I am currently doing research for a paper about the history and development of Pepperdine University. through my reading i have found George Pepperdine to be a very fascinating man. even though he personally never had a college education he was a very wise and intelligent man. i would recommend anyone interested in church of christ schools to really find information on mr. pepperdine, you may find it interesting. to me, the basis on which he founded pepperdine university should be the goal of EVERY school that claims to practice Christianity. i feel like my undergraduate institution is working towards getting there...where is there you ask? "there" is a place in which faculty, administration, and the student body do not discriminate on who they accept into their groups, who they give physical, social, emotional help to, and who they reach out to. in my time at Freed i noticed a growing trend in which the student body was becoming more and more interested in how they could reach out to people outside of the "church." i feel that as Christians we don't like to do that, we like our bubble and we don't want to leave the bubble. i am just as guilty as the next person of this, but i feel that at times in my life i have been looked down upon, disrespected, or slightly rebuked for some of my ideas that Christianity to me is not going to a building on sundays or wednesdays, but rather a lifestyle in which one chooses to try his or her best to resemble those actions which Christ took part in. i feel that someone that lives with the goal of helping people has less to worry about at the end of his or her life than someone whose goal in life was never to miss a church service. my opinion is not trying to prove whether i am "right" or "wrong;" this is just a means in which i can leave my thoughts and express them, hopefully without offending anyone, if i do, feel free to leave your opinions as well. i am not interested in arguing the theological aspects of Christianity, only gathering information and life experiences that will help me make rational and wise decisions in life like my mentors and people like Mr. Pepperdine.
I don't necessarily believe in "a calling from God," but i did find this interesting. i do not dream a lot and when i do, i never seem to remember what it was about...but apparently drinking lots of mountain dew causes my mind to be very active during periods of sleep. i had a dream the other night which has remained vivid in my memory. i was in a foreign impoverished country, leading a group of people in humanitarian work (kinda like TORCH), but the country i was in was very militaristic and captured 3 of my men. i followed them down to where they had lined them up to be killed. i somehow was able to save the men (this part was not very clear), and the part i remember the best was one of the men that i saved asked me "what do you do?" and i smirked a bit, put my arm on his shoulder, and said with a humble, passionate, yet confident voice "I help people..." then i woke up with this sense of emotion, pride, and passion that i don't know if i've ever felt before. the next day i had an interview for an internship in which i would get to advise a group and coordinating several social justice programs, alternative spring breaks, and leadership development...it's very interesting to me that in the same week i: have a dream in which "helping" is the theme, i have an interview that i "help" people learn and be active in helping other people, and i conduct research about a man who wanted to the greatest good with what he had....calling?...i don't believe so....way to get to heaven?....possibly....ideas that will help me be a better person in the end?.....DEFINITELY
--what else can one ask for?
