If you’ve gone through The Illumination Project, you already know all about the bonus materials. I’m talking about things like coasters, a button featuring the profile of a Russian-esque Czar, an entire sheet of gold stars, a box of matches, a better-than-a-Moleskine journal and more.
Beyond all of that, however, I hope you were pumped up by all the amazing artists you were introduced to, especially if you hadn’t already heard about them. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by so many great Portland-based musicians, painters, writers, photographers and other artists, and I’m grateful for those who worked with my father and me to film The Illumination Project so that we could inspire “light bulb moments” on the topics of life and relationships. 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.
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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
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
This is the third time Mr. Timothy Willard has guest posted on the ol’ LRN site. He’s pretty much the male-Joy at this point, which is a title he’s been working toward for the past few years. (Bows head to be Knighted.)
In reality, I keep asking him back because I know him, respect him and appreciate his wisdom as a married man who can shed light on an area that, well, I cannot.
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 …
No, wait, let me start that over.
There’s a priest, a pastor and a rabbi…
Wait, no, this is how it goes. Read more
One day this woman will write a whole book about her life. You have NO IDEA how crazy and intense her upbringing was–and you wouldn’t know that if you met her, because her past is not her focus.
She has every right to be angry at God and at this world, and yet she isn’t.
Want some first-hand stories of people who have gone through The Illumination Project? I had so much fun reading the answers to the questions I asked Crista and Sydney.
Who are Crista and Sydney, you ask?
First they were amazing interns for Love and Respect Now, and then my parents and I decided to keep them. I am so grateful for the energy and efficiency these two women bring to Love and Respect, but beyond all that they believe in the work whole-heartedly.
(Either that or they are really good liars.) Read more
Hey y’all,
I can say that because today’s guest is from Nashville. Plus, I just love saying y’all.
IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE, Y’ALL!!
Annie has a new book hot off the press. The words she’s written about me below are far too kind, but they will give you a feel of how her latest release will inspire you.
Also, since it’s just us here, I wanted to give you an update on something. Read more
Andrea Lucado and I connected a few years ago in Nashville, after Rachel Cruze (Dave Ramsey‘s daughter) gave me the idea of connecting with other “daughters.” If you don’t know who Andrea’s father is, he’s written a few books (and by “few” I mean, like, 100).
What connected us was our author-pops*, but what solidified our meeting was smoked sausage. Read more
Recently my brother sent me a picture of Jackson, my 3-year-old nephew, photocopying one of his storybooks. My brother realized the reason he was doing this was because he had seen my brother making photocopies from one of his own books. Children watch and copy.
My friend, Tim, knows the patterns he lives out will be the standard his daughters will grow to expect from the future men in their lives. This is my favorite part about this post. As I think about my future sons, or even my friends’ children who are watching me, I hope the model of how I treat and speak about others is something worthy of being copied. Read more
Hi Friends!
Aukelien van Abbema is someone who, unfortunately, I haven’t been able to meet. We do have mutual friends and similar hearts about relationships. The only difference is I’m in Portland, and she’s in Holland.
Should you find yourself in Holland and want to talk relationships, look up Aukelien. Should you just want to bike around and pick tulips, well I think she could help you out with that, too.
Hey Men (and ladies like me who can’t remember holidays besides Christmas and our own birthday),
Last night I overheard a conversation between my mother and brother about how Jeff Tweedy strengthened their relationship. If you don’t know who Mr. Tweedy is, he’s the lead singer of the band Wilco. If you don’t know who Wilco is, then you should probably change that fact.
I often speak about the power a daughter can have when writing a respect card to her father. So, a couple of years ago, I had my Mommacita share some ideas of how to write a simple, but meaningful, letter to your mom (that would be far more valuable than flowers).
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.
To say Sarah Thebarge has had somewhat of an eventful life in her few short decades is an understatement.
From breast cancer to broken engagements, and hiding in closets with refugees, she’s someone who has had to push the pause button quite a few times to say, “Uh, God? What’s going on here?” (My paraphrase.)
You might think that Katelyn is guest posting today because she is the Managing Editor of Christianity Today magazine–or because of our mutual love of improv–but the reality is that it’s none of those things.
I paid her a whole lot of money.
Esther is a humanitarian photographer. What does that mean? Well in my words, it means she puts people above getting the best shot. With every client, Esther will build a relationship, validate a person’s significance, and hear their story before she works on the best lighting or angle.
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.
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
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?
Hey! My pastor, Rick McKinley, is re-releasing his first book. And since I office out of my church and am close enough to steal a few copies, I did just that…for YOU!
You’re welcome.
I wish you could all hang out with my friend, Katie. She’s one of those people who makes you laugh—most of the time without intentionally trying.
I would also like you to meet Katie because she could essentially be called the co-founder of Love and Respect Now.
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