Growing up, I was always the curious child that did not want to do what everyone else was doing. When kids were playing football on the playground, I would dig in the dirt and search for rocks. When my classmates started developing a sense of fashion in elementary school, I took it upon myself to wear long multicolored socks to school every day. When people began to listen to pop music, I dove headfirst into EDM. Conformity was not in my dictionary. For the longest time, I remember often feeling left out or looked down upon because of my lack of interests in what everyone else seemed to be enjoying. However, I carried on and did what I liked without thinking too deeply about how this was beginning to shape my personality.

After elementary school my family moved to another town, and I entered junior high with no friends, no familiarity, and no understanding of pop culture. Even worse, I lacked an identity. I viewed seventh grade as an opportunity to start over, to have a clean slate. No one knew me, so I could become whoever I wanted to be. The issue was that I set my sights on the wrong goals, and that I started to strive for the affirmation of the people around me. The transition to high school was even unhealthier, as I lost my sense of self in a sea of identity confusion. I lost myself to those around me, and I came out of high school without knowing who I was or what I wanted to do with my life.

Transitioning to college was a repeat of what I had been living for those seven years: an unchanging cycle of unhappiness, comparison, and a lack of self-worth and confidence in who I was called to be. I arrived on campus at Liberty University with no friends, no familiarity, and I was in a new city five hours from home. I lost most of my freshman year to poor time management, superficial friendships, and the lie that I did not belong here. I begged God to help me fit in, to bring good friends into my life, and to show me true joy. Nevertheless, I continued to seek affirmation from the people and things around me.

My sophomore year at Liberty began much like my freshman year. A new hall, few friends, and a stage of life that I was still quite unfamiliar with. This year was different, as my faith and trust in the Lord began to grow, and my appreciation for this community began to expand. God began to slowly answer my prayers by giving me deeper, healthier friendships. One of these friends in particular, my RA, recommended that I check out Student Activities as a place to work. He was on event staff, and he enjoyed it, so he felt that I would appreciate the job too. The following spring semester, I began working for Student Activities as an event staff. The position forced me to quickly build my confidence while at the coffee promos across campus, and it challenged me to think outside the box, something I had not valued in years. My identity was so caught up in what others wanted to hear, that I had forgotten to value my own creativity. Student Activities gave me that push to regain my confidence in who I am, what I stand for, and what makes me unapologetically me.

Fast forward to today, and most people who know me would say that I am a different person now. Student Activities continually plays a large role in helping me realize the value of my own unique perspective, and it has given me the freedom to share that unique angle with a team of diverse coworkers and life-long friends. I am grateful to God for softening my heart over the past two years to the truth that my identity was not in the things or people of this world, but in Him alone. Paul writes about our identity in Christ saying, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we are called to stand out from the crowd in a world full of conformity.

I can proudly say I have been working on turning back to the way I lived before conformity, back to that child-like curiosity I always had deep inside.

 

Written by: Zachary Grabill

Zachary is a Junior studying Business Administration: Project Management and Supply Chain Management. He is passionate about music, traveling, and adventure, and enjoys sharing his experiences with others. He appreciates the opportunity to write for the blog as a platform to both entertain and discuss culture from a creative and personal perspective.

To many, Christmas time brings images of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, piles of desserts and treats, and stockings stuffed to the brim with carefully wrapped presents of all shapes and sizes. For many families, however, their Christmas celebrations cannot not live up to the commercial expectations of the season. The Great Depression, through the collapse of the stock market and banking systems in the 1930s led to a universally felt recession. Families at every income level across America found themselves struggling to put food on the table, let alone make ends meet.

In those times, Christmas took on a new meaning. Families did not gather around the Christmas tree, if they even had one, to open presents and assess gifts. Parents, grandparents, children, siblings got together in gratitude for what they had and for the ability to celebrate together. The ‘normal’ gift a child would receive on Christmas during this time was a stocking that included an orange, a handful of nuts, and a little bit of candy if you were lucky. Their Christmas dinner did not consist of a wide array of decadent dishes; instead, they ate the simple meals that were offered at soup kitchens or were easy to make with the limited ingredients they could afford.

When imagining Christmas decorations, images of bright lights, glittery ornaments, and stunning displays of green and red come to mind. During the Great Depression, however, Charlie Brown’s tree is more representative of the times. The only elaborate decorations were found at the large retail stores, seemingly unaware of the middle classes’ impoverished state.

It is difficult to imagine, in our modern times of televised Christmas parades, with delicately decorated Christmas trees lining the streets, and perfectly wrapped presents, that the Christmas magic could persevere through the lack of material wealth. While no one wishes for another widespread recession, the recent isolation of COVID-19 served as a reminder that Christmas joy can thrive despite unprecedented circumstance. It is not the methodology or price tags of traditions that create lasting memories. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the commerciality and stresses of the season to get the perfect gift, have the most beautiful tree, and get the best Instagram worthy snapshot of the holiday.

Christmas is ultimately a time to reflect on the birth of our Savior. The One who loved first. The One who reached and respected those who were always forgotten. The One who would later suffer a sinner’s death for us while never having sinned Himself. The One who continues to love us and walk with us generations later.

While the Christmas season generates beautiful landscapes and decorations, let us not get wrapped up in the superficial allure and forget to praise our God for gifting us our Savior. The magic of the season does not come through glitter or ribbon, but through one birth in a random manger in Bethlehem.

At Coffeehouse this year, we hope to encapsulate the pure joy of Christmas that only comes through the celebration of Jesus Christ. Through our theme, we hope to highlight the small nostalgic details of Christmastime that do not get a primetime commercial spotlight. Christmas is merry, not through the lights wrapped around pine leaves or ribbons tied perfectly around wrapped boxes, but in the small memories of cobblestone fireplaces and grandma’s tacky wallpaper that remind you of the unadulterated joy that comes with imperfect yet genuine family celebrations of our Savior’s arrival.

We hope you will join us on December 4th for Coffeehouse to reminisce on the true meaning of Christmas and spend the night appreciating the small things that truly make this season merry and bright.

 

Written by: Giana DePaul

Giana is a Sophomore studying Government: Politics and Policy. Giana enjoys writing for the blog to express her love of people, cultural issues, and to illustrate the influence of God in every aspect of life. She hopes to express her unique experiences and knowledge through writings filled with compassion, discernment, and personality.

When I pictured going to my first college event, I never thought it would be watching a jazz ensemble on a muddy Thursday night. Yet, there I was, walking with my five-dollar blanket from Walmart to the Academic lawn with my roommates. Jazz Night was one of the first welcome week events offered my first semester at Liberty. I had just barely met my second roommate Cassandra, I was overwhelmed by the thought of starting college classes so soon, and missed home despite only being away for four days. So, it was safe to say, the last thing I really wanted to do was go listen to a genre of music I was pretty sure I didn’t like with people I didn’t know.

Being still in the midst of COVID-19 regulations, there was a line leading up to the stage where groups would be spread out by the staff. My roommates and I joined the line behind a large group of guys. Randomly, (at least for me at the time) one of the guys started talking to us. Reminiscing on this night over a year later, I could not for the life of me tell you what this conversation was about. What I do remember, however, is Liberty feeling just a little bit more like home having had that random conversation with the group of guys.

Cassandra was meeting up with her friend Chad from high school, but he was running late to catch up with us in line. The joke of the evening then became “where’s Chad?” The guys we had just met had no idea who this Chad was, but suddenly about ten extra people were concerned with his whereabouts. Within ten minutes of meeting these new people, I already felt like I had made so many college friends. This immediately erased my overarching fear that I would never find my people at college.

Once the music began, my roommates and the group of guys found our spots in the grass in front of the Montview steps where the stage was set up. In true Lynchburg fashion, it had poured rain the night before. That meant that the grass was extremely muddy as a result. The second I put my blanket down for all of us to sit on, it got drenched. We spent a majority of the concert, doing what must have looked like musical chairs, trying to not sink into the mud piles that emerged. On the bright side, this forced quick bonding between my roommates and our newly found friends.

We spent the rest of the concert getting to know each other, sharing stories from back home, and enjoying the smooth melody of the brass instruments in the background. That night foreshadowed a lot of my college life to come. Remember that ‘where’s Chad’ conversation? Well, we found him. While my roommates and our new friends discussed the possible, yet ridiculous, places he may be, Chad had run into and befriended a stranger himself to bring to Jazz Night. That stranger would soon turn out to be one of my best friends at Liberty, Michaela. The funny thing is, I don’t remember meeting her that night at all. All I know is that I went into Jazz Night expecting to feel out of place, awkward, and constantly hope that it was time to leave. When I left, however, I felt content knowing that I do know how to make friends and that the scary college strangers aren’t so scary after all.

Even though we all exchanged numbers that night, I don’t think I have talked to any of the guys from that group since Jazz Night. I still talk to Michaela and Chad. My roommates and them, plus a few others, actually make up my core group of friends here at Liberty. I am forever grateful for Jazz Night, not just because it brought me Michaela or because it grew my relationship with my roommates; I’m grateful that so early on that event showed me the kindness of Liberty’s student body. Since then, I’m unafraid to strike up conversation with the person next to me in class or who’s in front of me in line at the Grid. My favorite part about Student Activities is how well you get to understand the welcoming culture of our university at their events. So, whether it be Jazz Night, Bingo, Coffeehouse, or anything in between, come check out our events…you never know who you’ll meet.

 

Written by: Giana Depaul

Giana is a Sophomore studying Government: Politics and Policy. Giana enjoys writing for the blog to express her love of people, cultural issues, and to illustrate the influence of God in every aspect of life. She hopes to express her unique experiences and knowledge through writings filled with compassion, discernment, and personality.

Music impacts people. It changes trajectories of lives, and it translates into every language. Jazz is just one of many translations of this universal language of music but the depth, soul, heritage, and deep-rooted history that runs through it draws people in and captivates them.

When deciding how to approach this introduction to jazz as a genre for our students here at Liberty, I thought what better way to gain perspective on this incredible genre of music than through a former student! Scott Richardson graduated from Liberty University in May 2021 with a degree in business (I know this is kind of ironic so just track with me) and now works in youth and worship ministry at a church near Washington D.C. Although Scott was a business major, during his time at Liberty he developed a love for jazz. Scott is a guitarist who had always been in love with music, but while at Liberty he was introduced to artists who proved to him what he thought couldn’t be true, that guitar had a place in jazz music. His introduction to jazz came of out of nowhere, but with influences such as guitarists George Benson and Joe Pass, Scott was able to see the major role that guitar plays in this complex genre and how he could be a part of it.

Starting off my time talking Scott, I asked him if there was one song in the jazz genre that I should listen to, what would it be and why? After much internal conflict, he told me that the one song he would recommend would be “These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)” by Thelonious Monk. This song is a solo piano piece that Scott heard soon after he had begun exploring the world of jazz. When explaining to me why he would recommend it he told me that for him it was the first song he had ever heard that displayed emotions without having lyrics. For him this impacted him as he was uncovering the many layers of the genre and allowed him to hear and experience harmony and music in a new way.

As music impacts all of us, this is no different for Scott as the jazz genre has played a significant role in his life. Scott described jazz as a sort of soundtrack for his life. We all have those moments in our lives where can almost hear a certain song playing, like the moments when you’re dancing in the rain, and you can just feel the tension of the song “Electric Love” by Borns. For Scott, this looks like moments with the building tension of different jazz artists playing in the background. Jazz opened the doors of the joy of music and discovery for Scott as he lived in these almost movie like moments where jazz just seemed to follow him. He explained how jazz kept him involved in music as he expressed that there’s always something new to learn in jazz. Scott said, “Jazz seems to be this endless reservoir of ideas” and in this endless reservoir he has found a joy that has outlast all other genres of music.

There are misconceptions about all things and jazz is not an exception to this, as many people have misconceptions of jazz that are founded in baseless opinions. Scott explained that many people believe that the genre is a dying genre, and some people believe that it is already dead. That is just simply not the case! Scott explained how many people view jazz today as just a recreation of the past, but there are plenty of new cats on the scene (cats are jazz musicians! You learn something new every day!) like Cory Henry, Julian Lage, and Robert Glasper. Scott also expressed how many people believe that jazz is boring when it is far from that! Many people have made opinions of jazz without ever experiencing a live show and to Scott that is where the problem lies. There are so many things about jazz that draws people in and it is impossible to find a live jazz performance boring because of this! Scott emphatically expressed that more people should go to live jazz performances as it will bring a whole new light and meaning to the genre.

Culture is largely impacted by music and to say jazz has played a role in the influence of American culture is a vast understatement. The first thing that comes to someone’s mind usually has a lot of significance to them and for Scott, when describing the impact of jazz on culture, his first thought was jazz taught people to dance! Since most jazz throughout history was largely founded and based in clubs, the alure of dancing is strongly attached to it. Jazz makes people want to move, the rhythm, the harmonies, the basic sound, all of it together gets people onto their feet and dancing in the street because they simply can’t help it! (if the rhyme is too much I DEEPLY apologize) Outside of just the simple idea that jazz brings people to life, we see how jazz brought African American culture into mainstream American culture. The melting pot that is this country accepted jazz and the African culture attached to it as jazz is heavily, and almost entirely, influenced by African polyrhythms. Scott expounded on this greatly during out interview as he told me about the acceptance of African American culture that was brought through jazz. He explained that the culture of African Americans was one that was largely suppressed or even viewed as illegitimate in the past but through jazz music, this incredible culture became a staple in pop culture. The influence of jazz on music and culture is obvious but the most significant influence is the fact that it gave African Americans a well-deserved voice in pop culture. This influence has in no way stopped today as without its influence, there wouldn’t be R&B or hip hop. These two genres were heavily influenced by jazz and without this genre they would simply cease to exist. Even outside of these specific genres that have been influenced, without the harmonies created in the 40s and 50s, music would not look the same today. Scott explained that although jazz isn’t considered to be “pop” anymore, artists like Frank Sinatra and Nat Cole set a standard for many different pop stars today and will continue to influence artists to come.

The last question that I asked Scott in our time together was just how has jazz changed over time and what does it look like in our generation? He answered that jazz doesn’t quite look the same as it once did with the past there were acoustic instruments and large bands and quartets. Today, jazz music no longer is primarily acoustic sets and quartets are a lot more uncommon as technology has changed and artists now can create a new sound. Scott explained that there is no point in trying to recreate old sounds or trying to replicate jazz bands of the past because new cats will generally not measure up to the old cats, but that is okay! There is the reinforcement of the idea that jazz is this endless reservoir that people can draw from to create and keep on creating! This is exciting as artists can develop new ideas and new styles in this unending genre of music.

As I finished up my interview with Scott, I found myself to be left in awe. Honestly walking into this interview with very minimal knowledge of jazz, I am now walking away with a deep respect and draw to this incredible genre that seems to have the depths of an ocean. I am excited beyond words that Liberty Student Activities gets to present our student body with such an incredible opportunity to experience something so lovely and worthy of our attention at Jazz Night.

 

Written by: Elisabeth Hardy

Elisabeth is a Psychology Counseling major with minors in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry. She is passionate about using opportunities to show the creativity of God and His presence! She loves writing for the blog as a way to express herself and be creative about things that are fun and relevant..

Hello fellow Liberty students! I hope you have all had a great semester! We made it through those first few weeks, rested during Fall Break, and now that Halloween has just passed, we can move on to the best holiday of all – Christmas!! I know this is a controversial topic, but I believe that Christmas should be celebrated for as long as possible, so I am more than happy to bust out the Christmas sweaters, make some gingerbread man cookies, and crank up the Christmas songs on November 1^st. Don’t get me wrong – I love Thanksgiving too. But nothing beats the magic and joy of Christmastime.

Luckily for me, I have gotten to participate in many Christmas-themed activities since September because we at Student Activities have been working hard on our biggest event of the semester – Christmas Coffeehouse! We realize that many of you may not really know what Coffeehouse is as we have not been able to host a full Coffeehouse shows since 2019 due to Covid. But, have no fear, we are back to our regularly scheduled Coffeehouses featuring several student bands, lots of lights, 8,000 attendees, and of course, plenty of Christmas magic!

Coffeehouse is a long-standing Liberty Tradition. Student Activities finds the best of on campus artists and bands and puts on a huge variety show featuring fellow students. Coffeehouse happens at the end of every semester, boasting 8,000 attendees every year. This is the perfect time to take a break from studying for finals and enjoy some great entertainment with your friends!

To give you a taste of what Coffeehouse is all about, we wanted to present to you some of our favorite past Christmas performances. In 2019, Jingle Thomas & the Bell Bottoms performed “Wonderful Christmastime” at Coffeehouse. The song started low and smooth, with just the lead singer and keys playing the first chorus. But, you can’t have a wonderful Christmastime with all your friends without a little excitement – so they kicked it up a notch and suddenly the whole 5-piece band, with heads adorned with Santa hats of course, chimed in. What they delivered was a fun, high energy, unforgettable number. They had the whole room dancing and singing along. And they ended with a high note (literally) that left the audience on their feet.

This is what Coffeehouse is all about! Having a Wonderful Christmastime with those you love, laughing and dancing. We hope that you will join us on December 4^th for Christmas Coffeehouse to hear bands just like this one!

 

Written by: Sarah Day

Sarah is a junior majoring in Youth Ministry. Sarah enjoys writing for the blog because she loves exploring the ways that the simplest things in our lives impact us in the most meaningful ways. She is passionate about connecting with people, talking about what truly matters and baking.

Natalia Alianovna “Natasha” Romanova, also known as Black Widow, is the focal point of the 2021 Marvel movie bearing the same title. A longtime favorite of Marvel fans, this spy-turned-assassin portrayed by Scarlett Johansson finally gets the attention she deserves in her first solo film. “Black Widow” shines its light on a character with a long-delayed story and acts as a thrilling way to bring Marvel fans back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe after a long period of a movie theater-less world.

Black Widow made her first appearance in the comics through an Iron Man storyline debuting in 1964. The earliest version of “Nat” was that of a Russian spy, villain, and temptress. Her origin began as the formulaic damsel in distress, and much of her character based off sexist stereotypes from the 1960’s. Leading into the 1970’s, Black Widow’s character went through a transformative period, giving her the familiar black suit and red hair that anyone can recognize today. Over time, her character was reimagined, leading to her join S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and eventually becoming a staple superhero in the Marvel comics. However, she still faced the same hyper sexualization that many comic book heroes and heroines portrayed in throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The late 1990’s gave way to a ret-con in which Natasha was rewritten as an elite soldier of the Red Room in the Black Widow program, a secret training facility that transformed orphans into covert spies for the Russian government. These comics inspired the character that we all know from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Black Widow” aims to fill in the gaps throughout Natasha’s storyline, and to correct the shortcomings of her complicated past in the Marvel Universe.

Beware some major spoilers, as this film covers vast amount of ground between Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. “Black Widow” takes place between Civil War and Infinity War, filling in the plot gap for several characters in the MCU. We get a glimpse into Natasha’s early life in the 1990’s as an orphan girl with her sister Yelena, played by Florence Pugh, and her spy father and mother, portrayed by David Harbour and Melina Weisz. Transitioning to after Civil War, we see Natasha on the run from the American government after violating the Sokovia Accords. She reunites with Yelena and her family to return the remaining Widow’s to normal women with the help of chemical subjugation.

The movie is light with its villains, with the inclusion of both General Dreykov, leader of the Red Room, and Taskmaster, a masked villain with the power to mimic the fighting skills. The film does not sell out though, as it focuses its attention more on the storyline between a family torn apart by war and lies. “Black Widow” tells a simpler story without the incessant action of superhero movies.

Natasha is redefined in this movie as a real human being, and not just a manufactured super-spy. Her storyline is fleshed out and complete after the finality of her fate in Avengers: Endgame.

“Black Widow” chooses to shift its focus from fighting and violence to a deep dive into one of the MCU’s most underrated characters. It also serves as a way to pass the baton to Yelena as her new successor. In passing, Natasha says, “At some point, we all have to choose between what the world wants you to be and who you are.” This message encompasses the importance of the film to Marvel and to fans of the comics and movies. Natasha Romanova has been redefined and given life as not just a secondary character, but a leading figure. For a story about family, introspection, and facing life’s obstacles, come see “Black Widow” on Saturday, October 23^rd at the East Satellite Lot to be entertained.

References:

https://www.theringer.com/marvel-cinematic-universe/2021/7/6/22564989/black-widow-mcu-history-scarlett-johansson-natasha-romanoff-avengers

 

Written by: Zachary Grabill

Zachary is a Sophomore studying Business Administration: Project Management. He is passionate about music, traveling, and adventure, and enjoys sharing his experiences with others. He appreciates the opportunity to write for the blog as a platform to both entertain and discuss culture from a creative and personal perspective.

Forged in the “Home of the Blues & Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Memphis, Tennessee, the Christian-rock band, Skillet, has been roaring onto stages and turning up in Billboard charts since 1996. The heavy rock four-piece consists of front-man John Cooper, his wife Korey Cooper (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Jen Ledger (drums, vocals, as well as solo performer), and Seth Morrison (lead guitar). Skillet has definitely become a household name in the Christian-rock community and shows no signs of plateauing anytime soon.

During their 25 years of shredding in the name of Jesus (editor, am I allowed to say that? serious question) (editor note: yes), the band has released ten albums, two of which received Grammy nominations (Collide and Comatose, respectively), and their eighth album, Awake, debuted at the number two spot on the Billboard Top 200 in 2009. It was this album that truly brought Skillet into the music world’s spotlight. Songs from the aforementioned record would appear in NFL promotional ads, feature as the theme song for WWE events, and included as songs to be played in the mega popular video game, Rock Band 2. But what has led to their resounding success?

Skillet has found favor in the ears of their current 6 million plus monthly listeners on Spotify for their raw and unapologetic sound. The band does not shy away from personal and difficult topics within their lyrics. It’s their honesty and transparency that adds to the group’s intrigue and breaks down barriers. Take for example their two biggest singles, “Monster” and “Hero”. In the former, lead singer John Cooper belts out lyrics of a deep, dark feeling within himself that he wants to hide away from everyone. As the chorus rings out, he feels “like a monster”. In the second mentioned track, “Hero”, Cooper again sings of his personal struggles, this time regarding his feeling of helplessness to save himself and aligning with the track’s title, is in need of a hero. These are universal themes that practically everyone as human beings can relate to. This is part of what makes the group especially unique. They are able to draw in secular fans by making truly great music while remaining true to their Christian values through the undertones of their lyrics. The strong and defiant style Skillet plays with makes them feel even more genuine and personable and makes it no wonder that they have become a staple not only in the Christian-rock community, but amongst hard rock fans all around the world.

Passion is unquestionably at Skillet’s core, and their concerts certainly don’t lack any of it either. So, grab your tickets to experience Skillet in the Vine’s Center on October 29th, and find out for yourself why they are dubbed as one of this generation’s most successful rock acts!

References:

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/skillet-mn0000749571

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/arts/music/exalting-the-sacred-wooing-the-secular.html

https://skillet.fandom.com/wiki/Skillet_(Band)

 

Written by Jordan Hassler

Jordan is a Sophomore studying Event Planning with a Biblical Studies minor. He enjoys expressing his creativity through words, and sharing his experiences and personality by way of writing. He’s passionate about music, nature, and forming genuine connections with others.

With Homecoming weekend here and with CFAW quickly approaching at the end of this month it makes me reflect on some memorable moments from a past CFAW. As students, we tend to look at CFAW as or an event like Homecoming as a plague that will make it harder to find parking, longer lines at Garbanzo, and constantly hear the words “Rebar-Thomas Dinning Hall. All jokes aside, CFAW is such a unique opportunity given to us.

I think back to a time when I met a specific family visiting for CFAW last semester in the Spring. To protect their privacy, we will say the mom’s name is Misty and the daughter’s name was Kaylee. As I was working a coffee promotion shift for my job this mom and daughter introduced themselves as I offered them some coffee. This was pretty standard, and I did not think anything of it. I asked where they were from as they answered Charlotte. They returned me with the same question. Now I had answered this about 500 times that day saying the city in which I was from. Before I could even think I said, “I live not too far from Hanging Rock State Park”.  I immediately thought to myself, “what in the world was that? You’re like 30 mins from there”. To my surprise, Misty and Kaylee just looked at me and began to cry. With confusion and comfort, I looked back at them and began to apologize for anything I may have said that would provoke these tears. Kaylee looked back at me and apologized and began to explain how her cousin had a hiking accident at this mountain. The year prior, Andrew had fallen off the mountain and was rushed to the hospital. They explained how Andrew was now paralyzed from the chest down and began to cry again. At this point I began to tear up and then I emphasized how sorry I was. I then tried to relate to them and explained how a good friend of mine had a similar experience around the same time as Andrew’s accident. The summer before my friend Mark had a swimming pool diving accident that has left him paralyzed from the waist down.

By now, the three of us are teary eyed because of the pain we all had felt in the past year as we watched people we love suffer from such difficult situations. Seconds go by, then suddenly Misty looks at me and asks if Mark was sent to Shepherd Center for his rehab. My glossy eyes looked up as I said “Yes! That’s exactly where he was sent! But how do you know about Shepherd Center?”. She then exclaimed, that Andrew was sent to Shepherd Center for his therapy as well!

I just couldn’t believe that Andrew from Winston Salem, North Carolina and Mark from Memphis, Tennessee both ended up in Atlanta, Georgia at Shepherd Center. Both these cities stretch over 300 miles away from Atlanta in opposite directions.

As I processed what God was obviously doing, I watched as Misty’s eyes filled with life. “I have held such a heavy weight for my family, and you are one of the only that understands what it is like to be on this side of this trauma”, said Misty. She began to explain how she has been strong for her family and how God has still been so faithful in her life and in the life of Andrew. Speechless I responded by asking her if I can pray for her and Kaylee and for the recovery process for Andrew and Mark.

After praying, this mom and daughter looked up at me with tear filled eyes and just simply say, “Thank you”. Misty then expressed how God has made her feel seen in her struggles and that she needed to have this conversation.

It was at this moment I realized that God had used this in my life as well. As I watched them walk away, I recalled a prayer from the day before when I asked God to confirm my call to ministry. This was the moment; this was the confirmation! It flooded my thoughts and emotions, and I realized my call was confirmed through this woman and her daughter. I realized that God was confirming my call to help and remind others of the faithfulness of God. He had given me the words to speak even when I did not know what to say.

I say all of this so we, as the student body, remember to never miss an opportunity to open ourselves up to talk with others. What seemed to just be another coffee promotion shift became a ministry opportunity and a life-giving conversation. As we continue to put on events and as students continue to visit for CFAW we should look for opportunities to pour into a family or take the opportunity to have a deep conversation. You might be surprised what could come out of the conversation. Who knows, maybe they could be a blessing to or maybe you can be a blessing to them? The only way to know is by stepping out of your comfort zone and stepping away for the normality of everyday life and investing into a meaningful conversation.

 

Written by Riley Anderson

Riley is a junior majoring in Christian Leadership and Church Ministry with a minor in Biblical Studies.

The year is 2015. Christmas Coffeehouse is in full-swing and expectations are high as ever. Students don’t come to Coffeehouse for mediocre, they come for memorable, and on this particular December night in the Vines Center, memorable is what they got. Vegan Llamas, the five-piece rock band, enters the stage guns blazing (metaphorically) and heads banging (literally) with dazzling green lights, sleeveless vests, and a keytar. The Richmond-based ensemble rocks out their performance of “The Beautiful Grinchmas”, and the next four minutes and fifty-one seconds is an experience almost too spectacular for words (but that’s why I’m here).

Imagine “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” meets 80’s electronic rock. The classic Christmas track is belted out over electric guitars and heart-pounding drums. There’s a keytar solo that could nearly bring you to tears. Tongues are wagging, heads are banging, and Santa hats are flinging across the stage. It’s loud, it’s wild, it’s Christmas, it’s…beautiful. Fake snow descends upon picking fingers and the audience erupts into a standing ovation (the only proper response to such an experience). I guess you could say everyone was rockin’ around the Christmas tree.

Along with stunning live performances, Christmas Coffeehouse is also host to many hilarious and clever student-submitted videos. One infamous example is 2017’s “LUPD Bananas on the Rot”. For context for new or transfer students, Liberty at one point had an epidemic (one we don’t recommend bringing back unless you like the smell of rotting fruit) of students throwing bananas on to the roof of the Rot. 

The video depicts four Liberty students acting as Liberty University Police Department officers partaking in a good amount of hilarity, such as buying an absurd amount of donuts, stacking multiple parking fines on car windshields, and devising ridiculous strategies for hunting down the student responsible behind the banana vandalism. The four “officers” take turns doing interviews with the camera (“The Office” style) and run around campus garbed in aviators, fake mustaches, and jorts. It’s a genuine masterpiece.

The story reaches its climax when the boys find the banana vandal, only to be easily outran by the student through the academic lawn. The officers hatch a plan to dress as Santa to catch the student in the act and tackle him mid-throw in front of the Rot, bringing the potassium pranking to an end. All in a day’s work.

While I can’t promise a metal cover of “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, or a video of LUPD taking down The Slim’s Chicken Bandit at this year’s Christmas Coffeehouse, I am confident that you will have a night to remember. So, whether you want to be the one creating the masterpiece, or if watching it is more your speed, come on out to the Vines Center on December 4th and prepare to be amazed!

 

Written by Jordan Hassler

Jordan is a Sophomore studying Event Planning with a Biblical Studies minor. He enjoys expressing his creativity through words, and sharing his experiences and personality by way of writing. He’s passionate about music, nature, and forming genuine connections with others.

I write this blog with tear-filled eyes as I reflect on how blessed I am. This piece has been inspired by the wisdom that can come from a grandparent who has walked with the Lord for years and years. I was inspired to sit down with my grandparents and ask them questions about their lives and how they have seen God working throughout the years. I know many students no longer have this blessing to sit and talk with their grandparents. Yet, I hope this can inspire and help us glean wisdom as I walk through the interview with my grandparents.

For context, my grandparents have worked multiple different jobs through the years as well as upkeeping their farm in North Carolina. They are both strong believers who love their families and are heavily active in their local church to this day. Below are the questions I asked and the answers I received from my grandparents. They responded not only to me, but as if they were speaking to the student body.

Question 1: How has God shown his faithfulness in your life?

            My Pawpaw answered that there are many ways God has shown himself to be faithful. He emphasized that God has never failed him over the years and stated, “all the blessings He poured out on me: salvation, my family, health, job, and home.” My Nana answered, “God has always been faithful to me; just to wake me up in the morning and give me breath and a blessed life. Most of all: salvation, mercy, and grace which I don’t deserve.” Their hope, for us as a student body, is that we constantly reflect on the faithfulness of God in our own pasts and let that remembrance of his faithfulness lead us.

Question 2: Why do you still choose to believe in God after these many years?

            I wrote this question with hope that it would encourage the person who may doubt their faith. Even as a ministry major, I have asked the tough questions about God and His existence, so I wanted to ask my grandparents as well. I asked my Nana, how her belief in God has sustained for so many years and she said, “How could I not believe in God after all these years. I could not make it every day without Him helping me through the hard times. I am so blessed. With Him everything is possible”. My grandpa said, “his love for me, and looking back over the years, he has never failed me”. Their answers were such an encouragement for my heart and personal walk with the Lord. I know we all face tough days; half of college is made of fun times and the other half seems to be hard ones, but this reminder made me reflect on the faithfulness of God in my own college journey.

Question 3: What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

            I know this is such a cliché question, but Scripture is one of God’s ways of speaking to us, and when I asked my grandparents this question God spoke through these verses to me. My grandpa chose Psalm 37:23-24, “A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord supports him with his hand.” This passage blows me away and, in a time, where college is filled with so many uncertainties like: where will I work, who will I marry, will I finish my assignments, or will I be able to keep up financially? I can trust that God is leading me, and nothing is by mistake. Then my grandma answered and chose 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The she said that this has been the standard that she tries to live by. She also said that she feels like Psalm 139 waswritten for her and reading it left me speechless of God’s perfect love shown through this chapter. I encourage you to give that chapter a read and hear God’s word for us!

Question 4: What advice would you give to a student getting ready to start their career?

            For many students (myself included), it can be easy to worry about the future. Thinking about a career can be especially overwhelming, so I asked my grandparents for any advice they would give to these students. My grandpa said, “Always put God first. Never make a decision without going to Him in prayer. Seek Him first in all things and be sure to give God all the glory.” It was encouraging to be reminded that our focus is supposed to be on God in the first place and to never grow tired of waiting on the Lord. Then my grandma said, “Trust God to put you where He wants you in His will. I would not have you being out of God’s will for anything. Always know God is in charge. He has a special plan for you so much better than I can imagine. I pray he gives you guidance and wisdom to make decisions easy for you. God is good all the time; all the time God is good.” Remember, this was my Nana’s advice addressed to each person that reads these words (yes, you).

Question 5: What advice in general would you give college students?

            The college years are some of the most formative years of a person’s life. My grandparents have watched as I have grown and developed through my time here at Liberty. I know their answers were both prayed through and grounded in Scripture as they thought how to answer in a way that would help each of us in a time where life seems so busy, so fast, and so vital. When my grandpa was asked this question he said, “Do not get drawn into the things of the world. Satan will try to show you how good things could be if you follow him, but that “good” would be short-lived. So, my best advice is not to be fooled by Satan.” We all face temptations, but rarely do we consider these temptations to be a war for our attention. This warning to give God our attention and give him our life and our desires has been such a help to me. My grandma then answered, “Take college serious, but don’t take it so serious that you miss out on the whole experience. Life is short, not to you, young people, but it is too us older ones. Enjoy it all the good times and the bad.  Especially the first semester. Take the education of living life away from home and learning how to live it well.  Pray, pray, and pray some more.”. I cannot emphasize this enough. Through your time at Liberty make sure to take advantage of every moment and ever event. Whether it be Bingo nights, movie nights, or something as simple as just hall hangouts. Take advantage of every moment and spend time making memories and learning to love the people around you. The true shame would be missing out on what God has for us in this present moment.

Question 6: What is one life-changing lesson you have learned?

            Wow, this question was one that hit me personally. As I wrote down this question, I thought of all the limitless lessons that must make up the precious lives of my grandparents who have loved and followed the Lord for years. They have committed their lives and work to their heavenly Savior, so I can only image the trials that accompanied them through the years and allowed them to learn such things. My grandpa made the simple, but ground-shaking statement, “I can do nothing without the Lord”. I have seen this to always be true in my life. The quicker we learn this humbling truth, the faster we will lean on the Lord in complete surrender to His will for us. My grandma then followed up saying her lesson learned in life is, “We all have strongholds. I always thought that strongholds were like bad habits or bad choices. It is so much more. It is letting Satan get in your mind and influencing you to doubt Gods love for us, or God’s word, or the truth of the Bible. Don’t be afraid to let your request be made known. Pray for everything – even the little things. Don’t let Satan in. Always be on guard. Satan is on the prowl and looking for our weaknesses. Trust God. Nothing is too hard for God.”. I had never thought of a stronghold in my life simply being Satan trying to influence my thoughts. This has shaped, as I hope it will for many of you, how I think about my walk with Christ as I combat strongholds in my life.

            I hope this helps you, and in turn, those around you. I hope each of you see and know that the generations that have come before us have so much to teach us. Although they are not perfect, they want to help us. I want to thank my grandparents for sharing their wisdom with the student body at Liberty University. These words of wisdom have certainly helped me. May we always pray, pray, and pray all the more for the Lord to lead us.

References

The Holy BIBLE: CHRISTIAN Standard Bible: Holman Bibles. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

 

Written by Riley Anderson

Riley is a junior majoring in Christian Leadership and Church Ministry with a minor in Biblical Studies.