JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His power as a miracle worker.

According to Psalm 77:14, God is a miracle-worker. “You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.”

The Christian faith is built on miracles, such as the Creation of the world, the virgin birth of Jesus, the miracle of His love demonstrated at the cross, and the raising of Jesus from the dead three days later.

There is another miracle worth noting-the miracle of God’s love to draw someone to faith in Jesus and to change a heart. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!”

God’s power as a miracle worker is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

The other day, my toddler came running from the family room.  He had a look of panic and worry on his face, so I dropped what I was doing to see what happened.  I took his hand and we went back to the family room, where I immediately heard a noise.  I quickly scanned the possible sources: maybe the interactive dump truck was on the fritz or the racing chicken car was having a meltdown…but it turned out to be the stereo.  Josiah had pushed buttons in just the right sequence to turn it on to FM radio mode and change the channel to static.  It was an easy fix: just push the preset button back to 90.3 and everything felt right again.  What a relief!  It got me thinking about how glad I am that WJTL is there and how I hope that 90.3 will always broadcast encouraging music and programming.  I had a moment of gratitude for how my parents financially supported WJTL over the years.  They also took me to concerts with Michael W. Smith, DC Talk, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, Supertones and more.  They knew that WJTL was having a huge impact on my heart and life and encouraged my connection with it.  They even walked away from buying a house they loved, all because WJTL’s signal didn’t come in.  I’m so glad they saw how much WJTL meant to me.  You may not know them personally, but you may have seen them online!  There’s a picture of my mom and dad that pops up on WJTL.com from time to time.

There they are, Jim & Abby Abildness!  Well…their silhouettes, at least.  This was taken during the grand opening of the Junction Center Tent.  I’m extra nostalgic lately because of the Christian performing arts center that is currently being built at WJTL’s home, The Junction Center.  I imagine all the concerts and speakers and special events where we’ll be reminded of God’s love for us or encouraged to shine for Jesus or even come to Him for the very first time.  I’m planning on taking Josiah to his first concert when Slugs & Bugs comes in May.  It’ll be a fun full-circle moment for me.  So, I hope that you’ll join me and the whole family of WJTL listeners in praying for – and financially supporting –  this next phase of ministry.  It has so much potential to impact our community for Jesus Christ!  Click for details on contributing to the project or to see the lineup of concerts and special events already set to take place in our exciting new facility!  I also encourage you to read the story behind the name of the Robert M. Landis Memorial Hall…another testimony of an amazing parent.

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
January 27-29, 2017

5 Fourth Friday in River Towns – Columbia, Marietta and Wrightsville, tonight (Friday, Jan 27) 5-9pm. Music, Galleries, antique shops, local eateries, and more. More Info: parivertowns.com

4 Winter Snowflake Ornament Making tomorrow (Sat. Jan. 28) 11am at East Pennsboro Branch Library in East Pennsboro. Make a winter snowflake ornament. Display it in your window or hang from a fixture to decorate a room. Materials provided. No registration necessary. Children must be accompanied by an adult.  More Info: EastPennsboroBranch.org

3 Emmaus Road Cafe tomorrow (Sat. Jan. 28) 7pm-10pm.  Concert by Worship Leaders Walt and Amy Lindberg. The cafe is located at 1886 Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster. More Info: EmmausRoadCafe.org

2 Ukulele Uprising Sunday (Jan 29) 2pm at Tellus360 in Lancaster. Ukulele Uprising is a gang of fun-loving musicians of varying skill levels who gather together to strum ukuleles and sing songs of all kinds.  All ages welcome – Children must be accompanied by an adult. More Info: tellus360.com

1 15th Annual Chambersburg Ice Festival this weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Jan 27-29) Over 70 Ice Sculptures on display, Chili Cookoff, kidzone, double-wide Ice Slide and more. Get times and More info: IceFestPA.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Promise of Hope is based on Hebrews 13:8.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

This is a comforting verse for the follower of Christ, because it means that the name of Jesus is always superior to all other names, the throne of Jesus will never be upended, and the love of Jesus will never run dry. His truth is not bending to the changing values of the culture. His character does not change with the passage of time because there is no need for growth or improvement. Jesus is Lord, and that fact will never change. The sacrifice He made for our sins 2,000 years ago still has the power to forgive sins and transform our lives.

He is the constant source of help for His people. We find evidence of that in the preceding verses. In verse 5, God said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His faithfulness as a Promise-keeper.

According to Second Corinthians 1:20, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

A consistent promise keeper is faithful, having the goodness to follow through with stated intentions, and having the strength to make it happen, despite facing opposition that wants to thwart those purposes. Because these are the qualities of God, His promises are trustworthy and true.

Before Joshua died, he said to the Israelites, “Not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed.”

God’s faithfulness as a promise keeper is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

The 167-year-old Alden House in Downtown Lititz is celebrating 30 years as a Bed & Breakfast this year!   Located on Main Street, The Alden House is within strolling distance to local attractions, shopping, & dining.  In honor of this landmark year, Innkeeper’s John & Lyndell Eccleston are teaming with WJTL to give away a night’s stay at The Alden House Bed & Breakfast.  (Subject to room availability). 

Please send your name, complete street address, phone number, & email address to contest@wjtl.com

Contest Rules:

*You must not have won from WJTL in the past 30 days in order to be eligible for this contest.

*Only one entry per person.

*You must be 21 years old or older to participate.

*Entries must be received by Noon on Friday, January 27th.  

*Winner will be announced at 4:20 on Friday, January 27th.

*Incomplete entries will not be considered.

Playlist for the January 20th and 22nd episode:

Hour 1

1. The Change – AsWeAre
2. Have It All – Lybecker
3. Make Your Move – Hearts Like Lions
4. The Fallback – Sumerlin
5. Push – Thousand Foot Krutch
6. Pushover – Manafest
7. If the House Burns Down Tonight – Switchfoot
8. The Change (feat. Beacon Light) – Bread of Stone
9. The Window – Plain Cities
10. You Never Fail Me – Me In Motion
11. Wash Away – As We Ascend
12. More Of You – Matty Mullins
13. Out Of This World – Family Force 5
14. Never Let Me Go – Family Force 5
15. The Maze – Light45

Hour 2

1. Faith – Citizens & Saints
2. Fall On Your Knees – David Crowder Band
3. You Remain – Foreverlin
4. Bottle Rocket – House of Heroes
5. Tear It Up – Kutless
6. Ride With Me – Decyfer Down
7. Warm Up – NF
8. Sidelines – Lecrae
9. New and Improved – Mayfair Laundry
10. Still Breathing – Veridia
11. Beneath the Skin – Gold Frankincense & Myrrh
12. Beyond The Stars – Spoken
13. Erase – Disciple
14. Die For You – RED
15. Hurricane – Thrice

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
January 20-22, 2017

5 Music Friday, tonight (Friday, January 20) 6-9pm. Each third Friday of the month Lancaster is host of Music Fridays. Performances throughout Downtown Lancaster at various retailers, restaurants, and attractions. More Info: VisitLancasterCity.com

4 Trust Community Concert with Kēnòr tonight (FRIDAY, JANUARY 20) at 7:30pm. Kēnòr is an improvised modern chamber music ensemble of violin, percussion, vocals and accordion performing classical world music and poetry. An offering will be taken. More Info: LancasterTrust.com

3  “Encounter” is an artistic production involving theater, music, dance, and visual art on Sunday (Jan. 22) from 7pm-8:45pm at Calvary Church of Lebanon. “Encounter” is the Story of God told in a fresh way. More Info: Calvary-Lebanon.org

2 York County History Center and the Cultural Alliance Family Day tomorrow (Saturday, January 21) from 10am-2pm. Steven Courtney and the Suitcase Musicians, hands-on science and art activities, and more for the whole family.  More Info: YorkHistoryCenter.org

1 Free Community Weekend at ZooAmerica in Hershey Tomorrow and Sunday (Sat. Jan 21 & 22)  from 10:30am-4:30pm. More than 200 animals from the five regions of North America. Zoo Naturalists host up-close encounters with a variety of animals.More Info: ZooAmerica.com

Construction of the performing arts hall at The Junction Center is phase 3 of a five-year process.  The cost to complete this final phase is slightly more than $2,500,000 of which 80% is being paid from internal ministry funds.  This leaves a minimum balance of $500,000 that needs to come from donations to the WJTL building fund.

Our prayer in the beginning was that a legacy donor could be found to provide half of that amount in matching funds to start the fund drive.  Several months went by without any success in finding this donor and frankly it was becoming a bit discouraging.

Last March WJTL president Tim Landis was attending a family dinner with his siblings at the home of his mother Rhoda. Father Robert had recently died which had left a big hole in the family gathering.  During desert Tim mentioned his frustration with being unable to secure a lead gift to start phase three.

Someone suggested in jest, “Why not call it the Robert M. Landis Memorial Hall.”  After chuckling about it awhile the conversation turned to other subjects.  Over the next several weeks this conversation was constantly on Tim’s mind and it started to make more and more sense.  Even as a family project it would be a sacrificial gift but one that would hopefully encourage others to give.  After talking with the other family members (Rhoda, Cheryl, Tim, Bärbel, Karla and Geoff) it was enthusiastically decided to jointly make this matching challenge gift in memory of their father, Robert M. Landis.

Robert had loved the Lord, loved his children and loved Christian music.  One treasured heirloom he left behind was a round pitch pipe that he purchased at the age of 18.  This device was used when leading worship at the small Lancaster City mission church he attended from the time of his marriage until his death at the age of 83.  It also saw service in numerous quartets and choirs over the years.

Robert never sought the spotlight and was most comfortable volunteering behind the scenes.  In the early 70’s his children all were very involved in bringing contemporary Christian music to the Lancaster area.  Artists such as Keith Green, Second Chapter of Acts and Barry McQuire ate at his table and even slept in their RV’s in his driveway.  He also served as the plumber for the Creation Festivals for many years and built the infamous early shower units.

One of the first contemporary concerts he attended was by Petra in 1975.  Tim was a little concerned what his reaction would be to their song, “Killing My Old Man”, but his only comment was, “The drummers are pretty good.”  They had two sets of drummers back then.
Although he definitely would have been embarrassed, the official name of the hall at the Junction Center will be called, “Robert M. Landis Memorial Hall,” but often will be referred to as “Landis Hall” when brevity is required.

Building Fund Update:  As of January 13, 2017, the sum of gifts and pledges total $63,588.67 from 230 people and 18 organizations.  Combined with the challenge gift of $250,000 this means that a total of  $313,588.67 has been raised leaving a balance of $186,411.33 minimum that still needs to be raised.