Into the Fire

                                         Thank you, Lord.

     In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar – when Pontius Pilate – was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene – during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the product:

          "A voice of one calling in desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"

Luke 3:1-6 (NIV)

Five things I detest. Some of you might raise your eyebrows on one or more of these, but I do detest them with little or no apology.

Dripping faucets

Driving the speed limit or just below it in the fast lane

Liberal/Progressive/Democrat philosophy/politics

Copy-editing errors (my own and others')

Compromising the Gospel

Father, you know my heart. Sometimes it's all messed up. Which is why I'm always desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Extremely well done. This is the tear-jerking scene for us romantics that allowed Ziva David to stay in her homeland (Israel) and for Cote de Pablo to leave NCIS. Will Special Agent Tony DiNozzo's departure involve the unconfessed love of his life? Hopefully.

Father, emotion is a gift. Thank you for it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Here's the bad news: Michael Weatherly will be leaving the hit show NCIS at the end of the 2016 season. When a series goes as long as this one has (13 seasons), the actors start to thin out. Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo will be greatly missed.

Father, thank you for the talent and gifts you disperse. My prayer is that each one who has made the best and most of theirs will realize who gave it to them. Bless Michael as he continues in the career you gave him. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

This very modern kitchen has an older, kind of classic feel to it, especially with the glimpse of the adjoining hallway, doors, and the wainscoting/kitchen wall. I don't like the ceiling, but everything else works including the view.

Lord, thank you for the ability to capture the old with the new, to use what's valuable from all different times. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Karin Kaufmann adds a fourth cozy mystery with an edge to her collection of The Anna Denning Mystery Series. As always, The Club presents a multi-character murder mystery for Anna Denning as she joins the police force as a consultant. It does seem as though murder tends to follow her around and with the help of her close friend Liz, who operates a news website which outshines and often scoops the local Elk Park newspaper, Anna is tasked with finding the family of a murder victim who's missing a finger. A genealogist by trade, Anna simultaneously takes on an extra job from a woman (Melinda) trying to find her family heritage after being summoned by the father who abandoned her family and who she refers to as "the monster".

Anna, Liz, and Melinda investigate the "January Club" by attending one of their yearly open house meetings because of a connection they found to Melinda's father. They learn "the club" is basically composed of a few people who practice various occult practices. Anna discovers the case she's working on for the police ties into this weird club.

Karin's writing is perfect for this genre. We're familiar with Anna Denning after three previous books, and Karin keeps Anna's voice, personality, and actions steady for what we expect of her character. Between Anna and Liz, theories run rampant as they try to figure out the real purpose of the January Club and the odd relationships formed by its members.

If you like cozy mysteries with an edge, The Club by Karin Kauffman is definitely worth your time. Entertaining, informational, clever, and mysterious with a touch of the supernatural, The Club's complex plot and the duo of Anna and Liz working together proves to be enjoyable reading.

Father, thank you for watching over Karin. Please continue to meet her needs and provide her with the stories you design just for her to tell. Bless her, Lord, as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

     "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

     Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2:41-52 (NIV)

I wish you the Love of Jesus in 2016.

2015 is exiting. Some will celebrate, some will mourn, some will address it as just another day. Some will sing this old tune. Others will drink liquid spirits into 2016. As the saying goes, "Time waits for no man."

Whatever 2016 brings you, there is one thing that will never change. The God of the universe sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us. All of us. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We can take Him or leave Him to our benefit or peril.

The world rocks with war, terrorism, pestilence, poverty, sickness, and spiritual and emotional void. Jesus doesn't promise relief from the effects of mankind's sins. He offers companionship through it all. He offers rescue from the void. He offers heaven when life is all done. And he offers forgiveness to those who ask for it.

What you choose for your life in 2016 is in your heart. You determine your eternal direction. One way, one truth. Not mine: I'm a sinner just like you, and I didn't create the wonder or dilemma of free will, right and wrong, sin and saint. Those belong solely and soul-ly to the God of the universe. And you and I get to choose what we believe, embrace, or live out.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 (NIV)

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NIV)

Your choices are the same for 2016 as they were for any other year. Choose wisely. Eternity awaits.

Thank you, Lord God, for rescuing me. As always, I'm desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.