real quote: courage

be_strong

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,

for the LORD your God goes with you;

he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

real poem: a broken world

Happy Retro Day! This poem is a wonderful reminder of your unique purpose here on this earth. I hope it encourages and inspires you. Enjoy! ~ Halee 

Jesus loves me, this I know. . .

by RTF Staff Writer Catey Yuen

Open eyes greet the light
Walking into a dark world.
With small steps, I faced the darkness
Shattered hearts (more…)

real devo: rumors

gossip_kallisimmerman

DON’T FORGET: Register to win a free iPod by commenting on a post any day this week.

You can comment once every day for more chances. Winner announced Friday, March 19, 2010.

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By RTF Staff Writer Kalli Simmerman

Those who have no sense deride their neighbors, but those who have understanding hold their tongues.

Proverbs 11:12

“Did you hear what she did last night?” The whispers were all about the school. I felt my cheeks grow hot as I clutched my books tight to my chest and hurried away from the two girls who were quietly talking over by the lockers. I felt their penetrating stares at my back as I practically ran down the hall.

(more…)

real advice: how can i get a free iPod shuffle?

blue-ipod-shuffle

Dear RTF Editors,

How can I get an iPod shuffle for free?

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Dear Readers -

Lucky you! It’s this easy — leave a comment on this post. We’ll do a random drawing next Friday, March 19, and announce our winner.

Leave a comment any day in the next seven days, and your name will be entered once for every day you comment (limit one comment per day).

Have fun!

real crazy: banana underwear

bjhamrick_banana_underwear

By RTF Editor B.J. Hamrick

One of my friends recently called my boy and I “green”. I wasn’t sure if she meant we were naïve… or eco-friendly. Of course those two labels are synonymous in our small town, where recycling places you in the same gossip category as an eco-terrorist.

I have to admit – my boy and I are slightly on the green side. We’re not obsessed with it, but we try to do things like wash our tin foil, scrub our cat litter, and fertilize our garden with our own septic system. Just kidding about the tin foil. (more…)

real retro: when you leave friends behind

Happy Retro Day! This is for anyone who has moved away from friends or watched their friends leave them behind. (I’ve been there, too.) I hope you find this helpful and encouraging. Enjoy! ~Halee

by RTF Staff Writer Catey Yuen

I’m a social person. I’ve always had a lot of friends since I was really young. But when I moved from California to Colorado two summers ago, all of that changed.

When you’ve lived in the same state your whole life, it’s easy to stay in contact with people. After all, most of the people you know, you’ve known for a while. Almost all of my friends came from the church I’d been going to for years. It required very little for me to meet new people and still hang out with the old ones.

Then we moved and it all changed. (more…)

real devo: storm

ethanhamrick_storm

By RTF Administrative Editor Ethan Hamrick

Tonight I saw I’ve been Peter

Afraid of the wind and the waves

Striving to know

The tide’s ebb and flow (more…)

real advice: where to go for help

helping hand

“Where can I go when I need help?” – you

This Friday I want to give advice to all our readers. I am going to introduce you to some resources so that you don’t have to feel helpless when you or someone you know is struggling. The following includes some common problems, along with some organizations where you can find help any time:

Self-injury (cutting)
Door of Hope: This organization offers free counseling (online or by phone) by certified Christian counselors for teen girls or young women.
ASHIC (American Self-Harm Information Clearinghouse): Here you can find a variety of resources and information about self-inury. (more…)