Statements 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