I am feeling very frustrated today. I talked to my most recent Dr.- the Rhuemotologist - and she conveyed that 12 out of the 14 blood tests I recently had were normal. Two were highly abnormal. Both my sed-rate and my c-reactive protein were very elevated. I was actually relieved at first to hear that we finally found SOME type of answer. Only it turned out it isn't much of an answer after all.
The elevated blood tests aforementioned are usually linked with cancer, leukemia or different auto-immune diseases. The Rhuemotologist then said they could not do anything more in her department and that I should ask my General Doctor which specialist should help me now. So I feel both in the dark and frustrated because I will be on to my 5th specialist now. We just want to know WHAT we are facing and WHAT can be done about it, if anything. I feel as if I am battling against an invisible giant.
Please pray that the Doctors would have wisdom and a drive to find out exactly what is going on. Please also pray for peace as we continue to play the waiting game.
My husband shared his experience in meeting his FAVORITE music artist of all time below. It is both cute and amusing to read. :)
Yours, Kate
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Meeting Mr. Webb
This weekend I had a wonderful experience that may not ever be topped in my life!!! Just Kidding. Maybe having kids someday will top this. :)
Anyway, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Derek Webb and speak with him for about 20 minutes. Just Derek, my wife, and me. What a wonderful gift my wife got for me!!!!! Anyway, we were able to watch a concert from about 15 feet away, then we were taken to a back room deep into the basement of the concert hall, wait about 15 minutes, and then the man himself came back to talk with us!!!! Here is a picture of me waiting anxiously, and very nervously.
Sorry this is somewhat blurry, I think Kate was excited too.
Anyway, he came down and brought some waters for us (waters that he actually had on stage... I'll be honest, I am not throwing the bottle away!) and just sat down and talked. Now, if anyone knows me they know that I am awful at meeting people, much less somebody who I consider famous and I respect ALOT. Anyway, my nerves definitely got the best of me, and I really did not too much to say to him when he came down. I mean, my mind was racing, but my mouth was speechless. Luckily, my wife is a good talker (haha) and picked up the slack, thanking Derek for taking the time for us, and telling him how much I love his music, etc. Derek was very nice and down to earth. He did not act like this was a huge distraction, did not act bored by speaking with us, and seemed genuinely thankful and humbled that I liked his music so much. We talked about his new baby boy, his tattoos (I told him that me and Lickel used his "Sola's" tattoo for evangelism in the dorms the past 3 years-- probably crept him out). He told us he was a "church history buff," which I found both ironic and amusing that we shared that interest. After talking to him for about 15 minutes he had to get going, since he had a 16 hour bus trip ahead of him. We walked up the stairs and he told us to email him the next time he comes into town, so we can hang out again (something I am sure he tells lots of people, but I obviously liked the idea-- maybe we can be friends!!!). Next time he is anywhere near where I am, I will invite him out for coffee or dinner, anything really. I would like to pick his brain on theological doctrine and social ideas. While we were walking out I finally got to ask a question that I had wanted to ask him for some time, "What kind of church do you go to?" The answer was great, "PCA." He found the way right to my heart. He goes to a church in the city that is Presbyterian in their doctrine, but not too traditional in their service. They find that to be the best way to reach the people in the area. We had one last quick conversation about how doctrine is more important than structure in the church, and said another quick goodbye (shook his hand for about the 5th time of the night) and left giddy as a school girl.
Here are a few more pictures of us, and I will close with some thoughts.
This was when we were down in the little basement after the concert.
Here is us talking after the show. I am clearly intrigued.
Anyway, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Derek Webb and speak with him for about 20 minutes. Just Derek, my wife, and me. What a wonderful gift my wife got for me!!!!! Anyway, we were able to watch a concert from about 15 feet away, then we were taken to a back room deep into the basement of the concert hall, wait about 15 minutes, and then the man himself came back to talk with us!!!! Here is a picture of me waiting anxiously, and very nervously.
Sorry this is somewhat blurry, I think Kate was excited too.
Anyway, he came down and brought some waters for us (waters that he actually had on stage... I'll be honest, I am not throwing the bottle away!) and just sat down and talked. Now, if anyone knows me they know that I am awful at meeting people, much less somebody who I consider famous and I respect ALOT. Anyway, my nerves definitely got the best of me, and I really did not too much to say to him when he came down. I mean, my mind was racing, but my mouth was speechless. Luckily, my wife is a good talker (haha) and picked up the slack, thanking Derek for taking the time for us, and telling him how much I love his music, etc. Derek was very nice and down to earth. He did not act like this was a huge distraction, did not act bored by speaking with us, and seemed genuinely thankful and humbled that I liked his music so much. We talked about his new baby boy, his tattoos (I told him that me and Lickel used his "Sola's" tattoo for evangelism in the dorms the past 3 years-- probably crept him out). He told us he was a "church history buff," which I found both ironic and amusing that we shared that interest. After talking to him for about 15 minutes he had to get going, since he had a 16 hour bus trip ahead of him. We walked up the stairs and he told us to email him the next time he comes into town, so we can hang out again (something I am sure he tells lots of people, but I obviously liked the idea-- maybe we can be friends!!!). Next time he is anywhere near where I am, I will invite him out for coffee or dinner, anything really. I would like to pick his brain on theological doctrine and social ideas. While we were walking out I finally got to ask a question that I had wanted to ask him for some time, "What kind of church do you go to?" The answer was great, "PCA." He found the way right to my heart. He goes to a church in the city that is Presbyterian in their doctrine, but not too traditional in their service. They find that to be the best way to reach the people in the area. We had one last quick conversation about how doctrine is more important than structure in the church, and said another quick goodbye (shook his hand for about the 5th time of the night) and left giddy as a school girl.
Here are a few more pictures of us, and I will close with some thoughts.
This was when we were down in the little basement after the concert.
Here is us talking after the show. I am clearly intrigued.
Lastly, a few closing thoughts of the weekend. What a gift my wife gave? Could I ask for anything more? Good luck ever topping this one!
2nd, after spending time with Derek, my huge thought was that he was just a regular guy who has tons of talent. I left with the will to pray for him, that God can keep using his words and mind to touch others, and that he stays a regular guy. If I ever do meet with him again, the one question I would ask him is, what can I pray for you for the next year. I cannot imagine the stress it must be to be a role model to others.
And lastly, I do hope that someday I can speak with him again, and maybe even take him out to dinner or anything. I realize these are pipe dreams, but you never know. God has used his music in amazing ways in my life. Christianity needs musicians like him, and I pray he continues to write his music without fear, and challenges my thoughts and ideas.
Still giddy like a school girl, Jeremy
PS: Just to make sure nobody takes this post too far, I would like to end this with some footnotes I do not love Derek Webb more than my wife or future children (I was just being facetious). Derek Webb is not my idol, just someone I respect. And Derek Webb is not God, just someone who helps me see God a little more clearly during various circumstances in my life.
Stay Tuned...A Post from Jeremy~
This is Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken... I did some photoshop magic...Jeremy will be posting shortly on meeting DEREK WEBB this past weekend! :)
Also, I will post soon about the results from the most recent bloodwork I had. I just want to get some more information first.
Hope everyone is well and keep sharing your thoughts on Halloween from the post below!
Much Love, Kate
Monday, October 29, 2007
Halloween
Hello friends! The Halloween poll has been interesting! It seems like there is no overall consensus anywhere about this holiday! I was going to write about the origin/history of Halloween and the different arguments that present themselves but I found this article and it was better than anything I could write. I am interested to see what the wonderful readers of this blog will have to say!
Christianity and the Dark Side: What About Halloween? by Albert Mohler
Friday, October 31, 2003
Over a hundred years ago, the great Dutch theologian Hermann Bavinck predicted that the 20th century would "witness a gigantic conflict of spirits." His prediction turned out to be an understatement, and this great conflict continues into the 21st century.
The issue of Halloween presses itself annually upon the Christian conscience. Acutely aware of dangers new and old, many Christian parents choose to withdraw their children from the holiday altogether. Others choose to follow a strategic battle plan for engagement with the holiday. Still others have gone further, seeking to convert Halloween into an evangelistic opportunity. Is Halloween really that significant?
Well, Halloween is a big deal in the marketplace. Halloween is surpassed only by Christmas in terms of economic activity. According to David J. Skal, "Precise figures are difficult to determine, but the annual economic impact of Halloween is now somewhere between 4 billion and 6 billion dollars depending on the number and kinds of industries one includes in the calculations."
Furthermore, historian Nicholas Rogers claims that "Halloween is currently the second most important party night in North America. In terms of its retail potential, it is second only to Christmas. This commercialism fortifies its significance as a time of public license, a custom-designed opportunity to have a blast. Regardless of its spiritual complications, Halloween is big business."
Rogers and Skal have each produced books dealing with the origin and significance of Halloween. Nicholas Rogers is author of Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. Professor of History at York University in Canada, Rogers has written a celebration of Halloween as a transgressive holiday that allows the bizarre and elements from the dark side to enter the mainstream. Skal, a specialist on the culture of Hollywood, has written Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween. Skal's approach is more dispassionate and focused on entertainment, looking at the cultural impact of Halloween on the rise of horror movies and the nation's fascination with violence.
The pagan roots of Halloween are well documented. The holiday is rooted in the Celtic festival of Samhain, which came at summer's end. As Rogers explains, "Paired with the feast of Beltane, which celebrated the life-generating powers of the sun, Samhain beckoned to winter and the dark nights ahead." Scholars dispute whether Samhain was celebrated as a festival of the dead, but the pagan roots of the festival are indisputable. Questions of human and animal sacrifices and various occultic sexual practices continue as issues of debate, but the reality of the celebration as an occultic festival focused on the changing of seasons undoubtedly involved practices pointing to winter as a season of death.
As Rogers comments: "In fact, the pagan origins of Halloween generally flow not from this sacrificial evidence, but from a different set of symbolic practices. These revolve around the notion of Samhain as a festival of the dead and as a time of supernatural intensity heralding the onset of winter.
How should Christians respond to this pagan background? Harold L. Myra of Christianity Today argues that these pagan roots were well known to Christians of the past. "More than a thousand years ago Christians confronted pagan rites appeasing the lord of death and evil spirits. Halloween's unsavory beginnings preceded Christ's birth when the druids, in what is now Britain and France, observed the end of summer with sacrifices to the gods. It was the beginning of the Celtic year and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking live evil spirits themselves."
Thus, the custom of wearing costumes, especially costumes imitating evil spirits, is rooted in the Celtic pagan culture. As Myra summarizes, "Most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to the old pagan rites and superstitions."
The complications of Halloween go far beyond its pagan roots, however. In modern culture, Halloween has become not only a commercial holiday, but a season of cultural fascination with evil and the demonic. Even as the society has pressed the limits on issues such as sexuality, the culture's confrontation with the "dark side" has also pushed far beyond boundaries honored in the past.
As David J. Skal makes clear, the modern concept of Halloween is inseparable from the portrayal of the holiday presented by Hollywood. As Skal comments, "The Halloween machine turns the world upside down. One's identity can be discarded with impunity. Men dress as women, and vise versa. Authority can be mocked and circumvented, and, most important, graves open and the departed return."
This is the kind of material that keeps Hollywood in business. "Few holidays have a cinematic potential that equals Halloween's," comments Skal. "Visually, the subject is unparalleled, if only considered in terms of costume design and art direction. Dramatically, Halloween's ancient roots evoke dark and melodramatic themes, ripe for transformation into film's language of shadow and light."
But television's "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (which debuted in 1966) has given way to Hollywood's "Halloween" series and the rise of violent "slasher" films. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff have been replaced by Michael Myers and Freddy Kruger.
This fascination with the occult comes as America has been sliding into post-Christian secularism. While the courts remove all theistic references from America's public square, the void is being filled with a pervasive fascination with evil, paganism, and new forms of occultism.
In addition to all this, Halloween has become downright dangerous in many neighborhoods. Scares about razor blades hidden in apples and poisoned candy have spread across the nation in recurring cycles. For most parents, the greater fear is the encounter with occultic symbols and the society's fascination with moral darkness.
For this reason, many families withdraw from the holiday completely. Their children do not go trick-or-treating, they wear no costumes, and attend no parties related to the holiday. Some churches have organized alternative festivals, capitalizing on the holiday opportunity, but turning the event away from pagan roots and the fascination with evil spirits. For others, the holiday presents no special challenges at all.
These Christians argue that the pagan roots of Halloween are no more significant than the pagan origins of Christmas and other church festivals. Without doubt, the church has progressively Christianized the calendar, seizing secular and pagan holidays as opportunities for Christian witness and celebration. Anderson M. Rearick, III argues that Christians should not surrender the holiday. As he relates, "I am reluctant to give up what was one of the highlights of my childhood calendar to the Great Imposter and Chief of Liars for no reason except that some of his servants claim it as his."
Nevertheless, the issue is a bit more complicated than that. While affirming that make-believe and imagination are part and parcel of God's gift of imagination, Christians should still be very concerned about the focus of that imagination and creativity. Arguing against Halloween is not equivalent to arguing against Christmas. The old church festival of "All Hallow's Eve" is by no means as universally understood among Christians as the celebration of the incarnation at Christmas.
Christian parents should make careful decisions based on a biblically-informed Christian conscience. Some Halloween practices are clearly out of bounds, others may be strategically transformed, but this takes hard work and may meet with mixed success.
The coming of Halloween is a good time for Christians to remember that evil spirits are real and that the Devil will seize every opportunity to trumpet his own celebrity. Perhaps the best response to the Devil at Halloween is that offered by Martin Luther, the great Reformer: "The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him for he cannot bear scorn."
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther began the Reformation with a declaration that the church must be recalled to the authority of God's Word and the purity of biblical doctrine. With this in mind, the best Christian response to Halloween, might be to scorn the Devil and then pray for the Reformation of Christ's church on earth. Let's put the dark side on the defensive.
Christianity and the Dark Side: What About Halloween? by Albert Mohler
Friday, October 31, 2003
Over a hundred years ago, the great Dutch theologian Hermann Bavinck predicted that the 20th century would "witness a gigantic conflict of spirits." His prediction turned out to be an understatement, and this great conflict continues into the 21st century.
The issue of Halloween presses itself annually upon the Christian conscience. Acutely aware of dangers new and old, many Christian parents choose to withdraw their children from the holiday altogether. Others choose to follow a strategic battle plan for engagement with the holiday. Still others have gone further, seeking to convert Halloween into an evangelistic opportunity. Is Halloween really that significant?
Well, Halloween is a big deal in the marketplace. Halloween is surpassed only by Christmas in terms of economic activity. According to David J. Skal, "Precise figures are difficult to determine, but the annual economic impact of Halloween is now somewhere between 4 billion and 6 billion dollars depending on the number and kinds of industries one includes in the calculations."
Furthermore, historian Nicholas Rogers claims that "Halloween is currently the second most important party night in North America. In terms of its retail potential, it is second only to Christmas. This commercialism fortifies its significance as a time of public license, a custom-designed opportunity to have a blast. Regardless of its spiritual complications, Halloween is big business."
Rogers and Skal have each produced books dealing with the origin and significance of Halloween. Nicholas Rogers is author of Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. Professor of History at York University in Canada, Rogers has written a celebration of Halloween as a transgressive holiday that allows the bizarre and elements from the dark side to enter the mainstream. Skal, a specialist on the culture of Hollywood, has written Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween. Skal's approach is more dispassionate and focused on entertainment, looking at the cultural impact of Halloween on the rise of horror movies and the nation's fascination with violence.
The pagan roots of Halloween are well documented. The holiday is rooted in the Celtic festival of Samhain, which came at summer's end. As Rogers explains, "Paired with the feast of Beltane, which celebrated the life-generating powers of the sun, Samhain beckoned to winter and the dark nights ahead." Scholars dispute whether Samhain was celebrated as a festival of the dead, but the pagan roots of the festival are indisputable. Questions of human and animal sacrifices and various occultic sexual practices continue as issues of debate, but the reality of the celebration as an occultic festival focused on the changing of seasons undoubtedly involved practices pointing to winter as a season of death.
As Rogers comments: "In fact, the pagan origins of Halloween generally flow not from this sacrificial evidence, but from a different set of symbolic practices. These revolve around the notion of Samhain as a festival of the dead and as a time of supernatural intensity heralding the onset of winter.
How should Christians respond to this pagan background? Harold L. Myra of Christianity Today argues that these pagan roots were well known to Christians of the past. "More than a thousand years ago Christians confronted pagan rites appeasing the lord of death and evil spirits. Halloween's unsavory beginnings preceded Christ's birth when the druids, in what is now Britain and France, observed the end of summer with sacrifices to the gods. It was the beginning of the Celtic year and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking live evil spirits themselves."
Thus, the custom of wearing costumes, especially costumes imitating evil spirits, is rooted in the Celtic pagan culture. As Myra summarizes, "Most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to the old pagan rites and superstitions."
The complications of Halloween go far beyond its pagan roots, however. In modern culture, Halloween has become not only a commercial holiday, but a season of cultural fascination with evil and the demonic. Even as the society has pressed the limits on issues such as sexuality, the culture's confrontation with the "dark side" has also pushed far beyond boundaries honored in the past.
As David J. Skal makes clear, the modern concept of Halloween is inseparable from the portrayal of the holiday presented by Hollywood. As Skal comments, "The Halloween machine turns the world upside down. One's identity can be discarded with impunity. Men dress as women, and vise versa. Authority can be mocked and circumvented, and, most important, graves open and the departed return."
This is the kind of material that keeps Hollywood in business. "Few holidays have a cinematic potential that equals Halloween's," comments Skal. "Visually, the subject is unparalleled, if only considered in terms of costume design and art direction. Dramatically, Halloween's ancient roots evoke dark and melodramatic themes, ripe for transformation into film's language of shadow and light."
But television's "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (which debuted in 1966) has given way to Hollywood's "Halloween" series and the rise of violent "slasher" films. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff have been replaced by Michael Myers and Freddy Kruger.
This fascination with the occult comes as America has been sliding into post-Christian secularism. While the courts remove all theistic references from America's public square, the void is being filled with a pervasive fascination with evil, paganism, and new forms of occultism.
In addition to all this, Halloween has become downright dangerous in many neighborhoods. Scares about razor blades hidden in apples and poisoned candy have spread across the nation in recurring cycles. For most parents, the greater fear is the encounter with occultic symbols and the society's fascination with moral darkness.
For this reason, many families withdraw from the holiday completely. Their children do not go trick-or-treating, they wear no costumes, and attend no parties related to the holiday. Some churches have organized alternative festivals, capitalizing on the holiday opportunity, but turning the event away from pagan roots and the fascination with evil spirits. For others, the holiday presents no special challenges at all.
These Christians argue that the pagan roots of Halloween are no more significant than the pagan origins of Christmas and other church festivals. Without doubt, the church has progressively Christianized the calendar, seizing secular and pagan holidays as opportunities for Christian witness and celebration. Anderson M. Rearick, III argues that Christians should not surrender the holiday. As he relates, "I am reluctant to give up what was one of the highlights of my childhood calendar to the Great Imposter and Chief of Liars for no reason except that some of his servants claim it as his."
Nevertheless, the issue is a bit more complicated than that. While affirming that make-believe and imagination are part and parcel of God's gift of imagination, Christians should still be very concerned about the focus of that imagination and creativity. Arguing against Halloween is not equivalent to arguing against Christmas. The old church festival of "All Hallow's Eve" is by no means as universally understood among Christians as the celebration of the incarnation at Christmas.
Christian parents should make careful decisions based on a biblically-informed Christian conscience. Some Halloween practices are clearly out of bounds, others may be strategically transformed, but this takes hard work and may meet with mixed success.
The coming of Halloween is a good time for Christians to remember that evil spirits are real and that the Devil will seize every opportunity to trumpet his own celebrity. Perhaps the best response to the Devil at Halloween is that offered by Martin Luther, the great Reformer: "The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him for he cannot bear scorn."
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther began the Reformation with a declaration that the church must be recalled to the authority of God's Word and the purity of biblical doctrine. With this in mind, the best Christian response to Halloween, might be to scorn the Devil and then pray for the Reformation of Christ's church on earth. Let's put the dark side on the defensive.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
the 30 day diet ...
Well, I have to say that people have got to be praying for me because I have felt a peace that passes all understanding since Tuesday and haven't worried about the car, money stuff, etc.
Thank you for your continued prayers!
I am currently on Day 11 of a special diet given by my chiropractor.
I am only able to eat fruits, vegetables, and brown rice for a month. Last week was VERY difficult but this week, I am starting to feel a little bit more energetic. I am not allowed to eat meat, dairy or sugar at all. And most of the food I do eat is organic. I guess almost 70% of your immune system is in your stomach so it makes sense to try to clense out my system from toxins so my body can perhaps start working better. That would be so nice!
I think this is teaching me some important albeit challenging lessons in self-control.
I've had to resist some difficult things like pizza and such and thus far, have not given in. I am always hungry and never feel "full" but learning that this is ok! :) I think in America we usually eat until we are full and that isn't necessarily healthy either.
Anyway, I would appreciate continued prayer as I have more than 2 weeks left and am starting to really crave CHEESE! :)
Jeremy and I will be going to the Cities and seeing my mom for the first time in over 4 months! I am SUPER excited as I miss her greatly.
Love in Christ,
Kate
Thank you for your continued prayers!
I am currently on Day 11 of a special diet given by my chiropractor.
I am only able to eat fruits, vegetables, and brown rice for a month. Last week was VERY difficult but this week, I am starting to feel a little bit more energetic. I am not allowed to eat meat, dairy or sugar at all. And most of the food I do eat is organic. I guess almost 70% of your immune system is in your stomach so it makes sense to try to clense out my system from toxins so my body can perhaps start working better. That would be so nice!
I think this is teaching me some important albeit challenging lessons in self-control.
I've had to resist some difficult things like pizza and such and thus far, have not given in. I am always hungry and never feel "full" but learning that this is ok! :) I think in America we usually eat until we are full and that isn't necessarily healthy either.
Anyway, I would appreciate continued prayer as I have more than 2 weeks left and am starting to really crave CHEESE! :)
Jeremy and I will be going to the Cities and seeing my mom for the first time in over 4 months! I am SUPER excited as I miss her greatly.
Love in Christ,
Kate
Monday, October 22, 2007
What A Day...
Hello loved ones! We hope you are all very well! I thought it was time for an update. Last Friday, I went to see a rheumatologist. She did various tests and examinations and asked the usual questions. Then today, she had me get about 14 more blood tests dealing mostly with immunology. She will be bringing my health case to the group of rheumatologists tomorrow so I hope and pray they will see SOMETHING to give us some answers. Before all of the blood tests, Jeremy and I discovered my car was broken into, the tire slashed, 150 CD's, some cash and the CD player were all taken.
I feel scared...violated in a way. They took a few pictures of me that were in the glove box as well as our address, etc. It's all pretty surreal. The police took down a report but the stuff is long gone. Now we have to pick up the pieces.
I know it could be FAR worse...but this is truly the last thing we needed. Things are tight already and to have this added to the bills is hard to swallow. Please pray for our safety and that I would feel secure again in our apartment and neighborhood.
What a lesson...another lesson. There is NO security in this world besides through the Lord. Nothing is guaranteed.
Thank you for your prayers... on a positive note:
We were blessed to have Jeremy's very good friend Andy here visiting this weekend!
We are blessed to have friends like Jodi who was willing and able to drive me to the hospital today!
We are blessed to have one another and each of you supporting us in love and prayer!
We are thankful the car wasn't completely stolen or ruined.
We are thankful we are both safe.
We were blessed to have the SUN OUT on Saturday!
Life sure isn't easy. But we are alive and here and we must make the best of it!
In Christ,
Kate
and
Jeremy
I feel scared...violated in a way. They took a few pictures of me that were in the glove box as well as our address, etc. It's all pretty surreal. The police took down a report but the stuff is long gone. Now we have to pick up the pieces.
I know it could be FAR worse...but this is truly the last thing we needed. Things are tight already and to have this added to the bills is hard to swallow. Please pray for our safety and that I would feel secure again in our apartment and neighborhood.
What a lesson...another lesson. There is NO security in this world besides through the Lord. Nothing is guaranteed.
Thank you for your prayers... on a positive note:
We were blessed to have Jeremy's very good friend Andy here visiting this weekend!
We are blessed to have friends like Jodi who was willing and able to drive me to the hospital today!
We are blessed to have one another and each of you supporting us in love and prayer!
We are thankful the car wasn't completely stolen or ruined.
We are thankful we are both safe.
We were blessed to have the SUN OUT on Saturday!
Life sure isn't easy. But we are alive and here and we must make the best of it!
In Christ,
Kate
and
Jeremy
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Modesty: Post Two
"Any Biblical discussion of modesty begins by addressing the heart, not the hemline."
-C.J. Mahaney.
I couldn't agree more with C.J. Modesty does being with the attitude of the heart within the woman. He also goes on to define modesty as: propriety; the avoidance of clothing and adornment that is extravagant, showy and sexually enticing.
I believe a humble heart comes before modest dress. Thus, immodesty is a form of arrogance. We are arrogant when we say we don't care how it impacts the men that cross our path, but only our desire to remain fashionably "in". Modesty, in general, protects our brothers in Christ from temptation and sin. We are certainly not to identify with our sinful, worldly culture through our dress. We are, after all, to be IN this world and not OF this world. We are to be distinct from the culture in many ways...among them, our dress. If we think about it, our apparel is a public statement of our heart. What is my wardrobe communicating? What is yours?
Earlier, I mentioned 1 Timothy 2:9-10. Through reading and such, I have learned that Paul is warning woman from dressing and adorning themselves like the culture of the time...the Roman court and the Prostitutes. Context is important here. "Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works."
So I don't believe it is necessarily the pearls or the braided hair, but the motivation and the heart behind it. During this time, ostentatious jewelry and braided hear was associated with both vanity and prostitution.
In regard to some of the many comments from the first Modesty post...
I am one who is 100% behind personal responsibility in the Christian life. I believe this modesty discussion is one largely on the shoulders of women. HOWEVER, there IS a place for the husbands and fathers of the women in their life to encourage them when they dress modestly and to hold them accountable when they dress immodestly. If my words in anyway disregarded the supreme importance of woman holding personal responsibility over themselves, then I was unclear. But I see that the body of Christ has dropped the ball in graciously speaking truth and demonstrating Godly care and courage. There is a difference between condemnation and imposing versus giving kind observation and allowing the Holy Spirit to then convict and carry out the good work.
Fathers are to lead their daughters in this issue of modesty. Daughters are to submit. However, much of the time that doesn't occur and the woman is now 20 years old and largely clueless about her impact upon the people in their life.
There is of course, always room for growth. We need to ask ourselves questions. We need to not only trust our own evaluation, but your friends and husband if you have one.
The other issue that arises is self-righteous judgement over those who are not Christian or those who are but newly so.
Lastly, and on a lighter note...I do believe that it is possible to not be fashionably outdated and to be modest. Basically, Modesty and Fashion are not mutually exclusive. It just takes a little extra work and it certainly cannot become our focus.
In 1 Timothy, 2:9-19, Paul insists that more time be focused on spiritual matters then the apparel for the women. Why? Ultimately, because of the gospel. Again, C.J. Mahaney brings this into perspective. Paul teaches every topic in relation to the gospel. As we should. I began with a quote from Mr. Mahaney, and I will end this post with a quote by him, "Modesty and dress and women characterized by good works are the impact of the gospel. That is the transforming power of the gospel."
-C.J. Mahaney.
I couldn't agree more with C.J. Modesty does being with the attitude of the heart within the woman. He also goes on to define modesty as: propriety; the avoidance of clothing and adornment that is extravagant, showy and sexually enticing.
I believe a humble heart comes before modest dress. Thus, immodesty is a form of arrogance. We are arrogant when we say we don't care how it impacts the men that cross our path, but only our desire to remain fashionably "in". Modesty, in general, protects our brothers in Christ from temptation and sin. We are certainly not to identify with our sinful, worldly culture through our dress. We are, after all, to be IN this world and not OF this world. We are to be distinct from the culture in many ways...among them, our dress. If we think about it, our apparel is a public statement of our heart. What is my wardrobe communicating? What is yours?
Earlier, I mentioned 1 Timothy 2:9-10. Through reading and such, I have learned that Paul is warning woman from dressing and adorning themselves like the culture of the time...the Roman court and the Prostitutes. Context is important here. "Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works."
So I don't believe it is necessarily the pearls or the braided hair, but the motivation and the heart behind it. During this time, ostentatious jewelry and braided hear was associated with both vanity and prostitution.
In regard to some of the many comments from the first Modesty post...
I am one who is 100% behind personal responsibility in the Christian life. I believe this modesty discussion is one largely on the shoulders of women. HOWEVER, there IS a place for the husbands and fathers of the women in their life to encourage them when they dress modestly and to hold them accountable when they dress immodestly. If my words in anyway disregarded the supreme importance of woman holding personal responsibility over themselves, then I was unclear. But I see that the body of Christ has dropped the ball in graciously speaking truth and demonstrating Godly care and courage. There is a difference between condemnation and imposing versus giving kind observation and allowing the Holy Spirit to then convict and carry out the good work.
Fathers are to lead their daughters in this issue of modesty. Daughters are to submit. However, much of the time that doesn't occur and the woman is now 20 years old and largely clueless about her impact upon the people in their life.
There is of course, always room for growth. We need to ask ourselves questions. We need to not only trust our own evaluation, but your friends and husband if you have one.
The other issue that arises is self-righteous judgement over those who are not Christian or those who are but newly so.
Lastly, and on a lighter note...I do believe that it is possible to not be fashionably outdated and to be modest. Basically, Modesty and Fashion are not mutually exclusive. It just takes a little extra work and it certainly cannot become our focus.
In 1 Timothy, 2:9-19, Paul insists that more time be focused on spiritual matters then the apparel for the women. Why? Ultimately, because of the gospel. Again, C.J. Mahaney brings this into perspective. Paul teaches every topic in relation to the gospel. As we should. I began with a quote from Mr. Mahaney, and I will end this post with a quote by him, "Modesty and dress and women characterized by good works are the impact of the gospel. That is the transforming power of the gospel."
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Health Update for Today
Hello again friend and family!
I am writing to let you know what is going on lately with my health.
Things seem to be very up and down health-wise. Some hours I will feel ok, others I will be unable to leave my bed due to sheer exhaustion or headaches.
I have been reading up on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it seems that everyone who has this has gone through the months of unknowing...of test after test coming back normal. Because this is a sickness that can only be diagnosed by process of elimination. I've also learned that CFS manifests itself in different ways to different people on different days. What I mean is...yesterday I was feel the exhaustion and weakness, today I have a terrible sore throat and swollen glands.
Now, I say all this because I want those in my life to understand what it's like on a daily basis. I don't want pity of course, but prayers. Most days, I don't even pray for healing anymore. I need to. In all honestly, a lot of days I am doing OK...focused on what I am thankful for and trusting in the Lord. But every few weeks, there is a dark cloud of hopelessness and being so weary from being weary. Thankfully, it seems to not last more than a day.
Anyway, I have to go back to bed...
I will be getting more into the Modesty Posts as soon as I feel up to it a bit.
Oh! And this friday I have another Doctor appt. with another specialist. I am hoping that there will be some sort of answer to all this.
Kate
I would just like to add a special thanks for my amazing husband, Jeremy. This is not an easy thing for us to bare as newlyweds...but you have never complained and you are so loving and encouraging. THANK YOU for your support and care! You are certainly glorifying the Lord through this and ministering to your wife. :) I love you so much.
I am writing to let you know what is going on lately with my health.
Things seem to be very up and down health-wise. Some hours I will feel ok, others I will be unable to leave my bed due to sheer exhaustion or headaches.
I have been reading up on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it seems that everyone who has this has gone through the months of unknowing...of test after test coming back normal. Because this is a sickness that can only be diagnosed by process of elimination. I've also learned that CFS manifests itself in different ways to different people on different days. What I mean is...yesterday I was feel the exhaustion and weakness, today I have a terrible sore throat and swollen glands.
Now, I say all this because I want those in my life to understand what it's like on a daily basis. I don't want pity of course, but prayers. Most days, I don't even pray for healing anymore. I need to. In all honestly, a lot of days I am doing OK...focused on what I am thankful for and trusting in the Lord. But every few weeks, there is a dark cloud of hopelessness and being so weary from being weary. Thankfully, it seems to not last more than a day.
Anyway, I have to go back to bed...
I will be getting more into the Modesty Posts as soon as I feel up to it a bit.
Oh! And this friday I have another Doctor appt. with another specialist. I am hoping that there will be some sort of answer to all this.
Kate
I would just like to add a special thanks for my amazing husband, Jeremy. This is not an easy thing for us to bare as newlyweds...but you have never complained and you are so loving and encouraging. THANK YOU for your support and care! You are certainly glorifying the Lord through this and ministering to your wife. :) I love you so much.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Modesty: Post One
There is a chill in the air that reminds us fall is here and winter is just a few weeks away... it also provides a reason for the girls and women of our culture to bundle up! I have heard several men communicate their dislike for spring and summer simply because of the clothing (or lack of) that women wear.
Just yesterday, a good friend of mine shared that her husband feels that very same way. Walking through a college campus is like a painful test for every man. Eyes to the sidewalk until you get to class. Girls in bikini's all throughout campus is typical. Spending a summer in California only made ME aware of it that much more.
As women, we are inundated with magazines, commercials, TV shows, movies and peers that portray fashion and pressure us to imitate that fashion. Walk through the mall for 5 minutes and it is clear: baring skin is in. It is HARD not to fall into this ... and to imitate the culture that surrounds us.
When Jeremy and I got engaged, I had to personally struggle with modesty. As I went looking for wedding dresses, it became difficult to find a dress that was not strapless or too tight or designed in a way that brought attention to my female figure. I ended up adding capped sleeves to my bridal gown in an attempt to bring more modesty to it. After all, I wouldn't wear strapless shirts any other day of the year, why would I on my wedding day? Around the time I was searching for a wedding dress, Albert Mohler, President of Southern Seminary in Louisville aired a radio show about Weddings and Modesty. I encourage you to listen to it.
Now, I am not saying the standard I felt called to for my wedding or for everyday life is the end all, be all...but I do want to raise this issue. Some items that are perfectly modest on a friends body, may not be the case for myself and vise-versa.
It makes me sick when I see little girls... just 6 or 7 years old, wearing clothing that reveals their stomach or mini skirts and heals! This is now an issue not just for women, but for little girls and the parents that allow, and yes, even encourage, them to wear these things! Most of you that read this blog are not parents yet, but we need to start thinking of these issues now. The easy thing to do is to allow your kids to wear whatever they want... to be their friend and not their parent... but is that what the Lord calls us to do? I think not.
Well, I could ramble on for a long time about this... but this is just the beginning post....I will continue to post on this topic in the next week. There are many people, much wiser than myself who have great insight and advice regarding modesty. I hope to include some of their thoughts in coming posts.
Until then, I will leave you with this verse:
Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
-1 Timothy 2:9-10.
Love in Christ, Kate
UPDATE:
To listen to the aforementioned radio program about Weddings and Modesty, please go here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/radio_show.php?cdate=2006-05-16
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Back from the Woman's Retreat!
I was blessed to be able to go on the Women's Retreat this weekend in Green Lake, WI.
I was very hesitant to go at first due to the cost and the fact that I am not working right now. Also, I am supposed to travel as little as possible...but from the kindness of the church, the financial aspect was taken care of and I was assured it was VERY relaxing. This was very different from any other retreat or conference I have gone to. In the past, there are hundreds of us, going from 8am to midnight with sessions and activities. This was JUST what I needed. It was SUCH a restful, wonderful time with 15 other women from the church! I was the youngest so in a way I had 15 mothers to make sure I didn't overdo it! :)
It was such a wonderful time of friendship, fellowship and reflection! This conference center was INCREDIBLE and just really displayed God's majesty ...from the lake, to the trees.
We stayed in an old Mansion that looks right out to the lake! Here is a picture:
We had this entire place to ourselves... it has 22 rooms! Including enough beds for 20 people and 6 bathrooms, a gorgeous living room with a grand fireplace and a huge dining room table to fit all of us! I will write more in the next few days of some of the lessons learned during this time. Stay tuned! :)
Thank you to anyone who read this... I appreciate your prayers, your love and for reading this boring old blog. :)
In Christ Alone, Kate
I was very hesitant to go at first due to the cost and the fact that I am not working right now. Also, I am supposed to travel as little as possible...but from the kindness of the church, the financial aspect was taken care of and I was assured it was VERY relaxing. This was very different from any other retreat or conference I have gone to. In the past, there are hundreds of us, going from 8am to midnight with sessions and activities. This was JUST what I needed. It was SUCH a restful, wonderful time with 15 other women from the church! I was the youngest so in a way I had 15 mothers to make sure I didn't overdo it! :)
It was such a wonderful time of friendship, fellowship and reflection! This conference center was INCREDIBLE and just really displayed God's majesty ...from the lake, to the trees.
We stayed in an old Mansion that looks right out to the lake! Here is a picture:
We had this entire place to ourselves... it has 22 rooms! Including enough beds for 20 people and 6 bathrooms, a gorgeous living room with a grand fireplace and a huge dining room table to fit all of us! I will write more in the next few days of some of the lessons learned during this time. Stay tuned! :)
Thank you to anyone who read this... I appreciate your prayers, your love and for reading this boring old blog. :)
In Christ Alone, Kate
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Being Real Part 3: Our attempt to answer a great question.
The following question was asked a few days from the original post on "Being Real":
How would you recommend starting down the path of 'being real'? For someone who has been so hurt, time and time again, even the attempt at trust is like peeling the scab off of a wound that has barely healed. Any scripture/books you would recommend?
from kate:
Three things come to mind immediately. Before we even begin "down the path of being real", we have to stand upon some basics …
1. It is always by God’s grace that we are able to be real. It is our natural disposition as humans to be prideful and want to conceal the truth, to put on a facade, etc. So to begin, we must simply pray for His grace to enable us to be stripped of any need to impress others or camouflage our pain, hurt, etc. I too have been hurt, time and time again in very real, deep ways and am only able to be real because of Him. If it were on my shoulders, I would never share my heart with another human again. Thank God it isn’t.
2.I believe the first step is to forgive those that have hurt you. How can one move on to trust others when there is still unforgiveness submerged within the spirit and soul? Of course, forgiveness can be VERY difficult. This is an entirely different topic and post for another day.
3. Sometimes, we wait until we feel no more pain from our past hurts and wounds before we are willing to trust others. Sooner or later, we discover that the pain never COMPLETELY heals and thus waiting until we are healed is simply unwise. I do not believe we will be entirely whole and healed until we reach heaven. But, God is gracious enough to heal us in profound and deep ways. Actually, great healing can take place IN and WHILE trusting others and being real. It takes discernment, however, to know who is trustworthy…but that comes with time. We can take our time in friendships, and allow the Spirit to guide us as to when and where and how much to share with another.
Lastly, another final note ...while i have not read this book personally, I've heard it is an incredible, healing book that is VERY biblical. It's called Women Helping Women by Elyse Fitzpatrick. You can find it on ebay or amazon.
It's Jeremy here. I have a few other ideas on how to be real.
4. You need to have a firm grasp on scripture, so that you know, that no matter what, your actions fall in line with Christ. Knowing what scripture says, and trusting and holding to that more than you trust and hold onto others opinions of you, is key to being real. Instead of worrying what others think of you, put your faith and hope into what God thinks of you, and how he has redeemed you. The more you study the Bible and keep its precious truths in your heart, the easier it is to allow yourself to open up to others, being indifferent of the consequences towards you.
5. This should go without saying, but you need to forever keep your eyes focused on Christ. After what he has done for you, dying on a cross and enduring unbearable pain, we should be able to endure pain by being real about our lives with others. I truly believe that if you look to Christ for your identity and satisfaction, instead of to others, "being real" will not be a struggle, but it would come naturally.
Thank you for that question and keep them coming as it challenges us to think deeper. I hope that the above was of some help in some way.
How would you recommend starting down the path of 'being real'? For someone who has been so hurt, time and time again, even the attempt at trust is like peeling the scab off of a wound that has barely healed. Any scripture/books you would recommend?
from kate:
Three things come to mind immediately. Before we even begin "down the path of being real", we have to stand upon some basics …
1. It is always by God’s grace that we are able to be real. It is our natural disposition as humans to be prideful and want to conceal the truth, to put on a facade, etc. So to begin, we must simply pray for His grace to enable us to be stripped of any need to impress others or camouflage our pain, hurt, etc. I too have been hurt, time and time again in very real, deep ways and am only able to be real because of Him. If it were on my shoulders, I would never share my heart with another human again. Thank God it isn’t.
2.I believe the first step is to forgive those that have hurt you. How can one move on to trust others when there is still unforgiveness submerged within the spirit and soul? Of course, forgiveness can be VERY difficult. This is an entirely different topic and post for another day.
3. Sometimes, we wait until we feel no more pain from our past hurts and wounds before we are willing to trust others. Sooner or later, we discover that the pain never COMPLETELY heals and thus waiting until we are healed is simply unwise. I do not believe we will be entirely whole and healed until we reach heaven. But, God is gracious enough to heal us in profound and deep ways. Actually, great healing can take place IN and WHILE trusting others and being real. It takes discernment, however, to know who is trustworthy…but that comes with time. We can take our time in friendships, and allow the Spirit to guide us as to when and where and how much to share with another.
Lastly, another final note ...while i have not read this book personally, I've heard it is an incredible, healing book that is VERY biblical. It's called Women Helping Women by Elyse Fitzpatrick. You can find it on ebay or amazon.
It's Jeremy here. I have a few other ideas on how to be real.
4. You need to have a firm grasp on scripture, so that you know, that no matter what, your actions fall in line with Christ. Knowing what scripture says, and trusting and holding to that more than you trust and hold onto others opinions of you, is key to being real. Instead of worrying what others think of you, put your faith and hope into what God thinks of you, and how he has redeemed you. The more you study the Bible and keep its precious truths in your heart, the easier it is to allow yourself to open up to others, being indifferent of the consequences towards you.
5. This should go without saying, but you need to forever keep your eyes focused on Christ. After what he has done for you, dying on a cross and enduring unbearable pain, we should be able to endure pain by being real about our lives with others. I truly believe that if you look to Christ for your identity and satisfaction, instead of to others, "being real" will not be a struggle, but it would come naturally.
Thank you for that question and keep them coming as it challenges us to think deeper. I hope that the above was of some help in some way.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
A Guest Post!
My dear friend Abby has agreed to allow me to post some of her thoughts regarding "being real". I thought they were insightful and would be beneficial to share on here!
Perhaps it is due to our American culture that many people find it a struggle to be genuine or “real” with one another. I have discovered, and especially while I was in college, that many of us feel the need to portray a facade to the general public that they have everything under control and that life is dandy. I attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota (the town of cows, colleges, and contentment!), which was a highly positive experience for me. The student body, as a whole, was highly ambitious, extremely intelligent, and involved in numerous extracurricular activities, whether it be music, sports, volunteer commitments, Christian organizations, and so forth. Because the average student was talented, smart, and/or beautiful, I think everyone felt the pressure to DO everything and make it appear that this was normal and easy to do!
I am sure that I am not alone in the experience I had while in college. My guess is that others have stumbled across similar situations in other educational or occupational settings. Society today teaches us that we need to excel, get ahead, and hide any appearance of weakness or fear that lies within. Ultimately, this is human pride that is getting in the way of being real with one another.
Over time, God has humbled me much in this area and a certain, small book in the Old Testament, Obadiah, was what made this most clear to me. Obadiah was a prophet from Judah who announced the coming judgement of the Lord against the nation of Edom. He fortells,
“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground? Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the Lord.” (v. 2-4)
Edom held pride in their safety as a city, their wealth, self-sufficiency, allies, and wisdom. As the book of Proverbs also warns, pride is a sure route to destruction, and that is exactly what happened to the nation of Edom.
Although many of us struggle with pride, learning to be genuine with each other is one way to avoid pride and instead put on humility. This is one function of the body of Christ, to mourn with each other, be joyful with each other, pray with each other, and meet the specific needs each may have. This is impossible, or at least highly difficult, with an attitude that is reluctant to be open with others.
The Church could thrive to a greater degree by fostering a community of openness: by forming small group or Bible Studies, by encouraging accountability among its members, and in general practicing the example Jesus set for us in loving one another. And as we strive to become more like our Savior, the words of this song by Helen Lemmel will be reflected in our lives:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the Light of his glory and grace.
Perhaps it is due to our American culture that many people find it a struggle to be genuine or “real” with one another. I have discovered, and especially while I was in college, that many of us feel the need to portray a facade to the general public that they have everything under control and that life is dandy. I attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota (the town of cows, colleges, and contentment!), which was a highly positive experience for me. The student body, as a whole, was highly ambitious, extremely intelligent, and involved in numerous extracurricular activities, whether it be music, sports, volunteer commitments, Christian organizations, and so forth. Because the average student was talented, smart, and/or beautiful, I think everyone felt the pressure to DO everything and make it appear that this was normal and easy to do!
I am sure that I am not alone in the experience I had while in college. My guess is that others have stumbled across similar situations in other educational or occupational settings. Society today teaches us that we need to excel, get ahead, and hide any appearance of weakness or fear that lies within. Ultimately, this is human pride that is getting in the way of being real with one another.
Over time, God has humbled me much in this area and a certain, small book in the Old Testament, Obadiah, was what made this most clear to me. Obadiah was a prophet from Judah who announced the coming judgement of the Lord against the nation of Edom. He fortells,
“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground? Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the Lord.” (v. 2-4)
Edom held pride in their safety as a city, their wealth, self-sufficiency, allies, and wisdom. As the book of Proverbs also warns, pride is a sure route to destruction, and that is exactly what happened to the nation of Edom.
Although many of us struggle with pride, learning to be genuine with each other is one way to avoid pride and instead put on humility. This is one function of the body of Christ, to mourn with each other, be joyful with each other, pray with each other, and meet the specific needs each may have. This is impossible, or at least highly difficult, with an attitude that is reluctant to be open with others.
The Church could thrive to a greater degree by fostering a community of openness: by forming small group or Bible Studies, by encouraging accountability among its members, and in general practicing the example Jesus set for us in loving one another. And as we strive to become more like our Savior, the words of this song by Helen Lemmel will be reflected in our lives:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the Light of his glory and grace.
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