Eowyn

Today I just finished watching Lord of the Rings. It's the second time that I've seen it but it's been several years since I've last seen it that I've pretty much forgotten the details minus the fact that there's a ring involved and it has to be destroyed. I have to say though that the 3rd DVD in the series has got to be my favourite. The character Eowyn really struck a chord for me and i loved watching her as she transformed from a maiden into a warrior fighting against Orcs and saving her father.

 Being a warrior or soldier to a lot of people is seen as only a mans role and that it's no place for women when it comes to battle but I disagree. Women are strong and though they may not be as strong as men (and there are roles that are strictly men's) that's no reason to discourage them to not have a passion for fighting against the bad guys.

My dream and passion in my heart is to one day join the IDF. Not right now obviously as it is a secular army but maybe one day if this is really of God my dream might come true. I cannot describe the feeling i get when i see anything remotely army related and sometimes i have no idea why and it confuses me. I've prayed for 4 years (I was around 15 when this desire started growing) that if this really isn't God's plan for me then He would take this desire away and plant something else in my heart that He has planned for me. But every year it gets stronger so i just have to wait and keep praying about this.

But of course, being a warrior isn't only about physically donning a gun and fighting against the bad guys. It first starts inside. With honour, integrity, and strength on a deep emotional, mental and spiritual level. It's first fighting for the right things in your life right now and protecting the vulnerable, being a voice for the voiceless, being the strength for the weak, giving food to the hungry, clothes to the naked and giving homes to the homeless. Whenever you see a hero in a movie you always see these traits as being the most important and that's where it all starts.

And maybe one day, like with Eowyn, when the world is at war i will be called to wear a green uniform and fight for God's country. Anything is possible!

Rebellious

You're taught that the word 'rebellious' is a bad word. But when you actually look at the meaning of it, you realize that it can be used 2 different ways:

REBEL: A person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or leader.

REBELLIOUS: Showing a desire to resist authority, control, or convention.

You can rebel against the authority of God and His Word.

Or you can rebel against the lies of this world and the enemy who is out to destroy us.

You can rise with resistance against him (the enemy), you can resist the authority and control that he has over this world and you can resist convention.


CONVENTION: a way in which something is usually done.

I don't want to do what everybody else is doing. I want to be a change. I want to be a voice, not an echo. We're taught and told all the time who we're supposed to be. Blend in, don't stand out. Don't stir the waters, just keep your mouth shut to keep the peace. I don't want to be like that. I want to be unconventional. I want to set a different pace.

AUTHORITY: The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience/control.

No one is my authority except for God. Many churches and congregations will teach that the elders/leaders and your husbands/fathers are your authority. But the fact that they're saying that these men should be able to 'control' and 'make decisions' for me just sounds wrong. I'm not talking about being a feminist towards your husband or father, obviously those men will have some form of 'authority' over you but when other men, like elders and leaders, tell me that they have the right to control me? No no no.

I will be a rebel. I will rebel against the norm and the lies that get pounded into me everyday.

Keep Calm? No thanks.

Judging

You know what i've been realizing more and more lately? How some people focus so much on the petty things in life and ignore the bigger issues.

Christians especially. They can judge a person so harshly by their external appearance and whether or not they drink or smoke and they forget all about the heart underneath. From my personal experience i find the tattooed, smoking people to be very genuine and open and the people covered in modest clothing from top to toe to be the most harshest critiques. You may throw around the cheesy quote "don't judge a book by it's cover" but in all honesty, the religious people do that most of all. The people who claim to follow the Bible can be such hypocrites. The people who are supposed to love those from all different kinds of backgrounds, all different kinds of skin colour, all different kinds of appearances, and all different levels in their individual walk with God, can do the complete opposite.

I'm speaking from experience here. I write a lot about such topics, judging people, and i speak about it a lot because it makes me really mad to see 'Christians' push people away and condemn them because they happen to swear or they struggle with smoking, or they have tattoos.
There's more important things to focus on.
How many blogs and YouTube channels out there do you get on women's appearances? Modesty. I'm not saying that women who have blogs or YouTube channels primarily speaking on modesty is wrong but for most young, female bloggers out there to only speak about modesty? I mean, there's more for young women to focus on other than the fact of wearing skirts is more holy than wearing pants. What are you doing in those skirts or pants? Are you helping the needy? Are you feeding the hungry? Clothing the naked and doing whatever you can, going out of your comfort zone, to restore someone's dignity?

That's what's important. Not how much flesh your covering up or how long your hair is.

I say this because i'm sick of people judging other people so harshly, purely based on appearance and meanwhile their neighbour or someone in their congregation needs a roof over their head and they can't do it? Seriously?

Why is modesty so emphasized for women and not men? Most modesty videos i watch they focus about 2 minutes on the guys and the remaining 8 minutes on women. Modesty teachings need to go in my opinion. Yes, modesty is important for BOTH men and women, don't flash your flesh around and don't dress in a sensual way. But if i want to wear shorts that go above my knee to swim in or if i want to wear a tank top when hiking then let me be. I refuse to believe that guys are so sensitive to knees and shoulders that they utterly can't control themselves when they do see that bit of flesh. If you do struggle with a woman wearing casual shorts and a t-shirt on a casual day but instead she has to wear looooong skirts and looooong tops just to cater to your sensitivity then you have issues. I've met men who are normal. Who don't require women to dress according to such standards in order to not lust after them. So i know those guys exist and that's what guys should be like.
Modesty teachings can do the exact same thing that the world does. Make women into sex objects for men's pleasure alone. I have legs, i have arms, they're not sexy unless you make them to be in your own mind.

I really don't care if a person swears, drinks, smokes, has tattoos or piercings. You know why? Because no where in the Bible do you see God pointing these issues out and making it into a weighty matter. I used to be very offended when a person swore. How dare they? But seriously, it's not worth my time and effort to get offended and be upset with that person.

Is swearing a sin? No. You don't see it mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Sure it's not nice to hear and i utterly do not condone swear words to be directed towards any person. But if a person lets a 'bad' word slip out of their mouth for some reason ... there's no reason to blow it up and now think that person is just an utterly horrible, bad human being.

Is drinking a sin? No, not at all. Everything in moderation. Obviously you don't go now and get drunk just because it's not a sin. But if a person wants a glass of wine with their dinner or if someone wants a beer then why not? My brother drinks. When we go out to a nice restaurant he'll order a drink and that's it. Something to fuss over? Nope. It's a drink. I personally do not like the taste of alcohol. I've tasted many different drinks including some pretty bright coloured ones but i hate the taste of it all. Whisky? Probably one of the worst flavours i've ever tasted. A Savanna is nice but not something i'd drink for pleasure. But i still want to try Amarula.

Is smoking a sin? Nope. It's not the best thing for your health but no reason to condemn a person. I know a Torah observant man who's very zealous for God but he just so happens to smoke. Do i criticize him? Judge him? No. Because it's his heart that matters.

Are tattoos and piercings a sin? Obviously i believe that piercings are perfectly alright and i've been studying up on tattoos lately to understand the Word in context and not believe something just because everyone believes it and it's something that i've grown up believing because of my parents or pastor. The more i research the more i lean towards the fact that tattoos are bad only if you get it to honour the dead or a pagan idol. I know people who love God and keep his Torah who have tattoos. When i see their heart and their desire to follow their King i honestly don't see how some ink on your arm can change that. How God is further away from you because of that. It doesn't seem like God's character.

Everything in moderation. There's a difference between having one drink and getting drunk, having a filthy mouth or just saying the odd swear word because you're upset, having tattoos:

And having tattoos:

The weightier matters of Torah are helping the needy, honouring people and treating them as equal and not oppressing them. That's what's the Torah is all about. Treating your fellow man with respect and dignity in your home, in your business, and just in general. Surprisingly a lot of people don't do that and i'm learning all about that in this stage of my life. How people can sit down for a Shabbat meal and praise God for everything that He's doing in their life but they can't be friends or help a person because he's/she's black. Does the amount of melanin in a persons skin define how you're supposed to treat them? You're following Torah, you're claiming to follow the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, you're supposed to be a light to the NATIONS. The many nations out their, not only to the white people. So really, don't sit down for a Shabbat meal when you can't even invite your workers to join you because they're black.

So be careful when you judge a person on their appearance because you don't know what their heart it like beneath.

No Regrets

This is my philosophy in life.

I look back in my life and i can honestly say that i don't regret anything in my life.

Before, i would regret some things because ... well, they were stupid mistakes and i should regret them because, maybe i would be a different person today. One that's not so damaged.

But now i think, no. Those decisions don't define who i am today. They've taught me lessons, they've made me stronger, and they've made me who i am today.

And through my mistakes, i am hopefully able to help other people in the future who have made the same mistakes.

The Deal with Tattoos and Piercings

This topic i have been thinking a lot about lately. So many people dismiss tattoos and piercings simply 'cause other people have told them that it's wrong. I'm not that type of girl. I don't like listening to other peoples opinions about certain matters unless they have proof in the Bible. I don't let them tell me something is wrong when they have absolutely no proof whatsoever that it is wrong. I study the Torah and live by that.

This is what brings me to tattoos and piercings. I'm mainly going to share my opinion on piercings but it seems like piercings and tattoos go hand-in-hand. When i got my nose pierced, my one friend was shocked and asked me, "Promise me you're not going to get a tattoo?"

I will start with tattoos since that's pretty simple and easy. I think they're wrong.

You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:28) 

That pretty much sums it up. Permanent tattoos are wrong. I think Henna is ok since it washes off in about 3 weeks. 

But i see a lot of Christians actually thinking that tattoos are OK. They only follow the NT so that's understandable but whenever i walk past a tattoo parlor in the mall near us i stop and look at some of the pictures. It's crazy how so many people get tattoos of Christ on the cross or Hebrew. I find that really really strange.

But now i'm going to share my opinion on piercings.

I think piercings are alright. In fact, i love some piercings. I don't find anything in the Torah that speaks against piercings. Obviously you don't go crazy and get tongue, lip, cheek or any piercings in crazy spots. We're still the Temple of God but i think earrings and nose rings are ok. 

Nose rings because it's actually spoken of in the Bible. Rebekah got a nose ring when she became betrothed to Isaac. I think it was a tradition back then because some Middle Eastern cultures still practice it. You see the Indian women wearing a huge nose ring with a small chain attaching to their earring on their wedding day. 

 "I inquired of her, 'Whose daughter are you?'...And I put the ring on her nose and the bands on her arm" (Genesis 24:47).

God also talks about nose rings when it comes to adorning Israel:

"I decked you out in finery...I put a ring in your nose, and earrings in your ears..." (Ezekiel 16:11)

And when God speaks of punishing the women He says He will take away their nose jewels:

"In that day the Lord will take away ... The rings and nose jewels." (Isaiah 3:18-21)

Based on all these verses i see absolutely nothing wrong with nose rings. I currently don't have mine anymore because it was irritating me to no end. It kept falling out and snagging when i washed my face. It just really hurt.

I love earrings, though. I'm not a jewelry girl. I hate jewelry. I hate wearing bracelets and necklaces that don't mean something to me. I have a necklace with the Shema on and my ring that has God's name in Hebrew on it. 

My cartilage piercings.

At the moment i have 4 ear piercings and hope to get 3 more in the future. I have my first lobes which most people have. I got those pierced when i was 2 years old. A few months ago i doubled pierced my own ears. I have a high intensity to pain so piercing my own ear didn't hurt at all. I got an infection in my one .... twice so i took them out. But then i got my cartilage double pierced on my right ear. 

Example of a Triple Forward Helix
piercing.

Once my 2nd hole is healed i want to get my left ear forward helix triple pierced. 

I know a lot of people won't understand why i do this and they'll think it's immodest. But i don't see anything wrong with it according to God's Word. A lot of Christians quote the Leviticus verse above ^ but they clearly don't read the full verse. It says "FOR THE DEAD". 

Shiite Muslims actually self-mutilate themselves on the anniversary of Mohammed's grandson's death. Here's a link if you want to know more. Warning: Graphic images  Click Here

What these Muslims do is just plain demonic and this is what God was commanding us NOT to do. We should not honour the dead in any way. 

But as far as i can see, God does not speak against a jewel in an ear.

Comments?