Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about!

We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big Eastern syndicate you know. –Lucy

Driving down the road today, the local Christian radio station played Christmas Time is Here and immediately I could see Linus reading the Christmas story.

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year

What makes this iconic television program so special?

Was it the characters? Yes.

Was it the creator? Yes.

Was it the music? Definitely, yes.

Was it the message? Totally, yes.

If it had not been for Coca Cola taking on the advertising for the program we may not have this wonderful childhood (and forever after) remembrance in our Christmas-time memory bank. Even after its completion, and screening, CBS executives were not overly impressed with the outcome. But they had committed to their sponsor so A Charlie Brown Christmas hit the airwaves on December 9, 1965.

Drawing in 15.4 million viewers, the special placed second in the ratings, following only the classic Bonanza. Just a few months later, Charles Schulz and Producer Lee Mendelson accepted an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program.

One of the most amazing scenes in the show is when Charlie Brown’s friend, Linus, the level-headed one, always comforted and supported by his security blanket, reads the Christmas story for a full minute.

On national television.

During prime time.

This was one of the networks biggest concerns; taking the plunge to actually read from the Bible on national television! But Mendelson and Schulz said if they didn’t do it, then who would?

Exactly.

If we don’t do it, who will?

Christmas-time has changed, dramatically, in the last 50+ years. It isn’t always politically correct to celebrate the real reason for the season.

“Christmas is not only getting too commercial,

it’s getting too dangerous. “-Linus

The vast majority of us will never get the opportunity that Linus had to share the Gospel to millions of viewers at one time; and yet we can do our part. Charlie Brown always thought he didn’t amount to anything and that is a tactic that the enemy uses on God’s people today.

Do we have to stand up on the street corner yelling “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” and making a spectacle of ourselves just because we can?

No, just don’t. Please don’t.

But you don’t have to stop saying, “Merry Christmas” either.

Just continue to do as you have always done,

be who you have always been and share the love of God.

Your actions speak much, much louder than your words.

When in doubt, or difficult circumstance, speak the Word. There is strength, power and wisdom in those 66 books of the Bible that are God-breathed and inspired. Use them! Memorize them, consume them whenever possible. Then those words will flow back out of us as strength, comfort and life-giving power to those that hear.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year when we keep Jesus first. Love Him, share Him and show His love everywhere you go. Decorate that sad, little tree and remember why He came…and that He is coming back again!

What are some of your favorite memories from A Charlie Brown Christmas? And, how can we better share Jesus this season?

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

Angels from the Realms of Glory: A rich and surprising story!

1 Reply

James Montgomery (1771-1854), was only a small five year old boy when his parents decided to go to the West Indies as missionaries. That was a far cry from their beloved Scotland and too dangerous for a small child so they put James in a Moravian community in County Antrim, Ireland. When he was seven, he was sent to a seminary in England and sadly, when he was only twelve, his parents died on the mission field.

James had been shuffled from boarding school to boarding school while his parents were sharing the Gospel. Being left behind affected James and he did not succeed in school. In fact, he failed at several things until he discovered he could write poetry.

When he grew up, he worked for The Sheffield Register, deemed a radical newspaper at the time. James eventually bought the newspaper when the owner had to flee the country to avoid being put in prison. He later renamed the paper The Sheffield Iris and used his paper to speak out against social injustice and slavery.

An Irishman, under English rule, Montgomery himself was imprisoned twice for sensitive political articles and his activity as a leader in the abolitionist movement. Slavery was legal at the time and Montgomery was using his paper to try and turn the tide and set the slaves free. He was thrown in prison on two different occasions because of articles that he had written. Each time he was released he went right back to the paper and fighting the war for two things: freedom for the slaves and also freedom from Great Britain for the Irish.

In a time of political upheaval and great disdain between the Irish and the British, each side would read Montgomery’s newspaper. One would be looking to inspiration that would draw more to their revolution. The government, on the other hand, would also read it looking for something to use against James Montgomery.

But on Christmas Eve, instead of more division, Montgomery surprised them all by reaching out to both sides with his poem, Angels from the Realms of Glory. The tune that soon accompanied it, Regent Square, was composed by the blind composer, Henry Smart (1813-1879). The name of the tune, Regent Square, was borrowed from the Presbyterian Church in London.

Montgomery went on to write more than 400 hymns.

So many good words in this Christmas carol that It seems as if James Montgomery discovered what his parents had given their lives for. He has touched thousands down through the decades with his words about the Christ child coming to Earth for man. I especially love the second stanza, God with man is now residing. Is He residing in YOU? Make sure you know Him, Christ IN you, the Hope of

Glory. To be able to come and worship Jesus is truly a great privilege and He has made a way for each of us to come to Him anytime, all the time.

Be sure and share this message, as James Montgomery did, and touch souls for eternity. Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Angels From the Realms of Glory

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

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Go, tell it on the Mountain!

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Did you know that Go Tell It On The Mountain has no published author, because it was passed down from plantation to plantation and never credited properly? John Wesley Work actually published it in 1907 and it has been a favorite Christmas carol for many decades.

He made me a watchman

Upon a city wall,

And if I am a Christian,

I am the least of all.

The story didn’t end for the shepherds, the Wise Men, for Joseph or Mary after the birth of Jesus. It didn’t even end 33 years later after His death burial and resurrection!

Here we are, ready to enter 2021. Did you know that He made YOU a watchman? He made ME a watchman! And if we are Christians at all, and we are friends, we are, we are the least of all, but He put us here to do a job.

So what did He leave us here to do?

Go tell it! Proclaim it everywhere you go!

We are to make His name glorious as we spread the Good News. Jesus Christ was born and it’s more than just a story. It’s not a fairy tale. It is for you, for your children, and their children too. Acts 2:39.

Are we moved with compassion to share this Gospel today? Are we willing in good times or adversity to share the story and our testimony?

Let us not hide it under a bushel. Let us not be so caught up in our plenty that we forget that our purpose on this earth is to reach others, not just to satisfy our earthly desires and wants.

He was born for a reason. He died for a reason. For you, me and all who would believe.

Let’s take this Good News, over the hills and everywhere!

While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Saviour’s birth:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

When I am a seeker,
I seek both night and day;
I seek the Lord to help me,
And He shows me the way:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Psalm 105:1 “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.”

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