Archives: Uncategorized

There is something so deeply important in gathering as a household and maintaining healthy bonds between roommates.

I say this acknowledging the blessing that it is to live with the roommates I have this year in the gorgeous University Place housing area. Not only am I close to Brisco’s and the events on the front lawn – which have been increasing in excitement with the coming of Fortuna Bowl – I also have the advantage of rolling out of bed later (a massive luxury) as I am right next to the building where the majority of my classes are held. Beyond my extremely convenient location on campus, I am graced with the company of three women who have proven to be a source of consistent blessing for me this semester.

The four different lives that intersect at the meeting point of our apartment have experienced much over the past few weeks. I have seen one roommate barge in announcing victory at an easy exam, another relate an epiphany and breakthrough volunteer opportunity, and another burst through the front door utterly spent, but elated after a long rehearsal for the upcoming theatre production. (Shameless plug aimed at all CBU students and local residents: go see Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, opening November 15. My roommate is a lead in the show, and from what I have been hearing from behind the curtain, it is going to be astoundingly brilliant. It’s also my personal favorite Shakespearean comedy. The Bard knows his way to the audiences’ funny bone; you’re guaranteed to laugh uncontrollably.) While each of us have these insanely busy schedules and rarely find a moment where we are all together and not swamped with homework, we all have managed to find time to keep up with every other housemate and exhort one another in kind.

I realize this post will easily turn into a love letter to my roommates – because seriously, they’re wonderful – but I also want to spend my time musing about the beauty found in the opportunity to live with other students at this time of life. We do school together, learn about ourselves in a group, and achieve a level of community that is completely unique to the college experience. We go through life on campus, experience highs and lows, and life becomes a never-ending party where friends are constantly present.

I have had several moments over the past month where I realize that not only am I now a junior, but I am quickly approaching the halfway mark of the year. The time has flown by at an alarming rate, and only makes me more aware of all that I have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy over the course of my undergrad experience. While I could easily spend dozens of pages pouring out my thoughts on everything I love about my life here (don’t worry – I won’t!) I realize that the biggest blessing has been the community I have found. CBU has become my home away from home, and the people I have shared life with have become additions to my family. I know for certain that a large part of who I am has been shaped by the people God has put in my life, and I see His love given abundantly through them. It really is amazing how much this community does for us, and these are years I will not easily forget.

Forgive me for my abundant sentimentality, but I have to spend a moment giving thanks to the people who share life with me. Thanks for the coffee dates, the overcooked macaroni and cheese (and messy kitchens), the BBC movie nights, the hilarious phrases to add to the “quote book,” and the companionship I have found to be priceless. Life is truly fuller when shared with fellow humans. Friends, you are valued. Carry on, and I will see you next week.

We all have those uneventful weekends: the ones that pass by slowly, consisting only of late mornings, brunches, movies and homework (all done in only the comfiest of pajamas). I have a tendency to take these weekends for granted, but it takes one true whirlwind of 48 hours to remind me of the goodness of simplicity – as well as the beauty of a bit of chaos.

The weekend began with my housemates and me in our University Place living room eating food from Brisco’s and listening to the flag football games outside. Nothing could be more normal for a Friday night, and all was well. Saturday passed by in much the same way, with each of us doing homework, completing International Service Project applications and catching up on the week’s TV shows. My roommate and I had plans to see a play in San Diego the following afternoon, so we went to bed with our plans swimming in our heads, our outfits planned out and our minds at ease. Of course, a bit of a shock was bound to happen at this point in time…

After my roommate and I went to bed, I fell asleep quickly. The next thing I knew, I was awakened to exclamations of surprise and distress and found my roommate on the floor, clutching her nose and saying she needed help. I flipped on the light, took her to the bathroom and quickly woke up the others in the house. I asked my roommate what had happened, only to get a broken response:

“I… um… can’t remember… I… sleepwalking… dresser… ow, it really hurts!”

This was enough for us to put the pieces together and, after examining her nose, we decided it would be best to take her to the hospital for stitches. Thinking quickly, I called our residential assistant (RA) to let her know what was going on.

It’s times like these I am so thankful to live on a campus where caring, able help and friendship are just around the corner. Our RA answered right away, told us to wait two minutes and met us in the parking lot, wide awake and ready to join in on our little adventure.

Once we set out on our merry way to the emergency room, things were looking tense, yet hopeful. My roommate is a trouper, and she kept cracking jokes the entire way while thanking us for helping her out. Laughing in the face of uncertainty really relieved the tension, and our RA reminded us that we were going to be okay.

The hospital is just a short drive away, and we got there in no time at all. Our RA had not only taken care of the technicalities in making sure everything was documented and our safety was ensured, but also was a stellar example of friendship in the way she joked with us, kept the mood light and prayed with us. My roommate was all patched up in a matter of hours, and we were back on our way to campus equipped with pain medication, high spirits and a riveting story to tell.

I realize that this is in not an ideal way to spend a Saturday night in any way, shape or form, but it honestly served as an excellent reminder of the blessings we take for granted every day. Lazy weekends may be uneventful, but they mean that we have the luxury of relaxation and time to accomplish what we need to prepare for the week ahead. After this adventure, my housemates and I were reminded of the ways God protects and blesses us along each bump in the road (or tumble while sleepwalking). My roommate was very fortunate to have only hit her nose and not hurt herself further, and we were also blessed to have immediate help and clear thinking to solve the problem. Our campus staff was readily available to help, and we were able to laugh our way through it by the end of the evening. It’s moments like these when I am reminded of the blessing that is health, friendship and even frightening experiences. I sincerely hope that you have all had a much less tumultuous past few days than I have, but know that those times do bring with them stories to tell, lessons to be learned and blessings to be counted. Safe sailing, Readers!

It’s refund check time! Let’s not get carried away with buying Chuck Norris t-shirts or that new iPad. Many of us see dollar signs whenever money is mentioned and not the true task at hand.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t splurge every once and a while on ourselves, but we need to see the bigger picture. Luxuries aren’t what we should strive for. We as Christians should serve God and spread his word. For us students, that means sticking to the business of being students learning to live our purpose.

Hebrews 11: 13-16 says “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” I love this passage simply because it shows the strong faith of followers. They were not worried about worldly items or amenities. These people knew what God had promised them, and they could care less about what they had here on earth. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and we should do the same for Him.

Looking like a million bucks isn’t everything, guys. I’ll settle for looking like a grand and smelling like a dime, if that makes sense. So before we head to the mall, we might want to look at our priorities. My own prayer is that I can keep my goals in mind and not be sidetracked by distractions so that I can truly live the way that God wants me to live. I challenge everyone to spend wisely and look toward our higher calling.

Intramural sports are just one of the ways to release built-up tension from the hustle and bustle of the semester. Basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball and more are available at CBU throughout the year. These sports are always competitive and fun.

My favorites happen to be basketball and flag football. Every sport at CBU starts off with group prayer, and then my competitive nature takes over. I can run up and down field or court all game long and battle my opponent until the final whistle. I think team sports build comradery and are a great way to stay in shape.

This is my first season of intramural basketball at CBU, and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Another way to relieve stress is by working out. If you haven’t already, you should make your way down to the new Recreation Center in Adams Plaza. It is a great facility with new equipment and plenty of room. The center has cardio machines, weights, a basketball court, racquet ball courts, and even indoor rock climbing. It also has personal trainers who give various workouts and classes throughout the week.

These are just two of the ways to relieve stress on campus, but I’m sure you have your own favorites. If you’re ever at the Rec Center working out, look for me. I’ll probably be the guy standing around running his mouth.

Recently, while on my way to history class, I spotted a long spiraling line in the court yard. I asked one of the students in line what all the fuss was about. “Commuter lunch,” he replied with a puzzled look on his face. Being that this was my first semester at CBU, I had never heard of such a thing. I politely joined the back of the line, and within five minutes, I was first in line. I timidly walked up to the table and handed the guy wearing the “CBU Crazies” shirt my ID. He asked if I was a commuter, which I confidently replied “yes”. He scanned my ID and handed it back to me. The girl next to him handed me a paper bag with a Chic-fil-A chicken sandwich, condiments, chips, and a bottle of water inside. “Thank you,” I belted out, with a huge grin on my face as I strolled to class.

This is one of my first memorable impressions from CBU. College can be expensive and time consuming to attend. Since day one, I have been overwhelmed by the way CBU “gives back” to each student. CBU is constantly holding free events and special promotions which are geared at building morale and improving student life.

Last semester one of the students here left their iPhone in the restroom, not once, but twice. Some honest students found the phone and turned it in to lost and found twice. This is the type of environment and people I have grown to love while attending CBU. I enjoy walking to and from classes because there is always a smiling face walking by with a perfect greeting. I look forward to the “good mornings, hellos, and “how are you’s” that I receive throughout the day. Good manners, and friendliness are contagious here at CBU, and that is all right with me.

Also, what better way to start a class than with prayer? Many of my instructors lead the class in prayer before classes begin. This is always a plus in my book–I can always use a little help

Midterms are already upon us! That could mean a number of things: spring break is soon to follow, now’s the time to redeem yourself, or summer is that much closer.

There are a few things to keep in mind when preparing for midterms. The first thing is that most professors let us know ahead of time what will be on the exam. Professors tend to take pieces from every chapter or section covered so far and compile it into one test. You may have already noticed that when your professor emphasizes something in class, it probably will be on an exam.

Next, get plenty of sleep! I know that it’s customary to stay up late studying the night before an exam, but this is bad, people! It doesn’t make sense to know the information but not be able to stay awake during the exam. (Trust me, I know these things.) Also, drinking coffee to stay up studying the night before will cause you to crash like the stock market. It’s not worth it. Relax and take a load off. Don’t stress yourself out during midterms. Have you ever heard the phrase “pressure bursts pipes?” No one needs to have a nervous break down over midterms. If you go to class, take good notes, and pay attention, you should be fine. Study your notes periodically leading up to the exam so that the information will be fresh on your mind.

Last but not least, take time out to talk with God. Put your trust in the Lord, continue to study, and you’ll be fine. Don’t ask for miracles because you haven’t studied, and don’t wait until the last minute. This process is called cramming, which can lead to failing, which could lead to a string of unfortunate events.

Happy testing…

Busy, busy, busy. The semester seems to be really flying by right about now. Midterms are quickly approaching, not to mention spring break

With that being said, professors are not messing around. Many are pushing out work assignments as fast as they can think of them. It can be a challenge just to keep up with all the papers and other assignments due. I often find myself going to bed late and rising early to meet deadlines; having a part-time job and other extracurricular activities does not help the situation.

I try to set short term goals in order to motivate me. For example, NBA All Star weekend will be here soon—and that’s only a few weeks from spring break. That’s one hump I have to get over.

If I can just make it to that point in one piece, I’m golden.

To prepare myself for the strenuous days ahead I keep some simple rules in mind: plenty of rest (where possible), exercise, and stay focused. During the semester I get very little sleep at night. To counter this, I take a short nap whenever I can. Also, I try to eat healthy every day to give me the energy I need to drive on. When I have time, which seems to be early in the morning or between classes, I work out. This keeps me in shape and ready to tackle the many tasks ahead from day to day. Finally, I stay focused. I never lose sight of my goals. I am here for a reason. The more I prepare for life and its many challenges, the more adept I will be to overcome.

All in all, I try to always remember California Baptist University’s motto, “Live your purpose.” Failure is not an option for me, and it should not be for you. Always remember that God put each and every one of us here for a reason.

Love is literally in the air and on the calendar, splashes of red and pink just about everywhere you turn your eye. Stores are flooded with customers searching for a fine chocolate for their own sweet or an expressive card to give to their loved one for Valentine’s Day. Love and friendship rules hearts at this time of year, as it has for generations and centuries before. I’m a typical 20 year-old-girl and fall for the sappy stories of couples throughout history like a child fawns over a small, furry puppy. Pathetic, I know, but love is what makes the world go around, right? Beyond the dream of a selfishly receiving love, the purest and sweetest of loves can be found. Growing up, I was privileged to have an incredible example of a true, biblical love.

Jack and Claudine Pless. Two finer people, I have never known. My parents were high school sweethearts, having met at church and began dating at 15. Completely polar opposites, my dad was the 60s version of a jock – sporty, musical, and somewhat of a mild troublemaker, whereas my mother was the sweet, shy, Audrey Hepburn-esque beauty.

They got married two years after graduation at 19 years old and began to build a life together that would last until my mother’s unexpected death at 59 years old. My dad grew more in love with my mom as the years went by, building her a dream house, surprising her with vacations to the east coast, and countless hours of watching her shop for collectible antiques “just because.” He showered her with praise and affection as his beautiful bride and mother of three children.

My mom thrived off making a home for my dad, constantly showing her appreciation in different ways and respecting him for his provision for the family. She loved him for his outgoing and bubbly personality, as well as being a hard worker and provider for our family. From an early age, Dad suffered from kidney issues, which led to kidney failure, bringing about mild complications from his early twenties that increased to a dire need for a kidney transplant by 40. By the time I was born, my parents had endured a kidney transplant and were fighting kidney cancer.

My mom assumed the role of ultimate provider for our family, a constant care-giver for my dad and his medical needs, while still being a mother to a young toddler, a teenage girl, and a 20-year-old, newlywed son. For the rest of my dad’s life, he received a disability check for his inability to work anymore after his fight with kidney cancer, which paid for our house payment while my mom worked as a florist to earn enough to pay the rest of the bills. I watched as my mother sacrificed her well-being, scraped pennies together, and yet made an enjoyable life for me on less than 100 percent energy and health, all with an unhealthy husband who was in and out of the hospital. I don’t know how she did it, considering what she had to work with, but her faith and trust in God’s sovereignty set an example.

My dad regained some of his health as I approached teenage years, but Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away the day after I turned 16. Dad lost the love of his life and truly missed her more each day until he passed away from a terrible infection last summer. The theme I saw in 16 out of 40 years of marriage was that love conquers all: sickness, struggle, joy, and memories of bliss. I am extremely thankful for the roles they both played in my life.

When I think of “love” in this romantic season of the year, my parents’ relationship is ever present in my mind. The constant sacrifice and dedication through troubled waters displays to me the meaning of a commitment, giving a firm understanding of love beyond the romance. It’s a challenge, but what if we gave everyone we know and met the same love that we so willingly accept at this time of year? True love isn’t just romantic or mushy-gushy; the self-sacrificial element of it should reign supreme. I think if we were to put our neighbor’s benefit above our own consistently as we are called to do, we could possibly see an overall improvement in the Body. I thoroughly enjoy a sweet love story just as much as the next person, but the sweetest of all love stories is between two people who unrelentingly give without expecting to receive. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather have true love than selfishness disguised as a mere figment of love.

Let our campus be the instigators of an attitude shift towards the day dedicated to love, and give to each other as my parents did: out of dedication, biblical principles, and responsibility for the others’ benefit. Let’s think of this on Valentine’s Day for the years to come, and possibly see love shown every day of the year– not just occasionally or on one designated day!

What you’re about to read may be slightly haphazard, with thoughts flowing into other thoughts without finishing the first and with no chronological order, but my brain just can’t make any sense of this. But first, a little history.

Coming to college, I had no idea what to expect. My family doesn’t have a whole long line of college graduates—or attendees for that matter, so I really didn’t know what my college career was going to look like. I came to school with Carley, my childhood best friend of 15 years, deciding not to live together for obvious reasons (which included still wanting to be friends by the time college was over with fully intact bodies), but we did end up in the same building as each other. She met a nice girl at a “Get to Know CBUers in Your Area” dinner in our hometown and decided that night to sign up to be roommates. On move-in day, Carley’s roommate Kylie and I exchanged the traditional how-do-you-do’s and went about our business. With freshman orientation coming up and positively not knowing anyone except Carley and Kylie, we stuck together like lint to corduroy pants. In the middle of orientation, Kylie and I had a private conversation about our lives, our backgrounds, and future dreams, and from that point, I literally knew my life would never progress from dawn to dusk without including her.

Is it weird? To you – maybe. To us – absolutely not.

I’ve read books, seen countless movies, even heard stories of best friends, bosom friends, kindred spirits – whatever you want to call them, but Kylie and I can’t compare our friendship to them. The closest thing we can think of to sum up our friendship is sisterhood. I can hardly put into sufficient words the kind of relationship we have. From freshman orientation on, we were inseparable. Every day, without question, we had meals together, random late-night escapades to In-n-Out or McDonald’s, countless thought-provoking conversations, and more laughs than I had ever experienced in my entire life. We each knew the other better than ourselves, could read any emotion or mood with one flash of it across the face, practiced how to push the other’s buttons, and imagined the course of each other’s lives. The whole beginning of our friendship was the happiest we had both been in years, experiencing joy beyond words and knowing that what we were building would last a lifetime.

That summer, after shooting hoops at Kylie’s house (more like her shooting hoops, and me rebounding for her since I am completely uncoordinated at basketball), we sat on the pavement and talked until the wee hours of the morning – about God and faith, who we were and were becoming, and just marveling at the coincidental (actually, more like providential) nature of our friendship. Kylie asked me, “Abigail, why is it we are from the same hometown and my family knows your family? We are so incredibly close – why do all these things line up?” As if I already knew the answer, I replied, “Because I feel like something is going to happen and I’m really going to need you there.” We both pondered the idea, and within a matter of minutes, we were on to the next subject—just like we always did.

Months flew by—full of surprises, boys, jobs, as well as incredible difficulties like any other friendship or relationship, but the bond between us grew stronger even as we began to loosen the chokehold grip we had on each other. Our schedules grew packed with obligations and responsibilities and priorities, and our friendship merged from happy-go-lucky-don’t-leave-without-me friends to I-will-be-here-when-you-get-home sisters. The Christmas after our profound “Why?” conversation, my dad became fatally sick with a blood clot that lead to infections, which eventually took his life seven months later. Since I had no mother or father, you can imagine the role Kylie and her sweet mother took on. As Kylie grieved over the sickness and loss of her own adopted father, she consoled me in my oblivion and numbness more than anyone else possibly could. She gave me a tongue when I couldn’t speak, feet when I lacked motivation, and a heart of flesh when mine turned to stone. How? God provided her with the strength I suppose; there is no other explanation for it. Months after Dad’s death, I recalled the almost-forgotten conversation with her and we shared a laugh over the amazing sovereignty of God’s plan. Funnier still (at least to us), I moved into Kylie’s sister’s old bedroom in her home in Modesto this last summer and adopted her mother as a mother figure in my life. We figured that it was more convenient that way; we didn’t have to go any further than step over her old, wizened dog that laid guard outside of our rooms to talk to each other. We also live together here at CBU—separate rooms of course, so we don’t lose nights of sleep to unexpected and in-depth conversations or pull each other’s hair out in frustration. We decided that even with the many events in life we had already shared together, there was nothing more that we wanted than to live life next to other as sisters in every season.

Each day, I feel like Kylie and I grow and change into different people from when we first met, but the tears, words of consolation, shared and discovered dreams, and the everyday presence we feel continues to confirm the fact that our friendship is real – that it’s not something we have imagined ourselves or controlled, nor could we if we had tried. Even with most emotions and thoughts unspoken, time spent apart, and the priority of other friends, there is no other earthly friendship we can think of that compares to the overwhelming bond-beyond-blood we share.

Kylie tells me often that she had prayed fervently for a best friend since her parents divorced when she was 12. I had no idea I needed a friend like her until we met. Praise God for knowing just what we both needed!

My favorite time of the year is here. Thanksgiving break is over and preparations for Christmas have begun. Trees on campus now have Christmas lights strung on them that light up our already beautiful campus. Some students have even festively decorated their campus residences.

There are only three weeks left in the semester, including finals week. It might take a little while to get back into the routine of school, but it is time to really buckle down and get work done. The next two weeks will be intense with lots of last-minute assignments. Finals can be stressful for some, but I think that finals, final presentations and final projects can be the most fun parts of a class sometimes. I enjoy participating in parting group study sessions that often lead to meeting new people and inside jokes. Those sessions and planning ahead are much less stressful and more efficient than cramming. I have made quite a few friends and turned some acquaintances into friends from having group study sessions.

The semester will be over after finals week, and we can all breathe a sigh of relief. I know I will be glad when finals are done. In the meantime, study hard and finish well!

Please pray for health and thank God for something in your own life.