With a rapture, with a shout!

Love the last line of this one. :) BEHOLD, the Bridegroom cometh: go ye out With lighted lamps and garlands round about To meet Him in a rapture with a shout. It may be at the midnight, black as pitch, Earth shall cast up her poor, cast up her rich. It may be at the crowing of the cock Earth shall upheave her depth, uproot her rock. For lo, the Bridegroom fetcheth home the Bride: His Hands are Hands she knows, she knows His Side. Like pure Rebekah at the appointed place, Veiled, she unveils her face to meet His Face. Like great Queen Esther in her triumphing, She triumphs in the Presence of her King. His Eyes are as a Dove's, and she's Dove-eyed; He knows His lovely mirror, sister, Bride. He speaks with Dove-voice of exceeding love, And she with love-voice of an answering Dove. Behold, the Bridegroom cometh: go we out With lamps ablaze and garlands round about To meet Him in a rapture with a shout. -Christina Rossetti 1830-1894

a choice that matters

"The theme of an oil shortage suggests the present plight of many Christians. In a recent work on ministry with young adults Terry Hershey observes, “For many who are searching for meaning today, the church is not effectively addressing their crisis of meaninglessness, trivialization, or alienation. However they may define spirituality, many people are engaged in a true spiritual struggle, a battle against exhaustion, bewilderment, and estrangement. In response, they may search for direct and countervailing experiences, a sense of presence, a compelling teaching or discipline to lean on.” 
Those of us at work in the vineyards of the historic mainline denominations hear much these days about shortages—shortages of members, of money, of energy. Our lamps seem to be burning dimly. Could the issue be less one of members, money or even energy and enthusiasm and more one of whether something is at stake in our faith? Is the gospel the truth about which a decision must be made? … Or is it like the thousand other choices to be made in a consumer society? Having oil in our lamps today may have something to do with a renewed confidence in the gospel as an invitation to new life, and to a choice that matters."
(Anthony B. Robinson, in The Christian Century; online)