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 July (and every month) issue of ec. You won't be sorry.

• Swimmer Michael Phelps suffered his first loss in an individual race since 2005 this week. On Tuesday, Phelps was soundly defeated by German swimmer Paul Biedermann, in the 200 meter freestyle. Biedermann finished that race in 1 minute 42 seconds flat, a full minute and 22 seconds ahead of Phelps. Biedermann also lowered the world record for the event that Phelps had set in the Beijing Olympics. On Wednesday, though, Phelps bounced back, winning the 200-meter butterfly and setting a new world record. Phelps has now held 34 world records in his career. Let us know your opinion on the great swim suit debate in the comments section.

• Ever wondered just how confused adults are by your slang? Well, here’s an answer: enough to compile a slang dictionary. Undergrads at UCLA have been compiling the dictionary for years and this year’s book is the sixth edition. It was edited by a linguistics professor, Pamela Munro. Some of the slang words, phrases, and expressions mentioned include: muffintop, chillax, and awkward turtle. Read the whole story here. And if you have any slang terms you’d like to share with us, talk back in the comments.

• We’ve seen a lot of strange things in the year or so we’ve been compiling “Snippets and Soundbites” for the ec blog, but we’re still quite fond of the idea of a room full on Ernest Hemingway look-alikes. Yep, that’s right. The Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest in Key West recently named this year’s winner. And it’s David Douglas of Cypress,Texas. The 55-year-old based his outfit on a famous photograph of Hemingway taken by Yousuf Karsh. That meant that he wore a heavy wool fisherman’s sweater in 90-degree temperatures. Yes, that’s dedication. To read the whole story, click here. If you’d like to learn more about Hemingway, check this out.

• GPS is great—unless you can’t spell. We say that because we just can’t get over the story of two Swedish tourists who misspelled a location in their GPS and ended up some 400 miles away from their intended destination. The tourists wanted to go to the Italian island of Capri. But instead of typing “Capri,” they typed in “Carpi.” The couple only discovered their mistake when they asked hotel staff how to get to the “Blue Grotto,” a popular landmark on the island of Capri. When told that they’d made a mistake, they simply got in their car and started driving south, toward Capri. The island of Capri is in the Gulf of Naples and has been a popular resort since Roman times. Carpi, where the couple mistakenly ended up, is an industrial town on the other side of the country. We’re still a little confused by how the Swedish couple missed out on the fact that Capri is an island while Carpi clearly isn’t. Read all about it here.

Just for fun!

So, it's a rainy Wednesday here in Music City. And we know that your summer vacations are quickly coming to an end. So as your contemplating registration, going back to school, and how to have fun on this last Wednesday in July, we offer you this.

Yes, we're aware it's the video that's overtaken the Internet in the past few days. Yes, we're sure you've probably already seen it . . . but none of that makes it any less funny!

So, enjoy! Smile. This is the day the Lord has given you. Rejoice and be glad in it.

Myths of Forgiveness

You've probably already seen Amber Mushegan's story “Second Chances” on page 60. Her point? God is the God of second chances, and as people who have been freely forgiven, we should extend forgiveness to others. At the same time, you may have some false ideas about what forgiveness actually is. So, here's what forgiveness is (and what it isn't):

Myth #1: We must forgive and forget.
We’ve heard and believe that to truly grant forgiveness, we’ve got to forget what happened. I’ve even heard people say, “The Bible says we are to forgive and forget.”

Truth: Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to forgive and forget. The Bible does state that it is the character of God to forgive and not remember, but we are not required to do so. Some things are too painful to ever forget. We can choose to not dwell upon those events or words and move forward, but we will never forget them.

Myth #2: To forgive someone means I’ve got to reconcile the relationship.
We buy into the myth that forgiveness isn’t complete until the relationship is fully reconciled.

Truth: Not all relationships can be reconciled. More than that, not all relationships should be reconciled.
If you have suffered abuse of any kind, you probably have little desire to have a relationship with the one who abused you. In fact, it may be in your physical, emotional, and spiritual best interest to not be anywhere near that person. That’s understandable. You don’t have to reconcile to forgive. In your heart, simply choose to forgive that person. God can bring restoration to all relationships, but reconciliation isn’t always possible or necessary.

Myth #3: If I forgive someone, that diminishes what he or she did to me.
Sometimes we believe that by granting forgiveness we are saying what happened to us wasn’t really that bad.

Truth: When you’ve been hurt or abused, nothing lessens or removes the deep hurt you’ve experienced. Forgiveness doesn’t diminish what happened, but instead gives you the power to live through it in a way that glorifies God.


Myth #4: If I forgive someone that means I have to immediately trust him or her again.
We may hesitate to forgive because we think we have to place our trust in that person before true forgiveness can take place.

Truth: A broken trust is one of the hardest things to restore. In fact, it may never be restored or need to be restored. (See the truth in #2.) Trusting the one who hurt you is not a prerequisite to forgiveness.

Myth #5: If I truly forgive someone, I only have to do it once.
We have this false sense that we can just say the words “I forgive you” once and everything will be fine.

Truth: That’s rarely the case. Sometimes granting forgiveness is a daily thing, even an hourly thing. There is definitely a moment when you choose to forgive, but you may have to continue to revisit that decision and continue to intentionally forgive the one who has hurt you.

Myth #6: If I’m truly a Christian, forgiveness will be easy to give.
Sometimes we think that because we’ve been forgiven much, it’s that much easier for us to extend forgiveness.

Truth: Though as believers we are compelled to forgive others because of the great forgiveness we have received in Christ, it’s still sometimes difficult to forgive. That’s why you need to allow God to help you through the process. Let Him see your honest heart, regardless of how hard it is. Give Him freedom to soften you and empower you to forgive.

These truths can be applied anytime forgiveness needs to take place. But perhaps some of you have experienced hurts and wounds that are far deeper than just a broken promise or back stab from a friend. You have dealt with and continue to deal with the destruction caused by someone who has abused you or abandoned you. Though these wounds can be deep and difficult to overcome, forgiving the one who has hurt you is a major step on the road to healing. Don’t allow these myths to hinder you. By God’s grace and power, grant forgiveness and keep moving forward.

© 2009 LifeWay Christian Resources
Mike Wakefield, "Myths of Forgiveness," ec magazine, May 2008, LifeWay Christian Resources: Nashville, 2009, p. 17.

Snippets and Soundbites: Your Turn!

We're taking a little break from the weekly grind of writing Snippets and Soundbites this week. (Hopefully, you'll get your fill on page of 38 of the July—and every—issue of ec. And we'll be back next week!)

So we thought it would be a nice change of pace to hear the funniest stories you ran across this week. So leave your "weird news" in the comments section. And if we don't get any comments, we'll just be sad. . .

Music Minute

Hey guys! It's July, the Tour de France is on TV every night, and here in Nashville we've had record cold temperatures at night, and lovely warm days that remind me more of my native Michigan than summers in Tennessee. Hope you're enjoying your summer break!

If you live in Nashville, you know that "Belmont University" is practically synonymous with "music business." It's one of the top colleges for recording-industry management, production, and A&R, the cryptically-named people at a record label who look for new talent to sign. And naturally, Belmont also has a lot of talent brewing under the surface.

Mikeschair is no exception. These Belmont guys got their name from a chair they bought for their friend Mike, who was the only one in the group that didn't live on the same floor. (They thought he needed his own piece of furniture there.) Mike wrote his name on it in capital letters and the chair sort of became a thinking-cap (well, not really a cap). The band decided to name themselves after it "as a reminder of [their] humble beginnings." The guys performed for Belmont's Christian Music Showcase, and eventually got a record deal.

So what's the music like? Think along the lines of Fee or Rush of Fools. It's strong, guitar-driven rock with solid vocals and kind of an epic sound (if I were comparing them to a secular band I'd say they like Sigur Ros a lot). Mikeschair is also using their success to do good things; you can find a table promoting their favorite charities at every concert, and they say they're making every effort to be the Gospel in action. (We like that goal.) Preview their self-titled album here. As for singles, we like "Can't Take Away."



We especially like that Mikeschair is trying hard to keep it all in perspective. It's very easy for the thing that takes up the most time in your life to become a sort of idol, and we Christians can and should work hard to put God first. Being a musician is harder than you think. You have the usual creative differences, plus long nights, day after day filled with strangers, the often-baffling behavior of fans, hard work in the studio and at practices, and lots of time away from family and friends. Putting God first isn't just for famous Christians, though. Let Him color everything you do this week, and help you keep your life in perspective.

What's your favorite place for summer fun?

Maybe you've seen our "Summer Fun" article on pages 46-47 of the July issue of ec. In case you haven't, you should check it out. It's full of fun places to go, like national parks and beaches. There's even a list of the top 10 roller coasters and Major League Baseball parks to visit. Check out the lists:



Now, tell us some of your favorite summer fun ideas. It could be anything from going to the pool to places you like to visit on vacation. We want to know how you're spending your summer and having fun!

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 July (and every month) issue of ec. You won't be sorry.

Smile! It won’t kill you.
Or at least that’s what the Paris tourism board is telling its residents. An ever-popular destination for most travelers, the French capital also has a reputation . . . for unfriendliness. Tourism numbers have fallen this year—17 percent since January compared with the same period in 2008, according to a Reuters article. But never fear! The French have a plan: they’ve asked the city’s residents to smile more. To promote their cause, the tourism board even set up stands manned by “smile ambassadors” at some of the city’s most popular spots and last Sunday, hundreds of roller-skaters formed a huge smile at the city center.

What’s his credit limit?!
A North Texas man had a surprise when he looked at his credit card statement recently—a charge for $23,148,855,308,184,500.00. And according to our sources, that’s 23 quadrillion, 148 trillion, 855 billion, 308 million, 184 thousand, and 500 dollars—a figure that’s more than 2,000 times the national debt. A bank glitch resulted in the massive charge showing up on Jon Seale’s online credit card statement. The charge was for a meal he’d had at a restaurant. According to Visa, a technical glitch resulted in the gigantic charge, which only affected some customers with prepaid Visa cards. A New Hampshire man found a similar charge on his card after buying a pack of cigarettes at a gas station. Visa was kind enough to say that all affected customer will also have the $20 overdraft fee for spending above the limit removed. We certainly hope so!

Love me, love my pet.
Sure, pets are part of the family, but these days more and more furry family friends are part of the actual wedding. USA Today recently reported that more and more couples are including their pets, mostly dogs, as part of the wedding party and including them in the portraits, programs, and receiving lines. Dog-lovers are even decking out man’s best friend in all kinds of satin and finery for the special event. If you’d like to read all the personal tales of dogs in weddings, check it out here. And be on the look-out for our favorite quote in the article: “If a dog isn’t used to wearing a top hat, there may be issues.” Dun, dun, dun!

Just for a laugh.
Have you seen that video of the roller-skating babies that has taken over the Internet? Yeah, we laughed, too. Check out the back story.

Campus Connection

On occasion (four times a year, to be precise), the ec team ventures out of our offices and into your hometowns. We meet with students all across America and get feedback on what’s going on in your lives and how ec can help.

Two weeks ago, we were in South Carolina and met with 33 students who told us a lot about their likes, dislikes, issues, and needs. They also gave us some very honest feedback about ec. One of the things I was surprised by was the confusion over Campus Connection (on page 43 and 44 of each issue). That made me think, I bet a lot of our readers just skip right over those two pages because they don’t know what those two pages are or what to do with them! Am I right?

Of those students who realized what Campus Connection’s purpose was, many of them said they felt they weren’t old enough or outspoken enough to lead a Bible study. Do you feel that way?

The fact of the matter is that you CAN do it! If you can read, find passages in the Bible, and are willing to put in a little time and effort, you’re perfectly equipped to lead a Bible study. The questions, discussion topics, and activities are all laid out for you in Campus Connection. Go ahead . . . check it out. We’ll wait here until you’ve given it the once-over.

*whistles the “Jeopardy” theme song*

Still feeling unqualified, inexperienced, and unwilling to lead a Bible study? If you’re scared that your peers won’t listen to you, try starting up a Bible study group for students younger than you. If you’re worried that no one will come, try turning part of the time that you already spend with your friends into a Bible study time. Or ask some folks in your youth group to make a sacrifice and get to school a little early one day a week to study the Word with you. You could even take turns leading it each week. Biblical expertise isn’t required. If someone asks a question you don’t know the answer to, then ask your parents or youth minister to help you figure it out so you can give an answer the next week. (Even experienced Bible study leaders have to do this!)

This month’s issue of ec is all about community. God exists in it, and so should we. You need other believers to walk with as you grow in your faith. Those meetings with other believers should have a purpose, and we have just the thing to get you started! If you read ec, this tool is already in your hands. If you’re meeting with a group of Christian friends who want to grow in faith together (or want to start meeting with such a group), try out Campus Connection. We think you’ll find it quite helpful. :) But first, answer our poll:

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

f “Snippets and Soundbites” on pages 38-39 of the July (and every issue!) of ec isn't enough for you, we've got your odd news for the week right here! Are you ready? We are!

• His name is Obama and July 4 was a big day for him. No, where not talking about President Barak Obama. We're talking about Obama the loggerhead turtle. Named after the current U.S. president, the turtle, who had been receiving treatment at a turtle hospital in Florida, was set free on Saturday, the United States' 233 birthday. Apparently, the loggerhead turtle was found on a Key West beach on January 19. The 200-pound female turtle was obviously suffering and was nursed back to health at with a diet of squid and mineral oil at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla. Because she was discovered on January 19, the night before President Obama's historic inauguration, it just seemed appropriate to name her for the president. That's why it also seemed fitting to the let the recovered turtle loose on July 4. To read the whole story (and see Obama the turtle), go here.

• Merriam-Webster has released its list of new words for 2009. Some of those making the cut? Frenemy (a blend of friend and enemy); webisode, and fan fiction. To see the whole list and all the definitions, go here. To read USA Today's take on this year's picks, check this out.

• Turtles seem to be a popular topic in the news of the strange this week. That's because in addition to Obama the turtle going free, a runway at JFK International Airport was shut down on Wednesday morning because at least 78 turtles emerged from a nearby bay and "invaded" the tarmac. Ground crews gathered up the turtles and put them back in the bay, but not before the incident caused delays and disrupted the flight schedule. Want to know more? Go here.

• And finally, watch this video about Tai Shan, a 13-year-old panda at the National Zoo and get some ideas for how to celebrate your next birthday!

Music Minute - White Rabbit Edition!

Ok, so I'm late. This was supposed to go up this morning, but maybe it gave you a bit more time to answer the questions in our tasty "Five Minute Interview with YOU" post below. (Which you should do if you haven't already.)

So this week I thought I'd take a different tack and point y'all in the direction of a couple of great Christian music videos. If you've got a reasonably quick internet connection and a computer, you can watch these online.

First up is a great song and video from Tenth Avenue North. (The building that houses ec's offices is on 10th Ave. N in Nashville, so we like their name.) Their video is "By Your Side," produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association—and it's a message of hope.

It's a sad fact of our culture that really big things that happen in our world tend to get bounced out of the top headline spot in the news when the next big thing comes along. Sure, Michael Jackson's funeral was gigantic news yesterday, but a month from now, we'll probably be talking about something else. At some point, there just isn't anything left to report. (Think about this: when was the last time you heard anything about Hurricane Katrina victims? Yet as a Nashville resident, I meet people all the time who moved here from New Orleans with nothing to start over. In some respects, they are still starting over.)

Going through such a big life event—losing everything, and God's faithfulness no matter what things look like—is really the theme of this video. It opens with a man talking about losing everything he had in a fire...sixteen years of his life gone. Another man talks about a flood, and a montage of disaster scenes including missing persons posters follows. There are two points to this song. One is that recovery takes time, time the news anchors don't often report on and we tend to forget. The other is that God is always by your side.

I don't know about you, but I need to remember that even when it's just teeny-tiny things going on in my life. And the song itself is beautiful, sparkly pop reminiscent of old-school Travis and Jars of Clay. Check it out. The video is here, and you can also listen here. And if you like it and want it for your very own, there's also an iTunes link.



If country-Americana music is more your thing, then a little Brandon Heath might be just the ticket. Fans of Ben Kweller and Ryan Adams will like "Wait and See," a sweet, rockin' reminder that God isn't finished with us yet.

Waiting is maybe one of the hardest things God ever calls on a Christian to do, and we usually end up doing a lot of it. In Isaiah 48 God even reminds us that He declares the end from the beginning—He's taking care of things—but it's still hard to wait.

And it's really easy for us to be painfully aware of our shortcomings before God. We don't become perfect Christians just because we get older. I can think of at least three things in my life right now where I'm asking God to give me faith to believe He's taking care of them (and I've been a Christian for 16 years). Faith is always a sort of journey away from ourselves and towards God. Knowing God isn't finished with you yet can help you feel a little bit better during those times you really feel like a work in progress.

You can also listen to Brandon's music here or find his music at the iTunes store.

Five-Minute Interview

Saw our blurb about us interviewing you in "Snippets & Soundbites" in the July issue? (Page 39 for those of you who are hurriedly flipping through the magazine!)

Well, you read that correctly; we want to interview you and publish some on your answers in upcoming issues! So, here are some questions. Talk back and tell us your answers!

1. What's your name?
2. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
3. What's your favorite meal?
4. What's your favorite book?
5. What makes you feel embarrassed?
6. Tell us about a time when you were closest to God.
7. Do you have a hidden talent or skill few people know about? What is it? Explain!
8. What's your favorite part of ec?
9. If we were looking at the music on your iPod, what song would most surprise us? (If you don't have an iPod, just tell us what song or album you own that you think would surprise us.)
10. What's your favorite verse of Scripture?

Answer any or all of those questions! We'd love to hear from you! (And we'll be getting a link up in the sidebar of our homepage as soon as we can!) Until then, leave your comments here or visit us on Facebook and leave your answers there.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

If “Snippets and Soundbites” on pages 38-39 of the July (and every issue!) of ec isn't enough for you, we've got your odd news for the week right here!

Ready, set, GO!

• Crop Circles: Message from the wallabies
Wallabies in Sydney, Australia, are getting extra “hoppy” in legal-to-grow-there opium poppy fields. It has been reported the animals eat the poppies, then rambunctiously jump around in circles . . . creating “crop circles,” that many people once believed were messages from aliens. With the extra terrestrial theory put to rest, all Sydney is left to deal with are crazy bouncing wallabies addicted to opium. For the full story and picture of a wallaby go here.

• Losing your memory is easier in Britain
Senior adults in America can remember more facts and for a longer period of time than seniors in Britain. A “memory and awareness test” found that American 75-year-olds remembered better than others their same age in Britain—having the same memory function as people 10 years younger! The results surprised researchers. Americans tend to have higher risk factors for “cognitive decline” (memory loss)—such as obesity, high blood pressure and physical inactivity. Next time you see great-grandma, and she calls you by your sisters’ name, give her an extra hug. For the seniors’ test score and more visit this Web site.

• Congratulations! You have the World’s Ugliest Dog
Not many people would have chosen a dog from a shelter in Citrus Heights, Calif., as a prize winner. The light brown boxer has a serious under-bite . . . leaving some of his pearly white teeth outside his mouth. But this so-ugly-he’s-kinda-cute pup named Pabst is the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest. Pabst won $1,600, pet supplies and a modeling contract! For the full story and a link to see Pabst and a slideshow of ugly dogs, go here.

• Momma in trouble at school
Worried about taking your SAT? For one teenage girl in Pennsylvania, there was no need for such stress. A high school secretary (and mother of the student), Caroline McNeal, has been charged with “29 counts of unlawful use of a computer and 29 counts of tampering with public records.” The girl has not been charged. However, her mother could spend up to 7 years in prison for each count. McNeal changed her daughter’s SAT score and lowered the scores of other students to improve her daughter’s class ranking. A school counselor discovered that school’s records weren’t matching those from the College Board. The records were corrected before the students’ graduation, and the phrase “honesty is the best policy” rings true once more. For the full story, read this.

• Long time, no see
Bill Fulton, a 78-year-old man from Baker City, Ore., got a special surprise from 1946. His wallet, that he lost over 63 years ago, was returned to him—social security card and bicycle license still inside. The wallet has been hidden beneath the local middle school gym’s bleachers. The stands haven’t been moved from their place until now (for renovations) because they were attached to a brick wall. Fulton said the return of his wallet after all these years caused him to think back over his life. “Where did all the time go?” Fulton said. “It’s hard to believe that the times have gone by so fast.” Read the whole story here.

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

Free at last

July 4, 1993: While most of the country was celebrating our nation’s independence from Great Britain, I was declaring my independence from sin. That’s because on that day, I went down to the front of my home church and told everyone that I had become a Christian. Sure, I’d been thinking about it for months, but it was that day that I decided to make my decision known.

I wore a white dress and a red, white, and blue bow in my hair. I was all decked out for Independence Day. (Hey, I was 9, and it was the 90s!) I just didn’t know the freedom I was actually celebrating that day because to me at that age, faith was less about freedom and more about rules and consistent attendance at church, choir, and G.A.s (Girls in Action, for those of you who aren’t familiar with that acronym). Sure, I was learning about God (which is important), but I wasn’t really “getting” Him. I knew what I should and shouldn’t do, but why I should or shouldn’t was kind of vague.

We get caught up in the do’s and don’ts, don’t we? Don’t lie. Don’t steal. Don’t brag. Don’t cuss. Don’t drink. Don’t smoke. I know that I catch myself thinking: “As long as I’m not lying, stealing, cheating, having sex, drinking, and killing people, then Jesus must be pretty happy with me. I’m a good Christian!” Do you ever feel the same way? Or maybe you’ve heard someone say that Christians are free from legalistic rules. That’s true, but there’s more to the story.

The fact of the matter is that I’m very free—free to live as Christ’s slave. Kind of puts a damper on my personal liberties, hmm? While living as someone’s slave may not sound appealing, let me tell you that I’ve tried life my way. I’ve been my own master and ignored the rules and tried to live how I thought best (especially when I didn’t feel like I was getting any direction from God). And it left me distant from God. Finally, I got to a place where I was so tired of trying to figure out where my life was headed that I gave up. I told God that if He’d make it clear, I’d go wherever He wanted me to, even if I didn’t really want to go there. (I was positive He would send me to Ethiopia as a missionary. I have no clue why.) I was so desperate for direction that it didn’t really matter where He was leading me, as long as He was the one in charge of the navigating!

And you know what? His answer didn’t come immediately. I’ve spent more than seven years trying to make sure I was where God wanted me. I tried to get to know Him a little better in hopes that it would make my path clearer. But as a very wise boss and friend told me once, “You’re never quite sure that you were where you were supposed to be until you turn around and see where your path led you.”

The future is never quite as clear as we’d like it to be (at least for most of us). And while you’re living in that confusion of “What’s my purpose in life and what am I supposed to be doing?,” know that God hears your questions. He’s lining up the answers. You may not know them in a year, five years, fifty years, or even on this side of eternity. But one day, you will look back and be able to see where you were in the right places (and maybe where you weren’t).

It’s not really up to you to make sure that your life accomplishes what you think it should. Relax into the fact that if you’re loving God with all you’ve got and loving others as a result, then you’re probably in the right place. Embrace the freedom He’s given you to love. To be loved. To serve. And to enjoy this life He’s given you.

No matter when you became a Christian, I’d like to wish you a happy Independence Day (and a happy fourth of July!). You’re free from all that baggage you feel like you need to keep hauling around. Now get out there and celebrate!

Just for the girls: Modesty Quiz

Looking for the quiz we mentioned in "Extreme Modesty Makeover" on page 57 of the July ec?
Well, ladies, here you go!

Quiz 1: My biggest fashion inspiration is:
A. Lindsay Lohan
B. Miley Cyrus
C. Jessica Alba
D. Vanessa Hudgens

Quiz 2: The world’s worst fashion trend is:
A. Capri pants
B. Blue jean shirts
C. Stilettos
D. Stonewashed jeans
E. The mullet

Quiz 3: I feel most confident when I wear:
A. A cute dress
B. Sweatpants and a T-shirt
C. Brightly colored layers
D. Fun shoes

Quiz 4: When I’m around a group of guys, I usually:
A. Want at least one of them to be noticing me
B. Get really shy and don’t talk much
C. Talk and laugh loudly
D. Try to be myself

Quiz 5: The following description best describes how I feel about myself:
A. Usually confident about who I am in Christ
B. Sometimes insecure. I’d change one or two things.
C. Pretty bad. I don’t really like myself.
D. As long as I have a boyfriend, I’m great.

What do your answers say about you? Well, that's for you to discover. Tell us your thoughts in the comments section. What we want you to understand is that your worth isn't built on what you wear, how you look, or if guys pay attention to you. You have worth because you are God's. Period. Let that truth color everything you do and every decision you make—including what to wear!

© 2009 LifeWay Christian Resources
Jennifer McCaman, "Extreme Modesty Makeover," ec magazine, July 2009, LifeWay Christian Resources: Nashville, 2009, pp. 56-57.