Looking for a fantastic read?
Have some extra time on your hands?
Christa Taylor, the Empowered Traditionalist, is having a book giveaway!!
Visit her website at www.empoweredtradionalist.com
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Dear Student Body: My Week Summarized
The media has an incredible impact on today's young people... From fashion to philosophy, the media dictates the tone of voice in which all parties are to be heard.
For the Christian, this voice is one of the nagging and discontented hag (or wife. Apparently, the two are interchangeable).
Rarely are Christians heard in their tone of voice. Please note that I'm referring to true Christians, mind you, not those who label themselves as Christians, but whose lifestyle parallels that of the unsaved (I understand that there are Christians who are saved by grace, and walking their life out with the Lord - we are all at different stages in our walk, and your walk is between you and God, but what's on the inside will make itself known to those around you by what shows through on the outside)
The Christian:
We are human!
We mess up, make mistakes, hurt people just like every other human.
We are by no means perfect.
We never will be perfect - not until we have died and are reborn completely in Christ through His blood!
But, we can turn the other cheek and show kindness and compassion when others are mean and rude.
We do love out neighbors - just like you.
As a Christian:
*Please don't judge me because I choose not to throw myself into the midst of total strangers. I am more shy, and bit more private in personality than a lot of people, and I will be friendly, compassionate, caring, loving and very curious about you - I just might not show it with puppy enthusiasm upon meeting you.
* Please don't despise me because I'm not complaining to you about another student. Just because I don't complain to you doesn't mean I'm complaining about you. I do, however, believe that there is already enough negativity in the atmosphere, and the way to fight something is to come against it with it's opposite - positively encouraging and complimenting others.
* Please don't dislike me for the reason that my laugh is soft, my voice is quiet, and I don't talk as much. My personality is just a wee bit more quiet when I'm in a crowd of people. A kind word (and sometimes a quiet word, soft smile, or gentle whisper) turns away wrath.
*Please don't break my work tools because you dislike that I will always look you in the eye, smile and tell you "good morning," or "good afternoon," in acknowledged greeting when I first see you during the day. It's only that I believe it's important to build and maintain relationships.
*Please, please, don't gossip about me because I have complimented our instructor for her incredible fashion sense! I have complimented many a fellow student, and one compliment to an instructor, to three compliments to students is hardly being a suck-up :)
*Please don't detest my existence because I was home schooled. I actually did have home work, had a time I was to be up every morning, did school (curriculum), passed all state testing with flying colors, and had a principle - my father. (And no, I was not allowed to wear pajamas all day, had morning and weekend jobs, did do lab work in Science, had art teachers, even had an economics teacher, can carry a conversation with just about any person I meet and talk with them, non-stop for a good two hours, and the entire conversation be relatively interesting! Now, if this isn't socialized, I don't know what is :)
I don't mind if you want to disown me, and pretend like I'm non-existence - but if you do, please go all the day. Don't just disown me partially and starve me of any positive interaction. But if you must do this, restrain yourself from all negative interaction as well, and I'll content myself.
But, I have one word of warning, my fellow students: if you do pretend like I do not exist, or you continue treating me and the other three girls with disdain and ugliness, please know that I will continue to look you in the eye and tell you good morning and how lovely you look; I will still stay true to my quieter self and keep my laughter soft; I will continue to not complain either to, nor about you, to any other students, staff members or instructors (unless you do something to put me, another student, or yourself in harms way); I will still look before I leap, think before I act, contemplate before I speak, and observe the situation before I jump in.
And most importantly, I will always love you, and always do my best (though sometimes will fail) to treat you with dignity and honor (even when you fail to treat yourself thus)... Especially if you hate me.
For the Christian, this voice is one of the nagging and discontented hag (or wife. Apparently, the two are interchangeable).
Rarely are Christians heard in their tone of voice. Please note that I'm referring to true Christians, mind you, not those who label themselves as Christians, but whose lifestyle parallels that of the unsaved (I understand that there are Christians who are saved by grace, and walking their life out with the Lord - we are all at different stages in our walk, and your walk is between you and God, but what's on the inside will make itself known to those around you by what shows through on the outside)
The Christian:
We are human!
We mess up, make mistakes, hurt people just like every other human.
We are by no means perfect.
We never will be perfect - not until we have died and are reborn completely in Christ through His blood!
But, we can turn the other cheek and show kindness and compassion when others are mean and rude.
We do love out neighbors - just like you.
As a Christian:
*Please don't judge me because I choose not to throw myself into the midst of total strangers. I am more shy, and bit more private in personality than a lot of people, and I will be friendly, compassionate, caring, loving and very curious about you - I just might not show it with puppy enthusiasm upon meeting you.
* Please don't despise me because I'm not complaining to you about another student. Just because I don't complain to you doesn't mean I'm complaining about you. I do, however, believe that there is already enough negativity in the atmosphere, and the way to fight something is to come against it with it's opposite - positively encouraging and complimenting others.
* Please don't dislike me for the reason that my laugh is soft, my voice is quiet, and I don't talk as much. My personality is just a wee bit more quiet when I'm in a crowd of people. A kind word (and sometimes a quiet word, soft smile, or gentle whisper) turns away wrath.
*Please don't break my work tools because you dislike that I will always look you in the eye, smile and tell you "good morning," or "good afternoon," in acknowledged greeting when I first see you during the day. It's only that I believe it's important to build and maintain relationships.
*Please, please, don't gossip about me because I have complimented our instructor for her incredible fashion sense! I have complimented many a fellow student, and one compliment to an instructor, to three compliments to students is hardly being a suck-up :)
*Please don't detest my existence because I was home schooled. I actually did have home work, had a time I was to be up every morning, did school (curriculum), passed all state testing with flying colors, and had a principle - my father. (And no, I was not allowed to wear pajamas all day, had morning and weekend jobs, did do lab work in Science, had art teachers, even had an economics teacher, can carry a conversation with just about any person I meet and talk with them, non-stop for a good two hours, and the entire conversation be relatively interesting! Now, if this isn't socialized, I don't know what is :)
I don't mind if you want to disown me, and pretend like I'm non-existence - but if you do, please go all the day. Don't just disown me partially and starve me of any positive interaction. But if you must do this, restrain yourself from all negative interaction as well, and I'll content myself.
But, I have one word of warning, my fellow students: if you do pretend like I do not exist, or you continue treating me and the other three girls with disdain and ugliness, please know that I will continue to look you in the eye and tell you good morning and how lovely you look; I will still stay true to my quieter self and keep my laughter soft; I will continue to not complain either to, nor about you, to any other students, staff members or instructors (unless you do something to put me, another student, or yourself in harms way); I will still look before I leap, think before I act, contemplate before I speak, and observe the situation before I jump in.
And most importantly, I will always love you, and always do my best (though sometimes will fail) to treat you with dignity and honor (even when you fail to treat yourself thus)... Especially if you hate me.
---~~~~~~~~---
"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Proverbs 12:25 NIV
"To be self controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands/ fathers, so that no one will malign the word of GOD." Titus 2:5
"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives." 2Peter 3:11
"After an earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." 1Kings 19:12
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1
"Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone." Proverbs 25:15
"Be completely humble and gentle; Be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2
"Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in GOD's sight." 1Peter 3:4
"Therefore, my dear brother, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the LORD, because you know your labor in the LORD is not in vain." 1Corinthians 15:58
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; stand strong." 1Corinthians 16:13
"Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:13
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." Philippians 1:27
Hosea 2:19; Mark 8:2; Deut 6:5; Deut 10:19; Deut 11:22; Is 55:3; 1John 3:18; 1john 4:12; Jude 1:2; Eze22:14; 1Corinth 4:12; 2Titus 2:3; Isa 61:3;
Monday, June 20, 2011
Five Healthy Steps to Pure Beauty
One of the first things I've learned about staying beautiful wasn't in the curriculum of my first ten weeks of school, but was taught to me by both my wonderful parents throughout my childhood, teenage awkwardness and into this stage of early adulthood.
What keeps the image attractive, skin glowing, eyes shining, and hair glossy? A healthy life style.
This include:
* Natural skin care products (not organic, or "Natural Skin Care" lines, but right out of the garden, bulk, fresh produce)
1) Exercise.
Running, jogging, weight lifting, even five pound dumbbells in your bed room in the morning works wonders on your health, strength and psychology. Exercise is the cure-all for negative moods. And there are SO many different types of exercise! Yoga, palates, weights, running, swimming, hiking, rock climbing.
I tend to be a more hands-on person, so it really drives me crazy to make myself go to a gym and run laps around the gym. I feel like a hamster on a wheel - spin, spin, spin... Run, run, run... lap one, lap two, lap three.... Ugh! My favorite type of exercise is walking, running, jogging up and down the road, especially with my brother or mom. Great time for conversation, meditation and prayer.
2) Eating habits.
Eat healthy. eat smart. Eat a well rounded, well balanced, full food pyramid diet. Eat decent portions, don't starve yourself, don't binge, don't purge. Be smart :)
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
http://www.myfoodapedia.gov/
3) Water
Not flavored water, not extra vitamins added water, not fruit water, pure two hydrogen on oxygen molecule water! Not additives, no sugars, no salts, no flavorings. Tea, coffee and alcohol cannot replace a cool glass of water. It really does keep wrinkles at bay, break outs less frequent, your body functioning well and your head clear. When in doubt, chug a glass down!
4) Chemical free hair
Highlights, low lights, in between lights, full head colors, half head colors, bleaching, straightening, perming, relaxing.... any and all, to some degree, damages your hair. If you are going to put chemicals into (not on, your hair is porous just like your skin, and soaks up all those chemicals) at least be good to your hair and feed it nutrients regularly. Moroccan oil works wonders on frayed tresses. Leaving this stuff on overnight will help rejuvenate your locks, add gloss, shine, health and put proteins back into your hair (p.s your hair is made up of keratinized protein; chemicals, especially lightening your hair color, removes those proteins from your hair, so be sure to put proteins back in after you've fried it).
Also, cut back on showers. Some people are quite anal about every morning, every evening and once a day showering. Honey, relax. If you absolutely have to, then by all means do so, but too many showers dry out your hair, skin and nails. you have natural oils, and those oils are better than any creams, lotions and products you buy at a store. Every other day showering is about right for an adult.
5) Natural Skin Care Products
If you look into your refrigerator, you may see a lot of food. But in that food there are natural oils, vitamins, cleansers, and antiseptics. The library offers a variety of holistic healing books, which are a blast to read, have awesome recipes and awful a more edifying ointments for your skin and hair.
I am planning on spending more time on these subjects. But the time between now and then is the perfect time to research holistic health on your own :)
The Empowered Traditionalist offers some fantastic health and beauty techniques, ideas, and information.
Blessings!
Miss Elisabeth
What keeps the image attractive, skin glowing, eyes shining, and hair glossy? A healthy life style.
This include:
* Exercise (more later)
* Eating habits (more on this in later posts)
* LOTS of water
* Chemical free hair (more on natural hair color enhancements in another post later)* Natural skin care products (not organic, or "Natural Skin Care" lines, but right out of the garden, bulk, fresh produce)
1) Exercise.
Running, jogging, weight lifting, even five pound dumbbells in your bed room in the morning works wonders on your health, strength and psychology. Exercise is the cure-all for negative moods. And there are SO many different types of exercise! Yoga, palates, weights, running, swimming, hiking, rock climbing.
I tend to be a more hands-on person, so it really drives me crazy to make myself go to a gym and run laps around the gym. I feel like a hamster on a wheel - spin, spin, spin... Run, run, run... lap one, lap two, lap three.... Ugh! My favorite type of exercise is walking, running, jogging up and down the road, especially with my brother or mom. Great time for conversation, meditation and prayer.
2) Eating habits.
Eat healthy. eat smart. Eat a well rounded, well balanced, full food pyramid diet. Eat decent portions, don't starve yourself, don't binge, don't purge. Be smart :)
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
http://www.myfoodapedia.gov/
3) Water
Not flavored water, not extra vitamins added water, not fruit water, pure two hydrogen on oxygen molecule water! Not additives, no sugars, no salts, no flavorings. Tea, coffee and alcohol cannot replace a cool glass of water. It really does keep wrinkles at bay, break outs less frequent, your body functioning well and your head clear. When in doubt, chug a glass down!
4) Chemical free hair
Highlights, low lights, in between lights, full head colors, half head colors, bleaching, straightening, perming, relaxing.... any and all, to some degree, damages your hair. If you are going to put chemicals into (not on, your hair is porous just like your skin, and soaks up all those chemicals) at least be good to your hair and feed it nutrients regularly. Moroccan oil works wonders on frayed tresses. Leaving this stuff on overnight will help rejuvenate your locks, add gloss, shine, health and put proteins back into your hair (p.s your hair is made up of keratinized protein; chemicals, especially lightening your hair color, removes those proteins from your hair, so be sure to put proteins back in after you've fried it).
Also, cut back on showers. Some people are quite anal about every morning, every evening and once a day showering. Honey, relax. If you absolutely have to, then by all means do so, but too many showers dry out your hair, skin and nails. you have natural oils, and those oils are better than any creams, lotions and products you buy at a store. Every other day showering is about right for an adult.
5) Natural Skin Care Products
If you look into your refrigerator, you may see a lot of food. But in that food there are natural oils, vitamins, cleansers, and antiseptics. The library offers a variety of holistic healing books, which are a blast to read, have awesome recipes and awful a more edifying ointments for your skin and hair.
I am planning on spending more time on these subjects. But the time between now and then is the perfect time to research holistic health on your own :)
The Empowered Traditionalist offers some fantastic health and beauty techniques, ideas, and information.
Blessings!
Miss Elisabeth
Beauty School
March 2011, I began Cosmetology, or Beauty School.
Since then I have closed my facebook account, and more or less disappeared from all society, except for school, and my weekend job.
I've been asked numerous times what I'm doing, what I'm learning, how school is going, what is new with life, "what's up," what I do on the weekends, and what I do for fun.
Since this program is only a year long, I'm taking the opportunity to submerge myself in all thing Beautiful and Cosmetic.
For the next several months, this blog will be dedicated to tips of the beauty trade, secrets for the beautiful women, health benefits of certain products, under-cover beauty products (these are items found in the kitchen), and what I consider fun, enjoyable, interesting, captivating and inspiring. I am challenging myself to write a post three to four times per week, and absolutely no less than three posts a week.
I hope you enjoy the journey, and learn many things :)
Blessings!
Miss Elisabeth :)
Love God, love man;
Serve God, serve man.
Since then I have closed my facebook account, and more or less disappeared from all society, except for school, and my weekend job.
I've been asked numerous times what I'm doing, what I'm learning, how school is going, what is new with life, "what's up," what I do on the weekends, and what I do for fun.
Since this program is only a year long, I'm taking the opportunity to submerge myself in all thing Beautiful and Cosmetic.
For the next several months, this blog will be dedicated to tips of the beauty trade, secrets for the beautiful women, health benefits of certain products, under-cover beauty products (these are items found in the kitchen), and what I consider fun, enjoyable, interesting, captivating and inspiring. I am challenging myself to write a post three to four times per week, and absolutely no less than three posts a week.
I hope you enjoy the journey, and learn many things :)
Blessings!
Miss Elisabeth :)
Love God, love man;
Serve God, serve man.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Courageous Woman
A young woman worth studying.
She's standing for Truth.
She's speaking out.
She's going into the heart of the enemy camp.
She's standing strong.
She knows and acknowledges "in Christ alone,"
Heart courageous!
Truth - North Korean Testimony The Lausanne Global Conversation
She's standing for Truth.
She's speaking out.
She's going into the heart of the enemy camp.
She's standing strong.
She knows and acknowledges "in Christ alone,"
Heart courageous!
Truth - North Korean Testimony The Lausanne Global Conversation
Monday, October 4, 2010
Up to God
It's about time I follow up on that last post. Sorry it's taken me so long to write it out. The past week and a half has been filled with some school activities, house-repairing parties (one of which will be starting Tuesday and ending sometime before the weekend), reading and helping out at home (a hobby of mine ;)
One of the school activities was reading the Life Purpose Booklet. The book was OK. Most of it was stuff I already knew, had already done was in the process of walking out, but reading the examples in the back helped to clarify some of my own longings, and passions (- a calling?)
My Life Purpose Statement looks like the first-draft that it is. If I try writing beyond the first draft, though, I find that I veer off into all sorts of tangents, bunny trails (dare I say deer paths?) and I soon lose sight of what it is I really feel God has designed my heart for.
I started off this fall looking for a way to broaden my platform - somehow make what I was doing more public through participating in the Miss USA beauty pageant. For the most part the feedback I get is incredibly supportive and affirming, "Aha! That's a great idea!" Eyes light up. "Ooh, you'll do good at that," big awarding smiles... Affirmation, affirmation, affirmation. It was a brilliant! A truly wonderful idea. Now, I do know, for at least some people, that these statements were stated because my peers, my friends, my elders, the people I look up to (even when they are younger than I) believe in me, believe in who I am, and believe in what God is doing... but God has been calling me somewhat deeper.
Something about the whole pageant philosophy/ idea never exactly settled right with me. There was something that just wasn't right; I wasn't exactly sure what was wrong, exactly. I had a general idea, but as to specifics? At least, this is the best way I can explain it...
After prayer with my parents (for the second time), and contemplation, meditation and in the Word time, things began to fall into place a little more clearly.
Upon completing the Life Purpose Booklet, God began to straighten out those jumbled thoughts in my head (there really is something extremely helpful about putting thoughts on paper). For the longest time I've know "what I want to do," what I want the "beginning of the end point" to be. But how, exactly, has been somewhat of a mystery to me. I have not ever been exactly sure how to get to where I want to go... but then, as I was finishing up the book, it hit me, I am doing what I need to be doing...
Better yet God is helping me to do what HE wants me to be doing, what He wants me to get done, how HE wants me to walk it out...
It's AMAZING!!
It's not big and fantabulous, like a wonderful, girly, Cinderella-story beauty pageant, but it's what needs to be done.
My deepest hearts desire isn't to have an international, or even national, or even state-wide, women's ministry where I travel around speaking, singing, dancing... whatever the medium! That's simply not my personality. There are other things, deeper things, I want to get done...
This is an amazing life-calling, life-ministry, and I have some girl-friends who I really do believe are called to this ministry and are walking it out as we speak, but that's not my cup-a-tea ;)
February 2010 was the first year in five consecutive years that I hadn't hosted a Valentines Tea for the young ladies that I know.
The tea started out as a way to get together with a bunch of girl-friends and do something ridiculously girly in the middle of the cold, desolate, freezing, icy winter. This progressed into a protocol study ending in a Christmas tea-celebration and then Valentines party. Which, in turn, progressed into a regular get-together, then Valentines party... progressing into a fashion show-slumber-party, then Valentines "Dreams" tea-party- study... which progressed into....
SO many ideas!
My original dream was to have a retreat, over the weekend, for young ladies regarding femininity - being the young women God has called you to be, seeking who He wants you to be, applying what you were to who you are now to expand His kingdom and bring Him glory. The problem was that there are so many things that really do need to be squeezed in, that the idea expanded into a week-long event, growing into a month-long (sporadically) event, extending into a year-long... I mean... once-a-month event, stretching into a four-year-plan... I mean...
You get the picture ;) There is so much that is applicable to this, so much that really does need to be shared and proclaimed to women of my generation and younger!
There is an incredible amount of ideas and things that need to be shared, but it's just not all feasible for any human being... doing what I can do in the time that is possible is what's required. Be faithful to what God has called (continue doing what I have been doing), the rest is up to God!
One of the school activities was reading the Life Purpose Booklet. The book was OK. Most of it was stuff I already knew, had already done was in the process of walking out, but reading the examples in the back helped to clarify some of my own longings, and passions (- a calling?)
My Life Purpose Statement looks like the first-draft that it is. If I try writing beyond the first draft, though, I find that I veer off into all sorts of tangents, bunny trails (dare I say deer paths?) and I soon lose sight of what it is I really feel God has designed my heart for.
I started off this fall looking for a way to broaden my platform - somehow make what I was doing more public through participating in the Miss USA beauty pageant. For the most part the feedback I get is incredibly supportive and affirming, "Aha! That's a great idea!" Eyes light up. "Ooh, you'll do good at that," big awarding smiles... Affirmation, affirmation, affirmation. It was a brilliant! A truly wonderful idea. Now, I do know, for at least some people, that these statements were stated because my peers, my friends, my elders, the people I look up to (even when they are younger than I) believe in me, believe in who I am, and believe in what God is doing... but God has been calling me somewhat deeper.
Something about the whole pageant philosophy/ idea never exactly settled right with me. There was something that just wasn't right; I wasn't exactly sure what was wrong, exactly. I had a general idea, but as to specifics? At least, this is the best way I can explain it...
After prayer with my parents (for the second time), and contemplation, meditation and in the Word time, things began to fall into place a little more clearly.
Upon completing the Life Purpose Booklet, God began to straighten out those jumbled thoughts in my head (there really is something extremely helpful about putting thoughts on paper). For the longest time I've know "what I want to do," what I want the "beginning of the end point" to be. But how, exactly, has been somewhat of a mystery to me. I have not ever been exactly sure how to get to where I want to go... but then, as I was finishing up the book, it hit me, I am doing what I need to be doing...
Better yet God is helping me to do what HE wants me to be doing, what He wants me to get done, how HE wants me to walk it out...
It's AMAZING!!
It's not big and fantabulous, like a wonderful, girly, Cinderella-story beauty pageant, but it's what needs to be done.
My deepest hearts desire isn't to have an international, or even national, or even state-wide, women's ministry where I travel around speaking, singing, dancing... whatever the medium! That's simply not my personality. There are other things, deeper things, I want to get done...
This is an amazing life-calling, life-ministry, and I have some girl-friends who I really do believe are called to this ministry and are walking it out as we speak, but that's not my cup-a-tea ;)
February 2010 was the first year in five consecutive years that I hadn't hosted a Valentines Tea for the young ladies that I know.
The tea started out as a way to get together with a bunch of girl-friends and do something ridiculously girly in the middle of the cold, desolate, freezing, icy winter. This progressed into a protocol study ending in a Christmas tea-celebration and then Valentines party. Which, in turn, progressed into a regular get-together, then Valentines party... progressing into a fashion show-slumber-party, then Valentines "Dreams" tea-party- study... which progressed into....
SO many ideas!
My original dream was to have a retreat, over the weekend, for young ladies regarding femininity - being the young women God has called you to be, seeking who He wants you to be, applying what you were to who you are now to expand His kingdom and bring Him glory. The problem was that there are so many things that really do need to be squeezed in, that the idea expanded into a week-long event, growing into a month-long (sporadically) event, extending into a year-long... I mean... once-a-month event, stretching into a four-year-plan... I mean...
You get the picture ;) There is so much that is applicable to this, so much that really does need to be shared and proclaimed to women of my generation and younger!
There is an incredible amount of ideas and things that need to be shared, but it's just not all feasible for any human being... doing what I can do in the time that is possible is what's required. Be faithful to what God has called (continue doing what I have been doing), the rest is up to God!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Shifting, Changing, Transition
As some of you have heard I had applied to compete in the Miss USA South Dakota 2010 pageant.
Not to say I have, yet again, completely placed this on the shelf, but rather punched the "hold" button... again... And yeah, I do realize that I said I wouldn't... But please bear with me.
Sometime last fall I had this nudge to start an annual young-woman's support group for our geographic area. This was before my grandparents fiftieth, the house fire, my aunt's passing, my older sisters hospitalization and the all around upside down turning of my entire life as I know it... I still don't think I have completely turned "right side up," as of yet... In fact, I'm fairly certain I'm doomed to remain "half way up," but won't ever recover to a fully vertical position - lol.
All that being said, I've taken my turn, numerous times, of "jumping off the deep end" within the last twelve months. Everything from going to Georgia last minute to campaign for an acquaintance to getting a job forty-five minutes from home, to applying to compete in a beauty pageant, to talking with my grandmother about possibly going to New York when my cousin and sister graduate from school... to... *breathe...* the list goes on!
But I think I'm ready to hit the "I'm not only off my rocker, but have flung myself from it" "like button" on Facebook...
Of course, like most stories, the beginning starts "once upon a time," but I really don't have the time, and I'm sure you don't either, to hear as far back as "once upon a time," and quite frankly, I don't want to spend that much time on a machine this evening :)
So I'll start with this Summer...
While in Georgia, in the van an hour longer than we thought, lost amidst turbo-city-traffic, crammed into the car (luggage and all) we (the young adult campaign-volunteers) decided to ask one another the "get real comfortable and close, share your deepest darkest within the next five minutes because we are GOING to like each other" questions.
One of those questions was, "what (do you believe) God has called you to do with your life (/ what are you most passionate about in life?)"
My answer is a hands-down "women's ministry. " Done, next.
At the end of each "mini interview" we follow the TeenPact Mock Legislation format and state, "I am now open for questions..." Where you are either attacked with a flurry of "goofiness" and laughter, or you are asked one or two more serious questions that get stuck in your brain and absolutely refuse to leave (ever?!?!?!?!)
One such question was asked when I had finished my "get to know facts about me for three minutes" interview.
"How are you living what God has called you to do
"when you grow up"
in life right now?"
Ha ha!! Miss/Mr Smarty Pants, eh! Well, fine then.. Be aggravating, irritating and ask the hard question! Just don't expect a reasonable answer, because, girl/ boy, I'm running' away from what I think God wants me to do next because I don't have a clue how to do it!
I do have to admit that my reply was quite lame. Okay, really highly very and extremely lame. So lame in fact, that I didn't really want any one to ask me any thing ever again about anything related to the topic.
See, us humans have a tendency to ignore those settle promptings from God to start something. We make excuses, "I'm already living a life of high standards," "if I raise the bar of my personal standards any more I'll be living something in the 'legalism department..." "I don't have time!" "I don't know how..." "Some one else with more experience will do it." "I don't have time to do that right now." "My life is too busy." "I simply cannot afford it."
My excuses were more around the areas of "high standard living" and "finances (or lack there of)" departments.
It all started with pageantry, and tea parties, and dressing up, and being feminine, and fashion, and shoes, and embracing the call of mother hood (if God has laid that on your life-calling), and pursuing a life of purity. It all fits together. It all goes together. It's a sort of circular reasoning.
The state that I live in offers, really in quite honesty, nothing for young women in this regard, except for our fantastic annual Purity Ball, hosted by the National Abstinence Clearing House. This Purity Ball promotes purity to the young women of our community. It's a wonderful event, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time that I went! But it lasts for only a few hours, one evening, one time a year (if economy allows).
The area I'm in is highly rural, and resources for young women about as few and far between as humanity is.
At one time in history, there was a quaint tea house in our down-town district, but because of economy had to fold. I think this may have been the only tea house in the entire state!
Up until this fall, I had hosted a tea, of one sort or another, between Christmas and Valentines day, for young women. We talked about all sorts of things! Anything from fashion to our deepest dreams and longings filled our conversation. All who attended were well fed on multiple different levels, by the time we began filing out of the building.
Why didn't I host this tea this year? Too much transition! Too much change! Too much shifting....
But now there is another shifting, a deeper one. A changing, a beckoning deep within to dig out that dream that I had a year ago of putting together an annual event for young women to connect with like-minded young women, to learn and grow as ladies of this generation, Princesses of the King of Kings. A dream to resource young women with more, with relationships, with books, with web sites, CD's, speaker notes, pictures... Anything that helps them to reach for The Goal: Christ... To keep their eyes solely on Jesus! To Encourage and inspire; to, together pursue what God has for us as His girls...
................... More to come on what exactly I'll be doing ;) ...
Monday, April 26, 2010
The Art of Battle
I think I have discovered the title for a new book. A book for the follower's of Yhwh. A book to revitalize, energize and ultimately feed and nurture the souls of the beloved followers of Our Lord.
The Art of Battle: A warriors Guide.
Such a book deserves to be written. Must... needs to be written! And, on the other hand, such a book already exists...
So perhaps, more than a book, my hearts longing is, at this time and season, my brothers and sisters. Those who share my faith, and are ultimately, "fighting the fight," and "running the race set out before us..." Brothers and sisters whom I can say, "Together! We fight!," with.
"Together we stand! Apart, we're steak..." That joke has an uncanny, and disturbing, truness to it.
"but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." ~ Romans 5:3-5
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnessed, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~ Hebrews 12:1-3
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hand on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
Why, in times of emotional turmoil, spiritual collision and physical taxation; why is it, in these times, G-d seems to be non-present.
My heart knows He is near. Indeed, when you sit quietly, and listen; stop thinking and breathe in the 'Fragrance of God'; Wash yourself under The Word - the Water of Life; relax under the strength and wisdom of Him on High; you do, truly, know, in your heart of hearts, feel nearly physically, and see in your minds eye, that you are in the presence of the Almighty.
You are the 'apple of His eye." He "waves the banner over you," you are His, and He is yours!
A quote I once heard was, "when you hit rock bottom, the only place to go is up," which I find correlates remarkably with something a well-intentioned person told me, "well, it couldn't get any worse!" This was post-house fire, and after my dear aunt Susan succeeded in her race Home.
The term "rock bottom," is a relative term. A term that can be defined in multiple different ways. A term that, seemingly, means absolutely nothing when compared to another's suffering, hardship and cross-bearing.
There is only ever a "going up," part to the "when you hit rock bottom," quote, only if you accept the hand of Him who carries our sin and shame, to lift you up.
The term, "it couldn't get any worse," is just as relative. When someone tells me that, I want to quote Golda on Fiddler on The Roof, "pta! Do you want to invite bad luck?!"
(This, indeed, leads to the question, "what unseen doors do we open in the realm of the spiritual, with our words?" - One must wonder!)
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race(!), I have kept the faith(!)." ~ 2 Timothy 4:7
"~'The battles of the spirit that we face in times of trial can be won simply by lifting our hands to heaven, praising the Father of lights, asking His will be done, and thanking Him for the victory that is already ours.'~
Isn’t it comforting to know that even when we don’t feel as though we’ve won the battle, we can know that we have if we simply pour our hearts into trusting and praising Him?" ~http://atentforthesun.com/winning-the-battle/#comments
The Art of Battle: A warriors Guide.
Such a book deserves to be written. Must... needs to be written! And, on the other hand, such a book already exists...
So perhaps, more than a book, my hearts longing is, at this time and season, my brothers and sisters. Those who share my faith, and are ultimately, "fighting the fight," and "running the race set out before us..." Brothers and sisters whom I can say, "Together! We fight!," with.
"Together we stand! Apart, we're steak..." That joke has an uncanny, and disturbing, truness to it.
"but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." ~ Romans 5:3-5
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnessed, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~ Hebrews 12:1-3
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hand on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
Why, in times of emotional turmoil, spiritual collision and physical taxation; why is it, in these times, G-d seems to be non-present.
My heart knows He is near. Indeed, when you sit quietly, and listen; stop thinking and breathe in the 'Fragrance of God'; Wash yourself under The Word - the Water of Life; relax under the strength and wisdom of Him on High; you do, truly, know, in your heart of hearts, feel nearly physically, and see in your minds eye, that you are in the presence of the Almighty.
You are the 'apple of His eye." He "waves the banner over you," you are His, and He is yours!
A quote I once heard was, "when you hit rock bottom, the only place to go is up," which I find correlates remarkably with something a well-intentioned person told me, "well, it couldn't get any worse!" This was post-house fire, and after my dear aunt Susan succeeded in her race Home.
The term "rock bottom," is a relative term. A term that can be defined in multiple different ways. A term that, seemingly, means absolutely nothing when compared to another's suffering, hardship and cross-bearing.
There is only ever a "going up," part to the "when you hit rock bottom," quote, only if you accept the hand of Him who carries our sin and shame, to lift you up.
The term, "it couldn't get any worse," is just as relative. When someone tells me that, I want to quote Golda on Fiddler on The Roof, "pta! Do you want to invite bad luck?!"
(This, indeed, leads to the question, "what unseen doors do we open in the realm of the spiritual, with our words?" - One must wonder!)
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race(!), I have kept the faith(!)." ~ 2 Timothy 4:7
"~'The battles of the spirit that we face in times of trial can be won simply by lifting our hands to heaven, praising the Father of lights, asking His will be done, and thanking Him for the victory that is already ours.'~
Isn’t it comforting to know that even when we don’t feel as though we’ve won the battle, we can know that we have if we simply pour our hearts into trusting and praising Him?" ~http://atentforthesun.com/winning-the-battle/#comments
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Christa-Taylor Give Away!!!
I found this wonderful Give-Away on the Tea Rose Home blog I am so excited to introduce Christa Taylor to you all. She designs classical, vintage inspired clothing. She wants to present to the world that modest, fashion-forward women should be seen and heard. The brand focuses on sophistication, quality and value in an understated collection. Christa Taylor is committed to contributing to numerous philanthropic causes while creating stylish Fashions for the Empowered Traditionalist.
Christa Taylor has modest and pretty dresses and other items worth checking out! They added some new items for spring. Lovely, fun, girly, feminine, vibrant, modest dresses, for any occasion, but which, in any case, look as if they would make you feel like the woman you are!
Have you visited her site? http://www.empoweredtraditionalist.com/ Her blog is full of wonderful fashion ideas, hair styles, and absolutely teeming with modesty "how to," tips :) "how to stay fashionable AND modest!!!!"
Christa is giving away, this very pretty Apron for Tea Rose Home readers! (http://trhsponsors.blogspot.com/2010/02/apron-giveaway-by-christa-taylor.html)
Just imagine, you are wearing this apron at home... doesn't matter if you have guests over or just doing house work alone, wearing a pretty apron like this makes the house work much more enjoyable. Wouldn't you agree?
Christa Taylor has modest and pretty dresses and other items worth checking out! They added some new items for spring. Lovely, fun, girly, feminine, vibrant, modest dresses, for any occasion, but which, in any case, look as if they would make you feel like the woman you are!
Have you visited her site? http://www.empoweredtraditionalist.com/ Her blog is full of wonderful fashion ideas, hair styles, and absolutely teeming with modesty "how to," tips :) "how to stay fashionable AND modest!!!!"
Christa is giving away, this very pretty Apron for Tea Rose Home readers! (http://trhsponsors.blogspot.com/2010/02/apron-giveaway-by-christa-taylor.html)
Just imagine, you are wearing this apron at home... doesn't matter if you have guests over or just doing house work alone, wearing a pretty apron like this makes the house work much more enjoyable. Wouldn't you agree?Here is how you can enter:
1. Visit the "Tea Rose Home" blog, at http://trhsponsors.blogspot.com/2010/02/apron-giveaway-by-christa-taylor.html
2. Leave a comment on the post (you will get one entry) on The Tea Rose Home blogspot
3. Become follower of The Tea Rose Home and show her your beautiful face on my side bar (second entry)
4. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and link back (third entry)
Sachiko, on The Tea Rose Home, will close the entry on the midnight of the 25th, then will post the winner on the morning of February 26th. Good luck everyone!
Noo....
So, I have decided, after great argumentation with my inner-self, to cut out coffee, dairy milk and extra non-organic sugars out of my diet. That is, extra sugary foods (cookies, ice-cream, sugar in tea, etc., and so forth.)
'Tis tragic, I know... But the good news is, my dedication to this new-found "way of life" will not stop me from eating the ever
healthy Chocolate! Dude, that would be, almost, sacreligious!
Ideally, I would like to be going somewhat all-organic all together, but we really cannot afford it (at all). Does any one have any ideas as how to keep things organic and more healthy than the typical American, and still maintain a relatively cheap grocery budget?
This did all start after I read a friends blog post (click the post title to navigate to her blog) on the "race" Paul talks about in Hebrews... serious conviction... And she's on no sugar, at all... harsh!
'Tis tragic, I know... But the good news is, my dedication to this new-found "way of life" will not stop me from eating the ever
healthy Chocolate! Dude, that would be, almost, sacreligious!Ideally, I would like to be going somewhat all-organic all together, but we really cannot afford it (at all). Does any one have any ideas as how to keep things organic and more healthy than the typical American, and still maintain a relatively cheap grocery budget?
(and just for the record, I don't think I could ever give this up, permenantly, without some sort of major conviction, or deadly-disease... But hey, isn't dark chocolate suppose to be actually healthy for you, any how?)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Knitting Ideas
Since our family has been fighting illness, I have taken this opportunity to start knitting again... knit-one, pearl-one, knit-one, pearl-one...
The color of the project, which is a scarf, is a deepy, grape purple. Very lovely. I will have to be very careful with how and with what I wear the scarf, however, as dark colors are not something that are usualy worn in casual clothing. However, I enjoy a good challenge and am feeling the need to be much more daring and adventuresome in the fashion department.
Purple all by itself is rather boring, so I was thinking
about trimming the edges with lace, or buttons; beads or... not sure what else.So this evening I have been scowering the internet (since I have not other medium of research at my disposal, at this time in life) for ideas that would be, not only fashionably, but also tasteful and in my liking.
Basically, today has been filled with pondering how to to add more detail to the scarf...
Friday, February 5, 2010
Hi Again!
It's been awefully long since I have posted anything on this blog of femininity and girlieness.... too long!
I must say I have quite missed clacking away on the computer, writing about fashion, femininity, modesty, woman-hood and the call of young ladies by Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Catching up:
Since the fire, I have had the wonderful opporunity to attend a History Museum, where I learned about the importanct of swords, the differnet types of swords, and that I aspire to (someday) learn how to use the Rapier (and... umm.... buy one :-D VERY lady-like, I know). The gentleman who was showing off his wonderful weapons of war was quite engaged with my brother, friend and I, as we asked questions related to the wonders of the historic correctness movies (such as Princess Bride) portray about weapontry.
I must say I have quite missed clacking away on the computer, writing about fashion, femininity, modesty, woman-hood and the call of young ladies by Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Catching up:
Since the fire, I have had the wonderful opporunity to attend a History Museum, where I learned about the importanct of swords, the differnet types of swords, and that I aspire to (someday) learn how to use the Rapier (and... umm.... buy one :-D VERY lady-like, I know). The gentleman who was showing off his wonderful weapons of war was quite engaged with my brother, friend and I, as we asked questions related to the wonders of the historic correctness movies (such as Princess Bride) portray about weapontry.
(it was quite enjoyable) As a side note, I also found out that I was defined as "Arwen"
on a "what Lord of the Rings character" quiz that I took...
on a "what Lord of the Rings character" quiz that I took...
So the Rapier makes sense... right?
Another thing that "happened upon me..." Or more approprietly, something I was drafted into..
Mom directs a drama performance for a local home school drama competition. This year the woman who who assisted her is not only a talanted actress, herself, but a beautiful gifted seamstress!
In fact, she either taylored or completely built, from scratch, the incredibly beautiful costumes the young ladies and gentlmen were privilaged to wear in front of a public audienc! (I was so jealous!)
And I have discovered that I absolutely adore Christa-Taylor's blog, as well as fashion line :)
PLEASE visite:
:)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Life Changer
Because God is, again, refining my family by fire (quite literally) I will not be posting on this blog much, if ever, for several months. House work and family help will be taking up a great deal of my time, and so I will be unable to have much free time to spend on the computer (or free time, period.)
If you would like to know more about the refinement, or would like to keep updated with my family and how we are doing, please feel free to visit www.flowersinthewinter.blogspot.com
God richly bless and keep you and your families.
May He pour out His abundant blessings and joy over you and
Have a Happy Holiday Season!
God bless,
Miss Elisabeth
If you would like to know more about the refinement, or would like to keep updated with my family and how we are doing, please feel free to visit www.flowersinthewinter.blogspot.com
God richly bless and keep you and your families.
May He pour out His abundant blessings and joy over you and
Have a Happy Holiday Season!
God bless,
Miss Elisabeth
Monday, October 19, 2009
Christian Manners; Part 1 - Introduction and Celular Phones
Note to Reader: this is all based on a Biblical, or Christian worldview, and is written to those who share such a world view. I do not mean to, nor do I have any intention of conveying that those who have a Biblical Worldview are any better than those who do not. This is simply the mind-set I know, and the people with whom I see the need to better themselves (in some cases more so than those who do not have a Biblical Worldview.)
This week my nose has been buried in a book lent to me, titled "Twentieth Century Etiquette; A Read Manuel for All Occasions."
As I was reading this more than captivating, and comical, book, my thoughts turned to our culture, my generations social skills, and what a stranger would think, were they to walk into our church and take a good look around in the middle of a service.
Teens openly text on their cell phones, during service, as do some adults. Cell phones don't ring, but a strange vibrating, or buzzing, can be heard omitting from some people's pockets. Gum is chewed, generally with care, hats are worn, and when you get a very ill-manned group of young people, seats are turned into foot rests. It's all quite... appalling! At least, compared to the well mannered, or in that culture, "well bred" circle of human beings.
Etiquette and protocol was not only expected, but turned into an art form. Humans were distinguished by their social circles, who were defined by "good breeding" or "codes of observances."
As is written in Twentieth Century Etiquette:
"Rules of etiquette have their allotted place among the forces of life, and must be acknowledged as moral agents in refining and making more agreeable our daily intercourse with each other. They are agents for good. They teach us to be more lenient with the various elements which compose society, as life is a sort of partnership in which each human being has an interest; so the laws of etiquette, well enforced, oblige us to make concessions to the many tastes, prejudices and habits of those we meet in the social circle, at public entertainments, in business relations or when traveling."
(Page 24)
And so, as I read this interesting, mind reeling, and cross-cultural book, my own thoughts of basic, yet proper, etiquette squirm to be freed from my mind and onto paper.
Here is the beginnings of, perhaps, many parts of proper etiquette in our technological society.
Cellular Phones are beyond common in our society. So much so, in fact, that it is considered unusual when a family does not own as many cell phones as family members.
Since cell phones hit the market, so quickly and even more quickly became the biggest rage, and most popular fad, no on, no adult, no teacher, no student nor child, has apparently come up with some basic principles that one should follow, while using their cellular device, in order to not appear to be a rude or disrespectful person.
I have not seen, or heard of any such book, or any such person who has come up with such basic principles to follow while using a cell phone. I'm continually shocked and continuously hear of parents who are shocked at their children's rude and disrespectful attitude because there are no "laws laid" for them to follow, concerning their technical device.
So, I write this with the great concern for my generation, that you would at least read and come up with some fundamental laws of your own, to follow, which put others before yourself, and human - meaning face-to-face- interaction at a higher priority than a mechanical one.
General Cell-Phone Usage
Cell phones are used as regular, land-line phones, but are generally used more often, and it's becoming more popular to replace a land-line with cell phones. There are also many more gadgets and nifty add-ons to a regular conversing device, on a cell phone.
So I've organized this section into smaller areas of possible interest, based on the use of a cell phone (texting, talking, etc.)
There is an introduction to each section which defines the terms used for those who may not be well acquainted with the cell-phone world.
Texting
Texting, more or less, is instant message over cell phone. However, there is not yet any rule as to when it is appropriate to text back - this is left up to the cell phone holders good, or bad, judgement. I have found the cell-phone user to have quite bad judgement when it comes to texting, which not only causes frustration when attempting at a conversation, but I have also felt rather blown off by those who choose to text while conversing.
Appropriate timing for Texting
"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heavens." Unfortunately, cell phone usage and texting is not included in the list of "timeliness" in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. So we'll just have to form our own ideas on timely use, based on the attitude of putting others before yourself.
It's definitely appropriate to text when your alone- in solitude, no one else is around you, there is no chance at all that you might happen to bump into someone you know, which could possibly start up a conversation. Another general, basic, basic, basic, rule is to text only when you don't have some other responsibility which may be demanding your time. This rule also makes it easier to avoid putting things off.
Responsibilities more important than texting could be:
- During a speech - it's important to actively listen
- During a sermon - when one texts during a sermon this not only shows disrespect but disinterest and an extraordinary amount of rudeness to the pastor, those around, and most importantly, disrespect to The House of God
- Chores your parents give
- Work that must be completed - home work, business work, church work, etc.
- During work - if you're a barista, please don't text on the job. This is very rude, and alienates business. Baby-sitters and child care workers, you're hired to care for and watch the child, not let 'em loose and if they get hurt put a band-aid on it. Do the job you were hired to do!
- While Driving - Please, do yourself and all those around you a favor and do NOT text while driving. Not only is this unsafe because your eyes are not on the road, but also because your mind is not focused on driving, but on text messaging, making your driving unpredictable and confusing other drivers. This is especially important when others are in the car with you. Please do not text while driving!
- At school. Scientia Potentia - knowledge is power. If you must text someone, and it is vitally important, like if it's to a teach, parent, adult or work, wait until after your class is over, and you are in a somewhat solitary place. God gave you a mind to steward. You are not stewarding that which God has placed in your hands and blessed you with if you are texting during a class.
- It's always, always, rude to text when talking with, greeting, saying goodbye, listening or have any sort of conversation with any other human being. This conveys an extraordinary lack of curiosity for another creation of God, rudeness, indifference and an incredible lack of caring or concern for a brother or sister in Christ. If you are interacting with a non-Christian while you are texting, what are you conveying to that person about your relationship with Christ? Are you being a good witness? Are you treating them they way God longs for you to treat them? What would Christ think if he walked up in that moment?
If you must text while driving, or during a class, or during work, please wait until after you have completed what must be done at school (like, after class), or at work, this means you need to communicate well with your boss or the other person on duty, or pull over off the road into a safe parking place, and text away. But wait until its safe, and you have stewarded well what God's given you (your mind, your job, your relationships, etc., etc.)
If you're a host, or a guest: RESTRAIN FROM TEXTING! If this means turning off the phone and hiding it or locking it away: DO SO! I have been to people's homes, as a guest, where the hosts teenagers were texting. I use the term "teenager" as a descriptive term, meaning they were self-absorbed, unsocialized when it came appropriate adult interaction (such as that with my parents), and rather immature. Those who text while hosting a guest are immediately placed in the "teenager" category in my mind - adult children, teenage-men/women, etc. Even if you see the guests are your parents guests, you still owe your parents the respect and honor they deserve by being, at the very least, polite to their guests, and greeting them at the door, waving them goodbye, and helping your mom clear the table, serving the food, passing the food around the table, etc. YOU OWE YOUR PARENTS! They worked to pay for your education, which more than half the world cannot afford, they fed you every day, watered you, gave you a bed, and at the very least put a roof over your head. You owe your parents.
"Children honor your father and mother..."
- Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Matthew 15:4;
Matthew 19:19; Mark 7:10; Mark 10:19;
Luke 18:20; Ephesians 6:2.
Based on these eight scriptures throughout the Bible, I would say this is pretty important.
When to "Pull the Plug"
There have been numerous times when I have been sitting in a church service and some one's cell phone goes off, or there is a group of teenagers, even adults, texting during a service.
If you are in a church, then there is no reason why you should have your cell phone ringing, or be texting, unless some emergency has happened in your family and you are needed ASAP. Sorry, this sounds harsh, but give me a good reason why you should be texting when you are in a church to learn about and grow deeper in the Word of God, and learn to be better in your part as The Body of Christ.
In fact, it would bring the pastor great delight, and show an amazing amount of respect that few people are capable of showing if you simply turned of your cellular device.
If you absolutely must use your cell phone during a church service, if there is a family emergency or you are on call at work, please find a secluded place to take or make your call. Such as the church office, if you're granted permission, outside, or some other place where there are few people and you will not be disrupting anyone.
Sexting
If you're a committed Christian, than you know the rule to this: Don't do it. Period. The end. End of discussion. Go read your Bible!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Excellent Articulating!
Over the past several months I have enjoyed reading posts written by Christa Taylor on her blog http://www.empoweredtraditionalist.com/
As I was looking through some of her older blog posts an article titled "Is It Pride?" caught my eye. This is probably because many of the blogs and web sites that I have found written by young woman who are passionate about modesty, seem to be more worried about the legalism of modesty rather than modesty flowing out from you love relationship with Christ.
Because I have found this to be true in so many cases, I find Christa Taylor's blog to be refreshing and her article on this topic up-lifting.
I hope and pray you find the same!
Blessings!
Miss Elisabeth
Monday, July 20, 2009
Wow! Anyone Look at the Hottest Fashion?
Short-shorts anyone.This seems to be the style of the century.
Please visit:
Beautifully designed dress - minus the very sensual painting on the front
Brought to you be http://www.elle.com/.
Brought to you be http://www.elle.com/. It reminds me of something Padme Amadala would design
based on a bad dream she had
the night before - random thought ;) 
Both this and the below image are from
Both this and the below image are from 
Maybe I just don't understand, but the shear look 
is just not working for me.
So I was googling "2o09 Fashion Trends" and was rather shocked at what I found!
So I was googling "2o09 Fashion Trends" and was rather shocked at what I found!
"See Through and Shear Fashion Trends: The hottest look for 2008
and 2009"
And I'm sorry, but I just don't see how this is at all attractive. Okay, sure if you keep everything that God intended for only your spouse to see covered, and use shear fabric as an accent, then I can certainly see how wearing some shear articles could be an absolute blast - but let's keep it modest :)
Why do young woman find it so hard to be creative and design their own outfits? I myself find it extremely hard, sometimes, when I hit an artistic rut and can't find inspiration. For the most part this is cause by my lack of courage in stepping outside the cultural box, or I feel reserved about wearing a particular outfit that is more feminine then usual, or has more character than the the group of people I happened to be in at the moment.
Culture certainly makes it hard to step outside the box and create your own ideas on what fashion is, and what your own personal style happens to be.
Using your artistic eye, distinguished sense of color and your own shape, you can create just about any outfit for any occasion you might cross in life. But when it comes down to actually wearing the outfit in public... well... nobody else is wearing anything like it!! And this is where I begin to clam up and shut-down.
"What will they think?"
"No one else is dressed like this?"
"I'm over-dressed!"
"Who will be looking?"
"Who will be looking?"
"It makes me look good... and guys will notice me!"
I happen to be quite a shy person. I just out-grew hiding behind my mom when I was thirteen and was no longer short enough to actually hide behind her (I am taller than mom). I enjoy acting on the stage, but when I'm off the stage my favorite thing in the world is not to be noticed, I like to have privacy and generally keep to myself.
However, God asks us to be His image bearers: to be His light and life. His joy and love. His color and vivacious character.
How then can we live behind the scenes - behind the curtain - when God asks us to take center stage, lead, and walk down that red carpet in something that is captivatingly modest, feminine, flattering and vivacious - totally not what Hillary Duff or Miley Cyrus (or whatever celebrity happens to be the "hottest" at the moment) would wear, but something you would totally wear!
All this to say, I'm sending out another challenge out there!
I challenge you to wear an outfit every day this week that only you would wear. Something that shows your own personality, style and character. Something that is 100% (or close at least) YOU!! Something so creative that even Hollywood couldn't imagine it!
If you would like to join in the challenge, please post pictures on your blog and leave a comment with your blog site on it so others can read it and look at your pictures:)
God richly bless and keep you all this week!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Challenge
Once to twice a month I will post a challenge. If you participate in the challenge, please link to this blog with "Challenge" as your blog title, and comment on this blog post with your blog info. I will do a drawing at the end of the week of those who completed the challenge and send them a prize.
I challenge you to pick up the book and read it, cover to cover, and write a review of the book on your blog. Link to this blog and comment on this blog post with your blog link. The weekend of the 12th I'll draw a name from the hat, of those who participated, and whichever name/ blog I draw will be the winner of:
This months reading is:
'Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity;
Unlocking
New Testament
Culture'
By: David A. deSilva
'Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity;
Unlocking
New Testament
Culture'
By: David A. deSilva
Your view of God and the Old Testament will be forever changed!
The research deSilva has done is extraordinary!
The research deSilva has done is extraordinary!
I challenge you to pick up the book and read it, cover to cover, and write a review of the book on your blog. Link to this blog and comment on this blog post with your blog link. The weekend of the 12th I'll draw a name from the hat, of those who participated, and whichever name/ blog I draw will be the winner of:'Why the Passion'
By, Greg Laurie
AND...
'Authentic Beauty;
the shaping of
a set-apart you woman'
By, Leslie Ludy
(Updated and expanded version)
Again, if you participate in this challenge, please comment on this post
with your name and blog site
so others can read your review, and I know
how to contact you if you are THE WINNER
for this months drawing :)
Blessings,
Miss Elisabeth!
Souled Out
Under the Umbrella of South Dakota's pride and joy, Life Light (a free weekend long concert featuring artists of every genre, as a Christian ministry to the locals of SD, pulling in people from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and a few other states) there is a ministry known as Souled Out. A youth ministry. A ministry to reach out to our mostly lost generation.
A ministry with a hundred or so people working in it to woo the hearts of me non-logical, calloused generation.
What a calling to be a part of such a ministry!
I personally know two families who work closely with and in this ministry. Both are amazing families, both Souled Out themselves, both families have three children. Both live their lives on the line for Christ.
Last Friday I attended our church Young Adults ministry, The River. Never in my life have I been so shocked at the participation, or lack there of, in a group.
- The young adults did not interact with the leaders of the The River - the leaders always had to initiate if they were to expect any interaction.
- The attendees did not interact with the speaker except to laugh nervously, or in inappropriate places (for example, when the speaker attempted to give the Hebraic word for certain themes in the Bible [praise, stewardship, etc.] and then defined the Hebrew word, the audience would laugh as if it were a joke.
- As the speaker was asking the students to think about things that were keeping them from growing deeper in the Lord (jobs, money, boy/girl-friend, etc.) a couple sitting in front of me was touching each other in a very friendly manner... This is probably sounding very judgmental, but an apparent friend of the couple (sitting next to them) looked at the girlfriend, raised her eyes brows and smiled in that "uh huhh" type of way. Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but don't you think our generation would be closer to God if we focused on God at church instead of focusedly touching our boy/girl friend?
Perhaps I am being to judgemental, perhaps I don't understand. Perhaps being home schooled my entire life has left me to expecting to much from other people, especially my peers.
Perhaps.. perhaps... perhaps...
Or... Perhaps I expect what ought to be expected of my peers, raise the bar of expectation, expect them to research and dig deeper into finding the true, God-intended meaning of words...
Perhaps I am following my calling in life, to expect much of me, but expecting too much of others in my generation..
???
What is one to do, when they can see all that could be enriched, but perfectly incapable of making it into reality because fear sets in, or you feel inadequate, or "you're younger than those people," "you don't have enough experience," "you've only gone once?"
Should I stand up and Face my Giants, or sit back and let Someone Else stand up?
Should I go against the flow of culture, or live my life on the line, as my friends in the Souled Out ministry do?
Where is the line between too high of expectations, and raising the bar to where God intended it?
When do we know, as followers of Christ, when the time has come to STAND UP, and when we are supposed to focus on SOMETHING ELSE?
Very distinctly, a few weeks ago, God spoke to me. He said that my ministry was "right here.. right amidst these young adults of 2-13... Right here, where the young woman are seeking help, guidance, support and mentors... Right here, among the young woman, and young children is where I called you."
So does this mean I edit and copy up a list of "suggestions" on our computer of The River, and gently, thoughtfully, prayerfully and encouragingly give the list to our youth pastor?
Or does this mean I simply pray and ask God to bring someone into the church who has a heart for ministry?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Last Sin Eaters Maiden
The Actress Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, who played Bletsung McLeod
I have a dream, though. A dream to to be a Proverbs 31 Woman. A dream inspired by a movie which is seemingly irrelevent to being an ezer. If you have seen The Last Sin Eater, then I think, perhaps, you'll know who and what I am referring to in that movie. Just to be extra clear, I will explain this a little further.
In the movie The Last Sin Eater, which was originally a book written by Francine Rivers, there is a maiden whose name is Bletsung McLeod. She is a hermitess, or so to speak, due to the unusual circumstances of her life story.
Her life story goes something along the lines of this:
Bletsung McLeod lived with her abusive father. She found a safe friend, and the masculine leadership she needed in her child-hood guy-friend, Sim.
As Sim and Bletsung grew they found they met each others needs in emotional, psychological, mental and spiritual ways, and so their relationship became that of a sweetly tender romance.
In the movie The Last Sin Eater, which was originally a book written by Francine Rivers, there is a maiden whose name is Bletsung McLeod. She is a hermitess, or so to speak, due to the unusual circumstances of her life story.
Her life story goes something along the lines of this:
Bletsung McLeod lived with her abusive father. She found a safe friend, and the masculine leadership she needed in her child-hood guy-friend, Sim.
As Sim and Bletsung grew they found they met each others needs in emotional, psychological, mental and spiritual ways, and so their relationship became that of a sweetly tender romance.
Being first generation immigrants from Scotland to America, there was a great deal of superstition and past sins which hurt more than just their families and clan. The immigrant leader, along with the help of the other clan men, annihilated an entire tribe of Natives to the Appalachian mountains. Desiring to hide his sin and the true reason for destroying the tribe of Indians (which was simply because he did not want to share the resources of the land, and not because the Natives were dangerous, as he claimed) the clan leader took a pole with chicken bones to declare a new "Sin Eater," which was a superstitious practice brought over from Scotland.(The pole was very similar to "whoever draws the shortest stick gets to do the yucky job")
The Sin Eater was chosen, and Bletsung McLeod, from that day forward lived a life of singleness as a hermitess. She was ridiculed and scrutinized because she was relational with the Sin Eater and extended her knowledge of herbal medicine - the outcome was being called a "witch," despite the simple fact that she was no witch, nor sorceress, but a good steward of the resources God had given her for that time in her life - good soil, plenty of water and herbs.
She did not have a faith in God as a father, nor did she have knowledge of Christ. But she sought Truth, and then accepted it with open arms when it was offered to her.
Looking at the character of Bletsung McLeod, one can see many desirable qualities, as young women, as maidens and as ladies desiring to be ezer's and Proverbs 31 women.
Firstly, which is my favorite, Bletsung is Fearlessly Feminine. She wears a dress all the time. Now, this was the right and proper thing to do, especially in the early to mid 1700's. Unlike her peers, although they were worn out from bearing many children, losing several children through death (as was common in that day and age) and providing for their sometimes heathen husbands, Bletsung dressed as a lady. The movie portrays her as being an incredible seamstress (although not stated directly, she would have no one else to sew her clothing for her, she's an outcast after all). Her taste in fashion is portrayed as mastery in excellence. The design of her dress, color and style are simply breathtaking and modest! (I would take one of her dresses any day!).
And her hair! Oh my goodness! Yes, it is true, the actress of the movie is a natural beauty, I must say (many in this movie are, naturally beautiful in an innocent and pure way). I am basing this aspect strictly on the movie (as I have not read the book and have been told by several people that the movie is much better), Bletsung lets her hair run free with the wind. Although I would not suggest curling your hair for every day activity (as I believe the actress did to her bangs), I do hold high regard and respect for those who take the time to fix their hair in an attractive way and take care of it properly (conditioning it when necessary, trimming it when you need it etc., and in a "fixing it up" way, styling in it such a way as to keep it out of and enhances your face, everyone wants to see your beautiful eyes and bright smile! Hair is beautiful, but sometimes it is overwhelming and hides one's facial features, making it hard to converse and takes away from Paul's teaching that a woman's hair is "her glory," not place to hide :)
Although I don't think either dress or her hair was practical, having worked on outside building projects in Appalachia for a week in the middle of Summer, I do think Bletsung McLeod is a wonderful example of what feminine modesty is in a fashion sense.
Secondly, the woman was a good steward. She had skill and worked to enhance those skills. She lived off the land and provided for herself - no one else would and she had no family.
She studied botany and was an herbalist. It shows in the movie and talks a bit about in the book Bletsung tending her garden and working with wild bees for honey.
She obviously used herbs for healing, as she prepares naturally based medicines (she had nothing else) to tend to a boy with broken ribs and other serious injuries - he heals beautifully. (Read the Epilogue of the book)
In her knowledge of botany and allowing her maternal instincts to shine through, instead of stuffing them inside, or exchanging them for "toughness" as so many woman in our culture, Bletsung McLeod was used as a tool to bring physical healing to a character in the story, bring emotional healing and companionship to a persecuted outlaw of the cove (or clan) and was capable of inviting redemption and personal healing to herself.
Bletsung mastered the art of natural living and found contentment in this simple-lifestyle; and so she had truly conquered the concept and state of being an "Earth Mother."
Thirdly, which is perhaps one of the most beautiful and incredible aspects of her role, Bletsung McLeod was a true, marked ezer. She wasn't a Christian, but she knew her place in the world as a whole, and then also in society. She was unafraid and openly identified herself as a lady, helper, friend and nurturer.
She befriended her seemingly "worst enemy" - the Sin Eater. (Who, according to the superstition, was unable to touch or be seen by anyone, otherwise that person would too take on the sins of the world. As I said, this is a perfectly family-friendly film about an entire Celtic clan's redemption, forgiveness - of one another and the past generation - for themselves, and then basking in the love of the Lord)
The sweet romance she had with Sim as a young woman, had died. In it's place an unquenching, deep and definite love resounded between the two characters.
They could not have "romance" in the worlds standards, and certainly could not have a "passionate 'I'm in love'" twitter painted infatuation that comes over many young people during puberty and young adulthood. (Which has taken the place of the love Paul talks about when he tells husbands to "love your wives as Christ Loves the Church." This is an Agape, or Caritas and Eros, or "I love you because you are you" love, as C.S Lewis puts it. This is very different from a "Venus," or sexual love.)
As the movie progresses, it becomes more and more apparent that Bletsung and her friend share an Eros love for one another. A love that expresses "you are who you are, and I love you because of that." This is intertwined with an Agape (or in Greek, Caritas) love.
Bletsung tells her love to his face;
"If I cannot be your wife, and bear your children,
then I will be no mans..."
She is unshakably committed to this lion-hearted man, dispite his complete inability to care for her as a man ought care for his woman.
They cannot touch each other.
They cannot look at each other.
They can only speak to one another - communicate through words, share a mutual love in verbage and share dreams using limited language.
How pure their love must have been when Bletsung "became his wife" and "bore his children"
How special their relationship must have been; how deep their loyalty to one another when, after years of waiting, life-altering hardship, and the extremities of the world pressed down on them, they share an intimately romantic life. Not only intimate in the physical sense (as defined by so many), but also in the emotional, intellectual, spiritual and mental sense.
She may not have been able to be close to the man she deeply loved physically, but she waged war for him by being his help meet and loving him for who he was - with Eros love, and in doing so she was even closer than any two sexually involved lovers could ever be, they knew each others' heart. For providing for herself and telling him she cared enough about him, despite what the word said, to wait for him.
In the end, her loyalty, faithfulness and commitment to be courageously feminine, an excellent steward and passionately committed to the man she loved paid off, despite the world telling her "she couldn't do it," "he's not good enough," "you deserve better," "you act as a witch," and "why don't you just give up..."
You can be a Proverbs 31 woman too!
It takes just one small step at a time.
What step is God asking you to take?
Monday, June 22, 2009
Modesty Revisited
Her essays have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Commentary, City Journal, and other publications. Her book, A Return to Modesty, was published by The Free Press in 1999, and last year was reissued in paperback by Touchstone Books in an edition that includes questions for classroom use.
Miss Shalit spoke at Hillsdale College on November 15, 2000. The following is an excerpt of her presentation, which she delivered in Phillips Auditorium at a seminar sponsored by the College’s Center for Constructive Alternatives.
...
This afternoon I was reading a magazine for brides in which a woman had submitted the following question: “My fiance wants us to move in together, but I want to wait until we’re married. Am I doing our marriage an injustice?” The editor responded: “Your fiance should understand why you want to wait to share a home. Maybe you’re concerned about losing your identity as an individual. Or maybe you’re concerned about space issues.”
Space issues? Losing her identity? If this woman cared about those things she wouldn’t want to get married in the first place. Her question was a moral one. She wanted to know what would be best for her marriage. And on this—however unbeknownst to the magazine’s new-agey editor—the evidence is in: Couples who live together before marriage are much less likely to get married; and if they do marry, they’re more likely to get divorced. Yet the vocabulary of modesty has largely dropped from our cultural consciousness; when a woman asks a question that necessarily implicates it, we can only mumble about “space issues.”
I first became interested in the subject of modesty for a rather mundane reason—because I didn’t like the bathrooms at Williams College. Like many enlightened colleges and universities these days, Williams houses boys next to girls in its dormitories and then has the students vote by floor on whether their common bathrooms should be coed. It’s all very democratic, but the votes always seem to go in the coed direction because no one wants to be thought a prude. When I objected, I was told by my fellow students that I “must not be comfortable with [my] body.” Frankly, I didn’t get that, because I was fine with my body; it was their bodies in such close proximity to mine that I wasn’t thrilled about.
I ended up writing about this experience in Commentary as a kind of therapeutic exercise. But when my article was reprinted in Reader’s Digest, a weird thing happened: I got piles of letters from kids who said, “I thought I was the only one who couldn’t stand these bathrooms.” How could so many people feel they were the “only ones” who believed in privacy and modesty? It was troubling that they were afraid to speak up. When and why, I wondered, did modesty become such a taboo?
At Yale in 1997, a few years after my own coed bathroom protest, five Orthodox Jewish students petitioned the administration for permission to live off-campus instead of in coed dorms. In denying them, a dean with the Dickensian name of Brodhead explained that “Yale has its own rules and requirements, which we insist on because they embody our values and beliefs.” Yale has no core curriculum, of course, but these coed bathrooms, according to Dean Brodhead, embody its beliefs. I would submit that as a result of this kind of “liberationist” ideology, we today have less, not more freedom, than in the pre-1960s era when modesty was upheld as a virtue. In this regard it’s important to recall that when colleges had separate dorms for men and women, and all the visitation rules that went with them, it was also possible for kids to circumvent those rules. It was possible, for instance—now, I’m not advocating this—for students to sneak into each others’ dorms and act immodestly. But in the new culture of “liberation,” a student can’t sneak into the dorms and be modest, or, more accurately, she can’t sneak out. There is no “right of exit” in today’s immodest society. If you don’t participate, you’re a weirdo. Hence students are not really free to develop their best selves, to act in accordance with their hopes.
Modesty’s Loss, Social Pathology’s Gain
Many of the problems we hear about today? sexual harassment, date rape, young women who suffer from eating disorders and report feeling a lack of control over their bodies—are all connected, I believe, to our culture’s attack on modesty. Listen, first, to the words we use to describe intimacy: what once was called “making love,” and then “having sex,” is now “hooking up”—like airplanes refueling in flight. In this context I was interested to learn, while researching for my book, that the early feminists actually praised modesty as ennobling to society. Here I’m not just talking about the temperance-movement feminists, who said, “Lips that touch liquor shall never touch mine.” I’m talking about more recent feminists like Simone de Beauvoir, who warned in her book, The Second Sex, that if society trivializes modesty, violence against women would result. And she was right. Since the 1960s, when our cultural arbiters deemed this age-old virtue a “hang-up,” men have grown to expect women to be casual about sex, and women for their part don’t feel they have the right to say “no.” This has brought us all more misery than joy. On MTV I have seen a 27-year-old woman say she was “sort of glad” that she had herpes, because now she has “an excuse to say ‘no’ to sex.” For her, disease had replaced modesty as the justification for exercising free choice.
In 1948 there was a song called “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Frank Loesser, in which a boyfriend wants his girlfriend to sleep over. His argument is simple but compelling: Baby it’s cold outside, and if she doesn’t sleep over, she could catch pneumonia and die, and that would cause him “lifelong sorrow.” In response, the girl offers several counter-arguments: “My father will be waiting at the door, there’s bound to be talk tomorrow,” etc. It’s a very cute song. And while post-modern intellectuals at progressive institutions like Yale would no doubt say this song proves how oppressed women were in 1948, I would argue that today’s culture—in which fathers can’t be counted on to be waiting at the door—is far creepier.
The counterpoint to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is a story I read in a women’s magazine, written by an ex-boyfriend of an 18-year-old girl whose father had decided that she was too old to be a virgin. After commiserating with the boyfriend, this father drove the pair to a hotel (he didn’t trust the boyfriend with his car), where the girl became hysterical and the scheme fell apart. This article was called “My Ex-Girlfriend’s Father: What a Man!” And although the story isn’t typical, it is quite common these days for parents to rent hotel rooms for their kids on prom nights, which is essentially the same principle. So the father in “Baby It’s Cold Outside” waiting at the door, and the older culture that supported modesty, actually made women stronger. It gave them the right to say ‘no’ until they met someone they wanted to marry. Today’s culture of “liberation” gives women no ground on which to stand. And an immodest culture weakens men, too ? we are all at the mercy of other people’s judgment of us as sexual objects (witness the revolution in plastic surgery for men), which is not only tiring but also dishonest because we can’t be ourselves.
When I talk to college students, invariably one will say, “Well, if you want to be modest, be modest. If you want to be promiscuous, be promiscuous. We all have a choice, and that’s the wonderful thing about this society.” But the culture, I tell them, can’t be neutral. Nor is it subtle in its influence on behavior. In fact, culture works more like a Sherman tank. In the end, if it’s not going to value modesty, it will value promiscuity and adultery, and all our lives and marriages will suffer as a result.
Four Myths Exposed
A First step toward reviving respect for modesty in our culture is to strike at the myths that undermine it. Let me touch on four of these.
The first myth is that modesty is Victorian. But what about the story of Rebecca and Isaac? When Rebecca sees Isaac and covers herself, it is not because she is trying to be Victorian. Her modesty was the key to what would bring them together and develop a profound intimacy. When we cover up what is external or superficial—what we all share in common—we send a message that what is most important are our singular hearts and minds. This separates us from the animals, and always did, long before the Victorian era.
The second myth about modesty is that it’s synonymous with prudery. This was the point of the dreadful movie Pleasantville, the premise of which was that nobody in the 1950s had fun or experienced love. It begins in black and white and turns to color only when the kids enlighten their parents about sex. This of course makes no sense on its face: if the parents didn’t know how to do it, then how did all these kids get there in the first place? But it reflects a common conceit of baby boomers that passion, love and happiness were non-existent until modesty was overcome in the 1960s. In truth, modesty is nearly the opposite of prudery. Paradoxically, prudish people have more in common with the promiscuous. The prudish and the promiscuous share a disposition against allowing themselves to be moved by others, or to fall in love. Modesty, on the other hand, invites and protects the evocation of real love. It is erotic, not neurotic.
To illustrate this point, I like to compare photographs taken at Coney Island almost a century ago with photographs from nude beaches in the 1970s. At Coney Island, the beach-goers are completely covered up, but the men and women are stealing glances at one another and seem to be having a great time. On the nude beaches, in contrast, men and women hardly look at each other—rather, they look at the sky. They appear completely bored. That’s what those who came after the ’60s discovered about this string of dreary hookups: without anything left to the imagination, sex becomes boring.
The third myth is that modesty isn’t natural. This myth has a long intellectual history, going back at least to David Hume, who argued that society invented modesty so that men could be sure that children were their own. As Rousseau pointed out, this argument that modesty is a social construct suggests that it is possible to get rid of modesty altogether. Today we try to do just that, and it is widely assumed that we are succeeding. But are we?
In arguing that Hume was wrong and that modesty is rooted in nature, a recently discovered hormone called oxytocin comes to mind. This hormone creates a bonding response when a mother is nursing her child, but is also released during intimacy. Here is physical evidence that women become emotionally bonded to their sexual partners even if they only intend a more casual encounter. Modesty protected this natural emotional vulnerability; it made women strong. But we don’t really need to resort to physiology to see the naturalness of modesty. We can observe it on any windy day when women wearing slit skirts hobble about comically to avoid showing their legs—the very legs those fashionable skirts are designed to reveal. Despite trying to keep up with the fashions, these women have a natural instinct for modesty.
The fourth and final myth I want to touch on is that modesty is solely a concern for women. We are where we are today only in part because the feminine ideal has changed. The masculine ideal has followed suit. It was once looked on as manly to be faithful to one woman for life, and to be protective toward all women. Sadly, this is no longer the case, even among many men to whom modest women might otherwise look as kindred spirits. Modern feminists are wrong to expect men to be gentlemen when they themselves are not ladies, but men who value “scoring” and then lament that there are no modest women around anymore—well, they are just as bad. And of course, a woman can be modestly dressed and still be harassed on the street. So the reality is that a lot depends on male respect for modesty. It is characteristic of modern society that everyone wants the other guy to be nice to him without having to change his own behavior, whether it’s the feminists blaming the men, the men blaming the feminists, or young people blaming their role models. But that is an infantile posture.
Restoring a Modest Society
Jews read a portion of the Torah each week, and in this week’s portion there is a story that shows us beautifully, I think, how what we value in women and men are inextricably linked. Abraham is visited by three men, really three angels, and he is providing them with his usual hospitality, when they ask him suddenly, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he replies, famously, “Behold! In the tent!” Commentators ask, why in the world are the angels asking where Sarah is? They know she is in the tent. They are, after all, angels. And one answer is, to remind Abraham of where she is, in order to increase his love for her. This is very interesting, because in Judaism the most important work takes place, so to speak, “in the tent”—keeping kosher, keeping the Sabbath, keeping the laws of marital purity. Torah is only passed on to the next generation because of what the woman is doing in the home. Yet it is not enough for there to be a Sarah who is in the tent; it is also necessary that there be an Abraham who appreciates her. So I think the lesson is clear if we want to reconstruct a more modest, humane society, we have to start with ourselves.
I don’t think it’s an accident that the most meaningful explication of modesty comes from the Bible. I was fascinated in my research to discover how many secular women are returning to modesty because they found, simply as a practical matter, that immodesty wasn’t working for them. In short, they weren’t successful finding the right men. For me this prompts an essentially religious question: Why were we created in this way? Why can’t we become happy by imitating the animals? In the sixth chapter of Isaiah we read that the fiery angels surrounding the throne of God have six wings. One set is for covering the face, another for covering the legs, and only the third is for flying. Four of the six wings, then, are for modesty’s sake. This beautiful image suggests that the more precious something is, the more it must conceal and protect itself. The message of our dominant culture today, I’m afraid, is that we’re not precious, that we weren’t created in the divine image. I’m saying to the contrary that we were, and that as such we deserve modesty.
Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College (http://www.hillsdale.edu/)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)