This morning I received a package of miscellaneous things from my mom (oh, if only you could see the wonderfully random things she sends my way). And in the package with a torn out article from the Wall Street Journal with a sticky note attached “Interesting article, Mom.”

At first glance I thought it was an article on internet dating. And I was not happy. Not happy at all. (Moms, never send your grown daughters articles about internet dating, it’s just not cool.)

But I took another glance and it was actually a very interesting article (yes, Mom is always right)  based on a book by Kay Hymowitz Manning Up: How the Rise of Women Has Turned Men into Boys on how many men in their 20s are living an extended adolescence.

Not so long ago, the average American man in his 20s had achieved most of the milestones of adulthood: a high-school diploma, financial independence, marriage and children. Today, most men in their 20s hang out in a novel sort of limbo, a hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance. This “pre-adulthood” has much to recommend it, especially for the college-educated. But it’s time to state what has become obvious to legions of frustrated young women: It doesn’t bring out the best in men.

Here’s a link to the whole article.

I’d love to hear what you think about it. How has your experience validated or refuted Hymowitz’s theory? Just please, be nice or your comment will vanish into the unknown.

As soon as I was asked to go to Guatemala with Compassion International last fall, I began cyber-stalking the other bloggers have a better grasp of who would be on the trip. I’m no dummy, I understood that the other bloggers could make or break this experience.

Thankfully I already knew, or kind of knew, or virtually knew, Lisa-Jo. We had several mutual friends and had interacted online dozens of times. And I genuinely looked forward to meeting her in person. (I was not the slightest bit disappointed. Lisa-Jo is fantastic.)

So my real intensive research started with Amanda Jones. One peek at her family tree and I started worrying. Yes, the fact that she was raised by Beth Moore was more than a little intimidating. But I knew we had a Texas connection. And a Texas connection is a pretty powerful thing. I knew if she started throwing down some mad Bible study skills I could slip in a Mexican food reference and we’d be back to an area where both of us could exist comfortably. (Side note: Amanda Jones might just be one of the kindest, most welcoming people on the planet. I quickly learned we had a lot more than Texas in common.)

As soon as I convinced myself to get comfortable with the idea of Amanda,  I made my way to Ann Voskamp’s blog. And discovered this beautiful concoction of prose, pictures and music. (I know, I usually hate music on blogs too, but trust me, Ann’s music is oddly soothing.) As I delved into the content I began getting more and more concerned, “What could I possibly have in common with the wife of a Canadian farmer who home-schools her six kids and writes like a poet?”

“Dang. I’m in trouble. I am in so far over my head. What in the world was Shaun Groves thinking when he put me on this trip?”

I still am not sure.

But I can tell you this.

Ann Voskamp oozes Jesus. I am not the type of person who says things like, “So-and-so oozes Jesus” but every time I hear Ann Voskamp’s name I can’t help myself from awkwardly blurting it out. Because she simply oozes Jesus. I have never met someone who loves as fully, and vulnerably. I have never met someone who so purely desired to employ their talents (and boy does Ann Voskamp have talents) to glorify God. I have never met someone who could make an email of encouragement feel like a cherished Word from an angel among us. And I have never met someone who lived with such a intense posture of thankfulness.

I am pretty sure I could spend days following Ann Voskamp around and learning about what being Christlike looks like in the midst of opportunity, busyness, and struggle. But since I don’t have the luxury, I will simply have to soak Ann up by reading her book, One Thousand Gifts. I have started it two times and each time have felt nudged to share it with a friend or family member before I could finish it. (Seriously, it is that good.) But not this time, this copy is staying with me, forever.

Oh, and these 3 women and my friends at Compassion were the perfect traveling companions. But you knew that already.

I do have some copies to  share with you though, 15, in fact. If you would like to enter to win a copy of One Thousand Gifts, just leave a comment below about a person you know that just oozes Jesus. I will pick 15 random winners on Friday and notify them via email. UPDATE: ALL THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED AND NOTIFIED. THANK YOU FOR THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSE.

PS – Compassion just announced their May trip to the Philippines. Be sure to be praying for and encouraging this amazing group of bloggers. I can’t wait to follow them to the Far East. So cool.

So I go to a lot of conferences. Friends kid and ask if I am “a professional conference attendee” and that term is pretty close to accurate. It is part of what I do, really one of my favorite parts of what I do.

Last week I was at Randy Elrod‘s Recreate Conference. It was wonderful. (No really, it was. I am working hard not to be that person that says the obligated “it was amazing.” So you can trust me when I say it was wonderful.) I left knowing some new incredible people, having heard some new incredible music, and exploring some new incredible ideas. And I left refreshed which is virtually unheard of in “conference world.”

Next Friday, I am headed to Arkansas, of all places, for Idea Camp: Orphan Care. I am attending this one for personal reasons because I just feel prompted to go. (Not sure what that is about. No, I am not planning on coming home with an orphan in hand.) I just want to know more about what options I have for helping alleviate the orphan crisis. We are called so clearly throughout scripture to care for orphans. And I want to know how.

And then on Tuesday, March 1, I head to Orange County for Catalyst West. So freaking excited to get out to California and see all my favorite “left coast” friends. And to go to the conference where I’ll learn from really wise leaders including Andy Stanley, Britt Merrick, Bob Goff, Matt Chandler, and of course, Michael Hyatt. (PS – It’s not too late to register, just go here.)

This year during Catalyst West, I am helping host a lunch for Mercy Ministries on THURSDAY where we will eat FREE IN-N-OUT BURGER and hear more about what we can do to stop sex trafficking. (Here’s hoping some of the cheeseburgers come ‘Animal Style.’) It will be informative and fun, a powerful combination. If you are going to be at CatWest you should join us. Register here.

There are more conferences coming but I will save them for another post…this one has my head spinning.

All this to say if you are going to be around, shoot me an “@lindseynobles” or a “D lindseynobles” and let’s exchange awkward introductions. No, for real, I would love to meet you.

You headed anywhere fun soon?

I am so excited to have Sheila Walsh guest posting today. I love Sheila Walsh. It is rare that a day goes by that I don’t laugh out loud at something that she posts on twitter. Everyone should follow Sheila because she is hilarious. But Sheila is also poignant, insightful, brave and boldly honest. A powerful combination. Which she uses for good. Sheila Walsh is the author of numerous books including The Shelter of God’s Promises.

I love that Lindsey has made honesty her word for the year. On the news, via twitter, in person, on stage – the truth can be hard to nail down. But lately I’ve been struck again by perhaps the most important place for honesty and truth: in our own minds and hearts.

I don’t think we consciously mean to lie to ourselves, but we do it all the time: I’m not good enough, no one loves me, my life doesn’t matter…

Over the years I have believed an ocean of lies. But I’ve found it usually starts with just one. As I allow that lie to seep into my thinking, it distorts everything else and soon I find myself in a storm where I can’t trust my own perspective.

There’s only one absolutely reliable antidote: God’s Word. The Hebrew words we translate as “promise” actually meant “to say” or “to speak.” In other words, God doesn’t need the word “promise” as His word is enough. If everything we said were true, there would be no need for us to “promise,” either. In reality, that only works with God. When God says something, it is true. No exaggeration, no twisting, no unhealthy agenda. He cannot lie, so His Word is truth and you can stake your life on it.

So that’s where I’m trying to train my gaze this year: on His truth, not mine.

What lies do you find slipping into your thinking when you least expect it?

What truths or promises do you cherish when that happens?

If you would like to win a copy of The Shelter of God’s Promises, simply leave a comment answering one of the questions above. I will randomly choose 5 commenters on Friday and will notify them via email.

Like An Interview About Singleness

Today I am answering some questions about my season of singleness on Matt Appling’s blog, The Church of No People. Here’s a taste:

Q: Okay, so we’re talking about being single, and more specifically, how to be “good” at being single. I imagine many people tiptoe around the topic of singleness, the same way people do with childless married people (like my wife and I.) They wonder why “it” hasn’t happened yet, or they give advice, or just feel pity. What’s your experience been?

A: I have friends that ignore it. I have friends that seem to know just what I should be doing/feeling…like if they were running my life I wouldn’t be in this “predicament.” And I have friends who pray for me, listen to me, and gently encourage me.

Go check out the rest. Matt asks some really good questions and hopefully I don’t sound like a total moron. And be sure to check out the other “Love Month” posts.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

How are you celebrating?

What’s your best/worst Valentine’s Day story?

I am 34 but every know and again I feel like an awkward middle schooler wondering why I couldn’t go to Elise’s “slumber extravaganza.” Every now and again I feel insecure. And just a little left out.

I am one of those people who is naturally inclusive. I love, love, LOVE introducing one friend to another and watching their friendship take off. But if I am honest, sometimes as they embark on epic journeys together, journeys that for one reason or another I cannot be a part of, I sit back, wave sheepishly, and feel a slight twinge of regret.

Ugh. How have I not managed to outgrow feeling left out?

When was the last time you felt left out? How did you deal with it?