Thanksgiving at CRC was filled with good fellowship and "hot" teaching, as the Hansen's put it in their song on Thanksgiving Day. Peter and the kitchen staff laid out a fantastic feast, which our speaker called "ridiculous" because it was ridiculously good! If you are ever at the coast on a Sunday you will want hear Pastor Jason Biel of Coastline Christian Church in Astoria. He is Biblically sound and has a great sense of humor. He would make a great speaker, too, for any of your men's retreats! One of my take-a-ways from his talks over the weekend was his words on justification. The example he used, which he in no way was looking to as a perfect one, was the illustration of someone not only forgiving you of let's say a million dollar debt, but also, after forgiving you of that debt, giving you another million dollars. Not only does God take away our sin, which gives us right standing with God, but He also imputes to us His righteousness. Even though I knew the meaning of the word, this picture just blew my mind as I tend to only think of the first half of the definition. God gives us His righteousness. This is an unbelievable gift.  

     Another one of the many joys about the weekend was that one of our guests gave their life to Christ. This is especially meaningful because just a week ago I asked our staff if we could stand together to pray for a hundred people to come to Christ this year through CRC's ministry. I had been inspired to do this after listening to Ben Huntford's devotions a couple of weeks earlier about a missionary he had been reading about who had gone to China and had asked God for 100 souls to come to Christ during his time of service there, and how the Lord had answered. We are looking for open doors when people come to be God's hands and feet. Perhaps this Christmas God will put someone on your heart to pray for and share the Good News with. What better present could someone receive than Christ in their heart?
     A further blessing was that another person asked to be baptized over the weekend. This woman already believed in God and had thought about being baptized many times before, but had always changed her mind at the last minute. So, there we were with our colorful umbrellas out in the pouring rain and big grins on our faces watching a beautiful sight of a life dying to self and being raised up into newness of life in Silver Creek, below the Main Lodge. An interesting thing about this was that this guest also came to CRC by finding us on the internet. No one had told her about us and she didn't come with anyone, but God had a plan to meet her here.
     This morning it snowed lightly with bright, white flakes. I enjoyed watching them gently falling, covering the fir trees outside my window. Then, the sun came out and everything glistened. I loved it. It reminded me of how Jesus came to take everything in our lives that is soiled by sin and shame and make it new again so that we can have fellowship with Him, just as David the Psalmist said in Psalm 51:7 "Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Jesus has the power to change lives!
     Just a reminder, our New Years Retreat is just around the corner and we are already two thirds full, so if you want to sign up you'll need to do so soon. An old friend of mine, Mike Delorenzo, who was very influential in my early years of following Christ, will be sharing and I can't wait to hear him. Mike is zealous for God and has been in full time ministry for over 30 years. Evangelism, intercession and painting pictures about places he has prayed for has been a key part of his life.
Joy and peace to you and your family this Christmas! 

 
All for JESUS,

 Julie Hansen 

We recently learned that a dear friend and brother in Christ has gone home to the Lord and we wanted to share that with you: