Here are a couple of pictures of the dress. The pictures were also taken by Jessica. Isn't she talented?!
Monday, January 25, 2010
My Regency Dress
Last fall, I was able to sew my first regency dress with the help of my dear friend Jessica. I have always liked this dress that Caroline Bingley wears in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice and with her help I was able to accomplish it. Thank you Jessica!
Here are a couple of pictures of the dress. The pictures were also taken by Jessica. Isn't she talented?!
Here are a couple of pictures of the dress. The pictures were also taken by Jessica. Isn't she talented?!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Look How Far We've Come
Yesterday, I came across these quotes from Alexis de Toqueville. It was amazing to me the difference a little over 150 years can make.
"Religion in America...must be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country; for if it does not impart a taste for freedom, it facilitates the use of it. Indeed, it is in this same point of view that the inhabitants of the United States themselves look upon religious belief. I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion--for who can judge the human heart? But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions."
"In the united States the sovereign authority is religious...America is still the place where the Christian religion has kept the greatest real power over mens' souls; and nothing better demonstrated how useful and natural it is to man, since the country where it now has the widest sway is both the most enlightened and the freest.....Religion..does direct, mores, and by regulating domestic life it helps to regulate the state."
"In the United States the influence of religion is not confined to the manners, but it extends to the intelligence of the people....Christianity, therefore reigns without obstacle, by universal content; the consequence is, as I have before observed, that every principle of the moral world is fixed and determinate..."
"The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other."
"I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of American in her harbors...in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power."
Now compare this to what our current president recently said:
"Whatever we once were, we're no longer a Christian nation. At least no just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, and a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation and a nation of non-believers"
All I can say is: Look how far we've come. I pray that we would be moved to repentance.
"America is great because America is good and if America ever ceases to be good, American will cease to be great." Alexis de Toqueville
"If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. "
2 Chronicles 7:14
"Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 2:10-12
"Religion in America...must be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country; for if it does not impart a taste for freedom, it facilitates the use of it. Indeed, it is in this same point of view that the inhabitants of the United States themselves look upon religious belief. I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion--for who can judge the human heart? But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions."
"In the united States the sovereign authority is religious...America is still the place where the Christian religion has kept the greatest real power over mens' souls; and nothing better demonstrated how useful and natural it is to man, since the country where it now has the widest sway is both the most enlightened and the freest.....Religion..does direct, mores, and by regulating domestic life it helps to regulate the state."
"In the United States the influence of religion is not confined to the manners, but it extends to the intelligence of the people....Christianity, therefore reigns without obstacle, by universal content; the consequence is, as I have before observed, that every principle of the moral world is fixed and determinate..."
"The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other."
"I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of American in her harbors...in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power."
Now compare this to what our current president recently said:
"Whatever we once were, we're no longer a Christian nation. At least no just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, and a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation and a nation of non-believers"
All I can say is: Look how far we've come. I pray that we would be moved to repentance.
"America is great because America is good and if America ever ceases to be good, American will cease to be great." Alexis de Toqueville
"If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. "
2 Chronicles 7:14
"Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 2:10-12
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!
"Now in putting everything in subjection to Him, He left nothing outside His control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him. But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
For it is fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers........
....Since therefore the cildren share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."
I know what you're thinking: "This doesn't sound a lot like Christmas to me." However, I would beg to differ. In these passages of Scripture, we find the very reason why He came: He came to die. Too often we focus on the joys of Christmas (and Christmas certainly is joyful), but we often neglect to look at the dark side of Christmas. Even when Jesus was laying in the manger, His purpose was clear: He came "to save His people from their sins" and "to give His life as a ransom for many."
C.J Mahaney calls it the "disturbing side of Christmas." He said,
"During this time of year, it may be easy to forget that the bigger purpose behind Bethlehem was Calvary. But the purpose of the manger was realized in the horrors of the cross. The purpose of his birth was his death.
Or to put it more personally: Christmas is necessary because I am a sinner. The incarnation reminds us of our desperate condition before a holy God."
I hope that you will experience great joy this Christmas season, yet I also hope that you (or I ) will not forget the true purpose behind our Savior's birth.
I would also encourage you to read these two articles. These two men can explain it better than I ever could:
Born to die for Freedom by John Piper
Disturbing Christmas by C.J. Mahaney
Also, here is a great song that speaks about the mystery of God sending His son to earth to die. The words are absolutely beautiful.
For it is fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers........
....Since therefore the cildren share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."
I know what you're thinking: "This doesn't sound a lot like Christmas to me." However, I would beg to differ. In these passages of Scripture, we find the very reason why He came: He came to die. Too often we focus on the joys of Christmas (and Christmas certainly is joyful), but we often neglect to look at the dark side of Christmas. Even when Jesus was laying in the manger, His purpose was clear: He came "to save His people from their sins" and "to give His life as a ransom for many."
C.J Mahaney calls it the "disturbing side of Christmas." He said,
"During this time of year, it may be easy to forget that the bigger purpose behind Bethlehem was Calvary. But the purpose of the manger was realized in the horrors of the cross. The purpose of his birth was his death.
Or to put it more personally: Christmas is necessary because I am a sinner. The incarnation reminds us of our desperate condition before a holy God."
I hope that you will experience great joy this Christmas season, yet I also hope that you (or I ) will not forget the true purpose behind our Savior's birth.
I would also encourage you to read these two articles. These two men can explain it better than I ever could:
Born to die for Freedom by John Piper
Disturbing Christmas by C.J. Mahaney
Also, here is a great song that speaks about the mystery of God sending His son to earth to die. The words are absolutely beautiful.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Compromise
Last Thursday, over 2,600 Christians gathered in Cincinnati, Ohio to learn more about the Sufficiency of Scripture and how it applies to every aspect of life. On that same day, the USA Today released an article describing the growing syncretism in our world today.
"Elements of Eastern faiths and New Age thinking have been widely adopted by 65% of U.S. adults, including many who call themselves Protestants and Catholics, according to a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released Wednesday."
" 'Mixing and matching practices and beliefs is as much the norm as it is the exception,' Pew's Alan Cooperman says. 'Are they grazing, sampling, just curious? We really don't know.' "
"Despite Americans' overwhelming allegiance to someone they call God (92%), in Pew's 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, 70% said 'many religions can lead to eternal life,' and 68% said 'there's more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion.' "
During the course of the article, the writer consulted Dr. Albert Mohler. This is what he had to say:
"This is a failure of the pulpit as much as of the pew to be clear about what is and is not compatible with Christianity and belief in salvation only through Christ."
I couldn't agree more with what Dr. Mohler had to say. The blame lies on we who claim to be Christians. We do not believe that Scripture is either inerrant or sufficient. As a result of this, not only is our world in confusion, but the church has doubts as well. This is not surprising at all. When we deviate even just a little from the authority of God's Word, we open the door to more and more compromise. Don't believe me? Here is what Charles Spurgeon had to say on the subject:
"If we doubt God's Word about one thing, we shall have small confidence in it upon another thing. Sincere faith in God must treat all God's Word alike; for the faith which accepts one Word of God and rejects another is evidently not faith in God...., but faith in our own judgment, faith in our own taste."
And this is what we learned last weekend! We looked at the effects even a little bit of compromise results in. We also attempted to look at what Scripture had to say in all aspects of life. It was truly a time of encourage and edification. For those of you who were not able to make it, I would encourage you to buy the sermons when they come out. But more importantly, I strongly urge you to go back to Scripture in all things!
Remember,
" All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
I would also encourage you to read the rest of the article from USA Today. You can find it here.
"Elements of Eastern faiths and New Age thinking have been widely adopted by 65% of U.S. adults, including many who call themselves Protestants and Catholics, according to a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released Wednesday."
" 'Mixing and matching practices and beliefs is as much the norm as it is the exception,' Pew's Alan Cooperman says. 'Are they grazing, sampling, just curious? We really don't know.' "
"Despite Americans' overwhelming allegiance to someone they call God (92%), in Pew's 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, 70% said 'many religions can lead to eternal life,' and 68% said 'there's more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion.' "
During the course of the article, the writer consulted Dr. Albert Mohler. This is what he had to say:
"This is a failure of the pulpit as much as of the pew to be clear about what is and is not compatible with Christianity and belief in salvation only through Christ."
I couldn't agree more with what Dr. Mohler had to say. The blame lies on we who claim to be Christians. We do not believe that Scripture is either inerrant or sufficient. As a result of this, not only is our world in confusion, but the church has doubts as well. This is not surprising at all. When we deviate even just a little from the authority of God's Word, we open the door to more and more compromise. Don't believe me? Here is what Charles Spurgeon had to say on the subject:
"If we doubt God's Word about one thing, we shall have small confidence in it upon another thing. Sincere faith in God must treat all God's Word alike; for the faith which accepts one Word of God and rejects another is evidently not faith in God...., but faith in our own judgment, faith in our own taste."
And this is what we learned last weekend! We looked at the effects even a little bit of compromise results in. We also attempted to look at what Scripture had to say in all aspects of life. It was truly a time of encourage and edification. For those of you who were not able to make it, I would encourage you to buy the sermons when they come out. But more importantly, I strongly urge you to go back to Scripture in all things!
Remember,
" All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
I would also encourage you to read the rest of the article from USA Today. You can find it here.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christianity and Culture
I spent most of the day yesterday listening to Handel's Messiah. As I listened, I couldn't help but be amazed. Not only is the music exquisite, but the words are amazing as well. In fact, if you were to look at the text, you would find that the majority of it is Scripture. As I listened, I was challenged as well as encouraged. Here was a man who not only knew his Bible thoroughly, but who spent his whole life cultivating and using his gifts to glorify God. And he is not the only one. Other musicians such as Bach and Haydn also come to mind.
"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. If heed is not paid to this, it is not true music but a diabolical bawling and twanging."
Johann Sebastian Bach
"When I think of my God, my heart dances within me for joy, and then my music has to dance, too."
Franz Joseph Haydn
All three of these men were a product of the ideas and doctrine of the Reformation. It was their faith that formed the basis for their music. Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson, authors of The Gift of Music wrote,
" It can be said that if there had not been a Luther, there would not have been a Bach. The focus of Bach's Spiritual life was in Christianity and in the service of religion through music. It is easy to pass over the previous statement and not realize the truth of the fact that Bach's Christian faith and his music are inseparably united."
The Gift of Music pg. 32
The cultural changes birthed out of the Reformation were not limited to music only. Art, literature, and politics were just some of the areas affected by it. Men such as John Milton, John Bunyan, William Shakespeare, Rembrant, George Washington and Samuel Rutherford represent a few of the men whose Christianity permeated their works.
In consideration of this, I think we modern day Christians need to seriously rethink the way we look at the world. Too often it seems, we tend to separate our religion from the rest of life. We need to be reminded that "Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, do all to the glory of God."
"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. If heed is not paid to this, it is not true music but a diabolical bawling and twanging."
Johann Sebastian Bach
"When I think of my God, my heart dances within me for joy, and then my music has to dance, too."
Franz Joseph Haydn
All three of these men were a product of the ideas and doctrine of the Reformation. It was their faith that formed the basis for their music. Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson, authors of The Gift of Music wrote,
" It can be said that if there had not been a Luther, there would not have been a Bach. The focus of Bach's Spiritual life was in Christianity and in the service of religion through music. It is easy to pass over the previous statement and not realize the truth of the fact that Bach's Christian faith and his music are inseparably united."
The Gift of Music pg. 32
The cultural changes birthed out of the Reformation were not limited to music only. Art, literature, and politics were just some of the areas affected by it. Men such as John Milton, John Bunyan, William Shakespeare, Rembrant, George Washington and Samuel Rutherford represent a few of the men whose Christianity permeated their works.
In consideration of this, I think we modern day Christians need to seriously rethink the way we look at the world. Too often it seems, we tend to separate our religion from the rest of life. We need to be reminded that "Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, do all to the glory of God."
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Secret to Thanksgiving........And Everything Else!!!
In our family devotions we have started reading about Job. In the first chapter, the Lord gives Satan permission to strike all that Job has. His cattle, oxen, donkeys, camels, servants, and children were all destroyed. Here was a man that in our eyes would have nothing to be thankful for. Yet what did he say?
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshipped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed by the name of the Lord.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." (Job 1:20-22, emphasis added)
Yesterday at church, Dad preached out of Phillipians. When Paul was writing this book he was in prison, chained between two guards. We already know what he has suffered for the sake of Christ:
"Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and in hardship, through many sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ( 2 Corinthians 11:24-27)
After having experienced all of this, was Paul bitter? In the language of Paul: By no means! On the contray, Phillipians is full of Paul's rejoicings:
"Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me." (Philippians 2:17-18)
"Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, Rejoice......do not be anxious about anything but in everything in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
(Philippians 4:4,6)
"...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13)
What was it that caused these two men to glorify and praise God even when severe adversity struck them? I believe it is because they understood and rested in the nature of God and His perfect soverignty. They knew and understood that everything that happens (whether good or bad), happens because it fulfills God's wonderful plan to glorify Himself:
"Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.....With God are wisdom and might; He has counsel and understanding. If He tears down, none can rebuild; if He shuts a man in, none can open. If He witholds the waters, they dry up; if He sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With Him are strength and sound wisdom; the decieved and the deciever are His. He leads counselors away stripped, and judges He makes fools. He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.....He makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away. (Job 12:9-10, 13-19, 23)
"In Him we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will...... ( Ephesians 1:11)
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forevermore. Amen. (Romans 11:36)
I believe that when we embrace this doctrine, it reduces us to nothing and causes us to glorify God more; not to become arrogant (contrary to popular belief.)
" How can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with Him, one could not answer Him once in a thousand times. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength--who has hardened himself against Him and succeeded? (Job 9:2-4)
"I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.' I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see you; therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:2-6)
"Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make know the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy which He has prepared beforehand for glory---even us whom He has called..." (Romans 9:20-24a)
This doctine gives us such a security and hope in Him that we can say:
"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him." (Job 10:14)
With all this in mind, it bothers me when some say that this doctrine is not important or practical. On the contrary, it is the foundation upon which everything else is placed. It is the glasses through which we view every aspect of life, the armour with which we face every challenge, and the hope to which all else clings!
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshipped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed by the name of the Lord.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." (Job 1:20-22, emphasis added)
Yesterday at church, Dad preached out of Phillipians. When Paul was writing this book he was in prison, chained between two guards. We already know what he has suffered for the sake of Christ:
"Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and in hardship, through many sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ( 2 Corinthians 11:24-27)
After having experienced all of this, was Paul bitter? In the language of Paul: By no means! On the contray, Phillipians is full of Paul's rejoicings:
"Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me." (Philippians 2:17-18)
"Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, Rejoice......do not be anxious about anything but in everything in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
(Philippians 4:4,6)
"...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13)
What was it that caused these two men to glorify and praise God even when severe adversity struck them? I believe it is because they understood and rested in the nature of God and His perfect soverignty. They knew and understood that everything that happens (whether good or bad), happens because it fulfills God's wonderful plan to glorify Himself:
"Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.....With God are wisdom and might; He has counsel and understanding. If He tears down, none can rebuild; if He shuts a man in, none can open. If He witholds the waters, they dry up; if He sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With Him are strength and sound wisdom; the decieved and the deciever are His. He leads counselors away stripped, and judges He makes fools. He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.....He makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away. (Job 12:9-10, 13-19, 23)
"In Him we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will...... ( Ephesians 1:11)
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forevermore. Amen. (Romans 11:36)
I believe that when we embrace this doctrine, it reduces us to nothing and causes us to glorify God more; not to become arrogant (contrary to popular belief.)
" How can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with Him, one could not answer Him once in a thousand times. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength--who has hardened himself against Him and succeeded? (Job 9:2-4)
"I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.' I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see you; therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:2-6)
"Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make know the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy which He has prepared beforehand for glory---even us whom He has called..." (Romans 9:20-24a)
This doctine gives us such a security and hope in Him that we can say:
"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him." (Job 10:14)
With all this in mind, it bothers me when some say that this doctrine is not important or practical. On the contrary, it is the foundation upon which everything else is placed. It is the glasses through which we view every aspect of life, the armour with which we face every challenge, and the hope to which all else clings!
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