Shows / Wayfarer
Wayfarer
Tom Vander Well is author of "This Call May Be Monitored (What Eavesdropping on Corporate America Taught Me About Business and Life)" A "wayfaring stranger" life's road. Husband, father, writer, CEO, actor, playwright, preacher, back porch musician, and follower of Jesus, he shares his thoughts and observations on the journey. Each weekday he offers 5-10 minute Chapter-a-Day (CaD) reflections on one chapter of the Bible, perfect for a daily commute. Longer reflections are on the Wayfarer…
Episodes
- Wayfarer
Serving the Lie (CaD 1 Thess 2)
There are so many people calling for violence, protests, riots, and chaos. Hatred is not only justified but celebrated and encouraged. Discrimination is deemed…
- Wayfarer
Perpetually Growing (CaD 2 Thess 1)
The things that overwhelm us change, but life has its challenges in every season on life's road. A chapter-a-day podcast from 2 Thessalonians 1. The text…
- Wayfarer
God's Will: Three Lessons (CaD 1 Thes 5)
Looking back, there are three lessons I've learned about God's will and my will. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Thessalonians 5. The text version may be found…
- Wayfarer
An Ambitiously Quiet Life (CaD 1 Thess 4)
In the quiet this morning, I find myself thinking of the ambitions I observe in our adventure-seeking, adrenaline-addicted, YOLO culture. A chapter-a-day…
- Wayfarer
Increase and Diminishment (CaD 1 Thess 3)
I have a confession to make. For years now I've had a secret, largely unspoken obsession with Tiny Houses. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Thessalonians 3. The…
- Wayfarer
Big Family (CaD 1 Thess 2)
In the quiet this morning, I find my heart whispering prayers of gratitude for my family members, both blood and Spirit. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1…
- Wayfarer
Motivation vs. Obligation (CaD 1 Thess 1)
I saw an interesting blurb from an article in The Atlantic that explored the reasons that so many people failed to return to church after COVID-19. A…
- Wayfarer
Send Phoebe (CaD Rom 16)
Phoebe is one of a long list of women who played a critical role in Jesus' ministry and in the early Jesus Movement. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 16…
- Wayfarer
Intentions and Realities (CaD Rom 15)
In the quiet this morning, I spent a few moments thinking back to other times when "Life Happened" along the journey. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 15…
- Wayfarer
Honoring Our Differences (CaD Rom 14)
In the quiet this morning, I find myself grateful for the experiences I've had with many different flavors of Christian traditions and belief systems. A…
- Wayfarer
The Law of Love (CaD Rom 13)
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…
- Wayfarer
Responding and Reacting (CaD Rom 12)
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…
- Wayfarer
Big Brother Mentality (CaD Rom 11)
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…
- Wayfarer
God's Righteousness vs. Self-Righteousness (CaD Rom 10)
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…
- Wayfarer
A Confession (CaD Rom 9)
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…
- Wayfarer
The Gospel According to Harry Potter (CaD Rom 8)
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…
- Wayfarer
From Rules to Raspberries (CaD Rom 7)
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…
- Wayfarer
Water (CaD Rom 6)
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…
- Wayfarer
The Need for Struggle (CaD Rom 5)
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…
- Wayfarer
The Difference (CaD Rom 4)
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…
- Wayfarer
Rules and Rifts (CaD Rom 3)
The spiritual realities these two groups shared were greater than the differences they experienced in their rift about rules. A chapter-a-day podcast from…
- Wayfarer
Kindness, Not Condemnation (CaD Rom 2)
The way to help lead a sinner to repentance is by being extraordinarily kind to them. A chapter-a-day podcast from Romans 2. The text version may be found and…
- Wayfarer
The One Thing (CaD Rom 1)
The idea of a suffering, servant-hearted Messiah dying on a cross was antithetical to citizens in the heart of the most powerful, most wealthy, and most…
- Wayfarer
Lifetime Lessons (CaD 1 Chr 29)
Along my spiritual journey, I have found that there are some lessons that I learned in a moment while there are other lessons that have required my lifetime to…
- Wayfarer
Inspire, But Remember
Along my life journey, I've observed that both politicians and pundits like to connect Presidents with their predecessors. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1…
- Wayfarer
Untold Stories (CaD 1 Chr 27)
I find it fascinating the things that people choose to talk about and those they keep secret. What is perhaps even more fascinating are the motivations that…
- Wayfarer
A Life in One Phrase (CaD 1 Chr 26)
Into what short phrase will my life be reduced by those who knew me? A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Chronicles 26. The text version may be found and shared at…
- Wayfarer
"Young and Old" (CaD 1 Chr 25)
When it came to Temple musicians there was no age or educational restriction. God wanted young and old, experienced and inexperienced, both teacher and trainee…
- Wayfarer
Connections (CaD 1 Chr 24)
More and more, I'm blown away by the connections that tie the Great Story together. Like the one I found today. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Chronicles 24…
- Wayfarer
Authority (CaD 1 Chr 23)
Authority. Who has the authority? From family systems to federal governments, our lives are governed by various authorities. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1…
- Wayfarer
Inspired by the Past (1 Chr 22)
One of the things that I love about history is its power to inspire. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Chronicles 22. The text version may be found and shared at…
- Wayfarer
Empire and Security (CaD 1 Chr 19)
In many ways, the entire Great Story from Genesis to Revelation is about the conflict between human empire and God's Kingdom. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1…
- Wayfarer
Insult and Injury (CaD 1 Chr 19)
I'm reminded this morning that following Jesus' teaching means treating others, even enemies, with humility, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control…
- Wayfarer
Rivals, Defeat, and Shame (CaD 1 Chr 19)
We mostly talk about shame in negative terms these days, but there is also such a thing as good shame. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Chronicles 19. The text…
- Wayfarer
"In the course of time..." (CaD 1 Chr 18)
Thank God that I am not defined in His eyes by the mistakes I've made, many many failures, or the seasons of my moral lapses. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1…
- Wayfarer
Marcus Pittman LOOR.TV (WW)
On this episode of Wayfarer Weekend, I had a conversation with Marcus Pittman, co-founder of LOOR.TV, a start-up streaming service targeted to "cigar and…
- Wayfarer
House of Flesh (CaD 1 Chr 17)
After living over 40 years as a disciple of Jesus, I've come to realize that one of the greatest spiritual challenges one has on this earthly journey is to see…
- Wayfarer
Faith-Full Reminders (CaD 1 Chr 16)
A few weeks ago, Wendy sat and recounted for me all of the times over our nearly 20 years together when God has proven faithful in having a plan and providing…
- Wayfarer
Silos (CaD 1 Chr 15)
When working in business, one hears a lot of references to silos, which I find fascinating living in Iowa. An agricultural staple used for storing grain on the…
- Wayfarer
Success and Prosperity (CaD 1 Chr 14)
Yet, in the quiet this morning, I feel the nagging tension that comes with the fact that I regularly observe people making God into a good luck charm and a…
- Wayfarer
Faith and Leadership (CaD 1 Chr 13)
In the quiet this morning, I find myself meditating on the intersection of faith and leadership. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Chronicles 13. The text version…
- Wayfarer
The Warriors (CaD 1 Chr 12)
Today is June 6, 2024. Eighty years ago today the Allied nations launched the greatest military assault in human history. It was the Allies who now pursued…
- Wayfarer
Glory Days (CaD 1 Chr 11)
It's human nature to glorify our past. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Chronicles 11. The text version can be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.
- Wayfarer
Selective History (CaD 1 Chr 10)
Along my life journey, I've observed that most people are selective when it comes to which parts of the Great Story they take time to read and study. A…
- Wayfarer
History Lesson (or Not) [CaD 1 Chr 9]
I've observed the truth of the well-known statement that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I've also observed a related truth…
- Wayfarer
Focus (CaD 1 Chr 8)
I've observed along life's road that you can tell a lot about a person by observing where they invest their time and energy, and what they like to talk about…
- Wayfarer
Women in the Patriarchy (CaD 1 Chr 7)
I don't think that it's any mistake that God surrounded me with strong women and gave me two daughters to raise. There were some deep-seated assumptions about…
- Wayfarer
The Priesthood, Then and Now (CaD 1 Chr 6)
The week Jesus was to be executed He told His followers that the Temple would be destroyed. Exactly one generation later, the Romans fulfilled His prophetic…
- Wayfarer
Black Sheep Family (CaD 1 Chr 5)
One of the hardest things about family is that it's not something we get to choose. A chapter-a-day podcast from 1 Chronicles 5. The text version may be found…
- Wayfarer
The Prayer of Jabez (CaD 1 Chr 4)
As I’ve repeated and internalized the prayer of Jabez over the years, I’ve found it not to be about receiving material blessings, but about being a blessing. A…
- Wayfarer
"Everyone Has Their Shit" (CaD 1 Chr 3)
Each person has their own messy, struggling, difficult, tragic, and even shameful story. We are fallen people living in a fallen world. Yet we project to…
- Wayfarer
Genealogical Lessons (CaD 1 Chr 2)
I realize most people skip over genealogies, but there are little tidbits in any genealogy that have lessons for me if I'm willing to observe. A chapter-a-day…
- Wayfarer
A Fresh Revisiting of the Story (CaD 1 Chr 1)
Does my faith mean anything in this time and place? What is God doing? Is God even a part of the equation? If so, what am I to make of it all? Chapter-a-day…
- Wayfarer
Cults and Contrast (CaD Gal 6)
I have been sick for the past several days with a nasty case of Step throat. So, I've been spending a lot of time on the couch in front of the television…
- Wayfarer
Silent and Deadly (CaD Gal 5)
"You live in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, yet you feel economic anxiety. The late Charlie Munger summarized it succinctly: “The world is…
- Wayfarer
Grace and Merit (CaD Gal 4)
When Jesus talked about the Day of Judgement He spoke of there being one decisive criterion. A chapter-a-day podcast from Galatians 4. The text version may be…
- Wayfarer
The Difference (CaD Gal 3)
It's not about guilt but about gratitude. It's not rule-keeping but responding to Jesus' kindness. Righteousness isn't earned, it's credited. A chapter-a-day…
- Wayfarer
Mom and the Ministry (CaD Gal 2)
We as humans have a hard time with change, and this can be especially true when it comes to transforming our belief systems. A chapter-a-day podcast from…
- Wayfarer
Members Only (or Not) [CaD Gal 1]
I have an issue with church membership. Let me explain. A chapter-a-day podcast from Galatians 1. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.
- Wayfarer
Opportunity in Interruption (CaD Acts 28)
I have learned along life's road that when interruptions occur, my immediate emotional reactions aren't very healthy or productive. A chapter-a-day podcast…