Wayfarer

Some mornings my soul is overwhelmed with questions. Like Jacob, I find myself wrestling with God. The Moses story will always be relevant in a fallen world where broken earthly systems favor some people and not others. A chapter-a-day podcast originally published on May 29, 2020, on the Wayfarer blog at tomvanderwell.com.

An adult can't reason with a two-year-old by getting him or her to sit and listen to you read a psychology textbook that explains his or her need to modify behavior. In the same way, understanding ancient stories require me, a 21st-century reader, to think outside the box of my 21st-century thoughts and sensitivities. They require me to think about how God is meeting with and interacting with humanity in the context of the way they lived, thought, believed, and interpreted their world thousands of years ago. A chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 10, originally published as a blog post on May 28, 2020, at tomvanderwell.com.

Judgment and being judicious are two very different things. Jesus condemned the former and encouraged the latter. A chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 9, originally published on May 27, 2020, at tomvanderwell.com.

Following Jesus is about following His example and humbly putting God and others ahead of myself. A chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 8, originally published as a blog post on May 26, 2020 at tomvanderwell.com.

If I want to be "like God" by sitting on the throne of my own life looking out for numero uno, doing as I please, and determining my own way with every step, then my path is going to lead to spiritually dark places (even if I wear the facade of being a good and faithful member of my local church). A chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 7, originally published on May 20, 2020, at tomvanderwell.com.

Along the way, I've learned that if someone is spiritually deaf and blind, it simply means I need to keep speaking in love, listening patiently, acting kindly, responding gently, serving faithfully, and controlling my reactions. A chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 6, originally published as a blog post on May 19, 2020. 

Wendy and I have, of late, participated in multiple conversations with others who are grieving. The grief being experienced is not the result of the death of a loved one, but rather the unexpected demise of seemingly safe assumptions. Chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 5, originally published as a blog post at tomvanderwell.com on May 18, 2020.

I can always find an excuse to not serve. There's always something that I can conjure up as an excuse that I am "lacking" (education, knowledge, experience, calling, opportunity, training, etc.). The truth is that all God requires is simple trust and obedience. A chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 4 originally published as a blog post on May 15, 2020 at tomvanderwell.com.

Along the way, I observed something that was common to all of them. Within each of those tribes were individuals who were members of the church, and those who were followers of Christ. There was a difference. A chapter-a-day podcast from Hebrews 3, originally published as a blog post on May 14, 2020 at tomvanderwell.com.

Along the journey, I have often found that the profound things of God are often quite simple, and hidden in plain sight for "those who have eyes to see." This podcast is from a blog post originally published on May 13, 2020. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.