Chocolat

Chocolat
The characters Vianne and Le Compte de Reynaud have different images and God and life. These ideas influence how their actions, and how they affect the community. The movie Chocolat was released in 2000, based on the novel by Joanne Harris.
Vianne’s image of God is loving and nurturing. Because of this image, people around her are influenced in a positive way. Rather than faith, her moral values are drawn from the conditions she was exposed to and her heritage. Furthermore, Vianne is more flexible to other things because she has allowed other elements of life to be her teacher. However, one constant religious icon she looks up to is her Mayan heritage. In her shop, she displays Mayan statues, which are viewed as pagan by the other members of the community. However, her Mayan roots make her the great Chocolatier that she is. While her Mayan statues seem pagan, her compassion for others is not. She uses chocolate in a way that heals people. She mends relationships and builds new lives for the entire community. In particular, she heals Madame Audel. She takes a woman trapped in tradition and restores her self confidence. Vianne tells Audel that even though she cannot keep the vows of marriage, she still deserves love. Vianne’s flexibility to be open to other people makes them feel welcome in her presence. She is much more welcoming than the Compte,Vianne proves that sometimes breaking traditions is better than staying stuck in a rut.
The Compte De Reynaud entrenched himself in tradition. Compte de Reynaud’s image of God is the Law. His God is a ruler. His God is also one to be feared. The Compte clings to God to keep the tradition in his town. His image of god influences his daily life. Because his image of God is as a keeper of the law, the Compte attempts to do the same. The Compte stresses the importance of tradition in everyday life. He goes as far as to change Pere Henri’s sermons to make them stricter. The Compte makes sure there is no room for sinners in his town. He puts all his trust into the bible, and will keep the bible’s commandments even if the task is impossible or will hurt others in the end. This is revealed when he tries to change Serge. Even though Serge does not deserve his wife, the Compte is set on keeping the sanctity of their marriage. The Compte’s strictness makes the town fearful and devout. Because the Compte de Reynaud only relies on one teaching, when he questions that teaching for a moment, his morals fall apart. He indulges in hypocritical sin. However, with the help of Vianne, he learns the lesson of adapting himself to situations rather than asking everyone to adapt to his standards. The Compte may keep the townspeople in check, But Vianne makes them feel comfortable with who they are already. When Vianne enters the town, everything changes.
Both the Compte de Reynaud and Vianne change the town for better or worse. They both have good intentions. The Compte’s intentions derive from the Bible, and Vianne’s intentions derive from her personal experience. Each want the best for the town, however they have different ideas of what the best is for the town. The Compte focuses on the sanctity of the town, whereas Vianne focuses on the town’s well being. The combination of the two make the town a warm, loving, but devout place to live. I think the balance of the two create an ultimate form of goodness.
I measure goodness by both intentions and deeds. For example, the Compte has very good intentions, but his outcomes are disastrous for the community. Vianne’s deeds are good but we are unclear whether her intentions are to bring a community together. Vianne is focused on carrying out the traditions of her family, and we do not see whether she would like to change the community or not. I think both characters are good and have good in them, they simply have different ways of showing it—just like most people—we have different ways of showing our goodness. I think goodness is a desire to change things for the better from the bottom of your heart.
Chocolat is a movie that uncovers what is good. The Movie shows us different images of God, and how they affect characters and characters around them. The movie shows that goodness can be interpreted in many different ways, and a good balance of strictness and love can create harmony.

Who is Jesus? #2

This class has changed how I think about scripture. I was really glad that we picked the Gospels apart in our form criticisms. In our form criticisms, we got to the bare bones and the real meaning of the gospels. I think it is important to remember that we can't take a translation that is 1500 years old as a literal word. We must remember the context of the writings of the Gospel, and how the translations might apply today.
In my service learning, I learned how to adapt to different people and scenarios. My experience with GAME helped me try to understand a population that I am not exposed to very often. Children that attend GAME come from low income families. Some of them have attitudes, some of them are shy. Each of them go to GAME for a different reason. When I went to GAME, I remembered that we were there to serve others as Christ served us. It was nice to learn about different types of people and how a different home situation can lead to those different personalities. Game helped me understand how we can try to relate to each different individual and treat them with the respect and attention they deserve, as God relates to us.

Who is Jesus?
in a paragraph: Jesus is the son of God and a prophet. God sent someone in His/Her image so God could better understand the human condition. Jesus is an ultimate role model for peace and the promotion of justice. Jesus reminded us that "we need to be the change we want to see in the world." -Ghandi. Jesus is someone to emulate in order to promote ethical eschatology. It is our job to change ourselves and the world around us. God put us on this planet, in our conditions for a reason, and we should attempt to find what the reason is.
in a sentence: Jesus is the son of God, was sent to earth to promote love and forgiveness of others.
in a word: Peace.
in a photo:


The photographs are of the Catholic Pope and the Anglican Archbishop.

Service Learning Supplement #2

Often Americans do not realize that there is a class system in America. As shown in chapter one of Class Matters, there is less upward mobility than we think in America. Upward mobility is the ability for people to jump from class to class throughout their lifetime. America may have a higher chance of upward mobility than other countries, but it is impossible for all classes to move upwards in the class structure of the United States. Americans have a strong belief that anything is possible in the job world in America. This means people in the United States do not think that they are responsible for the lower class’ misfortune. However, this is not true. It is the upper class that prevents the lower class from moving upward. The upper class has set social ideals that all higher class members must have. This includes a good education, wealth, income, and occupation. Upper class members are traditionally white males that are born into their position. It is nearly impossible for the rags to riches idea to become reality. Some Americans do not have money to go to college, and therefore can never move to a higher class. Most lower class individuals do not have the tools to attend college, or believe that the goal is unattainable.

Class has a very distinct effect on education. In lower class areas, teachers are hard to come by. It is harder to teach in areas where parenting is less strict and less controlled. As a result, it is more difficult to teach the material. While the teacher may have good material to teach, the class might not be paying attention, making it difficult for strong willed students to learn. A good environment for learning is necessary for students to succeed. Unfortunately in lower income areas, it is difficult to achieve a good learning environment because of the parent’s, and the environment’s influence. A student in a lower income family may not be able to attend school each day because of family problems. A student might have to work a full time job to help support his family, therefore spends his time working rather than studying. While these students may gain skills necessary to survive in the real world, they lack the normal comfortable environments upper class students have. Lower class students are susceptible to classrooms that are overflowing, no individual time with their teacher, and a lack of individualism. Also, upper class students have more access to programs run by their school. School districts have to fight for money to run programs like counseling, tutoring, sports, and after school programs. In private schools, the school can decide what they want rather than the government.
Private schools, which offer the best and most liberating education, are hard for lower class individuals to attend and get into. Even though loans are possible, often lower class individuals are reluctant to take them for fear of being in more debt or not being able to pay them off. In the worst scenarios, people are already in debt and have lower credit, therefore are not able to receive loans. Also, they are difficult for lower class individuals to get into. A lower class school in Brooklyn has a very different education system than a private school in Manhattan.


In GAME, we see many lower class students. There are sad statistics that go along with these students. These statistics prove the reality that upward mobility is nearly impossible in the lower class. One out of three students enrolled in the Spokane public school district will drop out. Is it really the child’s fault for dropping out if their home life is unstable? If they do not have enough food to eat, or must work to give money to their families rather than going to school, it is not the child’s fault. There are many factors upper class Americans do not consider when investigating the lower and working classes. Some factors that lead to less upward mobility may include family, illness, lack of food, and lack of education. There are hundreds of other factors, but the truth is that it making rags to riches is not going to work for the majority of lower class individuals. In GAME, we have many mentees that belong to the lower class. It is not their fault that they are born into a system they cannot escape. They have been conditioned by their peers and family in a way that would make it hard for them to win someone over in an interview. That’s why mentors from Gonzaga come to GAME. We try to be a positive influence and incorporate good mannerisms into every game we play with our mentees. Some of the kids from GAME might even apply to Gonzaga in the future. Children of the lower class aren’t given the proper attention that they need. If they were given hope or further education, upward mobility would be more attainable.

Service Learning Supplement #1

Hunger is an issue that cannot be ignored in the city of Spokane, state of Washington, and in the United States of America. Food insecurity is present in every state and every town. It affects people we know and should care about. I went to the talk on Hunger. It took place in the Foley teleconference center, which was to the left of the library. The talk was given by Linda Stone. Linda Stone has been a child advocate for a number of years. Group mentoring programs were required to attend this talk as a training tool.

During the talk, we were given many statistics. She showed us which counties in Washington were the most food insecure, which had the most amount of people who were hungry, and other statistics. We were also given a few phrases and definitions that we could apply to hunger. She told us there was a difference between hunger and food insecurity. Food insecurity is where one is unsure whether they will be able to put food on the table. Hunger is the actual state of starvation that the body undergoes. It is sad that most statistics are based on hunger, when the bigger issue is how many people cannot put enough food on the table. Another factor that is often left unconsidered are families that can feed their children, but cannot afford to feed themselves or their children in a healthy manner. A mother or father may be able to buy McDonald for their child, but it does not mean that their child is getting the nutrients they need. This unfortunate scenario deprives children of their necessary vitamins that they need to grow strong. It also deprives children of years of their life.

After the talk, Meredith talked to us about how the information on hunger related to our services. She reminded us that when a kid is cranky, to remember that it might be because (s)he might not have eaten dinner. When I heard this, i remembered how i had judged some of the kids for being bullies. I also considered that on other days, they acted nicer sometimes. It was shocking for me to realize that the issue of hunger could be prevalent in GAME.

In GAME specifically, there are kids who have mean attitudes for no reason. Meredith reminded us that the kids that might seem mean one day might be cranky because they haven't eaten. Spokane children are directly affected by hunger. The underprivileged and lower class children living in Spokane can't afford to go to Gonzaga prep, so they attend schools like Glover and Garfield. Spokane's school district is very poor. They have many programs designed for underprivileged children. These programs are designed because of the need for special attention that these kids deserve. 1/3 kids in Spokane drop out of high school. That shockingly large number cannot be attributed to teachers alone. That number is a direct result of other, cultural influences in chilren's lives, and other absence of influence. It is unfair that a child might go through a day without food, and it negatively affects their performance in daily life.

Reflection Paper #6

Pauline letters make sure that the role of women in Jesus' time is not forgotten. In particular, Mary Magdelene is remembered. She is present in all of the synoptic gospels. She traveled with Jesus through Galilee. It is not exactly sure what Mary's relationship was with Jesus. In recent movies/books, (Da Vinci Code) it was suggested that they had a loving relationship. There is one woman who anoints Jesus in the gospels. Some scholars believe it was Mary Magdelene.


The Gospels sublty hint at the importance of women in the gospels. Many letters or writings have been changed to hide their importance. However, many women traveled with Jesus and even ministered to others. In class we learned that whenever a woman and the verb "to minister" is used, the translation is changed to "to serve." Now, to serve sounds more like waiting on someone, whereas minister sounds like religious work or healing is being employed. I think men have the upper hand with that translation.

Even though Jesus apostles were men, women traveled with Jesus, women gave their homes for his work, and some worked with Paul in his missionary work. Though women were important in Jesus' following, they were denied authority and downplayed throughout history.

In the times following Jesus death, women were allowed to study in the some of same philosophy schools that men were allowed. That meant that they were given the correct education and were allowed to have intellect, rather than emotion that 18th century men declared ruled woman's mind.

Paul declared that baptism made one born anew, or born again, like the gospel writing we read in our last form criticism. This meant slave, free, men women, jew, or gentile were destroyed and all that was left was who you were in the eyes of God. While women and men were created equal in this aspect, there was no social change that changed the status of men.

Today in the Church, women aren't allowed to be priests or deacons. How have we come so far away from the egalitarian kingdom Jesus once preached about? I have a feeling marriage will be allowed for male priests before women can bless or give homilies.

Service Learning Blog

I chose WFP and poverty.com
WFP (World Food Program) Has a shocking statistic- one in six people are malnourished in the world. That's such a horrible statistic. It brings to life the reality of hunger in the world. WFP sets goals to eradicate this hunger in the world. Poverty.com views poverty as something that can be changed. There is enough food for people, but we fall short of distributing it all. How can we let people starve without having compassion? This site is trying to change ethnocentrically american views (that everyone can get food and water), and that some people really do need help. It's not always a populations fault if they are impoverished or starving. We need to aknowledge that people starve because of us, not them.
I liked that these sites aknowledged hunger, but i think there are more issues than food that people deal with on a day to day basis, especially in America where food is more acessible.

The type of poverty that I see in Game is lower middle class. These pre-teens live in low income or middle class families, and many receive free lunches. They are usually considered at-risk. We have a few bullies, and a few super shy people. By mixing all kinds of people from all walks of life, they can understand themselves and others better. Game is a good way of helping kids increase self esteem. Also, hanging out with these kids once a week keeps them out of trouble. Living in poverty greatly affects their day to day lives, including education. It makes education difficult, because their parents may not advocate it or think it's important. Also, at home, if their parents arent well educated, they can't help them with homework. Many end up at community college because their parents think they can't pay for private or public universities. It makes healthcare difficult because they can't pay for good medical insurance or go to the best hospitals. Living conditions are poor, if one can't pay bills, they can hardly furnish a house.

I think it is absolutely neccessary to increase awareness of poverty in Spokane. We don't neccessarily advertise "GAME" in the Spokane community. If more programs like this were readily available, we might be able to improve the lives of hundreds of teens in America. I think it is important to attempt to live in solidarity with others. I think GAME is a good program to see poverty close up, and work alongside it to help change attitudes, so GAME mentees can view the world as more friendly and accessible.

When I think about people in poverty, i think of the woman that was so poor, but gave her last two cents to the collection plate. i think if people were more willing to give of themselves, we could more easily destroy hunger and poverty. If people were willing to give services, time, and money to important causes, we could change the world.

Reflection Paper #5 Paul's Letters

Paul is an interesting addition to the New Testament. His letters were to friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ around 45-50B.C. The purpose of his letters were to educate about Jesus and evangelize different types of people living shortly after Christ's death. Chapter 13 in Ehrman attempts to decode Thessalonians 1 so we can better understand Pauline letters. The letter Thessalonians was written to the peope of Thessalonica, smack in the center of Macedonia.

Paul isn't what we would consider a prophet in modern times; standing in the middle of times square handing out bibles. No, he visited Jews where they worshipped in cities. Out of some sort of goods shop, he sold useful things while preaching good deeds and about the gospels. It was difficult to convert others at those times because Greco-Roman religions didnt' mind if one took part in other religions. However, there were some very strict philisophies in Greco-Roman times as well-stoic and cynic, which preached to rid oneself of dependency on material things. So one would place dependency on things that are unchangeable. Cynics took this ideology to an extreme and regected social concepts as well. It could have been easy to convert a stoic to christianity since one's belief in God can remain constant and inchangeable. However, a cynic might be less inclined to follow Christ because of the belief that religion is a human need.

Those that visited Pauls shop could have been pagans or polytheistic. So his message was not what we would consider a "bible thumper"'s message. We have some ideas of what his message could have been-to give up false idols, and that his God was monothestic. Then he threw a curveball-there is another part of God, Jesus' son. It probably wasnt a foreign concept to have two Gods, but to make the two Gods one was probably confusing to most Greco-Romans who knew polytheism to be true. Paul also stressed in his letters the importance of the crucifixion, that God died to rid us of our sins, and therefore we are forgiven. Paul also made sure that his followers knew of the apocalypse. This was a great way to get people to rethink their lives before they were "doomed to eternal damnation".


Pauls letters are sent to groups of people, rather than individuals. Ehrman points out that this means it's likely that groups of people met together in small gatherings or churches. Since there weren't official christian churches yet, they might have met secretly in someone's home. Ehrman says it could have been like other guilds at the time, such as trade organizations. All associations at these times had certain codes/rules they had to abide by. Most associations were a life-insurance like association where they planned to have members of the association buried according to the association. They also did social things together. These associations normally had fees involved. Christian communities activities might have been leading the groups in discussion. Because the groups met illegally, they were very tight knit.

The secret societies were constantly under pressure, being criticized by many and accused of perverted allegations. The christians were questioned about their sexual desires, therefore Paul wrote to the thessalonian Christians to stay pure.

Paul started to worry that Jesus wasn't coming back. The Thessalonians had little to hope for. However, he had the idea of a 3 story universe. God is in the highest story, we are on the earth (2nd) and those who have died are below us (1st story). He promised, like Jesus, that the dead would be raised and would be with God;

Paul was coined as the apostle of the Gentiles. He stuck to those who knew little abut Judaism and taught them a new world of ideas. He gave them hope in a world of turmoil and confusion.

The Politics of Jesus

First, the Politics of Jesus talks about a few of the misunderstandings between liberals and conservatives. The author compares today's battles between both sides to that of the Salem Witch Trials. Verbal fights in the name of God have escalated to violent wars through vandalism and protests. The author points out that conservatives are the "worst" players. Conservatives also have more power than liberals, they've been around longer and dominate political establishments. One of these establisments is the Heritage Foundation, which i ordered a free copy of the constitution from. So not only do these foundations have money, they have the means of media to reach people.

There is a miscommunication in the politcal world that "liberals and liberalism" are at fault for the flaws in america. In fact, the words liberals and liberalism are very different terms. Liberalism is an ideology that pertains to a more republican characteristic. Liberalism pertains more to freedom from government,which is an old republican ideology.

Conservatism is also an ideology. There are two different types of conservatism: Moral and political. Moral has to do with the purging of sins. These sins included adultery, murder, and occasionally the subjeccts of homosexuality, abortion. Political conservatism has to do with spending less money and having less regulations from the country, and more regulations that have to do with local levels.

Jesus was about liberal politics, and moral conservatism. That is, he wanted to give more money and more freedom to the poor while remaining ethical, doing good deeds, etc.

Liberals are often viewed as child and family hating. They want more taxes and to spend more money. They are portrayed to republicans as a crime to society. They are viewed as Christ-haters. When conservatives make these demeaning remarks, they aren't acting as Christ did. How can they cover their attacks as defending christ when Christ's biggest teaching was to love others as you love yourself? Some conservative preachers followed suit, asking not to make peace with enemies, but to continue hating them.




Classes in society directly contradict Jesus' teaching. However this is a conservative ideology:that classes must exist to have a well balanced government.

SL Blog #2

The people I am serving are mentees from 7th grade to sophomore year in high school. Glover is located in the Northwest and Northtown neighborhoods. Therefore, the mentees come from two different areas in Spokane. They are generally of lower middle class backgrounds. Communities in Schools runs GAME. Communities in schools is a program that actually works. Because of CIS, there are fewer dropouts. At this moment, 1/3 kids in spokane drop out. CIS is all about having mentors for young people. They believe young people need mentors in their life, to promote "student success." -cis website. Mentors help raise the self esteem, promote team spirit, and motiviate the students that they can put their mind to.

POV: I don't really understand why I'm here. My teachers talked to my parents about how I act with other students. Going to GAME on Wednesday nights are such a waste of time. We play dodge ball every week. I mean, I guess I do pick on other kids alot... I feel like i have to prove something to others, so I put up a front. I really wish I could be like the Gonzaga athletes. They are so cool. Sometimes they get mad at me for saying mean things to other people. Maybe I should listen. I'm not doing too well in school either. They say that's why I'm here. School is not fun... But I guess I'll have to stay put if i want to go to GU... Its really hard at home sometimes. My parents fight alot. I'm scared sometimes. I guess its nice to get away for a few hours a week. Maybe I won't skip GAME this time..

There is a need for an older role model in the lives of glover middle students. Many of them are chosen to be in game because they are at-risk. This may be with their families, how they interact with other people, or because they are not doing well academically. One in three Spokane students drop out. CIS is a program that actually reduces the rate of drop outs. When us mentors show kids how the mentors behave, the mentees want to follow that example simply on the premise that we are older. We can make a difference in their lives by showing them how to work with others, and how they can succeed.


Blessed are the young, for they are the future of the earth.

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Katherine Conyers
Professor Bass
RELI120
Movie Paper #1
Crimes and Misdemeanors
The film Crimes and Misdemeanors was written by Woody Allen, and was released in the 1980’s. In Crimes and Misdemeanors, the characters Ben and Judah Rosenthal have different views of God and His/Her role in the universe. These different ideas of God affect how they carry out their lives.
The characters Judah and Ben have different images of God. Judah views God as a judge, while Ben views Him/Her as King. Over the years, Judah has become less religious, and more involved in his work and his money. Judah distances himself from God, because doesn’t know how to communicate with Him/Her. He has spent the latter half of his life focusing on everything but God, and therefore is out of touch with Him/Her. Judah is so distant from God, and therefore views him as a judge. Because Judah is sinful, God seems further away from him than He might to Ben. Judah has a pessimistic view of God. The only contact Judah has had in his life to God is when he is sinful. The only God Judah knows is judgmental and makes Judah feel like he is a horrible person. For Judah, the role of God is to be a conscience, and make people remember their actions.
Bens image of God is very different from Judah’s. Ben views God as King because it is all he knows. As a religious man, God consumes his life. God is his life and profession. As a rabbi, Ben is in contact, in person or while preaching, with many people on a daily basis. He helps them reevaluate their lives and their faith journey. He is a counselor to Judah when he is in need. He lays the law down for Judah and gives him advice to look for what is long lasting and self sustaining rather than the quick, temporary. This advice is much like his life. He has chosen to follow the kingdom of God on earth, rather than deal with the impermanence of human tradition. Because he is involved in his city via his synagogue he has a community. His faith brings him closer to others, and helps him think of the world as a warm, welcoming place. In the middle of New York, it is difficult for one to feel as if they are making a difference in the lives of others. Ben has an optimistic view of God because God has brought many people together in such a large area. He thinks the role of God is to bring everlasting hope, rather than the transient glimmers that the world has to offer.
Judah and Ben’s images of God directly affect how they live their lives. Judah specifically turns further from society because he is far from God. Judah is Jewish, and was raised in a very religious family. However, his family also has conflicting ideas. He has different input from his brother and father about how he should live. His brother is a humanistic idealist, and seems to be atheistic, while his father is religious and believes in tradition. This influences Judah to keep away from religion. Judah is under a pressure from his Brother to get into the real world, and pressure from his father to be righteous so he can go to heaven. Judah’s father tells him that “The eyes of God are always watching”. The thought that God is watching, is constantly brought up in the movie. The recurring thought reveals how guilty Judah feels about his actions. These opposite ideals are the battle that goes on in Judah’s mind throughout the movie. When he struggles with whether to commit a sin or not, he thinks back to his Father’s teaching. Because Judah is so distant from God, he sees the world through dog eat dog eyes. This competition makes him bury his nose in his work. He is so involved with his work and his money that he doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions. He chooses to fall in love with another woman, to mix up his mundane life. Maybe if had a good influence in his life he might think to consider the results of each small action that leads him further from the Kingdom of God. It also leads him further away from the world. Unlike Ben, who people depend on, Judah can more easily seclude himself. Sure, he may help the sight of some people, but he doesn’t have many close friends from his work. He doesn’t even know Ben that well when he confides in him. Rather than making a profound difference on the lives of others like Ben, Judah becomes reclusive and rejects the world entirely. He is pessimistic about God. The life Judah lives brings him further away from others.
It is ironic that Judah is an ophthalmologist, yet is ignorant of the consequences of his actions. At the same time, Ben is blind, but desires to positively impact the people around him with his faith and counsel. Woody Allen could have placed this metaphor in the movie to show that even the most prosperous of people have tragic flaws.
Judah and Ben live different lives because of their ideas about God. They have different places for God in their lives. Judah drifts away from God, while Ben finds God in everyday life.
The universe is what we make of it. Like Judah and Ben, we are conditioned by their parents, faith, or environment to view the world in different ways. The universe is what we make out of it. I think parts of it are fantastic, and others are unfamiliar and unfriendly. For example, I love Gonzaga University. When I leave my phone on a table, someone will tell me I dropped it. People smile here, and open the door for you. It is small enough where friendly faces can be seen everywhere. When I visited my brother in New York, I was scared out of my mind—it was a completely different story. He lived in Williamsburg when I visited him, which was very secluded from the big island, and very industrial looking. The city itself was shocking—the people looked like scenery because there were so many! In the hustle and bustle of daily life in New York, how is it possible for one to think of others? So I believe it depends where we choose to live. The universe is full of good and evil, and we have to find the place that suits us best. We can examine the role of God in our lives and try to let God positively affect our lives.


Works Cited
www.imdb.com

SL blog

Game is Gonzaga Athletes Mentoring for Excellence. We work with kids in middle school, playing games from 7-9pm. We help build self confidence and give them a safe place to hangout after dark. There is a wednesday group and a tuesday group. I go to the wednesday group, where we work at Glover Middle School.


Sunday, GAME had an orientational meeting. There were a bunch of us college kids learning about a few games to play. It was hillarious. i'm pretty sure i had more fun than i should as a young adult. First we played "on the creek, on the bridge" we would stand on one side of a rope and when our director said on the creek/bridge we would hop over. We played another game where five people stood up in the front and one would turn around and start telling a story until another person turned around and began- so me and 4 other people told embarassing stories about ourselves that were cut up into different times. it was hillarious!

So wednesday was my first day at GAME. It was so much fun! There were more mentors than mentees, which was a bummer but it was still a lot of fun. We played this game where one person would flip a coin and when i twas heads, they would squeeze the thumb of te person next to them, and create this chain reaction. Two lines tried to get to a koosh ball first. Then we had free time, so I reffed a sweet game of ping pong and played Jenga. Then we had this ultimate game of dogeball-which was the best game we played. We would run around and when we got hit with a ball, we would sit down untill the person who got us out was out. This was such a good system because everyone got to play for a longer period of time. Game was really fun. I can't wait to get to know the kids and make GAME a staple in my weekly activities.

RP #3

Crossan continues to give examples of scenarios we have interpreted as true and makes them more plausible to what they could likely have been, by using previous text, and historical context. Crossan came up with a few shocking, yet notable revelations. He states that on palm sunday Jesus never paraded into town. Crossan belives the last supper never happened because the last suppers do not have corresponding dates.

Crossan goes over the scenarios where Jesus reappeared to the disciples or performed miracles. One of my favorites is when crossan goes over the woman that anointed Jesus. She remains unnamed, however Jesus says she'll be famous--contradictory to what is actually true,

Finally the epilogue comes where Crossan describes the characteristics of Jesus-how he came to the poor looking like them, with an entirely different message. you can feel how radical this Jesus guy was--walking up to strangers, telling them about the word of God--giving them hope. I think Crossans epilogue makes the biography come full circle. Jesus was the ultimate grassroots organizer--he had no political power, and just relied on others to spread the word of God. His "words" or advice became a revolution, an he starte a revolution of new thought, and revival of religious life. He brought the living into the kingdom of God.

Self Portrait through History

This is a picture of me doing the Aids walk in Spokane.
This picture may be historically important in the future if LGBT rights are expanded or if health care is more readily accessible in the united states. This issue is very important to me because as an Episcopalian, I am a very big supporter of lgbt rights and domestic partnership. Aids is an issue that effects every population, but the gay community is very much associated with it. I hope one day that negativity towards these issues are less prevalent, and that awareness of both issues are expanded.

I would really like to have a picture of me in front of the National Cathedral in DC, or in Aneheim, California where the 76th annual General Convention was held for the Episcopal Church. I wish I could have been there. My church is one of the first churches to openly, publicly, wholly admit that we have gay members in our clergy and congregation.

The openness of the church to accept gay and lesbian members into their community shows how far this world has come in accepting LGBT peoples. I think that though the episcopal community is small, we have made a very large statement to the world that we are ready to coexist if they are.

Reflection Paper #2

Crossan opens his new chapter with contrasting definitions of "Basileia" and "kingdom." Kingdom is the closest definition we have for Basileia-some sort of ruling power. The Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is associated with the highest majesties in English.. But the Greek version may have a more profound sound, because the word Basileia means more than kingdom, it is more o fa divine rule. Most think of the Kingdom of God as something to look forward to after death. Crossan points out that this is not the case--we must relate this kingdom to our life. So he explains the four-fold path of the Kingdom of God-
there is time divided into two parts - present and future, and there is class- peasants vs high class. The kingdom of heaven should, as crossan states, be viewed as an basic ethical standard (how to live like the divine, be a moral person, etc), rather than a future place that exists only after death. Everyone must attempt to live in this ethical kingdom to continue on. There are two standards for this future kingdom, for upper and lower class. The upper class must rule with dignity and keep peace in their kingdom. The wise must work to ban ignorance and ethnocentrism. The lower class must strive to be like Jesus--he was in the lower class.
I think its fantastic that Crossan points out that we must attempt to live in the present ethical kingdom to share in divinity. Its a relief to imagine that the kingdom of God is here on earth rather than waiting for the unknown that we will live or not live out in the future. I think living peacefully and in harmony with earth to the best of ones ability is relieving and is taking part in the Kingdom of God--I find it great that one can find peace in living out morale and just ways.

Crossan understands that it is hard for us to relate, as Americans, to the lives that first century Mediterraneans lived. Americans are focused on getting to the top by their selves, whereas the people of the first century were focused on their family and work. Family is important, because Jesus stressed that everyone could be part of Gods family, could be his brother or sister. Family brought about a lot of controversy. Basically all the drama in the 1st century derived from the family: every woman is required to marry, have children, and so forth. Some that were unable to perform these tasks were exiled--Crossan thinks Jesus wanted people to denounce their families so things like this wouldn't happen, so that the balance of power would be restored to all being equal.

Crossan also points out that only the beggars are poor. a mistranslation divides desitute and poor. We commonly believe that those that are lacking any sort of wealth have rewards in the kingdom of heaven. Crossan basically says only those who are born in third world countries with no chance whatsoever to move ahead are rewarded in the kingom of God. Maybe this also means that by the poor in spirit are really extremely defecit in spirit--meaning mentally ill? Baically Crossan is saying all of us are horrible people and have no excuse, and should repent for our sins.


I am relieved to hear an explanation that i am familiar with. Crossan talks about how Jesus ate at the table with tax collectors,sinners, gross people. Therefore, he was associated with them, by keeping their company. Inviting someone to eat with you was a very strong statement back then.


Crossans writing sure is interesting, and I do believe he makes some valid points. I'm not so sure this is a strict biography of life events, at least not yet. I feel like Crossan is starting to narrow things down and decipher exactly what Jesus wanted from his followers.

Life Events September 15.

• Have there been any specific events in your life that have changed the way you view things? High School had a big impact on my life. I went on this awesome retreat called KAIROS. It changed how i thought about people, God, and how i wanted to treat others. I also got fired from a job (was re hired later), which was a big turning point in my life.

Did you view these events as negative or positive at the time they happened?
Both of these events had similar lasting impacts, but they were different when they first happened. When I got fired, i felt horrible and wanted to change everything about myself... When I went on Kairos, i felt like i was loved and accepted,and wanted to change for the better.

• What do you have as tangible proof of the major turning points and influences of your life? What kind of images and writings do you have that denote these events?
I have T-Shirts from the job i had, and I have a necklace that says live the fourth on the back of it from KAIROS. I also have proof in journals from KAIROS. I have more proof from both in pictures.

• When you think about major influences in your life, you may think of personal items that carry significance not obvious to the outside observer, but that act as triggers for your memory or are emblematic of the time, place, or people who have influenced you. Can you make a mental list of some of these things? Is there any commonality between these items? If you group these items together, what kind of a picture do they create about your life?

i think of a cross, a journal, a guitar, water, and pine trees.
They are very much God related... All of them are interconnected with what reminds me of, or what is my image of God. They create something to build off of..

• Take a few minutes to think about a major turning point in your life, an event that happened to you or someone else, or perhaps to the world outside of yourself, that you think has had an impact on how you turned out.
• Take 15 minutes to elaborate on this event, what happened, and how it impacted you. In what way are you a different person because of what happened? What were the positive and negative aspects of this event? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself as a result of this event?
A turning point in my life was probably when i was twelve. I had neighbors that were super into god (nondenominational christian) and i wanted to find that drive, that motivator for myself. So i asked to go to church. My mom wanted to try out these "episcopal" churches.. I had no idea what they were but apparently my grandparents who were British went to an Anglican Church back home, and my mom wanted to honor my parents. It turned out, being Episcopalian is the best religion that i could be involved in. I love Catholicisim, i went to a catholic school, sometimes i wish i was catholic, but #piscopalian is just the right mix for me. It's helped me in everything i do, been my guiding light in everywhere I go. The only negative parts about this are that my brother is pretty agnostic, and thinks religion is a flawed institution.. So its been a bummer having him dislike that part of my life, but i couldn't live without it.



• What makes turning points so powerful? turning points can make you a brand nedw person. and help you reflect on things, no matter how short the time, if you keep a constant reminder of your turning point, you might be able to change for good.
• What can you gain from a turning point? You can gain insights about yourself and life and maybe even start over.
• Have you experienced a change in the way you view turning points over time (i.e. did you experience a turning point as negative at first, then realized it had a positive outcome over the longer period). yes, sometimes things like breakups are super painful at first, but in the long run you can become a better person by getting over the person and moving on, taking some you time and starting over fresh.
• Do you think there are any turning points that have no positive aspects? there can be negative turning points. physical/emotional abuse or drugs, for example can lead people down a windy path.

Crossan Ch 1-2 Reflection

Crossan opens the revolutionary biography of Jesus with different comparisons. It can only be assumed that Crossan believes some of Jesus narrative was influenced by previous writers’ work. He compares Jesus, the son of a poor carpenter, to Octavious, the son of almighty Caesar. Octavious and Jesus were quite similar. Crossan points out here that the Greek writers that wrote about Caesar made the accounts of Caesar and Octavious more “flowery.” By flowery, I mean they wrote in poetry and prose and were heavily influenced by previous written narratives such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, They were both thought of as the son of God. Crossan then asks why the gospels Mathew and Luke have stories of Jesus’ birth. Both are short depictions of what the birth was like. But there is a gap of time missing, from birth to adulthood that we do not have any recollection or written story of. So why were the infancy narratives included? There are numerous stories in the Old Testament where the unable give birth despite medical problems. One of these stories is John, the style of writing and situations are similar. The birth narratives of John an Jesus are very similar, and they both prophesize about a new day. The next comparison is Moses and Jesus. Moses was saved from the river by his mother, who hid him in a basket. Moses was prophesied to lead the exodus, therefore the king basically had a warrant out for Moses, much like when king Herod sent out to kill all children in Bethlehem. Moses infancy story follows a simple pattern. First there is a sign, then fear, then consultation, then a massacre. Jesus’ follows the same exact pattern; however it is much less obvious to us since we focus more on Jesus actual life. The next pattern Crossan reviews is Jesus virginal birth. It is very similar to when Amram and Miram were divorced and remarried. The pattern is Divorce, reassurance, and remarriage. Joesph and Mary were reassured by god, like Miriam, that their marriage was pure. Crossan notes that gospels Matthew and Luke us the past to solidify the future. By adding old testament and other epic poetry into the mix, Jesus can be more easily identifiable with others. The plan makes Jesus relatable while adding new lessons to the mix. The author continues with the bashing of a story in Luke where Jesus is seen as a shining student. This is impossible, because Jesus, since he was a carpenters son, would not have been able to read. This story points out that sometimes we can’t trust oral history.

I think it is important to question the sources that we read from, and this evidence proves that Jesus narrative may not be word for word what Jesus actual life story was like. I think it is important to pick the pieces apart to try to get to the nitty gritty, the bones of the real story, so we can derive lessons from there, instead of building lessons on morphed, disfigured, poetic misrepresentations. Crossans evaluations makes me wonder: what was Jesus life really like, and how simple did he live? Were his miracles less than miracles?

1. Describe yourself in one paragraph. You may focus on any thing you wish, including interests, personality traits, past history, future goals.
My name is Katherine, but i've been called KC, or Kacei all my life. I have a thousand different interests and hobbies: art, sports, faith.. etc. but I was born and will always be an artist. That said, i love painting, drawing, sculpting, theatre, and writing music with my guitar. Even though I love art and its a huge part of my life, I'm a people person, and wouldn't be able to live an unstable artists life. Faith is an important part of my life, and I'm currently discerning the call to become an Episcopal priest. But I have a lot to work on before I cross that bridge. I love working with others, and volunteering. My favorite place to be is Camp Noel Porter, an Episcopal camp that i volunteer at over the summer. I swam in high school and now I hope to cox for the girls crew team.

2. Now describe yourself in one sentence.

I live in a vibrant, colorful world full of love.

3. Finally, describe yourself in one word and draw/attach a simple image that represents that word.

Love

Who is Jesus?

Jesus in one paragraph: Jesus is an ultimate role model for humankind. He was a prophet and a radical. The things he prophesied about were the kingdom of heaven, and personal salvation. The radical things he preached about were that God forgives sinners if they repent, and to love everyone as one loves thyself. The compassion he showed and taught others about was a stark contrast to what the Jews were used to. I think because of this contrast, the miracles he performed, and his awesomeness, he created a large following of people dedicated to God. For me, Christ is an example of what humans are called to be like. I think God wants us to have mutual respect for one another, and Christ was sent to show us that.


Jesus in one sentence: Jesus was sent by God.

Jesus in one word: Peace
Jesus in a photo: