Parable Documentation

What are the sequence of events in the parable?
Two men went down to the temple to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed for god, he humbled himself by saying how much of a humble man he was and describing some of the various good things he does. He stated that he was not a sinner and that this man next to him was a sinner(the tax collector). The Tax collector stood up and exalted himself. He said that he was a bad man. He released himself to god, he wanted god to forgive him so he told him everything.
What is the underlying meaning of the parable?
The underlying meaning is for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. This means for everyone who admits to what they do, and is willing to put the trust in god and make a change they will be helped. But for the people who say that they are good and do not need any help and are fine they way they are, then they will not be helped and inflated.
Who are the main characters in the story?
The main characters are:
The Pharisee: Pharisees were one of the successor groups of the Hasidim an anti-Hellenic Jewish movement. The word Pharisees comes from the Hebrew word meaning "separated" , that is, one who is separated for a life of purity. The Pharisees were, depending on the time, a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 BCE–70 CE). After the destruction of the Second Temple, the Pharisaic sect was re-established as Rabbinic Judaism — which ultimately produced normative, traditional Judaism, the basis for all contemporary forms of Judaism, including to some extent the Karaites.
Tax Collector: Tax collectors in the Bible, also known as publicans. They are generally described as being greedy, and taking more money than they are entitled to.
What is the setting of the story?
The setting is in a church…
Who is Jesus addressing trying in the parable?
Jesus is addressing the Pharisee because, when he walked into the temple, he thought that he was the good guy and that God would only help him because he was good. He was putting the tax collector down. But Jesus was helping the Tax Collector because he admitted his wrong doings, and didn’t have the attitude that the Pharisee had.
What is the Question Jesus is asking in the Parable?
I believe the question is, would you rather be humble and exalt other? Or be exalted and humble others?
Can you apply this message to a modern day topic or broader topic?
A broader topic can be like seniors and freshman at a high school. The seniors may believe that they are royalty and are entitled to things that the freshman cant have. And if they commit a sin they wont be punished for it.

Final Reading Strategy

Step 1: Read through it slowly, write the sequence of events. Read for details and not facts. Outline/know everything

Step 2: Research the Context, Find the Underlying meaning. Read through it again.

Step 3: Characters Analysis and Background Context of the story and the area.

Step 4: Who is Jesus addressing in the parable? Read through the parable again. Also decide whats the question is Jesus is asking and Answer the question.

Step 5: Find the underlying message. Apply Message to a todays and more broader topic.

System Examples

The Country Wide Home loan took advantage of the parksinsons patient because he was in need and if they helped him they wouldn't benefit from it. Like if they were to help him they wouldn't benefit from him, but if they took advantage of him they can take his money and he can't do anything about it. They said that for him to get his house back he needs to pay 500,000 dollars but he only payed 140,000 for it. that is about 3 times as much. I think that Country Wide should take into consideration that he is a man suffering from Parkinson's disease, and he needs extra help. But when the system thinks about giving the extra help to one person, they wont benefit anything from it. We would have different responses because some people would say that they don't live by the system because to some people the system is trying to bring them down.

This experiment tells us when someone gets power they take full advantage of it. Its like if you put a power hungry person at police officer some people will take advantage of it and abuse it. Like the people who were the prisoners actually felt as if they were prisoners because the authority made them feel down and like they were nothing.

Erica Fernandez, 16
oxnard California

Erica Is from oxnard she was made when she found a large pipe through low income family homes. she protested and got the board to vote 12-0 against it and it got removed, she went against the system becuase she stoood up for what she believed in.

Selfserving Systems

The world today is all about power and money. So many systems are to obtain these two things in any way they can. Some systems dint really care for the people or anyone else and tend to make moves that only help them reach power or money. Throughout the years, you see the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer only because the system is set up for the upper class to prevail and keep on top. That's the main incentive is to be on top, or take down who is on top, to do better than the next person. Its all one big competition, where many only do for themselves. It is very unethical, because it is so selfish, only caring for yourself and not your neighbor, only looking for a way to accomplish your goal and not help others reach theirs. FEMA is a prime example, its suppose to be the support system for the all tragedies and big disasters that may hit our soil.When hurricane Katrina came around FEMA was no help. I would say it was a cover up they were so suppose to help the city and the people, when really there money is going other places like the War in Iraq. Many Systems fail to do what they are needed to do because they focus more on what they feel they need to do, and because Katrina hit a fairly black and poor community they didn't really care, but when 9/11 hit they were all over it. Like now with the wildfires, they are quick to help, but with Katrina there was no incentive.


The system arent meant to cause harm, but they do because there main purpose is to keep themselves going and if someone or thing not in the system gets away, thats when they get hurt. They can not show mercy towards any one or feel sorry because it would go against their system values. It is all for power and money. They want to be on top and will do whatever it takes to be on top. Only way a system at the top will help someone lower is if they will benefit from it.

U.S. Involvement

Did the road map have any potential to actually bring about a new peace process?
The purpose of the map was to end conflict, and no to end the occupation. This ignored the rights of Palestinian refugees and relegating them into permanent exile. Throughout the years when the map was in process, Israel kept creating "facts of the grounds" This term means that they change the realities in the occupied territory to benefit themselves and make it bad for the Palestinians. Under international Law it is illegal for an occupying power, such as Israel in Palestinian territories, to do anything to change conditions with occupied territories.



What was the international community's response to the 1967 war?
I didnt get this far



How did the US respond to the occupation?
The map was a way to show the Arabs, that they cared about their conflict even when the U.S. was bombing Iraq.

Letter to the Senator

To whom it may concern:(Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Boxer and Rep. Miller)
Advocating for : The Education for All Act (S.1259/ H.R. 2092)
Global Child Survival Act (S.1418 /H.R. 2266)
GROWTH Act (H.R. 2965)
Jubilee Act (H.R. 2634)

Hello, my name is Justin Shields and I am writing because i am supporting of the bills listed above. I heavily support The Education for All Act, because it gives children in other countries an opportunity to a quality education, I hope you accept this for American children to be granted the right for a quality education. If you support this bill it would lead to more communities around the globe educated, and possibly the solution to many of international issues and advances in science and medicine. By supporting this bill you have the power to make this come true. Also, I advise you to support the Global Child Survival Act. When a powerless child dies because they have no resources or any help, it is sad. But for our over privileged country, we take it as another number. I want you to do is endorse this bill becuase it will show that our country helped, but also it gives healthy drinking water, vaccinations, maternal health, and more. Another act I want you to support is the GROWTH Act. I want you to support this act because it gives women the ability to the right to become important in society. I believe that men and women should be equal and have the same opportunities. I ask you to help women in areas where they aren't given the respect and ability that American women are given to become equal and respected and have an education, better jobs in healthy conditions with nice pay. By doing so you will also be helping the families of these women in the not as developed societies. The good thing is it will cost you nothing. My last and final proposal, is you sponsor and help support the Jubilee Act. With this bill the money that is owed by the run down and poor countries will be gone, to help them obtain the Goals that they have been striving for. it will also make them accountable for their own earnings and how the country turns out. In the process it will also make poverty stricken countries less dependent on America in the future. Once they become more economically stable they can refocus their funds to primary education, improved healthcare, adequate nutrition, etc. This act will be one for the progression of foreign economies. With all these things in mind I hope you will make the right decision and support each of these bills.

Thank You for your time,
Justin Shields

The Mustard Weed

The mustard seed parable tells us about the Kingdom of God in that both start of extremely small and seemingly like nothing. But when the seed is nourished and spread it begins to rapidly spread. The Kingdom of God is aggresive because the individuals who are a part of it are relentless in sharing it with other people through words or deeds even though they may not think it will make a large impact.

Executive Summary on Africa

When most people think of Africa they think of the Jungle and all the neat wildlife. But what most people don’t know is the poverty in Africa. This problem with poverty is out of control and we are not taking full action in stopping it. Instead of making little donations every once in a while, which works a little. We should come up with a strong plan to hit poverty heads on. As a whole we should tackle health care and education first. We must do this because coming into the 21st century nearly a billion people were unable to read. Also they must be educated about their surroundings. Most of the people in poverty are children, there are about 2.2 billion children in the world and about 1 million of them are in poverty, and most of these children live in Africa. Without food, running/clean water, and health care many of these of people in poverty die every day. The Food and Starvation problem can be solved by a little bit of agricultural knowledge and a little money for fertilizer. Running and Clean water can be produced by a well. When the water isn’t clean, it is a nesting place for diseases and mosquitoes. With health care we can save more lives. Mosquito nets and clean sanitation saves lives also in the conditions they live in. The money spent in Europe last year for Alcoholic beverages (50 billion dollars) was more than the worlds spending on basic education and basic health and nutrition (20 billion dollars). If we spent as much money on these basic things as alcohol they poverty percentage would go down. As a whole we can stop poverty if we just donate our surplus to the people in need poverty will be stopped.

Digital Portfolio 2: What Should We Do

As a class of about 100 students I believe we should all pick one day of the week where we dont eat lunch and we put about about 5 dollars each together. If we do this we should have a nice amount of money, even though it may not seem like a lot for us, but to the people in poverty this can go a long way. Another plan is everyone can just donate one dollar a week if they want, they can donate more money. This may not produce as much money but like I said every dollar can go a long way. By doing this we can just take that one dollar away from what we are doing. Like if you go to lunch, dont buy that extra soda, drink water. Or going to the movies, you can wait until it comes out on DVD. Basically donate your surplus and extra money you have to the people tjat are in poverty and need.

Portfolio 2: Good Samaritan Interpretation

This story attacks a socially constructed system, because in the story the man wanted to gain eternal life but before that he had to figure out who his neighbor was. So jesus tells him the story, about the naked man in the street and the levite and the priest wouldn't stop for him but the good samaritan did. In this society the priest and the levite didnt help the man because the man is not his neighbor. The neighbor is someone you can trust. But the samaritan felt his pain he knew how it was to be a social outcast and being isolated. He was there before. So helped the man, it wasnt his direct neighbor but they conneceted.

Digital Portfolio 1: St. John The Baptist

During John The Baptist life he has been recognized as the baptist because of his practicing of preaching and baptizing. St. John recognized Jesus as the "Messiah". And on a request from Jesus, baptised him. This baptism marked the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Before St. Johns birth, His parents Elizabeth and Zacharias were hoping for a child but didn't have any because Elizabeth was "barren" and they were both old. They were praying for a child, and Zacharias become troubled. When the Angel of the Lord appeared and said to him, not to be afraid because Elizabeth will soon bear a son, and he should be name John. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. John was to turn the children of Israel to the visions of God. St. John the Baptist was the older cousin of Jesus and pathed the way for his teachings.

Digital Portfolio 1: St. John The Baptist

During John The Baptist life he has been recognized as the baptist because of his practicing of preaching and baptizing. St. John recognized Jesus as the "Messiah". And on a request from Jesus, baptised him. This baptism marked the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Before St. Johns birth, His parents Elizabeth and Zacharias were hoping for a child but didn't have any because Elizabeth was "barren" and they were both old. They were praying for a child, and Zacharias become troubled. When the Angel of the Lord appeared and said to him, "

Digital Portfolio 1: Jesus Refugee

Because Jesus was a Refugee, his teaching and consciousness of what he was teaching dramatically changed. He spoke of his past experiences and all that he went through. Bcause Jesus was a refugee and he came from a refuge family he knew the experiences that others were going through, so he used that to his advantage.

Digital Portfolio 1: Who's Your Momma?

From what that I heard or know about is that she was pure and sinless. She was also a virgin and Jesus mother. From the statue I noticed that she was white, which at that time meant purity. She was a small and petite lady. She had rosary beads and her hands were in a praying position, so she mush be very religious.
For a women in her time Mary was strong, she believed highly in God and wasn't afraid to show it. She was a promising women who gave pleasures to everyone she greeted. For example "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit". She is a servant of god. When living in the time that Mary lived in where women were looked down upon she was strong. And relied on God for her guidance. In my opinion I believe that the community would consider her a lier, and a sinner because she says she is a virgin but she is a pregnant. Also God chose her to be pregnant, knowone would believe that.
God chose a women like because she was worth of doing the job, she had not sinned was pure and was a virgin. When the Angel came down and said that she was the mother of Jesus, she said yes without any hesitation because obeying God was of great importance to her.

Digital Portfolio 1: A Family of Freedom Fighters

Rahab was a woman who lived in Jericho in The Promised Land and originally worked as a prostitute. Rahab got into this job to get money for his family, because they were poor and could barely afford food. She lived in a hole inside of the city walls, and that was also her place of work. Israelites spies stayed with her when the invasions were happening. She would hide them every time someone would come by looking for them. She offered them sex, information and a place to hide when the invasion was happening. In return for the hiding spot and the information, they promised to save her and her family during the planned military invasion. Only if she fulfilled her part of the deal by keeping the details of the contact with them a secret and leaving a sign on her residence that would be a marker for the advancing soldier to avoid. When the people of Israel conquered Caanan she left prostitution, converted to Judaism and married a highly prominent member of the Jewish people. She was considered one of the four most beautiful people in the world.
Jesus was saying that anyone could be saved know matter what the sin is. Even though she was committing a huge sin it was also helping someone. The Israelities spies needed her help and she needed their help and they worked together. Like Jesus said treat other the way you want to be treated. She treated them good and saved them and the two spies returned the favor.

Portfolio 1: What I think I can Achieve

After reading over the course syllabus I know that I can achieve a grade of an A. If I complete all of my assignments study for the test and work up to my potential I can get the grade I desire. I normally slack off, then at the last moment I get a sence of urgency and try to do everything in my power to get a good grade. But this year I am determined to get these grade up, and I kno i can. When doing these assignments and study for the test I am going to be competitive in trying to be the best student in the class. Knowing that I shot for an A and tried my hardest to get that i will probaly fall in that catogary.

Portfolio 1: Who is Jesus, Really?

I dont know much about Jesus teachings, but I believe that he taught people about happiness and finding themselves. Jesus taught people how to express themselves in a way you want, and not to be afraid to stand up for yourself. He taught people to respect their neighbors becuase Im sure thats the way you want to be treated. Jesus stood up for himselve, in his own way he was a teacher, he taught people day in and out to do what they stand up for and dont back down. He did numerous of things for his partner, even if he was starving he would give up his meal to feed his companion. I believe in what Jesus was teaching and the way that he taught it, but im not really a follower of his teachings. I never took the time to read all that he has done. I never went to church and I dont really have a religion. I believe in Karma and life has its way of playing things out.

Portfolio 1: Stories people tell about you

A story that Is told about me a lot is the bumble bee halloween story. When I was about 4 years old, I was dressed up as a bumble bee for halloween. I was really enthusiastic and playful I wanted to fly more than anything. When my mom went into the house I climbed up on a high table and jumped off, thinking I would fly. As soon as I jumped off I fell to the ground even though I wasn't seriously injured it made up for a great story. I think my family tells this story every year because they are showing my adventurous side from a young age and willingness to do anything. Also that im crazy.

Portfolio 1: Introductory Notes