Each photo below corresponds to each chapter-a-day post for the book of the Gospel of Lukepublished by Tom Vander Well in December 2019. Click on the photo linked to each chapter to read the post
Chapter 1: Grappling with “Never”Chapter 2: Grappling with the UnexpectedChapter 3: An Ancient Ritual; A Fresh Perspective
You’re all caught up! Posts will be added here as they are published. Click on the image below for easy access to other recent posts indexed by book.
Click Here for easy access to recent chapter-a-day posts indexed by book!
Each photo below corresponds to the chapter-a-day post for the book of 1 Peter published by Tom Vander Well in October 2019. Click on the photo linked to each chapter to read the post
Chapter 1: The Sower and the SeedsChapter 2: The Priest ParadigmChapter 3: “Bless You”Chapter 4: The Mystery of UncertaintyChapter 5: The Flow and Right Timing
You’re all caught up! Posts will be added here as they are published. Click on the image below for easy access to other recent posts indexed by book.
Click Here for easy access to recent chapter-a-day posts indexed by book!
Each photo below corresponds to the chapter-a-day post for the book of Zechariah published by Tom Vander Well in October 2019. Click on the photo linked to each chapter to read the post.
Chapter 1: The PessimistChapter 2: Measuring Up for a MoveChapter 3: No Apology NecessaryChapter 4: Weathering the StormsChapter 5: A Tale of Two Building ProjectsChapter 6: Mystery and KnowledgeChapter 7: Reflections on a SneezeChapter 8: Hope Needs a DescriptionChapter 9: A Different Kind of KingdomChapter 10: Wander and ReturnChapter 11: Poet, Chorus, CharacterChapter 12: PiercedChapter 13: God in my SufferingChapter 14: The Important ThingClick Here for easy access to recent chapter-a-day posts indexed by book!
Each photo below corresponds to the chapter-a-day post for the book of Haggai published by Tom Vander Well in October 2019. Click on the photo linked to each chapter to read the post.
Chapter 1: Insatiable DiscontentChapter 2: Detours and DejaVu
Each photo below corresponds to the chapter-a-day post for the book of Nehemiah published by Tom Vander Well in Sep/Oct 2019. Click on the photo linked to each chapter.
Chapter 1: Foolish Anxiety and Real ThreatsChapter 2: Popcorn PrayersChapter 3: Labor for the Good of the WholeChapter 4: The Nehemiah Two-StepChapter 5: Motives and ExampleChapter 6: Musing on MudslingingChapter 7: Part of the FamilyChapter 8: Connect, Disconnect, ReconnectChapter 9: What’s Your Story?Chapter 10: Membership and MotivationChapter 11: When Exile Becomes HomeChapter 12: Don’t Stop the Music!Chapter 13: Rules and Exceptions
It’s been a while since I filled family and friends in on what’s been happening. Summer had already flown by and here we are moving into autumn.
As has been true for the past decade, our summer revolves around time at our place on Lake of the Ozarks. With increased responsibilities at work and church, I think we spent less time there this summer than ever. Nevertheless, we enjoyed what has become our traditional weekends with friends, along with a few weeks there by ourselves. Here’s a gallery from our time at the lake this summer:
The biggest news of the summer for our family was Madison’s engagement. She and Garrett traveled to Scotland to visit Tay, Clay, and Milo. While they were there, Garrett chose one of the most beautiful backdrops to a proposal ever. A November wedding is planed in Columbia, SC where they both live and will reside.
Madison was home for a whirlwind wedding planning weekend, but still got to see Grandma!
Wedding plans are in full swing. We flew Madison home for a few days in early August to talk finances and wedding plans. It worked out great for her to spend a little time with her mother and the grandparents. Grandpa Dean is making them a stained-glass piece for their wedding, so Madison got to look at the design and some of the glass colors he’s using.
Speaking of grandparents, it’s been a rough summer for my parents. Mom’s Alzheimer’s continues to slowly progress. Dad’s cancer is being held in check by oral chemo, but other issues (double vision, fainting, heart issues) have had him in what seems an endless loop of doctor and specialist visits. In July, dad spent 5 days in the hospital with what was diagnosed as a light stroke. He had another couple of days just a week or so ago for the installation of a pacemaker. I got to spend time with mom while dad was in the hospital, which I wrote about in a different post.
Yikes! Skin Cancer!
I had my own medical bout this summer. My annual dermatology exam found squamous cell carcinoma on my right ear. I had surgery to remove it and then contracted a nasty infection. I’m happy to say it has healed nicely and all is well.
No One Was Injured
Wendy and I have each been doing our thing to stay healthy. Wendy has been regularly doing yoga and this summer Wendy she began assisting our friend, Shay, who is opening her own studio. Meanwhile, I have been doing CrossFit for over a year now. My goal continues to be simply to keep showing up.
Milo was in a wedding this summer, complete in his Scottish kilt.
Taylor and her crew continue to live and flourish in Scotland. When we see them at Madison’s wedding it will be almost a year since we’ve been together. We get to regularly FaceTime with our grandson, Milo, which is always a treat. Typically, Taylor calls while Milo is the bathtub because it’s the only time the wee lad will sit still enough to talk to us. He’s calling us Papa and Yaya, which never ceases to melt our hearts.
Other highlights of the summer included finishing Phase 3 of our three-year landscaping project. My rose garden out back continues to grow and flourish, which makes me happy. I officiated a wedding this summer for a lovely young lady from church. Wendy and I hosted a company pool party for our team members and their families. We took in a little theatre. I had the joy of mentoring my friend Nathan for his profession of faith, and we celebrated at the Iowa Cubs game. I’ll leave you with a few photos from the summer:
Saw “The Play That Goes Wrong” at the Civic Center.
A Date with Mom at BWWs.
Rose from my garden.
Another gorgeous rose from my garden.
The Hibiscus are HUGE!
Company Pool Party at our Friend Cyndi’s.
Celebrated a successful wedding planning session at the pub!
Matthew Burch shows off.
Me and my friend Nathan at the Iowa Cubs.
Madison in Grandpa Dean’s Stained Glass workshop.
Helped hitch these two.
Taylor got to see one of her favorites in person this summer.
Taylor’s Godfather Dave visited them in Edinburgh.
I got to see Andrew Lopez perform with Jo Koy at the Improv in Brea, CA
Below you’ll find a list of chapter-a-day posts on the book of Ezra posted in August and September 2019. Click on an image to be directed to that post.
Ezra Chapter 1: At Some Point, One Must Return HomeEzra Chapter 2: Lessons in a List of NamesEzra Chapter 3: Weeping and Joy in the Valley of InfertilityEzra Chapter 4: “Don’t Scare Worth a Damn”Ezra Chapter 5: “Who are You?”Ezra Chapter 6: Trials, Gold, and DrossEzra Chapter 7: Mysterious, Mystical, Gracious, and Favorable FlowEzra Chapter 8: ConsecratedEzra Chapter 9: Maturity and Personal ResponsibilityEzra Chapter 10: Spiritual Infection
About…
Tom Vander Well has been writing his Wayfarer blog since 2006. Since then he has blogged his way through the entirety of God’s Message twice along with posting about personal experiences and life observations. He continues pressing on one chapter at a time. Tom is a teaching leader among his local gathering of Jesus’ followers and serves as President and CEO of Intelligentics Inc., a market research and quality assessment firm. In addition, he is a speaker, actor, playwright, lover of history, and back porch musician. He lives in Pella, Iowa with his wife, Wendy.