Author: chris

Current Epidemiological Studies: Critical Review

For your dropbox assignment, using the South University Online Library or the Internet, research and select three current epidemiological studies regarding risk factors that are associated with any health problem. You can also use the following websites to search for studies as they are often used as the major sources of information for health research and often report on the most current health problems affecting the United States and global populations:

• U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization

Based on your research, create a report in a 3- to 4-page Microsoft Word document addressing the following questions:

• What were the criteria that you used to select these papers? (For example, only English language, peer reviewed articles, only a specific age group, only United States studies, etc.)
• What were the types of risk factors studied in your chosen articles? (For example, environmental, socio-economic, behavioral, etc.)
• Which study design was used for this study? Why do you think the researchers chose this specific study design? Provide examples from your research.
• What are the proximate or underlying determinants of risk factors that are associated with any health problem for each study?

Answer the questions posted below in the Template for Assessment of Causality for Reviewing Epidemiological Studies, for each study. You should number each study, list the title, and state each question in the format it appears in the template.

Click here to download the template.

Support your responses with examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.

 

 

ASSIGNMENT 2

Implementation of the Intervention

Using the South University Online Library or the Internet, research and read about various approaches to interventions and various settings in which these interventions can occur. You can also visit your local or state health department’s websites and look for journal articles that address the approaches to interventions.

Based on your research, express your views on the following:

• Identify and describe a health issue or disease and recommend an intervention. You may utilize the health issue from week one or choose another issue. In your description, include social determinants or causes and data that demonstrates why this is a health issue.
• Is the intervention level (primary, secondary, and tertiary) and settings chosen justified? Why or why not?
• What are the issues surrounding implementation of the intervention and its potential success?
• What are the roles of government (Federal, State, and Local) and nongovernmental agencies in the development of the recommended prevention and/or intervention program?

 

Design Project: Students will design and present and outreach activity for a K-12 audience on a fluid dynamics topic.
Students can select the topic and audience age range
Students are encouraged to combine elements of their research or senior design projects
20% of final grade
Teams of 1 – 3 students
Teams that combine undergraduate (or distance students) and graduate students will receive up to 5% extra credit
Students can pick their own teams
Distance students can also partner with on campus teams
Schedule:
November 9th – 1-page abstracts will be submitted to Dr. Betz. This should include your topic, your age range, and general concept
December 7th – Presentations will be given. All students are required to participate. Distance students can either prepare detailed a power point presentation (10+ slides) or submit a video of their project. If distance students chose to work with on campus students they can call or video conference with the presentation.
December 18th – Final report due and team evaluation due
Requirements:
1-page abstract must be approved by Dr. Betz (10%)
Dr. Betz will determine if the project meets the desired depth and breadth
8-page final report (50%)
Must include at least 3 references
Figures can be included in an appendix
Can be supplemented with files from computations
Final presentation (30%)
All team members must participate
15 minutes for presentation
5 – 10 minutes for questions
Evaluation (10%)
Each team member must turn in a 1-page evaluation of their contributions to the project

Technical Paper: Risk Assessment
Due Week 10 and worth 160 points
Above is the Global Finance, Inc. (GFI) network diagram. A hypothetical company, GFI has grown rapidly this past year and implemented a number of network devices as displayed in the diagram. The company invested in the network and designed it to be fault tolerant and resilient from any network failures. However, although the company’s financial status has matured and its network has expanded at a rapid pace, its overall network security posture has not kept up with the company growth.

GFI’s network has historically been fairly stable, and the company has not experienced many full scale network outages. GFI has hired three (3) network engineers to keep up with the network growth, as well as the bandwidth demand by the company employees and the clients. However, the company has not hired any security personnel who can take care of the operational security responsibility.

The trusted computing base (TCB) internal network within the Global Finance, Inc. Network Diagram hosts the company’s mission critical systems that are vital to the company’s operations that also affect the overall financial situation. The Oracle database and email systems are among the most intensively used application servers in the company. GFI cannot afford system or network outages, as its cash flow and financial systems heavily depend on the network stability and availability. GFI has experienced DoS network attacks twice this year, and its Oracle database and email servers had been down for a total of one (1) week as a result. The recovery process required GFI to utilize $25,000 to restore its operations to the normal operating baseline. GFI estimated the loss from these network attacks at more than $1,000,000, as well as lost customer confidence.
Write an eight to ten (8-10) page formal risk assessment proposal in which you:
Describe the company network, interconnection, and communication environment.
Assess risk based on the GFI, Inc. network diagram scenario. Note: Your risk assessment should cover all the necessary details for your client, GFI Inc., to understand the risk factors of the organization and risk posture of the current environment. The company management will utilize this risk assessment to determine what actions to take; therefore, it must be comprehensive for the business leaders to make data-driven decisions.
Defend your assumptions where pertinent information from the scenario isn’t available.
Ascertain apparent security vulnerabilities, and analyze at least three (3) such vulnerabilities. Such analysis should entertain the possibility of faulty network design. Recommend mitigation processes and procedures for each of the identified vulnerabilities.
Justify your cryptography recommendations, based on security concerns and requirements, data-driven decision-making, and objective opinions.
Examine whether your risk assessment methodology is quantitative, qualitative, or a combination of these, and discuss the main reasons why you believe that the methodology that you utilized was the most appropriate.
Explain the way in which you would present your findings and assessment to the company’s management and thus facilitate security buy-in and concentration.
Using Microsoft Visio or its open source equivalent, redraw the CFI diagram, depicted as a secure and risk-mitigating model. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
Include charts or diagrams created in Visio or an open source alternative such as Dia. The completed diagrams / charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Evaluate an organization’s security policies and risk management procedures, and its ability to provide security countermeasures.
Analyze the methods of managing, controlling, and mitigating security risks and vulnerabilities.
Explain access control methods and attacks.
Describe the details and the importance of application security models and their implementation from a management perspective.
Evaluate and explain from a management perspective the industry-standard equipment, tools, and technologies organizations can employ to mitigate risks and thwart both internal and external attacks.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in security management.
Write clearly and concisely about the theories of security management using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.
Click here to view the grading rubric for this assignment.

Political life of the European Medieval Culture

The European high Middle Ages, lasted from about 1050 to 1300, suggest for most people a cultural interval between the standard period of the Greeks and Roman society and the Renaissance. The idea is on contrary to High Middle Ages which was a dynamic period that developed the identity of the European and development being stimulated by the interactions of the European with other cultures in the Mediterranean and the Eurasia. Most of the political and social forms and institutions afterward connected to the European history were founded in the times of this era.
This paper looks into the political life of the European Medieval Culture and its contribution to the recent politics in the European Society. It is believed that the political organization that exists in Europe now was something that began in the ancient times. These political practices were inherited, carried from one generation to another, being shaped and changed depending on the new experiences and innovations in life. The paper is therefore to give an understanding of how the European political life developed up to where it stands now and what led to the changes that were made to make up the modern politics in the European society. The paper therefore comes out to argue that several upcoming factors in the medieval culture of Europe helped in the shaping of the current European political practices.
Bibliography

Alphabetical order

AlSayyad, Nezar, and Manuel Castells. Muslim Europe or Euro-Islam: politics, culture, and citizenship in the age of globalization. Lexington Books, 2002.
This article is important as it looks into the changing of realities and identity perception within the Europe. There is the need for full acknowledgement of the fact of ethnic diversity and religion. Muslim population got themselves part of a complex procedure of the European identity reconstruction and deconstruction from the above and below. The existence of the Islam within the European borders is pushing the reexamination of what it stands to be European, and giving profound and confusing questions about citizenship issues, civil society participation, and political recognition and being included or excluded. This article therefore gives why the composition of the Europe is full of the Christian population as compared to Muslim and what led to this and the distribution of the two religions. This also gives the making of the laws according to the religion that holds the power most, and thus in Europe the political life was somehow most guided by the Christian religion. This therefore come up with religion as one of the factors that contributed to the political power in the European with Christians being many as compared to the Muslims thus controlling a large part of the Europe.
Anderson, James. “The shifting stage of politics: new medieval and postmodern territorialities?.” Environment and Planning D 14 (1996): 133-154.
This article looks into the changing shape of politics in the European society. The globalization has intensified making a shift in the Europe political institutions, complex and practices. However, the EU is usually produced in traditional functionalist or realist terms which unclear the possibility that fresh distinctive political forms arc emerging. The article argues on new medieval and postmodern conceptualizations of sovereignty, with recognition on geographic space in becoming more multifaceted and relative. Conventional political rules based on absolute place are more problematic for getting to know the political complexities of provisional globalization. In the article, the writer has come up with sovereignty transformation from medieval to modern and to postmodern, with focus on unbundling the territorial with traditional conceptions of the sovereignty remaining dormant. Furthermore there exist problems both with the new medievalism historical analogies and postmodern elusive notions. However, despite the qualifications and the problems, the concepts are significance in exploring radical transformation possibilities, both with space-time of the stage which the politics actor operates and the actor themselves. This article is therefore important in giving the information in the transformation of the political life up to the modern times as globalization takes place. Therefore, through globalization, political rules are bound to change to fit the new world and technology.

Mearsheimer, John J. “Back to the future: instability in Europe after the Cold War.” International security (1990): 5-56.
This article looks into the state of the European society after the cold war, which is believed to have widely affected the Europeans and influenced their current state. The reflective changes now in progress in Europe have been extensively seen as harbingers of fresh age of peace. After the cold war, it has been argued that the war threat that had been in Europe for more than for decades is now lifting. The article is therefore involved in the assessment of the optimistic view through exploration of the consequences of the end cold war for Europe in detail. The author in the article is involved in the examination of the effect of the scenario under which the cold war ends completely. This article is important in the completion of my paper as it looks into the cold war which in one way or the other had a wide effect on the political life in the medieval period. The war determined those who remained to form political rules to govern the Europe. The cold war therefore stands to be one of the vital factors that shaped the European political life.

Smith, Anthony D. “Culture, community and territory: the politics of ethnicity and nationalism.” International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-) (1996): 445-458.
This article analyzes the impact of the politics on the nationalism and ethnicity and their elite political uses. Most scholars concentrate on the modernist and instrumentalist views of nationalism and ethnicity hence less treatment to nationalism and ethnicity impacts. The article explores the relationship that exists between culture and politics. Cultural practices by the Europe society must have one way or the other have some influence on the political life in the medieval times in Europe. Most of the political practices recently are viewed back to the ancient times being transferred from one generation to the other. This article, having looked into the relationship of culture to the political life, gives information concerning how the culture shaped the politics practiced in the Europe society. The article having information on the political impacts on the nationalism and ethnicity gives us the idea on the distribution of different races with the European society, which is usually unevenly distributed with one race having more powers as compared to the other. These factors in one way or the other influenced the European modern political life.

Carver, Martin. “Why that? Why there? Why then? The politics of early medieval monumentality.” Journal??????? (2001): 1-22. & the stable URL
This article discusses the history of early period of medieval in the north-west Europe. This article majorly involves monuments. Monuments comprises the vocabulary of the political language, fossilized descriptions of the arguments that were repetitive and may have interconnection to what was desired than had took place. The architecture, sculpture get their real meaning in the target of each generation that studied them. The motives attached by the author to the construction of the monuments in the article by the author to be discussed have fewer characterizations of the reflective stresses that were shown by their makers. This article therefore gives the monuments that can be related to the political life of the Europe. These monuments are there as symbols which signifies some of the political rules that were used in the past. This article is therefore important as it gives the physical factors that were used by the Europe in their political system during the medieval period. For instance, having a preserved place for political parties meetings is what that must existed during the medieval times.

Berezin, Mabel. “Politics and culture: a less fissured terrain.” Annual Review of Sociology (1997): 361-383.
This article looks into the position of the political and culture in the medieval period and to some extent looks into their interrelationship. The area of the politics and culture has moved from cultural inquiry margins to the evidenced centers by the number of persons who calls themselves as working within sections and by its growing social institutional. Political culture to some extent has suggestions of the limits of the cultural actions in which the political boundaries take place. This article therefore proves on how the culture can actually form the politics of a country. It therefore proves that the political stand of the Europe was founded under the culture that was practices during the medieval period of the Europeans. A bigger culture can to a wide extent have influence on a small culture and which is not easy in vice versa. The political practiced that is therefore seen now in the European society is to some point from the cultural influence. This article is important as it brings out the understanding of the relationship between the political life in Europe and the surrounding culture in the medieval period.

Sponsler, Claire. “The Culture of the Spectator: Conformity and Resistance to Medieval Performances.” Theatre Journal (1992): 15-29.
This article examines the various cultures with their contribution to the European society. The drama of medieval Europe has attracted unusual attention, to some extent surprisingly provided the marginalization suffered for most of the 20th century. However, with the declining historical formalist model, which was advantageous to the literary played role in the later and renaissance periods, making the study of the medieval drama coming to its own. The article comes to show a Europe politics to be a contribution by various groups. The final decisions of the best politics to follow were agreement by various parties who by one way or the other were after living in peace and harmony. This article is very important as it brings the understanding of who created the European political life. It contributes to the knowledge on how various parties came to agreement in the formation of the political life of Europe. From the article I am in a position to see how the politics in the Europe change in the medieval period.

Flanagan, Scott C., and Aie-Rie Lee. “The new politics, culture wars, and the authoritarian-libertarian value change in advanced industrial democracies.” Comparative Political Studies 36, no. 3 (2003): 235-270.
This article examines the shifting of the political life and rules in the western countries with the Europe included. The plurality of the world views which are conflicting are recently got in the advanced industrial democracies of the western which has developed values and the belief systems which are obviously at odds with each other, projecting the whole new steps of fresh politics or problems of the culture war into the agenda of politics. The article shows a shift from the authoritarian to libertarian values in relation to various factors. The author therefore brings out the understanding of the development of the recent politics in terms of the ways the political rule is carried out stating it to have shifted from another type of rule which was carried out in the ancient times. The author has come to state the shifting to be from influence of various key factors. This article is important in the completion of my proposal as its gives the factors that have actually influenced the politics of the Europe.

The two economists debate the Fiscal policy of the UK Conservative government which implemented austerity policies (Decreasing Government Spending) in the aftermath of the Great Recession 2008 of the Conservative Government the UK Kingdom and whether it helped or hurt the economy.
Summarize the arguments of each economist for and against the austerity policies in one single spaced page, then – in a half page- reflect on the debate in your own words the light of AD-AS model
Please do not caught up in the politics of the debate and enjoy the economic reasoning and different views of both of the economists. Do not copy!

STA 614 Cumulative Assessment #3 – FINAL (Fall 2015)
The final cumulative assignment is comprised of 21 short-answer questions posted on Blackboard and is worth 225 points. For some of the questions you will need refer to posted articles and for others you may need to use StatCrunch (these things are indicated clearly in bold/underlined text either within questions or prior to a group of questions, so please read carefully!). You may copy tables directly from StatCrunch into the Blackboard answer box as needed, however it is preferred that you would simply incorporate only those numbers that are absolutely necessary into your written response. Note that there is no formal StatCrunch report for this assignment.
Please put all of your answers into Blackboard and submit your final assignment as soon as you can get it done. While the official deadline is Friday December 11, we would like to be able to grade assignments as they are completed throughout the week since final course grades are due on December 14. Please note that this assignment covers all aspects of the course with a slight focus toward the last four weeks. Also note: if you need your grade submitted to SAP so that you can print paperwork to meet a reimbursement deadline, please send me an email immediately after submitting your final with a request for expedited grading.
Collaboration Policy and Grading

For the final project this week, you will assess the recent acquisitions of GE. Use print and online sources to collect information on GE’s recent acquisitions. Be sure to check the reliability of your sources and demonstrate good information literacy.

Begin your paper by identifying two of GE’s recent acquisitions and summarizing the key details of each.

Next, address the following two topics with respect to each acquisition:

• Which of the reasons (if any) for acquisitions discussed in this week’s readings was used as the logic by GE in justifying the acquisition? Explain your answer and support it with research, rationale, and appropriate examples.
• Which of the sources of integration difficulties discussed in this week’s readings seem to be of concern in this acquisition? Explain your answer and support it with research, rationale, and appropriate examples.

Finally, summarize two or three important take-aways from your research into GE’s acquisitions. In essence, what did you learn and what strategic development and implementation lessons might you apply?

Present your analysis as a 3–4-page report in a Microsoft Word document formatted in APA style

This assignment is another opportunity to apply the principles of universal design for learning (UDL) in the design of instruction and assessment. In this assignment, you develop a lesson plan that incorporates UDL and effectively leverages educational technologies in the classroom. Specifically, using the Cast UDL Lesson Builder (2011) website (see instructions below on how to access this website), you will create a lesson in either English/language arts (ELA) or mathematics that includes the components listed in the content expectations, below.

Create your assignment using the content and written communication instructions below. Use the Grading Rubric to review your assignment before submission to ensure you have met the distinguished performance for each of the components described below. For additional assistance, review the Week Five Instructor Guidance page and, if needed, contact the instructor for further clarifications using the “Ask Your Instructor” discussion forum.

There are two parts to this assignment: Part I is an actual instructional plan and Part II is a final summary.

To prepare for Part I, you must first log onto the CAST UDL Lesson Builder (2011) website. Create a free account. Next, click on “Create, Save & Edit My Own UDL Lesson Plans” and begin constructing single lesson for a specific grade level focusing on either reading/language arts or math only. Each respective portion of the plan is inserted by selecting “Edit” and are detailed below in the Part I Content Expectations. For more information on each part of the lesson plan, click on the “More Information” button located in the lesson plan builder.

Note: Not all parts of the lesson plan will be used. Read the Content Instructions below to ensure you complete each component that is required.

Content Instructions

• Lesson Overview (1 point): Include the title, author, subject, grade level(s), and duration of the lesson. (Lesson should be 30 to 90 minutes long, depending on your population.)
• Lesson Description for the Day (0.5 point): Include a brief description of the essential learning to be experienced by students and practiced during the lesson. Include the approximate duration of the lesson (30 to 90 minutes total).
• State Standard/s (1 point): Include the state grade-level standard this lesson aligns with. Include the whole standard rather than just its label (see Instructor Guidance for an example). You may use a standard from the Common Core State Standards or your own state standards.
• Lesson Goals (1 point): Also known as the lesson objectives. Construct one to two content-specific objectives for lesson. The objectives should be written in student terms and contain a single, observable, and measurable verb indicating the skill in students will be assessed for during instruction.
• Teaching Methods:
  • Describe the anticipatory set (1 point)
  • Address how you will introduce and model new knowledge (1 point)
  • Describe the guided practice (1 point)
  • Describe the independent practice (1 point)
  • Wrap-Up (Closing) (1 point): Explain how you will close the lesson and in what manner students will debrief from the learning experience.
• Assessment (1.5 points): Describe what you will assess during the lesson (formative assessment) as described in either or both the guided practice and/or independent practice stages of the lesson.
• Save your instructional plan as a doc. file and upload it along with Part II to the classroom for evaluation.

Written Communication Instructions

• Syntax and Mechanics (1 point): Display meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar.

Part Two – Analysis/Summary Content Instructions

• Reflection (3 points): In a separate two-to-three page Word document, include a reflection in which you address the following questions:
  • How does your lesson serve as motivation for learners?
  • How does your lesson stimulate critical thinking in your students?
  • How does the lesson model a non-threatening environment providing differentiated learning opportunities without isolating students?

Written Communication Instructions

• Length Requirement (0.5 point): Two to three pages not including the title and references pages.
• Syntax and Mechanics (0.5 points): Display meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar.
• Source Requirement (0.5 points): Utilize at least two scholarly resources and the Edyburn (2013) textbook. All sources on the references page need to be used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
• APA Formatting (1 point): Use APA formatting consistently throughout the assignment. Refer to the Ashford University Writing Center for assistance with APA style and formatting or your copy of the APA Style Manual.

 

UNIT 3 DAILY SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR THL 217 A & B Fall 2015

Wed Nov 18

In Exile! Primal Screams in Anger, Questioning, and Despair. With life in ruins, everyone is wondering what in the world the Lord might be thinking and doingif anything. Some powerful feelings of the time are recorded along with their interpretation based in faith. One moving and challenging example is found in Psalm 137.

Psalm 137. The exiles are in despair. The homeland is destroyed, the survivors shipped across the map to Babylon. Read Psalm 137 and picture it composed by Judean temple singers now in Exile. What might it tell us about their experience? How should we understand verses 79?

Ezekiel the Prophet: Pastor and Theologian. The outstanding voice in this time and situation came from the great Ezekiel, prophet and leader on location in the exile.
What are the main issues addressed by Ezekiel, and what does he say about each?
For selected readings in Ezekiel, see the Meta.

Life in Exile and the Big Issues.
For a summary of this complex and important period, and what the prophets said, first read the Meta, “Part Four: In the Babylonian Exile,” along with the Bible passages mentioned there.
Then read Birch, 83-86, “The Meaning of Exile,” for a good take on the meaning of the Babylonian Exile and how it might relate to us today.

Mon Nov 23

Return from Exile! The unbelievable happens. After a couple generations in the Exile, likely in the late 540’s, an unknown prophet whom we can call “Isaiah of the Exile,” and whose teaching is found in Isaiah 40-55 (“Second Isaiah”), begins to proclaim: “You will soon return! Get ready!” Incredibly, this happens.
For a brief summary of this period, including the first two phases of return from exile, see the Meta, “Part Five: Return to Jerusalem.”
For an understanding of the biblical concept of hope beyond judgement, especially through the message of Second Isaiah, read Birch, 86-94.
For selected readings in Second Isaiah, see the Meta.
For a good take on the early period of the return from the exile (the first two phases), read Birch, 96c – 98a (from the heading “Return and Restoration” to the top of p. 98).

Mon Nov 30

Ezra’s Reform, Nehemiah the Governor, and the Prophets Malachi and “Isaiah of the Return.” A few generations after the two initial phases of return, two new groups arrive with capable and energetic leaders.
For a summary of this brief but vivid and influential period, first read the Meta, “Part Six: Ezra, Nehemiah, and Mosaic Law,” along with the Bible passages mentioned there.
What happens in this period?
What are the prophetic responses By Malachi and “Isaiah of the Return”?
For a good take on the larger meaning these events, read Birch, 99c-100d [beginning with “In this brief treatment” and ending with “much larger than that”].

Wed Dec 2

Meet “The Writings”: A Diverse Collection. Part Three of the Hebrew Bible is called in Jewish tradition “The Writings,” which simply means a miscellaneous collection of sacred writings that don’t fit into Part One (The Torah) or Part Two (The Prophets). The Writings include some famous and well-beloved parts of the Old Testament, such as the Psalms and the Proverbs. The final section of our course will sample the most important of the Writings for social justice and the use of force. Read about this collection in Birch, 95-96.

The Book of Psalms. In the Bible we find a collection of hymns and prayers of extraordinary power and beauty, and this is the Book of Psalms. Some of the oldest ones have been sung and prayed continuously for almost 3000 years.
Responding to God and Life. The Old Testament as a whole tells Israel’s story in light of belief about what God says to them and how God works with them. Now in these prayers the people respond. They provide words and thoughts for responding in faith to the gifts and reversals of life, in joy or in sorrow, as individuals or the united community of faith.
A Collection of Prayers and Hymns. These prayers were collected over many centuries, much like a church prayer book or hymnal. The original circumstances for most of them have been lost. This is because the ones which were kept were general enough that many different people could identify with them in many different situations.
Read and absorb the online document “Introducing the Psalms,” by Dennis Bratcher.

Justice and Violence in the Psalms.
Read Donahue, 110-113, “Lamenting Injustice.” What are the main points here?
Read Donahue, 113-115, “Violence: The Shadow Side of Praise.” What are the main points here, and what do you think about this difficult but important subject?
Read Psalm 23. What is going on here, and in particular, what is the story line. How does it end? How does Psalm 23 relate to Donahue’s section on “Violence: The Shadow Side of Praise” in the Psalms?

Mon Dec 7

The New Community in Prophetic Thought. Where does the faith journey of the Old Testament arrive? It’s a pretty interesting development. See the Meta, “Part Seven: The New Community in Prophetic Thought.”

The Aftermath Period. For a good intro. and summary of the period after most of the Old Testament books were written, read Birch, 106-108. We need to know this period in order to understand social justice in the New Testament, and especially in the teaching of Jesus.

Keeping Torah in a Changing and Hostile World: The Hellenistic Period. One empire after another! Changes, changes, changes! After the return from Exile, the Jewish communities in the Jerusalem area and in various other lands all found themselves facing one issue after another for selfidentity and selfpreservation. For a broad summary of this complex and important period, in which the last few Old Testament books were written, read the online document: “Keeping Torah in a Changing and Hostile World.”

The Process of Formation: How the Old Testament Came to Us. Ancient writings and collections don’t just appear out of the blue. They result from a situation of some kind, and address a target audience of people in their needs and circumstances. To learn how this worked in the case of the Old Testament, read the online document “Process of Formation.”

Wed Dec 9

The Story Continues. The epic storyline of the Old Testament does not even pretend to reach closure, ending instead with a feeling of “To be continued—we hope.” One idea which appears toward the end is that some day God will send a great leader called “The Messiah.” Naturally, hope for his coming grew during the aftermath period in the changing circumstances and multiple issues for keeping the faith in a changing world.

Jesus of Nazareth. Within a few hundred years a great teacher appeared in the homeland and his followers believed he was indeed the longed-for Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth did not claim that title, but he did teach clearly that the biblical storyline had not come to an end. For how this unfolded, read the online document “Jesus Continues the Story.”

Using the OT as Christian Scripture. The 2000 year old question: How might people of the Christian faith read the Old Testament as Scripture. For some ways to approach this subject, read the online document “Using the Old Testament as Christian Scripture.” Might not sound like it, but we’ll end with a bang, not a whimper.

Write a 5-page paper in APA-Style not including coversheet on Mental Health, target population

 

or practice setting from a practice perspective. Research the problem in terms of its history,

 

current scope of the problem, and issues involved in providing human services. Describe

 

how human service professionals are involved in working with this population or in the

 

practice setting. Describe the current services that are available (locally in the Houston, Texas) to address the issue.