If you are ready to make the most of the fall season, Ordinary & Happy has the perfect resource – a Fall Bucket List! It is packed with 100 fun ideas to help you soak up everything autumn has to offer.
Check it out and have some FALL FUN this week!
Today on The Morning Thing, we shared 20 different ways to spend some quality time together as a family. This list of great ideas comes from Crosswalk.com
Click HERE to see the full list.
Here are some of our favorites:
Everybody loves family movie night. Typically, there is a theme like all the movies in a series or even a certain genre.
Cook a cozy, comforting meal together. We all know that family dinner time is important, so make it more special by preparing a meal together. Think meatloaf and mashed potatoes, cozy casseroles, and comforting soups. You could even try a recipe or two that you’ve never made before to shake things up. It can be as extravagant or as simple as you wish.
Get a whiteboard or bulletin board and hang it where everyone in the family can see it. Buy either dry-erase markers or post-it notes and push pins. Each week, have everyone write what they are thankful for so everyone can see it. Then on Friday nights at dinner, talk about your week and the things you are grateful for.
Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, it’s also cheaper than going out to lunch or dinner. Get up early on a Saturday morning and head to your favorite breakfast joint. Don’t forget to keep an eye out online, in your email, and also your snail mail for coupons. You can also go directly to the website and see if there are any specials going on as well. Enjoy the restaurant’s fall specials, like pumpkin pancakes or pumpkin spice coffee.
Do some research and see if there are any fall festivals in your town or neighboring towns. If so, spend the day together as a family. There will be lots of things to see and do, and it will do you good to be out in the crisp, fall air.
S’mores are a staple in the fall, so fire up the bonfire or fire pit and gather ‘round. However, you don’t always have to make the traditional graham cracker, marshmallow, and Hershey bar kind. There are tons of variations online.
I have seen s’mores made with horizontal slices of granny smith apples with caramel melted in the middle. Chocolate chip cookies with marshmallows and a chocolate bar melted in the middle. And s’mores made with chocolate graham crackers, peppermint patties, and marshmallows in the middle. There are lots of delicious variations, so have fun. You could even make several kinds and have friends over to enjoy after family dinner.
Pitch a tent or two and sleep under the stars one night as a family. Sit around the fire pit and talk, admire the moon and the stars, and thank God for his creation. Slow down and enjoy the surrounding nature.
Thanks to the author for these great ideas!
Carrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. She has had her work featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and the Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three clean romance books, one romance novella, three books of poetry, and one non-fiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband, and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.
Today we celebrated Conflict Resolution Day by talking about the 5 C’s of conflict resolution, and we also shared the best strategies for most common situations.
Here are the 5 C’s of Conflict Resolution:
Here are some of the best strategies in common situations:
1. Workplace Conflict
2. Romantic Relationships
3. Family Disputes
4. Friend Conflicts
5. Online or Social Media Conflicts
The 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards Broadcast was shared by Trinity Broadcast Network on Friday, 10/10/25. The night was full of exciting performances including a few surprise guests.
Brandon Lake took home 5 awards including Song of the Year with “Hard Fought Hallelujah”.
Click HERE to read the Dove Awards Press Release from the Gospel Music Association.
To see the full list of winners, click HERE.
The Dove Awards broadcast will re-air Friday, October 17th, 2025, At 7:30pm and 10:00pm ET on TBN, the TBN+ app, and TBN YouTube.
Here is a highlight of the 2025 Winners. Congratulations to all nominees!
SONG OF THE YEAR –
Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll
Writers: Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown and Benjamin William Hastings
ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Forrest Frank
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Leanna Crawford
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (ARTIST) – Brandon Lake
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (NON-ARTIST) – Mitch Wong
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Jeff Pardo
POP/CONTEMPORARY SONG OF THE YEAR –
Your Way’s Better by Forrest Frank
Writers: Forrest Frank and Pera
GOSPEL WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR –
Come Jesus Come by CeCe Winans and Shirley Caesar
Writers: Hank Bentley, Bryan Fowler, Stephen McWhirter and Tara McWhirter
WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR –
I Know A Name by Elevation Worship, Chris Brown and Brandon Lake
Writers: Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Jacob Sooter and Hank Bentley
INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR –
The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham
Writers: Phil Wickham and Jonathan Smith
BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS SONG OF THE YEAR –
Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll
Writers: Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown and Benjamin William Hastings
CHRISTMAS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR –
Joy To The World by CeCe Winans
Writers: Traditional
POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR –
CHILD OF GOD by Forrest Frank
Producers: Forrest Frank, Pera, Noah Conrad, JVKE, Jackson Foote, Johnny Simpson, Zac Lawson and Splash Of Soda
WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR –
When Wind Meets Fire by Elevation Worship
Producers: Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Josh Holiday and Chandler Moore
ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR –
Trustfall by Stephen Stanley
Producers: Stephen Stanley, Tedd T. and Jake Halm
CHRISTMAS/SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR –
Hallelujah! It’s Christmas! By Phil Wickham
Producers: Jonathan Smith, Josh Auer, Jerad Atherton, Tyler Halford, Ben Lounsbury and Aaron Robertson
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR –
Heaven On My Mind by TobyMac
Art Directors: Nathan Blaine, Aaron Stearns and Trent Nicholson
Graphic Artists: Nathan Blaine and Aaron Stearns
Photographer – Robby Klein
SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (CONCEPT) –
Can’t Stop Me by TobyMac
Director: Eric Welch
Producer: Scott McDaniel
SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (PERFORMANCE) –
Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll
Directors: Brandon Lake and Jacob Boyles
Producers: Jacob Boyles, Rachel Mulcahy, Sadie Schwanberg and Caleb Cook
LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR –
A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) by for KING & COUNTRY
Directors: Joel Smallbone and Kadin Tooley
Producers: Joshua Walsh, Stephen Preston and Luke Smallbone
FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR –
The King of Kings
Director: Jang Seong-ho
Producers: Jang Seong-ho and Kim Woo-hyung
TELEVISION SERIES OF THE YEAR –
The Chosen
Director: Dallas Jenkins
Producers: Dallas Jenkins, Chad Gundersen and Chris Juen
DeeDee Berger, Assistant Administrator with Kno Ho Co Ashland Community Action Commission came to WNZR to talk about a special event planned for this week. They are hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Event at the Ramser Center located at 700 Perimeter Drive on the Knox County Fairgrounds.
This Thursday 10/16/25, from 6pm – 9pm, they will provide valuable information to women, host a professional panel to answer questions, have free giveaways and a silent auction. You are invited!
Click HERE to hear our conversation with DeeDee Berger.
Click HERE to find out more about Kno Ho Co Ashland.
Today, on The Morning Thing, we shared some amazing fall activity ideas for families!
It is finally starting to feel like Fall here in Mount Vernon and we think that is reason to celebrate! These are ways you can take advantage of the Fall weather before it turns to winter. They may be for kids but the whole family can find stuff in this list for the whole family!
Some of our favorites:
To view the full list click HERE!
WNZR’s Eric Brown spoke to Abby Steele plays Cecily Cardew in the Importance of Being Earnest, she talks about how she got into theatre and a bit about the character she’ll be playing.
Click HERE to hear the Full Conversation!
Click HERE to learn more about Orange Barrel Productions!
(Pic courtesy of OBP)
One of WNZR’s Founding Fathers, Bill Bridges who was a part of the original Mount Vernon Nazarene College Staff in 1968, stopped by to celebrate the 39th anniversary of WNZR!
Click HERE to hear the entire conversation with Bill and Station Manager, Marcy Rinehart!
Bill helped found the Speech and Communications Department. Bill says that Founders Hall wasn’t ready, so they met in October in various places throughout Mount Vernon.
Bill said that the dream of having a radio station started around 1978. He said that they interviewed Dr. Henry Smith (who was one of Marcy’s professors) and he joined the staff.
Bill said he taught a radio class before they even had a radio station. He says WMVO in Mount Vernon gave them an old sound board, so they were able to have radio classes. They would broadcast to those in the breezeway between Founders and Faculty Halls.
Bill says that he and Dr. Smith started researching what it would take to start a “real” radio station. Bill stayed until 1980 and passed the department to Dr. Smith while he returned to the ministry.
Bill says the staff at WNZR is living out his dream. He talks about what he thinks that God has done to make his dream come true. He says the current ministry of WNZR is more than just a radio station. It is a Lifeline. WNZR does more than just play good Christian music and read the news, but what kind of impact it has on the community.
Bill gives some wisdom to WNZR staff members, “Don’t be afraid to experiment. Don’t be afraid to try. Don’t be afraid of failing. You never truly succeed unless you really try and take chances. He says trust God and trust your fellow workers.”
Click HERE to check out WNZR’s awesome website and learn more about our ministry!
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart recently spoke with Katie Ellis, the Executive Director for United Way of Knox County.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation!
Katie is excited to kick off their 2025 Campaign and she shares some exciting details about the goal. Katie shares the mission of the United Way of Knox County and what the United Way means to her.
Katie shares some of their major partners for the 2025 campaign and the power of those partnerships. She likes how agencies can come together for a goal instead of feeling like they’re competing. Their goal for 2025 is $1.11 million to help cover all their internal programs and over 50% of the money will be redistributed to other agencies.
She talks about how they decided on their $1.11 million goal; they looked at the scope of how much they could get and how much they needed to distribute to agencies before deciding their goal. She hopes they can hit the $650,000 from the community goal by the end of the year. Their major contributors are you, the community, and local businesses who will match their employee giving. Their fundraising year doesn’t end until March 2026.
Katie breaks down the three pillars of a community: education, healthy living and financial stability; she talks a bit about those and what they are doing to help achieve that.
She talks about the agencies and programs the campaign will help support. The campaign goes to support internal agencies and programs they host, and she highlights some of the agency’s part of the united way. The grant application period to become an agency or program of the united way opens Wednesday October 1st and is open until the 31st, interviews happen in November, and she talks a bit how you can do that. The process is largely for vetting agencies and ensuring agencies are meeting community needs and she talks a bit more about that.
Click HERE to find out more about the United Way of Knox County!
Today, The Morning Thing shared some small ways to make life simpler. These tips are from The Positivity Blog. They remind us that life does NOT have to be so hard.
See the full list of 23 small ways to make life simpler HERE.
Here are some of our favorites:
When stressed, lost in a problem (or a mistake) or the past or future in your mind breathe with your belly for two minutes and just focus on the air going in and out.
These deep breaths will calm your body down and bring your mind back into the present moment again.
You’ll get better results and feel better and less stressed while doing those things.
Use your mind for better things than remembering what to do. And the mind is often like a leaky bucket.
So write down all your great ideas, insights and thoughts before they go missing somewhere and add what you need to do to a to-do list.
It will only get you stuck and drain your self-esteem.
Go for good enough instead and when you are there you are done. Get things all the way to done this way and then move on to the next thing.
Then you don’t have to get stressed out by that in morning and you are less likely to forget something.
Questions like:
If everything has its own place then it is whole lot easier to keep your home reasonably ordered and decluttered from day to day.
This also helps you with your inner stillness as the outer environment affects how you feel on the inside.
I tend to write emails containing only a few sentences, usually between one and five. If you focus on keeping it short and focused then you’ll probably discover that this is a good solution in most cases.
Reading minds is hard. So, instead ask questions and communicate.
This will help you to minimize unnecessary conflicts, misunderstandings, negativity and waste of time and energy.
I check my email inboxes, blog statistics, my online earnings, Twitter and Facebook just once a day.
I combine all that checking into one small daily ritual at the end of my workday so I don’t slip and go checking it more during the day and waste my energy and attention.
Rise and Shine 