I just wrapped up a live phone interview with John Reilly! (It’s at the WJTL Casts page if you want to hear it!) He’s the front man for violin rock band, Reilly. He just got married to Bonnie and they, and everyone else in the band, have been traveling the globe. But it won’t end any time soon. They have lots of shows coming up all over the place. Be sure to check out their schedule and see when you can get to a Reilly concert to see those dueling violins! Check out http://www.reillytheband.com/ And enjoy all the artwork! I had no idea (until today) that band member Matthew was responsible for all of it!
Reilly has new music on the way June 8th! Get details on the release concert on June 11th and pre-order at their website!
We heard his music in the 1980’s. Songs like Pray, Pray, Pray, Faith Takes A Vision, and Good Advice. He has also made appearances at recent Creation Festivals. Today, James Ward resides in Chattanooga with his wife Beth. They have two grown-up children. Currently, he serves full-time at his home church, New City Fellowship. He has served in ministry there since the church’s beginning 30 years ago. You can catch up or get acquainted with this Christian music pioneer at his website:
Today I was planning for next Sunday’s Praise & Worship Show, where the music is themed around worship leaders from all over the globe, and I saw something that caught my eye at Brooke Fraser’s website. It’s a new release! It’s called “What To Do With Daylight (Abridged).” It’s a re-release of her 2003 project of the same name, with a revised track listing (edited by Brooke herself!) and new album artwork, exclusive to this release. It’s cool! And yes, there are limited numbers available.
Our look at encounters with God continues with the LORD’s appearance to Solomon.
It happened as he was beginning his reign as king, and the LORD said to Solomon,
“Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
How would you respond to an invitation like that? When we talk of living the American dream, we think of opportunities we have to live productive lives, we think of freedom, and we think of the many blessings that God has granted this nation over the years. However, opportunities can be squandered and freedom can turn to bondage if we lose focus on God and become addicted to our toys, tools, and other material blessings. Solomon could have asked for wealth. He could have asked for a long life, or the destruction of his enemies. Instead, Solomon asked the LORD for wisdom.
He wanted to be able, as a leader, to govern people with a discerning heart, to be able to distinguish between right and wrong. Solomon recognized his own personal limitations, and the huge task before him to lead Israel as a nation. He felt inadequate for the task, and God honored his request. Not only did God bless Solomon with wisdom, but He also gave him riches and honor.
Wisdom is available to us today as well. We can grow in wisdom by asking God for wisdom with a believing heart, (James 1:5) and applying the truths of Scripture into our lives. (Matthew 7:24). Having a personal relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord is foundational to a life of wisdom. (I Corinthians 1:30)
WJTL has a diverse range of music making up “The Best Mix”. Street Level Radio is the time to tune in for the best in Holy Hip Hop and Urban Gospel. Sam Britten and Mark Homisak put together a great playlist and have a heart to spread the Gospel of Jesus through gifted artists in this genre. It’s awesome to see artists rising up with the Truth!
Below is the playlist for this coming Sunday night. In the future this info will be available through the Facebook, so join up with Street Level so you can be connected!
Christ is on me – Bless’ed
Farmers – Cam
My walk – Canton Jones
Ridaz – JR
Welcome – Ackdavis
Obstacles – Sherwin Gardner
My God changed me – Ruth Vega
Reprende – Ruth Vega
Accion – Ruth Vega
Baila canta – Ruth Vega
Tirate – Ruth Vega
Word – Sho Baraka
Scent – Da Truth
Wrap me in your arms – Michael Gungor
The Rising – Sho Baraka
Coast to Coast – Corey Red & Precise
We can’t stop – Rockz, Jav, Swat, L.O.S.
Closer – Kierra “KiKi” Sheard
Why we do it – Cheno Lyfe
Everything – Tiko Angelos
Forsaken – Jason Mighty
Say what they say – The Lions Pride
Get Busy – Trip Lee
Kobe Bryant on ‘Em – Sho Baraka
Yeshua – Beckah Shae
It’s been a while since Charlie Hall put anything out. In fact, I’ve been waiting since 2008, when he released “The Bright Sadness.” Today I stumbled upon a Charlie Hall song in my iPod that I had completely forgotten about, ‘Thrill.” The lyrics are so good! (“You make deserts glad, You give the voiceless songs, You sing to barren lands, You make the weak one strong.”) Charlie really has a way with joyful lyric writing. I’m not talking about happy lyrics, encouraging lyrics or even optimistic lyrics. I’m talking about real joy; filled with redemption, restoration, gratitude and praise. And if you need to be happier, be encouraged or be optimistic, his songs are a tool that will help get you there in worship!
http://www.charliehall.com
And by the way, his tweets (at his website and on Twitter, of course) are HILARIOUS!
Here’s a video where one of the guys from Charlie’s band will help you learn how to play “Thrill!”
Last year, Compassion International went over the one million mark–one million children sponsored through their ministry. If you sponsor a child through a Compassion International, you are part of this exciting development: See the news link below for more details on how God is working through Compassion International to touch people’s lives with the Gospel.
Our series of encounters with God continues today with a look at what can happen when we spend time with Jesus.
Do you remember what the disciples did when Jesus was arrested? They scattered. They were caught unprepared for Jesus’ capture. We find them disoriented and frazzled.
In the book of Acts, post-resurrection of Jesus, post-Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them in power, the disciples are standing up to the threat of man with courage.
When questioned about his faith, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke about the name of Jesus as the reason why he was able to perform a miraculous healing. Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” This he was saying, not to his church group, but to the people who had him jailed the night before.
Acts 4:13 says that “when they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
What is necessary for being a bold witness for Jesus in the face of adversity? Just like the disciples, we need to be with Jesus-to spend time with Him, learn from Him with teachable heart, lean on Him with a trusting heart, and love Him with an undivided heart. With a holy fear of God, the fear of man will not inhibit our witness for Jesus.
Dorothy and Roger of Rafiki’s mixes up Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies in Lisa Landis’ kitchen. Don’t miss the 2010 African Festival at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center Sunday, May 2, 2010. And Rafiki Africa cooks up yummy African treats Saturday, May 1st 10am-11am on Kids’ Cookie Break.
I was thinking today about the upcoming Sertoma Chicken Barbecue event at Long’s Park and the years of memories WJTL has there. It’s been one of the events I’ve looked forward to for the past 10 + years that I’ve been involved with WJTL So many different artists have performed on the Weaver’s Garage stage and the Talent Challenge the last few years has brought out all kinds of entertaining acts!
Of course there is the chicken and all the yummy sides (usually a couple of meals worth) to enjoy. I always look forward to seeing the familiar faces of friends and meeting new folks who stop by the WJTL table to say hi. You can even feed the ducks at the pond and throw a little frisbee.
May 15 is coming quickly! Come out and enjoy some chicken, talent by friends in the listening area, and hopefully some sunshine!
Encounters with God. Today, we look at the calling of Ezekiel to be a prophet of the Lord. He was not called to be a foreign missionary, like Jonah was. Instead, he was called to minister to people who, in his day, spoke his language. However, that does not mean his task would be easy. When it came to the condition of the heart, the people were definitely not on the same page as the Lord.
In Ezekiel chapter 2, verse 3, the LORD said, “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen-for they are a rebellious house-they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
And then in verse 7, the LORD adds, “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.”
For Ezekiel, the issue was not whether or not the people would listen to him. The issue was “what message did the LORD want to speak through Ezekiel?” The success of Ezekiel’s mission did not depend on the response of the people. The success of his mission depended on being faithful to the word of the LORD. It takes courage, it takes humility, and it takes an obedient spirit to proclaim the Gospel today.
Many prophets and teachers have faced resistance before us. Along with Ezekiel, there was Jeremiah, Moses, Stephen, the Apostle Paul, and the Lord Jesus Himself. The call of Ezekiel reminds us of two key principles of sharing the Good News of Jesus. “Do not go beyond what is written.” (I Corinthians 4:6) And “don’t hesitate to proclaim the whole will of God.” (Acts 20:27)
I just wrapped up a live phone interview with John Reilly! (It’s at the WJTL Casts page if you want to hear it!) He’s the front man for violin rock band, Reilly. He just got married to Bonnie and they, and everyone else in the band, have been traveling the globe. But it won’t end any time soon. They have lots of shows coming up all over the place. Be sure to check out their schedule and see when you can get to a Reilly concert to see those dueling violins! Check out http://www.reillytheband.com/ And enjoy all the artwork! I had no idea (until today) that band member Matthew was responsible for all of it!
Check out her website for more info: 
http://www.charliehall.com 
