Our chapel season is over for the academic year, and we ended with Dr. Nielson sharing thoughts particularly with seniors as they head onward from here. You can read his recent blog post, which touches on many of the same issues. After chapel, we had a unique event–Administration member, Wallace Anderson, had his head shaved before the gathered, cheering crowd. The shaving was the culmination of a week-long fundraiser for the needs of a student’s family (they are missionaries in Kenya). The exact amount that the family needed for their situation was raised. Here’s a photo of Wallace, post-shave, shaking hands with Ryland, whose family received the funds:
This weekend, and into Monday, I had some wonderful opportunities to experience and appreciate the God-given talents of many Covenant students. Most of the creativity I saw and enjoyed was displayed outside of classroom assignments, although several were senior students’ SIP (Senior Integration Project–an opportunity to integrate what they have learned in their major).

Friday night was the First Watchtower Film Festival, featuring student films and art as well as special guest speaker Joe Kickasola, Covenant ‘94. This student-planned, student-led, student-attended festival was very well done. I walked into Jackson Hall, and hardly recognized the place. Great lighting, interesting decoration (including lots of goldfish), and something happening in three rooms. A Bergman film playing in one, two Hitchcock films (Rear Window and The Birds) and two Indiana Jones movies playing simultaneously to a separate musical soundtrack in another, photography and video displays from our art students, and specifically senior Liz Tubergen in the final room. Later, a classroom filled to overflowing for the showing of eight student films, and then Dr. Kickasola spoke about the challenges of directing: balancing desire for excellence and humility. Well-planned, well-executed, and very enjoyable! Thanks to the Covenant Film Club for putting this all together.

Saturday, I spent quite a few hours at the Bakertree Music Festival, where student talent was on display all day and groups took their turns playing and singing a variety of music. It was great to see some much collaboration–many of the students played in several groups. Here’s a student perspective on the event.

Then, last night, I stopped by the Sessions House, at the bottom of Lookout Mountain, to see the unveiling of Lauren Cox’s SIP, a fountain sculpture of a beautiful young woman. The sculpture was placed on a flat surface on top of a double foundation of tan rock. Here are pictures of the sculpture before she was placed on the foundation–but they don’t do justice to the final version, especially as she presided in natural garden setting on a beautiful spring evening. (Photos have been added of the final presentation now)
I praise God for the artistic gifts he has given to our students.

Tomorrow and Thursday, we’ll hear from six members of the Class of 2008 as they give their Senior Testimonies. The six were chosen by their own class to share a brief testimony of their time at Covenant.

On Wednesday, Trey Nation, Katie Bell, and David Scott will speak. Then, on Thursday, Charlotte Okie, Michael Shaw, and Ruth Osondu will speak. Each chapel will be available on iTunesU shortly afterwards.

Yesterday, Chaplain Messner preached from Philippians 4:8-9.

He addressed a problem that is prevalent in evangelical Reformed circles of focusing so much on getting doctrine right, but that doctrine often has little impact on our actions, our treatment of others. This is not to say that right doctrine is not worthy of pursuit or worthy of defense, but are we just affirming those truths in our minds or are the things we believe to be true the priority of our lives? Paul calls us to rigorous habits of the mind with continual practice of reflection, since what we meditate on, reflect on, set our minds on impacts our actions and behaviors.

Rather than narrowing what we think on, Paul is actually challenging us to expand our thoughts. Beginning with the person and work of God [creation, providence, redemption, mercy, love, grace, victory etc], we also are called to meditate on those things in art, literature, science, government, and other areas that are reflections of his character. We don’t see those things as ultimate or place them above the creator, but we do dwell on them.

One of the challenging questions Chaplain Messner asked, was “What fills your mind?” What does your mind generally drift towards?

In your area of study or work, what things are beautiful, praiseworthy, or excellent? How can you train your mind to dwell on them?