In light of all the recent BS going on in the Middle East, I gave pause as I read Ezekiel 13.
10 " 'Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, "Where is the whitewash you covered it with?"
Sometimes, peace is an illusion.
What good is there to have a temporary cessation of hostilities, some fragile accord between groups, some illustrious "road map" when the underlying problem, the very CONFLICT of minds and souls that causes the physical violence is itself ignored?
So what if a gun isn't fired today? So what if for a few weeks no children die from Palestinian bombs.
If you do not address the actual conflict, you are whitewashing the problem!
I had made a commitment to read the Bible in its entirety this year. Having spent most of January prone on the floor thanks to my herniated disks, I had a lot of time on my hands.
It helped that most of the Pentatuech was very entertaining. But as time wore on, my interested crested and fell. I had to take breaks here and there, had to give up the pace.
Plus I had to go back to work.
So, I have skipped 1 & 2 Chronicles, on account of having read 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings. Same source material, after all. I have skipped Psalms, since I'm just not big on hebrew poetry, skipped Proverbs for much the same reason, and skipped Ecclesiastes. To difficult to read, even with the NIV.
So, latest in my endeavor had been the book of Ezekiel. And it has been a true joy, no doubt. Very lively, very spirited. Lots of references to The Spirit, most so far of the Old Testament.
But I hit a stumbling block. Ezekiel 40.
We've gone from lively "And you shall know that I am the LORD" type stuff, to new law and land distribution. All the boring stuff that seems to nullify my interest.
But its a commitment, you know. Got to stick with it.
So I skimmed. I speed read without interest, having got the jist of the thing.
I'm sorry, Ezekiel. I'm sorry, God.
I just can't bring myself to focus on the dimensions of the Temple. I don't really care about how much land Rueben gets. Please accept my apologies.
FoxNews.com tells us that "Hulk Makes Killer Debut at Box Office"
I can't for the life me understand why. OK, the hype.
But I passed out during the movie. I only remember five, maybe ten minutes of film. I mean, yeah, I was blitzed, but come on! Suckage, me thinks.
I should have seen 2 Fast 2 Furious. At least that had cool cars in addition to the crappy plot.
And no "HULK SMASH!" What's with that? Bastards.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
Living one day at a time
Enjoying one moment at a time
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace
Taking, as God did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it
Trusting that God will make all things right
If I surrender to God's will
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with God forever in the next