Kingdom Experiment Book Winners

Where was everyone when I was packing for my four years at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama? The answers to the comment contest, “What should you pack if you’re attending a Christian college?” were great.

Check out the entire list of comments for some hilarious packing lists. In the meantime here are the six people who won a free copy of the book. If you made one of the winning comments please email me at theacuffs@yahoo.com with your mailing address and “Kingdom Experiment” in the subject line. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas.

What should you bring to a Christian College?

Mike Part II said
1. A slim volume written by a 14th century German theologian that is so poorly translated as to be unreadable. Purpose - to continually reside on my bed stand and wow any visitors with my slogging ability.
2. A disdain for any and all contemporary ideas. Purpose - to ensure that my cohorts understand that my faith is old school.
3. A chess board with pieces arranged to always appear as if I am in the middle of a game. Purpose - this will compel friends to spend some time reflecting on the fact that I need further stimulation for my expansive mind that only a solid game of chess can provide.
4. A ball cap of some obscure Midwestern triple A team, prominently perched on a highly visible wall. Purpose - signifies that I am definitely not all work and no play.
5. A few not-entirely-true stories of my many heroic acts of faith in high school. Purpose - I'll be able to compete when the guys are attempting to woo Mary Beth.

K.H. Tennant said...
1. Humility. I go to a Christian college--a Bible college at that--and when we arrived on campus every student (myself included) assumes that they have arrived, and that this isn't really a learning experience: it's time to show off all the youth group prowess that you accumulated over the last two to four years.
2. Integrity. Unfortunately, it seems like integrity is not a treasured discipline, so I know people who, for example, earn class points for reading their Bible for OT Survey, and, er, didn't read it.
3. A Bible. That you (get this) read. Chapel, class, and deep theological conversations do not count as your one-on-one time with God.
4. A copy of "The Idiot's Guide to Ultimate Frisbee." You'd better learn how to dive, jump, defend, and toss that thing underhand before you ever step foot on campus. The competition is way heavier in Christian college ultimate Frisbee games than in youth group sword drills. If you can believe it.
5. A willingness to debate deep, heavy, theologians-with-a-thousand-degrees-discuss-this-and-have-yet-to-come-to-a-conclusion-on-it theological conversations. Because there's nothing like discussing the merits of Arminianism and Calvinism at 2 a.m.

Lyndsey said...
I go to Lee University (and came THIS CLOSE to going to Samford) and this is my list:
1. An index card with exactly 3 Bible verses which back up the theological viewpoint your parents taught you. No matter what argument you get sucked into, don't respond to anything the other person says; just say the verses at them. Works every time.
2. A full library of legally-obtained Christian music, including all of the Silly Songs with Larry. Leave all music without the word "Jesus" somewhere in the lyrics at home, preferably in your trash can WHERE IT BELONGS.
3.(for females) A wardrobe of ill-fitting T-shirts exclusively from mission trips, youth retreats, and Christian concerts. Also one that says "modest is hottest" to wear with the knee-length pants you fondly refer to as your "shorts".
4. A cause, any cause. Invisible Children is always a sure bet. Don't worry about researching it or donating to it; your bumper sticker and T-shirt will raise awareness, and that's really what the starving people need. The important thing is to make sure people know that you are socially conscious.
5. But, really, a commitment to seeking God with an open but discerning mind and a willing heart. It's so easy to become judgmental, whether you think you're progressive or conservative. I have to constantly remind myself that loving God and loving people, as cliche as it sounds, are really the only things that matter in the end, and that almost all of the people I meet on campus are trying their best to do that. We might have different theological opinions or ways of living, but they could just as easily choose to judge me for the way I do things. Disunity for the sake of proving yourself right is the last thing such a diverse body of Christians needs.

Kate from Kenosha said...
EARPLUGS. I attended Belmont University, a christian university in Nashville. My roommate played her keyboard all hours of the day/night. turning every song into a christian song. so, unless you want to hear disney's aladdin's "a whole new world" turned into a praise song, pack the plugs.

John said...
1) A map of the college and surrounding ground with appropriate DTR spots marked off.
2) A lighter to take out once every so often and play with...cause owning a lighter at a Christian college automatically makes you BA. (Plus you'll need it to light your incense for the alt. worship service you are planning.)
3) 3 Frisbees with your name on them. You can never have enough Frisbees in college.
4) Coffee mug with ironic saying on it that you can constantly lug around with you. "Holy Grounds" or "Christian Crack" might work well for you.
5) A notebook to remember the amazingly bad Bible jokes you will hear throughout the day, so you can blog about them later. "My life-verse is Song of Solomon 7:3!"

Holly Brennan said...
As Pensacola Christian College Alum, I'd recommend that to get the full christian college experience, girls pack no less than five toenail-covering length skirts, birth control glasses (to ward off all the ministerial guys who want to find a wife during Freshman year), and Grandpa's old KJV. Guys should bring plenty of khakis, because we all know jeans are a horrible sin.
Actually, I loved the Christian college experience. The most important thing that anyone needs to pack is a willingness to bend your will to God's will, and accept that He just may be using something that is legalitstic as a learning method. We poke fun at the rules at christian colleges, but they are there for a reason, and most students sign something saying that they will follow them. They have to have the humility to follow-thru on that committment to obedience, and understand that God is teaching them something through it. So yes....I think every student should pack some humility and willingness to give up self and self's desires.