JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What is the role of spiritual leadership in the church?”

Ephesians 4:11 tells us that it was Jesus who gave gifts for “some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service.”

The purpose of teachers and preachers is to proclaim God’s word in a way that accurately represents God’s character and mobilizes God’s people to live out the Christian faith in acts of service.

As God’s word is faithfully proclaimed, the church body will grow in a number of ways:

According to Ephesians 4:12, the body of Christ will be built up. This implies that the faith of the church will grow stronger.

According to verse 13, the church will be unified in the faith.

And according to the same verse, the church will become mature in the faith so that we can reflect Jesus in our witness.

Leadership sets the tone for the church to grow together in faith and to express our faith through love in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is people all over the world.

Today, there are over 7.1 billion people in the world, and God is the creator of each person who lives on the face of the earth at this time.

Psalm 145, verse 9 tells us that “ the LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

The LORD knew about each one of us before we were born, He knew what we needed, and He provided a way for us to live forever with Him when He sent Jesus to the world.

The writer of Psalm 95 acknowledged God as Creator and responded with worship. Verse 6 says, “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God.” Our breathing proves that we exist, but our worship reflects that we thrive for the glory of God.

The people of the world have been made in the image of God, and were made to bring glory to God. The existence of people on the earth is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What does it mean to be made in God’s image?”

In Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air.”

Here we see the creation of humans set apart from the animal kingdom. Humans have been uniquely made in God’s image.

That reflection was marred in a moral sense when sin entered the human race, but according to James 3:9, humans are still being made in God’s likeness.

There are several ways in which we are made in God’s likeness. God communicated when He created us. And we have the capacity to communicate by putting our thoughts into words.

God also gave us the capacity to reason. In Isaiah 1:18, He says to humans, “Let us reason together.”

God also gave us the capacity for love. The Bible tells us that God is love, and He also demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to the world. First John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.”

These are some of the ways we are made in God’s image in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
September 2-4, 2016

5 The 159-year-old Perseverance Band of Lebanon will perform on  Sunday (Sept. 4) from 4-6pm at Coleman Memorial Park. Lawn chairs recommended. More Info: PerseveranceBand.org

4 Freedom Fall Festival tomorrow, Saturday (Sept. 3) from 10am-4pm at The Freedom Center in Windsor, PA. Car Show, 3 Bands of Live Music, Kids Zone, Food, Crafts, Merchandise Vendors, and more. More Info: TFCWindsor.org

3 The Hospice Labor Day Auction at the Solanco Fairgrounds tomorrow (Saturday, September 3) and Monday, September 5 beginning at 7:30am both days. Family-friendly free event.  All proceeds directly benefit patients and families receiving care from Hospice. More Info: HospiceandCommunityCare.org

2 First Friday in Lancaster tonight  (Sept 1) – 5 to 9 pm in downtown Lancaster. Discover innovative exhibitions, performances and a few surprises. Art galleries, museums, performing groups, professional theater, and more from Lancaster’s arts community. More Info: VisitLancasterCity.com

1 29th Annual Heart of Lancaster Arts and Craft Show Saturday and Sunday (Sep 3 & 4) 10am to 4pm at Roots Market, Graystone Rd, Manheim. 200 Juried Artists, Live Domonstrations, music and more. Rain or shine, free parking and admission.  More Info: HeartofLancasterArtsandCraftShow.com

See the playlist below; and email me if you’d like it emailed to you with all the album details.

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

The handcrafted playlist for the August 26th/28th episode of Some Sort of Rock Show:

Hour 1Don’t Bring That Trouble – NEEDTOBREATHE

1. Reach for the Sky – Red Letter Hymnal
2. These Hands – Hearts Like Lions
3. Dead Rose – The Classic Crime
4. Holding On – We Are Vessel
5. Get Back – Nine Lashes
6. Float – Switchfoot
7. Glory – Remedy Drive
8. Run Devil Run – Crowder
9. Mr. Roboto – Rapture Ruckus
10. Okay – LoveLike Violence
11. Out of the Fire – Audio Adrenaline
12. Incomplete – Thousand Foot Krutch
13. Hit The Floor- Thousand Foot Krutch
14. Hunger Strike – Seventh Day Slumber

Hour 2

1. Mirror – Kutless
2. Clarity – Come Wind
3. Oh Lord – NF
4. Desperados – Andy Mineo
5. Angels & Demons – Disciple
6. Feel Invincible – Skillet
7. Bummin’ – Relient K
8. Noises – Mike Mains & The Branches
9. Every Little Thing – Hawk Nelson
10. Fight Of Our Lives – Page 2
11. This Is Not a Test (feat. Capital Kings) -TobyMac
12. Dance Like Nobody’s Watching – Family Force 5
13. Breathe Again (Ft. Matty Mullins) – Spoken
14. Black Honey – Thrice
15. Madness – Citizens & Saints
16. Wasn’t Enough – XXI

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
August 26-28, 2016

5 Fourth Friday in River Towns – Columbia, Marietta and Wrightsville, tonight (Friday, Aug 26) 5-9pm. Music in the Park, Trolley Rides, Galleries, antique shops, local eateries, and more. More Info: parivertowns.com

4 Goodbye Summer Party Sunday (Aug. 28) from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Trinity Lutheran Church  in Camp Hill. Kids’ games, music, picnic, and ice cream sundaes! Bring lawn chairs. More Info:TrinityCampHill.org

3 ROCK THE FIELD 2016 is a youth and family oriented music festival, featuring local christian musicians and performers tomorrow (Saturday,  Aug. 27) from 1pm-9pm at Bridgeville Church in Narvon. More Info: 717-354-8459

2 The Elizabethtown Fair tonight and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday, Aug 26 & 27) Animals, exhibits, Petting zoo, entertainment, contests and more. The Elizabethtown Fair is a free fair with a fee for parking.  More Info: EtownFair.org

1 Kids Cookie Break Fest 2016 – The 5th annual Festival, tomorrow (Saturday, August 27) -10am-2pm and 3p-7pm at The Junction Center in Manheim.  Inflatables, Petting Zoo, Pedal Cars, Games, Firetrucks, Police Cars, Barrel Rides, PLUS Two Stages of Music and Ministry from Slugs & Bugs, Steven Courtney & The Suitcase Musicians, Denver of The Mile High Orchestra, Marian & Friends, Jesse Rothacker & Forgotten Friend Reptiles, This Way Up, Phredd, Damien Drago, Jared Erb, Chavod Academy of The Arts and Kids Cookie Break Games and Prizes and much more.

We are thankful to be able to offer our 5th Annual Kids Cookie Break Fest coming up this Saturday.   We hope that all who attend are encouraged, have fun with your family and friends and are inspired to live like Jesus!

All tickets have been taken for the 10:00 am – 2:00 pm session.  There is a duplicate session from 3:00 pm – 7:00 with some tickets still available until 4:00 on Thursday.   Everyone attending must have their pre-reserved tickets. 

You should have reserved one ticket per person attending.  Your tickets indicate the time of the program you reserved your tickets for and also where to park.  If your ticket says JC, then you must park at the Junction Center and if it says Roots then you must park at Roots and walk the short path through the cornfield over to the Junction Center.  Signs will be posted.   Handicap parking needs will be met at the Junction Center.     We are thankful to have been able to open up  tickets to more people this year;  thanks to Root’s providing this added parking option.

Be sure to keep your meal tickets (marked Sand. or Wrap) to hand in at the Chick-fil-A booth for your meal.   We plan to serve meals between 11:30 – 1:00 (10am program)   and  5:00 – 6:30 (3pm program).

Please have the entry forms that are attached to your tickets filled out in advance.  This allows for a quicker entry.  Fill out one form per person.   You will receive an artist schedule and map when you hand in your ticket.

New for this year, there is an ATM on site and it is located just inside the breezeway entrance to the garage.   We do have food and beverage vendors, artist merchandise and the police dunk tank where cash would be handy.   All Chick-fil-A meals must have been pre-reserved.  No Chick-fil-A will be for sale on site.

Northwest EMS will provide first aid service at their vehicle.   We do recommend that you also carry some bandaids, wear sunscreen and that you and your children drink plenty of water.

Thanks to our many volunteers serving to help make this free event possible and also to our Event Sponsors: Turkey Hill Dairy, FunCo, Thrivent Financial and Rockvale Outlets Lancaster.  Thanks also to all of the interactive sponsors.  Please encourage them and thank them for their participation!

If you or someone in your family (age 14+) would like to volunteer, please email stacey@wjtl.com or stop by the Volunteer booth at the fest to find out if/where help is still needed!

We look forward to a great day!

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What does the Bible have to say about zeal?”

There are several positive statements and cautious statements about zeal in the Bible.

Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” This kind of enthusiasm can be a contagious quality when directed by love for the Lord.

But there is danger in misplaced zeal. Before knowing Christ, the Apostle Paul said that in his zeal, he persecuted the church. So, he knows what he is talking about when he says in Galatians 4:18, “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good.”

And it is good to understand what the zeal of God accomplishes. Isaiah 9:7 talks about the coming kingdom that Jesus establishes with peace, justice, and righteousness. It is the zeal of the LORD Almighty that accomplishes this.

So, in misplaced zeal, we see the danger of fanaticism if it is not based on knowledge or directed to a good purpose. But we also see that zeal is a spark that God can use in us to accomplish His purposes in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the providence of God.

Providence refers to the guiding hand of God moving in the events of our lives with His wisdom and love.

An example of God’s providence in the Bible was the encounter of Cornelius and Peter for a redemptive purpose. Both Cornelius and Peter were experiencing a vision from God close together for the purpose of bringing them together. Each person had something to learn from the other.

From Peter, Cornelius and his relatives heard the good news of Jesus and received the Holy Spirit.

From Cornelius, Peter learned that God’s grace was available not just for the Jews, but also the Gentiles. He said in Acts 10:34, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

The Providence of God orchestrates the circumstances of our lives with Divine appointments, and is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com