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The Mystery of the Cheese Doodle

Maybe it should be called “orange fingers day,” but we celebrate the cheesy, poofy, crunchy snack today.

The National Day Calendar shares this information:

“The actual inventor of Cheese Doodles is under debate. Generally, the credit goes to a man named Morrie Yohai who made a variety of extruded snack foods in the 1940s for his family’s company called Old London Foods. Other sources show patents for similar products in the 1930s and still other competing accounts in Wisconsin and in New Orleans as well.”

Frito-Lay says it produces Cheetos in 22 countries and there are 50 different flavors! They include Fizzy Pepsi Cheetos in Japan, Japanese Steak in China, Ketchup Cheetos in Poland and Strawberry Cheetos in Russia.

Today’s Mystery Question: How many cows does it take to make a year’s worth of Cheetos?

The answer, according to Frito-Lay’s communications office, is 5,000! A year-long production run requires 11 million gallons of milk, or 10 million pounds of cheddar cheese used in the Cheetos seasoning. WHOA.

Congratulations to Daniel of Mount Vernon, who wins the $5 gift certificate to Troyer’s of Apple Valley!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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NZ Top 10 for 2/23/18

This week’s countdown:

10. Crowder f/Tauren Wells – All My Hope
9. Zach Williams – Old Church Choir
8. Jeremy Camp – Word of Life
7. Big Daddy Weave – Jesus, I Believe
6. Elevation Worship – O Come to the Altar
5. Matthew West – Broken Things
4. Micah Tyler – Different
3. Matt Maher – Your Love Defends Me
2. Lauren Daigle – O, Lord
1. Tenth Avenue North – Control

Our New Music Friday songs featured:

Chris Tomlin – Resurrection Power – click the image for the video
resurrectionpower

Natalie Grant – More Than Anything – click the image for a song link
Natalie Grant

We also talked about the OFFICIAL announcement for SonFest 2018.  Find out more HERE at MVNU’s website!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Another amazing day on the Afternoon Drive, dissecting  Mandisa’s ‘Overcomer’ and also took a look at Hillsong United’s ‘Oceans’.

Staring at a stop sign
Watching people drive by
T mac on the radio
Got so much on your mind
Nothing’s really going right
Looking for a ray of hope

  • Where are you looking to find your ray of hope?
  • “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
  • “You see, a real sign of spiritual maturity is looking to God for purpose and perspective instead of comfort and convenience.” – Lysa Terkurst

Whatever it is you may be going through
I know he’s not gonna let it get the best of you

  • 1st Corinthians 10:13
    “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
  • GOD IS FAITHFUL WHEN WE CHOOSE TO FIX OUR EYES ON HIM.
  • Jeremiah 29:11
    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

You’re an overcomer
Stay in the fight ’til the final round
You’re not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now
You might be down for a moment
Feeling like it’s hopeless
That’s when he reminds you
That you’re an overcomer
You’re an overcomer

Exodus 14:14
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Deuteronomy 20:1-4
“When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.”

  • When it seems like all is lost, when you are down and out, when the walls are closing in, it’s not over. God is with us through the fight.

Psalm 20:7-8
“Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.”

John 16:33

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

  • In this world you WILL have tribulation.
  • God’s not saying it’s going to be easy. The opposite, in fact. But what He is saying is that He’s going to be there through it all.

The same man, the great I am
The one who overcame death
Is living inside of you

  • Like, honestly can we say any more?
  • This should get you SUPER PUMPED.
  • Remember, the next time you’re staring at a mountain you think you can’t climb, when you’re toe-to-toe in the ring with a seemingly unconquerable sin, when you feel like David against Goliath, the Man that overcame death for YOU, also LIVES in you.

So just hold tight, fix your eyes
On the one who holds your life
There’s nothing he can’t do
He’s telling you

  • When we’re fixing our eyes on Christ, there’s NOTHING we can’t do.
  • We need to remember that He gives us the strength and power to fight these battles. Not only that, He’s also fighting those battles right along side us.

Moving over to Oceans from Hillsong United now…

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown
Where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

The unknown is scary and we have, as humans have this really big fear of failing we say – what if God calls me to *Fill in the blank* and I fail? Maybe I should just not do it. You are called to go deeper – don’t play it safe, it’s better to fail with God by your side doing what he told you to do rather than to succeed in something else that God didn’t call you to – don’t be a Jonah.

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

We are his. He has adopted us as children of God and if we choose to fix our eyes on him – resting in his embrace, we can keep our eyes above the water! We can claim the God of EVERYTHING has OURs as our FATHER. Why should we fear anything when we are royal children of the king of kings, the Lord of Lord – the Great Redeemer.

Thanks for listening!
– Lilly and Hannah

 

 

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Cherry Month Who Knew!

When it comes to fruits that remind me of summer, cherries almost always take the cake. They are sweet and never fail to take me back to a warm summers day, by the pool.

Today on the Drive, we got in the WNZR Time Machine and went to summer of 2018 courtesy of the fruit that we know and love as the cherry.

Here are some fun facts about this delicious superfruit…

  • There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherries in the United States, but fewer than 10 are produced commercially.
  • There are normally about 44 cherries to a pound.
  • In an average crop year, a sweet cherry tree will produce 800 cherries.
  • Despite the short fruiting season, Americans consume an average of 1.5 pounds of cherries each year.
  • Washington grows an estimated 62 percent of the nation’s sweet cherries.
  • Between Washington, Oregon and California, these three states produce 94 percent of America’s sweet cherries.
  • Michigan grows well over half of the country’s tart cherries, which are mostly used for cooking. (Still just as delicious).
  • Brian Krause set the record for cherry pit spitting at an annual contest in Eau Claire, Michigan in 2004, spitting the pit 93 feet. That same day, Krause spat a pit more than 100 feet in the freestyle competition, which allows for a running start.

Well, now that you know some fun facts about the fruit, you’re probably asking, what are cherries good for? Look no further for an answer.

  • Tart cherries have very high antioxidant activity. The activity is actually better than vitamin E and comparable to commercially available antioxidant products.
  • Sweet cherries contain fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanin, each of which may help play a role in cancer prevention.
  • Tart cherries are anti-inflammatory and may help lower your risk of gout attacks and reduce pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis
  • Consuming tart cherry may help increase your melatonin levels and improve your sleep
  • Sweet cherries have a low glycemic index of 22 — lower than apricots (57), grapes (46), peaches (42), blueberries (40) or plums (39). This makes them a better snack than many other fruits, especially for diabetics.
  • Cherries are very high in potassium, which helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure and reduces the risk of hypertension.

It wouldn’t be the Afternoon Drive without sharing some recipies, now would it?
Let’s give you a whole 4 course meal with cherries, shall we?

Perhaps we start the meal with a salad? Maybe three?
Orzo Salad with Mustard Greens and Cherries. Yes please.
Goat cheese goes great with cherries. Let’s put that on a salad.
Goat Cheese, Cherries and Pistachio Salad.
One final salad…
Spinach Salad with a Fresh Cherry Vinaigrette

For an appetizer? Let’s start with some meatballs.
Tart Cherry Glazed Spicy Meatballs. 
Another appetizer? Don’t mind if I do. How about one for Game Day?
Instant Pot Tart Cherry Chicken Wings. (I’m drooling).
One more? Sure. Can’t say no to bread, right?
Here’s a Baguette stuffed with Brie and Cherries. 

Okay. Main Course. Here we go.
Cocoa Cherry Pork? SIGN ME UP.
More main courses? Okay. You asked for it.
We have to have a meal from the mayor of Flavor Town.
Guy Fieri’s Cherry Bomb Chops. (I’m drooling again).
I’ll eat anything with the word ‘sassy’ in it.
Pork Burgers with Sassy Barbecue Sauce.

OH we can’t forget the drinks.
How about a Cherry Limeade from the Pioneer Woman herself?
Another? Okay. How about a healthy alternative?
You can’t go wrong with a Frozen Fruit Smoothie showcasing cherries.

Dessert. Can’t have a meal without dessert. Right?
A Black Forrest Trifle from my girl Katie Lee.
Ever wanted to use big cooking words like ‘compote’? Here’s your chance…
Nectarine-Cherry Compote. Oh Yes.

And delicious fruits aside, we come together as a country with heavy hearts for various reasons today. We turn on the TV and can’t watch for five minutes without hearing bad news after bad news. Whatever reason your heart is heavy today, we have hope.
The devil is on the prowl. He is active in our world maybe stronger than ever right now. We as Christians are called to put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the schemes of the devil. We are called to stand on the front-lines and fight as a community against this darkness. We can stand on the front-lines UNAFRAID because we know that God is standing right there by us, and He has given us the strength, the courage and the power to fight this.

We looked at the song ‘Whom Shall I Fear’ from Chris Tomlin today.
It was a song that’s been in the back of my mind since this weekend, and just some of the lyrics seem so applicable to us right now.

Though darkness fills the night
It cannot hide the light

Darkness is filling the night. It is. But it cannot hide the light.
God is the light. We are the light. We cannot be hidden.
We need to be a nation that is ON FIRE for Christ that NO DARKNESS can hide.
We can do that when we remember the next thing Chris Tomlin says…
God is crushing the enemy beneath our feet.

God goes before us. There are countless scriptures that tell us that.
God is standing behind us.

Our strength is found in the name of Jesus
For it is His name alone that can save.
He is delivering us.
He is the victory.

Here are the lyrics from the bridge that give me chills. Ah.

And nothing formed against me shall stand. 
He’s telling us that WE are protected.
God is holding the whole world in His hands.
Sometimes God is silent, and it’s hard. It’s so hard.
But we can hold on to His promises.
God is FAITHFUL.
Tomlin says that line 5 times in the bridge. It’s so important.And this song isn’t just something Chris Tomlin wrote.
It’s based off the most powerful chapter in scripture. Romans 8.
Romans 8:31 says “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” and that should be more than enough send the devil running far in the other direction.

It’s far and away time for our country to have a “War Room” moment.
A Priscilla Shirer moment.
“YOU’VE HAD YOUR WAY LONG ENOUGH. NO MORE.”
Jesus is the Lord of our house. There is no room for the devil anymore.
We need to stand up, and shout if we need to. Telling the devil to take his lies, and his schemes, and his accusations, and to get out IN. JESUS’. NAME.

Here’s the scene, if you haven’t seen it. So incredibly powerful.

It’s time we stand up and take back what is rightfully ours in Christ. 

Thanks for listening!
-Lilly

 

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Game Time Tuesday

Today’s Song Poetry lyrics:

Because we will be a people on our knees
As one before the King
‘Cause we believe

The answer: “When We Pray” by Tauren Wells

Congratulations to Linda from Utica, who wins the $5 gift certificate to Troyer’s of Apple Valley!

Today’s Spelling EEB word was: HOCKEY, or YEKCOH.  Kudos to Michelle from Mount Vernon who was our winner!

Hannah’s Sarah Young devotional was based on Psalms 37:4 and Psalms 62:8.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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NZ Top 10 – February 16th, 2018

This week’s countdown:

10. Big Daddy Weave – Jesus, I Believe
9. We Are Messengers – Point to You
8. Jeremy Camp – Word of Life
7. Elevation Worship – O Come to the Altar
6. Zach Williams – Old Church Choir
5. Micah Tyler – Different
4. Matthew West – Broken Things
3. Matt Maher – Your Love Defends Me
2. Lauren Daigle – O, Lord
1. Tenth Avenue North – Control

Our New Music Friday songs:

Zach Williams – Fear is a Liar  CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO LINKwilliams fear
Natalie Grant  – More Than Anything CLICK IMAGE FOR SONG
Natalie Grant

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Praise Thursday: Turn My Eyes

Today we got to do one of my favorite things ever in life, which is dissect a song!
We focused on the song ‘Turn My Eyes” from Bonray.

Lets take a little look at the first verse…

Every day I wake up and I meet the same old fight
Between a world of chaos and that quiet voice inside
And my phone keeps telling me there’s a million ways to find
Where my hope is, but it’s a lie

  • The world is going to lead us on a wild goose chase for hope. We can open every door, look down every alley, climb every mountain looking for hope in somewhere that’s not Jesus, and we’ll never be able to find it eternally.
  • 1st Peter 1:3
    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”

The chorus goes like this…

I know who to run to
Every time the rain comes pouring down
I know who to turn to, yeah
I know where to find that solid ground

  • Where are you running when the rain comes pouring down? Who are you turning to when you’re in search of solid ground?
  • Psalm 46:1-3
    “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
  • Psalm 91:2
    “I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
  • That word refuge comes up a lot…
    Refuge – noun
    A condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

The second verse is probably my favorite part. Here’s the first two lines…

There’s a voice that’s calling me, way out on a distant shore
It says if I just take a step, I’ll find what I’m asking for

  • This is what ‘Fix Our Eyes’ is about.
  • Philippians 4:19-20
    “And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus. Glory belongs to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.”
  • We’re going to talk about Peter walking on water here soon cause that’s important.

The second part of the second verse is…

And this world keeps telling me, that I’ll sink beneath the waves
You’re my courage and You’re my faith.

  • Matthew 14:27-31

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

  • Peter sank because he took His eyes off of Jesus.
  • That first phrase that Jesus utters. UGH yes.
  • When the wind starts to kick up, are you looking in Jesus’s eyes? Or are you looking around at the things of this world for shelter?

The bridge! Ugh the bridge. Here it is…

Oh, all the things of earth start fading away
In the light of His glory and grace
I’ll lift my head up high and look to the One
Who’s with me every step of the way
I turn my eyes

  • Psalm 121:1-2
    “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
    My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.”
  • Nothing on the face of this earth will ever compare to the love, glory, and grace of Christ Jesus. Nothing. Things are temporary. People are people. When it comes to the valley of the shadow of death, Christ is walking with you. Right by your side. All the hills and valleys in life, right there. Right by your side.

This point, that God is always there, ties right into another devotion I read last year, and is still relevant today. It’s about how God and His goodness is not dependent on our goodness, who we are, or what we’re doing.

“Yes, it is true, God will remain faithful even when you’re not, because His faithfulness rests on who He is. Not on what you’re doing.”

Second Timothy 2:13  “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Think about this: The one who created and controls the world, the One who is the ultimate definition of what is loving, true, and good, and the one who alone has the power to fully defeat sin has chosen, because of His grace, to wrap His arms of faithful love and protection around you, and He will not let you go.

You can take your life off your shoulders because God has placed it on His. Security isn’t found in your faithfulness, but in His. He can be trusted even when you cannot. He will be faithful and good even when you are not. He’s going to do what is right and best even when you don’t, and He is faithful to forgive you when convicting grace reveals how unfaithful you’ve been.

God’s grace is calling you to invest in the one thing that will never come up short, and that one thing is the faithfulness of your Lord.

Thanks for listening!
-Lilly and Hannah

 

 

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Fun facts about Valentine’s Day

  • About 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged in US each year. That’s the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.
  • Women purchase 85% of all valentines.
  • In order of popularity, Valentine’s Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.
  • Parents receive 1 out of every 5 valentines.
  • About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.
  • Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the biggest holidays for giving flowers.
  • Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine’s Day each year.
  • California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the vast number sold on Valentine’s Day in the United States are imported, mostly from South America. Approximately 110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period.
  • 73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine’s Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.
  • Men buy most of the millions of boxes of candy and bouquets of flowers given on Valentine’s Day.
  • In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.
  • The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine’s Day.
  • Richard Cadbury invented the first Valentines Day candy box in the late 1800s.
  • Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an “Improvement in Telegraphy”, on Valentine’s Day, 1876.
  • Amongst the earliest Valentine’s Day gifts were candies. The most common were chocolates in heart shaped boxes.c

AS PROMISED, here are the “clean” Winter Olympics-themed Valentine’s love lines you can try out on your significant other (my daughter would call these ‘Dad’ jokes):

  • Are you an ice skater? You’ve got a great figure.
  • I’m no curler, but I think I could sweep you off your feet!
  • Hey, are you a skiing event, ‘cause I would travel cross-country for you!
  • My gold medal might be shiny, but it looks like a dull penny compared to that sparkle in your eyes.
  • Your legs must be tired because you’ve been speed skating through my mind all night.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Who Knew? Handwriting still matters!

Today we’re exploring the value of thank you’s…and the EXTREME value of the handwritten card or note.

In our digital age, the time and effort of a handwritten note is STILL valued.  Why?

John Coleman’s article in the Harvard Business Review from 2013 still resonates.  Read the full article here. He shares that:

  • Handwritten notes mean more because they cost more, as handwritten notes convey a deeper investment in your gratitude.
  • Handwritten notes have permanence and have nostalgic value!

This 2017 Nancy Olsen article in Forbes also gives 5 great reasons to hand write your card.  She says:

  • Sometimes it seems that manners are teetering on the edge of extinction, so it’s the right thing to do!
  • It sets you apart
  • Gratitude is good for the brain – we are wired to best express ourselves without electronic communication

    We did a handwriting trivia question today!
    “When writing on an unlined sheet of paper, what instrument can you use to ensure a straight edge and lines?”
    The answer? A T-Square!

    Congrats to Jennie from Howard who guessed correctly!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Lilly

 

 

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