Daniel 1 - 3

Daniel 1 - 3

The book of Daniel is one of my favorites, probably because it is about a true man of God who displayed great character. There are others in the book of Daniel who live with integrity.

Daniel was one of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families who was chosen by Nebuchadnezzr’s chief of staff Ashpenaz to be brought to Babylon as captives. We learn that Daniel was strong, healthy, good-looking, and young. He was a learned man gifted with knowledge and good judgment and had to be suited to serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s royal palace. This group of young men were to be trained for three years in the language and literature of Babylon and then enter royal service.

Daniel 1 mentions four men specifically: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were all from the tribe of Judah and were given new names:

Daniel à Belteshazzar

Hananiah à Shadrach

Mishael à Meshach

Azaroaj à Abedmegp

Isn’t it funny that we think of Daniel by his Hebrew name, but the others by the names Ashpenaz gave them. These four distinguished themselves by their wish not to have to eat the foods given them by the king. All they wanted was vegetables and water and asked to be tested on this diet for ten days to see how they looked compared to the others who ate the king’s food. Of course, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better nourished than the others. Needless to say, they were allowed to eat just the vegetables and water.

God blessed these four men with unusual aptitude and God gave Daniel the “special ability” to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. They were so extraordinary that the king would consult them about matters that required wisdom and balanced judgment. Daniel remains in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.

It’s a good thing God gave Daniel his special gift, because Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and asked the Magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers not only to tell him what the dream he had meant, but also to tell him what he had dreamed. When they could not, he started rounding up all of the wise men of Babylon to be executed, including Daniel and his three friends. When Daniel found out why they were being rounded up, he asked to see Nebuchadnezzar, to ask for more time to interpret the dream and to tell him what the dream was.

Daniel approached this in the same way he approached most of his challenges. He went home and asked his friends to pray the God of heaven to show him the dream and its interpretation. When God gave him an answer that night in a dream, Daniel praised the God of heaven. He tells the king about the dream and what it means, the upshot of which is that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would be followed by others but eventually the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that could never be destroyed or conquered. Nebuchadnezzar rewards Daniel and his friends with positions of authority.

In chapter 3, we see the ego of Nebuchadnezzar leading him to build a ninety-foot high by 9-foot wide statue of himself that everyone was to bow down to whenever the music sounded. Anyone who refused was to be thrown into a blazing furnace. Someone tattles to the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not complying with the law. Nebuchadnezzar gives them a final chance, but when they refuse to obey, he has them thrown into the furnace. The king was so angry he had them heat the furnace seven times hotter than ever and threw the young men in fully dressed. The flames from the furnace were so hot they killed the soldiers who threw the young men in. As Nebuchadnezzar says, “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god.” He gets as close to the fire as he can and tells Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to come out of the fire. There was not one hair on their heads singed and their clothing didn’t even smell of smoke. As a result, the king praises the God of the young men and promotes them to even higher positions in Babylon.

All I can saw is, “WOW!”

Until next time…

Joel and Whens

Joel

Not much is known about Joel except that he was a prophet, he was the son of Pethuel (whoever that was) and he had a message from the Lord. We also know that he was either a contemporary of Amos or preceded him since Amos quotes Joel in Amos 1:2 – “The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.”

In the first chapter, he talks about the cutting locusts, the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts and the stripping locusts. The grapes are ruined. The grapevines and fig trees are also destroyed. Hence, there is no grain or wine for an offering at the Temple of the Lord. I imagine our farmers who are experiencing the terrible drought this year could sympathize with the people of Israel – everything has dried up. Joel calls for the priests to mourn and call for a time of fasting. He warns that the day of the Lord is near and how terrible that day will be.

Thr second chapter says everyone should tremble in fear because the day of the Lord is upon upon us. The description of the day and the events that take place are very troubling: it’s a day of darkness and gloom; it’s a day of thick clouds and deep blackness. A mighty army of attackers is marching toward them. The Lord himself is at the head of the column.

He tells the people there is time to repent and turn to the Lord; to come with fasting, weeping and mourning; to tear their hearts instead of their clothing. The Lord “is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” The Lord promises to give them back what they lost to the locusts.

It is hear that the Lord promises to “pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit.” He talks about wonders in the heavens and on the earth. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

In the third chapter, Joel talks about the Lord gathering the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There he will judge them for the way they had treated the people of Judah. He tells them to hammer their plowshares into swords and their pruning hooks into spears. The day of the Lord will soon arrive, after which Jerusalem will be holy forever and the Lord will make his home in Jerusalem with his people.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Daniel 1 - 3.

Whens

Don't just poo-poo this email. Read it and see the truth, the known facts, this is not a fictional list of things, it is factual! WHEN I GOT DONE READING THIS I GOT SHORT OF BREATH.

Looking back thru the past 4 years, many "Whens" pop up. Read them all to better understand where we are going as a country.WHEN - he refused to disclose who donated money to his election campaign, as other candidates had done, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he received endorsements from people like Louis Farrakhan, Muramar Kaddafi and Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - it was pointed out that he was a total newcomer and had absolutely no experience at anything except community organizing, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he chose friends and acquaintances such as Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn who were revolutionary radicals, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - his voting record in the Illinois Senate and in the U..S. Senate came into question, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he refused to wear a flag lapel pin and did so only after a public outcry, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - people started treating him as a Messiah and children in schools were taught to sing his praises, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he stood with his hands over his groin area for the playing of the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he surrounded himself in the White House with advisors who were pro-gun control, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage and wanting to curtail freedom of speech to silence the opposition, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he said he favors sex education in kindergarten,including homosexual indoctrination, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - his personal background was either scrubbed or hidden and nothing could be found about him, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - the place of his birth was called into question, and he refused to produce a birth certificate, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he had an association in Chicago with Tony Rezco – a man of questionable character and who is now in prison and had helped Obama to a sweet deal on the purchase of his home - people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - it became known that George Soros, a multi-billionaire Marxist, spent a ton of money to get him elected, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he started appointing White House Czars that were radicals, revolutionaries, and even avowed Marxist /Communists, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he stood before the Nation and told us that his intentions were to "fundamentally transform this Nation" into something else, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - it became known that he had trained ACORN workers in Chicago and served as an attorney for ACORN, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed cabinet members and several advisers who were tax cheats and socialists, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed a Science Czar, John Holdren, who believes in forced abortions, mass sterilizations and seizing babies from teen mothers, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Cass Sunstein as Regulatory Czar who believes in "Explicit Consent," harvesting human organs ithout family consent and allowing animals to be represented in court, while banning all hunting, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Kevin Jennings, a homosexual and organizer of a group called Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network as Safe School Czar and it became known that he had a history of bad advice to teenagers, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Mark Lloyd as Diversity Czar who believes in curtailing free speech, taking from one and giving to another to spread the wealth, who supports Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - Valerie Jarrett, an avowed Socialist, was selected as Obama's Senior White House Advisor, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - Anita Dunn, White House Communications Director, said Mao Tse Tung was her favorite philosopher and the person she turned to most for inspiration, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Carol Browner, a well known socialist as Global Warming Czar working on Cap and Trade as the nation's largest tax, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he appointed Van Jones, an ex-con and avowed Communist as Green Energy Czar, who since had to resign when this was made known, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - Tom Daschle, Obama's pick for Health and Human Services Secretary could not be confirmed because he was a tax cheat, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - as President of the United States, he bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he traveled around the world criticizing America and never once talking of her greatness, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - his actions concerning the Middle East seemed to support the Palestinians over Israel, our long time ally, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he took American tax dollars to resettle thousands of Palestinians from Gaza to the United States, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he upset the Europeans by removing plans for a missile defense system against the Russians, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he played politics in Afghanistan by not sending troops early-on when the Field Commanders said they were necessary to win, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he started spending us into a debt that was so big we could not pay it off, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he took a huge spending bill under the guise of stimulus and used it to pay off organizations, unions, and individuals that got him elected, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he took over insurance companies, car companies, banks, etc., people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he took away student loans from the banks and put it through the government, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he designed plans to take over the health care system and put it under government control, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he claimed he was a Christian during the election and tapes were later made public that showed Obama speaking to a Muslim group and 'stating' that he was raised a Muslim, was educated as a Muslim, and is still a Muslim, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he set into motion a plan to take over the control of all energy in the United States through Cap and Trade, people said it didn't matter.

WHEN - he finally completed his transformation of America into a Socialist State, people woke up--- but it was too late. Add these up one by one and you get a phenomenal score that points to the fact that Barrack Hussein Obama is determined to turn America into a Marxist-Socialist society. All of the items in the preceding paragraphs have been put into place. All can be documented very easily.

Before you disavow this do an Internet search. The last paragraph alone is not yet cast in stone. You and I will write that paragraph.

Will it read as above or will it be a happier ending for most of America?

Don't just belittle the opposition. Search for the truth. We all need to pull together or watch the demise of a free democratic society.

Pray for Americans to seek the truth and take action for it will keep us FREE. Our biggest enemy is not China, Russia, North Korea or Iran.

Our biggest enemy is a contingent of politicians in Washington, DC . The government will not help, so we need to do it ourselves.

Until next time…

Ezekiel 46 – 48

Ezekiel 46 – 48

Today’s reading is the last of the book of Ezekiel. We see Ezekiel continue with the rules for ministry at the Temple. In chapter 47, we see a description of a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. Ezekiel tells about the man showing him how deep the river was at intervals of 1750 feet with the river steadily getting deeper. The river will flow east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. Surprisingly, the waters of this river will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. Fish and other living things will flourish wherever this water flows. The shores of this river will be covered with nets drying in the sun. He talks about fruit trees of all kinds growing along both sides of the river. The leaves of these fruit trees will never turn brown and fall and there will be fruit on their branches – a new cop every month. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.

The land would be divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. Foreigners who have joined them will be like native-born Israelites and will also receive an allotment among the tribes.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Joel.

Ezekiel 44 – 45, etc.

Ezekiel 44 – 45

In today’s reading, we see the man bringing Ezekiel back to the Eastern Gate in the outer wall of the Temple area and found it closed. The man tells Ezekiel that this gate has to remain closed and will never again be opened and that only the prince may sit inside this gateway to feast in the Lord’s presence. Did you know that this gateway remains concealed until this day?
Ezekiel then sees the glory of the Lord filling the Temple. He fell face down on the ground. He makes it clear that the men of the tribe of Levi who abandoned me what him had to suffer the consequences of their unfaithfulness. Although they could be Temple guards, they could not minster to the Lord as priests. This did not apply to the family of Zadok of the family of Levi who had ministered faithfully in the Temple. He then gave Ezekiel rules about how they were to minster in the Temple and about the Temple. He also set up taxes for the princes of Israel.
Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Ezekiel 46 – 48.

Messenger Bag Progress

Today, I finally finished stitching my messenger bag – I don’t think my hands will ever be the same. I only have to set a couple of rivets and touch up the color and it will be ready to use. I’ll do that in the morning and take a picture of it so you can see how it turned out. After that, I can start working on my sewing machine case again.

September 11, 2012

 Today was kind of a quiet day because of the events of September 11, 2001. Do you think you are safer now than then? This week there was a report of three members of Hezbollah who were caught coming across the Mexican border. Those three were caught. One must wonder how many have not been. caught. Our own government helped supply guns they knew were destined to end up in Mexico. Our attorney general (Eric Holder) has covered up his role in this. Our government is selective about which laws they enforce. Our freedoms are in danger everywhere. We’re sending a BILLION DOLLARS to the government of Egypt, where they have attacked out embassy. But don’t get me started.
NEVER FORGET!
Until next time…

Ezekiel 42 – 43 and A New iPhone App

Ezekiel 42 – 43

In today’s reading, Ezekiel continues to describe the measuring of the Temple. The man has brought him back around to the east gateway, where “suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east.” And this glory did not come silently – there was the sound of rushing waters and “the whole landscape shone with his glory... And the glory of the Lord came into the Temple through the east gateway.”

Were you aware that the Eastern Gate is sealed shut – I think the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ will appear there and come through that Eastern Gate.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Ezekiel 44 – 45.

A New iPhone App

Today, I heard about and downloaded a new iPhone app called Obama in His Own Words. You can hear some of Obama’s own words in his own voice. For example, you can hear him talk about having visited all 57 states or say if the economy isn’t fixed within the first 3 years, it’s going to be a one-term proposition.or “when you spread the wealth around it’s good for everybody and on and on and on. Many of the promises he made that have obviously been broken are there also – like his promise to cut the deficit within his first term.

If you have an iPhone, the app is free.

Lunch with Esther

Today, Esther and I had lunch together at The Genghis Grill – it was fabulous. It’s located on Providence next to Walgreen’s just north of Lumsden. Try it, you’ll like it.

Until next time..

Ezekiel 40 – 41 and Born 1930 - 1979

Ezekiel 40 – 41

In today’s reading, an amazing thing happens (as if that is unusual with Ezekiel) – on April 28, fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem, the “Lord took hold of” him. In a vision, he took him from Babylon to the land of Israel and set him down on a very high mountain. He was able to see a city and a man appeared whose face shone like bronze. This guy was standing by a gateway entrance and held a measuring cord and a measuring rod. Ezekiel could see a wall surrounding the Temple area. The man does a lot of measuring of what makes up the Temple, starting with the Eastern gate and Ezekiel describes a lot of the stuff he see.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Ezekiel 42 – 43.

Born 1930 - 1979

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!

First, we survived being born to mothers
Who smoked and/or drank while they were
Pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing,
Tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles,  Locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode Our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.

As infants & children, We would ride in cars with no car seats, No booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day
Was always a special treat.

We drank water From the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, From one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon..
We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar.

And, we weren't overweight.

WHY?

Because we were Always outside playing...that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day,
As long as we were back when the Streetlights came on.

No one was able To reach us all day. And, we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps
And then ride them down the hill, only to find out
We forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes
a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes.
There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable,
No video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's,
No cell phones, No personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.

WE HAD FRIENDS 

And we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth And there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, And the worms did not live in us Forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, Made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, Although we were told it would happen, We did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and Knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just Walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't had to learn to deal With disappointment.
Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law
Was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best
Risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.

The past 50 years Have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

If YOU are one of them?  CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good .

Kind of makes you want to run through the house
with scissors, doesn't it ?

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,
mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of swine flu and terrorist attacks. Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

A Small Prayer!

God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.

When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this.

Father,
God bless my friend in whatever it is that You know they may need this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity, and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you.
Amen.

Progress on my Messenger Bag

Today, I sewed the front flap of my messenger bag to the back. I then attached the straps to the back. All I have left is to sew the front to the other side of the gusset. This isn’t a great picture of what's done so far, but it will give you an idea of where it’s going.

 

Until next time…

Ezekiel 38 – 39 and Stitching Up a Storm

Ezekiel 38 – 39

In today’s reading, Ezekiel receives a message from God to prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. He warns that he and all of his many allies, including Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer and Beth-togarmah, will be punished with disease and bloodshed, torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur. In this way, the Lord will show his holiness and greatness == then they will know that God is the Lord.

They and all their armies will die on the mountains and fall in the open fields. He”will make known my holy name among the people of Israel and will not let anyone bring shame on it. Israel will use the wood from their weapons for fuel. It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies of their enemies and cleanse the land.

God will have mercy on all Israel, for he jealously guards his holy reputation.

He will never again turn his face from them, for he will pour out his Spirit upon the people of Israel.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Ezekiel 40 – 41.

Stitching Up a Storm

I spent most of today working on my messenger bag and defrosting my refrigerator. I sewed one side of the gusset to the back of the bag. Tomorrow, I plan to sew the flap to the back. I Have to do this stitching during the daylight hours in order to see where the needle goes. This is going to be a neat project once I’m finished.

My sister-in-law finally arrived home yesterday after her grand tour of the eastern part of the country. So glad to have her back.

Until next time…