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A few days ago I received an email from one of our writers. Upon receiving our magazine in the mail, this is what he had to say:

David,

I am just blown away by the sheer awesome-ness, relevance, and Christ-
centeredness of this magazine. I wanted you to know that. Please, if
there are more opportunities in the future where I could possibly be a
help or contribute at all to Randall House Magazines, let me know. You
are by far the best Christian Magazine I’ve ever been published in, or
read. And I mean that! Thank you so much for contacting me.

I’m not posting that to brag on our magazines or even to try to show how great we are. In fact, upon reading the email, I was shocked and humbled.

But what that letter did for my day cannot be understated. By taking time to express appreciation and gratitude, the writer encouraged me in so many ways. It was an encouragement to see a teenager be so encouraged by what we do. It was an encouragement to see a teenager so on fire for what he believes. It was an encouragement to know someone appreciates what we do. It was an encouragement to see what we’re doing at Randall House is actually making a difference.

Encouraging words go a long way. We often don’t realize the magnitude of encouragement until someone encourages us. It’s easy for us to toss out a compliment or meaningful word to someone. By just uttering a simple phrase, spending a few minutes on an email or card, or even sending a text we can change someone’s hour, day, or even week.

Take the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s day. Offer up a word of encouragement to someone day. Regardless of how simple it may be, it could be a world of difference!

Yesterday I mentioned I was going to do a giveaway for Casting Crowns’ latest album “Until the Whole World Hears.” Well, today is the day it’s going to happen…at least partially.

Thanks to Reunion Records, I have several Casting Crowns CDs to give out. For this contest, I’m only giving out one…or maybe 2 if the responses are really good.

Here’s how you win:

Whoever can come up with the best response for the following Top 10 List will win the album. The Top 10 category is:

Top 10 Signs You Know You’re at Church Camp

Keep it clean and appropriate. If you have the funniest, most creative, most realistic, etc answer, you will win the album.

All responses must be in by 1:00 PM (CST) Monday April 26, 2010 and feel free to submit more than one answer.

If your answers are good, they may appear in future editions of Horizon and Direction magazines.

Enjoy!

I haven’t written a blog since February 12. That has to be some record for me. There’s been a couple reasons why I haven’t. The main reason is work has been BUSY! Deadlines, new assignments, old assignments, etc are flying in like crazy and there’s been no time to post. The other reason is I’ve been experiencing extreme fatigue for the last few weeks and haven’t had the energy or brain power to actually attempt writing. But, since it has been awhile, I figured I’d write about something simple.

Here are some of the simple (and seemingly insignificant) things in life I am thankful for:

Starburst Sour Jellybeans
Otter’s Chicken
Hearing a classic U2 song on the radio (such as “Where the Streets Have No Name”)
An extremely comfortable sectional in my apartment
My beautiful TV
Good quality BBQ sauce
St. Louis Cardinals Baseball
The NCAA Tournament
Free stuff
Slickdeals.net
Free shipping at Amazon.com on orders over $25
Fantasy Football
Text messages
Classic episodes of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Saturday mornings
My lovely bass guitar
The contacts and people I’ve been able to meet through my job and even Twitter
Books
Christopher Nolan
Sleep
Buying/owning sports memorabilia
Turkey burgers
Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein
Southwest Airlines
Chick-Fil-A
People who let you out in a parking garage
Free movie passes
$1.50 movies
Redbox
The peppermints in Derek Lewis’ office
A clean apartment
Coupons
The song “One Shining Moment”
Toy Story
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3 (I hope…)
Jack Bauer
Macs
The “Pants on the Ground” song
Texas Pete Hot Sauce
Buffalo Wild Wings
Vanderbilt basketball games
Coke Zero

The Top 10 Signs You Picked the Wrong Valentine

10. During your date, more words are said through text messages than your mouth.

9. The card she gives you says your love almost makes her forget about her ex.

8. Her perfume reminds you of your 95-year-old grandmother and the smell of the Ape House at the zoo.

7. He informs you that your chocolate has been replaced by asparagus because “it’s cheaper” and “your hips are already big enough.”

6. Instead of buying you a stuffed animal, he gives you a stuffed squirrel he hit with his car a few hours earlier.

5. He tells you the date has to be over by 8:30 so he can pick up his “real” date.

4.Your date creates her own candy hearts with personal messages such as “LSE WGHT,” “IC UR FAT,” and “BAD BRTH.”

3. He schedules the date after February 14 so flowers are cheaper and candy is discounted.

2. As he walks you to the door he tells you that you look more beautiful in the dark.

1.When your date receives the check for dinner, he reaches for his credit card, pulls out his coupons, and asks if he needs to pull to the second window.

Today I’m starting my first day of P90X. I never thought an exercise program in a box could have so many components. Since receiving the kit (through Craigslist) last week, I have had to buy dumbbells, resistance bands, a door attachment for resistance bands, an extra resistance band kit that I now have to return, and a yoga mat.

Alas, I think I am now ready to begin. I fast forwarded through the first workout a couple nights ago just to get an idea of what I would be doing. From what I can see, it’s going to kick my tail!

However, I need to do this and I want to do this. Like most people, I hate going to the gym. I don’t mind it once I get there, but actually getting there is a task in itself. Plus, the gym always seems like a place of intimidation. It doesn’t help that the equipment in the gym at my apartment complex keeps breaking. That kind of limits what you can do.

So starting today, I begin my 90 day journey. I’m hoping to give it all I’ve got and come out on the other side feeling better, looking better, and maybe being a little sore.

A “fun” component of the program is taking a before and after picture. Don’t worry. I won’t be posting either online.

Well, here we go…

Last year I came up with 21 resolutions for 2009. Only about 18 were realistic. I was able to accomplish about 11 of them. This year I thought I would give it another shot. Some of these aren’t serious, but I’m hoping they’re attainable. As you can see, some are just plain fun. This list is more about what I would like to accomplish in 2010 rather than resolutions…but oh well, here goes (in no particular order):

1. Complete 90 straight days of P90X.
I recently bought the program on Craigslist from a guy who got it and decided he didn’t want to do it. I’m making it my goal to complete the system at least once and try to lose weight, add muscle, and tone up.

2. Read 24 books.
Last year my goal was 12-15 and I made it through 18, including the entire Harry Potter series. This year I’m going for 24.

3. Avoid all Twilight movies.
Yuck.

4. Attend a midnight showing of a movie.
I’ve only done this once (The Dark Knight). I’d love to do it again for Toy Story 3…if they have midnight showing for kids’ movies.

5. Lead 1 person to Christ.
The number may sound small, but you have to start somewhere.

6. Get published in a publication outside of Randall House.

7. Play Mario Kart online with at least 10 friends at once.
Interested?

8. Watch every DVD I own that I haven’t seen yet.
People are amazed at the amount of DVDs I have that I’ve never seen. I have a habit of buying great movies that are $2 at a used bookstore and never watching them. Time to change that.

9. Finish The Chronicles of Narnia.
I think I’ve read the first book 3 times and stopped the second book soon after. Maybe this year I can persevere.

10. Buy a 5-shelf bookcase and organize my DVDs.

11. Pay off 1 student loan.

12. Win over 100 tickets at 1 game at Dave and Busters.
I’m awful at those games. But I will beat you in basketball!

13. Consistently read the Bible and find a reading plan that helps me do it.

14. Beat 1 video game.
I’m not good at video games.

15. Serve others more

16. Attempt the Blazin’ Challenge at Buffalo Wild Wings
…and live to tell about it.

17. Give more money and stuff away than I ever have before.
Money is just temporary and stuff is just stuff.

We hit a milestone this week on The Brink Podcast. We have officially gone over the 2000 download mark. As a thank you to all of those who have downloaded and listened to the podcast (or even downloaded and never listened), we want to give you a free issue of The Brink Magazine for Winter 2009-10.

Simply listen to this week’s Brink Podcast and we’ll give you the email addy where you can send your mailing address. Maybe you’ll even find it amusing! This week we discuss Bill Cosby, Casting Crowns, 50 Cent, Cyber Monday, and much more! So check it out!

You can find The Brink Podcast by visiting www.thebrinkonline.com/podcast or going to iTunes and searching for The Brink Podcast. If you use iTunes, don’t forget to subscribe!

You can also find it by clicking on the magazine above…the very same magazine you can receive.

Enjoy!

- You remember a time when the Macarena was actually cool to do

- You remember when Facebook was called a “cordless phone”

- You owned a special comb for your Treasure Troll

- You like Christian Bale, but you’re a little more partial to Adam West

- You put on a pair of glasses, pulled your pants up high, snorted, and asked, “Did I do that?” in your best Urkel voice

- You remember when there was only 1 Michelle Tanner

- You’ve always seen Howie Mandel as the genius behind Bobby’s World, not Deal or No Deal

- You asked someone to marry you with a Ring Pop

- You own parachute pants

- Your first encounter with Alanis Morisette was on You Can’t Do That on Television

- You actually thought Scooby-Doo was taped before a live studio audience

- You sang The Song That Never Ends until you got punched

- You remember when baseball cards were actually worth something

- No one batted an eye at the thought of two men named Ernie and Bert living together

- You always hoped your doctor was named Doogie

- You tried to turn your skateboard into a hoverboard

- Who cares about “The Fonz?” Mike Seaver was the man!

- Your role model: Mark Summers

- You can finish this: “And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, I’ll tell you how I became the prince…”

- You decided your lifetime career and future spouse by playing MASH

- You’ve tasted the “orange drink” at a birthday party at McDonalds

- Your first taste of American literature was Goosebumps or The Boxcar Children

- You’ve ever seen a movie starring Shaq

- You remember when floppy discs were actually floppy

- You’ve mastered “Oregon Trail”

- You poked a hole in the wrong part of a Capri Sun and had it squirt all over you

- Your mom wouldn’t let you play Mortal Kombat because it was too violent

- You ever owned anything made by Sega

- You’re still waiting for Macaulay Culkin to make another Home Alone movie

- You thought Trapper Keepers were the coolest!

- You actually wanted to hang with Mr. Cooper

- You remember when Nick At Nite had shows from before your time; not shows that were canceled 2 years ago

- You ever said “Whoa!” and tried to sound like Joey Lawrence

- You remember when McDonalds put a Barbie or Hot Wheels toy in the Happy Meal’s when they couldn’t think of anything better to use. Oh wait. That still happens

- You remember when Adam Sandler movies were funny

- You paired the phrases “Power Rangers movie” and “best ever” in the same sentence

- If you were a guy you wanted to be Zack Morris and date Kelly Kapowski. If you were a girl you wanted to be Kelly Kapowski and date Zack Morris.

- You can still recite the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme, and you remember when the show moved to CBS and went downhill.

- You can relate to Doug Funny is so many ways.

- You remember when Polly Pocket actually could fit in your pocket

- You owned a Walkman

- At point you were sure Laserdisc would be the next big thing

- You know how to get to world 8 from world 4…and you know what game I’m referring to

- You knew Michael Jackson as the guy who did the song on Free Willy

- You ate a Flintstones Push-Up Pop

- You wore your pants backwards to be just like Kriss Kross (“The Daddy Mac will make you…”)

- You remember when MTV actually played music videos

- You remember when the worst show on TV was Beavis and Butthead

- Vanilla Ice…striped sideburns…enough said

- You drank “Surge”

- You’ve corrected someone by stating that Tommy was in fact the Green Ranger and the White Ranger

- You’ve owned a pair of shoes that you have to “pump” up

- “Clap on…clap off”

- You remember when you actually wanted to stay home on Friday nights to watch TGIF

- You can recite the Saved By the Bell graduation song word for word and it still makes you cry

-  You considered naming your first daughter Topanga

- You know Cuba Gooding Jr. as the guy whose brother Omar was on Wild and Crazy Kids

- You can Skip-It

- You’re still mourning from the loss of Mr. Hooper

- Your LA Gear shoes lit up while you walked

- You remember when Arnold Schwarzenegger was an actor

- When someone says, “Who should we call?” your first instinct is to yell “Ghostbusters!”

- You can name all of the New Kids on the Block

- Your teacher showed you the OJ verdict during school

- At one point, you really wanted a MiniDisc player

- You thought one of the girls in Hanson was cute

- You know what a “busy signal” sounds like

- You needed to use Microsoft Encarta for research

- You bought a slap bracelet…only to find out a few days later they weren’t allowed at school

- Your family’s first cell phone looked like an Army walkie-talkie

- You owned the board game Mousetrap, set up all the pieces, but never played the actual game

Yesterday I wrote about the worst Halloween Candy. Today, I flip things around and write about the best Halloween candy. The following results come me, myself, and I. Feel free to disagree!

10. Nestle Crunch Bars
Nothing like a great crunch to a candy bar. They usually come in one piece that’s dividable, but let’s be honest, we all eat the whole thing at once.

9. Three Musketeers
This is probably the healthiest of the non-healthy candy bars. It’s reminiscent of the old “Milkshake” candy bars of days before.

8. Almond Joy
I’m not a huge coconut fan, but there’s something about chocolate, coconut, and 1 almond that tastes delicious!

7. Twix
After forgotten in the realm of the major candy bars, Twix still tastes like one of the best. The new peanut butter flavor tastes incredible too!

6. Skittles
Had to veer away from chocolate at some point, didn’t I? Some divide them by color, some eat them one by one, and some eat the whole pack at once. No matter your method, this fruit candy is quite satisfying!

5. Butterfinger
A favorite of Bart Simpson and many others. It crumbles when you eat and and can make a mess. It also seems to get stuck in your teeth. Yet there’s something so delicious about a Butterfinger that we can’t pass up.

4. Kit-Kat
“Give me a break, give me a break, break me off a piece of that…” Great taste, and it comes in packs of 2′s and 4′s so you actually feel like you get more than one candy bar in a pack.

3. M&Ms
Their commercials are awesome and they are awesome. Even though they all taste the same, we all have a favorite color anyway.

2. Reese’s Cups
Peanut butter and chocolate. This is classic! It came very close to capturing the top spot but just couldn’t pull it out. Still, this is one of the greatest candies you can find any time of the year.

1. Snickers
Variations have been tried with Snickers, and they’ve all been wonderful! Whether you eat it with almonds, fudge, crunch, dark chocolate, or a weird Transformers add-in, Snickers can always satisfy your hunger. Hungry? Why Wait? Grab a Snickers!

Honorable mentions:

Baby Ruth
Milky Way
Junior Mints
Hershey’s Miniatures
Starbursts
Nerds
Sour Patch Kids