Motivating words from my pastor's weekly update:

I think that's it for now, except to ask you to pray for one person by name, who you know is troubled or in conflict and needs God's peace. Would you share with that person what God is showing you these days about conflict and peace here at New Life, and invite him/her to come with you on Sunday? Don't keep it to yourself! It's too good not to share! People are dying for Good News, and by the grace of God you've got it! Turn it loose!

Please come "prayed up" and "looking up" in anticipation of what the Lord will do as He "shows up"...

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John

Spilling Open

by Sabrina Ward Harrison

My friend Tammy showed me this book. It's the journal of a 19 year old that she published at 25 years of age. It's a work of art. Amazing & inspiring.

I've only read a few entries but here's a taste of what she's written:

"I sat on the bench outside of class today and talked to Jon. I read to him from my journal, it was the part about the accordion player I was watching on the street last weekend. He said that an accordion is such a perfect metaphor for love, because you are always opening, and closing, shifting and getting air, and that's how the music happens. True."


Sabrina writes a lot about accepting and loving who you are. More treats:

"If we let ourselves be truly seen than we can be truly loved."

"I'm afraid to show you who I really am, because if I show you who I really am, you might not like it and that's all I've got."

"I want to stop sucking in- stop holding my breath- stop covering up. Let g0- it isn't worth it. I can't think of one good reason to keep up the act of being more (or less) than I need. If I can't love myself... then he certainly can't love me."

"Trying to change myself to fit some ideal seems to be an endless and dehydrating way to live."

Does this drawing of a woman look familiar? She did the art for one of the albums for Sixpence None the Richer.

Scoop

Just watched Scoop with a friend. Woody Allen is the director & writer. It was released in 2006. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457513/