Slander, gossip, pessimism, and other negativity that comes from our mouths-"tongue" needs to be controlled. Do you know anyone or even yourself speak "negative" at times or all the time? Well, I do it too, which I need to be held accountable and to get out of it. What we speak can sometimes be a "curse" (see sinful) to others or ourselves! I have countless stories where I've witness this.
Gossip: I notice this a lot living in this small rural-college town of Morris!
"A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."-Proverbs 16:28
Slander: Ever talked "bad" about somebody and then try "pretend" being Minnesota "nice" to them? I hear this a lot from "non" Minnesotans. They tell me that some Minnesotans act very nice to you and then the opposite a day or so later. For example, I know college students from the inner city that come to this rural side of Minnesota. They get treated very "nice" around the college campus, but when they meet the same individual in a setting outside the campus, they get "ignored" as if being "ashamed" of knowing them. Ever done this before? Yes, I too have done this without knowing..forgive me.
" 5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; "-Psalm 101:5
This being a "good news" homepage, it wouldn't be fair if I don't put some "bad news". My reason for doing this is to encourage the Christians out there, why people need to hear the "good news" or...
"People needs the Lord" (song)
Why Bad Things "Sometimes" Happend?....to "Good People"
*written on Friday, December 7th of 2007
I'll first say this isn't the "full answer" as I said "sometimes" (it could be "most" of the time too, but don't want to be too "negative") above. To protect my standing on this, I want to direct you to what God's word say...
" 6 "But if you [a] or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you [b] and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 8 And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 9 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them�that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.' "-1 Kings 9
Biased in the Media
Have you ever presumed anything and had to "hit yourself" for it? The media sometimes can get this way when they report the news. I've heard this many times, "the news can get depressing", when they constantly report "bad news" (little girl getting kidnapped, a murder in some neighborhood, and some scandal with some "big time" celebrity). Some start to judge, gossip, and totally change the "news" around.
A Different Story
I played this game (Chinese Whispers) at my local church's family camp one summer where the guest speaker whispered a phrase to one side of aisle and another to the opposite side of the aisle. Then we had to whisper it to our neighbor till the last person in the back of each section of the aisle was reached. The last person of each section came up to the front and shared it out loud. One had almost the similar phrase as the original one, but the other was totally different or way off!
This is an example of how we can easily misinterpret (misunderstand) the "news" as it spreads from one source to another. Why does this happen? Maybe because we selfishly choose what we want to hear and change it to our own desire choice of words. For example, here is another game I played at one of UMM's cultural workshops. The speaker had us do this game where he would say a word, and had several people share what came up to their mind. Let's say I said "ice cream"; one person might describe his thoughts of a pepperiment patty flavor on an ice cram cone, another would picture an "Eddy's Ice Cream" container, etc... You see, we are all unique individuals with different experiences with different perspectives on things. The one that mentioned pepperiment patty probably grew up liking this particular flavor. The other pictured "Eddys" after having it recently.
The media reports the news the way they want based on what the viewers want. I went to a speaker, at UMM also, who reported for one of the nations leading broadcasting networks. He admittedly shared that their network reports "bad news" because that's what get the most attention. What gets the most attention gets the most sponsors from big-time corporations to a buy a "spot" (commerical), which gets the network more "mulah"! Thats the way the media corporate world runs!
*update (Monday, December 5th 20110
The "devil" is good at adding lies to the "Truth", so whenever we hear "news". Before we jump into conclusions on what we think we hear. I challenge you to go straight to the source. For example, many people misunderstand the Bible and they automatically "judge" it. Instead of going with what you hear from others, go to the "Source" (God)!
Chinese Whispers
"Bunch of mates havin a game of chinese whispers in school
"
Inaccurate Reporting
I heard this from somebody...
"Don't presume anything until you know the facts"
It's like the judicial system or what it supposes to be, "you are innocent until you are proven guilty", which is why I don't like to jump the "bandwagon" on targeting people caught in the "limelight" with these scandals (e.g. Michael Jackson accussed of molesting children). If it's true, pray for them instead of "pointing your fingers" at them!
*Reason for this Website*
My reason for writing this is because I've been longing to share what I've been witnessing so far on how "certain" mainstream media has been "playing with viewers minds" with their-at times-"inacurrate", "negative", "biased", "one-sided", etc..reporting! I do appreciate some of the media at times on reporting "good news", especially during the holidays, and undercover reporting that the general pouplation would never know.
I also decided to write the "above" this evening-Saturday, February 14th-after watching Disney's "Beauty & the Beast" (similar reviews)-yes! I havent' watched this for a long time, but I was able to see a new moral story besides the obvious one (it's inner beauty that more important) after watching it a "second-time". It was the scene where Gaston, the "bad guy", goes "overboard" with the town folks after seeing the "monster" in the mirror (reveals what every you want it to). His persuasiveness speech on getting a group to go over and kill this "beast" symbolizes how the "media" can do this to the general audience.
Pointing to the Wrong Enemies
Remember the infamous unfortunate "Oklahoma Bombing" in 1995? Well, some of the media (e.g. one reporter) innacurately accussed Muslims for this devestation. They probably fumbled with their reporting from innacurate resources too or investigators probably may have gave this accusation too. Anyways, I remember a story where the airport security stopped a "Muslim" from leaving by plane until he was "checked" in Oklahoma after the sad incident. I don't know the time frame, but later on they would change that accusation to Timothy McVeigh-an American!
There are many other similar incidents, like...
9/11: Targeting Muslims an Asian Indian wearing a turban was murdered pumping gas somewhere in Arizona after 9-11 being "falsely" accussed as the enemy (Muslims). In fact, none of the accussed terrorist was an Asian Indian!
9/11: Gas Masks: After 9/11, the nation was watching the "boob tube" (news) constantly 24/7 for any current related terrorist news. I remember some federal agency reccomended the general population to buy "protective bioterrorism" gear, like gas mask in case of a biological attack. I was watching the news, and I saw people on t.v. "running" to the local hardware stores (N.Y. especiallY) buying gas maks and duc tape-to seal open cracks in their houses from gas coming inside their homes. I'll stop here as this story pretty much explains itself...
Israel/Palestinian conflict: This has been an on-going global issue as far as I can remember. As a growing up. As a Christian, Jesus did say-"love your neighbor" (Matthew 22:37-39 read what else He says!) and "love your enemies"! We can easily jump to conclusions and take one side; however, what do you think is the side God (Jesus) is for? He loves all of us, right? Then, if you are a believer and a follower, what side should we take?
Lesson to be learned
What can we learn from here? Well, we are only humans! Yes, but with God we can ask Him for wisdom and discernment before jumping into conclusions-espeically when it comes to "hurry-up get an answer" situations. To learn more on this, one must come to know who Created our minds and whole human body structure. From here, we will grown to trust in Jesus when you make Him more and more the Lord (depend) of your life! Then in Spirit, we can lessen the easily human mistakes of false judgment. I'm still learning myself as I don't want to make the many countless accusations in the past and still on-going becuase it affects the people around you (low or high extreme); just like that story above on the Asian Indian who lost his life after 9/11!
Complaining
Old Testament (Exodus 15:22-Exodus 16:24)
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com African-Middle Eastern: Egyptian of Egypt Outreach
" The Waters of Marah and Elim 22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. [e] ) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"...
Manna and Quail
" 1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." ...
5 Minutes Bible Study - Attitude Is Everything
"Negative attitudes are contagious, debilitating, and sinful. But they can be broken. The answer isn't simply saying, "There are lots of people worse off than I, like the one who said, 'I complained because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet,'" but redirecting your focus, concentrating on that which is positive.
There is an optimism born of faith which comes because God is sovereign, and no matter how dismal or drear the circumstances, God's children refuse to accept them as final, knowing the finger of God has already written the last chapter of history.You find that in Revelation 21 and 22, and we who are His children win. We win BIG, too! For when the books are opened, we receive the reward due to us, the one ignored by the world and minimized by friends and acquaintances.
Attitude is everything! It can be bright and cheerful regardless of your landscape, your digestion, your health, or your circumstances. Yes, there are times when we feel less than jubilant and joyful, yet we can focus on the nature and character of the Almighty who has abundantly blessed us. As Jeremiah wrote, "Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentation 3:22-23). "
-Children
*lesson for Sunday school at my local church this morning (Sunday, October 10th 2010)
"Why Complain?" (Be Thankful)
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Bless-Thanksgiving, Thankful, etc..
-College
Bible Stories and Hits for Kids - 024 People are complaining
"GOD has done a great miracle for his people, but a short time after they are complaining against GOD: We should not forget the miracles GOD did in our lives - and should trust him for every situation - that we honor GOD by trusting him."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Christian Life: Belief, Faith, Hope, Trust, etc....
Joyce Meyer Don't Complain pt 1
" 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out[c] the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."-Philippians 2
Action Follow-Up
Please pray for our media!
"24"All the nations will say, '(Z)Why has the LORD done thus to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?'
25"Then men will say, '(AA)Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.
26'They went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they have not known and whom He had not allotted to them.
27'Therefore, the anger of the LORD burned against that land, (AB)to bring upon it every curse which is written in this book;
-Deuteronomy 29
Articles
Media
-Newspaper
*others listed (see "motown"
Cable Companies
Media
-News Channels
-Newspapers
Tornadoes
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Science: Weather, Natural Disasters, etc..
Articles:
racism...
"5 People Are Shot to Death, and a Lawyer Is Arrested" New York Times April 29, 2000 By KATHERINE E. FINKELSTEIN An immigration lawyer went on a shooting spree on the outskirts of Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon, killing five people, including a Jewish woman, two Asian men, one Indian and one black man and critically injuring a sixth, police officials said.
Miscellaneous
Natural Disasters
-Hurricaines
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Science: Weather, Natural Disasters, etc..
Hurricaine Katrina (2005) that pounded...
Louisiana and Mississipi
-Tornados
Media
-Law/Ethics/Rights
-Cable
-Deceiving
-Newspapers
-TV
Superstar CBS Reporter Blows the Lid Off the Swine Flu Media Hype and Hysteria
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
November 24 2009 | 199,240 views
"...Freedom of Information and Getting the Truth Out
It is not easy for journalists to access this type of information, and they often have to wait weeks, months or even years for information from the CDC and the FDA -- information that is readily available and supposed to be clearly public.
Attkisson expands on the difficulties she faced in trying to get simple data regarding swine flu cases in the United States:
"They [CDC’s public affairs] quit communicating with me when I pressed on why I couldn’t get certain information. They just wouldn’t answer my emails anymore. So I had to file a Freedom of Information request, which is usually my last choice because I know I was going into a deep black hole many times and I’ll never get an answer.
But in this case, I got an interesting response on October 19 from the CDC when I had asked for some simple, public documents that would have been easy for them to obtain too quickly.
Journalists are allowed to ask for expedited processing of their Freedom of Information request because, for obvious reasons, they’re working on a story that may have public impact or be of public interest. The agencies are not supposed to use the Freedom of Information Law to obstruct or delay the release of this information.
This may be the first time I was denied that expedited processing from Freedom of Information that we’re entitled to as members of the press; a letter from HHS or Health and Human Services (the CDC is under HHS) said to me that one of the reasons they’re denying my expedited processing is because this is not a matter of “widespread and exceptional media or public interest."
In other words, the CDC doesn’t think these questions about swine flu prevalence and these other things that we’ve been asking are, at least in their opinion in this letter, not a matter of widespread and exceptional media or public interest.”
Yet, while the CDC expressed that questions about swine flu prevalence were not a matter of widespread media or public interest, the President had declared the swine flu a national public health emergency!
The inconsistencies at the CDC are nearly incomprehensible.
...
The Ramifications of the Swine Flu Policy
According to Attkisson’s CBS News study, when you come down with chills, fever, cough, runny nose, malaise and all those other "flu-like" symptoms, the illness is likely caused by influenza at most 17 percent of the time and as little as 3 percent! The other 83 to 97 percent of the time it's caused by other viruses or bacteria.
So remember that not every illness that appears to be the flu actually is the flu. In fact, most of the time it's not.
Curiously, the CDC still advises those who were told they had 2009 H1N1 (and therefore should be immune to getting it again) to get vaccinated unless they had lab confirmation.
But because very few people have actually had a lab-confirmed case of H1N1 (and in most cases those people told they had swine flu probably did not), this means nearly everyone is still being advised to get the swine flu vaccine.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Science: Biology, Animals, Biological Warfare, etc...
Police Try to Solve Mystery of the Pilfered Poodle
By David Snyder
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 16, 2004; Page B01
"Danaj Edmond and Beth Andraise Scott were driving home from the 9:30 club in a van when Edmond spotted Storm shivering in the median. They picked him up, afraid he would die in the cold, and drove him home. The next day, when Edmond showed up late to work at NBC News in Washington, where she is a desk assistant, she explained why: She had found a poodle the night before and had to buy food for him."
Music
-Pop
"Bad" by Michael Jackson
Daniel Powter-Bad Day (lyrics)
Politics
Our Daily Bread (Sept.16) - Responding To Criticism
"..The apostle Peter understood the dangers of unfounded criticism. He wrote, Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God (1 Peter 2:12)..."
Articles:
Books
1984
Sharing the Good News after the Bad News - Today's Christian Videos
gointernational Posted 3 years ago
"After sharing the bad news it's time for the good news."
Media
-Law/Ethics/Rights
-Newspapers
-Radio
-TV Stations
Murders
Natural Disasters:
Earthquakes
-40,000+ died in Iran's earthquake in Dec. of 2003, which I personally thought this didn't get much news; even though this was more tragic this 9/11. What if this happened in the U.S.? more...BBC News.
Action: Donate: Family Survival Kits-World Vision, Donate: Survivors-Mercy Corps
12/27/2004: GFA Responds to Deadly Tsunami (donate info)
"As of this morning, reports were still coming in from GFA offices across Asia.
In the Andaman Islands a reported 6,000 people have been killed. In another miracle, however, all 26 GFA missionaries serving on the low-lying island chain are reported safe.
"We thank God for these miracles," Brother K.P. said, "and pray that He will use these believers to share His love and compassion with the millions who are suffering so terribly
Related Moives:
Famines/Plagues
*like SAARS, FLU epidemic 03'-04', mad cow disease, etc..
Past: potatoe famine, Turbucleosis, etc..
Scientists Fear Global Bird Flu Outbreak
With luck, the world will escape the latest outbreak of bird flu with no more than the six human deaths already blamed on it and the loss of millions of chickens. But public health experts worry of a much greater disaster: A catastrophe they say is among the worst imaginable, a global outbreak of an entirely new form of human flu.
( DANIEL Q. HANEY, Associated Press, 01/24/2004 01:00 PM EST)
Related Movies:
Tornados
from twincities' breaking news
Religion
Social Issues
-Racism
Note: What's worst is the "sin" epidemic that cost's people's eternal life!
-"3 blacks killed in possible S.Africa race attack"
January 12, 2000 Web posted at: 11:57 AM EST (1657 GMT) JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) -- A white gunman shot dead three black people on a bus in Pretoria on Wednesday in what police say may have been a racially motivated attack.
Action: love one another getting to know each other
Modern Slavery and A New World Order Part 2
Subject: Grandma and the Cake
A little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going wrong: school, family problems, severe
health problems, etc.
Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of
course, he does. "Here, have some cooking oil." "Yuck" says the boy. "How about a couple raw
eggs? " "Gross, Grandma!" "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Grandma,
those are all yucky!" His Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But
when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the
same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But
God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have
to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"
God is Crazy About You. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet,
your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever
you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
-Suffering or getting persecuted?
Lost everything....
I've heard this so many times, so I decided to share my own perspective and others (down below). I had this conversation recently with a brother in Christ (Eric B.) of mine; last night (Thursday, May 17th of 2007) during a drive to Alexandria, Minnesota. Eric shared about a verse I kind of forgot of a blind man that people were questioning Jesus...
"Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
5 Minutes Bible Study - When Life Goes Bad
Our greatest strength is often shown in our ability to stand still and trust God. "
Articles
Books
Commentaries
Also, I believe good things can come out of the bad depending on how the "victim" or "person in general" reacts to the situation or circumstance. For example, just recently after Thanksgiving Dad (see more of the story) at my mom's house, the washing machine broke down in the middle of a wash. We were all dissapointed, but instead of complaining or blaming someone; we (sister and I) took advantage of the "after Thanksgiving sales" to look for a good deal. We felt this could not happen in a perfect time! We can ask ourselves, "why does this have to happen after/during the holiday season"? Why does it happen to "us"? I felt it was God's timing for this and we all thank/praised the Lord for this blessing (a "blessing can come out of a "curse"). I can't say that this "light" circumstance is a model for all "heavy" bad/worse circumstance; however, I feel God's bigger than our problems and we just need to give it to Him. We just need to use the circumstance (not mater what level it is) as a opportunity to grow in our faith relationship with Him!
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Science: Weather, Natural Disaster
"Slavery and World Government. Both sound ludicrous, or perhaps not... "
What Can I do....
"19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."-Matthew 6
-finances?
Why bad things happen?
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work (e.g. healing) of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
10"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
11He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."" -John 9 (Gospels in New Testament)
"Our Daily Bread
David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. —1 Samuel 30:6
Everything looked bleak to David and his men when they arrived at Ziklag (1 Sam. 30:1-6). The Amalekites had attacked the city and taken their wives and children captive. The men were so discouraged that they wept until they had no more energy. And David, their leader, was "greatly distressed" because the people were contemplating stoning him (v.6).
In the end, David's army rescued their families and defeated the Amalekites. But the story takes a great turn even before that when "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (v.6). Other translations use the words encouraged or refreshed.
The text doesn't say exactly how David did this. But it makes me wonder, In what ways can we strengthen, encourage, or refresh ourselves in the Lord when we're feeling discouraged?
First, we can remember what God has done. We can list the ways He has cared for us in the past, and how He has provided for us or answered a prayer request.
Second, we can remember what God has promised. "Be strong and of good courage; . . . for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Josh. 1:9).
Like David, let's learn to strengthen ourselves in the Lord, and then let's leave the rest with Him. — Anne Cetas
"I will strengthen," so take courage,
Child of God, so weak and frail.
God has said so, and it must be,
For His promise cannot fail! —Anon.
"For some of us the unfairness of life is so galling that we can barely hide our bitterness, which often exudes onto others. Our deepest resentment and blame may be secretly directed at God. Perhaps because we fear the wrath, disapproval, or abandonment of God, we hide these dark unwanted feelings even from ourselves. We unconsciously curse God in the darkness of our interior being, believing that as long as we don't know that these feelings exist, then we are not held responsible for them.
But Job's wife was right. At the height of Job's misery, when God gave Satan the freedom not only to take all that he loved and possessed but also to afflict his body with putrefying sores, Job's wife told him to curse God and die. Although her motivations were ambiguous and may have been less than honorable, her disturbing exhortation holds an important and often overlooked truth. Sometimes, we need to take the risk of cursing God and dying."
"Have you ever asked God, "Why is this happening to me?" Find answers to the hardships of life in this collection of twenty-one biblical reasons for human trials. Perhaps God is expanding your perspective of Him. . .or preparing you for greater blessing. . .or enhancing your evangelistic outreach. . .or calling you to increased prayer."
Exodus 22: 18-23
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