asdfjkl;

Ahh..this week has been super crazy! So as many people know, im extremely terrified of dogs. If one touches me, ill probably have a panic attack. YESSS, its that bad. My brother, Cedric, got a pitbull awhile ago and now she just had nine puppies. They all stayed at his apartment, but he got annoyed that they kept pooping everywhere. Now they're staying at my house, which is a huge problem. My neice got poop all over most of my shoes, and idk why she even tried to wear my shoes she's only ten! The puppies whine all night long. Whinnie, the momma dog, scares the crap out of me, but my mom is making me stay at home!!! But thank the lord im going to Atlanta today. I'll finally get a break from all of it. AND this weekend i'm helping out at cheerleading competition and going to Special Olympics :D
THIS WEEKEND IS GOING TO BE AMAZING!!!

Are They Really Like Jesus? (example essay)

A present day Jezebel resides in the Christian community’s mist. Well at least that’s true according to Reuben Armstrong’s opinion. Armstrong is the author of the book Snakes in the Pulpit, which discusses the mistakes and schemes of multiple prominent leaders who claim they’re delivering God’s message to the people. In chapter seven of his opening quote says, “A wise woman once said, remember how you got your man: that’s the same way you are going to lose him.” This is what he uses to introduce his skepticism about ‘Jezebel’ Juanita Bynum. Throughout the chapter he goes in detail about her non-characteristic acts of a Christian. “She confesses her sins before everyone and goes in depth to describe her sexual appetite and her carnal craving in her message “No More Sheets.” She also believes that God doesn’t allow her to wear make-up, pants or outfits that show her figure because if she did so her ungodly ways would appear again. Bynum also has a failed marriage due to abuse, both physical and mental. She is now remarried to another Christian role-model. After her new marriage, she hosted a marriage conference; but the speakers who she scheduled to preach were both divorced from their marriages. Armstrong voices that he feels if the conference was for married people how could a divorcee preach to Christians about a successful marriage. In 2 Timothy 3:5, King James Version, the bible says, “They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.” Clearly some of Juanita’s actions would make someone question if they should stay away from her.

Big time prophets, preachers, and singers aren’t the only ones who make mistakes or pretend to be with walking with God. There are plenty of local Christians who do the same thing. At Real Life Church, their old youth program used to be called Relevant, and the youth pastor was Chris Dorrity, better known as Big Papa. Dorrity was always advertising the youth program and the events he had planned with the church. Then things began to change little by little. Big Papa’s advertisements became more and more about him instead of about Jesus, and more billboards of him appeared through out the city. Also allegations of child molestation appeared on Chris’s character. Now matters have died down. The youth program at Real Life has a new pastor, and it’s now called Elevation. Chris Dorrity has started a new place to worship, Grace Point Church. He has created a website to advertise his church. On the website across the majority of the home page “No Perfect People Allowed” is printed in large bold letters. If this is true, then Jesus would not be allowed in his new church. Since Jesus came down to earth and lived a perfect life as man, then died for our sins so that we could have the opportunity to strive for perfection in Christ. Jesus says: “watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ' I am the Christ,' and will deceive many” (King James Version, Matthew 24:4-5). With some teachings, we as Christians have to ask God what is His word and what's not.

Growing up as a child in the bible belt, church was always apart of my life. Every Sunday I went for the service and Sunday school, on Wednesdays I tagged along with my mom to bible study, Thursdays I watched her practice with the praise team, and on Saturdays I was rehearsing with the children's choir. If there was any event at church I'll bet I was there to participate. In doing all of these things, I came to assume that I must have been a Christian; I mean I was always in Christ's house. As I became older, my involvement in church continued, so I still assumed I was living a Christian life style. During the time I happened to be off church grounds, I didn't act like I knew what a church looked like. I gossiped, lied, used profanity, and didn't even consider repenting or changing my hurtful ways. All of these things I knew weren't acts of God but I didn't know that a real Christian actually applied what was taught in church and strived to be like Christ.

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than swimming in the ocean makes you a fish. People go to church for many different reasons. For some it is a scheduled activity in their week, it simply becomes habitual not meaningful. For others it's an obligation or a ritual that is expected of them; some sort of penance for trying to atone for their bad deeds. They are simply going through the motions. God can still meet and impact those people's lives even though they create obstacles to His blessings.

People who go to church to learn more about God, to worship Him and fellowship with other believers are in a different category entirely. Does this mean that they are better than other people? No, it just means that they are forgiven of their sins and are trying to live life in His grace and with His help. Christianity is a day by day, moment by moment, choice by choice life style. As Christians, we are open to more critical judgment and a higher level of scrutiny.

The church is composed of a wide variety of people who are members for many different reasons. Depending on why they go and how they live their lives affects only their relationship with God.

looking back..

So this first paper was challenging to say the least. Writing and  i just dont get along at all, but im trying to work on getting better at it.  Um..to be honest im not quite sure what was the most difficult task for me. In the beginning i had a couple of topics in mind, but i knew i wouldnt be able to fully elaborate on some of them. So i as i opened my notebook to see what time class was over, it just came to me that i should write about my schedule. Lucky me :) Once my topic was out of the way, getting my whole paper started was a major tough one..i still dont think i did as well as i could have, which is a total bummer. Im really disappointed about that :/ And the last challenge for me was my conclusion! I felt so burnt out i didnt have a clue on what to write...but hopefully i pulled this paper off.

Some of the other essays i read really helped and encouraged me to keep writing.  I saw that i wasnt the only person having trouble getting my thoughts down on paper, and other papers gave me ideas on how to communicate what i needed to say.  I love getting critiques from others!!! If im doing something wrong or if there is a better way to write something, i would want to know so i can improve myself. Sometimes i dont always agree with the comments i recieve though, but i do take them in to consideration and try to look at their point of view. The comments i recieved were very uplifting..but i just wish i got a some more critiques.  I felt that people didnt want to be too negative, but thats okay! I kinda felt rushed..but i think thats only because i didnt know what i was getting myself into lol.

asdfjkl;

Ahh! Its friday:) Finally the day that i've been waiting for. This whole week has been flying by!!! I'm sooo looking foward to this weekend. I really need some time to re-group. Lately i've been majorly slacking off with my work. But im goin to start trying to do a little better. I guess that means ill have to stop procrastinating :/ lol.
So i'm waiting, in first period, to get my paper back from Mrs. Aiken. I'm really curious to see what advice she's going to give me. And im kinda scared at the same time. Ugh...i hate the suspense, its killing me! hahaha. But other than my extreme insecurity about my writing, college english has pretty cool. Although i dont think ill ever get used to waking up so early lol.
WELL..i guess ill start thinkinig of ways to improve my paperrrr!

peer commenting.

so i still cant comment on some of my assigned stories...
but hopefully i will be able to soon

High School Scheduling

High school, the place that every teenager looks forward to and dreads going at the same time. There’s always drama you can’t avoid, although you soon make friends to keep you from going insane. But there is one thing your friends can’t save you from. The entire reason for school: Classes! If you desire to graduate, you have to take them, especially the mandatory ones. You need four math classes, three science, two foreign languages, four social studies, and four English courses. Also a total of twenty-two credits are required. But I wouldn’t stress out too much; you have four years to get it done. That’s just about six classes a year.


While growing up high school has always been the same here in Jones County. A typical school day would start for a few students who chose to start their day by attending a first period, which begins at 7:45am. The bell rings fifty minutes later at 8:35am, which ends all first period classes and begins the busy day for the remainder of the students and teachers. Everyone pushes their way through the halls in order to make it to second period by 8:41am. This class also last fifty minutes just the same as every other class except for fourth and sixth period. Fourth period is a short fifteen-minute class called advisement. It could be considered ‘freebie’ time. Sixth period is grub time. Jones County High School operates with two lunches. Some students will go to lunch first and then their sixth period, while the other half of students will report to their sixth period class first followed by lunch. Sixth period is also twelve extremely long minutes extra than a normal length class, in order for everyone to watch channel one news. Aside from the two different class times every other class is fifty minutes long. Also there is always six minutes in between every class, second through eighth. Once the bell rings at 3:15pm, eighth period is over and the academic part of the day is over.

Going through a schedule like this can be overwhelming. Students have at least six classes to worry about everyday. The most frustrating dilemma is that homework can accumulate so fast and before you realize you become swamped with a list of assignments. But there is a bright side to the many courses. With the more classes you take, the more people you come in contact with and befriend. Also that precious free time in between each class allows students to collect and prepare themselves for the next class. When it comes to sixth period there are definite ups and downs. The obvious benefit is it’s lunchtime, which is everyone’s favorite part of the day. Lunch is the only time meant for eating, relaxing, and socializing with friends without any disturbances from teachers or schoolwork. Of course with lunch there is always a sixth period class that work has to be done. This can be the most dreadful part of the day because of the extra amount of time in class. Overall the events of the day keep you moving at a fast pace all of the time.

Now days a change has come to the little town of Jones County. High school courses are being taught through blocked schedules on certain days of the week. Blocked scheduling allows students to attend just three courses per day and spend an hour and a half in each class. Wednesdays and Thursdays are the days with fewer classes but extended time. Although first period classes never times. They still begin at 7:45am and end at 8:35am. On Wednesdays students go to their even period classes: second, sixth, and eighth. Second period still begins at 8:41am, but its new ending time is at 10:12. In between second and sixth period there is now a ten-minute break (this gives students time to walk around after sitting down for so long). At 10:22am sixth period starts and finishes at 11:52am. After this class period first lunch begins. If students do not have first lunch then they report to their fourth period for a forty-five minute advisement, which is still considered ‘freebie’ time. After first lunch and advisement is over, the students who were at lunch go to their advisement and the other students who went to advisement attend second lunch. Second lunch ends at 1:37pm. Once the bell rings at 1:37pm, students have eight minutes to get to class, which begins at 1:45pm. Eighth period is the last class of the day. It’s finished at 3:15pm, and then the school day is over. On Thursdays the time schedule is the same though the classes are different. Third period comes first, then fifth period. After that students still go to lunch or their advisement (fourth period). Then the students who went to lunch go to fourth and vice versa, just the same as on Wednesdays. Following second lunch, seventh period begins. This ends the school day and all of blocked scheduling for that week.

Switching to block scheduling was meant to ease the load of work given to students on a daily basis. Attending fewer classes a day allows teenagers not to have to constantly keep their minds racing about multiple assignments and lessons given by different teachers. But a major possible problem with this class scheduling is how long students are kept in the same exact classroom. The truth is only a handful of teenagers can sit in one class for an hour and a half without becoming distracted or losing interest. This causes the teachers to have to spice up their lesson plans to keep their students paying attention. That might call for more hands on learning activities, such as projects or experiments. Ultimately the better lesson plans could improve the students participation and grades, which is a very rewarding aspect of the program. Also lunch period is a plus. Instead of having to stay in one of your boring classes for twelve extra minutes, advisement (your ‘freebie’ period) is whom you go to lunch with. So now with extended advisement time, homework can be completed, socializing with others can be done, or just having some relaxation time is possible. With blocked scheduling there are fewer circumstances to be stressed about.

There is always change that happens over time. Even when it comes to how school are teaching classes. The block schedule came as a shock to the faculty and students of Jones County High School. Complaints may have been made; we cannot criticize anything unless you’ve tried it. The only way to know if an idea works is for the idea to be tested. We know the flaws in six classes a day: too much work and not enough time. Now as we use the block schedule, the time problem is eliminated and less work has to be done outside of school. So far the good that blocked scheduling produces out ways the bad. But the change will take time to adjust to.

Descriptive essay draft

so my essay rough draft is finished but i can't figure out how to get it up here without having to re-type the whole thing..bummer:/

So our first assignment for this class is a descriptive essay. Overall my paper has been coming along slowly but surely. Life has just been super stressful with dance, college eng, and ap stat.. so i seem kind of all over the place lol. But my paper should be posted by the tonite if not definitely tomorrow. So you have to read it and give me some pionters. PLEASE and THANKS:)

Confusion

ugh! This whole blog concept is way more difficult than i thought i was going to be.
Hopefully i'll get the flow of how this site works soon!!!