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	<title>filling my patch of sky</title>
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	<description>musings on faith, language, and culture</description>
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		<title>filling my patch of sky</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com</link>
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			<item>
		<title>The Tricky Theology of Success-Oriented Living (Part 1)</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/the-tricky-theology-of-success-oriented-living-part-1/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/the-tricky-theology-of-success-oriented-living-part-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:23:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[God's blessing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life's trials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[obedience and blessing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success in life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[suffering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1184</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a strange phenomenon in Western Christianity that assumes stability and success are evidences of our obedience and God’s blessings.
Sometimes this is the case. There is fruit to be savored in obedience to God, for He has lovingly shown us boundaries for life that we might be blessed.
But sometimes the fruit is sweet fellowship [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1184&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>Thanksgiving Remembrance</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/thanksgiving-remembrance/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/thanksgiving-remembrance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:35:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family gatherings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thanksgiving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1181</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Unexpected Communion
Small offerings for a Thanksgiving gathering
Will it amount to warmth and welcome?
Will guests be pleased to join us here?
Candlelight and tidy home
Chocolates scattered in a bowl
Mulled cider with caramel
Comfort foods, casseroles
Many dishes yet to make
as I hustle here and there.
Background message fills the air
with tender story of the Provider.
I find myself jealous of the [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1181&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>Invisibility Is Best Left to Superheroes</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/invisibility-is-best-left-to-superheroes/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/invisibility-is-best-left-to-superheroes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:01:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book club]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[escape mechanisms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invisibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luci Shaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paying attention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing exercises]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1175</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones Book Club: Thoughts on Chapter 9
Chapter 9 in Luci Shaw’s Breath for the Bones is titled simply “Paying Attention.” Here she stresses the need for the artist to heed the significant in the simple. That’s most often where God tucks His treasures—in the places we would least expect: Christians are earthen [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1175&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/invisibility-is-best-left-to-superheroes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>Gossiping About God</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/gossiping-about-god/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/gossiping-about-god/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:01:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Creative Stretch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seeking God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[silence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waiting for God]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1166</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As I sit waiting upon God, I wonder if He sees me as a reporter: Pen poised over paper, anticipating His next word, waiting for Him to breathe or move or do anything recognizably divine . . . so that I might complete my written account and submit my work for all to see.
Does God [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1166&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>Make the Most of Your Midlife Crisis</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/make-the-most-of-your-midlife-crisis/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/make-the-most-of-your-midlife-crisis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:44:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luci Shaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book club]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[midlife crisis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ruts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learning to risk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1159</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones Book Club: Thoughts on Chapter 8
Humans are creatures of habit and routine. We develop certain patterns and rhythms in life, some for good, some for ill. It takes a miracle of mercy to boost us up and out of the ruts we’ve worn.
The routines carry on until one day, midlife is [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1159&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/make-the-most-of-your-midlife-crisis/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>The Forgotten Art of Solitude</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/the-forgotten-art-of-solitude/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/the-forgotten-art-of-solitude/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:05:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dietrich Bonhoeffer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to be quiet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal retreat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[silence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Celebration of Discipline]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All week I have looked forward to carving out a spot for Creative Stretch #4: Learning from Silence and Solitude. But the reality is, life is full and rather noisy. Seeking God in the quiet places requires that we first find the quiet places. My quiet places seem to have gotten lost somewhere.
I think it&#8217;s [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1130&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>Meaningful Togetherness Begins with Solitude</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/meaningful-togetherness-begins-with-solitude/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/meaningful-togetherness-begins-with-solitude/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:37:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Foster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seeking solitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spiritual disciplines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strengthening relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Celebration of Discipline]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1122</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many years ago, I helped lead a study for some high school gals based on Richard Foster’s The Celebration of Discipline, which described various characteristics of the Christian life. One characteristic in particular caught my attention then and has held it since—the discipline of solitude.
Solitude has always been comfortable to me. I’m an introvert, so [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1122&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>The Adventure of Facing a Blank Page</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/the-adventure-of-facing-a-blank-page/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/the-adventure-of-facing-a-blank-page/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:19:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blank page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book club]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Henri Nouwen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[journal writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luci Shaw]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1116</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones Book Club: Thoughts on Chapter 7
Art is an odd thing to pursue. Most adults do not take the time to write or sculpt or sketch or paint; this is another one of those activities (like dreaming and using our imaginations) we “mature out of.”
So those of us who continue to pursue [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1116&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/the-adventure-of-facing-a-blank-page/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>Creative Stretch #4: Learning from Silence and Solitude</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/creative-stretch-4-learning-from-silence-and-solitude/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/creative-stretch-4-learning-from-silence-and-solitude/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:01:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creative exercises]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Creative Stretch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luci Shaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seeking God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[silence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waiting on God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing exercises]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1110</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When was the last time you rested in utter silence—and enjoyed it? Silence is rare in our day. Our media-saturated culture allows us to go from one event and distraction to the next with little silence to be had. Even in our resting, we tend to have background noise to keep our thoughts preoccupied, in [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1110&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/creative-stretch-4-learning-from-silence-and-solitude/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>My Approach to Art: Get Ready and Wait</title>
		<link>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/my-approach-to-art-get-ready-and-wait/</link>
		<comments>http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/my-approach-to-art-get-ready-and-wait/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:45:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>erinstraza</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book club]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C. S. Lewis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unsafe God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://erinstraza.wordpress.com/?p=1098</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Breath for the Bones Book Club: Thoughts on Chapter 6
Within all of creation there is potential for beauty and chaos. We only have to look within ourselves to see these two forces at work. Nature illustrates it daily, with its wind that can either make the tree branches shimmer or uproot the whole mass as [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=erinstraza.wordpress.com&blog=1229587&post=1098&subd=erinstraza&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
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