Longer light

Some Color

Churn & Burn

Door

Spring Glory

 

Your 7 Days?

Our city was brave and met together – as representatives of many different local churches – and took on the topic of racial reconciliation last night. We began with worship including this song.

I believe in God the Father

I believe in Christ the Son

I believe in the Holy Spirit

Our God is three in One

 

I believe in the resurrection

That we will rise again

For I believe in the Name of Jesus

Pretty important anthem to begin the night, especially as we could probably all sit down and discuss nuances of theology together. I have too much fear of God to believe doctrine isn’t important and would never desire to neglect His Word. And the Word was preached.

I mean preached.

And, somehow, a humble comment in the Q&A panel hit me most squarely between the eyes: “We can learn a lot about this topic academically. But the way forward will be through relationship.”

Yes.

At some point we must set aside our different convictions – of which I have many – and listen to each other. I believe that was the spirit of the evening and I want to follow suit.

For the record, none of the speakers were saying we should ignore academia. In fact, it seems one way to educate yourself and your family is through books authored by those of a different background. I know many parents have great lists of books that have helped elevate in their homes those not of the powerful majority. Some ideas to start with for kids are here. And for adults here.

Please know I have not read or researched all these books, so this isn’t meant to be a sweeping recommendation for every bit of content. But it’s a great way to start in opening up new worlds and perspectives. The main idea of last night was that Heaven? It is gonna be filled with diversity. And one of our goals is not to force, but to welcome, that kind of difference in our churches now.

Open our hearts, LORD. We have much to learn from each other.

“I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.”

Nehemiah 2:11-12

I went to Jerusalem and after staying an appointed time of 3 days, I myself arose at night with only a few men alongside me. I hadn’t confessed/reported what Elohim, my Creator God, had given my heart to accomplish for Jerusalem. There were no beasts/behemah other than the one I rode.

Last time we looked at how the local leaders felt threatened by Nehemiah’s arrival to rebuild Jerusalem. Today we see our leader at last arriving in the city of his fathers. Interestingly, both he and Ezra took a 3 day rest after their travels to the City of God. And the Hebrew for stayed means appointed. An appointed rest.

Have you ever been grateful for an unexpected break? A rest from weariness to reconnect with your Savior and your soul?

It does not escape me that when the break was over, the Hebrew verb Nehemiah uses is qum – arose. You see it, yes?

He appoints His children a 3-day break while He Himself took a 3-day trip to the pit of hell for us.

“Then bursting forth in glorious day up from the grave He rose again.”

None beside Him.

The above green was springing up under much death this morning. I brushed aside leaves, but also unrooted, lifeless remnants from last year’s growth.

Anything you need to move aside? It moves quite easily when it is no longer gaining sustenance from the Source. No need for moldy manna or old wineskins for the New Wine He longs to bring.

Beauty from Ashes.

I do appreciate how discreet Nehemiah is as he slips into the night to survey the damage of the city walls. And he hasn’t told anyone what Creator God put in his heart to do.

How about us? Can He trust us with plans to seek the beauty of others? And are our plans His? We are all guilty of making our own timetable and to-do lists and goals, then asking Him to bless it almost as an afterthought.

What if we made ourselves available to let Creator God give our hearts what He wants to accomplish? Or even better: pay attention to what He is already at work doing and throw in – with the awareness we join Him.

When His Spirit is in charge, it flows, help offered is welcomed and He gets the glory.

The only animal (behemah-beast) in this middle-of-the-night scene is the one Nehemiah is on. Makes me wonder what the few other men were doing? Perhaps our leader needed a bit more height to survey the damage done.

What we know for sure is the Leader never required being above others. He was born lowly among animals, beasts. He Himself rode a donkey into Jerusalem while people proclaimed Him king. Only to be betrayed by that same crowd later in the most important week in history.

And He reversed all the damage we’ve ever done.

Beauty from Ashes.

It’s 2nd Saturday time!

You won’t want to miss the Beginning Vegetable Gardening class beginning March 16th through the Wichita Public Library and the Sedgwick County Extension Office.

At Watermark: Peter Heller an author talk and signing of Celine on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m.

And don’t miss Hudson River Exploration: A Naturalist’s Response to Landscape Painting with Rob Manes coming up tonight, March 9th, at 6:00 at the Wichita Art Museum.

Then tomorrow night, March 10th, at WAM check out Art Chatter as “local artists, musicians, and designers present streamlined offerings about what’s up and on their minds.”

This Saturday the 11th at Sedgwick County Zoo enjoy Children’s Farm Festival from 9-12.

City Arts has a couple of workshops coming up: How to Price Your Artwork this Saturday from 1-2:30 and Discover Your Creativity Sunday from 1-3.

Interested in a dialogue on race hosted by local churches? Join City Life Church and First Evangelical Free Church for City Forum: A Dialogue on Race this Sunday the 12th from 6-8 pm.

And the next Candid Conversation on Race through the Library is this coming Tuesday, March 14th from 7-8 pm at WSU’s Hughes Metropolitan Complex (5015 E. 29th Street – corner of 29th & Oliver, room 180)on Racial Profiling.

Because we should talk about it.

Live Music coming up at Mead’s Corner:

Crystal City will be playing tomorrow night, March 10th, from 8-10.

Then see Endless Chasm with Saura Mandala, Christopher Flores + Athena Kerr this Sunday the 12th from 8-11 pm.

Spice Merchant has Wichita Flag Tees for sale these days. Just saying.

And Kansas Grown is hosting their March Indoor Farmers Market this Saturday the 11th from 8-noon.

Check out the rest of this Week’s Schedule at ICT Pop-up Urban Park

Featured at the Wichita Symphony this weekend: Von Oeyen Plays Grieg

And have you seen the wonderful kids seeking mentors through Youth Horizons?

 

Library:

Register for this weekend’s Second Saturdays of Code for kids ages 8 and up.

And don’t miss Photo Editing on Your Computer at Alford or this morning’s Toddler Dance Party at Rockwell.

 

See all upcoming Library events here.

 

Have a great weekend!

Guest Room

Medals

Coaching words

The Monarch

New sign

Spring glory

 

Your 7 Days?

“So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.”

Nehemiah 2:9-10

Last time we saw Nehemiah’s final request of the king: wood to build. Today we see Nehemiah take his next steps, complete with army officers and cavalry. As Nehemiah was to be the official head in Jerusalem during the rebuild, an armed escort (unlike Ezra) was appropriate according to custom.

“So I went to the governors and gave them the king’s letters. The king had freely sent an armed escort with me.

Sanballat the Samaritan governor from Beth-horon and Tobiah (“Yah is my good”) the servant from Ammon were exceedingly, greatly afflicted when they heard someone had come to baqash (desire, request) the towb (beauty) of the Israelites.”

It’s so interesting that the very same Hebrew words used to describe Nehemiah’s affliction are here used for the ruler of Syria and a governor of Transjordan at Nehmiah’s arrival. In Nehemiah’s instance, he was heartbroken for his brothers and sisters – and the city of his forefathers. But here, the use is political. These leaders were threatened by Nehemiah.

I don’t have to look far to see this played out daily – in our home and at school. But I would need to be in denial to think this only affects children. Jealousy and comparison rise quickly in us too, don’t they? Beautiful, sweeter, younger women. Older, wiser, more gracious women. Marriages that do it right and always have. Better bloggers or funny speakers or bolder, more administrative ministry leaders.

We’ve all experienced this. But the jealousy or comparison doesn’t become a threat until it gets close to something or someone important to us. That woman too admired by our man. A similar ministry doing “more.” Someone seeming to become more important to our friends. Or having more influence in an area that matters to us.

Aren’t you glad He took away the need for all this? That His love for His own never changes – and we never earned it in the first place.

And the greatest in His eyes is a servant. One who puts the needs of others above their own.

It is in times like these we are well aware it takes His Spirit in us. On our own, with our brokenness, we too can become exceedingly, greatly afflicted when someone we feel threatened by seeks beauty on behalf of others. But nothing could be further from our Father’s heart.

And thank the good goodness He will help us.

We get to start thinking about gardens soon. Make sure to check out the Gardening Seminars through the Sedgwick County Extension Office this weekend.

Coming up at Watermark: David Baldacci this Sunday the 5th at 3:00 at Abode Venue for a reading and signing of his latest The Width of the World, the third book in the Vega Jane series.

Then on Monday March 6th, see Scott Novosel for an author talk and signing of Fieldhouse at 6:00 pm.

And Wednesday the 8th at 6:00 pm, see Tom Clavin for an author talk and signing of Dodge City.

The Donut Whole has a great line up of events this month. See the list here.

Next Breakfast with Matt at Green Acres at Bradley Fair is this Saturday the 4th at 8:00 am. See Drs. Ron Hunninghake and Anne Zauderer discuss breast cancer and breakthrough medicine.

Did you know you can Join the Day at the YMCA through March 15th? Today is the 2nd, so just pay a $2 joiner fee.

Enrollment is now open for City Arts’ Spring Classes.

Come hear some great live music at Mead’s Corner: Tonight from 8-10 see Layden and the Lion with Relatives and Pallet Town. Then next Wednesday, March 8th, hear Chase Castle with John Bukavoc.

 

Library:

Today, Thursday the 2nd, don’t miss Dr Seuss Day at Angelou Branch from 3-5. Stop by after school to make your own Thing 1 or Thing 2 headgear.

And on Tuesday March 2nd learn more about Windows 10 at Westlink from 6-7:30.

 

Have a great weekend!

Swimming with long time, dear friends

Practice cancelled, but caught him coaching them

Gaining confidence

He insisted

Blue sky, city glory

 

Your 7 Days?

Cannot stop thinking about the Truth of this song.

http://http://www.vevo.com/watch/mercyme/Even-If-(Official-Lyric-Video)/USM2C1790031

I know You’re able.

I know You can

Save through the fire with Your mighty Hand

But even if you don’t

My Hope is You Alone.

There is sorrow out there. There is so much good, too. But for those of you struggling, I acknowledge you. And my prayer is you come through this season with a Hope you’ve never known before.

This week marks the beginning of Lent. We have a need for this time of year, don’t we? Remembering, along with our brothers and sisters across the world, what had to be done to save us. We have to go through Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday before Resurrection Day explodes on the scene with deep joy. It may not look excitable; many of us have walked through the “even if you don’t” enough for that to no longer be our reality.

Oh, but it’s still Joy. Deep and sincere and palpable. We can know – once again – we have a God Who saves. Who beat death and humiliated darkness and finished it all.

Here’s to Lenten Season, friends. Let’s not miss our opportunity to draw near.

“‘And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I occupy?’ And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.”

Nehemiah 2:8

Last time we listened in as Nehemiah requested from the king safe conduct among the governors beyond the River. He simply wanted to be passed over on his way to Judah, saving all his energy for the task of rebuilding.

Today we get to see his further request: timber. Nehemiah knew he was heading back to a place with little materials to build. Likely he was trying to deal with details before he arrived so they could jump right in.

“And may I have a letter to Asaph, bodyguard of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I occupy?”

And because the beautiful hand (ability alongside) of Creator God was hovering over me, the king granted my requests.

Oh so much in the Hebrew. The word for make means to appoint, lay beams. Don’t you love it? There would soon be different timber laid upon One appointed to do for us what we could never do for ourselves.

As we navigate these divided cultural and political waters, let’s remember what our Savior had to do for all of us. All of us. If there is someone out there you don’t understand or relate to, would you pray for them? Would you ask God to show you that what He had to die for in you is the same thing He had to die for in them? Remember, Creator God created all. His image is in every one of us. I guarantee He would love to grant you that glimpse into our own hearts to see more clearly His.

Because if we are His children, His beautiful ability alongside us is powerfully at work within.