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Rock the Universe!

Another Tuesday, another Artist Newsday! Today, We Are Messengers hit a huge milestone on one of their new songs! Also this weekend, a HUGE Christian music festival will kick off!

Rock the Universe 2022 kicks off this Friday for an unforgettable weekend of faith and fun at Universal Studios in Florida. Fans and youth groups can once again come together at Florida’s biggest Christian music festival to enjoy gripping performances by some of Christian music’s top artists, including…

Friday, January 28Saturday, January 29
for KING & COUNTRYCasting Crowns
CrowderZach Williams
Matthew WestBig Daddy Weave
Jordan FelizCory Asbury
Rhett WalkerWe the Kingdom
Riley ClemmonsSocial Club Misfits

Those attending the festival will also enjoy access to both Universal Parks in addition to the three days of worship. Rock the Universe 2022 runs from Friday all the way to Sunday morning.

We Are Messengers song “Come What May” has hit #1 on the Billboard Christian Airplay Chart. It also has spent 11 straight weeks at #1 on the Mediabase Christian Audience Chart. This marks the first time that the group has been at #1 on both charts. 

Here’s what the groups front man Darren Mulligan had to say about the success. “God’s kindness has always been obvious to me, but today is extra special and a sweet example of how fond He is of people like us,” he shared. “I am so very thankful for our management team, Curb | Word Entertainment, and our incredible promo team who have brought this song to radio. We cannot express our gratitude for the never-ending love, support and encouragement of every single radio station in the USA. I’m honored to be a part of this community, and We Are Messengers will continue to share the news of Jesus with a world that needs Him more than ever.” 

We Are Messengers will be hitting the road with Casting Crowns on “The Healer Tour” beginning February 17th and departing on the first leg of their headlining “The Wholehearted Tour” with special guests Apollo LTD and Stephen Stanley on April 17th.

Thank you to jesusfreakhideout.com for their great coverage of your favorite artists on WNZR!

Praise Him in the morning
Praise Him in the noontime
Praise Him when the sun goes down

That was Good God Almighty from Crowder!

Congratulations to Steve of Mount Vernon for correctly guessing the song and winning TWO Voice of the Cougar string backpacks! Tune in tomorrow for our Who Am I Trivia with Dylan and Joe!

Thanks for listening,

Jonathon & Dylan

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Inspiration despite the cold!

Today we shared Monday Motivation from Our Daily Bread’s Katara Patton based on Jeremiah 18 – read “The Potter’s Wheel” by clicking here.

We also shared Mart DeHaan’s devotional about “Heroes, Tyrants and Jesus.,” Find out how Paul’s letters influenced how people looked at Jesus by reading here.

Name something that can be lumpy:
– mashed potatoes (29 votes)
– oatmeal/hot cereal (24)
– mattress or bed (13)
– grits (7)
– soup (7)
– pillow (6)

Congratulations to Lilly from Mount Vernon, who guessed the top two answers and wins the $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Jonathon

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NZ Top 10 for 1/21/22

Praise the Lord it’s Friday! Here’s this week’s countdown:

10. Jeremy Camp – When You Speak
9. Sanctus Real -My God is Still the Same
8. Danny Gokey – Stand in Faith
7. TobyMac – Promised Land
6. Crowder – In The House
5. Tasha Layton – Look What You’ve Done
4. Maverick City Music – Promises
3. We Are Messengers – Come What May
2. Phil Wickham – House of the Lord (spent 7 weeks at #1)
1. for King & Country – Relate (first week at #1)

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY

this week’s adds:

Jordan Feliz f/Mandisa & Jonathan Traylor – Jesus is Coming Back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrOnOLFh7Co

Ryan Ellis – Heart of the Father

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVTjcYC3MeU

LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34GcRkWIY3s

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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“Washed”

Today on the show we read some devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We also mentioned how today is National Disc Jockey Day. Shoutout to our Office Manager Catherine Haws for getting the DJ’s donuts from Everlasting Cup!

Here are today’s devotionals from Our Daily Bread:

Jonathon’s is titled, “God Hears Everything”. You can find the link here.

Dylan’s devotional is titled, “Washed”. You can find the link here.

Question: Which New Testament book has Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?
Answer: Matthew

Congratulations to Paul of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! He wins a 2021 Voice of the Cougars drawstring backpack!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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Popcorn, Tin Cans and a Raven?

We promise it will make sense…

Today is a day to celebrate popcorn!

Did you know that the corn we eat and the corn we pop are two different varieties of maize? In fact, the corn you’d find on your dinner table is most likely unable to pop at all! Only one variety of corn is able to become popcorn: Zea mays everta (Z-MAY’S-EVER-DUH). This particular corn variety has small ears, and the kernels burst when exposed to dry heat.  

In 1948, small heads of Zea mays everta (Z-MAY’S-EVER-DUH) were discovered by Herbert Dick and Earle Smith in the Bat Cave of west central New Mexico. Ranging from smaller than a penny to about two inches, the oldest Bat Cave ears were about 4,000 years old. Several individually popped kernels were also discovered, which have since been carbon dated and shown to be approximately 5,600 years old. There’s also evidence of early use of popcorn in Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala, as well as other places in Central and South America.  

Aztecs used popcorn to decorate their clothes, create ceremonial embellishments, and also for nourishment. Native Americans have also been found to consume and utilize popcorn in their day to day lives. In a cave in Utah, thought to be inhabited by Pueblo Native Americans, popcorn has been found that dates back to over 1,000 years ago. French explorers who traveled to the new world discovered popcorn being made by the Iroquois Natives in the Great Lakes region. As colonists moved around North America, and as the USA came to be, many people adopted popcorn as a popular and healthy snack. 

—

…and tin cans? January 19th is National Tin Can Day! Some call this invention key to feeding soldiers and helping solve hunger issues…(from DaysoftheYear.com)

Cans were invented as a solution for hunger in combat. The French Directory, serving the years when Napoleon’s army fought battles in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Caribbean, offered a 12,000 franc prize (probably around $150,000 in today’s terms) for a breakthrough in the preservation of food.

Nicholas Appert, a Paris resident and chef, saw this opportunity and took it. Working for French nobility, he studied different methods of food preservation until he presented his creation to the Directory. He is known as the ‘father of canning.’

His factory progressed from bottles to glass containers and then eventually to tinplate cans. These preserves of different foods were shipped all over through the French navy. Then, two British men set up the first commercial canning factory in Britain in 1812.

Tin can preservation became a crucial element for the history of combat and war as well as helping solve hunger issues.


–          Born January 19, 1809 in Boston
–          My parents were both actors, but my mother died when I was two
–          I was fostered by the Allan family of Richmond, Virginia
–          I studied ancient and modern languages at the University of Virginia
–          I joined the US Army in 1827 but also released my first book of poems that year
–          I am best known for ‘The Raven’ and ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ and for starting modern detective stories
–          I died at 40 years of age in Baltimore

I am…Edgar Allan Poe.
Congratulations to Faith from Howard, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan

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Sunday Sermons, Tuesday News!

Artist Newsday returns with both Anne Wilson and Riley Clemmons making the headlines!

Anne Wilson is quickly ringing in the new year with a brand-new song called “Sunday Sermons,”. The song, released Friday, is the follow-up single to her debut breakout hit, “My Jesus,” which was the longest-running No. 1 song on the Billboard Christian Airplay Chart of 2021 for seven weeks. Just before Friday’s release, Anne Wilson released this statement for her fans.

“I’m so excited to share ‘Sunday Sermons’ with the world. This is my story of growing up in the church since I was a little girl. God used every Sunday sermon to develop a firm foundation in Him. I didn’t realize just how deep my roots were in Him from all those years of showing up to church each Sunday until I encountered hardships in my life. No matter what happens in life – even losing a loved one, I can always go back to that foundation of truth that the Lord planted in me through each of those sermons. This song is to remind you to cling to the One who’s consistent and faithful. Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine.”

Wilson will be heading out on her first headlining “My Jesus” tour later this month followed by tour dates with Matthew West on his “Brand New” Tour. In March she will be on tour with Zach Williams. For more information and tour dates, visit www.annewilsonofficial.com.

Riley Clemmons is kicking off the new year with two special versions of her rapidly growing single, “For the Good.” The new renditions, one acoustic and one recorded while on tour with Tauren Wells last year, showcase Riley’s ability to craft a fresh creative take on an already beloved song. Since its release in September, “For the Good” has been climbing the radio charts breaking into the top 20 at Christian radio and matching her debut, “Broken Prayers,” as her fastest growing single to date while garnering over 4 million streams.  

Here is what Riley had to say on this, “One of my favorite parts of creating and releasing music is re-imagining a song with a variety of versions,” she shares. “For The Good” sonically exists in such a naturally acoustic leaning way, so I was stoked to collaborate with my producer on an acoustic version. It’s also such a special live moment, so I really wanted to release a version that brought that energy into people’s homes and cars.” 

In addition to the collection, Riley has released a live performance video of “For the Good.” It was filmed in San Diego while on the road with Tauren Wells this past fall and marks the first tour she performed the song live. The video encapsulates Riley’s ability to own the stage and is a taste of what’s to come when she joins Jeremy Camp on tour this spring.

Praise Him in the morning
Praise Him in the noontime
Praise Him when the sun goes down

This week was a stumper, so we’ll bring these lyrics back next week!

Thanks for listening,

Jonathon & Dylan

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A tribute to MLK

Today we honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by sharing a devotional from Pastor Victoria Curtiss, written as a tribute to him.

Matthew 5:43–48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NRSV)

Jesus said that anyone can love those who love them in return. What distinguishes people of God is the way we treat those who oppose us—our enemies. Just as God shows love to everyone, so are we to show love to everyone. This inclusivity is the meaning of “be perfect” as God is perfect.

What a fitting scripture for the day we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The key to the life of Dr. King is found in his Christian faith. He responded to violence with nonviolence, to hate with love. Dr. King was always looking toward reconciliation after the battle, because his approach was grounded in the gospel. He wrote, “It was the Sermon on the Mount, not a doctrine of passive resistance, that inspired the Negroes of Montgomery to social action. It was Jesus of Nazareth that stirred [them] with the creative weapon of love.”

Martin Luther King recognized that the heart of the gospel proclaims that love can really change a situation of conflict and enmity: love reaching out toward the oppressor, love pushing negotiation, love offering forgiveness and newness. It wasn’t that he lacked an appreciation for the persistence and power of evil. It was rather his evangelist’s faith. He really believed that the intolerant and prejudiced sheriffs and politicians were sheep who had strayed from the fold, who had the potential to be converted. However powerful evil is, love is more powerful still. “Remember him,” said Coretta Scott King, “as a man who refused to lose faith in the ultimate redemption of [humanity].”

Prayer

Thank you, God, for the witness of Martin Luther King Jr. Guide me as Christ’s follower to love as you love—everyone without exception. I lift up my enemies to you and pray for their well-being. Amen.

Jonathon also shared the MLK-themed devotional ‘Brave Your Storm,’ from Patricia Raybon. You can read it from Our Daily Bread by clicking here.

Name something you’d find on a tropical island:
– palm or other trees (58 votes)
– sand or beaches (13)
– fruit (12)
– flowers (7)
– water or the ocean (6)

Congratulations to Doug from Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the WNZR Voice of the Cougars drawstring backpack.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Jonathon

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NZ Top 10 for 1/14/22

Praise the Lord it’s Friday! Here’s this week’s countdown:

10. Crowder – In The House
9. TobyMac – Promised Land
8. Jeremy Camp – When You Speak
7. Anne Wilson – My Jesus
6. Matthew West – What If
5. Tasha Layton – Look What You’ve Done
4. We Are Messengers – Come What May
3. Maverick City Music – Promises
2. for King & Country – Relate
1. Phil Wickham – House of the Lord (7th week at #1)

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY

this week’s adds:

CAIN – The Commission

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APATH3ea-D0

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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“Beautifully Broken”

Today on the show we read some devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We also had our weekly Bible trivia where one lucky person has a chance to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.

Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled, “The Kingdom Of God”. You can find the link here.

Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled, “Beautifully Broken”. You can find the link here.

Question: What prophet came to rebuke David?
Answer: Nathan

Congratulations to Nathan of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! He wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!

-Jonathon and Dylan

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