Allah Is All Powerful And All Knowing

Allah Is All Powerful And All Knowing Muslims are guided by the following main provisions, which are recognized as infallible truth and are binding for all believers: belief in Allah, the sanctity of the Quran, appointment through Mohammed, the immortality of the soul, the resurrection, the Day of Judgement, a belief in heaven and hell, devils, demons and angels. A basic knowledge of the Muslim religion is very different in different people and in different countries of the traditional Islam. Every Muslim knows the meaning of the creed of Islam: Allah. There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme in glory. (Quran 2:255) It expresses two main precepts of Islam: there is a single, unique, and eternal God Almighty Allah; his messenger Allah chose an Arab from Mecca, Muhammad, through him God gave people the text of the holy book the Koran, and by his hands he founded a community of believers. That is, belief in Allah is the primary tenet of faith in Islam. (Sell 2000) According to Islam beliefs, Allah is all-powerful and all knowing, as well as merciful and compassionate. His greatness is expressed in many statements (for example, Allah Akbar) that are well known to all Muslims, which they often repeat in their speech, prayers, which can be found written on the monuments of Muslim architecture in Asia, Africa, Europe and America. Muslims believe that Allah at any time can create any miracle, just as in one command he created the heavens and the earth, mountains, rivers, flora and fauna. In the representation of Muslims he can at any moment break the natural course of history, to violate the laws of nature, for he is almighty: God is the Creator of everything. He is the guardian over everything. Unto Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. And No creature is there crawling on the earth, but its provision rests on God. He knows its lodging place and its repository (Sell 2000). Muslim believer should not, have no right to doubt the omnipotence of Allah, otherwise, he commits great sin, which can only be redeemed with gifts to clergy, or Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca and other holy places. (Sell 2000) It is important to mention the main pillars of Islam which unite all believers, whatever other differences they may have. An observant Muslim must follow Five main pillars of Islam: The Shahadah, or profession of faith: This is the essence of Islam. One must say aloud, sincerely and purposefully, There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet. Prayer: One must pray, in a ritualized manner, five times a day, in congregation if possible. Zakat, or tithing: One must give a certain percentage of ones assets to the poor each year. Fasting: One cannot eat, drink, or smoke from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar. Hadj, or pilgrimage: One must journey to Mecca at least once, if its possible to do so. (Oxford Islamic Studies Online) Almost every Muslim knows at least a few phrases from the holy book of Islam Quran. The Quran was written in Arabic and in the ritual is used the Arabic original. For Muslims, the Quran is the direct word of Allah, addressed to Muhammad, and through him to all people. In it both the ordinary Muslims and theologians are seeking answers to questions of privacy and public life, to justify their actions. According to Islam, there are different ways of knowing Allah, and much can be said about him, as the great wonders of the world are like an open book, in which we can read a lot about God, who resides out of this world. God Himself comes to help us by sending envoys and sending his revelation, in which he tells about everything that we need to know about God. The Islamic religion is full of recognition of the teachings and guidance of Allah, in the form in which it was opened by His Messenger Muhammad. Islam requires belief in the unity and sovereignty of Allah, making people aware of the significance of the Universe and his place in it. This belief frees person from any fear and prejudice, leading him to realize the presence of Almighty God and to the understanding of human responsibilities toward Him. However, this belief must in some way find expression and be tested in practice, as one only faith is not enough. (Esposito 2000) Belief in one God requires that people must treat all mankind as one family, completely ruled by God, who is Creator of all and gives sustenance to everything. Islam rejects the idea of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹chosen people, as only faith in God and good deeds are the only ways leading to heaven. (Esposito 2002) It is also necessary to say that in todays world there are few Islamic schools, branches and sects, which represent different views and ideas. The earliest and most major split was caused by the emergence of Shia and Sunni. In the Shiite movement along with believing in the authority of the Quran and teachings of the Muhammad, people believe that his family, the Ahl al-Bayt, have special spiritual and political rule over the community, and in Ali ibn Abi Talib. (Esposito 2000) The other important Islamic movement are called the Sunni. Its supporters recognize the legitimacy of Sunnah, the normative example of Muhammads life. The Quran and the Sunnah (the example of Muhammads life) as recorded in hadith are the primary foundations of Sunni doctrine. (Esposito 2000) Later, in Islam there was the Sufi doctrine, which was influenced by the ideas of Mazdaism, Buddhism, and even neo-Platonism. Sufis originally did not recognize importance of external ritualism, and sought the true knowledge of God, a mystical merging with the deity, gave special importance to the names of God from the Quran. (Esposito 2000) Despite the various trends in Islam, all Muslims believe the idea of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹belonging to one community of people united by a common faith, common traditions, common initial history and common interests in the modern world.

Understanding Fascism

Fascism refers to the political ideology that considers an individual’s, a group’s or a societies’ interest to be subordinate to that of the interests of the state. The objective of such an ideology is to unify the state and its constituents to forego their interests that are often self-serving.At the same time, Payne (27-32) considers it as a counter-movement to liberalism and rose to prominence in Europe in the 1920’s to the 1930’s.   The movement grew with the decline of European states economically and politically and a general loss of faith in the ability of governments to control and stabilize markets because of commercial interests (73-79).It is considered to be the inspiration behind Adolf Hitler’s Nazism and has helped shaped post-war philosophies and doctrines such as Islamofascism, Neo-fascism, Rexism and Social fascism among others and provided a foundation of socio-political reform worldwide particularly in communist and social ist states (120-127).It is critical to understand the significance and impact of fascism not only in countries, movements and governments that adopted its ideologies but also its value to international politics, economics and history (359).Mussolini and FascismAndrea Benito Amilcare Mussolini was named for socialists and reformists Andrea Costa, Benito Juà ¡rez and Amilcare Cipriani. His father, Alessandro was a known social activist and was associated filially and by association to many known social activists of the time.Mussolini’s rise in the Italian Socialist Party can be traced with his editorship of L'Avvenire del Lavoratore in 1909, the subsequent publication of his book titled Il Popolo, reformation and control of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento and was cemented when he became Italy’s youngest prime minister in history in 1922 (220-229).Fascism was coined by Benito Mussolini on the Italian word â€Å"fascio† which in turn is based on the Latin word â€Å"fasces† which refers to rods packed around an axe. It represented the maxim of standing together versus standing individually.One particular source of doctrine that guided Italian Fascism and consequently fascism in general was based on the 1891 encyclical written by Pope Leo XIII titled Rerum Novarum which also is considered a major basis of modern Catholic teachings. The use of the text, particularly its emphasis on the value of corporatism and labor, and the Romanization of the Roman Empire was used to validate fascism to the public (218-222).Mussolini’s rise to the premiership was an effort on the part of King Victor Emmanuel III to avoid a civil war the abolition of the monarchy similar to France (112). Payne points out that fascism rose from the lack of effectivity of the Italian government to direct the country during the economic and political crisis with the overall decline of Europe as a world power in the turn of the twentieth century (218).The sentime nt was that there was a need for decisive action to solve the country’s problems and bring back its position as a leader in Europe. The motivation was to protect not only Italy’s future but also to preserve its history and culture which was considered under threat because of the social developments in the region.Italian FascismThe development of the Fascism in Italy is credited by Payne to the economic and social conditions after World War I, the Great Depression and the collapse of governments in the European continent for creating the platform and the support for the movement (72-77).At the beginning of his government, there was significant representation in the parliament however Mussolini granted greater representation to his political allies with the objective of developing a totalitarian state with himself as the head. Using fascist ideologies and propaganda, the Fasci di Combattimento was integrated to become part of the Italian army Italy was unified to become a single state under the Acerbo Law as well as the allowed for the liberalization of market, rent and labor unions.Though there were existing opposition to Mussolini that were prompting King Victor’s dismissal of the prime minister, Mussolini was able to maintain power through intimidation and the use of fascist propaganda.

Twilight 5. BLOOD TYPE

5. BLOOD TYPE I made my way to English in a daze. I didn't even realize when I first walked in that class had already started. â€Å"Thank you for joining us, Miss Swan,† Mr. Mason said in a disparaging tone. I flushed and hurried to my seat. It wasn't till class ended that I realized Mike wasn't sitting in his usual seat next to me. I felt a twinge of guilt. But he and Eric both met me at the door as usual, so I figured I wasn't totally unforgiven. Mike seemed to become more himself as we walked, gaining enthusiasm as he talked about the weather report for this weekend. The rain was supposed to take a minor break, and so maybe his beach trip would be possible. I tried to sound eager, to make up for disappointing him yesterday. It was hard; rain or no rain, it would still only be in the high forties, if we were lucky. The rest of the morning passed in a blur. It was difficult to believe that I hadn't just imagined what Edward had said, and the way his eyes had looked. Maybe it was just a very convincing dream that I'd confused with reality. That seemed more probable than that I really appealed to him on any level. So I was impatient and frightened as Jessica and I entered the cafeteria. I wanted to see his face, to see if he'd gone back to the cold, indifferent person I'd known for the last several weeks. Or if, by some miracle, I'd really heard what I thought I'd heard this morning. Jessica babbled on and on about her dance plans – Lauren and Angela had asked the other boys and they were all going together – completely unaware of my inattention. Disappointment flooded through me as my eyes unerringly focused on his table. The other four were there, but he was absent. Had he gone home? I followed the still-babbling Jessica through the line, crushed. I'd lost my appetite – I bought nothing but a bottle of lemonade. I just wanted to go sit down and sulk. â€Å"Edward Cullen is staring at you again,† Jessica said, finally breaking through my abstraction with his name. â€Å"I wonder why he's sitting alone today.† My head snapped up. I followed her gaze to see Edward, smiling crookedly, staring at me from an empty table across the cafeteria from where he usually sat. Once he'd caught my eye, he raised one hand and motioned with his index finger for me to join him. As I stared in disbelief, he winked. â€Å"Does he mean you?† Jessica asked with insulting astonishment in her voice. â€Å"Maybe he needs help with his Biology homework,† I muttered for her benefit. â€Å"Um, I'd better go see what he wants.† I could feel her staring after me as I walked away. When I reached his table, I stood behind the chair across from him, unsure. â€Å"Why don't you sit with me today?† he asked, smiling. I sat down automatically, watching him with caution. He was still smiling. It was hard to believe that someone so beautiful could be real. I was afraid that he might disappear in a sudden puff of smoke, and I would wake up. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something. â€Å"This is different,† I finally managed. â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused, and then the rest of the words followed in a rush. â€Å"I decided as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly.† I waited for him to say something that made sense. The seconds ticked by. â€Å"You know I don't have any idea what you mean,† I eventually pointed out. â€Å"I know.† He smiled again, and then he changed the subject. â€Å"I think your friends are angry with me for stealing you.† â€Å"They'll survive.† I could feel their stares boring into my back. â€Å"I may not give you back, though,† he said with a wicked glint in his eyes. I gulped. He laughed. â€Å"You look worried.† â€Å"No,† I said, but, ridiculously, my voice broke. â€Å"Surprised, actually†¦ what brought all this on?† â€Å"I told you – I got tired of trying to stay away from you. So I'm giving up.† He was still smiling, but his ocher eyes were serious. â€Å"Giving up?† I repeated in confusion. â€Å"Yes – giving up trying to be good. I'm just going to do what I want now, and let the chips fall where they may.† His smile faded as he explained, and a hard edge crept into his voice. â€Å"You lost me again.† The breathtaking crooked smile reappeared. â€Å"I always say too much when I'm talking to you – that's one of the problems.† â€Å"Don't worry – I don't understand any of it,† I said wryly. â€Å"I'm counting on that.† â€Å"So, in plain English, are we friends now?† â€Å"Friends†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he mused, dubious. â€Å"Or not,† I muttered. He grinned. â€Å"Well, we can try, I suppose. But I'm warning you now that I'm not a good friend for you.† Behind his smile, the warning was real. â€Å"You say that a lot,† I noted, trying to ignore the sudden trembling in my stomach and keep my voice even. â€Å"Yes, because you're not listening to me. I'm still waiting for you to believe it. If you're smart, you'll avoid me.† â€Å"I think you've made your opinion on the subject of my intellect clear, too.† My eyes narrowed. He smiled apologetically. â€Å"So, as long as I'm being†¦ not smart, we'll try to be friends?† I struggled to sum up the confusing exchange. â€Å"That sounds about right.† I looked down at my hands wrapped around the lemonade bottle, not sure what to do now. â€Å"What are you thinking?† he asked curiously. I looked up into his deep gold eyes, became befuddled, and, as usual, blurted out the truth. â€Å"I'm trying to figure out what you are.† His jaw tightened, but he kept his smile in place with some effort. â€Å"Are you having any luck with that?† he asked in an offhand tone. â€Å"Not too much,† I admitted. He chuckled. â€Å"What are your theories?† I blushed. I had been vacillating during the last month between Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker. There was no way I was going to own up to that. â€Å"Won't you tell me?† he asked, tilting his head to one side with a shockingly tempting smile. I shook my head. â€Å"Too embarrassing.† â€Å"That's really frustrating, you know,† he complained. â€Å"No,† I disagreed quickly, my eyes narrowing, â€Å"I can't imagine why that would be frustrating at all – just because someone refuses to tell you what they're thinking, even if all the while they're making cryptic little remarks specifically designed to keep you up at night wondering what they could possibly mean†¦ now, why would that be frustrating?† He grimaced. â€Å"Or better,† I continued, the pent-up annoyance flowing freely now, â€Å"say that person also did a wide range of bizarre things – from saving your life under impossible circumstances one day to treating you like a pariah the next, and he never explained any of that, either, even after he promised. That, also, would be very non-frustrating.† â€Å"You've got a bit of a temper, don't you?† â€Å"I don't like double standards.† We stared at each other, unsmiling. He glanced over my shoulder, and then, unexpectedly, he snickered. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Your boyfriend seems to think I'm being unpleasant to you – he's debating whether or not to come break up our fight.† He snickered again. â€Å"I don't know who you're talking about,† I said frostily. â€Å"But I'm sure you're wrong, anyway.† â€Å"I'm not. I told you, most people are easy to read.† â€Å"Except me, of course.† â€Å"Yes. Except for you.† His mood shifted suddenly; his eyes turned brooding. â€Å"I wonder why that is.† I had to look away from the intensity of his stare. I concentrated on unscrewing the lid of my lemonade. I took a swig, staring at the table without seeing it. â€Å"Aren't you hungry?† he asked, distracted. â€Å"No.† I didn't feel like mentioning that my stomach was already full – of butterflies. â€Å"You?† I looked at the empty table in front of him. â€Å"No, I'm not hungry.† I didn't understand his expression – it looked like he was enjoying some private joke. â€Å"Can you do me a favor?† I asked after a second of hesitation. He was suddenly wary. â€Å"That depends on what you want.† â€Å"It's not much,† I assured him. He waited, guarded but curious. â€Å"I just wondered†¦ if you could warn me beforehand the next time you decide to ignore me for my own good. Just so I'm prepared.† I looked at the lemonade bottle as I spoke, tracing the circle of the opening with my pinkie finger. â€Å"That sounds fair.† He was pressing his lips together to keep from laughing when I looked up. â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"Then can I have one answer in return?† he demanded. â€Å"One.† â€Å"Tell me one theory.† Whoops. â€Å"Not that one.† â€Å"You didn't qualify, you just promised one answer,† he reminded me. â€Å"And you've broken promises yourself,† I reminded him back. â€Å"Just one theory – I won't laugh.† â€Å"Yes, you will.† I was positive about that. He looked down, and then glanced up at me through his long black lashes, his ocher eyes scorching. â€Å"Please?† he breathed, leaning toward me. I blinked, my mind going blank. Holy crow, how did he do that? â€Å"Er, what?† I asked, dazed. â€Å"Please tell me just one little theory.† His eyes still smoldered at me. â€Å"Um, well, bitten by a radioactive spider?† Was he a hypnotist, too? Or was I just a hopeless pushover? â€Å"That's not very creative,† he scoffed. â€Å"I'm sorry, that's all I've got,† I said, miffed. â€Å"You're not even close,† he teased. â€Å"No spiders?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"And no radioactivity?† â€Å"None.† â€Å"Dang,† I sighed. â€Å"Kryptonite doesn't bother me, either,† he chuckled. â€Å"You're not supposed to laugh, remember?† He struggled to compose his face. â€Å"I'll figure it out eventually,† I warned him. â€Å"I wish you wouldn't try.† He was serious again. â€Å"Because†¦ ?† â€Å"What if I'm not a superhero? What if I'm the bad guy?† He smiled playfully, but his eyes were impenetrable. â€Å"Oh,† I said, as several things he'd hinted fell suddenly into place. â€Å"I see.† â€Å"Do you?† His face was abruptly severe, as if he were afraid that he'd accidentally said too much. â€Å"You're dangerous?† I guessed, my pulse quickening as I intuitively realized the truth of my own words. He was dangerous. He'd been trying to tell me that all along. He just looked at me, eyes full of some emotion I couldn't comprehend. â€Å"But not bad,† I whispered, shaking my head. â€Å"No, I don't believe that you're bad.† â€Å"You're wrong.† His voice was almost inaudible. He looked down, stealing my bottle lid and then spinning it on its side between his fingers. I stared at him, wondering why I didn't feel afraid. He meant what he was saying – that was obvious. But I just felt anxious, on edge†¦ and, more than anything else, fascinated. The same way I always felt when I was near him. The silence lasted until I noticed that the cafeteria was almost empty. I jumped to my feet. â€Å"We're going to be late.† â€Å"I'm not going to class today,† he said, twirling the lid so fast it was just a blur. â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"It's healthy to ditch class now and then.† He smiled up at me, but his eyes were still troubled. â€Å"Well, I'm going,† I told him. I was far too big a coward to risk getting caught. He turned his attention back to his makeshift top. â€Å"I'll see you later, then.† I hesitated, torn, but then the first bell sent me hurrying out the door – with a last glance confirming that he hadn't moved a centimeter. As I half-ran to class, my head was spinning faster than the bottle cap. So few questions had been answered in comparison to how many new questions had been raised. At least the rain had stopped. I was lucky; Mr. Banner wasn't in the room yet when I arrived. I settled quickly into my seat, aware that both Mike and Angela were staring at me. Mike looked resentful; Angela looked surprised, and slightly awed. Mr. Banner came in the room then, calling the class to order. He was juggling a few small cardboard boxes in his arms. He put them down on Mike's table, telling him to start passing them around the class. â€Å"Okay, guys, I want you all to take one piece from each box,† he said as he produced a pair of rubber gloves from the pocket of his lab jacket and pulled them on. The sharp sound as the gloves snapped into place against his wrists seemed ominous to me. â€Å"The first should be an indicator card,† he went on, grabbing a white card with four squares marked on it and displaying it. â€Å"The second is a four-pronged applicator -† he held up something that looked like a nearly toothless hair pick â€Å"- and the third is a sterile micro-lancet.† He held up a small piece of blue plastic and split it open. The barb was invisible from this distance, but my stomach flipped. â€Å"I'll be coming around with a dropper of water to prepare your cards, so please don't start until I get to you.† He began at Mike's table again, carefully putting one drop of water in each of the four squares. â€Å"Then I want you to carefully prick your finger with the lancet†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He grabbed Mike's hand and jabbed the spike into the tip of Mike's middle finger. Oh no. Clammy moisture broke out across my forehead. â€Å"Put a small drop of blood on each of the prongs.† He demonstrated, squeezing Mike's finger till the blood flowed. I swallowed convulsively, my stomach heaving. â€Å"And then apply it to the card,† he finished, holding up the dripping red card for us to see. I closed my eyes, trying to hear through the ringing in my ears. â€Å"The Red Cross is having a blood drive in Port Angeles next weekend, so I thought you should all know your blood type.† He sounded proud of himself. â€Å"Those of you who aren't eighteen yet will need a parent's permission – I have slips at my desk.† He continued through the room with his water drops. I put my cheek against the cool black tabletop and tried to hold on to my consciousness. All around me I could hear squeals, complaints, and giggles as my classmates skewered their fingers. I breathed slowly in and out through my mouth. â€Å"Bella, are you all right?† Mr. Banner asked. His voice was close to my head, and it sounded alarmed. â€Å"I already know my blood type, Mr. Banner,† I said in a weak voice. I was afraid to raise my head. â€Å"Are you feeling faint?† â€Å"Yes, sir,† I muttered, internally kicking myself for not ditching when I had the chance. â€Å"Can someone take Bella to the nurse, please?† he called. I didn't have to look up to know that it would be Mike who volunteered. â€Å"Can you walk?† Mr. Banner asked. â€Å"Yes,† I whispered. Just let me get out of here, I thought. I'll crawl. Mike seemed eager as he put his arm around my waist and pulled my arm over his shoulder. I leaned against him heavily on the way out of the classroom. Mike towed me slowly across campus. When we were around the edge of the cafeteria, out of sight of building four in case Mr. Banner was watching, I stopped. â€Å"Just let me sit for a minute, please?† I begged. He helped me sit on the edge of the walk. â€Å"And whatever you do, keep your hand in your pocket,† I warned. I was still so dizzy. I slumped over on my side, putting my cheek against the freezing, damp cement of the sidewalk, closing my eyes. That seemed to help a little. â€Å"Wow, you're green, Bella,† Mike said nervously. â€Å"Bella?† a different voice called from the distance. No! Please let me be imagining that horribly familiar voice. â€Å"What's wrong – is she hurt?† His voice was closer now, and he sounded upset. I wasn't imagining it. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping to die. Or, at the very least, not to throw up. Mike seemed stressed. â€Å"I think she's fainted. I don't know what happened, she didn't even stick her finger.† â€Å"Bella.† Edward's voice was right beside me, relieved now. â€Å"Can you hear me?† â€Å"No,† I groaned. â€Å"Go away.† He chuckled. â€Å"I was taking her to the nurse,† Mike explained in a defensive tone, â€Å"but she wouldn't go any farther.† â€Å"I'll take her,† Edward said. I could hear the smile still in his voice. â€Å"You can go back to class.† â€Å"No,† Mike protested. â€Å"I'm supposed to do it.† Suddenly the sidewalk disappeared from beneath me. My eyes flew open in shock. Edward had scooped me up in his arms, as easily as if I weighed ten pounds instead of a hundred and ten. â€Å"Put me down!† Please, please let me not vomit on him. He was walking before I was finished talking. â€Å"Hey!† Mike called, already ten paces behind us. Edward ignored him. â€Å"You look awful,† he told me, grinning. â€Å"Put me back on the sidewalk,† I moaned. The rocking movement of his walk was not helping. He held me away from his body, gingerly, supporting all my weight with just his arms – it didn't seem to bother him. â€Å"So you faint at the sight of blood?† he asked. This seemed to entertain him. I didn't answer. I closed my eyes again and fought the nausea with all my strength, clamping my lips together. â€Å"And not even your own blood,† he continued, enjoying himself. I don't know how he opened the door while carrying me, but it was suddenly warm, so I knew we were inside. â€Å"Oh my,† I heard a female voice gasp. â€Å"She fainted in Biology,† Edward explained. I opened my eyes. I was in the office, and Edward was striding past the front counter toward the nurse's door. Ms. Cope, the redheaded front office receptionist, ran ahead of him to hold it open. The grandmotherly nurse looked up from a novel, astonished, as Edward swung me into the room and placed me gently on the crackly paper that covered the brown vinyl mattress on the one cot. Then he moved to stand against the wall as far across the narrow room as possible. His eyes were bright, excited. â€Å"She's just a little faint,† he reassured the startled nurse. â€Å"They're blood typing in Biology.† The nurse nodded sagely. â€Å"There's always one.† He muffled a snicker. â€Å"Just lie down for a minute, honey; it'll pass.† â€Å"I know,† I sighed. The nausea was already fading. â€Å"Does this happen a lot?† she asked. â€Å"Sometimes,† I admitted. Edward coughed to hide another laugh. â€Å"You can go back to class now,† she told him. â€Å"I'm supposed to stay with her.† He said this with such assured authority that – even though she pursed her lips – the nurse didn't argue it further. â€Å"I'll go get you some ice for your forehead, dear,† she said to me, and then bustled out of the room. â€Å"You were right,† I moaned, letting my eyes close. â€Å"I usually am – but about what in particular this time?† â€Å"Ditching is healthy.† I practiced breathing evenly. â€Å"You scared me for a minute there,† he admitted after a pause. His tone made it sound like he was confessing a humiliating weakness. â€Å"I thought Newton was dragging your dead body off to bury it in the woods.† â€Å"Ha ha.† I still had my eyes closed, but I was feeling more normal every minute. â€Å"Honestly – I've seen corpses with better color. I was concerned that I might have to avenge your murder.† â€Å"Poor Mike. I'll bet he's mad.† â€Å"He absolutely loathes me,† Edward said cheerfully. â€Å"You can't know that,† I argued, but then I wondered suddenly if he could. â€Å"I saw his face – I could tell.† â€Å"How did you see me? I thought you were ditching.† I was almost fine now, though the queasiness would probably pass faster if I'd eaten something for lunch. On the other hand, maybe it was lucky my stomach was empty. â€Å"I was in my car, listening to a CD.† Such a normal response – it surprised me. I heard the door and opened my eyes to see the nurse with a cold compress in her hand. â€Å"Here you go, dear.† She laid it across my forehead. â€Å"You're looking better,† she added. â€Å"I think I'm fine,† I said, sitting up. Just a little ringing in my ears, no spinning. The mint green walls stayed where they should. I could see she was about to make me lie back down, but the door opened just then, and Ms. Cope stuck her head in. â€Å"We've got another one,† she warned. I hopped down to free up the cot for the next invalid. I handed the compress back to the nurse. â€Å"Here, I don't need this.† And then Mike staggered through the door, now supporting a sallow-looking Lee Stephens, another boy in our Biology class. Edward and I drew back against the wall to give them room. â€Å"Oh no,† Edward muttered. â€Å"Go out to the office, Bella.† I looked up at him, bewildered. â€Å"Trust me – go.† I spun and caught the door before it closed, darting out of the infirmary. I could feel Edward right behind me. â€Å"You actually listened to me.† He was stunned. â€Å"I smelled the blood,† I said, wrinkling my nose. Lee wasn't sick from watching other people, like me. â€Å"People can't smell blood,† he contradicted. â€Å"Well, I can – that's what makes me sick. It smells like rust†¦ and salt.† He was staring at me with an unfathomable expression. â€Å"What?† I asked. â€Å"It's nothing.† Mike came through the door then, glancing from me to Edward. The look he gave Edward confirmed what Edward had said about loathing. He looked back at me, his eyes glum. â€Å"You look better,† he accused. â€Å"Just keep your hand in your pocket,† I warned him again. â€Å"It's not bleeding anymore,† he muttered. â€Å"Are you going back to class?† â€Å"Are you kidding? I'd just have to turn around and come back.† â€Å"Yeah, I guess†¦ So are you going this weekend? To the beach?† While he spoke, he flashed another glare toward Edward, who was standing against the cluttered counter, motionless as a sculpture, staring off into space. I tried to sound as friendly as possible. â€Å"Sure, I said I was in.† â€Å"We're meeting at my dad's store, at ten.† His eyes flickered to Edward again, wondering if he was giving out too much information. His body language made it clear that it wasn't an open invitation. â€Å"I'll be there,† I promised. â€Å"I'll see you in Gym, then,† he said, moving uncertainly toward the door. â€Å"See you,† I replied. He looked at me once more, his round face slightly pouting, and then as he walked slowly through the door, his shoulders slumped. A swell of sympathy washed over me. I pondered seeing his disappointed face again†¦ in Gym. â€Å"Gym,† I groaned. â€Å"I can take care of that.† I hadn't noticed Edward moving to my side, but he spoke now in my ear. â€Å"Go sit down and look pale,† he muttered. That wasn't a challenge; I was always pale, and my recent swoon had left a light sheen of sweat on my face. I sat in one of the creaky folding chairs and rested my head against the wall with my eyes closed. Fainting spells always exhausted me. I heard Edward speaking softly at the counter. â€Å"Ms. Cope?† â€Å"Yes?† I hadn't heard her return to her desk. â€Å"Bella has Gym next hour, and I don't think she feels well enough. Actually, I was thinking I should take her home now. Do you think you could excuse her from class?† His voice was like melting honey. I could imagine how much more overwhelming his eyes would be. â€Å"Do you need to be excused, too, Edward?† Ms. Cope fluttered. Why couldn't I do that? â€Å"No, I have Mrs. Goff, she won't mind.† â€Å"Okay, it's all taken care of. You feel better, Bella,† she called to me. I nodded weakly, hamming it up just a bit. â€Å"Can you walk, or do you want me to carry you again?† With his back to the receptionist, his expression became sarcastic. â€Å"I'll walk.† I stood carefully, and I was still fine. He held the door for me, his smile polite but his eyes mocking. I walked out into the cold, fine mist that had just begun to fall. It felt nice – the first time I'd enjoyed the constant moisture falling out of the sky – as it washed my face clean of the sticky perspiration. â€Å"Thanks,† I said as he followed me out. â€Å"It's almost worth getting sick to miss Gym.† â€Å"Anytime.† He was staring straight forward, squinting into the rain. â€Å"So are you going? This Saturday, I mean?† I was hoping he would, though it seemed unlikely. I couldn't picture him loading up to carpool with the rest of the kids from school; he didn't belong in the same world. But just hoping that he might gave me the first twinge of enthusiasm I'd felt for the outing. â€Å"Where are you all going, exactly?† He was still looking ahead, expressionless. â€Å"Down to La Push, to First Beach.† I studied his face, trying to read it. His eyes seemed to narrow infinitesimally. He glanced down at me from the corner of his eye, smiling wryly. â€Å"I really don't think I was invited.† I sighed. â€Å"I just invited you.† â€Å"Let's you and I not push poor Mike any further this week. We don't want him to snap.† His eyes danced; he was enjoying the idea more than he should. â€Å"Mike-schmike.† I muttered, preoccupied by the way he'd said â€Å"you and I.† I liked it more than I should. We were near the parking lot now. I veered left, toward my truck. Something caught my jacket, yanking me back. â€Å"Where do you think you're going?† he asked, outraged. He was gripping a fistful of my jacket in one hand. I was confused. â€Å"I'm going home.† â€Å"Didn't you hear me promise to take you safely home? Do you think I'm going to let you drive in your condition?† His voice was still indignant. â€Å"What condition? And what about my truck?† I complained. â€Å"I'll have Alice drop it off after school.† He was towing me toward his car now, pulling me by my jacket. It was all I could do to keep from falling backward. He'd probably just drag me along anyway if I did. â€Å"Let go!† I insisted. He ignored me. I staggered along sideways across the wet sidewalk until we reached the Volvo. Then he finally freed me – I stumbled against the passenger door. â€Å"You are so pushy!† I grumbled. â€Å"It's open,† was all he responded. He got in the driver's side. â€Å"I am perfectly capable of driving myself home!† I stood by the car, fuming. It was raining harder now, and I'd never put my hood up, so my hair was dripping down my back. He lowered the automatic window and leaned toward me across the seat. â€Å"Get in, Bella.† I didn't answer. I was mentally calculating my chances of reaching the truck before he could catch me. I had to admit, they weren't good. â€Å"I'll just drag you back,† he threatened, guessing my plan. I tried to maintain what dignity I could as I got into his car. I wasn't very successful – I looked like a half-drowned cat and my boots squeaked. â€Å"This is completely unnecessary,† I said stiffly. He didn't answer. He fiddled with the controls, turning the heater up and the music down. As he pulled out of the parking lot, I was preparing to give him the silent treatment – my face in full pout mode – but then I recognized the music playing, and my curiosity got the better of my intentions. â€Å"Clair de Lune?† I asked, surprised. â€Å"You know Debussy?† He sounded surprised, too. â€Å"Not well,† I admitted. â€Å"My mother plays a lot of classical music around the house – I only know my favorites.† â€Å"It's one of my favorites, too.† He stared out through the rain, lost in thought. I listened to the music, relaxing against the light gray leather seat. It was impossible not to respond to the familiar, soothing melody. The rain blurred everything outside the window into gray and green smudges. I began to realize we were driving very fast; the car moved so steadily, so evenly, though, I didn't feel the speed. Only the town flashing by gave it away. â€Å"What is your mother like?† he asked me suddenly. I glanced over to see him studying me with curious eyes. â€Å"She looks a lot like me, but she's prettier,† I said. He raised his eyebrows. â€Å"I have too much Charlie in me. She's more outgoing than I am, and braver. She's irresponsible and slightly eccentric, and she's a very unpredictable cook. She's my best friend.† I stopped. Talking about her was making me depressed. â€Å"How old are you, Bella?† His voice sounded frustrated for some reason I couldn't imagine. He'd stopped the car, and I realized we were at Charlie's house already. The rain was so heavy that I could barely see the house at all. It was like the car was submerged under a river. â€Å"I'm seventeen,† I responded, a little confused. â€Å"You don't seem seventeen.† His tone was reproachful; it made me laugh. â€Å"What?† he asked, curious again. â€Å"My mom always says I was born thirty-five years old and that I get more middle-aged every year.† I laughed, and then sighed. â€Å"Well, someone has to be the adult.† I paused for a second. â€Å"You don't seem much like a junior in high school yourself,† I noted. He made a face and changed the subject. â€Å"So why did your mother marry Phil?† I was surprised he would remember the name; I'd mentioned it just once, almost two months ago. It took me a moment to answer. â€Å"My mother†¦ she's very young for her age. I think Phil makes her feel even younger. At any rate, she's crazy about him.† I shook my head. The attraction was a mystery to me. â€Å"Do you approve?† he asked. â€Å"Does it matter?† I countered. â€Å"I want her to be happy†¦ and he is who she wants.† â€Å"That's very generous†¦ I wonder,† he mused. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Would she extend the same courtesy to you, do you think? No matter who your choice was?† He was suddenly intent, his eyes searching mine. â€Å"I-I think so,† I stuttered. â€Å"But she's the parent, after all. It's a little bit different.† â€Å"No one too scary then,† he teased. I grinned in response. â€Å"What do you mean by scary? Multiple facial piercings and extensive tattoos?† â€Å"That's one definition, I suppose.† â€Å"What's your definition?† But he ignored my question and asked me another. â€Å"Do you think that I could be scary?† He raised one eyebrow, and the faint trace of a smile lightened his face. I thought for a moment, wondering whether the truth or a lie would go over better. I decided to go with the truth. â€Å"Hmmm†¦ I think you could be, if you wanted to.† â€Å"Are you frightened of me now?† The smile vanished, and his heavenly face was suddenly serious. â€Å"No.† But I answered too quickly. The smile returned. â€Å"So, now are you going to tell me about your family?† I asked to distract him. â€Å"It's got to be a much more interesting story than mine.† He was instantly cautious. â€Å"What do you want to know?† â€Å"The Cullens adopted you?† I verified. â€Å"Yes.† I hesitated for a moment. â€Å"What happened to your parents?† â€Å"They died many years ago.† His tone was matter-of-fact. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I mumbled. â€Å"I don't really remember them that clearly. Carlisle and Esme have been my parents for a long time now.† â€Å"And you love them.† It wasn't a question. It was obvious in the way he spoke of them. â€Å"Yes.† He smiled. â€Å"I couldn't imagine two better people.† â€Å"You're very lucky.† â€Å"I know I am.† â€Å"And your brother and sister?† He glanced at the clock on the dashboard. â€Å"My brother and sister, and Jasper and Rosalie for that matter, are going to be quite upset if they have to stand in the rain waiting for me.† â€Å"Oh, sorry, I guess you have to go.† I didn't want to get out of the car. â€Å"And you probably want your truck back before Chief Swan gets home, so you don't have to tell him about the Biology incident.† He grinned at me. â€Å"I'm sure he's already heard. There are no secrets in Forks.† I sighed. He laughed, and there was an edge to his laughter. â€Å"Have fun at the beach†¦ good weather for sunbathing.† He glanced out at the sheeting rain. â€Å"Won't I see you tomorrow?† â€Å"No. Emmett and I are starting the weekend early.† â€Å"What are you going to do?† A friend could ask that, right? I hoped the disappointment wasn't too apparent in my voice. â€Å"We're going to be hiking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, just south of Rainier.† I remembered Charlie had said the Cullens went camping frequently. â€Å"Oh, well, have fun.† I tried to sound enthusiastic. I don't think I fooled him, though. A smile was playing around the edges of his lips. â€Å"Will you do something for me this weekend?† He turned to look me straight in the face, utilizing the full power of his burning gold eyes. I nodded helplessly. â€Å"Don't be offended, but you seem to be one of those people who just attract accidents like a magnet. So†¦ try not to fall into the ocean or get run over or anything, all right?† He smiled crookedly. The helplessness had faded as he spoke. I glared at him. â€Å"I'll see what I can do,† I snapped as I jumped out into the rain. I slammed the door behind me with excessive force. He was still smiling as he drove away.

The Authority Of Scripture And The Historical Reliability...

When thinking about the relationship between the authority of scripture and the historical reliability of the Bible, it is important to understand the definitions of the two key words at hand. According to the Oxford Dictionary, authority is defined as â€Å"the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.† Reliability is stated as â€Å"the quality of being trustworthy or of performing constantly well.† From the beginning of our Christian lives, we are taught, or perhaps told, that the Bible is God’s truthful word and that we should not only trust it, but base our lives around serving Him through what is written in it’s pages. As it says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, â€Å"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,†¦show more content†¦But the Bible delves so much deeper than that. The Bible is in itself, a translation of history and humankind, showing how people, as individuals or groups, have either been blessed or disciplined by God for their demeanor towards Him and His holy laws. It is this unique account of the moral and spiritual factors behind the historical narrative, that continues to make the Bible so relevant to modern day society today. God’s word reveals the will of God in each of our lives through showing His divine nature as depicted in hundreds of real-life illustrations throughout the Bible. When speaking about the authority of scripture, it is necessary to understand that while all Scripture was given to us by God, the form in which it was given was transcribed in two different ways. First by direct revelation; by which the literal words of God are chronicled by the prophets. Second by inspiration; by which the Holy Spirit oversaw the prophets as they wrote and thus the prophets wrote ‘Divine Truth.’ As seen in 2 Peter 1:20-21, â€Å"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.† Nearly four thousand times in the Bible there are written words orShow MoreRelatedWhat Paul, The Apostle Of Jesus1027 Words   |  5 Pagespaper is to corroborate and to demonstrate what Paul, the apostle of Jesus stated in the 3rd chapter of 2 Timothy, verses 16-17, concerning Scripture as â€Å"God Breathed† and revealing its Divine and human nature. This is a very significant and beneficial study for those who desire a better and more concrete understanding of Scripture and its authority and reliability, in order for an individual to gain complete faith in it as a prime source concerning spiritual guidance. It is vital to have a strong foundationRead MoreReflection Paper - Virgin Birth, Jesus Claim God, Bible Authority1136 Words   |  5 Pageshope to answer the questions, â€Å"Does the Bible have authority?†, â€Å"Did Jesus claim to be God?†, and â€Å"Did Jesus need to be born of a virgin?†. These three questions can be summarized with the question, â€Å"Is God reliable in what he has said about Himself, and if we can t take His Word for it, then what?† II. Section One The question of the authority of the Bible rests on the issue of the authority of its author. If the author of the Bible did not have authority, then it is highly unlikely that the writtenRead MoreThe Word of God as Used in the Old Testament1508 Words   |  7 PagesWhen exploring the word of God in the Old Testament (OT), it is important to locate the texts into a social and historical context. It is in this context that the word of God is mediated by human expression. To deny the human expression is effectively to place a barrier between the word of God and it’s invitation to revelation. The OT can be seen as a â€Å"record of people’s experience of God’s self-revelation† (Rohr Martos, 2011, p. 22). Thus the theology underpinning the OT meaning and understandingRead MoreJosh Mcdowell1258 Words   |  6 Pagesagnostic in his adolescent years and into college. * Began school at Kellogg Community College in Michigan intending to study law and start a career in the political field. * There at college as an agnostic, he chose to write a paper on the historical evidence of Christianity in order to disprove the religion. Within that research he discovered evidence that made him a believer. Read quote 1 and 2. * He then decided to change his future plans from the study of law. QUOTE SLIDE SlideRead MoreThe Reliability Of The New Testament Manuscripts1958 Words   |  8 PagesTHE RELIABILITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPTS A Paper Submitted to Dr. Daniel Warner of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the M.Div. Course Encountering the Biblical World - E1-BBBW5200-01 in the Divisions of Biblical Studies Kristopher L. Norsworthy B.A.S., Dallas Baptist University, 2011 November 28, 2016 The reliability of the New Testament manuscripts is a largely discussed topic in our culture. InRead MoreEssay on What Is The Bible?1919 Words   |  8 PagesThe Bible is the most significant book in the history of civilization. In the context of Jewish history, the Bible’s impact on politics, history, and religion is without comparison. Along with establishing the covenant-based legitimacy of the Jewish people and their history, the Bible’s political impact is exemplified through prophetic politics, the power of kings, and the effects of political authority. Biblical archeology has discovered biblical structures which supports the historical validityRead MoreEtymology of Divine Revelation4215 Words   |  17 Pages(DV 1)[1] Further, the Church teaches that it is through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, closely bound together, that this revelatory communication takes place. (cf. DV 9)[2] It is from this point of view that we have looked, in this paper, on the discussion of divine revelation. Realising that this is a wide topic, we have confined ourselves to research and come up with information trying to explain how Sacred Scripture is a requisite for divine revelation fulfilled in the person ofRead MoreThe Empty Tomb2163 Words   |  9 PagesThe Empty Tomb â€Å"And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?† This is quoted from the gospel of John (NKJV, John 7:26). Jesus was a man who performed various and unexplainable miracles, and who also claimed to be â€Å"One with God.† He created unrest among the Roman government, who struggled for power and authority when Jesus and His teachings started to spread among the nations. The Pharisees planned many attemptsRead MoreEssay on Fundamentalism and Inerrancy of Scripture5400 Words   |  22 Pages A Paper Submitted to Dr. Homer Massey In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Course History of Christianity II CHHI 525 By, Johnny walker INERRANCY OF THE SCRIPTURES Outline Fundamentalism is a type of religious reaction to all forms of modernity. Within Christianity this phenomenon is mostly characteristic of Protestantism but is also found in Catholicism. In fact, the term fundamentalism was coined inRead MoreHomosexuality and God6017 Words   |  25 Pagescompromise, the principles for which the Holy Bible stands, is directing the Christians in the right path to God and the way of life. The Christian point of view is based solely upon the Bible, the divinely inspired Word of God. A truly Christian standard of ethics is the conduct of divine revelation, not of statistical research or of public opinion. For the Christian, the Bible is the final authority for both belief and behaviour. The Explicitly the Bible teach about homosexuality can be considered