These Strong Structures...

" ...That our daughters may be as corner stones (pillars), polished after the similitude of a palace..."

Psalm 144:12

OK. This verse may not apply to all (i.e. non-Christians) but there's still a lesson or two that could be learned.

Women are NOT the weaker vessel!!!

God did not create the woman to be a weaker man or some sort of object of use or ridicule. I have come to notice in my short stay on this earth, that the females have in most times been referred to as the weaker sex and it sort of bothers me. I believe in the equality of the sexes at least until the covenant of marriage is taken which orders the woman to be subject to her husband. I made some research from the Bible which is my chief source of inspiration (though not very extensive) and I found out that it was never recorded that the woman was made weaker than the man. In fact she was even given some extras which have made her far more beautiful than MAN. Ouch!!! I sort of wonder where this notion came from. Physically we can see that the women have a frailer structure than men which indeed has made them appear weaker in addition to their deep emotions which also have given them as prey to devourers. (There are some cases where the reverse is the case i.e. the woman becomes the predator).

If we look at the home-front, we can observe that the women are usually those who hold up their families like the pillars that they are. God gave Adam the responsibility to tend to the animals and the crops while the woman is to be a help meet (not mate) for him. This means that the woman was created to give assistance and support to the man God has made her for. A help meet is an aid, a backer, an advocate and a champion of her husband. In our world today, there seems to be a developing trend of women standing up for themselves and fighting for their rights. We see women aid groups and several women-based movements sprouting up from various parts of the world. I entirely support this. My only problem with it is that many women have charted the wrong paths by making the grave mistake of becoming a competitor in the home. Outside the confines of marriage, it is completely proper for the woman to aspire and push to whatever extent she deems proper according to the will of God. When the bells are done ringing, it becomes time to reduce that push and fall under the wings of her husband who becomes a cover for her.

You may refer to the following link for more revelation: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Family/Marriage/help_meet.htm

I must state again to avoid any form of confusion that the woman is not a lesser vessel in any way. It may seem that marriage sort of reduces the "authority" of a woman but we must understand that it actually increases her if she is found by that special man that God has created for her to love and be a help meet to.

We've all heard stories of how many women have been maltreated in their homes with cases ranging from physical to emotional abuse and this has caused me to put this topic up if there might be any that could relate to it in any way.
Like I said before, I may not be entirely right so I may need your comments and constructive criticism.

I would loved to have addressed the issue of character as this is the bedrock on which everything lies but because of the extent of details that would be involved, I would discuss it in the second part of this post.

So, we're unto Appearance...

The world today has redefined the meaning of attractiveness to nudity. We see a downplay of morals in the appearance of women. Everyone wants to look sexy and attractive causing them to dress in weird ways. Back in the 70s, we could still see some sanity in the dressing of women but it seem to get worse as the years go by. The irony of it all is that the men who actually have less to cover still dress even up to their necks in ties. It's just strange.

A lot of women demand respect from men and I wonder how a man who gets attracted to you just because of your appearance (though it's the first...lol) is expected to respect you and treat you right. I would definitely be attracted to a woman wearing a bikini but that would only be sexual. The word "sexy" I believe was derived from "sex" and if I was deduce what "sexy" means, it would be more like "sexually oriented." Therefore being sexily dressed would most likely attract a man for sexual reasons. The same goes for all the cleavage and stuff which also adds up to the whole equation. You may say it doesn't hurt to just show a little cleavage but its the tolerance of the little wrong things that suddenly erupt into a norm.

To be continued in: These Strong Structures Part 1.5

The Naruto Effect

A few of you/us might be familiar with the name Naruto. Well Google it if you must know.

Ok Ok...It's a manga (japanese art) cartoon of which I have been a fan for about 4 years now.

Anyway I was online reading one of the comics in which my favourite character (Naruto) was conversing with one of the villains (Pain/Pein). I was awe struck at how the conversation related strongly with my present circumstance. I thought I understood people and could just decipher a human being's character based on their previous actions or stories (whether true or not) about them.

I have come to understand that you can really not know the mind of man completely and no matter how experienced you are or how much you think you know, you will never be entirely right.

Back on the Naruto issue, Pain was narrating why he had chosen to destroy Konoha (Naruto's village) because a pair of Ninjas from Konoha had killed his parents by mistake...

Here's the link for the full story: http://www.onemanga.com/Naruto/445/01/

I have come to notice and derive from this story that lot of our actions are determined by the hurtful circumstances we go through in life. These experiences form and shape us to whom we are and ultimately determine our choices and decisions.

This is why we need to: Proverbs 4:23 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Pro&c=4)

Many of us try to repair ourselves or ease the pain by taking ourselves into control instead of actually laying our burdens at the feet of Jesus. We try to take control of our lives, sometimes putting up walls around us and trying in every way to raise our confidence in ourselves by becoming something or someone we are truly not. We try not to let go of ourselves and our beliefs for fear of getting ridiculed or hurt again. We seek for understanding and solace from the wrongest source - Man, instead of focusing our eyes and hearts on God.

No human can actually understand you fully or take away any pain that you have because we carry our own burdens too.

My proposed solution is that we go to God through Jesus, since He was the one that created us and even gave us a manual (The Bible) for us to live happy and fulfilled lives.

I'd also like to add that we humans need to learn to tolerate each other in love and faith, casting every form of indignation in our hearts against each other down and pray for that individual if we love them enough to have them around or we might as well just walk away.

But then... what if the person you walk away from becomes somehow related to you or you seem to need help from that person... It will be difficult but let us love one another (Agape) just as Christ loves the church. Any other form of love does not exist or is way subject to Agape.

The funny thing is I might need this message for myself too at some point because I'm not perfect, so I may need your corrections and contributions too.

Please let me know if this message has made any impact on you, (no matter how small). I need your feedback...Pleeeeeeaaaassssseee.

God bless you.

The First Echo...

This is my first blog ever.

Always wanted to do this thing but I just never had the time to.

I guess this is it now.I'll be sharing both personal and non-personal thoughts for the benefit of helping people who may need some form of advice on various topics. I don't really know much but I would be glad to research almost any topic...almost really.

So, this blog is dedicated to all that may need solutions to different issues ranging from family to business.

Just as I provide information, I also get fed by the research I would make as well as from comments and feedback.

Above all, God loves you...

Regards,

Munachimso Duru

munachi.duru@yahoo.com