An Open Letter to Women Who Wear Leggings

Dear Women of All Ages Who Wear Leggings (and, if appropriate, your mothers),

You're everywhere--at the mall, in the grocery store, and now, of all places, at church. You're young and thin, young and not so thin, over forty, long legs and short legs. I always have to look at you a couple of times to figure out what is going on, because my first thought is, "Oh, no, she has forgotten her pants." And then I realize that the one I'm looking at completely intended this. This is on purpose. And I marvel again at how someone or some institution so ridiculous--the fashion industry, Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood, a Kohl's ad--has brainwashed a mass of women into believing that this looks good on them, when, in fact, on most it just looks kind of silly.

But there you all are, knit fabric clinging to every shapely curve of your leg--whether it's a nice shape or not so nice--with your sweater or shirt just brushing the top of your thigh/bottom of your butt in that provocative way that I'm sure distracts many men from what they're supposed to be doing or thinking about because they're imagining just what's a little bit above what they can't see. (And especially to the one who sat in front of us during church a couple of weeks ago--please don't do that to my menfolk again. I'm sure that it's difficult to recite the Apostles' Creed and focus on worship when there's a young woman showing us things that none of us should be seeing accept your husband someday and your doctor. If you're going to dress like that for church, please show the men of the congregation the courtesy of sitting in the last row.)

(By the way, I'm not writing to those of you who are wearing the leggings with skirts of decent length. While it's not a look that I would wear because I'm too old for it [and pretty much any woman over forty is] and my legs are really too short to carry it off, you aren't showing us body parts that we shouldn't be seeing. I can live with that.)

Going out only half dressed is not a good idea for so many reasons: (1) you look like you have forgotten your pants, (2) you look like you don't know any better than a four-year-old little girl who is running around in her leotards and shirt because she doesn't know where her skirt is and her mom is too busy at the moment to help her find it, (3) a man who sees a woman who will go in public half dressed can only assume that she's more than willing to decrease that fraction when she's not in public, (4) and--the big one--it's immodest. And please don't say, "But I'm covered up." It's not just what you cover, it's how you cover it. Some garments have been designed in such a way (lingerie, bikinis, and leggings with short tops) that they cover something up only to draw attention to it so that male observers will imagine it uncovered.

Please come to your senses and show the world that women in the twenty-first century are tired of fashions that look good only on preschool children. Aim for something higher than WWLLD (What would Lindsey Lohan do?). Moms, teach your daughters that when it comes to beauty and feminine dignity, less is not always more. Can we leave the leggings in the little girls' department--where they belong?

Thank you.

Read to Grow

I was asked to write an article for our church's newsletter about a new reading program our library committee introduced in January of this year. We're only three months into Read to Grow, but so far it's been a success with those who are participating. Start a program like this in your church too! If you have any questions about how it works, leave it in the comments.

“The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost guiding the reader to the Truth and the Life.”
~A. W. Tozer

In January, fourteen Trinity URC readers and reader-families accepted the challenge of Read to Grow, a new program sponsored by the library committee. The goal of Read to Grow is to help readers grow spiritually as they increase their knowledge of the Scriptures by reading great Christian literature. The program helps our church library grow as well.

Late in 2010, Trinity members were invited to participate in the program, and fourteen individuals and families signed up. The program coordinator then selected fourteen books on a variety of subjects that would be circulated among the participants for the next fourteen months. The cost of the books was divided among the participants, with each participant paying about seven dollars to participate.

On the first Sunday in January, each participant received a book in their church mailbox. And each first Sunday of the month after that through February 2012, participating readers pass along the book they have been reading to the next reader on the schedule.  At the end of the rotation, the books will be donated to the library so that all the members of Trinity can have an opportunity to read them.

Several factors affected book selection. Because the books will ultimately end up in the church library, they had to meet the education committee’s guidelines for library books. Also, because readers have only a month to read the book, it was important to keep page counts reasonable—around two hundred pages at the most. And because men, women, teens, and even a few children are participating, it was important to choose titles that would have a broad appeal.

The various titles include children’s fiction and history books (that adults will learn from and enjoy too); several practical Christian living books on topics such as evangelism and family relationships; Bible-study-focused books on subjects like the seven signs in the gospel of John, how Jesus is revealed in the Old Testament feasts, and the happiness of heaven; and an exciting, inspiring autobiography of a godly young missionary who was held in a Japanese prison camp during World War II.

Participating readers are already finding Read to Grow to be a helpful program. Pastor Vos comments: “The Read to Grow program is a most beneficial program for the church, as it not only encourages us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ through good Christian literature, but also cultivates a sense of community as we read the same works.  The added benefit is that for a very minimal cost, we are able to build the church library for the benefit of many for years to come.  I encourage everyone (young and old alike) to participate and ‘read to grow.’” Rebecca Wright finds that it helps her be more diligent in her reading: “Read to Grow puts feet on my good intentions to read more faith-building books.  The genius is its simplicity: one book, one month, pass it on.  Simple and fun!” Jake Vierzen appreciates how the program is increasing his knowledge: “I joined Read to Grow because I wanted to continue to know God’s Word more, to deepen my understanding of Him, and because the deadlines would assist me in getting the books read! I have been very appreciative of the books that have been selected.”

Reading is an important discipline for the Christian, and a program like Read to Grow  encourages us to read books that will help us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2). Those of us who are reading to grow in 2011 hope that you’ll join us in a new cycle of Read to Grow that will begin, Lord willing, in 2012. But those who want to start reading don’t need to wait until 2012 to begin. Visit our church library and get in training now with some great Christian books so that you are ready to take up the Read to Grow challenge in 2012.

 

Evidence Not Seen

 Personally, I've found that one of the quickest cures for an episode of self-pity--of feeling like no one could possibly have ever suffered as I have suffered--is to pick up the story of a person who truly has suffered  for the sake of Christ--and suffered well.  Should you be looking for such a cure yourself, I would recommend Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's  Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II  by Darlene Deibler Rose.  

In 1938, on her first wedding anniversary, twenty-one-year-old Darlene and her first husband, Russell Deibler, arrived in the East Indies on the island of Java. This was only a temporary stopover; ultimately, they hoped to serve as missionaries on the island of New Guinea and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to those who had never heard. Darlene was the first American woman to go there, and the natives marveled at her white skin.

But the missionaries' remote location did not protect them from the terrors of World War II, and eventually the Japanese invaded their island home and put the men and women in separate prison camps. Faced with hardships that most of us will never experience, Darlene remained steadfast in her love for and trust in God. Already separated from Russell, she then is separated from her mentor, an elderly missonary who is like a father to her, when he is taken to a different prison camp: "Be a good soldier for Jesus Christ," he tells her, and she certainly is for her four years of tremendous hardship in the prison camp.

Our natural response is to look at someone like Darlene and tell ourselves that we could never be that courageous or strong in similar circumstances. It's true that Darlene was an incredibly courageous, faithful young woman who never doubted or lost confidence in her Lord, when many would have felt that they had been forsaken. But when I read a story like this one, I realize that God truly gives his people what they need to persevere in incredibly difficult situations, and should he call any of us to suffer in this way, we would find his strength sufficient as well. We see the benefits and effectiveness of prayer, as Darlene often throws herself on the mercy of her God--and He always provides what she needs, whether it's food, information, or protection from death. She recalls Scripture passages and hymns that comfort her in dark days. She earns the respect and even admiration of the Japanese commander of the camp, and she takes the opportunity--at great personal risk--to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with him.

This is an inspiring story of God's faithfulness to one young woman in the midst of tremendous trials and how she, in turn, serves as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

The book is available for purchase here.