Wayfarer

In the quiet this morning, I confess that I identify with these ancient words. We are living in strange times. Things are changing at a rapid pace. Times are difficult and I have no guarantees that even more difficult times aren't ahead of us on this terrestrial ball. A chapter-a-day podcast from Habakkuk 3. The text version can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

As I pondered God's answer to Habakkuk regarding the use of the Babylonians for His purposes, I couldn't help but think of that sports fan who has to endure watching the hated rival prevail in order for a greater purpose to be accomplished for their team. A chapter-a-day podcast from Habakkuk 2. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

What could an ancient Hebrew prophet with a silly name have to say in 600 B.C. that is in any way relevant to my world today? A chapter-a-day podcast from Habakkuk 1. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

One of the periods "I felt most alive" is not deemed acceptable to some. It was a period of time after my divorce. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelations 22. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Life and death. Resurrection. Death-to-Life. It is THE meta-theme of the Great Story. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelations 21. The text version of today's podcast can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

I've always loved books. From junior high school through college I always worked or volunteered in the school library. I also worked for the same bookstore chain from high school through college. One of the things I love to do to pass time when I'm on the road is to go to a bookstore. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelations 20. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

I mentioned yesterday that Wendy and I were at a wedding this past weekend. The dinner was amazing. At one point between savory bites, Wendy looked at me, her eyes as wide as saucers. "This is not only the best wedding meal I've ever had, but it's right up there with maybe being the best meal I've had, ever." A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelations 19. The text version may be found and shared at...

In John's day, those reading today's chapter understood "Babylon the Great" to be the Roman Empire. The Romans were known for their creatively tortuous execution methods, including the tying of a giant millstone to the neck of a victim and tossing the millstone and victim into the sea or a deep river to drown. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 18. The text version may be found and shared at...

This morning, as I meditated on the chapter, I found myself once again finding the world of comic books an apt parallel. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 17. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

I remember in college when some buddies of mine introduced me to an entirely different genre of comic books. They were not the bright cape-wearing superheroes in spandex but dark and gritty heroes that stirred completely different kinds of emotions within me. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 16. The text version of today's podcast may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

On a grand scale, the Great Story is about slavery. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 15. The text version of today's podcast can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

I'm so glad that we all have the opportunity to grow beyond the little twits we can be as children. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 14. The text version can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Along my journey, I have often found it helpful to reduce life's complexities to the root binaries such as good or evil, death or life, and/or positive or negative before I choose my way. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 13. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

I proceed on this another day of an earthly journey, believing not just that Jesus offered a helpful guide for behavior in this temporal, earthly existence, but that He came as part of a Great Story, pointing me to a Kingdom that is more real and beyond description with the limitations of human vocabulary. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 12. The text version may be found and shared at tomv...

There are mornings on this chapter-a-day journey when I feel as if I am left with more questions than answers; Mornings when I am more perplexed than inspired. I've come to believe that this is not a bad thing. Along my journey, I've found that it is often the long stretches of pondering good questions that ultimately lead to new depths of spiritual understanding. The text version may be found and...

Over the past couple of days, I have been watching a documentary about Roman Catholic priests who committed terrible acts of child abuse and subsequent horrific crimes to cover it up. There have been multiple times that I've come close to turning it off and walking away. It's hard to watch. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 10. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Along my spiritual journey, I've observed that it's easy to get lost in the minute details of apocalyptic literature. Instead of getting buried in the minutia, I tend to pull back to try and see the big picture. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 9. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Disruption of supply chains, disruptions caused by war, supply shortages,  famine, inflation, economic disruption, anger, and violence: sound familiar? A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 8. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

This morning, I'm left admitting (once again) that I know that I don't know the answers to some of these questions. There are couple of things, however, that I do know. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 7. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

"What do you expect?!" I find that an apt question with regard to the bleak description that Jesus, John, and the prophets foreshadow regarding humanity's final chapters. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 6. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

In Light of today's chapter, I see my earthly journey in the context of an eternal reality that begins before the Great Story and will flow beyond its final chapters. I suddenly find that other things begin to make more sense. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 5. The text version can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

As children, we like to wear crowns and tiaras and pretend we're kings and queens. As adults, we do the same thing it's just that it's usually less visible and obvious. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 4. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

In the quiet this morning I find myself taking Jesus up on His encouragement to the Laodiceans. I have an annual physical examination, what about a regular spiritual examination? A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 3. The text version can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

Along my spiritual journey, I have observed that it's easy to seek out the secret mysteries beneath the text to the point that I ignore the simple truth that's staring me right in the face. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 2. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .

To be honest, I have a love-hate relationship with Revelation. I love the mystery and the metaphor. It's fascinating and I find important spiritual truths within. My hate is rooted in the rabbit hole that it becomes for people who fall in and become endlessly obsessed. A chapter-a-day podcast from Revelation 1. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com .