Tuesday, December 31, 2019

West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim...

Musical theatre is a type of theatrical performance combining music, dance, acting and spoken dialogue. Written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, ‘West Side Story’ is a classic American musical based on William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The through-composed score and lyrics are used to portray different characters and their cultures, the rivalry between the Jets and Sharks, and the emotions felt as the story progresses. This essay will be exploring the music and how effective the score is in realising the world and characters of the musical. Furthermore, it will discuss how Bernstein and Sondheim relate characters’ diverse ethnicities to particular musical ideas and motifs. In the opening prologue, Bernstein quickly†¦show more content†¦Figure 2: Bitonality seen in ‘Tonight (Ensemble)’ (2000: 115) In ‘Dance at the gym’, Bernstein uses the score and choreographed dance to illustrate the tension created between the two rival gangs. The motifs from ‘The Jet Song’ can be seen in bar 32 of the blues which is typical of jazz music and elements from ‘America’ are placed into the mambo which is percussive and typical of Latin-American music. The constant use of these motifs represents each gang and their characters by using characteristics of the music from their own country. The last method Bernstein uses to create tension between the gangs is the use of asymmetrical rhythms with pauses over rests which is unnerving to the audience. This can be seen in the opening of ‘The Jet Song’ when the chords are placed in unexpected places from the start of the song. Figure 3: Asymmetrical rhythms and unexpected pauses create tension. (2000: 13) Bernstein and Sondheim use the score and lyrics to depict individual characters using traditional music and speaking styles from their individual cultures, which can clearly be seen throughout the musical. In the ‘Jet Song’, the unsteady chords from the opening of the prologue and the Jets’ leitmotif are used frequently to once again show the audience unity between the gang members. Sondheim’s lyrics contain colloquial language such as â€Å"chicks† and â€Å"dig† as seen in bar 109 to emphasise the Western gang culture and onceShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Leonard Bernsteins West Side Story839 Words   |  4 PagesLeonard Bernstein worked with Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins, and Stephen Sondheim to produce the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story, a Romeo and Juliet-like love story between Polish American Tony and Puerto Rican Maria in New York’s West Side (Peyser 261; Fishko). Bernstein composed the music for the production. Each ar tist was renowned and therefore understood that their unique, artistic approaches were successful, essentially ensuring that there would be disagreements in the creation of theRead MoreThe period between early 1940s to mid-1960s or so, alternatively, the period between when the700 Words   |  3 PagesLaurents’s West Side Story. In the first part of this paper, I discuss the plot, songs and other aspects of the musical such as the awards etc. Later on, I explain how this musical revolutionized the theatre and the cultural effects it had on Americans. Finally, I conclude in the end the historical importance of this musical piece. West Side Story: The musical West Side Story is based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This musical was possible due to the efforts of four people, Leonard Bernstein, theRead MoreGang Violence in New York as Presented by West Side Story958 Words   |  4 PagesGang Violence in New York as Presented by West Side Story Gangs have been occupied New York City for hundreds of years. In the 1950s, the city saw a rise of Latino immigrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, and notably Puerto Rico as well as a rise in gang violence. Leonard Bernstein’s musical West Side Story uses the real-world subject of gang warfare in New York City to depict a modern-day adaptation of Romeo and Juliet by playing into the ethnic divide between the two gangs, but in doingRead MoreWest Side Story The Musical Essay498 Words   |  2 PagesWest Side Story The Musical *No Works Cited West Side Story is one of the most influential musicals of all time. Its integration of dance and song into the plot was very innovative, because even though it had been done before, it had never been done this well. Jerome Robbins had thought of an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet to a Broadway musical in 1949. He began discussions with librettist Arthur Laurents and composer Leonard Bernstein of a musical called East Side Story, with a plot concentratingRead MoreComparison Between Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story687 Words   |  3 PagesRomeo and Juliet versus West Side Story One of the most beloved and timeless tragedies of William Shakespeare is Romeo and Juliet. Its theme of young, tragic love cruelly and unintentionally destroyed by family hatreds has endured from generation to generation. The American composer Leonard Bernstein used the themes, character types, and plotlines of the Shakespearean play to craft his own musical tragedy entitled West Side Story. (Stephen Sondheim wrote the accompanying lyrics, Alfred LaurentsRead MoreRomeo And Juliet Vs. West Side Story1615 Words   |  7 PagesChapman Dr. Paula Hutton MUSC 2013 March 30, 2016 Romeo and Juliet vs. West Side Story Since the beginning of time people have been intrigued by the story of â€Å"two star-crossed lovers†, those who long to be together but never can. Such is the case of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and the collaboration work, West Side Story. The purpose of this paper is to show the similarities and differences between these two tragic love stories. Romeo and Juliet is a timeless literary work written by William ShakespeareRead MoreThe Great Depression1133 Words   |  5 Pagesinto New York, the Puerto Ricans. For some the American dream was to come to America and start a new life, but for others already here, it was about making it big in show business. â€Å"West Side Story†, a twentieth century musical, was greatly influenced by the immigration during that time. Before West Side Story was written, there were some major events that occurred. For instance, in 1914 America entered WWI. Then in 1920, women were given the right to vote and women’s suffrage was a big focusRead MoreTaking a Look at Realism2663 Words   |  11 PagesRealism Throughout history man has used his writings to record events, tell stories, inspire others, and share his opinions on certain subjects. Many intellectual movements in history have been carried along by the writings of influential authors and leaders. The literary works are then read by the common man and his opinions may or may not be influenced. Changes in his actions based on his readings will, in turn, affect how others act. The advancement of ideas and concepts eventually leadRead MoreMusical Theatre As A Theatrical Performance1913 Words   |  8 PagesMusical Theatre is a theatrical performance when the story is told through dialogue, song, and dance. Back then, people didn’t Snap Chat, Face Time or watch TV for entertainment; they would go to the Theatre for a night out, first date, etc. To give a more definitive description of how musicals evolved, affected, and influenced throughout history, a time line of major musicals that defined certain stages of Musical Th eatre will probably help people understand what makes it so unique. Now a quickRead More Comparing the Characters in Laurents West Side Story and Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet1795 Words   |  8 PagesMeshing Together of Characters in Arthur Laurents West Side Story and Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet The meshing of characters between Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Bernstein’s West Side Story formulate significant similarities between the two. In Romeo and Juliet the story of â€Å"Two households both alike in dignity,† (Montagues and Capulets) who have been feuding is parallel to the two gangs in West Side Story (Jets and Sharks). This grouping of loyalties keeps the segregation of the

Monday, December 23, 2019

Critical Essay A Synthesis Of Action - 1467 Words

Critical Essay: A Synthesis of Action Though simple in manner and disposition, the notion of action is often far more intricate and complex than many would perceive it. Ranging from engagement in national violence or the following of nonviolent beliefs, to the extent of choosing not to perform at all, action is capable of taking countless forms throughout the world even if society is oblivious to its existence. After reading the various texts that were explored during the semester course, the theme of action appears frequently throughout the collection of religious and philosophical subject matter. Although prevalent in these selected texts, the theme is widely diverse in the text’s approach to either the ideology of action, how the characters in the text exemplify action, or another means to answering the question, â€Å"how should one act?† To illustrate this notion, the use of action was examined as it pertained to the texts The Bhagavad Gita, The Trial and Death of Socrates, and the Daodejing. As it was portrayed in The Bhagavad Gita, action was discussed through the perspective of one’s duty or obligation to act. In The Trial and Death of Socrates, action was shown on the principle of supporting one’s own beliefs. Regarding the ideologies of the Taoist philosophy and tradition, the Daodejing touches on how one’s actions may be interpreted or made sense of in a different context of action. Foremost, the theme of action is portrayed in the thought-provoking text The BhagavadShow MoreRelatedMy Career Goals For A Surgical Missionary1256 Words   |  6 Pagesstudent learning outcomes such as applying critical thinking and reading skills to a variety of texts and employing appropriate writing strategies for each assignment’s audience and purpose. However, my writing needs to continue to improve in other areas, such as demonstrating correctness in the written conventions of University discourse. One of the student learning outcomes through which I was able to see my writing improve this semester was applying critical thinking and reading skills to a varietyRead MoreSocial Justice Syllabus1518 Words   |  7 Pages510-912-2126 ELA Dept. Mission Statement The English-Language Arts Department at DVHS is based on the Common Core State Standards.  English courses emphasize critical reading, composition, and speaking skills in the context of various literature and non-fiction texts including but not limited to short stories, poetry, drama, novels, periodicals, essays, speeches, and articles.   The challenging content is designed to prepare students for career and college readiness. In addition to reading,  varied writingRead MoreI Was A Great Reader Essay1080 Words   |  5 PagesProfessor Rigg had helped us brainstorm evidence for this essay by requiring us to do the Personal and Video observation reports. I had never done one of these before, so it was kind of confusing to me at first. After I read over the instructions a little more, I was back in action. For my video observation, I surfed through the web for the video I wanted to examine about the most. When I found the right video, I knew it would be perfect for my essay. Even though we were supposed to use mostly our ownRead MoreImpossibility of Certainty in Hamlet1296 Words   |  6 Pagesbalanced but significantly dissonant sentence serves to highlight that there is something suspect and â€Å"Rotten† in the state of Denmark. Claudius further enforces the idea that nothing can really be trusted. Similarly, the relationship between the actions and internal thought processes of human beings is evident in the scheming Polonius. Polonius is also a man with little integrity capable of great deceit. He tells his son Laertes, â€Å"To thine own self be true† (I.iii.84). But later Polonius enlistsRead MoreSynthesis Essay : James H. Doolittle1391 Words   |  6 PagesSynthesis Essay - James H. Doolittle MSgt Leonard O. Bravo Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Synthesis Essay - James H. Doolittle For just a moment, imagine being asked to volunteer as mission lead of a team of 16 B-25 Bomber crews and carry out a mission that’s nearly certain to be a one-way bombing run. Alternatively, ask yourself what type of leader can motivate you enough to volunteer for such a daring mission. Do you truly embody the service before self core value in whichRead MoreRelationship Between The United States And Black America932 Words   |  4 PagesThe relationship between the United States and Black America can best be compared to an unbalanced scale. Some would argue that the majority take regular advantage of the minority, creating a distinct schism between the two groups. The actions taken by each group adversely shape the behavior of one another. While the oppressed lash out because of the unfair conditions of society, the oppressors continue to dish out what they consider to be the appropriate punishment. The oppressed continue to becomeRead MoreThe Body And The Outer Environment1 218 Words   |  5 Pages INTRODUCTION TO THE BIOLOGY OF THE SKIN The skin is the main interface between the body and the outer environment. The skin is a functional barrier with unique anatomic and physiologic features. The following essay will provides an overview of the key elements of the skin’s structure and functions to provide an in-depth understanding on the skins biology and how to apply this knowledge to the beauty industry. Knowledge of skin structure and promotion of skin health Function and role of theRead MoreVideo Games : Improving Critical Life Skills1587 Words   |  7 PagesGames are Bolstering Critical Life Skills in Children In 1972 Magnavox Odyssey and Atari developed and released what has come to be understood as the first video game titled, Pong. A simple tennis game where the goal is simply to keep the ball within the bounds of the screen. Since then, video games have flourished into a diverse industry varying in several genres. It has become an industry where companies work to develop a game as a form of art, or simply an immersive action packed adventure. WhileRead MoreMCKI Assignment1508 Words   |  7 Pageshave been presented with technical language accurately used in all the tasks DISTINCTION: D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions Synthesis has been used to generate and justify valid conclusions The validity of results have been evaluated using defined criteria. Realistic improvements have been proposed against defined characteristics for success Synthesis has been used to generate and justify valid conclusions when addressing the tasks D2 Take responsibilityRead MoreCritical Thinking Is A Natural Process1593 Words   |  7 Pagesself serving, uninformed, and possibly biased. According to Scriven and Paul (1987) critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In a simplistic view, critical thinking is the process of collaborating information to provide practical solutions with

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer Free Essays

TWELVE KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYER Why does God not answer most people’s prayers? Do you know how to pray in a way that will get real results? Here are 12 practical steps that will help secure the favor of God for answered prayer! Key #1—Pray Sincerely to the True God It is absolutely vital that you pray to the very real God of the Bible if you expect genuine answers to your prayers. He reveals Himself to mankind in many ways—in creation, in the Bible, in His foretelling specific divine intervention in world affairs and in direct ANSWERS to those who seek and obey Him through fervent holy worship. In our modern, ecumenical (worldwide) approach to religion, we may think that praying to some vague â€Å"blob† in the sky or to an idol of Buddha is just the same as praying to the CREATOR—the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Israel and Jesus Christ, but it is not the same at all! The true God was revealed by Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:27). We will write a custom essay sample on Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer or any similar topic only for you Order Now To one of His disciples, He said, â€Å"Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known ME†¦? We read of Jesus Christ acknowledging that God was a loving, divine Person—a â€Å"Father. And we see the Father acting through Christ to heal the sick, to comfort the downcast and to teach those whom He calls to keep not only the Ten Commandments, but all of His words as a way of life (Matthew 19:17). Christ also set an example for us in praying to the Father: â€Å"Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You’† (John 17:1). We serve an awesome God, with limitless power and glory! When you get down on both knees and lift up your hands in prayer to the great CREATOR of the universe, you should think of to whom you are praying. Remember that He is not only the Creator, but also the active Sovereign ruler of the entire universe and the Bible says that it is God’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom and all that is contained in it. Be sure you always pray specifically to This God—the true God—and to no other. As you begin your prayer, think about whom you are praying to and consciously worship this Great God who gives you life and breath. Key # 2—Study the Bible It naturally follows that praying to the true God involves believing what He says. And we find His words—instructing human beings how they should live—in the Holy Bible. It reveals essential knowledge that we could not acquire in any other way. It is God’s â€Å"Instruction Manual† for humanity. It tells us who God is what He is like and how we ought to serve Him. In its pages we find God’s own instructions (not suggestions) as to how we ought to live for and pray to Him. You will not receive this full instruction by just â€Å"going to church† or by carelessly reading bits and pieces of the Bible for comfort or inspiration. God commands us in His Word, â€Å"Earnestly study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth† (2 Timothy 2:15). To know God, to understand His will and to believe in His promises, one needs to regularly study His inspired Word in an orderly way—just as you might study a science textbook or a volume on history. A good place to start is the book of Matthew. Read this through slowly and carefully—noting what Jesus actually said, paying particular attention to the many examples of answered prayer. Key #3—Deeply Repent of Your Sins Although from time to time God hears the prayers of anyone who sincerely cries out to Him in time of need, He is not bound by His Word to do this. God’s Word says, â€Å"Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear dull, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear† (Isaiah 59:1-2). It is not our job to psychoanalyze or â€Å"spiritually dissect† those who have not had their prayers answered in the past. But we have a duty to ask ourselves: â€Å"Do I worship the true God? Do I do His will? Please be honest with yourself. It is easy to rationalize or to reason around this very clear scriptural teaching about obeying God’s law for having your prayers answered. As you grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), He will live His life in you more and more fully over the course of your Christian life. Certainly you will not be perfect (mature) all at once, and no human being has ever been perfect (spotless) except Jesus Christ Himself. But you will be walking in the way of the Ten Commandments by surrendering to Him. By walking with Christ in this manner, you can be assured of having more powerful answers to your prayers than ever before. Key #4 Forgive Others Another vital key to answered prayer is our willingness to truly FORGIVE others. Frankly, our loving Father in heaven simply does not hear those who come to Him in a spirit of revenge, bitterness or hatred. Immediately after giving us the â€Å"Lord’s Prayer†Ã¢â‚¬â€the outline prayer describing the right general approach to talking with God—Jesus went on to instruct His followers: â€Å"If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also for give you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father for give your trespasses† (Matthew 6:14-15). And Psalm 66:18-20 says, â€Å"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: but verily (truly) God hath heard me: He hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be the God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me. † Key #5—Seek God’s Will Another key to successful prayer is to be absolutely sure that—as far as possible—you align your will and your requests with God’s will. As you zealously study the Bible and yield to let Christ live within you, His will increasingly replaces your own. It affects how you pray. You come to realize that God has made all men and women in His image—that He will call all mankind to understanding and repentance in His own time. With this in mind, you will not be praying just for your own good, but for the good of others as well. Then you can sincerely say to God, as Jesus did: â€Å"Not My will, but Yours be done† (Luke 22:42). Remember this key phrase from the outline prayer of Jesus in Matthew 6, â€Å"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven† (v. 10). We all need to focus on this as we pray. What is really best for us and everyone concerned in the long run—only God knows for sure! On the other hand, the Bible contains literally dozens of promises and/or direct indications of what God has done or will do in regard to answered prayer. If we pray in faith that God will hear us—and in accordance to His will—we may be sure that He is listening. â€Å"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him† (1 John 5:14-15). Key #6—Have Faith in God The more you drink in of the Bible, the more deeply you will realize the importance of FAITH. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him† (Heb. 11:6). The bottom line is that you cannot please God without Faith, and generally speaking, the Bible makes it crystal clear that God will not hear and answer your prayer s unless you come to Him in faith. â€Å"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord† (James 1:6). We need to take careful note of this vital teaching of Jesus Christ with respect to prayer and faith: â€Å"Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say unto you, whatever things you ask when you pray, BELIEVE that you receive them, and you WILL have them† (Mark 11:22-24). By continually drinking in of the Bible and praying for faith, you will find that your faith will increase more and more. Understand that living faith is produced by God’s Holy Spirit within us, and Jesus said, â€Å"If you then, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy spirit to those who ask Him! † (Lk. 11:13). God wants to give us those things we ask for if we humbly ask for them and our motives and priorities are not selfish ones. So we need to pray to Him continually to give us the FAITH we need. We need to learn to BELIEVE in the promises of God. We need to learn to believe that God is REAL—that He has perfect wisdom, perfect love and perfect POWER. Realize that He will KEEP all his promises! We need to learn to imitate Abraham, the father of the faithful (Romans 4:16), for he â€Å"did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also ABLE to perform† (Rom. 4:20-21). This is real faith. This is the attitude you must have to receive genuine answers to your prayers. Key # 7—Be Persistent If your child asks you just once for a bicycle and then seemingly forgets about it and never brings the subject up again how deep is his or her desire for it? How much do you think they would appreciate it if they did get one? And so it is when we ask for something from our Heavenly father. Before He supernaturally intervenes, God wants to know that we deeply desire whatever we ask for, and that we will respect and worship Him for answering our prayer. In other words, God uses our need or desire as a vehicle to draw us closer to Him, spiritually—to cause us to focus on His will and on what is really best for us and for any others who might be involved. If we carelessly ask for something, and then virtually forget that we ever did, what would that indicate? It might tell God that we are not all that interested in His doing what we ask! Or it could be that all our desires are shallow, perhaps constantly changing, and that we would not feel a deep sense of appreciation and worship even if He constantly answered such shallow prayers! (See Luke 18:1-8). God wants us to be persistent. He wants us to walk with Him, talk with Him and commune with Him continually—day after day in this age, and ultimately throughout eternity! The Apostle Paul instructs us to â€Å"pray without ceasing† (1 Thess. 5:17). David said in Psalm 55:16-17, â€Å"As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. † So pray regularly. Spend plenty of TIME communing with Jesus Christ and your Heavenly Father. And never—EVER—stop praying to God! For, in more ways than one, your very life depends upon this contact! Key #8—Pray Fervently In Hosea 7:14 God cites as one of the reasons He did not hear the prayers of ancient Israel was that â€Å"and they have not cried unto Me with their heart. The Moffatt translation of this same verse reads, â€Å"They never put their Heart into their prayers. † What about us? Do you and I pray with our entire being? Or do we just rattle off a memorized prayer like some pagan chant or perhaps sleepily mumble a few half-hearted requests to God just before drifting off to sleep? Again, remember Jesus’ example of getting up early to pray to the Father. For prayer was vitally important to Christ. That is why He apparently put it first on His schedule—before anything else could interfere. And he probably came back to God repeatedly as the day progressed. The Book of Hebrews tells us about Christ’s passionate, heartfelt prayers: â€Å"Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear† (Heb. 5:7). It is good to go to a private place to pray as Jesus instructed in Matthew 6. Alone, we can occasionally cry out to our temptations or difficulties where only the help of God Himself can fully take care of the situation. In Luke 22:44 Jesus was crying out to His Father in such an intense and passionate manner that some of His capillaries may have literally burst—filling certain sweat ducts with blood. In our modern secular, hedonistic, laid back society, we need to grasp that the truly vital issues of life are not material. Rather, they are spiritual—having to do with our Creator and with all eternity. They are certainly worthy of getting excited about. So let us put our hearts into our prayers. Let us be fervent! Let us be passionate as we pour out our hearts to the awesome Personality who wants to be our real Father: the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity† (Isaiah 57:15). Key #9—Ask God to Fashion and Mold You A genuine man or woman of God is one who has totally surrendered to the will of the Creator. Through the Prophet Isaiah God tells us: â€Å"But on this one will I look: on Him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word† (Isa. 66:2). This attitude of seeking God’s will rather than our own—of total submission to our Heavenly father—is vital to our prayer life if we are to receive constant and powerful answers. Do you want to truly grow spiritually? Listen to Ephesians 4:13: â€Å"Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. † If you’re serious about growing and becoming mature then we need to all â€Å"wrestle with God† in our prayers as Jacob literally wrestled with Him and prevailed (Gen. 32:24-32). We need to engage Him in long, thoughtful conversation about how we can more fully yield to Him, walk with Him in our lives. We need to constantly ask God to help us fulfill the great PURPOSE for which we were born. It is fine—within limits—to pray for physical things. BUT THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF PRAYER IS TO HELP US FOCUS ON GOD, YIELD TO HIM AND SURRENDER OUR WILL TO HIS AS WE CULTIVATE A VITAL INTERACTIVE RELATIONSHIP. In this way He becomes increasingly real to us. Through constant and heartfelt Bible Study and prayer we must seek God’s will. We must grasp that our past ideas and attitudes about God and religion in general need much improvement. This process will bring us to a point in our lives where we learn to walk with Him, talk with Him, quietly commune with Him off and on all day long. Sincerely ask Him to mold you into His own image. The approach of yielding to God as you pray, of asking Him to rebuke and chasten and fashion you, is one of the vital keys to really powerful prayer. Key #10—Give Praise and Thanks to Almighty God Another of the qualities that made King David a man after God’s own heart was the sincere love, worship and adoration that he continually expressed toward the great creator who blessed him, sustained him and guided him. The entire Book of Psalms is literally filled with David’s prayers of worship and adoration. Listen to Psalm 18:1-3, â€Å"I will love you, O Lord my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. † Fifty (50) verses and David never asked for one thing! All he does is give God praise and thanks for what He has already done. When was the last time you got down on your knees or walked on your feet and just gave God continuous repetitious praise and thanks for what He has already done? We need to constantly thank and praise God for every good gift and for His help and blessing in every situation (1 Thess. 5:18). Instead of losing control in our enthusiasm for sports figures, rock and rap stars or any other human idols, let us unashamedly pour out our whole being in thanking, praising and worshiping the God who made us and who gives us life and breath. This is the God who forgives us time and time and time again, who guides and blesses us, and who in the end—plans to share His eternal glory with us if we will only respond and learn to love Him as He loves us. Key #11—Pray in the Name of Jesus Christ To truly and correctly use Jesus’ name in prayer we must OBEY Him and again ask according to His will. Remember that in the Sermon on the Mount, Christ warned: â€Å"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Those who do not really know the true God or His way are simply not capable of properly coming before Him in the name of Jesus Christ. To pray in the name of Jesus is to approach the throne of God through the name—the office and authority of Jesus Christ who gives us access to the very throne room of God. So as you approach God in heartfelt, regular prayer, be sure you are obeying your Lord and Master Jesus Christ. Though He does not expect instant spiritual maturity, He does want us to walk in His way through the help of the Holy Spirit. When we do we can then come to the Father through Christ alone to make the direct contact of effective prayer. And remember, James said, â€Å"the effectual (unceasing) fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much† (James 5:16b). Key #12—EXPECT AN ANSWER!!!!!!!!!!! How to cite Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

The Schlieffen Plan Failed free essay sample

The Schlieffen Plan failed because of bravery of BEF In 1914, Germany would go to war with Russia. If this happened then Germany assumed french would also attack them as they were friends of Russia. This meant that German would be attacked on both sides of the country, so Germany wanted to avoid spreading the army into two to defeat France quickly and then attack Russia. The German Army Chief of Staff, Alfred von Schlieffen was asked to plan a war on two sides. He think that it was important to get a fast break attack. Schlieffen wanted to attack France through Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. He planned to use 90% of the German army to deliver a knock out blow to France. How ever in the battle of liege in Belgium, the local army helped by the British Expeditionary force, which arrive very quickly. And defending the Germen and at the same time, Russian prepared their army to attack. We will write a custom essay sample on The Schlieffen Plan Failed or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Makes the plan failed. The main reason of Schlieffen plan failed was the british expeditionary force helping out. This is a surprise defending to the Germen and had been shocked. Makes the plan totally went to the wrong side. Also, at the same time the Russian was ready to attack Germany at the other side, and forced the attacking troops need to be back and ready for defense. The Germen advance was slowed down. Through, the helping from the British to the Belgium, the Germany got another enemy to fight in further days. Therefore the Germany will be much more difficult to be the winner of the war.