JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Promise of Hope is based on Acts 1:11.

Jesus was taken up before the eyes of His disciples. After a cloud hid him from their sight, two men, dressed in white, stood beside them, saying, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

If the disciples had remained looking into the sky, they would have missed the opportunities that God had for them to be His witnesses. There is a time for looking up. When Jesus returns, He will appear from above. Looking up fills us with the hope of His return as we anticipate the redemption of our bodies.

But while we live on this earth, there is also a time for looking around to the people who need Jesus. This is the mission that God has for us. Then, go love and serve them in Jesus’ name so that they too will be ready to meet Jesus when He returns.

The return of Jesus is a promise of hope for those who follow Jesus in the Year of Trust.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Your March 3rd/5th handcrafted playlist:

Hour 1

1. Back From the Dead – Skillet
2. BZRK (feat. KB) – Family Force 5
3. Mirror Mirror – Random Hero
4. We Are The Broken – Seventh Day Slumber
5. Unknown Land – Graceful Closure
6. Faith – Citizens & Saints
7. Warm Up – NF
8. You Can’t Stop Me – Andy Mineo
9. Unforsaken – Adelaide
10. These Arrows Shoot To Kill – Flagship Armada
11. Wash Away – As We Ascend
12. Saw This Coming – Awake O Sleeper
13. Keep Me – Crowder
14. Revolutionary Love – David Crowder Band
15. Song of Deliverance – Zach Williams

Hour 2

1. Voices – Out of Black
2. Angels & Demons – Disciple
3. Lifeline – Thousand Foot Krutch
4. Unbreakable – Fireflight
5. Pretty Little Phase – Hearts Like Lions
6. Satisfied – House of Heroes
7. Know About It (feat. Derek Minor)- KJ-52
8. Haters – Beacon Light
9. Aliens – Luna Halo
10. The Change – AsWeAre
11. Beneath the Skin – Gold Frankincense & Myrrh
12. Beautiful Lie – Decyfer Down
13. I Won’t Let You Go – Switchfoot
14. God – Relient K

Kristi Leigh, WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
March 3-5, 2017

5  Chocolate Festival, tomorrow (Saturday, March 4) 1-4pm at The Oxford United Methodist Church, Oxford, PA.  Be a be a taster, a baker, or a contestant. The categories are Cakes/Cupcakes, Cookies, Candy/Fudge, Brownies, “Other Desserts” as well as a special Children’s category for ages 16 and under. There will also be a special “Kids Cookie Corner” where younger kids can decorate cookies.  More Info: http://oxford1851.org

4 Maple Sugaring demonstrations in the Sugar Bush of Central Park, Lancaster, Pavillion 11, Sunday (March 5) 1-4pm. See trees being tapped, sap boiled to syrup, and candy made from syrup.  Maple products will be available. Donations appreciated. More Info: www.lancastercountyparks.org

3 Lego Madness tomorrow (Sat. March 4) from 10:30am-11:30am at New Cumberland Public Library. Tom Gross of the New Cumberland Lions Club will read a story, followed by children and their family constructing an object from Legos that represents the theme of the book. More Info:
http://newcumberlandlibrary.org

2 Hammel Associates Architects in Lancaster First Friday Lego Building Party tonight (Friday, March 3) from 5-8:30pm. Two new Architecture series models will be available to build New York City and Berlin. Guests can also take on other Architectural series models, or go freestyle with more than 40,000 bricks, plates and specialty pieces. More Info:  http://www.hammelarch.com/

1  Lancaster Science Factory – Free First Fridays, tonight (Friday, March 3) 5-8p   Free access to more than 60 interactive exhibits relating to science, technology, engineering and math, as well as demonstrations and activities in the Science Cafe. More Info: 717-509-6363

This week in my devotions, I read from the “Jolt Of Joy” plan on the YouVersion Bible App.  It’s based on the writing of Carol McLeod at www.JustJoyMinistries.com

There were a few sentences that really stuck out to me and inspired today’s lineup with a concentration on the connection of thanksgiving and joy.

“It is important to understand the relationship between joy and thanksgiving . If you are a thankful person, joy cannot be so very far away.  If you are a joyful person, I can guarantee that you count your blessings loudly and daily.  Thanksgiving is the password that opens the door of His presence to His people.  And, when you enter into His presence, you know that you will find there: JOY!”

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

Your Handcrafted Playlist for the February 24th/26th episode of Some Sort of Rock Show:

Hour 1

1. Hard Love – NEEDTOBREATHE
2. Im Down – The Almost
3. Keep Me – Crowder
4. Mercy – Ravenhill
5. Back From the Dead – Skillet
6. Loving Led – ILIA
7. The Change – AsWeAre
8. Lets Dance – Hawk Nelson
9. God – Relient K
10. Falling All Over – I Am Spartacus
11. Out Of This World – Family Force 5
12. Out of the Fire – Audio Adrenaline
13. King of Kings – David Curtis
14. We’ve Only Just Begun – Run Kid Run
15. Pretty Little Phase – Hearts Like Lions

Hour 2

1. Feel – House of Heroes
2. Now – Fireflight
3. Beautiful Lie – Decyfer Down
4. All She Wants – Seventh Day Slumber
5. Holy Water – Switchfoot
6. Broken Lines – Foreverlin
7. Bringing You Back To Life – Light45
8. These Arrows Shoot To Kill – Flagship Armada
9. Broken Heart – Falling Up
10. Voices – Out of Black
11. Warm Up – NF
12. Sidelines – Lecrae
13. Interview with Matt Baird of Spoken- Breathe Again – Spoken
14. Erase – Disciple
15. Wash Away – As We Ascend

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
February 24-26, 2017

5 Star Factor summer arts camp and talent showcase at Calvary Bible Church Hanover tomorrow (Saturday, Feb 25) at 7pm and Sunday (Feb 26) 10:30am. More Info: www.cbc-hanover.org

4 ROCK THE BLOCK at Pod 2 tomorrow (Saturday, February 25) from 11am-4 pm at Rock Lititz. Open house with activity stations, entertainment and more. More Info:  (717) 626-0338

3 Salem United Methodist Church Rothsville FREE pancake breakfast for the community tomorrow (Saturday, February 25) from 8am-10am. More Info: 717-626-4675

2 Winter Escape tomorrow (Saturday Feb. 25) from 1pm-4pm at Conestoga Valley Church of Christ.  Games, sweet chocolate treats and indoor bounce house!  More Info:  www.cvchurchofchrist.org

1 Maple Sugaring demonstrations in the Sugar Bush of Central Park, Lancaster, Pavillion 11, tomorrow (Saturday, Feb 25) 10am-2pm and Sunday (Feb 26) 1-4pm. See trees being tapped, sap boiled to syrup, and candy made from syrup.  Maple products will be available. Donations appreciated. More Info: www.lancastercountyparks.org

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His patience.

According to Second Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The patience and compassion of God toward the ungodly are good reasons to explain why Jesus has not yet returned. Some day, He will return, and when that happens, the heavens will disappear with a roar and the elements will be destroyed by fire. The earth and everything in it will be laid bare. But in the meantime, God waits for people to stop running away from God and turn toward Him. He gives people time to repent and to be saved from the destruction that is coming.

God’s patience is a window of opportunity to seize this day to receive the grace that God freely offers us.

God’s patience reflects His graciousness and compassion and is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His love for the world.

According to John 3:16 and 17, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The world is a big place with a population that rises above 7 billion people today. When Jesus came into the world, He was coming as the remedy for the deepest problem of each one of us. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Where sin is our greatest problem, Jesus is our ultimate solution because in His grace is the forgiveness and eternal life that He offers us. There may be shortages of other resources in the world today, but there is no shortage of God’s love. His grace is abundant to save whoever calls on the name of the Lord.

God’s love for the world is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com