March/April 2010

A Story of Success -- Success by the world's standards is not necessarily the same as success by God's standards. Find out what makes the difference.

Be Part of the Solution -- Discover how your lifestyle at home, at school, at work, or on the road affects climate change and how you can make a difference for our planet's future.

Follow Kara's Blog -- Now that you know how God called Kara Oliver and her family to Malawi, Africa, follow her blog to see how God is continuing to work in and through their lives.

Get the Facts -- Get the lowdown on global warming, why it's happening, and how it might change the planet.

Had Enough? -- Get the facts about alcohol and drug use among teens and on college campuses. If you have a problem and are ready to quit, there's help for you.

Land of a 1000 Hills -- If you are a coffee drinker who's concerned about fair trade, check out this company that imports coffee from Rwanda to insure the farmers are paid a fair wage and to help rebuild this war-torn country.

Learn More about Saints -- If you like the stories of saints you've read in this issue of devozine, spend a little time learning more about the saints of the church and how they model for us a life of obedience to God. One fun way to begin is by following the feast days of the saints.

Listening Tools -- If you need help to listen for God's voice, first explore the benefits of silence. Then try reading a psalm as a prayer, asking God to help you listen. You might want to begin with Psalm 119:10-11, 33-40, 66, 73, 105, 124-125, 169. Of course, learning to listen for God takes practice! Experiment with prayer practices such as Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, and the Prayer of Examen to see what works for you.

More about George Müeller -- Learn more about the life of this man who was able to care for hundeds of orphans through the power of prayer and about the George Müeller Foundation that continues to believe that prayer changes things. Or check out Müeller's autobiography, available in Kindle format.

More about Margaret Clitherow -- Explore the story of this charming woman who dared to put God first and to live out her faith as a Catholic in spite of persecution and the threat of death.

More about Third Day -- This band has been around since the 90s but continues to record great music and to encourage fans to love and serve God. Check out their music, their ministry of service in Haiti and other places of need through the Come Together Fund, or follow them on Twitter.

Meat vs Veggies -- What type of diet is best for the environment? You might be surprised to hear that the answer is a healthy mix of meat and vegetables.

Refresh Yourself! -- Are you stressed out? Have too much to do? Maybe now is exactly the time to take a weekend just for you. At least take some time to stop and breathe - to reconnect with the source of your life.

Singing Thru the Storm -- Discover how another young person, Elizabeth Cumbest, used her musical gifts to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina -- and later won the devozine SoulTunes Contest with one of the songs she had written to raise money for hurricane relief.

Take the TAB Challenge! -- When Jessica, one of our Teen Advisory Board members, read the devozine meditation for March 12, 2010 -- "The Adventure of a Lifetime" by Benjamin Simpson -- she wrote, "Great altar call! I challenge devozine readers to share this magazine with their friends who are struggling or who have not yet given their life to Christ." Will you take Jessica's challenge? When you have finished reading your copy of devozine, pass it along to a friend. Or encourage your church to order a few extra copies of each issue for your youth group to use to encourage friends to come to church and to spend time with God.

Too Much Stuff? -- Taking a hard look at all the stuff he owned, Alex Campbell (17) decided to live more simply and discovered that without the clutter he had more room for God in his life.

Watch a YouTube Video -- Maybe you've tried the Diet Coke® and Mentos® experiment in your own back yard. But check out what happens (and why) when 1500 Belgian students try it all at the same time!

What's Original Sin? -- Dig a little deeper into this Christian doctrine, and explore its meaning in scripture and in church tradition.

What's Your Eco-Footprint? -- Take a quiz to find out how much land (or how many planets!) it takes to support your current lifestyle. Then make some concrete plans to reduce your consumption of the earth's resources.

Why Sabbath Rest? -- Niall McKay believes that in the modern world, the ancient Judeo-Christian practice of Sabbath rest is necessary. Explore the meaning of Sabbath, and discover some ways you might observe it.