So last weekend I was pretty busy working, I am glad I had a few good days this week. Monday I worked with a new patient, and the shift was good because we got along well. It is always good when your patient and their family is friendly and you work well together. Tuesday was Valentine's day and I spent most of the day home alone. I did some cleaning, organizing, and catching-up on TV shows I had missed over the weekend. I walked down the street in the afternoon to see a $5 movie. So that was a nice way to get exercise and relax at the movies.
Wednesday was a really good day for me. I woke up feeling well rested and have breakfast and coffee with my friend Priscilla. She has been going to my church for a little over a month and this was the first time we had hung out together outside of church. So it was really good to get to know each other just by talking nonstop for three hours!
After that I went to see my Chiropractor. I have a bad back and go in to see him about every other week. So it was a good visit in general.
When I got home I had a lovely Skype chat with my best friend Abby. We live so far from each other so these Skype dates are really helpful. We found out conversation entertaining this time. Her computer was showing my camera feed at a slow pace, slower than what was really happening. So her picture was slower than what she heard me saying. It was fun, it made her laugh a few times. :)
I am really thankful for my relationship with her. We have such an open relationship that we can share our struggles with each other and we try to help and encourage one another. I am always learning something from her and for that I feel very blessed to be her friend.
Later in the day I spent some time packing for my live-in shift over the weekend and had a good talk with my Mom. We talked about life and what I can possibly do in life and what I can do to help me figure out what I can do in life. Then we watched a show before we called it a night. That was a good ending to the day. Overall, it was a great day.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Theatre history
So i did indeed make it to the library today!! I feel rather good about that. Once I got my new card, i just started looking things up. I decided to look up the history of theatre. I found a few books and got started. I found one great book in the reference section that had so much on the topic! I didn't know where to start, it was so big.
I decided to look into British theatre in the sixteenth century. I learned a lot more about theatre in that era. I couldn't even finish the section because I had a time limit. I took notes so I will be sharing those. I hope you don't get too bored with my history lesson.
In that time actors travelled together in what were called troupes or even companies. There were adult companies and boys' companies that put on plays. Of all the companies there were during Queen Elizabeth I's reign, only the Admiral's Men and the Chamberlain's Men were the first companies to get their own playhouses. These companies grew and were able to monopolize the the rights to producing plays. In these troupes, some of the actors could buy a share of the company. Quite a few of them would be shareholders in the troupe and they would have responsibilities of conducting the business. But they also profited a little more than those actors who did not have a share, and the shareholders often got lead roles in the plays. For a troupe to get a play, they paid the playwright when he was finished with the play and in a sense then the play would be theirs to produce. They didn't have copyright then and I am sure they had problems with that, but this was how they tried to solve it. When the troupe travelled they had to give a preview performance to the city officials for it to be approved. Only if it was approved could they then create performances in the town. If approved, they were usually paid for their performance to the officials. Some times, if the performance was so bad and was not approved, they would be paid to get out of the town.
In the 1580's there was a group of playwrights who were called "the University of Wits" because of their style of writing and plays. They created plays that reached out to people who were learned and also to the common people. They used historical topics, mythical topics, and pastoral comedies in their plays. Christopher Marlowe is most known for his plays of Doctor Faustus (c. 1588) and Edward II (c. 1592). He was able to take an historical event and make it more relate-able and easily understandable to his audience.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote nearly forty plays. Only sixteen of those were published before his death. The rest of his works are mostly known because two of his fellow actors put together a collection of thirty-six of his plays in 1623. Shakespeare's fame was low in his time, but it began to grow in the late seventeenth century and was at its peak in the nineteenth century. His writings were different in how his many different characters actually seemed to be like real people instead of just a role on the stage. He used language in such a way to effectively bring emotions, moods, and ideas to his audience.
I find it interesting that both Shakespeare and Jane Austen became most popular for their works after their death. These two writers are considered some of the best authors today, but in their time they were not the most popular. It is interesting how things change over time.
Well I hope you enjoyed this little history lesson. I did. I am glad I went to do this at the library. I will have to do it again soon.
I decided to look into British theatre in the sixteenth century. I learned a lot more about theatre in that era. I couldn't even finish the section because I had a time limit. I took notes so I will be sharing those. I hope you don't get too bored with my history lesson.
In that time actors travelled together in what were called troupes or even companies. There were adult companies and boys' companies that put on plays. Of all the companies there were during Queen Elizabeth I's reign, only the Admiral's Men and the Chamberlain's Men were the first companies to get their own playhouses. These companies grew and were able to monopolize the the rights to producing plays. In these troupes, some of the actors could buy a share of the company. Quite a few of them would be shareholders in the troupe and they would have responsibilities of conducting the business. But they also profited a little more than those actors who did not have a share, and the shareholders often got lead roles in the plays. For a troupe to get a play, they paid the playwright when he was finished with the play and in a sense then the play would be theirs to produce. They didn't have copyright then and I am sure they had problems with that, but this was how they tried to solve it. When the troupe travelled they had to give a preview performance to the city officials for it to be approved. Only if it was approved could they then create performances in the town. If approved, they were usually paid for their performance to the officials. Some times, if the performance was so bad and was not approved, they would be paid to get out of the town.
In the 1580's there was a group of playwrights who were called "the University of Wits" because of their style of writing and plays. They created plays that reached out to people who were learned and also to the common people. They used historical topics, mythical topics, and pastoral comedies in their plays. Christopher Marlowe is most known for his plays of Doctor Faustus (c. 1588) and Edward II (c. 1592). He was able to take an historical event and make it more relate-able and easily understandable to his audience.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote nearly forty plays. Only sixteen of those were published before his death. The rest of his works are mostly known because two of his fellow actors put together a collection of thirty-six of his plays in 1623. Shakespeare's fame was low in his time, but it began to grow in the late seventeenth century and was at its peak in the nineteenth century. His writings were different in how his many different characters actually seemed to be like real people instead of just a role on the stage. He used language in such a way to effectively bring emotions, moods, and ideas to his audience.
I find it interesting that both Shakespeare and Jane Austen became most popular for their works after their death. These two writers are considered some of the best authors today, but in their time they were not the most popular. It is interesting how things change over time.
Well I hope you enjoyed this little history lesson. I did. I am glad I went to do this at the library. I will have to do it again soon.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Not so good.
Had a really lazy day today. I did absolutely nothing except eat junk food and watch movies. That may sound ideal for someone who just broke-up with someone, but I have not broken up with anyone. In fact I have no special relationships to feel bad or lazy about, and that makes me feel all the more bad about my day. It felt OK in the moment, but now i feel rather crappy about it.
I NEED to get myself started on something to do with myself! How does one get motivated to workout, or to go to the library and look up things to just improve your mind. Someone suggested I do that and I really plan on doing it. The problem is getting started. I would try and make up for it tomorrow, but I work all day tomorrow. Maybe I will go to the library on Wednesday. No, I WILL go to the library and look up things I am interested in, and I WILL walk the loop that is by my house to get some exercise. Make sure you check in Wednesday to see that I have done anything I have promised myself I will do.
I think I will go for a walk right now. Maybe that will help my motivation.
I NEED to get myself started on something to do with myself! How does one get motivated to workout, or to go to the library and look up things to just improve your mind. Someone suggested I do that and I really plan on doing it. The problem is getting started. I would try and make up for it tomorrow, but I work all day tomorrow. Maybe I will go to the library on Wednesday. No, I WILL go to the library and look up things I am interested in, and I WILL walk the loop that is by my house to get some exercise. Make sure you check in Wednesday to see that I have done anything I have promised myself I will do.
I think I will go for a walk right now. Maybe that will help my motivation.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The sweet wine of Christ
Tonight I went to a local church that my brother and his girlfriend have been going to. It is reformed, but not in any particular denomination. It is called Kaleo and meets saturday nights in a baptist church. Anyway, I really enjoyed the sermon and wanted to share it with you.
The pastor talked about Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana.(Found in John 2:1-12) I found it so good because he explained it in such a different way than I have ever heard before. At the wedding, they run out of wine before the party is over. Back in that day it was a BIG deal to not have enough wine. It would have brought shame on the groom for not providing for enough wine for the entire party. Mary, Jesus' mother, comes to him for help in solving this problem. Jesus replies "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4). The pastor of Kaleo explained that the "hour" that Christ is talking about is His final hour on the cross. Before His death, Jesus prays "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you" (John 17:1b). His hour was going to be His ultimate victory on the cross. Jesus knew that by showing His power through this first miracle that it would not only display God's heart, but it woul lead Him down the path to the cross. His final goal is the cross and He knows that this miracle of turning the water into wine will lead Him down that path.
Another point the pastor said was about the jugs that Jesus had the servants fill with water. These large jugs were the jugs used in the Jewish ceremonial cleansing tradition. When the jugs are filled with water, they have not become wine yet. The problem itself of needing more wine cannot be fixed through the Jewish traditions. Jesus is showing the inadequacies of this cleansing ritual. In Jeremiah 2:22 it speaks about this cleansing ritual, but that it will never truly clean a person of their sin. Without Christ we cannot be cleaned of our sins. Without Christ, the water does not turn to wine. Christ is neccessary to fulfill and complete what is lacking in the Jewish purification.
Also, the fact that Jesus was the actual one who brought out the best wine and not the bridegroom shows that Jesus is ultimately the true bridegroom. He will be the bridegroom, and we the Church are His bride. At this wedding, in which He was a guest, Jesus supplies the wedding with more wine than anyone can ever use. It is such a huge amount of wine it amounts to almost 150 gallons of wine. That is what He provides while a guest, what more will He give His bride at the wedding when He is the groom?
There are two types of wine: good wine, and sour wine. Good wine for the Jews represented joy. It was that which made them glad. As Jesus' first miracle of creating wine, He was in a sense making His people happy/joyful/glad. God enjoys to make His people joyful, to make better something that was already good. He makes us better.
The bad/sour wine represents God's wrath and punishment that we deserve for being sinners. We deserve the wrath of God to be upon us, we do not deserve His sweet wine that is full of joy. Romans 6:23 says, 'For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Christ paid the penatly for our sins so that we might have this gift of the bountiful wine. He bore our sins on the cross and tasted the sour wine of God's wrath. He was literally given sour wine while on the cross (John 19:29) and also experienced the wrath of God through His death on the cross. And because of His one sacrifice, it is able to cover all other sacrifices and save us from our sins.
Because of God's great gift of His Son, and because of His love for us we are able to experience and taste His sweet wine. Oh the deep deep love of Jesus that He would die for us so we would not endure the pain He suffered for us.
Thank you Lord. None can comprehend how great is your love!
The pastor talked about Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana.(Found in John 2:1-12) I found it so good because he explained it in such a different way than I have ever heard before. At the wedding, they run out of wine before the party is over. Back in that day it was a BIG deal to not have enough wine. It would have brought shame on the groom for not providing for enough wine for the entire party. Mary, Jesus' mother, comes to him for help in solving this problem. Jesus replies "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4). The pastor of Kaleo explained that the "hour" that Christ is talking about is His final hour on the cross. Before His death, Jesus prays "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you" (John 17:1b). His hour was going to be His ultimate victory on the cross. Jesus knew that by showing His power through this first miracle that it would not only display God's heart, but it woul lead Him down the path to the cross. His final goal is the cross and He knows that this miracle of turning the water into wine will lead Him down that path.
Another point the pastor said was about the jugs that Jesus had the servants fill with water. These large jugs were the jugs used in the Jewish ceremonial cleansing tradition. When the jugs are filled with water, they have not become wine yet. The problem itself of needing more wine cannot be fixed through the Jewish traditions. Jesus is showing the inadequacies of this cleansing ritual. In Jeremiah 2:22 it speaks about this cleansing ritual, but that it will never truly clean a person of their sin. Without Christ we cannot be cleaned of our sins. Without Christ, the water does not turn to wine. Christ is neccessary to fulfill and complete what is lacking in the Jewish purification.
Also, the fact that Jesus was the actual one who brought out the best wine and not the bridegroom shows that Jesus is ultimately the true bridegroom. He will be the bridegroom, and we the Church are His bride. At this wedding, in which He was a guest, Jesus supplies the wedding with more wine than anyone can ever use. It is such a huge amount of wine it amounts to almost 150 gallons of wine. That is what He provides while a guest, what more will He give His bride at the wedding when He is the groom?
There are two types of wine: good wine, and sour wine. Good wine for the Jews represented joy. It was that which made them glad. As Jesus' first miracle of creating wine, He was in a sense making His people happy/joyful/glad. God enjoys to make His people joyful, to make better something that was already good. He makes us better.
The bad/sour wine represents God's wrath and punishment that we deserve for being sinners. We deserve the wrath of God to be upon us, we do not deserve His sweet wine that is full of joy. Romans 6:23 says, 'For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Christ paid the penatly for our sins so that we might have this gift of the bountiful wine. He bore our sins on the cross and tasted the sour wine of God's wrath. He was literally given sour wine while on the cross (John 19:29) and also experienced the wrath of God through His death on the cross. And because of His one sacrifice, it is able to cover all other sacrifices and save us from our sins.
Because of God's great gift of His Son, and because of His love for us we are able to experience and taste His sweet wine. Oh the deep deep love of Jesus that He would die for us so we would not endure the pain He suffered for us.
Thank you Lord. None can comprehend how great is your love!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Quick intro to my life.
My name is Jennifer.
Was born and raised in southern California. Went to school in Iowa for four years to pursue a career in nursing. It did not turn out as I had hoped and am now living back at home working as a caregiver and trying to figure out what I am to do with my life.
I am a Christian. I believe that God, who created everything on this earth and everything around it, sent His Son to die for us wretched sinners. He came to Earth to bear the penalty for us all, and for that I can never be thankful enough. I can barely comprehend how God could sacrifice his own son so that we might live and be saved from the eternal punishment that we deserve. It is unfathomable the love of God.
With this in mind, I believe that God has a purpose for everyone. That includes me. I am having trouble finding out what that is presently. I have spent the past four years of my life going after what i thought was what I wanted to do in my life, but now God has shut that door on me. I do believe that God has plan for me and possibly another career in mind for me. I just need to take time to think on it, pray about it, and wait to see what God has in store for me.
So I am starting this blog because of a suggestion one of my mentors gave me. He told me to write about my thoughts and just write them down. He even said "write a blog" and that is what I intend to do. So I hope that those who will be reading my posts don't get too bored with me. I am trying to figure out my life as much as the next person is.
Though I am doing it with the Lord's help.
Was born and raised in southern California. Went to school in Iowa for four years to pursue a career in nursing. It did not turn out as I had hoped and am now living back at home working as a caregiver and trying to figure out what I am to do with my life.
I am a Christian. I believe that God, who created everything on this earth and everything around it, sent His Son to die for us wretched sinners. He came to Earth to bear the penalty for us all, and for that I can never be thankful enough. I can barely comprehend how God could sacrifice his own son so that we might live and be saved from the eternal punishment that we deserve. It is unfathomable the love of God.
With this in mind, I believe that God has a purpose for everyone. That includes me. I am having trouble finding out what that is presently. I have spent the past four years of my life going after what i thought was what I wanted to do in my life, but now God has shut that door on me. I do believe that God has plan for me and possibly another career in mind for me. I just need to take time to think on it, pray about it, and wait to see what God has in store for me.
So I am starting this blog because of a suggestion one of my mentors gave me. He told me to write about my thoughts and just write them down. He even said "write a blog" and that is what I intend to do. So I hope that those who will be reading my posts don't get too bored with me. I am trying to figure out my life as much as the next person is.
Though I am doing it with the Lord's help.
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