This week we had to respond to the comments written on our week four blog.
1. Brittany Williams
Thanks for your comment. I realized that many people are trying to implement the same project including Kimberly so I am trying to team up with some people in the class because I do not have transportation. I have also been asking my friends outside of class for their input because I have some friends with Education majors. So right now, I am trying to get my group of people together and I will be on my way to a school. I am also looking at some on campus tutoring activities.
2. Keri Crump
Thanks for your comment. I really like your idea because it would be easier to help an already established program. When I become stable in my career, then I can work more on starting and funding new programs of my own or in partnership with other people. I will definitely keep this in mind if I end up volunteering at a school of my own.
3. Eboni Evans
Thanks for your comment. I noticed the vagueness of my project and I will try to improve that as soon as possible. To work on the beautification of schools is a great idea but I would not know where to start. Currently, I am going over some ideas with my friends about tutoring and where it should take place so I hope to have some solid information about my project by week six. The beautification of schools may be something I focus on during the summer when more time is available for me to get substantial work done. Thank you for your input.
A role model is not someone whose life you try to emulate. I think a role modal is someone whose experiences can teach you right from wrong. A role modal should be able to offer you advice when needed but still let you find your own way, not dictating to you how you should live. We cannot possibly follow the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebeccah, Rachel, and Leah to a tee but we can use their experiences to guide us. For example, we know we should not lie to our fathers about our identity, especially when he is ill and steal our brother’s blessing. What we can look at is the outcome of situation. We make lie to our parents or get into fights with our siblings but after some time, all things are forgiven, or should be anyway. Jacob and Esau were ecstatic to see each other and there were no hard feelings between the two, hence, Jacob teaches us that we should repent for our sins because we will be forgiven.
I think the matriarchs and patriarchs are good role models. They are human so we cannot put them on a pedestal and expect them to live perfect lives when none of us have. They show us that through their sins they were still forgiven by God and that as long as we repent for our sins, God will forgive us. The patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The matriarchs are their wives, Sarah, Rebeccah, Rachel, and Leah. These seven individuals gave birth to the Jewish people.
Abraham was willing to sacrifice his beloved child, Isaac, because God told him to. I cannot assume but I am sure that are plenty of people that believe in and worship God but would not kill their own child. Abraham has a relationship with God that I aspire to obtain. Jacob begins in the Bible lying and deceiving his family but, in the end is truly blessed and changes his life around. I believe that he is a great role model because he is relatable. A perfect person who always has God’s favor may be idealistic but no one on Earth can relate to him or her. However, someone that has had troubles and taken the wrong path at times, only to find his or her way in the end is better. I believe that it is the mistakes and sins that make finding God even sweeter.
The women too were good role models. All the women stuck by their husbands, most giving them concubines to sleep with when they themselves were unable to get pregnant. Of course, not every action should be imitated. I am not saying in Sarah’s case, to send the woman you told your husband to sleep away or in Rebeccah’s case to tell your son to trick his father into getting his brother’s blessing. I am saying that these women are also human. They sinned just like the people of the world today but they believed in God because he showed them his goodness.
There are numerous occasions where God could have decided that these seven people were not worthy and found others to give his blessings. However, God made a covenant with Abraham and he stuck to it. The matriarchs and patriarchs show how great God is. He forgives his people and when he makes a promise, he does not break it.
My favorite commandment from the Decalogue is to remember the Sabbath day. I remember when it was time for me to get my first job, my dad told me to try to be off every Sunday. I was brought up to try to rest on Sunday; therefore, finishing all that had to be done in the previous six days. Now that I am in college, trying to balance community service projects with classes and trying to find a job, I wish I could rest on Sundays. Miraculously, it is the only day I have to work. This is my favorite commandment because it is something I want to be able to do. I strive to manage my time so I can do no work on Sundays. I also think it is great that God gave his people a day of rest. I think it is yet another example of his love for his people. Most of the other commandments are easier to abide by which why I picked the one that I cannot wait to follow.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 28th, 2007 at 12:28 am and is filed under Week 05: Respond & Logo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.