Philippians

I am not sure if I am getting the figurative language right, but bear with me.

The first one I found was 

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  But if I am to
live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do
not know which to choose.

If a person read this and didn't understand the first statement they would not recognize that he meant that while He is on earth living a person should be living like Christ or trying to be like Him.  And when he dies he gains eternal life in heaven, so to him that is gaining because he is ging to be with God.

The second part of this section of Philippians means that if he is to stay in the flesh (stay alive on earth) then he will work to bring people to know God and teach them what Jesus did. But if he chooses to die he gains eternal life with God.  So he doesn't know which to choose.


 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of
the false circumcision;  for we are the true circumcision, who
worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no
confidence in the flesh,  although I myself might have
confidence even in the flesh

Beware of false circumcision is going back to where the Jews were circumcised because it was apart of their law.   To be a Christian you don't need to be circumcised because Jesus died on the cross, so to be a Christian you do not have to be circumcised. 



If no one knew what these metaphors meant then it would be very confusing to read this and understand what he means.  But if you think through them the imagery was the perfect way of showing what it would mean to live on earth and how it would be a gain to go to heaven

Make up for AFI

 So this is Sheila when she goes to see Norman and brings him the flowers.  This is when Norman sets the timer for 9 minutes thinking that it was set for 9 pm. Later on he sits on these flowers.

 This is Arnold standing on the chair in the library.  He was practicing his speech to the Senate.

This is Norman as usual eating the donuts from his job.


I am not very good at drawing people.  Sorry.

A Temple of The Holy Ghost

Reading:

• There are two sisters who were sent to a all girls catholic school because really into boys and not school
• when girls describe that they call each other Temple 1 and 2 came from a woman telling them to tell boys they are the temple of Holy Ghost.  The mom says they are and second cousin seems to be content and happy with that
• second cousin daydreams of being the leader of the boys and denying them in war.  She makes them out to be tall and gorgeous, but they turn out to be short and not attractive.
• second cousin very stubborn and sarcastic, defends cousins when they sing a song and boys don't appreciate it 
• sisters go to fair with boys while second cousin imagines being a martyr over and over again
• when child does something bad or gets distracted from praying she thinks on Jesus journey to Calvary
• girls talked about one of the freak that was both man and woman and told no one to laugh because thats how God made it, child confused
• child daydreams that it said that the temple is a holy thing and God would strike anyone down who desecrated the temple
• they took girls back to convent and their the girl prayed not to be so mean and sass people
• priest holds up monstrance ( a symbol of communion) and the center or the host which is sacramental bread in communion is ivory like the sun that she described on her way to convent
• thought about the freak and how he talked about God wanting Him to be that way
•   while going home the cab driver says how the preachers had the fair shut down and the child then describes the sun as a Host covered in blood over the sky

Interpreting:

There are several times where the girl describes symbols of Jesus dying

1. When she has done something bad she thinks about Him dying on cross, so this shows how He forgives and through this ultimate sacrifice He does so
2. She talks about the sun being ivory and this turns out to be the same for the Host and then the girl talks about how the freak said thats how God made him and his body is a temple of the Holy Ghost.  Then when she hears the preacher had the freak show shut down the sun is now red like sacramental bread covered with blood representing that there is nothing wrong with this man that Jesus loves him and died for him as well.  This could also represent how He will forgive those preachers to.
3. While praying in the church the girl asks for God to help her not to be so mean and sass people and then she starts to go off again, but the priest holds up monstrance and she sees the ivory and is reminded of Jesus and Him being perfect and all loving
4. She gets very defensive when the boys make fun of the song the girls sings which in english translates to:

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Lo! o'er ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from Each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty.
Amen.
V. Thou hast given them bread from heaven.
R. Having within it all Sweetness.
V. Let us pray: O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of Thy Passion: grant, we implore Thee, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, as always to be conscious of the fruit of Thy Redemption. Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever.
R. Amen.

This hymn talks about worshiping God for all He has done


This story represents this girl who always is told and knows she is not perfect, but she is reminded always that she is the Temple of the Holy Ghost God and she will always be forgiven and no one should ever make fun of who she is or how she is because that is God's temple.

Criticizing:  We should always be reminded, as well, that we can be forgiven and not always worry and be scared that we have done something wrong.  God has grace and loves us always, we just have to remember and one way is through the cross.  And when we remember the love that is always there and can take hold of it.

The Man Who Came to Dinner

On Friday night I went and saw the play the man who came to dinner.  So I didn't really enjoy the play too much this weekend, but I think it was because I was hoping to see The Boys Next Door.  It was really slow in the beginning I thought, but at the end it started to pick up.  So because I didn't really enjoy the play I don't want to just talk about it the play, so I decided to look up the background on this play.

It was written by George Kaufman and Moss Hart.  They wrote their play based off of their friend Alexander Wollcott.  He is supposed to be Sheridan Whiteside.  Alexander was a theater critic and a radio star which makes sense because Sheridan was all those.  Kaufman and Hart couldn't think of a plot for a play until one day Wollcott showed up at Hart's house and took over the whole house.  He treated the staff poorly and slept in the master bedroom.  And of course as you can tell this is where they first found their plot.  Hart while laughing with Kaufman about Wollcott's stay said that he was glad he didn't break his leg and have to stay and that is where the play was created. 

I don't know why the setting was in Ohio considering both the home where Woolcott visited was in Pennsylvania and George Kaufman is from Pennsylvania.  I don't mind though because I am from Ohio and I love it!  Anyways more about Woolcott and Sheridan they made Sheridans character look exactly like Woolcott.  Woolcott was born in an 85 bedroom home in New York City.  His family was poor and his father drifted from job to job while he stayed with his grandparents at the house.  He made his way through college with the nickname of putrid and became a drama critic.  At one point he was even banned from seeing broadway shows.

The Spirit of God Hovered

I can't remember who, but I know it was when I was younger that I heard someone say that they wondered what those people did to conceive a mentally handicapped kid.  They made it sound like the parents committed an awful sin that they were summoned to life with this burden of a child they would have to take care of.  I never really understood why people had children with handicaps and why God would do that to people.   I never believed that the people had committed a sin, but growing up in the church I heard that often.

"If God's image implies personhood, then humanity,
indeed, the Church, seems to have interpreted human creation only in
terms of those considered the able bodied."

I agree with this you don't see many churches at all the have any type of ministry for the mentally handicapped.  The Church should be the ones helping and caring for people and they don't even considered the handicapped people. There are many homeless ministries and nursing home ministries, but really nothing out there for the mentally handicapped.  I don't know if it is because they believe there demonized or think they were created because sin, but the Church should help and make more programs for people that are mentally handicapped.

"If our pneumatology can
begin with conception and birth, then those who are not high on the
hierarchy of giftedness or significance in the way normally
understood can be appreciated for the way God has created them and
given them their unique 'life force.'"

I like that this proves how these people are not mistakes.  God doesn't make mistakes.  Mentally handicapped people are also made in God's eyes, just because they can't do everything others can doesn't mean God messed up.  Nobody is perfect, but that doesn't mean God forgot or didn't put His Spirit in us.  If people would just realize that everyone is made in God's image then maybe there would be more programs for the mentally handicapped through the church and people wouldn't have to worry so much about the funds coming into government sponsored programs.

Barry and Father

This Act was so sad.  I cried a lot.  It made me so sad when Barry's dad came.  I sort of felt bad for both of them.  I felt bad for Barry because he never sees his dad and was worried about impressing him and when he got there Barry went completely silent and didn't know what to say.  Then Barry's dad moved the sign and didn't really make it sound like it was a great job.  Then when his dad hit him Barry got so scared and then his dad quickly started to leave and right when he was leaving Barry said that he was a golf pro and it broke my heart.  His dad got so nervous and all Barry wanted was to make him happy and proud like he was so proud of his dad and all the big things he had done in his life.  I felt bad for Barry's dad because you could tell that Barry's mom was the one that took great care for Barry.  His dad even recognizes it a bit when he said his mother oved him so much and he meant so much to her.  But it was sad because he didnt say anything about how Barry was the treasure in his life.  I understand that must be scary to not know how to deal with your son being different and nervous to do anything different to him.  Thats why he sent him away I feel because his mom died and his dad didn't know what to do.  Also his dad does try to constantly send him a gift of the same thing and he does feel bad not bringing it 

I know the dad should have put more time and effort into Barry and if he had maybe Barry wouldn't be so alone, but it also must be so scary to have a child like that.  But there is no excuse to just not care for Barry

The Boys Next Door

So I haven't fully read the Act yet, but I have read about 7 pages.  So I am going to write on the characters and what i think of them so far and what I assume they are alike to see maybe if I am correct when finishing the full act.

Jack:  At first I had no idea Jack was not mentally handicapped.  When I read this I went back and read over his lines and I realized he didn't really show a sign of it, but it shows that he is really good with them and how to talk with them.  From his side monologue it sounds like he is getting worn down and I wonder if he will be able to stay with them any longer.  I am wondering if he will be the main character, I believe they all will, but if it will be centered more around him.

Arnold:  I love Arnold and it made me so angry when the shopkeeper told him that he would need that many Wheaties for one person.  He really reminds me of a fellow student in elementary school that I helped.  He says he is deeply nervous so he sort of sounds a little paranoid especially that he ahd to get 19 things at the store since they didn't have enough Wheaties.

Norman:  I haven't read a lot on Norman yet, but I like him.  How they open the door and he doesn't remember a box of doughnuts under his shirt.  I love his big key ring too, it sounds like he is very happy about this job and likes to show it off and seem like he works really really hard.  Hence him going to bed in the early afternoon.

Lucien:  Lucien seems more like a younger kid.  The others seem like they try and are more intellectual.  Lucien has his library card and gets all these yearbooks, which makes me think he can't read, but really wants to seem like he does.

Barry:  I haven't read barely anything on him, but he has this golf list and has people sign up on it because he says he is a golf pro.  I don't know why he is saying this, maybe he wants to have a skill and have people come to him for help or pay him for lessons.  I truly don't know a lot about Barry, so I am excited to see.

The beauty of nature

I went to Lake Bonny Park [or Circle B Bar Reserve] for this field trip, and I stayed there for at least 45 minutes.

The trees stand tall
looking down at me
Skinny and empty till the very top
filled with leaves
Our Father looking down at me
Filled with mercy and grace
while I on earth a sinner

Pine needles are gathered
and litter the sides of the pathway
grouped in some spots and
seperated in the others
God makes our path
and we break it apart
and walk our own way

Caterpillars building nets
to protect itself
while changing and becoming
a beautiful butterfly
The Lord weens us on
His spiritual milk and protects us
until we are ready to pull off and trust Him

When I went to Lake Bonny Park I went with Josh Morway.  I reread Hass's poem and it really didn't make a difference to me reading that poem putside.  The poem was more about places and things I couldn't see at Lake Bonny Park.  The pathway at Lake Bonny Park was very weird.  One side was beautiful trees and the other side was run down apartments.  At the end I sort of wished I went to the nature preserve where it would have been more surrounded by nature.  But it was cool because on the one side it was beautiful and you could see God's creation and on the other side to me it reminded me of Hass's poem that today we are dirty and mean to our environment and what God has given us.  I am not saying that because there was no like dump or anything it just wasn't the prettiest sight compared to the nature.  While walking on the path I was reminded of all the things that can symbolize God's love for us.  That is where the inspiration for my poem mostly came from.  I read all the directions from Professor Corrigans list of things to do, but I forgot to go in the evening or morning when it's cooler, so the sun was pretty hot on us, but other than that I enjoyed the park a lot! Also with the park it was right by the road so it was really hard to hear and I really love the sounds of nature and the silence.  So when we were asked to sit in silence and stillness it was really hard to tune out the noise around.  It could have also been thoguh that I was really distracted with the whole day in my head.  But it helped to clear my mind and concentrate on something other than what happened in the day and the night before.