[natedawg5280]

Originally Posted by Vespertine

We went at about 9pm or so and ordered Egyptian food I guess it was and coffe and sat around smoking Hookah's. It was the first time I'd smoked one but they were really nice. I also had a fantastic turkish coffe. We sat around for like 2 or 3 hours just chatting and smoking and drinking coffe, loved it.

I've never had the chance. I have to some time. Sounds like a wonderful night.

Originally Posted by Vesp

Anyway about half way through my sermon and as I was taking notes I accidently flicked and my pen hit my phone and drew on it a bit. I hate stuff like this and it just really irritated me so I got up and tried to get it off using water then an old toothbrush but it jsut wouldnt go so get this. I took my swiss army knife and cut out the part that I had drawn on. Someone tell me I'm not crazy.

You're pretty crazy.

Originally Posted by Vesp

Another thing I've had to think about is my position on pre-destination, I don't want to become a reductionist and look at positions on limited/unlimited atonment over much much more important things. It just interests me and I have never taken the time to properly understand why I sway to "true" calvinism over other positions and what this means I actually believe.

I've studied calvanism/arminiaism, and I can never pick a side. i'm terrible.

Originally Posted by Vesp

Lately I've also been driven to become more knowledgable. After doing a study on spiritual gifts I started thinking about where I feel God has gifted me with natural gifts and what spiritual gift/s He has given me to use in ministy. Knowledge comes to mind because I love knowing, not for the sake of just knowing but for the sake of being able to teaching and helping others to understand. I think I may have some pride issues here to be totally honest but take that away and I still believe I have a true and somewhat godly desire to teach people the bible. The thing is that I would much prefer to just understand stuff, I have trouble sometimes reading a book, although I love books, over a long period of time because I get distracted mainly because I get really excited over learning new things and understanding biblical concepts better but sometimes it seems once that excitment passes I want to jump onto something else rather than pursue a particular issue, or book for that matter, to its entirety.

Don't get me wrong, I'm also a freak when it comes to having things nice and ordered and so I will hardly ever start reading a book and not finish it because I want to have it marked in my brain as DONE and an issue that I've covered, so even if I do finish books, I sometimes just read the parts that don't interest me more as obligation and so its kind of a waste of time.

I'm probably writing more than usual because I'm hyped up on coffee and little sleep but I do like writing my thoughts down, it helps me to order them more.

Yeah, I find myself especially this year just thirsting for knowledge. I've read more books this year then ever before, and spent many hours a day on the internet just studying things. It's weird, but I take a slight bit of pride in knowing what it is I believe and think, and I like having confidence in debates and arguements, which I love having. I'm not a very good teacher though, atleast I'm not very passionate about it. That's awesome that you are. Haha you seem like you're OCD. Not hardcore, but you've got a wisp of it. I could use some coffee.

[Vespertine]

I was so crazy when I was writing those entries haha. I look at my phone with a bit missing and laugh though.

In some ways I kind of couldn't be bothered making up my mind about pre-destination until a time comes where I kind of have to answer for myself. Until then I'd prefer to avoid the argement.

I can really relate to what your saying about having pride in knowing stuff. I've kind of stuggled with pride in the past in like not wanting to be too outgoing or confident because of pride but as a result I kind of got a bit weak. God in my weakness and having a humble confidence that anything good I do is from God helped my but now I'm still kind of wary of wanting knowledge because perhaps my motives aren't right or something. I definatly want to know what it is I believe and think too.

So this morning I was awakened and asked if I wanted to go to LA, of course I was like "hell yeah" and asked when? So 9pm tonight I'm flying out to LA for the rest of the week, should be a good time. I really like going to the states even though its going to be cold that will be kind of nice. I know your laughing thinking, HA! California isn't cold! but I live in mexico where winter is like 30 degrees so coming out of a 40 degree summer (celsius btw) so it will be nice to experiance cold weather. Even in Australia I live on the Gold Coast, warm tourist city on the beach, so for me the cold is something different, even if its the cold of CA.

2 sermons away from finishing my Mars Hill Resurgence sermons then I'll start 1, 2 and 3 John. I'm going to spend the next 2 or 3 days without listening to sermons but rather finish resugence stuff today then take time to read 1, 2 and 3 John in depth for the 3rd time this year so I'm familure with the text I'm going to spend a few weeks studying.

I've pretty much got my last month here planned out now. Its insane getting ready to go home after a year in a different country, city, house and family. I'm looking foward to studying ALOT too even though I start only 20 hours after arriving home. So my next month will be like this, LA tonight until Saturday then the following week I'm going to spend going out buying stuff for Christmas and also gifts and memories for when I'm home. The week after will be mainly centered around Christmas then on the 28th a good friend is coming to stay over new years which will be fun. We are going to go to the beach, buy stuff to remember mexico ect. He will go home on the 3rd or 4th and after that I dont think I'll need to plan anything because I know I'll have hundereds of things to do as well as pack a bag thats only allowed to be 20kg (is that stupid or what?!) and start doing things for the last time.

Sweet!

[Vespertine]

Dude I think shops are starting to disappear. Today I was looking for this place that I had seen really close to me and I knew about where it was and I spent like 45 minutes walking around looking for it but couldnt find it. I asked the cop who guards a house near mine and he was like ahh yeah I've seen that place too but I cant remember where it is. Probably cause the streets and stuff here are just a mess.

Also I have been looking foward to buying this bottle of Mexican liquor called Xtunbún or something for some people for christmas and its like a really Mexican thing and I was sure I would find it so I went to this huuge liquor store and they didn't have it?!

Also I got freaked out for the first time, I was in a shopping center looking for christmas presents and this older guy starts talking to me, first I think he was friendly then I just get a wierd feeling about him and he askes me if I wanted to go some place and talk and I said no and starts asking me my name and phone number and started following me so I just took off and made sure he didn't see where I went.

LA and San Diego were good as usual, I bought a fair bit of stuff. I lost my silver ring that my dad had bought me while visiting Mexico which was to be like a "special memory" of my year here and I took it off in a Denny's bathroom to wash my hands and walked out. By the time I reailsed and came back someone had taken it. That kind of angered me and I was pretty devestated. I didn't let it get me down and I enjoyed the rest of my trip.

Been sick the last few days but have been taking it easy and I think I'm better now. One more day of sweaters and green tea should do it.

Put movies on my iPod for the first time too and am really enjoying that.

[bread man]

Dude, are you going to be in Guadalajara, San Luis Potosi, Monterrey, Mexico City, or Puebla before you leave? Comadre are playing shows in all of those cities up until the 14th with some other good bands. You should definitely check out one of those shows on the off chance you're in town for one of them. I would be so jealous if you got to go to one, it would be so much fun. Dates for the full tour;

3 Jan 2008 7:00 P
TBA (w/ the 39 steps, arse moreira) Mexico City, MEXICO
4 Jan 2008 7:00 P
NAZARIOUST ROCK HOUSE (w/ the 39 steps, arse moreira) San Luis Potosi, MEXICO
5 Jan 2008 5:00 P
EL TORO GABACHO (w/ the 39 steps, arse moreira) Monterrey, MEXICO
6 Jan 2008 7:00 P
BAR LA ZONA ( w/ the 39 steps, arse moreira) Guadalajara, MEXICO
11 Jan 2008 7:00 P
FORO ALICIA (w/ the 39 steps, arse moreira) Mexico City, MEXICO
12 Jan 2008 5:00 P
LA CIRICUA (w/ the 39 steps, arse moreira) Puebla, MEXICO
13 Jan 2008 7:00 P
TBA (w/ the 39 steps, arse moreira) Puebla, MEXICO

Anyway I guess I'll see you in like a week.

[Vespertine]

Unfortunatly I'm not traveling anymore until I go home. It would have been awesome but yeah.

In other news, I drank my own urine in the hope of avoiding being taken to jail by currupt mexican police. It didn't work but 200 pesos got rid of them. Yay, I can say I've bribed cops! The whole incident kind of left me feeling raped of dignity by this country and as a result I'm extactic about leaving it behind in only 6 days and 14 hours and 36 minutes.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year.