I am not a theologian.***

In fact, despite growing up in a conservative Christian home, attending Sunday School and AWANA on a regular basis, attending and working at a Bible camp for my entire life, and graduating from an evangelical university, I have a difficult time placing myself in one camp on most theological issues.  For a while, I have considered myself less of a Christian because I don't have the Biblical knowledge to take a stand anywhere on the continuum from Greg Boyd to John Piper.  (And, in a sense, I suppose that might be true.)

But there is a reason that I haven't found a place to anchor my feet on a theological view.  Many people seem so certain in their interpretations of the scripture.  Where does that certainty come from?

I have been following the Farewell Rob Bell drama that has been unraveling on Twitter and blog posts over the past few days.  What bothers me about both sides of these debates is the same thing that bothers me with every theological discussion I have ever witnessed.  It's the "I'm right, You're wrong" point of view that everyone seems to take, even though they are reading the same Bible, and have the same genuine interest in interpreting it correctly.

On a blog by Jason Boyett, I read the following (Note: I do not agree with his entire blog post.  However, he stated my theological frustrations well):

The truth is this: In order to be an everyone-get-saved Universalist, as Taylor claims Bell to be, you have to elevate some biblical passages and ignore (or explain away) others. Because there are definitely some passages that seem to be about eternal punishment in hell.

But...

In order to be a predestination-style, God-saves-the-elect reformed Christian -- like Taylor and Piper -- you have to elevate some biblical passages and ignore (or explain away) others. Because there are definitely some passages that seem to contradict predestination.

But...

In order to be a free-will Arminian Christian, you have to elevate some biblical passages and ignore (or explain away) others. Because there are definitely some passages that seem to confirm predestination.


Who is to say which biblical passages should be taken as more important, more correct, than others?  Do we pick the passages that are most comfortable?  The passages that make us feel like we are on the right track?  The passages that set out the path of least resistance between us and heaven?

I really don't know.  I'm not a Calvinist and I'm not an Arminianist.  Not because I'm too lazy to spend time reading my Bible, but because I just don't know how to pick and choose.  Someday, I might dig deeper, and in turn find a place to take a stance.  But for now I will live out what I feel is most important.

Love God.  Love others.  Everything else will fall into place.


*** That's right, I said it.  I am not a theologian.  Those of you who are will inevitably disagree with me on my thoughts and/or opinions in this post.  While I welcome any comments that you might have, please don't try to convert me to "your side."  As Christians, we're all on the same team here.

Life is so busy.  But I thought I'd drop by and tell you that....

... my boyfriend proposed to me tonight...

...and I'M ENGAGED!

Remember Me?

Just wanted to check in and let you know:  No, I didn't forget about you.

Student teaching has taken over most of my life.  And, in the midst of that I'm still trying to have time for some sort of a social life and relationship with my boyfriend (!!!!).

Plus, I've been sick.  First the stomach flu.  Now a cold, and possibly (probably?) pink eye.

Ugh... someday I'll be better about this... when I have fewer things to do, and much more time in which to do them.

The Great Photo Scavenger Hunt

A friend of mine is participating in The Great Photo Scavenger Hunt, and I figured I would join in on the fun.

Essentially, you just go out and take pictures (ie. don't use your archives) of whatever these words mean to you.  When you're done, post them on your blog!

No contest.  Just fun.

This is the 4th round of the game... but I figure it's better to join in late than never :)

(You can check out my friend Sara's first, second, and third lists, if you would like!)  

1. arrow

2. crushed

3. duct tape

4. hole

5. your state

6. money

7. contrast

8. western

9. nothing

10. vending machine

11. missing

12. four

13. old-fashioned

14. laundry

15. weapon

16. the letter “A”

17. puff

18. red

19. palm

20. water tower

21. game

22. wrong

23. ownership

24. label

25. toy

I started on my pictures this morning.  Then I dropped my camera, and it broke.  Whoops!  It wasn't really that big of a bummer, though, because it just meant that I had to (got to) buy a new camera today.  The new camera makes me even more excited to play the game!  Stay tuned... I'll post my pictures soon!

Busy.

When school finished up for the semester, I should have started blogging more.  Instead, I stopped completely.  I won't try to make excuses for why this happened, but I will say that this summer has been busier than I had ever expected it to be.  Good busy, fun busy... but busy, nonetheless.

What have I been busy with?  Oh, a little bit of everything.  Working about 3 days a week at a job that I love.  Catching up with friends for lunch or coffee dates.  Going to Twins games.  And, well, I've also kept myself busy with a few other things...

Being a Bridesmaid in my LONGEST Friend's Wedding

Spending Time with my Family

Enjoying Rare Best Friend Time

Hanging out with this Boy

Baseball Games.

I love Minnesota Twins baseball.  I always have, and always will.  As a young girl, I remember watching games with my Grandma, hearing her scream and yell whenever Kirby Puckett or Kent Hrbek made an amazing play.  As a fifth grader, I remember sitting in the cheap seats in left field at the Metrodome, yelling marriage proposals at the gorgeous Marty Cordova.  (At least he was gorgeous in my fifth grade mind... maybe I should take a look at pictures again sometime.)  As a freshman in college, I remember watching post-season play in my college dorm, wishing and hoping and praying for the Twins to keep advancing in the playoffs.

And now, as a 26 year old (unreal, I know), I still love them more than ever.

Several months ago, my friend Matt and I decided to get a 20 pack of  tickets to watch the Twins play this season at the beautiful Target Field.  He suggested that we each buy 2 seats, so that we could bring friends along to enjoy the games.  Though I was a bit hesitant to invest that amount of money into entertainment, I haven't regretted my decision since the season started.

We have brought several different friends to the six games we have attended so far this season.  Our schedule is filled at least through the end of the month with guests.  It is fun to bring people to enjoy the new ballpark (which we fall in love with more each time we go), and even more fun to catch up with old friends.

I am excited for more and more baseball over the next few months.  I am excited that the Twins are off to a great start, and will hopefully keep it up for the rest of the season.  And, perhaps more than anything, I am excited for the fellowship that is to come!

Summer.

I am just about a week away from finishing another semester of college.  It is my last semester of actual classes, as all that is left is student teaching in the fall.  This term is pretty much over already, actually, with only a few small assignments remaining to complete and turn in.

Then, it's summer.

Summer should be good to me this year.  Though I'll be working some, it will most likely only be one or two days a week.  So, it's looking like 3 months of play before embarking on the last 3 1/2 months of my college (well, undergraduate) career.

Because simply "playing" all summer is probably unacceptable in the eyes of my friends who don't get summer vacations, I have decided to make some goals of things that I plan to (wish to...) accomplish this summer.

Here is the beginning of my list... We'll see how this goes:

1.  Host a BBQ at my house.
2.  Go to a Saints game.
3.  Take (and pass!?) all three Praxis licensure exams.
4.  Drive to Rochester to see Eva.
5.  Send a personal letter to each of my friends who will be working at camp.
6.  Go to Canterbury Park.
7.  Get portfolio as complete as possible.
8.  Enjoy fellowship with friends at Twins games.
9.  Read at least one book by C.S. Lewis.
10.  Read as many Maud Hart Lovelace nominees as possible.
11.  Watch fireworks.
12.  Go camping.
13.  Leave the state of Minnesota.
14.  Go to the beach.
15.  Finish a quilt top.
16.  Become a runner.
17.  See Steve and Laura.
18.  Go to the Quarries.
19.  Meet Mya Kaye Dannen
20.  Write letters that are long overdue.