Class. Workouts. Practice. Homework. Sleep . Repeat

It’s 6:30am“Beep, beep, beep, beep.” My phone alarm goes off… I push snooze. “Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.”  “Hey man, come-on get-up; we’re gonna be late!” I look over and my roommate is quickly dressing for our early morning class,  he’s my teammate from Fayetteville, GA . He’s nice and funny—I’m glad he woke me up so I’m not late… well, I still ended up being late and here is the reason why: the night before we had workouts and my group ended up doing leg workouts plus running  a mile after. If you’ve ever worked out your legs then ran a mile you know how painful it really is! L So I show up about 10 minutes late to class, take notes and listen to my professors until they dismiss the class.  You go eat lunch, rest a few hours and then its work out time again! Yesterday was a leg workout day so I am sore everywhere, and I mean everywhere! I can’t sit, I can’t walk without limping, and I can’t walk up any stairs. Anyways, you guys probably don’t want to hear me complain, so back to workouts. They usually last 2 hours and in between that time we work ourselves hard! Then at 8:30 P.M. we have indoor soccer that lasts till 11:00! Now I don’t mind playing that long because it is a lot of fun and entertaining to watch as well.  After 11:00 you have to do homework that is due the next day and it usually takes at least an hour or two. Finally, it is time to sleep, but then you wake up and repeat the same thing next day! So, with that being said, student athletes put in a lot of work and most of the time it does reflect on their education. But, it’s about learning to manage your time schedule, so, is it really worth it? For me, I think so! But I will let you decide whether or not it is worth it for you!

-Matias 

Spring is Here!

            In the recent weeks, the weather has been teasing us here in the Valley, it’s been hot and cold, sunny and rainy, and the warm weather just can’t seem to make up its mind. However, with the slow start of spring weather, some of our favorite spring activities are starting to become more common. Baseball games, lake days, and bonfire nights…spring, here we come!

            The baseball field in West Point has been in process of being built for what seems like quite a long time now, and finally today we host our first home game! This is getting all of our students itchy for the long days, peanuts, and bleachers that come ahead with the promise of spring. Our Skyhawk baseball team will be taking on the University of Pikeville Friday, February 8^th, at 3pm and at 6pm and Saturday, February 9^th at 3pm. This will be the team’s first set of home games. Come out and support your Skyhawks!

            If baseball isn’t your thing, there are an array of spring things that can be done here in West Point and Valley. West Point Lake is another popular place to find Point students on a sunny, warm day this spring. Grab a Subway 6-inch, roll down the windows, crank up the tunes and head to the lake! Or for even more fun, find a local camp ground, pick a weekend, take some hammocks and go! There are countless places to explore, get lost, and make memories!

            If you’re looking for something to do around campus, once that warm weather gets here to stay, you’re sure to hear about Screen on the Green, a gathering of students on a huge field, with a movie played and snacks! Bonfires are another popular event on the list of spring events!

            No matter what you love, there is always something to do around campus! So here’s to flowers blooming, and sun shining! 

Kelsey 

Exodus 14:14

 

Happy New Year!

I know I am a couple of days late but... I want to wish you all a happy new year! How many of you made a couple of New Year resolutions and already broke them? (Lol) It is okay, just start over! It may not feel like a new year because you are faced with the same job, or the same decision about life after graduation, or another tuition bill. Your physical circumstances may not be new, but your mindset and perspective about life and the New Year can be renewed. I am not going to preach, but let this scripture marinate on your mind Romans 12:2 “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Let’s recap!

The last time I blogged I talked about Winter Break and how much you should focus on serving others, reading books, and more. Have I done any of what I said I was going to do? Sort of! No, I have not been to any soup kitchens, or preached fire of brimstone; however I did have the biggest ministry opportunity in my own home.

For those who do not know me, I come from a home where my family members are not saved nor do they attend church. I am considered an odd ball because I am a Christ follower and maybe my personality too, but hey I love me! Lol I do not come from the traditional family where we share meals, and hang out with one another, or show each other affection. In my family it is my mother, two little brothers, and me. When we were growing up, my brothers and I basically decided to just fight or ignore each other. There was no, I love you or I miss you, just fighting. Our family thought it was normal. Since then I came to realize that it is not “normal.” I felt the conviction even more when I gave my life to Christ at 18 years old.  For years, I prayed, fasted, and cried that my family could enjoy each other’s company and maybe even talk about Christianity without the chaos.  In December 2012, the prayer I prayed years ago came to past. When I came home that week, my brother approached me. Now I was a little nervous and put myself in a karate stance to prepare to fight (I do not know anything about martial arts). However he came towards me and said “Come give me a hug!” Surprisingly, we put away our pride and engaged in a deep conversation. I apologized to him for not being a great example of a sister when I was younger and disinterested in having a relationship with him. In my pre-Jesus days, I was a complete mess and my family was the victim of my craziness. For the first time, I told my brother I loved him and I almost cried. It was not that I never loved my family or held things against, but it was hard to express love to a family member when all you knew was anger, hate, and fights.

Another part of my prayers was to one day being able to minister to my family. I believe that the first ministry and the hardest ministry is your family. Indeed, my brother and I had a lengthy conversation about being a Christian, social issues, God, and more. My brother did not give his life to the Lord, but I believe that our talk have planted something in his heart. I also had a conversation with my younger brother and expressed that I loved him. However, we rarely had a chance to talk because he was so busy. I strongly believed that biggest miracle and blessing in 2012 was seeing God help mend broken relationships.

 

Again Happy New Year!

 

-Shani P.

Thoughts on a Monday Morning.

Click, click, click. The sound of my fingers beating down on the keyboard. Click, click, click. The sound of processes being run at work.The sound of homework being typed. The sound of wasting time on facebook. The sound of chatting with friends. The sound of writing this blog post.

I am here early in the office on a Monday, and everyone else seems to have a late day, and so I'm left to think and look back on so many good memories. Sometimes, looking back can really break your neck though, and it's hard to move forward when you're paralyzed.

I'm saying this because I am graduating in a few short months. I am leaving the little home I have made up for myself and venturing out into a completely new, scary, and beautiful world. (Did I emphasize "scary" enough there?)

I often post many pictures that capture my good memories, but today, the pictures speed through my head. And even though I'll be leaving it all behind, I know that I'll always have it with me. I have had an amazing experience at Point, and this semester is still so young so I have plenty more memories to make!

To the reader: if you are in high school, at another college, or at somewhere else in the road of life, let me offer some advice: smile at the good times, but don't forget to look ahead at those to come. I know sometimes your plans fall through, and sometimes you don't even HAVE plans and you wonder, and pray, and maybe mutter under your breath, "what next?"

But never mind that for now. And just live.

People always used to tell me that College would fly by, and when I was in the middle of studying for a Biology test it seemed as if it couldn't fly by fast enough. But it does. And those are the moments that life is made of.

So smile, and enjoy it. And get ready for what is to come. Because even if nothnig else is certain, this one thing is: that the good Lord has a plan in the midst of it all and he won't leave us to fend for ourselves.

- Rebecca

Feastin’ it up!

Hello everyone I hope all is well and as for me last night was a heck of a night! Yesterday Feast had a party, not the kind of party where there is drugs and alcohol, but it was more about community and getting close to one another. The party started early at 9:30 and there was live music, food, and my favorite… coffee! Everyone was enjoying each other and mingling with one another and having a blast because that is what college students do- to have fun. The event went on for two hours and in between those hours we laughed at one another and threw grapes at each other until eventually one of us gets hit in the eye… yes I did hit someone in the eye with a grape I’m not proud of it but the person just laughed it off and so I joined with her I mean what else could I have done? And that was part of the reasons why my night was awesome. I can’t forget about MLK! What a phenomenal man he was. He spoke of non-violent ways to create a society of equality that stirred many people's hearts. My heart was pounding with joy as I heard Martin Luther King’s name being mentioned and yesterday was the day that America did Rise up! Sadly, my Atlanta Falcons did not rise up but that is a different story to tell.

Peace out!

-          - Matias

Coffee, Coffee, and More Coffee: Preparing for Finals Week.

                We have all felt the stress of the week filled with big tests or those huge papers we have coming up - or sometimes, the one we forget about until the night before. Somehow, the week before finals always seems to be that week. Professors pile papers, quizzes, tests, and presentations on top of one another and expect us to stay sane! But somehow, it has to be done. And when that time comes, college students become classified by their all-nighters, study-sessions, and millions of cups of coffee.

                Here at Point, finals week seems to be a week of Zombie students. This dreaded week is approaching quickly, and the only reaction is more stress! (as if there isn’t already enough). In the past, at our East Point campus, there were plenty of hang-out places to get students off campus and in a new environment for some fresh focus. The most popular was our 24-hour Chick-Fil-a only a few miles away. This was a comfortable place where Point students were recognized, and of course, it’s Chick-Fil-a! Who could ask for better, cheaper, food? Our other most common haven for studying was (my favorite) Starbucks. It’s a calm, quiet, comfy study area, and of course, it’s filled with fresh coffee aromas and new indie music. Somehow, coffee and Chicken Biscuits seemed to be the essentials for finals week.

                The move to West Point proved new and exciting, but also required some exploring to find the best “study spots”.  The best thing about bringing a University to a small town? Everyone wants to give you a discount! My favorite so far? The 10% off at Waffle House, which is only a mile away from our apartments and is one of the best places to study. Everywhere in town seems to be willing to love on Point students and cut some money off our bill! We all know college students on a budget need as many discounts as we can get J

                So there isn’t a 24-hour chicken haven, or a salted caramel mocha only a few miles away. Instead, there have been several restaurants to open up in response to our presence, and even some to offer discounts. They’re greatly appreciated, and will be getting a ton of my business in the next few weeks!

                Students, get your Caffeine IV’s ready…finals week is coming!

-Kelsey

Are you Looking Forward to Winter Break?

It is one of the most anticipated breaks of the year. No it is not summer, but you are close. It is winter!! Yes!! What a way to relax after Finals week. Before I can dance and throw a parade, I would like to give you a recap of my life at Point.

Point University finally moved to the “Promise Land” aka West Point, Georgia. I cannot lie, I miss East Point. Not so much the campus but the location. The campus was 10 minutes from Atlanta, Georgia and had the convenience of malls, restaurants, and entertainment. Do not get me wrong, Valley and West Point folks are really welcoming. That was the best part of moving from a big city to a small town. Now let’s talk about the campus. The new campus is a complete upgrade from the old. I remember the first day of school I got lost in the new 507 building and I kept running around like a hamster on a wheel trying to find my classes. This semester, I enjoyed watching people “studying” by drawing and writing on the dry erase walls, students sleeping on the comfortable couch/desk, and hovering around the flat screen televisions that displayed on each floor. There are other parts of the buildings I enjoyed as well such as classrooms being equipped with efficient audible and video equipment, thermostats for the air conditioning and heating, and comfortable chairs and desk. I believe that the greatest upgrade is the Point Living Community. The apartments are much bigger and up to date and the Point Living Community has a pool. I often wonder do the Access students at the old campus have the luxury or will have the luxury of a campus upgrade. I hope they do! Now back to the more interesting things of Winter Break!

Ahhh the joy of winter!! The awesome winter clothes you get to pull out and wear. You know those comfy sweaters, boots, fabulous peat coats, and awesome scarves. Let the, Christmas songs blasting through speakers, people sneezing and coughing, a new year, and surprises of engagements begin!

Winter break is bittersweet. The joy of knowing that you have a whole month to do whatever you want except for homework. For others, it may be leaving Point University behind and applying to jobs or graduate schools. I on the other hand, will be traveling back home Los Angeles, California!

I know Los Angeles, California? I get that question probably a million times. Yes, I am from the place where palm trees and 60 degree weather is the norm. Many of my friends from Georgia think it is a vacation yet, an opportunity to catch up with old friends, enjoying family, reading books that are not required for class PTL (Praise the Lord). What I look forward to the most on my winter break is being able to start the next year and the next semester with a new mindset of service. This winter break will allow me to truly understand that yes, it may be a season to be jolly, but what about the people who are spending their winter in a home of chaos, homelessness, no food, friendlessness, and no family? What am I going to do about that? This winter break will allow me to put my faith into action and serve people who are in need. This is a complete turn-around because I remember spending my break thinking about all me.

Well this is my Point Life in a nutshell!

-Shani P.

 

 

1st World Problems

Last week, the alarm clock on my iPhone went off at 6:30am. I had to get up, go to work as a substitute teacher, and it was cold! I was grumpy and tired. Every so often the heater in my house kicks off and doesn't work, so I have to go and flip the switch on the furnace and wait for it to kick in. Needless to say, getting out of a warm bed to walk across the house and flip the switch was not the best way to start the morning for me. I'm not a fan of mornings, and I'm not a fan of the cold. I stop by my coffee maker, which can make a whole pot or a single cup, and made myself a nice cup of coffee. Later that day, I went to my actual job. By the time I got home, I was tired and wanted a shower. I was in the shower and it finally occurred to me, I have warm running water. Everything else, the cold house, the early alarm, those are 1st world problems. Let me explain - a 1st world problem is just a problem that people in developed countries, such as the USA, would have. You may have heard some... "My job uses IBM Lotus Notes as our emailing client." "I leaned a bit too much forward and the toilet flushed automatically before I was finished." "I heard a good song but it had no lyrics so I can't google it." In my case: "the alarm on my iPhone went off too early and I had to flip a switch to get my heat back on." Kinda pathetic (if not somewhat humorous) when we think about it. If our biggest problem is that our email client is Lotus Notes or we can't google a song (or our iPhone goes off) we don't really have a problem. The way I see it, many people have never used email, wouldn't need to google a song, and certainly have no use for an iPhone. These are people who still need to be reached for God, and using these gadgets isn't going to reach them. On the other hand, if we're going to be ambassadors for Christ, if we're going to reach those in the United States, we need to be relevant. We need to understand and embrace our 1st world problems. We need to embrace the people who share in these problems with us. We can't be so far removed from the culture around us that we aren't making an impact in the lives of those we come into contact with. The people in 3rd world countries don't need google, but they do need Jesus. People in 1st world countries need google...and Jesus.

The Present

 

By: A.S.B. Jr.

Proverbs 18:21  (MSG)

²¹ Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose

 

     We as people have been blessed to encounter people who may have never been shown a welcome with a smile. We are not just sales people but are a part of each person’s life we encounter, our character and the roles we play however small or large can be impactful. The great huge ship Titanic was said to be impenetrable and that “Not Even God Could Sink it,” yet it only took a block of ice to produce a catechism. We are finite but powerful with unlimited powers either for good or for evil; God the supreme ruler gives us the option to do either but rather for us to choose good over evil. A good incision into a person’s life can allow them to live another day.

Decking the halls, senioritis, and other West Point related thoughts.

Well, now that you have read my thoughts from this summer, I felt it necessary to update you on what the move has looked like thus far.


A lot has taken place in just a few short months. While much of the changes have taken some time to adjust to, with the approach of the end of the first semester, I can honestly say that it has been an adventure!

I have attended many soccer, volleyball, football, and basketball games; got to win some cash in a costume contest, went to Florida on a retreat, carved pumpkins, went swimming, hiking, went to a haunted house, and have been involved in an awesome community called Feast.

So now that you are partially caught up to speed, here are some pictures to show you what life at Point University has looked like so far!

 

Got to go on a beach retreat with ACF!

 

Here are a few of my "homies" at Feast! I have had such a wonderful time learning about what real community looks like. (More thoughts on this to come in the future!)

(L-R: Megan, Carson, Myself)

Got to go to an Auburn game!

(for the record, I do not claim "allegiance" to any football team.
Also, my views and pictures do not represent Point University...)

 

Had a party in class! (Learning CAN be fun

 

Our kayaking down the Chattahoochee River.

 

Got to decorate Christmas cards with my sa-weet boyfriend at Feast!

 

And of course, my boyfriend cut down a Christmas tree from his backyard and I decorated it. We waited til morning and surprised his family - so fun! 

\

 

Great memories at soccer games!

(L-R: Top: Me and Kara. Bottom: Shali andTori)


In short, there have been many wonderful joys involved in living in a small town. And while I miss the city, and I miss the way things used to be, change has brought about such wonderfully new exciting things! I am excited for my last semester... now if I could just make it through finals...

- Rebecca E.

Point University is on the move... finally.

 I wrote this blog post over the summer and realized that I never posted it, and while it's way past due, I felt it was worth sharing still:

June 29th 2012: It is 12:00 a.m. and I am exhausted. Let me explain:

After well over a year since news of the name and location change for Point U., the school is finally packing up all the Traditional offices and heading West. I'm a Student Ambassador at the school, which is a fancy way of saying that I am a Student Worker for the Traditional Admissions Office. This is my second summer working at the Office and while I absolutely love my job, I can't dismiss the fact that when I get off of work and log onto Facebook and see pictures of all the wonderful things my friends are doing with their summers - traveling to historic, exotic places, helping the needy, basking in the beach sun, throwing up after riding too many roller-coasters, etc. - I sometimes get a little jealous that I am not also doing such things.

But before I lose you on the whole "move" part of this blog post, let me explain something that has only just recently come into my head in the last few days.
Last year as a result of working at school over the summer, I got the privilege of being part of the "Official name change day", where I put my old work name tag in a time capsule (got to cross that off my bucket-list) and had to try a few times before I stopped answering the phone saying, "Atlanta Christian College Admissions, this is Rebecca how may I help you?" to "Point University Admissions, this is Rebecca how may I help you?"

This year, I am taking place in something so historic that I can hardly believe it is happening. You see, I am originally from New Jersey and moving to Georgia was definitely the last thing on my mind. In fact, if you were to ask me how I heard about the school (ACC at the time) I'd have to tell you it was an absolute act of God (that is the shortened version) so while I don't have years and years of memories in East Point, I have lived here since August 2009. I have met some of the most incredible people, been part of some incredible stories, had adventures, and learned in and out of the classroom some of the most important lessons of my life.

As I type this, I am sitting on my couch looking at a near-empty apartment that I have lived in for the last year and a half.

There is unspeakable stillness that I can barely find words to describe, so much of my time has been poured into this location, this place. Yet, the air of change, while uncertain, is promising.

And while I  am nostalgic, and while I am in some ways, sad to be leaving it, I am thrilled to have the privilege to experience such a dramatic change with my College family, and with my faithful God.

Here's to new adventures.

- Rebecca E.

It's Fall Y'all!!

The air is becoming crisp, the leaves are changing their colors, and the smell of pumpkin pie is in the air. It's that season right before the hustle and bustle of Christmas and the New Year. I love this time of year as the seasons are changing! I am about halfway through my junior year here at Point. That means it's about time for me to make plans for the changes I will encounter once I leave here. For me, those changes include seminary. I've had the pleasure of speaking to many of my professors on which seminary they would choose (not surprisingly they pretty much all recommend their alma mater - go figure, lol). I've gained valuable insight and now it's time for me to start visiting and talking to the schools. We recently had a graduate school fair here on campus, I was able to talk to several schools and narrow down my choice. It was an exciting time to be able to speak directly to the representatives who can help tell you more about their school. All in all, I have to make a choice and it has been narrowed down to two schools. I feel comfortable either way. I believe that the foundation I've received can only be built upon. I'm excited for the future. I'm excited to see where God leads me. We all know the familiar passage from Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" During my first class at Point, I received a t-shirt with that passage on it. Little did I know just what God had planned for me. Three years later God's plan is still in action. Being an adult going back to school is hard, but the key is letting God do the planning. Once we settle in and follow him, we can only prosper.

It's All About People

This summer I had the privilege of spending 2 1/2 months in San Jose and Curia, Ecuador. I lived with missionaries and taught English in the elementary school there.

After school I assisted short term teams with small projects. Every week I helped lead bible lessons for the children. The church there began in January and had 7 regular attenders. Every week I would visit them along with the missionaries. I got to know all of them well. There are two teenage sisters in the church and they became my best friends. Every Saturday we had baking day. The pastor's wife, Karen, is my Ecuadorian twin. We are so similar and we became best friends. Every week we had choir practice and I helped lead worship. I loved my time in Ecuador and I adored the people. God showed me how important it is to love people. In Ecuador, you couldn't just invite people to youth group or bible study and expect them to love Jesus. Those things did not exist. In Ecuador it is all about people. There weren't specified days of the week where we ministered to people and talked about Jesus. I learned how important it is to use every opportunity to engage in people's lives and show them what life with Jesus is all about. Point Professors Alan and Allison Kemper and their daughter also spent part of their summer serving with me in Ecuador. Alan is passionate about seeing Point students serving there in the future. I pray that you get to know my Ecuadorian family too!! Visit my blog to read more about my time in Ecuador and see more pictures!! www.kaitlyngroover.blogspot.com