“These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes…

…I assembled the exiles at the Ahava Canal, and we camped there for three days while I went over the lists of the people and the priests who had arrived. I found that not one Levite had volunteered to come along.  So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders of the people. I also sent for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of discernment. I sent them to Iddo, the leader of the Levites at Casiphia, to ask him and his relatives and the Temple servants to send us ministers for the Temple of God at Jerusalem.

Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they sent us a man named Sherebiah, along with eighteen of his sons and brothers. He was a very astute man and a descendant of Mahli, who was a descendant of Levi son of Israel. They also sent Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and twenty of his sons and brothers, and 220 Temple servants. The Temple servants were assistants to the Levites—a group of Temple workers first instituted by King David and his officials. They were all listed by name.” (Ezra 8:1, 15-20)

It’s interesting that no Levites volunteered to come on the journey back to Jerusalem. We know they were assigned some of the more menial tasks of caring for Temple. And in exile, there was no Temple to care for. So it stands to reason they found other ways to make a living and spent their time. Then when their descendants were offered an opportunity to serve, there was no draw for them.

That feels unfortunate to me. A whole people group losing the opportunity, then passion, to serve in their unique way. I’m glad the caravan of exiles eventually found some Levites to join.

It makes me curious their reaction: did they come willingly? Begrudgingly? It’s no small thing to leave the only home you’ve ever known to take up a service you likely have only heard about.

Some of the descriptions of the men in this section struck me as well:

Leaders of the people

Men of learning 

A capable man 

Those descriptions in the Hebrew translation are compelling: Chief, discerning, explain, carefully consider, of prudence and insight. All of which are wonderful, necessary qualities in leading a group of people.

But I just love how the group didn’t move forward without the temple servants. And I’m so thankful the Ultimate Leader came not to be served but to serve.

In whatever capacity we find ourselves, let’s embrace the menial. The thankless and seemingly mundane.

We are never more like our Savior than then. 

First of all, August?

Second, did you know the NBC World Series is on? Get tickets here.

This week for the KEYN concert series we have Groove 42. Head to the Waterwalk for music and food trucks tomorrow night.

This is fun: Pre-K Passport program at Museum of World Treasures. Bring your children under five the 2nd Monday of every month to get a different stamp on their passport.

See Oliver & Co. for the Dog Days of Summer series on Tuesday the 9th at The Orpheum.

Catch Dian Curtis Regan for a special storytime at Watermark this Saturday at 10:30 am.

This week’s film for the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation Summer Film Series at the Wichita Art Museum is Famous Nathan. Come Sunday August 7th at 2 pm.

Spotted at Reverie.

Firefly Farm will be at Reverie again this Sunday, August 7th, from 10 -2. Fresh produce and fresh coffee.

Don’t miss the Final Cafe Day at Elderslie for the season: this Saturday, August 6th from 7-11 am.

The Zoo’s big fundraiser night, Zoobilee, is coming up in September. So save the date – and get tickets before September 1st for $15 savings.

Coming up Saturday the 6th, come to Green Acres at Bradley Fair at 8:00 am for Breakfast with Matt. The topic will be Save the Bees. Breakfast is free, but call 316-634-1088 to reserve your spot.

Also at Green Acres, bring your furry friends to Dog Days on Tuesday the 9th from 3-6 pm, benefiting the Kansas Humane Society.

The Wichita Library’s website now has their event calendar by week. Don’t miss what’s coming up.

Have a great weekend!

Generous people who share their pool

Summer fun

Church beauty

Garden + Farmer’s Market =

Deliciousness

Puppy love

Farmer’s Market joy

Adorbs

She does a bunch of characters

Sorry & Toby Mac. Then ice cream & Kid Snippets. Ah, summer.

Glory

Your 7 Days?

I keep thinking about empathy. Allowing ourselves to climb inside another’s experience and sit in it for a spell. Hear someone’s stories and learn their rhythms and feel their pain.

I recently told someone I love to be patient with herself because transition is hard.

Transition is hard.

It is also unavoidable.

Here’s to going with it. To embracing change rather than gritting our teeth and steeling ourselves against it.

To choosing trust.

Not by force nor by strength but by His Spirit.

Continuing on with King Artaxerxes’ letter:

“I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River:

‘You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you. You are to give him up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited supply of salt. Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for his Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons? I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’

“And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”

Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem! And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.”

Ezra 7:21-28 NLT

The king proves how serious he is about making sure Ezra has what he needs for his travels and for the Temple. Of course, we see a glimpse of some of the king’s motives in verse 23: he doesn’t want to risk God’s anger toward him, his reign, or his family. Fortunately the God of heaven seems to use whatever human motives are present to show His worth to those watching. And if we let Him, He can change our hearts until He is our motive.

The cool thing about it all is it results in teaching: A non-Jewish king commanding Ezra to govern with God’s flawless Law and to teach it to anyone who doesn’t know it.

The only time we will have ultimate Shalom is in the New Heavens and the New Earth. When the King of all Kings will rule justly and mercifully among His people. Until then, the best shot we have at shalom in our broken world is when the Truth of God’s law is reflected in our human laws. When every person is seen as an image bearer of the Creator. When we don’t violate our neighbor or take what isn’t ours or tell lies.

And the One Who didn’t just obey the truth but walked around in human flesh as The Truth is our guide. More than that, He lives in us if we invite Him in. He can eclipse our motives and personalities and broken, sinful hearts and take over. As His rescued ones, we can walk around and embody the nature of His beautiful character and Kingdom.

We hear Ezra’s first-person voice for the first time in verse 27. And He’s praising Yahweh that the king wanted to beautify the temple of God.

Friends, if the King lives in us, we are the temple of God.

And the best way to beautify our temple is to bow to this King and let Him take over.

It is Final Friday time. Make sure to check out the four new City Arts features, including the ARC of Sedgwick County.

Heard about ICT Chalk Talks? The building just west of Pop Up Urban Park has been turned into chalkboards. You can sketch, create, brainstorm ideas, and generally throw in. Tomorrow, Friday the 29th from 11-1:30, come join the Lunch Time launch party.

Tomorrow night’s featured artist for the KEYN Summer Concert is Annie Up.

Make plans to attend the 2nd Annual Mini Maker Faire this Saturday and Sunday at Exploration Place. This family-friendly event will help you release your inner creator.

Dog Days of Summer Features Balto at The Orpheum beginning next Tuesday, August 2nd, at 11 am.

Experience Old Cowtown at Night during the month of August. Hours will shift from 2-9 pm so you can see what goes on “when the sun goes down and the lamps come on.”

Interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer? Check out the details, including an informational meeting, here.

Barry’s Mobile Recreation Station will be at Buffalo Park today, the 28th, from 6-8 pm.

Wichita Art Museum’s Senior Wednesday will feature Docents’ Favs on August 3rd. Come hear about your favorite collections from tour guides.

Are you remembering the Lincoln Heights Farmers Market on Wednesdays? Catch them 7-11 and again from 3-7 every week.

Keep an eye out for free kid passes to the zoo on specially marked snack packages from Frito Lay and Quaker. Because free elephant watching.

Mark your calendar for the YMCA’s Party for a Purpose held Saturday, August 20th, from 6:30-9:30. As their main fundraiser event, you can enjoy dancing, wine, incredible auction items, even a lip-sync battle. Get your tickets or VIP Table reserved and help support a worthy local organization.

Botanica’s final Family Game Night is tonight, July 28th, from 5:30-7:30. And don’t miss the Friends of Botanica Garage Sale today from 7 am – 6 pm.

Catch Reverie’s Caffeinated Lab Class this Saturday starting at 10 am. Learn the details about coffee freshness and storage from those who know.

Tonight at Mead’s Corner catch artist Erskin Anavitarte at 8 pm for live music.

Have you seen what is available today from The Donut Whole?

Catch the Pop Up Librarians at the Pop Up Urban Park today from 11-1:30. Check out books, ask questions, get a library card.

The next Free Swim Day is at Evergreen Saturday July 30th from 1:00 – 6:00.

Have a great weekend!

Costco Roses

Pick-Up Sticks on the Bed

Albino Pepper from the garden

Birthday Cake planning (we love this store)

Popsicles bring peace

Date Night Glory

Your 7 Days?

A friend and I kept each other accountable via text message last week to eat healthy. One area we both need to work on regularly is eating a protein-filled, balanced breakfast before, say, 11 am. Starting our days that way helps us choose better the rest of the time.

Since it’s on my brain and I crave lightness on here, I thought I’d share some ideas. We are (roughly) basing our choices on the Whole 30 eating plan. This eliminates grains (but not all carbs), dairy, and refined sugar. Something it encourages is pairing natural sugar like fruit with a protein to keep your energy levels more even.

With that in mind, a few pictures from the week:

One way to make veggies at breakfast more palatable: stir fry with onions & peppers

My friend rocked the salads for lunch. Also? Garden-fresh tomatoes.

‘

Hubs and my tacos were in peppers for this evening. (Our boys had theirs in tortillas because we don’t want them to hate us.)

Grilled meat under fresh-from-the-garden salsa

Seems like leftovers are a popular way to sustain eating real food meals. Used leftover taco meat on stir-fried cabbage. For an interesting article on that drink, La Croix, via Modern Mrs Darcy, read here.

Friend included sausage and stir fried vegs on this dinner salad.

My fajitas were on a bed of spinach for this evening.

Neither one of us followed Whole 30 perfectly, but that wasn’t the point of the week. We both made sure to eat breakfast, choose real, whole foods, and get plenty of veggies.

You ever struggle with eating breakfast or getting enough produce in? I’d love to hear!

King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the Lord to Israel:

Ezra 7:11-20 NLT

On we journey with Ezra. The first section of his recorded journey referred to who Ezra was and when he traveled back to Jerusalem. This section records the official document Ezra was given and carried during his travels, proving he had the kings’ approval to be making such an extensive trip with a large group.

When I first read King Artaxerxes’ letter, my heart jumped at the phrase “To Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven.”

Beautiful. The “king of kings” acknowledging the God of all the heavens. Then I looked up the Hebrew, and the word the king used could mean Big G God or little g god.

And, of course, as the letter continues, the king uses the phrase “your God.”

There is much discussion about King Darius being King Artaxerxes (and King Ahasuerus of the book of Esther). Even though it is debated which historical king this is, his need for the God of heaven is certain.

How about us as believers? Are there people in your life who refer to the Most High as “your” God? Do your prayers and love for them reflect your desire for their eyes to be opened to The God?

If we truly believe we serve the God of heaven and earth – Who does not live in temples built by human hands, but Who is before all things and in Whom all things are held together – others knowing of this God is crucial.

Unfortunately, our friends will see our inconsistencies between this glorious and gracious Yahweh and our character. Our limitations, mistakes, and outright rebellion toward Him and His ways.

But it will be okay. He is God and we are not.

I once read how sharing Jesus is like sharing about the sun – the giant ball of fire just close enough to warm human life and yet far enough away to not vaporize us all.

Sometimes when we talk about Jesus, it’s as if our friends are sitting on the grass and we’re standing between them and their view of this ball of fire. We talk all about it and share our opinions on it.

Meanwhile we could simply move aside and point to it.

Friends, let’s pray to be clear signposts to the only One worthy.

We all know the world desperately needs to see Him.

This morning at the Wichita Art Museum you can catch The Gift of Art beginning at 10:30. This is their free program for those with early to mid-stage memory loss and their care partners. {For reservations please contact Courtney at 316-268-4907}

Also this week at WAM you can join the fun at Family ArtVenture this Saturday starting at 11:00 am. The theme is auto racing and admission is free.

Tonight at The Orpheum you can catch the 50th Anniversary screening of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. Doors open at 6:00.

Looking for some live jazz? The Hotel at Old Town has you covered. Their Keen Kutter Bar features local artists every Friday and Saturday night.

And don’t forget about the KEYN Summer Concert Series. Enjoy live music and local food trucks along with Wichita Waterwalk. Friday the 22nd will feature Lucky People.

If you head down to the Old Town Farmer’s Market on Saturday, you can join in a free yoga class at 8:30. All levels welcome.

And visit the Wichita Historical Museum on Saturday to celebrate the City and the City Hall’s birthdays. Enjoy the museum, refreshments, and special crafts.

And join Music Theatre Wichita for Star Night. “Meet the Broadway stars of tomorrow” in this cabaret-style evening.

Have a garden? Interested in growing better tomatoes? Join Sedgwick County Extension Office’s Tomato Day this Saturday for free seminars, salsa tasting, kid activities and more.

Johnson’s Garden Center’s Moonlight Madness sale from noon to midnight this Saturday the 23rd. Enjoy 50% off plants and clearance prices on merchandise.

Lowe’s is still offering their Build & Grow workshops. Register this Saturday the 23rd to build Thor at 10:00 am.

Did you know every Monday is 10% off for Senior Adults at Green Acres Market West?

Don’t miss this month’s The Feast with City Arts. The monthly poetry gathering will feature Leah Sewell and Jenny Yang Cropp from 1-3.

ICT flag shirt at Lucinda’s

Firefly Farm produce will be set up in front of Reverie this Sunday the 24th from 10 – noon. Enjoy your coffee and grab some fresh produce at the same time.

Have you heard the latest about Mead’s Corner? They will be taking over the cafe at the Downtown YMCA. This is happy.

Library:

We only have 8 days left to read for the Summer Program. Get to reading. Get to recording.

Balloon Bonanza will be going on today, the 21st,  from 2:30-3:30 at Evergreen. Balloon volleyball and obstacle courses await you.

Also today, come to Central at 2:30 for Library Track – “a track meet, library style.”

Matt Sandback’s Shadow Factory will be featured through Friday. His unique twist on shadow puppets brings literature to life. Today catch A Wild Goose Chase at 2:30 at Alford and 10:30 at Rockwell.

Join the waiting list to learn more about Windows 10 tonight at Evergreen.

Matt will be back at his Shadow Factory for Rapunzel tonight at 7 at Westlink. Then enjoy The Legend of Walter Weirdbeard Friday the 22nd at 1:30 at Central and 4:30 at Angelou.

Join a Lego Building Party Friday at 2:30 at Alford.

And catch the Voter Registration Drive at Alford Monday the 25th from 4-7 pm.

Also Monday, enjoy a shape-themed Storytime at Linwood at 6 pm.

Then Tuesday the 26th, make an Olympic Torch Craft any time from 10 -6 at Comotara.

Register for help with Microsoft Publisher at 10:30 at Central on Tuesday the 26th.

And Wednesday the 27th at 10:30 at Evergreen, a puppet show tells the truth about the Three Little Pigs. I had been wondering.

Come any time from 2:30 – 4:00 to Rockwell for Walk-in Tech Help on Wednesday the 27th.

And don’t forget our Hook & Needle Friends every Wednesday at Alford from 10-noon.

Heads up: all locations of the Library will be closed Sunday the 24th.

Have a great weekend!