JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on James 5:13.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

We will experience different seasons of life. Sometimes, we will be on the mountaintop of celebration. At other times, we will be in the valley of grief and sorrow. The circumstances of our lives give us opportunities to draw closer to God if we respond to them with faith.

Rick Warren has said, “In happy moments, praise God. In difficult moments, seek God. In quiet moments, worship God. In painful moments, trust God. In every moment, thank God.”

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of prayer and praise through the various seasons of life in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK- Here are some highlights from the Retro-Countdown from early October 2002 on the Friday Time Capsule.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Titus 2, verses 11 and 12.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

Here we see the power of God’s grace to save us and transform us through Jesus Christ. He gave Himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of freedom and pure devotion in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Luke 24:44 and 45.

Jesus said to His disciples, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

There were times during Jesus’ ministry when He would tell the disciples that He was going to the cross and then would rise from the dead.  They had no idea what He was talking about.  But after the fact, and after Jesus explained the meaning of it all, then they understood. 

Sometimes, when we read the Bible, we might not understand everything we read. But the more we search the Scriptures, the more we will learn, and the more we learn, the better we will understand. Jesus invites us to approach Him and learn from Him. He guides the humble and teaches them His way.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of understanding the Scriptures in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Micah 4:5.

“All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.”

This chapter reveals the blessing of belonging to God and His Kingdom. The prophet lays out a vision of the future where God teaches us His ways so that we may walk in his paths.

The word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem. Nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. No one will make them afraid.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of grace, truth, and peace in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the identity of believers as children of God.

This is what Ephesians 1:4 and 5 says about the identity of those who are faithful in Christ.

“He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

When we respond to the Good News of Jesus with a trusting heart, God includes us in His family of believers. He gives us a new identity as a new creation in Christ. We are born of God and loved by God as His child. We become a citizen of heaven, temple of the Holy Spirit, and light in the world to reflect God’s glory and goodness. God’s love forms our identity to see ourselves as God sees us. 

Focusing on our identity as a dearly loved child of God gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

In case you missed the Friday Time Capsule, or if you would like to hear the songs again, here is the Playlist from the Lunchbreak on Friday.

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the significance of the Mount of Olives.

This was the place where Jesus told His disciples of future events that would happen prior to His coming.

Some of those events were the appearances of deceivers, wars and rumors of wars, famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. He also said that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end would come.

The place where He spoke of the future is significant. Zechariah 14:4 tells us that when He comes again, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. On that day, there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. He will be king over the whole earth.

The Mount of Olives reminds us that while we live in a broken world, the future is in God’s hands. The future is a vision of victory for God’s coming Kingdom and for those who follow Jesus by faith.

Focusing on our future hope in Christ gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on Calvary where Jesus died on a cross. 

According to the New King James version of the Bible, in Luke 23:32, there were also two other criminals led with Jesus to be put to death. “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.”

Calvary was the place of Christ’s death and the place of our redemption. Calvary reminds us that God has provided the lamb who was a worthy sacrifice for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrated his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Focusing on the price that Jesus paid for our redemption gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

John@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.

In Exodus 31:18, the LORD gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant law. They were tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Mount Sinai represents the law of God for His people.

On these tablets were written the Ten Commandments. God’s laws were revealing God’s moral standards. None of us have lived up to all the commands all the time. That is why we need grace.  The law reminds us that we have fallen short of God’s glory and need a Savior. We don’t earn God’s love by obeying His laws, but are motivated to obey them because we know that He loves us. At the foundation of following God’s laws is love-love for God and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Following God’s laws is not meant to be a reason for pride in ourselves. It is an opportunity to express our love for God. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Focusing on the law of love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com