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Written By: Braden Hughes

When I was little and sitting in “time out”, five minutes felt like eternity. When I was in elementary school and nervously sat next to my crush during lunch, the lunch period felt like eternity. When I was in middle school, sitting cramped into the non-air conditioned gym for an assembly at the end of the school day felt like eternity. When I was in high school, running sprints after football practice certainly felt like eternity. Each day seems to go by so slowly. Time drags on and the moment seems like an eternity. But all the sudden we look up from our daily routines, the calendar says “November,” and we inevitably look around and say “where did this year go?”

It happens every year ­­– why? Why do we set New Year’s resolutions and within two weeks forget or half-heartedly abandon them? I would submit it’s because we think of each moment as if it were eternity. We live as though we have all the time in the world, we “go through life” without intentionality, letting it pass by, and all the sudden it’s November again. What is a life-span’s November? Age 50? 60? 80? The truth is we don’t know. This is why James 4:14 says: “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”[1] We don’t know what tomorrow or the rest of our life holds. Whether we have three months or another 80 years, all we know is our lives are a mist. We can’t just let life go by, waiting for November to come.

KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU –– AND DO IT

Most often the reason we don’t use our time wisely is because we haven’t considered how to use it wisely. It’s been said that a good way to live a fulfilling life is to write down the three things most deeply important to you and address one of them every day. The things you deem important enough to be on your list shouldn’t be your beliefs, interests, hobbies, or passions because ultimately those things shift over months and years. The things you write down now should be the convictions you feel in your heart that, if left untouched, would show your life has not been what it could have. By identifying these things, “you can make certain that whatever you do on any particular day does not violate the criteria you have deemed supremely important, and that each day contributes in a meaningful way to the vision you have of your life as a whole.”[2] As the weights of responsibility come and the things you’re involved in compete for your time and focus, these things will remain at the forefront of the mission of your life. Each decision is made through the lens of the things deeply important to your being coming to life.

You may think: “I want to make that a reality, but I’m stuck at work. It demands my time and consumes my energy. I don’t have the time or ability to focus on what matters most to me.” Warren Buffet, one of the most successful businessmen in the world, advises students to “look for the job you would take if you didn’t need a job. Don’t sleepwalk through life… You really want to be doing what you love doing.”[3] It’s easy to graduate college with the vision for your life other people have placed upon you, but Buffett’s point is this won’t fulfill you. It’s easy to take the most accessible, promising, or high-paying job, but these qualities of a job won’t fulfill you. In fact, they will prove to waste your time. Imagine you get to the end of your working life and retire alongside your spouse. As your free time is more open to do the things you love and to make the difference you want to make, you find purpose and fulfillment in the work you are doing. Buffet’s point is that your whole life should be devoted to doing that thing. Don’t settle down with the job that seems most appealing, but rather the one in which you can invest your time and energy and feel purpose in doing so.

Also consider what you do outside of work. It’s easy to switch from “ON” to “OFF” after a day of work. This can be anything from watching episodes of a show on Netflix, playing a game on your phone, hanging out with friends, or going straight to sleep. Imagine the impact we could have if we didn’t allow ourselves to go into autopilot for the second half of our day. We have to realize that ultimately, knowing everything about this year’s Bachelor, keeping up with the stats of our favorite sports team, or reaching the next level on a video game is not what matters in life. Sure this can be a good way to connect with others and get our mind off some of life’s stressors, but to live a fulfilling life, we have to find value in bigger things. Read a book that challenges your thinking, talk to old friends you haven’t seen in a while, build something, learn something, plan something, meet your neighbors, you name it. Shame on us if our lives are a mist and we use them to get a new high score on a game or gain followers on a social network. There is more to life beyond ourselves, and God has given each of us different gifts, talents, interests, etc. We can use them for the betterment of ourselves, our communities, and our world, but our immediate desire is to switch into autopilot. If you want to live a life not wasted, find value in the way God has made you and use that to bless others and build His kingdom.

LOVE THOSE AROUND YOU

In an interview, Amelia Harper, age 103, says “a good idea is to behave well to other people. Show them respect and help them as much as you possibly can, and it will be repaid hundred folds.”[4] This comes from a woman at the end of a century-long life, someone who had time to look back at her life and offer one word of advice to those who would listen, and she made an appeal to spend time helping others. Greater than this, in Paul’s letter to the Philippians he writes “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The life lived for self leads to division and brokenness. The statistics are shocking of the number of athletes, CEO’s, celebrities, etc. who have been divorced, lost relationships with family members, have problems finding deep relationships with friends, or turn to drugs, alcohol, or even suicide even in their success. Why? Because we are naturally selfish people. Though not every person takes it to such extremes, our desires are naturally self-centered which leads to our destruction. A life worth living is one lived in service to others. “For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28).

Jesus was the most selfless person to ever walk the planet, and the fruit of his life changed the world. His example of selflessness is difficult to wrap our minds around and daunting to imitate. But be encouraged that even Christ himself said “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” Christ’s time on earth was limited, so He gave His spirit to live inside those who believe in Him. A life not wasted is one lived in step with His spirit in he who believes. It is one used to serve like the Messiah did and live a life of selflessness. Look anywhere in this world and you will see the destruction created by a life lived selfishly. But when we look to Jesus’ example and live to love those around us, we will be more fulfilled in the things we do and the time we have.

IN CONCLUSION

The life worth living seems counter-intuitive to modern American thinking. Don’t worry about making the most money possible? Don’t take the easy road? Stay off autopilot? Serve others? In the world’s eyes, these all seem like ridiculous principles by which to spend one’s life. But if we truly believe God’s word to us, that our lives are “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes,” we will spend our time intentionally, not focused on the things of this world, for they too will pass away. We will live a life of selflessness and conviction beyond ourselves. We will use the gifts God has given us to bless others and see the kingdom of God made great. For it is in this kingdom we will live the rest of our lives in eternity, once our mist here on earth vanishes.

Written By: Erin Diaz

Hailing from San Diego, California, Contemporary Christian Musician Phil Wickham kicked off his music career by releasing his first album Give You My World in 2003. Within just a few years, Wickham was on tour with MercyMe and Audio Adrenaline, proving how quickly he became influential in the Christian music world. In 2007, he released the album Cannons, which is probably the one you know most songs from (such as “You’re Beautiful” and “Cannons”). The album was inspired by The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, and it seems to continue to be a foundational album to the CCM industry today.

For me, it’s difficult to imagine my formative years as a Christian without Phil Wickham’s music. His music seemed to be omnipresent to me in high school, especially in the years of 2010-12. As an employee at a local Chick-Fil-A, I would package meals for people with Wickham’s “Divine Romance” playing over the speakers. I then would drive to my youth group, usually playing Christian radio, usually hearing something from Wickham on my quick drive. When at church, one of his songs were performed at least weekly. Wickham was a big part of my life back then, as he was for many. If we took a poll at Liberty asking how many people have cherished at least one of Wickham’s songs in their life, we’re sure that there would be no shortage of students and staff answering “yes”.

Something that can be said about Wickham is that his music is genuine, poignant, and sometimes overwhelming in the way that can trigger emotions and tug on heartstrings. In an interview with Christianity Today, it is stated that Wickham commented that Cannons is “about how the universe is exploding with the glory of God, and how we are compelled to join in with its song”. This is an example that Wickham’s music is not always the light, airy type that we often hear on Christian music radio. His music pushes deeper, begging the soul to tune in and be a part of worship to our Holy God.

We feel confident that September 21 is going to be an important evening at Liberty. Wickham will be performing in the Concert Hall, and has just released his album Living Hope, this is a show you won’t want to miss. And did we mention that LU Praise is opening up the show? For more info, visit our music page – we can’t wait to be a part of this with you.

Resources

*https://www.klove.com/music/artists/phil-wickham/

Written By: Erin Diaz

Hailing from Federal Way, Washington, 24-year-old rapper Isaac Peabody (PEABOD) is on the music scene and he has some things to say. Lucky for us, he’s coming to Liberty for a FREE show with local openers KHAM and Czar Josh – get excited!

PEABOD’s debut album “Healthy Snacks” was released earlier this summer, with hits like “Shoot From the Hip” and collaboration with CCM artist Hollyn called “Ok”, and the album “puts an innovative spin on rap, daring the genre to be fun”*. PEABOD is pretty innovative and fun himself, describing himself as an extrovert whose personality type is ESFP, also known as “The Performer”. “I guess I picked the right career!” PEABOD says in his question and answer article on Centricity Music.

PEABOD has two younger siblings and is based out of Seattle, Washington. He has a full-time job at his alma mater, where he studied Organizational Communication at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. He claims Chance the Rapper, Switchfoot and Coldplay as being some of his biggest inspirations musically. When you listen to his music, a mixture of pop and hip-hop can be heard. PEABOD combines these two genres as well as his Christian foundation, and the outcome of this combination is “Healthy Snacks”, which you can listen to here.

We are so excited to host PEABOD in the LaHaye Event Space on September 28^th. For more information about the show, check out our concerts page!

*https://centricitymusic.com/peabod-releases-debut-album-healthy-snacks/

Written By: Marissa Kusayanagi

Before I left for college I always heard of the infamous “Freshman Fifteen” and carried the fear of gaining weight into my first year at Liberty. The college years are known to create unhealthy habits and we all hope we will never gain those fifteen pounds, but it is a lot easier said than done. If you are anything like I was as a Freshman, you are searching for the best and easiest ways to stay healthy as you survive your four years of college. You will always have late nights cramming for an exam, or you might join your friends for a 1 AM Cook Out run but I hope these tips can help you on your journey.

I am not a professional in the health and fitness world, but I have a close friend that is – her name is Heather Gaunt, and she is the Associate Director of Fitness and Programming at Liberty’s Rec Centers. Heather is an incredible woman that knows more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle than anybody else I know.  I decided to interview her and I hope you all find it extremely helpful!

Marissa Kusayanagi: Explain a little bit about who you are and what do on campus.

Heather Gaunt: I am Heather Gaunt, the Associate Director of Fitness and Programming. My undergraduate degree is in exercise science. I am a registered yoga instructor, NASM certified trainer, ACE group fitness instructor, ACSM exercise physiologist, certified Barre above ™, certified cycling, TRX level one trainer, certified Zumba, turbo kick live instructor. I have been teaching group exercise since 2011 and teaching yoga since 2010.

MK: What is some advice you would give an incoming Freshman to stay healthy?

HG: Find friends to stay active with, because the most important part about coming to college is building relationships with people. The best advice I have is to build relationships while staying active or going outside. You will want to exercise more if you are doing it with a friend.

MK: How did you maintain a healthy lifestyle as a college student?

HG: I fell in love with group exercise classes when I was a college student. I saw the benefit of group ex classes for someone who doesn’t want to organize a workout on their own. The classes build community among like-minded people and keep students coming back for more. My exercise science classes helped me understand the developmental side of health and exercise.

MK: Give some simple tips for a college student with a job.

HG: First, you need to list out your priorities and make sure you maintain them each day. Always take care of yourself and give your body the time it needs for relaxation and physical movement.

• Sacrifice time in the morning to go attend a group exercise class or go on a run.
• Dedicate 20-30 minutes of your day to physical activity.
• Learn yoga, because you can practice it anywhere.
• Find someone that is in the same stage of life as you and keep each other accountable through your health journey.
• You can hire a personal trainer at the gym where you will create a specific time to work out each week.

MK: What are some ways to eat healthy on campus?

HG:

Off-Campus

If you are off campus, the best way to eat healthy is to meal prep! Make sure you include lean fats, protein and vegetables of course. Meal prepping can save you a ton of money and time. There are so many options in Lynchburg where you can grab a sweet treat and avoid the extra refined sugars. My personal favorite is Millie’s, you can grab a smoothie bowl and enjoy a sweet but healthy treat!

On Campus

Liberty Dining offers a variety of foods and healthy meals. Try to avoid processed foods and refined sugars. Aim to eat whole foods. The Rot offers whole foods, greens, and healthy fats. Stay away from fried foods!

MK: How important is physical activity? How much should we be doing? How much is too much? And what do you suggest for busy college students that don’t work out on a regular basis?

HG: Exercising every day is important, but you should limit your high-intensity workouts to 2-3 times a week. The most important tip is to make sure you are physically moving every single day and not sitting for too much of the day.

MK: Explain a little more about what your department offers!

HG: Rec Centers offers:

1. Exercise
   1. We offer group fitness that caters to anyone’s need.
   2. There are classes for recovery, strength, yoga, mind-body and connection.
   3. There are cardio classes – cycling, kickboxing, Zumba, Step, and hip-hop.
   4. We have High Intensity classes – Boot Camp, Kettlebells, Power Pump, Total Body Tone, Crossfit.
   5. Personal trainers are always useful.
   6. We offer a rock wall – a place where you can build strength and community.
   7. Pool – a great place for cardiovascular exercise!
2. Workshops
   1. The workshops this year are going to focus on stress and anxiety relief, so there will be classes on aromatherapy, breathing and meditation.

Creating healthy habits during college will help you become a more successful student and maintain a balanced life. I hope that Heather’s tips help you decrease your stress and increase your joy throughout your time at Liberty. There are so many options to choose from, so grab a friend and sign-up for a group ex class!

You can find more information on Rec Centers’ website – https://www.liberty.edu/campusrec/reccenters/group-exercise/.

Written By: Erin Diaz

Get excited, everyone – Fall Welcome Week is finally upon us! We have so much lined up for you incoming freshmen (and anyone else on campus who wants to attend our awesome events). Read a description on each of our events below!

Bingo Night (Thursday, 8/23)

Everyone’s favorite welcome back event will be on Thursday in the LaHaye Event Space. It’s a classic game with some big-time prizes – in other words, we’re giving out $350 in gift cards to some of your favorite local restaurants, coffee shops and more. Doors open for the event at 8 p.m. and games begin at 8:30 p.m., so get in the door and get a prime seating location!

SA @ Nite (Friday, 8/24)

It’s the best throwback night of the year! Beginning at 10 p.m., we’ll be showing tv shows that will take you back to your childhood (or even before). Throughout the night there will be karaoke, games, junk food that you definitely need in order to kick off the best year yet, and so much more. Come join us in the LaHaye Event Space for a good time!

Outdoor Open Mic (Saturday, 8/25)

Outdoor Open Mic is a new event that SA is excited to have you be a part of. We wanted to kick off a semester of Open Mic Nights by doing it the best way – singing outdoors! There will be free Chill City Pops for the first 150 people, Rookie’s cookies for the first 250 people, and a free microphone for you to sing or speak into. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Montview Lawn, and one of our favorite student bands Oceanic will be opening and closing the event for us. See you there!

Outdoor Movie Night (Saturday, 8/25)

Avengers: Infinity War, Solo: A Star Wars Story, free popcorn and concessions (that we now accept Flames Cash for!) – need we say more? We’ll see you on the Commons Lawn at 8:30 p.m. to kick off the first Movie Night of the semester. Bring a blanket, bring your hall and enjoy a great start to an even better semester.

For updates on our Fall Welcome Week events, visit our social media (@libertysa). We can’t wait to meet you!

Student Activities is very excited to bring you a special highlight post for some of our Block Party sponsors this year. These sponsors have worked hard this summer to prepare for our big event on Saturday, September 8. We asked them about what they’re excited for at this year’s Block Party – read their answers below!

90.9 The Light is a Top 40 College Christian music station located on the campus of Liberty University. In addition to music programming, The Light also broadcasts news programs and sports, including Liberty Athletics. It is our mission to reach our listeners with the Gospel of Jesus Christ while training the next generation of broadcasters that will go out and impact the world.

90.9 The Light: “We are always excited to meet our fellow students at Liberty University up close. LU students will always be our core audience and we love interacting with them (and we are looking forward to the concert too!). We bring positive music, news, sports and entertainment to our listeners while training the next generation of broadcasters that will go out and impact the world. We have a great staff with several new members that have fresh ideas on ways to interact with our audience and provide cool content, so give us a follow (909thelight) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!”

Your Event Source is a full service event planning and amusement rental company located in Charlotte, NC. Since 2001, Your Event Source (YES) has been supplying quality event planning services and rentals for birthdays, corporate picnics, church events, campus activities, and more. With our wide range of party supplies and unique event rental equipment, we’re sure to have exactly what you need for your special event!

Your Event Source: “We love partnering with Liberty University on Block Party! The excitement on the students’ faces is always the best part. Simply put, we bring the fun! We do around 10 events for Liberty each year and each one is always different and more exciting than the last one. Your Event Source is a full service event planning and amusement rental company. Just Say YES and “Let Your Event Source Handle The Rest!””

Since 1783, the Lynchburg Community Market has played a key role in the development and growth of downtown Lynchburg. Their Market Mission is:

• To perpetuate Lynchburg’s historic public market activity
• To celebrate regional food traditions
• To provide access to fresh, farm-grown food while supporting local area agriculture
• To provide a public downtown “town square” gathering place
• To help revitalize downtown Lynchburg

Lynchburg Community Market: “The Lynchburg Community Market is excited to welcome Liberty students invite them to enjoy all the great things we have to offer including: fresh, locally grown produce, locally made crafts and art, and a selection of mini-restaurants inside.

We are the best place to get fresh, locally grown produce and handmade crafts and artworks in downtown Lynchburg. Join us for our Harvest Festival, October 27 and weekly Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.!”

Golf Park Coffee was founded in 2014 by Co-Founders Adam Shurr & Ben Young. They started Golf Park Coffee out of a desire to grow the coffee culture in our area and bring a new exciting product to the market. They believe that community and collaboration are the backbone of our company. In July of 2018, Golf Park Coffee opened their first brick and mortar shop in Lynchburg, inside of the Bedford Exchange at 2306 Bedford Ave. This shop is Golf Park’s first move into a full espresso and coffee program featuring coffee from Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co. and tea from Hugo Tea Company.

Golf Park Coffee: “We’re pumped to welcome back all of Liberty’s students & and we’re stoked to meet the new freshman class…and, of course, we can’t wait to hang with our awesome friends from SA. We hope that people look at Golf Park as a place to meet up with friends, get work done…maybe even be a first-date destination. Essentially, we want to become everyone’s go-to shop for a good cup of coffee–both students & Lynchburg locals alike.

We’re the new kids in town–we’d love for you to check out our new shop at 2306 Bedford Ave, just off of Rivermont Ave. Follow @golfparkcoffee for regular info & updates.”

Domino’s operates more than 14,000 pizza restaurants in more than 85 countries, and delivers more than 1.5 million pizzas each day. Domino’s delivery experts drive more than 10 million miles across the United States every week to bring you the best food we can make. Talk about passion!

Domino’s (Wards Road): “We are always to excited to see how many students come to have fun. We bring amazing product, brought to each student with awesome service, and a great attitude. Liberty should know we love being part of this incredible school. We have been with Liberty for almost a decade now. The students and what they bring to Lynchburg are our top priority.”

The vendors above are just a few of our many Block Party attractions this year that we are proud to have at our event. For updates about Block Party, check out our social media (libertysa on Twitter and Instagram) or our page for the event. See you September 8^th!

*All vendor bios were taken from their websites. For more information, visit each of the websites highlighted.

Written By: Steph Ward

Many of you will be returning to Lynchburg in just a few short weeks, and for those of you who are, you can most certainly agree that time flies by! College is a unique time in life where you juggle so many aspects with very little time – you’re trying to manage the stress of school work, build friendships with those around you, and work enough to maintain enough cash flow to eat Cookout on the reg. It’s not easy, but we here at Student Activities are here to help manage it all. Okay, we can’t do it all, but we can help relieve some of the stress!

If you haven’t seen on our social media, we’ve released our entire fall calendar. There’s sure to be something for everyone, but I’ll highlight a few of my favorites:

Block Party (9/8) – A must attend! This event is shaping up to be one of our best yet with a full line up of artists from a variety of genres. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our latest blog post about the event!

Movie Nights – Other than Open Mic, this is one of our staple events. We’re bringing you 5-6 movie nights this fall and they’re sure to be action-packed. As always, popcorn is a must, and we’ll provide it free of charge!

Christmas Coffeehouse (11/30) – A fan favorite! As if Christmas isn’t exciting enough, this event really puts us in the holiday spirit. From videos to live performances, we believe Coffeehouse showcases some of the best Liberty has to offer!

Christmas Karaoke (12/4) – The name says it all. Why wouldn’t you want to attend an event where you get to watch your roommates make a fool of themselves on stage, all while eating Christmas snacks and making gingerbread houses?

Coffee – Not an event, but some of our favorite days are hanging with you guys in Montview between classes, so that won’t stop anytime soon.

Those are just a few highlights, but be sure to check out our calendar for a full fall schedule. We believe that your extracurricular experiences are a vital part in shaping you these next few years. And when you reflect on your time at Liberty, what will stand out is the time you’ve spent investing into others and the experiences you’ve shared outside the classroom. Of course, I’m not advocating for you to skip class to hang out with your friends (although, we wouldn’t be opposed to you postponing a night of studying to join us at an event). However, I am advocating for you taking time to foster the relationships around you and enjoy the short time you get to spend here.

You may have seen a piece of Fred Rogers’ commencement speech at Dartmouth from our post last week, but it applies here so well: “We don’t become competent human beings without the investment of others.” Some of those people he refers to will be friends you make during your time here, and we just want you to slow down enough to realize it. Choose dinner with your hall overeating while studying. Don’t feel guilty to choose a book you’ve been dying to read over your textbook every now and again. Grab coffee with a friend (or us) during the peaks of your exams. We all need a break and life requires balance – in school, in friendships, and in every aspect of how we spend our time. Just remember that in a world where life seems to always be in the fast lane, you have the choice to take opportunities to slow down and enjoy every aspect of it along the way.

We’re super excited to kick off another year with you and can’t wait for you to return. After all, we do exist for YOU! Enjoy your last few weeks of summer, we’ll see you soon.

Written By: Steph Ward & Kay Torres

As we celebrate 50 years of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and the impact Fred Rogers has had on so many since the late 1960s, it seems fitting that “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” was released this year. Fred McFeely Rogers was born in 1928 and grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. It was his love for his hometown that heavily influenced the look and feel of the neighborhood throughout the television show. In 1952, Fred married Joanne Byrd, and the couple celebrated 50 years together prior to his death in February 2003 from stomach cancer. The couple had two children together, James and John.

While he was most known for his television show, Mister Rogers possessed many talents – from creating and composing the show to being an ordained minister, to advocating for children all across the country – he was hard working and faith-driven. His motivation to make others feel loved and special comes from his maternal grandfather, who told him, “Freddy, I like you just the way you are!” This phrase became familiar in his teachings and life work over the years and was the foundation for the man he was.

In 1968, Fred began Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood on NET (which later became PBS), which ran over 890 episodes through 2001. The show explored many topics for young viewers through a make-believe neighborhood that he created. There is much to be said about all the show drove him to accomplish through the years, but for him it was never those achievements that pushed him forward. He simply wanted children to know that they were unique and that they didn’t ever have to do anything sensational for people to love them.

“Won’t You Be My Neighbor” was released this past June and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville. The film received an impressive and well-deserved 99% rating by critics and 97% from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. Neville dives in deep to share how intimately Mister Rogers has influenced children and public television for generations. It is a compassionately riveting and inspiring film that moves you through his life in an emotional and heartfelt way. From his television show to the famously known U.S. Senate case where he advocated for government funding of children’s television, the film allows us to celebrate the legacy he has left behind for so many.

Kay, one of our event supervisors, and I recently watched this film, and we give it two thumbs up! We want to dig a little deeper into the film and share with you why we believe Mister Rogers was a creative genius.

Did you ever watch “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”? If so, how did it impact your life?

Steph: Yes, I watched the show many times with my grandparents growing up, but I don’t think I appreciated the topics he discussed as much as I should have. The overarching theme of loving our neighbors, no matter who they are, is such an important subject in our society and the show really helped drive this. We need more people like Mister Rogers who are willing to show that type of compassion against those who hurt.

Kay: Yes, watching “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” is one of my favorite memories as a child. I remember watching it with my friends at our babysitter’s house, and always singing along to “won’t you be my neighbor?”! My favorite part of the show was the opening sequence where he would walk in, sing the song, and change into his famous sweater. The lyrics to so much of the music from the show has stayed with me for over a decade, and it’s amazing to see the power of his music and how his simple messages influenced me throughout the years. I remember “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” being so relaxing, which was such a stark contrast to other children’s shows in the 1990s. Mister Rogers left such a lasting impact on so many children’s lives and watching the documentary allowed me to see and understand the creativity that he possessed to promote his simple message of love.

http://filmfisher.com/films/wont-you-be-my-neighbor/

Critics believe the show brought up a generation of entitlement. Do you agree?

S: I completely disagree. He was driven to show children they were loved, regardless of their success. In his Dartmouth commencement speech in 2002, he stated, “You don’t ever have to do anything sensational for people to love you.” I think often times we believe that what we do makes us successful, but in fact, it’s who we are. Are we kind? Do we show compassion to others who think differently than us? Are we empathetic? That’s what Mister Rogers was trying to say – we make choices that lead us to act. I believe it’s the love we receive (or lack thereof) that drives us to be the best version of ourselves.

K:  Mister Rogers wanted every child to understand that they were special, which led many critics to contend that he brought up a generation of narcissists. According to The Wall Street Journal, critics attribute Mister Rogers as “a representation of a culture of excessive doting”. Personally, I don’t believe that’s what Mister Rogers was doing at all. I think he strived to identify the uniqueness and resources within ourselves to save us. He didn’t say the world would hand us success because we were special, but instead he showed children the value in understanding their strengths and weaknesses to overcome life’s difficulties. His philosophy was based on love, and not a self-absorbed theory of entitlement. Mister Rogers is often quoted saying “Love is at the root of everything, all learning, all relationships – love or the lack of it.” His philosophy didn’t bring up a generation of entitlement, but a generation of children that hopefully understand humanity and to hopefully reach beyond the titles that divide us, to be proud of our differences and believe that our inherent worth is just as important as the inherent worth of others.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118358476840657463

What resonates with you most about the documentary?

S: I have quoted it twice already, but the documentary talked a great deal about his commencement speech at Dartmouth in 2002. I ended up listening to the entire speech and was awestruck. In a society where there are so many different beliefs, I just appreciate his humbleness and how well he embraces all people. I want to quote the end of the speech, as I think it sums up who he was very well:

“Life is far more than anything you can see, hear, or touch – that deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive – love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.”

I think that’s pretty significant and something we could all take with us in a world that sometimes seems unaccepting of those who are unlike us.

K: The documentary highlighted Mister Rogers’ appearance before the United States Subcommittee on Communications, to challenge the cuts for public broadcasting in 1969. Mister Rogers’ ability to change the senator’s mind in six minutes is a testament to his care for children. Mister Rogers’ genuine care and authenticity allowed public television to keep 20 million dollars in funding. A statement that resonated with me from his speech was, “Feelings are mentionable and manageable; we will have done a great service to mental health. I think it’s much more dramatic that two men could be working out their feelings of anger, much more dramatic than showing something of gunfire – I’m constantly concerned about what our children are seeing.” Especially within our culture’s current climate, I believe it is so important for people of all ages to understand the power of their feelings, but also the power we have to control those feelings. He closes his speech by quoting one of his songs: “I can stop when I want to. Can stop when I wish. Can stop, stop, stop anytime… And what a good feeling to feel like this! And know that the feeling is really mine. Know that there’s something deep inside that helps us become what we can. For a girl can be someday a lady, and a boy can be someday a man.” This idea of control is something that our generation seems to forget as we seem to publicize our anger before we stop to understand those feelings. Mister Rogers encouraged children to communicate their feelings in a healthy way, but to first know that we are in control of those feelings and not the other way around. Mister Rogers led by example even in his Senate speech, even though he could have so easily spoken aggressively. Instead of aggression, he chose to argue by example quietly, in a way that presented television’s power to further social good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9uIJ-o2yqQ

Mister Rogers challenged the concept of love every day on his television show, and his belief in the God-given intrinsic value within each of us was the driving force of his message. With the buzz surrounding the documentary and many audiences newly-found interest in Mister Rogers, it is important to understand the simple power of love that he presented day to day. His mission to spread love in a world was daunting at times, and he said “Understanding love is one of the hardest things in the world.” He spread his mission through his television show, and now 50 years later people are still celebrating his impact in this world. PBS is celebrating “cheers to 50” to celebrate 50 years of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” by showing full episodes, and is planning to broadcast the documentary early next year.

We all have something to learn from the sweet, mild-mannered man in a sweater. His impact doesn’t just stop at his television show; his legacy has continued to grow. The Fred Rogers Center strives to keep his legacy alive through thoughtful development of children. They understand the beauty in his simple yet powerful message. He was an incredibly sensational man, and he encouraged the simplicity of love throughout his life.

Mister Rogers’ mantra “won’t you be my neighbor” wasn’t just lyrics to a song or now the title of a hit documentary. It was an invitation that Mister Rogers carried in his own life. We encourage you to dig a little deeper into the life of this incredible man, check out the documentary at the dollar theater this weekend, and embrace the message of love that we all need to be reminded about.

Other resources:

PBS Cheers to 50 – https://www.pbs.org/parents/

Fred Rogers Center – https://www.fredrogerscenter.org/

Written By: Erin Diaz

This year’s Block Party is shaping up to have quite the lineup. From rock to EDM to folk and ending on hip-hop, we are pumped for the event! You may have not dabbled into each of these genres yet, so below we’ll give you a quick overview of our artists this year.

Jake Ziegler & the Locals

Jake Ziegler. If you’ve been a student at Liberty for a year or more, you probably know him from Coffeehouses past, student concerts and as a recent opener for Colony House when we hosted them in April. Jake, along with his sister and some friends, always promises a good time when he performs. The band released an EP in 2016 entitled “All Year Long”. Sharing the stage with artists like Noah Gundersen, Trapt, and Colony House, Jake Ziegler and The Locals have quickly made a name for themselves. Their rock ‘n roll sound is a crowd pleaser and his stage presence is sure to get the crowd ready for our other performers this year at Block Party. Check him out on Spotify here!

Instagram: jakeandthelocals

Apollo LTD

“Just as NASA’s Apollo program represented the fulfillment of boundless ideas, Apollo LTD blast past boundaries and into a new musical realm steeped in alternative spirit, cinematic production, rock energy, and pop palatability.” What better way to describe Apollo LTD than the way they describe themselves? Jordan Phillips and Adam Stark, the duo that makes up Apollo LTD, are based out of Nashville and arrived on the music scene in 2015. The sound of the duo is upbeat, edgy and reminiscent of Miike Snow, while their catchy beats seem to resemble bands like COIN and Bad Suns. Sharing the stage with artists like Panic at the Disco, DNCE, Kesha, Andy Grammer, and The All-American Rejects, Apollo LTD has quickly garnered a spot in the music world. Check them out on Spotify here, you won’t regret it!

Instagram: apollograms

1k Phew

Our first of two Reach Records artists at Block Party is 1k Phew, an artist you probably aren’t hearing about for the first time. Although he is only 23 years old, he is already being recognized. His song “Light Work” has 1.6 million streams as of July 2018, and he has already collaborated with Tedashii, GAWVI and more. You may wonder why “1k” is included in his name, and that’s because, as he mentions in his biography, “I’m not worried about being politically correct. I just want to give people the real. That’s where the 1K comes from, always keeping it 1,000 no matter what.” You can find his music on Spotify here.

Instagram: 1kphew

Jenny & Tyler

The indie art pop duo is about to bring a sense of calm beauty to this year’s Block Party. With other artists being more upbeat, Jenny & Tyler were exactly the duo we wanted for a well-rounded lineup. Originally from Delaware, the now Nashville-based duo cares deeply for their fans, as Tyler explains in their website biography: “When we first started out we would travel to any city where we had a couple of fans. We even drove out to play a show for one person in their living room. That’s how we learned to perform and to connect with people. When you’re regularly playing for three or four people, you can’t hide. You’re exposed. You have to learn to engage.” Jenny & Tyler have sold over 35,000 albums, seen 12 million streams on Apple Music & Spotify, and have played over 1,100 concert dates over the past 10 years of playing music together. Their songs have been featured on ABC’s Pretty Little Liars, NY Med, MTV’s Teen Mom, CBC’s Heartland, & YouTube’s Kid President. With so much experience interacting with and caring for guests, Jenny & Tyler are sure to bring a heartfelt, charming performance. You can listen to them on Spotify here.

Instagram: jennyandtyler

Tedashii

Our second Reach Records artist at this year’s Block Party is Tedashii! The Texas-born rapper has released albums over the past 12 years. With the ebb and flow of music’s never-ending trends, Tedashii has never ceased to remain relevant while also standing out. As his website biography states, “His most recent release, 2016’s This Time Around, was an emotional journey comprised of celebratory records juxtaposed with stories of pain, hope, and overcoming tragedy. But it’s a new day. And with that, comes new purpose.” In 2013, Tedashii suddenly lost his one year old son. This tragedy has influenced his music in a powerful way that offers peace and clarity during life’s many twists and turns. He uses his pain to create new music that encourages listeners to push through anything challenging that they’re facing. We are very excited to have Tedashii close our Block Party show this year – you can listen to his music on Spotify here.

Instagram: tedashii

Join us on September 8 in the LaHaye Parking Lot for everyone’s favorite way to come back to school – Block Party!