Thursday, May 28, 2015

The Good Old Days - Message Minute



Good morning, this is Topher from Washington Church of Christ here with your message minute. 

I enjoy studying past history, don't you?  Studying about religion, ancestry, cultural trends can be fun.  Great radio stations such as Memories 107.9 WAMW help us to relive with nostalgic emotion some of the best moments of our past.  But the Ecclesiastes writer is struggling with a people who live in the past so much that they can't enjoy today.  Wise old Solomon says this in Ecclesiastes 7:10, "Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions."

Those are tough words as we all seem to forget the bad in the past and say things like "I wish we could go back to the good old days again."

It's good to remember, but it is best to be content with what you have today.  Remember this common quote "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift that is why it is called a present."   

Make an effort to be grateful for what God has given you today.  You'll be glad you did. 
*Note* - I accidentally said Ecclesiastes 3 in the audio file.  My apologies on the reference! 

Message Minutes are hosted weekday mornings on 107.9 The Memories WAMW radio show at 7:35am.  
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Thursday, May 21, 2015

More Than A Tweet

Living Lesson: More Than A Tweet
By: Christopher Wiles

An era ended this past week as David Letterman signed off his Late Show with a simple, "That's pretty much all I got ... thank you and goodnight."
Some responded with tears (sorry folks, I respect Dave, but that wasn’t me), some responded with jokes, and others responded with thanks.  I was particularly struck by Conan O’Brien’s tweet, which sums up much of how our culture has shifted. 

"It's absolutely absurd to thank David Letterman for all he's done in a tweet," said Conan O'Brien.  But that's the world we live in now. #ThanksDave"
That tweet was retweeted, 3,052 times.  Yes, “retweeted”.  Some people were too lazy to write their own grateful tweet and just retweeted Conan’s.  Conan, true to form, was making commentary and his followers illustrated well “the world we live in now.”  It’s a world of fast tweets and short-lived gratitude, trending today and retreating tomorrow.  Our Holy Scripture handed down from the Father through His Spirit gives us a view of gratitude that is more than a passing tweet.  
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” -  Colossians 3:17
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” – Ephesians 1:16

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
– Psalm 50:23

Gratitude, how is it done?  It is displayed by doing something in someone’s name (Col 3:17).  It is done by praying for a person (Eph 1:16).   It is shown by sacrificing for someone (Ps 50:23).  If you’re thankful for someone today, how about doing something to honor them, praying for them, or sacrificing for them.  A tweet is a start, but more than a tweet is real gratitude and what the culture of Christ is called to. 

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
” – Ephesians 4:1b