Hey friends!

SO... CAMP WEEKEND!

This weekend those of you in Sojourn will be learning about some of our faith roots. We will be digging into some of the foundations of our faith's roots, considering biblical action and consequence and even eating a bit of food.

The Mentorship crew will will be looking deeper into discipleship with Phil, Frank and Tyler.

I mentioned awhile ago that it might be a good idea to bring a mug of your own to camp if you are a hot beverage drinker. Also, remember to bring your COATS, Bibles and your applications for summer!!

YAY SUMMER!!

I am also wondering if anyone actually reads this, so the first 3 people who email me I will give a $5 Starbucks card.

YAY STARBUCKS!!

I hope all is well! Remember, we are here if ever you need us!

Blessings to all!

-shelley

I don’t understand why

I don’t understand why

if offered the choice between hope and despair one would choose despair,

when given the choice between life and death, someone would choose death,

when faced with doing good or evil one would choose evil,

that someone could choose to hurt rather than help,

or violence over loving.

How can anyone choose to make the world a little worse rather than better,

serve oneself when one could serve many,

choose to willfully hurt themselves over health,

insult others instead of compliment?

We can choose to step on those around us or lift up those who need a hand.

We get to decide between stupidity and wisdom,

and making friends or enemies.

We get to choose to accept rejection or forgiveness,

offer grace or judgment.

Only we get to decide the kind of person we are going to be.

What are you going to choose?

Hey friends!

I wanted to share a video I found with you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WCTltHR-Hg&feature=rec-fresh+div-r-25.

I hope you are all well! stay in touch and we'll see you soon!

-shelley

So? Where's the hoax?

Hello, my fine feathered friends!!

Today while I was breaking from making the 2010 CLTD Reference Form to eat my lunch I hopped onto youtube, as I often do and I found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY. It is called Where the Hell is Matt? It is a cool video, shot in several countries, of Matt dancing.

Then I watched this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogcqFaNbah4 where Matt 'explains' how the video was made.

As I was watching the second one it occurred to me how we have to be so very careful what we accept as truth in our world today. Just because you read something on line does not mean it is true. Someone will argue that one thing is white while someone else will argue it is black with equal passion.

So? How do we discern truth? I can tell you this much - somethings have far more beneath the surface than we first recognize. Don't accept blindly, my friends! Dig for truth in all you experience. I heard at a conference I was at last month that every commercial tells a lie - we just have to discover what that lie is.

I think we also need to ask ourselves if we are believing something because we really want to even though deep down we know it is wrong. Like this one: "Pot isn't bad for you - it is natural." Sorry peeps, no matter how much you might want to believe it, it does not make it true! Or how about this one: "Camp is for sissies!" Ummm... no. People might try to tell you that BUT THEY ARE DEAD WRONG!!

I miss you all and I hope your new year is starting out well!! I can't wait to see you again! Keep in touch, ok?

-shelley

PS. just need to show off my niece and nephew - aren't they great?!

A True Story...

I received this as an email today and thought I would share it with you... if anyone is actually reading this! Be blessed!

-shel

The Washington Post won a Pulitzer in the feature writing category for Gene Weingarten's April 2007 story about the following experiment on Perceptions and Priorities.

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 6 minutes:A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children.. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly. 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.17 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one applauded, and only one person had recognized the performance.The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, played on a 1713 Stradivarius reportedly worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days later, Joshua Bell played to sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made...... how many other things are we missing?

Courage is – The Strange Familiar

Take all my vicious words, turn them into something good.

Take all my preconceptions and let the truth be understood

Take all my prize positions and leave only what I need.

Take all my pieces of doubt and let me be what ‘s underneath.

Courage is when you’re afraid but you keep on moving anyway

Courage is when you’re in pain but you keep on living anyway

We all have excused why living in fear something in us dies.

Like a bird with broken wings, it’s not how high he flies but the song he sings.

Take all my pieces of doubt and let me be what ‘s underneath

Courage is when you’re afraid but you keep on moving anyway

Courage is when you’re in pain but you keep on living anyway

you keep on living anyway

It’s not how many times you’re been knocked down, it’s how many times you get back up.

Courage is when you’ve lost your way but you find the strength anyway

Courage is when you’re afraid

Courage is when it all seems grey

Courage is when you make a change

You keep on living anyway

You keep on moving anyway

You keep on giving anyway

You keep on loving anyway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXrWRM0E6YA&feature=rec-fresh+div-f-6