Sunshine Blogger Award

Hey guys, happy Tuesday!

Recently there have been these neat blogging “awards” going around in the community. The purpose of these “awards” is to build relationships between bloggers and to bring awareness to other blogs that you find awesome.

We were nominated for the Leibster Blog Award a while back, and that was a ton of fun. Now, Gabrielle from Redeeming the Times has nominated us for the Sunshine Blogger award!

Gabrielle had a set of twelve questions for us, and we have ten for the bloggers that we nominate.

Here are the questions! (Obviously, the J’s are for Jason, and P’s are for Peter on our answers).

Why did you start blogging?

J: I started blogging when I was about thirteen because I wanted to have a public portfolio of my writing. I thought it would be cool to have a collection of my writing in one place, where we people could read it and be encouraged. And encourage me with it. Now, I mostly blog to be able to share how I feel with others. It’s funny how Miznos has almost become a public expression of my friendship with Peter.

P: Blogging was kind of at the back of my mind when I started writing seriously. I told myself that I would need to start a blog sometime, but was reluctant to try to start one due to the number of things I thought I needed to do. Luckily (more like Divinely), my friend Jason was also trying to write more consistently on his own blog but needed some help with the project he was working on. I’ve been Co-Author of Miznos ever since, and have had a blast.

What three books would you recommend for others to read?

J: Well other than the Bible, some books I would suggest to read are Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis, and A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. Fahrenheit 451 is a very insightful dystopian story about meaning and purpose. I thought it was both a really good reflection of the purposelessness we have without God as well as a reflection of what our culture has become through addiction to technology and distraction. Also, the descriptions are beast! I would suggest The Four Loves not because I agree with everything but because it covers some topics we should think more about in a helpful, prodding way, which really forced me to think. Finally, A Praying Life is amazing!!! It really lit up my prayer life and was super balanced and helpful. Everyone should read it!

P: This is one of those questions that any writer should just have an automatic answer for, you get asked it so many times. My recommendations are going to mostly consist of fiction pieces since that’s what I read. I would definitely recommend Ranger’s Apprentice: Ruins of Gorlan by John Flannagan. It’s a classic for me with a timeless lore that I can fall in love with over and over again. Another good one is Thr3e by Ted Dekker, it has an amazing storyline as a thriller that I did not expect at all. My final choice would be 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke. I’m actually in the midst of reading this, but it has still impacted me deeply so far.

What’s one of your favorite scriptures? Why?

J: I love the end of John 21, where Jesus is calling Peter back to Himself. It reminds me that even when we deny Christ, He remains faithful to us. It is His faithfulness that makes it possible for us to follow Him!

P: A new favorite of mine is Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” This scripture holds an amazing promise of ultimate joy and contentment in Christ, while also reassuring us that God cares about our passions.

Name one or two things you’re passionate about.

J: I am passionate about helping people to understand each other. When my friends or family have a disagreement, I feel like I am called to bring resolution to the conflict and help to bring mutual understanding.

P: Honestly, I’m passionate about seeing a new revival of just, general chivalry in the young men of America. We have not been taking up the mantle of leader of the house that God created us to have. Disrespecting women has gotten us into a terrible place, and the consequence of that is hatred and prejudice concerning race and gender

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

J: Dark chocolate all the way!

P: Dark chocolate 100%. The more cacao, the better. If there’s mint involved, I’m a lost cause.

If money wasn’t an issue, where would you go on vacation?

J: Australia. I want to go scuba-diving in the Great Barrier Reef, see koalas and bilbies, and get an awesome Australian accent!

P: Somewhere with a beach and sun. Probably one of the islands in the Mediterranean off the coast of Italy. I’m heavily Italian, and I can’t resist true pasta.

What’s your favorite way to de-stress?

J: I like to get all of my thoughts and feelings out on a page, usually as poetry, and read and re-read what I’ve written several times until I feel like I get it out of my system.

P: Listening to music and writing heartfelt poetry that no one will probably ever see. I also enjoy going for a long run where I can contemplate life’s mysteries.

Name a favorite fictitious character.

J: Arwen Undómiel from the Lord of the Rings.

P: Martin the Warrior from the Redwall series.

What are three things you love to do?

J: I feel like I should just say listening to music three times, but I’m not going to so. . . I like talking to my friends in late hours of the night, usually keeping them up while I ramble on about random stuff. I also love dancing. And of course, listening to music, especially Twenty-one-pilots, Hollyn, NF, and more recently, Ivan B!

P: Generally, I love to spend time outside in nature. More specifically, I like to practice with my recurve and compound bow, go running, and dancing until my legs hurt!

If you could choose a person to meet, who would it be?

J: Other than Jesus, I would like to meet my future self. It would be really cool to know what I would be like in a few years. I feel like I’ll change a lot in the next few years (going to college now), and I’m excited/nervous to find out who I’ll become.

P: It really depends on if they’re still alive or not. If they’re not alive anymore, then my great-grandpa I never met. Still alive, I would have to choose Tyler Joseph from Twenty One Pilots.

What’s a sport you wish you could play?

J: I’d have to say football, not so much for the sport, but just because it would be really awesome to be that tall. Lol. Also, gymnastics would be pretty cool.

P: I’ve tried to play a few sports, and wasn’t very good at them. I guess some sort of contact sport would be my choice. Boxing, MMA, maybe Taekwondo?

Hugs or just a good high five?

J: Definitely depends on the moment and situation.

P: I love to give people hugs, it really depends on the person. Sometimes it would just be weird.

Before I get into the nominees, I feel like I should let them know that they are under no time frame at all. They can take as long as they want, or not participate at all if they are super busy. No pressure! I’m going to have to put on my suit and tie for this part. And the nominees are…

Zach Phillips from Zachphillip.com
Anna Peters from Northern Hearts Alaska
Haddassah from Perfectly Loved by Jesus
Alathia from Bliss
Michael Goddard II from Obey God, Reach Others
Our questions for all you amazing people.

1.What’s your favorite obscure crayon color?
2.Have you ever laughed at the wrong moment?
3.Do you have any unique skills or weird talents?
4.Which is more satisfying: when you perfectly fill a page with words or the feeling of a pen against paper?
5.In your opinion, which sport is the most pointless?
6.If you could be anyone (other than yourself) for one day who would it be?
7.What is the least favorite post you’ve written on your blog?
8.What is the awkwardest thing you’ve ever said?
9.What fictional character from LOTR do you get the most frustrated at? Why?
10.What’s your favorite book of the Bible? Why?

Have a wonderful day, and enjoy every moment of God’s beautiful creation!

-Peter Rogati III (Pedro)