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Monday, February 11, 2008

Welcome

I'm thinking a lot about summer right now. And not just because I live in snowy, chilly Illinois. Instead, I've been thinking about one of the most fun parts of summer here at Ignite. Sometimes we have local high school students come in for a week or two as interns. Last year was a banner year for high school interns.

All three of them, Cat, Ethan, and Rachel got stuff published in print issues. Cat's doing two interviews for me right now and is our regular book reviewer. Ethan keeps thinking of ideas for Bizarre Tabloid News. And Rachel will have some very funny Bizarre Tabloid News bits in the March/April issue. These kids are awesome.

I was thinking of Rachel recently because one of our sister sites, ChristianityTodayMovies.com, was looking last week for a teen to review the new Miley Cyrus concert movie. I immediately thought of Rachel. She was excited to write the review and you can read it here. Cool, huh?

Anyway, despite all my summer wishes right now, it's still February. And that means Valentine's Day. For this occasion, I got to "interview" Cupid about what he really wants V-Day to be about. (And no, it doesn't have anything to do with pink hearts or pointy arrows.) We've also posted some new articles about dating-related issues like sex and purity.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I wanted to help you out. You may be thinking, What do I give to my punk loved ones to say I care? Well, that's easy! Special Hawk Nelson downloadable valentines!

Take Care,

Todd Hertz
for IYF

We want your feedback on this newsletter! Email us at IYFconnection@christianitytoday.com.

Are You a Christ-Follower?
You've seen Apple's popular Mac vs. PC commercials. Now at FaithVisuals.com, watch the six-video parody that pokes fun at some of the ways Christians are perceived by the culture—and show how being a Christ-follower might look.

Top Story

Cupid Sets the Record Straight
I'm writing because I'm afraid I've gotten a bad rap.
by Cupid as told to Todd Hertz

Dear I.Y.F. Readers,

Greetings! Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Cupid, that little flying baby you see all over the place every February. Yes, that guy. I know, you get sick of seeing me. If you're not daying anyone, seeing my face makes you cringe. If you are, my image pressures you to buy that perfect lovey-dovey card/flower bouquet/ box of candy. But really, that's just my marketing team. That's not how I want to be known.

| Finish this article |

Good Advice

LOVE, SEX & DATING
Can We Date Without Sex?
Q. I want to stop seeing my boyfriend because I feel like we can't be together without having sex. At the same time, I think he'd understand why I want to stop having sex. Should we try to be together without having sex? How can we do this?

| Read Carla Barnhill's answer |
| More Love, Sex & Dating |

Entertainment

BANDS & ARTISTS
My Daily Battle
Seventh Day Slumber's bassist Josh Schwartz talks about his four keys to purity.
by Todd Hertz

My Commitment: Josh Schwartz, bassist for Seventh Day Slumber, always wanted to save his virginity for marriage because the Bible calls for purity. But as a young teen, he realized that remaining pure physically was only part of the battle. God calls followers to be mentally and spiritually pure as well.

| Finish this article |
| More Bands & Artists |

Good Buys

A Young Woman After God's Own Heart
Elisabeth George guides you in understanding and following God's perfect plan for your friendships, your faith, your family relationships, and your future.

Facing the Giants: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, CD
An inspiring message about trusting God for the impossible! Artists include Casting Crowns, Third Day, Bebo Norman, Josh Bates, and Ana Laura.

Subscribe to Ignite Your Faith
Ignite Your Faith offers biblical perspectives and encouragement on issues like love, relationships, self-image, popularity, and loneliness. Each issue also features stories of teens who were changed by God and in-depth profiles on the latest in Christian music. Request a FREE trial issue today!

Christian College Guide

LIFE AT COLLEGE
My Plans Fell Apart
I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. God had other plans.
by Jill Rushbrook

I was so excited about college. Finally, after four years of seemingly meaningless classes in high school, I was going to pursue my dreams. I was going to become a teacher. That's what I'd wanted to do since I was about 5 years old, scribbling on my chalkboard and teaching "pretend" lessons to my dolls. As I got older and began to babysit, I found I loved teaching little kids how to recognize colors or how to count to 10.

| Finish this article |

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Take Care of the Earth

Use this guide to explore what it means to respect God's creation and to understand and enact our responsibility as Christians to protect our planet.

—from
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This Week's Poll

What does Valentine's Day mean to you?

It's just another day.
It's a Hallmark-made holiday to sell stuff.
It's a chance to let loved ones know how I feel.
It can be depressing.
It can be really romantic.
It's a good day to think about God's love.

Vote here, and see how your answer compares to others'.

Results of Last Week's Poll

Are you a Miley Cyrus fan?

Yeah, I like her: 33%
Not really: 20%
Not at all: 17%
That's kiddie stuff: 14%
I don't know who that is: 10%
Yes! I just saw her live tour!: 3%

From the Music Channel

Catching Up With … Avalon
Janna Long and Jeremi Richardson reflect on the group's past … and future.

Not a Safe Band
That's what lead vocalist Ryan Clark says about his band Demon Hunter.

Check Out the Latest Music Reviews

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