Christ With Coffee On Ice

Episode: Reading the Book of Ecclesiastes

Host: Ally Yost

Date: August 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Ally Yost reads and reflects on the biblical book of Ecclesiastes. She brings vulnerability, rawness, hope, and encouragement, inviting listeners to engage in scripture and consider life's big questions and obstacles through the lens of faith. With a cup of iced coffee in hand, Ally creates a welcoming environment for both seasoned Bible readers and those just beginning their journey. The episode is filled with honest reflections on the meaning of life, the pursuit of wisdom, the value of simple joys, and the necessity of honoring God amid life's fleeting nature.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Check-In and Context (00:00–03:30)

• Ally shares about her recent travels and feelings of being overbooked.
• She admits to sometimes making decisions without consulting Jesus first, leading to overwhelm.

"I got really ambitious. I don’t know if you guys relate to that, where you get excited and you just, like, book up your calendar and you’re like, this is gonna be so fun." (00:48)

2. Introducing Ecclesiastes (03:30–06:00)

• Ally reveals it's her first full read-through of Ecclesiastes, finding it both wise and reminiscent of Proverbs.
• She encourages listeners to read along with their own Bibles, but affirms it’s okay to just listen.

"This is fun because I actually had never fully read this book up until a few days ago...Why has it taken me so long to read the book of Ecclesiastes?" (03:37)

3. Prayer Before Reading (06:00–07:20)

• Ally prays for clarity, openness, and for the scripture to impact listeners’ spirits directly.

"I pray against any pressure in Jesus name to understand every single word. But I do pray that...this scripture speaks directly to our hearts, God, and our minds." (06:42)

4. Reading Ecclesiastes: Major Themes Highlighted (07:20–59:00)

• Life’s Fleeting Nature and Meaning
  • “Everything is meaningless, says the Teacher. Completely meaningless. What do people get for all their hard work under the sun?” (07:33)
• The Cycle of Life
  • The repeated cycles of nature underscore human limitations and the inability to create anything truly new.

    “Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.” (07:43)

• Wisdom & Pleasure
  • Ally emphasizes that even wisdom and worldly pleasures are described as "chasing the wind" without God.

    “The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.” (13:00)

• The Gift and Limitations of Work
  • Hard work itself is questioned—its fruits, legacy, and ability to bring satisfaction.

    “…there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.” (15:20)

• Seasons of Life
  • Ally reads the famous passage: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…” (16:13)
• The Injustice and Paradox of Life
  • Observations on evil, suffering, and the lack of control over life’s outcomes.

    "The wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool." (12:50)

• Call to Joy Amidst Uncertainty
  • Listeners are reminded that simple joys are gifts from God.

    “So go ahead, eat your food with joy and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this.” (40:20)

5. Ally’s Side Notes and Contemporary Reflection (Periodically, 50:00–59:00)

• Application of Wisdom
  • Ally occasionally pauses to reflect, notably on:
    • The futility of trusting in materialism.
    • The logic behind popular beliefs like the "evil eye" (“Wickedness certainly will not rescue wickedness, like evil cannot combat evil.” (51:30)).
    • The dangers of procrastination and perfectionism (“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. Stop procrastinating, that’s what that one means.” (54:50))
• Reminder to Enjoy Life in Youth
  • Strong emphasis on not waiting until old age to honor God.

    "Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator." (57:35)

6. Concluding Reflections and Encouragement (59:00–61:30)

• Ally sums up the book’s core message:

  "Life is truly meaningless without the Lord and without acknowledging God in all things and acknowledging him as our creator. Especially now, like as we're young and we have our youth, it's like, don't wait until the end of your life to be like, oh yeah God..." (59:50)

• She encourages listeners to enjoy life, enjoy their work, but not to let identity be tied up in achievements or material things.
• Final words stress living faithfully and joyfully, honoring God in all endeavors.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Podcast Title

  “You guys, we’re not putting Jesus on any ice. We’re not gonna do that today. We’re not gonna do that tomorrow.” (02:34)

• On the Cyclical Nature of Life

  “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (08:07)

• On Human Striving and Satisfaction

  “No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.” (08:02)

• On the Purpose of Enjoying Life

  “Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him?” (15:35)

• On the Seasons of Life

  "For everything there is a season. A time for every activity under heaven." (16:13)

• On Living with Perspective

  "So I recommend having fun. Because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life." (46:05)

• On Youth and Remembering God

  “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, life is not pleasant anymore.” (57:35)

• Final Summary of Ecclesiastes

  “That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion. Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” (58:54)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Welcome / Personal Check-In | | 03:30 | Introduction to Ecclesiastes | | 06:00 | Opening Prayer | | 07:20–59:00 | Reading and unpacking Ecclesiastes | | 16:13 | "For everything there is a season..." | | 40:20 | "Eat your food with joy..." | | 46:05 | Emphasis on enjoying life | | 51:30 | Reflection on “evil eye” and the nature of evil | | 54:50 | Anti-procrastination: “Farmers who wait for perfect weather…” | | 57:35 | Remembering God in Youth | | 58:54 | Concluding words: “Fear God and obey his commands” | | 59:50 | Ally’s reflections and closing encouragement |

Tone and Style

• Warm, conversational, and honest
• Ally balances moments of humor, vulnerability, and direct scriptural engagement.
• The language is accessible, with faith-centered encouragement woven throughout.

Listener Takeaways

• The Book of Ecclesiastes offers raw, unfiltered thoughts about life’s meaning, the pursuit of happiness, and the limits of human understanding.
• Recurring themes: everything on earth is temporary; real lasting value comes from honoring and enjoying God.
• Listeners are encouraged to enjoy life, work hard, cherish relationships, and prioritize faith—without placing ultimate worth in worldly accomplishments or possessions.
• Engage with scripture personally: read, highlight, meditate, and converse with God about what stands out.

End Note:
Ally closes the episode with a blessing over the listeners’ weekend and a challenge: “Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is? Can we walk more like him, talk more like him, be more like him?" (61:20) She encourages continued engagement with Ecclesiastes and invites listeners to return next week.