Second Thoughts: Longer Than You Thought

Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2020


Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 15 seconds

“Don’t make rash life decisions” was one of Mr. Rand Millich’s points in his forum on December 15.

He said, “In ‘63, the prevailing thought in the Church was that Jesus Christ was going to return in 1975. I would have been 29 years old.” Because of that thinking, some people made hasty decisions. Some discontinued their life insurance, started using their pension funds, or chose not to further their education. There were even those who married hastily, afraid they would run out of time and never have the chance. “So,” he said, “when 1975 came and went, there were actually some relationships that ended in divorce.” And some became bitter.  Decisions reach far into our futures—whether they’re rash or wise. “That decision might be with you longer than you thought.”

What Would I Do?

Mr. Millich, the regional director of the U.S. Midwest, cautioned young people to be deliberate as they consider baptism. When Dr. Meredith was counseling him for baptism, he was asked what he would do if a group of soldiers came to his house one day and told him, “Give up the Sabbath or we’re going to kill you and your family!” “What would you do?” Mr. Millich replied that he solidly believed in dying for the Sabbath and the truth, but “God would have to give me the faith and strength to do it.”  After 1975 passed and Christ did not return, Mr. Millich said some people resented their decision to get baptized. They thought, “I could have experienced more of the pleasures of the world!”

The Ultimate Decision

Baptism was a defining moment in my life. It was a turning point I realized would impact me and others long into the future. And it only took a single moment to cement that choice to commit to God—one second my hair was dry, and a few seconds later, I was standing, hair dripping, getting hugged by my spiritual family. In a single moment, you can choose to do something that will bring huge rewards—or consequences. In fact, the time it takes to cement that decision is disproportionate to the consequences or rewards that will occur.

The Problem

Here’s the problem—there are really very few choices we make that don’t affect our lives—if we take into account how tiny decisions lead to small habits that shape our days, our weeks, and eventually become the long-term behaviors that make up years of our lives. But aren’t there certain choices that are so insignificant that they don’t impact our futures at all? Sure, but maybe we just choose not to control these small behaviors because we don’t see them as important. Do we truly understand the importance of our small, daily choices?

Don’t Make Rash Daily Decisions

Baptism is the ultimate of important choices. And education, marriage, and family follow behind it. But what about my daily choices—the things I eat or the music I listen to? What about the jokes I chose to laugh at when I’m with my friends who are not in the Church—or even in the Church? These little decisions slip by, and I find myself thinking that whether I laugh at a story or joke or not doesn’t really matter much either way. And music—it’s just music, so what’s the big deal, anyway?

I also make rash decisions by omission. For example, that seemingly insignificant daily chore of making my bed or not. Who’s going to see it anyway? What about neglecting to check my progress on my monthly or yearly goals? It would take only a little time and effort to sit down, take out my list of personal spiritual goals, and examine myself—but I’d really rather do something else. Daily choices can be just as rash as those large, defining-moment decisions in life. Whether by omission or negligence, these tiny, hasty decisions can become a part of our character—or lack thereof. Maybe our defining moments in life are sometimes the little ones. And maybe, if I am faithful in these little decisions, one day, I will be ready to show my faith in the big, dramatic moments.

Longer Than You Thought

Whether we grasp it or not, there comes a time when we need to take action on the small choices and the large. But it’s not all negative—these moments should excite us because they give us an opportunity to exercise faith. We see this when Joshua demanded that Israel “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….” And, in a life-defining moment, Joshua stood and spoke some of the most inspiring lines in the Bible. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

There are defining moments in our lives that shift the course of our futures for the good or the bad. But maybe we have more opportunities for those defining-moments than we think—maybe, we can take today and begin making choices that change our lives, one tiny choice at a time. But that can only occur if I follow Mr. Millich’s advice and choose deliberately, not rashly.

Either way, that decision will be with me longer than I think.


Juliette McNair headshot

Juliette McNair is a student at Living Education Charlotte. She works in the Editorial Department transcribing sermons and proofreading transcripts. She also assists Living Education by writing Second Thoughts essays and Forum/Assembly Summaries for the website. Juliette recently graduated from SUNY Cobleskill in Upstate New York with an A.A.S in Horticulture, a B.T in Plant Science, and a minor in English with a writing focus. She loves playing soccer on the beach, getting up early to watch the sunrise, and playing piano with the lights out.

Cities of the New Testament

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 7 “Jesus Heals on the Sabbath”

Featured Passage: Luke 6


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Jesus obeyed God and kept the Sabbath each week just like the Ten Commandments say we should. However, the Jewish leaders, especially the Pharisees, added many do’s and don’ts to how to keep the Sabbath. These extra rules made it hard for the people to keep the Sabbath properly. Many people followed Jesus to be healed or to listen to Him teach and the Pharisees were jealous. They thought if they could catch Him doing something wrong the people would not follow Him anymore. One day, they thought they had caught Jesus breaking the Sabbath.

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Discuss:

  1. When was the Sabbath created? Who created the Sabbath? 
  2. What was the penalty for breaking the Sabbath (Ex. 31:15)? Breaking the Sabbath is a serious matter in God’s eyes. When the Pharisees accused Christ of breaking the Sabbath, it was very serious.
  3. What were Jesus and His disciples doing in the fields on the Sabbath? Why did the Pharisees think they were breaking the Sabbath? 
  4. What did Jesus do when He went into the synagogue that made the Pharisees angry? Why do you think the Pharisees were so upset? 
  5. Does God allow acts of mercy and kindness on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:11)? What kinds of things can we do on the Sabbath that might make God happy?
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Memory Challenge:

Luke 6:5  

“And He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.’”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 7 “Put God First”

Featured Passage: Matthew 6


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In the message He gave on the mountain (often known as “The Sermon on the Mount”), Jesus first encouraged His disciples in the attitudes they should have to be blessed and happy. He then began to address the importance of keeping the Commandments – emphasizing that Christians should keep the spiritual intent of the law and not just the letter of the law. Jesus Christ continued the message by talking about everyday circumstances that people have and the usual concerns that this life brings. Christ told them, and tells us today, that the answer to life’s problems is to put God first.

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Discuss:

  1. What does it mean to do “charitable deeds”? Can you think of some charitable deeds that you could do?
  2. When we do a good deed, should we tell everyone? Why or why not?
  3. What does it mean to fast? What are some instructions Jesus tells us about fasting in this passage?
  4. Do you worry about things? What does God say about worrying? What are some solutions to keep from worrying about things?
  5. What things did God say we should seek first? What is righteousness? How do we seek the kingdom and God’s righteousness?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 7 “Jesus Heals a Blind Man”

Featured Passage: John 9


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As Jesus  taught and worked many wonderful miracles, the Jewish leaders were becoming very jealous and angry. One day, when Jesus was teaching in the temple, He said something that made the Jews so mad they wanted to stone Him! Jesus quickly hid and escaped out of the temple, but as He was leaving He noticed a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked Him why the man was born blind and He told them God had something very special planned for this particular man.

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Discuss:

  1. What explanation did the disciples say was the reason the man was born blind? How did Jesus answer them?
  2. What did Jesus do to heal the man? What instructions did he give to the man? 
  3. On what day of the week did this miracle occur? 
  4. When questioned, who did the man say had healed him? Why do you think the Pharisees wanted the man to deny that Jesus had healed him?
  5. Why did the Pharisees question the man’s parents? 
  6. What did the Pharisees say was their reason for not believing Jesus was from God? Why did the man who was healed believe that Jesus was from God?
  7. What did Jesus mean when He said, “those who see may be made blind”? 
  8. What things did you learn about who Jesus is in this passage?
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Memory Challenge:

John 9:39 

“For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”


Forum Summary: Only You Can Buy It

Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2020


Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 5 seconds.

“If you haven’t noticed already, we’re here to sell you something.”

Mr. Gerald Weston gave the last Living Education forum for the semester. He began by saying Living Education is trying to “sell” a better way of life. This is also the purpose for the Living Youth Programs. Society sells young people all kinds of lifestyles—all, supposedly, equally virtuous. “But,” Mr. Weston said, “God does something that the world doesn’t do. He says, ‘Look, there is a better way—choose that one.’”

“We have traditions here at Living Ed that try to teach a better way of life.”

The decisions students make at Living Ed have a profound effect on the following groups. Mr. Weston explained that through the examples of today, a pattern is set for the students of following years. Likewise, at summer camp, a camper’s children could be attending as campers themselves only 15 years later. Mr. Weston said, “We are looking for young people who understand and internalize our values.” There are certain qualifications needed above and beyond physical skills.

Character Qualifications

Mr. Weston listed several of those qualifications: Young people who set a good example by their language, social media use, financial responsibilities, and standards of male-female interactions. Mr. Weston explained that the programs discourage young people from pairing off and engaging in intimate physical contact. “We’re not against love,” he said. But there is an appropriate time to be exclusive—there is “a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing… a time to love” (Ecclesiastes 3:5-8). A young person’s example of handling male-female interactions determines their usefulness and trustworthiness in these programs.

“Trust is absolutely essential here at Living Ed and in the Living Youth Programs.”

Trustworthiness is at the core of these qualifications. Mr. Weston said, “If we cannot trust an individual, then we have no basis to work with that individual.” Yet, mistakes are expected. Mr. Weston said, “Mistakes will be made. And that’s okay.” But there’s a difference between honest mistakes and rule violations. He said, “Violations of rules bring loss of trust.”

“When you think about it, what is God looking for in you in this life? It’s trust.” Young people who can be trusted to uphold the traditions and values of the programs of the Living Church of God can be trusted to be good examples for younger teens in their formative years. Then, they become a part of selling the right way of life.

Mr. Weston concluded, “We can sell God’s way of life, but only you can buy it.”


This post is part of our new series of student-written content for LivingEd-Charlotte. These summaries cover topics originally presented by our faculty and guest speakers in our weekly Forum and Assembly. For more Assembly-related content check out our Second Thoughts posts.

Assembly Summary: The Benefits of Marriage

Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2020


Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 15 seconds.

Mr. Wallace Smith, the Church’s executive editor, gave the Living Education assembly this week. Mr. Smith spoke about the benefits of marriage and encouraged the students to seek a godly, fulfilling marriage for their futures.

Sex is a blessing in marriage.

One obvious benefit is sex. One deception promoted by society is that two people must discover if they’re “sexually compatible” before they marry. Mr. Smith responded to this lie: “Only over time do you become compatible.” He recommended that young people prepare for marriage by “wiping clean from your mind any ideas about sex you’ve seen on a screen or anywhere else.” Only in marriage is “the stage set for sex to be the blessing it’s meant to be.”

In marriage, you are all in.

Another is commitment. Mr. Smith explained that our world has normalized a lack of commitment before and even during a marriage. But to God, it is a big deal. “The fact is that whatever is not according to God’s design is not normal.” A spouse should be someone who is all in and devoted to you for the long run, and there is a deep peace of mind that comes from knowing someone is that committed to you.

Marriage builds companionship.

Companionship is a third benefit. Contrary to popular belief, true companionship is built through journeying through life together—it doesn’t instantly occur with one perfect “soul-mate.” And after it is built, it will be utterly unique from all your other relationships. That uniqueness explains why it is so painful for someone to lose their spouse: “They’ve lost something irreplaceable. You can’t just replace a journey of 50 years.”

A godly marriage allows you to be vulnerable.

With companionship and commitment, marriage creates a safe place for vulnerability that one does not experience in other relationships. Marriage becomes a place where you are free to let down your guard, compared to how you might feel around others.

Other benefits of marriage Mr. Smith addressed included the blessing of children, for whom marriage is the God-designed environment, and design fulfillment—the satisfaction that comes from completing the picture God designed with man and woman at creation.

Ultimate Fulfillment

Yet, those who are not married can still achieve fulfillment through their relationship with God. In fact, Mr. Smith emphasized that even married individuals are ultimately only fulfilled by God and that expecting your husband or wife to fulfill you in a way only God can is a crushing burden not to be placed upon your spouse. But marriage is something young people should want in their future and be willing to pursue and prepare for. It is a source of many benefits and God uses it as a mechanism to reward His servants and to teach us about Himself.


This post is part of our new series of student-written content for LivingEd-Charlotte. These summaries cover topics originally presented by our faculty and guest speakers in our weekly Forum and Assembly. For more Assembly-related content check out our Second Thoughts posts.

Programme biblique pour enfants : niveau 3 – NT leçon 1 “La Parole”

Passage étudié : Jean 1


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Qui est Jésus-Christ et pourquoi devrions-nous L’adorer ? C’est probablement la question la plus importante qu’un être humain devrait se poser, car elle peut changer toute une vie ! Beaucoup de gens considèrent qu’ils connaissent la réponse à cette question très importante, et beaucoup d’autres n’y ont même jamais réfléchi. Pourtant, Dieu y répond dans la Sainte Bible. La réponse à cette question commence avant la Genèse… avant le commencement !

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Discussion :

  1. Qui existait déjà “au commencement” ?
  2. Que dit l’Évangile de Jean au sujet de “la Parole” ? Qui est Celui qui parla lorsque le monde fut créé ? Qui a créé le premier homme et la première femme ?
  3. À ton avis, que signifie la phrase : “Le monde ne l’a point connue”, ou “Le monde n’a point connu la Parole” ?
  4. Jean 1:14 dit que “la Parole a été faite chair, et elle a habité parmi nous”. Qui est devenu la Parole ?
  5. Pourquoi Jésus-Christ est-Il venu vivre sur la terre comme un simple être humain ?
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Mémorisation :

Jean 1:1

“Au commencement était la Parole, et la Parole était avec Dieu, et la Parole était Dieu.”


Programme biblique pour enfants : niveau 2 – NT leçon 1 “Une voix dans le désert”

Passage étudié : Jean 1


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Dès le début, Dieu a prévu un plan pour toute l’humanité. Le grand Être appelé “la Parole” a créé le monde, mais Dieu savait que les gens auraient besoin d’un Sauveur, à cause du péché. Ce Sauveur serait “la Parole” elle-même, envoyée en tant que Fils de Dieu pour sauver tous les êtres humains qui ont jamais vécu. Pour préparer les gens à la venue de Son Fils, Dieu choisit un messager spécial – un prophète – pour leur annoncer que Son propre Fils arrivera très bientôt avec un plan pour sauver l’humanité !

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Discussion :

  1. Qui est Jésus ?
  2. Qui était Jean-Baptiste pour certains Juifs ? Comment Jean-Baptiste se considérait-il ? (Ne confondez pas l’apôtre Jean et Jean-Baptiste ! L’apôtre Jean a écrit l’Évangile de Jean.)
  3. Pourquoi Jean-Baptiste baptisait-il les gens ? Que signifie se repentir ?
  4. Pourquoi Jean a-t-il baptisé Jésus, alors que nous savons qu’Il n’a jamais péché ? (Vous trouverez des précisions dans Matthieu 3.)
  5. Qu’est-ce qu’un disciple ? Peux-tu donner le nom d’un disciple de Jean-Baptiste qui est devenu ensuite un disciple de Jésus ?
  6. Quels sont les quatre hommes cités dans ce chapitre qui sont devenus les disciples de Jésus ? À ton avis, se connaissaient-ils entre eux ?
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Mémorisation :

Jean 1:29

“Le lendemain, [Jean] vit Jésus venant à lui, et il dit : Voici l’Agneau de Dieu, qui ôte le péché du monde.”


Programme biblique pour enfants : niveau 1 – NT leçon 1 “Élisabeth et Marie”

Passage étudié : Luc 1


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De nombreuses années ont passé depuis que le peuple juif est revenu dans son pays d’origine, après avoir été emmené en captivité. Mais le peuple n’est pas libre pour autant. La Judée est sous la domination des Romains dont l’empire s’étend sur tout le continent. Les Juifs attendent le Messie pour les délivrer des Romains, comme de nombreux prophètes de Dieu l’ont annoncé depuis des centaines d’années. Dans Son plan pour toute l’humanité, Dieu a prévu d’envoyer Son Fils comme le Messie. Il a également prévu d’envoyer un prophète pour préparer les gens à entendre le message du Messie.

L’histoire commence à Jérusalem où habite une femme, nommée Élisabeth, qui vit avec son mari Zacharie. Ils sont très âgés et ils n’ont pas d’enfants. Un jour, alors que Zacharie est dans le temple pour s’acquitter de ses fonctions de sacrificateur, un ange lui apparaît ! L’ange a un message spécial pour Zacharie et Élisabeth, au sujet du Messie à venir et de l’homme qui doit préparer le chemin pour Sa venue.

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Discussion :

  1. Quel message l’ange a-t-il apporté à Zacharie ? Comment Zacharie a-t-il réagi à ce message ?
  2. Comment Zacharie devait-il appeler son fils, selon l’ange Gabriel ? Qu’est-il arrivé à Zacharie lorsqu’il est sorti du temple ? Comment a-t-il communiqué à ses proches le nom de son fils ?
  3. Quel message l’ange a-t-il apporté à Marie ? Comment Marie a-t-elle répondu à ce message ?
  4. Comment Marie devait-elle appeler son fils ? Que signifie ce nom ?
  5. Que s’est-il passé lorsque Marie est allée rendre visite à sa cousine ?
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Mémorisation :

Luc 1 : 31

“Et voici, tu deviendras enceinte, et tu enfanteras un fils, et tu lui donneras le nom de Jésus.”