As Thanksgiving Approaches

Let me give you an interesting take on the need for gratitude (aside from the hundreds of biblical injunctions of course). The magazine Inc. ran an article titled "Listening to Complainers Is Bad for Your Brain." Apparently, neuroscientists have learned to measure brain activity when faced with various stimuli, including a long gripe session. And the news isn't good.

The article summarizes the research:
"Being exposed to too much complaining can actually make you dumb. Research shows that exposure to 30 minutes or more of negativity—including viewing such material on TV—actually peels away neurons in the brain's hippocampus. That's the part of your brain you need for problem solving. Basically, it turns your brain to mush." The research essentially points to the fact that too much complaining, whether listening to it or giving it out, does something harmful to your brain. That’s why thanksgiving is so important.

Chris Pappalardo, in an article for CT magazine titled, “This Thanksgiving, I’m Thankful for Difficult People, writes about how the first thanksgiving holiday came about… “It was in the fall of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued two landmark statements. The first was the famous Gettysburg Address in which Lincoln commemorated the battlefield of Gettysburg. The other statement, made just weeks before, may be a bit more surprising. On October 3, 1863, President Lincoln instituted the first official Thanksgiving holiday.

Lincoln wrote, “It has seemed to me fit and proper that [the gracious gifts of the Most High God] should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.” Thus, Lincoln set apart the last Thursday of November as “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father.” Apparently, in the midst of the worst war our nation had ever seen, Lincoln thought the time was ripe for gratitude.

We may be tempted to think Lincoln’s statement of gratitude was inappropriate, naïve, or even offensive. Reading the entire text of Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, however, disabuses the modern reader from the conclusion that he had (somehow) forgotten about the Civil War. Lincoln candidly addressed the horrors of the Civil War, a war “of unequaled magnitude and severity” that had transformed tens of thousands of Americans into ‘widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife.’ But he coupled this hardship with hope, recognizing the hand of God guiding him through the valley of the shadow of death.”

Conflict and gratitude. Hardship and hope. Lincoln wasn’t confused. He was seeing thanksgiving through a biblical lens. That is the reason Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) No matter what is going on in or around you, find somethings to thank God for this week.

Reach the World… our offering continues to grow! Join in as we bless our mission partners. Also, join in as we bring food to help fill the pantry of Love In Action ministries.

Prayer Summit… Sunday from 5:00-6:00 PM in our worship center… these are special times of guided prayer and one of the fastest hours you’ll experience. Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Make this a priority—I’ll see you at 5:00.

And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

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