Listen Up!

Aunt Liza was out for a visit last week, and at a dinner... we had to discuss

Who's Coming for Dinner?

the crazy new game that we seem to be the only ones playing.  Seriously, you guys, step it up and send in your lists!

Liza invited someone new to me:  Elisabeth Elliot, now actually Mrs. Gren.  Born in Belgium, moved to the US, became a missionary, and later an author and speaker on Christian life.  Check out her daily devotional!  One of the more interesting facts about her is that she spent two years as a missionary to indigenous people of Peru - after they had killed her first husband.

Next up is a woman who almost certainly has already had dinner with Ms. Elisabeth, Ruth Bell Graham.  Both she and the guest of honor attended Wheaton College and met their missionary husbands there.  Ruth Bell met Billy Graham.  Karen recommends Footprints of a Pilgrim, her memoir which is only one of many books she wrote.  One of her great accomplishments was keeping Billy Graham away from the temptations that would have taken him off his path, but she has many others.  One of the only couples to jointly receive a Congressional Medal of Honor.

Yet another Wheaton attendee - not a grad, as they kicked him out - is up next:  Phil Vischer.  One of the founding partners of Veggie Tales, our respect for him went through the roof when we heard him speak on what he learned by losing that company.  (To wait for and follow God's vision for you vs developing your own.)  Now he is running Jelly Telly and making a very cool series called What's in the Bible.  Funny and insightful - great dinner guest.

Our first non-Wheaton guest is Leslie Lombardo.  From the East Coast, she let a biologist sweep her off her feet to Michigan.  An artist by trade, she was called to be the children's education minister at our current church.  She is hugely imaginitive and loves kids and the Lord.  Good invitation.  But we need a picture!

The last place at the table is for Eugene Peterson.  A retired Presbyterian minister and prolific author, he's definitely one of our favorite writers about the faith walk.  His telling of the Bible (not a translation), the Message, is a great read.  We'd also recommend Eat This Book about how to read (really), Under the Undpredictable Plant about vocations and Jonah, and - well - basically anything he's written.  He seems funny and enlightening. 

The place for this dinner is the Carriage House at the Iroquois on the Beach on Mackinac Island.  Beautiful views out over the straights, the Cariage House gives a casual dress fine dining experience with high service, traditional fine cuisine and crazy prices.  (It is Mackinac.)   Definitely save room for the fudge ice cream puff, although the portion size makes this easy.

Who would you invite to this dinner?  Tell us in the comments!