Love, Civility, Graciousness, Self-Control - LACKING all too often? In INCREASING measure?

If you've been following recent news stories, you'll be familiar with the following PUBLIC outbursts, captured and already seen around the world...

• At the recent 2009 MTV music video awards show, Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for a video award in front of a live audience, taking the microphone away, and claiming that Beyonce should have won the award.
• During the recent U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Serena Williams cursed at and berated tennis officials, costing her a penalty point that ended up being match point.
• During U.S. President Obama's most recent health care speech to Congress, South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson shouted, "You lie" at the President DURING the speech, prompting a reprimand from Congress.

And those are stories that have just happened in the past WEEK!

Examples like these seem to be happening more and more often. AND in this "YouTube/Internet" time in which we're living, these outbursts are captured on video and audio and are uploaded for the world to see almost IMMEDIATELY. Loss of self-control, a lack of graciousness and appropriateness, a growing lack of respect and civility...ALL of it stemming from a lack of LOVE...the love of GOD FIRST...which would naturally lead to putting others before yourself and thereby ALWAYS being FULL of GRACIOUSNESS, as was said about JESUS CHRIST in Luke 4:22 - "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips."

BE CAREFUL THOUGH - As Gwen has always taught from the Word of GOD through this Ministry...we START with the "man in the mirror." Just because these featured politicians, athletes, and entertainers in the public spotlight have been put on display for the world to see doesn't "excuse" even an INTERNAL lack of these qualities in any of us. It is very UNloving towards GOD to overeat. It is very UNgracious before GOD to claim Him as GOD and then go right back out and disobey His beautiful commands, trampling the sacrifice of Jesus all over again. The LACK of civility that accompanies talking behind the back of the boss is appalling and offensive. OH, may we learn from these PUBLIC examples and pledge NEVER to lack the LOVE that comes from GOD...which equates to OBEDIENCE to His commands. "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" - I John 5:3-4.

TODAY on WDWB LIVE, at 3:30pm CST, we'll be discussing these traits, how to LEARN from what we see publicly, and how to put what LOVE really IS into our hearts and into practice. We hope you'll join us!

Back to School - Some great tips!

We ALL are connected, some way and somehow, with school-aged children, and we know that children are finishing up their last few days of Summer break. It's hard to believe that kids are getting ready to go back to school! The Summer has FLOWN by! If you take a look at the statistics on child behavior, overweight percentages, anger, depression, etc. for any length of time, you'll be as ALARMED as we are here at Weigh Down about how this society is rapidly losing POSITIVE influence on our precious kids. Gwen always has had a heart for children, and it's reflected in her messages, audios, videos, and writings. We LOVE putting together materials that HELP you parents out there! The kids being influenced by this Weigh Down message are being taught how to LOVE God with all of their hearts...and they show that by respecting and obeying their parents, teachers, coaches, etc. They are SO HAPPY! They are SO much at PEACE with themselves even at these young ages! It's wonderful to witness and be around a TRULY loving, content, obedient child. If you're a parent and you're almost "pulling your hair out" because maybe your children are out of control at times, there IS HOPE! Check out this short video clip from Weigh Down's "Zion Kids" DVD. It should put a smile on your face and give you a glimpse of how GRATEFUL we all ought to be to be blessed with children! After you view the clip, feel free to COMMENT below on what your challenges are in parenting...