The Azusa Pacific Blog » chapel

I love APU because…

Megan — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:14:38 +0000

The other day I walked into my Psychology class a little early, finding the previous professor that was teaching in that class talking to a student about personal issues it seemed. She was venting about a broken friendship and he gave her advice like a friend, or even a dad would. It made me smile because professors here truly and honestly care for us as people, not just as students that need a grade and a diploma.
Today (Thursday), the band Jars of Clay played in the Amphitheater in the afternoon. Finishing a midterm and then sitting and watching a wonderful band play next to great friends of mine was awesome and a great end to my school week.

APU Dictionary

Megan — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:58:18 +0000

Alpha: A group you will be placed in the day you move in that includes a sophomore (sometimes a junior) alpha leader and about 8-12 other freshmen. You will all be in the same beginnings class (its a 350 person class that usually just has people speak about current issues) and you will meet one other time during the week to get to know each other and have fun. Its a great way to meet people and as awkward as it may feel as first everyone really does end up loving the program.

Biola: ……..

Communiversity: Community + Diversity, a program that plans events and makes the school fun (simply said).

Falling in Love with South Africa

Renna Nightingale — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:49:23 +0000

Hello lovely readers !

I am still loving life here in South Africa! The Lord has truly given me a heart for this place and these people. I can already tell it is going to be amazingly difficult to leave.

Because this semester is service and travel-based, our classes are condensed into a much shorter time frame. We began classes the last week of January, midterms were last week, this is dead week, and next week is finals! I can hardly believe it!

Unfortunately for me, I am taking isiZulu, an African “click” language, and class extends until the end of March. This is because I am taking a full two semesters of isiZulu, instead of the traditional one! Classes are quite intense, but I love being able to speak isiZulu with the people! Most of the time, South Africans don’t expect Americans to speak isiZulu. I love surprising them by greeting them with their first language!

K.C. — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:56:16 +0000

Welcome back in two days, Cougars! Today I was on campus to finish up some things before the semester starts and I just want express how blessed and privileged I feel to be part of the APU community. The new semester brings chances for new opportunities and changes, and each and every one of you is at a great place to embrace them. It’s often said that a student gets out of the college experience what one puts into it, and I hope that this semester can be one in which we put our all into this amazing university that has put so much into us simply by allowing us to be here.

The Providence of God

K.C. — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:12:23 +0000

What a beautiful fall day! It’s days like these that I am amazed at God’s providence. Truly, He knows our every need before we know it ourselves. I would like to share something that happened to me at chapel a few weeks ago — a story of God’s providence — and I hope that this inspires others to pick themselves up and be a part of life even when they don’t feel like it. Two Wednesdays ago, I was feeling down and didn’t feel like going to Kaleo. I know that when I feel this way, though, and I end up going, I am always blessed. In my mind, I rationalized this as well as the fact that I had to go for chapel credit, and trudged up the stairs. After I walked in, I realized I’d forgotten something and went back to my apartment. I wrestled with already being home, but remembered what I’d told myself earlier about being blessed and having to go, and picked myself up and walked back over. I was met with closed doors and empty handed chapel greeters — they were out of cards. I went to the other door to inquire as to what I was supposed to do when I was at chapel on time and it was already full, and before I could ask my question, the greeter recognized me and waved towards the stairs — he remembered me leaving a few minutes earlier. Up the stairs, I found that there was one chapel card left! Once inside, there was not a seat to be found, and I sat on the floor by the door. During worship, Woody asked that we pause for a moment and pray to God, letting Him know where we were at at that very moment. Well, for me, at that very moment, I was feeling tired, stressed, worrisome, and dejected. I poured all of this and more out to him, and prayed a very specific prayer, unsure that it would be answered the way I would have liked but rationalizing that at least I had expressed it to Him. At the end of the service, the girl sitting next to me asked if I had a couple of minutes to talk. My heart started pounding — was this the answer to prayer I had asked for? We stood near the door where we had been sitting, and she expressed to me what was an exact answer to my prayer. I was in awe. Had I sought my own way, had I not gone to chapel, I would not have experienced this very moment. God’s providence in that moment was amazing. His love is an agape love — unconditional and everlasting. He knows our needs before we think them. There is a verse that I’ve always held very dear that I’d like to share with you — the verse is Jeremiah 29:11, and it reads like this: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” May we be reminded of His love, mercy and grace in every leaf’s turning, every fall breeze, and every beautiful sunset.

The One Where I Talk About God’s Presence

Hannah — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 06:54:08 +0000

This week has been pretty consistent with the norm for a week at APU. The chapels have been great. The classes have been challenging yet very interesting. The weather’s been totally unpredictable. We go from scorching hot to raining and cold in less than a week. It’s actually pretty exciting, I never know what I’ll wake up to. I had another test in anatomy. I went to Kaleo tonight (the Wednesday night chapel). I spent some quality time laughing with my roommates this morning over facility management’s entertainment/possible annoyance with the completely avoidable flood in our bathroom.

In all the norm however, God has put a few things on my heart this week that I would love to share. One thing about APU that I personally don’t believe you could find anywhere else are people who truly brighten your day every time you cross paths. When I was first touring the school before I came here, I immediately noticed something different about APU’s campus. People smile at you and say hello when you walk by, and open doors for you. This is a different kind of Christian university, there’s something so special about it.

…Who Am I? And Why Am I Here?

Megan — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:38:20 +0000

I figure that this post is appropriate. My first blog entry gave a little insight into where I am at now and my experience thus far at APU, but I figured it was equally important to know where I am coming from.

I am a freshmen at APU, majoring in graphic design. I am super passionate about anything artsy, creative, or design related. I also love writing and would gladly write an essay on the weekend just for fun (I am aware that some people think I am crazy). I have a blog of my own, which led me to checking out these APU blogs when I was a perspective student. I desired to get involved with participating with these APU blogs this year because they were actually a huge part of my excitement in coming to APU. You hear all these amazing experiences, and want one of your own.

APU Response to Haiti [Email to Students]

Christian Brazo — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:51:22 +0000

This is an email sent to Azusa Pacific students this morning from Matt Browning, associate vice president for internationalization Dear Students, I want to share with you APU’s plans to respond to the disaster in Haiti. I know many of you are concerned and are asking about how to help. I am thrilled that your heart for God’s world is stirred.

halloween and homework.

Ellie Kipps — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:19:50 +0000

So today is Halloween, and I’m writing a paper. I’ve never been super into Halloween after about age 10, but it’s been great to see carved pumpkins and some ridiculous antics around campus. Last night a few of my friends dressed up like old people and there were trick-or-treaters in the Mods (a sophomore living area), so I thought that was funny.

Right now, I’m trying to gear back up for another challenging week ahead. Sometimes it is hard staying focused with all these events around, but it has taught me a lot about self-control. Though, right now, I’m really distracted by quite a few things, including my plans to study abroad next year, starting at High Sierra, and then possibly on to Australia. Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be able to go to Israel this summer, but I’m so excited about studying in High Sierra… it’s ridiculous. Hah. I’m also distracted, in a good way, by thinking about the things I learned this week.

Lack of Color, Gain of Knowledge

Kelsey Bjugstad — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:44:53 +0000

I’m having an issue with videos uploading on every site except for Facebook. Which seems really strange because around here its usually Facebook that isn’t working. (Facebook + College students all on one network = Refreshing 20 times before loading the homepage) I tried the last few days but I didn’t want to keep on waiting for the videos to post this blog.

I think I possibly figured out the problem… so be excited for some cool videos in the next blog! :)

I got back from Kaleo not too long ago and it was amazing as usual! I know I’ve talked about this before but Kaleo (the Wednesday night chapel) really is one of my favorite things here at APU. Woody, one of the campus pastors) talked about Daniel chapter 5 and I won’t try to explain it all but overall the message was how things became idols for us, especially as college students with all this new freedom of choice. I think the part I loved the most is that I’ve heard the ‘you shouldn’t have idols’ sermon so many times but every time Kaleo comes around I learn something new and relevant to my life.