Social Media Archives - Forward Movement News

Dear friends in Christ,

Sometimes it seems that our online lives are more trouble than they’re worth. Emails and spam fill our inboxes, and there’s lots of bad content on social media. But we shouldn’t let the negatives of online life overwhelm the good stuff. Social media can be a wonderful way to stay connected with friends, and technology makes it possible to keep up with all manner of things that we might care about.

This year, I decided to make a few changes. For instance, on Twitter, I decided to have a bit more fun and to provoke more faith conversations. I’ve also decided to use technology to help me in my discipleship every day, especially in support of my daily prayer and study.

We’re still early in the new year, so now might be a good time for you to think about your discipleship and your digital life. Are you satisfied? Are there ways you can change your online life to reflect your commitment to following Jesus?

Forward Movement offers lots of resources and content to support digital discipleship. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. If you follow us, you’ll know what we’re up to, and we try to provide a stream of inspiring content.

If you enjoy podcasts, you might try our Forward Day by Day podcast. We also have new podcasts for morning prayer. There’s a shorter podcast with two scripture readings and prayers that match what’s on our app and website. And there’s a longer podcast with all three daily scripture readings and a few more prayers. You can say morning prayer on your daily commute!

You can find me on Twitter, and I’d love to connect with you there.

If we want our online world to be better, let’s make it better. I hope we who follow Jesus are always learning, always growing, always sharing the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Gunn
Executive Director

Today’s Flash Sale: Are We There Yet?

Whether we’re taking the trip of a lifetime or the trip simply feels like it’s taking forever, the question on everyone’s lips is: Are We There Yet? As we make our way through Lent, we will come to realize that the journey—the wrestling and the wandering—is the real flesh and blood of our endeavor.

Our companions on this Lenten journey are fellow pilgrims, sharing their stories about following yellow arrows along the Camino and white blazes through the Appalachian Trail to bearing witness to the pain of historic lynching sites in the American South. Contributors recount their search for healing and wholeness at Marian shrines, in a reunion with birth parents, and around a prayer circle in a psychiatric hospital.

Join us as we make our way toward Jerusalem with Jesus. Through this holy season, may we be open to the miracles of love and life, awestruck by the One who is both our journey and our destination.

Regular: $7
Today: $5.25

*Discount is valid until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Dear friends in Christ,

Most of the time, I’m grateful for social media. Facebook allows me to keep up with lots of people that I would otherwise lose touch with. Twitter is a fun way to have conversations with people I might not otherwise talk with. And Instagram is just fun…and fun to look at.

There’s a downside to social media too, of course. Some people suffer from the pressure to present themselves in a certain way. Others feel bad because it looks like everyone else has it all figured out. Social media can expose deep differences, and we don’t always use our opportunities to find deep connection. In other words, it’s fraught. When it comes to political or moral issues, it’s easy to degenerate into either a yelling chamber or an echo chamber. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

What if we used social media as a way to learn about those with whom we differ? What if we focused on forming connections? What if we proclaimed the Good News a bit more often?

Not too long ago, I had a conversation online about when to wade into difficult conversations or debates — and when to step away. It’s not always easy, is it? Sometimes it’s worth entering a conversation for learning from others or to educate others. But often enmity will be the only result of a comment.

Anyway, in this conversation, someone half-jokingly said we needed a prayer for this. For some reason, the serenity prayer popped into my head. It would have worked as is, but I made a few edits. I want to try to live this way myself, and you might find it helpful, too.

God, grant me the serenity
to scroll past pointless arguments,
the courage to weigh in on rare occasions,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one post at a time;
accepting social media as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that you will make all things right
if I surrender to your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with you forever in the next.

(Adapted with apologies from the well-known and life-changing serenity prayer.)

Yours faithfully,

Scott Gunn
Executive Director

Image: Pixabay

Today’s Flash Sale: Prayers New and Old AND Prayers for All Occasions

Prayers New and Old
Enrich your daily devotions with Prayers New and Old. It’s the perfect blend of all of your favorite psalms, intercessions, praises and thanksgivings from The Book of Common Prayer with new prayers to enhance your prayer collection. With prayers like “The Lord’s Prayer,” “The Apostle’s Creed,” and “For Refreshment in Daily Life,” Prayers New and Old introduces young and old to experience the richness of prayer. The book is pocket-sized and indexed by topic so you can pray anywhere. Book is bound with a dark blue faux leather cover, with gold edges, and a ribbon.

Prayers for All Occasions
Find the right prayer for the right time in Prayers for All Occasions. This pocket-sized volume offers a diverse collection of prayers for family, life events, church work, and other unique occasions. Indexed by topic so you can find prayers quickly, Prayers for All Occasions is ideal for personal devotion or as a quick prayer reference tool for clergy. Fits easily in purse or pocket. With faux leather cover, gold edges, and ribbon.

Regular: $12
Today: $9

*Discount is valid until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

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