To Tweet or Not To Tweet By Michelle Rocker

Before the social media craze, I was a people watcher. Sitting in the mall was great fun watching the people go by and wondering what was going on in their life. Why were they happy? Why were they sad? Now, I have social media that is “people watching” at its best. I know what they are thinking now. I know. I sound creepy and stalker-ish. However, I know most of you do it too. How often do you scroll through Facebook or Twitter but never comment or “like” or retweet? You might comment to your spouse or friends with, “Did you see...?” I am curious about what people are willing to offer up, and if there is an especially spicy squabble, I have scrolled through and read the comments as well, after all they did offer it up. I have even at times commented, but primarily, I’m the creeper.

Recently, I have noticed that social media has become an outlet for bashing others. Some bash in the name of their religion, others their morals, and I have even seen family squabbles played out. It breaks my heart. Oh, I have been tempted to air things out when I feel I’ve been wronged, hoping my friends would sympathize or post a dig when someone has done something I don’t feel is right. The news (both the right and left sides) seem to enjoy picking “hot topics” and watch us bicker and fight about why it is right or wrong.

So, how do I bite my tongue when I want to respond?

John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I run what I want to say through this filter. Is what I am about to say going to show Jesus’ love to this individual? If my answer is no, then I cannot post it. I am far from perfect and anyone who knows me, knows I have a big mouth and I have stuck my foot in it more times than I care to count. However, this is something I have been “commanded” to do. I know why I believe what I believe. I have no problem sharing my faith. I stand by my convictions. But will getting in a social media battle and climbing on my soap box bring them any closer to the Savior? That is the question. And the answer is: “Love one another...as I have loved you.”

New Year, New Challenges By Liz Huggins-Thompson

Now that the holidays are over and we send the kids back to classes, we approach our schedule with renewed vigor. At least, that’s what I do. I wonder about the children returning to school, though. Are they excited to share their news of the presents they received, the stories of traveling adventures, or show off that new outfit they got from grandma? Whatever their incentive for going back out into the world, we must, as parents, continue to prepare them. For me, my daughter won’t be going back to class as she graduated summa cum laude the week before Thanksgiving. She’s had the whole hectic, crazy, busy holiday from Thanksgiving to New Years to enjoy being with family and answer loads of questions about her future plans. I know one thing she is grateful for and that is the huge relief of being out from under the heavy and intense college workload. The one thing that I am grateful for is that I know I have lead her in the direction the Bible wants us to go; in the path Jesus Christ has set for us. I see evidence of this in the grace she approaches her life with, the compassion she shows others, and the involvement she enjoys with the church she attends in her college town.

Her New Year Challenges will be going after that great job her degree will afford her. I’m grateful to know that she has the tools she needs to accomplish anything she puts her time, energy, and mind to.

My New Year Challenges will be to continue spreading the Good Word to all the children who need to hear it. Through P22:6 Productions, Inc., I’m so excited to have this opportunity to share it in fun, new ways. The programs we have lined up for 2014 are fresh, original, and of course, full of the Good Word!!

"Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV