Posts Tagged ‘chapel’

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…Who Am I? And Why Am I Here?

Megan Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

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.

I grew up about an hour from Azusa. I lived in the same city, house, and room my entire life. So my move to Azusa Pacific was something very new to me.

I am very close to both of my parents, who are basically my best friends, and my older brother is currently attending community college in Colorado. I take after my dads sense of humor and love of criminal justice and I take after my moms personality and love of cooking.

My favorite TV shows are Big Brother and 24. My favorite color is red and my favorite animal is elephants. My favorite movie is Little Miss Sunshine and my favorite book (besides the Bible) are The Irresistible Revolution and Left to Tell. My favorite foods are pasta and rice, and my favorite place to shop is Urban Outfitters.

You may be wondering what brought me to APU? That question gets thrown around a lot during the first month of living here. I actually ended up at APU through a long train of God-oriented events. My original plan my entire life was to attend a prestigious design school in New York City. I was set on applying- so I enrolled for a month-long summer program to see if this was really where I wanted to be. Long story short, returning home from the trip I realized the strange strain on my relationship with God that I had while being in NYC. I was so consumed in work and school and the city, that my faith was pushed aside. After returning home I realized that my faith was of utmost importance, much over any major, career goal, city, or school.

Azusa Pacific continually was sending me mail and calling me. Before then I had never really heard of APU, but after looking at their website and looking deeper into the school I become more interested. After a lot of prayer I decided on visiting the school “just to see” what it was like. The first visit I fell in love with everything about APU. It honestly just took one walk around the campus and one hour in Chapel and my decision was final. This was the place that I pictured myself in, a place where I could grow in my relationship with Christ and where I could utilize my talents and strengths in a way that would glorify God and draw me nearer to him. I gave up my “dream” of art school in NYC because growing closer to Christ I knew was HIS dream for me, and this plan of APU I am beginning to view as the “plan I never knew, I always wanted”. APU was the only school I applied to when sending college applications because I just tend to be that person that sticks to what I believe in and what I want. I could not imagine myself settling for ‘second best.’ I believed this was Gods will and I am beginning to see the ways in which God is already using me here.

Above all, seek God, and if you land up at APU hang on for the amazing ride.

My first visit at APU, with my parents.

My first visit at APU, with my parents.

“Of all the things Christ wants for us, loving Him and focusing our attention on Him are the most important.” -Charles Stanley

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APU Response to Haiti [Email to Students]

Christian Brazo Thursday, January 14th, 2010

[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 initial 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.

We want be as strategic as possible with how we might offer financial help immediately to the people of Haiti. While there are many reputable organizations we could give money to, I feel compelled to help a specific organization we have a relationship with and trust. I believe that this helps us be the best stewards we can be, while allowing us to empower people who already know how to help in the ways they think are best.

We plan to work with the Christian University of North Haiti. I have been to the university, Dr. Wallace has consulted for the school, APU uses the campus as a site for Haitian graduate students to take APU courses, an APU faculty member is related to the president, and our Focus International mission teams have served there for the last few years. While they are located in Limbe, in Northern Haiti, and not necessarily close to Port Au Prince, they have many faculty, staff, and students that are from the immediate and surrounding areas most affected. They have not heard from some of the people related to the university.

We are planning to receive money from anyone that wants to give during chapel tomorrow and next Wednesday. There will be people ready to collect money at the end of both chapels. I want you to know we have a three-layered process to be responsible and accountable with this money. Each bucket of money will always have at least two people with it, it will be counted with three staff present in the room, the money will be recorded, and the money will be re-checked as it is deposited at the APU Cashier’s Office. We will also inform the community of how much is raised and when it will be sent to the school in Haiti. We will work with the Haiti Hope Fund to get your money to Haiti as soon as possible.

Please, please, please only give money if you are able to. I absolutely will not beg you to give or put out the “just give up a cup of coffee a day” line. Many in our community are financially challenged right now, and I understand that. There is no pressure or guilt here at all, just a planned-out way for you to help if you want to.

Lastly, some of you may be wondering if we should “Go Away” and actually go to Haiti right now to help. I have been to Port Au Prince several times and my heart is broken for what I am seeing in neighborhoods I have hung out in.  My heart says “go help,” but my brain says that this is not the time. There are professionals and governments that need to be there now. If, in a few months or beyond, it makes sense for some from our community to go, we will make those arrangements and ask for your help.

I know you are already praying for the people of Haiti. I am thankful for your prayers and thankful that we have a God that desperately loves the people of Haiti.

Matt

Matt Browning, associate vice president for internationalization

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halloween and homework.

Ellie Kipps Monday, November 2nd, 2009

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.

This past week was Global Vision week, and basically it is a week where there all these events around campus that are Mission-minded, and are designed to make APU students think about the world as a whole, when sometimes we can get trapped in the bubble of southern california or america. All the chapels are internationally minded, and on wednesday, we had a chapel speaker who brought me to tears and created a standing ovation (which I’ve never seen) for at least 3 minutes after he finished. He was an exile from Libya, and was the most amazing christian I’ve ever met. I can’t honestly describe what he said, or why it affected the whole audience the way it did, but it was life-altering. I actually got the opportunity to talk to him for a few hours after chapel, being a part of the student organization here called MESO (Middle Eastern Student Organization), which is a group that strives to have open conversation about profiles and prejudices of the Middle Eastern nations, and delight in the different cultures that are predominately Muslim.

Anyway, I’ve got to get working on this paper, but I’ll post later on how halloween went. Hopefully I can get pictures of wacky costumes tonight. One of my friends is dressing up as a Scot, complete with a real kilt from Scotland. I’m a little scared. But he and I are going to go to HOLLAH-WEEN, an event in my living area that is designed to keep students on campus for Halloween, and thus keep them safe.

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Lack of Color, Gain of Knowledge

Kelsey Bjugstad Thursday, October 8th, 2009

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.

The same concept is true in my Exodus/Deuteronomy class. I heard that Exo/Deut was a really interesting course but then I realized it was studying Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This might sound really interesting to you, but for me, I’ve always kind of prefered the New Testament. I didn’t randomly pick up my Bible and decide I was just going to read Exodus and Leviticus. (Awesome if you do though!) I’ve always heard “there is something new you can get out a Bible story each time you read it” and I really thought I understood that. But now I’m reading things in Genesis that I’ve never really read enough to understand before, even though I’ve read the entire book of Genesis. I think I’ve relied too much on felt-board versions of Bible stories than really reading the text for what it says.

I’m sorry that I don’t have any colorful pictures or videos this blog but be ready for my next one!

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Go Away!

Ellie Kipps Monday, October 5th, 2009

So I’m sitting here in my lovely apartment after a whirlwind of a weekend. I most definitely didn’t get as much homework as I wanted to get done done… but I had fun, watched four movies (which for me… is ridiculous) but I’m using the excuse that I’m sick. Anyway, I was sitting here, doing a little bit of looking forward and thinking about possible plans for next summer. I’m planning on going to Israel this summer with the School of Theology to study the geographical and historical setting of the bible and take part in an archaeological dig. No big deal.

Wait. What? Rewind. That’s right. Going. to. Israel. To. Do. Summer. School. What?! The thought of it blows my mind. I doubt that the reality of it is even going to hit until I board the plane in June with the group of students and professors.

But I’m also throwing around the possibility of going on a summer missions trip this year, with may term and all, I figured out that I can actually do both. So there is a possibility that about 5 days after May Finals, I get on a plane, fly to Africa, serve there for about 5-6 weeks, come back, debrief for like 4 days, and then take off to Israel. For someone who is an adventure and experience junkie… the thought of this thrills my mind. Then, I’d be returning from Israel mid-July, taking some time off to decompress, packing my trunk, and heading off to Oxford for the fall semester of my junior year. Now I don’t want my reader to get the idea that this is some posh and lavish thing only people with a whole lot of money and their parents paying the whole way can do (because I’m certainly not in that camp).

For missions, you raise the money with your team. For Israel, you work and save and look ahead and say that if this is important enough for you to experience, it is worth taking the hit in finances. For Oxford, you pay the SAME amount for the semester as you would on the normal APU campus, and your scholarships are factored in.

APU has sooooo many possibilities! And those possibilities aren’t just for those fortunate enough to be able to not worry about the expenses. These are real possibilities for every student who comes here. To study abroad and do missions and even maybe get to do summer school in a foreign land (my roommate is thinking about doing summer school in Lithuania this summer). When APU says: GO AWAY! They mean it (in a loving manner of course). This school is about going out, living life in the fullest of the experience and the challenges and encountering God on a daily basis, whether it be here in Azusa, or in Isreal, or Utah, or Mexico, or Africa, or England, or China. Tomorrow is the Focus International Missions Chapel and I’m so excited! One of the main reasons I came to this school is the emphasis that this education, this life, these gifts and stories God has given us aren’t just for us. And that there is a whole wide world out there to explore and serve and get to know and fall in love with and hurt for.

APU understands that adventure and a broadening of horizons and experiencing God and new cultures is essential to the spiritual growth of Christian who are in this world, but not of it, and that’s something I absolutely, 100% love about this school.

So Go away! And See and serve the World!

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catching your breath.

Ellie Kipps Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Hey guys. This semester has been a whirlwind and it just began… I can’t believe September is almost over already! I’m excited about what I’m learning, but I’m not going to lie and say that it is by any means easy. I’m challenged each and every day in all my classes to think deeper, comprehend bigger concepts, and write more eloquently than ever before. I told one of my profs “my brain hurts”, and her response (a bit to my chagrin): “Good! Your brain SHOULD hurt!” Due to the stress and craziness of moving in and getting settled, starting classes, learning Hebrew (which, let me tell you, is an awesome language… but ridiculously hard), writing paper after paper…. I haven’t been doing a great job of slowing down, taking time to process and be with God and thank Him for the blessing that is this amazing education.

That mindset changed last thursday, when I attended my favorite and most cherished chapel time: liturgical chapel. Something I love about APU is that they are non-denominational and they allow students to be exposed to new kinds of worship styles and experiences they might have not ever gotten to experience outside of their home church/life. They also provide places of worship that are familiar and for me, liturgical chapel, which is strange to a lot of people, is my preferred style of worship and reflection due partly from my upbringing and partly because I’m a history and theology nerd. Anyway, Liturgical Chapel is a great place to slow down and realize that God is first, not my studies or my social life, but Him. It is a place to be poured into by the Spirit, and in a prayerful consideration, and respect of the traditions of the earliest church part take in the Eucharist as well as other actions of ancient Christian worship such as anointing, communal creedance, etc.

Regardless of your feelings of High vs. Low Church tradition, or even your personal views on the Lord’s Supper, I dare all students to try out a Liturgical Chapel at least once, going into with an open heart and mind and a willingness to try something a little different. I sometimes will spend 2 hours in liturgical chapel, even though you are dismissed after one hour, to take the time and space to mediate on my heart and what God is working on in me. Since thursday I’ve been trying to be more intentional about a silly phrase, but meaningful none the less: catching my breath.

The word for sprit can also mean wind or breath. As in God breathed on man. This image has been in my mind since Thursday of God breathing into my life despite me being winded from running like crazy with my schedule and school and social life. I must take the time to stop running, and catch my breath, or perhaps receive the Breath of Life God is Breathing into me. Tonight that manifested itself in a way of taking time to work out, something that I love to do. In the middle of running very hard, I was counting my breathes to my pace and I found myself feeling a sense of peace, a sense of rejuvenation despite the fact my to-do list can’t be contained on a single page, and that as I’m trying to be intentional about taking the time to catch my breathe, He is working amidst the stress and challenges of being a full-time honors student.

So tonight, if this catches you, if you are tired and weary and stressed out and overwhelmed with work or school or some other life circumstance… take time to catch your breath. Do something that is completely against your to-do list: take a walk, listen to music, read a non-school book (or better yet scripture), go for a run, bake a cake, or sit in the silence with the Lord your God who loves you and is breathing into your life.

Breath.

Breath.

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