Daily Grit by Wes Thorp

#23--69 Things I've Learned--Voters and politicians should be demanding a free and vigorous news media

This is my old journalism history textbook from the School of Journalism at Michigan State University.

Living in the State Capital city of Michigan, you would think there would be healthy newspaper that would serve as the eyes and ears of the community.  Why?  

It's the governmental seat for the whole state.  One of the largest institutions of higher education in the world-Michigan State University-is located right next door and it's re-emerging as the hub for high-tech auto manufacturing.  

Lots of stuff is happening and government at all levels is involved.  Practices and processes are changing at warp speed leaving the everyday person not understanding and not sure who to trust.

Throughout the history of this country, it has been the newspaper that has kept government and other portions of our culture accountable.  Before the current age, journalists prided themselves in trying to present both sides of an issue.  Today, it seems that the media has a point of view.  Readers are left with one side and usually that's just a partial story.

Our democracy, our economy and our future will be decided by the health of our news media.  Right now, it doesn't seem too healthy.  

Will it ever regain, its historical stature?

#22--69 Things I've Learned--It's too easy to think you're done after you retire

 

These are my notes from Sunday's sermon on "faithfulness" at Ada Bible Church.

 

 

Do you ever feel like you need to hear the Sunday sermon again?  I need to hear Pastor Jeff Manion's sermon on faithfulness again.  It's based on the fruits of the spirit and how God works to build his character into each of us.

God has been faithful to me and he wants me to be faithful to him and he has promised to help me with that.  

During my retirement I've felt, at times, like I've lost my purpose, my identity and all that stuff.  I don't want to overstate it and I don't want to understate it either.

The sermon Sunday was a clear reminder that God is here with me and he is faithful to me.  My life is a marathon where I need to be faithful to him and others as I walk step by step.

In his sermon, he asked everybody who has emotionally checked out of relationships, jobs and life in general.  Pastor Manion asked, "Who retired you?"  

Then he said, "If you're not dead, you're not done."  I'm not dead and I'm not done.  Here's a clip from that sermon.