Essay 3
In “Offensive Play”, Malcolm Gladwell talks about the football players’ brain traumas acquired during theirs carriers. Gladwell mentions Kyle Turley, a former football player from N.F.L., who suffers brain problems. The author describes Turley’s concussion during one game in St. Louis, in 2003. Turley explains, “that it is impossible for an offensive lineman to do his job without “using his head”. The position calls for the player to begin in a crouch and then collide with the opposing lineman when the ball is snapped. Helmet-to-helmet contact is inevitable.” Turley believes that the real problem for football players lies in getting their heads hit over and over again during their carriers.
The author demonstrates through Ann McKee and Bennet Omalu‘s studies, both researchers of C.T.E (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) related to athletes, that the brain trauma, is a consequence of injury. McKee explains that “The stained tissue of Alzheimer’s patients typically shows the two trademarks of the disease-distinctive patterns of the proteins beta-amyloid and tau. Beta-amyloid is thought to lay the groundwork for dementia. Tau marks the critical second stage of the disease: it is the protein that steadily builds up in brain cells, shutting them down and ultimately killing them.” In McKee and Omalu’s researcher, brain of most of boxers, lineman, and linebackers had abnormal quantity of tau protein.
The author also mentions Kevin Guskiewicz, responsible for University’s Sports Concussion Research Program, that developed a system called HITS to measure the intensity of head collisions. The system captures through six sensors placed inside the players‘ helmet, the location and intensity measuring every hit in “gs“. Guskiewicz explains that, “if you drove your car into a wall at twenty-five miles per hour and you were not wearing your seat belt, the force of your head hitting the windshield would be around 100 gs.” Guskiewicz gives as example, a measure of forty-five minutes of football team’s practice at University of North Carolina. A running back player had received 79 gs and 60 gs in his helmet among others; it is like he had two car accidents in that day. The Hits system estimates that one lineman can gets his head hit a thousand times during one season. Robert Cantu, a concussion specialist, argues that if taken in account that a player starts playing at high school level, following college, and professional carrier, he can get hit eighteen thousand times.
The author argues how different are dog fighting and football? He makes a parallel between the football fans and dogfight fans. In dog fighting, the dogs’ suffering is not taken in account. The passion of the owner of the dogs moves this event with no morality or consideration. In football, the fan’s love for football players, with their courage and grit, and nothing else - neither considerations of science nor those morality - can compete with the destructive power of that love.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Ethnography Rough Draft
I am working on introduction and conclusion………
Facilities
Grace Gospel Church is located at 271 Sharps Lot Road in Swansea, Massachusetts in a huge area. Right on the main entrance there is a guard where a sign is showing that the chapel, gym, fields, bookstore, and NECA (New England Christian Academy) offices are in the back of the area. On the right side of the main entrance there is a beige two-store building where are running the NEBI (New England Bible Institute), some classes for regular school children, a playground, and a parking lot for this building. Driving toward the back of the area you will reach a huge parking lot, where you always can find a spot to park your car, and the church building. A beige building is in front of the parking lot area. Right in the center of the building is the church main entrance. Crossing the glass’ doors you will be in the foyer where you can find information about the church’s activities and access three different areas. On the left side , you can access the field court used for sport activities, but also for evangelism. Right in the front, you can access the bookstore, and the stairs to the second floor. In the bookstore, you can buy excellent books, sermon CDs, and certainly a great variety of bibles. On the second floor there are classrooms that are used for regular school children during the week, and mother’s room during the service, the pastors’ offices, bathrooms, and a room used for both Portuguese simultaneous translations and control of the sound and video. On the right side you can access the temple where there are around three hundred comfortable seats distributed in three blocks. Right in front is the altar, which is always decorated with flowers in the front and a big empty cross on the back. The pulpit is in the center, musical instruments are on the left side, and the baptism tank is on the right side. On the back left side, there is the care minister. Right across the pulpit, on the back of the temple, there is a hallway where on the left side there is one room, on the right side bathrooms, and on the end a cafeteria.
Pastors
The team of pastors is composed by Gerald Martel, J.L. Ownes, Poolin, Kyle DeGagne, Morgan Creany, and Gilson DaSilva. Gerald Martel is the senior pastor. He has been the main pastor of Grace Gospel Church for thirty-one years, since he founded the church. Pastor Ownes is in charge of in-reach minister. Pastor Kyle takes care the youth minister. Morgan Creany is a director of NEBI (New England Bible Institute) and Pastor Gilson DaSilva is in charge of the praise minister.
Communion Preparation
The elements for communion are prepared in the cafeteria. The women’s minister takes care of them. New little plastics cups, bags with little crackers, round aluminum trays that contain one removable grill with several round holes, round aluminum covers, grape juice, gloves, and towel paper. This removable grill makes easier the washing process after they are used. After the hands are washed, and gloves are donned the process begins. One team pours grape juice into each and every little plastic cup. Another one places carefully one little cracker inside another little plastic cup. In sequence, each little container(cup) filled with grape juice is deposited into the container that was filled with a little cracker. The next step is to place both containers into one hole on the rounded aluminum tray. Finally, they close the aluminum trays.
Those procedures are carefully followed in order to keep all the elements free from contamination.
Praise minister preparation
People from praise minister arrive early to set up all the instruments. They greet each other with happiness and exchange encouraging words before the practice. Guitars, electric guitars, microphones, piano, and drums are carefully prepared and tested. Everything is checked before the service. “Could you please adjust my microphone sounds?“ the singer asks to the person in control of adjustment the microphones. When all the instruments are set up, they make a circle holding hands and pray. They are ready now, to start the praising practice. All the songs are pre-chosen by the person in charge of praise ministry. They start singing all the songs with love and enthusiasm. The songs start invading the whole church that yet still empty. After all the problems are solved the praise ministry is read.
People coming in
The head usher, Kevin places a fresh cup of water on the pulpit for Pastor Martel. Two big screens are hanging from the ceiling of the pulpit. They are turned on before the praise ministry practice. People, who are coming in, can read information about the church and facilities such as nursery mother’s room, family room, nursery for walking to three years old, Sunday school for ages three to twelve, among others.
While people from the first service are leaving, people for the second service start coming in.
Four people from the welcome team stay on the main entrance door to welcome people. They are lovely and kindly welcome the crowd. Each one receives from the welcome team a folder with information about the church, church activities, schedule, among others. In each row, are placed two ushers. One is assigned to receive and ask people how many seats they need, and another, after receive the answer about the seat numbers by hand signs, find it, and lead people to their seats. Five minutes before the service a countdown clock appears on the screens. Exactly at 10:30 a.m. the second service start.
The service
The praise ministry, leaded by Pastor Gilson, start singing. Simultaneously, the lyrics for the songs appear on the screens. Amazing songs invade the whole church. Some people sing while another only claps. Other, singing and clapping enthusiastically. Because, today it is a special service, when they celebrate communion (the church celebrates the communion every first Sunday of the month), the church can enjoy the Grace Gospel Church’s choir. Every choir member dresses in white clothing with blue details. The choir usually make a presentation on communion’s day and special dates.
When the praise is done, one presbytery opens the service praying and giving welcome to the church. A special welcome is given to the first time visitors. They are requested to raise one hand to be identified by the welcome team. The first time visitors receive a package with a pen, a letter with information about the church, one sermon’s CD with Pastor Martel’s message, a card to be filled out requesting information from the new visitor and a white field where they can request prayers. The church collect those cards back during the offering time(the first time visitors deposit the cards into the offering basket).
The communion
Right after, Pastor Martel starts talking about the communion. Simultaneously, the ushers (two for each block of chairs, one in each side of the row) takes care of the round trays with the elements for communion. They start from the front to the back of the church. The trays start in one side of the block, and each one who participates in communion takes two cups(bread and wine), passing the tray over the row until reach another side where there is another usher. He takes the tray and gives to the first person on the next row. This process continues until it reaches the last row of chairs.
The big screen shows a passage from 1 Corinthians 11: 27:28: “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup”. The pastor tells the church: “Each one of you make a reflection about himself before take the communion“. After some minutes of silence, pastor Martel used another text from 1 Corinthians 11: 23:25: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said: “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” After read those words pastor Martel invited the church to eat the bread. Continuing with the procedure, the pastor reads the following text: “In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”; and again the pastor invited the church to drink the cup. Immediately, the ushers started taking the empty cups to discard them.
The offering
It is time for the offering. The pastor uses the text of Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasures is, there your hearts will be also”. Pastor Martel makes some reflections about the text. When his is done, one singer steps up and begins to sing a sweet song. The ushers repeat the same process done during the offering time, but now using offering baskets.
The Sermon
The sermon’s title chosen by Pastor Martel is: “There is no place like home”. The bible’s text used is Philippians 3:17-21: “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they like his glorious body”. (I have to explain why I used bold and underline characters on the above text. I have learned that every time that Christian refers to God, Savior, Lord, or even using pronoun He, or Him they use capital letter. They do that to point a difference between the real God ( Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and others gods.)
After a brilliant preaching, that catches everyone’s attention, Pastor Martel makes an invitation for those who are not Christian. He says: ”If anyone here who does not have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and wants to do that right now, please come forward to the pulpit and I will pray for you”. (Three people went to the pulpit.) He blesses the church and closes the service.
Facilities
Grace Gospel Church is located at 271 Sharps Lot Road in Swansea, Massachusetts in a huge area. Right on the main entrance there is a guard where a sign is showing that the chapel, gym, fields, bookstore, and NECA (New England Christian Academy) offices are in the back of the area. On the right side of the main entrance there is a beige two-store building where are running the NEBI (New England Bible Institute), some classes for regular school children, a playground, and a parking lot for this building. Driving toward the back of the area you will reach a huge parking lot, where you always can find a spot to park your car, and the church building. A beige building is in front of the parking lot area. Right in the center of the building is the church main entrance. Crossing the glass’ doors you will be in the foyer where you can find information about the church’s activities and access three different areas. On the left side , you can access the field court used for sport activities, but also for evangelism. Right in the front, you can access the bookstore, and the stairs to the second floor. In the bookstore, you can buy excellent books, sermon CDs, and certainly a great variety of bibles. On the second floor there are classrooms that are used for regular school children during the week, and mother’s room during the service, the pastors’ offices, bathrooms, and a room used for both Portuguese simultaneous translations and control of the sound and video. On the right side you can access the temple where there are around three hundred comfortable seats distributed in three blocks. Right in front is the altar, which is always decorated with flowers in the front and a big empty cross on the back. The pulpit is in the center, musical instruments are on the left side, and the baptism tank is on the right side. On the back left side, there is the care minister. Right across the pulpit, on the back of the temple, there is a hallway where on the left side there is one room, on the right side bathrooms, and on the end a cafeteria.
Pastors
The team of pastors is composed by Gerald Martel, J.L. Ownes, Poolin, Kyle DeGagne, Morgan Creany, and Gilson DaSilva. Gerald Martel is the senior pastor. He has been the main pastor of Grace Gospel Church for thirty-one years, since he founded the church. Pastor Ownes is in charge of in-reach minister. Pastor Kyle takes care the youth minister. Morgan Creany is a director of NEBI (New England Bible Institute) and Pastor Gilson DaSilva is in charge of the praise minister.
Communion Preparation
The elements for communion are prepared in the cafeteria. The women’s minister takes care of them. New little plastics cups, bags with little crackers, round aluminum trays that contain one removable grill with several round holes, round aluminum covers, grape juice, gloves, and towel paper. This removable grill makes easier the washing process after they are used. After the hands are washed, and gloves are donned the process begins. One team pours grape juice into each and every little plastic cup. Another one places carefully one little cracker inside another little plastic cup. In sequence, each little container(cup) filled with grape juice is deposited into the container that was filled with a little cracker. The next step is to place both containers into one hole on the rounded aluminum tray. Finally, they close the aluminum trays.
Those procedures are carefully followed in order to keep all the elements free from contamination.
Praise minister preparation
People from praise minister arrive early to set up all the instruments. They greet each other with happiness and exchange encouraging words before the practice. Guitars, electric guitars, microphones, piano, and drums are carefully prepared and tested. Everything is checked before the service. “Could you please adjust my microphone sounds?“ the singer asks to the person in control of adjustment the microphones. When all the instruments are set up, they make a circle holding hands and pray. They are ready now, to start the praising practice. All the songs are pre-chosen by the person in charge of praise ministry. They start singing all the songs with love and enthusiasm. The songs start invading the whole church that yet still empty. After all the problems are solved the praise ministry is read.
People coming in
The head usher, Kevin places a fresh cup of water on the pulpit for Pastor Martel. Two big screens are hanging from the ceiling of the pulpit. They are turned on before the praise ministry practice. People, who are coming in, can read information about the church and facilities such as nursery mother’s room, family room, nursery for walking to three years old, Sunday school for ages three to twelve, among others.
While people from the first service are leaving, people for the second service start coming in.
Four people from the welcome team stay on the main entrance door to welcome people. They are lovely and kindly welcome the crowd. Each one receives from the welcome team a folder with information about the church, church activities, schedule, among others. In each row, are placed two ushers. One is assigned to receive and ask people how many seats they need, and another, after receive the answer about the seat numbers by hand signs, find it, and lead people to their seats. Five minutes before the service a countdown clock appears on the screens. Exactly at 10:30 a.m. the second service start.
The service
The praise ministry, leaded by Pastor Gilson, start singing. Simultaneously, the lyrics for the songs appear on the screens. Amazing songs invade the whole church. Some people sing while another only claps. Other, singing and clapping enthusiastically. Because, today it is a special service, when they celebrate communion (the church celebrates the communion every first Sunday of the month), the church can enjoy the Grace Gospel Church’s choir. Every choir member dresses in white clothing with blue details. The choir usually make a presentation on communion’s day and special dates.
When the praise is done, one presbytery opens the service praying and giving welcome to the church. A special welcome is given to the first time visitors. They are requested to raise one hand to be identified by the welcome team. The first time visitors receive a package with a pen, a letter with information about the church, one sermon’s CD with Pastor Martel’s message, a card to be filled out requesting information from the new visitor and a white field where they can request prayers. The church collect those cards back during the offering time(the first time visitors deposit the cards into the offering basket).
The communion
Right after, Pastor Martel starts talking about the communion. Simultaneously, the ushers (two for each block of chairs, one in each side of the row) takes care of the round trays with the elements for communion. They start from the front to the back of the church. The trays start in one side of the block, and each one who participates in communion takes two cups(bread and wine), passing the tray over the row until reach another side where there is another usher. He takes the tray and gives to the first person on the next row. This process continues until it reaches the last row of chairs.
The big screen shows a passage from 1 Corinthians 11: 27:28: “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup”. The pastor tells the church: “Each one of you make a reflection about himself before take the communion“. After some minutes of silence, pastor Martel used another text from 1 Corinthians 11: 23:25: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said: “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” After read those words pastor Martel invited the church to eat the bread. Continuing with the procedure, the pastor reads the following text: “In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”; and again the pastor invited the church to drink the cup. Immediately, the ushers started taking the empty cups to discard them.
The offering
It is time for the offering. The pastor uses the text of Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasures is, there your hearts will be also”. Pastor Martel makes some reflections about the text. When his is done, one singer steps up and begins to sing a sweet song. The ushers repeat the same process done during the offering time, but now using offering baskets.
The Sermon
The sermon’s title chosen by Pastor Martel is: “There is no place like home”. The bible’s text used is Philippians 3:17-21: “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they like his glorious body”. (I have to explain why I used bold and underline characters on the above text. I have learned that every time that Christian refers to God, Savior, Lord, or even using pronoun He, or Him they use capital letter. They do that to point a difference between the real God ( Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and others gods.)
After a brilliant preaching, that catches everyone’s attention, Pastor Martel makes an invitation for those who are not Christian. He says: ”If anyone here who does not have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and wants to do that right now, please come forward to the pulpit and I will pray for you”. (Three people went to the pulpit.) He blesses the church and closes the service.
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