Anticipating October

There are several reasons that I am eagerly looking forward to October this year. Not only is it the month when the weather at home is simply scrumptious and perfect, it's the month of my birthday, and that of my sister-in-law. Fall is at its peak with apple cider and campfires and hikes through fallen leaves.

But this year I am counting down to October 15th in particular. That is the date that the ESV Study Bible is being released. Surely you've heard about it by now...right? Personally, it is my favorite translation, though the NET Bible and the NASB are still too beloved to part with too.

This Bible is such a refreshing change from the lightweight, pop-devotional style popular in recent years. 20,000 notes, 80,000 cross-references, over 200 maps, 200 charts, and that's just the briefest of summaries. You can read more at the blog. There's also an option to read the Introduction to the Psalms. Granted, the notes should not receive more attention than the text itself. But this is still a true treasure, and more information and teaching than people in many parts of the world would ever hope to see in a lifetime. Let's take advantage of it. The publisher has also produced it to last a lifetime. And be sure I will be talking more about this come October...

Fellowship in the YLCF Team

"Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art."
- Miguel de Cervantes

"Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant."
- Socrates
"A Friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"When true friends meet in adverse hour;
'Tis like a sunbeam through a shower.
A watery way an instant seen,
The darkly closing clouds between."
- Sir Walter Scott
"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us."
- Epicurus

"I count myself in nothing else so happy
As in a soul rememb'ring my good friends."
- William Shakespeare

Pizza and Tea Cups

Antique FireKing tea cups.

Sourdough pizza (with olive oil and garden-fresh veggies).

And the dearest of friends to sweeten the mix.

Natalie came to visit our farm a few weeks ago. It was truly a delightful time with my sissy. Long talks, laughter, and some tears. True friendship is as precious as it is rare. Miss you already, sis...

On Desire and Longing- a taste from Quest

As young women, our longing for romance and marriage, for husband and children, is a desire implanted by God Himself at the core of our beings. This hope is part of the foundation of our identity as women; thus the wrestling we face when we are told to be content as singles or to “put our emotions to sleep” can be fruitless and frustrating.

For me, the yearning to go to the High Places returns with new strength at unexpected moments: while sharing the adventures of beloved characters in a well-written book, or watching a friend fall in love with a good man, or being surrounded by the pungent aroma of an autumn campfire. It whispers in a baby’s chuckle and beckons from the warmth of a father’s embrace.

One such experience came recently when I woke up earlier than usual. The tall arched windows in my bedroom overlook acres of forest. The faintest hint of pink tinged the tops of the trees, promising a glorious sunrise. Hugging my knees, I savored the cool breeze drifting through the window and listened to the birds begin to sing. I was perfectly content—yet I felt my heart reaching, yearning. This beauty called to me. It beckoned for me to come…but come where?

The High Places. Was it the desire for a masculine hand to hold mine and share this timeless moment? The answer will aggravate you: it is both yes and no. Everything is sweeter when shared with a best friend for life, your one true love, your man. Without him is loneliness and melancholy. With him life blossoms into a passionate intoxication of delight. From secular love songs to Christian novels, the climax of a woman’s life always comes when she is finally with her man. Sound familiar? Perhaps it does, not only because it is touted in our culture, but because a song in the same key echoes from inside us. Deep inside. Too deep to be blamed on the attempted brain-washing of a depraved culture. There rises a call, a dream from our soul.

What is this thing that draws us? That will not allow us to remain content in the valley our entire life? This tug women feel cannot be captured in mere words, nor confined even within the vast reaches of our own hearts. It is what I refer to as the call to the High Places. Not merely to a man, to romance, or to marriage, which our Christian culture magnifies as the ultimate goal, but to our Father’s High Places.

Do you see? What is often translated as a girlish longing for romance runs far deeper. Our Lord, the mighty and loving King of Kings, calls us to come with Him to a life the world will never understand. He has a much higher purpose for our lives than we could ever imagine.

We seek eternity. The beauty that tugs at our hearts is the echoe of everlasting life that awaits all of God’s people. Our gracious Father gives us glimpses of those riches through dim earthly mirrors. Through marriage is seen a powerful and unique manifestation of what lies beyond. To marvel at and reach for these gifts should not be condemned.

Would you like to join me on this journey to the High Places? The quest demands that we examine our motivations and dreams and allow the Lord to remove any weight that hinders our climb. We follow Him to the High Places by any path He chooses. Our goal is not freedom from the bane of singleness or the subjugation of all our emotions (if only we could still them once in a while!). No, the High Places awaken a desire in us that traces back to our purpose for existence—beyond marriage and even beyond our lives on this earth. The issue of guy-girl relationships is just one of many mountains we face, but for many of us it is the climb through which God chooses to test us most deeply during these “in-between” years.

The longer I wandered in the valley the more comfortable I grew living for less than the best. The High Places held a holy wonder that sparked terror deep inside. In the core of my being echoed a question unbidden, which I was incapable of answering: “Do I really want to go there? Do I really want to be laid bare before a Holy God in all His majesty?”

Above all, a fear clutched at the back of my mind holding me paralyzed. “What if God does not give me what I really want?” It sounds foolish when spelled out in black and white, but that did not invalidate its grip on me.

We dread giving our cherished dreams to the Lord, because…what if He takes it away? How can we bear to relinquish something so close to our heart? To do so would inflict a gaping wound, and pain is to be avoided at all costs—right?

Dare we trust our Father to faithfully provide for us? Are we willing to yield our dreams for marriage and intimacy and permit Him to do as He pleases? Are we sworn to seeking the High Places even if it becomes clear that our journey will not include the firm grip of a prince’s hand to help us over the tough spots? Is our passion for God’s glory strong enough to withstand the pounding of emotions?

Our Shepherd knows our fragility. We do not love Him even the smallest percent of what we should, nor do we give Him half of the devotion He deserves. Yet no matter our place on the climb, He offers His hand. “You love me only this much?” He asks. “Well, then I will give you the strength to love Me just a little bit more today, and a little bit more the day after that, until you are so full of love for Me that there is no room for anything else.”

- Excerpted from Quest for the High Places - Updated Edition

Project Rescue

Note: This post contains some details that may not be suitable for younger readers.

My first introduction to Project Rescue came in picking up the book Beyond the Soiled Curtain (unfortunately already out of print) at a thrift shop in the Ozarks. Before I had time to begin reading I googled "Project Rescue" and read everything I could find on the mission. Wow.

Here was an organization with a similar passion as Natalie Grant's The Hope Foundation and the International Justice Mission, both of which I have supported through the years specifically because of their work with young girls who are sexually exploited. Why had I never heard of Project Rescue before? They are helping the girls that some would never touch; they are battling an evil some will not even acknowledge as existing. Human slavery has not ended in America, much less other parts of the world such as Asia and Eastern Europe. Did you know that one million new children are drawn into the commercial sex trade every year? Can we even comprehend such a number? Do we even care?

A girl who is purchased by a trafficker for as little as $150 can be sold to customers as many as ten times a night and can bring in $10,000 a month profit. With minimal expenses, police as co-conspirators, and almost unlimited victims to prey upon, trafficking for sexual exploitation is surpassing the sale of illegal drugs as the preferred industry for criminals. In India, there are approximately 10 million prostitutes, and an estimated 300,000 - 500,000 of them are children. In the city of Mumbai, 90% of the 100,000 women in prostitution are indentured slaves. - Project Rescue Issue Overview

I am selfish and stupid if I ignore reality. I've seen it with my own eyes. I know it exists. This organization's purpose to Rescue, Restore, and Prevent is one I whole-heartedly support. The need and magnitude of this issue could easily seem overwhelming and too difficult. I may not be equipped or able to save one million children this year from slavery, but I can do something.

Living as a Witness

This involves “just you, winning one person to the Lord each year, training that person to live a victorious, reproductive Christian life—then the two of you doing the same with two more people the next year. Continuing in this activated, applying the principle of multiplication, your numbers would double each year thereafter…you and the people you discipled…will see six billion people come to a vital, thoroughly-grounded knowledge of the Lord in the early months of the thirty-third year.”
- Pg 27 of Personal Disciple-making by Christopher B. Adsit, Orlando: Campus Crusade for Christ, 1996

2 Timothy 3:12: And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2 Tim. 4:2: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Photo of the central Californian coastline, taken by Natalie

On Fairy Tales - A taste from Quest

Though I am leaving YLCF--at least for a season--there are a number of pieces already scheduled to be published throughout the remainder of the summer. This piece comes from the updated edition of Quest for the High Places. Though I did not start out with the intent to rewrite Quest, only to revise it, ultimately I came out having rewritten 90% of the text. I find myself with, in many ways, a completely new book which I hope addresses the issues in stronger and more relevant ways.

To begin I wanted to post part of an introductory chapter dealing with chivalry, romance, and fairy tales. After that watch for an excerpt on the place of longing and desire in our lives.

While the specifics may vary, the core of this fairy tale remains constant. In a vulnerable moment many of us would admit that it has captivated our imaginations from earliest memory.
Once upon a time…there lived a lovely and graceful young princess of exquisite beauty and virtue. Her golden hair tumbled in curls to her waist and her arresting eyes the color of a summer sky are renowned throughout the land.

This maiden is captured by the evil adversary of the kingdom and held prisoner in his fortress where any chance of rescue or help seems futile. As the days and weeks pass, she fights despair. Does no one know of her plight? Will no one try to help her? She tries to remain strong but her heart aches with her attempts to find a reason to hope. If only one person found her worthy of sacrifice. If only there were a man who could set her free and save her from this harrowing darkness! What if she came to harm at the hands of the enemy? Would she be alone for the rest of her life?

But hope is not lost so long as one brave warrior remains in the land. A chivalrous young man loves the princess with all his heart and willingly risks his life for her freedom. Despite pain, setbacks and hardship, the knight fights through the difficulties and demonstrates superior courage against evil. At last he wins the battle and rescues his princess.

As he throws open the door to her tower prison, she cries for joy and runs into his waiting arms. With infinite tenderness he claims a hard-won kiss. Then, leading her into the courtyard he lifts her onto his horse and they gallop into the sunset. Their homecoming is heralded with great rejoicing. After a whirlwind of preparation the knight and his princess are married. And they live happily ever after.

Happily ever after. Perhaps we feel childish or silly if we admit that we long for such a romantic adventure. Is it intrinsically wrong that stories trigger a soul hunger for an intangible more? Must such dramas be allocated to girlish daydreams and Hollywood movies? Surely not!

In Wild at Heart John Eldredges agrees:

From ancient fables to the latest blockbuster, the theme of a strong man coming to rescue a beautiful woman is universal to human nature. It is written in our hearts, one of the core desires of every man and every woman….no, we have not been poisoned by fairy tales and they are not merely “myths.” Far from it. The truth is, we have not taken them seriously enough (181-182).

Though I take issue with Eldredge’s theology, his point is valid. Rough stretches on my journey taught me that part of my persistent soul sighs stems from a fearful, stubborn refusal to acknowledge the validity and God-given worth in my fascination with fairy tales.

The fairy tale is not the conclusion, but the doorway to a more brilliant reality. Pushed onto a pedestal as the final answer their worth is misshapen and distorted. The world’s story may end with a couple living happily ever after but our life in Christ enables the intimacy of the human relationship to illuminate an eternal perfection. In a balanced perspective, neither denigrated nor exalted from their intended place, fairy tales are a lovely and exhilarating part of life.

Something marvelous occurred when I finally stopped shying away from fairy tales, chivalry and romance as unrealistic and childish. When I set aside my inhibitions and wholeheartedly entered into the stories I discovered their unique ability to bless and delight my heart. Through delicate brushes with eternity the fairy tales ushered me into a world full of wonder.

Psalm 20 exclaims, “May He grant you your heart’s desire!” In the next chapter it says, “Thou hast given him his heart’s desire and Thou hast not withheld the request of his lips.” God has put these yearnings in us not to frustrate us, but for His sovereign purpose—a purpose that goes beyond what we can comprehend in our limited vision. God did not plant this need inside to be satisfied with anything less than Himself and His best: the ultimate “happily ever after” around the throne of our great God and King.

A Season to...Encourage

Being married to a farmer gives one an entirely new perspective on seasons. I've learned about seasonal eating, the first and last killing frost of the season, and in what season you plant garlic. But I've also discovered that the season of winter is like three months of Sundays after a really long week. In the summer only an emergency can take us off the farm, but the winter is time to catch up on all the visiting and projects we didn't get done in the summer. The spring isn't just about all the little flowers growing around us--the spring is for planting all the produce we will reap later in the year. Autumn is one big sigh of relief that the seasons are changing. And of course, there's a reason James uses the example of the farmer when he's talking about patience. But that's another subject.

It's been a while since I've sat down specifically to write a post for ylcf.org. That probably has something to do with being in the "new mommy" season of life, the season of spring in more ways than one! And now our calendar tells me summer is here, and the strawberries we picked yesterday tasted like summer. Another season is upon us.

The YLCF has been part of a lot of different seasons of my life. When I look at the amazing articles on the website now, it's hard to believe it all started as a little "girls-only club" 16 years ago, with a hand-written newsletter I photocopied on my grandma's copy machine. In a lot of ways, the YLCF has grown up with me, or we've grown up with it. As I faced questions about purity and love, I wrote about what I was learning. When I was immersed in politics, my blog posts read like an op-ed for a newspaper. As I was falling in love, my writing couldn't help sounding like it.

The seasons of my life kept changing. And as I prepared to marry my farmer, I handed over the YLCF's reins, as it were, to my best girlfriend Natalie. She brought new life and a standard of stellar writing to ylcf.org. She brought variety and depth, discussing the serious issues along with the light. I've been so grateful for her help in keeping up the YLCF over the past two and a half years.

Now Natalie is finding herself in a new season of life, and handing me back those reins. I'm in a different season of life, and busier than ever as a wife and mom, but I still crave the encouragement and edification I've always found in the fellowship with those of the YLCF. And I think a lot of you share that feeling. Yes, like me, the YLCF is in a different season, but I couldn't bear to think of bringing ylcf.org to a premature winter.

So we're brainstorming about a new look, coming up with ideas to simplify the site and layout, and focusing on bringing you at least three posts each week--sometimes more, sometimes less. I'm hoping to bring on another full-time YLCF team member. And continue to streamline the site so this busy farmer's wife can sort of keep up with it. I'd welcome your ideas (what's your favorite part of the site? what should we keep, what could be eliminated? how could we make it more organized, easier to navigate?) and I covet your prayers. You probably won't notice too many changes at first, but please be patient with the speed of comment moderation and any post problems--I still have a "fast" internet connection, remember.

As I transition back into my role of "editor in chief", I want you to know that your posts and topic ideas are welcome. The YLCF has always been by young women, for young women--and that means you! So please keep those articles coming. I can't respond to every email, nor comment on every submission. But know each one is read!

And as you write and comment, keep in mind that the YLCF has always been about encouragement and edification. It is for that reason that we moderate the comments on ylcf.org. There is a time and place for healthy debate, but it's not here. Nor do private questions need to be asked in public places. And while the YLCF Team Members share glimpses into their hearts and lives with us here in their posts, it does not entitle every blog reader to know every detail of their personal lives. The team who moderates comments are actively protective of each other, so the inflammatory, rude, and/or anonymous comments are deleted before they can be seen by those they might hurt. But your uplifting comments are rays of sunshine in our day!

If I could choose one perpetual season for ylcf.org, it would always be the time for encouragement--"a time to build up," Solomon calls it in Ecclesiastes. There is enough of the negative out there, let us seek out the beauty! With that in mind, please respect Natalie's wish for a season of rest and refreshment. I know she will be back someday to share with you the seasons this journey is taking her through. Meanwhile, let's keep focused here at ylcf.org on spurring each other on towards love and good deeds. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us...

God's Mercy

A March 2008 entry from the HeartThoughts website...we are thoroughly enjoying our challenge of reading through the entire Bible in 3 months--or less!

How goes it, my fellow Questers? This Bible reading challenge surely is that–a challenge, but so far it’s been so enjoyable for me. It’s just so good to be reading all the diverse and powerful ways that the Lord has interacted with, blessed, and disciplined His people.

My opinion is that the Old Testament, as a whole, is more conducive to lengthy reads than the New Testament. Reading 16-20 chapters of a New Testament doctrinal book, it will be more difficult to soak in everything than it is to pull some over-riding themes from a long narrative about Israel’s prophets and judges. Am I the only one who so often wants to pause and dig into some story, question, or topic that strikes a particular interest? As much as I try to redeem my time, I want to grow even better at using the minutes given to me so that there is more time for intense Bible study.

A few interesting phenomena I’ve noticed over the past few weeks:

• A disinterest in other reading. Very rarely do I read anything else. Aside from trying to keep up with the Book Society selection I am not bothering with any other reading right now. And I’m not missing it at all. In my life it has proven true more than once–when the Bible is all I have and/or choose to read, my pleasure in it grows and my interest in fiction especially fades away.
• Vivid images while reading. For me this is because I have not done a survey reading of the whole Bible since I was in the Middle East two years ago. There are portions of the Old Testament that I have not read since then, and wow do they pop off the page! Especially in 1 Samuel, I was just reading last night about when the Philistines were seeking to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel. They sent it back on a cart pulled by two cows whose calves had just been taken from them. Without even trying I could see the rolling landscape in my head–I’ve stood in the area where all this took place. And coming up soon is the famous story of David and Goliath–already my mind has been taking me back to the Valley of Elah and the beautiful barren wilderness of that area.
• God’s mercy. Whether it is a “coincidence” or not, the last few weeks have also been some of the most difficult in recent memory. On so many levels I have felt spiritual, physical, emotional attack. To the breaking point, at times. Yet through it I refuse to let anything keep me from the Book. It is a comforting stabling force amidst the chaos and horrors that seem beating down the walls of my world. I see God’s mercy and care through the long haul, through the “big picture” in my reading, too. Look at the multiple cycles of sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and silence (yes, I learned that in Bible Survey) that Israel went through during the period of the Judges. They did not deserve so many chances! Neither do we.

Well, it’s time to check on the dinner in the oven. And we’ll need to be leaving soon for church. I’m glad I had a few minutes to write some of my thoughts–I hope you will do the same!

June in Georgia

Here are a few more glimpses of my time with Lanier...

The smallest and biggest members of the farm...


Poetry and tea under a star-filled sky...


Feeding the lambs

Of tea, kittens, and literary conversations

Lanier and I are finally taking time from barn chores and tea parties to say hello! The past week has been truly delightful. Instead of attempting to describe how cathartic their menagerie of babies has been for me, I decided to share pictures. Every day plenty of time is spent cuddling with three painfully adorable kittens, playing with the dogs and cats, trying to charm the Gulf Coast lambs, and being charmed by the Nubian goats. And of course we are constantly talking--about writing, C.S. Lewis, books, poetry, and all things literary. Talking about God, life, relationships, and everything under the sun. On day eight of my visit we have yet to run out of things to discuss and I doubt we ever will.
For me, these idyllic days in the beautiful South have served as a special gift of grace. I've felt God's loving touch on my heart as I have enjoyed His creation and fellowshipped with His people.

I will write and share more when I return home, if we do not get around to it before then. For now, I will leave you with a passage I read this morning in Isaiah 46:

I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, 'My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.

Captions: Top left - Lanier with an armful of kittens. Their names are Aloysius, Balliol, and Giles. Can anyone guess what or who they are named after? Top right - Natalie holding Hermia, one of the six lambs. Bottom center - Lanier had the idea to wear gardenias in our hair to church on Sunday! One person thought we were sisters.

All pictures by our resident photographer Philip Ivester.

Betsy, Tacy, and Tib

Last fall a YLCF reader commented that a picture of Gretchen, Lanier and myself reminded her of the friendship portrayed in the timeless books by Maud Hart Lovelace. Betsy, Tacy, and Tib. It only took me a moment to think which of us was which; the similarities are striking.

Tacy was the tallest. She had long red ringlets and freckles... Gretchen is most certainly Tacy. Her curly red hair and snapping green eyes leave no room for argument.

Tib was the smallest. She was little and dainty with round eyes and a fluff of yellow hair. She looked like a picture-book fairy, except, of course, that she didn't have wings. Lanier is similar to Tib in so many ways--although her personality is even more soft and sweet and she is even more beautiful! And she's a dancer--just like Tib.

Betsy was the middle-sized one. She was almost always smiling. At twelve she had been short, straight, and chunky with perky braids and a freckled, smiling face. At fourteen she was tall with a tendency to stoop. Her brown hair waved softly. Freckles were fading out of a pink and white skin. As a matter of face what one noticed first and liked best in Betsy were her eyes, clear hazel, under dark brows and lashes.

As for me--Natalie--Betsy is the only one left and I seem to be the most like her anyways, from the brown hair and freckles to her insatiable love of literature (it was because of Betsy Ray that I fell in love with Ivanhoe!), Europe, and writing. My own half-finished novels and stories done in pencil on scratch pads were scribbled with no less aspiration and fervor. I also have much of her sometimes-amusing romantic sensibilities.

Betsy's oldest and closest friend was red-haired Tacy Kelly. They had been loyal, loving chums, and they had been friends with Tib almost as long as they had been friends with each other. She and Tacy sat looking down Hill Street while the clouds in the sky behind Tacy's house turned pink. Their hands met and as always, unfailingly, joined in a loyal clasp.

Some friendships remain treasured for a lifetime. I count myself immensely blessed to have such friends as these who stick with me through the times of great celebration and heart-wrenching sorrow. Their loyalty proved true when they had nothing to gain from being true friends--when I needed them but had little to offer in return.

Yet such is one of the glories of godly, genuine friendship. They are not friends only when the relationship is comfortable, enjoyable, and mutually beneficial. They are friends when such means suffering with those who suffer, weeping with those who weep, and remaining steady and true despite the chaos.

This summer I get to visit both of these dear friends. In fact, today I fly to see Lanier! I look forward to sharing more during and after those days together.

- Photo of Natalie, Gretchen, and Lanier aka Betsy, Tacy, and Tib by Philip Ivester

My Brother's Wedding

I have a sister now. Taylor and Jenny's wedding day had perfect weather, a gorgeous bride, a handsome groom, tear-jerking vows, and a wonderful, marvelous celebration. Is that enough adjectives for you? :smile:

Speaking from as little a bias as possible, the simple elegance, the romance, the fellowship, the holiness all made the day one of --if not the--best wedding celebrations I have ever attended.

- Photos in order taken by Natalie Klein, Erin Hutchins, and Carol Lee Olson

Thoughts on Caspian and Home

My youngest brother and I traded a night of sleep for the first opportunity to see the new Narnia movie. I don't regret it. Though I went in with no real expectations and the knowledge that no movie could take the book's place in my affections,Prince Caspian surprised me. In a good way.

Perhaps coming into it already knowing about the flirtations and romance, plot changes, and added elements such as the raid on Miraz's castle enabled me to not be distracted by such. Overall, I enjoyed it. No, it is not as good as the book, but that is in part to do with genre and interpretation, not with actual quality.

No, it is definitely not the book, Prince Caspian. Yes, I found the Susan/Caspian romance unbearable. No, they did not include Aslan nearly enough. Yes, they hit the nail on the head with the adjustment the children had to make returning to Narnia and finding it a wholly different world than when they left. No, I disliked the change which made Peter a weaker character and Susan a stronger one.

All criticisms aside, there is much of the real and true Narnia there (for one, the centaurs are fantastic!). You do not want to leave. The parting is made a bit easier by spending the last minutes of the movie saying goodbye with the children and stepping through the doorway from Narnia into the English tube station. Yet we all wanted to stay. None of us could.

For me, the most powerful moments of the film were unexpected and early: when the four children stepped onto the beach near the ruins of Cair Paravel the haunting strains of music from the first film began to play. The disbelief and joy on the Pevensie's faces as they realized they were back and began running down the beach, laughing and playing...the bittersweet beauty of the music...I actually cried and I am not one to cry over a mere sentimental moment. This was beautiful. Not because of the beach or the literal melody being played. More than that, it spoke deep in my heart and roused the desire implanted in every believer's heart to be Home.

As Lewis writes, "The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing…to find the place where all the beauty came from." Narnia gives us glimpses of the beauty and stirs up our hunger for its source. We all want to be Home. Sometimes the homesickness and loneliness for the place we know we belong can be unbearable. Any success through the arts of keeping that desire burning bright within us deserves recognition. Though I doubt such was the filmmakers intent, for me they got it just right.

- Photo from Narnia Web

My brother is getting married!

Taylor and his sweetheart Jenny will be married Saturday. Needless to say, we have been anticipating and counting down to this day ever since their engagement last November. Tomorrow (which also happens to be my parent's 27th wedding anniversary! They will never have difficulty remembering Taylor and Jenny's.) we head south to Arkansas and we will not return until late next week. Though Blogger's wonderful new scheduling feature will make sure that the YLCF stays active, comments may not be moderated, etc., as I will be offline. No doubt I will be sharing at least a few pictures on our return.

It will be wonderful to finally have a real life sister.

Our Mother's Day lunch

Mom requested our favorite summer dessert for Mother's Day, so I whipped up an Angel Lush cake and garnished it with some of the largest, most delectable strawberries I've ever seen. It is a fast, easy, low-fat recipe and tastes amazing. During a walk right after church I found the most luscious wildflowers blooming along our road: white irises tinged with lavender and little purple and yellow clusters which I don't know the name of but made into a nice bouquet for the dinner table.

Now a small vase of the flowers graces my desk. Every night as I am falling asleep I can smell the irises and, if I wanted to be dramatic and romantic like Anne, I would imagine I was sleeping in a garden, or a tree graced with cherry blossoms.

Go see Ben Stein's "Expelled"

I knew nothing of Ben Stein or this new documentary until yesterday, and now I am telling everyone I know to go see Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. At first I said no. Not only do I not usually enjoy seeing movies, but there's the expense and I know my reaction on seeing the website was not exactly interest or enthusiasm. But when my brother and I were invited to go with my dad and the Norm Geisler, we could not pass up the opportunity!

Don't let the high-school playground aura fool you. Expelled truly is a masterfully drawn case for Intelligent Design. I was thinking--hard!--the entire two hours. Ben Stein interviews experts on both sides and the content is deep while the pace is brisk enough and spiced with plenty of humor to keep even a skeptic interested. My brother's favorite part was seeing Richard Dawkins stammer and stutter when Stein tried to nail him down on a few key points. And yet the blatant blasphemy is chilling. The reality of this battle is chilling. From a press release:

Stein, who is also a lawyer, an economist, a former presidential speechwriter, author and social commentator, is stunned by what he finds on his journey. He discovers an elitist scientific establishment that has traded in its skepticism for dogma. But even worse, along the way, Stein uncovers a long line of biologists, astronomers, chemists and philosophers who have had their reputations destroyed and their careers ruined by a scientific establishment that allows absolutely no dissent from Charles Darwin’s theory of random mutation and natural selection.

For example, Stein meets Richard Sternberg, a double PhD biologist who allowed a peer-reviewed research paper describing the evidence for intelligence in the universe to be published in the scientific journal Proceedings. Not long after publication, officials from the National Center for Science Education and the Smithsonian Institution where Sternberg was a research fellow began a coordinated smear and intimidation campaign to get the promising young scientist expelled from his position. This attack on scientific freedom was so egregious that it prompted a congressional investigation.

Unlike some other documentary films, Expelled doesn’t just talk to people representing one side of the story. The film confronts scientists such as Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, influential biologist and atheist blogger PZ Myers and Eugenie Scott, head of the National Center for Science Education. The creators of Expelled crossed the globe over a two-year period, interviewing scores of scientists, doctors, philosophers and public leaders.

Seeing it is a crash course in history, science, apologetics, and rhetoric. You may even cry; I came close. Masterful. Now if only we can get more people to see it....

Spending an evening with Dr. Geisler was not so bad either! He is the one under whom great minds like Ravi Zacharias and J.P. Moreland studied apologetics. The author of over 70 books--8 new ones coming out this year alone--it was truly an honor for me to hear his thoughts on the issues of the film as well as touching on subjects like his writing, education, and discovering he has a great sense of humor.

All in all, it was a Friday evening very well spent!

Quest for the High Places - Updated Edition

Spring is here! With it comes the release of an exciting project for HeartThoughts. Several talented friends lent their energy and creativity to help me in a complete overhaul and update to Quest for the High Places. Though you will recognize the theme and contributors, the book's entire layout and design is new, and every line of the text has been edited and considered to ensure that the message is clear and true.

This 350 page book is now carefully tied to and laying the foundation for a sequel which is currently in the works. We will announce a release date as soon as possible; for now you can read more here and pre-order a copy to be shipped the day of the release.

Some things will stay the same

In some ways it feels like my year is just beginning. Significant changes and transitions in the past months leave me at a completely different place in life than I could have imagined at the beginning of 2008. There is a wind of change sweeping through my family's life and it is bringing goodness and beauty in its wake.

My brother will be marrying his sweetheart in just a few weeks. My dad is traveling all over the world. Another brother graduates from high school. I am working on several book projects that have been in the works for some years. Good things. Blessings from our Father.

Seasons come and go with reassuring punctuality and our goal is that some things remain the same as they have been for some years. It is the desire of the YLCF Team that this online magazine and fellowship of believers continue on even as we enter new parts of life. This is possible only because of the talented, loving writers who invest themselves into ministering to our readers. They share their hearts and lives and we are all blessed. Thank you to all who submit your work with us.

Some of you may have noticed that we recently transitioned into a new publishing schedule. We plan on posting a new article, devotional, or letter around three times per week, with occasional links, tidbits, and recipes on the off days. This change is to both ensure that what we publish is quality material, and also to guard against becoming just one of dozens of blogs skimmed by multi-tasking readers.

Personally, there are only a few blogs I read--and I am sure I am missing out on many good ones but I am easily waterlogged with too much information. I prefer to enjoy really reading and digesting the few I watch instead of skimming more but not getting much from the experience. Plus our goal has never been to build a big readership or have so many hits per day. This is one reason we have never posted advertisements on our site. But now I am getting into what is going to be another article--why the YLCF is different.

For now we want to thank all of you young ladies who comment, who email, who bless us with your thoughts and friendship. Consider yourself hugged. :-)

Through the Bible in 60 days!

February 1 - March 31. Those dates did not begin as my Bible reading schedule but as I finished up Revelation Monday morning I thanked God for the tremendous blessing of my first (of many!) journey of reading through the entire Bible in 60 days.

Only God knew the unbelievably perfect timing for this venture. Only He knew the trials and fire which would fill those two months. I could not have planned to begin reading Job just minutes before a heart-breaking phone call; I did not realize at the beginning I would get to read through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John during the celebration of His Resurrection. God blessed me. His provision and love are abundant and beautiful to me!

Originally my goal was 90 days. A couple weeks ago I began playing with the idea of pushing myself to finish by March 31. My goal of reading through all the Gospels by Easter gave me the extra impetus needed to harness my so often-distracted mind and focus.

Have you ever read through Romans, or 1 & 2 Corinthians in one sitting? Paul's arguments are masterfully built. Reading his letters as a whole instead of in chapter or verse bits makes that clear. The opportunity for a broad overview of Scripture combined with the speed which was set gave me some deeper understanding of portions of the Prophets as well as the almost continuous OT allusions in the New Testament. Instead of only knowing that a given verse was a quote from the Old Testament because of a footnote, I found myself remembering which book, even which chapter the quotation came from. Isaiah 54. Genesis 21. Daniel 11. Ezekiel 28. After all, I had read the Old Testament only a few days ago!

Today I finished Revelation 21 and closed my new-three-months-ago but now-very-worn Bible with a mixture of wistfulness and triumph. Now I am free to dive into some serious study that has been put on hold. That part makes me glad. But I so enjoyed this that I know I am going to be doing it again at least once a year. Perhaps after a few months off I will start again and see if I can do another read-through in 2008. Believe me, it is addicting!

I wonder if we do not often intimidate ourselves too much over the thought of reading “the whole Bible.” Speaking as a voracious reader, it is not that long. Shorter than a Hugo or Tolstoy novel. Much more valuable for our spirits and minds. We’ve been given a precious treasure in God’s Word–let’s remember that and revel in it with every opportunity we are given.

- Written March 31