Welcome to Three Things - a Friday update before we head off into the weekend.
I use this space to tell you about things that catch my attention and introduce you to some of my favorite nonprofit or fair trade organizations.
We are taking a different tone in today’s note. I want to introduce you to two artists who are well worth listening to but don’t get a lot of radio time. They have been on repeat in my house over the last few weeks. Any time we can support the “little guy,” whether by shopping small or local, or going for more “indy” artists, it helps someone pursue their dreams.
Matthew Clark is at his core a storyteller. He longs to make God alive and active through his lyrics. A lot of his songs have their roots in The Word. He does house shows and longs to cultivate spaces where people can meet Jesus.
His latest project is a trilogy of books and albums that examine encountering Jesus, faith, and the return of Christ. The first, Only The Lover Sings, looks at The Woman at the Well and how Jesus invites us into ordinary encounters. The second book, A Tale of Two Trees, comes out in June. (You can find the accompanying album on Spotify, including a song from his next book.)
In the same vein of singer/songwriters who chase the bigger themes, is Skye Peterson. I can only imagine growing up with Andrew Peterson’s (her father) music playing all the time had to be a powerful influence. Skye’s voice is rich and demands you give it your full attention. Her first album came out last year and it is magical! Her songs are stories (much like Matthew's) that hold deeper meaning and yet will get stuck in your head.
Ever wonder if an author regrets a book they’ve published? (I have often wanted to ask actors if there are movies they regret.) Bookriot lists eight books authors have openly admitted to regretting - and maybe not for the reasons you think. Unintended consequences is a reoccurring theme. It got me thinking - is it possible to imagine the worse that comes from a story we wrote to entertain?
Pastor Benjamin Cremer offered a thread in response to the firing of Tucker Carlson. It’s worth the read. I consider Cremer to be a voice in the wilderness of the current American church. His newsletter is one of the few I read without fail.
I will write more about them in a future note, but More Than Words is a group that works with teens in foster care in Boston. They run a store with new and used items the teens can work at. They have a whole page dedicated to Mother’s Day gifts. Get your mama something sweet and help teens in foster care. I call that a win-win! (I love to buy my used books from there!)
Journal Prompt: Spring is here! Color is blooming! It is a reminder that new life is all around us. Spring does come. For some, winter is hard - whether that is the season itself or a season that felt marked with death or loss.
What does spring inspire in you? What are you noticing around you? How can new growth on the trees and buds in the ground remind you that creation is always possible?
Until next week be well friends,
Amanda