Soul Meets Body...Right?

Just a little nod to Death Cab there...Working on some material for an upcoming message and I'm dealing with the concept of the "soul." We have all kinds of imagery in Scripture - souls "crying out", souls being "lost" or "forfeited", souls being "poured out before the Lord" - all of them suggesting that the soul is a slippery concept. For some people, soul is a kind of music.

For some who can remember way back, it's a type of "train". You know who you are.

What is the soul? Its the logical result of our heart and mind and strength coming together. It is the whole enchilada. It is the balance in our lives or the lack thereof, it is the joy in our lives or the lack thereof, it is the sign that something has happened in our heart and mind that is bubbling over to the surface and running all over every activity  and pursuit.

The soul is where the work of transformation that God is doing has a place to show itself to our communities and the world.

So, when Jesus says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength..."

When He says, "What does it profit someone to gain the whole world but lose their very soul..."

When Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls..."

What is He saying? Is it possible that Jesus is interested in more than just where we're going to go when we die? Which are you more certain of - the heaven or hell issue or the bigger picture of what your life shows God doing in you?