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Have something to say? Send us an e-mail at ec@lifeway.com, write ec letters at One Lifeway
Plaza MSN 174, Nashville, TN 37234-0174, or stop by ecmagazine.blogspot.com.
Reader wants to share
her talent
I have a few poems that I would like
you to read, but I don’t know how to
message them to you. I just started
out on Facebook today. My dream
is to have a poem featured in the
magazine.
Lindsay on Facebook
(Lindsay, thanks for finding ec’s fan
page on Facebook and taking the
time to write on our wall. We would
love to read your poetry. Getting
it to us is actually pretty easy. You
can e-mail us at ec@lifeway.com
or godlifefun@gmail.com. If you’d
rather send us hard copies and use
the U.S. Postal Service, just send the
Overheard
poems to Mandy Crow, One LifeWay
Plaza, MSN 174,Nashville, TN 37234.
Include your contact info when you
send us the poems, including your
mailing address. If we like your work
and decide to use it in an issue of ec,
we’ll send you a letter and other information
in the mail. Keep writing, and
please, share your talents with us!)
Fan offers article ideas
I don’t want to sound like a wannabe,
but the blog you posted about my
problem [with anxiety] was so helpful.
My friends thought it was great,
and we were wondering if you would
do some article about that topic for
people who read the mag but don’t
have Facebook. I want everyone who
has this problem to have inspiration
to keep going with this wonderful
advice. Thanks so much!
Madison on Facebook
(ec: We are so humbled that you
turned to us for advice about dealing
with anxiety and that the post we
put on the blog featuring Scripture
passages spoke truth into your life.
It’s humbling to be used by God!
Your idea about doing an article in
an upcoming issue of ec is a good
one. We’re currently planning several
months in advance and always want
to include articles about stuff you’re
actually dealing with. So let us know
if you have more ideas for articles,
because we crave your input!)
just in from the Facebook fan page:
“I love your magazines! Our church orders them
every month, and they inspire me.” —Nikki
“Are you sure that’s the right address because
I would really like to know that Web site.”
—Michaela*
things we wonder about: “I love the new cover and
everything in it!” —Jennifer, on Facebook
*Michaela’s right, guys! On page 5 of the March issue, we printed a Web address that no
longer works. We’re trying to find out what happened to www.thirstnomore.org. Sorry!
Question of
the Month
What’s your favorite
way to serve other
people?
“I like just to be their friend and
then when they need someone
I am the first one to give them
some help. ”
Rebekah, on ec’s facebook
fan page
“My favorite ways to serve others
is just random acts of kindness!
They’re so much fun and people
don’t expect them, so I love
seeing their faces when I do a
random act [of kindness] for
them!”
Anna, on Ec’s Facebook Fan
Page
“By helping with anything I can
do.”
Clayton, on ec’s facebook
fan page
Read more answers at:
http://cli.gs/S5LShn
Next month’s question:
What’s the worst
assignment you’ve ever
gotten at school?
So just what are you thinking? Here at ec
magazine, we want to know. Each month
you’ll find a question we want your input
about. So check it out and e-mail us with
your thoughts! We can’t wait to hear from
you!
© istockphoto / Scott Griessel
Living
the Truth
God is Three. Three in One. The
Father loves the Son who loves the
Holy Spirit. There is a relationship
involved. We, created in God’s
image, have been made relational
beings as well. We were made to
connect not only with God, but with
other people.
Just the Facts
Josh Corlew cares a great deal about living in
rich, soul-satisfying community with others.
He isn’t famous, and he doesn’t have all the
answers. But he’s trying to take Jesus’ words seriously,
and he has experienced a different way
of living because of it. For one year Josh lived
with two families and two other single guys.
The nine of them shared the space of half of a
quad-plex. It wasn’t very roomy. They each came
Word study
Trinity. A word meaning
threefold; the way we
have chosen to refer to the
relationship between God
the Father, Jesus the Son,
and God the Spirit. The word
does not appear explicitly
in Scripture, but the concept
is clear. The Trinity is
difficult to understand, but
at its very core it helps us to
understand that God loves
community and wants to
relate to us through relationship
rather than religion.
god the connection
from wealthy backgrounds but chose to live as a
racial minority in a low-income neighborhood.
Why?
“I used to live according to what most people
consider the American dream. I aimed for a
high-paying career so I could have my own
place and complete control over my surroundings.
I spent all my time and money in ways
that were self-indulgent.”
Though that’s the way many people live,
Josh realized it wasn’t in line with his faith.
He’d been living a decent Christian life by most
standards, but when he examined himself, he
wasn’t pleased. Investing everything into himself
just left him empty.
So Josh and some other people decided to
find a house, move in together, and share everything,
similar to what the early Christians did
in the Book of Acts.
“Can you really put nine people together in
that small of a place and still love each other
and call yourself Christian at the end of it? The
answer was a resounding yes. Spiritually, I grew
the quickest and most I’d ever grown.”
They didn’t have to plan a worship service or
Bible study meetings. Around the dinner table,
conversation would naturally turn to Scripture
and how it related to life. Living with people
who cared about God, love, and their neighbors
motivated Josh to embrace a radical faith.
“I’m effective in my walk if I’m with people
doing the same thing. For me to really grow, I
have found that I need the constant interaction
with other people who are also trying to live out
their faith. Left to my own, I sit back and ignore
all the problems that are around me.”
What about you?
getting started • By chansin bird
◼ Are there people in your life with whom you can
be completely honest and who will be honest with
you? How might you foster such a relationship?
◼ Think of someone you admire who has a strong love
for others. How is that person living out his/her
faith, and what can you do to follow the example?
◼ Do you know what Jesus said about loving other
people? Look through the Gospels for examples.
◼ How have you watered down God’s Word with
excuses and rationalization? What changes will you
allow God to make in your life this week?
Read
The Irresistible
Revolution:
Living as an
Ordinary Radical
Shane Claiborne
(Zondervan, 2006)
“Seeing Claiborne’s
interpretation of
Scripture . . . and of
the current inclination
of Christianity
in America was
encouraging and
convicting.” Josh
Browse
⊲www.rebaplace
fellowship.org,
⊲www.thesimple
way.org, and
⊲www.churchofthe
sojourners.org
All of these are Web
sites of organized
intentional Christian
communities.
Listen
Mockingbird
Derek Webb (INO
Records, 2005)
“He is one of the most
prophetic musical
artists I’ve ever
heard. It is about
re envisioning the
Church.” Josh
Send us your answers! Find us on Facebook
6 | jul 2009 ec magazine
or visit ecmagazine.blogspot.com.
ec magazine jul 2009 | 7