In the quiet this morning, I find myself thinking about the "bare and ugly place" that the Shire becomes when it was enslaved by systemic rule-keeping. It is such a great metaphor for lives that become enslaved by religious rule-keeping. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 13. The text version can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

This past weekend, the world was stunned when the opening ceremony of the Olympics featured a parody of Michelangelo's The Last Supper using drag queens and a large lady with a plunging neckline in place of Jesus. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 12. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

God's generous and gracious love for others does not diminish His love for me, it just means there's more love to go around than I ever thought possible. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 11. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com. The message Tom references in today's podcast: https://youtu.be/s1pv9kTPI30?si=zsGn_k8TCyUqe91K

Along my life journey, I have received my share of "poisoned pen letters" from zealous rule-keepers warning me of my impending damnation. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 10. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

I feel shame in confessing it because it feels so petty. It's true, however. I have to own it. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 9. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

I have always held that all great stories are a reflection of the Great Story, and I found this to be true with Harry Potter. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 8. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

I think we all have at least rubbed shoulders with fundamentalist-type rule-keepers. They aren't hard to recognize. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 7. The text version can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

From beginning to end, water plays a major role both physically and spiritually. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 6. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

There are important aspects of maturity that one learns in this life only through struggle. It's good to have good companions on the journey. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 5. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

It's so easy to slip into the mode of rule-keeping and virtue-signaling. The history of humanity proves to me that this always ends up in hypocrisy, secret sins, condemnation of others, and self-righteous pride. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 4. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.