JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the attractive qualities of love.

Valentine’s Day is often associated with candy, flowers, and romantic dinners. These celebrations of Valentines Day have value in expressing heartfelt love in the marriage relationship. However, for love to thrive for the long haul, we need more than gifts and romance.

The Bible reveals how marriages can thrive for life, churches can thrive in unity, and families and friendships can thrive with joy.

This is the nature of love, according to First Corinthians 13:4 to 7- Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

The attractive qualities of love are reasons to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

5) Coffee House Ministries – a Ministry of New Birth New Life Ministries in York, this Sunday(Feb. 16th) from 6-8pm. Food, Coffee, Music, Testimonies, and fellowship.  Featuring Worship Band – Ransomed Souls. More Info: coffeehouseministries.org

4) The Chocolate Experience: A Taste of Something Sweet -Today (Friday, Feb 14) 11am, At the Lancaster Public Library – Mountville Branch. A discussion of chocolate and a delicious sampling experience. It’s free but tickets are needed. More Info: (717) 285-3231

3) Art and Soul Cafe, tomorrow (Saturday,February 15) 6:30 – 8:30pm, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Mountville. South Side Singers from Lancaster will be the featured performer. This is an event for all ages. Win prizes  & listen to music. More Info: stpaulsmtv.com

2)  The Westminster Ringers Handbells Choir in concert tomorrow (Saturday Feb. 15th) 7-8pm at Garden Spot Village in New Holland.  More Info: gardenspotvillage.org

1) Lititz Fire & Ice Festival – Tonight, Tomorrow and Sunday (Feb 14, 15 & 16) Ice Sculptures, Chili Cook-off, Live Ice Sculpting, Pin Factory Concert Showcase, Dodgeball Tournament, and much more. WJTL Broadcasting Live Tonight! More info: lititzfireandicefestival.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.)  Kutless released their new project, “Glory,” this week. “Glory” is the band’s 8^th project, and follows “Believer,” a record that debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard 200.  The name Kutless was inspired by biblical scripture: Romans 6:23—“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because of this verse, the band says, he took our cuts for us, leaving us Kutless. The music on the new Kutless project is reverent and worshipful; this week on New Tunes at 9, Jon Micah Sumrall talked about his vision for the record, and choosing the title, “Glory.” http://wjtl.com/listen/wjtl-casts/ For more on Kutless, go to http://kutless.com/default.aspx You’ll find music, facebook, links to iTunes and more. (You can also go to the staff blogs and facebook page at wjtl.com and click new tunes at 9 roundup.) For this week’s Roundup Song of the Week, I want to play a new song from Kutless, off “Glory” called, “We Will Worship You.”

phil@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the prize of a champion.

The Apostle Paul occasionally referred to the ancient Olympic games and compared them to the Christian life.

He said in First Corinthians 9:25, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Just as an Olympic athlete competes to the best of their ability for the gold medal, so the Apostle Paul is saying that he wanted to serve Jesus in a way that represented His great name. Such a mission has meaningful purpose, with eternal impact.

The crowning honor of an Olympic athlete is to stand at the platform, with the gold medal, representing their country while their national anthem plays. The crowning honor of Christ’s followers is to hear our Master say “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is the applause of heaven in response to our faithful service for the glory of our King.

The prize of God’s applause is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Here’s the playlist!  Please get in touch if I can help with any song questions.

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

FIVE FUN FREE FAMILY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND!!! February 7, 8 & 9, 2014

5)  First Friday Lancaster, tonight from 5-9pm in Downtown Lancaster, celebrating the arts, music and community in Lancaster every First Friday. More Info: lancasterarts.com

4) Turning Point, a Christian contemporary vocal group of students from Eastern University will present a concert Sunday, (Feb. 9) 7pm at Neffsville Mennonite Church, Lititz Pike, between Lancaster and Lititz.

3)  Ichthus Coffeehouse held the second Saturday of every month, tomorrow (Feb. 8th) from 7-11pm at Immanuel Evangelical Free Church of York. Free organic & fair trade coffee and tea, other refreshments, open microphone for music or spoken word, board games and more. More Info: visit the Icthus Coffeehouse Facebook page.

2)  Build with LEGO free-style bricks, Architecture Series Models, simple Technic models and play with an electric train tonight, (Fri. Feb. 7th) from 5-8:30PM at Hammel Associates, East Grant St. in Lancaster. More than 15,000 bricks, plates and specialty pieces. More Info: (717) 393-3713

1)Christian Artist and Worship Leader Dave Evans will be speaking at The Church of Cumberland Valley, tomorrow (SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH) and SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 9TH) at 7pm each evening. The church is located at 1704 Fisher Road in Mechanicsburg. More info: (717) 790-9377

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 and worship leader Chuck Gibson was my guest this week on New Tunes at 9; Chuck stopped by to play some music and talk about his new project, “What Pleases You.” Chuck Gibson is the worship leader at Community Fellowship Church, Lancaster. Chuck Gibson will be playing another Live from the Junction Center event, on Tuesday, March 4. (Be listening to WJTL for your chance to win spots on the guest list. Chuck Gibson will also be in concert, with the Neverclaim, at Calvary Church, Lancaster, on Saturday, March 15—part of the Vision 14 Conference. For details, click on the Junction Center tab at wjtl.com.) The new Chuck Gibson song, “God Is With Us” is available now on iTunes and Spotify. Chuck talked about the song on New Tunes at 9. For more on Chuck Gibson, go to http://chuckgibsonmusic.com/. You’ll find music, facebook, videos, chord charts and more.

phil@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on the blessing of a new day.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Each day is a gift of God, and provides an opportunity for us to give thanks to God for the life we have in a particular day. While there are reasons to celebrate the opportunities of this day and every day, this passage is referring to a new thing that God was doing to bring hope to the world. Jesus would appear to the world and offer the gift of eternal life to those who would receive Him.

The surrounding verses are applied to Jesus in the New Testament.

Verse 22 talks about the stone that the builders rejected, which has become the capstone. This refers to Jesus in the New Testament.

Verse 23 says that the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Jesus came on a divine mission to express God’s love.

Verse 25 says, “O LORD, save us, O LORD, grant us success.” Jesus is our answer to this prayer from an earnest heart.

A light has dawned, bringing new life and fresh hope for a bright future.  His name is Jesus.

The blessing of a new day 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 beauty of a snowflake.

The design of a single snowflake is unique from all other snowflakes. In a similar way, God has made each of us with unique features. There is only one of you, which reflects God’s creativity in designing you as a distinct personality.  In pondering the way God knew him personally, David said in Psalm 139, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”

Another dimension of snow in the Bible is how it is compared to purity. The mercy of God toward his people purifies His people from the guilt of sin. In Psalm 51:7, as David was confessing his sin of adultery and murder, referred to snow with this statement, “Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”

The beauty of a snowflake reminds us of the unique way that God has created us, and the refreshing way that God cleanses us. Because of God’s powerful love, our formation and spiritual transformation are reasons to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on the laughter of Sarah.

Laughter has been called the best medicine, but not all forms of laughter are healthy. Such was the case on one occasion when Sarah laughed. Three visitors came to visit her and her husband Abraham. One of those visitors was the LORD.

By this time, Sarah was well-advanced in years.  She overheard a conversation that Abraham was having with the three visitors. The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year; and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

That is when Sarah laughed the cynic’s laugh. She thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

When the LORD asked Abraham why his wife laughed, she denied it.

The word of the LORD proved true, and Sarah did give birth to Isaac, whose name means “laughter.” This time, Sarah laughed for a different reason. She was celebrating God’s miracle of new life.

The birth of Isaac reveals that God is able to turn human impossibilities into Divine opportunities. God’s people rejoice at the evidence of His mighty Hand.

Each miracle of new life is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Tonight’s SSRS playlist!  Next week we’ll talk with Sumerlin!