Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Thunderstorms forecast through Friday ... Buckley's hemp bill killed by Oregon Senate ... Gold Hill wants to slow down drivers on main drag ... Thunderstorms forecast through Friday ... Buckley's hemp bill killed by Oregon Senate ... Gold Hill wants to slow down drivers on main drag ... Marketta Gregory: Fight the dark by bringing the light Comment By Marketta Gregory, 
More Content Now MailTribune.com By Marketta Gregory, 
More Content Now Posted Nov. 6, 2014 at 12:01 AM By Marketta Gregory, 
More Content Now Posted Nov. 6, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News You'd think there wouldn't be much wisdom in 140 characters, not space enough for thoughts that inspire. But good writers and great thinkers can sometimes surprise you on Twitter. "We have no shortage of battle-ready Christians. That's the problem. We need Christians who are ready to love." I read the tweet twice and then a third time. This seemingly simply tweet and its author — Ed Cyzewski, who has written several books, including “A Christian Survival Guide: A Lifeline to Faith and Growth,” “ “Unfollowers: Unlikely Lessons on Faith from the Doubters of Jesus” and “Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life” — had my head spinning. Certainly there are times to fight and defend, but what exactly are we fighting for? Are we doing battle out of love and compassion for others or out of fear? When we really look at ourselves, are we spending more time tearing down our opponents or lifting up our neighbors? You don't have to be a trained researcher to notice the trend and see how comments can turn negative and argumentative on social media — how they can rip and slice at a person. I know none of us would ever do that, ever forget that there is a person behind the pixels, but are we doing anything to prevent it? The only way to fight the dark is to bring the light. Are we doing that for our neighbors? When we see the story about the car accident and read the disparaging comments do we just continue to scroll through our news feed or do we write a message of hope? When the controversial subjects pop up, the ones that make our shoulders touch our necks, are our comments civil? Are they helpful? Are they full of truth — and equally full of mercy? What are we contributing to the conversation? Earlier this year I instituted a daily quota for myself — five positive interactions on Facebook and five on Twitter. On the days I stick to it, I hit the like button for everything from cute kid pictures to status updates from bestselling authors. I jot notes of sympathy and encouragement. I find posts from bloggers who have exposed bits of their souls, and I share their articles and praise their work. It's small, I know. But it is light. And I have to believe every little bit helps. Marketta Gregory is a former religion reporter who now shares her own journey of faith with readers. She lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband, their three young boys and one very vocal Pomeranian. To contact Gregory, email [email protected] or write to her at P.O. Box 12923, Rochester, NY 14612. You can also visit the Simply Faithful page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter (@MarkettaGregory).   By Marketta Gregory, 
More Content Now MailTribune.com By Marketta Gregory, 
More Content Now Posted Nov. 6, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501