Ezra Sez

The prophet of the Lord is writing about the rebuilding of the Temple of the Lord after the 70-year Babylonian captivity. He writes: "When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord:
'For He is good
For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.'
Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
The first foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist church was laid in eternity when God made plans for the creation of the world, its inhabitants, and His Sabbath. I can imagine hearing all the sons of God shouting with joy in praise of Creation.
I also remember reading that those who laid the second foundation of our church shouted for joy as they discovered truths long obscured by tradition, misinterpretation, and misunderstanding.
Of course, shouting in church these days is thought unacceptable ,but praise to God is always acceptable. Ezra goes on to say that "...the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off." [Ezra 3:10-13].
The church school is bursting at the seams (see letter from m.lp.), the child care center is filled, and the church...the church is praying and building on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. This is the week of Vacation Bible School and each member ought to pray that God will give us reason to shout for joy because we were able to tell the children about Jesus Christ.
Today, go outside, into the woods, or to a room in the back of your house and shout for joy to the Lord. Try it. It might feel Good. I think God might be caught off guard and ask, "What was that?" and the covering cherub would answer, "Oh, that was just your people in Shelton shouting for the joy of Your blessings." And God would answer, "Oh. Good! Very good!"
God bless.
e.c.