I'm Nobody Very Special

I took a camping trip earlier this week and actually had time to read fiction. The older a get, the more of a treat novels are. Curled up in a hammock, underneath the warm Missouri sun filtered through frolicking oak leaves, I turned my way through the pages of two books in C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series: The Horse and His Boy and The Silver Chair.

I had never read either of them before. I know, I know -- I really ought to be ashamed. I'm doing my best to catch up, though. The only Narnia book left on my un-read list is The Last Battle, which I plan to start promptly after finishing this blog post and putting some baked oatmeal in the fridge to soak overnight. (I'll post the recipe one of these days. It's a family standby.)

Lewis is a genius. Really. I wish I could have met him. I wonder how many times I've said that? Well, I'll say it again.

Among all the thoughts that I thought and felt while reading my way through his stories, one that struck the greatest cord in me came near the end of The Horse and His Boy.

A Glimpse: It's Snowing

It's been snowing this weekend. Snowing. In May. In Missouri. Haven't seen a sight like this since I lived in north Idaho.

Book Review: ‘The Sacred Search’ by Gary Thomas

What if it’s not about who you marry, but why?

The subtitle of Gary Thomas’ latest book, “The Sacred Search,” pulls the reader in from the get-go. In many respects, reading the cover of Thomas’ latest book is reminiscent of his previous best-seller “Sacred Marriage,” which asked us the unsettling question, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”

But the what if’s of “The Sacred Search” don’t stop there. Flip the book over and the back cover keeps the challenges coming.

What if being in love isn’t a good enough reason to get married?

What if dating isn’t about finding “the one” but about serving the One who loves you most?

Don’t get married until you read this book.

That’s a bold statement for any author to make.

Visit Marry Well to read more.

Responsibility in Modesty

In yesterday’s discussion of modesty, Marry Well member LadyElaine80 recommended an article by Emily Maynard titled “Modesty, Lust and My Responsibility.” Maynard confronts some assumptions in the conservative Christian culture and encourages people to think outside-the-box. She begins:

I grew up in a conservative home, in a conservative church, and in conservative social circles. And hear me correctly, being conservative isn’t the problem. The lies I believed from my culture are the problem, and lies can come from any background. It’s been an intense process over the last two years as I’ve become aware of my many distorted views from my past, but in the midst of it, I’m seeing God more clearly.

Visit Marry Well to read more.

Embrace Weakness

On Feb. 28, the Desiring God blog published Jonathan Parnell’s “Embracing Weakness Will Change Your Life.” Parnell’s discussion centers on the Christian life in general, but the concepts he explores have tremendous affects on our relationships. As fallen humans, the health of our relationships — with God and with other people — depends on how fully we see ourselves as weak and dependent on God. Parnell explains it this way:

When we are stuck on ourselves, we create a ceiling for God’s potential. We define possibilities by our capabilities, not his. And if you stare at yourself long enough, your capacity to dream will dwindle down to nothing. That is a safe and sad way to live, refusing to let your dreams extend beyond what you know for certain you can do on your own. It’s also a sign that you mistake yourself to be stronger than you are...

Visit Marry Well to read more.

A Glimpse: From My Valentine

As said by Mr. Darcy.

Tea never tasted so sweet.

Love Others This Valentine's Day

It’s that time of year again. Time for lovers to love loving all the more. Time for singles to feel, well, alone.

I’ve spent plenty of Valentine’s Days as a single, and I know the associated angst all too well. I’ve made the “Singleness Awareness Day” jokes. And I’ve coined phrases of my own — a personal favorite being “The Evil Red Day.”

For me, though, this year is different. For the first time ever, I’m in a serious relationship on Valentine’s Day. While I’ve always enjoyed the festivity of the season, the pink and red hearts take on a new level of cheeriness now that I get to spend this holiday with someone I love...

Visit Marry Well to read more.