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Praise Thursday

The values series: Intimacy

struggles

John 13: 34-35 says,”A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (NIV).

Today we continue our series on values, inspired by Craig Groeschel’s book, #Struggles. The focus today is on restoring the value of intimacy.  Intimacy is defined as a close familiarity or friendship. In 2016, Craig believes our definition of friendship has evolved, but not necessarily for the good.

Pew Research found in 2014 that the average American has 338 Facebook friends, but most Americans say they have just two close friends and 25% of Americans say they have NO close friends.

We also can fall into the trap of desiring immediate affirmation, since that’s what we get many times on social media.  I just posted something today about one of my favorite restaurants and got pretty excited when people started responding within a minute.

The key to intimacy is that it takes time to develop…and ideally we should be focused on cultivating intimacy with God and our spouse/family.  So how can we work to restore intimacy?

  • Remember what the Bible says: “and let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25)
  • “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”(Romans 12: 9-10)
  • we have to be physically present in a conversation, not tethered to a phone, tablet or laptop (yes, we can be tethered even if it’s wireless)
  • we need to be willing to go deeper in our connections with spouses, family members and those around us.  There’s a difference between praying for someone and praying with them.

Remember, they will know we are Christians by our love, not our likes!

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

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The values series: contentment

struggles

Today we start a Praise Thursday series on values, inspired by the book #Struggles by Pastor Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv.  The theme of the book (click here for more info) is giving us sound biblical tools to combat our addictions to technology and social media, focusing more on “following Jesus in a selfie-centered world.”

Craig sets up the book by establishing eight biblical values that can help us put technology and social media in its proper place. The first is contentment, which is defined as a state of satisfaction or peace of mind.  Contentment can be at risk when we put too much value in comparing our lives with others through social media.  Comparison can be a trap that leads to envy…and envy is the enemy of contentment.

So what can the Bible teach us about contentment?  First, that Christ can be the source of our contentment, as Paul shares in Philippians 4:12-13. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Remember that Paul wrote that while he was in jail, chained to a guard!

What can we do to foster contentment in our lives?  The first choice is to embrace our position and confidence in Christ as his child.  Then, we have to identify and stop doing things that cause us to compare or even envy. That may look different for each of us. Stop trying to one-up your friends on social media? Quit worrying about your likes and follows? Maybe. You can also start celebrating the blessings in the lives of others instead of wondering why it didn’t happen to you. You also can cultivate gratitude; being thankful for what you do have instead of what you don’t.

and…remember this…the toe-stepper…in Exodus 20:17 (The Ten Commandments): “Thou shalt not covet.”

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

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The importance of remembering

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This coming Monday is Memorial Day – a holiday established originally as ‘Decoration Day,’ to remember the fallen of the Civil War.  It became a national holiday in 1971 and now covers all of America’s fallen in military service of the country.

So how do we reconcile Memorial Day with our faith?  Sometimes that’s difficult because the holiday becomes more about the USA or more about picnics and barbecues then about the people and families impacted.

Andy Rau from BibleGateway.com wrote an article in 2013 that reminds us that memorials and monuments are an important part of history and culture, including the people of biblical times.  You can read his article by clicking here.

Honor is also an important concept we need to think about on Memorial Day.  We honor those who have served.  After all, we live in a country where we can worship freely and those men and women have defended that right…but we also honor their memory by praying for the families that have experienced loss. John 15:13 says: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

We may not always agree with the decisions that lead to and influence war, but we can honor those who protect us. Romans 13:7 reminds us: “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

Another good read is last year’s Memorial Day blog by Ed Stetzer of Lifeway Research, now with Wheaton College. You can read it here.

Today’s Word of the Day is MILQUETOAST (MILK-toast), a noun meaning a timid, meek or unassertive person.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

 

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Praises For Our Kids

Today was Praise Thursday on the Afternoon Drive, and we focused on verses that talk about the relationship between parents and children.

First, we shared Matthew 18:1-7, which says:

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!”

We also discussed Ephesians 6:1-4, which says:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a] 4 Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Lastly, we shared Colossians 3:18-21, which says:

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers,[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

We also had a Who Am I trivia question featuring these clues:

  • I was born on this date in 1944 in southeast London.
  • I am now a US citizen living in Texas.
  • I am 7 feet 3 inches tall.
  • I started out as a hospital orderly, but was cast in a very popular film that released in 1977.
  • I have played that role in that movie, one prequel and three sequels, the last of which came out this past December…
  • I don’t speak in the films, but occasionally growl…
  • My character is a Wookie.
  • Who am I?

Congratulations to Andrea from Mount Vernon who called in and correctly answered Peter Mayhew, who plays Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies. She picks up a $5 gift certificate to Troyer’s of Apple Valley.

Our Word of the Day was ramshackle (RAM-shak-ul), an adjective that means rickety, or loosely or carelessly constructed. You can read more on that here.

Have a great evening!

-Jess

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Operation Christmas Child

Today was Praise Thursday and we had our monthly focus on Operation Christmas Child.

You can find everything I talked about over here, including how to pack a box, volunteer information, and stories and videos of children who have received boxes.

I gave away 2 Operation Christmas Child baseball hats, and our winners were Douglas and Madison, both of Mount Vernon.

The Word of the Day was fauve (FOHV), an adjective meaning vivid in color. You can read more on that here.

And head over here to take our listener survey, so we can know how to best serve you and your family.

Have a terrific Thursday evening!

-Jess

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Praises for our Seniors

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Today was Praise Thursday on the Afternoon Drive, and we decided to spend the show talking about our 10 WNZR seniors who img_1637will be graduating from MVNU this Saturday.

We talked about why we’re thankful for each of them and shared memories, and if dsc03216-crop-u36955you have any memories of any of them, feel free to leave a comment below.

 

Our WNZR Class of 2016 is Wesley Boston, Annabelle Harray, Mariah Powell, Megan Vernon, Miriam Hayslett, Sam Goodman, Emily Blazek, Mike Houck, Amber Ebie,  and Rachel Radcliff. 11393165_10155600286595542_8060267052236696241_n

 

 

151206-WNZR Christmas Party 2015-11We’re all truly grateful to have gotten to know these fine folks and for their involvement in WNZR. We wish all of them well as they start this next chapter of life.

Have a great Thursday evening,

Jess & Joe

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Going to war with the right weapon

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Today we began a devotional series inspired by the film War Room, which focuses on prayer and features speaker and author Priscilla Shirer in the lead role.  Priscilla and her brother, singer Anthony Evans, will be part of a nationwide simulcast event on Saturday, April 23rd, and Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene will be the local host church.

Find details on the event here

Today we shared 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 as the opening verse that helps us understand how prayer is our greatest ‘weapon’:

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

This is what Alex Kendrick writes in the War Room devotional, Overflow:
“Before you engage in an issue, a battle, or whatever your problems are, spend time in prayer first. Go to your war room—your prayer closet—and seek the Lord. When you commit to prayer and you seek God first, you are going before the One that knows the solution and can help you through any circumstance. So how do we fight? We fight in prayer, first seeking in our war room the One who can handle anything. Trust Him, keep your faith in Him, and go to war in prayer.”

We also played the song Victor’s Crown  which reminds that ‘every high thing must come down and every stronghold shall be broken.’ Christ will have the ultimate victory!

Our word of the day is miche (mitch), which means to lurk out of sight, which is like hiding and creeping around. We don’t recommend this!

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

 

 

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Praise Thursday – Lifeline Recap

Today was Praise Thursday on the Afternoon Drive and we are definitely praising God for our Lifeline 2016 total!

Our goal was $62,000 and we are currently at $63,404! And we had even more pledges come in the mail today that we will add to the total tomorrow! We cannot say thanks enough for your continued support of our ministry. Without you, our station would not exist, so thank you so much for partnering with us.

You can check out our behind-the-scenes Lifeline 2016 recap video here.

Congratulations to Olivia of Mount Vernon, who was our cue-to-call winner of a $5 gift certificate to Pier House Coffee Shop, located inside Troyer’s of Apple Valley.

Our Word of the Day was ersatz, an adjective meaning a substitute, or something synthetic or artificial. You can read more on that here.

Have a great Thursday evening!

-Jess & Joe

 

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Thy Kingdom Come!

lifeline banner-01Today we continued our devotionals on ‘Build Your Kingdom Here’ and focused on the Lord’s Prayer, found in Matthew 6 and Luke 11.

Jesus gives us a model for prayer that includes the phrase, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done.” This means that as followers of Jesus, taking on the heart of Christ like we discussed last week, we should pray that God’s Kingdom will come in both us and on the earth.

This reminds us of our theme and the image of the Kingdom being built in our hearts. We should live in a way that the Kingdom of God will be seen in our words and in our actions. We are also living in anticipation of Jesus’ return and His promise to return again (Matthew 24:30-44).

So, we can think about the Kingdom this way: personified in Jesus as he walked this earth; transferred to us through allowing the Holy Spirit to take reign in our hearts; and finally, returning when Jesus returns.

Today we also gave away two more tickets to see Lecrae at the 2016 Ohio State Fair! Congratulations to Spencer, who won those tickets!!

The word of the day is CONSUMMATE, an adjective meaning complete in every detail or perfect, or extremely skilled and accomplished.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe

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