JOHN SHIRK – In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet said, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

When Gabriel the angel announced to Mary that she would give birth to a son, she asked him, “How will this be since I am a virgin?”

That is when the angel explained how this would happen: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” The Holy Spirit plants the seed for God’s holy purposes to be achieved.

Jesus was born as the Son of God, He never sinned, and became uniquely qualified to be our Savior and Lord by His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

The name “Immanuel” means “God with us.” Jesus was God’s visitation to the world and is God’s invitation to the world to know Him through faith in His holy name.

The promise that Jesus would be born of a virgin is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In Micah 5:2, we read about the birthplace of God’s anointed leader:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins  are from of old, from ancient times.”

The name “Bethlehem” is significant because it means “House of Bread.” Jesus identified Himself as the bread of life. So, entering the world stage as a baby in the manger, Jesus came to the House of Bread, as the Bread of Life.

His birth in Bethlehem was planned long before it really happened. The location of Christ’s birthplace is sending the signal to the world that just as bread satisfies physical hunger, so Jesus is our vital source for satisfaction for spiritual hunger.

And just as Jesus came to Bethlehem, which was considered small and insignificant, so He approaches people who are humble, and raises them up for extraordinary purposes.

The promise that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Thanks for listening to episode 20  of Some Sort of Rock Show!  Feel free to drop me a comment below.

The Some Sort of Rock Show Research Council has been preparing for week, so don’t miss the Top 50 Some Sort of Rock Show Songs of 2013!.  It’s a 4 hour radio spectacular set to air on December 29th from 6-10.  We will also be announcing the prestigious Some Sortie Award winners.

Your December 15th, 2013 Some Sort of Rock Show Playlist…

Tune in for the WJTL Christmas Favorites Contest!  It’s a week of Christmas trivia from the WJTL staff.  All contestants who participate on-air will receive a pair of Peppermint Chocolate Chip hand-spun milkshakes from Chick-Fil-A’s Rockvale Outlets location in Lancaster!  Contestants who answer a multiple choice question correctly will be entered into the grand prize drawing to win 1 of 3 $500 gift cards to Rockvale Outlets Lancaster!

Keep us on speed dial.  717-392-3690 (392-FM90) and listen Monday–Friday, December 16-20, 2013 from 6AM-10PM Eastern.  Be the 3rd caller when you hear the contest sounder and you’ll go live on air to play!

Rules, etc.:

*You must not have won from WJTL in the past 30 days in order to be eligible for this contest.

*Only one contestant per household in this contest.

*Comments on this blog DO NOT COUNT as entries into this contest.

*3 Grand prize winners will be drawn randomly from all eligible winners who answer a question correctly.

*3 Grand prize winners will be announced Friday, December 20th at Noon Eastern.

*View WJTL’s General Rules Policy here.

FIVE FUN FREE FAMILY THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND!!! December 13, 14 & 15, 2013

5)  “Love Came Down” Live Nativity, tonight (Fri. Dec. 13th) from 6-8pm at Faith United Church of Christ in York.  Actors, Sheep, goats, a cow and a donkey round out the cast.  This is an outdoor experience about 20 minutes long so dress warmly. Light refreshments indoors at the end. More Info: 717-843-8991

4) The Christian School of York Crusader  Singers will be ministering by singing carols outside the new location for Lifeway Christian Store, Concord Road, York) tonight (Friday, December 13) from 6-8pm. More info: 717-767-6842

3) Middlesex United Methodist Church in Carlisle will be hosting it’s fourth annual Hayride to Bethlehem tonight (Friday December 13th) from 6-9pm and tomorrow (Saturday December 14th) from 4-8pm.  The event will feature several scenes of the Christmas story with musicians, animals, and interactive actors.  Free hot chocolate and cookies will be available at the end.  More Info: 717-249-2449

2)  Save The Storks Christmas shopping fundraiser tomorrow (Sat. Dec. 14th) at The Junction Center in Manheim from 10AM-3PM. Bring a canned good and win prizes.  Save the Storks helps women save their babies. More Info:  717.461.1107

1)  Join John Shirk and the WJTL Road Crew as they broadcast live from Journey with Jesus: Live Nativity. Walk through a rustic barn and experience the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection tomorrow (Saturday, December 14th) from 6 to 8pm at Ed’s Landscaping – 2623 North Market Street, Elizabethtown, All proceeds will be donated to WJTL.  More information: 717-367-1006

JOHN SHIRK – Ephesians 2:17 says about Jesus that “he came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him, we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

At the birth of Jesus, angelic messengers made the declaration, “Glory to God in the highest. And on earth, peace among men in whom he is well pleased.” The favor of God brings peace to the soul. Jesus offered Jews and Gentiles a message of peace with God. He invited us to come to Him to find rest for our weary soul. His blood shed on the cross is a message that we do not have to live as God’s enemies anymore. We can enjoy a relationship with Him that refreshes our spirit and makes us a new person. He can replace bitterness with tenderness. He can remove the weeds of hatred and plant the seeds of love. He can calm our fears and give us quiet assurance that through Jesus, our hope is secure.

The peace that Jesus brought with His coming is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

ANN D’ALESSANDRO-

“Top 11 Gourmet Albums of 2013” From Under The Radar

(aired Friday nights on WJTL from 10-11PM)

Under The Radar plays some of my favorite artists and so here is another list of great music from this year!

1. Fortunate Fall – Audrey Assad

2. Beyond The Frame – Andy Gullahorn

3. I Was Wrong, I’m Sorry & I Love You – Derek Webb

4. Inland – Jars Of Clay

5. Dig Here Said The Angel – Daniel Amos

6. Feed Your Soul – Christa Wells

7. The Civil Wars – The Civil Wars

8. The Lone Bellow – The Lone Bellow

9. Loved – JJ Heller

10. Meet Me At The Edge Of The World – Over The Rhine

11. Originator – Brooke Waggoner

I am very excited to see Jars of Clay and Daniel Amos on here.  I have both of these CDs and they are amazing – highly recommended! You can find the list here:

http://undertheradar.reframemedia.com/blog/top-11-gourmet-albums-of-2013

Ann D’Alessandro – Lover of UTR

ann@wjtl.com

Tune in to WJTL this week for your chance to win stocking stuffers!  We have a variety of small-sized gifts to give away–some are valued at a little, and others at a lot!  Keep our number handy: 717-392-3690 (392-FM90).

Our Stack of Stocking Stuffers Includes:

-Hot air balloon ride tickets from the US Hot Air Balloon Team

-Tickets to the Turkey Hill Experience

-T-Shirts from Intentional Apparel

-CDs or DVDs from our prize stash

(The Afters, Jeremy Camp, Meredith Andrews, Sidewalk Prophets, Citizen Way, We As Human, Francesca Battistelli, Steven Curtis Chapman, Group 1 Crew, Dustin Kensrue, “Jesus Boat” DVD, “Beverly Lewis’ ‘The Confession'”, “VeggieTales ‘MacLarry & The Stinky Cheese Battle'” and more!)

JOHN SHIRK – Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

This statement was connected to Jesus in Matthew chapter 4. Jesus fulfilled these words of the prophet with His words of life, His touch of healing, and ultimately, by His death and resurrection from the grave.

In the Bible, darkness is often connected with sin and death. There is a spirit of despair in the heart of someone who is caught in the grip of spiritual darkness. Jesus came as the Light of the world. As we welcome His light, the shadows that cause despair flee under His influence of grace and truth. We live with freedom from guilt and shame. We live with the certain hope of eternal life. We live with the awareness that God loves us with an unfailing love. We live with a sense of joy in belonging to His spiritual family. And we live with a heavenly purpose, to reach souls for the Gospel through our witness for Jesus.

The hope that Jesus brought with His coming is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Whenever you comment on our blogs at www.WJTL.com this week, you’ll automatically be entered to win this WJTL prize pack from WJTL’s Feedback Giveback!  It features a WJTL cinch bag, WJTL water bottle, and pins!

Welcome to episode 19 of Some Sort of Rock Show!  Tonight’s playlist includes debuts from The Almost & Sumerlin.

The Some Sort of Rock Show Research Council is hard at work, so don’t miss the Top 50 Some Sort of Rock Show Songs of 2013.  It’s a 4 hour special that we will be airing on December 29th from 6-10.  There are plenty of cool songs to choose from.  We will also be giving out the world famous Some Sortie awards.  I can’t wait!

Here is tonight’s playlist: