September/October 2009

Acholi Beads -- These beautiful creations made of recycled paper offer new life and hope to Ugandan women and their families. Listen to the story of these women who have been liberated from agonizing work in the stone quarries and are learning bead-making as well as business and financial skills. Then consider getting involved by joining the facebook group, purchasing jewelry, or even becoming a sales rep.

Companions in Christ -- Sharing and accountability are important practices for pilgrims who walk together on the journey of faith. 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.

Cyberbullying -- The use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person is a growing problem for teens -- and it has real consequences. Find out what to do to stand up to a stranger or a friend and learn to practice safe surfing.

Do Kindness -- To get started, visit the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. Find ideas for doing kindness in your classroom or your community. Download a kindness calendar to plan your own RAKs, or help your school or youth group plan special events for World Kindness Week (November 9-15, 2009). Remember, practicing kindness is good for others, but it's also good for your health.

Eco-Footprint Calculator -- Discover how much of the world's resources your lifestyle requires. The results may shock you! Maybe they will shock you into making a change.

How Are You Smart? -- Did you know that there are nine different kinds of smarts and nine ways of learning? By appreciating our different kinds of intelligences, we celebrate the diversity of God's creation -- which includes us!

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society -- Every 4 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer, such as leukemia or Hodgkin lymphoma. Learn more about LLS and about efforts to fight these blood cancers that originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissues. And be sure to check out the many ways you can help.

Mnemonic Devices -- Check out these fun and creative techniques for remembering important information and some humorous tools for memorizing facts in school. Want to know more? Expand your search for helpful mnemonic devices in a variety of subject areas.

More about Dash -- Dash Alsup, 19, decided to walk barefoot across America to raise awareness and pledges for Soles4Soles, an organization that provides shoes for people around the world. Read Dash's blogs about his journey from Washington to Florida and about the people who joined him along the way.

Shane Claiborne -- This "ordinary radical" is a co-founder of The Simple Way, a community of friends who live with and minister to the poor. To learn more, watch Shane's video about the gospel as a way of life and a model for urban ministry, or read a sample chapter from his compelling book The Irresistible Revolution.

Stop Bullying -- Whether you are the bully or the one being bullied, learn more about this problem and find out what you (and your parents) can do to Stop Bullying Now.

The Grieving Teen - Check out this preview of the book to learn more about the unique ways teenagers experience grief and to discover things you can do to lessen the confusion and pain.

The Magnificat -- Mary sings this song of joy (found in Luke 1:41-55) in response to her cousin Elizabeth's greeting, which proclaims that Mary is blessed among women for having been chosen by God to carry Jesus, the Son of God. Dig a little deeper to understand this prayer of praise offered by a teenage girl who said YES to God.

TOMS Shoes -- With every pair of shoes you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need -- One for One. Learn more about how TOMS Shoes uses the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good.

Try John's Advice -- Check out John Garrison's article, "Bullied to the Brink," in the Sept/Oct 2009 issue of devozine. And if you need strength to stand up to a bully, John has some extra tips for you:

• Confront a bully, or talk to his or her parents.
• Pray for bullies. They may not know what they're doing. Often they are acting out because of some pain in their own lives.
• Talk to an adult or to an authority figure and ask for help.

Turn It Off -- Imagine all the things you could do if you turned off the TV. Challenge your family or youth group to find creative ways to observe TV Turnoff Week this year -- September 20-26, 2009 -- or to plan ahead for next spring -- April 19-25, 2010.

Twelve-Step Programs -- The 12-step approach was begun in the 1930s by Alcoholics Anonymous, who had the original list of 12 steps, and is now widely used by many other organizations for dealing with alcoholism, drugs, and other addictive and dysfunctional behaviors.

Watch the Video -- You may have seen it already, but take a moment to watch with new eyes the video of Susan Boyle's debut on Britian's Got Talent that Sandy mentions in her Editor's Note.

What Is the What? - Watch a short documentary about this moving true story of Valentino Achak Deng's escape from Sudan and his perilous journey to freedom. Sample a chapter, dig deeper into the history of the Sudan, and discover ways you can get involved to make a difference today.

Working thru Grief -- Many things other than death can cause us to experience loss and grief. Watch a video to help you understand the symptoms you may feel when you are grieving. Then explore the stages of grief you may pass through over time, the reactions you may have to your loss, and some ways you can take care of yourself. Also try a few of these tips to help you move through grief in healthy ways.

ZeroOout -- Check out this anti-global warming campaign begun by Sam and Phoebe Allen of Connecticut. This brother/sister team and a group of their friends are combining their interests in design, fashion, business, and environmentalism to educate their peers about global warming. ZeroOout's original T-shirt slogan -- Warm Is Not Cool -- inspired one of our upcoming themes (March/April 2010), and we're hoping to publish an interview with Sam!