JRHS Writing BLOG

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Spiritualism part 2

In Leadership Development class we watched the second part of the video lectures of Chip Ingram the topic was on our spiritual gifts. These are given to everybody from Jesus Christ after he died for our sins and gave us the Holy Spirit along with these gifts. There are gifts given in which some people are better at it than others, such as some people are not as good at being a missionary as the person next to them who has a stronger gift of serving. Don’t get me wrong we all do have the same gifts some are just stronger in other gifts than others.  I Corithians 12:4-6 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Spiritual Gifts

In the second part of the video we have been watching in our Leadership Development Class, the topic was our spiritual gifts. These are gifts from the Holy Spirit which help make us unique and enhance our ability to do God’s work. Everyone has different gifts. Some have more than others, but it is important to know that everyone has at least one gift, and God wants us to use it. I Corinthians 12:6 says, “There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”
I have felt God in my life for a long time now, and I know that He has gifted me with a kind heart. I naturally treat people with a kindness and love, and I try to show this part of me to all the people around me, even to those I’m not that fond of. I feel that it is important to be this way in order to show the love of God that helps me constantly throughout my life.
Another gift God has given to me is discernment. Since I was younger, I never had trouble knowing right from wrong. That didn’t always stop me from being “bad”, but I have always had a strong conscience. It has only grown since my younger days, and it is one of the things that assures me every day that God is in my life, and He is working hard to make me the best all around person I can be.

Life Changes

Recently, in our Leadership Development class, a movie of a sermon was presented. The topic was on change. The preacher used an example in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the popular TV show. The purpose of the program is to take someone’s home that is in dire need of fixing and making it new. In the end, a family gets a nicer, redone home to live in.
The Extreme Makeover example represents what many people hope for in their lives. People like change. They enjoy seeing something awful be taken and made into something better. This is the case with celebrities. If a famous actor or musician begins to fall into drug and/or alcohol addiction, but then seeks treatment, the media praises the sober celebrity. The same can be said about any kind of recovery, whether it be from poverty, depression, mental illness, disease, etc. People want to be made better people.
People look to all different sorts of things for comfort from the stresses and pains of the world. There are plenty of ways to improves ones status as a person in the world, but the only way to truly turn one’s life around is to find Jesus and make him apart of his life. I can safely say that Christ has played an important part in turning my life around. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a very good kid, and I always have. I grown up in a Christian family all my life, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today otherwise. Despite the influence of my family, as a younger boy, I never really got it in my head how important it was to keep close contact with the Lord. I knew that Christ was my Savior, but I figured I was good enough, and that I didn’t need any other improvements in my life. Then, one day, when I was about 13 or 14, something clicked in my head. I came to the awful realization that I wasn’t really close to God at all, and I saw that I wasn’t really the golden child that I thought I was. From that point on, I sought out God and made a point to incorporate Him into every part of my life. Now, I can safely say that this has caused a tremendous change in my life. I have to come to care more about what God wants, not what I want. This attitude has changed the decisions I make in life for the better. I know my story is nothing like a recovering junkie, but I feel that this change in my life is a true example of how God has given me an “extreme makeover” of my own.

Explanation of Previous Missunderstandings (More Liberal Talk)

First, I would like to apologize for not being clear about my definition of a liberal. I understand that terms like “liberal” and “conservative” get tossed around easily, and I need to keep myself from making this a habit in my writing.

I also appreciate the comment that said that it was not liberalism that is ruining the morality of America, but the lack God in society. I agree totally with that. If there was a misunderstanding, then I apologize for that as well.

It is very common for people in general to disregard God as a whole, and therefore lead ungodly lifestyles. This does not mean that all liberals are awful, ungodly people, and that conservatives are all perfect saints. Mitt Romney is a very conservative politician, but certainly not an evangelical Christian, but rather from a branch (some would say cult) of Christianity. Likewise, Joe Lieberman is not a conservative, but is Jewish, and holds Judeo-Christian values. Therefore, it is unfair to put the label of “ungodly” onto all liberal people.

Now, with that said, it is my opinion that extreme liberalism, or Radical Liberalism or Radical Individualism, as writers like Robert Bork or Dave Noebel would call it, displayed by politicians such as Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle, and Ted Kennedy, is somewhat related to lack of God in society. As America has become even more corrupt as a nation over the past 40 to 50 years, liberalism (or the rage for increased personal freedoms outside of the definition of an absolute morality) has become increasingly apparent. For example, the liberal idea of diversity has become overblown and distorted to a whole new level. The demand that behavior be accepted is the present thrust of diversity. What maybe began as a movement to accept all races, moved to all religions, and has now refers to all behaviors!

Political correctness is another area that is put way out of proportion. This can be seen with the modern issue of illegal immigrants. Every year, thousands of people come to live in America, seeking new opportunities and way of life. Some of these Immigrants enter the US borders by sneaking into the country in order to avoid the usual steps of the immigration process. It is a growing issue, and the government isn’t doing enough to stop the problem. It is a problem because it creates thousands of cases in which citizens are living tax-free in the government while the rest of the population is paying in full, among other issues.

Society has come to a point where many people feel the need to embrace these Immigrants, mostly coming from south of the border in Mexico. Last April, 2006, hundreds of thousands of people across America protested for the rights of illegal immigrants. Recently, the Bank of America began selling credit cards which do not require a social security number or credit history, specifically targeting illegal aliens. This shows how our culture is so bent on embracing these people that they are willing to change the requirements for a credit card just to suit the needs of illegals.

Now, let’s take a quick look at another issue. The media has become polluted with garbage. All over TV, movies, and music, there is sexual immorality, senseless violence, and other obscenities, and the explicit content seems to get dirtier and raunchier every year. It is no secret that the media is controlled primarily by people leaning towards the ultra-left. And by ultra-left, I mean those people whose highest priority is individual freedoms and pursuits, regardless of what our culture has called healthy or moral for centuries. While these same people continue to shove filth down the throats of the general public, they push hard to stop the oppression of the illegal immigrants who sneak across our borders for free every day.

When people feel the need to embrace sexual immorality in order to show diversity towards those who live that way, or supply credit cards specifically to criminals (aliens are illegal, are they not?) in order to incorporate them into our society, we know there is a problem. So, you see, it is not really liberal thinking. It’s when people take liberties and pervert them making it something it was never meant to be.

Sources:

“Credit Card Aimed At Illegal Immigrants”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17130792/

“Rallies Across U.S. Call For Illegal Immigrant Rights”
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/10/immigration/index.html

Spiritual Gifts

In the second part of the video, he talked about our spiritual gifts and that understanding your spiritual gift is very important. Im still figuring out what my spiritual gift is at the moment, but im pretty good at designing things and building, so i think it might be related to one or both of those. Im not quite sure how this could help people, but thats what im good at. Some people say i am really generous too. So this could be another possibility. I dont really like taking things for myself and i tend to give more than take. Also, im told im merciful. I dont like to fight or argue really at all. Competition is good but not fighting. So i guess they have a point. Im still not exactly sure what my spiritual gift is but i will figure it out soon. Maybe its one of those…

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Prague Castle

Prague Castle, located in the Czech Republic, is one of the largest castles in the world. Originally established in the 9th century, Prague Castle became the center of political and religious activity for centuries. In the 10th century, the gothic Saint Vitus Cathedral and the Romanesque St. George’s Basilica were built, followed by palaces, monasteries, galleries, and towers in the successive years. Through the years, the castle was damaged by fires and wars, yet time after time, Prague’s leaders rebuilt and restored the castle.

In 1918, the seat of the President of the newly formed country of Czechoslovakia was located in Prague Castle. The castle was also used as a headquarters during the Nazi occupation and later as the place of government offices. After the split of Czechoslovakia into two separate countries, Prague Castle became the seat of the Head of State for the new Czech Republic and is now the Presidential headquarters of the country. The castle was regularly rebuilt and renovated by different architects throughout its grand history. As a result of this, Prague Castle contains architecture from nearly every period in design history since its establishment. Still, the medieval glory has not faded from this historic castle and its rich political and architectural history has made Prague Castle a destination for travelers from around the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Castle

St. George’s Basilica

In Czech, Prague Castle is Pražský hrad, and often simply called “The Hrad.”

Saint Vitus Cathedral

Saint Vitus Cathedral is the biggest and most important church in the Czech Republic. The Cathedral is named for Saint Vitus, a Sicilian martyr who was one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. In Catholicism, St. Vitus is the patron saint of dancers, actors, comedians, youth, and dogs. The sick appealed to St. Vitus because they believed he could intercede against disease, especially nervous disorders. For this reason, he is also often considered the patron saint of the epileptic. The Cathedral in Prague Castle was named for Saint Vitus by Wencelaus I. Originally, the site held a simple church, founded by Wencelaus I, who chose Saint Vitus as its patron saint because he had been given his arm as a holy relic. For this reason, when the Cathedral was built on the site of the old church, it was called St. Vitus Cathedral. St. Vitus is a fitting name for a cathedral, because he helped the physically sick; and the cathedral should be a place where the spiritually sick will find healing.

The Cathedral that stands today in Prague Castle was founded in 1344. It was built in the French Gothic style, as a triple-nave basilica with flying buttresses. The cathedral also has a short transept, choir, and apse with many chapels and is said to have influenced the development of Gothic architecture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vitus_Cathedral

http://saintvitus.com/SaintVitus/

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Is Atheism believable?

For the average person, an Atheist is someone who does not believe in a God. This, however, is not always true. There are two main types of Atheists: Negative and Positive.
A Negative Atheist is someone who does not believe in God for him or herself, but is ok with others being Christians, Islamics, etc. They believe that if there is a God, they have not yet found him or are not ready to accept him into their lives. Positive Atheists, on the other hand, are intolerant of all other religions. They believe that God is a crutch for weak people who need someone to look up to. Though these two groups believe the same base beliefs, they differ greatly in their outlooks on life and on other people.
Part of human nature is for us to have something that we so call “worship”. In a dictionary, worship is defined as “to render religious reverence and homage, as to a deity...” Using this deffinition, does not this mean that if you spend lots of time and effort on something, while at the same time viewing it with reverance, that you are worshiping it? If it is not God, it has to be something else. Maybe someone only works because they love money. Perhaps someone has lots of cars, and keeps buying more. What about if someone spends all of his time on his computer, playing games? Would this not be considered a form of “worship”?
However hard some people try and say they do not have a God in their lives, there is always something. Something perhaps as hard to notice as the act of spending most of your time convincing others that you do not have a God, while giving that view reverance… while in the process it became your God.

Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz - World Religions & Cults 101

~Jax

Friday, February 23, 2007

Racism is all around us

racism still exists all over the world in various forms.

In February 2006, Hines Ward, a receiver for the Pittsburg Steelers, was named the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XL. He did not only receive the title of MVP, but he also finally received welcome from his country of birth, South Korea. Born to a Korean mother and an African American father, he was originally rejected by Korea because of his ethnicity. When he came to the United States with his mother, Ward was ridiculed by kids in school because of his noticeably Asian features. However, he has now became a famous football player, and a patriotic son of Korea.

Now, there are much fewer children who are suffering in South Korea because of their ethnicities as Hines Ward, but still the older generation of Korea is slightly biased against multiethnic Koreans. One of the reasons is because of the culture of Korea. It is widely changing, but it has not been an opened country in terms of different ethnicities. Surprisingly, this is not the only example that shows that racism still exists all over the world in various forms.

One example of this is racial profiling. The definition of racial profiling is “the inclusion of race as a primary determinant in the characterization of persons considered likely to commit a particular type of crime (Wikipedia).” This form of racism was never abolished, but always has been in existence. Especially after September 11, racial profiling against Arabs, Muslims, and South East Asians has been increased for suspicion of terrorism. The American Civil Liberties Union says, “Arabs, Muslims, and South East Asians are no more likely than whites to be terrorists.”

Another interesting fact about modern day racism is that by trying to remedy the wrong of past discrimination, it created new discriminations. In Men In Black, the author, Mark R. Levin, discusses the Bakke Case. It is a case related to the special admissions program of the University of California. This separate admissions committee was for minority group applicants. As a result of this system, the respondent of this case was not able to get accepted to the University of California even though he had a superior grade than other minority group applicants. The issue was if this system violated the “equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (Levin, 91).” This school established this special program to avoid racism, but ironically, it caused reverse discrimination.

Many people are oblivious of the fact that there is still racism around the world. However, it is all around us. Even though we do know that racial discrimination is evil, cultural background and social issues lead us to this problem. However, if we start to put an effort in understanding and accepting each other, we could learn to appreciate others and live in harmony.

Levin, Mark R. Men In Black. The United States: Regnery Publishing, Inc., 2005.
Wikipedia. “Racial Profiling”. February 20, 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_profiling.
American Civil Liberties Union. “Racial Profiling: Old and New”. http://www.aclu.org/racialjustice/racialprofiling/index.html

The Life and Legacy of William Wilberforce

Biography:

This month marks the 200th anniversary of a major accomplishment in the history of Great Britain that was brought about by William Wilberforce. Sadly, very few people know about the impact that Wilberforce had on his country and the world.

William Wilberforce was born on August 24, 1759 to a wealthy English family. When his father died, 9-year-old Wilberforce moved in with his aunt and uncle, where he was exposed to their evangelical faith, which was his only childhood religious background. His mother soon removed him from his aunt and uncle’s care, and Wilberforce began to get a gentlemen’s education, living a life of vanity and opulence.

During his college years, Wilberforce dreamed of becoming a politician and he befriended William Pitt, who had similar aspirations (William Pitt later became the British Prime Minister). The friends graduated from St. John’s College in Cambridge together and often spent time watching Parliament in action. A year later, Wilberforce campaigned to become a Member of Parliament. Despite incredible odds, 21-year-old Wilberforce was elected, thus beginning his life-long political career.

In 1784, Wilberforce began to spend time with Isaac Milner, a smart man of evangelical faith. The two men discussed and debated religion, and through the influence of Milner and his theological reading, Wilberforce realized the emptiness of his life and decided to make a change and live for Christ. Initially, Wilberforce felt he needed to step away from his political life, but he was persuaded otherwise by William Pitt and John Newton. Both men encouraged him to use his political influence to make a difference for his church and country. With the inspiration and influence of his friends, Wilberforce began to seek his purpose as a servant of God in the political spotlight.

In 1786, some of Wilberforce’s abolitionist friends asked him to lead their cause in Parliament. At that time, the slave trade was well established and widespread in Great Britain and in the opinions of many, it was justified. Nevertheless, Wilberforce agreed to lead this campaign and slowly came to understand his purpose. Wilberforce said, “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners” (Hancock, 16). This became his life mission: the abolition of slave trade and the reversal of the moral decline.

Wilberforce immediately began to work to accomplish these goals. In Parliament, he supported laws which promoted morality. He also lived his life as an example of godliness and integrity. He gave to the poor, established orphanages, and fought for the welfare of many. Wilberforce also began to campaign for the abolition of the slave trade. Faced with great opposition, Wilberforce’s call for change was defeated time and time again. Yet he remained committed and persistent. Despite years of failure, he continued to fight for justice and liberty.

Finally, on February 23, 1807, nearly nine years after Wilberforce first introduced the motion, Parliament voted to abolish the slave trade. In the years the followed, laws against slavery and the slave trade continued to pass and be enforced, and Wilberforce, although no longer a Member of Parliament, continued to fight for the cause of freedom. Three days before his death, the Act of Emancipation was passed, ensuring the end of slavery and the beginning of freedom for the British slaves. Wilberforce, a man of faith and justice, lived to see his mission fulfilled. He had begun a revolution for liberty and morality.

Christian History Magazine. The “Shrimp” who Stopped Slavery. Hancock, Christopher. Issue 53.

Continuing His Mission:

In 1807, William Wilberforce’s persistence brought the first step in a revolution which still continues to this day. Wilberforce was driven by his purpose which he believed to be “the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners” (Hancock, 16). Although Wilberforce brought an end to the slave trade in England, his goals have by no means been fully accomplished, even now. Slavery continues in various places around the world and morality continues to decline. The same battles that Wilberforce faced 200 years ago, we are challenged with today. We must continue the revolution that he began and start making a difference in our world.

Slavery. The term generally reminds Americans of our country’s Civil War, a fight for liberty that has long been accomplished and resolved. The truth is, slavery continues even to his day, in far greater numbers than most people realize. Although the enslavement of fellow humans was abolished worldwide 80 years ago, it has been estimated that there are still about 27 million people in the bondage of slavery around the world today. Slavery exists on every continent (except Antarctica); in every corner of the inhabited globe, including the United States. Slaves are trafficked into the United States to be forced to fulfill the domestic, agricultural, and sexual desires of their captors. The four most common forms of slavery are debt bondage, sexual slavery, forced labor, and chattel slavery. Sadly, cases of such repulsive, inhumane behavior are not rare. India, Haiti, Sudan, and Southeast Asia are just a few examples where the most extreme cases of slavery are occurring. Men, women, and children are sold, traded, and abused like the most insignificant piece of property. This is the horror that William Wilberforce fought so hard to abolish, and this is the fight that we still face today. Wilberforce understood that it is the responsibility of the free to fight for those in bondage, and we too must stand together against the evils of slavery.

Wilberforce also understood that the conflicts of the time, including slavery, were mainly due to the lack of morality. Today, we face an even greater moral deficiency. William Wilberforce made a difference with a sort of quiet determination that was based on a solid, realistic worldview. For Christians in this depraved world, Wilberforce gave words of wisdom, encouragement, and strength that should guide our life and our witness. Christians, according to Wilberforce, ought to “boldly assert the cause of Christ in an age when so many who bear the name of Christian are ashamed of Him. Let them be active, useful, and generous towards others. Let them show moderation and self-denial themselves. Let them be ashamed of idleness” (Olasky, 44). Wilberforce understood that the only way to encourage morality in this world is to live it. That is how we begin to make a change. We must first reverse the moral decline and then, only then, can we imagine the world becoming a better place, free of slavery and other evils.

Christian History Magazine. The “Shrimp” who Stopped Slavery. Hancock, Christopher. Issue 53.

World Magazine. Humble Courage. Marvin Olasky. February 10, 2007.

The Movie:

On February 23, 1807, the slave trade was abolished in Great Britain at the hand of William Wilberforce. Two hundred years later, on February 23, 2007, a major motion picture describing the life and work of Wilberforce was released. Amazing Grace, as the movie is entitled, depicts the courage and determination of the remarkable man that much of the world seems to have forgotten.

For viewers who know little about William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace is a remarkable story of one mans persistence and conviction in working for justice. Still, those who already knew the story will be reminded anew of the difficulty that Wilberforce really faced. The movie clearly portrays that the abolition of the slave trade was no easy endeavor. Furthermore, the movie helps viewers to better understand Wilberforce as a man. Not only did he face great opposition in Parliament, but he also struggled daily with his health. No matter how great the pain, Wilberforce kept pushing forward toward his mission.

Amazing Grace also portrayed William Wilberforce’s spiritual life, which, in modern times, we rarely see in theaters. It is only through his faith that Wilberforce had the courage and conviction to continue toward the accomplishment of his goals. Still, the movie did not show the true affect that faith had on the life of Wilberforce. Despite making a point to mention his belief, Amazing Grace still undervalued Wilberforce’s relationship with God. In The Wall Street Journal, Charlotte Allen wrote an article entitled “Hollywood’s ‘Amazing’ Glaze” about what the movie director, Michael Apted, opted not to portray about Wilberforce. She wrote that Apted, “decided to play down Wilberforce’s religious convictions—that would be too ‘preachy,’ he said—and instead turned his story into a yeah of political triumph” (Allen, Hollywood’s “Amazing” Glaze). Nevertheless, Amazing Grace shows more of Wilberforce’s spiritual life than we are used to seeing at the movies.

Moviegoers will come away from Amazing Grace having a better understanding of the hero that continued in his mission against great opposition, fighting for justice and liberty. For a people that had in many ways forgotten Wilberforce, the movie was a reminder of true leadership and the influence that the actions of one man have had on the world. 

Allen, Charlotte. “Hollywood’s ‘Amazing’ Glaze.” The Wall Street Journal. 23 Feb. 2007: W11.

Holy hip-hop

Holy hip-hop

What kind of music do you listen to? Sometimes, it simply depends on what style of music you like, but for some people faith determines what they listen to. Christians, for example, would rather listen to Christian labeled music and avoid secular music. They choose to listen to “Christian music” because there is less possibility of inappropriate lyrics than secular music. However, now hip-hop, as one of the best representatives of secular music, is reaching Christians.

Sex, drugs, and violence are the images that come into your mind when you think of hip-hop. Whether you are a Christian or not, many parents try to prevent their children from becoming involved in that specific culture. However, it is true that there are several Christian hip-hop artists. One example of this is Curtis “Voice” Allen. More interestingly, many of his lyrics present a very strong reformed perspective. This hip-hop artist once lived the lustful and dangerous life, but now he condemns the life he once idolized and hopes “the musical genre [hip-hop] can serve as an evangelistic tool outside the church and a ministerial one within it (Bergin, 37).” When John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist pastor, first introduced Allen to the congregation, there were negative reactions among Christian fundamentalists. In World magazine, Mark Bergin writes, “The internet churned with volatile reactions, one blogger labeling all rap as ‘rape set to music’ while others denounced Piper’s entire ministry (Bergin, 36).” About these reactions, Allen says, “There’s no verse saying this particular music is good or bad.”

Allen and other hip-hop artists do not expect hip-hop to be widely used for church services, but emphasize that as long as the music is glorifying God and focuses on the glory of God, it would have a place to be properly performed and become a great tool for ministry. Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia is one of the good examples. It used “Bible-based hip-hop to reach out in an urban setting (Bergin, 37).” As this example, Christian hip-hop could be used to reach the urban setting.

The point we have to ponder in this topic is, is there a certain music that is proper to glorify God? In Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren writes, “There is no such thing as “Christian” music; there are only Christian lyrics. It is the words that make a song sacred, not the tune. There are no spiritual tunes. If I played a song for you without the words, you’d have no way of knowing if it were a “Christian” song (Warren, 66).” It is not a matter of melody, beat, speed of the music, or rhythm but it is about the message the music conveys.

In any situation, accepting new culture and ideas is difficult. In this case, hip-hop, represented with negative images such as sex, drug, and violence is controversial among Christians. Some condemn Christian hip-hop artists because they believe it to be inappropriate whereas many others are supportive. The most important point is that we should always remember that worship is not about us, but God. He appreciates and enjoys every form of worship, whether you like it or not. He listens and sees the words and your heart, not the tune or rhythm of the music. 

Bergin, Mark. “Holy hip-hop”. World. February 3, 2007: 36-37.
Warren, Rick. “Planned for God’s Pleasure”. Purpose Driven Life. The United States: Zondervan, 2002.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Single-gender Education, is it right?

Single-gender Education, is it right?

It’s been proven at the Thurgood Marshall Elementary school in Seattle that boys succeed far more when separated from the girls.  In 2000, these elementary students had the worst scores in the state.  Those scores, however, were given before the gender separation.  Now, the boys and girls are in different classrooms, are taught universal material, and are greatly succeeding. 
This article, written by Mark Bergin from World Magazine, is called “No Girls Allowed; single-sex schools help African-American boys succeed- but remain controversial.” Bergin writes that, “…some feminists contend that any notion of neurological or social differences between boys and girls amounts to sexism” (Bergin, 31).  This, however, would not and should not be the goal of gender segregation.  On the contrary, separation of boys and girls gives the children the opportunity to grow into their full potential.  “Thurgood Marshall principal Winifred Todd…says the single-sex environment actually breaks gender sterotypes.  Girls are more willing to apply themselves in math, science, and physical education without fear of ridicule.  Conversely, the boys… take no issue with a class on knitting” (Bergin, 31).
There are many aspects of single gender education that are positive and some negative.  Some parents, who have the wealth, send their children to elite private schools in order to provide for them a good, single sex education.  Personally, I think that complete single gender education could build barriers between girls and boys and could discourage as well as motivate them in participating in those previously mentioned activities.  So, if the single-sex education is a good thing, then I believe that boys and girls should have healthy interactions. 
Without clarification, this article and my opinion could be misunderstood.  For elementary education, the single gender education seems to work, but once the children reach junior high and high school ages, I think that mixing the sexes is a healthy and necessary action.  Mixing boys and girls is an important exercise, especially in training young people for marriage.  This preparation is critical in their development and in how they will carry out their marriages.  Having young men learn chilvary among young women, and having young ladies learn to be ladies is so crucial.  If, however, the sexes are separated throughout their entire education, the life applications necessary to a healthy marriage are not learned.  Also, this could encourage young people to accept alternative sexual lifestyles. So, in conclusion, I believe that if they are so separated that they don’t have a chance to know or understand each other, eventually a form of discrimination between the gender might evolve.

World Magazine. No Girls Allowed.  Mark Bergin. February 3, 2007. 

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

You Are What You Read

The American public has been ignorant for too long. They sit around on their butts, eating Big Mac’s and Cheese-puffs while watching TV like 24 and Ugly Betty. Now I’m not saying that there isn’t a time and place for this mindless entertainment. But people who watch Law and Order should still be able to find time to read Crime and Punishment.

Instead of reading the Classics, such as Melville, Thoreau, Flaubert, etc. We fill our brains with MTV and Comedy Central. Yes, these shows are entertaining but is there any actual value in them? Should we really care about Britney Spears’ latest husband or Paris Hilton’s latest arrest? These celebrities are great examples of the decline of American morality. This is due to the secular media that influences our everyday lives.

This is why Micheal Flaherty created Walden Media. He is making movies that are based on books with actual moral content. He feels that making these films will inspire children to want to read the books that they are based on. Flaherty consulted librarians from all over the country for suggestions, he recieved thousands of replies including such books as The Bridge to Terabithia, the Chronicles of Narnia, Because of Winn-Dixie, Charlotte’s Web, and Holes. These books all teach valuable life lessons such as love of others, how to deal with death, friendship, and forgivness.

Flaherty and the people from Walden Media then made movies off of these books. Thus far they have been successful. All of these movies have not only been extremely successful but the sales of the books themselves have skyrocketed as well.

Props to you to Micheal Flaherty. Keep up the good work!

By: The III

Saturday, February 17, 2007

The War On Terror: What Happens Next?

In this time and age, the people of America have a choice to make. Below are some thoughts to help you decide what America should do.

The present war that the United States of America is fighting is called “The War On Terror”. This is a war in which one side is clearly defined, while the opposing side is a gang of loosely allied guerrilla fighters that have only one common goal: the destruction of any one or thing that does not agree with their doctrines. This war had several causes, but some of the largest include: The bombing of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon bombing, and the failed attempt at the White House. Another reason for this war was the threat of nuclear and chemical warfare from Saddam Hussein in Iraq. This war has become unpopular among Americans, who are sick of the death tolls that come with it. They believe that the goals that were set are not being achieved. There are however, a great deal of reasons why the war has been succeeding thus far. Iraqis are now able to vote for their national leaders, and those who would end U.S. lives are kept far from American soil. The War on Terror has been a quest for the freedom of Middle Eastern people from those that would use or abuse them for any purpose. It is extremely critical for Americans to keep this in mind during the next couple of years in which we will be deciding our new president, and consequently the U.S. policy in this war.

This war is much different from most wars that have been fought by America because the enemy is not defined by a specific nation or even religion. It is being fought against anyone who would try to make this world a less peaceful place by causing as much destruction as they can. There is only one underlining similarity that is constant for all terrorists; they have a hatred burning within themselves that has enough influence that they are willing to end innocent lives. Men and women like this, who would do anything just to harm another person, must be stopped, at any cost. This is the single most important reason why the U.S. is fighting this war.

The largest reason that War On Terror began was an attack on American soil that killed over 3,000 Americans from the World Trade Centers, Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. The attack used a method that had never before been used, consisting of hijacking airplanes and crashing them into the buildings. The first plane hit the trade center at 8:45am on September 11th, 2001, reeking havoc across America. Then eighteen minutes later, at 9:03am, another plane smashed into the Trade Center’s twin tower causing both structures to crumble, and thousands of lives to end instantly. Then at 9:40am, another airplane flew itself into the Pentagon. Finally at 10:07, the last airplane containing terrorist hijackers crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania due to a passenger led revolt that killed the hijackers, and all passengers.

The majority of these casualties were civilian, and not strategic military targets; because of this the population of the U.S. was enraged. One person said “Because of the courage of the rescue workers, the gallantry of the passengers of Flight 93, and the strength of the Promethean trade towers, the toll was not higher. Because of our just anger, the toll of our enemies will be much higher”(findarticles.com). Often nowadays, people forget this feeling of loss that was created, and we as Americans need to begin to remember.

The war on terror began by hunting down Osama Bin Laden, the man who claimed responsibility for planning the attacks. At the time, he lived in Afghanistan where he led a group called the Taliban, a Muslim group of extremists with a vendetta of hatred against anyone who was not as they were; including fellow Muslims who were less adamant then themselves.

Upon the U.S. troop’s arrival in Afghanistan, Saddam Hussein, the leader of the Al-Qaida in Iraq began threatening the U.S. with chemical warfare. This caused the United Nations to send search parties into Iraq looking for these weapons. Eventually hostilities broke out between the two parties, and Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. troops, and put in prison until the Iraqi people could judge him for his crimes against them.

Despite the obvious reasons for going to war on terror, this war has become one of the most unpopular in America for centuries. Many of the people who feel this way, claim that the war is causing the death of too many people. There have however been extremely low casualties in this war compared to any other in American history.

In every war there are casualties. Some soldiers are wounded only slightly; while others are hurt so badly they become dysfunctional, while some are even killed. Because so many soldiers are hurt, people would claim that this war is not achieving its goal. If however America had given up in World War Two, then Hitler very likely would have ruled over all of Europe, killing at will. During that war, over 600,000 Americans lost their lives, but our loss prevented the deaths of other nations who already had incredible high losses. There were countless numbers of Jews, Russians, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Poles, and many more would have died along with those who had already died numbering near 100,000,000 people (Wikipedia).

During this war however, as of December 2006 only 2,973 American Soldiers have lost their lives defending the freedom of people half way across the world. The bible says “no greater love has someone than this, that he lay down his life for another”. This shows that these men and woman that have died are exhibiting the greatest possible attribute of a human being. Yet instead of honoring them for it, America is split down the middle for whether or not we should abandon this war completely or leave Iraq as soon as possible (BBC News).

An example of U.S. soldiers paying the ultimate price for their friends is fast becoming Marine Corps legend. A soldier, Corporal Jason Dunham, was standing near his platoon when a grenade was dropped in their midst by a terrorist. By throwing himself on the ground on top of the grenade, he not only shielded the explosion from his sixty fellow Marines, but also was awarded the post-humously Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest honor awarded to any one. This man gave up his life that his friends might live on to safeguard the people of Iraq (Sgt. Jon Koshuta USMC).

Critics of the war in Iraq say that it is getting nothing done, and goals are not being achieved. It is often a point in the news that more people have died due to the war than would have in these past years. They however do not see that a system of government has been set up, people can vote, and when this war is finally finished, the death toll will eventually be the same as every other nation due to its own crime syndicates.

Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts believes that the U.S. troops should be taken out of Iraq immediately, saying that Iraq would be a safer place without American presence to inflame the insurgent’s ranks. It is his belief that the U.S. pulled out now, they could save their own honor, and recover the public face that has been, according to Kennedy, desecrated (Senator Kennedy).

For the reason that there are so many critics of the war, George Bush, the President of the United States of America, is at present deciding whether or not to send more soldiers over to Iraq. Many in the Unites States are highly contest this idea, saying that if anything, America and her allies should bring their soldiers home. Contrary to this belief are men such as the Republican Senator from Arizona, John McCain, who believes that the increase of troops in the Middle East is necessary.

“But the Arizona Republican said Americans must realize that if U.S. troops leave Iraq in chaos, groups such as al-Qaida “will follow us home and that we will have a large conflict and greater challenges than those that we now face here in Iraq… The American people are confused, they’re frustrated, they’re disappointed by the Iraq war, but they also want us to succeed if there’s any way to do that,” McCain told reporters in Baghdad.

He said conditions in some areas of Iraq have improved since his last visit in March, but “I believe there is still a compelling reason to have an increase in troops here in Baghdad and in Anbar province in order to bring the sectarian violence under control” and to “allow the political process to proceed (ABC News).

It is people like this that are beginning to break through to the stubborn American mind, and prove that it is necessary to not only keep the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq, but also increase them in number to continue to bring safety and healing to the Middle East.

With the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, a new man named Robert Gates has taken his place. Gates believes in a shift of policy, because be believes that at present, the U.S. is not winning this war. A possible piece of this new policy would include sending greater numbers of soldiers to Kuwait and other countries surrounding Iraq, so that if necessary, these troops could be swarmed into Iraq at a moments notice (Calcutta News).

Sgt Bethany Koshuta of the U.S.M.C, who has served two tours of duty in Iraq, has said that American presence in the Middle East has been constructive for the Iraqi people. The voting booths in Iraq had almost perfect attendance during their first elections as a free nation in 2005. Whereas in America, she said, if the majority of Americans voted it would be a miracle. America is a place known for its freedom, and its safety, yet we don’t vote because we don’t feel like it. In Iraq the people faced crime lords with guns just to get their ballot it. They risked their lives just for the opportunity to say who they wanted leading their country, and their turn out was better than the turnouts in the land of the free where everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion (Sgt Bethany Koshuta USMC).

The media in the United States is extremely one sided. They report the story that sells their agenda, but leaves out the anything that apposes their argument. In the news you will find stories of soldiers raping Iraq women, beating prisoners, and murdering innocent people. You will not however hear about the soldier who gives out candy to children, or gives medical attention to a wounded civilian. This however is the case. For every Marine is found on the news for committing one crime, there are a hundred who daily commit acts of goodness.

If we were to pull out of Iraq, terror would run rampant across the globe. This is similar to when a person attacks a bee’s nest. If a child bearing homeowner sees a bee nest on their child’s playground, they will feel threatened and take it out. While they are attacking the nest, the bees will be furious, and will likely strike out at the attacker, but the children would be safe because the bees are focused on defending themselves as opposed to random acts of violence. So when the terrorists struck New York, London, Washington, and all the major bombings that are attributed to terrorists, it caused the nations to attack them. If we were to give up now, just like the bees, the terrorists would go on a rampage leaving destruction as their wake.

The war on Terror must continue, and it must be brought to its ultimate conclusion in the freedom of the citizens of every nation from the fear of terror. In order to do this, America must keep her role as the tip of the spearhead that is advancing on those who would prey on the lives of innocent men and women. More troops must be sent to the Middle East, or where ever the enemies of liberty may lie, in order to safeguard the symbol of independence, America, but also anyone who would follow in her footsteps on the trail to freedom.

With the presidential elections coming, it is important to keep this issue in mind. The American people will choose the new president; the new president will in turn choose the course of history. Will we be remembered in the ages to come as the protectors of the weak? Or will we allow ourselves to abandon them, and be remembered as the nation that gave up, and allowed tyrants to rule the world with terror. People of America, people of the world, it is time to choose.

Work Cited Page

Find Articles page: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_24_53/ai_80454774

BBC News page: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5333646.stm

Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties

ABC News page: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2725260

Calcutta News page: http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/221220

Senator Kennedy page: http://kennedy.senate.gov/issues_and_agenda/issue.cfm?id=70CB2D64-597E-473D-9F6B-04AF3600AE20

Thursday, February 15, 2007

things you may not know about germany

here are a few things that you may not know about germany. below are 10 questions that should help you become a little more aqainted.

1). What do germans call their homeland? the Germans call their homeland Deutschheim.
2). How do you say “please”, “thankyou”, “yes”, “no”. “hello”. please=Bitte, thank you =Vielen Dank,yes=Ja,no= Nein, hello=hallo
3). What candy is made in Germany that is readily availble here?( at times it is left on your hotel room pillow in Germany as a choclate is left in the united states) Belive it or not the answer is Gummy Bears though they are not as sweet as the ones in America but they are still tasty.

4). What is the oldest church in Munich and what does it over look? the oldest church is the St. Peters church and it over looks the Glockenspiel city center
5). who was the “mad “king and where is his tomb located? 

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Mormanism: Fact or Falacy?

The following article was composed by two students while studying the Mormon Religion through several sources including the Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith (the founder of Mormonism), and World Religions & Cults 101 by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz

The religion known as Mormonism has about 11 million followers (known as Ladder Day Saints) across the globe. It is the fastest growing religion in the entire world, with 300,000 converts every year (however converts leave the order almost as quickly as they join it). One reason why they are the fastest at converting others is that there are 50,000 missionaries living in over 200 countries around the world. If that were not enough, it is also the wealthiest church, bringing in about 25-30 billion dollars per year. It is also notable that the average Mormon lives a moral life far better than that of the average person. There are however some shocking truths in their belief system.

First, we must look at the foundations of the Mormon Church. It was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith who was born in Vermont in 1805. Smith was known to have a very vivid imagination. One of his hobbies as a child living in upper state New York was to treasure hunt using a method which involved using seer stones and a black hat to see hidden treasure in the ground. Stone gazing, in Joseph’s time was illegal and was also considered a cultic practice.

On September 21, 1823 Smith asked God for a vision. According to him, he met with the angel Moroni who told him about a book that was written in gold which he could find buried near his home. This book contained information about the previous inhabitants of America, and an account of what he called the “true gospel” which he claimed was given to the Native Americans by the “savior”.

Upon Smith recovering this “ancient text”, he translated it from its original “Reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics”. This text has become the Book of Mormon which helped him found the Mormon church, which he called “the One True Church”.

A few years later in 1844, Smith was jailed for treason and starting a riot in Carthage, Illinois. The jail was then stormed by a mob of 200 angry people who killed him. He was however able to wound a few of them with a gun which he had smuggled in.

Many Churches consider the Mormon Church a cult, while they consider themselves the one true faith. According to Dictionary.com, a cult is “a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader” (Dictionary.com). Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz the authors of World Religion & Cults 101 believe that it is a cult. We are now going to explore a few of the inconsistencies which make it hard for a person to completely agree with ALL of the beliefs in Mormonism.

Firstly, the Mormon church believes that Africans are the descendants of Cain from the book of Genesis in the Christian Bible. They believe that the curse he received upon the murder of his brother was dark skin and a flat nose. Second Mormon prophet Bringham Young said “Shall I tell you The law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man, who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty under the law of God is death on the spot. This will always be so"(Journel of Discourses, Vol 10 pg 110). Because of this Mormons denied Africans the priesthood. This was changed on June 9th, 1978 due to bad publicity. Another problem with this idea is that all of Cain’s descendants, according to the Bible, were wiped out in the flood.

Another question that has yet to be answered by the Mormon church is “where did all the artifacts go”?  Much like the “missing link” in Darwin’s theory of Evolution, there are no such artifacts that would allow us to believe there were vast civilizations in America before the Native Americans.  According to Smith, there were collosial battles fought in New York State in which hundreds of thousands of Ancient Americans fought and died.  Smith believed that these “Americans” were the ones who enscribed the golden tablet from which he wrote the “book of Mormon” (this piece of literature being one of the most key Mormon works of all). With such a large battle, one would think that there would be spear tips by the barrel, skeletons by the bushel, and war camps by the dozen.  To date no such discoveries have been made.  Either the archeologists are missing something, or there is one big issue in the heart of the Mormon religion.

The book of Mormon, and Mormon doctrine also have many contradictions. Mosiah 15:1 & 5, Alma 28, and 2nd Nephi 31:21 all say that there is One and only one God. Mormon doctrine however clearly states in the Journal of Discourses Vol. 6 page 5 that there are MANY Gods( world religions and cults 101). Doctrines and Covenants 132:20 states that members of the Mormon church can become a god of their own planet. President Lorenzo Snow said, “As god once was man is. As God is, man may become"(undisputed).

For these reasons, a person should be extremely careful when considering to join ANY religious sect, especially Mormonism. It is important that a person have at least a basic understanding of the issues in a religion before one can make a decision on whether or not it is in fact truth, or is simply a falacy.

Work Cited Page:

Bickel, Bruce & Jantz, Stan. “World Religions & Cults 101” Harvest House Publishers, Oregon USA. 2002.