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Good News!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation, we shared motivation tied to what good news really means and how to overcome tiredness. Plus, we played our Family Feud for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28. There will be seasons in your life when your body feels drained and your spirit feels distant from God. Days are long. Expectations are high. And even though you’re doing all the right things—reading your Bible, showing up, trying to pray—it still feels hard to stay motivated. If that’s you, you’re not alone. What you need is soul-deep strength—a renewal that only Christ can offer.

God Cares About Your Exhaustion

The world often applauds hustle and grind, but God values rest and trust. Isaiah 40:29 promises, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Your tiredness isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a signal to draw closer to the One who restores.

Whether you’re emotionally overwhelmed, spiritually dry, or just plain worn out, know this: Jesus sees you. He doesn’t ask you to push through alone—He invites you to come to Him.

Rest is Not Laziness—It’s Worship

Our culture glorifies constant productivity, but Scripture teaches a different rhythm. After creating the world, God rested—not because He was tired, but to set a holy example (Genesis 2:2-3).

You don’t have to earn the right to rest. As an athlete, it’s okay to pause. In fact, it’s necessary:

  • Rest renews your body for the next challenge.
  • Rest renews your mind, calming the pressure and noise.
  • Rest renews your spirit, giving you time to hear God more clearly.

Psalm 23:2-3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures… He refreshes my soul.” Let rest become part of your worship.

Joe’s Motivation:

Good News by Mandisa

What is the ‘good news?’ What is the gospel?  The good tidings of great joy the angels talked about to the shepherds. What are the good tidings? Here are three important parts from Pastor Rick Warren:

1 – The good news that God LOVES us

God is telling us through the arrival of Jesus that He loves us…and that His love is not based on what we do, but who he is.

Romans 8:38-39″And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 – The good news that God is WITH us

God isn’t absent or distant – he’s with us through the Holy Spirit.  We may not feel His presence, but He’s here whether we feel it or not.

Psalm 139: 7-10 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence. If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, I will never fail you.“

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, I will never abandon you.”[a]

God doesn’t like loneliness. You don’t have to face anything by yourself.  You can, but you don’t have to!  You don’t have to be anxious about tomorrow, because Christ’s presence gives us hope.

3 – and also…The good news that God is FOR us

Guilt is what separates us from God.  But the Bible reminds us that God didn’t come to condemn the world, but to save it.

John 3:17 “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.“

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

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 below. You’ll see the nominees and a place to click with your votes. Or email your choices to wnzr@mvnu.edu.  Please write “Dove Awards” in the subject. Or mail your choices to WNZR at 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 – make sure to write “Dove Awards” on the envelope! Go to wnzr.fm For more information!!

October is Clergy Appreciation Month and 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 below! Your Church should be within 25 miles of Mount Vernon. Go to our website wnzr.fm!

Name Something That Goes Around the World.  

1. Plane (45)  

2. Sun (30)  

3. Moon (16)  

4. Satellite (3)  

5. Ship (3) 

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

Tune in Tomorrow with Brock and Joe for Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Joe 🙂

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WWJD? He Would Love First.

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday we talked about fall activities coming soon and played our who am I trivia in the second hour! Go to wnzr.fm for more information. Here’s what we talked about:

National Love People Day- Many participants engage in intentional acts of kindness and giving in the days leading up to and on September 30th (often running from September 25th through September 30th) 1 John 5:2-3: “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”

Fall is here! – National Hot Mulled Cider Day: To mull a drink means to heat it, sweeten it, and flavor it with spices. While the term originally applied to heated wine in Britain, it now commonly describes cozy winter and autumn beverages like spiced cider. Join The Church AT Chapel Hill’s Fall Fest! Happening 4-7:30pm October 18th!

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.

Join us this Thursday, October 1st at 5pm-8pm in MVNU’s Gathering Place for our 40th anniversary! You’ll get to meet WNZR Staff including our current Communication & Media Students, enjoy a Buffet style dinner – hamburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, desserts including Round Hill Dairy Ice Cream! You get to visit our special 40th Anniversary Rooms!

Who Am I?

  1. I was born on September 30, 1954, in Santa Monica, California.
  1. I started acting when I was young, getting my first professional television role around age 11.
  1. I am best known for playing Greg Brady, the oldest son on The Brady Bunch, from 1969 to 1974.
  1. I appeared on TV shows like Dragnet and Mission: Impossible before becoming famous on The Brady Bunch.
  1. After The Brady Bunch, I continued acting and singing, especially in musical theater productions such as Pippin, Grease, and The Sound of Music.

I am… Barry Williams! Congratulations to Chris of Gambier for guessing our Who Am I trivia correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Daniel (plus, our 40th Anniversary!)

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Joe 🙂

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Motivated by Your Mindset!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation Gabriella continued her Motivated Mission plus we played our Family Feud style question for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: As you become motivated by mission and mindset you’ll turn into a freight-train of others-focused action. And when you do, don’t let off the gas. Stay consistent in the little things that lead you to stay motivated so you can continue making a long-term impact. What’s Competing for Your Attention?

We live in a world filled with distractions. Social media, work, and school compete for our limited time and attention. If we’re not careful, distractions can break down good habits, erode trust, and disrupt our closest relationships. A distracted life is an inconsistent life, and it’s hard to follow Jesus when we’re plagued by inconsistency.

Joe’s Motivation: Psalm 40:1-4 (NIV) I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

I remember when I was a kid growing up in church, one of the hymns we sang frequently was ‘He Brought Me Out,’ written by Henry Zelley in 1898. The chorus says, “He brought me out of the miry clay, / He set my feet on the Rock to stay; / He puts a song in my soul today, / A song of praise, hallelujah!”

Little did I know how many times in my life I would step into that slimy pit or miry clay; meaning, the deep trouble, despair or the burden of sin. And how much I would call on God to lift me out and put my feet on solid ground. The reality is that only with Jesus can we have safety, stability and salvation.

So today, if you feel stuck or as if you’re falling into the slimy pit, call on Jesus; call on God, and ask him to lift you out! Then sing that song of praise!

Name Something you squeeze out of a tube. 

  1. Toothpaste (96) 
  2. Ketchup (4)

Congratulations to Rosetta of Mount Vernon for guessing the 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 Joe and Brock!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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God’s Holding on to You!!

On this week’s Praise Thursday we shared devotionals and talked about events for you. Plus we played Name That Tune in the second hour! Here’s what we talked about:

Daniel’s Devotion: I’ve kinda been feeling the strain of trying to do things on my own lately. It’s not always easy trying to balance 17 credit hours of classes, having a job, having a girlfriend, and all the other responsibilities that go along with all that; there’s just no way I can do it!

You might have heard it said by motivational speakers telling you, “You can do it!” Well, that’s wrong. You cannot do it. Say it with me, “You can’t do it.” That’s the best part, though; you don’t have to do it all alone. 

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

I don’t have to do it alone. Jesus offers strength to help me do it. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

We don’t have to fear the result; we don’t need to worry about whether we can do it or not. Have no fear, for he is with you. Have no fear, for HE is our God.

You will be overwhelmed; that’s a guarantee. WHEN, not IF, that happens, take a moment to look to God and say, “Father, help me through this moment, the next moment, the moment that has just passed. Help me with your righteous power.” 

Gabriella’s Devotion: He can surely use the pain, if we cooperate, to grow some of the fruit of the spirit in us – love, joy, peace, patience, and self control. I think it begins when we accept trouble with a why not? instead of why me? attitude, and when we submit to His timing, not with a why now but a thy will be done. As we learn to grow through suffering we will begin to know God, ourselves, and others better through it all, and might even develop hidden gifts of mercy and grace that will only flower in the land of our suffering.

It’s easier said than done, of course, but for those of us who seek to serve the Lord, we will discover that at such painful times, like Joseph, we have a choice. We can become fruitful or barren, become overcomers or overcome. We can allow pain to drive us to God, letting the prison show us His face. While Joseph was in the pit, God showed him His mercy – in the prison of His kindness (Genesis 39:21) and in the palace of His grace.

Sometimes we can preach the most effective sermons of our lives from the prison or the pit, simply by responding rightly to people who are responsible for bringing us into the “land of suffering.”

When our turn comes, may He help all of us to be fruitful – for His sake.

Diamonds are turned into sparkling stones only after incredible pressure. How do you show your faith during times of distress? We are all tempted at dark points to cry out “Enough! I give up!” Yet in those crucial moments, it’s important to remember God has not cast us off. He is strengthening us and our faith! If we hold fast to Him, we can be assured our spirits will be transformed and renewed, just like diamonds.

On October 1st, WNZR will celebrate 40 Years of Radio Ministry!

Thursday, October 1 in MVNU’s Gathering Place at 5pm-8pm! Meet WNZR Staff including our current Communication & Media Students, enjoy a Buffet style dinner – hamburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, desserts including Round Hill Dairy Ice Cream!

Visit our special 40th Anniversary Rooms

  • WNZR Museum
  • WNZR Through the Years (showcasing 4 decades of ministry)
  • Story Studio
  • Birthday Booth
  • Prayer and Praise Post
  • Fabulous Freebies
  • Coloring Corner
  • WNZR Pop-Up Shop
  • Ice Cream Café
  • WNZR 40th Anniversary Photo Booth
  • Live Broadcast in Big Blue​

​We can’t wait to celebrate 40 years of God’s faithfulness with you!

This week’s Name That was a stumper, but tune in next week for a chance to win TWO $5 gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for The NZ Top 10 with Brock and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Daniel

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See You at The Pole!!

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday, we talked about event’s you can partake in and pray for. Plus we played our Who Am I trivia! Here’s what we talked about:

Who Knew: See you at the pole! Students gather around their school flagpoles before classes begin and pray. Students initiate, organize, and lead the prayers themselves. They pray for their friends, families, teachers, schools, and nation. It happens every year on the fourth Wednesday of September. This year’s theme was “Come to Me” (based on Matthew 11:28)!

Who Knew: Innergize Day is all about pressing pause. Not because things are falling apart, but because sometimes we just need a moment. It’s a quiet reminder that we’re more than our to-do lists. You don’t have to do anything fancy.

Just step back, breathe a little deeper, and let yourself enjoy something simple. A cup of tea. A walk without your phone. Even a few minutes with your eyes closed, doing absolutely nothing.

This day isn’t about checking off another box. It’s a chance to feel more like yourself again. Life moves fast, and it’s easy to forget how good stillness can feel. Giving yourself space to rest isn’t lazy—it’s smart. Today goes hand and hand with solitude!! Great time to practice and recenter yourself.

Who am I??

  1. I was born on September 23, 1949, in Long Branch, New Jersey, and I grew up in Freehold, New Jersey. 
  1. I became interested in music at a young age after seeing Elvis Presley perform on television, which inspired me to pursue rock and roll. 
  1. I am known by the nickname “The Boss,” and I became famous for performing with my longtime group, the E Street Band. 
  1. In 1975, I released Born to Run, the album that helped establish me as a major American rock artist. 
  1. Throughout my career, I have written songs about working-class life, relationships, American society, and the struggles and hopes of everyday people. 

I am… Bruce Springsteen! Congratulations to Brian of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watt’s restaurant!

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Daniel and Gabriella!

Thanks to much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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Small Things DO Matter !!

On this week’s Monday Motivation we gave motivation through what’s going on in our lives in hopes to help you. Plus we played our Family Feud style question for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Joe’s Motivation: Thank God for everyday heroes!

Maybe it’s not a celebrity, a soldier, or someone you see or her about on the news. Maybe it’s the person who gets up every morning and faithfully takes care of their family and shows up to work. The teacher who stays late. The neighbor who checks in. The friend who knows when you need encouragement.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me.”

Last night, my hero was the AAA mechanic who came and helped me replace my tire with my spare when I hit a pothole in the pouring rain. I was on my way to pick Marcy up from the airport and it was after midnight when all of this went down.

His attitude was kind  even in a late night, stressful situation!  We worked together to make it happen – he gave me advice on how to store the bad tire in the car. He shook my hand when he left.  That’s an everyday hero with a servant’s heart!

You don’t have to do something spectacular to make a difference. Sometimes being a hero means simply showing up, serving someone, listening, encouraging, or choosing kindness when nobody is watching.

So today, look around. Thank God for the everyday heroes in your life—and ask Him to help you be one for someone else.

Because you never know how much one small act of kindness might mean to somebody.

You don’t have to be famous to make a difference. Just be faithful where God has placed you.

Gabriella’s Motivation: Motivated By Mindset

That second kind of motivation, the internal kind, is usually thought of as hard to come by. But if you think about it, it’s really not. After all, we’re all motivated by something. It’s why we do—or don’t do—anything. When you’re tired, laziness might motivate you to take a nap. When you’re hungry, food can move you to go digging through the kitchen.

So if it’s so easy to be motivated by something, whether you realize it or not, how do we stay motivated for the best reasons?

Motivation is about a mindset, and progress starts with purpose.

The first step is having a goal in mind. Ask God to reveal something He wants you to work on. Think of something you’d like to accomplish. Then, write it out. Keep it simple. Keep it in the front of your mind.

Without a clear idea of where you want to end up, there’s no way to chart a course to reach it. And it doesn’t have to be a huge goal, like “Lose 100 pounds,” or “Buy a new car by the end of the year.” It can be something small, like “Greet everyone with a smile,” or “Read my Bible every day.” Because here’s the key: Motivation is about a mindset, and progress starts with purpose.

No one ever did something amazing without first believing they could do it—or that they were created to do it. If you’re struggling to find daily motivation, you’re not alone. Remind yourself of your goal. Let God’s Word give you the strength and the encouragement you need to push forward toward your goal.

Name someone whose phone calls you screen (avoid). 

  1. Telemarketers- 38 
  1. Bill collectors- 22 
  1. No one- 6 
  1. Everyone- 5 
  1. In laws- 5 
  1. Parents- 5 

Congratulations to Naomi of Gambier for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Artist Newsday and Gametime Tuesday with Brock and Joe

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Joe 🙂

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Do You Love Guacamole?

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday we talked about our national holidays and gave updates on where we’ll be over the weekend! Plus we played our Who Am I trivia in the second hour! Here’s what we talked about:

National Play-Doh Day: Did you know play doh was orginally wallpaper cleaner? Yes!- It was invented in the 1930s by Kutol Products in Cincinnati, Ohio, to clean coal soot off wallpaper. It was saved by a teacher when homes switched to clean gas and oil heat, sales dropped. A nursery school teacher named Kay Zufall used the cleaner for art projects and suggested marketing it as a toy!

National Guacamole Day: Did you know avocados from Mexico was illegal to transport in the USA? It was! From 1914 to 1997, importing Mexican avocados into the U.S. was illegal due to fears of agricultural pests, severely limiting authentic guac stateside until the ban lifted in the 1990s. It was also known as The “Alligator Pear” in the early 20th century- avocados were marketed under this unappealing name because of their bumpy, green skin!

You have chances to win THIS WEEK!

Sonfest Trivia – THIS WEEK on The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive will have trivia about this year’s event and past Sonfests. If you are the first person to answer correctly, you win two tickets to Sonfest 2026!
Tune into The Morning Thing at 7:30am or The Afternoon Drive at 4:50pm. Congratulations Polyene of Mount Vernon for guessing our trivia correctly and taking home tickets for Sonfest!!

Who am I?

  1. I was born on September 16, 1992, in Dallas Texas.
  2. I am a singer, songwriter, actor, and musician.
  3. I am one of three members of the Jonas Brothers, along with my brother Kevin and Joe.
  4. I began preforming on Broadway as a child before becoming famous as a musician.
  5. I married actress Priyanka Chopra in 2018, and we have a daughter together.

I am… Nick Jonas! Congratulations Tracy 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!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella and Joe 🙂

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Fredericktown Tomato Show!!

On this week’s Who Knew Wednesday we went On The Road With Big Blue Live with Marcy! Plus, we played Who Am I trivia! Here’s what we talked about:

Look for Big Blue in downtown Fredericktown and say Hi, e are beside the municipal court!

Make sure to stop by and register for a prize. We have prize baskets for everyone in the family. You can register at the Fredericktown Tomato Show HERE

Adults, 18 and older, can register to win a WNZR Prize Basket full of goodies

KIDS of EVERY age can WIN at the Fredericktown Tomato Show! 
We’ll have a Kid’s ultimate activity prize basket to give away Wednesday through Saturday –that’s FOUR incredible baskets.  
Kids (10 and under) can register at the festival or HERE 

  1. I was born September 9, 1890 in Henryville, Indiana 
  1. I served as a railroad man and even a lawyer for a while in Arkansas 
  1. My famous chicken recipes and the launch of my food empire started at a gas station in Corbin, Kentucky 
  1. When the new interstate bypassed my business, I closed it and pitched my recipe to others. 
  1. I never held the rank of Colonel, but it was an honorary title from the state of Kentucky. 

I am… Colonel Sanders! Congratulations to Mike of Howard for guessing our Who Am I Trivia correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Daniel

Thanks so much for listening!

– Gabriella 🙂

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Fall is Here!!

On this week’s Monday Motivation we shared encouragement through scripture and played our Family Feud for Mystery Monday! Here’s what we talked about:

Gabriella’s Motivation: Motivated by Mission

If we view life through a lens that is only concerned with ourselves, we’ll get tired of our circumstances and disappointed by our hard work. But if we view life through a lens of worshipping God, then nothing in this life will give us more joy than serving Jesus Christ!

The best kind of motivation is always fueled by a desire to lead yourself and others closer to Christ. If everything becomes about Him, then everything is worth doing well. If we’re Christians, then our lives belong to Jesus.

Our whole world becomes about honoring God. When we do everything with Him in mind, He never fails to bless us with His peace, hope, and love.

So as you think about the work God has put in front of you, consider what it would mean to do everything for the Lord. And then ask yourself: “in what ways will I honor God and inspire others today?” 

Joe’s Motivation: Junk files

Does your phone or your computer ever remind you that you need to delete some junk files? None of us like getting nagged by our devices, but we also know that if we clean out those files, we’ve got more space for the things that really matter. Author Adam Holz reminds us, that yes, junk files on our phones or computers are easy to delete, but what about the junk files in our souls? Like our phones, our souls can be clogged with the stuff that keeps us from being able to flourish in our relationship with Jesus. The author of Hebrews understood this reality, encouraging us to pay close attention to anything that trips us up in our walk with God. Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, “let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

If we fix our eyes on Jesus, He alone can help us identify and delete those junk files hindering our life in him. Our prayer today is, “father, please give us the wisdom and courage to throw off the sin that so easily entangles.”

Name a word or phrase that starts with the word “BREAK”.

  1. Break A Leg (32)
  2. Breakfast (11)
  3. Breakup (10)
  4. Breakdance (9)
  5. Break It Up (8)
  6. Breakdown (5)

Congratulations to Satarah of Mount Vernon for guessing the top two answers correctly and taking home TWO $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

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

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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