Hey PIU Students, this is the latest edition of the . . .
President to Students (Pr to Ss) News.
If you are a turkey, there is good reason to run hard this week. If you are a PIU student, it is no time for you to rest. See more below.
What a privilege it was to lead you in last Friday's chapel. So often I have to share bad news. It was great to lead a celebration of good news. As I write this morning, I'm thinking about times in my life that were significant points of progress. I hope this chapel was that for you. You may want to stop by and talk about times of significant spiritual progress. Here are some from my life.
In June of 1962, I stopped just down the street from where I lived, bowed my head and trusted Christ as my Saviour.
It would have been 3 or 4 years later that I was confronted with the fact that the Lord Jesus has the right to all that I am, Romans 12:1-2. I responded to an invitation at a youth rally. My friend Bob Hanson went forward with me.
It would have been during my freshman year at Appalachian Bible Institute that Dr. Lester Pipkin shared his testimony of systematically surveying his life and yielding every part of it to the Lord's control--even to the point of the Lord taking away the abilities he had. I went to my room and from the corner of the top bunk I did the same.
August 12, 1972 I said "I do" to Kathy, a church full of friends and family, and to the Lord. We came together not only as husband and wife, but as partners in ministry.
In December of 2016 I responded to a request to come and fill in at PIU.
It has been my privilege to serve the Lord, these many years. I have no regrets. I'm praying that 50 years from now you will look back to your time at PIU as a time of spiritual progress in your life. Don't waste the opportunity.
GET IN LINE! Preregister before the end of the semester. Be watching for an announcement. Preregistration will open soon. It will make your life much easier when you show up in January.
Speaking of Spring Semester: Make sure you take note of the Academic Calendar. It has been adjusted to give us enough classes sessions in our Wed.-Fri. classes:
January 7…………………………… Orientation January 8-9……………………….. Registration January 10…………………………. Spring semester classes begin March 12-14……………………… Annual Board Meeting March 15-17……………………… PIU Days March 18-22……………………… Spring Break April 19……………………………… Good Friday (no classes) May 3………………………………… Baccalaureate Service May 4………………………………… Spring Semester Ends May 4………………………………… Graduation
I know there are good reasons for some of you to live off campus, but, if you aren't living on campus, you should really consider living in the dorm this spring.
You have good neighbors like Kathy and the Tavarezes.
You have good access to the Library.
You are around for chapel and other opportunities that help you grow.
You will save gas.
You don't have to depend on others to get you here in time for class.
Don't assume you can't afford to live in the dorm. Let one of us sit down and work the numbers with you.
Make sure you see Celia about your balance. Do it sooner rather than later. We want to help you. Come and see Alex or me.
Wednesday, right before Thanksgiving, Liebenzell Mission is asking its people to pray and fast. The particular focus on on family members of missionaries who are sick, people like Dani Tavarezes sister, Erin, who was hospitalized with low blood pressure and heart rate. Or Urte Scherer's father. I invite you to stop by my office for a time of prayer on Wednesday.
Old, bad habits are hard to break. New, good habits are hard to start. But by God's grace we can do it. Here is a good way to practice putting off old negative habits and putting on new ones.
Put off leaving soda cans, food wrappers, etc. lying around. Put on putting all trash in the right place. Ask a couple of friends to help you. Give them permission to remind you, even bug you. Sooner than you think, you'll have a new, good habit.
Apply this put off, put on concept to other far more important matters.
It's hard to believe this semester is drawing to a close. Finish strong. If you need help seek it out. Let's press on.
Go to bed on Saturday. Be at church on Sunday! See you at C&G on Monday.