No Experts Allowed

What makes you feel impatient? What are life's small annoyances that you dislike waiting for? Unfortunately, waiting is part of life, and especially the Christian life. The Advent season emphasizes waiting and the joy that can be found in it. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss whether they're patient wait-ers, how Advent can be a balm for the impatient among us, and even ways to be better wait-ers. While we're not sure it will help us be better servers at a restaurant, it may help us better serve those around us. We're glad you're with us! Do you share some of our annoyances? If so, we'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, keep waiting - Christ will come again!

Advent texts, particularly the Old Testament readings, often offer a glimpse into joy, peace, and justice God’s second coming will bring. In this week’s texts, Isaiah describes unlikely animals living in peace with each other. They’re neither dominated by their prey drive or fear. What unlikely pairings might be possible today? Who can we befriend for the betterment of the world God loves? What holds us back from these relationships? In other words, what does God’s shalom look like now, as we anticipate it coming in its fullness? We’re glad you’re with us for this new liturgical year! I (Seth) forget how much I love Advent until it rolls around again. Then I’m always thankful for its themes; I hope you experience the same.

Are you a "prep-er"? Are you prepared for anything, running through scenarios and 'what-ifs' at work, in life, with friendships, and everything in between? To start the new liturgical year, Paul wants us to wake up and be ready. Jonathan, as someone who is ever-prepared, and Seth, someone who is moderately prepared, talk about what that looks like in the life of faith. They discuss being ready as a state of being and how we can live in light of the expected return of Christ, which will bring with it unexpected joy, reversals, and new life. We're glad you're with us! This is the 3rd recording of this episode because the sound was not cooperating for Seth. Thank you for your patience; we know our episodes usually release on Mondays, but this one wasn't ready (See what I did there?).

Reign of Christ Sunday, or sometimes called Christ the King Sunday, ends the liturgical year. It asks who is ultimately in charge and worth worshipping. But to know that God is in charge and to act like it is much easier said than done. Jonathan and Seth discuss the challenge of the phrase, "Be still, and know that I am God!"  (Psalm 46:10) and what a faithful stillness might look like in our hurried, news-flooded world. Since this Sunday closes the liturgical year, the discussion seems like a fitting recap of much of their discussion this year. We're glad you're with us! We hope you'll join us for liturgical year A that takes us to Matthew.

Recorded on election day, November 4th, politics was in the air. In Virginia, the gubernatorial election dominated advertisements. In Pennsylvania, the option to retain state Supreme Court justices was on the ballot. All of this was happening during a government shutdown that was affecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). And the author of 2 Thessalonians - who may or may not be Paul - writes, "anyone unwilling to work should not eat" (3:10). To say there is a lot to talk about is an understatement! Jonahtn and Seth discuss this verse, which they've heard in the news lately, but also talk about the wider role of tradition when Christianity seems muddled. We're glad you're with us! Votes are counted, but this episode is still relevant. We'd love to hear how you've heard the phrase, "anyone unwilling to work should not eat." Feel free to email us.