RGM Contributors

MARIAN

Who is in your family?

The Jordan’s are more like a village than a family. Imagine “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” set in Texas. I’m one of 7 kids...yes, 7! I am the baby girl. This fact should explain a lot to my readers. I have more nieces and nephews than I can count and they are precious to me. God has also blessed me with friends who are as close as family and I’ve met most of them at my home church, Second Baptist of Houston.

Where is your favorite place to visit?

Since I travel so much for work, I like to distinguish between trips and vacations.
Relaxing vacation: I love a week at a beach house with good books, good coffee, good food, and good friends.
Favorite trips: I love all things British. Australia holds a special place in my heart. Crazy for Prague, Israel is beyond words, and I adore a Paris flea market.

Who is your hero?

George Whitfield and Corrie Ten Boom—they both poured out their lives for Jesus and “left it all on the court.”

What do you order at Starbucks?

If I go in the AM – grande coffee of the day in a venti cup with a splenda and one raw sugar (I like the extra room).
If I go in the PM – grande, skinny, vanilla latte (I don’t do dairy in the morning).

If you could have dinner with anyone who lived within the last 1,000 years who would it be?

It’s a toss up between my heroes. I’m going with Corrie Ten Boom. Sorry, George.

KITTY

Who’s in your family?

My sweet family is comprised of my husband and me! My parents and sister live in West Virginia and my wonderful in-laws live in Memphis.

Where is your favorite place to visit?

Give me the sand and give me the ocean any day of the week. Throw in some cute shops and yummy restaurants and I am in paradise.

What do you order at Starbucks?

Zen Green Tea

If you could have dinner with anyone who lived within the last 1,000 years who would it be?

Oprah Winfrey. I want to share the pure Christ with her in a serious way.

CATHERINE

Who’s in your family?

My immediate family consists of my incredible husband, Geoff, and my two wild, adorable boys, Cooper (4 ½) and Carter (1). We also have a German Shepherd named Maggie and a cat named Beaufort. My parents live 4 blocks away and are part of our daily life. My oldest brother lives on my street with his wife and 3 wonderful sons, and my slightly older brother and his wife live a whopping 4 miles away.

Where is your favorite place to visit?

This is a really tough question for me because I love adventure and exploration, and rarely want to return to a place I’ve been before. While I definitely enjoy visiting places of historical significance, I tend to feel most alive in places with lots of wildlife. I‘ve never been to Africa, which is on the top of my list, but of the places I’ve been, Alaska and Costa Rica are probably my favorite.

Who is your hero?

I would have to go with two revolutionaries here: Mother Teresa and Joan of Arc. They were both mighty warriors for God’s kingdom, but in such extremely different ways. Mother Teresa sought to minister to the poorest of poor, not only touching these “Untouchables,” but kissing, bathing, and serving them as they died. She gave up all of her rights and lived in poverty among those to whom she ministered. Joan of Arc was just a young peasant girl who received a vision from God to take back her homeland during the 100 years war between England and France, and then despite her gender, age, and education, defied the odds, becoming a military commander while never losing sight of her passion for Jesus.

What do you order at Starbucks?

I’m not a Starbucker for one simple reason—I like fountain drinks. Coke, specifically, and preferably from Sonic or McDonald’s.

If you could have dinner with anyone who lived within the last 1,000 years who would it be?

This one was hard for me, but I think it would have to be Brennan Manning, an author of several books that have changed my life. Manning reminds the broken and broken-hearted of the incomprehensible and lavish love and grace of Christ and the freedom that Jesus died to give us. My description just doesn’t do him justice.

SUSANNAH

Who’s in your family? 

My husband, Jason, and three-year-old daughter Lillian and my one-year-old daughter Lizzie (if we had a pet, according to my husband, it would definitely be a pug :).

Where is your favorite place to visit?

Locally: My parent's house and my in-laws Ranch (both places, I do not have to cook or clean up the dishes) - Internationally: Oxford, England.

Who is your hero?

Elisabeth Elliot (missionary to Ecquador) and Suzanne Haden (my grandmother).

What do you order at Starbucks?

Half Caff Misto with Sugar-free Vanilla.

If you could have dinner with anyone who lived within the last 1,000 years who would it be?

At this stage of my life, it would probably be Susanna Wesley, wife, mother, and disciple of Christ extraordinaire.

LINDSEY

Who's in your family?

My family of two is made up of myself and my husband Mike (who runs a web development and design business); we just celebrated our 2 year anniversary in August.  My parents, Marty and Lori are church planters who - most recently - live near Blanco, TX.  My brothers are both in ministry as well - my older brother Brett works with small group ministry in New Braunfels and my twin brother Scott works with a missions department near Fort Worth.  I also inherited a great set of in-laws who live in Houston, TX - complete with three great nephews and a cutie-pie of a niece.

Where is your favorite place to visit?

Living in Los Angeles, many ordinary days feel like vacation - and my favorite place to visit is Canali -a great little cafe walking distance from my apartment.  But - to be more entertaining - I look forward to visiting Europe soon... I especially want to eat delicious Italian and French food!

Who is your hero?

Peter and Paul are my heroes for different reasons - but both because they give me hope as I stumble my way along this path of serving God.  Peter comforts me when I act rashly and let my passions drive my actions; his interactions with Christ remind me of grace and that God loves and uses us in spite of our short-comings.  Paul gives me hope when my faith gets too academic; his writings remind me that God is not interested in my credentials, He's interested in my heart.

What do you order at Starbucks?

Tall vanilla latte with skim milk - unless it is between Thanksgiving and New Year's - then I get a grande peppermint latte!

If you could have dinner with anyone who lived within the last 1,000 years who would it be?

A.W. Tozer.  He wrote my favorite book, The Pursuit of God, and captures better than any writer I've ever encountered the differences between ritual, religion, and authentic spiritual faith.  His writings have absolutely changed the way I view God, relate to Him, talk about Him, and how I approach theology and my spiritual life.  If you haven't read this book, read it.  And then read it again.  =)