I thought this was sooooo good! ************************************* "BYLINE with Dan Betzer" Program #1760 Release Friday, June 30, 2000 "Tears for the Lost" by Dan Betzer ---------------------------------------------------- Hello again, this is Dan Betzer. There is a famed chapel on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, facing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This small church is known as The Church of Dominus Flevit--the place where our Lord wept over the Holy City. He moaned, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Jesus knew that it was a matter of only four decades before Vespasian and Titus would arrive with their Roman armies, congregating on Mount Scopus, for the death thrust into the city. The death tolls would be staggering. Not one stone of the city would be left standing. Jerusalem would be left desolate. The Bible says, "Jesus wept." Ah, there was no gloating here. It reminds me of a church that fired its pastor. All he ever preached about was hell. Every service was about hell. They found a new pastor. Several months later, one of the deacons was approached downtown by a non-church goer. "Well," he said, "I hear you fired your old preacher who spoke on hell all the time. So how's your new minister?" "Oh, he's wonderful," replied the deacon. "Well, does he ever preach on hell?" inquired the non-believer. "Oh yes," said the deacon," he preaches on it every service." The outsider could not believe what he'd just heard. "And you like him?" he persisted. "Yes, we do," came the reply. "But you fired your old pastor for always preaching on hell. How come this new man can do it and you keep him?" The deacon replied, "Well, when our new preacher talks about hell...he weeps..." I wonder sometimes if the world sees com- passion and understanding in the Church of today. Yes, they can see compassion in the eyes of Jesus...but can they see it in ours? That's the question. Isn't it? Jan Ross jross@... http://focusontheword.com ICQ#18767082 "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:10) Focus On the Word Banner Exchange--Sign Up Today and Receive 2,500 Free Credits http://focusontheword.com/banex Vote for Focus On the Word at: http://awesome.crossdaily.com/vote.php3?sid=5415