Their names are two of the most well known in Christian writing today. Both have authored books aimed at their own gender, diving into what the Bible has to say about why we are created so differently and how it is that God brings us together. Two unique sexes each with their own purpose.

It is in their new collaborative work–Love & War–that John and Stasi Eldredge discuss how men and women operate in marriage offer their advice on how to find “the marriage you’ve dreamed of.” I usually go into books like this with a critical eye because I’m not sure that anyone has it figured out, but I am always up for listening to wisdom from those who have been married for many years. The Eldredges have a good track record and more than likely I would have bought this book on my own had I not be offered the opportunity to review it before I had the chance to get to the bookstore.

There is so much to learn from this book. There’s no way I could cover it all in this review and I won’t begin to try. What I will tell you is that I love the way these two write together. It flows, isn’t choppy, and doesn’t feel like a constant narration of other people’s stories (which “Christian living” titles are wont to do).

One of my favorite parts of the book was at the beginning, when they brought up something that came up again and again throughout the rest of the text. In the first chapter they discuss how our marriages are a part of a much larger story–one that God has written. To quote them, “The Bible begins with a marriage, and ends with a marriage.” Like them, I’m not sure that I had ever noticed that before. The Bible is a story of love, devotion, and redemption. There are so many parallels to be drawn there and the Eldredges do a fabulous job of captivating the reader, drawing us into the story they weave, and telling us how, in their experience, the marriage of our dreams is possible. Not to say that it will be without the bumps in the road and various struggles that plague all human relationships. But with the love of Christ in our hearts we can learn to give ourselves fully and in turn experience a connection far beyond the fairy tales of childhood dreams.

At 222 pages it is a quick read and one that I will be going back through very soon.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

I told you yesterday there’d be a part 2 today and look at that. Meeting a deadline. How very 2005 College Version of Elizabeth of me. I graduated and left that type of behavior behind.

If you thought yesterday was funny weird then today we’re going to take a little trip to the Twilight Zone (did anyone catch the marathon around the beginning of the year on SyFy? I loooove that show. It gives me a chance to sit back and realize how inconsistent my parents were in sheltering me from depictions of demons and darkness. I mean, I wasn’t allowed to watch the Carebears as a kid because there was a wizard or something on it, but The Twilight Zone down at Granny’s house was totally fine).

When people find out you’re in charge of something they often begin proffering their services. This happens to me from time to time now, but the particular service this lady was trying to sell was unlike any other I had heard of.

She found me through Livejournal (where GodlyGals) started out. Immediately after joining the group she posted something really elaborate explaining who she was and what she had to offer our ministry. It was free of charge and she just wanted to share with us.

She claimed that she was the bride of the angel Gabriel. They were in an…intimate relationship and she believed herself to be carrying his child. Surely, she believed, this child would be a blessing and prophet to all the world. Not only was she the wife of the angel Gabriel, she also channeled his spirit and he was currently abiding in her mind and commanding her to seek us out and tell us that she would act as our prophet.

There were more details, but I’ve got to say that by the time this one rolled around I’d gotten pretty used to the ones that were “out there” and I was quick to hit DELETE.

That’s probably more sad than weird. I mean, there are some really confused, disturbed people out there. This woman was either trying to play some hideous joke on the first naive person that would listen, or she was being used by something. I didn’t really want to stick around long enough to find out.

Jud, I don’t know who you are, but when I read your comment on this blog I could not keep myself from saying, “Amen.” Thank you for your willingness to speak truth.

I’d love to give you more credit than just your name, so if you’re reading this, please let me know!

1) I’ve read and heard enough from Mclaren.

2) Most American Pastors now refer to themselves as “followers of Christ”. Mclaren considers himself a “follower of Christ”. Ghandi considered himself a “follower of Christ”. The Dali Lama considers himself a follower of Christ.None of the latter three speak as to the ATONEMENT and the BLOOD of Christ. Myself? I follow the Chicago Cubs.

2) It’s ridiculous for McLaren or anyone else to use “the American Church” as a political pawn the way he does. As much as 80% of American Christians are “people who said a prayer” not in fact Born Again Christians. So it’s pathetic to say that American Christianity represents Jesus in the first place. A LONG time ago evangelism became a NUMBERS game. We are a people who create “experiences ” and manipulate peoples emotions… they say a prayer before they even think about the COSTS… we chalk one more up and they walk away ever battling doubts confident in the prayer they said.

3) The Holy Spirit represents Jesus. MANY in the Church (Pastors included) are Lost as can be… their lives are not led by the Spirit. Look around… our worship services are about the FLESH. The senses MUST be addressed because an emotional experience has replaced solid Bible teaching and discipleship, Godly sorrow and Repentance. WORKS and Social Justice are the fillers for opiating the carnal conscience.

4) Our creativity, our innovations, our “vision casting” our egos and our cleverness have replaced the cornerstone. We’ve become a people of self promotion. We aren’t broken and humble, we are smooth, we are slick, we are successful, we are appealing to the flesh. We are approved by the World. The pale echoes of the martyrs haunt us.

-Jud

What a quiet evening. We’re packing up to head to Philadelphia for Christmas with Kevin’s parents. No telling how the travel will go at this point. Snow, snow everywhere. We’d both appreciate your prayers for a safe flight tomorrow.

So, while I enjoy this quiet night next to my glowing white Christmas tree, I wanted to share my favorite Christmas cartoon with you. I first saw it when I was really little and accidentally ran across it a few years ago when I purchased “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” for a Christmas party I was hosting. One of the shorts on the DVD was this little movie — The Small One. It’s a precious, poignant film about a donkey that no one had use for anymore, except for the little boy that loves him. It’s made by Disney during the last of the Don Bluth years, a fact that shocked me considering the content of this film and the direction Disney has gone in recent years. I hope you and yours enjoy it as much as I do.

The Small One (in three parts)

This holiday season, Christian recording artist and author of 101 Ways to Give This Christmas Away, Matthew West, is offering a free download of the Christmas story from Luke read by the singer/songwriter himself. Tyndale’s goal is to reach 1 million total downloads. You can also download a free copy of the Gospel of John in the New Living Translation.

If you use the download in a unique way (some of the suggestions are in your Christmas e-card, through Twitter or text, or as a family event) you can submit your ideas to Tyndale at their blog. Just post your story in the comments section. In January, they will be choosing winners from those submissions.

Here’s what you could win (all new releases for January!):

The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory
Raising a Modern-Day Princess by Pam Farrel & Doreen Hanna
The Busy Couple’s Guide to Sharing the Work & the Joy by Kathy Peel
The Courteous Cad by Catherine Palmer
Blackout by Jason Elam & Steve Yohn

OR

Tyndale’s New : NLT Holy Bible Mosaic HC

I am learning. And learning is always better than sitting still and stagnating, right?

When I was little I was raised in a (Christian) belief system that taught some things that might not have actually been the most biblical. I mean, most of the time they were spot on, but there was some stuff I found out later that was pretty questionable.

Read the rest at GodlyGals…

A few days ago I responded to a little meme floating around on some of my friends Livejournals and they asked me some questions. I thought I would share them here as well since it’s NaBloPoMo and all and I’m sure that somewhere down the road I am going to run out of topics of my own (one day left, score!). Thank you, ladies, for providing me with a little blog fodder.

From Lauren, lovely lady who moderates GodlyGals with me…
1. What was your favorite wedding present?
That’s a tough one. The ones that have seen the most use have been my Fiesta ware (six in Shamrock, six in White). I’m pretty utilitarian so the things that I have been able to use the most have been most appreciated. Oh, and I love the mattress that my grandparents bought us. We picked it out about a year ago. It was nice to finally get to use it once we got married (Kevin requested that I not sleep on it until we were married and he moved in). It’s the best.

2. Have you and Kevin thought about any potential baby names? You know, for way on down the road
We do, but I’ll never tell until the babies come along. I will say that Kevin has given a firm “no” to one of my favorites — Clementine.

3. What is your surefire, go-to recipe for potlucks/covered dish events (idk what they call them out there)?
Potlucks Well, I have got Kevin’s grandma’s recipe for chocolate pie down so I might need to stick with that. But my grandmother’s recipe for “Southwest Salad” is a hit (it’s not your average taco salad). I always like to bring that. I’m pretty famous for bringing weird stuff down home to my meat and potatoes family. “What’s that?”

4. Did you and your brothers get along while you were growing up, and did your relationship change (other than obviously you were all older and more mature) once you left home?
First off, “more mature” is a stretch. As kids, I hear that my middle brother and I got along until my baby brother was introduced into the mix and then it was all out bedlam. We fought. ALL THE TIME. Hitting and kicking and screaming. After a while I got tired of it, played the “you can’t hit a girl” card, and just let them go at it. Up until just a few years ago I’d still take part in the arguing, but even that has slowed down now. The boys still fight. And our relationships have changed pretty much only in that we don’t talk to each other as much anymore.

5. How do you feel about public speaking?
I kinda like it. The first time I had to speak in public was in high school and back then I broke out in a nervous sweat, got the cotton mouth, and my hands shook uncontrollably. It took a few years for that to change and I was able to calmly present a motion before our school board to have some grading standards changed (we won!).

On the surface my personality is not sanguine. If you break past my exterior though, that’s what you’ll find. In the past few years I have found that I really enjoy speaking in front of a group and am able to do it confidently. And strangely enough, on the Compare People application on Facebook, I’ve been ranked the best public speaker amongst all my friends. I find it interesting that this is something people would think about me. Even if I do enjoy it, I don’t do it that much.

And from Rose, another lady I met through GodlyGals (waaaay back in the day)…
1. Do you have kids’ names picked out? Care to share them?
See above.

2. Where’s your next vacation planned?
This spring break (which occurs in mid-March in Oklahoma) Kevin and I are taking our first long roadtrip east to visit some of his family in North Carolina. I’ll be documenting the whole trip as we try to hit as many hole-in-the-wall restaurants that we can find (with Guy Fieri as our guide). We’re going to visit Grandmother in Clinton, NC, Aunt Sue in Raleigh, NC, and Pop Pop and Miss Phyllis in Currituck, NC.

3. What’s your spiritual gift?
In one of those really extensive tests (that includes things that not all people consider a spiritual gifting) I had 5 at the top that I scored very highly in. Tied for 1st place were Pastoring, Faith, and Discernment and tied at 2nd were Hospitality and Leadership. I have never asked anyone else who is close to me and that I trust spiritually what they thought about those results, but I think it would be a good idea to do so. It seems that people who work with you in ministry or see how you work could give some good insight into what they see you presenting strongly.

I feel that discernment and hospitality are the two things that come the most naturally to me. Discernment is something that it’s been clear I was gifted with ever since I was very young. I believe that is one huge factor in why I turned out the way that I did. My parents and grandparents have always been quick to say that I needed very little correction and had a very strong sense of “right” and “wrong” from the time I was small.

I guess you can see how the Pastoring and Leadership have shown themselves in my life. Faith, yes, I can see this. It’s Kevin’s highest gift on the list and helps me to understand why we are so compatible. We both trust God and that He will always come through. Period. For me, that sometimes makes it difficult for me to relate to Christians who regularly doubt and question the will and work of God.

Also, I don’t believe that people necessarily only have one gift. I think sometimes people have one gift right then, right when God needs to use them in that way.

4. What’s your biggest regret?
The ways I treated some of my friends in high school. I threw away some friendships I wish I hadn’t.

5. What’s the most common way people find your blog?
Honestly? Searching for the RoutanBabymaker3000. Look it up It’s helped me build a huge following in eastern Europe.

Truth is that I need to coffee more on Monday than Sunday, anyway. This weekend (ever since I bought that box of candy canes) I’ve been enjoying peppermint mochas. Mmm.

• Mountain Rose Herbs lists “50 Ways You Can Spice Up Your Life” – some great tips here on herbal baths, remedies, tea, etc.
• They also have a number of recipes for relaxing winter baths. I must try these.
• Been reading my series of posts covering our honeymoon? No? Get caught up: Day 2 – Pt. 1, Day 2 – Pt. 2, Day 3, Day 4 – Pt. 1, and Day 4 – Pt. 2.
• Christopher Walken covers Lady GaGa – Oh, the hilarity.
• This is an instance where a Google ad really worked. All I’m going to say is BACONNAISE.
• Another group of Compassion bloggers are headed to El Salvador. Shannon reminds us to keep them in our prayers.
• Ronnica is in Turkey! Go check out her blog as she posts about her experiences there. Personally, I’m hoping for more food photos.

Short week at work, but likely a busy one with all we have going on. Best thing? The week ends with my birthday. I should probably come up with a list of things that I’d like to have. One of our good friends (the minister who married us) has a running list that he updates. And it’s LONG. Perhaps I should do that?

It’s been a weird, rough past week and a half. First I was sick and while I was sick, I realized that I’d had enough. Some people know what happened. If you don’t, I’ll be glad to tell you in an email, I’m just not interested in airing any dirty laundry online.

This morning I wrote something for my SparkPeople blog to sorta motivate myself and help me to remember in the future why I did what I did. I’m pretty bad about forgetting my reasons behind serious action and this is something I cannot afford to forget.

Your mind and spirit are just as important to be nourished as your body. I know that I can lose sight of that pretty often. This is a note so that I will remember, and maybe encourage other people, to take whatever steps are necessary to remove the poison from your life. I firmly believe in trying to remain strong and a good example to those around you, but there comes a time when you have to choose to remove yourself from the situation. If you are not being built up, you’re being dragged down.

When we’re talking about our bodies we decrease the bad intake and increase the good output. It’s the same with our mind and spirit. I am choosing to refuse the insensitive, uneducated, and unknowledgeable criticism aimed at myself and my life. It is tearing down my mind, bringing down my spirit, and taking me to the same level as the people doing this.

Instead I am embracing the things that matter:
The love of my Lord, Jesus Christ
My loving fiance
My devoted family
Friends that love and support me

I am turning away from and refusing to take the following:
Unfounded criticism, intended to hurt and bring chaos
CHAOS, encouraged by those whose lives center around it and therefore believe other’s lives must as well
Hatefulness
Insanity, I will not take diagnosis from people who need to be diagnosed themselves
Divisive speech
Direction from someone who is not my superior
Uneducated advice

And I will no longer listen to the voice of inexperience. I am committing today to continue working towards my goals with my success in mind. Looking toward the future and refusing to let anyone else drag me down. I will embrace my success, not be ashamed of it, and go forward.

This doesn’t apply to me yet, but I’m awfully excited that one of their projects for this year is to create a resource, like Boundless, for young married couples. If you’re a part of a young, married, Christian couple, I’d like to encourage you to head on over there and give them some advice! They want to know how they can serve, encourage, inspire, and support you.

Did I mention I’m getting married this year? Thanks, Boundless!

And I have a dear friend who got engaged last night who will probably find this valuable in the future as well. Won’t say any names right now since she’s probably got piles of people left to tell, but CONGRATULATIONS!

A few related, interesting posts on Boundless recently:
It’s Never Too Late To Get Married
Prenuptial Agreements
Can You Be Unmarriable?