Moses

Moses has always been one of my favorite characters in the bible. I don't know if it's because he gets to part the red sea or if it's because he gets to free his people from Pharoah, or if it's because he gets to hear God's voice. I know other characters in the bible get to hear God's voice too, but Moses gets to be a hero when he hears God. I'm jealous. Maybe I'm not paying attention to God and that's why I don't get to hear him, maybe I'm so bad that I don't deserve to hear him, or maybe he just hasn't said anything to me yet. I know that we were supposed to be reading the bible as a piece of literature and not necessarily as a book of faith. I'm not programmed that way though. I have some very strong convictions and some very major flaws when it comes to the bible. I feel that Moses embodies both these characteristics too, but mainly that he can overcome any doubt he has about God. Maybe that's the real reason I like Moses so much. He was able to do what I haven't been able to accomplish. I, more than anything, want to leave behind something for my family to be proud of me about; whether it be kids, a career where I made a difference, or a legacy of some other kind. Moses is immortalized by those thin white pages of the bible. The whole Jewish community can be proud of him, they can relate to him, they can cheer him on still. I feel like I've been a failure for most my life. The biggest thing I've ever done was take care of people. I still do that. I work at the hospital and as much fun as that is, I don't feel it's rewarding enough. I don't feel like I really make a difference in anyone's life. I'm sure Moses thought he could have done better or made quicker, smarter decisions that lead him to get his people into the promised land without wandering the desert for 40 years, but that still doesn't take away all the good he accomplished. Then again, maybe it really was the parting of the red sea that made Moses so much fun for me! Here's a little cartoon for some laughs!

Esther

The book of Esther is my mom's least favorite book of the bible. I don't agree with her on this, but I'm not sure I'd say it's near the top 10 for me either. It was super fun to do the play about it and all, but the overall story is one that I can't say I really agree with. Why does she have to prostitute herself out to save the Jews? Really? That's what God's plan was? Somehow I find that totally ridiculous! I'm damn sure God could have come up with a better plan to save the Jews other than seducing a king. I know Morticai had a lot to do with the decision to go forward with the plan, but now this story is honored as one of the greatest contributions that women have made to the Jewish people. I find it disturbing that a tale about trickery, sex, and hatred for a nation can be justified as something wonderful. Then again most prize winning novels would be considered to fall into one of these groups. What a pity. What I'm unclear about though, in the book of Esther, is what happens to the queen when king crankypants isn't happy with her not coming to his side when he so commands? I don't know why it bothers me so much to know what happens to this queen, but it really bothers me. She is treated like a nothing character, but all that happens with Esther becoming queen after her and all that, is only doable because the first queen ticks off the king. Doesn't this bother anyone else? It's so frustrating reading stories where the pivitol reasoning for something and the character who causes the situation to happen don't get a fair write off. There's just nothing. NOTHING! That makes no sense to me. I mean at least banish her off to some far away kingdom or have her beheaded or make her a slave or something, but don't just forget to finish her story. I still think she has a big part in this story and I want an ending for the first queen. Hmmm, maybe it should end with her being beheaded...more King Henry VIII style right?

Jokes

I thought some of these jokes were just too funny. Hope everyone gets a good laugh!

Presentations

The presentations that we had to do in class as a group were so much fun to watch, but getting to know my group members was even better. It's so hard to make a connection with people when a you can't talk to them. People will sit next to each other in class all semester long, sometimes they even have several classes together, and never get to know the person they are continually seeing. I think group work can be fun, on the other hand, it can be a royal pain in the ass too! The group I was in was wonderful. Thomas took the lead, he's a born leader. He got the ball rolling, which is good when some members of the team are shy. Haley was bouncy. It's awesome when a group can have an energetic person around to keep them up and going. Tristan was a hardworker, but a little quiet. That's not a bad thing, I'm really quiet when I don't know anyone. He was calm enough to keep us all on track...awesome! Chris was funny. He had so many women's clothes that he brought in for his costumes that I was simply amazed that a man could own that many old woman shirts without them being handed down by their grandma! I've been in groups all semester long in all my classes. This group was by far my favorite! Each person brought something fun and rewarding to the table. Personalities matched well and it was fun to actually do the presentation.
The single presentations we had to do were more terrifying for me, but that's because I'm super shy and don't like to get in front of people. Kinda seems stupid since I want to be a teacher. I know that, but kids don't scare me half as bad as people my own age. Then again, I'm so damn old that I'm practically geriatric! I guess if I would have looked at it from that point of view, I would have realized I'm about 5 years older than everyone else in the class. Would have made things a little easier for sure. I thought I was prepared to do just a 3 minute presentation, but apparently I can talk longer than I figured! The main point I wanted to get at about my paper was that sex encompasses so much and so does the bible. In real life they go hand in hand. Sex in the bible is almost a must. It's a reference, a story inhibitor, and a learning tool.

Classes

I was so nervous when I first started this class. I knew I needed to stick with it, but I mainly took it because I thought it was goin to strengthen my faith in God, not make me question it. Dr. Sexson scared me to death! I wasn't sure if he was kiddin' about not knowing anything about technology or if he really didn't know. I mean, my own father who will be 50 on Jan. 9, 2010, doesn't even know how to turn on a computer! I have my father's ability to understand technological advances, so the fact that I even figured out how to set up a blog is a zillion COOL flags for me. So why would it be so strange to think that a man who said he didn't know much about technology really wouldn't know? Of course now I can honestly say, even Dr. Sexson has me beat in that department. Good Lord I think I need more training. So this brings me to my point after all. Classes at MSU all require this new technological stuff that I'm unfamiliar with and it scares me. What if I get into a classroom and I have no idea how to work a smartboard? What if the kids expect everything to be on powerpoints? What if I should know what a gobbilygoop (there's no such thing) function is and I'm completely stumped? I don't want to look like I don't know how to do my own job, especially in front of the students, and with technology progressingly like the speed of light, I'm afraid I'm doomed to wander the tech path alone. The blog was hard enough for me to get figured out and just thinking about how 10 years from now kids will be writing papers in what could be a completely new way, makes me wonder if I will cut it as a teacher. Will I? Do I have what it takes? Do I even want to be a teacher? These questions have been on my mind since the beginning of the year, but this class especially makes me question if I'm goin to be good at what I want to do with the rest of my life or if I'm destined to "F" it up! So, this class has taught me about the bible some, but more than anything this class has raised more questions for me to answer. I don't have answers. I know Dr. Sexson thinks there shouldn't be any answers for questions to the bible, but should there be any real defining answers to life either? UGH!

Song of Solomon

I had never read Song of Solomon before. I love it though! I had enjoyed the play that one group in our class had put on that I figured I should read it. I knew what my paper was going to be without having read Song of Solomon anyway. There was enough material within the first few books of the bible that I wasn't in desperate need of material from S.O.S. (my abbreviation.) However, the best thing about this book was that it showed a softer more sensual side that I think more people can relate to. It seems like everyone longs to be talked to in a way that makes them feel special and unique, but the books of the bible I had read before were harsh and critical. Now everything has it's place and I'm not sayin' I don't need to be told what to do every once in awhile, but not ever other sentence! Makes a person feel like they don't have free will anymore. Am I right or am I on my soapbox again? The words that permiate through S.O.S. fills the soul with warmth and strength. Now I know strength sounds a little weird here, but I truly believe that S.O.S. gives strength to the people who read it and absorb it, just like all those inspirational movies (ie the blind side). How? Think about it. What person isn't better off when they hear or read words like "Take me away with you-let us hurry!" Those words have power all their own. The fact that someone would be willing to go away with their friend or lover without any questions asked is a huge trust element. The fact that a person would allow another to trust them that much is another trust element. If a person could believe those words as much as the writer wants them to then they will be more inclined to trust and care; both of which make a person strong. Character is built up through the words in S.O.S. This book should be read by everyone, just so they can feel something more than "the real world." Besides, who doesn't love a little romance?

Job

The book of Job was one that I didn't expect to have so many twists and turns. I never remembered Job asking God why he was being punished...Why me? Why me? There's so much I missed in bible school when I thought I was paying attention, but apparently I'd been sleeping during all the good stuff. I guess what I got was the top and bottom of the oreo cookie and missed all the filling. I had heard that old saying, "he has the patience of Job" more than once. I always assumed, with what I'd heard in class that a person could have many troubles, stick to their faith, and not question God. I know I'm not one of those people though, I get myself into enough trouble and then sometimes it just comes for me, so I end up questioning God all the time. Knowing now that Job did have frustrations and really didn't have many patience is actually more comforting, with a hint of relief in there, than thinking he was some wonderfully kind man who could take anything. Ugh! Stories where no one has to question anything seem to leave out character. Shouldn't stories, parables, or whatever have a character that develops into more of an outstanding character by the end because they overcome their flaws rather than just be perfect to begin with? Makes the story much more interesting, to me anyway. I feel like I can relate to Job, but moreso now than I could when I thought he was some really righteous goodie goodie man. Thank God for Lacuna!