Hey Friendlings,
Almost every single time I have signed off on an Ask Joy email or post, I’ve ended it with the words, “From My Heart.” The reason I use these words is because they’re true.
I care deeply for Read more
WHAT?! You haven’t met my parents?! A few things to note: Emerson and Sarah only wear black, they’ve been married 40+ years, and when they met, my mother thought my dad was funny looking, dressed weird and wasn’t funny at all. Oh, and they started Love and Respect. 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
Hey Friendlings,
I absolutely love interviewing people, uncovering their stories, and getting so excited about the interview that I forget there are other people listening in on the conversation.
Join me as I uncover an incredible love story of basketball, broken dreams, romance and waiting.
I have a great friend who lives about 20 hours away. He recently texted me and said he is interested in me, dating-wise. He said he just wanted to be honest.
But none of our following conversations suggested that he wanted to make a move or be more than friends. I am angry. Read more
Hey Friends,
I didn’t have time to make a trailer for this documentary, so for the full effect, turn on some dramatic movie music and read these quotes:
“Our real dating lives are OVER now!” – Laura
“I got matched with a guy who said he was 25. I’m pretty sure he’s 11.” – Joy Read more
(Note: If you miss Saved By The Bell, then you’re going to want to watch this video for nostalgia’s sake.)
Joy,
I’ve never had a girlfriend, but I am looking for one. I’ve tried online dating and I went out with two girls, but both said it wasn’t a really good match.
I am afraid that I am running out of time. I don’t want to be that guy who is 35 and has no one. Read more
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
Gabe and Rebekah Lyons are a power couple. They are people who get ISH done. Join me for a conversation with them that ended as though it had only just begun.
(Well, technically, it did. They left me so their kids wouldn’t be the last ones picked up from gymnastics class. Whatever!) Read more
You didn’t know I spoke German, did you? Yes, I took two long years of it in high school and my last name is German, loud and proud. If you didn’t know, “Was ist das?” translates to “What is that?”
And “eins, zwei, drei” is “one, two, three.” But now we are totally getting off topic. 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
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
Joy,
I am twenty-one years old and I have been with my boyfriend since high school. Everyone says we are great together and affirms our relationship. We’re in college and have no debt–but I keep hearing statistics that younger couples getting married is not a recipe for success. 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
THE 50% DIVORCE STATISTIC IS FALSE, FOLKS!!!
I don’t usually demand things, but I’m going to today. You must read Shaunti’s book or watch this interview I did with her. I’m literally telling everyone about her findings because it’s EXACTLY what my generation needs to hear. Read more
Joy,
Many of my divorced friends had wives that cheated on them. From a woman’s perspective, what warning signs should I be looking for during the dating process that would be indicative of a woman that might do that? Read more
Researchers at MIT have begun seeing noticeable trends in society that mimic the impact of racial segregation in our communities. This Boston Globe article examines and discusses the scientific and historical side of what age segregation has been like in America. Inspired by this, I decided to do a little video to share my thoughts, as well as share some things that defined me as a child and now as an adult.
Storybooks and Hot Sauce. Read more
Well, hello!
This last summer I did a series with a guy named Dr. Norm “Normie” Thiesen, and I asked him all sorts of questions about singleness, dating and marriage. In one episode I asked him, “What questions should a young couple ask an older couple before they get married?”
He gave two answers.
Then I asked y’all a similar question, and you gave me 33 answers. Read more
One of the most common phrases I’ve written in response to the Ask Joy emails I’ve received over the years is, “God is not trying to trick you.” I believe this old post–which I’ve updated for today–is an example of what triggers this type of question. But it also gets at the deeper issue we all need to face when we’re left wondering if we’ve misunderstood “God’s leading” in our life.
We may even wonder, “God, did you lie to me? Do you even care?”
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.
Hey Joy,
My husband and I just heard the Love and Respect message. Now, whenever we get into conflict, he shuts me down by saying, “You’re being disrespectful.”
How am I supposed to bring something up to him if this is always his response to conflict?
Read more
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
The people I know who are well-liked and have lots of friends are people who ask genuine questions of the people they meet. Sadly, some of us are a tad socially awkward and the thought of asking questions makes us want to hurl.
52