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Christmas Concert Galore!

Today for Artist Newsday we shared two stories. Our first story was about for KING & COUNTRY’s recent Christmas performances, also the news that they have been invited back to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to perform for Christmas 2021. Read more about this story by clicking here.

We also shared about Hannah Kerr’s upcoming performance and exclusive interview on Christmas Day on The 700 Club. Learn more about this performance by clicking here.

If you told me all about your sorrows,
I’d tell you about a cure,
If you told me you can’t fight the battle,
There’s a baby boy who won the war

Our lyrics were a stumper today.

We do want to congratulate our Christmas Gift Exchange winners: Cameo of Centerburg and Faith of Mount Vernon.

Thanks for listening!
– Alyssa

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The promise of Immanuel – delivered!

Today’s Monday Motivation continues with a Christmas theme:

The word Immanuel means, as we learn in Matthew 1:23, “God with us.”  The coming of the Christ child fulfilled what Isaiah wrote in chapter 7, verse 14: “the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

In his book Hidden Christmas, Pastor Timothy Keller shares that for centuries, the Jewish religious leaders and scholars had known that prophecy, but did not think that it should be taken literally. They thought it was simply predicting the coming or arrival of some great leader through whose work, God would be present with his people.

However, Matthew writes that this promise is greater than anyone imagined!  It did not come true figuratively, but literally. Jesus Christ is “God with us,” because the human life in Mary’s womb was a miracle performed by God himself.  Then Jesus, with his life, his claims and his resurrection, convinced his closest followers that he was not just a prophet telling them how to find God, but God himself coming to find us.

Keller writes that this claim, that Jesus is God, gives us the greatest possible hope.  Why?  Because it means this world is not all that there is…it means that there is life and love after death and it means that evil and suffering will one day end.

And it is not just hope for the world, but hope for you and me personally. A God who was only holy would have not come to us in Jesus.  He would have just demanded that we pull ourselves together and be moral and holy enough to be worthy of relationship with him. But our God is fully holy and fully human – so he doesn’t send someone else – he comes himself!  Jesus is one of us – and that should give us all hope!

Christmas Gift Exchange winners today:
Becky from Howard and Krista from Howard! Remember the grand prize drawing is Thursday morning on The Morning Thing!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

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2020 NZ Christmas Top 10!

Here’s a list of some new 2020 Christmas adds to WNZR! We’re featuring these songs today as a special NZ Christmas Top 10. Each song has a link to a lyric or performance video!

10. Tommee Profitt f/Tauren Wells and SVRCINA – O Holy Night
9. Danny Gokey – Joy to the World
8. Chris Tomlin – Miracle of Love
7. Micah Tyler – Feels Like Joy
6. CAIN – Celebrate Me Home
5. We The Kingdom – Light of the World
4. Zach Williams – Go Tell it on the Mountain
3. Matthew West – The Hope of Christmas
2. Francesca Battistelli – Behold Him
1. for King and Country f/NEEDTOBREATHE – O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Breakout Hit of the Week: Marc Martel f/Amy Grant – The Christmas Waltz
New Music Friday: Central Live – What Child is This?

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Zoe

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The Story of Ole Saint Nick!

Today for Praise Thursday we shared about the great story of Ole St. Nicholas and how he gave gold to the needy, St. Nick is just one of the examples of gift giving that are truly inspired by the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ! Read the full devotional by clicking here.

Q: Who appeared to tell Mary that she was with child?

A: The angel Gabriel

Congratulations to Linda of Utica who answered our question correctly and won a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

We also want to congratulate Henry who was caller #9 today in the Christmas Gift Exchange. He won Kathie Lee’s new book “Its Never Too Late”!

Thanks for listening!
– Alyssa

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The season of waiting, arrival and revelation!

Today’s focus is on Advent, provided to us from the writings of Rob Staples, professor of theology emeritus at Nazarene Theological Seminary:

Advent is preparation for Christmas, not Christmas itself. It is only in commercial advertising that the Christmas season begins the first of December (or the first of October!). In the Christian calendar, Advent is the season including the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Christmas Day is December 25, and the Christmas Season itself is the 12 days from Christmas to Epiphany. Remember the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” with “a partridge in a pear tree?”

Epiphany, which celebrates the coming of the Magi, the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as King, is January 6. Epiphany means “showing” or “unveiling” and thus “unveils” the truth that salvation was for Gentiles as well as Jews.

Advent differs from Christmas in the same way Lent differs from Easter. Both Advent and Lent are times of preparation—Advent for Christmas and Lent for Easter.

The Christian calendar, unlike the calendar on our walls or desks, does not begin January 1. It begins the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is that season when the Church turns its gaze in two directions—past and future. It looks backward as it prepares to celebrate the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, and it looks forward as it engages in self-examination in preparation for Christ’s Second Coming in glory.

The word “advent” comes from the Latin adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival.” Thus in certain contexts it means the same as the Greek parousia. However, the latter term occurs in the New Testament only with reference to the Second Coming. During the Advent season, both these “comings” of Christ are embraced in the Church’s worship—His coming in the Incarnation and His coming at the end of the age.

Advent emphasizes hope, and it is this hope that makes Advent a proper preparation for Christmas.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

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Best Song of the Year!

Today for Artist Newsday we shared a great, new story about WNZR Artist Cory Asbury. He has been lauded for having the best Christian AC Song of 2020 with his song “The Father’s House.” Read more by clicking here.

The light’s not thinking about the darkness.
Or the shadow it cast.
A heart that’s planted in forgiveness,
Doesn’t dwell in the past,
So why should I be?

We had a stumper in Song Poetry today, so we will be bringing back these same lyrics next Tuesday!

We do want to congratulate our two Christmas Gift Exchange winners:

Tammy won Matthew West’s “Brand New” CD

Cynthia won Tauren Wells’ “Citizen of Heaven” CD

Thanks for listening!
– Alyssa

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The light of Christmas!

Today’s Monday Motivation comes from Isaiah 9:2, 5-7 (NIV)

2 The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.
6 For unto us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

One of the first indications of the Christmas season is LIGHT.  The appearance of lights seemingly everywhere – on trees, with candles, above streets; there is radiance all around us.

Lights are not just for decoration of course, they are symbolic.

In his book, Hidden Christmas, Pastor Timothy Keller says one of the most important spiritual truths at Christmas is this: the world is a dark place, and we will never find our way or see reality unless Jesus IS our light.

Keller writes that the word ‘darkness’ in the Bible refers to evil and ignorance. The world has evil and untold suffering. The world also has no one who can cure the evil and suffering. We look towards the earth and our human resources to try to fix the world.  We think we can end darkness with intellect and innovation.  That’s the ignorance.

So the message of Christmas is NOT, “we will be able to put together a world of unity and peace.”  The message, instead, is a humble one: “Things really are this bad and we can’t heal or save ourselves. Nevertheless, THERE IS HOPE.”

Notice the verse in Isaiah doesn’t say the light comes from the world…it says that upon the world a light has dawned.  It has come from the outside, and Jesus has brought that light to save us!  Because, as John 8:12 says, He IS that light!

Today’s Christmas Gift Exchange winners were Pam from Fredericktown and James, also from Fredericktown.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Encouraging Words for Praise Thursday!

Lexie and Alyssa share some relevant devotionals from Our Daily Bread!

Lexie’s devotional is called Sticks, Bricks, and God. read the full devotional HERE!

Alyssa’s devotional is titled Reunion. Read the full devotional HERE!

Congratulations to Liz & Pat from Mount Vernon for being caller number nine and getting the chance to play the Christmas Gift Exchange! Liz won Unspoken’s CD Reason Deluxe Edition, and Pat won a $10 gift card to Tim Hortons!

Q: “Who was the prophet that foretold a virgin shall give birth to a son called Immanuel?”

A: Prophet Isaiah

Congratulations to Lisa of Danville for correctly guessing and winning a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks so much for tuning in to the Afternoon Drive! – Lexie & Alyssa

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Food For The Hungry!

The Food For The Hungry broadcast is coming up this Friday! Today Lexie & Alyssa share all about it:

Food for the Hungry is the annual collection of food and funds to benefit Interchurch Social Services, The Salvation Army and other food assistance organizations of Knox County. Donations help stock pantry shelves and give financial assistance to support Knox County’s citizens in need!

The top ten food items needed are:

canned meat (chicken, tuna), beef stew/hearty soups, canned pasta, boxed dinners (Hamburger Helper), peanut butter, spaghetti/spaghetti sauce, cereal (hot and cold), baked beans/kidney/chili beans, noodles/instant rice/potatoes, canned fruits and vegetables. Cans that can be opened without a can opener (pop top) are best!

Are you looking to donate to Food For The Hungry this holiday season? Here’s how:

On Friday, December 11th, 12 collection points will be open to collect food and monetary donations for Food For The Hungry.

APPLE VALLEY/HOWARD: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Red Rover Marathon

CENTERBURG:

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hometown Market

DANVILLE:

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hometown Market

FREDERICKTOWN:

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. BellStores

GAMBIER:

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Village Market

MOUNT VERNON:

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Aldi, Kroger, Lanning’s Foods, Baker’s IGA, Rural King and Wal-Mart Supercenter

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Knox Memorial

Congratulations to Brenda of Fredricktown and Tracy from Howard for being caller number 9 and winning some cool prizes through our Christmas Gift Exchange! Brenda won a large single topping pizza from Papa Johns and Tracy got a $15 gift card to Flowers For You Shop!

Another Congratulations to Karri of Danville for correctly guessing today’s “Who Am I?”. Our person this week was Lori Greiner!

Thanks so much for tuning into the Afternoon Drive! -Lexie & Alyssa

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