Week 9: Implementation
1028 words by Taieka Jackson
My project is actually going better than I imagined it would. I originally focused on one person but others have become interested in my church because of the change in my friend’s life. She has changed so much and everyone agrees she is a better person. Now I have three more friends who attend my church and participate frequently. We are now preparing for the next “Will you Be Ready?” play on Halloween night. We provide this play as an alternative for dressing in horror costumes. The play is extraordinary. I have invited 8 of my young family members and closest friends. I hope that the play will change their minds and encourage them to give their lives to the Lord. They have faithfully been attending all of the church’s youth functions and I believe in my heart that they have committed themselves to Christ. Our youth motto at church is called 180. meaning make a 180 degree turn from living life your own sin filled way and Living for Jesus. we work to spread the word and connect young people with God.
i try not to have much of an opinion towards George Bush. As I was taught as a young girl, “if you can say anything nice, do not say anything at all”. So in this particular case, I shall refrain from speaking of George Bush. Because I am trying to be a better person I pray for him. Before I was baptized I greatly disliked Bush, now I just try to understand his motive and find the good in him. I am sure he had good intention for this country, he just failed us.
The Deuteronomistic Historian forms a narrative trajectory which was aimed at conveying a certain theological message. Deuteronomistic History starts around the mid-sixth century BCE. The discrete similarity in content and form between the
Deuteronomistic editing in Joshua – Kings, and in Jeremiah, on the other, may have been of the work of a single person, who prepared an extensive work describing the history of Israel from Moses to Jeremiah. Deuteronomy serves as an introduction to the Deuteronomistic History, while the Book of Jeremiah finishes it. In Deuteronomy, the path was outlined and the norms were determined. The main body of Joshua – Kings records the ups and downs in Israel’s association with God. The epilogue, the Book of Jeremiah, focuses on the destruction of the Temple and the Exile in an attempt to explain the events and inform the exiles of the message of redemption. The
Deuteronomists presents the past of the relationship between Israel and God as complex and intricate, involving sin, repentance, and forgiveness.
The message of the Deuteronomistic History is one of hope and consolation: the merciful God, who made an everlasting tie between himself and His elected people, forgave them in the past and he will forgive them in the future. The Exile did not mean the end of relations between God and His people. On the other hand, the Lord will save them and return them to their land, at the end of the period of the 70 years. The Deuteronomists included in the Deuteronomistic History a total of approximately one hundred sixty numerical sequential data, most of them in the Book of Kings. He compiles dozens of sequential data from his sources, to which he obviously credited great importance. His composition contains information on the control of all the kings of Israel and Judah, without exemption, including those who ruled only for a short time. According to the Deuteronomist historian, all the northern kings were unsuccessful in regard to the law of centralization of the cult, and thus rejected the law of God. When Jeroboam, the first king of Israel split away from Judah, he established rival sanctuaries in Bethel and Dan. He did not want the Israelites returning to Jerusalem to worship in the temple. According to the Deuteronomist historian, God had initiated the division of the kingdom as the result of the sins of Solomon, but God had not authorized the division of the cult. Northern kings continued to support the rival temples in Bethel and Dan, and thus are condemned by the Deuteronomistic historian. The destruction of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians demonstrated God’s judgment on Israel for its apostasy and rejection of God’s temple in Jerusalem. The Deuteronomistic Historian defines a good king as being able to believe that they are a good and caring emperor. I believe that George W. Bush would not be approved by the Deuteronomistic Historians because he is sending people to war when there is no need. He would be sacrificing people so that would not be accepted. Bringing people to war would make the situation worse and get more people killed, espesically bringing in people that have no experience.
Advocacy is a ministry of the Church and its member in the public land. They use their voice and action to influence private and public decision-making in favor of their neighbor. Such advocacy gives present to voice to the prophetic cry, “Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?” (Jeremiah 8:22) Many of the wealthy and standard living people during the era were treated except for the unfortunate one. This line addresses both public policy and the policy of corporations. Here is what the biblical prophet Isaiah says about the moral choices we have seen in this administration: “Woe to the legislators of infamous laws, to those who issue tyrannical decrees, who refuse justice to the unfortunate and cheat the poor among my people of their rights, and make widows their prey and rob the orphan.” Basically what this means is that the legislatures had made bad laws that did not work right. In the end, the poor people and orphans were taken advantage of. It does not really relate to my project, but in the past, poor people had no chance to live and to alleviate their problems through cheaper services. However, nowadays it is possible to help the unfortunate
October 27th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I realize what I am about to right may seem offensive so I apologize. From what I am reading your project is to convert people to Christianity in order for them to have a better and more fulfilled life. I think in essence you have a good idea. I do not think it is realistic. People use the idea of happiness, joy, and prosperity to “sell” the idea of Christianity. I am a Christian. I’ve been in church my entire life. I promise you that if I was basing my devotion on feeling good and getting everything I wanted I would have left the church a long time ago. I am not saying that church is a bad thing but I hope you are putting the emphasis on a relationship more than a ritual. Too often people join churches because of an emotional experience and when problems and reality come they leave the church. This is just something for you to think about
October 28th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
I complelety understand what you’re saying and I agree. I also appreciate your honesty. My only focus is to get people rooted in church, the rest depends on them and God. I then won’t abandon them but they’ll only go as far as they’re willing. They have to be open and ready to accept Jesus. The Bible says that the path to life is narrow and few will find it. I’m just trying to help them find it. I will provide a support system to all I help. Seriously, i appreciate your comment. Instead of just agreeing with everything I said, Thanks.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Its a good thing you want people to be involved in a religion but at the same time that a touchy subject and might be a little harder than what you think. what gives you the right to force you views on other.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Its a good thing to see that you are encouraging your friends to come to church and it is totally their decision to go or not. I don’t feel as if you are forcing your views on others as the student mentioned above, but rather suggesting another way to try and live your life…They can take it or leave it.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Its a good idea to want people to get involved in church. Giving people something to do on halloween is good too because some people may not like to dress up, or like me, have no costume and would like to do something and have fun. Maybe you should try not to recruit people but just show them what your church offers and possibly they could see for themselves.
October 30th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I think this project has good intentions. Going to church gives some people the strength to deal with their struggles during the week. Church, however is not for every person, and I am more than sure you know that. I also understand that night everyone may actually like Halloween and its practices. Taking that into mind, your play will help people who share that mindset of Halloween.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Taieka, I am proud that you doing something really positive by encouraging your friends to attend church. A lot of young people did not grow up going to church and have negative attitudes about going so we as their peers should persuade them to attend with us. Its good that you are setting a good example. Good luck on the play and I have the idea of the alternative!
October 30th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I think this is a good project. Going to church is always a good thing for most people and encouraging your friends to attend church is even better. A lot of people don’t attend church every sunday so it’s good to get more people to attend church and hear the good word. You are setting a very good example to the rest of your peers. Good luck on your project and your play.
October 30th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I think your intentions are innocent and that you mean well. It is great that you are helping your friends find a faith to follow. The play seems like a great way to introduce the topic to your friends and others who you may want to try to influence. I think everyone should have some type of religion or belief to follow so that they have something to turn whenever life brings their spirits down. But, I think that it would be safer for you to stay within your friends and family members when doing this project, people who know you well. Others who think differently may object to your idea and criticize you for your doings even though you mean well. Good luck on your project.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:32 pm
I agree with you one hundred percent regarding the elimination of violence and war in the world. Although your plan is very unique, using religion to solve these problems is a great way to do so. The play sounds pretty interesting. Are their any other ways you can carry out your project, in addition to the church play?
P.S. I attended the play. It was great.
November 4th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Your project is an interesting one. I am glad that you are trying to help people find their happiness in God. Using a play as a form of outreach is very creative. Is there something wrong with Halloween? U know what, nevermind that. Just remember that every religion isn’t for everybody. Religion period isn’t for everyone. A person can have a great relationship with the Lord and not ever go to church or belong to a specific religion. People can be enlightened by experiences and testimony, but everybody who is not a Christian does not need to be “saved” in order to have a fulfilling life. Don’t take offense; this is just what I think of course. I think it would be interesting to hear you and Dr. Homan discuss a few things. I hope that your project will have a positive effect on your friends. Good luck.
November 5th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Your project is different, but unique. I agree that religion is a touchy subject. People have different view & believes. So i have to give you thumbs up for trying to convince them about Christianity. Hopefully, everything will go well with you. Just don’t be offense if people who are non Christian oppose of your view.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Well I personally like your project. It is very different. I personally wouldn’t have had the courage to do something like this. I find it to be very refreshing. Although many may not agree with you project because they don’t see how this will change the world. Well I do see how it can have a huge impact. Sometimes when you do things like this you can’t look at it through your natural eyes. Its more of a spiritual thing. So I would like to end by saying keep up the good work.
November 21st, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Your project is a very interesting approach. But I kinda do agree that you seem to be selling the church with prospects of a good life and such. I think you should tell the people what the religion has to offer and then let them go about making their decision. Supporting them either way is a great idea and I wish you much luck!
November 22nd, 2007 at 10:21 am
This is definitely a good project. Every Christian needs to be in church, and many are not. It is great that you have made such a change in your friend’s life. I am sure it is not very easy to find people who are willing to go to church with you. But at least you are trying, and you already have three other people, so that great! Maybe you could try to just bring up Christianity and church in conversation with other friends and see if they are interested so that your project can help more people.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:35 am
This sounds wonderful. You picked a way to change the world that would be easy to do. This is awesome and God will bless you for doing his work. I think you should invite some people from school to join you at church. Xavier certainly has its share of people who need to find Christ.