“Be strong and bold. Have no fear or dread because it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. “
Deuteronomy 31:6
As I face the big stuff right now, Lord, help me remember that the magnitude of the danger does not affect or change your ability to protect me. Because you’re all powerful, there is nothing too big or too small for you. I know that is true, whether I have one foe or a million. When I choose to follow you, I’m on the winning team. Please help me keep my eyes on how great you are, instead of how big the danger or the challenges, so that my faith in you won’t waver or dissolve. And I ask that my sleep will be sweet tonight as I commit myself to your care of me.
-from ‘The Right Prayers for Every Need’ by authors Christine Dallman and Randy Petersen
First, we have a NEW partner for the show – Watts Restaurant in Utica! We’ll be giving a $5 gift card to Watts away Monday through Thursday.
(photo from the Licking County Chamber)
Second, many of you know that I serve as board chair for the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival. Many of you probably don’t. This festival has been something I’ve personally invested in for years, but I became more involved in 2019. I’ve met so many new people and reconnected with others and truly have enjoyed helping put on a big party for our community each August.
I want to share my deep gratitude for your support and attendance this past weekend. Our team of volunteers works so hard to make this a great, family-friendly experience. Our director, Trina Trainor, is the captain of our team and just does a phenomenal job! I love working with Trina and our board – Debbie Ruggles, Noelle Walton, Adam Landon, Jacob & Melissa Francis, Tia Vicars and Mayor Matt Starr. Our group of volunteers who help with KidFest, youth showcase, security, shuttle driving, welcoming people, the auction and set-up and teardown are just incredible. Plus our families, who sacrifice their time and support us in this endeavor. Victoria at the Grand Hotel, Megan with MVAC, Carol at the Chamber of Commerce, Olivia at the CVB, and Dena at the Woodward Opera House are also big keys to our success.
We all know that there are big costs behind a free festival, so the support of Ariel Corporation, Park National Bank, MVAC (Mount Vernon Arts Consortium), Factory Link, The Blue Nation Group, Ariel Foundation, the Knox County Foundation and Ramser Arboretum are critical.
I’m sure I missed someone, so many, many heartfelt thanks, again!
Name something on the table at a restaurant.
Menu (48)
Glasses (20)
Silverware (17)
Dishes (10)
Salt and Pepper Shakers (5)
Congratulations to Ericka from Fredericktown, who wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!
This week, we kick off the show with Monday Motivation and the chance to win tickets to see Casting Crowns at the Ohio State Fair!
We start with author Karen Huang and her timely reminder that, even when we feel everyone doesn’t have time for us, has left us or just is too busy to care, we STILL have a purpose!
Can you imagine living in Germany and having the last name Fuhrer? That would be tough. Still, read here how a pastor named Fuhrer sparked a prayer meeting that grew and helped bring down the Berlin Wall.
Today’s Monday Motivation comes from Matthew West’s song, ‘Broken Things.’
“The pages of history, they tell me it’s true That it’s never the perfect It’s always the ones with the scars that You use Oh, it’s the rebels and the prodigals It’s the humble and the weak All the misfit heroes You chose Tell me there’s hope for sinners like me
Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King I wish I could bring so much more But if it’s true, You use broken things Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours!”
This week we’re giving away family four packs of passes to the Hiawatha Water Park and Pool in Mount Vernon. Congratulations to Kristen from Mount Vernon!
Today we reflect on Colossians 3:13 since it’s Forgiveness Day…
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
…and remember, every day can be forgiveness day! Monica La Rose shared a wonderful devotional called ‘A Future With Forgiveness,’ that reflects on how South Africa tried to move forward after years of racial injustice. Read it by clicking here!
Name a popular summertime vegetable (your top two): Tomatoes (30 votes) Corn (20 votes) Squash (11) Zucchini (10) Carrots (8) Cucumbers (5) Broccoli (4) Peas (2) Lettuce (2) Green Beans (2) Potatoes (2)
Congratulations to David from Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the two one-day passes to the Hiawatha Water Park and Pool.
Peggy from Mount Vernon also won our tickets for the ‘Sound of Freedom’ film screening next Monday!
This is today’s song-inspired Monday Motivation! From the incredible CeCe Winans!
They say this mountain can’t be moved (refers to Matthew 17:20 and 21:21; Mark 11:23 – ‘faith like a mustard seed’) They say these chains will never break But they don’t know You like we do There is power in Your name (Jeremiah 32:17 – ‘nothing is too hard for you!’)
We’ve heard that there is no way through We’ve heard the tide will never change They haven’t seen what You can do There is power in Your name So much power in Your name (Hebrews 1:3 – ‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word’)
Move the unmovable Break the unbreakable God we believe God we believe for it
From the impossible We’ll see a miracle (Genesis 18:14 – Sarah will have a son) God we believe God we believe for it
We know that hope is never lost…oh… For there is still an empty grave God we believe no matter what There is power in Your name (Matthew 19:26 – “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”) So much power in Your name
Move the unmovable Break the unbreakable God we believe God we believe for it
From the impossible We’ll see a miracle God we believe God we believe for it (hey)
You are the way When there seems to be no way We trust in You God You have the final say, yeah
What is the best fruit to buy in the summer? Watermelon (49 votes) Strawberries (23) Pineapples (12) Oranges (3) Mangos (3) Cherries (3) Peaches (2) Raspberries (2)
Congratulations to Linda from Gambier, who guessed the top two answers correctly and wins the Katy Nichole CD, ‘Jesus Changed My Life.’
So you may know that five members of our WNZR team (Marcy, Jonathon Langdon, Mike Basko, Mackenzie Holder and me) spent May 30-June 2 in Orlando, FL at the Christian Music Broadcasters’ Momentum 2023 conference. CMB is an organization that exists to support faith-based radio stations, both digital and terrestrial, plus all of their digital products, including podcasting, social media and video. CMB also helps link artists and broadcasters. WNZR has been a member for many years.
I go to Momentum when my calendar permits for two main reasons – to be spiritually and professionally fueled. I always learn something new that I can apply to my work as a professor and a member of the WNZR on-air team.
So…here are just a couple of my big takeaways from this year that I hope you can also ponder, use or apply…and I will continue to share these over the next few weeks.
Speakers Billy Dunn (leadership coach) and Lisa Harper (link here) challenged us on Wednesday to do some internal accounting – some self-reflection – of both our spiritual and leader selves. And let’s face it – we are all leading or influencing something or someone. Billy talked specifically about leadership being a gift; a service to be given, so we should make sure we are in a regular habit of doing self-assessment and thinking about Ephesians 5:15-16, “15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” If you had a broken GPS system, you’d work to fix it, right? So we need to be aware when our own internal GPS breaks down, and how to fix it.
Our leadership should be reflecting humility – tossing aside things like arrogance, entitlement and any thought of invincibility. Billy reminded us that the people you lead need to know you care and that you can be real and authentic – even when you make mistakes!
Trust is at crisis levels in our country, especially among leaders. We can foster trust when we are self-aware and pray fervently that Christ would guide our way, allowing us to value self-control, empathy, and building strong connections.
Lisa talked specifically about kicking your impostor to the curb – about peeling off everything that is keeping you from a deeper relationship with Jesus. When I heard that, I thought of Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith….”
Lisa shared her belief that we need to prioritize being alone and praying transparently with our Lord. Remember, He already knows, but even on our worst days, He still says, “that’s my son…that’s my daughter.” We don’t need to pose for Him, we simply need to accept and respond to His unconditional love!
Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold, from those whose walk is blameless.”
Name a color associated with summer. Yellow (58 votes) Blue (12) Pink (10) Orange (7) Green (6) Red (6)
Congratulations to Zeke from Johnstown, who guessed the top two and wins the Katy Nichole CD, ‘Jesus Changed My Life.’
He and his family came to the studio today and also got some bonus frisbees!
Today I shared a devotional from Marvin Williams reminding us to, in no uncertain terms, ‘Stay Awake.’ He starts telling the story of a German bank mistake and links it to Matthew 26. Read it by clicking here!
Driving Notes 