It's a great day to be alive

[MrNewberry]

So my mission statement is printed and tagged all over the place. My wife told me this morning that after knowing the new me and the old me, she never wants to see the old me again. My kids recognize that something dramatic has happened in me.

My church on the other hand thinks that I have been brainwashed. I cannot believe how attacked I am on this. They have no desire for change. So I thought outside of the box.

I had a handful of people respond positively to my sermon, so I am starting a Saturday night service where I can preach to the hearts of people. I am not going to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results. We are doing something different, real, with passion and a purpose.

I am so grateful for all of you. You brought out my best when I was struggling. Mr. Porter, you being my room mate was no mistake. God put you there, and I am grateful.

Serving Him,

Mr. Newberry (team 577)

[Mr. Porter]

That's awesome! yeah I will never forgot our conversations. On the way home my girlfriend was flipping out (in a good way) I re-lit her flame I guess and she is emailing her family her 5's everyday and we're giving each other our 5's. It's pretty amazing being able to look her dead in the eye and express how I feel, its exhilarating. I have no problem sleeping now cuz focusing everyday and exerting such large amounts of energy is tiring! Soon it'll become second nature. Everything is going great here I'm really hapy my girlfriend made it to my graduation ^_^

[MsWhitlow]

Hi. I'm Jamie from team 570 and I eavesdrop. So I wanted to ask you Mr. Newberry, how are you continuing to deal with churchmates who "don't get it" about you?
I ask because I spent about the first month back from EU with literally everyone asking whether I'd lost weight, gotten my hair done, got new glasses, etc because I looked "different/better" than before and I would enthusiastically tell them my story and the things I was learning and the ways I was opening up, and one night at free medical clinic, a churchmate whom I look up to as a woman who has gotten married and had children but not lost her personal identity or professional ambitions approached me and asked something about my appearance, and when I replied about EU she rolled her eyes and said "Yeah my folks went to something like that in the 90's. They tried really hard to make our family work and to get along with relatives for about 3 months or so and then it just got worse than it was before and stayed there ever since." I did respond to her in a positive way, saying that what I'd learned is that I don't have to just "accept" that broken family relationships are irreparable and that it takes hard work and tough conversations, but that there is always hope (which she seemed to accept at that moment) Then later I was talking to another churchmate about youth group looking for more leaders and that she should just come some night as a guest and see how it goes and that I promise, God is there and it will be the thing you *make* time for in your schedule. Churchmate #1 walked up at the tail end of the conversation and squared her shoulders at me and said "What are you trying to talk her in to??" in a pretty interrogative tone; and I said, "Youth group..." and she said "Oh, phew, never mind, go on." It didn't dawn on me until later that not only did she think my experience was not a good thing but that she apparently also thought that sharing it with other churchmates is harmful to them in a way she felt compelled to defend. I realize this is a symptom of her own hurt that she's still carrying around over the fact that her parents got their fire lit by something like EU and then let it go out (which really, there is nothing like EU so whatever they did was probably not as powerful anyhow) but it definitely took the wind out of my sails as far as wanting to witness to anyone else about my experience, and without exactly realizing it until I just went to my starfish's graduation a little more than a week ago and getting "rekindled and re-energized" my intensity had dimmed and I didn't even realize it, but can look back now and see that in that moment I let someone else tell me that it wasn't okay to be excited. Anyhow I'm still good friends with this woman and our church in general is a pretty bonded community, so I want to keep telling people about EU but have found myself inhibited whenever she is around or even telling people that I know she is especially close to because I don't want her treating me like I'm something she has to protect others from.
Perhaps I'm seeking your advice because my own set of pastors are a little too close to the situation but also your statement that some of your churchmates act as though you've been brainwashed just totally resonated with how I'm feeling in that situation; like she thinks I've been brainwashed and even though everything I've learned helps me be more mindful and Christ-seeking in mission work, volunteer activities, youth work, Sunday school and all of the roles I have within my faith community, somehow I get the vibe from her that even if it's something that I identify as a strengthening of spiritual connection, she still views it as the voodoo brainwash that scarred her family and it's her job to protect other churchmates from me.
So, if you're still reading, thanks. And if you decide to reply, thanks even more.

HBS!!
Jamie W.