Join us tomorrow!

Grace Livingston Hill-Lutz

Tomorrow is Cairn Universities Homecoming celebration.  There will be games and festivities, inflatables and conferences.  Plus the Weather Channel predicts the morning should be lovely if a bit chill, so be sure to layer and bring a coffee mug!

We love Homecoming as it is a wonderful time to see familiar faces that we may not see on a regular basis outside of social media.  This year the Masland Library- yes it is officially the Masland Library and no longer known as the Learning Resource Center- will be having a rather large booksale.  Located on the first floor around the staircase this sale features commentaries, encyclopedia sets, Christian living, and so Christian fiction.

More importantly the Library is also hosting Mr. Robert Munce, the grandson of Grace Livingston Hill-Lutz, who will be giving a talk about Mrs. Hill-Lutz.  Many students around the library have noticed our signs about this talk and have remarked that they have seen their grandmothers and mothers reading Mrs. Hill-Lutz’s materials.  Ms. Grace had a knack for writing stories, and she loved to tell stories that had their basis in hard fact.  Her tales of the Old West were based on correspondence and her tales set in Pennsylvania were based on her own experiences. Due to this history as well as the gospel in her stories, she has remained in print from the time she was originally published until today.

Please join us at 11:00 am or at 2:00 pm to hear Mr. Munce speak about the life of his beloved grandmother. The Grace Livingston Hill Collection will be available in the Masland Library until May 2013.  We have also begun a Research Guide on her to discuss her books; it can be found here http://libguides.cairn.edu/glh.

Schedule
Grace Livingston Hill talk- at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm.
Booksale- All Day

Murder Mystery Thank you!

http://pf.kizoa.com/sflite.swf?did=3199479&k=3924454
Murder Mystery 2012 – slideshow dvd

Murder and Mayhem

On Friday, September 7 the Library will be holding a Murder Mystery.  We invite all Cairn Students to join us as we work to discover who killed Dr. Ima Gonner.  There will be food, a costume contest and a chance to have a lot of fun with your friends. 

The Story

Set in the 1940’s the World is at War.  But in the midst of a country manor a different drama is playing out.  Professor Digory Kirke (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) has invited many of the notable names of the era to the party to listen to Dr. Gonner’s findings. Dr. Ima Gonner has discovered through her research that much of the literature is not what it seems.  Will she live to tell the tale?  

Meanwhile Father Brown, G.K. Chesterton’s famed character, will be on hand to handle any unexpected events of the evening. Please join us for a night of intrigue.  The doors open at 8:00 pm.  Be sure to sign up for teams prior to the event in the library.  Or you can be added to teams still looking for additional players.

8:00         The doors open 80 players can be admitted.
8:00-8:30 Food and Costume contest
8:30         The game begins….

Any questions?  Contact library@cairn.edu.

~LAS

A tip for incoming freshmen

Throughout the 2011 fall semester at P.B.U there were a lot of wonderful activities that took place. I had the opportunity to attend a few of the activities, such as the Agora conference, and “Wars of the Wings” hosted by Heritage Hall Dorms. These were fun and exciting things to do in my spare time. However, the one activity that I was most interested in was playing basketball with some of the P.B.U students at 10pm on the weekends. In doing so, I made good friends quickly and easily. As a freshman in college you want to meet new people and make some new friends. In just a few weeks of playing basketball with my new friends, I became confident that my years here at would turn out very well, now I am thanking God in advance. I am able to call these guys up at any time to study, go out to eat, join them for thanksgiving dinner at their homes, attend concerts together, or hang out in the city-the best thing is that we all get together on the weekends and play ball.

           

I recommend to all incoming freshmen students that you get out and try new things, meet new people, and be a part of fun activity that will make you feel good on the inside. For me it basketball on the weekends, but that is not all. We have inter-mural sports, Christian conferences, social work group activities, mountain climbing trips, mission trips, study groups in the library, and so forth. So, enjoy your Christmas break and News Year’s celebration and come be a part of our growing family here at Philadelphia Biblical University as we continue to serve God and grow together in the body of Christ.   

~Chris Smith

Crime and Punishment

By now I am sure all of you have, at least, heard of the book Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Many believe that it is a stuffy old Russian book that is of no interest to exciting college students like yourself. I am here to tell you that you are wrong. This book is even more angst filled than your daily life. When people discover that you have read Crime and Punishment they will assume you are a smarty-pants and respect you. Dostoyevsky spent five years in a Siberian prison camp, this man knows anguish. The protagonist devises a plan to murder a corrupt pawn broker and steal all of her money. He attempts to justify this choice by giving all of the money to people who need it. This book is wrought with dark deeds done for good. Can things as vile as murder or prostitution be justified through good intentions? Can the moral murdered and the pure prostitute find true love?

Please, after you have read this fascinating book I would like you to perpetuate the stigma that it is a musty and monotonous novel. I prefer that people believe we are significantly more intellectual than is necessarily true.

Come to the One Book, One University meeting on September 21^st at 5:30 in the ADR.

~Rosalyn Forbes

Life, Leadership, and Steinberg

Yesterday, April 6, 2011 the Masland Library had the pleasure of meeting the internationally renowned historian, Dr. Jonathan Steinberg. He is responsible for the generous donation of roughly thirteen hundred books to the PBU library, contributing to the University’s efforts of adding a History major to the curriculum.

Upon hearing of Dr. Steinberg’s accomplishments, I immediately wanted to draw from his wisdom. During the near thirty minutes it took me to formulate a question, I reflected on my life. I thought to myself, “what can I ask this highly respected historian about, that will be relevant to me?” I did not want to merely gain knowledge about facts; I wanted to walk away with a new perspective. After finally racking up some courage, I approached him. My question to him was, “In your opinion, what would you consider important qualities for a leader to possess?”

Throughout my life I have been given various leadership positions; whether it be in church, work, or a simple group project, it is always an honor to lead people. So I was eager to hear what Dr. Steinberg had to say. To my pleasant surprise, he gave me more than I even expected. He explained that depending on what you are leading, these necessary qualities may shift. In reaction, I asked him about his experience as the chairman in the history department at the University of Pennsylvania. He mentioned that a leader that is in charge of a board should be able to seamlessly lead a team by simultaneously allowing each member to do what they want to do and being an example of how you desire them to be. It is as almost as if the team can hardly tell that they have a boss. This is due to the fact that their leader actually respectfully works with them, instead of being an overbearing dictator. Dr. Steinberg emphasized the ability to lead by example other than explanation. It was at this point in the conversation that I was enlightened. His statements probed my ideas and thoughts. Dr. Steinberg confirmed my belief that the people I lead should be able to perceive my values and passions by simply examining how I conduct my life.

What is interesting enough, is the direct correlation his view on leadership has with my belief on Christianity; not just in leadership, but in my faith as a whole. In John 13:34-35, Jesus commands believers to love one another. He says, “by this (loving one another) everyone will know that you are my disciples.” In this verse the reader can see that the type of love Jesus is talking about is an active verb. We must literally live to love and by how we live; men should be drawn to us. Think about the people you have authority over in your life; if you never said a word to them, would they still be able to follow your lead? In the broader perspective, think of the unbelievers you come in contact with. Are you a living example of what you want to see in others? As a Christian, we want to see souls be changed by the power of Christ. But are we living as though He has changed us?

Talking with Dr. Steinberg was such an amazing experience. He is the most interesting person to talk to because he does not use his vast background of knowledge to stomp on the intelligence of others. By interacting with him I could clearly sense his genuine interest. It is so refreshing to meet different individuals that are passionate about life and learning. I hope PBU has the privilege to host Dr. Steinberg again.

~Kim Pessoa

For more information on Dr. Jonathan Steinberg: http://www.history.upenn.edu/faculty/steinberg.shtml

For more information on the Steinberg collection at Philadelphia Biblical University.

Global Missions Week!

Did you know that it’s almost PBU’s Global Mission Week? Ever since I was a little kid I loved hearing missionaries speak about their various missions and what it is like to serve God in that particular field. I always found it so exciting to hear all the different stories from the Amazon, Africa, China, urban cities, and the rest of the country and world. There are so many great people who have given their lives to serve God in all of these fields and they have such interesting stories about how God called them and how he is using them. Reading their stories can be such a great reminder and encouragement that God uses us just as we are to do great things for his wonderful purposes.

Recently I just returned on the PBU trip to Kenya over JTerm. What a great experience! It was my first time in Africa and it was nothing like I expected it to be. Funny how God always blows our expectations out of the water, right? It shows just how powerful he is! Have you ever considered taking a mission trip? Maybe it’s something that God is calling you to step out in faith and obedience to do. Need some encouragement? Come to the library and check out our great resources on this topic! There is a small section set up on the magazine stand and more in the stacks in the BV section. Prepare your heart to be challenged this Global Missions Week!

~Christa Joy Ciotta

Iconography

In the library this summer we waited breathlessly for a piece of art to be displayed. Maintenance came and prepped the walls, and we waited…finally while I was away on vacation it came. The piece is dramatic and huge measuring near 10 feet by 5 feet. It wasn’t what I had expected, and from the vantage point of my desk it was quite distracting for the first week, a random blur of skin tones and black. Eventually it stopped being seen from the corner of my eye, making me look for a student or faculty member awaiting my assistance.

I believe the first time I saw the art work that my response was “Oh my”. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, it didn’t fit in my protestant frame of reference. Religious art with Christ on the cross just wasn’t part of my religious life. Luckily as my father was Catholic I knew how the Catholic and Orthodox traditions used religious art as part of their worship, but still it struck me as misplaced. And as a Librarian I do not deal well with misplaced items, they must be fixed or organized into something that I can process. After the piece had been up for about a month, I went to a friend’s wedding, which was to be held at an Orthodox church. This in itself was a first for me, I have been to Catholic weddings, but never an Orthodox one. The art (icons) were everywhere as was the scent of incense; there was an atmosphere of worship and hushedness about the place. Now I am a very old-fashioned person, I love old churches where the pews are hard and the architecture of the church focuses your attention upward, and this Orthodox church did center your attention upward.

With our new artwork, I had to try and really view contemporary Christian art, not Thomas Kincaid or the Footsteps prints available at national Christian bookstores, but art that is a throw back to the classical masters. It makes you think, it strikes a cord with whatever experiences you have had; and it isn’t safe.

Please join us on Friday after chapel to meet and chat with the artist of the Library’s piece “One Body, One Church“. Peter Jelinek will be in the Library lobby from 11 am to 12 pm for questions and dialogue. Stop by, drink some coffee and experience art.

~LAS

A couple of wonderful articles from Relevant Magazine on Art.

Art isn’t suppose to be safe by Cole NeSmith. http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/23211-art-isnt-supposed-to-be-safe

Why Art should matter to Christians by Melissa Kircher http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/worship/features/22942-why-art-should-matter-to-christians

Children’s Poetry

In honor of April being National Poetry Month I thought I would take a few moments to reflect on some of the great poets and their works. I could admire the great Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, or even Edgar Allan Poe, for they all have such unique styles and wonderful pieces of literature. Although they are all certainly great in their own way, there is little poetry that is closer to my heart than that of which I read in my younger years. Certainly Shel Silverstein who wrote Where The Sidewalk Ends and The Giving Tree are children’s poetry books that all of us should have read when we were younger. Although these two are great classics and even aimed at children, my personal favorite is not as well known as the works of the great Silverstein, but is written by Carol Diggory Shields. The book is titled Lunch Money and Other Poems About School. I remember reading this book as a child, but forgetting about it until later in a middle school English class when I rediscovered it when analyzing children’s literature (and sure was I glad to find it and reminisce a little bit!) The poems in this book are pretty straight forward with no hidden meanings or themes, but they sure are cute and have some light-hearted humor. If you are an elementary education major you also may get a kick out of some of the poems since they are rather realistic when it comes to the behavior of young children.

Below is an example of one of the poems in the book. The poem is written in cold language (meaning a child with a cold/ is sick) and I think although it is a silly poem, it is certainly a feeling we can all relate to at one time or another.

Code

I dibbin go to school today,

Bom looked at be and said, “No way.”

Wend back to bed and here I’ll stay,

‘Cause I hab a terrible code.

By throad is sore, by eyes are bink,

By node dribs like a leaky sink,

By head’s so stuffed it hurds to think.

I hab a terrible code.

I challenge you in honor of National Poetry Month to take advantage of the library’s collection of poetry. Peruse through the PN, PR, and PS sections of the library when you have a few free moments. Maybe even head over the children’s section and find some children’s poetry, so that you too can reminisce a little.

CJC

Shields, Carol Diggory. Lunch Money and Other Poems About School. New York: Puffin Books, 1995. Print.

An Introducation to Poetry

April is National Poetry Month. For some, this brings a happy reminder to quiet nights spent curled up in a corner with a slim, old-smelling book. For others, it brings the feeling of immediate incarceration within a bare, near-windowless classroom with badly-photocopied sheets being passed along the desks. But, in general, poetry is not approached with ambivalence.

Almost anyone who had to take any sort of English class knows the challenge (or tedium, depending on the perspective) of taking in a poem. I remember being told to explicate a poem that was written by a man in an insane asylum about how wonderful and angelic his cat was. My teacher did not appreciate my conclusion that the poem meant that the man was exactly where he needed to be. But, at the same time, though rather disgusted with that particular example, I still found myself stealing off with the poetry anthology, wanting to absorb more of the curious words.

One of the poets who I discovered during high school was Billy Collins. I like to think that he understands the inherent frustration in tackling poetry, but I could be wrong. At the very least, here’s his Introduction to Poetry.

I ask them to take a poem

and hold it up to the light

like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem

and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s room

and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski

across the surface of a poem

waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do

is tie the poem to a chair with rope

and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose

to find out what it really means.

I doubt that the Academy of American Poets will make anyone magically begin to like poetry by instituting this monthlong celebration. But for anyone who is loves poetry already or who maybe is interested in learning more about how poetry works, the library has a display that contains guides to poetry and a sampling of works from a variety of poets. Read with joy.

abbie.

Collins, Billy. The Apple That Astonished Paris: Poems. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas, 1996. Print.