Monday, May 25, 2009
Modesty
I haven't posted for a while now. I have been swamped at work with a project and way too tired when I come home. But mostly I think I just haven't had anything to say. However, something has been sort of eating away at me lately and I finally have decided to just address it and maybe that will help me deal with it.
I'm a bit bummed out by the clothing choices of my fellow believers. It seems sometimes we "gag at a gnat and swallow a camel", as my mother used to say. We are so against this and that, yet we ignore the Biblical mandate for modesty. I have noticed online there is a community of folks who promote modesty and a few small manufacturers are providing some choices for those of us who do not wish to bare it all. But it is hard work to find them and whats more one cannot try them on before purchasing.
Personally, I'm very tired of spending an entire day shopping and finding nothing appropriate to wear. I have reduced my shopping trips by 90%. For one reason I don't want to spend money, but the second reason is that if I decide to spend money it is going to be on something I really like and is perfect for my body type and testimony! That is just not happening. (and I am NOT an odd body type)
Is there anyone else out there who has a problem with this? Is there any way we can pressure the clothing industry to offer clothing that covers bare shoulders, actually has a neckline (instead of a waistline passing as a neckline)and looks like I remembered to wear the bottom half?
Yes, I know it's possible to pick through it all and put together something that is decent. I've been doing that for years. But I've hit the wall. I want a dress and I do not own one, not because I can't afford it, but because there isn't a modest, classy one in any department store I frequent, unless I want to mortgage my house (and even then I'm not so sure).
Further, it is getting more and more difficult to go out with my teenage son to a public place or event, even at church, and not be embarrassed by the amount of skin and body parts showing everywhere and I'm talking about among fellow believers!
I love to look up to date, pretty and well-groomed. I want to make my husband look good and my children to feel proud of being with their Mom. But I am not willing to sacrifice modesty to look fashionable.
Any thoughts out there?
I'm a bit bummed out by the clothing choices of my fellow believers. It seems sometimes we "gag at a gnat and swallow a camel", as my mother used to say. We are so against this and that, yet we ignore the Biblical mandate for modesty. I have noticed online there is a community of folks who promote modesty and a few small manufacturers are providing some choices for those of us who do not wish to bare it all. But it is hard work to find them and whats more one cannot try them on before purchasing.
Personally, I'm very tired of spending an entire day shopping and finding nothing appropriate to wear. I have reduced my shopping trips by 90%. For one reason I don't want to spend money, but the second reason is that if I decide to spend money it is going to be on something I really like and is perfect for my body type and testimony! That is just not happening. (and I am NOT an odd body type)
Is there anyone else out there who has a problem with this? Is there any way we can pressure the clothing industry to offer clothing that covers bare shoulders, actually has a neckline (instead of a waistline passing as a neckline)and looks like I remembered to wear the bottom half?
Yes, I know it's possible to pick through it all and put together something that is decent. I've been doing that for years. But I've hit the wall. I want a dress and I do not own one, not because I can't afford it, but because there isn't a modest, classy one in any department store I frequent, unless I want to mortgage my house (and even then I'm not so sure).
Further, it is getting more and more difficult to go out with my teenage son to a public place or event, even at church, and not be embarrassed by the amount of skin and body parts showing everywhere and I'm talking about among fellow believers!
I love to look up to date, pretty and well-groomed. I want to make my husband look good and my children to feel proud of being with their Mom. But I am not willing to sacrifice modesty to look fashionable.
Any thoughts out there?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Separate
What does it mean to be a set apart people? How are we to come out from among them and be separate? This is a question with which I have been wrestling for about 4 years. I have studied other groups of believers and their version of being set apart for the Lord, but what I have found in all of my prayer, Bible study and observation is this: every generation of the Church must find a way to stand against the prevailing culture and we are no different. Jesus was nothing like the culture to which he came. He was totally other in every way. No one, not the Jewish leaders, the Roman oppressors, nor crowds who followed him had any doubt about his uniqueness.
Jesus made it clear that there was nothing in this world that He cared about except people. Money, power, political influence, popularity, interviews with influential powers, glitter, showmanship: none of these were part of His ministry. He kept it simple. He stayed with the basics. People needed something different than what they were offered by the rich and powerful and Jesus offered the difference they craved. After all it was the greed of the powerful that kept these folks poor, not just monetarily, but spiritually as well. Their despair and sense of separation from God fed the collective ego of the rulers. Their neediness made them an easy pawn in a game of "who has the power, really" between the Jewish leaders and the Roman hierarchy. Jesus knew all of this. He understood that no one, absolutely no one, really cared about the masses. But He loved them passionately. Not only those of His earthly generation, but all those who had come before and those who would come in the future.
Because He truly loved, He was giving instead of taking; He was sacrificing instead of using. Because he wasn't trying to fill pews or win a church growth award, He gave the people what they truly needed. He gave them the gift of Truth. Truth that was counter cultural in every possible way. Truth that gave them all they needed, but also challenged them to live beyond themselves. He offered peace and then made them terribly uncomfortable in their sins. He gave them hope, but he also told them that life would end badly-they would die. He promised never to leave them yet confused them with the prediction of his arrest and crucifixion. Then, just when they were totally bewildered, He predicted his resurrection.
He was so honest! It was painful and wonderful all at the same time and those words are meant for us! He was clear about that and we need to pass them along to the next generation as sparkling and pure as possible, because our generation needs something different too. You see the enemy hasn't come up with anything new. He still uses people to do his bidding and his bidding is never good. It always causes the few to seek power over the many. It always feeds into our worst selves and distracts us with promises of riches and glory and asks us if "we can't beat them then join them". The problem is, after this self-centered, self seeking, grasping way of life has given us all it has to give, we come up empty in our souls. And we turn to the Church to tell us there is something more. Please, we cry, give us hope, because we are getting old now. Please, we are losing our youth, is this all there is? Please, we are no longer physically powerful, what will happen when our bodies give out? My money is gone, what do I do now or I have more money than I can ever use why am I really here? The question for the Church is: how will we answer them?
Will we give them more of what they have experienced in their hollow past? Will we offer them a show to distract them from their searching? Will we soothe their wounded souls with glitz and glamour? Will the perfection of our program heal their brokenness? Will the self help sermon excise the demons that torment them? Will our message of permissive love affirm them before God and leave them in their bondage to sin even as they cry for a way to be free? Will we fail them?
Jesus set a tough example to follow. He loved the lost enough to feel their pain, to honestly assess their sin and speak to their bleeding hearts the truth of repentance, surrender and abandonment to His love. He did not offer them what they already had tried. Even the people acknowledged that no one had ever spoken as Jesus did. He was different in every way. Oh that we who name Him as our King would be as He is in this present generation, that others may see, believe and embrace the Hope of the World.
Jesus made it clear that there was nothing in this world that He cared about except people. Money, power, political influence, popularity, interviews with influential powers, glitter, showmanship: none of these were part of His ministry. He kept it simple. He stayed with the basics. People needed something different than what they were offered by the rich and powerful and Jesus offered the difference they craved. After all it was the greed of the powerful that kept these folks poor, not just monetarily, but spiritually as well. Their despair and sense of separation from God fed the collective ego of the rulers. Their neediness made them an easy pawn in a game of "who has the power, really" between the Jewish leaders and the Roman hierarchy. Jesus knew all of this. He understood that no one, absolutely no one, really cared about the masses. But He loved them passionately. Not only those of His earthly generation, but all those who had come before and those who would come in the future.
Because He truly loved, He was giving instead of taking; He was sacrificing instead of using. Because he wasn't trying to fill pews or win a church growth award, He gave the people what they truly needed. He gave them the gift of Truth. Truth that was counter cultural in every possible way. Truth that gave them all they needed, but also challenged them to live beyond themselves. He offered peace and then made them terribly uncomfortable in their sins. He gave them hope, but he also told them that life would end badly-they would die. He promised never to leave them yet confused them with the prediction of his arrest and crucifixion. Then, just when they were totally bewildered, He predicted his resurrection.
He was so honest! It was painful and wonderful all at the same time and those words are meant for us! He was clear about that and we need to pass them along to the next generation as sparkling and pure as possible, because our generation needs something different too. You see the enemy hasn't come up with anything new. He still uses people to do his bidding and his bidding is never good. It always causes the few to seek power over the many. It always feeds into our worst selves and distracts us with promises of riches and glory and asks us if "we can't beat them then join them". The problem is, after this self-centered, self seeking, grasping way of life has given us all it has to give, we come up empty in our souls. And we turn to the Church to tell us there is something more. Please, we cry, give us hope, because we are getting old now. Please, we are losing our youth, is this all there is? Please, we are no longer physically powerful, what will happen when our bodies give out? My money is gone, what do I do now or I have more money than I can ever use why am I really here? The question for the Church is: how will we answer them?
Will we give them more of what they have experienced in their hollow past? Will we offer them a show to distract them from their searching? Will we soothe their wounded souls with glitz and glamour? Will the perfection of our program heal their brokenness? Will the self help sermon excise the demons that torment them? Will our message of permissive love affirm them before God and leave them in their bondage to sin even as they cry for a way to be free? Will we fail them?
Jesus set a tough example to follow. He loved the lost enough to feel their pain, to honestly assess their sin and speak to their bleeding hearts the truth of repentance, surrender and abandonment to His love. He did not offer them what they already had tried. Even the people acknowledged that no one had ever spoken as Jesus did. He was different in every way. Oh that we who name Him as our King would be as He is in this present generation, that others may see, believe and embrace the Hope of the World.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The result of my consecration to communion for 21 days has turned into 2 months. This has been a turning point in my life. I would not stop this spiritual discipline for anything in the world. Much healing has taken place in my soul. There is a softness in my heart and when I remember hurts from the past I simply remember them, but they do not pain me anymore. This is truly a miracle. To be free from unforgiveness is so wonderful. Each day I can start like a new born babe who has not yet experienced the tragedies and betrayals of life. It has given birth to a deep desire to be consecrated-- set apart--in other areas of my life. It is my desire to be different from the world; for people to look at me and instead see the reflection of my Lord. I no longer wish to fit in nor do I care about a lot of things this world tells me I should care about. I didn't care about a lot of "stuff" before, but I felt guilty, as if I should concern myself with every issue the media tells me requires my attention. I have come to the conclusion that the greatest weapon of the enemy is DISTRACTION! But now I am free! I choose not to participate! I care about whatever my Lord cares about and I will participate in whatever He asks of me; nothing more and nothing less. What glorious simplicity of life. Oh the joy of being narrow minded! Focused on that which really matters and should require my full attention, leaving little to waste on things that will not matter a hundred years from now. This is life, abundant and free!
Blessings on any who read this. Feel free to post.
Dodi
Blessings on any who read this. Feel free to post.
Dodi
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Where is peace?
It seems the world is in turmoil. As I read the headlines I see recession, war, pain and suffering, yet it has always been like that since we were exiled from the Garden of Eden. I wonder sometimes how much I am supposed to care about all this. It can get pretty depressing, in fact it is incredibly easy to fall into despair because I can't change it. I want to help, but there are limitations to what I can do. And it seems those who are in positions of power and could help, often let the ball drop. I'm hoping that when the ball comes to me I will be able to field it and do the right thing, whatever that is, but in the meantime, I am battling sadness for all the pain of humanity. Further, though I have known Jesus as my loving Saviour for more than 40 years, I have experienced such a hunger for the Lord for the last two and a half years that I thought I would die for longing.
For the last few days, though, things have brightened. Not that outward circumstances have changed, but that I have changed. I have been taking communion each morning. First I ask forgiveness for sin and make sure I have forgiven others for we must never take the Lord's supper without these disciplines. Then I ask that the bread and cup be the body and blood of my Lord to my body, that He would be truly in me. The results have been amazing. There is a peace and calm that I can't explain. The despair is gone. I still feel emotions and concerns, but the hopelessness is gone. It seems there is a pillow in my soul that prevents the happenings of the day from striking at my core. Instead my core is now stable. And the presence of the Lord is sweetly gentle and peaceable in my spirit. I am going to continue this consecration for 21 days. I will post the results.
For the last few days, though, things have brightened. Not that outward circumstances have changed, but that I have changed. I have been taking communion each morning. First I ask forgiveness for sin and make sure I have forgiven others for we must never take the Lord's supper without these disciplines. Then I ask that the bread and cup be the body and blood of my Lord to my body, that He would be truly in me. The results have been amazing. There is a peace and calm that I can't explain. The despair is gone. I still feel emotions and concerns, but the hopelessness is gone. It seems there is a pillow in my soul that prevents the happenings of the day from striking at my core. Instead my core is now stable. And the presence of the Lord is sweetly gentle and peaceable in my spirit. I am going to continue this consecration for 21 days. I will post the results.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Gospel of Mark 1:21-28
I have been studying the text Mark 1:21-28 and it has been a real eye-opener. To read of a demon-possessed man being delivered through the authoritative Word of Jesus Christ is pretty exciting stuff. I am afraid we tend to think of those things as being part of the past. We make a grave error with such thinking. I have personally known folks who were delivered from the grasp of the enemy and their experiences were not unlike what happened to the man in this chapter when the demons threw him down and screamed their departure.
We need to be honest with ourselves. We do have an enemy who wishes us no good whatsoever. If we deny this, we deny ourselves the opportunity to be rescued. It reminds me of a favorite story I used to read to my children when they were small. It was about a very small dragon that appeared in a little boy's room one day. He told his mother about it when he went downstairs to breakfast, but she dismissed it and reminded him that there was no such thing as a dragon. As the day progressed, the dragon grew bigger and bigger and even when the dragon made it difficult for Mom to go from room to room doing her chores, she still denied he existed. At last, the dragon became so huge that his limbs protruded from the windows and doors of the house and he eventually took off down the road chasing a bread truck. Now Mom had no choice and admitted that perhaps dragons really do exist. Instantly, the dragon shrunk back to his smallest size.
This is much like how we in this culture view evil. If we just don't look at it or refuse to believe it exists-well, then it just won't be there. That works when it is small, but soon enough it grows arms and legs that are long enough to carry us away and no longer are we deciding our own comings and goings! We get ourselves in deeper and deeper and wonder why we can't get out, afterall we got there on our own, shouldn't we be able to dig out on our own?
We want to pretend evil is not the result of an enemy who plans well his strategy, but instead it exists because folks don't have enough education or opportunities or money. Indeed, folks need the basics of life and we need to care for one another to see that it is so. But to think we can educate or spend the evil out of human beings is exactly what our enemy wants us to think, simply because those approaches to the problem of evil are no threat to him. If we keep trying them, even when they are clearly not working, we will be so distracted we will not pull out the real weapon that can defeat the enemy. The real weapon, as Jesus demonstrated in this account, is Himself. He is in control and His Words have the power to bind and loose.
It is essential that we not relegate our Saviour to a place of nice, loving Teacher. No one is nicer or more loving or a better teacher than Jesus Christ. But to stop there is to miss the point. Jesus is Saviour. From what is He to save us-our over-drawn bank accounts? Yes, I pray over that too-but there is so much more to Him! Without light, there is no darkness, without small, there is no large, without less there is no more, without danger, there is no saving, without an enemy who needs a Saviour?
We, the Church, need to wake up and refuse to accept the humanistic version of our faith within which our politically correct culture wishes to frame us where everyone and everything is okay if it works for you. We need to own the tennets of our faith- that we have a King who died and rose again on our behalf-because we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. He was there in the Garden of Eden and he hasn't come up with anything new in his approach nor has he changed his goal to own us in all these thousands of years.
But the Good News is this: We have a Saviour who is unafraid, undaunted, all-powerful and best of all-on our side! We have a hope, because we can call upon Him, surrender our lives to Him and trust him with our lives. After-all, the demons were afraid of my Big Brother in that synogogue, so I think I'll stick with HIM!
We need to be honest with ourselves. We do have an enemy who wishes us no good whatsoever. If we deny this, we deny ourselves the opportunity to be rescued. It reminds me of a favorite story I used to read to my children when they were small. It was about a very small dragon that appeared in a little boy's room one day. He told his mother about it when he went downstairs to breakfast, but she dismissed it and reminded him that there was no such thing as a dragon. As the day progressed, the dragon grew bigger and bigger and even when the dragon made it difficult for Mom to go from room to room doing her chores, she still denied he existed. At last, the dragon became so huge that his limbs protruded from the windows and doors of the house and he eventually took off down the road chasing a bread truck. Now Mom had no choice and admitted that perhaps dragons really do exist. Instantly, the dragon shrunk back to his smallest size.
This is much like how we in this culture view evil. If we just don't look at it or refuse to believe it exists-well, then it just won't be there. That works when it is small, but soon enough it grows arms and legs that are long enough to carry us away and no longer are we deciding our own comings and goings! We get ourselves in deeper and deeper and wonder why we can't get out, afterall we got there on our own, shouldn't we be able to dig out on our own?
We want to pretend evil is not the result of an enemy who plans well his strategy, but instead it exists because folks don't have enough education or opportunities or money. Indeed, folks need the basics of life and we need to care for one another to see that it is so. But to think we can educate or spend the evil out of human beings is exactly what our enemy wants us to think, simply because those approaches to the problem of evil are no threat to him. If we keep trying them, even when they are clearly not working, we will be so distracted we will not pull out the real weapon that can defeat the enemy. The real weapon, as Jesus demonstrated in this account, is Himself. He is in control and His Words have the power to bind and loose.
It is essential that we not relegate our Saviour to a place of nice, loving Teacher. No one is nicer or more loving or a better teacher than Jesus Christ. But to stop there is to miss the point. Jesus is Saviour. From what is He to save us-our over-drawn bank accounts? Yes, I pray over that too-but there is so much more to Him! Without light, there is no darkness, without small, there is no large, without less there is no more, without danger, there is no saving, without an enemy who needs a Saviour?
We, the Church, need to wake up and refuse to accept the humanistic version of our faith within which our politically correct culture wishes to frame us where everyone and everything is okay if it works for you. We need to own the tennets of our faith- that we have a King who died and rose again on our behalf-because we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. He was there in the Garden of Eden and he hasn't come up with anything new in his approach nor has he changed his goal to own us in all these thousands of years.
But the Good News is this: We have a Saviour who is unafraid, undaunted, all-powerful and best of all-on our side! We have a hope, because we can call upon Him, surrender our lives to Him and trust him with our lives. After-all, the demons were afraid of my Big Brother in that synogogue, so I think I'll stick with HIM!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
We are snowed in. Being snowed in can be such an inconvenience, but it is wonderful in it's own way. It reminds me of a huge, soft blanket that wraps me up and slows me down. It gives me the opportunity to stay home, snuggled up in my fuzzy robe, drinking hot cocoa and spending time with my precious family.
I love it because I don't have to BE anywhere, simply because nobody else can get there either, so the pressure is off. I realize there are some who work at hospitals and clear the roads and for them I am incredibly grateful. But for most of us, nothing is important enough to risk one's life going out in such conditions. I can just be here, in the moment-almost as if there is no tomorrow. Time just slows down and lets me be.
You know, maybe that explains why I have always loved being snowed in! Because it reduces my world to what truly matters. The one thing that counts, when all else is stripped away isn't really the going! It is instead the simple act of BEING!
We get so caught up in the world and it's value systems- power, ownership, pursuit- that we cannot extract ourselves, simply because we have become adjusted to the lack of gravity. But when we are forced to land we become reacquainted with that for which we were created. We were created to BE, to BE in Christ, to Be in the Vine, to BE in love, to BE at peace, to BE there for each other......
The only time Jesus said "GO" was when he was sending someone to spread the Gospel-the Good News. Telling good news is not a burden. I love to spread good news. My adult son won a contest recently and with it a nice check. Believe me, I was on my cell phone texting the good news within seconds! Passing on good news did not require me to shove or push or lie or cheat. It wasn't about going anywhere or getting ahead or getting my share. So no ruthless tactics were needed. It was just good news and I was just passing it along to share the joy!
There's a lesson here. Maybe more than one. But what I get from it all is that I need to be watchful. When the world revs back up again, when we all dig out and things begin to spin again, I need a reference point. One that will warn me when I am spinning out of control. I need to remember what I learned during the snow storm. What matters most is being and sharing the Good News. If I catch myself pushing the lines of honesty, or rushing to the point of rudeness, or tempted to cheat because I'm afraid of losing ownership-these are signs-very large neon signs-flashing in my face signs-that I am spinning way too fast and it is time to hook my tether line to the unmovable, unchangeable, Master of the Universe. I must anchor myself to the Rock lest I be swept away.
Is it possible to just BE in this mad world? Well, the only one I know who accomplished it fully is Jesus Christ. So I for one intend to go with the expert on this. I may want to stop the world and get off sometimes, but we all know that isn't possible. However, I know the One who holds the world in the palm of His hand and if I learn His language, my words will be wise; if I walk with Him, my goings and comings will be purposeful and unhurried; if I trust His providence, my grasping and reaching will fall by the wayside and if I rest at His feet I will not grow weary, because every day will feel like a deep, peaceful snow blanket that wraps me up and comforts me with the peace of Being in Christ.
I love it because I don't have to BE anywhere, simply because nobody else can get there either, so the pressure is off. I realize there are some who work at hospitals and clear the roads and for them I am incredibly grateful. But for most of us, nothing is important enough to risk one's life going out in such conditions. I can just be here, in the moment-almost as if there is no tomorrow. Time just slows down and lets me be.
You know, maybe that explains why I have always loved being snowed in! Because it reduces my world to what truly matters. The one thing that counts, when all else is stripped away isn't really the going! It is instead the simple act of BEING!
We get so caught up in the world and it's value systems- power, ownership, pursuit- that we cannot extract ourselves, simply because we have become adjusted to the lack of gravity. But when we are forced to land we become reacquainted with that for which we were created. We were created to BE, to BE in Christ, to Be in the Vine, to BE in love, to BE at peace, to BE there for each other......
The only time Jesus said "GO" was when he was sending someone to spread the Gospel-the Good News. Telling good news is not a burden. I love to spread good news. My adult son won a contest recently and with it a nice check. Believe me, I was on my cell phone texting the good news within seconds! Passing on good news did not require me to shove or push or lie or cheat. It wasn't about going anywhere or getting ahead or getting my share. So no ruthless tactics were needed. It was just good news and I was just passing it along to share the joy!
There's a lesson here. Maybe more than one. But what I get from it all is that I need to be watchful. When the world revs back up again, when we all dig out and things begin to spin again, I need a reference point. One that will warn me when I am spinning out of control. I need to remember what I learned during the snow storm. What matters most is being and sharing the Good News. If I catch myself pushing the lines of honesty, or rushing to the point of rudeness, or tempted to cheat because I'm afraid of losing ownership-these are signs-very large neon signs-flashing in my face signs-that I am spinning way too fast and it is time to hook my tether line to the unmovable, unchangeable, Master of the Universe. I must anchor myself to the Rock lest I be swept away.
Is it possible to just BE in this mad world? Well, the only one I know who accomplished it fully is Jesus Christ. So I for one intend to go with the expert on this. I may want to stop the world and get off sometimes, but we all know that isn't possible. However, I know the One who holds the world in the palm of His hand and if I learn His language, my words will be wise; if I walk with Him, my goings and comings will be purposeful and unhurried; if I trust His providence, my grasping and reaching will fall by the wayside and if I rest at His feet I will not grow weary, because every day will feel like a deep, peaceful snow blanket that wraps me up and comforts me with the peace of Being in Christ.
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