Daily Thunder Podcast

This is the ninth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he explores the spiritual mystery of how “increased need” equates to “increased grace”. In fact, the greater the need we face, the more we are able to witness the power and grace of God at work in our lives. In 876, Alfred found himself in a place of great weakness and great need. And in this island season, hidden away in his swamp fortress, Alfred was readied to truly become “great”. Most of us plead with God to help us avoid these island seasons, but God, in His great wisdom, knows that it is in and through these very seasons that we are prepared for His “great” work.  

Honor is greatly misunderstood in today’s culture. Yet Paul commands us to fill up our minds with that which is honorable. As Christians, how can we understand what “honorable” is and how do we keep a guard upon our mind that reflects this quality? In this episode, Nathan Johnson tackles this complex Greek word and describes three ways in which our minds can be honorable and noble no matter what goes on around us.

This is the eighth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he examines the significance of covenantal pledges in the ninth century and how that played a prominent role in the storyline of Alfred. The seemingly inordinate value place upon the ideal of integrity in the Kingdom of Wessex is a beautiful and striking parallel to the much greater Kingdom of Christ and the weight He Himself places on integrity in His system of government. The betrayal of Wulfhere is a shocking demonstration of the fact that colossal compromise is a close companion to all who consider their own comforts higher than the preservation of their king.

Paul’s command to think on that which is true is far more than something factual or informational—He refers to embracing the Person of Jesus and being filled up with the Word of God. In this episode, Nathan Johnson examines Paul’s first command of things to think upon and discovers that truth is twofold, it expels all lies, and transforms our personal experience and reality.

This is the seventh episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he dives into the way of Anglo-Saxon kings with their men. In 871 Alfred is going to become King of Wessex. And as a king, more than anything, he desires to walk out his kingship with his loyal thegns by his side. The extraordinary fellowship of the Anglo-Saxon king and his thegns is something foreign to our modern system of manly relationship building, but in studying it, it helps us better understand the fellowship that Christ the King yearns to have with His thegns, the Church. 

This is the sixth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he explores the first encounters Alfred shares with the legendary Vikings and how that parallels our first steps forward against our own terrifying territorial invader, known as Sin. Alfred is going to have a rough beginning and then he is going to learn something to that is going to turn the tide in the famed Battle of Ashdown.

In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives a list of eight things we are to think, or meditate, upon. More than a mental grasp or understanding, Paul asserts that the meditation of the Christian mind should affect our lives in every way. As we “fill up our minds” with the things on his list, they in turn should radically transform how we behave, talk, and think. In this episode, Nathan Johnson unpacks the concept of “think” or “dwell” and how essential the word is to our understanding of the entire passage.

This is the fifth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he dives into the two distinct ways that the Kings of the island of Britain dealt with the Vikings in the ninth century. The most popular way was to pacify them and give them what they wanted so that they would leave town. This was called, paying the Danegeld. While the other way was much more difficult and involved a great expenditure of energy and strength. It was called fighting them. In history, it has been shown time and again, that to pay the Danegeld doesn’t work. In fact, it empowers the invader to come back for more and more and more — until nothing is left. Whereas, the second method, though it be the harder way, actually gets the job done. How are we engaging the Vikings that are attempting to invade our life?

When we think of boundaries, we often think of restrictions, limitations, and confinement. Yet boundaries actually give freedom. As we begin our study of Philippians 4:8, Nathan Johnson examines the beauty of boundaries and the blessing they are in our walk with Christ. Rather than imposing a limitation on what we can think upon, Paul gives us true freedom to think on Jesus Christ.

This is the fourth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he introduces the terrible Vikings and the immense threat they pose to the isle of Britain. This once Christian nation is suddenly experience a very real judgment. They have forgotten God and turned from His ways. Is there a remedy? Much like the current movement of darkness against the continent of North America in the year 2021, the Vikings seemed unstoppable in the mid ninth century. But, something is going to happen in this exciting season of history that will turn the tide on this evil encroachment.