Nestled in the Woods

What a can of worms!  Miss Carrie Prejean is a beautiful woman and perhaps her beauty stems from more than her created physical appearance.  What she has inside of her may and should be a greater asset in the long run.  But…
But the bigger question is should she have entered the world of beauty queens and undie modeling in the first place?  Where is the line to be drawn on limits for a beautiful Christian woman?   Here is the Christian principle (Colossians 3: 17) “…whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
A rule of thumb for me has always been, “Is what I want to do something I would want to invite Jesus along to do, too?”  I believe the Scripture is clear about how we are to present our public image.  Somehow, I don’t think that undie or bikini modeling is what St. Paul had in mind when wrote to Timothy, “…women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control…  but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works” (I Timothy 2: 9-10).  It is right to profess godliness, to do good works, and to take a stand against what is wrong.  Miss Prejean has done these things, according to the media; however, young women seeking role models need to step back a half-step and consider that a role model should demonstrate everything the role suggests.  The difference, perhaps, is this example of womanhood a “star” who happens to be a Christian, or is she a Christian, who works out her Christianity by Christian example no matter what she does.  As the latter, her desire to please Christ will allow her to ask what is right and good before pursuing her life choices.  Yes, we have Christian liberty.  In that liberty we are the most free when we please God and not ourselves.  We must make our choices, not based on what gratifies our pleasures, increases our possessions, or enhances our popularity or power; rather, we make those choices to bring the greater glory to God. 

Hope is Just Around the Corner

 After a long, cold winter we hope for Spring.  I’ve got good news: spring’s hope is just around the corner.  I could see it in the yellowing of the willows and the reddening of the maples, and the increase of the bird population.  It wasn’t official, however, until I saw the first wild flowers blooming in the lane.  Today I was surprised (as I am every year) to see my patch of coltsfoot lifting their bright yellow faces to the sun.  Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is the first real wild flower to show itself in our hollow.  Notwithstanding, there are always a few dandelions that are foolish enough to bloom in the dead of winter…they don’t count.

Spring is a metaphor for hope.  I’m neither an optimist nor a pessimist.  I’m somewhat pragmatic without subscribing to pragmatism, but I believe in hope.  I believe that no matter how long and cold the winter of our existence may be all things will work out for God’s glory and our good.

War, death, dysfunctional families, foolish choices…the list could go on…all contribute to our wintery outlook.  Yet peace, eternal life, perfect union in God’s family with his perfect guidance throughout eternity is the hope of the Christian.  As we celebrate Easter we are encouraged for the Hope our own newness of life.  “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (St. John).