Opinions

Turn your eyes

Have you been watching the news lately? You probably have. You are probably even watching it right now. What do you see? Disaster. Calamity. Chaos. Over the past couple of months, there have been a number of natural disasters that have shaken the earth, literally and emotionally. With the recent earthquakes in Chile, Haiti, and Japan, among the other numerous events, it is quite sad, albeit it, depressing, to hear of the losses that many have occurred because of these disasters.

Be a flower

It was a cold afternoon, the wind whipping at my t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flop donned feet. I gave myself the opportunity to take a stroll around the pond this last weekend, despite being inadequately dressed for the occasion. As I was walking, taking in the cool breeze, the fresh air, and the scent of the pond, I noticed something that I didn’t expect to see at this time and place where I was.

How to choose the right major

“So what's your major?” Tania asked. “Nursing,” I answered. “Nursing? I thought you were going to study theology. Are you sure you want to be a nurse?” “Of course, I wouldn’t study anything else,” I answered confidently. Yet, behind my astounding confidence there remained a silent whispering uncertainty questioning whether I should be majoring in nursing. My freshman and sophomore years I enrolled at Southwestern as a nursing major, planning on going to medical school right after obtaining my nursing degree. When people heard that I was a nursing major, they often asked: “So why nursing?” And I replied, “As as a nurse I can help hundreds of people while earning a good salary.” Yet, I knew that the fact that nurses help thousands of people while earning a good salary didn’t necessarily mean that I should be studying nursing.

Attending church in pajamas

Let’s face it. Sometimes we wake up Saturday morning, feeling tired from the previous day. Perhaps we’ve stayed up too long. Perhaps there was an intense vespers the night before that seemed to drain you from going to church. Perhaps we’re too comfortable in our pajamas to leave the house, or even, the bed. Well, thanks to the internet and television, going to church can be easy, just with the click of a button. Fast, convenient, and easy to do. However, can worshipping through the computer or television offer real spiritual fulfillment? I think it’s possible to attend an online church to hear a message, learn and incorporate a life lesson from it, and receive a blessing overall. However, you lose an essential element that makes a church a “church.”

Don't forget: A does not equal B

Dr. Glen Robinson

While visiting Facebook the other day, I stumbled across a message from my good friend Celeste perrino Walker, who had recently written an article for Liberty magazine. In it, she makes reference to the continuing sentiment by some well-intentioned Christians who get upset because the Ten Commandments are removed from city halls or because prayer is removed from a public event. Here’s an excerpt of what she says about it: “Regardless, at the heart of all such disagreements is the issue of separation of church and state, an issue that some do not seem to fully grasp and some do not agree with. But the most obvious question, surely, is: Why do we want the government’s fingers in our religious pie? And the answer, quite simply, is that we are far enough removed to forget what the government does to religious pie. We have forgotten the terrible sacrifices many people have made in the name of religious freedom. And we would do well to remember.”

What this place needs...

Conna Bond

When I arrived in Keene a year ago and checked out the Southwestern campus, I took in the pond, the tennis courts, the new buildings, and the row of flags in the center of campus. Everything looked great. But something was missing—and still is. Part of my summer was spent in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Every day or so, I’d put on my running gear and head to the track at one of the local high schools. Plenty of other people were there, too, regardless of the weather. It was a great place for runners and athletes of all types to train and keep in shape at just about any time of the day. Even the cheerleading and football teams had already started pre-season training there. It was an especially good location for female runners to train, since it’s not always safe to run through town, in parks, and down busy roads (like Old Betsy).

Five things to do when you're sick

You wake up feeling congested. Heavy. Tired. Uh oh, it looks like you’re sick. What used to be a walk in the park has turned into what seems to be like a death march. Here is a compiled a list of things that I do, that you can do, while you’re sick. It isn’t easy being sick, but it’s easy to make being sick fun! 5 Things to Do When Sick 1. Think Positive – Yes, you’re sick. Yes, you’re not feeling well. Yes, you feel like the world is going to end. Well, the world isn’t going to end (at least not anytime soon during your duration of sickness). Thinking positive keeps you in better spirits, as well as making you see the better side to the not-so-fine things, such as a sickness. Some studies have also suggested that thinking positive can also lead to a faster recovery! Turn that frown upside down, and think positive!

Holding my ground

Mark Bond

It was a great day back in 1990 when I graduated from Southwestern Adventist College with a slew of my buddies. It was “Southwestern” to us back then, and we were proud of the name. Many of us had worked together as student recruiters for the school. We loved each other, and we loved this place (even if it was only a college)—still do after all these years. I’d transferred here from another Adventist school because I found Southwestern to be a friendlier place. My unique abilities were appreciated here, and I liked the fact that faculty regularly invited students home for dinner, even on weeknights. I’d visited plenty of other places, but this was where I wanted to be.

Showers of blessing?

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day. That’s what a lot of students have been thinking about, at least the ones I’ve talked to. It’s been raining for the past couple of days and it’s caused some unrest. With last weekend’s social event cancelled and other activities being affected, there are almost no happy campers with rainy days. Driving in the rain is not so fun as well, with all the potential driving hazards that double, triple, or quadruple with the rainy weather. Especially when you’re driving a vehicle that needs a desperate oil change and a new set of tires.

Turtles may win

Conna Bond

I tend to live my life at a rabbit’s pace. I’ve spent much of my life envying turtles because they’re sure to win the race. My attempts to conquer my rabbit-like tendencies have been fruitless. I live my life in frantic spurts, punctuated by power naps and bursts of adrenaline. Two years ago, I stood near the finish line of a local half-marathon, waiting for some friends to appear around the last bend. When they finally crossed the line with their arms held high, I decided I wanted to be a runner too. I wanted to be a sweaty, victorious participant, not just a spectator. I wanted to experience for myself the thrill of crossing the finish line.