Tuesday, 12/3/19 – Pressing on…

The Best Drop of All…

Operation Dumbo Drop (1995) is set during the Vietnam War. A Green Beret unit is tasked to improve relations with a small village by finding and delivering to them a most essential elephant in time for a village ceremony.

The Drop (2014) tells the tale of bartender Bob Saginowski as he makes “money drops” to local gangsters. He ends up in the middle of a robbery gone bad and his troubles worsen.

The Drop Box (2015) documents the moving story of South Korean pastor Lee Jong-rak who rescues orphans that would otherwise be abandoned on the streets. It is “a story of hope – a reminder that every human life is sacred and worthy of love.”

But perhaps the best drop of all comes — as the psalmist sang, “out of the mouths of babes.”* Linus, to be exact… in a scene from the Peanuts Christmas special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” – no doubt available online and to be aired many times again this holiday season as it has for over five past decades!

In the scene, a disheartened Charlie Brown pleads “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Linus is quick to respond, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” He moves center stage, requests a spotlight and recites Luke 2:8-14. But at just the point where the angelic messenger says “Fear not!” Linus drops his security blanket. When done, he returns and says “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” Later in the story we see Linus place the blanket at the foot of a beautiful Christmas tree.

I don’t think I should need to make my point any clearer. Schultz has done this marvellously. In fact, when he was first asked back in 1965 to create the Christmas special he insisted on doing so only if the story of Christ’s birth could be told. In the end, he won out and I for one am very glad he did!

This clip (see below) has gotten much play by Christian bloggers over the past several Christmas seasons, but I don’t mind at all hopping on this bandwagon…. After all this band is playing the most joyous and life-transforming song of all. Won’t you join Linus and drop at the foot of the cross that temporal thing which you’ve been holding to instead of Christ Jesus? Give it to Him… after all, it is very heavy, isnt it? But it can be the best birthday gift you could ever give Him.

More tomorrow…

*Psalms 8:2 – “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength…” (NKJV) Jesus quoted this passage in Matt. 21:16 when religious leaders of the time were critical of children shouting praises to Him.

Click HERE to watch Linus tell ‘What Christmas is All About.’

To hear Pastor Andrew’s complete message, go to the Lincoln Baptist Church website and look under ‘Sermons Online’ for the Dec. 1 message.