Zeitgeist is a German term which as defined by Webster's Dictionary means, "The general spirit of an era". I am not so arrogant to think of myself as an era. Yet in some way we pull the spirit of a culture, the spirit of a people from the art they leave behind. This may include architecture, paintings, music, literature, and more.
I claim no great talent or brilliant insight, but it is my hope and earnest desire that through this site I may communicate the spirit of a family and a culture, the spirit of warmth and love, the spirit of adventure and peace, the spirit of those who have touched my life and, not least, the spirit of Z.
I am a minister, a husband, a son, a lover, a friend, a student, a teacher, a leader, a follower, a worshipper, an artist, and a human.
So space isn’t dangerous enough, now we need to add Russian satellite missiles to the mix? I mean your floating in a place so void of life sustaining atmosphere that if your little bubble gets popped you die so close to instantaneously as to not matter and now we have to add galactic litter bullets? Space sounds fun.
I guess with all great works there are some scary obstacles. The problem is that the most terrifying often come from within.
The worst of those is our own fear.
We defeat ourselves way before most others have the chance. Nehemiah found that out quick.
3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.
6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
Regardless of the heat coming from outside, Nehemiah was about to see his biggest struggle was his own people. The words of his enemies caused doubt and fear among the Israelites rebuilding the wall. Those fears paralyzed the rebuilding, not the threat of attack.
It is like that for most of us, when we set to being used by God to rebuild our lives, or help rebuild another's, most often our own fears and doubts paralyze the process; not the obstacles in our paths.
Nehemiah’s reply to this was masterful. Nehemiah knew that in the crises that paused the rebuilding two things were needed; first the practical need must be filled and second the people must regain focus.
He posted the guard needed to bring security to the people and pointed them back to God. You can almost hear the words found repeatedly in Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” Joshua conquered the land, the same qualities were going to be needed to rebuild it.
The correct focus will always frustrate the plans and purposes of our enemies. Sure fears, doubts, and obstacles will come whenever you try and rebuild anything. We must remember to meet the practical; physical, emotional, or spiritual need behind the fear and doubt and then refocus on Christ. Then we must simply be strong in the Lord and courageous in our purpose. Sometimes we have to fight, any good work requires it, but ultimately if we want to see our lives rebuilt then we must stay the course.
Storms come and go, it is not the storm that will crush us or leave us standing, it is the strength of our attachment to our foundation. Be strong, courageous, and build; one brick at a time.
I was never much good at making paper air planes myself, of course I never knew quite how either. Regardless, I made the attempts, often impatiently. Even if it did a nose dive after two seconds I would fling the thing for 30 minutes until the nose was bent with no hope of being straightened.
The biggest obstacle to a good paper airplane is getting the weight balance correct while maintaining lift from sufficient wing support. I didn’t want to put that much work into something that was supposed to be fun.
I guess a lot of us feel that way.
Life is supposed to be fun right? Well at least enjoyable. I just doesn’t seem right to have to put so much work into it. Seriously, can’t anything just be easy?
Yeah well, it takes a lot of work to build something, and even more to rebuild it once it is down. Building our lives for Christ, even in the simple things, is not an easy task. Rebuilding our lives around Christ is often painfully difficult. There is joy, but it is not easy and not always fun.
One thing you can count on though, you will face opposition. Even in rebuilding a house you will find people who will tell you it is a lost cause, a money pit, or that you will never finish. Opposition always finds a way to pop up around a Builder.
I don’t believe people like the idea of something being rebuilt. I think it makes people uncomfortable when someone brings something back to life. Look at the Phoenix, beauty from ashes; problem is we tend to shy away from the flame. So we in turn warn others not to play with the “fire” or we might just get “burnt”.
Nehemiah dealt with plenty of opposition when he undertook a rebuilding.
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” - Nehemiah 4:1-2 NIV
Sanballat was a person of influence and power in the area and he had friends. In fact the next few verses reveal how many friends he had. The minute word got out that Nehemiah had started rebuilding the wall opposition popped up.
Look at the language here, Sanballat was angry and greatly incensed. His culture hated the Jews, wished they no longer existed really. It brought them pleasure to see this great reminder of the God who had brought their nations under submission laying in a heap of rubble. The very idea of it’s restoration enraged him.
Anytime a reminder of God’s sovereignty and His glory is being built around the lost, the reaction will not be so different.
Sanballat’s response was to lash out with ridicule in an attempt to discourage the Builders. How many times have you heard it? “Your not strong enough.” “It is to hard for you.” “Your being naive to think it can happen.” “It is going to take way to long, you’ll give up before then.” “You think it is going to be like it was before?” “There is no hope.”
It all sounds fairly familiar to me. I think that, like most of the attempts, the discouragement also holds a key to the Builders hope. Look at the very last line.
Can the bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble- burned as they are?
Nope; but we serve a Master Builder whose record is well established and whose record is proven. We can’t, but we sure can be used by One who can.
Rebuilding our lives can take a lot of work, a lot of time, and a good bit of patience. We must remember that even though the voices of opposition rise up all around us, we serve The Author and The Finisher. He has never left His good work incomplete. It is his signature to draw beauty from ashes, so you don’t have to shy away from the flame.
Let Him make you a Phoenix and I can promise you will fly longer, higher, and with more grace than that 45 foot paper airplane.
And the awesome part? Eventually we are all promised rest…
As many of you may know, I am (as any good believer should be: see Genesis on serpents), terrified of snakes and have a great dislike for them. The idea of a monster snake… lets just say I’d rather not think much about it.
Of course monsters around us isn't something new really. I mean look at the popular shows: Crocodile Hunters, Swamp People, River Monsters, and the list could go on. We tend to have a fascination with real live monsters and imaginary ones alike.
At times I wonder why, but I think the reason is that we face, in a very real but often intangible sense, monsters every day. Be they monster jobs, obstacles, or decisions; you get used to the “giants” in your life intimidating you.
Jenny and I have been there for some time. I shared last time the process of rebuilding that we are going through. Talk about a monster. Any major life decision, any major life event, offers a certain amount of intimidation and uncertainty at it’s size.
There are lots of responses to a task that looks bigger than you are. That is certainly what Nehemiah found out.
Rebuilding the Wall
3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7 And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. 8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.
13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.
14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15 And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king's garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. 17 After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. 18 After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired. 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress 25 and to the corner. Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. 27 After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.
28 Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. 31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, and to the upper chamber of the corner. 32 And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.
In general we see that a great variety of people came to partake in a task that would bring glory to God, much as we should bring a variety of believers around us to help us build lives of glory to God (read here The Church). There were locals and people from outside the city, artisans and craftsmen, and Priests and rulers. Nehemiah was careful to give credit all around showing God’s glory at work, not his own. We do see, however, people of special note.
We see nobles that would not work. There will always be people around you that will simply not put their shoulders to the task. There were families working together, including the women. When it comes to rebuilding something for God’s glory, it is a whole family ordeal, not an experts, it’s not “a man’s job”, it is for everyone.
There were people who rebuilt right outside of their home. Lord knows that sometimes the rebuilding must happen at home first. The idea here isn't that they were selfish or self seeking, rather they took care of matters at home.
Finally, one man is noted as having worked with zeal. Literally, the idea is that he went above an beyond and burned a lot of energy in doing the work. I seriously pray that God would help bring me to this place.
We can see a few other things to note. The word “build” appears several times in this section in this section (though it is often translated repair here). Build actually held the idea of rebuilding from existing materials. This is not a new wall with outside materials. Remember Nehemiah only requisitioned wood for the gates. The material needed to rebuild the walls was already scattered around in the rubble of what had been. I wish I could truly see the truth of this. All that is needed to rebuild for God’s glory in our life is all there in the “rubble” of what had been. The key is the “mortar” of God’s glory and following His blue prints.
There is also the word repair in the original language. The idea carried by the word is to make strong. These laborers did not simply throw something up, they did it well. They did it for God’s glory.
Finally we see that everyone has their place in the rebuilding process. Each one has their own task, their own area of work, just as those we bring around us each serve their own role and task in the rebuilding process. Do not expect everyone to fill the same or similar roles, sometimes they have a different task.
So, I say again, the monster of rebuilding our lives is accomplished one brick at a time…. but there sure are some things that make it worth it…
How do you rebuild from nearly two years of things falling apart? When every where you look is rejection, you lose your job, your health, your home, and part of your family all in one year; where do you go from there? My answer? I have no idea.
Look, I don’t have anything all figured out. I do know the start. You turn to God. I told a friend of mine not long ago that I was finally feeling hope again and it was because I can tell God is working to put my puzzle back together, I can’t tell what He is doing, but just knowing He is working is great.
The question remains, how do you rebuild a life? I guess much like anything else; one brick at a time. Oh sure, there is more to it, but basically it is hard laborious brick laying. Let’s look a little close though. For me it started to stand out in the second part of Nehemiah 2.
11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah knew what he was about. There would have been large notice of his arrival and attention paid to his intentions, so he waited three days. When things had calmed down Nehemiah went out at night so that his enemies wouldn’t know what he was up to and he surveyed the job.
I think any time you are looking at rebuilding, patience is key. It is tough work and slow. There are also always opponents to rebuilding; be it money, skeptics, or flat out enemies. Finally it is important to know the job ahead of you.
Nehemiah then spoke to the people. He recognized the shape they were in and called people around him with the larger focus of fixing the real problem, lack of security. He gave them their true source of encouragement and strength and he left his enemies to deal with God instead of worrying over them himself.
It has been vital for me to recognize where Jenny and I were, both the good and the bad. It has also been key to bring people around us who help us stay focused on the bigger picture, not fixing symptoms. I have had to stay focused on God as my strength and leave my discouragements at His feet for Him to confront.
It is tough, the prep work has to be done, but if God is in it, if you have the right Master Builder, then progress can be seen.
We just had our first home pass. While there was a good amount of being sick involved it was still pretty awesome. We saw friends, went out to eat, watched a movie, and mainly just got to hang out. We set up her room and everyone slept in, we even went looking for a new car. It was really a pretty cool time.
We really did not do anything huge or crazy. I guess that was the coolest part; we just got to be a family for a while. Little Bit keeps making this statement, “I can’t believe how blessed I am… How awesome what God is doing in my life is… That He brought me you guys, its like a dream…”
This statement seems hard to register for me. Jenny and I just loved her. It doesn’t seem like so much to us. She is ours and we have made a commitment to be there for her, to us that seems to be pretty standard stand point for any parent to take with their kids. It sure means a lot to her though.
I look forward to going from here with her. I am excited to see what God has planned for her and what awesome things lay ahead. You would expect pivotal moments in life, like these, would come with fan-fare and trumpet. At least a sound track. Rather they seem, more often, to be a culmination of the immense number of ordinary moments. It kind of makes you wonder about whether you are making the right pile to get the right outcome. What is each hour I spent with her this weekend going to build up to be? How about with Jenny, or Sammy?
Let’s just say I am glad I am not God and don’t have to try and see what all is going to happen, rather I can rely on His grace.
I would guess, in retrospect, this is probably how Nehemiah would have felt.
2:1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
This moment in Israel’s history is pretty pivotal. From here Nehemiah would join the ranks of the elite in Israel’s ancestry. His example would be looked to along with the giants of faith like Abraham, Moses, and David. Yet for Nehemiah this was there terrifying culmination of four months worth of common moments. The month of Nisan would have been about four months after Nehemiah heard the report about Jerusalem.
For four months Nehemiah carried this burden with him, he prayed and fasted, and sought God’s timing. four months is long enough for the routine of life to take over again. I doubt that in Nehemiah’s mind that morning was going to be any different than normal. I doubt that the trumpets blew and the world held its breath when Nehemiah asked the king if he could go, I doubt time slowed as Nehemiah walked from the palace hall back lit and heroic, and I doubt he had a sound track.
No I’d say all in all he was probably having a pretty crappy day. A servant to the king could be banished or killed for making the king unhappy. Looking depressed was not a good career choice for Nehemiah and definitely not something he was doing to get sympathy as some grand plan. Nehemiah was sad, burdened, and probably struggling with inaction.
Only God knew today was to be the day that Nehemiah was released to do what he had been called to do. To be honest, the entire interaction probably lasted so little a time that afterwards Nehemiah had to catch his breath and struggle to process what had just happened.
When Nehemiah sent up his urgent “shot” prayer it was backed by four months of steady building up. Even then it isn’t like Nehemiah turned from this terrifying moment with the king to this glorious task. Look what he asked for; give me letters so no one will kill me and wood so I can build.
Nehemiah is not thinking to be some hero come home to rally his people to some great work. He simply wants to rebuild the wall and restore security and hope to the home of his fathers. It is a good work, but not heroic. Can you imagine a movie about building a wall? Not a very riveting plot line.
Yet even in these things Nehemiah constantly gives all glory to the favor and providence of God, and as a result we see how moved the king was. The he listened at all, that he was sympathetic while his wife was there to offer a more emotionally connected side, that he went beyond what Nehemiah asked; it all shows how awesome God is and how sovereign.
At the end we are given just a hint of the troubles still facing Nehemiah, there are always some. It seems though that these expressed opponents were not even as troubling to the Israelites as making those moments count.
I’m not trying to build a wall, not sure I would even know how to, but I am trying to help build lives. I hope I do as well at giving God all the glory. I hope I do as well being patient to see each moment build up until the fruit finally shows.
