Advent 4 - Love All

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "Advent 4" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can down load it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

So - love all.  This last theme of the Advent conspiracy seems pretty simple on the surface, doesn't it?  But let's be honest.  It's probably the hardest to really live out.  Love itself is a big enough topic - but then when the invitation and challenge is to love all - we've got a tall order on our hands.

Who is the hardest person for you to love today?  Is it someone you know or not?

Is it harder for you to love when you don't feel loved?

The radical, groundbreaking nature of Christ is that in his ministry, teachings, and life, we know that all is truly the intent.  Jesus sought to love and reach out to those at the margins.  The coming of God in Jesus means John 3:16 but also John 3:17 - "for Christ did not come to condemn the world, but that the whole world (kosmos) might have eternal life."  As Christians, reflecting Christ's love, then, the invitation is not to let any barrier stop us - of social status, race, age, class, gender, conflict, disagreement, politics, past, but simply to love ALL.  The challenge is to live it out.
In Galatians 5 we read about the hope and waiting we live out in Advent, and the fact that in Christ no label or division can keep us, but only love:

⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.  ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

At the end of today's podcast, we're giving you a brief preview of where we're headed.  This podcast/blog will go on hiatus for a couple weeks and pick up mid-January, for the Epiphany season.  Listen to today's podcast and stay tuned for what's ahead!

Advent 3 - Give More

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "Advent 2" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

Last week was "Spend Less" - now you want me to "Give More?"  How does that make sense? 
We are talking about giving this week - about the best gifts we've ever given and been given.  And usually it isn't the most exciting or highest price items.
Sometimes giving is really appealing, exciting, glamorous even . . . we like to give to need, to meaningful causes . . .  But what about giving that is pretty ordinary? 
Giving as in. . .  
. . . giving your attention to your child's question;
. . . giving your time to doing your work well;
. . . giving to your church each week;
. . . giving your taxes;
. . . sometime these are pretty ordinary - but they are still giving that can free us - and create positive change for those around us. 
Giving More isn't about guilt.  It's about giving relationally, and it may not even cost a penny.  Maybe it's giving some quality time with your family.  Maybe it's giving forgiveness to someone who needs it in your life. 
In reclaiming Advent as a time of peace and preparation, it will mean giving more - to things that really matter - even the ordinary, beautiful, important stuff of life.
Giving and receiving is not about obligation and expectation, but about freedom and relationship, about joy that's given and shared. 
Think about the best gift you've received.  Think about how powerful that gift is in your life.   Join us for worship this Sunday (8, 9:30, and 11) or Wednesday at 6:45pm and we'll be given great gifts - of forgiveness, peace, nourishment... and because we are freed in Christ, challenged to give more. 

Advent 2 - Spend Less

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "Advent 2" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

With this second week's theme, we reflect on God freeing us and inviting us to SPEND LESS!  It's not about guilt, but it's about of freeing ourselves from stressing about the things that don't matter and spending less of our money, time, and energy on them.  Click above to listen to our discussion on this, using the scripture for this Sunday, and reflect -

What does it spark in you?   

What could you spend less on?   

How are you feeling "spent?"  Hear that you are freed - and use this week as a time to reflect on how you could spend less...

From adventconspiracy.org:
Quick question for you: What was the one gift you remember getting for Christmas last year? Next question: What about the fourth gift? Do you remember that one? Truth is many of us don't because it wasn't something we necessarily wanted or needed. Spending Less isn't a call to stop giving gifts; it's a call to stop spending money on gifts we won't remember in less than a year. America spends around $450 billion dollars during the Christmas season, and much of that goes right onto a credit card. By spending wisely on gifts we free ourselves from the anxiety associated with debt so we can take in the season with a full heart.

Here's another video to inspire this week's reflection . . .

Advent 1 - Worship Fully

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "Advent 1" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

We're looking ahead to this Sunday, the first Sunday of the new church year and of the Advent season.  This season is full of expectation, hope, but also anticipation and themes of wonder as we encounter scripture that foretold Christ's coming and also anticipates God coming again to bring in the kingdom and reconcile the whole world.

But what is this season really like for you?
Is it more about the to-do list, or the expectations of all the things we are "supposed" to do and be at this time of year?
Whose message is that?

For this season of Advent, we're joining in on the Advent Conspiracy.  Started a few years ago by a small group of churches, it aims to offer a refreshing alternative to the culture's pressure and stress of the season.  So each week has a theme (see the picture at right) to help us slow down, focus, and open to God working among us. 

So this week our theme is Worship Fully.  What does this mean to you?  What holds you back from worshipping fully?  In this week's podcast, we're discussing what it means to us and how we might challenge each other to be freed from everything else that holds us back and be able to worship fully . . .

Join us for Sunday worship.  You'll notice a couple changes, as we allow some time to slow down, reflect, and also profess our faith and be inspired to use our faith actively in the real world. 

On Wednesdays, at noon we'll continue to offer a brief service of Holy Communion - take it as a gift to pause and relax in worship. 
Wednesdays at 6:45 will be a special worship service for the three Wednesdays in Advent (Dec. 4, 11, 18).  We'll gather in prayer, scripture, discussion, and interactive activities to challenge ourselves and continue to explore our weekly themes. 

Then, tune in here each Thursday as we look to the week ahead and begin exploring together the next theme!

We've got all the answers!

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

It's been an interesting series, of engaging, honest questions. So today we're wrapping it up with a little reflection and looking forward to what's ahead.  So listen in as we reflect together on questions the whole concept of pat answers for questions of faith, questions we've encountered, questions of faith in general, and where we're headed next. 

Which is - into Advent - and we'll be picking up the theme of Advent Conspiracy:

We all want our Christmas to be a lot of things.  Full of joy.  Memories.  Happiness.  Above all, we want it to be about Jesus.  What we don’t want is stress.   Or debt.   Or feeling like we “missed the moment”. Advent Conspiracy is a movement designed to help us all slow down and experience a Christmas worth remembering.  But doing this means doing things a little differently.   A little creatively.

So starting on Thanksgiving day, we'll publish a blog/podcast each Thursday which looks ahead to the following Sunday's theme.  Each week in Advent Conspiracy has a theme -
             Worship Fully (12/1),
             Spend Less (12/8),
             Give More (12/15), and
             Love All (12/22). 
Then Sunday join us for worship - it'll be a little creative - give space for reflection, interactive professions of faith and inspiration to take with you for the week...
Then end your week with a different worship service Wednesday evenings at 6:45 - we'll use some technology, discussion, singing, praying together - and again engaging our weekly theme in a fresh way.

Universal Salvation?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.


The question someone asked us to tackle this week is -

what about universal salvation?

  Is this something that worries you or makes you wonder?  Are you worried for someone specific?  Are you worried about whether in the end you are "right" or whether it matters at all?

How do we interpret verses like John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  and John 3:17:  "‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'"
If you're still curious, there's a lot of overlap between this question and one we covered earlier - Is Jesus the only way?

Tune in and listen as we wrestle honestly with this one.

Join us Tuesday at Bowl of Good on Port Republic Rd at 7:00pm.  We can take this topic further or discuss this and other questions of faith...

Prophecy?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

An icon of the prophet Micah.

People are hungry for answers, hungry to know about the future.  So this week we're tackling the topic of prophecy and prophets - in scripture and in our day.  In scripture God gives revelations and words to the prophets.  We are about to begin a series of readings through Advent which will use themes of prophecy and apocalyptic in speaking of God's coming kingdom and how we wait in anticipation of God's reign.  

But what about prophets today? 

Predictions of the future and apocalyptic themes are popular - we don't have to look too far in movies or books . . .  The Left Behind series has captured a lot of attention and conversation, for one.  Street preachers speak of doomsday - are they prophets? 




Are there modern-day prophets?  Are prophets just opportunists who either after the fact assert "see, I predicted that!" or who use interpretation so loosely (like fortune tellers) that we read into it what we want? 
One documentary, Kumare, tracked this phenomenon that people are so eager to follow someone who says they have the answers.  The filmmaker created a persona of a (guru) prophet out of thin air, as an experiment to see if people would follow him.  And oh, how they followed . . .  He discovered the depth of this basic hunger for answers and acceptance - and then had to tell them he was false.

In any case, we wrestle with these questions in our conversation this week...  Listen in.  Share with a friend.  Join us Tuesdays at 7pm at Bowl of Good on Port Republic Rd for some conversation on these and any other questions of faith.

What about heaven?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

Is this a familiar image of heaven? 
(Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel)

What do you picture when you picture heaven?  Do you have questions about heaven? 
We've been asked in a couple different ways to discuss what we/Lutherans/the bible believes about heaven.  We've also been asked - if we believe in the resurrection of the dead when Christ returns and God reconciles the whole world - what's with all this heaven stuff?  What's heaven about?
How do we balance our beliefs and views of heaven and resurrection?

This is one podcast where we definitely give no "pat answers" . . . probably because ultimately there aren't any.  Whereas the Hebrew Scriptures in the Old Testament speak very little about anything after death, the New Testament has many and various references to heaven.  We rest ultimately the words of Paul's letter to the Corinthians - "Listen, I will tell you a mystery. . ." 

Come explore the mystery with us.  Listen to the podcast, share with a friend, send us your questions!

What do we believe about healing?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

As we prepared for and led today's worship with a special focus and prayers for healing, it seemed timely that we take on a set of questions that often come up in pastoral care.  At least for us pastors, we are confronted often thinking: What do we actually believe about healing?
Why are some people healed and others seem to be overlooked?
What does healing mean?  What does it mean to be healed, well, whole???
Our culture and the self-help aisles and millions made in this industry seem to promote a self-help, self-healing model...  What does faith have to say to this?

Definitely no pat answers here.  Listen.  Reflect.  Share.  Give us some feedback - what do you think?

What role do I play?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

In a special episode of "No Pat Answers" we're joined in this episode by Bishop Jim Mauney, our bishop of the Virginia Synod of our denomination, the ELCA.  (He's seen below in the video below with an original rap at a synodical youth event.)  We had a lot of fun discussing together - and getting into this really important topic for Lutherans.  We're tackling a question we've heard a lot of different ways, and specifically in an email from a listener...


What role do I play in my own salvation? 
What role does acceptance play? 
Do I/we have to accept God's love? 
God reaches out, but we have to reach back. . . 
God gives the gift of salvation, but we have to unwrap it . . .

Listen in, let us know what you think, share a question, share this with a friend . . .

Join us Tuesdays at 7pm at Bowl of Good on Port Republic Road for small-group discussion with the pastors of this and any other questions of faith.  No judgments, all are welcome, no pat answers.

Why do we question our faith?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

Today, we're tackling part of another listener's question, who wrote:

Why do we question our faith?

We probably know people who are always wondering, questioning faith.  Likewise we probably know some people who seem to just be so solid and never question.  Where do you feel you fit?  Does doubt creep in occasionally, or is it a daily struggle?  Is doubt a curiosity, or does it lead to despair and frustration?

Pastors Bob and Brett are tackling some of these things this week - take a listen.  Let us know what you think.  Then share it with someone you know  - maybe someone who has their own questions . . .

Also, we're still taking questions for future podcasts.  Is there a question - about faith, God, church, life. . . which you'd like us to tackle?  Our promise remains - no pat answers.

We continue to welcome folks to join us at Bowl of Good on Tuesadays @ 7pm to continue these discussions in person.  We've had great small group conversations so far.  But, we will not meet next Tuesday, 10/15 as Pastors Bob and Brett will be out of town - we'll resume Tuesday 10/22 @ 7pm - join us!

Glory to God?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

Here's the question that was emailed to us:

If our purpose is to glorify God (even if that's just one of multiple purposes), how are we to contextualize and understand that? Specifically, to understand it from a human point of view makes it grossly egotistical, if not egomaniacal and sociopathic ... any human being that would compel others to glorify him/her, worship him/her, would be rightly seen as a dangerous individual. If God creates us ultimately to glorify God, what's that say about God?

So - is God an egomaniacal overlord who created a bunch of mini-me's to bow down and glorify God's self?  
                     Does God need our praise? 

                                      Why do we worship? 
 
So we're tackling this - "we" this week being Pastor Brett and special guest, her husband, Pastor Evan Davis, of St. Jacob Spaders and Trinity Lutheran Churches.  Pastor Bob will be back for next week's edition - keep sending those questions. 

Enjoy our podcasts?  Hear something interesting or you think would be helpful?  Share it with a friend!

ALL are welcome to join us Tuesday nights at 7pm at Bowl of Good on Port Republic Rd.  We'll gather and discuss the question of the week, plus whatever questions of faith you might have.  No judgments.  No pat answers.  Just an open conversation about faith.  Come and grab a drink or something to eat, or just come join us.  See you then!
 

What's the deal with the devil?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "On the Road" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

This week we're diving into a question that came up in one of the Sunday school classes and also in conversations and comments - "What's the deal with the devil?"


We're diving into it and wrestling with why this question might come up...  Listen in - and let us know what you're thinking.


Then remember, that you're invited to join us every Tuesday at 7pm at Bowl of Good on Port Republic Road.  We'll discuss the most recent podcast's question and any questions of faith you bring to discuss.  One or both pastors each week will join and are open to conversations - invite a friend!  No judgments, no pat answers - all are welcome!

Calling All Questions!

As we get this series going, we're asking for your questions.  They can be questions about God, faith, religion(s), scripture . . .  general or specific . . .
Questions you've never been able to ask.
Questions that you may just be wondering about.
Questions that are risky. 
Questions that seem safe but deserve a second look.
Questions that you have - or someone you know has.

So send them to us - we'd love to have a pile of them - we promise to respond to them all in some way - either with a podcast episode, discussion, or an email/comment response.

You may ask your questions:
- anonymously - by clicking on comments at the end of this post...
- emailing wellspringmlc@gmail.com
- emailing davis@muhlenberglutheran.org  or humphrey@muhlenberglutheran.org
- post a comment on facebook
- write us a note and get it to our box at church.

Don't forget to join us tomorrow (Tuesday) night, at 7pm, at Bowl of Good on Port Republic Road.  This week we'll continue talking about last week's question - is Jesus the only way?  and whatever else you bring to the table!  All are welcome. 

All questions welcome!

Jesus, the only way?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "On the Road" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

This week a clear theme emerged in the questions asked in the comments here and also by email. 
So we're discussing

one, true religion?

Listen to the podcast.  Share it with a friend.  Disagree, confused, or have further questions?  Leave a comment, email us, or start a conversation with a friend.  Leave us a comment and join the conversation with others.

We're excited to announce that we'd like to take these conversations offline as well - and invite you to join us,  Tuesdays at 7:00 at Bowl of Good on Port Republic Rd. 
Bring your questions, and an open mind - we can start with the question of the week, but anything is fair game.  We'll have the big table and a seat at it for you.  Bring a friend, bring your curiosity, come if you are a Muhlenberg member or you've never been.  No hidden agenda, no judgments - just open conversations about our questions of faith.  We'll get something to share and you can buy dinner, a snack, a beer, a tea, or just come join us!

Keep the questions coming, and thanks for those who have entered the conversation so far.  We intend these not to be lectures, but conversation starters - and we'd like to work from your questions each week. 
Just as a reminder, you can ask your questions for discussion a few ways:  comment here on the blog (click on comments below) - can be anonymous; email wellspringmlc@gmail.com or either pastor (davis@muhlenberglutheran.org, humphrey@muhlenberglutheran.org), or leave us a note in our box at church.

No pat answers - Episode 1 - Thanks be to God?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "On the Road" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio. 

If we're honest, we all have questions.  As pastors, we hear them all the time - both from people faithfully in our pews every Sunday and those who would never darken our door.  And if we're honest, we have some questions too.   
So for our fall series of podcasts, through the end of November 2013, we'd like to use these podcasts to start a discussions.  On the questions of faith, maybe the questions you were never allowed or were too scary to ask. 
Submit those to us - as a comment on this page (can be anonymous), through email, drop us a note, tell us in person. 
But even more importantly, share these discussions.  Use them as family conversation starters - or send the link to a friend who may share in some of these questions.
This week, to start us off, we're discussing -

thanks be to God(?)

What does it mean when we say this?  How does this challenge us? 
How/why are we so quick to say this when things are going well. . .
. . . but what does that mean about times when we get bad news?

We want to hear your thoughts - start conversations - give resources for people with questions.  This series may challenge you.  It may be tough.  We'll be honest - and we may sometimes disagree.  But in Christ, all of it will be held together.
Stay tuned - we're planning for this series to also have a LIVE component - where we gather out in the community - welcoming anyone with questions - members and friends and strangers - and have open discussions.
It's part of our vision for ministry here at Muhlenberg - a wellspring of God's grace - open + authentic + relational + serving.  And for us, being open & authentic means - no pat answers.

peace+

A Sabbath Healing

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "On the Road" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for the audio.    

We're discussing the texts for August 25, 2013 - particularly Luke 13:10-17 and Isaiah 58:9b-14.

We've been "On the Road" following Jesus through the gospel of Luke all summer.  Here in chapter 13, the passage we're looking at, Jesus is teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath.  It would've been easy enough for us to go to the local synagogue or our own sanctuary, but as we have all summer, we tried to think of a place in our community that tied in to the themes of the text and the people Jesus meets. 

So we found ourselves at the hospital, RMH - not to visit parishioners, but to reflect on these texts in the context of healing and Sabbath.  Do you or someone in your family work on Sundays?  For people at RMH, this is a necessity, as in many fields, and for others who simply do not have the luxury of having Sundays off. 

What does Sabbath mean to you?  Tell us, here in the comments, on facebook, or in person...  Is it always Sunday?  Is it holy?  I find it interesting that this program I am typing in automatically capitalizes Sabbath, though nothing else I can think of - not god, lord, sunday, etc. . .  Maybe it says something about what I think of Sabbath that I wouldn't capitalize it! 

The other major theme in these readings is healing.  Many of the same questions emerge as with other healing texts of Jesus.  Is this a two-part healing - her sins and then her physical ailment?  Why is she healed and not my loved one?  What does it mean to be healed?  The woman's reaction and nothing more about her is noted - what is the rest of her story?  Or is nothing else noted about her because the real ones needing healing are the synagogue leaders?

Always blessed to hear your thoughts - this is just the start of a conversation!  Share with your family or a friend - ask them what they think about healing - or Sabbath . . . A

"I came to bring fire to the earth"

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "On the Road" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for the audio.    

We're looking ahead to the bible texts for this Sunday, August 18.  The texts are Luke 12:49-55, Jeremiah 23:23-29, and Hebrews 11:29-12:2.

Did you read those verses in Luke?  What images does all this talk of fire and division bring up for you?  How does it make you feel?

We tend to think of Jesus as a fairly placid figure - peaceful, calm even in conflict.  But in this passage, we are reminded of Jesus' humanity, and here he says "what stress I am under!" 

Division is a part of the human condition, and conflict can be a healthy part of renewal and taking a stand for what is right.  We find it a powerful witness that Muhlenberg is a place where we may be divided on many things but we are united in Christ around one Lord, one baptism, one table... 

Come, Holy Spirit. 

Sell your possessions?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "On the Road" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for the audio.    

We're looking ahead to the bible texts for this Sunday, August 11: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-15 & Luke 12:32-40.

Jesus says - "Do not be afraid, little flock - for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions . . ." 

How do you hear these verses together?  Is the second statement about selling your possessions jarring or comforting?

This week we broadcasted from outside Pawn Emporium - it's a place where people sell their possessions, but unfortunately usually out of need and thus pawn shops are ready to take advantage of that.  If Jesus were alive today, would send his disciples here to simplify their lives?  Or would he use Ebay?  Pawn shops, perhaps except for their recent popularity through reality television, have a certain connotation, even shamefulness associated . . . but who can judge?  This one in downtown Harrisonburg has an imposing fence around it - making us think of the way some people interpret the instruction to be prepared - being well-guarded.

We could not have prepared for the distractions and surprises as we recorded which re-emphasized these themes in the text - be prepared - God is breaking in the kingdom!  How fitting in a way that we were interrupted by what turned out to be funeral bells tolling from nearby Blessed Sacrament - a reminder that God is our sure promise, in proclaiming life that comes from death...  These bells were a reminder to me to be prepared and ready - to interpret things we see and hear as God's action in the world.

What if living as Christians, well prepared as Jesus describes in Luke, doesn't look like stockpiling or fearing the future, but opening your eyes looking for what God is doing?  What is God doing this week in your life, preparing you for abundant life in God's kingdom?  Read these verses from Hebrews and Luke - they contain some very familiar images of comfort and pure promise.  Take them to heart.  Then know, whatever God is preparing for you (assured as it is the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom) be ready to catch it!

Bigger Barns

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "On the Road" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.   

Great, juicy, personally challenging texts this week.  We're discussing Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23, Colossians 3:1-11, and Luke 12:13-21.  Give them a read before listening to the podcast.

You don't have to go too far from Muhlenberg in any direction before the scenes become pastoral and barns pop up on the landscape.  So for this week's podcast, we broadcast to you from off route 42, at a barn.  The gospel passage talks about barns and storing up possessions, and throughout the texts is a theme of holding onto possessions as a foolish endeavor.  The gospel reading has a parable where a rich man builds larger barns to hold all his possessions - but to what end?

We also considered going to a bank or somewhere else that is a modern equivalent of where we store up wealth . . .  Ironically, the first barn we stopped at, we decided wasn't nice enough looking, and we opted for this one instead, which had lots of additions and looked a nice bright red on this rainy morning.

The scriptures from Ecclesiastes, Colossians, and Luke become excellent conversation partners with each other and us as we think about some questions:  Do you value your work? 
Are you trying to get to some level of success or measure - what is it?  These scriptures, particularly Ecclesiastes, might make you ask yourself why?
How can our possessions become idolatry?  The Luke and Colossians texts challenge us in this way.

Where do you find yourself most satisfied, most whole, most nourished?  So many folks lately have talked to us about the lack they feel when consumed by the busyness of life or the value that work (or lack of it) puts on them. 

All of these themes make me think of this video - and maybe you can think of it as a little Christmas in (the last gasp of) July. . . and that ultimately Christ is the gift, and we are more than what we have, buy, or store. 

As the video says: Consumerism does not equal happiness.  Spend less on gifts.  Give more presence.  Love like Jesus.  It began with worship.  It begins with worship. 

See you in worship this Sunday!