This past Sunday evening, the PCF kids spent some time talking about the difference between wants and needs. That is a pretty easy subject to talk about with kids this time of year ? what with Christmas right around the corner. They all had their want lists for Christmas memorized. The children mentioned games and toys and scooters and even a couple with grand ideas of four wheelers. It was fun to watch the excitement grow on their faces as they talked of what they wanted to find underneath the Christmas tree.

All of the conversation was fairly routine. Then came Austin. Austin Thames. When asked what he wanted for Christmas, Austin spouted off the name of a Mega - something or other - Transformer ? thing a - ma - bob ? those weren?t his words ? they are mine. Austin knew exactly what he wanted and exactly how to say it. I couldn?t say or remember the name of his hoped for toy ? still can?t. But, I hope Santa brings it to him because I want to see what it looks like. After a couple of failed attempts at repeating what he wanted, Austin helped me out. He said, " Aw! Pastor Mark, I want a robot. It?s a robot! " Simplification is sometimes good. Mega ? something or other ? Transformer ? thing a - ma ? bob ? that?s way beyond my Lincoln Log childhood. Robot, on the other hand, I get. Robot ? I would have never known!

Sometimes it takes just one word to say all that needs to be said. And that happened again Sunday night. After robot. We talked about what we need. And one of the kids ? I don?t know which one ? said, " Jesus, we need Jesus. " And while we talked some more ? we really didn?t need to. All that needed to be said had been said. Jesus. We need Jesus. Yes, we do. We need Jesus so we can know how to live. And love. And give. And serve. I always learn more from our children than I ever teach them.

There is one other word I want you all to think about this Advent and Christmas season. It is close to Jesus. Isaiah wrote about this word. It means everything to those of faith. The word is Emmanuel. Which means " God with us. " And God is.

These things I know: Robot. Jesus. Emmanuel. And little children shall lead. Thanks be to God!

Grace and peace,

Pastor mark