Sreedhar's Journey

History was one of the subjects that I loved.  I did not love the memorization work, but I loved the stories and the background they gave to present times.  It is sad that some modern governments try to hide parts of history for the benefit of their political agendas.  Nevertheless, educated and networked citizens would know better.  They know the true history and will not succumb to history presentations that have a propaganda laced agenda.  There is one story that people tend to label as fable, but because it involves a recognized king in history and the records date close enough to the event, it can be recognized as being true. Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve y

When things do not go the way you wish, you get frustrated, disappointed, or depressed.  I urge you to not give up.  The matter that is causing this is not worth processing in the mind or the heart.  It is best to seek help. Help is best sought from family.  This is God's design.  But in today's world, this may not be an option for many.  We need God. Daniel 2:46-47 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.  The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret. This is King Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest king of the time and he fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel. This sounds almost like the story of Joseph before Pharaoh but this time Daniel needed the Lord to tell him what the dream of the king was and interpret it.  Daniel was given the rule of Babylon. And he had 3 b

Are you a young person?  Or perhaps you consider yourself simply young at heart.  Whatever the case, as you look back at your journey through life, good or bad, you can see some connections that helps you eventually figure out that there must be a mastermind behind all of this.  If you are still figuring this out, it is probably because you are in the middle of a challenging time or success with limited view or understanding of where it is all leading to.  Daniel and his friends must have thought that way as they started a new phase in their lives in captivity. Daniel 1:3-4 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. We

I remember as a child we used to come to a place or a seat and say it is “booked” or, in my language, “chup”.  At least that is the way I think it is spelt.  I suppose we were very territorial and that came out in some of things we did back then.  Later in life I discovered that all of mankind is territorial. You secured your properties and went to war to secure more. The most powerful will obviously gain the victories.  In the case of the people of Israel they had great help. Ezekiel 48:35 All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE. The Lord is there! That is the promise that Ezekiel ends with. In the original it says Jehovah Shammah. Clear boundaries are defined for all Israel, including the boundaries for the 12 tribes, the holy site and the allocation for the Levites, the prince and the temple. Everything is allocated in the ancient of times. Is there another document that has lasted the passag

The river that gives life should be the title of the reflection today. If you review the history of ancient civilizations, you will always find that they thrived where there was good access to water.  Without water everything died.  Famines are generally the caused by lack of water.  When it does not rain it is cause for great concern and today the Governments of the world move people or invest greatly in moving water to population centers.  The Bible also refers to water a lot and here there is a reference to the river of life. Ezekiel 47:12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all  kinds of  trees used for food;  their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for  medicine. The blessings of this river that starts as a small channel of water running east from the front of the temple is tremendous. The part that

When you have a lot of time on your hands you tend to think about the worst.  You are doodling in your mind for no one's benefit.  You worry and you may even "infect" the person next to you.  One of the greatest thing you can do in times of idleness is to read good books (notice I said "good" books) that enhance and increase your knowledge and learning for you to be able to do something better.  What is the purpose of learning?  It is to increase your capacity to ACT!  Go read a book.  The best book to read is the life giving manuscript called The Bible.  Have you read it?   Ezekiel 46:17-18 But if he gives a gift of some of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his until the year of liberty, after which it shall return to the prince. But his inheritance shall belong to his sons; it shall become theirs. Moreover the prince shall not take any of the people’s inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for

I am wary of brands and organizations that build their reputation around a single person.  It is very risky to say the least.  Number one, one day this person will be incapacitated to be able to lead well or lead at all.  Number two, no one is perfect.  They can do something or say something that disrupts the brand or organizational values being communicated.  Hence, those in authority have a great responsibility.  I need to watch myself.  I must build a legacy that outlasts my tenure as a leader and is not associated with my person.  How can this be done?  Always go back to God and no one else. Ezekiel 45:16-17 “All the people of the land shall give this offering for the prince in Israel. Then it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel. He shall prepare the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offeri

When difficult times come upon us you may ask, where is God?  Implying that He does not care or does not exist.  Now let's not get all confused and stressed.  He does exist and He cares.  How can you say that?  Too much in history and my personal experiences confirm His existence and love for us.  It is we who have gone away from Him and His protection.  It is like a child leaving the security of the home and getting into trouble.  The child made a personal decision to leave home. Ezekiel 44:1-2 He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the LORD said to me, This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut. The east gate is only for the Lord to enter. This situation has been set now for this because as we speak that gate is actually sealed since 1517. Read this commentary . Yes, a Muslim ruler and conquero

Many popular brands generally use the color red, blue or orange as part of their packaging, in the logo or their communications.  Somehow it catches the eye of the consumer and creates an identity in the mind of the consumer.  The most popular of these colors is Red.  It catches you in many ways, including at "light controlled traffic stops".  It has somehow registered in a special way in our God given DNA. Ezekiel 43:20 You shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the rim around it; thus you shall cleanse it and make atonement for it. Goats, bulls and rams were to be sacrificed to consecrate the temple and the people. Blood spilled was important as the sacrifice to symbolically rid of sin for the moment. It was not a perfect sacrifice but a pointer to the the perfect sacrifice. When it comes to the blood and the color red, the two biggest ethnic groups celebrate and use much the color red. The

Who do you rely on for information and perhaps even decisions?  Your spouse? Your boss? Or perhaps, your children?  Sometimes this can be your grandchildren.  You may have complex responsibilities and this requires clarity in analysis and action.  If this has wide impact, you need to analyze the situation as thoroughly as practicable, make the informed decision, and communicate the decision well.  This is what I see in Ezekiel 42. Ezekiel 42:13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering—for the place is holy. The vision of the temple continues here and the level of detail is incredible. Nothing is left to be guessed. Even how the people are to serve in the temple is clearly told. 2 things I have picked up he

When you buy things, a branded piece of garment mostly gives you an assurance that it meets a certain set standard of quality.  It allows you to decide whether paying a certain price is worth the money.  A cheap brand attracts a low value, while an expensive one probably has the design and other qualities that are worth paying for.  I have my favorite brands not because I am brand conscious, but because I want to be assured of the value experience.  I sometimes try new brands, but as a test.  However, I am wary of "copycats".  I prefer to stay with the ORIGINAL. Ezekiel 41:4 He measured the length, twenty cubits; and the width, twenty cubits, beyond the sanctuary; and he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.” In Ezekiel 41 God continues to give clear instructions on the building of the temple. Outer courtyard, inner courtyard, altar and how the walls and doors were to be decorated. Everything has a meaning and significance. Palms, lions, cherubs, chambers. This

Don't tell my children (Sharmaine, Sherman, Shawn and Shane) what I am saying here (though they are reading this as well).  I love them very much and no matter what they do I am ready to stay loving them and blessing them.  Nothing can cause me to say to them, "be gone".  If they say to me, "I am leaving", I will always be ready to receive them back.  Such is the case with our Heavenly and Perfect Father. Ezekiel 40:2-3 In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city. He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway. God is an architect. He has perfect sense of what would look good. That was what happened here with the vision God was giving Ezekiel. Much detail goes into what is being shown. All measurements give

What are your chief concerns at this time?  Building a career?  A comfortable house with all the amenities of daily living taken care of? A wonderful spouse? Nurturing the young ones so that they grow up to be successful?  As you reflect on the daily issues of life, there are others who are not sure if they would be alive tomorrow.  They literally live under the gun.  In remote villages and towns they can be attacked at any time.  Have you ever lived like this before?  The people of Israel have experienced this. Ezekiel 39:11-13 “It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the d

Russia has been in Syria and used its war machinery big time. It almost feels like end times prophecy is coming to past.  Wars and rumors of war.  Plagues and pestilences?  It is all happening in my lifetime.  What does this all mean?  The curious should have no doubt that this is recorded in the most printed book in the world. Ezekiel 38:16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes. Does that mean the war of Gog and Magog is imminent? Ezekiel clearly prophecies about this frightening event. It would seem to be the biggest war ever. It includes the North Africans and the Persians (Iran?). Even if you are not a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, "the planets are getting lined up" for this huge event. And believe me, incredible as it may seem, it will come to pass as we have seen

Do you know everything?  Not me.  Arrogance sometimes makes us portray an all-knowing attitude.  This is dangerous.  We cannot have perfect information and therefore it is okay to stop and make a decision when needful.  If it was a wrong one because you missed something, that is okay.  Apologize and move on.  However, do not appear that you know everything.  This was the case with Ezekiel. I am at the famous prophecy of Ezekiel where he prophesied that the dry bones will become alive. But there is one verse that sticks out for me. Verse 3 says, "And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”  Wow! Good answer. Can these bones live? Only God can determine it and I am sure there was doubt in Ezekiel's mind about this by the way he describes the dry bones. But nevertheless, he obediently prophesied and in wonder be described how they did indeed live. Yes, like the way described in the rest of the chapter our dry bones in

Nothing beats the beauty of a freshly renovated home with new furnishings, especially when you have been living in a dirty and broken home where nothing works.  The doors creak, the carpet is torn and smells.  The windows are dirty and musty.  The bathroom is moldy and plumbing leaking.  The roof and ceiling is broken in places.  On a larger and more beautiful scale, God brings restoration for the people of Israel. Ezekiel 36:35-36: So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it. Unlike Edom, or the prophecy against Mount Seir, this land called Israel was to be dwelt on, it will bear much fruit and it will be able to defend itself. Do we see this in Israel today? This is prophecy fu

Envy and jealousy have no place in any organization, especially in the family. Are you unhappy because your colleague got promoted ahead of you?  Perhaps you feel your brother is your family's favorite.  What do we do with that negative energy?  Sometimes it develops into bitterness that eats us up and affects us physically. Or, it causes us to do things that tries to undermine the other person. Or, both. There was an ancient jealousy that eventually resulted in a homeland becoming desolate. Ezekiel 35:15 As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom—all of it! Then they shall know that I am the LORD. Mount Seir is mentioned here, but in actual fact, it is part of Edom occupied by the Edomites, the descendants of Esau who gave up his birthright for some food to Jacob or Israel. It was painful and the deep rooted regret, envy and animosity was probably maintaine

Mother's love is such that they truly get possessive of their children's well being in a good sense.  Sometimes this can go to extremes, including breaking the law.  Is this right?  I would say no.  Everyone needs to operate within legal limits in looking after or covering for another.  The role of a mother is to nurture and educate the child so that they have the capability or capacity to never have to do the wrong thing.  That is also the role of the Good Shepherd. Ezekiel 34:31 “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord GOD. This last verse of Ezekiel chapter 34 is preambled by a rebuke from God against the leaders of Israel for not being good shepherds. They were more interested in themselves than the flock. In fact they created negative situations for the people of Israel. But God was ready to be the Good Shepherd. Whenever I think of the Good Shepherd, I think of Psalm 23 . The movie The Hiding Place on the bio

I love to eat the papaya fruit.  It has got great flavor, sweetness and texture that is wonderful for a refreshing dessert or just a meal in itself.  At one point in my life I lived in a home with a very fruitful papaya tree.  It had lots of papayas to the point that we could not eat it all fast enough, or even harvest it fast enough.  We ended up seeing half eaten fruit drop to the ground being wasted.  It was ready for harvest but we were not able to reach them fast enough.  The birds beat us to them.  Souls are ready, are we ready to bring them in? Ezekiel 33:30-31 As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but t

When a crisis hits, people do irrational things that are self serving and make no sense.  We are ready to fight over the smallest things like a piece of bread, or even toilet paper.  It is no longer just a run on the bank since that is avoided with all the bank insurance programs that helps support the multitude of depositors.  Perhaps people are even ready to kill each other in time of great irrational need because they cannot believe the truth.  Instead, they believe lies like the evolution theory and the bible is a book of myth and fables, or altered over time. Ezekiel 32:11-12 ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall. “They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt, And all its multitude shall be destroyed. In case you are wondering, the prophecy of the downfall of Egypt was indeed fulfilled. The Battle of Carchemish is

What is the significance of a tall and strong tree? It provides shade. It gives the birds a place to build their nests away from predators. It provides a good anti erosion support for the area that its roots cover. It helps to buffet against strong winds. Such was the case for a cedar tree. Ezekiel 31:18 ‘To which of the trees in Eden will you then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depths of the earth; you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude,’ says the Lord GOD.” Assyria and Egypt are both mentioned as being represented by a cedar tree in this chapter. While it may be useful, it gets destroyed and its usefulness reduces to just being perhaps wood for everyday use. No longer a pillar of strength. Are you useful? Are you an arrogant tree that will face destruction. Or the tree that is mentioned in the Psalms. Psalms 1:3 "He shall b

We keep wanting to change history to suit our worldviews.  We then get into trouble of not learning from history.  Why did certain structures fail? Were there sociopolitical factors involved.  How about natural calamities, plagues and viruses?  Did they have a part to play?  When I started learning history in Malaysia it was fascinating.  By the time I was 15, I had learnt the history of the main regions and countries of the world.  It gave a view of the world that has helped me in my appreciation of global matters today. However, if you keep yourself away from this, you will neglect to see many things that have deep spiritual significance. Ezekiel 30:20-21 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and see, it has not been bandaged for healing, nor a splint put on to bind it, to make it strong enough to hold a sword.

When you have much power and authority in your hands you tend to get arrogant.  You attribute your success to yourself.  You start to claim that you are a "self-made"success, and brag about it publicly.  Little do people like that realize that multitudes of others did the same thing and failed. Not for the lack of effort but there huge matters that are beyond your control.  I used to work with many who consider their success "self-made", but their lives can be very challenging and stressed.  I would not want to be in their shoes.  There are some whole nations who act that way too. Ezekiel 29:3 Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, Who has said, ‘My River is my own; I have made it for myself.’ Egypt, once a great nation, with fertile land to plant foods and raise cattle was both an economic and military powerhouse. They also became arrogant like Tyre

Politics can be a very consuming activity and the intrigue it carries builds great fodder for conversations, especially among men.  I apologize if I am being chauvinistic but statistics show that men are more interested in politics than women.  It builds interest in current affairs like no other.  In my country we conduct a lot of "coffee shop" talk around politics.  I am sure when there is less politics to discuss the revenues of these establishments goes down (sorry no statistics to support this assertion).  The media capitalizes on this and makes good money.  However, this is all taking us away from what is important. Ezekiel 28:2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,’ Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god Ezekiel 28:22 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you,