A Good Day

Today my mom told me I had mail! I was so excited! She brought the card out to the backyard, where I was playing with Sam and our cousin dog, Luna. It had my name on the front, and our address, too!

Inside was a note from my good friend, Sister, who lives on the Gulf Coast with my mom's friend, St. Casserole and a lot of cats.

Sister doesn't like funder either! She agrees with me that funder is no fun.

I am happy to have a friend far away. She is my Paw Pal.

The leaves here are crunchy. The weather is called "fall" because the leaves are falling down. It's fun to kick them around on a sunny day in the yard with Sam and Luna. I hope you are having a good day, too!

Friday Five: The B-I-B-L-E

It's time for Friday Five! Mother Laura asked some questions about the Bible.

1. What is your earliest memory of encountering a biblical text?

That's easy! My mama took me to church to illustrate one! I was just getting ready to take my Canine Good Citizen test and the lesson for that week had something about distractions in it. I went into church for the Children's Time and my mama talked about distractions and how that is part of the CGC test and part of the life of faith, too. People liked me, and they understood my mama's message better after watching me do some of my tricks, even though I was in church. I kept my eyes on my mama and showed my eye contact!

I also learned that there are "alternate" translations, and "the sin that distracts" was in one of them.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, NRSV)

I know I get distracted sometimes and want to run off, and it must be even harder for people, since they aren't as good as dogs, mostly.

2. What is your favorite biblical translation, and why? (You might have a few for different purposes).

I like the RDSV (RevDog Standard Version).

3. What is your favorite book of the Bible? Your favorite verse/passage?

There's a story about a lady who tells Jesus that even the dogs under the table get the children's crumbs. I like that idea. I get the children's crumbs a lot, and even their leftovers. It makes me sad that some children don't have enough to eat. That lady was smart, and she helped Jesus think about who he was here to talk to and love, which is everybody.

4. Which book of the Bible do you consider, in Luther's famous words about James, to be "an epistle of straw?" Which verse(s) make you want to scream?

I prefer to discuss the great canine theologian, Martin Wroofer, who once said, "Wroo wroo! Too many rules in Leviticus! Listen to Jesus: love God, love others and love yourself. And don't forget to love dogs, too."

5. Inclusive language in biblical translation and liturgical proclamation: for, against, or neutral?

I think you should always include all the creatures. Don't forget the dogs. Or the cats. When I was scared of the No Fun-derstorm last night, I got on the bed with my mama and Baby the cat, and Baby didn't bother me at all, and I didn't bother her either.

Bonus: Back to the Psalms--which one best speaks the prayer of your heart?

I like to sing, so I love the psalms, especially the rejoicing ones! Even when my elbow hurts, which is a lot lately, I try to stay happy. If you're ever feeling glum, just read Psalm 150. It says, "Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!" And I do.

I hope you'll play, too.

Five Questions!

Hi, friends! I'm back from my dog-blog-battical. My elbow has been bovvering me, and I didn't feel like typing, but now I have new medicine and feel much, much better.

These questions came from Cub, my friend in a Big Hot State. (By the way, Cub, that was Sam standing on the snow. I was down below in that picture, just the top of my head showed.)

1. You are a Ministry Dog. What is your favorite kind of ministry?

Thanks for asking this one! I enjoy Ministry of Visitation with older folks, and Ministry of Canine Education with the children, and I enjoy Ministry of Worship, especially when I get to be in a drama at church. But I think my favorite is Ministry of Coffee Hour. Sometimes they have sandwiches, and once I even got cake!

2. Like me, you have a dog brother. But you also have human boys and a human girl. What's that like?

My human boys and girl LOVE me!! My girl watches TV with me. My boys scoot over and let me get on their beds when I hear FUNder, which I call NO-Funder. Sometimes they walk me. I like it when the Oldest walks me, because he lets me do all my bad tricks and can't stop me. Heeheehee... I miss them, but my mom says they will be home for Thanksgiving, which is the most delicious holiday of all!!

3. Is the floor slippery at your church? Some places in my church it is, and I slide all over.

At our new church, a lot of the floors have carpets. I like them because they are flat and worn down and easy to walk on for me. Even the Molly-vator has a carpet! The Vestry floor is slippery, so I have to be more careful there.

4. Same question I asked the other dogs: What is one secret of a blissful life that you'd like to share with your thumb-havers?

Always look for the best in everyone, including yourself, and be sure to appreciate those good parts. If you love yourself and love other people, that's a good way to love God, too.

5. Frosty Paws: ever had them? If yes, share your opinion; if no, do you plan on trying them?

I've never had them, but once I had some vanilla soft serve ice cream with dog cookies, and it made me very sick. I lost a lot of weight. (I gained it back, sadly.) So I'm not allowed to have ice cream things anymore.

That's my five questions. If you want me to ask you some, leave a comment underneath here, okay?

Time to get my beauty sleep.

Love,
Your Friend,
Molly