Blue Like Jazz 4/fifteen

I am really enjoying Blue Like Jazz. Donald Miller reminds me a lot of Claiborne, however I believe he understands more about what his goals our in making this book. It's not so much that he is calling us out, but rather sucking us in with his ideas and understandings of God. One part which I really enjoyed was the Don Rabbit Cartoon. For one, I am a sucker for picture books. Also, I like the twist at the end that sometimes the things that you want most in life kills you. Miller goes on to talk about how in our world today it is easier to love darkness besides light. While writing my paper I came to the realization that our world does not want us to do good. However, we must rise against the mediocrities and start living accountable to God. 

Another part I enjoyed a lot was when Miller was speaking about Grace. As he talks about how he was once a fundamentalist Christian he admits that he was embarrassed This reminded me of Claiborne once again, however Miller once lived his life that way. I think that since he has the guts to admit that he was like that it brings the reader closer to him. It was hard to see if Claiborne ever admitted if he was truly wrong, he kinda was just boasting about what he was doing and saying join me now because that's the right thing to do. While Miller spoke about Grace he explained that he has always had a hard time accepting God's grace. He explains, if we accept God's grace and compassion that is enough to start following him. I think that is very true, it is one thing to understand that God loves his children, but to admit that you accept God's love and want to follow his path for your life is another. It is hard for me to figure out what is God's path and what is the path that I want, but through Grace and acceptance of faith I think God will let us know what he wants us to do and not. 

Project Update !!!!!

I have a ton of ideas for my project, but i am starting to work on these and hopefully pick a few ideas to touch on. The main thing i want to bring out of this project is to show everyone how the rich are just as bad as in Isaiah's time. The only difference is that they do not have any excuses. My project is most likely going to consist of a powerpoint which shows the difference between two counties which are about 10 miles apart. I am thinking about how exactly I'm going to format this powerpoint, but it's probably going to link with a collage or a poster of some sort. Also I was thinking that i could have pieces of my conversation with my father as well as video clips of Kensington and a video about Radnor. Just short little 3 or 5 minute exerts to show how different these two places are. Also i was thinking of having a "What would a Prophet do?" segment so i could connect it to what they would have to say about the whole thing. Overall my project is rolling on, slow and steady wins the race and over break I'm hoping to have my research all fully prepared so i can start on my powerpoint and collage. 

April 8th Post

For my blog I want to keep on talking about what we wrote about on the board on monday. The questions which we were trying to answer were extremely challenging and all debatable. After reading Neumark, more than any other author, I could feel her urgency in every word. I always thought the South Bronx was bad, but i have never heard stories so horrible. For example, when she talks how little the parents help their children. Angie, a friend of Neumark, would send Tiriq her son to church so she wouldn't be bothered. Tiriq was being abused by her parents and had to deal with a drug addict mother. However, people like Heidi let these children know that God cares about them. I think so many people just expect to live with injustice and nothing will change. Justice must be served to everyone, not just the people who our considered good, or to deny the people who are inconvenient for your own life. 

There are so many factors which bring these people down. I think that one important cause we were talking about was the environment around them. When I lived in a row home my back yard was just a driveway, and my front yard was barely enough to even lay on comfortably. For me to be outside as a kid I would have to go to the nearest park. the woman which we saw on that video had the right idea to make more parks and easier access to these places. Maybe these new parks could keep these kids out of trouble. It infuriates me to think that not only do people not come and help, they actually dump trash into their neighborhoods. That brings me to one of the most important causes of injustices, the government around these ghettos. It's so sad how the state only cares about the people with money. how does anyone expect to help anything when the people said to watch over you are treating your home like a toilet?

Finally, we asked what we can do. In my group we talked about how far away we are from New York. The only thing we can do easily is send to a charity. However, that only helps these people for a limited amount of time. We gotta teach these people to fish so they can teach their kids. I believe we can take what Neumark has done in the South Bronx and apply that anywhere. Injustice is around every corner, and so many people think no one cares. Therefore, it's our responsibility to love these people. Especially because we our now aware of all the horrid things going on in our country. Neumark not only helped, she loved and that is the most important part of reaching someone and potentially leading them in the right direction. 

Blog Post April Fools Dayy!!

The first thing I wanted to talk about was my first experience with Lecto Divina. I am not very good at sitting still for periods of time, but I really made an effort to try to meditate to come closer to the parable. The parable which I chose was the Good Samaritan. I have read this parable all my life, and I thought that since I was familiar with it maybe I would see it in a new way. I tried to picture myself as not an important role, but the innkeeper at the room where the Samaritan brought the beat up guy. While I was reading I pictured the scene while the Samaritan, someone who is considered a religious outcast walking in with a shambled, naked man all beat up. I think that it did help to meditate and I definitely looked at it in a more personal way. That caused me to realize that Jesus was breaking boundaries to prove his point no matter if it was considered holy or not. I found it easier to read the bible that way and looking forward to try again.

During the reading assigned I found a few parts which really stood out to me. When she was talking about how the city would just dump all the garbage into the poor areas that really made me mad. It seems like people in the Bronx just can't get a break. No matter how hard they try to help the next generation, there is nothing positive that is handed to them. Just because big companies would save money they had the right to dump it in someone's neighborhood? That is ridiculous and really pisses me off. Neumark proves that it's not like the city doesn't know that places are being trashed, but once the rats got in the way of the rich they made it a mission to get rid of them. She makes a great point how people are poisoned and acquire asthma in their poor conditioned houses and no one helps. I hate how if it doesn't bother the rich then it's not a problem. I am so impressed about Neumark's just constant commitment to helping. She reminds me so much of the profits in the bible, hitting the rich to get at the poor, and is a great example for all of us.

March 25thhh

I am really starting to enjoy Breathing Space and I am liking Neumark more and more. It is so crazy how many stories she has to tell. Every single story is so descriptive and is sooooo powerful. Like we talked about in class, Claiborne has a different way preach his message to people than she does. I'm not quite sure I would really want to meet him, but I would love to sit down and talk to Neumark. I am a strong believer in teaching a man to fish. Just like in Panama City, the only thing that "Repent You Whores" does is cause confrontation. How are you going save anyone when you look down on them? Neumark cares about every single person no matter who they are. She not only helps them she respects them so much. I really look up to that and can tell why she made such a strong impact, and I'm amazed on how well she writes about it. 

One story that really stood out to me was the one about the Lepers in the Bed. I can't believe that he was trying to become closer to God and started praying to a chair, and the people which should be taking care of him came in and shot him. That stopped my heart. Not only did that make me sad, it made me very mad. How could people think that they have the right to kill anyone. Also, they didn't even give him a chance to explain himself. People are so fast to just assume the worst in our country. Reading these intense stories really start to get me thinking about a lot. I have always imagined its hard in the Bronx, but I could never imagine these things she has heard. Not only has she heard these stories, she helped them and worked with them spreading the love of Jesus. I really like what she is doing and she is the type of christian which our society needs. Hopefully something can rub off on all of us. 

Project Propozzzellllll

My project has been changing in my head every day. Even though I would love to do a film, I don't think that I'm going to get enough people to make any valid conclusion. I was told to look at the world that is immediately around you. Try to think more about how the prophets act. My Dad is a social worker in Kensington, PA and he would be open to do a thorough interview. He has been working with the poor for over 20 years and he is currently getting his masters at Rutgers . Also, My High School in Radnor, PA is part of the Mainline. This is one of the richest counties in the country and is the polar opposite of the city of Philadelphia. I am hoping to research more about these two places. I always would ask to myself, how can this suburb be so obnoxiously rich while my Dad has had hundreds of clients who our addicts and criminals, all products of being born into such a horrid place? The steps that I am planning to take is to research Philadelphia and Radnor and talk about experiences I have had in both. Interviewing my Dad as well as explaining through scripture and our reading what the prophets would have to say about all this. I'm not quite sure how I am going to present it, but maybe a PowerPoint or a collage or like some like slideshow? But I'll figure that out soon hopefully. 

March 18th Blog

Unfortunately, not all the listening worked for me for some reason, but I got the NPR interview, Speaking of Faith, to work so i'll talk about that. While I was listening to these people talk about Heschel he seemed like a extremely noble man. I never knew that he marched along with Dr. King which is really cool. As I listened to Heschel's speaking about the prophets he explained that their actions are very much a live today. I believe that there are prophets everywhere such as Dorothy Day and Dr. King. They both devoted their entire lives to justice even while they were being persecuted. With Joshua Heschel they kept calling him a mystic. I looked this word up and this was a person who claims to attain or believes in the possibility of attaining insight as by direct communication with the divine. I would agree with calling him that. Heschel had more than a understanding of God, he was connected to him on a personal level. He has worked with every theologian as well as meeting the Pope. A great idea he taught was that you must be open to everyone in order to teach from them. I wish that I could live my life like that. To often I put peoples differences into to much of a problem, while they could teach me something that I have never thought about, such as talking to a person of Jewish faith. 

Another thing that surprised me was how similar Heschel and Dr. King were. They both grew up in different faiths, however their parents were both teachers and brought them up with a personal relationship with God. Heschel was an important piece in the Civil Rights movement, and stood up to speak for Justice. During his last interview recorded he talks about how important prayer is. Heschel says, "prayer may not save us, but prayer may make us worthy of being saved... a partnership of god and men." I believe that if we have such a partnership with God like King and Heschel did we would be able to understand the differences in everyone, because God is within everyone and Heschel definitely understood that, no matter if they were jew, christian, or athiest. 

March 4th Blog

During the reading of Dr. King's Letter from Birmingham I was once again blown away from his words. It was amazing to me to read such a beautiful letter that was written in such harsh conditions. Every word that he wrote I could tell was well thought out and backed up with multiple examples. First Dr. King made it known that there is a big difference between just and unjust laws. He explains that when a law is just on its face, but unjust on its application then there is a moral sense of breaking these laws. Just like Isaiah calling out to Israel to flee, Dr. King is calling out to everyone to step up against these unjust laws. Another great point that he had was when people outside the bubble of injustice question the African American people's motives. He makes a point that you have never seen the hardships we have witnessed. How can you tell his son or daughter that your not aloud to go into this restaurant because of the color of your skin? That was a very powerful part, and I agree with him in every way possible. 

Another part that I enjoyed was when Dr. King called out the Southern Churches. Watching "behind the anesthetizing security of the stained-glass windows". This reminded me of Claiborne. Its so ridiculous that the church would explain that we should not step up for justice because it is against the law. We are seen by God as brothers and sisters, however as soon as you have to get your hands dirty people start making excuses. The comparison to a Thermometer and a Thermostat hit the nail on the head. To much does the church only record ideas and principals and talk about justice, while they need to transform injustices and help make our society work for all people. It's ridiculous that not even the churches were stepping up for these injustices. 

If I was locked up in a southern Jail in this time period I would have lost all hope. However, Dr. King expresses that he has hope in that we will change, and he has hope in the church. He talks about extremist and how they stood up for justice. The idea that Dr. King is working so hard for justice as well as partaking in non-violence movements makes him even better. Its amazing that he speaks of Agape love and advocates it so well. Just like Dr. King said, "Justice delayed is Justice denied". He is confident in his words and he knows that soon all his protesting will pay off. 

Perplexing Post about Pacifism

During Monday's discussion I really started to think differently about Pacifism. Since I was young people have told me that they were Pacifist or they were extremely passive, and I sat there nodding my head thinking that they wouldn't punch me if I provoked them. However, Pacifism is not that simple. At first while we were discussing our ideas about the subject we were all thinking of this as a reaction. For example, if there was a man trying to fight me I would explain to them that fighting would never solve the problem. Pacifism is not the correct word to use. If you were a Pacifist you would never put yourself into that negative situation, therefore that man would never yell at you and try to fight. It seems like this word is more of a Utopia. Our harsh world that we live in causes us to think that this is unreachable, but I believe if we understood the word more than just not fighting, this would change a lot of peoples minds.

For a week now I have been thinking if I could ever be a pacifist, and honestly I do not think so. I was a little punk growing up, and I always resorted to fighting. My anger gets the best of me sometimes, and I am very argumentative. On the other hand, I would never support violence and never intentionally start a problem with someone. It seems that this word has the tendency to be hypocritical. I am living in a world that has been transformed by War, we wouldn't be the United States without our War with the English, and England was dominant because of the Power they had. 

Now when I think about pacifism I stop myself when I think about fighting back. On Monday we learned that if we never brought our society to believe that fighting was the only solution, and took that eye for an eye, we would of never gotten so deep into the whole. pacifism is a great concept, but I believe, because of our history and our human nature that there will never be an opportunity to start being all pacifist. We all have to much pride and way to much hunger for Power and being #1 

Feb. 18th: Response to Day

I haven't really talked much about Day in my blogs and i want to go back to her journey to find God. I feel like many people can relate to the early Dorothy Day when it comes to faith in God. While she was in jail for the first time she asked for the Bible. The saying goes: "you can never find an atheist in a bunker". Meaning, when people are cornered and there is no turning back people will ask for a Bible or pray for the first time. Even though Dorothy had that Bible it seemed that once her hunger strike was done and they went back to county she rejected God once again. Those stories made me question Day's motives. While she fought for equal rights and against poverty she always seemed to relate everything back to God, however at that time God was not in her mind. I wonder what the first part of her book would be like if she wrote it at the time?

Another thing I want to talk about is her babies daddy: Forster. I would love to hear other people's opinions on him. It confused me so much that she just married this man out of the blue. I'm sure she knew him for a long time, but while I was reading it didn't seem like that. I don't understand how she could love someone who is so anti-religion. Even though he was a communist and hated structure like Day it really didn't seem like they got along. "Forster did not believe in bringing children into such a world as we lived in." What in the world is that statement? I really hope that she wasn't serious, but it doesn't seem like Day is a jokester. If you are not proud of the present, our only hope is the future. Even though Day ended up leaving him she still acted like she loved him. I really didn't like that part of the book. I would of never thought that Dorothy would fall in love with someone like that. I know this part of the book is only bio, but it still really bothered me. 

As I read about her learning about catholicism and coming closer to God I started to think about my own life. I grew up in a very Catholic family and there were rules upon rules upon rules. It seems like Day enjoys this structure and all these rules, however her being an activist goes against the whole structure thing? I feel like Catholicism brought me away from God in the beginning, because it was too much of a leap from not believing. It seems like Day doesn't think that at all, and this second half of the book I think doesn't really fit well with the first part. But thats my opinion...

I am sad that I missed Charles Strobel, but from what I have read and heard from other people he had a lot a powerful things to say. Poverty is never ending issue and it seems that we will never truly get it as a whole. Throughout history, the poor has always been a problem that the rich do not want to deal with. As I hear more and more about these things it makes me want to really step up and help, but I'm not sure if that would even help. In the beginning of the year I was hopeful for the poor, however I really didn't understand our global issues. Bono would be telling me on T.V. but reading Claiborne and Day it seems that nothing has changed at all in a century. Also, reading about the Bible there has been the same problem since the beginning of time. The only way it will stop is if governments step in and stop World Hunger, or it will be too late. There is only so much people can do, but governments control these people. They spend Trillions of dollars on wars and oil, but they can't even get together thirty or forty Billion. That is nothing when you think in terms of Trillions. But maybe we are passed the point of no return, and it is already too late to help the hungry? I really hope that's not true, but how long will it take till that horrible statement is reality? 

Blogstaaa

While i was reading about Jeremiah i got the feeling that God is officially fed up with his people. " The Lord wrests the decision to judge from Himself: He would at once forgive, he has attempted to do so by means of disciplinary training, now he can no more forgive, he must avenge himself,..." If i was in the jewish people's position at this time i would like to think i would listen to these Prophets, however i know that your own needs get the best of you. Just like Isaiah, Jeremiah is trying to get through to the people that God is not happy. Heschel points out that Jeremiah speaks of the wrath of God more than any other prophet. I feel like at this point in theology people are completely unaware of what God actually wants. 

Its crazy how much of these Prophets word's could be taken today as much as the past. During the past ten years in America we have been fighting in Iraq in order to "help". After September 11th everyone justified the war saying this is God's war. That always made me mad that someone would bring God into something as terrible as war. This is similar to what is happening during the Prophets time, because people think they are fighting for God. In reality, Isaiah and Jeremiah are trying to get through to the people that this is Not what God wants. We need to have faith in God that he will judge wrong doings. It is not our responsibility to judge and make the decision whether another human lives or dies. Human nature causes people to react without thinking. My mom always tells me you gotta think before you act, and I think the Prophets are prime example of doing that. Maybe if we step back and meditate for a little bit before getting pissed off and attacking the first person you see, our decision might be more christian like. 

I believe that Day is a great example of keeping faith in God. Another part of Day that i enjoy is that we are walking along Day's journey with God. While i was reading Claiborne it kinda seemed like he was trying to make himself look like the GREATEST CHIRSTIAN EVERR!!!! But with Day i relate with her a lot more on a personal level. That is why i really am enjoying this book. Her story is amazing! She seems like the most down to earth person, and I believe it is because she has the same mindset as the past Prophets. Not only does she not react immediately she understands that it is not up to her, she leaves everything up to God. That is why these Prophets seem so frustrated. God's people have completely lost faith and don't understand that God will provide for them. He always has, but not quite in ways that we understand. God sees what we are unable to understand, and that is why we must have Faith that everything will work out if we leave it up to Him. 

Project Prospectives

For my final project I'm planning on making a video. I was wondering if we could do some of the project together? because me and Matt from the earlier class want to make a movie. With my project i am going to get down to the nitty gritty and go out in the streets of NashVegas and find out what justice is to regular people. I am planning to have interviews as well as my understanding of what justice is. Also, my video will bring what the authors from our books say about justice and how it ties in with what God and the Bible speaks about justice as well. I am excited to start up this project... i have a feeling its gonna be BOMB-DIGGITY 

:-)-{--< 

Response to the Rabbi

Before Rabbi Flipp came into our room I had no idea what to expect. Even though I have grown up with jewish friends I have never really met a Rabbi. Matisyahu is probably the closest person I have ever seen, and I don't believe Rabbi's usually beat-box :-/.. At first I expected a extremely conservative Rabbi to walk in and preach the Torah. However, Rabbi Flipp was nothing like how I expected which was quite a relief. I ended up really enjoying what he had to say, and was very glad that he ended up coming. 

One of the most interesting parts was the difference between how Christians and Jews understand the Bible. As he was explaining, the Jews understand that these books have been passed down for thousands of years, and its impossible for things not to be added or taken away. While I was part of the Catholic Church I always had the impression that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. However, while I was reading the word it would only make me feel extremely guilty. I understood that we were all sinners, but I always felt like it was a contest. Peers in my Church would explain how they helped this person or how they did not lie at this moment and everyone would applaud them. I was never applauded, and usually frowned upon by my elders because of my hooliganism. This really became a roadblock in my journey to God. My mom would tell me to wake up for Church, and I would yell I AM NOT A HYPOCRITE and fall back asleep. 

Rabbi Flipp was explaining that he takes many parts of the Bible metaphorically and does not believe that we must follow all these intense rules in order to reach the kingdom of God. It's funny how little I knew about the Jewish faith, and in this case ignorance is definitely not bliss. Hear I am thinking every Jewish person is obsessed with rules and regulations, but in reality my Catholic family seems significantly more judgmental. 

While I was reading Esther I was confused on why this was written? It was a very short book, and I wasn't quite sure if this was an actual account of what happened or was foreshadowing liberation for Israel. Another thing I did not understand was when Xerxes declared that he was not going to kill the Jews, all the jews started killing everyone else? That doesn't make any sense to me... Why would they start murdering everyone after they were so scared about being exterminated? If anyone could answer this question I would really appreciate it because I'm pretty confused. Rabbi Flipp was a great man and seemed like he really new what he was talking about. I would really like to sit down and talk to him one on one. Him coming in really clarified a lot of things about the Jewish people today, and helped me have a better understanding of God's chosen people. 

Blog Post #1 !!!!!

Abraham Joshua Heschel had anything but an easy life. He grew up in a Jewish civilization that was taken over by the Germans. His entire family was unjustly murdered; nevertheless he stayed true to his religion. He escaped to London and eventually went to the US. He was a highly respected theologian in the early 1900's, and has written a plethora of understandings and studies. His main focus was not to go against the Christian people, but to explain that the Nazis are going against God. In America he supported the early civil rights movement, and has a very famous picture next to Martin Luther King Jr. 

In his article "No Religion is an Island" I think that Heschel made some great points. In America we experience so much diversity, especially when it comes to your own personal worldview. We could ask people at Belmont what they believe, and I seriously doubt that everyone will believe the same thing. Therefore, we have no excuse to isolate ourselves from people who think differently. When Heschel talks about how spiritual betrayal affects the faith of all of us, he is calling out for us to help one another. While Germany was exterminating everyone the Christians turned there backs on the Jewish people. He explains that we are all humans and have so much in common. We all breathe and love and are capable of compassion and understanding. No matter what we believe there is a human responsibility to help the helpless. When Heschel asks what unites us as Christians and Jews? He answers our being accountable to God.

While I read this article, just like while I was reading Claiborne's books, I started to feel guilty. I wouldn't consider myself a theologian, but I do believe in God and believe that we are all accountable to him. Heschel seems so confused that he has lived through the Holocaust and it took millions and millions of deaths before people finally stepped in. It's sad that it takes a catastrophe like that to force people to start helping. Shane Claiborne is accusing us of the same things that Heschel is writing about. He does not understand how we can call ourselves Christians and watch the poor struggle everyday. Just because it's not our problem we turn our backs and pretend it was never there. No matter a person's worldview they still bleed and feel pain just like every person. It seems that people are only getting worse and the poor are only getting poorer. Hopefully we will start feeling this human responsibility that Heschel speaks of and begin not only helping God's followers, but also helping each and every human being. 

Yizzerd

My name is Pete and I am From Drexel Hill, PA!!! I hope that my blog is enjoyable to all readers! 

Peace out Daddy-O