A bit of history on the first airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas

[Ever since the debut, I’ve been a fan of the Peanuts cartoon. I can both, at times, identify and empathize with Charlie Brown. I think he is, in his own unique way, a Christ-figure. Plus, I think there is a fair bit of theology intricately woven into the Peanuts cartoon. So, also being a bit of a history buff, I was happy to come across this account of how the original A Charlie Brown Christmas almost never got aired. Dim Lamp]

Few headlines about network television make me giddy. Fewer still make me hopeful that all is good in the world. But back in August of 2010, I read the following headline from the media pages with great excitement: “Charlie Brown Is Here to Stay: ABC Picks Up ‘Peanuts’ Specials Through 2015.” The first of these to be made, the famous Christmas special, was an instant classic when it was created by Charles Schulz on a shoestring budget back in 1965, and thanks to some smart television executives, it will be around for at least another five years for all of us to see and enjoy.

What people don’t know is that the Christmas special almost didn’t happen, because some not-so-smart television executives almost didn’t let it air. You see, Charles Schulz had some ideas that challenged the way of thinking of those executives 46 years ago, and one of them had to do with the inclusion in his Christmas cartoon of a reading from the King James Bible’s version of the Gospel of Luke.

The more things change, the more things stay the same. You can read the whole thing here.

Report on child poverty in Alberta

According to a Calgary Herald news item, a recent coalition of antipoverty advocacy groups issued a report, “In This Together: Ending Poverty in Alberta.”

From a faith perspective, the sign of a democratic society working is how well the strong—those in power—care for the needs of the weakest, poorest, and most vulnerable among us. In this respect, the recent report indicts us all who are blessed by not living in poverty. We are one of the most affluent provinces of Canada—if not “the” most affluent. Yet, it is very telling that we neglect the poverty-stricken among us.

According to the report, citing Statistics Canada figures, children living below the poverty line in Alberta jumped from 53,000 in 2008 to 73,000 in 2009. Further, nearly half of all children who live in poverty come from homes where one or more people work fulltime year round. So the stereotype “blame game” of “those lazy welfare bums” just does not cut it in light of these facts. There are several things that, of course need to be done, however one thing I believe that the government needs to do and could do is raise the minimum wage level—there are still too many working poor. What solutions do you suggest that could reduce poverty? What are you personally prepared to do to be part of the solution rather than the problem? You can read more here.

You can also read the 16 page report here.

Snoopy's Identity Crisis

                      Is it a matter of we are what we eat or what?

Remembrance Day 2011

IN FLANDERS FIELDS by John McCrae, May 1915





In Flanders fields the poppies blow


Between the crosses, row on row,


That mark our place; and in the sky


The larks, still bravely singing, fly


Scarce heard amid the guns below.






We are the Dead. Short days ago


We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,


Loved and were loved, and now we lie


In Flanders fields.






Take up our quarrel with the foe:


To you from failing hands we throw


The torch; be yours to hold it high.


If ye break faith with us who die


We shall not sleep, though poppies grow


In Flanders fields.

Morning Devotion

Yesterday, I read an interesting devotion from the Celtic Daily Prayer: A Northumbrian Office, pp. 379-380, which I think is worth sharing with readers of this blog. This month, the theme of the devotions is “Chosen People.” The biblical references for the following devotion on the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles/Booths/Succot are: Psalms 114:7-8; 118:20-28; Leviticus 23:33, 39-43 & John 7:2-6, 8-11, 14-17, 37-46. There is also a description of the feast from the Talmud, highlighting the celebrative mood. Dim Lamp

The Feast of Tabernacles or booths (Succot) is the context for John’s Gospel chapters 7 to 9.

During the Feast the procession carrying water from the pool of Siloam would circle the Temple and pour their libations on the altar, and this was done seven times in the last day of the Feast. Palm-branches and fruit were waved before God and psalms 113 to 118 always sung.

Bonfires were lit, and men of piety danced, holding lighted torches and singing songs and hymns to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, cymbals and trumpets played by Levites.                           Talmud

In the evening of the final day of the Feast there was a magnificent sight as the lamps were lit in the Court of the Women. Light streamed forth so that the Temple shone with an incredible brightness of light. It seems that this was the moment that occasioned Jesus’ amazing statement:

‘I AM the Light of the world.’

You can check out the Northumbian Community's web site here.