Micah Mandate

Ryan Fasani and Eric Paul-

[Entire Sanctification] is wrought by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service. - Article of Faith, Entire Sanctification

I (Ryan) am particularly interested in the “power” sanctified believers receive from the Holy Spirit.  I recently read about the obliteration of mountaintops in the South East for the extraction of coal.  That’s power!  From the dynamite, to the massive trucks, to sheer mass of earth that is relocated—it’s all the result of power.  But power is used for good or for ill; it is wielded by an agent to an end—to detonate, to destroy, to heal, or to build.  The sanctified believer is empowered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  But this empowerment personifies the love and grace of the Spirit of Christ, rather than the power of domination, oppression, and violence.  The power imbued from the Spirit through sanctification works through human agents as participants in the coming Kingdom of God, which stands against the principalities and powers of this world.  Thus, the power given by the Spirit is situated toward an end.  Stated in a question: “To what end is a sanctified believer sanctified?” Read the rest of this entry »

Rachel Swann-

Trevecca students can expect to fill their plates in the cafeteria with fresh, organic produce in the next few years. The TNU greenhouse and Pioneer Catering Services have partnered, and soon plants from the greenhouse will be used regularly as ingredients in meal choices.

Jason Adkins, environmental justice professor, Chris Farrell, professor of biology and environment, and John Ferris, Pioneer executive chef, began the planning for the partnership and what it will mean for the university. Adkins said they are starting to draw up the business plans. Some produce has already been grown and sold to Pioneer.

Over the past few weeks six pounds of basil were sold to Pioneer at the market rate of $8.00 per pound.

Herbs from TNU Greenhouse

“As the program expands, I’ll buy more from him (TNU),” Ferris said, “I’m willing to buy just about anything they can give us.”

Selling herbs and salad greens is just the beginning.

The big picture for this partnership is of Pioneer to be a supporter of Trevecca’s urban farm, which is another part of the developing plan. The urban farm and the greenhouse will provide the fresh produce for the cafeteria to use.

This urban farm has been a dream of Adkins for the past several years. He hopes to expand from the existing greenhouse on campus behind Greathouse Science Building. But as the amount of organic foods growing increases so will the need for a sustainable farm. Until then, Adkins, Farrell and their students make use of the small space they have with the greenhouse and space available on campus. For example, fruit trees and bushes were planted around campus. They will mature and bear fruit within a few years, Adkins said.

“We can grow a lot of different things (on the small space),” Adkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

Adam Wadding-

Trevecca was selected for a special screening of, “The Grace Card,” a ministry based movie emphasizing racial issues in Memphis, TN. It was the first University screening, making Trevecca one of the youngest audiences to preview the movie.

Photo by: christianfilmmaker.com

The screening served as a chapel session, but students were not the only viewers, as people from across Tennessee churches came to watch, including some of the movie’s actors.

The first movie by Calvary Pictures, based out of Calvary Church of the Nazarene in Cordova, TN, was inspired by Sherwood pictures, the movie making industry that created “Fireproof.”

In “The Grace Card,” Mac Mcdonald loses his son to a car accident, and 17 years later he still feels the pain. This pain is taken out on his family, specifically his other son Blake, a high school senior who isn’t meeting the expectations of his father.

Sam Wright, a pastor of an all-black church who has a small income takes on another job as a policeman and is partnered with Mac. He tries to play his part and figure out why God placed Mac in his life, when Mac says nothing but racist remarks toward him. Read the rest of this entry »

Rachel Swann-

Soon students at Trevecca will have a new way to get a hands-on learning experience. Last spring the J.V. Morsch Center for Social Justice purchased a biodiesel machine that will be used to fuel two of plant operations vehicles.

The machine has been in storage for the past six months, but plans are underway for a new home for the machine.

One of the trailers beside plant operations will be converted to have a classroom like atmosphere complete with windows, carpet and desks. The idea is to use the space and machine as an educational tool for students to learn the process of biodiesel production.

“It lends itself to science on display,” Glen Linthicum, director of plant operations, said.

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel produced from animal fat or vegetable oil. Some benefits, according to biodiesl.org, to using the fuel are: the reduced amount of emissions from that of petroleum diesel, exhaust is recycled by plant life, the emissions are healthier for humans and the environment and it is one of the lowest costing alternative fuels available. Also, it can be used in existing diesel engines without them needing many modifications.

The machine was purchased by the J.V. Morsch Center for Social Justice. Jamie Casler, director of the center, and Chris Farrell, director of medical technology and professor of biology and environment, found the machine and made the buy with the intention of the production of biodiesel and items from its by-products, such as soap, to be a student led project.

“Jason Adkins (environmental justice professor) and Chris Farrell will be leading the initiative (with their classes),” Casler said. Read the rest of this entry »

Brennen Finchum and Rebekah Peoples-

This Christmas, avoid the mall and the crowds of shoppers by buying gifts with a cause. This year spend your shopping money in products that benefit people like inner-city kids, recovering addicts and prostitutes and orphans overseas. What if this year instead of shopping for gifts at the usual department stores, you spent your time and money purchasing gifts from organizations with a social justice mission? What if your Christmas had a cause?

We compiled a shopping guide to help you do just that: Read the rest of this entry »