Anna’s Blog

Today we took pictures for these blogs! I officially met everyone else involved in this process – all the other bloggers and the people behind-the-scenes. Needless to say, it’s fun to be part of something like this!

As we were gathering together outside the President’s office (his room has the best lighting for the photos), Dr Williams himself appeared. Katie and Lynn (two of the other bloggers, as well as two of my best friends) and I grabbed each other’s hands and started giggling like schoolgirls. Gah! He’s just a man! But ever since I had him as a prof in the Student’s Life and Calling last semester, I’ve looked up to him in such a way as to make him a figure of extreme importance. He’s almost my hero. Imagine meeting Dumbledore! (Please, again, forgive the allusion to Harry Potter….) Anyway, I was mumbling and smiling like a goofball 'til he left us to our business.

When we entered his office, however, we dared not touch anything, as if they were priceless relics. Like we were in a museum, the sanctum sanctorum. Katie and I noted his shelves full of “thick, leather-bound books� and we decided we should maybe buy the head of a moose or a twelve-point buck to put on his wall as a “Welcome-to-the-Presidency� gift. Then I noticed the empty chair behind the desk. The seat of power. I sat in it. I felt the power emanating. I sat back, and pretended to ponder highly philosophical and intellectual conundrums. Then I noticed an object on a desk near the wall. It was something ordinary. Something like a bouncy ball or a funny magnet. Something that seemed out of place in such an office of power and esteem. It was then that I was brought back down to reality. Dr Williams is just a man. A respectable and honorable and upright one, but a man nonetheless. He has allowed the Lord to work through him and has thus achieved great things. But it’s by His power, not the man’s. To hold a mere human in such high regard, hero-worship, in a sense, is more disrespectful than it is reverential.

I thank God for bringing such an able leader to guide our school, but I must give praise where it is due. Not to a mere man, but to the Maker of all.

**Jude 1:25 “To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.�**

Posted by Anna at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love the pond. It is there my best reflection and meditation takes place. Except when it’s interrupted by a few certain someones. The ducks.

There are four of them – three mallards (which are greenish grey) and a white one. See, this white duck is special…not only because he’s the only white duck on the pond, but because of his, let’s say, special relationship with nearly each and every student on campus. This duck’s name varies from person to person, but my friends and I call him Alfred. He’s a character, that Alfred. I haven’t been able to decide whether he’s the ringleader of the band of ducks, or just the doofy sidekick. It could go either way. Anyway, he’s loud and obnoxious and I’m pretty sure he takes great pleasure in disrupting everyone’s lives. If a person is on a bench by the side of the pond praying or doing devotions or strumming a guitar, he or she is bound to be distracted by the oh-so-irritating quack of this particular duck.

Not only is he noisy, though - he’s intrusive. Alfred the great white duck will walk right up to you, almost as if he might demand some sort of toll for being near his pond. He’s been known to bite people if they refuse payment. Haha! That is one crazy duck!

This little gang of ducks is completely uninhibited. Their lives are carefree and free-spirited. They make their own fun – whether it’s chasing students on their way to class or confusing drivers by standing, simply loitering in the middle of the road, or by leaving (ahem) presents on the sidewalk for pedestrians to avoid like mines on a battlefield. These ducks lead lives heedless to time and the worries of this world. Sure, they’re animals. But perhaps we can learn from them.

**Luke 12:24-25 (partially paraphrased) “Consider the ducks, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?�**

Posted by Anna at 10:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have yet to make sense of this puzzle that is Pennsylvania weather. Last week, the weather was in the upper 50s, low 60s and nowwww it decides to snow. Don’t get me wrong, I’m from up north, I need a good snow once in a while, but the weather needs to make up its mind!

Snow. Ha. I have to say, people out here are kind of wimps when it comes to winter weather. In all, about an inch of snow accumulated. And afternoon classes are cancelled. Whereas I’m used to driving to school in a foot and a half of snow on unplowed streets, still driving 55 mph, a mere inch is enough to keep professors and commuters alike from braving the treacherous roads to make it safely to school. I suppose I just don’t understand the mentality of most people here out east…at the first sign of flurries, students begin celebrating an imminent snowday.

Perhaps I’m not as hardcore as I’d like to think. I complain about the cold as loudly and often as anyone else…and I’m sick of hearing, “Oh Anna, you should be used to this! You’re from Michigan!� Um, well…I don’t have a decent response to that.
But…one inch of snow cancels class?? Are you kidding me?

**Psalm 148:7-8 “Praise the LORD from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word.�**

Posted by Anna at 10:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We are living history here: the inauguration of the fifth president of Philadelphia Biblical University, the honorable Dr Todd J Williams (byaaaaah!) commenced at 1:30 this afternoon. Since I’m in chorale, I had to be in the Mason Activity Center an hour earlier in concert dress, ready for a sound check. We warmed up quickly (the brass orchestra was practicing to the other side of the gym) and rehearsed the intro with the hand bell choir. And the ceremony was ready to begin.

The faculty, staff, and visiting dignitaries filed in to the Brass Ensemble’s The Great Gate of Kiev. Such pomp and circumstance. Each wore a special robe – specific to their role in the academic world. Different colors denote a different status or specialization. (I didn’t know this offhand; the purpose of the ‘academic attire’ was described in the program. Haha.) The procession was beautiful. It reminded me (dare I say it) of a scene in a Harry Potter book. I’m not sure if I could get in trouble for comparing our Biblical university’s president’s inauguration to a somewhat controversial book in the Christian world… but I’m willing to go with it.

There were many speakers and many lengthy prayers said, and truly it was a lovely ceremony. Chorale performed Be Thou My Vision, Dr Williams’ favorite hymn; our prayer for him and ourselves.

I am so excited for Dr Williams to be succeeding as President. I was fortunate enough to be in his last class – the Student’s Life and Calling. Through this class, I have grown to respect Dr Williams to such a great extent. I cannot imagine a better man for the job of leading our university.

**Psalm 64:10 “The righteous man will be glad in the LORD and will take refuge in Him; And all the upright in heart will glory.�**

My roommate and I, all dressed up for our performance at the ceremony!

Posted by Anna at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today is incredible. Get this: it’s February, right? The supposed ‘middle of winter’, right? Then WHY is it 64 degrees outside?!

I’m from Michigan…and the warmest it gets this time of year is perhaps 34 or 35 (NOT factoring the wind chill) so you can imagine how the mild winter is getting to me. I was talking to my younger brother on the phone who said they have already had six snow days! SIX! And here in Philly, we’ve had maybe two days of incredibly light flurries that didn’t stick, or otherwise had melted by the next morning.

I don’t understand it in the least, but I’m certainly not complaining! This afternoon, I grabbed my laptop and my Bible and went and sat out by the pond. The pond is perhaps my favorite spot on campus. It’s so peaceful (except when you’re being irritated by the four ducks that seem to perpetually hang around)…and the whole atmosphere created by nature and the beautiful weather really put me in the mindset of worship. Thoreau really had something there, I think, in his emphasis on the glorious simplicity of nature.

**Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.�**

Posted by Anna at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'd like to introduce myself - and since this is MY blog and I can say basically whatever I want, whenever I want - I will do just that.

I am Anna. I'm currently a first semester sophomore (some technicality about how many AP credits transferred or some such nonsense), majoring in Secondary English Education. I know, I know: who would EVER want to be a teacher. Well...I would. I've been making lesson plans since I was in seventh grade. And in no way is that weird.

I like to think I'm an interesting person...here's just a glimpse of the chaos that is me:

(Some facts, in no particular order)

I'm fun. I will eat almost anything on a dare (THAT, I think, is the definition of 'fun'.)

**DISCLAIMER: In reference to the statement above, I feel obligated to note that I AM a bit OCD about food. Food shouldn't touch. I'm a big fan of those plates with the dividers. However, I feel I might be persuaded with any substantial sum of money....**

I make random noises (some of which sound like a train whistle). These may or may not annoy you. My dad has prohibited me from, in his words, 'laughing obnoxiously' and 'screaming like a banshee' when i'm at home, if that tells you anything.

I have little or no control over my facial expressions.

I love to sing. When I perform, I have an alter ego named Rhona Bonga. She's a 40-year-old opera singer and is fabulous.

Sometimes I do silly things, not on purpose.

"Seven" is the answer to every question.

Green earrings are my favorite.

I rarely (if ever) wear matching socks.

I'm in love with daffodils and sunshine!

Among my many pet peeves are people patting the top of my head in a patronizing manner (gotta give me credit for that beautiful alliteration), walking backwards in front of me, wearing my shoes, and/or reading over my shoulder. It's just rude. Also, things touching my fingernails (like styrofoam or wood or any type of metal), metal touching my teeth, styrofoam touching my teeth, and styrofoam in general. It's just rude.

If given the option, I would live in Victorian era England.

I wish life were a musical.

I wish my head and my heart would agree more often.

My greatest fear is losing all of my teeth.

The greatest sensation is eating something dry (like a milano cookie or something) while swimming underwater...
...or living twice.

I am in love with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is my Driving Force. As silly and as carefree as I may seem, I am serious about Him.

Briefly, that is me. More to follow.

Favorite verses (at the moment): in NASB

Isaiah 40:28-31 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

1 Corinthians 13:7-8a "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

Posted by Anna at 11:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)