Zac and I climbed into bed on a completely average night two years ago. We were pretty tired. We just laid there looking at the ceiling, with only small firework fantasies of what God might say. Zac took my hand and spoke the simple words we had been processing for the past few months but not yet been ready to say.

God had been opening our eyes to how precious our temporary lives were and how numbly we were moving through them.

We were over it. We were over building our lives. We were over houses and cars and cute Christmas cards. We wanted something; we couldn’t put our finger on it. It was burning in us. We had loved so many other things more than God.

We were ready to do anything.

So we prayed. As sincerely as I have ever prayed any other thing,

I prayed in my heart as Zac spoke: “God we will do anything. Anything.”

It didn’t feel fancy. It wasn’t even a big deal. But the prayer held in it a thousand little deaths. In saying anything, it meant we were handing him everything. My heart raced a little at the thought… and then we fell asleep.

So begins Jennie (and Zac) Allen’s powerful journey of surrendered, reckless, and courageous faith. The kind of faith that is distinctively compelling. The kind of faith that embraces risk and sacrifice. And the kind of faith that makes God uncomfortably close and real.

In Anything, Jennie authentically and vulnerably shares the before and the after of praying that bold prayer. And in doing so  challenges each of us to dig deep into ourselves to see what we are so desperately clinging to and invites us to find the freedom and the relationship of surrender. This book shouldn’t be missed.

Go buy it here! 

Also, Jennie and the team at Thomas Nelson offered to give me a handful of copies to share with you. If you would like to enter to win a copy of Anything, just leave a comment below about what your ANYTHING is. I will pick 5 random winners on Friday and notify them via email. {But don’t let this slow you down from buying a copy. Once you’ve read it, I know you’ll be wanting more to giveaway.}

And lastly, be sure to check out this site dedicated to sharing your ANYTHING to read inspiring stories of others who are giving God the one thing they are afraid of losing.

My friends at Thomas Nelson are looking for a top-notch marketing mind to fill the Senior Director of Marketing position in one of their non-fiction publishing divisions.

Does working with a team of professionals who love books, love publishing, and have a great team chemistry sound right up your alley?

Some notable authors this team publishes include Donald Miller, John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll, and Michael Hyatt among many others. They also have a passion for discovering and developing new voices. The chosen candidate will lead a full marketing team and have the chance to shape the vision and marketing philosophy of the group.

Here are a few more specifics on what they are looking for:

• 5-7 years of marketing experience in Christian publishing or a related field
• Has a strong passion for books in general and Christian publishing in particular
• Can articulate a clear and compelling philosophy of effective book marketing in a digital age
• Have a track record of building, developing, and motivating teams
• Be experienced at building a strong relationships and strategic partnerships
• Be well versed in connecting customers with content and integrating direct-to-consumer and retail
• Possess strong presentation skills
• Has strong technical and creative writing skills
• Embraces new technologies and innovative approaches

 If you’re interested in the position, you can send your resume to TNMarketing@thomasnelson.com. Here’s more information on the position.

As I spent time over-analyzing myself earlier today {too bad I can’t figure out how to make a career out of self-analysis…I’d be rich}, I realized that I am in the midst of a mini identity crisis. With so much new, and so little old, I am struggling to pinpoint who I am, what I think, and how to share this journey with you.

In the most simplest terms, I am in the process of discovering what remains…of me.

Without my precious pup, the church that restored my faith in God and community, the comfortable routines that filled my Nashville existence, the job and the company that I knew like the back of my hand, the conferences where I felt known and respected, and the cast of kids that I adored spoiling rotten, I feel a little lost, a little timid, and a lot unsure.

Answering questions as simple as “who are you?” and “what are you doing in Southern California?” leave me perplexed and stumbling to find words. But maybe, just maybe, that is how it should be? Maybe I don’t need to search for the answers, maybe I need to live my way into the answers?

“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the question themselves, as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, some day far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

Are you good at loving the questions? Or are you like me, searching through every nook and cranny for answers? 

Monday afternoon around 5 PM, I jumped. Monday afternoon around 5 PM, I took that giant leap of faith, or some might say insanity, that turns a comfortable existence right on its side. Monday afternoon around 5 PM, I accepted a job as Director of Community for Project 7.

If you are not familiar with Project 7, it is a cause-related company founded by “social-capitalist” Tyler Merrick that makes every day consumer goods, like bio-bottled water, gum, mints and coffee. And with every purchase of a Project 7 product, tangible good is done in 7 areas of need: Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless, Quench the Thirsty, Teach them Well and Save the Earth.

Gnarly, huh? {Yeah, I don’t imagine I will ever be able to pull off that word. I better stick with cool.}

Cool, huh?

And my job is even cooler. As Director of Community, I’ll be overseeing all strategic partnerships, relationships and sponsorships in faith-based channels. If someone could craft a position just for me, I believe this is it. It will allow me to utilize the various marketing, merchandising, and communications skills and the relationships that I have honed over the last decade at Thomas Nelson and Books-A-Million.

I know what you are thinking, none of this sounds so crazy.

Well, the kicker is that the job will be based in Southern California. I am still in the process of working out logistics of how to close up a home, and a life, in Nashville and begin anew in Orange County, CALIFORNIA, but imagine I’ll be west coast bound in early September.

So truth be known, I am feeling excited, scared, sad, and a tad bit overwhelmed. But most importantly, I feel a gentle peace about the decision. I know it is the right thing and I am ready to start this new adventure. I hope you will join me on this journey. And I am sure there a lot more to come {read: weepy posts} in the next few weeks as I begin to process this big change.

Appreciate you all!

Today I am guest posting on Jennie Allen’s blog. I had the pleasure of spending some time with Jennie several weeks ago as I was finishing up at Thomas Nelson. And I just adore her. She has the kindest spirit. She is fun. She has a heart for adoption. {She and her husband just adopted a three year old boy, Cooper, from Rwanda.} And she lives in one of my favorite places, Austin, Texas.

I have seriously considered quitting my job {oh yeah, I already did that}, packing up my belongings, and moving next-door to her so we can be the best of friends. And eat Mexican food every day.

Oh yeah, and Jennie is on the cusp of some HUGE things. Her first curriculum, Stuck, is being published by Thomas Nelson this fall. And she is working on a trade book. God has BIG things in store for Jennie Allen.

Jennie asked me to share thoughts on the following words: Risk. Change. Faith. Waiting. Uncomfortable. {I know I thought they were pretty tough words too. Next time I am hoping the words will be: Annoyances. Ice Cream. Holiday. Animal. Amusement.} Well, anywho, check out the post here. 

Be sure to go here to follow Jennie on twitter. 

And here to subscribe to her blog. 

What are your thoughts on the word: Uncomfortable?  

It is July. JULY. I can hardly believe it. JULY. I think I wouldn’t believe it had I not barely survived the chaos that was the Fourth of July festivities at the Wilson’s. JULY.

We are six months through a year that is best described, by quoting the “Fresh Prince of Belair” theme song.

The year my life got flipped, turned upside down.

I can’t help but laugh as I reflect on how I thought, how I assumed, how I prophesied, this year was going to unfold. And just how off base I was.

Job changes. Friendship changes. Life changes.

It’s silly, really.

The way we make plans. The way we casually assume that tomorrow is going to look like today. The way we delude ourselves into believing we alone are in control of our destinies. The way we make judgments about right and wrong, good and evil, and even the past and the future.

There are really only a handful of things that we can count on with complete certainty.

One. That change is inevitable.

Two. That life is hard.

Three. That God is good.

Four. That in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

Five. That this life is temporary. And we MUST stay focused on things eternal.

What else can we count on? 

Since I made my big announcement, I have had several people inquire about my position at Thomas Nelson. The position has been posted here. If you have the following skills, experience and education, you should go and apply online.

Skills: Desired candidate will possess relationship building, social media tracking and monitoring skills. Will also be proficient in Office software. Excellent established relationships with press and media, intimate knowledge of Facebook, Twitter & Blogging is desired but not required. Expert in Microsoft Office Suite or Mac equivalent.

Experience: Incumbent will have 5 – 10 years product, publicity or corporate public relations experience.

Education: Desired candidate will have a bachelors degree in Mass Communication or equivalent. A masters degree in Mass Communication, MBA, or equivalent is desired but not required.

Thomas Nelson is such a wonderful place to work. And this here is a great job to have. Believe me, I know.

PS – Thomas Nelson has several other interesting positions open right now. Go here to see the complete job listings.

The countdown is on. I only have two more days of work at Thomas Nelson. {I know. I know. I am a little in shock about the whole thing too.} I thought it would be fitting to write about some of the things I have learned the last four years, so here you go:

1. I don’t know as much as I think I do. BUT I am capable of more than I can possibly imagine. Michael Hyatt shared this awhile back. I have never believed it more than I do right now.

2. People would much rather follow a person than a brand. Customers are skeptical. They want to know the who and why much more than they want to know the what.

3. Change is inevitable. It’s a lot easier to embrace it than fight it. And don’t get too settled in your new reality, more change is coming. It’s the one thing you can count on.

4. Relationship before opportunity. I learned this one from my friends at Catalyst. They live it out well. Invest in people first. Pour into them without giving a second thought to what they can do for you.

5. Books and events change people. They really do. When I look back on my own life and see the catalyst for change and transformation, I usually find a book I’ve read or an event I’ve attended. And I am thankful to have heard hundreds of stories of how people have been inspired by Thomas Nelson books and live events.

6. Surround yourself with people you would want to emulate. It’s truer than we admit. We are shaped by those we surround ourselves with. So I surround myself with great people.

7. Social media brings people together. If I had never worked at Thomas Nelson, for Michael Hyatt, I am pretty sure I would be a social media skeptic. But instead I have witnessed first-hand how it brings people from around the world with common interests together. It has revolutionized my thinking, and my relationships.

8. Set a goal. Share it with others. Live with intention. You don’t drift into real accomplishment.

9. Control is the greatest of all illusions. Pete Wilson shared this awhile back. And this is probably the single greatest thing I’ve learned in the last six months. The good news is once this truth is realized, a huge weight is lifted off our backs.

10.  Security and comfort are over-rated. I am in a place in life where I want to be, scratch that, where I NEED to be, stretched. I am ready to live a life that’s a little uncomfortable.

What lessons are you learning right now?

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Bob Goff. (Okay there were 600 people in The Crystal Ballrom with me at Q Conference but it felt like an intimate conversation.) If you don’t follow Bob on twitter, you should. The man knows how to use 140 characters. He is encouraging and…whimsical.

It seems whimsy is Bob’s thing. I don’t know about you but I am in desperate need of some whimsy in my life. And Bob not only preaches it, he exudes it. As he spoke yesterday, I looked around the room and everyone was leaning forward with goofy smiles on their faces, completely spellbound.

Bob believes love is an anecdote for all sorts of evil….whether you have a strategy or not. He does not believe in creating giant systems or non-profits. He believes God uses unlikely people, using their unique gifts to engage people. He believes in creating wow moments that serve as entry points. And he believes that once we can show people the love of Jesus, then the conversations turn.

In closing he shared, “Whimsy metastasizes in the most wonderful way.”

And after seeing Bob’s life and the influence it is having on the world, I completely agree.

Do you have enough whimsy in your life?

Be sure to be on the lookout for Bob Goff’s book which will be released by Thomas Nelson next year.

I’ll go ahead and admit it. I am a huge Don Miller fan. I love EVERYTHING I’ve read that he has written. And I love EVERYTHING I’ve heard him say. His words simply resonate.

I read Blue Like Jazz when I was in my late twenties and pretty skeptical of the religious rigamarole. Don’s candor and sense of humor made me want to reexamine my religion, and more importantly my faith. A few years later I devoured A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Again, Don challenged my thinking and encouraged me to explore what it means to live a great story.

Always warm and engaging, Don feels like a kindred spirit, walking just a few steps ahead, talking me through the path he has taken, and subtly warning me of its pitfalls.

That is why I can’t wait to read the rerelease of Searching for God Knows What. (I know, I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet, either.)

I’m also jazzed because my buddy, and Thomas Nelson editor extraordinaire, Bryan Norman crafted this amazing game that I can play (and potentially win prizes) while I read. So for the next several weeks I’m going to read, play-along, and possibly blog about the journey.

Would you like to join me? Details about the game are below.

Twelve games played over eight weeks are built into the book Searching for God Knows What. Each game requires you to sleuth, decode, think, and find…well…God knows what. Be one of the first to decipher the clue and claim your reward: Incredible prizes exclusively for those who play the game. Plus, you’ll find new opportunities to connect with Don directly, meet other fans, and earn points with every action you take. It’s fun, easy, and addicting. So take just two minutes, and let’s start searching!

Starting the week of July 19, 2010—for eight weeks—you will receive clues.* Each clue will lead you to a game hidden in Searching for God Knows What. To play the game, here’s what you need to do:

Step One: Go to www.DonaldMillerFan.com and sign up for an account or use your Facebook account to sign in.
Step Two: Take actions, create groups, and get new clues each week.
Step Three: Decode the correct answers and enter them at www.SearchingForGodKnowsWhat.com to solve the puzzles and be eligible for prizes.
Step Four: Win!

*If you’re joining the game late, no worries. All clues will be available at SearchingForGodKnowsWhat.com until the end of time so you can play whenever you want.

I’m also very excited to be giving away 20 copies of Searching for God Knows What.

If you’d like to win a copy, leave a comment below sharing a few words about an author that has impacted your life.

Winners will be selected on Monday at 12 PM.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Update: Winners Selected and Notified on July 19th. Thanks everyone for your comments. I loved hearing what authors have impacted you.