I’m sick of typing
Ever get tired of typing? I’ve been sitting at this computer all day long, studying and typing my thoughts. I have also answered a couple e-mails. I have other e-mails I could answer, and longer, more interesting blog posts to make, but I’m sick of typing. I want to do something different for a change. My life is wrapped up in the computer so much. Maybe I’ll go home and read. (Watch, now this post will be extremely long.)
OK, should I just say what I’m thinking? But some people judge you if your blog posts are not profound and “worthwhile”. 
Apparently, everything you say must be profound or spiritual or it’s not valuable. Well, I say that I’m venting a little here, and it’s helping my mental stability, which will make me more able to minister to those I eat with this evening. So stick that in your self-righteous pipe and smoke it! (Incidentally, I am not directing this at anyone specific. Just at the idea and mind set mentioned. This is a rant, and as such should not be taken personally. “The views expressed by the host on this show….”)
OK, maybe it’s just that people in the deep south have been conditioned to accept a certain standard of dress, but it seems that the girls down here dress more immodestly than most of the other girls I know. What I mean is, as a whole it appears that the girls in the south dress with fewer clothes than do girls further north. Now, the girls I usually end up spending time with are dressed more modestly than most of the girls in this area. That is to say, their standard is higher than most other people in this community. But these young women (my friends mind you) do dress, at times, in a way that I would consider to be immodest. (Short shorts, etc.) Even though they are above the norm for this area, the norm for this area is so much worse than what I’m used to, that what is considered modest in this area isn’t really very modest. (IMHO)
Now some of the girls are worse than others, of course. And I have come to believe that most of my friends are not dressing that way to be provocative, but that they genuinely think it is modest and fine. It seems normal, both to the girls and the guys that hang with them. (Now, this is all my own thoughts here. I’ve not really discussed this with others.)
But all of this has helped me to look past their dress and see the person. Yes, I often have to focus on their faces, and not drop my eyes. I have to be very careful that I am looking in the right directions and that my thoughts are pure. (Only by God’s grace, trust me.) And I am not suggesting that guys go out and hang with immodest girls in order to appreciate their personality. (LOL!!!! That is ridiculous! 
) But God is helping me to look past the outward of the person and try to see their heart. To try to be more concerned with the inner man, from which springs this immodesty, and the more weightier issues of the heart. I have been able, to a certain degree, when forced to spend time with girls that are not dressed well, to look past their outward appearance and listen to what they are saying. This is certainly a blessing from God, and perhaps given to me for the specific purposes for which I am here. 
Hey, I guess this post was a little more interesting than I had expected. 
And longer!
One more exhortation: To those of you that live at home and have family to spend time with at the end of the day – Enjoy it! You really do not appreciate what a blessing it is to come home to a family when you are no longer able to do that. Coming home to a little brother or sister messing up my room is way better than coming home to an empty house where everything is as I left it. (OK, maybe not “way” better, but it is better.) So count your blessings and thank God for family. I certainly love mine and am looking forward to seeing them at the end of May!
About The Author
Preacher Dad
Jarod has been a pastor, construction worker, restaurant manager, ministry administrator, children's story teller, author....in no particular order. At heart he is passionate about the Truth, and has been called to proclaim that Truth from an early age. He is committed to his wife and eight children, and seeks to have a lasting impact upon the future by discipling his family. He blogs at PreacherDad.com on parenting, preparing, and cultural impact.
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Jarod, for sake, man! not everything has to be valuable and spiritual!! Just let loose once in a while and talk about HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THE FUZZINESS OF PEACHES or HOW AWESOME IT IS TO HAVE A FLUSH TOILET!!! Vent! I laugh at vents. Vents are so funny. Look! you vented right here: So stick that in your self-righteous pipe and smoke it! Man, that’s awesome! I say SMOKE IT SMOKE IT BABY!!!
Yeah, the issue of modesty and clothing is kind of subjective…it seems to be up to individuals and cultures to define that. Like would you imagine? I heard about some missionaries who were working among the native tribal people of Hawaii. Tribal men and women would go around pretty much in the nude. Well, when young girls of the tribe became converted and began to wear clothes for modesty’s sake, the men of the tribe actually became more attracted and aroused by those who wore CLOTHES then the women who didn’t wear clothes because clothing was so new and mysterious!! Upside down, don’t you think?
btw, nice profile pic.
Jarod? Jarod Hinton? Weh di gwon me bredren??!!!
Crazy to see you on xanga, how’s life bro??
yes, blog posts should always be profound and worthwhile…and just to prove it I’m stealing your funky name post and putting it on my blog…very uplifting
Thanks, Jarod. I appreciate your thoughts on modesty. I think you’re right about the south. I lived there for the first 17 years of my life. Maybe it has something to do with the heat…I’ve heard it said Christians are just one step behind the world. As the world continues it’s “undressing”, Christians will follow. We have a fallen nature! Young women would be wise to sit up and listen to what you’re saying esp.because it’s coming from a guy and brother in the Lord…
Hey, I read enough pointless posts (and write some myself) that I appreciate some thought-provoking content. I can tell it’s from your heart. Keep it up.
What a post! You must have had some kind of day….
There is just no substitute for the great out of doors…sitting at a computer, although useful, can get old very quickly when you do it all day everyday!
Sometimes you need a “just because post” or a “look a shooting star” post. Have you ever heard the phrase “look a shooting star” used in a conversation and it was totally not related to what was being talked about? If you haven’t, you should try it sometime…
I think a balance between the serious and the fun posts are what is called for.
Immodesty in the south is a big problem…having not spent a lot of time in the North (although my mom is a native of Indianapolis, IN) I can’t really say it is worse here, so I’ll leave that one alone! Living in Mississippi, I can definitely vouch for the fact that immodesty is running rampant in our churches…we have many times not gone to Wed or Sunday night services for this very reason. My parents were concerned about protecting all of us but especially my brothers…
When I started the discipleship group I teach one of my goals was to help the girls understand the need to be modest not just in our thoughts but our outward appearance as well. Because to a certain extent it is a relfection of what is on the inside which should be of Christ. Not to say, girls that we should walk around looking like hags but rather that we enhance the natural beauty God gave us…
Sounds like God has you at an intersting place in life…hang in there!
Yes, I often get tired of typing!! Maybe because I’m so poor at it. I am improving, gradually… But not fast enough…
I’m not sure I agree with the modesty being worse in the South. I took a road trip from GA – MN helping friends move. We stopped at a mall *somewhere* in Illinois (when they’re antiquated cb’s died) and I was aghast. I knew I’d been protected, but… Truthfully, I find it hard every spring, wherever, to adjust back to people “undressing.” Maybe the heat in the South does make it worse.
As far as ‘moderate’ immodesty (if there is such a thing) being accepted among Christians, maybe it’s because we’re fallen into the habit of “comparing ourselves with ourselves” rather than against the Word of God.
IMHO – I’m guessing “In my holy opinion?” :-}
IMHO = “In My Humble Opinion”
I think the initial reaction by all parties present was that I – yes, me (shocker, I know) fell into the “nuts” category. BUT – should that be debated in a court of law – the outcome might be different. :o)
OH! and “LONG LIVE SKINNED ELBOWS!!!!” ;o)