Almost Finished

One day, two finals, a church service, a six hour drive and I'll be home! The thought brings me much joy. It's hard to believe that this semester is already over.

And it's also exciting to look ahead to next semester! I pre-registered yesterday. I'll be taking Music Theory, Adolescent Psychology, New Testament Survey, English Composition, Proverbs, Baptist History, Methods of Mentoring, Methods of Teaching, and of course, Choir and Chorale. That's a class every period of every day. It should be a little more exciting than last semester. :D

I'll have one class with Caleb, actually. Proverbs will probably be our only class together ever, but hey - at least we've got one!

I also switched my major from Music to Elementary Education. This will be more practical for living and working on the mission field someday. I'm sure I'll have the opportunity (and it may even be a necessity) to teach on the field, and this also will give me a means to work a good job here in the States if I ever need to.

I also applied for a work scholarship job (that's on campus, maintenance, kitchen, coffee shop, and whatever else they need) for next semester. There aren't any openings now, so please pray that something will open up. My first choice would naturally be the coffee shop, but I'd be happy with anything. :D

Well, I need to finish reviewing for Algebra and Personal Evangelism. I hope ya'll have a wonderful day!

A Great Week

Today has been quite eventful! Or maybe I should say, this week has been quite eventful!

Sunday evening the Champion Chorale went to Pine Bluff to sing in the new chapel. (Gospel Light has what's called a chapel ministry - where nearby churches who are struggling or dying and need help can call. Then, Champion assigns some college students to go to those places every weekend to sing, preach, teach, go soulwinning, and just build the church. Tennessee Temple had or has a ministry like this, and some of their chapels are today some of the strongest churches around Chattenooga.)

Anyways, singing was great! It was exciting to get to go somewhere and be a blessing to folks. Bro. Blunkall said today that he's working on getting more "meetings" (I dunno what you'd call it) set up for Chorale next semester. :D

This new chapel is an exciting opportunity. The church used to run four hundred, and now they're down to about fifteen. They've got great facilities (the building used to be a racquetball gym - and when they renovated they left one court set up to play on!), and all the folks are excited about Champion students coming. There were about thirty of us there last Sunday. And to top off a great service, we had a fellowship afterwards! And a Baptist fellowship always means good home-cooked food. Fried chicken, banana cream pie, chicken pot pie, cornbread, and all sorts of good stuff!

Well, after church on the way home I started feeling a little something in the back of my throat, but I didn't think much of it. Monday morning I woke up with strepp. :D Monday night I was in the ER with a 103 fever and a very sore, ulcered throat. I took a picture, but I figgered ya'll wouldn't want to see it, so I'm not gonna post it. :D

After two days of sleeping and taking Tylenol, a visit to the good Dr. Gardial, and half a bottle of numbing throat spray (not literally half a bottle - I'm exaggerating), I'm feeling much better. Praise the Lord - I did NOT want to be sick through all of finals!

Finals...it's amazing! I've finished with two classes, and have six or seven more to go. Please pray for all the college students - especially the guys who work crazy hours - especially Caleb.

I'm amazed at how fast this semester has gone. I'm thankful to God for all His blessings and protection this year.

My next entry will probably be from home...that thought brings me much joy.

This picture is the view from a mountaintop in Papua New Guinea. It grips me whenever I see it. See that farthest mountain in the center? Imagine hiking all the way to the top of that mountain - and guess what the view would be. It would be the same picture again. You could travel for months like that. Mountain, after mountain, after mountain, after mountain...each horizon, once reached, only reveals another. How many thousands of people are represented by those mountains? People who have never seen or heard anything outside the boundaries of their own culture, much less the Gospel. We've got alot of work to do.

Moving along...

Five days until I'm home!

The Champion Chorale sang in chapel today. We did "What Love." That song has got to be in my top 500 favorites.

We've had Spirit Days here today and yesterday. Yesterday was Sports Team Day, and I was able to borrow a Longhorns hoodie from a friend. Everywhere you looked you could see that beautiful burnt orange. We definitely had the majority, despite half the student body being from North Carolina. (Well, maybe not quite half, but it seems that way) I think Tar Heel Blue was probably second. It was nice to wear denim and tennis shoes!

Counting Down

Seven days until I'll be home!!! Yes!

Chapel was good today. Bro. Damion DiMedio (an Australian missionary to China) preached about pride. His text was I Tim. 3:2, about a pastor not being a "novice, lest he be lifted up with pride and fall into the condemnation of the devil." Of all the reasons God could've given why not to make a novice a pastor, the one He pointed out was pride. It was a convicting message.

And yesterday in OTS, Bro. Blunkall got to preaching about David. I've always known he was a man after God's own heart, but I always thought that meant David's heart was like God's heart. How about this - David was AFTER God's heart. He wanted to get God's heart. That's what SO many Psalms are about - the longing David had and the time David spent seeking God. Think about that one for a while...

God is good - I am so blessed.

Little Brothers

These are my adopted little brothers, Little Caleb and Joshy. I'm thoroughly enjoying them, especially when I get to work at the CDC. Little Caleb used to call me "Lee-Lee" like everybody else, but now he calls me "Sissy" or "Big Sister." I love those little guys. :D

Preacher just popped into the computer lab with a hearty, "Llllllllllllllladieeeees! Isn't that the longest 'l' sound you've ever heard? It's hard to stay on that 'l' sound!" I love his enthusiasm.

Eight days until Thanksgiving break! YAY! Caleb and Leah and I are looking forward to going home.

We don't have many more class days before finals. It's hard to believe how fast this semester is going! God has been so good.

Every day I'm amazed that I'm here. This is the third year of Champion's existence. Twenty years from now, when we look around and see the hundreds of churches started and thousands of people saved through the ministries of Champions, when we look at Hot Springs and see a school with not hundreds of students, but thousands - we'll be able to say, "Wow! And we were there in the very beginning!" We get to be a part of the beginning of a miracle.

I'm just overwhelmed I'm actually here. I still smile to myself and think, "I'm a college student. I live six hours away from home, I live in a dorm with about 125 other girls, I hear convicting/challenging preaching every day, I go to classes, I actually have homework (as opposed to all my studies being homework :D), and I eat in a cafeteria every day." Random thoughts that still baffle me...but life is good!

Have a great day!

Howdy Ya'll!

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted...

Midterms were last week, and I think I did okay. We had to sing "All Through the Night" for Music Lessons. :D It was wonderful - I loved every minute of it! :D:D

Yesterday was my first day working at the Gospel Light Child Development Center (daycare). I'll be training in all the age groups today and next week, because I'll be a substitute. Yeah! I really enjoyed it yesterday. I get to be with Little Little Brother, Joshua West, today. :D I think he's the cutest little guy ever.

I think I'm gonna do a chalk talk on Sodom and Gomorrah next Friday night.
After telling the story, I'll draw some applications about being
faithful to the Lord, or God's judgment on sin/provision for deliverance
from judgment, or keeping bad company, or something like that. I should
be able to set the blacklights up this time - which will be awesome! The
kids won't be expecting it, because I wasn't able to use those last
time.

Well, I've gotta go for now. Have a great day!

Home and Back

God is good!

I was able to go home this past weekend. Some friends from Paris were going home, so I hitched a ride with them. And my friend Anna came with me, which was great. We're not roomies, and I really enjoyed getting to spend more time with her. Actually, that was one of the best things about the trip, after getting to see Mom and Dad. :D

Anyhow, I did five loads of laundry, enjoyed Mom's good food, went for a nice long ride all over BBTI property (horses), went bus visiting, and just relaxed and enjoyed being with Mom and Dad. Nobody but my parents and the Cobbs knew I was coming, so I surprised everybody pretty good! That was fun. I don't think I've ever felt as loved as I did Friday night when I walked over to the tabernacle (they had just finished watching "The Potter's House"). With two kids clinging to my waist,
two more jumping up and down and talking a mile a minute, and between all them trying to hug everybody that's coming at me - it was fun. It's almost worth leaving BBTI, just to come back!

It was just great to see everybody. All the church family was pretty surprised too. Darla's reaction was the best! She screamed. I loved it!

It really was a nice break. And it's only five weeks now until Thanksgiving break, so my schoolwork is spaced out nicely.

I worked in the kitchen last night. It was alot of fun. I think I'd like to apply to work in there all the time next semester, maybe. It's good training for cooking for alot of people.

Tanya and I baked a cake for Alexis today, at 5:45 AM(today's her 18th b-day). Then, under cloak of darkness, Anna and Tanya and I hung streamers and balloons all over and around Lexie's bed. We had invited several other girls to come in, and at 6:40 we woke her up with the Birthday song and silly string. She loved it. :D And Tanya bought her some of her favorite snack stuff, and I got her a gift certificate for a cremice from Capachi's. It really was fun to see her wake up to all that. She's awesome.

It's neat to think about the friends I have here that are freshman, and picture us graduating together in a few years. I think college graduation will be alot more special than high school. Maybe not, but I'll find out for sure eventually! Sometimes it seems that four years will be like an eternity, but other times I marvel that midterms are next week! (You could pray for that if you think about it:)

Well, I've got some scrapbooking to do, and I get to work in the kitchen again tonight, and I think this post is too long already, so I'll sign out for now. :D

Thank you so much for your prayers!

I hope you have a great evening!

We had our second test in OT Survey today. It wasn't bad. People talk about how hard Bro. Blunkall's test are, but I don't understand that. He tells you pretty much everything that's gonna be on them, and he's very gracious with his grading. OT is my favorite class. :D

Of course, Bro. Blunkall can preach in any class, even Chorale. We're working on the song, "What Love." The first verse is about Mary pouring the perfume on Jesus, and the second verse is about Calvary. Bro. Blunkall pointed out that Mary didn't just sprinkle a few drops of the perfume, she BROKE the box. There was no chance of taking back what she gave.

May our sacrifices to the Lord of Love be given out of a heart of love, with no reserve or regret.

Have a good day!

Sunday

Last Sunday was amazing! I rode the bus before church, went to Sunday School, played my trumpet in the orchestra, sang in the choir, went to the nursing home after church to play there, got back for lunch, practiced with some others to sing in Gospel Light's Benton Chapel, left for Benton, enjoyed the service there, and then came home around 9:30.

At the end of the day, I looked back and wondered what happened. In the middle of a day FULL of "serving" the Lord, I think I somehow missed the whole point.

When you look at Mark 3:14-15, a passage describing when Christ called His disciples, it lists the reasons He did.

"And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:"

The first reason is that they should be with Him. It's way to easy to forget that. We can get so caught up in DOing that we neglect to just enjoy Him.

That's one reason I'm so thankful for my prayer partner, and chapel, and devos, and prayer meetings, etc. While it is easy to get busy here, there are also plenty of opportunities to refocus.

God is good!

Kenny

Dr. Mitchell has said several times that he believes here at Champion are some of America's finest young people. I think Kenny falls into that category.

Kenny is a freshman here at Champion. He didn't let the fact that he has cerebal palsy keep him from coming. He's been a blessing to me already - he's so quick to smile any time of day.

This past week during OT Survey, Kenny had a seizure in his legs. Later the same day, he had another one. His pain is probably far more intense than anything most of us have ever experienced.

Needless to say, he didn't make it to classes on Thursday, and I believe after resting for a day he's feeling some better. Of course, this is an ongoing thing for him, so please keep him in your prayers.

Here is what convicts me - the morning after his seizures, Kenny was singing and thanking God for his disease. Thanking God. Did ya'll catch that? THANKING God for his cerebal palsy.

"The finest young people in America..."

What a testimony.

We had our first OT Survey quiz last week. I didn't think it was too bad.

Today was kind of a long day. I don't think Tuesday is my favorite class day. :D

We had a sub in OTS the last two classes, but Brother Blunkall will be back in tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it.

Pastor Capaci and his family are in Hawaii right now, preaching at his brother-in-law's church. Brother Brett Capaci preached here Sunday AM, on "Let's Get Back to the Book."

Bro. Tony Smith preached in the evening about "The Real Raiders of the Lost Ark." I never thought so much about the story when the Philistines captured the Ark and placed it next to their god Dagon, and Dagon was basically destroyed. Bro. Smith brought out how there can only be one God in our life - He will knock down and cut off all imposters.

Well, it's dinner time, and I'm hungry! Love Ya'll!

Out or In?

I don't know how I forgot to mention this - at NYWC we had the awesome privilege of hearing Brother John Bishop speak. He was hospitalized the week of the conference, and from the continued results of his meningitis lost his sight. We were all praying for him, and that he would be released to come to NYWC.

Well, he was there. It was incredible. He spoke for about thirty minutes about the goodness of God, and then said, "I tired, is it ok if I done? I not want disappoint anyone." Wow.

A couple things he said that stuck with me:

"As long as you have an out, you're not in."
"God is always good, and God is always right."

What a testimony!

Prayer Meeting

Last night the dorm girls had a prayer meeting at 10:30. It wasn't mandantory, and I was surprised to see that pretty much all the girls were there. We were specifically praying for two things.

Ashley Unruh was a freshman here last year. During the summer, she started to have severe headaches. They were so bad she was unable to return to Champion this fall. Well, they found out that the headaches are a result of a spot on her brain. She's having more tests run today, and we're praying that the spot is gone. Ashley's brother Craig and sister Heather are Champion students also. Please pray for all of them.

And also, a student named Amber found out last week that her mom has breast cancer. Please pray for Mrs. McDonald, and for Amber too.

"God is always good, and God is always right." - Bro. John Bishop

I just have a few minutes before the computer lab closes to girls for the day. But the good news is, I'm completely caught up on typing OT Survey notes! PTL!

Brother Fredericks preached in chapel today about the Name of Jesus. His excitement about that topic reminded me of Dad, especially when he got to his lists of many names of Jesus.

His climax, after preaching for thirty minutes on the wonderful Name of Jesus, was Ps. 138:2 - "thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

His point was that so many college students will stand and shout about the power of Jesus' name, and go to class, and study for tests, yet neglect personal Bible study. It was a convicting message, for sure!

Well, I think I might go to the Gospel Light Lady Lions' volleyball match tonight. It would be fun. They played the #1 team in the state last week, and won. Go Lions!

See ya!

Class Schedule

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday -
8:45 - English Grammar
9:40 - Old Testament Survey
10:35 - College Algebra
11:30 - Chapel
12:30(theoretically - chapel usually goes a little longer) - Lunch
1:05 - Choir

Tuesday
7:50 - Fundamentals of Music
9:35 - Semi-Private Music Lessons
11:30 - Chapel
Lunch
1:05 - Champion Chorale

Thursday
7:50 - Christian Womanhood
9:35 - Winning Life Strategies
11:30 - Chapel
Lunch
1:05 - Champion Chorale

Saturday
8:05 - Personal Evangelism

There you have it. That's how my week goes. I've been to at least one of every class, and I'm enjoying them all immensely. I think OT Survey is my favorite.

One reason I like each class is the instructors. They make sure everyone understands the material, and gets all the notes down, and all that good stuff. :D And none of them are stuffy and serious, which is nice too. :D

Well, I need to go catch up on some letters. G'bye for now!

NYWC 2007

WOW! National Youth Workers' Conference was the most amazing conference I have EVER been to. I'm a little overwhelmed by everything I heard and experienced these last three days. I don't know that I've ever been in a meeting where God's presence was more visible.

Bro. Reno Likins preached Wednesday night from the story of Jonathan and David. Only, it wasn't your typical message about friendship. It was called, "A Servant's Love for a Soon Coming King." I never thought before about the specific gifts Jonathan gave to David when their "hearts were knit."

Jonathan gave David everything. And the passage says, "even to his bow." Jonathan was the mighty archer of Israel, yet he gave to David the key of his greatest strength. What a surrendur.

I'm really enjoying Gospel Light Baptist Church. There is SO much music in every service. I mean, at the very least, three or four specials every service. And the Champion Choir is awesome! We just started working on our song for Sunday - "Here I Am." Last Sunday we sang "Empower Me." That is definitely in my top 200 favorites!

Well, I need to type some notes, so I've gotta sign off for now. I'll try to write more later. Hope ya'll have a great day!

Don't Be Afraid

Yesterday was AWESOME! I think church is the highlight of the week, for sure. I got to visit with Bus 90 on Saturday, and ride Sunday morning too. It's great. I'm starting to get all the kids' names and faces together, and learning their stories. It's hard to be discouraged about your own circumstances when you work on a bus route.

Mrs. Carly (sp?) Likins taught the college ladies' Sunday School. She told us alot of practical things she learned and practiced when she was in college.

Preacher's message Sunday night was exactly what I needed - and from what I've heard today, it was what alot of people needed! He preached from the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, "Do Not Fear!"

I'm volunteering in the kitchen during NYWC. We won't be having classes, so I'll be free pretty much all afternoon (no homework).

Thanks for your prayers!

Oh, and for those who were wondering, the Third Most Spiritual Event in Buddy Blunkall's Life was his commitment to read three chapters of the Bible EVERY day, no matter what. :D

Have a great day!

Sign the Book

Today in Old Testament Survey, Brother Blunkall announced that someone had taken his stack of books for class - including his notes and Bible. So, our class today was about "The Three Most Spiritual Events in the Life of Buddy Blunkall."

The first was, of course, his salvation. The second was when he surrendured his life to God. He used this illustration:

During World War II, the Japanese absolutely WOULD NOT surrendur. Every Japanese soldier on Iwo Jima was killed, the Allies eventually gained control of the Pacific islands, and still mainland Japan would not give in. So instead of a battle that would've cost a million Allied soldiers and many more Japanese (soldiers and civilians), the US dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Then Japan was ready to talk! They realized that the Allies were a force they could not resist without being destroyed. When the leaders of Japan met to officially surrendur, one general reached to open the cover of the book containing the agreement. General MacArthur placed his hand on the cover and closed the book, saying these words. "It's unconditional. Sign the book."

What those Japanese men didn't realize was that General MacArthur had a great love for the Oriental people. The book containing the terms of surrendur (unconditional) was written by that man who loved them.

I could elaborate more, but I think ya'll understand from here. And I need to go drop off my books before getting on the bus to go to Little Rock for the IMAX theatre activity. God is good - I'm reminded every day.

Love Ya'll!

Howdy from Arkansas!

Howdy friends! I hope this blog will be a good way to keep ya'll posted on what's going on in my life.

Champion Baptist College has begun its third year of existence, and I'm thankful God has allowed me to be here and be a part of all that He is doing. I feel like my head is spinning, and at the same time I'm delirious with excitement at all the opportunities God is giving.

Although I miss my home and parents VERY much, I'm confident that God has brought me here at this time on purpose. If I wasn't absolutely sure of that, I would never have even applied for this fall.

Shortly before I came up here, a friend reminded me of the verse in II Timothy chapter one, "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have commited unto him against that day." Knowing that better young people than me have fallen, and that Bible college is not a place free of temptation, this verse has been a tremendous blessing. I'm reminded every day of the commitments I've made to the Lord in the last eight years of my life, since I've been saved; principally, the committment to serve Him every day of my life, all my life. I am persuaded, for sure, that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him!

Thank you so much for your prayers. My #1 desire for this year is that I will walk closer with my Saviour every day.

Have a great day!