JOHN SHIRK – Jonah is a fascinating book of the Bible recalling the journey of Jonah to Nineveh to preach God’s word and declare His warning of impending calamity.

In a significant development, the city responds favorably to Jonah’s message and the city is spared destruction.

Jonah became displeased. He became angry, and vented his anger to the LORD. He said, “Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Sometimes, even the prophets needed an attitude adjustment. There was a time when Elijah was fearful and wanted to die. There was a time when Jeremiah was timid to become one of God’s prophets. The LORD had to remind him not to underestimate what God could do with His help. Jonah needed an attitude adjustment too.

The LORD shared His heart of concern for people with Jonah. He said, “Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

The LORD’s word with Jonah challenges us to share God’s concern for souls, and is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

March 15, 16 & 17, 2013

5)  Lebanon Valley Youth For Christ Bids For Kids Benefit Auction Tonight & Tomorrow (March 15 & 16) at Lebanon Valley Expo & Fairgrounds. More Info: lvyfc.com

4) Rainbow’s End 30th Anniversary Banquet featuring Dawson McAllister tomorrow (Saturday, March 16th) 6pm at Kraybill Mennonite School.   Free Event. More info: reys.org

3) Night of Worship with the Jimmy Emig Band at Bethany UMC in Lebanon, tomorrow (Saturday, March 16)  6pm!  More info: 717-628-1186.

2) The Bryn Mawr Mainliners Men’s Chorus will entertain in barbershop style as part of the Garden Spot Village Saturday Evening Concert Series tomorrow (Sat. March 16th) at 7pm. Classic four-part harmonies and a capella voices. Free. Donations accepted. More info: 717-355-6000

1) 1863 Invasion in the Valley Exhibit, today (Fri, Mar 15, 2013) 10am-2pm at the Cumberland County Historical Society 21 North Pitt Street, Carlisle. In June 1863, Confederate and Union forces clashed in Cumberland County from Shippensburg to Camp HIll. Discover the stories of soldiers, the citizens, and stolen cows, through Civil War artifacts, documents , and photographs. Free Event. More Info: historicalsociety.com

JOHN SHIRK – Nineveh’s wickedness had come up before the LORD. Their time was running out if they continued on their destructive path. But God was calling Jonah to preach His Word. When he got there, Jonah proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Not only did the people respond in brokenness; they also called urgently on God and gave up their evil ways, which included violence. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. A city was spared from destruction.

Sometimes, it may appear that someone is far, far away from God.   By seeing the violent culture of the Ninevites, we might be skeptical that the people would ever acknowledge God. But what is humanly impossible is possible with God. From a human point of view, we see Nineveh on the verge of a breakdown. From God’s point of view, the city was on the verge of a spiritual breakthrough and was ripe for revival. He worked through one of his prophets to accomplish the task.

The revival of Nineveh was a display of God’s patience and compassion and is lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

ANN D’ALESSANDRO

CMI Productions is busy getting ready for 3 great events and we hope to see you!!

**The Sanctus Real Promises Tour with Sanctus Real, JJ Heller, Unspoken and Bread Of Stone will be at Manheim Brethren In Christ Church on Thursday, March 14th at 7:30PM.

**The Vision Conference with Jeremy Kingsley and Chuck Gibson is on Saturday, March 16th from 9AM-5PM (Doors open at 8:30AM) and includes  admission to the Crowder concert in the evening.  “It is the mission of Vision13 to challenge junior high and senior high students and leaders to become actively involved in God’s vision for the world.” You can find more information about the conference at their website: http://visionconference.org/

**Crowder (David Crowder with his new band) with Chuck Gibson on Saturday, March 16th at 7:30PM at Calvary Church in Lancaster.  John Shirk got to talk to David Crowder about his new band and the upcoming concert, you can listen to it here: https://wjtl.com/listen/wjtl-casts/

Tickets for all three events will be available at the door!  Doors for the concerts open approx. 1 hour before the concert.  You can find tickets and more information at our website: http://www.cmilive.com/

Ann D’Alessandro – Looking forward to Sanctus Real & Vision & Crowder and everyone else! ann@wjtl.com                                                    CROWDER

SANCTUS REAL

March 8, 9 & 10, 2013

5)  The 150+ voice National Christian Choir is performing a free concert at Grace Bible Chapel, 1949 Joseph Biggs Highway, Rising Sun, MD on Sunday (March 10) at 6pm. More info: 410-658-5767

4) Chick-fil-A at Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster is having its first-ever Pirate-Princess Breakfast from 9 to 11am tomorrow (Saturday, March 9) at its location across from Rockvale Outlets. The event will include a special treasure chest craft and appearances by a real “princess and pirate.” Reservations are not required, the event is free, other than the cost of breakfast. More info: chick-fil-a.com/lincolnhighwayeast

3) Audio-book narrator George Guidall will be at the Hershey Public Library on Sunday, (March 10, 2013) at 2pm. Get a  behind the scenes look at the making of an audio-book. George has recorded over 900 unabridged novels and is the recipient of two Audie Awards for excellence in audio-book narration.  This special event, sponsored by the Friends of the Hershey Library, is free and open to everyone but pre-registration is required. More info: 717 533-6555 or hersheylibrary.org

2) My Brother’s Keeper Ministries International – a ministry to Romania – is having 1st Picnic Lancaster – 2013! Tonight (Friday March 8) 6:30pm at Crossroads Brethren in Christ Church Family Center, Mount Joy. More info: MBK.ro

1) In honor of Charter Day, Sunday, (March 10) many PA Museums will be open for Free, including the State Museum in Harrisburg (where the original charter will be on display), Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Ephrata Cloister Museum, Railroad Museum of PA in Strasburg, and many others. More info: (717) 772-3257

JOHN SHIRK – Jonah had run away from God’s mission to go to Nineveh and ended up in isolation after being swallowed by a great fish.

That is where he came to his senses and made a commitment to get on board with God’s mission.

With his heart more aligned with God’s purpose, Jonah 3:1 says, “Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh.

Because of unwise decisions in the past, we might be tempted to think that God has given up on us and will not call us to service again. However, the Bible talks about several godly people who had second opportunities after making serious blunders. Just 50 days or so after Peter denied knowing Christ, he gave a bold sermon on Pentecost that led to the salvation of 3,000 souls. Jonah’s second opportunity also yielded productive results. The Ninevites were receptive to what he had to say, and humbled themselves in the eyes of the LORD.  If you are on the sidelines of regret, remember: it’s not too late to get back to the place of service that honors God and touches lives with His grace.

Jonah’s second opportunity is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – After Jonah ran away from God, he ran into a violent storm that threatened the safety of everyone on the ship. Jonah knew that he was the cause of the storm, and so he told the crew to throw him overboard. Reluctantly, they did.

Then, the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

When a parent disciplines a child for disobedience, sometimes that discipline takes the form of a time out. The child has time to think about what happened, and how they might do things differently next time.

Jonah had a three-day time out.  While he was inside the fish, Jonah stopped resisting God’s will. His turning point is a prayer found in Jonah 2.

“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed, I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.”

Jonah’s prayer of commitment is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

March 1, 2 & 3, 2013

5) First Friday Lancaster, tonight (March 1) celebrate the arts in downtown Lancaster – Galleries, museums, artist studios, artisans, unique shops, music and more. More info: lancasterarts.com

4) For the Moms! Sisters In Christ Women’s Conference, tomorrow (Sat. March 2nd) from 6-9pm at Lancaster Bible College.  Worship and Speakers. Free event. More Info: PaSistersinChrist.com

3) The Making of a Picture Book with Author Lee Harper
tomorrow (Mar 2, 2013) at Lancaster Public Library, North Duke Street in Lancaster from 10:30-11:30am. Registration is encouraged, seating is limited. More info: (717) 394-2651

2) Dr. Seuss Birthday Party tomorrow (March 2) at Carlisle Theatre, 40 West High St, Carlisle beginning at 2pm. Meet-and-greet and birthday party with Dr. Seuss characters, activities and screening of “The Lorax”. Free event!  More info: CarlisleTheatre.org

1) Movie (Undaunted) at Life Streams Productions in Ronks. Tomorrow and Sunday (March 2,& 3) 7pm both nights. Undaunted is the true story of how Josh McDowell set out to prove Jesus Christ never existed — but ended up on a journey that brought him face to face with God’s love and transforming power. Free event, no reservations needed, freewill offering. More info: (717) 687-4263

JOHN SHIRK – It happened in Jonah chapter 1 of the Bible. The word of the LORD came to Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness had come up before the LORD.

But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. The map would indicate that Tarshish was in the opposite direction of Nineveh.

Why did Jonah run from this assignment?  We learn later in the book he was more afraid of a successful mission than a failed mission. He said to God, “That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

Jonah did not share God’s concern for the people of Nineveh. Consequently, he went the opposite direction and found himself in a storm of his own making.  If apathy causes us to run away from God’s will, He may bring a storm to shake up our world, not to destroy us, but to wake us up to the urgency of responding to His voice.

Jonah’s reluctance shows us the importance of being filled with God’s love for people, and is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Goliath was the bully of the Old Testament, ridiculing the army of Israel, challenging someone to step forward to fight him man to man. He was an imposing figure, a champion fighter, who was over 9 feet tall. Every one was intimidated by him, except David.

When David approached Goliath, he said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” David was making the point that it is the LORD who saves, not someone’s physical weapons. This battle was the LORD’s and the LORD enabled David to strike the giant down.

The Bible says that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. God has provided us with help to fight the good fight of faith, such as the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation,  and others. You can find the complete list in Ephesians 6. Using God’s weapons of righteousness, we can overcome the giants that threaten and intimidate us.

David and Goliath is a lesson of faith worth remembering.