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I blame Becca for being the final “testimony” that got me to go Gluten-Free. For all of you who think it’s the “invisible disease,” go talk with Becca. Some ridiculous life transformation, people! Sadly (or not sadly depending on the way you look at it), after six weeks of no gluten in zee ol’ body, I decided to incorporate it back into my diet to see if I was actually allergic/would explode. Thankfully, I did not.
I want to officially announce that I have now gone Gluten-Free-Free. Read more
Do you want to get the Love and Respect Now magical unicorn crest tattooed on your bicep as much as I do? I thought so…
Josh Chang is the man behind that amazement. A dear Portland friend, Josh and his wife, Amber, have poured into me through their time and servant hearts. For over two years, Amber edited all of my terrrrrible grammar in most of the things I wrote. (If you find an error, it’s because I didn’t send it to her… Also, she often deleted the million ellipses that I wanted to use…all…the…time…) Read more
I liked Bianca the first time I met her, but she blew me away when I recently spent more time at Catalyst watching her in her element. Getting to be interviewed by her as well as having the privilege of being on a panel with her and Mr. Leonce Crump was a blast and an incredible learning moment.
Jon is a writer, speaker, and fellow unicorn lover.
You read that correctly.
I have heard Jon speak a few times and have even picked up a few speaking tips that he passed on to my friend Rachel…who in turn passed them on to me. (Hope that’s ok, Jon.) He was a main speaker last week at Catalyst and once again braided wisdom, humor, and magic into one talk.
You know those people you know, but you don’t know, but you kinda do know?
Sharaya is one of those people.
One day I was in Nashville meeting friends for lunch and as I walked in I thought, “I know that waitress! Kind of…“
Which always moves me to a mental jog of Facebook stalking: Read more
Josh was giving a lecture at the American Association of Christian Counselors, and I was sitting in the back with his wife, Christie, whom I had just met moments earlier. I remember she had on a really pretty turquoise necklace, and I wanted it. But I regained focus and continued to listen to Josh talk about his new book, God Attachment.
Post-lecture, the three of us had only a few moments together, but I can safely say we became friends. Read more
Alece was the first person I became friends with on Twitter who I then actually met in person. So far it’s the closest thing I have experienced to online dating, and I was so nervous that I brought my friend Lindsay with me. Just to make sure that Alece wasn’t a serial killer.
Turns out, she wasn’t. Read more
I first heard Josh White speak more than five years ago when I attended a 6 AM Bible study he was leading. If Christianity worked on a gold-star system, …6 AM Bible studies should deserve at least 72 stars. Fast-forward a number of years, and Josh and his adorable family decide to plant a church called Door of Hope just six blocks from my house. Josh is not only a pastor, but he is also a recording artist, so the church is chock-full of people …
I had never met someone whose heart understands to the same degree the passion and responsibility I feel for my work until Rachel came into my life. From the minute we first chatted on the phone to the all-you-can-eat sushi buffets, our conversations have happened at high speeds, with intensity, lots of nodding, big eyes, and eventual howls of laughter. When our work (God, relationships, and money—oh my!) isn’t being discussed, you might overhear Rachel trying to convince me that Taylor Swift is a legitimate artist.
Hannah and I have a long history of friendship. And by long history, I mean we’ve had a few hours of in-person face time. I was at Catalyst, and my friend Jeff said, “Hey, you need to meet my friend Hannah.” Jeff is either really good at knowing who will hit it off or just gifted at figuring out how to ditch me,
…but, whatever his motivation, it worked.
Hannah and I sat in a corner, literally almost eyeball to eyeball, and talked for about three hours straight. Her boyfriend stopped by our conversation when we apparently
I met Ken when I was in the third grade. (For a photo of me circa third grade, scroll to the bottom of this page: Mothership.) My father was doing his PhD discertation on fathering and served on the board for the National Center for Fathering, which was started by Ken. Oodles of years later, Ken worked for Love and Respect doing research. When I started doing my own research, Ken was my mentor, advocate and encourager. Read more
I first heard Josh Hoke sing at my friend Annie’s house show last year. He and Annie did a duet and I was like, “Oh hello magical voices.” A fellow Portland dweller, mid-west native and former pastor’s kid, Josh and I have a few things in common. I’d like to add “and we are both musically gifted” but apparently playing the upright bass in 7th & 8th grade doesn’t qualify me for that title. Pumped to have you hear this guy’s voice. Ladies, don’t stumble. “I …
If you combined the articulation and factual knowledge of a news anchor, the sarcasm and one-liners of your old crotchety neighbor, and the sass of a thirteen year old female into one, you would get my friend Anna. And that was just my first impression of her when we met at age 18. She got up in front of our freshman leadership class and gave a presentation with no trace of nerves, or reserve, for that matter. I was like, “who is this girl?! I like her.”
Years later she’s still bringing her knowledge and sass to the world and to the web.
Please welcome, my friend Anna, to the Illumination Project.
I’m sure Eryn hates being described as little, adorable and tiny, but all I can say is, I clench my jaw from cuteness-overload when I see her–similar to how I feel when I see a kitten. Judge as you will. But just because she has adorable fashion sense and is the size of something I could throw over my shoulder like a continental solider, she is a GIANT in the department of world changers. May some of her love, energy and enthusiasm to serve the unseen and the …
Cameron Strang started this magazine called Relevant.
And a podcast. (Which he’s foolishly let me on the last three weeks.)
And an online magazine–specifically the iPad edition–that will blow your mind.* Read more
Hey Friends!
Are any of you going through The Illumination Project right now? My hope is that it will create friendships that allow people to share their own stories and illumination moments. In session two, I share the story of how I did not end up getting marred…
Today, I wanted to share a story of someone who did get married. Emily’s story is a clear progression of the different ways we can hear from God, seek and listen to wise counsel and make decisions—even when our feelings are unclear.
I don’t know how Google searches for things so well, but since I have given my posts a lot of weird titles over the years, finding things by topic is like searching for Waldo in a candy cane store.
So, I wanted to put all the posts in one, easy-to-find place. Read more
What do you think about cliché phrases like, “Don’t marry the person you can live with; only marry the person you can’t live without?”
-Lauren
_______
Lauren,
I think we need to stop and pay attention to the reasons why we use phrases like this. Sometimes we they resonate with us so deeply because…they’re true! Read more
Eric Metaxas has written another book, and I’m sure it will also land on the New York Times bestsellers list like my other favorite book, Bonhoeffer (which he also wrote). Moving in a slightly a different direction than a historical bio, Eric’s most recent project, Miracles, centers on a topic that is a bit of a mystery to most of us.
But before we dive into all of that, get ready for some laughter as I take him through some “would you rather” questions and talk comedy, coffee and his distaste for wasps.
Read more
Want to laugh and be inspired today? Please meet two of my favorite people in the universe.
They’ll teach you about the beauty of miscommunication in dating, the making of a marriage in which one spouse often leaves the country, and why they let their unmarried friends be all up in their bizzzz-nass. Oh, and they’ll teach you about their actual business practices, social passions and facial-manicuring tricks. Read more
Do you like love stories? Do you like hip-hop? Do you like poetry and spoken word? Have you ever worked with your spouse? Have you ever wanted to move out of the friend-zone and into dating? Have you ever wanted to learn how to drop a mic? Read more
I have been married for three months now. My husband is very clean and I am fairly neat, but since being married I have kind of chilled out in that area. In fact, compared to my husband, I am lazy.
What can I do? I don’t want to make him feel like he got cheated by marrying me. Read more
Why is there so much violence in the Old Testament? How could a loving God allow _______? Isn’t it arrogant to believe Jesus is the only way to God?
How do the above questions pertain to a website about relationships, Joy? Read more
Rachel Cruze (aka Dave Ramsey’s daughter) will help you become a millionaire.
Wait, no she won’t. But she will help you figure out how to be wise with your money and not get sucked into the financial traps of this culture we live in today. Read more
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