Mike Gilland
I am privileged to be part of an amazing organization that has established this group of Christian radio stations known as “The Shepherd Radio Network,” with stations located here in Gainesville, in Ocala/The Villages, and in Orlando. We have a great number of outstanding ministries and talk programs on our stations.
One of our great programs is “The Public Square,” hosted by Dave Zanotti, the president of the American Policy Roundtable. The program is rather unique among all of our broadcasters – it is indeed a roundtable discussion that spans the range of topics that we all face, from American public policy issues to outstanding interviews with well-known celebrities.
Every year at Christmas, The Public Square presents “Christmas in America,” with each episode looking at a particular year in American history. And in that show, which is taped before a live audience with top Nashville musicians providing the music, they “look for the manger” in whatever particular year that is chosen.
This year, in 2023, it is “Christmas in America 1928,” and Dave and his co-host Wayne Shepherd (we like his last name!) walk us through some of the amazing trivia facts and events that happened in that most important year in American history.
I am inspired by their purpose, as they look back to see where the influences of the Incarnation were visible in that period of time. After all, Christmas is all about His coming…the birth of Jesus in a lowly manger, situated in a very modest stable, as there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn.
But while that manger bed was a humble beginning at the birth of a Savior, it was not lost to mediocrity, for the heavenly host, in the most unusual and majestic appearance of angelic beings in history stood in the sky above the shepherds in the fields, as they declared the birth of the Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us, the prince of peace, the Lamb of God – born in that Bethlehem stable.
Those shepherds were the first to follow the star that led them to the manger, where they beheld the One who had been promised centuries earlier, the Savior who would ultimately take away the sins of all who believe.
That phrase, “looking for the manger,” has really grabbed my attention this year, and I pray it does the same for you. Even in this crazy time of war and division, the power and glory that first came in that manger is still here. And there are evidences all around us—if we will just take the time to look for them. I hope you do.
Merry Christmas!