That would be us. We criticise ourselves more than any other person. In light of how beautiful God has created us to be, here is a little bit of truth from Dove (no, they did not pay me to say this). I found this video online.
So, in order to celebrate the beautiful person you are,
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Monday, April 26, 2010
Style
Ok, So I have a fashion crisis.... I see these beautiful things in the shop, try them on, and this is the result: (Please excuse the lighting, it's taken in the change rooms that have diffused light, for whatever reason). Jeans are mine, I tried on just the tops/dress.
So, in essence, I'm not a super model and I don't think I want to be, but style is important. You does have to wear things according to what suits you and your body type. In the first picture, there are several reasons why the outfit doesn't work, one being, that the jeans are too flared at the bottom, distracting from the shape of the dress. I think it would have worked better with tights, but then again, am I willing to wear them? It's also about modesty now, isn't it?
The second outfit works better, because the waist is accentuated and not flared.
This brings me to how critical we look at ourselves. How do we view our bodies and compare them to what we see in magazines. Sometimes our self-image changes from day to day. This day may have been not a great day for me and looking at pictures now makes me realise that both outfits don't look that bad actually. Just changing a mindset makes all the difference in the world. Isn't this exactly what the Bible teaches by taking every thought captive.....?
So, in essence, I'm not a super model and I don't think I want to be, but style is important. You does have to wear things according to what suits you and your body type. In the first picture, there are several reasons why the outfit doesn't work, one being, that the jeans are too flared at the bottom, distracting from the shape of the dress. I think it would have worked better with tights, but then again, am I willing to wear them? It's also about modesty now, isn't it?
The second outfit works better, because the waist is accentuated and not flared.
This brings me to how critical we look at ourselves. How do we view our bodies and compare them to what we see in magazines. Sometimes our self-image changes from day to day. This day may have been not a great day for me and looking at pictures now makes me realise that both outfits don't look that bad actually. Just changing a mindset makes all the difference in the world. Isn't this exactly what the Bible teaches by taking every thought captive.....?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Hair
If any of you have by accident seen the musical Hair, this post has nothing to do with it.
Fashion in hair has become a major part of fashion shows. Trends in new cuts and colours have given rise to many magazines being published. I think celebrities have set some of the trends, like Lady Diana (back in the 80's)
More recent trends were set by Victoria Beckham (OK, it's the first one that came to mind)
For a few more ideas...
If I look at a biblical perspective of hair, there are several passages that have often been taken at face value, not taking into consideration the cultural background they were written in. For example.... 1 Corinthians 11:6, 14 and 15, 1 Timothy 2:9 and 1 Peter 3:3. The references are about women mainly, and that hair is their crowning glory, except when she prays, then her head needs to be covered - according to the passage in Corinthians. Unfortunately / fortunately times have changed and we do not live under law, but under grace. I think verse 13 gives a good indication : Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? If we can judge for ourselves, then surely there is a place for the change of tradition and culture. For men, the rule is to let their hair be groomed - according to passages in Leviticus as well as uncovered when praying.
If our beauty is wrapped up in our hair, then 1 Peter 3 gives a great warning: be careful that your outward beauty does not consume you, but let your inner beauty shine.
Fashion in hair has become a major part of fashion shows. Trends in new cuts and colours have given rise to many magazines being published. I think celebrities have set some of the trends, like Lady Diana (back in the 80's)
More recent trends were set by Victoria Beckham (OK, it's the first one that came to mind)
For a few more ideas...
If I look at a biblical perspective of hair, there are several passages that have often been taken at face value, not taking into consideration the cultural background they were written in. For example.... 1 Corinthians 11:6, 14 and 15, 1 Timothy 2:9 and 1 Peter 3:3. The references are about women mainly, and that hair is their crowning glory, except when she prays, then her head needs to be covered - according to the passage in Corinthians. Unfortunately / fortunately times have changed and we do not live under law, but under grace. I think verse 13 gives a good indication : Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? If we can judge for ourselves, then surely there is a place for the change of tradition and culture. For men, the rule is to let their hair be groomed - according to passages in Leviticus as well as uncovered when praying.
If our beauty is wrapped up in our hair, then 1 Peter 3 gives a great warning: be careful that your outward beauty does not consume you, but let your inner beauty shine.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Orange
This is more difficult than I thought. There are no matches for the word "Orange" in the Bible. But I think that there are some implied references just by the amount of sunsets and sunrises that are mentioned.
There are some greys and darker browns that will work just as well. If you want to have your own analysis done, go the website above and try it out.
After all that linking you had to do, let me summarise. Orange, like all the colours of the rainbow enriches our lives in that provides for more shades to be produced. It is part of God's creation and without it the world would be rather dull. Who can imagine a sunrise/sunset without it?
Also, one can link it up to "fire" of which there are a number of references. (437 in fact)
Another aspect, I suppose is the fact that it refers to a fruit. Unfortunately, the orange is also linked with orange peel, which links it up with beauty and plastic surgery on a completely different level of interpretation.
Coming to orange fashion, it seems that orange is quite the colour this summer - although these trends will hit South Africa only next time around i.e. at the end of the year. Still, I think it is a very versatile colour and will suit most people's skin.
Speaking of skin colour: the colouring of skin is divided according to seasons - so Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each has their respective colour scheme that goes best with hair, skin and eyes. So, for Autumn (which I am), this is the basic palette: Taken from this website.
There are some greys and darker browns that will work just as well. If you want to have your own analysis done, go the website above and try it out.
After all that linking you had to do, let me summarise. Orange, like all the colours of the rainbow enriches our lives in that provides for more shades to be produced. It is part of God's creation and without it the world would be rather dull. Who can imagine a sunrise/sunset without it?
Monday, March 1, 2010
Plastic Surgery
In light of my trying to re-invent myself, I came across this picture:
What about going against what society teaches and strive to be more like us - who we are as individuals that we were created to be? In the process, if we become more like Jesus, we come to reflect His beauty. We can only shine if the fundamental flaw (sin) has been dealt with.
The sign says: "Plastic Surgery ".
Unfortunately the three ladies on the right are depicted as stereotypes, but are they really the only ones that are the main customers?
Here is my view on it:
"No matter where you go, you take yourself with you" I think these are the wisest words someone once said to me. I think not only does this apply to when people change work, their church, their place of study, or even countries, but also when people start surgically altering their bodies to become unrecognisable or to become more attractive (what the world views as attraction). No matter how much we change the outside, we still, in essence, are who we are and we still have a fundamental problem - that of sin.
Plastic surgery, like creams, and pills, can lead to addiction, and that is slavery. In the beginning, plastic surgery was used to make people look younger and stem the signs of ageing. Then methods were developed to alter the body with implants of all shapes and sizes and in more places than one, or reduce the areas that people were unhappy with. The film "She Devil" gives a dramatic picture, in the worst possible way of this.
What are people trying to achieve when they change their bodies by surgery? Well, in part, I think we all try to look like someone else, whether it be by dressing in the latest fashions, or using more invasive methods. Whether plastic surgery was made poular by celebrities or others, the fact remains, we can never be another person, no matter how much we change the outside.
I like how the Bible views ageing. It is seen as a crown - the epitomy of life. Grey hair shows that you are highly esteemed, because you have attained wisdom. (Proverbs 16:31, Isaiah 46:4) Also, the older you are, the closer you are to the day that the Lord can call you home. We can wear our age with pride. Also beauty is viewed as coming from other things than exterior looks (1 Peter 3:3)
"No matter where you go, you take yourself with you" I think these are the wisest words someone once said to me. I think not only does this apply to when people change work, their church, their place of study, or even countries, but also when people start surgically altering their bodies to become unrecognisable or to become more attractive (what the world views as attraction). No matter how much we change the outside, we still, in essence, are who we are and we still have a fundamental problem - that of sin.
Plastic surgery, like creams, and pills, can lead to addiction, and that is slavery. In the beginning, plastic surgery was used to make people look younger and stem the signs of ageing. Then methods were developed to alter the body with implants of all shapes and sizes and in more places than one, or reduce the areas that people were unhappy with. The film "She Devil" gives a dramatic picture, in the worst possible way of this.
What are people trying to achieve when they change their bodies by surgery? Well, in part, I think we all try to look like someone else, whether it be by dressing in the latest fashions, or using more invasive methods. Whether plastic surgery was made poular by celebrities or others, the fact remains, we can never be another person, no matter how much we change the outside.
I like how the Bible views ageing. It is seen as a crown - the epitomy of life. Grey hair shows that you are highly esteemed, because you have attained wisdom. (Proverbs 16:31, Isaiah 46:4) Also, the older you are, the closer you are to the day that the Lord can call you home. We can wear our age with pride. Also beauty is viewed as coming from other things than exterior looks (1 Peter 3:3)
What about going against what society teaches and strive to be more like us - who we are as individuals that we were created to be? In the process, if we become more like Jesus, we come to reflect His beauty. We can only shine if the fundamental flaw (sin) has been dealt with.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Why I started this blog in the first place
The video below gives a rough idea of the process involved in creating the beautiful pictures we see in magazines and on billboards. Beauty is not what you think it is, it is what others tell you it is. This is so true in the world of fashion. My next two posts will deal with deeper issues surrounding the industry.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Tattoos
Looking at our fascination with the shocking and macabre....
Is the desire to shock not also at the same time the desire to be accepted or noticed? Why do I ask this question - well, if we can get someone to notice us, are we then less lonely / alone? At the same time the desire might stem from a rebellious attitude and our sinful nature.
Why would someone modify their body with a piece of permanent artwork? I'm not advocating tattoos, but I can admire a beautiful piece of art.
My understanding of tattoos are the combination of my worldview and my research into its origins.
1. Worldview: in the Biblical sense, our bodies are temples and a tattoo is like graffiti on its walls. I does not belong, no matter how beautiful the artwork is. Others may argue that it could be like the frescoes or murals in churches (although these were mostly on the inside). If one can argue like this, I will counter with:
2. Origins: Most tattoos have their origin in witchcraft / the occult / tribal rites of passage / superstition. Some of the most awesome tattoos are of the Maori of New Guinea (see picture on the left) which forms part of a rite of passage to prove strength to withstand pain.
Other forms of body modification are practiced by many African tribes, of which this picture is probably the most spectacular. This is not a tattoo per se, but touches on some of the more adventurous person, who has implants under the skin. To achieve the tribal "art", a small incision is made, into which ash or dirt is rubbed to form an infection and scar tissue. Over a period of time, this process is repeated to achieve the desired effect. Again this forms part of a rite of passage and also is believed to ward off evil spirits.
These days, the same effect (and worse) can be achieved by implanting titanium pieces under the skin, to even give a Braille effect as can be see below.
As Christians we have all an outer beauty that we need and all the spiritual protection to go with it. We do not need to modify anything to be accepted by the Most High, except our hearts and that is an internal change. What more do you want? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit makes our bodies into a temple and no amount of beautification, on the outside will make it any less.
Is the desire to shock not also at the same time the desire to be accepted or noticed? Why do I ask this question - well, if we can get someone to notice us, are we then less lonely / alone? At the same time the desire might stem from a rebellious attitude and our sinful nature.
Why would someone modify their body with a piece of permanent artwork? I'm not advocating tattoos, but I can admire a beautiful piece of art.
My understanding of tattoos are the combination of my worldview and my research into its origins.
1. Worldview: in the Biblical sense, our bodies are temples and a tattoo is like graffiti on its walls. I does not belong, no matter how beautiful the artwork is. Others may argue that it could be like the frescoes or murals in churches (although these were mostly on the inside). If one can argue like this, I will counter with:
2. Origins: Most tattoos have their origin in witchcraft / the occult / tribal rites of passage / superstition. Some of the most awesome tattoos are of the Maori of New Guinea (see picture on the left) which forms part of a rite of passage to prove strength to withstand pain.
These days, the same effect (and worse) can be achieved by implanting titanium pieces under the skin, to even give a Braille effect as can be see below.
As Christians we have all an outer beauty that we need and all the spiritual protection to go with it. We do not need to modify anything to be accepted by the Most High, except our hearts and that is an internal change. What more do you want? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit makes our bodies into a temple and no amount of beautification, on the outside will make it any less.
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