JOHN SHIRK – This is the Year of Exploration at WJTL. We will explore various questions about the Christian faith and examine daily reasons to believe in the Gospel.

Today’s Reason to Believe is Creation.

What we see around us in nature day after day directs our attention to the Master Architect behind it all. God said “Let there be light, and there was light.”

Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Romans 1:20 says, “Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

The Bible reveals the power of God to make something out of nothing. The same God who spoke this world into existence has made you and me, and He is worthy of our praise.

Creation is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This is the Year of Exploration at WJTL. We will explore various questions about the Christian faith and examine daily reasons to believe in the Gospel.

Today’s Q and A explores the question, “What are some noble spiritual goals for the New Year?”

Common New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, eating healthy, spending less money, and saving more money.

Those ambitions may be on your list as you begin 2016. There is merit to these goals. It is good to remember that every goal requires a plan. There is a process on the pathway to success.

There are noble goals for growing in our relationship with God in 2016.

The Apostle Paul said, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.”

A good starting place for knowing Jesus is to spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study. Then, take those truths that we learn from God’s Word and live them out for the glory of God.

Establishing priorities to know Jesus and honor His name are noble ambitions in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This is the Year of Exploration at WJTL. We will explore various questions about the Christian faith and examine daily reasons to believe in the Gospel.

Today’s Reason to Believe is the Big Picture.

From the beginning to end, the Bible outlines human history in a way that reveals Jesus as our only hope for salvation from sin.

The first two chapters in Genesis reveal Creation, where God made the heavens and the earth.

The third chapter of Genesis reveals the fall of Adam and Eve and the consequences of sin.

Much of the Bible covers God’s plan of redemption through the coming of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament anticipates the arrival of the Christ with the law, feasts, and prophecies. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the Christ, who fulfills the law and the prophets.

And the book of Revelation reveals the new heavens and the new earth, where God’s followers are restored to complete fellowship with God.

According to First Peter 3:18, Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

The big picture of history and God’s plan of redemption is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

NIK – For THE Dot-to-DOT GREAT REVEAL, we no longer needed to be told to take up the crayon and physically draw short lines–number to number. At some point in development, there was a change.  Now, we were mentally able to connect the dots that created the picture, especially, if there were context clues. Our very bright mind drew around the picture for us, and reality was–we needed no numbers at all to make something magnificent appear upon the page.

If only faith was that linear (where we know for certain two comes after one and so on or in some cases in life, where is that big INKY dot-to-dot STAR that tells us “Start Here”).  That STAR does represent a beginning or a mark identifying “You Are Here.”  But reality is, a journey proceeds the starred starting point–just as it did that famous first “Christmas” with those familiar Kings we sang about who traveled so far.
I look back in my faith journey thinking If only she “got” the picture.

This younger version of myself, didn’t have the capacity or development that comes from “journey-ing.” Faith is not a simple walk in the park because the one we were made in the image of—Almighty God—is infinitely greater than that default trinity I love so much: “me, myself and I.”

Following the proverbial dot-to-dot could be a sign we’re growing in our faith. Growing doesn’t make us juvenile; rather it’s a working out of personal salvation, redemption, and unfathomable grace.  This is our journey.  In contrast, if we want to remain where we can quickly call out the picture on the page (without first putting in the more meticulous work line by line) it may mean it is time to stoke the fire of our faith journey–find a proverbial camel and get after the starting star.

A MENTAL EXERCISE

It’s in the making.  This year, I’m proposing thoughtful time for a dot-to-dot.

[Twelve months act as dots; for example, January is one, February is two and on to December which is twelve.] Compare you, my camel rider, last year to this one (i.e.where was I after Christmas 2014. Recall things like family, health, habits, relationships, money, personal time in God’s word etc.) and most importantly pray. Prayerfully, ask God to reveal the picture in the making that He sees complete. God has a plan for you this year, as He does for me. I think it’s a valid goal to spend less time putting God in the picture and more time understanding His powerful orchestration and plan. He is the publisher of this dot-to-dot we call history and future and life. He’s overseer of these lines drawn, and builder of our very bright mind created to glorify Him. Let’s begin to draw one line at a time! Journey month by month with awareness.  Let’s read God’s word, pray alone, pray together, be accountable, and, my friends, let’s be His disciples!  We, too, will find Him!

Tonight, I’m reminded that “fear” could be translated as “losing ground,” “losing control,” “losing perspective” or even “losing the plumb line” in our goal and purpose of life. This Christmas season, know He is calling all us weary ones unto Himself. (Even now I hear “Come Let us Adore Him.”)
This Christmas, lets do it!  Let’s adore Him in the biggest way; the way of letting go of “fear” so that we may find Him. I believe we’ll not only find Him, we will find Him faithful.
Blessings over your Christmastime.
Praying in this season you pursue everything in your heart, that leads to a fearless “all-in” to Jesus Christ our celebrated Savior.
Nik

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Isaiah 9:6, which says about Jesus, “He will be called….Prince Of Peace.”

Verse 7 goes on to say, “Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.”

Under His righteous leadership, true and lasting peace will be established. While the world yearns for the peace that Jesus offers, it does not yet experience this reality. That is because we need to acknowledge peace on His terms. Welcoming the influence of Jesus as our Savior and Lord invites peace. But peace is elusive as long as we push Jesus away.

On a personal level, we can experience the gift of God’s peace this Christmas, by embracing the presence of Jesus.

Romans 5:1 says, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Receiving Jesus as our Prince of Peace 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 His purpose for coming to the world.

According to First Timothy 1:15, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

The Christmas season is full of special activities, shopping sprees, decorations, and gifts. It can be a busy season that keeps us doing things that may be good, but may also keep us from slowing down to reflect on the greatest gift of all-the reason why we celebrate Christmas.

God’s love for us prompted Him to send Jesus to the world on a rescue mission. Jesus did not come to us because we were good, but because He is good. His blood shed for us at the cross was an acceptable sacrifice for our sins, and as a result, we are declared acceptable to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot enter heaven on our own merit, but it is possible to enter heaven on the merit of Christ and what He has done for us at the cross. That was the purpose of Jesus that adds meaning to Christmas.

A daily connection with Christ is our lifeline to God’s forgiveness and His gift of eternal life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK-In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His letter to the church at Thyatira.

In Revelation 2:22, the main message to this church was to turn away from immorality and idolatry, and turn to God. The whole church was not corrupted, but some were by the influence of a woman named Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess.

The church was making some progress. Jesus identifies their deeds, their love, their faith, their service, and their perseverance, and says, “You are now doing more than you did at first.”

But they were too tolerant of the sinful practices that Jezebel promoted. Tolerance is consistent with the Christian faith when it reflects kindness and respect to a person who disagrees with us. But tolerance goes too far if we are putting our stamp of approval on sin. Validating sin leads to the spread of a spiritual cancer throughout the body.

Romans 2:4 talks about the riches of God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience as influences to lead us to repentance.

A daily connection with Christ teaches us to love God, love people and hate sin.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

The Extraordinary Give, Lancaster County’s Largest Day of online giving begins tonight at Midnight and runs all day tomorrow (Friday November  20th) until Midnight!!!

Last year, WJTL listeners showed their generosity and helped WJTL raise $113,085 during Extraordinary Give 2014!

We would love to have your support this year! We know there are many worthy organizations vying for your attention and donations during Extra Give. We want to invite you support this radio ministry – WJTL!

Click here when you are ready to make your donation.

Any donation made online tomorrow – Friday, NOVEMBER 20th will be stretched by $250,000 from the Lancaster County Community Foundation and their sponsors. Plus, there are $50,000 in prizes we can win instantly from your donation!

Tell your friends and show your support for WJTL!

Thank You!

In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His letter to the church at Pergamum.

In Revelation 2:14, The main message to this church is to beware of falling into an immoral lifestyle. There was evidence of compromise in the church at Pergamum. The whole church was not infected, but some within the church were being corrupted. In His love for the church, Jesus calls the compromisers to repentance. To those who did not fall into false teachings or an immoral lifestyle, Jesus commends them for remaining true to His name.

Pergamum was identified as a place where Satan has his throne. Believers were in a tough place. There can be many temptations and different forms of persecution in communities where Satan has a stronghold. There was a hostile climate toward Christians in Pergamum as seen by the reference to the death of Antipas, who was a faithful witness for Jesus.

A daily connection with Christ calls to an uncompromising faith.