Sorry if I haven't been updating the site much in the last week or so. Things have been quite quiet, and I have been taking a bit of a break from writing over the Christmas holiday. Looking back on 2007, I feel that perhaps we have not come as far as I had first expected we would... 

Major political events this year included the election of former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres to the presidency, who's name in Hebrew literally means "Harkening to division". We saw the Gaza Strip fall to Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, approximately two years after Israel's disengagement from the territory. Then we had the Annapolis peace conference, which was billed as the commencement for final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Despite the promises, it looks like this conference was a major fudge. Israel released hundreds of Palestinian terrorists and pledged to divide Jerusalem, while the Palestinian Authority continues to broadcast its message of hate. The international community later pledged over $7 billion for the establishment of a Palestinian state before the end of next year. The European Union finally found its one voice, in signing two major treaties which effectively give the EU its own legal identity on the world stage. The bloc also grew to 27 members, and nine additional countries entered into the Schengen zone. We saw emergence of Russia as a major player on the world stage.

On the financial side of things, we saw the company known as VeriChip - which markets the microchip that can be implanted in humans for identification purposes, change its name to Xmark. Britain also announced plans for launching an identification card that can be used throughout the European Union. 

On the natural-disasters front, we saw the biggest storm in sixty years hit Arab nations, right on the sixtieth anniversary of the Six Day War. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice fiddled while California burned, as the Bush administration called for more aid to be given to the Palestinian Authority. There was an increase of earthquake activity in Israel coinciding with an increase in political activity, with experts warning that the "big one" was long overdue and could occur at any moment. We saw record breaking floods in the first half of the year coupled with severe droughts in the later half, which have decimated wheat harvests and increased the price of bread.

On the prophetical side of things, we saw the Temple Institute complete the manufacture of the Golden Crown for the High Priest and announce that they are producing blueprints for the construction of the Third Temple. The recently formed Sanhedrin sent a letter to every nation on earth calling for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. We witnessed the first public gathering of the tribe of Levi, and the first recitation of the priestly blessing upon the Temple Mount since the destruction of the Second Temple. A Kabbalist Rabbi who claimed he met the Messiah in 2003 revealed that His name is Yeshua to his stunned followers a year after his death. We also witnessed an horrific attack on the person of Jesus Christ, after it was claimed by filmmakers James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici that the burial tomb of Jesus Christ had been discovered in Jerusalem. Those claims were later retracted.

These were the highlights of 2007. We witnessed a flurry of activity in the Middle East in December 2006, and we thought an agreement would come by the end of the year. But none did. Some had even thought we may be entering Daniel's 70th week on January 1st, 2007. I thought this was possible until it became clear that the Palestinian unity government would not be formed. Likewise there was no sign of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses, nor the two witnesses who are to prophesy in Jerusalem for the first 3.5 years. Likewise, at the end of 2007 we thought the Annapolis peace conference could bring about a major change in events. But the chances of peace look pretty remote.

What will happen in 2008? It's very difficult to say. With the EU now concentrating on globalization, I expect we will see further developments in this area, specifically in relation to the Muslim world's relations with the West and the global financial system. There will also be a flurry of activity to try and get the EU Constitution ratified by 2009. Regarding peace in the Middle East, it's more difficult to speculate. Both sides have committed themselves to formulating an agreement by the end of next year, but it remains to be seen how that can come about. Perhaps this will only happen closer to the time of the Antichrist's rise to prominence. Russia will continue to increase its dominance in the region in any case.

For me personally? Once again I feel almost a sense of dread inside, as if the next year was an unwritten page upon which I must write many things. I felt the same way after my grandmother died. After her death the world felt a whole lot more meaningless, and I wondered why the Lord had left us here on earth and taken her home to heaven. How would we continue to live out our lives without her? We did, though, and the Lord was with us. In the same way I feel unsure and uncertain about what the future holds for the coming year. At the start of last year, I had resolved to have a greater influence for God in the lives of others. I don't know if I have had much success at that. I was also resolved to pray more, and I definitely didn't succeed at that. This year I just hope that the Lord helps me in whatever He would have me to do. I may be a Gideon, but even God can do mighty things through a Gideon.

Judges 6:12
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

A couple of nights ago before I went to sleep, I opened my Bible at a random page and started to read. The chapter I was reading happened to be Ezekiel 33. Sometimes when I read the Scriptures, I struggle to get any freshness out of them. Not because there is no freshness there, as my friend Rolly says, "the trees of the Lord are full of sap", Psalm 104:16. When we are dry, it is not because there is no satisfaction or saturation available for us (Psalm 1). Ezekiel 33 tells the story of the watchman. The Lord said He had made Ezekiel a watchman to the house of Israel. He said if the watchman sees the danger coming and does not alert the people, the people will perish and God will require their blood at the watchman's hands. But if the watchman blows the trumpet and the people refuse to heed the warning, the people will perish and the watchman will be innocent of their blood.

This passage has always condemned me in my mind. For I feel that I have not been a good watchman. I am a coward when it comes to witnessing to people, and I have remained silent at times when I should have spoken a word for the Lord. Sometimes I have done this because of the fear of man, and sometimes because I didn't want to stir up controversy. But in reading the chapter this week, I happened to notice something I hadn't seen before.

Ezekiel 33:2-7
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

The task that was given to the watchman was not a great one, but it was nonetheless very important. When the watchman saw danger coming, all he was required to do was to put his lips to his shofar and to blow as hard as he could. The responsibility then lay with the people as to how they would respond to the alarm. I found encouragement through that, for I thought, I may be a coward when it comes to witnessing for the Lord, but if all I am asked to do is blow a trumpet when I see the enemy coming, then I might be able to do that. Even if I am afraid or if I have no words to speak, I will blow the trumpet as hard as I can for as long as I can, so that all might take notice and know what to do.

We are not promised success in our witnessing. Noah preached for 120 years and only saw his own family saved. Likewise, we may warn the world of the soon coming judgement of God, and we may not have any great success in reaching the people. Some may say, sure Christians have been talking about this for hundreds if not thousands of years! Well there came a day when Noah's preaching ceased, and the flood came and took them all away (Matthew 24:39). So likewise there will come a day when our witness will be finished, and the judgement of this world will come (Matthew 25:10). The Lord Jesus also said that the night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4). May God help us to be good watchmen, to remain faithful in whatever task He has called us to do.

Isaiah 21:11
The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

Numbers 21:4
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

As Christians, sometimes our hearts can be much discouraged because of the way. We face many uncertainties in this life. At times we may feel we have our futures all planned out, and then what we expected to happen never comes to pass. That can be very disheartening. This has happened to me a couple of times, and I have often wondered, why when I pray for something for so long and only seek God's will in this thing, does the Lord not grant my request? Or we may face troubles in this life, and we wonder why the Lord has brought us in this way. If God wanted to, He could prevent us from having to ever face difficulties in life. He could fulfill all our desires when we have them, so we need never be discouraged again. But what sort of life would that be? The Lord knows what is best for us, and how would we learn to trust Him if we always had everything that we wanted, or if we never experienced trials?

Well I have felt disappointed this past few days about unanswered prayers, but I have taken courage that the Lord is with me and has a plan for my life. One of my favourite artists is a man called Len Magee. He has written some beautiful songs. One of my favourites is "I'll go before you", and it is based on several scriptures from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 11:11-12, 31:7-8).

As I have been with you throughout the year
I'll go before you, so have no fear
And I will bring you to the land that I have chosen
I'll go before you, so have no fear

    A land which flows with milk and honey
    With mountain streams and winding valleys
    A land wherein I'll go before you
    My eyes are on this land the whole year through
    I'll go before you, so have no fear

You may not understand what I am doing
I'll go before you, so have no fear
Through fire and flood and cloud, I'll still be here
I'll go before you, so have no fear

I feel that no matter what circumstances I may face in life, no matter what disappointments I may have, no matter what experiences in this life I may be denied, I would not change a thing. Even when I had my motorbike accident, I felt inside that God has hedged in my way, and although I may see other paths over the hedge, I would not want to take them for it would mean forsaking my Lord. Like Israel's exodus from Egypt to the promised land, our life's journey may be fraught with difficulties. Has God promised us an easy life? Has God promised us prosperity and riches? Some seem to think so, but this is not what God has promised us. God has promised to be with us (Matthew 28:20), and I would rather have His presence with me on my journey than to have soul's ease or all the riches of earth. God's eyes are indeed on the land He has promised to give us. We may not understand the way in which He is taking us, but we know that He will go before us in the way. And when I finally arrive at my destination, when I see Him face to face, He won't be a stranger. For I will recognize Him as the One who has been with me every step of the journey, and I will thank Him for ever saving me, and for being with me in the way.

Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

This is my God. You can know Him too, if you trust in Him for salvation.