Friday Five: Think About These Things Edition

My mama posted this at RevGalBlogPals:

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8, NRSV)

Friends, it's nearly Thanksgiving in the U.S. and it's the time of year when we are pressed to name things for which we are thankful. I want to offer a twist on the usual lists and use Paul's letter to the church at Philippi as a model. Name five things that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent or worthy of praise. These could be people, organizations, acts, ideas, works of art, pieces of music--whatever comes to mind for you.

Clearly, Molly the Blogging Dog belongs on such a list. Thanks to jo(e) for the great picture of Molly.

Hey, it's a meme about me!! (I had a really good time with jo(e) when she came to visit.

I'm going to play it!

1) True is a word I like, and it's what I try to always be. Being a dog, I don't have trouble being true to myself, but I have also learned from my brother, Sam, that being true to your own family matters. He is a very loyal dog. He likes our people better than all other people, except maybe Louise, who takes us for walks. He loves her a lot. Sam is true to Louise and to us. I appreciate him!

2) Excellent is when we are walking in the woods, and I am feeling hot, and right close by I find cool, cool water to drink. Sometimes I even lie down! My mama and Papa Bear don't always like it that I lie down, but they understand how hot I get and that I need to cool off.

3) Worthy of praise is church. I really love going to church. The people are very, very friendly. Some of them sing, and I like to sing along. That is how I praise God! Wroo wroo!

4) Pleasing is when people are petting me and telling me I am pretty.

5) Honorable and commendable are the people and groups who take care of animals who don't have homes. One of those groups is down in Mississippi, where my friend, Sister, lives with all her cats: Andy, Whistle, Fish and Dubby. I am a member of the Humane Society of South Mississippi. They even send me mail! You can join, too. There is also a group that rescues dogs like me from puppy mills and auctions. You can read about them here. You can even see pictures of the dogs they rescued!

You can play this meme, too, and I hope you will!

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.

Friday Five: Word Association, Redux

Hello, friends! It's me, Molly!!

I haven't blogged for a long time. First of all, it was hot here, and I didn't feel like doing much but resting and keeping cool. Then our pawtop computer wouldn't work, and I am not allowed to use my Papa Bear's, so I had to wait until it was fixed again. Then my Mom had to take it to work. Surely you see my difficulties!

But here I am, ready to play the Friday Five.

Below you will find five words. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem or a story.

1. vineyard -- My Papa Bear has a t-shirt that says Martha's Vineyard. He wore it the night he met my Mom. She says it is very special, and now he only wears it about once a year. The rest of the time it stays in his dresser.

2. root -- In the spring, when I go out in our yard, I smell things under the earth. I try to dig and find them. My mom says they are roots, and she asks me to stop digging, so our young trees in the backyard can grow up and give me more shade. That seems like a good reason, so I try to stop. But sometimes a girl just has to dig, know what I mean?

3. rescue -- Rescue people are the kindest in the world! I belong to a special group that rescues dogs and cats and puppies and kittens. Sometimes they send my mail about their good work. They are The Humane Society of South Mississippi. My friend St. Casserole helped me to join because she heard I was upset about the animals who lost their homes and families in Hurricane Katrina. It's easy for the rest of the world to forget, but people on the Gulf Coast are still trying to rebuild, and that makes life hard for their pets. I hope you all give something, somewhere, to help animals who don't have homes! I have a t-shirt, too, from HSSM. Thanks, St. Casserole!!

4. perseverance -- I had to ask my Mom about that word. She says it means sticking with something even when you don't feel like it because it's really hard work. I think it means giving your people a paw poke, gently, when they forget to pet you or give you their pizza crusts.

5. divided -- Sam and I are divided from the cats at our house. The cats DO NOT like us. I bet if I met Littleman Kitty or Whistle and Fish they would like me. I hope they would. A house divided against itself cannot stand, and I am afraid if the cats don't learn to like me, our house will fall down!

Thanks for reading my word associations!!

Love,
Your Friend,
Molly

Friday Five: Hasty Edition

As posted by reverendmother at RevGalBlogPals:

Today, what are you:

1. Wearing -- a lovely tricolor fur coat

2. Reading -- Greyfriars Bobby (the dialect is a little hard to understand, but I'm enjoying it)

3. Eating -- Merrick dog food, it's the best!

4. Doing -- blogging with my Mom in the kitchen

5. Pondering -- wondering whether I wouldn't be better off in the attic, since I think I hear Funder!!!

Friday Five: Big Event Edition

My mom posted this:

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? My dream from the beginning has been attracting financial support that would allow as many of our bloggers to be together as possible.

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?)

Wroo wroo! I like Interest Groups. Are those like Playgroups? Would there be separate rooms for RevGalDogPals and RevGalCatPals? Or could I finally get to meet Whistle and Littleman Kitty? Could we have a special group for Therapy Dogs? And will you paint my toenails?

2. When in 2008 might you be able to attend? January? Shortly after Easter? Summer? Fall? Some other time?

My calendar is wide open!

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?)

Obviously, it needs to be at a pet-friendly resort. Sheesh!

4. Who would make a great keynote speaker? (That's if #1 leads us in that direction.)

I have a lot of things to say! Pick me, pick me!

5. Did I leave out something you want to suggest?

Yes. The most important thing on the menu: Milkbones.

Dream big for the Big Event!!!

As posted by my Mom at RevGalBlogPals:

Tell us these five things about parties, birthday or otherwise.

1) Would you rather be the host or the guest?

I LOVE to go to parties as a guest. I LOVE it when people come to my house, too! But I suppose I prefer getting out and socializing.

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

I just let Sam lick the dishes after I nibble on the tastiest leftovers.

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?

When my Mom has her Hobbit party, I will be there with Sam, because we both have Hobbit names for our fancy names. I'm Songbird's Merry May Gamgee, and he is Rosier's Loyal Samwise Gamgee. We already have the hairy feet!!!! And we love a party, and we love to eat. So we're all set. (May Gamgee is a real sister of Samwise. My mom found her name in the Ap-pen-dix; she told me so.)

4) What's the worst time you ever had at a party?

Who would have a bad time at a party? I guess the only bad time I had was a Thanksgiving dinner where I had to go back to the car. It made me sad. Another dog was there, and he thought I was big and scary. He loves me now. We just had to get to know each other!!

5) And to end on a brighter note, what was the best?

Any party with Pizza!!!

You can play, too! And leave me a note if you stop by!

Friday Five: What are You...

1. Wearing -- a beautiful tri-color fur coat! It's a little warm for summer, but it's awfully pretty.

2. Pondering -- why do the cats run when I just want to play with them?

3. Reading -- "All Creatures Great and Small" I like it a lot. It's my favorite hymn, too. Did you know there's a verse about Berners?

The loving, noble Berner,

With coat rust, black and white,

Is our beloved companion,

Whose spirit brings us light.

(My mom wrote it for a Berner Blessing service.)

4. Dreaming -- of legs that don't ever hurt me.

5. Eating -- this morning I had venison stew, yummy!! Also, cookies.

What are you up to today?

Friday Five: Surprised By Joy

Hello, friends! I haven't been blogging lately because my arthur-ities have been bothering me. I'm not an old dog, you know; I'm only 5! But I've had arthur-ities since I was a puppy girl in my hips and my elbows. Now I have it in my right wrist, too, and since I'm right-pawed, I didn't feel like typing.

But, today I am feeling good! So I am playing the Friday Five!!

Tell us about five people, places, or things that have brought surprising, healing joy into your life.

1) My mom says the place I came from had people who didn't really care about good health for dogs; then she told me she couldn't have asked for a sweeter dog with a better nature, and she hugged and kissed me. That is Joy # 1!!!

2) When I'm feeling sore, and I can't go for a walk, I like to lie under my bush in the backyard. The snow hurt my bush, and my mom said we're going to have to cut it down, but she promised I could have a new one. That is Joy #2!!!

3) I like Winter best, because if you have a big fur coat like mine, the Summer is too hot, and even Spring, too, sometimes. But, in the Spring, I can smell something in the earth that I want to find, so I dig and dig until the roots of things show, and I can smell them even better! That is Joy #3!!!

4) Sometimes on gloomy days, my mom gives me a marrow bone! I love them!! That is Joy #4!!!

5) Even though she says it's time to leave the dog park, my mom always lets me wrassle with Sam for five more minutes! That is Joy #5!!!

What makes you feel joyful? Write and tell me, okay?

Love,
Your friend,
Molly

Friday Five: Rivers in the Desert

For this Friday Five, name five practices, activities, people or _____ (feel free to fill in something I may be forgetting) that for you are rivers in the desert.

1. I really love to meet new people. I like dogs, but I love people even more. Most people love me, too, unless they are just afraid of big dogs. I tell them, "You should see my brother at home!"

2. Milkbones are the best treat ever! I would do almost anything for a Milkbone. My mom calls them "doggie crack," but I'm not sure what that means.

3. The smell of cat food in the air, either being put down for the cat or freshly thrown-up by one of our cats. I can smell it anywhere in the house, and I feel it's my job to go and clean it up as quickly as possible.

4. Sitting in my chair in the living room. I like to hang out with my people in the evening, when they are watching TV. Sometimes the kids try to get my chair, and sometimes I might let one of them, but I prefer to sit in it and be with all of them. They can lie on the floor. It won't hurt them.

5. Going to the vet. The people there all know me, and when I have an owie they make it better. I have had lots of owies in my life. My joints are not very good. When I was still a puppy I had two kinds of surgery, one for a hip, and one for both elbows. Today the vet (her name is Dr. Molly, isn't that high-larious?) told my mom I have arthritis in one of my wrists, too, so I am going to take a bigger dose of my medicine every day and see if that helps. My mom loves me a lot, and so does my dad, even if he is grumpy sometimes when I lie down during a walk. But now he will have to let me because Dr. Molly said so!

What are your rivers in the desert?

Friday Five: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I'm a RevGalDogPal, so I'm playing the Friday Five!

Change is a given in life, yet it's not easy for any of us. So strap on your seat belts and let's talk about it:

1. Share, if you wish, the biggest change you experienced this past year.

Sam and I used to go to doggie day care at a really nice place. Then it had to stop having so many dogs come, because the neighbors complained or something. I don't know why anybody would complain about dogs! It's ridiculous.
So, we were sad to stop going, or at least I was, because everybody there loved me and I got to put my paws up on the counter and open the treat jar with my nose, and they all thought I was super-smart and very pretty!!!
Also, they had lots of woods for running and I miss it.
BUT, then our mom called a really nice lady who takes dogs for walks and to the dog park, and now when we need help, she comes over. Sam loves her more than anyone, and I like her a lot, too, but more when we go to the dog park. I'm not into the leash walking. Would you like me to walk you on a leash? I'm just sayin'.

2. Talk about a time you changed your mind about something, important or not.

When Sam came to live here, I didn't like him. But he got better.

3. Bishop John Shelby Spong wrote a controversial book called "Why Christianity Must Change or Die." Setting aside his ideas--what kind of changes would you like to see in the Church?

More churches that welcome dogs. And I am sure Cousin Jack would agree! He told me I was pretty when he came to visit!
Also, more churches that welcome everybody. I love everybody, and I'm sure God does, too.

4. Have you changed your hairstyle/hair color in the last five years? If so, how many times?

I am almost five years old. First I lost my puppy fluff. Then I had to be shaved for hip surgery and then for elbow surgery, and then I got a crazy-short haircut to even it all up. That was not my best look. Now I keep my coat long and full.

Here's a picture when I had my puppy fluff.



5. What WERE they thinking with that New Coke thing?

I don't care as long as they don't change the Milk Bones.

Kits and pups, join in and play!

Friday Five: Renewal

My mom says:
In this week that looks unlikely to hold a complete day off, I am pondering renewal. List four ways you like to relax or give yourself a break. Then name a fifth, something you've never been able to do, a self-care dream.


Hmmm. I'm usually pretty relaxed. But here are some of my favorite activities.

1. Snoozing in my chair.

2. Riding in the car, especially when we drive through at the donut store.

3. Visiting the coffee shop with my mom when she has a meeting. They give out cookies! Then all the people come over and pet me.

4. Eating a cheeseburger. It doesn't happen often enough, but when it does, YUM!

And my dream of a renewing thing to do?

5. Take myself for a walk and go wherever I want. I promise I would be careful crossing the street. There are lots of people out there just waiting to meet me!

Or, I would like to go to Mississippi and ride on a truck with the volunteers. I bet they need a ministry dog there!

What makes you feel refreshed?

Badda Bing Badda Boom Friday Five

It's been a very full, busy week. Here's the F5, short and sweet.

The questions are simple, the answers unlimited. Go!

Who = Me! I'm Molly!

What = Bernese Mountain Dog, Ministry Dog, Friend of Everybody!

When = Oh, I don't care, stop by anytime!

Where = You'll find me in the living room, curled up in my chair.

Why = You have to ask? To bring dog cookies, of course! And to pet me!

Cats and Dogs, leave me a comment and you can play, too! Get your people to do linking, though, because it's hard without thumbs.