Submitted by Wolf Gang member Ashley Welch

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, “No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.”

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, “No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.”

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, “No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned.”

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, “No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.”

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, “No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, “No.  You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.”

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, “No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.”

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said…”Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.”

May God Bless you. “To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world.”

© Wake Up With the Wolf Show – 93.1 the Wolf – WPAW.  Please share this with your friends!

By Steve Goodier

You heard about the sign posted on a rancher’s fence? On the other side of the fence resides the biggest, meanest looking bull you can imagine. The sign is intended to strike fear into the hearts of would-be trespassers. It reads: “Don’t attempt to cross this field unless you can do it in 9.9 seconds. The bull can do it in 10 flat!”

Don’t try to cross that field unless you are prepared! And isn’t that the way it is in life? We have to be ready when the opportunity arises or else we will have little chance of success.

Sixth-grade schoolteacher Ms. Shelton believed in readiness. Students remember how she walked in on the first day of class and began writing words of an eighth-grade caliber on the chalkboard. They quickly protested that the words were not on their level and they couldn’t learn them.

Their teacher insisted that the students could and would learn these words. She said that she would never teach down to them. Ms. Shelton ended by saying that one of the students in that classroom could go on to greatness, maybe even be president some day, and she wanted to prepare them for that day.

Ms. Shelton spoke those words many years ago. Little did she know that someday one of her students – Jesse Jackson – would take them seriously (“Leadership,” Summer 1992). She believed that if they were well prepared, they could achieve high goals.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “People only see what they are prepared to see.” If that’s true, then it is also true that they only become what they are prepared to become. And a lot of life is just about getting ready.

“I want to be doing something more significant with my life than what I am doing now,” a young man once said to me. He felt like what he was doing was just not that important. Other people have said things to me such as, “I only wish I had a meaningful relationship.” And, “I’d really like to get a better job, but I just don’t see how.”

You fill in the blanks. What is it you would like to happen that isn’t happening? Perhaps the answer is that you are not yet ready. Maybe you need more time to prepare before you are truly ready for that which you desire.

Think of today as another chance to prepare yourself for that exciting future you are looking for. Today is not wasted. If you desire more from life, then you can use today as training. For you will experience only what you are prepared to experience. Something wonderful can happen. And you can use today to get ready for tomorrow.

© Wake Up With the Wolf Show – 93.1 the Wolf – WPAW.  Please share this with your friends!

By Steve Goodier

Anger is just one letter short of danger — it seems to be as true in English as well as in practice. Dr. Bedford Williams at Duke University has determined that students who score high on a “hostility test” are in far greater danger of dying young than their peers. In fact, those who are prone to anger are in greater physical danger than those who smoke, have high blood pressure or even high cholesterol.

Not that we should never be angry. It is a normal part of life. We all get “worked up,” “overheated” or just plain “hopping mad” at times. Those closest to us know it best. (Just ask my kids!)

One little boy said about his mother: “When she starts to act real weird, you have to look scared and serious. Don’t giggle. When mommies are mad, they get madder when you giggle.”

The good news is that simply getting angry does not seem to be the problem. Well-directed anger can be a helpful emotion. But STAYING angry is dangerous — to our health and to our relationships.

Here are four simple steps that can help move us out of the danger zone when we feel as if our hostility is running the show.

1.    Control it. Uncontrolled anger will take over.

2.    Talk it out. Don’t keep it in and let it fester.

3.    Act on it. Do what needs to be done to resolve the situation. Helplessness will only provoke more anger and, eventually, despair.

4.    End it. Just as there is a starting point for anger, there must be an ending. Make a decision not to prolong destructive hostility.

It can help to remember that for every minute we’re angry, we lose sixty seconds of happiness and sixty seconds of peace. The sooner we get out of the danger zone, the sooner we can get back to truly living.

© Wake Up With the Wolf Show – 93.1 the Wolf – WPAW.  Please share this with your friends!

Reprinted from the Burlington Times-News:

Shortly after 9-year-old Nicholas Weis died last June of brain cancer, Kevin Kaffenberger got a tattoo of a smiley face with a halo on his right leg.

Underneath it are the Latin words: “Hodie est optimus dies of meus vita.”

“Loosely translated it says, ‘This is the best day of my life,’” Kaffenberger said Sunday afternoon while he waited among a slew of motorcycles for the Miles of Smiles 2011 procession from The Lamb’s Chapel in Haw River to Alamance Memorial Park in Burlington to begin.

They are the words he heard Nicholas say time and time again — a sentiment that Kaffenberger doesn’t ever want to forget.

Nicholas’ life — his attitude, outlook and personality — left a mark on everyone who knew him and even many who didn’t but recognized him as the personable kid who told jokes on The Wake Up with the Wolf show on 93.1.

“It’s an incredible story and people should know about it,” Kaffenberger said. “You can just look around to see how many people he touched.”

Hundreds of people and maybe even a thousand — it was impossible to count — showed up at The Lamb’s Chapel more than an hour before the procession started in order to line up, buy T-shirts, smiley face magnets or “Nicholas” wristbands. Proceeds will go toward a fund that will be used to start the Nicholas Weis Foundation.

Nicholas’ gravesite, where a life-size monument of a smiling Nicholas decked out in a Jake Owen T-shirt giving his signature thumbs up was to be unveiled, was the final destination.

Bikers from all over the state participated to show support for Nicholas and his parents, Jon and Heather Weis, who are determined to greet each day with a smile just like their son did. Country music star Jake Owen, who met Nicholas at a Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation event several years ago and shared a special bond with the boy, also participated with his black tour bus in tow.

They all had a story to tell or a Nicholas memory to share.

From the age of 2, Nicholas battled brain tumors that returned over and over again and endured numerous surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. Despite the medical obstacles, Nicholas with the help of his parents lived life to its fullest.

In an effort to continue their son’s work, the Weises planned Miles of Smiles 2011.

“This is pretty fitting, to be honest with you,” Jon Weis said moments before a cloth cover was removed from Nicholas’ monument. “It’s pretty big. … He was larger than life.”

The unveiling was greeted with cheers and applause. A net filled with yellow smiley-face balloons was opened and the balloons were released into the blue summer sky. Jon Weis asked the crowd, including many of Nicholas’ classmates from River Mill Academy, to join him in singing “Happy Birthday” to Nicholas, whose birthday is Tuesday, and his mother, Diane Weis, who died in April and whose birthday was Sunday.

Afterwards, all the guests were invited to indulge in a table filled with colorful birthday cakes and cupcakes.

Alana Plunkett of Burlington never met Nicholas, but she watched a procession of motorcycles ride through Burlington last year on the day Nicholas was laid to rest. It made her want to know more about the boy who attracted so much attention.

She ended up meeting the Weises at his gravesite. This year, she decided she wanted to ride in the procession.

“Nicholas has touched everybody in ways I can’t even explain,” Plunkett said.

Wake Up with the Wolf radio host Chuck Marsh looked around at the crowd that gathered to celebrate Nicholas’ life. Many wore red “Miles of Smiles” T-shirts and smiley face buttons. People were laughing, sharing stories and in good spirits, even though Nicholas wasn’t there in person to share the day with them.

None of it surprised Marsh.

“I know people just loved him,” Marsh said. “Anybody that met him fell in love with his spirit. He was one of those kids everybody wanted to be around.”

Jon and Heather Weis worked hard to create a peaceful place for people to remember Nicholas at Alamance Memorial Park. On the back of the monument is Nicholas’ life story, written by Nicholas himself, so no one can walk away without knowing something about him.

His last entry in his school journal — a poem — is etched on a piece of North Carolina gray granite, which sits on the corner of the gravesite. On the back of the stone is Nicholas’ all-time favorite joke: “How do you keep a turkey in suspense?”

The Weises hope it will ensure everyone leaves with a smile.

Click here to see the video of Nicholas’ party.

© Copyright 2011 Freedom Communications. All Rights Reserved.

By Steve Goodier

Demographic experts tell us that there is a general spiritual awakening among people of various faiths. Some are returning to “organized” religions. Others are seeking spiritual answers along other paths. However it is done, people are realizing the importance of a healthy spiritual dimension to their lives.

One man tells about a time when his wife suffered from a headache. She took medication and lay down, but nothing seemed to help.

Her six-year-old daughter was concerned about her Mommy’s health, so the ailing woman asked her if she would like to pray for her. Little Leia said that she would. Leia put her hand on her mother’s head and prayed the only prayer she knew: “Lord, thank you for this food…”

I imagine that the words she uses are not important. In fact, I don’t know if any words are really adequate to express our deepest spiritual desires. Moreover, what seems most crucial is not so much how “good” we are at praying, but that we simply pause regularly to nurture the souls. Prayer is a dose of spiritual medication that, taken daily, can enhance all of life.

Leonardo da Vinci spent countless hours ruminating upon things of the spirit as he worked on his famous canvas of the Last Supper. He spent so much time meditating in the cloister that some of the monks in the community became concerned. They remonstrated with the artist about his wasting precious time and money. “Why do you spend so much time with us in prayer when you have come here to work?” they wondered.

Leonardo answered, “When I pause the longest, I make the most telling strokes with my brush.”

I do not feel I am all that good with prayer, but I am sure I’m not much good without it.

© Wake Up With the Wolf Show – 93.1 the Wolf – WPAW.  Please share this with your friends!

By Steve Goodier

When a first-time father cuddled his newborn son, he immediately noticed the baby’s ears conspicuously standing out from his head. He expressed his concern to the nurse that some children might taunt his child, calling him names like “Dumbo.” A doctor examined the baby and reassured the new dad that his son was healthy – the ears presented only a minor cosmetic problem.

But the nervous father persisted. He wondered if the child might suffer psychological effects of ridicule, or if they should consider plastic surgery.

The nurse assured him that it was really no problem, and he should just wait to see if the boy grows into his ears.

The father finally felt more optimistic about his child, but now he worried about his wife’s reaction to those large, protruding ears. She had delivered by cesarean section, and had not yet seen the child.

“She doesn’t take things as easily as I do,” he said to the nurse.

By this time, the new mother was settled in the recovery room and ready to meet her new baby. The nurse went along with the dad to lend some support in case this inexperienced mother became upset about her baby’s large ears.

The infant was swaddled in a receiving blanket with his head covered for the short trip through the chilly air-conditioned corridor. The baby was placed in his mother’s arms, who eased the blanket back so that she could gaze upon her child for the first time.

She took one look at her baby’s face and looked to her husband and gasped, “Oh, Honey! Look! He has your ears!”

No problem with Mom. She married those ears…and she loves the man to whom they are attached.

The poet Khalil Gibran said, “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” It’s hard to see the ears when you’re looking into the light.

© Wake Up With the Wolf Show – 93.1 the Wolf – WPAW.  Please share this with your friends!

If you have listened to the Wake Up with the Wolf Show for any length of time, we hope you’ve been able to catch the Friday Sports Prayer with our good friend and “official WUWTW spiritual advisor” Pastor Bob Templeton of Leaksville Christian Church in Eden.  Sadly, Pastor Bob lost his wife of 14 years last Friday after her long fight with cancer.  We’ve reprinted Loretta’s obituary below. If you would like to leave condolences for Pastor Bob and the family, you can click here.

Loretta Lynn Quesenberry Templeton, born June 14, 1957, of 1802 Fleetwood Ave., went home to be with her Lord on Friday, June 17, 2011 at Beacon Place in Greensboro.  Loretta was a native of Radford, VA and lived her childhood days in Indian Valley, VA. She was diligent to complete her degree from Radford University and later worked as a case manager for Rockingham County Mental Health. She was a passionate woman of faith and was a faithful member of Leaksville Christian Church in Eden. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She adored her children, grandchildren and all children. She was preceded in death by her father, Avis Quesenberry and her brother, Gregory Lane Quesenberry. Loretta is survived by her husband, Pastor Robert Templeton of the home; her son, Stacy Spangler and wife, Angel of Floyd, VA and Stephanie Slocum and husband, Skip of Blacksburg, VA; grandchildren, Riley and Mia Spangler and Alexis and McKenna Slocum; stepsons, Robert Templeton and wife, Angela of Thomasville, Michael Templeton and wife, Shannon of Reidsville and Matthew Templeton and fiance’, Emy McClain of Richmond, VA; step grandchildren, Noah, Faith, Hannah and Hayden Templeton; her mother, Joyce Lynn Goad Quesenberry of Indian Valley, VA; her sisters, Karen Coleman and husband, Robin of Riner, VA and Juanita Linkous and husband, Jimmy of Christianburg, VA; her brothers, Bruce Quesenberry and wife, Sharon of Indian Valley, VA, Kent Quesenberry and wife, Joni of Riner, VA and Patrick Quesenberry and wife, Sabrina of Willis, VA; her grandfather, Nelles Heath Goad of Indian Valley, VA; 18 nieces and nephews and 15 great nieces and nephews; and longtime, special college friend, Tammy Dowdy.

Author unknown; from “Sermon Fodder”

Everything I Needed To Know About Life, I Learned From A Jigsaw Puzzle.

1.    Don’t force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.

2.    When things aren’t going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.

3.    Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

4.    Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.

5.    When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see #4).

6.    The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook.

7.    Variety is the spice of life. It’s the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.

8.    Working together with friends and family makes any task fun.

9.    Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.

10.    Don’t be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.

11.    Take time often to celebrate your successes – even little ones.

12.    Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can’t be rushed.

© Wake Up With the Wolf Show – 93.1 the Wolf – WPAW.  Please share this with your friends!

When you see the Chris Lane Band live, you’ll soon realize the emphasis is not on “Chris Lane”, it’s on “Band”.  6 individuals make up the CLB, and each plays an important part in crafting the band’s sound.  Of course, there’s Chris Lane, lead vocalist & rhythm guitar, who along with twin brother, Cory, on drums, started seriously pursuing a music career after college and founded the CLB (you may have noticed them in the audition segments of Season 7 of American Idol & Season 1 of Can You Duet!) Then there’s Chelsea Sorrell on co-lead vocals, a girl with a Southern twang and a powerhouse voice that can take any Country song and make it her own. (and she also made the top 60 on Season 10 of American Idol!). Add in the talents of Dean Kreseski & Joseph Pope on guitar, and Tom Sale on bass, and you’ve got a full-scale party every time the band plays!  The CLB’s focus is on Country/Rock, but you never know when they’ll mash that up with a little Pop, Classic Rock, Rap, and even old-school R&B!  But their original songs are Pure Country, as is evident below on the first single, “Too Tennessee”.  Check the Wolf’s concert page and local listings for the next time you can catch the CLB live, because trust me, it won’t be long before they’re packing huge venue’s all over the USA!!
xoxo
-Charley
CLB official website

By Joseph J. Mazzella

When I was a boy I was always amazed by what a heavy sleeper my Grandma was. I knew this mainly because her bedroom was right next to the one my brother and I shared. When I would wake up in the morning I would hear her steady snoring echoing through the thin walls. She rarely if ever got up during the night and when she napped in her chair the television and record player never woke her up.

It seemed a strange coincidence then that during the middle of one night she would suddenly awake the moment that frayed wiring in her room caught fire. Her screams awoke my brother who then rushed through the house waking up the rest of the family. The house was made of old, dry timbers and the fire raced through it in a matter of minutes. Smoke filled every room. None of us could see anything. We were all filled with fear and confusion. Still, thanks to my Grandma waking up at just that moment we all made it out safely. My Mom even found our small dog cowering at her feet and picked him up just as we ran out the front door.

Doris Lessing once said that “Coincidences are God’s way of remaining anonymous.” I fully believe that to be true. Without the coincidence of my Grandma waking up at just the right second that fire would have cost us our lives as well as our home. Without that coincidence my Grandma, Mom, and Dad would never have touched the lives they did over the years that followed. Without it my brother would never have become a teacher and I would never have written a word. Without it my brothers and I would never have raised seven wonderful children. Without it all the love, learning, and joy my family has shared with others would have been lost.

The next time a coincidence blesses your life, embrace it for the gift from God that it is. We are all watched over with so much love. May we make our lives a gift of love as well.

© Wake Up With the Wolf Show – 93.1 the Wolf – WPAW.  Please share this with your friends!