A few weeks ago I had the privilege of watching the stars on the Adriatic coast in Croatia. While watching the magnificent sky above late one night I was thinking of how wonderful this world really is.
What makes me sad is that we have not always appreciated the magnificence and beauty of all of creation around us. As believers we are convinced that everything material and immaterial has its ultimate origin in God and therefore demands our highest respect.
So what is the Christian's attitude towards the works of God to be? We have in the Old Testament and especially in the Psalms, a model for an appropriate attitude towards God's creation. There we see, again and again, expression of wonder, awe, and celebration.
The elemental power of the storms reminds the believer of the far greater power of God. The vastness and beauty of the wilderness, the majesty of towering mountains, and the surging seas turn the eyes of faith to the Lord.
Listen to the words of the psalmist in Psalm 104:24-25 “O Lord, how magnificent are your works! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your possessions - This great and wide sea, in which innumerable teeming things, living things both great and small.”
The sense of wonder generated by the creation helped to form a healthy attitude towards life in this world in the minds of believers. That attitude can be characterized as one of joy and celebration. The psalmist continues to speak to us in Psalm 111:2 “The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in then.”
While at times Christians have adopted a gloomy attitude of life in the world, recognition of God's good hand in shaping our world as a home for mankind has more often opened the way to a positive and joyful view of our present life.
Our days on earth must have significance since God has so carefully designed the stage on which we each play our part. The New Testament confirms this by stating that “GOD GIVES US RICHLY ALL THINGS TO ENJOY…” (1 Timothy 6:17).
My friend, God exists and his attitude toward us is goodness and love. Therefore, let us seek to enter into a loving relationship with God in order that we may be able to enjoy life to its fullest while rejoicing in his works and celebrating the life we have here and now.
Paul Weresch
Showing posts with label Croatia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Croatia. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Don’t throw away your Necktie
My wife and I are spending a few days in Croatia, a country where we have ministered on many occasions with great joy. Currently there is great religious freedom and a deep hunger for God.
On the lighter side did you know that Croatia is the mother country of the necktie?
Many events in the history of mankind eventually fade into oblivion, but others, leave their indelible marks for the entire world to see. More than 350 years ago, the Croats initiated one such influential occurrence. Six hundred million people now wear the ubiquitous symbol of Croatia around their necks, close to their hearts ... the necktie.
In his book, La Grande Histoire de la Cravate (Flamarion, Paris, 1994), François Chaille tells us about the appearance of this article of clothing and how it became fashionable.
"... Around the year 1635, some six thousand soldiers and knights came to Paris to give their support to King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu. Among them were a great number of Croatian mercenaries led a Croatian viceroy. The tradition
al outfit of these Croats aroused interest on account of the unusual and picturesque scarves distinctively tied about their necks. The scarves were made of various cloths, ranging from coarse material for common soldiers, to fine cotton and silk for officers.
This elegant "Croatian style" immediately enamoured the French, who were delighted by the new article of clothing, which had been previously unknown in Europe. For the gallant French officers in the thirty-year war, the advantage of the Croatian neck scarf was its enviable practicality. In contrast to the lace collar that had to be kept white and carefully starched, the scarf was simply and loosely tied around the neck without need for any additional care.
Around the year 1650, during the reign of Louis XIV, the Croatian scarf was accepted in France, above all in court, where military ornaments were much admired. The fashionable expression, ’a la croate’, soon evolved into a new French word, which still exists today: la cravate.
This innovation symbolized the height of culture and elegance. On his return to England from exile, Charles II brought with him this new word in fashion. Over the next ten years, this fashion novelty spread across Europe, as well as across the colonies on the American continent..."
Since that time in the 17th century, derivatives of the word croata have been present in many languages, (i.e., English, German, French, Portuguese, Italian), meaning cravat or tie. It follows then that Croatia is the mother country of the necktie, as France is the mother country of high fashion, Brazil of coffee, Switzerland of cheese and watches.
On the lighter side did you know that Croatia is the mother country of the necktie?
Many events in the history of mankind eventually fade into oblivion, but others, leave their indelible marks for the entire world to see. More than 350 years ago, the Croats initiated one such influential occurrence. Six hundred million people now wear the ubiquitous symbol of Croatia around their necks, close to their hearts ... the necktie.
In his book, La Grande Histoire de la Cravate (Flamarion, Paris, 1994), François Chaille tells us about the appearance of this article of clothing and how it became fashionable.
"... Around the year 1635, some six thousand soldiers and knights came to Paris to give their support to King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu. Among them were a great number of Croatian mercenaries led a Croatian viceroy. The tradition
al outfit of these Croats aroused interest on account of the unusual and picturesque scarves distinctively tied about their necks. The scarves were made of various cloths, ranging from coarse material for common soldiers, to fine cotton and silk for officers.This elegant "Croatian style" immediately enamoured the French, who were delighted by the new article of clothing, which had been previously unknown in Europe. For the gallant French officers in the thirty-year war, the advantage of the Croatian neck scarf was its enviable practicality. In contrast to the lace collar that had to be kept white and carefully starched, the scarf was simply and loosely tied around the neck without need for any additional care.
Around the year 1650, during the reign of Louis XIV, the Croatian scarf was accepted in France, above all in court, where military ornaments were much admired. The fashionable expression, ’a la croate’, soon evolved into a new French word, which still exists today: la cravate.
This innovation symbolized the height of culture and elegance. On his return to England from exile, Charles II brought with him this new word in fashion. Over the next ten years, this fashion novelty spread across Europe, as well as across the colonies on the American continent..."
Since that time in the 17th century, derivatives of the word croata have been present in many languages, (i.e., English, German, French, Portuguese, Italian), meaning cravat or tie. It follows then that Croatia is the mother country of the necktie, as France is the mother country of high fashion, Brazil of coffee, Switzerland of cheese and watches.
Paul Weresch
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