Get Healthy and Get Back to Reading with The Morning Thing

Library WeekThe Morning Thing kicked off the week by celebrating National Library Week and sharing some “Get Healthy” tips from the Knox County Healthy Department.

Here are some interesting facts about libraries.
http://libraryoutsourcing.com/10-interesting-facts-libraries/

Find out more about the Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County!
This is a very active place with special events for readers of every age.
http://www.knox.net/

Here is more information about National Library Week.
http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/factsheets/nationallibraryweek

Want to get your kids interested in reading? Check out these 10 tips! http://www.mercyhome.org/10-ways-get-your-child-interested-reading

It was also a Get Healthy Monday on the show. 
Studies show that when it comes to making decisions to improve your health, Monday is the day most people make those decisions. The Knox County Health Department and Get Healthy Knox County want you to think of every Monday as an opportunity to do something to improve your health.The Knox County Health Department and Get Healthy Knox County want you to think of every Monday as an opportunity to do something to improve your health – Make that decision to lose a few pounds, get exercising, make a doctor’s appointment, stop smoking – Make every Monday the day to start getting healthy.

Do you know your numbers…your health numbers?
We live our lives by the numbers: phone numbers, PIN numbers, stock market numbers. When it comes to health, you should live by the numbers, too.

The key health numbers to know are: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI).

Doctors test most of these numbers at annual check-ups – which begs the question – when was the last time you had a checkup? It’s important that you know your numbers and understand what they mean. By keeping your numbers within a healthy range, you can greatly improve your health and reduce your risk for heart disease and other illnesses.

Blood Pressure When it comes to your blood pressure number, pay attention to the top number – the systolic pressure, which indicates the pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood. A systolic reading above 140 is considered too high and warrants seeing your doctor. Your Blood Pressure goal is 120 over 80 or less.

Cholesterol When it comes to cholesterol, there are really three numbers to know – your total cholesterol, your “healthy” cholesterol, called HDL and your “bad” cholesterol, called LDL.

The normal range for total cholesterol is 200 or less. The optimal range for HDL cholesterol is more than 60 and LDL cholesterol should be less than 100. There are no definite symptoms of high cholesterol, so it’s important to see your doctor and know your cholesterol numbers.

Blood Sugar or Glucose Glucose is sugar stored in your blood as your body’s main source of energy. Your fasting blood sugar number must be measured after an 8-hour fast. Fasting is key since ingesting food—say, a banana an hour beforehand—would raise blood sugar levels and could create a false pre-diabetic or diabetic reading. Your FBS can be determined with a simple blood test or a finger stick test.

A fasting blood sugar number above 100 is considered pre-diabetic; treatment measures should be discussed with a physician.

Body Mass Index Your body mass index (BMI) measures your weight in relation to your height. A BMI over 25 means that you are overweight and a number over 30 indicates obesity. That extra weight can lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses.

Your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index numbers are key indicators of your risk for serious illness. If you know these important numbers, you can make changes to improve your health.

Small changes can make a big difference. So start today. It’s Get Healthy Monday!

The Morning Thing “Week In Review” – Easter Week

 easter-weekend

We are starting a new tradition for The Morning Thing Blog. Every Friday, we will post a list of topics that we covered for the past week. We will provide links to the articles and information that we share weekday mornings from 6-9.

We hope that you will go through this list of topics and dig a little deeper to find helpful and encouraging information for you and your family. It is our passion and desire to provide you with fun and inspiration that will strengthen YOU and your family every weekday morning as you start your day. Thanks for listening! We’ll see you Monday at 6am!

The Morning Thing 3/30 – 4/3/15

We have some special features to get your day started!
National News updates from the Associated Press every hour
WNZR State and Local News 7am & 8am
Weather every 15 minutes
The Morning Thing Game of the Day 7:20am
Birthdays and Anniversaries 7:40am
Focus on the Family Minute 7:50am

The Morning Thing Game of the Day at 7:20am is your chance to win! Monday through Thursday – you get a chance to win a $5.00 gift certificate to Southside Diner. On Friday – we’ll have a surprise prize every week!

It was Easter Week! Each day, we shared some special bible verses for Easter. We also took a Journey to the Cross with daily activities for kids for the week of Easter.

Easter Bible Verses: http://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/easter-bible-verses/

Journey to the cross: http://www.jesus-without-language.net/holy-week-review/

PLUS, we gave away tickets to the ALIVE FESTIVAL every day this week!
Click here to see the amazing lineup. http://www.alive.org/

On Monday,  Marcy and Jenna, shared some Easter traditions. How do you celebrate the holiday at your house?http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/holidays/celebrating-the-easter-season/easter-traditions-that-matter

They shared a conversation with Gigi and Brandon Gonazalez Cottrell from the Salvation Army about their upcoming father/daughter dance.

https://soundcloud.com/wnzr/brandon-and-gigi-gonzalez-cotrell-march-2015

It was also a GET HEALTHY Monday. They shared some tips from the Knox County Health Department and a chance to win a Get Healthy Prize Package.

Get Healthy Tips – Drink MORE Water.
A simple step to better health is to drink more water. Water is the second most popular beverage in the U.S. after soft drinks. This is a scary stat, since sugary soda is a huge health hazard, upping the risk of obesity, stroke, and other heart problems. However, these dangers can be avoided if people choose to drink water, which doesn’t have negative side effects. So help put the sugary stuff to the side and make water the number one drink of choice. When it comes to thirst, put water first.

There are a number of reasons you should drink more water:
Water can keep your body in balance. Roughly 60 percent of the body is made of water. Drinking enough H2O maintains the body’s fluid balance, which helps transport nutrients in the body, regulate body temperature, digest food, and more.

Drinking water could also help with weight loss. Numerous studies have found a connection between water consumption and losing a few pounds. The secret? – Water simply helps people feel full, and as a result consume fewer calories.

Water can increase your productivity at work and studies show that water can help you think better, concentrate and stay alert. A study in London found a link between students bringing water into an exam room and better grades, suggesting H2O promotes clearer thinking. While it’s unclear if drinking the water had anything to do with a better score, it doesn’t hurt to try it out!

When you feel tired, try drinking water. One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is tiredness.

The amount of water people need per day is up for debate, but studies suggest adults need nine to 16 cups of H2O. However this number varies depending on activity level, age, and how much water people are consuming in coffee, tea, or water-rich veggies and fruit. Here’s how to keep yourself hydrated: Begin by drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up, and 30 minutes before eating any big meal. (This will help control appetite, too.) Get in the habit of keeping a water bottle on hand at all times. And if the taste beings to bore, spice up the taste buds with a squeeze of citrus to the glass! Before you know it, all the benefits of water will be right at your fingertips… and in your body

Whatever healthy thing you decide to do …and we do want you to choose to something healthy for yourself – whether it’s something small like drinking more water –  or something big like joining a gym – do it today…. it’s Get Healthy Monday.

On Tuesday, Wesley and Josh Pope, talked about the Easter Candy and some unique recipes using your Easter candy.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/eastercandy1.html

http://fillyourplate.org/blog/twenty-fun-facts-about-jelly-beans/

http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/25-fun-easter-candy-trivia-facts/

http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/7505/peeps-trivia/

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-events/easter/desserts/candy/

http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/808489/leftover-easter-candy-recipes

On Wednesday, Marcy and Faith, celebrated April Fool’s Day by sharing the greatest April Fool’s Day jokes of all time. They also shared some yummy dinner menu ideas for your family.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/april-fools-day-top-10-1788823

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/holiday—celebration-recipes/easter-recipes/top-10-easter-dinner-ideas#1

On Thursday, Jenna and Wesley, celebrated National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day with some yummy recipes using America’s 2 favorite ingredients. They also celebrated National Children’s Book Day by reading some of the greatest children’s books on the list.

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/April/pbandjday.htm

http://www.buzzfeed.com/vdlr/56-peanut-butter-and-jelly-recipes-44qs

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10630229/15-best-childrens-books-of-all-time.html

http://www.nypl.org/childrens100

On Friday, Marcy and her daughter Rachel celebrated PTLIGF – Praise the Lord, It’s GOOD Friday!

This Friday was very special. We shared 3 hours of songs picked specifically for Easter.
Our Morning Thing Fave 5 featured our 5 favorite Easter Songs.
https://soundcloud.com/wnzr/morning-thing-favorite-easter-songs-2015

We talked about the mini-series AD – the Bible Continues, which premieres on NBC on Easter Sunday.
Here’s a link to hear Executive Producers, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett talk with Jim Daly on Focus on the Family.

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/a-bold-witness-for-christ-on-network-tv

In the 8am hour, we shared our April MVNU Presidential Update with Dr. Henry Spaulding.
https://soundcloud.com/wnzr/april-mvnu-presidential-update-with-dr-henry-spaulding

Have a GREAT weekend.
Remember that The Morning Thing is a GREAT way to start your day. Every weekday morning from 6-9am.

A Look At WinterJam 2015

In addition to sporting events, coffee shops, and naps, Christian concerts are my favorite place to be. I love being in a high energy atmosphere that is entirely centered on our Creator and in an atmosphere where I am surrounded by people of all ages who are having the time of their life worshipping and enjoying the presence of our Lord. Plus, I LOVE music! So for me, there is not a better way to spend my free time.

This past weekend I was in my element. I had the opportunity to attend Winter Jam 2015, and I can’t begin to describe the amount of joy I experienced at this event. Traveling with close friends to experience the Lord with thousands of brothers and sisters in Christ was unforgettable! As a pastor’s kid who grew up in the youth group, I have been to many, many WinterJams and each year they continue to blow my mind. Each artist and band work hard to share their love of music and God with every person in the audience. No one should leave the stadium without feeling the hand of God at work in the arena.

Unlike most concerts, WinterJam brings ten artists to the stage to share their story with the audience. Artists such as for King and Country, Jeremy Camp, Family Force 5, and Newsong shared their music with thousands. Though each artist had an incredible message, two of them really hit home with me this weekend, and I hope they will encourage you as well.

Francesca Battistelli performed her new song “Write Your Story” reminding me that we are all an open book for God, and He writes our story. As a college student, I am in the midst of confusion and chaos surrounding my future. I do not know what I will do after graduation, how I want to use my major, who I will marry, where I will live, or what I want to do with the rest of my life. These decisions and many more are constantly swarming through my head. Though some would say I still have time to decide, that time is quickly slipping away. Because of this, I am often stressed about the future and apprehensive about the present, but Francesca reminded me that He knows my name, and He has written a story for me, far better than I could imagine.

I’m an empty page

I’m an open book

Write Your story on my heart

Come on and make Your Mark

Author of my hope

Maker of the stars

Let me be Your work of art

Won’t you write Your story on my heart

-Francesca Battistelli’s Write Your Story

The last band to take the stage was Skillet, a Christian Rock band that often travels with secular groups. John Cooper, the lead singer of Skillet, shared his love for God and his desire to spread the gospel in everything he does. Cooper shared with us that managers and band members of secular groups often tell him that Skillet could be one of the most successful rock bands if he would stop talking about God. Cooper’s faith and love for God is more important than material possessions. God has called him to live out his faith and share God’s love above all else. John Cooper often quotes Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” This hit home for me. I want to live my faith in such a way that people tell me to stop talking about God. I want others to know through my actions and words that I am a Christian, and I love the Lord with all of my heart.

I’m at war with the world cause I

Ain’t never gonna sell my soul

I’ve already made up my mind

No matter what I can’t be bought or sold

When my faith is getting weak

And I feel like giving in

You breathe into me again.

-Skillet’s Awake and Alive

 

As you can tell, my time at WinterJam 2015 was amazing, and I am thankful for the opportunity to experience the love of God with so many others. I hope you have or will know the energy and excitement of thousands of Christians gathering together for one purpose – to know and worship the one true God.

– Jenna Potts

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