Hymn

"You Raise Me Up" - Selah

The hymn "You Raise Me Up" by Selah is such a powerful and meaningful song, exhibited through both the lyrics and the singers' emotions. This song is so significant to me because it deeply explains God's ultimate power and how he lifts us up through rough times. God is our strength, and is with us always and forever. The power that lies within this song is unbelievable. Whenever I come home from school having a bad day, I can listen to this song and receive instant joy and satisfaction, putting tears in my eyes and heart. It also allows me to see and feel eternity. This is one of the songs that helps me to keep my trust in God, for I know that He is my strength and personal Savior. I love this song so much, and I thank the Lord for being my strength when I am weak.

Pope Message Board

A Modest Proposal Response

Jonathan Swift's writing clearly demonstrates some very extreme solutions throughout his proposal. He wrote this proposal for the children of the poor people of Ireland, and tried to make their presense beneficial to the country. Swift's solution to this problem was very sick and disgusting. The thought of eating infants and other people gives me such a sick feeling inside. Although some of his supporting information regarding his solution may somewhat make sense, it still reveals that this is one of the most disgusting and secular ideas ever. This solution is definitely against the Bible because God creates all people with a purpose and in His very own image. If a person ate another person, it is simply destroying one of God's unique creations that He Himself created. Everything that God creates is a miracle in itself, which supports the fact that life is precious. This piece of writing is extremely graphic, and definitely, very disgusting. 

Modern Connection

Love Story

Taylor Swift

We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes
And the flashback starts
I'm standing there
On a balcony in summer air

See the lights
See the party, the ball gowns
I see you make your way through the crowd
And say hello, little did I know

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said stay away from Juliet
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you please don't go, and I said

Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story baby just say yes

So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while

'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter
And my daddy said stay away from Juliet
But you were everything to me
I was begging you please don't go and I said

Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story baby just say yes

Romeo save me, they try to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it's real
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess
It's a love story baby just say yes
Oh oh

I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you is fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town, and I said

Romeo save me I've been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you but you never come
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring

And said, marry me Juliet
You'll never have to be alone
I love you and that's all I really know
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
It's a love story baby just say yes

Oh, oh, oh, oh
'Cause we were both young when I first saw you

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This song relates to Steele's "No. 1 Tuesday, April 12, 1709" because of the similarities of the central messages found in both of the works. One of the key messages that is quite prevalent through both stories is the idea of love at first sight. In Steele's story, he speaks about an attractive lady that he sees, and instantly discovers some love for her. After only seeing her for a short time, he goes around and looks for her. Correspondingly, in Swift's song, she speaks about the love she had for a boy, even at a young age. As time went on, she would still continuously chase after the same guy, until they finally got married. The love portrayed in Steele's story is definitely analogous to the love found in Taylor Swift's song. 

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Steele, Richard. "The Tatler No. 1." British Literature. Ronald A. Horton. 2nd ed. Greenville: BJU Press. 2003. 396. Print.

Swift, Taylor. "LOVE STORY Lyrics." Song Lyrics. Web. 18 Nov. 2010. <http://www.elyrics.net/read/t/taylor-swift-lyrics/love-story-lyrics.html>. 

Crusoe Illustration

This is during Chapter II, when Crusoe is overtaken by Moorish Pirates. 

Enjoy!

Dryden's Satire

According to the first paragraph of "Of Satire," what is the purpose of satire? 

-The purpose of satire is to provide an example for all of the depraved people. If satire is used right, the wicked may turn away from their iniquities.

What does Dryden say in the second paragraph is the type of satire he admires most, and to what does he attribute one's ability to use this type of satire successfully? 

-The type of satire that he admires the most is gentle mockery, or mild derision. To obtain the ability to use this successfully, one must be born with the genius thinking.

What words does he use to show his disapproval of harsher forms of satire? 

-In the second paragraph, Dryden uses the words "a fool, a blockhead, or a knave" to exhibit opposition in the use of shameful terms upon others (Horton 382).

Dryden, John. "Of Satire." British Liturature. Ronald A. Horton. Greenville: BJU Press. 2003. 377-383. Print.

Pilgrim's Progress

Picture from Creaza's stock images. 

Bunyan, John. "Pilgrim's Progress." British Liturature. Ronald A. Horton. Greenville: BJU Press. 2003. 344-363. Print.

 
SparkNotes. "The Pilgrim's Progress: Story." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pilgrims/context.html>.