Wayfarer

In this time of COVID craziness with many people out of work, in the wake of small family businesses burned to the ground by riots, there are a lot of people worried "about what may or may not happen tomorrow." Today's chapter is a good reminder of God's provision. (Chapter-a-Day reflections on Exodus 36; The text version can always be found at tomvanderwell.com and an index of all the Chapter-a-Day posts and podcasts from this journey through the book of Exodus is also available.)

Along this life journey, I've observed that it's quite common for humans to live on auto-pilot. Life is a series of rote words and actions motivated by nothing more than base human appetites and a lifetime of the systemic conditioning of family, education, and local culture. When I decided to follow Jesus, I was taught to honestly ask the question that has made all the difference in my life. (Chapter-a-Day podcast from Exodus 35; The text version of every Chapter-a-Day episode can be found at tomvanderwell.com along with a simple index of all Chapter-a-Day episodes from this journey through the book of Exodus.

In today's chapter, Moses returns to the top of the mountain and spends another 40 days with God. When he returns, the text says that his face was so radiant that it freaked out the Hebrews. Here's a bit of additional mystery for you. The Hebrew word used here is actually translated "horns." So what's up with that?! (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Exodus 34; The text version can be read and shared at tomvanderwell.com)

A summary of all the chapter-a-day posts from this journey through the book of Exodus is also available.

One of the most fascinating things about the story of the early Jesus movement is the transformation in the strong-willed, stiff-necked followers such as Peter, Paul, and John. With each one there was a process involved in the spiritual transformation that included moments of their strong-wills being broken and their spirits humbled. (Chapter-a-Day meditation on Exodus 33; The text version of today's podcast can be found here)

I confess this morning that every time I watched the movie and every time I've read this story before, I have been led to the prescribed audience reaction. I shake my head and whisper a "tsk, tsk" in self-righteous judgment for the weak-minded Hebrews. This morning, however, I'm seeing it in a whole new way. (Chapter-a-Day from Exodus 32; The text version available here)

I'm reminded this morning of observing how the legalism and fundamentalism I experienced early in my spiritual journey created really sad, angry, and bitter people whose lives, and even their worship, appeared to me to be void of anything close to resembling peace, love, or joy.  (Chapter-a-Day from Exodus 31) Text version on the Wayfarer Blog at tomvanderwell.com.

Today I find, once again, that the physical bricks-and-mortar (or in this case oil-and-incense) of the Hebrew system matures through Jesus and shifts into a flesh-and-blood understanding of what God is doing. (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Exodus 30). The text version is always available on Tom Vander Well's Wayfarer blog.

The Kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world, and it requires the eyes and ears of my heart to see and hear beyond the simplistic choices fed to me by this world. (A chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 29) https://tomvanderwell.com/2020/06/26/another-choice/

In my experience, clergy across the various denominations, and even religions, are all lumped together in the minds of most people. Either they aren't sure what to call you, or they simply use whatever word they know from their own experience. And yet, there are major differences in both meaning and role. (A chapter-a-day podcast from Exodus 28) https://tomvanderwell.com/2020/06/25/god-friended-me/