March/April 2008

An Aerodynamic Umbrella -- Ever wish you could find an umbrella that wouldn't turn inside out in a storm? Just for fun, take a look . . .

Arms of Life -- This foundation honors the lives of two young boys by raising money to place cross arms and flashing lights at railroad crossings in their hometown. How can you help to protect the citizens of your community?

Be the Change -- Get to know Zach Hunter, the teenage abolitionist who is challenging his generation to put an end to slavery. Check out his book Be the Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World and the organization he founded to raise money for this cause -- Loose Change to Loosen Chains.

Cell Phone Devos -- "Cell Phone vs Bible" is an email similar to the one that inspired Marcy Kennedy's meditation in devozine (March/April 2008, #24, page 34). Read them together, and decide if you are ready to try Marcy's "30-day experiment." Want to take the challenge even further? Download a devotional ringtone from a top Christian artist. And email us if you think devozine should begin texting a short devo or scripture verse to your cell phone twice a week!

Centering Prayer Online -- Follow the steps of this prayer practice to learn to rest in God's love and to listen for God's word to you. Need a little more direction? Try this online option with an audio track and 20-minute timer. If you'd like to read more about the history and practice of Centering Prayer, check out the book Creating a Life with God.

Consider Rock Climbing -- Always wanted to try it? Find out everything you want to know. Or if you are a veteran climber, figure out your rock climbing route anywhere in the world!

Create a Memorial Website -- Beverley Mitchell, better known as Lucy Camden from the TV show 7th Heaven, says that one way she dealt with the death of her high school friend was to be creative. Why not create a website to honor the memory of someone you have loved and lost?

Dealing with Anger -- If you get angry a lot or if your anger never seems to go away, please know that there is hope for Volcano People.

Earlie's Immerion Experience -- Check out Earlie's blog for more of her story about living with the Aetas, one of the indigenous tribes in the Philippines. And don't miss the pictures and videos!

Ecoist -- Check out the treasures that the designers at Ecoist create from the things we toss in the trash every day. Creative geniuses from Central and South America weave a colorful line of products, including the official "Stop Global Warming" bracelet made from recycled candy wrappers, soda labels, and food packages. For every bracelet or handbag sold, Ecoist partners with Trees for the Future to plant a tree in an area of the world affected by industrial development, natural disasters, and fires.

Explore Painting -- Visit a gallery to view the works of the masters. Then for fun, try painting a Pollock with this online splatter tool! If you want to dig a little deeper, try praying with art or taking an online retreat that combines art with the Prayer of Examen.

Get All-Over Healthy -- For your body, go old school and try one of these faves from when you were a kid: jump-rope, hooping (aka hula hoops), kickball (follow the rules), or rollerskating (try it dancing!) For your mind, try sudoku online or explore issues of peace and justice from a faith perspective. For your soul, interact and pray with a community of Christian teens or find a million reasons to be grateful.

Help End Breast Cancer -- Learn more about breast cancer and about how you can join the race for a cure.

Hezekiah's Tunnel -- Learn more about the history of this Holy Land landmark, and check out the wonderful pictures and commentary from a visitor' s journey through the tunnel.

High School Runners -- Are you a runner-in-training? Surf this website for high school runners to find inspirational stories and training tips. Or begin your own online running log -- it's free! If you can't get enough of sports, find out who Sports Illustrated thinks are the teen athletes to watch!

Learning to Forgive -- Forgiveness is difficult and takes practice. Learn more about the different kinds of forgiveness and try using these breath prayers and exercises to develop your capacity to forgive.

Listen to "Stubborn Love" -- If you feel as if you are so lost that even God can't find you, listen to this popular song by Kathy Troccoli and remember: God is with you always, and God's stubborn love will never let you go.

More about Sukkoth -- This Jewish holiday commemorates the forty-year period during which the people of Israel wandered in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Learn more about the history and observance of this festival, as well as how to build a sukkah (temporary shelter or booth).

More on Mandalas -- Learn more about mandalas, take a tour of a mandala gallery, and discover how some Christians use coloring mandalas as a form of prayer. If you would like to incorporate this practice into your devo time, check out some of these free mandala patterns, coloring pages, and links. If you're a camera buff, try creating your own mandalas from digital photos!

No One Cries Alone -- Jesus understands how you feel when someone you love dies. He cried at the death of a friend, and he cries with you when you suffer grief and loss.

Practice Silence -- Find a quiet place to get away from the distractions of your life and to visit that inner sanctuary where God dwells. If you need help, try some of these daily cues and exercises or experiment with a journaling prompt.

Publish Your Art Online -- Check out this art weblog where artists can publish their artwork for free. Or consider hooking up with a mentor who will encourage your creative expression, whatever the medium.

Read "Songbird" -- Kara Riley (17) wrote a devozine meditation (March/April 2008, #16, page 60) about a teacher's response to a poem in which Kara had expressed her feelings of low self-esteem. Read Kara's poem "Songbird," and see if it speaks to you.

Say Thank You -- Take time to thank the people who have been your role models in faith. Pick a thank you quotation to send in a card or an email. Or send an e-card from devozine or Hallmark.

Take a Solitary Retreat -- If you want to tune out the noise and tune into God, maybe you need to get away by yourself. Here's help to plan your own mini-retreat!

Tree63 -- Learn more about this popular band from South Africa and about Sunday, their newest release, which offers us hope through the good news of Christ's resurrection and urges Christians to follow Jesus' example of showing compassion to those who are poor, hungry, desperate, lonely, and sick. Let it inspire your Lenten practices this year!

Turn Off that TV! -- Do you know the dangers of watching too much TV? Make plans now to observe TV-Turnoff Week on April 21-27, 2008. Imagine what you could do with all those extra hours!

Understanding Silence -- Check out this interesting article about the meanings and functions of silence in our society. Or spend some time reflecting on these quotes about silence, especially the Thomas Keating quote in The Sun & Moon Over Assisi by Gerard Thomas Straub.

Why Walk the Labyrinth? -- If you've never heard of walking a labyrinth, learn more about this prayer practice and about various ways to walk the labyrinth path. Discover what insights other teens have gained into the meaning of the labyrinth. Then experience walking or being carried through an online labyrinth.

Working through Grief -- You are not going crazy! Learn more about the stages you may experience as you move through grief and how grieving helps you deal with death.

Zazzle -- If you want the perfect T-shirt, design your own. Zazzle makes it easy. Just pick a style and color; then add a quote, a logo, a photo . . . and voila!