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’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.”
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. 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.
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.
Wise words today from my friend, Guy Chmieleski. Growing up, I wonder if when he would hear people say, “You guys!” he would turn around and think everyone else in the crowd had his name?
Did I just make a dad joke?
Hey, friendlings!
A little while back, I did an Ask Joy about being heartbroken and angry and how we can actually retrain our brains to combat these feelings, reshaping our future experiences.
Seriously, our little brains are even smarter than we think! Read more
Fellow Portlander Emily is comin’ at you live today with two things we couldn’t agree on more:
1. Our need to launch our rap careers
2. Assuming the best (ATB)
What I call “ATB” Emily calls “No Negative Generalizations,” and my parents call it “Assume Goodwill.” And eventually, I will just come on stage and start all my raps with “Yo, let’s ATB all up in heeeeeaaa!”
Hi Joy,
Most of the time, I hear “respect” talked about as if it’s primarily a man’s thing. But, respect is really important to me, as a woman–I know this because of the inner temper-tantrum I feel whenever I feel disrespected. I don’t just mean respect in a sexual sense (in fact, that’s the least of my worries). I crave respect as an adult, as a professional and as a Christian. Read more
So happy to have my friend, Paul, post again and tell us about his new book, 101 Secrets for your Twenties! Take it away, Paul! Read more
Hi Joy,
I watched your video about leading people on. At first I thought, “Oh! I am free and clear. I never lead anyone on…ever. They just take my friendliness out of context.” Then I realized my behavior hasn’t been just friendly. I have been the textbook definition of a tease and now I don’t know what to do. So my question is: how do you dig yourself out once you’ve led someone on?
Benny works in the art-space that my church has for a few artists in residence. Sadly for our community (but a new adventure for Benny), he, his wife, and two twin boys will be leaving to go teach art at Baylor University. I first met Benny when I went to hear his wife sing at a benefit concert.
TOO MUCH TALENT IN ONE FAMILY. Read more
Hi Joy,
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “Just give it a chance,” about dating people who you’re not interested in. Friends and family say it to me all the time. On more than one occasion, I’ve taken their advice…and it usually ends with me firing these friends from their self-appointed job as matchmaker. Can you help me come up with a snappy comeback for the next time someone tells me this?
Most of you know Sarah and her writing already, but for those of you who don’t—here is a wonderful introduction to her writing style, thoughtful mind, and open heart. I had the honor of meeting her and her hubs a couple years ago and get to serve with her and a group of women to help launch the IF: Gathering next year.
But right now I’m excited to have her share an illumination moment with us.
“Delay is not denial.”
Once again, my favorite devotional says it so well. Ponder this as you think about the things that God seems to be forgetting or delaying for you.
It’s not every day a magazine interview that is supposed to last 30-ish minutes ends up going 2 hours and subsequent plans are made to meet the interviewer the following week in L.A.
(Man, I wish I was about to tell you the interviewer was a dude!)
ALL I WANT FOR MY BIRTHDAY (and Stephanie’s half-birthday) IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH AND FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THESE TWO THINGS:
Eric Metaxas is known mainly for his speaking and for being a New York Times best-selling author, but I know him mostly as a long-time friend of my father. And now, even though he writes unsolicited endorsements for me, I consider him a friend, too.
When you meet Eric, you will find that half of what he says is thought-provoking and sincere. The other half is a joke. Read more
Mike and I both live in Portland and “run in the same crowd”—whatever that means.
Hey, Joy!
I just finished reading “Love & Respect”—I am a single woman who has been broken up from a significant other for a year. We were talking of marriage before the break up. In the relationship, I thought he was being a little too sensitive the times when he’d ask me to sit with him and watch a movie that I had absolutely no interest in watching, so I would refuse, or when he would want me to sit in his kitchen with him and watch him cook, though I preferred to watch television instead. Sometimes I gave in, but other times, when I refused, he would get quiet on me and not talk to me. Read more
Friendlings,
Finally! For those of you who haven’t been quite clear on what The Illumination Project is, here is the place where you can get info, watch sample clips, hear from people who attended the Portland filming, and sign up for mind-blowing updates.
Seriously, your mind will. be. blown. Read more
Brad and I became friends a couple years ago through our mutual friend Jeff Shinabarger. (I’m starting to think Shinabarger is the Kevin Bacon game of my life.) I am very impressed by Brad’s work ethic and his ability to lead people well.
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