Today's Christian Woman articles from September 2008

Today's Christian Woman archives from September 2008

Friends and rivals.(between us)
September 1, 2008... THIS IS A SEASON OF COMPETITIONS: the Beijing Olympics and the upcoming presidential election. I'm amazed at the way one brings us together in a swell of global unity and the other can turn spouses and best friends into argumentative rivals....

Article comments.(chat room: WHAT YOU'VE TOLD US AT WWW.TODAYSCHRISTIANWOMAN.COM)(self help books)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Nearly 90 percent of respondents in a recent TCW online poll said they own self-help books. So we weren't surprised when our May/June article on "The Half-Truths of Self-Help" drew many comments. * "I used to read a lot of self-help. But...

Walk with me blog.(chat room: WHAT YOU'VE TOLD US AT WWW.TODAYSCHRISTIANWOMAN.COM)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] During grief, the right words are often elusive. In a post confessing her low "Pain Tolerance," blogger Carla Barnhill admitted rushing her friends through their sorrow. She solicited better strategies to show...

TCW editor's blog.(chat room: WHAT YOU'VE TOLD US AT WWW.TODAYSCHRISTIANWOMAN.COM)(Ginger Kolbaba)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Alerting wives everywhere to the little-known holiday "Husband Appreciation Day," Editor Ginger Kolbaba's post prompted ready tributes to some extraordinary men. * "My husband doesn't wash dishes or fold laundry. But yesterday, he...

What do you do to help the environment?(chat room: WHAT YOU'VE TOLD US AT WWW.TODAYSCHRISTIANWOMAN.COM)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... * I turn off lights when I'm not in the room: 19% * I recycle: 16% * I turn my thermostat down at night or when no one's home: 15% * I use cold water for laundry: 13% * I buy organic or recycled products: 8% * I unplug...

Grand gestures.(engage! HEART)(grandparents )(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... In celebration of Grandparents Day (September 7), build a bond between your parents and kids: * ARRANGE a weekly phone conversation (or video chat). * TELL grandparents what kids are reading to foster discussion. * PLACE a photo...

Nazri Segaro.(engage! HEART)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NAZRI SEGARO, this issue's cover model, grew up in a Christian family in Ethiopia. Though now living in California, she's passionate about helping her homeland. Besides serving there on a mission trip, she's...

Spaghetti for the Soul.(engage! SOUL)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... SPAGHETTI FOR THE SOUL by Kathy n Troccoli and Ellie Lofaro ($14, WaterBrook). Pasta. Pesto. Pastries. To partake sparingly of a calorie-rich Italian feast is prudent. To scrimp at the table of God's abundant offerings is pitiful--especially...

Church cheer.(engage! SOUL)(clergy's prayer chart )(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For Clergy Appreciation Month (October), create a chart and allow church members to choose a specific time to pray weekly for the pastor next year. Present the chart to your pastor. --adapted from Fresh Ideas:...

Love As a Way of Life.(engage! HEART)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... LOVE AS A WAY OF LIFE by Gary Chapman ($20, WaterBrook). You probably already know how to speak your primary love language, thanks to the bestseller The Five Love Languages. But speaking others' love languages can seem like learning foreign...

Fireproof.(engage! HEART)(Movie review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... FIREPROOF in theaters September 26 (Sherwood Pictures). What can a wife do when dreams for her marriage go up in smoke, when she doesn't feel "good enough" for her husband anymore? To Catherine Holt, wife of fireman Caleb (played by Kirk...

The Sacred Echo.(engage! SOUL)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... THE SACRED ECHO by Margaret Feinberg ($17, Zondervan). Of all the clamoring sounds in modern life, repeated ones capture the most attention. And the phrases God repeats in his Word hold the deepest meaning for Christian life. So with brave...

Write with God.(engage! SOUL)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... WRITE WITH GOD Encounter God afresh through a spiritual journal using these entry ideas: * Write God a Letter. Tell him how you see yourself and him. Be truthful rather than nice. * Dialogue with the Bible. Ask a character in a...

Why buy the book?(engage! STRENGTH)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Visit the stacks during National Library Card Sign Up Month in September, and start reading with these suggestions: * SET a time each day to read, even 5 or 10 minutes. * CHOOSE a professional journal to read weekly. * TALK with...

Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands.(engage! STRENGTH)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... UNLEASHING THE POWER OF RUBBER BANDS by Nancy Ortberg ($18, Tyndale). Boss. The position usually evokes fear and awe. So to define that word in terms of collaboration, teamwork, and relationship is revolutionary. For any woman leading a few...

Body benefits.(engage! STRENGTH)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Autumn's chill calls for candles, lotions, and balms--luxuries unknown to women living on the street. But at Magdalene, a Nashville housing community for former prostitutes, they learn to support themselves by hand...

The goal and the glory.(engage! MIND)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... THE GOAL AND THE GLORY compiled by Josh Davis ($15, Regal). The opening ceremonies. The gymnastics events. The medal presentations. Though the favorite part of Olympics coverage is different for everyone, a universally beloved feature is the...

Go and give.(engage! MIND)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Radical people who are passionate about social justice often take mission trips or relocate in order to be Jesus' hands and feet to the needy. But did you know radical people also write checks? Sewing isn't an either/or proposition. ...

Footsteps of faith.(engage! MIND)(www.GlobusFaith.com)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... If you were too busy for a summer vacation, consider a meaningful fall or winter getaway, tracing Paul's footsteps through Greece and Turkey or the children of Israel's route through Egypt and Jordan. Browse itineraries at...

What we're listening to right now.(engage! MIND)(Roots and Roots Remixed)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Is your soul parched, weary of Scriptures grown too familiar and stale? The quickening power of the Word flourishes in the innovative folk stylings of Shawn McDonald in his album Roots (and Roots Remixed). From a...

Great question.(anger)
September 1, 2008... Q: What is "righteous anger"? How can I know whether I'm feeling that or just being a hothead? A: I grew up believing angel was a "bad" emotion. So I've needed several years of Christian counseling even to admit I get angry, much less to...

Your health.(ask our experts: HEALTH, MONEY & RELATIONSHIPS)(birth control pills)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: Are birth control pills that promise fewer periods SAFE FOR MY BODY? A: Nearly half of all women experience at least one unintended pregnancy, making contraception a major women's health issue. Of birth...

Your money.(ask our experts: HEALTH, MONEY & RELATIONSHIPS)(credit score)
September 1, 2008... Q: How can I improve my CREDIT SCORE? A: Almost every financial decision in your life affects your credit score. This number, ranging from 300 to 850, is a measure of your credit worthiness. A score above 720 earns you the best credit...

Your relationships.(ask our experts: HEALTH, MONEY & RELATIONSHIPS)(friendship)
September 1, 2008... Q: My friend constantly tells me I'm too lenient with my kids. HOW CAN I TELL HER TO STOP--without ruining our otherwise great friendship? A: A good girlfriend is a wonderful gift. And a healthy relationship includes freedom to share...

TCW talks to ... Laura Wilkinson: an unlikely Olympic champion on fear, failing, and rising to new challenges.(Interview)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Facts & Faves Hometown: Houston, Texas Nickname: LaLa Major in college: public relations Authors: Ted Dekker and Randy Alcorn Food: mangoes Loves: The Biggest Loser Appeared on: a...

When devos don't work: I discovered a different way to connect with God.(soul)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOR MOST OF MY GROWING UP YEARS, I heard about the daily "quiet time." It was revered as the bedrock of the Christian faith. It was described as a serene and profound time in the morning (anything less than 30...

Creative connection: how I changed my picture of prayer.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For years, my prayers were scattered. I'd start the crisis of the day, then mentally spin off to groceries I needed or calls I had to make. Then I'd nod off for a short nap, and e resolution to "pray harder" next...

Red, right & blue: 4 women on how faith and politics are changing in 2008.(Discussion)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2008 IS A YEAR OF FIRSTS: the first African-American presidential nominee and the first viable female presidential candidate. And for the first time since, Jimmy Carter was in the White House, evangelicals are not...

Divine design: your spiritual gifts: what you were made to be--and do.(SPECIAL SECTION)
September 1, 2008... 71% of believers have heard of spiritual gifts. 31% a spiritual gift they believe they possess. --Barna Research Online "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's hunger meet." ...

A better fit: one size doesn't fit all or even most--or me.(SPECIAL SECTION)(spiritual gifts)
September 1, 2008... When I got married, I received something I d wanted for a long time: a beautiful KitchenAid mixer. But after setting up house, I realized I had no idea how to use the bulky contraption. It looked professional and impressive, but I already had...

The dark side: when your good gifts go bad.(SPECIAL SECTION)
September 1, 2008... A few years ago, my husband and I took part in a Discovery Workshop at our church to discover our spiritual gifts. That I turned out to be a "giver" was no surprise. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I love to give. I'm quick with the...

Frustrated instead of fulfilled? 4 reasons you might have a gifts misfit.(SPECIAL SECTION)
September 1, 2008... My friend Victoria volunteered to teach Sunday school while her daughters were young. Although she taught well, her efforts drained her. If I'm not having fun, she wondered, are the children enjoying it? When our prayer group helped us...

Shining hope in the red light district: a journalist's eye-opening account of the European sex trade and people who minister to prostituted women.(Cause of the Year: Combat Sex TRAFFICKING)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S ALMOST MIDNIGHT in downtown Athens, Greece. Ten young Nigerian women dressed in miniskirts, halters, and stilettos strut under the faded awning of a crumbling hotel. Men in cars cruise by and eye cleavage....

The bickersons: why our squabbles are good for our marriage.(heart)
September 1, 2008... One of the best compliments my husband, Jim, and I ever received was from friends who decided to get married based, in part, on our example. The four of us spent a lot of time together when they were dating, and they saw us at our best and...

What not to wear: diary of a makeover.(strength)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ON THE TV SHOW, I LEARNED WHAT NOT TO WEAR--AND WHAT TO SAY ABOUT MY FAITH. I don't think I have a fashion problem. Yet here I am, on what I thought to be a blind date, suddenly ambushed by my schoolteacher...

I'm a terrible friend: with my track record, would I get another chance?(Walk with Me)
September 1, 2008... Last year my granddaughter's best Mend was three-year-old Braden because he lived next door and had a trampoline. Braden liked Caroline because, at four, she was someone other than his baby brother. Except for the occasional meltdown when...

Desperate housewife: Mrs. Potiphar.(women in the word)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE STORY OF POTIPHAR'S WIFE demonstrates how boredom, affluence, and lust can add up to trouble--in ally century. Our drama features three main players: an Egyptian named Potiphan head of Pharaoh's bodyguards;...

What I'm learning about ... the dark.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I SPRAWLED OUT in the middle of our new home's master bedroom walk-in closet and smiled at the empty space. Thanks to my husband's dream job as an FBI agent, we could now afford this beautiful house near great...