Integrating Faith and Learning

I recently read an article that spoke about the integration of faith and learning in colleges and universities.  It was quite interesting.

The article entitled "Integrating Faith and Learning in Higher Education," by David Dockery, had some very interesting points.  I have never gone to a Christian school until I attended Montreat College last fall.  I never realized how important it is to have the integration of faith in the learning/education atmosphere.  It struck me that in Dockery's article it is mentioned that "The integration of faith and learning is at the essence of authentic Christian higher education and should be wholeheartedly implemented across the campus and across the curriculum.  This was once the goal of  almost every college in America."  Sadly, this is not the case today in the majority of colleges and universities across the United States.

Coming from a Christian College myself, I am able to see the importance of the integration of faith into learning.  I think its important to see how your faith ties into what you are learning in the classroom.  To be honest, there have been classes I have taken that I thought 'man, this class has nothing to do with God.'  Throughout the semester though, my professor slowly showed us how God and our faith in him related to that class and what we were learning.  Most colleges today do not value the integration of faith and learning.  They put an emphasis on athletics and test scores.  They push their students to be the best.  But for what?  For who?  T.S. Eliot says this about the integration of faith and learning "The purpose of a Christian education would not be merely to make men and women pious Christians: a system which aimed too rigidly at this end alone would become only obscurantist.  A Christian education must primarily teach people to be able to think in Christian categories."

The integration of faith and learning teaches students to think about topics and ideas from a Christian perspective.  I know just in my short time at Montreat my thinking has changed.  In a good way.  I think about situations and raise questions based on my beliefs.  I am able to incorporate my faith with what I am learning in the classroom.  To me that is a very valuable thing.  I am very grateful that God has provided me a way to attend a school that values the Christian faith enough to incorporate into the classroom lectures and to see it lived out everyday.

http://www.uu.edu/dockery/092000-erlc.htm

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for sharing. Thanksgiving is a time for family. Thanksgiving is a time for giving.

I usually do one of two things on Thanksgiving day. I am either up in Pittsburgh, PA with my family visiting my mom's side of the family or I am at my Grandma's house in my hometown having dinner with my extended family. Every Thanksgiving at my Grandma's house there is at least one person that would be invited that either didn't have a family to spend the holiday with or someone who just wanted to be around friends. This Thanksgiving I put into action what I had learned all these years.

A friend of mine used to go to Montreat but transferred to a Music Business school in Minnesota this fall. My friends and I of course miss her terribly. When we found out that she only had two days for Thanksgiving and couldn't go home to her family, we knew what we wanted to do. Each one of us talked to our families to make sure it would be alright if we spent the Thanksgiving with our friend. They were all okay with it. So we all bought tickets to Minnesota for Thanksgiving.

Once we got to Minnesota, we went shopping for groceries and a turkey. We decided to make Thanksgiving dinner on our own. It was quite interesting. We had alot of fun doing it though. I learned one very important lesson through all this that I wasn't expecting to learn.

While eating lots of great food and finding good sales the day after Thanksgiving, that's not what Thanksgiving is about. It's about spending quality time with family and friends. It's about sharing the holidays with those that can't be with their families. It's not about how much food you have, but about spending time with those you love.

I am so thankful for my friends and family that God has blessed me with. My family and friends have taught me this valuable lesson on what it really means to have Thanksgiving and to be thankful. This has been thus far the best Thanksgiving ever!

Lot Ministry

This Fall Montreat College hosted their first ever film festival. The festival began by the college hosting movie nights. The films included iron man, shawshank redemption along with others. The students had the option of participating in the film festival not only by attending the films and discussing them afterwards but also by creating their own film and entering it in a student film contest at the end of the week.

My friends and I decided to accept the challenge. The film had to include three things: a spatula, the line of "I wouldn't do that if I were you.", and the theme of devotion. We got to work right away. We sat down and started coming up with plots. These plots ranged from two friends having an argument to a runner trying to finish a race. It was getting late and we were running out of ideas fast. We were all tired and were coming up with crazy plots. We decided to pray. We asked God to show us what he wanted us to do with this film and how he wanted it used.

Not even five minutes later we came up with the idea to do a documentary on LOT ministry. LOT ministry is a ministry that provides breakfast to the homeless on Saturday mornings in a church parking lot. No matter how cold it is or how wet it was, these people had breakfast on Saturday mornings. This ministry is devouted to helping the homeless and showing Jesus's love to them. We contacted the man in charge and he was more than willing to come let us do a documentary on the ministry. Below is a link to see the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yUXUWIyzZo
Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives we are not able to see the hurt and need in other's lives. By going out early in the morning, and I do mean early, I was able to gain a new perspective of life. Homeless people are people too. Sometimes I am not able to get beyond the title of "homeless" to see them as people. This experience changed that.

God has called us to serve him as well as others. I Peter 4:10 says "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." This experience has changed my life for the better and has opened my eyes to see people as God sees them.

Unexpected Places

Have you ever had one of those days where you didn't know why you felt the way that you did? Nothing to pin point. You just felt blah. But when you really got down to it, you realized what was making the day so bad. Once you realized that, all you wanted to do was talk about it? That happened to me today.

I was able to sleep in so that was a blessing in and of itself. Nothing went wrong and nobody said or did anything to upset me. Towards the end of the day I began getting very irritable and cranky. Part of the problem was that I was hungry. Even after I was full, I could not shake this feeling. I had to meet with one of my classmates to go over statistic homework which I was not looking forward to simply because I hadn't done it yet.

We actually ended up not even talking about our statistics homework for the first hour we met. We had a deep meaningful conversation instead. When I found out I had to take a statistics course my initial thought was 'Why?' All I can say is that God has reasons for things. He provides for us in ways that we sometimes don't understand and we don't see.

When my classmate came in and we started talking, I needed that. As time ticked on though, I was worried and concerned about getting the homework done. I soon realized though that not only did she need to talk but I also needed to talk as well. This was God's way of providing an outlet for me. I didn't ask him to and I wasn't going to. He just showed up unexpectedly.

If I had not taken this statistic's class, I would not have had this opportunity. In the midst of our human nature of questioning 'Why' he has a rhyme and reason behind everything. The reason for being in this class I believe could just simply be to have this much needed conversation with a classmate. The thing is though: my eyes had to be open to the unexpected as well as my heart.

Slow Fade

The other day a friend of mine asked me to make a CD for her. I didn't mind. It was mostly some casting crowns songs and a few other various songs. I've heard all of these songs before. Not really thinking much about them until now that is.

Casting Crowns sings a song called Slow Fade. The lyrics are as follows:

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

What choice am I making? What choice are you making? Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we will ever have. But sometimes we don't view it like that. We put other things before God. Friends, school, activities, TV shows, etc tends to all come before God. Not intentionally though. The thing is though that the more unaware we become that we are putting these things before God, the more we are slowly fading away from him. We have to be so careful what we see and do. It only takes one time. Then the slow fade begins. The good news is that he's not fading away from us. He sees us even if we can't seem him. We are human so it is bound to happen that we will slowly fade away. But it is our responsibility to make sure that we don't fade so far away that God is just a distant image that we can no longer see.

Isn't God Funny?

Do you ever wonder where God is? Why you can't feel him? Is it me or does he seem to disappear especially on the days when we need him the most? We throw up our hands and say 'Why God Why? Where are you? Don't you know that I need you?'

Yesterday I asked these questions and many more. It was a terrible day. I didn't get enough sleep to start off with. Feelings of stress and being overwhelmed engulfed my entire being. I couldn't think straight. I was short with everybody I came into contact with. Especially my friends. I was trying to study for three tests that I had in the next three days. The last tests for those classes for the semester with the exception of the final. I also had alot on my mind that I was thinking about too. Then I realized somehow, that I had yet another test to take. I scrambled to my computer to take the test. I studied but you would not have even guessed that from my score. That pushed me over the edge. Right as I was getting ready to explode, there was a knock on my door. They were looking for my roommate. After small talk they left. Except for one. She looked me right in the eye and asked if I was okay. I snapped back with "NO I'M NOT OKAY!!" When the last word left my mouth, my eyes began to flood with liquid.

My friend came to my side to try and calm me down. I eventually calmed down and was able to get my studying done. That's all I did last night. Throughout the night I continued to ask God where he was and why hadn't he revealed himself to me. I mean, I needed him. Then this morning I realized something.

God did reveal himself to me. Not the way I wanted or even anticipated. In a way I would not think of him revealing himself. Through my friends. I believe that God can use people to comfort others. Last night the same friend that I snapped at came to my room to share the following with me: "Let nothing disturb thee, nothing affright thee; all things are passings, God never changeth! Patient sndurance attaineth to all things; who God possesseth in nothing is wanting; alone God sufficeth." She also gave me another one that read as follows: "Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm. Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm. Let all the tumult within me cease. Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace. Father, bless the work that is done and the work that is to be. Father, bless the servant that I am and the servant that I will be." I had to let those sink in for a moment or two.

Later that night I received a text message from another friend. The moment I received it was a moment that I was on the verge of tears simply because of how stressed out I was. The text was simple and its message was "I love you." Right before I went to bed I checked my email and received an email from an admissions staff. The email left me encouraged.

My point is, is that sometimes we call on God and expect him to come to us in a certain way. But he's God. He's unexpected. He gave me the encouragement and comfort I needed through my friends. Sometimes God's funny in the way he works, but he works.

Answers To Prayer

Once I got accepted to Montreat College I was really excited and felt as if a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Everything fell into place: the financial aid, scheduling, everything. This only made me more certain that this is where God wanted me.

Probably by late June early July I began to realize something. I was leaving everything and everybody I had known for 21 years and moving somewhere where I knew nobody. I hadn't a single friend at Montreat. So every morning as I got ready for my day I prayed this prayer:



" Father God, You know what I need. You know what I want. I want friends like on the show "Friends." Just a group that is close to one another and is there for one another no matter what. Father, send me the friends I need. But help me to be a friend that someone else needs. Father, I'm scared. I haven't left this town and ventured off on my own at all. You're in control. You know what is going to happen. I don't. So please Father, send me the friends that I need and that need me."



Before I left for school, someone told me not to come home until fall break because if I did, then I would want to stay home and end up coming home every weekend. I wouldn't establish myself. When I got to school I realized I wasn't going to be able to wait until fall break to go home. It was September and I was planning on going home one particular weekend. Also during that weekend, the school was doing SALT which is a ministry opportunity to get students involved in the community. That same weekend was the weekend I planned on going home. My RA at the time asked me if I wanted to go see a Shakespheare play that Friday night. My initial thought was 'Man, I want to go home.' I decided to be social and I would just go home on Saturday. The play was ok. When we got back she asked me if I would go to SALT with her the following morning. I hesitated but said yes. I was determined I could stay until fall break.



SALT went great! As we headed back to campus we got into a deep discussion. I'm not normally open to people I don't know too well. She had been going to Montreat for a good year before I came in the fall. Throughout our conversation we both found out that we both prayed for the same thing over the summer. Ever since then we have and still are very close friends.


God has blessed me with AMAZING friends. I could not ask for better friends. They are all gifts from God and answers to prayer. The best thing is that we are all different but we all bring something very unique to the group. I thank God for these girls everyday. If any of my friends are reading this: I love you and thank God for the blessing that you are in my life.

From Appalachian To Montreat

It was December of 2006.  I was graduating from my community college in May 2007 with an Associates degree in Early Childhood.  All my life everyone had told me 'You have so much potential!'  Although I didn't believe it until now.  I knew that I was supposed to go to a four year college.  The problem was, I wasn't sure where.  Everyone I worked with and had contact with had gone to Appalachian State University.  The majority of my graduating high school class went to Appalachian.  Automatically, I assumed that's where I was meant to go.  I had prayed about just going on to a four year college.  I felt God telling me to go.   So I applied to Appalachian.  

I scheduled a tour of the campus.  My boss and her family were going to take me but their little girl got sick.  My parents ended up taking me along with my sister and a family friend.  When we got there, it was 10:00 in the morning and 15 degrees outside.  No snow though.  We went on the tour and the campus was bigger than what I could have anticipated.  The dorms were co-ed which I didn't like at all.  During the tour I had a weird feeling and I wasn't quite sure what it was or where it came from. 

Through lunch, I put on a mask.  Meaning, that even though I wasn't 100% sure if that's where I was meant to go that I acted and pretended like it was.  My Mom kept telling me that she didn't have a good feeling about me going to Appalachian.  Once we left the restraunt we went over to a Christian bookstore.  It was made out of this gorgeous wood.  They sold your typical bookstore things but their specialty was in wood carvings and pictures.  There were wood plaques all over the store with Bible verses engraved in them.  My Mom called me over to where she was and pointed to a verse that read "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." -Proverbs 16:9  I took one look at it and said "Ok.  Whatever Mom."  I turned and walked away.

Two weeks passed by.  I received a letter in the mail.  The return address label read: Appalachian State University.  This was it!  My letter of freedom.  My potential would finally be reached!  All I had to do now was open the letter.  My excitement was building. I opened the envelope and took out the carefully folded letter.  As I read it, my dreams came to a hault.  I didn't get in.  They wanted me to have an additional 15 credit hours on top of the degree I would have in May.  This would not work.  It would take me twice as long to get to Appalachian.  

I was MAD at God.  All I could ask him was "Why God Why?"  It was March.  No school would be accepting applicants this late.  Throughout this whole process of when I first started to look at schools, my Mom told me to look into Montreat College.  I looked but they didn't have what I thought I needed.  So I disregarded them.  When I didn't get in to Appalachian, my Mom started talking about Montreat again.  To the point that it was annoying.  So finally, just to appease her, I made an appointment to have a campus tour of Montreat. 

We drove up to Montreat on a Saturday morning.  I was still very angry with God.  To the point that on the way up to Montreat I made a deal with him that nobody else knew about besides me and God.  I told him that if this is the school I was really meant to be at, to show me a sign.  But not just any sign.  Something white.  We pulled into the campus, and it was snowing.  I told God that didn't count because it wasn't sticking to the ground.  In my mind, nothing was going to happen.  I was still too angry with God over my rejection to Appalachian.  Montreat is much more expensive than Appalachian.  Why would I even go here for that very reason?  I muddled through the tour only answering and asking questions when necessary.  I liked the stone buildings though. Every building was built out of stone.  Even the dorms.  The tour was ending and I hadn't seen any kind of sign at all.  In my mind, this place was out.  Then it happened.  My tour guide walked us down to Lake Susan.  In the middle of the lake was a single white swan staring directly at me.  At that moment I knew.  An overwhelming peace surrounded. I knew this was it.  

A few weeks later I got a letter that had Montreat College printed on the outside envelope.  I was afraid to open the letter.  I didn't know what would be inside.  I carefully opened the envelope and took out the letter.  I opened the letter slowly, with caution like something was going to jump out at me or something.  The first line read : "CONGRATULATIONS!  You have been accepted to Montreat College."