Wardrobe mods

Once or twice a year, Kris has a garage sale to raise money for missions. She accepts donated items from all over everywhere to sell.

And when Kris gives the call for donations, I know it’s time to get sorting through my stuff.

What with a new job to dress professionally for, my wardrobe could use a going over anyway.

So a few days ago, I took to sorting through my drawers and closet. Pull out everything that doesn’t fit, needs mending, or that I just don’t wear. Critically evaluate each item and sort into three piles: garage sale, rag material, and mend or refashion.

Inspired by Marisa of New Dress a Day and by the hundreds of t-shirt refashioning tutorials I’ve seen in the past several months, I was more ruthless than usual when I sorted my first bit.

I pulled out dozens of shirts, dresses, slacks, and skirts that are perfectly fine and wearable–and that I do wear–but which I’d like even more if they were modified. Short sleeves instead of long. A little tailoring here and there. Redo the hem to a more flattering length. Bits and pieces.

And I started to get to work.

A plain black high-necked, long-sleeved t-shirt became this fun shirt:

Black T-shirtBlack T-shirt

When I accidentally put the shirt on backwards (with me, an unfortunately way too common occurrence), I discovered a happy surprise. The shirt works just as well backwards with a ruffly scoop back and a boat-like front neckline.

Black T-shirtBlack T-shirt

Sorry, ladies, I’m keeping this one for myself–but I sent plenty of other clothes out to Kris’s. If you’re in Lincoln this Thursday and Friday, be sure to drop by 4800 NW 2nd Street to peruse the offerings and support missions. (This particular sale will support missionaries who work with indigenous populations in Asia, teaching “storying”–a means of teaching the Bible to illiterate or otherwise non-reading people.)

Who knows, maybe you’ll find something to “mod” yourself!


I Bite My Tongue

Every day, I bite my tongue–er, still my fingers on the keyboard.

I desperately want to make snarky comments, to express my frustration, to let the world know how I feel.

They’re thinly veiled criticisms, one-liners that would be sure to meet their mark.

They refer to personal habits, individual quirks, things that drive me absolutely nuts.

Things about people I love.

Things that would hurt them deeply were I to speak.

Every day, I bite my tongue.

But not because I love them.

I bite my tongue because I love me.

I don’t want to disturb the peace, to have to actually deal with the issues–the issues that I know aren’t really that important but which bug me anyway.

I don’t want to have to undo the hurt I’ve caused.

Mostly, I don’t want people to see the real, ugly me.

If I said those words out loud, you’d all know how mean, how nasty, how spiteful I can actually be. And I don’t want you to know.

I want you to see me through rose-colored glasses. I want you to perceive me as super-spiritual, practically-perfect. Sure, I’ll share my struggles, so long as they’re big existential struggles (and I have plenty of those to keep blog space filled, it seems.) But I don’t want you to see my pettiness, my unlovingness.

I bite my tongue.

I do the right thing.

But not because I love.

Because I care what people think.


Fat Pills

Get those fat pills away from me,” my father said of the Smarties Grace had leftover from a start-of-school club booth.

Grace wasn’t moving fast enough, so Dad grabbed a handful and attempted to get rid of them himself.

“You don’t have any pockets!” he exclaimed to me.

Grace had a solution–“Fat Pills” stuffed in my neckband.

Rebekah with Smarties in neckband

A not-so-subtle message.

It’s intervention time, they’ve been saying. You need to gain some weight.

I know I do.

I wish I could.

I’ve been working at it–multiple meals a day, choosing more calorie-rich foods, etc.

It’s been work, keeping the pounds on.

I can hear what you’re saying: “Puh-lease. Give me what you’ve got.”

It puts me at a disconnect with a majority of the “diet-interested” population. Which, I guess, means that it’s good I’m not going to be working with the majority–or with the diet-interested, even.

Instead, I get to work with a population for whom weight loss is bad news–and my job will be to make sure it doesn’t happen.

It feels very “physician heal thyself” (or, “dietitian, stop your own weight loss”). But I’m proud to say that those fat pills must have paid off. I stepped on the scale last time I was at my sister’s (I don’t have a scale and generally only weigh myself once a month or less often)–and my weight is UP!

I know most of you don’t understand the excitement, but I’ll share it anyway!

Yippee!

Maybe my family will stop “stuffing” me now :-)


WiW: Proverbs

The Week in Words

My Bible reading plan has me going through Proverbs–and it just so happens that I found a free translation of the Proverbs by Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro at my local library. I figured I’d read the two together–my regular New King James (a word-for-word translation) and Shapiro’s free translation (a very loose version of a thought-for-thought translation).

It’s interesting to see how Shapiro interprets–and how having different wording changes my perception of the emphasis of a verse.

On Dreams and Real Life:

“Your mind is filled with many dreams,
yet life unfolds despite them.”
~Proverbs 19:21, Shapiro translation

This sounds like a fortune cookie saying, but I don’t deny that it’s true. My mind is filled with many dreams–and my life has unfolded despite them.

So what does the Bible actually say?

“There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel–that will stand.”
~Proverbs 19:21, NKJV

Ah–it just so happens that this is one of my favorite (and least favorite) verses. It’s undoubtedly true. I am one who has many plans in my heart, but ultimately it’s not my will but God’s that prevails.

Do you note how Shapiro has canceled God out of his translation of this verse?

It’s a huge loss.

Life unfolding, simply cause and effect, things happening, random. There’s no comfort there for my dashed dreams. There’s nothing to keep me from despair. It sounds like “You’ve got your dreams, good for you–but they make no difference anyway.”

On the other hand, consider my amalgam of Shapiro’s translation with the actual Proverb.

“My mind is filled with many dreams,
yet God determines how life unfolds.”
~Proverbs 19:21, bekahcubed amalgam

Life is unfolding, carefully orchestrated. My dreams don’t always come true. But I have hope amidst it all. After all, a better dreamer than I is busy creating a masterful story from my life.

I make plans. God does as He pleases.

And that’s the best way for it to be–even when (or maybe especially when) God “messes up” my plans.

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.


Sunday Snapshot: Hissy Fits

Last week, my family rented a couple of cabins at one of our local state parks and enjoyed a nice little retreat.

My sister prepared some fantastic food for us. For Sunday dinner, we had steak, vegetable packets, watermelon and s’mores.

My dad cut one bowl-full of watermelon. I ate one wedge and then went back for more–only to find that the bowl was empty.

That’s definitely provocation for a hissy-fit. I mentioned the idea out loud–and then, egged on by my siblings, went on to throw a full-fledged hissy fit. I laid down on the deck, pounded my feet and fists, and yelled “I want more watermelon.”

Rebekah throwing a hissy fit

John enjoyed the performance so much that he begged for a repeat–so that he could join in.

John throwing a hissy fit

Another sibling desperately attempted to take snapshots–but we were a bit wild, so the photos are understandably of poor-quality.

Ah–I love my family!


Recap (Sep 5-11)

Nothing’s new on bekahcubed. I had no time to write reviews, create photo albums, or post recipes. Maybe next week…

However, I have had a chance to do some ’round the web surfing.

Related to Previous Posts

  • A Primer on American Civil Religion

    “One of the most significant and notable aspects of early Christianity within the diverse Roman context was the transnational nature of this new faith. Christianity wasn’t the religion of any particular ethnic group but gathered for itself peoples from every tribe, language and nation. American civil religion attempts to appropriate even this aspect of Christianity by pointing to America’s immigrant heritage yet it does so by substituting American citizenship for citizenship within the body of Christ.

    It is appropriate for Christians to love their nation, to serve their country, and to seek the shalom of their city. It is not appropriate for us to confuse our national citizenship with our citizenship in the kingdom of God nor to attempt to confuse these two things by appropriating Christian terminology in the service of political zealotry.”

    Related to my thoughts on American Gospel by Jon Meacham, as well as The Myth of a Christian Nation)

  • “Just Me and My Bible” is Unbiblical
    A collection of quotes on why Biblical interpretation shouldn’t be done alone

    “It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others.”

    Related to my recent post: Who Can You Trust?

On the web

Books for the TBR list:

  • Life Work by Darrow L. Miller
    Subtitled “A Biblical Theology for What You Do Every Day”, I can’t imagine not being interested in what this book has to say.
  • Politics According to the Bible by Wayne Grudem
    I’ve been wanting to read this ever since I first heard that Grudem was working on a book about theology and politics (thank you, Boomer in the Pew, for tipping me off!) Now since I just finished reading The Myth of a Christian Nation, I’m even more curious to hear what Grudem has to say–which I’m guessing is a bit different than what Boyd had to say.
  • Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue
    This novel narrated by a five year old boy who has never known life outside one room sounds absolutely fascinating.

Thought-provoking posts:

  • Why should we read fiction?

    “Fictional characters and fictional events have the same sort of objective reality as Mickey Mouse, and they can have substantial effects on what we mistakenly think of as the ‘real world.'”

    “Fictional characters, fictional events, fictional places implant pictures in our heads, or present pictures to our eyes and ears. Fictions can paint pictures of worlds that attract us, and if the attraction is strong enough those pictures evoke a desire to realize that world. They might also plant pictures of worlds that repel us, and evoke a response of ‘Never.'”

  • Why Read, Part 2

    “None of us escapes the influence of fictional pictures or fictional friends. Imagination is not something we can take or leave. Our thoughts and actions, and our character, are always guided and shaped by some form of imagination. The issue is always whether our imagination is richly or poorly stocked, whether it is shaped by nightmares or molded by dreams.”

    HT: Justin Taylor

  • On the Vanity of Obsessions

    There is only one obsession that never disappoints: the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. All that we long for, all that we require, all that we seek, we’ll find it in Him. He alone satisfies, He alone fills to overflowing, He alone is worthy of our passion. He is to be our one magnificent obsession. Anything else we seek apart from Him will not only disappoint, it will become an idol, an empty and powerless false god.”

Videos worth seeing:

    Important discussions before bath-time.

    This cracked me up hard-core!
    HT: 22 Words

This one’s stolen from Carissa

So tell me about your life.

I died and my life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:3)

Who do you have texts from?

Joshua, Steve, Facebook, Dad, Anna, Daniel, Johnna, Mom, Timothy, Grace, John

What’s the last thing you touched, other than your computer?

My phone to see who I might have texts from :-)

Who was the last person you had a conversation with on the phone?

Anna

Quote from a song that’s in your head?

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. It’s a Chris Tomlin song =)

Have you faced any of your fears lately?

Sorta.

What did your last text say, and what does it have to do with?

“I’ll be there”–telling my brother I’ll come over to his house to watch the Nebraska game today.

How do you feel about girls smoking?

I feel like anyone smoking is irresponsible and unhealthy. At the same time, I recognize the difficulties of breaking addictions and try to receive smokers (as all others) with grace and acceptance.

Do you prefer the ocean or pool?

Gimme the ocean any day!

Are you outgoing or more shy?

I’d say I’m more outgoing–but I do require a certain bit of alone time.

Are you wearing jeans right now?

Nope. But I did wear jeans yesterday ;-)

Did you sleep in past noon today?

No way. I don’t think I’ve done that in five years.

Would you ever get a tattoo?

Probably not. I don’t really enjoy pain that much–and tattoos are permanent. Now, henna? Maybe.

Do you miss your past?

No–why miss the past when you can live in the present and look forward to the future?

Would you be able to date someone who doesn’t make you laugh?

Are you talking “go on a date with” or “date long term”? ‘Cause I’d go on a date with–after all, how do I know whether he makes me laugh unless I get to know him? Now, after getting to know him, if he doesn’t make me laugh every so often… (Then again, I don’t think there’s anyone I’ve really gotten to know who didn’t eventually make me laugh.)

Have you argued with anyone today?

No

Where is the biggest scar on your body and from what?

Not sure–I haven’t got a lot of scars, and the ones I do have are pretty little. Probably either the scar from the mole I had removed (I must have waited too long to get the stitches removed) or the one under my chin from the time I fell flat on my face in the street and took a chunk out of my chin.

When was the last time someone held your hand?

Someone held mine or I held someone’s? I held Gracie’s on Monday after she learned that her good friend’s mother died. It’s been awhile since someone held my hand.

Is there one person you look at and automatically smile?

Actually, several.

Who’s jacket did you wear last?

Mine.

Is there something you’re looking forward to?

Sure.

What are you sitting on right now?

A chair.

What are your initials?

RMM

What was the last thing you wore that was black?

My shoes. Ballet flats.

Do you have alcohol in your house?

Yes. Ridiculous amounts for the small amount I actually consume. I’ll probably have it until the day I die (unless I give it away to my brothers)

When did you go to bed last night?

1:30ish–I was stove-jobbing on a new planner (but it’s almost done!)

Do you have somewhere you hide things you don’t want anyone else to find?

No.

Is there beer in your refrigerator at the moment?

I’m not really a beer fan–and my roommate doesn’t drink. Nah.

Have you ever been in the shower when the power went out?

No. That’s an odd question.

Where do you like to go when you want to be alone?

The library or a park or my room. Wherever no one’s at :-)

Is there anyone you have been avoiding lately?

Not consciously.

Do you still keep in touch with your most recent ex?

Yes, I guess you could say that.

What are your plans for the evening?

Grading papers. Writing book reviews. Cleaning house. Reading a book. Likely something “boring” (that I find absolutely wonderful.)

What was the last movie you watched?

My family and other animals.

Did you watch that last movie in the theater?

No–I watched it at my parents’ home theatre with my sister-in-law

What was the last song you listened to?

“The Black Gate is Closed” from The Two Towers soundtrack

Who was the last person to give you any kind of advice?

My dad

What would happen if you were locked in a room with your last ex?

Um-I’m not sure. We would try to get out?

Do you remember what your last dream was about?

I thought I did, but now I can’t remember.

What do you think of the last person of the opposite sex that texted you?

Steve? He’s like a brother. He’s been my brother’s best friend for the past dozen years.

How tall are you?

5’10” or so

The person you have the strongest feelings for dies, you care?

Duh. Isn’t that kind of obvious?

Do you want anything right now?

Yes. But I am not in want of anything right now. My God has graciously provided all my needs–and many of my desires.

Do you still talk to your ex?

Didn’t you ask this already?

Is there anybody you wish you could be spending time with right now?

Yes.

Do you believe what comes around goes around?

That’s sorta a truism, isn’t it? If something is traveling a circular path (“around”), it will both come towards a point and go away from the point. As far as the “you get what you dish” idea, eh. There’s some Biblical support for that (Luke 6:38), but why use a cliche if you can help it? Find some real Scripture to use.

How’s 2010 been for you?

It’s been…challenging. Emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, professionally. You name it. It’s been tough. But God has been faithful and I trust in His sovereign plan.

Will you be in a relationship in the next couple months?

You mean dating, right? I don’t know.

Do you lose interest in people easily?

I don’t think so.

Delete a year of your life, or start over in a new town?

I’ll start over in a new town. Planning on doing so in January anyway.

Any part of you sad at all?

Yes-I’ve got a melancholy streak, and memes often seem designed to bring those out.

What is stressing you out most right now?

The uncertainty of life. Wanting what I can’t have.

Today’s date?

September 11, 2010–9 years.

Who did you text the most last night?

I didn’t text anyone last night

What color are your eyes?

Blue

Do you think if you died, that the last person you texted would even care?

Yes, he probably would.

Who was the last person you physically hit?

One of my brothers, I’m sure. (Hopefully John–after that bruise he gave me on Sunday….)

(The bruise was accidental, by the way–he’s really a great guy–just really strong–and I bruise easily–and he was just trying to startle me. But I totally looked like a battered woman.)

Who was the last person you hugged?

Gracie.

Do you wish anyone in particular was still in your life?

Sure.

Who were you with the last time you went to the mall?

No one. I sat and crocheted, practicing aloneness in the midst of a crowd.

Ever liked someone older than you?

Yep.

I bet your going to kiss someone tonight, right?

Probably not.


In Which Rebekah Says Much (Little of Note)

I got home rather late last night and decided to take apart my planner. It’s started to get a bit ratty, and I’m a young professional and feel I should try for a more polished look. Problem is, I love my planner and I hate spending money. I’ve been considering making my own planner using the old shell–last night I just made it official by taking a utility knife to the planner so I can figure out how to make my own.

So far, I’ve got…

Cardboard planner

The finished product is intended to be covered in black vinyl, with lots of interior pockets, room for pens and pencils, etc. There’ll be a large flap that closes on the front with a frog closure (aren’t frogs just the funnest things?)


Now that I’m officially working and unofficially residing in two towns, I’ve decided I need to get the blogs I follow into a format that allows me to easily read them on the road (when I’m away from my desktop). So I’ve been resubscribing to all my blogs on GoogleReader.

Not that I expect to do much blog reading on the road. I’m gonna be working 20 hours out of the 43 I’ll be there. Hopefully I can get 7 hours of sleep each night, which will leave me with 9 extra hours to eat, go to Bible study, dress each morning, pack my stuff up, grade a few papers for my other job, etc. etc.

I’m also considering going back down to one post a day. Two is a lot to keep up with while working–especially with a commute. On the other hand, I want to keep up a mix of “thinking” and “fun” posts–and have a hard time doing that when I’m just writing one post a day. Grrr!!!


Why have I never noticed all the agains in Matthew 13?

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…” (v. 44)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls…” (v. 45)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea…” (v. 47)

This suggests that in each of these parables, Jesus was RESTATING His original point. Which is curious since His original point was explaining the parable of the tares to His disciples.

I’m looking into this further…


In other news…

On Tuesday I asked whether anyone could guess which two Dewey Decimal categories account for over half of my nonfiction reading.

A total of 3 people guessed–and came up with a total of 4 categories amongst them: 200, 300, 700, and 800.

The answer?

300 and 600

Nobody guessed 600–but the 600s contain some of my favorite types of books (although not always ones that I blog about.) I have read 173 books from the 600s, including books about medicine, nutrition, time management, cooking, sewing (for the home), and parenting.

My second highest category was the 300s with 103 books read. These books included books on politics, marriage and family issues, money management, and books of etiquette and traditions (I read Emily Post for fun. Honest.)

Coming in third was the oft-guessed(?) 200s (religion) with 53 books. I only started reading items from this section in earnest this year–along with my goal of exercising my mind towards the things of God. Furthermore, I tend to take longer with these books since I really want to fully explore the issues the books raise. These are, however, the books I’m most likely to blog about–so it makes sense that my readers would guess them!

As for 700 and 800? They’re fourth and fifth (go figure!)

So y’all are pretty good guessers. Give yourselves a pat on the back you who participated.

And the rest of you? I really like comments. Please comment, even if it’s not much. (Although you’re certainly welcome to take a page from the spammers’ book–“This is the most fascinating treatment of this topic that I have ever heard. I have read a lot about ____, but no one has ever explained it as well as you do.”)


Flashback: The Boob Tube

Flashback Friday buttonPrompt: Tell about TV when you were growing up. Did your family have a TV? Was it color or b&w? How many TVs did your family have? Did you have one in your room? Did your family leave the TV on most of the day or turn it on for specific programs? Was the TV on or off when you ate meals as a family? Were there rules about watching TV? What were your favorite shows? Are there any particular memories you have of TV in your younger years? …

I am a child of the eighties and nineties–but in many respects, my growing up experiences were from a generation before.

My earliest TV memories are of a small black and white television with bunny ears and dials. This TV was kept in the hall closet, and every night after dinner, Dad would pull it out so we could watch the news coverage of the Gulf War. At some point, the black and white television gave out and we were given a sports-radio-yellow television set. This too was a small set that was kept in the closet. When that television broke, we didn’t replace it.

When I went over to friends’ houses, their huge television sets were the central point of the living room–and were on almost constantly. I saw most of the Disney movies at friend’s houses and caught a few episodes of the favorite sitcoms of that day, mostly “Saved by the Bell”.

Grandma Menter had a television, but when we visited her in Bellevue, the three oldest Menter boys (my cousins) generally had control of the remote. This meant sports–which I was not interested in. Instead, the three Menter girls (me, my sister, and my cousin) found something else to do. The only exception to this rule was when the Winter Olympics were on and we could watch figure skating. Oh, did I love to watch figure skating!

Grandma and Grandpa Cook had a television too. We kids watched a lot of videos when we went up to the farm–“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (like I mentioned last week), The Sugar Creek Gang, and Quigley’s Village. So far as actual TV watching goes? Grandpa would urge us to join him to watch “Grandma’s old boyfriend” Steve Urkel every afternoon, and of course we had to get our weekly dose of culture with Lawrence Welk.

So television was certainly a part of my life–it just wasn’t a big part of my life. Television was something that I went away to do or pulled out for a special occasion–it wasn’t a daily routine.

In my late teenage years, my dad got a TV tuner for one of our family’s computers, so we could watch television if we wanted to. Some of my siblings did–but I never developed a taste for it.

I’ve never owned a television myself–and really would rather not.

It’s not that I’m against them, per se. I just don’t really see much use for them. I don’t like how they take over the focus of a room. I don’t like how they tend to take over any unallocated time. If I *had* to own a television (and I do admit that they can be handy for watching DVDs with a group!), I’d want it shut up in a closed cabinet, only to be gotten out at designated times.

Hmmm…This sounds familiar.

Wasn’t that the way…

Yes, that’s the way we did it when I was growing up

Visit Linda for more Flashback Friday posts!


Thankful Thursday: Falling into Place

I’m thankful for the many details that are starting to fall into place.

Thankful Thursday banner

Today I’m thankful…

…for my advisor’s acknowledgment of the merit of my thesis research (I’m so glad to have her on board!)

…for the approval of my former internship director regarding my immediate career plans

…for the confidence my new boss has in my ability to be an asset to the organization

…for the schedule we’ve been able to work out which will satisfy my employer (and my sister)–and allow me to keep my driving to a minimum

…for a chapter in Bible study last night that reminded again of how much I want Christ to become my supreme treasure.

“The best way to disengage an impure desire is to engage a pure one; the best way to expel the love of what is evil is to embrace the love of what is good instead. To be specific, we must replace the object of our sinful affection with an infinitely more worthy one–God himself. In this way we do not move from a full heart into a vacuum. Instead we move from a full heart to a heart bursting with fullness. And the expulsive power of our new affection weakens and even destroys the power of sin in our hearts.”

~Thomas Chalmers, quoted by Bridges and Bevington in The Bookends of the Christian Life

The same is true even when the object of our desire or affection is good. We all have many good desires–but these desires must not become our gods.

I have tried to change my desires, to adjust my dreams. I’ve begged God to change my heart, my desires, my dreams.

“Just don’t think about it.” I tell myself. “Just give up on it. Just resign yourself. Stop chasing that dream. Stop desiring that. Stop longing. Stop feeling.”

It doesn’t work. I can’t stop longing. I can’t stop desiring.

But I can cultivate a higher desire, a stronger longing, a deeper affection. I can look to Christ and deliberately stir up a longing in my soul for Him. I can whet my appetite with tastes of Him. I can run after Him until my panting soul cries out for the Living Water, the Water that is Himself.

I can cultivate a new affection for God that can then operate its expulsive power upon every lesser affection.

As details of my next career steps begin to fall into place, my soul remains conflicted. I am so thankful for this job, for its provision. There are so many wonderful aspects about it. Yet my desires… my desires are upon so many things that I cannot have. I know not what to do with the convolutions of my heart.

Yet one truth has fallen into place–I must learn to truly love God with heart and soul and strength. I must cling to Him and find in Him satisfaction for my soul.

“My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
~Psalm 84:2