Hi Everybody!! Happy Holidays and much well deserved rest to all!!
I found an interesting piece of info to share!
*12 Days of Christmas*
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this card as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love.
The four calling birds were for the four gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke & John.
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six geese-a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans-a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
The eight maids-a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness & Self-Control.
The ten lords-a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
Class is over, but life learning, thank you Goddess, continues on!! Sweet Times to All! Jeanie*
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
soul growth
12/16/09 Bible Blog 2
Wow! Here it is, the thing that's been nagging at me about the whole human condition of isolation re: race & religion. I had read Frye's comments a few times, but today I think I see it ; p. 232, where he puts it more clearly to what my question is:
“From our present vantage point we can characterize this conception of original sin more precisely as man's fear of freedom and his resentment of the discipline and responsibility it brings.”
Now I ask if this maybe is my question, “Is the human soul much as a human child, as in the way it develops? Infancy, toddler, childhood, adolescence, young adult, mature adult, elder?"
So let me take a whack at this idea for a minute. I'll guess that humans as a species, are possibly in the adolescent stage at least, I hope! It rushes into a discipline that it soon grows resentful of, just like an adolescent trying to grow into the adult.
That probably means I won't see much apocoliptic revalations (other than in my own mind!!),in my lifetime in the way of more outstanding group soul progress, but as long as we keep our integrity with ourselves and each other, progress is assured. That's what is important to me, anyhow. Okay, I'm done; this is a subject best discussed in person. Happy Safe Holidays!
Wow! Here it is, the thing that's been nagging at me about the whole human condition of isolation re: race & religion. I had read Frye's comments a few times, but today I think I see it ; p. 232, where he puts it more clearly to what my question is:
“From our present vantage point we can characterize this conception of original sin more precisely as man's fear of freedom and his resentment of the discipline and responsibility it brings.”
Now I ask if this maybe is my question, “Is the human soul much as a human child, as in the way it develops? Infancy, toddler, childhood, adolescence, young adult, mature adult, elder?"
So let me take a whack at this idea for a minute. I'll guess that humans as a species, are possibly in the adolescent stage at least, I hope! It rushes into a discipline that it soon grows resentful of, just like an adolescent trying to grow into the adult.
That probably means I won't see much apocoliptic revalations (other than in my own mind!!),in my lifetime in the way of more outstanding group soul progress, but as long as we keep our integrity with ourselves and each other, progress is assured. That's what is important to me, anyhow. Okay, I'm done; this is a subject best discussed in person. Happy Safe Holidays!
Whatzup wit dat?
12/16/09 Bible Blog
As I continue this last week of the semester with the studies of Lit -240, and read more of the Bible than I ever thought possible for me to accomplish, one question keeps nagging me for an answer.
I mean, does anyone else think this?! I'm not sure what exactly my gripe is except, what's with all the ethnic 'snobbery' with Jews?? I'm beginning to think they are the root of all racism! Why? Because the Bible is full of rules about keeping the Hebrews genetically clean of other human races/religions. Am I wrong to question this sort of mentality? To me it doesn't feel very 'Christian-like, as the saying goes, not like a win-win situation for all concerned, and time has proven that it is not. (Anyway, what about the gene pool?)
Just today in the news, Israel and Palestine are fighting again, actually throwing rocks at each other because they don't want to share the planet with each other's belief systems. How arrogant we humans are; where will it all end?!
Seriously, Hebrew or Christian or Muslim or whatever; they all snub humans of other religions and races. I thought that most major religions were all preaching about THE ONE TRUE GOD?! Or is that for only their one true God? Where is the logic in that? Where is the Love?!
And so I also ask, if there is to be only one God for all the world, no matter how they dress him, (I say him because I do accept that we live in a patriarchal world right now), that's saying that all men of all religions and races were created by this one God; all men of all religions/races are the same re: equal. No matter if we agree with them and their foreign beliefs, they too were created by the same God and therefore must be afforded the same respect as does all of God's creation.
Is it too much to ask of us to treat one another as we would our selves wish to be treated? Are we not taught this golden rule, and in so many translations of human religions!?! Why by golly, yes, that is indeed a historical fact.
Why has everyone been so freaked since the history of the Bible, about mixing things up? It happens anyway; biracial/bi-religion couples have been creating families for eons, and we're all still here growing and learning. I think that the different mixes of people and religions give us more of a variety of colorful people, colorful ideas and imaginations, and the opportunity to share all the human insights of God. Something wrong with that?
Maybe all the races and all the religions will mix and become one, and then we'll be all done with wasting time and energy on skin color and worship practices. We would then have no choice but to get on with the concerns of the 'one' people of the same shade and the same praises for the one true Creator of all that is.
Merry Christmas and Blessings on You & Yours! Jeanie*
As I continue this last week of the semester with the studies of Lit -240, and read more of the Bible than I ever thought possible for me to accomplish, one question keeps nagging me for an answer.
I mean, does anyone else think this?! I'm not sure what exactly my gripe is except, what's with all the ethnic 'snobbery' with Jews?? I'm beginning to think they are the root of all racism! Why? Because the Bible is full of rules about keeping the Hebrews genetically clean of other human races/religions. Am I wrong to question this sort of mentality? To me it doesn't feel very 'Christian-like, as the saying goes, not like a win-win situation for all concerned, and time has proven that it is not. (Anyway, what about the gene pool?)
Just today in the news, Israel and Palestine are fighting again, actually throwing rocks at each other because they don't want to share the planet with each other's belief systems. How arrogant we humans are; where will it all end?!
Seriously, Hebrew or Christian or Muslim or whatever; they all snub humans of other religions and races. I thought that most major religions were all preaching about THE ONE TRUE GOD?! Or is that for only their one true God? Where is the logic in that? Where is the Love?!
And so I also ask, if there is to be only one God for all the world, no matter how they dress him, (I say him because I do accept that we live in a patriarchal world right now), that's saying that all men of all religions and races were created by this one God; all men of all religions/races are the same re: equal. No matter if we agree with them and their foreign beliefs, they too were created by the same God and therefore must be afforded the same respect as does all of God's creation.
Is it too much to ask of us to treat one another as we would our selves wish to be treated? Are we not taught this golden rule, and in so many translations of human religions!?! Why by golly, yes, that is indeed a historical fact.
Why has everyone been so freaked since the history of the Bible, about mixing things up? It happens anyway; biracial/bi-religion couples have been creating families for eons, and we're all still here growing and learning. I think that the different mixes of people and religions give us more of a variety of colorful people, colorful ideas and imaginations, and the opportunity to share all the human insights of God. Something wrong with that?
Maybe all the races and all the religions will mix and become one, and then we'll be all done with wasting time and energy on skin color and worship practices. We would then have no choice but to get on with the concerns of the 'one' people of the same shade and the same praises for the one true Creator of all that is.
Merry Christmas and Blessings on You & Yours! Jeanie*
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Book of Job
The Attitude of Gratitude
Who was is that said “Yahweh gave, and Yahweh hath taken away; blessed be the name of Yahweh.” I'm more familiar with “God giveth, and God taketh away” ;but it was Job that said that, right after his wife advised him to curse God and die! Boy, was she ever demanding!!
I suppose I have to give her some room to be human, after all, unbeknown to her or faithful Job, Satan made a wager with God that Job would lose his perfect faith if he lost his property and family. And when that did not take Job's faith, he was overcome with skin-sore diseases, black leprosy, deadly and loathsome in other men's minds because the Hebrew mind believed if you were struck down with bad things, God was punishing you for something.
Job is the first of five books commonly referred to as the 'books of poetry', because of their poetic style of narrative. Most of it reads like a poem and can be as difficult to understand. The other books include Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes are also known as the 'wisdom literature,' because the teachings within are the real 'hot sheets' for getting your life in order.
Solomon, Isaiah, Hezekiah, and even Job have all been suggested as the author of the Book of Job, but Jewish tradition teaches that it was Moses.
Here is something I read and found to be an interesting insight to pass on to you; a summary written of these five 'books of poetry' by a Scottish minister and teacher, Oswald Chambers (1874-1917).
Job - How to suffer
Psalms - How to pray
Proverbs - How to act
Ecclesiastes - How to enjoy
Song of Solomon - How to love
I chose to do my Bible Literature final paper on the Book of Job because at the time, I was feeling like I was being tested by God, in fact our whole class seemed to be getting a taste of Job, so I thought the timing was right for the Book of Job. I know that we all have our 'days of Job'; just think back on all the challenging events this one class has dealt with this very semester. I had low grade fevers for three weeks and still coughing, my oldest son fell from a ladder and broke his collar-bone, my youngest got thrown out of rehab for allowing the kid's father to visit, and there's more, there's always more, isn't there!?! Sounds campy, but bear with me, this is the Book of Job I'm talking about, and that's some pretty dramatic out of the ordinary happenings that happened, and to only one person, me..., I mean Job.
A little background on Job:
The name Job is derived from an Arabic word describing 'repentance,' (how befitting!).
Book of Job is fundamentally the inner experience of one man.
Job was a prosperous, yet pious Hebrew landowner, who had health, wealth, family and honor, he was distinguished far and wide; He feared God, was obedient to his religion, and turned away from evil.
It's been suggested that the Book of Job is not a real narrative, but artificial, or even an allegory; hence the sacred numbers three, five and seven; seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, seven sons, three daughters, three friends sat with him seven days and seven nights.
Throughout Job's trials, he kept a constant attitude of worship.
a. He offered burnt sacrifices to God when he thought his children 'may have sinned.'
b. When he was told all his children and possessions were gone (Ch1:20), “Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head (extreme move for a Hebrew), and fell on the ground and worshiped.” (Over head or Ppt)
“ Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job's wisdom was tested when his wife suggested 'he give up the goat,' he asked her “Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?”
In my life, I discovered that when I count my blessings and I am grateful for what I have, my life just flows easier.
Job and his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu discussed the question about why innocent people suffer.
Job curses the day he was born, but never curses God. His friend Eliphaz reminds Job how he was patient for others, but now impatient with himself; that his fear of God is his confidence, and Job's integrity of his ways are his hope.
His friend Bildad assures him (Ch8:20), “See, God will not reject a blameless person, nor take the hand of evildoers.”
His friend Zophar admonishes him (Ch11:9), “Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.”
His friend Elihu rebukes him, proclaims God's Justice, condemns self-righteousness, exalts God's Goodness, and proclaims God's Majesty.
With all their talk, they believed Job guilty of something.
The Lord answers Job, and he is humbled and satisfied
Job's friends are humiliated by the Lord (Ch 42:7); “for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”
When Job had prayed for his friends; (Ch 42:10), “...the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” He had a thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys; he also had seven sons and three daughters and lived another one hundred and forty years to see his children, and his children's children, four generations.
Job rose from the depths of spiritual gloom and doubt to a new dawn of insight and faith, and (Ch42:17), “...died, old and full of days.
For me the themes and lessons in the Book of Job have to do with:
The sovereignty of God
How to be a comfort to others
Remaining faithful to God in times of distress
Our attitude toward suffering is important
Have faith that God's ways are perfect, even if we don't comprehend them.
This semester I learned that the Bible is a book of stories whose intent is to teach the human race about their past. Comprehending the Bible teachings affords you the ability to apply this knowledge to your own personal and contemporary life. And remember to be grateful.
Who was is that said “Yahweh gave, and Yahweh hath taken away; blessed be the name of Yahweh.” I'm more familiar with “God giveth, and God taketh away” ;but it was Job that said that, right after his wife advised him to curse God and die! Boy, was she ever demanding!!
I suppose I have to give her some room to be human, after all, unbeknown to her or faithful Job, Satan made a wager with God that Job would lose his perfect faith if he lost his property and family. And when that did not take Job's faith, he was overcome with skin-sore diseases, black leprosy, deadly and loathsome in other men's minds because the Hebrew mind believed if you were struck down with bad things, God was punishing you for something.
Job is the first of five books commonly referred to as the 'books of poetry', because of their poetic style of narrative. Most of it reads like a poem and can be as difficult to understand. The other books include Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes are also known as the 'wisdom literature,' because the teachings within are the real 'hot sheets' for getting your life in order.
Solomon, Isaiah, Hezekiah, and even Job have all been suggested as the author of the Book of Job, but Jewish tradition teaches that it was Moses.
Here is something I read and found to be an interesting insight to pass on to you; a summary written of these five 'books of poetry' by a Scottish minister and teacher, Oswald Chambers (1874-1917).
Job - How to suffer
Psalms - How to pray
Proverbs - How to act
Ecclesiastes - How to enjoy
Song of Solomon - How to love
I chose to do my Bible Literature final paper on the Book of Job because at the time, I was feeling like I was being tested by God, in fact our whole class seemed to be getting a taste of Job, so I thought the timing was right for the Book of Job. I know that we all have our 'days of Job'; just think back on all the challenging events this one class has dealt with this very semester. I had low grade fevers for three weeks and still coughing, my oldest son fell from a ladder and broke his collar-bone, my youngest got thrown out of rehab for allowing the kid's father to visit, and there's more, there's always more, isn't there!?! Sounds campy, but bear with me, this is the Book of Job I'm talking about, and that's some pretty dramatic out of the ordinary happenings that happened, and to only one person, me..., I mean Job.
A little background on Job:
The name Job is derived from an Arabic word describing 'repentance,' (how befitting!).
Book of Job is fundamentally the inner experience of one man.
Job was a prosperous, yet pious Hebrew landowner, who had health, wealth, family and honor, he was distinguished far and wide; He feared God, was obedient to his religion, and turned away from evil.
It's been suggested that the Book of Job is not a real narrative, but artificial, or even an allegory; hence the sacred numbers three, five and seven; seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, seven sons, three daughters, three friends sat with him seven days and seven nights.
Throughout Job's trials, he kept a constant attitude of worship.
a. He offered burnt sacrifices to God when he thought his children 'may have sinned.'
b. When he was told all his children and possessions were gone (Ch1:20), “Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head (extreme move for a Hebrew), and fell on the ground and worshiped.” (Over head or Ppt)
“ Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job's wisdom was tested when his wife suggested 'he give up the goat,' he asked her “Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?”
In my life, I discovered that when I count my blessings and I am grateful for what I have, my life just flows easier.
Job and his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu discussed the question about why innocent people suffer.
Job curses the day he was born, but never curses God. His friend Eliphaz reminds Job how he was patient for others, but now impatient with himself; that his fear of God is his confidence, and Job's integrity of his ways are his hope.
His friend Bildad assures him (Ch8:20), “See, God will not reject a blameless person, nor take the hand of evildoers.”
His friend Zophar admonishes him (Ch11:9), “Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.”
His friend Elihu rebukes him, proclaims God's Justice, condemns self-righteousness, exalts God's Goodness, and proclaims God's Majesty.
With all their talk, they believed Job guilty of something.
The Lord answers Job, and he is humbled and satisfied
Job's friends are humiliated by the Lord (Ch 42:7); “for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”
When Job had prayed for his friends; (Ch 42:10), “...the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” He had a thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys; he also had seven sons and three daughters and lived another one hundred and forty years to see his children, and his children's children, four generations.
Job rose from the depths of spiritual gloom and doubt to a new dawn of insight and faith, and (Ch42:17), “...died, old and full of days.
For me the themes and lessons in the Book of Job have to do with:
The sovereignty of God
How to be a comfort to others
Remaining faithful to God in times of distress
Our attitude toward suffering is important
Have faith that God's ways are perfect, even if we don't comprehend them.
This semester I learned that the Bible is a book of stories whose intent is to teach the human race about their past. Comprehending the Bible teachings affords you the ability to apply this knowledge to your own personal and contemporary life. And remember to be grateful.
being human
12/9/09 Bblog
The days are darkened too early in the numbers of time,when all I crave is more of His Light.
His Light is the essence of His Love supreme, full of all the comforts that mean,
we are His and Worthy. Worthy to take His comfort once more, knowing He is All That Is.
The days are darkened too early in the numbers of time,when all I crave is more of His Light.
His Light is the essence of His Love supreme, full of all the comforts that mean,
we are His and Worthy. Worthy to take His comfort once more, knowing He is All That Is.
Monday, December 7, 2009
stories
The Bible is a book of stories whose intent is to teach the human race about their past. We are taught that comprehending the Bible teachings affords you the ability to apply this knowledge to your own personal contemporary life.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
12/2/09 Bible Blog
While reviewing for a Com110 quiz I came across info in the class text ch. 9 on Ethics (!), about the proverbial 'Golden Rule'. Mentioned religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, and Judaism. All the religions agree on the 'Golden Rule' re: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,;but to my surprise, Judaism says that is the whole truth, the rest is commentary! Pretty simple, huh!?!
While reviewing for a Com110 quiz I came across info in the class text ch. 9 on Ethics (!), about the proverbial 'Golden Rule'. Mentioned religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, and Judaism. All the religions agree on the 'Golden Rule' re: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,;but to my surprise, Judaism says that is the whole truth, the rest is commentary! Pretty simple, huh!?!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Bible Notes to self
1st day/ God created ‘Light’, day & night
2nd day/ God created the ‘sky’
3rd day/ God created the grass, the trees, and plants with seeds (maybe that’s where the idea of the ‘immaculate conception’ came from!)
4th day/ God created the moon, stars and the sun
5th day/ God created the creature of the earth & sea, and he blessed them to grow in numbers
6th day/ God created man and woman, and for them to rule over the earth
7th day/ God went out for pizza with Adam and Eve.
2nd day/ God created the ‘sky’
3rd day/ God created the grass, the trees, and plants with seeds (maybe that’s where the idea of the ‘immaculate conception’ came from!)
4th day/ God created the moon, stars and the sun
5th day/ God created the creature of the earth & sea, and he blessed them to grow in numbers
6th day/ God created man and woman, and for them to rule over the earth
7th day/ God went out for pizza with Adam and Eve.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
11.22.09Blog 2
I was talking to my friend Danna Goldhaber from back east, a born and raised practicing Jew, about her views on the subject of the Book of Ruth. Here's some of what she said.
“Ruth married into the religion, but just like a good birth-born Jew, Ruth suffered, and suffered, and suffered some more. Her mother-in-law Naomi, a natural born Jew, helped Ruth, a natural born Gentile, fit into the family by making her feel as guilty as any other Jew of the day.”
I do like it when my friends don't take themselves too seriously!!!
I was talking to my friend Danna Goldhaber from back east, a born and raised practicing Jew, about her views on the subject of the Book of Ruth. Here's some of what she said.
“Ruth married into the religion, but just like a good birth-born Jew, Ruth suffered, and suffered, and suffered some more. Her mother-in-law Naomi, a natural born Jew, helped Ruth, a natural born Gentile, fit into the family by making her feel as guilty as any other Jew of the day.”
I do like it when my friends don't take themselves too seriously!!!
Preparations
Preparations
I like the idea of a hand-out with perhaps a synopsis from our 'group' on the Book of Ruth in regards to our presentation, as it can be a great help to the class in prep for the final exam. I feel that it's important to the Ruth group, that our efforts help bring to light what this 'Bible story' can offer to you, in the way of human insights.
I like the idea of a hand-out with perhaps a synopsis from our 'group' on the Book of Ruth in regards to our presentation, as it can be a great help to the class in prep for the final exam. I feel that it's important to the Ruth group, that our efforts help bring to light what this 'Bible story' can offer to you, in the way of human insights.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Blog 11/15/09
We of 'The Ruth Group' have a pretty fun presentation put together and I'm excited to be having so much fun with this class. The kids understand the book of Ruth inside and out, and bring interesting insights to conversation. For instance, when Shelby suggested that we be certain to use Ruth's speech to Naomi about not parting from her, the 'book' took on more color to me. How human and tenacious of Ruth to cling to her mother in law so. It's just that I have touched into many depths of emotion because of this tiny Bible chapter of Ruth; depths and levels of thought I didn't know I had, so know that I am grateful for this opportunity.
We of 'The Ruth Group' have a pretty fun presentation put together and I'm excited to be having so much fun with this class. The kids understand the book of Ruth inside and out, and bring interesting insights to conversation. For instance, when Shelby suggested that we be certain to use Ruth's speech to Naomi about not parting from her, the 'book' took on more color to me. How human and tenacious of Ruth to cling to her mother in law so. It's just that I have touched into many depths of emotion because of this tiny Bible chapter of Ruth; depths and levels of thought I didn't know I had, so know that I am grateful for this opportunity.
Blog 11/14/09
I have said before how new to blogging I am, never did it before this class. One thing that has impressed me so much is the depth that some of the students go into, about their personal circumstances. It seems that our personal trials, in so many ways, draw parallel to what we are studying in the Bible. Dr. Sexon, is that part of your diabolical plot to get us super-interested in the Bible? Get us to spill our guts about personal things, so we can relate better to the Bible? Well, I think it's working! This morning, while still laying in bed, I was motivated to do some blog review. Go figure, it's how I start my Saturday. Anyway, I am very touched by Natalie's 11/10 blog about her father and while I'm sure that she shed tears while writing it, I did also as I read through the warmness of her honest love for her Dad . I was so touched by her depth of expression in her feelings about the loss of her Dad, her friend & protector! I feel like she created an understanding of her grief and loss.
Natalie, my heart goes out to you, and I want to share with you that I believe we have our beloved ones with us anytime we think of them intentionally with love in our hearts. It can take awhile to switch that 'loss' feeling for another one of gratitude and joy in the fact of having had that person's love in your life in the first place, and know that love is never lost! There remains the joy for life, keep the love and joy for life flowing, I think it is the foundation for LIFE.
In my last blog I talked about my choice for a final paper as being on the book of Job, in part due to some of my own life trials. I realize that I am not alone in figuring how to cope and deal with challenging trials, and that we all get these opportunities to be tested, as is so well exampled by what Natalie shared in her blog of 11/10. I can also draw correlation of Natalie's experience to the book of Ruth, because of the great human emotions that keep us so wonderfully connected, faithful and in need of family; the willingness & loyalty to family! The great struggle of Ruth not to loose her connection with family, her dead husband's mother, her 'mother', Naomi. Natalie understands something very deep within herself, as did Ruth after she lost her husband and had to make the difficult choice to move on, not forget, but to rise up for a greater cause. Now, here is where I get to be the 'Crone' and praise your wisdom for one so young; young in years, yet wise in mind and heart. Here is where I want to tell you that what you are feeling is naturally the best way for you to heal and grow from this challenging life experience. Remain true to your inner center, be the loving, giving, caring human being that your parents intended you to be, that you already are, and remain here on the planet for your duration, so that the rest of us have opportunity to learn from your love. Thank you*
I have said before how new to blogging I am, never did it before this class. One thing that has impressed me so much is the depth that some of the students go into, about their personal circumstances. It seems that our personal trials, in so many ways, draw parallel to what we are studying in the Bible. Dr. Sexon, is that part of your diabolical plot to get us super-interested in the Bible? Get us to spill our guts about personal things, so we can relate better to the Bible? Well, I think it's working! This morning, while still laying in bed, I was motivated to do some blog review. Go figure, it's how I start my Saturday. Anyway, I am very touched by Natalie's 11/10 blog about her father and while I'm sure that she shed tears while writing it, I did also as I read through the warmness of her honest love for her Dad . I was so touched by her depth of expression in her feelings about the loss of her Dad, her friend & protector! I feel like she created an understanding of her grief and loss.
Natalie, my heart goes out to you, and I want to share with you that I believe we have our beloved ones with us anytime we think of them intentionally with love in our hearts. It can take awhile to switch that 'loss' feeling for another one of gratitude and joy in the fact of having had that person's love in your life in the first place, and know that love is never lost! There remains the joy for life, keep the love and joy for life flowing, I think it is the foundation for LIFE.
In my last blog I talked about my choice for a final paper as being on the book of Job, in part due to some of my own life trials. I realize that I am not alone in figuring how to cope and deal with challenging trials, and that we all get these opportunities to be tested, as is so well exampled by what Natalie shared in her blog of 11/10. I can also draw correlation of Natalie's experience to the book of Ruth, because of the great human emotions that keep us so wonderfully connected, faithful and in need of family; the willingness & loyalty to family! The great struggle of Ruth not to loose her connection with family, her dead husband's mother, her 'mother', Naomi. Natalie understands something very deep within herself, as did Ruth after she lost her husband and had to make the difficult choice to move on, not forget, but to rise up for a greater cause. Now, here is where I get to be the 'Crone' and praise your wisdom for one so young; young in years, yet wise in mind and heart. Here is where I want to tell you that what you are feeling is naturally the best way for you to heal and grow from this challenging life experience. Remain true to your inner center, be the loving, giving, caring human being that your parents intended you to be, that you already are, and remain here on the planet for your duration, so that the rest of us have opportunity to learn from your love. Thank you*
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Buddy Job
Being sick sure stinks. It seems like the semester is racing by, and when your out of commission for a few days, it doesnt make it any easier. When talking with Dr. Sexson about my final term paper project, I shared with him a couple of “family” issues that I was experiencing. We agreed that especially with some of my life experiences that I just might relate well to Job. After all, he was tested and tested and tested once again. While he never gave up, he certainly felt like “What the F! I have been at that cross road too many times over my lifetime. I have not had body blisters unless you count psoriasis, While I may not have been the perfect embodiment of human virtue as was Job, I have led a good life I believe and I have had my share of personal trauma and near death experiences. Then with 5 kids, just imagine the challenges. This past week, I had issues with two of my kids. I thought they were grown up. Well as I continue to be tested, Job will remain as a guiding light for my reflection on how bad things can really get. At any rate, I am hanging in there with my good buddy Job.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Believe the Bad Days Are Over*
By the time I got into my 40th decade of this embodiment, I felt a need to 'revamp' my life outlook. With occasional reminders from a dear friend, (it took about 3 years of daily attention), I learned to refocus my attitudes by appreciating every good, positive, helpful and enlightening event in my day. It does become a matter of intention and when I became more aware of my own intentions, I began to think more critically about other people's intentions. There lies another chapter that unfolded in my life events, but that's another story. My point is that we can learn to recondition our own responses by intentionally being in the present. An attitude of gratitude is definately what works on this planet. My attitude adjustments take daily attention and I don't always remain in the 'present', but it does do a whole bunch to iron out life's creases and take heavy burdens from my shoulders.
So enough philosophy, I can still speak of the bad things, I just choose not to most of the time. Last Thursday the 16th, was bad because I started running a low grade fever that continued for 7 days. Now it's like recovery from a cold, and I'm still coughing. Midterms throughout all of this made for more than one bad day, certainly challenging. Well on the mend now, everyday is better. Jeanie*
So enough philosophy, I can still speak of the bad things, I just choose not to most of the time. Last Thursday the 16th, was bad because I started running a low grade fever that continued for 7 days. Now it's like recovery from a cold, and I'm still coughing. Midterms throughout all of this made for more than one bad day, certainly challenging. Well on the mend now, everyday is better. Jeanie*
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Oh yeah, that awful poem
I understood the Susanna story and it validity, but not the poem about it by Wallace Stevens. His head was sure in a wierd place and I would have to google other people's understanding of the poem just to pretend I got anything from it's very text. Big yuk from me on that. Good night.
'like' thinking on Job,dude
The trials of Job were surely horrendous because of all he endured. Loosing your stuff can be one thing, but when you lose your health, you also lose some of your mind. I think you lose a 'presense' of mind when your ill because a part of you has to tend to what is ailing. The body makes demands on the mind and the brain to 'fix' or take care of what is no longer functioning properly and so you have lost some of your mind, hopefully only temporarily.
Take 'like' this past week for me; I've been sick since last Thursday evening, low temps everyday since, bad cough now a runny nose. I mean all this hinderence to the 'work' of being a full time student in the midst of midterms, that it is quite the trial to 'keep the faith' that I will be a successful student at the end of this semester. So much instruction to remember and assignments to process that it can drive a twenty year old over the edge! I ponder why God chose me for the auduous task of continueing education for myself at this age, in this run down, sick, and tired, broken down body, and for no pay! Couldn't someone invent the 'chip'?! {Idea I have of subjects of worthy study chips that can be easily and painlessly transplanted into your brain fo instant knowledge in the desired area. Just a thought I toy with over the years!} Yes, one must have the 'patience of Job' sometimes just to make it through a day; yet, as we learned in class the other day, Job had no patience, but he did pray. So, I'd like to change that to having the 'faith of Job', in that it all comes out in the wash anyway, it's just how you play the game. Bible literature is starting to look 'like' fun.
Take 'like' this past week for me; I've been sick since last Thursday evening, low temps everyday since, bad cough now a runny nose. I mean all this hinderence to the 'work' of being a full time student in the midst of midterms, that it is quite the trial to 'keep the faith' that I will be a successful student at the end of this semester. So much instruction to remember and assignments to process that it can drive a twenty year old over the edge! I ponder why God chose me for the auduous task of continueing education for myself at this age, in this run down, sick, and tired, broken down body, and for no pay! Couldn't someone invent the 'chip'?! {Idea I have of subjects of worthy study chips that can be easily and painlessly transplanted into your brain fo instant knowledge in the desired area. Just a thought I toy with over the years!} Yes, one must have the 'patience of Job' sometimes just to make it through a day; yet, as we learned in class the other day, Job had no patience, but he did pray. So, I'd like to change that to having the 'faith of Job', in that it all comes out in the wash anyway, it's just how you play the game. Bible literature is starting to look 'like' fun.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
P & J is sounding good about now!
After reading Haley's blog of 9/22, it was fun to think about the P & J writer's who seemingly started this whole thing on the multiple writers in the Bible. Haley said that the idea of multiple writers was new to her too. It didn't dawn on me what Genesis 1 and a Genesis 2 could have such phenominal dinamics! This astounds me because of how oblivious I was about even the remote possibility of multiple writers. As I have mentioned before, I was raised Catholic, and I know that I opened Bibles and read some before, but attending this class actual opened my mind to many more perspectives of "the good book." Today, I am more satisfied reading the Bible closer as a study, than any of my other classes, because it leaves me in a different state of mind, a different mood that leaves me feeling 'full'. Anyway, I agree with Haley about the 'P' Priestly writer being logical and repetitive, somewhat scientific, can be tedious and chronological and bulletted. And the 'J' Jaweh writer has got a more literary quality and lyric style of story telling. Here's a thought on that I haven't thunk before; Maybe 'J' was a feminant male. Or a homosexual.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Bible in 50 Words
Found these on cliffnotes and had fun with it:
God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Jacob fooled
Joseph ruled
Bush talked
Pharaoh plagued
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Judges led
Saul freaked
David peeked
Kingdom divided
Prophets warned
People exiled
Hope rose
Jesus born
God walked
Anger crucified
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained
Then I gave it a shot!:
God bade
Adam ate
Noah rowed
Abraham parted
Jacob fowled
Joseph royaled
Pharaoh phlemed
Sea mirrored
Tablets read
Promise ground
Judges first
Saul froze
David perved
Kingdom amok
Prophets yelled
People gone
Hope grew
Jesus came
God pedestrianed
Anger killed
Word arose
God maintained!
Peace Out*
God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Jacob fooled
Joseph ruled
Bush talked
Pharaoh plagued
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Judges led
Saul freaked
David peeked
Kingdom divided
Prophets warned
People exiled
Hope rose
Jesus born
God walked
Anger crucified
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained
Then I gave it a shot!:
God bade
Adam ate
Noah rowed
Abraham parted
Jacob fowled
Joseph royaled
Pharaoh phlemed
Sea mirrored
Tablets read
Promise ground
Judges first
Saul froze
David perved
Kingdom amok
Prophets yelled
People gone
Hope grew
Jesus came
God pedestrianed
Anger killed
Word arose
God maintained!
Peace Out*
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
God's Face God's Ass
Was it full frontal or only the moon?
From the 'New American Bible' (online) Exodus 33:11 "The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face as one man speaks to another."
From the 'The Skeptics Annotaed Bible' (online) Exodus 33:20-23 "...and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."
From the 'New American Bible' (online) Exodus 33:11 "The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face as one man speaks to another."
From the 'The Skeptics Annotaed Bible' (online) Exodus 33:20-23 "...and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."
Susanna and the 'Ugh Poem'
Interesting story. I looked up the passage in a few different bibles and came to realize that it isn’t in all Bibles and its in different places in different books. Doesn’t make it very easy to find. Anyway, honestly I really don’t get much connection between the story in the bible and it’s connection to the poem. A tad to deep and off center for my taste. The bright side is that I now know the Susanna story and it is a good one. I think the Hebrew spelling is Shoshanah (Jerry Seinfeld's girlfriend's name, and their both Jewish!); a modern spelling is Sosana, a Tiberian spelling is Sosanna. The story teaches us it’s best to presume innocence, while facts are reviewed! This story also gives more insight into the young Daniel, and his early view of justice.
BTW – I think I left one of my hard cover Harper Collins in the classroom on Tuesday….if anyone happened to find it.
BTW – I think I left one of my hard cover Harper Collins in the classroom on Tuesday….if anyone happened to find it.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Catching up
Hi Everybody! I think this thing is on? Hello, hello!check, check! How about that Genesis, huh? A Gen.1 and a Gen. 2.
And how does it happen that a person, me, raised in the Catholic faith; priests, nuns, the whole thing... Catholic boarding schools, one year Perochial and years of Sunday Mass with my Grandmother; how did I so fully miss the boat on comprehending basic stuff about the 'Bible'? I'll simply surmize to the fact that my home environment didn't support all the dogma that I was taught by the Catholic church, while away there all week long. My single mom was very busy at working two jobs in order to support her four children and although mom demanded respect for anything about church, we didn't pray at meals or before bed, or have discussions about the religion. I think my mom thought that was the job of the church boarding school. My grandmother and I were the only two interested in going to church on Sundays, so we'd walk hand in hand together the whole six blocks every Sunday! I loved it. I felt real happiness and some kind of sence of satisfaction and desired the weekly connection to 'God".
What DID the Catholic church teach me while I was still a child?
Let's see, Eve was bad and Adam was in charge of everything. We all know he wasn't to blame for the apple, I mean fruit thing. We know that was Eve's fault. Cain killed Abel because he was jealous, yet he lived to old age with wife(s) children.
Oh yeah, I made my first 'Holy Communion', age 7 I think. It was so wonderful, I got to wear a pretty white dress and even a white veil. I was marrying Jesus, no God, anyway, I got to choose a Holy Communion name to add after my first and middle names. A special day, but it didn't mean much more than that to me!
I may have been 9 when I got to dawn another white dress, just like a bride, and a beautiful white veil. Another name I chose to add to my own for the rest of my life. Now I boast three middle names! Still no large understanding of the whole ceremony thing, I ldid enjoy it all just for the gaudiness and beautiful music! I like to mention why my bros and me were in a boarding school. After some close calls by babysitters, mom decided her children safer at a Catholic boarding school.
In the 1960's, living life as a girl child under the Catholic domain, had a lot of limitations. Maybe I created those limitations through what was expected of me as a good Catholic girl, but whatever it is, if you were raised Catholic you also got the priviledge of sharing in the curse of the Catholic guilt!
No one ever pointed out any differences to me on the Gen1 and Gen2 stories, and I went to Catochism(sp?) where I was told more childlike stories. The stories never seem to make sense to me, I couldn't tell when what happened to who, or is that whom?? There was a lot of Latin used then, too bad I was not bilinqual.
I feel like I only got a 'childized' story of Adam and Eve. The mark of Cain wasn't explained or embellished in anyway and was not interesting enough for me to ask for more information. Although, I recall being scolded not to question, just believe. That's what you're supposed to do, just believe. Well, it took a few rebukes and then I got it... don't ask, and the nuns and priests would be happy. That was one of my first disappointments in those 'people' in that church. It sent a clear message to me that they didn't think I was worth the time to answer my questions.
Residule emotional effects like this may be considered "Catholic Guilt". After all, it's my fault that I was such a clueless Catholic. Right?
How did the Torah ever get into the Bible? That's Hebrew stuff!! Not one time did I ever hear the word Torah uttered by a nun or a priest, and I was around a lot of them, I lived with them. And how come I haven't ever noticed the lists of other religous Bibles right in the front of the book like a page of contents?
Before Lit 240, I thought that the Bible(Old Testment&New Testament), and the Hebrew Torah were two, very seperate things!
Now the white veil has been lifted from my naive eyes! Thanks to Lit 240, I have seen the light!
From the first day of this class, I have been redirected in the ways of the Bible that is akin having help at putting a big, complicated puzzle together.
page xxxi, Jewish Bibles The Torah:
1-Genesis, 2-Exodus, 3-Leviticus, 4-Numbers, 5- Deuteronomy
And there is more; the Jewish Bible includes the 24 books of the Hebrew scriptures called the Tanak, the Jewish Prophets and Writings
Protestant Bibles: includes the book of Hebrew scriptures!! What? Their Protestants! Why do they have Hebrew Scriptures? Confusing!
Protestants also have the Old Testament and the New Testament, which I thought was the Catholic Bible. So how come all these other religeons have the same doctrines? Since the time I realized that all the world's religeons were shoving the same stuff at each other, I thought that we should all take our doctrines down to their simplest forms, notice how they all speak the same message, and begin our journies together on one, all emcompassing path back tothe Godhead. Later*
And how does it happen that a person, me, raised in the Catholic faith; priests, nuns, the whole thing... Catholic boarding schools, one year Perochial and years of Sunday Mass with my Grandmother; how did I so fully miss the boat on comprehending basic stuff about the 'Bible'? I'll simply surmize to the fact that my home environment didn't support all the dogma that I was taught by the Catholic church, while away there all week long. My single mom was very busy at working two jobs in order to support her four children and although mom demanded respect for anything about church, we didn't pray at meals or before bed, or have discussions about the religion. I think my mom thought that was the job of the church boarding school. My grandmother and I were the only two interested in going to church on Sundays, so we'd walk hand in hand together the whole six blocks every Sunday! I loved it. I felt real happiness and some kind of sence of satisfaction and desired the weekly connection to 'God".
What DID the Catholic church teach me while I was still a child?
Let's see, Eve was bad and Adam was in charge of everything. We all know he wasn't to blame for the apple, I mean fruit thing. We know that was Eve's fault. Cain killed Abel because he was jealous, yet he lived to old age with wife(s) children.
Oh yeah, I made my first 'Holy Communion', age 7 I think. It was so wonderful, I got to wear a pretty white dress and even a white veil. I was marrying Jesus, no God, anyway, I got to choose a Holy Communion name to add after my first and middle names. A special day, but it didn't mean much more than that to me!
I may have been 9 when I got to dawn another white dress, just like a bride, and a beautiful white veil. Another name I chose to add to my own for the rest of my life. Now I boast three middle names! Still no large understanding of the whole ceremony thing, I ldid enjoy it all just for the gaudiness and beautiful music! I like to mention why my bros and me were in a boarding school. After some close calls by babysitters, mom decided her children safer at a Catholic boarding school.
In the 1960's, living life as a girl child under the Catholic domain, had a lot of limitations. Maybe I created those limitations through what was expected of me as a good Catholic girl, but whatever it is, if you were raised Catholic you also got the priviledge of sharing in the curse of the Catholic guilt!
No one ever pointed out any differences to me on the Gen1 and Gen2 stories, and I went to Catochism(sp?) where I was told more childlike stories. The stories never seem to make sense to me, I couldn't tell when what happened to who, or is that whom?? There was a lot of Latin used then, too bad I was not bilinqual.
I feel like I only got a 'childized' story of Adam and Eve. The mark of Cain wasn't explained or embellished in anyway and was not interesting enough for me to ask for more information. Although, I recall being scolded not to question, just believe. That's what you're supposed to do, just believe. Well, it took a few rebukes and then I got it... don't ask, and the nuns and priests would be happy. That was one of my first disappointments in those 'people' in that church. It sent a clear message to me that they didn't think I was worth the time to answer my questions.
Residule emotional effects like this may be considered "Catholic Guilt". After all, it's my fault that I was such a clueless Catholic. Right?
How did the Torah ever get into the Bible? That's Hebrew stuff!! Not one time did I ever hear the word Torah uttered by a nun or a priest, and I was around a lot of them, I lived with them. And how come I haven't ever noticed the lists of other religous Bibles right in the front of the book like a page of contents?
Before Lit 240, I thought that the Bible(Old Testment&New Testament), and the Hebrew Torah were two, very seperate things!
Now the white veil has been lifted from my naive eyes! Thanks to Lit 240, I have seen the light!
From the first day of this class, I have been redirected in the ways of the Bible that is akin having help at putting a big, complicated puzzle together.
page xxxi, Jewish Bibles The Torah:
1-Genesis, 2-Exodus, 3-Leviticus, 4-Numbers, 5- Deuteronomy
And there is more; the Jewish Bible includes the 24 books of the Hebrew scriptures called the Tanak, the Jewish Prophets and Writings
Protestant Bibles: includes the book of Hebrew scriptures!! What? Their Protestants! Why do they have Hebrew Scriptures? Confusing!
Protestants also have the Old Testament and the New Testament, which I thought was the Catholic Bible. So how come all these other religeons have the same doctrines? Since the time I realized that all the world's religeons were shoving the same stuff at each other, I thought that we should all take our doctrines down to their simplest forms, notice how they all speak the same message, and begin our journies together on one, all emcompassing path back tothe Godhead. Later*
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
New to the Blog World
Hello Prof. Sexton, Well, here is my futile attempt at entering this 'blogging crazy' world. Looking forward to this very challenging class!
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