Choice Reading

Poetry
Choice reading #1
http://www.sterlingschools.org/shs/stf/jbarnh/poetry/eop3.htm

Summary: The passage explains the difference between a metaphor and simile and gives an example of a poem using metaphorical language. A metaphor is comparing two unlike objects using a conjunctive verb and a simile is similar, but is comparing two unlike objects using “like” or “as” to conjoin them in a sentence.

            I chose this text to learn more about metaphors and similes. While reading the poem I was able to relate it to my life and how you just have to push through even when it is hard. The poem talks about how life is hard and compares it to stairs. There are tacks and splinters in the stairs which symbolizes that there are hard times in life and issues that we have to deal with, but we have to keep pushing on. It seems as if the author was poor and was talking about having to live in a house that might not have been well furnished or even have carpet. But they just kept going and reaching the landing in the stairs, which could be interpreted as goals to reach. Turning corners in the stairs could represent obstacles that one must face and have to take a different route then planned. Going in the dark where no light has been could be going blind into situations or trusting that things are going to work out in the end, but we have to just press on and not turn back. Just keep going because life will not be easy. This poem is pertinent to everyone’s life and it really hit me that when we go through hard times or troubles, we may want to quit and give up, but we have to press on and get through it. No one’s life is easy and we all go through hard times, but the important thing is that we learn from our life experiences.

Encountering the Old Testament
Choice Reading #2

Summary: Joshua was the successor of Moses and one of the two spies who came back from Jericho believing that they would be able to conquer it because of God. Joshua led the Israelites into the promise land and led them into battle to take over all of the cities in that area, the main city being Jericho. The Israelites followed God all the years that Joshua was their leader, but after they began worshiping foreign gods.

During this chapter, I kept my focus by referring to my background knowledge and what I have read from the Bible about Joshua.  I read this chapter not only because it was assigned for me to read, but also to gain more insight to the book of Joshua. I love the fact that God rewarded Joshua and Caleb for having faith in God even when everyone else did not believe. They were the only two from the original group that made it into the promise land because everyone else had sinned against God and did not trust that He would take care of them. It is a continual reminder that we need to always have faith in God and know that he will take care of us. Also, if God reveals something to us, God will help in making everything work out because it is a part of his plan. Joshua resembles another character that we as Christians need to mimic. He tells the next generation everything that God has done in the past for them and reminds them to keep the faith. As Christians we need to prepare the next generation so that they believe in God also. We need to tell them everything that God has done for us and train them and teach them in the ways of the Lord.

Ashes to Fire devotional
Choice Reading #3

Summary: Ash Wednesday is a wake-up call that life is transient and that we need to put our lives into perspective. We need to look back on the basics and see that Jesus calls us to listen, deny ourselves, and to come together corporately during this time. The devotion explains what Ash Wednesday is and what churches normally do during this time.

This section comes from a devotional that I am reading for the Lent season. When I was reading, it was easy to stay focused because I had a purpose and that is to deepen my relationship with the Lord and learn more about the reasoning behind this season. The devotion brings up the basic but important reminder that God is always with us and we do not have to walk the journey in this world alone. It is so comforting to know that every step of the way God is with you and he will protect you and guide you all the way through. Life is difficult and it is never going to become easier. We are always faced with trials and temptations, but God is coaching us all along and is providing a way out. Gaining a perspective on life helps us realize how big God really is and how small and unknowing we are. We have to humble ourselves and realize that we should not be in control of our lives, God needs to take the upper hand and clean up the mess that we have created. The Lent season is a time where Christians fast from something so that they can rid the distractions in their life and focus on what God is wanting. During this process we must be silent and listen to his instruction. So often all we want to do is talk about what we want to do or ask questions or ask God to do something for us. We do not take the time to listen because we cannot hear God’s voice if we are always talking.  


Ashes to Fire Devotional
Choice Reading #4

Summary: The devotional talks about how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil after he had been fasting for forty days. Satan temps Jesus by telling him to turn stones into bread so that he can eat. After Jesus respond with it is written man cannot live on bread alone, Satan then temps Jesus by asking him to prove himself to be powerful. Jesus responds by saying do not put the Lord your God to the test, then Satan saying that if he just bows down to him, Jesus could have everything that he sees. Jesus then responds by saying worship the Lord your God only. After this the devil left and the angels came and attended to him.

            I read this devotion because it goes along with the season of Lent. I want to grow in my relationship with the Lord and learn more about what God did in his lifetime.  It was interesting to see how the devotional showed that Jesus was really tempted. I always thought that it really was not a temptation for Jesus what Satan was asking him to do. But the devotional talks about when Satan tells Jesus to turn the stones into bread, it was a temptation because if Jesus died because of starvation, how was he supposed to become the messiah and do his Father’s will. The next thing that Satan tempted Jesus with was to show that he is all-powerful by throwing himself off the mountain and commanding his angels to come and protect him. By doing this, everyone would see how powerful Jesus was and worship him. But Jesus’ reply was do not put the Lord your God to the test. Lastly, Satan tells Jesus the fight between them would be over if he would just bow down and worship him. The Father would not have to know, the cross is a horrible way to have to save the earth, just by simply bowing down to Satan could solve it all, but Jesus replied, it is written worship the Lord your God only. It is important to see that Jesus was really tempted and it was not something easy for him to overcome like a lot of the time we think. He was tempted just like we are, but he did not fall into it.

Dorm Stereotypes

Choice Reading #5

Foley Caleb (2012, March 16). Stereotypes for residence halls stay persistent through the years. The Lance, pg. 6.

Summary: This article talked about the different stereo types in each of the dorms on Evangel’s campus and how even throughout the years they have always stayed the same.  Some of the students in the dorms do not mind their stereotype, but others feel that they are not true.

I read this article because it looked interesting and funny. It was easy to read because I was able to relate to it throughout the article and was able to laugh about it. I agree that the stereotypes for each of the dorms are true, even for my dorm. Most of the people in each of the dorm are exactly what the stereotype is because you tend to hang out with people who are like you and have similar interests. What I find really interesting, is even with the new freshman coming in, the stereotypes still stay the same. I guess the housing department can figure out what type of person someone is by the survey they take to find a roommate. It makes since to put a sporty person with another sporty person.  There would be clashes if they but music and sports people together. The dorm placement also has a lot to do with the stereotypes because the sports people are near the Mabee Center and the artsy and music people are near the Fine Arts building. The south side is the artsy, studious people and the north side is the sports people and the people that really do not care very much about school. They are just here to have fun and get to know some people.

John 6:25-59

Choice Reading #6

Summary:  In these verses, Jesus is saying that unless you eat of his flesh and drink of his blood then there is no life in you, but if you do do this, then you will have eternal life. He tells them that he has food that they will never become hungry again and a drink that you will never thirst again.

I read this as part of my devotions and it kept me interested because I could really see an imagery and understanding of what the verses meant. Most of the time when we hear about eating the body of Christ and drinking his blood it is referring to communion. I always thought of that before, but this time as I was reading I had a new revelation. When Jesus is talking about eating his body, he is talking about reading and studying the Bible. When this idea came to mind, John 1:1 came to mind that backed my thinking. It says, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.”  This verse is saying that the Bible is God, because the Bible is all about God and what he has done throughout history. The drinking of the blood of Christ is, knowing Christ and having a relationship with him. Blood is the life source of the body and Jesus is the life source in our lives and without him, we are dead. We need to soak as much of Jesus up and follow in his character and stature. In order for us to have eternal life we need to eat up his word and learn more about him. We also need to accept Christ so that he lives within us and gives us life, just like blood does. These verses also talk about how if you have not accepted Christ, then you will never be full and will always be hungry and searching for things to fill you. But only Christ can fill you forever and in order to be full you must eat of his body and drink of his blood.  

John 9:1-12

Choice Reading #7

Summary: These verses tells a story about a man who had been born blind and Jesus came and placed mud on his eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. After which he was able to see and people began questioning him about who had healed him and if he really had been blind before.

The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned that caused this man to be born blind. Jesus replied that no one had sinned, but rather this mad was born blind so that the Lord could be glorified.  Some things in our life just happen either to teach us something or to glorify God, rather than because someone has sinned. Some people feel that they are being punished when they go through tough circumstances because of something they did, but that is not the reason they are occurring. There are many reasons why things happen in life.

After the blind man had received his sight, people asked how this had happened. He told them the story about Jesus putting mud on his eyes and then telling him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The interesting thing is that they ask where this Jesus is that had healed him and his reply is that he does not know. This makes me think of times when God has drastically changed something in our lives and it is so evident, but we do not thank him for it and we lose sight of him. We have gotten what we asked for, so there is no need to continue to being persistent with talking with God. But the sad thing is, we need to be in constant communication with the Lord and not only talk with him when we need him to do us a favor and help us out. God is not Santa Clause. He is our Lord and Savior and desires to have a real relationship with each one of us.

Esther 1

Choice Reading #8

Summary: This chapter talks about how King Xerxes had held a banquet for all of his officials and nobles and Queen Vashti also held a banquet for the women. During the banquet, the King became drunk on wine and ordered that the queen be brought before him and the people so that her beauty could be shown to everyone. The queen refused and the king, taking the advice of his wise men, striped Vashti of her title and decided they were going to find a new queen that would follow what King Xerxes asked.

I am reading this book as part of my homework assigned in Old Testament class. While reading I “played a video” in my head of what the scene would look like and what would go on. After reading this chapter, I respected Queen Vashti for what she had done because if I was in her situation, I would have done the same. She kept her integrity and was not going to tolerate being a spectacle for all of the drunken men. It upset me that the wise men said that she was rebelling and that women after that would rebel also.  I think that she had a right to rebel against the king. When men think that they can get whatever they want just because they are “in authority” over women, they tend to go over board and say that women must do everything they say. I am glad that women now have rights, because how they were treated before was just wrong and not how God had intended it to be. God intended the man to lead his wife in a Godly manner. I would not consider myself to be a feminist of any sort, but I do think that women should be treated fairly and with respect. Their voices should be heard and their opinion should matter.  Sometimes, just like King Xerxes did, men take the advice of other men and worry about what their friends would think, rather than what the wife may suggest. Even if the wife is correct, a man thinks more about what he might look like if he takes his wife’s opinion.  A wise man would listen to his wife, who has been given to him as a helper.

Esther 5-6

Choice Reading# 9

Summary: These chapters talk about Haman and how he has plotted against the Jews and Mordecai and wants to kill them. Queen Esther has heard about the plot and has come forward to the king to inform him of Haman’s plan. Esther throws a banquet for the king and invites Haman to come because she is going to reveal to the king Haman’s evil plan.

Reading these two chapters was easy because it is a part of a story and I can visualize it and compare it to the different movies I have seen about Esther. I read these chapters for a homework assignment, but it is also part of my devotions. While I was reading, I found it very ironic the situation of Haman. After having been invited to dine with the king and queen alone, he felt that he was well liked and was the most important person ever. He went home and bragged to his family and felt like he was “hot stuff.” The next day when the king asks him what the honored man of the king should receive, Haman automatically thinks he must be the honored man, and tells the king everything that he would like. I love how humbled Haman becomes after first it was not him who was the honored man of the king, and seconded because Haman has to give everything he wanted done to himself to the one person he hated most, Mordecai. It reminds me of the passage, do unto others as you would have them do to you. Haman, although that was not his intentions, was doing for Mordecai what he wanted done to him. Another passage of scripture that comes to mind it the one about those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those that humble themselves will be exalted. Haman was an evil man and was only looking to the interest of himself and was selfish, where Mordecai was focusing on God and others rather than himself. He never asked to be honored and even after he had saved the kings life and did not receive any honor until later, he did not become upset. We do good deeds not to be recognized, but for the good deed alone.

2 Samuel 11

Choice Reading #10

Summary: This chapter covers the story about David, the king of Israel, who had slept with Bathsheba while her husband, Uriah, was out at war. Bathsheba became pregnant and David invited Uriah to come back from the war so that he could sleep with his wife and cover up what David had done. Uriah refused and David took the next course of action and sent orders that Uriah be placed where the fighting was the fiercest and have everyone else stand back to insure that he was killed.

This chapter was easy to read because I have heard this story many times before and have seen The Veggie Tale movie based on this story so I was able to visualize and predict what was going to occur. I am reading this as part of a homework assignment and recalled a sermon that was based off of it. There are three different lessons that can be learned from this chapter. One is how Bathsheba acted and that she shouldn’t have been bathing on the roof during the day where anyone could see her. She also should have had integrity and refused to sleep with the king since she was a married woman. The next lesson is about David and how he was not doing his duty as a man and king. As king, he should have been off at war with him armies rather than staying behind. He also needed to have self-control because he already had many wives and concubines and yet he was still not satisfied. Not only did he commit adultery, but he also committed murder because he could not own up to what he had done. He tried to cover up his shame, but it only made things worse. Many times we will try to cover up a sin with another sin, or a lie with a lie. When we do this, the problem just becomes worse and we dig ourselves deeper holes that get us into more trouble than our first problem. The main lesson that I wanted to focus on was Uriah and how he acted. He was a man of integrity and honor. He was a warrior and when he was invited to come back he did not see it fit to enjoy the pleasures of life or be with his wife while his army was out fighting and were not able to do the same. Even after the king had gotten him drunk with wine, he still would not go and be with his wife. If this was not enough, David gave Uriah the letter that was to be given to Joab, the army commander, which had the orders for Uriah to be killed in battle. Uriah was even trusted by David because he knew that he would give the letter to Joab without opening it. That is the type of warrior a man should be and to have the integrity to do what is right no matter what.