Furious

There's nothing that makes want to debase myself, and others, by using crude ignorant language than people who debase themselves, and others, by using crude ignorant language.

Funny, that.

Driving home from Winston-Salem last night I was listening to the radio & heard one rap song use the word "retard" (not describing child-safe flame-retardant PJs) and also heard the horrible misogynist song I ALREADY hate, "Shush girl, don't move your lips, do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips." (I apologize up front for even repeating those lyrics when I do not allow them in my home.)

My single consolation is that the writer shames himself, seemingly unaware both that Helen Keller SPOKE, and also that "doing" the Helen Keller--by embracing blindness and deafness--would be welcome relief for anyone listening to his song or watching his video.

So that's of some comfort to me.

Another Orange Dress contest!

Visit Kimberlee Conway Ireton's blog to win your copy of The Girl in the Orange Dress. (Really people, there are so many contests there's almost no excuse to not read this book.) Kimberlee is the author of "The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year."

CLICK HERE FOR KCI'S BLOG!

Buy Books Locally

Check out this FABULOUS video about why to buy books locally! If you're in Durham, visit the Regulator. : )

First Winner in Orange Dress Contest!

InterVarsity Press is giving away five copies of The Girl in the Orange Dress to those who enter the What's Your Orange Dress Contest.

Our first winner is...(virtual drumroll please).....

Robyn Beckley Vining! Robyn's name was chosen at random from the prestigious white plastic salad bowl by an impartial ten-year-old! Congratulations Robyn!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO ENTER!

Our next drawing will be on August 15, so enter now! (All entrants remain in the salad bowl until all five books have been awarded. Or until we eat salad.)

Overboard

I was really convicted this weekend that sometimes I go overboard about the hair and the shoes. My intentions are good (seeing women set free from the pressure to appear physically attractive), but I might go too far.

This weekend I was loved SO WELL by gorgeous women with fabulously colored and coiffed hair.

This simply reminded me that God's eye is on each our hearts, not our hair.

Thank goodness.

Conflicted

I just got some feedback, from readers, on my new book (on BODIES).

Basically, I want to see a shift away from being consumed with how bodies APPEAR so that we're freed up to live into what bodies are FOR (relationship). Good stuff, right?

EXCEPT, that I really do enjoy dressing in bright colors. I LIKE to wear clothes that make me feel like ME. So although I don't spend a lot of MONEY on my wardrobe, I will invest some labor into designing some fun funky clothes.

This was referenced in the feedback.

It's so hard to be strident AND human.