The Deep Love Of Jesus - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 1952 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/07/01 Category Religion Essay Level High school Tags: Jesus Christ Essay Did you like this example? In the early 1800s, there was a young man named George Mueller who lived in Germany. George grew up as a rather rebellious kid who caused his parents constant concern. George went to college where he was well known for making fun of Christians. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Deep Love Of Jesus" essay for you Create order One day, a friend invited him to a Bible study, and he reluctantly went. Much to his surprise, he actually enjoyed it and was amazed when he saw people who actually knew and loved God. This was a nightly Bible study, and he showed up each evening that week. Within a few days, he knelt at his bed and asked Jesus to forgive his sins. There was a pretty incredible transformation in George he replaced his former habits with things like reading the Bible, going to church, and sharing the story of Gods love for people. George felt a call to be a missionary, but his father was incredibly disappointed. He withdrew his support of Georges college education. So George prayed. Within the hour, George received a note from a professor offering him a paid tutoring job. George graduated and headed off to England to serve as a missionary. At that time, there were an incredible number of orphans, so he decided to do something about it. He opened up an orphanage that cared for the children and he loved them with the love of Jesus. He ministered to what was considered at that time the lowest class of society. George spent a great deal of time in prayer asking the Lord to provide for the needs of the children. And God provided. He raised money to start 117 Christian schools throughout England that educated over 120,000 children. His orphanage served over 10,000 children over his lifetime. There is a famous story from one day early in Georges ministry. The children are dressed and ready for school. But there is no food for them to eat, the housemother of the orphanage informed George. He asked her to take the 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. He thanked God for the food and waited. George knew God would provide food for the children as he always did. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. Mr. Mueller, he said, last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in. Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. He asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children. George was an unlikely Christian. But arent we all unlikely Christians, who have somehow encountered Gods love? We can trust that God will provide for his children because he loves us. Our reading from 1 Kings and John tell stories of how God miraculously provided food. Bread was one of the basic essentials of life. If you had bread, you could survive. It was the symbol of Gods provision. When Jesus was at the Last Supper, he took bread and broke it and said this is my body, given for you. It became a symbol of Gods love, of the sacrifice of Jesus which once and for all demonstrated to the world how much God loves all people. As often as you eat it, do this in remembrance of me. We often take that line that Jesus spoke and apply it to the celebration of Communion where we reenact the Last Supper. But Jesus didnt only mean remember me when you come to Communion. He meant remember me every time you eat, because the very food you eat is a reminder of my love for you. That love is the love that led Jesus to the cross. Through his death we have access to Gods grace and forgiveness. Because of this love, we have hope that when we die, we will spend eternity in heaven with God. All we need to do is believe! Gods love is something that is so big, so powerful that it is hard to grasp. In our text from Ephesians we see that Paul prays that we might have the power to comprehend how wide, and high, and deep, and long Gods love for us is (Ephesians 3:18). It takes the very power of God to understand his love and what that means for us as a people. Paul says that the church is meant to be a place where Gods love is known. When people walk through our doors, they should meet with Gods all consuming, never-ending, reckless love. We can experience this love through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and through the welcome that we extend to one another. In our text from Ephesians, we get an insight into Pauls prayer life. Paul was the epitome of someone who labored for Christ. He planted some 20 churches while going on four major missionary journeys. He preached countless times and witnessed thousands of people come to faith. He faithfully stewarded these churches, providing correction and guidance when necessary. Like I mentioned last week, the church at Ephesus was pretty healthy, but Paul wanted them to grow deeper in their understanding of Gods love. His prayer is twofold: he prays that they will be strengthened in the Spirit and have power, and he prays that Christ will dwell in their hearts. These two things, power from the Spirit and Christ in us are at the center of Christian maturity, and Paul says they are a result of being rooted and grounded in love. Christ and faith in Christ is the first block of our foundation, but receiving Gods love is what keeps us on that foundation. Paul writes that we should be rooted in Gods love. The word rooted is a gardening term. What does it mean for a plant to have good roots? The root system provides nutrients for the plant. They absorb minerals and nutrients, but they also provide stability. There are some plants that have poor root systems, and they produce poor fruit and they easily topple in storms. Here in West Virginia, it is common after a spring thunderstorm or winter snowstorm to go out and find trees blocking the road. They often look like this: Different trees and plants have different types of roots. The silver maple tree has one of the most impressive root systems. There is a popular picture of a silver maple that did not get washed away during a major flood. While the waters washed away the soil, this root system went deep and strong and the tree remained in place. Paul wanted the Christians at Ephesus to have their faith deeply rooted in Gods love. When we face difficult times, tragedies, sorrow, we dont need empty words of comfort. We need Gods love. We need to know that despite the raging storms that might surround us, God is there. He is with us. He cares. He loves. Having strong roots in Gods love also sustains us to produce good fruit. We are called to walk through life being different from the world. Christians should be known by producing the fruits of the spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control. No matter how hard we try on our own, we cannot simple muster up these fruits, we cannot force them. They are naturally produced when we are rooted in Gods love for us. Accepting love can be an incredibly difficult thing at times. When we are hurt by a friendship, a parent, a romantic relationship, it does something to our heart. It kind of tarnishes our perception and thus our ability to receive love. When our relationships are cruel or seem to demand an impossible perfection, it is quite natural to use these broken perceptions of love and to apply them to how we view Gods love for us. Ive done this myself I am quite a perfectionist naturally. Throughout my education, relationships, and even in my preaching, I expect to be perfect. But perfect, isnt really possible. I did a great deal of soul searching, trying to discover where this compulsion to be perfect came from, and I discovered that I thought that I was able to earn love based on what I did. This is an incredibly easy thing to do because many people will reward achievement and ridicule failure. But we cant apply this view of love to God. Gods love is never dependent upon how I perform, because God knows Ill never be perfect. Gods love isnt even dependent on whether or not I sin. Gods love is still there. Now when I sin, his love corrects and calls me to repent, but the deep love of God never leaves. God knew full well that we werent perfect thats why he sent Jesus to live the perfect life and be the perfect sacrifice so that we could have access to Gods love. Relationship with God means living with Christ in us, with the full benefits of being Gods children. If we believe in Jesus and show up to church, but we dont seek to be deeply rooted in Gods love, its like living our lives at half-throttle. Once there was a backhoe operator on a construction site who surprised one day by the owner of the company. Being relatively new to his job, the operator was exercising care in his manipulation of the machine. Suddenly the motor, which had been set at half-throttle, roared to life. The startled operator looked behind him to discover that the owner was holding the lever wide open. Shouting above the engine noise, the owner explained to the puzzled operator, ?This is the way I want to hear my equipment run. The owner knew the potential of his equipment, and he wanted the full benefit. The same is true with God concerning His children. Being deeply rooted in Gods love and accepting our identity as Gods children revolutionizes our lives. It enables us to love our neighbors. It gives us patience with difficult people. It helps us live free from the sins that hold us back. It restores our relationships and helps us have the ability to be our best. When we open our hearts and receive Gods love, it necessarily changes us. The rules arent what change us. The showing up to church isnt what changes us. Its the relationship with God and the abiding in his love that changes our lives. The relationship changes the very disposition of our hearts and then and only then can we begin to fulfill the command to love God and our neighbor. We are enabled to walk in holiness not through striving and human perfection, but through divine action. Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus that given to us. May we be rooted in Gods love, may we have the Holy Spirits power to understand the love, and may we have the courage to abide in Gods love. One of the great keys to staying in love with God is to come to this Table of Grace and receive the elements of Communion. In this we commune not only with each other, but with God himself. He meets us at this altar and we receive his love. Not through our worthiness but through our faith in Christs worthiness. Come expecting an encounter with God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God, Amen.

The Cost of College Tuition Essay - 1517 Words

Nose Snotty October 11, 2010 English 112 Position Final The Cost of College Tuition The cost of college is very high compared to how the economy has been and how wages and financial aid have not risen with the cost of tuition. This makes it harder for students to graduate and brings a lot of stress to their lives. Without the funding that is needed many students drop out or take a longer time finishing their degree. Going to college is stressful enough without the need to worry about how you’re going to pay for it and what other costs will continue to rise with getting a degree. The cost of college is too high compared to the amount Americans make and how much they are expected to contribute. This issue is very close to me†¦show more content†¦With the economy with the way that it is and people losing their jobs all the time this can be harder than expected. This has caused many students to change their choice on which college to attend to a cheaper choice or go to a community college before going to a four year school. (Carpenter) This isn†™t a bad choice but it can be hard to transition from one school to another and hope that all the credits will transfer successfully. Many parents feel like they are letting their child down if they do not help them, but many believe that the student should pay for it them because it will help them learn responsibility with juggling school and a job. According to Public Agenda only 42% of students whose parents did not help them graduated (Clark). This could be blamed on how hard it can be to be working and to find time to fit in time not only for class but preparing for class without their parents help. This can help time management skills, but for a student to be able to graduate in four years and work enough to not have a mountain of debt can be a hard thing to accomplish. Something else that also comes up is it’s not just tuition that has to be paid for, it’s also all the fees added on and the costs that most people don’t think about when budgeting fo r school like food for each week and transportation. With added on fees for every class it can be very frustrating so how the student pays for college affects a lot of aspects in their lives.Show MoreRelatedThe Cost Of College Tuition1541 Words   |  7 PagesThe cost of college tuition is increasing exponentially ever year. Students have to pay for a number of things besides the tuition for inference books, dorms, fees, tutor, etc on top of their everyday living expenses. At this rate college tuition will be far beyond the reach for the average person. The inflation raises numerous of questions. If the recession is not getting better why do schools continue to increase tuition? What can be done so that the college tuition won’t be so far out of reachRead MoreThe Cost Of College Tuition925 Words   |  4 PagesCost of College Tuition College tuition is very expensive and many people are unable to attend due to the overall cost of tuition, books, room and board. The high price of a college education is unfair to the bright students who have limited resources. These students are at a disadvantage because of lack of funds. The United States should find a way to provide free tuition to all students who want an education. In our lives today, not everyone can financially afford to attend a four year universityRead MoreThe Cost Of College Tuition1253 Words   |  6 PagesThere are many students cannot go to college because of the cost of college tuition. Some students work hard at the fast food places, restaurant to pay off their tuition. 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Today I will share with you both the perspective of those that believe tuition increases are necessary andRead MoreCollege Tuition : Costly College Costs1771 Words   |  8 PagesCostly College Costs College tuition is an expensive entity to pay for and not many people have the luxury of having college being completely paid for, however, so many people that have previous experience like teachers, counselors, and parents, want students to pursue this expensive entity so their future is brighter. Why is being a college student becoming a luxury that fewer people can afford and attend to? Factors like the actual cost for college tuition, costs for higher education, the workingRead MoreThe Rising Cost Of College Tuition976 Words   |  4 Pagesyears, the soaring cost of college tuition has angered many students and parents, leaving many wondering where they will come up with the funds to pay. While college is still a pretty sound investment for most career paths, the cost of an education has outpaced general inflation by almost double, leaving many families simply unable to shoulder the fiscal burden without incurring large amounts of debt. How did we get to where we are today? A big part of it has to do with how colleges themselves haveRead MoreIncreasing Tuition Costs For College1624 Words   |  7 Pages â€Æ' Increasing Tuition Costs College degrees are becoming ever more a standard in my industries, just to get into the door with certain companies. Even when degrees might not be required to get a decent job, marketing can take over and make you think that you need to get a college degree or you won’t land that dream job. Brill states that on the average, we are continually reminded, the earnings of college graduates are substantially higher than those who have obtained no more than a high schoolRead MoreCollege Tuition Cost On A Rise Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesCollege Tuition Cost on a Rise The rising cost of education in Texas colleges started in 2003 when the deregulation was lifted. Then, soon after, the Texas State legislature cut the education budget because of a drop in the economy in 2008. The cut in funding and the removal of the deregulation law allowed colleges across Texas a way to recoup lost resources by raising the cost of tuition. The raising cost of tuition has limited the amount of attending students from graduating in the expected timeRead MoreThe Rising Cost Of College Tuition855 Words   |  4 Pagesrising cost of education and living. The cost of college tuition makes it even harder for them to achieve financial assistance. The amount of student loans debt in America is roughly around one point eight trillion dollars. Factors like the minimum wage also make it harder for young adults to be able to sustain themselves and go to school, because if they cannot pay for school then they are not going to attend school. Employment earnings are also discou raging students from attending college. In theRead MoreRising Cost Of College Tuition2509 Words   |  11 PagesPower, Privilege Rising Cost of College Tuition in the U.S The increasing cost of higher education in the United States has been a continuing topic for debate in recent decades. American society emphasizes the importance of education after high school, yet the cost of higher education and advanced degrees continually rises at a greater rate than inflation in the 1970’s. According to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, cost factors prevent 48% of college-qualified high school graduates

Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells-Barnett Essay IDA B. WELLS-BARNETTIda B. Wells-Barnett is first among many. She was a civil servant and fought injustices amongst the black community. Ida was born a slave in Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1862. There she witnessed the Civil War and the dramatic changes it brought to her life. During Reconstruction she found possession of previously unheard-of freedoms, her civil rights. The most dramatic change was the institution of schools for the education of blacks. The establishment of the Freedman’s Aid Society founded by Shaw University, later renamed Rust College, and was where Ida attended classes. Ida possessed an interest in school, and she quickly worked her way through every book in the Rust College library. At an early age she demonstrated leadership and a strong liking to journalism. Growing up in Memphis opened opportunities for Ida to further her education at LeMoyne Institution and Fisk University. Her impact among the Negro community was first felt in May 1884. On her way to work, Ida boarded her usual seat on the first-class ladies coach, she was asked by the conductor to move to the forward car, which was a smoker. Wells refused, got off the train, returned to Memphis, and filed suit against the Chesapeake, Ohio, and SouthWestern Railroad Company for refusing to provide her the first-class accommodations for which she paid. In December, 1884 the Memphis Circuit Court ruled in her favor and awarded her $500 in damages. The reaction within the white community was expressed in the Memphis Appeal, â€Å"Darky Damsel Gets Damages† (Klots, 32) Although her success was short lived when the company appealed the case to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which reversed the decision. Wells-Barnett’s willingness to use the courts to challenge Jim Crow laws was well ahead of her time. Using her forceful pen to write of her experience and outcome soon led her to writing regularly for the black press throughout the country. Ida gained a reputation for f earlessness because of her militant opinions she openly expressed in print. Through her writings she was able to influence the black community, nonetheless educate them and sympathizers of injustices against them. The impact of Ida B. Wells-Barnett was felt within the Negro community through her anti-lynching crusade, journalistic writings, and prominent organizations. With the sharpness of her pen, Ida raised the battle cry against the American â€Å"national crime† of lynching. Infuriated by the Memphis lynching in 1892, which involved a close friend; Ida expressed her grief in an editorial in the local black newspaper, Free Speech:â€Å"The city of Memphis has demonstrated that neither character nor standing avails the Negro if he dares to protect himself against the white man or become his rival. There is nothing we can do about the lynching now, as we are outnumbered and without arms†¦There is therefore only one thing left we can do; save our money and leave town which will neither protect our lives and property, nor give us a fair trial in the courts, when accused by white persons.† (Hine, 28)At the same time Wells saw what lynching really was; an excuse to â€Å"keep the nigger down†, and execute those â€Å"who acquired wealth and property.† (Duster, 64) This sparked her investigation into the causes of lync hing-rape. In Crusade for Justice Ida, â€Å"stumbled on the amazing record that every case of rape reported became such only when it became public.† (Duster, 65) Since whites could no longer hold blacks as slaves they found in mob violence a different means of maintaining a system of â€Å"economic, psychological, and sexual exploitation.† (Klots, 42) In addition, the result of her investigation and editorial sparked the black community to retaliate and encourage all who could to leave, and those who stayed to boycott the city Railroad Company. Ida saw the success of the boycott, and asserted, â€Å"the appeal to the white man’s pocket has ever been more effectual than all appeals ever made to his conscience.† (Klots, 42) Her numerous editorials on lynching received an enormous response amongst black Americans. At any rate, Wells-Barnett knew that to campaign effectively against lynching she had to reach white northerners and the northern press. She bega n lecturing throughout the Northeast. Touring brought Ida local and international fame, which lead to her invitation overseas. Wells lectured all over England, Scotland, and Wales. Her lectures were praised as, â€Å"clear, enlightening, and powerful†, and provided the British with an insight of the atrocities of lynching against blacks. (Smith, 1235) On the other hand, her efforts saw the growth of organizations pledging to fight segregation and lynching. Wells-Barnett brought forth an issue to the forefront of America. Not only did she strive to seek justice for lynchings but justice from crimes that hindered black progression. Her writing discussed other issues plaguing the black community. As a teacher employed in the Memphis School System, Ida witnessed the poor conditions in school for black children. In an unsigned article, she condemned this discrimination as well as â€Å"the poor mental and moral character† of many of her fellow educators. (Klots, 37) Wells-B arnett used her experience to attack the injustice against blacks in the school system but she also addressed the issue of the weakness of the black community that allowed such injustices to continue. Ida possessed a passionate feeling for education. She saw education as an opportunity for advancement. Ida hole outwardly disagreed with Booker T. Washington’s position on industrial education and was mortified with his implication that blacks were illiterate and immoral, until the coming of Tuskegee. (Hine, 80) Outraged by his remarks, she considered his rejection of a college education as a bitter pill. (Hine, 80) As matter of fact, She argued in an article entitled Booker T. Washington and His Critics (World Today, April 1904) regarding industrial education, This gospel of work is no new one for the Negro. It is the Souths old slavery practice in a new dress. (Hine, 198) Furthermore, she felt that industrial education limited the types of education and number of school open t o aspiring young blacks. Ida saw Washington as no better than the whites that justified their actions through lynching. In all her writings she maintained her goal of finding justice for the Negro race and in doing so she set forth in community work. .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 , .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .postImageUrl , .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 , .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185:hover , .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185:visited , .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185:active { border:0!important; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185:active , .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185 .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2cb1bcf0de90b088aad22c7592206185:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Prevalence Of Breast Cancer Among Black Women EssayHer diligent commitment to the community resulted in prominent organizations. Her work among the clubwomen for social improvement in Chicago started the formation of the Ida B. Wells Club. Through her club she established a kindergarten for black children. It was the first black womens club in Chicago with there motto stating, Helping Hand. The clubs main objective was Elevation of Women, Home, and Community. The club achieved two other outstanding achievements besides establishing the first kindergarten; it assisted in forming the first black orchestra in Chicago, and had a charter membership in the League of Cook Cou nty Clubs. The last achievement was significant because it lead to integration with the participation of other black clubs in the formally all white organization. Elizabeth L. Davis, founder of the Phyllis Wheatley Club, recognized the benefit derived by later organizations from the association and activities of the first club:From these helpful programs of club work, race unity and parliamentary drill in the mother club, have sprung all the other clubs of Chicago and the state and from the ranks of its members have come many of our club presidents, our leading business women and our leading church and social service workers. (Hine, 90)In addition to her commitment among black women she acknowledged as a whole the importance of civil rights among the Negro race as a whole. Her activity lead to her being one of the founders of the NAACP, which to this day plays a pivotal role in the civil rights activity of black Americans. Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a crusader for the black race she p ossessed a gift for expressing her ideas in a way that could stir a nation. Wells-Barnett was a woman with a strong sense of justice. She was the pioneer of the anti-lynching crusade raising her voice in protest, and writing with a fiery pen. She was direct and possessed strength during a time when this was unheard of by a woman especially a black woman. A reformer of her time, she believed Negroes had to organize themselves and fight for their independence against white oppression. She roused the white South to bitter defense and began the awakening of the conscience of a nation. Through her campaign, writings, and agitation she raised crucial questions about the future of black Americans. Today we as black Americans do not rally against oppression like those that came before us. Gone are the days when we organized together, today we live in a society that does not want to get involved as a whole. What we fail to realize is that there is strength in numbers and that we must not los e sight of the struggles that went on before us that granted our civil rights. Sure, gone are the days of Jim Crow and even though there is not a movement that will define this generation it is important to realize that the fight for equality is never over. Biographies

Thoreau Essays (2172 words) - Civil Disobedience,

Thoreau English Henry David Thoreau The Great Conservationist, Visionary, and Humanist He spent his life in voluntary poverty, enthralled by the study of nature. Two years, in the prime of his life, were spent living in a shack in the woods near a pond. Who would choose a life like this? Henry David Thoreau did, and he enjoyed it. Who was Henry David Thoreau, what did he do, and what did others think of his work? Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817 (Thoreau 96), on his grandmother's farm. Thoreau, who was of French-Huguenot and Scottish-Quaker ancestry, was baptized as David Henry Thoreau, but at the age of twenty he legally changed his name to Henry David. Thoreau was raised with his older sister Helen, older brother John, and younger sister Sophia (Derleth 1) in genteel poverty (The 1995 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia 1). It quickly became evident that Thoreau was interested in literature and writing. At a young age he began to show interest writing, and he wrote his first essay, The Seasons, at the tender age of ten, while attending Concord Academy (Derleth 4). In 1833, at the age of sixteen, Henry David was accepted to Harvard University, but his parents could not afford the cost of tuition so his sister, Helen, who had begun to teach, and his aunts offered to help. With the assistance of his family and the beneficiary funds of Harvard he went to Cambridge in August 1833 and entered Harvard on September first. He [Thoreau] stood close to the top of his class, but he went his own way too much to reach the top (5). In December 1835, Thoreau decided to leave Harvard and attempt to earn a living by teaching, but that only lasted about a month and a half (8). He returned to college in the fall of 1836 and graduated on August 16, 1837 (12). Thoreau's years at Harvard University gave him one great gift, an introduction to the world of books. Upon his return from college, Thoreau's family found him to be less likely to accept opinions as facts, more argumentative, and inordinately prone to shock people with his own independent and unconventional opinions. During this time he discovered his secret desire to be a poet (Derleth 14), but most of all he wanted to live with freedom to think and act as he wished. Immediately after graduation from Harvard, Henry David applied for a teaching position at the public school in Concord and was accepted. However, he refused to flog children as punishment. He opted instead to deliver moral lectures. This was looked down upon by the community, and a committee was asked to review the situation. They decided that the lectures were not ample punishment, so they ordered Thoreau to flog recalcitrant students. With utter contempt he lined up six children after school that day, flogged them, and handed in his resignation, because he felt that physical punishment should have no part in education (Derleth 15). In 1837 Henry David began to write his Journal (16). It started out as a literary notebook, but later developed into a work of art. In it Thoreau record his thoughts and discoveries about nature (The 1995 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia 1). Later that same year, his sister, Helen, introduced him to Lucy Jackson Brown, who just happened to be Ralph Waldo Emerson's sister-in-law. She read his Journal, and seeing many of the same thoughts as Emerson himself had expressed, she told Emerson of Thoreau. Emerson asked that Thoreau be brought to his home for a meeting, and they quickly became friends (Derleth 18). On April 11, 1838, not long after their first meeting Thoreau, with Emerson's help, delivered his first lecture, Society (21). Ralph Waldo Emerson was probably the single most portentous person in Henry David Thoreau's life. From 1841 to 1843 and again between 1847 and 1848 Thoreau lived as a member of Emerson's household, and during this time he came to know Bronson Alcott, Margaret Fuller, and many other members of the Transcendental Club (Thoreau 696). On August 31, 1839 Henry David and his elder brother, John, left Concord on a boat trip down the Concord