JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A explores the question, “Who is Jesus?”

There came a moment in Jesus’ ministry when Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

There were various opinions. The disciples replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus wanted to know their thoughts, and asked them, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”

If Jesus asked you that question, what would you say? Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In saying this, Peter was acknowledging Jesus as the promised Messiah. Jesus blessed Peter for such a reply.

Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus is described as Savior and Lord. He is uniquely qualified to save us from our sins and bring us into a right relationship with God.

Knowing Jesus personally as our Savior and Lord is a blessed place to be 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 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!

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Happy New Year!   Here’s the Some Sort of Rock Show Top 60 of 15!

60 It Was You – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
59 Glow In The Dark – Family Force 5
58 Ashes – Almost Taken
57 Lifeline – The Lasting Hope
56 Brother – NEEDTOBREATHE
55 A Fire Only We Know – House Of Heroes
54 What Love Means – Everfound
53 Skeleton – Lovelike Violence
52 Lightning – Fireflight
51 More Of You – Matty Mullins
50 I’m Not Running Away From You – Hearts Like Lions
49 Hope Is Alive – Abandon
48 Drops In The Ocean – Hawk Nelson
47 Heartbeat – The Exchange
46 Moving On – Waiting Hill
45 Adam’s Son – Rhett Walker Band
44 Pretty Lies – VERIDIA
43 Hey – Scarlet Raven
42 Gallows – Dustin Kensrue
41 My Allegiance – Illia
40 Between Love And War – I Anthem
39 Diamonds – Manafest
38 In Too Deep – Seventh Day Slumber
37 What Matters – Embers In Ashes
36 Alive – Tree63
35 Dead Man – Rhett Walker Band
34 Safety – Fireflight
33 Feel It – TobyMac
32 Out Of My Head – Sumerlin
31 Angels And Demons – Disciple
30 Falling Apart – Spoken
29 Reach For The Sky – Red Letter Hymnal
28 Destruction Of Kings – Devin Williams
27 Chasing Fears – Graceful Closure
26 Come Alive – Attaboy
25 Take A Bow – Flagship Armada
24 Without A Fight – Lybecker
23 Your Love Is Enough – Jon Foreman
22 Lift Your Head Winner Sinner – Crowder
21 Feet Don’t Fail Me Now – NEEDTOBREATHE
20 Porcelain – Bread Of Stone
19 Desperados – Andy Mineo
18 Your Again – RED
17 Broken Lines – Foreverlin
16 Say It Like You Mean It – Switchfoot
15 You Are A Light – Nine Lashes
14 Something To Say – The Red Airplanes
13 Stranger – Hearts Like Lions
12 Move – Audio Adrenaline
11 Worst Kind Of Gods – House Of Heroes
10 Bring It On – Seventh Day Slumber
9 Staring At The Sun – Roelant
8 Breathe Again – Spoken
7 Mr. Roboto – Rapture Ruckus
6 Sweep The Leg Family – Force 5
5 Wasteland – NEEDTOBREATHE
4 Sayonara – Disciple
3 Mercy – Ravenhill
2 Resuscitate – Fireflight
1 Darkest Part – RED

ANN D’ALESSANDRO-

Happy New Year!!  Well almost, we are celebrating at WJTL with some special programming.  Hope you can join us for some wonderful music, old and new.

NEW YEAR’S EVE:

Noon-4pm – Praise & Worship Special with Kristi Leigh

4pm-Midnight – 2015 Top  100 Countdown with Radio Friend Phil

NEW YEAR’S DAY:

Noon-4pm – Archives Special with Terry Phillips

4pm-8pm – Top 50 Songs of Top 100 Countdown with Radio Friend Phil

8pm-Midnight – Some Sort of Rock Show Top 60 2015 Countdown with John Staffieri

Ann D’Alessandro – Happy New Year!!

ann@wjtl.com

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