Month: December 2012

Pants or No Pants?

Published on by Sandie D1 Comment

I was talking to Chanda on Facebook about this article that was posted in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Mormon Women plan “Wear Pants to Church Day”

Image

For many reasons this struck a nerve with me. I’m not LDS and I don’t personally have a issue with women wearing pants to church or dresses. My thought is that the main reason you are at church is to hear the message. God loves us no matter how we are dressed. Some people may not have dresses or can’t wear them for one reason or another. But that shouldn’t stop people from going to the church of their choice.

Chanda was sharing with me about how a family came to their Ward Christmas Party. For those who don’t know what a Ward is, I will see if I can explain that sometime. In my simple terms it is what I would call a congregation like I would go to and most live in their area. So they go to church with their friends and neighbors. OK! So now, back to our conversation. This family sat down with them and they were dressed in tattered cloths and they weren’t dressed for a party, but they were welcomed with open arms and wasn’t turned away. This family returned the following day for church. I think all people should practice treating one another in a loving, welcoming manner.

Chanda was telling me that when she that when they went home they were talking among themselves about this humbling experience. They were talking about how not everyone is as blessed as they are and they don’t have all the nice things they do. This year has been a especially tough year for Chanda and her family and yet they feel blessed and display the true and honest love for people no matter what they look like.

Now, back to this article. As I was reading this article the thing that came to mind is how it seems like they are trying to draw more attention to themselves and their plight to wear pants to church than what the message of our Lord should be. I have never been to any of the services at at LDS Church, so I’m not sure on all the legalities  But if they are wanting to really be taken serious instead of walking into the church service knowing that all the attention would be on them, then they are going about it wrong.

If I was at the service, I would think that they are the ones wanting to be the center of attention and saying “Look At Me”. That may not be their intention, but as a outsider or a none member, I would be wondering what the heck is the problem and why is there this division over pants. I don’t think that Jesus Christ would be impressed with the public display or disrespect. And I think this type of a stand is a sign of disrespect on many levels.

I would think that the experience that Chanda and her family had with the guests at their party would be more important than a battle over pants or no pants!

Closing Thought: Whether you wear dresses or pants to church, remember that what really matters is that God loves you no matter what you look like. If you don’t or can’t wear a dress, then wear what you have. I do think for church, funerals and special things there should be a level of respect. So now I will get off my soapbox and leave this topic alone, lol For now that is…

Christmas Traditions and Memories

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment
Grandma Grace
My Grandma Grace

Today I was thinking about Christmas traditions and memories of when I was younger.

One of the things I remembered the most was with my Grandma Grace. I was thinking of her this week since she earned her wings on December the 5th of 1973 I believe.

Christmas at Grandmas was the best. She didn’t wrap our gifts like I do for my family and most people do. She would put all the toys and gifts in the middle of her bed and then we got to choose what we wanted one by one. We each took our turn and would hope that the sibling before us didn’t pick the toy
we wanted. I wanted this pink stuffed poodle and was hoping and crossing my fingers that my sisters wasn’t eyeing the same prize I wanted. My turn came and I got the poodle.

We didn’t fight over what we got, we were happy getting anything that Grandma and Grandpa gave us. I loved my other grandparents, but there was nobody like Grandma Grace. And this week I have been thinking about her and what a positive influence she had on my life.

Grandma was very stern, but we knew she loved us. I had such a great time at my grandparents house. My grandma and grandpa didn’t have power until the 70’s and that was only going to a small TV in the living room or should I say the one and only room in the house. Grandma loved Gunsmoke.

Image

When we went to see Grandma and Grandpa we always had fresh veggies and fruits. They also raised their own meat, so I guess that was fresh meat if that’s how I would put it. e there was no power, we had wood burning stoves and one was coal. If Grandma and Grandpa had coal, we would use that. The water came from a water pump. They had a huge garden and
During Christmas, I don’t remember her putting up a tree, but it still seemed like Christmas. Now at my house we always did a tree. And even though we didn’t have alot of money my mom would do her best to give us what we wanted. There were a number of Christmas’s growing up that people would put our names in for the Salvation Army and we would get gifts and coats that way. I don’t know how my parents got us gifts when they had nothing else, but they did and they did the best they could.

One Christmas and I’m sure my mom wouldn’t remember, all I wanted was this little doll that would eat and of course pee. The doll came with little packets of food that you had to mix up and a bottle that I could put water in. All my friends wanted that same doll and I wanted it too. I knew since my mom and dad didn’t have much money that I wouldn’t get that doll. But on Christmas morning as we all waited for my parents to get up. Really, I think I was the last one getting up. Mom and dad woke up before the roosters woke. But we unwrapped our gifts and I was shocked that I got the doll. Nothing else mattered to me on that Christmas either.

I have a grand daughter named Kora and she is the cutest little grand daughter in the world. No arguing needed on this topic please, lol. But I want to give her one of the little babies in a couple years that act like a real baby. Beckiah shook her head and told me no. But, and this is a BIG but, I will have to persuade her. I know Kora would love it so much like I did. If she doesn’t, she will have to keep it to herself. If you see this blog Beckiah, you didn’t read this, lol.

I think back to those Christmas’s and how little my parents and grandparents had and I know that they did the best they could with what they had. The only money my grandparents had was from her Social Security and I think that was at the most $300.00 a month and that was it. And she always made sure we had what we needed when we came to visit. Oh, one other things she made sure she gave us was a candy bar. She didn’t have much for herself, but she still gave as she could.  There was some pretty rough years and I won’t go into those. I’m thankful for the fond memories and the memories of my Grandma Grace and the first doll I ever had.

I have often wondered about what our life would be like if Grandma Grace didn’t pass away when we were so young. Then I think about the greatest reunion that is going to take place in Heaven one day. I can’t wait to introduce Grandma to my daughters and my grand kids. They will love her.

This picture is from when we lived in Indiana… My brother is the one in the front with the striped pants, then there is my sister Joyce, Me and my sister Brenda is the taller one, In the back is my sister Denise. I would say this was taken back in 1972 or 73

Not always were times great back then, but I have chosen to focus on the good times and not the bad.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and that everyone focuses on what is important and not what you get or don’t get. For me, the memories are more important than any tangible object. It wasn’t the poodle or the doll that I got, but that I got them from someone who cared and loved me. The memory of that special morning with Grandma and Grandpa will be with me always and so will the moment that I opened the one gift I really wanted. One of the things I remember too is that when we opened the gifts, there was a look of joy on m grandparents face and on my moms. They truly was happy that they were able to give from the heart.

End of the World as We Know It?

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment

ImageIf you haven’t heard the news about the end of the world is going to happen on December 21st, 2012, then you must live in the dark ages or have no form of communication with the outside world.

Everybody has their own beliefs about what will happen on December 21, 2012. The Mayan calendar seems to indicate that there will be changes happening on earth and in our way of life.

So here is a little bit of history over the whole end of the world as we know it thing.

2012 prophecy has taken the world by storm and nowhere has there ever been so much excitement and theories associated with this prophecy. Many people are of the opinion that in the year 2012 or 21 December 2012 to be more precise, the world is going to end or a major part of our earth is going to be destroyed with widespread havoc and death all over the globe.

Most of the doomsday enthusiasts seem to draw their conclusions from the fact that the Mayan calender is going to end on that day. 11.11 am on 21st December 2012 is a solstice and brings an end to the Mayan 5,125 year long calender.

Now my thoughts on this is that there have been many people throughout history who has proclaimed they knew when the world was going to end. And what I think is that it will end when it ends. Only God knows when that will happen. We are given the signs of the end of days in Mark, Luke, Revelations and many other places.

Should we be sitting around and focusing on the end times only? I don’t think so. We are told to be alert, but we must still go on about doing business and doing what God intended us to do. We shouldn’t be focusing only on when Christ will come again. We need to be going about the Lords work and bringing people to Him. We need to be witnessing and sharing the gospel while living in a world that is far removed from peace.

None of us know when the last day will be and Christ comes to take the believers home. There are so many theories about that whole topic and I feel that God already knows when it will be and I won’t be changing His mind. I will just be ready.

On a note , is that these people who proclaim they are believers in Christ and they say they know the exact day and time of the second coming of Christ makes those who are true believers look like a joke. This type of prophesier can be harmful to those who are new Christians or are non believers now. We are accountable for our actions and deeds and we need to make sure what we are telling others is accurate.

When people ask me if I believe the world will come to an end, I answer yes. But if they ask me about this prediction, I can’t say no since I don’t know for sure. Christ could come any day  minute or second. All I know is that no matter when that time comes, I want to be ready and prepared.

A Little History On the Birth of Christ

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment
What we think the Birth would have been like
What we think the Birth would have been like

When I think about what the night was like when Jesus was born, it is far from what we see on TV and Christmas cards. We have commercialized the birth of Christ. I decided to go check out how things were done back then. Things can change with translation, but history proves itself. Here are some of the things I found out about what it was like during the time of Jesus’s birth.

Jesus is born

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

Now, lets logically take a look at this passage.

In the month of Tishri was the Feast of Tabernacles. It lasted for 8 days. (Lev 23:33-36) And every male from all over Israel was supposed to come to Jerusalem for it. (Deut 16:16) Bethlehem was like a suburb of Jerusalem, only a few miles away. So it would have been packed with people staying there. As a side note about the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, there is no mention of a donkey used in the trip. So, no donkey for Mary to ride. Maybe there was one. Maybe there wasn’t.

  • The Greek word (kataluma) that is usually translated as “inn” in English is probably not properly translated. The only other situation that it is used is in the New Testament it was translated “guest room” or “upper room” in describing the place where the Last Supper took place
  • Also, notice that there is no mention of a stable. What!? No stable!? Right. No stable is mentioned. And no animals are mentioned either. And no hay. A manger is mentioned. A manger is an animal’s feeding trough.
  • What has been found archaeologically in that area of the world is stone mangers in the lower floors of homes. Apparently they would sometimes keep animals in a lower room where there was a manger made out of stone. These rooms were often almost like caves instead of what we would think of as a room. (In today’s terms think of a basement/garage combo that some people have in their homes. It’s not exactly inside and not exactly outside. You might bring a pet or an injured or pregnant animal in there to be warm.) Sometimes the manger was free-standing and sometimes built into a wall. Then they could also use that room as a guest-room for people to sleep when necessary. However, it is possible that if the family that they were staying with was rich (unlikely), then there could have been a free-standing building for their animals. Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible translates Luke 2:7 as “she brought forth her son — the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber”. What we have is Jesus being born in a house that was apparently packed with people. Maybe there was a guest room upstairs that was so full that they ended up down below where the animals were.
  • They gathered up some cloths and swaddled him with them. Babies loved to be swaddled. It keeps them warm and calm. The climate in the area of Jerusalem and Bethlehem is fairly warm anyway. Swaddling was and is the normal thing to do with babies in many parts of the world even today.
cribforjc3
This is what the manger would have looked like in those days
Actual Stable/Manger
Actual Stable/Manger

Judging Others

Published on by Sandie D2 Comments

ImageI know I shouldn’t be overhearing other peoples conversations. But there are times it can’t be helped. This is how it went down.

I was at a restaurant and there was this lady and her friend talking rather loudly. She was talking about how horrible it is that a young lady made the choice to not keep her virginity. And because she decided to do something that was a sin, she didn’t want this young lady to be at her home or to be around her kids.

Now from my understanding this woman and her friend must be Christians because of the way they talked. But when listening to them I also didn’t hear anything that would show Christian love and concern towards this young lady. If she did, she would understand that the flesh is weak and that ALL of us have come short of the glory of God. I couldn’t help but wonder if they thought they were beyond sinning and have ever made a bad choice in their life.

“JUDGE NOT, THAT YOU BE NOT JUDGED. FOR WITH THE JUDGMENT YOU PRONOUNCE YOU WILL BE JUDGED, AND WITH THE MEASURE YOU USE IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU. WHY DO YOU SEE THE SPECK THAT IS IN YOUR BROTHER’S EYE, BUT DO NOT NOTICE THE LOG THAT IS IN YOUR OWN EYE? OR HOW CAN YOU SAY TO YOUR BROTHER, ‘LET ME TAKE THE SPECK OUT OF YOUR EYE,’ WHEN THERE IS THE LOG IN YOUR OWN EYE? YOU HYPOCRITE, FIRST TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO TAKE THE SPECK OUT OF YOUR BROTHER’S EYE. MATTHEW 7:1-5

I know I made many bad choices. I left home when I was a teenager and became pregnant when I was 17. My husband and I got married and we are still married to this day. I knew I was doing what I shouldn’t have been doing. But what was great is that the pastor at my church in my home town showed nothing but love and concern for me. He never lectured me or treated me like I was beneath him. I have a feeling that if I had these two women in my life at the time, I would have looked at myself in a different way. But because Pastor Randy knew what I needed was someone to be there for me and to help me. He told me that I made a mistake, but God doesn’t. Now we had to make the right choices.

It gets me that people think that just because they are Christians that they are better than others. They have no right to look down on others. They should be lifting them up and being there for them. Not one of us is perfect.

I have known many people and some were those who I thought were friends that thought they were better. Just because a person does things different or has a different life, doesn’t mean they are lesser than anyone else in God’s eyes. It bugs the bajilbbers out of me when people put themselves up on a holier than though pedistal and look down on others who have less or who made choices that they never would have made.

I have had my fair share of bad choices in life and in friends. But I can tell you that if this young lady that was being shunned and looked down on came to me, I would tell her that no matter what, God loves her. She has made bad choices, but we all have. If someone treats you like a lesser person, you don’t need them in your life. They aren’t friends, but Jesus is the best friend ever. Don’t let some snob or holier than though person ruin your day. They aren’t worth it. Love yourself, pray and do the best you can do. You don’t have to please this person or persons. Besides, you never know what skeletons may be in thier closet.

And to these ladies that were bad mouthing this young lady. I would hope they get a grip and know that what they are doing is hurting this young lady. They aren’t showing the true love of God and it isn’t right to be talking about someone else in public like that. I was able to overhear the young ladies name and her circumstances because you decided to be loud mouths in a public restaurant. I would say, shame on you both.

I know I shouldn’t have been listening to what these ladies were saying. What I say about that is that they shouldn’t have been talking so loudly and gossiping about another.