Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.

And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. Now then make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.”

Ezra 10:9-11 ESV

Well, the exiles had 3 days and they made it. They rallied together. Assembled.

They sat – yashab (to remain, dwell) – in the rechob (courtyard) of Temple. Shuddering because of the heavy rain and the matter that al – hovered over – them.

Ezra repeated what they likely already had heard: They had maal – acted treacherously – and taken foreign wives. I thought it was interesting taken here is yashab again – to sit, remain, dwell

And that’s the core issue isn’t it? To remain and dwell in our sin. To stay connected to what broke us, to run back so we can abide in our disobedience rather than abide in Him.

Oh but you’re gonna love the solution: Make confession and do His will. Confession here isn’t what you might think it means. There is no groveling implied in the Hebrew. It is todah – thanksgiving.

And do His will? Will means favor, delight.

Obeying God in this way comes from a thankful heart for all He has done for us. And from that place it is a pleasure to obey. It is in response to the One Who has done it all.

And this One’s delight? For His people to badal – separate, distinguish themselves. To be different.

Oh, but praise, praise, praise Him that difference is from the heart. It absolutely involves changing our mind and going a different direction – the opposite way of our sin. But the source of this is internal. It comes from the Spirit in our lives as Believers. When we’re tending to these tender whispers in our own lives we have so much less desire to dive in to others’. All we can see is the growth we need and compassion for our fellow, needy saints.

I watched a beautiful portrayal of this sort of confession this week. The women of our church assembled – rallied together – and representatives from various stages of a woman’s life took the microphone and gave the rest of us an example of this Thanksgiving Confession. It was praise combined with heartfelt fears and struggles and outright agreement with sin. The Spirit’s presence was palpable.

What if we all lived in this way? With a heart of gratitude that takes all fear out of agreeing that our sin is sin. And a delight to, together, sense where He is at work and join Him in doing His will.

It seems to be how Shalom can visit our weary planet.

Coming up at Watermark: Chris Bohjalian will be sharing about his latest novel The Guest Room tomorrow, November 4th, at 6 pm.

Also call 316.682.1181 to be put on a waiting list for the Creative Writing Workshop with Sam Weller on Saturday, November 5th.

And don’t forget Saturday Storytime with Melissa most weekends at 10:30.

This Saturday the 5th from 6-10 pm, join other high school students for the return of Teen Sketch-A-Thon at Wichita Art Museum. This free event includes guest artists, music, food and art making. Register here.

This Week

Do you know about Be the Bridge? Here are the Top 10 things anyone should know who seek to build racial reconciliation.

Courtesy of Feather B

Super cute: Make Your Own Pokemon Plushie from 3-5 at TISSU Sewing Studio. Class limit is 10 students. Register for tickets here.

Come to Central Standard Brewing this weekend for Reggae Sunday from 11-2.

Clever Little Free Library at KCTU TV Station

Johnson’s Garden Centers has their Christmas Open House beginning today, November 3rd. It kicks off tonight with Ladies’ Night from 5-8. Enjoy 20% off regularly priced items, discounts throughout the weekend, and free demos.

I like this

Winter Wednesdays at the Zoo have already begun this week. Enjoy $3 admission every Wednesday now through February.

Check out November Creature Feature at Great Plains Nature Center this Monday at 1 pm to learn more about Hibernation.

Join the class Understanding Your Symptoms at Green Acres West tonight at 6:30.

The Parasites Class is going to be at Green Acres Bradley Fair this Saturday the 5th from 8-9 at Breakfast with Matt.

Come to Whole Foods Tuesday the 10th at 6 pm for a Bike Walk Wichita Workshop: Debunking the Winter Funk

Love Jimmy’s Egg

Library:

November is Kansas Reads to Preschoolers month. Jump in for the Teddy Bear Picnic Kick-Off Saturday at 10:30 at Evergreen. Bring your preschooler and their teddy for a picnic and storytime.

Register for tonight’s Advanced Microsoft Excel class at Central at 6 pm.

Come to Evergreen Saturday the 5th at 2:30 for a reading of Iktomi and the Boulder.  “Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with stories and crafts based on Sioux and other Native American tribes.”

Don’t miss The Big Read Author Event: Sam Weller this Saturday from 7-9 pm at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. North. Wichita gets to host such phenomenal talent.

And see all upcoming library events here.

Have a great weekend!

Nerd Day

Costume Day

The boys’ school won a healthy living grant to make their own yummy snacks

One of hub’s students brought these. A family friend makes them. Incredible, yes?

Treat Street at our church

Sling shot ninjas

Lucy and the Football kick

We like food

Our neighborhood rocks

Glory

Your 7 Days?

So many situations have had me thinking lately. And much of it has to do with treating others with dignity.

One practical way I want to model this in our family’s life is through Blessing Bags. I first read about the idea on this blog. The ideas are similar: we don’t know all of what those living on the street are dealing with. Because of that, individuals giving out money is not always best. (However, if that is what God prompts you to do, it would seem good to listen to that.)

However, acknowledging them as humans made in the image of God seems imperative. I know a friend who has simply made it a point to look everyone she meets on the street in the eye. Dignity. Conversation if it seems desired by both parties. But at least dignity.

If going another step is on your radar, both of the above blog posts have great ideas for what to keep in your car. Because another way to show dignity is acknowledging basic human needs. I love that the toiletry items and socks are often more important than food items. I would think in the winter warm shoes would be a need as well.

Our family has yet to sit down and make this a project. I keep waiting for the right time, but that does not seem to be the best plan. So instead, I’ve been trying to keep it on my radar every time I go to the store. Last time at Costco I bought an extra box of those individually wrapped peanut butter crackers. They will stay in my car. The next time I might have a few extra dollars of cash on hand and I can pick up some travel-sized toiletries or make sure to snag a clearance package of kid or adult socks I see. Plus, if I dig around, I’m sure we already have some of these items at home and won’t be using them ourselves.

Instead of waiting for all the conditions to be right, or the perfect lump sum to spend on this project, I’m going to grab what I can, where I can, when I can. It frees me from my perfectionistic tendencies and still allows me to bless and give dignity to anyone I might come across. After processing through some example stories of why beautiful people may be in need, I want to share any joy and light I can.

Have you heard of this before? Ever tried being prepared in this way? Any tips for doing this on a budget or in baby steps?

Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.

And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles.

Ezra 10:6-8 ESV

Ezra has agreed to cut a covenant with the leaders that they should all divorce their pagan wives. Ezra’s next step? Go to a friend’s house and continue fasting and mourning. The Hebrew uses that word al again – hover over. Ezra’s grief was hovering over him because of the exiles’ unfaithfulness.

Then the leaders set out to execute the covenant made – all exiles were to gather at Jerusalem from wherever they had made a home. They had 3 days to return. Otherwise their property – rekush – any possessions, equipment, herds, and wealth would be forfeited and that person would be badal – separated and excluded – from the assembly.

We have explored why Ezra and the leaders chose this course of action. God’s holiness is not something to play around with. And the truth is, we don’t want a god we can manipulate. If we’re going to bow down our entire beings – heart, soul, mind, and strength – we want that Someone to be worthy. And He is.

Oh, but aren’t you glad that Someone took on those torturous 3 days for us? That He gave up all His heavenly possessions and rights to walk among us and carry our sorrows? That He was separated from community with the Father so we don’t have to be?

And that because of what He did on the cross, we don’t have to put each other on it?

Friends, we are so condemning of one another. I say “we” for a reason. I can be the slowest learner, reap consequences, and then condemn others for the very same thing. I lose my mind.

Or I lose my heart. Perhaps that’s it. My heart is a little less tender if I’m doing well. Not struggling as much. Can’t see why others don’t see things my way or get their act together.

But have you ever been down? Condemned by others or your own thoughts? Then someone comes along and offers grace? All I have to do is remember the times I really blew it and someone gave me a cup of cool water in Jesus’ name. Reminded me it’s about what He has done not what I have. Helped me fix my eyes back on Him.

Let’s hold God’s eternal, flawless Word tightly – with tender, humble hearts. None of us deserve communion with the Most High or each other.

But because He does we can partake with humble gratitude.

Final Friday is tomorrow, October 28th. See everything to be showcased at City Arts here. And be sure to check out An Exploration in 35 mm at Reverie Roasters.

Needing some parenting tools? Register for Responsive Discipline with Sedgwick County Extension Office held every Tuesday in November.

Also be sure to check out the Cooking Matters Class through the YMCA. Register by calling Tammi Krier at 316-264-4066 ext. 5540 or email her at tammi.krier@ymcawichita.org

Come tomorrow night from 7-8:30 to McAdams Fall Festival. Hosted by Wichita Parks & Rec, enjoy free entertainment, games, prizes, hot dogs and more.

And Carolyn has done a wonderful job of rounding up Trick-or-Treat, Halloween and Fall Events at Wichita on the Cheap.

At Watermark: Liz Kay will be at Watermark tonight, October 27th at 6 pm for a reading and signing of her book Monsters: A Love Story.

If you are interested in a free preschool art class, be sure to check out Wichita Art Museum’s Art Start for Families.

Breakfast with Matt at Green Acres West will be featuring the topic of parasites. Yikes.

And come for crafts at 10 am this Saturday the 29th for Whole Kids Club at Whole Foods.

Also this Saturday from 10-2, join City Arts for their Fall Frenzy. Wear your costume to Trick-or-Treat for candy, work on fall art projects as a family, and enjoy snacks. The event is free but donations to their wonderful program are encouraged.

Wanna work at The Donut Whole?

Kansas Grown Farmer’s Market has their final outdoor gathering this Saturday. They are celebrating with Stone Soup Day. Vendors will donate meat and veggies and cook it all up in some soup for guests. Let’s support our local farmers and businesses.

Library:

Are you remembering NaNoWriMo gatherings? Check out times here and register.

There is still time to register for tonight’s Intermediate Excel class at Central from 6-7:30.

And see all upcoming events here.

Have a great weekend!

Nearby neighbor made with his dad

Workout selfie

Made me smile

Cousins came!

Pumpkin Patching

Fall charm

Spectacular day

Good advice

Clay Pots

Downtown beauty

Glory

Your 7 Days?

I recently read (most of) the incredible book, Evicted: Poverty & Profit in the American City. I have already returned it to the library, so anything I refer to in it will not be in quotes. It is the kind of book one buys, though, so I doubt this will be the only time I write about it.

This book is technically an Ethnography – research done by someone living the day in, day out lifestyle of the culture studied. Author Matthew Desmond planted himself in Milwaukee, WI – one of America’s most racially segregated cities – for a long period of time. He lived among those caught in the cycle of poverty, particularly interested in how the private housing market affects those in this cycle.

But although ethnographers lean toward qualitative, relational research, this is an incredibly detailed, notated, evidence-based book. Essentially, if pure facts and research data bore you, the first-person narrative, relatable characters, and storyline will keep your interest. If you tend to distrust pure relational data, Desmond includes the quantitative stats to back up his claims.

There is so much to say about this tome, but the bottom line to start with is this: the majority of the poor in this country are paying 70-80% of their monthly income in rent. And before you wonder about housing programs – government and non-profit – that is all addressed in the book. The beautiful people Desmond lived among had tried multiple times with different assistance programs. There is simply only so much to go around and the rest of the population below the poverty level are stuck in the cycle of rent (often in dangerous and sub-standard housing), get behind because they cannot afford rent, eviction, loss of possessions, struggling to start again. And a significant majority of this population is single mothers with children.

Other than wanting everyone to read this book to get a scope of the housing crisis in our country, it also seems important for those of us way above the poverty line to put ourselves in the shoes of those below: imagine spending 70% of your monthly income on rent or a mortgage simply because you  have no other choice. How would you choose to spend the rest? Clothes for your kids? Medicine you have to pay for out of pocket? A birthday cake or decent shoes?

What if you are hopelessly addicted to drugs? Or your spouse or child is? What if you had to quit school at a young age to go to work and help with rent and bills? And therefore decent jobs are out of your reach. Or you’ve gotten behind and now have an eviction record and no one will rent to you except those with sub-standard housing?

Desmond never paints those he lived among as angels. They have their flaws like all of us and make poor choices at times. But he does an excellent job of helping us above the poverty line understand the mindset of those below it. And he makes a compelling case that the powerful majority can sacrifice in ways that benefit those with much less power.

How about you? This stir anything in your heart? Ever read the book?

“Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God. Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”

So Ezra stood up and demanded that the leaders of the priests and the Levites and all the people of Israel swear that they would do as Shecaniah had said. And they all swore a solemn oath.

Ezra 10:3-5 NLT

It seems a collective deep breath would do us good right about now.

I briefly chatted with my husband about this final chapter of Ezra, telling him how harsh it all seemed. After all, our God is the One Who takes the side of the down and out. He is the Father of the fatherless, the Defender of orphans and widows. He even showed up to a previously-abandoned foreign mistress and her son who themselves had been “sent away”. He is the Creator of marriage, calling those who come together one flesh, making separation as difficult as cutting off a part of oneself.

So the exiles coming together and all sending away their pagan wives, and their children with them, is difficult to reconcile. My husband asked a couple of questions, then responded, “But were they supposed to marry these women to begin with?”

No, no they weren’t. In fact, that seems to be what breaks Ezra’s heart most. These former captives had just spent 70 years in exile, away from Temple and a city of their own, because of their disobedience to God’s law to not adopt the ways of those who do not know Him. We mentioned before how Ezra’s priestly lineage is important in our story line. This last chapter seems to be one of the most significant ways Ezra’s actions reflect priestly actions.

Priests were to be concerned with the purity of the worship of Covenant Yahweh. A priest’s role in Temple was to teach the Law and lead others to worship God, as they interceded for the people. Agreeing to make a covenant with the men to send off foreign wives is one way Ezra challenges the exiles’ loyalty to the Most High.

Much of what Ezra (and later Nehemiah) did had to do with building a community. An identity as God’s people, serving as a beacon of light amidst those whose hearts were not tender to Him. One site I read even suggested the reason the proceeding took several months was to give the women a chance to abandon idols and put their faith in Yahweh.

God’s heart is never dark. He is Light. His motives are as pure as the rising sun. And He has always welcomed foreigners who feared Him to be part of His people, including a pagan woman Ruth, King David’s great-grandmother. And when God-as-a-Man walked around on our broken planet, He treated women of all nationalities and walks of life with dignity and honor. And when the Pharisees tried to test Him, this God-Man took the side of women who would be left destitute by divorce.

So in texts like these, the best thing to do is trust. This is clearly not a prescription for what we as believers should do under the New Covenant. But there is a reason this happened to God’s people and it was recorded for us to read.

Like Ezra’s situation, there is much for us to weep over in ours. As we long for the New City and Perfect Government, let’s continue to weep in intercession. God is giving us all time to repent.

And we have one Priest Whose actions ensured our worship would be pure for all eternity.

Fall Artisan Festival is this Saturday at the University United Methodist Church near WSU. Come support local artists.

At Watermark: Nathan Hill & Rep-o-rama coming up next Tuesday the 25th. Hill will discuss his debut novel, The Nix, and representatives from Penguin House will be discussing must-read winter titles.

Join in for Family ArtVenture this Saturday from 11-3 at the Wichita Art Museum. Make crafts, enjoy games, celebrate art and reading. Also coming up: WAM’s Pop Cinema Wednesday the 28th featuring Yellow Submarine from 6-8 pm.

Get some Fall Coupons for Tree Top Nursery, including 30% off one plant.

Coming Up: Save the Date

Going to Croctoberfest at the Zoo?

Check out Howl-Loween at Great Plains Nature Center this Saturday from 4-8. Enjoy crafts, guided hikes, and more.

Ladies Night at Green Acres Bradley Fair is tomorrow night, the 21st, from 6-7:30. Enjoy free wine tasting, chair massages, beauty demos, giveaways, and more.

Come to Moms Meetup Mondays at Whole Foods this Monday the 24th from 9-11 am. Enjoy coffee, snacks, and coloring for the kiddos.

Crave Beauty Academy is hosting a Trunk or Treat this Saturday the 22nd from 4-7 pm. Come for crafts, games, treats and prizes.

The WSU Pumpkin Run is coming up. Register here.

And save the date for Lexi’s 5K. Lexi’s Lamb supports families with sick children or special needs.

Want to make your own set of coasters? City Arts is holding a workshop beginning today, the 20th, from 6-8 pm for ages 14+.

Firefly Farms will be at Reverie again this Sunday. We can expect all types of peppers, eggplant, and the rest of the tomato crop.

Join in for Lunch at the Pop-Up Urban Park this Friday and Saturday for Young Professionals Week.

Library

Did you know our Library won an award from the Urban Libraries Council as Top Innovator for excellent customer service? Yeah they did.

Check out the weeks’ activities here.

Have a great weekend!