The Modest Bride

The music starts. Family and friends sitting quietly in the pews stand in unison and turn expectantly toward the entrance of the church auditorium. The doors open, and there at long last is the bride! Holding her father's arm, her radiant face expresses her great joy. But wait! What is this gown she wears...?

The gorgeously soft, flowing dress of cleanest white is a portrayal of the bride's purity. When a Christian girl who has always clothed herself decently in the past walks down the aisle on her father's arm, her wedding dress should be consistent with her and her church's beliefs and worn in a way that continues to accentuate her chastity. Did the Bible make an exception for the bride to be immodest on her wedding day? Why is it then that Christian girls who have dressed modestly all their lives walk down the aisle in a gown that reveals too much? What a bride chooses to wear for her husband in the privacy of their home is their business, but the figure that was covered all those years should not be exposed before the entire church simply because she is about to be married.

Considered how the groom might feel. I wonder how many young men have been shocked to see the young lady they love, who has always been decent in the past, suddenly meet him in a dress that reveals her femininity, not only to him as her husband, but to the whole of the congregation as well. I have to think that, though the groom might appreciate it for himself, it would be offensive that his wife would share herself with anyone other than him. Not only might this be offensive to the groom, but also to those who did not wish to see what the bride has revealed and expected more than this from the young woman whose standards they believed were so high.

We know of one preacher in particular who will not marry a couple until his wife has seen the dresses of the bride and bridesmaids and deems them to be modest. Perhaps this sounds a bit drastic, but I think it is something worth praising God for! Why should the poor preacher have to avert his eyes from the indecent bride he is marrying before his entire church--those who know his stand on Biblical modesty? This causes a very awkward situation for the preacher who is then required to sanction the marriage of a bride who defies the church's standards by publicly wearing something that cannot be considered modest.

In searching the Internet for bridal accessories and comparing prices, I have come across bridal websites that say "Be the hot bride." Hot bride? When was it the bride's goal to look hot? I understand that this is the world's terminology, but when the wedding dress of a Christian bride is suddenly inconsistent with her former standards of modesty, this is compromise with a world that says the bride is supposed to look "hot."

A bride should look the essence of sweetness and loveliness. Marriage is a picture of the union of Christ and the church, His chaste virgin. Those who compromise in this area are corrupting a Biblical picture that has long been considered the summit of Christianity. Perhaps this is something that those of us who are brides-to-be should seriously consider. We have the great privilege of playing out this perfect picture of spiritual things to come entrusted to us by the Lord. May we please Him in everything...even our wedding!

Ladies and Gentlemen

“Ladies and Gentlemen…” This is a phrase regularly used in speeches, yet I greatly fear that we do not comprehend the meaning of the words, for today there are so few true ladies and even fewer gentlemen!!! There was once a time when it was customary for a man to act like a gentleman and a woman to act like a lady. Today we marvel when some act of politeness is done or a kind word is spoken or a child behaves well in public.

As a girl who notices these things, I really have to be honest and admit that I know few gentlemen. For that matter, I know few ladies. Like the lost art of building cobblestone houses, somewhere along the way we have lost the ability to raise ladies and gentlemen. I, for one, love to be treated like a lady, but I realize why girls are not treated like ladies.
One can spot a lady at first glance. Today I look around and see silly, giggling, half-dressed girls parading about in skin-tight tight jeans and skimpy shirts and filthy-minded, lusting boys. This is a two-way street. BOTH parties are guilty!

It is interesting to note that manners were prevalent in the days when women wore clothing that covered the body--not exposed it. (Pants expose the body!) A woman who wishes to be treated as a lady should dress like a lady and act like a lady and talk like a lady. The reason why men may generally treat women like trash is because women generally dress, and therefore act, like trash. If women would respect themselves enough to cover themselves, men would respect the fact that women respect themselves and act accordingly--with respect!!! In many ways the reason why men do not act like gentlemen today is not solely the fault of the male population, but of the females!!!

“The more you act like a lady, the more he will act like a gentleman!”

There is another reason, I believe, why men do not act like gentlemen. God gave men strong arms so they could open big doors and carry heavy boxes. Rarely do I have the pleasure of a gentleman holding the door or “rescuing” me when I’m carrying a heavy load. I personally think men are afraid that if they do help a lady, she will immediately assume that he “likes” her. It is wrong for ladies to make that assumption simply because one of the few, almost-extinct gentlemen out there is alert enough to come to their aid. On the other hand, I totally understand why a lady would think this, because it often appears that the only men willing to help are those who have ulterior motives--they do like the girl and are seeking to impress her. This is wrong!!! A gentleman should be a gentleman, not for his own personal gain, but because it is the right thing to do.

I found this list of manners for gentlemen. Neat stuff!

1. Gentlemen have respectful attitudes which lead to respectful actions and words. They greet people with a smile, nod, or “hello” as they pass people. Their attitude is one of putting others first, based on The Golden Rule, to treat others the way they would like to be treated.


2. Gentlemen use respectful words: “Please,” “Thank You,” “You’re Welcome,” and “Excuse Me.” Instead of “What?” and “Huh?” they say “Pardon me?” or “I’m sorry?” They say “Yes, Ma’am” and “No, Sir” respectfully. They never use cursing or cussing words. Gentlemen also have the courage to use difficult words like, “I’m Sorry,” “I made a mistake,” and “Will You Forgive Me?”


3. Gentlemen open doors for Ladies and allow them to pass through first, saying, “After you!”


4. Gentlemen walk a Lady to the car and open the car door for her.


5. A Gentleman offers his seat to a Lady. Gentlemen should offer their seat to their elders or pregnant women in crowded buses or waiting rooms. A gentleman sacrifices his own comfort for the comfort of a lady. Never be seated until your mother is seated.


6. A Gentleman helps a Lady (his wife) put on her coat or sweater. He also offers to help carry heavy packages for a lady. Children offer to carry the bags for their mothers. If the lady drops something, the gentleman will pick it up for her.


7. Gentlemen stand when a Lady enters the room or when he is introduced to someone.


8. Gentlemen seat a Lady at the dinner table before they seat themselves. They rise when ladies excuse themselves and when they return. The gentleman takes care of the lady to his right.


9. The Gentleman protects a Lady from danger. He walks on the curb side of the road as a courtesy of protection and to keep the lady from getting splashed by puddles. He also stands behind a lady on an escalator going up; and in front of her going down to protect her from falling.


10. A Gentleman will never EVER hit or hurt a Lady. A boy must never hit or hurt a girl, but rather use his strength to protect a girl.

I’d like to make a few comments in regards to Rule #2:
Gentlemen also have the courage to use difficult words like, “I’m Sorry,” “I made a mistake,” and “Will You Forgive Me?”
This world somehow has the warped thinking that if a man admits that he is wrong he is less than a man. I totally disagree!!! A girl will only respect a man who can admit when he is wrong!!! I am a girl, and I would know! This is a principle I have seen in my dad. When he is wrong he comes to me and admits it and asks me to forgive him. That only makes me love and respect him more!!! A man who cannot admit his failures has a serious heart problem! It’s called pride.

“A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone’s feelings intentionally.”

I really like Rule #10:
A Gentleman will never EVER hit or hurt a Lady. A boy must never hit or hurt a girl, but rather use his strength to protect a girl.
While looking up some things about gentlemanly behavior I came across this quote: “A gentlemen is one who never strikes a woman without provocation.” WRONG! A gentleman is one who never strikes a woman even with provocation. (Ladies can work along with this by acting like ladies, which means never shouting or screaming or acting like a brawling woman. “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” Remember: The more you act like a lady, they more he will treat you like a lady!) A gentleman is one who NEVER strikes a woman for any reason whatsoever! A gentleman is one who can control his anger, whether a person is deserving of it or not. Only coward uses brute force! Proverbs 16:32 says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” A gentleman is a man who never touches a lady or a girl except to show love and kindness.

“My boy,” said a father to his son, “treat everybody with politeness, even those who are rude to you; remember, you show courtesy to others, not because they are gentlemen, but because you are one.”

What do you see in your mind’s eye when you hear the word “gentleman”? A man sitting cross-legged with a cup of tea and his pinky in the air? No!
When I hear the word gentleman I picture a man, not necessarily tall or dashingly handsome, but a man of character. A man who knows when to be tough and when to be tender. A man who can laugh and cry. A man who will admit when he’s wrong. A man who can cook and clean when it is necessary and doesn’t feel that his manhood is threatened or his reputation is at stake. A man who can tenderly cradle a baby, and with the same strong arm can protect and defend if the need arises. A gentleman is a man who won’t let majority opinion sway his firm beliefs and convictions even when they aren’t popular. A gentleman is one who can control himself, his mind and his actions. This man will not only provide for the physical needs of his family, but will also lead them emotionally and spiritually. He is a man who loves God above all others. This man is a gentleman!

“A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.”

Dear Princess

Several weeks ago I finished up a great girls’ devotional, Dear Princess, written by a Mennonite woman. It really is an excellent book to help girls develop a beautiful, godly character. I’ve gleaned so much from this book, as I have read it for part of my devotions every morning and have tried to apply it to my life. I would certainly recommend it for young ladies!

I would like to point out a few things, however, that could become a problem. Being a Mennonite, Mary M. Landis believes in head-coverings. Some Christians have discovered this erroneous “doctrine” and put it into practice in their own lives. I wasn’t going to write about this, but since the subject has recently come up in our church, I thought I’d go ahead anyway. It seems to me that Christians love to quibble about things that really don’t matter. I’d like to talk about some things I’ve taken note of.

First off, some people say head-coverings are Biblical. Okay, Bible women are often portrayed in pictures with long mantle-like cloths over their heads. This was required according to Jewish Law. Note that this was Jewish Law--not Biblical Law; there is a very clear difference between the two, and they should not be confused (Titus 1:14). These Jewish mantles totally covered the head so that only the face was visible. Folks who believe in head-covering usually cover their heads with a little piece of cloth, really only covering their hair, which God says is the woman’s “glory” (1 Corinthians 11:15). If we are going to do this right (according to Jewish Law), then we really should be wearing more than a little head cloth. What is considered a typical head-covering today is neither Biblical, nor is it correct according to Jewish Law.

For some reason, Christians believe a head-covering is only needed in church. This is another thing I don’t understand. Head-coverings are supposedly supposed to show the woman’s submission to her husband and God. Is the woman only commanded to be in submission to her authority during the span of a church service? What about the rest of the week? If the head-covering is a true indicator of the woman’s submission, then a Christian woman ought NEVER, EVER to take it off! That means she must wear it even while washing her hair and when sleeping! Why would God have commanded a woman to wear something symbolizing something so very essential when she would have to remove it for daily living?

To be honest with you, I’m really not sure where Christians pull the head-covering idea out of the Bible. At times you would think Christians simply enjoy being contentious. Paul could not have been more clear in 1 Corinthians 11:15 if he had spelled out the words “NO head-covering needed.” “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” How can it be any more plain?

While some Christians make a big deal about head-coverings, other things truly important to the Christian life are sadly neglected. While some folks insist on straining over a gnat, the elephant-sized issues are totally ignored--things like daily quiet time (both personal devotions and family devotions), faithful church attendance, the wise spending of God’s money, tithing, soul-winning, getting our children saved, disciplining them…the list goes on and on. Let’s not major on the minor and minor on the major. I personally think people focus on the insignificant things, like head-coverings, so they can side step these things--that which really matters to God. If we are going to be holy, let’s really do it, and not just pretend. That’s what the Pharisees did, and Jesus sharply rebuked them for it.

People believe head-coverings symbolize submission. Let’s ask ourselves a few questions: Are we truly in submission to God? Do we really understand what submission is? Do our children understand what submission is? A child can’t understand a head-covering; after all, it’s just a piece of cloth. What a child does understand is how her mom responds to dad’s “commands” or requests. She understands the spirit of submission when mother happily complies without shouting and a big fuss. Mothers would be wise to invest the time it takes to put a head-covering on into making sure their little girls really understand what submission is by seeing it in action. Daddy is submissive to God. Mommy is submissive to daddy. Little girls are supposed to be submissive to mommy and daddy as they are submissive to God. Any woman can put a head-covering on, but not every woman wisely takes the time to teach her little girl to be submissive to her daddy so she will one day be submissive to her husband. Let’s major on that which is major!

Several years ago my family and I were visiting a church in the States during furlough, trying to raise more support. To our great discomfort, the church also had a country gospel group in. We were seated in the front row, right in front of these folks as they sang words (I’m sure they were good words, although I couldn’t hear them above the din of the “good, Christian” music accompanying them) to the wretched beat of the world’s music. To be frank, it was disgusting. After each song, the congregation clapped wildly. (I thought a special was sung for God’s glory--not for the glory of those “performing”? I’ll spare you the music spiel.) The one girl singing in the group was wearing a nice dress; I would have found it impossible to believe her music could be so…so godless. What I found almost humorous about this whole picture was that the girl wore a head-covering. Was the music she sang and her performance “on stage” showing her submission to God? No, on the contrary, for the music was anti-God, though the words were an attempt to please Him. This is a perfect example of how a woman can wear a head-covering and not be right with God according to His standards.

Another thing I want to point out about Dear Princess is that the Mennonites believe that any lace or ribbons (adornment) on a dress or even curling one’s hair is sinful. They get this from 1 Peter 3:3--“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel…” The next verse continues, “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Paul is stressing the importance of the attitude, not the appearance. He isn’t saying we should not look nice (use jewelry, wear clothing with lace and ribbons, braid our hair, etc.). While many Christians could use some help in the modesty department, the Mennonites believe in simple dress. I do respect this, though this verse should not be taken out of context. If we took 1 Peter 3:3 literally we wouldn’t be able to wear clothing, because Paul writes, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning…of putting on of apparel.” Obviously we are supposed to be clothed! In regard to jewelry, etc., Philippians 4:5 is recommended--“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” As Christ’s representatives, we are obligated to look clean and be well-dressed. Our clothing should be modest in every way. Make-up and jewelry are great--in moderation. We need to keep this before us.

Well, that’s all I have to say. Dear Princess is a wonderful book. Despite these issues, which are only brought up in one chapter (I believe), this devotional has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. Thank you, Mrs. Landis! =)

A Gentleman? No Way!

I’m still in disbelief! Yesterday, as Lydia and I existed a building, a man actually held the door open for us and wished us a nice weekend!!! Other than having my brother or Dad open and close the car door for me, I can’t remember the last time that happened. It’s sad that it made such a big impression on me; it should be normal for men to treat women like that.

Lydia, Josiah, and I were tossing the football yesterday, enjoying the last rays of sunlight, when our ball rolled into the street just as a car was coming. I hurried to rescue it and then waited on the sidewalk for the man to pass. He stopped the car and motioned for me to cross in front of him. Wow!

What was wrong with men yesterday? They must have forgotten that they are supposed to be rude. Rather, they aren’t supposed to be rude, but most are anyway. Maybe it was “Gentlemen’s Day,” the only day of the year that a man is required to act like a gentleman. (Hey, they have a day for everything else!)

Maybe it was the clothes that made the difference. I was wearing one of my favorite, extremely comfortable, A-line jean skirts. (I know it’s hard to believe, but I actually play sports in a skirt that touches the ground. It is possible!)

I have a theory: If women would start dressing like ladies, men might start acting like gentlemen! Now there’s a thought!

Whatever the case may be, it was nice to be treated like a lady.

Hint, hint…

The Foolishness of Fashion

I got a much needed haircut yesterday. I put off going to the hair salon for as long as possible. I can’t stand going there because of the worldly music, chatter, and the generally godless atmosphere. Anyway, my hair was bugging me so much that I finally just went. Mom needed to get a trim as well. I decided that since I’m 20, not a child anymore, I’d like to try a hairstyle for something different. I’m always being told that I look 2-3 years younger than my actual age, so I thought a style might help me look a bit more grownup. I got my hair layered, and it’s growing on me.

As always, the lady, sorry, woman cutting my hair talked about things that made my want to squirm in my seat. (I wish I could cut my own hair and be forever done with the place!) I wonder if anything registers in her mind when she’s laughing about something that’s not at all humorous, and I’m silent and unresponsive…? She knows we are Christians. I rejoiced walking out of that place, knowing one thing for sure ~I am not of this world! Praise God!!!

Well, Lydia couldn’t get her hair cut yesterday because Cottontail had to go to the vet, so the two of us rode our bikes the salon this afternoon for Lydia’s appointment. As the woman cut Lydia’s hair, she made comments about me getting my hair short with more layers next time. I always have to hear about this. Actually, when I told her yesterday that I wanted some layers she pretended to be shocked. She’s finally stepping into the 21st century, she must have thought. Yes, it is the newest rage to have butch haircuts and styles that look like one’s hair got caught in a machine and yanked out just in time. It’s also quite modern to look like you rubbed oil through your hair and started the day without using a brush. Well, sorry, I just don’t care for that look.

“But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” 1 Corinthians 11:15

I love long hair. Funny, the Bible calls long hair a woman’s glory, but here in Holland you are considered nerdy and terribly outdated if your hair is longer than shoulder length. Isn’t this what Satan’s goal is...to rob women of the glory befitting womanhood? That’s what the whole prostitution industry is all about ~tearing down the image of the woman, making it seem as though her only worth is to be a sex symbol. It’s filthy and repulsive! This is about as anti-God as it gets without forthrightly coming out and blaspheming His holy name. We were created in God’s image. As Christians, our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Should we dishonor Him by conforming to the image of this world?

As I looked around, I noticed that every woman in that hair salon had a butch haircut; they all looked the same. The first half of the hairstyling books were all models displaying the hair-caught-in-a-machine look, and the haughty expressions of the women posing seemed to radiate that they each thought their head was an absolute masterpiece! That’s like the modern art these days. You mix all the colors of the rainbow together into the shape of some unrecognizable object and suddenly you’re considered another Rembrandt or Michelangelo. The true beauty of creativity has been lost to us. A girl at the salon I went to last August was so used to doing these choppy-looking haircuts that she couldn’t even cut my hair in a straight line!!! Boy, that’s sad!

I’ve always said that as a general rule, if you’ve seen one Dutch woman you’ve seen them all ~the tight jeans, leather coat, head shaved like a man’s (the little hair that’s left is sure to be dyed), and a face caked in makeup. This isn’t just the style in Holland, although women look more unisex here than in any other country I’ve been to. This is a worldwide plague. It’s another one of Satan’s attempts to destroy what God has created.

God created man and woman, male and female, but Satan wants unisex. He wants women looking like men (the hacked hair and tight pants) and men looking like women (earrings, long hair, baggy pants). God says this is an abomination (Deuteronomy 22:5). He made two genders, and He wants our clothing to distinctly show the difference between male and female. However, the devil wants us all stereotyped into the image he has in mind, and he uses his fashion-enslave people to infect those who want to be different with peer pressure. I experience this pressure every time I step into that hair salon. You know, I’m tempted to grow these layers out just in rebellion to what is considered “in style.” I don’t care about style and what is considered “in.” If it’s modest and it’s “in” I’ll wear it, and when it goes “out” I’ll wear it too.

“London gets their fashion straight from Paris and Paris gets their fashion straight from hell.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

You know what’s really sad? One of the women in our neighborhood dyes her hair, little that there is, almost every week. From blond to red to brown, every time I see her it’s a different color. (She redecorates her house almost as often as she changes her hair color.) This is so sad. What an obvious display of the insecurities that lie hidden in her heart. When the joy of the Lord is ours, we needn’t toil over our outward appearance, for we all know that these mortal bodies will one day be laid in the dirt to decay. But where will the soul be then? What will it profit a woman if she gains the whole world ~all the makeup, the hair dye, the latest clothing~ and loses her own soul?
She will be remembered for her pretty face, but soon even that memory will grow dim and fade away. Character qualities and loving deeds create memories that endure forever. They are recorded not only in the mind, but by the heart, and leave a lasting impression that cannot be erased.

Beauty is only skin deep.

Poor Mom. As the woman cut her hair, she and I both had to endure the snide comments about Mom’s hair. Heaven forbid, she hasn’t colored it in a while, and the gray is actually showing! Trauma of traumas! I held my tongue, but I wanted to give our know-it-all hair cutter a piece of my mind. Is it really so important to have a head of perfectly styled hair all dyed and beautiful? Are looks really SO important?

Some of the most gorgeous women and handsome men are also the world’s first-class losers. (Rabbit Trail: Let’s take a look at our Hollywood “stars.” They are practically worshiped for the perfection of their faces and the attractiveness of their bodies, yet they are the youngest people in the world to die. How? Due to drug overdoses, etc., etc. Why? The multiple marriages, adultery, children born out of wedlock… One can only bear so much sin guilt before breaking under the strain. Truly, they must have wonderful lives to want to crowd out the memories with drugs and drinking, which, if done in excess, ultimately lead to death. No, the sad fact is that behind those smiling faces are some of the loneliest, most desolate persons on earth. From their hopeless lives and needless deaths we see that the glory of outward beauty does nothing to pacify the soul that craves forgiving Love…the endless love of Jesus Christ, which passes all human comprehension.)

Back to those gorgeous women and handsome men are also the world’s first-class losers… They know nothing of character. They know nothing of kindness. They know nothing of the truly important things of life, the things of the hidden man of the heart, the things that have lasting value. Their gorgeous faces are about as deep as their beauty goes. Shallow and proud are they, and of what? They had no input on the design of their faces and bodies when God formed them in their mothers’ wombs. They have “changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25) We have no right to take credit for our own beauty or unique characteristics. All glory belongs to God, and yet some insist on robbing Him of it.

Beauty is as beauty does.

As I listened to the woman prattle on and on about hair and the seeming life-threatening importance of having it just so (as Satan’s stereotype would require it to be), I silently contemplated what the Bible says about gray hair. Proverbs 20:29 says, “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.” (I’m sure that must go for older women as well.) Proverbs 16:31 says, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” Ahh! This proves my point exactly! Far better to have a gray head of hair and be righteous than lost and Hell-bound with a gorgeous head of colored, styled hair. While women scurry off to the hair salons and clothing stores, leaving husband and children to eat TV dinners, my mom cooks us delicious homemade meals every night. She teaches us daily with her life about the things that truly matter.

Interesting that the physical appearance of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 is never mentioned. The Bible never says “She is beautiful to behold,” yet God’s Word says that her price is far above rubies. The virtuous woman is compared with a gorgeous, red ruby, though her outward appearance is never told. The chapter only speaks of her deeds, and they are what make her beautiful in the eyes of all who know her. Beauty is as beauty does!

“The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

I refuse to allow the fashions of this world to enslave me. I am not ashamed to be different. I consider it an honor, as should all Christian women. We have been called to be holy into the Lord our God. We are to be separate from this world in every aspect of the word. I want to encourage you to not submit to the peer pressure all around. Beauty has nothing to do with hair, clothing, or a pretty face. Beauty is something that is accentuated by a strong character and a lovely spirit of obedience and submission.
Don’t become another one of Satan’s stereotypes. There are already more than enough. The Lord is looking for someone who will not bend with the heavy winds of fashion, but who will stand strong and determined to do right regardless of the whirl of stunning styles. Surely, the Lord will honor such a woman!

“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23, 24

Where There's a Will, There's a Way

Some woman say they can't play sports, ride a bike, or even clean in a skirt...


Here is one of those women now. She is about to plunge to her death in the rocky ravine below, because she "can't do anything in a skirt." It would be useless for her to attempt to save herself.
After all, if you have a skirt on, and you're virtually helpless!

P.S. A skirt has never hindered me from doing anything in the 20 years that I have been alive. I've never had need of a pair of pants. Where there's a will, there's a way! :)