Daniel: I’ve been helping plan my wedding lately, and there’s something that I have to praise and think about lately. One of the biggest things you have to deal with when you’re getting married is the venue. Getting a location early is super important and opens up the door to plan everything else. There was a Church my fiancée was very interested in; it’s got a beautiful white interior, a gym we can use for the reception, the works. It’s exactly what she was looking for, but they needed someone from the reception party to be a member of the Church to get it. It was kinda a roadblock until we realized one of our invitees was a member of this Church and was going to be there for the wedding, and would count for us to use it.
Now, why am I telling you this? What’s the big deal? Well, it’s very similar to how it will be when we get to heaven.
Matthew 25:34 – “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
John 15:15 – “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
Simply put, getting to heaven is a who-you-know issue. It’s not about knowing a bunch of people; you could know everyone on earth, and even be friends with all of them, but if you know just one person, the one person who will make himself known to you in every way he can, then you can get into his wedding. Isn’t that something special? You need only know and follow him.
Gabby: For many years, hope has been one of the most searched terms on the internet. Surprisingly, it surpasses searches for political crises and even making money online. People are seeking more profound meaning. Recent years haven’t fostered optimism; instead, they’ve felt like an ongoing, slow-motion crisis: Environmental fears, economic instability, and digital anxiety dominate our headlines and hearts. Yet, through all these struggles, millions type hope into their browsers, as if throwing a lifeline to something beyond the chaos.
Paul understood that God is the Someone beyond the chaos. When the apostle wrote of “the God of hope” (Romans 15:13), he wanted Roman believers in Jesus to understand that God was both the source and object of their hope. Paul reminds us that true hope isn’t merely wishful thinking or fleeting optimism; it’s anchored in God’s character and faithfulness. And He instills confidence in us through His promises. He’s also the one who provides “endurance and encouragement” (v. 5) through the power of His Holy Spirit. This hope endures despite circumstances, filling us with joy and peace as we recognize God has accepted us in Christ (v. 7).
If you’re searching for hope, direct your heart toward God. As you trust in His promises and embrace His faithfulness, you can have eternal hope found in Him alone.
This Devotion is by Our Daily Bread. You can find it HERE
This week’s Name That Tune was a Stumper, but tune in next week for a chance to win TWO $5gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant in Utica!
On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday, we talked about desserts and other national holidays. Plus, we played our “Who Am I” trivia in the second hour! Here’s what we talked about:
Who Knew Fact Check: National Dessert Day– Is the origin of the word dessert literally mean to ‘clear the table?” YES. The French word ‘desservir’ means to clear the serving or ‘clear the table,’ so it led to the last dish being served.
Who Knew Fact: Original desserts were what? Dried fruits and nuts “a service of fruits and nuts at the end of a meal.”:
Most popular desserts in the USA? (according to the website, How Stuff Works) 1. Ice Cream 2. Brownies 3. Chocolate Chip Cookies 4. Cheesecake 5. Apple Pie
Who Knew Wednesday: National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day- Takes place on the second Wednesday in October to encourage students to invite their parents or guardians to lunch. All eyes are on parents and guardians to visit their children’s school during lunch and share a meal with them in the school cafeteria. National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day is a day for to learn more about what goes into putting together a healthy lunch. Parents and school officials have an opportunity to open the lines of communication so they can work together to provide kids with the healthiest meals possible. It’s also a terrific day to find out what your child enjoys about school lunches.
Who Am I?...
I was born on October 14, 1939, in the Bronx, New York City.
My original name was Ralph Lifshitz, but I changed my last name when I was a teenager.
I grew up in a Jewish family, and my parents were immigrants from Belarus.
I beg my fashion career in 1967 by designing and selling men’s neckties under the brand name Polo.
I founded my own fashion company which became famous worldwide for its clothing, fragrances, and iconic Polo logo.
I am… Ralph Lauren! Congratulations to Donna of Howard for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Resturant in Utica!
Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Daniel and Gabriella!
Phil Wickham received Artist of the Year at the 57th annual GMA Dove Awards last week, where he also won Worship Album of the Year for Song of the Saints.
Phil accepted the award by thanking Jesus and reflecting on the privilege of writing songs that Christians around the world sing in worship. Wickham said, “God has given us reason after reason to worship Him.” He thanked Jesus for the opportunity and stressing he doesn’t take a moment of ministry for granted. “To write these songs and to think that people sing them to Jesus is an honor,” Wickham said. “The fact that I get to lead people in worship to Jesus is so worth it.”
The album project was inspired by a desire to honor those who have gone before in the Christian faith, reflecting on the scripture passages like Revelation 5:13, Psalm 149:1, and Hebrews 12:1–2.
The album includes adaptations and remakes of several songs like, “What An Awesome God,” “Because He Lives,” and “Wondrous Cross,” plus new favorites like, “The King is in the Room.”
“Dusty Bibles” is the 2026 Song of the Year, from Josiah Queen.
The song echoes our fear when the battery life on our phone is close to zero, but when our heart feels dry and weary we don’t show the same concern. “Dusty Bibles” asks a simple, powerful question:
What if you dusted off your Bible… and found life inside?
The song clearly struck a chord—with honesty and conviction, holding up a mirror to a generation whose Bibles sit unopened while our phones rarely leave our hands.
“Dusty Bibles”captures the spirit of Romans 12:2, reminding us not to be conformed to the constant noise of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It calls us to be present—not with our screens, but with our Savior. To trade temporary dopamine for eternal delight.
Jamie MacDonald is celebrating a major milestone after being named New Artist of the Year at the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards!
MacDonald also received three additional nominations, including Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for her self-titled debut album, and Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for her hit single, “Left It In The River.”
We touched on this a bit last week, but it’s been a history-making year for Jamie, whose debut album achieved the biggest streaming debut ever for a female Christian artist and the largest debut album streaming launch in Capitol CMG history.
And there’s more music on the way! Jamie MacDonald: The Deluxe Album arrives October 16th, expanding the original release to 30 tracks with unreleased songs, acoustic versions, live performances, and collaborations with artists like Tori Kelly and Lauren Daigle.
MacDonald says Christian music helped her find her identity and overcome lies she once believed about herself. Now, she’s using her music to encourage others with that same hope. Congratulations to Jamie MacDonald on an incredible year!
Jeremy Camp is celebrating a Dove Award win! His song “No Survivors” won Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year at the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards.
The win comes as Camp prepares for a new chapter in his music career. After more than two decades in Christian music, 46 No. 1 singles, and more than 4 billion global streams, Camp says he reached a point where he considered walking away from music. Instead, he chose to trust God with what came next.
That journey inspired his upcoming 11-track album, Revival, arriving February 5th through Capitol CMG. The project explores what it means to let go of control and trust God, even when life feels uncertain.
Camp also released a new song called “Shaky Ground,” featuring songwriting contributions from his daughters, Bella and Arie. The song reflects on difficult seasons and the reminder that, even when life feels unstable, God remains faithful.
Camp hopes the album’s message of personal revival will encourage listeners to draw closer to God and carry that transformation into their families, churches, and communities. Revival is available for preorder now!
He’s gonna lift me up
He’s gonna fight for me
It only took a single stone
to drop a Philistine
Congratulations to Jeff from Mount Vernon for correctly guessing “Rescue Me” by We The Kingdom! Tune in next week for your chance to win!
Friday on the NZ Top 10, Brock and I played ‘Redeemer’ by Nicole C. Mullen. A ‘rewind’ song from 2000. That song always gets to me!
Remember the hands of our Jesus – the hands that hold me when I’m broken are the SAME hands that defeated death to bring you and me victory! My redeemer lives!
Name something parents tell their kids not to waste!
1. Food (53 votes)
2. Money (17)
3. Water (14)
4. Electricity (4)
5. Time (3)
6. Life (3)
Congratulations to Isabella from Mount Vernon, who got the top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.
On this week’s Praise Thursday, we gave inspiring devotions and worshiped through songs. Plus, we played Name That Tune in the second hour! Check on our website wnzr.fm and participate in the giveaways we have going on! Here’s what we talked about:
Daniel’s Devotion: To those who don’t know, I got engaged on Sunday. My girlfriend of a year and friend for far longer than a year decided that I was (pause for effect) “eh, good enough” to marry. We got to work the next day on preparing what we need to do and plan for. We started looking at churches, planning potential honeymoon locations, deciding what color theme we’ll use, and, importantly, deciding who we would invite. Right now, we have been putting nearly every friend we would want to come on the list and inviting every single family member we can think of, it’s been kind of a joyous thing to do.
Planning my wedding kinda got me thinking about something Jesus said in Matthew 22. Since the beginning of time, he’s been planning his own wedding. I’ll abridge it a bit, but Jesus has been planning the reunification of his kingdom; the wedding is for his Church and himself to be restored. As someone who’s planning one myself, I got to reconsider what that really means. Think about it, my closest friends and family, making it the perfect occasion, and how much excitement is going on around it. That’s what Jesus feels.
Modernly, it’s the happiest day of one’s life, and you are all invited to Jesus’ wedding. The king of the universe wants you- yes, you to come to the happiest moment of his life. Can you imagine that? Imagine how excited you might have been for your own wedding, or when you plan yours; it’s exciting, and Jesus thought of you when planning it. We don’t know when the wedding will be, but make sure your calendar is cleared for the wedding supper of the Lamb.
Gabriella’s Devotion: The devotional looks at Moses when God called him from the burning bush. Moses felt inadequate and didn’t think he had much to offer, asking what he had in his hand—a simple shepherd’s staff. When Moses threw the staff down on the ground in obedience, God turned it into a snake and back again, using it as a sign of His power. The writer notes that God often takes our ordinary skills, career changes, or past experiences and repurposes them in fresh ways for His kingdom. The piece draws a parallel to how large ships—such as the retired SS United States—have been intentionally sunk to serve as artificial reefs on the ocean floor, transforming something from one stage of use into a life-sustaining habitat for marine life. Similarly, God can repurpose our lives and resources no matter where we are in our journey. Check the full story on Our Daily Bread Ministries.
October is Clergy Appreciation Month. WNZR helps you honor your pastor! WNZR is celebrating Clergy Appreciation Month throughout October. This month is a time to honor our local pastors and their commitment to families in our community. Each Friday, 5 local pastors will be honored on The Morning Thing. Our morning show hosts will share their names and churches along with comments from their church family. Each pastor that is mentioned will receive TWO $25.00 gift certificates to local restaurants to enjoy a dinner out with family. Each pastor will ALSO receive a WNZR goodie bag! Tell us why you love your pastor. Fill out the form onwnzr.fm! Your Church should be within 25 miles of Mount Vernon.
WNZR’s Dove Awards Prediction Prize Giveaway !! Cast your predictions for the Dove Awards and get registered to win a special Dove Award Nominee Prize Package featuring special gifts from 2026 Dove Award nominees!! Tell us who you think will win “Song of the year” and “Artist of the year” at the 57th annual Dove Awards. Fill out the form on wnzr.fm. You’ll see the nominees and a place to click with your votes. A list of nominees for “Song of the year” and “Artist of the year” is available on the form. All correct predictions will be entered into the Dove Award Nominee Prize Package giveaway. Entries will only be accepted if both categories are correct. TONIGHT AT 11:59 IS THE DEADLINE!!!!
This week’s Name That Tune was… Father Let It Be by Sidewalk Prophets! Congratulations to Mason of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!
Tune in Tomorrow for the NZ Top 10 with Brock and Joe!
On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday, we had some fall-festive conversations. Plus, we played our “Who am I” trivia in the second hour! Here’s what we talked about:
Who Knew Fact: National inner beauty day- It serves a profound and urgent purpose–to raise awareness and mobilize support for the victims and survivors of human trafficking. This day is not about aesthetics. It’s about recognizing the inherent worth, spirit, and dignity—the true inner beauty—that traffickers attempt to steal. We stand together to honor the resilience of survivors and take meaningful action to end this modern-day slavery.
Who Knew Fact: National pumpkin seed day– do you like roasted pumpkin seeds? Before you carve your Halloween pumpkin, don’t discard its contents! Tucked inside is a nutritional powerhouse celebrated on National Pumpkin Seed Day. Falling on the first Wednesday of October, this food day recognizes the crunchy, savory seed that is packed with protein, magnesium, and healthy fats, making it the perfect guilt-free snack for a crisp autumn day.
Who Knew Fact Check: Is Johnny Appleseed this weekend? YES! Experience Mount Vernon and Ariel-Foundation Park invite the community to celebrate the arrival of fall at the 6th Annual Johnny Appleseed Fall Festival on Sunday, October 11, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Schnormeier Event Center at Ariel-Foundation Park. Presented by the Peoples Bank of Gambier, this free event will feature live music, food trucks, festive activities, local vendors, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy an autumn afternoon together. WNZR will be at Ariel Foundation Park for the Johnny Appleseed Fall Festival! For more information go to wnzr.fm! Stop by and register to win a special prize!
Who Knew Fact Check: Tomorrow is the last day to participate in WNZR’s Dove Awards Prize Prediction Giveaway? YES! Go to wnzr.fm and click on the Dove Awards banner to give us your predictions for a chance to win our awesome prizes! Scroll to the bottom and give us the artist of the year and song of the year you think will win!
October is Clergy Appreciation Month. WNZR helps you honor your pastor! WNZR is celebrating Clergy Appreciation Month throughout October. This month is a time to honor our local pastors and their commitment to families in our community. Each Friday, 5 local pastors will be honored on The Morning Thing. Our morning show hosts will share their names and churches along with comments from their church family. Each pastor that is mentioned will receive TWO $25.00 gift certificates to local restaurants to enjoy a dinner out with family. Each pastor will ALSO receive a WNZR goodie bag! Tell us why you love your pastor. Fill out the form on wnzr.fm!
Who Am I?
I was born on October 7, 1959, in London, England.
I began my career working in the music industry, eventually becoming a successful music executive and producer.
I became widely known as a judge on American Idol, where I was known for giving direct opinions to contestants.
I created The X Factor and helped develop the Got Talent franchise, including America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent.
I have helped launch or support the careers of several successful music acts, including One Direction, Fifth Harmony, and Leona Lewis.
I am… Simon Cowell! Congratulations to Nicole of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!
Tune in Tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Daniel and Gabriella!
Award-winning artist, songwriter, and storyteller Micah Tyler is celebrating another No. 1 at Christian radio. His latest single, “Perfectly,” is his eighth No. 1 CCM radio single, with eight of his 12 radio singles now at the top and all 12 in the Top 10.
“Perfectly” has been one of the most anticipated songs of Tyler’s career. The single generated more social media attention than any previous release from Tyler, with more than 40 million views and more than 450,000 new followers. The song also received an official premiere on SiriusXM The Message before its release.
The song delivers a simple reminder of the Gospel: we don’t have to be perfect to be perfectly loved by God. Tyler combines heartfelt storytelling with an uplifting, sing-along chorus to share a message of grace, identity, and unconditional love.
The music video brings that message to life with a fun, unexpected concept, featuring appearances from Candace Cameron Bure, Ben Roethlisberger, Jonathan Pokluda, Danny Gokey, and more.
Tyler recently released a version of “Perfectly” featuring Colton Dixon. The two artists will also hit the road together this fall for the Colton Dixon & Micah Tyler Live in Concert tour.
Luckily, for Ohio residents, the dynamic duo are coming to Xenia, Ohio, on October 22nd, and will be performing at the Schindler Banquet Center! The concert is at 7:00, and tickets are available now, so don’t miss your chance to see them! You can find more information on our website, wnzr.fm! Just click on the Events button and navigate to the Concerts Tab!
“Perfectly” is the lead single from Tyler’s upcoming album, with more details on the project coming soon.
Jamie MacDonald is expanding her record-breaking debut album with a new deluxe edition!
Jamie MacDonald: The Deluxe Album is set to release October 16 through Capitol CMG. The project follows the success of her self-titled debut, which made history with the biggest streaming debut ever for a female Christian artist and reached number one on the Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart.
The deluxe album will feature two brand-new songs, along with reimagined versions of some of MacDonald’s standout tracks. She has also released a brand-new song called “Used To Be.” The soulful track focuses on transformation and the freedom of being made new in Christ.
Jamie says the song is a reminder that we aren’t defined by our past — and that she’s grateful she’s not the person she used to be.
“Used To Be” is available now, and Jamie MacDonald: The Deluxe Album arrives October 16.
Register for WNZR’s Dove Awards Prize Prediction Giveaway on our website wnzr.fm!
The deadline is Thursday at 11:59pm! 3 winners will be drawn Monday during the Morning Thing! Prizes include CDs and your choice of VINYL from Jamie MacDonald, Josiah Queen, or Lauren Daigle!
I’ve seen Your goodness
In the best, the worst, the joy, the hurt
Every loss and every win
So I’m calling out again
Congratulations to Cheyenne from Mount Vernon for correctly guessing “Meet Me In The Valley” by Tasha Layton! Tune in next week for your chance to win!
