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

John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses of the Bible. It’s a fitting verse for the Christmas season and the Easter season. It’s a fitting verse to describe how someone can be born again into the family of God.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Here we see God’s love freely given to us as a gift through Jesus Christ. For a gift to be a gift, there needs to be a giver and a receiver. God clearly gave. That gift is ours to receive. This is why the Christmas season is so special among those who receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. We recognize that without the treasure of God’s grace, we would be lost in our sin and without God because sin separates us from God. But when Jesus enters our world, His light invades the darkness of our soul. Despair is replaced with hope. Doubt and fear are replaced with faith. Selfishness is replaced by love. In Jesus, we find the freedom to experience abundant and eternal life with Him. God invites us to say “Yes” to His invitation to live with Him forever.

The gift of God’s love through Jesus Christ is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE – One of our new traditions since we’ve been here at The Junction Center is our annual WJTL Christmas Open Houses.  We love these evenings listening to music,  and visiting with listeners who stop in for cocoa, cookies and tours as we celebrate Christmas.

Drop by and join us next Tuesday (Dec 16) & Wednesday (Dec 17) anytime between 4pm and 8pm both evenings.   We’ll be here to greet you.  It’s  also a great time for you to drop off your end of the year donation and save a stamp.

We hope to see YOU, but either way, we wish you a Merry Christmas!

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FIVE FUN FREE FAMILY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND!!! December 12, 13 & 14, 2014

5.  Middlesex United Methodist Church’s fifth annual Hayride to Bethlehem, tonight (Friday, December 12) 6-9pm and tomorrow (Saturday, December 13) from 4-8pm. Experience a live nativity while on board a hay wagon ride through several scenes of the nativity, including live actors, animals, and musicians.  Hot chocolate and cookies at the end of the ride.  Middlesex Church is located at 118 N. Middlesex Rd., Carlisle, PA.  More Info: http://www.middlesexumc.com/

4.  Winterstown United Methodist Church of Felton Drive Thru Nativity tonight, tomorrow and Sunday (December 12, 13 &14) from 6:30 – 8:30pm. This Drive Thru Nativity features 10 different scenes with over 40 cast members along with live camels, sheep, goats and cows, and more. More Info: 717-244-1984.

3. Limeville UMC in Gap annual kids Christmas Event tonight (Friday, Dec. 12) from 7-9pm.  Make a Christmas craft, visit with Santa, a live Nativity Scene and snacks.  More Info: 717-442-4010

2. Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts traditional choral Christmas concert, tonight (Friday Dec 12) at 7pm at First Presbyterian Church, Orange Street in Lancaster. More Info: www.lancasteracademy.org

1. Journey with Jesus is a Live Nativity tomorrow (Saturday, December 13) from 6-8pm at Ed’s Landscaping, 2623 North Market Street, Elizabethtown. Journey with Jesus tells the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection and includes live actors, animals and a rustic barn setting. WJTL will be broadcating live. More Info: 717-367-1006

RADIO FRIEND PHIL – Greetings! Welcome to 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.)

Just in time for the Christmas season, Family Force 5 has released a new digital single, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” The song is available now and follows the release of their record, “Time Stands Still.” Family Force 5 continue redefining their pulsating sound that fuses together euro-dance, synth-pop, electro- funk, hip-hop and rock ‘n’ roll.

Derek Mount, a.k.a., Chap Stique, was my guest this week on New Tunes at 9. (Derek told the story behind “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” which used their record “The Family Force 5 Christmas Project,” as a reference point, and Hollywood, their drummer, as a focal point.) https://wjtl.com/listen/wjtl-casts/

For more on Family Force 5, go to http://www.familyforce5.com/

phil@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on Gabriel’s prophecy of Jesus.

Gabriel was an angel who was given the task of telling Mary that she would give birth to Jesus.

He says in Luke 1:32, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

This is a reference to Jesus as the king of Israel. Many kings had reigned over Israel in the past, but each of them had their blemishes. Even David, who was well-respected and regarded as a man after God’s own heart, had his faults. Nations today continue to have leaders with their faults and limitations. They make mistakes, and they do not stick around forever.

Jesus is different. His character is unblemished, and His kingdom will be without end. He is a capable king, not just for Israel, but also for our souls. His fame will never fade. It will only grow in the course of time. We can trust Him to save us from our sins, and lead us with grace and wisdom.

Gabriel’s prophecy of Jesus to be a great king is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK -Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on good and perfect gifts.

James 1:17 tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Here we see that God is the giver of all good gifts. Some of those gifts might be tangible things. First Timothy 6 tells us that God is the One who provides us with everything for our enjoyment. But this blessing comes with a caution for us not to put our hope in wealth, but rather to put our hope in God. Love the Giver more than the gift.

Some of the good gifts provided by God might be resources that we need to survive. Acts 14:17 says, “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” This, too is a blessing from God and a reason to give thanks.

Some of His gifts are perfect. Jesus is the perfect remedy for our sin. God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son. The Holy Spirit is the perfect power source for living the Christian life. Jesus said in Luke 11, “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Every good and perfect gift from God 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!!! December 5, 6 & 7, 2014

5.  The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe – at Cavod Academy of the Arts Theatre, Main Street in New Holland – Tonight (Friday, Dec 5) at 7pm; Tommorrow (Saturday, Dec 6) at 2pm & 7pm AND Sunday, (December 7) at 4pm. More Info: cavodacademy.com

4. Lego Building Free LEGO Building Party tonight (Friday, Dec 5) 5-8:30pm at Hammel Associates Architects, Lancaster, PA.  Just one of many First Friday Lancaster Events. More than 25,000 bricks, plates and specialty pieces to build with. PLUS a very special 3D Printing Demonstration.  More Info: (717) 393-3713

3. Join Topher Kringle aka The Hip Santa for a Christmas Breakfast Singalong, tomorrow (Saturday Dec 6) 9:30am-11am at Commonwealth on Queen in downtown Lancaster. Free Admission. More Info commonwealthonqueen.com

2. Lititz Christmas in the Park Annual Carol Sing and Tree Lighting tonight (Friday, Dec 5) 6:30pm at Lititz Springs Park, Broad Street in Lititz. More Info lititzspringspark.org

1. Friendship Community Christmas Expressions of Love and Praise, tonight (Friday, Dec 5) at 7pm at Hempfield Church of the Brethren, Stevens Street in Manheim. The Friendship Community Family will share scripture, song, creative movement and more as they tell the Christmas Story in this celebration of Christ’s birth and this special worship experience. More Info: friendshipcommunity.net

RADIO FRIEND PHIL – Greetings! Welcome to 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.)

Rend Collective released “The Art of Celebration” earlier this year. The Irish band’s sound is celebratory, joyous and worshipful. Rooted in the Celtic-folk tradition, Rend Collective’s music is inspired by both Irish and Scottish artists, including U2, Van Morrison, and the Blue Nile.

Rend Collective’s second release this year is “Campfire Christmas Vol. 1.” This new seasonal project is now available at iTunes (and other digital platforms).

For more on Rend Collective, go to http://rendcollective.com/ You’ll find details on “The Art of Celebration” and “Campfire Christmas Vol. 1.”