Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
“Next Time” May Not Be Available

“Next Time” May Not Be Available

Last updated on: June 12, 2025 at 7:23 am by Frank Viola

0 Comments

“Next Time” May Not Be Available 2025-06-12T07:23:07-04:00 Frank Viola

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Imagine you are living in the 1960s. It’s August 1966, and a friend invites you to hear The Beatles – the world’s greatest band at the time – in concert live. You respond, “I can’t make it this year. I’ll go to their next concert.” Only The Beatles never play live again. But you couldn’t possibly know that when you declined the opportunity to hear them live.

It’s July 1980, and your favorite band, Led Zeppelin, is playing a few hours from where you live. You have a scheduling conflict that you can resolve, but you say to yourself, “I’ll just hear them another time.” September comes and Zep’s drummer dies. It then hits you – you said “no” to the last opportunity any mortal would ever have to see the original Zeppelin live.

It’s March 1994, and you’re a Nirvana fan. You’re invited to see them in concert. You respond, “I don’t have enough money for the ticket” (which really means, “I’d rather spend my money on something else right now.”). You shrug it off thinking, “I’ll just hear them live next time they play.” Well, there is no next time. A month later their lead man is gone.

It’s November 2008, and you are able to purchase discounted tickets to hear R.E.M. play live. You decline. Later you learn that the band will never play again. They officially split in 2011.

Do you see my point? It’s certainly not that you need to attend the next rock concert!

The point: Don’t put off golden opportunities. Opportunities like rare events that will help you go deeper in the Lord, opportunities to hear and see gifted individuals who you may never see or hear again, or opportunities to make connections with others who are on the same journey, saying to yourself, “I’ll just attend next time.”

Because “next time” may not be available to you.

P.S. A NOTE TO THE LEGALISTS AND THE PEEVISH – As I’ve argued elsewhere repeatedly, one of the nasty sides of legalism is the pushing of one’s personal, subjective standards on everyone else. This article is making a clear point that is made plain at the end. The examples I gave are simply metaphors. They aren’t the point.

Why Christians Are Behind the Ball Again – The Value of Mastermind Events

Are You a Peevish Christian?

On Legalism: Charles Spurgeon vs. D.L. Moody

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 11, 2025

3 Things To Do This Week

Next Post

June 13, 2025 Finishing the Race & Surviving Failure

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"I get, the more I see that every attempt to debunk it leaves the Shroud ..."

giwol42523

Interview with Leonard Sweet – More ..."

"You're referring to the way things happen in the Industrial Religious Complex. I'm speaking about ..."

Frank Viola

Passing the Torch

"Another insight is that young people want to start their own ministry and are not ..."

Derek Thompson

Passing the Torch

"You’re challenging the usual narratives and pointing us toward deeper, more nuanced perspectives. This is ..."

eva753kimson

The Origins of Human Government and ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Nazareth" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Star Gift Branch Light