Campus Life articles from September 2003

Campus Life archives from September 2003

Your best year ever.(from the editors)
September 1, 2003... This back-to-school issue of Campus Life feels very personal to me. And it all has to do with a discussion I had with the staff about the fiction story titled "Mr. Popularity" (page 36). In this story, you'll meet a rather goofy guy who...

God's plan, not mine.(speak up! your letters, e-mail and faxes)
September 1, 2003... I loved "Aren't You Listening, God?" (June/July) by Holly Vicente Robaina. She wrote about wanting to be healed from her vision impairment and how she became frustrated when she prayed every night for this. I understand that frustration because...

Lasting friendship.(speak up! your letters, e-mail and faxes)
September 1, 2003... Thanks for the story "Will My Friends Forget Me?" (June/July). A lot of my friends graduated last spring, and I was afraid they'd forget me because I was still in high school. It's encouraging to be made aware of how God knows my desire for...

Finding forgiveness.(speak up! your letters, e-mail and faxes)
September 1, 2003... Thank you for printing the question "Is It Wrong to Masturbate?" in Love, Sex & Real Life (June/July). I would be a liar if I said I haven't struggled in this area. When I fell here, I lost innocence and purity, and now I regret it so much. But...

Thanks!(speak up! your letters, e-mail and faxes)
September 1, 2003... My youth pastor gets Campus Life for me, and I read every issue. The magazine has helped me grow and has answered the most personal and controversial questions we can ask. It's made being a Christian teen easier. Curtis, Texas

Reader spotlight.(speak up! your letters, e-mail and faxes)
September 1, 2003... Name: Jacob Age: 16 Home state: Oklahama Favorite pizza topping: pepperoni Favorite hobby: Playing and singing--especially when I'm jamming with my youth band at church Favorite Scripture verse: "I can do everything through...

Getting real.(speak up! your letters, e-mail and faxes)
September 1, 2003... I agreed with tire response about reality dating shows in June/July's TV, Music & More. The shows have gone too far with the cruel rejection people receive after flaunting themselves to anyone and everyone on national television. As Christians,...

Thinking about things.(speak up! your letters, e-mail and faxes)
September 1, 2003... One of my biggest struggles as a Christian has been watching other Christians become increasingly materialistic. "God and My Stuff" (June/July) put into words why this happens--these people are turning to their stuff instead of God for comfort....

Where'd the summer go?(my life as a student)
September 1, 2003... Honk!Honk!Honk! The persistent honking told me my friend was getting impatient. Each honk seemed to carry a command: Honk! "Allison, get going" Honk! "Al, hurry up!" Honk! "Don't make us late for the first day of school!" ...

Is it wrong to shop there?(what's with my life? Jim Burns answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I like to shop at Abercrombie & Fitch, but I've noticed they use sexually explicit photos in their advertising. I've started to question many of the things that I once simply accepted, and I'm wondering whether it's OK for me to shop there....

I hate my body.(what's with my life? Jim Burns answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I'm a 16-year-old girl, and I have a really flat chest. Boys make fun of me even Christian guys. I've never had a boy tell me I was pretty, cute or good-looking. I hate my body so much. Should I pray for something God hasn't given me? Would...

I want to be popular.(what's with my life? Jim Burns answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I'm new to my school and I want to become popular. I think I can be: I have a good sense of humor and I always make people laugh. And I know of another new girl who is not even pretty, and she is going out with the cutest guy in school. So, I...

God & google.(Press pause: a quick stop for building your faith)
September 1, 2003... Have you googled today? If so, yours was one of the 150 million searches on the world's biggest search engine. Did you find what you were looking for? Google will always give you something. Sometimes the results are, "like, totally wacked."...

In the word.(Press pause: a quick stop for building your faith)
September 1, 2003... Old Testament: Psalm 72:12 (1) May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. (2) May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. (3) May he remember all your...

Escape?(reflections)
September 1, 2003... The TV, soundtrack of many lives, is sometimes my worst enemy. The glass box craftily catches my eye and refuses to let me go. Illusions, the array of colors, are pleasures to behold. Characters lead lives far beyond my ordinary existence. The...

Feeling left out at youth group: have you ever felt lost in a crowd?(what's with my faith? Jim Burns answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q My youth group has several hundred teens, and I don't feel like I fit in. I feel like I get left out a lot. Our youth leader has talked to the group about including everyone, but then people just acted phony for a while, and that made me feel...

Looking for Christian RPGs.(what's with my faith? Jim Burns answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I enjoy role-playing games, but I don't care for the mainstream RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, Rifts and Vampire. I have been able to find a few good alternative secular RPGs, but have yet to find a good Christian one. Do you know of any...

My faith feels blah.(What Do You Think?)
September 1, 2003... A READER ASKS: I feel very disconnected from God. My relationship with him isn't really going anywhere: I'm not reading my Bible, and I only pray when I need something, before I eat, or when I occasionally thank him for something. I know the...

I wasn't cool enough: Justin struggled to find friends who would accept him.(My story: how Christ changed my life)
September 1, 2003... Wait up!" I called to my friend Bill one September morning during my freshman year. "Look at these new shoes. They're sweet!" "Whatever, man," he said, then added, "They're just stupid cheap junk." I stared at my feet. My shoes...

Mom freaked out about my piercing.(what's with my friends & family? Jim Burns answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I recently got my navel pierced. I'm not a wild child or anything: I go to church whenever the doors are open, and my relationship with the Lord is improving. Nobody will ever see the piercing. But when I told my mom, she freaked out and said...

My family doesn't "get" my faith.(whats with my friends & family? Jim Burns answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q My family members say they are Christians, but they say I'm "too religious." My parents and sister are uncomfortable when I try to talk to them about God, or when I ask to pray before meals. My parents don't want me to read "too many"...

Zed.
September 1, 2003... I KNEW IT. I'M THE ONLY ONE HERE! THE VERY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, AND I ALONE AM LEFT TO SERVE GOD! WELL, I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL! I'M NOT GOING TO HIDE MY LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL! LORD, PLEASE BLESS THIS SCHOOL, THE TEACHERS,...

A Beatle goes ape!(you've got to be kidding)
September 1, 2003... The Beatles often sang about animals, with songs like "I Am the Walrus," "Rocky Raccoon," and "Octopus's Garden." But not until recently did one of them actually play songs with animals. Paul McCartney recently visited the Language...

Crash-sweat dummies.(you've got to be kidding)
September 1, 2003... Fashion designers can now see exactly what perspiration will do to their clothing lines--without breaking a sweat. Researchers have actually invented a sweating mannequin to help designers make better clothing. The mannequin is filled with...

Speaking of sweat ...(you've got to be kidding)
September 1, 2003... Surely you've been wondering what's the sweatiest city in the United States. Well, now you know: San Antonio, Texas. Yep, researchers at Procter and Gamble--they make deodorant, you know--recently determined that San Antonians are the...

And still more sweat!(you've got to be kidding)
September 1, 2003... Forget the sweaty mannequins and San Antonians. The mayor of La Grand-Motte in southern France has passed a law against sweaty tourists. (Well, only if they smell bad.) No kidding. Henri Dunoyer, the mayor, wants local police to conduct an...

Emotions out of control does the smallest annoyance send you into a rage?(campus life quiz)
September 1, 2003... Happy? Sad? Excited? Mad? How well do you handle the ups and downs of life? Take this quiz to find out if you're in control of your emotions--or if your emotions are controlling you. 1. You just scored an A on your biology quiz. Biology is...

Should I watch Smallville?(Tv, music & more: Mark Matlock answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I never miss the TV show Smallville, From a Christian perspective, what are your thoughts on this series? A I can understand why Smallville is popular. The show's producers have done a great job of capturing what Superman's smalltown...

Is Michelle Branch a christian?(Tv, music & more: Mark Matlock answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q Michelle Branch is my favorite musician. Do you know if she's a Christian and if she's OK to listen to? A It's understandable that fans of this hugely popular teen singer/songwriter would wonder about her beliefs. Branch's Grammy-winning...

Gimme some punk!(Tv, music & more: Mark Matlock answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I'm trying to witness to a good friend who loves punk rock music. Suggestions? A It's cool that you want to reach out to your friend through Christian music. And some of the Christians making punk rock have lots of great things to say...

What can we do about AIDS? Christian musicians are responding to the crisis in Africa. You can too!(music)
September 1, 2003... Look at your watch. Count off 13 seconds. Another African just died of AIDS. Another will die 13 seconds from now, also from AIDS. The next victim might be a father of four. Or a teen girl. Or an infant. AIDS isn't picky. Every day, 6,500...

I felt so ugly: as far i was concerned, there was nothing good about me.(music)
September 1, 2003... I never really thought that much about my ankles until one day in 10th grade when this guy said something about them. "Chubby," he said. "You have chubby ankles." I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. But rather than blow it off, I let...

Brand new!(music fast trax)
September 1, 2003... In 10th grade, Shaun Groves was a leader in his youth group, a guy who looked like he had it all together. "But inside, I was lonely and empty," says Shaun, who just released his second CD, the folk/pop gem Twilight (Rocketown). "I felt so...

We recommend.(music fast trax)
September 1, 2003... GROUP/ARTIST, ALBUM STYLE COMPARE TO Christafari reggae Shaggy, Gravity Ziggy Marley (Lion of Zion) Cool Hand experimental Radiohead, Luke ...

Redefining "beautiful".(tidbits & trivia)
September 1, 2003... In high school, Natalie Grant was a pretty cheerleader who had it all together. In college, she dated the Big Man on Campus, the handsome guy who literally drove a red sports car. "All the girls liked him," remembers Natalie, "and for some...

Dude, where's my carr?(tidbits & trivia)
September 1, 2003... When David Carr, the drummer for Third Day, went to an Atlanta home improvement store, the customer service clerk called the warehouse to say David Carr was ready to pick up his order. The warehouse guy came running out for an autograph,...

Weak = strong.(tidbits & trivia)
September 1, 2003... You wouldn't know it from his CD, but Jason Gay has a stuttering problem--he stammers when he talks, but not when he sings. Jason, whose music is reminiscent of Rich Mullins, decided his condition wouldn't stop him from pursuing his passion....

Church rocks.(tidbits & trivia)
September 1, 2003... In high school, Derek Webb never plugged into one church, skipping from youth group to youth group. "I became a Christian at 16, but nobody told me how important church was," says Derek, who recently left Caedmon's Call for a solo career. ...

Lights, camera, action! (tidbits & trivia>.
September 1, 2003... Christian rapper T-Bone joined gospel diva Yolanda Adams at the Stellar Awards earlier this year. T Bone rapped on Yolanda's latest CD, Believe. T-Bone also recently landed a role in The Fighting Temptations, now in theaters. T-Bone plays an...

Thrifty fashion: cool clothes that won't break your back-to-school budget.
September 1, 2003... New school year and nothing to wear, right? Or nothing you can afford to wear. Don't let those expensive designer fashions get you down. There are really cool clothes that carry a decent price tag, Just ask Payton, Kalyn and Emily--the trio...

The frightening truth about scary movies.
September 1, 2003... What I remember the most about Nightmare on Elm Street IV is that my sleeping bag tasted horrible. When you're watching your first horror movie at a sleepover and it involves a guy with knives for fingers, you tend to spend a lot of the night...

I wish I'd waited: now i understand why God wanted me to save myself for my wedding night.
September 1, 2003... I couldn't look her in the eye. "Yes, of course his mom will be there," I said sarcastically. My mom questioned me like this all the time, and I deserved it. But I couldn't let her know that. I was going to my boyfriend Kevin's for dinner and a...

8 steps to a better friendship with God.
September 1, 2003... Where's Angela?" I asked. The rest of our family was slumped on the living room couch. Everyone shrugged. Curious, I went in search of my sis. I checked each room of the house. When I finally found her, she was intensely focused on...

Mr. popular: for two years, Mitch had been invisible at school. not this year ...(fiction)
September 1, 2003... Screee! The announcements began with a classic PA-system whine. "Good morning, Westmore students, and welcome back! We hope you had a great summer, but now it's time to get back to business. Speaking of business, Mr. Williams invites all...

Love is ...
September 1, 2003... ... asking about someone's day and truly caring about the answer. ... knowing that people are different and loving them just the same. ... being there. ... taking out the trash without being asked. ... leaving the last pop...

I didn't want to move: my friends were the best in the world. Why did I have to leave them?
September 1, 2003... my friends squealed wildly as they plunged into the freezing water. It was early June, and the creek still flowed with melting snow from higher up the mountain. Eight of my best girlfriends and I were spending the first weekend of our summer in...

A second chance: after the accident, Daniel had to ask himself, "what if I had died?".
September 1, 2003... The wind whipped through the windows of Steve's (*) car as he slammed his foot on the gas. I was next to him, in the passenger seat, flinching with each dangerous turn he made. We'd already had a few close calls. "Dude, you're going really...

Health sciences.(Special Advertising Section)
September 1, 2003... ANDERSON UNIVERSITY Academic Excellence. Christian Experience. With majors in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Exercise Science, Nursing, Physics, and Psychology and teaching majors in Physical Education and Science, AU is the place...

He's not a christian.(Love, sex & real life: Tim Stafford answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I'm 15 years old. I have been a Christian my whole life, and I have always been dedicated to the Lord. At the beginning of this school year I met a 16-year-old guy in my gym class. He takes school very seriously, tries hard to get good...

Will God forgive me?(Love, sex & real life: Tim Stafford answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I am a 15-year-old girl and I recently asked my mother for birth control. In other words, I am having sex. But sometimes I feel like a bad person, like God won't forgive me for the things I have done. Does he still love me even though I am...

I'm worried about my friend.(Love, sex & real life: Tim Stafford answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q My best friend is thinking about moving out of her mom's house because they aren't getting along. I'm worried that when my friend moves out she might have her boyfriend over. Their relationship is pretty intense, and I'm concerned that they...

We were only sleeping!.(Love, sex & real life: Tim Stafford answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I'm 15, and I used to date a girl who lived 30 minutes away. She would come on me to my house once a week, or I'd go to her house. The only places we could really hang out were in my bedroom, or her basement. In my bedroom, we would sit or...

What about kissing?(Love, sex & real life: Tim Stafford answers your questions)
September 1, 2003... Q I am 16, and I have been going out with my girlfriend for almost a month and a half. I can say without a doubt that I love her. We have a great relationship, and we talk about anything and everything. We have set physical boundaries, agreeing...

Campus life Web directory.(Special Advertising Section)
September 1, 2003... Colleges and Universities Short on budget? Not enough time? How can you possibly make the best decision about which college to attend if you don't have the time or money to visit each one? Using the Web is an easy way to save you time,...

Amen prayers about trusting God.
September 1, 2003... I've got to talk to You, God, because I can't trust anyone else. They call me a loser. They laugh at me and point their fingers at me. How can I be a loser when I trust in You? How can they be winners when they say bad things about You? Will...