Discussions

Most of my discussions with my friends center around the latest happenings at school and in our "other" lives, like at home or at church or wherever. However, occasionally we get into discussions of politics or theology- more serious issues. I tend to mostly just listen during these discussions, occasionally interjecting my own thoughts. These primarily lead me to think about where I myself stand. Being a teenager, I don't feel that I should have fully set opinions- I think I should be open to new ideas. That's a policy I've been trying to follow for several years. But at the moment, here's where I think I stand.
My opinions on political, theological, and moral matters seem to reflect my mixed influences. For instance, my church and my family are both leaning toward the liberal end of the spectrum. However, my school and most of my friends take a more conservative standpoint on many issues. So I find myself sitting here, more liberal than most conservatives and more conservative than most liberals. I guess you'd call me either an Independent or a moderate?
I won't put down a lot of examples, but here are a few.
I believe that abortion is murder- science proves it, as well as morals. I don't really think the war in Iraq was fully justifiable by the Five Principles of a Just War. (See Jimmy Carter's article on the subject at http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0309-02.htm) I respect President Bush, and I think that he has done some good things, although there are certain decisions that I don't agree with and/or think he could improve in. I believe in the New Testament doctrine of "Love your neighbor" and "turn the other cheek", not the Old Testament "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". Above all- and this is the policy I will NOT be shaken in- I believe that GOD IS LOVE, as it says in 1 John 4:8. (This is beside the core beliefs of Christianity- that Christ died for us and was raised from the dead, that He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us and guideus always.) Therefore, all opinions I have in future will- I hope- be based on that policy of love. (See 1 Corinthians 13)

Softball, travel, and other things

Okay, so it's been a really long time, but I'm back....at least for now! I imagine that now I will be posting very sporadically until life calms down.
So what's been happening?
Well, to start off with, I've been managing softball for my school's team. I posted about it a while ago. We were just able to move outside this week, and we have been practicing intensely for our first game, which is Monday. Can't wait- I think we'll do okay, in spite of this being a historically superior team to us. I'll try to tell you the results later.
Aside from that, I'm now in two leadership-type positions. The first is that I'm leading a small discussion group for Spiritual Emphasis Week next week. Basically I just have to coordinate discussions. Not too bad...except that two girls in my group don't get along that well, as a result of a boy.........'Nough said. The other is that I am one of the leaders of an "advertising agency" for a Lit project. We have to persuade a "manufacturer"- the teacher- that our agency should get the job advertising Aqua Clara, a water. My group, up to yesterday, was not doing well, but today things started to get better....which is very, very good.
Two of my best friends' birthdays are next week so I got them a couple of birthday presents via my mom. Cathy is turning 16 on Monday, and Erik is turning 17 on Thursday. Happy Birthday to you two! Thanks for being such awesome friends!
And now for the biggest news of all. You knew, I think, that I was going to Paris and Madrid over April vacation (getting very close....) and to Italy in May? Well, now I am going to Washington, D.C. in June--all expenses paid! There is a Congressional seminar in Washington called, appropriately, the Washington Workshops. It's very expensive, but the Colonial Dames of America offer a full scholarship to a group of winners of an essay contest. My history teacher asked me to do it, I wrote the essay, and I won! It was SO COOL!!!!!
My friend Bob is off playing ice hockey in Sweden...hope he's doing well...
The class officers (of which I am one) are selling smoothies next week during SAT's.
So yeah, I think that's all the news here...hopefully I'll get on again soon...but in the meantime....
Be well, do good works, and keep in touch.