Wayfarer

Is it possible that I could be allowing myself to be "shepherded" by another human being, a religious institution, a teacher, a university, a parent, a government, a political party, a screen, a device, a drug, a drink, a dream, a job, an appetite, or a cause? The text version of this chapter-a-day podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com .

Along my life journey, I've observed that this is the way the prophetic works. It's mysterious, and strange, and comes from the most unexpected of people in the most random moments of time. You can't will it to happen like Professor Trelawney so aptly proved in every one of her utterly useless classes. The text version of every chapter-a-day podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com .

One of the things I've learned to look for when reading through the texts of the Great Story is recurring patterns or themes. The theme I've noticed in the last few of David's songs is the fact that the great king and warrior, the famed slayer of the giant Goliath, is intent on making God the focal point.

Psalm 20 stands as a testament to the fact that David wanted to use his authority to ensure any fight song sung by his people for him would be a prayer for God's blessing and would ascribe praise for the victory to God and not him. Text version of every chapter-a-day podcast can be found at tomvanderwell.com.

On this Wayfarer Weekend podcast, I finish my conversation with Kevin Roose. Kevin is the one with whom I began my chapter-a-day journey twenty years ago. We talk about accountability, intentionality in friendships, hand how our journey together through the Great Story (as well as doing life together) has made a positive difference.

Today's chapter reminds me that endeavoring to apply the principles of Joshua 1:8 (continuous meditation, consistent application) has played a huge part in prospering my life with goodness in so many ways. A chapter-a-day podcast on Psalm 19. The text version of every chapter-a-day podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com .

The blessing in my life far outweighs the struggles in my life, and I'm asking myself in the quiet this morning: Does my praise and gratitude to God outweigh my self-centered pleas when I'm singing the blues? Chapter-a-day podcast on Psalm 18. Text version of all chapter-a-day podcasts can always be found at tomvanderwell.com .

I found myself with the opportunity to act with vengeance against the person who had injured me. I had a smoking gun that would pay back my enemy's injuries with compounding interest... A chapter-a-day podcast from Psalm 17. Text versions of every chapter-a-day podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com .

I find myself thinking about current events in which I feel like so much of our world is out of control. I wonder what in the world is going to happen next. It can feel a bit like being under attack. Anxiety, fear, and worry are running rampant. What am I supposed to do? Chapter-a-day podcast on Psalm 16. Text versions of every chapter-a-day podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com .

Jesus taught that "God's kindness is what leads to repentance." I've observed along the way is that we humans always want to go back to the "my moral purity leads to acceptance" model. Chapter-a-day podcast from Psalm 15. Text of every chapter-a-day podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com .

The Wayfarer Weekend Podcast features special guest Kevin Roose discussing how the "Chapter-a-Day" journey began, and what it means to cultivate true companionship on the road of life. How do you develop an intentional relationship, depth, and accountability?

It's so easy for me to get sucked into being dismissive, diminishing, and disrespectful to the "other" writing those words that appear magically in my social-media feed. Chapter-a-Day podcast from Psalm 14. The text of all chapter-a-day podcast episodes can be found at tomvanderwell.com .

Along the way, I've learned that the road is going to have its ups and its downs. There are going to be good times and bad. It may not be about me, but it's certainly for me if I'm willing to learn what each stretch of the journey has to teach me. Chapter-a-day podcast on Psalm 13. Text version can always be found at tomvanderwell.com .

In the quiet this morning, I'm thankful for David's little ditty. It reminds me that we are not the first generation of humanity to think everything was going to hell in a handbasket. Chapter-a-Day podcast on Psalm 12. The text version of every chapter-a-day podcast can be found at tomvanderwell.com .

In the quiet this morning, I am reminded of the many times I have written in these posts that I believe life is part of the Great Story that is being told from Genesis through Revelation. If I really believe what I say I believe, then the chaos and upheaval I'm currently reading about and experiencing through social media are part of the current chapter of the story we happen to be living in. (Cha...

It's interesting that towards the end of today's psalm David appeals to God as "King forever and ever." At the end of his personal, earthly power that has fallen short of bringing justice to everyone, David appeals to God as the only higher authority who can step in and do something about it. Welcome to one of the most perplexing spiritual mysteries of the Great Story. (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Ps...

Here's the thing I'm observing: In this moment of time, everyone feels oppressed by those who don't look the same, feel the same, think the same, or see things the same way. (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Psalm 9; text of each chapter-a-day [CaD] podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com )

This morning I'm thinking about creation, and my responsibility to exercise my dominion in caring for it, tending it, and serving it. Not because I worship it, but I worship the One who created it, and it's a specific duty I'm honored to have been given. (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Ps 8; text version of every chapter-a-day [CaD] podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com )

Along my life journey, I matured from the childish notion that every negative thing that happens to me is some kind of divine retribution for my wrong-doing. At the same time, I've recognized that my mature adult brain can find itself reverting back to childish patterns of thought and behavior, especially when I'm reacting to unexpected tragedy or stress. (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Psalm 7; Text ve...

Along my life journey, I've both experienced in myself and observed in others the tragic consequences of suppressing and holding in the toxic emotional waste that builds up as we walk through life and relationship. (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Psalm 6; Text of every Chapter-a-Day [CaD] podcast can be found at tomvanderwell.com )

Life has a rhythm. It has a beat and a flow. One of the things I've observed along the way is that God creates things with layers. My life is layered. My well-being and attitude result from the state of many intertwining layers: physical, mental, relational, vocational, social, personal, financial, marital, parental, sexual, recreational, and spiritual. (Chapter-a-Day [CaD] podcast on Psalm 5; The...

In the quiet this morning I find myself accepting the fact that, despite 54 years on the journey and almost 40 years of following Jesus, I still have very human struggles with responding to negative emotions and circumstances in healthy ways. (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Psalm 4; Text version of all chapter-a-day podcasts are available at tomvanderwell.com )

In the quiet this morning, David's example has me giving a backward glance at the road I've already traveled in life. I've been in, and through, my own personal wilderness before. (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Psalm 3; The text of every chapter-a-day podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com )

This world may sink into all sorts of crazy just as it has time and time again throughout the Great Story. But, I know whom I serve. And, His kingdom is unshakable, unbreakable, and not in trouble. (Chapter-a-Day podcast from Psalms 2; The text of every chapter-a-day podcast can always be found at tomvanderwell.com ).

The intention of today's psalm is simple. What do I want my life to be? Established, fruitful, rooted, alive, continually nourished in the flow of living water? Or, dusty, dry, void of life, blown about chaotically by every gust of circumstance and trending fear? And, how do I become the former rather than the latter? (Chapter-a-Day podcast on Psalm 1; The text of every Chapter-a-Day podcast can b...