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.