When I was kid we didn't even have remote control for our televisions. The first one I saw was a dial exactly like the one on the set with 15-foot, heavy wire leashing it to the television. We also didn't have hundreds of channels. We had three main channels (ABC, NBC, and CBS) and channel 13 (PBS). This meant that when "Frosty the Snowman" or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" came on in the weeks before Christmas, it was huge event for us. We knew in advance thanks to the TV Guide and we would plan our evenings accordingly. We even made popcorn, which we had to eat out in the hallway; no food in the family room back in those days. I remember thinking that these shows and the nights we watched them were perfect. The greatest of all these shows for me was "A Charlie Brown Christmas." I still get chills when I watch and hear Linus quote from the King James Bible in their Christmas pageant. It was the highlight of the show and the show within the show. Linus read Luke 2:8-15: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." The point of the story of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is, of course, that we need to remember the real meaning of Christmas, exactly what these verses describe. By the way, Luke 2:14 is written in wooden letters above the cross and altar in Goodwill's sanctuary.
It's three short weeks till Christmas. How are you doing with the real meaning of Christmas? Do you know the peace the angels were talking about?
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Dear Pastor John, I, too, love "Charlie Brown Christmas" (I just watched it the night after Thanksgiving), and I, too, get goosebumps whenever I hear Linus quoting those verses from Luke in the KJV, which is the version from which I know them by heart. Just wanted to share that with you. I am SOOOOO in the Christmas spirit! I love Jesus so much, and celebrate His birthday with all the exuberance of a child! Happy Birthday, Jesus!!! "Jesus, I love You!!!" -Ruth Spencer
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