"The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" (Nehemiah 4:19-20)

The year was somewhere around 450BCE - so how can anything then matter now? Well, listen into the conversation. In fact it sounds just like now: "We are widely separated from each other" in our cars on the way to work; in our homes getting ready to get in our autos, onto the bus, or Metro heading off across the expanse that is Greater Los Angeles and Southern California. Or we may just be locked into the busy-ness of the day.

My daughter drives miles everyday, her automobile being as much a tool of her trade as her laptop or Blackberry; my grandson heads off for school as Dad starts his day. This story is repeated a million times over across Southern California and elsewhere, too. "We are widely separated from each other," and often while locked-up into our busy-ness, also alone with our pain in spite of there being millions of people around us.

In such busy, isolated, separated times we need to know there is a trumpet; others of us need to carry such trumpets for sounding an alarm, telling others around us there is a problem, there is one with pain and we must rally together to pray. Not rally in terms of scrambling to get to each other in physical space for the distance of separation probably makes this impossible, or certainly impractical. But rather, "join us there" in real mutual concern. Because someone has sounded the trumpet and we have heard via a text message, an email, a phone call - and we pause as soon as it is practical and safe, in order to pray.

Nehemiah could not have imagined the vast distances separating people today who can yet be so close together. At no time in human history have there been more people on Planet Earth, yet at the same time at no time has there been greater connectedness. So we turn what could be a disaster of aloneness into an advantage of connectedness for you, me, and the kingdom of God. We sound the trumpet on this Blog, via this connection, so that you may join us there, right now when you get this post, at the point of need even if you are many miles away!

At the same time, as you pray, you may be aware of another need nearby or far away. So follow this lead. Don't you dare learn about the pain, the problem, the trouble bothering your neighbor without sounding the alarm! Be that one carrying the trumpet and blow that horn, man, woman, like Gabriel himself! Sound the alarm!

And so this morning we do just this, especially for Eric who has been out of work and has taken a stand against the doubts and the doubters and believes that he will have an answer this week. Let us now believe with him: "Our God will fight for us!"

"If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven," Jesus said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:19). We come together now, as you read this post, in Jesus name; and we agree with Eric for his answer. For Eric along with with us God will do it!

And if for Eric, for you, too: Blow the trumpet! Let us hear from you…