repentance

such a simple, beautiful depiction of repentance.
(click on picture to enlarge)

makeover

my lovely friend emily has redesigned my blog! i absolutely love it, she did an amazing job! i am so incredibly blessed to have such a talented, creative friend. thank you emily for making my blog look so incredible!

becoming an ethical vegetarian

i am sometimes a vegetarian because of ethical reasons.

alison sudol of a fine frenzy has influenced me. check out her PETA ad "a little kindness goes a long way."




another influence has been alison's wonderful PETA ad.



i have recently been thinking about ethical responsibilities as a Christian.
in the Bible Genesis 9:3 says "everything that lives & moves will be food for you. just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything."
because of this verse, i do not think it is wrong for Christians to eat meat.
however, in light of the many cruel and inhumane many animals are treated (cows, chickens & turkeys) with antibiotics & hormones, & are subjected to slaughterhouses, feed lots & cramped living spaces i do not want to support or condone these things.

this causes a dilemma inside of me. if God has given us the animals & plants to eat freely & take care of (Gensis 1:26), then what should we do as Christians when animals are treated inhumanly and subjected to cruelty?
this is where the wonderful world of organic comes in. i have been eating organic at home for quite some time. i also try to eat out at organic restaurants when possible.
by eating organic the animals are not subjected to antibiotics, hormones, slaughterhouses, feed lots, and cramped living spaces. animals are treated humanely & taken care of on organic farms. as a Christian, eating organic solves this dilemma for me. i can eat at home & at out at organic restaurants with a clean conscience.
however, when i eat out at non-organic restaurants & in other people's homes i cannot guarantee i am eating organic, therefore i will abstain from eating meat & be vegetarian.

also, exciting news about in-n-out:
"we would never condone the inhumane treatment of animals and, in fact, all of our suppliers must agree to abide by our strict standards for the humane treatment of cattle." // mark taylor, the president of in-n-out
&
"our hamburgers are made from fresh, 100% pure beef. they are free of additives, fillers and preservatives of any kind, and we buy only chucks, the front ribs and shoulder. no other parts are ever used. our butchers carefully hand-cut and grind the beef in our own facility at which point the patties are shipped directly to our stores in refrigerated trucks by our own drivers. this way we have total control over the production of every burger." // in-n-out corporate website

your thoughts?

seeking my own Calcutta

"Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering and the lonely right there where you are -- in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. ... You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society -- completely forgotten, completely left alone." ~ Mother Teresa

I'm desperately seeking my own Calcutta.
Are you seeking?

challenge from Isaiah

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:6-8

It's so easy to dismiss these verses and not think of them as literal. Especially in a society in which we are so private and hold safety such a high priority. I want to live these verses out, they challenge me to the core. But they are so counter-cultural...letting the homeless into your own home, being face to face with the oppressed, sharing your meal with the hungry.... We are so afraid to take risks, to step out on a limb. We cling to our material possessions and our status quo lives. We think that by doing these things we are being dangerous, not smart, irrational. Lord, teach me to follow Your beautiful, overflowing with love, upside-down ways. For they are so far above and beyond this world.

1 month & 1 day

it's been 1 month & 1 day since our wedding! we are loving married life. we recently got a dog too, & she's so sweet! yesterday my hubby surprised me with flowers to celebrate our 1 month of being married & tried to plan breakfast in bed until he realised we didn't have our breakfast in bed trays yet! i'm so blessed to be his wife.

back from maui

for our honeymoon my hubby surprised me & took me to maui!
it was absolutely perfect.