Archives: Aubrey MacMillan

“So, what’s your major?”

We are all entirely too familiar with this question. It is one that may either provoke an internal eye roll or a beneficial discussion, but – either way – it is a part of our general college “getting to know you” conversation. While this is a basic question on the surface, I quickly realize that behind each simple answer (aviation, engineering, theatre, etc.), there is a story waiting to be told and plans waiting to be related. When you meet another person with the same major as you, instant friendship is built; you both find that in sharing the same interests and aspirations, you can walk through classes together and bounce thoughts off each other.

When I had this age-old conversation once again this past weekend, I thought it beneficial to share my perspective on my areas of study and what led me to choosing these.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am in my third year as an English major. When I first came to CBU, I knew that I adored stories, analytical discussion, and expressing my thoughts about literature through writing. I did not have a clear goal in mind as to what I wanted to do with these passions, but I knew that I love school and wanted to pursue an education in English. As time went on and I experienced each of my literature classes, it became so apparent to me that I am in the right field. I have gleaned so much from my professors, who have helped me to improve and to increase my passion beyond what I could have ever expected. It was through experiencing personal changes in my classes and through consulting with my professors that I decided to pursue a career in this field – namely, I want to teach at the college level. If I can someday impact another soul the way my professors here have impacted me, I count that as a success. God creates each of us uniquely to advance His Kingdom, and I am continuously finding that working toward my goals and using these passions may give Him honor.

In taking more classes and exploring other interests, I considered adding a minor that would expand my knowledge of another area and complement the work I had been pursuing. I took a hybrid film and literature course with one of my favorite professors and wound up exploding into a ball of love and enthusiasm for the subject. I began to see how, in my eyes, literature and film go hand in hand. Both studies complement each other, as they deal with the close analysis of art forms that carry a weighty cultural impact. As I began to see my passion for each subject increase my appreciation of the other, I decided to declare a film studies minor and dive right into this new area.

As this semester continues on and demands so much of me academically, I have discovered through each class exactly how much I love being able to refine my work and use it in serving the Creator. I keep learning how to view both reading and watching films as more and more of an intelligent practice. Not only do these actions offer entertainment and insight into the human mind, they reflect the glory of God through provoking narratives and various displays of humanity throughout. When reading or watching a piece of film with a Christian worldview, it becomes so edifying to see how the art forms can constantly point to the Maker and inspire us to live more fully. I believe that God loves stories, as he uses them at points throughout the Bible to demonstrate His truths, provoke action in us, and relate His glory more clearly. The very fact that He gave us an amazing written work in the form of the Bible to reveal Himself to us speaks so powerfully to me. In seeking to honor my Lord in everything that I do, I have been abundantly blessed to find that He has gifted me with a mind and passion for stories, and He is constantly showing me how that can be used to make His name great.

As I considered all of this – different majors, conversations about them, and a growing thirst for knowledge – I was reminded of how interesting it is that each individual reason for pursuing an area of study in higher education points to the vastness of thought and skill set found among fellow humans. It is astounding how many people are so multifaceted with their talents and determinations to use them throughout life. Our God truly is infinitely great and created us all so diversely so that we can glorify Him in innumerable ways. If you’re still seeking out a major to pursue, or wondering how your education might be used in a future career, remember that you have been created uniquely to honor the Creator. Whatever that looks like, pursue His Kingdom first, and be blessed in seeing how you, uniquely you, may love and honor God. I’ll leave you with a quote by the brilliant Christ-follower C.S. Lewis, who phrases this better than I ever could:

“The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become – because He made us. He invented us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be…. It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own.”

Friends, the week has begun, once again, with countless reminders of why I love life as a student on a campus such as this. Even the driest bits of my daily routine are so full of simple joys that I really can’t complain at all. The “low” point of this past week consisted of me, half-consumed coffee in hand, hair a mess, and hurrying off to print off a paper I needed for the next class. I was interrupted by a ginormous, unexpected hug from a dear friend who filled me with affirmation and then sent me on my way. While I did have to continue in my jam-packed schedule and do my best in accomplishing each assignment to the best of my ability, the simple interruption of a little positivity made even a hectic point memorable for a very different reason.

As I thought about this instance and various other points this week that have made me realize how ridiculously blessed I am, I began to wonder why exactly these things make such a difference. What is it about simple joys and people that make my days so much more full and encouraging? I can’t pinpoint this exactly, but I have found numerous levels of appreciation for the ways in which blessings come.

As we go through life as young adults, we’ll experience innumerable changing seasons and decisions. We will run into financial difficulties as we learn how to work harder and budget the money we earn. We will face uncertainty as we plan for our future lives. And, as classes and life in general catches up with us, we will occasionally feel the stress of it all mount up to be a menacing, seemingly untamable beast. These elements of life, mixed in with the joys of new relationships, successes, and adventures, make for a richness of experience, assuming we stay in community with those experiencing all of this with us.

In college especially, we all can relate to each other in the sense that we are all experiencing similar things at the same time. We were created as communal creatures, and we are made to share life with each other in order to glean as much as we can from it. Not only can we share concerns and triumphs, we can walk with each other through it all and, in doing so, learn much from ourselves and each other. We all will have both positive and negative experiences in life, yet what makes it really rich and worthwhile is the people we choose to share it with. Whether that comes in the form of a homework group, coffee break, date night, or a simple late-night conversation, our lives become so richly blessed by our experiences and our choices to share them with others.

Being filled up to the brim only makes me think of ways I want to return the favor to this world that I love so much. While I receive love through my roommates, classmates, and friends I am so fortunate to know, I pray I can share love with each of them in kind. By slowing down and looking up from my busy way to see whoever is in front of me, I can seek out opportunities to bless others. A challenge for all of us this week: speak slowly, take a different, slower route to class, and take the time to tell each person in your life why they matter to us. We are living life together, and can make it all the more gorgeous by investing in each other in any way we can, simple or otherwise. Readers, be blessed and be a blessing, and I’ll see you next week.

Brooke Fraser’s “Here’s to You,” one of many songs that is near and dear to me, states, quite wisely, “life is short as the day is long.” I consistently find this to be true, especially when I realize that, although my days are so incredibly full, a month of the fall semester has already flown by.

Readers, I can safely say that I have succeeded in settling into a fairly well adjusted schedule by now. Once again, I find that budgeting free time is just as important as budgeting time for work, and I am reminded again that there is so much to enjoy about life on a college campus. The simple pleasures all amount to so much, and this past week, it is the little things that have made my heart so full.

My days typically start in a sleepy haze. I roll out of bed first to enjoy the cheery singing performed graciously by my roommate as she prepares for the day. I then get ready as quickly as possible so as to enjoy a huge cup of coffee before my first class. Side note: Coffee is glorious, isn’t it? I often fall asleep looking forward to having my morning cuppa. Okay, back on track now. Once I am sufficiently caffeinated, I step out into the eternal sunshine of Southern California and begin my trek to the James building, spouting out innumerable “hello’s” and “how’s life?’s” to people along the way. Walking around campus this year often feels like a picture-perfect movie montage in which the protagonist powerwalks along to a cheery indie song. Even the smallest moments at the start of the day set a tone which allows me to be aware of the blessings of university life!

I then spend the majority of my day in class, scratching my head at mind-boggling ideas or picking my professors’ brains to gain one more sliver of knowledge. This year has brought on just another level of enthusiasm for my life as a student, as I have added my film studies minor. This, coupled with English, allows me to dig deep into the subjects I love and shamelessly geek out over the things I find fascinating. One of my fellow English major friends perfectly summed up what our major entails: it is an ongoing book club in which we read great books, talk about them, write about them, talk about them once more and then repeat the entire process with another great book. I can honestly say that it is a privilege to go to school and learn the things that make one’s passion grow.

At the end of a long day of classes, work and meetings, I enjoy time in my living room with the three gorgeous girls I am graced to call roommates. We sprawl out in whatever position we find comfortable and dive into the evening’s activities. We encourage each other through homework, discuss an interesting topic encountered during the day, or battle through an important philosophical question. I can hardly imagine a better end to a day than spending it with dear friends who exhort one another and offer undefiled friendship.

While college life is a roller coaster filled with stresses, deadlines and challenges, these are matched in joyful privileges and community. Taking joy in all of the simple things can help to maintain a gracious attitude and to carry on through life purposefully and joyfully. Friends, I hope you have a wonderful week.

Friends, this past week I had my first encounter with an acquaintance of mine who is feared by many and known widely as “Zombie Aubrey.” This figure emerges when I have neglected sleep, have not had an adequate amount of strong coffee and have spent entirely too much time buried in a textbook or glued to a screen. Think Jekyll and Hyde, or a less green Incredible Hulk, and that should give you an accurate picture of what happens to me when conditions are less than ideal.

Right about this time each semester of my college career, I have seen the dangers of wearing oneself thin and am reminded of three very important things:

1. Sleep
2. Leisure
3. Community

By this time, I know I am not alone when I say that the homework has caught up to speed while many of us may still be fighting off the last traces of Summer Brain. I find that many of us begin to find the need to prioritize. I have discovered that my junior year has brought several classes that are less than easy, and I have decided to refer back to my tried and true methods that keep me functioning like a normal human being and keep the Zombie at bay.

I first have to emphasize the importance of rest. Granted, a large part of college life includes staying up ridiculously late, and this is a wonderful part of the experience. However, too many sleepless nights can be detrimental to functioning like a normal human being. Please, dear Readers, do not do this to yourselves. While you will have a lot of work to balance with fun, schedule your time so that you are not forced to get stingy with sleep. Sleep is very, very important. Not only does it allow you to continue to function normally, it also keeps you healthy and able to tackle your assignments with vigor.

As you strive to remain rested, add a healthy amount of leisure time to sleep. Find something that you love and make time for it, whether that is heading to the Rec Center to climb the rock wall, reading a book purely for fun, or catching up on Doctor Who. Always make time to unwind, if even for a moment, as it’s amazing what a few simple pleasures can do to enliven a person.

Accountability is also imperative to keeping oneself sane when things get hectic. Whenever I get the chance, I try to steal a moment to have a meal or quick cup of coffee with a friend to remain connected and talk through life. I am blessed to have friends at CBU who are, truly, saints. They are available to pray with me, laugh hysterically to ward off stress, or to simply talk about whatever might be on the mind. Taking moments to commune with close friends is the surest way to remain positive, stay on track with life, and remember what is most important to you.

While the semester gathers speed, don’t panic. You can avoid becoming zombie-esque. Just remember that this is a season, and we will ultimately learn so much from it all. Until next time, safe sailing everyone!

I absolutely adore books. Not only do they prove to be informative, imaginative, and insightful, they have the ability to touch places within me that resonate for years thereafter. As Josh Riebock so eloquently puts it in Heroes and Monsters, “I have a crush on words.”

I was blessed enough to spend a great deal of time over the summer becoming acquainted with a variety of different stories and “crushing” on each of them in their turn. From Victorian novels, young adult literature, science fiction tales and everything in between, I found for the umpteenth time exactly how powerfully books can speak and how they can effectively inspire me to action. I believe that God uses both information and stories to move us to personal enlightenment and to inspire us to improve upon the world around us.

I found an example of this as I sat through chapel this week and was challenged to take a leap of faith and a larger act of service. We viewed a presentation from the CBU Office of Mobilization and were encouraged to apply to serve on an International Service Project (ISP).  This program allows students to raise the funds to travel to another country and do short-term missions in the hopes of bringing both help and hope to individuals encountered along the way.

As I sat through this presentation, I sensed the innumerable doubts that people around me might have in deciding whether or not to join a project. I know that, personally, my biggest fear when it comes to missions is the fear that I would not be able to do enough in that period of time to make a strong enough impact. How could I possibly hope to effectively serve another person whom I will only get a few weeks to be with?

I quickly answered my own question by thinking of a quote from a novel I read just weeks before the semester began.

In the story, a man had determined to abandon his previous career to become an abolitionist during the days that slavery was prevalent throughout the world. He imagined the arguments that others would provide to discourage this new path and responded with such simplicity and clarity. Another character frankly told the character, “Only as you gasp out your final breath will you realize that your life amounted to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean.” The new abolitionist responds with, “Yet what is any ocean but a multitude of drops?” (David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas)

In the novel, I saw how the power of stories gives clarity to my own life. The character in the book addresses that, while the world has many problems to tackle, each person, each drop in a vast sea makes a difference. Each part helps to shape the whole.

I realize that while ISP is just one small way that we can be of service to others, it is nonetheless a valuable opportunity to make some mark on another person or group of people. No amount of time spent in service is too small and not one day spent loving others is too short. Every bit of energy placed into helping other people is certainly not wasted. One need only take the opportunity to serve and give their all to showing love in that service.

I am no more than a young American woman who has determined to live a life pursuing truth and service to the Creator and His people. I have nothing more than what I have been given, but I am constantly learning how my gifts can be used to contribute to the world. We can all act upon the opportunities we are given and use our knowledge to serve in whatever means possible. While this certainly is a big endeavor, the words of the character in David Mitchell’s novel communicate the truth that God values all of His people, and He will use us to make an impact on the world.

Service, in my eyes, always begins with an opportunity and a willingness to seize it. We have been born into different families, situations and economic statuses, yet we all have unique abilities that can and should be used for the benefit of our fellow man. God has created (and commanded) us to serve each other, and in this service we are to show others the same love that we believe the Creator has for each of us. We can all be used in any number of ways to achieve this goal, and we all have to begin somewhere. Let us use our single drop to benefit the multitude.

Welcome, Readers, to my little corner of the Internet in which I get to tell you about my life as a student at California Baptist University! I hope that in sharing my thoughts and experiences, I will be able to give you an accurate picture of what life is like at CBU. I can assure you that there will be countless high points, several random excursions, and undoubtedly, an innumerable amount of lessons to be learned. So buckle up, grab a cup of your favorite caffeinated drink and let’s get started!

For those of you whom I have not had the opportunity to meet, I naturally have to begin with an introduction. I am now a junior at CBU (how’d I get so old?) and am studying English and Film. My homework mainly consists of reading books and watching movies, and then writing about why I love them and how this applies to my life, faith, and future. My area of study truly brings me an inexpressible amount of joy; I get to learn about the things that I love! In addition to studying books and movies, I also adore coffee, cats, British television, indie folk music, and long conversations with lovely people. That, friends, is me in a nutshell!

I consider myself to be a passionate student seeking to honor the God I serve in my studies and future plans. One of the reasons I originally chose to attend CBU, and what makes it a joy to return, is that the community offered here is honestly one in a million. The start of each new semester reminds me of just how fortunate we are to be on a campus that empowers us to pursue faith, engage culture, and simply “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24 ESV). The minute I set foot on campus, I feel welcomed and at ease. After four months away, I cherished my return and am reminded of the countless things to be thankful for.

While the end of summertime brings with it homework, busy schedules, and limited television time (unless you happen to be a film major), it also brings an entirely new set of adventures to embark on. Returning to college after a long summer away is a sort of homecoming, as we are all reunited with our friends and professors and get the opportunity to catch up with each other. We also get to see new faces and facilities, and these provide the promise of countless new memories to be made. Life at this marvelous university enables me to enjoy all of the above and consistently reminds me of the goodness of our Creator in his faithfulness and persistent love for us. In a reunion with roommates and classmates, He has showed me love abundantly and reminded me that life is an adventure to be had in community with others. Each new passage of life never fails to remind me of the blessings I have received in my life, and I pray that this year brings growth both academically and spiritually for all of us.

As we begin our new year at school, let’s try our best to keep in mind the privilege it is to study here with our friends and strive to learn all that we can from each other. Be sure to enjoy the late night roommate sing offs, the Fro Yo breaks, and, of course, the unplanned deep discussions over tea.  I never cease to be amazed at my own journey through life at CBU, and I am excited to share with you all and give you a glimpse of the excitement and beauty of collegiate adventures. Enjoy the return to school and soak in as much as you possibly can. Until next week, Readers, here’s to the return of naps, last minute trips to In n Out, coffee after five o clock, and so much more to be learned!

Friends, we are coming amazingly close to the end of yet another fabulous year in school. What does it feel like, you ask? I’m still caught between euphoria and disbelief. On one hand, I am ecstatic to complete another semester and spend some quality homework-free time with friends and family. On the other hand, I am dazed at how quickly my sophomore year has flown by. So much has been packed into this year that I had convinced myself that it will never end, and now I am trying to get used to calling myself a soon-to-be junior in college.

While I am in the midst of finals week, I am immensely thankful for a few moments I get to spare spending time on my couch, listening to Simon and Garfunkel, and reflecting on how richly I have been blessed over the course of my second year at CBU. While I have encountered difficulties as well as triumphs, I can honestly say that I have learned so much this year and am so thankful for each new experience.

In summary, I would like to point out some of my greatest highlights over the course of the past year.

• Living in an apartment was an entirely new experience. For the first time in my young adult life, I felt like a grown up with a place away from home to share with roommates. Living in the Colony on campus meant community, a kitchen, and more room to decorate. While there were these perks to apartment life, it also meant needing to buy our own cleaning supplies and toiletries, but that is something we all have to learn sooner rather than later. Overall, I have adored living in the on-campus apartments and with three wonderful women I am proud to call roommates. We studied together and burned cookies together, and those are moments I will not easily forget. Roomies, I will miss you so much over the summer, but there will be visits, I promise! I love you all and thank you so much for adding so much to the goodness of this year.

• I really dove into my major classes this past year, and learned so much from each of them. I did not think that it was possible for me to become more passionate about literature than I already was, but after learning from some incredible professors, my passion has increased tenfold. My professors have even helped to awaken new passions in me, as I have recently declared a minor in film studies, which I am ecstatic to dive into. The classes offered at CBU and the caring, intelligent professors heighten the university’s integrity, and provide students with opportunities to grow so much in their academic abilities. I am so excited to continue my education here next year and in the years beyond.

• As always, I have to express my gratitude for the people I have met at CBU who have provided me with incredibly edifying friendships and have pushed me constantly closer to the God we serve. I have made priceless friendships with like-minded people who are all passionate about learning and growing together, and I know that this year would not have been nearly as wonderful without them. My friends are responsible for countless great conversations over many a cup of coffee, and for side-splitting laughs that helped us to relieve stress and remind ourselves that life is a beautiful, enjoyable endeavor. Over the summer I will miss the concerts, the trips to Late Night Briscos, the movies, and the constant companionship, but I cannot wait for more to come. Next year, I know I can continue to grow, laugh, and learn with all of my wonderful friends, and I know that together we will continue to make the most of our experience as students at CBU.

This past year at CBU has been extraordinarily wonderful, and as eventful as I could have hoped for. God continues to bless me with opportunities to serve, learn, and experience life here, and I have really adored the wonderful ride that my sophomore year has been. Readers and friends, you are so valued and I pray that the end of this year brings with it as much blessing as was brought throughout. Thank you for enjoying this beautiful life at CBU with me!

Looking toward the future is something young adults encounter often, especially while in college. We question “Is this the right major?” “What career do I want to aim for?” “What should I do with my summer time off?” “How is what I’m doing now contributing to the life I hope to live after school?”

These questions seem to pop up increasingly toward the end of every jam-packed semester, leading to several late-night discussions with friends and roommates.

I am well aware of the weight of these questions. While they help set goals to aim for, they can also add unnecessary amounts of stress. It is best to address these appropriately, then use the time given in college to explore them while focusing on how to be your best in this present moment.

I demonstrated a practical depiction of what has been going on in my head earlier this week. Thankfully, it alerted me to my need to be aware and serve my God with all that I have in each day I’m given.

Okay, here’s the story: As I have said before, mornings are not my friend. However, a couple mornings ago, I muddled my way to class, coffee mug in hand, and concentrated my efforts on making it where I needed to be. I gazed directly ahead of me as I plotted my route to class and eventually succeeded in making it there.

It wasn’t until later that same day when I bumped into some friends of mine that I realized I had walked past at least two of them without waving on my trek to class. Apparently, my friends had waved emphatically and called after me to say good morning, and I had absolutely no clue they had done so. I continued on my merry way, totally oblivious.

After this happened, I realized exactly how much I have let my thoughts take over. Even though it was a groggy morning for me, I couldn’t get out of my head and notice what was right in front of me. This made me realize that I really must pay more attention.

While I become single-minded in accomplishing simple goals, such as making it to a morning class, I also tend to be very futuristic. This does come in handy when it comes to studying for finals, writing research papers and making summer plans. However, I am once again realizing the importance of focusing on the present time and making the most of it.

As all CBU students are well aware, the end of the semester is nigh and summer rapidly approaches. In these final weeks, try to use the time to strive for excellence in each class, tell your roommates you appreciate them and invest time in your friends. We all know exactly where each other are at, and we can serve each other in love until we meet the end of another wonderful year at this university.

It is that time of the semester once again. Deadlines are looming over us much too close for comfort. Scheduling for next semester’s classes has arrived, and summer approaches must faster than it seemed possible.

However, I am so glad I have experienced all this before. Now I have the opportunity to prepare myself for what lies ahead. I wish I had the opportunity to tip my past self off so that I could have better prepared for the ending of my first spring semester.

Since, unfortunately, I cannot go back in time and share insight with my younger self, I might as well share it here for all who may be interested in a few tips that have worked for me in past experiences.

1. Catch up on sleep on the weekends. The end of the semester is really busy. There is a temptation to power through all of your assignments and skip sleep in the process. However, it is much better to work ahead. If faced with the decision to stay up studying rather than sleep, be sure to sneak some naps in and catch up on sleep over the weekend. It is not worth risking your health and becoming absolutely miserable to take finals while not feeling your best.
2. Talk to your professors. Our professors are wonderful. They are absolutely the best. If you have any questions about a project or an upcoming exam, go by their office and ask them. Professors would love to talk to you and spend the time helping you succeed. Also, if you find yourself unsure of which classes to take for the next semester, your professors would love to walk you through all of your options and help you decide.
3. Call home. The summer is coming up quickly, and with it will bring a lot of changes. If, like me, you are planning on moving back home for the summer, your schedule will drastically differ from what it includes now. It is valuable to talk to your family about your plans, goals and expectations for the summer so that you can both plan more easily. Also, contact your friends and begin to make plans. This will give you something to look forward to. Plan on starting a Bible study or accountability group so that your time together will be edifying. Being in constant communication with your family and friends about your summer plans will help all of you to make a smooth transition into summer life.
4. Send out the troops. If looking for a summer job, your family or friends from back home can send out feelers to let you know might be available. This will allow you to gather options and decide where you might want to apply.
5. Consider taking summer classes. This is pretty straightforward. Summer classes can propel you closer toward graduation. They are also great ways to fill your time and keep you productive year-round.
6. Do not panic. The end of the semester should be a time to remain focused and enjoy learning in your area of interest. Do not let stress replace prayer, and take breaks when you are feeling overwhelmed. Remember why you are here, and gather up your energy to finish the semester strong.

The end of an academic year need not be a cause for panic. Take the time to enjoy the days that go by, and invest in the company of other students experiencing the same thing. We are here for each other, and we can tackle the upcoming days together.

I hope my checklist will be of some use to you. Just remember: all seasons pass and all are meant to be fully lived. Make it a great week, and let us make this semester go out with a bang.

I count myself considerably blessed to attend a university that challenges me to pursue Christ, even in the midst of a 90-minute morning class. Personally, I find it difficult to stay alert in morning classes, let alone find exhortation in them.

One might say that I am not a morning person. Okay, that was an understatement. In the mornings, I am a barely-functioning zombie of an individual. My mornings generally consist of me struggling to prepare myself to enter the outside world and present myself as a sane person. I begin by treating my alarm clock with unnecessary animosity, and then start the long process of sliding myself out of bed and gradually onto the floor in order to doze as long as possible. I generally don’t find the motivation to move until one of my roommates steps on me. I then ready myself for the day in slow, sleepy steps and do not speak to anyone until I have at least a full cup of coffee.

It’s safe to say that morning classes have always been rough for me. While I love lectures and could happily sit in a classroom all day, I have a hard time fully participating in class until about 11 a.m. (A tip for those of you who have the same problem: eating an apple in the morning helps you to feel energized, and it also helps to bring a mug of coffee to class. If you’re accident-prone like me, bring a lid.) One can imagine, then, that I struggle to remain alert in my 9:30 Global Studies course.

But I digress!

During class time earlier this week, I struggled with fatigue when my professor managed to grab my attention. I was brought to full awareness as he discussed the Great Commission and how we as Christians should respond to it. You all have heard the verses:

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Immediately my ears perked up, and I rejoiced at the fact that I get to learn and discuss these things in the classroom! My professor was bent on reiterating this command to us. He went into a discussion of its practical application and implored us all to live on purpose for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The Lord has saved us and given us the opportunity to share this Gospel with others. CBU is especially focused on missions, as students and staff take the Great Commission seriously and live it out. What a way to turn a morning around!

Despite my morning stupor, this subject never fails to grab me and leave me in awe of God’s plan for His disciples. It was so refreshing once again to see how the faculty at CBU shares a common goal in encouraging students to seek and follow Christ. It takes statements of intense purpose to wake me up, and I pray that Christ’s commission will continue to wake up sleepers as he uses His disciples to reach the nations.