Its hard to believe that I have less than a week left here in Oxford. I have two more papers to do this week and then I finally get to relax for a while before I travel.

One of my papers is called the "long essay". Its kind of like a term paper and I have spent about a week preparing for it. I am writing about how doctrine has formed over the years and how three theologians, John Calvin, Herman Bavinck and Carl Barth, use the scriptures in their doctrine of divine election. It is a good way to not only gain an understanding of how we have come to believe what we believe about the scriptures today, but also gives me an understanding in the freewill/predestination debate.

In my time here at Oxford I have come to really appreciate scholarship and learning for the betterment of myself rather than just trying to attain a certain GPA. I think I am appreciate school and learning a lot more when I return to the States.

On Saturday I leave for Italy for 12 days. I am traveling with a group of friends to Venice, Florence, and Rome. After that I will go to Ireland for a few days and then its back to the States. I should be back in the Chicagoland area around May 2nd.

Cheers.