10 Things Everyone Should Do In 2010

1. Pray everyday

Start with us, at Cry Out 2010 on January 3rd.

2. Disciple someone for Jesus Christ

Discipling is not an option, it's a responsibility. An incredibly rewarding responsibility.

3. Meet your neighbors

If you want to impact your local community, meet them first.

4. Rock out fanny packs

Organizing the world one waist at a time.

5. Donate 1 used clothing item for every new clothing item you buy/receive.

You have enough clothes, and someone out there has none. Looking for a way to give? Check out TwoShirts.org

6. Spend less time on the Internet/TV/Gaming.

If you want to conquer the rest of this list, you'll need to sacrifice some of that wasted time in front of the screen.

7. Try Turducken for Thanksgiving

Turkey+duck+chicken > turkey.

8. Stop texting while driving

Texting while driving has increased the number of distracted car accidents. Not worth killing someone just so you can LOL. Pull over, or just wait until you reach your destination.

9. Learn a new language

Why not? It strengthens your portfolio, and increases your chance to sound cool at any given moment.

10. Rescue a pet

With the weak economy, more and more animals are being abandoned. Take one home.

Happy New Year! See you in 2010!

Two Shirts

“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” And with this 2000 year old quote from John the Baptist (Luke 3:11), TwoShirts.org was founded. The website's mission is simply to connect people in need with people who have the desire and ability to give. Think of it as an expanded version of the "free" stuff on CraigsList, but with quality gifts being offered instead of the typical garbage people want to get rid of. So while you're probably done (or almost done) crossing off your Christmas gift list, why not add one more line item to someone you don't know? Maybe it's someone on the other side of town who could use those office supplies you never look at. Or maybe it's someone on a nearby city who can't afford new furniture and needs to get a new couch just like the one you want to replace. Without a doubt, you probably have something that someone else needs a lot more than you will. During a time when the economy continues to suffer and many question which of the authorities' initiatives will actually help those in true need, the people who truly care could make a real difference. Can you image if the Government never even had to think about starting social programs because the Body of Christ was doing it's job? This is our chance to start a new Christmas tradition. One that if we all adopted, could change our society for the better. A tradition of selflessness, giving and generosity.

Merry Christmas!

Rockin' Christmas Music Videos

Some of the best Christmas song videos from some rocking bands:

Changing Christmas

Traffic jams, shopping stress, mall rushes, visiting relatives, wrapping gifts...too much to do, not enough time. Or money. Has the Christmas season lost it's original purpose? Has the story of Christ's birth been forgotten and replaced with a gift exchanging holiday without real meaning? Ok, maybe that's pushing it. After all, even though exchanging gifts during Christmas is not a tradition originated by the early church, it is one that has always blessed many (check out this Relevant Magazine article for more on that). But who hasn't wondered whether everything we do during this time of the year are really contributing to celebrating the coming of our Savior? While many of us are out buying and receiving gifts, millions of people around the world continue to starve for the very basic needs.

But it doesn't have to be a downward spiral, specially if it's up to the folks from Advent Conspiracy. "It takes a lot of patience to say there's a different way - Christmas doesn't have to be like this," said one youth pastor who joined the movement. The idea is simple: spend and rush less, so you can give gifts that are more meaningful to those you love, and give more to causes around the world. Check out the video:

And the fight doesn't stop there. The group is also hoping that Christians will stop spending so much time trying to force the secular world to remember the 'reason for the season'. As a pastor from Portland explained on this Yahoo article, "Christians get all bent out of shape over the fact that someone didn't say 'Merry Christmas' when I walked into the store. But why are we expecting the store to tell our story? That's just ridiculous." In other words, it's our job to tell the story of Jesus, not theirs. So instead of protesting the world for being the world, let's spend more time being the church we are called to be.

So this Christmas, ask yourself. Are the traditions you are holding on to helping spread the true story of Christmas, or the story of consumerism? Hopefully, more of us will do as the shepherds did after they saw Jesus, and tell all we know about the Savior Christ:

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. - Luke 2:16-18

Top 5 Least Favorite Christmas Songs

Relax, we don't hate Christmas songs. Just last week, we posted our Top 10 Most Favorite. But no one can deny, some holidays-times songs are just a little too much to take. Here's five we could do without:

5- The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

What's wrong with it: Ok, you loved it when you were a kid. But greed + rodents = seriously?

Rendition that almost saved it: Canned Heat
Rendition that helped bury it: Jaci Velasquez

4 - We Wish You a Merry Christmas

What's wrong with it: We got it, thank you. That's enough "Wish"s in one verse. And one holiday at a time, please.

Rendition that almost saved it: Israel Houghton & CeCe Winans
Rendition that helped bury it: the original

3- I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

What's wrong with it: We'll admit, a Hippo for Christmas would be pretty cool. But thanks to this song children everywhere continue to have unrealistic gift expectations every year. Honestly, a Rhino isn't good enough?

Rendition that almost saved it: The Three Stooges
Rendition that helped bury it: Jonas Brothers


2- The Twelve Days of Christmas

What's wrong with it: Stop bragging. You're making all our gifts look bad.

Rendition that almost saved it: Relient K
Rendition that helped bury it: Alvin & The Chipmunks

1- Baby It's Cold Outside

What's wrong with it: Dude, NO, means NO. Seriously, let her go home. Or we'll have to call the cops. Creeeeepy.

Rendition that almost saved it: Willie Nelson & Norah Jones
Rendition that helped bury it: Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey

Did we crush your favorite? Leave us a comment and sound off!

Your Voice vs. Extreme Poverty

"This generation can end extreme poverty. Are you in?" That is ONE's new campaign slogan calling out 20somethings and college campuses to join a movement that can truly make an impact. Now they've teamed up with Relevant Magazine in hopes that young Christian believers will stand together and join the fight. And all they are asking for is your voice. Simply visit this page and submit your email and zip code to receive ONE's email notices letting you know when extreme world poverty-related laws are being voted on or discussed in Washington. The idea is to give you an opportunity to voice off your opinion on the bills and laws to your local representatives and senators. Using the masses to influence the "influencers" of our world... The goal is to gather 35,000 new voices by the end of this month, and you can help them reach it. This alliance is only part of Relevant's new movement, RejectApathy.com. Visit their site for more news and stories on social justice, poverty, protection of innocent lives, etc. Check out the video below:

Top 10 Timeless Christmas Songs

Maybe it's the snow starting to fall, maybe it's the Christmas plays, maybe it's the McDonald's Eggnog milkshake. Whatever it is, we're starting to feel Christmas coming around the corner. And what better way to celebrate our Savior's birth then with jolly-jolly music? Yup, Christmas songs can be cheesy...but some stand the test of time. Here are some of our favorites:

10- Jingle Bell Rock

Why we love it: Jazzy guitar riffs make any song fun. This one is no exception.

Best rendition: Hall & Oates

9- Feliz Navidad

Why we love it: Latinos know how to warm up the cold weather. Plus, it expanded America's Spanish vocabulary.

Best rendition: this guy?

8- Winter Wonderland

Why we love it: The lyrics help us pretend to like the cold even though our fingertips are frozen and our cars snow-rusty.

Best rendition: Louis Armstrong

7- I'll Be Home For Christmas

Why we love it: Christmas is never the same without family around. This song testifies.

Best rendition: Ohmega Watts's remix

6- Go Tell It on the Mountain

Why we love it: We like a good challenge.

Best rendition: Kirk Franklin

5- O come, O come, Emmanuel

Why we love it: It reminds us of Israel's anxious and hopeful wait for the Messiah, and God's faithfulness.

Best rendition: Sufjan Stevens (all of them)

4- The First Noel

Why we love it: It reminds us that Jesus was no ordinary baby. And yet so ordinary.

Best rendition: Tie - Frank Sinatra & Whitney Houston (duet dream anyone?)

3- O Holy Night

Why we love it: It's just beautiful. And who doesn't like to yell "Noeeelll!!"?

Best rendition: Luciano Pavarotti

2- The Christmas Song

Why we love it: No song captures the modern North American Christmas traditions as well as this one.

Best rendition: Nat King Cole (Luther Vandross is a close second...)

1- Silent Night

Why we love it: No song captures the drama and beauty of Jesus' birth 2000 years ago as well as this one.

Best rendition: Sarah McLachlan

Did we forget your favorite? Leave us a comment and sound off!

Eye Black Gospel

One of everyone's favorite sports stories of the year is Tim Tebow. Or more specifically, Tim Tebow's eye black. If you didn't know, Tim's a unashamed follower of Christ, and boy does he let it show. Here's some of the verses he displayed for all to see. For a full list check out TebowsEyeBlack.com.

Yank The Chain

Ah...Christmas shopping is on! So what is the first thing you think of when you purchase a shiny new gift? If you answered "hmm, I wonder if there were any slaves involved in the making of this product", then we've got just what you need! From the creators of Call + Response, comes: ChainStoreReaction.com. The best and quickest way to bug those big scary corporations until they give you the answer you need. The website has pre-written emails requesting answers from these corporations about their stand on human trafficking and forced labor slavery. All you need to do is select a brand, fill in some minimal information about yourself, and click send!


Why go through the trouble? It is estimated that 27 million people are currently slaved in some way or another around the globe. There are more slaves in the world now than in any other time in history. So what can one little American consumer do about such a huge problem? To quote from the movement's founder Justin Dillon, "we are the last link the supply chain...How do we affect that? You just yank them. You yank the chain if you are at the end of it." Two minutes of your time could make a difference