When it all falls apart

Sometimes, I try to make God like me—constrained by time and space, overtaken by anxiety, fearful of the next step.

Sometimes, I choose to put my faith in my own ability to get me out of a mess or to carry me past anxiety. And when it all gets to be too much, I find myself feeling abandoned and overwhelmed, tired and broken.

Today, I walked into work feeling that way. And I opened up the March issue of ec, an issue I’d edited months before and read the devotion for today (the Monday devo on page 58).

And guess what it was about? Trusting God. The intro asked me who I was putting my trust in—God or myself. The Scripture questions told me to seek confidence from the promises of God’s Word. The challenge asked me to trust the Lord as I seek to live according to His will and be His light in this world.

On the facing page, I’d placed a quote from one of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams, with the exhortation to “make living for Christ your focus.”

I didn’t know all those weeks ago when I was editing this issue that those words were for me. I didn’t know that God would use my own work and my own words to speak truth into my life. And while I still feel incredibly unworthy of all God has chosen to give me and this work He has asked me to do, I am humbled that He hears the pleas of my heart and knows the burdens I carry.

So today, I’m turning to the promises of God. That He isn’t like me. That He thinks I’m worth it, so much so that He would give His only Son for me. That there is this desire in me to really live in obedience to what He has said and that He will honor that.

And most of all, I’m realizing that confidence in God isn’t something you just get. Oh, I believe and I know that Jesus is my only hope, but I also realize that confidence comes through having the opportunity to let go and trust Him. Which is what I’m striving to do with every fiber of my being today.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

If you need more news of all things random and strange, check out “Snippets and Soundbites” on page 38 of this month’s (and every month’s) issue of ec. We’re always on the lookout for random bits of strange news to send your way!

• Worried about rent in these financially tough times? You wouldn’t be alone. But an apartment company is offering to help. Goldberg Cos., Inc., is starting its “Layoff-Proof Lease” this Saturday. Tenants will qualify after they've signed a 12-month lease and have made three rent payments. Goldberg says when they provide a termination letter or other proof of job loss, they will receive 60 days rent-free, and after that time they may back out of the lease. Golberg Cos., Inc., operates apartment complexes in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and Texas lose their jobs. Read more here. And share your ideas for reaching out to those in need during this tough economy in the comments. What can we do to help?

• Think this world is going to the birds? Well, maybe, since a parrot in Denver recently received an award from the local Red Cross chapter. Willie, a Quaker parrot, was honored with the Animal Lifesaver Award after he alerted his owner that the little girl she was baby-sitting was choking on her breakfast. The woman had left the room for a minute, but Willie noticed the girl choking and repeatedly said “Mama, baby” while flapping his wings. The commotion brought his owner back in the room and she performed the Heimlich maneuver on the little girl, saving her life. Read all about it here.

• NCAA tournament action started up again last night. In the first game of the night, #1 seed UConn rolled over Purdue to advance to the Elite Eight. Pittsburgh had a tough time with Xavier, but ended up on top and moved on to the next round of the tournament. Missouri, playing Memphis in a game widely believed to be in the bag for the Memphis Tigers, also came out on top, moving on to the Elite Eight, for the first time since 2002. (ec's editor, Mandy Crow, is very proud of her alma mater! Go TIGERS!) In the final game of the night, Duke fell to a tough Villanova team. The remaining four members of the Elite Eight will be decided in tonight's game. (We think it will be Louisville, Kansas, UNC, and Syracuse—but we've been wrong before!) In other news, Mandy, ec's editor, now leads the team's bracket challenge. Take that, Jen!

• Like pizza? So d we. Actually, we may have taking loving pizza to the level of an art! Italian chefs also love pizza; what they don't love is a new vending machine soon to be unveiled in Rome that bakes fresh pizzas in minutes for a few euros. The machine uses infra red rays and other technology to knead dough and make pizzas in about three minutes. It has windows so you can watch the whole process,and the company behind the machine hopes it's successful so they can set up shop across Europe and in the U.S. Currently, the machine only offers 4 toppings, but that could change. Read all about it here. Read all about pizza here. (Yes, we're hungry now, too!)
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World Pollution

Don’t worry. I’m not going to talk about saving the environment or greenhouse gases or global warming here. I have a more pressing issue to discuss. Is the world polluting you? I ask this because I think it’s poisoning me.

I was reading James 1, and verse 27 smacked me upside the head: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

It literally stopped me in my tracks as I began to think about ways the world pollutes me. For example, that latest Lady Gaga song on the radio—have you really listened to the words? She’s just playing with a guy’s mind (and being sexually suggestive) in the song, and that’s not how we’re supposed to treat each other. And then, when I got to work and felt guilty for eating a brownie because it’ll keep me from being as thin as some super-cute celebrity, I realized that I was listening to what the world says beauty is (being skinny, tan, with good hair and nice clothes, etc.). We read books about vampires, witchcraft, and sorcery, and think it’s all good, clean fun. We absorb almost anything on the news, in a magazine, or a textbook without evaluating it next to God’s standards.

Maybe we should quit being so worried about us polluting the world and start being more concerned with it polluting us. (I am not, however, advocating that we be careless or irresponsible with the environment.) Stop and think about it. What are you taking into your mind or body every day that is contrary to God’s Word? How is your thinking toxic to the life He wants you to live?

Evaluate what you listen to. Does it make you think about sex, or drinking, being depressed, or getting revenge? I’m not sure about you, but I used to really like rap and hip hop music. I liked the beat and the way it made me want to dance. I noticed that when I tried to work out to it though, it made me tense, angry even. (No lie. When I run, I do so much better if I listen to rock or more mellow music.) And eventually, the rap all started to sound the same. So I’ve taken the rap stations off my radio preset buttons, and I’ve severely pared down my playlists. Maybe you could try listening to some other types of music, if you’ve noticed that what you normally listen to leaves you grouchy, disrespectful, or angry.

Evaluate what you watch. Does it advocate cussing, homosexuality, being disrespectful to authority figures, dressing inappropriately, backstabbing friends, or hooking up? (Ahem. The following shows do all those things: “Gossip Girl,” “90210,” “Grey’s Anatomy” . . . do you really want me to keep going? I’m not even going to get started on the movies.)

Evaluate what you read. Do the books you read romanticize sex, relationships, or violence? Do the magazines you look at ooze sexuality and material possessions? Would you feel uncomfortable reading the magazine in front of your parents or grandparents? Then maybe you should find some other reading material.

I’m not saying you should sell everything you have and become a hermit in order to avoid the world’s influence. But you shouldn’t take it all in and absorb it like a sponge, either. THINK! Ask God for wisdom to evaluate the messages you hear. Don’t take to heart those things that don’t help you. We live in a world that pushes lots of messages. Most of them are garbage. Being concerned with pollution is fine, but just make sure you’re not letting the world pollute you.

Daylight is coming!

by Cynthia Hopkins

If you’re going to run a race well, you don’t just head out there on the day of the run and legitimately think you’ll do your best. To do your best, you have to train and work on your endurance, so that you’re well prepared on race day.

So how do you actually prepare for Easter? Easter is the most important holiday for Christians, the Sunday when we commemorate and celebrate what Jesus did for us—what His death and resurrection actually means and how it affects our daily lives.

Christianity is about relationship rather than religion, and how you celebrate Easter reveals much about that relationship.

How you celebrate says what you believe
How you celebrate Easter shows what you believe about Jesus. Even Jesus-followers can be confused about His purpose in the world. You see, even though the disciples had spent every day with Jesus, they still didn’t get it. They didn’t understand what His life was all about. They didn’t understand that He didn’t come to fix socio­economic inequalities; He came to save the world from sin.

Jesus lived on earth so that He could die for the sins of every person who ever lives. That’s why Easter is the single most important Christian celebration. Easter gives meaning to Christmas. When we celebrate Jesus’ birth with Christmas carols and pageants, we’re acknowledging the fact that Jesus came to this earth so that He could make a way for our salvation. When we ready our hearts and minds for that special day of celebrating His death and resurrection, we pour out an invaluable fragrant offering of our own.

How you celebrate says what your priorities are
How you celebrate Easter exposes your present priorities. Those same disciples were in the garden with Jesus the night He was betrayed. Jesus knew what was coming, and He told the disciples to pray, but they couldn’t even stay awake for one hour before they fell asleep. When Jesus woke them up, He said, “Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). He wanted the disciples to pray because they were about to face temptation like never before, and the world would be watching. How the disciples responded would effectively determine the future of Christianity.

It’s not a difficult thing to let the cares of the world overtake eternal priorities in your heart and mind. Take some time—some focused, set-aside time—to focus on Easter, not just because it’s a holiday or it’s the holiday you think Christians, of all people, should be excited about. Prepare for it because of what it means—because of what Jesus did for you.

How you celebrate says what you think about the future
How you celebrate Easter reveals your hope for the future.

The problem with self–sacrifice is that it’s never going to be good enough, no matter how hard you try. If your hope for eternity rests on your good works, then you’re going to fall short every time. Preparing for Easter has little to do with personal sacrifice, and everything to do with setting hearts and minds on the eternal hope that is promised to us in Christ Jesus.

Jesus told the religious leaders who questioned Him before His death, “In the future, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26:64). No matter what yesterday, today, or tomorrow holds, He is coming back. His death made way for His resurrection, and His resurrection paved the way for His victorious return. Looking forward to Easter is looking forward to His return and our blessed privilege of eternity with Him in heaven.

Jesus Christ is our salvation, our help for the present, and our hope for the future. Will your heart and mind be ready to celebrate and worship Him this Easter? Easter is coming. The world is watching.. ec

9 Ways to prepare for easter
• Participate in the Lord’s Supper at your church.
• Avoid the commercialism surrounding the weekend.
• Read one of the Gospels start to finish.
• Do your part to make amends with anyone with whom you are in conflict.
• Read a book about the meaning of Easter such as He Chose You, 3:16, or And the Angels Were Silent, all by Max Lucado.
• Journal prayers of thanks for Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• Tell someone else why Easter is important to you.
• Suggest a weekly devotion time with your family.
• Spend some time in solitude with God, inviting Him to reveal your sins. Then confess those sins and turn from them.

© 2008 LifeWay Christian Resources
Cynthia Hopkins, "Getting Ready for Easter. . Now." ec magazine, March 2009, LifeWay Christian Resources: Nashville, 2008, p. 40-42.

Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to ec magazine, the magazine for you. We offer relevant stories, info you need, daily devotions, and honestly want to guide you to a deeper relationship with Christ. For more info on subscribing, go here.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

If you need more news of all things random and strange, check out “Snippets and Soundbites” on page 38 of this month’s (and every month’s) issue of ec. We’ve always got more news of the weird to share with you!

• It took 47 years, but Fran’s postcard to Marion finally arrived at the right address. Yep, that’s right. When Dave Conn, who lives in Ohio, opened his post office box last week, he found a postcard sent in 1962. The greeting was addressed to Marion White, the previous renter of the mailbox, and was signed by “Fran,” who mentioned having a “marvelous time in Montana.” Conn asked around and surmised the card must be from White’s friend, Frances Murphey, a longtime reporter at the Akron Beacon Journal. She died in 1998 at age 75. White passed away in 1988. U.S. Postal Service spokesman Victor Dubina says the postcard may have been stuck in equipment or lost behind a mail chute. For more stories of mail that took awhile to be delivered, read here, here, and here.

• A Georgia man was arrested last week—for trying to sneak BACK into the jail. Harry Jackson, 25, was already in jail in southeast Georgia for charges including possession of a controlled substance and violating probation. Last week, he somehow opened a door in the exercise yard, climbed the outer fence, and strolled down to a convenience store near the jail. Authorities found the unlocked door and began searching for the inmate. They found him when he walked back to the jail carrying 14 packs of cigarettes the police believe were stolen from the store about a block away. Jackson faces new charges of breaking out of jail and burglary. Want to hear more stories of criminals who didn’t make the most intelligent decisions? Go here.

• Yesterday was the first full day of play in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the ec team couldn’t be more excited! It was actually a fairly straightforward day of play with a few upsets, but none that were completely unexpected. Seven-seed Clemson did fall to Michigan, a 10 seed; Maryland, another 10 seed, also topped 7-seed California. The University of Memphis, a 2-seed, got a sobering scare from 15-seed CSU Northridge, but pulled through for the win in the end. The biggest upset of the day came when 12-seed Western Kentucky University beat 5-seed powerhouse Illinois. (And ec editor, Mandy Crow, picked that to happen!) And in ec bracket news, ec’s graphic designer, Jen, is currently leading our team bracket competition with 14 correct picks.

• Big Daddy Weave is on the move! In more ways than one, actually. The band is busy crossing the nation on its “What Life Would Be Like Tour” and lead singer Mike Weaver is making progress in his drive to lose 90 pounds in 2009. Weaver’s “90in’09” challenge which has already influenced over 10,000 people to start a healthier lifestyle since launching in January. In addition, Weaver has already lost 30 of his 90 pound goal. He plans to meet with 90in’09 participants at each show to share support and encouragement for their commitment to the program. For more on the tour, which also includes Nashville resident Josh Wilson (his dad used to be the ec editor’s pastor!), go here. The guys will be playing shows in the West next week, hitting Wyoming, Montana, and Utah, among other locations.

Making Sense of March Madness

by Justin McCord

The Big Dance. The Sweet Sixteen. The Elite Eight. The Final Four. With all of its quirky nicknames, it’s easy to see why this annual basketball tournament can be maddening. But maybe you don’t know much about March Madness, the NCAA, or basketball in general. Then, we've got all the info you need!

About the tournament
The NCAA Basketball Tournament (or March Madness, as it’s commonly called) is a three-week, single-elimination tournament. About half of the teams win automatic invitations to the post-season tournament by winning their conference championship tournaments. The conferences, which are generally arranged by geographic areas, all have their own monikers, like the Pac-10 (a conference made up of 10 teams near the Pacific coast) and the WAC (the Western Athletic Conference). Other teams are invited to participate in the NCAA Basketball Tournament after a selection committee sizes them up based on the highs and lows of their season. The teams and their seedings in the tourney are generally announced on a Sunday afternoon—las Sunday, actually. When the dust settles, there are 65 teams, ranked first to last. Those teams are broken into four equally weighted regions to fill the bracket, and that’s when the madness begins. (Well, for some of us, it begins earlier, when we realize that our favorite team didn’t make the cut!)

How to celebrate March Madness
Here are a couple of ways that you and your friends can enjoy the madness this March:
• Host a watching party. Invite your friends over for one of the games. A good option is opening weekend when more than 30 games are taking place simultaneously. Order some pizzas, pick up some chips and salsa, and encourage each person to wear the colors of a team playing that night. Create a themed invitation on www.evite.com to tell each of your friends about the party.
• Fill out a bracket. Check out sites like www.yahoo.com, www.espn.com, or www.cbssports.com. You can create a group specifically for you and your friends and challenge each person to fill in his or her own bracket, predicting his or her picks for which team will win each game. Keep track of the results on the same site so you can award someone bragging rights at the end of the tournament.

Tips about picking your bracket:
There are plenty of resources available to help. You can learn about each team on sites like www.espn.com. You’ll find in-depth analysis and insights on why each team is destined to win or lose. There will also be discussion about timeless trends that fans of March Madness have come to expect. (For example, watch out for a 12-ranked team defeating a 5-seed, a common occurrence during the opening days of the tourney.
If that seems a little too intense, you can always pick your bracket based on the team mascots. Yes, team mascots. What’s more fun than deciding who would win between a Blue Devil (Duke) and a Terrapin (Maryland), or the Cardinal (Stanford) and a Minute Man (UMASS)?

The truth about teamwork
Teamwork isn’t just a concept for the basketball court. It’s also part of living for Christ. We’re all called to have an impact on the people around us, non-believers and Christians alike. And we’re not in this alone.
After having risen from the dead, Jesus appeared to His disciples and commanded them to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). Jesus didn’t speak just to Peter, John, or Matthew. He wasn’t addressing James or Thomas only. Jesus spoke to the entire group, telling them to go and work together to make disciples. As a team of Christ-followers, we can work together to encourage each other through rough spots and help one another share what we believe with the people around us.

March Madness shows us the power of a united team working toward one goal. Remember, too, that Jesus called you to a goal (sharing your faith and making disciples), and you have teammates all around you to help achieve it. And that’s something that can help you get through the madness—of life, that is.

© 2008 LifeWay Christian Resources
Justin McCord, "Making Sense of March Madness." ec magazine, March 2009, LifeWay Christian Resources: Nashville, 2008, p. 6.

Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to ec magazine, the magazine for you. We offer relevant stories, info you need, daily devotions, and honestly want to guide you to a deeper relationship with Christ. For more info on subscribing, go here.

Music Minute

Hey y'all! Jen here with another edition of Music Minute, where I do my best to expand your Christian music horizons and tell you what's going on with it.



Seventh Day Slumber released a new record called Take Everything earlier this month, and we love it. Full of mellow guitar rock, beautiful piano ballads, and even a little bit of power pop, these guys take the term "worship album" to a whole new level. Give it a spin at their MySpace page or pick it up on iTunes. We like "Mighty to Save."



Next up, do y'all remember the band LaRue? Years ago, Phillip and Natalie appeared on an ec poster. Well, Phillip LaRue's got a solo project called Let the Road Pave Itself. And, he's posted a full-album stream of it online! You can find it at his web site. It's got jangly guitars and a nice Coldplay kind of vibe to it. And Phillip has really cool hair. The album doesn't come out till April 7th, so you'll have to be content with the Web release for a bit, but you can find the single "Chasing the Daylight" on iTunes right now.



And last, we're so excited about a new album from Mandisa! We really loved her first album, True Beauty, and her followup release Freedom sounds just as good. How do we know this? Because her upcoming album (releases March 24th) is ALSO available for you to preview online for free! How cool is that? Here's the link. We're really glad Mandisa decided to do Christian music after American Idol. Her blend of soul music and pop makes us want to worship God. We like "He Is With You." (And also, we LOVE her orange coat.) Check out "My Deliverer" on iTunes right now.



So, what's going on with you? What are you listening to these days? Leave me a comment - I'd love to hear!

David Crowder had so much more to say!

When Emily Cole, ec's production editor, talked with David Crowder for this month's issue of ec, he had so much to say that we couldn't fit it all on page 51 of the issue! So, we thought we'd let you read everything he had to say.

Ready? (And yes, you're very welcome!)

ec’s production editor Emily recently chatted with David Crowder, front man of the David Crowder* Band. They talked about his latest album, putting legs to our faith, and how pesky inspiration can be. Here’s what he had to say:

ec: Have any interesting stories of service that have come from your listeners responding to your challenge to be the remedy in a hurting world?
DC: It was amazing for us to be able to experience the music in a way that was deeper than the music. We had everyone show up at the venues with towels and socks for the local homeless shelters. Each night, the local homeless shelters would show up to pick them up and I’d get to chat with them. I listened to these folks who work with people who live on the street night after night talk about how crazy it is to them that folks coming to a concert would care about the plight of folks they’ve given their lives to serve. It affected us way more than we even thought it would. We were braced for it, and excited about it, and thought, This is going to be the best part of the tour. We came away from it really empowered. Like, ‘My goodness, we can really make a dent in things when at times it feels really bleak and hopeless.” Simple things can make a big difference is what we walked away with.

ec: Why towels and socks?
DC: That’s kind of strange too, isn’t it? We were hoping for something pretty grand. But as we called each city, overwhelmingly, as we asked “What do you guys need”?, [the answer] “towels and socks” kept coming back. And it was, “That’s so unglamorous, man.” But it was just something they’re constantly in need of. But it turned out to be something really dramatic in the sense that when everyone’s getting there, they’re piling them up. There’s this big pile of towels and socks. Everybody that’s coming into the venue passes by this visible thing. It seems really simple, but you see the exponential growth that happens when we all pitch in to something. You feel empowered. You think, Wow we can do this. We can make a dent and change things. It’s fun to have something provoking in front of people as they came.

ec: Which song on Remedy is especially relevant for teens?
DC: The whole theme of things being impacted, at the very end, is “Surely we can change.” Especially as these social concern issues have been put in front of us, not just from our church settings but in mainstream media even—there’s those conversations that have been going on the past couple of years among us. What do we do with all the stuff we’ve been given? We’ve been incredibly blessed; what’s our responsibility? How do we care for each other and our neighbors, as well as the planet? At times, it feels really daunting. Things seem really bleak. The other side of the world seems really close, but at the same time, how do I affect it and cause real change? This song puts words around that struggle and hopefully causes our feet to start moving.

ec: What ministry is the band currently focused on and passionate about?
DC: Mission Waco is a place that we’ve been really connected to. They do “Church Under the Bridge” where every Sunday, they meet under the I-35 bridge. All the homeless show up, and they feed them and have church together. They do amazing things. They’re good friends doing great stuff.

ec: Where does inspiration strike you most often?
DC: I don’t have any control over it, it seems like. It’s always at the most difficult place—it’s usually while driving, which is the most annoying part about it. You know, when you should not be looking for a pen and paper. It’s always that moment when I should have my attention elsewhere. I’ve caused danger on the streets, I’m confident, by trying to write and drive at same time.

ec: Besides music, how do you connect to God?
DC: Through my relationships. It seems like [through] the people that God has put around me, I find Him in really tangible ways. I think that those are the moments that to me, are most trustworthy, too. The way we interact with one another, the way we treat one another, the way we see forgiveness, and the way see grace expressed. It’s most powerful when it’s in a physical form from somebody you know and love.

ec: I know you read a lot, so what’s your favorite book right now?
DC: That’s actually a difficult question. I just got through reading this economics book, called Naked Economics. It was really enjoyable. I hadn’t read anything that was both educational and easy to read. But I came out on the other side better understanding a little bit more how our economy works, and it made me a little less cynical about things, which was good. Less in cynicism is always a good thing.

ec: Are you normally a cynical person?
DC: Yeah. I’m a contrarian. I like to take the other side of the person that’s across from me, just for fun. I’m kind of annoying that way.

ec: What’s your favorite verse of Scripture?
DC: One that sort of encapsulates a lot of what we do is Psalms 98:4, which is “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.” And then it goes further when it says “Make a loud noise, sing praise, rejoice.” We kind of like that.


David Crowder* Band released Remedy in 2007. It is their 11th studio project and challenges listeners to be the remedy in a broken world by taking action. The band believes that even simple actions, when done collectively, can make huge differences. David Crowder and his band want to encourage you get moving. You’re completely capable of making a big difference, even if it’s just through a small action that you take collectively with others. What can you do today to be a part of the remedy?

SAT Tip #5

Tomorrow is SAT Saturday, and we’ve got one last tip for you:

Tip #5: Relax.
Yep, that’s it: relax. Take a deep breath. Fight the urge to cram. The SAT isn’t a test you can really cram for, anyway. You’ve probably been preparing for this test for a while, and there’s not much else you can do now. You know how the test works, what kinds of questions you’re likely to see, and how much time you’ll have to complete each section. You can do this! So, be confident in yourself and your skills. Remember this is just a test, and you can take it again if you want to. Whatever happens, it’s going to be OK. Whether you feel like it or not, God is control. More than that, He’s with you. And your nerves, stress, or whatever you’re feeling about tomorrow’s test are important to Him. So, talk to Him about it. And trust Him to carry you through.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

If today’s post doesn’t provide enough randomicity for you, check out Snippets and Soundbites on page 38 of the March issue of ec. We’ve always got more news of the weird to share with you!

• A picture paints a thousand words, right? Well, in the case of a Missouri man, a picture could speak seven very interesting words: Lincoln in front of the White House. News broke this week that Ulysses S. Grant VI (yes, that U.S. Grant’s great-great-grandson) believes he has a picture of President Lincoln standing in front of the White House. That’s news because if it is Lincoln in the photo, it would be the only known photo of the 16th president in front of the executive mansion. In the picture, a tall figure thought to be Lincoln is standing in front of the building, along with five others. The photo bears an inscription identifying Lincoln, is dated 1865, and is marked with the seal of Henry F. Warren who did travel to Washington to photograph the president after his second inauguration in March 1865. Lincoln was assassinated in April, so if he is in the picture, it could be the last one taken of him. See the picture and learn more here. To learn more about the White House (with and without Lincoln), go here.

• In the world of NCAA basketball, the season draws to an end this week. On Sunday, the 64 teams participating in the NCAA tournament (aka March Madness) will be announced. Thirty teams have automatic bids to the tournament after winning their tournament. The remaining teams (34 teams) are picked to play by a selection committee made up of athletic directors and Division I commissioners. The tournament kicks off nearly ‘round the clock basketball coverage. And we’re no different: join the fun by entering ec’s Bracket Challenge. The password is godpluslife. Learn all about Selection Sunday here.

• In a strange turn of events—to us at least—the newsboys announced this week that Michael Tait would be their new lead singer. Tait is well-known as a member of supergroup dcTalk and his own band, Tait. Peter Furler will no longer be fronting the group, but plans to continue working with the band through songwriting and production. Furler said, “newsboys to me has always been a mission, and I entrust Mike, Jeff, Jody and Duncan to continue all that is in store for us as a band. I’m looking forward to focusing on the band’s studio career and spending time in my own bed after many years in a tour bus and hundreds of thousands of miles on the road.” Read all about it here.

• Welcome to day 7 of the Iditarod, the annual dog sled race native to Alaska. This year, mushers are following the southern route, urging their teams of dogs from Anchorage to Nome. (The route changes depending on if it is an even or odd numbered year.) For all the info you can handle, plus some videos, go here.

SAT Tip #4

The SAT is two days away. Cramming doesn’t work, and we would highly recommend taking a SAT prep class, but we have been offering some helpful test-taking tips that we really do think can help you on test day. Are you ready for today’s?

Ready or not, here we go!

Tip #4: Steer clear of the avoidable mistakes.
No, we’re not talking about finding ways to avoid wrong answers on the test—you’ll probably get a few of those! But there are some steps you can take now to make sure test day is less stressful and more relaxed. Like knowing where the test center is. If you’re taking the test in a location that’s not all that familiar to you, take some time to figure out how to get there and make a plan to get there early enough to settle in and relax. You can avoid being late on test day, so let technology (like Google Maps) help you out and don’t get lost on test day.

Also, have some common sense. Don’t drink four gallons of water or coffee or soda right before you take the SAT. We’d suggest getting to the testing site early and visiting the bathroom before the test. Commonplace advice, yes, but it’s still good advice. You cannot leave the room during testing sessions. There will be breaks between each section, so use your brain and plan ahead.

Another avoidable mistake is not having the tools you need on test day. You’re going to need No. 2 pencils for sure. A calculator is helpful, but make sure it has fresh batteries or won’t otherwise let you down during the test. You may be restricted on what kind of calculator you can bring, so ask someone today so that you have time to get everything in order. You’re probably going to need a photo idea and/or your SAT admission ticket. Get it all ready the night before and put it somewhere you will not forget. Ask someone trustworthy to help you remember the list of items you need to bring along and hold you to it before you walk out the door on Saturday morning!

And finally, make sure you’re ready for the test. It may be tempting to stay up all night cramming or hanging out with your friends, but those things may not help your score. So, get a good night’s rest the night before and eat a healthy breakfast on Saturday morning. You’d be surprised, but your brain works better when you’ve fed it!

Come back tomorrow for more test tips. And follow us on Twitter (@ecmagazine) for daily test tips this week and devotional tips every day.

SAT Tip #3

The SAT is happening on Saturday, and we’re here to help you get ready! Ready for today’s tip?

Tip #3: Know how the test works.

Part of excelling at the SAT is understanding test. That means recognizing it’s going to be a long day during which you’re going to be tested in various subject matter. It means knowing the kinds of questions you’re going to face and the subject matter you’ll be tested on. (It’s probably too late now to help, but SAT prep courses are always a good idea!) It’s understanding the scoring system (you get a point for a right answer, a fractional deduction for a wrong one, and omitted questions are not counted against your score). It means you have a strategy and know you may want to answer easy questions first and come back to the hard ones, understand you’re going to have to manage your time, and don’t spend too much time on any one question. For more info on the SAT and strategy, go here.

Come back tomorrow for more test tips. And follow us on Twitter (@ecmagazine) for daily test tips this week and devotional tips every day.

Intentionality

My life feels out of control. How ‘bout yours? In between cross-country trips, a funeral, crazy-busyness at work, and training for a half-marathon, I learned a few days ago that a friend of mine has cancer. She’s 15. 15! When I was 15, I was worried about how my hair looked, the current pimple on my face, and if any guys liked me. I did not have to suddenly think about chemo treatments and surgery and how my parents were going to explain my diagnosis to my little sisters. But my sweet little friend is having to face all of this.

So while all that’s on my mind, I’ve found it very easy to spend more time in prayer. I’m constantly going to God because I’m worried about my friend. I’ve got something very real, very current in my life to pray about, so it’s easy to be intentional about talking to Him.

But it’s not always like that. I can remember being frustrated with myself recently because I didn’t feel like I’d thought about God all day, except for during my short quiet time that morning. Hopefully you read last week’s devotions in ec and want to be intentional in your prayer life but don’t know what to say. We know you’re busy, and we hope you don’t have any terrible situations in your life that are driving you into God’s presence through prayer every chance you get. But if you are looking for some ways to put some effort into your most important relationship, here are some things God would love to talk about with you (the list is endless, but these are just some that you may not have thought of):

• If you ever feel lonely and why
• Why you’re thankful for your best friend
• What plans you should make for the weekend
• How happy you are to have done so well on that test or quiz
• Your crush/significant other
• What scares you
• That teacher or coach you can’t stand
• The concept you just don’t get in class

Can’t think of a time to talk to God because your planner is packed? Try turning some of these situations into quick prayer times:
• While you’re changing classes
• Riding or driving to school
• Waiting in line in the cafeteria
• In the shower
• While you’re heating up something in the microwave
• Waiting for a page/video/picture to load on the Internet

Feel free to leave us a comment about some new topics and random places/times you've found to pray. Other readers will appreciate the help!

SAT Tip #2

Ready for Saturday's (March 14) scheduled SAT test date? We've got our tip for today. And, of course, we’ll be offering you some test-taking tips every day this week—along with our regular blog fare, of course.

Tip #2: Go against everything a teacher has ever told you and WRITE IN THE BOOK.

The testing booklet is yours to use as you need to. You may have grown up with teachers who absolutely forbid you to write in your school books, but the rule doesn't apply to the SAT testing booklet. Scratch out answers you know are wrong. Do the scratch work for math problems. Circle important words in the reading comprehension section or answers you know are correct. Let your testing booklet help you rather than hinder you!

Come back tomorrow for more test tips. And follow us on Twitter (@ecmagazine) for daily test tips this week and devotional tips every day.

Top 10 ways to serve others

By Amy Jo Harell

Need some help figuring out how you can serve others this month? Think about a few of these practical ideas:

1. Do you enjoy music but aren’t ready to perform at church?
Consider volunteering to assist the music minister. Many directors need help with filing music, marking or distributing papers, and other tasks.

2. Do you have a talent for crocheting, knitting, or sewing?
Many maternity wards at hospitals greatly appreciate donated handmade items for newborn infants to wear home. Some babies are born to families that do not have much money or have limited resources for such items.

3. Are you a very patient person?
Consider volunteering to assist in the nursery or children’s ministry at your church. Young children are full of energy and sometimes need a little extra guidance. Also, an extra pair of eyes and ears is usually welcome when it comes to supervision. You might also consider volunteering at a place that offers tutoring or mentoring programs for younger children.

4. Are you an artist? Do you enjoy design and layout?
Try offering ­assistance with the bulletin board at your school or church. Your eye for visual design might be just what is needed to freshen up the foyer of your church or the lobby of your school. You might also be a big help with the church bulletin or newsletter if graphic design is more your speed.

5. Do you enjoy working outside?
Look around your community or church for an elderly person who might need help cleaning up his or her yard. Enjoy the breeze outside while being a witness for Christ in your community and helping out an elderly friend.

6. Are you the quiet and reserved type who prefers a little less high-profile service?
Consider a prayer ministry. Create and maintain a list of needs for those in your church, family, and community. Commit to diligently spending time in prayer each day for these items and specific people or leaders.Also, consider making a "person of influence " prayer list. Add the names of the people in your community or world who hold a lot of influence: the president, the mayor, Oprah, your pastor, the school board president, and so forth.

7. Are you a computer and electronics guru?
The sound system at your church may be complicated, but they probably need volunteers to hook up wires and move speakers or microphones around from time to time. Consider it an opportunity to learn more about the technology from the pros.

8. Are you a leader who can get people together?
Begin a Bible study or small group in your neighborhood with others who share your faith. Be intentional with plans to minister in your community and serve others.

9. Are you a big Food Network fan with dreams of being a chef?
Or maybe you just like to cook. Perhaps your culinary skills could be of assistance in the church kitchen or a ­community shelter. In Mark 9:41, Christ tells us that even “a cup of water” given in His name will be rewarded.

10. Do you have a way with words and love writing?
Consider offering a poem or prose selection for publication in your church bulletin or Web site. If editing and grammar is more your thing, ­volunteer to proofread the bulletin, slides for the worship service or whatever the church office needs help with. You could also be a helpful addition to the Web team.

© 2008 LifeWay Christian Resources
Amy Jo Harell, "At Your Service: Top 10 ways to serve others." ec magazine, March 2009, LifeWay Christian Resources: Nashville, 2008, p. 16.

Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to ec magazine, the magazine for you. We offer relevant stories, info you need, daily devotions, and honestly want to guide you to a deeper relationship with Christ. For more info on subscribing, go here.

SAT on Saturday?

Never fear, ec is here!

Yep, the Saturday (March 14) is a scheduled SAT test date, and there’s a good chance that many of you will be among those testing your knowledge and skills. So we’ll be offering you some test-taking tips every day this week—along with our regular blog fare, of course.

Tip #1: Learn the instructions for all of the sections on the test before you take the test.
Use the time you’ll save to get started on the test questions. Because you’ve done your homework, you’ll know what is expected of you in the various sections before the test even starts, earning yourself a little more time to concentrate on the questions. And we all know, every minute counts on the SAT.

Come back tomorrow for more test tips. And follow us on Twitter (@ecmagazine) for daily test tips this week and devotional tips every day.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Welcome to your Friday edition of Snippets and Soundbites! If you want even more randomness in your life, be sure to check out the monthly print edition on page 38 of each issue of ec.

Ready? Here. We. Go!

• Tuesday was March 3, 2009, which we all know is commonly written 3/3/09. That fact actually made the day special. You mathematicians out there probably already have it figured out: 3/3/09 was Square Root Day. The rare “holiday” occurs when the day and the month are both the square root of the last two digits of the current year. According to the article we read, people celebrated by cutting root vegetables into squares or preparing other foods in the shape of the square root symbol. (Huh?) Square Root Day only occurs nine times in a century. The next one will be April 4, 2016. But hold on a minute—Square Root Day isn’t the only “math” holiday. Pi Day is observed each March 14 (3.14), while Pi Approximation Day falls on July 22. Staff at the San Francisco Exploratorium observed the first Pi Day in 1988. They apparently spent the day walking around in circles. :/

• Ever heard of the USS New York? Maybe not. But the Navy’s newest amphibious warship is being built and will be commissioned later this year. Steel salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center has been used in the construction of the ship and the ship’s motto will be “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.” The huge vessel will be used in the effort to stop terrorism. Read more here.

• Most NCAA conferences are wrapping up their regular seasons this week, meaning that the Big Dance is just around the corner. And the ec team loves us some basketball. So, join in the conversation about your favorite teams on our discussion board. And don’t forget to get involved in the ec bracket challenge on Facebook! We’ll send the winner a T-shirt, but you’ll have to wait until the tournament finishes in early April.

• Love to sing? The Christian Festival Association (a coalition of more than two dozen Christian music festivals across the country) has announced plans for its 2009 National Talent Search. They’re partnering with Word Label Group, which promises a development deal to the winner of the nationwide search for new Christian musicians. Regional competitions will take place at 19 festivals throughout the summer, and a regional winner will be selected at each. Those 19 winners will come to Nashville in September for the national finals. For more information about where to compete, how to get involved, and everything you want to know, go here.

Is anxiety eating you alive?

“I have this anxiety problem where I worry myself sick, literally. I really need some memory verses that I can say to myself every day to reassure myself that God will help me when I'm in doubt.”
—ec reader Madison

Not long ago on our fan page on Facebook, one of our readers wrote those words on our wall.

And those words hit me right in the middle of my forehead. Because I was dealing with the same thing. Anxiety about family matters, work stuff, and just in general. Lately, I’ve been waking up with this feeling of anxious waiting, just knowing that somehow something is wrong and the other shoe has to drop at some point. My stomach hurts. My mind questions. I cry out to Jesus for peace.

Because I know He is the Prince of Peace. And I know that taking every thing in my life that could be worrisome and internalizing it is not the life God has called me to live. His Word is very clear about that. So, when Madison’s words popped up on my screen, I knew that God had something to say to me about my worrying. I just had to open His Word and read it. Here’s what I discovered about God’s thoughts on worry and anxiety:

• Psa. 13:2: How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

• Matt. 6:25: “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?

• Matt. 6:26-29: “Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!”

• Matt. 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• Luke 12:22-32: Then He said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add a •cubit to his height by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest? “Consider how the wildflowers grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith? Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.

• Phil. 4:6: Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

• 1Pet. 5:6-7: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.

It’s clear that God wants us to cast our burdens and worries on Him. We just have to let Him help us through the anxious times. Take His Word to heart; God doesn’t go back on His promises.

So, let's just do this together: Father God, Jesus, we just give you all this anxiety in our lives. You are in control, and we trust you to complete the good work in us that you started. You know the burdens of our hearts and all these concerns. Help us to let go of them and let you have control and work in these situations. May You be glorified in every part of our lives, even these things that worry us. Amen.

Music Minute

This morning, I got stuck in traffic AGAIN. I overslept and got out the door as fast as I could, only to be stuck at an almost-standstill on an eight-lane interstate for 30 minutes. I'm really tired, generally. At least five of my friends have a loved one with cancer—not the "we-better-watch-this" kind, but the extra-scary "we'd-better-get-you-in-here-right-away" kind. Lately I've been feeling a bit lonely, scared, and generally frustrated with a lot of things. Sometimes it's easy to feel like God has maybe forgotten about you a little bit. And it seems like one thing that always makes me feel better—but that I often forget—is singing hymns.

OK, I know you're thinking that's kind of churchy and dippy, but I don't think it is. I think if you know some hymns by heart and take time to sing them when you're stressed, angry, and afraid, it's a way you can simply sit before God and be with Him. You don't need to worry about what words to say, because they're already written. And it always seems like music just hits me down deep.

I'm not necessarily talking about singing the hymnal, either. One of my most favorite albums is a Selah album called Press On. There are hymns on it, but there are also spirituals, regular songs, and at least one song sung in Kituba, a Central African language I don't even understand. But somehow, just knowing that they are singing words to praise God makes things a lot better. Your favorite Christian music can help you re-focus on God. It doesn't have to be slow, quiet, or churchy-sounding. Occasionally I'll just start singing old-school Supertones songs (yes, I'm a 90s dork). That also does the trick.

Let's face it. You're busy this week, probably busier than last week, and it doesn't look like it's slowing down any time soon. Do you really have time to listen to or memorize a couple of hymns? I hope you do, and I think you should make a little time for it. To be honest, your life isn't going to slow down. Stress isn't going to stop, and there will always be something you're afraid of or worried about. Finding some favorite hymns is one way you can praise God, calm down, and have a little quiet time all in one go. Take a few minutes this week to think about what music makes you feel better, more worshipful, and quieter. Do you have a favorite hymn? Did something strike you as especially moving this week during worship? Or maybe you find yourself singing a little bit of a Christian song to yourself.

Whatever it is, make a mental or written note of that song, and try to remember to come back to it when you need a few seconds of peace. It's very interesting to me that when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison (and we are really talking about something much more like a dungeon with chains and dripping water and vile food than something like a modern jail), they sang hymns and songs. Remember Psalm 13:6: "I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me."

Next time I'll be back with some new Christian music releases!

Why, hello!

It's our very first video. We know it's terrible. But we promise to get better! So check out our offices and leave some comments.

Welcome, March!

March is here—and we think spring is in sight. Well, if we pretend that snow isn't covering the North right now!
And your March ec is out and ready to help you make a difference in the world this spring. Be sure to check out:

• "No More Waitin’ for the World to Change on page 34. The point we want you to come away this month is that you can make a difference. That you do have power, in your life and you can make a difference, even if it's just to that girl down the street, your mom, or someone halfway around the world. Live your life with purpose.

• Have trouble finishing what you start? Check out "Called to Completion" on page 54. Let God's truth make a difference in your daily life.

• Find out how big a quitter you are with our handy quiz on page 56.

• And find some easy tips on how to make a difference in someone's life by simply following through with acts of service. Amy Jo Harrell had a lot of suggestion in her story, “At Your Service,” on page 16.

• And don't forget the daily devotions that started yesterday. God has something to say to you this month. Let Him open your ears and your heart.

• And remember to stop by our blog this month. We're planning to give you an expanded interview with David Crowder, want to hear your ideas for spring break fun, and will have plenty of discussion about March Madness. (Don't know what that is? See page 6 of the March issue.)