The good shepherd

The good shepherd Our lesson this morning from Johns gospel concerns this idea of integrity. The butcher in our story probably turned many different shades of red when the lady asked him for both of the chickens since he had only one. He wasnt being too honest with her, he wasnt being too nice, and now he was caught in his lack of honesty. Jesus is not talking about butchers this morning, but he is telling the people a parable about a good shepherd, a shepherd who was honest, caring, compassionate, and will to die to take care of his sheep. Jesus is telling us something about himself, as he is the good shepherd for our lives. He is telling us through this parable three things about himself as the good shepherd. Jesus uses this parable about shepherds because the people in his day knew the kind of life that a shepherd lived; it was a difficult life, a hard life. A shepherd felt he had a calling from a young age to tend sheep, so he spent his whole young life learning how to care for the sheep, then the rest of his adult life tending the sheep, fighting off the animals who would eat the sheep, and sometimes fighting off robbers who would steal the sheep. It was a lonely life, a difficult life, but if a shepherd did his job well everyone would know that he was a good shepherd. Jesus uses what the people would understand, a parable about shepherds to tell us something about himself, that he is the good shepherd of our lives. But before we see what is good about the good shepherd, we need to look at this word good In the Greek language, which was the language the New Testament was written. There are two words that can be translated into our English word good, the first agathose which implies a moral and efficient quality about a person. A person is good because they can perform their signed task well. But there is another word that also means good and. it is kalos, it not only means what the other did, but it adds the quality of loveliness, or attractiveness to it. It is the kind of goodness that makes us feel wanted and secure. Jesus as the good shepherd or as one translation puts it the model shepherd brings to the job the strength and courage of an earthly shepherd, but also the qualities of beauty and kindness which helps us to call him friend. Now that we have laid the foundation for Jesus being the Good shepherd of our lives, the model shepherd, we can see what is so good about him why he is the model shepherd. First Jesus says that the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A shepherd in Jesus day if he truly did his job with all of his being, and not just for the money would be willing and able to lay down his life for the sheep he was protecting. Jesus is telling us, he was willing to lay down his life for us, his sheep. He wasnt in it for the money or the glory, but Jesus would not flee when trouble came, he was willing to lay down his life, to sacrifice his life for us so that we night gain favour with the Father in heaven. There was a pastor who once visited a sheep ranch and saw a very strange lamb. It looked as though it had 2 heads and 8 feet. He asked the rancher about it. The rancher explained that one of their sheep had a baby but the mother died. They tried to give the orphan sheep to another mother-sheep but when she smelled it, she rejected it. Then they skinned the dead sheep and put the skin on the live lamb. Now the mother-sheep accepted the lamb as her own and cared for it, In a like manner, Jesus as the good shepherd died for us as the Lamb of God, and God accepts us because we are clothed with the Lambs robe of righteousness. Jesus was willing to lay down his life for us, so that we might have life, life with the Father and life for eternity. The good shepherd, who Jesus is, is willing to die for the sheep, so that the sheep can live. Jesus died for us freely so that we might life. Notice Jesus says that he laid down his life freely, no one takes his life, but he was willing to give his life for us. Jesus loves us enough, cares about us enough to die for us. He could have used his power to get out of dying for us, but he chose to struggle, to die, so that we might live. This is a powerful statement of the love, the mercy, the compassion, and the caring that Jesus our saviour has for each of us.Next Jesus says that the good shepherd knows his sheep. Knows his sheep by name. A young lady came to her pastors office trouble about this statement, How does Jesus know and is interest, in her personally. She asked, How can I believe that God is interested in what happens to me? The pastor replied, Look at your fingers. There are billions of finger tips in the world, but no others are like yours. Even your finger tips have had special attention from God. Yes, we are special; God does care for each of us. This morning when you come to the table to eat and to drink, you are receiving a special invitation from God to partake in this meal, in a personal and individual way we come in physical contact with Jesus through his body and blood. God knows that we need this special time, this physical relationship with him to reassure us, to convince us, that he does love us, that he does care for us, and that he is interested in us as individual people. We are collectively Gods children, we collectively are the sheep of Jesus fold, hut individually we are also Gods children, and individually the sheep of Jesus fold. And as individuals, he is concerned about us, he cares about us, he reaches his hand of grace individually into each of our lives. Each of us, all of us are unique people, who are special to God. We are special not because we are good, or righteous, or have somehow pleased God, but because God loves us as we are or in some ways in spite of what we are God still loves us. He showed us that by the sacrifice he had his son make on the cross for us. God is concerned about us from the hairs on our heads to the blisters on our toes. God through his good shepherd, Jesus Christ, loves us, cares about us, and wants his gracious will of love to be done in each of our lives. Finally as the good shepherd, Jesus tells us he gathers together his sheep into a fold. Jesus is telling us through his spirit he gathers us who belong to him. It is the work of the spirit to gather us together as the members of the body of Christ. It is the work of the spirit, to gather the body once a week to worship and praise God. Jesus knows this time we spend together once a week is very important for our spiritual lives. It is during this time that we hear again the promises that God has made for us, it is here that we relive the life that Jesus lived on this earth. It is here that we encounter again and again the great love that God has for us. It is important that we come here often to be refreshed, to be renewed, to hear again about our God and the great love he has for us. As the good shepherd, Jesus says that it is important for him to gather the sheep together into a fold, but notice he doesnt stop with just the sheep that are immediately at hand, no he says that other sheep must be brought into this fold. The fold of sheep, the church, is always changing, growing, adding and loosing members. The fold is not a constant place, but it is an alive place, a place where things happen, where changes are made, where people grow in faith, where people meet new people of faith, who help us to understand Gods love. The fold, or the church, is an ever changing, alive, growing place. It is the place where Jesus, through his spirit is alive. It is the place where we can encounter God through his spirit because he promises to be here with us as we gather in his name. God is here with us this morning, his spirit is here leading us in our worship of him. And as we leave to go back out to world Gods spirit will go with us, helping us with life, giving us direction giving us courage, giving us his peace to cope with all the brokenness of life. Yes, the good shepherd gathers his sheep together in a fold, in the church, ch, because here, we are cared for, here te are feed, here we can learn from each other about faith, here we can help one another as we face all the difficulties-of life. Being in the fold, the church is important for the members. NOTICE ONE OTHER THING Jesus says about being in the fold. He says that as he calls sheep to the fold they will heed his voice. They will listen to him. When we come to the fold, we come to listen to the voice of Jesus. We come to hear him, we come to encounter him. And notice Jesus says those of the fold will heed his voice. They will listen to him. Jesus is saying something here about responsibility, about our job as members of the fold, as members of the church. We are to listen to him. To obey what he says. Yes, Jesus is the good shepherd of our lives. He laid down his live freely for us, he knows each of us personally because we are important to him, and he gathers us together in his fold, the church, so that we might listen to him. Yes, Jesus is the good shepherd, the one who leads us down the pathway of life. He is our guide, he is our companion, he is the one who will take care of us. Jesus is our good shepherd; he is the one who loves us.

How Does James Seek to Disturb and Involv Essay

How Does James Seek To Disturb and Involve The Reader In The Turn Of The Screw? The Turn of the Screw, written by author Henry James, although defying many gothic conventions remains one of the most suspenseful and sinister tales of the Victorian Era. The novella’s enthralling nature effectively seeks to disturb and involve readers and this is made evident through James’s successful use of a variety of structural and literary techniques to create and prolong suspense and ambiguity. James first establishes a strong and intimate connection between reader and protagonist through the use of first person in order to actively involve the reader. This is achieved through the governess’s use of syntax and complex sentences when describing her first impressions of Bly. For example when the governess says â€Å"I remember as a thoroughly pleasant impression the broad, clear front, its open windows and fresh curtains and the pair of maids looking out† readers are provided with clear imagery of what the governess is seeing, therefore enabling readers to identify with the protagonist and view the situation from her perspective. This intimate identification with the governess later contributes to the disturbance of readers as, when the reader reaches the possible conclusion of the governesses emotional instability and tendency to catastrophise situations (when the governess says â€Å"His not reading to her, I declared, they’re talking of them, they’re talking horrors! †) readers begin questioning the governesses judgement, which for the majority of the novella has also been their own as a result of the reader being provided with a limited perception and knowledge of the happenings of Bly (as the tale has been told from the governesses viewpoint) This results in readers questioning every assumption they have previously made as they take into account the unreliability of the governess as narrator. The inclusion of ambiguous dialogue throughout the novella also contributes to the disturbance and involvement of readers by causing readers to question the true motives of characters. For instance when Miles says â€Å"of course, we’ve the others†, when speaking to the governess it is unclear whether Miles is referring to the maids and various other servants in the house or to the ghosts of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel. Another example, towards the end of the novella is when Miles and the governess are discussing Miles schooling. The governess is finally attempting to piece together the reason for Miles’ expulsion from boarding school when Miles says â€Å"Well-I said things†. This causes the reader to question the true meaning of dialogue, forcing the reader to draw their own conclusions and opinions based on limited and somewhat flimsy evidence. This therefore leads to judgements on the motives and reliability of characters being made and subsequently impacts on the readers personal opinions of characters, in especial the protagonist as well as the characters of the children, Mrs Grose and the ghosts themselves. It is important to note the use of ambiguous dialogue (or lack thereof) between Miles and Flora, particularly in the first half of the novella significantly contributes to the validity of the governess’s theory of Miles and Flora being corrupt. By not supplying the reader with dialogue between Flora and Miles it is assumed by the reader that the children are communicating in private, and as a consequence have something to hide, further validating the governess’s theory and sparking a sense of fear in readers. The further involvement and disturbance of the reader is instigated by James’s inclusion of long pauses and gaps in dialogue to further the tales suspenseful atmosphere and in turn, draw readers in. When Miles says to the governess â€Å"think me-for a change-bad! † the pauses in between his dialogue heighten the mounting suspense and ambiguity of the moment, in turn disturbing and distressing the reader. A further example of this is when, during a discussion of the relationship between Peter Quint and Miss Jessel between the governess and Mrs Grose, Mrs Grose says â€Å"oh he couldn’t prevent-â€Å". The governess then interjects with the dialogue and rhetorical question of, â€Å"Your learning the truth? †. This interjectory on the governesses part contributes to the ominous nature of the novella and further disturbs and concerns the reader through leaving the reader with an unanswered question which readers are then forced to draw their own conclusions on. The pauses and use of rhetorical questions also allows the reader time to ponder underlying questions and possible motives of characters (such as that of Mrs Grose and her part in the tale) and whilst actively engaging the reader, encourages them to anticipate the ‘next turn of the screw’. An additional way the novella seeks to horrify and capture the attention of readers is through plot and the ‘hooks’ at the end of each sequential chapter. The governess’s unnatural desire to control the children fascinates and involves the reader as they continue to question the sanity of the governess and, simultaneously the nature of the children. This desire of the protagonist is conveyed to readers through the actions and dialogue of the governess such as when she listens at Mile’s bedroom door during the night and says â€Å"what under my endless obsession, I had been impelled to listen for was some betrayal of his not being at rest†. Actions and ambiguous dialogue such as this disturbs the reader as it is regarded to all, (except the governess) as strange behaviour and acts as further proof of the probable insanity and overactive imagination of the governess. The ‘hooks’ at the end of each chapter are yet another way James uses plot to involve the reader and seeks to disturb them. These hooks or revelations by the narrator act as ambiguous snippets of information that is vitally important to the reader in order for some sort of conclusion or opinion to be reached. For instance at the conclusion of chapter 19 the governess finally voices her theory of Flora being in communication with Miss Jessel to Flora herself when she says â€Å"Where, my pet, is Miss Jessel? †. This creates a sense of terror and anxiety in readers as James has carefully built up suspense through plot to this moment and so ambiguity is at its peak when the governess finally voices her theory to Flora. The use of juxtapositions and hyperbole throughout the descriptive and emotive language of the governess is yet another way James strives to disturb and involve. The descriptive language and passion with which the governess tends to use to describe Flora and Miles, for example â€Å"I was dazzled by their loveliness†, â€Å"real rose-flush of his innocence† and â€Å"he was therefore an angel† makes the later revelation of the children’s corruption caused by the ghosts all the more disturbing and surprising to readers as the children are written about in such a pure and angelic light. This captures the attention of the reader and causes them to question the theory of the children’s corruption and consider the evidence (or lack thereof) from which it has been convened. The juxtaposition â€Å"to gaze into the depths of blue of the child’s eyes and pronounce their loveliness a trick of premature cunning† is another example of how James uses descriptive language to convey the emotional stress of the protagonist to readers as this is a strong contrast to the governess’s initial views of the children as being of â€Å"angelic nature†. â€Å"I seemed to see in the beautiful face with which he watched me how ugly and queer I looked† again contrasts the beauty of Miles with that of the governess and so draws the attention of the reader to the governesses  tendency to be easily influenced by appearance, evidence of her own innocence, inexperience and naivety which could possibly contribute to her overactive imagination and hallucinations. Setting is a superfluous method to which James meritoriously pioneers to disturb and involve the reader. The in depth descriptions used to create imagery for readers of the protagonists environment is a powerful method used by James in capturing the attention of readers and providing them with a window to the governess’s thoughts. â€Å"Driving at that hour, on a lovely day, through a country, the summer sweetness of which served as a friendly welcome† is an example of how setting is used to inform readers of the governesses opinions and inner feelings (here she feels relaxed and excited for her arrival at Bly) In addition â€Å"It was a crisp, clear day, the first of its order for some time, the night had brought a touch of frost and the autumn air, bright and sharp† is another excellent example of how James uses setting to establish the mood and atmosphere of the novella and of the governess and therefore actively involve the reader by causing the reader to feel they are more than an objective viewer but an actual participant in the tale. The use of the adjectives â€Å"crisp† and â€Å"clear† could also possibly convey the emotional state of the governess and consequently contribute to the later disturbance of the reader as the emotional state of the protagonist recedes further and further into turmoil and chaos. It is evident, throughout the Turn of the Screw Henry James has pioneered a variety of both structural and literary methods to seek to disturb and involve the reader. By doing this James has allowed his tale to remain a classic one that can relate in almost every society and time period as it continues to force readers to reach their own conclusions and subsequently, allows the novella to remain a mystery for all those involved.

Analytic Essay Topics Explained

Analytic Essay Topics Explained As an issue of fact, a crucial lens essay is centered on highlighting powerful and weak points of a particular quote. On account of the intricate nature of an essay, the author ought to have a clear comprehension of the topic accessible. The most suitable beginning to writing the essay needs to be to pick the ideal topic that may lead your way to success. In the end, the conclusion proved her principal point, losing weight and smoking simply don't jive. Believe us, it'll be simpler to express your thoughts if you've got a very clear plan. The thing is the fact that it is tough to analyze an uninteresting and boring subject, or a topic that's very little studied in literature. Analytical essay requirements usually demand you to not just respond to what you might have learned in a lecture. No matter what the essay is all about, most analytical or expository essays conform to a particular structure. Analytical and expository essays are utilised to reflect somehow on a particular topic. Scholarship essay examples are supplied for insight on how best to write a scholarship essay. Whatever you present in your essay needs to be reasonable and based on the information which you have collected. With an excellent outline, you will write a very clear and logical analytical essay, which means that your tutor and other readers will be able to comprehend it appropriately. Evidently, writing an essay on the subject of marijuana is too general. There are different kinds of essays that I would assume most of you are already acquainted with. Here's What I Know About Analytic Essay Topics Developing a criterion for the evaluation essay topic in addition to the effective judgment from the face of the author is the fundamental requirement of an evaluation essay. Essentially, a thesis paper permits a student to make his theories, suggestions and hypothesis for a particular question or problem. Downloading an analytical essay example isn't a fraud, which means you don't need to worry which you're cheating. After you select a topic, narrow down your focus to a particular issue within this issue scope. Analytic Essay Topics Secrets That No One Else Knows About Keep in mind that the previous two writing forms are written in the very first individual. Generally, the correct choice of essay topic has an important part in overall writing success. The essay can provide a great chance to speak about a few of your accomplishments, but always remember to do so in a means which is not braggadocious. As you near finishing your essay, it is critical to consider about how you're likely to conclude it. The Analytic Essay Topics Stories Do not postpone proofreading for the previous day, as it can give you lots of insights. The research work needs to be infused into all elements of the product lifecycle. It is crucial to understand the skills measured and the way the tasks are scored. Though for avoid the hassle you sometimes take the assistance of the ideal dissertation writing servicestoo. You might also attempt sharing your essay with different pe ople and receiving their thoughts. Each individual might be useful at one skill when compared with others. There are several ways to play, based on your passions and interests. Among the biggest challenges in my personal life was attempting to enter in a public university. The next thing to do is to compose your body paragraphs. The main purpose of the body paragraphs is to fully show the thesis statement. Write down all the ideas that you have, and ensure your outline is very clear and beneficial. So far as essay structure goes, a 4 or 5 paragraph essay based on the number of points you might want to argue is a great start. If you're pursuing your Ph.D. degree then you have to know that part of your program consist of writing a thesis paper which will enable you to receive fantastic marks in your degree program. Therefore, if you're planning to study abroad, work more difficult to secure a great IELTS score and keep focused on your objective. By the close of the day, it 's up to you if you decide to appreciate the art of essay writing or not. It is clear that a fair analytical thinking must accomplish the hefty job of writing an analysis paper. A vital lens essay is a sort of essay targeted at supplying a personal interpretation and analysis of a particular quotation or statement, proving one's opinion with the aid of literature references. The introduction usually starts out with some kind of background info. From time to time, creating an outline might be the most challenging stage.

How to Cancel SAT Scores

It happens after every test administration. Kids take the SAT test, then go home fraught with worry, anxiety, stress, and depression because they realize that they didnt do as well as they could have. Perhaps they didnt do one of the seven things they were supposed to do the night before the SAT, or maybe they just didnt get the right SAT prep materials to really knock their score out of the ballpark. Their question is, Can you cancel SAT scores? And much to their relief, the answer is a quick and easy, Yes! Should You Cancel SAT Scores? Before you decide to cancel, you must first realize that youll truly have no way of knowing how well youve done on the exam until you get your SAT scores back, and that always happens a few weeks after your test. So, if you choose to cancel your scores, youll be going on gut instinct alone, which isnt always a bad thing. But there are a few things to consider before you choose to cancel your scores. Dont cancel if†¦ youre being paranoid. Most people have a little bit of doubt surrounding their testing performance. Is your doubt without warrant, based only on your paranoia? Then perhaps you should keep your scores. Remember that with Score Choice, you get to choose to report the scores youd like to the schools to which youre applying. Cancel if†¦ there are extenuating circumstances that prevented you from doing your best. Perhaps you tossed and turned for two nights prior to the exam and woke up groggy and dim the day of the test. Or, maybe you woke up with the flu, but decided to test anyway because you didnt want to pay the SAT registration fee again. Or, maybe you were seated next to someone who distracted you in some way so you lost your place, miscalculated your time, and ended up having to erase half of your scantron. Things happen! You Can Cancel SAT Scores At the Test Center If you realize immediately after youve taken the test that your SAT score is not going to get you into one of your top choices because you skipped sections or miscalculated, then you can cancel your scores even before you leave the test center. First, ask the test supervisor for a Request to Cancel Test Scores form.Next, fill out the form and sign it right then and there.Finally, give the form to the test supervisor before you get in your car and leave the test center. You Can Cancel SAT Scores at Home Maybe youre not as enlightened to your poor performance on the SAT. The desire to cancel might not really hit you until youve gone home and had a few conversations with friends about a particular reading passage in one of the Critical Reading sections (that you cant remember at all). If this is you, theres still time if you act quickly—very quickly. The College Board must receive your score cancellation request in writing no later than 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the Wednesday after your test date. Thats not much time at all! If you want to cancel, heres what to do: First, immediately download and print the Request to Cancel SAT Scores form from the College Board website.Then youll need to fill it out, sign it, and either fax or overnight the request per these instructions:Fax: (610) 290-8978Overnight delivery via U.S. Postal Service Express Mail (U.S. only): SAT Score Cancellation, P.O. Box 6228, Princeton, NJ 08541-6228Other overnight mail service or courier (U.S. or international): SAT Score Cancellation, 1425 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ 08618, USA