(the sis)Friday, September 19, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
eph.6.10-20
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the full amor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the sheild of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverence, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my moth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassado in chains, that I maydeclare it boldy, as I ougth to speak."
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
First Essay of the Year...
To tell you the truth...I wasn't quite sure how this essay would turn out. I wasn't quite sure I could write a 750 word essay. I wasn't quite sure I could pick a prompt without thinking about all of them for forever. And I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into. I seriously sat down at my computer and starred at the screen for about 30 minutes trying to get some idea of how to start my essay. But like most people when I got in my "writing groove" my paper soon became 804 words. And I wasn't finished. I had also only finished the first sentence of the introduction and then started writing the rest of my paper, making sure to leave about 100 words for the intro. Like that was gonna happen. My paper was already too long. I didn't know what to do. So I cut out half of the middle of my paper. Word count: 550. Perfect. I then finished my conclusion to the paper, and moved up to the dreaded introduction I knew I had to write. Again, I starred at my computer for forever. I had an idea and wrote it out. Hmmm..no, that doesn't fit. No that one doesn't flow right. This one doesn't even make sense...and so on. I finally came up with what you will soon read...though short, I think it fits with what my papers is trying to get across. Oh and it's 748 words. :)
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence:
The essay question that I picked was not hard at all. What fictional character has made an influence on my life? Meg March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Why? As you read you will see that Meg, though she lived in the time of the Civil War was not any different from you or I today. Keep in mind that though Meg is a girl the lesson her life displays are not just for women, but for men also.
“Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, which she was very proud of.” Meg was growing up to be a lady. Daily she was trying to set an example for her three younger sisters, encouraging them to stay strong for Marmee (their mother) while their Father was away in the Civil War. She had a calm spirit that did not easily fret, though she did have her days when she could be quite “put out”, especially if her wild, fifteen-year-old sister, Jo, got in her way. It was because of this calm spirit that she had patience to nanny for two rowdy young children, earning money for her family. Meg’s tender-heart for her family is most displayed in her care for her youngest sister, Amy. She is the one who is always there for her and, besides Marmee, comforts her more than any other sister. Throughout the book, Meg develops a heart for the home. She was the first daughter to marry and in certain parts of the book we see Meg managing her home as well as she can with two children (she had twins).
Whenever I read this book, or, actually, whenever I see this book I am reminded of Meg and what she is like, how she would respond to a certain situation and try to act like that. (I do want to make something clear: Meg is not my main role model, she is just a girl like me who already has the character of a woman). But how am I like Meg? I don’t knit or nanny or cook, but in some ways I am like her. Meg is very much a lady and in my own way I too am a lady. Though I love adventure, laughing hard till your side aches, running and being wild, I wouldn’t characterize myself as a “tomboy” or unlady-like. I also see myself as having a mild spirit, like Meg. When things get hectic and I have way too many things to do, I don’t stress out and get worried. Usually I sit down with a pen and a sticky-note and make a schedule for my day or week. I also see myself like Meg in that I can’t wait to have my own home with children running around and around. That’s where I think the mild spirit will come in useful.
Just like there are ways that I am like Meg, there are also ways in which I am not like her. One of the biggest ways is setting an example. Meg is the oldest in her family, and while I am not the oldest child I am the oldest girl and I set an example for my younger brother and sister. Will it be one I want them to follow? Will I wish that I had been more respectful in my teen years? Will I wish I had a better relationship with them? With my parents? Everyday I am seeking to refine each one of these questions. Meg left behind an example for her family; I want to leave one for mine.
We all have our Megs. Maybe yours is your Mom or Dad. Their example inspires you to grow in wisdom. It could be your best friend. Or someone famous such as Thomas Edison, who tried and failed nearly 1,000 times to make the light bulb and that inspires you to never give up. I hope that in reading my essay you have seen the how Margaret March can inspire others as well. So many useful things can be learned from her fictional life. I hope that you, my fellow students and teens, will embark on the journey of leaving a legacy to be remembered as I have.
So here's my question: Was it worth it?
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence:
The essay question that I picked was not hard at all. What fictional character has made an influence on my life? Meg March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Why? As you read you will see that Meg, though she lived in the time of the Civil War was not any different from you or I today. Keep in mind that though Meg is a girl the lesson her life displays are not just for women, but for men also.
“Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, which she was very proud of.” Meg was growing up to be a lady. Daily she was trying to set an example for her three younger sisters, encouraging them to stay strong for Marmee (their mother) while their Father was away in the Civil War. She had a calm spirit that did not easily fret, though she did have her days when she could be quite “put out”, especially if her wild, fifteen-year-old sister, Jo, got in her way. It was because of this calm spirit that she had patience to nanny for two rowdy young children, earning money for her family. Meg’s tender-heart for her family is most displayed in her care for her youngest sister, Amy. She is the one who is always there for her and, besides Marmee, comforts her more than any other sister. Throughout the book, Meg develops a heart for the home. She was the first daughter to marry and in certain parts of the book we see Meg managing her home as well as she can with two children (she had twins).
Whenever I read this book, or, actually, whenever I see this book I am reminded of Meg and what she is like, how she would respond to a certain situation and try to act like that. (I do want to make something clear: Meg is not my main role model, she is just a girl like me who already has the character of a woman). But how am I like Meg? I don’t knit or nanny or cook, but in some ways I am like her. Meg is very much a lady and in my own way I too am a lady. Though I love adventure, laughing hard till your side aches, running and being wild, I wouldn’t characterize myself as a “tomboy” or unlady-like. I also see myself as having a mild spirit, like Meg. When things get hectic and I have way too many things to do, I don’t stress out and get worried. Usually I sit down with a pen and a sticky-note and make a schedule for my day or week. I also see myself like Meg in that I can’t wait to have my own home with children running around and around. That’s where I think the mild spirit will come in useful.
Just like there are ways that I am like Meg, there are also ways in which I am not like her. One of the biggest ways is setting an example. Meg is the oldest in her family, and while I am not the oldest child I am the oldest girl and I set an example for my younger brother and sister. Will it be one I want them to follow? Will I wish that I had been more respectful in my teen years? Will I wish I had a better relationship with them? With my parents? Everyday I am seeking to refine each one of these questions. Meg left behind an example for her family; I want to leave one for mine.
We all have our Megs. Maybe yours is your Mom or Dad. Their example inspires you to grow in wisdom. It could be your best friend. Or someone famous such as Thomas Edison, who tried and failed nearly 1,000 times to make the light bulb and that inspires you to never give up. I hope that in reading my essay you have seen the how Margaret March can inspire others as well. So many useful things can be learned from her fictional life. I hope that you, my fellow students and teens, will embark on the journey of leaving a legacy to be remembered as I have.
So here's my question: Was it worth it?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Great Article about Palin
This is a great article on Sarah Palin and her new baby, Trig, who was born with Down Syndrome. Definitey worth reading all 3 pages!
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/08/america/08baby.php
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/08/america/08baby.php
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Just One More Thing - Sara Groves
There's always just one more thing
There's always another task
There's always I just have one more small favor to ask
And everything is urgent and everything is now
I wonder what would really happen if I stopped somehow
I'll be there in a minute
Just a few places to go
You wake up a few years later and your kids are grown
And everything is important
But everything is not
At the end of your life your relationships are all you're got
And love to me is when you put down that one more thing and say
I've got something better to do
And love to me is when you walk out on that one more thing and say
Nothing will come between me and you
Not even one more thing
There will never be an end to
The request upon your time
It's your place to stand up and tell the world
You've got to rest awhile
And everything is important
But everything is not
At the end of your life your relationships are all you've got
And love to me is when you put down that one more thing and say
I've got something better to do
And love to me is when you walk out on that one more thing and say
Nothing will come between me and you
Not even one more thing
---
I love this song because it reminds me of how important relationships are.
"And everything is important
But Everything is not
At the end of your life your relationships are all you've got"
Those lines are so true. At the time everything in our lives seems so important, but in the long run the friendships we build together and the hearts that are knit are the things that last forever! God doesn't care if we got to the grocery store on Monday, He cares that we stopped and prayed for the friend who called and was struggling with doubting His will. He doesn't care that we were late to that party, He cares that we comforted our little sister who was sad that we were leaving and explained that we would be back later. When we stop to take this time out of our busy day are relationships are made stronger.
Lord, help us to remember this. Help us to remember to put others first, because that is what you did. You came not to be served but to serve.
There's always another task
There's always I just have one more small favor to ask
And everything is urgent and everything is now
I wonder what would really happen if I stopped somehow
I'll be there in a minute
Just a few places to go
You wake up a few years later and your kids are grown
And everything is important
But everything is not
At the end of your life your relationships are all you're got
And love to me is when you put down that one more thing and say
I've got something better to do
And love to me is when you walk out on that one more thing and say
Nothing will come between me and you
Not even one more thing
There will never be an end to
The request upon your time
It's your place to stand up and tell the world
You've got to rest awhile
And everything is important
But everything is not
At the end of your life your relationships are all you've got
And love to me is when you put down that one more thing and say
I've got something better to do
And love to me is when you walk out on that one more thing and say
Nothing will come between me and you
Not even one more thing
---
I love this song because it reminds me of how important relationships are.
"And everything is important
But Everything is not
At the end of your life your relationships are all you've got"
Those lines are so true. At the time everything in our lives seems so important, but in the long run the friendships we build together and the hearts that are knit are the things that last forever! God doesn't care if we got to the grocery store on Monday, He cares that we stopped and prayed for the friend who called and was struggling with doubting His will. He doesn't care that we were late to that party, He cares that we comforted our little sister who was sad that we were leaving and explained that we would be back later. When we stop to take this time out of our busy day are relationships are made stronger.
Lord, help us to remember this. Help us to remember to put others first, because that is what you did. You came not to be served but to serve.
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