I just expanded my blog roll to list some of the blogs on my Google reader. Many of the blogs I read contain person info and stories that I am not sure the people writing them want to be generally passed around. However, if you are reading this, I probably read your blog. If your blog is not listed on my blog roll, but you would like it to be, please comment here and I will add it. Thank You.
Zombies for Jesus and the difficulty in translations.
I am recently aware of a blog titled “What Christian’s Like” that is having a “Jesus tattoo contest”. If you are shaking your head right now, you are probably aware that there is a Biblical passage against tattoos. When this was pointed out to the blogger, she defended her contest by quoting some of the other laws concerning fabrics and hair grooming. The problem is, she must be reading one of the new, “easy to read” translations of the Bible that take out most of the ambiguity. She seems to think that a bunch of people living in the desert went around wearing only 100% wool. This is obviously someone who has not spent much time reading the Old Testament–especially more direct or accurate translations of it. There are lots of passages about weaving linen. Where is the common sense and the historical perspective of modern Christians…. gone, I guess.
I am not one to say that someone should follow ALL, or even most, of the Biblical laws. We each choose what we consider relevant to our lives and spiritual beliefs. I totally understand that many Christians would decide that the prohibition of tattooing is among the laws that don’t apply to them. However, it seems a bit uneducated to think that tattooing is a good way to show your religious zealousness. I mean really! Wouldn’t it be a more Christian thing to do to spend a few hours at a soup kitchen or passing out blankets to the homeless than to be in a tattoo parlor breaking a Biblical law? That’s not to mention the money spent on obtaining these tattoos!
Being a Christian is not about showing off or recognition for your good deeds. It is about doing what is right, regardless of whether anyone notices.
This brings me to the zombies. Another tactic used to support the tattoo contest is a passage from Revelations about Jesus having “King of Kings and Lord of Lord” written on his thigh. Hello, symbolism? Unlike the laws, which are written very matter-of-fact (but with room for interpretation), many parts of the Bible are written very symbolically. Some would say the whole birth of Jesus story is pretty symbolic and not at all literal. And what about the zombies at the end of Matthew?
” and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised; and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.” Matthew 27:52-53
These verses have always proved difficult to justify if you are taking a 100% literal meaning of them.
Some things are laws that you can follow or not, as you choose. Some things are written symbolically just to get the point across. Either way, “tattoos for Jesus” just sounds like an oxymoron to me.
To clarify: I am not against tattoos. I don’t personally have one, but I support anyone doing anything they want to with their own body as they see fit. All I am saying is that you are not getting that tattoo “for Jesus” and Jesus probably didn’t “call” you to become a tattoo artist. The most likely explanations are that you have a tattoo because you wanted to get it at the time are/were not concerned about ancient scriptural law; and you are probably a tattoo artist because you enjoy the work and it pays well. Just because you want to do something doesn’t mean it’s for Jesus. Jeez!
A new catagory emerges….
(fixed)
Steampunk! There will be more posts in this catagory, both pared with sewing and personal events.
Here is the first neo-Victorian shirt for my husband:
It is a “work” shirt, so not something he would actually wear to the office. The collar and cuffs are attached and close with buttons. I did sew most of the seams on the machine. There were machines for making strait “locking” stitches by the 1850’s. They did not have the reverse capability for “knotting” the ends. I used both strait and reverse strait stitches on my machine for this shirt. I did quite a bit of hand basting, sewed down the yoke-facing and collar by hand, and did all the button-holes in the traditional way.
A few things need to be changed from the pattern besides fitting. This shirt was made from a Laughing Moon pattern. The lady who makes these drafts the patterns from actual Victorian era clothing. They are very accurate. However, maybe too accurate. I started wondering how many shirts her patterns are actually based on. During a time when each shirt was made by hand, there could be a wide variety of small differences in construction. The pattern I used calls for most of the seams to be felled on the outside of the shirt. This means that the seams are sewn on the outside. Then the raw edges are turned under on one side and sewn down. I have felled seams before–just not on the outside. The sides of this shirt are sewn this way, but I used other era-appropriate techniques, such as French seams or whip-stitching the edges under, to finish other seams.
Over all, I am pleased with the outcome and with everything I learned in making this shirt. I also have the Laughing Moon frock coat pattern for my husband. However, I will not be ordering any more patterns from them as it is too difficult to trace tissue patterns. I have been spoiled working with Kwik Sew and Ottobre patterns that are printed on heavier paper and much easier to work with. Over the weekend I ordered two pants patterns, a “stay” pattern and a dress pattern from Past Patterns. I hear that they print on heavy paper and are easier to trace. In case you are wondering, a stay is a type of garment that is like a corset without boning. It was used for those women who could not wear corsets–like invalids and pregnant women. I plan to make mine with stiff piping to have the best of both worlds.
The season of the Eye Ball
Well, it is the time of year that my husband and I would normally be discussing what we plan to wear to this year’s Eye Ball. This year we won’t be going. Last year, while pregnant, I did an amazing alteration to turn a men’s Hawaiian shirt into a well fitted, one-time only, shirt for the “Private Eye Ball”. We would really have something cool to wear this year. I am so busy making all new clothes for us, this would be the perfect opportunity to try them out.
I am a stay at home mother to a toddler and an infant. I enjoy sewing and learning css. My greatest dream is for 70%-80% of women in the U.S. to recieve the safest prenatal and labor care available for low risk births--a midwife's care!