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You need to read this guest post.
Fritz Ridenour is a well respected man in the world of literature, but he has also become a close family friend and father figure to my dad. Though Fritz has helped edit most of my father’s books, theirs is unlike any editor/author relationship I’ve ever seen.
I want to be a generous person.
As I think about how to be generous with my time, finances and love, I know that usually the best way is what is taught in Matthew 6—giving privately.
Easier said than done.
I want to be a generous person. As I think about how to be generous with my time, finances and love, I know that usually the best way is what is taught in Matthew 6—giving privately. Easier said than done. Like when I go to donate online and the website says, “Do you want this to be anonymous?” I think, “Is it wrong that I kinda want my friends to know I’m supporting their trip to Africa?” Or how I wait to throw my tip …
Hey y’all,
First of all, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Words can’t express my gratitude for each and every one of you. A day devoted to family, friends, food, and football…that’s my kind of holiday.
In all my thankfulness, I have a very special Thanksgiving message for you: Read more
A woman who has known me since I was 5 years old and practically my second mother—not to mention the C.O.O of Love & Respect—didn’t fully grasp The Illumination Project until she recently watched it from beginning to end. I’m going to share the email she wrote to the whole Love and Respect (aka Mothership) staff at the end of this little post, but her response got me thinking that maybe some of you are confused, too.
Hey friendlings,
We’ve finally come to the finish line of the What I Know Now series, a collection of little videos I made with my parents in celebration of The Illumination Project launch. My mom and pop have been sharing some nuggets of wisdom they’ve learned from different stages of their lives.
In case you’re just joining us, we’re in the last leg of the What I Know Now series.
As The Illumination Project (a 6-week study) was released this month, one of the main points I try to drive home is for all of us to seek wise counsel. So this series is another example of doing that—I ask my parents to share what they would tell themselves at different life stages. We’ve heard some great stories from when they were single and when they were newlyweds and now…
…when they became my parents. (AKA, the best years of their lives)
In case you’re just tuning in, we’re smack dab in the middle of the What I Know Now series. My hope for all these parental interviews is to highlight the importance of asking questions and seeking counsel—we have so much to learn from those who’ve gone before us.
Think of it as an echo of The Illumination Project song, an opening band to the main show, a slice of apple pie before the main course.
Friendlings, if you’ve been around the site for the past week, you should know two things:
1. The Illumination Project has launched! My baby, born!
2. We are smack dab in the middle of the What I Know Now series, starring none other than my wonderful (and often hilarious) parentals.
In light of one of the themes behind The Illumination Project—the importance of seeking counsel—I’ve brought in the ‘rents to talk all things wisdom.
They are, after all, older and wiser.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some interviews I did with my mom and pop about what they would tell themselves at different stages of their lives—as singles, as newlyweds, as new parents.
Did you hear the good news?! The Illumination Project has officially launched! Don’t know what I’m talking about?! You may be living under a rock!
Lucky for you, the party is just getting started and even rock-dwellers are welcome.
Lately my siblings and I have really been feeling neglected and unloved by our parents. When we’ve asked other people whether or not to confront them about it, everyone has said, “No. You have to honor your parents.”
Can you confront your parents? Read more
Hey friendlings,
I’m really excited to share some words with you from my dear friend, Karyn. She worked at Imago Dei in Portland, and was one of the contributors at The Illumination Project filming last summer. Karyn wrote this piece about light for my church a while back—I hope it brings some illumination to your day as well. Read more
Did you know that there’s a resource page on this here thing?? Well there is, and guess what? I like hearing from YOU…
This was submitted and I thought it was worth sharing—those of you who are dating can take stock of what’s going on in the brain train (and laugh at themselves), and you married folk can reminisce and remember what it was like when they hid knives behind their backs on the first date…
I’m writing on behalf of my sister. She’s been in a serious relationship for about a year, but she’s paralyzed by the fear of getting married as a result of growing up in a divorced home. What can I say to my sister to calm her down and help her overcome her anxiety?
I was standing in line at the Portland Nursery in an attempt to plant a garden with my friends Lindsay and Julie. (And no, the garden was not a success—but we did find what appeared to be the bones of a cat when we were “tilling the soil.”)
Anywhooo… the man behind in line me asked me about the college sweatshirt I was wearing. One thing led to another and he said, “You have to meet me wife.”
I’m excited for you to consume the following words and pictures from my sweet friend, Sarah. There are few settings in life where I am forced to contemplate life more than when traveling solo. I love the insights Sarah stumbled upon when she stepped foot into Spain.
Anybody up for a trip?
A lot of you are just joining Love and Respect Now for the first time. To which I say, welcome! And also, I hope you like unicorns.
Even if you’re not new, I thought we would do a little flashback in case you missed this series I did answering questions on the topic of respect. This particular question deals with fearing the word respect—the series continues on to eventually be a conversation between me and a group of dudes talking…and not talking…for hours. (Name that movie.)
Recently I was on Facebook and saw this post from my friend, Annie: “Lately I’ve been thinking about the opposite of pet peeves, the little things that people do that make me weirdly happy. Probably my #1: When someone offers you the first bite of their food/sip of their drink. Followed closely by when people stand up to shake hands with the person you are introducing them to. Anyone else have some of these? #petpeaks“ What unfolded was 100+ comments from people talking about the little things …
Recently I was on Facebook and saw this post from my friend, Annie. It was the opposite of many people’s typical pet-peeve status updates.
The only people I know who don’t want to be intimately known are those who have been deeply hurt.
The fear of being exposed or hurt again keeps us private. And while being known by our fellow man is scary enough, it’s sometimes even harder to believe that there is a God who knows us, loves us, and is good.
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