Got Relevant?

I've wanted to write for Relevant Magazine for 2.5 years & my first article is in this month's issue! Check out page 74, MERRY CONSUMERISM. (hope you're curious)

Remember...?

Remember the contest, last year, to choose a cover for The Girl in the Orange Dress? Though some of you liked the aqua cover with orange babydress on a hanger, the winner was...

Well, that pretty cover won an award at the Chicago Book Clinic's recent Book & Media Show! Congrats to IVP & thanks to the talented Cindy Kiple.

Season of Feasting

Right now I'm in a season of feasting on the wisdom of scripture & other writers. (This is also code for, "I'm not frantically writing something.")

Henri Nouwen, above, describes sitting under the teaching of L'Arche community's Jean Vanier...

"Jean said that poverty is neither nice nor pleasant. Nobody truly wants to be poor. We all want to move away from poverty. And still...God loves the poor in a special way. I was deeply struck with Jean's remark: 'Jesus did not say, 'Happy are those who serve the poor,' but 'Happy are the poor.'' Being poor is what Jesus invites us to, and that is much, much harder than serving the poor. The unnoticed, unspectacular, unpraised life in solidarity with people who cannot give anything that makes us feel important is far from attractive. It is the way to poverty. Not an easy way, but God's way, the way of the cross."

-Road to Daybreak, page 84

"Did we miss the memo?"

Tonight I had the fun privilege of attending "Pass the Peas," with friends from Reality Ministries. Though most nights we're all together have themes (80's, Olympics, Disco, Everyone-Dress-Like-A-Furry-Woodland-Creature, etc.) tonight was just a non-themed dinner.

When I stepped over to the van of particularly stylish young man, who would typically come dressed in a FABULOUS costume, his mom looked at my yummy pink outfit (which you see above) and queried, "Did we not get the message about a theme tonight?"

"Umm...nope...these are my regular clothes. And pajamas."

I think I was just so happy to pull out my big bag of winter clothes I may have gone a little overboard.

It's possible.

Couldn't Have Said It Better...

The content for my 3rd book has been percolating in my heart for awhile & today it was as if someone channeled it into a more beautiful, more thoughtful prose and published it on my neighbor Heather's blog.

Or perhaps I just flatter myself.

Seriously, check it out: http://heatherbixler.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/suburban-christianity-or-can-we-be-christians-in-the-burbs/

(Just to be clear: there was no channeling. I just wish I'd put all those great thoughts together...)

...still tickled...

I saw the GREATEST T-SHIRT ever a few weeks ago. So prepare yourselves.


Friends Angie & Harold hosted a house concert for Justin McRoberts. (Check him out!) What a treat! If the thoughtful playful inspiring music wasn't enough, there was the shirt...

"They will know we are Christians by our t-shirts"

So how delicious is that funny thing?

Day 367

My year of buying-no-clothes is over. And it really wasn't that bad.

I do need shoes & have already brought home 3 pairs, for testing. (bad feet) 2 really cute pairs--that were actually made for women--have failed & my feet are killing me as I'm walking around the house in man-boot pair 3. I really may live the rest of my life in New Balance sneakers.

I have a plan to try these with Dr. Scholl's orthotics. Stay posted.

Oh--that was all about me. Now, about you: I HIGHLY recommend the shop-free year. The most important thing it did for me was to break the addiction of looking for the next great thing.

If you try it, email & let me know so I can cheer you on. : )