"To whom much is given, much is required."

                                                            Luke 12:48

God is omniscient. That means He knows everything. He has all the answers.

Who do think, besides God, has had the most answers in their lifetime? I believe it is a man we lost this year; Alex Trebek.  He hosted the game show “Jeopardy” for a little over 36 years, and it is estimated that in that time he had the answer to just over half-million questions.

Trebek held a degree in philosophy from the University of Ottawa. While there he worked for the Canadian Broadcasting System at night while going to school in the morning. He became interested in broadcast news and eventually was the reader for the CBC national radio news.

After that, Trebek had one of the most eclectic broadcast careers ever known.

-        He covered curling and horse racing for CBC television.

-        He hosted a music show in 1963 called “Music Hop”.

-        Then came a high school quiz show called “Reach for the Top”.

-        From 1967 to 1970, he hosted a classical music program. At the same time, he covered a weekly show about skating, and hosted a game show called “Strategy”.

-        For the next couple of years, he did an early morning drive show on the radio in Toronto.

-        In 1971, he was chosen as host of “Hockey Night in Canada”, but was quickly turned down by the president of the company who said the host of any show of his could not have a mustache.

-        In 1973 Trebek moved to the U.S. and started his game show career. First was “The Wizard of Odds”, then “High Rollers”, then “Double Dare.” A short stint as the host of “Pillsbury Bake Off” was followed by “The $128,000 Question.”

-        When his friend Merv Griffin got him to host two pilots for a revival of “Jeopardy” (original host Art Fleming turned it down) . . . well, the rest is history.

All that is interesting, but have you ever thought about the lives people like Trebek live beyond their public persona? The more I read, the more I began to admire this Canadian born man who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1998.

The measure of Alex Trebek lies in what so many didn’t know about him. He was a huge philanthropist for “World Vision Canada” and “United Services Organization”. He traveled often to developing countries to give aid. He donated land to establish a conservancy in the Santa Monica hills; he donated millions of dollars to the University of Ottawa to establish an open forum for discussion of diverse views and opinions; and he helped fund a homeless shelter in Los Angeles.

Trebek was a professing and practicing Christian, and believed “to whom much is given, much is required”. And he lived that belief. He shared his life and his public fame and his money to ensure others less fortunate could have hope.

"Father, thank you for those who use their fame to help others in Your Name.  In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN."

Christmas Bonus:

The most popular meal in Japan for Christmas is a bucket of KFC original recipe. It’s so popular that people place advance orders or get in line Christmas Eve and spend the night to make sure they get some the next day before it runs out.