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

FIVE FUN FREE FAMILY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND!!! March 14, 15 & 16, 2014

5)  A free community breakfast tomorrow (Saturday, March 15) 8:30 AM at St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church in Glen Rock.  Pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs & more. A freewill offering will be received.   More Info: 717-235-7146.

4)The 13th Annual Airville Volunteer Fire Company Quilt Sale and Consignment Auction, otherwise known as the Airville”Mud Sale” tomorrw (Saturday, March 15) beginning at 8:30am, Delta Rd in Airville PA. Hundreds of quilts, Longaberger baskets, crafts, furniture, plants, shrubs, Food and more. More Info: 717 862 3723

3)  Free Concert for the whole family at Willow Street Preschool featuring Steven Courtney, Tonight (Friday, March 14th) at 6:35PM. The Concert will take place at Willow Street Mennonite Church, East Penn Grant Rd. in Willow Street. More Info: 717-464-2422

2)  2nd Friday – Lovin’ Lititz, tonight (March 14) rain or shine, 5-9pm in downtown Lititz.  More Info: lititzpa.com

1) Open Fun Horse Show Series, at Crescendo Training Centre Fairmont Rd. in Ephrata, Sunday (March 16) Featuring demonstrations and classes in Dressage, Jumping, English, Western, Speed classes, and more.  The event is free for spectators, donations benefit the Mount Hope Horse Rescue. More Info: (717) 354-5585

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.) The ‘Thrive’ tour featuring Casting Crowns, Laura Story, and For King and Country, is coming to the Giant Center, in Hershey, next week. (The show is on the first day of spring: Thursday, March 20; tickets on sale at 717-459-3701 or click http://www.thejunctioncenter.com/ at WJTL.com.)

In January, Casting Crowns released their seventh project, “Thrive,” which debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 6.Mark Hall has stated that the songwriting for “Thrive” was influenced by his work as a youth pastor. He says, “The songs always start out with what we’re teaching, and for years I’ve been using Psalm 1 in showing students what a believer looks like.” Mark Hall recently spoke to Dave O’Connor from http://lancasteronline.com/search/?t=article&nsa=eedition&q=crossrock&s=start_time&sd=desc&x=0&y=0, and shared what we can expect at next week’s concert in Hershey. For more on Casting Crowns, go to https://www.castingcrowns.com/home

phil@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the purpose of life and the promotion of heaven.

The Apostle Paul lived with this eternal perspective in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Paul lived with the perspective that as long as he lived in his body, and as long as God gave him breath, his service for God would mean fruitful labor. He knew that the church would benefit from his ministry. Paul was committed to laboring for the Lord so that the church would make progress and experience joy in their faith.

Yet, internally, Paul was torn. His heart was where his treasure was. His treasure was Jesus. His longing was to be with Christ. He knew that death was a promotion into the presence of the Lord forever.

As we follow Jesus with a sincere heart, we also are likely to feel this type of internal struggle. That is a normal reaction for the person who loves Jesus in the midst of a world that loves sin. But with an eternal perspective, we acknowledge that God has placed us here on the earth “for such a time as this” to live for Christ and make Him known.

For the follower of Christ, our purpose in life and promotion to heaven is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on the value of a true blue friend.

H. G. Bohn has said, “Friendships multiply joys and divide griefs.” There is something deeply meaningful when we celebrate special occasions with friends and loved ones. Perhaps this is why we tend to invite our circle of friends to our birthday parties and wedding ceremonies. We are also comforted by the support of friends in our low moments, when we have lost a loved one or if we have lost our job unexpectedly. Friends may not have the solutions to take away our pain, but they do offer us love and encouragement, which we really need when we find ourselves in a tough place.

The Bible reveals the value of a true blue friend this way:

Proverbs 17:17 says,  “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Jesus is the ultimate expression of a true blue friend. He told His followers, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” The next day, Jesus laid down His life for His friends.

The value of a true blue friend is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the joy of listening to Jesus.

Mary and Martha were sisters who both loved Jesus. When He came to their house, they went into very different modes. Mary went into listening mode. Martha went into work mode.

Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He said. Her heart was open to what Jesus had said to her. Meanwhile, Martha was caught up in household chores: cleaning, sweeping, getting dinner ready, that sort of thing. The Bible says she was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She starts to resent the fact that Mary is not helping her. She says to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Then comes Jesus’ gentle rebuke, which expresses His love for Martha and at the same time, His stamp of approval for Mary’s responsiveness to His words. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary serves as an example for us to take time to enjoy our relationship with Jesus. Spend quality time with Him. Cherish His every word, and follow what He says to us.

The joy of listening to Jesus is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com