A Thought...

For four years, I was blessed to go to a Christian college in Salem, Oregon with first going to a community college my first year out of high school. When it was time to move on from this community college, God opened the door for me to play soccer with some great ladies. He continued to open many doors by enabling me to get into the elementary education program. God blessed me with my roommates that I learned patience from as well as friendships that I can carry on through life. I was so thankful to go to a Christian college that cared to put their emphasis on Jesus Christ and how to live a life for Him, not ourselves. There were professors, staff, resident directors, resident assistants that cared so much to serve us in wanting us to first and foremost in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
One thing that I had to do and wanted to do was sign a pledge to not smoke or drink while I was in attendance at this college. Yes, I thought that this was a pain at first, but I wanted to be at a Christian college for a reason. I wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ and be in an environment that doesn't party with alcohol, around people that cuss, around a people that decide to smoke, and be in the "world." I feel like God put this passion in me when I was little to attend a Christian college and I am glad that He did. What hurts now is that I see that my Christian college that I attended just a year and a half ago is conforming to the "world." I see on the social networks such as Facebook or Myspace that there are my fellow students who I went to college with posting pictures of them at different types of parties with different alcohol drinks in their hands. It saddens me that first they are going out and going against the college's standards, but they are also posting these pictures on these social networks to let anyone see. These pictures with these people represent my college that I attended and it isn't about the college so much, it is representing Jesus Christ in all that they do. Don't get me wrong, it isn't that I haven't drank a sip of alcohol, but I have taken what I have learned from my college years and learned what it means to represent Jesus Christ.
What I am trying to say is that I hope that these people realize that partying with alcohol isn't the way to go. How can we make an impact for Jesus Christ and how do we depend on the Lord with all that we have? If we do decide to go to the party, how can we represent Jesus Christ without conforming to the world? I am thankful for the Christian college experience that I was given and I thank those that were willing to take the time to help me grow in my faith. I just pray that those that decide to attend a Christian college that they make the most of it by serving the Lord in all that they do.