Monday, October 17, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Monday, August 22, 2005
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Friday, June 10, 2005
Modern Day Miracles: Journey into the New Testament
“If I can’t take out time to read the bible because of homework, I’ll make my homework to read the bible.” That is what I thought when I found out about the college bound book assignment. I wanted to raise my grade in English, make time to read the bible everyday, learn more about the bible, and possibly gain an opportunity to tell my friends about the bible. Little did I realize just how much work I really had in store for the next few weeks?
For a long time, I had been struggling to set aside a certain time to read the bible because almost every day I would have homework to fill that time. When I saw that the bible was an option in the project I immediately chose to do the New Testament. First off, I chose the New Testament over the Old Testament because I was extremely interested in gaining a clearer grasp of some parables and of Jesus’ life. The day it was assigned was the day I began reading; each day I read 15 chapters. I started off taking notes and really meditating on what I read. In just the first three days I had pages of notes and verses that stood out to me from that days reading. Soon though, homework piled up and my time grew short. I stopped taking as many notes and the time I spent thinking about what I read decreased significantly. I went through almost five books in the “I-have-to-hurry-and-finish-mindset.” That proved to be a bad way to go as I look back and realize how much I missed out on.
On May 16th, I wrote the layout for the storyboard. I narrowed the events down to only twenty pictures and I fully intended it to be a simple task. On Thursday, May 19th, it became brutally clear to me that I would have to put in a lot more work that I had first intended and the work needed to begin right then and there. Thursday night I stayed up until 11:30 working on the drawings and only got through four of them. When I woke up Friday morning, not only was I tired but I did not feel good. I stayed home but unfortunately I did not get much rest. From 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I worked on the drawings – thankfully finishing the life of Jesus, on Saturday, I worked from 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on the paintings, and Sunday, I worked on the pictures from 2:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
I enjoyed reading the book and doing the actual project but I felt really cramped for time when it came to doing the work. When I was doing the work I did not feel like it was a burden or that I didn’t want to do it; on the contrary, I had fun doing it but the problem was that I lost track of time. I think the amount of time we received to read the book and complete the project was more than fair, but I found trouble in balancing the homework I had in other classes. The project was, at the very least, an extremely beneficial experience because I learned more than I honestly expected to.
On Sunday, May 15 I went to “Froot Loops”, which is a girl’s bible study that I have with some friends from church. Sunday night, my mom’s house got hit with some bullets – most likely the effects of a gang fight near her house. The reading I did the weekend of May 15th corresponded with the events in such an amazing way that I found myself meditating on the reading all week. In my journal I wrote: Well, Monday after school I found out that someone shot 5 bullets at my mom’s house! She wasn’t home - THANK GOD - when it happened because she works overnight and it happened about 11:30-12:00 on Sunday night. Monday after school I went out with my mom to help do her laundry and just get her out of her house and after we went to the bank there was a car accident right in front of us!! Now, I’m not the kind of person to write things off as coincidence so now I am trying to figure out what God is trying to tell me. Also this weekend I was reading through Corinthians for an assignment in English class and Sunday in Froot Loops a verse from Corinthians became our memory verse. It was 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and it reads:"3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
The way everything fit together really helped me to re-focus my walk with Christ and I learned that daily reading of the word is so important. I realized - similar to what I did in ‘The Turn of the Screw” project - how much information I can skip over when I don’t read between the lines. This lesson rang most true when I was reading the parables. One parable in Matthew was talking about the fish and the nets and something about separating the fish. My first reaction was to keep reading but I went back and dug deeper into the verses. Matthew 13:47-50 reads: "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Near the verse I wrote some notes: “This parable is SO amazing! Think about it… The net came down to catch the fish (the kingdom is offered to us on Earth), then God pulls the net out (our chance to accept Him has passed), the fish are separated (we are separated into Heaven or Hell.)
Another challenge I faced in this project was figuring out how I would display the New Testament. I was nervous about skipping over information because it is all important but I knew it would be impossible to cover everything. I talked with my cousin, Julia, about what I should do and she told me she would pray about it and that I should just do what I felt led to. I prayed about it as I worked, taking breaks between drawings to say a quick prayer about them, and I think God answered those prayers. As I began showing people the work I had done all weekend, I saw the response to be almost unanimous –with the exception of a few individuals who pointed out the missing information or things I skipped over. Almost everyone agreed that the pictures were great. As I look at them, I do not see greatness at all; I see simplicity. Though some of them took me a long time, I think they are childish art pieces and could use serious improvement. The one thing I will admit about them is that they are powerful. After completing the life of Jesus, I went through them and it was rather emotional for me. I am left knowing that God answered the prayers or Julia and mine own in giving the pictures an aura of passion.
The most challenging portion of the drawings for me was the life of Paul. Instead of just showing what he did, I had to take what he said and turn it into something visual. He wrote letters to people from his prison cell – giving them advise and encouragement. The easiest section was the life of Jesus because I have seen numerous movies about his life and it was easier for me to picture what occurred; the visualizations were not all left for my imagination. The only challenged I found in the life of Christ was doing a fraction of justice to the actual events that occurred. The book of Revelation was also a challenge but it was my favorite to do. It was a challenge because it has not happened yet so there is no visual for me to imagine and the way it is written is somewhat hard to understand. It is my favorite for those same reasons though, because it has not yet happened and because it is left to my imagination. I spent a long time meditating on what the future holds for the world. I even went as far as researching some of the “signs of the times” and that, alone, got me thinking. For example: Matthew 24:5 says "For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will mislead many." I learned that in the last few decades, many people have claimed to be the Messiah. Jim Jones, who led mass suicides and David Koresh, who went on trial for attempted murder and who believed he was the head of the biblical house of David, are examples of these false Christ’s. More recently I have heard about, Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism who added to the bible and said it was the “completed bible” and Reverend Mooney, who claims to be sinless when Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, along with many others. These false teachers are just a beginning to the ultimate false Christ, the antichrist.
Overall, I learned a lot in doing this project. To recap, I learned that I need to make it a habit to read between the lines, I need to read the bible daily, and pray continually about what I do. I am thankful for this project because it got me to think about the future events that will one day take place and about certain verses in the New Testament that I may never have looked at. I loved thinking about the books and trying to visualize what would be happening. Though it was a challenge, it was beneficial because I learned and gained a lot from it. My original mindset in making time to read the bible was good, but now I know that reading the bible has to be on the top of my list, even before homework. If I don’t have time, I’ll make time because life on earth is short and I want to make it beneficial while I’m here; storing up for myself treasures in Heaven rather than treasures on earth, where most and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal – Matthew 6:19-20.
50. After Seven Tribulations - Revelation 22:1-2
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations
49. Warning - Revelation 22:18
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
47. To the Lost and Lonely - Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
46. The New Jerusalem - Revelation 21:1-2
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband
45. Satans Doom - Revelation 2-:7-10
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth (Gog and Magog) to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
44. The Thousand Years - Revelation 20:1-3
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
43. Seventh Angel - Revelation 16:17-18
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.
41. Sixth Angel - Revelation 16:12-13
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then I saw three evil[] spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
40. Fifth Angel - Revelation 16:10-11
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
39. Fourth Angel - Revelation 16:8-9
37. Second Angel - Revelation 16: 3
The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.
36. First angel - Revelations 16: 2
The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.
35. Seven Tribulations - Revelation 16:1
"Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go pour out seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."
33. Believers dissapear - Revelation 4:1-2
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
31.False Teachers - Jude 4
4For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
30. Love one Another- 1 John 3:11
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another
29. Unfairly treated Christians - 1Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
28. Temptation - James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love Him.
27. Remembering Jesus - Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
26. Problems in the Church - Titus 3:14
Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.
25. Encouragement to youth - 1 Timothy 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
24. Death is not the end - 1 Thessalonians 5:10
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
23. Staying Close to God - Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
22. Joy in Christ - Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
21. Unity in the Body Christ - Ephesians 4:16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
20. Trust God - Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
19. Pauls Letters - 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
18. Made Sinless - Romans 3:23-24
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
17. Jesus assigns the Great Comission - Matthew 28:19-20
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
16. Jesus taken to Heaven - Mark 16:19
"After the Lord Jesus has spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God."
15. Jesus appears to the Apostles - Matthew 28: 16-18
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
14. The Resurrection - Matthew 28:2-4
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
13. Jesus Burial - Matthew 27:59-60
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
12. Jesus Crucified - Matthew 27:37-38
Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
11. Jesus carried cross - Matthew 27:32
10. Barabbas or Jesus - Matthew 27:17
So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"
8. Jesus Tortured - Matthew 26:67, Mark 15:19-20
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"
Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)