Fell

Dear Lord I fell today
You did not leave or walk away

I didn’t fall suddenly to gray
It took time to lose my way

Leaving your hand for a path of clay
Drunk with distractions I began to sway

It took such tiny steps each day
Never did I simply walk away

Over time shadows obscured my way
I never noticed the fading light of Day

Compromise asked me to play
And before long I was too blind to obey

So here at last in muck and mire I lay
My strength and confidence turned to prey

And as my hope begins to fray
I forget even how to pray

There You stand where in Styx cold spray
With Love and outstretched hand you say,

“Stand and wipe your tears away
Take My hand and I’ll lead the Way”

Dear Lord help me to listen and obey
And to stand again every time I fall and stray

The Most Planets?

 

 

That’ll show you to snub Pluto! I mean, seriously, what did he ever do to you? He just floated through space all frozen and alone holding on to the only high light of his existence, being a planet. Then you just go and brush him off like you really have some kind of say in it anyway.

Now someone else is the big man on campus. No longer do we have the most planets. Now we find out we should have been counting every one we had. Well serves them right, I say.

Seriously though, another system has been found with more planets than we currently acknowledge, yet the study clearly finds none that are able to sustain life.

Why? Because we are chosen.

We are one tiny little spec in the grand scheme of things, and constantly reminded of that by the constant discoveries of even larger things.Yet we have been chosen, because only earth holds sentient life.

Again we ask, why? The answer is not as satisfying as the question I’ll warn you, and yet it is far greater.

God made it that way.

Oh, I know it sounds like a cop out, we ignore science and discovery for a religious catechism.  Well let me assure you that is not the case in this instance. I don’t find articles about the universe by accident. I am fascinated by space and God’s creation, but with every discovery one constant fact is presented to me over and over; with such a vast creation testifying to God’s awesome wonder, how much must He love us to make us the only ones?

People will keep looking, I sure hope they do, but as more discoveries are made we keep finding a bigger testimony to God with less and less indication of extraterrestrial life. Which leaves us only to realize that God made all of this because He has chosen us to love.

Peter knew some about being chosen.

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

   To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, ² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:

   Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

- 1 Peter 1:1-2 NIV

Peter wrote to God’s elect, His chosen. Sometimes Christians get bent out of shape over this idea. We tend to call it predestination or free will. We get so bent out of shape that the world can see us fighting over “being robots” or “God not knowing what will happen”. Of course neither is the case, they are simple straw men set up at extremes to make the other argument look stronger.

While I have no intentions of tackling the issue at large (I have done so in other formats and have no desire to do so again) I do wish to look at what Peter IS saying here.

Peter calls us God’s chosen people, strangers to this world, who were chosen because God knows everything that will happen, who have been chosen through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for a specific purpose.

There are a few things to focus on here. God has chosen us. I wish I could write an impression of how massive this very concept is. The God who can hold the universe in the palm of His hand and created it at a word, has chosen us. Wow.

We are strangers in this world. So fully chosen are we that He has moved us into His zip code. We no longer belong in this world because we are His. Our home is with Him.

This choosing is in line with what God knew would happen. God isn't surprised that we chose Him, in fact He died for everyone and offers every one His grace, He knows who will take up that offer.

For those of us who chose God, we in turn have been chosen to go through the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Now, lest we get it in our heads that this means God chose us to go to heaven and chose others to go to hell, let us look a little closer. Sanctification is a fancy way of referring to the continual process of being made holy. We are redeemed and then we start the sanctification process. We are not chosen through redemption. We are not chosen because God chose to redeem us (as opposed to not choosing others) we are chosen for a purpose because of God working in us to make us Holy.

What is that purpose? Obedience to Christ and the testimony of His blood. We are chosen, like God knew we would be and planed for, through being made Holy, for obedience to Christ and the sprinkling around of His blood. Else where it says to be salt and light. I think the idea is the same. Obviously we are not being made holy before we are forgiven and place is made in us for the Spirit to do His work. So what could sprinkling the blood mean?

Well, did the priests sprinkle the blood of the offerings to forgive the sins? No, the forgiveness came in the shedding of the blood. Once that blood was shed it was sprinkled around for the atoning of all. Do we sprinkle the grace of God in our lives around us? Does God’s forgiveness for sins splash out of our lives and coat those around us in crimson?

This is why we are chosen. We are chosen to become like Christ and share His forgiveness with the world. It is pretty awesome to be chosen, it is very intimidating to be chosen for a job. It is easy just to be chosen to be, but being chosen for a God sized task can be overwhelming. When you have been elected by God you have few options remaining. If you didn’t want the work, you shouldn’t have signed up for the job.

But if you live in harmony with your choosing? The promise is even more grace and an abundant peace.

So be a light…

#1 Reason You Can’t Lose Weight…

 

 

Yeah, I’m pretty sure the #1 reason you aren’t losing weight is that holidays like Easter come around and you stuff your face full of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, cream corn, baked beans, and rolls while snacking on chocolate….

Or maybe that’s just me. I hear for most it is ham….

Ah lack of self-control my old enemy. I know you well. Today we shall live in peace and with an ever expanding waistline I will continue to promise to fight you tomorrow. I will also complain regularly that it isn't working.

But seriously, we tend to make most holidays about food. A few make it about food and family. Even fewer focus on the actual meaning. I wanted to take a moment to do just that.

 

¹ After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

- Matthew 28:1-10

 

Seldom in our happy spring themed celebrations do we remember the grave yard or the violent revolution that we celebrate. Look at the violent language used here; violent earthquake, appearance like lightning, guards so afraid they shook and became like dead men. Three times in this small passage the women are referred to as being afraid.

This was not a pastel, white glowing, chipper experience. This was early dawn with long shadows and harsh sun in a grave yard, a violent earthquake tore through the ground, a grave was opened and a man that looked like lightning terrified hardened soldiers until they passed out, then he himself sat guard.

When Jesus marched out of the grave he did so in a violent revolution that tumbled the dominion of hell and the grave. The one inevitable and immovable expectation in life was done away with like yesterday’s garbage. Jesus rose from the grave, not called back by someone else, but of His own power; and the dominion of hell shattered.

It was this risen King, this revolutionary and destroyer of hell itself, this is who the women met and worshiped. Not some meek, sheep cuddling, placid white guy. They met the mighty King in His triumphant return.

Jesus has promised to celebrate that triumphant return with all of us one day. He will get the procession and praise that is due Him, and there will be no doubters left on that day.

THAT is why we celebrate Easter. No bunny can compare with our risen King, no basket of goodies or gluttonous meal can match the promise of His return.

Come Lord Jesus, please come…

 

 

All of Creation eagerly keeps watch for you my Lord and King, we await and serve.

Keep Pounding…

 

I love these stories of courage and character in sports. To me that is what sports are all about, the tales of courage, character, and victory that mirror the integrity we want built into our lives. There are so many messages delivered in professional sports, the unfortunate part is that many of them are negative messages.

It seems incredible how easy it is for negative messages to creep in things. Most often it happens by a very small compromise that starts a crumbling that just wont stop.

It amazes me how small it can start. I remember having a specific job where one day there was something happened I felt was wrong and I chose to complain. That complaining got a tad worse and eventually crumbled my attitude and hurt my testimony at that job. That has been quite some time ago, but I still have to maintain watch over that issue.

Nehemiah knew how to counter the “slow fade” of our testimony.

 

13:1 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2 for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

Nehemiah 13:1-3 (ESV).

 

Nehemiah knew that the only way to counter slowly corrupting the work and testimony of God from the rebuilding is to go back to God’s word. From time to time we must be willing to look over our lives and judge the testimony we are showing by God’s standards and then radically reform what has crept in.

As you read the rest of the chapter Nehemiah did not subtly move things back to the correct way, he took dramatic action and made things right.

A Builder must check his work every once in a while and make drastic repairs where needed. Nehemiah recognized that the problems cropping up were the same things that had destroyed Israel in the first place, he had to change them and put measures in place to prevent the failures from creeping back in.

There really is not to much to being a Builder that is very easy and all of it is very important. Perhaps though we would recognize this behavior as one of the hardest to bring ourselves to do. If we remember to be intentional enough to check up on ourselves we often fail to be dramatic in our reforms.

Somethings you just have to work hard to keep up with…

Dust Devil From Mars!

 

Ok, so it might sound like a bad B-movie title for years gone by, but in reality this dirty twister is kicking up some dust on Mars.

 

It really is quite a striking photo and, I am sure, a very impressive show from the ground as well. While this one might not be much fun to tangle with I have always been rather fond of dust devils. The fairly tame cousins of the “twister”, dust devils seem a sudden burst of energy from the normally placid wind.

They seem spirited, whimsical, and fun to me.

I am sure you have seen people with this same tendency in their emotional status. They have sudden and random bursts of energy and joy and then kind of smooth out again.

Truth be told a high level of “happy energy” is hard for anyone to maintain over extended periods of time. Frankly, it is normal for our lives to have an ebb and flow to our emotions.

Sometimes, in certain situations, those swings can be several times in one day. For instance, Jenny and I can go from excitedly energetic about something to beaten in one afternoon. Almost in one hour.

I do think however we can train ourselves to have more bursts of happy energy than is “normal”. You can plan out activities that energize you, choose to be excited about little things until it infects you, or simply surround yourself with people who are excited in truth. All tend to help raise your spirits if you are open to it.

it can be vital to plan on raising your spirits once in a while.

40 So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; 41 and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader. 43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Nehemiah 12:40-43 (ESV)

 

Nehemiah planned out times of rejoicing and worship. He knew that these would be instrumental in keeping the community focused and full of energy for the work.

Never let anyone tell you that being a Builder is easy or that the work is so fun you just always have the energy for it. Paul once said that he was poured out like a drink. I think that can be a pretty apt description. 

You must be intentional about times of praise, worship, and great joy. The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength, without it our work will falter and we will give out before it is done.

Yes, I am saying that every once in a while you have got to party. God wants joyous people full of energy and life. What good would a testimony of tired zombies be? No, Jesus said He came to give us life, and that to it’s fullest.

Some times it takes a bit of work to build up joy and energy when we don’t “feel” like it. Just remember, feelings are not a good sense of reality. Our choices make up reality, not our feelings. So be intentional about bringing joy into your life and party once in a while. Revel in God’s awesome goodness and find His strength for the day.

It is a tad easy for me I guess, I have the best baby in the entire world to play with. THAT brings me great joy.

Russian Zombie Gun…

 

 

Ok all you doubters and haters, we are one step closer. Keep your pump-action ready and find some high ground. Seriously though, this will not help with the zombie mania that has taken many in our country. I must admit, a zombie apocalypse appeals to me as a guy for the simple urge to prove yourself strong, ready, capable, and to fight. All are pretty normal desires for a man, zombies aside.

In fact, it is pretty natural for any person to desire to overcome, survive, and defeat an enemy; any person. You might even say it is wired into us. For the most part we attempt to fill the desire with doing well at work, movies and video games, and for some extreme sports like paintball. It is simply part of being human.

The real challenge is what to do after you overcome. Notice how most of our dreams end at the great victory? It is tough to live in that victory. Especially when you feel more like a zombie than killing one!

While I do not think Jenny and I are in, the battle is done now what mode, I do feel more like a zombie than killing one. We literally pour ourselves out to exhaustion every day, and then wake up and have even higher expectations set for us, with seldom a break. The human body and mind were not made for such a schedule and yet we add emotional exhaustion on top of it all.

I feel overwhelmed by the idea of doing our job well, then you add striving to keep a strong relationship with my wife, be a good father, keeping the baby, and trying to do devotions and keep up a relationship with God. Most of the time I am surprised if I can string together coherent words let alone keep up with expectations.

I am sure if my main and only focus was the job I could get enough rest to survive long enough for a few days off and reset to do it again, but I refuse to compromise my relationship with God or my family. And so I feel like a zombie.

Living in the land given you can be tough, but you have to do it.

11:1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants.

Nehemiah 11:1-3 (ESV)

 

Nehemiah and the people of Israel have seen a great work completed, the people have refocused, celebrated, and taken inventory of the work left ahead of them. They have acknowledged the help of others and the work as God’s and now it is time to live in it.

Builders often struggle with this part of the task. As a Builder it is often easier to think of working than it is to live in what you have built. For example, church planters work very hard to build a church from the ground up. Once the church is built, however, they almost always tend to move on to another church plant. Why?

It is tough to settle for the long slow process of development. Rebuilding is an intense and temporary task with measurable goals and an easily seen end. To finish the wall, to build the church, to reconcile the family, to reconcile your marriage. The goal, the dream, is easily seen and focused on, but what about when it is achieved.

Your family is brought back together, a great victory is won; now what? Well now comes the long slow and difficult process of living in that victory and learning how your family is going to interact, what ground rules to lay, how to build the relationships correctly, and, of course, the gradual process of actually carrying out those decisions.

Now you begin to see the difficulty of the task behind inhabiting the work? I believe that is why the men who chose to live in Jerusalem were esteemed and blessed by the people. It is easier to live in the comfort of what has been home to you for years and know that you won a great victory and it is over and done now.

But what would have happened it the wall had been rebuilt and no one remained in the city to being the long slow process of development? It would have simply been broken down again.

A Builder recognizes that the completion of one rebuilding project is only the beginning, if that work is not inhabited. If you do not flesh out and live that victory in your slow daily life, letting it develop in and around you, then it will all come crashing down again.

You will certainly need prayer, praise, and community in order to reorganize your daily life to fill in the rebuilt areas of your life.

Babies are really good at inhabiting their victories. They learn to recognize voices and faces and they search for them and rejoice in using the ability. They learn to eat and they explore it to the fullest. They learn to walk and crawling goes out the window. If only we could so easily let go of the way we used to function in our brokenness and so completely inhabit the rebuilding of our lives around Christ. Perhaps we would grow as fast as babies do.

576,000 Mile ‘64 Mercury…

 

 

That is seriously impressive. I have no idea how much attention to detail and maintenance it must have taken to get the car to run for 576,000 miles. I always just hope I can make it 200K miles. Apparently I dream small.

It always amazes me how often you have to come back to something and radically refocus on the main thing all over again. If you don’t you will often wish you had.

Through the process of trying to bring our family together, Jenny and I, have often found it easy to get distracted with frustrations. Constantly there was the temptation to lose focus and react from emotion. Every time we would have to catch our breath and come back to God praying that His will be done and that He see us through. Each time He did just that. Still we had to ask forgiveness for our lack of faith in the face of His proven track record.

Israel faced the same issue, except they hadn't refocused in time. They found themselves scattered among the nations and living in service to a foreign king. God had warned them time and time again and they chose to not listen. They simply would not maintain their relationship with Him.

So after Nehemiah led them to restoration of their security and testimony, after taking inventory and acknowledging the work of God, and after celebrating God’s work with those around the; they assembled as one. To gloat? Nope.

 

9:1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. 2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. 4 On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.

Nehemiah 9:1-8 (ESV)

 

The people gathered to worship God and confess their sin. The next two chapters are full of an amazingly transparent and heartfelt prayer. A prayer that recognizes God’s glory and lays out their sin. At the end of the prayer the people make a new covenant with God. They promised to submit to Him, obey His laws, and maintain their testimony.

They bound themselves to a radical commitment to maintaining the witness of God’s presence in their lives for the entire world to see.

Builders will inevitably come to the place where they must confess the past failures that brought them to a place of rebuilding their lives around Jesus. Not simply acknowledge to God that it happened. They need to publicly admit and turn around, away from those life styles. This is perhaps one of the most impactful testimonies a Builder has to offer.

You must be able to be transparent and do so without motivation for attention or sympathy; rather with the hope that God gets glory for where you were and where you are now.

However, if we are to make this public testimony then we must also make a commitment. Our testimony does not maintain itself. This is why Paul said fight the good fight and run the race as to win the prize. It takes a lot of intentional effort and commitment.

We worship God for who He is and for His love and mercy towards us and we couple that with the awesome power of our testimonies of His work and we will see people drawn to God. If we maintain that testimony then we will see skeptics won over in astonishment.

Because a Builder is always working to rebuild another area of their life around Christ, the idea of community involvement becomes even stronger. Look at the incredibly long list of names signed to that contract, and the great amount of people present for it’s commitment. A Builder needs accountability and support from his community of believers in order to continue working and maintain the testimony already established.

A work maintained, however, can become and impressive and beautiful thing.

 

It also places a significant piece of our lives at peace.

 

At this point I wanted to invite you, if you are facing a major event in your life that you feel has brought things down around your head. If you have read these posts and wish to comment, share your story, ask for prayer, or offer an opinion please feel free too.

You may do so by leaving a comment here on the blog, or by sending me an e-mail at livingthez@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you and be whatever encouragement that I might be able to be.

Ford Fires It Up…

 

- From Yahoo News

 

Ford is posting big numbers, and did so without a government bail out. Ford stepped up to the plate and said, “It may not be easy but we are going to rebuild this thing and we aren't taking the easy way out.” They worked very hard and they kept focus. They took an inventory of their situation and brought in people, leaders and support, who could help them keep focused and shut out the voices of opposition around them and the rebuilt.

With a strong commitment to keeping focused Ford was able to pull back from the brink of bankruptcy.

They are a good example for me to follow. With all the talk of the lottery and such it is easy to dream about the easy way out. An easy job with few hours and immorally high pay, using debt to acquire all of the things we want or need, or simply just giving up before you see the reward.

Jenny and I need a new car. It would be so easy to just get the car loan and buy a new car, the one that we want. It would not be wise. We are trying to rebuild some sense of financial stability. So I spend hours perusing used vehicle adds and our financial situation trying to find the right car at the right price. It isn’t easy.

But boy will we celebrate when we get it.

Nehemiah recognized the importance of staying focused and celebrating progress.

8:1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Nehemiah 8:1-8 (ESV)

 

Nehemiah has finished rebuilding the wall. He has made sure that the work is secured and supported. He has taken the time to step back and reassess the situation to see what still needs to be done, while acknowledging what others had done to help the work along.

Now Nehemiah goes back to the real focal point. God. His purpose was to rebuild Jerusalem as a way to rebuild God’s people and their testimony. So it is only natural and right to very poignantly bring their focus completely on God.

God deserves the credit for the work of a Builder, it is why we build. SO rightly when we see progress we take time to refocus on Him and worship Him.

This is not where Nehemiah left it, however. Nehemiah also knew the importance of celebration.

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

Nehemiah 8:10-18 (ESV)

 

It is absolutely vital to celebrate successes. Nehemiah knew this. It was an honor to God that Israel party because of what God had done. So for us, when God has brought the grace to finish one project or stage, we to bring glory to God by celebrating Him.

What a testimony for those around us! They know we have been working hard to do something they just don’t understand. Yet they see us partying hard because of what God has done? It will certainly make an impression I promise.

Notice what Ford is doing. All of their commercials are taking time to reach out to their customers and celebrate their new car with them. It is working too.

Builders can’t afford to fail in celebrating God, nor can we afford to fail to bring in those who have endured the work with us. If we are going to party, it needs to be a big one. Nehemiah even said to bring in those who weren't prepared. Can you imagine asking one of your voices of opposition to celebrate with you?

There is joy and strength in celebration…

Sea Monsters and Sturgeon…

 

 

I’ll admit, it does look kind of freaky. It wouldn’t be the first time that things simply weren't what they seemed.

Lord knows I get that idea. We set goals in our lives things we are working on, like bringing our family together, and then when a big step forward comes along we like to look at it and think, “Glad that is done, should be smooth sailing now.” Boy are we wrong.

The work is never done, not till we rest in heaven anyway. It’s like with Sammy, we see him learn to walk, then he is running down the halls and all I can think is man he is so grown up; and in this moment he is. Ask me in a few more months though, it will look very different.

Nehemiah gave us a good example of the importance of stepping back and taking an survey of what you are looking at.

4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

5 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

Nehemiah 7:4-5 (ESV)

 

Nehemiah finished the wall, but he did not simply kick back and say, “I’m done!” Rather he recognized the importance of stepping back and evaluating the situation. A Builder never has only one project, there are always tasks to tackle, we must have the ability to take an honest appraisal of the situation.

Secondly, Nehemiah recognized the importance of recognizing and celebrating with those involved in the work God had been doing. Verse 5 begins a long list of genealogies where Nehemiah recognizes the community. I have said it before, when we begin rebuilding our lives around Christ, we must do so in community. When we finish one stage, we must take time to celebrate with those who have helped, encouraged, and blessed. We must recognize them.

70 Now some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests' garments and 500 minas of silver. 71 And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. 72 And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests' garments.

73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns.

And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.

Nehemiah 7:70-73 (ESV)

 

Lastly, Nehemiah recognized the contribution made by others. He acknowledge in an honest manner what he brought to the table, and how much of the work had been done by others. We don’t simply acknowledge that there is more yet to do, and thank those who have helped, we must also honestly look at how they helped so that we know how to wisely plan the next rebuilding project.

This reminds us of the importance of community, reveals the grand picture of God's hand at work, and gives us a good idea of what we have left to do.

Many people play a part in bringing a family together, many people need to be thanked, and because much still needs to be done to fill out that blessing, many are still needed for support.

There is beauty in a finished work, but there will be equal beauty in another project started. Never forget to enjoy a beautiful ending before starting the new work.

Beagle Security?

 

 

That may be the most adorable security system known to man. I promise I would not get upset at long lines at airport security if this little guy was the security agent. Beagles have always been one of my favorite dogs, way back to The Fox and The Hound.

Working at a children’s home you get used to thinking about security issues; are the doors locked, are the meds locked, are the razors locked, are the locks  locked, and on and on. You almost get to where you hate the idea of securing something because it is so much work.

I remember living out in Fries, VA. So far out in the country we almost never locked the door. Neither did almost anyone else. You stopped and talked to the neighbor when you saw each other coming home from a store or doing lawn work. You invited people over in large groups to enjoy a fire or a movie. You didn’t worry about who was going to do what or anything.

I know it sounds like a rose colored lie, but it really did exist.

As for today, security is key. Then again, it always has been key for our spiritual lives. The Bible tells us again and again to be self-controlled and alert. Basically, never slack up.

Even when his work was done Nehemiah did not let up.

7:1 Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. 3 And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.”

Nehemiah 7:1-3 (ESV)

 

Nehemiah says that when the building was completely finished down to the last door knob it was time to put things in place. Immediately there were gate keepers found, singers, and Levites appointed. Security was put in place and celebration was arranged.

The entire work had been a testimony to God’s glory. The opposition was over come and the wall was built. There was no time to waste, security was put in place. However, we can never forget the importance of praising God for our progress. While the job may press on we must appoint times and people to join with us in singing praise to God over His good works in us. We must also appoint people in our lives to continue to cover us in prayer and encourage us on in Christ. Remember, Builders do their work in community and we must celebrate with our community and lean on them for continued support.

Nehemiah also put Hananiah in charge over Jerusalem. The work had been to bring security and a good testimony back to Jerusalem by rebuilding its wall. Now Nehemiah knew he would need someone to help him be accountable for keeping it that way. He chose two people. His brother, and a man he says is, “more faithful and God fearing than many.” Nehemiah chose people who knew him intimately and who put God first. They could call crap when they saw it and would always do so with God in mind first and foremost. Builder’s success depends on finding those men and women of accountability; even after you feel that the specific work you have been striving for is done. Especially then.

Finally Nehemiah gave the boundaries and guidelines by which to keep the work they had labored for safe. He also made sure those responsibilities were felt not just around the wall, but they hit home too. If we are to truly secure the work of God in our lives to build up situations and parts of our life around the image of Christ, then we must build strong and healthy boundaries and guidelines. We must set these guidelines clearly and specifically in our own situation as well as at home in our hearts.

Beauty seldom comes without work. We see the beauty of nature around us and wonder at it’s amazing simplicity and beauty. We seldom think about how much work it took. Parks don’t simply spring up from the ground, wherever man touches it takes work to keep us from destroying it, gardens require constant weeding, and even mountains and oceans took so much work from God almighty that He took a day to rest when He was done.

The beauty of His testimony in you will be something to see as well, but it will take work. Things like this don’t just happen…

Lightning Strikes…

 

Ever feel so tired and worn that things seem a tad faded and you wonder if you will ever catch up? Have your days off ever felt more exhausting than restful? Yeah, that’s where I’m at. It’s like I’m so stressed out most of the time that I have forgotten how not to stress out.

Stress, however, can be dealt with. It is the giving up that slowly creeps in and dampens your dreams, and with them your heart. Sometimes it is hard to even tell it has happened until you start thinking about that thing and you just feel, bleh about it.

That feeling, that process of giving up on dreams is not of God. No matter how many times people tell you, “Well maybe that wasn’t in God’s plan for you.” A “wait” is not a “no”. It can be difficult to hold on to though.

 

 

Now I wont say that winning the lottery was God’s hand in this man’s life (nor the lightning). But I can say the waiting was probably no easier than waiting for anything else and then he got more than he bargained for.

With God we often get more than we bargained for, sometimes I think that is why He has us wait so long.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. 17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. 19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

Nehemiah 6:15-19 (ESV)

 

Nehemiah probably felt like he got more than he had bargained for. He asked God to help him restore Israel, and God did, with the blessings of the King. When he got to Israel he asked the people to help him rebuild and they did but he also got a slew of powerful enemies. Nehemiah waited for the wall to be finished, defended the people, and kept watch, all the while hearing about how good his enemies were (from his own people).

God always repays more than we give up though. Nehemiah finally got the wall rebuilt and on top of that he saw his enemies lose confidence because they knew the work was God’s.

Actually, this is one promise every Builder shares. We struggle and we wait for the rebuilding of our lives around Christ and God promises we will see works completed. For which He will get the glory, and when he gets that glory those who have tried intimidating you, discouraging you, and opposing you will suffer a blow to their own esteem. They simply will not be able to deny the work of God in your life.

The work God does in your life is awesome but this undeniable testimony is truly the best part of a Builder’s job.

God promises the waiting will be worth it, regardless how many people try to stand against you, so long as we keep the course. Just imagine, your testimony will be an undeniable work of God. That’s pretty awesome.

Come to think of it I suppose it could be likened to waiting through pregnancy and rewarded with…

Testing Resolve…

 

Ever notice how there are some things you deal with on a daily basis, and most of the time with good humor, that eventually wear on you till all humor for it is gone and all that remains is tolerance? Not necessarily anger, just tired tolerance of something you simply feel ‘done’ with.

I think all of us have been there before. I certainly know I have. The real problem is when it comes in to attempt to destroy your progress in something.

A lot of things come to test our resolve. Our resolve to keep building, keep going, and keep our integrity. One of our biggest temptations when we feel ‘done’ with something is to blow up way beyond what we normally would do. The explosion hurts our relationships and eventually makes us abashed at our behavior. Think that is by chance?

Nope it is a carefully aimed attack.

If the enemy can not simply take you out, he will attempt to discredit you and bring shame on God’s work.

10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

Nehemiah 6:10-14 (ESV)

 

If you ever think it better to trust your “friends” than in the often illogical commands of God during your rebuilding, think again. Many times voices from the inside are the ones pressing the hardest to discredit the work of God in our lives.

We’ve all heard those voices take many different forms of “advice” that sound attractive, but you know deep down it is bad advice.

If the enemy can scare, intimidate, or entice you to fall he can discredit the work you are doing. Builders can not afford to lose focus of God, because if they give way to human fear the rebuilding of their lives around Christ can be tainted, easily taunted for its failures, and slow in recovering.

Sure it will probably happen from time to time, Nehemiah is a good example of how we should respond, not an indication that we can respond that way every time. Nehemiah stands as a strong reminder that when voices from your “inner circle” start giving advice that sounds wrong in your spirit, often they are the enemies hired hands. Stand strong and courageous and remind them, and the enemy, of God’s promises. In God’s promise there is no room for fear.

In the process of bringing our family together we have faced times when voices from the inside have tried to discourage and derail. Opportunities have come to lash out and act out. Some how God was awesome enough to protect us from our own stupid and help us have patience. Eventually we saw it was tempting to lash out in this manner because of our own fears. After a while we learned to look fear in the face and wait for God to get His glory again.

Even smile form time to time….

Holy Supermassive Tornado Batman!

 

I am sure a song will not be long in coming. We already have Supermassive Black-hole, now we are moving on to solar tornados. I guess none of us would be in Kansas if something like that came close. Seriously though, I am sure that is the level of scary and intimidating that residents of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee felt over this last round of tornados.

The amazing thing is how communities pull together to overcome what seems an overwhelming blow.

Many times in our lives things seem intimidating enough to overwhelm us, especially when you are already rebuilding. Jenny and I have been looking at cars. As I look our money dwindles with the days in the month and the prices seem to get even higher. The task of finding the right vehicle (I want a Rondo or Equinox), with low enough miles, and the right price… yeah overwhelming.

Intimidating things often aim at weakening our resolve, I have sure been ready to give up on getting a new vehicle once or twice. Nehemiah knew this temptation well.

6:1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:1-9 (ESV)

 

The Israelites made fantastic work on the wall and the more progress they make the more feverish the opposition. They attempted to lure him out and then even attempted to lie about him to the king. This was some very serious opposition.

The idea was scare them enough and they will be overwhelmed. Note what Nehemiah did.

He prayed. Not just a simple God help, but specifically to the challenge. They wanted to make the Builder’s hands weak, Nehemiah prayed for God to strengthen his hands.

Often it is a very specific attack that comes up against us and often in a rather direct way. Why not pray in an equally direct way?

If the enemy attacks you with fear and intimidation aimed at your relationships, you pray for your relationships to be God centered and strong. If the enemy attacks you with worry pray for peace. You get the idea.

It isn’t a big surprise, or massive revelation, but it is important. A Builder must maintain constant and specific communication with the Master Builder. You must constantly reference the blue prints.

My rebuilding process sure hasn’t been easy. Lord knows that the task ahead of us seems beyond our capability. Of course that is how God gets glory from it. It seems like every time we get forward a step we are reminded of where we aren’t, or how far we want to be.

I just try and remember to pray specifically for contentment and focus on the task at hand and then back it up by looking at the blessings of where we are.

Starbucks Bugs?

 

Dried bug juice anyone? And they charge you $10 a cup for that! I must admit I am not too terribly concerned as I don’t drink Starbucks coffee in any form, but I would say there were a few who were surprised. Not many order coffee and expect bugs. Of course I would be surprised if anyone always got what they expected.

In fact coffee, meals, parking spaces, or anything else and we seem to have this sense of entitlement. We disserve to get this or be treated that way. After a while this attitude of entitlement gets out of control, no longer do we expect simple courtesy, now we expect to be pandered to.

This is a dangerous attitude in any area of life, and an unattractive one, but it is specifically dangerous for a Builder. Nothing will stall your rebuilding process like feeling that you deserve to be catered to because of what has happened or that you are entitled to certain allowances.

Some have had significantly bad things happen and are trying to rebuild from things no one should have to face. The problem is that our past does not determine our future, only our choices can do that. Your past isn’t responsible for your choices, you are.

Nehemiah found out how destructive this feeling of entitlement can be.

5:1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” 3 There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” 4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them 8 and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. 9 So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? 10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. 11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” 12 Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. 13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

Nehemiah 5:1-13 (ESV)

 

The chapter finishes by Nehemiah leading by example in not expecting things out of a feeling of entitlement. It is always important that we follow the example of someone modeling the lifestyle of Christ. Any worker must apprentice under a master builder and even master builders need help finding the best way to do their work.

Nehemiah finds the nobles and officials in the land expecting a great amount from the people. Lets look at what has happened. Two different conquering nations have come in, plundered the land, and scattered the people. These few have remained as a remnant. The land is insecure, impoverished, and under someone else's rule. These nobles felt they deserved some of the better things in life, especially in light of the poor situation.

Note, however, what their sense of entitlement did to those around them. It taxed them and required more of them than they had to offer. The same goes for our feelings of entitlement. When we walk around expecting to be accommodated for what has happened to us, we tax the relationships of the people around us and ultimately expect more from them than they have to give.

It becomes a slavery of misplaced expectations. The only thing that can fill the need inside of us is God. When we place expectations on those around us to make up for the hurts we have experienced then we are placing God sized expectations on mud ball sized humans. It will ruin both relationships and destroy the rebuilding process.

Nehemiah did not tell the nobles that he understood their feelings and to just try and lower their expectations a little. Rather he called sin as sin and told them to stop asking their people to accommodate their misplaced expectations. So much so that he prayed that God would shake out and empty those who did not stop.

Note what the nobles said, they would stop and would restore. Equally important to ceasing our sense of entitlement is an active effort to restore relationships around us. This can be really difficult not only because it is humbling but because it directly attacks our stubborn desire to hold on to our feeling that we deserve better. Frankly we deserve hell, anything less is the grace of God shed for us with the blood of Jesus. We ought to remember that and be thankful.

There is a great freedom in shedding our sense of entitlement and seeking God to fill our needs. It shines a very great light on the rest of our work of rebuilding, and it begins with honest and earnest prayer.

Father, please shed light on our hearts. Help us to see our misplaced expectations and attitudes. No one owes us anything and only You can fill our needs. Help us to rely more and more on your grace. Give our hands the strength to meet the task at hand and our minds the wisdom to do it well. Turn our hearts to you God. – Amen.

Taco Copter?

 

 

This would truly be awesome. Can you imagine calling in a Taco Bell order and a few minutes later there is Quadcopter landing in your yard? That is pretty nerd-riffic if you ask me.

So much happens in our modern culture that keeps us at ease. Tacos flown to our door, hundreds of channels at our finger tips, microwaves, and motorized chairs… To much convenience and we are not used to working and keeping alert. (see texting fail)

Yet the Bible tells us consistently to be alert. A skill which is particularly important in a Builder’s life. With all of the obstacles that pop up, both from the outside and from within ourselves, we cannot afford to lose focus.

Nehemiah knew this truth.

16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.

Nehemiah 4:16-23 (ESV)

 

With all the fear and doubt that can crop up in our lives while we try and tackle the task of rebuilding ourselves in the image of Christ sometimes we have to build with one hand and fight with the other.

Nehemiah knew the fears that the Israelites were having so he set guards and gave the laborers weapons. Men carried supplies in one hand and a weapon in the other, or else worked with it belted to their sides. The entire camp was alert and waiting.

Even Nehemiah stayed alert, keeping the trumpet with him he kept watch to call the camp to him incase there was a need. So ready were they that no one took off their clothes to sleep.

We often forget the principle of laboring with one hand and wielding a sword with the other. Spiritual warfare is not an idea when you’re a Builder it is a reality. When you are trying to build your life around Christ the enemy will come after you. This doesn’t mean you can stop the work, just that you have to wield the sword in the other hand.

Our sword is the Word of God, we have to know it to wield it. If you are not digging deep in God’s Word how can you expect the building not to be interrupted by the obstacles that threaten? The enemy is coming, set watch, keep guard, know the way of your weapon, and keep working.

Seem overwhelming?

Remember what Nehemiah told the Israelites, “Our God will fight for us.” And as Paul says, “If our God is for us, then who can be against us?”

You do the work and keep watch for the battle and God will see to the victory and the blue prints. Then you can celebrate with the simple joy of a child experiencing brand new things with every turn.

Sammy Loves His Shoes