When you read a book, you hope that by the end of the story that you will have something to take from the author’s writing. Weather it be a life lesson, a reminder of something you needed to hear, or just a helpful hint to use in life.
There are many things to take from the novel, The Great Gatsby, but one particular thing for me was to never give up on love and to love with all of your heart. When you say the words “I love you”, to truly mean it. Those words have meaning and convey affection to the person that is receiving it. Love can be a very powerful thing if you let it be. Gatsby never gave up on loving Daisy even though Nick, towards the end, told him to move on. It also taught me to never be afraid of love because if you are, then you’ll never find true happiness with yourself or your life. I pray that we all find love like that for someone special in our lives. This novel also shows the effects of tragedies on people. Once Myrtle was killed, Wilson became obsessed with finding the driver, who he thought was also the lover, which he assumed it was Gatsby because it was his nice yellow car. He had no facts and no sure evidence that Gatsby was the adulterer with Myrtle, he just assumed. His assumption concluded with him murdering Gatsby and then committing suicide. Tragedies will happen in our lifetime but we must know how to deal with them; with the help of God and the healing of time. This novel also helped me learn more about the life style and the affairs of the nineteen twenties era.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Casting Crowns
“Praise You In This Storm”
When someone asks me what is the most inspiring Christian song I know, the first song I think of is by Casting Crowns called “Praise You In This Storm”. Every time I am going through something personal and heart aching I listen to this song and it reminds me to always give Him to glory; no matter what happens. It says “and though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm” which is easier said than done but we as Christians must do it. All of Casting Crowns songs are so wonderfully worded and truly comforts me when they sing about how the Lord holds my tears in his hands and how He never leaves my side. It makes me feel not as alone as I felt before I listened to the song. Us Village Christian Academy students have been through a lot this year, I know I have and this song assures me that we are never alone in the vicious storms of our lives.
Another song that also brings chills down my spine and tears to my eyes is “East to West” by Casting Crowns. God says that He will cast our sins as far as the east is from the east and in this song he sings “How far is the east from the west?” It also says “In your arms of mercy I find rest” which also gives me peace inside and it also lets me know that anytime I sin, He shows me mercy. I know when terrible things happen to me, my friends, or family, I feel so alone and broken. This line lets me know that I can be cradled in God’s arms anytime I want.
When someone asks me what is the most inspiring Christian song I know, the first song I think of is by Casting Crowns called “Praise You In This Storm”. Every time I am going through something personal and heart aching I listen to this song and it reminds me to always give Him to glory; no matter what happens. It says “and though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm” which is easier said than done but we as Christians must do it. All of Casting Crowns songs are so wonderfully worded and truly comforts me when they sing about how the Lord holds my tears in his hands and how He never leaves my side. It makes me feel not as alone as I felt before I listened to the song. Us Village Christian Academy students have been through a lot this year, I know I have and this song assures me that we are never alone in the vicious storms of our lives.
Another song that also brings chills down my spine and tears to my eyes is “East to West” by Casting Crowns. God says that He will cast our sins as far as the east is from the east and in this song he sings “How far is the east from the west?” It also says “In your arms of mercy I find rest” which also gives me peace inside and it also lets me know that anytime I sin, He shows me mercy. I know when terrible things happen to me, my friends, or family, I feel so alone and broken. This line lets me know that I can be cradled in God’s arms anytime I want.
World War I Causes
There are many causes of the First World War and to be quite honest, this war was very unnecessary. There are more root causes of this war than actual direct causes. Some root causes consist of: Mutual defense alliances, imperialism, and militarism. Mutual defense alliances are a root cause because over time, countries throughout Europe made mutual defense agreements that would pull them into battle. If one country was attacked, the other country that agreed to defend them in warfare would get dragged in on it and then so on and so forth. After a while, they didn’t know what they were fighting for and who they were fighting against.
Imperialism is when a country brings an abundance of wealth and power by taking control of a territory. The sudden want and need for greater empires and power pushed the world into this World War. This shows what power and wealth can do to people. Everyone felt safe because they had their big armies, wealth, and many secret alliances with countries but when countries turned on other countries it brought in all of the other countries that agreed to help them in warfare. Within a month, it was a World War! America tried to stay out of it, in fact we did for two years but obviously, we also got dragged in.
Imperialism is when a country brings an abundance of wealth and power by taking control of a territory. The sudden want and need for greater empires and power pushed the world into this World War. This shows what power and wealth can do to people. Everyone felt safe because they had their big armies, wealth, and many secret alliances with countries but when countries turned on other countries it brought in all of the other countries that agreed to help them in warfare. Within a month, it was a World War! America tried to stay out of it, in fact we did for two years but obviously, we also got dragged in.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Gossip
Gossip: The Great Gatsby
The dictionary online states that the definition of gossip is idle talk or rumor about the personal or private affairs of others. This definition certainly pertains to the actions of the characters in the novel "The Great Gatsby". Gossip is like a desease; it can not be easily stopped. The act of gossiping infers to me that people gossip about the actions and lives of others because they are left with no other conversation material. This occurs at Gatsby's party while the guests are at his very own house gossiping about his previous affairs in the war. They are reverberating an opinon of someone else and turing it into a "truth" that may very well be untrue.
There are many dangers that come from gossip. The affects of gossip on people can be extreme and can ruin their very own reputation. Because of the babbling nonsense about Gatsby, he is known as a very wierd, mysterious and a scathing man. These people need to transcend the words from other people's mouths and get real and true information from the source. Gossip can also ruin relationships between people weather it be marriage or a friendship. Some people become too gullable therefore they have a chance of believing information that is untrue and not even double checking that information. The bottem line is that gossip can ruin lives if it gets bad enough. Even though we as humans have a propensity to sin, we must have control over our tounge.
The dictionary online states that the definition of gossip is idle talk or rumor about the personal or private affairs of others. This definition certainly pertains to the actions of the characters in the novel "The Great Gatsby". Gossip is like a desease; it can not be easily stopped. The act of gossiping infers to me that people gossip about the actions and lives of others because they are left with no other conversation material. This occurs at Gatsby's party while the guests are at his very own house gossiping about his previous affairs in the war. They are reverberating an opinon of someone else and turing it into a "truth" that may very well be untrue.
There are many dangers that come from gossip. The affects of gossip on people can be extreme and can ruin their very own reputation. Because of the babbling nonsense about Gatsby, he is known as a very wierd, mysterious and a scathing man. These people need to transcend the words from other people's mouths and get real and true information from the source. Gossip can also ruin relationships between people weather it be marriage or a friendship. Some people become too gullable therefore they have a chance of believing information that is untrue and not even double checking that information. The bottem line is that gossip can ruin lives if it gets bad enough. Even though we as humans have a propensity to sin, we must have control over our tounge.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
November 2nd, 2009.
Everyone is different as everyone knows therefore everyone responds to tragedies differently. Some people become silent and depressed, some people cry, and some people take it to an extreme or they might just not care for too long. There are thousands of people this week who are dealing with the Maxwell Family tragedy differently but one thing in common with all these people is that we are all in grief and mourning. How couldn’t we be? The Maxwell Family was a beautiful, loving and Christian family who obviously had deep internal conflicts that were hidden from the outside view. Billy, Kathy, Connor and Cameron were all wonderful people and should be remembered by the Christian, role model-like people that they were. This entire situation is incredibly confusing, awful and tragic but who are we to figure this out? Who are we to know every single detail and to try and figure out why Billy did this and why it was this particular family? We are just people who need to be uplifting and look to Him, the Lord Almighty during hard times such as this one. He is the only one who knows the answers to the why questions. He understands our anger and doubt therefore He wants us to ask questions. The last thing he wants us to do is to be silent; to give up. We must keep fighting and keep living our lives to the best Christians we can be to honor the Maxwell Family.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Anger: One of the hardest emotions to control
Recently in my life I have encountered several feelings. Feelings ranging from utter happiness to complete sadness and depression. One of those feelings, anger, is an emotion that everyone feels and also an emotion that is sometimes the hardest to control. When someone or something makes you angry or aggravated enough it will exceed your tolerated point of annoyance and that is when people start saying and doing things that they really do not mean to do.
Today in Sunday school, we watched a video on a man talking about anger and how to watch when you have exceeded the point where you can not control it. Afterwards, our teacher asked us what is one thing that just “ticks” you off or just makes you so angry or aggravated that you almost can not stand it. She also explained that instead of acting on our anger, we can think outside the box; to allow anger to help you decide your future. For example, one thing that angers my mother is when people are not treated right in hospitals or rest homes. Therefore, instead of acting on her anger, she became a nurse to make a difference.
My answer to our Sunday school teacher’s question was when unfair things happen to good people. For example, my best friend/ boyfriend is sixteen years old and has lung cancer and has never smoked a cigarette in his life, yet a seventy-five year old woman or man has been smoking since they were seventeen and they do not get lung cancer. Even though my friend’s cancer is not the same kind of cancer you get from smoking, it is still just not fair seeing that he is just sixteen years old. It is times like these where I question why God does certain things but He does them for a reason and I trust in Him for the best to come out of a terrible situation.
-Alice Cox
Today in Sunday school, we watched a video on a man talking about anger and how to watch when you have exceeded the point where you can not control it. Afterwards, our teacher asked us what is one thing that just “ticks” you off or just makes you so angry or aggravated that you almost can not stand it. She also explained that instead of acting on our anger, we can think outside the box; to allow anger to help you decide your future. For example, one thing that angers my mother is when people are not treated right in hospitals or rest homes. Therefore, instead of acting on her anger, she became a nurse to make a difference.
My answer to our Sunday school teacher’s question was when unfair things happen to good people. For example, my best friend/ boyfriend is sixteen years old and has lung cancer and has never smoked a cigarette in his life, yet a seventy-five year old woman or man has been smoking since they were seventeen and they do not get lung cancer. Even though my friend’s cancer is not the same kind of cancer you get from smoking, it is still just not fair seeing that he is just sixteen years old. It is times like these where I question why God does certain things but He does them for a reason and I trust in Him for the best to come out of a terrible situation.
-Alice Cox
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Britney Spears!
People say that Britney Spears is a "wack job" or a "freak", honestly I completely disagree. Britney did go through a rough time but hey, who doesn't? Everyone, at some point in their lives, goes through a rough time in their life. The difference between our rough times and Britney Spears' is that she is famous which means, cameras and reporters following her around everywhere she goes which makes her tough time in her life even worse.
The Britney Spears concert that my friends and I went to recently in Greensboro, North Carolina, I think was Britney's way of letting everyone know that she is okay; that she is even stronger than she was before all of that mess in her life happened. The concert was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The dancing and graphics of the concert was the best part of it and of course the dancing and singing along to "Hit Me Baby One More Time". My friends and I grew up listening to her songs so it was loads of fun being able to reminisce on the good ol' days.
Even though Britney Spears is not the best singer to listen to, she is a marvalous entertainer. Also her music is just a time where girls can let their hair down and sing as loudly as they possibly can to relieve stress or just to sing with the girlfriends in the car.
So the next time people are gossiping about Brtiney Spears and her life, that she is allowed to go through bad times in her life just like we do. Also remember that she is a human being just like you and me.
-Alice.
The Britney Spears concert that my friends and I went to recently in Greensboro, North Carolina, I think was Britney's way of letting everyone know that she is okay; that she is even stronger than she was before all of that mess in her life happened. The concert was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The dancing and graphics of the concert was the best part of it and of course the dancing and singing along to "Hit Me Baby One More Time". My friends and I grew up listening to her songs so it was loads of fun being able to reminisce on the good ol' days.
Even though Britney Spears is not the best singer to listen to, she is a marvalous entertainer. Also her music is just a time where girls can let their hair down and sing as loudly as they possibly can to relieve stress or just to sing with the girlfriends in the car.
So the next time people are gossiping about Brtiney Spears and her life, that she is allowed to go through bad times in her life just like we do. Also remember that she is a human being just like you and me.
-Alice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
