Lesson through CIU football

Last night, I crouched on the field staring the one whom I would block in the eyes, all the while watching the ball out of the corner of my sight. The ball was hiked. My muscles tenses as I crashed into the girl in front of me. It was the President's Bowl game, North vs South gals.

As I look back on that night cringing as my injured fingers type this up along with a nice bump on my head reminding my of a slight concussion, I noticed one thing that was different of this year's bowl game than in the years past.

Simply put, I noticed unity. Unity not just in teams but rather in all the gals who were on that field that night. Despite the broken bones and twisted ankles earned that night I sensed a unity. At the end of the game, with the South girls winning 16 to 0, we all circled up on one end of the field. Looking around I saw a circle of North and South girls with arms on each others shoulders creating a circle of blue and yellow, an oddly put pattern going around the circle. I smiled as I hugged the two north girls on either side of me knowing that in the end, it's just a game. The fact that we can fight against each other on field but afterward can still love each other, overwhelmed my senses.

God has blessed CIU with a unity like none other. In the end we were all God's children on that field playing a simple game. I saw no grudges, no insults, and no harsh feelings. That is awesome! I love my sisters at that school, whether they come from north or south of the Mason Dixon line. =]

Bible College Stereotypes I have picked up on

Ok, for the past eight to nine months I have been a student at Columbia International University (a bible college) several key signs of being at a bible institute have made themselves apparent. I never fully understood the stereotype that makes up bible colleges.... until now.

1) "Are you here to find your wife/husband?"

*ok, I HATE this stereotype for several reasons. Do people honestly think I am spending $23,000 a year for a glorified dating service? Really? And second, that shouldn't be the motivation for going to a bible college. What is God has your furutre spouse somewhere else in your future (like you will meet him/her at you future job/ministry) or, heaven forbid, what if God doesn't want you to get hitched? Hmmm? What then?

2) "You go to Bible college, so do you want to be a missionary?"

* I have gotten this fewer than the first one. I am wanting to be a Camp Director so Youth Ministry is my major I chose. The only bad thing about bible college where I do is that it feels like missions overseas is shoved down our throats. Missions is good, don't get me wrong.... but it is NOT for everybody! I tend to get wary of World Christian Week; a week where you can't go into the student center to check you mail or buy a coke without being ambushed by the 20-something missions agencies at their tables down there.

.........AND HERE ARE OTHER STEREOTYPES PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF CIU HAVE SHOWN........

3) "You go to bible college? You must have a boring life!"

*Ha. Haha. BWAHAHAHA! Contrary to popular belief, we bible college students know how to party (while keeping it biblical)! I mean, after all David danced before the LORD (2 Samuel 6:14) and there are several occurrences where God's people celebrated. I have gone out with the girls and guys for a night on the town (The Vista, Five Points, and Harbison Areas) for movies, smoothies, Starbucks, shopping, or a random photography adventure. Even on campus, the girls and guys (i can only speculate on what they do in their dorms) host dance parties and prank wars. So, campus life is NEVER boring.

4) "Found a man/woman yet?"

*I will refer you back to number one on this one.

will be adding more in future =]