JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the contribution of Christian influence in the world.

Tim Keller has said that “the Christian worldview has made foundational contributions to our own culture that may not be readily apparent.”

As we look at history, we see how compassion prompted followers of Jesus to start orphanages, hospitals, and rescue missions.

Many colleges in our nation (including Ivy League schools) began with a Christian foundation.

Through the influence of Christ’s followers, slavery was abolished in some nations.

And missionaries have traveled to other nations to spread the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Many of these influences in society are still vibrant today, focusing on healing, serving, educating, and building communities for the glory of God. These are some of the ways that Christians have followed the words of Jesus to serve as salt in the earth and light in the world.

The contribution of Christian influence to our communities is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

See the lineup below for the Mountain Edition of the Praise & Worship Show.  Email me for the detailed playlist.

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ
Kristi@WJTL.com

Here’s your playlist for the August 12th/14th episode of Some Sort of Rock Show:

Hour 1

1. Run Devil Run – Crowder
2. I Need Someone – 7eventh Time Down
3. Madness – Citizens & Saints
4. Long Last – Foreverlin
5. Wasn’t Enough – XXI
6. Voices In The Night – Silverline
7. Out of the Fire – Audio Adrenaline
8. Safety (featuring Stephen Christian) – Fireflight
9. Incomplete – Thousand Foot Krutch
10. Supersonic – Family Force 5
11. Roses – I Anthem
12. The Fallback – Sumerlin
13. Feel Invincible – Skillet
14. Back From the Dead – Skillet
15. Bummin’ – Relient K

Hour 2

1. Float – Switchfoot
2. Bottle Rocket – House of Heroes
3. Til the Day I Die – TobyMac (FEAT. NF)
4. Tell The World (feat. Mali Music) – Lecrae
5. Yours Again  – RED
6. Holding On – We Are Vessel
7. Don’t Bring That Trouble – NEEDTOBREATHE
8. Adam’s Son – Rhett Walker Band
9. Far Far Away – Five Iron Frenzy
10. Black Honey – Thrice

//Graceful Closure Interview

1. Chasing Fears – Graceful Closure
2. Choices – Graceful Closure
3. Be My Escape – Relient K

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend – August 12-14, 2016

5. Twenty-Third Annual Ice Cream Festival tomorrow (Saturday, August 13) 11am-5pm at Baughman Memorial United Methodist Church, Bridge Street, New Cumberland . Homemade ice cream, pie a la mode, Concerts by Keystone Concert Band, West Shore Youth Band and CCM Group Raspberry Carpet. More Info: BaughmanUMC.org

4 Cornwall United Methodist Church Peach Festival, Tonight (Friday August 12) 5-7:30pm at the Church on Freeman Drive in Cornwall. Peach Sundaes, Peach Cobbler, Peach Pies, Children’s Carnival, bounc houses, music and more. More Info: www.cornwallchurch.org

3 Praise In The Park at Myerstown Community Park, tomorrow (Saturday, August 13) 9am-2:30pm. Children’s games, live music, puppets shows, and a juggler. More Info: at the WJTL.com events page.

2 Fifty-Sixth Annual Chicken Barbecue, Car Show & Auction tomorrow (Saturday, August 13) 9am-4pm at Cross Keys Village in New Oxford, PA.  Classic Cars, Hot Rods and more.  More Info: CrossKeysVillage.org

1 Free family movie night tonight (Fri. August 12) at 7pm at The Junction Center. Free tickets available at the door. Come early to ride the pedal cars and a meet and greet with Jesse Rothacker and a couple of his Forgotten Friend Reptiles. More Info: The Junction Center tab of WJTL.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question “How can I draw near to God?”

The writer of Psalm 73:28 said, “As for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge.”

You can sense peace and security in that statement, and when we experience that kind of intimacy with God, we recognize that there is no better place to be.

But sometimes we might feel far away from God. This might happen because trouble surrounds us. We need help, yet we feel alone. Those are times to speak truth to ourselves. This is what the writer of Psalm 42 said in a similar situation. He said, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

At other times, we might feel far away from God because we have moved. In those cases, James 4:7 gives us this insight for moving closer to God. “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you.”

Submission to God moves us closer to God where we can experience His peace once again in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What is the connection between the judgment seat of Christ and the Olympics?”

Second Corinthians 5:10 says that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him, for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Romans 14:12 says that each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

This judgment seat of Christ is sometimes described as the Bema Seat. In Greek culture, the Bema seat was the place where the judges gave out awards after athletic competitions. This might be compared to the Olympic ceremonies where various medals are awarded to athletes.

A day is coming when believers in Christ will appear at the judgment seat of Christ to have our lives evaluated for the deeds we have done in the body. This is not a judgment to evaluate salvation. That is settled through faith in Jesus. The judgment seat of Christ will determine rewards, based on various types of faithful service.

The judgment seat of Christ is a future reality that motivates us to run for the prize of God’s lasting crown in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Your playlist for your August 5th & 7th episode as we celebrate Some Sort of Rock Show turning 3 years old:

2013

7.  Gravity Bomb – I Am Empire

6.  Space Cadet – After Edmund

5.  Break The World – Nine Lashes

4.  Throw It Away – Manafest—

3.  Eye On It – TobyMac

2.  Sick Of It – Skillet

1.  Light Up The Sky – Thousand Foot Krutch

2014

7.  The River – Decyfer Down

6.  We Are The Brave – VERIDIA

5.  We Are The Broken – Seventh Day Slumber

4.  You Can’t Stop Me – Andy Mineo

3.  Radical – Disciple

2.  Nuthin’ – Lecrea

1.  Hearing Voices – Anberlin

2015

7.  Staring At The Sun – Roelant

6.  Breathe Again – Spoken

5.  Mr. Roboto – Rapture Ruckus

4.  Sweep The Leg – Family Force 5

3.  Mercy – Ravenhill

2.  Resuscitate – Fireflight

1.  Darkest Part – RED

2016

7.  Wasn’t Enough – XXI

6.  Run Devil Run – Crowder

5.  Bummin’ – Relient K 

4.  I Just Wanna Know – NF

3.  Don’t Bring That Trouble – NEEDTOBREATHE

2.  Float – Switchfoot 

1.  Black Honey – Thrice

It’s a Twin Spin edition of the Praise & Worship Show tomorrow!  See the pairs below including brand new songs from Leeland’s “Invisible” project, a duo of covers by Rita Springer, two from Zealand Worship and more.

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend – August 5-7, 2016

5 The Pennsylvania Artist Blacksmiths’ Association annual “Blacksmith Day” tomorrow (Saturday, August 6) from 9am to 4pm at Old Dry Road Farm in Wernersville. Forging demonstrations, a hands-on instruction area, a children’s activities, and a forging contest among the blacksmiths.  More Info: pabasite.org

4 25th Season of St. Peter’s Musical Arts Concert Series featuring Lancaster British Brass Band at the church on Delp Road in Lancaster Sunday (August 6) at 7pm. Dr. Stephen Allen conducts the Lancaster British Brass Band in a program borrowing from classics, marches, hymns, pop arrangements, solos, and original compositions. More Info: StPetersLutheran.org

3 The Annville-Cleona Washington Band is celebrating their 160th Birthday Sunday (August 7) at 2pm at the Annville-Cleona High School auditorium. Bring your instrument along and play with the band during the second half. More Info: WashingtonBand.com

2 Free Leola Community Waterslide Day on Sunday (August 7) From 1 to 4pm at the Zion Lutheran Church in Leola. Bring your towels. Free food, 4 huge waterslides, and more. No registration required. Bring your lawn chairs. More Info: ZionLeola.org

1 Lancaster Family Fest tomorrow (Saturday Aug. 6) 10am-2pm at Musser Park in Lancaster. Over 20 local Foster Care and Adoption Agenecies on hand to raise awareness and to celebrate local Foster Families.  Free games & activities, Food trucks, Cavod Academy of the Arts, Juggler Chris Ivey and more.  KCB pop up party with games, free goodies and Lisa Broadcasting Live. More Info: LancasterFamilyDay.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the dove.

This bird is a powerful symbol of the Christian faith in various ways.

The dove is a symbol of peace. After the storm in Noah’s day, it was a dove that brought back an olive branch signifying peace and the new start that God was offering the world.

The dove is a symbol of purity. Perhaps that is why Jesus instructed us to be innocent as doves as we share His gospel.

The dove is also a symbol of faithfulness. Turtle doves have a tendency to have one mate for life.

The dove is also a symbol for the Holy Spirit. At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in bodily form like a dove. Since doves tend to hover, that is probably how the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, hovering over Him.

The characteristics of the dove highlight various dimensions of the Christian faith and are reasons to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com