JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His patience.

According to Second Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The patience and compassion of God toward the ungodly are good reasons to explain why Jesus has not yet returned. Some day, He will return, and when that happens, the heavens will disappear with a roar and the elements will be destroyed by fire. The earth and everything in it will be laid bare. But in the meantime, God waits for people to stop running away from God and turn toward Him. He gives people time to repent and to be saved from the destruction that is coming.

God’s patience is a window of opportunity to seize this day to receive the grace that God freely offers us.

God’s patience reflects His graciousness and compassion and is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His love for the world.

According to John 3:16 and 17, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The world is a big place with a population that rises above 7 billion people today. When Jesus came into the world, He was coming as the remedy for the deepest problem of each one of us. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Where sin is our greatest problem, Jesus is our ultimate solution because in His grace is the forgiveness and eternal life that He offers us. There may be shortages of other resources in the world today, but there is no shortage of God’s love. His grace is abundant to save whoever calls on the name of the Lord.

God’s love for the world is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
February 17-19, 2017

5 Laudate in concert at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 18th) from 7pm-8:30pm.  Laudate is a group of music majors from the School of Music at Cairn University who regularly perform at schools, churches, and special events with a program of sacred, classical, and non-classical repertoire. More Info: WestPCA.com

4 Handbell Concert, Sunday (Feb. 19th) at 7pm at First United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg. The concert will include music performed by two handbell choirs along with two adult vocal choirs. Selections range from sacred to secular. Refreshments to follow.  More Info: FUMChurch.com

3 Great Backyard Bird Count tomorrow (Saturday, February 18) beginning at 9am at Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick Environmental Center in Mount Gretna.
Help look for birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count. The birds will be reported to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. The information is used to track how birds are doing and how better to protect them and their habitats. No experience is necessary. Bring binoculars. More Info: ParkatGovernorDick.org

2  “The Cat’s Pajamas” a 6 member jazz band dedicated to performing early jazz of the 1920’s, as well as modern tunes with the style of yesteryear in concert tomorrow (Saturday, February 18, 2017) 7pm at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lancaster. A free will offering will be taken.  More Info: StPeterslutheran.org

1 Fire & Ice Festival in Lititz, tonight, tomorrow and Sunday (Feb. 17th-19th) at the Lititz Springs Park and throughout downtown Lititz.  Ice sculptures, Chili Cook-Off, concerts, Winter Wonderland Carnival, Dodgeball Tournament, Community Movie Night and more!! Look for WJTL Friday night 5-9pm. Get all the info and times at: LititzFireAndIceFestival.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Promise of Hope is based on John 15:8.

Jesus said to His disciples, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Jesus explained to them that their fruitfulness would depend on staying connected to Him. In verse 5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Flowing out of our relationship with Jesus will be spiritual fruit that makes a difference in God’s Kingdom for eternity. He invites us into the Great Commission of making and growing disciples for Christ. Without God, we can do nothing; but with God, the ordinary person becomes an extraordinary witness for Christ.

The evidence of spiritual fruit is a promise of hope for those who follow Jesus in the Year of Trust.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines Jesus as our Great Physician.

According to the words of Jesus in Luke 5:31, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Then He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Another way of saying that is that Jesus did not come for people who had their “act together”. He came for people who were messed up in sin and desperate for a Savior.

The truth is that no one is spiritually healthy apart from the saving grace of God. Romans 3:10 reminds us that “there is no one who is righteous, not even one.”

Our sin is a fatal disease. Jesus is our only hope for a cure. This is why He came to the world. This is why He went to banquets and spent time with sinners. Doctors can treat our physical ailments for a season, but Jesus is the only doctor who can take away our sin.

Knowing Jesus as our Great Physician is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Playlist for the February 10th/12th episode of Some Sort of Rock Show:

Hour 1
Make Your Move – Hearts Like Lions
Way You Love Me – XXI
Voices – Out of Black
Need – Kutless
Anchor Me – Decyfer Down
Sick Of It – Skillet
Prove It (feat. K.B.) – Crowder
Never Going Back To OK – The Afters
The Change – AsWeAre
Something New – The Lasting Hope
Holy Water – Switchfoot
Gone – Switchfoot
God – Relient K
Be My Escape – Relient K
Out Of This World – Family Force 5
Hour 2
Hard Love – NEEDTOBREATHE
Running From The Scene – Manic Bloom
King of Kings – David Curtis
The Saving One – Starfield
Erase – Disciple
Light Up the Sk – Thousand Foot Krutch
Warm Up – NF
Nuthin’ – Lecrae
You Remain – Foreverlin
Unknown Land – Graceful Closure
Bummin’ – Relient K
Sadie Hawkins Dance – Relient K
I Won’t Let You Go – Switchfoot
Dare You To Move – Switchfoot

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
February 10-12, 2017

5 Indoor Winter Fest at Neffsville Christian Preschool tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 11) from10am-Noon.  Free games, snacks, crafts, activities and lots of fun things to do. More Info: NeffsvilleChristianPreschool.com

4 Lancaster’s 2nd annual “All-Crow” Art Show ends today (Friday, February 10) 10am-5pm, at the Manheim Township Public Library.The crow-themed exhibit features professional, amateur, and student artwork. More Info: http://www.somethingtocrowabout.net/

3 Reading and Writing with Anne Frank traveling exhibit tomorrow (Saturday, February 11) 9am-4pm at The Milanof-Schock Library, Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy. The exhibit has never before been in Pennsylvania and is designed for young people and provides an overview of the personal life of the Frank family. More Info: mslibrary.org

2 Crispus Attucks and Edward Hand Middle School African American History Celebration tomorrow, (Saturday, Feb 11) 6pm at Edward Hand Middle School, Lancaster. Performances by Fusion Step Team, Millersville University’s Footprints, Enlite Steppers and The McCaskey Gospel Choir. More Info: cacc-lancaster.org

1 Blue Sky Falls in Concert at Emmaus Road Cafe in Lancaster tomorrow (Sat. Feb. 11) at 7pm.
Blue Sky Falls (formerly known as the Juan Catorce band) offers soaring three part harmonies, intricate instrumental work, and a love for making and sharing music. Emmaus Road Cafe is located on Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster. More Info: EmmausRoadCafe.org

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His watchfulness.

According to Second Chronicles 16:9, “the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

His vision is vast and His vision is perceptive. He is keenly aware of those who are fully committed to Him. He is also able to discern our motives behind our actions. Where God sees authentic commitment, He provides encouragement for our faith to keep pressing on in dedication and service.

Through eyes of faith, His view of us matters, and makes a difference in our words, actions, and attitudes.

The watchfulness of God is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com