CHRISTMAS… THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR?

Worried Teen

Anticipation. Excitement. Jubilation. Celebration. Christmas is just that for millions of people. It’s a time to rejoice and reflect on God’s gift of his one and only Son. And yet, for some – maybe even you – the season is overshadowed by heartache over a family member, a loss of employment, a doctor’s report on recent tests, or maybe just being alone.

Two weeks ago, one of our team members at KAMB spoke with a listener who was obviously anxious. Her appointment with the oncologist was just two days away, as were the cancer screenings. Another listener said she needed prayer to work through a difficult situation at the office. Still, another requested prayer for himself, that he might show more patience with those around him, especially his family.

Lifting up your prayer requests…

KAMB cannot fix these things, but we can pray. Every Wednesday morning at our weekly team meeting and often during the week, Our Staff prays for our listeners and the requests offered. Often, we’re able to follow up with those submitting their requests, to praise God, and pray for his favor and faithfulness. We consider it an honor and privilege to pray for you.

You’re welcome to submit your prayer requests by visiting our website and clicking here or call us at 800-692-5777.

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What You May Not Have Known About A Charlie Brown Christmas

Linus

This year, A Charlie Brown Christmas will air on national television, just as it had since its first airing on December 9, 1965. What’s interesting to note is that CBS executives and Coca-Cola were not pleased with the first Charlie Brown special that Schulz produced. It was slow and sluggish, and, it was too religious. But Schulz, himself a Christian, believed that the true meaning of Christmas must be told, and who better to do it than The Peanuts cast?

There are several scenes from the production, the most memorable of which is likely Linus’s quoting Luke 2. Linus’s attachment to his blanket is renowned, but look what happens when, during his monologue, he repeats the angel’s words, “Fear not!” Linus drops his “security” to emphasize we have nothing to fear about the coming of Jesus. It may be a coincidence, but Jason Soroski writes, “Looking at it now, it’s pretty clear what Charles Schulz was saying through this, and it’s so simple it’s brilliant.”

“The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears.”

Thousands of Christmas songs play during the season: songs about Santa and reindeer and Christmas trees, songs about love and family, songs about the holiday spirit – the list seems endless. KAMB is pleased to bring you songs exclusively about the Christ of Christmas – not in a militant in-your-face kind of way, but in a way that keeps our focus on the true meaning of Christmas. It’s the time of year when people are more likely to be searching and open to finding purpose and meaning in life. With all the noise and busyness at Christmas, KAMB is here to ensure we don’t miss the message given on that one silent night – Jesus Christ was born to seek and save that which is lost.

We invite you to introduce your friends and family to KAMB’s Christmas Festival of Music and in turn, introduce them to God’s immeasurable gift of His one and only Son, Jesus.

References:
Alter, E. December 9, 2020. ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at 55: Jean Schulz Reveals the Behind-The-Scenes Battle over Linus’s Famous Speech. Yahoo/Entertainment.
Gallagher, D. December 10, 2011. 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’. TheFW.
Soroski, J. December 21, 2015. Just Drop the Blanket. TheGospelCoalition.org.

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So Much in Wonder of Christmas

Wise Men

The Christmas story is replete with awe and wonder in myriad of ways. Living in 2022, it is difficult for us to grasp the depth of this incredible event. We see it as a story complete in no more than two chapters in Matthew and two chapters in Luke. God gave his Son, born of a virgin, delivered in a stable, visited by shepherds and wise men, and thus ends the nativity tale.

But ponder for a moment, what must it have been like to long for the Messiah, a Savior, a King whose kingdom has no end?

With high inflation, low morals, and a government seemingly out of touch, we long for better days, but the people living at the time of Jesus’ birth probably would be glad to trade places with us given their living conditions. And yet, they remained hopeful, watching, looking, wondering, believing their true Messiah would come to set things right.

Ponder, for example, how wise men from a distant land knew of this king. The Bible is somewhat elusive about what the wise men knew about this new king. There’s little said about the wise men themselves, how many there were, from what country (or countries) did they come, and what was their role in their homeland (priests, kings, etc.)? It’s also reasonable to believe their presence in the story was not necessarily a spiritual pilgrimage, but a mission of ambassadorship and the hope of an alliance. And then there is the link to what they knew about the star. How did they hear about it? What was its significance to this king? Was their presence linked to a time when Israel was prominent during the time of David and Solomon, or perhaps during the time of Daniel who, himself, was prominent in the Persian empire?

So many questions so deep is the mystery. What we do know is that the Christmas story is more than a story, it is evidence of God’s immeasurable grace and mercy.

This season, KAMB’s Christmas Festival of Music is designed to keep our focus on the wonder and amazement of God’s gift of a Savior.

In all the hurry and hustle of activities, we pray you’ll make time to reflect and meditate on what it meant for God to empty Himself, be a stranger, and give the ultimate gift so that you and I may know Him for who He is.

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