What's the big deal with Memorial Day?

by Ryan Vermilyea

When you first think about Memorial Day, a wide variety of images come into your mind: cars racing around an oval track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, smoke billowing from a grill out by the pool, the mass exodus of students leaving school for summer break. Unfortunately, the real reason for the holiday often gets lost in the anticipation of all the activities we plan. Unless we’re careful, Memorial Day can easily be reduced to just another long weekend spent at the lake or by the ocean.

The history of Memorial Day
Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day had its inception way back in the 1860s. Initially, the purpose of the holiday was to remember and honor the soldiers killed in the Civil War. Over time, though, the time of remembrance was broadened to include anyone who had been killed while serving in the armed forces.

When Americans began commemorating Memorial Day, May 30 was the designated date for the holiday. Beginning in 1971, federal law changed the celebration from a fixed date to the final Monday of the month. In doing so, lawmakers created an annual three-day weekend. Since then, Memorial Day weekend has traditionally been attributed as the unofficial beginning of the summer season.





Commemorating Memorial Day
If you are wondering how you can properly observe Memorial Day, here are a few suggestions:
Check to see if your city or ­community has any type of celebration or parade planned for Memorial Day. Most towns schedule a special program or event at a specific time to remember those who have died in combat. If there is no such event planned near you, make time to watch one of the national programs on TV.

Join with Americans across the country in observing the National Moment of Remembrance. At 3 p.m., stop whatever you are doing for a moment of silence to quietly honor the memory of the fallen soldiers. This would be a good time to pray, thanking God for the brave men and women who have served our country faithfully and bravely. As you remember their sacrifice for you, thank God for the gift of His Son, because Jesus’ sacrifice made a way for our salvation.

Search online to find a Veteran’s Cemetery near you. If it is close enough, take a trip there around the Memorial Day holiday. Many times, cemeteries have grave sites that are marked as belonging to military veterans. Take a few flowers with you to place on the graves of fallen soldiers, even if you don’t know them.

Pray for the families who have recently lost loved ones in battle.

In conclusion
In the past, I have found myself thinking that Memorial Day was only about those who gave their lives in wars that ­happened before I was born. Maybe you’re like me. But we need to be reminded that there are soldiers who have sacrificed their lives already this year. The significance of Memorial Day is not limited to a group from a certain decade or time period.

Simply put, it is about remembering anyone who has ever given up life so that our country and its citizens might be free—to worship God without fear, to pursue whatever career we desire, and to spend our holiday watching the Indy 500 or grilling out with friends. Praise the Lord for our troops who have stood and fallen—and for those who still stand daily in harm’s way.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Happy Friday! We hope you'll all enjoy your Memorial Day weekend (and take some time to think about what the day is really about. See page 42 of the May ec for more on that).

But what a better way to kick off the unofficial start of summer than with a collection of all things random? Nothing! (Or at least that's what we think.) And if today's online edition of "Snippets and Soundbites" isn't enough for you, please check out page 38 in this month's (and every month's) issue of the magazine.

Up, Up, and Away!
For centuries people have been coming up with interesting ways to cross the English Channel. Swimmers have crossed it; people have flown airplanes, hovercrafts, and even hydrogen/hot air balloon combinations. But this week, an American took a chance and crossed the Channel tied to a bundle of helium balloons. The man, a 36-year-old from Raleigh, N.C., was strapped into a specially equipped chair connected to a cluster of large helium balloons. He lifted off early this morning from Kent, in southeast England. He landed in France about five hours later and landed in a cabbage field by simply cutting some of the balloons away. Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time someone has attempted this kind of Channel crossing. Back in 1785, French balloonist Jean-Pierre Francois Blanchard and John Jeffries, an American doctor who paid for the flight, set off in a hydrogen balloon which started leaking in flight. They ended up having to dump most everything they had onboard into the water and just managed to stay airborne and land in Calais. To learn more about today's feat, go here.

It's never too late to graduate. 

Last week, we had the story of an elderly college graduate. This week, we have the story of Reuben Ayala who was drafted in 1944 and went off to World War II. He was 18 years old and had just completed his junior year of high school. Ayala wanted to finish high school, but after he got back from the war, it just didn't happen. He went on with his life and really didn't talk much about World War II, the things he'd seen and had to partcipate in, even with his family members. Even his children didn't find out that he'd never finished high school until recently. But that missing diploma was taken care of last Saturday when he participated in the graduation ceremony at Brighton High School in Colorado and received his diploma. He was the only graduate to receive a standing ovation from the entire crowd and also the only graduate with 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandkids. The diploma was made possible through a program called "Operation Recognition — Veterans Diploma Project." The nonprofit program allows veterans whose high school education was interrupted because of WWII, Korea, or Vietnam to receive a diploma. Read more about Ayala's story here.

Frogs: a plague

Remember that story in the Bible about the plagues upon Egypt? Remember how one of them was frogs? Think about how you'd feel if frogs were everywhere, on everything, in everything. Well, that's like the way some residents in Thessaloniki, Greece, feel these days. Officials have had to completely close a busy highway there because thousands of frogs have gathered there. Yesterday, police were directing traffic around frogs on the Egnatia Highway about 12.5 miles outside Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki. Apparently the frogs came from a nearby like, which they left in search of food. Police had to close a section of the highway on Wednesday after three cars skidded off the road when the drivers tried to dodge the frogs. Read more here.

10 Retro Songs to Get Your Summer Started

Hey y'all! Do you ever think about how music can take you back to a specific time or place in your life like it was yesterday? Sometimes it's a smell or a sound that does this—or the absence of a sound. I grew up on Lake Michigan, and there was a lot of fog. Whenever it was foggy, I'd hear the foghorn on the lighthouse, a constant companion on those days warning ships on the Lake of the shoreline. Twenty-something years after I moved away, I still get sad when it's foggy in Nashville. Why? There's no foghorn. It just doesn't sound right to me. I am pretty much incapable of seeing fog without thinking of the foghorn.

Songs can be that powerful, too. They can have a specific memory tied to them that reminds you of your first crush, the sand between your toes, the Christmas parties at your auntie's every year. When something like this happens that most people of a particular group agree on—say, the Star Wars theme stops you in your tracks—that's an "iconic" song. It's a song that has become so popular and well-known that it's almost impossible to hear it for what it is without those memories.

I love iconic songs, and I've got a list of some for you to listen to this weekend while you're getting your summer started. Yes, they're old songs...because you can no doubt compile your own list of new stuff. Some of these links go to an album on MySpace and you'll have to click the particular track to listen. So, in no particular order, listen to:

1. Sweet Home Alabama, Lynryd Skynryd: I know this one was already mentioned on this blog, but whether you're from the north or the south, this song is the musical equivalent of a hot summer day at the beach.

2. Low Rider, War: You might have heard this song in the movies. The Latin-inspired sound is a great song to listen to while you roll down the windows and take a drive.

3. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, The Police: This classic anthem actually has sort of odd lyrics about unrequited love...but the kettle drums, melody and catchy hook more than make up for it.

4. Surfin' USA, The Beach Boys

5. School's Out, Alice Cooper

6. The Boys of Summer, Don Henley

7. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave, Martha and the Vandellas

8. Born in the USA, Bruce Springsteen

9. All Star, Smash Mouth

10. Walkin' On Sunshine, Katrina & The Waves

Songs of summer

Summer definitely has a sound that’s all its own. And there are some songs that just seem to bring that sound to life.

Whether they bring to mind a leisurely road trip on a sunny summer afternoon, remind you of the beach, or bring back memories of a special summer moment, songs are an important part of our lives.

That’s why the ec team couldn’t ­resist coming up with our own summer playlist. Check out the songs that make us think of summer!

“Sweet Home Alabama”
by Lynyrd Skynyrd
“I’m not from Alabama, but this is a summertime anthem for most Southerners. It’s frequently blasted from the speakers atop the ice delivery trucks that make their way through the Neshoba County Fair (in Mississippi), a place which is the epitome of summer, to me.” —Emily Cole, ec’s production editor

“Surfin’ Safari”
by the Beach Boys
“Optimistic, happy, and summery-sounding, this song takes me back to being a kid at Lake Michigan every time I hear it. The simple harmonies and happy melody sound like sunshine on the water.”
—Jen Showalter, ec’s graphic designer

“All Will Be Well”
by Gabe Dixon Band
“This song is the perfect addition to the soundtrack of a sunny, summer afternoon road trip. Above all else, it soothes my heart, reminding me that all indeed will be well.” —Mandy Crow, ec’s  content editor

“Brown-eyed girl”
by Van Morrison
“This song’s happy guitar melodies take me back to being little and my dad singing the chorus to me on warm summer Saturdays while we ran errands together in his truck. I have brown eyes, so I always liked this song.” —Emily Cole

“Beauty has a name”
by Thad Cockrell
“I first heard this song in the dead of winter, but the infectious melody and dreamy sound instantly transported me to sleepy summer afternoons beside the pool. Plus the chorus makes me smile.”
—Mandy Crow

“Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
by Elton John
“It was the summer after my 8th grade year, which was a great year! There were no cares in the world—playing baseball, hanging out at the pool, a good-looking girlfriend . . . it was just a great summer. I loved the song the first time I heard it. When I hear it now, I immediately think back to that summer.” —Mike Wakefield, ec’s project leader

“A Kiss To Build A Dream On”
by Louis Armstrong
“This song always makes me want to slow down, forget what I’m doing, and smile. The trumpet solo sounds like a street musician playing to a walk-up crowd, and the depth of Armstrong’s voice and emotion sound like summer to me.”
—Jen Showalter

“Kokomo”
by the Beach Boys
“Just listening to this song is like a mini-vacation! I hear it, and I can picture myself on the beach.” —Emily Cole

We shared our favorite songs of summer. Now what are yours? Tell us in the comments!

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Happy Friday! For many of you, this may be the last week of school until the fall. This weekend will likely be full of graduations, new beginnings, and sweet endings of a very important stage in some of your (or your friend's) lives. Which is all the more reason to kick the weekend off with our collection of all things random.

And if today's edition of "Snippets and Soundbites" isn't enough, be sure to check out page 38 in this month's (and every month's) issue of ec!

Test anxiety

Some people don't take tests well. That's just a fact. That's why so many of us get freaked out about them. But what about your driving exam? Some people fail because they run stop signs. Some fail because they can't parallel park. . . and others just get completely freaked out by the process and let the nervousness and anxiety overwhelm them—and they fail the test. But in the Netherlands, they have a plan for those people: a special driving exam designed to ease the concerns of would-be drivers who suffer from test anxiety. The person giving the test is instructed to try to put the drivers at ease. The drivers are allowed to take a time out if the stress of the whole test gets to be too much and the pace of the test is supposed to be leisurely. Some of us on the ec staff could have used that kind of test back when we took our driving exam! Read more here.

It's never too late to graduate
It's the season of graduations, and Hazel Soares didn't want to be left out. That's right, the 94-year-old grandmother and great-grandmother of 40 graduated from college in California this past weekend. Soares had wanted to attend college right after high school, but her high school graduation happened to coincide with the Great Depression. At that point, it was impossible to go to college, so Soares went on with her life. She married twice, had six kids, and worked as a nurse and event organizer before retiring. She never gave up her dream of going to college, though, and got her Associate's degree when she was 85. Now with a degree in art history in hand, she says she hopes to work as a docent at a San Francisco Bay area museum. She is believed to be the second oldest person to earn a college degree. Nola Ochs (OAKS) of Kansas became the oldest when she graduated from Fort Hays State University three years ago at age 95, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. (Coincidently, Ochs earned ANOTHER degree this past Saturday, when she received her master's degree in liberal studies from Fort Hays.) To learn more and see a video of Hazel at graduation, go here.

For what it's worth

And finally there's the tale of how America's oldest silver dollar also became the world's most expensive coin. The owner of the mint condition 1794 Liberty dollar confirmed Thursday that he sold it for $7.85 million. The U.S. began producing silver dollars in 1794 and this one appears to be in near-perfect condition. The coin has a portrait of Lady Liberty with long, straight hair on the front and a noticeably skinny American eagle on the back. "That's the type of piece that is available maybe once in a lifetime," said Martin Logies, curator of the Cardinal Collection, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving rare coins and educating the public about them. He said the foundation plans to put the coin on display. Of the approximately 1,750 such dollars produced that year, only about 150 are known to exist. Go here for more.

Graduation

Lately, on Facebook, nearly everyone I know has posted something about attending a graduation ceremony, being proud of a graduate, or expressing encouragement and prayers for a soon-to-be graduate. Yesterday at church, we honored the high school and college graduates in our congregation. May is the month of graduations and if I'm hearing a lot about graduation, then that must be all you talk about since you're actually IN high school.

But if you're graduating or have a close friend or family member who is graduating, I'm going to let you in on a few graduation secrets. Ready?

1. The things I remember about every graduation ceremony I've been a part of aren't the big moments. I remember what I wore to my high school graduation, where I sat, and the faces of certain people in the crowd that I didn't expect to be there. I remember how I felt: nervous, excited, and apprehensive, and a tiny bit scared. I remember hanging out with friends at my house later that day and loving every minute of it. So if you're graduating, strive to capture those little moments and not brush right past them. If you're a close friend of someone who is graduating, take some time to have some of those special moments with your friend in the days before and after the momentous occasion.

2. Graduation can be a high stress event. Which means it helps to acknowledge that, understand that, and make an effort to figure out how you're going to handle the stress before it happens. I'll tell you this: I don't always handle stress well. On the day of my high school graduation, I was extremely nervous (I had to give a speech), incredibly emotional, and feeling hurried and harried. My twin brother and I had to be at the school early and I drove. And we got in a HUGE argument on the way there, that ended only when we got to school, and I think we were both still mad. It's one of the most vivid memories I have of my high school graduation and one of the things I most wish I could rewind and do over. Because I can't even remember what we were fighting over now, but I do know it wasn't important. If I had acknowledged my stress and anxiety and allowed the Holy Spirit to be in control, I don't think that moment would have happened. So if you're graduating, understand it's OK to feel stressed, but you don't have to let it rule you. Be aware of the things that stress you out and prayerfully seek Jesus' leadership in how you respond. If you're close friends with someone who is graduating, know that this is a stressful time for your friend. Give him or her the benefit of the doubt. Even better, seek to do what you can to alleviate his/her stress!

3. This is a big deal. Enjoy it. Graduation is a big deal. You've accomplished something important and it is a milestone moment in your life. Don't downplay that! Despite that fight with my brother, my high school graduation is fixed in my mind as a very good day and part of that is because we had a party/reception at our house afterward and tons of people came. We celebrated, laughed, talked, ate, and just had a good time with friends, family, and people we didn't even expect to show up. Don't let the big moments in your life pass you by or pretend you're too cool to enjoy them. You only get to experience your high school graduation once!

4. Graduation is a weird moment in your life. You graduate high school and you feel all accomplished and grown up, even independent. So what do you do the next day when your mom tells you to do some chore? Part of growing up is becoming an independent person who doesn't depend on his or her parents for everything and graduation is a big moment in that process. But it also doesn't give you free reign to disrespect or mock your parents. They are your parents, honor them. (And you can take that up with God because that's HIS command.) If you're graduating, understand that you're going to have conflicting emotions. You feel grown up and independent, but you're still under the control of your parents. It's OK and normal to feel that way. If you're close friends with someone who is graduating, know that your friend might have these conflicting emotions and be prepared to listen, but also to speak the Truth of God into his/her life if he/she needs it.

For some graduation fun, check out page 51 of the May issue of ec. For more thoughts on graduation, go here.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Ready to get your weekend started off right?

(We are, too!)

So here are a few of the stranger news stories we've run across this week. And as always, if today's online edition of "Snippets and Soundbites" isn't enough, check out page 38 of this month's (and every month's) issue of ec. You won't be bored!

Silly bandz are anything but silly

We've seen students of all ages wearing silly bandz in the last few months. You know them: the little rubber band-like bracelets shaped like animals, objects, and pretty much anything else you can think of. And when we say students, that ranges from second graders to high schoolers. But what's life like for the guy who came up with the idea for the silly bracelets? Well, it's a whole lot busier than he expected. See why when you watch this video. Then let us know your thoughts on silly bandz in the comments. Are they just for elementary school kids?

What's in a name?

Last week, the Social Security Administration released the top baby names of 2009, and names, they are a-changin'. Emma had been the top name for baby girls for the past two years, but this year was replaced by Isabella. Jacob maintained its 11-year run as the top name for baby boys. The funny part about the report is that some people say it reflects the "Twilight"-effect. In the popular teen novels, the lead character is named Bella, a popular nickname for Isabella, and Cullen, Edward's last name in the books, moved 300 spots up the list, settling in as the 485th most popular name for boys. To learn more about the list (and find out where your name ranks), go here and here. To check out the top names for the year you were born, go here.

Around the world in 80 days. . . or something like that

On Saturday morning in Australia (Friday night in the U.S.), 16-year-old Jessica Watson will dock her boat in Sydney Harbor. Watson has lived on the boat for 210 days, alone, and has spent the last seven months sailing around the world. Watson had hoped that when she completed the feat she'd get be officially recognized as the youngest person to sail around the world alone, nonstop and unassisted. She did exactly that, but she won't get the title or her name in the record books. Why? The World Sailing Speed Record Council, the group that declares such titles, recently stopped recognizing “youngest” record-setting attempts because they're so controversial. The last person to be officially recognized for the feat is Australian Jesse Martin who completed the feat in 11 months and was 18 years old. Martin also followed a more drawn-out circumnavigation for his journey, another issue that calls Watson's attempt into question with sailing purists who say she didn't sail far enough north of the equator or log enough nautical miles (the criteria to earn credit for a full circumnavigation) during her voyage carried out largely in the Southern Ocean. No matter what, Jessica's journey seems like a feat to us! To read more about Jesse and her journey, go here.

In Which I Was Going To Write About Music...But Then It Started Raining

Hey y'all. I don't know how much you've heard about what Nashville has been through in the past two weeks, but we had a flood.

Weather forecasters said we'd get 2-4" of rain on May 1 and 2. We got that, and it kept raining. It rained so much that people started making jokes about building an ark...and it kept raining. It rained all day and night Saturday and all day Sunday.

It rained so much, people were trapped in their cars on the freeway and the rivers rose till they broke their levees. It rained so much, whole neighborhoods were flooded and the water came into houses and flooded historic sites all over Nashville, including the Grand Ole Opry.

The rain stopped on Sunday night, and instead of 2-4 inches we got 13.5, which more than doubled the previous record for a two-day rainfall. And then after the rain stopped, the rivers kept rising. They rose and rose right up until Tuesday night, 13 or so feet above flood stage, and by then the river was everywhere—in the football stadium, the hockey arena, you name it. Everything located downhill in Nashville was full of water.

You can see for yourself here.

Nashville is used to heavy rains, but even an 80-year old man I talked to Monday said he'd never seen anything like it. The National Guard rescued people trapped in their attics, upstairs rooms, trees, cars, and swept away by the river. Hundreds of homes were flooded in 4-10 feet of water. (Take a look around the room that you're in. The average door knob height in America is 36 inches, or three feet. Imagine everything in your house below the door knobs under water.) And water is incredibly destructive.

This is a video of a 20-story rock quarry just outside Nashville, filling up with flood water on Sunday morning. By Sunday evening, the quarry was completely full of water.

In the middle of all this mess, a curious thing happened. Along with the pictures of total devastation, the TV news was also showing video of people risking their lives to help their neighbors get out of their houses. People banded together in the most amazing, selfless way possible to rescue their fellow humans. Nashville had been confronted with disaster, and Nashville started to shine almost as soon as the water started to rise. And it wasn't just a few people. It was people everywhere, doing all they could to help. Two horses, huddled together on high ground, were rescued by a boat full of people who gently led them to safety. A friend's elderly parents escaped their car in rising water and started walking. Somebody picked them up and brought them home. (Her father is 90 years old.) People all over town were rescued from trees, rooftops, attics, upstairs rooms, and cars—by their neighbors.

Over the last nine days, there have been a lot of stories about bad things that happened. Some people lost every single thing they owned. Some people died. A lot of businesses were ruined. Nashville is home to a lot of country musicians, many of whom stored their road gear, priceless guitars, and other equipment at a local riverfront warehouse that was totally inundated with water.

But there have been so many more stories of good things. In addition to the rescues, there have been volunteers. Tennessee is the Volunteer State, and I have always wondered what that meant. I don't wonder anymore. In the past nine days, people at one organization have volunteered more than 47,000 hours of their time to help Nashville rebuild. (That's over 5 years of work!) Neighborhoods are teeming with people who are helping, donating, or willing to help. A TV telethon last week raised $1.7 million in a donations for flood victims in few hours. Nashville is conserving water, and even something as simple as guys going without shaving contributes to flood relief. And I haven't even mentioned the tireless volunteers from churches, schools, community groups, and neighborhoods. The list of good things just goes on and on.

Nashville's response to the flood has been remarkable. A terrible thing happened here, and yet God has used it for good. Every day we hear testimonies about God's goodness and grace in this mess, and the love and generosity being shown by His body to people in need. Sometimes you get to see faith on a really big scale that just knocks you back and makes you realize how big God is. This is one of those times for us.

I'd like to ask for your prayers for our city—for needs to be met, for the fear a lot of people are feeling when it starts sprinkling, for those who have lost their homes or loved ones. But also take the time to thank God for all He is doing for us.

You can find out more about the Nashville flood at the Tennessean's web site or at Nashville's American Red Cross website. Sunday night at 8pm ET on GAC there will be a benefit concert to help flooding victims. Tune in and enjoy some country music. :)

See y'all next time.

ec blog: Dispatches

Are you looking for more of what Christy Box had to say in her "Dispatches" on page 55 of the May issue? Well, here's Christy's thoughts in her own words in their entirety. Enjoy!

 A while ago, I had really come to depend on my best friend. We’d known each other for a long time and we spent a lot of time together. Somehow, I never noticed that somewhere along the line, she changed. My best friend turned out to be a jerk to me. For a while after I found out, I was heartbroken. Months went by and Christmas came around. For Christmas that year, my sister gave me a Bible. I had been raised Christian, but somehow I had gotten away from it. I didn’t take any notice of the Bible for a while.

A few days later, when normal life resumed, I picked up the Bible and began to read Genesis. Somewhere before the end of that chapter, I realized this was something real. It wasn’t like my old childhood Bible stories anymore. When Easter came around, I started on the New Testament. When I got to the crucifixion story, I was nearly crying. I thought, “Why would you do this for me?” I knew the answer to that. That was the moment when I first considered myself a Christian.

That summer, I went to a lock-in at my sister’s church. I noticed how everyone seemed to be so excited about God, when I didn’t feel so much that way. I ended up crying in a room in the back where I didn’t think anyone would find me. I told God, “I know you’re here, but it’s not like you can hug me and tell me everything is OK.” Not five minutes later, my sister found me. She hugged me and told me everything was OK. Looking back on that moment, I know that was God saying He was there for me.

Finally, a few weeks ago, a girl emailed me about spreading the word of God in our online classes. I knew I might get in trouble for this, but she convinced be this was worth it. So I did it. I did not get one ugly message back on that email. Those who messaged back were supportive. Not only that, but a few days later, I was friended on Facebook by a girl who loved what I was doing. I started talking to her, and we became fast friends. I felt like I already knew her. When I think about everything that’s happened, I know that God was trying to make my life so much better, even if it hurt at first.

Fractured Fairy Tales (about marriage)

by Jennifer McCaman
 
Fact: Marriage is a wonderful thing designed by God, but it's not perfect and it's certainly no fairy tale.

Hollywood doesn’t help our perception of marriage. We all know stars who tied the knot only to realize a few years (or even months) later that they had “fallen out of love” and decided to divorce. It's a fairy tale myth—and it doesn’t come close to the marriage God designed us to have.
Happily Ever After
Check out these other fairy tale myths about marriage we often believe:

■ Myth: You will get along with your spouse all the time.
■ Fact: Conflict happens.
One of the fairy tales about marriage is that you will live together always in blissful honeymoon joy. It’s just not true. Because you are two imperfect people, your differences will clash eventually. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a great marriage. Working through conflict strengthens your marriage and helps you love each other even more. But when you go into marriage thinking you’ll never argue, that’s dangerous.

■ Myth: Most of marriage is romance and sex.
■ Fact: Most of marriage is everyday life.
Hollywood makes it look like ­marriage is all about sex and romance. If you’ve followed God’s design for sexual purity, it’s easy to think that most of your married life will consist of having sex. Yes, sex is a ­wonderful part of marriage. It is a beautiful, God-honoring affirmation of your unity and should always be part of your relationship. (Plus, it’s fun.) But honestly, you’ll spend way more time sleeping, watching TV, doing laundry, grocery shopping, and just sitting on the couch together during the week than you will spend having sex. If your idea of marriage is purely based on physical intimacy, you will be disappointed. The beauty of marriage is doing life together, praying for each other, supporting each other, and helping each other live out God’s plans for your life.

■ Myth: Your husband or wife will meet your needs.
■ Fact: Christ alone will complete you.
One reason so many marriages end in divorce is because people look for completion in a spouse. Christ alone completes you. He knows you better than anyone ever will, and He is the One who loves you more than anyone else, even your future spouse. If you aren’t complete in Christ before your wedding, you will not be complete in marriage. 

Marriage is one of the greatest blessings and deepest joys, but it also takes work and sacrifice. The best way you can prepare for it is to run after God with everything you have. He will bring you and your future spouse together so that the two of you can do more for Christ than you ever could apart. And that’s better than any fairy tale.

(To read this article in its entirity, check out page 40 of the May 2010 issue of ec. To subscribe, go here.)

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Why hello, Friday!

We're not sure about you, but in Nashville, where we've been dealing with floods, it's been a pretty long week. We thank you for your prayers.

But let's get this weekend started right. What kind of crazy things have happened in the news this week? (And if today's edition isn't enough, check out "Snippets and Soundbites" on page 38 of this month's (and every month's) issue of ec.

Proud as a peacock
But the pride of the peacocks in question isn't actually what's causing the problem. It's the fact that the pair are strutting their stuff next to a busy road that has the police department in Fairfield Township in North Cincinnati concerned. More than a dozen motorists have called 911 in the last month to report seeing the birds during their commutes. No one really knows where they came from and the police fear the birds and all their finery could distract drivers and are worried the pair could wander into traffic and cause traffic accidents. A family on a nearby farm own a few peacocks, but they say the birds don't belong to them. Apparently, this is the Case of the Magically Appearing Peacocks. To read the whole story, go here.

Pets are good listeners
The Associated Press and Petside.com released a poll this week in which one-third of married women polled said their pets were better listeners than their husbands. Let that sink in for a minute. And the women aren't alone; eighteen percent of married men polled said their pets listened better than their wives. In the USA Today article about the poll, many of the people interviewed said they liked to talk things out with their pets, including stress about work and, yes, significant others. When it comes to which kind of pet is the best listener, though, the poll was clear: 25 percent of dog owners said their pets listened better than their spouses and only 14 percent of cat owners said their cats did the same. So, what about you? Do you like to talk things out with your pet? Why? Let us know in the comments!

Get rid of the evidence any way you can.
Apparently, a woman in Ohio thought that sounded like good advice. Lois Harvey, 40, of Columbus, Ohio, was in line at a bank in Columbus on Wednesday, wearing sunglasses and with a note demanding money from the teller at the ready. When she got to the front of the line and handed the teller her robbery note, she noticed a uniformed officer in line behind her. She panicked, grabbed the incriminating note, and ran. Of course, police nabbed her right outside the bank. As she was being captured, Harvey stuck the note in her mouth and attempted to swallow the evidence of her attempted robbery. It didn't work; she coughed up the note a few minutes later on the sidewalk. To read all about this strange robbery attempt, go here.

Daily Bible Readings: May

Hi there, ec readers! It's officially May, which means it's officially time for us to supply you with this month's Daily Bible Reading Scripture passages. Dig in!


Saturday, May 1: 1 Samuel 30–31; Luke 10:38–11:13

Sunday, May 2: 2 Samuel 1–2; Luke 11:14-32
Monday, May 3: 2 Samuel 3–4; Luke 11:33-54
Tuesday, May 4: 2 Samuel 5–6; Luke 12:1-21
Wednesday, May 5: 2 Samuel 7–8; Luke 12:22-40
Thursday, May 6: 2 Samuel 9–10; Luke 12:41-59
Friday, May 7: 2 Samuel 11–12; Luke 13:1-21
Saturday, May 8: 2 Samuel 13–14; Luke 13:22-35

Sunday, May 9: 2 Samuel 15–16; Luke 14:1-24
Monday, May 10: 2 Samuel 17–18; Luke 14:25–15:10
Tuesday, May 11: 2 Samuel 19–20; Luke 15:11-32
Wednesday, May 12: 2 Samuel 21–22; Luke 16:1-18
Thursday, May 13: 2 Samuel 23–24; Luke 16:19-31
Friday, May 14: 1 Kings 1–2; Luke 17:1-19
Saturday, May 15: 1 Kings 3–4; Luke 17:20-37

Sunday, May 16: 1 Kings 5–6; Luke 18:1-23
Monday, May 17: 1 Kings 7–8; Luke 18:24-43
Tuesday, May 18: 1 Kings 9–11; Luke 19:1-27
Wednesday, May 19: 1 Kings 12–13; Luke 19:28-48
Thursday, May 20: 1 Kings 14–15; Luke 20:1-26
Friday, May 21: 1 Kings 16–17; Luke 20:27-47
Saturday, May 22: 1 Kings 18–19; Luke 21:1-28

Sunday, May 23: 1 Kings 20–21; Luke 21:29–22:6
Monday, May 24: 1 Kings 22– 2 Kings 1; Luke 22:7-30
Tuesday, May 25: 2 Kings 2–3; Luke 22:31-53
Wednesday, May 26: 2 Kings 4–5; Luke 22:54-71
Thursday, May 27: 2 Kings 6–7; Luke 23:1-25
Friday, May 28: 2 Kings 8–9; Luke 23:26-43
Saturday, May 29: 2 Kings 10–11; Luke 23:44-56

Sunday, May 30: 2 Kings 12–13; Luke 24:1-35
Monday, May 31: 2 Kings 14–15; Luke 24:36-53