Essay On Prayer Should Be Allowed In Public Schools

Essay on Prayer Should Be Allowed in Public Schools
Prayer Should Be Allowed in Public Schools School prayer is a very controversial issue in today's
society. The issue of school prayer is about whether the public school systems should let the students
pray, at the start of the school day, as a class. The issue of school prayer began in the late sixteenth
century when people in England did not approve of the way one religion was forced upon them, so
the Puritans, known as the Pilgrims decided to come to the colonies. Even in the colonies the
Pilgrims had problems with religion they had to sometimes resort to highly creative strategies in
order to pray. When people were caught having a secret service they would have to face the
consequences that the law enforced, whether it was going ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Prayer should allowed in the public school system because prayer is an important part of America's
rich spiritual heritage. All throughout the history of America there have been many important
documents written of our country that have references to "Almighty God," "Thy Blessings," and
"Our dependence upon Thee." These include: the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg
Address, the national anthem, and the presidential oath (Haas, 1995, p. 39). In school students
always say the pledge, which states, "One Nation Under God." A prayer says that students just want
to ask for a good day and guidance throughout the day. Not only do important documents of our
country refer to God but also the words "In God We Trust" are engraved on all coins minted and
bills pressed in the United States (1995, p. 39). There are two parts of the American tradition and
they are prayer and religion (1995, p. 39). If society keeps prayer out of the public schools, they are
teaching the students that traditions are not important and that what this country was founded upon
does not matter. Does society want to raise a group of young people to disrespect what their
forefathers wanted; religious freedom? If that is the case then why do people try to keep this country
working at its prime when trouble occurs? People do not want to see this nation fall but in the end it
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The Silence And Serenity Of The St. Joseph 's Abbey Property
From the moment that I stepped out of the car and onto the St. Joseph's Abbey property I noted that
there was a silence, which was peaceful and unusual for me. The dichotomy between the loud
sounds of students walking out of Hogan and cars speeding by at Holy Cross and the silence of the
monastery apart from our group of students conversing with one another was particularly striking.
This really surprised me because it was unusual for me to be in such a calm and silent place and I
instantly felt a feeling of peace come over me. I think that this silence and serenity is indicative of a
simpler and purer life in which one is able to block out all the distractions of the world around them
and focus on their connection with God, which is in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This reminded me of the humility and simplicity that governs monks' lives and was outlined in the
Rule of Saint Benedict. Also, as we entered the church I noted that the seats faced each other, which
I thought was different from my own Catholic church where the pews face the front of the church.
The striking of the bells in the bell tower prompted the monks and other visitors to enter the church.
The order of the service consisted of readings from various scriptures. The first part of the prayer
consisted of the readings of the introductory verse, followed by the hymn of the Office of Holy
Virgins, Psalm 134, Canticle: Christ the Image of God, the Magnificat Antiphon, the Canticle of
Mary, and finally the Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin. Prior to entering the church for the
service, Brother Francis pointed out that Cistercian monasticism's prayer service was highly
influenced by Gregorian chants. Accordingly, the service consisted of a Gregorian chant–like
singing and the monks often stressed syllables for long periods of time, which made it initially
difficult to follow. Moreover, the chanting of the prayers was accompanied by one of the monks
playing an organ in a very repetitive pattern consisting of only several notes. During the service
there was a constant transition between standing and sitting which occurred during the first reading
and

Theology: God and Prayer Essay
Reflection Paper: Prayer and Character Development
Twila S. Cooper
Theology 104
November 16, 2012
Professor White
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this paper is to reveal a direct correlation between prayer and character development.
It is crucial that Christians fully understand this tool that has been put in place in order for us to be
able to communicate with the Lord, our Creator. Praying and communing with the Lord leads to and
builds not only a stronger relationship with Christ, but it also continues to build us in strength and
character. The reflection of Christ should be evident in the life of a Christian through character traits
also known as the fruit of the spirit. Prayer strengthens the character of a ... Show more content on
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Genesis 2:7 says, "And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life and man became a living soul." We also read in the scripture in Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace; and not of evil,
to give you an expected end." By reading these scriptures we learn that it is evident the Lord loves
His creation, man who is created in His image and He has created all of us with a purpose. In order
for us to find the Lord's entire purpose for us on this earth, we must communicate with Him daily.
Christians are to be the example of Christ to the world around us. The Bible reminds us of the
characteristics of his spirit.
Galatians 5:22–23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self–control. Against such things there is no law." These
are the character traits that we should be exemplifying. Prayer keeps us in touch with these. We have
a tendency to only want to call on the name of the Lord in troubled times in our lives, however, the
Lord wants to communicate with us daily, in good times and in bad times. We are created in His
image and He has many good and wonderful things in store for us, but it takes prayer, waiting on the
Lord's direction and letting Him lead and guide us. We should look

The Testament Of The Ephesians
Paul, who is the author of Ephesians, is writing to the church in Ephesus and possibly surrounding
Asia minor cities. He wrote the book of Ephesians sometime between AD 60–62 when he was
imprisoned in Rome (3:1, 4:1, 6:20). The letter was taken to Ephesus by Tychicus (vs 6:21–22). Paul
knew that the Christians in Ephesus and the surrounding towns were growing and had heard about
their faith so he addresses the Ephesians as a corporate body (Hultgren, 2015). At the time, Ephesus
was a thriving city and the capitol of the providence of Asia. It was a city that was strategically
located to encourage trade routes that would attract people from all over. Today, Ephesus' ruins are
located in modern day Turkey where people ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Context Literary: Most of Paul's letters are written as expositions which are carefully reasoned
explanations of his letter and well thought out words that are crucially placed to build agreement and
action among the people (Hendricks and Hendricks, 2007, p. 224). However, this particular passage
of Ephesians 3: 14–21 is a prayer among his exposition.
Right before this passage, Paul pleads with the Ephesians that the church needs to be made known
of the "authorities in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 3:10) so that they may have confidence in
their faith (vs 12). Paul starts verse 14 with "For this reason" showing his readers that this is why he
is adding a prayer in the middle of his discussion.
Content:
Paul uses this interchange in prayer as a Chiasm which is a list of ideas that are structured to parallel
each other in certain lines such as line A, line B, line C, line B, line A (Duvall and Hays, 2012, p.
100). He starts the prayer out with Praise to the Father with words such as "I bow my knees before
the Father" (vs 14). He then explains God's great power in verses 15 and 16. Finally, he states his
purpose of the prayer in verse 17 with words such as "so that". In verses 17–19 he tells us the
purpose which is three–fold: that Christ may dwell in our hearts, to know the love of Christ, and to
be filled with fullness of God. In verse 20 he goes back to talking about God's great power and in
verse 21 he closes the prayer with more

Spiritual Discernment and Vocational Counseling Essay
Spiritual Discernment and Vocational Counseling
Phyllis Wilson
Liberty University
Abstract
This paper starts with a description of how to make godly decisions through prayer, the Holy Spirit
and reading biblical scriptures. It will explore spiritual discernment using the bull's–eye method.
The literature will discuss my past and present experiences of discernment, a counselor and clients
experiences and my comments on my personal position of this client's supplication.
Spiritual Discernment and Vocational Counseling
Segment 1: Personal Position When making career decisions that are in harmony with one's self and
with the will of God (Christian, 208) one should be praying for wisdom to make godly decisions,
sensing inner ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Its scriptures are used as the declaration of God's word. The bible scriptures give clear guidance for
most of one's decision making. No one has to spend a lot of time brooding if God would be satisfied
with the choice that he or she will make about career or any type of decisions. The confusion comes
when one can not perceive a direction from the biblical scriptures that is God's word (Barnes, 2010).
Biblical scriptures give one strength, understanding and confirmation for most problems, decisions,
faith, a repetition of history, understanding of today's time, and predictions. The bible gives a
universal standard for ethical behavior (McMinn, 1996). Horton (2009) suggests that people who
support biblical understanding for spiritual discernment the root of their decision making should be
based on biblical standards because the bible is sound, reliable and it is God's holy word.
Macdonald, (2010) suggested that the bible is a cultural work of art because it is used in storytelling,
preaching, drama and visual posters. The bible tells God's story in how he created the world, the fall,
redemption and the new creation. The bible has a sequence of events, songs, proverbs, prophetic
books, writing of wisdom and letters. In the bible there is a comparison between connecting
scripture and constructing culture. It is able to change one's life and one's culture because

How Does Joss Whedon Use Film Techniques In Serenity
Serenity is the motion picture based off the television show, Firefly, written and directed by show
creator, Joss Whedon. Firefly aired on the FOX Network for only eleven episodes despite having
fourteen episodes filmed. Three years after the show was cancelled, Joss Whedon and the cast
reunited to film Serenity. As the movie begins, the viewers are giving a brief summary of what had
happened so far in the form of a dream belonging to the character River Tam. We are then
reintroduced, or for some who haven't watched the show, introduced to the rest of the main cast:
Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Zoe, Wash, Jayne, Kaylee and Simon. In this film, Captain Malcolm
Reynolds is the protagonist, while the villain isn't just one person but the organization called the
Alliance, the role of the antagonist is portrayed by an agent that works for the Alliance simply
known as The Operative. Joss Whedon shows many wonderful examples of film techniques in
Serenity, three of them are lighting, dialogue and the soundtrack. ... Show more content on
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Another way lighting was used in Serenity is when Captain Mal is with different characters the
lighting is different, this could symbolize the relationships he has with each character. For example,
when Captain Mal is in a scene with Simon the lighting is normally slightly darker, this shows that
they two characters don't have the best relationship. On the other hand, when Mal is with characters
such as Kaylee, Wash or Zoe the scenes are brighter. Mal trusts the other members of his crew more
than

The Different Types of Prayer Essay
The Different Types of Prayer
Prayer is a form of communication between God and people. Christians use prayers in both public
and private worship as away of communicating with God. They also use prayers to listen to God and
receive guidance, support and comfort from him. The prayers may be said in silence or aloud.
Jesus taught that people must be persistent in prayer. They should not expect their prayers to be
answered straight away. Jesus taught that Christians must pray with true faith and devotion.
Prayer was the way through which Jesus could talk to his father, God. Jesus believed that God had a
purpose for his creation. He used prayers as the means by which he could discover this ... Show
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A confession prayer à "Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we forgive the wrongs that others
have done to us."
This confession prayer is asking for the forgiveness of their sins. It also says that forgive us because
we forgive those people do bad to us.
Christians believe that unless they forgive others, they can't be forgiven themselves. Therefore it
says. "...as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us."
The second type of prayer I will look at is thanksgiving.
THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is thanking God.
When Christians want to thank God for something, they say a thanksgiving prayer. This kind of
prayer helps Christians feel grateful and stops them from taking things for granted.
People can thank God for various things. For example: getting better/ recovering from an illness;
giving them life; some good news they've received etc.
I interviewed a Christian on thanksgiving and this is what she said:

"Every time I go to church, I thank God for my loving husband and my two beautiful children who
he's blessed me with. I'm thankful for all that he's given me– a place where I earn my living, a place
that I can call home and so much more. Every time, I have a problem, I pray to him. I ask him for
help and guidance."
Looking at this interview, I can see that this person is very satisfied with her life

Essay on Bless Me, Ultima
Wisdom can only be gained through experience and clarified by speaking with others. In the novel,
"Bless Me, Ultima," by Rodolfo Anaya, the main character, Antonio Luna Marez, is on a quest to
understand all of the issues present in his life, and gain the wisdom necessary to make important
decisions regarding his future. It described the hardships of a young child and how these lessons
helped him to begin to understand life. There were many characters within the novel I felt aided in
the spiritual development of Antonio, but the one that stands out the most is Ultima, who came to
stay with the Marez family because of her old age. Ultima was an essential part of the story, because
she provided Antonio with the guidance he needed and yearned ... Show more content on
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She tells Tony that they are too wild, and always moving, hauling their families from place to place.
Maria is a traditional Mexican wife, she feels that children should be well mannered and respect all
adults. "–And when he returns, I want you children to show your manners. You must not shame your
father or your mother (7)," she tells her children while preparing for the arrival of Ultima. "My
mother beamed. Deborah's good manners surprised her, but they made her happy, because a family
was judged by its manners (11)," Antonio tries to describe the feelings that his mother has when his
sister demonstrated good manners toward Ultima. Maria wants her family to respectable, because
those families that are not are talked about in the community. She wants to be the best mother
possible, and tries to make them realize that without certain things a family will not survive. She
stays home and cooks and cleans for her family, because that is what was customary for the
traditional Mexican wife to do. "The first day she put on her apron and helped my mother with
breakfast, later she swept the house and then helped my mother wash our clothes in the old washing
machine (14), Anthony explaining what his mothers daily activities consisted of. Maria tended her
garden and did things close to home, she never went out and did things with her friends,

Personal Narrative : Methods For Discipleship
Methods for Discipleship
My plan for discipling is to support my mentee over a period of twelve weeks with one on one
meetings fortnightly. I will also make it a point to catch up with her each Sunday to see how she is
doing and encourage her. I will pray for her regularily and keep in touch through text messages at
least once a week. I will be a spiritual influence, guidance and support that she needs in her life. I
will use prayer, my personal experience, Scripture, Christian resources and mature people that I trust
to help me to do this for her.
Six One on One Meetings
The first meeting we meet at church and over dinner I asked my mentee (who I will refer to as Ally)
what she wanted to get out of our meetings and what her goals were. Ally said that she would like to
have more self cofidence because she was struggling to accept herself. So I told her about Psalm
139:13–18 and I said it would be a cool idea if we both memorised and studiecd it together, which
she was keen to do. She also said that she wanted to be a better influnece to her family because they
are non–Christians. We had a discussion on what she thought she was doing well and where she
thought she could improve. Her last goal was to spend more time with God but she felt like she
didn't have time. So we discussed where she could make time and what her priorities were. I asked
her questions about herself to get to know her and then I closed the meeting by praying for her.
At our second meeting, I

How Discipline Is Not Easy
Discipline has always been, to me, a thought of growing in yourself or in this case growing in your
relationship with Christ. Discipline is not easy, in fact, it is hard, but the results are what we
discipline ourselves for. Celebration of Discipline was a very eye opening and insightful book in
many aspects. Foster, the author, describes spiritual discipline as an inward and outward reality.
Meaning, the inner and outward attitude of the discipline. The bible uses spiritual discipline to
describe fasting, prayer, worship, and even celebration. When Jesus spoke of spiritual discipline, he
hardly gives instruction of how to discipline ourselves spiritually. This book book gives more of an
outline/guidance to types of disciplines that could help you in your spiritual journey. There are three
types of disciplines discussed in this book, along with many sub–categories within each type. All
these groups are used to help one form a more well–rounded spiritual life. The types are inward,
outward, and corporate discipline. Inward discipline is a type of discipline that focuses on your inner
self/spiritual life. This involves things like praying, meditation, fasting, and studying. Outward
disciple is more of what you can do as an individual to discipline yourself spiritually, such as
simplicity, solitude, submission, and service. These are still self centered but more focused on the
outside actions rather than the inside actions. Finally, we have the corporate discipline. This

My Spiritual And Discipleship Condition Essay
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any
wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (KJV Ps. 139:23–24). In this verse, David
asks God to help him search his heart so that he can be closer to God. Without God, the process of
self–evaluation is impossible as David states in his psalm. What makes David such a good source
for advice? In the Bible, David is known as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14). If David
recognized the importance of self–evaluation, then every Christian should continually evaluate
themselves according to God's principles in the Bible. In this paper, I will be examining my spiritual
and discipleship condition in relation to myself, God, and others.
In relation to myself, my biggest weakness would be my fear and anxiety. My biggest fear is change.
In the past, I have had many bad experiences with change. For example, the most traumatic change
in my life was the move from England to South Korea. The leaving behind of friends, culture, and
comfort caused great distress. Another challenge and change was moving from South Korea to
America when my mother became very sick. This change had a very big impact on anxiety as the
fear of losing my mother changed me emotionally. During sixth grade, I went to the middle school
and was bullied. This experience motivated me to become homeschooled. The most recent big
change that I experienced was going to college. Because of my past traumatizing change,

Analysis Of Serenity Prayer For My Family
Serenity Prayer for my Family The famous Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr reads, "God, grant
me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference." I chose this quote to start off my essay about self–discovery, after
brainstorming and writing half an essay I came to a major writer's block while trying to cope with a
family upset this week. My sister delivered her baby at 26 weeks, facing a long road ahead of them.
Our family is trying to find a way to comfort them through their dismay. We cannot plan for hard
times like these, nor for the emotions felt over the last week, and as quoted above I accept that I
can't change the timing of all of this, but I can change the topic of my essay to something that I feel
close to my heart at this time. I believe as we go through trials holding to the Serenity Prayer,
accepting what we cannot change, having the courage to change what we can, and the wisdom to
know the difference, we will find peace through the storm. Montaigne said, "Fear sometimes arises
from want of judgment as well as from want of courage." Going through life's challenges some
might think ignorance is bliss but to really experience life we must open our eyes. Montaigne
continued by saying, "All the dangers I have seen, I have seen with open eyes, with my sight free,
sound and entire; besides, it takes courage to be afraid" (368). In order to get through challenging
times or new

Attending The Alcoholic Anonymous Meeting At Holy Trinity...
I chose to attend the Alcoholic Anonymous meeting at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church on the north
side of Chicago. I chose to visit a church because I wanted to see if there was a religious aspect
thrown into the session. The name of the session was called Big Book Stop Study. This session
occurs every Monday at 7:00pm, as an open meeting. The meeting lasted for an hour. The session
was led by three members, Kyle, Tamara, and Melissa. There was fourteen participants within the
group. I was very apprehensive about attending a meeting because I didn't want to be seen as an
alcoholic. For that very reason, I understand how hard it may be for some to admit to their
alcoholism, due to the negative connotation that comes with the name. To some, that may seem like
a short span of time. However, upon visiting this particular session I saw progression in each
participant. I was very pleased with what I witnessed as a visitor.
The session began with a moment of silence and a serenity prayer. Kyle read the protocol, preamble,
traditions, and outline for the night. He even identified 10–step promises that they understand as
promises that come with overcoming alcoholism. He explained everything that would occur, and
why it was chosen to occur. Kyle identified the different steps that are taken within the group to
recovery from alcohol. After learning about the agenda for the day, Kyle introduced himself while
everyone went around the table and introduced themselves. I noticed that while

Character Analysis Of Mal Reynolds And Serenity
On occasion when watching a show or movie or when reading a book we can come across
characters to whom we can easily relate. For this assignment we were asked to do just that and find
characters with whom we felt we shared characteristics that could be used to describe ourselves. The
three fictional characters that I believe most represent my personality are Mal Reynolds from the
show firefly and the movie Serenity for his loyalty and courage, Jack Sparrow for his silliness and
free–spirited nature, and Alucard from the anime Hellsing for his professional demeanor and
mannerisms.
Captain Mal Reynolds is from the short lived,but much loved show serenity. The show was short
lived but gained a loving audience and a Movie that was supposed to help close the rather
unfinished story. In both show and move Reynolds demonstrates extreme loyalty and protectiveness
for his crew. Risking his life to take care of their ship and liveliness.In the show there are Multiple
instances where Reynolds displace his loyalty and protectiveness,such as when he took on an enemy
crew by himself while injured to give his crew a chance to live.This attribute is a boon to Reynolds
as it has earned him the loyalty and love of his crew,more so than an average crew, they are almost
like a family. This has led to them saving him as well on multiple accounts. Such events include
shooting a guy off Mel as he was being strangled and coming back to save him from suffocation due
to air loss after having sent

Gentle Spirit Analysis
Session VIII was about the Fruit of the Spirit, Gentleness. The objectives of this session were to
examine ways to be gentle through the evaluation of humankind's action, understand the gentleness
of God's Spirit, and the treatment of others with gentleness. The supporting scriptures came from the
Old and New Testaments. Various exercises were employed to display gentleness using songs,
words, and meditation. The military core values for this session focused on selfless service, respect,
and courage. The orange was used to demonstrate gentleness.
The session started with a welcome from the Project Director and a prayer from one of the veterans.
The session continued with one of the seasonal veterans reading a scripture from Proverbs 25:15b ...
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However, the Bible records "A gentle answer deflects anger." (Proverbs 15:1) Harsh words do hurt
and will make a temper flare. According to Mother Teresa who provided humanitarian volunteer
work all over the world said: "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are
endless." Several examples of negative words with negative connotations were presented by the
Project Director that would make tempers flare, and they

Narcotic Anonymous Meeting Reflection
The first meeting that I attended was a Narcotic Anonymous meeting. The meeting time was 7pm–
8pm on September 13, 2016. The group was made up of 12 individuals, 4 females and 8 males. The
overall feeling of the group illustrated positive energy. Each person gave the perception that they
truly wanted as well as needed to be there. I did observe that most of the participants depicted a very
high anxiety level based on their body language and the tone in their voices. There were no "new
comers", which is the terminology used for a person who is new to the world of Narcotic
Anonymous. The dynamics of the group, included persons who were in recovery as well as persons
whose addiction is still active. To set the tone of the meeting, I would like ... Show more content on
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Each person said their first name. The chair of the meeting read the guidelines for the meeting.
Individuals were welcome to share their experience. The open topic for the first half of the meetings
focused on how Al–Anon has helped the individual in their daily lives. One person shared that they
have implemented the Serenity Prayer and teaching from Al–Anon into their work lives as well as to
relationships with family and friends. Another person shared that they have learned how to set
boundaries and adhere to them. Learning how to make sure that they held themselves responsible if
they allowed someone to cross the boundary. As with Narcotics Anonymous, Al–Anon also has a
Twelve Step structure and several people commented on the steps that they are currently on and
what the steps have meant to them. No problems or issues were discussed. Individuals talked about
how they are connecting with themselves, not trying to change or control the person/persons in their
lives who have the addiction. The comments made were ones of encouragement. At several times in
the meeting a sponsor sign in sheet was passed around. At a half way point in the meeting, new
comers were invited to go to another room to meet with a member to get additional information and
ask any questions that they may have. In the second half of the meeting, the group was encouraged
to share whatever they wanted to talk about. One person spoke about the guilt they felt when they
decided to end their marriage from the spouse with the addiction. How their child at the time blamed
them for the break–up and how it took almost three years for that adult child to even communicate
with them. Others talked about being lost, and having feelings of misery and hopelessness. They
could not "fix" the person with the

Christian Meditation On God And Spending Time Essay
Every now I then I receive a letter from a subscriber on the best way to incorporate Christian
meditation into their daily devotion time with God. Including Christian meditation, into your daily
schedule can make your life so much more rewarding and fulfilling. There are numerous benefits to
meditating on God and spending time in His presence. These include developing a more intimate
relationship with Christ, eliminating worry and stress, creating a space for God to speak to our
hearts, and becoming more sensitive to the Holy Spirit to name a few.
I have tried many, many different schedules for my Morning Devotion over the years, but the one I
am about to share with you has been the best one for me. By Morning Devotion I mean the time I
take each morning before I leave for the job or work on my business. The days that I skip these
activities are usually marked with anxiety and frustration. I have reasoned that if I 'm too busy for
God and myself, then I 'm just too busy and that busyness and chaos usually ends up being a theme
throughout my entire day.
God created us spirit, soul, and body and He doesn 't want us to neglect any of these areas. We
neglect our bodies when we eat poorly and don 't exercise. We neglect our mind or soul when we
feed it with mental junk food instead of uplifting literature or spiritual delights, and we neglect our
spirit when we don 't spend time with God being restored, renewed, and renovated. So instead of
thinking just, Christian

Hinduism : An Indian Religion
Many religions have well–known rituals to the general public, however, one of the most
revolutionized and modernized rituals would be yoga from Hinduism. Hinduism is an Indian
religion and it is the third largest religion in the world (Esposito, 310). Hinduism is culturally and
regionally embedded religion compared to other religions. "Hinduism indicates the amalgam of
spiritual traditions originating in South Asia" (Esposito, 310). For this report, I visited the Durga
Temple located in Fairfax to observe the temple 's prayer hall, the statues of deities and puja. I also
had an opportunity to interview one of the congregants from the temple named Nikki about
Hinduism, the myth of liberation, symbols, traditions and rituals, and the impact ... Show more
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That symbolizes complexity in Hinduism because it has layers of meanings. All over the halls and
walls of the temple I noticed the signs stated 'Keep this temple clean! Please take off shoes here! ' It
is very evident that the cleanliness of the temple is important because all the congregants and priest
sits on the floor to pray and carry out rituals. It is a hygienic issue if people do not take off their
shoes. Also, Nikki stated that in Indian cultures in general take off shoes before entering a house or a
temple because they want to keep worldly things outside instead of bringing in the filthy matters. It
is also showing respect to their gods to take off shoes before entering the temple. Taking off shoes
not only keep the places clean for the people to pray but also it should be understood it as an act of a
solemn manner with great respect. In the prayer hall, I have noticed a lot of statues of deities and
designated shrine for certain gods. Nikki stated that this is transcendent yet complex because all the
statues indeed have different representations which explains the complexity, however, all the deities
and gods are one god that manifests itself in many different ways which explains the transcendency
in Hinduism. And one of the symbols of Hinduism that I am familiar with is Om. "It is pointing to
the seed sound of the universe – the first sound of the universe. And as such it points to the
transcendent

How Religion Has Influenced The Life Of A Nun
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another?" (Jn
13:35)What is a committed religious life for being a Catholic sister or nun. Catholic sister and nuns
have a different variation of lifestyle, ministries and callings. All community has its own peculiar
identity and flavor, this is because there are no two association, as there is no two nuns that are the
same. As we watch movies about nuns we sometimes predict sisters and nuns to be living a highly
ordered life which is unchanging in structure which is repetitive in context. But the truth is that there
may be some regular customs and practices, a day in Catholic sister and nun life as it is diverse,
especially as the Holy Spirit is in charge.
As a day in a life of nuns are constructed around service within the chapel because by joining a
convent or nunnery, nuns have to make a choice to devote their life to God. Religion has influenced
the life of a nun. A lot of convents do have its own particular daily timetable for a nun as many do
the following similarly:
the first day of services 02.00: Matins Laud
After Matins Laud, nuns would go back to bed and would get up again at first light. She then would
go and wash and have a breakfast which consist of bread and beer. This is because of the boiling
process involved in the making of beer.( it was a lot less dangerous to drink beer than water.)
the second service of the day 07.00: Prime.
After Prime, nuns would meet in the chapter

Prayer For Ethical, Legal And Social Reasons
In today's public school system, approximately eight out of every ten schools do not allow any
praying whatsoever. Since banning prayer in school, the disciplining of children has greatly
diminished. Praying is a religious activity, but it can also become a way for citizens to come
together in a peaceful manner. At this time in America's life, there are more cases going to the
Supreme Court about religious happenings in school than ever before. The U.S. should allow prayer
in schools for ethical, legal and social reasons. Praying in school can make lasting impressions. It
can leave a mark on someone whether psychological or emotional. Emotionally, it could relieve a
student of anxiety or stress. It is even known to calm one's fears. Praying gives the human spirit a
psychological makeover. It can give us a more positive outlook about the world in which we live,
and also about our own lives. Studies have been conducted on students who pray in school and
students who do not. The studies have shown that the people who pray appear happier and healthier,
compared to those who choose not to pray. If prayer in schools is renewed, people in society possess
a greater chance of happiness versus society's current level of peace.
Moral Reasons
Ethical reasons exist for prayer in school. People in society develop good morals as a young child,
and they carry out those morals while growing up. When prayer is present, it is said that children
who are exposed to the right things while they

The Religions Are Affected With The Times
Different religions are affected with the times in the hospital because some religions have praying
times throughout the day, but someone might have to go to cancer treatment in those same times.
Here are how the different religions are affected.
Hindu: A hindu has a shrine or a small alter, or picture in the room where an offering is made. A
ritual should be performed three times a day.
Muslim: Muslims must pray 5 times each day. At the start, they need to pray before sunrise.
Buddhist: Buddhist don't pray to God. They have devotional meditation practices. Prayer is going on
most of the time.
Christian: Christians believe in the scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray without ceasing. Christian
have no set time to pray. They can pray ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
If they are hospitalized they can worship in the hospital.
Jews: Jews pray Friday evening and Saturday morning. Some people go everyday. Some go to Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Torah is read from on Saturday Mornings.
Jehovah Witness: Go to church on twice a week. They pray using the personal name of Jehovah.
Atheists: Atheists do not have a religion. They do not have any set time for pray, confession, or
worship. They also do not believe in any creator. Atheists probably watch TV in hospital instead of a
worship or prayer time with no chaplin.
These religions are affected because not all religions can be helped in a hospital setting for their
proper worship time they are all used to. If someone has surgery, or can not kneel when they pray.
Every religion is different. Each hospital will accommodate as much as possible for each individual.
Hindu: Hinduism is not an organized religion and has no single, systematic approach to teaching its
value system. Nor do Hindus have a simple set of rules to follow like the Ten Commandments.
Local, regional, caste, and community–driven practices influence the interpretation and practice of
beliefs throughout the Hindu world.
Muslim: Understanding Islam begins with looking at the basic beliefs (Five Pillars of Faith) and
required rituals (Five Pillars of Worship) of Muslims as well as the different Islamic sects that
Muslims may belong to.
Buddhist: Buddhism is the fourth–largest religion in the world; it encompasses

Essay on Attendence of an Aa Meeting in March 2008
Name of Group Attended: Alcoholics Anonymous
Facility and Location of Group Attended:
Date and Time of Group Attended: 3/30/08 at 7 p.m.
Name of Group Leader: Bill
A. A description of the group purpose and setting, providing enough information to let the instructor
understand the group set–up.
The main purpose of this meeting is for the attendants to stay sober and help other members achieve
and/or maintain sobriety. The only requirement of attending is the desire to stop drinking. It was an
open speaker meeting which meant that alcoholics and nonalcoholics were welcomed to attend. This
meeting was the type of meeting the members of A.A. share their stories, their problems with
alcohol, what brought them there, and how ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
1. Introduction: The group leader(Bill) started by calling the meeting to order and offered period of
silence. Then Bill introduced himself and welcomed everyone. He explained it was an open speaker
meeting. He read the AA preamble which stated "the only requirement for membership is a desire to
stop drinking," and that "AA has no dues or fees." that AA is not affilated with any sect,
denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not endorse or opposes any causes and that
the primary purpose of the group is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
2. Activity: A section from AA "The Big Book" was read aloud,
3. Sharing: During this meeting four different people went up and told their stories about their
experiences with alcohol, how they came to Alcoholics Anonymous and how their lives have
changed as a result of going to Alcoholics Anonymous. Announcements from the leader and group
members followed. Donations were collected, by passing a basket around the room.
4. Processing: The members simply listened to the others when they got up and told their stories.
They didn't make comments or judge they just witnessed it.
5. Generalizing: The leader expressed appreciation for donations, sharing and attendance.
6. Application: The leader asked them to keep the AA Serenity Prayer in mind when they are
tempted to drink.

Why Doesn 't God Answer My Prayers? Essay
Why Doesn 't God Answer My Prayers?
By John Pelley | Submitted On February 06, 2010
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Expert Author John Pelley
"Why doesn 't God answer my prayers?" How often have we asked that question? "Almost too many
to count," we reprimand ourselves. We look for reasons why we aren 't heard by God.
Do I pray hard enough?
Do I ask for too much?
Do I ask for too little?
Am I just being ignored?
Do I need to be more specific?
Maybe God has more important things to do than answer my prayers. After all, He has a great
universe to manage.
Am I not worthy to be answered? Perhaps God is paying attention to someone else either on this
planet or elsewhere.
Am I just praying for the wrong things? Maybe, perish the thought, God does not exist at all. He
might be merely a figment of my childhood imagination like the tooth fairy.
The problem is not with God. Maybe the problem is within my self. If I look at myself honestly, I
might see both the problem and the solution.
First, I know how to pray. I was taught by my parents. As a child they showed me the way to pray,
the times to pray, the words to say, the proper postures to assume, and the correct frame of mind

The Spiritual Journey Of Jesus
Introduction
I have chosen Worship as my most favoured Christian discipline. Worship comes to me as a natural
practice to give thanks and gratitude to Jesus for all he's done and is doing for all humanity. I praise
and pray on a daily basis, either through quiet reflective time in prayer to listening to worship music
in the car, work and at home. Worship allows me to give thanks for the incredible gifts Jesus has
given me and keeps my mind focused my spiritual journey in Jesus. Jesus is worth all the worship
and praise as it says in Romans 12:1–2: "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to
present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of
worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and
perfect." Summarise your original understanding of the discipline before the course started Being a
new Christian I quickly learnt symbolic acts of worship involved singing, praising and partaking in
communion at Sunday church. Worship to me is about giving thanks to the Trinity. Remembering
how much Jesus loves us and what he endured on the cross for us is a vital part of remembrance
through worship through partaking in the communion. I didn't realise that through worship I would
receive such clarity and truth through the Holy Spirit and a knowing that God sent his only son

Analysis Of Joss Whedon 's Film
As the thrill and nostalgia for Western films fizzled out, the appeal of space travel became the
forefront of interest among movie goers. Joss Whedon's short lived show Firefly depicted life in the
world 500 years into the future after a civil war between the galactic government known as the
Alliance, and the rebel forces known as the Browncoats. Whedon's film Serenity, is a continuation
of the show that follows Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his crew. The film falls into the space
western genre, and Malcolm Reynolds displays characteristics of a futuristic cowboy. Unlike the
television series, the film gives background to Miranda, a utopian city where River Tam was taken
by the Alliance for her training, however it is more so a dystopian ... Show more content on
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They are not only a form of government either, but promote a belief of a better world by using an
authoritarian political ideology to prevent any forms of rebellion by placing spies in places where
reports of rebellion against the government have been reported. The government of this new world
makes sure that no opposition against them sparks common people being resistant towards their
decisions for a new world. This film is set 500 years in the future and created in 2005, but it does
reflect contemporary events in the United States. The Standing Rock protest against the Dakota
Access Pipeline was a peaceful protest by the Native American people that live where the pipeline
was going to be relocated to. As the protesters continued to protest, the police responded in military
attire by blocking the roads and supply access for the people living there. The Sioux Tribe protested
a pipeline that could contaminate their water and invade their land, yet because the pipeline was in
the best interests of big oil companies the police force and U.S. government officials responded by
shutting the protests down any which way they could. An additional example of the government
controlling the freedom of speech of U.S. citizens, if and when president–elect Donald Trump gets
sworn into office in January there are already barring the Women's March protest from the Lincoln
Memorial to the White House. To prevent this

The Reward Of Persistence Of Prayer
The Reward of Persistence of Prayer: Luke 11:1–9, Matt 6:9–13, Matt 7:9–15
Introduction
I want to start my text today with an inspirational story on a man named "Thomas Alva Edison",
also called the "Wizard of Menlo Park" and is one of the most often cited personalities in history
when it comes to dealing with failure and focusing on goals. It is unclear how many times Thomas
Edison failed in his tests before he invented the first practical, long lasting light bulb, but it is widely
accepted that he tried thousands of times before he discovered the best filament to use.
There were other inventors at the time who were also developing light bulbs, but it was Thomas
Edison, who got it to the finish line. His name is forever etched in ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Praying in a certain place, His disciples came to Him asking him and said, "teach us how to pray
like the Christ (Matt. 6:9–13)." Prayer is defined as personal communication with God. The
definition is very broad. What we call "prayer" includes prayers of request for ourselves or for
others (sometime called prayers of partition or intercession), confession of sin, adoration, praise and
thanksgiving, and also God communicates to us is an indication of his response.
Text Background:
The Lord's Prayer often refers to as "The Disciple's Prayer's." A timeless masterpiece serves as a
model for all prayer and contains all the essential elements of an effective prayer (New Unger's
Handbook. Larson. 369). In Jesus's prayers there was the incomparable union of simplicity and
depth, serenity, and earnestness in comparison to John. The prayer He prescribes was indeed the
preface and prelude that the spirit in all ages of His disciples and Church age will give them a right
standing; "as sinners, yet sons; son still, however sinful (Matthew 6:9–13)." The Lord's Prayer
begins with "Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:19), a common form of reference to God in ancient
Jewish prayer. Within the Old Testament, prophets and poets repeatedly used the imagery of father
to refer to God. By identifying God as "Father," the biblical authors recall the facts that we are all
God's creation, and as His children, we have a responsibility to obey Him and follow His

Matthew 26:36-46: Jesus' Agony in the Garden Essay examples
The road that Jesus accepted on the way to Calvary had to first pass through the Garden of
Gethsemane (‫שמנים‬ ‫גת‬ olive press in Hebrew). It was here that Jesus, in his humanity, experienced
true "fear, distress, anguish, and sorrow." These emotions which Jesus felt that night were real.
According to James Keating and Thomas White, who used Thomas Aquinas, states that Jesus has
two natures, human and divine. Both were aching with grief. They explain that all humans have two
wills, which are caught in a web of tension. The first will is our sensitive will, which contains our
emotions. The second is our rational will where our rational decisions are made. Seeing that Jesus is
fully human, he had both of these wills in operation in Gethsemane. ... Show more content on
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As Jesus and his disciples departed Jerusalem for the Garden of Gethsemane his heart was now
aching with sorrow. It was at Gethsemane, which lies across the Kidron Valley that Jesus predicts
that all his disciples, his closest friends, would deny him. This included Peter who would deny him,
not once but three times. Although, his disciples, along with Peter, say that it will never happen,
Jesus knows better.
As Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane he knows that his kairos (καιρός ) or definitive moment
was fast approaching. Gethsemane was a place caught in time. The prophet Zechariah alludes to
Gethsemane in an eschatological prophesy concerning the end of time. According to Zechariah's
allusion Jesus will come back to Gethsemane for the final judgment. Likewise, the prophet Ezekiel,
because of the sins of God's people, sees in a vision the Glory of God departing the temple heading
east toward a Mountain, which is most likely Gethsemane. Yet, Jesus' kairos was in the present. As
he stood at the gate to Gethsemane his sorrowful heart was quickly turning to anguish. However,
Gethsemane must have been a place of comfort. It was in Gethsemane that Jesus taught his
disciples. It was only a few days earlier in Gethsemane, that Jesus had predicted his kairos, which
was now upon him.
Jesus wanted to be reassured that his kairos was the will of the Father. As a result,

Judaism, Christianity, And Islam
Some people may think that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are three completely different
religions. But if you take a better look into these religions, you begin to see that altogether, they are
simply three different variations of one story. Let 's start with how and where these different but
similar religions worship. Muslims worship in Mosques, with separated areas for men and women.
Based off of the class trip to the ICC mosque in Des Plaines, a worship takes around 15–20 minutes
and is said mostly in Arabic. The prayer service at the mosque seems to be the most organized, yet it
is also the most laid back. When people come in, they are aware of what they have to do and how
they are expected to act. If people come in late, they do not distract anyone else, and quietly go to
the back of the mosque. Although the mosque is an option for prayer, Muslims can pray outside of a
Mosque as well, as long as they are facing Mecca. In terms of worship technicalities, Judaism is a
little bit different, as they don 't separate men and women. Additionally, they pray in a something
similar to a Mosque, a Synagogue. Although they don 't face Mecca like the Muslims do, they face
the Ark. At the JBBG synagogue that was visited, all of the pews are facing the altar and the Ark. In
one of the smaller study rooms in the building, all of the chairs are facing the smaller Ark that is in
the room. During a worship,the Torah is spoken in Hebrew, but almost everything else is spoken in

My Life
I am truly amazed at how this book came along in my life right when I needed it the most. For two
and a half years since my late husband passed away I have literally been in a fog. I didn't realize that
it was an attack from the enemy. I thought it was me just going through a grieving process that just
seem to keep prolonging itself or either somehow there was some unresolved issues in my life that
needed to be dealt with. For the life of me I couldn't seem to figure out what it was that I needed to
deal with. I was exhausted mentally and emotionally knowing that this couldn't be of God, but was
just too numb to even try to do anything about it. I would try to pray my way out and even would go
to church thinking maybe someone could pray this off of me, but then again, I can't even say I was
desperate to get rid of whatever this was. I was simply lulled to sleep with no fight left in me. Oh, of
course I prayed the cover all prayer over my family, but could see by the way my children were
handling everyday life that they needed more prayer than just pleading the blood of Jesus over them
every day. They needed that warrior woman to pick her sword back up and get her armor in check
and go to war on their behalves. We needed restoration and healing so badly in our lives. I felt like
that when God got tired of me being in this place that He would come to my rescue and without any
help on my part and rescuing me is exactly what He did by sending me this book.
In this

The Speech Of George Washington Essay
Thank you [ person who called me up] Good Evening Mr. Mayor and Council members.
In the words of George Washington, "It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of
Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection
and favor..." Benjamin Franklin stated, "In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we
were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. . Our prayers, Sir,
were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must
have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind
providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace..." Then Franklin stated something
with so much wisdom generation after generation ought to ask themselves. "And have we now
forgotten that powerful friend?" Have we? That powerful Friend asks for us to humble ourselves and
pray. Pray for in the words of Thomas Jefferson, "for the continuance of his favor and protection to
these United States; to beseech him that he would be graciously pleased to influence our publick
Councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high,... that he would bless and prosper the means of
education... that he would graciously be pleased to turn the hearts of our enemies....That he would in
mercy look down upon us, pardon all our sins, and receive us into his favour; and finally, that he
would establish the ... United States upon

Review Of Joss Whedon 's Serenity
Although it is mainly a science fiction movie, Joss Whedon's Serenity can be fall under many other
genres. A genre that contributes greatly to the film is horror. Filmsite.org defines horror films as
"unsettling films designed to frighten and panic, cause dread and alarm, and to invoke our hidden
worst fears" (Dirks). Serenity has many moments when you feel uncertain, as if something is going
jump out at you and something often does. These moments contribute to adding a dark and intense
feeling to the film, especially when telling the character River Tam's story. Even the campaigning
for the film in The R. Tam Sessions makes you believe that the film is going to be scary. The reavers
also add terrifying villain that seem like creatures ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Every single one of River's dreams would end with images of death or a jump scare sometimes
including the reavers. These horror parts really help viewers understand how much pain and
suffering River went through and is continuing to be affected by throughout the film. She's very
disturbed and these horrific aspects emphasize that. The reavers themselves are a huge feature of
Serenity that adds to the horror feeling. The mutated people are known for raping, skinning, killing,
and eating anybody who crosses their path. However, the alliance has made citizens of the universe
believe that reavers are not real. This is shown in the beginning of the film during one of River
Tam's dreams when a small child says, "Reavers aren't real" (Whedon, "Serenity: A Movie" 2). The
child makes reavers seem as if they are like the Boogie Man, something adults tell children to scare
them into not doing something, however people who have traveled trough the vast emptiness of
space know that reavers are very real. Having people ignorant towards the existence of these horrific
creatures give the film a dramatic irony that makes you feel bad for the unsuspecting victims of the
reavers. Imagine how it would feel to be raped and eaten by something you once denied the
existence of, it makes the concept of reavers much more terrifying. By having these dark, scary

Religion Comparison For The Health Care Provider
Religion Comparison for the Health Care Provider
Health care providers are challenged with caring for patients and families from different religions,
faiths and cultures. It is beneficial for a care provider to have an understanding of different beliefs so
that the care and treatment plans coincide with patient's religious faith. Creating individualized plans
of care to meet the spiritual needs of their patients is necessary for providing them holistic care.
Research is presented on three religious faiths, and their perspective will be compared to
Christianity; helping nurses understand and recognize the diversity between different religions and
faiths.
Buddhism
Buddhism began in North India more than 2500 years ago when a Prince by ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Buddhist believes that the mind is in control of their health, and a weak mind will allow the
development of illness. Men and women are considered equal, but mothers are considered special,
and because they give birth are considered extra special and deserve additional attention and
compassion. Abortion is against the Buddhist faith; this is influenced by their belief in rebirth or
reincarnation. Abortion is considered murder in this faith (Bowker, 2006).
Important Values When Receiving Care
It is important when caring for a person of the Buddha religion that pharmaceutical medication is
not as popular as herbal alternatives. Herbal remedies are prepared with extensive prayers and
mantras which give it more power. Buddhists appreciate a calm, quiet environment this allows for
the patient to meditate and promotes an atmosphere of conducive to healing (Bowker, 2006). In the
ICU, the writer would promote this quiet environment when caring for a Buddhist patient by
collaborating with other care providers so that care is consolidated.
Sikhism
Sikhism was founded over 500 years ago, and now has over 20 million members around the world;
it is the fifth largest world religion. Founded by Guru Nanak he believed in a single creator of the
world and that there is only one God (Sikhs.org, 2011). Followers of this religion believe that there
are different ways to follow God's will and that

A Generous Program: Narcotics Anonymous Program
In my entire life I have never felt so grateful for a program for changing my life around. If it weren't
for these people being part of this amazing Narcotics Anonymous program I would not be here
talking about this kindhearted group of people. My life was a total mess, before it was like if I had
no future for myself and felt like my head was not attached to my body. These people in the NA
program has been generous the only thing I had to do is have that desire to stop using. The hardest
thing for myself to do was being able to enter that meeting for the very first time. When I got to my
first NA meeting I could not go inside this small grey building I felt like there was nothing there for
me, but at the same time I was too scared to go in. The first time when I entered through these big
old white doors I was starting to be really nervous, my heart started pounding so fast it felt like I
was having an anxiety attack. Once I was inside the old building I saw people sitting down no these
metal chrome frame chairs with a soft cushion on top while being in circle with their fresh hot cup
of coffee in their hands. There was also these colored reading cards set on these long white tables in
the middles of the room forming a square or more like a diamond whiles the fellow members were
sitting down. All the sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked back slowly to see whose
hand was on my shoulder and it was an old using buddy. He did not even asked me what I was doing

Comparing Dollhouse And Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, And...
It is said that Joss Whedon's work is not just to entertain his audience but he is also looking towards
sending out a message. Generally, when people look deeply into his text they can find that he is
usually sending a message to society about how gender roles and it is common for him to play with
them. In these three shows Dollhouse and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, and Firefly he takes gender
roles and moves them around at will.
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this is seen so often because the entire show is based around it. You
have buffy this strong and witty girl who run's around slaying vampires. While all of the male side
characters are practically useless. A good example pulled from the footage of this would be from
episode 2. Xander which is Buffy's new male friend at the time insists on going with Buffy to save
his friend who had been captured by the vampires. As much as Buffy defied him to he still was
going no matter what she said so she just backed down. Then when they get there and confront him
Xander is basically useless. He just stands there helpless while Buffy saves the day.
Another episode of Buffy that is a good example of this would be in episode 4. The episode starts
off with these ridiculous boyhood fantasies in which Xander is this grand hero saving the damsel in
distress. But it's nothing but a fantasy as the episode goes on Xander starts a romantic relationship
with the substitute teacher. Then it turns out that the teacher was a monster that captures

Spiritual Formation
Spiritual Formation Ministry Plan
God expects individuals that call themselves "Christian" to grow spiritually. The Word of God
encourages personal examination as a part of the growth process, as found in Psalm 139:23–24:
"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive
way in me; lead me in the everlasting way." Becoming more Christ–like focuses on how He works
in us and not on our work for Him. The Cycle of Works demonstrates that regardless of work we
complete, the acceptance of others, the sustainability of our works and the significance it brings, we
cannot compete with God's Cycle of Grace that show us that we are significant in His sight and that
brings us sustenance and acceptance ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
According to Ruth Haley Barton in Sacred Rhythms, individuals would then be able to understand
what their personal minimum requirements are for ongoing spiritual growth.
My model for spiritual formation in the local church would include spiritual, relational, and
missional aspects such as personal devotions, spiritual friendships, participating in corporate
worship, and serving God's Kingdom.
Spiritual. Daily time spent in prayer along with a regular, unhurried time in the Bible is essential for
growth. In the Bible, growth is linked to spiritual maturity and becoming more like Jesus (Romans
12:1–2, 2 Corinthians 3:18). Time in prayer, at the beginning and the end of day
Relational. The ministry of Jesus was focused on people and meeting their needs. Spending time
with others, both individually and through corporate gatherings, is modeled throughout the Bible.
Fellowship with other believers in small groups allows individuals to forge relationships and
develop accountability at some level. These deeper bonds demonstrate to others their love for God
and others by loving God's Law, obeying it by God's grace, and allowing it to lead to Jesus Christ
for transformation into His image.
Missional. The totality of spiritual growth can be summed up in Matthew 22:37–39; that all of
spiritual growth should be measured against increased love for God and increased love of our
neighbor.
Spiritual formation

If Prayer Was God 's Idea Essay
5 Steps to an Answered Prayer
By Larry Beam | Submitted On October 27, 2010
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Expert Author Larry Beam
If prayer was God 's Idea, then it would stand to reason that He would make it simple enough for us
to understand. Even though it is simple, the reasons why so many people never walk in it are vast.
This is not something that I got out of a book, or made up. It 's something God showed me through
the Holy Spirit, so please read with an open mind and meditate on what you read.
Step #1 The Power Within:
"God is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that
works in us." Most people think that God can do whatever He wants to do, but according to this
verse, it all depends upon a power that is at work in us. To understand that power we need to look at
a couple of verses before this one. Paul prayed the following:
"That He (God) would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with
might, through His Spirit, in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that
you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the

Summary And Interaction Of Celebration Of Discipline By...
Daniel Farias
Professor Wilson, Joy Thompson
Spirit Empowered Living
9 September 16, 2015 Summary and Interaction of Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster
In the beginning of Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster undergoes a thorough explanation of
our ages' most desperate need; deep people. He proclaims how our superficiality and lack of
common sense regarding spiritual life has crippled us and left us living in the surface rather than
depts. He mentions how we have gotten accustomed to relying on our own willpower ultimately not
containing the correct attitude or reasons for practicing the classical disciplines. Therefore, we lack
the pieces of our inward and outward life as believers of Christ. Foster ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This brings the second inward discipline, prayer. Prayer is mentioned as one of the most central
disciples due to its intimacy of conversation between us and god himself. Foster describes prayer as
our ability to ask for change in circumstances, "to pray is to change" (P.33). He explains how Jesus
often withdrew from the crowds to pray to his father. like so, we should withdraw from time to time.
Our disciplines can coincide just as fasting does with prayer; thus being the third discipline
prescribed. Fasting is the "abstaining from food for scriptural purpose." (p.48) and is said to be seen
as a desperate measure for emergency. Foster goes deeper into how and why a Christian should fast,
but mostly focuses on its meaning of self–control and its centrality being god. Foster's final inward
discipline is the practice of study. Study is the focus to our total transformation from our old selves.
It is a specific experience aimed to form Christian habits. With that, Foster breaks down study into
four steps; repetition, reflection, understanding, and experience which ingrain those habits. In the
second part of the book, Celebration of Discipline, Foster outlines the four outward disciplines.
These being; simplicity, solitude, submission, and service. Simplicity as foster states is "an inward
reality that results in an outward life–style." (p. 80) which is meant to live out. He says we should be

Humanities’ Irrational and its Effects on a Utopian Society
The human psyche is divided into rational and irrational drives. Courtesy of Sigmund Freud, it is
divided into the id, ego, and super–ego. According to Freud, although the super–ego controls the
other two to present ourselves in a rational state within society, the id often tends to be out of
complete control by the conscious, making it an unconscious action. For Freud, it's the recognition
that the irrational is there, that it must be controlled to take over. Man's aggressive nature does tend
to overpower the mind, leading to irrational actions. Both Freud's Civilization and its Discontents
and Dostoyevsky's Notes from Underground show how humans are controlled by their irrational
drives and that, as a result, the attempts to create a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Reavers represent Freud's mentioned id, or irrational and aggressive drives. Due to groups such
as the Reavers and the Alliance, civilization trying to improve and create a perfect society will fail
due to human's inevitable ways of acting through their irrational psyche. A utopian society isn't
possible because of this and Freud suggests accepting such a reality with imperfections in its
inhabitants. Underestimated are the "powerful forces or irrationalism... [which] would erupt with
devastating fury in twentieth–century political life...extolling violence" (Perry 701–2).Those
civilizations that attempt to create a utopian society create the illusion of civilization, the illusion
that humans are, in fact, civilized.
Enter Dostoyevsky, an anti–government, anti–socialist thinker and writer who offers a strong theory
on man's irrational and failures to create a "Crystal Palace" society. Being exposed to violence,
death, and government suppression through his life, Dostoyevsky was able to write a notable anti–
utopian novel. Moving to the discussion of the rational versus irrational thoughts supported by
Freud, rather than viewing humanity as being "innately good," Dostoyevsky viewed humans "as
being innately depraved, irrational, and rebellious" (Perry 682). Like Freud, Dostoyevsky opposed
Enlightenment philosophies of rationality, and believed irrationality was a dominant

Prayer In Counseling Paper
Summary
Due to mental health practitioners increasing concern in the utilization of spiritual interventions
such as prayer in counseling, research was conducted to investigate Christian clients' expectations
regarding prayer in counseling because no known research currently exists that examined first–visit
Christian clients and their therapists to determine clients' expectations and therapist beliefs and
practices. Spirituality has become a frequently recognized as an important tool in mental health
practice in regards to people's well–being. Prayer, emerging as one of the most utilized spiritual
interventions among Christian counselors, including practitioners who work in secular settings who
incorporate prayer into their practices deem praying ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Vanilla Cherry, a 35 year old African American woman, diagnosed in 2001, off HIV medications for
5 years, recently fired from Job of 3 years, has one child son 8 yrs. old (HIV negative); is estranged
from husband of 5yrs. she suspects infected her from cheating with other women.
2. Vanilla is currently staying with her mother who is supportive and provided transportation for
client to attend her appointment today.
3. Vanilla complains of being more tired than usually; losing approximately 30lbs in 2 weeks; itchy
patches of rashes on scalp, back of legs and arms; white patches on tongue. She is very appreciative
of her mom's help but wants to find a job and move on her own, but lacks energy and motivation to
look for work as she is tired all the time.
4. Vanilla after conducting assessment for mental health and substance abuse; has not drink or used
drugs for over 18 months but continues to smoke cigarettes; and lacks knowledge about HIV disease
and how this coincides with her quality of life and immune system in achieving positive health
outcomes. Vanilla reports lapse in care due to losing her job and having to take care of her mother
when she was

Essay On Prayer Should Be Allowed In Public Schools

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