by Erin Franklin | Jul 10, 2016 | News Slider
The murders of five Dallas police officers coming in the wake of the videotaped killings of two black men have Lipscomb University President Randy Lowry and Security Director Darrin Bellows reaffirming the importance of a good and well-trained campus police and offering up prayers for all the victims. Lipscomb security director Darrin Bellows and President Randy Lowry responded with affirmation of campus security and thoughts and prayers towards the victims, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and the five officers killed in Dallas. In the first incident, Alton Sterling was shot and killed at a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, convenience store Tuesday after an encounter with two police officers. The next day Philando Castile was shot four times by a police officer after he was pulled over for a broken taillight. His girlfriend videoed and shared that fatal encounter via Facebook Live. The following day in Dallas, five police officers were shot to death by a sniper during what was supposed to be a peaceful Black Lives Matter event designed to unite both police officers and African Americans in the wake of the week’s tragedies. In response to the tragic losses, Bellows said that his “thoughts and prayers are with the families of all of those affected by the events of the past few days.” Lowry released a statement to the faculty and staff on Friday, urging everyone to pray. “Pray for the many aching hearts among families who are grieving the loss of loved ones this week,” Lowry said. “Pray for our wise and God-shaped response to what has happened and the issues that underlay these events. Take a few minutes...
by Erin Franklin | Jul 8, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Some might think Katie should have let sleeping dogs lie (. . . or in her case, one sleeping dog lie). Max (Louis C.K.) and Katie (Ellie Kemper) are best friends. Katie got Max when he was just a puppy, so they’ve been together almost all of Max’s life. Max dutifully waits for her to come home from work every day, and she always greets him with a big hug when she comes home before they eat dinner and stare off into the scenic, brightly-lit New York City skyline together. One day, though, Katie messes up the idyllic life they have; she brings home, to their small New York apartment, a “brother” for Max — Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a gigantic mutt from the shelter who doesn’t have a family. Max, of course, doesn’t take to this new family member well. Viewers can see Max’s perspective; Duke is a “threat,” taking over Max’s life — eating his food and sleeping in his bed. On the other hand, Duke was eager to join a new family and is just getting accustomed to his new life. Eventually, the two new brothers get lost in NYC together and meet up with Snowball (Kevin Hart), a bunny with a posse of misfit pets trying to lead a revolution against mankind. There’s a host of likable characters, including Max’s friends — Chloe, (the cat who could not care less, voiced by Lake Bell), Tiberius (the hawk who’s just learning how to make friends rather than eat them, voiced by Albert Brooks — aka Marlin in Finding Nemo), and Gidget (the soap-opera-watching, crazy-in-love French pup leading the rescue mission, voiced...
by Patrick Carpenter | Jul 6, 2016 | News Slider, Opinion, Sports
A few years ago, my buddy Anse Rigby made me a pallet guitar that now sits by my fireplace. On the back he wrote: “Pat, continue to praise the Lord with your incredible talent! You rock.” – Anse. Thanks, Anse, you rock, too. Underneath, he wrote a proverb that I had never heard of before. It was Proverbs 27:17. It reads, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” I have been Coach Carpenter or Coach Pat, depending on who you talk to, for about a month now at Franklin High School. When I first got the idea about wanting to coach, my professor at Mississippi State in 2013 told me that I needed to develop a coaching philosophy. My philosophy, I thought, was simple: I want to run a vertical passing attack benefiting from play action off a strong power run game. Simple, right? Well. After being around the coaches and players at Franklin High School for the past month, I have decided this. I want to have two philosophies. The aforementioned philosophy is my X and O plan, but I decided that I needed a coaching philosophy with the players and, mostly, with myself. That philosophy can be summed up into a few words: Proverbs 27:17. One thing I think our society has forgotten is how to build people up. When people fail, we laugh. We mock them. We make memes with Michael Jordan crying on their face. We don’t challenge others to be better. Instead, we are so involved with ourselves that we aren’t coachable ourselves. This morning, one of the coaches said something that was simple, yet...
by Erin Franklin | Jul 5, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Alan Robertson, the “beardless brother” of the Duck Dynasty clan, and his wife Lisa recently sat down with Lumination to discuss faith, family, Duck Dynasty and their newest book, A New Season. The Robertsons were on campus to speak at Lipscomb’s Summer Celebration. A&E’s Duck Dynasty aired its first episode on March 21, 2012. The show has since broadcast 101 episodes over nine seasons, and it holds the record for cable’s most-watched nonfiction telecast for the Season 4 premiere. On August 14, 2013, the Season 4 premiere drew a total of 11.8 million viewers. Lumination: What’s your latest book, A New Season, about? Lisa: It’s about our family; It’s about us when we were growing up, and the things that shaped us — the mistakes that we’ve made — both in our life and our marriage. It’s also about what God can do when you completely turn your life over to Him and allow Him to reshape you and redirect your path. It’s really about love, forgiveness and redemption. It’s a great book! Everyone should read it. Alan: There’s a teaching aspect to it as well — “Here’s what God taught us to help you in your relationships.” It’s a little bit of a teaching book as well as a book just about our lives. Lumination: What’s the biggest lesson a college student could learn from your book? Alan: The best thing about our book is that it teaches you what not to do. If you take a college kid or a young person that’s entering into marriage — if they can learn some things about what not to do or...
by Erin Franklin | Jul 2, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Although it wasn’t quite “grizzling or horrigust,” The BFG just might be categorized as a “grunicous” (as BFG would say) film to sit through for anyone who’s graduated from elementary school. Moviegoers can’t help but to expect an E.T.-like film upon hearing Steven Spielberg was directing another story about a child developing a friendship with a fantastical being, but The BFG (The Big-Friendly Giant) falls short of the storytelling magic E.T. possesses that we’ve come to expect from Spielberg. The film focuses on Sophie, an orphan, who is snatched by a giant from her bed. The tale continues with an unlikely, yet lovable friendship between Sophie and the giant, whom she dubs “BFG.” BFG isn’t the only giant in the world, though; there are several other giants, who have terrifying names, “Bloodbottler” and “Maidmasher,” for example, who eat children such as Sophie. The rest of the story tells Sophie’s and BFG’s quest to end the terror the other giants inflict upon “human beans,” and even BFG himself. BFG is not entirely without merit. The budding young star, Ruby Barnhill, delivers an admirable performance as Sophie, the orphan who travels to Giant Country. Mark Rylance also provides a wonderful voice performance as the title character. The CGI in the film is striking as well; however, this year’s The Jungle Book’s imagery is much more so. With today’s CGI possibilities, it seems that the scenery could have so much more depth — “Giant Country” is dull and lacking compared to the intricate and detailed jungle in The Jungle Book. Despite Barnhill and Rylance’s performances, older filmgoers may begin to suffer from boredom...
by Patrick Carpenter | Jun 30, 2016 | News Slider, Opinion, Sports
Sometimes all you need is an opportunity. Sometimes all you need is a chance. And sometimes your first opportunity comes from chance. My name is Patrick Carpenter, and I have been a musician for over 10 years now. I love music. It’s been in every major aspect of my life. Luckily, God not only gave me the gift of music, but He also made me a nerd as well. The primary subject I “nerd out” about outside of music is football, especially the quarterback position. Being from Mississippi, my football hero was the largest football icon there was, who also happened to be from my state — Brett Favre. The way that Favre played as an athlete spoke to me as a musician. Favre improvised; he had fun; he loved every moment and was not afraid to make mistakes. As a guitar player, I had the same mindset when it came to how I approached the instrument. This past spring, I had an idea. I knew I only had a few hours left to complete my undergrad degree, so I was looking for something to “fill” my time during the summer. In the back of my head, I kept hearing many of my instructors in my academic department saying, “Never be afraid to tackle what you fear the most. Take chances.” At some point, I got the idea to be a coach. I have studied football relentlessly and have been in several leadership positions. In my head, I knew I was more than prepared to be a coach. I knew I had the tools, but was it something that...
