God's will or free will?

Jesus taught us that our fate is God's will, and that there is not hair on our head that we can change without Him determining that it should be so.

Nonetheless without an element of freewill the whole concept of salvation, or for that matter damnation, is meaningless. If we have no influence over our own thoughts and deeds, then we have no responsibility for them and it is absurd to suggest that we might be judged upon them.

In short, God gives us freewill to determine the extent of our commitment to Him. He directs us but does not compel us. At some point in our lives we all receive the sign, but it is down to us to act upon it.

Let me put it a different way. Yesterday my Church held its traditional Harvest Supper & Quiz. Ordinarily I am Quizmaster. And yet for some reason I completely forgot about it and failed to turn up, leaving my Pastor to pick up the pieces at short notice.

Was it God's will that I should neglect my duty and let everybody down? Or am I just a forgetful pillock? Discuss.