...by saying what they mean, and how we should interpret it. You can say it is like a lesson study, which helps people who are confused. | Decrypting the Encrypted | The Bible contains many controversial verses in it. This does not mean that they are not the truth. Today we are going to examine the context of five controversial Bible verses in order to see what is actually being said, either metaphorically, allegorically or literally. Before you continue reading all the verses are quoted from the NIV. * Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Does Jesus really mean that we should hate our parents, our siblings, and our children? What is He saying? Jesus was speaking to the crowd about discipleship. He was stressing the importance of putting God first above everyone, including family. Humans have a tendency to idolize their family and so he was saying that anyone that would become Jesus’ disciple must count the cost and it is supremely high and if a believer is to trust in Christ, they should renounce everyone and everything for His sake, even family. When Jesus was speaking to the crowd one man told him that his mother and brothers wanted to see Him but Jesus said “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of...
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...work. (McKernan and Ratcliffe, 2002). With all these people out of work, it is only logical that poverty is on the rise. We have to find the reason this happens and work on a solution for the growing problem. What does it mean to be poor in America? There is no single description of American poverty. But for many, perhaps most, it means homes with inadequate heating, unstable plumbing, and uncertain electricity. Poverty is a condition in which a person or family does not have the means to satisfy basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Poverty often means a home where some go to bed hungry and malnutrition is very frequent. For almost all poverty stricken families it means that life is a constant struggle to obtain the merest necessities of existence, the things most of us take for granted. One’s race does not matter every race has people who are in poverty. Poverty is not something that affects only those people who are out of work, there are many people who are working and are still faced with poverty. Poverty does not seem logical and it, does happen more often than we may realize. (C Warner, 2005). So many people are under-paid and over-worked but have no other choice but to keep working. More families are becoming single income families. This means that only one person in the household is employed and still supports the same amount of people in the household. To understand poverty in America, it is important to look behind these numbers and to look at...
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...What It Means To Be Human I have never pondered on such a question that reflects the whole human race and what it means to be a human being. What it means to be a human being is not just having a face, eyes, heart, or being able to drive a car, or to own a house. Being a human being is much more than that, deeper and more passionate. Being a human being is to have the ability to know what is right and wrong, having rational thought and to think deeply beyond the tangible things in the world, and being a human being is to find love. Yet as I think deeply into this more and more, I see that those things are not as important to be a human being, simply because you can live without those things; but to really live and thrive and build a race and society, being a human being is to have the ability to build relationships around anyone and everyone around us. What it means to be a human being is to have relationships. Many people may argue with this person’s opinion on the meaning of being a human being, but this is an opinion that should be taken into consideration. As all humans know, what makes us unique from animals is our ability to drive cars, create masterpieces of art, build cathedrals, and invent things no one would think of. However, those are only the tangible aspects of being a human being. If we all think carefully, and work out many other aspects to what makes us human, we should find that all other answers inadequate. What makes us truly unique and great is our ability...
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...Running head: The Need to Improve Communication through Diversity Skills The Need to Improve Communication through Diversity Skills Christina Smith-Kimball Western Governors University The Need to Improve Communication through Diversity Skills As educators we hold a certain position in our community. Society holds us to a higher standard when it comes to our ability to be aware, adapt, accept, and understand the cultural diversity of the students and families, our co-workers, and volunteers we work with in our community. As our cultural demographics change in our community communication can become a challenge. If we cannot communicate effectively with those we work with we cannot do our jobs effectively. Demographic Changes The United States is changing faster than it ever has before. We can find more evidence of these demographic changes in our public schools more than anywhere else. Three changes that are, and will continue to become more notable in our public school system, is the rate in which immigration has grown, low income families are on the rise, and the natural population growth continues to increase, as quickly as the diversity of that population. Immigration Growth “Immigration have put the United States on a short road to a population diversity never before experienced by any nation—a population in which all races and ethnicities are part of minority groups that make up a complex whole.” (Center for Public Education 2012) As the...
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...Lottery" asks us to think about the rituals and traditions we unthinkingly follow as members of our society. Beyond critiquing the ways in which custom obscures right and wrong, the lottery also becomes a way of analyzing "traditional" social and gender divisions: the random distribution of paper means some families are fortunate and others aren't. We think it's significant that it's paper that has come to replace wood chips – much as paper money has taken the place of gold or goods for barter. The paper, either in the lottery or in your wallet, is symbolic of exchange value; as we get more "civilized," we lose track of what this paper really means. In the case of both the lottery and cash, paper can mean fortune, either good or bad – and it's disturbing how much life (and wealth) can be left up to the gambles of chance. Questions About Society and Class – Please answer the following questions and be prepared to present your ideas to the class. 1. How would you characterize the village's society? Happy? Affluent? Patriarchal? How does it compare to your own village/town/city? 2. What kinds of values do the townspeople seem to hold about the social roles of men and women? Do these roles have any connection to the lottery? 3. What's up with the children of the village – specifically the boys – being the first to stockpile stones? What, if anything, is Jackson trying to suggest about children? 4. Do any class differences exist in "The Lottery"? What influence might...
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...| What is Friendship? What is friendship? People have been asking this question for centuries, and we can never know the exact answer that will fit everybody’s definition of friendship. Friends are people without whom your life wouldn’t be complete. They are the people who you know for ages, or even if you don’t you feel like you were born on the same day. They will always be by your side and will help you with any troubles. In the dictionary you can find three definitions of friendship:1. The quality or condition of being friends2. A friendly relationship3. Friendliness, good will In order to know what all these definitions mean we need to figure out what is the definition for friends. A friend is defined as a person whom one knows, likes, and trusts. So friendship is when two people know each other well, and trust each other. Friendship is the relationship between two people who really care about each other. Your friendship will keep you happy, but it is not easy. Friendship demands time and effort, and sometimes you have to step over your pride and put yourself on the place of your friend, and see what she feels even if you think you are correct. But in exchange, a friend can provide a lot of support and comfort in good times and bad. Many things are needed to make friendship a real one, including trustworthiness, support, honesty, and loyalty. Friendship is supposed to make both people happy, and enjoying their relationship. Yes...
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...John Williams Dr. MaryEllen Stiehl The Changing Family-Soc305 October 10, 2013 Future of “The Family” In order to predict the future of “The Family”, first, we have to look back to see how societal, economical, and technological changes have already shaped the modern family. As society has become more accepting of divorce, and same sex marriage. In addition, technological advances have distracted us from the importance of building strong family relationships. In addition, two-parent family incomes have become a necessity rather than a luxury in order to keep up with current economical breakdown. Therefore, we can predict as society becomes even more tolerable, cost of living rises, and technological advances monopolize even more of our time we can expect the trend of broken families to continue. Prior to 1970 grounds for divorce required one of the spouses to commit an actual crime such as adultery, abandonment, or abuse. Today people can file for divorce based on “irreconcilable differences”. The commitment of marriage does not hold the same value as it once did. Currently more than 50% of all marriages end in divorce ("FASTSTATS - Marriage and Divorce."). As divorce rates have more than doubled over the past 50 years what this means for the future family is more children being raised by a single parents or a step-parent if the custodial parent chooses to remarry. We can expect these trends to continue as long as people do not value the sanctity and vows of marriage...
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...property crimes, larceny, theft “serious crimes” Sean.007@umb.edu 9/10/13 Risk and Personal Safety Crime isn’t exploding The polls say it’s America’s #1 concern , new prisons, longer sentences. Film: Are we scaring ourselves to Death? What are some of the crime myths identified in the film. Crime Surge Particulary violent crime Old, white, women as victims of crime Stranger homicide Violenct Crime Facts National Commission on the causes and prevention of Violence Primarily an urban phenomenon Offenders are primarily males, youth ages 15-24 years minority, low SES individuals - Victims “...” Perpertartors are most likely to be acquantances Primarily committed by repeat offenders 6% for between 53% and 71% of violent crime. What year was this report published? 1969. Victimolgy Emergence: 1940’s Hans Von Hentig First person to really bring the idea of victim’s role in criminal events Victims precipitaton - idea that the victim brings on the criminal act Who is more likely to be victimized Victim- Offender Link Likelihood of vicitimization Victime-Offender Link/Overlap What are criminologist referring to when they discuss the victim-offender link Strong correlation between victimization and offending. Correlation vs. causation. Reasons for the relationship Individual heterogeneity Different propensities to victimization ROLE OF GANG MEMBERSHIP Reduction in vicitimization ...
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...and the place were dreams come true. Living in the US, there is no limit for advancement and opportunity. No man, woman or child should ever go hungry or want for anything. Here in the US we have more cars on the road and more skyscrapers in large cities than anywhere. In small towns, there are wheat fields and cornfields for miles and miles. As an American living in the US, when we think of poverty we think of countries like India where women wash their clothes in ditches alongside main roads in Mumbai. In countries like Africa Ethiopian men, women and children may go days without a meal, sometime weeks. Examining third world countries and their poverty level, does it cross our minds that poverty really exist here in the United States? Poverty levels in the US do not compare to the poverty level in third world countries. Poverty in a third world country is measured in the terms of absolute poverty, where a person lives in conditions he/she does not have the means to meet the basic needs in life. Their living conditions could be life threaten. Here in the US, poverty level is measured in the terms of relative poverty. According to the article reviewed by Thomas J. Corbett entitled “Poverty” (2008), “Relative poverty is the condition of having fewer resources or less income than others within a society or country, or compared to worldwide averages. In developed countries, relative poverty often is measured as having a family income less than one-half of the median income for...
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...many different ways. It is perceived in many different ways when we read about it as well. Everyone who has experienced it though can say that it is not a delightful thing to experience. Whether it is a family member, a friend, a co-worker or even a pet, there is something to be said about how death can be described. I have chosen to talk about two very special literary works. The first one is A Dog’s Death by John Updike and the other being I Used To Live Here Once by Jean Rhys. Both of these literary works describe death in many different ways. A Dog’s Death is a short poem and I Used to Live Here Once is a short analog story. When I read A Dog’s Death, I was very sad. I could feel how the author was trying to show what kind of emotions were going on as the family pet was passing away. The emotion of sadness and sorrow, as a family member was dying. As the dog was breathing its last breath, the mother called out its name in pain. This is the tone, the mood or attitude reflected. (Clugston, 2010) In I Used to Live Here Once, the tone at first was happy. The woman is happy in the beginning. She sees things as she remembered them. But when the woman gets closer to the house and sees people outside, the tone changes. The tone becomes very sad. The woman does not realize she is dead, until she tries to speak to the people and they don’t speak back to her. Running Head: DEATH 3 I think that in any story that talks about death, the tone is going to be...
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...many different ways. It is perceived in many different ways when we read about it as well. Everyone who has experienced it though can say that it is not a delightful thing to experience. Whether it is a family member, a friend, a co-worker or even a pet, there is something to be said about how death can be described. I have chosen to talk about two very special literary works. The first one is A Dog’s Death by John Updike and the other being I Used To Live Here Once by Jean Rhys. Both of these literary works describe death in many different ways. A Dog’s Death is a short poem and I Used to Live Here Once is a short analog story. When I read A Dog’s Death, I was very sad. I could feel how the author was trying to show what kind of emotions were going on as the family pet was passing away. The emotion of sadness and sorrow, as a family member was dying. As the dog was breathing its last breath, the mother called out its name in pain. This is the tone, the mood or attitude reflected. (Clugston, 2010) In I Used to Live Here Once, the tone at first was happy. The woman is happy in the beginning. She sees things as she remembered them. But when the woman gets closer to the house and sees people outside, the tone changes. The tone becomes very sad. The woman does not realize she is dead, until she tries to speak to the people and they don’t speak back to her. Running Head: DEATH 3 I think that in any story that talks about death, the tone is going to be...
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...Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before - it takes something from him. ~ Louis L'Amour Anger is present all around us. We have a world filled with road raging motorists, angry parents, angry children, and angry teenagers. Everywhere you look there seems to be anger at someone or something in the world. Anger gets a bad rap though on so many fronts. Anger can be a helpful emotion to alert that needs or desires are not being met. However, anger can also sabotage and eat away at our happiness if not handled or if expressed in less than productive ways. SOURCES OF ANGER Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. ~ Buddha Anger is considered a primary emotion. Other emotions such as resentment and hate can contribute to or derive from anger. The source of all this emotion can be just about anything. Anger is a signal that some need is not being met, that some desire has been denied. Finding yourself angry is not an uncommon thing. It seems that much of our modern lives tend to breed some kind of anger. Wired for instant access, instant gratification and instant needs being met, the moment there is any delay anger flares. Anger can be a learned emotion as well. Family interactions train us how to respond to various situations including those that are stressful. Watching how your parents handled stressful situations can be a very telling sign to how you may be handling...
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...the caretaker of the family. They were to stay home and care for the children and their husbands were out earning the income. In today’s society, women are out in the job market earning a steady income along with their husbands. They may even hold such titles as Chief Executive Officers or run in politics. No matter what they do they are still expected to come home and care for their family. Many will argue that it may be easier said than done concerning staying home and taking care of the family especially in this economy when earning two incomes is almost a must in order to provide for the family. Women have gone through some rough times for the women of today to have the right to vote, attend school, and work. “.. the more rights we as women get, it seems the more we want. We want people to not look at us and make a decision. We want people to give us opportunities despite our sex” (Pendley, 2011). This is merely an opinion from another woman who is speaking her own mind, but it is attitudes like these that make it harder for women to be taken seriously. It is true that women want to have the same opportunities as men and do not want to be judged by their sex but that does not mean that they want anything more. There may be limitations to what women can do physically, emotionally, and mentally as far as work is concerned, but it is also the same for men. “..I, as a female, acknowledge the fact that our sex cannot behave the way a male does. And I don’t want to...
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...is the lack of self esteem brought by his inability to keep up the the race with his brother. -The author suggests that rivalry may occur between siblings, but that does not mean that they do not love and support each other . * the author effectively conveys this theme through his use of characterization and internal conflict body: topic sentence : the author shows us the rivalry between the brothers by emphasizing on Moses’ internal conflict. -“the thing is ,he hasn’t got my flat fleet. thanks god” -“where’d he learn get the style”? topic sentence : the author also show to us that there is love between the two brothers by the characterization of moses . -“fools ,thinks moses, and feels a certain pride at how he has weaned his brother …off that awful habit” -“ the best evenings are when ben finished his homework and they turn of the hi-fi and listen to early Coleman Hawkins ,Django and bird” conclusion In fact , the author suggests that siblings may be competitive among themselves to prove themselves against pairs but that does not mean that they are not solider to each other. life is full of obstacles it does not matter how you fell but what matter is who was there to pick you up that is why family is important and even though we have some misunderstanding with them they will always be with us no matter what . Running Nicely “ Running nicely,” by Morris lurie , is a short story about two brothers who are orphan that are running in the Suburban Melbourne streets...
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...individuals. Love can be classified into groups such as unconditional, family and friend, and romantic love. A person can tell when love is present because you feel so comfortable around them that you can tell them any and everything. Regardless of what is being said that person will accept you because judgment is not passed if you truly love that person. Allowing one to love makes a person feel good about their self, about others, and even the current relationships one is involved in. The old saying “actions speak louder than words” perfectly describes how love should be. Just because an individual tells one they love you does not mean it is true, expressing gratitude and appreciation goes a long way in any relationship. When love is in the picture it makes people feel whole. It allows others to have this indescribable energy that they can do anything they set their mind to. Love is sometimes one sided, it is not always shared between two people. Someone can love a person so much that they would do anything for them but that does not mean the feelings are reciprocated. Love extends much further than the type of love felt among a man and a woman. The emotions a parent has for their child, how someone feels towards their siblings, and the love from a grandparent are all types of love felt by your family. Some people feel as if they need love to give their life meaning even if it is from your family. Love is love. As long as an individual receives love it makes them...
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