Where do you go for help? You have an assignment to do research on a given topic for a paper; but the topic is so broad, you are not sure what to choose. You lost the assignment and its due tomorrow. It’s Wednesday, and you’ve got three tests in different subjects next Tuesday! You lost your homework, which you finished last night after three hours of work; and it is due in two hours, but you have another class right now!
College life does not always go smoothly, but then neither will life out in the real world after college. It’s all a learning experience. Even if you have chosen one of the best college majors, sometimes you will have ask for help. But where and who?
First, … Think!
Often, you can work it out yourself. Review the assignment carefully. When did you last remember having the homework? How much studying do you need to do before each of the three tests next Tuesday? Is it possible to “resurrect” the homework with only an hour to do so? In other words, exhaust all possibilities of finding a solution yourself. Find a quiet place where you can think, not a noisy dorm room, a crowded snack bar or a chaotic gymnasium. Try the library, a quiet park bench, an unused lounge area or even an empty classroom. Then, if you still have no answers, ask for help.
Second, … Ask!
So who do you ask? Another student in the same class, a fellow student working on the same project, your academic advisor (There’s a novel idea! Isn’t that why you have one?), a student who took the class last year or last semester and your instructor are all possible sources of information or ideas to help.
So now time is slipping away and you have none left. Ask yourself, “Was this my fault or was I merely a victim of circumstances?” If it was your fault, then you better tell that to someone – your instructor! Hopefully, this is the first time you have had to ask for extra time to complete an assignment. Be honest and tell the instructor about the situation, but be sure to say the words, “I know it was my fault.” Don’t blame it on anyone but yourself, unless you are truly the victim of a circumstance beyond your control.
Third, …Take Action!
If the situation was beyond your control, let the instructor know that also. Almost without exception, unless this or a similar situation has happened before or has happened several times, the instructor will give you an extension with little or no penalty. However, make it clear to the instructor that it was beyond your control and you will do everything possible to assure that this situation does not happen again.
Whatever you do, do not let the assignment due date and time pass without acknowledging it. In this case, inaction may be the worst course of action. When good things happen or work out, give credit where credit is due. When bad things happen or do not work out, take responsibility for your own errors, whether it is your fault or not. Blaming others usually does more harm than good and does little to build your own character and reputation, rather it often destroys both.
Thank you for reading! Your comments and questions are most welcome.
Do you have an instructor you don’t like? Maybe he has a foreign accent that makes it hard to understand his or her lectures. Maybe you and the instructor simply have a personality conflict. Or, possibly the instructor just does not explain the theory or concept so you can understand it. All of these problems must be addressed, and sooner rather than later. Do not let more than the first few days to a week or two of the class go by before you address and solve such issues. You obviously are not learning as much as you should, so take some action!
The Foreign Accent Problem
Actually, this problem is more common than you may think. Some instructor are extremely knowledgeable about astronomy, math, anthropology, geology, astrophysics or some other discipline and have a great deal of information to convey; however, English is not their first or native language, which is negatively impacting their effectiveness as an instructor. Department chairs and other administrators may hire such a faculty member for a number of reasons. Their biography makes the institution look good; they attract large research grants; their expertise is needed to start a new degree program and gain accreditation; or, they were highly recommended by another faculty member or administrator. However, each of these institution-centered reasons should be accompanied by a number of student-centered reasons, such as excellent student reviews, teaching effectiveness awards or an impressive history of “bell curve” grade distributions – not all As or Fs and the majority of students with C+ to B grades.
The Personality Conflict Problem
This is a judgment call and must be addressed carefully. Often you will not be able to know if there is an actual “personality conflict” until several weeks or even a whole semester has passed. Avoid jumping to conclusions and immediately asking for an instructor change. However, personality conflicts are real and do happen; but they certainly are not, and should not, be common with any one instructor. You should address your concerns with your academic advisor. Ask the advisor about other students with similar concerns about this instructor. Often, you will just have to “tough it out” and get through the course. Some students may even have to retake the course, often with another instructor, to attain a better grade and improve their GPA (grade point overage). Your academic advisor, and the Records Department, should be well aware of the policies and practices for doing this at your institution.
The Explanation Problem
The exceptional instructor will explain complicated theories or concepts in several ways. Unfortunately, not all instructors are exceptional. Explanations done in different ways always results in more students understanding the theory or concept, because not all students learn or even comprehend in the same way. Some understand by hands-on application, others by simply reading text, others need many diagrams and text, and still others need to be shown by a practical demonstration. I know I am talking in generalities here; however, do not shy away from asking your instructor, before or during or after class, “Sir/Maim, I really could not follow your explanation of … Could you explain it to me again, maybe in a different way?” If you do this during class, I will almost guarantee that there will be 10 to 30 percent of the class who will be thinking, “Wow, I’m glad he asked that question!”
Actions to Take
First, talk to the instructor directly and be frank and honest about your situation. If the instructor appears to have some good suggestions, implement them over the next week or two. At the same time, talk to your academic advisor and explain the situation; keep him or her informed as to your progress or lack of progress. If no progress is being made, next visit the Department Chair, with or without your academic advisor; this is the instructor’s superior. Explain who you have talked to about the problem and the results; again, be frank and honest. However, be aware that the Department Chair’s time is limited; he is she is an extremely busy administrator. So get right to the point and make the most of your time with the department chair.
If you are still meeting with seemingly stubborn resistance to addressing your problem, which should be extremely rare but not unheard of, address your concerns with the School or College Dean, then the Dean of Academics and then the President or Provost of the Institution. However, be very cognizant about who you are talking to! These are very busy people! But you are a student! And accredited institutions of higher education are very student oriented. From the President of the University down to the individual faculty member, competent, well thought out and clear explanations of student complaints or concerns are taken seriously. I have advised many students with this admonition. “If you have legitimate complaints or concerns, go right up the line of command until they get the problem or concern is adequately addressed.” And that is exactly what you should do also!
Your comments and questions are most welcome. Thank you for reading!
Do you plan ahead? I mean do you plan ahead habitually? You should. Talk to any successful person in a business career or any professional career; you will find that they are not concerned about planning for tomorrow, that has already been done. Rather they are planning for next week, month or year; and large, successful organizations are planning for five, ten, fifteen or even twenty years ahead.
Start With Short Range
For tomorrow and probably the next day, it is probably too late; but try anyway! Is your homework done for tomorrow? Could you have done it earlier today, or even yesterday? If your answers are not “Yes” and “I did it yesterday!”… you have a planning ahead deficiency; and it will hold you back from doing your best. And what is worse, you WILL worry about it! If not now, then when you walk into the classroom with the homework only partially done or not done at all. What are you going to say when the instructor calls on you? Avoid all of this by planning ahead, by habit!
Often a short query of the instructor after class, a few minutes studying the course syllabus or looking ahead at your online assignments will be the key to your short range planning. Form the habit of getting your work done ahead of time. Then, when the unexpected events come your way, you will be able to cope with them and never get behind in your number one priority in college (i.e. after the Lord), learning! And part of learning is learning plan ahead. You will be healthier both mentally and physically, because you will have eliminated many of your concerns and, hopefully, all of your collegiate academic worries!
Next Plan Long-Range
The next major exam, next semester’s project, the year-end presentation, next year’s symposium on College … (Fill-in the subject for your major presentation.). Are you ready for them? Probably not; and that’s usually OK, because there is time. But do not let time continually be slip, slip slipping away without making daily progress in your long-range planning. Also, do not let others talk you into procrastination. You know the feeling when you are constantly thinking, “I really ought to be working on that project, but I’ll do it later.” When that thinking is repeated numerous times, it is a danger signal. Heed the warning!
Here is a strategy. It is October and you have a team project due next April. There are three other students helping you to put this presentation together on “Using Spreadsheets for Everyday Use.” It is Friday afternoon and all of your classes are done. It is time to relax and figure out what you are going to do, and where you are going to go, tomorrow. You also have a “hot date” tomorrow night; and she (or he) is special; you really want it do go well – your first date with Mary (or Robert). Right now you are tired; it has been a long day. Do this: Find a quiet place and close your eyes for 15 to 20 minutes. Relax as much as possible; maybe even lay on your bed during this time. But do not sleep. Now get up and spend 20 minutes to an hour just thinking, not writing or taking notes or doing research, about “Using Spreadsheets for Everyday Use.” If you come up with some really good ideas, consider quickly writing them down. What have you just done? You have spent your time wisely and set the foundation for brainstorming with your three colleagues about the project due six months from now. And believe it or not, that special first date with Mary will go much better! Why? Because you have less concerns, and no worries, about putting off planning for that major project. Try it!
Now Plan a Career
Repeat the above strategy until you have formed the habit of planning ahead. You are learning and developing a strategy for long-range planning. As you apply this learning and strategy to planning your career during your junior and senior years, life may fall into place so much more smoothly. And, Mary or Robert will be impressed enough to consider helping you do that too… maybe all the way into marriage and a family!
Your comments and questions are most appreciated. Thank you for reading!
Do you have anything to look forward to? You should! In fact, you must! Otherwise, you will go through life as a never ending series of drudgery-filled days. And honestly, most or much of life actually is drudgery – day after day of work, endless homework, dealing with people who treat you like dirt, kids screaming, people being rude, paperwork, housework, hassling with traffic, etc. I have often told college students to find a job they enjoy doing, because life is too short to be living for the weekends and dreading every Monday morning. Find something to look forward to every day; and you will actually create a new outlook on life – a better one!
Examples
Take up a new sport. Buy a good book or get one from the library. Find a girlfriend or boyfriend or a close friend. Work on your hobby; if you do not have one, find one. Learn something new and exciting or intriguing, such as computers, astronomy, the Bible (What can be more exciting than knowing the creator of the universe and determining where you will spend eternity – in heaven or in hell!) Or maybe just plan on taking simple long walk – around campus, outside campus; or take a bike, bus or train ride to the nearby town or city.
Use your imagination. Life is indeed too short to be bored, especially for an extended period. In even one of the best online colleges you will be spending countless hours studying, thinking about how to solve problems and dealing with girlfriend or boyfriend or other relationships. Those too can be enjoyable or even fun, but everyone needs an occasional diversion from the normal routine and the expected events of life. Here is a suggestion on how to start.
Make A List
To start out my introductory article on the website “Finding a Job, Then a Career” I suggested listing many different vocations to pursue, and then choosing one. Well, the same course of action applies here. List some things you would really would like to do while in college, things that are fun! The list above may give you some ideas, but make your own list. Remember that something close to what you chose as a career may not be the best chose for “something to look forward to.” That field will be explored to the “nth degree”; you need a diversion from normal and expected events.
You might try thinking of opposites from your chosen career or college major. For example, if you are studying geology, consider astronomy; if you are studying painting, consider the less solitary field of dance; if you are studying reptiles, consider fast moving mammals and birds. But most importantly, find something that is interesting, intriguing or just plain fun!
Do It Right Now!
Do not put this off! If you are busy right after reading this, plan on a time in the near future to compose your list. It does not have to be long. The act of putting the items on paper will cause your to think about them longer. After only listing two to five items, you may have found what you want to look forward to. There needs to be something for each day, something for each week and something for each month. Items requiring longer time periods can also be used, but if you have something for each day, week and month, you will have little problem with finding longer range activities. Enjoy life! It is really a beautiful, intriguing and exciting world, so explore it!
Your comments and questions are highly encouraged. Thank you for reading!
Do you get upset easily? Do you get overly upset after doing poorly or even failing a homework assignment, quiz, test, project or final exam? Are you accustomed to always getting your own way? Do those who know you think, “When you don’t, watch out!”? Do worry and anxiety plague you constantly? Whether you attend one of thebest online colleges, a great traditional university campus or your local community college, most students engage in worry and anxiety, which show clearly in their emotions.
Can You Handle Stress?
Life is stress. It is filled with pressures and surprises that you never planned for or thought you would have to deal with, at least not in the near future. But here they are. You have a “pop quiz” in math class. You have three huge homework assignments; and they are all due tomorrow. Your roommate just invited two loud and boisterous friends into your room; and you’re trying to study. So you head for the library, but its pouring rain outside and the library is a half mile from your dormitory. You have no car. Plus, your girlfriend (or boyfriend) just told you they are busy next Friday night. Life can pile up on you! So what should you do?
What is your part?
First, let’s begin with what you should not do. Don’t worry, which actually is fear about the future, i.e. fear about what might happen. One anonymous writer explained it this way, “Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due.”
Do what you can with the available resources. Actually, you can do little else. However, make sure you actually are using all available resources. Depending on the problem, there may be many human and inanimate resources you are overlooking. Consider querying your roommate, a friend, your academic counselor, the librarian, your pastor, your parents or aunt or uncle or cousins or other students taking the same class. Consider using library resources such as other textbooks with a different perspective or method of explaining a theory, an encyclopedia (online or hardcopy), a dictionary or thesaurus, or last week’s homework assignment. In other words, think!
But your mind is simply fried! Your tired and frustrated. What I say to myself, or force myself to say, is “Good! I must be learning something today, even though it may be the hard way!” At that point it is often best to get away from the problems and get your mind on something else. I am always surprised at the fresh ideas I have after just 10 or 20 minutes of getting away. Then, upon returning I am much more apt to find a solution, a new resource or talk to a person who can help.
What is God’s Part?
What is hard, I deal with, but ask God for help and do so regularly. What is impossible I leave to God, period! But if I cannot ask God’s help with the hangnail, the paper-cut or headache, I probably will not be asking Him about the broken leg I got in a car accident. He is always there to help. And, believe it or not, God has no problems! He is omniscient; therefore, he has only solutions! Talk to Him just as you would to your best friend, because He should be your very best Friend.
My pastor always says, “Discouragement is a failure of the will” – the will to believe that God is in control and can help. Fear, anxiety and worry are simply the result of a person doubting God’s ability to handle a situation or doubting His ability to help you handle a situation. Actually, if God is real in your life, life’s challenges (We often call them troubles or problems.) are merely what makes life interesting, fun and ultimately enjoyable. Let God do the hard part, and the impossible parts, and you will enjoy life so much more!
As always, your comments and questions are most welcome. Thank you for reading!
The dictionary says "temptation" is enticement or allurement, especially to evil. And conscience is defined as an inner sense or what is right or wrong, which impels a person toward right or a right action. These are actually consistent with the Bible, which says God gave us a conscience but He tempts no one. But when we violate our conscience and violate others, we often seek paralegals and legal counsel to determine "our rights" under the law.
The Causation of Temptation
Therefore, who causes temptation if God is not the instigator? The answer must be two-fold: You cause temptation through your wants and desires, but the Devil (a very real spiritual entity) can and often does play a role. However, you need God’s help to overcome temptation. And without God’s help, your wants and desires will eventually cause you to do wrong, which the Bible calls sin. I say “eventually” because we all have a free will, which means each person has the free will to say “no” to that enticement or allurement toward evil.
Dealing With Temptation
Based on the preceding description of the causation of temptation, you could conclude that you and everyone else are simply victims of circumstances – the combination of your wants and desires and the Devil will “eventually” cause you to sin. Therefore, doesn’t it make sense that everyone has need of God, if for no other reason than to resist what one author calls “the world, the flesh and the Devil”?
The world is significantly under the control of the Devil, also called Satan. Physically (environmentalists point this out daily), morally (just look around at the level of moral failures compared to just a few decades ago) and spiritually (less prayer, church attendance, Bible reading) the world is being destroyed; and mankind is severely tempted to just go along with it.
The flesh is reference to mankind’s wants and desires for material things and physical attraction to other humans, in a word “sex” and the lustful desires accompanying it. Obviously, this is intertwined with the world’s moral decay and consistent with that decay. And mankind is severely tempted to just go along with it.
The Devil is the catalyst and more. Unchecked, the Devil will exploit and destroy mankind as humans engage in satisfying their worldly wants and desires for the flesh. And once again, mankind is severely tempted to just go along with it.
So how do you deal with temptation? Well, by yourself you can try but ultimately you will fail. Never underestimate the power of the Devil or the influence of the world and the flesh on human behavior. Together these will destroy you; and the evidence is in the news daily. Just look at the increasing number of incidences of murder, robbery, divorce, violence, drug use and sexual activity outside of marriage and the destruction of the family. Daily, this is reported all over the newspapers, magazines, radio, television, the Internet and social media. And sadly, most of mankind just goes along with it. Obviously, you and I need help. And Jesus Christ, and no one else, is that help. Truly, we need God’s help to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil.
Following Your Conscience
If the Lord gave you a conscience, and the Bible says that He did, then from the foregoing it should be abundantly clear that each of us must follow that “inner sense of what is right or wrong, which impels a person toward right or a right action.” Yet millions of people, even billions of people, do not even know God or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (See the second article in this series, “The Way, The Truth and The Life.”) He is the only way to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil. Life can be new, vibrant, exciting and extremely rewarding and fulfilling when you know Christ and live for Him. And through Him you can, should and must exercise power over the world, the flesh and the Devil, and most importantly provide others with the opportunity to do the same.
As always, your thoughts, ideas, opinions and questions are most welcome. Thank you for reading!
Have you ever heard the phrase, “God is Truth.”? Well, that is one of His names. The Bible is clear when It says God cannot lie; thus, everything He says is true. However, It also says that every man (or woman) is a liar. Being honest, we all have told lies at one time or another. But do you do it regularly, on purpose and by habit?
Lies vs. Errors
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone lies. Both are true statements. But so is the statement, “To err is human.” No one is perfect; despite your best efforts, sometimes you are going to make mistakes, which is not lying if your intentions were in the best interest of others. However, if your intentions were motivated by jealousy, greed, envy, or self-interest, then it is very likely some falsehoods were involved. Why? Because you are biased. You are wanting life to go your way, even if your life inconveniences, denigrates, puts-down or otherwise costs others to pay an unfair or unjustified or unwarranted price. We all have experienced this both in ourselves and in others. So examples here would really serve no purpose.
White Lies and Big Lies
Does it matter whether a lie is a “white lie” or a “big lie”? We may feel better about the white lie than the big lie, but we have still lied. God treats both the same. Either is a sin; and like nature abhors a vacuum, God hates and cannot tolerate sin. Therefore, He made provision for man to lie by mistake and still avoid hell and make heaven his home. Jesus Christ is that provision, as explained in the previous article “The Way, The Truth and the Life.” However, every person will be judged by a perfectly righteous judge, God Himself. Unfortunately, most of the 6 billion people on this earth will not accept that provision. But is that fair?
Lying and Forgiveness
To answer, you do not have to be acriminal justice student. Yes, it is perfectly fair. Can you forgive others, regardless of what they have done to you, your loved ones, your possessions, your career or even to your God? This is actually a good and a fair question. If God can forgive you for everything you have ever done wrong, from little white lies to big lies to murder or any other sin you are capable of committing, then should not He expect you to forgive others for their trespasses, both big and small? The answer is an emphatic “Yes!” And more importantly, this is expected of all of us.
This point is illustrated and stated many times over in His Word the Bible. However, my intention is not to quote scripture, but to explain truth. It is interesting to note that God reveals many biblical truths only to those whose heart is right toward Him. Some might say that is just poetic justice. I say it also makes logical sense. God came down here as a Man – 100 percent God and 100 percent man. And He experienced every injustice imaginable, including humiliation, being lied about and the excruciating pain of crucifixion on the cross. He did that for you and for me; and He willingly did so just to give you the opportunity to go to heaven and live forever with Him. He has made it clear; there simply is no other way to make heaven your home. So accept the provision He has made and invite Him into your heart. Then, He will reveal many truths to you, along with the ability to stand for truth and supernaturally know what is true and what is false, as well as what is right and what is wrong, in nearly every situation in life. (And in His own timing, He will reveal every situation in life.) That is quite a revelation for anyone!
All comments and questions are most welcome. Thank you for reading!
So, you are off to college to become an electrical engineer, police officer, nurse, business person or perhaps pursue one of many careers in education or other profession of your choice. How well you do in that field will have much to do with your reference points in life. What is really important to you? Do you have the confidence to talk to another person with the conviction that your talk is meaningful to them, either professionally or personally or both? If not, you are reading the right material to learn how to do so. As a unique individual, you have the power to influence others, for good or for bad. When you think about it, there really is very little room in between the two. And those that do not influence you in one direction or the other, you probably will consider as inconsequential or even boring, but certainly not fun or interesting to be around.
Some Examples
Jack is a likeable enough guy and enjoys some of the same interests as you – motorcycles, skiing, football, baseball, tennis, computers, cars and mechanics. And you both are studying mechanical engineering. However, he also smokes all the time, parties every Friday and Saturday night (and sometimes Sunday nights); and he really likes girls. Sometimes you think he enjoys flirting with girls more than anything else in life!
David is also a likeable enough guy and has a few of the same interests as you – motorcycles, tennis and computers. However, he does not smoke, sometimes even studies on Friday or Saturday night; and he often talks about his parents and his girl friend back home. You have every reason to believe he really respects his parents, who are both professionals – a lawyer and a paralegal secretary. But he really loves his girl friend and talks of marrying her someday, after he graduates and has a good enough job to support both of them.
You are getting to know both Jack and David very well. Currently, you have other friends, but Jack and David are special friends. And, you are deciding which one should become a close friend, maybe even your closest friend in college. Who will you choose? Often, that will depend on “the most influential example” in your life!
The Most Influential Example
By far, the persons most influential in the life of a new college freshman are his or her parents. Next are close relatives, then church leaders (if you have any), friends, teachers and various other acquaintances, often in that order.
Therefore, especially if you have two parents, which friend, Jack or David, do you believe your parents would prefer as your best friend, and maybe even the one you bring home for the Thanksgiving holiday?
But what if you have only one parent? Then clearly that mom or dad becomes the most influential example. And if you have no parents, then close relatives, church leaders, friends, etc. become the most influential. You can go right down the list.
Being An Example
Now, think about what type of example you are to other college students. Are you more like Jack or David or someone in between? Your reference points in life are largely, if not entirely, determined by the people you associate with. Therefore, choose wisely. Know right from wrong, try to distinguish between truth and falsehood and know that there is a difference between good and evil. Choose whatever is right, true and good and let those be your reference points in life. And you will find that parents, close relatives, church leaders and friends will all be on your side with support, guidance and genuine concern for you as you progress though your college years.
Thank you for reading. As always, your comments and questions are most welcome and encouraged. Do come again next week!
This is the second in a series of articles providing college students the opportunity to actually be and feel secure. I referenced a potential life-changing message, which should be simple, clear and based on solid facts and experienced reality. Well, here it is below. It should not take you more than two to four minutes to read the rest of this article; it is based on my own life changing experience and a brief description of six years immediately following.
It was November, 1981. I was watching the “700 Club” and Reverend Pat Robinson on TV. Actually, over the past year or two I had been reading my Bible and reading several books on God and religion, including Satan Is Alive and Well On Planet Earth by Hal Lindsay and The Holy Spirit by Billy Graham. But I still had questions.
Who is God?
Is heaven and hell real?
Is the Bible really the Word of God and inspired by God Himself?
Who is Jesus Christ? And is he really God?
Did all the miracles described in the Bible really happen?
I had gone to Catholic Priests, Protestant Ministers, Jewish Rabbis and even studied with Jehovah’s Witnesses and attended sciences with a master teacher in transcendental meditation. But I had found no answers, at least none that were definitive. There was much I just did not know. But I was very intrigued by the whole concept of God, heaven, hell and what the Bible had to say.
Reverend Pat Robinson said, “If you really want to meet and know God Himself, do yourself a favor and say this prayer with me.” I said to myself, “Well I have certainly been searching for quite sometime. Maybe this really is the way to meet and know God and get some answers. So I said this little prayer:
Jesus, I know that you died on the cross to pay the price for everything I have ever done wrong, all my sins. I know that I am a sinner. I accept that sacrifice you made for me on the cross and invite You into my life. I turn from my sins and will follow you to the best of my ability all the days of my life. Amen
Pat Robinson then said, “What you need to do now is go out and tell somebody about Jesus Christ, and that they too can have eternal life with Him in heaven – if they can say that little prayer and really mean it in their heart. Then go out, find and join a good church that preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Well, I did mean what I said in that prayer. But I did not tell anyone. However, I did start looking for “good church” that preached the Gospel. The following August, 1982, I found such a church; it was called “The FourSquare Gospel Church” and was located in Prescott, Arizona. The people were friendly and even introduced themselves to me, even though I was a total stranger. And I had never heard preaching like happened in this church. I could actually relate to it and felt convicted about applying it to my life on Monday morning. Shortly, for the first time in my life, I enjoyed and looked forward to going to church, and eventually also began attending services both Sunday and Wednesday evenings; and I was learning answers to all of my questions. Together with inviting Christ into my life in 1981, and the following events over the next six years, the Lord had set the foundation for the rest of my life:
August 1982: I found a great church.
August 1983: I was married, in the same church, to my wife Sandra, who was a single mother with 3 children, ages 11, 17 and 18.
August 1984: My 19 year old daughter (She never really knew her biological dad.) was married in the same church.
1984: My other daughter, also now 19, also got married in the same church.
1985: I received a $10,000 inheritance from my grandmother back in Maine.
1986: Our first grandchild was born in April.
Life has certainly not always been easy or smooth up to the present day. But I have had a stability and assurance that God was my Friend and I could depend on that Friend for the rest of my life. I truly had stability and reference for my life and often shared that with many others, including many college students, administrators, administrative assistants, faculty and staff at my work; I was a faculty member of one of the best aeronautical universities in the world today, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
All comments and questions are most welcome and encouraged. Do come back soon. Other articles will be posted each week describing “Stability and Reference for College Students.” Thank you for reading!
This is the first in a series of articles providing college students the opportunity to actually be and feel secure. How? By providing reference points in life through knowledge about college life and the outside world, specifically about what is right and wrong and what is true and false. It is called absolutism. This is the exact opposite of relativism – the theory that truth, moral values and esthetic values, especially referencing right and wrong, are not absolute, but are subject to the judgments of individuals or cultures and the circumstances involved. In the words of one research paper from Free Research Papers.Com, these are two extreme ethical approaches to reality. However, this website is devoted to only one reality – the one we all live in and experience everyday, including the God given sense about right, wrong, true and false.
You may presently be attending one of the best colleges, or the one of the best online colleges in the world, but if you have comments, questions, opinions or ideas on this or any other article, they are most welcome and appreciated. Debate and dialog, done with civility, is good and helpful. However, despite the liberal bias of many (but certainly not all) college professors throughout the U.S. and the world, this website will have a decidedly Christian bias or viewpoint. Submitting to the highest of all authorities, Jesus Christ Himself and His Word, there actually is no debate required, other than for the purpose of intellectual discussion. This is based on the fact that His Word, The Holy Bible, has no need of defense or defending Itself. This website has only one purpose; and that is to declare the God given sense about right, wrong, true and false.
There is a risk, however, that some readers will immediately be turned off at the mere mention of Jesus Christ and the Bible. Therefore, quoting scripture and preaching will be kept to a minimum, but not eliminated or prohibited. This will be done in an attempt to attract the widest readership possible. People of all faiths and beliefs are welcome and encouraged to participate – Moslems, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists and agnostics and others.
So if you are a new college freshman, or if you are a retired college professor, you will find this website at least interesting and at most intriguing and potentially life changing.
Have you ever had someone come up to you and start talking about God or religion and wonder, “What do they really want? What is their motivation? What do they expect me to do?” Actually, that should never happen. If someone has a potentially life changing message, it should be simple, clear and based on solid facts and experienced reality. And it should not take more than three to five minutes to fully explain.
Therefore, the next article will do just that. Right up front you will be given the opportunity to know and experience the Way, the Truth and the Life. After that is presented and declared, all else is merely men’s and women’s words and dialog. However, here it has a purpose – to expose as many people as possible to the Truth as an absolute, but especially for the college student searching for stability and reference points in life.