Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Mazal Tov! Best Creative Synthesis

Mazal Tov! (Congratulations, in Hebrew) to this quarter's Best Creative Synthesis among my High1 students which comes from the group of Orville Tan, Jester Tan, Byron Tecson, Raphael Te, and Bryce Sy of H1D.

The video is a critique of an episode of Mythbusters which tried to debunk belief in the existence of God by kidnapping a critically-ill patient and trying to cure her only by praying. Quite predictably, no miracle happened and the famous group quickly declared God to be a busted myth. But were they really able to disprove God?

In this video, the group was able to apply the idea of Biblical Inerrancy in the sense that we should not only depend on the Bible, faith and God for everything but rely also on science and other avenues of knowledge which stem from our God-given capacity for creativity (kabas) and responsibility (radah) over our lives and the rest of creation as emphasized in the first Creation story. Indeed, God rarely works through fantastic miracles but always through the ordered and provident goodness of nature and giftedness of man, which he created with love.

Thus, not only does it tie up and articulate the important points from the first Creation story, it also brings in the introductory lesson on important concepts about the Bible in an ingenious application that really responds to questions people now really ask.

Great work! I hope to see more projects of similar or higher caliber in the coming quarters.



Friday, August 8, 2008

Study Tools for the Quarterlies

Shalom Class!

To help prepare you for our Quarterly Test you can access the Pre-Test PowerPoint by clicking the link below. Enjoy this simple but educational game!

Be sure to understand and master everything so you will have high grades in the upcoming exam. You might also want to check even the wrong answers because you will also have much to learn from the explanations given there.

To help you further as you review for CLE, I made a crossword puzzle which you can download that will hopefully help you remember not just important words but also important concepts learned in class. The soft copy of our handouts are to be found in my multiply site by clicking here.

Don't forget to rest, refocus and redirect this weekend, especially Sunday. Life not all about study and work. (But study and work we must!)

God bless all of you.

Shalom! Crossword Series 1
Introduction to the Bible and the Old Testament and Genesis 1-3

Tutorial Game
To prepare you for the Quiz

Pre-Test
Introduction to the Bible and the Old Testament

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Creation Handouts

Shalom Class!

Here is the online hand-out for our Creation lesson (aside from the printed handouts distributed during our review). However, may I repeat once and for all that this website does not excuse you from your duty of listening in class and taking down notes. By now, you should have already noticed that paying attention in class and following the flow of the encounter is the most important, even the one thing necessary, in this course.

God bless you.

Creation: the Initial Act of Promise (Hand-out)

First Creation Story



Shalom Class!

The Genesis stories of Creation are not scientific or historical accounts about the origins of the universe and of man. Rather, they are myths that convey profound religious beliefs about who God is, what the world is and where it is going toward, and what is our place in the world as human persons.

The first story of Creation, as you already found out in our class activity is actually based on a creation myth widely accepted among the peoples of the Ancient Near East entitled Enuma Elish or "When on High". More than jusr noticing the similarities however, we need to focus on the differences that the Genesis author made in rewriting the Creation myth. Knowing the historical background of the writing of the text gives us a further clue on the meaning of the Genesis author: he is not just simply editing a story but is making a profession of faith.

With that, here is a copy of my slideshow for the First Story of Creation. Happy viewing!

The Enuma Elish and the Genesis Story of Creation
Israel's Profession of Faith

Introduction to the Old Testament

Hey Freshman!

Are you enjoying your High1 CLE course so far? We're now formally beginning our study of the Bible and in particular, the Old Testament. Here is the PowerPoint Presentation containing the essential concepts for our first lesson.

Always do good and study well! Don't forget to pray also.

Introduction to the Bible and the Old Testament
Essential Concepts

Introduction to the Bible and the Old Testament
Supplementary Notes (Word Format)