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Christmas on the Radio

CHRISTMAS ON AMERICAN RADIO

For many, the first Christmas song on the radio is a welcome change to the daily routine. It brings to mind a more innocent time. A time of wonder, of warmth, of childlikeness. Memories flood your mind. Suddenly the stress is gone from your daily commute, and you’re singing along to songs of joy and merriment.

And then it hits you. It’s nearly Christmas, and there’s still so much to do! The non-stop, heartwarming songs on the radio set the backdrop for an otherwise hurried time, helping minds and hearts stay focused on Jesus, the real soundtrack of Christmas.

When we think of the history of Christmas on the radio, we’re likely to picture a 1940’s family, gathered ‘round a lovely wooden speaker as if it were a crackling fire, huddled together with innocent smiles to enjoy the comfort of old familiar songs.

But Christmas radio has been the backdrop for many scenes, some of which may be surprising.

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS ON RADIO

In the early 20th Century, radio was neither comforting, pleasant nor musical. Listeners were accustomed to hearing the tap-tap-tap of Morse code transmissions.

But a Canadian child prodigy named Reginald Aubrey Fessenden changed all of that. Fessenden previously worked with Thomas Edison and was now inventing solo. He and developed around 200 patents of his own, including a brand new technology called “radio”.

In 1906,  Fessenden “alerted the media” using his own voice, inviting wireless operators  to tune in on Christmas Eve. The invitation was monitored and duly noted in Norfolk, Virginia, and the folks in Virginia and crews on ships within a several hundred mile radius enjoyed an unforgettable broadcast that night. Accustomed only to code, they couldn’t believe what they were hearing – a man’s voice in their headphones!  As amazed listeners strained to hear the sound, Fessenden serenaded them on violin.   O Holy Night became the first Christmas carol to hit the airwaves on the first produced (music and voice) radio broadcast – “superimposed audio” or “amplitude modulation” (AM) generated over a continuous radio frequency carrier.

WHITE CHRISTMAS FOR A BLACK DAY

In 1941, the unthinkable happened – the attack on Pearl Harbor. 18 days later, college age fans tuned in to Kraft Music Hall and Bing Crosby warmed their hearts with his rendition of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. In the shadow of the recent attack, the song took on a somber tone, and it was a memorable broadcast

One short year later, young American troops found themselves overseas on Christmas Day. Armed Forces Radio played White Christmas over and over to remind them of the comforts of home. It remains the one of the most popular Christmas carols to this day.

JOY TO THE WORLD: CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES

Wartime was the backdrop for some of the most memorable Christmas radio broadcasts because it was, for many, their primary source of comfort. While radio remained off-limits to the general public during WW1, wireless technology utilized a short-range electrostatic induction system so that hospitalized soldiers could be entertained with music and news. And at the end of the civilian radio restrictions in 1919, military personnel fired up transmitters to boost the morale of the servicemen. On January 10, 1919, Ensign Sanford Lawton remembered the broadcast Christmas At Sea in his letter to his parents. He happily reported that “All of the latest music from the states was played over the wireless” as part of the festivities.

Christmas Broadcasts in 1940, particularly in England, were rays of light in an otherwise war-ravaged land. Christmas dinner was nearly impossible. Families spent their holiday in air raid shelters, searching desperately for the highly coveted “short Christmas tree” – one short enough to fit in the shelter confines. Instead of giving gifts, people were encouraged instead to give their meager funds to the war effort. Among most popular gifts were flasks, sleeping bags and “pretend gas masks” for dolls.

Home-made presents were popular too, as were second-hand ones. For working-class people ‘make do and mend’ was the norm. Dads carved sailing ships and dolls’ houses, whilst mums knitted with spare bits of wool and made sweets. Children’s gifts were also donated from other countries and charities. – BBC History

You can imagine the impact those heartwarming melodies and sweet words – broadcast so rarely but treasured like gold – had on wartime families. As Europeans made their homes in submarine-style bomb shelters, huddled together, there was the radio, broadcasting entertainment whenever signal allowed. BBC Radio broadcasted Kitchen Front, the King’s Speech and variety shows. They also broadcast a Christmas sermon from the ruins of Coventry Cathedral. People were allowed to attend church, but bells were forbidden. Bells became a signal of an oncoming invasion, so no bells, and no heart-warming lights in the window.

MEANWHILE, IN AN SUV SOMWEHERE …

Bells, colored lights, Christmas activities, store displays, and seasonal music piped in 24/7 on your favorite radio station. What’s not to love about Christmas?

Isaiah said, “Comfort, my people.” Take comfort. The word for comfort here is also the word, “repent.” Jesus was born to bring comfort, repentance and subsequently, eternal life with Him. He’s the One who formed us from our mother’s womb, who has known us since the beginning. He forgives us, and cleanses us of sin.

When we forget that, we’re left with only trimmings and trappings  hustle and bustle, followed by a dead pine tree and debt and a messy house to clean.

That’s why Christmas radio is as important as it’s always been, featuring songs that glorify God to the highest; songs that bring us closer to the One who came to set us free. Whether we’re in a hospital, in the trenches, in our cars or at home, Christmas is still on the radio.

And Christmas provides you with great opportunity for ministry!

 

ONLINE REFERENCES:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/topics/christmas_in_world_war_two

http://earlyradiohistory.us/sec013.htm

http://ethw.org/Milestones:First_Wireless_Radio_Broadcast_by_Reginald_A._Fessenden,_1906

 

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Chuck Finney’s Four habits that keep the work passion high and blessing the word of choice.

 

Four Habits that Help You Stay in Love With What You Do

 

 

Jan here.

It’s a regular check-in call. Chuck asks, “How are you? Can you believe we get to do this? I’m blessed!”

Now that’s a standard way of opening a conversation with Chuck. It took some getting used to—and I finally asked, since I’m Ms. Curious. How can you feel blessed every time we’re on the phone? Sidebar: I didn’t seem to have that many totally awesome days.

Chuck replied, “Look, even if it’s a tough day, that’s my mental goal. To feel blessed. Because really I am, and it’s a habitual reminder of the truth of the matter.”

I knew he was right. And in the culture of the organization, I’ve seen it play out. I’ve noticed four habits that are effective in keeping daily enthusiasm and a blessed spirit, and the why of what we do played out minute-by-minute.

I bet you want to know what these are. So here goes: the four habit secrets.

Habit #1. Focus every day on the Creator with prayer and acknowledgement of who He is. One might say this is the basic habit.

I remember a lunch conversation—great Tex-Mex food—where Lynda, Chuck’s wife asked those of us around the table, “Do you pray through a list every morning? How do you pray?” My first thought was, wow that’s a pretty personal question. But then, I realized it was a basic question that really regulates how your day goes. Who’s managing life? God or you?

What Chuck said was this: “I am in an ongoing conversation with God all day long. As things arise, I speak with Him about it.”

And it’s true. I’ve seen that happen over and over. “Let me pray about that and I’ll get back to you.” Is a favorite phrase. It’s a great habit to keep things focused on the eternal nature of things.

Habit #2. Love people before your check boxes. This is a pleasant saying, but harder to live out. The larger a company becomes, the more difficult, as well. So far, Finney Media has hung in there—allowing people to speak their minds, letting employees challenge actions, and generally working on the principle that people may not always fit into the neat box of processes, or a list of to-do’s. This doesn’t mean that process is a bad thing, but it does mean that exceptions and individual situations get to be heard. Coming from a larger company with an extensive list of rules, to one with a short handbook, can be a transition—more often, a person has to use good judgement. Here’s a sample: Is this an airline ticket I should buy? There aren’t rules that I have to take the cheapest route, even if that means making two stops, and leaving at 3 a.m. for the airport. I have to make the call.

Habit #3. Be accountable with transparency about ideas, actions and goals, and be genuinely open to change and advice.

Although not required, Finney Media has an Advisory Board of several successful, thoughtful, prayerful individuals. Great discussions take place with the Board, and open and honest feedback and new ideas surface. I’ve noticed that it’s the transparency plus the trust that seems to make this happen. I’ve yet to hear any sort of put down statement during discussions—only thoughtfully strategic, prayerful and affirming type of comments. “Of course—do that. And have you considered going further? By the way, be sure to check on this….” During one of the meetings, one of its members said to me how special it all was…so it must be that trust and transparency are not all that common.

Could this be done on an individual basis? I think so. A mentor or ongoing accountability meeting could meet the same goals.

Habit #4. Recalibrate with a day or two of meditation and prayer time away from the fray, at minimum yearly. While it’s true that weekly schedule reviews and quarterly strategic reviews are important, this once yearly time away was the “news” to me. Chuck asks us all to listen to a series called Masterplan by Steve Dulin, who emphasizes prayer, dependence on God—and time away to actually hear from God.

How does this work? Chuck has a cabin in the mountains—and annually takes several days for prayer and meditation there. Big questions go to heaven, and ideas and peace come back. It wouldn’t take a mountain cabin, of course. Just away, quiet, and focused time. Revolutionary? What do you think?

So there you have it. Four habits. Specific ways that make for better days, God directed days, thoughtful communication and yes, a healthy business.

What habits have changed your life for the better?

 

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I got my Finney Media Why Listen? survey.  What’s the best way to dig in?

 

Chuck here.

 

Praising God.  That’s been my main reaction.  We’re hearing from you and others like you that the Finney Media Why Listen? Survey is offering new ways of seeing things around your station or ministry.  You’re seeing things that you only guessed at, spelled out in data points.  You are talking about a main reason people are coming to listen to you.  And so much more.  Which brings us to an important question.

 

You are at your computer.  You have opened your survey.  How should you examine those 40-odd pages?  How can you prevent that feeling of “overwhelmed” and “what shall I do with all this”?

 

That’s a great question.  Let’s dig into it.

 

Suggestion #1:  As you begin, pray for understanding.  That’s the foundation. Then, with a prayerful attitude, take a look as though you were buzzing the information in a small aircraft, at 10,000 feet.  Compare your information to your overall format—easy to do as the data are lined up side-by-side in the Excel document.  As your eye moves down the pages, mark in a color highlight numbers/information you have questions about.  Is your number higher than the national?  Lower?  What is almost the same?  What is different?  Wonder—maybe even aloud—what variables mean.

 

Suggestion #2:  Take a few minutes to decide where to focus right now.  What is it that you are currently emphasizing?  Are you planning for shareathon?  A friend noted that he was—and that was where he would begin to apply information gained.  He sat down and wrote a memo to all on his team sharing the specifics from the giving section of Finney Media Why Listen?  You may be planning your Christmas or year-end messaging and will want to zero in on what’s most important to your listener.

 

Suggestion #3:  As you move along, ask some tougher questions.  Questions like, “What are listeners outside of my format saying?  Would they be interested in listening to me?”  Seeing what makes people go away, “How can I be more interesting?”  and “How can I make it easier for someone who listens to another station or format want to try us?”

 

Suggestion #4:  Here’s the hardest assignment of all. Decide. Decide that you’ll take the feedback from your listeners and do something with it.  Make an internal—a spiritual—commitment that you’ll use this tool that God has provided you to bring more people to him and help Christians to grow stronger.  Your listener wants bold, Biblical and engaging.  What if you firmly decided that that’s what you’ll do?

 

We began the survey with a prayer that God would use it.  Now our prayer is that God will help you take the information further than we could ever have imagined.  Beyond our vision–because of the Good News coming out of the speaker in new ways and connecting with waiting hearts.

 

Let’s keep the conversation going.  Like Spiritual Growth being the top Main Reason Christian listeners listen. We think that’s a conversation starter.  What exactly does that mean, anyway?

Action:

  1. Plan now to keep your team moving ahead—with both understanding and action. Read about the Finney Media Why Listen? Workday that can help you keep the conversation going and help you develop more specific daily action plans.  Intimate. In-Person. Action-oriented. And coming in six months! The special registration rate in place now because of the Momentum presentation is set to expire October 30.  Talk it over, make plans—and register.  Use the word MOMENTUM as your code for savings.

 2. Pray, discuss and plan toward what your ministry might do to communicate more clearly Jesus tone and message.

 

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If it’s that important to listeners, what’s a PD to do?

 

Chuck here.

 

The Why Listen? Survey is now history—but the stories it reflects live on.  Here’s a big big one.  Your listener comes to you and turns on the radio—out of a lot of other choices—because she wants to “grow spiritually.”

 

Wait a minute, you say.  We live in a secular age where we’ve got to play down Jesus to get reach.

 

Really?  Not what she said. She, your busy, distracted and hurting listener is coming—as a main reason—to “grow spiritually”.   I’ve said it before:  It’s a daggers-out world, her world.  She knows you say you are Christian radio—that’s your distinctive—and that’s what she wants.

 

Someone coming to us to find out about and to grow more like Jesus. That’s a wow.

 

What do we do with that?  A few thoughts.  The level of spiritual maturity is not consistent—just the desire to grow.  So why not thoughtfully place bold, Biblical, short and wildly accessible thoughts throughout your day?  Using words to speak truth—big truths—but in an understandable way is a big deal.  To really connect with someone’s heart is to use language they understand.

 

And borrowing from another finding—many denominations find their way to your station—we realize that there is a rich heritage in these groups.  But some terms may not be understood across denominational borders.  Is the body of Christ the family of God or the “host” in communion?

This calls for broadly accessible terms that most won’t stumble over.

 

We want those moments on your station–whether in savory scripture bites, important topic discussions and brief minutes of worship—that will touch your listeners like their favorite songs. We want to create a tear, a smile, a pull-over-to-the-curb- and-catch-your-breath moment.

Surprising.  An opportunity to minister.  Whatever you want to say about spiritual growth being a main reason to listen, it’s our chance to not only grow our station, network or ministry, but to grow lives ever closer to Jesus.

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Action:

  1. Pray, discuss and even create a plan with what your ministry might do to communicate more clearly Jesus tone, words and call to a faith-life.
  2. Ask how, where you can find and develop bold, powerful, short content.
  3. Check into the Finney Media Why Listen? Workday that can help you develop your specific daily action plan.

How the finney media Why Listen? Survey Can Impact What You Do

Chuck here.

In a recent post, I let you know how excited I was to be able to stand in front of many of you this last Thursday and share Eight Headlines that will help us understand our listener better, and in so doing, provide a flashlight on ways we can engage her more fully, have greater impact and continue to grow our station reach.

 

Today, I’d like to pass along something to consider that will help you in a very real way.  My heart’s desire is to help you take the results and understand clearly how you can walk back into your station and realize your God-given dream for reach and impact.

 

Here at Finney Media we’ve been praying about a way we can help every size station or ministry.  A way that everyone can afford.  God has laid on our hearts the concept of a Workday—one day in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where we dig deep into the research together and unlock practical, actionable ideas that help you—no matter your market size or ministry size—gain insight and Action Items you can take home to implement within two weeks.

 

I’m blessed to be able to be able to be part of this event.  I trust you’ll start praying right now about joining us.  Specific details are found HERE.  I’m hoping to see you there.

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Action: Three Big Things:

 

  1. Chuck’s Powerpoint from Momentum is available.  Get your place in line by e-mailing whylisten@finneymedia.com
  2. Find out more about the Finney Media Why Listen? Workday, that will be held next April 6. Details and registration are HERE.  Space is limited, and there’s a special price right now, so do plan to give this your immediate attention.

 

Christian Radio Pictures to Make You Smile

Jan here.

Six-word stories.

 

These are attributed to Hemingway.

That may be a fable in itself, as it appears they have been around for a long time, with tales relating many of them from before he was in writing form. However, the memoir stream on the six-word story developed just a little while back. According to Wikipedia, the beginnings came from the online magazine Smith Magazine, whose goals relate to storytelling. From the magazine, they moved to Twitter and even a book series. Clearly it has become a popular way to focus on both creativity and deep thought about an important matter—life direction, events and meaning.

And that is what Chuck has compiled here, from sixwordmemoirs websites. Ten word pictures that could be your station or ministry story. An example of what you and your team can locate online or develop yourself to use on air! Six-word stories that cut to the core…or the quick. Pause. Read. Consider. Then take the idea and run with it. Click here to read our next blog

Chuck’s Picks

  1. The silences often utter profound truths.
  2. Seeps into souls like rain drops.
  3. Clouds all fluffed up to party.
  4. Main problem with morning…too early.
  5. Sewing…therapy with a foot pedal.
  6. They said: It’s impossible. It wasn’t.
  7. Broken pieces make up beautiful mosaics.
  8. I lived to tell about it.
  9. Love is more important than anything.
  10. My idea of perfection has changed.

 

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Action: Six-word memoirs tell profound truths in an arresting manner.

  1. What might your ministry or station’s be if you wrote it?
  2. Could you create a meme from your six-word memoir?
  3. Where could you use one of these or what you wrote in your programming?
  4. This is an opportunity for a team activity, an active devo using the ones Chuck wrote or a listener engagement possibility.
  5. And what about including these in your prayer life? They bring to mind important, profound truths, something that a morning or evening meditation can use.

 

Feedback:

We’d love to hear about your six-word memoir or what you wrote. Share by e-mail or post it here.

How Wonderment Makes the Day

 

Christianity Today, quoting from the Finney Media Why Listen? survey,  headlined a recent story on radio: 

 

“4 out of 5 listeners are tuning in for the same reason.”  What is that? Spiritual growth.  

 

Here is an additional thought:  How you present can create deep heart Impact.

Here’s Chuck.

 

 

“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do His bidding, you mountains and all ills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children.”  Psalm 148:7-11

 

Powerful words.  But often, as read on our radio stations or programs, without the depth of emotion that the psalmist intended.

 

What if we worked at making more of the profound…profound?

 

Webster says that profound is 1 a : having intellectual depth and insight b : difficult to fathom or understand. 2 a : extending far below the surface b : coming from, reaching to, or situated at a depth : deep-seated.

 

Any of these definitions work as we prepare to speak before our listeners.

 

If she is not moved by our words, then we must consider working again, harder, more carefully or recrafting, re-editing and re-telling in a way that it moves her one more step in Jesus’ direction.

 

How?  Being inspired by someone or something can help us do the same for others.

Take a few minutes with a favorite poet, listen to your five-year-old, or stand outside at night and view the sky.  Sometimes even watching a video clip can move our hearts to move others.

 

Here is one from Louie Giglio, leader of the Passion movement, that touched me.

 

Be inspired…and inspire!

 

Action: Take time often to pause and let the wonderment all around sink in.  Then share that with your listener.  Your genuine transparent heart connects!

One Surprising Truth About Your P1 Listener

 

The Lowdown on P1 Listeners

 

 

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Chuck

Recently questions have come in about P1’s. P1 listeners. Who are they? Aren’t they my long-time, every week dependable listener? Well, no.

You may be surprised by that, so let me expand.  A bit of understanding may help as you work to relate every single week to this important group of listeners, who are probably donors to your station. Recently questions have come in about P1’s.  P1 listeners.  Who are they?  Aren’t they my long-time, every week dependable listener?  Well, no.

The standard definition of a P1 is a listener that prefers your station over any other.  With this definition, you would think they would be there consistently, right?  Well, no.  Here’s the raw truth.  Who is in the P1 group will be different depending on the week you measure.

Let’s say Sophie is a P1 this week.  Well, next week Sophie has taken a trip with her two kids down to visit her mother.  She finds a local station in her mother’s town that sounds a bit like yours, and next week she is a P1 for that station.  But she’s not listening to yours.  Week after that, she is home, and you are on again.  But then she is off for vacation….

So here’s the blunt truth:  Fickle, busy, easily distracted.  But when asked what she listens to, Sophie and others like her mention you.  Yes, she is a fan.  This is why creating an emotional bond with Sophie and her friends is so important.  You want her to always come back to you!

But it also stands to reason that building an emotional bond is an every week kind of thing.  You can’t bank on a memory of last week’s flowers—you need to be handing them out again this week.

Action:  A little understanding goes a long way.

  1. Brainstorm how knowing you have different listeners each week as P1’s impacts what you say on-air.
  2. Review our website for more READING ON HEART CONNECTION.

Feedback:

We’d love to hear how you changed your on-air conversation.  Share by e-mail or post it here.

 

There are 10,080 minutes in one week. This is Chuck and I did the math.

Think about this . . . 80 minutes. That’s how much time the typical Christ follower spends in church each week. One hour and twenty minutes per week.

We say we’re trying to tell people about Jesus on the radio.  Pause on that thought.  We get an amazing amount of time each week—that other 10,000 minutes—to touch individual people’s hearts and impact their lives.

If you needed 10,000 reasons to pray this week that God would give you the right focus, the right energy and the right words—well consider this your opportunity!

Action:  Action is often the hardest part of change.

  1. Pray alone and pray with your team about your 10,000 minutes.
  2. Review our website for more reading on heart connection.
  3. Make one small change in your daily words, actions or attitudes that is more heart connective.

 

Feedback:

We’d love to hear how you changed your on-air conversation.

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How an Open Heart and Mind Keeps You in Shape

 

Beth here.

I started in radio and TV a good five years prior to the birth of my first daughter.  And now, she’s in her mid-twenties.  What can I say after all this time?

Stay a student of your craft.

If radio is your thing, listen to a lot of radio.  Different kinds with different personalities.  Note how they make you feel.  What works.  What can you work into your delivery.  Reach out to the Talents you hear via social media.  They are so approachable now.  We are all people who need people (thank you Barbara Striesand).  Give them the feedback you’d like to get.

Not only that, show up every day.  Exude integrity and fill in at the last minute, learn something new, start small, bake cookies and seek ways to serve.  Know that every listener and co-worker is a person God is trusting you with on-air.  So respond to listeners who reach out to you.  If they take the time to share take the time to answer back.

And pray.  Pray a lot.

Plus you might try an improv class.

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