Today's Christian Woman articles from July 2009

Today's Christian Woman archives from July 2009

Modern-day women.(between us)(Column)
July 1, 2009... Recently I attended the Evangelical Press Association's national convention. I had fun learning more about social networking (TCW twitters, by the way). I got reacquainted with many editor friends and met new ones. Many editors joined me in...

The award goes to ... TCW! Check out the honors we received at this year's Evangelical Press Association. And read them at TodaysChristianWoman.com/ja2009.(BEHIND THE SCENES)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... General Article: Short (First place winner) "Does Jesus Like Me?" by Jennie McLaurin [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Devotional: "Rebekah: the Strong-Willed Mom" by Liz Curtis Higgs First-Person Article: "Bigger than...

Coming up: at TodaysChristianWoman.com.(chat room)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... In addition to all the great content you're holding in your hands right now, TCW offers two blogs--the TCW Editors' Blog and Walk With Me--packed with encouraging articles, thoughtful discussions, and free book chapters and song downloads. And...

From our blogs.(chat room)(on battling insomnia)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... When TCW editor Ginger Kolbaba shared on the TOW Editors' Blog about her battle with insomnia, dozens of readers posted their similar struggles and solutions: "I, too, have had many sleepless nights. When my thoughts start racing, I focus...

A rose for all.(DEVO)(Jesus Christ)(Brief article)(Column)
July 1, 2009... "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys."--Song of Songs 2:1 An antique Mason jar tucked away in my jewelry chest contains some of my most precious possessions. To a casual observer, it may appear the jar is full of mismatched potpourri....

Saving for the future.(Calendar)(Cord Blood Awareness Month)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] July is Cord Blood Awareness Month. Medical advancements in cord blood research and regenerative medicine-the use of a person's own stem cells to repair or replace damaged or diseased tissue--are greater than ever....

Helping the world to see.(Calendar)(National Eye Exam Month)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... August is National Eye Exam Month, a great time to take the whole family to have their eyes checked-and start the school year right. And remember: If your exam requires an updated pair of glasses, your local Lions Club will gladly take the old...

Be mission-prepared.(Stuff you should know)( www.RoundTripMissions.com)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... How can you turn a short-term mission trip into long-term impact? How can you change the lives of the participants as well as the hosts you're visiting? How can you transform cross-cultural mission trips into long-lasting global partnerships? ...

Finding the right counselor.(CAUSE OF THE YEAR: COMBATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Christian counselor and author of The Emotionally Destructive Relationship, Leslie Vernick tells the troubling story of a husband who was verbally abusing his wife. "They went to their pastor, and the husband explained...

Girlfriends give back.(stuff you should know)(Bead for Life)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Looking for an excuse to have a Girl's Night Out? Host a Bead for Life party! It not only provides you and your peeps the chance to purchase beautiful jewelry, it gives you the warm feeling of helping other women in...

www.SwapaDVD.com.(BOOKMARK THIS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... You can weed out previously viewed movies and exchange them for new-to-you titles for your library. Simply post 10 titles you're willing to part with on this site and receive one credit for a new title. Each time you mail out a disc, you receive...

New Testament for Tweens.(BOOKMARK THIS)(Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... Looking for a new way to get your tween interested in the Bible? The Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament is a 20-disc audio set featuring some of today's hottest young stars. Dramatic readers include Corbin Bleu (High School Musical...

Teach your teen about credit cards.(COMMON CENTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... Did you know credit card issuers solicit colleges and universities? Teaching money smarts to children should start in grade school and include the experience of managing a credit card responsibly by the age of 17. Here are four ideas to help...

You said it!(stuff you should know)(Helen Keller)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... "Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain."--Helen Keller

Bacterial brush-off.(stuff you should know)(cleaning toothbrush holder)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... If you have a stand-alone toothbrush holder, be sure to run it through the dishwasher often, says Karyn Siegel-Maier, author of The Naturally Clean Home. You'd be amazed at the germs and dirt that thrive there. If it's really full of gunk, let...

Green your routine.(GOING GREEN)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Adopting just one of these ideas this summer will make a lasting difference to our world. Pass it on. Demonstrate Earth-friendly routines to your kids, and you'll help a new generation gain green habits. On a family...

Burglar-proof your home.(stuff you should know)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With summer vacation season in full swing, ShopSmart has come up with several things you can do--that won't cost a dime--to guard your home against break-ins. Mailbox: Remove your name. A thief can dial 411 to get...

Motivating volunteers-at church and home.(stuff you should know)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... Money is often considered the great motivator. So how do you inspire volunteers? Try using "psychic income." Psychic income refers to motivators such as respect, recognition, and challenge. Though it may be the only non-eternal benefit people...

More Than I See.(THE MUSIC BOX)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... More Than I See by Seth Condrey Seth Condrey, who is a worship leader as well as a singer, offers a blend that includes both worship and rock selections. The focus of his songs is reaching the world. That may be the world in his own back...

Back & Forth.(THE MUSIC BOX)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Back & Forth by Lanae' Hale While not autobiographical, Hale does admit the songs on Back & Forth, her first full-length recording, "are the result of living through some desperate moments and years of pain."...

The Long Fall Back to Earth.(THE MUSIC BOX)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... The Long Fall Back to Earth by Jars of Clay This three-time Grammy-winning band's latest release will definitely please their fans. Their 10th studio album begins with the simple introduction track of the title song featuring just six words....

Agreeing to disagree.(EXCERPT)(Confronting Without Offending)(Excerpt)
July 1, 2009... Paul and Barnabas were a great team. Through their anointed preaching, an untold number of souls received salvation. On their first missionary tour, Barnabas' relative, a young man named John Mark, joined them. However, he grew homesick and...

3 to read.(for book lovers)(The Wholehearted Marriage, The Postpartum Survival Guide, and When a Woman Meets Jesus)(Brief article)
July 1, 2009... The Wholehearted Marriage by Oreo Smalley and Shown Stoever (Howard). What would your marriage look like if your heart was fully engaged? Marriage counselors Smalley and Stoever answer this question, first by determining the causes of a closed...

Always Looking Up.(THE ONE {everyone is talking about})(Book review)
July 1, 2009... Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox (Hyperion) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With his second memoir, Michael J. Fox marks a decade since he publically revealed his battle with Parkinson's disease. He begins by describing a typical morning--from...

Does praying over and over for a need show godly persistence-or lack of faith?(great question)
July 1, 2009... Q: A: This important question has been pondered many times throughout church history. As a matter of fact, theologian John Calvin was dealing with the exact same question when he preached these wise words almost 500 years ago: "We must...

When you're scared senseless: and how God responds.(meeting God)(Column)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My three-year-old granddaughter is afraid of everything. She's afraid lions lurk in the dining room when the lights are off, that the next page in the storybook is going to show a it cat scratching a dog (we skip that...

TCW talks to ... Madisa: The American Idol alum shares openly about losing 80 pounds (so far!), forgiving Simon, facing the demons of her childhood--and watching God transform each situation into ministry.(Mandisa Lynn Hundley)(Interview)(Cover story)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If it weren't for her signature mega-watt smile, you might not recognize Mandisa Lynn Hundley these days. The American Idol alum has lost 80 pounds since last August, an impressive milestone in her journey toward...

Missional moms: women who are changing the world--and their families--for Christ.
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For many families, summer means relaxation. But for Jennifer Jukanovich, mom to Lian (6) and Anna (2), summer is the time when her family's outreach to local kids kicks into high gear. For the past five years, Jennifer...

"I lost my job": my husband's announcement forced me to face a truth about God.(Essay)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Something happened at work today," my husband said quietly. Too quietly, I thought. It was late evening, that delicious moment of release when you've gotten the kids to bed and put out all the fires you're likely to...

Tour de romance: what a bicycle built for two did to our marriage.
July 1, 2009... Look out! Our new bicycle built for two wobbled across the alley like an errant bowling ball. My husband, Steve, hit the brakes before we made a strike with our neighbor's trash cans. He ripped off his helmet. "Weren't you ready?" ...

Get the party started: eleven tips for an easy-does-it backyard bash.
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So you're embarrassed your living room doesn't look like the most recent cover of House Beautiful magazine? Perhaps your kitchen countertop is so small it can barely accommodate a mixing bowl, let alone stage a...

The words that changed my life: the surprising way god showed up in my unbearable situation.
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Elisabeth! * John needs to be changed again." My mother-in-law's voice filtered through my fog of exhausted sleep. For the fourth time that night, Agnes and I tackled the foul mess in my father-in-law's bed. John was...

Finding god in Iraq: how he's mending and moving in this war-torn nation.
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Four months ago, I arrived in the land of desert sheikhs, Aladdin's lamp, and All Baba. A land where the desert sands hold the history of its ancient people. The cradle of civilization. The birthplace of Abraham. The...

Transforming lives in foreign lands.(she's making a difference)(April Young)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Africa was the last place April Young thought she'd ever visit. An executive with an international finance company that lends money to start-up companies, she was a philanthropist who preferred to stay safe at home. ...

What other think.(what I'm learning about ...)(Column)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A while ago, a friend and I were watching my son race around the playground. "You have your hands full with that one," she said with a wink. What does she mean? I wondered. Is this just a nice way to say Thomas is...

2009 cause of the year: combating domestic violence.(real love, real sex)(Column)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Verbal Poison "My husband and I argue all the time, and it can get intense. But what's normal and what's verbal abuse?" Disagreements in marriage are entirely normal. They can quickly turn into disasters, however,...

To schedule or not to schedule?(CONVERSATIONS)(Column)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carla: I always thought I'd be a super-relaxed mom. You know, the kind who goes with the flow and never stresses and accepts the messiness of life with a smile. It turns out that's not me. At all! Last summer, after...

Fireflies and stars: lessons from a dark night's journey.(one more thing)(Travel narrative)
July 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A couple years ago I sat in a Bulgarian train compartment crying. I'd just said goodbye to Krassy, the Christian woman who'd been my translator and traveling companion for the previous six days. She'd communicated my...