Portfolio 1:“A Family of Freedom Fighters.”

Tamar was the granddaughter of Noah and daughter of Shem. She married the fist-born son of Judah, Er, and the Lord was unpleased by him and he was killed, then she married Onan, his brother to have off springs for his dead brother. Onan did not want to give the off spring because he knew it would not be considered his, but it would give credit to Er, so the Lord sent to kill him. After both brothers died, there was only one left Shelah, Judah told Tamar it would be better if she went to live with her father until shelah was mature and grown, so that she can marry him and have an offspring, Tamar was not sure of how mature shelah was going to become and when she met at Timmath she saw Shelaw, but she law did not want to marry her. Then she began having relations with her father-in-law, Judah. As a form of payment Judah left Tamar with his staff, seal and belt. She got pregnant, but did not give the name of the child’s father, and then she was accused of fornicating. She had to state that she was carrying the children of the man she belonged to. She gave birth to Zerah and Perez. She was sent to be burned for the bad actions she had done, but she only did what she had to claim what was rightfully hers.
Tamar was the first women mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. She was mentioned to be the mother of Zerah and Perez, but that was not the interesting part of it, the most meaningful part of her story was how she got those children. She wanted something and she went out and got it. Jesus wanted to teach how when you know you deserve something and you go out for it, it is going to come to you if you truly deserved it. I think that by using Tamar in his genealogy, he was his followers to know about her and her struggles, that she had going husband after husband just to get an off spring. It shows character as well as emotions that Tamar at time felt unworthy, especially when Shelah did not want to marry her, and with the Jewish thinking of if God does not send a woman a child she is unworthy and disgraceful. Showing those emotions demonstrate a different side of humans, it shows what makes us human, which are our emotions and our ability to think about what is going on around us. Tamar was able to thinking of what was going on around her and was able to come up with a solution to get what belonged to her.

Resources I used:
womeninthebible.net
jewishencyclopedia.com
Genesis 38: 6-19

Portfolio 1: What I think I can Achieve.

I believe I can achieve an A- or better in this class. I have always been good with my assignments, rarely have I not completed and assignment, when I am sick I keep in touch with classmates and try not to fall behind in homework. I am a good listener and when I have or am sure of something to say in a discussion, I will wait for the right time to talk and will get my point of view across. I think I can achieve my goal of an A- or better.

Portfolio 1: Who is Jesus, Really?

By example Jesus taught us many things, like the meaning of being human and having feelings. Jesus also taught us not to be greedy, not to be prideful, and not to have lust, not to envy, not to be angry and not to be sloth as well not to have gluttony. Jesus did not exactly give us an example of the way to live, but he did outline it for us. Jesus is a teacher to many that believe in his father, God and that believe in the word and actions of God and Jesus Christ. Jesus' followers are those who believe in the resurrection and that Jesus would come again for a second judgment. I consider myself a follower of Jesus because it is something that I have grown up with. At times I do question religion in general, but I do believe that there is a great power then us helping and guiding us through life. I also consider myself a follower of the word of Jesus and the lessons he taught people when he was alive with trust and compassion. He taught through ways that people would get the message either they wanted to hear it or not. I also consider myself a follower of Jesus rituals, I pray, I trust and I wait. At times I do what Jesus said not to do, but I do just like everyone else ask for forgiveness from the Lord.

Portfolio 1: Why We Tell Stories?

My family always tell me a story of when my uncle was a little boy he used to always do bad things and break things. Once he also locked himself in the fridge and once he tried burning my mom's teddy bear. Then another time when my grandmother and him were at the mall in Peru with my little cousin he let go of my grandmother's hand and ran up to the third floor and when my grandma tried going after him all he did was run. When my grandpa heard about all the bad behaviors my uncle had, he only laughed and never blamed him or punished him. My uncle never liked school; he is smart but he just too lazy. When he would come home with a failing grade my grandma would punish him, but my grandpa would come and tell him not to listen to her, so therefore my uncle was never interested in his own education or well being. Now he is 26 and lives at home with us, and has no degree what so ever. The reason why my family always tell me that is because they are showing me that by my uncle ignoring what my grandma had to say and my grandpa just rewarding my uncle for all his bad actions now he is just an employee when he could have been something better then that. It also shows that since my grandma and grandpa had two different styles of raising their kids. This story is funny, but it has a lot of teachings behind it.