Daily Thunder Podcast

This is the thirteenth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode two unexpected and amazing things are going to enter the already-exciting storyline. First, Guthrum, the evil king of the Vikings is going to have a shocking end to his life — a death that students of history have deeply pondered and wondered about for generations. While the second thing is the arrival of a new character on the scene named Æthelstan, at the precise time Guthrum exits the storyline. Æthelstan is another king who will prove critical to Alfred’s successes in transforming a terribly fractured Britain into one united England. 

This is the twelfth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he continues to unpack the remarkable story of Alfred and his battles with the evil Viking king Guthrum. May 6, 878 the tide is going to turn in the dramatic storyline. The Battle of Edington marks a new beginning in the history of Alfred.  The good guys are going to start winning. And this leads to a crisis for Guthrum and a profound decision for Alfred. With Guthrum finally in his hands, what should he do with this advantageous position over the Viking king?

Purity is not a popular term these days. In a culture where “anything goes,” Christians are called to live set-apart, holiness, pure lives. Yet how can live pure in an impure world? In this episode, Nathan Johnson focuses on Paul’s call to purity in Philippians 4:8 and explains how this should not only affect every area of our lives but is only possible when we focus on Jesus and fill our minds with His Word.

This is the eleventh episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he explores what is possibly the most amazing feat of Alfred’s life. He is going to flip the script on the Vikings in the spring of 878. They have always been the hunters, but now he is going to start hunting them. They have always been the brilliant cunning strategists, but now he is going to become the fox and outsmart them. This amazing transformation of Alfred’s perspective, is precisely what every Christian must understand and put into practice. We are no longer the victims — we are the victors.

Biblically, justice is not based on preference or perspective, but upon God’s righteous character and Word. In Paul’s exhortation to the Church to “think on these things” in Philippians 4:8, he calls us to dwell upon that which is right (or just). In this episode, Nathan Johnson examines the concept of righteousness and justice and gives five practical ways to not only think about that which is just but to also live it out in our lives.

This is the tenth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he explores how men are built in the difficult place. Time and again throughout history men are both proven and made by rising up in the midst of falling circumstances. When a man deliberately chooses to aggressively agree with God to stand up and to defy the enemy’s cowering suggestion to give up — something special happens in the man. And as a result, something special also happens in this world.  

This is the ninth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he explores the spiritual mystery of how “increased need” equates to “increased grace”. In fact, the greater the need we face, the more we are able to witness the power and grace of God at work in our lives. In 876, Alfred found himself in a place of great weakness and great need. And in this island season, hidden away in his swamp fortress, Alfred was readied to truly become “great”. Most of us plead with God to help us avoid these island seasons, but God, in His great wisdom, knows that it is in and through these very seasons that we are prepared for His “great” work.  

Honor is greatly misunderstood in today’s culture. Yet Paul commands us to fill up our minds with that which is honorable. As Christians, how can we understand what “honorable” is and how do we keep a guard upon our mind that reflects this quality? In this episode, Nathan Johnson tackles this complex Greek word and describes three ways in which our minds can be honorable and noble no matter what goes on around us.

This is the eighth episode in Eric Ludy’s epic summer Daily Thunder series drawing on the legendary life of Alfred the Great. In this particular episode he examines the significance of covenantal pledges in the ninth century and how that played a prominent role in the storyline of Alfred. The seemingly inordinate value place upon the ideal of integrity in the Kingdom of Wessex is a beautiful and striking parallel to the much greater Kingdom of Christ and the weight He Himself places on integrity in His system of government. The betrayal of Wulfhere is a shocking demonstration of the fact that colossal compromise is a close companion to all who consider their own comforts higher than the preservation of their king.

Paul’s command to think on that which is true is far more than something factual or informational—He refers to embracing the Person of Jesus and being filled up with the Word of God. In this episode, Nathan Johnson examines Paul’s first command of things to think upon and discovers that truth is twofold, it expels all lies, and transforms our personal experience and reality.