Photo Journal Walk

For my photo journal walk, I decided to walk in an area close to my house. It had just barely snowed the night before, but everything still remained frozen as I was in sub-freezing temperatures. I began to think about how another year has flown by, and that here in less than six months, I will be graduating from high school and entering the real world. I began to ponder what I will do after school is done. It is weird to think that I am in my last year of high school. I have been at Seattle Christian all my life for the full thirteen years, and it seems so crazy that in less than six months I will leave this school.
Also on my walk, I was able to reflect on how blessed I am. Sometimes I take things for granted. I am so blessed to have an awesome school, church, friends, and family. This walk gave me time to look back at everything that God has blessed me with.
By the way, during my walk I also had to think about the UW football game tonight. I'm sure you're all surprised about that. :)
Whatever happens after highschool, I hope that I will follow God's plan for my life and continue to be thankful for everything that he has blessed me with.

Positivity Project

When I was thinking how I could spread positivity I came up with a good idea. I will be in Hawaii the week we are supposed to do this assignment. I decided that on the day that I will leave Hawaii, Friday the 12th, I will write a note to the maid of our hotel room that will say something along the lines of "Thank you for all you have done this past week, it is greatly appreciated, and I hope that you have a great day!" I will need a pen and a paper to carry this out. I think that this project will help spread a positive message because many people do not acknowledge maids in their hotels, and by writing this note it will put a smile on their face and let them know that they are appreciated!

Does God Help Those Who Help Themselves?

After reading part one of Beowulf, I believe that part of the reason why Beowulf won was because of his natural strength, however, there are numerous passages in the reading that support the idea of God helping Beowulf win. For instance, Beowulf states that "Fate saves the living when they drive away death by themselves" (31). Beowulf is recalling when he killed all those monsters at sea and when he was so exhausted, God made land visible for him to see. In addition, as Grendel makes his routine appearance at Herot, it describes him as "bearing God's hatred" (34). This implies that God is opposing him, therefore taking Beowulf's side. When Beowulf beats Grendel and "...screams of the Almighty's enemy sang..." he manages to slither out of there realizing "...what it meant [t]o feud with Almighty God..." (36,37). The text mentions that his screams of pain were of the "Almighty's enemy" indicating God's support and help was given to Beowulf.

So then, if God played a big role in helping to defeat Beowulf, then does God help those who help themselves? One may question if it is God who helps you win a sports game, or if it is because of the hard work you put into it? I believe it is a little of both. I think that, for certain things, you must work for it, and prepare for it. I also believe that God helps you if you acknowledge or give credit to your Creator, by recognizing that He has provided you with your strengths and abilities.

Regarding our future and salvation, I also believe that it is both God and ourselves who control it. First off, God is all-knowing and knows what lies ahead in my future. He knew whether I would accept the gift of salvation He gave me, or reject it. When I choose to accept and devote my life to God, then I am contolling my own future. However, we must not forget that there is a second part: God is the reason that I can have salvation because of His sacrificial death for all of our sins. Ephesians 2:8 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-" (NIV). We are given the choice to follow and accept Him because He died on the cross for our sins. We cannot save ourselves. However, once we accept the gift He has given us, we must live a life that represents and follows God. We can't just talk the talk, we must walk the walk.

Personality Test

After taking the personality test I found that I was ESFJ. I am an extraverted (33%), sensing (38%), feeling (38%), and judging (33%). After taking this personality test, it suprised me that it was so accurate! I do agree with everything that it said. People who are ESFJ are caring and sympathetic, as well as cooperative. I fit well into each of those categories. I am a caring person and a good friend. Overall, I found this test to be very interesting and accurate and enjoyed looking at possible occupations.

Free Will or Predestination?

Christians have been in disagreement over the topic of free will versus predestination for many centuries and it looks as if this debate will continue to last until Christ comes back to earth again. This controversy is probably the most famous topic that is debated within the Christian religion. Both who believe in predestination and freewill claim that they have adequate information from the Bible that support their cause. Those who lean towards the predestination camp believe that God has predestined or already chosen an “elect” group of people who will be with Him in Heaven. They also believe that He has predetermined those for damnation. On the other hand, those who believe in free will believe that God has given us the choice to accept or deny Him, thus our future will be determined depending if we accept or deny Christ. Arminians, those who believe in free will, believe that we are given the choice, where as Calvinists, those who favor predestination, do not. This topic of being predestined or having your own choice, captures the attention of many eager Christians who seek out an answer they believe is correct.

But does the Bible take one side in this debate? As Christians, there are many aspects in our religion that are left unsolved. God doesn’t clearly come out and say that this is what you should do regarding this, and not do regarding that. He provides us with many commands and rules in which we are instructed to live by, but He doesn’t cover every question or detail that arises. This is why the topic of free will and predestination is so often debated. If predestination is true, then why would Christ call us to go out and evangelize to others? If God knows everything, then technically doesn’t He know who will be with Him someday in Heaven? If so, then that sounds like it supports predestination. In regards to predestination and freewill, does the Bible tend to lean more towards one side, or are there aspects of both sides that the Bible strongly supports?

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