Be strong and courageous – Joshua 1:9) in doing those things that truly matter.  The life of wise is lived out in this way.  What defines us is not just what we do, but how we do it. Read the transcript for True Grit - Wisdom is Tough Business - Part 2 Sign up fo...

So, it looks like I have two options: stop reading, or, find a way to improve my working memory.  If you opt for the former, well, I guess you can go do something else.  But, if you’re facing facts, then we’ll move on to what we can do about remembering more, more quickly. Read the transcript for So Many Things, So Little Memory: Remember More, Faster Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email

Life has become a flywheel.  In all our efforts to be efficient and to do more, we’ve got that sucker spinning pretty good.  As Powell states above, busyness flows from our hearts.  So, we need to ask, Who or what would lead us to such hurriedness? There are those things that we have been called to do–and everything else.  The “everything else” is optional.  That allows us to thrive as we slow dow...

Angela Lee Duckworth discovered that the majority of successful people all shared one critical characteristic: grit. “Grit is… the passion, perseverance, and stamina that we must channel in order to stick with our dreams until they become a reality.” – Travis Bradberry I think it fair to consider using a ‘grit meter’ to help us look inward and appropriately evaluate neglected or underdeveloped are...

I will admit, things move a little slow in Deuteronomy and Leviticus.  But hey, those were slower times.  The thing is, God doesn’t do ‘unnecessary.’  Those books, along with the others, are meant as a whole, for our understanding of what He has chosen to reveal about Himself specifically.  And if we’re to handle life properly, we’ll need to understand what God says about how we should go about do...

Though I love being a morning person, there was a time when I didn’t have any choice. Working the morning show in radio requires, well, that you’re there in the morning–early in the morning.  Every. Single. Day. But now that I have the choice, it has become the best time of my day.  You might be saying, “Scott, it’ll never happen… Even if I wanted to.  Then I would ask that you do two things: give...

There is something inherently powerful about taking what you know and your unique experience, and doing some amazing things with it.   However, it is not for the effect of being amazing, but the need for the right action to be taken in even the most desperate situations.  It is a purposeful, beneficial response in the moment where we apply our knowledge precisely when needed–many times requiring a...