Christmas list

This is a place marker to remind me that I need to make out my Christmas list for the Michael Conners Gift Headquarters.

Hamster update

Last time I updated the hamster situation, Hammy was leaping from the second story of his cage.

He's still doing that, and he's not dead yet. I can, however, see the day that he jumps and breaks a leg and I will end up having to push him in some sort of hamster wheelchair.

So, what's the update for, Mike?

Well, Hammy now has yet another house.

We're visiting the in-laws and Hammy is coming with us and he needed a portable habitat.

And we didn't buy this one. No, no, no. I had to make it out of a Sterilite container and hand tools. Drill holes in it (not too many... maybe not enough... hee hee... just kidding, kids), and a place for the water bottle to hang down from.

It was not easy, and I cracked some of the plastic in the process. Ever wonder what kind of plastic is immune from Krazy Glue? It's the kind that this container is made from, of course.

I'm published!

Well, kinda published. A buddy (Ted) liked a portion of a stream of consciousness email I wrote and he posted it.

I don't know what counts as published any more with the Internet.

Heck, Rap music is legitimate these days.

Days 3 & 4

The 19 Days of Nehemiah continue...

Plenty to consider in Days 3 & 4.

Day 3:

In Nehemiah 2:11-20, Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem and takes stock of the situation. He makes his assessment at night with a small group of men to avoid calling attention to himself and the work.

This chapter sets up the conflict that is to come later with Sanballat.

Nehemiah says to the men with him "Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."

He still has God's interests and glory in the center of his mission and shares his vision with the people around him. Their response is to start to rebuild.

Day 4:

The text is Nehemiah 3, and Nehemiah includes many of the people's names who rebuilt the wall.

He also includes some who were there, but didn't build the wall for some reason or another. In verse 5: "The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors."

No details as to why, but it appears that the nobles didn't want to get their hands dirty. Perhaps they were O.K. with the current situation and didn't want it to change. He shamed them.

What I latched on to with this chapter was how the work was done - in sections and districts. He even mentions that certain people repaired the wall "opposite their house".

And isn't that how God wants us to work many times? Be responsible with what you have in front of you. Your work. But putting it all together it comprised a large body of the wall being rebuilt.

Nehemiah also had a wonderful strategy by breaking it down into smaller doable pieces instead of the ONE BIG THING. The OBT would be too daunting and individuals would lose heart. And they did it with people they knew - family, neighbors.

What work does God have before me and am I being faithful with it?

Nehemiah Days 1 & 2

In the first day's reading, my attention was drawn to an every day exchange between two people.

Nehemiah asks his brother Hanani, "How are things at home?"

His brother says the folks at home are having a hard time and Jerusalem is in ruins. But it's Nehemiah's response that makes the difference.

A response comes from a person's priorities and concerns. What's important to him or her. Nehemiah's priorities and concerns are revealed by what he does.

His priorities extend beyond the physical and extend into the spiritual. He sees the situation from God's perspective, including the state of his people before God. This results in much prayer and fasting and repentance for their sins.

Personal application: How my priorities are not God's priorities. I miss out on opportunities to pray and act as I should.

For Day 2, the second chapter (v.1 - 10) shows Nehemiah courageously acting on his beliefs and repentance before God in the King's presence.

He traded in his privileged position as cup bearer to the King for a dangerous one as a construction foreman. He boldly stepped through the open door, not only getting permission to rebuild the walls but fortifications and a residence as well as raw materials from the King's store houses.

His act of faith and boldness resulted in the starting of the clock for the Messiah to come. Say what? Yes. This is the decree that is referred to in Daniel 9.

Even his countenance before the King was courageous - cup bearers were supposed to be happy all of the time. Not being so implied that they were disrespectful of the King's generosity. The state of God's holy city, its people and their situation before God impacted Nehemiah and he acted in a Godly manner.

When I have opportunities to act boldly in faith, do I act in the same way?

19 Days - I'm in!

I decided to join "19 Days" that Aaron and folks at AC180 started today. It's a walk through the Old Testament book of Nehemiah.

I will post my thoughts and observations here.