Presentations

Were awesome! 

Everybody did a great job providing the major theme of their books in a way that was so fun to watch!

Acts group had an amazing movie. I am technology challenged (hence the puppet show), so I am very impressed with how well it all came together. It had a great flow from scene to scene, and when the topic switched, the group provided us with the information needed. Great acting too :o)

Jonah and the Fish/Whale was also hilarious. I liked the simplistic over view of the material, while still making it entertaining. Tai= very handsome fish. 

 While doing our group presentation, I learned a lot about the Song of Solomon. Mainly about the distinction between the meanings of the words and who the words were meant for. I can understand the relationship between God's love for the people, but honestly, all those lovely and intense images are hard to place on Israel. For me, I think it is just some erotic poetry. A good break from the normal story time and I enjoy that it turns the heat up a little. Maybe there is a little influence from our friendly muse Erato in there. But in any case, as Dr. Sexson said, the words in Song of Solomon are difficult to read with out feeling a little of that emotion. Those words are powerful. 

Set me as a seal upon thine heart,

as a seal upon thine arm: 

for love is strong as death.

Who wouldn't want to have those words spoken to them?

My Bad Day

It all started with the snow... I woke up, realizing that I only had a pair of ballet flats to wear that day. Not the ideal shoe for a day with 18 inches of snow that is accumulating more snow by the second. Then, I am late for my class because I slept too long. Usually I drive to class because parking tickets have now reached an outrageous amount, but today the snow plow had plowed my car in. I had to recruit help to even get my door open to get the books I needed. Then I started the long walk to school, slip sliding my way in clothes that are not mine, and far too large. After classes, I walked back, taking the same dangerous route as before. Only to get back a car still covered in snow that I had to dig out, in order to return home, where a driveway covered in 2 feet of snow waited to be shoveled. 

I suppose the day was not my worst, however the bad events resulted in a couple days of soreness, which extended my bitterness. The good parts was helping a lot of people become unstuck in the roads. Its always a good feeling to give it your all and help someone get out of a bind. 

Job's was definitely worse...

Ten Commandments.

It seems odd to me that throughout the building of the Tabernacle and all the robes and everything is so focused on material items. The words Gold and Pure Gold are seen in almost every line. I thought that materialism was more of a Pagan belief rather than a Christian belief. Just an interesting thought...

Also I found this video that I am sure most people have seen, it is Mel Brooks' version of the Ten Commandments

There is the link, I do not know how to post the actual video clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk&feature=related

Laws, Laws, Laws

As of Chapter 20 in Exodus, all I am getting is an abundance of Laws. And they are all super confusing. I don't know if anyone else feels the same, but it seems like you are allowed to hit people as long as it is with a certain tool and its the right person. I am so lost. If I lived in this time period and had to abide by these laws I would need to keep a bulleted list with me at all times. There are so many different laws for the same topics, and they are all just slightly different... God is certainly asking a lot of his people.

This is my favorite so far...

You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live.

Female sorcerer? Ha ha ha

The Journey Thus Far

Reading the Bible has been an interesting ride so far. I have just gotten to where Moses and the Israelites are free from the Pharaoh, but the Israelites are complaining of being hungry and thirsty. 

I have found that it is hard to figure out how to work Plotz into this. When I read Plotz before the Bible selections, I find that I understand what is going on better, but I also approach everything in a rather cynical view. The class discussion of this helped me a lot, but I still don't know what to think of Plotz. I agree with him, I mean, why did he harden the Pharaoh's heart so many times? That seems a little extreme, but maybe it makes sense when you take a step back and look at it as the better story? Where's a story with out a little conflict right? 

I am becoming more and more please with the reading material in the Bible. It becomes easier and easier to understand and also more enjoyable. I know this will probably come to an end soon, but so far, I am more pleased than I originally thought I would be.

Truth vs. Fantasy

In the world of stories, mythos, logos and ethos. Which matters most? Truth or the better story? What good is a tale full of history and honesty, if no one will read it. It is the fantasy stories with adventure and made-up creatures that make a story worth reading. 

I once sat in on a class when I was younger with my older sister. The class was all about 'the better story.' 

There is a man and a little boy, the man leaves the room and tells the boy he must not touch the light switch on the wall while he is gone. The little boy does not touch it.

Where is the story? There isn't one. BUT if the little boy does touch it and is carried away into far away lands and learns secrets of days gone by, then we have a story. Probably a very very good story. 

This is the Bible so far to me. I have almost finished Genesis and this is one of the better parts. Joseph and his brothers. The characters have depth and I can understand what is going on. It is a good story.  

Genesis.

As I have been reading through Genesis, I am realizing that I am in need of a flow chart. It is impossible to keep up with who has which sons and how long each of them lived. I am hoping that all of that information is trivial, but who knows?