15. Shoe Size? 8-9, depending on the shoe brand
14.What is your favorite ice cream? Anything chocolate flavored!
13.Do you think you are strong mentally or physically? Both, and yet not as strong as I would really like to be...
12.Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes if they are my running shoes, no if they are my slip-ons!
11.What is your favorite cereal? Granola, dry. I'm not much of a milk-in-my-cereal anymore :-)
Saturday, May 27, 2006
46 Questions with ReforMaiden - part 2
10. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes
9. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Yes, but unfortunately some people will take my sarcasm/teasing seriously so I'm learning to be careful with my sharp tongue
8. Do you have a journal? Yes, three of them. A journal for my thoughts, a book journal and a knitting journal
7. If you were another person would you be friends with you? I don't know. It would depend on my personality if I were another person, wouldn't it? :-)
6. Kids? None yet.
9. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Yes, but unfortunately some people will take my sarcasm/teasing seriously so I'm learning to be careful with my sharp tongue
8. Do you have a journal? Yes, three of them. A journal for my thoughts, a book journal and a knitting journal
7. If you were another person would you be friends with you? I don't know. It would depend on my personality if I were another person, wouldn't it? :-)
6. Kids? None yet.
Just for Fun...
May is such a busy month for everyone it seems. I was relieved to browse the blogsphere and find that people are either as behind as I am in blogging or they are posting very little, if at all. I'm very tired and next week is going to be very busy, so instead of anything profound or controversial or too opinionated, I thought I would do a self-questionnaire and post 5 questions a day. It's fun for me and gives everyone a chance to glimpse me as a real person and not just a name on the web. I got this from a forum, and present it to you as...
46 Questions with ReforMaiden - part 1
1. What is your name? Shelbi Starnes
2. Were you named after anyone? Yes and no. My parents liked the spelling of Shelbi (note the i instead of traditional y or ie) which was the name of a store that my Mom frequented in Dallas at the time she was pregnant with me, and then I have my Mom's middle name, with a slight spelling change
3. When did you last cry? I'm such a sentimental kook and cry at just about anything sweet or sad, so let's just say it was recent. :-)
4. Do you like your handwriting? If I take the time to use my best penmanship, I'm satisfied with it, but not necessarily pleased.
5. What is your favorite lunchmeat? Ham.
To be continued...
46 Questions with ReforMaiden - part 1
1. What is your name? Shelbi Starnes
2. Were you named after anyone? Yes and no. My parents liked the spelling of Shelbi (note the i instead of traditional y or ie) which was the name of a store that my Mom frequented in Dallas at the time she was pregnant with me, and then I have my Mom's middle name, with a slight spelling change
3. When did you last cry? I'm such a sentimental kook and cry at just about anything sweet or sad, so let's just say it was recent. :-)
4. Do you like your handwriting? If I take the time to use my best penmanship, I'm satisfied with it, but not necessarily pleased.
5. What is your favorite lunchmeat? Ham.
To be continued...
Saturday, May 13, 2006
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies"
"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."
Modesty
Dan Phillips (of the Pyromaniac team) this week issued an invitation to hot controversy when he blogged about women's dress - or the lack thereof - and the offense/stumbling block that it is to our brothers in Christ. I'm glad he brought the subject up, as it needs to be stated that s do have a responsibility when it comes to helping our brothers fight sin; however, you really can't find a subject that's going to push the "legalism" button more than this one will. I think the comments on his post were even more interesting than the post itself. It was appalling to see people actually defending women who blatantly, inexcusably dress immodestly. I'm sorry, but I believe (and no one has to take me seriously on this - I'm only myself a female!) that anyone who says that a woman doesn't know what she's doing when she wears immodest clothing really needs to have their head examined. Women are born with that knowledge. We don't need anyone telling us that shorts that cut off right beneath our bottom are gonna cause a guy to look twice. In order not to be too hard on my fellow sisters, I do honestly believe that there are some women out there who really don't have a clue as to the extent that a man's imagination may go when he sees an immodest woman. It's true that there are some men with a problem so big that they really could lust after a women in a potato sack, however, I think that those people are an exception to the rule and not relevant to a discussion on men in general. It is not legalism or puritanical to say that women have a responsibility in our clothing choices. I think that the women at girltalk did a fabulous job on their recent modesty discussion, so if anyone really wants a good, thought provoking, non-legalistic if you will, discussion on fashion and modesty, I suggest you take the time to read their Fashion and Following the Savior series. Although I won't repeat too much what's already been said by women more experienced and more qualified to speak on this subject than I am, I will post some of my thoughts regarding this controversial topic.
1. Women need to be told that their dressing is important, and they need to be told this by men as well as by women. Older women need to encourage younger women. They shouldn't be afraid to take someone aside who is inappropiately dressed, and if they do, they need to do this in private. No public remonstraces and no gossiping about it later. Men need to speak more openly about their problems with lust so that no one can say that they were unaware of this problem. Also, I think that this is even more effective than any kind of preaching about it, because the real reason that women dress as they do is because they believe that this is what men want. In truth, this is what men want, but it shouldn't be so for Christian men. If a guy praises a girl for her chaste attire, this tells her that she is appreciated for her character and not for her body or clothing. This is really, really, important because women just want to be admired. If we can be admired for our character then why would we seek any other admiration? This is an example of the horrible effects feminism has had on our society. Women, in being "liberated" to do or dress as they see fit, have only become sex symbols and are not valued for who they are. This is tragic. Women really don't believe that a man will love them for who they are, only for how they look. Only men can help reverse this terrible assumption by encouraging their believing sisters and affirming their character traits, not their clothing choices.
2. Women are sinners, too. We need as much preaching to about our dressing motives/choices as men need about keeping their minds pure. Women know what they are doing when they choose a tight fitting t-shirt or strapless dress. Please don't just automatically assume that women are innocent little creatures who have no idea that men have a problem. It's a jungle out there, and women are the cats who prowl it. It's a contest to see who's the hottest, the prettiest, the most fashionable, and women are constantly fighting for first place in any, if not all, of those categories. Just as men struggle with purity of mind, women struggle with purity of heart and motive. It really is hard to let someone else get all of the attention. It makes you feel as though you're not good enough or pretty enough or fashionable enough. Again, men can help women with this by affirming their character and spiritual beauty.
3. Women are afraid that they will look frumpy and matronly if they are modest. And indeed, there is no reason to look like that if you are trying to be modest. It really is a matter of knowing how to dress. Also, having a male who will be honest and tell you if something is too tight, sheer, low, or whatever is absolutely essential. Sometimes I really do believe that something is modest until someone in my family informs me otherwise. This is what Christians are to do: exhort and encourage their fellow believers to holiness and purity. So sisters, don't be afraid to seek out someone who will help you determine what sorts of clothing are a problem for guys and what isn't (and some goes without saying, like bikinis. :-) ). It's not shameful or any kind of admission of immodesty if you do. It only says that you are concerned for the spiritual welfare of your brothers in Christ, and that is admirable.
And that's all I'll say. Any thoughts on this are welcome.
1. Women need to be told that their dressing is important, and they need to be told this by men as well as by women. Older women need to encourage younger women. They shouldn't be afraid to take someone aside who is inappropiately dressed, and if they do, they need to do this in private. No public remonstraces and no gossiping about it later. Men need to speak more openly about their problems with lust so that no one can say that they were unaware of this problem. Also, I think that this is even more effective than any kind of preaching about it, because the real reason that women dress as they do is because they believe that this is what men want. In truth, this is what men want, but it shouldn't be so for Christian men. If a guy praises a girl for her chaste attire, this tells her that she is appreciated for her character and not for her body or clothing. This is really, really, important because women just want to be admired. If we can be admired for our character then why would we seek any other admiration? This is an example of the horrible effects feminism has had on our society. Women, in being "liberated" to do or dress as they see fit, have only become sex symbols and are not valued for who they are. This is tragic. Women really don't believe that a man will love them for who they are, only for how they look. Only men can help reverse this terrible assumption by encouraging their believing sisters and affirming their character traits, not their clothing choices.
2. Women are sinners, too. We need as much preaching to about our dressing motives/choices as men need about keeping their minds pure. Women know what they are doing when they choose a tight fitting t-shirt or strapless dress. Please don't just automatically assume that women are innocent little creatures who have no idea that men have a problem. It's a jungle out there, and women are the cats who prowl it. It's a contest to see who's the hottest, the prettiest, the most fashionable, and women are constantly fighting for first place in any, if not all, of those categories. Just as men struggle with purity of mind, women struggle with purity of heart and motive. It really is hard to let someone else get all of the attention. It makes you feel as though you're not good enough or pretty enough or fashionable enough. Again, men can help women with this by affirming their character and spiritual beauty.
3. Women are afraid that they will look frumpy and matronly if they are modest. And indeed, there is no reason to look like that if you are trying to be modest. It really is a matter of knowing how to dress. Also, having a male who will be honest and tell you if something is too tight, sheer, low, or whatever is absolutely essential. Sometimes I really do believe that something is modest until someone in my family informs me otherwise. This is what Christians are to do: exhort and encourage their fellow believers to holiness and purity. So sisters, don't be afraid to seek out someone who will help you determine what sorts of clothing are a problem for guys and what isn't (and some goes without saying, like bikinis. :-) ). It's not shameful or any kind of admission of immodesty if you do. It only says that you are concerned for the spiritual welfare of your brothers in Christ, and that is admirable.
And that's all I'll say. Any thoughts on this are welcome.
Monday, May 08, 2006
My two younger siblings have only been taking piano for about a year now, but they both went before a competition judge two weeks ago to be graded on their playing. They were each given the highest scoring and invited to play in an Honors recital with other students who excelled in the competition. This was Parker's and Lexi's first time to play before an audience. Here Parker wows us with his performance and his debonair presence at the piano.
Monday, May 01, 2006
The Love of God
"There are many today who talk about the love of God, who are total strangers to the God of love. The Divine love is commonly regarded as a species of amiable weakness, a sort of good-natured indulgence; it is reduced to a mere sickly sentiment, patterned after human emotion. Now the truth is that on this, as on everything else, our thoughts need to be formed and regulated by what is revealed thereon in Holy Scripture.That there is urgent need for this is apparent not only from the ignorance which so generally prevails, but also the low state of spirituality which is now so sadly evident everywhere among professing Christians. How little real love there is for God. One chief reason for this is because our hearts are so little occupied with His wondrous love for His people. The better we are acquainted with His love-its character, fulness, blessedness-the more our hearts will be drawn out in love to Him."
-A.W. Pink
-A.W. Pink
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)