WJTL’s Lisa Landis visits the Liz Hess Gallery in downtown Lancaster to speak with the artist about her new series of art that mixes painting with poetry.

Kids Cookie Break host Lisa Landis seeks out the art of making the perfect cookie in this goofy KCB short video.

JOHN SHIRK – A frugal person learns to live within their means.  They are not wasteful.  They don’t spend unnecessarily.

The Bible warns us from going in debt beyond our ability to repay.

Frugality is one way to prevent from spending getting out of control.

In another way, frugality can be applied to the blessings that God has given us.  On one occasion, Jesus fed the five thousand, and after this miraculous feeding, there were leftovers.  Jesus said something very interesting at that point.  He said, “Let nothing be wasted.”

Before our leftovers spoil, the way of frugality teaches us to put them to good use.  Put them in the fridge for a future meal or snack.  Make them available to a friend or neighbor in need. But this does not just have to apply to food.  Frugality can be applied with other things around the house that we don’t use anymore, but may be useful to someone else.  And frugality can be applied to our spiritual gifts as well.  Let’s not waste the opportunities that God gives us to serve Him and to encourage others to live for Jesus.

Frugality is a quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Productivity yields favorable or useful results.  Productivity gets the job done
in an efficient manner.

But what does it take to be productive?
Business leaders might include some of these characteristics in their list of
productive employees:  Positive attitude, Teachable, Remains focused on the task
(doesn’t get easily distracted), Follows instructions, Dependable (they can be
counted on to finish their task).

These are some ways in which we can be
productive servants of the Lord. In addition, we need to stay connected to
Christ and draw nourishment from His abundant grace. We are wise to walk with
Him as our Friend, worship Him as our Lord and Savior, and work for Him as our
worthy Master.  Colossians 3:23, says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all
your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will
receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are
serving.” First Corinthians 15 reminds us that our labor in the Lord is not in
vain.

Productivity is a quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the
world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Lisa takes the Kids Cookie Break on a field trip to Square One Coffee in downtown Lancaster. Not only does she get to witness a friendly impromptu latte art competition among the baristas, she jumps in and sees how she fares against the pros!

KRISTI LEIGH —

Today I interviewed award-winning producer, Dan Posthuma about the musical “The Confession”, which opens tomorrow as the inaugural performance on The Bird-In-Hand Stage (newly renovated).  It’s an Amish love story adapted from the trilogy of books by NY Times bestselling author — and Lancaster County native — Beverly Lewis, who USA Today hails as the “queen of the genre” when it comes to Amish fiction.  Listen to my interview here.  For tickets and information on “The Confession” musical, click here!

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ
Kristi@WJTL.com

JOHN SHIRK – Godliness is character and conduct shaped by reverence for God. We might
describe godliness as an outward expression of inward transformation.

Jesus once said, “Out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth
speaks.”
What is formed in the character of a person has a way of coming out
in the words we say.  When holiness is formed in our character, godliness comes
out.

Godliness has a training program and has great value in the eyes of
God.  First Timothy 4:7 and 8 says, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and
old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is
of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both
the present life and the life to come.”

Some of the ways we can train to
be godly is by feeding on the nutrition of God’s Word, resting in the grace of
the Lord Jesus with a trusting heart, and exercising our spiritual gifts through
service and missions outreach.

Godliness is a character quality that
enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Enjoy the music of Grandma Landis playing “What a Day That Will Be” on the harmonica as Lisa Landis and the Kids Cookie Break stops by Landis Homes

JOHN SHIRK – With initiative, we have the incentive to begin or follow through with a plan.

For the follower of Jesus, initiatives should have their starting place with God’s Word. God speaks, and as we listen, we are moved to take action. It might be something we read in the Bible. It might be through a burden or passion that God is placing in our heart. If that is the case, the initiative that God calls us to do will be consistent with the mission of Jesus to bring about freedom and healing for people in His name.

Initiative is not about what we are able to do for God on our own strength. It’s about God working in us to act according to His good purpose. His love for people stirs us to a mission, so that we become active participants rather than passive bystanders in the way we live life. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Initiative is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE –

Yesterday I was sitting in the Passport Health Office realizing it had been almost exactly a year (off by one day) that I was there!  Some of you may remember my trip to Ethiopia with Compassion International last October.   It was my very first missions trip on my very first passport and really was life changing.   Yesterday  it was time to update some immunizations for another adventure!

I’m excited to tell you that I am preparing to travel this October to Jacmel, Haiti!  I will be traveling with a team going to work with Joy in Hope, a ministry whose vision is to:

“support, encourage and build Haitian families in order to provide them with the spiritual, educational cultural and physical foundation needed to impact their community, their nation and the world for Christ.   Joy In Hope accomplishes its mission through three branches of ministry: children’s homes, churches and schools and numerous outreach efforts such as educational programs, evangelism, feeding and nutritional programs and medical clinics. Each of these avenues allows Joy In Hope to provide a Christ-centered model for serving in the local community.”  

Our team of 9 from several different states will be joining together to bless this community that is still recovering from the earthquake.   It’s also a special trip for me because I’ll be traveling with some friends I have made through volunteering at Creation Festival as well as making some new ones.  Also,  my friends Gwenn and Nick and their family are on staff with Joy in Hope and live in Jacmel.  The leader of our trip is Denise, Gwenn’s mom.   I expect that it will be a special trip in many ways and I’m thrilled to introduce the WJTL audience to my friends at Joy in Hope.

Some things we’ll be doing there as a team may include home construction,  distribution of diapers,  formula and other supplies,  working on the land where the Children’s Home is to be built and just generally being an encouragement to the community there in whatever ways we can as we share the Love of Jesus.

I am excited to have the opportunity to serve on this team and share my experiences with the WJTL listening audience.   Tune in during the week of October 24th as I report to you live from Jacmel, Haiti!  .   Thanks for keeping our team in your prayers.

Preparing for the Adventure!

Stacey