Then he said to me, "The north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard are the priests' rooms, where the priests who approach the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings—for the place is holy. – Ezekiel 42:13

Today's Scripture Reading (October 12, 2026): Ezekiel 42

It is one of my favorite quotes of all time. No, it is not from the Bible. It is from "Star Trek – The Original Series." I know, quite a letdown. The episode aired on December 15, 1966, during the first season of the series, and the episode was titled "Balance of Terror." Captain James T. Kirk's ship, "The Enterprise," was sent to investigate the destruction of some Federation outposts. They discovered a Romulan Bird-of-Prey with a cloaking device that was attacking Federation outposts. The Romulans, along with the Klingons, were the ever-present bad guys in that first Star Trek series.

The Enterprise is outgunned, and the Bird-of-Prey has a cloaking device that lets it vanish at will. The battle is fierce, but Kirk and his crew are on the wrong end of it. Near the end of the story, after a ferocious battle between the two ships, both ships hang in space. Kirk has the Enterprise systems shut down, pretending to be dead, in an attempt to lure the Romulan ship closer so it can take a shot. Tension is high, and Dr. McCoy visits his captain with an important message: the aforementioned quote.

In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million, million galaxies like this. And in all of that... and perhaps more, only one of each of us. [pause] Don't destroy the one named Kirk.

                                        Dr. Leonard McCoy

                                        Balance of Terror (Star Trek, The Original Series)

I believe Leonard McCoy is right. Think about it. There are almost eight billion people on the planet. I don't know what is out there, but even if there are three million Earth-like planets in our galaxy and three million, million galaxies like ours, there is still only one like you. We are a unique people. No one in this world is quite like you or quite like me. And that is a good thing. The fabric of this world is made up of us. Rather than feeling lost in this world, we need to recognize what we add to its tapestry.

As Ezekiel continues through his vision of the ideal temple, he comes to the rooms set aside for the priests. It was to these rooms that the offerings were brought. What has been placed before God is holy, and because it is holy, it must be treated differently. It is set apart for God.

We sometimes forget that God is still asking us for an offering, but the offering He wants is our lives. Does He want our tithe? Yes, but that is only the beginning of the offering He asks of us. He wants what is unique and special about us, left on His altar. He wants to make us holy. What was once only a description of items and offerings entrusted to the priests is now a description of our unique lives.

Ezekiel might have written about rooms that could be measured, but Jesus uses the illustration of the church as His body. Jesus speaks of lives that can be measured and set apart for Him. And that includes you and me. We are called to so much more than just belief; we are called to be offerings, holy and set apart for God, because in all of creation, there is only one of you and me.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 43

Happy Birthday, Mom.

Each cherub had two faces: the face of a human being toward the palm tree on one side and the face of a lion toward the palm tree on the other. They were carved all around the whole temple. – Ezekiel 41:18b-19

Today's Scripture Reading (October 11, 2026): Ezekiel 41

Rudyard Kipling wrote

If you can walk with the crowd and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run- Yours is the earth and everything that's in it, And-which is more-you'll be a man my son.

If: A Father's Advice to His Son

The phrase "walk with kings, nor lose the common touch" seems to have captured our imagination. It has become the standard by which we judge people we encounter. We seem to want to connect with people who have the power to change our world yet have never lost sight of what it is like to walk among ordinary people. We have no time for the elitist who has lost touch with the common person. However, we want to follow the person in power who identifies with most of humanity, wherever they dare to lead.

Ezekiel once again has a vision of cherubim. This time, they are carved on the temple walls. The cherubim have two faces. One is the face of a man, and the other is the face of a lion. These faces are not accidental. These angels of the temple minister to man's plight, but to do so they must understand the problem; they must intimately know what it is to be weak and in need. They are the bearers of the gospel message to man. However, identifying and understanding man is not enough; the angels must also go boldly and with courage. They need to identify with man, but not fear him.

So the angels come equipped with two faces and two natures. That these cherubim face the palm trees indicates that, while they identify with humankind and come with courage, they also come with sincere hearts and honest conversations, with their eyes fixed on God's final victory, which was yet to come.

For the exiles, this was a message of hope: the God of Israel and this Temple still had his people's concerns on his heart, and he would still bring victory to Israel. He understood what they were going through and was already on his way, with courage and the power to change what was.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 42

I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man's hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high. – Ezekiel 40:5

Today's Scripture Reading (October 10, 2026): Ezekiel 40

I have a dream house. My dream house has two levels. The basement opens to a private, treed yard at the back of the property. At one end of the house is a massive library that spans both stories. The library, of course, would hold my current book collection (I know, I have to deal with my addiction), plus some significant additions: books and collections I don't own but would like to have. And in my dream, the whole house is covered with big windows that let in a lot of light.

It is fun to dream about my house, but I am under no illusions that it will ever be built. The house is and will remain a house that lives only in my imagination. It is simply a dream. And, to be honest, the house of my dreams is probably too large to be practical. But during those holiday times when the whole family gathers, a house a little larger than our present home would be an asset. However, I know it is all just a dream.

Ezekiel dedicates the last nine chapters of his prophecy to a dream. The dream is of a temple. When Ezekiel began to dream of this Temple, no temple existed in Jerusalem. Babylon had already destroyed the First Temple (Solomon's Temple), and the Second Temple (Zerubbabel's or Herod's Temple) had not yet been built. The only Temple that existed was the one inside Ezekiel's head. Like many buildings and houses we dream about, this Temple was much grander than the one Solomon built, which was itself significantly larger than the Second Temple that Zerubbabel would build. The description of the outer wall surrounding the Temple area indicates that this dream temple encompassed all of the Temple Mount, not just the portion of the Mount that Solomon's Temple had occupied.

This Temple was vast, yet it was never built. In fact, Ezekiel's Temple is sometimes called the Third Temple, the one some Jews and Christians are waiting for and expect to be built sometime in the future. But it doesn't seem possible that this Temple will ever be built unless it is the one built after Jesus's return. Too many conditions and buildings would have to be removed for the Temple to be constructed. However, it is fun to dream of Ezekiel's Temple, even if, for now, Ezekiel's vast Temple remains nothing more than a dream.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 41

King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! – Daniel 4:1

Today's Scripture Reading (October 9, 2026): Daniel 4

I have to admit that until recently, I believed our politicians had less power than we sometimes think they possess. The reality is that the checks and balances built into the political structure of most democratic nations leave little room for leaders to act. I still believe that when everything in the nation is going well, political leadership likely has less to do with it than many will admit. During tough times, the blame belongs less to our political leaders than their critics are ever willing to admit. However, Donald Trump's presidency has changed my thinking a bit. Political leaders can do things that tank a nation, something I am not sure I really believed before Donald Trump. Of course, even Donald Trump requires the permission of key people and the public to bring the nation down. Writing this in the mid-2020s, I hope we are not watching the demise of the American Empire. That reality probably rests on the political reaction to Donald Trump after his term is through.

What sometimes amazes me is how divergent public opinion is about our political leaders' potential. One sector often considers our leaders saints, while another part of society sees them as demons. Sometimes the obvious has to be stated; usually, they are neither. Could you imagine a book on the Republican Party's (the Grand Old Party) influence on U.S. politics and its impact on world events? The book would include writings by and about the Great Republicans of the past. It would even mention Republicans who didn't shine the way the Grand Old Party wished they had. Overall, the book would be generally positive yet offer a balanced look at Republican politics. However, in the middle of this book about Republican politics is a chapter written by Barack Obama. That chapter would not seem to fit. After all, it was the Republicans who have done the most to demonize the former Democratic President. Maybe the flip side is easier to imagine: a book on Democratic politics with a chapter written by Donald Trump. How insane would either scenario be?

Yet, that is exactly what the fourth chapter of Daniel represents. This chapter is written by someone who is not a Jew and who is actually demonized in many places in the Hebrew Bible. The Babylonian invader, Nebuchadnezzar, wrote the chapter. The same Nebuchadnezzar who was responsible for destroying Jerusalem, demolishing the Temple, and taking the people of Judah away from their homeland into exile. The fourth chapter of the Book of Daniel is one of the most unexpected chapters in literary history.

But the chapter exists. It testifies to the Babylonian king's support for the God of Israel, proving that God can reach into every corner of the earth and that all the people of the earth truly belong to him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 40

At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. – Daniel 3:8

Today's Scripture Reading (October 8, 2026): Daniel 3

Every once in a while, a blog post garners unwanted attention. I remember one post that mentioned the December 2012 tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In that case, a couple of readers questioned the validity of the Sandy Hook tragedy. They weren't convinced the tragedy ever really happened. Several videos and websites openly question the tragedy. They have noticed discrepancies in the media reports surrounding the shooting and have decided that the 2012 Sandy Hook events simply did not take place. Other websites refute conspiracy theorists' attempts to downplay the tragedy. The problem is that if conspiracy theorists' logic is solid, the arguments supporting the tragedy are just as solid. If there are holes in the reporting of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, there are also holes in the theories of those who do not believe that it happened. But neither side sees the other as a responsible witness to the events of that awful December day.

I need to make this clear; I am not trying to solve the mystery of the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Neither side is willing to listen to me anyway. But another tragedy is at play. For one thing, no matter what the real story is concerning Sandy Hook Elementary, the situation itself reveals a sick society. If it really happened, which is what I believe, what kind of society willingly kills its children? If it was faked, that takes a warped society willing to fake the heinous events that were supposed to happen on that day. And if it really happened, yet conspiracy theorists want to convince us that it was faked, what kind of society is willing to believe that a tragedy like this didn't happen when it really did? Given all of this, in the end, there is absolutely no upside to the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy: none. And it is time that we took steps to stop these kinds of events.

Even one of the conspiracy-theorist websites admits that children lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School. According to these people, it just didn't happen the way we think it did. And that is the real tragedy. Potential assistance was cut off too soon. The tragedy happened for no reason. Whatever the reality might be, kids who could have changed our world were cut down before they even had a chance to reach their potential, and that just isn't fair to any of us.

Daniel notes that some wise men came forward and denounced the Jews. The idea is filled with tragedy. The comment shares the same root evil as was present in all of the Sandy Hook tragedy theories. A willingness to hate before we even know. And that is simply a tragedy our world cannot afford.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Daniel 4

From that day forward the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. – Ezekiel 39:22

Today's Scripture Reading (October 7, 2026): Ezekiel 39

How well do you know what you do? Whatever it is that you spend your time doing, whatever consumes your time, whether it is your job or the activities you are involved in during your off time, my guess is that you know what it is you do fairly well. Each one of us has a skill set. I am sure you do some things better than others, and conversely, there are some things you don't do quite as well. That's how it is supposed to be. There are things that I do quite well; I hope that writing and teaching are in that group. However, I know there are things I am not good at: carpentry and mechanics are part of that rather large group of "some things."

Sometimes what we do is passed down through family lines. We learn the secrets of the occupation or business from our parents. Part of knowing what we do is understanding the purpose of what occupies our time. I remember attending a lecture many years ago by evolutionary creationist Denis Lamoureux. It was a great evening, partly because Dr. Lamoureux knows what he's talking about. You don't have to agree with his stand, but you quickly become convinced he knows what he's talking about and passionately believes what he teaches.

The repeated phrase in Ezekiel is that they "will know that I am the Lord their God." As Ezekiel concludes this controversial prophecy, he speaks directly to Israel. Israel will know that the one they call Lord is their God. I think there is reason for that. Israel's purpose was to bless the world; that was their job. They stood, as the children of God, at the center of God's blessing so they could bless the people with whom they came into contact. They couldn't do it unless they realized who God was. They needed continual reminders of that reality. So, the Bible continually contains this important idea, a reminder of who God is.

We need the same continual reminder. Church, you are here to bless the world. You can only do that if you recognize that God is at work in you. There are no other options. And you (we) need to be reminded of that continually: the reason why we are here and who God really is.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Daniel 3

After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. – Ezekiel 38:8

Today's Scripture Reading (October 6, 2026): Ezekiel 38

Do you ever wish that you knew what was going to happen in the future? Maybe you would like to pick the winning lottery numbers, or know who will win the big game. Or even just to know what the weather will be like today so you can dress properly. (I don't know about where you live, but around here it seems the weather changes faster than I can keep up with, and sometimes the forecasting leaves a little to be desired.) Sometimes it might be fun to know the future, although knowing the winner of the big football game would take all the fun out of it for me.

Ezekiel 38 starts as a very controversial prophecy. Part of the controversy is that the prophecy doesn't seem to have been fulfilled. In fact, the description contained in Ezekiel's words fits more with today than maybe any time in Israel's history. In the past century, we have watched Israel be gathered back from many nations. Despite the violence, it seems they live in relative safety. At least, Israel's defense is in her hands in a way it hasn't been for over two millennia. So some people have openly wondered if, just maybe, there is a war on the horizon. Okay, it really doesn't take that much imagination.

Prophecy can lead us into the future. But the real problem with it is that until the events actually happen, it is hard to read meaning into them. I don't know what will happen tomorrow. I don't know whether the words of a prophet, now over 2500 years old, are unfulfilled or ready to be fulfilled. I don't know whether the world will end in 2026, as suggested by Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi's book "The Religion of God," or in 2060, as suggested in an unpublished manuscript by Isaac Newton, or sometime in the next century, as predicted by a few prognosticators. I am comfortable that God is in control. Ezekiel 38 ends with the words "they will know that I am the Lord." And that is really the point. Above everything else, we need to know that God is the Lord and that he is really in control.

So, have a great week, no matter what the future may hold!

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 39