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Powerful Stories Told Through Music!

Today we talked about some upcoming album releases from some well-loved artists here on the station! Ben Fuller is bringing us his new album “Walk Through Fire” on June 6th. He has a powerful testimony that is going to be echoed throughout the songs on this album, and we’ve already heard some heavy hitters already, in “If I Got Jesus” and “Turn”!

Big Daddy Weave is also sharing their story through their upcoming album “Let It Begin”, which is releasing this Friday, May 23rd! It’s been a whole six years since we have gotten a new release like this from the band, but we have gotten to hear some of their songs coming on that album throughout these years already– Those being the song “Let It Begin” and “God Is In This Story”.

The band is also doing a fun new series on their YouTube channel, sharing all the stories behind each of the 15 songs on this upcoming release. Seeing this just goes to show that every song a band or artist puts on their record has an intentional purpose and reason for being on the album, which is really cool to see!

Today we played song poetry! We play this fun trivia game every Tuesday at the 5 o’clock hour to give you a chance to win that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Here was today’s song poetry:

I learned the lines and talked the talk
But the road less traveled is hard to walk
It takes a soldier
Who knows his orders
To walk the walk I’m supposed to walk

This one was a stumper today! If you think you know this one, tune in to the Afternoon Drive next Tuesday, and give us your guess! We’re giving away two $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica because today was a stumper!

Thank you for listening!
– Xander and Ethan

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There is Power…and that’s enough!

Today we’re featuring two songs for Monday Motivation – the first is Brandon Heath’s ‘That’s Enough.’

Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Sometimes we need reminded that we don’t need to have all the answers. We don’t need to have it all together. All we need is God, who is good, and that is enough!

There is also power in the name of Jesus! Lincoln Brewster reminds us of what we read in Acts 3: 6-8: “Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.”

Whatever we face in this life, we know that we need not to fear this world or anything that may come after us, because as followers of Jesus, we carry His name– which carries more power than any other name!

Name something that includes the word “super.”

  • Superman (47 votes)
  • Super Bowl (9)
  • Supermarket (9)
  • Super glue (6)
  • Superstar (5)

Congratulations to Tracy from Fredericktown for correctly guessing the top two answers on the board, winning that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!
– Ethan and Joe

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NZ Top 10 for 5/16/25

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

10. Colton Dixon – Up + Up (marks 41 weeks on the chart)
9. Jeremy Camp – Again
8. Seph Schlueter – Running Back To You
7. Leanna Crawford – Still Waters (Psalm 23)
6. Matthew West – Unashamed
5. Katy Nichole – When I Fall
4. TobyMac – A Lil’ Church (Nobody’s Too Lost)
3. Brandon Lake f/Jelly Roll – Hard Fought Hallelujah
2. Jon Reddick – No Fear
1. Jamie MacDonald – Desperate (6th week at #1)

New Music Friday adds this week:

Emerson Day – Get Behind Me

Samantha Ebert f/Seph Schlueter – Flowers

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

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Praises and Prizes!

Today we shared a devotional from Our Daily Bread that refers to listening to the voice of God, which was inspired by 1 Samuel 3! Click here to read the daily devotional called “God Speaking To Us” from Our Daily Bread.

Today’s song was “Build My Life” by Pat Barrett and Cory Asbury. Congratulations to Jan from Howard for guessing the song title and both artists correctly!

Thanks for listening today! We had a blast!
– Joe, Xander, and Ethan

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Biscuits, doggies and chicken dances?

Yes – the most random headline you could have addresses all of these celebrations today – May 14th!

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
We’re not really sure why today was decided to recognize these delicious golden cakes of bread. What we do know is you can celebrate simply by eating one! There are so many different ways to enjoy one– You can slap on some butter and jelly for breakfast, or throw in some chicken and have yourself a dinner feast!

International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
On this day, we celebrate these little energetic pups! This international day was established five years ago, by former Miss British Columbia, Nadia Alterio. She was the proud of a little chihuahua, named Teaka! Our favorite way of celebrating this day was to get on the couch with your furry friend, and watch movies featuring chihuahuas, like “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”.

National ‘Dance Like a Chicken’ Day
The origins of this song date back to the 1950s! A Swiss accordionist named Werner Thomas, and this goofy, fun melody was heard a lot amongst social gatherings. The original inspiration for the name of this song was when Thomas was watching skiers with their arms tucked in, kind of how a bird carries its wings. While we don’t know why today is National Dance Like A Chicken Day, we’re gonna celebrate it because we love to dance like a chicken!

  1. I was born on May 14, 1944, in Modesto, California.
  2. I studied cinematography at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.
  3. I am known for films like American Graffiti, but my biggest film released in 1977 and was about a group of rebels fighting against the Galactic Empire.
  4. My production company is responsible for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and the pioneering visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).
  5. I sold the production company that carries my name to The Walt Disney Company for over $4 billion in 2012.

I am… George Lucas! Congratulations to Kari from Newark who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Ethan and Joe

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Concert Tours and Gospel Returns to ABC!

Artist News:

GRAMMY-nominated NEEDTOBREATHE is set to bring an intimate experience to 18 U.S. cities this fall with The Barely Elegant Acoustic Tour 2025.

General public ticket sales open this Friday 5/16 at 10 AM local time. Tickets and full details are available at www.needtobreathe.com.

They have one Ohio date scheduled, on November 19th in Cincinnati at the Andrew Brady Music Center in The Banks neighborhood on the Ohio River.

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The singing competition show, American Idol, announced during one of its episodes that Brandon Lake and Kirk Franklin would appear together on the show’s finale episode.

This is the second time we’ve seen Gospel artists make an appearance on the show just this season! The last time we saw them was on Easter Sunday, and it featured well-known WNZR artists CeCe Winans and Brandon Lake.

They are to be seen on the show’s season finale, airing on May 18th. Full details and further information are available at https://abc.com/show/baf4f444-36a4-4340-ac11-c570f0da4977.

Today we played song poetry! Congratulations to Elwood from Mount Vernon for guessing this week’s song and artist– Just Be Held, by Casting Crowns! These were the lyrics:
If your eyes are on the storm
You’ll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You’ll know I always have and I always will

Thanks for listening!
Ethan, Joe, and Xander

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You Never Gave Up on Me!

Today we’re featuring some Monday Motivation with The Afters and their new song, ‘You Never Gave Up on Me!’

Part of the inspiration for the song was Psalm 139 – one of our favorite passages:

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

What’s something you do that rhymes with “grow up?”
1 – Throw up (74 votes)
2 – show up (16)
3 – blow up (8)
4- slow up (2)

Congratulations to Tisha from Fredericktown who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!”
– Joe and Ethan

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NZ Top 10 for 5/9/25

Praise the Lord it’s Friday! Plus, it’s Mom’s Night Out!
Here’s this week’s countdown:

10. Colton Dixon – Up + Up (marks 40 weeks on the chart)
9. Seph Schlueter – Running Back To You
8. Matthew West – Unashamed
7. Jeremy Camp – Again
6. Katy Nichole – When I Fall
5. TobyMac – A Lil’ Church (Nobody’s Too Lost)
4. Leanna Crawford – Still Waters (Psalm 23)
3. Jon Reddick – No Fear
2. Brandon Lake f/Jelly Roll – Hard Fought Hallelujah
1. Jamie MacDonald – Desperate (5th week at #1)

New Music Friday adds this week:

CeCe Winans – Come Jesus Come

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Bike Rides: A Staple of Summer!

If you know, you know. Riding my bike until it got dark out is one of my favorite memories as a kid. On the bike, I could be anything. Superman flying through the skies. Spider-Man swinging through New York…or just a kid with a scraped up knee. Either way, summer time is for bike rides. At least, that’s how I see it.

It’s National Take Your Bike to School Day on The Afternoon Drive, and we’re wondering for Who Knew Wednesday if you’ve ever rode your bike to school or work? I tried once, and it didn’t work out too well…

The Ohio State Fair is offering Advanced Sale Admission Tickets at a discount price of $8, and you can use them for any single day entry during the Ohio State Fair, July 23 – Aug. 3! Tickets are available here! ticketmaster.com/ohiostatefair

-I was an NBA Point Guard and Coach

-I won two NBA Championships with the Detroit Pistons, and was also a 12-time all-star

-I was named as one of the 50 Greatest NBA Players of All-time

I am…Isaiah Thomas! Congratulation to Chris from Gambier, he wins TWO $5 Gift Cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening- Judah

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