With this issue, Vertical Thought: a magazine of understanding for tomorrow's leaders makes its debut as a new magazine for young people. Well, almost. To be more precise, Youth United e-magazine is changing its name as we transition into a printed magazine.

Those of us on the staff are thrilled that after three years of publication online via the Internet, we have now become a printed magazine too. In fact, our online site will have the same articles along with additional information we're not able to include in the printed version due to space.

Our new name, Vertical Thought, came about through discussions with young adults who suggested we find a name that would be meaningful and continue to speak to the ultimate source of knowledge (God)—but not limit our audience to teens alone. Vertical Thought, or VT for short, will continue with the same type of relevant content designed to help young people discover and live God's way of life. And as you have probably already suspected, the name Vertical Thought means we want to challenge you to think on things that come from above—that is, from God.

Thinking vertically is the challenge God offers all of us. In Isaiah 55:9, God says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Even though we human beings are presently temporal, flesh-and-blood beings, as Christians we are expected to "seek those things which are above, where Christ is," and to set our minds "on things above" (Colossians 3:1-2).

VT exists to help you think about these things from above—the things that are really most important in life. And of course, we hope you'll do more than just think about the practical aspects of Christianity you'll read about. The apostle Paul wrote that he was personally responding to "the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). We hope you'll respond similarly.

And if you respond to this "upward call" as a young person, realize that you are making one of the wisest, most mature decisions you'll ever make. Christianity is good for us in this life as well as the one to come (1 Timothy 4:8). Here's to vertical thought! May we all have more of it!