JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Isaiah 55:6 and 7.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Billy Graham says that no sin is too big or too small for God to forgive. He says all people have to do is repent with open hearts and accept His forgiveness. At Christian today dot com, this is the passage that he quotes to shed light on God’s approach to forgiveness.

Recognizing our need for forgiveness is the starting place to get right with God. We are sinners in need of a God who can rescue us from our sin. As we recognize the purpose of the cross, we come to understand that there is power in the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from our sin. God’s pardon frees us from our guilt and clears the way for us to have a relationship with God. Faith in Jesus Christ opens the door for this relationship to thrive. He is our turning point to experiencing the forgiveness of God.

Forsaking wicked ways and turning to the Lord are vital relationship-building principles to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from James 5:19 and 20.

“My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

The Gospel is a message of restoration. We have kept God at an arm’s length by our sinfulness, but God pursues us to save us from our sins and restore us to Him. God’s grace is the remedy for this separation.

Whenever we see someone wander from God, that is our opportunity to reach out to them with God’s love. Sometimes, a person who wanders away feels judged by the church. They might feel the sting of gossip or the weight of condemnation. What they need is grace that extends patience and kindness. Henry Ward Beecher said that “compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.”

Is there a person you can identify who needs the pursuit of grace?

Pursuing the spiritual drifter with God’s grace is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines the appointing of His disciples.

In Mark 3:13 and 14, we gain insight into Jesus’ purpose for appointing certain men to be His disciples.

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

There is a process involved in the making of a disciple to become a disciple-maker. An effective leader in the church learns to follow Jesus. This is more than just the initial experience of accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. This is a moment-by-moment walk with Him, where He leads us with His wisdom, and we say yes to His plan for our lives. The disciples underwent a few years of spiritual training, learning the ways of God’s Kingdom as they got to know Jesus personally. After spending considerable time with Him, and witnessing His resurrection from the dead, they would embark upon the next chapter of their calling, which was to be witnesses of the Gospel and leaders in the early church. They were faithful to the task and were used of God in extraordinary ways to persuade people to follow Jesus.

A daily connection with Christ is the key to being an influence for the Gospel.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Second Timothy 1:16:

“May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.”

These were the words of the Apostle Paul concerning someone who was a consistent friend. In life, there are fair weather friends and true blue friends. Fair weather friends stay for a season, but tend to bail out when life gets hard. Their friendship might be conditional on what we can offer them. When we can no longer offer what they seek from us, the relationship drifts apart.

That is not the way of the true blue friend. Onesiphorus was that kind of friend for Paul. Not only did he stand by Paul in the midst of his imprisonment, he actively searched for Paul when he was in Rome. A true blue friend will move closer when we face times of adversity such as sickness, weakness, depression, temptation, or persecution.

A true blue friend is a reliable friend who refreshes the spirit.

Being a true blue friend is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Isaiah 1:17.

The LORD says, “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

In applying this principle to situations today, it means taking a stand against bullying and being an advocate for those who are bullied. It means taking a stand against human trafficking, and being an advocate for those who are victims. It means being an advocate for the homeless, the orphan, and the widow, which may take us down the road to volunteerism, adoption, or some kind of sponsorship.

With such great need, there is much to do with the time that we have on this earth to be the hands and feet of Jesus. By ourselves, we cannot change the world. But through the grace of Christ, we can make a difference for someone in a place of need. As we commit our ways to God, listen to the burdens of our heart, and look for opportunities to make a difference, we can be encouraged by this truth in Psalm 37:6-“He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Encouraging the oppressed is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Proverbs 14:21.

“He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.”

To despise our neighbor would violate the second greatest commandment in all of Scripture, which is to love our neighbor as ourselves. God calls His people to live with neighborly love-the kind that seeks God’s blessing on their lives and treats them with respect and consideration. Building relationships with our neighbors is a significant step to demonstrating the love of Jesus to them. Our neighbor might be considered the family that lives next to us, but they also might be whoever happens to be next to us at a given time.

A blessing is granted from the Lord for the person who is kind to the needy. We have opportunity to do this in various ways. Proverbs 22:9 talks about the generous man sharing his food with the poor. Proverbs 31:9 promotes defending the rights of the poor. Psalm 15:5 promotes lending to the poor without charging excessive interest. The general idea is to be openhanded and not tightfisted toward the poor.

Loving our neighbors and being kind to the needy are vital relationship-building principles to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Galatians 6:1 and 2.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Expressing love to sinners can get messy. The ultimate example of this is Jesus Christ, who went to the cross for our sins. As we walk in the light of God’s love, we will recognize two important realities. The first reality is that there are people all around us who need Jesus. And the second reality is that even though we might have a relationship with Jesus, we are still capable of giving in to temptation. So, we are wise to guard our own heart, so that the Spirit living in us influences the person caught in sin, rather than sin in the other person having an influence on us.

In reaching out to people who have been caught in a sin, we have the opportunity to restore them to fellowship with God. The Bible says that we are to do this gently. This means, showing mercy and patience so that they can perceive God’s love expressed through us. It means sharing the good news that Jesus can change us from the inside out as we look to Him as Savior and Lord.

Carrying the burdens of another is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s encounter with Jesus examines when Jesus turned water into wine.

It happened at the festive occasion of a wedding. The very fact that Jesus shows up at a wedding reflects his nature to celebrate with those who are celebrating that which God blesses.

But there was a problem. They ran out of wine. Jesus had the servants fill jars with water. By the time they drew it out, the water had turned into wine.

The master of the banquet said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

The account of Jesus turning water into wine reminds us that while life does have its moments of joy here on earth, the best is yet to come for those who follow Him. He saves the best for last. He will fill us with joy in His presence, with eternal pleasures at His right hand. Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!

A daily connection with Christ leads us to joyful celebration in His abiding Presence.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

It’s that time again. Youth Group Night is back and we’re reloading the CD stash because this go-around we’re ready to have fun!

Once a month, two local youth groups will spend a Thursday evening at The Junction Center — the home of WJTL. You will learn about radio production, rate music, and talk OnAir with Radio Friend Phil!

But that’s not all… Youth Group Night concludes with Chick-fil-A sandwiches and cookies. Plus you’ll leave with your very own YGN T-shirt designed by Walk In Love.

Youth Group Night is sponsored by Refreshing Mountain – A Christ Centered Retreat & Adventure Center in Northern Lancaster County.

To enter a youth group, click the link and fill out the required information.
https://wjtl.com/stationinfo/youth_group/

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from First Thessalonians 5:14.

“We urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

These instructions remind us to meet people at their point of need. To do this, we need sensitivity and wisdom in the way we relate with people. Some people are in a stage of life where they need a thoughtful challenge to motivate them to put their faith into action. Others have put their faith into action, and have endured hardship for their faithfulness to God. Knowing someone’s story gives us insight into how we can come alongside that person to be a helpful friend.

There is one quality that everyone needs-patience. That is because we are all in process. We are wise to give people time and opportunity to grow into the person that God is calling them to be.

Wisdom and Sensitivity are vital relationship-building principles to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com