Reading: Joshua 1:1-9
After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
 

Reflection
The leader is dead. The Israelites have followed Moses through the wilderness and now there is a “new sheriff in town.” Joshua is commanded by God to take up Moses’ work. I’m not sure how I would feel if I were Joshua. Moses was a bigger-than-life figure. And now Joshua’s been chosen as Moses’ successor.
 
God tells Joshua to follow the teachings of the scripture and his way will be prosperous. I know we are to trust God, but if I were Joshua, I’m sure I would have my doubts. These are big shoes to fill, and God’s work is big work to do.
 
But guess what? God also tells Joshua that God will be with him always. God encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous. God will go along. It will be okay.
 
Joshua had to head out in faith. He had to do the hard work, knowing that he was not alone. He had to pick up the mantel and continue the important work that had been started. It was his turn now. And God would go with him. 
 
--Chad Hershberger
 
 
Prayer  
As we pick up our mantels to follow you, God, help us to be strong and courageous. May we feel your presence in the hard times as we do the hard work. Go with us. Guide us. Let us do your work.
Amen.

Reading: Luke 12:49-56
“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
 
Reflection
Divisions are a reality in our world today. No doubt about it. You turn on the news and some kind of horrific thing has occurred yet again. Deaths, shootings, riots, political unrest and war rage about us on a daily basis now. So we turn off the news and hopefully turn to our Bibles for some good news, and then we see today’s reading. Jesus says, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” It seems we cannot escape division and unrest of some sort, on some level in our lives. We have to live here on this earth, together with many people we disagree with or find fault with, and it is not always easy. Even those who are most near and dear to us will hurt us or let us down. In those times we turn to Jesus. We turn to prayer, and we pray for those who we are in conflict with. We pray for a better tomorrow and pray that healing can begin. All the while, we trust in God. While people on this earth will deceive us, betray us, and let us down, we know where we stand with God. We are baptized, beloved children of a God who is always there for us. Trusting in the steadfast love of our savior, we continue to find grace and acceptance through all of life’s struggles.
--Amy Shuck
 
Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we struggle with divisions and hurts that run very deeply, may we always turn to you for guidance and grace, and trusting in your mercy, we pray for those who persecute us or speak out against us. May we come to you always and know that you hear us and understand us.
Amen.

Reading: Hebrews 11: 29 - 12: 2
 
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
 
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
 
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
 

Reflection
This continues our reading from last week. Remember how the beginning of this chapter had a definition of faith? Then, we have a long list of examples of faithful people. And we are reminded that we are part of these generations of God’s family.
 
So often, we read about this great cloud of witnesses that came before us. Have you ever thought that not only are you part of that cloud, but also all of God’s followers here on earth? We are not in this alone! And Paul tells us that we are to run this race with our eyes on Jesus who will perfect our faith.
 
I know I need this reminder often. It’s a marathon not a sprint. And we have lots of well-wishers to help us in our quest. 
 
--Chad Hershberger
 
 
Prayer  
The race is long, Lord, but we know you are with us. Continue to give us strength, energy, and perseverance to keep running.
Amen. 

Reading: Psalm 82
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I say, “You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince.”
Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you!

Reflection
Human beings like to think of themselves as godlike - able to do whatever they like. From ordinary people to "powers that be", we set ourselves up as little gods. We often see this arrogance in others. We ought to look closer and see it in ourselves. Either way, among the gods, all will die like mortals, and fall like any prince. (v. 7)

So the Psalmist calls, "Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you!" (v. 8) We need to get out of God's way in the divine council. We need to get out of our own way walking around in darkness. With the true God, there is justice to the weak and the orphan; rescue for the weak and needy. (from v. 3 & 4)

Instead of living as among the gods, let's live as among God's people. 
--Ruth Gates

Prayer
Dear God, help us remember you alone are God. 
Amen.

Reading: Jeremiah 23:23-29
Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed!” How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
 

Reflection
The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were a time of great upheaval and excitement across the West. This is the time known as the Enlightenment, perhaps better labeled as the Age of Reason (see Meic Pearse’s outstanding history book of the same name) because it was a time when people championed rationality and reason above all else.
 
Science, the observation of the natural world, was originally a task undertaken by theologians. Isaac Newton is a great example of this, being as much a theologian as he was a scientist. But during the Age of Reason, people began to separate out faith and science, looking for an understanding of the natural world as far away from any conversation of God as possible. People started to become Deists, those who believed in the existence of God, an almighty creator or authority, but who were unwilling to claim anything further about this deity. People began to seek out what Peter Gay labels as “Newton’s physics without Newton’s God.”
 
It was around this time that the Christian apologist William Paley coined the now famous analogy of the watch and the watchmaker. He argued that the intricacies of all creation, the mechanics of physics, the complicated workings of biology, the reactions of chemistry, all point to the existence of a creator. All creation, the wheeling of the planets, the growth of trees, the passing of the seasons, is like a great and complicated watch which God, the divine watchmaker, set in motion.
 
This argument was originally meant to bolster belief in God amidst a growing class of intellectuals who no longer believed in a God. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. While this analogy still champions belief in God, it reduces God to mere provenance: God sets the universe in motion and then steps away to let it “do its thing.”
 
We are still living out the ramifications of the Age of Reason and it is into this particularly agnostic culture that Jeremiah’s words resound: “Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak faithfully.” And the faithful word of God is this: “Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.”
 
Despite what philosophers have extrapolated from scientific findings, our God is not a God far off. Our God is a God close by, a God who fills heaven and earth. God is not some watchmaker who set the universe in motion and then stepped away from it. God is rather at the center of everything that has ever been created: the base of all creation is the atom; the heart of the atom is the nucleus; within each nucleus lies protons; inside the proton is quark; and within the quark, is God. God—the heart of all creation.
 
--Jim Vitale
 
 
Prayer   
We thank you, God, that you are not far off, but near; you are closer to us than we are to ourselves. Remind us always of your closeness.
Amen.

Reading: 1 Peter 4: 7-11
The end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
 

Reflection
Change is a scary word.  At times we get comfortable with life as we know it; making it a little bit different often comes with anxiety.  But change can be good.  It can be exciting and put a newness in our lives that gives us a fresh outlook on our surroundings.  We rearrange from what is to what will be.   
 
Saying goodbye is sometimes tough to do.  Okay, it is almost always tough to do.  Saying goodbye to those who have helped shape your life, been by your side, and helped you through the good and bad is something none of us probably look forward to.  But eventually we all have to say goodbye.  Move on.  Make a change.  But with prayer and faith in God, we know that endings are new beginnings.  We know God will watch over us.   
 
Today, our camp staff are getting ready to say goodbye to this summer.  Each year during my camp career, this time of year was hard, mostly because of the people I needed to say goodbye to.  I knew I would miss them. 
 
But now I know that camp friends are lifelong friends.  Many of the friends I made at camp as a camper, counselor, and now director still are my friends today.  And they are some of the best friends in the world. 
 
In this time of transition, may we be thankful for what we have.  Let us not take for granted what has been given to us, especially God’s grace.  We’ve come a long way!  We go forth knowing God is with us.  We carry our memories as we head out into new waters! 
 
And so, we end this summer with this verse from the last book of the Bible:  “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints.  Amen.”  (Revelation 22: 21)  
 
--Chad Hershberger
 
 
Prayer   
Thank you, Lord, for endings and beginnings.  Amen.    
 

Reading: Luke 12:32-40
 
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Reflection
One of my absolute favorite moments in all of Monty Python and the Holy Grail finds a knight in his castle speaking to his grown son. The knight gestures toward a great, open window and says grandly, “One day, lad, all this will be yours.” And then the son replies, “What? The curtains?”
 
It gets me every time.

Reading
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16)

Reflection
Some might call this the “faith chapter.” I often refer to this passage when I want to try to define the word “faith.” Faith—the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. Or, put another way: knowing that what we believe is not entirely visible.
 
And then, we have a long list of examples of people who lived that faith in the Bible. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob are mentioned, as is the covenant that God made with Abraham that his descendants would be many.
 
During the past two summers, we looked at the story of Abraham and his many descendants in our curriculum, “From Generation to Generation.” God made a promise to Abraham and that promise stretches all the way down to us. God is faithful to God’s faithful people.
 
During this last week of camp for 2022, I can’t help but think that campers and staff this summer have added to this faith story. As they have encountered God in new and exciting ways, their faith has been strengthened. Their relationships with God have strengthened. I’ve been told by campers this summer that they feel God’s presence most at camp. And that leads to stronger faith.
 
As faithful children of God, may we all hold on to the assurance of God’s promises, even when we may not see them. May we, like Abraham, Sarah, and all our ancestors, receive God’s approval and hold on to the hope that God gives us through faith.
 
--Chad Hershberger
 
 
Prayer  
Loving God, prepare a city for us to live as your faithful people. Give us courage and assurance as we strengthen our faith in you.
Amen.

Reading: Psalm 33:12-22
 
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.
From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth--
he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Reflection
“A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.”
Today the psalmist boldly claims that everything we thought we knew is false. It’s common sense that the greatest kings are great because they have big armies. It's common sense that the greatest warriors are great because they are strong. It’s common sense that the best animal to take into battle is the mighty war horse (or at least it was when the psalmist was writing). But the psalmist says that an army can’t save a king. Wait what? Strength cannot save a warrior. Huh? The war horse is a vain hope for victory. Come on now.
 
What is the psalmist getting at? The psalmist is drawing our attention back to the one thing that can offer of salvation: God. The king’s army might give him power, but it cannot keep him from death. The warrior’s strength might get her through the battle, but she will still die eventually. A swift warhorse might win you victory, but it cannot save your soul. Ultimately, the only hope that we have does not come from anything in this world but from God alone.
 
And the good news is that our God is trustworthy. Our God delivers the soul from death, the psalmist writes. Our God keeps us alive in the famine. Our God is our help and our shield. So place your hope not in earthly things but in God alone.
 
--Jim Vitale
 
 
Prayer
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Amen.

Reading: Genesis 15:1-6
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Reflection
Having now seen the images from the James Webb Telescope which revealed even more galaxies and stars than ever before, to me this passage now takes even more meaning than ever before. God instructs Abram, “Look toward the heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Abram couldn’t. The stars that can be seen with the naked eye are countless. Now with telescopes, we realize there are even more that we can’t see.
Which now makes me look back to what God said - “Count the stars.” Obviously, Abram took that as the stars he could see. Perhaps in the back of God’s mind was the thought, “And, by the way Abram, there are stars out there you can’t even see.” Abram believed the Lord (that Abram’s descendants would be as many as the stars) and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Abram believed a count beyond what he could count not even knowing it was beyond his even being able to see all there was to count.
We say things like “Count your blessings,” or “I’m counting my blessings.” We name them one by one; but what if we also realized there are blessings we don’t or aren’t even able to see. Beyond count. Believe that.
--Ruth Gates
 
Prayer  
Dear God, we see your love as we can but there is always more. Help us believe.
Amen.

Reading 
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18: 15-20)
 
 
Reflection
A few years ago, I took a weeklong course on conflict resolution from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Institute.  We looked at this verse and used it as a framework for our work of learning to better handle the disputes that come up in the life of church.
 
At camp, we’ve been practicing what we call HOT Communication for a long time now.  It started as “Clean Communication” and has morphed int “HOT Communication” standing for honest, open, and transparent communication.  When we have an issue with someone, we go talk to them.  We try to resolve the problem face-to-face, not talking behind others’ backs.  If we need help, we engage a mediator to help us talk through the problem.
 
The staff and I had conversations this summer about how our world needs more HOT Communication.  We need to have the difficult conversations and come to win-win agreements.  We need to be open to listening and understanding another’s point of view.  And we need to find common ground.
 
How might you practice HOT Communications in your life?  How might those changes make your life better?  Is there someone who you have a conflict with right now?  Make a point to go talk to them and try to resolve it. 
 
--Chad Hershberger
 
 
Prayer  
Be with us in conflict, Lord, and help us to speak love in truth.  May we learn to speak more honestly, more opening, and more transparent with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Amen. 
 
 
 
 
 

Reading: Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
 

Reflection
I have heard stories of families that are torn apart over inheritance. Siblings who no longer talk because they didn’t think the distribution of their parents’ assets were fair. In many cases, that was even because of wishes of the deceased. Money destroyed these familial relationships.
 
Jesus talks a lot about money in the Bible. This is another passage where money is a topic. And we are told money should not be our focus. Our focus should be on storing up our godly treasures. What are those treasures for you?
 
--Chad Hershberger
 
 
Prayer  
We pray to you, God, to help us be in right relationship with you. Guide us as we store up treasures that are worthy of our calling as your child.
Amen.

Reading: Colossians 3:1-11
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.
But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
 
Reflection
What if? What if you saw that Christ is all? What if you saw Christ in all?
 
Christ is all. God created all. Christ is God’s son. Therefore, Christ is all. At least, that is how I understand it. And perhaps how Paul saw it as he wrote to the Colossians. Know Christ is all.
 
Christ in all. There is no longer Greek and Jew; etc., etc. Christ in all. In every person you encounter. Every person you love and every person not as easy to love. The person you have known forever and the stranger on the street. See Christ in all.
 
And remember. Christ in all also means in you. Christ is all also means what you do. We can be the face of Christ to someone today. We can be Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
 
--Ruth Gates
 
Prayer
Raise us, God, as Christ is in us and Christ is in all we do.
Amen.

Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2: 18-23
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me —and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

Reflection
Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!
 
The author of Ecclesiastes (often called Qohelet, which is Hebrew for “the one who leads the congregation” or “the Teacher”) would not have enjoyed Ted Lasso. He would have snorted at the modern positivity movement and outright guffawed at any notion of “living your best life” or “finding your bliss.” In his mind everything in heaven and on earth was, at its core, absurd.
 
That is probably a better translation of the Hebrew word habel, which has traditionally been translated as “vanity” (the NIV translates it as “meaninglessness”). Habel refers to vapor (it is the word from which Abel get’s his name, but that’s a story for another time). The teacher is saying that everything is like vapor: here one moment and gone the next; meaningless; absurd.
 
Is he right? When you look at the world around you, do you agree? I have to say that the teacher’s words resonated with me; for all the value I see in the things around me, I can’t shake the fact that nothing is permanent and eventually, everything I know and love will be gone. And so I ask, “Why?” “Why is that the way it is?”
 
I see two takeaways from today’s reading. First, Ecclesiastes gives us permission to ask the tough questions. Sometimes we think that asking “why” is off limits. Sometimes we think that questioning God is unfaithful. Ecclesiastes says the opposite: “Go ahead. Ask your questions. Vent your anger and despair. God can take it.” Ecclesiastes shows us that expressing our frustration to and with God is one of the most faithful acts.
 
Second, Ecclesiastes does not stand alone. It is one book in a larger canon, a larger story of God’s love for us. I think we need to wrestle with the teacher’s questions. I think we need to explore the seeming absurdity of existence. But after we have taken some time to dwell in the teacher’s existential angst, we return to God’s love. We remember that we were created by and for love; and we remember that we don’t yet have all the facts—the story of God’s love isn’t yet finished.
 
--Jim Vitale
 
Prayer   
God of love, sometimes we look around us and see that all life seems absurd and meaningless. Give us the courage to vent to you when we are angry and the faith to rest in your love.
Amen.
 

Reading 
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11: 25-28)
 

Reflection
Nathan was a very special child.  He came from a good family, had gone to grange camp, and was overcoming some medical problems.  Nathan was in my cabin my second summer of being a counselor.  He was in my cabin.  I knew from the start that he would be an interesting boy to work with.  He was slow and needed the extra time to get himself ready.  Periodically, I’d have to remind him what he was doing.  When he got one sock on, I’d remind him to put the other one on.  When he got his socks on, I’d have to remind him to put his shoes on.  After he got one shoe on, I’d have to remind him to put the other one on.  Nathan was indeed special.

Nathan gave me the appreciation for little things– getting dressed, putting on my shoes, and the like.  We often get caught up in our busy daily schedules and sometimes forget about the little things such as the small ant on the ground, the bird chirping in the tree, or the squirrel scurrying with a nut.  They often get lost as we hurry from place to place, going about our daily routines.  But they are parts of our life that are even more valuable than our hair appointments, work deadlines, and car problems.  They are the simple things which God made for us to care for, enjoy, and appreciate.
 
Are there ways that you could make your life simpler?  When do you feel rushed and busy? In what ways can you look to God to simplify life?

The next time you put on your shoes, think of Nathan.  Think about the small things in your daily life and appreciate them.  Don’t just take them for granted.  Oh, by the way, Nathan, it’s time to put your left shoe on.   
 
--Chad Hershberger
 
 
Prayer  
Take our burdens, Lord, and help us to see you in the small things in life.    Amen

Reading: Luke 11: 1-13

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Reflection:  Within our text today is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples. We call it the Lord's Prayer; phrasing it a bit differently, varying according to the traditional or contemporary version and using the word trespasses, debts, or sins. We know it by heart. We pray it often. It covers everything.
 
So as we continue reading the text for today, the message is to persevere in prayer.  The parable is of a neighbor who gets what he asks for because of his persistence.  Then Jesus goes on to encourage us all to ask, seek and knock.
 
Whether our prayers are our own words, the prayer that Jesus taught us or the Spirit interceding when  we don't know how to pray, what seems to matter most is to persevere in prayer. 
 
--Ruth Gates

Prayer: Father, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial. (Luke 11: 2-4)
Amen. 

Reading: Colossians 2:6-15
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.

Reflection
I’m writing this on the Sunday morning between Family Camp and Week 4 of this summer’s camping season. Family Camp was great but a lot of us on staff were in our mid-summer slump. We were more quickly irritated, we were tired, and we lacked patience.
 
And so, when the staff gathers to start a fresh new week, I’m going to remind us to get back to our roots. I will remind the staff, as I did during staff training, to look at the cross. We are rooted in Christ and should live in the good of what Jesus did for us. We are a new creation, and because of that we should be patient, alive in the knowledge that God triumphed for us.
 
When you put that kind of perspective on things, a rough week can easily be put behind us.
 
--Chad Hershberger
 
 
Prayer  
As we look to the cross, Forgiving Jesus, help us to see the good you did for us. May we live in the good of that action for all humankind. May we continue to set our sights on you so that we might be more joyful.
Amen. 

Reading: Psalm 138
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.
On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
 

Reflection
Having always wanted to learn to knit, I am now taking the time to try. I bought knitting needles, picked out yarn, read a how-to-knit book and got started. It didn’t go well. I then asked a friend who knits to teach me. She was so helpful. Still, it is slow going. Many starts, stops, unraveling, and starting over. I have abandoned a number of practice projects. My friend finally said, “Okay, enough practicing. What do you want to make? A scarf? A hat? A pair of mittens? You need to commit to a project and just do it.” Well, I did and, while I haven’t gotten very far with it, I have not abandoned it.
 
The psalmist prays, “O Lord...do not abandon the works for your hands.” There was a saying that went around a while ago. “Don’t give up on me. God is not finished with me yet.” We are all works in progress. Learning, growing, stumbling, trying again. God does not abandon us; God does not give up on the works of God’s hands. Thanks be to God.
--Ruth Gates
 
Prayer  
Dear Lord, I praise you with all my heart. Fulfill your purpose for me. Knowing your love endures forever, I know you will not abandon the work of your hands.
Amen.
 
​

Reading: Genesis 18:20-32
 
Then the Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.” So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord.
Then Abraham came near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”
 

Reflection
 
Today’s reading is a tough one. I imagine that, in the moments when you flip open your Bible in search of comfort, you do not turn to Genesis 18:20-32. This reading falls within the larger story of the judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Sodom and Gomorrah were two ancient cities that were well known for their complete and utter wickedness. So God sent God’s angels to go and verify the cities’ wickedness; and if they found the cities to be as wicked as they seemed, God would destroy the cities.
 
At the time, Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was living in Sodom. So Abraham stepped in to advocate for the cities, placing himself between God and the wicked towns. Abraham beseeches God that if God finds even a handful of righteous people living in the cities to please spare the whole metropolis. God agrees that if there is a remnant of the righteous, God will spare Sodom and Gomorrah.
 
Abraham is appealing to an aspect of God that becomes more apparent as the biblical story unfolds. Abraham appeals to God’s mercy. Catholic cardinal Walter Kasper wrote a beautiful book titled Mercy which explores God’s divine mercy. In that book Kasper makes the case that God’s mercy is also God’s justice and that God’s justice is not a justice of punishment but of redemption. God’s mercy and justice are the same thing: God condemns that which is sinful (which is justice) but also redeems the sinner (which is mercy).
 
While the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is not the best example of God’s mercy, it points us forward. It shows us that while God’s wrath will always burn against sin, it will not always burn against us. In Christ Jesus, God’s mercy is fully revealed, a mercy which takes us sinners, frees us from our sinfulness, and ushers us into everlasting life.
 
--Jim Vitale
 
 
Prayer   
Good and gracious God, we thank you that you are a God of mercy. We pray that in our moments of sinfulness your hand of justice and mercy might reach within us, pulling out that which is sinful and transforming us into the righteous people you desire us to be.
Amen.
 

Reading: “Word” by Madeleine L’Engle
 
I, who live by words, am wordless when
I try my words in prayer. All language turns
To silence. Prayer will take my words and then
Reveal their emptiness. The stilled voice learns
To hold its peace, to listen with the heart
To silence that is joy, is adoration.
The self is shattered, all words torn apart
In this strange patterned time of contemplation
That, in time, breaks time, breaks words, breaks me,
And then, in silence, leaves me healed and mended.
I leave, returned to language, for I see
Through words, even when all words are ended.
     I, who live by words, am wordless when
     I turn me to the Word to pray. Amen.

Reflection
When was the last time you sat in silence? When was the last time you took a few minutes, or even a moment, to quiet your body, quiet your mind, quiet your soul?
 
Lately I have shifted the focus of my prayers. It used to be that I would only pray to God if I had something specific to ask for; or I would go to God in prayer assuming that I had to spend my time asking God for things (either on my own behalf or on behalf of others). But recently I learned there is another way to pray, a way that Madeleine L’Engle sums up so beautifully in her poem “Word.”
 
Sometimes we can pray in silence. Sometimes the best prayers are simply approaching God and dwelling in God’s presence without agenda, without petition, without expectation. And these, I think, can be some of the most beautiful prayers because they are made of pure faith. To approach God in silence, to open yourself up to God’s presence without feeling like you have to do something, is trust: trust that you are allowed to be in God’s presence; trust that God already knows what you need; trust that you don’t have to rehearse your anxieties when you’re in the presence of perfect Love.
 
--Jim Vitale
 
 
Prayer   
Instead of the usual prayer, I have some homework for you today: dwell in silence. Carve out ten minutes today to pray in silence. Don’t have ten minutes? Then try five. Sit in silence. Quiet your soul and simply be in God’s loving presence.

Reading: Luke 10:38-42
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
 

Reflection
What a joy it is to have company! Friends and family sharing stories and memories with me over a cup of tea or coffee. And how nice if my home were spotless whenever these visits occurred. Long ago, the parlor was where people entertained and it was always kept immaculate. But it’s the laughter, friendship, and feeling of being welcome that really matters. Whether it be a parlor or the porch or around a campfire, the blessings of sharing time together make it all worthwhile. Dust if you must but be sure to sit and listen, too.
--Alice Yeakel
 
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunities to welcome people into our homes. Thank you for opportunities for fellowship together, sharing love and joy.
Amen.

 Reading: Colossians 1:15-28
 
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Reflection
Before you read this meditation (or as soon as you’re done reading it), pop over to YouTube and listen to Andrew Peterson’s song All Things Together. Peterson presents this reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians in such a lovely and encouraging way.
 
To me, Paul’s words, “He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together,” are some of the most beautiful in all of scripture. They comfort me greatly, especially in troubled times. Recent current events like the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and mass shootings leave me feeling like the world is unsafe, our futures uncertain, and the anxiety unbearable. There are days, as I scroll through my newsfeed, where hope seems a fading light and despair creeps in.
 
And then I read this truth from Paul: Christ is before all things and in him all things hold together. Before the world was created, there was Jesus. Before sin reared its ugly head, there was Jesus. Before all the heartache and brokenness, there was Jesus. And after all these things pass away, there will still be Jesus. And here, between the beginning and the end, there is Jesus. And in Jesus all things hold together. Even in these moments when it seems like everything is falling apart, we have faith that, in Jesus, all things still hold together.
 
--Jim Vitale
 
 
Prayer   
Jesus our savior, we give you thanks that in you all things hold together. In the moments of chaos and darkness hold us in your love and remind us that in you there is a happy ending.
 
Amen. 

Reading: Psalm 15
 
O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?
 
Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;
 
who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
 
in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
 
who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.
 

Reflection
 
If there is a holy tent, then I’m not in it. If there is a holy hill, then I’m not on it. It seems I rather pitch my tent of mediocrity in the valley of predictable failure.
 
The tent that the Psalmist refers to is the tabernacle, the holy tent that Israel carried through the wilderness. It was the place where God was said to dwell. The same is true of the holy hill. It is the site of the temple in Jerusalem, God’s house among the people. The tent and the hill are simply different ways of talking about God’s presence.
 
And who can be in God’s presence? The blameless. Those who do what is right. Those who speak the truth. Those who do not slander. Those who do no evil to their friends. Those who are good to their word. Those who do not take advantage of the poor.
 
When I read Psalm 15, I see my faults. I see my inability to live up the standards that God has set for me and for all humanity. My sinfulness bars me from God’s holy presence.
 
Except it doesn’t. Because our God is a God of grace and mercy. Psalm 15 may remind me of my myriad faults, but it also reminds me of Jesus and the grace and mercy God has showered upon us through him. The words of Psalm 15 do not drive me away from God’s holy presence, rather, by God’s grace and mercy, they send me straight into God’s loving arms.
 
--Jim Vitale
 
 
Prayer   
 
We give you thanks, O God, that you shower us each day with your mercy and grace. Give us the strength to live according to your will and knowledge of your deep and abiding love when we fail.
 
Amen.
 

Reading 
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, ‘My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’ So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?’ The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ But Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not laugh’; for she was afraid. He said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’  (Genesis 18:1-15)
 

Reflection
Sarah’s story might just be one of the most compelling stories out of scripture. Her story is one that almost seems out of place in the narrative to this point, yet it speaks volumes about the ways in which we sometimes react when God is on the move. Like those who went before her, Sarah has been given a promise alongside her husband, Abraham, that despite their aging states and their seemingly futile prior attempts, the couple will have a child together and God will make their descendants as innumerable as the stars in the sky. Like the promises made (and delivered) to Noah, here God stakes God’s claim with this aging couple to guarantee an unprecedented series of fortunate events for them.
 
But it’s just too good to be true.
 
The news is so unexpected, so wonderful, in fact, that Sarah can’t help but laugh at the plans God has for her! In fact, the plan as God has enumerated is so outlandish to Sarah that she tries taking matters into her own hand, making for a horrific plan gone awry with her servant Hagar (with repercussions into which God still manages to deliver fresh and lasting promises, mind you). Now, here in this text that welcomes divine strangers into their presence, Sarah and Abraham are met once again with the promise of God being laid out for them. Yet, the possibility that God prescribes for Sarah and Abraham is so impossible in Sarah’s mind that she can’t even look at it with a straight face. Her laughter at once seems overwhelming, obstinate, and yet hope-filled. Now, that’s something I can relate to. When it seems that God is laying out plans that seem downright impossible, that seem too grand, too outlandish, that seem too good to be true, maybe all that we have left is to laugh it out. So, laugh on and see what God can do!
 
--Justin Lingenfelter
 
 
Prayer   
Joy-filled God, nothing is too wonderful for you. When we can’t help but laugh at the goodness you prepare, remind us of your ever-unfolding story of life and love for your people. May we walk with your joy, sharing your wonderful news with all the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.