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 Proverbs 15:5  A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who receives correction is prudent. (NKJV)

At times, children can be hard-headed and disobedient.  Whether a toddler or a grown adult, the level of disobedience may demand varying degrees of penalty or correction.  Whatever the case; receive the correction from your father so that you may mature and become wise.  
When Pete was five years old, his mom and dad divorced.  Pete’s mom changed their names, moved out of state, and against the will of the court; refused to allow his father to have contact.  For years, Pete could only dream what life might have been like if his dad was a part of his life.  After years of searching, Pete was 23 years old when his father finally located him.  Although their reunion was icy, they agreed to make an attempt at starting a father-son relationship.  Although they were separated for 18 years, Pete’s father loved him very much and would offer guidance and monetary resources to assist Pete in everyday life situations.   However, in order to hurt his father; Pete would reject his father’s sound loving advice and do the opposite.  Eventually, Pete’s actions got him fired from three jobs within one year, and a 4-year sentence for domestic violence.  You must listen to your father’s instruction; even when it hurts you to do so!   

 Proverbs 1:10   My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. (NIV)          Why is it so easy to be a follower?  Perhaps it’s because following does not require much leadership.  Simply following may also reduce your level of accountability.  So you may think!

Mark was a friendly kid who achieved good grades in school and was highly respected.  He planned to join the U.S. Army in a few months.  However, Mark was very impressionable and liked to fit in with others. One day, a friend named Larry, proposed they steal an expensive bike from a nearby store.  Larry had stolen two bikes from the same store in the previous 6 months.  Besides, Larry offered Mark half the proceeds after he sold the stolen bike.  The thought of easy money was enticing.  Mark and Larry went to a party, drank beer until they were intoxicated, then decided to steal a bike.  Buzzed on “liquid courage”, they actually stole 3 bikes worth a total of $2,200.  They were able to get four blocks away before being apprehended by police officers.  Mark was ultimately charged and convicted of felony theft and DUI.  Due to Mark’s felony convictions, he could no longer serve in our military.  Mark’s life-altering tragedy could have been avoided if he would have resisted the wickedly enticing words of his friend.

By the spring of 2017, it had been awhile since the iOS and Android apps were available on the App Store and Google Play.  Until that point, I was the only person who researched, developed, managed, determined spending, and authorized the direction for which the vision would go.  That would not have been a bad “idea” if God had given me all of the wisdom, knowledge, understanding to fulfil the vision on my own.  However, during this season, I determined I would no longer continue to haphazardly throw money here and there or execute random ideas without wise counsel.  I still knew that God had given me a vision and that the vision would manifest.  However, I determined I could not  get there on my own with my limited expertise.  I began reading books that focused on learning to apply sound business and financial principles to my profession.   After that, I learned about Hustle Phx 101 and quickly enrolled.  During the course, I met an instructor, Todd Davis, of Ideaology Consulting Group who expressed an interest in helping me grow the Wisdomantics vision.  I now have access to a team who can give the expertise I have lacked for so long.  I believe God is ready to do what I could never have imagined!

Sales for the Wisdomantics DVD interactive board game never gained any substantial traction.  Initially, shipments were processed from the Grand Prix International (GPI) warehouse in Massachusetts. In January of 2015, GPI informed me that I would have to move my games from their warehouse by March. I felt as though I had gone from being slapped in the face to being punched in the gut.  So, this was the point that I enacted plan D.  The 4,700 or so remaining games were then shipped to 3 separate Amazon distribution centers throughout the U.S.  I just knew that this was a blessing in disguise and that sales would soar through the roof.  Yes, as you guessed, this would not be the case.  It cost more to store the games in the distribution centers than I was earning in monthly sales.  As a result, I had to make the ultimate decision to create a removal order to destroy my games in the Amazon distribution centers.  There was even a substantial cost for that!  Why would God give me a vision, let me work on it for now approximately 9 ½ years, then watch me destroy the games due to lack of sales?  I don’t know.  Why do fools fall in love? I do know that I once again had to step back, re-access the situation, and come back with a renewed fighting spirit.  I sought some wise counsel from a marketing expert and she thought I had a great game concept but that I needed to develop Wisdomantics into an app.  Although that wasn’t the first time I heard that, it would be the last time before I determined I needed to make that immediate change.  I contacted Sharkfuel, a subsidiary of Net-Craft.com in the fall of 2015 and discovered that they could transform my board game into an iOS app.  After much work and determination, the iOS app was available on the App Store in the spring of 2016.  The Android app was available on Google Play in the winter of 2016.  The apps are available now for $1.99 and include proverbs from both the NIV and NKJV.

In January of 2014, I received a shipment of 5, 000 DVD games from Grand Prix International!  This was an exciting experience!  My vision first developed into a prototype, then years later into a fully operational DVD interactive board game!  I was on top of the world.  However, I had not done my homework years earlier.  Apps began to be developed around 2006.  God first inspired me to work on the vision, (game based upon the proverbs of Solomon) in 2000.  If I had developed a DVD interactive game at that time, it might have been a hit.  There was a shrinking market for DVD games when Wisdomantics was finally produced in 2014.  By that time, I had already invested tens of thousands into a project that was not going anywhere.  Your disobedience can cost you time, money, relationships, and much more.  Again, this was another costly lesson learned as I continue to pursue the vision that I know is God-given and God-driven.  Should I have given up and thrown in the towel?  No, I simply took a step back, reassessed the situation, and came back with a renewed fighting spirit.  God told me to make a game based upon the book of Proverbs.  He did not tell me how to make it or what it would look like.  Looking back, I should have done more research before determining the technology I should have pursued in 2006.  Nonetheless, God has not given up on me and I have not given up on Him!  Later, in 2014, God blessed me with my wife Nickona!  You see, God does give you beauty for your ashes!  Nickona has become my biggest supporter and we are continuing to grow and develop our family as well as the vision.  I am truly blessed to have her as my wife!

In 2012, I signed a contract with an unnamed game manufacturer in the U.S.  I paid a $18,105 down payment for them to manufacture 2,500 DVD games.  This company later breached the contract after they failed to mold a high-quality game piece to agreed specifications.  Afterward, I learned the owner was already in divorce proceedings and facing bankruptcy. After having retained an attorney, I sued them and discovered it could be years before a trial.  The manufacturer effectively had my hands and money tied.  Eventually, I settled for $4,905. In total, I lost $13,200 to this “Christian” company.  There may come a time when you must trust people with your vision, company, or affairs.  Although you may have ownership, you may need individuals to develop materials, market your product, manage your business, and/or provide professional assistance.  You must trust someone!  I prayed on many occasions throughout that nightmare and I can only say that God gave me the ability to endure that trial and excel through that dismal situation.  I believe God made me stronger and wiser through that situation as He works all things for our good.  By the grace of God, I could take those lemons and make lemonade!  Don’t allow anyone or anything to keep you from accomplishing your dreams!  With God’s help, your test will become your testimony!

My wife Patricia and I were married in 1992. We had two children together.  We were two hardworking parents who tried their best to raise a family with Christian values.  On September 22, 2006, my wife was the first to receive a call regarding my encounter with God.  Although she knew I wasn’t a drug user, she probably thought someone added too much special sauce on my cheeseburger!  Nevertheless, she neither mocked nor belittled me.  She simply did her best to support me and pray for the vision.  On the other hand, I had to know that this was my vision and I couldn’t expect anyone to feel as passionate as me.  I worked on the vision for several years as Patricia played more of a supportive and collaborative role in the development of King Solomon’s Revenge.  However, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon cancer in the spring of 2009.  When it was discovered, it had already metastasized to her liver and lungs. She had an operation and then endured several rounds of chemotherapy.  At times, her condition would greatly improve, and we would give praise to God.  However, we would also give God praise each day in the end when her health steadily declined.  Patricia’s battle ended when she went to be with the Lord in 2011.  She is now in perfect peace enjoying the blessings of heaven!  What do you do when God has a plan for you and the carpet is yanked from under your feet?  Should I give up on my dreams, and blame God?  No, I took time to grieve, then continued with the vision for my life.  After all, that’s what Patricia wanted me to do as well.

In the summer of 2000, I believe the Lord directed me to develop a game based on the proverbs of Solomon. Feeling unqualified and ill-equipped, I decided to do nothing except began reading one chapter of Proverbs each day.  On Friday, September 22, 2006, I was praying around 6 pm and I had a life-altering experience with God. Essentially, He gave me another opportunity to do what He asked me to do 6 years earlier.  Immediately, I knew this was from God and that I was equipped for the task.  I visited several Christian bookstores and told them I was looking for a game based on the proverbs of Solomon.  Amazingly, none of them knew of such a game!  At that point, I knew this was my mission and that God would be with me along the way.  Not knowing how the game would look or play, I prayed for direction and developed step-by-step rules, concepts, and mechanisms.  Within 7 months, I had a working game prototype and copyright.  The game was initially called, “King Solomon’s Revenge”! I am happy to know we serve a God who knows us better than we know ourselves. Sure, I was under qualified and an unlikely pick.  That’s why I can give God all the praise and honor because it all belongs to Him!

My wife Patricia and I were married in 1992. We had two children together.  We were two hardworking parents who tried their best to raise a family with Christian values.  On September 22, 2006, my wife was the first to receive a call regarding my encounter with God.  Although she knew I wasn’t a drug user, she probably thought someone added too much special sauce on my cheeseburger!  Nevertheless, she neither mocked nor belittled me.  She simply did her best to support me and pray for the vision.  On the other hand, I had to know that this was my vision and I couldn’t expect anyone to feel as passionate as me.  I worked on the vision for several years as Patricia played more of a supportive and collaborative role in the development of what I initially called King Solomon’s Revenge.  Years later, I changed the name to Wisdomantics.  Patricia was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon cancer in the spring of 2009.  When it was discovered, it had already metastasized to her liver and lungs. She had an operation and then endured several rounds of chemotherapy.  At times, her condition would greatly improve, and we would give praise to God.  However, we would also give God praise each day in the end when her health steadily declined.  Patricia’s battle ended when she went to be with the Lord in 2011.  She is now in perfect peace enjoying the blessings of heaven!  What do you do when God has a plan for you and the carpet is yanked from under your feet?  Should I give up on my dreams, and blame God?  No, I took time to grieve, then continued with the vision for my life.  After all, that’s what Patricia wanted me to do as well.

How is 2017 beginning for you? Each New Year is a time for celebration and new beginnings. Even when the previous year has been full of bad news, bad deals, bad vibes, and bad attitudes, the New Year brings hope for a fresh start and better outcomes. Here’s a bit of good news for you!

Wisdomantics is available with brand new features for an even more engaging and entertaining experience. When you encounter the wisdom of the book of Proverbs through Wisdomantics you will feel empowered and encouraged; feelings which may be desperately needed in times of stress and storm. Today’s world can be frightfully depressing, but you don’t have to let it get you or your family down.

Every year the media is full of stories about holiday depression. There’s a myth that more suicides are committed during the Christmas season than any other time of year. Researchers have studied the phenomena and discovered that suicide rates actually decline a little before Christmas. In fact, statistics from the CDC prove that the suicide rates are somewhat lower during November, December and January. Yet, the myth persists.

Myths notwithstanding, many people still experience depression during this time of year. For some it has to do with Season Affective Disorder or SAD. Lack of light can depress the mood of a person suffering from this disorder. Using a special light daily can help and possibly eliminate the problem. There are individuals who are predisposed to depression through heredity. An episode may be triggered by stress. We all know the stress that can be brought on by the holidays. Those who have recurring bouts of major depression whether during the holidays or any other time should seek the help they need.

Many people who experience sadness during the holidays will find that the blues will lift. According to Myrna Weissman, Ph.D., a member of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, people who don’t have major depression disorders may be experiencing a transient episode of depression. Positive experiences and interactions with close relatives and friends may dispel the doldrums.

Coming together with family and friends doesn’t need to be limited to special occasions. When you’re feeling down, reaching out to someone and sharing a good time is like medicine for the weary soul. Having fun does not need to be expensive either. Going for a walk or spending time outdoors in a natural environment is good for uplifting a blue mood. Put on some upbeat music and you’ll be surprised at how good it can make you feel.

Take time to make a pizza or share a bowl of popcorn and watch a funny movie together; quality time can cause the blues to evaporate.  Engage a loved one in a conversation about good times, hopes and aspirations. Create something together. Sitting down with crayons and paper for a coloring session can provide just the therapy you need to eliminate those sad feelings.

Gather friends or family together for a game night. There is something about laughter and comradery that dissipates the blues. Wisdomantics is a perfect game for such an occasion. With new features to make it even more entertaining, Wisdomatics is available on Google Play and the App store. For less than the cost of a value meal at your local fast food restaurant you can enjoy playing a game that is not only fun to play, but it is also informative.

Today’s society leaves a lot to be desired and that alone is enough to make a person feel defeated and blue. Why not let the wisdom of the book of Proverbs sustain you and lift you up through the fun of Wisdomantics while having a good time with family and friends! Download Wisdomantics today and let the wisdom of Solomon chase your blues away.