Update XV: Stuck Inside of Tulsa with the Oklahoma City Blues Again

[Franzl]

I'm no theology expert, but I do know that the Swedish brand of Lutheranism is very much opposed to this "do what you want as long as you have faith" talk. God helps those who help themselves, etc.

I don't mean to imply that I treat my salvation as a "license to sin" as it were.  Instead, I should live my life as a holy and acceptable sacrifice in obedience to Jesus Christ.  I will sin, that's guaranteed, but I can learn from my wrongdoings.   That said, when I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, his blood covers all my sins, past, present, and future.  There is no longer any sin that can keep me from heaven.  Romans 8:1 says "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, to those who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."  Now, while you cannot know for certain another person's salvation level, you can get an idea from the fruit in their lives.  I may seem like the chief of sinners on the forum, and I am, but if you were to spend a week with me in real life, I would hope you would see something different.

You may hold these theological positions, but I hope you realize that it is merely one of many positions out there, for which there are also strong philosophical and Bibical arguments.

[Franzl]

I believe in limited free will.  God gives us the freedom to do as we wish, but He is ultimately in control and knows everything we will do, say, or even think before we even do it.  Yet, He works everything out for the good of those that love God and are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28 says that.

But then you're basically arguing that God himself has chosen in advance who will be saved. If salvation requires one to believe in and accept Christ as one's savior, but at the same time the choice whether or not to fulfill that requirement is "ultimately in God's control", then man has no choice but to accept heaven or hell as a result, without being able to influence this at all?

This wouldn't be a unique position, of course, just curious whether this reflects your thinking?

[Franzl]

whatever happened the $100 worth of walking gear bushie bought?

I've brought that up a couple of times only to have it ignored.

[Franzl]

I don't understand the part about God not putting you in a job to see you fail. Why would that be different the 14th time?

No, the way you succeed or fail in this job is through your own efforts.

[Franzl]

We make enough legitimate accusations against Bushie. No reason to add racism to it when he's never acted it.

[Franzl]

I wonder what the scale will say today...

It will probably have gone down 0.3 pounds, evidently the result of only taking one slice of bacon on yesterday evening's bacon double cheeseburger. Not as big a loss as one could have hoped for after such a measure, but every little bit counts.

[Franzl]

I just heard back from Aaron and she transferred me to the South Bryant Campus where I physically attended.  The lady who handles my certificate is out of the office today, but she said expect a call first thing Monday morning.

That's good to hear.

[Franzl]

Cheques still exist?

[Franzl]

Lunch time.  There was a thought we might be on the phones today, then they said next week, now I'm hearing mid-August.  Yesterday, I heard close to Labor Day.  There is no such thing as consistency in this place.  One tenured agent got canned in front of our eyes.  One gal was fired last Friday and rehired 10 minutes later...  That stuff happens around here.  It is a job that has a lot of quirks...

And it's precisely for this reason that you shouldn't be feeling secure that you have a wage to take home. You shouldn't be counting on anything long-term with this gig.

By all means, try to survive as long as you can there while you're looking for something else, but you're asking for trouble if you don't find a halfway decent job soon.