MP3s Questions and other doodles

I am thinking about purchasing a MP3 player. I have been studying the MP3s that are out there. I have read the CNET, and other reviews. I even done the comparison thing. It seems like it keeps getting back to Apple IPod. But even IPod has some limitations. Now I want to know what the real users think. I want to know your thoughts. How you use it. Why I should spend the money, although I did ask Santa for one, but didn't get it. He was broke at the time. Do you listen to music, listen to books, pod casts, or watch movies, videos, look at pictures? Is it worth your money? Do you use it while walking, riding bikes, in-line skating, excersising or while driving your car or sitting at your desk? Does it work to your liking? Please don't get too technical or use less geeky language. I appreciate your thoughts?

And finally, I will be gone to the North Alabama Conference today through late Saturday. What's the big events? Tonight the clergywomen are gathering after the memorial service. We get to hear Bishop Janice Huie at Ordination. We are voting for jurisdictional and general conference delegates. It is a compressed meeting, but last year with voting we were there late, so it could happen again. We are meeting at Clear Branch church out in Clay, NE Birmingham, one of our big churches, and not at Birmingham Southern. Our special offering goes to the Nothing But Nets.

Wednesday thoughts about Rob Bell and Velvet Elvis

Over at revgalblogpals, they have been in a book discussion over the book Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. The thing that we related to the most was his chapter on burnout and trying to be "SuperPastor". I know this struggle, I have struggled with thinking I had to be super woman, super pastor, and tried to do it, and burned out trying to do it myself. We aren't called to be superhuman. We are called to be human, after all we are human beings. Okay so I am preaching to the choir, myself, and maybe I need to keep hearing and reading it.

I am just at this place in the book. I keep getting interrupted in my readings by the munchkins. But I will say it is good interruptions. I had read this before in an excerpt Rob Bell wrote for Chritianity Today, called the The Storage Room Meltdown.
Here is what he had to say: "I could feel my car keys in my pocket, and all I could think about was how far away I could be by 11 a.m. How much gas was in the tank? How fast could I drive?

Sitting on a chair in a storage room, I could hear the worship space filling up with people, and all I wanted to do was leave. What do you do when you're pastor of a church, it's Sunday morning, people are finding their seats, you're scheduled to preach, and you realize you have nothing to say? How did it come to this? It started out so great … One minute you have these ideas about how it could be, and the next minute you're leading this exploding church/event/monster."

He goes on to say: "We were growing. House churches were springing up, partnerships were beginning with other churches around the world, and people who had never been a part of a church were finding a home. Two years into it, around 10,000 people were coming to the three gatherings on Sundays. In the middle of all this chaos was me, superpastor, doing weddings and funerals and giving spiritual direction and going to meetings and teaching and dealing with crises and visiting people in prison and at the hospital. It was happening so fast. One minute you have these ideas about how it could be, and the next minute you are leading this exploding church/event/monster. I tell you all this because there's a dark side. It's one thing to be an intern with dreams about how church should be. It's another thing to be the 30-year-old pastor of a massive church. And that is why I was sitting there thinking about how far I could be by 11 a.m. I escaped to the storage closet to be alone. I was moments away from leaving the whole thing. I just couldn't do it anymore. People were asking me to write books on how to grow a progressive young church, and I wasn't even sure I was a Christian anymore. I didn't know if I wanted to be a Christian anymore. I was exhausted. Full of doubt. I had nothing more to say.
And so I sat there with my keys in my hand, turning them over and over, hearing the room getting louder and louder and more and more full. At that moment I made some decisions. Because without pain, we don't change, do we? but I realized that day that things were wrong with the whole way I was living my life. If I didn't change, I was not going to make it. In that abyss I broke and got help … because it's only when you hit bottom and are desperate enough that things start to get better. This breakdown, of course, left me with difficult decisions to make.
This breakdown, of course, left me with difficult decisions to make. Mars Hill was alive and people were being transformed. Who would leave all that? I decided to be honest about my journey, and if people wanted to come along, great. But I was still going to have to take a new path. And a new journey began, one that has been very, very painful. And very, very freeing.
It was during this period that I learned that I have a soul."

Well he says more, and I'll be glad to share the article with you or you can read the chapter in the book. Its a good chapter. I think whether you are a Pastor who is planting a church, or is pastoring a mega church or a little church, somewhere you are going to get to this place in your life, your ministry. And if you seek the help you need, change your path, you too will learn you have a soul, but you will have to face and feel the pain. I would say that some days, I am still facing and feeling the pain, and when I do, I realize, I have gotten off the path, or am having to look at another shadow part of myself.

Here is the Nooma for the day. It is a Nooma we could all use. It is one I can especially use. The Psalmist wrote, "Be still, and know I am God."

• "Why is silence so hard to deal with? Why is it so much easier for us to live our lives with a lot of things going on all the time than tojust be in silence? We’re constantly surrounded with “voices” that are influencing us on how to think, feel, and behave. Movies, music, TV, Internet, cell phones, and a never-ending barrage of advertising. There’s always something going on. Always noise in our lives. But maybe there’s a connection between the amount of noise in our lives and our inability to hear God. If God sometimes feels distant to us, maybe it’s not because he’s not talking to us, but simply because we aren’t really listening."

The Dogs want their turn

This is Lily Bear. Many people think she is a male, because of her looks, but she is a she. Many think she is a mean dog because of her looks, growl and bark. She can be if threatened or you threaten her family. She has some wolf in her and acts like one. Bob is the Alfa. Lily Bear was found in the middle of the road below Wadley on the way to Lafyette, and was given to my daughter Katy. There was no giving her back. She is very sweet, likes her back scratched. She was named after our Liaison in China.

This is Koda, you know like Koda in the Disney movie "Brother Bear." He is a he and acts like a he. He is part Dachshund and part lab. As you can see he is small and long, and has the legs of a daschand, on the other hand he is round and fat, with the black colors of a lab. He gets mixed up about which personality he is. He is loyal like a dog. Very protective like a Dachshund. Loves his mama. Loves the cats. Loves the kids. He is also very funny. Still chewing on anything and everything.

Here our other cats

This the big, fat kitty, Tygger. but you could tell that couldn't you. She is too big to get outside the fence, although she does try to escape out the doors. She was found in the woods with her two siblings. The vet figured her to be three days old, and didn't think the kittens would make it. But they made it, and indeed beyond. All three are big as can be. Two of my friends in Columbus, GA own the other two. Tygger is loving to your family. But not to strangers, she will attack you until she knows you. I have been told that cats raised on the bottle by humans can be like that.

This is Midnight, this is where she regularly sacks out after a night of galavanting in the woods behind our house. I found her at the church. She looked lost, and right away came home with me. She is a sweetie.

A funeral for Prince Aiden

Thank you to each of you for your prayers, thoughts and support about our cat's death, Prince Aiden. This morning, Zachary said to me, "I loved Prince Aiden, I miss him." I know, I know. This is a picture of Prince Aiden.

Early evening we went out in the woods back of our house to bury him. We found a place not far off the trail, that we could dig up. The kid's wanted to help dig, but the clay was so hard, from lack of rain, that Bob dug it. We placed the body, which was wrapped up and in a trashbag, in the hole. We then said their goodbyes. Well, poor Kara got to giggling and laughing at everything Katy said. We tried to comfort her, because we knew behind the laughter were the tears and sadness. We had to calm Katy down, because she thought Kara was making fun of her. And Zach then wouldn't say anything, because he was afraid, that she would laugh at him. But we explained what was going on, so Katy went on and said her goodbyes, then Zachary. I then gathered us together and held hands as we prayed together. I thanked God for sending us Prince Aiden for a short time. I was crying while I prayed. Kara then got quiet and was crying softly. Then we pushed the dirt back over the grave, patted it down good. Zachary asked for a wooden cross to be put there. They all know where the grave is now and can get to easily if they need to.

This is the second cat we have had to die in the last month, it breaks my heart. The kids go through a litany now; " I miss Rhianna, I miss Prince Aiden. The only cats we have left is big fat kitty, and Midnight." I know, I know.

When Rhianna died, Bob wouldn't let the kids see the body or help bury him. They were really mad at him. I guess he learned his lesson. I told him how important it was to have the kids present so they could do their grieving. Good night sweet prince.

On a happier note, the kids had a great time swimming, and playing yesterday. It was so sweet and pure joy to hear their laughter, and their talking and playing. It was one of those God moments. I was trying to savor it, and hold it close to my heart. I was trying to put it in my memory bank. You sure can't buy these moments, and these times with the kids.

points in my world.

• Well, it is Memorial day today. And yet I will be spending most of my day at the Ball park for a double header of my son's Baseball team. Lathering up the sun screen, and Bob is putting up the canopy. But yesterday, Bob and I put together a picture board for Memorial day and invited others to do the same. I'll see if I can get them together to show you later. It was very moving.

• It was Pentecost Sunday yesterday, and the person bringing the announcements told them I would explain Pentecost to them. I used the children's sermon to tell them about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, and explain how the Holy Spirit helps us to become Christ Like which tied into my sermon. I wasn't preaching Pentecost lectionary passages. We are doing a series on the Purpose Driven Life to go along with the Book Study. We are at the third purpose of "Becoming Christ Like". I have to tell you after attending the Festival of Homiletics, listening to the "Rock Stars" of the Preaching World, I really felt humbled about my preaching. And I got the idea from what the Bishop said in his lecture on the last day about preaching, that he didn't care for the Purpose Driven Life or the style of preaching that Rick Warren preached. I really felt anxious. But the Bishop said something that I do agree with, that when the Holy Spirit shows up it is awesome, disconcerting, powerful, well we don't have the words to describe it, at least I don't. But I think God is there in the church and its us who don't always show up, or we may come to church physically but not in the whole. Our minds and hearts are often elsewhere, including myself sometimes. My prayer was that I showed up and that we showed up to receive the word we needed to hear.

• Yesterday, we said goodbye to our Youth Director. It was sad. We gave her a gift card and a gift. She tried hard to work with our youth. She tried different means of working with them. But in the end it did not work. But we wanted to thank her for her time with us and our youth and ministering to them. So we said goodbye and thank you. We prayed over her and for her future. She is getting married, and finishing her graduate degree. Anybody in our area looking for a youth director? I can recommend one. We have a different youth group. We have some members of our church who are youth. Then we have youth whose parents don't go to church. We also have the young men from a local children's home. Good boys at heart, but boys with lots of needs, lots of pain, and no parents around. It makes for a hard youth group. So, Abi is working with the youth along with another man, Bob and some other people who said they would help until we decide what direction we are going in.

• Last night we came home from Sunday night church to see our beautiful male cat, Prince Aiden on the side of the road. Yes, we lost another cat. He was breathing but not really responding. Bob took him to the emergency clinic and they put him to sleep. Bob brought his body home so we can bury him and have a little burial service for him today. The girls were just in tears as was I. He slept on Kate's bed, and was one of the most loving male kitties I have ever had. The Vet told Bob that our street was known as "death road" for pets. We have a fenced in yard, but that doesn't keep the cats in, except for big cat. We have a pet door for the dogs to go in and out. I guess we may have to think about getting rid of the pet door, and just let the dogs in and out. I don't know.

• But the truth is, a pet's death is not a human death. It is not the same. It is grievous, but not the same. And it is not the same as the sacrificial deaths of our military. So today we take time to remember our military and those who died in war. I have a great Uncle who died in WWI. Bob has an Uncle who died at war also. Probably there are others, I don't know. I think Grand dad told us his brother died in the Spanish American War. Here is a link to a Memorial Day prayer that I like. Did you know that there are this many US deaths in Iraq:
• U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 3441
• Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation: 14
• Total 3455 from IC website.
• This doesn't include contractors, journalists, other nation's military(here are British Numbers), nor does it include the Iraqis' deaths.
• And let's not forget we got another war going on, that has heated up again, Operation Enduring Freedom.
• Here is a list of American War Casualties for all wars.
• I think it is important to put a face to the number, go to the Washington post for that.
• Whether you agree or disagree with the present administration and it's policies, take time to remember those who have died for your right to agree or disagree.

• And last point in my world. yesterday the local paper talked about the KKK coming to Tuscumbia on Saturday(You can't read the article anymore if you don't have an account, but you can see the pictures.). I didn't know about it, nor did I go, I was at the ball park all day and had a spend the night friend over for the girls. (That's another story.) They were there to talk about illegal immigration and their usual topics. What was neat was that there were protests about them being there. They say there were a lot of young faces in the crowd of protesters. The protesters were nonviolent and held up signs that said "Love thy Neighbor", and "God's Love is Colorblind". They had to cancel the cross burning due to the Fire alert we are under. In the end they had to leave due to the crowd who were gathered singing a few verses of "Jesus Loves the Little Children". Can you imagine it was the singing of that sweet little children's hymn that forced them to leave. In light of what the Festival of Homiletics theme was on, "Preaching for Transformation", a sermon was preached yesterday. Don't be fooled by their talk about illegal immigration, they still spew hatred, and racism. Instead pray for them, protest them with nonviolent protests, love them as the Bible tells us too, and sometimes sing that sweet Song; "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, including the KKK...."

Friday Five

Reverend Mother says over at revgalblogpals; as many of you know, I have been experimenting with some severely curtailed Internet usage. I realized that I had gotten into some bad habits, which got me thinking about habits in general. I understand that a habits/random facts meme has already been going around. In the hopes that it hasn't hit too many of us yet, be as lighthearted or as serious as you'd like with the following:

1. Have you ever successfully quit a bad habit, or gotten a good habit established? Tell us about how you did it. When I was a little girl, I sucked my thumb for a very long time. Who knows if I was insecure or why, but I did. My parents tried all the favored treatments, you know, pepper, some kind of liquid, shame, pulling the thumb out of my mouth, etc. Those did not work. To tell you the truth, I don't know how I stopped, I just remember I stopped. And that I didn't need it anymore or want it. It was very freeing. Now if I could just get that to work for some of my other bad habits.....

2. "If only there were a 12-step program for _________________!" I don't know, because it seems like there is a 12-step program for just about every addiction there is. Maybe buying too many books.

3. Share one of your healthy "obsessions" with us. Buying books.

4. Share the habit of a spouse, friend or loved one that drives you C-R-A-Z-Y.
Bob, not throwing away his popcicle sticks or ice cream wrappers or candy wrappers; that I find the next day, and have to throw away before the kids find them.

5. "I'd love to get into the habit of ___________________."
Walking, daily prayer, bible reading, meditation....

Bonus: What is one small action you might take immediately to make #5 a reality?
Go for a walk today...
clear aside an area that is a sanctuary for prayer, meditation and bible reading.

Bonus 2: Try it, and let us know how it goes in a future post! Okay

Festival of Homiletics

Hi, Have you wondered where I was? Why wasn't I blogging? Was I ever going to blog again? Well, here I am. I am at the Festival of Homiletics in Nashville, TN. The reason I haven't been blogging is due to the limited time period I have to use the internet at the place I am staying. I am staying at Scarritt-Bennett at the Vanderbilt Campus. It is a beautiful place. Quiet. Peaceful. Nice little restaurants around. They even have a labyrinth which I have walked a couple of times. But they only keep the building that has the internet open for until 9pm. By the time we have gotten back in the evening, it is just not enough time to even do email. The Festival is great. Great worship. Great preaching. Great teaching. It is just great.(Have I used great too much?) But the parking downtown is a night mare, and the cost is more than I am used to paying. But I realize I don't live in a big city or go downtown much. Logistics has every one scattered about. And did I say that there are 1600 people here. Now how am I suppose to find anybody with that many people? But I did meet-up with the revgalblogpals who are here last night, and it was good to meet them and be with them. Today I saw some guys from the methoblog who were help lead the emerging worship service. How do they have time to do all the things they do?

This afternoon we went to the Upper Room, which was a nice experience. There were also more books one could buy. But I did not buy any there. Don't tell Bob I bought some at the Festival though. I have got to quit buying books and read the ones I have bought. And I have to finish Velvet Elvis for Monday's discussion. But I am having a good time and learning a lot. I haven't stopped blogging or left this world. I'll try to write more as I can.

A boy's first birthday party

Zach turned five on Wednesday. Try having a birthday party on a Wednesday, when you are a Pastor of a church that has Wednesday night Bible Study, youth and children. It doesn't work.
Although our Children's Minister had a party on Wednesday night for him. This is something she does for all the kids for their birthday. Instead we opted for a Saturday afternoon party at the church's Christian Life Center. We rented one of those blow-up bouncy thingies. It was a hit.
We adopted Zachary last year toward the end of March, and had a family party for his birthday and one at preschool. He didn't understand, and wasn't sure what was going on. But somehow or another he got it this year. I have never seen him so excited and thrilled as today at his party. He had a big time. He got some nice presents, you know the boy types; Spider Man, Power Rangers, that kind of stuff. He couldn't wait for us to finish singing Happy Birthday before he blew out the candles. And oh yes a Spider Man cake. He and his friends had a big time. He is now sleeping, happily, looks less like a spider man more like an angel. Dad is asleep. mom is falling asleep as she blogs. Shh, don't wake the sleeping family.

Friday Five: Big Event Edition

From Songbird, did you know that the major purpose for forming a non-profit, RevGalBlogPals, Inc., was to be able to attract grant support for a large scale RevGalBlogPal meetup? I knew this. My dream from the beginning has been attracting financial support that would allow as many of our bloggers to be together as possible. What a great dream!!!

RGBP, Inc. now has a planning committee, and we are in the early stages of planning the RevGalBlogPal Big Event. What, When, Where and Who are all on the table at the moment. In that spirit, I bring you the Big Event Friday Five.

1. What would the meeting be like? (Continuing Ed? Retreat? Outside Speakers? Interest Groups? Workshops? Hot Stone Massages? Pedicures? Glorified Slumber Party?) Must have continuing ed, the conference is pushing continuing ed. Definitely Retreat. Outside Speakers, mmm, not sure, we have some very wonderful, smart, wise, experienced people in the blog. Perhaps someone more to lead, moderate, direct the sessions. Could have a keynote speaker, then workshops planned around the theme or speech. There are so many areas to Pastoring and ministry you would need people who are experts on those areas or focus on one are in particular. The retreat could employ as well time for taking care of ourselves ie the massages, pedicures, etc.

2. When in 2008 might you be able to attend? January? Shortly after Easter? Summer? Fall? Some other time? January or Summer. But I would find a way for the date planned.

3. Where would your dream meeting location be? (Urban Hotel? Rural Retreat Center? New England Camp? Southwestern Fantasy Hotel? Far away from civilization? Nearby Outlets or Really Great Thrift Stores?) You know, I think with these questions, it sounds like a place that had away from people, but close enough to some sort of shopping. May I recommend Gulf Shores, AL. Camp Sumatanga of AL also. It is near Boaz. But then I like Jeckyll Island. And I like the southwest. I haven't been to a New England Camp though.

4. Who would make a great keynote speaker? (That's if #1 leads us in that direction.)
Is this a loaded Question? Barbara Brown Taylor, because she has served as Pastor.
Diana Butler Bass. Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, President of the Council of Bishops of the UMC, or any of the female Bishops of the UMC. Bisop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, or any of the other female Bishops of the Episcopal Church. An of the female leaders in the Denominations, I don't mean to sound like I am leaving out the Lutheran, UCC, or the Presb. Grace Imathiu, Barbara Lundblad, Marva Dawn, Ann Weems, Joanna Adams, or Anna Carter Florence. But it would also be neat to have people like Kathleen Norris, Anne Lamott, Phyllis Tickle, Nora Gallagher, Marjorie Thompson, Roberta Bondi, The Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress,The Rev. Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, The Rev. Mary C. Earle, The Rev. Margaret B. Gunness, The Rev. Canon Renée Miller, The Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper, The Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, and Susan R. Garrett. Is this too many for the committee to consider? I'm just dreaming big.
I have a friend that does women retreats, Cinde Lucas, that said she would be glad to come do ours or some part of ours.

5. Did I leave out something you want to suggest?
Food, Fun, and Fellowship. Worship. Wonder if we can consider a way to include our over the pond members perhaps next time. Perhaps we need to do like the Festival of Homiletics and meet in different regions of the country each year so that people from those areas can have an opportunity as well.

Dream big for the Big Event!!! Dreaming Big for big time funding a great place a great keynote speaker and leader, and a great time had by all.

Visionary Art; A Man who Quilts

I loved living in Wadley, Al. Several of my members were quilters, and good ones at that. One of them had her own quilting room that her son built her. She made some of the prettiest quilts. The church I served in Columbus, GA had a quilting group that made their quilts to sell, and their proceeds would go to Missions. I love those women, they would quilt in the room across the hall from me. I loved going in there to see what they were quilting, and what the latest buzz was. They made some nice quilts. Bob's mom was a quilter, and quilted a quilt for each child and grandchild getting married. She was amazing and made some fine quilts. I am not a quilter and don't even remember one of my relatives being one either. I just admire the gift to do one, and one when they are done. Today, I want to introduce you to a man who is a self taught quilter.

Chris Clark has become one of the South's most admired visionary artists. Born in 1958, he began making and painting "story" quilts in 1987. He sews the quilt pieces together and then paints Bible stories and other scenes over the quilt. He says his Grandmother and others that he first showed the quilts to discouraged him from making them. They simply couldn't understand why anyone would want to make a quilt that you hang on a wall instead of using for bed covers. But Chris persisted in his work moving on to painting children at play and other "happy images". He also makes "spirit sticks" from found objects and paints on suitcases and furniture. As a young man, Chris served in the Army then held a variety of factory jobs until he started losing his vision. His eyesight would come and go; he was sure he was dying. Later he was diagnosed with severe diabetes. After treatment and months of recovery, his eyesight began to stabilize. He first sold his quilts in a nearby flea market but soon came to the attention of folk art galleries. He is a regular participant at many art festivals and is a featured artist in the books,. REVELATIONS and SPIRITS OF THE CLOTH.

Chris Clark, started quilting in the late 1980s after a bout with diabetes put him in the hospital. It was a craft at which his grandmother and great grandmother excelled. But rather than simply sew together pieces of fabric, Clark painted pictures on them as well. His grandmother scoffed --but changed her mind when one of his big quilts sold for $1,000. Like many self-taught artists, Clark uses “found’’ objects – discarded furniture, buttons, soda cans, beads, machine parts – to create paintings, pastiches, hats, sculptures and his signature quilts. Many are reflections of dreams and childhood memories. Chris has his own website also: http://www.chrisclarkart.com/

Rob Bell, Nooma, and the book Velvet Elvis

Hi, back on Wednesday blogging about Rob Bell in preparation for our book discussion of his book called Velvet Elvis.

Rob Bell will tell you his style is unorthodox. He planted a church by preaching through Leviticus. His teaching is a mix of images and personal stories and exegesis and some perspectives you probably haven't heard in church before. The message, however, is orthodox, biblical, and well informed by history. The whole package, Bell says, is subversive. Like Jesus.

Whatever it is, it works. It connects with crowds totaling 10,000 most weekends at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, the church 33-year-old Bell founded five years ago. It connects, we've seen, with students at his alma mater, Wheaton College, and emerging church leaders at national conferences, where Bell is likely to teach using a big chair, Jewish prayer shawl, or a live goat. "Animals, whatever. Whatever it takes," he says. "No rules." These days he's talking a lot about the rabbis.

The rabbis believe that the text is like a gem: the more you turn it the more the light refracts. I say, if it's the living word, then turn the gem.

"My friends tell me that I'm, like, classic ADD. That, of course, was already obvious," he says, and it shows in his writing, but whatever rabbit chases he is on it takes him to a point to bring the real, historical, present, and revolutionary Christ to this generation.

Rob Bell's wife, Kristen, told Christianity Today in a joint interview, "It's a cultural jump for our friends to come to church. It's a cultural jump for us, and we grew up in the church."

"This is not just the same old message with new methods," Rob says. "We're rediscovering Christianity as an Eastern religion, as a way of life. Legal metaphors for faith don't deliver a way of life. We grew up in churches where people knew the nine verses why we don't speak in tongues, but had never experienced the overwhelming presence of God."

When you read the book Velvet Elvis, you get this same language, same thoughts, and a pointing to the real, historical, present, and revolutionary Christ. Oh and by the way I am half way through. Some of the revgalblogpals readers are already done with the book. I have got to get going reading more.

Here is link to the Nooma Video Flame. (The embedding was disabled so you have to click on the link to see it.)

John Wesley on Prayer

John Wesley on Prayer

God's command to "pray without ceasing" is founded on the necessity we have of his grace to preserve the life of God in the soul, which can no more subsist one moment without it, than the body can without air.

Whether we think of; or speak to, God, whether we act or suffer for him, all is prayer, when we have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing him.

All that a Christian does, even in eating and sleeping, is prayer, when it is done in simplicity, according to the order of God, without either adding to or diminishing from it by his own choice.

Prayer continues in the desire of the heart, though the understanding be employed on outward things.

In souls filled with love, the desire to please God is a continual prayer.

As the furious hate which the devil bears us is termed the roaring of a lion, so our vehement love may be termed crying after God.

God only requires of his adult children, that their hearts be truly purified, and that they offer him continually the wishes and vows that naturally spring from perfect love. For these desires, being the genuine fruits of love, are the most perfect prayers that can spring from it.

From A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, as believed and taught by the Reverend Mr. John Wesley, from the year 1725, to the year 1777.

The most Important means of Grace

John Wesley considered prayer an essential part of Christian living, calling it, in many of his writings, the most important means of grace. Christians were to pray constantly, without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He wrote in A Plain Account of Christian Perfection:

Whether we think of; or speak to, God, whether we act or suffer for him, all is prayer, when we have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing him.

All that a Christian does, even in eating and sleeping, is prayer, when it is done in simplicity, according to the order of God, without either adding to or diminishing from it by his own choice.

How have you experienced prayer in your own life? Do you agree with Wesley that it is the most important means of grace, more important than the Bible?

Some quotes on prayer by John Wesley

"I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it."—John Wesley

"The neglect of prayer is a grand hindrance to holiness."

Wesley's upbringing and practice on prayer
Wesley was born into a strong Anglican home: his father, Samuel, was priest, and his mother, Susanna, taught religion and morals faithfully to her 19 children. Religious training began as early as possible. Even before they could kneel or speak, they were taught to be quiet at family prayers, and to ask a blessing by signs. As soon as they could speak they repeated the Lord’s Prayer morning and evening. A prayer for their parents, some collects, Catechism, and Scripture, were added as soon as they were able to learn them.

It is said that he was up early before 5am for prayer and bible reading.

My Thoughts

There is certainly a lot we can learn from Mr. Wesley about prayer. It was an important part of his life, his ministry and early "Methodists." Sometimes I think we have forgotten that and have become absorbed in the business of the church. I know I have struggled with it. And I am aware that as of late God has been working on my about my prayer life, and the discipline of praying regularly. I do think it is important to the life of the church, ministry and to my own life. I seem to get busy with life before I know it. Wonder what it would have been like for Wesley if his marrriage had worked and they had children, would he have been able to spend so much time in prayer, bible reading and ministry?

Congregations meet in tornado-torn town

By ROXANA HEGEMAN,

Associated Press Writer

Sun May 13, 7:38 PM ET

Church leaders on Sunday told more than 3,000 residents, volunteers and disaster workers gathered in this tornado-ravaged community they should not fear the future because God was with them.

The non-denominational service marked the first time the congregations have worshipped in Greensburg since a May 4 tornado destroyed more than 90 percent of the south-central Kansas town and killed nine people.

Tears and hugs were common as many residents saw each other for the first time since the tornado. Volunteers passed out flowers to mothers in honor of Mother's Day.

"We are a scattered, dispersed community. But the Lord Jesus is our redeemer and is with us. 'Do not fear for I am with you,' says the Lord," said Rev. Gene McIntosh, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Greensburg.

Tim Henning, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Greensburg, likened the city's plight to that of Job in the Bible, whom God tested by taking away everything he loved but who kept his faith through it all: "We are like him, we lost everything," he said.

Henning reminded residents that God was still with them.

The congregations held hands as Willard Olinger, the elderly pastor of Faith Tabernacle, reassured them that Greensburg will be rebuilt, even if it is not within his lifetime.

World's best mom

Have you seen these photos of the world's best mom over at Slate? They are some really good black and white pictures.

Do you consider your mom, the world's best mom?

My kid's these days say to me, "Mom, you are my bestest mom." And I say thanks.

Today, Kara told me she remembers her Chinese mom, and coming out of her stomache. Okay, that's a six year old's version, which led to one of those talks in answer to the question "How can you come out of your mommy's stomache." I told Kara, that she probably does have a memory of her mom and being inside her. I told her I was glad she could remember her. And I told her I wished I could meet her to tell her that I thank her for having Kara. She looked at me funny on that one, but then lept into my arms for a hug and kisses all over, as she puts it.

Do I consider my mom, the world's best mom? I consider my world's best mom. She is the best mom for me. She has had a big inflence on me being who I am. My mom was always giving to others, being there for others in their time of need. She loves Jesus, and she taught me to love Jesus. She used to hum and sing when she was working around the house. Yes, I do too. She also worked outside the home as a nurse, and she was a good one. She raised three kids who are very different. She loves her grand kids and they adore her. She loves her kids, and they love her. So yes, I consider her world's best mom.

Was she perfect? Nah, but neither am I. Did she try her best? Oh yes she did. She would dance and play with us. She did her best to make home life good for us. And I think that's a good thing. She made sure our needs were met. She supported me in getting a college and seminary education. She prays for me and supports me now. She's my mom.

My mom is getting older now and needs us more. Her age is starting to wear on her more. Although she still gets around, is a volunteer for Hospice, and is active in her church and my sisters. She has friends she still goes to visit or goes out to eat with. I hate I am not closer by.

I want to say "thanks Mom, You are my bestest mom!"

"Mother's Poem"

"Mother's Poem"
A sympathetic word from Garrison Keillor, of A Prairie Home Companion:

Some mornings I get up at five.
With four to mother, one to wive,
I find the hours from light to dark
are not enough to matriarch
with goals for matriarchy high
among the apples of my eye.

This little girl with golden braid
expects her toast a certain shade;
her scrambled eggs must meet the test
of excellence—and gently rest
upon the toast and not beside.

The little boy wants his eggs fried
yet not too greasy on his lips,
accompanied by bacon strips
fried till thy resemble bark.

The older boy takes his toast dark,
and if his golden eggs should not
be poached and served steaming hot,
(two slightly liquid, yellow bumps
of yolk in solid white), he slumps
down in his chair and has a mood.


The oldest girl eats rabbit food,
berries, nuts, sunflower seeds,
leaves and stem, and as she feeds,
she is displeased. It’s all my fault.
I bought her seeds containing salt!
And worse—
some juice containing sugar.

She glares as if I were a crook or,
worse, a mother short of sense
and guilty of child negligence.

Negligence in the name of love
is just what we should have more of.

Don’t mother birds after some weeks
of looking at those upturned beaks,
deliberately the food delay,
hoping to hear their goslings say,
"What are these feathered, floppy things
attached to us?
You think they’re wings?"

This helpful trusty friendly Frau
is starting her neglect right now.

The clothes you counted on to leap
up while you were fast asleep
and wash themselves for you to wear
have let you down. They just sat there.

The bicycle you thought would pick
itself up when the rain got thick,
the homework you forgot to do,
assuming I would tell you to —
my child, you have been betrayed.

The world you thought
was neatly made,
its corners tucked in like a sheet,
is uncomposed and incomplete.

For years I carried on a hoax.
I made you think that scrambled yolks
or poached or boiled, fried or shirred,
are how they come out of the bird.

No matter what you have been told,
the rainbow holds no pot of gold,
babies aren’t found under rocks
or in Sears Roebuck catalogues…
the moon is not made of green cheese,
and eggs don’t come
the way you please,
served by hens on silver trays,
and neither does much else these days.

Friday Five played on Saturday

Friday, May 11, 2007

Friday Five: Potato, Po-tah-to Edition

Reverend Mother was out all day Friday, so she begged our indulgence once again as she posted an early Friday Five.

There are two types of people in the world, morning people and night owls. Or Red Sox fans and Yankees fans. Or boxers and briefs. Or people who divide the world into two types of people and those who don't. Let your preferences be known here. And if you're feeling verbose, defend your choices!
1. Mac? (woo-hoo!) or PC? (boo!) Why yes, the Friday Five author reserves the right to editorialize! PC of course, never had a Mac.
2. Pizza: Chicago style luscious hearty goodness, or New York floppy and flaccid? Pizza in those styles? MMM, being down here in the South we don't always get those choices. We get "You want me to order from Dominos tonight?"
3. Brownies/fudge containing nuts:a) Good. I like the variation in texture.
b) An abomination unto the Lord.
The nuts take up valuable chocolate space.[or a response of your choosing] I don't think I have ever thought of it that way. But I like nuts, especially good pecans from the South local pecans the better the fresher.
4. Do you hang your toilet paper so that the "tail" hangs flush with the wall, or over the top of the roll like normal people do? Okay here's the deal, I like hanging it over the top, it is easier to get to and to get to work. But in the kids bathroom, that led to enormous amount of T. P. disappearing quickly, so they get it flush against the wall. We have since stopped spending a fortune in Toliet Paper.
5. Toothpaste: Do you squeeze the tube wantonly in the middle, or squeeze from the bottom and flatten as you go just like the tube instructs? Hey, I squeeze wherever I want to squeeze it, and I did not know there were instructions written on the tube for flattening it. I leave that to my hubby.

Bonus: Share your favorite either/or. Not sure I have a favorite, but this one I know, here in the state of Alabama, you are either "Roll Tide" or "War Eagle", and that's a fact.

Alabama off Road Folk Art

Cross Garden: Hell's Warning Label

as mentioned in Roadside America.com

I have not been there, nor did I know it existed. But it sounded interesting, and so like Alabama folk art. I guess, I'll have to go see it on one of my beach trips down 65. Sadly in 2004, W. C. Rice, the artist, died. Here's how to get there; On Hwy 82, N of hwy 14. past Country Club, go up hill. On downslope, watch for a paved Autauga County Road 47/Indian Hills Rd on the left. Crosses are just ahead, on both sides of road.
The article says this: "If W.C. Rice's stark Cross Garden doesn't save you, there's no one to blame but yourself. His frightening jumble of white crosses cling to hills on either side of a curving county road next to a trailer park. Rough wooden crosses and peeling hand-lettered signs bearing Bible scripture fragments are nailed to fences, trees, and each other. Everywhere, whitewashed signs explicitly warn -- in blobby black paint -- "You will DIE," and "HELL IS HOT HOT HOT.""

I have included some pictures from the Cross Garden.

There are some other pictures here at this blog post; Best Use of a Junk Car.
She got permission to use those pictures from Cecil Bridges, they are worth the look.
Folk Art can be very interesting. And if you have seen any you know it often has religious images.

Velvet Elvis

I am in a book club that is presently reading the book Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell.

To be honest I joined the book club hoping I would finish reading books I started. I have a habit of starting books, reading some, then picking up some other book to read, then going back to the original book, then back and forth like that. Eventually I finish them. I read the first book, "Leaving Church", finally after the due date for discussion. I have however not finished the second book, "Christianity for the Rest of Us", and am in the process of reading it. I decided however, that I wanted to be ready when it came time to discuss the third book Velvet Elvis. I put down the second book, and started reading Velvet Elvis. It is a very different style of writing than I am used to, but interesting. It is written in loops, as described by Leonard Sweet. And he uses very interesting objects as metaphors for things.

I really don't know that much about Rob Bell. Some people have heard him preach at his church or at some of the speaking engagements he has done. There is something else he has done is make some videos called Nooma. The name NOOMA comes from a phonetic spelling of the Greek word pneuma (πνευμα) meaning 'wind,' 'spirit,' or 'God's movement or agency.' I found some on You Tube. They are a lot like the book, spoken in loops. I am offering one here that is on You Tube.

Some people are very critical of Rob Bell. Some really like him. The church he pastors, Mars Hill in in Grandville, Michigan draws somewhere between 10,000 to 11,000 a weekend to worship. It is very intersting to me he started the church teaching through the book of the Bible, Leviticus. Now how many preachers do you know have even preached or taught out of Leviticus? (If you have taught Disciple Bible Study, you have.) I am saving my critique until I have completed reading the book. In the meantime, I will on Wednesdays be posting somthing about Rob Bell or by him, until we discuss the book on May 28. I would be interested in your thoughts as well.

Here is the video: Nooma - Rain

If you can't see it, here is the link to Nooma-Rain on You Tube

How to read your bible

Rick Warren has a book out titled Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God's Word

Learn how to study the Bible Rick Warren’s way. This easy-to-understand book gives you not just one, but 12 methods for exploring the riches of God’s Word. At least one of them is exactly what you’re looking for – an approach that’s right for you, right where you’re at. Simple step-by-step instructions guide you through the how-to’s of the following methods:

*Devotional

*Chapter Summary

*Character Quality

*Thematic

*Biographical

*Topical

*Word Study

*Book Background

*Book Survey

*Chapter Analysis

*Book Synthesis

*Verse Analysis

I thought it would be interesting to post John Wesley's thoughts on how to read your bible in light of that book.

If you desire to read the scripture in such a manner as may most effectually answer this end, would it not be advisable,

1. To set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose?

2. At each time if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old, and one out of the New Testament: if you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one?

3. To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixt resolution to do it? In order to know his will, you should,

4. Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith; the connexion and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, Original Sin, Justification by Faith, the New Birth, Inward and Outward Holiness.

5. Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing "scripture can only be understood thro' the same Spirit whereby it was given." Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts.

6. It might also be of use, if while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts, and lives. This would furnish us with matter of praise, where we found God had enabled us to conform to his blessed will, and matter of humiliation and prayer, where we were conscious of having fallen short.

And whatever light you then receive, should be used to the uttermost, and that immediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation.

John Wesley Preface to Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament EDINBURGH, April 25, 1765. Taken from John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life

But you know sometimes I just read the bible, just to read it, and then it reads me and my life and the way I live my life.

Greensburg, Kansas

These pictures tell a story without words.

Whoever heard of Greensburg, Kansas until this weekend? I hadn't. Did anyone think there could be devastation like Katrina did again? Not many. But Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting of the Kansas National Guard said in some ways the damage is worse than Hurricane Katrina, because the entire city is in ruins. "There's no place to go to stage to rebuild," said Bunting, a nearly 30-year veteran of the Guard. "We'll have to create that."" The entire city in ruins. Gone. All the churches gone. Every business on Main Street was demolished, and the town’s fire engines were crushed. This morning one of my parishioners called in tears as she watched on TV the story of the Rev. Gene McIntosh. the Methodist Minister who lost everything. They were hit by an EF-5, Tornado, with winds estimated at 205 mph. Unbelievable. 10 dead. A early warning was given which probably saved many lives.

The rural homes of several members of the Trousdale United Methodist Church, which is in nearby Trousdale, also were destroyed as the same 1.3-1.7-mile-wide tornado that hit Greensburg cut a 22-mile swath across southwest Kansas.

On the following night, May 5, another tornado struck, killing two more people and damaging buildings, including the Trousdale church. Church members gathered at the building on Sunday morning, May 6, to salvage the altar, piano and some furniture. They plan to worship May 13 at the home of a member. The Rev. Elaine Lord, Trousdale pastor, said the congregation has a strong and positive spirit and is determined to go on.

UMCOR is providing on-site support through UMCOR disaster consultant Cherri Baer, who is working with Nancy Proffitt, Kansas West disaster response coordinator, to mobilize the response when volunteers are allowed into the community. As of May 7, access to Greensburg was limited to residents and a small number of disaster responders.
Plans are under way for United Methodist volunteers to staff a liquids trailer provided by the conference's Salina District, a hot foods trailer from the Hutchinson District and a tools trailer from the Wichita East District.

To contribute financially, drop checks in local United Methodist church offering plates with "UMCOR Domestic Disaster Advance #901670" written in the memo line or made payable to UMCOR and sent to UMCOR at P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Contributions also may be made online at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ or by calling (800) 554-8583.
To send checks to the Kansas Area Disaster Fund, make checks payable to Kansas West Conference and indicate "Area Disaster Fund" on the memo line. Mail to Kansas West Conference, 9440 E. Boston St., Suite 110, Wichita, KS 66207. Arrangements are being made for online donations.
To volunteer, visit the Kansas West Conference Web site at www.kswestumc.org or Kansas West Village at www.7villages.com/kansaswestconference.

The United Methodist response to the disaster began by mid-morning on the day after the first tornado hit. McIntosh and Lord were making calls to their parishioners, while the United Methodist Committee on Relief released an emergency grant of $10,000 to the denomination's Kansas West Annual (regional) Conference.

Kansas Area Bishop Scott J. Jones issued a special appeal for the Kansas Area Disaster Fund, asking area churches for special Sunday offerings as the severe weather season continues. Much of Kansas is also experiencing flooding as a super cell weather system continued to generate severe thunderstorms.

Prayers for those who lost family members. Prayers for those who lost their homes. Prayers for those who were injuried. Prayers for those responding to the disaster with aid and help.

Prayers for Greensberg citizens. Prayers for the Pastors who now comfort in the midst of their own loss.

Friday Five on Saturday: It's My Party

revgalblogpals Friday Five by Songbird:
I hate to say it, but over the years I've been to too many parties where I, or the birthday child, has felt much like the chorus of Lesley Gore's old tune. I am therefore not the biggest fan of birthday parties.

For this Friday (which happens to be my birthday), tell us these five things about parties, birthday or otherwise.

1) Would you rather be the host or the guest?
Guest, I really am not the one to put parties together.

2) When you are hosting, do you clean everything up the minute the guests go home? Will you accept help with the dishes?

If hosting, I accept all the help given me. But I do try to clean up once the party is done.

3) If you had the wherewithal, and I guess I mean more than money, to throw a great theme party, what would the theme be?
Okay this is the first thing that came to my mind. It would an "Out Of Africa" theme. We would go on an a Safari in Africa. But then my guilty side would take over, and say then we had to perform some kind of mission work as part of the party, and people would be ask to donate their money to some kind of project like Heifer International, Nothing but Nets. But really we would have a good time.

4) What's the worst time you ever had at a party?
I can't think of one, I usually find a way to have a good time, people to enjoy or good conversation.

5) And to end on a brighter note, what was the best?
The best time was my 40th birthday party that my husband gave me. He really surprised me. He got my parents to come all the way up from Fla in secret to celebrate it. He invited my friends and I never knew. It was a great evening.

This is a good one, because yesterday, our church women hosted Church Women United for the May Friendship day, I am in the midst of planning Zach's first birthday party, (Shh its a secret!), Kara's Birthday party, and a Open House Cookout for the church.

Nothing But Nets

What am I talking about? Well if you noticed, I put a little banner over on the sidebar, that if you click on, it will take you to the website, "Nothing but Nets." I could say, I'm not talking Basket ball, but that wouldn't be true, basket ball is very involved, especially the NBA. It is one of our malaria initiatives of the United Methodist Church in concert with the NBA Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, Gates Foundation, Sports Illustrated, VH-1, and American Idol. Now can you imagine all those working together to do something to help the world be a better place? Its hard to imagine but they are. And guess what this thing is catching on like wildfire from children to adults, groups, churches, and individuals.

I issued a challenge to the church for the month of May to raise funds to buy enough nets to equal the number of members on roll. You see, our conference special offering this year goes to "Nothing but Nets". Last night in the United Methodist Women's meeting, we talked about the challenge. One of the women said, if I can save a life, by doing something so simple as buying a net, I am going to do it. She said it was one of those No Brainer things. These women are caring women, involved in many ways in the church, volunteering their time, talents and money. And I can see these women raising the money for "Nothing but Nets."

The next group I am talking to is the Bible Study tonight. And then the Youth, the Men's group, and then Sunday School. But I see the same response wherever I go.

Did you know… Every 30 seconds, a child dies in sub-Saharan Africa because of malaria. 9 out of 10 deaths caused by malaria occur in Africa. You can do something about it!

Nothing But Nets is a global grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Malaria claims more than a million lives every year, mostly children. The good news is that malaria can be prevented by sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net. Bed nets are an important tool in fighting malaria because they create a barrier against mosquitoes at night, when most transmission occurs. Just one bed net can keep an entire family safe from malaria transmission for up to four years!



A $10 donation goes directly toward the purchase, distribution, and education about the proper use of an insecticide-treated bed net. That doesn’t sound like much, right? And what’s more, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match each donation, net for net. Most people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $1 a day and cannot afford a life-saving bed net.

the UN Foundation has been working with the UN to fight malaria for years, it was a column that Rick Reilly wrote about malaria in Sports Illustrated, challenging each of his readers to donate at least $10 for the purchase of an anti-malaria bed nets -- and the incredible response from thousands of Americans across the country -- that led to the creation the Nothing But Nets campaign.

The reaction to Reilly's 815 words made clear that thousands of people were ready to help the million children dying unnecessarily each year of malaria. Within a few short months, Nothing But Nets raised over 1 million dollars. And so Nothing But Nets was born.

The Youth have their own Cool website for this called TheBuzzKill.net. You can even get a teeshirt to get the message across, and the money goes to the cause.



Hey, I am all about Nothing but Nets. How about you?

You can donate right now here
or you can donate here

Blogging Against Disablism Day, May 1st, 2007

Disablism n. discriminatory, oppressive or abusive behaviour arising
from the belief that disabled people are inferior to others.
(although you won’t find a definition in a dictionary)



Yes, its May Day. It is also blog against Disablism day. How many of our churches have made the necessary changes in their church to not be practicing Disablism? Our church has done a great job on making the changes to be access friendly. Many of the churches I have served have done so. The United Methodist Church itself, and the North Alabama Conference has made a concerted effort to address the matter.

Yet, I must ask myself have I practiced Disablism? Do I think that persons with disabilities are inferior to me? These are good questions to ask ourselves, and our churches. Disablism goes beyond being access friendly. It gets to the heart of the matter, of our attitudes, what we think in our inward being, and our actual practices. Jesus told the crowds one time, 'Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts.'' Jesus was most gracious, welcoming, and open to those with disabilities. Sometimes I think we the Church ( the big church) have gotten far away from Jesus' practices, because we want to look so good, to have things perfect, and that is not how Jesus lived his life or treated people.

I am not disabled. I have children with speech disabilities, you can't always tell what they are trying to say. But it is nothing like some of the other disabilities that are so noticeable.

Lord, help me be honest with you and myself and ask forgiveness for the times I have practiced disablism toward your children. Help me as a leader to follow you in how you treated others and to lead others to do so also. Make me more Christlike in my thoughts, feelings, my inward being and in my practices. Make us all who claim to be your followers more Christlike. There are certainly enough isms in the world. Let me one of the ones who you are eradicating your isms from, especially disablism.

Go to the Diary of a Goldfish to join the blogging against disblism and to read more from those who did blog.

Hat tip to Mother Laura for making me aware of this day.

The Thinking Blog Award

Thinking Blog Award

I was kindly nominated by my wonderful friend Iris Godfrey, for a Thinking Blogger award.
And if Iris had a blog I would nominate her, but she doesn't. Iris has been a blessing and instrument of God in my life. Thank you dear Iris. I do think this is kind of interesting in light of the fact that when I have taken the Meyers-Briggs test, I always score high on the feeling side and really low to nil on the thinking side. So I am not sure what this says about me. But thank you Iris.

Anyway, here's the rules:

1. If you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,

2. Link to so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,

3. Optional: Proudly display the “Thinking Blogger Award” with a link to the post that you wrote.

Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all - blogs that really get you thinking! The whole concept is truly interesting since this one blog site ( The Thinking Blog) that started the whole thing - its all just an experiment! You can link to this person's original 5 tags from that site above and follow the trail!

So here are the Fab Five of Thinking Bloggers that I nominate for the award

Brother Marty

Terrapin Station

reverend mommy's random thoughts

Hit the Back Button to Move FWD

Locust and Honey

There are so many I would nominate, but I am limited to five.

So many blogs to read, so little time.