FASHION PLATE

Greetings all of you clothes horses...whatcha going to wear today?

Have you ever stood in front of a refrigerator...with an open door...and try to figure out what you are hungry for...only to close the door...and come back again, and again...and never pull anything out the frige? Have you ever done the same thing with your clothes closet. You can't find anything that fits, that looks good, that strikes your fancy?

The lady pictured here with the two adorable children (one kid is not in the picture)...is a friend of mine by the name of Jennifer Burden. She is currently in a contest for PEOPLE magazine...called WORST TO BEST DRESSED. Out of thousands of entrys in the U.S....she was chosen to be in the top ten...and is currently in the top 3. You can...watch her video...and then vote for her daily at http://www.people.com/. What does she win? A fashion makeover in New York City...home of the fashion perfect. She thinks she's a slob...I beg to differ. Her inner personality overrides any fashion fox pass.

They say..."clothes makes the man." On the album of one of Elvis' greatest hit albums called 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong...Elvis is standing wearing his $100,000 gold lame' suit on...looking with all the flambouyant sartorial splendor.
This was a sharp contrast from the Memphis pink and black hep cat clothes he use to buy from Beale Street or his Crown Electric uniform when he drove a truck. When he stepped into Sun Records...before he sang My Happiness for his mama... his fashion style preceded him.

Later on...he would be known for a full length black leather suit worn on what would be known as the 68' comeback special that would morph into the karate influenced jumpsuits with the caps and scarfs. Yikes...shades of Liberace.

Hmmmmmmmmm...I wonder if the British Bulldog could Photoshop my head on top of the gold lame' outfit? I know that whenever I pick out my own clothes... my lovely wife of 35 years will question me by asking...or is it a declaritive statement...
"You're not going out wearing that...are you?!?!

We all know that clothes make the SUPERHERO. Superman...with his indestructable red, blue, yellow costume (how did Ma Kent get the needle through it if it as she sowed it if it was so indestructable?)...Spiderman with his webslinging costume...Green Lantern...you fill in the blank of your favorite superhero. My favorite is more mortal in nature...BATMAN and ROBIN. Through out the years...from the original comic book, to the 1940's movie serial (really funny stuff)...to the 1960's T.V show (campy)...to the cartoons on T.V....to the Batman movie series starting with Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader to the current Batman Begins...the costume has evolved from cloth to armor.

One key element on Batman's costume...apart from the cowl to hid his identity from his foes...to the flowing cape, boots, and bat symbol on his chest...is the UTILITY BELT. This is the belt that houses everything a crime fighter needs to do battle with the enemy. It houses everything from a batarang (that would be a boomarang with an attitude) to Bat-Shark Repellent (during the campy era). When Batman was on the attack...or Batman's back was against the wall...he would be able to pull out what he needed out of that utility belt. A fine accessory for the latest Bat Fashion. But the question is this..."WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING SPIRITUAL? I'm glad you asked. It is not about my friend's makeover (although it would be nice if she won)...or Elvis' clothing options....or even a Super Hero's wardrobe. It's about what you are wearing in your everday walk with God...as you stand before Him...and as you are in battle with the enemy.

We start of this Spiritual Fashion Show...by you disrobing the old...and putting on the new. A total Spiritual Fashion make over. It all starts with getting rid of the old....and that comes when you are IN CHRIST. "Therefore if any man/woman is IN CHRIST...they are a NEW creation...the OLD things past away...behold NEW things have come." (II Corinthians 5:17).

Isaiah spoke of a NEW CLOTHING LINE..."I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God...for He has CLOTHED me with GARMENTS OF SALVATION...for He has WRAPPED me with a ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, as a bridegroom DECKS himself with a GARLAND...and as a bride ADORNS herself with her JEWELS. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, SO the Lord God will CAUSE the righteousness and praise to spring up BEFORE ALL NATIONS." (Isaiah 61:10)

When the Prodigal Son...the Lost Son...returned from his sojourn into the land of SQUANDER...the land of LOOSE LIVING...(Read Luke 15:1-32 for full details)...the Father ran to met him with...embraces, kisses, the BEST ROBE, a RING on his hand...and SANDALS on his feet, and then the Father through him a party with a thick rib eye steak cooked to perfection with all the fixings. NOTE: I added the ribeye part..but there was a party.

Again in Isaiah...the clothing not only dresses up the outer person...but it affects mourning and depression...as it speaks of the burden lifting, yoke breaking, opression removing, sickness healing, anointing that Jesus was anointed with..."To grant thouse who mourn in Zion, giving them a GARLAND instead of ashes...the oil of gladness instead of mourning...the MANTLE OF PRAISE instead of fainting, so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
(Isaiah 61:3)

The robe of righteousness...is placed on by the Father...through Jesus...but there is also an aspect of where we have to choice about our daily wear.

"If then you have been raised up with Christ, KEEP SEEKING the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. SET YOUR MIND on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you HAVE DIED and your life is HIDDEN WITH CHRIST in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in Glory" (Colossian 3:1-4) NOTE: This will be the ultimate fashion show.

"Therefore (in reference to verses 1-4)...CONSIDER (think about)...the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed which amounts to idolatry (worship of yourself versus worship of God). For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, and in them you also ONCE WALKED, when your wear living in them." (Colossians 3:5-7). NOTE: There is nothing worse that walking around in your OLD CLOTHES...when you have NEW CLOTHES to wear. NOTE TO THE NOTE: When God comes back...he will be looking for someone in NEW CLOTHES...and you will be disguised in your OLD CLOTHES...not good.

"BUT NOW (in contrast to verses 5-7)...you also, PUT THEM ALL ASIDE (your choice from the clothes closet): anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you LAID ASIDE the OLD SELF...who is being RENEWED (the makeover) with its evil practices...and have PUT ON THE NEW SELF...who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the ONE who CREATED him (the ultimate fashion designer and creator)...a RENEWAL in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but CHRIST IS ALL, and in all. (Colossians 3:8-11) NOTE: The Fashion Creator...has a new set of threads for you...but you have to put them on. that ARE YOU?!?!

"And SO, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, PUT ON a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentlenss and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against any one; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond ALL these things...PUT ON LOVE...which is the perfect bond of unity." (Colossians 3:12-14) NOTE: In the world if you are trying to impress someone with how you look...you are trying to PUT ON airs...BUT in the kingdom...we are encouraged to PUT ON.

Well...that's it for now. I was going to talk about the fashion for WARFARE...but I rambled on about other things...maybe next time.

One last questions for you...as you are standing in front of your closet...getting ready to go out into this lost and dying world..."YOUR NOT WEARING THAT ARE YOU?!? Put that old thing back...and get out the styling and profiling, fashion plate, duds.

NEXT TIME: WARFARE FASHION

Love and Sartorial Kisses
"Rod "Was Fashion Impaired...But Now I'm Healed" Boyd