let’s be friends

Over the past few weeks, I have become convinced that I need to be friends with a few new people:

1. Elyse Fitzpatrick. Oh my word. I remember the day Matt came home from church talking about how everyone was all abuzz about her book Comforts From the Cross. I read it and loved it and recently bought two more of her books. I haven’t yet delved into Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety (though, let’s be real, I need to!). But man, her parenting book Give Them Grace was pretty awesome. She (along with her daughter Jessica Thompson) turns much of today’s conventional parenting methodology (and, uh, my own) on its head. Learning to apply the gospel in our parenting and to parent by grace rather than legalism is, unfortunately, more revolutionary than it should be.

But this is not a book review. This is simply expressing my desire to sit down for coffee with Elyse Fitzpatrick and soak in her wisdom. I feel the same way about Beth Moore. I could be friends with both of them. Fitzpatrick totally missed out on Beth Moore’s memo, though…. she has yet to call me “beloved” or “sweet one” in either of these books. 🙂

2. And next, I am convinced that I need to be friends with Shai Linne. I was first introduced to Shai about two weeks ago when we bought Matt Papa’s new album. Shai had me at exactly 3 minutes into #10 (The Lord is a Warrior) when he started breaking out into some sweet rap about Revelation 19.

A little known fact about me: I like rap and I really like guys in dreads. And rappers with dreads who preach it… well, we’ve just gotta be friends. That’s all there is to it. In fact, I found myself on my ride home from work yesterday rapping (loudly) along with him. With the windows down. In my pearls and cardigan. Now that’s a picture. In fact, my oh-so-supportive husband has informed me that I really must audition for our church’s worship team… as the token white girl rapper. Ha!

So, all of this begs the question…who thinks Elyse Fitzpatrick listens to rap??