explor8ion.com

March 20 2009 - 22:50 (Home in bed)

I'm nervous! It's hard to grasp that in less than 24 hours I'll be sleeping in a tent with the rest of the family in Mexico. So much has to happen between now and then, but that's out of our hands and in God's now.

I am nervous about the whole organization of the trip and not being in control of things. I guess that's a good thing? The kids are getting nervous too. Isn't life great when you just "jump in"?! (I like to think they'll thank us later... ;-))

March 21 2009 - 07:13 (At home, getting ready)

The day has finally arrived! Getting ready with lots of time to spare. The first group is probably almost boarding their plane.

March 21 2009 - 11:21 (Flying to LAX)

Whew! We're in the air! I get nervous flying, but having the family along helps me - I have to appear cool-headed even if I don't feel it inside. I have a funny feeling that this will be a common theme over the next 10 days.

Nothing too dramatic happened at the airport - our family breezed through security and US customs at least 10 or 15 minutes ahead of the rest of the group. We met Megan on the way to the boarding area and decided we might as well just go all the way to the boarding area and wait there for everyone else. Eventually everyone but our fearless leader, Lisette, and her family showed up. The kids were getting more and more nervous / excited as the time counted down to our boarding. Soon we were boarding and it was time to hold on for the ride!

Soteriology

The first area of study that I pursued in my search for a personal theology is the area of salvation or a soteriological study. There are two main Christian soteriological camps in America today, the Calvinist camp and the Arminian one. First we'll look into what each camp teaches and then do some in depth study on where I stand on these issues.

Calvinists hold to the 5 tenants of TULIP:

1. Total Depravity
2. Unconditional Election
3. Limited Atonement
4. Irresistible Grace
5. Perseverance of the Saints

The Arminians also have their tenants:

1. Total Depravity
2. Conditional Election
3. Unlimited Atonement
4. Resistible Grace
5. Perseverance in faith

Historically

A historical study will shed some light on exactly where the Calvinist and Arminian viewpoints come from. According to this article the Calvin vs Arminius conflict started around 431 A.D. when the Synod of Ephesus condemned the teachings of Pelagius as heretical. Augustine and Pelagius were born in 354 A.D. 

Augustine's Teachings:

My Weight Battle

Ahhh. The age old problem of personal weight management! Anyway, I've certainly struggled with my weight for ages... I grew up on a farm and had unlimited access to cookies and milk (whole milk - not skim) while I was growing up. We ate very big meals and even though I was a very active kid, I was always known as 'big guy'. I was also made to believe by my family that my extra fat meant that I was 'big boned' - even though my natural body type is very slim and tall. I have an addictive personality and to this day milk and cookies are what I turn to when I'm having a rough day or week.

Growing up I would hear comments about my weight. I was always jealous of my cousins who were slim and muscular with no big love handles. The comments about my weight hurt and to this day I have body image issues because of comments made to me when I was young. I don't believe people were trying to be mean to me, they just commented on what they saw and made jokes about it. I will never joke with anyone over their weight because I know how much hurt it causes. Many fat people joke about their own weight in order to get the comments 'over and done with' on their own terms. This way they don't have to hear it from other people. If you know someone who regularly jokes about thier own weight you know that they have problems with their weight.

Not as dumb as you may think...

http://www.gotquestions.org/questweek.html