My thoughts on philosophy, language learning, photography, theology, and life in general. All are welcome! I hope my random ramblings can somehow improve your life. I'm really only writing for my own benefit, as a journal of sorts. Hope you enjoy.
But, I'm travelling so I'm going to talk about it.
I'm visiting Korea. It's lots of fun so far and I'm getting back my fluency in Korean quite well (I think). This time around I'm in a class with a bunch of foreign students and some Americans, but fortunately the Americans I've made friends with are at least trying to use Korean most of the time. Of course when we talk about certain topics we swap easily back and forth from English to Korean. It's been quite pleasant.
Last night, I rode the subway to Dongdaemun (동대문). There's a huge old gate there, unfortunately under construction but I took some fisheye-lens photos of it. We also walked around through one of the large markets (시장) there. I found where the fabric market is, because Michelle really wants to go there so I made sure I knew where to find it. I also went back to Shinchon (신촌) to see if I could find some of the places I had been before. Found a bar that I went to before to practice Korean, but it was completely empty even at 9:45p on a Friday night! We walked around that whole district for hours and hours, just looking at all the stores and bars and shops etc. It was nice though I eventually got tired of walking. I've already gotten lots of practice in and I've already improved. I'm not sure what I'm going to do this weekend, I have lots of things to do: study, dinner, walk around more, etc. etc. etc.
Here are some of the fisheye lens photos I took while out:
Sorry this is late but I have really been slacking when it comes to blog work lately. Due to a lack of entries and a lack of interest this is the final edition of the Faith and Philosophy Blog Carnival. I have had a good time, and seen some interesting blogs. However, all good things come to an end and this is it for my foray into the Blog Carnival hosting world. I may some day get involved in another blog carnival, but that's not even on the horizon yet.
I am going to start a new series (well, technically not a series) of posts about thoughts I have while out running. I've already talked about my thoughts while running. But, I'd like to make it a consistent category of posts. Mainly because my thoughts while running are pretty random.
Let's start with this thought:
I recently (today) read a great blog entry from Evidence Unseen about the discussion between Calvinism and Arminianism. I've blogged about and thought about this topic before and this entry has only strengthened my confidence in my view that Calvinism/Reformed Theology (C/RT) is a poor view of what the Bible really teaches. I'm not saying I have all the answers, I'm just convinced that we do actually have true free will, and it is much easier to reconcile free will with sovereignty than it is to reconcile predestination with free will. Also, despite some indications to the contrary, the Arminian view is more biblically sound and verifiable than I've read in the past. Here are just a few examples (taken from that previous link): 2 Peter 3:9 key phrase, "not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." In the C/RT view, how can we reconcile God not wanting any to perish but He creates (presumably) millions upon billions of people that will perish without God. Why would a loving God create people that He knows He will not choose to take to heaven. More verses: John 15:10; Joshua 24:15; John 3:18, obviously, God wants people to choose. If there's no such thing as free will there's also no such thing as sin, unless God is choosing or making people sin (which is impossible, Isaiah 6:3, and many other verses).
One last point on this issue (for now). A friend of mine that is a staunch C/RTheologian, said that God is 100% sovereign, and that Adam and Eve were the only free moral agents, everyone since the fall/initial sin is a slave to sin. Now there's still a problem... If God is truly 100% sovereign, that means he made Adam and Eve with the plan that they would sin. So God is responsible for their sin also. It was in His plan all along. They weren't really free moral agents to do what they willed, because God had already planned that they would sin. All of this, and more, leads me to say that C/RT has the more difficult issue, both biblically and philosophically, to show how God can predestine everything and yet teach us to choose/believe, and judge us based on those choices.
On to less weighty thoughts! I want to write at least two open letters. I often see "open letters" talked about on blogs and other websites and I want to write at least two. One, to atheists--well really to theists as well--that in discussions, we need to first discuss definitions of what we're to discuss before we discuss God, creation, biogenesis, etc. The second and the one I was thinking about tonight as I ran was an open letter to all runners (I won't write all my thoughts out in this entry but this is my start):
Dear Fellow Runners,
Please try to throw off the shackles of your predisposition and prejudice and TAKE OFF YOUR FOOT-COFFINS! Pardon the barefooter parlance, but "foot-coffins" are shoes. I know it's tough. When I first heard of the idea I was a bit sceptical. But really I promise, you will like it. Sure it might hurt a bit in different areas than when you run with your coffins on. But I promise you will eventually grow to love the freedom and comfort, yes comfort that comes when you free your piggies. I'm not saying that you must forever go barefoot. In fact I'm really only encouraging you to try it. I've not been running barefoot everywhere all the time since I started, but I'll tell you, my favorite "shoes" is when I'm not wearing shoes at all.
I won't lie, I recently restarted distance running training and tried to jump into it after a long break completely barefoot and I wasn't comfortable. Since I need to train, and completely barefoot wasn't a viable option at the distances I need to run, I've been wearing my huaraches. If you can't get around it, I recommend that if you cannot (because of whatever reason) go completely barefoot, try New Balance Minimus or Merrell's Barefoot line. I personally run in Merrell Barefoot Trail Run shoes because I'm forced to by military regulations and they're pretty good, but just not as good as my huaraches, and I even prefer barefoot to my huaraches.
A few caveats: if you're planning or working on a PR in an upcoming race--that you're already pretty far along in you training for--don't switch. If you're in an environment where the temperatures reach dangerous levels (though it is possible, I don't feel the danger is worth the risk). If you struggle with real health issues like diabetes or some other significant health issue that affects your foot sensitivity (keep in mind I'm not a doctor, and I don't take any responsibility for your health). Also, a word of caution and the reason I say hold off if you're working towards a PR or some other significant race, go slow. I'm talking painfully slow. I've heard some barefoot running teachers say only run one mile at a time for a couple weeks, and only add one mile a week for months. Go slow, and immediately you'll feel the benefits, but if you go too fast and too far too soon, you run the risk of hurting yourself and you won't be able to enjoy it.
So do it, go out there, take off your shoes, and go run. Set your piggies free!
Well, I definitely didn't keep up with my goals for 2013:
Read through the Bible cover-to-cover and post about it on Facebook
Read 50 books throughout the year
Train for and complete at least a half ironman triathlon
Yeah I didn't do any of those! I only read a few hundred pages of the Bible, I don't remember exactly where I left off, but I'll definitely be restarting that goal in 2014. I've never really read through cover-to-cover, but I would still like to complete this goal sooner rather than later I just need to take more time to read. Speaking of, I didn't finish fifty books throughout 2013 either. I only got through about twelve, not too bad considering I probably read enough with my classes to amount to probably thirty small to moderate size books. I didn't train for a tri at all! I did some running and I would be ready for the Okinawa marathon in February, but now that I'm going to be in Korea from late January to late February, I'm not going to be able to do it. I am trying to find a half-marathon while I'm in Korea. If I can find one near where I'll be, I'll try to register for it. So there you have it folks, I'm just like the vast majority of westerners in that I failed at all my resolutions. Oh well, there's always next year right?
On that note my next year's goals are going to be a bit more realistic:
Read through the Bible cover-to-cover
Read at least two more books throughout the year than I did in 2013
#3 I haven't had as many guest posts as I would like and my attempts to build this into a cooperative blog haven't panned out at all, perhaps someday.
#4 I've already talked about some of my upcoming events/plans so I won't repeat myself.
I have been able to complete another editing project with Steven Specht though it hasn't been published yet. I didn't spend any time on my dad's work, but that's a much bigger project and I'm having problems digging into that work. I have had a good year blogging and I've really enjoyed the interactions foster through blogging and Google+. I've had seventy-eight entries this year (seventy-nine after this one), and my pageviews have steadily risen over time with an all-time high of 2,000+ in December, I'm over 22,000 for the total views since I started way back in May 2007 (though I really have only been blogging regularly since June 2012). I am a bit proud of the work I done with this blog and I will continue to work on it for many years to come.
I'm discontinuing the Faith and Philosophy blog carnival though; there have been very few entries the last couple months and I feel like it's run its course. There will be only one more edition though I still don't have any entries for it. I didn't blog in Korean hardly at all, I think I only had two entries, it was just too difficult and time consuming. I did post a digital portfolio for my work on my education degree and my future career plans, but it is far from complete. I'm much more excited about my (planned) second career than I am about my current one.
Have a good night and a blessed new year!
I've posted pictures of the aquarium before but this is my favorite
