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Mystery Monday

One week away!

We are one week away from Christmas Day!

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.”

So what is the purpose of “God with us?” What does “with him” mean? Pastor Timothy Keller, in his book Hidden Christmas, writes that the purpose of the incarnation is that we would have relationship with him. In Jesus, the unapproachable God of the Old Testament becomes a human being who can be known and loved. Through faith, we can know this love.

This is a complete shift from the Old Testament. Think about this: anytime anyone drew near to God in the Old Testament, it was terrifying! God appears to Abraham as a smoking furnace; to Israel as a pillar of fire; to Job as a hurricane or tornado. When Moses asks to see the face of God in Exodus 33, he was told what?  That it would kill him…that he could only get close to God’s back.  When Moses came down off the mountain in Exodus 34, his face was SO BRIGHT with radiance that the people could not look at him!

So Pastor Keller asks this: can you imagine if Moses were alive today and heard the message of Christmas? What would he say?  How would he react? What if Moses heard John 1:14 “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us – we have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son?”

Keller thinks Moses would say, “Do you know what this means? This is the very thing I was denied! Through Jesus, you can meet God. You can know him personally and without terror.  Do you realize what’s going on? Where’s your joy?  Where’s your amazement? This should be the driving force of your life!”

And why did God show up this time in the form of a baby instead of fire? Because this time He has come not to bring judgment but to bear it; to take away the barrier between humanity and God. Jesus is God with us!

Here’s the link to what Dylan shared from James Banks, ‘The Christmas Star.’

Today’s winners!
– Pam from Fredericktown won the book ‘Healing Out Loud’ by Sandi Brown
– Rob from St. Louisville won the Veggie Tales ‘Star of Christmas’ DVD

Name something people associate with Santa Claus:
1. Presents (25 votes)
2. Elves (18)
3. Mrs. Claus (15)
4. Sleigh (13)
5. Reindeer (12)
6. Beard (10)
Congratulations to Brandon from Mount Vernon, who guessed the top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan

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God is Enough in EVERY Circumstance!

Today’s Monday Motivational from Our Daily Bread focused on the story of God’s amazing provision in the life of Naomi. When she thought she had lost everything, God provided Ruth and Boaz with a son who would eventually lead to the family line of David… who would be the ancestor to the Messiah! Even when we feel like we have nothing, God will always have His hand over us. Read the entire story here.

If Santa’s sleigh broke down, name another form of transportation he might try.

The top two answers? Airplane and Car. Shout out to Kristi for calling in and being spot on with the answer! She will receive a $5 gift card to Watt’s Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!

-Mike and Abby

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Blessed to be a Blessing III

This is our third week of sharing ideas of how you can bless others during this Christmas season. This was inspired by a list shared with our church family a few weeks back.

  1. Leave a basket of muffins/cookies on someone’s doorstep. This can be someone in your neighborhood or someone at work!
  2. Buy someone a coffee or their favorite drink and drop it off to them at work.
  3. Say thank you to your cashier – give them a smile, especially when they are doing an amazing job handling numerous requests. On Saturday, I did this with a cashier who was simultaneously running two lines!
  4. Stay calm, have patience, and be positive when a frustrating situation arises.
  5. Call your parents or a current/former mentor or teacher, and let them know how much you appreciate them.

Name a gift that kids DON’T want to open on Christmas morning.

  1. Underwear (31 votes)
  2. Socks (27)
  3. Hygiene Products (12)
  4. Books (8)
  5. Sweater/scarf (6)
  6. Puzzles (2)

Congratulations to Laura from Pataskala, who guessed those top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Blessed to be a Blessing II

Today we shared more ideas of ways you can bless others during this Christmas season. How we embody the phrase, “Blessed to be a Blessing..”

  • purchase extra dog or cat food and donate it to an animal shelter
  • also consider donating old towels or blankets to those same shelters
  • send a ‘thank you’ card or note to officers at your local police or fire station
  • leave a box of goodies in your mailbox for your mail carrier
  • email or write to a former teacher who made a difference in your life
  • find a blood drive near you and donate (MVNU is hosting one

Name an occasion where parents force their kids to wear a certain outfit.

Wedding (26)
Easter (23)
Halloween (20)
Church (15)
Christmas (4)
School Picture Day (4)

Congratulations to Kelsey of Fredericktown, who guessed the top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Brenda of Fredericktown and Jackie from Mount Vernon both got registered, too, for the Casting Crowns Cinematic Celebration – the drawing is tomorrow morning!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Blessed to be a blessing – Part 1

Yesterday I was excited to kick off Thanksgiving week with a church service where we talked about blessings and also how to love and serve.

Our pastor shared a list of 100 things we can to do make a difference – how we can embody the term, “Blessed to be a Blessing.” Here are 5 we shared today:

  1. Compliment the first three people to you talk to today
  2. Smile at everyone you come across today
  3. Set an alarm to go off three times today and when it does, stop and take time to pray for someone else
  4. Take some time to clean up outside – even if it’s not your place. Pick up trash at a park, on the sidewalk, etc.
  5. Write a positive review for a local business.

Name something an athlete might ‘break’:

Bone/Body Part (80)
A Record (16)
Bat/Equipment (2)
Rules/The Law (2)

Congratulations to Bob from Howard, who guessed those those top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Loving me for who I am

A little Monday Motivation today from our friend Tauren Wells starts us off:

Today we shared a devotional from Bill Crowder reminding us of the depth of Christ’s love from Romans 5. Read Who Am I? by clicking here.

Name a favorite food for children.

  1. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich (28)
  2. Macaroni and cheese (26)
  3. Pizza (25)
  4. Hamburger (11)
  5. Hot dogs (10)

Congratulations to Brenda from Mount Vernon who guessed those top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Congratulations to Holly and Jana from Mount Vernon – they got registered today!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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The hope that’s more than a feeling

Today our Monday Motivation comes from an Our Daily Bread devotional about how we find hope in grief. I shared about how Marcy and I spent yesterday with my mother-in-law and were reminded how our entire family will be missing my late father-in-law this Thanksgiving and Christmas, but we still have a hope that sustains us.

Read ‘Hope in Grief’ from Leslie Koh by clicking here.

Name Something That Might Be Full of Holes

Swiss Cheese (40 votes)
Clothes/Socks (16)
Alibi/Story (14)
Net/Fishing Net (9)
Colander/Strainer (8)
Golf Course (2)
Screen (2)
Road/Street (2)

Congratulations to Kristi from Mount Vernon, who guessed the top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Totally Tasty Tom Turkey Hunt?? YES. It started today!!
Today we registered:
Bob from Howard and Laura from Pataskala.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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The compassionate touch

Today for Monday Motivation, we shared a note from Sheridan Voysey in Our Daily Bread about how our attitude can mimic the world and its anger, or our compassionate God. Read “Smartphone Compassion” by clicking here.

Name an item you might accidentally leave in a taxi:

Phone‎  – 26 votes
Wallet/purse‎  – 26
Coat‎  – 20
Umbrella‎  – 16
Suitcase‎  – 12

Congratulations to Laura of Pataskala, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Dove winners – there and here!

Congratulations to the winners of last week’s 54th GMA Dove Awards (click here to see all of the winners)

But also to our winners in the WNZR Dove Awards Prediction Prize Giveaway – Donna, Adrian and Rhonda all won a 6-CD set of Dove-nominated artists and the For King and Country blanket!

Today’s Monday Motivation comes from Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham, sharing a wonderful story about seeing God’s love through his grandfather. Read it by clicking here!

What would it be hard to do if you accidentally put on superglue instead of lipstick?

Eat (32)
Talk (32)
Kiss (25)
Breathe (8)
Take it off (2)

Congratulations to Sarah of Mount Vernon who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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