These 7 Days

Baseball time

Free pie & free smiles

Kiwi

Too big for our taste

Bingo

Glory

Your 7 Days?

Fellow Countrymen

Next to him, repairs were made by a group of Levites working under the supervision of Rehum son of Bani. Then came Hashabiah, the leader of half the district of Keilah, who supervised the building of the wall on behalf of his own district. Next down the line were his countrymen led by Binnui son of Henadad, the leader of the other half of the district of Keilah.

Nehemiah 3:17-18 NLT

Last time we looked at the Hebrew used to describe rebuilding the Fountain Gate and a section of the wall. The words referred to descending, like our Savior did – and climbing to the heights. Today we see no gates mentioned, just groups of people throwing in to rebuild the wall and secure the City of God.

Both leaders of the city of Keilah are mentioned in this passage: Hashabiah and Binnui. Each oversees half the city, which is most likely modern-day Kila, about 12 miles south of Jerusalem. They are listed separate but are men of the same district.

The word used is ach meaning brother or countryman. In fact, the single Hebrew word used for the phrase “next down the line” is yad – hand. We have seen it used for Yahweh’s powerful sustaining alongside His people. Here we see it describe the helping hand, allegiance, and assistance these fellow citizens offered each other and the rebuilding effort.

Yes, yes. Citizens lending a helping hand to one another. Thinking of others’ interests rather than only their own. Sounds a lot like what our nation could use a hefty dose of. But especially what we citizens of another Kingdom are empowered to do.

Friends, this is the time to offer a helping hand to others. Especially if there seems to be a difference among us. Because, in this nation, we are all countrymen. We belong to one another. And how much more is this true among we who trust in Jesus alone for our righteousness?

Our differences can challenge us to run to Him, but may they never be an excuse to not serve each other. Especially in the public square, with the eyes of those looking for some hope watching our interactions. Only His Kingdom is unshakable.

Let’s be part of the reason others are drawn to be a citizen.

Ways to Save Week of June 8th

It’s 2nd Saturday time! If you haven’t looked at participating stores lately, there are new ones. Douglas Design District, Downtown, Old Town, and Delano all are in on the savings.

2nd Saturday also means The Workroom’s Artisan Market. Enjoy local art, live music, and food trucks from 10-2.

And one more thing it means: Yoga on the Lawn at Wichita Art Museum. Come this Saturday at 9 and bring cash to savor some Twisted Java coffee after.

Catch Art Start: Sculptures and the Senses also at the Art Museum beginning next week, Tuesday June 13th from 1:30-3. Art Start is for kiddos ages 3-5 and their adults, with sessions only $5 for children and free for parents. Spend the summer enjoying art!

Library Goings-on:

Mark your calendar for one of the Plan to Laugh events. First up is at Linwood at 2:30 and at Westlink at 6:30 today, June 8th. Then tomorrow, June 9th, at Rockwell at 10:30 and at Central at 2:30. Juggling, stories, and belly laughs!

Next up for our Candid Conversation: Race the Difference Between Us will be Monday June 12th from 6-7:30 pm at the Rockwell Branch.

Also check out Teen Game Day: On Tuesday the 13th from 2:30-3:30 at Central enjoy board games and refreshments with friends.

There’s so much going on. Check out all upcoming events here and say no to summer boredom.

This is so great: Farmers Market Food Assistance for low-income Seniors

You should catch this: Ballet in the Park’s free performances of Wizard of Oz. Tonight’s event is at Main Street Park in Mulvane. But stay tuned all weekend for performances in El Dorado, Augusta, Udall, Haysville, and Clearwater. Picturesque, yes?

Naturalist Todd will be at Riverside Park every Tuesday from 12-1 this summer. Come hear about a featured animal at these come-and-go presentations.

Upcoming Area Garage Sales (via Wichita on the Cheap):

Hesston citywide garage sales June 10
Kechi citywide garage sales June 10
Douglass citywide garage sales June 10
Potwin citywide garage sales June 9-10

A friend alerted me to the lower price admission to Derby’s Rock River Rapids water park: only $5 after 5 pm.

Check out the Rabbit Show at the Sedgwick County Extension Center this Saturday June 10th from 8-5.

And enjoy the Summer Brain Quest Kick-Off Event this Saturday the 10th from 10:30-11:00 at Watermark Books. Because we gotsta use our brains even in summertime.

Oh good! Music Theatre of Wichita is on. First up: Thoroughly Modern Millie June 14-18. Get your tickets here.

And the next Monday night $1 Wingnuts game is June 12th. Everyone gets in for a buck!

Have a wonderful weekend with your people!

These 7 Days

Keeping us safe

Working together

Roller blading

Homemade Frappe

Porch, popsicles, paradise

Summer Glory (and free bouquets at 13th & West Dillon’s)

Your 7 Days?

Fountain Gate

The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum son of Col-hozeh, the leader of the Mizpah district. He rebuilt it, roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Then he repaired the wall of the pool of Siloam near the king’s garden, and he rebuilt the wall as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David. Next to him was Nehemiah son of Azbuk, the leader of half the district of Beth-zur. He rebuilt the wall from a place across from the tombs of David’s family as far as the water reservoir and the House of the Warriors.

Nehemiah 3:15-16 NLT

Last time we talked about the leader who built the Dung Gate, leaving power and beauty to serve – just like our Savior. Now we move on to the rebuilding of the Fountain Gate and a large section of the wall:

You can see the Fountain Gate on the left side of our map. The other three landmarks from today’s verses (Tombs of David, Artificial Pool, and the House of Mighty Men) are noted with numbers 2, 3 & 4 in the red circles.

The first thing Shallum did was set the Gate. Then, almost in reverse order, he takes care of the Pool of Siloam (called Shelah on our map) and the King’s Garden. These are off to the right of our Dung Gate, and are surrounded by their own segment of wall. Then Shallum returns to where he began and builds the section of wall between the Dung Gate and Fountain Gate, right up to the Stairs of David – seen coming out of the Fountain Gate on our map.

I appreciate the Hebrew in the mentioning of these stairs. The word is ma’alah meaning stairs, a high degree, climactic progression. In other words, this same Hebrew term could be used in a piece of literature that builds to a high degree. It made me think of the Psalms of Ascent. These songs (Psalms 120-134) were sung by the Israelites as they traveled back to Jerusalem for three important Feasts each year. Many believe it also refers to songs the Levites sang as they ascended the steps of Temple to minister. Either way, the significance is in the journey – a progression toward the heights.

That’s a journey we’re all on. This world is not all there is. Depending on the news each day, that can come as such a relief. We can all find areas to disagree on how to make this planet better, but if we’re honest, we all know it isn’t as it was meant to be. Those of us who believe Jesus both understand why and know we’re headed Home.

There’s more beauty in Hebrew. In explaining the stairs, he says “the steps that descend from the City of David.” That word descend is yarad – to go down, bring down. Then in verse 16 we see a different Nehemiah building the wall from… as far as…the House of the Warriors. That word warrior in Hebrew is gibbor – champion, mighty, strong, valiant warrior.

Oh friends, only One Mighty Warrior descended from the heights – higher than even our known universe – and made the ultimate heroic sacrifice. Strong enough not to fight, valiant enough to take it on the chin for all humanity. For us.

Every time we remember there is an enemy and it’s not each other, we look like our Warrior Savior. When we serve and pray more than shame, blame and scapegoat, we’re being just as valiant as Him. When we own up to our sins and rest in the way He completely justified us on the cross, we’re trusting our Father the way He does.

Let’s bow each day and trust the Spirit to bring such heights to our lives.

Ways to Save Week of June 1st

Happy June!

From the Archives – at Hewitt’s Antiques

Woo hoo! It’s Riverfest time. You can look through all the happenings on their website.

Make sure to check out the Wichita Symphony Orchestra’s Riverfest Twilight Pops Concert tomorrow night, June 2nd, at 8:30 in the Century II Plaza off Douglas. Free with your Riverfest button.

Got to see the Bike Share ICT station on Douglas. Super cheap way to get around downtown – plus exercise.

Wichita Art Museum is hosting Tai Chi on the Lawn this Tuesday June 6th from 7-8 pm. Do not stress if you’ve never done Tai Chi. You can learn and the practice is great for mind and body.

Yasss. This Saturday the 3rd is Opening Day for Elderslie’s Bramble Cafe. Local, fresh, beautiful.

Don’t forget: tonight, June 1st, see Joseph Vincelli for the first installment of Bradley Fair’s Summer Jazz Concert Series. Bring lawn chairs and your people.

Here are upcoming Citywide and Neighborhood Garage Sales:

Forest Lakes neighborhood garage sales June 1-3
Andover citywide garage sales June 3
Park City citywide garage sales June 3
Halstead citywide garage sales June 3
Clearwater citywide garage sales June 3

Wichita Public Swimming Pools are open. And, Carolyn has a list of the different days you can swim free at various pools around the city. This Sunday the 4th, enjoy free admittance at Harvest Public Pool from 1-6 pm.

Aside from 4 Water Parks included in your membership, here’s one more reason to join the YMCA this summer: Fun Fit. It’s a two-hour, free program for kids aged 6 to 12. They can play games, make new friends, and keep moving while you workout or catch up with your people. Check your closest branch for times and participation.

Library:

Tomorrow, June 2nd, enjoy a Throwback Summer Movie: Back to the Future at Central beginning at 2:30. Bring snacks!

I’m still new to these Breakout EDU things, but they’re so great. Enjoy Mr. Lemoncello’s Library next Tuesday, June 6th, at 2:30. See if you can use your wits and teamwork to escape!

Check out all upcoming events here. There are so many to choose from now that it’s June.

Have a wonderful weekend!

These 7 Days

Absolutely wonderful

Life

Strawberry help

Cool

Reading/listening time (sometimes kicking time)

Architecture

The Corner on Main

Yum

Beauty

Carnival

B-ball

Get a prize

Ferris Wheel view

Glory

Your 7 Days?

My King is Yah

“The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, the leader of the Beth-hakkerem district. He rebuilt it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.”

Nehemiah 3:14 NLT

Seems we can’t get away from the Dung Gate. Last time we zeroed in on the men who built a large portion of the wall right up to it. Today we see the man responsible for the gate itself.

It is Malkijah, whose name means “my king is Yah.” I’m so grateful that someone whose very name proclaims the Most High as King took on the task of setting up a gate whose main purpose is to take excrement out of the city. Sure, a gate’s a gate, but Malkijah’s gate was named after dung. Refuse.

Not only that, but this man was a ruler of a district called Beth-hakkerem, which means “house of the vineyard”. An important man in an area between Tekoa and Jerusalem, said to command one of the most beautiful views over the Dead Sea.

Have you ever been used to privilege or beauty, only to be put in charge of something seemingly less glamorous? Something that deals with your own and others’ less appealing issues?

So has He. He left all beauty and majesty and power to walk among us. To deal with our hideously unattractive sin issues. To relate to the need for a sewer, a nap, a peace treaty, aid relief.

He is not remote, never dispassionate about His creation. And He is completely willing to deal with those areas we keep from others – and sometimes from ourselves. He made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant. And we whom He crowns with righteousness get the privilege of serving others with His love.

Let’s see such loving as the beauty and privilege it is.

Ways to Save Week of May 25th

It is Final Friday time! Support local art and venues.

Register for Great Beginnings for Families, a court-approved, 3-week bilingual class. Class dates are May 31, June 14, 21 & 28 and July 5 (with no class June 7).

Come hear from Courtney Maum at Watermark next Thursday, June 1st, at 6:00 for an author discussion of her novel Touch.

My friend is launching a Holistic Home Cleaning Service. She offers a variety of cleaning levels and pricing. Only natural products, a thoroughly clean living space.

Once again USD 259 will be offering the Kid Power Cafe this summer. No need to register, kids 18 and under just show up and get a free, healthy meal. (One central location is the Downtown YMCA.)

Carolyn at Wichita on the Cheap has the details on Wichita Wingnuts Ticket Discounts.

And all upcoming Citywide and Neighborhood Garage Sales. This weekend is Cheney.

Riverfest begins next Friday, June 2nd. (Thanks for the head’s up, Wichita Moms Blog)

And a couple other ideas from their thorough blog:

Bradley Fair Summer Jazz Concerts begin next week, Thursday, June 1st.

Plus, check out their list of free Splash Parks and Fountains around Wichita.

This Saturday the 27th, enjoy Wichita Art Museum’s Family ArtVenture: Pedal Pizzazz from 11-3. Ride your bike to WAM, decorate it, and enjoy indoor and outdoor activities.