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volume 15 • number 4 / ecmagazine.blogspot.com
July
09
1 Contents
3 writer's block
4 Statements
you said it; we printed it.
4 Q u e s t i o n
of the Month
5 The connection
by Chansin bird
Intentional community is never
boring. Get Josh’s perspective on it.
9 Father
Devotions: Week of July 5
by Kaylan Christopher
god wants you to know Him as a
loving Father.
15 Life:Essentials
Take a break, then learn about
improving your soccer skills.
19 His Father’s Son
Devotions: Week of July 12
by David Burnette
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Trust Him.
.
2 5 Fun:Miscellaneous
read this for everything random
and July-related you ever wanted to
know!
31 Counselor
Devotions: Week of July 19
by Amy Keys
you are not alone, no matter how
often you feel that way.
37 In Your own words
“Forever Friend,” a student poem
by Sheryl Pang
38 S n i p p e t s
& Soundbites
Goofy information to brighten your
day: doughnuts, the world’s longest
ear hair, and wedgies used to fight
crime!
43 Campus Connection
by Maria Nuguid
Use ec’s weekly devotion themes to
lead a Bible study on the Trinity with
these helpful tips.
48 f i n d i n g c o m m u n i t y
in CHile
by chansin bird
god is all about community among
His believers all over the world!
49 M y s t e r y
Devotions: Week of July 26
by Randy Fields
learn more about how God loves you
in three Persons.
55 Mk Corner
By Ashley Brents
ashley loves the Japanese in Jesus’
name.
62 Mandisa on Modesty
by Tifany Borgelt
Get Mandisa’s take on modesty in the
spotlight.
63 music connection
by Kevin Sparkman
Read reviews of a few recent
album releases you need to hear.
64 The Parting Shot
Don’t forget the final five!
essential connection
Production & Ministry Team
editorial Project Leader Mike Wakefield
content Editor Mandy Crow
production Editor Emily Cole
graphic designer Jen Showalter
Student Ministry Specialist
Sherry Spillman
National Student Ministry Leader
Paul Turner
Send questions or comments to:
Mandy Crow, Editor
One LifeWay Plaza
Nashville, TN 37234 0174
or ec@lifeway.com
Management Personnel
Senior Director,
Student Ministry Publishing Jimmy Hester
Director,
Student Ministry Scott Stevens
Director, Publishing,
LifeWay Church Resources Gary H. Hauk
Advertising
One Lifeway Plaza Msn 136 • Nashville, Tn 37234
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media kits lifeway.com/magazines/media
director, magazine advertising & circulation
Rhonda Edge Buescher
advertising production Scott Hancock
Printed in the United States of America
essential connection, JULY 2009, (ISSN 1078-
2788; Item 005075081) is published monthly by
LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern
Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza,
Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President.
© 2009 LifeWay Christian Resources of the
Southern Baptist Convention. For inquiries,
visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church
Resources Customer Service at the above
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To investigate the possibility of advertising in
essential connection, visit www.lifeway.com/
magazines.
Advertisement Disclaimer: This magazine includes
paid advertisements for some products
and services not affiliated with LifeWay. The
inclusion of the paid advertisements does not
constitute an endorsement by LifeWay Christian
Resources of the products or services.
All Scripture quotations are taken from the
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® , copyright
© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible
Publishers. Used by permission.
Do you really KNOW God?
Take a look at the plan of salvation
Know God. To be sure you are going to
heaven, it is essential that you know God
in a personal relationship. Without this
relationship, you are completely separated
from Him (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).
Name jesus as your lord and
savior. You must believe that Jesus is who
He said He is—God’s Son. As the perfect, sinless
Son of God, only Jesus can forgive your
sin (Rom. 10:9-10).
Writer's Block
Community.
I grew up in a small town in a simple house with one brother.
I didn’t have to share a room with anyone. My brother and I shared a bathroom, but
it was big and had two sinks. If someone in the family was being overly annoying,
you could find solace and privacy in your room, in the basement, or somewhere else
where no one would bother you. That was my idea of perfect community. No one was
really messing up my stuff; I didn’t have to share, at least not all that much; and my
brother mostly kept his mess contained in his room.
Then, I went to college. Suddenly, I was sharing the world’s tiniest room with
a girl I’d never met who was even more shy than me. She was neat and a good
roommate, but living with her was an experience. I didn’t always get to watch what
I wanted on TV. I couldn’t invite my friends over whenever I wanted. I sometimes
had to be a friend when all I wanted to do was curl up on my bed and think about
my problems. I had to share a bathroom with girls who weren’t so great at cleaning
up after themselves, and the guys down the hall often woke me up in the wee hours
of the morning playing some crazy hallway game they’d dreamed up. It was crazy; it
was chaotic; it was community.
And you’ve probably noticed that community is the big theme of this month’s
issue of ec magazine. That’s because God Himself is community. He is God in
three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And if community is such
an integral part of who He is, shouldn’t it be a vital part of the way we live? The New
Testament is very clear: Jesus called us to be a community of believers who live life
completely differently from everyone else. Christ followers are to be known for their
crazy love, their radical forgiveness, and their desire to live lives that don’t blot out
His light. Jesus has called us to live as a community of believers, broken and needy as
we are, to display His love and His glory to the world.
You’ll learn more of what that means in Jennifer Denning’s story, “Living in
Community” on page 26 and the profiles on pages 30 and 48. Confused about the
Trinity? Read Michael Cummings’ story on page 40. Wondering why forgiveness is
such a big deal? Check out Amber Mushegan’s article, “Second Chances,” on page
60. Dig deep into the truths of God’s Word this month, learning to relate to Him as
Father, Son, and Spirit. Let go and understand that not understanding everything
is OK. God is big enough, good enough, and awesome enough to handle anything
we can throw at Him. Let go this month. Let Him show you what it means to live in
community with Him, with other believers, and with the world.
Own up to your sin. Take personal
responsibility for your sin and confess it to
God. He will hear your prayer and forgive
you of your sin. Forgiveness is a free gift
—all you have to do is ask (Rom. 6:23; Eph.
2:8-9; 1 John 1:9-10).
Walk a different direction. The Bible
calls this turning away from your sinful
choices repentance. To repent really just
means to go in a different direction. As a
Christian, you will want to live differently
(Luke 13:3; Eph. 5:8).
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