Call Me Weird, but...

I am so excited. My husband was invited to attend our city's bird flu planning meeting. He is unable to attend, so I get to go in his place. I know that a lot of you will think that my excitement over this is strange, but this really "floats my boat!" 

In light the supposed, impending bird flu pandemic, I have been reading The Great Influenza. One reason that I chose to read on this particular subject is that I believe American society is not prepared for such another sweeping tragedy as the 1918 Flu pandemic. While it remains to be seen as to whether the present bird flu will mutate into the monster that experts claim it will or will become only a mildly irritating bug similar to that of the Y2K computer scare, I am convinced that the ease and comfort in which we currently reside cannot last long. This present generation in America knows nothing of true suffering or poverty; we are spoiled children. With this in mind, my next book to read will be the The Grapes of Wrath. Light reading, eh?

Expletives

People (self included) use too many expletives today. I am not referring to bad language alone, but mainly to the use of filler language. Filler language consists of words that do not add any meaning to a sentence. For example:

Who left this stupid light on?

Why do we need such words to express ourselves? Lights are neither stupid nor intelligent.

The other use of expletives, of which I am guilty, is to express emotions through phrases such as the following:

Oh, brother!
Good grief!
My word!
Blast! ...and so on.

These phrases in and of themselves do not express any emotion, but rather the tone of voice with which we say them clues the listener in to our present mood. So why, other than habit, do we use these particular words and phrases?

I believe it is because we are not a thinking people. I believe we speak without taking the time to carefully choose and guard our words. I also believe it is because we are not well read; we, instead, watch mindless drivel on TV, resulting in our mimicking the language of said verbal twaddle.

I am culpable in the use of this blather, but I would like to change this. Perhaps, I should carry a thesauraus with me??? (visualize Mrs. Calla Lilly with a sly grin) Perhaps, the real answer is that I need to be more prayerful in regards to my speech.

One of the things that I love best about this time of year is that we can eat every meal on our patio, watching and listening to the birds. When we eat on the patio, our meals always seem more relaxed. Perhaps it is because it is away from the kitchen, and the dishes to be washed are not on my mind. Perhaps it is because there is no telephone, radio, or TV. Or, maybe it is simply because we are outdoors and it is reminiscent of a picnic from long ago. It is so much more relaxing than the atmosphere at a fast food establishment. It is a respite from our all too harried lives, running hither and yon to little avail, rather like reading before a blazing fire in winter. Sometimes, it's good to just be quiet... 

Do We Truly Love Our Neighbor?

Do we love our neighbor if we dress sloppily or immodestly?

Do we love our neighbor if we do not show good manners?

Do we love our neighbor if we do not step out of our comfort zones in order to reach out to them?


Do we love our neighbor if our speech is vulgar or brash?





 

The Dress of War

If someone told you to sketch a portrait in your minds eye, could you? It's not hard to do. How about a Muslim woman, shrouded in thick black veils? Now picture a "alluring" woman out to have a good time on the town. But this is harder: can you picture a Christian woman? It is easy to identify a policeman, soldier, fireman, and even sometimes a politician, but shouldn't we be able to point out a Christian maiden just as simply?...

Follow the link above for a must read article on dress.

Lessons in (modest) fashion
Churchgoers walk the runway to show that cute doesn’t have to mean sexy
By Ron Knox
Thursday, May 4, 2006

The models here certainly walked the model walk — strolling down the runway, sashaying, turning their gaze side to side.
But at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3655 W. 10th St., there was not an inch of shoulder flesh, not a hint of thigh.
Here, modesty was the rule.
“It’s helping the girls to be proud to be modest,” Kristie Hansen said, “to realize there’s beauty in modesty.”
Hansen and fellow church leaders put together the Modest Fashion Show at the church Wednesday night, hoping to spur interest in being fashionable without succumbing to the urge to wear what they described as “indecent” clothes.
Halter tops. Midriffs.
Anything that showed more than a girl’s arms and neck.
The whole idea was the brainchild of Michelle Hague, a Young Woman Leader at the Mormon church. To her, it isn’t about young women having a choice while hitting the racks at department stores.
While similar movements around the country have pressured big chain stores to sell less revealing clothing for social reasons — to promote healthy body types, mainly — that wasn’t the point for Hague.
To her, its about doing right religiously.
“We believe their bodies are gifts from God,” Hague said backstage.
Gifts, she said, that should not be on display for everyone to see. Sure, church rules dictate so, but for Hague it’s also about the way the girls may appear to guys.
“They’re giving the idea to the world that they’re that kind of girl,” Hague said.
That kind of girl? Isn’t that the guy’s problem?
Sure, Hague said, but the guys are part of the equation as well. To help keep boys in the church complacent, the girls need to hide the flesh, rather than keep it out for everyone to see.
So in the small gymnasium inside the church halls, junior high and high school girls stepped out on the runway wearing clothes that revealed little in the way of flesh.
Which is to say, they wore what many would wear on a stroll down Massachusetts Street — save for some late-night revelers. The majority of the girls wore hoodies and capri khakis, jeans and sandals.
All of this at the direction of church leaders. But the girls, for the most part, seemed to agree with the philosophy that modest meant better.
Liz Beisner, an 18-year-old, hit the modest runway wearing a typical outfit: a pair of jeans, a hooded T-shirt, moccasins.
“We’re just trying to show girls that there are cute things that are modest,” Beisner said.
To her, modest clothing equates to a religious belief. For others, it may be because of body insecurity, a rejection of physical stereotypes, a cold breeze, whatever.
She knows girls are going to wear what they want, she said. But the point is to offer a less revealing choice in clothing, and have girls still feel attractive while wearing them.
Walking along Massachusetts Street with some buddies earlier Wednesday, Alex Swanson, a 15-year-old student at Central Junior High School, said she felt about the same way.
Swanson said that everyone has different tastes in clothes for whatever reasons. She could appreciate that.
“I’d rather have options,” Swanson said.
Swanson’s friend, Akina Kashiwaya, agreed.
“That way,” she said, “you won’t be limited to what people expect either way.”

New Poll

While you wait for postings, there is a new poll at the bottom of the screen. You may vote more than once if more than one answer applies. 

On Holiday

At the request of her dear husband, Mrs. Calla Lilly is presently taking a brief respite from the blogging world until Monday to daydream in her garden and spend time resting.

Dress Codes for Worship

I Corinthians 10:23-31
Do All to the Glory of God
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

What constitutes proper attire for worship is obviously a topic that is much debated and will continue to be debated for a long time to come. Let us each search out the Scriptures and dress intentionally, according to our convictions based upon study, prayer, and the counsel of godly men and women. God's dress code for worship is holiness. May we each be adorning ourselves in Christ's righteousness every day and with the attire we believe to be most honoring to Him.

A Second Hope Chest

This year, I received an early birthday present from my mother-in-law. A hope chest! It may seem strange to you that a middle-aged, married woman would even want such an object, but I did - very much, in fact. I never had a real hope chest in my youth. I had an antique steamer trunk with drawers that I loved to fill with my "treasures." As our daughter fills her hope chest with beautiful things for her future married life, I want to fill mine with beautiful things for future grandchildren. My daughter will be learning to sew this summer, and what better way to learn than on things for babies.  

Acceptable Speech

I Corintians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Gentle readers,

In this surreal world of blogging and message boards, it easy to forget that there is a real person reading your thoughts and words - a real person with feelings and convictions all their own. You do not know what is going on in that other person's life at present or their background or their level of maturity in the faith. Words are so very powerful and can do great damage without the speaker (or typist) even being aware of the outcome.

If you have a differing opinion, it is fine to state such, but in a loving way. To call someone (especially a commentor on a blog, rather than the blogger herself) "inconsistent" or state that they are not "using their Bible to form their beliefs" is to resort to name calling. If one has such strong opinions as to feel the need to express their opinions in such a bold way, perhaps he or she should start their own blog in order to let their voice be heard. Such comments will not be allowed here as they are not gracious or edifying to the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Blessings and peace,
Calla Lilly

Comments Now Being Moderated

I hated to have to turn on the moderator button, but when someone attacks one of my readers, it's time. Feel free to post comments and express your opinions, but make sure you do so in a loving, polite, and humble manner. I apologize to anyone who saw said comment before I could delete it. 

Choosing Friends

James 4:4
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Luke 5:30-32
30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The question has arisen as to whether or not one can be friends with non-Christians. There are two implied directives that can be drawn from the passages quoted above. The first is a stern warning against friendship with the world, and the second explains Jesus' association with the world.

In the James 4 passage, we are warned to not desire friendship with the world. II Corinthians 6:14-16 puts it this way: 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,and I will be their God,and they shall be my people.17 Therefore go out from their midst,and be separate from them, says the Lord,and touch no unclean thing;then I will welcome you,18 and I will be a father to you,and you shall be sons and daughters to me,says the Lord Almighty.”

But what about the Luke passage where Jesus was obviously dining with unbelievers? Jesus' answer made His motives perfectly clear. He was seeking to draw them God and to repentance.

Being friends with a non-believer puts you in a precarious position. You can and should be a friend to them, but they cannot be a friend to you. Let me elaborate. We need to reach out to the world and be kind to them, but non-Christian are not the ones we should go to for advice or moral support. That type of close and intimate friendship should only be held with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you find yourself in a position where there are no other Christians to fellowship, may you truly be a light in the darkness.

Phillipians 2:12-16
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Watch Your Language!

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 5:4
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:8
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

There are many things that I could say about today's Christians' conversation and speech - such as taking the Lord's name in vain, minced oaths, gossiping, lying by exaggeration, inappropriate use of words such as awesome..., but time and space will not allow for that at present.

What is on my mind at present is the crudeness with which so many of us choose to speak. It seems as though what is commonplace for the world, too often is commonplace for the children of God as well. Speech that is common, vulgar, or insulting does not belong to the person who is controlled by the Spirit of God. Included in this list are junior curse words, which mean the same thing as the grown-up versions. The notion of cleaning up one's vocabulary seems foreign or wholly unnecessary to the average Christian, but I suggest that we could each stand to step outside of ourselves (self included) and review our speech.

When someone pulls out in front of you traffic, what do you say? When you drop and egg on your newly mopped floor, what's the first word that comes to your mind? When you feel that you have received unfair treatment, what do you think?

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Lost Art of Friendship

As a society, we have become very individualistic and self-oriented. We no longer care what others think (evidenced by our lack of good manners and sloppy dress), and we feel "good" about ourselves (thanks to all our dreadful self-esteem training in schools). We are also very lonely as a result.

In this society of self, we are able to blog exactly what we feel, think, and believe with relatively little challenge from others. We are able to do and say "what is right in our own eyes" similar to the Israelites in the Old Testament.

Am I against blogging? No, BUT...if that is your only or main source of friends, then I strongly suggest you plant yourself in a community (preferably a church) and grow some real roots. Blogs can be a good source of encouragement or creative ideas (as in Lady Lydia's blog) but you should not let it be your sole source for moral support. 

For the remainder of this week, I will be taking a break from reading blogs and posting in order to spiritually regroup and cloister. I found being without the interference of TV very soothing to my soul, and I now feel the need to contemplate how much time I spend with blogs and whether or not that time is beneficial to the Kingdom. I may take this time to weed out a few posts. During this time, I will still be able to read any comments you might have, but I will not be responding until May 8th. See you then. 

A Challenge to Women

I found this challenge from Piper by visiting Mrs. J's blog (www.31women.blogspot.com). Thanks Mrs. J! Please visit the link above.