Doubt and Faith

Sad to say that this will be my last blog. Unless I come up with some pounding idea in my head that will some how work its way out, and end up in a blog. But I’m pretty sure this will be my last one. and how sad. I mean I wasn’t down for this whole blogging thing at the beginning. But now I can’t get enough of it. I love it. I love writing them, and reading them. And I am very emotional to say the least about this class being over.

We have had so many fantastic times, and conversations. But there is the shit saying “Every good thing must come to an end.” O yea? Well who invented that. I’m going to hunt down who said that. But now to get to the more serious news.
Doubts. Faith. This for me defiantly goes hand in hand. Not one have I questioned my faith with God. But I know that I have been tested in my faith. At camp this summer I had a small camper ask me how I knew God was real. Well this question took me by surprise. And I rambled off an answer off the top of my head to just get it over with. I said I just knew. Because of the cross I wear around my neck. But that isn’t a very good answer, and I knew it. the little girl seemed satisfied with the answer and she walked away happy. But I couldn’t get that question out of my head. For weeks I struggled with the answer.

Then a few weeks later I had high schoolers for the week. And during our bible study we got off on a tangent and my camper asked me, “Lisette have you ever questioned your faith?” gosh I said I don’t know. I had no idea how to answer this. So we all sat in silence for a little bit and I said I haven’t ever been questioned, but I have been tested. When my dad left for a job at the beginning of the summer that was hard on me. And I knew that it was a test to see if I could conquer it. and being a councilor to these kids has been so rewarding. But at times I would question why I had been lead down this path.

I told them the story of my first year of college. How there were so many chances, and things were so different. And the freedom. That was a test. I could go out and get my ear pierced, or get a tattoo and my parents couldn’t do anything about it. and I had to learn self discipline by studying the material that I needed to be successful. I could go out with friends and not have a curfew. I could sleep in till noon. But I knew that I needed to be the one in control of that. Not my friends.
I know that wasn’t really the answer that they wanted to hear. But I still have not been able to come up with a good question about doubting my faith. Then in class today, what a topic to talk about on the last day. Me already being emotional with the wonder presentations, and this question. Then yes, I came to the realization. That it is ok to ask questions and doubt my faith. I think doubting my faith and then finding a powerful answer makes you that much stronger with your faith. Doubt and faith are a compliment of each other. Isn’t that a part of faith is having that little bit of doubt? That’s what faith is, is just having faith, and believing in what you believe.

I was looking through my cat tracker today, planning out the next few weeks. And how odd, this bible verse is in it. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” –Proverbs 29:18 I personally think this goes quite well with faith and doubt. We will continue to live on and have faith in God until the end of days.

This year has really been a test of my faith. With harder classes, my dad living in California, and then the death of my boyfriend Johnny, in November. But with every hardship that I encounter my momma is always the one to tell me. “Lisette have faith in yourself, and God will have faith in you.” This is very powerful to me, because it says that I have to believe in myself in order to be successful. And having Faith in myself God will also have faith in me.

I guess this is what I will leave with. What a great year in this Bible As Lit class. Wouldn’t of traded it for the world.

“May the Lord bless and keep you. May his face shine down upon you. And may he grant you Peace.”

Moments

Well the last Tuesday of the semester. And I gave my presentation. I’m sorry if I talked a little to fast or anything. for some odd reason I was a little bit nervous. Maybe because I was presenting this topic that I had been thinking about for three weeks now. And it was finally coming alive. And I know that the camp video was irreverent to the topic, but I’m a visual person and I thought that you might have wanted to see what my camp was like. Since I talk about it all the time. so you got to see where it was.

But over all what I thought I really learned from this class is to not be so judgmental. I was so scared when the class first started. And I thought since I had been a bible thumper that this class would be a breeze for me. Well it hasn’t been hard, just emotional. There were some days where I wanted to get up and walk out of class because I was upset with something that had been said, or was implied. But I know that if I was to get up and walk out, that it would have been a bigger deal then what was said. So I stuck it through.

I feel like I have gotten to know everybody through reading their blogs. I love reading blogs. And to be honest I am sad that no more blogging on this class will be going on. I have a friend crush on Jamie. So reading Jamie’s blog was so much fun. Then there is Nick Axline blog. I found myself wanting to read more and more of his blog. Over thanksgiving break I was talking to my cousin and I was telling her about Nick, and I made her read his blog. She looks at me and says “Ah Lisette, what is the big deal about his writing?” hahah well maybe it’s the English major in me that can’t get enough of Nicks writing. I always loved looking at the fun pictures that Natalie would include in her blog. I mean this is just a few of the people whom I’ve felt like I’ve connected with through blogging. But believe me the whole classes blogs were so fantastic. Each one of them.

But being in this class I feel some sort of security with everyone in this class. When my boyfriend passed away (about a month ago this week) I have never felt so alone. But for some reason I felt like I could share my story with the blogging world because I knew they wouldn’t judge me with the way I was feeling. And let me give a huge thank you to my Acts group. They were so helpful during this hard time. so thank you Karen, Ben, Kellen, Jenna, and Erin.

Recently in this class a girl who I had always admired, I loved her style, and her blogs. She approached me and gave me a gift. This girl whom I really hadn’t talked to, and just admired from afar. But she felt connected to me in a way that words cannot explain. Her story was similar to mine. And she knew what I was going through. So she gave me a gift that had helped her get through her hard time. she passed the gift on to me. She told me that it really had helped her, and she wanted to see it help me. I was so touched by this selfless act of generosity. How can someone who I have never talked to, can come up and do this gracious act for me. It was so heartfelt, and I can’t even explain in words what I felt the moment she pulled me aside. That moment was truly (in my eyes) a gift from God. I hope that this will not be the last time that this girl and I have this connection. I hope that out paths will cross soon in the future. And that we will be able to maybe have a friend ship. I wish her the best with her biochemistry major and English minor! =)

So in closing I have one more blog to write later in the week. As I am thinking about this it kind of pulls at my heart. I have grown so accustom to sitting down at night and reading blogs. But the saying is all good things must come to an end right. But I was thinking maybe I will lucky enough to take another class by our fearless shepherd!

My Final Paper!

Lisette Langdorf
Bible as Lit Term Paper
December 8, 2009



Feed my Sheep

For this final paper I’ve decided to pick the topic what I know now that I didn’t already know. As you know, this past summer I was a counselor at Flathead Lutheran Bible camp. I am a religious person. I love talking about God, and the bible. When it came to having to decide what I was going to do for this final paper I had some thinking to do. As I was doing some research on my topic I came across a poem that Henry David Thoreau wrote about a shepherd watching his sheep. I thought that this poem was revenant because we talk about the shepherd and his sheep. God is the shepherd and we, his people are the sheep. But in a sense Dr. Sexson in our shepherd, and we the classmates are the sheep.

Psalm 23 is the famous shepherd passage. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1). We the people are the sheep and God is our shepherd. By being in this class I’ve came to the conclusion that Dr. Sexson is our shepherd and we are his sheep. A shepherd loves and cares for his sheep. He watches them closely, protects them from danger and makes sure that they have enough to eat and drink. The Thoreau poem suggests that the shepherd watches his sheep, and that the sheep keep the shepherd company. The shepherd learns and talks with his sheep. Much like the activities we do in class. We have class discussions that the shepherd leads, but the sheep are able to put in their input and opinions. The sheep bring up good points that the shepherd will sit and ponder later. Each one of the sheep has something to offer the shepherd, from the bible thumper to the Jewish boy.

Each sheep is different in their own way. There is the black haired sheep, the sheep who sits outside of the pack, and the creative sheep. From the black haired sheep the shepherd learns to relate the bible to music, how music is inspired by the bible. The different abstract pieces of music, represents a different story from bible. The shepherd gets technological in site from the sheep that is outside of the pack. Who knew that he could shoot a whole movie on his ipod Nano. The creative sheep provides the shepherd with pictures and drawings of topics that have interested him. With every new blog that Dr. Sexson reads from his sheep, is a new in site that gets on his sheep and, how they are thinking about the bible. Then when he brings up our blogs to talk about in class, it shows that the Shepherd has learned something from his sheep. And he wants to spread the good word.

Each one of his sheep is a part of the shepherd. If the sheep struggle, so does the shepherd. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalms 23:4). The shepherd will stand by his sheep. He is there to love and guide them through life. He will never leave their side. If one of Dr. Sexson’s sheep is doing poor in his class, he is there to reassure them that they are other chances to bring the grade up.

“You prepare a table before me” (Psalms 23: 5). But the sheep prepare the table for the shepherd, by their blogs. Each blog that is posted is a different story, opinion, and feeling about the bible. These blogs present a topic to talk about in class. When the blogs are brought up in class it shows that the shepherd has been inspired by his seep.

The Thoreau poem represents the love the shepherd has for his sheep. Day after day the shepherd watches his sheep. But it never gets old for him; he enjoys what the day brings. “Did hourly feed him by” (Thoreau 1881). The sheep keep him company. The sheep fed the shepherd by inspiring the shepherd’s thoughts, and the shepherd didn’t just feed the sheep. The sheep satisfy the shepherds need for love and compassion. The shepherd has no words, or measurements just love and compassion for his sheep. “Held his thoughts as high” (1881). The shepherd has a confident attitude about watching his sheep and thinking. He is confident in himself, and he has no worries with just him and his sheep, his sheep are his first priority.
Prior to this class I did not really understand what Thoreau was saying about his sheep. But as the days went on in this class I began to understand the passion a shepherd has for his sheep, how much passion that Dr. Sexson has for his sheep. On the second day of class he knew his sheep’s entire name. He knew that he was the shepherd for the sheep and that it was his responsibility to help and guide his sheep through the Literature of the Bible. He accepted each one of his sheep, no matter how different they were from the next.

The shepherd knows that he cannot live life twice so he makes the most of his day. Spending his day thinking sensitively with his sheep. The shepherd may not have had a very glorious life, living with his sheep, and everything he does is with his sheep. But it is his life and he loves it. “There was a shepherd that did live” (1881). The shepherd loves his sheep. He is with his thoughts, and his sheep, in a beautiful creation. The shepherd gets the satisfaction in his life by being with his sheep. “Did hourly feed him by” (1881). The shepherd loves his life just the way it is. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.”

When I was at camp this summer I was considered the sheep. Not until I thought about this topic did I realize that I was the shepherd to my campers. I was there to love and guide them just as Dr. Sexson is there for his sheep. “He leads me beside still waters.” Dr. Sexson represents a shepherd who is watching over his sheep, in this instance they are his students. He thinks so highly of his sheep, and wants to see them succeed.

At the bottom of this paper I have enclosed the poem that has inspired my topic. Dr. Sexson is not just a teacher. He is a Shepherd that is passionate about his profession of guiding his sheep. Being in this class has made me think that there are so many different kinds of shepherds. Some may be religious while others aren’t. Regardless of who they are, they are there to help their sheep along.

“There was a shepherd that did live,
And held his thoughts as high
As were the mounts whereon his flocks
Did hourly feed him by” (Thoreau 1881).


Sources
The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Henry David Thoreau,. Walden, Where I lived, and What I Lived For. 6th. B. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2009
The New Adventure Bible. Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1996, 23rd Psalm

The New and Inproved Kindle

We have talked about the new “Kindle” a lot lately. And I was talking to my mom on the phone the other day, and she had asked me if I watched the Colbert Report the other night. Because he had a guest on there talking about the new Kindle. My parents have an older friend who has one. and he loves it, he thinks it’s the bee’s knees, and that everyone should have one. he likes it for the larger print that it has. Since he is older he can’t see as well. so the large print helps him for not having to carry around three different pairs of glasses to read a book.

But my mom had asked me my opinion on this Kindle thing. but I’m not sold on it. I don’t think it’s the nest greatest thing since sliced bread. Being an English Education major, I think books are important for life. Books open so many doors. I’m the kind of person that I have to have a physical tangible thing in my hands to believe. And yes the Kindle is tangible, but its not the same as a book.

The Kindle is a piece of technology. To me my books are my prized possessions. On my favorite books you can see that the cover is worn down. And I have highlighted pages that I think are great. I’ve circled my favorite quotes. I have written in the margins with questions, ideas, and anything else that pertains to the text. I love giving my books to my friends to barrow, and then they look at it and know that it is a good book, because I have written in it. and I have had it all this time. I love looking and other peoples book collections at their house. I’ve seen houses (much like my own house) where they have book shelves to the ceiling full of books. Some books that many people have are from a different state, or country. And it is cool to compare the difference between American books, verses foreign books. Books have this tangible physical evidence of love, heartbreak, and generations. My mom has books that were her grandmothers books. And you can see the love and wear and tear on these books. They are so old yet so new at the same time.

With the Kindle you can’t see these marks on the book. The Kindle can hold up to 1,500 books. Now that is a lot of books. Along with The Colbert Report this Native American named Sherman Alexie was on there talking about his new books. And I’ve read two others of his books, and I’ve seen the movie that he has made. They are all fantastic. And I recommend them as a fun read. He said that he will not allow his new book to be available on the Kindle. He says that it will take away from the aspect of book signings. Also that it takes away from the publishing companies. Because it will go directly to the Kindle. They won’t have hard copy of books to publish and make money off of. And it will become like the music industry now. How people will go and pirate books off line and get them on their Kindle. Over all Sherman Alexie made a good point about Kindles.

It amazes me sometimes how far our technology really have come. But is the Kindle gone to far? Will people really be willing to spend $259 on something that they may never use? Why not save that money and buy a new outfit, or dinner for the family. To me it doesn’t seem like a item that I will be investing my poor college student fund into.

When I was at bible thumper camp this summer, this little ten year old boy would rather sit and read his book, then to swim, or play with his friends. A ten year old interested in books. Who would of thought. Books open the doors to so many things. they let our imaginations wonder. They allow us to have fantasies, and to become a kid again in our mind. They lead us to adventure that no one would of ever imagined. I think that the Kindle will take away the thrill of reading a book.

The link is from the Colbert Report! Check it out! Its pretty good!
http://www.hulu.com/watch/112243/the-colbert-report-sherman-alexie

Gifts

I have been going over topics in my mind. Topics that I want to write about and share. Topics that I should just keep to myself. And the conclusion that I got from all the thinking I’ve been doing is that well the semester is coming close to and end well I need to blog just a little bit more.

I was watching a movie of pictures that was put together of the bible thumper camp. And it got to the section of weekends. And during the weekends we would go up to Glacier National Park and hike and have lunches, and just do the whole lazy college kid summer thing. every weekend there were always someone going up to Glacier.
And I remember going up there one weekend. And we had gotten to the top of what it seemed like forever, we reached the top of the mountain. And looking down on the view oh my gosh I couldn’t even believe what I was looking at. I was staring down at landscape that was breath taking. And to think that I was standing atop of this hike and looking down at creation, it brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. At that moment I looked at my friends and I was like “ahh I think Lisette needs to pray right about now.” And we prayed and thanked God for this wonderful creation that we are blessed with.

Looking down at the landscape got me thinking about other fantastic things. How when the snow falls it is so peaceful. And when you stick your tongue out to try to catch a snow flake you never seem to catch them. Even though they are everywhere. I will personally go out of my way to step on a crunchy leaf. I love the way it crunches under my shoes. On the same drive home that I’ve driven so many times, I always am amazed at how the clouds seem to move at just the right time. and how you can find a shape in the cloud, look away, and the shape has changed.

God is responsible for so many amazing things in life. He is in the air that I breathe, in the wind that whips my hair around. A small reminder that he is there watching for me. I think that he was even influencing me to take this class.
Bible as lit. yea I can take that class. I mean come on, the bible is what I do. I had just spent all summer teaching it, and living it. so why not. Then I get in the class and all I want to do is get out. I felt like I was being tested and pushed in to somewhere that I didn’t like. But after taking this class and seeing the effect it really had on me. Is amazing. The affect is very positive.

I’ve learned that it is ok to question God. And just say why God why? Why me? But I
think that is what faith is based off of. Why and questing. I now know that it is ok to question God. I may not get a answer. But that’s ok too. I would almost prefer that I didn’t. because it keeps me looking, and it keeps my faith alive.
So this next summer I will take what I’ve learned in bible class, and I will run with it. I will continue to praise God for all the good gifts that he has given me. Because yes in fact they are gifts. =)

LOVE

Can you even believe that the semester is coming close to an end? And with the end comes new beginnings I like to think. Hey everyone has got to have a little bit of a positive attitude. With the current tragic events in my life, I figured I have to have a little bit of faith and a positive attitude.

I really liked the Song of Solomon’s class presentation. I am such a hopeless romantic. I would always have my boyfriend open doors for me. I love the roses every now and again. And I love getting the attention from a signifant other. But now since I don’t have that signifant other anymore it got me thinking on the love that we shared. And how Song of Solomon kind of related to me.

I love talking about love. I love seeing the little old couple helping each other out in the line at the store. I love looking at my parents. I mean they are one of few parents who are still married to each other and they still are madly in love with each other. My dad lives in California for his job. He comes home about once a month to see us. but it is so cool that my parents keep their love alive even though my dad lives a 1,259 miles away to be exact.

Love is such an amazing thing. how these feelings for someone can be so powerful and over whelming at times. And yet its was people strive for in their life. There are so many different kinds of love out there. There is the love that one may have for their friend. My bestie I love her with all of my heart. she gets me, and I get her kind of thing. I couldn’t imagine a world without her. She is always giving me support and helping me through the rough times in my life. I love her with all of my heart.

Then there is my other bestie, who is guy. I love him as if he was my brother. He is always making me laugh, and is there when I need a shoulder to cry on. Some people think its odd that we are best friends and yet we are different sexs. But I don’t care. He is my friend and that’s all that matters.

My brother I like to say is my best friend also. I love him like a best friend but I love him like I love my family too. My brother knows some things about me that my besties don’t know about me. So its cool that we share that kind of love.
And then there is my family who love me. Because I know that I am the apple of their eye to say. I am such a daddys girl. I love my daddy with everything I have. Sometimes I think to myself, wow one person can have this much love for one person.
Love is such an amazing topic. And I know that I only brushed the surface of it. but it is the one thing that has me constantly thinking about. How does one describe love? How does one express it? does the person you love, know you love them? I know that I am loved no matter what happens in my life. And I know that my boyfriend loved me. I know that my friends and family love me. And the one person who has the most love is God. And at the end of the day, I know that he loves me so much that it is mind blowing. <3
*THE PICTURE IS OF ME AND MY BROTHER

Choir Camp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwURWd7QzwI

This summer while I was at bible thumper camp, I was able to be a part of the choir camp. It was so much fun to see and hear all the talent that some young youth have. It was a blessing to be here. I met so many cool kids. Whom I still in touch with a lot of them.
But anyway. When we at choir camp we sang this song. And it is taken from Song of Solomon. We were able to have the French horn and a flute as an accompaniment. And so I had to you tube it and see what I could find. This little you tube video was the only one that was even close to the arrangement that we sang.
At the time we sang it I didn’t realize that it was from Song of Solomon. But now after seeing the presentation in class it hit me where this song is derived from. It was one of my favorite songs that we sang there.
So got to ignore the Animae that is in the video and listen to the song. It is a very powerful and strong song.
I know that this is short. My mind is else where with other school work that I have to work on. But I promise my next blog will be better! =D
*The picture is of choir camp. Me and some of the campers that were there. They were all high schoolers. It was a great week!

ACT SCRIPT!

THE FINAL CUT

The Crew:

Lisette Langdorf
Jenna Theisen
Ben Miller
KellEn Zanto
Erin Mortenson
Karen Willson


Acts 1

Scene 1

-Luke (narrator): In the first Book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to Heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffer he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the father.”

Scene 2

-Jesus: This is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not may days from now.

-Apostles: Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?

-Jesus: It is not for you to know the times or periods that the father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

(Jesus is lifted by a cloud, out of their sight)

Scene 3 - the apostles walking from Mount Olivet to the city and their room where they were staying. Apostles praying.

Scene 4 – Peter addressed a crowd –

-Peter: Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit revealed concerning Judas: he was a narc for those who arrested Jesus – for Judas was a member of our ministry with inside knowledge.
For it’s written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it, let another take his position of overseer.’

(Shot of Judas acquiring land for being a tattle-tale, then he falls headlong into his field and dies)

-Peter continues: We must choose another to become a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.




Acts 2

Scene 1 (Video of a crowd with the sound of the rush of violent wind, then fire tongues – some sort of force – touches people in the crowd who then start babbling in their native languages)

-One crowd member: Whose this speaking Galieans? How is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native tongues? In our own tongues we hear them speaking about the God’s deeds of power. What’s up with this?

-Another crowd member: They are filled with new wine….

-Peter, standing with the apostles, says: People of MSU and all who live in Bozeman, Listen. These folk are not drunk, for it’s only 9 in the morning. For the prophet Joel told us that God will pour out his spirit upon all flesh, causing chaos, visions, and dreams; the sun will turn dark and the moon to blood. Those who call on the lord will be saved.

(Some sort of chaotic shot here)

-Peter continues: God brought Jesus of Nazareth w/ deeds of power, wonders, and signs God did through him. And you Israelites, you crucified this man, this Jesus, and killed him by the hand of those outside the law. But God raised him up, because it was impossible for him to be held in death’s power.
We are all witnesses of this Jesus God raised up, this Jesus whom you Israelites crucified, and whom God made both Lord and Messiah.

-Crowd: But brothers what should we do?

-Peter: Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so your sins may be forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Save yourselves from this corrupt generation!!

(The people are baptized, awe overcomes everyone as wonders and signs are done by the apostles)

Act 3

Paul and Peter Walk into the Temple.
-A poor crippled beggar approaches and asks for money.

-Peter says, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I will give to you; in the name of Jesus you stand up and walk”

-The beggar stands up and does a little dance.

-Paul and Peter invite this happy beggar into the temple with them.

-People notice the beggar skipping into the temple side-by-side with Peter and Paul.


Acts 5

Scene 1 –Ananias and Sapphira

-Ananias: Honey, I’m going to sell some property, but try to keep a small portion of the proceeds, so that we may buy a bit of extra bread.

-Sapphira: Yes dear, you do what you must.

(Ananias takes his proceeds to the apostles)

-Peter: Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the profits? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to GOD!!

(Ananias falls down dead; His wife arrives three hours later)

-Peter: Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.

-Sapphira: Yes, that was the price, such and such.

-Peter: How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord tot the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out too!!

(Immediately Sapphira falls down dead; the men drag her body out)

Scene 2 The Apostles Arrested

(Video of the apostles being led to jail and locked up; In the night and Angel comes and releases them)

-Angel: Go, stand in the temple and continue your teaching.

(Shot of High Priest in courtroom, trial room, office, somewhere)

-H.P.: Bring the apostles before me!

(The Temple Police men returns empty handed)

-Policeman: We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.

-Jester (someone, nobleman): Look, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple teaching the people!

(The apostles are brought before the High Priest)

-High Priest: We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you continue to bring this man’s blood on us!

-Peter & the Apostles: We obey God, not humans. We are witnesses to these things, God’s resurrection of Jesus whom you had killed by hanging on a tree, and the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him, is a witness too.

(This enrages the High Priest who attempts to kill the apostles but Gamaliel stops him)

-Gamaliel: Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or undertaking is of human origin it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, but may be found fighting against God!

(This convinces the High Priest not to kill the apostles, but he still flogs them and they’re sent away)

-Apostles: Think, fellowmen, we are considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name Jesus Christ!

(The apostles rejoice and pray)

Acts 7-8

Intro [narrator?]: Stephen gives a speech to some Jews in which he tells the story of Exodus. Stephen condemns the Jews, which angers them.

Scene 1

Stephen: [to Jews] You stiff-necked people! You have failed to live righteously!

[Jews run at Stephen, take him down]

Stephen: Look! I see Jesus! [points towards the sky]

[Jews drag him away, stone him. Saul appears at the stoning, Jews lay their coats at his feet (or some other submissive behavior)]

Stephen: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! [He dies.]

Saul: Well done, Jews! This man deserved to die.

Scene 2
[at a house of Christians]

Christian 1: Poor Stephen! Such a holy man he was!

Christian 2: How sorrowful! He died a martyr!

Christian 1: No, a saint!

[enter Saul]

Saul: You there! How dare you follow this new religion! Idolaters!

[He grabs them and drags them to prison]

Interlude

Narrator: Philip goes to Samaria to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. The people of Samaria had previously thought a magician named Simon was a holy man, but Philip proves him wrong by performing miraculous deeds and converts everybody, including Simon, to Christianity. Peter and John join him in Samaria to help baptize the new converts.

Scene 3 [involving a convert, Peter, John, and Simon]

[Peter splashes water over convert’s head and lays his hands on it while Simon watches intently]

Simon: I want to do that! [He pulls out a wad of cash] I’ll pay you all of this money if you give me the power to deliver the Holy Spirit through my hands, as you have done.

Peter: Fie on you! You and your money can go die! God’s gift cannot be bought! Repent! Repent! Pray for forgiveness, you wicked, wicked man!

Simon: Oh, woe is me! Please, pray for me so God will not hate me!

Peter: [to John] Our work here is done. Let us return to Jerusalem.

Acts 9
Scene 1

[Saul enters a synagogue to talk to the high priest]

Saul: Good father, can you help my cause? I ask of you letters to bear to the synagogues at Damascus, so I can capture any who have converted to this new devil religion and bring them back to Jerusalem for persecution.

High Priest: This is a good idea. I will help you in your efforts to preserve our most holy faith.

Saul: Thank you, good man! May the God of Abraham and Isaac bless you.

Scene 2

[Saul walks down a deserted path towards Damascus with two companions; suddenly, a light from heaven flashes down on him]

[Saul falls over dramatically]

Jesus: Saul…Saul! Why do you persecute me?

Saul: Who are you, Lord? I say Lord, yet I am confused.

Jesus: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But now you see I exist in all my glory, so go enter the city, and you will receive further directions. Your mission now is to praise me, and praise me you will.

Saul: I’m blind! The glory of Jesus has blinded me! I’M BLIND!!!

[Saul’s companions look on, confused]

Companion 1: Did you see anything?

Companion 2: Not I. He must be one of God’s chosen people!

Companion 1: It’s a miracle!

Saul: Help me! I’m blind!

[Saul’s companions lead him away. Soundtrack: Party to Damascus by Missy Elliott. Musical interlude – play music as Saul is shown being laid on a bed, looking pale and confused – fade to Ananias laying in bed, sleeping]

Scene 3

[Ananias is sleeping]

Jesus: Ananias.

[Ananias looks startled, wakes up]

Ananias: Here I am, Lord.

Jesus: Get out of bed! God to Judas’ house—it’s on Straight street. Do you know where that is?

[Ananias nods, still half asleep]

Jesus: Good. At Judas’ house, you will find a man named Saul. He is currently in shock because I temporarily blinded him while proving my majesty. He will be expecting you to give him his sight back; I showed you to him in a vision.

Ananias: But Lord, I can’t go to him! I have heard how evil he is, and he has permission from the High Priest to persecute people like me!

Jesus: Don’t make me look bad. Do you think yourself to be better than me? Do as I say! I need you to help prove my majesty to Saul. He is my instrument now. I will show him what real suffering is, and all people will bow down before me when they witness Saul’s plight!

Scene 4

[Ananias is standing over Saul in bed. He lays his hands on Saul.]

Ananias: Brother Saul, it is with the power of the Lord Jesus that I give you your sight back.

[Scale-like things fall from Saul’s eyes]

Ananias: Now be baptized.

[He splashes water on Saul’s head]

Saul: [Blinking, looking amazed] Praise Jesus! I feel better already.

Narraror: And Saul went on to proclaim the word of the Lord to all who would listen.



ACT 10

-Cornelius has an angel come to him one night.

-Angel says, “your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before god. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter.”

-Cornelius does as the angel demands.

-Peter saw the Gentiles at the door and invited them in.

-The Gentiles told Peter that Cornelius was overcome by a holy spirit and asked to speak with him right away.

-Peter did not waste any time. He packed his clothes and left the very next day.

Acts 21-22 [prologue to 23]

Paul returns to Jerusalem from a crusade. He speaks with the elders there, who warn him that the Jews of Jerusalem hate him with a passion. They suggests he perform some rituals important to the Jews to improve his image. He performs the purification ritual, but the Jews try to kill him anyway. Soldiers come to Paul’s rescue, and Paul takes this opportunity to give a speech to the Jews. He announces he has been a Jew since he was born and tells the story of his encounter with Jesus. This does not impress the Jews, who get more angry with Paul. The soldiers try to beat Paul, but he uses his Roman citizenship to get out of it. The next day, Paul is sent to speak with the chief priests and town council.

Acts 23

Scene 1
[Paul stands before the council, looking at them intently. Soldiers stand next to him.]

Paul: Brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.

High Priest Ananias: [to soldiers] Strike him on the mouth!

Paul: God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You call me a criminal, but you’re breaking the law!

Soldiers: Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?

Paul: Oh, I didn’t know he was the high priest! Had I known I would not have spoken, for I know the law that says “You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.”

[Paul’s thought bubble: Aha! Some of these men are Pharisees and some are Sadducees. I will use their conflicting beliefs to my advantage.]

Paul: Brothers, I am a Pharisee. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead.

[The men start to bicker among themselves—Sadducees do not believe in resurrection/angel/spirit, but Pharisees do.]

A Pharisee: We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?

[The men become violent.]

Head Soldier: [talking about Paul] Take this man to the barracks! Use force if you must.

That evening the Lord spoke to Paul, saying “Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.”

Scene 2
[at a gathering of Jews]

Jew 1: We must kill Paul!

Jew 2: We must! Let us agree to not eat of drink until we complete this task.

Jew 1: Good idea! Let’s go tell the chief priest and the elders.

Scene 3
[Jews stand before the elders]

Jew 1: We have vowed not to eat or drink until we kill Paul.

Jew 2: So, you should have the soldiers bring him here tomorrow.

Elder: But what will we say we need him for?

Jew 1: Say you need to question him more thoroughly.

Elder: Very well. We will do as you ask.

Paul’s sister’s son hears of this plot, and tells Paul. He then tells the head soldier (aka tribune) of the plot, who agrees not to bring Paul to the elders. The tribune then arranges for Paul to be brought to Caesarea, and writes a letter to the governor of Caesarea telling of Paul’s circumstances. Paul is brought to Caesarea and held captive there.

ACTS 25-26

[Paul is brought before King Agrippa to defend himself]

Paul: I belonged to the strictest sect of our religion as a Pharisee! We earnestly worshiped day and night when we could have been at the Club!

King Agrippa: (thinks a moment). Yes, a valid point. The Club is a tight spot…


Paul: Sure, I condemned some people to death, but isn’t that what it’s all about? Plus, is it so hard to believe God raises the dead? I was just hoping we’d be on the same wave-length …

[dead man off to the side nonchalantly revives and exits]


King Agrippa: Entertain me further with your plea, I love being the King!


Paul: So anyway I was traveling to Damascus, and God shined this huge light on me saying hey, stop condemning me, but tell other people about me -- I don’t know, he went on and on but truthfully his voice was a little overpowering and his Hebrew was rough…


[Flashback to Paul underneath a bright light. God’s voice is overly loud]


God: PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUL
PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUL

Paul: Yes?

God: PAUL. YOU ARE CONDEMNING ME MAN WHAT IS YOUR SACRIFICIAL BEEF? YOU HAVE KICKED SWIFT AT MY GOADS.

Paul: I’m sorry? (confused)

God: LISTEN TO MY LOUD OVERPOWERING VOICE, PAUL. GO TO THE GENTILES AND TELL THEM I AM AWESOME. I WILL PROTECT YOU FROM OTHER JEWS.

[back in the court of King Agrippa]


Paul: So basically I did what he said – because he’s fairly intimidating, bright lights – the voice, you know…


King Agrippa: He said that you should say we should serve him because Jesus knew you and the Jews were going to condemn him?


Paul: They’re fairly coordinated with everything…



[scene of Jesus talking on cell-phone speakerphone to God]

Jesus: Where you at!?

God: Chill.


[back in the court of King Agrippa]


King Agrippa: Paul, if you wouldn’t have pleaded to the Emperor you’d be free.
You’re really a pretty nice guy …

Paul: Awesome! Was really worried for a minute that you’d kill me…


King Agrippa: Naaahhhh….Maybe we could hang out at some arena battles sometime – couple your friends, couple of-


Paul: Ehh, not really my thing man – the whole earnest day and night worshipping, ehhh…it just wouldn’t work out…

King Agrippa: Reciting some lines in the Club too then, no doubt?


Paul: (flushed) Come on now…anyone who is anyone is in that Club and I know that you know it.

King Agrippa: [flashback/re-used old line ala cocaine is a helluva drug] Yes, a valid point. The Club is a tight spot….

[cut to a disco ball/bright lights and 20 secs worth of folk music. Scene is not necessary though]

*brief silence/zoom between Paul/King*

King Agrippa: [spins a globe beside him, randomly stops it] Very well then, I shall send you to Rome to do other things.

[everyone exits]

Pillar of Stone

I’ve been a little behind on this blogging thing. I guess I should get back on the wagon. But my life has been kind of crazy dealing with things and all. But I have the best topic to blog on, I’m very excited to share this story.

So I am from Helena. And I am studying to be an English teacher. My dream is to go back to the high school that I went to school at. And be an English teacher there. I still bleed the school colors, and my heart is still and will always be at that school. There is where I really realized that I wanted to be an English teacher. And I want to be a part of Capital High School again.
Well I love watching the boys play football. I had the head coach as a math teacher, so I know him well. and when I was a senior there, they football team made it all the way to state championships. In the end they ended up winning the championships. Since then, the Capital has won 33 games straight. So this year my brother is a senior there, so I know most of the football team because they are friends with my brother. It is so much fun going to the games with my mom, and bundling up in our warmest clothes to sit outside and watch them play. So far this season they have done so good. They have won every game by so far. There were always at least 30 points in between them and the opposing team. So they have really gave the other teams a run for their money.

Well this past weekend was the Big game. The one that all of the boys wanted to play. The one that will determine the state champs. We were playing C.M.R high school in Greatfalls. We had beat them so bad in the regular games that they had come back with revenge. Well my mom likes to think that she knows what is going on. But really she doesn’t, but that’s ok. She likes to mostly go and socialize. Well this boy from our team was running the ball. And he was going to get a touch down. But then what does he do? He looks back!! And he tripped and fell down. We all know that you can’t look back because you will turn into a pillar of stone. And my mom said “Oh boy, that boy should not of looked back.” And I’m like oh snap! We so learned about looking back in Bible as Lit class. And so I told her. I was like “mom do you know about Lots Daughters?” and she looks at me and was like of course… I think I do. Well the guys who sat in front of us heard us talking. And this one guy turns around and was like yea, I know about that story. And I was like ok, tell it to me. To see if he really knew the story. Well it turns out that he knew the whole story. From beginning to end. And he was like “you know you made a good point by not looking back. Because look at what happened. He fell down, and lost the ball.” I was very excited to hear about this, that this man whom I did not know, knew about Lots Daughters. What a small world I thought.

Unfortunately we did not win the state championships. The football team did not play a very good game. And it was a little bit sad. But we will get em’ next year. But it was very cool to see that what I’m learning in this class, other people know too. Its not just something that I’ll forget once the class is over kind of things.

*in the picture- my momma and I at the championship football game

The Slave--Day by Day

Upon finishing The Slave, it really gave me something to think about. Through out the book I would take a little sticky note and write the page number and the topic I wanted to blog about. When I got done with the book I found that I had about 20 little sticky notes all over my book. I guess that was a good sign meaning I read the book, and enjoyed it but then it came to the decision on what topic I wanted to blog about. Then the perfect topic hit me. And I’m going to share this with the class because I feel that it went along with the book, and what we have been talking about in class.

Recently my boyfriend of three years died in a car wreck. He passed away on Tuesday November 10th 2009 at 11:53 in the night. He decided that he wanted to play a “fun” game and race his friend late at night on the streets, to prove that his car was better and faster, even though he knew it was. He does this all the time so he felt that there was no way that he could get hurt. I had talk to him like ten minutes before he raced. I told him not to do it, because I didn’t like him doing it. but he assured me that he does this all the time and he will be safe and for me not worry. But being the girlfriend it is my duty to worry about him. when I didn’t hear from him and I didn’t hear from and I didn’t hear from I really started to get worried.
I went to bed thinking nothing of the topic that I would see him in the morning and things will be just fine. I am woken up in the middle of the night by a phone call from his friend. He had told me that Johnny was racing and something had gone wrong and he had flipped and rolled his car numerous of times. And that he didn’t make it through the wreck. In those two moments of his friend telling me that he didn’t make it and me realizing that he was really gone my heart dropped so hard in my chest. I couldn’t believe that Johnny, my boyfriend whom I shared so much with was really gone. There are still times where I will go to text him, and then remember that he isn’t here anymore.

I guess I felt kind of like how Jacob felt when his wife Sarah had died. Jacob prayed and prayed, as did I. but then Jacob did something that I really admired. He got up, and did what he had to do to keep him and his baby safe. Yes I mean Sarah is gone now, but that doesn’t mean that he could just instantly stop his life for it. He had to keep moving in order to keep him and his son safe. I can relate to Jacob with the death of a signifant other. Even though Johnny and I were still in college I knew that I was going to marry this man.

But I can’t just quit my life because he is gone now. I know that I’m not in a life dangering situation. But I have school that I have to focus on; I have my family that cares about me. I can’t let go of my dream because my boyfriend is no longer here. Jacob showed that he was really strong in losing Sarah. I need to be strong also. Jacob didn’t quit. And neither should I.

I know that my boyfriend is up in Heaven with God and that he is looking down on me. Even though he isn’t physically with me, he is spiritually. Just like Sarah was with Jacob. Johnny will always be with me. I can’t do anything to bring him back. I can say what if, what if, what if, but what will that do me? There is nothing that I can do to bring him back, so I just have to take this day by day. Just like Jacob did. Day by day.

Prince of Peace, John 20

Lately I have been really excited to blog. I guess something about the class has got me really excited to share my stories with everybody. And today when we read in John chapter 20 I’m like to myself wow this story is really familiar to me. And yes you guessed it. Camp. That is why it seems familiar to me.

Every week at camp on Thursday night the counselors would re enact the death of Jesus, where we get to see the last supper, Judas deny Jesus, him being beaten up, and then finally the crucification. It gives the campers a real life narration of why we believe what we believe. And it shows them what really went on. We have a script that we memorize our lines from. There is also a narrator who reads and summarizes some things. And then we act this reenactment out in front of the campers. I remember when I first saw this I cried like a baby. It is just so powerful to be able to see this in person and around us. we have someone play Jesus, and the disciples and everyone who took part in this part of his life. We even have read torches that we use. So its kind of cool. and we even dress the part. With our “Jesus sandals.” Which are Chacos. But anyway so Thursday night is the night where we see him die. And everyone knows that he rises, but we save that part to Friday morning. And then after we see the play we take our campers and go back to our cabins and talk about what they thought about that. And there were only two times that I wasn’t in the play. And I can tell you it’s a whole new perspective when I’m watching it, and when I’m in it. even though I didn’t play all the parts I know the whole script by heart. and so after we get done discussing with our campers what happened, we go to bed, and then we get up Friday morning for the other part of the story.

Friday morning is all John 20. This is how Friday morning went.
The foot race to the tomb, and then the look in the tomb. Only to see that it is empty.
Mary Magdalene and the disciples run away afraid.
Then Mary the mother of Jesus walk to the tomb, cries infront of it for a little while.
Then she enters to see that Jesus isn’t there. Then two angels come out from behind a rock.
And they have to decide what they are going to say. Because if one of them says crying and the other says weeping.. it sounds like “woman why are you creeping?” crying and weeping in one.
“they have taken my Lord and I do not know where they have placed him.”
Then Jesus appears and says “woman why are you crying?”
She doesn’t know its Jesus and says “because they have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have placed him. Please if you know where he is, tell me and I will go remove his body.”
Then Jesus says “Mary.” She gets all excited and cries “Teacher!”
They hug for a minute. Then Jesus pushes her away and says “do not hold on to me, because I have not yet returned to my kingdom… and then he goes on a little bit more…. Go tell everyone that I have and will return.” Mary runs up to the crowd and yells “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD.”
Then we get to sing this really great song called Prince of Peace. And all the campers love it. And it is a sad day cause it’s the day that the campers leave, but its also a good day. Because they get to see that Jesus is risen.

So when Dr. Sexson was reading this passage Fridays reenactment was playing in my head. And I was Mary one week and I remember crying teacher and then saying that I have seen the Lord. It was kind of cool reading this is class and knowing that I had reenacted it this summer.

Baptism=This Summa

The subject of baptizing came up in class. And now I know I was baptized. But I don’t remember it because it was a really long time ago. 20 years to be exact, I do have pictures and what my parents have told me. And I have this little shell thing with drops of water on it, and a candle to signify my baptism. But to me it’s not just the tangible things that remind me of my baptism. There is always that consistent reminder that I was baptized therefore my sins are forgiven. And that God loves me no matter what and I am a child of his.

Whenever I’m reminded of a baptism I always have to close my eyes and think back to this summer. As I do that a smile comes across my face. And I am instantly back at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. Every night we would have worship. You know praising Jesus for a wonderful day. And a closing of that day. Well at least once a week the people who were leading the worship they would have us a confess our sins of the day, then we would get up from our seats walk down to the shore line. The people who were leading that days worship would stand in the water. (only to about their ankles, we didn’t do the whole “dunk tank” thing.) and one by one we would go up to a person who was standing in the water. And we would get the sign of the cross on our forehead with the water. And as we do this we sing the song “As I went down to the river to Pray.”

A fellow counselor who was there with me, we became really great friends. She is such an inspirational person to me. Her name is Annika. She is the best singer I have ever head in my life. And I’m not just saying that. But as we would sing this song, I wouldn’t sing at all. I would just listen to her sing this song, belting it out. I would close my eyes and let the silent tears run down my face, because all I can hear is this powerful beautiful voice. (they were good tears by the way) Along with this voice I hear the children singing. And they are the core of my existence that is why I want to become a teacher. But anyway. I hear Annika, the children, and the water splashing up on the rocks.

Then I would be my time to get up with my campers and holding their hands we would walk down to the water. And I would wait for my turn to hear the reminder that I am a child of God, and therefore my sins have been forgiven. It was a great bond that I would share with my campers. They got to see what really hit my heart hard, and I got to tell them why I felt this way.

Each week when this would happen with our new set of campers the feeling that came over me never got old. I always cried and felt the same way. because to me this is something so powerful that I have of God. And its almost a tangible reminder that God loves me. The water. I can feel it warm, on my forehead and my fellow counselor telling me that God loves me and so my sins forgiven.

I will always know that I was baptized in front of my family when I was little. But when I was little I didn’t understand the meaning of baptism. Now I do. This summer when I was at camp I feel was a whole new baptism for me. Yes I was in front of my “camp family” but I got to do something that I didn’t when I was younger. I got to declare my love for God. To this day I have no problem closing my eyes and my memory will take me back to camp. Where I can hear Annika singing, the kids singing, the water on the rocks, a sun set to die for, and that reminder that I, Lisette am a child of God. That is what my baptism consisted of.

HAHA THIS IS FANTASTIC! WHY!?!

> Why , Why, Why,
> > Why do we press harder on a remote control when we
> > know the batteries are almost dead?
> >
> > --------------- -----------------------------------
> >
> > Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds'
> > when they already know there is not enough money?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why does someone
> > believe you when you say there are four billion
> > stars; but have to check when you say the paint is
> > still wet?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but
> > ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word
> > 'lisp'?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath
> > you use the bubbles are always white?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Is there ever a day that mattresses
> > are not on sale?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why do people constantly return to the & nbsp;
> > refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat
> > will have materialized?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why do people keep running over a string a dozen
> > times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down,
> > pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give
> > the vacuum one more chance?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the
> > end on your first try?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed
> > light fixtures?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch
> > something that's falling off the table you always
> > manage to knock something else over?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm
> > as it was in summer when we complained about the
> > heat?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------

Why God Why

Sadly enough more often than not I find myself asking God “Why me?” what on earth have I done to have these horrible things happen to me. (even when they aren’t that horrible) why do boys suck? Why is it when I study really hard for a test I don’t do so hot on it? Why does my best friend think that life is coming down on her sometimes? Why did she have to die? She was so young. Why did my dog die? Why is there war? Why do people fall out of love? Why can’t I find a good job, when I am a very hard worker? Why did this economy fall to the ground?

If you haven’t guessed it yet the question is Why. Why is it such a hard question to answer? I’m sure that I’m not the only one who asks this question. But lately I’ve really been thinking hard about it. I mean in my life, when I ask the question why I look up to the heavens and hope to find some sign that someone is listening to me and is ready to answer my question containing why. And then the book of Job comes into the picture. Because I know that Job is always asking God why. Why this and why that. Sometimes I think we ask the question why because it is out of our control. There are a lot of things in this world that I can’t control and I always ask why about them. I think Job asks God why all the time because he can’t control all the things that God does. We all know that God works in mysterious ways. And Jobs seems to be a little too impatient about these things. Like he wants to know the answer right away and he wants a logical answer to his questions. When ever I would get just beside myself I would always call my mom and sob asking her why? Why? And she would reply in a motherly tone and say “Lisette you will be ok. You got to have faith in yourself and faith in God.” At the time I’m always like come on mom this is not what I wanted to hear. But I know that my mom always knows best. And I would ponder that. Ok God I’ll be patient with you and have faith in you and I’ll just wait until I see this sign that I’ve been waiting for.

Another situation I find myself asking why, is when my best friend, she lost someone very important to her in her life. And when she found that out she thought the world would come crashing down on her. That she has no reason to be here if she wasn’t here with her too. I remember holding her as she is crying and she keeps asking why? Why? Why?... then I heard her say why did you take her from me? I think ahh I didn’t take her from you. She died it happens. Then the light bulb came on. Ahh she means God. God why did you take her? It wasn’t her time to go yet. And for a little bit after this death she was so mad at God. And I think the reason why she picked God out of everybody is because you can blame him all you want. And yet he will still care about you. He isn’t the one to turn the other cheek. She is still grieving over this death, and it will be a hard one. but she knows that God is not at any fault here. She just died because she just did. I mean its life, and it happens.

“I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that obscures my counsel
without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not
Understand, things too wonderful
For me to know.
Liseten now, and I will
Speak I will question you and
you shall answer me. My ears
had heard of you.”

Job asks why? And he got the answer. We ask why and we get a sign. Why is a powerful question and word. It is one word question and it can have lots of answers. My friend knows that God did not take her from her. She is being a little like Job. But I think we all find a little bit of Job in us, being inpatient, wanting to blame God, and then when we get our answer, the ending is a beautiful thing.

This is the proof that God really does listen to us. And now he may not just come out and say the answer but there are many signs that He gives as his answers. But maybe sometimes its good to not have all the answers.

It begins with why? But ending is something so much greater.

Psalm 23

I am currently working on a paper for my English 210 class aka American literature one. and I choose to pick a poem by Henry David Thoreau. And this poem is about sheep and a shepheard. Its actually a pretty good. I like it.

“there was a shepherd that did live.and held his thoughts as high
As were the mounts wereon his flocks
Did hourly feed him by.”

This poem really reminds me of Psalm 23. How the Lord is our shepherd. And we shouldn’t want. Because the Lord will always be with us. Well I don’t know if Thoreau was religious in any way, but this poem really signifies it. how the shepherd needs to be with his sheep to watch them. But its more then just watching the sheep. While he is watching the sheep he is able to think about life, and think about what it means to him. its funny how just a little four line poem can contain so much information about life and a person. I wonder what my four line poem would say?
He will show me mercy and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The last few lines of the psalm are pretty comforting to me.
And as always you tube has something to show for this. Ahh yes the little boys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1sigXS5WzI&feature=PlayList&p=847EEBC2E7993D36&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11

Just... Just What!?

So I'm sitting here at my computer trying to write a paper for my other English class. And for some odd reason I keep finding my self typing the word just. I have done pretty good for the most part on getting that word out of my vocabulary. But why is it that I have been consistally typing the word just. Then it came to me, my friend who lives in Helena says it all the time! I text him a fair amount thoughout the day. And he always uses the word just! And it makes me mad because really it has no meaning, and in all it is a sucky word. So I'm going to have to tell Brady that the word just is just it! Sucky! So i thought i'd share my Epiphany!

Daniel verses Jesus

Yes the music is blasting in my ears, so loud that I can’t really hear the taps of the keys on my key board, and my coffee is right next to me where it should be. and I just got done reading the book of Susanna. And I liked it so far. I mean I don’t know what about it stood out to me? Maybe the writer. The is definitely not the Priestly writer writing. Because its writing that I understand. Haha. This passage really stood out to me in the whole two and half pages that book covers.
“The Lord heard her cry. Just as she was being led off to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel, and he shouted with a loud voice, “I want no part in shedding this woman’s blood.” –Susanna 1: 44-46
Ok so read this passage. What one word stands out to you? No not that word, pick again. Yes yes your right. The word Lad. What does lad really mean? Well according to Webster it is a young man or boy. Well yes I knew that. But why didn’t the writer of this book just say a young boy instead of a young lad. But going with this story I think that lad fits. Its not to serious but then it gives the correct description of this boy.
Then it says that the holy spirit is stirred up in this boy. The holy spirit meaning Jesus right? Well doesn’t Jesus always do the right things? Hints the saying What Would Jesus Do? Well anyway if the holy spirit is in Daniel and then suddenly Daniel yells that he will not no part in killing this girl. Hmmm doesn’t that sound familiar to one special occurrence in the bible, that involves killing someone. Yea doesn’t Pilate say this in the cruiseafiction of Jesus. Hmmm or is this story foreshadowing of Jesus’ death.
*more on this later. This is really a “thinking story”

Pharaoh Pharaoh OOOO Baby Let My People Go

Being a bible thumper I knew all the Ten Commandments. Its just something I guess that is in the “rule book” of bible thumping. And they must be pretty important right? I mean if there is this big argument about the Ten Commandments being in front of the court house, and when I just typed them into my word processor and I didn’t capitalize them, it did it for me. Hmmm but that’s not the issue here.

Moses. Every bible thumper knows the story of Moses. Well we all hope so at least. I had been a camper at the bible camp that I worked at this summer, and so I know all the songs by heart. And I love to sing them when I’m there and all that good stuff. But this summer something new was there. We couldn’t sing the bible thumper song Pharaoh Pharoah. It’s a really great song. And I love it, and so do all of the kids. But my boss thought that it wasn’t age appropriate. So she decided to “ban” the song from the camp. And we couldn’t really talk about it, and we certainly couldn’t sing it. and now that Moses has been the talk of the town in bible as lit class, it makes me wonder why she really “banned” it. part of me says she did it because she didn’t know the whole story. And then the other part says she did “ban” it because of the whole story, and she knew the whole gruesome, detailed story. And being so she didn’t like the story she didn’t want to hear the song. But the song says nothing about Moses. But pretty much about Pharaoh being really mean, and God used his “Godliness” to free Moses’ people. Here is the song;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRVpARDceKs&feature=related

Pharaoh Pharaoh Let my people Go

Well a burning bush told me just the other day
That I should go to Egypt and say
Its time to let my people be free
Listen to God if you won’t listen to me

Pharaoh Pharaoh ooooo baby let my people go

Well me and my people are going to the Red Sea
And Pharaoh and his army coming after me
I took my rod stuck it in the sand,
And all of Gods people walked upon dry land.

Pharaoh Pharaoh oooo baby let my people go

Well Pharaohs army was a coming to
So what did you think that I did do
I raised my staff and cleared my throat
And all of Pharaohs army did the dead man’s float

So how about that. There is the song that all of us bible thumpers know and love, but we can’t sing it at camp. Sad day. But I looked at it just a little bit more and I thought about it a little more, and littler kids really can’t understand Moses. I mean come on, I’m 19 and I can’t understand it very well yet. And it does have kind of choice words that might freak out little kids. But I remember when they would sing it they would love it. and I’ve posted a link from of course You Tube where some other bible thumper is singing the song. And yes the kids love it. I think that is saying something.

Not Done Yet...

Just when I thought I was done hearing about Genesis God was like yea right Lisette. You wish. Last Sunday when I was in church we have an opening prayer. This is the prayer;

“Sovereign God, you have created us to live in loving community with one another. Form us for life that is faithful and steadfast, and teach us to trust like little children, that we may reflect the image of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.”

I thought we were done talking about Genesis and creation. Well we might have been. But God wasn’t done talking to me about it. Guess where this passage is baised off of? If you guessed Genesis you get the prize. (the prize is you get to talk about Genesis some more) The frist reading then was a reading from yes Genesis. Genesis 2:18-24. I just read that passage and tried to relate the passage in the bible to this prayer. The passage is about God creating woman. But I guess the prayer kind of reflects this. Saying that God created us to live in loving community with one another. Well that doesn’t always happen lets just put it that way. living with someone and trying to get along with them is a task. I mean I love my family and I always will. But sometimes we have little fights that make us really mad at each other. I know that God created me. (haha to a point yes…) but why did he create women? To do the house work? To take care of the babies. No, to live in a loving community with man. And that’s kind of true. Women are natural peace makers, looks over the kids, and tried to make life fine and dandy. So I guess God had to create women because someone has to keep the boys in line. Haha I don’t know I just found it kind of ironic that we are done talking about creation and Genesis in class, but not quite. I am a firm believer in signs and I think this was a sign from God saying that I need to take one more look at this story and try to understand it a little bit more.

Gossip Girl

Background: So yes I am 19 years old. But sometimes I act like I’m about 12. All throughout high school I worked in a daycare that had babies all the way to 5th graders. So I got my share of screaming whining kids. And sometimes I act like them without knowing it. I find it kind of funny sometimes. (haha as I laugh at all the funny things I’ve done, while acting like a two year old.) Like for example I was in Walmart one night with my brother, and he wanted to hang out with his girl friend. But I wanted to chill with him because I never get to see him. And in the middle of Walmart I started throwing a fit. I screamed and acted like I was going to cry because my brother wanted to chill with his girlfriend instead of me. He eventually walked away from me because we were getting looks from people and ended up chilling with me. Haha it was a pretty funny moment. So I may be 19 but I can act like a dam good two year old.

Which brings me to my next point. I have no drama in my life. So I get it from TV shows. It a down fall that I have. I love to watch MTV all the time, some of my favorite shows include Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, and my most recent is Glee. (seeing how I’m a band geek too. And its kind of a band geek-ish show) many more are to include but these are at the top of my list. And if fills up my time very nicely.

For Realsies: As I was watching Gossip Girl last Monday I wasn’t even ten minutes into the show, the two characters are talking about college. (that’s legit cause I’m in college too!) and the girl was talking about the classes that there are to take there, and New York University, and she was rambling off some classes, and BIBLE AS LITERATURE was a class. As I was like what? I yelled shut the front door! Something I tend to yell all the time. Shut the Front Door! She wants to take Bible as Lit? well girl you are now my new best friend cause I’m in that class now. And I was thinking to myself girl I can tell you who a good teacher is. Haha Professor Michael Sexson. Cause I have him, and I have to blog and read hard core for his class. Girl you will fit in perfectly with your urban style, and your curiosity for classes like Bible as Literature. Go figure. Who would of known that the writers of Gossip Girl would want to put a Bible as Literature in their screen play. And Gossip Girl no less, that a lot of teen age girls probably watch. Love it!

Test = Door Slam

So I haven’t done this in about a week or two. So I’m thinking that I better get on it. So Thursday wasn’t a very good day for me. I had two test, and one of the tests I dominated on. And the other, yea not so much. Which was really demeaning to my moral. But I kind of feel like someone in the bible. Like how God has given them a test and they fail at it. Does that mean that they quit at it? or sit and wallow in self pity for a while but then they pick themselves up and they go from there. And somehow they all turned out to be ok.
This test today was like Gods way of slamming the door in my face and saying maybe next time. The way I’d describe this is when you are waiting for a call back from a job interview and they eventually call you back and say “maybe next time.” in this dry monotone voice that kills your ears. That’s how I’m kind of feeling the way college is for me. I mean its not easy for me, and I don’t like how its not easy. College is my door slam. Since we all know that we have a lonely God he gets bored by himself. And he has to mess around with us here on earth. And at this moment he is messing with me. And I’m not liking it so much. But I’m not going to sit here and say wow I suck at life and just be done with it. I’m going to prove God wrong and tell him that he messed with the wrong girl, the wrong girl to slam the door in her face. Because what I’ve learned is that college is a learning experience and all I can do is get better from the mistakes that I’ve made. So yes God you can have this door slam, but nest time you will not and cannot do it on me! Because I have learned how these tests are going to be like, I’ve learned how to do a good job studying and this is my dream to be an English teacher. I will not let you take that away from me. Cause this is my life, and this is me. You cannot and will not take that away from me. So for all those people in the Bible that you’ve picked on and they were too shy to voice their opinions I will do it for them! All I can do now is pick myself up and continue to do well.

Ugh Stubborn People

So I love talking about the Bible, but then I hate it. because there are so many unanswered things that are in the bible. I mean as we can see from the class that if one person believes one thing, a different person might believe the opposite. So its kind of a touchy subject. I hate when people say they act the way they do because its in the bible. I mean yea no shit. There are a lot of things in the bible. And then you go and ask them to prove it to you, they can’t come up with an explanation on their statement. But the bible seems to reflect our daily lives. Murder, lying, cheating, and adultery. Just to name a few. And I think the reason the bible these days is so bastardized is because no one wants to believe that there are really bad things in this sacred book. But I mean news flash yes things have happened good and bad. but people are so blind to it because there are already so many bad things happening to them in the real world they don’t want to admit really where it all started. Yea that’s right. The bible. I don’t know where I wanted to go with this. I just had like Tai had to get this out of my head and on to paper, well in this case the computer. I’ll do some thinking on this and start up where I left off at a later date. Probably tomorrow. Seems like all I do with this class is think… but nothing bad about that.

HaHaHa Yea Right...

I haven’t blogged in a while so I figured that I should get on it. and class on Friday got me thinking. There are a lot of things so far that I knew were in the bible. But I didn’t really know the details of them. Being a “bible thumper” and all, I didn’t realize some of the stories that are in it. and some of the understandings that come with the stories. I mean yes they are stories but there is a deeper meaning of them. One that is to not be taken lightly. I like to call these meaning onion meanings. There is always a layer upon layer of meanings.

Like for example the story of Cain and Abel. We all know what happens, but do we know why? Or how come, or the feelings that were involved with it? no not really. I love the part well I don’t love it, but it has made me think. The Lord asks Cain where his brother is. And Cain being a hormonal boy says well why do I care where he is, I’m not his baby sitter. Ha! Its great to see someone almost defending themselves to God. Cause God does a great job on calling people out on their shit. And here Cain is giving God a taste of his own medicine. By talking back to him. God the creator of the universe and everything that is good (and bad) we know, and he is being talked back to by a 17 year old boy. Well I don’t know if he was 17 but doesn’t that sound like a 17 year old boy characteristic? Talking back to the higher authority. When ever a little kid talked back to me I would be like boy don’t ever let me hear that from you again. And this is my favorite… if they stuck their tongue out at me I would say, if I see that again, its mine. Hahaha. Here I am, a higher authority and I’m talking down to this little kid. So just like me saying to this little kid, God says to Cain, well you know what? I can play this game too. You know the saying don’t hate the player, hate the game? Well this little game that I think God and Cain have going on is a nasty little game. God is like fine, be that way. well then seeing you killed your brother for whatever reason I am going to make your life literally a living hell. I’m going to make you wander the world forever, and no one can touch you. And its almost like Cain has this attitude of yea right.. you wanna bet? Its like no one can get the glory of killing you. Cause I said so. Haha love it, cause I said so. Also God puts a mark on him, like having a scarlet letter, but in these days a scarlet letter didn’t mean anything. Before the Lord punishes Cain with this whole wandering thing, Cain plays the oh pitiful me card. But does he really feel bad? yea I didn’t think so either. I mean if he really loved his brother he wouldn’t of killed him. but that didn’t happen. he was kind of a snob. But that’s ok. Boys at this age are.

I just think this story is kind of funny to poke fun at. And to think about on literal sense. I hear the story all the time. the Cain kills Abel story. But I haven’t really thought about it before this class. Got to love critical thinking though. It will get you thinking…

Is it Still Good?

This is will be my last blog about Creation/Adam and Eve. Then I will get off my high horse.
God created the heavens and the earth in seven days. That is why we think we have seven days in a week right? Well after God created everything, he would always say, and it was good. I mean yes it was good. But what if it was bad. and God knowing it was going to be bad still said… Man this S*@! is good. He might of known that Adam and Eve were not all that he thought them to be, he still made them. I mean God knows everything it seems like it so I think he knew that things were not going to be good later down the road. What kind of story would it be if everything would have been all fine and dandy. Yea that’s right. A boring one. Nobody likes boring stories. And we decided in class that there are never boring stories. Just boring people. Well surly God didn’t want to be classified as boring. So he had to put a little drama into the story. After all a little drama never hurt anybody. But still even with the drama and him making the world, everything was still good. Was there anything bad that happened while he was being the “Master Creator”? I don’t think so. Then he gave Adam and Eve a simple instruction. Don’t eat this fruit. Well out of human nature curiosity gets the best of us. every person does it. and when it happened and God got mad and then S*@! Really started to hit the fan. Things started to fall apart then. Being banished from the garden, murder, yea all that bad stuff. Was it good then? Huh God is this stuff still good now?

Nuff Said

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.
I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

-Mother Teresa

Nuff said.

In Search of Something

I am now officially the Preistly writer now. Now I don’t know how good that makes me. And for my picture to be shown in class. I’m not going to lie and say it wasn’t cool, because it was. It was kind of nice for once for a rather big class to see some of the people who don’t always share their opinions out loud. And for everybody to see my picture was kind of cool. So that they know that I exists. But anyway I’m not here to talk about me. Well actually I am because this is my bog and I write what I want. Haha anyway.
I’m going to tell a story. Of me kind of being stupid but hopefully it all works out in the end. So the guy Steve Lopez was here to talk to the freshmen of this year. And I wanted to go, but I had my plate full dealing my sucky friend who is almost I would say a waste of air. Ugh she is not my cup of tea. But never the less I was dealing with her drama. And so I couldn’t make it to hear him speak, and I was mad because I loved the book and the movie. And here he is right here in Bozeman and I let him slip through my fingers. But oh well there is nothing I can do about it now… or is there. Well I have a copy of his book and I really wanted him to sign my book. So I used my skills of the internet a wonderful place by the way. and I managed to get my hands on his e mail address. So last night I e mailed him asking him if I sent him my book would he sign it for me. And if not where I can find a copy of his book that has already been signed. So I think I kind of crossed the line trying to get something that I don’t even know if it will happen or if he will even e mail me back. But with something like that you just gotta take a chance. Because one will never know unless they try. So I will keep you updated with what happens. And tomorrow I will blog about the bible. Haha I just had to share my story.

Door Slams Part 2

As I was in church the other day, we sang Psalm 51. And I was so excited because here is what we are kind of studying in Lit 240, and here it is right in front of my face. So my ceriousity got the best of me, so when I got home from church I looked up the whole Psalm. And to my surprise only two verses make up the song. Well I asked myself how can two verses make up a whole song. Why didn’t the song writer put the whole Psalm into the song. To me the song isn’t worth it if the whole thing isn’t in it. why isn’t the whole song a Psalm. Just the two verses that are most important. But isn’t the whole thing important? Here I feel God is again Slamming doors in our face, saying yes the bible has good stuff in it, but not all of it is great stuff, and I only want the good stuff published. Only the good stuff? How can only the good stuff make it into a song?
The whole Psalm basically says clean and rid me of my sins. How can God clean and rid us of our sins if all we know is the good stuff, and not the bad stuff. It just seems to me that God has cheeped us out of a deal. That if we don’t hide anything from God, he won’t hide anything from us. well news flash for Lisette. He has hidden the stuff that really means something. Its like he is giving us what we want to see, not what we need to see. And its up to us to go look for the goods, and when we do find them we are disappointed. And mad at how he just hid that stuff from me. That is how I felt when I really read and internalized the Psalm. (Door Slam). This is a beautiful Psalm I think, but wow there is a big door slam in it. it feels like the writer of this Psalm is trying to find some good in this life, and asking God to help them through whatever it may be they are going through. But no, God just Slams the door. Which sucks.
God is full of Door Slams throughout the bible. But so are we. When we find out something that we don’t wanna hear. We slam the door. Because it is the easiest thing to do at the moment. But then that door slam comes back to haunt us. telling us that the door slam was not necessary. But who knows at the time just like you God the door slam was necessary. (SLAM!) =D

Door Slams Part 1

Back to Blogging. Since I haven’t blogged in a while I feel that I should do it again. And get started again. Because I can say if it doesn’t happen today, it won’t happen for the rest of the semester. So here I sit with my music blasting, girls slamming their doors to their room because I am too loud. But quite frankly I don’t care, because this is my blog, and I’ll do what it takes to get it done.

So speaking of slamming doors in the face of the one who we are trying to rid ourselves of, I feel that God more than once slams the door in faces of people who have let him down. And it feels like he is saying, well you suck. There you go, Slam! I have just started reading The Slave. And so far it is treating me good. But God knows that his people are slaves and yet he doesn’t used his “Great Power” to save them from this sucky life they are having. And yet the people are so loyal to him, and he just sits here. And looks down on what is going on in his messed up world. How can people pray to God everyday asking for them to get them out of this sucky life, and it seems like Slam. The door shuts on the hope of ever getting out of the things that they are in. Now I know God has power, but not that power to bam free someone from slavery. But I mean come on. Why not give it a shot.

Bible Thumping and Answers

As I continue my journey of the bible I feel that this blog should be about me. I’m still very overwhelmed about this class and what we have to do for it. but it is soon going to leave and I know that. But for this one, its just me. Some of this stuff is kind of hard for me to take in, because I am what they consider a “bible thumper.” This past summer I worked as a councilor at a bible camp. So all day, every day what I did was “bible thumped.” I taught kids what little or none they knew about the bible and made it known to them. I showed them what the bible is all about. And it was the best summer of my life.
But currently I am feeling a little bit lost I guess you could say in my faith, and I find myself asking a lot of questions. I’m not doubting it in anyway, cause I know I’m here for God from God. But reading the bible the way I have been. I have to take a minute and look back at what I just wrote and I say to myself wow I can’t believe that I just said that about the bible. The book that I’ve based my life off of for 19 years. And I’m looking at it from a different perspective now. I’ve come to realize that God picks the people who ask why me? And he picks the low life’s. Why is that? To maybe give them a chance, and for them to prove that they are really capable of what He is asking that they do. I mean I would consider myself one of them. But is this class then a sign from God saying its ok for me question Him and question these writings? Or is it because I just had to take this class for my major and I’m going down a different road with it. but there has been a lot of things said in this class that I have written down and questioned. But that’s ok I think. Asking questions can get one far in life. I mean all the people in the bible whom God choose to do this big task asked themselves why me? Why me seems to go far, but then not far enough. Because when one searches the answer of that question they get short handed to them answers. But then they have to find and dig deeper for the answers that they want the most. Isn’t that the way it seems in life. The answers we want the most, we have to work so hard to get. What happens when they are reached? Do we try to come up with new questions, or be fine with the answers that we got? I guess it just depends on the person. It seemed like the people in the bible weren’t satisfied with the answers they were given. Basically God says just because. I choose you just because. Well what does just because do? Ah yea that’s right nothing. Its not really an answer. Just a statement. But then I come back to reality and realize that some of these things that are said are just that. Statements.
That’s what makes this class so overwhelming. All the work, and mostly the questions that I have for myself when I leave the class. But that’s ok I think. I’ll be ok and I will get through this class just fine. And I will continue to ask questions, cause then I will get answers. And answers I think are a very good thing!