Dresses For W.A.R.

April 12th, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

I was really inspired a week or so ago.  The President for W.A.R. (Women At Risk International) spoke to the student body, and I was amazed by what I heard. I decided to get involved.

Women At Risk is collecting banquet dresses to send overseas to give to the women over there.  Therefore, I am going to collect as many banquet dresses as I can by August 20, 2010.

My goal is 50 banquet dresses and I have 3 already.

I am so excited about this.  This is the first time since I have come to BBC where I felt like I needed to do something to help a ministry.  I want to get involved in this ministry, and I hope you do to.  This ministry is trying to save women who are being trafficked all over the world for money and sex.  This Christian program is looking for people to help fight the crime of trafficking by getting involved.

If you wish to help, look on facebook for the group I will be starting to get the word out about the ministry.  The group is called Dresses For War.  I have no clue what picture I will have, but just look for my name.  There you will find ways that you can help me reach my goal and more information on W.A.R. itself.

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Old Classes Never Die

April 8th, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

Have you ever had a class that talked about things you thought you would forget about, but you thought back on it after the class was over? It’s second semester, and today I started thinking about the American Literature class I took last semester.

We had been reading a good number of works from Nathanial Hawthorne, such as “The Blithdale Romance,” and “The Minister’s Black Veil”.

Most of Hawthorne’s writing is about sin and, more specifically, secret sin. Like in “The Minister’s Black Veil,” we all wear invisible veils that hide the sin within. We think because others do not know about this sin, no one knows. We forget there is one that will always know – one that will see beyond the veil that we put on in hopes no one will find out.

I never thought Literature would impact me as much as it did this year. The class has challenged me to think deep and more biblically than I could ever imagine. My teacher, Dr. Hicks, challenged my thought process almost to the extreme, and I loved it.

It is my hope you to will find a class that will challenge your thinking in ways you could never imagine just as I did.

Have a wonderful unveiled day,

Jamie ~ Proverbs 14:15

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Signs of the End

March 26th, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

Projects, projects, and more projects. 

It’s spring, the weather is getting warmer, and projects are coming fast.  Within the next four weeks, I have three big projects due one right after the other, four papers, and a bunch of tests.  However, the summer is coming and so is the end of my junior year. 

For some this year will be the end of the beginning – a time when seniors will leave the halls of BBC and join the work force.  That is what scares me the most.

What am I going to do?  Next year I will be leaving BBC to use what I have learned during my time here to hopefully better the community where I live, but the question is how?

I have one more year left, but today I feel as though tomorrow I will be gone and I will be wading my way through life looking for a way to be of help in society. 

I wonder if this is how the seniors feel.  I wonder if they feel like me wondering what the future holds or if they know exactly what they will be dong for the next year or two.  I know I wish I knew.

Kudos to all seniors out there – go out and make a difference.

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Fasting… A Few Days in the Life of A Youth Leader

March 10th, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

Throughout the Bible we see instances of God’s people separating themselves from life’s distractions by fasting. This time of separation allowed them to personally interact with God, without tangling themselves in the daily routine. There were different situations that caused the believers to fast. In Esther we see the entire nation of Israel fasting and crying out to God for fear of extermination because of Haaman’s wicked plan. Moses fasted before bringing God’s Law to the children of Israel. Even Jesus himself fasted before beginning His earthly ministry.

Each biblical account of fasting involved God’s people seeking for His involvement in a specific situation. Over this past weekend, our Youth Group, as well as the leaders fasted for 30 hours. Our goal was to consecrate our Youth Group, to ask God to take over and make a difference in the next year.

The night started out with us watching the Passion of the Christ, which immediately set the tone for the evening’s activities. After that, we spent a half hour singing songs that focused on the cross, and what Christ accomplished for us there. Then there were various games, activities, and lessons throughout the night. The evening then came to a close when each teen split off into their own separate room to read the book of Philippians, and connect it to their response to the cross.

When the teens woke up the next morning, everyone pitched in at 8am for the AngelFood food distribution ministry put on by our church.

Sunday morning we all came together again for worship in the morning and described to the church some of the things we saw God do, including adding new teens to a stagnant group, and convicting us all of ways we can better show Christ’s love to others.

That is a brief preview of what I would say it’s like to be a College Student training for ministry, as well as serving in ministry at BBC.

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Behind the Scenes of BBC’s Spring Play “Arsenic and Old Lace”

March 8th, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

Some of you may have had the chance to attend one of this weekend’s three perfomances of Arsenic and Old Lace, here at BBC. If so, you most likely laughed until you thought you could laugh no more! The play was full of every bit of entertainment possible! One moment of being frozen in suspense shifted instantly to a roar of laughter. There was a cute little love story woven into the play, along with a sinister character, or two, or maybe more…? At any rate, I would have to say that Arsenic and Old Lace was “bully, just bully!”

Because many of my close friends are part of the cast and crew of this year’s Spring Play, I have had the unique opportunity of seeing many sides of the performance. From watching all three nights the play ran, to running lines with characters, and even to being a guinea pig for make up training (which is a whole ‘nother story!), I have, from a closer distance than most, watched this play come into being. 

Sure I could talk about the acting, the make-up, the energy – and it all ought to be talked about, because the play truly was fantastic. Still, as I thought about what to say in reference to the entire experience, I am so blown away by the set.

The entire play takes place inside the home of the Brewster family which made for a massive set that covered the entire length of the stage area. It was constructed by Jon Strayer, a BBC staff member, and some other BBC’ers. Mr. Strayer was back stage for weeks building the set that used real doors, windows, and all sorts of things.

Just five days before opening night, the cast, crew, and some other BBC students and staff members pitched in from morning to evening painting, stenciling, sponging, decorating, and furnishing the Brewster home. I was even able to lend a hand hanging a picture and hunting down a prop or two!

Watching so many talented people from our drama department put together such an extravagent set was wonderful, and seeing the Cast bring it all to life three nights in a row was truly priceless!

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Getting through the Tunnel

March 4th, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

Spring break is nearly here and light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.  It’s very faint, but it is getting brighter every day. 

I am taking an online class that I love, but it is a lot of work.  My Creative Writing class is a three credit class with homework every night, but after this Friday I will be done with the class and I will only have to worry about 13 credits.  I have two major projects after this week and two small papers to write.  I’m so excited, but I feel like this week could kill me. 

I am sure that you have dealt with this feeling before.  Knowing there is light ahead, but not quite sure you’re going to make it.  Let me give you 4 tips on what I have been doing to keep my cool for this week.

  • Prayer- I pray when I get up in the morning, before each class, and before I go to bed.  I thank God for who he is and that he has gotten me through this far.  Then I pray for strength, guidance, and patience for the day ahead.
  • Reading the Bible- I am reading through the Psalms.  You will see that David goes from sadness to thanksgiving at the end of each Psalm.  I recommend Psalms 13,18, and 136
  • Relaxing- I love to do things with my hands so I’ve been making cards for people and doing some drawing.  Find something that you love to do as a form of relaxing.  I make sure that I spend 5 to 10 minutes between each hour of work to let my mind slow down.
  • Sleep- I am trying to get 8 hours of sleep a night.  Sleep is very important.  It gives my body and mind a rest from the stress and it gives me strength to face the next day. 

I hope you find these tips helpful during your times of stress.  God Bless.

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Peace and Quiet

March 1st, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

Have you ever just needed to get away?  There are times when life just seems to be overwhelming and you need to take a break, have time for yourself, and get away from all the noise and distractions.  That is where I am at the moment.

I am feeling a little over my head, but I have felt this way before.  And there are two things that I always do to calm myself down.

First, I take a walk to my favorite spot.  It’s right off campus and it is the perfect place to have some quiet time.  As you walk through the woods you will reach a small clearing.  In this clearing are four or five buildings that are a little rundown.  The students that know about this place call them the abandoned buildings because they never see anyone using them.  I was fortunate to meet the caretaker my freshman year and find out what these buildings were used for. 

I go there because it is quiet and not a lot of students know about it.  I can sit on the picnic tables or the grass and just be still and hear myself think, or sometimes I go there to cry.  It calms me down to hear the sounds of the woods.  I live in the country and I am not used to a lot of people.

After I come back to campus, I like to put on the most comfortable clothes I have and have a cup of Chamomile tea.  I get my Bible and curl up on my bed and just read.  I usually read the Psalms because I find them very soothing.  My favorite Psalms are 13, 18, and 23.  They are a great comfort to me and when I am done reading and spending time in prayer I find that I am more focused and relaxed.

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Conversation

February 24th, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

I just got out of my Theology IV class and it was a blast.  A discussion started at the end of class – about the different roles between genders, in the home and in the church that got several people involved. It was quite interesting and the conversation took a little longer than Dr. Cragoe had expected, but he would rather have us get involved than to just sit and listen.

It never ceases to amaze me the conversations that pop up in the classrooms at BBC.  When I came here I expected to be sitting in lectures all day long.  I am so glad I was wrong.  As people we learn so much more through discussion, don’t we?  A lot of times during lectures we “tune out” what is being said, or we just take in the information without really thinking about it.  It’s through discussions that real life situations come up and real life solutions are given in a practical understandable way. 

It’s also encouraging to hear the discussions continuing even after classes are over. We as students can talk to each other without the feeling of being attacked by our fellow students for our views even with those that do not hold the same position.  A lot of times, through talking we learn even more than what was taught in the classroom and more about each other.

I encourage you to find people that you can talk to about life and the Bible.  And I would encourage you to talk to people that might not agree with you on every position.  You might learn something new or it might affirm what you already believe.  

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Loving As We Have Been Loved

February 23rd, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

If I had to list the godly women who have influenced me, and pushed me forward in my walk with Christ, I have no doubt that Faye Moore would  be on that list! Faye is a great woman of God, and she brings all the passion possible to her role as a counseling professor on campus. I am taking her class Women Counseling Women, and it is transforming how I view myself and my role in ministry in an incredible way.

Until I began to learn from Faye, I never realized how important understanding ourselves would be in order for us to minister to others. I guess I always thought that ministry was simply helping others. I never made the connection that our advice to others is so intimately tied to our personal walk with God. It should have been a no brainer, but for some reason, I missed it…

I am beginning to learn that how I view God (and how I-think-He-thinks-of-me) determines how I view others, and that I can only love others to the extent that I understand His love. The more I understand just how much God loves me, the more I will love others. Maybe these things seem simple, but it’s the simple things that make us who we are.

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Morning Classes…Part of Discipline

February 15th, 2010 by Jamie Knowles

In the beginning of the semester, I wrote about my goal of Personal Discipline. Well, that’s being tested more than I had anticipated. For the class The Church’s Ministry, a group of individuals are selected to be small group leaders, they call us facilitators. I was happy to be chosen to be a facilitator, but less than happy to know that Friday mornings I had to be in class at 7am!

When the alarm blares in my face at 6:30, I keep reminding myself “It’s part of discipline, part of discipline…” The problem is – at 6:30 am on a Friday morning, the last thing I care about is discipline!!

Thankfully I have made it to both of the 7 am classes, and hopefully, that will continue to be the case. But, as our professor Dwight Peterson reminds us during that 7am class, “BBC is a ministry leadership training school.” Of all places to learn to develop discipline, this is it!

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