Becoming

I borrowed this book, and it took me a good 2 weeks or more to get through it.  It was a good read, but it was 400+ pages and it took some focus for me to remember who the people were she referred to. 

It isn't something I would typically read, but it was good read that made me think about topics, life, working motherhood, politics and all kind of social issues and she went through her life to discover those topics herself.

Matthew

• Jesus family tree
• Mary & Joseph are engaged when she becomes pregnant by the Holy Spirit
• Joseph plans to divorce her secretly to not disgrace her publicly, but an angel told him in a dream "don't be afraid," Jesus will save his people from sin
• Joseph & Mary married and named the Baby Jesus
• Wise men saw a star and went to see Jesus via Herod, who wanted to know where Jesus was
• The wise men went home another way away from Herod
• In a dream, an angel told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt where they stayed until Herod died
• Herod has all baby boys <2 killed="" li="" old="" years="">
• An angel told Joseph to return to Israel once Herod had died, but Joseph was afraid of Juda because of King Archelaus, so they went to Nazareth in Galilee
• John the Baptist preached about Jesus coming, "change your hearts!"
• Joh lived in the wilderness and baptized people that came to him
• Baptize with water to show sins gone and changed, but Jesus will come and baptize with the Holy Spirit
• Jesus went to John to be baptized
• John didn't think he was worth to baptize Jesus, but Jesus said do God's will
• Jesus, led by the spirit, went to the desert for 40 days without food; then Satan tempted him (food, angels, power) but Jesus followed what is written and not Satan - then angels came and took care of him
• Jesus goes to Galilee once John is in prison
• Jesus began preaching and god some followers
• The followers Jesus spoke to come with him immediately and begin following him
• Jesus went everywhere in Galilee teaching and healing - news spread, people came for healing to Him and followed Him
• Evil has been happening to people for years
• God will comfort all, the Kingdom belongs to those who know the have spiritual need
• Jesus teaches
• Be salt and light; don't loose you and be a light to others
• Jesus didn't destroy the law, but fulfilled it - follow the law and teach others
• Not only is murder bad, but so are anger and saying bad things about others
• Befriend your enemies in court so you don't go to jail
• Adultery is wrong, but so is lust; your mind has already committed the sin
• Divorce only if woman cheats
• Be careful in our promises and don't swear an oath
• If a person asks for something, do it; don't refuse someone who asks to borrow from you
• Love your enemies
• Sun and rain come to those who do good and bad
• Be nice to all people, even evil people are nice to their friends
• Do our giving in secret
• Pray in private
• Lord's prayer
• Fast, give up eating, in secret - God will see it all and reward you; don't do it for Earthly show for people to see
• Your heart will be where your treasure is
• Your eyes are the light for your body
• You cannot serve both God and money
• God will take care of you, worrying won't
• See God's kingdom first
• Don't worry about tomorrow
• You will be judged as you judge others
• Ask and ye shall receive
• Do onto others as you want done to you
• The gate and road to hell is wide, heaven's is narrow
• Know false prophets by what they do
• Build your "house" on rock, not sand
• Jesus taught with authority, not like other teachers
• Jesus heals a sick man with a skin disease and tells him not to tell people but go to the priest and make an offering
• Jesus heals a Roman soldier's servant without going to him house; the soldier had faith Jesus could do it without going to His servant
• Jesus healed Peter's mother in law and she got up and served them
• Jesus calms a storm when his followers wake him in fear; He commands the wind and waves
• Jesus sent demons out of 2 men into pigs nearby as the demons asked, but the pigs then ran down a hill to water and drown - then the town asked Jesus to leave
• People brought a paralyzed man to Jesus on a mat; Jesus forgave him sins and teachers of the law accused him of blasphemy in their small group, but Jesus knew their thoughts and told the paralyzed man to stand up and go home
• Jesus chooses Matthew from a tax collector's booth and east with other sinners and tax collectors, not the good
• Jesus is asked why His followers don't fast like the Pharisees, but they are with Jesus; when he is taken away, they will fast
• Jesus clothes are touched by a woman who has been bleeding for 12 years and is healed; Jesus says: you are well because you believed
• Jesus brings a dead girl to life after the funeral party is thrown out
• Jesus heals 2 blind men and they run and tell people even though Jesus told them not to tell people
• Jesus healed a mute man from his demon and he could speak; Pharisees said his power is from the prince of demons
• Jesus felt sorry for the people, hurting and helpless; pray for workers to gather the harvest of people
• Jesus gave him disciples authority to drive out evil spirits and heal sickness
• Simon (Peter), Andrew (Simon's brother), James, John (James' brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (tax collector), James, Thaddaeus, Simon, Judas Iscariot
• Sent apostles out to heal freely in Jewish Israel; they were to go without money, bag, other clothes or sandals - they were to be given what they needed - if unwelcome, leave
• Apostles be careful among "wolves," you will be hated
• Don't fear people, only God, only He can destroy the soul
• Jesus must be #1 above your parents and children; true life will mean giving up our ways
• John the Baptist, from prison, sent his followers to Jesus; Jesus told his followers to tell John of the miracles
• Jesus said John the Baptist is greater than any person ever born, but still not as great as the least important in the kingdom of heaven
• People didn't like John or Jesus with their different ways (John ate and drank differently. Jesus was opposite in that he ate and drank too much and friended sinners and tax collectors.)
• Jesus tells those who don't believe it will be bad
• No one knows God without Jesus
• Jesus will give rest
• Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath; He wants kindness more than animal sacrifices
• Humans more important than sheep
• Lawful to do good on the Sabbath
• Jesus power comes from God
• If you aren't with Jesus, you are against
• Cannot be forgiven for speaking against the Holy Spirit
• Your moth speaks what is in your heart
• Your words will be used for you on judgement day as they are your responsibility
• Evil and sinful people want to see miracle signs
• When an evil spirit leave, it finds no other please; so it comes back with more - the person has more trouble than before
• True family are those who do what God wants
• Jesus used stories to teach
• Those who understand stories will be given more, some cannot understand them
• Seed fell on the ground by the road, rocks in weed and in good soil - some plans produced more than others
• Seeds are like people who hear Jesus stories:
• Seed by road: hears story but doesn't understand
• Rocky ground: hears, accepts, doesn't take deep into life
• weeds: hears, but let's worry and temptation rule
• good soil: bear fruit; hears and understands
• Man planted wheat in his field, enemy planted weeds during the night; servant asked if they should pull them, not until harvest so we don't loose wheat; then pull weeds to burn, then harvest the wheat
• Kingdom of heaven like mustard seed, small seed - big plant
• Kingdom of heave like years hidden in dough making it rise
• Seeds and weeds explained: seed planter is son of man; field is world; seed is God's children; planter is devil; harvest is end of the world; workers gathering at harvest are angels
• Man found a great treasure in the field, rehid it and sold everything to buy the field
• Kingdom of heaven is like fine pearls; when you find it, give up everything for it
• Fisherman sort out the bad fish in their catch, so will the angels at the end of the world, only it will be people
• Jesus goes to his hometown and they know his family and are skeptical of his wisdom
• Prophet is honored everywhere except his hometown; few miracles there; they had little faith
• Herod beheaded John the Baptist for Herodias' daughter who danced for Herod on his birthday - Herod liked the dancing and promised her anything in front of his guests; she asked for John's head on a platter
• Herod didn't like John, but let him live until then because people thought he was a prophet
• Jesus went to be alone at the news of John, but many followed; the followers wanted to send them away but Jesus said feed them
• Jesus blessed the 5 loaves and 2 fish and they feed 5,000 men plus women and children with 12 baskets leftover
• A touch of Jesus coat healed
• Jesus walked on water to the followers boat after praying alone
• Peter also walked on water with Jesus, but sinking began when doubt crept in and Jesus saved him
• Obey with your heart, not just your words
• Your words make you clean or unclean
• Jesus helped a non-Jewish woman because she had great faith
• Jesus heals people and people are amazed
• Jesus has people following him for 3 days and he wants to feed them before they go home; Jesus blesses the food and feeds 4,000 men plus women and children with 7 loaves of bread and a few fish, with leftovers
• Pharisees and Sadducees ask for a miracle from Jesus; Jesus says only evil and sinful ask for a sign
• Beware of teaching of Pharisees and Sadducees
• God let Peter know Jesus was Christ, not because someone taught him that, so Jesus says Peter will build the church
• Jesus tell his followers He must suffer and die; Peter says don't talk like that, but that doesn't help Jesus
• We must give our lives up to follow Jesus; the whole world means nothing if we loose our soul
• Jesus goes up a mountain with Peter, James and John talks with Moses and Elijah, a voice came down proclaiming Jesus his son and the 3 disciples were afraid
• Elijah has come and wasn't recognized and did what they wanted with Him and they will with son of man too (John the Baptist)
• Jesus tells followers He will be killed, but 3 days later He will rise
• Other pay taxes, not King's children but Jesus sent Peter to fish and the First fish would have a coin to pay taxes at the temple for Jesus and Peter
• Do not cause children to sin; remove what causes you to sin
• A shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find one lost; God doesn't want any children to be lost
• Approach people privately who have wronged you; if they don't see them, bring 1 or 2 people with you, if they still refuse tell the church and treat them like a tax collector; if they listen, they are your brother or sister again
• Divorce only if wife slept with other men
• If you can marry, you should accept the teaching about marriage
• Jesus welcomes children
• A marriage united by God should not be separated
• Forgive more than 7 time, 77 times
• A servant couldn't pay and begged time to pay, master waived debit, but the servant refused to forgive debts owed to him, so he was jailed
• Show mercy to others as you received from Jesus
• If you want to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give money to the poor; then your treasure is in heaven
• Hard for rick to go to heaven
• Low will be high; high will be low
• A vineyard hired workers at different time throughout the day, he paid each worker one coin regardless of the time they were hired, workers were angry
• Vineyard owner was good to all
• The last will be first, the first will be last
• Jesus says he will die and raise again
• A mother ask Jesus to put her sons at His right hand and left hand; they cannot for the father has prepared those for people
• Jesus came to serve others and give His life for them
• Jesus healed 2 blind men who yelled to him from the side of the road and ten they followed Jesus
• Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey while people lay out coats and branches for them to walk on; excitement (Palm Sunday)
• Jesus went to the temple, turned some tables and said the temple was a house for worship not robbers
• People came to Jesus in the temple and were healed
• Priests and teachers were angry at wonderful things and praise
• Jesus left the city to Bethany for the night before he returned to the city in the morning
• Jesus shows the power of faith, dries up a fig tree that didn't have fruit for him
• Leaders doubted Jesus authority
• Two sons don't obey their father, change ways and believe
• Farmer leases his land and sends 3 groups of people to collect his share, but all are killed
• The kingdom of heaven will be given to those who do what God wants
• A beautiful gift has been given, but if abused will be taken away
• A king threw a party (wedding feast) but people were too busy with other things to come, so everyone in the street were invited (good and bad); (King was upset some weren't dressed well) as with the kingdom of heaven, many are invited, few will come
• Pharisees ask Jesus if it is right to pay taxes; Jesus says give Cesar what is his (Cesar is on the coin) and God what is His
• You don't understand because you don't know the scriptures (Sadducees tried to trick Jesus)
• Pharisees again tried to trick Jesus; what law is the most important they ask? "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind" then "love your neighbor as you love yourself"
• Jesus asks the Pharisees a question they can't answer; they were then no longer brave enough to question Jesus
• Do what the teachers and Pharisees say, not what they do; they live for show and importance; they stop others from the true teaching, not help others
• you shouldn't call people teacher, master or Father for those titles belong to Jesus and God
• Important teachings: justice, mercy and being loyal
• Clean your inside (heart) first, then outside will truly be clean
• The temple will be destroyed, Jesus said
• Evil will grow in the world, people will stop showing love
• A time of terror will come and Judeans will run to the mountains
• Beware of false prophets and Christs
• Son of Man will appear in the sky in power and glory and trumpets will sound to send angels for the chosen people
• Earth and sky will be destroyed, Jesus words will never be destroyed
• Only God knows when Jesus will come again; people will be carrying on as usual when Jesus come
• Always be ready, you won't expect Jesus coming
• Let Jesus return to find you doing well in love
• Bridesmaids, some came prepared with extra oi, some did not for their lamps and missed the party; so always be ready for Jesus to come
• 3 servants are given bags of gold, 5, 2 and 1 - 2 servants invested and doubled the gold given to them, 1 buried it in the ground and accused the master of gathering crops he didn't plant; master threw that servant out (given different amounts based on their abilities)
• What you do for others you do fro God; what you don't do for others is also for God (what we refused for those in need)
• Jesus knows He will be handed over to His enemies the day of the Passover Feast, but after the meal to not cause a riot
• A woman put perfume of Jesus before His body's torture to prep for burial and people complained of the money wasted
• We will always have the poor, but we won't always have Jesus in the human form
• Judas received money to turn Jesus in
• Jesus eats Passover meal with disciples and tells them 1 will betray him; Judas
• Jesus broke bread as his body; shred the cup as his blood for forgiveness of sins
• Jesus tells disciples they will all stumble in faith, but I will go ahead of you to Galilee when I rise from the dead
• Jesus prays alone, disciples fall asleep 3 times; Jesus prays in body's weakness in turmoil of what He is about to face, but does with for God's will, not His own way
• Judas brings the people to Jesus and kisses Him; Jesus is arrested; a disciple cut off a high priest's servant's ear; Jesus tell him to put it away for He could have angels but must follow God's will; the followers ran away
• Jesus goes before the leaders, but they can find no reason to kill Him until He says the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of God
• Peter denies being with Jesus 3 times in the courtyard (they knew him by his talk/speaking)
• Early the next morning, Jesus is sent to die and turned over to Pilate, the governor
• Judas, realizing he turned Jesus over to death, has regret and hangs himself after trying to return the silver coins
• Priest wouldn't use coins in temple because they paid for death, but bought a field to bury the strangers who died there
• Pilate questions Jesus, but Jesus stays quiet with the accusing
• Pilate presents Jesus or Barabbas to be freed as Passover tradition; Pilate's wife sent a message not to harm innocent Jesus for she had a dream, but the people released Barabbas and Pilate washed his hands of the death of Jesus (he was holding the people responsible)
• People turned Jesus in because of jealousy
• Jesus was beaten, spat on and mocked and crucified (He heals others and can't heal himself, people said.)
• At noon, the sky fell dark for 3 hours until Jesus died "my God, my God, why have you rejected me?"
• The curtain in the temple tore in 2, earthquake, and God's people were raised from the dead
• Jesus women followers were watching from a distance
• A rich man named Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus body and placed it in a new tomb with a large rock covering it
• Mary Magdalene and Mary were sitting neat there
• Leading priests and Pharisees went to Pilate to have the tomb guarded so no one falsely proclaims He rose by stealing his body
• Mary Magdalene and Mary went to the tom day 3 and there was an earthquake and an angel that shook fear in the guards and sent the Marys to tell the followers Jesus is risen and go to Galilee
• Soldiers went to the priests with the news and priest paid the soldiers to lie that Jesus followers stole the body during the night
• Jesus sees his followers, some doubt, and He tells them to baptize and make disciples of people

Entering the Passion of Jesus

This was a great read leading up to Lent about Holy Week.  It took some focus and thinking through so much rich Jewish tradition and the stories told from multiple gospels, but was rich in understanding and explaining Holy Week.