Search

Driving Notes

The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

Open Search

NEEDTOBREATHE Brand New Album, Phil Wickham’s Spring Tour!

We’re seeing some new music from NEEDTOBREATHE in their 10th studio album, The Long Surrender. It releases this Friday, March 27 at midnight!

With twelve brand new songs, the band gets personal by pouring real and raw into every lyric.

Listen to the title track to their latest album here:

To learn more about their album, The Long Surrender, click HERE!

NEEDTOBREATHE is also hitting the road this fall with some new songs from this record on their The Long Surrender Tour!

The band will be stopping in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Jacobs Pavilion on Friday, August 28, 2026. The show will start at 7PM.

For ticket information, click HERE!

Phil Wickham has kicked off his Song Of The Saints Tour, and he’s coming to Columbus, Ohio!

He’s taking some of your favorite Phil Wickham classics as well as some new songs from his Song Of The Saints album, with Tauren Wells and Jamie MacDonald joining him!

You can see Phil with the Song Of The Saints Tour at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, April 17th! The show starts at 7PM, so make sure you arrive at least an hour early as doors open earlier!

Ticket information can be found HERE!

Here is Phil’s new song Homesick For Heaven, from his Song Of The Saints album!

Here were this week’s Song Poetry lyrics!

Take my life and let it be
My soul devoted Lord to Thee
Take my moments and all my days
Make them endless praise

These lyrics were from Let It Be A Hallelujah by Lauren Daigle!

Congratulations to Trevor from Saint Louisville for calling in and correctly guessing the song title and artist! He will be taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in on Wednesday for some Who Knew? Wednesday fun facts, and a game of Who Am I?.

Thank you for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

0

God’s Love Runs Deep

This week’s Monday Motivation was filled with fun information about worship and devotions tied into this year’s Lifeline theme “God Did It!”, plus in the second hour we played a game of Family Feud for our Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: Keep God as your firm foundation. (talk about being busy and having a. balanced life while keeping God as your firm foundation) Psalm 91:7 (NIV)- “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” God is our shelter and protector. No matter how many problems or complications you are against, God is for you.

Joe’s Motivation: Our theme verse for Lifeline 2026 is “not to us lord, not to us, but to your name be the Glory.” (Psalm 115:1 NIV). Everyone has struggled with who they are or want to be. We are his children. We are made in his perfect image. You are completely accepted (Titus 3:7), you are extremely valuable (Ephesians 2:10), you are eternally loved (Hebrews 2:11), you are forgiven (Romans 8:1), you are fully capable (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)

Name something a gardener would hate to be allergic to! 

  1. Flowers/pollen (58) 
  1. Grass (21) 
  1. Dirt (7) 
  1. Weeds (7) 
  1. Bees (2) 

Congratulations to Trinity of Mount Vernon for guessing the top two answers correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday with Xander and Ethan!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

The NZ Top 10 for 3/20/2026

Here is this week’s countdown!

10. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River

09. Blessing Offor – Lift Me Up

08. Anne Wilson – God Story

07. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah

06. Peter Burton – Where Would I Be

05. for KING + COUNTRY ft. Taylor Hill – World On Fire

04. Chris Tomlin – How Good It Is

03. Phil Wickham – Homesick For Heaven

02. Katy Nichole – Have Your Way

01. TobyMac – Heaven On My Mind (3rd week at #1)

Take a look at TobyMac’s music video for Heaven On My Mind!

New Music This Week:

Jamie MacDonald – Ain’t No Way

Jamie MacDonald – Ain’t No Way‘

If you want to watch Ethan Hershberger on a 24 Hour Livestream, that starts at 8PM to support the MVNU Esports Team! Donations are accepted.

You can tune into the 24 Hour Stream here:

https://www.twitch.tv/mvnuesports

Tune in Monday with Joe and Gabriella for Monday Motivation!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

0

Devil Get Behind Me!!

On this week’s Praise Thursday we shared devotionals tied to our Lifeline 2026 Theme and played a game of Name That Tune! Here’s what we talked about:

Brook Abella’s Devotion: When I was on my spring break I was having such a great time. I went to my favorite beach and spent time with my friends. I thought it was so much fun and that it couldn’t get any better than this. When we were on vacation we found out our family cat died. We’ve had her for 15 years and it was a hard thing to come back to. This reminded me of Ecclesiastes 3:4 “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance”. I understood that there is a time to weep and now I have to focus on my future and present.

Gabriella’s Devotion: 1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” The God of all Grace. May the God of all grace settle you. May the God of all Grace strengthen you. May the God of all Grace establish you and make you perfect. May the God of all Grace make you whole. May the Lord God give you strength to overcome, and conquer every tactic and weapon of the enemy.

Joe’s Devotion: In class we talked about the three C’s of our department and one of the things that led to was a talk on identity. Everyone has struggled with who they are or want to be, but as Christians we are God’s chosen people. We are his children. We are made in his perfect image. You are completely accepted (Titus 3:7), you are extremely valuable (Ephesians 2:10), you are eternally loved (Hebrews 2:11), you are forgiven (Romans 8:1), you are fully capable (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).

This year’s Theme – “God Did It!” by Micah Tyler

This year’s Theme Verse is Psalm 115:1 (NIV)- “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

Our Name That Tune was Worthy of It All by CeCe Winans! Congratulations to Heather 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 Ethan and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella, Brook Abella, and Joe 🙂

0

Spring FEVER!!

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday we talked about spring centered who knew facts and did our Who Am I trivia! Here’s what we talked about:

Who Knew Fact: Are birds more vocal during spring? Spring is the breeding season, causing birds to sing more to attract mates and warn rivals. 

Who Knew Fact: National awkward moment day! Embrace and laugh off the cringeworthy, embarrassing social stumbles we all experience.

Who Knew Fact: “Spring fever” is a real thing? Yes. The increase in daylight and sunlight triggers the release of serotonin in the brain, which makes people feel happier and more energetic. 

Who Knew Fact: The Lifeline challenge is back for 2026? We are looking for 250 individuals to take on the lifeline challenge by giving $25 per month! Will you take one the challenge?

  1. I was born on March 18, 1979, in Los Angeles, California. 
  1. I am best known as the lead singer and frontman of the pop-rock band Maroon 5. 
  1. Before Maroon 5, I was in a band called Kara’s Flowers, which later evolved into Maroon 5 after a style change. 
  1. I gained widespread popularity not only through music but also as a coach on the TV show The Voice. 
  1. I am also known for my distinctive tattoos, many of which cover my arms and torso and often have personal meanings. 

I am… Adam Levine! 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 Joe, Brook Abella, and Gabriella!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella 🙂

0

Deluxe Albums from Phil Wickham and Zach Williams!

Do you ever wish there was just a little more an artist would add to a brand new album? Well, sometimes artists will release deluxe versions of their albums, which adds a few new songs and brand new collabs on songs you know and love!

Phil Wickham – Song Of The Saints (Deluxe)

If you’ve loved hearing songs from Phil Wickham’s Song Of The Saints album, like The King Is In The Room, What An Awesome God, and Phil’s latest single Homesick For Heaven, you will love hearing new versions of these songs, along with some other new songs on Phil’s Song Of The Saints (Deluxe) album!

New Versions
– The King Is In The Room (Live)
– What An Awesome God (Song Session) (with Michael W. Smith)
– Homesick For Heaven (Petey Remix)

Here is that new version of What An Awesome God featuring Michael W. Smith here:

To learn more about Phil’s deluxe album, click HERE!

Phil Wickham is also taking a lot of his songs from his Song Of The Saints album on tour with Tauren Wells and Jamie MacDonald!

You can see Phil with the Song Of The Saints Tour at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, April 17th! The show starts at 7PM, so make sure you arrive at least an hour early as doors open earlier!

Ticket information can be found HERE!

Zach Williams – Jesus Loves (Deluxe)

Zach Williams’ song Jesus Loves, which climbed into The NZ Top 10 for some time, is the title track of his latest album. Zach has added a couple new songs and new versions of his songs on his Jesus Loves (Deluxe) album! Zach’s new song on WNZR, Wait For Me featuring Ben Fuller made its debut on this deluxe album!

New Versions
– Wait For Me (featuring Ben Fuller)
– Say A Prayer (featuring Thomas Rhett)
– If God Lives Here (New Studio Recording)

Here’s that new version of Zach’s song Wait For Me, featuring Ben Fuller! This new song can also be heard throughout the day on 90.9FM WNZR!

To learn more about Zach’s deluxe album, click HERE!

Zach Williams will be Third Day’s very special guest on their 30th Anniversary Tour!

They will be stopping at the Wright State University Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio, on Thursday, May 7, and the concert will start at 7PM. Make sure you arrive at least an hour early as doors open earlier!

Ticket information can be found HERE!

Here were this week’s Song Poetry lyrics:

I’ve gone where the hopeless go, the dead end of a broken road
And I’ve learned there’s a place so low you can’t see your way out
Been stuck in a ditch so deep, thought it might be the end of me
But I’m still here and there could only be one way how

These lyrics are found in the song God Story by Anne Wilson!

Congratulations to Lindsey from Fredericktown for correctly guessing the song title and artist for these Song Poetry lyrics! She’s taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in on Wednesday for some Who Knew? fun facts and another chance to win a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant with a game of Who Am I?.

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

0

Summer Vibes for This Winter Weather!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation we shared motivation through this years Lifeline Theme and played a game of family feud for our Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Joe’s Motivation: There was nothing until God spoke, he has done so many things for us when we’ve done nothing to deserve it. He spoke and then there was everything. We wouldn’t exist without him and sometimes we take it for granted. Especially on days like this it’s so easy to be negative, but it’s important we breathe and remember our Father is taking care of us.

Gabriella’s Motivation: Our theme reminds us to take a step back and remember what God has done and will continue to do for us. We have blessing every day and some are taken for granted, but we are reminded to take a step back and count on His glory. We are made with a purpose; to glorify the Lord and tell others about Him. None of us would be where we are without him.

Name an occasion that just wouldn’t be the same without hot dogs.

  1. Baseball game (37)
  2. Holiday (31)
  3. Wedding/Party (19)
  4. Cookout/ Barbecue (7)
  5. Picnic (3)

Congratulations to Karen of Mount Vernon for guessing the top two answers and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday with Ethan!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

0

The NZ Top 10 for 3/13/2026

We saw so many shifts in the Top 10 today! Here is this week’s chart:

10. Peter Burton – Where Would I Be

09. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River

08. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now

07. Anne Wilson – God Story

06. Phil Wickham – Homesick For Heaven

05. Lauren Daigle – Let It Be A Hallelujah

04. Chris Tomlin – How Good It Is

03. for KING + COUNTRY ft. Taylor Hill – World On Fire

02. Katy Nichole – Have Your Way

01. TobyMac – Heaven On My Mind

New Music This Week:

Josiah Queen – demons

Tune in Monday with Joe and Gabriella for Monday Motivation!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

0

Let’s Dive Deeper Into Psalm 23!

Today for Praise Thursday on The Afternoon Drive, we got to understand Psalm 23 a little bit deeper!

This is what Psalm 23 (NIV) says:

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

This video helped us get a better understanding of this Psalm! If you have 10 minutes to spare, give this video a watch to get a deeper look into Psalm 23!

A couple notes:

– Shepherds are not just gentle fence keepers. In Biblical times, they were warriors, prepared to fight off lions, bears, and thieves. Have you made God the Shepherd of your life?

– Sheep only lie down when there is absolutely no danger to be sensed. What is something in your life that is keeping you from lying down in green pastures? Choose to surrender it to God and let Him protect you!

– The Hebrew word for “restore” means to turn back, or to retrieve something lost. If you feel like you’ve lost pieces of yourself, God heals you! Sometimes, He will take something away for your good, but He will ultimately restore your soul!

– The rod is to fight off predators, or anything that tries to attack you. The staff keeps you from straying and brings you back to the path God is setting you on!

– God’s goodness and mercy is not only following you, it’s chasing after you! It is so good to know God does not stop chasing us down!

Today’s Name That Tune was a stumper from last week!

Our song clip was from World On Fire by For KING & COUNTRY!

Congratulations to Satarah from Mount Vernon for calling in and correctly guessing the song title and artist! She will be taking home two $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Watch the World On Fire music video by For KING & COUNTRY here!

We’ll see you on Friday for this week’s countdown for The NZ Top 10, and new music on WNZR!

Thank you for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑