Weekly Magazine | Summer Fun
Your weekly magazine is here—real stories, real faith, real encouragement. Just for you!
Dear Friends,
Well, we couldn’t have planned this better if we tried. August 5th is National Underwear Day, and this week one of writers is talking about “underwear friends.” We can’t wait for you to read about this fun way to view friendship.
It turns out underwear, of all things, might be one of the best metaphors for the kind of friendship that actually holds your life together. The friends who support you and yes, occasionally give you a little pinch when you need it? Those are the ones worth celebrating.
Whether your summer looks like sandy beaches or a very full calendar, we hope this issue encourages you to look for Jesus in the unexpected places. He is there. And, happy National Underwear Day, friends. May yours never give you a wedgie.
Encouraging you in God’s truth,
Why We Need Underwear Friends | Peggy J. Cunningham
The best friends in your life may be doing more than you realize. Peggy Cunningham explores the surprising role of "underwear friends," the ones who lift, support, and yes, sometimes pinch, and why we cannot do God's work without them. A funny, tender tribute to the people who hold us together.
Are We Having Fun Yet? | Jill Briscoe
Jill Briscoe reflects on what real joy looks like when life is hard, exhausting, or just plain inconvenient. From stolen passports to flooded kitchens to a secret attic meeting overseas, she makes the case that the joy of the Lord shows up in the most unexpected places. And sometimes, it makes you laugh out loud.
Summer Fun with a Purpose | Beth Seversen
Summer doesn't have to be something you just survive. Beth Seversen offers practical, creative ideas for using these months to build friendships, love your neighbors, and invest in relationships with eternal potential. Spoiler: it starts with lemonade and an open door.
Also:
Why We Need Underwear Friends
Friends Who Hold You Together When Life Falls Apart.
By Peggy J. Cunningham
Underwear. We all wear it and need it, I’m guessing. You can find it in many varieties: large, small, colored or white, old, new, fancy and simple. Underwear is the closest thing to us; just like my underwear friends. Underwear friends knit us together when the wedgies of life cause us to come apart at the seams.
Poops is my chief underwear friend. That’s right—you heard me right. That’s her real nickname! Who could make that up? Poops began her underwear ministry 30 years ago when I first left for Bolivia, and has bought me underwear ever since. She is an experienced and proficient shopper and knows how to buy underwear that is pretty, comfy, and never gives you a wedgie. Poops is like that too, always pretty, comfy to be around, and never gets her undies in a bundle—a faithful friend.
Poops has bought me everything from Cuddle Duds so I’m warm, to spandex to gird me up. When I shared with her that a friend had deeply hurt me, she had words of wisdom for me. “We are all imperfect. When a friend gives you a wedgie forgive them, but first pluck out your own wedgie before attempting to pluck out your sister’s.” Yikes, how many wedgies have I allowed to creep up on my friends?
