Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Welcome to the final Friday of March! And you know what that means . . . OK, maybe not, but here on the ec magazine blog it means our online edition of "Snippets and Soundbites."

Yep, we've been digging through this week's news of the weird and watching interesting videos and it's time to share some of what we found this week.

Let's get the weekend started right!

Delayed? Again!
No one likes a delay at the airport. Full of people rushing to get to their next flight or their destination, it's one of the best places to get a glimpse of someone having a complete and total meltdown. Delays usually come from weather issues, mechanical problems, or flights that are running just a tiny bit behind. That wasn't the case at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta this week. Apparently, on Tuesday, a coyote wandered onto a runway and delayed flights by a few minutes while the ground crews chased the animal off of the runway. The whole delay only lasted about five minutes (the time it took ground crews in a vehicle to chase the animal into a ravine), but that's five minutes at the world's busiest airport. You can read all about it here.

Snowball fight! Lawsuit!
Most of us think a snowball fight sounds like fun, but that's not the case for two Massachusetts men. In defense of the guys: this is not your run-of-the-mill fun-with-your-friends-in-the-snow snowball fight. Apparently, Charles Dow of Newton, Mass., and Robert Earley of Nantucket, Mass., were in Jay, Vermont, earlier this winter. On that fateful Friday, Earley was driving his car down the street when Dow fired off a snowball at the moving vehicle. The Vermont State Police report that Earley then stopped his vehicle and assaulted Dow for throwing the snowball. Dow was injured and treated at a Newport, Vermont, hospital. But both of the men now face charges: Earley was cited for simple assault; Dow was charged with disorderly conduct. They're both due in court in May. And we're glad there will likely be no snow around for that court date! Read all about it here.

A sweet story.

We love good stories about dogs as much as anyone. OK, if we're honest, maybe more than most people. But this week we ran across the story of Alice, an 8-week-old springer spaniel who had been abandoned by a breeder at an animal rescue shelter in Ireland because she was deaf. That's where Marie Williams and Mark Morgan ran across the puppy. Deaf themselves, they fell in love with the dog—the fact that she was deaf just made her all the more special. Alice's new family is working to teach her sign language. It seems like she's found a happy new home! Learn more here. Be sure to check out the video!

As always, if today's edition of "Snippets and Soundbites" wasn't enough strange news and quirky stories for your taste, check out page 38 in this month's (and every month's) print issue of ec. You can subscribe to ec here: www.lifeway.com/ec.

What to do (and what not to do) when you're mad at your parents

You can’t get along with everyone all of the time. That truth definitely extends to your parents. You live in the same house, share the same genes, and know the best ways to push each other’s buttons. But how do you deal with your parents when you argue? We’ve got a few ideas.

Remember whom you’re talking to.
Your parents are human. They do and say things they shouldn’t; they make mistakes. But even in the middle of a heated argument, your mom is still your mom and your dad is still your dad. And as a believer, you’re called to respect your parents and treat them as you’d like to be treated. So before you throw out that sarcastic remark, remember whom you’re talking to and treat your parents with the respect they deserve!

Figure out why you get so mad.
Make a list of the things you and your parents argue about most. When you’re finished, look it over and figure out what makes you so angry in those situations. Is it because your parents flat out disagree with you or that they won’t at least see your point of view? When you know why you’re angry, you can take steps to avoid arguments or even solve the problem.

Don’t let anger do the talking.
When you’re angry, it’s easy to let the emotion take control and say and do things you wish you hadn’t. That’s especially disastrous when the person at the receiving end of your anger is your mom or dad. When you feel anger taking control, take a deep breath and refrain from talking. Count to . Pray about your attitude and ask for wisdom. If emotions are running high on all sides, it may be best to table the conversation and return to it when cooler heads can prevail.

Compromise.
You’re not always right, and neither are your parents. Usually both of you have to give a little to end a disagreement or solve the problem you’re facing. Suggest a compromise and set the example for your parents.

Listen!
This one is true for any disagreement or relationship. Listen when your parents talk. Even if it makes you mad, keep your ears and mind open. Try to see things from the other person's point of view; don't spend all the time your mom or dad is talking thinking about what you're going to say next. That means you're not listening, you're not trying to solve the problem, and proves that you're being selfish and want your way at all costs.

Don't interrupt.
Don’t interrupt or offer explanations when your parents are talking. Just listen! This one is particularly annoying to parents. Interrupting can be disrespectful, especially since it doesn't allow the person you've interrupted to get his or her point across. Your parents deserve that right. That doesn't mean you can't say anything. It just means that you need to let your mom and dad make their points without comment from you, and when the time is right explain your point of view. But do so respectfully and with a focus on reaching an agreement or resolving the conflict.

Weird strawberry recipes

The Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla., ended last week, but we're keeping the celebration going. If you want to try out the weird strawberry recipes we included in "Fun:Miscellaneous" in the March issue of ec, here's all the info you need to know!

Photo credit: D. Sharon Pruitt/stockxchange

Strawberry avocado salsa

Wash, chop, and combine in a bowl:

• 1  cup  finely chopped strawberries
• 1/4  cup  finely chopped peeled avocado
• 2  tablespoons  finely chopped red onion
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2  teaspoon  grated lime rind
• 2  tablespoons  fresh lime juice
• 2  teaspoons  finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
• 1/4  teaspoon  sugar

Serve immediately. For the original recipe and more info, go here. 

Spaghetti with strawberries

1 pound dried spaghetti
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing
1 pound ripe strawberries, cleaned and halved
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 cup tomato purée
4 ounces reserved pasta water
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste


Cook the pasta in rapidly boiling salted water until al dente.
Warm the olive oil in a large sauté pan, then add half of the strawberries. Cook over medium heat untio the strawberries start to release juice. Add balsamic and allow the sauce to reduce by half.
Add tomato purée, the rest of the strawberries, and the reserved pasta water, and reduce by half again until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Toss the sauce with spaghetti. Finish with a little olive oil and black pepper.
For the original recipe and more info, go here. 
 

Deep fried strawberries

For this recipe, you'll need:

1 pint fresh strawberries

1 cup plain flour

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon cinnamon

granulated sugar

oil (for frying)

whipped cream

mint sprig (optional)

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/fried-strawberries-60328#ixzz1HEjxuDRS

1  pint   fresh strawberries, washed and stemmed
1 cup plain flour
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
granulated sugar
oil (for frying)
whipped cream

After washing and stemming the strawberries, create your assembly line. Put the flour in a small bowl. Beat the egg and milk together in a small bowl and place next to the flour. In another bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and cinnamon and place it last in the line. Begin heating the oil for frying. While it is getting hot, dredge the strawberries in flour, then coat with the egg mixture, then roll in the graham cracker crumb mixture. When oil is hot, deep fry each strawberry for 1 to 2 minutes until the coating is crisp and brown. Drain the deep fried strawberries on a paper towel, then serve a few with whipped cream, Cool Whip, or vanilla ice cream. For more information and the original recipe, go here.

1 pint fresh strawberries

1 cup plain flour

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon cinnamon

granulated sugar

oil (for frying)

whipped cream

mint sprig (optional)

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/fried-strawberries-60328#ixzz1HEjxuDRS

1 pint fresh strawberries

1 cup plain flour

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon cinnamon

granulated sugar

oil (for frying)

whipped cream

mint sprig (optional)

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/fried-strawberries-60328#ixzz1HEjxuDRS

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

Hey, ec fans! Welcome to the first Friday of March Madness!

And even if you think college basketball's biggest tournament is nothing to cheer about (we obviously do!), there's plenty news of the weird out there to get you laughing and ready for the weekend.

So let's see what we dug up this week:

A sticky issue
Steven Steel is a city councilman in Toledo, Ohio. A guy who prides himself on "living off the land," Steel and his family have chickens to lay eggs, collect honey from a beehive, and make their own soup. But the city says he took things too far when he tapped a century-old maple tree in front of his Toledo home and collected enough sap for two gallons of syrup. The local paper reported the tree was actually owned by the city (oops!) and a neighbor complained. Apparently, Steel is in the wrong, since Toledo law requires citizens to get approval from the forestry department before doing anything to a tree. Steel removed the taps and buckets right away. We guess he'll just have to buy his syrup at the store like we do! Read all about it here. Want to learn about how maple syrup is made? Go here.

It's MINE! 

Photo from the Hershey Farm Whoopie Pie Festival
near Lancaster, Pa. This year's festival is set for
September 17.

If you live in the New England area (or the East Coast) or have visited there, you've probably run across a popular dessert called a whoopie pie. It's basically a cake sandwich involving two small chocolate cakes that sandwich a creamy vanilla filling. Back in January, Maine state representative Paul Davis introduced a bill that would make the whoopie pie Maine's official state dessert. He says he got the idea when he was talking with people at the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival last year, an event that attracted 4,000 visitors to Dover-Foxcroft, which is part of Davis' district. The legislative committee has since dropped the term "dessert" in favor of "treat," but that hasn't stopped Pennsylvania residents from protesting. They say the treat actually originated in the kitchens of their large Amish population and dates back generations. The Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau fought back when they got wind of the bill, creating a website (www.saveourwhoopie.com) and accusing Maine of "confectionary larceny." So far, residents of each state are sticking to their guns and supporting their bakeries in the fight for the origin of the whoopie pie. Things may get heated, but both sides say the fight is all in good fun. Learn more here. Want to make your own whoopie pie? Go here.

Silly baby!

There's nothing like a good funny video to end a long week. The funny part about this one is the baby's very dramatic reaction to her mom blowing her nose. But it's funnier if you watch it. . . . so here:



As always, if today's edition of "Snippets and Soundbites" isn't enough news of the strange for you, check out page 38 in this month's (and every month's) print edition of ec. You can subscribe to ec magazine here.

You can do it: Finishing the school year strong

If only every school day could be like the first day of the new school year. Expectations are high, attitudes are positive, and the sky seems to be the limit. Your mind felt as sharp as the No. 2 pencil in your hand. 

But now it’s March, the end of the school year is in sight, and motivation and excitement are no longer even part of your vocabulary. Frankly, school seems about as exciting as getting a tooth filled, with similar amounts of dull pain and sometimes even numbness. It’s time to take stock, make some simple changes, and finish this year strong. The late bell is about to ring, so time is most definitely of the essence.

I’ll be upfront and honest here; I’m writing from a teacher’s perspective. I’m going to let you know ideas and strategies that teachers really appreciate. These will be labeled STL (no, not St. Louis!) but rather “Stuff Teachers Like.” Ready? Let’s go!

Get some new stuff.
Now is a great time to restock on school supplies. You think that task can only be done once a year? Wrong! It’s amazing what some fresh notebook paper, a pack of sharp pencils, and maybe even a snazzy new binder or notebook can do for your confidence. (STL)
Plus, a new notebook will have rings that actually work, so your papers don’t fall out and leave a literal paper trail of where you’ve been.

Getting organized is a huge key to success. 
Clean out that binder and throw away or recycle old assignments and tests. Collect a stack of your old papers and ask the teacher: “Do I need these, or is it OK to get rid of them?” Make sure that he or she notices you recycling the papers, thereby helping protect planet earth. (STL)

Get enthusiastic. 
The Bible—it’s just so full of wisdom, like in Colossians 3:23, which says “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.” Let’sgive a big STL to those words of Paul right now!

If you haven’t figured out by now, teachers care a lot about effort. They recognize it, and they like it. Even if you don’t totally understand y=mx+b, work at it with all the enthusiasm you can muster. Attack that slope-intercept form like you are attacking it for the Lord, not just for Mrs. Jones, who’s been around so long that she possibly taught algebra to Paul back in his school days.

Move around. 
If you’re struggling to pay attention—or to just stay awake for that matter, ask if you can be moved to the front of the room so that you will be closer to the core of instruction (STL).
This demonstrates to the teacher that you care more about your grade than daydreaming while gazing out the window or grabbing a few extra winks of sleep. And while you’re at it, don’t be afraid to ask for some extra help before or after class (STL). This shows that you are concerned about your grade and want to see it improve.

Accountability—it’s biblical. 
Galatians 6:2 tells us to “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Now is the time to form a study group to help you get through these last few months of school (STL). Be sure to invite someone who is doing well in the class, along with some friends who might need a little boost. Stay focused on the schoolwork, but have some fun as well.
Pay attention to where you study. Every student needs an area at home that is clearly set aside for homework and studying. Put your study area to the test with our handy quiz:
1. Is there plenty of light?
❑ YES ❑ NO

2. Do you have a comfortable chair?
❑ YES ❑ NO

3. Is your study area away from TV, phone, and other distractions?
❑ YES ❑ NO

4. Do you have lots of pens, pencils, papers, books, and other supplies you’ll need to study?
❑ YES ❑ NO

5. Is your study spot fairly quiet?
❑ YES ❑ NO

6. When you study, do you use the Internet only for study-related activities?
❑ YES ❑ NO

7. Are your homework assignments written down?
❑ YES ❑ NO

If you answered “No” to more than two of those questions, you might want to rethink your study space.


Think ahead.
The last few months of the school year are BUSY! Take some time now to see what’s headed your way in the next few weeks and put it in your planner or write it on your family calendar. Record any band concerts, banquets, team meetings, or special events. Write down the due dates for big projects and list the dates for AP exams and finals. (STL) By taking some time to look ahead now, you can better plan how you’re going to get everything done—without losing your mind!

Take it one thing at a time. 
Don’t freak out that you’ve got a million things to do and a seemingly short amount of time to finish them. Make a list of all you need to accomplish each week and break down big tasks into small steps. If you have a big exam to study for, your steps might include reviewing your notes for two of the chapters covered on the test on one night, then reviewing the remaining chapters the next night. The following night, you may review the study guide or practice test your teacher gave you.

With a little extra effort, some new supplies, and a few creative strategies, you should be set to finish this school year strong.

This article written by Will Snipes appears in the March 2011 issue of ec magazine. You can subscribe to ec by clicking here.

March Madness: EXPANDED

This year, the NCAA expanded the Big Dance to include 68 teams, so it only seems right that we also expand our coverage of one of our favorite sporting events of the year!

We hope you're as excited about the NCAA basketball tournament as we are!

Make your picks!
Join us in a friendly competition to see how well you can pick your brackets. Ec team members and readers will be participating, and we can't wait to see who you pick to win it all! Earn the bragging rights (and more!) by joining us at http://ec2011bracket.mayhem.cbssports.com/e and using the password MarchMadness. If you need our group name, it's: ec magazine 2011 bracket challenge.

View the Izzone

In the March 2011 issue of ec, we highlighted the Izzone, the student cheering section for the Michigan State's basketball team. Check out this video to learn more and see the Izzone in action:

You can also link to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4O_4k-2kQY

Silent Night
Taylor University, a small liberal arts Christian school in Upland, Ind., won’t play in this year’s Division I NCAA tournament, but the NAIA school has its own special tradition. On the Friday before the fall finals week begins (usually around the middle of December) fans come to the game dressed in their pajamas and stay completely silent until Taylor’s team scores its tenth point. Then, the crowd goes crazy, complete with celebrating and confetti. The game is known as Taylor’s “Silent Night,” and afterward, the students come together for a campus-wide Christmas party! Learn more here. Or watch this video:


Trivia!
Want to wow your friends by spouting off random March Madness facts? Check out these sites:
http://www.funtrivia.com/en/Sports/NCAA-March-Madness-4418.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men%27s_Division_I_Basketball_Championship
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/march-madness.htm

An interview with Lincoln Brewster

Everyone has a story.
Lincoln Brewster is the first to admit that while his isn’t perfect, it’s bittersweet.

Every person has a story.

For some, that story is filled with love and happy endings. For others, sadness and tragedy. But for most, the story is both bitter and sweet.

On the surface, acclaimed worship leader Lincoln Brewster seems to live the fairy tale. With six acclaimed albums, multiple hit songs, a beautiful wife, and two children, his life seems pretty perfect—from the outside.

“It’s really easy for people to look at my life and say ‘you’re so lucky,’” says Lincoln. “And while I’m really blessed and exceptionally grateful to be where I am today, it hasn’t always been like this.”

An unstable world
Lincoln was raised the youngest of eight children in a small fishing town in Alaska. His stepfather was an abusive alcoholic, and Lincoln says his family life offered little stability.

“When you’re a kid, and you equate your father figure, your dad, with hurting your mom . . . that can do strange things to you,” says Lincoln. “There are still challenges I face today as an adult because of the things I didn’t get as a child.”

Lincoln says that despite his unstable childhood, he knew he could always draw strength from his mother’s love.

“She made mistakes, of course,” says Lincoln. “I think she was frozen by this debilitating fear she felt towards my stepfather. But I never once doubted her love for me. She’s loved me my whole life, and continues to do so today. That doesn’t make her wrongs OK, but it covers them in a way that I can understand them.”

Don’t go it alone
When Lincoln was 12, his mother finally escaped the shadow of her husband, and she, Lincoln, and two of his siblings were finally free from the abuse and tragedy of that broken home. But through his teen years, Lincoln struggled to find role models. He says he went through a string of friends he tried to mold into father figures and role models—but all they could offer was friendship.

“We’re created to have those parent figures in our lives,” says Lincoln. “I found myself counting on my friends to be strong father figures and counselors. They couldn’t stand up under the responsibilities I was putting on them.”

And when friendships fail, isolation often quickly follows. “When you’re in pain and when you’re in crisis, the worst thing to try to do is go it alone,” says Lincoln. “It’s hard to let others in, but you have to find a way.”

Lincoln says as a teen, he made the conscious decision to begin to let “safe” people into his life—youth leaders, pastors, and counselors. These re­lationships helped him to finally find some solid ground. He also found the incredible, boundless love of a true Father. “I think people going through crisis need to know one important thing,” says Lincoln. “God is crazy, head over heels in love with you.”

Finding your identity in a loving God is far more lasting and stable than finding your identity in friends or romantic relationships. Once you’ve established that relationship with God and found that group of people who hold you accountable, the things you know start to overshadow the things in your life that don’t make sense, Lincoln says.

“There will always be things that happen beyond your control,” says Lincoln. “But at least make good choices with the things you can control. As a believer, you need to rely on the things you know and run all of your decisions through that filter.”

A story of healing
Lincoln says this process of faith, positive role models, and good decision-making eventually brought him to a place where he really started to live for something outside of himself. And that was a good thing. “When you’re not the entirety of your world, that’s not bad!” he says.

Today, Lincoln says he works hard to set boundaries in his life and to remove himself from dysfunctional and dangerous relationships. His desire is to create a peaceful home for both himself and his family. It may not be a fairy tale, but it is definitely a tale of healing and redemption.

“I am living, breathing proof that God can take somebody with a messed-up past and still do something with your life. There’s no such thing as damaged goods in God’s kingdom.”

Media related to suffering: Expanded Version

We told you on page 18 of this month’s issue to check the blog today for an expanded edition of Anna McKenzie’s article, “Music, Music, and Books about Suffering.” Well, here it is, for your reading pleasure.

Movies

AMAZING GRACE
2006/FOUR BOYS FILMS
An engaging and heartfelt drama, Amazing Grace tells the story of William Wilberforce, a member of the British parliament and a strong Christian who took on the mission of abolishing the slave trade in the United Kingdom in the early 1800s. He endured a great deal of criticism and opposition and suffered from a chronic illness which hindered his progress. This modern classic depicts Wilberforce’s persistence and reliance on God’s strength, which -carried him through the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that stood in his way.

END OF THE SPEAR
2005/EVERY TRIBE ENTERTAINMENT
This is the story of Jim Elliot and fellow missionaries who brought the gospel to a violent tribe in Ecuador. Doing so cost five of the missionaries their lives. It’s sad but also hopeful.

Songs

"IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL"
WRITTEN BY HORATIO SPAFFORD, COMPOSED BY PHILIP BLISS
Horatio Spafford underwent a great deal of suffering prior to writing this well-known hymn. His 4 year-old son died, then he lost a lot of property investments in the Chicago Fire of 1871. Two years later, in 1873, his wife and four daughters were on a ship that sank; his wife alone survived. In the midst of his grief over the loss of his children, Spafford found comfort in God’s grace and salvation. He knew that despite all that might happen to him on earth, it was well with his soul.

"OH MY GOD"
JARS OF CLAY (GOOD MONSTERS, 2006)
This powerful song describes all the kinds of people who call out to God, whether genuinely or taking His name in vain—from “liars and fools,” to “pilgrim saints and lonely widows.” It probes the depths of doubt that can accompany suffering, unabashedly questioning hope and wondering how God will respond. The song finishes with the ultimate cry of humanity, “Oh my God,” which leaves all eyes on God, our only hope of restoration in a broken world.

Also check out:
• “Faith Enough,” by Jars of Clay (Who We Are Instead, 2003)
• “Blessed Be Your Name,” by Matt Redman (Blessed Be Your Name, 2005)

Books

THE PROBLEM OF PAIN
C.S. LEWIS
In this book, C.S. Lewis tackles the great question of why God allows suffering in the world and what that means for humanity. He approaches this difficult subject logically and honestly, without trying to gloss over the issue. Instead, he addresses pain head-on with a theological and philosophical viewpoint, while his straightforward style remains accessible to the modern reader.

THE HIDING PLACE
CORRIE TEN BOOM
During World War II, Corrie ten Boom and her Christian family hid Jews until they were taken away to concentration camps themselves. In The Hiding Place, Corrie recounts her experiences of Nazi brutality and how she was able to keep her faith during even the bleakest of circumstances. Through the darkness and cruelty that she felt and witnessed, Corrie found that God was still present with her—and it gave her hope and a hard-won peace even in light of intense personal and global suffering.

Also check out:
• If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn
• Where Is God When It Hurts? by Philip Yancey

Take a [basketball] poll. Please.

It's March, which means that the college basketball season is coming to its glorious end. So that's why we want you to take part in the following poll (as seen on page 39 of this month's issue). Enjoy! (Because we sure do enjoy hearing what you think about things!)

Daily Bible Readings: March

It’s that time again . . . if you’re reading through the Bible this year using ec’s plan, here what you need to know:

Tuesday, March 1: Numbers 22–24; Mark 5:1-20
Wednesday, March 2: Numbers 25–26; Mark 5:21-43
Thursday, March 3: Numbers 27–29; Mark 6:1-13
Friday, March 4: Numbers 30–31; Mark 6:14-31
Saturday, March 5: Numbers 32–33; Mark 6:32-56

Sunday, March 6: Numbers 34–36; Mark 7:1-23
Monday, March 7: Deuteronomy 1–2; Mark 7:24-37
Tuesday, March 8: Deuteronomy 3–4; Mark 8:1-10
Wednesday, March 9: Deuteronomy 5–6; Mark 8:11-26
Thursday, March 10: Deuteronomy 7–9; Mark 8:27-38
Friday, March 11: Deuteronomy 10–11; Mark 9:1-13
Saturday, March 12: Deuteronomy 12–14; Mark 9:14-29















Sunday, March 13: Deuteronomy 15–17; Mark 9:30-50
Monday, March 14: Deuteronomy 18–20; Mark 10:1-16
Tuesday, March 15: Deuteronomy 21–23; Mark 10:17-31
Wednesday, March 16: Deuteronomy 24–26; Mark 10:32-52
Thursday, March 17: Deuteronomy 27–28; Mark 11:1-11
Friday, March 18: Deuteronomy 29–30; Mark 11:12-33
Saturday, March 19: Deuteronomy 31–32; Mark 12:1-12

Sunday, March 20: Deuteronomy 33–34; Mark 12:13-27
Monday, March 21: Joshua 1–2; Mark 12:28-44
Tuesday, March 22: Joshua 3–4; Mark 13:1-13
Wednesday, March 23: Joshua 5–6; Mark 13:14-37
Thursday, March 24: Joshua 7–8; Mark 14:1-11
Friday, March 25: Joshua 9–10; Mark 14:12-31
Saturday, March 26: Joshua 11–12; Mark 14:32-52

Sunday, March 27: Joshua 13–15; Mark 14:53-72
Monday, March 28: Joshua 16–18; Mark 15:1-15
Tuesday, March 29: Joshua 19–20; Mark 15:16-39
Wednesday, March 30: Joshua 21–22; Mark 15:40-47
Thursday, March 31: Joshua 23–24; Mark 16

The editor's thoughts on the March 2011 issue

A friend of mine found out that her stepfather, the man who had been
her father since she was a child, passed away while she was hours away
from home in a foreign country on a mission trip with her college. I
didn’t know her then, but I’ll never forget the way she talked about
her pain or her description of her tears splattering on the uneven
planks of the hardwood floor in the lobby of the hotel. In my mind’s
eye, I saw her there, sobs wrenching from her body and tears coming
unbidden.

But I’ll also never forget the simple e-mail she got from a friend,
someone we both admire. It simply said, “The aching may remain, but
the breaking will not.”

No, those words aren’t Scripture. They’re the lyrics of a song by
Andrew Peterson called “The Silence of God.” And in the midst of her
suffering, they spoke truth to her—that the pain she felt was real and
would last a long time and may never fully go away. But it wouldn’t
kill her, because the God she loved is the same God who promises to
redeem all things.

As Christ-followers, we sometimes believe a false concept that because
we’re following Jesus, our lives will be problem-free. That we won’t
have to suffer. That God’s biggest role in our lives is to do whatever
makes us happy. But the problem with that idea is that it isn’t true.
Jesus promised that His believers would face persecution and suffering
(John 15:18; 16:33). And the fact is, Jesus Himself suffered greatly
while He was on this earth in human form. If Jesus Christ—the Messiah,
God in human flesh—suffered during His earthly life, why would we
expect that our lives would be free of pain, sorrow, and suffering?

We will face suffering, pain, and loss in this life. It won’t always
seem fair, and at times, we’ll feel overwhelmed and broken by it.
That’s the truth. And this month, we’re telling the truth about
suffering in ec. Jennifer Denning’s cover story, “Faith under Fire” on
page 27, tells the truth that suffering is part of our fallen world
and speaks to the lie that God exists just to make us happy. Through
Anna McKenzie’s article (p. 18), Lindsey Dugue’s quiz (p. 19), and
numerous other devotions and articles, you’ll learn that God can give
us hope even in our deepest sorrows, and He often redeems the things
we thought would kill us so that they shine with His glory. After you
read this issue, I hope you realize that God can even use the
suffering in our lives to bend and break us so that He can mold and
shape us to look more like His Son. You can’t escape suffering in this
world, but you can trust God.

The aching may remain, but the breaking will not.