It All Goes Back To The End

The Gospel According to St. Matthew Chapters 21-28

Jerusalem, the "Holy Land" were thousands of knights would fight in order to find the Holy Grail, and also fighting for the land. In this case, Jesus home. At least he was received with love and care, not with sticks and angry mobs. "And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." (21:10-11) They all knew who he was, so ate least his disciples did something. He arrived, and what did he find? "And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (21:13)Humans are ambitious and terrible.

I like Jesus great ways of responding back. He is not only witty, but he shuts them up immediately. The Pharisees, the ones who are not okay with anything, obviously need to contradict Jesus, since Jesus is not true for them. "If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" (22:45)They never dared to ask another question. Ha ha.

During the last super, Jesus mentions that one of his apostles will betray him, and after his death, all of them will freak out and leave. I guess he wanted to start positively. Being there, the last time eating of Jesus (since the wine is his blood and his body bread)and he tells them they will all become cowards. "Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said." (26:21-25)

I think being the one to betray Jesus, it must be a very bad profile. Thanks to Judas, Jesus was crucified. Why did Judas want to betray him? For what, money? Money can be wasted in no time, but the Son of God! After the miracles, the knowledge and the Holiness? How could he! It was so stupid, and vile. I imagine with anger how Judas would kiss Jesus in the hands showing the soldiers who the great man was. What would he receive, money, so he could waste it in no time.

As humans are evil, and will always be, they want to kill Jesus. Pilate is not strong enough to declare this man innocent. I guess it wasn't Pilate's fault fully. If he didn't crucify Jesus, I guess the angry mob would crucify him, and Jesus. So we turn back to the same story, Jesus in the cross, suffering for the humans he loved. And there, the humans who hated him, and declared death for him. "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (27:45)

Jesus And All His Friends

The Gospel According to St. Matthew Chapters 11-20

Jesus grows,into and adult. Performing more and more miracles. As said before in the other Gospels, he multiplied bread and fed thousands, resurrected some people, gave sight to the blind and cleansed the leprous. Simple stuff. Even so, his so called followers still did not believe him, until he walked on water. If Jesus couldn't give more proof. Not even a miracle worked for people to believe him.

Disciples are disciples, so they must be useful in something. "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities." (11:1) So Jesus sends them off, to teach about him, and spread his popularity worldwide.

It is a tough job God expected from his son. Trying to change the wholes people thoughts and believes. "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." (11:25)Humans always go with the flow and nobody ever thinks for themselves. If they do, they are persecuted and killed, since that is what humans do. The, here comes this man, saying he is the "Son of God" and the " King of Jews". Obviously, the actual King of Jews must be infuriated. Anyways, people wont care of a wimpy man, so at least God did send him with something, miracles. Even so, miracles are not enough! How could one single man, of so any miracles, and at that time I think miracles didn't occur very often, and still, not be believed? What ere they back in that time?

It isn't so hard to believe watching while it actually happens. In today's society, it wouldn't matter since everything is a scam, or it works in order to win money. TV commercials and the Televentas is just stupid. A product that may grow your hair back with the latest technology and lazors. Or the abdominal thing that may grow your muscles in just fifteen days! I guess people back in that time would actually believe TV, but not the miracle man who is just curing a blind man.

It's A Jesus!

The Gospel According To St. Matthew Chapters 1-10

Everyone begat ten others. Those ten others begat other twenty, and it all starts with Abraham. After many generations of begating more and more people to this overpopulated world, finally came Jesus. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (1:18) Having the son of the most powerful being according to the Bible, must be very special. Simply knowing that God has chosen you to deal with this, its just too much. There is Mary, an extremely normal woman, whose life will change as soon as an angel comes and tell her she has the Messiah in her womb.

It must be so confusing, but also exciting. Telling this great news to Joseph was really hard. I think that in the beginning he thought "Is this woman insane?" or "What have you been drinking?" I guess it is simply too hard to believe. Anyways, it took another angel to get down there and convince Joseph of Mary's insanity. "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."(1:20) Finally after generations of begating more and more people, at least someone wasn't worthless.

I guess everything was fine until they came. "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem," (2:1) These "wise" men just came along to the currently King of the Jews "Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."(2:2) Could not they be wiser? They just endangered the child and made thousands of others die in his place. It wasn't wise at all. Thanks to them, now Joseph and Mary had to become outlaws. Well done.

As Jesus grows int o an adult, he must start his quest. As God's son, he needs friends to bring home. "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power againstunclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (10:1)is friends followed him, but Jesus was not that popular at all. Anyways, I still find very interesting how Jesus encouraged them to enter his group. "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. If they follow him, they will all be persecuted, or maybe tortured and killed, but they should not be afraid. No wonder why Jesus didn't have so many friends.

We Foolish Idiotic Killers!

The Gospel According To St. Mark Chapters 12-16

The story of the vineyard made me think about society today. A humble man who grows a vineyard. He is doing pretty well, but the husbandmen are jealous and kill all the servants the lord of the vineyard would send. "And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard."(12:2)Humans have been very violent and stupid. Not mentioning that many kill themselves during wars trying to be at "peace", they just get killed, leaving us int he same situation we are today.

There will never be peace, just hatred. I guess it is natural for humans to feel hatred, but they are evil. We think we are superior to animals since we have the so called wits and a fat thumb. The thumb was the doom for everyone, humanity, nature and earth. According to the Bible it wasn't actually the thumb (we should not be against the thumb) but Adam and Eve, and the Tree of Knowledge. They are the doom of everyone. Yeah, God made a little mistake, so he sends a lot of people to change the world, including Jesus. Seriously, they failed. All of them. "And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" (12:26)They keep on mentioning Moses, which is mentioned in John's Gospel too. Apparently, he was important. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Supposedly the followers of God that would change humankind. Sorry, but no change was made.

God, in such desperation, sends his own son, Jesus. What do humans do? Kill him. He was salvation, the only door for freedom. What do we do? Shut it close, persecute him and kill him. "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God"(12:34)Jesus was crazy! Everyone is way back form getting to the kingdom of God. I guess God didn't realized there was no hope, and decided to take his Son back to him. At least it could have been less painful.

Jesus's Got Talent

The Gospel According To St. Mark Chapters 7-11

The Pharisees, such delicate people who are not satisfied with anything. There comes Jesus, seen as an ordinary man, and with five loaves of bread, and simply two fish, he gives food for thousands of people. But, no, they are not satisfied. They just continue seeing Jesus as an ordinary man, no, a scam which only happens to cure the sick and feed the poor. What do they say? " Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?" (7:5)

Jesus would've been the solution to world hunger, but the idiots of that time decided to kill him. There is no good in humanity. Every time they see something good, they tend to destroy it. Jesus, a great example, famous, talented people. Michael Phelps, for instance. He is not even human! How could that guy win eight Olympic gold medals? He is a freak! But obviously, the pressure, society, made him do one of the worst things an athlete could do. And media helps to spread the word killing his career, his passion and his life. Tiger Woods. A great golf player. People wanted him to fail. He was ratted out by his prostitutes. Killed his life, his career and his dignity. It is obvious, nobody can take goodness. Everybody is waiting in the back, waiting for you to fail, and enjoying each moment.

It Was A Miracle

The Gospel According to St. Mark Chapters 1-6

We start as Jesus already an adult. To my surprise, John, my dear John appears Baptizing Jesus. "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan." (1:9)It turned out to be St. John was a great St. Baptizing Jesus doesnt happen everyday. Even so, it is Mark here who should be the protagonist, since actually this is the Gospel According to St. Mark, not Jhon.

When Jesus was near some fisherman, he said: "And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." (1:17)How to fish men instead of fish. By that time, I would simply continue fishing my fish, since everybody likes food, needs food, and demands food. Fishing men...what can you actually do with men? Work? I guess fishing for followers is a better reason.

Mark tells us about Jesus great miracles. "And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." (1:42) Cleaning a leprose, resurrecting a girl, and multiplying bread and fish to thousands of people. He just did miracles like any day routine. He would just say "I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; in so much that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion." (2:11-12) It turns out to be that miracles are the new fashion now.

Leaving my bad knowldege of my own religion aside, I still couldnt beleive that Jesus could only get faith through people by just miracles. His apostles did not understand what Jesus would say, until he made another miracle. When Jesus suddenly came walking on the water towards them, they finally realized that this dude was powerful.

A Crown Of Thorns

The Gospel According to St. John Chapters 14-21

Death can never be taken easy, and the one who does, is just weird. Every time I think of death, I can never imagine how it really is. As many books describe, first they feel lots of pain (usually they are killed) and suddenly inner peace. But how is an author supposed to know how death feels like? You can only live once.

Knowing you have to die is obvious, everybody dies, but no one knows when. Jesus, predicts his own death since he predicts Judas betrayal. Before, Jesus had said " Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (6:71)It turned out to be that the devil was Judas. "Judas then, having received a band of menand officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons." (18:3) His betrayal was Jesus's ticket to death. Even though Jesus knew, I guess he must have been scared, especially knowing what was waiting for him.

Pilate's decision was very hard. "What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all". (18:38)After he decided he wouldn't choose, he let the people choose over Barabbas, an evil maniac murder and robber. "Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber." (18:40) I guess people prefer having a robber in their houses than a man who hasn't sinned at all.

Right in this part, where Pilate was thinking of Jesus fate was were I first saw the Passion of Christ. Through the movie, we could see Jesus suffering, and we also suffered with him. It was terrible, how the soldiers treated him, and how the people would believe in doing this. I still cant believe that such people could do such evil. Then, we saw Da Vinci's Code. The angel who had saved a monk once would kill, and then he would torture himself with the whips that also tortured Jesus.

What most freaks me out is the Christ's many people usually have. Why do they always have to put suffering? There it is, Jesus, with a crown full of thorns, his hands bleeding with needles, and his whole body whipped and weak. I cant believe people can sleep with that scene on their heads or in front of them.

Lord Of The Platforms

The Gospel According to St. John Chapters 6-13

After many miracles like turning water into wine and things like that, Jesus continues his quest, I guess the quest of the people finding love for God.He may have done miracles, but he also created enemies. The Jews, they were furious with him. Claiming he was the son of God, and that he himself was the Holly Word.

No matter how many miracles Jesus would make, the Jew would think it was a scam. He was even being persecuted by the Jews. "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him." (7:1)I think that by that time many people would think it is weird. Is like a guy walking around saying he is the son of God and King of the Jews. In this time, everyone would see it as a joke, or as a loon who is trying find and answer. It is like an episode in Dr. House were a fifteen year old kid claimed he was God's messenger. He was an orator and was trying to purify himself by only drinking water. He also came singing creepy sounds through the hallway while he had seizures. He also cured a woman with cancer, or at least the tumor had gotten smaller. Anyways, the boy turned out to be lying. He was actually purifying himself since he had herpes.

In this case, Jesus could be that guy, instead, he did make real miracles like walking over water, resurect Lazarus and curing a blind guy. "When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing". (9:6-7)After these great miracles, the Jews should notice that Jesus is not crazy or a scam. I also saw a program of Magic's Secrets Finally Revealed, were the magician would walk over water. It turned out to be that the trick was based on some transparent platforms in which he walked and some swimmers would swim beneath it. Cheater. Even so, in this case, I guess Jesus didn't have any assistant's, or transparent platforms.

Baptized For The First Time

The Gospel According to St. John Chapters 1-5

St. John, baptized people in the river. Suddenly, he heard that Jesus also was baptizing. It sounded like competition, but instead, St. John went with Jesus. Somehow he knew Jesus was the Holly Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". (1:1) John knew everything about Jesus, his birth and miracles. Not mentioning he actually baptized Jesus. "After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized".(3:22)

While they mentioned baptism, I immediately remember a picture which came in our first bible right on the moment when Jesus was being baptized. I recalled that in that exact moment, I wasn't baptized at all. I was baptized one week before our first Communion. Irresponsible parents, but actually, it wasn't their fault.

When we were about to be born, my grandfather's brother who was the priest who would baptize us, died. So my parents actually forgot we were never baptized through that period of time. We continued our lives being catholic, but not actually being catholic. I remembered I felt like an outcast in religion class since everybody had already been baptized. I was about eight years old, and I had no idea what they talked about. I also remembered our religion teacher always saying that we should get baptized. I was on third grade, and we were doing the preparation for the first Communion, without being baptized. One week before, my parents finally got the chance, and we went to the church and have water spilled in our heads. "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized".(3:23) I thought it would be more exciting.
My god-parents never came. The great encouraging words of my grandfather was about his brother's death before our birth, and the small celebration we had in our grandfather's house. That week was holly:

Monday: Baptized (finally)
Wednesday: Ceremony of Light
Saturday: First Communion

I must be very special since I can actually remember my baptize. Not mentioning Jesus was also baptized when he was an adult.

Knock Out

Tao Te Ching Chapter 48-83

K.O for Confucius. After a long fight between better ideas (and some boxing and fighting meanwhile) with his last source of energy, Tao makes a quick move, avoiding Confucius direct blow. Tao ducks and with all his might, he punches Confucius right on the face. Stumbling backwards the opponent goes. And there he goes directly to the floor. 10,9,8...5,4,3,2,1 Knock Out! We have a new winner, Tao.

Even so, Tao and Confucius had some similar key words. For example, VIRTUE, is the source of everything. " This is known as the Virtue of not striving". (74 pg.76) Many other words were referred such as Filial, and Goodness. Apparently, being a good son and having a good father-son relationship is of extreme importance.

Tao' teaching's really impacted me. They were clearer, and in some way, I liked it best. I think Tao focuses more on the realistic world. What it says is real, it happens and I see it all the time each day. "Happiness is rooted in misery. Misery lurks beneath happiness. Who knows what the future holds? There is no honesty. Honesty becomes dishonest. Goodness becomes witchcraft. Man's bewitchment lasts for a long time". (58 pg.60) There is no real honesty. No one can say they are an honest person. There is no such thing as that! Everyone, EVERYONE lies. Nobody says the truth. Our world is a huge hole of misery. No one will ever be happy, never. It is a cycle, someone is sad, someone tries to cheer it up, then they end up sad, or say some kind of lies to cheer the person up. Anyways, it doesn't work. Us, humans are evil! EVIL,EVIL. Evil is backwards to LIVE. We LIVE by EVIL.

A Perfect World

Tao Te Ching Chapters 29-47

Throughout this reading, I have realized that Tao, shows the world as it is. It doesn't show us any hope of such and impossible thing like doing something or being something. " Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it? I do not believe it can be done". (29 pg.30). It is impossible to change society. Thousands of different ways of thinking, and which is right? Nothing is right, we don't even know what is right. The only reason we know this is because some so called wise man thought he knew how to change the world. He supposedly knew what is the difference form good and evil.

Now, all of us have this different perspective of everything,and we think we know it all. In the end, everybody ends up dead. " The universe is sacred. You cannot improve it. If your try to change it, you will ruin it. If you try to hold it, you will lose it". (29 pg.30) It is impossible to change. How hard is it just to teach people how to recycle, or to save water? People don't even notice that their fate is int heir hands. Even so, no one can change it.

Mankind is greedy, selfish and arrogant, such as Tao says. It is never enough for anybody, no exceptions! Everyone will always feel jealousy, anger or desire. There is no greater sin than desire, No greater curse than discontent, No greater misfortune than wanting something. Therefore he knows that enough is enough will always have enough". (46pg.48) Supposedly this is what makes us humans. Our greatness for feeling. Imagine how the world would be like if we would all be perfect? Well, duh! No one would know what is a perfect world since we will never live on it. It could be good, or bad. It may be much cooler. I question myself, why is there always a " Happily Ever After"? Isn't that a perfect ending? Wouldn't people want this happily ever after?

Tao Vs. Confucius Round 1

Tao Te Ching Chapters 13-28

I definitely like best Tao than Confucius. If I would have to choose between those two, I would definitely choose Tao. His teachings are more clear. He even responds with enthusiasm and clarity. Not like the arrogant tone of Confucius. " Is it not understanding?" (Analects 15:24) That simply says: Are you stupid? It is as simple as this. Well, no one is a wise man chosen from the heavens. Duh.

" Accept disgrace willingly. Accept misfortune as the human condition". (13 pg.15) I like this quote since it basically says, relax, chill, everything will be fine, if you learn to accept it. Even so, the great difference between Tao and Confucius, is that at least Tao explains when he asked. " What do you mean by 'Accept disgrace willingly"? Accept being unimportant. Do not be concerned with loss or gain. This is called"accepting disgrace willingly".

A hard blow on the face to Confucius. Not only did Tao explain so well, but he also made a great point. Many people have the desire to be something. Make a difference to the world. Everyone says we may be little, but we make a huge difference. That is a bunch of lies. We should all land straight to the ground. Nobody cares of such a person, and no own will ever be somebody. Just a few, but that is because they are really but really good. This quote made me feel great, since instead of trying, it only landed me back to the ground, and not worrying on trying.

Even though if I try, I wont have high expectations since I know how to fail. " Misfortune comes from having a body. Without a body, how could there be misfortune? Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things. Love the world as your own self: then you can truly care for all things". (13 pg.15) Another great explanation from Tao. Fortunately for me, I realize I wont have to bother caring for others.

Another Point Of View

Tao Te Ching Chapters 1-12

The Tao is very different to Confucianism. If you compare, they are totally different. Obviously they have some similarities like respect, but in other ways, it differs.

I realized I like more the teachings from Tao. It impacted me just at the beginning. " The Tao that can be told is not an eternal Tao". (1 pg.3)It doesn't show any superiority or such an arrogant way of teaching such as Confucianism. Confucius, thinks he is right ans he will always be right. He also thinks he says the soul truth and knows the meaning of "Goodness". In this case, Tao, is not superficial or arrogant at all. It says that Tao has infinite teachings, but he doesn't, see people in a lower way. " The wise are impartial; the see people as straw dogs".(5 pg.7)

Confucius feel himself superior to everyone, since he was chosen by the heavens. Even so, Tao says "Heaven and earth last forever. Why do heaven and earth last forever? They are unborn. So ever living. The sage stays behind, thus his is ahead. He is detached, thus at one with all. Trough selfless actions, he attains fulfillment".(7 pg.9) He says that sages are good, but not as Confucius who doesn't show any detachment at all. Until now, I think he is nor gallant nor great. I think he is just a show-off who turns out to be that know it all.

In Tao, women is respected. She is even considered important. " Opening and closing the gates of heaven. Can you play the role of woman?". (10 pg.12) Instead, Confucius don't even give her rights. He even compares her to servants! He feels women are especially inferior than him, and they are only able to raise babies. Instead, the female part in Tao is also sacred. " The valley spirit never dies; I is the woman, primal mother. Her gateway is the root of heaven and earth. It is like a veil barely seen. Use it: it will never fail." (6 pg.8)

If It Works For Brady, It Doesnt Work For Me

The Scopes Trial claimed that B.T Cates, a public school teacher was arrested for teaching Darwin.

In the small town were this teacher lived, was extremely faithful in God. According to Darwin, we came from the Homo sapiens, or as many others thought, monkeys. According to The Bible in the Genesis " And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth". (Gen.1:26)

In this case, Darwin shows that man is not superior or the image of God, it is just an animal, an ordinary living thing. It is an extreme offense to humans, and Mr. Cates is spreading it to young students. But how are we supposed to know the truth? According to our presidential candidate, Matthew Brady, the Bible is everything. We all need faith in it, in the church and in God. Even so, who says Brady is God's messenger? Who says Brady has the power to choose whether to teach Darwin or not? Does God whisper his ideas to Brady? Through his campaigns, many posters would say
"Brady is the Man of God". Who chose him anyway?

I am defending the Mr. Cates, since he didn't commit any serious crime. It is true he was teaching Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Even so, if he can’t teach Darwin, couldn't he teach Copernicus too?

How can’t we believe Darwin and we can believe the Bible? If supposedly what the Bible says is the soul truth, then we will all be able to live thousands of years, and most of the human race should not exist. "And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.(Gen5:31:32)It is impossible that a man of 500 years old may have three more child, and much more".

The Bible doesn’t have any meaning in time. Where does it say that a day was of twenty-four hours? If these Bible saints lived thousands of years, then each day may last one hour. Ironically, time was invented by Arabs, not God. God doesn’t even have notion of time. We just know that we have seven days. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made". (Gen.2:3). Instead, Darwin does have proof of his theory. Fossils of past humans have been found in Africa, such as the earliest man, Lucy (actually female).

The Bible shows many miracles, such as the flood in Noah's Arch (which was really a curse).

It is actually impossible that a great flood had occurred on earth, and that one single man, could get a pair of living things that crept on earth, and fit them all in an arch for forty-days, and forty nights.
"Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female". (Gen6.14-19) No man can ever take care of thousands of animals. By the way, they are animals, and they live by their instinct. A hungry lion easily has its prey on board, with no escape at all.

With no evolution, no one would have been able to write the Bible. We just didn’t pop up and appear from nowhere. "And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch". (Gen4.17). Where did this wife come from? According to the Bible, Adam and Eve were the only human beings on earth. They had only two sons at the beginning, Cain and Abel. Suddenly, Cain's wife appears. Where did she come from? If there had been more people, the Bible should have said so. At least it could say that she was Adam and Eve's daughter, but she just appeared from nowhere.

Another important point where the Bible is defective is in reproduction. Supposedly it is a sin, but how are we supposed to procreate? Even God said: "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it..." (Gen1:28). It is contradicted by itself.

Instead, what really separates us from monkeys and animals is our thumb which eventually led to our capability of our advance. Our human mind made us do all this.
We have invented cars, radios, phones. If none of this has been mentioned in the Bible, will this be an act of the Devil? Where does it say that we can’t evolve? If we’ve been extremely faithful to the Bible, we would continue living in tents with no electricity at all.

Darwin’s theories never affected anyone. It was not an act of the devil, or a sinful act. The students never experienced any damage, just knowledge. Separating religion with school may be a great way to continue progressing. Anything that the church will find disapproving may be a great source of learning. Who says that the church can do what they want. It doesn’t say specifically that teachers should not teach Darwin’s theory since Darwin is the devil. In a way, we should abandon our faith in order to progress. We have advanced in such a fast way, that Bible teachings are now being left behind. It is not being against God, but we can’t base our studies in stories. The Bible is a book, but it is not our history.

Very Wise And Stupid

Confucius Essential Analects Book 15, 17, 18

While Confucius and Yan Hui were in the battlefield it reminded me of Krishna and Arjuna, while Krishna taught Arjuna into making the right decision. What still makes me question everyone is, how do they know if it right or not? If Arjuna went into the battle he would kill thousands, and only his honor will live. What difference will it make to Yan Hui? Why do they like Confucius so much?

" A child is completely dependent upon the care of his parents for the first three years of life ". ( Book 17 17.21) I thought children are dependent until they are seven. At least for me, I only have memories when I was seven. I even started with my own personality when I was seven, but below that number, I don't remember anything.

" Women and servants are particularly hard to manage: if you are too familiar with them, they grow insolent, but if you are too distant with them, they grow resentful". (Book17 17.25) I agree with this quote even though it insults women. I know it is true, since I am a woman myself, and this kinds of familiarizing and distant does have a same reaction. But I cant connect it with servants.

"Only the very wise and the very stupid do not change". (Book 17 17.3) This quote doesn't make sense, since until now, I see Confucius as the great, as the wisest and greatest. By the way he compares wisdom with stupidity, I guess it is not a very good comparison. it means he would be mocking himself, since he would never change. I guess it is to change to new ideas. In this case, his ideas.

Nothing But The Truth

Confucius Essential Analects Books 7,8,11

I continue reading with a great pain in the neck (since the book is backwards) I continue thinking about Confucius as an ordinary person. What makes him superior from us? From anyone? What makes him think that what he says is the soul truth and a holly word? " It is Heaven itself that has endowed me with virtue. What have I to fear from the likes of Huan Tui?" (Book7 7.23)

This guy reminds me of my 94 year-old grandfather. Not mentioning he is an elder, he is also THE MAN. Everything, everything he says is a holy word. It may be the stupidest thing ever said in history. For example, before we were to go to a swimming tournament, were we had to swim 400m freestyle. We had lunch in their house since they lived near the pool. Anyways, he came with the brilliant idea that " Alexander the Great drowned in a pool after eating too much lunch". We had shortly studied Alexander, so we new, that no one knew exactly how he died. We thought it was a joke at first, but it came out he was firm with his answer, no matter how stupid it was.

First: No one actually knew what happened to him, he could have food poisoning which made more sense, or murdered.

Second: Were there any pool back then? But for my grandfather, it is the soul truth, and we shall all be overwhelmed by his wisdom and knowledge.

No matter how many theories of Alexander's death we said, he never changed his mind, and he will never do. So I compare him to Confucius, since both think they are superior and know EVERYTHING, and there is no one on the whole earth that my prove them wrong. "The common people can be made to follow it, but they cannot be made to understand it." (Book 8 8.9)

What Is Goodness?

Confucius Essential Analaects Books 4,5,6.

What is Goodness? I ask, throughout my reading. What is the truth of Goodness? What does Confucius think he is saying what is right or wrong? What is Good? What lacks Goodness?

After reading the Bible's teaching, I started comparing many things while reading the Analects. What I see is that the Confucius is based more on morality. Respect in our society and what is supposedly Good. " To live in the neighborhood of the Good is fine. If one does not choose to dwell among those who are Good. how will one obtain wisdom?" (Book4 4.1) How do we know what is Good? What is the true meaning of Good? We can live in a place filled with "Good" people. But that is what they think they are. They could actually be terrible, dreadful, but since we stay in that "neighborhood", then, it is Good for us?

I think the meaning of Good has been formatted by society. Now and then, the "Good" people are the ones who do social work, and do things to help society. That is being a "Good" person now.

Everyone says that we should be Good. Good in our school, in life and with people. But what is the real meaning? I am so lost! Right now we just follow what society thinks that is "Good", is it? "Wealth and social eminence are things that all people desire, and yet they are acquired in the proper way I will not abide them. Poverty and disgrace are things that people hate, and yet unless they are avoided in the proper way I will not despise them." (Book4 4.5)If people that have everything are "good"? Would it mean that poverty is bad? Why do people want wealth so much? To have a "Good" life. With poverty and disgrace you suffer and live no "Good". What is so ironic also is that people say " Happiness is not about how much money or things you have". Until now, I just see a thirst for wealth. Not only wealth referring to money, but wealth of wisdom, of spirit and mind. Everyone wants to be a star. Everyone wants to be perfect.

According to Confucius "The wise take joy in river, while Good take joy in mountains. The wise are active, while the Good are still. The wise are joyful while the Good are long-living." (Book6 6.23) What I understand form this teaching is that Good, is superior to wisdom. While wisdom is in a river, down below, the Good is on top, in a mountain. Not mentioning that the rivers come from mountains. Then it could mean that wisdom comes from Goodness.

Anyways, I dont think there is a true meaning for Goodness. Even so, Confucius has his strict way of thinking. According to him, we should all think just like him, and there will be a better world. Right now, I think Goodness is as anyone thinks or has been taught as it is.

Sing Along Songs

Psalm 23,42,51,137

After reading the Psalms, I had never made such a great connection with songs. I imagine many artists got this verses in their songs. I still cant believe it. For example, The Offspring, a punk band, using Bible verses? Seriously, this citation, is in the song Hammerhead! "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me".(23 Psalms 23:4) It is right at the end of the song, when the cool bass is playing. St first, I thought, they were so creative and it was so weird they used words such as art, or thou.

There are also more such as "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion".(137 Psalms 137:1)I had heard the song before, but I don't remember the title. Even so, I am sure I had hear the lyrics before. Maybe the part of Zion was changed. Anyways, until now, two songs with verses of the Bible? I had heard funny church songs. One, even had the rhythm of Hey Jude and Let It Be.

What I still cant believe is David's actions. He knows he has sinned, but he just asks for forgiveness. "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness He even promises Gods more altars and burnt offerings.( Psalms 51:14)Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar." (Psalms 51:19)I think it is more like a bribe. I think he should accept his punishment, since he did commit a grave sin. Why should he receive special treatment. Then people will sin and just offer more bent offerings and continue sinning.


This citations made me think too. After reading Night, Elie Wiesel also made me think of the existence of God. I have been questioning a long time ago, but now, reading Night and the Bible, it has me thinking more and more.
42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
42:3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
42:10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Absolute Power Never Ends Up Well

The Second Book of Samuel Chapters 2-18

The power may even destroy such a normal person as David. He became the great king of Philistine, and then he went on to conquer Israel, his former city. Since he won the respect of all Israelite people, he had no problem, at first.

It wasn't his people that destroyed David, it was his own family, his sons. With his wife Micah, David had two sons named Absalom and Amnon. Absalom slayed his brother, and then, he turned all Israel against David.

David was already loosing his mind. He committed adultery with a woman. I thought that the Ten Commandments said that people shouldn't commit adultery or want the neighbours wife. In this case, David just sinned in two of this commandments. Shouldn't be God like, furious? Even what David did, he sent his lover's wife to die at battle and then get her for him. "And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD". (2 Samuel 11:27)

I liked Nathan's way of telling what David had just done. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.(2 Samuel 12:4) Even so, David loathed him then, but Nathan was right! David had just sinned gravely, and he thought he would get out of this without being punished.

Humble David

First Book of Samuel Chapters 17- Second Book of Samuel Chapter 2.

Israel needed a king, since Saul had turned out to be a mess. Even though Saul did a great job at the beginning, he failed by not using a priest in a battle. So it was Samuel's turn again to go and find another king. God does have a lot of expectations in people.

As David, perfect David, he came along as just a simple harp player. Meanwhile, Saul was in great depression since he was about to be overthrowed of his throned. It must be really hard after so long, having to leave his place. If I were him, I would be furious with myself since it was Saul's only fault for not listening to God. Remember that God is very sensitive, and not listening to him may cost you your fate.

Since the Philistines wanted revenge, they brought their best fighting weapon, Goliath the giant." And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me".(1 Samuel 17:4-8)Onlly David, the harp guy,was able to defeat the giant. It is so impressive, it is if like the "water boy" in a soccer match made the last goal. David, a simple harp guy, defeating the Goliath, which by his description, he looked undefeitable.

It was a frotunate even for the people of Israel, but it was a disaster for Saul. Who knew that just a simple harp boy would become in his bitter enemy. Suddenly the water boy turned out to be Messi.

Uncertainty

The Book Of Job 38-42

After finally finishing the book of Job I only had two thoughts, it was too long, and there were too many speeches! The story was basically Job's suffering for God's love, since Satan told God that it wasnt true love. Even so, God did punish Job, and would not let him die.

After a debate and speeches from Eliphaz and the other two guys I cant pronoucne their names, then came God's turn to speak. I couldnt understand what Lord God would say. It was so long and extremely confusing. What I did understand is that finally God forgave him, since Job finally cursed over God. If it is right what I understood, it doesnt make any sense. First, God punishes Job for loving him too much, and now, he forgives him for cursing on him. God doesnt only forgive him, he blesses him with gifts."Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold".(Job 4211)

What is the problem with God? How are people supposed to love him if he only curses to the good and blesses others? The QUESTion of Why is life unfair, may be answered by God, or he knows something we dont.

Even so, fianlly Job may rest in peace, since finally, he was allowed to die.
"So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses". (Job 42:12)

Back To The Basics

Reflective Blog Entry

I have been re-reading my past posts. I realized that at the beggining, they were more summaries than real connections to the book. Even so, each time I started having more experience while writing, I have become more flexible, and not just think of what the chapter was about, but the meaning of what I was reading. I started comparing each time more and more with other books and life experiences. I already knew how to use citations to support my opinions since in Ap. Spanish we did a lot of it.

Some of the reading was too long (e.g Exodus), but dedicating my time and even trying to understand the story wihtout involving what the religion class wanted us to see the of the story. Even though I made a lot of connections with the movie of Moses, I understood more symnbols than before since now I start having a different persepective about God as a characterof a book, and not as God as the most powerful. I have been reaidng the Bible as any story, not as the Bible.

What I know that I should fix is proofreading before posting. Sometimes, sentences or words may be wrongly written, or I may say something which I didnt meant. Revising may help me fix some grave spelling mistakes, or even express myself better.

There Is No God

The Book of Job Chapter 11-37


The faithful man that served God. The one who continued following even after loosing all his posessions and even all of his seven sons. Job, the man who sheved his head and tore up his clothes trying to accept death. And God left him to Satan.

It was cruel and heartless. The man had lost everything, his life, his sons, but he still lived. Even so, God, did not notice it was enough, instead, he let Satan have him, consume him in cruelty. Job adored God, God would destroy his house. Job still adored God, God would send him boils. Even so Job will continue adoring God "No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you".(Job 12:2). He did not curse God and die, as his wife had told him in the speech. Instead, he would continue scrathcing his old and boiled skin.

Through Job's story, I started having my doubts about God. I couldnt beleive that he was capable of doing this to a wealthy old man. He was wealthy, and he may fear God, but at least he was mercyful and would be far away from evil. I think it is better to love with fear than commiting deaths and crimes. God may be mad since Satan told him that Job served him with fear, but at least he wasnt evil. Who cares if he really loved him or not? There were plenty of human beings around to truly love him. "With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding".(Job 12:13). If God has counsel and understanding, why wouldnt he understand Job's situation?

I was petrified whil reading poor Job's fate, but what it made it hard to read were all this speeches. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar made really long speeches, but sometimes they were very boring. It also made ne think that it looked more like a debate defending Job's situation. Even so, at the end, he ended up cursing God, and finally dying.

It would be so hard to continue believeing in God after such things. It makes me remember Night, when Elie was questioning God's existence. When he mentioned that when Adam and Eve ate the apple, God expulsed them form Eden, when God didnt like Noah's generation, he drowned them all, and with the Jews in the war. They would continue adoring him, even though they were all living in great suferring that their only hope now was death. They take their houses, kill their family, starve them, make them live in fear, until they curse God and die.It is like Job's story.

A Trial Of Faith

The Book Of Job Chapters 1-10

A wealthy man with a healthy family and a good life, his name, Job, his mission, suffer.

I begin this entry with the a question form the QUESTions:

Why is life unfair?

A man that abstains from evil, but feared God. "and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil".(Job 1:1) Even though he had everything, he kept making offerings to God, in case his sons felt evil, and to forgive his sins. I don't blame Job, who isn't scared of God. He is so delicate and sensitive, that in any moment he may kill us all in a blink of an eye. You don't agree on what he says, and he will send you famine and hell on you. Each time I think God is like a lady, furious. Furious if they don't pay attention to him/her, jealous if others prefer another God, and evil since they make life miserable.
Until now, God hasn't been a really good guy.

Job, trying to be a good citizen,as everyone. He gets to be evaluated by God, since there must have been something wrong with him. As God is like a woman, he has to see if Job is truthful or not since a woman hates being lied to. "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?".(Job 1:9)" Suddenly, our great companion Satan, evil and all, rats Job away. He controls God's thoughts saying: "Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land".(Job 1:10)

I still cant believe God left Job at the mercy of Satan. A good man, a man with no intentions of evil at all, with all the sufferings of the world. "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD".(Job 1:12) All of his sons died, his house fell, and there lay he naked in the ground as the day he was bared, trying to prove his faith to God.

How could God take part of this? How dare him command this? Job, with his faith up high, and then crushed by the same God.

The Burning Bush

Exodus Chapters 3-20

I still remember the story of Moses. They showed it on religion class. I am still impressed form that movie. I can even confess that I had sleepless nights for so many nightmares. That was third grade of course.

While he was in Mt. Sinai watching the flock, a bush suddenly turn into flames. "And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed". (Exodus 3:3)It must be pretty weird the scene of a guy watching a bush burn. But not only watching, talking to it. In my place, I would go running away in fear. If the bush suddenly talks to me, I would be quite concerned thinking like,"what have I been drinking?" "And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I".(Exodus 3:5)I would be so confused, that even I would thin, "Here who?". It is a very awkward situation.

I still don't understand the reason everyone hates so much the Egyptians. In every story, in every book, the Egyptians are the evil ones. In this case, this emperor was evil, and stupid. I guess evil is what the Bible wants us to think, since it is form the Bible's point of view. But stupid, it is true. How is it that the emperor doesn't realize that it is enough. Ten plagues! That is way too much. He should think for the fate of his people, his nation, and the cattle! How did they suffer.

Moses comes back to Egypt, all trained by the burning bush, ready to free his people. I guess the emperor didn't care much for the stick who turned to a serpent, since the magicians could do it also. But after the flies, the locusts, the river, the boils and death of cattle, I think he should have enough. "And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go". (Exodus 9:7)He is so bitter hearted, but his brain should tell him that the best solution is freeing the children of Israel.

It is so weird that Moses fights against his "brother", the emperor. I also find it weird of Moses attacking his people, since he also grew in Egypt. I agree that the Hebrews were slaves, but, Moses was betraying his own family. At least the family he grew on. How could he do this to his "mother"? She rescued him. She took him as her child. Instead, Moses does whatever a talking bush wills.

Even so, the Bible tells us that the Hebrews were the good characters, and the Egyptians were evil as always. Who knows if the children of Israel did want to be free? They almost died trying to get to the "Promised Land". Anyways, it is the Bible as it is.

Favoritism: Bad For Your Health

Genesis Chapters 25-35

Finally, Abraham dies! I could not wait more until this moment, when they finally will never mention him again. But before dying, he had taken another wife replacing Sarah. "And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah".(Gen.25 2) He had a six more sons, until he finally died at 137 years old. When he and Sarah bared Isaac, he was supposedly old aged. So what does the six other sons mean? Did he mysteriously find the youth well, and came back for more action? If we do the counting right, Sarah died at 127, and he died at 137. Too much action for only ten years. Was there rest for Keturah, his second wife?

Now with Abraham finally gone, it is Isaac's turn. His wife bared him two children, and I still don't get why there is still favoritism. Isaac loves Esau, and Rebekah loves Jacob. "And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
[31]And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. Esau turned out selling his birthright to Jacob for food. (Gen.25 30-31) This, will turn into a big problem.

Since Favoritism came in the way, when supposedly Esau was about to be blessed for hunting. Isaac was already old age, even though I don't know what old age means for this characters, 200 years? Instead, Rebekah cheated in making Jacob go in place of Esau and receiving Isaac's blessing. "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob".(Gen.28 41)Obviously, Jacob had to run out of the country. But what else could he do? He has been fighting with his brother since he was in the womb of his mother.

What I still don't understand, is how many children can one person procreate, specially with so many women. It is so funny that just for jealousy, Rachel would give her servant to have a child with Jacob, and then her sister, would give her other servant for more children. " And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
[17] Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
[18] And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter".(Gen.29 16,17,18)
Supposedly Jacob loved so much Rachel, and having to be with her sister at the same time, makes it really awkward. Jacob turned out to be a Playboy.

The New Kid In The Block: Isaac

Genesis 21

So we continue with the long lasting Abraham. Since he lives so much and he is so special to Lord God, now he has another mission. This time, Sarah, will bare him a child, at old age. Not considering that the risk of dying is really high, and that both are extremely old and wrinkled, God wants form them another child. As if there were not enough annoying children in the world. "And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him".(Gen.21 5)Now, the new son which is kind of freaky since their parents are like his grandparents, he is now Isaac.

Abraham reminds me of my grandfather of ninety four years old. Obviously by the time he got married he wasn't that old, but he was old. He is twenty five years older than my grandmother, and still, they got married and they have six children and like thousands of grandchildren, us included. But the point here is not the children, but when did he had them. He was forty five years old when he was married, and incredibly, his last child was when he was like sixty! Seriously, it is like giving birth to his own grandchild. Freaky.

So Isaac grows, and keeps growing. As Abram was commanded, he should circumcised his boy. Awkward in one way. "And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him'.(Gen. 21 4)I saw the definition, and ended up freaked.
Even so, they also forgot about someone very important, Ishmael. It is true he is not the son of Sarah, but he is son of Abraham. He like forgot about him, since now Isaac is the favorite one. "And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called".(Gen.21 12)Favoritism is not good. It almost provoked the death of the little lad."And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept".(Gen.21 16)

A Pillar of Salt

Genesis 17-24

As everybody lives extremely long time, the story of Abram continues. Now, he is not Abram but Abraham, just as his wife Sarai, now she is Sarah. So Abraham's quest is to go to another land and make it all mighty, but now, her wife, which wasn't meant to have children, will now bare him a child named Isaac. Its kind of funny that a woman who was not meant to be mother, suddenly was because the Lord God wanted to. I still cant believe that such a old woman was able to bare one. Specially when they said that she died of 127 years old. "And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah". (Gen.23 1)
I guess all the characters of the Bible have made some World Records in terms of living.

I remember watching a movie about Lot. I still remember when he was told that the city would be destroyed, but I do not recall that angels appeared in "human" form. I still cant believe that they weren't able to find more than ten noble men. "Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
[25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.".( Gen.19 25-26)

I thought God knew that all men were born evil, and he would never kill so many people like in the flood. At least Lot and his family had the chance to leave the city, but the wife did look backwards, and was turned into salt. "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt".(Gen.19 26)
It reminded me of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus had the chance to take his lover back with him, with the only condition of not looking back. It was so simple, at least he didn't have to fight in a life or death match. Foolishly, he did look backwards, and Hermes took his wife away. In this case, Lot's wife looked back, and she was "taken" away for ever.

The Curse Of Beauty

Genesis Chapters 10-16

After the flood, there was a whole new generation brought by the sons of Noah, Shem, Japeth and Ham. I still think that Hm is such a cool name. Even so, it is incredible that only six people (each son with their wife's) could restore the human race form zero, since everyone else died in the flood. Even so, the flood was so unnecessary since this generation is also evil. This means, that all humans are evil. What a shame.

After many people and sons and daughters that I will never remember, came Abram. By that time, people were now divided into cities with different language, which made the Lord angry since it was supposed to be "And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech". (Gen.11 1) So after another failure, the Lord went to another person, in this case Abram. Why does the Lord go specially into specific people and usually the rest are evil? Why is that person so great and so good that receives all the Lord's attention? I think that the Lord back then was hoping to make a good nation since man itself was a great disappointment for him. "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
[2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
[3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed". (Gen.12 1,2,3)

Even so, Abram's wife is so beautiful in other mens eyes. So God tells him to say that it is her sister. With no idea whatsoever, the men would declare to her, and they would all end up cursed and having to pay Abram with cattle and wealth. "The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
[16] And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels."(Gen.12 15,16)
Supposedly Sarai was only his sister, so the poor Pharaoh had no idea she was already married. It wasnt his fault! "And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife".( Gen. 12: 17)

Now Abram wants a child, but Sarai is not able to bare one, so she gives Abram her maid, which does bare a child, making Saria furious, since it was not hers.
"And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai".(Gen.16 2) It was so foolish of Sarai to give the maid her husband. Women are jealous, and who said Sarai wasn't. Obviously, as men are so stupid, he did take the maid. If he would truly love Sarai, he would have forgotten the children, and have her as she is.

Think Before You Act

Genesis Chapters 3-9

As I dedicate the first part of the Genesis to the most boring movie in history ever since, I finally arrive to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When the woman, got to the tree, the serpent had a human face hidden behind the leaves of the trees, since the director mentioned in the previous blog, didn't know how to make a serpent act. As Adam receives the fruit with no question at all, which is kind of stupid being since he knew he shouldn't eat from the tree. As he eats, nonchalantly, he sees, that he is naked. "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons".(Gen.3 7)I didn't know, they knew how to sew, but in the movie, they came with leaves as God called them, "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?". (Gen.3 9) As Adam answers "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself". (Gen.3 10) It was so foolish saying that. He practically gave in, just by saying he was naked. But what is even worse is how he betrays the woman."And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat".(Gen.3 12)If I were Eve, I would like kill him. Even though she did fall for the snake's lie and she deserved the worse punishment, but the fool of Adam should have stopped her, and he ate the fruit without even thinking the great mistake he had done.

I still don't get how did humans were able to multiply. Adam and Eve had two sons, and then what? Even if they had more children it would be hard to multiply since supposedly, there cant be a son of the same kin. Anyways, Cain killed his brother, and in a far way land, he met a woman which became his wife and had children, not mentioning that they all lived about 300 hundred years, were did that woman appear in first place? "And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch". (Gen.4 17)He also started a city just like that. Weren't Adam and Eve the first humans, and they only had two sons in the beginning?

After thousands of generations, they finally reach Noah. It is when God decides randomly to "And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them".(Gen.6 7)I think God shouldn't take such quick decisions since in the end He said "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neithes r will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done".(Gen.8 21)

I incorporated this video which shows Noah's Arch interpreted by Disney's Fantasia 2000. As it shows all the animals in pairs, the dragons and the unicorns stay laughing behind. No wonder why they don't exist anymore.

Let There Be Light: And There Was Light

Genesis Chapters 1 and 2

While reading the first chapters of the Genesis, it immediately reminded me of Spring Break. Since it is such as special week, since it was Jesus death, there was a marathon of Catholic movies. There were such as The Bible, Great Stories of the Bible, The Day Jesus Died and the Passion of Christ. The Bible, directed Dino de Lauretis, could be the worse movie ever. Not mentioning this particular director is like the famous for being such a bad director.Since we only had two TV channels available, and both had the same movies, we had no other choice but to watch.

It all began, with the Genesis, with the " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth".(Gen.1 1)Half an hour later, and it continued in the same stuff,as the earth and heavens were being created. Then,the narrator, with its extremely boring tone would say "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light".(Gen.1 3)

So it continued as Adam suddenly appeared since special effects were not good back in that time. " And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul". (Gen.2 7)As mentioned before, the movie extremely old, so the music, and the translation which was in Spanish from Spain, was all mixed up in a series of weird sounds.

What I still don't get is, how did the earth and the heavens be created so easily? God says that he wants light, and he has light. How easy is that? It sounds like if life wouldn't be that complicated at all. I could even try " And let there no more homework or tests" but unfortunately, it will never happen.