Finishing 2 Esdras

Dear Friends,
Today I finished reading the Apocryphal book of 2 Esdras (see yesterday's post). Not an easy read, but nevertheless an interesting book. All I have left is 4 Maccabees (18 chapters long), and then I will be finished with my second read-through of the Apocrypha.

To mark this occasion, I'd like to share a couple verses from the final chapter of 2 Esdras. Perhaps they may be appropriate for the times in which we live.

"So listen to me, my chosen people. The days of misery will soon be here, but I will rescue you. Don't be afraid and don't give up--I am your God, and I will protect you."
2 Esdras 16:74-75 (CEV)

Some Words from Ezra

I am reading through the Apocrypha for the second time. I have long had a fascination for these "hidden" books of the bible. Currently I am reading 2 Esdras. 2 Esdras is one of the more obscure books of the Apocrypha, and is not recognized as canonical Scripture by any major Christian denomination.

2 Esdras is an apocalypse, and reads very much like the canonical books of Daniel and Revelation. I have found many similar images among these three books. 2 Esdras depicts Old Testament prophet Ezra as the recipient of visions from God about the future. Here's an interesting, and perhaps fun, passage that I came across recently:

"I opened my mouth, and I was handed a cup full of a fiery-colored liquid, which I took and drank. When I had drunk it, my mind overflowed with understanding, and wisdom increased within me as my memory became perfect. I began to speak and went on talking without stopping."
2 Esdras 14:29-41 (GNT)

TPT: Real Success

Today's Power Thought (TPT) comes from author and lecturer David McCollough.

Real success is finding your life's work in the work that you love.
--David McCollough

STTA: True Motivation

STTA = "Something to Think About"

Here's something I read in the January 2009 issue of Bit's & Pieces on Leadership. This is valuable food for thought for anyone whose business is to motivate others.

No one is inspired by the negative. The problem is not lack of awareness, it's lack of inspiration. Most people are not stupid. They know that there are huge changes going on in the world. My job is to inspire them, to get them to believe that the journey is possible and worth the effort, by showing them small achievable steps.
--Robert Swan