Many paths in life

At work I have been developing new relationships with people who are about the same age as me.

I have been learning that there are a lot of paths people take and lots of decisions people make from age 18 to 25.

Not everyone had the same goals and plans in life as I did obviously. I went to college right after high school and a lot of my friends did too. But there were a lot of other options. I feel like I did not even really consider any of the other options. I wanted to go to College and my parents wanted me to also.

One friend started working full-time immediately after high school.

Another got married.

Some people choose to take a break and just relax for a year.

Others worked two part time jobs.

While many got BAs, like myself, others got Associate degrees, double major degrees, and other specialized/advanced degrees

Some people went to trade school

There are many circumstances and different places where people are coming from.

It is really interesting to think about the life paths I did not take or even consider. I love learning about people, what they chose to do and thinking about how I can minister to them in their situation.

people are watching

We are Christ's ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you--be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20

I've always heard it said "people are watching you" so be good.

Whether you like it or not, people are watching you. You're witness is real. Even when it seems like life is usual, people are watching.

Recently I have found this to be true, bot hat work and at church, people have said things about me in conversation that was surprising. First was surprising was the Who. People whom I am not personally close with were saying things about me. Second thing that was surprising was the what. People caught on to you, your personality and your character faster than you think.

The witness aspect is real and it is was there. It was encouraging to hear the positive things people had to say about me and challenging in the ways that were negative.

Be on guard, you are an ambassador of Christ in all things you do.

The simple life

I am impressed and almost envious of the simplicity my parents were enjoying one evening.

They were reading books by the fire for four hours. While I was trapped studying for finals and writing papers, they were enjoying good books for pleasure reading! I don't remember the last time I sat down to read a good book for pleasure, all I get to read recently is for school and study.

While sitting by a fire with a book is not what i usually have in mind for a Saturday night, it did look pretty relaxing. It was nice. Simple.

Calvinism and Arminianism: History of the Debate Conclusion and Bibliography

Conclusion

The history of Calvinism and Arminianism is a very interesting one. The theological issues of Predestination and Election were not novel to John Calvin nor Jacob Arminius. The debate of “Arminianism V. Calvinism” was not ever about a real life debate between John Calvin and Jacob Arminius. In fact the two men never met. The debate is more about extreme theology taught by the followers of these two men more than what these two men actually believed. The solution is moderation. What one can learn from history is that it is best to study all Scriptures and discovery for one’s self what the solution is for these deep questions of soteriology, instead of running with one of the two options of Calvinism and Arminianism, look for middle ground. Look for what the Bible says. Look at all the theology Calvin and Arminius agree upon. It is not necessary to pick one or the other when there are flaws with both systems, neither which honestly represent either man or the Word of God completely.

Bibliograph:

McGrath, Alister E, A Life of John Calvin: A Study in the Shaping of Western Culture. Malden, Ma: Blackwell Publishing, 1990.

Steele, David., Romans: Interpretive Outline. P&R Publishing, 1989.

Tangelder, Johan D. “The Doctrine of Election.” From the Pastor's Desk. (1989 - 1993). Retrieved from http://www.reformedreflections.ca/pages/pastor-desk-index.html accessed on July 29th, 2009.

Chamberlain, Ava. “The Theology of Cruelty: A New Look at the Rise of Arminianism in Eighteenth-Century New England” HARVARDTHEOLOGICALREVIEW HTR 85:3 1992,

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MÜLLER, RICHARD A. “HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES ARMINIUS AND THE REFORMED TRADITION” WESTMINSTER THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL WTJ 70 2008: 19-48

Erickson, Millard. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983.

Elwell, Walter. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2^nd ed. Grand Rapids, Mi: Baker Academic, 2001.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zonderzan, 1994.

Williams, Michael D,”THE FIVE POINTS OF ARMINIANISM,” PRESBYTERION COVENANT SEMINARY REVIEW 30/1 (Spring 2004): 11-36

MacArthur Jr, John. “Is the Doctrine of Election Biblical?” Adapted from The Body Dynamic. (1996.) Christian Art Distributors. Retrieved from http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/GTYW02.htm accessed on March. 1st, 2010.

Godfrey, Robert. “Who Was Arminius?” Reformed Perspectives Magazine, Volume 9, Number 7, February 11 to February 17, 2007

Arminius, James. The Works of James Arminius, Vol. 1. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/arminius/works1.iv.xxv.html

Witt, William, Creation, Redemption and Grace in the Theology of Jacob Arminius" University of Notre Dame, 1993..

Jay T. Smith. “Review of several books,” JOURNAL OF THE NABPR PERSPECTIVES IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES, 336-338

Shellrude, Glen. “The Freedom of God in Mercy and Judgment: A Liberrarian Reading of Romans 9:6-29” Evangelical Quarterly EQ, Paternoster Periodicals.

Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity: The Reformation to the Present Day. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1985.

Douglas Weaver and Nathan Finn. “Youth for Calvin: Reformed Theology and Baptist Collegians.” Baptist History and Heritage, Spring 2004.Accessed on July 10, 2009, pg. 40.

Walker, Ken. "TULIP Blooming." Christianity Today 52, no. (2. February 2008): 19-19. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost(accessed August 2, 2009).

Hansen, Collin. "Young, restless, reformed : Calvinism is making a comeback--and shaking up the church." Christianity Today Sep 2006. (September 01, 2006). Christian Periodical Index, EBSCOhost (accessed August 1, 2009).