It oooonly takes a spaaarrrk to get a fire going...

To anyone who went to Bible Camp or VBS, that was your earworm for the day. :-)

My articulate cyber-friend Shalom has bestowed a kindness on me, and it's now my pleasure to pass it on (as in the song). Here are the rules:

List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 people...tagging them and letting them know they won! You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sidebar letting the whole wide world know you are KReATIV!

Seven Things I Love

1. the sound the pups make when they wake up in the morning, and the way they're excited about nearly everything

2. really well-crafted lyrics

3. friendships measured in decades

4. the moment when I say a perfectly abstract thing to one of my choirs and it makes enough sense to them that they SING the essence of the thing I was trying to say

5. unexpected kindnesses, of which I have received a bunch lately

6. getting to preach (which is fun on several levels), or getting to hear a really good sermon

7. the hearts of those who suffer when justice is absent...especially when the offense isn't against them personally


Now, to share--some old friends, some new!

1. MomPriest at Seeking Authentic Voice--it's an oasis: calm, thoughtful, deeply kind.

2. Diane at Coexist--lots of original poetry and meditative thought. Got a Minnesotan's love for this one, personally.

3. Christine at Abbey of the Arts--gorgeous, all around. Photography, poetry, and I particularly loved the wisdom in this post.

4. Catrina at The Mad Preacher Liberation Front--insightful, articulate, and sometimes hilariously titled posts (i.e. The Audacity of Nope).

5. Rachel at The Sweet Bi and Bi--visually restful, astutely observed, well connected with resources, sweet and funny. Try this post for a new take on diversity in the church.

6. Mary at Tensegrities--she's interested in lots of things that appeal to a quirky church geek like me, and she writes well and links to fascinating stuff.

7. I've recognized Ruth of Ruth's Visions and Revisions before--still think she's wonderful, but today's shout-out goes to her co-blogger, Smokey. His Dog Parables (right sidebar, scroll down) are really something special!

Warmth on a REALLY cold day

The thermometer by our kitchen window currently reads -14 fahrenheit. No matter. My friend Diane did a sweet thing, and it warmed me up. She sent me this blogging friends award.

It's funny--I hear about how we're all getting sucked into the vortex of the internet, cutting off our social circles and developing eyestrain. But what I've found is a really lovely circle of people. They take an interest in each other's lives across a lot of miles, and reach out to one another in real friendship.

I've been fortunate enough to meet Diane, as well as Magdalene and Rachel. I also feel like I've got to know Fran, Ruth, Songbird, Catherine and Jan. I know I'm supposed to stop at eight, but Peg got me into this whole blogging business, and I'd love to have a beer with Shalom some time. All of them fit this description well:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Thanks, friends.

Warmth, depth, reason, honesty, humor

Hello, everyone! It's been a crazy week; I'm fully engaged in All That Is Autumn--rehearsals; church & nonprofit planning/administrative stuff; prepping the homestead for winter; keeping the pups active, healthy & happy; having the happy occasion to invite dear ones to dinner, after a summer of everyone being scattered to the four winds.

So it's been a crazy week, but a good one. I'm feeling chin-deep in love and richness. But things are moving quickly, and I haven't been as present to the blogosphere as I like to be. And so...my friend Ruth sent some loveliness my way last week, and I've been pondering a response, but it's taken me a little while. She sent me an award, which made me grin:


There are a lot of blogs I read, for many different reasons. Blogs I really love have five things in common:

• Warmth--I want to know the writer a bit, to understand what makes them tick. I want to read people who know themselves but don't wear ego like a big orange hat; who I can imagine chuckling from somewhere behind their kneecaps; with whom I'd love to sit down and have a long chat over a cuppa.
• Depth--These bloggers turn the prism a bit for me; they ask me to take one more look, and invite me into places I might not have gone. They offer places of rest and reflection and insight and goodwill.
  
• Reason--Good sense trumps hyperbole for me; these people are grounded and principled and smart. And as an added bonus, they can write.
• Honesty--They call 'em as they see 'em. They're not afraid to admit what they don't know. They'll say the tough thing that needs saying, and they swim hard toward reality at all times.
  
• Humor--Karl Barth said that "Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God." These women make me laugh. At myself, often. :-) Snorting, running-to-the-bathroom kind of laughing. What a gift!

So, I'd officially like to thank these people for all those things, and tell them that I love their blogs!

• Magdalene at Magdalene's Musings
• Fran at FranIAm
• Shalom at Mine Unbelief
• Jan at Yearning for God
  
• Diane at Faith in Community

and, of course, though I don't say it as often as I should,

• Ruth at Ruth's Visions and Revisions.

Y'all are a blessing to me, every day. Thank you.

Opening up a can of whup***

Very cool compliment from the (decidedly kick***) Preacher Diane at Faith in Community; she named five bloggers she considers to be "good writers, honest, insightful, but also courageous in some way" and kindly included me in some great company. Now it's my charge to pass on the love. The rules:

1) Choose five other bloggers that you feel are “Kick Ass Bloggers”

2) Let them know that they have received an award.

3) Link back to both the person who awarded you and also to http://www.mammadawg.com/

4) Visit the Kick Ass Blogger Club HQ to sign Mr. Linky and leave a comment.

And here are my five picks (among many I could name...the "honorable mention" list is long!):

1) Have to second Diane's inclination to honor Fran at FranIAm. She's fiery, funny, lefty, Jesusy and kind. Part of my daily fix.

2) I've recently become a fan of Wendy's at both I Are a Writer and I Are Writing Sermons. Seriously funny. Seriously insightful. Refreshingly honest.

3) My friend Mags at Magdalene's Musings. How can you not want to read someone whose self-description reads "a liberal Calvinista whose heart is strangely warmed, and whose affinity for a much maligned biblical figure is sort of an obsession?" She had me at hello, and lived up to her description when I met her.

4) LutheranChik was one of the first people I ever read on a regular basis. We share a potpourri of affinities, and she makes me laugh (in a slightly repressed, Lutheran way, of course). "Here I blog. I can do no other, God help me." This is most certainly good stuff.

5) Recently, I've been lurking at A Soprano Steps Out. Jessica offers a glimpse of the not-always-so-glamorous world of a young opera singer. Tales of dance class, of blocking rehearsals, of the repertoire of a "young lyric" and of nightmare (familar!) musical situations will pretty universally make you laugh and feel like part of the action. A glimpse into a different track my life could have taken (if I had more vocal talent, less choir geekiness and a more disciplined approach to practice!). Lots of fun!

And now, back to our previously scheduled Olympics viewing...

Arte y Pico award

Two days ago Ruth of Ruth's Visions and Revisions bestowed the Arte y Pico award on five bloggers, including me. This award is given to blogs who "deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language." I'm honored that Ruth listed me among her honorees; her blog is one I read every day. Ruth is a gifted writer; she has the courage and insight necessary to see into places that many wouldn't dare to venture, and she uses those tools in ways that are both thought-provoking and lovely. Please go and see for yourself!

Here are the rules of the award:

1) Pick five (5) blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award which is here: "Arte y Pico".

May I have the envelope, please?

Actually, each of these five people has been an inspiration to me in some way...in my own blog, in my ministry, and in my spiritual life. I thank them and I'm pleased to honor them in this small way. My choices for the Arte y Pico award are:

1) Grace Unfolding: more than just a blog, it's a haven. It's a beautifully designed page whose evolution I've watched for almost a decade. Anita is a pastor and a partnered lesbian who has created a ministry for GLBTQ Christian folks. When she started this, online resources for this community were scarce, and she has created a lovely gathering space there. Whatever your orientation, there's beauty and grace to be found at Grace Unfolding.

2) Closeted Pastor: the visual design is very simple, and that's appropriate. Complexity would draw focus from Cecilia's courage, pastoral heart and searing honesty. When confronted with opposing and sometimes hostile viewpoints, she stays engaged in conversation in a way that builds trust and elevates discourse. I'm proud to call her my friend.

3) Don't Eat Alone: the blog that got me started. Milton is a former pastor, current chef, and beautiful soul. His art is in the blend of his spirituality, cooking, music-making and poetry. It's never clear what you'll find there on a given day, but I promise you, it will be tasty and gorgeous.

4) Velveteen Rabbi: Rachel is a poet and rabbinical student who offers Torah portions and stunning poetry, along with a glimpse into a world I don't often see. Well worth a trip.

5) Real Live Preacher: Gordon is that rarest of birds, a progressive Texan Baptist. His pithy, easy-on-the-ears preaching is...well, the man is gifted. Words fail me. He's often a source of discussion within my church staff. Go see why.

Thank you to each of you, and to you, Ruth. Blessings!