Divorce

Part Two!--here it is!

So I know it is a PURE coincidence that I want to post blog about divorce right after I just got married... It was also shocking to discover the verse I wanted to discuss in this blog was a part of my previous blog on marriage.  God working...who knows? :) But I suddenly got this feeling that something productive needed to be said about the topic. Let me also preface this by saying that I have nothing but love and compassion for my friends who have sadly experienced the horror that can be divorce. I know it is never an easy process and for some not an easy decision given the circumstances.

Still... I think the Bible can provide a lot of insight on his subject. And definitely a lot of insight on what to do if a marriage has strayed.

One of my favorite chapters in Mark talks about divorce and what as Christians we are called to do. Mark 10: 1-12 states the following

At first this verse appears threatening and accusatory. However, look at where Jesus begins. He begins with reality--with truth.  With honesty.  A good quality and philosophy to have while married.  Then he continues with a reference to creation...To Genesis where God creates woman out of man and explains the beautiful connection that is marriage.  Finally, then Jesus points out that divorce is a sin against the one who the person was married to.  (just a reference, not an accusation.) However, if I was listening to Jesus, hearing the words of Genesis... i would be saddened and would feel the heart to the same conclusion that Jesus comes to describing divorce as adultery.  You don't need to even be married to see this... just talk to the 50% of the population who has experienced divorce (Christian or not.) Pain. Separation. Anger. Hurt.... things opposite of being in a good relationship with another and reflectively with God.

So, I just wanted to say I pray that I always keep both these last blogs (on marriage and divorce) always present in my mind.  It is the biblical way of reminding me of my commitment to Shawn.  It is the truth and how the Lord calls us to reflect marriage.  And I pray that the divorce rate goes down... seriously...it does suck.

Homemade Deodorant

So, being that i'm the home-making foodie... i decided after reading a friend's blog (click here) that it may be time to try my shot at making some other items in the house. I know several people who make their own lip balm.  So decided I was going to start with making my own deodorant.

Here's my experience:

First I got out all the ingredients. Typical baker fashion.  I mixed the powder together and realized that the coconut oil was really hard.  So knowing from some advice it doesn't take much to get it melt a little...so I just let it sit and mixed the essential oil in.  [btw you can use your own combo of this... but I LOVE lime & mixed in eucalyptus lemon and it smells SOOO good i almost want to eat it (i wouldn't though...)

So finally as the coconut oil was starting to "melt" i scrapped it & mixed it into the mix of the mason jar.  Realized next time mixing in bowl first & then moving to mason jar.  It's crazy working through the opening.

But--i got it made & put it in the fridge to get it a little colder... so it hardens.  But I already used some ;)

here are the photos.

so one item made---& the trail will soon begin I have to find a way to keep it cool since the oil is a LOT funky.

Marwarge....Marwarge is what Brings us Twogether 2Day!....

In Honor of my upcoming nuptials, I thought I would provide a theology review of the Bible Verses we have looked at using in our wedding.  Here is the collection:

Genesis 2: 18-24
Psalm 100
Song of Solomon 8:6-7
Mark 10:6-9

Genesis 2-- This is probably my most favorite verse about marriage.  Because it IS the verse about marriage.  It describes how it is God who tells the man it is not good to be alone.  And Man is thankful for the woman even though she came out of his side (ouch when you think about it...literally) and he is also thankful.  I think these are some things we can take with us in regards to marriage.  1) nothing is possible without God. I know Jesus said this--but I know from personal experience when I went to God to talk about my relationships, they were a lot better then me trying to control something.  2) it is not going to be easy.  Coming out of a side is something only God was able to do without seriously causing damage to Man and now (after the Fall) it cannot be done without God (re-enforcing #1.)  3) We are to be thankful.  God has given us someone... we should be responding in gratitude.  (FYI Thank you for Shawn God :))
All of these are good things to remember.

Pslam 100--
well, continuing on with thankfulness... Psalm 100 is a psalm thanking God for his love and goodness.  It is a good reminder in marriage to always respond to God in praise and thanksgiving and to be thankful for those He has placed in your midst.  Not that complicated in my mind...

Song of Solomon -- Though there are examples of God's love throughout the Bible, there are some biblical examples of what love is between a man and a woman.  Song of Solomon describes this... and I think for marriage, obviously, its helpful to see a picture of what it means to love the one you are married to.  These emphasis to major components in my mind.... being sealed by love and what love can do.  Love seals together the marriage (all three kinds of love, mostly eros and agape of course)...  then the biblical writer describes WHAT love is... how it can be crazy and wild, not material, everlasting and enduring.  When one marries, obviously you are not going to know your whole life... but what you do commit is to LOVE, which means to endure and to last.  (since i'm writing this after the wedding partly i arguably say LISTEN TO YOUR VOWS.... they are meant to be a declaration to your spouse of your commitment of marriage to them.  I know this sounds contract-like, but you do make a promise before God and your family (at least in my tradition) and therefore it should be taken EXTREMELY seriously...

& Mark 10--- I'm going to leave this verse for the next blog. I know the suspense will kill you but it does reference the Genesis 2 verses above as well as deal with my next topic of discussion.
God-driven I guess, I wanted to mention I started this blog post before the wedding & while waiting to get on the plane to travel home AFTER the wedding the idea for the next blog came to me.  Guess you'll have to come back and check it out!

Moving Forward

With the wedding now less than a week away... I figured it was an appropriate to discuss the several things that are moving in my life.

1) Massive cleaning out & distribution of unused items in my home. Donating clothes, giving my food I know I could survive without to those who need food, period, and items that are getting replaced with wedding gifts either selling in a yard sale or donating. Because I do not need 10 skillets.  And definitely do not need all the old towels my mom used for years when people are graciously giving us new towels.

2) Finally came to the last stick of deodorant which is resulting in purchase of items to make my own deodorant . I got the idea from a friend's blog (check her out! ) ( Actually she has a lot of suggestions about homemade and simple living....highly recommend following.) and I decided I was going to give it a try.

3) I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what God wants me to do with my education. Especially since next year I am graduating with a masters in Theology with biblical studies emphasis and want to have a career using this in some form. I am looking at getting a Ph.D. In religion from Claremont Lincoln university with a Hebrew bible concentration & looking at literary-historical context. I believe this will take a little more preparation and A LOT more praying.

4) oh by the way...I'm getting married. That's a step forward, right? It's been crazy busy trying to get things all together but finally last night I realized...  I was going to be that person everyone would be staring at saying how beautiful next Saturday.  It was a brief moment, a surreal moment where you realize its really happening... the wishes and dreams and play time as a kid where i always wanted to be the bride getting married.... (i was 19 when I had my first boyfriend), lets just say it feels good to have a good man loving you in your life.

Shalom in Christ my friends!!

Blog, Blog, Blog.... BLOG!!

It's interesting ( and truthful)... the more I blog, the better they get. I noticed my last post was a little more popular than previous times.  Thanks peeps! I swear I'm trying to get better at this.

I noticed in my last year of efforts to try & write a little more--I have yet to reveal my massive PASSION for language.  So I will discuss...well, NOW :)

I have been passionate about communication and language all my life.  Ever since I was little and came across the first sentence in another language (which I actually think might have been German since our neighbor's mother was from Germany and my mom said she used to talk to me in German...) I have always been fascinated by languages.  It's amazes me that so many different words and pronunciations are at our disposal as humans and how we give them a multitude of meanings.  I also think languages bring us closer to God.  See the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Working in everyone's tongue... everyone in their hearts understanding.  It's an amazing concept, an amazing experience (yes I have experienced something similar... I'll leave for another post) and its just boggles my mind how languages are formed, modified, and broken down. (ahhh...sigh of beauty.)

Now when I mean language, I really mean all forms of communication.  My example of this is watching my two dogs.  Since I have been "professionally" trained to be a dog trainer... I know that dogs communicate through body language & tons of non-verbal signals.  I.E. they understand when you go towards the wall with leashes it may mean a walk.  By watching my dogs I have learned how they communicate: my black & white husky Scout will come up, knock April (my puppy girl of a mix) on the side and then try to (literally) "eat" her front paw.  In response she lifts it up, growls at him and swings her butt towards his body.  Some people think this is fighting---it's really husky play and Scout has learned to come over and say "Hey, wanna play? I'll get your leegggg....." and April going " yeah I guess, but i'm going to get you first with my ... BUTT!" (exaggerated for dramatic emphasis :) ) And it makes me smile to know that their just living life as dogs were meant to live it.... playin' :D

Moving into human language-- i have an immense desire to learn what I feel like is as many languages as possible.  Here's the few I have formal school credit in:
1) Spanish (2 years High school) [side note i live in southern california--spanish knowledge is a must here...]

2) Latin, 2 years (yes- I felt like I should have learned this in grade school, so I made a commitment for a theology degree to learn an ancient language... I should have taken Greek...)

3)Hebrew, 1.5 years in undergrad, year as tutor; 2 quarters in grad school (and continuing since I want to be involved in Old Testament.)

4)Russian, 1 year.  Definitely something I want to learn more of. I love eastern European/Western Asian countries...

5)Greek, 1 year.  (well, I did go to seminary)

Now here are the few I have informally studied or at least looked at/owned books or done reports on:
1) Egyptian Hieroglyphics : YES, i did a report freshman year. We have to research something--I got REALLY dorky. And way back when (yes, Susan Miller this is true) i wanted to be an Egyptologist.  I find this EXTREMELY fascinating and even more important now that I am learning how Ancient Near Eastern culture is pertinent to understanding culture and context of the Bible.

2) German.  This is actually the language I understand the most (less the personal experience of Spanish.)  I have taught it all myself, even purchased  short stories & a Bible in German to eventually be able to read it & understand the plethora of German theological documents, papers and theologians. Plus my heritage is German. Shouldn't i have learned that somewhere???

3) Ancient Near Eastern Languages.  Suddenly, at the end of Hebrew, I felt this urge that I should look into studying Akkadian.  Then when I asked about it, my professor encouraged I start with Aramaic after Hebrew, keep going in that, look at Uggaritic and then move onto Akkadian.  And we're talking maybe a handful of texts I would even be reading. But i'm sorry--this just sounds so COOL to me. So books purchased and ready to go.

4) Latin...again.  This is how I know i'm called to do some type of research/knowledge-based something in my life. Even though I had two years of Latin, I do not remember as much as I would like. So I took information from my class, got the same materials and plan on working on this once I learn German. Besides, PhD candidates are required typically to know German, Latin and....

5) French.  I have bought the books (3 actually, because I know I learn exceptionally well by semi-indicutive method between formal book training and interaction with speakers.

6) again... Russian. I have the books used from my undergrad class, bought the 2nd year books and understand very well on how to learn a language.  Of course--this is very different from fully understanding them.

Whew.... Ok. I'm done.  Sorry for the long post and what may be rambling about something i'm completely crazy about. So as for now. .....Auf Wiedersehen!

Going back to the Greener side

So for several years (yeah, again the hippie in me coming out)... I have been trying to live out a life more in line with my beliefs.  If God has given us our lives and everything in it, we need, nah, we are almost required (at least for me as a response for God gracious goodness) to be good stewards of our time, our bodies, our minds, our stuff.  And if that makes me hippie, well hand me over my Birkenstocks and my flowers.

Anyways-- a few of friends have several suggestions and I noticed writing down the next steps will help me move onto better stewardship as a Christian. So here it goes::

1) First things first: all worship for God requires prayer. So I pray that God will guide me in this search, in shedding old skin and old habits and push me towards living as one of His stewards.  Without God in the mix, none of this makes sense.  And may all the glory and goodness go to Him alone. amen

2)  Personal Habits::
   A) more energy, more life--- I really need to star exercising more. And I don't mean locking myself in a gym 24/7.  I mean walking outside, walking my dogs, walking other dogs that need it.  Get back to riding my bike where I can and realizing that the purchase of my slightly used Honda pilot was for transporting the animals and people I love, not for taking solitary trips to no where for useless galavanting around.
   B) share, share share!--- I have always considered myself overly privileged and therefore want to always be aware there is always something to give.  I have struggled but are trying extremely hard to live up to tithing commitment, giving what I can where.  Yes I run giving across the board (after all before school I was volunteering for a rescue group) and I want this aspect to grow.

3) lifestyle changes
Here is the difficult part.  I have grown in a community that lives solely many products not only whose ethical and social decisions are horrendous but create products that are unhealthy as well.  Though I will review and modify this list due to life events... I would love to start making things from home.  I already have 4 citrus trees and planted 4 more fruits trees and am going to try diligently to figure a way to have a vegetable garden with 2 50-70lbs dogs roaming the backyard all day... (Highly considering building a green house.).  Here some items I'm working on changing:

---Deodorant - saw someone's recipe, going to try. I have had tremendous problems with allergies and skin and know that natural, homemade skin products are beneficial as well as practical.
---skin products: now, because again of health concerns I already she'll out $$$ for products never tested on animals and safe. But again my friends already living elements of this lifestyle make their own lotion and lip balm.  I was VERY intrigued about making this. Plus it's my nature to make things and as I like to say it get "crafty."
--Food: I want to be making my own bread, peanut butter (or butter of choice less some nuts I have cross allergies to) and veggies.  Now, this will take some time as I also don't believe in wasting the items I have already purchased.  So I will use/eat what I have (or give to those who need as I have some friends in need of food more than myself) and move towards making my own.

---Stuff... I tried doing this a few years ago after attending a summer Bible study... Thanks Dale & Stacy .... Where I worked at buying products by companies in line with my faith.  I have the resources, I also have several friends toner ideas from...  So now I feel more prepared and going to work on this element harder. And for kicks and because my future husband and I love science.... Making my own ice cream :-)


So this is only a start.   Of course there will be times I slip, and it will take getting used to several of these changes. But I believe God is bigger...and with Him, He can hopefully help me to become a better steward and a better follower of Christ.

Shalom, my friends, shalom

Moving Along in Life

This is something that has constantly been on my mind and probably the best place to "discuss" it would be here, on a blog.  So here it goes.

I grew up in Orange County all my life. life in suburbia america, had a family that wasn't involved in divorce or drugs nor did I have parents that were mean or abusive. I thought my life was pretty well off.  And even though my mom got serious cancer and my dad died when I was young, I still thought my life was good.  Ha! ....then I went to college.

I had the best 4 years of my life in school. I went to University of Evansville, in Indiana, got to enjoy what it is like leaving your parents behind (mind you never having changed schools other than for grade) and live on my own.  The I met people in college who changed my worldview.  Who taught me you don't have to succumb to the standardized living made picture perfect by modern white America, that I can actually incorporate Christian living (which, btw, does not look like ANYTHING on TV) as my norm and that it was ok to stand up against authority and stand for what you believe in.

Then I moved back home.  And besides trying to recover emotionally and spiritually from a broken engagement, I also had to recover moving back to suburbia America, back to the life I was trying to separate myself from.  These were the hardest times of my life so far.  I struggled with my mother, struggled internally, had the hardest time finding a church home, checking out everything (including Rock Harbor, something called "Faith Defenders" and even going back to my old childhood church (which I still support & love...continue reading.) Despite things that the outside world views as not important or significant, I made it through...in addition to finding a WONDERFUL church home in Messiah Lutheran with those alike and not like me. So here it what I have come down to....

Faith is important.  And how you practice your faith is important to.  And I strongly believe that you should honor whatever you claim to practice and know (meaning understanding and realize the implications of) what it means to follow Christ (or whatever faith if you want to go that far.)  I have also learned not to judge by appearance, location or status.  And I don't mean I judged those less fortunate than myself.  As some who has constantly been referred to as "hippie" i mean not judging those more well off than yourself.  Or those who may live more accurately to what you what to believe. Envy is still a sin as jealously is.

When I returned to Orange County, I constantly badgered those who were in a better financial, economical, social and even spiritual standing than myself.  I criticized their opinions and deflated their happiness just to make sure they understood money and success wasn't everything.  But then I realized I was causing just as much hurt as the rich man caused to the poor man.  Those are people too--people who may have just as large a heart as the poor man, maybe give away half their resources, or go every year when possible serving those who need food, shelter or even water.

My pastor (who i think is quoting someone, not sure) always says "I can't do all the good the world needs but the world needs all the good I can do." It means---you do what you can. You stay true to God, to yourself, to your family and your faith community and you live out what you preach and try to be real within that.  And as Christians, we are called NOT to judge.  That God alone reserves this right.  And therefore we ARE called to love God, love others (something our church is big on, i do not attend for this sole reason AND it was more of an after the fact statement when our church realized this is what they want as a motto...)

So I just want to remember people not to judge a book by any cover--to not judge people of where they stand.  To love people, which means to understand and come & walk along side them, in whatever place they may be in their life, and for a Christian, to hopefully show how we are all called to walk along with Christ.