May 12, 2008

I received an e-mail from a teen recently who shared a link to her MySpace. She had cool pics of her recent marriage. She is 17. Her question: how can I know if he is my soul mate?

We talked privately, and it is clear that the road ahead is going to be tougher than she realized. Love suddenly looked less romantic when she woke up the next week. She said she didn’t mind if we posted her question and my answer, but I found a great article that says it all. (more…)

Filed under: dating, real quote, real articles

May 10, 2008

Thinking Outside the Cap and Gown

by Lydia Rule, RTF Staff Writer

The crowd hushes for a moment, a gentle rustle of fans is heard, the atmosphere grows hot and sticky with each tense breath, and then… The band starts up, playing the traditional march as a line of graduates proceeds down the long aisle, each person in timing with the song so only a single step is heard.

Just as many others have done before them, they march up to the stage, take a seat, and wait for their name to be called. It is another typical graduation with speeches of a glorious future and the Grand Finale of hundreds of caps being tossed into the air like confetti.

However, most of the participants in this seemingly stereotype ceremony have something in common: they aren’t thinking outside of the cap and gown. (more…)

Filed under: Real Teen Faith Writers, real devos, lydia rule

May 9, 2008

Shallow Pots
by Maddee Schrader, RTF Staff Writer, 16

So bloom! She said, Where you are planted for
If not you’ll wither quick. The novelty
Of being new will only shade you for
So long from sun of loneliness and sighs.

The soil is too hard, I whined, the ground
Unyielding still. The people do not see
Me; I am like a potted tree that is
Not flow’ring bright for bees to see and come.
I’ve been here for a year and yet I do
Not belong still. This place is not for me.

She looked askance at me, her shaking head
To tell me how she disapproved of that.
You answered it yourself, my dear, when said
That you’re a potted plant. Those trees, you see,
Have roots that do not grow. To be in life
And live and love and laugh, you must break out
Of shallow pots, and struggle through the rough
And rocky soil ‘til you find the soft
And tender ground that’s somewhere underneath.

Filed under: Maddee Schrader, Real Teen Faith Writers, faith, real poem

May 8, 2008

From Campus Life, March/April 2008: 5,000 readers voted in the Ignite Your Faith Gold Ear Music Awards, and [drum roll] here they are. . .

Best Male Vocalist 

1. John Cooper, Skillet
2. Trevor McNevan, Thousand Foot Krutch
3. Matt Thiessen, Relient K
4. Jeremy Camp
5. Jon Foreman, Switchfoot

honorable mentions: Mark Hall, Casting Crowns; Jason Dunn, Hawk Nelson

Best Female Vocalist

1. Lacey Mosley, Flyleaf
2. Alyssa Barlow, BarlowGirl
3. Tricia Brock, Superchic[k]
4. Krystal Meyers
5. Rebecca St. James

(more…)

Filed under: music

May 7, 2008

Goodbye School
by B.J. Hamrick, RTF Staff Writer

Dear School,

I fell in love with you back in first grade. You were fun, attractive, and easy to get along with. We played games, laughed, and spent a lot of time on the playground.

Then the honeymoon ended.

By our sixth year together, you became sickeningly needy. I hardly wanted anything from you, but you always demanded something from me. The worst part was when I couldn’t spend time with my friends because I was too busy attending to you.

(more…)

Filed under: BJ Hamrick, Real Teen Faith Writers, real fun

May 5, 2008

Writer’s Bloc held a contest for teen writers. One of the prizes was publication on Real Teen Faith. We don’t often have fiction on RTF, but we are pleased to offer this winning entry. It’s a great story!

The Spartan
By Jamin Goecker

Ben rolled over and punched his pillow. His clock beamed 12:03. He sighed and lay on his back. Green blobs vibrated in the lava lamp on his desk. Moonlight cut through the blinds and stabbed a multicolored award tacked on the bulletin board over his desk.

Best eighth grade Bible verse memorizer

Did I get that only a year ago? I’m certainly old enough by now not to be afraid of being alone

His lip quivered as a laundry pile rose and formed an armored figure. The soldier lowered a long spear and tickled Ben’s throat with its leaf point.

(more…)

Filed under: Jamin Goecker, writing

May 4, 2008

Are you looking for a great discipleship resource? Check out Real Life Downloaded, a site that ties in current events with lessons that connect with students.

This week’s lesson is On Fire! Hey, it’s great AND it’s free! How do we know about it? Suzie is one of the curriculum writers for RLD, and it’s a great tool she is excited about. (No, we don’t get any kickbacks from this, just the satisfaction of sharing a resource with those who teach and work with teens seeking real-life faith).

Filed under: youth worker resources

May 3, 2008

Maddee Schrader, 16, RTF Staff writer and Suzie interview author Erynn Mangum, author of Miss Match!

Maddee: Congrats on your recent wedding! After writing so much about a single girl and her dating relationships, what is it like to be married?

Erynn: It is awesome! My husband, Jon, is my best friend – we have so much fun together. Thanks for the congrats!

Maddee: Are any of the characters in your books based on real people?

Erynn: A couple of characters are based on composites of different people I know – but there isn’t one that’s just based on one specific person.

Maddee: You say you love coffee, so what are your favorite three drinks at Starbucks?

Erynn: Oh gosh…Mocha, Caramel Frappuccino and um… oh! The Cinnamon Dolce Latte. That one is yummy. (more…)

Filed under: Real Teen Faith Writers, Maddee Schrader, writing, real interviews, dating, sex