Ez 30: 21-26

This took place in April, 587 BC. King Hophra tried to stop the Babylonians from conquering the land but ended up losing his army and the source of his strength. The metaphor of the arm and the hand was a symbol of power and strength. How often when we show our solidarity do we use our arms and hands to show our strength and power? There is nothing as humiliating as fighting with one arm tied behind your back. With the defeat of his army before Nebuchadnezzar there is nothing that Hophra could do. God was going to bring this man down! The symbolism of breaking both arms is so unique it reminds me of Spamalot where the knight fights and wants to continue even after his arms and legs are cut off. God intends to empower the Babylonians to carry this out. With this, Egypt will become neutered.

What a weekend! Great church retreat and sharing. I even got somethings off my chest that I have been carrying for decades. How they had even come out was beyond me but God saw fit for me to move beyond them. I am so proud of Irene and her wanting to move forward in her own healing process. I am also proud of David who co-chaired this retreat. It was exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask. I want to come along side of him and be more open with him and he with me. I hope that this process will start soon. The weather was spectacular and the setting (NJ shore) was as well. The facilities were ok but not fully open to enjoy but the food was very lacking. Interesting to see if we return...

Today is the first day wearing shoes and heading off to the gym in over a month. Boy, do I need the gym...

Prayers for my family and for those who have military memories and for those who are currently serving now. One of the young men in my congregation will be going to Afghanistan soon and I will be praying over him on Sunday as he goes into training. Prayers also for Owen Paris, the founder of YMAM who is suffering from a heart condition.

Praise for today: He is God and we are not!

Ez 30: 1-19

From a commentary standpoint:

Verses 1-5 The *Lord tells about a terrible day for the nations. That day was near. It would happen soon. The phrase ‘the day of the *Lord’ often refers to the end times (that is, the last few years before Christ’s return). Then there will be another time of terror for the nations. But here it means the attack by the *Babylonians against Egypt. The *Babylonians will kill many people and they will rob Egypt of its wealth. They will destroy much of the property in Egypt. The *Egyptians hired men from other countries to fight in their army. Many of these men would die in the battle. There were people who had come to Egypt from Judah. They had come to escape the trouble in their own country. But they would not be safe. Many of them would die in Egypt.Verses 6-19 Until this event, Egypt was a proud and strong nation. Now the power of Egypt would end. The *Babylonians would kill many people in the country called Egypt. They would start in the north and continue to the south. They would destroy the cities in all of Egypt. News of the attack would reach Cush (Ethiopia) by ship up the River Nile. The people in Cush felt safe while Egypt was strong. But they would be afraid when the *Lord punished Egypt. The *Babylonians would kill many people in the country called Egypt. They would start in the north and continue to the south. The *Lord chose Nebuchadnezzar and his army to destroy Egypt. The *Babylonians were a cruel nation. They would not pity the people. Ezekiel mentions the main cities that the army would destroy. In each city, the *Lord would remove the false gods. There would be nobody to lead the *Egyptians. Fear would spread through the nation. Many of the people would die. Of those people that did not die, many would go into *exile.

God will punish Egypt. They will know that God is the *Lord.

It seems inevitable after the nation of Egypt would play such an important part in Exodus that their role in the development of the world would diminish given their style of government and image of themselves. Change was to come and it would come hard and fierce. With was once a great nation is now a distant memory. How the mighty have fallen, but wasn't this the case with almost every nation that has not acknowledged God?

Today is my last post for the week. No lappy since I'm going to the retreat and want to spend time with people and God rather than this keyboard. Looking forward to it but NOT the shore traffic. Praying for God to work in my and the attendees' lives this weekend.  God will be praised!

Praise that this is the day that He has made! Let me rejoice and be glad in it!

Ez 29:17-21

According to the commentary that I have been using, this part takes place out of sequence to the other prophesies that Ezekiel records. This takes place around April 571 BC. The commentary states:

It took 13 years for the *Babylonians to defeat Tyre. Tyre gave in to the *Babylonians in about 573 *BC. By that time, not much wealth remained in Tyre. There were few valuable things that the *Babylonians could take as a reward for their efforts. Egypt, under King Hophra, had become friends with Tyre. It could be that Tyre was stronger because of help from Egypt. *Egyptian ships could have taken away much of Tyre’s wealth. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was God’s agent in the fight against Tyre. So, God promised to give Egypt to him as his reward. He would get more than enough wealth to pay his army.

v 21 instills in Ezekiel that he will see the start of the restoration of Israel and he will be the voice of the Lord to them.

God does play a major part in history as He does in our lives. We rarely notice His hand until we are either made aware of it or when the scales are removed from our eyes. Seeking Him isn't always easy since it takes effort and conviction. Hearing and accepting His will is, at times, difficult but rewarding. Doing what He wants is the ultimate challenge - when His agenda becomes our agenda.

Praise for today: God will never give me second best.

Ezekiel 29:1-16

While this is a prophesy against Egypt, it is really against King Hophra who was the ruler at the time. Gone are the pharoahs that rule the land in the past. The prophesy took place in Jan 587BC. Evidently the King has been egotistical and tyranical towards Israel. He thought that is power came from the land and the Nile river which he claimed as his own. God took that from him and laid waste the land for 40 years. For many centuries to follow, Egypt would not be nation that would or could be aggressive but rather simply a weak and passive country. This prophesy would be true as Hophra would be killed by his own in 569 BC and the Babylonians and Persians would bring the nation to its knees, scatter and then push the people back to their land.

Today is my 31st anniversary. WOW! who woulda thunk! Seems like such a short time ago in a church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn NYC that this all took place. Brown tuxes! I guess they matched the color scheme back then. What a blessing to have had 4 generations there as my great grandma witnessed it and a banquet with nearly 600 people - most of whom I didn't even know. Who woulda thunk!

Praise for today: that God has blessed me with Irene and my sons, David and Daniel for all these years! He is faithful!

Ezekiel 28:20-26

The Lord continues his attack on the neighboring areas and now it's Sidon's turn. This place will receive a plague that will make blood flow in her streets. God will use His holiness against them. Evidently they were a malicious neighbor who are "painful briers and sharp thorns". The ultimate goal of this is to show God's holiness that will be the establishment of the new Israel. The people will  know and be subject to the safety and serenity of God and will be an example to others.

Overall, good weekend. Had my anniversary dinner on Friday at a really good restaurant and enjoyed it thoroughly.  GG came home for the weekend and we prayed on Sat morning. My cousin Jimmy stopped by and helped out on a few things around the house. I am the first to admit when I am out of my element when it comes to stuff like that. Went with he and the rest of the family to a Spanish restaurant with my b-i-l and s-i-l which is one of my favorite places. Sunday was long - service with my niece getting baptized, meeting with the Chinese congregation, luncheon for the Community Center, meeting with the discussion leaders for this weekend's church retreat, nap, dinner for my niece's graduation from NYU - Nursing college in Brooklyn, drive home and ultimately getting down to Delaware at midnight. Long day...

Prayers for GG has he heads back to CO and hopefully will see him next month. Prayers also for David as he recovers from his long weekend as well. Prayers for Irene as she is seeking guidance in her medical issues as well.

Praise for today: that He is the giver of life - congrats to the Leon family's new addition Mabel!

Ez 28: 1-19

This is the classic passage that attributes the King of Tyre to Satan. When God prophesized against the ruler He saw the heart of this man and what pride and arrogance did to him. The ruler thought that he was a god who was wiser than any prophet and sought to surround himself with his wealth and rely on his trading skills. He definitely was not a blessed man in the respect that he didn't acknowledge God in any of his ways and because of that he was to be brought down and be brought down hard. In v. 11 the tone turns to a lament and here is where the anaolgy to Satan comes in. vv 12b-19 was exactly the history of Satan and how in his own way was set up to be the model of perfection and beauty. v 15 was the turning point in the life of Satan and how he fell from grace to disgrace. Ultimately God prevails over Satan and yet while he "has his way" here on earth -even to this day, God will and has triumphed over him.

I have done extremely well in my career and my home. Financially, I have been blessed beyond measure and I hope and pray that I have acknowledged God in my ways. The goal for the rest of my life is to remain humble and an example for my sons and their eventual families as well. I do what I do for them and in turn, hopefully remain comfortable yet still giving to those in need that the Lord leads me to.

Looking forward to my anniversary weekend. Dinner tonight with Irene and tomorrow with GG as well. God is good all the time!

Ez 27

Tyre must have had a lasting impact during the times of Ezekiel. It must have stood above and beyond the competing cities both in stature and beauty as well as the ability to lure protection from Persia, Lydia and Put.Cities known even in the NT such as Tarshish did business with her and countries such as Greece exchanged slaves and bronze ware for her wares. Much transacted there but nothing honored God.

How true is that today both on a corporate and individual level? I applaud those companies such as Chick-fil-a whose mantra extends into allowing their employees to worship God on Sundays and Baja Fresh whose CEO is a professing and practing Christian. What about us? Do we acknowledge God in all our ways (Prov 3:6) and does that include Him in the workplace? The NIV entitled this a "Lament for Tyre" - will other lament about a life that sought to better him/herself and did nothing to acknowledge God?

Prayers for my peeps and especially for my family - that God will protect and care for them and that they will acknowledge Him in all things.

Praise for today: that the Lord is the strength of His people.

Ez 26

This chapter (summer of 586 BC) devoted itself to the prophesy that the Lord spoke against Tyre. Tyre was a commercial powerhouse of a city (as was Sidon) and was so proud that God compared their king to Satan. How? The deception and the pride that they possessed and were happy of their success and of Jerusalem's fate. God would send Nebuchadnezzar against them with his Babylonian armies to lay waste their pride and their possessions. God would prevail over them as He does Satan (v 19-21). While in v 11, it seems like it is just the Babylonians that would attack, some commentaries believe that Persia and Greece would also take part in this as well.

Pride does come before the fall. It happened then and it happens today - so many instances that men have abused their station only to see their "empires" fall - AS, the head of the IMF just to name a few. The travesty is that we have become immune to the fact that we all are human and have fallen short of His Name and glory! The main topic of conversation was the 5/21 day that Harold Camping is proporting is the end of the world. Somehow 1994 seems like a distant memory doesn't it? Still, it's the blitz of the message and the scoffing that the rapture is coming that makes me upset. While I don't subscribe to it, the fact still remains that we all need to "get right" with God since no one knows when our time is up.

Praiseful that GG's airline had a minor incident yesterday and no one was hurt. He wasn't involved but the FO was someone that he trained with. Really looking forward to seeing him this weekend as well as my niece's grad party from nursing school. It seems like every day something else fills my weekend calendar but hopefully I can play some golf this summer. Oh well....

Ez 25: 8-17

Sorry for the delay, Friday the blogging system was down and yesterday I got up late.

This passage deals with neighboring tribes that have caused turmoil and have been enemies of Israel from the start. Some like the Moabites were given to other tribes like the Ammonites. Others like the Edomites were subject to the sword and were destroyed due to their revengeful nature. The Phillistines were destroyed because they acted in vengeance and "took revenge with malice in their hearts". Whole tribes and mini-nations suffered because of their vengeful and evil hearts. They sought their own desires while neglecting the Lord and in times even mocking God.  I wonder how long we as a nation can be far from this fate as well. Are we or can we be "one nation under God". We serve ourselves and our desires rather than what the Father wants.

While the feet still drain, albeit slower and less each day - I am growing impatient with not being able to go to the gym. Hate this feeling of inactivity! Still this hopefully will teach me patience and trust. Giving a shout out to my friend Andy and his birthday today. Glad to see his faithfulness to our Lord being rewarded as he is able to spend the time with his family and being "off the road". Still I miss him and my other dear friends' ministry and music.

Very thankful I was able to chat with GG last night albeit really late. Glad to see him doing well and enjoying his "perks". Looking forward to seeing and praying with him this weekend.

Prayers for my peeps - marriages to come, children to be born, graduations and careers to start, summer time refreshment for those teaching (Dave, Flo and Mars) and those being taught. Prayers for those who are suffering and in need of healing and in search of employment.

Praise for today - Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!!!!

Ez 25:1-7

Now the Lord will turn His attention on the neighboring areas: Ammon was a country to the north-east of Judah. They were instrumental in the downfall of Judah and were content when the Babylonians destroyed the temple and Judeans were placed into exile. As a result of the their actions, God saw to it that the nation of Ammon would no longer exist. Their "former allies", the Babylonians were ultimately the ones that God used to destroy this nation. The fulfillment of this prophesy proved that Israel's God was the true one.

Today I go to the podiatrist and have the feet checked. Still draining but pain-free, now it's her turn to assess the situation.

Praise for today: that I will praise Him for directing my paths and I will acknowledge Him in all my ways!

Ez 24: 15 - 27

There are some things that I while may understand with my head, I may not with my heart. This is one of those circumstances. Here Ezekiel would lose the "delight of his eyes" (wife) and not be allowed to go through the customary practices of mourning - tearing of clothes, wearing of sack cloths (Jonah), cutting of hair and the covering of half of their faces. They would refrain from eating and lie down and sit on ashes. All outward signs of mourning, be Ezekiel would not even be allowed to shed tears. He did what he was commanded after his wife's death. I don't know if the Lord would ever require that of me, I pray not since the void in my life would take a long time to heal.

Rather he took the time to explain and be an example to the people of what was to come. As he lost the "delight of his eyes" so were the people to lose theirs - their stronghold, their joy and glory. Rather than someone of prominence telling them of the news, a fugitive would be the one delivering the news. That will be the sign from the Lord.

A watchman's job is not easy and it comes with sacrifice and suffering. Still His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.

Praise for today: that He is the same - yesterday, today and forever!

Ez 24: 1:14

God spoke to Ezekiel and told him to mark the date that would start the siege and downfall of Jerusalem. Some feel that it was in January 588BC - 2 years and 5 months after Ch. 20. The poem of the pot is interesting. The meat and best bones were the people and the leaders of Jerusalem and the point was to get enough wood to get the pot hot enough to burn the impurities away. The pot was Jerusalem itself. While the meat was cooking, the pot which was damaged to start would not burn away it's impurties to be ususable at all.Just like the sin and carnage that was happening in this city - it no longer had any use and had to be destroyed. The only way the pot was to be usuable again was to reforge the molten metal into a usuable pot again. The similarities between Jeremiah and the potter are very striking, however here it is about a city en masse, while in the Jeremiah case - it was the individual that had to be molded into a usuable instrument. Only through the fire would the Lord's weath be satisfied.

I guess the same could be said of us. We need that "road to Damascus" experience where the shales can be removed from our eyes so that we can see with His eyes and be humbled enough to be used. Only when we are on our knees can we see His purpose and will for us.

Recovery is slow but progressing. Still leakage from both feet but the holes are getting smaller. Pretty soon, a "normal" life can be possible. Still trusting in Him for all things.

Praise for today: that He does give us Sonshine after the rain.

Ez 23

Finally after a long delay, I am back. Mostly because I forgot my power cable to my laptop which was the driver for this. Ez. 23 basically talks of two sister (Samaria and Jerusalem) whose lewdness and prostitution of themselves bore judgement on both. Samaria was lusting after the Assyrians and gave herself to their ways  and let the Lord down hard!. They were assimilated and plundered by the Assyrians to the point of losing their status and nearly their identity and were ulitimately despised for it - even until Jesus' time. Jerusalem was soon to be captives as well with "suitors" on all sides and again they will be getting their "just desserts". God will not be mocked and has (at the end of the chapter) Ezekiel "pssing judgement" on them as well.

Good weekend, God-daughter's graduation and dinner (magna cum laude) on Saturday - decided to stay home and "prep" the home for the occassion at our house. Church was great and the luncheon and dinner was good as well for Irene.

I was blessed to chat, encourage and pray with GG on Sat as well. God is good, all the time!

I am slowly recovering from my surgery - still have issues on the left foot but they will pass in time. Other than that, just grateful and thankful for my mom and Irene's mom as well.

Praise for today: that He is my rock and salvation!

Ez 22

The attention now is turned upon Jerusalem - and its leaders. Ezekiel is challenged to "judge" or pronouce judgment on this city and its leaders. The idol worship, the innocent bloodshed , the oppression of the fatherless, the alien and the widow have left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Lord. Slanderous men who have done detestable things (v 10-12) to bring upon themselves God's wrath. They have been bold in their actions, almost to the point of pretending to be courageous. Will their courage take them through their destruction? Still it is the analogy of dross of fine metals in the flame to purify the quality of the metals is what is the most striking. The finality of their actions will culiminate in their ultimate destruction,

V. 23-31 speaks directly to the lack of true prophesy that existed in the land. One who is striving for holiness will hear the voice of God directing his/her path. Thus was not the case here. It was the priests/prophets role to move us toward His holiness. I am glad that I belong to a church and has a pastor that doesn't water down the Gospel. We need to hear more messages about His holiness rather than pretend it doesn't exist and thus we become insensitive to the True North and the Higher road. Richard Halverson commented upon this passage in a different way - we need to become men of availability to His calling. We need to step out beyond our box and look beyond our prejudices and become men of vision - whose feet are on the ground but whose eyes are on the far horizon. Far sighted and selfless men - men with a goal. Men of integrity  who are dedicated to God and His holy, high purposes.

I need to recognize that our God is bigger than life and my circumstances. I do praise Him today for that.

Ez. 20:45 - 21

v. 45 of this chapter should really be the start of the next chapter since it talks about the imminent destruction of the South via fire. This was to be an all consuming fire that would not be stopped and destroy those who mocked God saying all that He does is speak in parables. According to historians, this occurred in 586 BC. The next part speaks of the judgement of the "sword" against Israel which became the Babylonian captivity and the dismantling of the Israel nation.This would affect "good and bad" people so that all would know that the Lord means business. Ezekiel is saddened since he knows what the Lord will and can do and yet all he can do is let them know. He cannot change their hearts or their ways - only the Lord can. They are "passed the point of no return" (POTO). v 14-17 shows the extent of His anger and Ezekiel's lament. The next thing for  Ezekiel to do is to lay down the path by which this is to be done. Heavy is his heart but it wasn't that he didn't see it coming.

I am doing something that I very rarely do... not go to church. It was advisable given that our church doesn't have a parking lot and we have to find street parking, sometimes a distance away. Still it grieves me not to be there and worship Him. The feet are still recovering and there is still leakage with the wounds that are healing. Very disconcerting to say the least, but still I am giving Him praise and thanksgiving for all He has done and brought me through. I enjoy the quietness to some extent but still .... Maybe I'll crank up some movies to watch on BluRay as some have suggested until the family comes home.

I read about my friend Heather and all that she is and has gone through. Her posts are deep and thought provoking and while we have never met, her and her family's plight has touched me and so I keep her in prayer. Father, carry them through this season of suffering as they have gone through much - I lift them up to you daily for their bread and your care.

Praise for today - that He alone is worthy of my praise and that He will carry me and others through.