There are few books that I've read that I've enjoyed as much as those written by Dr. Paul Brand (1914-2003). Dr. Brand is known for his missionary work in India among those suffering with leprosy, his pioneering medical research, and his brilliant and innovative work as a surgeon. Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, claims that Dr. Brand's research has been directly responsible for eliminating the need for tens of thousands of amputations — greatly benefiting, particularly, people with Diabetes.
What does this amazing Christian doctor, speaker, author have to do with the subject of clothing? A great deal, perhaps. In his book, "He Satisfies My Soul," Philip Yancey, who co-authored with Dr. Brand and knew him well, said, "If I had to choose one lesson I have learned from Dr. Brand, it would center on the underlying unity of life. So often in this modern world we compartmentalize. Scientists study the material world; priests and preachers study the spiritual world. Dr. Brand brings these worlds together....To him, the world reveals God, and God illuminates the world....For him, life is an act of worship."
And what we worship is reflected in our attitudes about what we wear. As we see again in the news. The Washington Post's lifestyle post read, "Target’s Web site is back after multiple crashes Tuesday and early Wednesday, but frugal fashionistas hoping to find zig-zag print dresses and sweaters from the Missoni for Target line may be out of luck.
"The retail giant launched the new limited collection with the Italian luxury brand Tuesday morning in the midst of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York." And everyone went crazy trying to be the first to get theirs before they were sold out.
Life really is an act of worship. All we do, what we think, say, where we go — and even what we choose to wear is an act of worship. It is revealing our heart and what we believe about the only true and living Holy God. How could we think otherwise. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men...for ye serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23,24
We only fool ourselves when we compartmentalize our lives and put worship into our few minutes spent on Sunday? Life is an act of worship. Instead of compartmentalizing this and that occasion as a less important one, or with a who cares attitude, or a woohoo! we beat out the crowd to get the latest thing — shouldn't our dress for all of life's occasions — regardless of if our shopping is done at Nordstrom or Target be selected with care — always being gracefully modest ... regardless of the label?
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Which Side of The Debate Are You On?
Political debates are the name of the game these days. They’re there headlining every news media. All the while though another debate less publicized continues to circulate among Christians. Evolution vs. Creation. Thankfully, a large percentage of Christians still argue on the side of Creation. A good sign, conservative Christians may think. After all, aren’t we giving due credence to our Creator? Yet I wonder if perhaps a problem still exists with it. Because though we Christian women claim that we believe in Creation with our words — often by our actions we appear to be taking the other side. We all at times “make a monkey of ourselves.” But what I’m referring to is our tendency to “evolve.”
Our friend, Webster, says evolution is “a theory that the various types of animal and plants have their origin in other preexisting types, and that the distinguishable differences are due to changes in successive generations.” The thought of course is that each generation of species become better and better. Obvious to any thinking person such an idea is false. Yet maybe in truth this definition should be used to describe we as Christians. Isn’t our origin in another preexisting Type — Jesus Christ? And should not our distinguishable differences be due to changes in successive generations? After all we are to be different due to successive generations because we’re told in Scripture to “…teach these things to our children and to our children’s children….” We ought to be learning from earlier generations’ mistakes. Instead of “evolving” into the likeness of the world’s ways, we should be “growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord.”
But in looking around at what Christian women often choose to dress themselves in and in the behavioral patterns we don as a result — we often do make a monkey of ourselves. So which side of the debate are we really on when in our words, actions (including the way we dress) and behavior give huge points to the Evolution crowd? Let’s score for Creation by being distinguishably different — gracefully modest in everything we do!
Our friend, Webster, says evolution is “a theory that the various types of animal and plants have their origin in other preexisting types, and that the distinguishable differences are due to changes in successive generations.” The thought of course is that each generation of species become better and better. Obvious to any thinking person such an idea is false. Yet maybe in truth this definition should be used to describe we as Christians. Isn’t our origin in another preexisting Type — Jesus Christ? And should not our distinguishable differences be due to changes in successive generations? After all we are to be different due to successive generations because we’re told in Scripture to “…teach these things to our children and to our children’s children….” We ought to be learning from earlier generations’ mistakes. Instead of “evolving” into the likeness of the world’s ways, we should be “growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord.”
But in looking around at what Christian women often choose to dress themselves in and in the behavioral patterns we don as a result — we often do make a monkey of ourselves. So which side of the debate are we really on when in our words, actions (including the way we dress) and behavior give huge points to the Evolution crowd? Let’s score for Creation by being distinguishably different — gracefully modest in everything we do!
Monday, September 19, 2011
We're In The News!
In thinking about what this initial post should consist of it was interesting how women and what they wear seem to take priority over Presidential talks, political rallies, and whatever is considered news at the moment. The news today, would you believe it, included this very topic but not from where you'd expect. Would you believe, Indonesia? JAKARTA — "About 50 women in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, donned miniskirts to protest remarks by the Jakarta city governor who blamed a recent gang rape on the victim's choice of clothing."
Hmmm! What women wear is a hot topic no matter where you look. And that is the reason, as both a mother and grandmother of "girls" this subject is so serious to me. And hopefully if it is not now it will also become one that you take seriously as well.
As Christian women are we more concerned about our "rights" to do as we wish than we are about how our life [words, actions, attitudes...and yes, even our attire] affects others?
"...whatsoever a man [woman] soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:7-8
My prayer is that we all will realize - and be so grateful - that our life can be used of God for someone's good, rather than possibly causing a negative, when we establish graceful modest habits in all areas of our life.
Hmmm! What women wear is a hot topic no matter where you look. And that is the reason, as both a mother and grandmother of "girls" this subject is so serious to me. And hopefully if it is not now it will also become one that you take seriously as well.
As Christian women are we more concerned about our "rights" to do as we wish than we are about how our life [words, actions, attitudes...and yes, even our attire] affects others?
"...whatsoever a man [woman] soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:7-8
My prayer is that we all will realize - and be so grateful - that our life can be used of God for someone's good, rather than possibly causing a negative, when we establish graceful modest habits in all areas of our life.
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