The Wine of Astonishment Essay Example for Free

The Wine of Astonishment Essay â€Å"God don’t give you more than you can bear. † The opening line of the novel suggests that it is a deeply rooted religious novel. As the story unfolds, we explore the religious journey that the afflicted Spiritual Baptists in Bonasse have to embark on, in efforts to restore their rights to practise their faith. The title of the novel, The Wine of Astonishment can be analysed in two ways. Firstly, the literal translation of ‘The Wine of Astonishment’ stems from the meanings of the words ‘wine’ and ‘astonishment. ’ Wine is an alcoholic beverage typically made of fermented grape juice and is usually bitter. Astonishment refers to something unexpected. Combining the meanings, one can deduce that the Wine of Astonishment refers to something bitter and unexpected. As one of the major themes in the novel is struggle, we can interpret the wine to imply bitterness – the hardships and ‘sour’ experiences the Spiritual Baptists had to withstand and astonishment – the unexpected. Therefore, the Wine of Astonishment can literally mean an unexpected hardship. Secondly, if analysed from a biblical perspective, the phrase ‘the wine of astonishment’ is mentioned in Psalm 60:3 ‘ Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. ’ To David, the psalmist, in Psalm 60, he felt as though God withheld His protection, that God had turned his back on them because when the Israelites were at war away in the North, they were invaded in the south. It appeared as though instead of granting them the wine of blessing, God had rejected them unexpectedly. This was God’s way of testing the faith of his people. He made them endure unexpected hardship to see just how strong they were. In the novel, Eva knows that the trials they experience was God’s challenge to them. It seemed as though God rejected them and showered them with tribulations but real help comes from God alone and when a situation seems out of control, we can trust God to do mighty things. Hence, God made the Spiritual Baptists ‘drink the wine of astonishment’ to test their faith as a church and in the end, God restored his protection of his people and freed them from the torment they endured in attempts to keep their religion. The book’s title introduces the reader, to a religious plot that will examine the course of a struggling people.

The Post-Industrialism Era Essay -- Globalization

The era of post-industrialism refers to a period of change where a society advances from a manufacturing base, to a society reliant on knowledge, services, and research. What emerges from the remains of the industrial society is a society based around services, contracts, precariousness, segmentation, and insecurity, etc. Divided are the prospects for this globalized, post-industrial society. People question who will benefit from this new era of globalization. Some view the post-industrial era as one that offers opportunities for the well-educated, creative, and young professional while others view it as an era involving less security, job deskilling and high levels of inequality (Krahn, Lowe, Hughes, 2008). If one of the main consequences of post-industrialism is a widening gap between the â€Å"haves† and the â€Å"have not’s† then who are those who make up these two distinct groups? The re-organization of work in the 21st century marks a shift from manufacturing to services. By 2004, 74 percent of employed Canadians held service-sector jobs, 21 percent in the secondary sector, and 5 percent in the primary industries (Krahn, Lowe, Hughes, 2008; Bowlby 2000). We can divide these service jobs into two distinct groups, upper-tier jobs and lower-tier jobs. The upper-tier jobs are referred to as the â€Å"good† jobs while the lower-tier jobs can be considered the â€Å"bad† jobs. Dominating the lower-tier are women, youth, immigrants, and those with less than a high-school diploma. Jobs in this tier include retail, hospitality, customer service jobs such as call centres and help desks, janitorial work, etc. Many of these jobs are part-time, temporary or contractual, therefore preventing workers from obtaining the same benefits that many o... ...e potential for a highly fragmented and highly unequal job market or one that embraces the changes listed above and works towards better unity amongst workers, unions, and government. Works Cited Krahn, Lowe, Hughes (2008) Work, Industry, & Canadian Society. (5th ed.) Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd. Athabasca University (2010) Sociology 321 Reading File. Athabasca, AB: Athabasca University Critoph, U (2010) Sociology 321 Study Guide. (Revised edition). Athabasca, AB: Athabasca University Krahn, H (1991) Non-Standard Work Arrangements. (Vol.3,No. 4) Statistics Canada, Catalogue 75-001E) Lowe, G. (1998) The future of Work: Implications for Unions. (Vol. 53, No.2) Montreal, Quebec. Retrieved May 2012 from http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/005291ar Betcherman, G.; Lowe, G.(1997) The future of work in Canada: A Synthesis Report. Ottawa ON: CPRN Inc. The Post-Industrialism Era Essay -- Globalization The era of post-industrialism refers to a period of change where a society advances from a manufacturing base, to a society reliant on knowledge, services, and research. What emerges from the remains of the industrial society is a society based around services, contracts, precariousness, segmentation, and insecurity, etc. Divided are the prospects for this globalized, post-industrial society. People question who will benefit from this new era of globalization. Some view the post-industrial era as one that offers opportunities for the well-educated, creative, and young professional while others view it as an era involving less security, job deskilling and high levels of inequality (Krahn, Lowe, Hughes, 2008). If one of the main consequences of post-industrialism is a widening gap between the â€Å"haves† and the â€Å"have not’s† then who are those who make up these two distinct groups? The re-organization of work in the 21st century marks a shift from manufacturing to services. By 2004, 74 percent of employed Canadians held service-sector jobs, 21 percent in the secondary sector, and 5 percent in the primary industries (Krahn, Lowe, Hughes, 2008; Bowlby 2000). We can divide these service jobs into two distinct groups, upper-tier jobs and lower-tier jobs. The upper-tier jobs are referred to as the â€Å"good† jobs while the lower-tier jobs can be considered the â€Å"bad† jobs. Dominating the lower-tier are women, youth, immigrants, and those with less than a high-school diploma. Jobs in this tier include retail, hospitality, customer service jobs such as call centres and help desks, janitorial work, etc. Many of these jobs are part-time, temporary or contractual, therefore preventing workers from obtaining the same benefits that many o... ...e potential for a highly fragmented and highly unequal job market or one that embraces the changes listed above and works towards better unity amongst workers, unions, and government. Works Cited Krahn, Lowe, Hughes (2008) Work, Industry, & Canadian Society. (5th ed.) Toronto, ON: Nelson Education Ltd. Athabasca University (2010) Sociology 321 Reading File. Athabasca, AB: Athabasca University Critoph, U (2010) Sociology 321 Study Guide. (Revised edition). Athabasca, AB: Athabasca University Krahn, H (1991) Non-Standard Work Arrangements. (Vol.3,No. 4) Statistics Canada, Catalogue 75-001E) Lowe, G. (1998) The future of Work: Implications for Unions. (Vol. 53, No.2) Montreal, Quebec. Retrieved May 2012 from http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/005291ar Betcherman, G.; Lowe, G.(1997) The future of work in Canada: A Synthesis Report. Ottawa ON: CPRN Inc.

A Recipe for Friendship

Friendships are not easy to come by. Like developing a new and unique recipe, friendships need time and patience. With the right technique and a little bit of effort, a good friendship can result in a satisfying and life-long relationship. Three key ingredients to a good friendship are loyalty, honesty and respect. Loyalty refers to constant support and allegiance. This can be as simple as one being loyal to one’s favourite sports team or one’s favourite coffee shop. However, loyalty can also play a more significant role. In order to demonstrate this, a loyal friend needs to be available for the most part, on an emotional level, but also be available on an intellectual and even physical level. Regardless of the situation, dependability is essential. For example, if one loses his job, and then his home, a loyal friend would help by loaning money, by taking him in to his home, or by helping him find a job for as long as it takes. Serious health issues test friendships, but loyalty remains priceless to an ailing individual. A loyal friend would not desert a dying individual, especially if he has a disease that is feared by many, like AIDS. A loyal friend will always have one’s back. Honesty is the act of being open and truthful. An honest friend can tell you when you have a bad haircut or when you have spinach in your teeth. This honesty might be awkward to take at first, but the nature of it is to save one from further embarrassment. Honesty fosters trust and must be earned. When trust is absent from a friendship, one cannot know when one is being told the truth. However, the honesty in a friendship must be sincere and fair; otherwise, the blunt truth can be hurtful. Believing and trusting an honest friend allows one to be open to new ideas. For example, friends who confront an alcoholic about his drinking in an intervention are doing so because they are sincerely concerned about his well-being. The truth might be difficult for the alcoholic to accept, but because a group of caring people are all trying to help, he might be more receptive of his situation and be more willing to change. This honesty can also preserve dignity. Respect for an individual refers to feelings of admiration and understanding, as a result of his or her qualities, abilities and achievements. However, respect, like honesty, also has to be earned and deserved. In most cases, it is not easily given. For example, we respect a fire fighter because of his courage and selflessness when he puts his own life in danger to save the lives of others. A neurosurgeon is respected for his surgical abilities and his years of academic achievements. Respect is warranted for his commitment towards his skill. Respect can also refer to recognizing one’s individuality and supporting one’s values, talents and interests. Individuality distinguishes one from another and it is important to accept and appreciate these differences. For example, we do not all share the same religion: one can be Catholic and one can be Atheist; we do not all share the same way of life: one can be gay and another straight; we do not all share the same morals: one can be pro-life and another pro-choice. One may not always agree with another’s beliefs, lifestyle or ethics, but it is important to acknowledge these distinctions to remain friends through mutual respect. Like a delicious home-cooked meal, a great friendship is not difficult to create. Dedication, trust and appreciation are key. With these quality ingredients, a dash of trial and error and the right amount of time, the combination of loyalty, honesty and respect can result in a worthwhile and enjoyable relationship.

Understanding Salvation for Christian Free Essay Example, 1500 words

I walked my Damascus road when I was twenty-one, going to a funeral. I never met the father of my friend but his funeral was a turning point on how I have come to see things. I was feeling sorry for that dear friend but those who were closely related to the deceased seemed to be happier than I was and this shocked me. I may never have experienced death in my family yet but I am well aware that losing a loved one is a difficult predicament which some people are not able to overcome. However, the funeral made me think my feelings then were surreal and that it was out of place, that I should be feeling happy for my friend for losing her dear father. I walked in confusion, not able to connect feeling happy to losing a loved one. It was just not logical at all but the look on the family members faces made me envious of my Christian friend. There was enormous peace and contentment in them that I started to want, like a hungry child wanting to eat all he can. We will write a custom essay s ample on Understanding Salvation for Christian or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page When I die, I would like my family and friends to rejoice because I am going to a better place and not because they feel that there has been a great burden taken away from them. I now understand the essence of life, of suffering and pain, having that peaceful assurance that someday, I will be welcomed to an eternal glory by my very Savior, Jesus Christ.