Perhaps this is the best that I can offer you today as good news in a world of grizzled news, this shout of praise from Jeremiah’s lips: "The Lord has saved his people." "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘The Lord has saved his people.’ "

But it seems to this observer who is more than casual in his observing that the church has punctuated Jeremiah’s praise with question marks instead of exclamation points. "The Lord has saved his people?" Has he, indeed? Do we look like God’s saved people? Do we march with confidence and courage and conviction to our mission? Do we radiate the gladness of salvation? Or has our faith become the dull routine and grind of following the rule book, with carefully designed allowan…