Today, you'll notice the Word for Today radio program has been updated following the passing

of longtime host Norm McBride.

Stepping in as the new host, we're pleased to welcome Kathy Parrish, a much-loved Christian

broadcaster and a passionate supporter of the Word for Today.

You'll also notice a new theme song, Little Country Church by Love Song, one of Chuck Smith's favorite musical groups.

Thank you for your continued support of the legacy of Chuck Smith and The Word for today.

Little Country Church on the edge of town, do, do, do, do, do, do, do.

People coming every day for miles around for meetings and for Sunday school and it's very plain to see it's not the way it used to be.

Welcome to the Word for Today, featuring the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor Chuck Smith, founder of the Calvary Chapel Movement.

This radio program is a chapter by chapter verse by verse study through the entire Bible.

And on today's edition of the word for today, Pastor Chuck continues his message,

Zekees the tax collector as we pick up in Luke, chapter 19, verse one.

And now with today's study, here's Pastor Chuck.

Now Jesus has entered into Jericho and as he is passing through the city,

behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans.

The city of Jericho was a oasis.

It was a resort town.

It was the Palm Springs, except even more lush. The winters can get quite cold in Jerusalem. They get even an occasional snow. But down in Jericho in the wintertime,

the weather is just really perfect. The days are usually clear.

You get less than two inches of rain during the year, and yet because it is about 1,100 feet below sea level,

there are all kinds of springs and little streams down there in Jericho

because of your depth. And there's just these artesian wells or springs and all of this

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