McCain & Obama at a dinner… interesting.
Month: October 2008
the double standard of feminine dressssss
I was listening to the radio as I was driving to pick up some of the children who were visiting friends and I heard a talk-show host comment (with surprised and almost disgusted amazement) that men are really going beyond the appropriate boundaries of dress when they will now buy and wear “mantyhose” – men’s pantyhose – and there was a bit of chuckle-chuckle over that one.
So, yeah… I did… I did come home and google the mantyhose and, yes, I did see they are, indeed, being marketed (don’t even ask why I didn’t link them here). But you know what I was thinking? You know what I’ve been thinking for a long time? Well, I’ll tell you… why is it strange? why is it even appalling to hear of or consider that a man is wearing hosiery commonly accepted as ‘women’s clothing’ and why is it so peculiar to both men and women that men would wear stuff pertaining to the fairer gender? For, consider this: women wear *men’s* clothing every day. They wear men’s clothing everyday and it is perfectly n-o-r-m-a-l. Strange how this is not obvious. Stranger, still, how this is not blatantly obvious to Christian women! I mean, I can and do understand how women outside the Word would just go with the flow of the mainstream — but women who have the Scriptures and fail to see (and dress accordingly) God’s clear distinctive design and created difference between men and women — this, I truly cannot understand. Truly, I cannot.
I’ve had people ask me over the years how I came to the decision to wear exclusively feminine clothing – and dresses/skirts in particular. And, I suppose in addition to my preference for wearing dresses for most all of my adult life – bcz of many things – including how I felt in dresses and how I was treated when wearing dresses and how I loved sewing dresses and skirts for myself and then our daughters.
But then there came a time — sort of a collision of a couple of events many years ago. One being that I read in the Word that men should not wear that which pertaineth to women… etc., etc., and I decided I would take this to heart and pray about it for my own life and settle it once and for all. Then, the other event, in that aforementioned collision, occurred while I was at a seminar and saw an attractive woman retrieving her belongings each time there was a break in the meetings — and time after time this woman would stoop down or bend over to gather her things and in full view was the inseam of her slacks (okay, so you get the picture). And somehow, that day, the Scripture and the view of that whole should-be-private-area sort of confirmed to me the decision to, as a general rule, to never wear pants for outerwear again. I determined that day that just as bizarre as it would be for Wes to reach across to my side of the closet and wear a feminine garment, so also it must be just as unseemly for me to reach over and wear a pair of jeans or a camouflage shirt or a manly jacket or whatever.
Now… I must say that I might wear some pants for some extreme reason – though that reason has not yet come up – but I might. That’s why I say that as a general rule, I never wear pants – or pants with no complete covering. I wear leggings under dresses for hiking – and leggings under dresses for snow-play and for working outside in winter. But slacks or jeans or pants or… whatever: no.
Though wearing dresses much of the time prior to that, that decision was made well over fifteen years ago and so, I suppose, the likelihood of something coming up to change my mind is quite slim. And so I continue this journey – it feels rather like a pilgrimage or even a crusade from time to time as I seek to demonstrate the need for women to abandon manly dress and embrace femininity. I have occasional opportunities to teach on this matter — but even then, the opposition to distinctly feminine clothing is quite strong. One thing we women are not short on is strong opinion — that is for sure, especially when defending our position on a matter. Or our children. ;o)
I ache for the women who are slaves to fashion and wear clothing that both attracts attention and teases men — clothing that entices but won’t fulfill — clothing that speaks louder than their professed walk — clothing that says they don’t embrace the loving design of the Creator God. I ache for daughters who unintentionally tease boys — worse when it’s an intentional decision. I ache for the girls who are sensually used in the thoughts of others bcz of their ignorance or arrogance.
But… what’s probably the most difficult to accept is the willingness to continue rejecting the unique design of men and of women — and dressing to both signify and dignify it. O, for the end of the double standard of dress for believers… that the Word of God would be believed.
TEOTWAWKI – and a fun activity
I always get a little nervous when my husband smiles a certain smile and says he has a fun family activity.
On Sunday night we were talking with friends about all the amazing things going on in our nation, in the government, the political climate and in the financial institutions in our nation and around the world — read: end times; and Wes said he thought he might like for our family to try this fun activity. I knew where this was going — not bcz I had seen the covers of different books Wes has recently been reading and not bcz I saw a couple of websites he was reading. No… no, I knew we were in for some real family fun when I heard him speak and saw the sparkle in his eye. He shared with the friends what we might do. Hmmmm… I thought; and then I wondered if that would be a weekend where our home would be the ‘host home’ for our house-church? Would that be a weekend where I had a retreat planned? O, I’m kidding. ;o) My mind raced about what we might do and how we might carry out this fun activity. But it wouldn’t be a game if it was for real – if it was for real, all this joking aside, we’d be pretty astonished.
So, a teotwawki survival weekend is survival or disaster practice. Now, doesn’t that sound like fun? Now, not being a conspiracy theorist or a survial anything afficianado, the idea of gathering all the family together some friday afternoon and telling them we’re going to intentionally turn off all electricity (and/or other power sources) *and* water and see how much fun we can have for the weekend doesn’t seem all that great to me and I don’t even want to do it — but as these last couple of days have passed, I’m rethinking that… and am wondering if it might not be that bad of an idea after all — and that we actually should do it. O, and TEOTWAWKI, translated is: the end of the world as we know it.
So, curious, I deceded to take a look at a few sites when we got home Sunday night. This is my year for adventure, so I’m thinking we might try this — now, mind you, we did nothing for “Y2K” preparedness – well, save the fact that we didn’t have a large savings in the bank. O, but that wasn’t intentional. So, I guess we didn’t do anything to prepare for the “unknown” except stay up and live through the passing of minutes before and after 12:00 midnight 12/31 – 1/1/00… I guess we clapped and then yawned and went to bed. I’m not a hiker (well, not seriously – though, as you know, I *did* climb Mt. Pilchuck) and we’re not “campers” — though we have been camping; and I’m not one for “roughing it” — though we have roughed it. a lot. sometimes. We’ve only done so out of necessity – not intentionally. So, this “weekend experiment…” I wonder if Wes will want to try this fun activity before or after the list of lists is printed and (some?) items gathered? Sort of “cold turkey” or after a trip to Starbucks the grocery store.
The only preparation I have for surviving teotwawki is – uh, one thing — and it’s not tangible, but it’s for real — it’s none other than oil in my lamp. Oil in my lamp is my only hope…
“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”
by Edward Mote, 1797-1874
1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
The days go by… so fast.
Another Monday…
Monday’s are sort of reflection days for me — maybe they are for you, too. It sort sets the pace for the week in reflection & prayer as I work around our home. I reflect on what was shared in the Sunday meeting — the messages, songs, prayers… etc., etc. I also reflect on whatever else happened over the weekend — which, most weekends, is at least one event or another.
My mind sort of floods with thoughts of Saturday. I had the privilege to speak at a retreat in Olympia and the faces of the women are seemingly right before me — precious women whose hearts are to serve the LORD and serve their families. As is often the case after such an event, the day sort of replays in the theater of my mind and I second-guess or doubt what I shared – doubt whether they were the right messages or if there was offense or whatever. It always seems as though the enemy slips in a doubt or an attempt cloud to my thoughts as I share some challenging or thought provoking message.
I know this is especially true when I attend a retreat with convicting or inspiring messages, the enemy seems to relentlessly attempt to thwart my attention or a distracting thought comes my way or whatever. My husband was of great consolation to me as he prayed for me – and shared with me that there must’ve been something significant against the enemy for him to pester me so — something against worldly ways that would be damaging to the enemy agenda. And I thought on that — or I think on those thoughts today — and realize that whenever I speak strongly about marriage, the different roles of men and women and the biblical design for wives and mothers, there is great opposition – and so I am trusting the LORD today for the outcome and trusting Him for the hearts and minds of each of the women in attendance and their families, too.
Christian womanhood is quite under attack – and when even the ‘teachers’ and ‘preachers’ of the land will not speak Truth, it is no wonder. It is no wonder there is such confusion when the very Word of God is not revered and taught. For if the Word were clearly taught, so much of what we’ve come to accept — socially — would have to go; so much of what we think we want, need or like would have to go; so many of our own agendas, preconceived notions and personal preferences would be challenged and judged – and enormous changes would necessarily have to take place. And… we’d have to face the Truth. Whether we face it now or later, we will face It.
Timothy posted the following note… I think it’s probably from “Stuff Christians Like” — a site that’s a take off on “Stuff White People Like” but I digress. Anyway, I think this is so true:
The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament.”
— Soren Kierkegaard
Today’s email Funny…
My mom sent me this one in the email today: Thought it was too funny… but it’s sort of ironic… since we just got a dog last night and we’ve never asked the second question.
2 questions…
1.) Should I get a dog…?
Or.
2.) Should I have children?….
Gotta ♥ Starbucks.
I had to chuckle today at the hullabaloo over Sarah Palin’s reference to a Sbx (yeah, I know, she said Quote of the Day and blew it and should have said, “The Way I See It… number… blah, blah, blah – and should not have blundered the word: help when she used the word: support). So, she got the #287 cup… ‘sure glad she didn’t bungle the number of States in the US or something silly like that.
You know which cup I got? Yep……………. it’s the same #280 I’ve gotten many times. How is that possible? I’ve gotten that #280 cup in Seattle, in Snohomish, in Portland, in Spokane, at SeaTac and probably other places, too. Just a few days ago, Kathryn came home with a yummy, grandé extra-hot mocha — she was actually laughing when she handed it to me. Yes, it was #280. I nearly crumbled… but I was revived by the delicious brew.
I don’t even know how many times I’ve gotten that #280 cup. I’m telling you, it’s a conspiracy. In the last four or five years I’ve developed a nagging and sometimes debilitating inferiority complex – and no, I’m not kidding, and so when I get the cup — that number two-eighty cup, I start to think someone’s arranging it. It’s ironic — almost humourous. Almost.
I’ve never gotten #287. I’m glad, actually — and not just bcz I think Ms. Albright was way off.
My cup? Quote #280?
Yes… you’re reading it right. It says:
You can learn a lot more from listening than you can from talking…”
We ♥ Aebleskivers
I’ve been thinking that we need to think on other things… you know… Philippians 4.8: “…whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are good, whatsoever things are of good report, whatsoever things are tasty; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Well, so that’s what I’ve been trying to do today… think on *good things* instead of dwelling in the valley of dimness & despair.
It’s cold outside today. Samuel swept the chimney, the boys filled the porch with stacks of wood and there’s a fire in the woodstove. Wood is the source of heat for this home and a fire in the stove sort of means, for our family, that the winter season has officially begun. I know it’s truly not winter yet, but this is what we call winter — the cold, wet days where swimmingpools are sort of a distant summer memory — as if there are only two seasons: summer and winter.
Hmmm, there was a point to all that — O, yes… so I’ve been thinking on lovely things — thinking on what my family might enjoy, what would say: “I ♥ you” to them — something they’d really go for right about now. Yes… aebleskivers. So, tomorrow morning — though it’s no one’s birthday, we’re having aebleskivers for breakfast. Below I have posted a youtube video of Aebleskiver preparation in Solvang.
When I was a little girl, one of my very most favourite treats was to go next door and watch my friend’s mama make aebleskivers. I loved watching her as she quickly worked with a knitting needle to flip the aebleskivers over and over in the special pan. I loved that they had that tradition and more, that they shared it with us. Another very favourite memory was going to visit the restaruant where we ordered Aebleskivers in Solvang. I thought the raspberry jam was so delicious — and the presentation so lovely!! See? thinking on things that are lovely??
Well, that was a long time ago, my friend’s mama has gone to be with the Lord and the making of memories there has long passed. However… we’ve started writing these memories into our own family’s story and, for our children, there’s nothing quite like a breakfast of aebleskivers. I love to prepare and serve them… there’s just something about making them that makes me smile. I love that I learned to flip the aebleskivers with a knitting needle and that one of the blessings we discovered when we moved to this old farmhouse was the long row of raspberry canes (that has since become three rows) and that I learned make raspberry freezer jam that tastes just about like the sweetest summer day ever.
I don’t use a “mix” for Aebleskivers. Here’s my recipe (pasting in from our website)
pamela’s aebleskivers
2 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2+ cups buttermilk
3 eggs (separated)
3 Tablespoons melted butteroil or butter/oil mixture for coating the aebleskiver pan.
Powdered Sugar
Raspberry Jam and/or Real Maple Syrup
Mix the flour, soda, baking powder, salt together with a fork. Set aside. Blend egg yolk and buttermilk. In a mixing bowl, whip egg whites still stiff. Gently blend the dry and milk mixture and melted butter and then fold in the whipped egg whites.Heat the aebleskiver (able-skeever) pan (a cast iron pan that has molded, rounded “cups” that hold the batter and help form the aebleskiver “pancake” balls). When the pan is hot, you will “paint” each aebleskiver cup with oil. (I use a ½ & ½ mixture of oil/butter) When the pan is hot, fill each cup with batter and immediately start “turning” the aebleskivers with a knitting needle. Quickly turning quarter turns at a time until all sides are cooked and the center is cooked through. This is tricky the first couple of “pan-fulls” and then you’ll get the hang of it. Then pluck the aebleskiver balls out of the pan with the knitting needle. Set on a plate and dust with powdered sugar and then serve with raspberry jam or maple syrup. Repeat process each time of coating the pan-cups with oil and making the aebleskivers. A typical serving size is 3 aebleskivers (the equivalent of 3 or so pancakes). I triple this recipe for our family of 11 and make even more when the older sons are home!
It’s a funny thing to have to have a knitting needle to cook in the kitchen… but it’s necessary for the easy turning of the aebleskivers. Anything else is too cumbersome. I use a # 6 knitting needle.
Aebleskivers
Shifting Sand
Ecclesiastes 12.8-14
So, browsing the news………. You had to know this was coming…
I wonder what those overly confident senators and reps were thinking this afternoon when the house on the sand went splat. I received yet another form letter from my senators and representatives this morning. Form letters bcz I received the very same letters of response each time I wrote last week.
I don’t know why in the world our government officials thought the US could bail out ailing financial institutions with loans when the US itself cannot even pay its own debts. It’s all ludicrous! I keep thinking that our government is getting into debt it will never, ever, ever be able, or even intend, to repay – and yet(!) citizens will have to pay and pay and pay and pay on that never-ending debt. Incredibly,Wall Street needs to take care of itself investors will invest and Wall Street will be fine; businesses will fall, businesses will rise. Supply and demand, supply and demand = the ebb and flow of business.
“Business-as-usual” is not just a catchy phrase – nor is, “Necessity: the mother of invention.” People will buy and sell, create, manufacture, invent and distribute… and consume, consume, consume. But it won’t be bcz of government that solutions are found and implemented. It won’t be bcz of government that wheels of progress will turn. Government needs to take care of matters in its jurisdiction. Business will create business if the government will step out of the way of progress. In the meantime… until people turn to the Lord, efforts will be futile.
♫
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock;
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down!
Oh, the rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
And the house on the Rock stood firm!
The foolish man built his house upon the sand;
The foolish man built his house upon the sand;
The foolish man built his house upon the sand;
And the rains came tumbling down!
Oh, the rain came down and the floods came up;
The rain came down and the floods came up;
The rain came down and the floods came up;
And the house on the sand went “splat!”
So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ…
And the blessings will come down!
Oh, the blessings come down as your prayers go up;
The blessings come down as your prayers go up;
The blessings come down as your prayer go up;
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Pick a Cake
My sister in law sent me this… fun!!
‘Night Before Christmas’ Coffee Cake Real New York Style’ Cheesecake Supreme
|
|
|
|
|
Cream Cheese Icing |
||
|
|
|
Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live. See Now