Category Archives: Uncategorized

These 7 Days

Garden of the gods

Getting pelted with hail

Art

The hike

Church beauty

Joy

We will miss her and her family

Peaks

Little Free Library: Colorado Park Edition

Glory

Your 7 Days?

Renewal

How are you?

There’s something about getting away that makes the rest of the world seem to stand still. I have been aware of the violence and pain and unrest, but if felt far removed and dreamlike.

Today I feel plunged back into reality.

Maybe the surreal is a gift. We don’t carry this world. Not by a long shot. To watch it continue to spin in all its horror and beauty and worth without our deep participation? It is humbling.

We are called, however, to engage. To pray and love and hurt and long.

Today I will join you. With a tangible awareness of my limitations.

But a deep gratitude for being a part.

Ways to Save

Good morning! Due to travels, less than stellar planning on my part, and low data, I do not have the weekly Ways to Save post. I’d like to direct you to Carolyn’s blog today for all the scoop: wichitaonthecheap. She does a great job keeping up with deals around the area.

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These 7 Days

Cheking out the Kid Power Cafe at the Downtown Y

Soaking berries (splash of vinegar cleans the junk)

More local beauty

Summer blooms

Glory

Your 7 Days?

Looking In, Looking Out

We have to start with ourselves, with repentance. All of us. Otherwise, division and sides and more chaos will distract from the goal of bringing shalom into our current culture.

Let’s all look into our own hearts. My sin has been heavy lately. Mine might look different than yours, but it all affects how we move forward. No matter how bad our collective situation, moving forward without deep awareness of our personal junk won’t lead anywhere good. The groups and churches and cities gathering to pray is beautiful. Heartfelt repentance naturally comes from sitting before God and His splendor.

And prayer? How we need it. Because, “for though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Our weapons may be peaceful but they demolish in the spiritual realm.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

Keep thinking about this. My reading today in Jeremiah comfortingly urged God’s people to not fear, then proceeded to talk of punishment of sin. Seems like double talk. But sin must be punished. If we are believers, He took care of ours on the cross. Now He only convicts and disciplines as a good Father.

But the final punishment of the world’s sin hasn’t come yet. We will see wrath. But if we are His children, we don’t have to fear it. We really don’t. We can stand and stand up to and peacefully protest and actively engage and proactively implement. All without anxious fear of the future. If you only knew how I’m the last person who should be typing this. This is my struggle. But He’s walking with me in it. He will walk us all through it.

So, let’s take a hard look inward. Let’s take our thoughts captive to His Word. Let’s get on our knees in prayer. Then let’s stand and – without losing any fire or passion or the desperate need in our country for justice – fearlessly do what He’s asking us to.

Ezra 7

Well. It’s almost August.

Let’s dive in.

“Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was a man named Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest.

This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him. Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year. He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him . This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.”

Ezra 7:1-10 (NLT)

So last we checked in with our exiles, they had completed the Temple and were having a dedication party. We can safely assume they got back to life as usual: making a living, celebrating the holy days, worshiping at the temple they had labored so long to rebuild.

Fast forward nearly 60 years and we have a new name on the scene: Ezra. The first thing our text makes sure to point out is his lineage. Ezra is a descendant of Aaron, the first priest God appointed after the exodus from Egypt. He was to serve as an intermediary between the Most High and the people, interceding for them. It is significant Ezra is of his lineage. But more on that later.

The text also tells us that others came with Ezra on the trip. Reminiscent of the first round of exiles returning to Jerusalem, some priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants joined Ezra in the roughly 900-mile, 4-month journey.

We also know from these verses that Ezra was a scribe, well versed in the Law of Moses. If you’re pretty familiar with the New Testament, this could sound like a bad thing as the Scribes and Pharisees were always getting in trouble with Jesus. They were scholars who taught the Scriptures, and by New Testament times were often referred to as rabbis.

But can you see how being well-versed in the Law God had given His people to follow would be important for our two groups of exiles, now seeking to live together as one? They had been living in Babylon among those who worshiped false gods. The renewal of sacrifices and Temple worship was still relatively new. The people needed guidance. And God’s Law was their True North.

A literal rendering of the Hebrew in verse 10 reads: Ezra had prepared his heart to study the law of The LORD and to do it and to teach Israel its statutes and judgments.

Or: Ezra was firm in his will to seek God’s Law, to accomplish it, and to teach its boundaries, limits, and just verdicts (mishpat) to Israel.

I can’t think of a single thing going on in our world that couldn’t use this beautiful Law. The healthy boundaries it places on our broken hearts and broken actions. The limits it kindly enforces so we show love to our neighbor, whoever our neighbor is, rather than harm. And the just verdicts needed for us to live in a fallen world as fallen people.

Friends, let’s be faithful to this Law, this Word of God. We know, experientially, it is flawless and just and alive and active.

And obeying its commands is the only way to peace.

Onward

Something has to be done.

We cannot not stand up to this. We cannot respond in hate or fear. But we have to respond.

If you are white, your voice is needed in this fight. And if you follow Jesus, your voice isn’t an option.

A couple of Tweets I keep thinking about:

“If white women were dying like this at the rate black men are dying, I would be terrified EVERY DAY.” (Annie F. Downs)

This. This is the mindset we need to get into if we are of the powerful majority. Never mind that if shootings were happening regularly to white women no one would stand for it. Instead, focus on what that would be like for you.

And by Jeremy Courtney of Preemptive Love:

In this broken world, how do we even begin to pick up the pieces?

“We cross the street, city, state, country, and world until we find the people who scare us and spend time together.”

Really. If you haven’t seen this video on how to move forward in racial reconciliation, watch it. Then keep in mind his four points that can lead to change:

1. Proximity – be near to those suffering. And listen.

2. Change the narratives – let truth and love, not hate and fear, guide our thoughts.

3. Stay hopeful (getting harder, I know. But we have to have a vision for a better future in mind.)

4. Do uncomfortable things – share what you know. What you’ve heard.

Remember we must keep justice as chief among our priorities.

3^rd tweet is by Jennie Allen:

“Everyone is aching for peace. But peace without justice is oppression.”

Peace without justice is oppression. More oppression.

We cannot talk about reconciliation without justice. This must be acknowledged as wrong. Sin. Not okay. If it wouldn’t be okay for your family member, it is not okay for any citizen. I don’t know what this looks like on a state or national or political level. But we can figure this out on a personal and faith community level. And figure out how to represent Him on the larger scene.

We honor authority.

And we peacefully submit to a Higher One.

Racism is not okay. Profiling is not okay. I know it will not go away overnight. But it must be addressed. Keep your heart soft and your prayers constant. If Jesus is your Savior, you have the Perfect Example to follow of laying down your life for your brothers and sisters. In love, not hate.

Pray, Believers. He is on His throne. Let’s respond faithfully where we need to.

“‘These are the things you are to do:

Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; Do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,’ declares the LORD.”

Zechariah 8:16-17

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13

Ways to Save Week of July 7th

2nd Saturday time, featuring The Workroom’s 2nd Saturday Artisan Market. Shop local, support local art.

2nd Saturday also means Yoga on the Lawn at WAM. The Museum is also featuring Frog and Toad film as part of their Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation Film Series. It will be held this Sunday from 2-4.

The Love & War series at the Orpheum Theatre features Splash this Monday the 11th. Also catch their Dog Days of Summer Series beginning with Homeward Bound on Tuesday the 12th.

A Stay Strong, Stay Healthy 8-week class is being offered at the Downtown Senior Center for adults over 60. Register here.

Got a garden? Check out Sedgwick County Extension Office’s Garden Pests and Diseases class on Tuesday evening the 12th to keep it healthy.

Tonight at 6:00 see Dana Shultz (of Minimalist Baker) at Watermark with her new cookbook The Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking.

Catch the new feature Dinosaurs in Motion at Exploration Place. You get to control these interactive, metal dinosaur sculptures and learn about fossils.

Need a lunch idea for today? Check out the District Marketplace’s Lunch Truck Line-up.

Do you know about Botanica’s Garden Sprouts classes? Explore nature with the preschoolers in your life ages 3-5. See the class listings here.

If you are itching to try the Drive-In, Secret Life of Pets starts Friday at Starlite. A fun movie for the whole family to enjoy.

Did you know The Donut Whole features gluten-free donuts every Tuesday? Enjoy the goodness.

Love this: Pop-Up Urban Park and the Wichita Library are partnering together to bring you Pop-Up Librarians. Staff from the library will be available today for book check-out, library card & e-book info. Come see them any time from 9-11.

The Augusta City-wide Garage Sale is this weekend.

And your next free swim day is at Minisa Pool on Sunday the 10th from 1-6.

Have a great weekend!