The Seasons of Life

Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time for the Right Reason

Sat. Aug. 4th 2012

Central Bible Church, 8815 N.E. Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97220

The Seasons of Life

There is a sequence to life. In spite of all the unique details of your circumstances, there is an arc of progression over time. It intersects with the key events of human experience; education, marriage, child birth, career, the empty nest, grandchildren and community building. Ready or not, here it comes.

This adventure takes place over the course of 70 to 80 years in four distinct Seasons. For men there are the seasons of the Scholar, the Householder, the Elder and the City Father. For women who marry there are the seasons of the Maiden, the Wife & Mother, the Older Woman and the City Father’s Wife or Widow. For both the seasons build one upon another. Wisdom comes by understanding how they relate to one another and how those in different seasons can assist one another.

It normally takes at least two generations of a family working together for their extended family household to become strong. Therefore, we strongly urge you to bring as many of your family members as possible (ages 13+). Teens, parents, adult siblings and grandparents can collaborate with one another to make everyone’s life much better.

This seminar is provided free of charge as our investment in you and your household. Others who have already benefited from its message, have generously helped to “send it forward” to you.

What Others Are Saying

“You can’t spend much time with the Harris children...without concluding that their parents have done something remarkable, and have earned the right to be heard.”
— Randy Alcorn, Author of Heaven and If God is Good

“Gregg Harris’ vision of family life is unmatched in its clarity, passion & practicality.”
— Nancy Pearcey, Author of: Total Truth and Saving Leonardo

“Anyone raising teenagers would benefit from spending some time with Gregg. It will be one of the most beneficial investments you could ever make in your family.”
Mike Smith, President, Home School Legal Defense Association

Make Your Reservations Today

Please sign up here or call or text 503-734-9996 to reserve seating for your party. You may also  email Gregg Harris

Click to open a PDF copy of The seasons of Life Brochure. Right-click and select "Save Link As..." to download.

Schedule of Sessons

1.The Seasons of Your Life
• 8:30 am Is everyone’s life unfolding in a generally predictable way? If so, why? Your decisions are already having consequences. You are reaping what you sow. In order to win any future prizes for yourself you must become a prize to others.

2. Moral Character Counts
•9:15 am “We want what we want, and we can’t change what we want, because... we don’t want to!” From this powerful insight we will learn how to break bad habits with the power that comes from the gift of good moral character.

•10:15 am Activity Break

3. A Household for All Seasons
• 10:45 am  Your household is far more than just your home. It is you and your family, your facilities, vehicles, financial interests, social standing and civic influence, all guided by the virtues, values and vision of the head of your household who holds and manages it as a sacred trust.

4. The Purpose of Your Marriage
• 11:30 am  It’s never too early, or too late, to prepare for a good marriage. By humbly understanding and “loving the differences” between a man and a woman you can enjoy a stronger, happier marriage that produces good fruit.

• 12:30 pm  A “Working Lunch” Break

5. Season of Preparation: The Scholar & the Apprentice
• 1:30 pm  The first 20+ years of your life are a time of preparation for all of life, not just to get a job. Your goal should be to “become a prize to win a prize” in career, marriage and household management.

6. Season of Productivity: The Householder & His Family
• 2:15 pm  In the 2nd 20+ years you and your spouse get to establish your household livelihood and begin having (or adopting) and training your children. The key in both aspects of “labor” is to "do well for yourselves by doing good for others."

•3:15 pm  Activity Break

7. Season of Proclamation: The Elder & His Family
• 3:45 pm  In the 3rd season you and your household get to be a prize to the various institutions and organizations you believe in. You may be asked to serve as a leader in your place of worship and in other organizations as well. Your home is your embassy where your values are on display.

8. Season of Protection: The City Father & His Family
• 4:45 pm  In the final Season of Life you get to be a prize to your family and your community. Civic organizations may ask you to serve on their boards. Your political party may even recruit you to run for political office. Plan for a very “active retirement” where you get to “live well until you die well.”

• 5:25 pm Closing Comments

About Gregg Harris

Gregg Harris is a delight-directed student of life. He is also Director of Noble Institute, a non-profit study center formally incorporated in Washington DC since 1997. Through Noble Institute, Gregg applies his studies at The University of Dayton in Adult Education to design and present intensive, life changing seminars for entire families. His emphasis is on marriage and family reformation, intergenerational household leadership and management, educational reform, family business strategies, time management and the development of  new voluntary associations. The Seasons of  Life seminar combines years of thought and  study into one very practical strategy for life.

Gregg’s own household has followed this strategy for over 40 years. He is the father of seven children and six grandchildren. Three of his sons are now bestselling authors*. But his family has also been touched by sorrow. His dear wife, Sono Sato Harris, passed away in  July of 2010. In spite of this great loss, he and  his children continue on in the work she loved. You may follow the Harris Household at Noble Institute.

* Gregg’s oldest son, Joshua, is the author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl and Dug Down Deep. His twin sons, Alex & Brett Harris, are coauthors of Do Hard Things and Start Here.