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Good afternoon.This is your “Message of Hope” from the Grant Street Church of Christ in Decatur.

Students of history tell us that the average age of the world’s great civilizations has been 200 years with progressions through these cycles:

From bondage to spiritual faith.

From spiritual faith to great courage.

From great courage to liberty.

From liberty to abundance.

From abundance to selfishness.

From selfishness to dependency.

From dependency to bondage.

Pray for our leaders – and our voters as well.

With full recognition of my own failures, allow me to offer some suggestions for raising children.

Good morning. I am Alan Watkins with your “Message of Hope” from the Grant Street Church of Christ.

When a child gets in trouble do not ask why, but try the following.

Tell me what happened.

Do you think that is right or wrong?

What do you thing we ought to do about it?

What could you have done differently?

What do you think you will do next time?

By the way, listen to their answers.

Do something to make a child smile.

Hug someone tightly and say, “I love you.”

Good afternoon. I am Alan Watkins with your “Message of Hope” from the Grant Street Church of Christ.

When tomorrow gets here, the chance to do any good thing today will be gone. You don’t have to cross the ocean or go across town. You can start in your own home with your own family when you get home this evening.

Just do it -- today!