Administrator
Feb 13, 2015 17:08:10 GMT -7
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Post by annaimous on Feb 4, 2015 7:03:19 GMT -7
The world is full of labels and labeling. Sometimes we capitalize on the labels we are given or reduce to the labels that are assigned to us. This week we will be focusing on a woman in the Bible whose fear of God trumped her fear of being labeled incorrectly.
Assigned Reading and/or Video:- The Book of Esther
- P4CM Standing Tall- Joseph Solomon
Questions to think about:
- What are Labels? Are they wrong?
- What is Esther afraid of being labeled as?
- How can labels shape our perception?
- What was Joseph Solomon getting at in his poem?
- What labels do Christians get?
- What is the "ideal" label or reputation for a Christian?
- Think about a time you were incorrectly labeled.
- How does God help us to be emulate his image?
Quote: “It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.” - W.C. Fields
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Administrator
Jul 25, 2015 23:09:11 GMT -7
Thank you to everybody who has recently joined the {movement}! You are all awesome. :)
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Post by Akua on Feb 8, 2015 21:41:59 GMT -7
Just about to eat chicken wings and watch the P4CM video- will update with my thoughts!
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Administrator
Jul 25, 2015 23:09:11 GMT -7
Thank you to everybody who has recently joined the {movement}! You are all awesome. :)
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Post by Akua on Feb 8, 2015 22:12:55 GMT -7
Saw the video and loved it! Have to admit that I had no idea where he was going with it, though. Had no idea that he would be able to connect the struggles of being tall with accepting himself and the God-breathed person that God formed him to be.
Although I haven't read Esther for this week yet, I definitely know what it's like to feel labeled and insecure and not in control.
For me, it wasn't my height. I'm pretty short at 5'4 (hey- I'm still growing!). It wasn't my stutter (shoutout to Moses and Exodus 6:12!!!) and it wasn't necessarily my weight.
It was my dark skin. It wasn't enough for me to have hang ups about being a black girl in a very white area- I had to feel ashamed about how dark my skin was every day, on the daily. You see, being African meant being darker than the two (2) other black people in my highschool class. Being African meant being the butt of all the jokes of "it's so dark in here- where did Akua go?" or "you're so dark, you look like tar!"
I would lighten my instagram pictures with the perfect amount of brightness. I would search for bleaching creams and lightening soaps online and even had the nerve to buy a few of them. I would cry out to God with tear-stained cheeks... "why would you make me so ugly this way? why do I deserve this?"* And so I self-loathed. And self-denigrated. And told my God that I loved him and I trusted him when I couldn't even love or trust myself.
It was bad, and I longed for happiness with myself and how I was perceived by others. Living with a hate for yourself is not anyway to live and I was so glad when God pulled me out of it. It wasn't an instantaneous thing- it wasn't a thing of waking up and suddenly thinking that I was beautiful. It was a renewing of self- like I could look in a mirror and perhaps not be pleased with the way my skin looked that day and still appreciate the blessings God had upon my life. That I had a functioning and able body to criticize. That I had the ability to spend my time worrying about things like this while other people my age were fighting for their lives. That I have a God who has called me masterful- who has hung the galaxies and nebulas of the universe and still sought to deem us beautiful.
Take it all in.
It is so hard to love yourself in our vanity-filled world but God has taken care of it already. The world doesn't know me like my God knows me- we are all fearfully and wonderfully made and I want to earnestly praise Him for everything that He has abounded me with.
When I read the reading for this week, I'll definitely try to update this discussion! Thank you annaimous for starting off this book club with such an important topic!
*= I'm just so glad that these self-erasing tactics were all "woulds" that can now stay in the past where they belong.
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Post by lena01 on Aug 28, 2017 6:32:52 GMT -7
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed directly on a container or article can also be considered labeling.
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