THE BLOGGER
 
 
 INQUIRER
 
 
 ISSUE # 42
 
"For Blogging Minds Who Need To Know" ... 
Founder: Lucy 
 
Editor: Bookworm 
Interviews
Interviews
 

I was looking forward to meeting with PraywithHope for a long 

time.  She has been a wonderful blog friend and a tremendous help 

with the Blogstream Community Church blog. 

The Phoenix skyline was impressive as the plane circled for its landing.  

Once again, I vowed that my beloved football Cardinals defection to this

 desert place would not influence my impressions of the city.

We agreed to meet at The Farm at South Mountain where there is a pecan

 grove that provides a setting for many weddings and celebrations.  

According to Gourmet Magazine, dining beneath the pecan trees at 

The Farm "... is a spiritual experience for those who journey to this 12-acre 

organic oasis..." 

 It is just a few steps from the Artist Studio and Soul Retreat where 

PraywithHope spends every Friday and there is a shop with her things 

for sale. 

As I walked through the arch into the Morning Glory Café, I spied 

PraywithHope sitting at a table.  I introduced myself and the

 interview began.

Bookworm:  What do you feel you bring to the Stream?  

PraywithHope:  A presence of prayer, peace and healing

Bookworm:  How or why did you pick the name of your blog? 

PraywithHope:  I believe my eternal citizenship is in heaven due to my 

Christian faith and I am only on this earth for a brief while; thus the name 

for my blog.

Bookworm:  I know that both your faith and ministry is dear to your heart, 

would you share with us a little bit of what your ministry is like? 

PraywithHope:  We have a house church ministry that meets in a chapel in 

our backyard with about 40 -45 members. We work with homeless, mentally 

ill, elderly and refugees and many of these are among our attendees. 

We also help with rent, sponsor people for missions and just this 

Sunday raised $1500 for a black pastor from Burundi Africa so his 

village can complete their church building with a roof. My husband, 

AzRon and I share in this work.

I also am a chaplain at a Retirement Home doing chapel and Bible Study

 each week and providing counsel as well as do funerals and special

 services for the residents and staff. I also do Spiritual Direction for all

 faiths; volunteer with Catholic Charities working with refugees; and

 am involved in providing spiritual refreshment, healing and wholeness at

 The Farm at South Mountain. Besides we also take in boarders who

 really become a part of our family.

Bookworm:  How did you and Ron meet? 

PraywithHope:  We met at Bible College in Saskatchewan, Canada.

 The Bible College is still in existence - it is called Briercrest Bible College

 and in Caronport, Saskatchewan - actually the college is the town and 

that is it; faculty and students live there and that is about it. An 

interesting experience to say the least.

Bookworm:  When you and Ron met for the first time, was it love 

at first sight?

PraywithHope:  No - I would not say it was love at first sight - it is 

actually quite a story!!!!!!! Oh my it is!!!!!!!! First real date 

we both ended up ill - very ill in the infirmary!!!!!!!

Bookworm:  Now, that sounds like an idea for a great blog post to me.  

What would we find you doing in your free time? 

PraywithHope:  Reading, walking (in the desert enjoying nature if I can get

 away), playing solitaire on my computer, meditating in quietness.

Bookworm:  Have you always written poetry? Do you have a favorite poet? 

PraywithHope:  No I have not always written; in fact in school literature of 

any kind including poetry was what brought my grade point average down. 

It is a gift I have developed as I deepened my spiritual walk in the past 

10-12 years. Do not really have a favorite poet but my friend 

Anne Marie is a great poet.

Bookworm:  What is your personal philosophy of life?

PraywithHope:   To live life here on this earth is to walk in harmony 

with my Creator, God. I want to follow in Christ’s footsteps believing 

He died to give me eternal life. He has placed me here for a purpose at 

this particular time and I desire to spend time with Him, focused and still, 

thereby allowing Him to lead me and use me to be “God with skin on” 

here in the world. In that, touching people’s lives so they will be able to

 carry on this ministry after I am no longer here.

Bookworm:  Would you share with us a favorite memory from childhood? 

PraywithHope:  My mom was quite ill when I was young so I spent a 

lot of time in the field with my father; he was a farmer in North Dakota. 

He took toys, blanket, and snacks along with my big golden lab, 

Brownie and made a place at the end of the field where he worked. 

I took naps there, played there and sometimes wandered away from 

there (like children do) but Brownie always went with me. When I was gone

 he called her and she would come and take him to me. I think that is where 

I developed my first love of nature.

Bookworm:  What is the greatest lesson life has taught you? 

PraywithHope:  Patience; allow God to be in control; focus on Him 

and take time to be still with Him

Bookworm:  Now, it’s time for the Mandatory Questions. What brought 

you to Blogstream, and what did you hope to get out of it.

PraywithHope:  My husband, AzRon, brought me to the stream

 with the challenge that I should write here. I really had no idea that 

I would get anything out of it when I started it. Now I am absolutely 

amazed.

Bookworm:  What 5 CD's are currently in your player? 

PraywithHope:  1) Cappuccino and Conversation; 2) Tea for Two: love

 songs; 3)  Jim Brickman: Hope; 4) Gracious Light: Gregory Norbert; 

5) A Quiet Knowing: Canticles for the Heart 

 (editor’s note: I apologize.  I could only find images for 3 of the cds)

Bookworm:  Then of course the 5 bloggers you want to meet.

PraywithHope:  Already know AzRon and met Tapioca Tundra and 

On the Solid Rock. So five I wish to meet; well, Lookin’,  Lucy, Whisper, 

Heide, POH, Dixie, Secret, Sherry, SammyJo, Bookworm, Grandpa John, 

Dragonflower, Celtic Mist, ValAnne, Taylor, Gloria, Karen, 

Granny and Grandma Baba, Dalpha, Mouse, Katie, Decorous, 

Misty, Whit and Scratch  and more and more!!!!!  

Let's just have a big Blogstream party!!!!

Bookworm:  Favorite alcohol beverage? 

PraywithHope:  Occasional glass of wine is all I venture to try.

Bookworm:  What is your nationality? Ethnic background? 

PraywithHope:  German and a bit of English; definitely

 German by temperament!!!

Bookworm:  Last book you read? 

PraywithHope:  What was the best and worst book you read?

 Just finished, Love: A Guide for Prayer. The best Book I have read and 

it changed my life was Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

Worst book, well I never read it if I do not like it after I start it. 

Bookworm:  Who is your favorite actor or actress? 

PraywithHope:  Andy Griffith in all of his shows

Bookworm:  What was the last movie you saw at the theatre? 

PraywithHope:  Ratatouille (cannot spell it)

Bookworm:  Most embarrassing moment you remember?

PraywithHope:  Driving down the road (in a car); seeing a snake in the 

middle of the road and I lifted my feet off the floor of the car (of 

course it slowed down) because I have such a fear of snakes. 

My younger brother who was with me wanted to know what 

was the matter with me???

Bookworm:  Favorite recipe that you would be willing to share?

PraywithHope:   Who told people I am a good cook????

Cranberry Salsa; yum, yum, yum!!!

1½ cups cranberries-chopped; 1/3 cup sugar; 2-4 green onions-

 chopped; 1 jalapeno pepper - seeded and chopped (If you like a bit

 of heat leave a few seeds in); ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro; 2

 tablespoons chopped ginger; Juice and zest of one lime; ½ teaspoon salt (I

 do not usually add salt or only a dash of it).   Chop fine but do not

 puree in a food processor or blender; I use a manual chopper. Refrigerate

 two hours or overnight before serving. Makes about two cups. It is

 good for dip with chips or crackers but I love it with turkey, chicken and

Bookworm:  Your middle name?   

PraywithHope:   Eileen

Bookworm:  What is your favorite word?

PraywithHope:   I thought about this a long time as I do

 not know.  Possibly, the word is listening.

Bookworm:  What is your least favorite word? 

PraywithHope:  Bad boy or bad girl

Bookworm:  What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?

PraywithHope:   I think the beauty and creativity of God in nature

Bookworm:  What turns you off?  

PraywithHope:  All the hatred in society beginning with how many

 children are treated and in all areas of life.

Bookworm:  What is your favorite curse word? 

PraywithHope:  Crap

Bookworm:  What sound or noise do you love?

PraywithHope:   I love to hear the different birds singing in the trees

 when I am out in nature or walking in the morning.

Bookworm:  What sound or noise do you hate? 

PraywithHope:  Yelling or screaming between people,

and also scratching on a blackboard

Bookworm:  What profession other than your own would you like to 

attempt? 

PraywithHope:  None. I have already been a nurse, a preschool teacher, 

a daycare provider, now a minister, chaplain, spiritual director, writer 

and photographer (and this last one I do not intend to study for).

Bookworm:  What profession would you not like to do? 

PraywithHope:  Police officer

Bookworm:  If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say to you when you arrive?  

PraywithHope:  Well done; you have faithfully served me while on earth.