A Family of Freedom Fighters

Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah, and was the object of King David's affection. Her story starts with David taking a walk on the roof of his palace, when he saw Bathsheba bathing, after that he was instantly obsessed with her. Later King David slept with Bathsheba and concieved a child with him. Fearing an accusation of adultery David called Uriah back from war to see his wife, and possibly to sleep with her so Uriah would believe that the child was his and not David's. Uriah refused to sleep with his wife because he did not want to vioate the Israelitish rule of the warrion in active service, so he planned to stay with the palace troops. Desperately, David gave an ordrer to his general, Joab, to abandon Uriah in battle to he hands of the enemy to be killed because if Uriah were killed David would be free to take Bathsheba as his own wife. According to Samuel's account, this action was displeasing to the Lord, who then sent the prophet Nathan to reprove the king. The king quickly apologized and repented, but as a result of his heinous action David's first child with Bathsheba died. They soon had another and named him Solomon.

Bathsheba was included in the family tree of Jesus to show that Jesus was the descendant of real people and not people given a false picture of saintliness, just because they're in the Bible. The story of Bathsheba shows that she was a real person because of her sins, but a normal person can lead up to great things, like her helping get to the birth of Jesus Christ himself. Without the act of cheating on her husband with David, Solomon would have never been born and become the next king, and then Solomon would have never reproduced, thus stopping the family tree and Jesus never being born. Bathsheba could have been seen as promiscuous for her actions, but they were necessary for her to stay alive in that society, because if a woman was not pregnant what were they worth in this time period. I feel that Bathsheba was included in the family tree because she was a real woman, and helped ensure the birth of Jesus, although he was a sinner she was a part of helping Jesus, the man who would take away our sins, to be born.

Note, sources were: wikipedia.org, jewishencyclopedia.com, and the library hard copy

Portfolio 1: What I Think I Can Achieve

In this class, like always i will strive for the A, but i think i may get a B because i may not be able to fully understand the full meaning of the parable until a day or two later when we're past it.

I, Tristan Jaé Medina, declare that I will try my hardest and apply myself to this class to reach for an A, and to be happy with my best.

Portfolio 1: Who is Jesus Really?

When I think of Jesus I think of stories of being a good person, then the Golden Rule suddenly pops into my head, also I think of his teachings being very repetitive in a non-repetitive way, like, many stories with one meaning. When it comes to Jesus I consider myself a follower of his lessons, but not of him. I believe in his lessons and how they apply to life, but I, myself, do not believe in his existense, I can believe that he lived, but not at all in the Resurrection. I feel this way because I am too logical, and probably too realistic of a thinker to believe that someone can die and magically come back to life. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in God, but just not in Jesus. I also believe his teachings are of great importance, but do not necessarily need to be told coming from Jesus himself. These teaching are beneficial coming from anyone in the world, and can be understood universally, but including Jesus' name in there lessons cause most of the world, who do not believe in Jesus, not to witness these lessons. With the conclusion of my blog I just as this question, "Why do we put such a high premium on Jesus' Name?"

Portfolio 1:Why We Tell Stories

The one story I keep hearing around my family is from my mother and it is about how she has had a very exciting childhood and about how she used those experiences as a growing tool, and how i can use them today. One story she would especially tell me was about her accidents as a little kid, and how she always had angels watching her as she grew up. There were many times where she would be doing crazy things, like climbing trees, where she would fall out of a branch about fifteen feet high, and walk away without anything but a scratch. She would keep telling me little stories like this at random times during the day and magically turn them into deep life changing lessons that I can apply to everyday life. Life that tree story, when she was done with the story she said that expectations are like climbing a tree set them high enough to where they are a challenge, but not too high, so if you fall you won't get too hurt. My family tells stories to help me become more mature, even if the stories are rediculous.