The following was first posted in November of 2012:
"Next year in Jerusalem!" It may have been a rallying cry at one time but today its meaning depends on what Jewish person you poll on the subject. The phrase is still repeated in ceremony two times a year at Passover and Yom Kippur. Even after researching it I still don't have a handle on the importance of these words to the Jewish community of today. I bring this up because I do understand how an individual can incorporate a saying into their life that has great meaning....even if only to that individual.
If we the American people are ever to awaken to our predicament and our culpability in that predicament, I would think that it would have to begin on a certain day. Even if it would turn out to be a long process it would still have to have a beginning!
One possibility is that that beginning would be in response to a calamity where the American people would finally be shocked into submission to the God they may acknowledge but keep at arms length.....but another possibility might be that God would have mercy upon us without calamity... and this by suddenly awakening our pulpits that have lain dormant for so long? Pastors would have put aside church growth mentalities, easy-believism and "all the world needs now is love ...sweet love" to preach the Christ of the book of Hebrews, and the salvation of the book of Romans, and the worship of the Psalms, and the judgment of Revelation? The Holy Spirit would then work through these awakened pastors on our cold hearts?
As this world hurries to judgment and another Lord's Day has passed with no sign of a quickening of the church, I find myself saying again....as I have for years...'maybe....maybe it will be....next Lord's Day at the foot of the cross.'
"Next year in Jerusalem!" It may have been a rallying cry at one time but today its meaning depends on what Jewish person you poll on the subject. The phrase is still repeated in ceremony two times a year at Passover and Yom Kippur. Even after researching it I still don't have a handle on the importance of these words to the Jewish community of today. I bring this up because I do understand how an individual can incorporate a saying into their life that has great meaning....even if only to that individual.
If we the American people are ever to awaken to our predicament and our culpability in that predicament, I would think that it would have to begin on a certain day. Even if it would turn out to be a long process it would still have to have a beginning!
One possibility is that that beginning would be in response to a calamity where the American people would finally be shocked into submission to the God they may acknowledge but keep at arms length.....but another possibility might be that God would have mercy upon us without calamity... and this by suddenly awakening our pulpits that have lain dormant for so long? Pastors would have put aside church growth mentalities, easy-believism and "all the world needs now is love ...sweet love" to preach the Christ of the book of Hebrews, and the salvation of the book of Romans, and the worship of the Psalms, and the judgment of Revelation? The Holy Spirit would then work through these awakened pastors on our cold hearts?
As this world hurries to judgment and another Lord's Day has passed with no sign of a quickening of the church, I find myself saying again....as I have for years...'maybe....maybe it will be....next Lord's Day at the foot of the cross.'
