Fun (and Cheap) Ways to Build Friendships

Here are a few ideas to help your friendships grow!

1. People watch at the airport.

2. Use a sunny afternoon to wash your cars. (If you don't have a car, wash your parents' cars!)

3. Challenge each other to a taste test with various colas (regular and diet Coke, regular and diet Pepsi, generic brands, etc.) The one who guesses the most correctly wins, and whoever burps the loudest gets "special recognition"!

4. Collect all the pictures you have of one another and make a scrapbook.

5. Build something—like a model airplane. Or if you're ambitious, a treehouse for the neighborhood kids.

6. Go apple picking. Or blueberry, or strawberry, or raspberry … 

7. Go for a bike ride. When you find a cool spot, in a park or by a lake, stop and have a picnic.

8. Play "Name That Tune." Using a CD player with a time display, see who can name well-known songs the fastest.

9. Spend an evening watching for falling stars.

10. Play a game of basketball—dribble and shoot with the opposite hand you write with.

11. Borrow a video camera and spend the day making your own movie.

12. Cloud watch. The first to find the elephant in the sky wins.

13. Go to a thrift store, buy the goofiest, oldest (and cheapest) clothes you can find and then wear them to your favorite fast-food restaurant.

14. Build a kite from scratch, using stuff you have around the house. If it doesn't fly, at least you'll get a good laugh!

15. Write a short story together, starting with this: "It was a dark and stormy night when sweet Old Maude, innocently crocheting her granddaughter's new sweater, was … " Take turns writing one sentence apiece until the story is finished.

16. Make root beer floats. See who gets the ice-cream headache first.

17. Take turns finishing this sentence: "If I had a million dollars, I would … "

18. Skip rocks on the lake, ocean, swamp, mud puddle—whatever is closest to home.

19. Tell your friends how much you care about them, and tell them often. Tell them they've helped shape who you are today. Then thank God for blessing you with one of his greatest gifts—friendship.

(Source: www.christianitytoday.com)

A True Friend

A good friend looks a lot like … 

… Ruth, who was loyal even when times got tough. When her mother-in-law, Naomi, lost her husband and both sons (one of them was Ruth's husband), Naomi decided to move far away to deal with her grief. She told Ruth to stay behind, but Ruth said no way: "Don't urge me to leave you … Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay." (See Ruth 1:1-22)

A bad friend looks a lot like … 

… Pharaoh's cupbearer, who didn't have a clue about showing appreciation. While in prison with Joseph, the two became friends. Joseph promised the cupbearer that he would soon be freed from prison and given a new chance at life—great news indeed! But when the cupbearer got out of jail, he "did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." (See Genesis 40:1-23)

A good friend looks a lot like … 

… Jonathan, who would do anything, even risk his life, for a friend. Jonathan's dad, King Saul, was jealous of David, Jonathan's best bud. When Jonathan heard his dad wanted to kill David, he hatched a plan to save his friend's life. Jonathan modeled the ultimate friendship when he told David, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it for you." (See 1 Samuel 20:1-42)

A bad friend looks a lot like … 

… Ahithophel, who betrayed King David by befriending an enemy who wanted to overthrow the kingdom. Ahithophel was supposedly David's trusted counselor, but he gave lousy advice and spread vicious rumors about the king. He was the kind of "friend" David likely had in mind when he wrote Psalm 35:12-15: "They repay me evil for good. … Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting … I went about mourning as though for my friend. … But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee." (See 2 Samuel 15:12-17:23)

A good friend looks a lot like … 

… Paul, who was great at helping friends grow in their faith—not only by encouraging them, but also by being bold enough to tell them when they'd messed up. One side of Paul would say (as he did to his friend Philemon): "Grace to you and peace … Your love has given me great joy and encouragement" (v. 3-7). Another side of Paul told friends when to shape up, but always with grace: "I always thank God for you … I am not writing this to shame you. … It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you. … Flee from sexual immorality … Honor God with your body." (See 1 Corinthians 4:14-6:20)

A bad friend looks a lot like … 

… Judas, who often acted like a friend, but put his own self-interests above everything else. He followed Jesus everywhere, yet was often guilty of faking it. Even when Jesus said Judas would betray him, Judas essentially replied, "No way! Not me!" He continued his charade to the moment of betrayal, by giving Jesus a kiss on the cheek, to which Jesus said, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (See Matthew 26:15-17, 25; Luke 22:47-48)

A good friend looks a lot like … 

… Jesus, who was the ultimate friend to everyone. He was compassionate, encouraging, patient, loyal, understanding, loving. The best way to be a good friend is to be like Christ, to "clothe" ourselves with the things of God, as it says in Colossians 3:12-17. That's the ultimate definition of what a good friend looks like.

(Source: www.christianitytoday.com)

6 Gifts That Always Fit

1. A Smile. 

Hey, it's one of the easiest ways to show you care. It doesn't have to be big and grinny, just genuine. It can show a lonely person you care, it can lift somebody's spirits, and it's just a small way to give little glimpse of God's love.

2. A Listening Ear. 

The world's full of advice-givers and people who love to hear the sound of their own voices. But listening is a rare and valuable gift in any friendship. When you listen carefully, you silently communicate: "You're important. I care about what you have to say because I care about you."

3. Encouragement. 

Cheer on a friend. Let someone know when they've done a good job. Give a little encouragement to a friend who feels like a failure. Here's how to take this whole encouragement thing up a notch: Make an Encouragement Book for someone who needs extra support. Paste uplifting pictures, quotes and Bible verses into a notebook or inexpensive journal. Decorate the cover—wrapping paper is optional.

4. A Helping Hand. 

Let's imagine a tough situation. You have a friend whose parents are going through a divorce. With all the hurt he's experiencing, he's also got a lot more responsibility around the house. Maybe it's babysitting a little sis. Or possibly, he has to help cook meals or clean the house more than he used to. Offer to help out. Look for ways to put hands and feet to your concern and love for another person—especially someone who's hurting.

5. Volunteering. 

Talk to your youth pastor about places where you could serve over the holidays. Maybe you could visit lonely people at a nursing home. Possibly a local food pantry needs extra help. Just do something to demonstrate your concern for others less fortunate than you. And don't just make it a holiday thing. Plan regular times throughout the year to reach out and help others.

6. Your Talent. 

Play the guitar? Lead worship for children's church. Handy with a camera? Take photos of your family's holiday gatherings. Got a knack for fixing something old and broken down? Then turn to page 16, and find out how one guy's fix-it skills bring a lot of smiles to faces of hurting children.

(Source: www.christianitytoday.com)

A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine

How are you feeling today? 

Maybe you need a cheerful heart to help you feel your best. 

When we laugh we can't help but feel good. Unfortunately as adults we usually don't laugh enough and our bodies pay the price. 

It would be a good idea to add this page even if it only brought a smile, a giggle or a chuckle to your life. At least, adding something of value that will do you a bit of good. 

These verses are excellent examples of the need we have to include humor in our lives. 

Our God created humor and laughter and our prayer is that you will always have a heart of cheer! 

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 

Proverbs 15:15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. 

Proverbs 15:13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

The Lord's Prayer

In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 11, we see that Jesus was praying with his disciples. On that day one of them asked, "Lord, teach us to pray." And so he taught them what almost all Christians have come to know and even memorize, The Lord's Prayer. It is one of the most commonly prayed prayers by people of all Christian faiths in both public and private worship.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, 
Hallowed be thy Name. 
Thy kingdom come. 
Thy will be done, 
On earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our trespasses, 
As we forgive those who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom, 
and the power, 
and the glory, 
for ever and ever. 
Amen. 

God & Google

Have you googled today? If so, yours was one of the 150 million searches on the world's biggest search engine. Did you find what you were looking for? Google will always give you something. Sometimes the results are, "like, totally wacked." Sometimes they're "way tight." (I googled "modern slang.")

Do you ever approach God as if he were a giant search engine? You tell him what you want and expect instant results. What if God doesn't give you what you're really looking for? That's OK. There are lots of other "search engines" out there: parents, friends, the mall.

But God isn't the big search engine in the sky. And if he has something in mind for you, he won't substitute it for something that's second best—even if it's something you really want or think you need. Here are some things to remember about God:

God knows your deepest desires—and motives—before you ask: "O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. … You perceive my thoughts from afar. … Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely" (Psalm 139:1-4).

Even though God already knows your thoughts, don't skip prayer: "How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him" (Matthew 7:11).

Didn't get what you asked for? Maybe it's not good for you: "Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17).

Your ultimate search should always be for God himself: "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always" (Psalm 105:4).

God isn't like Google. He won't give you something substandard just to satisfy your immediate desires. So keep asking, and seeking, and knocking—and know that he wants to give you the very best he has to offer.

Think about it:
What am I searching for?
Why should I pray?
How do I know God answers prayer?
What are three things I should pray about today?

(Source: www.christianitytoday.com)

8 Ways to Pray

1. Journal your prayers. 
But don't just journal requests. Write out questions, heartaches and struggles. Don't forget to journal praises, too. Be creative. Put your prayers into poems. Write a letter to God. Then go back and read your journal entries in a week or a month. There's a good chance you'll be reminded of how God has answered your prayers. And when you're feeling down, your past praises remind you of God's goodness and love for you.

2. Take a prayer walk. 
Hike in a forest preserve and praise God for his beautiful creation. Walk around your neighborhood and pray for the family in each home you pass. Or take a "prayer walk" on the sidewalk around your school.

3. Pray over your calendar and schedule. 
Got a test coming up? Pray for peace of mind. Pray for the players of Friday night's basketball game-both sides. Ask God to bring non-Christians to your winter youth retreat.

4. Pray Scripture. 
Let's say that during your Bible reading time you come across 1 Peter 5:7: "God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him" (CEV). Turn that verse into a prayer: "Lord, I'm going to trust you and give you all my worries. I know you will take care of me." Do this with Scriptures that express needs and also with those that praise or thank God. Hey, why not personalize the Lord's Prayer? Take each sentence or phrase from this well-known prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and write it in a way that applies directly to your life.

5. Pray about the news. 
When you read or hear about a troubling issue, pray for the people involved. Pray for politicians and other national and community leaders who make the news.

6. Partner up. 
Find someone to pray with regularly. Plan to meet at a coffee shop once or twice a week, or get together before school. Praying with a friend is great for personal accountability. It's also a cool way to take a friendship to a deeper level.

7. Be quiet. 
If prayer is a conversation, then you also need to listen in silence. And silence means getting away from distractions like music and TV. A quiet, little-used corner at the library could be the best place. As you listen, don't expect to hear a voice. But do expect God to tug at your heart, move your conscience, or help you realize something you need to do or change.

8. Keep a prayer on your lips. Dozens of thoughts pass through your mind daily. You daydream. You may think bad or gossipy thoughts. Turn those daydreams and not-so-great thoughts into prayers. Ask God to help a person hurt by gossip. Ask him to forgive you for thoughts that take your mind places it shouldn't go. Turn daydreams and other passing thoughts into moments to recognize God's presence in your life. As you learn to keep a prayer on your lips, you'll come a little closer to understanding what it means to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV).

(Source: www.christianitytoday.com)

Do You Finish What You Start?

1. You're finally folding the pile of clean laundry your Mom asked you to finish when your friends call and ask you to go rollerblading. You:
a. Lace up your blades. The clothes can wait.
b. Meet up with them in 15 minutes. In the meantime you get as much done as possible, then finish the rest when you get back.
c. Stay put. You started the laundry and you'll finish the laundry, even if it means missing out on fun with friends.

2. You promised your little brother you'd help paint his room. Where are you when the first coat is dry and it's time for the second one?
a. Long gone. You helped out with most of the first coat; he can finish it up.
b. Taking a break for a burger with friends. But you'll be back in time to help with the finishing touches.
c. Dipping your brush in paint.

3. Your youth group is reading through the Bible in a year. Two months into the readings you:
a. Are so far behind you give up.
b. Need to catch up on a few days you skipped.
c. Right on track.

4. Your older sister and brotherinlaw need a babysitter every Tuesday night for the next three months. You volunteer, but after a month of watching your rowdy little nephew, you:
a. Throw in the towel. There's no way you're spending every Tuesday night chasing around a little kid.
b. Tell them you can't watch your nephew every week, but give them a list of a few dates you're willing to babysit.
c. Stick with it. A promise is a promise.

5. You get a ton of nice presents at a surprise birthday bash. You:
a. Never actually get around to writing thankyou notes.
b. Write thankyou notes but they sit on your desk for a week.
c. Write thankyou notes right after the party and mail them the next day.

6. You plan to apply for as many college scholarships as possible. But halfway through your huge stack you:
a. Figure there's a billion other kids applying for these things, so why waste your time?
b. Set a smaller goal and try to finish at least five.
c. Think the more you apply for, the better your chances of getting free money. You keep writing those essays.

7. Your family got an adorable new pup on the condition that you take him to doggie school. After the first few lessons you:
a. Stop going because your pooch at least seems to recognize his name.
b. Miss one or two classes, but make it all the way through to graduation.
c. Don't miss a single class.

8. Your youth pastor asked you to invite a list of kids in your neighborhood to your youth group. You call half the people on the list and not one of them can go. So you:
a. Don't bother calling anyone else.
b. Feel pretty discouraged. You only call a few more people from the list.
c. Keep calling until you've gone through the entire list.

9. How often do you finish todo lists?
a. Never. They just keep getting longer and longer.
b. Most of the time. But sometimes you skip a couple of things you can do the next day.
c. Always. You live for marking things off your list.

10. It's halfway through basketball season and you haven't spent one second on the court during an actual game. So you:
a. Quit. Why waste your time?
b. Ask your coach if you can be the team manager. At least you'll be helping the team.
c. Practice even harder and try your best to prove yourself to the coach.

11. When your English teacher first asked you to keep a journal for the entire semester you were totally dedicated to keeping it up to date. Now, it's the night before the journal's due, and you:
a. Stay up all night to write a semester's worth of entries.
b. Fill in a few remaining blank pages.
c. Relax in front of the TV. Your journal is totally up to date.

12. Your friends are playing touch football in the park and they call you to be the quarterback, but you're right in the middle of studying for your algebra test. You:
a. Race to the park. You'll cram for the test in study hall tomorrow.
b. Study for an hour, play for an hour, then come home and hit the books again.
c. Tell them to definitely count you in for the next game, but you have to finish studying now.

13. You're in training, hoping to get to the point where you can run five miles without stopping by the end of three months. Will you make it?
a. Probably not. You get bored with the same workout routine for an entire month.
b. Probably so. You asked your track coach for a workable schedule that you can follow pretty closely.
c. Absolutely. Once you start, you know you'll finish.

14. You've almost reached your summer savings goal when you spot a bike you've had your eye on for months. So you:
a. Buy the bike. You can save later.
b. Go to the store to see if you can put the bike on layaway. After a few weeks of cutting back a little from your planned savings, you'll have enough to buy the bike.
c. Keep saving. As much as you want that bike, you want to make your savings goal more.

15. You promised your little brother you'd help paint his room. Where are you when the first coat is dry and it's time for the second one?
a. Long gone. You helped out with most of the first coat; he can finish it up.
b. Taking a break for a burger with friends. But you'll be back in time to help with the finishing touches.
c. Dipping your brush in paint.

Scoring 

Mostly C's: As it says in Matthew 25:21: "Well done, good and faithful servant!" You are always good on your promises and a faithful finisher. Dedication can be a great quality and definitely comes in handy with studying, work and even your spiritual life. As Galatians 6:9 says, don't get tired of doing good. Keep on keeping on!

Mostly B's: You're usually pretty good about seeing things through to the end. Although you try to finish everything you start, you do sometimes cut corners to get it done. When you agree to do something, remember these words from 2 Timothy 4:7, NLT: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." Always keep in mind that your promises reflect on your Christian commitment and character. Sticking with your everyday projects is a way to show that your faith is real.

Mostly A's: Although you mean well, you hardly ever finish what you start. You're easily sidetracked and you often look for the easy way out. This may not seem like a big deal—but it is, especially when it comes to your spiritual life. Proverbs 12:24 offers this advice and a warning: "The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work" (The Message). As you seek to break free from old patterns that have enslaved you, start small, set realistic goals and work on a task until it's completed. In doing so you'll feel accomplished and eventually gain a reputation as someone who can be counted on to finish what you start.

(Source: www.christianitytoday.com)

Give It a Rest

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." —Exodus 2:8, NIV

An average day during my junior year in high school went something like this: Wake up, eight hours of school, four hours of practice, quick dinner, four hours of homework, hang out with friends (if I'm lucky), sleep, repeat.

Sound like your life? To keep from freaking out or getting sick, we gotta find time to rest. God thinks rest is so important he wrote it into the fourth commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8, NIV).

A "Sabbath" is a time of rest. The words, "Remember the Sabbath day," point us back to the first Sabbath in history when, after he created everything in six days, God rested on the seventh day (see Genesis 1-2).

Now, let's be realistic: God's strength is unlimited. He created everything just by speaking. He's present everywhere. He's always available to talk to, and he doesn't get tired or worn out. So, why did God rest?

The Bible says that God "blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating he had done" (Genesis 2:3, NIV). I think God set an example for us when he rested, and we can see that example in a very important word: holy. This verse says that God made his day of rest holy. In the fourth commandment, we are told to keep the Sabbath holy. God wants us to follow his example. He wants us to take time to rest, and he wants that rest time to be holy.

Whenever the word holy appears in the Bible, it means set apart just for God. In other words, totally devoted to God. A holy Sabbath, then, isn't just any old time of rest, and it's not just rest for our physical bodies. God didn't give us the fourth commandment as encouragement to zone out while watching TV or spend an entire weekend playing Rock Band. Doing those things might help us recharge our batteries physically, but a Sabbath is more than a time of physical rest. It's also a time of spiritual rest—rest devoted totally to God.

Most of us know that nonstop busyness can wear us down and cause major physical problems or illnesses. What we so easily forget is that our spiritual lives work that way, too. As Christians, we're called to represent Christ wherever we go and to share his good news through our words and actions. That's not an easy thing to do, and if we're trying to live up to that calling every single day, it can get really tiring! If we are pouring out of our faith all the time, we need to eventually get filled back up. Taking a Sabbath and resting with God can revive us spiritually with the energy and encouragement we need to live each day as messengers of the good news. Even Jesus, our Lord and Savior, repeatedly devoted time to rest with God, far away from the busyness of his life. (See Matthew 14:22-24; Mark 1:35.)

As we try to keep a Sabbath, however, we need to remember something: It's not about just keeping another rule. When the Pharisees confronted Jesus about breaking the Sabbath, he made one thing clear: "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27, NLT).
So how can the Sabbath best meet our needs? A great starting point is going to church and youth group. Worshiping God with other believers and sharing our lives with them is an excellent way to find rest for our spiritual lives. The key to taking a Sabbath is finding a way to be with God that doesn't include or feel like work. Along with participating in a church worship service, keeping the Sabbath could mean taking more time than usual to read your Bible, journaling your prayers to God, listening to Christian music, or enjoying God's creation on a walk outdoors. Find your own unique way to be with him. Set aside time every week for it. Now you've started keeping the Sabbath holy.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NIV). By obeying the fourth commandment, we can take Jesus up on his offer and find rest for our bodies and our souls. Then, when we reenter our crazy world, we'll have the strength to share the Gospel with others who also need the rest Jesus offers.

Jason is a youth pastor in Essex, Massachusetts. He has a degree in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College, and he is pursuing a Master's degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

(Source: www.christianitytoday.com)

How Do I Know God's Will?

How do I make good decisions? What does God really want from me? Does God care about every little choice I make? 

The big question behind all of these questions, of course, is this: What's God's will for my life?

We decided to explore the sometimes confusing issue of God's will with four spiritual leaders from Christian college campuses. 
Do my decisions really matter to God? 

God cares about what's going on in our hearts. In any decision we have the opportunity to choose who we will worship. Will we worship God or will we worship ourselves? God desires to be the highest priority in every part of our lives.

In some areas of life it's clear that there are right decisions and wrong decisions—like the choice of whether to cheat on an exam. In other areas, we need to make choices between two good things—like making a decision between two great colleges. It's quite possible God would be present in and honored by either decision. Other times the choice may have to do with a gray area—something that's not necessarily right or wrong. These are opportunities to practice wisdom. For example, spending a lot of time talking on the phone or texting friends may be a good thing. But if there's never any time when we are just quiet and still, it can be harder for us to be aware of God's presence. Being wise might mean turning the phone off from time to time to quiet your heart so you can be more attentive to the presence of God in everyday life.

Sometimes when we make decisions, it can seem like we're trying to work God into our life story. But really, we are part of God's story and God is delighted by our desire to live with that focus in mind. 

How do I discover God's will? 

First, you have to make sure you're seeking to obey what God has already revealed in Scripture. This includes things like obeying your parents. That's a clear instruction from God. It doesn't really work to ignore God's revealed will but yet expect God to answer specific questions like where you should go to college.

As you study God's Word and spend time in prayer, your relationship with God grows and you begin to understand God's character. You will then be in the right place to hear God's instruction for other areas of your life. In addition to Bible study and prayer, be willing to seek godly counsel from a mentor, pastor, or your parents. 

If we're serious about following God's will, we have to recognize that it's not about getting what we want, but doing what God asks. We must trust that he is faithful and good, and that his will is what's best for us.

Will God ask me to do stuff I don't want to do? 

God may call us to do things that don't feel natural to us at first. But as we listen and respond to the call of God, we get connected to our deeper desires. After all, the things God calls us to do are things that he created us to do.
Many of us have habits that we find comfortable or that we enjoy. In the long run, though, those things may not meet our deeper spiritual needs. For example, we may have a habit of seeking acceptance by conforming, following the crowd. This is easy and can make us feel like we are accepted, but actually this habit can prevent us from being who we really are meant to be. It's scary to take the risk of letting your true self be known, but God calls us to do that. 

This process makes me think of a cross-country runner. Getting to the point where it's enjoyable to run requires the runner to work and do things that may not be easy. But when the runner is in great shape, it is a true joy to run. Likewise, once we start down the path of doing the work God calls us to do, we find great joy in doing it.

What if I miss God's will? 

Making a poor decision doesn't mean we're forever out of God's will. That's part of the beauty of Scripture: It has story after story of people who make bad decisions, but God still uses them mightily. Just look at Abraham and David. They both did some things that were clearly wrong, but God worked through them to accomplish great things. God can use all of our decisions, whether they're right, wrong, or neutral.

Also, we need to remember God is our Father. God is not here to condemn us, but to help us become more like Christ. If we are focused on Jesus, and on holiness, some of those other things will fall into place. God is not a cosmic trickster who only gives us one shot to get things right.

(Source: www.christianitytoday.com)

Recession & Creativity

On February 4, 2009, American President Obama gave his State of the Nation address. He said, “History reminds us that, at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry.From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world … We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again.”

In other words, what makes a people great is their ability to creatively try out new ideas in the face of immense challenges and crises. Recently, my friend Aries Zulkarnain sent me an article of a list of innovative ideas that have emerged during times of economic duress. Some examples:

The Great Depression: 3M invented the Scotch tape (1930); Revlon launched long-lasting nail polish (1932); Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom and Chicken Noodle soup were introduced (1934); GE introduced the fluorescent light bulb (1938); Hewlett-Packard was established (1939).

Eisenhower Recessions: Texas Instruments introduced the transistor radio (1954); McDonald’s opened its first restaurant (1955); Proctor & Gamble tested Pampers disposable diapers (1960).

1973 Oil Crisis: Arthur Fry and Spenser Silver invented Post-it Notes (1974); Bill Gates and Paul Allen formed Microsoft (1975).

Early 1980s Recession: MTV hit the airwaves (1981); Diet Coke made debut (1982); Microsoft introduced Word for MS-DOS 1.00 (1983).

Black Monday: Prozac was approved as an antidepressant (1987).

Gulf War: The World Wide Web and Apple Powerbook debuted (1991).

Dot-com Bust: iPod was unveiled (2001); RIM introduced Blackberry 5810 (2002).

Today, we are in a recession that many have claimed the worst since WWII. It was started by the collapse of the housing market. Then, the collapse of major banks caused public panic. The amount of available credit spiraled downward, making it almost impossible for anybody to get a loan. This recession was especially hard on car makers. As consumer confidence continues to plunge, things continue to get worse.

But hardships and difficulties are the necessary backdrops for greatness. When it seems like we are hard-pressed on every side, we must courageously tap into our oft-hidden God-given talents and gifts, unleashing the potential of those underused abilities to their fullest. Our moment of crisis is also our moment of creativity. This recession could well be our greatest hour yet. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Heb. 10:35).

(Source: www.konghee.com)