JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines the phrase, “Our Father in heaven.”

According to Matthew 6:9, Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

When earthly fathers are not loving examples for us, this is sometimes a difficult description to accept. However, other passages of Scripture lay out God’s design for fatherhood.

The Apostle Paul wrote in First Thessalonians 2:11 and 12, “You know how we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” And Hebrews 12:10 tells us that God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.”

God’s grace moves us to embrace Him as our Heavenly Father. In the process of knowing Him this way, He brings out the best in us.

Having God as our Heavenly Father 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
June 16-18, 2017

5 Thunder on The River tomorrow (Saturday, June 17) 10am-2pm on Locust Street in Columbia. Vintage Cars, Oldies Music, kids area, Admission is free but bring canned goods for Columbia Food Bank. More Info: PaRiverTowns.com

4 The Music For Everyone Festival at Kitchen Kettle Village, Old Philadelphia Pike in Gordonville, tomorrow (Saturday, June 17) 10am-6pm A wide variety of music, concerts, street acts, and more. Music For Everyone is a Lancaster based non-profit dedicated to raising awareness and resources to strengthen the role music plays in local schools and communities. More Info: KitchenKettle.com

3 The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg Summer, Community Free day tomorrow (Saturday, June 17) from 9am-4pm. Visitors can enjoy activities, including firing demonstrations of U.S. Artillery; Frederick Morsell portraying Frederick Douglass in “The Christiana Affairs and Abolitionism in Central Pennsylvania;” Exhibits, talks, Civil War Period clothing and coloring stations. More Info: NationalCivilWarMuseum.org

2 Allegro Orchestra Lancaster in concert Sunday (June 18) 7:30pm at Long’s Park Amphitheater as part of the Free Longs’ Park Summer Concert Series. The mission of Allegro Orchestra Lancaster is to expand the appreciation and love for classical music across multiple generations in Lancaster County by making great music accessible in new, friendly and playful ways. More Info. LongsPark.org

1 Intercourse Heritage Days, today, tomorrow and Sunday (June 16-18) at Intercourse Community Park. petting zoo. candy drop, antique tractor show, fire truck demonstration, fireworks and more! The Together Initiative’s 6th annual Together Run Ride Walk activities also happening for people of all ages. More Info: IntercourseHeritageDays.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines Jesus as the answer to our prayer for salvation.

According to Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

One of the common catch phrases of Christianity is “Jesus saves.” It is more than just a slogan or a bumper sticker message. It is the message of the Gospel. What does Jesus save us from? He saves us from our sins, and more specifically, the wages of our sin, which is death. He also rescues us from an eternity in hell, which is a place that would leave us separated from God forever, if not for the intervention of God’s grace. Who does Jesus save? Everyone who calls on His name for salvation.

Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Knowing Jesus as our Savior 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 Jesus as King.

A king is a leader of a nation, who generally rules for life and often inherits the kingdom from a family member. Kings are not voted into office. They are appointed. Kings are strong leaders. Their authority is absolute with few, if any, checks and balances. Their word is the law of the land. In First and Second Kings of the Bible, oftentimes the king set the tone for the spiritual climate of a nation.

Jesus came as a very different kind of king. At His trial, Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Jesus is a righteous king. He is the great, eternal king. He is described in Revelation 19 as the king of kings. His Kingdom is coming and will never end. He will never be dethroned. This is good news for those who embrace Jesus as King today.

Knowing Jesus as king of our heart is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Chris Tomlin: Good Good Father Tour With Special Guest Matt Maher is coming to the Santander Arena in Reading on Thursday, Oct. 19th at 7:00pm!  Tickets on sale this Friday, June 16th at 10am! With ten albums, 15 No. 1 radio singles, a GRAMMY® Award and eight additional nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, 21 Dove Awards, two platinum and five gold albums to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music.  And since his 2008 major label debut, Matt Maher has become a staple in the artistic and songwriting community. A five time-GRAMMY® nominee, he has garnered multiple radio successes writing and recording songs like “Lord, I Need You,” “Hold Us Together,” “Christ Is Risen,” “All The People Said Amen” and “Your Grace Is Enough.”  Be sure to order your tickets for this amazing night of worship!  717-459-3701 or http://cmiproductions.org/

The June 9/11 Handcrafted Hour 1 Playlist:

Hour 1

1. The Window – Thrice
2. Tear It Up – Kutless
3. Tell Me – As We Ascend
4. The Fallback – Sumerlin
5. This Is Who We Are – Written in Kings
6. Taking Back – About A Mile
7. Grindin’ – NF
8. Give In – LeCrae
9. Lay It Down – Crossing Fire
10. Alive – Tree63
11. Where the Light Shines Through – Switchfoot
12. Bringing You Back to Life – Light45
13. Shadows – The Afters
14. Someday – The Afters
15. Lifeline – Thousand Foot Krutch

Hour 2

1. Mirror Mirror – Random Hero
2. Remedy – Disciple
3. Say It Again – XXI
4. Birds Will Never Fly – Come Wind
5. Live Again – torndown
6. The Truth – I Am Spartacus
7. Don’t Bring That Trouble – NEEDTOBREATHE
8. Broken Heart – Falling Up
9. Safe & Sound – We Were Once
10. Holding On – Sun City
11. You Remain – Foreverlin
12. Lions – Skillet
13. Darkness – Gold Frankincense & Myrrh
14. Dying Inside – Facing Fire

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
June 9-11, 2017

5 Allegro Orchestra Lancaster is hosting a FREE children’s event tomorrow (Saturday, June 10) 1pm at The Ware Center. Relaxed, drop-in format. Kids get to see the orchestra, make some drum stick’s dipped in chocolate, do a few crafts and experience the instrument petting zoo. More Info: artsmu.com

4 29th Annual Historic Old Annville Day tomorrow (SATURDAY, JUNE 10) 9am-2pm – town center Annville. Street fair, vendors, 3 stages of music, food and more. More Info: FOOA.Org

3 Black Rock Retreat Summer Kick Off, Sunday (June 11) from 1:30pm-7:30pm. Tour Black Rock Retreat, meet Camp Staff, Find out about Summer programs, enjoy Chicken Barbecue and more. More Info: BlackRockRetreat.com

2 Spring Fling tomorrow (Sat. June 10) from 4pm-8pm at Leola United Methodist Church. Relay races, water balloon toss, watermelon contest, free food Bruce Fite in Concert at 7pm. More Info: LeolaUMC.com

1 Camp Swatara Family Camp Preview and Strawberry Ice Cream Festival tomorrow (Saturday, June 10) 8am-4pm. Kids Cookie Break Broadcasting live 9am-noon at the camp in Bethel, PA. Tour the camp, mini-golf, hiking trails, swimming pool and more. More Info: Campswatara.org

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Promise of Hope is based on Ephesians 1:7.

Speaking of Jesus, “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

These are some of the spiritual blessings that we experience in Christ-Redemption, Forgiveness, and abundant Grace.

To be redeemed is to be set free from the power of sin. Chains are broken when we follow Jesus out of the darkness into His wonderful light. To have the forgiveness of sins is to be cleared of guilt. According to Psalm 32:2, “Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” These are some of the blessings of God’s grace that we enjoy when we are   in Christ.

Spiritual blessings are promises 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 His good news.

According to Acts 13:32 and 33, God’s good news is linked to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors, he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.”

Without the empty grave, the Christian faith would collapse. But since Jesus did rise from the dead, we have a living hope by believing in the name of Jesus Christ. We have the gift of His grace, the forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and an inheritance in God’s kingdom that can never perish, spoil, or fade.

The good news of Jesus is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Here’s Your Handcrafted Playlist for the June 2nd/4th episode of Some Sort of Rock Show:

Hour 1

1. Safe & Sound – We Were Once
2. Lifeline – Thousand Foot Krutch
3. The Truth – I Am Spartacus
4. Criminals And Kings – Stellar Kart
5. Lay It Down – Crossing Fire
6. Staring At the Sun – Roelant
7. This Is Who We Are – Written in Kings
8. Bottle Rocket – House of Heroes
9. Erase – Disciple
10. This Change – Embers In Ashes
11. The Window – Thrice
12. These Arrows Shoot To Kill – Flagship Armada
13. Love Broke Thru – TobyMac
14. Day by Day – DC Talk
15. Warm Up – NF

Hour 2

1. Pretty Little Phase – Hearts Like Lions
2. Faith – Citizens & Saints
3. Lions – Skillet
4. Complete – Kutless
5. Dying Inside – Facing Fire
6. Beneath the Skin – Gold Frankincense & Myrrh
7. Where the Light Shines Through – Switchfoot
8. Something to Say – The Red Airplanes
9. Unfazed – The Waiting
10. Holding On – Sun City
11. Bringing You Back to Life – Light45
12. HARD LOVE (feat. Lauren Daigle) – NEEDTOBREATHE
13. Live Again – torndown
14. Beautiful Lie – Decyfer Down
15. Voices – Out of Black