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GO DEEPER Archives

Allow God to Check In -- Try some of these spiritual practices to help you grow closer to God through prayer and reading scripture. Find the one that helps you to speak and listen to God, and use it often to open you to God's voice.

Benefits of Sleep -- Did you know that the amount of sleep you get at night and the time your classes start in the morning both make a difference in how well you learn? Find out everything you want to know and more about the importance of sleep for teenagers and the consequences of getting too little. Then check out some ways to get more sleep!

The Bullhorn Approach -- If your approach to sharing your faith is not working, watch this clip from "Bullhorn Guy," a part of the Nooma video series by Rob Bell. (You may have seen some of these videos in youth group!) Like Marcy Kennedy (see meditation #14, page 57 in the September/October 2008 issue of devozine), you may find that the best approach for sharing your faith is a relational one -- to open up with people you see and talk to every day, people who know and trust you. Work for you?

Coloring Mandalas -- The practice of coloring mandalas, circular designs with a center, is a form of prayer. Try it today, and allow this creative exercise to bring you closer to God and help you get in touch with your heart.

Companions in Christ -- Learn more about Companions in Christ, a small group experience in spiritual formation for adults; and be sure to check out The Way of Pilgrimage, a similar small group resource written specifically for older youth and young adults. You'll find that checking in is an important practice for pilgrims who walk together on the journey of faith.

Do Hard Things -- Teenage twins Alex and Brett Harris challenge their generation to rebel against society's low expectations of young people and to do hard things that will make a difference in the world for the glory of God. Learn more about the twins, their book, their popular blog, and their "rebelution." Then join them in doing hard things!

Every Day Prayer -- Check out these creative ways of finding time to pray every day. And if you never go anywhere without your cell phone, add to your list the option of receiving text devos twice a week.

Foldable Car -- This cute little futuristic "city car" will not only find its own parking place but will help to solve the problems of traffic, pollution, and energy use. No joke!

Go on a Sleep Retreat -- If you are exhausted from an overloaded schedule or just need to catch up on your sleep, try a sleep retreat. Encourage your youth group to do this together; or adapt the retreat schedule for one person, setting up your own prayer stations and spending time journaling when the retreat outline calls for group discussion. You might also want to recruit your mom to provide the healthy meals and to talk with your family about respecting your need for quiet, space, and sleep.

"I Dream of Africa" series -- Don't miss the rest of the series of articles and blogs about Kami Rice's journey through Africa. A new one will be posted each month from now through March 2009.

Life After High School -- Yes, there is life after graduation! And it is full of opportunities and choices. Explore a few of the options: going to college, starting a job, traveling abroad, and volunteering. For more help with these decisions, check out these websites.

More About Checking In -- There are many ways to check in with friends and family on many different levels. Lots of young people are signing up for Twitter, a free service for staying connected with others by exchanging quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Learning to read a person's body language is another way to check in, especially if your friend is not in a talkative mood. And to help you check in with God, click on the Devo of the Week, sign up for Devo Direct's twice-a week text devos, or check out a daily devo that allows you to read scripture, reflect, and journal your prayers online.

More about Malaysia -- Learn more about the history, culture, current events, and people of Malaysia.

More about Nate Huss -- Read or watch Nate's life story.Visit his MySpace page to hear music from his new CD Here With Me and to get free downloads.

Moving: Major Stress! -- Whether you are leaving town or a friend is leaving you behind, moving is difficult. Check out these tips for moving, especially the article by one of your peers. Also, learn what to expect when you move and how to deal with the stress.

Other Youth Journalists -- Check out the many youth who are great journalists like Joshua Wilson, who writes a community news column for his local newspaper in Mississippi.

Peoples of the Philippines -- Explore the history, culture, religion, festivals, and food of the Filipino people. And check out the interesting trivia!

Practicing Patience -- If you struggle with patience, you are not alone. It's possible to cultivate patience, but it takes practice! Check out these stories, movies, practices, and quotes to help you learn to wait with patience.

So Little Time -- If all of your days are swallowed up with planned activities, it may be time to throw away your to-do lists and to enjoy life.

Soul Friends -- What kind of friend are you? Take a quiz to find out if you are a good friend. Rent and watch the movie The Color of Friendship; then reflect on which character you identify with and what you might do in a similar situation. Listen to the lyrics of Phil Collins' song "You'll Be in My Heart" and give thanks to God for the friends that you hold dear. Or read about the friendship between Jonathan and David in 1 Samuel 18:1-9, 19:1-7, 20:1-42 and decide how you might be a soul friend like Jonathan to someone in your life.

Text Vocab -- Too impatient to text complete words or sentences? Cut your words short with an IM acronym dictionary or a helpful SMS glossary.

Tips for Sharing Faith -- Learn how to engage in a natural conversation about faith with your friends -- waiting for the right opportunity, listening to their concerns without judging or interrupting, and sharing from your own faith journey experiences that connect with theirs.

Who are the Samaritans? -- Learn more about this mixed race of people who were treated as inferior and as outcasts by the Jews of Jesus' day.

Write a Novel -- Try a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Begin writing November 1 and write a novel by midnight, November 30. This kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly. But that can be a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you give yourself permission to make mistakes, to forgo the endless tweaking and editing. For 30 days, lock up your inner editor and let your imagination take over. Just create!