Coming to college, I had imagined myself as being this little itty-bitty freshman with nerdy glasses, lost in a world of “professional” college students and professors who would not care. I saw myself on a college campus getting lost in the sea of people. Other times I imagined myself struggling amidst straight-A students, professional musicians, and stunning artists. In my mind’s eye, I had concocted this vision of me outside of my professor’s office door, on my knees pleading for help–only to be harshly turned away–left to fend for myself amid piles of class notes and overdue projects. I imagined myself sitting by lamplight, famished, studying through the wee hours of the night just to pass that early morning test.

Ok… Enough of the theatrics…I did not really imagine it to be that bad! However, I was expecting to be challenged and left to fend for myself through the jungles of academia. Growing up, I had always been taught that when I go to college, my teachers are not going to care. I was told that they will not care to check up with me if my homework is late. They had told me that no one will care if I am failing a class. I had always heard that no one is going to care if I show up for class. While that all may very well be true on many college campuses around the country, those words do not apply to Pensacola Christian College.

The teachers are some of the most caring people you will ever meet. If you are struggling, they will send you an email offering to meet with you and help in whatever way possible. If you miss several classes in a row, they will often inquire as to how you are doing. They even have time set apart in their daily schedules specifically dedicated to meeting with students. To me, this showed that the teachers cared. Not only do the teachers care, but other students also care for their fellow students. One of the first things they announced to us in chapel after getting all settled into our routines here on campus was the “Tutor List.” This is a list of names organized under specific topics, representing students who are willing to help out other students who might be struggling in their studies. There are no prices, no suggested tutoring tips, only names and phone numbers of students willing to offer their time, knowledge, and help while asking for nothing in return.

To me, those two things show that this college is vastly different from others out there. The fact that nobody will care may be true at other colleges, but here at PCC, nothing could be further from the truth.

One of my favorite songs of all time is called “I Have Been Blessed.” It often gets stuck in my head for days on end, and I will find myself singing it at work, in the shower, or when I am  just driving to Walmart. Some of the lyrics say, “I have been blessed, God’s so good to me, blessed are His thoughts of you and me, there is no way I can count them…”  While there is no physical way I can count all of the ways that I have been blessed, I made a short list of some of the blessings that God has given to me here at PCC. There may only be 7 of them on this list, but there are many more out there! So after you have read what I am thankful for, comment with what YOU are grateful for. I have been blessed, and so have you—let’s brag on our Lord!

• The opportunity to attend a Christian college where God and His love is in the forefront.
• Godly staff and faculty to encourage us to do right and honor Christ with all that we do.
• Campus Church and Pastor McBride and how we are privileged to worship our King with beautiful music and wonderful fellowship.
• The good and godly friends that this college has brought to me and for their influence on my life.
• Quality education that I have come to appreciate more and more every day.
• Beautiful facilities that are provided for us and the reputation of Pensacola Christian College in the community.
• Last, but not least, I am thankful for the spirit that can be felt as when you walk through the campus of people who desire to serve the Lord with every aspect of their lives.

Titanic: Tragedy and Triumph was an excellent seminar just like I thought it would be. The main floor of the Dale Horton Auditorium was almost full! If you didn’t get to go this time, make sure that you make it out to the next history seminar! Dr. Reese did an excellent job in telling the whole story of the Titanic from the view point of the second officer, Charles Lightoller. He talked about everything from the detailed construction of the ship to the fatal crash with the iceberg on that cold April night.

My favorite part of the seminar was when Dr. Reese began to tell the stories of all the different heroes on board the ship. These average men and women gave up their lives just so someone else could have a chance to get onto that next lifeboat. Fathers gave up their spots for women and children. Wives offered to stay with their husbands. Crew members waited until every one had the opportunity to climb into the lifeboats. And the band played until the ship was completely buried in the sea.

One of the greatest heroes that Dr. Reese spoke about was a preacher by the name of John Harper. He would not get into a lifeboat. People have said that this preacher ran up and down the deck of the boat telling Christians to give up their life jackets to the lost because the saved didn’t need them. He witnessed the whole time the ship was going down, not wanting a single soul to die without Jesus Christ. When the ship went down, Harper went down with it. He survived in the water at least for a small length of time, but Pastor John Harper was never heard from again.

Even though Pastor Harper died when the ship went down that night, he had a lasting influence in at least one person’s life. A survivor by the name of George Henry Cavett tells the story of this preacher speaking to him. Pastor Harper called out from the water, “Are you saved?” Cavett answered from lifeboat 15, “No, I’m not.” The preacher said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Then these men were separated. A short time later, Cavett heard the preacher still crying out but in a softer voice, “Are you saved?” Cavett again answered, “No, I’m not.” Again, the preacher called out, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” The Lord miraculously spared Cavett’s life, and he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

This history seminar really opened my eyes to the story of the Titanic. We may never know why such a man like George Cavett survived the sinking of the Titanic, but God has a purpose in everything He does. Maybe it was just so that Cavett could tell the story of his glorious triumph through this great tragedy.

It was once said of the great passenger liner Titanic that “God Himself could not sink this ship.” But after only four days on the high seas, this statement was proven false. The Titanic has captured the attention of people all over America. I have always been interested in the story of the Titanic. There’s just something fascinating about this great event in American history, and I am looking forward to hearing more about it at this Monday’s history seminar.

Here at PCC, the staff, faculty, and other professionals put on many different seminars that we as students have the opportunity to attend. These seminars are open for anyone on campus. It’s a unique privilege for the entire student body. It doesn’t matter if your major is history, science, nursing, or whatever else we have here—anyone can go!

The first seminar that we can attend this year will be next week. Dr. Reese will be presenting on Monday, September 17, at 7:00 pm in the Dale Horton Auditorium. Here is a little introduction from him about what you will hear on Monday night:

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  After all these years, people still seem to be held firmly in the icy grip of this four-funnel ship whose life was so short-lived…just four days on the high seas before she plummeted to her 13,000 foot deep burial place.  Even though she is gone, the mystique of her life and the mystery of her demise still compel people to want to learn more—and you have an opportunity to do just that—by attending our annual fall history seminar on Monday, September 17.

In a mono-drama entitled “TITANIC: Tragedy and Triumph,” history faculty member Dr. Reese will portray the second officer on board the ship and give you a guided tour of the construction, launching, and outfitting of the largest movable object ever built to date as well as a storyboard of the events leading up to the dramatic events which occurred on the night of April 14, 2012.

Amidst the tragedy which accompanied the sinking of the mighty Titanic, there emerged the drama of a preacher who was on board that fateful night.  For him and other heroes like him, the tragedy ended in triumph—it is a story you won’t want to miss.

Fascinating Facts you will learn about the Titanic at the history seminar:

1. How far one pound of coal could propel the Titanic in the water

2. How much soap and tallow it took to launch the massive ship

3. How the 1″ thick iron plates which formed the skin of the vessel were made water tight

4. The significance of a hymn sung at a hymn sing-along which occurred from 8:30-to 10:30 pm that Sunday, April 14th.

5. How a preacher who nearly drowned three times earlier in life was prepared for this drama even though his deacons begged him not to board the ship (Much as the Apostle Paul was admonished not to go to Jerusalem).

Plus much more.

Hope to see you there, and bring a friend!

So, mark your calendars and invite a friend to join you in the Dale Horton Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 17^th.