The Morning Thing Shares Social Media Pitfalls and How to Overcome Them!

Today on The Morning Thing we shared 4 pitfalls that can be found on social media. It is important to identify these potential pitfalls and also to know how to overcome them.

“Despite its increasingly bad rap, social media is by no means all bad. When used with a healthy dose of humility and common sense, social media can be an effective way to network, stay in touch with friends and family, and keep your finger on the pulse of current events. However, when you use social media to feed your ego or malign others, you’re compromising your values for the sake of “likes” and the approval of online friends over the approval of your Heavenly God.”

Read the full list from Crosswalk.com HERE!

How is your Monday? Here are some simple ways to spread happiness and kindness today!

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”
Amelia Earhart

Today, The Morning Thing shared some wonderful insight from The Positivity Blog.
Author Henrik Edberg put together a list of 15 simple ways to spread kindness and happiness to those around you.
Click HERE to read his full article.

A very simple way to spread more happiness in your own little world is through kindness. It’s often an easy and quick thing you can do as you move through your daily life.

Here are 15 simple ways to do it.
Pick one of them that resonates with you and start using it today.

1. Express your gratitude. 

2. Replace the judgments. 

3. Replace the unconstructive criticism. 

4. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. 

5. Recall how people’s kindness made you feel.

6. Express kindness for something you may often take for granted.

7. Hide a surprising and kind note.

8. Just be there.

9. Remember the small acts of kindness too.

10. Give someone an uplifting gift.

11. Help someone out practically.

12. Help the people in your life see how they make a difference in their lives.

13. Remember the 3 reasons for kindness at the start of this article.

14. Pay it forward.

15. Be kinder towards yourself.

For a more in-depth look for each practical tip, click HERE to see Henrik’s full article.

The Morning Thing Friday Favorites 9/20/24 – we are ready for Sonfest!

For our Friday Favorites this week, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite songs from artists coming to Sonfest 2024! We hope to see you on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday! Gates open at Noon!

Click HERE to hear from our hosts.

Xander loves Running Home by Cochren & Co.

Marcy loves Perfectly Loved by Rachael Lampa and TobyMac

Alyssa loves The Prodigal by Josiah Queen

Shawn loves Somebody to You by Rachael Lampa and Andrew Ripp

Here is the Sonfest Schedule:

  • 12 PM – Gates Open
  • 1 PM – Tyler Maddux & Co. (Main Stage)
  • 1:35 PM – Lights & Sounds (Side Stage)
  • 2:35 PM – Josiah Queen (Main Stage)
  • 3:05 PM – Cold Streets (Side Stage)
  • 4:05 PM – Rachael Lampa (Main Stage)
  • 4:50 PM – Monarchs to Oblivion (Side Stage)
  • 5:45 PM – Cochren & Co. (Main Stage)
  • 6:30 PM – SafeKept (Side Stage)
  • 7:45 PM – Hulvey (Main Stage)

WNZR Talks to Rachael Lampa Ahead of Sonfest 2024!

WNZR’s Alyssa Sidle caught up with Rachael Lampa ahead of Sonfest 2024!

Rachael talked about her career in Christian music, what inspired her to start making music, the power of Christian radio, a local ministry her family is involved in, and lots more!

Listen to the full conversation below or by clicking HERE!

WNZR Talks to Michael Cochren Ahead of Sonfest 2024!

WNZR’s Alyssa Sidle caught up with Michael Cochren from Cochren & Co. ahead of Sonfest 2024!

Michael talked about what first inspired him to start making music, how his faith impacts his music, the power of Christian radio, and the message he hopes people take away from his ministry.

Listen to the full conversation with Michael below or by clicking HERE!

United Way of Knox County Hosts First Annual Day of Caring: A Day of Service and Community Building

The Morning Thing shares exciting news from the United Way of Knox County!

United Way of Knox County proudly celebrated its first annual Day of Caring, a remarkable day of community service and volunteerism that took place on Friday, September 13, 2024. This inaugural event brought together individuals and business volunteers from a wide range of organizations, including Kokosing Construction, Knox Community Hospital, Park National Bank, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Knox Public Health, the Winter Sanctuary, Hope Now Furniture Bank, Interchurch, Fredericktown Fire Department, and the American Red Cross.

Volunteers participated in a variety of impactful projects across Knox County, demonstrating the power of collaboration and the collective commitment to making a difference in the community.

Key activities included:

  • Free smoke alarm installation in homes across Fredericktown, in partnership with the American Red Cross and Fredericktown Fire Department.
  • Home construction alongside Habitat for Humanity to support families in need of affordable housing.
  • Renovation and construction work at Interchurch in Centerburg, providing much-needed improvements to their facility.
  • Service projects at local community organizations, including Salvation Army, Knox County Head Start, and The Freedom Center.

United Way is deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of the many volunteers who contributed their time and energy to make the Day of Caring a success. Their dedication is a testament to the strength of Knox County’s spirit of giving and service.

“We are thrilled with the outpouring of support for our first Day of Caring,” said United Way of Knox County Program Director Halle Krajenski. “The passion and enthusiasm of our volunteers made a tremendous impact in just one day, and we are excited to see how this event will continue to grow and strengthen our community in the years to come.”

The Day of Caring also served as an inspiring showcase of the community programs and initiatives made possible by generous United Way donations. Each project exemplified the meaningful, lasting impact that United Way-supported efforts have on the lives of Knox County residents.

As United Way kicks off their annual Charitable Campaign, Executive Director Katie Ellis shared her thoughts: “This day is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together for a common cause. The projects completed today reflect the heart of our mission—to create real, lasting change. As we launch this year’s campaign, we are grateful for the volunteers, partner organizations, and donors who make it all possible. Together, we can continue building a network of social support for everyone in Knox County.”

For more information about United Way of Knox County and how you can get involved, visit www.uwayknox.org or contact liveunited@uwayknox.org.

Photos courtesy of Terry Thurston and United Way of Knox County

Today is National Family and Community Day. How will you celebrate?

Days Of The Year.com tells us that Family and Community Day is a special time to bring families and communities closer together. This day emphasizes the importance of spending quality time with loved ones, building strong family bonds, and fostering community spirit.

It serves as a reminder to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and focus on the people who matter most to us​.

Community involvement strengthens the sense of belonging and pride, encouraging people to contribute positively to their surroundings.

Through shared activities and interactions, Family and Community Day aims to enhance mutual understanding and respect among community members​.

Moreover, Family and Community Day offers a chance to engage in activities that build memories and reinforce connections.

Click HERE to read more about the history of this special days and ways to celebrate.

Click HERE for 7 Ways To Get Your Family Involved In Your Local Community.

The following activities are perfect ways to get the whole family invested in your community. For more examples for each activity, read the full article HERE.

1. Volunteer

2. Help the Neighbors

3. Join a Community Recreation Center

4. Start a Community Garden

5. Make it Virtual

6. Thank Community Helpers

7. Send Care Packages

Would you like to make better use of your time?

All the hosts on The Morning Thing yell – YES! If your schedule is like our schedules, you could use help finding balance for your daily schedule.

Marcy found this insightful article from Crosswalk. They share 6 ways to make better use of your time. These tips can become daily habits that will help us find the balance that so desperately needs.
Check out the FULL article HERE from author Vivian Bricker.
We are including some highlights below.

1. Take Time to Read the Bible. The Bible contains everything we need to know in order to live holy and godly lives (2 Peter 1:32 Timothy 3:16-17). By taking time to read the Bible, we will automatically be making better use of our time. Even if we only spend 15-20 minutes in the Bible, we are practicing using our time wisely. 

2. Be Active in Prayer. Prayer is our direct line to God. Whenever we pray, we can rest in the sure knowledge that God hears our prayers. The Apostle John tells us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14). With this promise in our hearts, we need to be going to Him everyday in prayer. 

3. Steer Clear of Distractions. There are many distractions in our lives, such as social media, endless text messages, or nonstop scrolling on the Internet. All of these things need to be put aside. They are a waste of time and impact our lives negatively.

4. Prioritize Your Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health. By taking time to feed into our wellbeing each day, it will help our lives to become more happier and healthier. 

5. Practice Saying “No”. Practicing saying “no” will be difficult, yet it is something that must be done. We don’t need to overwhelm ourselves or stretch ourselves too thin. By saying “no” to things that we don’t need or can’t handle, it will help us make better use of our time.

6. Start a Routine. Starting a routine can help us organize our time better and use it more wisely. By having a routine and sticking with it, our days will become much more predictable and controlled. Rather than doing things on the spur of the moment, we will start outlining time in our day to do specific tasks. This will help us to have more control over our day and feel more organized. 

Author Vivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.

https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/ways-to-make-better-use-of-your-time.html

The Morning Thing Friday Favorites – we love Disney musicals!

All this week on the show, we have shined the spotlight on the MTVarts Production of The Little Mermaid Jr.
In honor of opening night (tonight), our Friday Favorites took on a musical theme..
This week for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite Disney Animated Movies.
Click HERE to hear from Alyssa, Xander, Shawn and Marcy.

WNZR Talks with the Cast of MTVArts’ The Little Mermaid Jr!

WNZR’s Alyssa Sidle spoke with several cast members from MTVArts’ Production of The Little Mermaid Jr! We spoke with Kiarah Smith (Ariel), Peyton Hauenstein-Cline (Prince Eric), Karma Carpenter (Ursula), Lyvia VanValkenburg (Flounder), and Madison Sichina (Scuttle.)

The cast members talked about their different roles in the show, their favorite songs, what they have enjoyed being a part of the cast, and lots more!

Listen to our conversations with them below or by clicking HERE!

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑