The Cost of a Christian College

There are a few times while here at Harding I wonder why I’m here.  Usually these instances deal with the infamous Bible Department.  There are people in the Bible Department I love dearly, Dr. Cox, Scott Adair, Dr. Stockstill, and a few others.  But on the whole the entire idea of the Bible Dept. makes me cringe.  For those who don’t know, at Harding, one is required to take Bible every semester, up to 8 semesters.  Let me make this clear it is a requirement.  (Keep this in mind for later use)  Unless you’re a Bible major, most of these classes are something that the students just put up with because they go to Harding.

Today was one of those days in Bible class that made my blood boil.  My Professor, DA, gave us a packet of material to read a few class periods ago.  When he wanted to discuss it today, practically no one in the class- including myself-had read the articles.  He then proceeded to give us a lecture.  He reminded us that we are not to be doing other class’ work during his class.  Fine.  He said we were supposed to read the material. Fine. The part that got my blood to boil was when he started telling us that we weren’t taking his class seriously and being “thoughtful” about the material. 

I’m sorry, sir, I don’t care about the material.  It is my requirement to graduate to be in your class.  I don’t work on other class’ work during your class, I doodle.  Why? Because I can’t stay wake otherwise.  You did not keep your promise not to preach at us like you said you wouldn’t.  You have.  That’s why your class is sedated when they leave.  Our salvation is our responsibility, not yours, stop trying to shove Jesus down our throats.  It only makes us gag.  The reason I picked your class sir?  Because I had to have a Bible class.  This was one of only two classes that fit into my schedule.  You want to know why I picked yours?  Because it was on the first floor.

I’m sick and tired of the Bible Dept. thinking that just because this is a Christian University they have the authority, nay, obligation to control every other department on campus as well as our minds and feelings toward their classes.  Get a clue DA.  We’re there because we have to be, not because we want to be.  You can’t guilt us into wanting to try in your class.  If I can half listen to what you’re blabbing on about in class doodle and still get a 96% in your class.  It can’t be me, ’cause I’ve got the grade.  By the way, it’s taken us five weeks to get through a chapter and a half.  Yeah… now can you see why there’s a problem.  At this rate we will only finish 4.5 chapters in one book of the 7 books we’re supposed to review this semester.

My challenge to Harding is: Stop hiring old preachers as teachers.  They are not academic teachers, send them to a church somewhere else where we don’t have to listen to them shove religion down our throats.  Learn the difference.  This is a school, not a Four-Year Long Sunday School Class.

end

Mein Obsession

So as many of you know, I am a slight musical theatre buff.  And by slight I mean, give me the [title of show] and I can probably tell you something about it, and if not, I soon will be able to.  Tonight I was looking at my last summer project which I lovingly brought to college with me — my musical theatre cd collection.  I will not go into detail about how I went about cataloguing my cds but let me tell you that of 56 different musical shows that I own, I know most of the storylines that accomany them, years, plots, and awards if pertinant.  Needless to say I like to escape to that world sometimes, the world where the sung line carries on as if it were real speech.  And it’s true people spontaniously break out into dance.  I know it’s not always “acceptable” for people of mein gender to attach themself to such a fanticiful world, but I enjoy it and get great pleasure from the escape it brings me.

This week has been long and I’m ready for a break.  I hope that everyone out there has something that can destress them the way that my musicals can bring me.  Oh and if anyone ever wants to play a round of “See how long it takes Jordan to guess the overture” I’m totally up for it.  Ask Alex Ritchie, it’s fun.

See ya, logos yo.

The Time Has Come (the Walrus Said)

Well I haven’t posted anything since my Tony rant a few months ago.  My apologies.  I’ve been busy (and when I haven’t been busy, I forgot that I had a blog.)  Well ladies and gentlemen.  The time that we’ve (or at least I’ve) been waiting for.  The start of school.  I know that not everyone is bubbly excited and by no means am I ecstatic about having to do schoolwork, go to chapel, and other things that accompany going to school at Harding.  What I am excited about is about the relationships that accompany the experience of college.  I look forward to renewing old friendships, reworking relationships that I am not happy with, and beginning new friendships.  I think that we as humans do not realize how wholly dependent we are on the interaction and deep relationships between our fellow humans.  It’s only since I’ve begun college that I’ve realized how much of a loner one can’t be.  If we as humans cannot bounce ideas off of one another, share laughs, sorrows, stupid times, and just life in general we cannot be truly a well rounded person.  We all depend, on some level, that human connection.  We love to love.  So I urge anyone who reads this to understand how it important it is for them and the people around them to establish those relationships with those around you and how much better that you will feel when you know that you can rely on someone.  I look forward to seeing those of you at school that I know.  See you in few weeks.

The Tony Awards

Did I miss something this year?  Apparently, Broadway had a pretty crumby season this year.  I mean, I may have been more excited about the plays than the musicals.  Let me give you a rundown of the Best Musical Candidates:

• Cry-Baby: A Broadwayization of another cult classic (from the same movie director of Hairspray).  Set in the fifties, it explores Communism, and other issues such as growing up and all that comes with it.  The music seems to be up the alley of Grease (one of my top least favorite musicals of all time, hate me if you wish)
• In the Heights (winner): Well folks it has happened.  Other than the composer making a complete fool out of himself with his crap acceptence speach.  We have ushered in the age of a Tony winning musical that is dominated by the spoken, not sung, song.  The “song”, I hesitate to even call it that, was a mix between rap, calypso and latino music.  I was thoroghly unimpressed.  It looks like an excuse to use rap as an artistic medium.  Story?  From the blub on the Tony website, doesn’t sound like there’s much of one.
• Passing Strange:  It seems also like the theme in stage shows is turning toward a rock concert experiance with the orchestra, which is really a rockband, on stage.  Passing Strange seems to me like it’s loud and obnoxious with a lot of meaningless lyrics.  It doesn’t look like there’s much of a set (a la Tony Award Winning ‘Spring Awakening’) and that it’s quite obtrusive to the musical theatre goer.  Not that I don’t like to see progress or things that will challenge an audience, I just think that they want at least something more to grasp than a bunch of people flailling on stage pretending to be rock stars.  That’s all I’m saying.
• Xanadu: Also another Broadwayization of a movie.  This one also of the same title.  I’m sure that this show would really be the only one I’d be willing to see.  I’m sure it has the music of which I’d most enjoy, although the plot sounds iffy.

So all in all I was quite disappointed by the showing of new shows.  It looked like Patti LuPone in Gypsy was amazing.  Sunday… George looked increadable.  Grease and South Pacific…. ehhh…  But all in all, I’m sure that these were the best this season, and if that’s true, that’s pretty sad.  They said that next season is going to be one of the best in Broadway history.  I hope they’re right, because if they’re not, Broadway is looking to alienate it’s old supporters and not gain any new generations that understand the significance and traitions that American Theatre has.

Alright, my rant is over.  Have a good night everyone.

Vacation Bible School… Not So Much of a Vacation

I want to start out this post by saying kudos to everyone that has ever been involved in a vacation bible school.  This means the planning, coming up with cirriculum, decorating, building, teaching, puppeteering, acting, crowd controlling, and so much more.  For those of you who don’t know there are hundreds of hours put into constructing what is the happy-go-lucky time for those kids 12 and under.  Fairgrounds Road (my home congregation) is in the midst of a three night VBS.  There have been so many good people to help out.  For our little congregation (average of 70) this is a big event and most if not everyone has helped out in some manner or another.  I just wanted to say thank you to those people who have made this happen and have you thank God that this event can take place and be a light in our community.  We’ve had 52 and 48 kids Monday and Tuesday respectively.  That’s at least 20 kids more than we had the final night last year.  Tomorrow we’re planning a Hullabaloo at the end as sort of a celebration.  It’s a good end to a great experiance.  I hope that those of you who work on VBSes understand just how much it means to the children, and how much more it can impact the parents.  So to all of you who put in that time and effort for the Kingdom, thank you, and I respectfully tip my hat.

Xi’an, Terra Cotta, Dumplings, and Much, Much, More (6-3-08)

We arrived in Xi’an and met our host Mr. Hoover (who kinda reminded me of a Chinese Mark Elrod) and took off in our busses.  Xi’an was, for most of China’s history, the capital.  We visited the Xi’an Forbidden City’s wall, which housed a museum on Feng Shui.  It was really interesting.  A little on the weird side, but hey it’s China right?  Then we went and ate and then the hotel.  That night, we also visited the Muslim market.  Suprisingly there are a lot of Muslims that live in China.  I think they said a little over a million Chinese were Muslim.  I bought most of my gifts there, and got to bargin and things, it’s quite enjoyable.  The next day we went to the tomb of the Terra Cotta soldiers.  It was amazing, there were over 8000 soldiers buried, each painted and with a differnt face.  It was really cool.  After that, we went to the University there in Xi’an.  We had “English Corner” time with some of the students there and had dinner.  Then we presented our final concert which went really well.  The Chinese seem to really enjoy the Spirituals, especially the MoHo Spirituals.  We then went back to the hotel and got ready to leave.  We got up the next day to tour the “Big Wild Goose Pagoda” (not related to the Yellow Crane Tower.)  Then we had A DUMPLING FEAST! It was fantastic.  There were 16 different kinds of dumplings.  It was one of the best meals we had in China.  Then we had to go to the airport.  NEVER EVER WILL I AGAIN USE CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES.  This time we couldn’t check our bags straight through to LAX from Xi’an.  Well we made it to Guangzhou then we had to get out, pick up our bags, recheck them, and then go through security all over again.  Let me tell you it was fantastic.  We then waited in the airport for about 2 hours before boarding a 12 hour flight to LAX.  Because China Southern had changed our flight to today instead of tomorrow they put us up at a hotel in LAX and paid for a meal at the hotel.  And what did we have as our first meal in America… That’s right…. Chinese Food.  It was a perfect end.  We all thought it was funny, but wasn’t nearly as good as most American or Chinese Chinese Food.  Well I’ve seen the sun rise and set twice today, so I’m going to bed.  I’m home and will write a summary sometime later.  Talk later.  ‘Night.

The Reeeeest of the Story (6-1-08)

So today is our last half day in Xining.  The past few days have been fun, if uneventful.  We’ve been to a few markets and met with “family”.  We went to a rug factory run by family on Friday they showed us how they make hand-knotted authentic Tibetan rugs.  They’re also about to make a deal with Crate & Barrel to sell their product.  It was really cool.  That night we did a small concert on the street in front of a delicious Italian restaurant.  Saturday we just hung out around Xining, and performed that night at the Three Self Church.  It was a good concert and may be the last one we do because we don’t know what’s going to happen concert-wise in Xi’an.  Alright, well I need to shut compy down and finish packing, we gotta be outta here by 7:30, see ya.

The Gateway to the West (of China!) (5-29-08)

So I feel like I’m at home, only in China.  No, just kidding, but apparently Xining is called the Gateway to the West.  Today was great, we got up and went to a Buddhist temple, it was kinda creepy, but very interesting.  We then walked up a small mountain (which put us at about 8000 ft.) and went to a park.  In the park we had an impromptu devo, it was incredible.  We then came back and I had a nap.  Afterward we had lunch and then got ready for the concert.  The concert tonight was neat because it was a benefit concert for the earthquake victims.  We raised about $1,300 for the victims, and the pastor from the Three Self Church (sanctioned Chinese church) asked us to do a concert on Saturday, it’s so exciting.  We got back and played cards a bit, then I decided to head to bed, which is where I’m going now, so I’ll talk later yo.  BYE!

The Wild, Wild, West (5-28-08)

Howdy y’all!  Greetings from Xining!  This is the farthest west we’ll be going on this trip.  Today started out horrible.  We had to get up at 4:30 this morning before leaving at 5:30.  Strike one.  I had done some laundry yesterday in our bathroom sink and had hung out four of my five shirts.  Then it rained last night, so I awoke this morning to four thoroughly soaked shirts.  Strike two.  It was raining when we left the dorm so we got soaked on our way to the bus.  Strike three.  The bus ride was the bumpiest bus ride I have ever had in my life.  Strike four.  When we got to the airport, there was a major hold up with China Southern (the airlines) and we almost missed our flight.  Strike five.  So yes, this morning went great.  Once we finally got to Xining, everything was wonderful, it was 65 degrees outside, and looked like Arizona.  We are the largest foreign group in memory to come this far to the west of China.  It’s exciting.  When we arrived at our location, it was fantastic.  The hostel we are staying at is nice and modern, it has Internet, YAY!  Then, because we hadn’t had lunch we walked to KFC, I know, but it was fast and easy, and I was starving.  So that’s about it for now, I’m sure I’ll update at least once more before we leave Xining.

Hot, Hot, Hot (5-26-08)

We’ve been in Changsha for a little over twenty-four hours now, and let me tell you, IT’S HOT.  Humid to boot.  We rode a train from Wuhan to Changsha and when we stepped off the train the air gave us a nice wet warm hug.  It was gross.  I don’t think I’ve been outside yet and not been sweating even at night.  Our dorm room’s air conditioning was broken when we got here, so Austin and I died last night, and didn’t sleep well to boot.  Today we toured little shops and things, it was a shopping day, but then there was lunch.  They took us to a Brazilian steakhouse… meat galore.  Needless to say I stuffed myself.  I had things ranging from duck to crab, pig liver to roast beef, and sausage to a completely whole fried baby sparrow (which was quite tasty, you ate the whole thing, head and all, in one bite.)  Afternoon we went to the new campus of Changsha University of Science and Technology, it was hot and I needed a nap, so I was a bit cranky.  We then went to a Chinese student fashion show.  Some were really nice, others…whoa… crazy.  It was fun though, I got to sit in A/C for and hour and a half.  After that and dinner we went to the “English Corner” where students meet to practice their English skills.  I talked to four students, three of whom were English majors, the fourth was in management and didn’t speak much English at all.  It was fun but I was hot and tired, and they don’t give you much personal space.  Needless to say I was glad, when we got back, to find they had fixed the air conditioning in our room.  I think I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.  ‘Night all.