DP #3: Jesus's Mission Through Matthew 1:1-18

Matthew's account of Jesus's genealogy proclaims that Jesus came from a group of women who got what they wanted by demanding it. Specifically naming Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, the genealogy shows that it's not the specific blood relation that matters but the association with incredibly strong and sophisticated actions which makes these women important references in anticipating Jesus's teaching. Like Jesus, all women were outsiders who utilized their smarts to change their social status; they manipulated their situations with original actions and used self-directed activity to demand justice as opposed to expecting it from God. Considering the given traits and strategy to stating a specific genealogy, Martin Luther King, Jr. could be known as Jesus's daddy; John Lennon might be his daddy's daddy and we could call Mother Theresa his daddy's daddy's momma: his mission could be expected similarly.

DP #1: Common Story About Me

The selecting process was a difficult one. When I was four, I decided to be Aladdin for Halloween. Impressionible little girl, probably wearing a hand-me-down Teenage Mutent Ninja Turtles shirt upon making the announcement, wanted to be a boy for the dress-up holiday. My mom asked me if I was sure I didn't want to be Jasmine but I stood my ground and went with her to the Toys-R-Us to buy it. I was Aladdin, I had an Abu. In fact, I adored the costume so much that I chose to wear it to my brother's elementary Halloween performance, sat in the front with the rest of the small children, and most likely smiled bravely. I was sandwiched by boys who thought it was wrong for me, a girl, to be wearing a cape and pants. Of course it was probably mostly rooted in the fact that I had cooties. They stole my Abu and tossed it "monkey"-style over my head. I hated it, at seventeen still have a mental image impounded in my head of the brown vested monkey flying above me, yet I have no regrets.

There is most definitely a reason for the telling of this story. Not only does it perfectly describe my spunk and fearlessness but it teaches a lesson that is, I believe, held at high rank in my family: the 'you' you choose to be is a glorious one. Don't second-guess, be true. And that's what I, Aladdin, have done and will continue to do. Seriously. Ask Abu.

DP #2: Why Humans Tell Stories

Stories are told to trigger emotions and teach the outcome of specific instances. Considering the example of the most common and historical story form, fables (or parables in this case), simple occurrences are shared and passed on to teach a lesson or theme. These stories are effective because they capture their audience, as all good stories do, by heightening their emotions with plot twists or common feelings. As our forms of story telling continue to evolve from etched sentences and pictures to 3-D cinemas, the experience of receiving the sentiments and messages become more affective and real.