Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Examples of Mixed Metaphors and Cliches
Examples of Mixed Metaphors and Cliches As defined in our glossary, a mixed metaphor is a succession of incongruous or ludicrous comparisons. When two or more metaphors (or cliches) are jumbled together, often illogically, we say that these comparisons are mixed. In Garners Modern American Usage, Bryan A. Garner offers this classic example of a mixed metaphor from a speech by Boyle Roche in the Irish Parliament: Mr. Speaker, I smell a rat. I see him floating in the air. But mark me, sir, I will nip him in the bud. This sort of mixed metaphor may occur when a speaker is so familiar with the figurative sense of a phrase (smell a rat, nip in the bud) that he fails to recognize the absurdity that results from a literal reading. Now and then a writer may deliberately introduce mixed metaphors as a way of exploring an idea. Consider this example from British journalist Lynne Truss: Well, if punctuation is the stitching of language, language comes apart, obviously, and all the buttons fall off. If punctuation provides the traffic signals, words bang into each other and everyone ends up in Minehead. If one can bear for a moment to think of punctuation marks as those invisibly beneficent fairies (Im sorry), our poor deprived language goes parched and pillowless to bed. And if you take the courtesy analogy, a sentence no longer holds the door open for you to walk in, but drops it in your face as you approach. Some readers may be amused by this sort of metaphorical mix; others may find it tiresomely twee. In most cases, mixed metaphors are accidental, and the haphazard juxtaposition of images is likely to be more comical or perplexing than revealing. So stick these examples in your pipe and chew them over. So now what we are dealing with is the rubber meeting the road, and instead of biting the bullet on these issues, we just want to punt.[T]he bill is mostly a stew of spending on existing programs, whatever their warts may be.A friend of mine, talking about the Democratic presidential candidates, tossed out a wonderful mixed metaphor: This is awfully weak tea to have to hang your hat on.The mayor has a heart as big as the Sahara for protecting his police officers, and that is commendable. Unfortunately, he also often strips his gears by failing to engage the clutch when shifting what emanates from his brain to his mouth. The bullets he fires too often land in his own feet.The walls had fallen down and the Windows had opened, making the world much flatter than it had ever been but the age of seamless global communication had not yet dawned.Ive spent a lot of time in the subways, said Shwa. Its a dank and dark experience. You feel morbid. The environment contributes to the fear that de velops in men and women. The moment that you walk into the bowels of the armpit of the cesspool of crime, you immediately cringe. Anyone who gets in the way of this cunning steamroller will find himself on a card-index file and then in hot very hot water.A Pentagon staffer, complaining that efforts to reform the military have been too timid: Its just ham-fisted salami-slicing by the bean counters.All at once, he was alone in this noisy hive with no place to roost.Top Bush hands are starting to get sweaty about where they left their fingerprints. Scapegoating the rotten apples at the bottom of the militarys barrel may not be a slam-dunk escape route from accountability anymore.It is easy to condemn Thurmond, Byrd and their fellow pork barons. Few of us would hail a career spent stewarding the federal gravy train as the vocation of a statesman.Rather than wallowing in tears, let this passionate community strike while the iron is hot. It probably wonââ¬â¢t cost the National Park Service a single penny, will be no skin off its nose, will heal the community and it presents a golden opportunity for first-person interpretation. Federal Judge Susan Webber Wright stepped up to the plate and called a foul.[Robert D.] Kaplan keeps getting into scrapes at the keyboard. I wanted a visual sense of the socioeconomic stew in which Al Qaeda flourished. You smile in admiration, as at something rare, like a triple play; its a double mixed metaphor. Remember this: Keep an eye on your metaphors and an ear to the ground so that you dont end up with your foot in your mouth. Sources Lynne Truss,à Eats, Shoots Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, 2003 Chicago Tribune, cited byà The New Yorker, August 13, 2007 The New York Times, January 27, 2009 Montgomery Advertiser, Alabama, cited byà The New Yorker, November 16, 1987 Bob Herbert, Behind the Curtain,à The New York Times, November 27, 2007 Thomas L. Friedman,à The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, 2005 Our Town, N.Y., cited byà The New Yorker, March 27, 2000 Len Deighton,à Winter: A Novel of a Berlin Family, 1988 The Wall Street Journal, May 9, 1997 Tom Wolfe,à The Bonfire of the Vanities Frank Rich,à The New York Times, July 18, 2008 Jonathan Freedland,à Bring Home The Revolution, 1998 Daily Astorian, cited byà The New Yorker, April 21, 2006 Catherine Crier,à The Case Against Lawyers, 2002 David Lipsky, Appropriating the Globe,à The New York Times, November 27, 2005 Garner, Bryan A. Garners Modern American Usage. 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, October 30, 2003.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Understanding Expressive Roles and Task Roles
Understanding Expressive Roles and Task Roles Expressive roles and task roles, also known as instrumental roles, describe two ways of participating in social relationships. People in expressive roles tend to pay attention to how everyone is getting along, managing conflict, soothing hurt feelings, encouraging good humor, and take care of things that contribute to oneââ¬â¢s feelings within the social group. People in task roles, on the other hand, pay more attention to achieving whatever goals are important to the social group, like earning money to provide resources for survival, for example. Sociologists believe that both roles are required for small social groups to function properlyà and that each provides a form of leadership: functional and social. Parsonss Domestic Division of Labor How sociologists understand expressive roles and task roles today is rooted in Talcott Parsons development of them as concepts within his formulation of the domestic division of labor. Parsons was a mid-century American sociologist, and his theory of the domestic division of labor reflects gender role biases that proliferated at that time and that are often considered traditional, though theres scant factual evidence to back up this assumption. Parsons is known for popularizing the structural functionalist perspective within sociology, and his description of expressive and task roles fits within that framework. In his view, assuming heteronormative and patriarchally organized nuclear family unit, Parsons framed the man/husband as fulfillingà the instrumental role by working outside the home to provide the money required to support the family. The father, in this sense, is instrumental or task-oriented he accomplishes a specific task (earning money) that is required for the family unit to function. In this model, the woman/wife plays a complementary expressive role by serving as the caregiver for the family. In this role, she is responsible for the primary socialization of the childrenà and provides morale and cohesion for the group through emotional support and social instruction. A Broader Understanding and Application Parsons conceptualization of expressive and task roles was limited by stereotypical ideas about gender, heterosexual relationships, and unrealistic expectations for family organization and structure, however, freed of these ideological constraints, these concepts have value and are usefully applied to understanding social groups today. If you think about your own life and relationships, you can probably see that some people clearly embrace the expectations of either expressive or task roles, while others might do both. You might even notice that you and others around you seem to move between these different roles depending on where they are, what they are doing, and who they are doing it with. People can be seen to be playing these roles in all small social groups, not just families. This can be observed within friend groups, households that are not composed of family members, sports teams or clubs, and even among colleagues in a workplace setting. Regardless of the setting, one will see people of all genders playing both roles at various times. Updatedà by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
The Economic Factors that Help Explainining the Expansion of Low-Cost Research Paper
The Economic Factors that Help Explainining the Expansion of Low-Cost Airline Carriers - Research Paper Example Accessibility of alternative modes of transport that are rationally close substitutes for air transportation diminishes with distance travelled. Globalization and free movement of merchandise and people between and within regions have a positive effect on air travel demand. Business travel market consists of time sensitive passengers; therefore, these customers are price inelastic in terms of fares. If the airline firm offers high quality service to this market segment, such as frequent and reliable frights, flexibility, comfortable seats, and excellent, frequent flyer programme rewards, business class customers will be willing to pay high prices (Junwook, 2011). However, with the introduction of low cost airlines the price elasticity of this business class market has changed and they display price elasticity. In previous years, airline industry relied heavily on business travel market as a major source of profit, however, this trend has changed, and the industry has noted that a hig her percentage of passengers considers price over service. Business class customers are willing to give up luxuries, food quality, flexibility or choice in return to lower prices. According to Rosario & Eddy, 2010, the economy travel market is largely determined by the costs being charged by the airlines; they are price sensitive. The first class air travel market does not generate much profit to the airline industry, as a result, many airlines are moving from three to a two-class cabin. The levels of consumer income influence the passengerââ¬â¢s choice of the air travel class; the choice of consumers with high levels of income will differ with those of consumers with low levels of income (Bijan, & Tom, 2008). The demand for leisure travel is influenced by the number of independent holidays and short term breaks; in this market passengers book flights, accommodation and car by themselves. According to Airport International, the changes in demand of leisure travel indicate that cu stomers are expecting and preferring low fares. Low fares in this market segment are the main stimulus for growth in luxury travel, and passengers are willing to change destination for fabulous deals. According to Susan, 2009, the prices of air tickets are largely influenced by the fuel prices, the exchange rates, and the costs of financing airline projects. High costs of financing, unstable exchange rates, and high fuel prices lead to high air fares. Other natural calamities, such tsunami and earthquakes among others results to decline in tourism and business travels thereby, affecting the air travel demand in the affected areas (Roger, 2008). The following diagrams and tables show the effects of fuel prices on operating costs of the airline industry. Prices of air tickets are determined by the price of fuel; fuel price is influenced by the prevailing economic conditions such as the exchange rates. Industry Fuel Costs and Net Profits. Source: Industry Financial Forecast Table (IATA Economics). Fuel Impact on Operating Costs Year % of Operating Costs Average Price per Barrel of Crude Break-even Price per Barrel Total Fuel Cost 2003 14% $28.8 $23.4 $44 billion 2004 17% $38.3 $34.5 $65 billion 2005 22% $54.5 $51.8 $91 billion 2006 26% $65.1 $68.3 $117 billion 2007 28% $73.0 $82.2 $135 billion 2008 33% $99.0 $88.9 $189 billion 2009 26% $62.0 $55.4 $125 billion 2010 26% $79.4 $91.0
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Sandy Skoglunds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Sandy Skoglunds - Essay Example scale thus teetering balance amidst reality and unreality were heightened most emphatically when populace were included within the scenes due to the undeniably real live models (Bleicher, pp76-124). Sandy Skoglund is commonly associated with the big format photographs containing her bright and amusingly unsetting, room-sized fitting that poke fun at the existing suburban reality. The two installations coupled with the photographs were at the Museum of Glass. Every installation is approximately fifteen feet in height, width and corresponding breath and entailed backdrop panel, floor and constructed figures (Bleicher, pp76-124). The blue backdrops were covered with numerous fluttery glass dragonflies and marshmallows. Moreover, the floor was made of the inlaid blue glass tiles within the crackles pattern approximately six inches beneath the distinct glass sheet. The photographs of Skoglund are more effective and less stagy than the prevailing installations. Nevertheless, the photographs were very bright. Moreover, within the photographs three human models join the two sculpted figures in order to develop a tableau with the corresponding narrative implications by leaving the view imagination on the
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Home Is Where the Heart Is Essay Example for Free
Home Is Where the Heart Is Essay Some say ââ¬Å"home is where the heart is. â⬠Home can be everything to some. Home is their safe comfort place they have in life. Home determines a sense of oneââ¬â¢s identity. One poem called ââ¬Å"The Youngest Daughterâ⬠by Cathy Song involves characters experiencing conflicting situations between the demands of their home and identity. One might think that this poem is simply about mothers versus daughters; however, this poem evokes a broader sense meaning that daughters are torn between either pulling away or pulling closer to home. In one sense, the daughter in this poem is frustrated with her current situation and aspires to do more with her life, rather than devote her time doing what her mother thinks she should be doing. Despite this feeling, she knows she should be caring for her sick mother. The role she has in her home has conflicting messages. Using the elements of tone, narrative poem, and word choice, the poem can be explicated to show how it creates and resolves the meaning of conflict between mothers and daughters. ââ¬Å"The Youngest Daughterâ⬠utilizes the narrative type poem, which helps create and resolve the conflict in the poem. The main conflict in this poem is that the daughter has to choose between obligations and desires, while finding her own role in her home. A narrative poem tells a story, and this poem tells a story about a daughter taking care of her elderly mother. The poem is about what the daughterââ¬â¢s daily life is like. This shows the ââ¬Å"obligationsâ⬠part of her life. The first sentence of the poem is ââ¬Å"the sky has been dark for many years. â⬠This implies that everything that has been going on with her taking care of her mother has been going on for many years. Since her mother became ill, it has been the daughterââ¬â¢s obligation to take care of her. This obligation is based on cultural expectations. In many cultures, children are expected to take care of their parents once they age. The poem is organized into stanzas that are associated with a certain part of the story. One stanza describes what has been going on lately. Another is about ââ¬Å"this morning. â⬠The last stanza is about what goes on ââ¬Å"in the afternoons. â⬠Through the narrative type poem, the daughter is able to express the feeling that her identity is basically taking care of her mother. This identity is also her role in the family. This role limits her own self-identity. Because she is busy caring for her mother, she is unable to develop a sense of self. She is torn between two things: growing away from her mother, and pulling closer to her mother. She knows she has to take care of her, so that aspect makes her seem to pull closer to her mother. Contrary to that, this daughter is a grown woman, and she has a very limited and conflicted life. Her life is devoted to the mother. This is seen by the story of the poem. She wants to grow apart from her mother and do things in her life that interest her. The reader can see that the daughter wants to escape this whole situation because towards the end of the poem it says ââ¬Å"She knows I am not to be trusted / even now planning my escape. â⬠The readers learn here that the mother doesnââ¬â¢t trust the daughter, for reasons unknown. The second line of the above quote shows the readers that this is what the daughter is currently doing to make her mother not trust her. The daughter also desires that her motherââ¬â¢s health improve, because in the poem is says ââ¬Å"As I toast to her health. Love and pity toward her aging mother clash with the feelings of resentment and entrapment of herself. ââ¬Å"The Youngest Daughterâ⬠uses word choice to show the conflict of mothers versus daughters, and the daughterââ¬â¢s internal conflict of obligations and desires. The daughter uses middle diction to show her emotions. Like noted in a previous paragraph, the first sentence of the poem is ââ¬Å"the sky has been dark for many years. â⬠This shows that the daughter has been dealing with her motherââ¬â¢s illness for quite some time, and she hasnââ¬â¢t been able to see the sun. She hasnââ¬â¢t been able to do what she wants to do because she has been so overwhelmed with taking care of the mother and fulfilling her obligations. When describing the mother, the daughter says ââ¬Å"her breathing was graveled / her voice gruff with affection. â⬠The word choice of graveled and gruff is interesting. This demonstrates the effort required to breathe and be affectionate. Itââ¬â¢s almost as if the writer of the poem wanted the readers to hear what her breathing and voice sounded like by including those two words in there. This implies in a way that the mother has an opinion with the situation too. These two words make these two lines more effective. The daughter says ââ¬Å"I was almost tender / when I came to the blue bruises. â⬠This shows that the daughter feels sorry for what the mother has to go through. Tender is another interesting word choice. The poem also says ââ¬Å"I soaped her slowly,â⬠meaning that the daughter takes her time when washing her mother, because her life has been accustomed to nothing. Another aspect of obligations is that the daughter says ââ¬Å"I scrubbed them with a sour taste in my mouth. The daughter obviously doesnââ¬â¢t want to scrub the mother, but it is obligation, her duty, so she must. Using the sentence ââ¬Å"We eat in the familiar silenceâ⬠shows that there is tension between them, because if there was no tension, they would be talking when they are eating. Despite this tension, this still occurs each day, and they continue to follow the same routine. If this line just had said ââ¬Å"We eat in silence,â⬠it would have a much lesser effect on the poem as a whole. By adding the word ââ¬Å"familiar,â⬠it allows the reader to understand that eating that way is a commonality and part of a consistent routine. The words ââ¬Å"familiar silenceâ⬠contrast each other. Familiar is something that has occurred so often that it becomes accustomed. And what is familiar in this poem? Silence. Silence, though it means quiet, is essentially nothing. Quietness, or nothing, has occurred so much that it is accustomed. The word choice is contrasting obligations with desires. The daughter is obligated to care for her mother. This is evident throughout the entire poem when the daughter describes everything she does for her mother. Despite this, she desires to do something different than just solely care for her mother. This desire is evident when the poem says ââ¬Å"She know I am not to be trusted / even now planning my escape. â⬠The daughter wants to escape, and the mother is aware of it. This contrast between obligations and desires makes the reader of the poem feel that this is an either/or situation. The daughter can either take care of the mother, or she can go off on her own. The last two lines of the poem are very meaningful: ââ¬Å"A thousand cranes curtain the window / fly up in a sudden breeze. These word choices are effective because the words allow the readers to see an ending image. It seems like the cranes flying away is associated with the daughter being set free and escaping her life. Itââ¬â¢s ironic how the first line of the poem uses words that talk about the sky, and in the last few lines of the poem the cranes fly into the sky. This line is used as a way for the author of the poem to show that the resolution has occurred. By the end of the poem, the conflict of obligations versus desires is resolved. One of the last lines of the poem says ââ¬Å"As I toast to her health. This shows that the daughter finally realizes that caring for her mother is whatââ¬â¢s best for her at this moment. By toasting for her health, she reveals that even though she is sick of caring for her mother, she would rather care for her mother than have her mother be dead. The daughter realizes that there will eventually be a time when the mother dies, and at that time the daughter will be able to do whatever she desires, but right now, her focus needs to be on her mother. The cranes flying into the sky reiterates this fact. When this time comes, even though the daughter will be able to do what she wants, she will be without a mother. She will have no obligations, which in a sense is good for her, because she will be able to do what she wants, yet a part of her life will be missing. Death is always hard to deal with, and even though in the poem she talks about how she wants to escape, in reality she really would miss her mother. The tone is this poem is bittersweet and affectionate; children should care for their aging parents, yet children need to live their own lives. In a way, the tone is also both happy and sad. The way the tone changes correlated with both of the conflicting sides of the poem. Itââ¬â¢s happy in the way that the poet shows that there is affection and love between mothers and daughters, yet it is sad in the way that it shows that sometimes conflicts arise between mothers and daughters. This also explains how it is bittersweet. The tone shows that there are moral ties between children and their parents. These moral ties tie in with the obligational part of the conflict. Morally, the daughter feels obliged to care for her mother. The speaker is the youngest daughter of a family, and her duty is to take care of her aging parent. As one can see, looking at a poem through elements can help a reader understand the meaning of it. In ââ¬Å"The Youngest Daughter,â⬠the poem creates the meaning of conflict between mothers and daughters related to the daughter either pulling closer or pulling away from family and having to choose between obligations and desires. The elements of tone, word choice, and narrative poem together effectively create this meaning. In this poem, the home determines oneââ¬â¢s identity. The daughter is conflicted between either pulling closer to her home life and her mother, or pulling away from it all and going after her own aspirations. Readers can relate to this poem because many people go through the same predicament in life: taking care of an aging parent. People do it because they love their family. Even though this daughter is having conflicting feelings about taking care of her mother, she does it anyways because family always comes first.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
The Addictive Nature of the Internet Essay -- Addicting Internet Web C
The Addictive Nature of the Internet The purpose of this paper is to show the many different ways that people can become addicted to the web (Internet) and to try to explain why. The various aspects of the web, such as the wide range of information, the advanced technology, and alternate ways of communication have contributed to its addictive nature. People of all ages and backgrounds have become so absorbed in using the web, either through work or play, that they have, in effect, become addicted to using it. Some common types of sites which people just cannot seem to stay away from include chat rooms, dating services, sex, pornography, shopping, and sports. The prevalence of Internet use and the growing realization that it has become an addictive vice for some has spurned the creation of groups such as Webaholics Anonymous, Interneters Anonymous, Netaholics Anonymous, the Internet Addiction Association, and the Internet Addiction Support Group (IASG). All of these self-help groups can be sought on-line, which is rather ironic, given the topic, but nonetheless the groups seek to aid those addicted to using the Internet. The name, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) has even been given to this growing phenomenon of Internet addiction. "Addiction" as defined by Webster's New World Dictionary is "the condition of being addicted (to a habit) or of being an addict." "Addict," on the other hand, is defined as one who has given oneself up to some strong habit. Some may say that being addicted to using the Internet is not a "true" addiction, but according to the Webster definition, Internet addiction can be and is every bit as real and as hard to manage as a drug or alcohol addiction. Depending on where it is one looks ... ...ng from. Anyone who thinks that they may have a problem or knows someone who does should try to be open and honest about it, and should seek help before the situation becomes out of control. For anyone who reads this who is addicted to the Internet, I wish you the best of luck in controlling the disorder. For anyone else, beware of the possibilities! Works Cited "Results of Internet Behaviour Questionnaire." http://www.ifap.bepr.ethz.ch/~egger/ibq/intadd.htm. (April 15, 1997) "Richard's Web Central - Interneters Anonymous." http://www.itw.com/~rscott/ia.html. (March 20, 1997) "Self Help & Psychology Magazine Article: Internet Can Be As Addicting As Alcohol, Drugs And Gambling." http://cybertowers.com/selfhelp/articles/internet/intaddic.html.(March 20, 1997) "Symptoms of Internet Addiction." http://www.addictions.com/internet.htm. (March 20, 1997)
Monday, November 11, 2019
Book Review ââ¬ÅFamily to Familyââ¬Â Essay
Abstract Family to Family is a book written by the author Dr. Jerry Pipes and Victor Lee. Dr. Pipes is a leader with the North American Mission Board. He travels around the world speaking to audiences through various conferences and workshops, training and equipping many in how to change lives for Christ. He is an accomplished author, husband and father. Victor Lee is from Knoxville, Tennessee. He attends the First Baptist Concord Church, where he serves as the Young Adults Minister. For over twenty-two years he has become an accomplished author of several books, and an editor of a variety of Christian publications. He acts as a Sports Evangelism Consultant for the North American Mission Board. Victor Lee is an accomplished, author, husband and father. The book starts out by stating very clearly that, ââ¬Å"This book was written for families who desire to have meaningful family time, true significance and desire to pass on the legacy of their faith in Christ on to their children.â⬠1 Thi s book by Pipes and Lee was written to help the family with tools and resources to find their God given purpose. It is designed to inspire parents to grow Christ centered families through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Throughout the first few chapters Pipes and Lee provide the readers with engaging questions, and activities to transform and grow the family. The author help parent to find and understand their mission given by God as parents. Through the use of scriptures and many great stories the authors help to foster changes within the lives of todayââ¬â¢s busy families. Pipe and Lee demonstrate through this book that as Christian parent, their mission and their responsibility is to witness or disciple to their children to Jesus Christ and to teach or demonstrate for them how to live out a Christ centered lifestyle. The authors concluding chapters teach the readers about ministry evangelism through witnessing to their neighbors, community and friends. ââ¬Å"Healthy families spend quantity and quality time around Godââ¬â¢s purposes. If we truly want to our children to except the gospel, then our commitment to Christ should spill over to those around us who do not know Christ.â⬠2 The authors point out that we as parent have o be willing to intentionally share the gospel with others. Piper and Lee conclude the book with stressing the importance of daily prayer in our lives in our quest to follow Christ. Concrete Response This book reminded me of how my parents have and continued to walk talk and demonstrate Jesus Christ in my life. Just as it is stated in the Bible in the book of Joshua 24:15, ââ¬Å"as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.â⬠3 My mother made it a mission to have us learn about Jesus Christ. She may not have called it a mission by title but, it was important for her and my father to equip us as their children and a Saints of God. This was their goal. At a point in my life when I wanted to except Christ I and remember my mother sitting down with me just as the author outlines in chapter three: Passing the Baton. She asked me some specific questions to be reassured that I was ready to except Christ for myself. I can remember her talking about how God loves me so much, and Jesus Godââ¬â¢s son, who He was and how Jesus died for me. Yet as I cried from hearing about Jesus dying on the cross for me and everyone else she and my father comforted me. The best part of her story to me was that the story didnââ¬â¢t end when He died, and as I lit up again, she shared how Jesus Christ rose again on the third day. I can remember desperately wanting to make sure I carried Jesus with me in my heart daily. I can only imagine the joy my parents felt for me that day. This same process was done with each of my siblings as we accepted Christ. Our family intentionally devoted time to spend with Jesus Christ. We prayed together, shared our testimonies with each other and others. We shared our trials and our praise reports. As our parents went out witnessing, we went along, learned and participated as well. We were taught to pray for others and for the lost. My husband and I have incorporated these same principles in our household. I too know and have felt that same joy my parents felt with each of our six children. Pipes and Lee said it best, ââ¬Å"That is what this book is about: raising your family to follow Christ.â⬠4 This is what the Word of God tells us as believers as well, ââ¬Å"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.â⬠5 Reflection Although I truly enjoyed reading Family to Family by authors Pipes and Lee, I find that this book was really focused on those parents who already know and have a relationship with Jesus Christ and want or need to build a betterà Christ centered family life. In reading this book I feel that today, there are so many non-believers who could benefit from the teaching principles in this book. We are all so busy these days. We are like ships passing in the wind, always coming and going. We as parents have to be willing to stop and stand for something within our families. Otherwise what are we really passing on to our children and their children? We must be mission driven within our families just as we are in the business world. The authors Pipes and Lee do a great job in pointing this fact out. I would have liked to see more information to help the reader the parent and future parents to understand the why this is important. The authors might have used more relevant or popular facts pertaining to society today. They could have used statistical examples of grandparents raising their grandchildren. More importantly, I would have like to see more information at the beginning of the book to ensure that the parents understand their relationship with Christ and the direct affect in relation to their children. After all this is where this process begins. As a parent my relationship and my walk with Christ must be in tact in order to lead my children and others to Christ. This book is clearly written for those who desire to pass on the legacy of Christianity in their family. Action I see this book as a great workbook for our church families. After concluding my reading of this book, I decided to meet with my Pastor again. We had discussed in our last session incorporating intentional evangelism as part of our new membership class. We decided to not only share the book but actually take our new families through the process of understanding God plan for the family. First we explained Godââ¬â¢s plan for parents through reading and studying of scripture. We used Proverbs 22:6 as a basis for this class, ââ¬Å"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.â⬠6 The authors remind us that, ââ¬Å"We are to structure our families in a healthy fashionââ¬âa fashion prescribed by Godââ¬âand applying its proper significanceââ¬âthe significance applied to it by God.â⬠7 This would help each family do an examination of their family. Second, after determining or defining where each family sees themselves, we wou ld start by teaching what a healthy family is according to Godââ¬â¢s word, found in Deuteronomy chapter six. The family is a social unit of our society,à charged with the purpose of carrying Godââ¬â¢s word and His message of love for one another. We would have some discussion over some key questions that should cause each member to reflect on their situation: 1) Do we spend quality time together? 2) Are we committed to each other as well as te whole family? 3) Does the mom and dad share in the involvement and raising of the children? 4) Does each family member understand their significance in Christ? 5) Are the parents actively working the gospel to share the gospel with the children? 6) Is the healthy time spent together centered on Godââ¬â¢s purposes? These questions will help to assess where a family currently resides in relation to being a healthy family. Third, would be to do a family application study. Here the class would have each of the family members write down all of their activities for a week. Then, allow the parents and the children to analyze the number of activities that they do as a family and try to eliminate at least one activity that is done individually from each family memberââ¬â¢s list. As extra t ime becomes available find another family activity to be done together. Fourth, we would have the families develop a mission statement to include things like; who the family is and what they stand for. Each mission statement should include the familyââ¬â¢s purpose, their goals, and their mission in life as a family according to Godââ¬â¢s word. We would stress the importance of every member of the family supporting this family mission. The next step would be to equip the parents to share the gospel with their children. Teaching the parents to evangelize at home first is an assured start to build a comfort level for evangelizing to others. We all desire for our loved one to be saved. Parents would be taught to ask the specific questions to ensure their children are ready to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Sixth study for the class would be to share how parents can mentor their children. Mentoring is key to building spiritual maturity in our children. They would study different types of mentoring they should perform; i.e. modeling, being accessible, provide affirmation of their childrenââ¬â¢s awards and accomplishments, pray with children as well as pray for them, being transparent, empowering children, and making Godââ¬â¢s word the center to all that is done. The family will then do an activity together of making bracelets. The bracelets can be a reflection of their love for God and can also be a means of evangelizing to others as they see the bracelets and askà about them. Lastly, this class would engage the family to be a part of the churches out reach/evangelism ministry, where they go out two Saturdays of the month as a family and church family and meet the needs of other and evangelism to those who are lost. The parents could allow the children to pray and witness to others with them. What better way to leave a legacy than by teaching, mentoring, encouraging and praying for our families as well as the families of others. What this will accomplish is creating an avenue for our church families to find true significance in our lives and the lives of our children. Bibliography 1. Fay, William. Share Jesus Without Fear. Nashville, TN: B and H Publishing Group, 1999 2. The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright ââ¬â 2011
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