Written by Cassandra Acosta When we think of Biola, we often think of a place filled with people whose lives have been anything but difficult, where everyone has been a Christian from the time they were just a young child. Break away from the stigma! It is far from the truth. Beneath the surface, Biola is made up of more than just lifelong Christians — it is a diverse community of people who come from all kinds of religious backgrounds and who bring suitcase after suitcase of issues from home. Not every student at Biola is fortunate enough to have a family full of believers; some struggle daily to work…
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Cultivating Our Property
Written by Rebecca Nakashima Mark McReynolds had a problem. He was thirsty. So thirsty that he gratefully chugged a can of Coca-Cola, even though he does not normally care for soda. But this was not his only problem. McReynolds was also being interviewed for a faculty position in Bardwell Hall, Biola University’s science building. And this is when McReynolds’ empty soda can led him to the ironic discovery of the problem: There were no recycle bins in Bardwell, the very building that would eventually give birth to the environmental science program he was being interviewed to start. Biola Creates Stewardship Committee The fall 2012 semester marks nearly 2 1/2 years…
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At the Threshold
Written by Mary Strother There is a door for each of us, a chosen direction for our lives. Some people do not reach this doorway without hardship along the way; their road may seem unstable. The call to the life of a missionary is no different. For those whose lives and careers are impacted by missions work, it can be a shock to their system to change the course of their lives so radically from what they have always accepted as the social norm to a life now dedicated to living with less. Even at a biblically centered university like Biola, tackling the missions career can take a great deal…
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Charting the Course
Photography by Adam Lorona Written by Tonika Reed “I got loans because I didn’t know what else to do,” says sophomore art major Andrea De Luca. After applying for financial aid and many scholarships, De Luca still did not get enough awards to attend Biola debt-free. De Luca says that she doesn’t keep a budget and doesn’t know how much money to save for emergencies. But De Luca is not alone. According to a recent survey of 100 Biola undergraduates conducted by The Point Magazine, 70 percent of students surveyed say they don’t make a budget, and 33 percent do not save money for emergencies. In the wake of continued…
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5 (Free!) Financial Tips
1. Make a budget. Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial Ministries have printouts on their websites you can use to know where your money is going before you spend. 2. Assess needs versus wants. You may not always need what you want to buy. 3. Use cash not credit cards when possible. It’s important to “feel” your money when you spend it so you don’t spend too much. 4. Know how much your student loans are. If you have them, find out their individual interest rates. 5. Be aware of your FICO credit score. And keep an eye on it!
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A Controversial Calling: Women in the Pulpit
Written by Rebecca Nakashima Sherry Mortenson answered the phone in 1978 from inside her University of Minnesota sorority house to hear a questioning female voice. The girl, a student at Bethel University, wanted to come to share her testimony. As the sorority president and someone who was worried about the drinking habits and relationship choices of her fellow sorority sisters, Mortenson quickly agreed to the visit. It was this first encounter that ultimately led to sophomore Mortenson praying to receive Christ later that year. Not having grown up in the church, she went almost immediately from graduating college with a degree in broadcast and consumer affairs to working at becoming…
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Women in the pulpit: The Theological Discussion
Egalitarians believe By Dr. Ron Pierce, Biola University In both spiritual and functional equality of all believers in Christ, not for personal rights but for godly service. That husbands and wives should lovingly yield to one another in all aspects of Christian marriage. That women and men may serve together based on their gifts and callings in all aspects of church-related ministry. Complementarians believe By Mary Kassian, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary God created male and female as complementary expressions of the image of God. Both are counterparts in reflecting his glory Men have a responsibility to exercise headship in their homes and church family, but authority is not the right…
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Family Conversations: Approaching Conflict
Photography by Jonathan Hagen The Point wanted to know this semester: what does it mean to be the Biola family? When controversies and conflicts arise, as they inevitably do, how can we best approach them? We asked and you responded. Do you feel that Biola is a family? “I do feel like it is one big community with little families in it, but I think the bigger community allows for those little families to happen. At the end of the day, you’re still a ‘Biolan’ and you’re still part of the family whether or not you’re in this clique or that clique.” – Elise Bireline, junior liberal studies major, Thompson…
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13 Themes for 2013
Photography by Emily Cariaga Written by Kahlie Colwell Theme 1: Be Spontaneous! Take a weekend road trip with some buddies. Plan a cheese fondue party. (Experiment with different cheeses? Ask the Cheese Society!) Buy an ugly plant and name it. (All the companionship without the hassle.) Ding dong ditch your neighbors and leave them a Mr. Potato Head. Theme 2: Post-College Prep Attempt to make yourself dinner. (Remember: third times the charm!!!) Daydream about where you hope to live one day when you finish growing up. Apply for a summer internship. Update your résumé. Theme 3: Experience Biola Ask for a photo with DBC. (Don’t forget to get his autograph…
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The Secret Lives of Adjunct Professors
Photography by Jaicee Almond Written by Sarah Huffman Seth Wegter High School English Teacher: 10 years High School Wrestling Coach: 7 years Bag Crafter/Designer: 7 years Biola Adjunct Faculty, English Department: 4 years If everything had gone according to his plans, Seth Wegter would currently maintain two homes: one in Seal Beach and the other in Washington, D.C. As a California senator, he would be helping to improve the home state in which he has lived his entire life. But as an English teacher and head wrestling coach at Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, a professor of critical thinking and writing at Biola University, and a designer of his own handcrafted bag…
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The #Hip Factor @Biolau
Written by Brittany Cervantes President Dr. Barry Corey, known affectionately by his students as DBC, never expected Biolans to view him as a celebrity on campus. “When I was in high school, I really wasn’t that hip,” he says. On weekends, he was playing board games with friends or spending quality time with his parents around the TV. He believes that he did not have the “cool factor” and that this is still true today. But that all started to change when his wife Paula bought him a little black book — “The Little Hiptionary,” that is. “That was maybe the family joke behind [the “Hiptionary”] — that I need…
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The Biola Hiptionary
Written by Brittany Cervantes Biola Hiptionary Terms (Courtesy of senior cinema and media arts major Greg Sanders) Sidewalk Strumming: Playing worship in public places around campus, seemingly unaware that suitors are passing by. Tray Blazin’: The act of confidently walking through the Caf, letting everyone know you’re a new student or visitor by using a tray. Worship Wander: Strategically placing yourself in front of an attractive guy or girl during a chapel or Singspo so that when you raise your hands in worship, that “special someone” can see you have a deep and meaningful relationship with the Lord. Social Network Saint: Posting Scripture and/or a picture of a highlighted Bible verse on Facebook while…
