We need your help!

Christmas is just around the corner!

OK, it's more like six months away, but we're already making plans for the December issue of ec. And we need your help to make it one of our best issues ever.

We're looking for some of your favorite funny Christmas stories. It could be that time your grandma made the pie without sugar. Or when your little brother got a gag gift and didn't take it well. Or maybe you just have a favorite holiday memory of your family, friends, or church. We just want to hear your stories and print a few of them in the December issue. So, e-mail them our way! Include your name, age, and hometown. You should also send a jpg photo of you.

We can't wait to hear your stories! So start thinking snow and start talking!

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

It's Friday and that means "Snippets and Soundbites"! If today's edition leaves you wanting more, check out page 38 in the June (and every month) issue of ec. You won't be sorry.

Now, on with the show:

• Why did the sea lion cross the road?
To get to the other side of Interstate 880 in San Francisco, California! Drivers on their morning commute spotted a baby sea lion in the middle of the road. A highway patrol officer said the sea lion is one of a few inquisitive animals that wander onto the roadways. The little sea lion was taken to the Marine Mammal Center by police car, where it “seems to be going fine,” Jim Oswald the center’s spokesman said. Thanks to the vets who are giving it a chance to rest before medically evaluating the curious mammal. ###
There’s a picture of the sea lion here!

• Fashion-forward dress reaches all new “lights”
Ever been annoyed by loud cell phone jingles in public places (like the movie theater, doctor’s office or shopping center)? Well, be prepared for a little more than noise. London, England has taken fashion and technology to a new level. The prototype of a dress that lights up when its wearer receives a cell phone call was unveiled last week. A British fashion student created the little white dress for a school project. The assignment: integrate fashion and the latest technology. The shoulder of the dress is covered with clear white scales that move and light up with the wearer’s phone is ringing. So instead of “Turn your phone to silent,” signs, we may start seeing, “Turn your dress lights to off.” This site has a picture of the dress!

• TTYL. I have a txt competition to win. LOL.
Kate Moore, a 15-year-old from Des Moines, Iowa, was crowned the LG U.S. National Texting Championship winner. Taking home the $50,000 prize must have put a smile on her parents’ faces, who were no-doubt suddenly glad their daughter was a texting queen. She won the competition for her speed and accuracy of texting while blindfolded and while navigating through an obstacle course. Moore said it’s “all in the thumbs.” Go here to find out more.

• Fire in the fire station
Firefighters in Honolulu, Oahu, had a little accident. While responding to an emergency call, they left food cooking in the fire station oven. Shortly thereafter, they were called to put out a fire in their own station – the damage totaling $25,000. According to the fire department spokesman, Terry Seelig, even firefighters need to be reminded about fire safety. Read the whole story here.

• Fight breaks out in nail salon.
Crazy things are happening in Mount Vernon, Washington. After a 13-year-old girl got her inch-long, fake orange nails, she decided not to pay for them because she didn’t like the design. It was then the nail technician reportedly grabbed the girl and began trying to peel the fake nails off. Police tried to calm the two parties by “meeting in the middle.” The girl’s mom agreed to pay $10 for the nails. Want to know more about this crazy story? Go here.

This week's "Snippets and Soundbites" was written by Kennan Neuman, our summer intern. Thanks, Kennan, for a job well done!

Music Minute, Extra Super Hot Outside Edition!

It's hot outside. 92 degrees with a heat index of 106. (Heat index is, all things considered, how hot it actually feels outside.) I hope you're staying cool and drinking lemonade and wading around in your little brother's plastic pool. :)

This week has been pretty stressful. A lot of plans I've made have been interrupted. It's hot, I'm crabby, and you know how you reset your iPod when it acts up? I kind of need that. And funny enough, listening to the music for this column has really helped a lot. (Hope y'all like it too.)

Here are two new albums for you to check out this week:

Everyday Sunday is back with a new album called The Best Night Of Our Lives. Interestingly (think of Kala's story below), a lot of the lyrics have to do with friends—backsliding friends and friends who stand by you. It's straight-ahead power pop that you'll want to listen to over and over. If you like Forever the Sickest Kids or The Plain White T's, you'll really like this album. We're fans of the title track.



Next up, it's a little trickier to recommend this one but we do want y'all to know that Hawk Nelson has a 4-song EP out that previews their October 09 album release, Live Life Loud. You can only find this record at their concerts, but from what we hear, it's well worth a little work to find it. Just click the link above to see their summer tour dates.

Stay cool, y'all. (I know you will.)

Take a good look: evaluating your friendships

by Kala Glass

Summer is here, and school is out! That means lazy days, summer jobs, and probably vacations for some of you. But it also means you won’t be seeing all of your friends every day. That separation doesn’t have to be a bad thing, though. Take the time apart as an opportunity to evaluate the relationships in your life. Take a good look at the people you spend most of your time with. Which relationships need to go deeper? Are there some unhealthy ones you need to let go of? Who builds you up in Christ? See the next page for some ideas of what to consider.

Your inner circle
Take an honest look at the people who are closest to you. Your best friends. It’s OK and even natural to have friends who are closer to you than others. Even Jesus did (James, Peter, and John). But the people who are closest to you should be those who build you up in Christ, challenge you in your faith, and seek to share godly wisdom and advice.

Why? The people who are the closest to you have the most influence in your life. If your closest friends don’t have a relationship with Christ, they don’t share all of your values. They don’t have the same goals you do. They don’t have the hope you have. It’s easy for their influence to pull you away from the closest, best relationship you could have with Christ.

Friends and acquaintances
You will have friends who are closer than others. You will have friends who are friends for a season and then move on. You can probably name off 10 people right now who are friends and acquaintances. You know them; you like them; you enjoy spending time with them, but they aren’t your inner circle. That’s OK. Consider these questions:
• Do you live an honest faith in front of them? We tend to think that our lives need to be seen as attractive, otherwise no one would want to be a Christian. We go around proclaiming, “See how happy I am with Jesus in my life? See how successful I am?” Christ is real, and the hope, strength, support, and power He gives is real. People need to see that in your life, when things are going well and most definitely when they are not.
• Who leaves you feeling depressed and negative? Some of your friends are complainers, pessimists, and always see the negatives in a situation. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be friends with them, but it might mean that you learn to limit or temper the time you spend with them. Yes, you should be that person’s friend and shine the hope and joy that only God can give into his or her life, but you shouldn’t allow that friend to rob you of your joy. Be aware of your friend’s negativity and think about ways to handle and deflect it beforehand.

Your circle of influence
Too often we establish friendships for the purpose of what we can get out of them. Fellowship with believers is important, but we should also look for ways that we can serve others. There are people moving around the periphery of your life or in the same circles as you whom you have the power and opportunity to influence. You’ve heard it said a million times, but you may be the only Jesus they see, the only Bible they read. Be aware of ways you could speak truth into their lives and make a commitment to do so.

Evaluation time
Make a list of all the people you would consider a friend or with whom you spend a significant amount of time. Think about why you are friends with each person, how you met, and what you do during your time together. Examine these relationships and what influence they may have on your life. How many of these relationships exist purely for selfish purposes? Are there any relationships that you are in for the sake of serving the other person rather than yourself?

Be aware of the influences that surround you. You can’t always control the crowd you find yourself among, but you are responsible for not letting their influence control you. It is important to find the balance of being in the world but not of it. Take the time to evaluate your relationships and make it a priority to glorify God in every relationship.

© 2009 LifeWay Christian Resources
Kala Glass, "Take a good look: Evaluating your friendships," ec magazine, June 2009, LifeWay Christian Resources: Nashville, 2009, pp. 58-59.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Ready for today's Friday fun from our favorite intern, Kennan Neuman? Read on! And if these snippets of all things random aren't enough for you, don't forget to check out "Snippets and Soundbites" on page 38 of this month's (and every month's) issue of ec!

• Get that Gator, Son
Brandon of Jackson, Mississippi, was taking out the trash when he saw something unusual sticking out from underneath his grandma’s car. It was a snout. “I kept my distance,” Brandon said. “Momma didn’t raise a fool.” The snout belonged to a very large alligator, which somehow found himself three miles from the nearest lake. Local police were able to remove the 8-foot unwanted reptile. The uncommon sight surprised neighbors. However, 300 to 400 alligators are captured and relocated in the state every year. I guess you never can be too careful … at least when taking out the trash in Mississippi. Read more here.

• You threw that away?!?
An Israeli woman thought she was showing her mom a nice gesture when she replaced her bed mattress. What she didn’t know is that her mother had been using the old one as a bank … storing her life savings totaling about $1 million! The woman has been searching for the money in garbage dumps in Tel Aviv for days. The owner of the landfill (where the mattress was among 2,500 tons of garbage in a single day) has heightened security to keep thieves out. The woman said of her mistake, “People have to take everything in proportion and thank God for the good and the bad.” So remember to ask permission before you throw away your mother’s old mattress. Check out the whole story here.

• Queen of the Swiss Alps
Every summer in the Swiss Alps, cows fight for the title of “queen.” It’s a tradition passed down through generations of cow owners. The Herens breed of cow is a naturally aggressive competitor, so fighting high in the mountains comes easy. There’s only prize money if the winner should choose to sell his “queen” cow. However, a local man said the winner’s owner is “king of the village for the year. He’s more respected than the mayor.” With the pride of a job well done and a fighting cow, it might be nice to be Queen for the year. Learn more here.

• Missing: Hundreds of Shoes
A forest worker solved a small-town mystery. He found hundreds of stolen shoes (belonging to locals) near a fox’s den in Foehren, Germany. The small town began to realize a shoe thief was on the loose, but had no idea who was the culprit. “It seems a vixen (a female fox) stole them for her cubs to play with,” said a police spokesman. Locals happily reclaimed their shoes even though many were missing laces. So next time you’re wearing “righty” and looking for “lefty” ask the friendly neighborhood vixen. Read the whole story here.

Father's Day is just a few days away!

Father's Day is Sunday! And if you're anything like the ec team, you're probably still wondering what to get your dad.

Well, check out our chart and pages 56-67 of the June issue for some help from the ec team and writer Brandi Lunsford.

Or, visit this Web site. It's full of ideas.
And if you just want to know the history of this special day for dads, check out the History Channel's fun Web site.

But most of all, take some time to let your dad know you love him. Think about why he's special, what he's taught you, and the things he's helped you understand about God the Father.

If your dad isn't a Christian or you don't really have a relationship with him, that may be difficult for you. If that's the case, take some time this weekend to pray specifically for your dad, his relationship with Christ, and your relationship with him. You—yes, you!—can be an example of God's love in your dad's life.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

This week's "Snippets and Soundbites" is written by Kennan Neuman, a summer intern in our department and a long-time ec reader and one of our writers. We kind of love her!

And if you don't get your fill of all things strange in this week's edition of "Snippets and Soundbites," be sure to check out page 38 of this month's (and every month's) issue of ec!

• Dog with a Bomb.
“That dog is armed with a bomb!” would have been an appropriate thing to say in Erkrath, Germany. The happy-go-lucky pup found the grenade, dating back to World War II, to be a good ball to play fetch with. Once the dog’s owner realized what was in the dog’s mouth, she called the local police. All ended well, the grenade was defused, and there’s one less grenade on the streets of Germany. Read more here.

• Lobster, anyone?
What do you get when you add 48 pounds of lobster, 4 gallons of Miracle Whip and a really really long bread roll (61 feet, 9.5 inches to be exact)? The world’s longest lobster roll! In Portland, Maine, the giant sandwich was taken to the Old Port Festival where pieces where divvied up and sold as a fundraiser for a youth association. The group hopes to get the giant sandwich in the Guinness World Records. To learn more (and see the sandwich), go here.

• It wasn’t on the label.
Surprise! Cap’n Crunch cereal doesn’t contain real berries. Janine Sugawara of Sacramento, California, filed a lawsuit claiming she’d purchased Cap’n Crunch the last four years under the impression it contained real berries. The case was thrown out of court by Judge Morrison England, who said, “A reasonable consumer would have understood … the product contained sweetened corn and oat cereal.” But this wasn’t Sugawara’s first time in court. She once filed a lawsuit against Fruit Loops claiming the same thing. I guess not everyone knows what a “real” berry looks like! Read all about it here.

• Yard art de‘throne’d.
Reusing two old toilets and a sink as gardening pots, Tina Asmus of Lakemoor, Illinois, claims to “like to find old things” and use them in creative ways … such as making “toilet planters.” But neighbors and local government officials put a damper on her yard deco plans. The porcelain thrones bearing flowers are causing a royal stink. Asmus must remove the “art” by June 15, or face a fine up to $500. Asmus claims, “I should be allowed to put out whatever kind of planter I want as long as isn’t obscene. And this isn’t obscene.” Stop laughing and go here to read the story (and see pics of Tina with her decorated yard).

Music Minute, Summer Vacation Edition!

Hey music fans! It's summer out there and I'll bet you need some new music to keep you company. I've got three new releases to talk about today, and there should be something for everyone.

First up, Christy Nockels (formerly of Watermark) released a solo album called Life Light Up. This solo worship project showcases Christy's distinctive voice perfectly. You'll find 11 catchy, powerful tracks on this album. We like "You Are Able" because it sounds like it was written while driving down the highway in a convertible. Good stuff. Preview the album here or buy it on iTunes.



Next up, we've got 19-year-old Jacksonville, Florida native Jade Harrell, whose mixture of punk and techno is absolutely irresistible. (Some of this actually reminds us of old-school Paula Abdul, in a good way!) Her new album Class Reject has lots of happy dance tunes with a little bit of an 80s undercurrent—in other words, perfect summertime music. We like "Me and My Radio." Listen to it here or find it at the iTunes store.



Last (not least), for the rock n' roll kids there's a new release from Emery (yay!) called In Shallow Seas We Sail. Their gruff, guitar-driven style is on full display here with 13 new tracks including "Cutthroat Collapse," which is a pretty heavy tale about getting stuck in a relationship that consumes your whole life. Preview the whole thing here or find it at iTunes.

Time for your monthly poll!

Perhaps you noticed the rather peculiar article in this month's ec about the 14-year-old police impersonator. (If not, it's on page 38.) We'd like to think this guy was very mature-looking for his age. So in light of his little foray into the police department, we'd like to know how old people think you are!



We realize that it's not just about how you look that determines how old people think you are, either. If you consistently find yourself wondering why your parents, teachers, or other authorities treat you like a kid, it might be because you're acting like one. Now, there's no point in acting all grown-up when you should be enjoying your teenage years, but if you're looking for a little more respect from adults—and your peers!—here are a few things you can do:

1. Think about what you're going to say before you say it. Then think about how you'd respond if someone said it to you. (Handling conversations well is a big mark of maturity.)
2. Recognize that what you do makes an even bigger impact than what you say. Today's devotion deals with casting shadows on Christ. Are you living out your faith, or just talking about church and what a good Christian you are?
3. Look for ways to serve. (There's an awesome article on page 16 about loving others by serving them.) Don't just go on the "fun" youth trips; take time this summer to go on the mission trips or service projects too. Help your youth minister or small group leader to plan some service activities in your community. (We’d love it if you’d leave a comment below with ways you serve. Other readers might be inspired by you!)

No matter how mature other people think you are, if you do those things, you'll definitely start to look a little more like Jesus to everyone you encounter. And isn't that the point?

No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. —1 Timothy 4:12

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

The first week of June is coming to an end, and the only appropriate response (in our minds) was a rundown of all the random news stories and facts we've heard about this week. And if this collection of all things odd isn't enough for you, be sure to check out "Snippets and Soundbites" on page 38 of the June (and every!) issue of ec.

Ready to get on with the show? Here. we. go.

• We've all heard about runaway brides, but what about a rescuing bride? That's exactly what Georgette Fogarty-Clemons became on her way home from her wedding last Sunday night. While riding with a friend on the way back to her house—slowly because they had leftover cake and flowers still in water—the bride noticed smoke coming from a neighbor's home. She asked her friend to stop the car and jumped out—still wearing her wedding dress and fancy shoes. She ran to the neighbor's door and informed the family that their house was on fire. The sudden stop confused her friend and other guests following the car. Because of Georgette's actions, a woman, her 16-year-old son and several family pets were able to escape the house unharmed. The owner of the house said she and her son had no idea the house was on fire and wouldn't have known without Georgette alerting them. She also said it was surreal having a bride in full wedding attire run up to her house to warn her about the fire. "I thought it was amazing and selfless," the homeowner said. To hear the whole story, go here.

• And then there's the story of Remington the Clydesdale who might just be the world's tallest horse. The Guinness World record is currently held by Radar, a Belgian draft horse who lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas. He stands He stands 19 hands and 3 ½ inches (6 feet 7 ½ inches) to the withers (from hoof to top of the shoulder). Cheryl Davis, Remington's owner, believes he stands taller than that and could just break the record. He'll be measured at a Texas animal hospital twice this weekend—today with his shoes on, tomorrow with them off. If Remington breaks Radar's record, Davis says she'll submit the paper work and enjoy the record as long as it lasts. To learn more, check out this story.

• Competitive eating is always big news here in "Snippets and Soundbites." And this week, Takeru Kobayashi beat Joey Chestnut in a pizza-eating contest. Sponsored by Pizza Hut, the two met in California last weekend to see who could eat the most Pizza Hut P'Zones. Kobayashi, a six-time world hot dog eating champion from Japan, consumed 5 3/4 P'zones in six minutes to beat Chestnut, but barely. Chestnut ate 5 1/2 P'zones. The two are arch rivals in the competitive eating world. Each year they showdown at a Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest on New York's Coney Island. Chestnut has beaten his Japanese competitor the last two years, winning last year in a five-dog eat-off after they tied at 59 frankfurters in 10 minutes. Read a play-by-play here.

You've got a summer job, now what?

School's out and summer is just beginning. And for a lot of ec's readers that means summer jobs. Whether it's an internship or just a way to make some money, the way you behave on the job is important. You may not believe it, but even how you go about your work says something to the world about the God you profess to follow. If you want your summer job to be a rousing success, both professionally and spiritually, check out these tips:

• Be on time. If your shift starts at a certain time, be there and ready to work at that time.

• Don't clock out early. You're scheduled to work a certain amount of time. Do it. Don't bug out early and leave your coworkers to pick up the pieces.

• Work hard. Sure, a few goofy moments and fun times can be part of the job, but don't be the employee who doesn't carry his or her share of the burden.

• Treat others with respect. It doesn't matter if it's your boss, the coworker you can't stand, or a customer. Be polite, respectful, and use such words as ma'am and sir.

• Be excellent. Your job may not be astoundingly important in the big scheme of things, but how you complete the tasks you're given is. Let the quality of your work speak for itself. Do what's asked of you and do it well.

• Be kind. You don't have to be a push-over, but you do need to guard your tongue and strive to reach out to others with kindness—even when they are the most annoying people you've ever laid eyes on.

• Be enthusiastic. Take some time to enjoy what you're doing—even if you have to simply find parts of the job that you absolutely love. Let your positive attitude make a difference among your coworkers. Managers say that enthusiastic employees work hard, learn quickly and aren't discouraged by setbacks, They also improve morale and encourage others to work hard as well. But know that enthusiasm can have some not-so-good effects, especially if you're so enthusiastic that you start a lot of projects or assignments without ever really finishing anything. There's something to be said for seeing something through to the end.

• Follow the rules. That doesn't mean that you become overbearing or a stickler, but it does mean that you do everything within your power to personally follow the rules set out by the company or manager you are working for. Yes, some rules seem dumb. Some seem downright crazy, but they are likely there for a reason. Do your best to honor these rules without becoming a nuisance or "goody-two-shoes" to your coworkers.

For more information on why your attitude on the job is important, check out "Employee of the Month" by Debra Parker on page 6 of the June 2009 issue of ec.

Food for Thought

Can't wait to get your hands on those crazy recipes we promised you on the “Fun: Miscellaneous” page in the June 2009 issue of ec?

The wait is over! With summer in full swing, you'll have plenty of time to try out your culinary skills, even on these slightly strange recipes!

Recipe 1: Koolickles
• 1 gallon jar kosher dill pickles
• 1 package unsweetened cherry Kool-Aid
• 1 pound sugar

Drain the liquid from the pickles into a large container. Add the Kool-Aid mix and the sugar to the liquid and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove the pickles from the jar. Slice them in half lengthwise, and return them to the jar. Return the liquid to the jar of pickles. Not all the liquid will fit, but make sure the pickles are completely covered. Place in the refrigerator.

Recipe 2: Primanti sandwiches
• Italian bread, sliced (or thick cut bread of your choice from the grocery bakery)
• Ham, sliced
• Provolone cheese
• Coleslaw
• Tomatoes
• freshly prepared French fries
• Mayonnaise

Quickly grill the Italian bread and set aside. Grill the ham until warm, then throw the cheese on the ham while still grilling, and let it melt. Spread mayonnaise on the Italian bread. Add the meat and melted cheese to the bread, and then add the coleslaw. Add the tomatoes and french fries to the sandwich. Top off your masterpiece with the second piece of Italian bread and cut in half. For authenticity, serve on waxed paper.