Bible Final

Here is my bible final http://www.docstoc.com/docs/18891351/?key=YjUwYjUzZTIt&pass=NjY3My00NTVj

I was watching a commercial for Assassin's Creed 2, which is a video game, when I recognized the song that they were playing in the background. After listening a little more closely I realized that it was the same song that we listened to in class which was the remake of Psalm 51. It was just interesting to see just how much affect those few words have had on the world that it is not the main song for a modern video game. Pretty interesting

I decided to read the book of Revelation and I realized that while I feel like I learned quite a bit during this semester, I really have no idea what is going on. I was completely lost in this reading. I tried to put together the seven scrolls and the seven years and the believers leaving and all that stuff and wow if this is coming true I'm gonna be one lost guy. If I'm walking down the street and a scroll from heaven falls at my feet I am either going to A.) Going to sit crossed legged and cry right there. B.) Try to throw it back and tell God to wait till its a little more convenient for me, or C.) Run like hell and hope I can just wait it out. No matter what I feel like I will still have no idea what is going on.

Publish Post

After writing my final paper on the slave it allowed me to go back and review this great novel. It is almost painful to see all that Jacob must go through. First his painful conflict between his love for a gentile and his dedication to his religion. His confusion on why good men suffer and the wicked can go free. His constant persecution by all those who he comes into contact with. What hurts the most to read is how hard he tries to make his sins right in the sight of God. Even when he admits his loss of love for his Lord he still wishes to do right. It is hard to see a man suffer so much and not be rewarded for it.

I have not been the most faithful blogger, but listening to today's presentations I was surprised by how many people have been affected by this class. The overwhelming theme of choice for the papers was "What I learned and how it has changed me." Like many of the presenters I was not well versed in the scripture, and this class has opened my eyes. Like the idea of the parabola, I began with this class thinking that I knew much about the bible and its inner workings. As I read on and listened to discussions, I became somewhat bitter. I was more faithful than I put on, and I felt a little attacked. This is when in hit the bottom or curved part of the parabola. I have since then began to appreciate the bible and have started back on the upward curve. I realize now that the bible is full of great stories, and has been a base for many great pieces of literature. I appreciate what it has brought to me and my culture, and I no longer feel betrayed by it. In the end this is still one of the most powerful books in my life becasue of its foundation in has layed on my civilization

Thesis statement

The Slave and the book of Job, are the same story a few thousand years apart. These two, once holy and well respected men, face more trials and personal sufferings than any single human should have to endure. Like Ben said in his blog, it is not a U shaped style, or in mathematical terms X^2, of believing that these men take on, but rather it is a tangent curve that continues to fluctuate up and down over and over again. In the end both characters in the story wish to find the reasoning for innocent suffering, but neither are able to find a sufficient answer.

Job

This book reminds me of a greek tale where the gods are playing games with the people of earth. God and the devil are just messing around with Job seeing just how loyal he is. I can see a Heaven's vegas man taking bids with 50:1 that Job crys like a little girl and spites God. What kind of god plays games with a man like that. I know this is the chapter that is supposed to give reason behind the suffering of people, but this betting on a mans life seems like a sin to me. Maybe Im not looking for the best meaning, but this just seems like a crule thing for the almighty to do.

Filling in the gaps

After these thing God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you. Abraham then said, "WTF God I just got this kid and now you want me to make a BBQ out of him? That's cold." God answered saying, "Quit your whining, you are lucky I'm not making shish kabobs out of you with a lightning bolt so quit the cry baby act and do what I told you." Abraham asked again, " So how am I supposed to father a YOUR nation when I don't even have a son?" God respond, "Whats with the fifty questions Abe? You are starting to piss me off!" So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took tow of his young men with him, and his son Issac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young me, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you. The young men said "really after all this work you are just leaving us with the ass, this is like when Shrek has to listen to Eddie Murphy for three movies." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said "Here I am my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burt offering. You have been getting pretty forgetful in your old age. I didn't want to say anything at the house because I thought we would go to Walmart and pick one up there before we came but I guess you just forgot." Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He then attempted to tie up his son who swiftly kicked him in the groin and said "What the hell dad! First you take a knife after little Isaac and now this! No wonder God didn't give you a son till now! At this point I think Marlyn Manson would have made a better father." Then Abraham chloroformed his son. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the alter, on top of the wood. THen Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham! Slow up your are on MTV's punked! Ashton put me up to it and I couldn't resist. "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham said "O gosh God you got me good. I was going to do it too. Damn you Ashton!" And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Isaac said "Bout damn time!" Abraham took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. And they all lived happily ever after

I just finished reading The Slave and I'm still struck on how powerful this book was. I know we are supposed to look at our readings strictly from a literature stand point, but as a reader it is impossible to not be overwhelmed with emotion as you watch Jacob go through all the trials and sufferings that he encounters in his life. His incredible love for Wanda and his battle to remain faithful to a God that does not have all the answers, and lets the unjust rule while the meek and humble suffer are personal struggles that may start out as minor problems, but soon create havoc and pain to him and the ones who love him. Trying to place myself in his position I know i would not have been as strong as him, and even though he is a fictional character his moral fiber is impressive.

The Slave 2

For several years and even today when I return home I attend church and have never heard the idea of different writers in the same chapter, but now I feel foolish for not noticing it before. That really adds a whole nother element to reading the bible and almost makes it a game to see when authors switch. I would much rather read J. P is a pretty uninteresting guy.
Its also much different reading about stories like the coat of many colors than it was hearing about them in Sunday School. There are so many more aspects to the story. Reading the entire story humanizes the characters, showing their flaws. Same goes with Moses, who I knew was unable to cross into the land of paradise but I'm sure many didn't. Maybe the most significant character with flaws is the one who God treasures the most (after Jesus). David was a man of many flaws, especially when it came to women. Yet, he still found favor and is a hero in the Bible.
Its almost humorous how Sarah (Wanda) has become a saint in the eyes of the Jews after her lie is revealed. The struggles and the change that Jacob is undertaking are painfully intense, and he is spilt into several pieces. Every attempt to resolve or cover up his changes results in a disaster that magnifies what he wishes to hide.

The Slave, Chris Lewis

I must not be doing the same thing as everyone else because I started reading The Slave instead The Good Book so I'm going to write about that instead. The first thing that I noticed is how the chapters are set up. Like the Bible, The Slave has different books that are set up into smaller chapters and then lines. I found this to be an interesting similarity that I'm sure is not by coincidence. The biggest factor of this story that draws me in is the struggle Jacob has between his disires and his faith. Initially he is such a strong believer, and resists all temptations of the flesh, but all it takes is one slip up and all his ideals crumble around him. Almost imediately his work ethic, as well as his relationship with the animals he is working with become weaker, and his identity changes. He begins to question what once used to be his foundation as a man. I have now reached the point where he is going back to Wanda becasue of the visions he is having of her and his child. It is intreging to see how split and lost a man can become once his belief system is questioned. I feel that many have gone through the same feelings, certainly not to this sort of extreem, where they are confused and longing for something to believe in. While this may be a fictional story, there are aspects that are certainly real and relate to the everyday life even in the time period we are in now. This story also relates to many in the Bible like Soloman, David, and others who once had faith and then lose it for a woman or some other disire they have. It seems to be a repeating theme not only in the literature of our time frame, but in stories thousands of years ago.

The Slave