, , , , , ,

How to Protect Your Reputation

, , , , , ,
How to Protect Your Reputation

How to protect your reputation when you're under spiritual, personal, or public attack—drawing wisdom from Nehemiah 6. When you're building something meaningful, resistance is inevitable. Rather than reacting to gossip, slander, or false accusations, the biblical approach is to stay grounded in integrity, avoid petty arguments, trust God for vindication, and keep your hands on the work. With a bold, minimalist tone inspired by Seth Godin, this piece challenges readers to remain faithful to their calling in the face of character assassination and distraction. The higher you build, the louder it gets—but your persistence is your protection.

, , , , , , ,

Influence Without Control

, , , , , , ,
Influence Without Control

In this article, Darren explores the powerful difference between control and influence through the lens of Nehemiah’s leadership. He challenges the idea that leadership requires a title or authority, showing instead that true influence is built on moral authority, integrity, and consistency.

, , , , , , , ,

When the People Cry Out

, , , , , , , ,
When the People Cry Out

There’s a moment—
A shift.
A sound too raw, too human, too urgent to ignore.

It doesn’t come from enemies.
It comes from within the walls.
From the people we thought were safe.
From the voices we trained ourselves not to hear.

They weren’t strangers.
They were family.
The very people of God.

, , , , , , , , ,

Build And Defend

, , , , , , , , ,
Build And Defend

We love the idea of building.

The thrill of starting something new. The excitement of vision, calling, purpose. The sense that we’re participating in something bigger than ourselves.

But what happens when opposition shows up?

What happens when the enemy sees what you're building and decides it’s worth tearing down?

Most people hesitate. They assume that if an idea is truly from God, it shouldn’t require a fight.

Nehemiah knew better.

, , ,

Altars Before Walls

, , ,
Altars Before Walls

If you walked into Home Depot today, you’d expect to see contractors, electricians, weekend DIYers. You wouldn’t expect to see a high priest in the tool aisle, picking out lumber, asking about the best fasteners, buying a tool belt.

But in the book of Nehemiah, that’s exactly what happens.

When the city was in ruins, when the walls were crumbled, when the people were vulnerable—the first person to step up and rebuild wasn’t a military leader, a politician, or a businessman.

It was Eliashib, the high priest.

, , ,

The "Just Declare It" Myth

, , ,
The "Just Declare It" Myth

If words alone could change the world, Nehemiah could have stood at the edge of Jerusalem, stretched out his hands, and declared the walls rebuilt.

But that’s not what he did.

Instead, in Nehemiah 2, he rode through the city at night, inspecting the damage for himself. He didn’t just listen to reports. He didn’t assume he already knew what was wrong. He put boots on the ground.

Because you will never transform a city you don’t take a step in.

, , ,

The 4 Questions Builders Ask

, , ,
The 4 Questions Builders Ask

Most people prefer a comfortable lie over an inconvenient truth.

They sugarcoat reality. They downplay their problems. They avoid the hard questions because hard questions demand hard answers.

But Nehemiah? He wasn’t afraid to look at the ruins.

He wasn’t a pessimist—he didn’t drown in despair. He wasn’t a naïve optimist—he didn’t pretend things were fine. He was a realist.

And reality is the foundation of every successful rebuilding effort.

, , , ,

Delayed, Not Denied: The Purpose Behind God’s Timing

, , , ,
Delayed, Not Denied: The Purpose Behind God’s Timing

We inhabit a world obsessed with immediacy. Everything—our careers, relationships, even our spirituality—demands instant gratification. If we’re not moving, we assume we’re stagnating. But this is a false presupposition, an illusion constructed by an impatient culture. The truth is that God does not adhere to human timelines. He is not rushed. He is not pressured. And, as hard as it may be to accept, He is never late.

Nehemiah understood this. He had a vision—a burden, a calling. He saw the broken walls of Jerusalem and longed to rebuild. Yet, for months, he remained still. He waited. He prayed. He resisted the urge to act prematurely. And because of that, when the moment of opportunity came, he was ready.