Rachel Held Evans

Where have you been?

(Photo by Stuck in Customs - Glacier National Park)

Summer is winding to a close, and for a lot of folks that means unpacking from summer vacation and getting back into the routine. I love hearing about people’s travels, so I thought I’d give you the chance to share a little about your own. Feel free to include links to blog posts or photos!

1. Where did you go on your summer vacation? 

2. What was the best meal you ate/ place you stayed? 

3. What would be your dream vacation for next year? 

Congratulations, Lisa Simpson!

Lisa is my favorite Simpson. Like me she has a tendency to overanalyze, overachieve, and wear herself out advocating unpopular views in her hometown of Springfield.  So you can imagine my delight when I learned that a 1995 flash-forward episode of The Simpsons had Lisa marrying Hugh St. John Alastair Parkfield on August 1, 2010. 

So, what would you give Hugh and Lisa as a wedding gift? 

I’m thinking a subscription to The Atlantic Monthly...and a Malibu Stacy. 

What was the last….?

(Photo by X.u.k.i)

movie you saw

trip you took

moment that made you laugh

What would you say to seventeen-year-old you?

It’s been a busy week, and this morning I fly out to North Carolina to speak at Project Ex, a conference for high school juniors and seniors preparing to attend college. (I’m especially excited to meet my blogging buddy Matthew Paul Turner in person!)

As I prepared for my talk, I struggled to know exactly what to say to a group of seventeen and eighteen-year-olds about doubt. I want to help prepare them for the questions they might ask in their young adulthood, but I have to keep in mind that they are probably not asking these questions yet. 

So…if you could go back in time and speak to your high school self, what would you say? What do you wish you had known before graduating and going to college or the workplace? 

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And as promised—updated reviews and interviews for Evolving in Monkey Town: 

Interview: The Nick & Josh Podcast

Review: Nathan Evans – Heart of Campus Ministry

Review: Hillsideslide

Review: Crystal Oxner - Soul Munchies

Review: Crosswalk

Review: Heather Sunseri

Review: That Guy K.C. – Off the Cuff

Review: Kyle Reed – Standing On Giants 

Our conversation about the Tennessee mosque was featured today on Friendly Atheist. 

(P.S. Right now my email inbox is where good conversations go to die, so if you’ve sent me a message, it may be a week or so before I can respond.  Just a busy month. Things will slow down soon!)

BOOK LAUNCH BONANZA!

Today marks the official release of Evolving in Monkey Town! People are so excited they’re buying fireworks. 

To celebrate here on the blog, we’re doing a great big summer reading giveaway, in which three lucky winners will receive a Zondervan prize package that includes: 

• Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
• Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist 
• O Me of Little Faith by Jason Boyett
• Picking Dandelions by Sarah Cunningham
• Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans 

That’s right. Five books from five different authors. 

To enter, just leave a comment with your favorite line from Evolving in Monkey Town...or from whatever you're currently reading. (Make sure you name the source!)

The contest will run through Monday, July 5 at midnight. I’ll contact the winners.

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In the meantime, if you would like to help spread the word about Evolving in Monkey Town, you can—

1. Write an Amazon review (Bonus points for complaining about not having a six-star option) 
2. Spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, or your blog  (Bonus points for invoking the phrase “female Donald Miller”)
3. Suggest Evolving in Monkey Town as a selection for your book club or small group study (Bonus points if your book club has 5,000 members) 

Thanks once again for all your kind words of support. They really mean a lot to me.

Can 'The Office' go on without Michael Scott?

I was so bummed to learn that Steve Carell will be leaving ‘The Office’ after Season Seven.  Dan and I don’t watch a lot of TV, but the Thursday night lineup on NBC is something we look forward to every week. (Our favorite is '30 Rock.')

Can the show go on without its main character?

The only way I see it continuing as a hit is if Ricky Gervais resurrects his role from the original British version of the show and becomes the new regional manager at Dunder Mifflin Scranton.

What do you think?

What's your favorite TV comedy? Got any favorite Michael Scott lines?