Podcast
The Daily Grind
Hosted by John Spencer · EN
Howdy, y'all! Welcome to The Daily Grind with your host, John Spencer. Grab a mug of your favorite brew and get ready to become the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to water cooler chatter, conference room banter, and job site small talk. I'll give you the rundown on today's date, share some interesting historical facts, and toss out a few random musings to get your brain gears turning. Plus, I'll offer up some thoughts to ponder on your walk with Jesus, could be about the Bible, prayer, serving others, or something else.
77episodes
Episodes
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794 Watchman Again Ezekiel 33 (The Gospel According to Ezekiel Part 29)
4d ago00:21:22Tap to summarizeThursday, June 18th: In Episode 794 of The Daily Grind, we continue The Gospel According to Ezekiel with Part 29, “Watchman Again,” from Ezekiel 33. This chapter marks a major turning point in the book as Jerusalem's fall becomes reality and Ezekiel is recommissioned as God's watchman. God reminds Ezekiel that his responsibility is to faithfully sound the warning, while individuals remain responsible for their own response. The chapter contains one of the clearest revelations of God's heart in all of Ezekiel: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” God emphasizes repentance, restoration, and personal responsibility, rejecting both false confidence in past righteousness and despair over past failures. When news arrives that Jerusalem has fallen, Ezekiel's ministry shifts from warning to hope. Christians ultimately see Jesus as the ultimate Watchman who warns of judgment, offers mercy, and invites people into restoration. Ezekiel 33 reminds us that God's desire is not destruction, but that people turn to Him and live.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
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793 The Graveyard of Nations Ezekiel 32:17–32 (The Gospel According to Ezekiel Part 28)
5d ago00:20:23Tap to summarizeWednesday, June 17th: In Episode 793 of The Daily Grind, we continue The Gospel According to Ezekiel with Part 28, “The Graveyard of Nations,” from Ezekiel 32:17–32. Ezekiel receives a vision of the realm of the dead where Egypt joins a long line of fallen empires including Assyria, Elam, Edom, Meshech, Tubal, Sidon, and others. These nations once inspired fear, commanded armies, and dominated the world, but now they lie together in silence. The chapter serves as a sobering reminder that human power, wealth, influence, and achievement are all temporary. Pharaoh believed Egypt was exceptional, yet he discovers that every kingdom eventually faces the same fate. Ezekiel uses this imagery to expose the limits of earthly greatness and the illusion of permanence. Christians ultimately see the answer to this universal problem in Jesus Christ, the King who entered death and conquered it through His resurrection. Ezekiel 32 reminds us that while every earthly empire eventually fades, God's kingdom endures forever.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
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792 A Lion in the Pit Ezekiel 32:1–16 (The Gospel According to Ezekiel Part 27)
6d ago00:19:35Tap to summarizeTuesday, June 16th: In Episode 792 of *The Daily Grind*, we continue **The Gospel According to Ezekiel** with Part 27, “A Lion in the Pit,” from Ezekiel 32:1–16. Ezekiel takes up a lament over Pharaoh, comparing him first to a lion among the nations and then to a great sea monster thrashing through the waters. While Pharaoh saw himself as powerful and majestic, God exposes the pride, chaos, and destruction hidden beneath his image of greatness. Through dramatic imagery of nets, darkened heavens, and trembling nations, Ezekiel describes the coming fall of Egypt and the shockwaves it will send throughout the world. The chapter reminds us that human power, influence, and success are far more fragile than they appear. Again, God strips away false securities so people might recognize that He alone is Lord. Christians ultimately see the contrast fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who redefined greatness through humility, service, and sacrifice rather than domination and self-exaltation. Ezekiel 32 challenges us to examine what we trust most and whether it can truly endure.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
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791 The Fallen Cedar Ezekiel 31 (The Gospel According to Ezekiel Part 26)
1w ago00:22:42Tap to summarizeMonday, June 15th: In Episode 791 of The Daily Grind, we continue The Gospel According to Ezekiel with Part 26, “The Fallen Cedar,” from Ezekiel 31. God tells Pharaoh to look at the example of Assyria, once the greatest empire in the ancient world. Ezekiel compares Assyria to a magnificent cedar tree towering above all others, providing shelter, influence, and strength to countless nations. Yet the very greatness that made the empire impressive also became the source of its downfall. The cedar forgot its roots, became proud, and eventually was cut down. Through this image, God warns Pharaoh that Egypt is walking the same path. Ezekiel reveals that pride often grows from blessings when people begin to mistake gifts for personal achievements. The chapter reminds us that every empire, nation, institution, and individual who builds on self-exaltation eventually faces the limits of human power. Christians ultimately see the contrast fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who chose humility instead of self-promotion and was exalted by God. Ezekiel 31 calls believers to remember their dependence on God and to recognize that true greatness is found not in pride but in humility.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
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790 rebroadcast of 529 Don’t Copy the World — A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1–2)
1w ago00:17:23Tap to summarizeJune 12th: In Episode 529 of The Daily Grind, we explore Romans 12:1–2, where Paul urges believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices. This isn’t about religious ritual—it’s about whole-life worship. In response to God’s mercy, Paul calls for total surrender: bodies, minds, habits, and hearts. He warns us not to conform to the world’s mold, which pressures us to value popularity, comfort, and self-promotion. Instead, we’re to be transformed—inside out—through the renewing of our minds. Transformation isn’t a behavior shift; it’s a spiritual metamorphosis. And that renewal starts with soaking our thoughts in truth, prayer, and Scripture. Only then, Paul says, can we truly discern God’s will. This episode challenges listeners to stop copying the world and start becoming more like Christ. Because living sacrifices don’t crawl off the altar—they stay there in worship.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
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789 rebroadcast of 528 The Good Samaritan – Who Is My Neighbor?
2w ago00:17:07Tap to summarizeJune 11: In Episode 528 of The Daily Grind, we explore the Parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25–37. When a lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells a story that shifts the question entirely. A man is attacked on the road, and two religious leaders pass him by. But a despised outsider—a Samaritan—shows mercy, binds wounds, pays for his care, and embodies compassion. Jesus doesn’t define a neighbor by proximity or similarity, but by action. He challenges us not to look for who counts as our neighbor, but to become one. The parable reveals that love crosses boundaries, and mercy is the true sign of faith. Jesus ends the story with a command: “Go and do likewise.” This episode invites listeners to reflect on how they can live out neighbor-love today, especially in a divided world. Being a neighbor starts with seeing, stopping, and showing mercy.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
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788 rebroadcast 527 The Council of Chalcedon – When the Church Defined the Mystery of Jesus
2w ago00:17:53Tap to summarizeJune 10th: In Episode 527 of The Daily Grind, we explore one of the most important moments in Christian history—the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. As the early church wrestled with who Jesus truly is, confusion and heresies spread: some claimed Jesus was two separate persons; others believed His humanity was swallowed by His divinity. The council brought together over 500 bishops to define the nature of Christ clearly and faithfully. Their result? The Chalcedonian Definition—a powerful declaration that Jesus is one person with two natures, fully God and fully human, without confusion, change, division, or separation. This statement became a cornerstone of Christian belief. The council showed that sound theology isn't about solving mystery—it's about protecting truth. It reminds us that Jesus had to be both God and man to save us and to sympathize with our weakness. This episode unpacks the historical drama, the deep theology, and why it still matters today. The Council of Chalcedon helps us worship the real Jesus—mysterious, majestic, and true.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
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787 rebroadcast: 005 From Hostility To Hospitality
2w ago00:14:21Tap to summarizeJune 9th I recently re-read again one of my favorite books, Henri Nouwen’s Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life. I’m going to use it for today's podcast. I'll share the movements, a couple really great quotes, and few thoughts. Get the book, it’s worth a read.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!
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786 rebroadcast 004 Only the wounded can serve in love's name
2w ago00:09:24Tap to summarizeJune 08: In this podcast episode, we explore Thornton Wilder's one-act play, "The Angel That Troubled the Waters," which draws inspiration from John 5:1-4. Set by the pool of Bethesda, renowned for its healing waters when stirred by an angel, the play presents a modern rendition where a weary physician seeks solace from his melancholy. Through a profound dialogue with the angel, the physician discovers that his wounds and sorrows grant him the power to touch the hearts of others. As the play unfolds, the physician's role shifts, offering hope and solace to those in need, reminding us that embracing our own brokenness allows us to become wounded healers as we draw closer to Jesus. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of bringing our wounds into the light, letting go of guilt and shame, and embracing forgiveness, enabling us to serve others in love's name. The passage from 2 Corinthians 1:4 reinforces the concept that God comforts us in our troubles, allowing us to comfort others in turn.Wilder’s play came to my attention from Brennan Manning’s, Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging – I highly recommend it. Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!If you or someone you know is interested in joining me on the daily grind, please let me know. I appreciate you taking the time to be a part of this podcast episode. Thank you!
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785 Broken Reeds and False Hopes Ezekiel 30 (The Gospel According to Ezekiel Part 25)
2w ago00:21:57Tap to summarizeFriday, June 5th: In Episode 785 of The Daily Grind, we continue The Gospel According to Ezekiel with Part 25, “Broken Reeds and False Hopes,” from Ezekiel 30. Ezekiel announces that the Day of the Lord is coming upon Egypt, one of the most powerful nations of the ancient world. Cities will fall, armies will collapse, and allies will be scattered as God exposes the false security Egypt represented. For years Judah had looked to Egypt for protection instead of trusting God, but Egypt proves to be a broken reed, appearing strong while ultimately unable to bear the weight placed upon it. Ezekiel reminds us that people often build their hopes on temporary foundations such as wealth, power, politics, success, or human systems. The chapter reveals that God sometimes allows false securities to collapse so people can discover where true security is found. Throughout the passage, the repeated phrase “They will know that I am the Lord” shows that God's goal is not destruction but revelation. Christians ultimately see Jesus as the unshakable foundation who remains when every other support fails. Ezekiel 30 challenges us to examine where we have placed our trust and whether those foundations can withstand the storms of life.Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
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