Portfolio1: Who's your momma

Mary was the mother of Jesus, who projected the same kindness and love that her son had. Looking at her in the quad she looks different than I thought she was projected to be. In the quad her eyes are looking down and she looks scared or sad. Mary also looks humble.

In these passages you can tell Mary was a little scared but willing to have Jesus because she didn't know how Joseph would react to her pregnancy. Mary felt releaved when the Holy Spirit came to Joseph in a dream and explained to him what he needed to do. Joseph had no union with her until she had her baby, which they named Jesus. A woman who has been through the power of God and the Holy spirit can predict powerful things. Mary understands all the great things God has done for her so she wished to be called blessed. She preaches to Elizabeth about all of the things God has done just like her son Jesus will like the passage from Luke 1:39-56 , "He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts." Women were treated like objects. They were to walk behind the man and ate last. Nobody appreciated them except Jesus when he spoke to Mary Magdelene ven though she was a prostitute. People would have looked down on Mary because of her pregnancy and on top of it they would scorn her for being divorced.

Nothing was special about Mary, she was poor, unmarried, and probably uneducated why would God chose someone so imperfect. Well God did say nobody on the earth was perfect and everybody has sinned. I think God chose Mary because he wanted to show that he knows best and that he can do anything he wants, and by picking an unperfect person, he proves it. Mary rejoiced the Lord and didn't brag to people that she was picked, she was very humble and honored.

Portfolio 1:“A Family of Freedom Fighters"

Bathbeba was the wife of Uriah stood for all the voiceless and nameless people throughout histoty. She gets into the genealogy to the ancestory to the tradition as a sexual object. The story of Bathsheba is that King David saw her bathing from his roof one day and instantly fell in love with her. He called her from his roof and told her to come to his home and seduced her. King David knew that Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah, so after he commited adultery he called Uriah back because he knew that if Uriah slept with her they would think it was Uriah's child not Davids. When Uriah didn't want to sleep with Bathsheba he sent Uriah to war and put Uriah in the front of the battle line. Soon after Uriah dies he King David has Bathsheba all to himself and she becomes part of the royal line. King David and Bathsheba had one child. The first son of David was smitten with severe illness and soon died. David accepted this punishemnt but knew that his home would be cursed with turmoil because of his murder. King David took this as punishment from God for his sins. David felt so much guilt and asked God for forgivness. This came to pass years later when one of David's much-loved sons, Absalom, led an insurrection that plunged the kingdom into civil war. God then blessed Bathsheba and David with their son, Solomon, who would have competition from his older brother Adonijah.

Bathsheba is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus as the mother of Solomon, the greatest king. Although Bathsheba is not directly related to Jesus, but rather through the marriage of David and through her son Solomon.

Portfolio 1: What I think I can Achieve

I believe in this class i deserve an A- to and A. I take pride in saying that I do turn in all homework assignments 100% of the time. Believe me if I don't turn in my homework there will be a very good reason for it. I do like to participate in class by asking questions if i don't understand, and listening. I like to reflect in a journal and write things that i might not have gotten a chance to say in class. I know the difference between a time for work and a time for play. I try to have self disipline and not talk during class time and be as respectful to others.

Portfolio 1: Who is Jesus, Really?

Jesus' main teaching was how to respect one another. His famous quote "Love your neighboor as yourself" shows this. He treated people with kindness and love that they deserved even if they were cruel and rude. Jesus also didn't discriminate the poor, the ill, or the women because he understood their situation of beign an outcast when nobody wanted to listen to his teachings. Jesus was all about forgiveness, and giving second chances hoping in time that they would change.
I do consider myself a follower of Jesus because i think i demonstrate some of the same qualitites that he had. Though it might be hard at times, i try to be kind to everyone and don't descriminate. I do forgive but i don't forget. I try to think that people can change but sometimes that just doesn't happen. It's hard when you respect someone but in return they don't respect you back, i have experienced that so many times and I don't know when I should stop giving them second chances when i know they won't change. These are the times when I am torn in two, should I keep to Jesus' teachings, or hold a grudge. Either way my family is religious and I know they would expect me to handle things the right way which in this case would be to forgive and forget.

Portfolio: Why we tell stories

During Christmas every year my dad tells a story about when he was growing up how he never got many presents, how his dad didn't give him many because he wanted to prove a point that you should be happy with what you have. My grandpa used to give him rubberbands and little things that would cost a quarter. My dad says once in a while my grandma would spoil him when my grandpa wasn't looking and give him a new toy car or something he really wanted for Christmas. My dad thinks he spoils us to much and that my sister and i don't deserve so many things. He trys to make us realize what we have and not take anything for granted. Every year he tells us that he won't give us any gifts but he always ends up giving us what we want.

A story my mom always tells me is when she came from El Salvador to escape a corrupt government. She told me that before she came her she went to seven different schools in just six years. When she was sixteen years old she came to the United States with her three older sisters. She went to Albany high school and was critizized on how she talked because she spoke more spanish than english and had a very strong accent. she tells me how people didn't want to get to know her because she was different. She tells me this story because i know she wants me to know that i am very lucky to be at a great school with good friends. I understand that she came here for me, so i could have a better life than what she had growing up.