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I have had an issue that I have struggled with my whole life, and that is judging a book by its cover. Whether it’s a person, book, etc. I have always had this problem. When I first saw the book, “The Irresistible Revolution” I thought to myself, “Oh no, this is going to be the worst book of all time.” After I got the book I postponed reading it (mainly because I didn’t want to) for about a week. Then one night, I decided that I should read the book because I knew that I was going to have to read it sooner or later. After I read the first chapter, I was surprised because I actually wanted to read more. This book has really opened up my mind to how the world is changing around us. Shane helped me realize what this world can become. God can change …show more content…
I hate to admit it, but just about a year ago I was getting used to God. I read a quote at the end of the book that reminded me of that. “Don’t fall asleep in the light. We must neither get used to the darkness of human suffering or fall asleep in the comfort of the light.” I was falling asleep in the light, but thankfully God made me realize that and I rededicated my life to Christ earlier this year. I thought that I was the only person that felt that way, but I was wrong. There were plenty of people at our school feeling the same way I did. I helped out younger kids that were feeling the same that I used to feel, and thankfully they rededicated their life to Christ also. The stories that Shane told in his book about sharing the gospel with other people were crazy. He honestly started making me feel bad about myself for not doing more to help others to know Jesus better. But then in the book he said, “We cannot do great things. Only small things with great love.” I feel like what Shane has done in his life is great and huge. My stories of leading people to Jesus aren’t “crazy” or “great”, but my small offers of love and actions towards others have led people to Christ and I am proud of myself for that. “The Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne was an amazing book that opened my heart and mind to the reality of how Christianity could change the world, and I would definitely recommend this book for someone else to
N.T. Wright: During my first semester at Northwestern College, I was assigned the book, “The Challenge of Jesus” by N.T. Wright for one of my Biblical Studies courses. This book and every other book Tom Wright has written has dramatically impacted my Christian faith. Dr. Wright has not only defended the basic tenants of the Christian faith, but also has shown how an academically-minded pastor ought to love and care for his or her congregants. N.T. Wright was previously the Bishop of Durham and pastored some of the poorest in the United Kingdom. His pastoral ministry has helped shape his understanding of God’s kingdom-vision which he is diagramming within his magnum opus “Christian Origins and the Question of God”. This series has instructed myself and countless other pastors to be for God’s kingdom as we eagerly await Christ’s return. Additionally, I have had the privilege of meeting with N.T. Wright one-on-one on numerous occasions to discuss faith, the Church, and his research. I firmly believe Tom Wright is the greatest New Testament scholar of our generation and he is the primary reason why I feel called into ministry.
After reading The Maze Runner, I began to see Christian allegories in more and more books. This book awakened in me the ability to see God in all types of literature. I learned how to look for these Christian allegories in other books, and it changed how I saw the books that I read. This also made me think of how without God we can have nothing. Even the secular
Maybe it’s the fact that I tend to stay in my room all weekend, which leads to people thinking I’m studying when in reality I am probably binge watching a TV show or maybe it’s my glasses, but most people who don’t know me too well assume that I am smart. Now that is a great thing for me because I don’t have to try as hard to impress them, but I end up finding myself in a bit of a problem. The problem is that everyone thinks I enjoy admiring school textbooks. But the truth is I’m usually admiring my Justin Bieber poster on my bedroom wall. Ever since I was in sixth grade I’ve been a huge fan of Bieber. His music always brought a feeling of calmness and back in the day his “never say never” motto, was what I lived by. I might still be living by that motto because I’ve decided to write this essay
When we are born into the world, it is far from our last birth. The birth of our identities begins as we grow. And while not right or wrong, it is how our minds take on an identity during our key developmental years.
My life intersects with Into The Wild because I never had a good relationship with my mom or stepfather Dan who was 21 years older than my mother. So I “escaped” to Columbia much like Chris did from his own reality. Dan would drink every day; you would rarely see him without a drink in his hand. His drink of choice would be either whiskey or beer depending on what he could afford. You could always tell when he was smashed and when he was I was the person he wanted to tear down with his words the most. I remember one night after my grandma just had surgery and she was staying with us my mom asked me to cook. I told her I would. I then went outside to check what I was grilling and I knew Dan was out there intoxicated.
Personal Narrative: The World The world is a messed up place and we are all stuck here until our lives are through, or until we choose to leave. It's strange that I go along with everything everyone tells me, such as that I should wear certain clothes or listen to certain songs. I often wonder why I do the things I do, but then I just realize that's who I am. People are confused about why they are here, and they don't understand what life is supposed to be about.
Summer vacation, and school ends for about three months, and then you have as much fun as you can, then back to school… right? Well I had to go to summer school, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Everything was going fine, I had a job after summer school, and that was going fine as well. They say that summer is supposed to be fun and exciting, and it usually is for me and my family. However in July my father started coughing up blood. My father usually doesn’t make it his top priority to go to the doctors, so he waited about four weeks until he really didn’t feel good.
Many girls of different ages fantasize about the perfect wedding, perfect husband, a gorgeous dress, and the happiness to come after the wedding. At one point I was just like these girls. I saw marriage as a paradise that everybody should experience. Around tenth- grade, my rose tinted glasses were removed and I witnessed just how bad a marriage could get to the point of divorce. The divorce my parents went through, changed my entire view on monogamy. I now see marriage in a more realistic point of view and that it is not an easy journey as I once had thought it was.
I remember the year my Highschool team went to the state championship. My team the Kansas City Hawks went up against the twelve time champs The St.Louis Kings. What made them twelve time champs was us. Every time my team went to the championship The Kings met us there. All twelve times The King where the victors. January 25,2024 The Hawks were on a warpath for that Championship.
It all started when Isis took control over the Earth. My bones were shivering. I was hiding with Bill and Rick in Bill’s basement that nobody knew about. We could hear footsteps. Bill was hiding under the air hockey table. Rick was hiding under the bed. I was hiding in the dryer. I heard gunshots. The door slammed.
Sweat dripping off my forehead and into to my eyes making them burn. Each step I take is pain. My feet weigh 100 pounds, my legs are noodles, and my shoulders are tense. It’s becoming harder to breath. With each step of pain yells a voice in my head saying “STOP! GIVE UP!” But I will not because this is a sport that I love and deep down I know I can do this. I can go faster.
I believe determination makes even the most out of reach goals achievable. I’ve learned this through experience, and although my stubbornness gets me into trouble sometimes, it also has helped me do things I’d never dreamed of happening otherwise. When I was eleven, I got my first job. I’ve been working ever since, and have managed to pay for everything from a laptop to an international trip. I’ve seen Phantom on Broadway, Yo Yo Ma in concert, and cruised the Amalfi coast with my high school orchestra. These are all things that were typically unavailable to my family, but I was determined to go. I worked as a babysitter, dog groomer, and a cashier to finance my various adventures. While this determination has taken me around the world, it has also helped me closer to home.
Determination is a prestigious part of my character. Everytime I take on something new, my determination is the attribute that allows me to follow through and reach my success. This trait of my character identifies me as a personality, and I am convinced that I would not have achieved everything I have now without it.
Many of the mentors I have encountered through my church have encouraged me to read novels my authors such as C.S. Lewis that can challenge and develop my belief in Jesus Christ. They’ve inspired in me an interest in writings that will go deeper into the Bible and the Christian faith that will hopefully strengthen my faith as I continue to grow and mature. I’m also interested in reading pieces that will provoke in me deeper thoughts about how the world works in all aspects and perspectives. I believe that I have the ability to make profound world-discoveries as I enter into my adult life in the same that I encountered important self-discoveries in my adolescents. Reading may never become the most important pass time or interest in my life, but it will be an important part of my future in increasing my understanding and wonder of the world and shaping me into the person I’m meant to
“What studies tell us is that the single most important skill you can teach a child is to read...” this quote will reign true for all of time (Cantarella). Reading opens new possibilities, new mind-sets, and can change the heart. Although books can change the heart negatively, the positive change of heart that can come from books overshadows the negative. The places visited while reading are places that people can only imagine. Books can unintentionally capture the soul and captivate one’s mind. Books can change the way people think, which can lead to a change in the entire world. The fact of the matter is, books can change a person’s life.