Better than Gold or Silver

It seems we can't turn on the news without hearing about our current financial crisis in some way. People all over the world are understandably stressed about finances from retirement accounts to unemployment, to simply putting food on the table.

I read Proverbs 16 today and this verse stood out to me:

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

God promises he will take care of us, and further tells us to focus on wisdom and understanding.

Question of the day: Are you letting stress about money keep you from seeking Him first?

Make Insight Your Priority

In reading Proverbs 2 this morning, I liked how it really makes a case for seeking wisdom and understanding. It first tells us to make it a priority, then tells us why, and finally provides some stark contrast between the results of living with wisdom and not walking straight.

Proverbs 2

Make Insight Your Priority

1-5 Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That's right—if you make Insight your priority,
and won't take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

6-8 And here's why: God gives out Wisdom free,
is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
He's a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

9-15 So now you can pick out what's true and fair,
find all the good trails!
Lady Wisdom will be your close friend,
and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion.
Good Sense will scout ahead for danger,
Insight will keep an eye out for you.
They'll keep you from making wrong turns,
or following the bad directions
Of those who are lost themselves
and can't tell a trail from a tumbleweed,
These losers who make a game of evil
and throw parties to celebrate perversity,
Traveling paths that go nowhere,
wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends.

16-19 Wise friends will rescue you from the Temptress—
that smooth-talking Seductress
Who's faithless to the husband she married years ago,
never gave a second thought to her promises before God.
Her whole way of life is doomed;
every step she takes brings her closer to hell.
No one who joins her company ever comes back,
ever sets foot on the path to real living.

20-22 So—join the company of good men and women,
keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths.
It's the men who walk straight who will settle this land,
the women with integrity who will last here.
The corrupt will lose their lives;
the dishonest will be gone for good.

A reminder about Grace

Isaac & Dan, God reminded me this morning not to forget all his wonderful acts of grace.  It's so easy to fall into guilt over mistakes, and forget to marvels of His "Grace that has brought me (us)  safe thus far - and marvel that his grace will lead me (us) home.  Love you guys Dad

Commit whatever you do to the LORD

I had previously blogged about Proverbs 16:3, and it hit me again this morning: "3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

In addition to the center of my life, which is my growing family, I have a lot on my plate at work right now. At times it feels like more than I can fit my head or my arms around. This verse is a great reminder of the importance of living with the intent to serve God and commit every effort to Him. 

In Ephesians 6:7, we read: "7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,". It can be difficult at times to keep this perspective when focused on day-to-day "mundane" tasks, yet this doesn't say "when at church, serve wholeheartedly," or "when doing spiritual work, serve..." No, this implies that in everything we do, we should do it with all of our hearts. Colossians 3:23 states: "22-25Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work." 

• We are called to a higher standard in every area of our lives. 
  
• Are you committing your familiy, work, and everything you do to God? 
  
• Even in the mundane, are you committed to "Do your Best." to "Work from the heart for your real Master?"
  

Got Wisdom? ASK!

Proverbs 4:7 (NIV): "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."

As previously mentioned, this theme of "getting wisdom" is seen throughout Proverbs. This verse associates a cost with getting understanding, and it raises the question, "how?" How does one "get wisdom?" How does a person "get understanding?"

I believe the answers to those questions are very multifaceted and are discussed throughout Proverbs, but I like how the following verses in James break it down into something very simple... in a word, James advises us: ASK!

James 1:5-8 - "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open."

Growing up, my dad had Isaac and I pray for "Wisdom and strength like Joseph and Daniel in the Bible."

So, in a word, today's thought is "ASK." Ask for wisdom. Ask for understanding. It is God's will to have these things. He wants us to be living intentionally, for Him, rather than being "adrift" with no purpose.

Are you consistently praying for (ASKING) for wisdom and understanding?

GPS Built In

SO, this morning I am walking to work while blogging on my phone. Conclusion... we are in the 21st century. and I am a bit of a geek.

But that has almost nothing to do with today... almost. I'll explain below.

As a relatively new parent, thinking about how my kids will "turn out" is to be quite honest, a bit scary.

I found this verse encouraging today:

Proverbs 22:6 Point your kids in the right direction�when they're old they won't be lost

This brings me back to my "walkblogging." This phone has a built in GPS chip. On a recent trip, it helped us to navigate the California coastline, avoiding wildfires an even showing where to find the cheapest gas.

To me, this verse tells me that as parents, our role is to help program that GPS chip built into our kids. They will still have to learn to use it, and they will still lose their way, but they will have what it takes to find their way.

With God's help and no small amount of assistance from a couple of great parents who have always helped me to find my way, I'll be able to do the same for my kids.

Thanks mom and dad!

Take charge of the unruly child in your workplace

Wisdom is the theme of this blog, and it is the running message in Proverbs, which tells us to seek after wisdom, as if we were seeking for hidden treasure.

What does this really mean? In the months since I've started this blog, I have begun to gain a better understanding of how seeking wisdom might work on a day-to-day basis. To me, it means looking around at the familiar, seeking new insight. It means reading something I've read dozens of times and suddenly learning something new. This is one of the reasons I have enjoyed getting back into reading Proverbs regularly. Each time I read it, something new sticks out. Today is no exception.

Proverbs 17:2 (The Message) "A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child and is honored as one of the family."

Today, this verse actually made me think of the workforce. I do a lot of work looking at management practices and leadership development, and one thing I see a lot is a lack of initiative and people taking ownership in their roles. The bigger an organization gets, there tends to be a silo effect and a pervasive attitude of "that's not my job," or "that is someone else's problem".

I see true leaders shed these attitudes and take on the role described in this verse of the honored servant. They take the bull by the horns and take ownership in addressing issues that may or may not be "their job."

Whether it is from being overwhelmed and overworked, or simply not wanting to take risks, or being limited by title or position, the majority do not step out on a limb and show initiative to take charge when no one else is.

I see the word servant being a key and critical concept here. This is not about a hero stepping up and then receiving accolades. This is about having a servant mentality about getting things done, about handling the unruly child, and ultimately being honored and respected for it.

1) When do you tend to "silo" yourself in the workplace or in other areas of your life?
2) Where could you better apply the principle of being a servant and reaching out to help with the "unruly" issues you could make a difference by addressing?
3) If there are issues you are unable to do anything about because of your position, your title, or your situation, how can you serve those and communicate with those who can do something about them? (Rather than just complaining about the obnoxious, unruly child).

Leadership development in Proverbs

I am a "self help guy". The leadership development guy. Yes, that means I go to THAT section in the bookstore. I read stuff like "7 Habits" and "21 irrefutable laws of leadership". I'm that guy.

In reading this morning's passage, what sticks out to me is the simplicity of the advice shared in this chapter about leadership.

Proverbs 16:

"It Pays to Take Life Seriously

10 A good leader motivates,
doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.

11 God cares about honesty in the workplace;
your business is his business.

12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds;
sound leadership has a moral foundation.

13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech;
they love advisors who tell them the truth.

14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives;
you're smart to stay clear of someone like that.

15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives;
they're like spring rain and sunshine.

I find it interesting that here in the Old Testament, these principles for business and leadership are laid out for us. These ideas have not changed over the years, and it would seem obvious that the fact they were written then means there were some of the same problems then in leadership and business.

1. What kind of a leader are you in your environment? (Whether you have a formal leadership role or not).
2. What would those around you say about your leadership?
3. Are those around you better for having worked with you?

A little less talk, a lot more action

Proverbs 27: "1 Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow. 2 Don't call attention to yourself; let others do that for you."

This one reminds me of the song that has the lyrics "A little less talk, a lot more action".

We are defined by what we do much more than by what we say. Set goals. Move forward. Demonstrate results.

Tears dried by the years

Today I have a meeting downtown and I rode my bike to a coffeehouse downtown. For some reason, this morning as I made my way downtown I was struck more than usual by the faces of the people who tend to populate Colfax. I saw the temp agency full of workers getting ready to start their day, hoping for a good job with a good day's pay. I saw people standing in the street, and I passed by people walking nowhere.

I spend a lot of time on Colfax, but this morning for whatever reason, these things stood out to me much more than usual. Some words came to mind as I rode, so I opened my computer to write them down, then read today's chapter of Proverbs, which tied right into what I was thinking.

I stopped today to see people instead of see through them.
Behind vacant stares I see a life lived through many hard years
I see hope drained away with streams of now dried up tears.

Regret and scars remain as stains.
Sharp pains dulled by time
Joy is a distant memory covered by pain

Life is now about surviving.
About making memories go away.
Of making it through the night and living again for another day.

Proverbs 19:7 When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
out of sight, out of mind."

I don't know about you, but I often "look the other way" to avoid possibly making eye contact with people who are down on their luck. Why is this? Are we afraid of what we will see? Are we afraid it will jolt us out of our comfortable reality?

19:17 Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.

This verse is a promise and a challenge to us. It reminds me of the work Isaac and Brit are doing in Sierra Leone. God will surely bless them richly.

What are you doing to show mercy to the needy? Who are the needy in your life? Your city's homeless? A friend? Family members? What do you have to offer? Is it money? Gifts? Time? Or is it just eye contact and a smile?

Check your motivation at the door

Proverbs 16:2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

How often are you honestly critical of your own motives?
Do you assess this during conflict?
Prior to a confrontation?
Before making decisions?

Prayer: Lord, please help me to see clearly when my motives don't align with your Truth.

Happy Father's Day!

It's been said that "any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad." Today is Father's day, and I wanted to use this post to share a few thoughts on the topic. More specifically, about my dad, whose desire to instill a desire for wisdom in his sons is the reason for this blog

Today I read in Proverbs 15:20 "A wise son brings joy to his father..."

Well Dad, I hope that we have and will continue to bring joy to you. You have done so much for Isaac and I and I am sure I can speak for him when I say that I hope we are both able to be the kind of father you have been to us.

You have been there for us all the time. You taught us to value and seek wisdom. You taught us how to be men. You showed us how to be loving fathers.

As I write this, I'm sitting beside Grace, and I truly hope I am able to instill the same things in her as she grows up as you did in me.

Happy Father's Day!

Wisdom got your tongue?

There is a lot said in Proverbs about self control, and specifically about controlling the tongue.

Proverbs 11:
12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret."

1) Think of recent times at work or elsewhere when you could have held your tongue but didn't. What would have happened if you had exhibited this level of self control?
2) How well do you keep secrets? Can you be trusted?
3) When are you challenged with betraying confidence or gossiping?

Don't waste your breath on fools

I spent the week doing training with a great group of leaders. It was refreshing to see their desire to learn, grow and develop throughout the week, as that level of passion and interested that is not always there in people I have worked with.

When I saw this verse today, it stuck out to me.

Proverbs 9;: "7-12 If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you'll get slapped in the face;
confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
So don't waste your time on a scoffer;
all you'll get for your pains is abuse.
But if you correct those who care about life,
that's different—they'll love you for it!
Save your breath for the wise—they'll be wiser for it;
tell good people what you know—they'll profit from it."

Our CEO says that we look for people with three qualities: 1) Intelligence, 2) Integrity, and 3) Passion... the rest can be taught. I think this approach is backed up by this passage.

1. As a leader, are you focusing your efforts on building up people who will truly be better for your efforts?
2. How do you make that distinction and know when it is really worth your time?
3. How do you keep this advice from turning into elitism, pride and condescending attitudes?

The beginning of Wisdom Class

Today as I read Proverbs 3, I thought I'd make a note of the verse that started Wisdom Class.

The verse is Proverbs 3:21: In the Living Bible paraphrase, it says "Have two goals: wisdom, which is knowing and doing what's right, and common sense."

Here it is in some other translations:

NLT: 21 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
don't for a minute lose sight of them.

NIV: 21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;

Anyway, this is the foundation for this blog, and according to much of Proverbs, this should be the focus of our lives, pursuing common sense and the understanding of how to "know and do what is right" (Wisdom).

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Looking for nuggets in all the right places

Passage Lookup: Proverbs 30;

As I was reading Proverbs 30 this morning, which is a collection of words from Agur Ben Yakeh (I have no idea who Agur is, but that's a pretty cool name), I found it interesting to see this disparate set of advice. I imagine these words were bits of wisdom he collected throughout his life, about everything from God's unfailing word to lessons in nature, to not starting fights.

I was told by a mentor a long time ago that I should always ask people whom I respect what their "nuggets" of wisdom are? If they could pick their top three pieces of advice, what would they be? In her case, she shared some basic lessons about decision making (the 24 hour rule), to learning to discern between good, better and best opportunities. These were little things that have stuck with me.

Another mentor of mine, Joe Martin, sums this up well in his "OPE Principle". He says that experience is not the best teacher, but rather "Other People's Experience" is the best teacher. Learn from others life lessons.

1) What are some of your core principles? What are your "Nuggets"?
2) Who in your life can you ask about what their nuggets or pearls of wisdom are?

Listen to rebukes... or be DESTROYED? Yikes.

Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy."

Today's post correlates well to yesterday's post about giving rebukes. It helps when on the other end of the equation to receive them effectively. This is a great reminder on the importance of accepting critical feedback and honestly assessing how we can improve. As I mentioned in the post about confrontation... I'm not always too good at it, and a rebuke is a type of confrontation. It is hard not to take a rebuke personally, even if it is delivered effectively. My immediate reaction tends to be taking it personally and/or getting defensive, rather than assessing what I can gain from honestly listening.

1. How do you typically react when you receive a "rebuke"?
2. Next time you receive an admonishment or correction, assess your response. What's your immediate reaction? Defensiveness, anger, retaliation, or honest self evaluation? (or perhaps all of the above)
   
3. How do you handle rebukes that you feel are not warranted? How do you respond?

Choosing a wise rebuke over empty flattery

BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Proverbs 28;: "23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue."

This verse stuck out to me today, because I tend to "sugar-coat" things when I have a confrontation to make. For a lot of reasons that I'm sure will be discussed later in this blog, I am very conflict avoidant. I seek harmony and avoid confrontation. This trait can be a blessing and a curse. It helps me be relationship-focused and bring people together, but it also can be very limiting.

To emphasize this point, the following are all direct quotes I've had directed toward me:

"You could tell me my grandmother had just died and I'd leave the conversation with a smile on my face"

"You are always on such an even keel"

"If you don't allow yourself to experience negative emotion, you'll never truly experience the positive. If you raise the floor above the lows, you also lower the ceiling and never experience the highs. Being on an even keel isn't always a good thing"

So, given my propensity for avoiding confrontation, which I tend to identify as "negative interaction," what are the keys for effectively following this proverb and rebuking when appropriate?

1) Check your motivation at the beginning. What is your end-game? What is your reason for the "rebuke" or confrontation? Is it simply to satisfy your anger, or is it for the benefit of the person you are confronting? Is it to hurt because you've been hurt, or is there a bigger picture outcome. If your heart is not in the right place, it may be best to wait.

2) Choose the right time, place and method for a rebuke or confrontation. Avoid doing it in a way that could be misinterpreted. Choose to wait if you are highly emotionally charged and waiting is possible. Don't rebuke in public.

3) Be willing to accept temporary discord when a rebuke is necessary. Follow up with the person later to focus on the relationship.

4) If you followed step 1, you don't need to apologize.

What does it really mean to "Sharpen one another?"

BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Proverbs 27;:

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

This verse is often used as a foundation for mentoring relationships, accountability groups and bible studies. The men's group I started at my church is called "IronMan Life Group", with this verse as the core of our mission.

On its surface, this concept is simple enough - we 'sharpen' one another, spurring one another to grow, to dig deeper, to be challenged.

The reality is a bit more complicated. I officiated my first wedding this weekend, and one of the points I shared was to "keep God at the center" going back to God's word as the "number 1 source". Again, this idea seems simple enough; have a God-centered marriage... but what does it really mean? What does it mean to "grow together in God?" What does it mean to make Him the "foundation" for your relationships?

I have been asking myself this question over the last few days since the wedding. How am I, after 8 years of marriage, putting God at the center of our marriage? In my IronMan life group, am I really doing anything to "sharpen" the other guys in the group?

I want to be someone who really does help to 'sharpen' those around me - to encourage them - to help them to grow.

While these questions focus around others; my wife, my friends, and even my family, I think the answer is even more close to home. The answer is me.

It's been said, "you can't lead others until you first lead yourself." I desire to put God at the center of my marriage and to encourage others around me, but the answer is not to focus on them first, but rather on my own walk with God.

• Am I striving to grow?
• Am I seeking out others to challenge me?
• Am I critically looking at the areas I need to change in my life?
• Am I asking for honest feedback from those who will give it to me?

The answer to all of the above is a definitive... sort of. I'm working on it.

Dear Lord, please help me to grow in You. Please show me where I need to change? Please draw me closer to you. Please make me the best husband, father, brother, son, and friend I can be. Please help me to glorify you and to encourage others as I grow.

Have Zeal... AND Knowledge

BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Proverbs 19: "2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
nor to be hasty and miss the way."

Shut up, wise guy! Proverbs 17:28

Proverbs 17: "28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

This verse always makes me laugh when I read it. I laugh because I think of the many times I have opened my mouth when keeping it shut would have served me SO much better.

I see this applying in every facet of life, from the workplace to marriage. It does not mean to constantly hold things in and bottle things up. Rather, it means to think before we speak.

Ask yourself:
1) Why am I about to share this? (what is your motivation?)
2) What could happen if I do share this? (Positive or negative)
3) What could happen if I do not share this? (Positive or negative)

BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Proverbs 16

BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Proverbs 16: "Proverbs 16

There are two verses in this chapter that have always stuck with me, and that my dad and I have talked about a number of times:

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

At first glance, they seem to be contradictory. Which one is it? Will God make our plans succeed if we commit them to him, or is he going to determine our steps regardless of how we plan our course?

The answer is... "YES."

This is a concept I know I'll never completely understand, but I believe God wans us to commit our plans to Him, and he WANTS us to succeed. At the same time, he is ultimately going to determine our steps and guide our paths. He wants to commune with us as we share with Him our plans, hopes and dreams, and he wants us to trust Him with those same plans, hopes and dreams, and know He will make clear our paths, and direct us in the best possible ways.

What do you think? How do you manage this balance?

A gentle answer turns away wrath - Proverbs 15:1

Proverbs 15: "1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

I have always thought this was amazing advice. As with much great advice, this little tip is easier said than done. The truth of this statement and consistency of its effectiveness is amazing to me.

Can you think of a time when a soft answer worked effectively?

Can you think of a time when a harsh word was not productive?

Leading by following - Proverbs 14:26

BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Proverbs 14: "26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge."

This verse out of Proverbs 14 struck me this morning.

Here it is in the "Message" translation: 26 The Fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children.

I don't know that I've read this verse since becoming a father myself, and now, as I'm expecting my 2nd in December, my perspective on life has certainly changed. Being a parent makes me think both about what I want I value in my own upbringing as well as what I want to do and who I want to be for my own children.

Setting this foundation for my children is something I want to do, and something my parents did for me. I know that this foundation helped me tremendously over the years. One thing about this verse that I think is interesting, is that it doesn't talk about instilling the Fear of God into your children, but rather it implies leading by example. It implies that if we have this in our own lives, our children become benefactors.

I have often said in relation to leadership the following: "In order to lead others, you must first lead yourself." In looking at this Scripture, I suppose a more biblical perspective would be to say: "In order to lead others (in this case children), you must first lead yourself by following God."

Discipline, Kindness and Annoyances | Proverbs 12

The first daily discipline I remember learning from my dad through Wisdom Class is to read a chapter of Proverbs every day (with 31 chapters, it's a perfect book to go through once a month).

Well, it's been a while since I have done this consistently, and as I do it, I am going to post some thoughts from the verses I read.

Here are today's brief thoughts from Proverbs 12:

Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

How often do we really put enough value on knowledge and the discipline required to gain that knowledge? This could be applied in our personal lives, professionally, and obviously spiritually.=

Proverbs 12:16 A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

This one struck me this morning. I can think of a number of times recently where I have let myself get annoyed or upset easily when being prudent and simply overlooking the issue would have been much more wise.

25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

How often are we intentionally kind to one another? I am going to strive to think more about this today and find ways to share kind words.

Praying for Wisdom and Strength

Dad, I remember talking about wisdom with you from a young age. For as long as I can remember, you taught me to pray for “wisdom and strength like Joseph and Daniel in the Bible.” I truly believe this focus on wisdom his what has helped me to grow into who I am today.

I am excited to revisit Wisdom Class, continue to grow, and hopefully share lessons that can benefit the readers of this blog.

The beginning of Wisdom Class

Hi my name is Mike Oltersdorf. I am here at Panera’s Bread beginning to write my first entry in computer for the new http://www.wisdomclass.com/ I'm very honored and thrilled to be working on this with my two wonderful sons - Daniel & Isaac who are both married and living lives that reflect God's answer to their prayers since they were very small. Every night starting when they were probably 3 years old, their mom and I would pray with them at bed time. The boys would ask God to make them strong and wise like Daniel and Joseph in the Bible. Daniel and Isaac had listened to stories about Daniel and Joseph over and over . . . the only 2 men in the Bible that God never recorded as missing their way.

One morning I was reading Proverbs chapter 3 in the Living Bible, when Daniel was about 8 and Isaac was 4 or 5 years old, one of the verses in that chapter jumped off the page. It said, Have two goals: wisdom, which is knowing and doing what's right, and common sense. So I told the boys that we were going to start a wisdom class.

Each night we will read a chapter in Proverbs and we would pick out verses that helped us learn more about knowing and doing what is right. Since that time I have seen the other side of the wisdom coin - which is foolishness and foley, losing my way at times. Yet, despite my many sins and failures, God has blessed wonderfully Daniel and Isaac with wisdom, discernment, and lots of common sense.

Daniel, Isaac and I would love to have you join in and tell us of your stories of how God has blessed you, as you have sought after wisdom. Enjoy with us this never ending search for Wisdom - which is knowing and doing what's right, and common sense.