Costume Chronicles was a concept that I envisioned a little over two years to fill a gap between entertainment and my own personal adoration for costume dramas. However, I did not have the capabilities to execute this dream on my own, so I asked Charity (and her mad editing skills) to join me as co-editor.

Within these two years Costume Chronicles has had an excellent response from fans, readers and critics alike. I have enjoyed every moment, reading articles, creating humorous pieces, and designing pages. It has been my “baby” and I have been absolutely thrilled as every issue would debut.

However, because of time constraints and technological issues I must step down as an editor. As a result, Charity will be continuing a new publication that will premiere in June that will still be in the spirit of Costume Chronicles but covering a wider range of entertainment than just costume dramas.

This was a hard decision that was agreed to and mutually made between Charity and I and we both hope that you will understand and not hold a grudge against what has taken place in the midst of our “regime change”. All past Costume Chronicles issues will still be available to download at a place that will be announced later. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at esther @ costumechronicles.com (no spaces)

I will be glad to answer any questions or concerns you have to the best of my ability. :)

-Esther

"At that moment they heard from behind them a loud noise—a great cracking, deafening noise as if a giant had broken a giant's plate.... The Stone Table was broken into two pieces by a great crack that ran down it from end to end; and there was no Aslan."

(22 Hours Ago) "A pic I took yesterday of Christians protecting Muslims during their prayers #jan25http://yfrog.com/h02gvclj"

(21 Hours Ago) Bear in mind that this pic was taken a month after z Alexandria bombing where many Christians died in vain. Yet we all stood by each other

(20 Hours Ago, in response to a person who asked how she knew they were Christians) They had cross tattoos (a Coptic tradition) right below their palm, a friend has a close up, i will share soon.

(ETA: Updated Later on 2.4.11) ok, once & for all: I knew they were Copts cause the guy on z left had a cross tattoo below his palm, my friend cried then hugged him.

Matthew 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect,as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 John 4:10:-12
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

So while I have a few moments I am testing out the LJ app. It isn't as and as I expected it to be!

Tonight is the last night of small group which makes me sad...because when I had nothing going for me and essentially no hope they were a big part in why I kept pressing on. It is hard leaving people you consider your spiritual family. We are doing a white elephant gift exchange which should be interesting.

I don't think my gift would be considered a white elephant to some, but it is a Holly Hobby vase with a quote about friendship and a little painting with bejeweled flowers and a quote. It was given to me by a girl who NEVER had good taste in gift giving for me and when I got it for Christmas one year I had no idea How she came to the conclusion that I would like those things. Yes they are "Girly cute" but that is not me decor wise. So thank goodness for White elephant!

I also finished a scarf for my friend Zach. I don't like the cast off since it is CONSIDERABLY tighter, but not matter what I tried the tension would not quit being tight. So now instead of a line it is more of a curve...

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

A 21st Century Parable
One day Jesus was strolling down a busy New York street with a prominent minister named Simon. Whenever they passed an adult bookstore or bar, Simon would detour to the other side of the street, staying as far as possible from the filth. As they walked, the minister told Jesus of the drug addicts and prostitutes who frequented the street corners. "God's judgment is about to fall on this disgusting city," he said. "Their sin is too much. I'm sure He won't stand for it much longer."

Suddenly a brightly dressed man, with a swish in his step and a lisp in his voice, cried out over the noise of the busy city street. "Jesus? Is that you!" Jesus turned and smiled in his direction. The man leapt from the curb and ran directly across the street, crossing four lanes of traffic, oblivious to the buses and cabs swerving to avoid him.

He ran straight to Jesus without breaking his stride and wrapped his arms around His neck. The shocked minister, who knew this man as Fredrick-the owner of a local gay bar – was even more appalled when Fredrick's smiling face dissolved into tears on Jesus' neck. He sobbed uncontrollably as Jesus tenderly wrapped His arms around him and held him for what seemed like 30 minutes to the growing crowd, but could not have been more than one. "I'm sorry," Fredrick said as he stepped back and looked into Jesus' eyes. "And thank You."

The previous week, Jesus had found Fredrick outside the bar and begun speaking to him about sin, God's love, and the coming kingdom. Fredrick had stopped attending church after high school – religious people weren't too happy seeing a person like him in their churches – but something was different about this preacher. Even though Jesus talked ab out sin and God's judgment, He wasn't condemning – He was actually warm and welcoming. Without thinking about it, Fredrick poured out his life story to this preacher. He told things he had never spoken aloud in his life, barely even allowed himself to think: the uncle who had molested him, the boys who had called him fag, his first boyfriend at 16, the long string of boyfriends since, his profound loneliness, his fear of AIDS. With each memory, with each confession, a weight lifted from his heart.

"Jesus, do You think…would You min…could a person like me follow You? Could I be a part of God's kingdom?"
"Of course! I cam here to personally invite you," Jesus answered him. They talked a bit longer and then as Jesus turned to walk on, He glanced back at Fredrick and smiled to see him standing dumbstruck on the corner in front of his gay bar.

But Simon the minister knew none of this. He saw only a gay man draped across Jesus, sobbing. What an embaressment! he thought.How can Jesus let such a God-forsaken sinner touch Him, much less make such a display.
Jesus uncannily answered the minister's thoughts, "Simon, I have something to ask you."
"Ask me, Teacher," he said.
"Two men owed money to a bank. One owed $100,000 and the other owed only $10,000. Neither of them had money to pay back their loans. The bank was about to take the first man's house and repossess the second man's car. But the vice president of the bank had compassion on them and canceled both debts. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then He turned toward the gay man and said to the minister. "Do you see this man? I came to your church and was greeted cordially with a firm handshake. This man ran when he saw Me to wrap his arms around My neck. You did not buy Me anything to drink on this hot day, but he has poured out his tears on My shoulder. Therefore, I tell you, his many sins have been forgiven – for he loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said, "Fredrick, your sins are forgiven."
The crowd around Him muttered to themselves, "Who is this who claims to forgive sins?!"
But Jesus said to the man, "Your faith has saved you! Go in peace."

______________________________________________________________________
Alan Chambers, God's Grace and the Homosexual Next Door. Harvest House: Eugene, OR, 2006. pp. 54-56.