Hardin-Simmons University’s Baptist Student Ministries is hosting a conference on global awareness on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007.

Global issues expert, Dr. Bill O’Brien, will speak in Behrens auditorium for the chapel program at 9:30 a.m., and will also provide a program during a faculty and staff luncheon at noon in the Johnson Building multipurpose room.

Bill, together with his wife and missions partner Dellanna, served in Indonesia for 12 years, telling the story in word, song, and by personal example. Gifted musicians and accomplished linguists, they connected with millionaires and governors, as well as the poorest vendors and pedicab drivers.

Upon their return, William became an administrator for the Foreign Mission Board; eventually taking the role of Director of the Global Desk. In 1990, William became the founding director of The Global Center at Samford University, a high tech think-tank and resource center that attracts missions strategists from around the world.

Invisible Children conscripted into a Ugandan rebel group

There is no charge to faculty and staff for the luncheon, but reservations are required. RSVP to Rachel Snyder, BSM office manager, at ext. 1255 by Thursday, February 1.

A banquet will also be held February 6, at 6 p.m., in the Johnson Building multipurpose room with Dr. O’Brien and previous HSU student missionaries providing the program. All proceeds will go to fund BSM summer missions.

The banquet is open to the public. Admission is $25, and tickets may be obtained from the Baptist Student Ministries Office in Connally Missions Center.

Following the banquet at 7:30 p.m. in Logsdon Chapel, HSU will host a viewing of the Invisible Children movie, and a discussion session afterward with a group from Invisible Children, Inc.

Posted by Dave Coffield · January 29, 2007 4:35 PM · Comments (0)

Dr. James Heflin, professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry at Logsdon Seminary, received his flight instructor’s license following a successful oral exam and check ride by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration on Jan 10. The license completes a two-year effort and adds to his current multi-engine and instrument commercial license ratings.

Dr. Heflin leaves the "office"

Fascinated with airplanes since he was young, Dr. Heflin remembers his mother telling him that he would cry to get into a plane every time they drove past the airport when he was 3 years old. After he married, his wife Dr. Wilma Heflin, adjunct instructor of Church Ministry at Logsdon, encouraged him to follow his dream and presented him with a gift from her savings so that he could begin to take flying lessons. After he learned to fly, he discovered that an airplane was a very fine way to travel and a great way to see more of the beauty of God’s creation. When he served as a pastor, he often flew to various meetings of committees and boards on which he served.

In addition to the privilege of teaching new pilots, Dr. Heflin believes the process of becoming a flight instructor will make him a better seminary teacher. He learned, from a unique perspective, “how individuals learn, how they retain and forget what they learn, and how they apply what they learn. I learned some new concepts that helped me to prepare better for the seminary classroom and, I hope, improve my teaching and testing methods.” Pilots are required to revisit the basics of their skill in order to retain their privileges. “The lesson for me,” he says, “is that ministers can benefit from reviewing the basics of ministry throughout our lifetime.”

He sees a very valuable application for future missionaries. “The experience of the Missionary Aviation Fellowship and other such organizations has demonstrated that people who are called to missionary service in remote locations can profit greatly from learning how to fly and maintain their own airplanes. A significant number of missionaries have learned to be mechanics and pilots. They testify that their training is very valuable to them and to the people with whom they serve. Some of them can reach certain locations only by air.” Dr. Heflin recommends that missionaries preparing for service in remote locations consider this skill and adds that he would be glad to discuss the benefits from a missions perspective, “certainly I would enjoy teaching missionaries or those preparing for missionary service how to fly.”

Dr. Heflin will teach beginning students, conduct flight reviews for pilots who already hold pilots’ licenses, check out pilots in various aircraft, and take people who are curious about learning to fly on discovery flights. Later, with additional experience, he will be able to teach advanced students, even those who want to become instructors.

Posted by Dave Coffield · January 29, 2007 3:43 PM · Comments (0)

Members of the Cowboy Band Foundation returned to Hardin-Simmons University Jan 27 to have fellowship over lunch and play with current band members during the Saturday basketball games with Sul Ross.

Over 20 members came to the lunch, and most sat in with the band during the game. All decades were well represented from the 1940’s to the present. Even Bill Woods, the Cowboy Band Director from ’81 – ’85 checked in with the “World Famous.” Lip balm was offered, since many of the former players hadn’t picked up an instrument in a while. But all declined.

Leland Harden, Cowboy Band Foundation president, and his father Ron, play during the game

The older alumni whooped the loudest as the Cowgirls took the Sul Ross Lobos apart 93-52, and again as the Cowboys beat the Sul Ross Men 84-58. The combined group sounded great and showed the current students that, regardless where their paths take them after graduation,
they’ll always have a seat in the Cowboy Band.

Posted by Dave Coffield · January 29, 2007 1:54 PM · Comments (0)

The music workshop (for area elementary education teachers) scheduled for Monday, Jan 15th, at the Cowboy Band Hall, on the HSU campus has been cancelled do to the ice storm.

Posted by Dave Coffield · January 14, 2007 11:58 PM · Comments (0)

For those students trying to get back on campus for Spring Semester, please note that the University Provost has moved the first day of classes to Wednesday, Jan 17. This will give you a good (hopefully) travel and move-in day Tuesday before classes start. Faculty, staff, and administration will return to campus Tuesday, as usual, unless the forecast changes. Be safe. If conditions are unsafe in your area, don't risk travel until the conditions clear. If conditions change, I'll put a note up here and on the HSU homepage.

Posted by Dave Coffield · January 14, 2007 11:52 PM · Comments (0)

Caution: Don't read this entry immediately after eating...it might make you ill.

Back on Dec 18th, just before university staff began their holiday break. We nearly lost our one-half white horse. We hear about dogs on the loose and dog attacks, but these stories really don’t hit home until something makes it personal. That day in December it got really personal for Mini Me and the Six White Horses program.

Mini Me was grazing in the HSU pasture when three neighborhood dogs, a Pit Bull with two half-grown pups, escaped from their yard, and viciously attacked him. Mini me sustained injuries to the nose, chin, throat, legs, and belly before former rider and HSU grad student Starla Bailiff just happened to come by to feed the horses. She saw the attack and chased the dogs away. Mini Me was in shock and trembling. It took some coaxing, but she was able to get him safety into the barn. The City of Abilene animal control unit picked up the dogs, and Mini Me spent the next week undergoing a variety of treatments for his wounds.

I really have to include this picture, not for any gratuitous shock value, but to show what can happen when an animal, with the potential for violence, is not adequately secured. In accordance with city statutes, the dogs' owner was assessed a fine and the dogs were returned; but, the older dog has already been seen running loose. The latest report from animal control is that the owner has been given until the 11th to find a secure home for the dogs or the city will sieze them.

Mini Me shortly after the attack

Until the pasture is again safe, Jones plans to keep Mini Me safely in the barn unless she can watch him. He's doing much better, but won't be able to accompany the Six White Horses team to the Sand Hills Rodeo in Odessa this evening.

For those who don't mind the drive, and haven't seen the new Six White Horses team, they will perform at the PRCA event tonight through Saturday in Odessa.

Since this is a blog, and readers can comment, I’d like to hear your opinions about the issue of loose dogs in general, and the attack on Mini Me in particular.

I promise the next entry will be more upbeat. We have an exciting Spring planned.

Posted by Dave Coffield · January 10, 2007 10:14 AM · Comments (9)