This was such a violent and bloody death, Why? At Golgotha, most wondered why, if He is King He couldn't save Himself? Through reading the Bible, we see God carried out His plan perfectly, including allowing for many illegal tribunals, the conviction of Jesus, and HIs death. Jesus had gone into Jerusalem knowing exactly what would happen to Him. He knew He was sent to die He could have saved Himself, but then the plan wouldn't have been carried out. But again, why the cross? why such a blood death?

I have a friend who likes to hide her jewelry before she goes away. Several years ago she hid her watch before leaving for a vacation. She hid it well. So well, in fact, that when she returned, she herself couldn’t find it. She spent hours that morphed into days looking throughout her house. Finally, she surrendered, and gave up the search. Then, one day, years later, totally by accident, she found her watch, in that “safest” of places.

My family and friends have, at times, considered me to be a bit crazy, no question! Among other reasons, they view me as habitually speaking, in what my psychologist friend calls, “circular speech.” In other words, I have a hard time staying on topic, and I often circumvent the point I am trying to make with other unnecessary details.  In an effort to remind me to focus, my husband often gently prompts me to “land that plane, Carole.” In addition, I have over 50,000 unread emails on my phone, and currently forty unread text messages. I truly don’t understand why my phone often becomes the topic of conversation and concern.  Do these idiosyncrasies make me crazy?

My husband gave me an Apple watch for Christmas. I have not yet figured out all the features, nor have I figured out how to remove some of the features or app notifications I have apparently downloaded. Thus, at the present time I receive notifications for just about everything. My wrist is constantly vibrating. On any given day I am notified to wake up, exercise (I really need to delete that one), take my medication, and attend different appointments. In addition, if I am sitting too long at the computer or in front of the television, it reminds me to stand. But probably my favorite reminder—which I receive several times throughout the day—is to breathe. Apparently, Apple believes I am incapable of staying alive without its reminders. How did I ever manage without it?

Our house in Florida sits on a small pond. One of my favorite pastimes is to gaze at the wildlife—all kinds of birds, turtles, and the occasional alligator and river otter. This past week I witnessed a certain spectacle for the first time: flight school for herons! Lining the pond were countless white herons and their young. As I watched, I noticed that next to each larger bird were several younger birds. It appeared that each bird had to wait its turn to leave the shore and venture out over the water, and rarely did a baby bird make it completely over the pond. They would fly a mere ten to twenty feet and then return to its parent. It was a beautiful scene.

The other day I went to Crate and Barrel to pick up a gift for a wedding shower. As I waited to have the gift boxed, I busied myself scanning the nearby aisles. A salesperson was helping a young woman select wine glasses. Out of the blue, the young woman looked at me and asked which of two glasses I preferred. I am not sure why she asked me—I actually think the salesperson was a bit offended, but I was happy to lend my help.

“Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”  John 9:25

I have always loved the simple logic presented by this man. Jesus had healed him of his blindness on the Sabbath, which was verboten according to the religious leaders at the time. Trying to find a reason to accuse Jesus as guilty of violating the Law, they confronted this once blind man. Filled with prejudice, malice, ignorance and all kinds of theological weapons, they attempted to intimidate him into stating that Jesus committed a sin—violating the Sabbath. His answer was simple, direct, and non-argumentative. “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” One thing—one thing that no one could dispute or otherwise explain away—he could see.

When my oldest son, Ben, was a toddler, he had a book of nursery rhymes and songs. The pictures were beautiful and he became so fascinated with them that he insisted on hearing a string of them before he went to sleep at night. I could not believe how many I had to avoid or alter the wording for because of their dark themes. Who thought reading this to a small child was a good idea?

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.

She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;

She gave them some broth without any bread;

Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.

I recently came across an article from the Harvard Business Review on the art of asking questions. It identified the benefits of obtaining information for proper decision-making. After all, asking the right questions can help us solve problems and reach better conclusions.

But other reasons abound on the benefits of asking good questions. A good mentor or teacher knows how to ask questions in a way that will help their students discover for themselves some important reality. Over the past months I have explored many of Jesus’ questions. He was the Master of this art. He asked questions in a way that the listeners could reach their own conclusions about who He was, and why they needed Him.

I have become a salt snob. I am no longer satisfied with mere table salt. Several years ago I was introduced to different kinds of salt: Himalayan pink, Himalayan black, Fleur de Sel, Sea salt, Kosher, and Celtic to name a few. While all salt is made up of two elements, sodium and chlorine, by doing a little research, I have come to learn that impurities, including trace minerals can shape the color, taste, and texture of salt. But regardless of these differences, essentially all salt is still salt.

If you have ever talked with me over the phone, you have likely experienced some frustration. You may have heard dishes clanging in the background, my phone drop as I attempt to carry it and a laundry basket, or perhaps heavy breathing as I exercise and talk with you. I have been asked, “how can I be truly listening, if I am doing other things?” But I have become aware that I actually listen better when I am engaged in a physical activity at the same time. I have a very difficult time simply to sit and converse when on the phone. Just yesterday I had my phone on speaker mode, listening to a dear friend while also standing on the kitchen counter changing a light bulb. But I could tell you every last word she said.

I have been posting my blog weekly since last June. Last week was the first I have missed since then. I acknowledge that missing my commitment is not the best way to start the New Year. Excuse? I have tons: a broken furnace, frozen pipes in my kitchen and laundry room, a blown electrical fuse which cut off my internet, to name a few. Last week was a revolving door of service technicians! But this is a new week. So I decided before I finally take down the Christmas tree (don’t judge), I will dig into God’s Word.

A few weeks ago I was shopping at Walmart for a family my friends and I had “adopted” for Christmas. My cart was full and the cashier was about half-way through check-out when I told him that I would need a gift receipt. He looked up and said that I should have told him that before he started. Now he would have to void everything and start again. I looked behind me at the line that had formed. Oh no, I was that person!

I miss my father. He passed over a year ago, and I think of him often. He was not a perfect father (what father is?), but I know he loved me greatly, and I loved him. I miss his bear hugs. I miss how he called me “Cara-belly,” and my sister “Lolly Pop”—long after we were adults with our own children. Even though we didn’t always agree, I would so cherish the opportunity to have one more moment with him!

Isaiah declares that a Child is born—one who would become a great man, a prophet, a wise teacher. But wait— Isaiah also stated 600 years before the Child was born, that His Name shall be called, Mighty God.

God.

When we place the Baby in the nativity scene do we see God?

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.  Isaiah 9:6-7

In the midst of darkness and impending judgment for the nation’s disobedience, Isaiah offered God’s promise of hope—a Messiah would be given to us who would establish His Kingdom.  But the descriptive phrases are more than the familiar lyrics from Handel’s Messiah or words we read on a Christmas card.

As I age, remembering has become an issue. Actually, remembering has always been an issue for me. Several times I have forgotten to turn off my car and take the keys with me, before exiting and locking myself out. Once the car ran for three hours at the mall before I returned to discover what I had done. More than a few times, I have wished I didn’t disconnect my landline, because it would have been handy to help me locate my cell phone.

As we are approaching Thanksgiving I started to reflect on those individuals in Scripture who expressed thanksgiving to God. They demonstrate many wonderful reasons to praise Him. Hannah prayed for a son, and exalted God when He honored her request (1 Samuel 2). David thanked God in the Psalms for his success in battles. Mary sang in thanksgiving that God had chosen her among women to give birth to the Messiah. Paul was thankful to God for the church in Philippi who supported his work in spreading the Gospel. But the individual that drew my attention the most was the single leper of ten, who, after he was healed, returned to Jesus to praise and thank Him.

Chapter 4 of James warns us against worldliness. James is not telling us not to love the people of this world (“For God so loved the world…”) Nor is he telling us that we should not enjoy the pleasures of this earth that God has graciously provided. Rather, James is warning us about choosing to put the things of this world over our devotion to Him. We can only have one Lord.  How do we do this without living in a bubble? I have found some help and valuable lessons from one of my favorite children’s books, The Velveteen Rabbit (written in 1922 by Margery Williams).

I encourage you to read James 3 this week. (I have posted it below.) As with all of James, his teaching is straightforward, warning us about the power of the tongue in a clear and sobering way. We have probably all experienced the truth of his warnings by being the victim of hurtful or gossiping words. I still remember overhearing gossip about me while I was a student at law school over 30 years ago! And if we are honest with ourselves, we have also experienced the pain and conviction of knowing our own words have caused great hurt to others. Regretfully, I have said so many things that moments later I have wished I could take back. I remember reading long ago that every one of us is carrying around a concealed weapon— our tongue. All we have to do is open our mouths and it is unconcealed, ready to unleash harm.