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Friday September 11, 2009 was an exciting night! Here are a few things I learned from Rush Night:

- Videos aren’t as enjoyable when you watch them sideways and backwards

- When everyone tries to include “funny credits,” sometimes they’re just not funny

- Kyle Saunders, Matt Deckard, and Caleb Jones are awesome!

- Black leggings can make you feel incredibly hot and cold at the same time

- I am NOT a size 4

- Teachers and faculty members who have a good sense of humor are a gift to us all

- I can’t hang out with Shane Huey anymore

- Just because I’m wearing skin-tight Under Armour and tights doesn’t give you a reason to scream at me like some piece of me…Courtney Edwards

- I think Freshman are scared of me

- Apparently I’m a cross between Billy Mayes and Al Borland, meaning…

- I need to shave

- We are Arminians, my friend

- Dr. Jon Forlines is one of the funniest people I know…seriously

- Jacob Riggs can’t tackle very well

- After 4 takes of Jacob Riggs trying to tackle you, you get a pretty bad headache

- Swings are fun no matter what your age

- When you haven’t eaten in 10 hours, Chili’s is awesome!

- Chili’s with friends is even awesomer!

- Twitter feeds are the new Top 10 Lists

- I’m so thankful I don’t have to wear a coat and tie to work

- Jacob Riggs is going to be a father

- Not really

- Unity among students is a beautiful thing

- Adrien Brody and Halle Berry have nothing on Tina Tolbert and Alex Check

- Parachute pants will NEVER go out of style

- It’s never a good idea to drink bottled water that’s sitting backstage and half-empty. But…sometimes you just gotta do it!

One of my good friends, Ryan Akers (FWBBC and Truth & Peace Alumni), went on a trip to Haiti some time back and was very moved and heartbroken by what he saw. Because of this, he decided to take action. As an avid runner, Ryan created his own group called “Run 4 Haiti” in attempts to raise money. Here is an excerpt from Ryan, from the Mountain Faith Mission web site:

I love running. It’s been a passion of mine for a few years now. I’m quite the running geek, too, as I enjoy reading magazines and books about the sport. As I’ve read, I’ve seen numerous stories of people who have raised money for some charitable cause. Thus, we find Run 4 Haiti.

Presently, I am training for the 2009 Country Music Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee. On April 25, 2009, I’ll toe the line with some 30,000 people to participate in the race. On that day, my goal is to have support flowing in from all over the nation for Mountain Faith Mission of Haiti. So here’s the deal…

I am asking for any individuals, churches, youth groups…anyone who wants to get involved to join the team by supporting Run 4 Haiti. Every single penny that is donated goes straight to Mountain Faith Mission. This money will help improve the lives of thousands of people on the central plateau of Haiti. My goal is to get donations of $1 a mile for a total of $26. In a country where we have so much, this donation would nearly be a month’s wage for many in Haiti.

I know many people will look at this and say, “Oh, that’s nice, but I’m too strapped for money right now.” Or maybe, “That’s cool…but I tithe…so I’m taken care of.”

I’m asking you to think a little deeper about this issue. Yes, the economy is bad right. Yes, money is tight. But even in these times, do our economic hardships even compare with the people in Haiti? Not a chance. 

Our economic problems revolve around cutting back in Christmas gifts and eating out. It may even involve losing a job. However, their economic problems revolve around survival–getting enough food to eat, getting medical help, etc.

To everyone who reads this, I encourage you to take some action, especially this holiday season. Maybe you’ll choose to support Haiti through Ryan. Maybe you’ll choose to get involved with Mocha Club, something I’ve been privileged to get involved with. Maybe you’ll choose to be a part of Malaria No More, which I wrote about in a previous post. Maybe it’s donating to Toys for Tots.

More than anything, help someone who is less fortunate. That $7/month or one time gift of $26 really isn’t going to hurt you that much.

Show the love of Christ. Give!

For more information, check out these sites:

Mountain Faith Mission- Run 4 Haiti 

Run 4 Haiti Blog

Mocha Club

Malaria No More

So it’s Friday once again (thank goodness!!!) and I figured I’d go with something a little different and light today. But instead of throwing out something random, goofy, and completely ridiculous, I figured I’d throw out a name drop.

I know many people who read this blog are students or alumni of FWBBC. Others have some association, even if minimal. Well, recently I was given a CD by Tanner Stahl, one of my good friends that I met at FWBBC. Tanner is currently traveling the nation as the baritone singer of the “Soul’d Out Quartet.” Read more…