My Values

To find my values, I have used the task we were set in class. The values that I try to incorporate into my life are:

Fun
Success/Achievement
Family/Friendship
Perfection
Respect
Honesty
Love
Happiness
Integrity

Fun is important in my life because without fun, life would be very boring and stupid. An example in my life that shows this is that most of the time I have a lot of energy so I am always running around, being silly and having fun.

Family and friendship is also extremely important in life because basically, you incorporate values from them. Family and friends are there whenever you need it, even if it is just for love and support. One of the worst things I can imagine, is if I didn't have any family or friends.

I am a perfectionist, so I try my hardest wherever I go and whatever I do. Therefore, a perfection value is apparent in my life. For example, I love running, but I dread cross country because I know that I am not going to win, even if I come in the top 10, I am not too happy because I was aiming for a podium position.

Respect, integrity and honesty is important in my life because I was brought up to have these values, and I want to be the best person I can be.

To put all of these values into my life, I can pray to Jesus to help me through the day and for me to be the best person I can be. I usually prefer to pray when it is quiet and nobody is around because it is then easier to 'travel' into the chaos realm. It would then be sacred space because I am encountering God's realm (divine world) and leaving the profane realm.

I would also learn from the mistakes I have made during the day, and try to work harder at the values I need to incorporate into my life more.

The Double Bubble Map

Using a double bubble map concept, I am going to compare two different articles, looking at what's the same and what is different about each other. The articles I am going to compare are 'Churches see essence of christ among the helpers, survivors', and 'The Pope, condoms,and aids'.

'Churches see essence of christ among the helpers, survivors' is about the recent victorian bushfires, in which many hundreds of poeple were killed and injured. It is about the love and generosity that the helpers and survivors have, helping everybody get back on their feet and giving the poeple the support that they need.
It is also about how is has made an impression on the survivors, making them see God, and thinking about the essentials of life. It has even made past churchgoers come back to church, and knowing what is important in life - God.

'The Pope, condoms,and aids' is all about how AIDS are spread, and whether wearing condoms can help. The Catholic church is trying to prevent AIDS from spreading, and they come to a conclusion that AIDS is spread through homosexual relationships and that wearing condoms may help, although the Pope disagrees with condoms. But, in the African context, this idea was less effective, as AIDS are spread through heterosexual relationships.

Below is my double bubble map: (click it for a larger view)

Hillsong Worship Video

This worship video is of Hillsong - a popular christian band singing From the Inside Out. It is very successful in creating a sense of sacred space.

First of all, the sheer size of the setting would be amazing, thus creating some sort of sacred space and reminding people about the holy. Also, the amount of excited people full of adrenaline would also contribute to the sacred space feel. The lights and smoke would be very effective as well.

When the band starts playing, everyone would be cheering and the great noise of the instruments and singers would travel right through everybody, and again they would be reminded of the amazing creator - God. It would send goosebumps up their spine.

At 25 seconds into the video, it shows a person with their hand in the air. For this person, it would be like trying to reach towards God, praising Him, leaving the profane world and travelling into the chaos realm. Therefore, sacred space is apparent. This is also showed at 38 seconds, and at other various times throughout the video. The people also close their eyes, making it easier for them to leave the earthly world.

When the music reaches a climax starting about 2 mins 36 seconds into the video, the music would fill their body, and I think it would feel like the Creator is right there in the room. This is made more effective also because of the amount of people singing together, creating a feeling of sacred space.

All of these things is what I would feel if I was at the concert and all of them contributes to the sacred space and thinking about God, the Creator, the Holy.

The words of the last verse of the song are:

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring you praise
From the inside out of my soul
Lord my soul cries out

These words can help create the sacredness feel and the idea of the holy - extreme goodness. "From the inside out of my soul, Lord my soul cries out" shows the holy as perfection and extreme goodness. It shows how poeple reach out to God and the holy the sacred space. The holy is "never ending", and "everlasting".