Gas vs. Electric Handheld Blower (Paper #4, ENGL 1101)

Lawn mowers can mulch leaves into the lawn, but they leave behind messy swathes. Rakes pick up almost every leaf, but they are painstaking and pain making. Electric blowers are simple in function, but they are not very efficient on larger lawns. Gas blowers require the most maintenance, but they have far larger power capacities. When I began removing leaves from lawns as part of my handyman business, I realized that I had to make a choice between these options. I narrowed it down to electric and gas handheld blower models. After starting out with a used Weed-Eater brand electric blower, I determined that it was prudent to invest in an Echo brand gas blower. In an attempt to explain why I made the switch, I would like to compare several categories of strengths and weaknesses in each; they are usability, ergonomics, sound, and effectiveness.

The Weed-Eater electric blower I started out with was very easy to operate. In order to start moving leaves, all I needed was an outlet, an extension cord, and the blower. As simple as that sounds, it did pose difficulties. With power supplies located only on our porches and in our garage, it was an uphill battle trying to reach the extremities of our property. I had to link multiple extension cords together in order to span the 300-400 ft “back forty.” I ended up having to tie the extension cords together because the plugs pulled apart every time I got close to the end of the cord reach. Storing the extension cords was also a disaster. Unraveling the pile of spaghetti every time I needed to clean up some leaves tried my patience sorely. There was no easy way to manage the power cords.

Persepolis (Ethics of Leadership Reflective Paper)

Since the first English publication in 2003, Persepolis has stood almost as an invention among books. The first of its kind, a comic novel, it is itself a novelty. Marjane Satrapi exposes the story of her childhood, beginning in 1979 when she was ten, and moves forward to her eventual departure for America at age fourteen. During the intervening four years, wars and revolts revolutionized her world. Many factors came into play and forced her to deal with reality beyond her years. Hers was a culture and a circumstance far different from our own. I would like to examine an important difference and two similarities between Iran of the past and America of today: social classes, views of education, and religious natures.

Early on in the book, Marji’s maid, Mehri, comes to her for help. Mehri has a suitor, the next door neighbor’s son Hossein, and she wishes to write letters to him. However, she cannot write, and so she convinces Marji to transcribe letters for her as she pretends to be Marji’s sister. Word gets around and eventually comes back to Marji’s father, Ebi, who does not like the idea at all. Ebi immediately walks next door and confronts Hossein with the truth that Mehri is only pretending to be his daughter but is in reality his maid. Hossein rejects Mehri, surrenders all correspondence, and terminates the relationship.

Scarce Resources (Ethics of Leadership Reflective Paper)

Someone has said that we live in a finite world as humans with infinite wants. That presents a problem. The problem is further compounded when we realize that the wants we have can be broken down into smaller components, called needs. The prompt asks for a decision on the process of scarce resource allocation in “a hospital setting where there are limited resources available to treat patients who are seriously ill. There are short supplies of medicine, doctors, nurses, and very expensive, highly-sophisticated, diagnostic equipment.”

I do not think that there is a set-in-stone procedure that will work for this entire setting. I think each resource has to be dealt with individually and allocated accordingly. For example, I do not think you can spread the nurses and equipment over exactly identical areas because nurses are far more numerous. Therefore, the resources cannot be distributed by formulas because neither three patients to one resource nor two of resource A to one of resource B is a functional equation. There has to be another standard.

The Fourth Commandment (Ethics of Leadership Reflective Paper)

I am a Christian. The word Christian derives from the Koine Greek word Χριστός (Christόs). Essentially, to be a Christian is to be a little Christ. Christ, when He descended to the earth as God Incarnate, fully God and yet inexplicably and simultaneously fully human, fulfilled all the biblical law as per Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (emphasis added). Now that the law has been fulfilled in Christ, the elect saints receive the benefits. Romans 8:1-4 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (emphasis added). Although Christ has fulfilled the law and I am no longer condemned because I cannot, I have been regenerated and made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit and so now, it is my desire, in addition to my duty, to obey God’s moral law.

The fourth moral law is to honor the Sabbath day (now Sunday) and keep it holy by refraining from common labor on that day. Because I am under obligation to keep the God’s law, I am under obligation to refrain from labor on Sundays. Every Sunday I have to make a decision about what I am going to do with my time. Because, as a Christian, I hold the commandment of God supreme over any instruction of man, I choose to neither work nor study on the Lord’s day. I have six other days of the week to pour into academia, and it is enough. I also have those same six days to arrange a work schedule within; that is enough. I am convinced of this truth to the point that I do not fear to lose my job over it. Because I hold the moral law of God to be the highest standard in my life and the measurement by which I distinguish right from wrong, every week I choose to keep every Sunday holy to my God. I do so by refusing to allow common weekly labor to encroach on the one day each week I can devote to delighting in Him through worship, in Scripture (preached, taught, read, and studied), prayer, singing, fellowship, and the ordinances (baptism and communion).

Pastor (Paper #3, ENGL 1101)

What Makes A Pastor? 

I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual Georgia Assembly of Confessional Baptists pastoral conference. For three days straight, nearly twenty pastors from various other Reformed Baptist churches from around Georgia, and even one from Tennessee, gathered for fellowship, prayer, and worship. During this period, four pastors each preached a sermon, directed toward the other pastors, detailing various aspects of the pastoral ministry. I aspire to a future pastoral ministry, and those sermons hit home. Since the conference, they have prompted me to consider seriously the pastor’s exact identity. I would like to explain the three crucial relationships that define who the pastor is: his relationship to God, his relationship to himself, and his relationship to his congregation.

The pastor is a man who prizes his relationship with the Lord before and above all else. Victor Harris, assistant professor and extension specialist in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences at the University of Florida, states, “Effective communication is critical to successful relationships.” It is imperative that the pastor lead his congregation by modeling for them a worthy example of dedication to communion with God through consistent prayer and Scripture reading. Pastor Tim McGehee has said, “The best kinds of pastors are those who lead by example.” Because his relationship with the Lord sets the tone for his congregation, a true pastor must live as a pastor by growing in his knowledge of God and not merely preach as a pastor.

Homeschoolers (Paper #2, ENGL 1101)

Dear Homeschoolers,

Congratulations on your acceptance to Middle Georgia State College! Is it not an amazing feeling finally to be finished with the admissions process? My name is Josiah Chin-A-Young, and I am writing this as a freshman in my first semester English Composition I class. I have not been at MGSC for very long, but I have been busy. Life has been crazy, especially during the first few weeks of school. Everything was so new and unfamiliar. I would like to explain several things I have found that might be a help toward finding the way in college. Let us look at the Academic Resource Center, note-taking skills, Club Rush and intramural sports, and the Counseling Center.

The Academic Resource Center is a fantastic service available to students at Middle Georgia State College. Amy Carter, our Student Life Program Coordinator, recommended the ARC as “the best place to start” and commented, “Those people know what they are talking about.” Group study rooms, provided by the ARC, are a great way for homeschooled students to adjust to the collaborative college community. “The rooms all have whiteboards and some have computer terminals for group work. The rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis for study groups of two or more” (MSC “ARC Services”). The ARC also provides students with peer tutors who can work with them one-on-one in a wide variety of subject areas including, but not limited to, Math, English, History, Economics, Communication, and Public Service (MSC “ARC Staff”).

Conflict Over Conflict (Ethics of Leadership Reflective Paper)

This past Friday evening, I went over to a friend’s house to play a group board game, Settlers of Catan. After playing the game, most of the people packed up and left. I, however, stayed after for several hours and talked with the hosting couple, ... and .... Over the course of the conversation, we discussed relationships extensively. I made the comment that it is not possible to have a deep, healthy relationship without conflict. ... disagreed, saying that his parents never had any conflicts in all the time he was at home.

After a couple shots back and forth about the conflicting views, we realized that we were defining the term conflict differently. I meant conflict to have a general definition, meaning a simple difference of opinions, no matter how small. Any discrepancy between perspectives equated to a conflict; a conflict was just the area in which A did not exactly match B. ...'s premise for disagreement, on the other hand, was an assumption that conflict only meant a resolute decision not to acquiesce to the wishes, intents, or opinions of another: a stubbornness that would strain, or perhaps debilitate, the relationship.

Hurricane Isaac (Paper #1, ENGL 1101)

Ochsner Board of Directors: 

..., my friend and ... Manager for Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, recently experienced the force of Hurricane Isaac firsthand. On August 25, ... said all eyes were on Isaac as it gathered strength, organized power, and prepared for landfall. As the storm’s trajectory swung from Florida in the east toward the Louisiana coast in the west, the hospital began gearing up for violent weather. Midday on Monday the 27th, the administrative officials determined that the hospital would assemble staff Team A that evening (Team A rode the storm out on the job, and Team B was post-storm relief).

At 11:00 p.m., the administrators summoned ... with the rest of Team A and initiated the lockdown process. They distributed identification armbands to each arriving individual and then assigned the staff 12-hour-shift work schedules and rooms. Matters became complicated, however, when the armband printer malfunctioned. Hurricane Isaac made landfall early on August 30th, mere hours after Hurricane Katrina’s seventh anniversary. At 2:30 a.m., Ochsner Medical Center lost power, and the backup generators kicked into high gear.

Reflective Paper on "The Allegory of the Cave" by Plato (Ethics of Leadership)

Nobody wants to be a fool. The only way to escape foolishness is to pursue wisdom, and so each of us, in one way or another whether we realize it or not, seeks to find wisdom. However, we do not all have the same concept of wisdom and so we chase after it in different ways peculiar to our view. Plato believes in the existence of absolute truth and calls it the “essential Form of Goodness” (231). He hopes that exposing us to this Form of Goodness, this pure truth, will straighten out our view of life and give us a new way to live. For Plato, wisdom is an accurate understanding, one based on our own personal experience, of the “essential Form of Goodness” that produces in us a revitalized life built on our change of perspective.

Plato acknowledges that his understanding of absolute truth is limited, but he still believes in its existence. He states, “Heaven knows whether it is true; but this, at any rate, is how it appears to me” (231). Here we can see a basic philosophy that truth can exist regardless of our knowledge of it. Just because he thinks his reasoning to be correct does not mean that it is. This is why he advocates the seeking of wisdom; a complete comprehension of the “essential Form of Goodness” is always beyond our grasp yet we should absorb every bit of it that we can so our lives will be more and more closely oriented to that truth. Maturity is the ability to view truth “as it is in itself in its own domain” (230). Plato sees this truth objectively; he knows that he cannot influence or change it. His opinion of the truth may be in error but this does not affect the truth itself.

Lowes Scholarship Essay

At Lowe’s, we believe that helping to build our communities is just as important as helping our customers build their homes. How have you helped to build your community? What lasting improvements have you made that you are proud of?

I have had the opportunity to help build both lives and homes, to reach out to those I have known as well as those I have not known. I believe that people who look for chances to exercise their abilities and then do so are the ones who will make the biggest impact in society. I have taken the initiative by seizing opportunities for leadership and service in my church, community, and work environment.

My local church has been a big source of avenues for service. I had the opportunity to lead my youth group under the supervision of our assistant pastor for six months through a study on how to study the Bible on your own. During this first opportunity for public leadership, I became more skilled at oral communication and overcame my fear of speaking in front of people. I have also been able to be involved in First Friday, an outreach group at my church. On the first Friday of each month, we go to the streets of downtown Macon in order to witness the gospel to those we meet. On these outings, I am learning to connect with people from various backgrounds and to empathize with their struggles in life.

In my community, I have served as the leader and counselor for 15-25 third graders in Good News Club, a ministry program for first through fifth graders at a local elementary school. While working with these children, I discovered how to respect people, regardless of their appearance, for their individual personalities and talents. Over the past three years, I have written the lessons for and led a weekly Bible study for a group of high school and college age young men. While we have progressed through four books of the Bible, I have been improving my study and presentation skills in order to bring lessons that reveal areas for improvement in all of our lives and solutions that will bring about those changes.

My work experience has also provided opportunities for me in the areas of leadership and independence. After building my own bedroom and its furniture at age fifteen, I ventured out as an entrepreneur. Because of my reputation for low cost and personable service, one man hired me to repair the damage from a ruptured water line in his master bath and repaint the exterior of his house. I was also able to put down laminate wood flooring in the office and two bedrooms of a gentleman who saw my ability to take on new tasks and still provide quality work.

Throughout my high school career, I have proven my dedication to putting others first through church involvement, community leadership, and work experience. First, my church participation has shown my desire to reach out to those around me. Second, I have demonstrated leadership and initiative in my local community. Finally, through my work experiences, I have learned to understand interpersonal relationships and work diligently without supervision.

Bible Study

Process Essay

The way in which we view the world around us, our worldview, determines who we are and how we act. Our culture and ethnic background imparts to us a large part of the way we think and act. Our parents teach us during our most formative years and train us to respect their values and principles, many of which were instilled in them when they were children. The two most important traits to pass on to your children are the belief that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God and the ability to learn it on their own. The world over, people study the Bible in many different ways; but, I believe that there are three critical elements to any endeavors in the Word of God: preparation for study, time in the text, and application of what you learn.

Before you can dig into the words of Scripture, you must spiritually prepare your mind and physically ready your materials. One of the biggest hindrances to studying the Bible for many people is a “lack” of time; the first thing you must do in order to study the Bible is set aside time specifically for study. It is also helpful if the atmosphere is quiet and free from distraction, this allows you to focus on the Word and not the world. In order to begin your study, you must decide what exactly you are going to study; it might be, for example: a character, a topic, or a passage. Lastly, prior to beginning your excursion in exegesis you must pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the enlightenment that only He can provide.

The next step is actual study. In studying a passage of Scripture, one of the best things you can do to introduce yourself to it is read it straight through repeatedly. As you read, you will begin to get a survey of the area you are reading; general subject movements and emphases will become more apparent to the observant mind. Once this begins to happen, you are ready to start dividing the text into smaller parts; if you are studying an entire book of the Bible then you will probably divide it into major segments, sections of about a chapter or two, and then paragraphs. One of the things that will aid you the most in your organizational efforts is the ability to notice key words: words which have significant meaning in the text and are often repeated. Lastly, cross-referencing is an excellent way to build your knowledge of Scripture and your understanding of how it interrelates.

After you have prepared yourself for study and analyzed the text before you, it is time to apply what you have learned. Application always, always begins with prayer; the power to improve in Christ-likeness does not reside within you but comes from the Holy Spirit. Scripture commands us to self-examine ourselves with accuracy in order to identify areas of weakness and strength. As the Word of God, which is sharp as a two-edged sword, divides right from wrong within us, we must repent of our sin and return to the ways of the Lord our God. We can also encourage other believer both with what we learn from the text and with how we see the Spirit molding us into God's image. In closing, we must teach others to do as we have so that they can learn to study the Word for themselves as well.

No matter what approach you take for examining archaic etymologies or for feeling out general text patterns, you must spend time preparing, studying, and then applying in order to be changed by your studies in the Scriptures. You need to set aside quiet time to spend with the Lord and to entreat the Spirit for enlightenment as to the meaning of the text. The text must be studied carefully and meticulously so that you can be sure that what you conclude is truth from God. Lastly, repentance – a complete change of direction – must occur as the Word enlightens you with a greater understanding of the sin in your life. Studying the Bible is not hard and the learning curve is very gradual, so why not dig into the words your Creator spoke to you?

Faithful

Definition Essay

Have you ever perused an essay or scanned a paragraph and then realized that you hadn't comprehended what you just read? Many words, although familiar and common to us, never make their way into our conscious thoughts to be explored in depth. Religious words in particular are often talked about but never explained because church-raised people take them for granted and never search them out. A person's character can be described in a multitude of ways that are either positive or negative. Let's examine the meaning of the word faithful by learning similar words, by looking at some definitions and synonyms, and by painting a few illustrations.

The term faithful has many synonyms which, by discernment of the differences, can shed some light on what it means. The word loyal carries the connotation of continuing in your allegiances despite temptations to stray. Constant is also similar to faithful, but it indicates an enduring strength of emotional attachment to someone or something although promises and vows may not be of consequence. Also, staunch “suggests fortitude and resolution in adherence and imperviousness to influences that would weaken it” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Steadfast, too, implies a firm and unswerving constance in love, allegiance, or conviction. Lastly, resolute hints at a decided course of adherence to a decision or goal.

To be sure, these are all things which desribe words similar to faithful, but what exactly does that word mean? Faithful means to hold steadfastly to those with whom you have allegiances; it's a lot like the word loyal. It can also mean to fulfill your duties and complete your promises in a conscientious manner. In addition, faithful can also refer to the great level of assurance which comes from people who believe in the value of their word. Finally, faithfulness is the admirable character trait of holding tightly to the truth, maintaining a method of action, or staying with a particular person.

And now, let's look at some of the history, antonyms, and examples or illustrations of the word faithful. Our English word faithful finds one of its roots in the archaic Latin word fidēlis which means faith, truth, or belief. A short list of antonyms for the word faithful would probably include: fickle, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, and untrue. The sentence “he was able to sculpt a very faithful replica of Caesar's bust” is an illustration of how you might use faithful in everyday language. In addition, many people describe the 50^th anniversary of a couple as a manifestation of their faithful union to one another over such a long period of time. Lastly, faithful is often used to describe God's commitment to His promises and the relationship which believers are privileged to share with Him.

In closing, we've looked at similar words, some definitions, and a few examples of the uses which have helped us to understand better what the word faithful truly means. We were able to clarify the differences between faithfulness and several of its synonyms in order to gain a fuller understanding of its various facets. Also, we broke out the dictionaries and examined the detailed definitions of the term and the settings in which it would be an appropriate vocable. Thirdly, we looked at the etymology, antonyms, and ideal usage situations for the word faithful. The thought of having to remain faithful to something can be an uncomfortable thought to some; how do your react to the word?

Revised GE-Ronald Reagan Scholarship Essay

After getting a couple of second opinions, I decided that I needed to revamp my essay, so here it is:

Before he became America’s 40th President, Ronald Reagan pursued leadership roles to inspire and advocate for those around him. Describe how your leadership and service has made a positive difference in your school, in your community, in your family and/or on the job, and how it will continue to make a difference in college and beyond.




 I believe that I must have a defining character and a consistent dedication to my beliefs and values in order to stand out against the massive tide of humanity. I have learned how to faithfully carry out my goals as I watched a church elder work his way back up to walking three miles every day after a major open-heart surgery. I have seen leadership exemplified in a twice-retired electrical engineer who took me under his wing and taught me much of what I know about handyman work. His wife showed me the true meaning of service as she overcame illness in order to make food for our family while my mom has battled breast cancer. From these examples, I have been taught the dedication to leadership and service that I have modeled in my local community, work experience, and planned future.

My local church has been the source of three main avenues of service. I had the opportunity to lead my youth group through a study on how to study the Bible for yourself for six months under the supervision of our assistant pastor. I have also been able to be involved in First Friday, which is an outreach group at my church. Through our evangelism efforts on the first Friday of each month, I have learned to connect with people from various backgrounds. Over the past three years, I have written the lessons for and led a weekly Bible study for a group of high school and college age young men. As we have progressed through four different books, I have improved my study and presentation skills in order to bring lessons that reveal areas for improvement in all of our lives and solutions that will bring about those changes.

My work experience has also provided many opportunities for me in the areas of leadership and independence. My former employer continued to seek me out with job openings for a full year because of my diligent work ethic after I left work at Robins Air Force Base Commissary. Beginning with building my own bedroom and its furniture at age fifteen, I then ventured out as an entrepreneur. For one of our deacons, I prepared and excavated the ground for a concrete pad for his mobile home. We also landscaped his front yard with flowerbeds and new sod. Because of my reputation for low cost and personable service, one man hired me to repair the damage from a ruptured water line in his master bath and repaint the exterior of his house. Lastly, I was able to put down laminate wood flooring in the office and two bedrooms of a gentleman who saw my ability to take on new tasks and provide quality work.

In closing, I plan to continue my leadership and service in college and even beyond that. I anticipate leading other independent Bible studies when I reach college in order to gain more experience teaching and to provide an outlet through which I can share with others what I am learning. Personally, I look forward to the examples and influences that my professors will provide me with so that I can grow in my own maturity. At college, I want to major in Biblical Studies so that I can train people to find saving fulfillment in their Creator God. After graduate schooling in seminary, I plan to either obtain a pastorate or teach Bible at a college in a foreign country so that their natives can learn to lead their own people.

Throughout my high school career, I have proven my dedication to putting others first in the ways I have stepped forward in my community, expanded my work experience, and planned for the future. First, the community around me has been changed as I have found ways to employ the gift of leadership that the Lord blessed me with. Second, my work experience has taught me to understand interpersonal relationships and to work diligently without supervision. Finally, if I am given the privilege of receiving this scholarship, I intend to continue to develop my leadership skills as I prepare for my future career.

GE-Ronald Reagan Foundation Scholarship Essay

This posting is no longer current, please see the updated version: Revised GE-Ronald Reagan Scholarship Essay.

On The Integration Of Electronics

Classification Essay

All of us have had startling, life-altering experiences, but have you ever noticed those changes which just seem to grow into our lives? Have you ever contemplated broad-sweeping modifications to the way in which the majority of humanity interacts and even exists? If you have, how many of those changes were simply ingenious tweaks to pre-existent concepts and how few were completely innovative? In addition, what fully innovative ideas have been thoroughly dynamic throughout their entire history? Electronics are being integrated into our methods of transportation, the ways in which we live, and the means by which we connect.

 Over the last thirty years, developers have carefully introduced electronic travel conveniences to the public. Today, cars, planes, trains, and buses all rely on electronics in order to run their engines and in some cases, such as the airplane's, manipulate the trajectory. Consumer demand has also brought vacation destination research within the grasp of electronics as resorts and attractions try to get their names out and in circulation. Added to that, the digital camera has been developed in order for users to capture precious memories without the headache of film transportation and constant printing. Lastly, the most powerful change which electronics has wrought in travel life is the creation of global positioning satellites, otherwise known as GPS's.

Second, electronics have comprehensively reworked the personal lives of many individuals. The majority of appliances used in everyday life – such as the microwave, oven, and coffee maker – are now made with integrated electronics which are used to control their functions. Many people today turn to techy banking; cash is going out of style and plastic is marching in. Also, the schooling of many individuals has been revamped by the growth of technology, for example: degrees can be earned without ever seeing your professors face to face and many homeschooled students are trained using computer software. In addition, modern entertainment has been swamped by the phenomenal influx of electronic devices: TVs, iPods, and video games just to name a few.

Thirdly, today's social transfer has been constantly blasted to new heights by the incredible mushroom effect of the digital age. The desktop computer has passed its prime with the laptop and relatively new tablet pc overtaking the markets. Email has eliminated virtually all residue of old-fashioned snail-mail with its easy sorting and instant transfer. Computer networking and the internet have connected people in ways heretofore unimaginable through the use of sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and the like. Lastly, cell phones have created a level of electronic portability and functionality which is just staggering, from literally opposite sides of the planet people can connect with the press – or should I say touch – of a button.

Over time, electronics have crept into many areas of our lives including our travel, personal activities, and social interaction. First, the means by which people locomote today have been fully rethought and redesigned as technology has entered the scene. Second, the personal lives and entertainment interests of many individuals were completely changed when age-old concepts and innovative electronics were combined. Thirdly, the social interaction of much of mankind has increased exponentially as new methods have been discovered and possibilities have been created. Humanity as a whole has been forever changed by electronics; how have you been changed?

Biblical Characters

Example Essay (I wrote it, it's an example type of essay, not a fake)

There are multitudes of narrative topics in the Bible, for instance: palace treachery, prominent wars, and peculiar people. Although the Bible's predominant theme is the redemption of mankind, it also emphasizes the wickedness of man's inherent sin nature. A good number of the most sinful people in the Scriptures were royalty; they were kings or queens. Throughout the Bible, we see king after king reject the Lord and lead his subjects into gross immorality. Let's look at three evil kings in the Bible after which many would hesitate to name their children: Ahab, Rehoboam, and Saul.

Ahab was one of the worst kings described in the Bible, so bad that God gauged the wickedness of future kings by sizing them up against him. Ahab did not seek the counsel of God but chose instead to listen to his despicable wife, Jezebel. Also, as Elijah pointed out, Ahab did not follow God, “I [Elijah] have not troubled Israel, but you [Ahab] have, … because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.” Because of his great sinfulness, God punished Ahab by telling him that his offspring would be obliterated and by taking Ahab's life during a war. The last straw against Ahab was his false humility; despite what seemed to be true repentance, God left this legacy in Scripture: “Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”

Rehoboam was another terrible ruler who did not seek after God with his whole heart. He too obeyed the voice of counselors who were not wise, and, as a result, lost most of the kingdom he ruled. During the early years of his life he was a passing good king, but when he became strong, he turned his back on the God of his fore-father David. In response to Rehoboam's unfaithfulness, God brought Shishak, the current king of Egypt, up to Israel and allowed him to plunder the Jewish temple which Rehoboam was supposed to guard. Rehoboam acknowledged his sin of pride and humbled himself before the Lord, but it was yet another fickle sorrow without repentance because two verses later the author of 2 Chronicles says that he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.

Lastly, Israel's first king, Saul, was the grand epitome of a prospectively great king turned ruthless. His final demise grew out of a seed of arrogance which sprouted early in his reign: while at Gilgal preparing to retaliate against the Philistines, he disobeyed God by sacrificing burnt offerings before he was supposed to. As a result, God told Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments” and then replaced His Spirit which He had put in Saul with an evil spirit. Later on, when Saul was chasing David, God used a raid by the Philistines to hold him back from his intent to kill David. As time went by, Saul continually proved his contrition to be imitation as he went through three full cycles of trying to kill David, repenting, and then trying to kill David again.

In the Bible there are many characters; some are exemplary, but others – like Ahab, Rehoboam, and Saul – were evil in the sight of the Lord. Ahab, for instance, turned away from God and was killed by the king of Egypt in battle as punishment. Rehoboam refused the wisdom that God had provided him with and lost most of his kingdom as a consequence. Also, because Saul disobeyed God and followed his own intentions, God took away His Spirit from Saul. In the Bible, the Lord says that records of kings like these were recorded for our instruction, so let's be diligent to learn from these men how not to live our lives.