Are you interested in the container or the contents?

Still on the issue of digging deep in relationships, this one is directed at the young men out there. I can't help but notice the poor choices many young men make today when it comes to relationships. Forget about relationships, many young men are the architects of situationships.

I met a friend for lunch a few weeks ago and while we were discussing, he abruptly said "i need a wife'. I was taken aback because I never penned him down as the type to want to get married, have a family, the whole nine yards... Anyway, after I got over my shock, I asked him what he wanted in a woman, perhaps I could hook him up with someone. He said "She has to be really beautiful facially, beautiful enough for me to stare at all day and show off to my friends." Well, understandable, even i don't want to end up with an ugly man (just saying). I smiled and waited to hear the rest of the textbook list ...'she must be godfearing, demon-fighting, satan-chasing and so on but he said no more. There was one thing on his list and it was beauty.

"Spelling Father" by Marshall Davis Jones

I came across this poem "Spelling Father" by Marshall Davis Jones. It sends home some bitter truths about the need for a father in a home and confusion in the minds of children when men think they can abandon fatherhood when they brought forth children into the world.

It is the Food for thought this Sunday morning. Watch the video below.

He shares the words with Upworthy. See below

last night
I had the most interesting dream.
in it
I was six years old
in a national spelling bee.
genius
complex words….
duodenum….
serendipity.....
floccinaucinihilipilification
.
up until the final round
one word between me and victory
the spell master clears his throat
young man your word is father
the crowd began to chatter amongst themselves
seemingly displeased

For full text, check the full article

Let's dig a little deeper ladies!

Like I promised at the end of my last post, ladies, you are up first!

This post was inspired by something I observed over the past few months during discussions with colleagues and friends. It's not news that women tend to discuss men when they are alone or having some girl time.

I noticed during these girl times, whenever one of us said "Oh I met this really hot guy!" The very next question would be "Does he have a car?" "Where does he work?" "How does he look?" By the way, if the answers to the first two questions are "Yes" and "A Fortune 500 company", the answer to the third question is insignificant. He can be old and scrawny or even have a spitting condition where every word of his speech is accompanied by a spit spray, it wouldn't matter.

Food for thought: do you dig deep?

I've been thinking about this a lot and I can't help but wonder why this generation of youths don't dig deep. In case you're wondering, my definition of digging deep here is not a laborious task that requires the use of farm tools, nor is it the in-depth study of the bible.

In this post, I'm referring to relationships. These days, I see many relationships crashing like it's 9/11 all over again and I can't help but wonder what the reason is. Why do we crash and burn before we even take off?

A recent discussion with a few friends opened my eyes and my mind and now, I believe I know what the problem is...the youths of today don't dig deep. I recently saw a picture with the inscription "These days, people aren't dating; they're sleeping together, catching random feelings and getting caught up in 'situation-ships'. I laughed when I saw it but I also knew there is 100% truth in it.

The Cool Christian???

Phil Robertson of the duck dynasty reality show was suspended from appearing in the very popular reality show indefinitely. This is because when he was asked in an interview with GQ magazine what he would term as sinful, he said "start with homosexual behaviour and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men." 

Many people criticised him for making a statement that was bigoted and anti gay.

One would naturally wonder why he is being castigated for voicing out his opinion which going by the Bible is not wrong. The world thrives on lies and, in recent times, the line between right and wrong has been blurred. What is sinful has become a matter of opinions and the society has a new glass through which things are viewed. 

Civilisation is as much of a curse as it is a blessing. In our day to day activities, we are caught up in various situations and as believers we are cornered into making compromises atimes just to conform to the norms of the society. It is even harder to practise what the Word says when one is a celebrity. One is sometimes scared of being termed 'uncool'.

Being a Christian doesn’t have to be about some ‘political’ correctness. The Bible contains codes we ought to live by and not even the world and her idea of how things ought to be should deter us from doing and saying what is right.

Sin doesn’t become less of a sin because the world around us tolerates it. Pointing something out as wrong doesn’t mean one is castigating whoever is in the wrong. 1st Peter 4:3-5

³ For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. ⁴ In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. ⁵ They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 

We need not conform to the ways of the world in order to look good in the eyes of other people. We are tasked with spreading the gospel and we can do this through our deeds and actions but if we become like them, how are we going to change them?

 We have no business being seen as cool and liberal when there are so many lives out there that needs to be saved. Our eyes should only be on heaven.

Merry Christmas from the Covenant Relationships team

Wishing you a very merry Christmas from the Covenant Relationships team.

May the joy of Christmas continue to dwell in your hearts and families. Amen

Faith.... Why is it so hard?

"Have faith", "Believe it and you can achieve it", "Faith is the secret to success"..... We have all heard the faith sermons and the many great philosophical sayings that are based on this subject. In spite of all these sayings, we often find ourselves in pieces, despondent and faithless when life offers us lemons.

Why is it so hard for us to have faith?

I was privileged to listen to a sermon by Rev. Marie Miller from Canada when she visited the church I attend and her message shed light on this topic.

Why is it so hard to have faith? The answer is simple! Logic! Logic keeps us from getting what we really want from God. What exactly do I mean?

These days, when we pray for a miracle, our mind immediately tells us it's impossible because it's not logical. Think about the ten lepers in the bible (Luke 17:11-19). They met with Jesus and he could see they were lepers. He didn't say "Be healed!" Instead he say "Go and show yourself to the priests. They immediately did as they were told and they were healed on their way. I imagine if Jesus bumped into one of us on the street today and said "Be on your way, it is well", we would look at him disbelievingly... Where's the laying of hands? The speaking in tongues and the visible shaking and rolling on the floor?

I imagine Prophet Elijah meeting one of us at a grocery store today like he met the widow of Zarephath (1Kings 17). Would we offer him a bit of the little we have left and believe God will take care of us or would we logically think "If I give one out of three, I'd only have two left?"

These days, our logic clouds our faith. We are a generation that tries to explain God's actions with logic. We want to understand our creator in all entirety. I always tell my friends "If God was small enough for us to understand, He wouldn't be big enough to worship".

It's time to let go of our logic and believe in our God's ability to change situations without any help from us. He is God all by himself, he doesn't need our two cents to make things happen.

Let's have faith like the centurion in Matthew 8:5-13. His servant was ill and he called for Jesus. While Jesus was on his way, he sent word to say "Lord, I don't deserve to have you under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed." Just say the word!!! What an amazing faith! He knew Jesus did not have to stand beneath his roof and cause the sun and moon to stand together for great things to happen! Just the word was enough.

As this year draws to an end, have faith that God can turn things around for the better simply by saying the word! It doesn't just help us get what we want from our Heavenly father, It also strengthens our relationship with Him (Hebrews 11). God bless you as you exercise faith and suppress logic where God is concerned!

Labour Pain Simulation on Two Men As The Wives Sit Nearby.(Ladies Will Love This)

Ladies,you are going to love this. I stumbled on this video and thought I should share.

The idea behind it is to make the two men in the video feel something close to labour pains. They are plugged to a machine for some electrode simulation on their stomach which is suppose to feel like the contractions women have during pregnancy labour. They are then attached to a contraction monitor. 

The best part is their wives are allowed to watch while sipping coffee.

(whispering) they have no idea what’s about to hit them .(ha ha ha ha ha)

Five Core Steps to Good Parenting – Dr Phil

Wondering if there is anything else you can do? Dr. Phil outlines five steps that can help bring you and your child closer together:

1. Plug In
Make a conscious decision to plug into your kid's world. You can't make assumptions about the critical choices that children have to make today because the world they are living in is different from the one you grew up in.

2. Spread the Word
When you talk to your children you've got to spread out your logic so that they can see why you're saying what you're saying. Research shows us that the amount of trouble kids get into is inversely proportional to the number of words spoken in the home. What that means is, the less you talk at home, the more trouble they get in outside the home.

3. Talk About Things That Don't Matter
How do you ever expect to talk to them about things that do matter if you haven't practiced by talking about things that don't?

Man relives his wife's memory through photographs with his daughter

I came across this story some days ago on how a man is reliving his wife's memories through photographs with his daughter.

IMAGE: MELANIE TRACY PACE, LOFT3 PHOTOGRAPHY

Ben Nunery lost his wife, 31-year-old schoolteacher Ali Nunery, to a rare form of lung cancer in 2011. She also left 1 year old Olivia behind.

This November, after two years on "a rollercoaster of emotions," as Ben described it, he and Olivia were ready to move out of the Cincinnati home they'd shared with Ali. But before they left, Ben wanted a way to remember the happy times they'd shared in the house. So he asked his sister-in-law Melanie Pace, a professional photographer, to take photos of him and his now 3-year-old daughter in their home.

Valuable Woman! Yes You!!! Know Your Worth!

“It is hard being a woman”….How many times have you uttered that statement? I know I can’t count the number of times I’ve said it myself. I have been exasperated so many times, I have fallen prey to temptation and many times I have considered throwing all my self-respect out of the window, all for the sake of getting a few moments of joy and satisfaction from the things that many others seemed to enjoy. I said to people that tried to caution me, “Don’t blame me; it’s the world we live in”.

Dear woman, no one doubts that being you is difficult. If it was easy then you wouldn’t be so special. It is time for you to see yourself the way God intended when he created you. When God created the world, he spoke words… “Let there be light”, “Let there be space between the waters to separate the waters of the heavens from those of the earth…” (Genesis 1:1- 24). Then God said “let us make man in our image” and he molded man from the dust of the earth….

The Miracle We Live

A lady posted on Facebook thanking God for seeing her through miscarriages and still births. I was taken aback by the unflinching faith I could sense between the lines she shared seeing as she is still expecting. Her gratitude to God was really inspiring and in that moment, It felt like I was back in time with the Psalmist and my own ungratefulness stared me in the face.

See, life’s blessings are in the little things. I hear people talk about experiencing and expecting miracles in the guise of surviving a hurricane or securing a well paying job with little or no qualification; and even when one is in the congregation of God’s people, one would probably not get a loud applause for thanking God for the SIMPLE gift of the ability to get out of bed every day.

We have conditioned our minds to the fact that miracles have to be about surviving a cancer or living to tell the tales of a huge war. Miracles need not be dramatic, we live a miracle every day.

The pour of sunshine through one’s blinds in the mornings that gently nudges one out to start a new day is miracle. The steady downpour of rain to water our seeds and keep us from hunger that is always so beautiful and humbling. Stepping out every day and taking steps that could very well be one’s last but assured in the promise of long life and guidance. I can’t say enough of God’s mercy and faithfulness.

What's giving all about?

These days when people hear the word 'give', they immediately imagine an action that is detrimental to their health, their wallet and their well-being in general. Young men complain about giving; comments like "she's my girlfriend, not my daughter" is at the tip of their tongues. Young women believe it's the man's duty to give while they hoard everything and shine. Afterall, the man is the provider and protector.

Sadly, in some marriages, the act of giving is not practised. It's either one partner is doing all the giving and the other all the receiving or both partners aren't willing to give anything at all.

First of all, what is giving all about and why is it so important in relationships? When many of us hear that word 'give', money is the first thing that springs to mind and being a generation full of people that want to prove that we're 'smart and NOT available to be taken for a ride', we ruin our relationships mostly by our unwillingness to give anything.

In a relationship, giving is not just about gifts and money, it's emotional too. If you can't give your partner, your parents, your child the attention, love and care that they need, you're robbing the relationship of its chances to succeed!

Think about your relationship with God for a moment; many of us often fall out of sync with God when we are distracted by life's problems or carried away by our pride in self-sufficiency. The less attention we pay to that relationship, the less likely it is to blossom into anything.

Think about a woman and a man on a date; one person is talking while the other is busy 'phubbing' (phone- snubbing), what will those two have learnt about each other at the end of the date? Nothing!

Credits: spacecoastliving.com

We need to apply the same principles to our relationships with friends, family members and our chosen partners. The lack of emotional availability on the part of anyone can either ruin the relationship or result in a relationship that is endured by the other person and not necessarily enjoyed.
The act of giving emotionally is not the only important part of giving. Gifts are very important too. Ladies take note: the act of giving gifts is not a one way street! In a relationship, both parties should be willing to give. Someone once asked me why I believe giving gifts in a relationship is so important and my answer was simple- It shows your appreciation of your partner. It doesn't have to be the latest Roberto Cavali or the most expensive Marc Jacobs; small thoughtful gifts count too. You don't have to wait for a birthday or valentine's day because that's giving out of obligation. Every other day should be 'gift day'... A scripture to brighten their day, a song that uplifts the soul, a strong word of encouragement, a picture frame, a little antique, a home-cooked meal served with love....all these are gifts that are more likely to show your partner how much you appreciate and love them.

You can give without loving but can you love without giving? A young lady once lamented to me that her fiance was not a giver. He always told her to wait till he pays her bride price before he starts to give. Not once did he buy her a tiny wrap of bubble gum, not to mention anything remotely thoughtful. My advice was simple... I asked her if she was familiar with the letters R.U.N.

Let's Talk About Homosexuality

Are there times you wonder about God’s measurements of sin? If like us He holds some sins at certain degrees? Well, we know the answer to that is NO. As Christians we know sin has no degree, one is either with or without sins and there are no in betweens.  Christianity as we have it today is a lot different from what it used to be. The society has changed and many things that used to be frowned at are seen as normal in the name of civilisation (or maybe not). I am not one to point fingers but I must confess some things befuddle me.

The other day I read there is a Christian cult in Hollywood where they talk to people about Jesus while having sex with the person. Now, we all don’t need to engage in long debates to know that it is unacceptable and outrageous to preach Christ in that way. The book of 1^st Corinthians is very clear where it is stated that ‘our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit’ and even the secular world would raise her nose to such perverted acts. While I am tempted to dwell on how lightly some people have taken the things of the spirit, I am going to let it pass for now and just go on to the subject of the day.

These days the church is conflicted on issues like homosexuality . The very liberal Christians don’t think there is anything wrong with being gay while the more conservative ones are against the idea. In fact it is normal to see gay accommodating churches all around in some places in the US and other parts of the world. We hear of gay pastors and ministers and one naturally wonders what the bible says about this act.

Homosexuality is condemned in the book of Leviticus in chapters 18:22 and 20:13:

18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

20:13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

While some might argue that this is the Old Testament when the laws ruled and that we are in the New Testament now, one ought to bear in mind the words of Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans in chapter 1 verses 26 and 27:

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

It is very vivid what the position of the bible is in relation to homosexuality but just like other sins such as fornication and adultery , whoever engages in this act, needs to repent and find his/her way back to God. Those found wanting among us need not be alienated. In encouraging them in the Lord, I bet they can find their way back to the Truth in the Word.

As stated in the book of 1^st Corinthians chapter 6 vs 9-11

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We should always bear in mind that the bible is our guide as Christians and as God’s children; we need to always obey His word.

WestJet Christmas Miracle: real-time giving. Be careful what you wish for.

An airline asked what its passengers wanted for Christmas. Little did they know that their wishes would be granted.

Some people asked for socks and underwear. A family asked for a big screen TV.

Watch and See... It has already garnered over 12 million views since it was put up 4 days ago.

Be ready to receive this Christmas. Anything can happen.

Life Lessons to Teach Kids Before They Leave Home - Joel Peterson

I came across this post by Joel Peterson, Chairman, JetBlue Airways. Stanford Business School. I do feel it is necessary to be aware of these lessons as Parents so that you can teach your children before they leave home.

As a parent, I've felt the temptation many times to sit my kids down and drill them on life’s important lessons – especially the ones I had to learn the hard way. But this approach can be a fool’s errand; we all know kids insist on making their own mistakes. My admonitions wouldn't have worked on them any better than my parents’ lectures worked on me.

If you’ve come to the same conclusion, though, don't despair: there’s still a way to get through to them. Your kids are always taking mental notes, even when you’re not looking. Like it or not, your actions are at the core of what your kids will take with them into their adult lives. Seen through their young eyes, what you say and do in your own life will be the example they retain in spite of themselves.

What Does Christmas Mean To You?

I was staring at the skies today and I could argue that I saw a unicorn, I wondered if another person would have agreed with me though. I

t would have been interesting to hear all the things you think the cloud formed. It is one of the times I am reminded just how much life is about perspective.

Talking about perspectives, what does this time of the year mean to you. Does it mean partying and spending all the money you have been saving up since January? Is it your time to reach out to family and friends and tell them just how special they are? Or do you think it is like any other day and you can’t wrap your head around the excitement associated with the period?

We celebrate God’s love for us every day but it is around this time that we are reminded of the extent of His love and just how deep the love He has for us is. It signifies the restoration of hope and above all it is the reminder of an unquantifiable love for a people undeserving.

A boy learns how to care for a woman from the way his father treats his mother

Credits: thelmadomenici.com

People often wonder where guys learn how to treat ladies. I do believe that every man primarily learns of how to care for a woman from his parents. A man in his childhood is easily influenced by the way his father treats his woman.

A boy who sees his father talk gently to his mother will learn to talk gently to other women also. 

A boy who helps around the house will also learn that it is not beneath him to help out with the chores around the house. 

A boy who sees that his father can cook and also cooks sometimes in the house will not be held ransom to food in his house when he grows up. 

A boy who never sees his father raise his hand to hit his mother is not likely to do that when he grows up.

Fathers really need to know that they are responsible for the actions of their sons. They need to teach them the right way to behave. Boys who see their fathers treat their mothers  with respect and deal with conflict within the relationship in an adult and appropriate manner are more likely to understand how they are to treat women and are less likely to act in an aggressive fashion toward females.

Overcoming Financial Problems In Marriages

Photo Credit: womanonthefence.com

A friend of mine told me the girl he was dating wanted to know how much he was earning. He felt that was a little over board and that that didn’t make him comfortable around her. He asked what my opinion was and before I answered, I remembered asking him specifically how long he had been with the girl and telling him I assume they were planning to get married some time. It’s been a while since we discussed that but my mind roamed back to that discussion of ours and I feel a need to discuss the issue of finance in relationships and marriages. This post embodies my opinion on finances in relationships and marriages.

Individuals make up couples and it is very important to note that we all are from different backgrounds. Love is an integral part of a relationship but there are other things that make it work. Understanding and trust are also of prime importance. Finance is a very sensitive issue and most couples walk on eggs around it. To have a blissful marriage, the issue of finance has to be approached with tact.

The Happy Marriage Formula by Gloria Copeland

Gloria Copeland

“Love endures long and is patient and kind....Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person.... Love never fails...” (I Corinthians 13:4-5, 7-8, The Amplified Bible).

Husbands and wives, I want you to know that walking in love with one another is the bottom line to a good marriage.

The old saying, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander” applies in marriage. To have a happy home, you both must develop a habit of walking in the love of God. It is what will cause your marriage to be blessed. It is what will cause you to have a good life—a life worth living.

God desires for your life and marriage to be like days of heaven on earth. And that is possible...when you do things God’s way and obey His commands

I know it’s possible because Ken and I have been married more than 43 years, and we have never been happier! The longer we live together, the better it gets because we have come into agreement about the way we live our lives. We see things the same way now—almost everything!

The result is truly days of heaven on earth.

Ken and I desire for you to have that, too. We desire for you to have a happy, blessed home and family. We want to encourage you to know that it is possible when you apply the principles found in the Bible.

How will you like to be remembered? What would your eulogy be?

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” - Nelson Mandela

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” - Nelson Mandela

In these last couple of days, some notable people have passed on. These deaths often make me wonder if most people realise that one day, it would be their turn.

Paul Crouch the founder of Trinity Broadcasting Network recently passed away at the age of 79. He will be remembered for setting up a network to spread the word of God. TBN reaches every major continent via 84 satellite channels and over 18,000 television and cable affiliates around the world. He celebrated 40 years of TBN ministry this year

Paul Walker unfortunately passed on last week Saturday in a car accident which claimed his life at the young age of 40. Most people remember him as the blonde quite guy that acted on the "Fast and Furious" franchise.

Just last night, the death of the former President Nelson Mandela was announced by the current President Jacob Zuma. He is remembered for his fight against Apartheid Africa, equality for every person irrespective race or colour. He is remembered for the ability to forgive his jailers even though he was incarcerated for 27 years in his country. As I write this post, the world is still giving eulogies about the greatest South African that ever lived.

The Importance of Confidence

If you have played any close attention to life at all you would have noticed how important confidence really is.

I'm not just talking about confidence in yourself, I'm talking about confidence as a whole. When you know you are supported by something bigger than yourself, that you are loved, that you have the right to stand up for yourself. The kind that comes from knowing who you are.

How do you get this? There are so many sources, I assure, but the major source has to be loved - not in a romantic sense but the sense that makes us rely, believe in and appreciate the God who put little tiny stars in the constellations. The thing about confidence is that it gives you freedom and a path, freedom and responsibility because you can bask in the knowledge that God knows us and loves us whether we know it or not.  God's love is amazing.

It all started when I told her about my past. She doesn't trust me anymore

I know when all this started. It all started when I told her that I employed the services of prostitutes before I got married. Now she thinks I run after any thing in skirts. She does not believe that I can have any decent conversation with any female neighbour. How can I get her to trust me again? I wish I had not told her about my philandering past.

This was a plea from a desperate husband who was keen on salvaging his marriage from the throes of distrust.

I do believe and advise that all tales must be told before marriage. Both parties should understand that if one party decides to take a walk, it is because that party cannot handle this information. This means that the party would take it even more seriously after marriage. If you are truly ashamed of some things that may have happened before you met the lady you are thinking of marrying, speak to God about it. I do assume that you would have already repented of the sin before God.

Are Christians Allowed By The Scripture To get Tattoos?

Living in the world as it is now is a great challenge for most Christians. Most times, one tries hard not to conform to the ways of the society and it is no news that the line between what is right or wrong is blurred. Christianity seems to have so many faces these days and people just choose whatever brand of the religion that appeals to them.

Christianity is a way of life and it is not just about believing in Christ, it also entails acting like Christ as Christ is the model for the church. To be more like Jesus should be a Christian’s main ambition. Bearing this in mind, you all would agree that Christians around the world are conflicted as to how some things ought to be done. One major area of such conflicts is getting tattoos. This is not an academic piece so I am not going to go into the definition of tattoos and its history. Tattoos have always been from time immemorial and were popular among the ancient tribes long before now, however they have gained more popularity outside tribes and are more accepted secularly these days.

 

I watched an episode of Preachers of LA and a minister of God was considering getting a tattoo and that got me thinking about the general acceptance of tattoos especially among Christians. Despite its recent popularity, there are still many people that turn their noses at the sight of tattoos on other people’s bodies. Some perceive it as a sign of notoriety. I am liberal minded enough to know that we are more than what we have outside and that our mind is what counts.

I understand however that one can’t rely on common sense all the time when it comes to the things of the spirit, so I am going to share with you what the scripture says about tattoos. Before I delve into it, note that one can find places in the scripture that are both for and against the inscription of tattoos.

Leviticus 19:28 states that ‘Ye shall not make any cuttings in you flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you, I am Lord.’ This scripture is cited most times by anti tattoo Christians. I would have gone into details explaining this scripture but that would make this post very long and academic, I would love to point out however that this part of the scripture has nothing to do with tattoos as we have it today. The ones talked about in the above scripture are the ones gotten to mourn the dead which was the practice among the heathens of those times. Tattoos, as we have it today, is more of a fashion statement.