I had been in the Middle East three days, and on a Friday, the Muslim holy day, I found myself in a crowded mosque during Salat. I was overwhelmed when I was hissed at and had my ankles slapped by older women who recognized me as foreign. I was only there to study and observe, but instead I was standing in the middle of a group of women while ... [Read More…]
‘Empty songs, scripture’ students’ fault
The last paragraph in one of the letters of last Friday's Optimist ("Worship now forced, not mandatory") stated: "Perhaps when singing empty songs and reading empty Scriptures that fall on deaf ears come to an end, we, as a united, respectful, passionate body will come to understand the meaning of true worship." The problem that I have with the ... [Read More…]
Worship now forced, not mandatory
To the Student Body, Faculty, and Administration of ACU: I remember a time when Chapel was about worship and fellowship. Everyday freshman year I would climb the stairs to Section D and sit with my four closest friends. Chapel was about spending time with these amazing people as we worshipped an amazing God. I also remember listening to ... [Read More…]
Academic credit among possible Chapel plans: Time change also considered
By Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief Academic credit and an earlier time are among the objectives laid out in the Chapel Programming Team's five-year plan, obtained by the Optimist last week. Although such plans are not concrete, they are among the most serious proposals on the table, Campus Life officials said. "Some of those things are ... [Read More…]
Chapel leaders take wrong turn
The Chapel Programming Team's five-year Chapel plan is "not that concrete," leaders say. Thank goodness for that. Because if Chapel is pushed in the direction Brad Carter and others want it to go, the university's sense of community could fade away. A number of statements in the five-year plan make it clear that the team does not see Chapel as a ... [Read More…]
Break-out Chapels to return soon: Improvements possible after mixed reviews
By Kyle Peveto, Arts Editor Break-out chapels will resume meeting Tuesday, Jan. 28. Men's and women's Chapels will meet the 28th, followed the next Tuesday by class Chapels and by departmental Chapels the next week. These three break-out Chapels will rotate in that order until the ACU Lectureship and will resume the next week. Break-out Chapel ... [Read More…]
Corporate worship means considering others present
I'd like to say, first of all, that I agree that the Nov. 13 column ("Loud Chapel singers should turn it down") may not have been the best way to acknowledge this singing issue. The appropriate way to deal with a difference with anyone would definitely be to speak to them. But the discussion started, and has now continued, differently. Secondly, ... [Read More…]
Christians should focus on God, not man while worshiping
I am a Christian at a Christian school. I transferred here from a secular school where if people weren't your friends they didn't care about you. I came to a Christian school because I wanted not only a Christian education, but to be in a place where people you didn't even know loved you. The column written in last Wednesday's paper saddens me. ... [Read More…]
A tie that binds
By Joshua Parrott, Page Editor Major sat behind the podium, gazing at the Chapel crowd. Students were hysterical, quite a feat considering Major never spoke a word. Major, the pet bulldog of Richard "Fuzzy" Lunsford, a student at ACU from 1951-55, was brought to Chapel to impersonate the late Don H. Morris, Abilene Christian College president ... [Read More…]
Step squad, “Shades,” not performing in Chapel: New Chapel policy doesn’t allow groups to perform
By Kyle Peveto, Staff Writer Shades step squad will not perform in Chapel this year as a result of new policies. No special interest groups will be allowed days in Chapel to perform or speak. "When you bring in special interest groups you don't have continuation in the theme of Chapel as it flows thorough the semester," said Brian England, ... [Read More…]