Dear Friends of KHCS,

How can you write a newsletter for a Christian Radio station and come up with something new, exciting and, most importantly, something people will read and find helpful? What new can be said about Christmas?

Seems everyone has thoughts about this most wonderful time of the year. Some are cute. It has been written there are four stages to a person’s life:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.

2) You do not believe in Santa Claus.

3) You are Santa Claus.

4) You look like Santa Claus.

An unknown author penned these words encouraging us to have and show an attitude of gratitude at this time of the year. He wrote:

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep…you are richer than 75% of this world! If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish…you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you woke up this morning with good health…you are more fortunate than the one million people who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle unfolding around you, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation…you are better off than 500 million people in the world. If you can attend the worship service of your choice without fear of persecution, harassment, arrest, torture, or death…you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. If your parents are still alive and still married…you are very rare, even in the United States. If you are able to read this message…you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

On the spiritual side, believers in Christ know Christmas means more than Santa Claus and generally being thankful. Christmas should be the time each year where we realign our focus and priorities. 　

Author Mark Zimmermann writes –

“This Christmas we look to the original Wise Men to teach us where to focus our attention. We set our sights on things above, where God is. We draw closer to Jesus. When our journey of thoughts end and we reach the place where Jesus resides in Bethlehem, may we, like the Wise Men, fall on our knees and adore Him as our true and only King.”

Max Lucado writes, “Off to one side sits a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, and no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from Heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear Him – and so on this cloudless night He went to simple shepherds…Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.”

Jesus is truly the reason for the season!! For God so loved the world that sent His Only Begotten Son – and we celebrate this Greatest Gift of all on Christmas Day. Whether your Christmas involves shopping, wrapping, travel, family, cooking or whatever, please pause everyday this December to remember the gift of eternal life that comes only through belief in Jesus Who’s birthday we celebrate.

At KHCS, Jesus is the reason for all of our seasons – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 (or 366) days a year! We exist through your generous gifts and support to proclaim the message of the Life, Works, Words, Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

This past year has been financially difficult for us. Donations are down 16% from the previous year and expenses have gone up. I would ask those of you who can to help us get on a sound fiscal basis.

Most of the programs we air on KHCS are listener supported and I am sure it can be overwhelming as you hear their pleas for funds. However, these programs would not be heard here in the Coachella Valley if there was not a studio and transmitting equipment to air them.

Please remember, KHCS is YOUR Christian radio station for the desert communities. It’s only because of the faithfulness of listeners like you that we can remain on the air proclaiming God’s grace to mankind. Please consider a gift to YOUR Christian radio station this month. If you have not, please consider becoming a monthly partner.

I hope all of you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas Season with family and friends. It’s the time of year when we have the opportunity to present to friends and unbelievers God’s greatest gift to mankind –- our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Have a Joyful Christmas,