<?php

// this can go in functions.php in your theme directory
function word_split_content($words=15) {
$str = get_the_content('');
$a = preg_split("/[\s]+/", $str,$words+1);
$a = array_slice($a,0,$words);
$final_content = join(' ',$a);
echo $final_content;
}
?>


<?php get_header(); ?>

<?php
    $recent = new WP_Query();
    $recent->query('showposts=5');
?>

<?php while ($recent->have_posts()) : $recent->the_post(); ?>
<h3><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" rel="bookmark"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h3>
<?php word_split_content(50); ?>
<?php endwhile; ?>

<?php get_sidebar(); ?>

<?php get_footer(); ?>