Flu Wiki Forum: Leave your Shoes at the Door
Discussion on an Influenza-related site.
Home Assemblies
I posted on the subject of home assemblies on my main blog yesterday. I wrote that I tended to favour holding church meetings in homes.
This raises the question of whether I would request that those attending a home assembly in my home remove their shoes. This is perhaps a peculiarly western question. I gather that in most churches in India, shoes are removed, reflecting Indian culture (and the state of Indian streets). I expect this is the case in other Asian countries.
It is vital not to cause offence. It would be very wrong to adamantly insist on somebody removing their shoes for a fellowship meeting when they did not feel comfortable with this. Even more importantly, it would be wrong to exclude somebody from the assembly because they refused to remove their shoes.
However, making a polite request is a different matter. In a the home assembly there is likely to be a level of trust and intimacy that will recognise the needs of individual families and homes. Thus, there is likely to be an understanding that everyone wants to keep their home clean.
Most church buildings have quite dirty carpets, due to the heavy use they receive. A home in which church meetings are regularly taking place is likely to receive a lot more wear and tear on its carpet or flooring unless those attending remove their shoes. Thus, it is perfectly reasonable for a home that hosts assembly meetings to request shoes-off, but not to insist upon it too rigorously. Such a request is in the same order as advice about car parking or requests not to smoke. In a church I attended in Finland, the congregation were expected to remove their coats and put them in a cloakroom, something I had never experienced in England. Though it was not winter when I visited, this practice was presumbably instituted with the snowy Finnish winter in mind.
Those attending could helpfully be advised to bring their slippers.
Perhaps a shoe-less home assembly would be reminded of Moses and Joshua removing thier shoes on the sacred ground of the Lord.
This raises the question of whether I would request that those attending a home assembly in my home remove their shoes. This is perhaps a peculiarly western question. I gather that in most churches in India, shoes are removed, reflecting Indian culture (and the state of Indian streets). I expect this is the case in other Asian countries.
It is vital not to cause offence. It would be very wrong to adamantly insist on somebody removing their shoes for a fellowship meeting when they did not feel comfortable with this. Even more importantly, it would be wrong to exclude somebody from the assembly because they refused to remove their shoes.
However, making a polite request is a different matter. In a the home assembly there is likely to be a level of trust and intimacy that will recognise the needs of individual families and homes. Thus, there is likely to be an understanding that everyone wants to keep their home clean.
Most church buildings have quite dirty carpets, due to the heavy use they receive. A home in which church meetings are regularly taking place is likely to receive a lot more wear and tear on its carpet or flooring unless those attending remove their shoes. Thus, it is perfectly reasonable for a home that hosts assembly meetings to request shoes-off, but not to insist upon it too rigorously. Such a request is in the same order as advice about car parking or requests not to smoke. In a church I attended in Finland, the congregation were expected to remove their coats and put them in a cloakroom, something I had never experienced in England. Though it was not winter when I visited, this practice was presumbably instituted with the snowy Finnish winter in mind.
Those attending could helpfully be advised to bring their slippers.
Perhaps a shoe-less home assembly would be reminded of Moses and Joshua removing thier shoes on the sacred ground of the Lord.
In the Spirit of Easter!
Easter means to me: shopping, candy and new Easter shoes! Shoes! Yes, shoes! At lunch the shoe bug stuck me over the head with a big chocolate carrot and said go shop for easter shoes. I was about 45 minutes late for returning from lunch. Instead of an hour for lunch I took an hour and 45 minutes. It was worth it. I bought three pairs of shoes!
The first pair are by Dollhouse. Now I have seen Dollhouse shoes before and the only thing that comes to my mind is "stripper shoes" and dropping down to get your eagle on. Never could bring myself to buy a pair. I would have no clothes to ever go with those shoes. I do not have racy clothes to go with Dollhouse shoes. I saw a pair of pink velvet platforms on sale after Christmas and I was tempted to get them. The price was the draw. Reality set in when dirty Fila saw me try them on and asked me if they were exotic dancer shoes and what was I going to do with them if I bought them? Back to the rack they went.
I saw these today and I had to have them right on the spot. Totally out of character, but I plan to wear them and stut proudly. You people say what you want. I will be wearing my "stripper" shoes. Here they are and they are my most prized pair! They are bejeweled and the ankle strap zips up the back so you can get them on.
You can buy a pair here for $89.95!
The first pair are by Dollhouse. Now I have seen Dollhouse shoes before and the only thing that comes to my mind is "stripper shoes" and dropping down to get your eagle on. Never could bring myself to buy a pair. I would have no clothes to ever go with those shoes. I do not have racy clothes to go with Dollhouse shoes. I saw a pair of pink velvet platforms on sale after Christmas and I was tempted to get them. The price was the draw. Reality set in when dirty Fila saw me try them on and asked me if they were exotic dancer shoes and what was I going to do with them if I bought them? Back to the rack they went.
I saw these today and I had to have them right on the spot. Totally out of character, but I plan to wear them and stut proudly. You people say what you want. I will be wearing my "stripper" shoes. Here they are and they are my most prized pair! They are bejeweled and the ankle strap zips up the back so you can get them on.
You can buy a pair here for $89.95!
Well that was not all. Today I wore this pair by Enzo Angiolini. Love these. They are very comfortable platform shoes. I wore them for 8 hours. By the 7th hour they began to feel not so good. Now I know. Less than 5 hours in these are enough. My legs felt like I was doing the stiletto heel workout. I felt like I had on super woman shoes and I was invincible. I am going to hate when these wear out.
Enzo Angiolini: $92.95
I do not have a picture of the next pair and right now I am too lazy to go get my digital camera out and take it myself. They are a pair of beautiful, metallic gray Elena Solano wedge shoes. The heel is about 2 inches high. Lovely. Perfect for summer.
See! I WAS good. Only three pairs!
See! I WAS good. Only three pairs!
What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~
This Weel's NATIONAL ETIQUETTE AWARD goes to.... Nepal!
Nepal Page in Wikipedia
Nepal Tourism Board
World Factbook: Nepal
Nepal Home Page
I hereby grant the National Etiquette Award to the mountain kingdom of Nepal, as it is customary in that country to remove shoes when entering homes. I believe shoes are removed even in some Christian churches in Nepal.
There was dreadful violence in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal this week. The police used brutal force to curb demonstrations by those involved in the general strike that is takign place there.
Nepal is in a mess. It is facing terrible insurgency from Maoist Communist rebels who want to overthrow the ruling monarchy. The king has responded to this dire situation by setting himself up as a dictator and suspeded democracy.
I do fear that this Himalayan country may yet fall into brutal Communist oppression.
My sister attended a school that sent pupils on a trip to Nepal every year. My sister did not go herself, but some of her friends did. Given the dreadful violence of the countries current problems, I would not be surprised if the school has stopped sending pupils on trips there.
Nepal is a Hindu country and the Maoist rebels are hostile to Christianity. For more information about the persecution of Christians worldwide. Please visit:
Barnabas Fund
Open Doors International
Nepal Tourism Board
World Factbook: Nepal
Nepal Home Page
I hereby grant the National Etiquette Award to the mountain kingdom of Nepal, as it is customary in that country to remove shoes when entering homes. I believe shoes are removed even in some Christian churches in Nepal.
There was dreadful violence in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal this week. The police used brutal force to curb demonstrations by those involved in the general strike that is takign place there.
Nepal is in a mess. It is facing terrible insurgency from Maoist Communist rebels who want to overthrow the ruling monarchy. The king has responded to this dire situation by setting himself up as a dictator and suspeded democracy.
I do fear that this Himalayan country may yet fall into brutal Communist oppression.
My sister attended a school that sent pupils on a trip to Nepal every year. My sister did not go herself, but some of her friends did. Given the dreadful violence of the countries current problems, I would not be surprised if the school has stopped sending pupils on trips there.
Nepal is a Hindu country and the Maoist rebels are hostile to Christianity. For more information about the persecution of Christians worldwide. Please visit:
Barnabas Fund
Open Doors International
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