How high was Jesus’ crucifixion cross?

Traditional paintings, throughout the generations, have depicted him as lifted onto a high cross.

(There’s even an excellent hymn called “Lift High the Cross of Christ.”)

But was he really high up?

Conventional Thought

When we think of representations of Jesus’ death, the cross is usually depicted as very high off the ground.

Here’s one assessment:

The Christian Bible does not specify the actual dimensions of Jesus’ cross. The scriptures do give clues that allow an educated guess at the size and weight of the cross.

In Mark 15:36, the scripture reads that Jesus was offered a sponge with vinegar stuck to a hyssop reed. The average height of a male in that time period was approximately 5 feet. The reed of a hyssop averages 1 to 2 feet long.

These figures suggest the cross was approximately 7 to 9 feet tall. The “patibulum” [crosspiece] that Jesus’ arms were outstretched and nailed to was likely 5 to 6 feet long. The entire cross is estimated to have weighed well over 300 pounds.

Reference.com

Other questions have arisen about the above facts. During the first century AD, there was little excess wood in Judea.

As the first-century Jewish historian Josephus noted, wood was so scarce in Jerusalem during the first century A.D. that the Romans were forced to travel ten miles from Jerusalem to secure timber for their siege machinery.

Biblical Archaeology Daily

The article explained that while artists depict Jesus carrying a full cross, the condemned usually carried only the crossbar.

The math and Jesus’ crucifixion cross.

Let’s start with simple logic.

How much did Jesus weigh at the time of his death?

No idea.

Joan E. Taylor, in her book, What Did Jesus Look Like?, estimates Jesus probably stood about 5 feet, 5 inches.

That was the average height of a Jewish man in the first century.

As for Jesus’s body, I’ve consulted experts on ancient skeletons in Israel. What I have learned is that Judaeans of this time were closest biologically to Iraqi Jews of the contemporary world. In terms of a color palette then, think dark-brown to black hair, deep brown eyes, olive-brown skin. Jesus would have been a man of Middle Eastern appearance. In terms of height, an average man of this time stood 166 cm (5 ft 5 in) tall.

What did Jesus Look Like?

This chart suggests a healthy 5′ tall man would weigh between 97 and 123 pounds. Let’s take the average, 110 pounds.

So, we have a 110-pound man nailed to a 300-pound cross that’s eight feet tall. There’s a cross piece about 5 feet wide. (I’m averaging the numbers for computation purposes.)

What type of wood?

 In the Roman Empire of the 1st century, wood was the most common material used for crucifixion due to its availability and practicality (Samuelsson, 2013). The specific type of wood is not mentioned in the Gospels, and we should be cautious about speculating beyond what is known.

Olive wood or pine were commonly used in Palestine at the time; oak or cedar were also possibilities. The Romans often used whatever wood was locally available. The cross may have been roughly hewn, not the smooth, polished cross we often see in artistic depictions.

Jesus and the Cross

How hard would it be to set the cross into a hole in the ground?

I turned to my in-house engineer for this estimate.

Does this make sense to you?

We have a 110-pound man nailed to a 300-pound cross that’s eight feet tall. It includes a cross piece about 5 feet wide. (I’m averaging the numbers for computation purposes.)

A squad of Roman centurions is about ten strong men. Even six or eight could leverage the cross into place.

As they started lifting, half the weight was in the ground.

This is easier depending on the height of the cross.

How high was Jesus’ crucifixion cross?

Many sites estimate it at 7 to 9 feet high. That does not answer the question, though, of how deep the hole was.

The Romans tended to crucify criminals beside or near the main roads into town. This meant people walking by could look into the face of the crucified person without having to look very high.

For a modern fence, the recommendation is 1/4 to 1/3 of the pole length.

Thus, a 9-foot-tall pole would need to be buried in a hole a little over two feet deep.

Making it about 6.5-7 feet tall from the ground.

Remember, crucifixion was a warning to everyone else.

²⁹ And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰ save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

Mark 15:29-30 NKJV

This implies that those passing by were near enough to shout at Jesus and look him in the eye.

Wouldn’t the guards, who killed people this way all the time, like it to be simple and easy?

Rome designed crucifixion to humiliate the individual. Enabling him to hear people passing by suggests that Jesus’ cross may have been only six or seven feet high.

People walking by who could look him in the eye would be far less inclined to revolt against Rome.

His mother, waiting nearby, could have whispered words of encouragement and love as she prayed.

Remember, Jesus spoke to John, asking him to care for Mary.

Two older men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, took Jesus off the cross that night.

Together, they carried Jesus’ body to a new tomb.

To have done that alone, the cross probably was no more than seven feet off the ground.

Does it matter?

No.

Jesus died.

He rose three days later.

That’s the real significance.

The post The Height of Jesus’ Crucifixion Cross appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

“Woe to You, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” Jesus said three times in the book of Matthew. (Matthew 23:13)

But what does it mean?

And why did he say it three times?

He meant it.

Let’s see why.

Who were the Scribes?

The scribes were Jews who helped the Pharisees. They were literate secretaries who were not necessarily priests. (All Jewish boys learned to read and write in their synagogue school. The Jewish Queen Salome Alexandra made it compulsory 100 years before Jesus’ birth!)

According to Jeanne Constantinou, the scribes were experts on the Law of Moses,

especially in the oral law–the thousands of rules developed by the Pharisees that had not been written down yet. Because of that, the scribes were sometimes called “lawyers” in the Gospels.

Scribes were highly respected, and because of their depth and knowledge and extraordinary education, they had enormous authority and status.”

The Crucifixion of the King of Glory, p. 88

She also noted you did not have to come from a wealthy family to be a scribe. It was the only opportunity for significant social advancement for any Jewish man.

They liked to parade around in their special robes that had very long fringes. People stood aside out of respect and called them Rabbi, Father, or Master.

Who were the Pharisees?

I’ve written about them often:

• Am I a Pharisee? What About You?
• Jesus and the Pharisees: Another Look
• What Did it Take to Raise Lazarus Back to Life?
• Jesus’ Ministry During Holy Week
• What Did it Take to Kill Jesus?

Basically, they were the priests in charge of the Temple. They interpreted the Law, many as members of the Sanhedrin.

They were wealthy, they knew it, and they liked to throw around opinions while they appeared in Jerusalem.

Constantinou also details how corrupt they were: loving the gold in the Temple rather than God himself. (Matthew 23:16-22)

The problem with the scribes and Pharisees was they were so busy worrying about tiny errors, they missed the point.

Jesus came to break the power of the law to hurt people.

They kept making up auxiliary laws and trying to control.

The scribes and Pharisees were more interested in power than in people knowing their Creator.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The scribes and the Pharisees were hypocrites, according to Jesus.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. (Mathew 23:15).

And, of course, they objected to anything or anyone who might inhibit their ability to gather wealth.

The Scribes and the Pharisees in Jerusalem, AD 33, give or take a year

The scribes and Pharisees during Jesus’ years were so busy being “holier than thou” that people were losing faith.

And some priests were starving to death as the scribes and Pharisees gained more power and control.

They were self-indulgent hypocrites, and they didn’t obey their own laws.

Constantinou’s The Crucifixion in all Jesus’ Glory is a magnificent overview of Jerusalem during Holy Week, and a fascinating read. You’ll never look at Holy Week the same again.

When a scribe approached Jesus to test him, he asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus spoke the heart of God toward his people.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 22:34-36.

The woes came to the scribes and the Pharisees because they were disingenuous.

They lived a different life from that of the other followers of God.

God doesn’t like that.

We’re all one before God, and equal–sinners saved by the cross of Jesus.

Are you a scribe or a Pharisee?

What’s a hypocrite?

1. a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2. a person whose behavior contradicts their stated beliefs or feelings

What do you think is the Church’s purpose?

Do you financially benefit at the expense of others because of your role in the Church?

Do you make decisions that require others to make sacrifices, but not you?

Easter is an excellent time to examine our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits.

Are we scribes–watching for the jots and tittles to catch others in a mistake?

Are we Pharisees–more interested in controlling others than bowing in humility before Jesus?

These are interesting questions we can examine anytime.

Lent and Holy Week leading up to Easter are excellent times to examine our hearts.

He is risen for you and me.

Risen, indeed!

The post Woe to You, Scribes and Pharisees appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

Jesus in Gethsemane–that’s where he spent the final night before his crucifixion.

But what does Gethsemane mean, and where was that garden?

In Hebrew, the word Gethsemane means “oil press.”

Some scholars believe it is an apt name for the agony Jesus endured while praying.

Mark told the story in 14:32-34:

³² Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. ³⁴ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

The disciples, of course, fell asleep despite Jesus’ plea for them to pray with Him.

The men were rudely awakened when soldiers came to arrest Jesus later that night.

2023 in Gethsemane

We visited in 2023 after walking down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jerusalem’s Eastern Gate overlooks Gethsemane across the now-shallow Kidron Valley. (The Eastern gate is closed and sealed with concrete. A cemetery lies before it outside the Temple Mount.)

(Why? Because prophecy says Jesus will re-enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate when he returns. See Matthew 21:1-11 and Psalm 24:7-10. It’s also explained here.)

Visiting Gethsemane allowed us to see how close Jesus prayed to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

After the Last Supper, located west of the Temple Mount, Jesus needed to get away. He knew the crucifixion was coming and wanted to pray in a familiar place with his disciples.

That place was an olive garden.

Some believe it’s the place where the disciples gathered during their trips to Jerusalem.

Vineyards like Gethsemane often kept the wine presses inside caves. Certainly, the Mount of Olives is riddled with caves.

(We visited one further up the Mount of Olives before we arrived at Gethsemane.)

What’s Gethsemane like now?

It’s an ancient olive garden beside the Church of All Nations.

Three magnificent old olive trees grow in the garden beside the church.

They’re hollowed out inside their trunks, but obviously ancient and twisted.

Italian researchers conducted carbon dating tests in 2012 and found that the trees dated to 1092, 1166, and 1192 AD.

They’re among the oldest living trees known to science. Many assume they are descendants of the trees under which Jesus prayed in AD 33.

The church next door, today

The Church of All Nations was built in the 1920s on the foundation of two other churches.

In his book, Is Atheism Dead? Eric Metaxas pointed out that the people alive at that time might have known where things occurred.

After Constantine became emperor of Rome and a Christian, he sent his mother on a tour of the Holy Land.

Helena took this tour to Syria, Palestine, and Jerusalem from 326 to 328 AD.

She sought all the religious sites in the area — particularly anything to do with Jesus.

Shortly after Helena visited, the Byzantines built a basilica (a historic church) there.

About the time of Helena’s visit, the Garden of Gethsemane became a site for Christian pilgrims. The “Pilgrim of Bordeaux” visited in 333 AD and left a description of the garden.

People began to travel to Gethsemane to remember Jesus’ night of agony there.

The Church of All Nations focuses on the garden next door.

They believe the stone before the altar is “the bedrock where Jesus prayed.”

What’s it like to visit the Garden and the Church?

Surprisingly moving.

As we slowly moved past the olive grove, it was easy to imagine Jesus praying beneath the trees.

Only later did we learn they were too “young!”

But to think that garden was where he prayed made Jesus’ life feel so close.

Especially since he suffered there.

Entering the church and kneeling before that altar also left an impression.

Look closely. The small “fence” around the bedrock looks like a crown of thorns.

I touched the stone.

It was cool and smooth.

I knew it was unlikely that his blood spilled there (the same as in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher).

And yet.

I knew it happened not far.

And then the Temple Mount loomed above–where Jesus was finally arrested.

Was Jesus in that Gethsemane garden?

I don’t know.

But just being there brought Jesus, His death, and then His resurrection, so much closer.

We went away silent and emotionally moved.

But thankful that because of His sacrifice on the cross, we’ll be seeing Jesus soon.

Thanks be to God.

Blessings on your Lent.

The post Jesus in Gethsemane appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

What did it take to raise Lazarus back to life?

Is anything impossible for Jesus?

But why were his friends so surprised?

(See John 11).

Jesus and his disciples were ministering on the eastern side of the Jordan River when their friend Lazarus took ill.

Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, sent Jesus a message.

“He whom you love is sick.”

Jesus got the message. He turned to his disciples and assured them, “This sickness is not unto death.”

So, no one worried about not leaving immediately.

Several days later, Jesus told the men they needed to return to Bethany.

The disciples didn’t like that idea. The Pharisees had threatened to stone Jesus should he return.

“Our friend Lazarus sleeps. I go that I may wake him up.”

Jesus wasn’t making sense

So, what else was new?

Jesus spoke plainly, “Lazarus is dead. I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.”

They went after him, but they must have been confused.

• How did Jesus know Lazarus was dead?
• If so, what was the point?
• Would they all be stoned to death if they went with him?

Especially given their tardiness.

Which looked even worse when they arrived in Bethany and discovered Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.

By Jewish custom, his soul would be in heaven or Sheol by now.

Lazarus’ sisters and faith

Someone sent word to Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha.

The practical Martha went to greet him. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus acknowledged her words, “Your brother will rise again.”

He knew what it would take to bring Lazarus back to life, so he reassured Martha.

“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” This was Martha’s statement of faith.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26 NKJV

She stated her faith. She believed Jesus could raise Lazarus back to life again.

Meanwhile, Martha sent a message to her sister Mary, telling her of Jesus’ return.

Mary jumped up and ran to meet him.

Puzzled Pharisees, trying to comfort Mary, followed. They shook their heads when they saw Jesus himself. “Surely this man could have raised Lazarus from the dead if he is who he claims to be?”

Weeping and in travail (“groaning in his spirit”), Jesus stood at the tomb.

He told the people to remove the stone.

Time to raise Lazarus

What did it take to raise Lazarus from the dead?

Travail–a deep anguish–and the confidence that Jesus’ prayers would work.

You know how the story ends:

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

 ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

John 11:40-44 NKJV

Who would have been most shocked when Lazarus shuffled out, still wrapped in cloth?

Being raised from the dead

We met Ed Loughran from Illinois last year.

His story of being raised from the dead is amazing. (The interview is more than an hour long.)

And since he sat next to us as he described what happened–he was alive!

What did it take to be raised from the dead?

Faith and determination–and the knowledge that God could do all things.

The Pharisees were so shocked, they decided the only thing they could do was kill Lazarus again.

(As if he would stay dead?)

And Jesus, too.

But did they?

Well, you know what happened on Easter Sunday!

The post What Did It Take to Raise Lazarus Back to Life? appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

Lettie Cowman visited the Far East in 1939 in her role as The Oriental Missionary Society‘s president.

The world was falling apart in 1939 as Hitler started marching through Europe.

China, which had become the site of OMS headquarters, was falling apart politically.

OMS missionaries needed Lettie to visit the Far East for a meeting with the Board of Directors.

So, off she went.

Whom did she meet while sailing?

At dinner the first night out, Lettie met Dr. Blanche Houseman, an osteopathic physician, on her way to a family wedding. Dr. Houseman’s grandson sent me this story about their travels.

Lettie sailed out of San Francisco on the Asama Maru to Japan on July 10, 1939.

Among their fellow travelers was author Dale Carnegie, “who would very much like to be introduced,” to Lettie.

The two spent an entire evening on the veranda, along with Dr. Houseman.

Imagine the discussion between the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People and Lettie Cowman!

(He also wrote The Art of Public Speaking, and of course, he swapped stories with a professional that night!)

Lettie’s friendliness and confidence in God’s hand at work

Because of shipboard dining arrangements, Lettie dined with Dr. Houseman every night and established a firm friendship.

Ironically, Dr. Houseman practiced medicine in Hollywood, California–which is where Lettie lived at the time.

Lettie went to her berth after dinner each night “because I have many matters requiring my attention.” (An exception, of course, for meeting Dale Carnegie!).

She undoubtedly spent her usual hours in prayer before retiring. At 69 years old, she also suffered pain in her body.

One night, Lettie accepted a “treatment” from the osteopath and received a few more such treatments over the voyage.

During the second week of the voyage, she made a surprising announcement to Dr. Houseman.

“The Lord has very definitely spoken to me. I feel led to take you with me to Korea.”

She then added. “I do not know where the money is coming from, but your expenses will be paid. He hath spoken, and now that (the funds) is his responsibility.”

Lettie’s friendliness and invitations to potential missionaries were infamous. So was her confidence that God always provided the necessary funds.

The Far East in 1939 with OMS

Once they arrived in Japan and Dr. Houseman attended the wedding, Lettie invited her to travel to Korea.

Why?

“Mrs. Cowman said she felt not only would her missionaries benefit . . . but it would be giving me an interesting trip, as well as a spiritual blessing.”

Well, why not?

The two joined the OMS missionaries at Wha Chin Fo Beach for what became a week of storytelling.

The OMS Missionaries needed a week to hear all of Lettie’s stories about the work she’d been doing in Europe.

Dr. Houseman was fascinated to learn about Korea and meet people from all over the world.

She also treated “patients to the limit of my strength.”

Dr. Houseman loved the experience and appreciated learning about missionary life.

Mrs. Cowman made this an interesting and spiritually profitable trip to Korea possible.

True to her word, she took me under her wing from the night I left Tokyo until I returned to Japan.

Dr. Blanche Houseman, letter home.

What do we learn from this letter describing Lettie’s trip?

The 1939 trip was difficult. Lettie needed to justify all her time and energies spent in Europe, rather than paying attention to the ministry.

The missionaries were “enthralled” by her stories–which took her five afternoons to recount.

Lettie was her folksy, generous self–thinking of others’ needs.

Dr. Houseman was a convenient, and happy, person to help her missionary friends.

And, of course, Lettie was always happy to talk with people she met on board ships.

It was a sad trip. OMS co-founder Juji Nakada died while she was in Korea.

As the last living founder of the Oriental Missionary Society, Lettie Cowman went home sobered.

She had another ten years of ministry ahead of her and the hardest years–World War II–were still to come.

2026 marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Oriental Missionary Society.

The post The Far East 1939 and Lettie Cowman appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

A non-servant leader, whether at work or in ministry, can be a challenge.

Now what?

(Part 1: What is a servant leader? is here).

A recent article in Commentary Magazine described the problem well:

The ideal of servant leadership too often becomes a public performance. Leaders, especially in religious and non-profit spaces, learn the gestures and phrases of the humble servant as a way of concealing an exercise of power that remains centralized, unchecked, and sometimes harmful. 

David Forney; The Dark Side of Servant Leadership

And there you are. Stuck.

You can’t always leave.

Now what?

What to do if you’re working with a non-servant leader?

Here’s a list from a friend who has been in that situation more than once.

• Do the best you can for those who work for and with you.
• Respect the leader and work to win their trust — without compromising your commitment to your co-workers.
• Do not compromise your commitment to servant leadership.
• Do not confront the non-servant leader head-on. Work to win and advance the group effort– even if that makes the boss look good.
• You have to be willing to be fired for doing the right thing.

Sometimes it is time to leave — but don’t abandon your fellow workers.

Leave them in a strong position.

A good example is Joseph in the Old Testament.

His story starts in Genesis when his ten non-servant leader brothers sold him into slavery.

Joseph ended up working for Potiphar in Egypt and did a fine job.

Unfortunately, he was attractive, and Potiphar’s wife accused him of a crime he didn’t commit.

As a slave, he ended up in prison.

There, he also did a fine job and used his prophetic gift to interpret dreams accurately.

When promoted to work under Pharaoh, he continued to serve people well without complaint.

Potiphar, the jailer, and Pharaoh were non-servant leaders who gave Joseph latitude because of his ability to work with them.

As a result, Joseph was in a position to save his family and the Egyptians during a seven-year famine.

Other Bible leaders demonstrated their ability to work with non-servant leaders in difficult circumstances.

• Jesus (Five Ways Jesus Handled Difficult People)
• Moses (Numbers 11:10-15; among other passages!)
• Nehemiah (Worked alongside the Israelites rebuilding the wall)
• Deborah (When the men wouldn’t do it, she did without complaints)
• Paul (A servant of Jesus Christ; Romans 1:1, 2 Corinthians 11:25-28)

Other links on working with a non-servant leader:

• How To Deal With A Bad Boss Biblically
• Working With Harsh Bosses
• John Piper: How to Serve a Bad Boss

More important than all of this?

Serve your boss and your fellow workers as a servant, yourself.

The post A Non-Servant Leader Boss? Now What? appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

What is a “servant leader”?

Do you serve under one in your church, job, volunteer position, or even your family?

What difference does it make?

Quite a bit–especially if you’re “chaffing” under rules and requirements.

How to define and recognize a Servant Leader

We first learned of the concept many years ago when my husband served in the military.

We joined the Officers’ Christian Fellowship (OCF) — a small-group Bible study held at most duty stations.

In the study, we often discussed how to apply Scripture and the concept of a servant leader in our lives.

Servant Leadership works equally well in marriage, the military, and in real life.

A servant leader inspires people to follow them because they genuinely care about their people. Real leadership has nothing to do with a position you hold. It’s about your character. Do you inspire others to follow you, or do you demand them to?”

LTJG Rachel Christensen, USCG (Bold face is from me)

Similarly, from the same article,

Servant leadership, “is not being a servant nor simply being a leader, but a combination,” said Bryan. “All leadership should be about accomplishing the mission, while taking care of your people. {This results in] making the unit/family/organization better along the way.”

LTC Bryan Groves, USA

Who does this remind you of?

Can you see that Jesus was a servant leader?

Jesus as a servant leader

These are the ways that I see Jesus acted in love for his followers:

• He called them individually.
• He recognized their gifts.
• Jesus joined them in their work–he didn’t order them around.
• He showed his disciples how to do what he’d taught them.
• Love came even when they made mistakes–or doubted his teachings.
• They worked together as a team, with Jesus leading the way at first.
• Jesus trusted his men to do what he’d told them to do–even when they failed.
• He didn’t leave them or forsake them without providing another leader. (Holy Spirit).
• As part of his servant leadership, Jesus didn’t humiliate his men in public.
• He forgave their errors and provided a way to learn and try again.

As Christiansen noted about servant leaders:

Two key characteristics are confidence and humility, which may sound contradictory to some, just as servant leadership does. While confidence is necessary to both positional and servant leadership, humility is the foundation of servant leadership.

We know Jesus humbled himself for his followers–all the way to the Cross.

What does such leadership look like?

Groves:

The model includes ensuring our troops get good food without interruption (despite having to lead a convoy through dangerous territory all night). Prioritizing missions to protect and help local people, despite enemy attacks.

Sometimes it means fighting unpleasant bureaucratic challenges to use the unit’s money to best equip and train soldiers.

He went on to apply the concept to the family:

At home, a servant leader means fighting for my family in prayer. Equipping my kids: to love God and people, and with the life skills for work and play.

What about the church?

As followers of Jesus Christ, our role in the church is to emulate Jesus.

While someone needs to be the leader, that leader should consider themselves a servant leader–a leader like Jesus.

Many probably see themselves that way.

Many are that way.

Praise God.

By taking care of your people, you can experience joy.

But what are the characteristics of someone who isn’t acting like a servant leader?

Linked In has a list about the concept of a servant leader:

• Not a sign of weakness.
• Not a one-way street.
• Not a quick fix.
• Not a one-size-fits-all.
• Not a solo act.

In the article, businessman Warren Long explains it well:

“It’s not about being a pushover . . . it’s not about blindly following orders.

Instead, it’s about serving the greater good of the organization by fostering collaboration, transparency, and trust. It’s about empowering team members to make informed decisions and providing them with the support they need to succeed. Servant leadership means advocating for ethical practices and long-term value creation, even if it means challenging the status quo or having difficult conversations with stakeholders. It’s a delicate balance of serving others while still driving results and maintaining accountability.”

What to do if you work or serve under a non-servant leader?

That will be next week’s post.

The post What is a Servant Leader? Why Should I Care? appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

What’s a spiritual mom?

How would you define the term?

I’ve had several spiritual mothers over the many years I’ve been a Christian. Both entered my life at crucial moments.

They taught me spiritual truth by words, examples, and advice.

Spiritual and practical, speaking the truth in love.

That’s what a spiritual mom is.

Lettie Cowman’s interest in young women missionaries

Spiritual moms come in many forms.

Lettie Cowman had a special heart for women missionaries, or even would-be missionaries!

(But only in a focused area of their spiritual life. Lettie did not know how to cook!)

Lettie remembered being a young, inept missionary wife with little money in 1901 Japan.

When she traveled on behalf of the Oriental Missionary Society (OMS), she brought small creature comforts for the women.

Lettie enjoyed nothing more than sitting down to tea and conversation. She wanted to hear about their lives.

She exchanged letters with many and always wrote encouraging notes.

A missionary’s granddaughter writes about Lettie’s ministry.

I recently received an email from the granddaughter of one of Lettie’s “spiritual daughters.”

Here’s Kimberley’s story:

My grandma Ruth Messerschmidt was an OMS missionary to Colombia. They say she left part of her heart there. (OMS founded the Biblical Seminary of Colombia).

While seated at my grandma’s funeral, I discovered the man sitting beside me was also a missionary.

“Did you know Lettie Cowman was your grandma’s spiritual mom?”

She did not.

He talked about Ruth

All she knew was that her grandmother Ruth once had owned a personally signed copy of Streams in the Desert. Lettie had signed it “Lettie,” rather than her traditional autograph, “Mrs. Charles Cowman.”

She also knew Ruth had fled Colombia quickly when political elements in the 1950s made Protestant missionary work dangerous.

Ruth had left her copy of Streams in the Desert behind.

Kimberly befriended the man. Years later, he found Ruth’s worn copy of Streams in the Desert and sent it to her.

What made Lettie befriend Ruth?

Kimberly thought the two women had more in common than just OMS.

Like Lettie, her grandmother wanted to be an opera singer. Like Lettie, she was very musical and played the flute.

Lettie encouraged her, and as always, was thrilled when Ruth found a husband and married.

While Lettie only visited Colombia once, their friendship began where their hearts met: on the mission field.

It grew with what they had in common: a love for God, missions, and music.

Neither woman had a child of her own. (Ruth adopted her husband’s children after their marriage).

As with all her missionary friends, Lettie looked out for Ruth.

My spiritual mom, Liz

Pregnant with my first child and 3500 miles from home, I met Liz in a church kitchen.

While our friendship began in Bible study, we quickly branched out into general life.

Liz taught me about gardening, raising children, and how to love an absent husband.

Liz taught me what it meant to be a “good Navy wife.” She modeled it, answered questions, and gently loved me — often through my foolish behavior.

I was only 24 years old and new to the adventure of a husband going out to sea.

Liz knew it well. She advised me and helped with my children when I got injured.

She and her husband bailed me out more times than I can count. They took the kids and me into their home during a hurricane.

I was honored to serve as Liz’s Navy wife eulogist at her memorial service.

What makes for a spirit mom—spiritual daughter relationship?

Love, caring, a need.

Friendship, joy, fun.

Cooking.

Laughter.

I’ve had the joy of being both a spiritual daughter and a spiritual mom.

My life is richer for both.

Thanks be to God.

The post A Spiritual Mom: Lettie Cowman and Liz appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

People starting to read the Bible often don’t know where to start.

It’s a large book with many chapters, divided into two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament.

How do you know where to begin?

I asked several friends.

Starting to read the Bible with the friendly Book of John.

As Ann said, “The Gospel of John is a good place to start because ‘who was Jesus?’ is a vital question. You need to answer it for yourself.”

My friends agreed.

Cathy described a group she knew that marked the book of John as the first to be read. “That way, when they gave them away, people knew where to start.”

The Lutheran Women’s Ministry League marks Bibles for prison ministries. You can obtain a PDF for detailed directions on important passages here.

I like John first, myself, but Rachel pointed out that a friend found all John’s analogies confusing. “She tried the Gospel of Luke and found it was more concrete about who Jesus was and what he did.”

Luke tells more of the story. The beginning is familiar to anyone who has celebrated Christmas. Starting with a story you’ve heard before can make Luke’s further telling more accessible for beginners.

Why not start at the very beginning?

It’s an idea, especially since the first chapter, Genesis 1, opens with “In the beginning.”

That’s where I originally began as a young teenager.

The early chapters are enthralling: a basic description of how God created the universe.

There’s majesty and beauty in the beginning.

The book of Genesis moves into stories many know: Adam and Eve; Noah and the Flood.

Soon you’ll start asking questions. Does what the Bible says make sense?

How can God create the universe in 24 hours?

It depends on how you define “day,” and a beginner rarely digs into the Hebrew meanings of words.

(I eventually encountered Reasons to Believe, where many of those questions were answered.)

I quickly decided Jesus’ life and ministry were easier to understand.

Why join a Bible Study?

Several years after my failed attempts to read the Bible for myself, I joined a high school Bible study.

The eight girls were already studying the book of Romans with Mrs. Hahn.

Since that’s where I joined, that’s where I started.

I didn’t understand half of what I read.

I needed guidance because it all felt so new.

By participating in a Bible study, I could ask as many questions as I wanted.

Mrs. Hahn patiently answered them all.

It also helped that members of the group pointed me to a Good News Bible.

I needed simpler words and ideas to fully grasp what I was reading.

Mrs. Hahn also taught me to read, think, wonder, read again, and ask God questions about the text.

I’ve been studying the Bible that way ever since.

What if you don’t want to start with a group? Or you can’t?

A friend of ours spent time in prison.

While there, he read and read and read.

You don’t have access to a group when you’re in solitary confinement.

But he requested commentaries, which he received.

His faith grew as he read the Bible with commentaries by his side.

And if you don’t have a group to read the Bible with?

My friends suggested reading the Bible in this order: John, Acts, Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians.

Reading in that order introduces you to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and how God intended the church to live.

Bible reading plans are easy to find online.

You can start each new book by watching the appropriate animated video from Bible Project.

I’ve used it for years in my teaching.

Beyond that, read, ask questions, listen to the Holy Spirit answer, and don’t give up.

Starting to read the Bible can change your life.

It did mine.

I’ve often blogged about Bible study. You can check out my blog posts starting here.

The post Starting to Read the Bible appeared first on Michelle Ule, Author.

I recently read Now Departing by Victor M. Sweeney, a book by a mortician about death.

Sitting on the new books shelf at the library, the clever title drew me. When I saw the topic, I knew I needed to read this book.

Wouldn’t you be curious about the thoughts of “a small-town mortician on death, life, and the moments in between?”

For me, this book is so wise and insightful that I couldn’t put it down.

My personal draw to Now Departing.

I lost ten close relatives in ten miserable years starting 34 years ago.

My mom, my dad, my father-in-law, my three remaining grandparents, great-aunts, and so forth.

We moved three times, careers ended, jobs were lost, children grew up and left home.

All were endings and major changes in life, death, while family members died.

As a result, I’ve written many blogs about death.

You can start reading them here.

If my personal experience wasn’t enough, all eleven books I’ve published have included deaths.

Now departing?

Sometimes it has felt like everything was departing.

And yes, I have had a lot of inner healing prayer for all these deaths!

Concerned about the afterlife or the death process?

I’ve been a Christian for 54 years. I’m not worried about what happens after I die.

But, like most of us, I pray I do not have a long, lingering death.

What I want my family to do with my body is another matter.

Intellectually, I understand the ecological and financial draw of cremation.

Emotionally, however, I’m uneasy

Make your own personal call, no judgment will from me.

After visiting Auschwitz and Dachau, I’m convinced I don’t want to be cremated.

Sweeney’s book (he also has a YouTube channel) walked me through death from a mortician’s work.

He’s a wise 37-year-old man, with a servant’s heart and a devout Catholic’s insight.

I felt so reassured. (And wondered if I needed to move to his small town in Minnesota!)

What made Now Departing so encouraging?

The book consists of short chapters using stories to describe different aspects of his trade.

(He tells stories of the experiences he’s had in his small community.)

But look how thoughtful he is in the author’s note:

“We must remember our dead and get to know the living. The stories in this book include the deaths and lives of the many I’ve met in my line of work. . . .

My townspeople have trusted me to use their real names and tell their stories alongside my own.

The act of remembering is a gift . . . and one I’m honored to share.

Now Departing Author’s Note

In the chapters, Sweeney described how he performs his “craft” (my word) and the care he uses with each body.

His YouTube channel answers specific questions about death and his trade. I haven’t watched it. Sweeney’s words were enough for me.

Who will write your obituary?

While the mortician or the mortuary staff, or even AI, can write your obituary, Sweeney has other thoughts.

“I am among those who have a strong desire to consider and share our own obituary, our life summarized. . . . This is something I do regularly, updating my obituary each August.” (Now Departing page 168)

As he’s rewritten it each year, he’s realized the things he’s done were not as important as those he loves. “My beliefs, marriage, children, work, and interests take precedence–hopefully in that order.”

I like this idea. Why not put in writing what’s been important in my life to me?

In my case, it always goes back to my family, my faith, and my spiritual future.

Our former pastor, surveying a congregation with older members, held a workshop every few years.

He invited anyone interested to make the funeral arrangements, which he kept on file.

He used that time to encourage them to make their peace with loved ones. We all need to make sure our souls are right with God.

Because you never know when death will come.

Do you really want to leave your loved ones guessing?

It’s probably time I make plans and leave them with my family.

How about you?

Here’s a link to the book.

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