Stained Glass and Quilts

I love stained glass don't you?  It's just so beautiful!  I love sitting next to it and letting the light of the sun shine through on my face.  I think what I like most about it though, is how broken it is, and yet how beautiful.  The whole idea of stained glass is thousand of these little shards of glass, each sharp and jagged and of different colors, all brought together into one large and beautiful picture.  I think that I identify very closely with stained glass, as much as you can identify with art.

I feel the same about quilts.  Look at this quilt, it's like chaos, all those little pieces!  But it's really so beautiful because it all comes together into an overall picture that's just lovely, and it will keep someone nice and warm and all snuggly at night.


I think for me, both of these represent the picture of what God is doing in my own life.  Everything is so chaotic at times, there's millions of little pieces, sometimes jagged or ripped, but the overall picture-even though it may not be completed yet, is of a masterpiece being put together by my Creator.  Each time I see a quilt or a piece of stained glass, I try to remember to stop and think about the work God is doing in me, instead of focusing on all of those tiny pieces.

"Cool Christians"`

Clipart thanks to ChristArt.com

Tonight I came across this little gem of an article about the current trend in the Evangelical church towards trying to attract younger people by being "cool"

Hipster Christianity

I have to say I really agree with what the article says.  The general point given is about Christians trying so hard to be "relevant" they end up slightly ridiculous.  It reminds me of this particular clip from YouTube:

Sunday's Coming Trailer

Ok, the video is slightly tongue in cheek, but the point is bears some thought.  In the article it talks about Christians using things like sex to get attention, I get that the idea is that "we're not prudes" but it totally desecrates the sacredness of the marriage bed which is very offensive to me personally.  Christians cannot be "relevant" to modern culture in this way because the whole idea is that we ARE set apart.  Not "holy" not "better than" just different.  And honestly, that's what we SHOULD be saying.  When pastors start referencing Lady Gag in an attempt to show how "in touch" they are, the have effectively lost touch with the absolute gift of being born again, becoming NEW.  Why are we trying to be more secular when what we should be saying is that being "secular" being "modern" is NOT the answer, it's not going to fill you up.  Eventually the edgy coolness wears off, and then what are you left with?  Not much.

Now, lest people think I am all down on contemporary services, I'm not at all.  I love all kinds of music and worship, I can worship just as well singing hymns as I can to a drama piece.  BUT, when it's clear that people are trying to evoke emotion in me, I feel manipulated and totally turned off.  REAL is not someone telling me how real they are, it's someone just saying what's on their mind.  I have cried in service, but it was when something resonated honestly within me.  Look, I'm not against special lights or anything like that, but I am tired of the church being turned into a show.  

Let me tell you what I love.  See, I'm in a church right now that's stinking awesome.  They don't do lights shows, but the music is amazing.  Testimonies are shared, sermons are planned...and sometimes those plans are scrapped to sing or pray or follow the Lord's leading.  We pray for each other, support each other and share with each other.  Sometimes we cry, and sometimes something touches one person more than another and that's ok.  It's not always emotional, but it is truly RELEVANT because it's real.  It's seeking first to LEARN MORE about God, to understand His word and His will, it is then to support each other, to live with one another and share burdens. Emotion is not ever the goal, and it's not a sign of a great service, we're not "cool" we're us.

It's World Breastfeeding Week...or Month...or something like that

I am way to lazy right now to go off and check to see which one it is, but the point of my post remains the same.  It is a time to educate others on and to promote the practice of breastfeeding around the world!

To celebrate, I thought I'd share my own history with breastfeeding.  My own mother nursed all 5 of her children when it was far less popular to do so-so I have always been very comfortable with the concept.  In fact, when I was pregnant with my oldest son Peyton, it didn't occur to me to do anything else because it just seemed the automatic thing in my mind.  I was actually a little taken back at all of the literature out there designed talking about pros and cons and choices and being informed and even encouraging me that it was ok to not breastfeed if I didn't want to, I mean, who wouldn't want to right?  6 and 4 babies later, I've learned a lot.  It wasn't always easy, my milk took a very long time to come in with Peyton, and I had very cracked nipples-thank GOD for an understanding pediatrician who figured it out and gave me that shield.  On top of that I was working full time with him, and so lost my milk when he was 5 months.  After that though, I have nursed each baby longer and longer periods of time, and who knows how long I will go with Clara!  And now for some general impressions:

People can be really weird about this stuff-I totally get that not everyone had the advantages I did.  I was surrounded by supportive people from day one, my mother, my husband, my friends, and my in-laws were all cheering me on and taking it as natural that I would nurse my babies.  If someone doesn't have the education, support, or understanding I did then breastfeeding will not seem like the natural or even feasible choice.  Furthermore there are medical conditions that can get in the way.  However, anyone who thinks it's in any way sexual, gross, weird, unnatural, undesirable or inferior need to get a clue.  Seriously people-grow up!

People can be weird about OTHER people doing it- ?!?!?!?!  Really people?  It takes a really un-boundaried and nosy person to be offended to see a mother nursing a baby.  LOOK AWAY PEOPLE, LOOK AWAY!

LLL ROCKS!  -La Leche League, enough said :)

Ahhh, prolactin- I cannot tell you how many times I've been beyond frustrated with other kids or life or whatever and sat down to nurse a baby and felt my cares just melt away while I snuggled my precious babe. <3 <3 <3

Co-sleeping- In my opinion, co-sleeping should be every new parents biggest survival tool, but beyond the rest benefits, some of my most cherished memories are snuggling in bed at night nursing a sleeping baby in the quiet stillness of pre-dawn hours.

My old blog

Well, I was going to try to import my other blog into this one-it's pretty small but I didn't want to lose it.  Anyway, for whatever reason it's not working so well, so I'm just going to use my first post here to link to my old blog, so if you're interested in looking around you can check it out and see what I've said.  A few of the titles include:

Age Appropriate Behavior
Why we should be afraid of the President
Learning to heal
Cry it out!
Submission

Check it out!
http://mommypress.com/singingoflife/