WJTL’s Kristi Leigh chats with a beach-minded Brandon Heath about his upcoming tour with Britt Nicole, California vs Pennsylvania, collaboration, and pretzels.
JOHN SHIRK – Wholeheartedness is a quality of being completely and sincerely devoted. When it comes to the Christian life, there is unreserved enthusiasm in the life of the wholehearted believer.
The Apostle Paul said with unreserved enthusiasm, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” Jesus told us that the greatest commandment of all is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Wholehearted devotion grows out of a sense that God loves us honestly and completely. We recognize that we would be desperately hopeless without the influence of His love. And so, with a responsive heart, we pledge our allegiance to God, trusting Him to guide us in His ways. We willingly become full-time servants of the Gospel so that the name of Jesus might be lifted up in our lives. This is what God is seeking.
Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
Wholeheartedness is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Stewardship is the management of someone else’s property or finances.
We have been entrusted by God to take care of His resources. Psalm 24:1 tells us that “the earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” So, whatever God provides for us to take care of ultimately belongs to God. Even our own bodies belong to God. We are accountable to God for the way in which we use material possessions. If we are committed to honoring God with our lives, we will be more conscious about the way we use God’s resources.
This is highlighted in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Jesus talked about the man who had five talents and at once put his money to work. The same thing happened with the person who received two talents. But the man who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. At the return of the master, each person was called to account for how they used what they were given. For those who put their money to use, the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” This is the smile of heaven on the person who uses what they’ve been given to build God’s kingdom.
Stewardship is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Vitality can be described as having mental vigor and physical energy.
There is a spring in the step of someone who walks around with vitality.
God’s grace refreshes our spirit, so we are wise to remember His grace daily. His love is a vital source of encouragement each day.
You probably have spiritual vitality if you wake up with a sense of purpose to do God’s will faithfully.
You probably have spiritual vitality if there is devotion to God in your acts of service.
You probably have spiritual vitality if you are eager to learn and grow to become the person God wants you to become.
You probably have spiritual vitality if you have a song of praise to God that resonates in your heart.
In Colossians 1:10 and 11, the Apostle Paul prayed that the church would live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience, giving thanks to the Father….”
Vitality is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
WJTL’s Kristi Leigh catches up with our good pal Bob Lenz at Creation 2011.
JOHN SHIRK – Diplomacy is defined as the practice of conducting international relations. One of the diplomat’s big assignments is to negotiate alliances, treaties, and agreements. The international diplomat is on a peacemaking mission, representing their leader in a foreign land.
There are some parallels with the role of an international diplomat and the follower of Jesus as an ambassador for Christ. This world is not our home. We are citizens of heaven, and we represent our King who is in heaven while we live on the earth. And God has a message for us to share with the world. That message is a peacemaking mission, found in Second Corinthians 5:20: “Be reconciled to God.”
This is possible through faith in Jesus Christ, who gives us peace and equips us to be peacemakers.
Diplomacy is a quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
WJTL’s Kristi Leigh talks with Jamie Grace about performing with Toby Mac, how she ended up at Gotee Records, how she got her start in music, and living with Tourette’s Syndrome.
Seasons performs “Drowsy Maggie” live on the Kids Cookie Break!
Lisa and the Kids Cookie Break enjoy a visit from cast members of the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” running July 14- August 20 2011.
JOHN SHIRK – To be dependable is to be consistent in performance and behavior. This is vitally important for friendships to thrive. If someone is consistently supportive day after day, our relationship has the opportunity to grow in trust and affection. If someone is only a fair-weather friend, then that relationship is in trouble when the storms of life approach.
Jesus shows us by example how to be a dependable friend on good days and bad days. His love is a constant anchor whether times are stable or chaotic.
In a time of turmoil, Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” We can learn a lot about being a dependable friend by examining the life of Jesus.
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” That means, that true friends support one another in times of trouble and celebrate with each other in times of triumph.
Dependability is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
