Cedarville University

OK, OK. People keep asking me why I haven’t updated. Life has been going at breakneck speed so I find myself getting done only what I have to get done. 

I just returned from Greensboro, North Carolina where I spoke at the Association for Christian Schools conference. These are always a great time. Over 2500 teachers and administrators from the Southeast were there. I talked to so many Cedarville grads and parents as well as a lot of Bryan grads. It was great fun. I also ran into many parents whose son or daughter is coming to Cedarville next year. 

As most of you know, I almost gave Lynne a Presidential candidate for her birthday. The John McClane (whoops, that’s Bruce Willis in Die Hard, I mean John McCain) campaign worked with us about a week to hold a rally on campus on the day that happened to be Lynne’s birthday. The Secret Service scoped it out and the campaign staff had everything set up and then the “economic crisis” hit and Senator McCain suspended his campaign (something John McClane would never have done). He canceled his rallies and went to Washington to do his job as a Senator. His campaign manager stopped by and told me they still want to hold a rally on campus but the last month before the election is a moving target of political proportions. They really want to do it, he said, because of Cedarville’s reputation. If they aren’t able to make it happen, they promised to appoint Lynne to a cabinet position. I’m not sure that would be much of a birthday present. 

Speaking of the chaotic, economic crisis, I am reminded of this simple truth: There is no panic in heaven. The Dow is down over 36% this week. Over $2.4 trillion of value is gone from the stock market (which shows the ethereal nature of “value” in the American economic system). God is still in control. 

I was sitting next to a fellow on the plane to Cincinnati yesterday who had all the answers. He was a consultant. [Joke time: A man gets lost driving through Ohio and stops at a Speedway gas station to fill up. As he is pumping his gas, he asks the man filling his tank on the other side of the pump, "Can you tell me where we are?"

"We're at a Speedway gas station," he replied.

"You're a consultant, aren't you?" the first guy asked.

"Yes, how did you know?"

"Well, your answer was technically correct but you told me what I already knew and didn't help me at all."]

Anyway, this fellow on the plane was a consultant and like most of us, he saw his retirement savings reduced dramatically. He outlined a three point plan that would solve all of our economic problems “in five or six years.”

 I’m glad he didn’t charge me for the advice. 

Headlines today: “Worst Week Ever;” “Panic in World Markets;” “Confidence disappears.” Confidence in anything but God will always disappear. 

Another headline in the paper today, “Majority of Atheists Pray, Study Shows.” . . . especially if they had money in the Stock Market. 

During these times, it’s not only a wonderful opportunity to remind everyone that our hope is built on Christ (not the Stock Market or the government or our 401(k)) but to remind ourselves that these worries are unique to a minority of people in the world. I’ve met so many people around the world that the idea of saving or investing is so far beyond the realm of possibility that they have no idea why anyone could get stressed over what has happened.

On a trip to Russia, I met a brilliant Microbiology Ph.D. in St. Petersburg who made $125 a month. A practicing M.D. made even less.

 I spoke to a group of college students in Bogota, Colombia whose greatest challenge was trying to live for Christ when they knew they would have to decide whether or not to cooperate with the drug lords. They all had friends and family who had refused and lost their businesses or their lives. 

I think of Gladys, who ran the Little Lambs orphanage in Kenya. She barely made ends meet herself but she cared for hundreds of children every day. She loved the Lord and poured her life into educating and spiritually nourishing these children. My daughter, April, worked with her for a few months when she went to Africa.

Lynne, Gladys and BB at Little Lambs in Kenya.

We brought a suitcase full of clothes and books for the kids.

I have run into several people in my recent travels who said, “You haven’t updated your blog.” What a way to feel guilty! I have been on the road quite a bit and then we were without power and internet at the house after Hurricane Ike roared through (Ohio!?). Some people in the area are still without power. Former Senator Mike DeWine dropped by the house last night to talk about a few things and as he was leaving mentioned that he had no electricity at his home. I guess you move down the priority list when you lose an election!

The wind that came through was amazing. It reminded me of my youth when real hurricanes hit us in Florida.

Here are some photos of our front yard after Ike visited.

We traveled to Pennsylvania over the weekend and attended an alumni “Fall Festival” in Lancaster County. About 180 or so were there for a barbeque, games, CU update, etc. It was fun.

We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast (actually a guest house) which was really quite nice. It was a beautiful little home in a beautiful area. When I say, “little,” I do mean “little.” I hit my head on numerous parts of the ceiling and furnishings at least a dozen times. I’m not that tall (6’2”) so maybe I’m just in that clumsy, awkward stage of middle life.

In spite of that, we had a lovely time.

At least Lynne says we did. I can’t remember.

This week is a preparation time for the Trustee Meeting next week and Homecoming which immediately follows. That will be a busy but enjoyable week.

I was impressed with our students who took advantage of their day off from classes last Monday and spread out across the area to help people claen up their yards. A group are going to the Galveston area soon, too. I want all of us to think first about the opportunities to serve and provide support whenever there is a tragedy or need.

I read an article not long ago by an atheist who acknowledged that, with few exceptions, all of the groups that worked and still are working in the areas ravaged by Katrina are Christian groups. He didn’t seem bothered by that; just his observation. What a great testimony.

At the University, we invited those in the community still without power to come to the university to eat for free. Thanks to Chuck McKinney and his staff for this extra labor of agape.

Thanks for your love and encouragement!

Cedarville University always celebrates Labor Day. By that, I mean we don’t work. We always had classes at Bryan since it was so early in the semester and missing a day of school meant we had to make it up later. But at Cedarville, the whole town shuts down and we celebrate. The main reason, of course, is that Senator James Kyle, who was born in Cedarville in 1854, is the father of Labor Day. He sponsored the legislation to make it a national holiday. There are a quite a few streets and buildings named Kyle in the Cedarville area in honor of him and his family. He was a pastor before he became a politician and he served as a US Senator representing (not Ohio) South Dakota.

Not to celebrate Labor Day in Cedarville would seem to be sacrilegious. So, Cedarfest is a weekend event that brings the community together for most of the weekend. The Labor Day parade and evening fireworks cap off the celebration.

There is nothing like small town celebrations to help you feel grounded. Lynne and I enjoy marching in the parade (usually with the University volleyball team) waving to the crowds and giving out ice cream to the kids along the parade route. Now, it only takes twenty minutes to walk the parade route but it is still a lot of fun.

Now we dive into the serious part of the semester at Cedarville University.  Before we know it, the holidays will be here!

One of the interesting features of this Labor Day was the drama of Hurricane Gustav. Since I grew up in Florida, we had our share of hurricanes. As a kid, it was always a lot of fun when a hurricane was on its way (no school!). Back then, hurricanes only had female names (this started in 1953 - long before I was around). Evidently, islanders in the Caribbean named storms after the saint honored on the day the hurricane struck. Now, there are six lists with both male and female names that are rotated each year. Names for Atlantic hurricanes are supposed to be English, French or Spanish, since these are the main languages spoken in countries bordering the ocean.

But Gustav? That’s a Swedish name.

I think it would be a great idea to begin to expand the potential name list to include names of famous people (Oprah, Madonna, Carrot Top) and historic figures (Caesar Augustus, Marco Polo, Rasputin).  Or even include African names (Africa borders the Atlantic, doesn’t it?).

The challenge would be for the television weather- and news-casters to properly pronounce the new names. Particularly if one was from one of the African tribal languages that contains numerous clicking sounds:  “We expect Hurricane W,’ef’ber”txv (pronounced “click, click, brrrrpt”) to strike the Florida coast by morning.”

But that I think that would be nothing compared to the name of the recent Olympic Gold Medalist weight lifter from Thailand, Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon.

Fortunately Thailand does not border the Atlantic.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement. God is at work at Cedarville!