Assignment from Joseph's blog
 

 After
Book Review

The Kite Runner  by Khaled Hosseini
Anchor Canada edition published 2004

The book tells us the heart-gripping story of two young boys growing up in Afghanistan, Amir and Hasan. It is a story based on the friendship and hardships that take place between the two boys, two religious views, two worldviews, and two castes. The book focuses on Amir’s tough journey to find forgiveness, purpose, and redemption. The author states the theme of redemption at the onset of the book when Amir is told, “There is a way to be good again” (Hosseini).

The vividness and uniqueness of the story make the book undeniably engaging from the start. It is as though one is not merely reading a story but experiencing the story through the text. The characters are powerful, sympathetic, and relatable. The plot unfolds at an excellent pace so that the suspense is built up but still leaves ample room for the reader’s speculation. The setting is Afghanistan before, during, and after the Soviet invasion. Amir, the protagonist, flees to California where he learns a new language, graduates high school and college, and becomes a successful writer. One of my favourite motifs of this book is the manner in which the author brings to life his Afghan culture. One way he accomplishes this is to sprinkle words or short phrases of an Afghan language throughout the entire book giving the text aesthetics and authenticity.

As the story develops it is quickly evident that Amir has a deeply embedded desire to correct his wrongs, undo his bad judgements, and redeem himself. He returns to Afghanistan, endangers his life, rescues his half-brother’s child, and brings him back to California. However, even after all that he endures and accomplishes, he cannot confirm if he has tilted the scales in his favour. The question still remains: Did he do enough to make himself “good again”? Still there are other questions that remain unanswered: Was everything that he did good in and of itself? Who decides the merit of the deeds? Is that measurement objective or subjective? Who decides which deeds are counted in his favour and which deeds are counted against him? Does the end justify the means? If so, does this position lend itself to subjectivism?

Rough Draft
Book Review

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The book, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini tells us the heart- gripping story of two young boys growing up in Afghanistan, Amir and Hasan.  It is a story based around the friendship and hardships that take place between the two boys, two different religious views, two different views of the world, two different caste classes. The book focuses on Amir’s tough journey to find forgiveness, purpose, and redemption. The author states the theme of redemption on the onset of the book when Amir is told, “There is a way to be good again.”(Hosseini, pg.2)

The vividness and uniqueness of the story makes the book undeniably engaging from the start. It is as though one is not merely reading a story but experiencing the story through the text. The characters are powerful, sympathetic, and relatable. The plot is carried out at an excellent pace so that the suspense is built up but still leaves ample room for the reader’s speculation. The setting is Afghanistan before, during, and after the Soviet invasion. Amir, the protagonist, flees to California where he learns a new language, graduates high school and college, and becomes a successful writer. One of my favourite motifs of this book is the manner in which the author brought to life his Afghan culture. One way he accomplishes this is to sprinkle words or short phrases of the Afghan language throughout the entire book giving the text beautiful esthetics and giving the reader a taste of his society.

As the story develops it is quickly evident that Amir has a deeply embedded desire to correct his wrongs, undo his bad judgement, and redeem himself. He returns to Afghanistan, endangers his life, rescues his half-brother’s child, and brings him back to California. However, even after all that he endures and accomplishes, he cannot confirm if he has balanced the scales in his favour. The question still remains: Did he do enough to make himself “good again”? Still there are other questions that remain unanswered: Was everything that he did good in and of itself? Who measures the deeds? Is that measurement objective or subjective? Who decides which deeds are counted in his favour and which deeds counted against him ? Do the means justify the end? If not, where is the line that should not be crossed?

https://www.linchsnational.ca/studentview/Write_S.aspx?courseid=279&levelid=2729&levelGroup=3&exeID=527&exNum=1&partID=879&queid=1507&StudentID=gh16013&templatePage=

My Assigned Thesis: If I were concerned with maintenance, interaction and protection, then a fish would make a terrible pet.

After a long day at work wouldn’t it be nice to come home and be greeted by an awesome pet? There are many people who keep fish for pets. A nice and colourful aquarium can provide the long expected and relaxing ambiance that washes away the day’s worries. However, there is much more to keeping fish than meets the eye. If I were concerned with maintenance, interaction and protection, then a fish would make a terrible pet.

The internet is peppered with all sorts of articles regarding fish maintenance. Experts differ on how to properly care for fish. They differ on how to care for both salt water and fresh water fish. For instance some say a fish bowl is perfect for goldfish and others say that goldfish cannot thrive in just a fish bowl. We also still have many misconceptions on how to create a good and prosperous environment for fish. Tropical fish in particular seem to have a lot more maintenance requirements. In addition to that we cannot know when a fish is unhealthy or feeling poorly. Since there isn’t an accurate gauge for this, we cannot take the fish to the vet when they are ill. The best we can do is to follow a maintenance plan and hope, watch, and pray that it works.

Interaction with fish is terribly limited. Even though fish are wonderful and pretty to look at, we cannot cuddle a fish while watching a movie. In like manner we cannot play fetch with a fish or take them on a walk or hike. Not only is it inconvenient but fish bowls don’t travel well. Bottom line is that we cannot play with fish like we can with dogs. Fish as pets place perimeters and limitations that other pets don’t.

If protection is something that is important, then a fish aquarium is not the way to go. There are obvious reasons that bar fish from being protectors. At home or at work fish cannot warn of an intruder. Since they are limited to their tank and cannot travel freely, they cannot protect against bears or any other outdoor attackers. Lastly fish do not have the mechanism to fend off land animals. Fish are ill equipped to protect humans.

In conclusion having a pet takes time and care. There are benefits to having pets, but when it comes to fish, there is more to think about than a just a nice aquarium. There are maintenance, interaction and protection issues that must be addressed. Think carefully before getting a fish for a pet; you don’t want to be late for work because you were having a toilet-side funeral before you left home.

Canadian living standards vary in range from the poor to the wealthy. In the table above there are a few patterns that emerge. The average income levels are divided into two categories, families and individuals ("unattached"). The highest income level was in families where there were multiple incomes, meaning two or more. That category earned $114,600 per year. The average economic families had a much higher income level than unattached wage earners By contrast the lowest income earners were the one-parent families and the individual solo earners. The category with the lowest income was the non-earner males. This category had an income of $12,800. I assume that there are individuals on social assistance. These statistics show that the families with multiple incomes can afford a higher standard of living.

Canadian living standards vary in range from poverty<<the poor to the wealthy. In the table above there are a few patterns that emerge. The average income levels are divided into two categories, the families and the individuals ("unattached"). The highest income level was in a family<plural where there were multiple incomes, meaning two or more. That category earned $114,600 per year. The average economic families had a much higher income level than unattached wage earners. By contrast the lowest income earners were the one-parent families and the individual solo earners. The category with the lowest income is<tense the non-earner males. This category had an income of $12,800. I assume that this is an individual<plural on social assistance. These statics<stats show that the families with multiple incomes can afford a higher standard of living.

 In a paragraph, describe information in a statistical table listing average incomes of Canadians by family type. Introduce the paragraph with a general topic sentence, and then support it with details drawn from the table.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/famil21a-eng.htm

  Top Portion of Table (pictured above)

Bottom Portion of Table (pictured above)

Canadian living standards vary in range from poverty to the wealthy. In the table above there are a few patterns that emerge. The average income levels are divided into two categories, the families and the individuals (unattached). The highest income level was in a family where there were multiple incomes, meaning two or more. That category earned $114,600 per year. The average economic families had a much higher income level than unattached wage earners.  By contrast the lowest income earners were the one parent families and the individual solo earners. The category with the lowest income is the non-earner male. This category had an income of $12,800. I assume that this is an individual on social assistance. These statics show that the families with multiple incomes can afford a higher standard of living.

My Understanding of the Church

The New Testament gives a precise and unique definition of the church. The Greek word ekklesia is defined in specific terms as “an assembly; congregation, the whole body of Christian believers” (Strong’s). Ecclesiology, the study of the church, is a derivative of this word. The Apostle Paul refers to the church as a group of believers and not a building (Romans 16:5). Beginning in the days of Pentecost, carrying on through the New Testament, and continuing today, the church consists of believers, who are the body of Christ; the head of the body is Christ (Ephesians 1:21-22).

The Distinctives of the Church

The church has two distinctives. First, it is local. The local church is a community of believers, such as the churches in Galatia. Paul addresses these local groups of believers as churches. These groups of  believers are people who trust in Jesus for their salvation and come together for edification and fellowship within their prescribed locations (Galatians 1: 1-2). In addition to this, we also see that the church is not limited by geographical boundaries, but the entirety of believers. Those who have been baptised into one body. This global church is not separated by race, “whether Jew or Greek.” This global church is not divided by socioeconomic groups, “whether slave or free,” but is a conglomerate of all who have received the Spirit of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

The Purpose of the Church

The purpose of the church can also be seen as twofold: to know God and to make Him known. Spiritual maturity in believers is achieved in part by the gathering together for the preaching of God’s word, Bible study, worship, and communion (Ephesians 4:13). Reaching the lost for Christ is a command for the believers, so that we can have an effective testimony in every sphere of influence (Matthew 28:18-20) and (Acts 1:8). We as members of the church are to glorify God and tell others of the redemptive work of Jesus.

The Work of the Church

The work of the church can be identified in Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” This verse indicates that we are to study doctrine, which is looking into God’s word, knowing it and loving it  (2 Timothy 3:16). We are to study and understand the nature and character of God so that our worship of Him becomes more accurate. We are to understand the nature of sin and the nature of man. The heart of man is desperately wicked. Jeremiah states, “ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure  (Jeremiah 17: 9). When we understand who we are and who Jesus is, we will love much because “the one who is forgiven much loves much” (Luke 7:47). We are to be aware that we are sinners in need of grace and that justification is by faith alone (Romans 5:1). We are shown that we are to fellowship with one another. In this fellowship, the world will know who we are because of our love for one another (John 13:35). In the breaking of bread together we recognise that His body was broken for us. His blood shed for us makes us love much. Prayer is an essential component in our lives because it is God who works in us “to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). We must recognise our utter and complete dependence upon God and His work.

In summary, the church is not a building or simply a social centre. The church is a group of people called together by His name to know Him, to worship Him, and to make Him known. We are called to be more like Jesus. He said to Peter, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).