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When the brother and sister picked up their puppy, it became the highlight of my weekend.

Since I began my off-campus student teaching semester, I have spent more time at home and less time at Spring Arbor University (SAU). Without a doubt, I love and miss SAU’s campus very much, but it has also been a blessing having spent more time with family as well. More exciting than anything, though, is being around to see your family grow.

Just this past weekend, I was a witness to the expansion of my family and was one of the first family members to see the new little guy. On Saturday afternoon, my sister and brother-in-law stopped by the humane society in Anderson, Indiana, to officially claim ownership to a two-year-old Shih Tzu Terrier mix.

After spending a long, stressful week student teaching, it was a treat to spend some time taking part in seeing my sister and brother invest in something I love as well. Furthermore, while the downside to having a dog is being allergic to them, the one my family owns is hypoallergenic, therefore allowing me the opportunity to interact with the dog without receiving an allergic reaction.

My weekend was spectacular, and certainly a memorable weekend to end my college career. But, without the new addition to the family, it would not be as interesting and filled with smiles.

Josh

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The school I have spent 13 weeks at so far.

Graduation is only two weeks away and those two weeks are expected to go as quickly as they came. Along with most of the other student teachers, I am only two weeks away from completing my student teaching semester in Chelsea, Michigan. Over the past four and a half years, I have been receiving education training from Spring Arbor University; now, I am only 14 days away from walking away from a college experience with the expectation of applying what I have learned to my career.

It has been an amazing 10 semesters. I have so many memories to look back on, and most of them great memories I would never take back. I have enjoyed making friends, learning from experienced professors, and adding to my learning through real-world opportunities during my college career. When I am teaching in a school full-time, I will never forget how much Spring Arbor University helped me grow spiritually, socially, and academically. SAU has done a wonderful job preparing me for the real world, and for that I will always give this school the credit it deserves.

I am confident that many more students who graduate after my class will also realize how important SAU has been in their development as a whole person. The Lord has blessed me with a beautiful campus that strives to have a Christ-centered community, and I know many more students will be blessed as long as SAU is standing.

May God bless the last weeks of the school year,

Josh

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You have two choices: Walk the easy path before you, or make one for yourself.

So often, it feels more comforting to run from the challenges that life often brings. When the journey gets bumpy, so often the desire to turn around and quit sounds more appealing than continuing to drive forward. More than anything, the journey gets most difficult when giving up prevents you from being humiliated.

Take my situation, where I am close to embarking on a journey that will be much different than what I am used to. I may end up in another state, far away from the familiarity of Michigan. I love Michigan because I grew up here, I have family here, and I went to an amazing liberal arts college here. Soon, and sooner than later, I will possibly be on a plane headed to Arizona, where the culture is much different than that of Michigan.

It is times like these when throwing in the towel and taking the easy road sounds so much better. It is these moments when saying, “Forget Arizona, I am living with my family,” seems to make much more sense. However, the easy road eventually keeps you from creating your legacy, and even creating a few roads yourself. It is the moments when you bite your lip and face the challenge before you that really makes you who you are.

So, create a new road; face the challenges before you. A life full of regret is never a life worth living. For those of you about to embark on a new journey, do not be afraid. Take on the challenge and know that one day, the path you pave may be one others follow.

Stay challenged,

Josh

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Recently, I have been considering Arizona as my next destination in life.

I remember when I was getting ready to go to Spring Arbor University for the first time. Midway through May in 2007, I visited campus to sign up for classes. There, I met two students in my grade, one of them a best friend to this day. In fact, I am the best man in his wedding this summer. When my last J-term of college came and went (last January), I thought about how how crazy it was that I would take my long-awaited next step onto student teaching. Now, student teaching is almost done and I am thinking about a full-time teaching position anywhere that I feel led.

Well, just the other day I attended a job fair held at Eastern Michigan University, and lo and behold, a school in Laveen, Arizona presented itself and there is a good chance Arizona is where I am headed. While I have never been to Arizona, right now I feel called to go and make a living there, at least for the first couple of years. To me, this opportunity could not have come at a better time. I am excited to start my life as a full-time teacher, but I often have wondered if I get to that point right out of college. Since I am now in the phase of possibly getting a job, I have become more excited to get started.

Most importantly, I am thankful for how Spring Arbor University and my student teaching experience has prepared me for this moment when I have to leave the comforts of college life and press on toward bigger things like teaching. I am thankful for what Spring Arbor has given me and allowed me to become spiritually, socially, and academically. I cannot wait to continue spreading Christ’s love in other places like Arizona.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you allow SAU to prepare you for big steps in life, they will. Be assertive, productive, and prepare yourself for the new journey that post-graduate life brings you.

Blessings,

Josh

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Jesus saved us - that is what makes Friday so good.

What is so good about Good Friday? Jesus was beaten, bruised, and tortured. How can we celebrate that?

It appears that, while Jesus was wrongfully killed for sins we committed, we get to live everyday in peace. No one is wanting us dead, and there is no sign of a killer being sent our way; furthermore, we are not humiliated in front of thousands of people. Now, every Easter Friday, we consider it a Good Friday because we as sinners are alive and Jesus, the innocent son of God, died.

How does that constitute a Good Friday?

Let’s consider this situation: You are filled with sin and you deserve to die. When you are called forth to receive what you rightfully deserve, someone stops you. He loves you dearly, even though you have never seen his face. He tells everyone that he will die for you. Instead of you, who are filled with this sin and rightfully deserve to die for it, this man will take the fall. In the end, would you not be filled with joy? Would you not be so eager to rush home to your family and exclaim the good news? After all, you were planning to die for what you did, and right before that time comes, you are saved from that penalty!

It makes sense that we feel bad for being the individual to live while the innocent one dies. God made us to feel sorry for those who suffer. However, what makes Friday so “good” is that Jesus chose to be the one to save you.

Imagine you went out to ice cream with your father (earthly father). You have not seen him all day, and when he takes you out to ice cream, he offers to pay. You tell him, beg him, “No, you do not have to do that.” He replies, “I do not have to, but I want to. I love you and want to pay for your ice cream even though I do not have to.”

In the same way, we do not deserve our freedom to be given to us. God did not have to send his son Jesus to die a sinner’s death, but he did. We can kick, scream, and throw tantrums at the fact that we were supposed to die and not Jesus; but, in the end, God chose to send his son, and we can celebrate the fact that we are still able to breath, sing, love, and live life to the fullest.

If I were supposed to be dead, but someone came along and said, “I will take the fall, even if you deserve to take it,” I would be overjoyed. Maybe that is what Good Friday is all about – jumping for joy and celebrating the fact that Jesus breathed life back into us by dying a sinner’s death.

“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” – Romans 8:34

Celebrate, for we are no longer condemned!

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What is happening to SAU campus? A lot, apparently.

I walked into the student center just the other day. Suddenly, I could barely recognize where I was. With high expectations that I would receive my mail, I was shocked to find that the place where I would get my mail was no longer evident. As a senior at SAU, I had to call another senior buddy of mine to ask a disturbing question: “Where do I receive my mail?”

As every student knows, the changes to Spring Arbor University’s student center is looking much different now; from a senior’s perspective, it feels like I am entering an entirely different campus. Throughout my college years, I became used to a type of campus that always seemed to remain comfortable with the structure of how campus physically presented itself. In other words, my freshman, sophomore, junior, and most of my senior years were engaged on a campus that did not change physically. I always knew where the mailboxes were, how the student center would look, and what Lowell Hall was filled with. Now, Lowell Hall is filled only with girls (it once had two all-male wings), University Hall has been constructed and is now known as the epicenter for male students, the soccer field was recreated, and one of the main hang out places is being totally redone.

Now that I am student teaching off campus, I am only able to see campus changes every couple of weeks. So far, I love what I see; I love the direction the student center is going in. As a fan of Spring Arbor University, campus will look much more visually appealing and there will be a lot more reasons to stay, not just on the weekends, but all four years as well. Campus is being modernized to fit the lifestyle of today’s students, and that is what a student center should look like.

Seeing the changes Spring Arbor University is making is bittersweet. You watch the campus you grew up with and became so accustomed to having, that you tend to feel a sadness because you miss what it used to be. Then again, I love what is happening to SAU now because I know students will find a much deeper connection with it when they see that it can be a fun and enjoyable place to study and hang out.

May campus continue being blessed through this building process,

Josh

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