Biblical WorldView

It's been two weeks since I've gotten on here. Thanks to all our friends posting comments and sending us email. Remember to use screen names and make one up for yourself, so we know who's leaving us messages!

As for what we're doing in Thailand. What we know so far is that we'll be spending two weeks in one orphanage in Chiang Rai. And the rest of the time we'll be in Chiang Mai doing orphanage work, art projects with the kids, and whatever else we think up. BearHunter has a relative in Thailand which we might get to visit...that would be supercool.

Last week's lecture topic was biblical worldview. The Scriptures show a view that God is seen in everything he has created. He is always with us. And so we don't need to "make holy" activities in our lives by making sure we have some worship before it or talk about God there or pray, etc. Instead our focus is on finding God in whatever we are doing. What is God doing on your sports team? What is he doing at the place where you work? Everything you do is sacred. The things we thought were secular activites are important to God still and He wants you to be aware of Him while you're doing it. This idea I agree with and I've heard taught back home in my church.

The previous week however was more controversial. What are you thoughts on this: God chose to limit his powers in order to have relationship with people. We see this in Philippians 2. Did that shedding of powers include living within our timeframe, such that he does not "know" the exact future of our lives. He has plans and purposes for us, but doesn't necessarily know what we will choose. The future is not already set in stone. What do you think? I'd never heard this idea before. It explains and agrees with some things. But at the same time was rather disconcerting because it made God seem smaller and less able to answer my prayers. I'd like to hear any thoughts on this...looking for truth not just arguments for their own sake. :) Have a great day

Dorm and cookies

This photo of the students' dorm CallaLily took while exercising some "creativity" with her new digital camera.

Thought for the day: cooking and measuring is not universal. I, CallaLily am on kitchen duty twice a week. We often bake cookes for "supper" which is around 9pm and consists of sweet munchies and hot drinks like milo (NZ rendition of hot chocolate). While baking these cookies, I'm reading from a local cookbook. It asks for ingredients that I've never heard of like brown syrup (a molasses type of liquid). And it requires ingredients by weight. So 200grams of butter instead of X number of cups. When I was measuring a gravy powder, the recipe called for 400grams of powder. But no where on the tin did it indicate how much volume of powder makes a gram! Luckily, the staff has a chart in one kitchen binder with some common weights of various dry ingredients so I took a middle range of powdery things and chose 110grams per cup volume. And it the gravy turned out all right in the end.

Here's a kiwiism for you. What is an "ankle biter?" The answer is not an insect or animal, but an annoying child! Figure that one out. How about this one "Good on ya"? that means congratulations in kiwi. Kiwi is the name for anything from New Zealand: the fruit, the birds, the people, and the local slang.

Good night. Tomorrow we're off an more adventures and creative activities.

AND BIG NEWS: we found out that our last two months we'll be in Thailand! Yippee.

Cape Reinga Pix

Here we are at Cape Reinga, on top of New Zealand. There's no one on the computers right now, so I'm taking advantage and trying to upload as many pictures as I can!

Our first book report is due on Tuesday. BearHunter is trying to finish his second book report, just to be done early. But CallaLily, the procrastinator, is finishing her book tonight (Sunday here).

The weather has turned rainy every other day or so. However it's always warm and almost muggy feeling. Even in the morning, when we attend the REQUIRED 7AM breakfast (that's whether or not you're eating you have to be there, for the "fellowship"), the weather is perfect outside for a t-shirt and sandals. At night it gets almost too warm in our room, because we shut the windows to keep the mosquitoes out.

CallaLily put a massage appointment schedule up for people to sign on. Then found out that the room she was using will be taken for the next two weeks by some family guests. So we'll be hauling a table down to various dorm rooms for these appointments! Not ideal. At least the table isn't too heavy.

Bye for now...