JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on the living water that Jesus offers us.

Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Water is essential for us to live. Physical water refreshes us for a period of time, but then we need to have more to sustain us.  Going three days without water puts a person’s life at risk. The water that Jesus offers is enough to satisfy our soul forever.

Today, Jesus gives us the opportunity to drink from the fountain of His grace. This grace is a gift from God. It’s not something that we earn or buy with money. His grace is a gift that we receive by trusting in Jesus for salvation.

Psalm 34:8 invites us to taste and see that the LORD is good. This becomes a reality when we embrace God’s grace.

The Living Water that Jesus offers us is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

This week I took a field trip!  I visited the Pathways Out Of Poverty exhibit at HOPE International‘s headquarters in Lancaster.  Pathways out of Poverty is an interactive experience that invites visitors to remember the needy by walking alongside them for a moving journey from poverty to hope.

I’ve heard about the lives changed by HOPE and what they do over the years; but now I feel like I’ve seen it for myself.  I didn’t physically leave the country; but the 30 minute exhibit sure makes it feel that way!  I was given an .mp3 player and headphones and started at the front door of a typical home here in Lancaster County.  Next, the exhibit took me to the huts and hospital rooms of people facing big challenges all over the world.  There are 8 different real-life stories featured.  I saw their faces, peeked into their homes and heard their very own voices describe what they were up against.  If that’s where it ended, it’d be one big bummer–but thankfully the exhibit also shows the difference that HOPE International helped them make in their lives.  It was powerful and something I’ll remember for a long time.  I want to encourage you to visit!  Click here for info at HOPE’s website and to book a time to visit.

I hope you’re enjoying this fresh new season so far.  Here’s the playlist!  Today we’re starting off “at the top of the mountain” and singing songs of worship from there.  Some songs in the 8:00 hour also celebrate the new season as we come out of the darkness of Winter and into the light of Spring!

FIVE FUN FREE FAMILY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND!!! March 21, 22 & 23, 2014

5) LBC will host the annual Lancaster County Intercollegiate Band Festival Sunday (March 23) at 7:30pm in the Good Shepherd Chapel, featuring the symphonic bands from Franklin & Marshall College, Millersville University, Elizabethtown College, and Lancaster Bible College. Admission is free, but tickets are required. A donation will be received to help with the cost of the event and a ticket is required. More Info: http://www.lbc.edu/Events/

4) Matt Wheeler & Vintage Heart in Concert – Tonight (Friday, March 21) 6:30-8:30pm at Building Character, North Queen Street in Lancaster. Free Admission and Free Refreshments.  Sponsored by the River Valley Music Collective. More info: https://www.facebook.com/rvmco

3) 41st Annual Woodcarving & Wildlife Art Festival, Saturday & Sunday, (March 22nd & 23rd, 2014) Sat. 10am – 5pm &
Sun. 10am – 4pm,  At the Millersville University Fitness Center, There is a cost for adults, however Children under 15 are free when accompanied by an adult. This year’s theme is AMERICA FOREVER. More Info: http://lancarvers.com/

2) An evening of music with Phil Joel, formerly of the Newsboys, and solo artist Galen Crew at Grace  Fellowship Church, Old Lancaster Pike in Shillington, tonight (March 21) at 7PM. Free admission.  Doors open at 6pm.  More Info: http://www.222church.com/Concert.html

1) Cavod Dance Company will perform Not of This World tonight (Friday, March 21) at 7 p.m. at Living Waters Theatre in Strasburg. The dance company will share stirring stories about three young adults who overcame extreme adversity. The performance is free. An offering will be taken to support the seven member dance company’s mission trip to serve in Cape Town, Africa. More Info:  http://cavodacademy.com/ 

RADIO FRIEND PHIL – Greetings! It’s time for this week’s New Tunes at 9 Roundup. (New Tunes at 9, one-hour of new and emerging music, weeknights at 9 p.m. on WJTL.) Singer/songwriter Ellie Holcomb is coming to the Junction Center. She’ll be appearing next Friday morning, March 28, along with her father, acclaimed producer, Brown Bannister. (Bannister, whose credits include Amy Grant, Jeremy Camp, Third Day, and Steven Curtis Chapman, among others, is also the producer of Ellie’s new project, “As Sure As the Sun.”) Following a successful kickstarter campaign, Ellie released her project in February and has made “As Sure As the Sun” available on vinyl. (“As Sure As the Sun” is also available on iTunes.) Ellie Holcomb’s first radio single off “As Sure As the Sun” is “The Broken Beautiful.” The song has a playful melody and reads like a personal letter to Christ. She writes: “I know that I don’t bring a lot to the table; just little pieces of a broken heart. There’s days I wonder if you’ll still be faithful. Hold me together when I fall apart. Would you remind me now of who you are?” (Ellie spoke about the song on New Tunes at 9. http://wjtl.com/listen/wjtl-casts/) For more on Ellie Holcomb, go to http://www.ellieholcomb.com/ Again, Ellie will be appearing at the Junction Center, Friday morning, March 28; click http://www.thejunctioncenter.com/ for details. She’ll also be our guest, next Thursday night, March 27, on New Tunes at 9.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the freedom and healing of the righteous.

In Malachi, chapter 4, we find a description of a day that is coming when the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble. In Verse 2, the LORD says, “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.”

The reference to healing in this passage indicates that God’s people will experience wounds in this life. Some of those wounds surface in the form of physical pain. Others may take the form of emotional scars. Other wounds may result from persecution because of our faith in the Lord. On the day of the LORD, there will be healing for those who live with reverence for His name. The scars will be removed. There will be nothing fearful to give us nightmares. Painful memories will no longer make us sad.

The reference to freedom in this passage indicates that the righteous will experience liberty to worship God without interference. No one will be able to censor our testimony, or our expressions of love for God. Our faith will be unchained. It will be like a refreshing day of spring after a paralyzing, snow-covered winter.

The freedom and healing for the righteous on the day of the LORD is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

LISA LANDIS- A reminder that the next KCB Roller Skating Party is MAY 31, NOT this weekend.  Since the last skate was postponed due to the wintry weather, we decided to move the March 22nd date so as not to hold two skates in the same month.  In case you didn’t get word, the last skate of the season is MAY 31 from 10am-11am at Castle Roller Skating in Lancaster.  I hope to see you then for tons of KCB skating fun!  Visit the Calendar at KIDSCOOKIEBREAK.COM, or click the Kids tab here at WJTL.COM for more KCB live on location dates.  We are very busy starting April 26th!

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the meaning of “Ebenezer.”

We often hear that word during the Christmas season related to the Charles Dicken’s novel, “Ebenezer Scrooge.”

However, Ebenezer is also found in the Bible in the book of First Samuel. In their distress, the Israelites gathered together to fast and confess their sins to God.  When Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, heard that they were gathered together, they set out to attack them. The Israelites pleaded for Samuel to cry out to God on their behalf.

The LORD heard Samuel’s petition and thundered against the Philistines and routed them before the Israelites.

That is when Samuel set up a stone and named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far has the LORD helped us.” Through life’s storms, challenges, and conflicts, Ebenezer is a term that helps us to remember where our source of help comes from. According to Psalm 121, “my help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

God’s help in times of distress is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Here is March 16th SSRS Playlist.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Feel Free to leave a comment below or connect with me at SomeSort@wjtl.com

Hey everybody!  I hope you’re hanging in there through what will hopefully be the final days of winter.  I’ve been battling a cold, like everybody else in our office…so today it’s a re-run for the Praise & Worship Show. A while back, I did a “collaborations” theme: duets, trios, choirs–just no solo singers on the songs.  The playlist is below.

I hope you’re healthy and happy!
Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ
Kristi@WJTL.com