These Kids Are Good!

Tonight was "Fine Arts Night" for me and my wife. The first part of our evening was spent at our eldest daughter's junior high band concert. There were two groups, actually: An all-strings ensemble and then a more traditional band, in which my daughter plays the trumpet.

The strings group was composed of 18 violins and violas (and for two pieces, two high school cellists joined them; evidently, there are no junior high cellists at the school). They were, in a word, good. I mean, really good. As in, most high school string groups of this size would have trouble rivaling them.

My daughter's group was composed of 34 instrumentalists, including 12 trumpets. I'm not sure if this group had fewer experienced kids, because they weren't quite as polished as the first group—but they were still good. And they've only been together for three months.

It made me glad my children go to school at BJ.

My wife and I left that venue and walked five minutes across campus to Rodeheaver Auditorium where we enjoyed a production of The Tempest by the University Classic Players. We fully expected a first-class production, and we were not disappointed. Each of us participated in a Shakespearean play while we were students at Bob Jones University, so we have some idea about what to anticipate.

The acting, staging, and special effects were all very good. The Classic Players always does an excellent job, and I am glad I could enjoy a "date" with my wife to this performance.

The Media Just Doesn't Get Homeschooling

In an AP story I found on foxnews.com, someone evidently discovered that a lot of the most popular science textbooks among homeschooling parents do not promote Darwinian evolution. Early in the article we find this:

Christian-based materials dominate a growing home-school education market that encompasses more than 1.5 million students in the U.S. And for most home-school parents, a Bible-based version of the Earth's creation is exactly what they want. Federal statistics from 2007 show 83 percent of home-schooling parents want to give their children "religious or moral instruction."

No surprise there—that's why they homeschool! The public indoctrination centers (a.k.a., public schools) promote and propagandize the theory of evolution while trying their very best to demean and squash any thought that an all-powerful and all-knowing God created everything.

The majority of the rest of the article then whines about the fact that some homeschoolers—presumably that other 17%—don't want their children taught about Creation. Why such people would choose to use Christian science materials is beyond me, unless it is because such books do such a good job of teaching science overall.

One of the two books featured in the article is the Biology (3rd ed.) text from Bob Jones University Press, my alma mater. I am somewhat familiar with the first two editions of the Biology book, and I am even now using their 3rd edition 7th grade Life Science textbook with my daughter. This is an absolutely top-notch textbook in every way. If the Biology text is even half as good as the 7th grade text—and I strongly suspect it is—it will still be one of the very best Biology textbooks around.

The "reviewers" used by the AP in this article demean these texts; one said he would give the books an F. They clearly equate "good science" with slavish devotion to evolutionary theory. This is one of the greatest errors of our age. The mass of evidence points to a Creator far more powerful than we comprehend, not to an existence that came about by some happenstance or chance.

And if parents want to teach this to their children, more power to them.

High Expectations: Raising the Bar

My alma mater publishes a quarterly magazine for nearly everyone on its mailing list (prospective students, donors, alumni, parents, etc.) called the BJU Review. We always enjoy reading it and learning about various things going on at the university.

It is also well known that my alma mater is among the strictest schools in the land when it comes to the activities students are permitted/required to participate in. I have no problem with this, nor did I when I was a student. Even if I did not like every single rule, I voluntarily went there, understanding all this and agreeing to obey those rules.

I also knew then, and much more so now, that rules, obedience, and discipline are highly significant to the development of character. I am a better man today because of my experiences as a Bob Jones University student nearly two decades ago. I hope that my children likewise get to experience what my wife and I did as students there.

BJU catches a lot of flak for requiring arcane things like...

• Keeping your dorm room clean
• Attending your classes...on time
• Forbidding the beverage use of alcohol
  
• Going to bed instead of staying up all night doing the things you should have done during waking hours
• Going to chapel...on time
• Keeping your hands off members of the opposite sex

I have no regrets about the character that was developed in my life as a result of putting myself under these rules. In this quarter's BJU Review, there is a very well-written article entitled "Raising the Bar" that discusses the fact that, as it says at the top of the page, "BJU's high expectations are intentional and give our students a practical edge." I want to quote a few segments from the article below.

"Of course, as a Christian college, expectations for moral excellence are a given. Cheating, substance abuse, immorality and other unbiblical behaviors are never tolerated. They're simply not part of our campus culture, because these activities are condemned in Scripture no matter what the context.

"But our high expectations go beyond moral considerations. We maintain a high standard of professional dress. Residence hall students are expected to keep their rooms clean. Students are accountable for their attendance at classes, chapel, and cultural programs—and for getting there on time. And they're strongly encouraged to take on extra responsibilities by ministering to the community and to area churches.

"At times these expectations cause extra pressure on the student—and that's by design, since a reasonable amount of pressure can be a great catalyst for growth.

"A student having trouble getting projects finished while trying to balance work hours, Saturday morning Bible club and soccer practice can't take the easy way out by skipping class whenever he has a deadline. Instead he has to figure out a way to better manage the time he does have—a skill that will be invaluable down the road when he needs to balance bigger responsibilities such as a career, local church ministry and family."


"Instead of lowering the bar to make things easier, BJU keeps the bar high and then works with students so they can achieve more than they expected of themselves.

"When our graduates go on to the next step of their lives, we don't expect that they'll wear ties every weekday or clean their sinks every morning. These aspects of BJU student life are limited to the college years by design. But we hope that the good habits, high expectations and push for excellence learned during these years will follow them far beyond graduation."


"Student life at BJU is different than at most other colleges. And that makes sense, since we're aiming for a different goal. our high expectations are part of our mission to equip the whole person—and we think they make a lasting difference in the lives of our graduates."

They are right. I'm glad that bar is still set high at Bob Jones University, and I hope it stays there.

The Bob Jones University Creed

My alma mater has had the following creed, unchanged since the school's opening in 1927. It succinctly and accurately states the core doctrinal beliefs of the university, and more generally, of true Protestantism throughout most of the past five centuries. It is said in every chapel, in every Sunday worship service, and at Commencement. Students are required to memorize it; some of us can quote it word perfect decades after graduating.

The first two words are, as you can see, "I believe." I do, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

I present it here without further comment:

I believe in the inspiration of the Bible (both the Old and the New Testaments);

the creation of man by the direct act of God;

the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ;

His identification as the Son of God;

His vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross;

the resurrection of His body from the tomb;

His power to save men from sin;

the new birth through the regeneration by the Holy Spirit;

and the gift of eternal life by the grace of God.

Proud To Be A Bob Jones University Alumnus

Always have been. And it's not just because their world-class choir can do a world class job with the Hallelujah Chorus. You can play that in the background while you read the rest of this entry. The video is great, too.

It came to my attention that a few weeks ago, BJU made a "Statement About Race at Bob Jones University." The university, like most southern colleges, was segregationist and did not enroll African-American students prior to 1971; it did not remove its ban on interracial dating until 2000. As a student there between those two dates, I was fully aware that antagonism and racism at a personal level was directly in violation of school rules and policies, and was virtually nonexistent on the campus. These were not major issues during my time there.

The statement (see link above) is an absolutely classy, yet humble, apology. Their policies, long since corrected, were wrong; now they have come clean about the matter. I hope this settles this issue once and for all in the eyes of everyone.

My biggest disappointment on this matter was the class-less way that a small percentage of alumni and "friends" of the University demanded this. There were vitriolic internet postings and rude demands from some, devoid of the Christian love and brotherhood that we should show to a brother whom we believe is in the wrong. I would expect that there will be some in the world, without connection to BJU, who would express such attitudes—indeed, for some, even this statement will not suffice. I trust now that all alumni and friends of the University will support this statement and support the University with their prayers and encouragement.

What is a Gentleman?

Today I stole a moment to look at the Collegian Online from my alma mater. I found an article about the University's Artist Series and some etiquette suggestions, which I totally agreed with. The article concluded with a segment titled "What is a gentleman?" I share most of it here:

A gentleman is not just a man who holds open doors for women. He’s not just a man who picks up things that a woman drops or who carries his girlfriend’s bag.

A gentleman is a servant-leader—a man who finds thoughtful ways to show people that they are important to him. He acts confidently, based on what he knows to be right, and his deportment commands the respect of those who know him.

Being a gentleman is not just a way you act toward a woman you are interested in—being a gentleman is a state of mind and a pattern of life.

A man does not magically become a gentleman in one day. He is always seeking to learn how to best express his appreciation and respect for other people.

Especially in his dealings with women, a gentleman is characterized by respect and discernment. He consciously seeks to identify and understand her concerns, making the woman feel comfortable at all times.

A true gentleman accepts the responsibility to react in the way he knows to be right and to constantly strive for greater understanding of this responsibility.

BJU Sets Yet Another Record!

According to this Greenville news article, the alma mater has made its way into the Guinness book again! See the text below:

Bob Jones University has made its way into the Guinness Book of Records for the second time.

The Guinness folks have told school officials that its November 2007 kazoo ensemble broke the previous record set a year earlier in Rochester, N.Y.

BJU assembled 3,800 students, staff and friends at Alumni Stadium on Nov. 17, 2007, during the annual Turkey Bowl soccer championship, according to a press statement from the school.

The halftime entertainment at the event was the kazoo challenge, when participants performed the melody to The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Then student Mark Lopez came up with the kazoo idea, including consultation with Barbara Stewart, author of the book The Complete How to Kazoo and a member of the five-piece Kazoophony quartet.

Lopez is now a graduate assistant at BJU.

The school also holds the Guinness record for the largest gathering of Christmas Carolers, set in December 2004.

Demolition Video...In Style!

It may be that nowhere else, besides my alma mater, could a demolition video be done with the style and flair of this one.

Bob Jones University is replacing the lobby area of Rodeheaver Auditorium this year. The "front" end of the building has been torn off (the subject of the video), to be replaced by a much larger lobby and facade. I am sure it will be a great improvement to the structure.

ALPHA THETA wins Turkey Bowl!!......An Update

As reported earlier on this blog....Alpha Theta Pi defeated Alpha Omega Delta in the annual 2007 Bob Jones University Turkey Bowl, by a score of 1-0.

Here is a link to the article in the official BJU campus newspaper about the game.

This is Alpha Theta's second Turkey Bowl championship; the first was three years ago. I misspoke in an earlier entry about this.

Yes, one more reason to be thankful...

Alpha Theta 1, Omega 0.

Just click here. (for a limited time only)

ALPHA THETA wins Turkey Bowl!!

I have learned that ALPHA THETA PI, my society from BJU, has won the Bob Jones University Turkey Bowl, the annual intramural soccer championship!!! They defeated perennial nemesis Alpha Omega by a score of 1-0.

To the best of my knowledge, they have never won the championship before, losing in the finals on at least two occasions. Not only did they defeat nemesis Alpha Omega, they also defeated Basilean in the semifinals—the other perennial nemesis.

More details will be forthcoming when available. Go Razorbacks!!

Humor for my fellow BJU Alumni...

I graduated from Bob Jones University in 1993 and promptly joined their Alumni Association, with which I have achieved life membership status. Because I joined before graduation, I received a wallet-sized, laminated miniature of my diploma. Many of us carry them in our wallets to this day.

A couple weeks ago, when I started working a temp job, I had forgotten to take my Social Security card with me...so I had to stop by their office and have them make a copy of it. Not a problem. Then the receptionist asked me, "Did you bring a copy of your diploma?"

I remembered at that moment that in the paperwork I received, it did say that for this job, the person had to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma. No one had told me to bring a copy of my high school diploma so that it would be on file.

Guess what I offered her? She took it, made a copy, and all is well.

Chapel Sayings to Live By

Having gone to Bob Jones University for both of my degrees, I became well acquainted with many of the wise and pithy sayings of the university's founder. Each classroom has a saying above the chalkboard (or whiteboard) at the front of the room. A few of the ones I find most meaningful are copied below.

It is a sin to do less than your best. (Alumni Building, Room 202)

It is never right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do right.

It is no disgrace to fail; it is a disgrace to do less than your best to keep you from failing.

Your character is what God knows you to be; your reputation is what men think you are.

What you love and what you hate reveal what you are.