Wayfarer

The description of King Manasseh in today's chapter was that of pure evil. He did nothing right. He did everything wrong. But, there was an important piece of his story that was conveniently ignored. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 21. The text version of today's podcast may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

"Trusting the story" requires faith that the story isn't confined to or limited by this earthly existence. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 20. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

When I consider the circumstances terrifying me and compare them to those from which God delivered Hezekiah, I can't help but realize that God's provision for my "crisis" is an easy thing. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 19. The text version of today's podcast can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.

In the quiet this morning, I am simply reminded of the human tendency to make certain things sacred and worship them. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 18. The text version of today's chapter may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

The Samaritans became the "sort of" Jews who were held in contempt by the "true Jews" in Jesus' day. To put it in the metaphorical terms of Harry Potter, the Samaritans were "mud-bloods" to the "pure-blood" Jews in power. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 17. The text version of today's podcast can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

No matter how far I get in my spiritual journey, I still have more to learn, more to confess, and more to grow. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 16. The text version of today's podcast may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

With the dawn of the technological age, my generation has arguably experienced greater change than any other generation in history. And yet, what has not changed is the human condition. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 15. The text version of today's podcast can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Eventually, life always hands me a loss. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 14. The text version of today's podcast can be found and shred at tomvanderwell.com .

I've come to understand that part of the spiritual journey is embracing every season of that journey. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 13. The text version of today's podcast can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

One individual in the wrong job can negatively impact the entire system. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 12. The text version of this podcast can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

The world is obviously very interested in the royals, and there is something fascinating about the deeply archaic and historical traditions in our modern society. Monarchies were the primary system of government for most of the world throughout most of human history. It's amazing how similarly monarchies around the world operated in history's game of thrones. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 1...

Much of human history is a violent, bloody affair. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 10. The text version of today's podcast may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com . 

When leadership is a top-down, authoritarian power play, those in the system become anxious for a change in leadership. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 9. The text version of today's podcast may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Prophecy is a fascinating element of life. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 8. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

The stories of the prophet Elisha are so filled with the mysterious and the miraculous that it's easy for me to get focused on the stories and lose sight of the larger story that's being told. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 7. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

The Arameans came to bust heads and instead broke bread. It changed their attitudes and behavior toward their enemies. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 6. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

There is a subtle theme in the Jesus story and the Great Story's teaching regarding what disciples of Jesus are to "consider" and what we are not to "consider." A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 5. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

"Remember, you are the cheapskate, not God." - Julia Cameron, "The Artist's Way." A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 4. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

In the quiet this morning, I find myself simply embracing the reality that what I need and desire is "an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord." A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 3. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Transitions are typically difficult. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 2. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

As I enter into this, another day kicking off another work week, I'm thinking that legacy has more to do with my daily thoughts, words, and actions than I want to admit. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Kings 1. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Names are important. As the theme song of the old television show "Cheers" says, "we want to go where everybody knows your name." A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Kings 22. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Ahab "sold himself" to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. That was the summary statement of Ahab's earthly life. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Kings 21. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Underneath the obvious events of today's chapter lies a political undercurrent many readers miss. It was all about trade and the subsequent wealth it generated. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Kings 20. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Along my spiritual journey, I've come to understand that God typically blesses me as I sit alone in the quiet, even on stressful days in which I am afraid and feel like running for my life. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Kings 19. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .