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God Is SO Graceful.

Today is Praise Thursday, and we got to listen to some worship music as we winded down the day!

Something God put on my heart was the realization that He is not here to wait for the moment we sin or make a mistake to punish us or condemn us. Rather, He is graceful and instantly forgiving, knowing the position of our hearts. The song that this reminded me of was Danny Gokey’s “More Than You Think I Am”. In the song, he sings:

Rumour has it, there’s a gavel in my hand,
I’m only here to condemn.
But let me tell you secrets you would’ve never known
I think of you as my best friend.

This is so freeing for us that we can be sure to know that as believers and followers of Jesus, we don’t need to worry about getting punished or condemned for every little mistake or sin we make. He is graceful and forgiving! “For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster.” – Proverbs 24:16

We also God’s grace, from a story found in Our Daily Bread Ministries, and we remember that we are washed completely clean from our past sins and mistakes. It doesn’t matter who we are, what we’ve done, or what we look like. His grace is sufficient for everyone, no matter where they are, or where they’ve come from! “Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!” – Psalm 32:1. To read the quick, full story, click HERE.

Today we played Name That Tune! We played a fifteen second clip of a song played on WNZR so you can guess the title and artist of that song!

Today’s song clip came from bodie and his song Whisper and the Wind! Congratulations to Olivia from Mount Vernon for guessing the title and artist correctly! Make sure to tune in tomorrow from 4-6pm for The NZ Top 10!

Thank you so much for watching!
– Xander and Ethan

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Did You Know This About Summer?

Did you know young sunflowers move with the sun and follow it during the day to get as much sunlight as they can so they can grow big and strong? That’s so cool!

For Who Knew Wednesday today, we went over some super fun facts about summer as the season kicks off with the Summer Solstice on Friday, June 20th!

The Summer Solstice is when the Earth is tilted closest to the sun, making it the longest day of the year! To celebrate this day, you can watch the beautiful sunrise or sunset on Friday, and if the sky is clear, you can stargaze at the beautiful stars. If you look closely, you might be able to spot some planets up there in the sky as well, like Venus and Mars!

– Image Credit: Redbubble

Do you like to eat popsicles on a hot summer day? Did you know popsicles were created by accident? That’s right! In 1905, a man named Frank Epperson accidentally left a mixing stick in water and a soda mixture outside in the cold night, and came back to it, and it had become a frozen and delicious treat! He called it the ‘Epsicle’, which would be renamed later to the ‘popsicle’ after his kids came up with the name! It’s so cool to see what God can use out of a happy accident like that!

We played Who Am I? today! This is where you get five biographical facts about a famous person born today, and you try to guess who it is! Here were the facts:

  1. I was born today in a small town in Oklahoma and wrote my first song when I was just 15 years old.
  2. I’ve won 10 CMA awards, 6 ACM awards, and I’ve had over 25 No. 1 country hits.
  3. I was a longtime coach on NBC’s The Voice, where I led multiple contestants to win the competition!
  4. I’m married to the pop star Gwen Stefani, who was also a coach on NBC’s The Voice, and we released a few songs together.
  5. I became a Grand Ole Opry member in 2010!

I am… Blake Shelton.

Congratulations to Brandon from Danville for guessing me correctly! He won that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Name That Tune!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

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The King Of All… The King Of Hearts

Today is Artist News Day, and one WNZR artist keep very busy as of recent. Brandon Lake has released his highly anticipated, full release album called “King Of Hearts”. It includes some beloved songs heard on WNZR from the likes of “That’s Who I Praise”, “I Know A Name”, and “Hard Fought Hallelujah”.

However, Brandon decided he wasn’t going to end with only 16 songs on his full release, so he came back just a few days later with his Deluxe version of his album, “King Of Hearts (Full Deck Deluxe Version)”. He added 8 more songs to the mix, bringing the deluxe album to 24 songs in total!

And on top of all of that, Brandon is going on tour with these new songs! He will be in Ohio on October 12, so if you want tickets for that concert, you can find it on our full list of concerts HERE!

Our other artist news involves Blessing Offor and his new album that he recently announced is coming! Titled “Real”, this album is set to be released on the 8th of August with a whole 16 songs scheduled to arrive with this one!

If you want to see the full report on this new album, click HERE!

Today we played song poetry! Here were the lyrics we chose from a song played on WNZR:

A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb.
And all who’ve gone before us, and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb.

The song today was “Holy Forever” from Chris Tomlin! Congratulations to Michelle from Mount Vernon for guessing the title and artist correctly, winning that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Who Knew Wednesday, and a game of Who Am I? from 4-6pm!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Xander and Ethan

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So that no one can boast.

Today’s Monday Motivation starts with Casting Crowns and ‘All Because of Mercy’. See the lyric video and the story behind the song with Mark Hall below!

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We had more motivation come in from Matthew West and ‘Don’t Stop Praying’. See the lyric video and an interview with Matthew West where he talks about the story behind the song!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

TODAY’S QUESTION: What do kids love jumping on? 

  • The bed (71 votes) 
  • A trampoline (20) 
  • The couch (5) 
  • A pile of leaves (3) 

Congratulations to Lauren from Mount Vernon for guessing the top two answers correctly, winning that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!
– Ethan and Joe

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NZ Top 10 for 6/13/25

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

10. We Are Messengers – A Thousand Times
9. bodie – Whisper & the Wind
8. Phil Wickham – The King is in the Room
7. ELEVATION RHYTHM f/Gracie Binion – Goodbye Yesterday
6. Matthew West – Unashamed
5. Brandon Lake f/Jelly Roll – Hard Fought Hallelujah
4. MercyMe – Oh Death
3. Jamie MacDonald – Desperate
2. TobyMac – A Lil’ Church (Nobody’s Too Lost)
1. Jon Reddick – No Fear (3rd week at #1)

New Music Friday adds this week:

Leanna Crawford – Honest

CAIN – I Made It

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Thank God for Dads!

Today is our last day of registration for WNZR’s ‘Take Dad to Dinner’ – get your dad registered here!

I wanted to share some wisdom that one of our artists, Rhett Walker, recently shared about fatherhood:

“There is not enough we can do to make yourself feel better about the time missed. There are not enough presents to give to make up for the times we react in anger. Truly, our only hope is Jesus and pointing our kids to Him! As fathers, it is our responsibility to love well, but to also remind our kids that we are all messed up and are in need of Jesus.”

Rhett suggests, “As you walk through this next week, remind yourself of these scriptures:

The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him! -Proverbs 20:7 ESV

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:4 ESV

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. “- Proverbs 22:6 NIV

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Xander shared a devotional from Our Daily Bread called, “Calling Our Heavenly Father.” Read it by clicking here!

This one was a two-week stumper – ‘The King is in the Room’ by Phil Wickham. Congratulations to Lincoln from Utica who wins 2 $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Xander

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Son and moon? Who knew?

SonFest is back this fall at MVNU and it will look different!

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is excited to announce updates are in store for SonFest 2025, MVNU’s premier one-day Christian music festival. Scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, SonFest will now be held in the newly renovated R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium, making it a rain-or-shine event for the first time.

The 2025 lineup features a powerful lineup of worship, alternative rock, and faith-driven performances, headlined by ELEVATION RHYTHM. Also taking the stage are acclaimed artists John Mark McMillan, Citizens, and central Ohio favorite Rock City Worship, with more artists to be announced.

ELEVATION RHYTHM is the youth expression of Elevation Church (Charlotte, N.C.), crafting music for the next generation to sing, dance, and worship.

Tickets are on sale now at mvnu.edu/sonfest. Due to venue capacity, concert tickets are limited. A full festival schedule will be released soon.

  • General admission: $40
  • Limited availability VIP admission: $75 (includes a Meet-and-Greet with artists and early entry)
  • Group sales (10 to 50 tickets) or Children ages 4-10: $25
  • Children 3-and-under: Free (must sit on a lap)

In true SonFest tradition, the event will feature outdoor activities throughout the day, free and open to everyone. Attendees can also enjoy a variety of food trucks and a vendor tent for shopping and refreshments. Please note: Concert entry requires a ticket; outdoor festivities are free and open to all.

For the latest updates, visit the link above or follow @mvnu1968 on social media. CLICK HERE to hear Xander’s conversation with Ben Slater and Zoe Bricker!

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Last night, the United States witnessed a stunning celestial event: the Strawberry Moon climbed into the night sky. Named after the wild strawberry harvest, this June full moon offered more than just seasonal charm—it broke expectations by appearing at its lowest point in the Northern Hemisphere in nearly two decades. This rare alignment, known as a major lunar standstill, won’t happen again until 2043.

Time Magazine and the London Times reported that the moonrise began just after sunset on the evening of June 10. Peaking at 3:44 a.m. Eastern Time, it hovered near the southeast horizon on the U.S. East Coast. Its proximity to the horizon amplified its size—thanks to the “moon illusion”—and its color shifted to soft golden-orange, tinted by atmospheric scattering

As the first full moon after the summer solstice approaches, its Sagittarius backdrop and energetic feel have inspired celebrations of renewal and growth.

Check out this photo from the BBC!

I was born on June 11, 1913, to an Italian-American family and grew up in a tight-knit Catholic household.

I played college football at Fordham University, where I was one of the famed “Seven Blocks of Granite” on the offensive line.

I became head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1959 and led the team to five NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowl victories (Super Bowls I and II).

I was known for my tough, inspirational leadership and for my famous quote, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.”

After my death in 1970 from cancer, the Super Bowl trophy was renamed in my honor.

Who Am I? Vince Lombardi. Congratulations to Phillip from Fredericktown, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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The Bens? News about these artists!

The Bens? Yeah, we’re talking news about Ben Fuller and Benjamin William Hastings!

SONY/Provident artist Ben Fuller has released his second studio album, Walk Through Fire.

The 13-track collection features Fuller’s most personal and redemptive work yet, including WNZR songs like “Turn” and “If I Got Jesus,” plus the song “If It Was Up to Me,” a stirring duet with Carrie Underwood, performed live at the Grand Ole Opry to a standing ovation.

Blending rock, country, and gospel, Walk Through Fire reflects Fuller’s journey from addiction and loss to faith and freedom.

Ben says, “This album is about transformation. I had to walk through fire to find God—and now I walk with Him.”

With over 56 million streams, major tour appearances, and Dove Award nominations, Fuller continues to rise as a bold voice in Christian music.

Learn more at benfullerofficial.com.

Now for the other Ben, Benjamin William Hastings!

If you were wanting to see him in concert, then you’re in luck!

Jamie MacDonald is joining him on the “At The Heart Of It” Tour as they tackle 8 cities across the country in the month of November!

They are stopping at Life City Church in Pickerington on November 14th!

If you want to get tickets or see the other shows, click HERE!

Week 2 stumper!

How long will I have to fight
Just for me to stay alive?
I know You’re there God, please
Just meet me here tonight.

Congratulations to Lisa from Mount Vernon, who guessed Katy Nichole and ‘When I Fall.’ She wins two $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Xander

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Even if it’s a hill or a valley…hallelujah.

Today our Monday Motivation song tackles the phrase, ‘”Even If…” with the song ‘Hallelujah Anyway’ by Chris Llewellyn and the guys from Rend Collective. Can we find joy and praise even in the face of difficult circumstances and challenges? This song tells us, emphatically, YES. By the way, did you know that Matt Maher helped co-write this song?

TODAY’S QUESTION:
What’s tough to do if you accidentally put on superglue instead of lipstick?

  • Eat (32 votes)
  • Talk (32)
  • Kiss (25)
  • Breathe (8)
  • Remove it (2)

Congratulations to Karen from Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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