The Wisdom Chronicle is designed to bring nuggets of wisdom from the dozens of books I read every year in all genres. Each week, I endeavor to share the best of what I have gleaned. The determination of relevance lies with you. Blessings, Jim Whiddon

131. MEMORY “Scientists say that an average thought lasts no more than a minute before we lose it. What’s more, most of us find it impossible to learn more than one new concept every ten minutes.”

Excerpt From: Heinrichs, Jay. “Word Hero.”

132. WELFARE – BEN FRANKLIN “Benjamin Franklin, wrote: To relieve the misfortunes of our fellow creatures is concurring with the Deity; it is godlike; but, if we provide encouragement for laziness, and supports for folly, may we not be found fighting against the order of God and nature, which perhaps has appointed want and misery as the proper punishments for, and cautions against, as well as necessary consequences of, idleness and extravagance? Whenever we attempt to amend the scheme of Providence, and to interfere with the government of the world, we had need be very circumspect, lest we do more harm than good.”

Excerpt From: Ben Carson, M.D. “America the Beautiful.”

133.  POWER OF THE GOSPEL “We offer moralism as the remedy for behavioral problems. The gospel offers grace. What we call an addiction the cross calls slavery.”

Excerpt From: Byron Forrest Yawn. “What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him.”

134.  BEWARE SUCCESS An old hillbilly went to the city one day and as he was walking down the street of the city he happened to see a department store with a leopard coat in the display window. The price of the leopard coat was $25,000. He said, “That ole cat was a whole happier before he was worth so much.” That is true of many of us. – Unknown

135. WISDOM VS FOLLY “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). Suppose you purchased a small vial of expensive perfume, took it home, and put it in a safe spot. Sometime later, you opened the vial and discovered a dead horsefly floating on top. The insect, now partially decayed, had putrefied the precious perfume. This is the source of the well-known phrase, a fly in the ointment. It’s Solomon’s vivid way of illustrating how a tiny bit of foolishness can destroy the powerful fragrance of a person’s dignity and reputation.”

Excerpt From: Jeremiah, David. “Searching for Heaven on Earth.”

136. TEAMWORK  “The purpose of an organization is to enable common men to do uncommon things.”

Excerpt From: Peter F. Drucker. “The Daily Drucker.”

137. LIFE IS SHORT

“Life is just a minute—only sixty seconds in it.

Forced upon you—can’t refuse it.

Didn’t seek it—didn’t choose it.

But it’s up to you to use it.

You must suffer if you lose it.

Give an account if you abuse it.

Just a tiny, little minute,

But eternity is in it!”

–Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mayes

138. LOVE “In my mind only pride can keep a father from telling his son he loves him. Characterize it as simplicity or stoicism, but it’s still pride” “You’re supposed to tell the people you love that you love them. Expressing affection is part of our makeup as human beings. Some men may see it as weakness, but this way of thinking is attached to a wrong understanding of masculinity. Biblical masculinity includes passion.”

Excerpt From: Byron Forrest Yawn. “What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him.”

139. CONTENTMENT is looking back without regret, looking at the present without envy and looking at the future without fear.

–Ron Blue

140. WHO IS GOD? “He is tri-personal, one God in three persons, one What in three Whos.” “God is distinct from His creation. He isn’t a part of it; it isn’t a part of Him. He didn’t “arise” from it; it didn’t “arise” from Him. He spoke, and where nothing was before, it was.”

Excerpt From: Budziszewski, J. “How to Stay Christian in College.”