RADIO FRIEND PHIL – Greetings! It’s time for this week’s New Tunes at 9 Roundup. (New Tunes at 9, one-hour of new and emerging music, weeknights at 9 p.m. on WJTL.)

Needtobreathe release their new project this week: “Rivers in the Wasteland.”

Needtobreathe are a South Carolina-based Americana band, led by Bo Rinehart and his brother, Bear. The band’s unique sound mixes southern rock, southern soul, Gospel, country blues, and old-time. (Needtobreathe’s previous project, “The Reckoning,” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.)

For more on Needtobreathe, go to http://www.needtobreathe.com/riversinthewasteland

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on Jesus as our source of eternal life.

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

It seems fitting to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in the spring season, because spring marks a turning point from death to new life. The message of the Gospel celebrates the fact that Jesus cannot be found in the grave, because His body was raised to life. Because of Jesus’ triumph over death, we have a living hope. His resurrection is a joyful celebration of life following death.

His resurrection has special meaning for the person who takes the Gospel to heart. Our celebration of life is not confined just to the here-and-now, but extends beyond the grave into the picture of eternity.  Jesus is Lord. He came to save us from our sins. He has risen from the dead. He gives eternal life to those who make this claim their personal confession.

Trusting in Jesus as our source of eternal life is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

ANN D’ALESSANDRO –

‘Ragamuffin’ is based on the life of Rich Mullins, a musical prodigy who rose to Christian music fame and fortune only to walk away and live on a Navajo reservation. An artistic genius, raised on a tree farm in Indiana by a callous father, Rich wrestled all of his life with the brokenness and crippling insecurity born of his childhood. A lover of Jesus and a rebel in the church, Rich refused to let his struggles with his own darkness tear him away from a God he was determined to love. As he struggled with success in Nashville and depression in Wichita, Rich desired most of all to live a life of honest and reckless faith amidst a culture of religion and conformity.

Towards the end of his life he encountered a love deeper than he had ever known dying tragically in a car accident at age 41.  (from http://ragamuffinthemovie.com)

**Everyone is encouraged to bring an unwanted pair of used shoes to donate to Lancaster Teen Challenge. Support micro enterprise ventures in developing nations and keep old shoes out of local landfills.

Ragamuffin Movie Tour: The True Story of Rich Mullins on Sunday, April 27th at 7:30PM at The Junction Center Tent in Manheim.  For tickets and more information 717-459-3701 or http://www.thejunctioncenter.com/

Ann D’Alessandro – Lover of Everything Rich

ann@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the power of God’s love.

According to First John 4:9, “this is how God showed his love among us. He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

God took the initiative to reach out to us with His love. The fact that He sent His one and only Son into the world reveals that He gave His very best for us. He knew what we were lacking, and provided the gift that we needed. Jesus is the expression of God’s love for us. He laid down his life as a sacrifice for our sins.

The power of God’s love frees us from bondage to sin and enables us to live in the freedom of His will for the purpose of His glory. If we say “yes” to Jesus as God’s plan to save us, then He will become our greatest joy and delight. We will learn to love Him more and more, and we will grow in love for other people, because God is love. His love transforms lives.

The power of God’s love is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

It’s Palm Sunday!  This is the day we celebrate Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey and receiving the royal treatment from a celebratory crowd.  Read the story in Matthew 21.  You’ll find a lot of the songs in today’s playlist fit right in to that theme of a majestic king being hailed as the One who has come to save.  Take a look at the playlist below.

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the meaning of Hosanna.

It’s called the Triumphal entry. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Matthew 21 records that a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”

Hosanna means “Save, please.”  The origin of this word “Hosanna” shows up in Psalm 118:25 in the form of a prayer: “O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.” By the time Jesus stepped onto the scene, the meaning of this word was changed to a shout of hope and exaltation.

So, it changed from a prayer request to an exclamation of praise. Hosanna reminds us that Jesus is the answer to our prayer for salvation. Those who gladly welcome Him as Messiah are filled with expressions of praise, because of what Jesus has done for us and what He means to us.

The meaning of Hosanna is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

FIVE FUN FREE FAMILY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND!!! April 11, 12 & 13, 2014

5) The Conservatory of Music Youth Orchestra and String Section will perform a free concert tomorrow (Saturday, April 12th) at The Trust Performing Arts Center in downtown Lancaster beginning at 7pm. More Info: L-C-M-I-N-C-PA.org

4)The “Hand’s 4 Him” Puppet Ministry Team will present the Easter musical “Countdown to Easter”, Sunday (April 13th) from 4-5pm at Mountville Church of the Brethren, Clay Street in Mountville. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. More info: Mountvillecob.org

3) Grace Baptist Church of Lancaster annual Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt tomorrow (Saturday, April 12th) from 10:00-noon.  Activities for infants through kids in 6th grade will include a Bounce House, games, crafts, prizes, the Easter story, and an egg hunt.

2) A Gospel Music Extravaganza Concert to Celebrate the 91st Birthday of the Crispus Attucks Community Center, Sunday (April 13) 4pm at Brightside Baptist Church, Hershey Ave, Lancaster. More Info: 717 394-6604

1) FREE EASTER EGG HUNT with OVER 40,000 EGGS!!!  for kids from birth to 12 years old (Food, games, & entertainment for kids of all ages!) tomorrow (Saturday, April 12) at New Life Church , Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster. Registration and entertainment begin at 9am. Egg hunt begins at 10am! Pre-Register online at www.newlifelancaster.org

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the evidence of God’s unfailing love.

Thomas saw the evidence in John 20. The disciples had seen Jesus and told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas was skeptical. He would not believe it unless he saw the nail marks in his hands.

A week later, Jesus appeared to doubting Thomas and made him a believer by showing him his nail-scarred hands. Thomas responded by saying “My Lord and my God.”

In that moment, Thomas was seeing three significant things. The first thing that he saw was that Jesus was brought back to life. His grief turned into joy after seeing His beloved leader alive again.

A second thing that Thomas saw was the power that Jesus had over the grave.  In seeing the resurrection power of Jesus, Thomas’s fears turned into hope.

A third thing that Thomas saw was the expression of love that was evident in the nail scars. His doubts turned into confidence that Jesus is alive, and he could trust that the love of Jesus would never fail him.

The evidence of God’s unfailing love is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

RADIO FRIEND PHIL – Greetings! It’s time for this week’s New Tunes at 9 Roundup. (New Tunes at 9, one-hour of new and emerging music, weeknights at 9 p.m. on WJTL.)

Singer/songwriter Jessa Anderson releases her new project, “Whole,” this week. Jessa Anderson will be performing, Live from the Junction Center, this Sunday, April 13 at 7pm; more details at http://www.itickets.com/events/323045/Manheim_PA/Live_From_the_Junction_Center.html 

Over at Jessa’s facebook this week, a fan posted this statement: “These songs are a soothing balm to the spirit; beautiful melodies and thoughtful, inspired lyrics.”

The first single from “Whole” is a song called, “Idols.” Jessa was a guest this week on New Tunes at 9 and told me the story behind the song. https://wjtl.com/listen/wjtl-casts/

For more on Jessa Anderson, go to http://jessaanderson.com/

For the song “Idols,” Jessica writes, “All this time, addicted I, desperate for more and more. I chase the high, but every single time, I come down lower than before. These empty words are on repeat and I can see they’re killing me.”

Jessa’s new project, “Whole,” is available now.

phil@wjtl.com

A listener named Tom Hubbard spoke with me at the Rend Collective Concert at LBC and made a suggestion for a Praise & Worship Show theme:  “Songs For Men To Sing”.  It’s a pretty good challenge–especially for a female to put together!  Thankfully, Tom also e-mailed me with some song suggestions for the playlist!  Now, I think this edition of the program will relate to and be enjoyed by all humans–so ladies, no need to skip this week!  Men (and women) of faith, rise up and sing!

If you have theme suggestions–or song questions–feel free to get in touch!

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com