(Merry Christmas from the Wahes)
Every Christmas I’m reminded by the presence of the Lord in my life and one story that seems to always show up in my heart is a story I heard read years ago by one of my youth leaders as a kid, by Martin Bell, titled "The Way Of The Wolf." You can find the rest of the story here and order the book here. It’s a wonderful Christmas reminder of the presence of God in our lives during this season of Advent.

"It is a good thing that I can hop, he thought, "because the snow is very deep."

Then Barrington dug and dug. Soon he had gathered together enough dead leaves and grass to make the squirrels’ nest warmer. Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop.

He laid the grass and leaves just under the large oak tree and attached this message: "A gift. A free gift. From a member of your family."

It was late when Barrington finally started home. And what made things worse was that he knew a blizzard was beginning.

Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop.

Soon poor Barrington was lost. The wind howled furiously, and it was very, very cold. "It certainly is cold," he said out loud. "It’s a good thing I’m so furry. But if I don’t find my way home pretty soon I might freeze!"

Squeak. Squeak. . . .

And then he saw it-a baby field mouse lost in the snow. And the little mouse was crying.

"Hello, little mouse," Barrington called.

"Don’t cry. I’ll be right there." Hippity-hop, and Barrington was beside the tiny mouse.

"I’m lost," sobbed the little fellow. "I’ll never find my way home, and I know I’m going to freeze."

"You won’t freeze," said Barrington. "I’m a bunny and bunnies are very furry and warm. You stay right where you are and I’ll cover you up."

Barrington lay on top of the little mouse and hugged him tight. The tiny fellow felt himself surrounded by warm fur. He cried for awhile but soon, snug and warm, he fell asleep.

Barrington had only two thoughts that long, cold night. First he thought, "It’s good to be a bunny. Bunnies are very furry and warm." And then, when he felt the heart of the tiny mouse beating regularly, he thought, "All the animals in the forest are my family."

Next morning, the field mice found their little boy, asleep in the snow, warm and snug beneath the furry carcass of a dead bunny. Their relief and excitement was so great that they didn’t even think to question where the bunny had come from.

And as for the beavers and the squirrels, they still wonder which member of their family left the little gift for them that Christmas Eve.

After the field mice had left, Barrington’s frozen body simply lay in the snow. There was no sound except that of the howling wind. And no one anywhere in the forest noticed the great silver wolf who came to stand beside that brown, lop-eared carcass.

But the wolf did come.

And he stood there.

Without moving or saying a word.

All Christmas Day.

Until it was night.

And then he disappeared into the forest.

Cruising here and then here and then found this picture and began to miss our time back east when were here. I walked this walk several times to here for some peace away from the grind of seminary and lots of prayer about my future as a pastor in the good ol’ PCUSA. My favorite time walking through the Princeton campus was when it would snow. (Small World Coffee has to be the best coffee ever grown, order some online, you won’t be sorry, my choice was always the "Grumpy Monkey Blend")

3 Worship services Saturday…no service for me Sunday…and we’re off for some much needed vacation! Peace of Christ! K.C.

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One of our church members this week passed away. Joe was one of the persons in charge of welcoming persons into the church and getting them involved in the church and helping them become members. He also had a heart for helping our youth of the church become active church members. Joe lived a wonderful life as a husband, father, church elder, and military officer. Most of all he was a follower of Christ and it showed in every part of his life. Lord, bless you Joe and your family, and thanks for modeling Jesus to all of us young kids. At the end of the service we witnessed the flag presentation and military honors for Joe. When the rifles were shot outside the church, I lost it, had never experienced this kind of service before in my life.

Took boy number three tonight to do last minute shopping for Christmas. I’m jazzed about what I got Deb. Always nice to have my brides gift bought two days in advance (Only took 15 years to get that right). As boy number three and I strolled through the overly crowded mall and passed by the long line of persons waiting to see Santa, Ty says, "that’s not Santa. What’s his name?" I smiled of course. (If bored right now with this post, make your own speech bubble here)

HT: Marko

The Emergent Govenator.

And the winner is…

The world doesn’t know what they’re missing. I’m a fan of Peets.

On a different note…I really enjoy the sounds of Mercy Me. I guess they’re on Jay Leno this Wednesday night.

HT: Justin

HT: Pagitt Blog

What kind of pastor do I want to be in 2006?

I want to be the kind of pastor that loves and adores my wife. I want to be the kind of pastor that tells the world of how blessed I am by the Lord and that I’m honored to be her husband. I want her to know that ministry and church will never take precedence over our marriage. I want her to know that I will honor her and love her over anything and anyone else in the church.

I want to be the kind of pastor that loves and adores my kids. I want to be the kind of pastor that tells the world of how blessed I am by the Lord to be a parent and that I’m honored to be their father. I want my kids to know that dad will always be available. I want them to know that my love for them as their father will always be for them over ministry and my responsibilities as a pastor and teacher of God’s Word. I want them to know that I will do my best to always keep them above everyone and anything else in the church.

I want to be the kind of pastor that models Christ’s love and compassion in a world that hurts so that others might come to know Jesus. I want others to the know the forgiveness and grace found in a relationship with Jesus and that this kind of forgiveness is for all of us as his children.

I want to be the kind of pastor that preaches and teaches God’s Word in a way that empowers and encourages the Kingdom of God to love others as Jesus loved them. I want to be a catalyst for helping the brokenhearted find healing and strength to get through the joys and struggles of life. I want to help others to becoming followers of Jesus. I want to be intentional and unafraid to go after those who Jesus would have gone after.

I want to be the kind of pastor that prays often and daily. I want others to see my heart for Jesus. I want to be a lover of Jesus, for his word, and to have a prayer life that where the people of God know with confidence that their pastor has a heart for prayer and that when he he says, "I will pray you," actually means it.

I want to be the kind of pastor that admits when he is wrong, to say sorry where needed, and is the first to reconcile and to make things right. I want to face the things that are hard and I want to learn from my mistakes. I want to help and model for others the art of reconciliation.

(Latest Addition) I want to be the kind of pastor that listens well and knows when to be quiet in order to listen to others. I want people to know that I will listen to them and give to them my full attention. I don’t want to be someone who has a reputation for not listening and that I don’t know when to be quiet.

Finally, I want to be the kind of pastor that builds and creates a place for the people of God to be in community, where those who need Jesus can find Jesus and can find restoration and refreshment for their souls. I want to encourage the kind of community that allows for the Holy Spirit to do the work of change. I want to live life as Jesus lived, unashamedly, with courage, and with boldness.

In both worship services today we were blessed with a wonderful presentation of the gospel message and the story of Mary and Joseph. One of the songs that was sung this morning was "The Magnificat," that caused my heart to stop and to receive the goodness of God;

MAGNIFICAT David Haas

Refrain: All that I am sings of the God
who brings new life to birth in me.
My spirit soars on the wings of my Lord.

My soul gives glory to the Lord,
rejoicing in my saving God:
Who looks upon me in my state,
and all the world will call me blest;
For God works marvels in my sight,
and holy, holy, is God’s name!

God’s mercy is from age to age,
on those who follow in fear;
Whose arm is power and strength,
and scatters all the proud of heart;
who cast the mighty from their thrones,
and raises up the lowly ones!

God fills the starving with good things
the rich are left with empty hands;
Protecting all the faithful ones,
remembr’ing Israel with mercy,
the promise known to those before,
and to their children for all time.

The Magnificat

Got to church this morning, walked by the copy machine, and we saw an angel making copies…WOW!(Sharon is one of our way cool parents here at CPC, today was our Christmas drama in both of our worship services, and I happened to walk by as she was making some copies)