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Mr. Bill Long: True Repentance

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Author: Caleb Loy| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

With Passover and the spring Holy Day season just behind us, Mr. Bill Long recently presented four important takeaways from Psalm 51 on true repentance. As we get back into the swing of things after the Holy Day break, we appreciate Mr. Long’s message reflecting on the season’s meaning.

Mr. Long started by reminding us that repentance is not simply being sorry, but truly changing our lives. He described it as having two different parts: First, the person has to change in mind and heart, and second, they must demonstrate it through actions that bear good fruit. When going before God to ask for forgiveness of sins, they can come out feeling guilty.  Mr. Long said God grants us joy after we come before Him in true repentance. If we follow David’s steps in Psalm 51, we can better express ourselves before Him and receive His forgiveness. 

The first key from Psalm 51 is to start the prayer by appealing to the love and mercy of God. David was referred to as a man after God’s own heart, yet we read that he broke nearly all the commandments throughout his life. Mr. Long clarified that 3 of the four keys for true repentance are relatively simple and painless to incorporate, but the second is one that people often have difficulty admitting. Be brutally honest in the confession of sin. King David writes that it is before God that he sins. We must remember that with each of our sins, Christ is put to death on our account. He brought out how David used three different words in Hebrew while discussing sin. Transgression means rebellion against God’s authority and the law, iniquity means distortion of what is true, and sin is missing the mark. 2 Corinthians shows us that God expects us to have sorrow that leads to repentance. The third factor is to plead for the effects of God’s mercy. After experiencing the great remorse for our sins, we can fall into a pit of despair, but it is through God’s mercy that we can experience joy. True joy can only come from God, and He promises it to His people, and we simply need to claim His promise, as Mr. Ames often reminded us. The final fourth key is asking for a humble, happy resolve. In Psalms 51, King David was already praising God’s name before he ended his prayer; we should follow that example.

As Mr. Long drew to a close, he urged us to remember that repentance is an ongoing process. Until we are spirit beings in the Kingdom of God, we must face the pulls and struggles of the human spirit and carnality. We were very grateful for the reminder after the Holy Days to continue this way of life. We understand that we will sometimes fall, yet we need to continue rising back up and growing closer and more like Christ and God the Father. We know it will not be easy, but we are all grateful for the lessons to help us fight the good fight.

Ms. Debbie Dillion: Composting

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Author: Caleb Loy| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

Debbie Dillion, from the NC Cooperative Extension office in Union County, came and spoke to the Living-Ed students for a Thursday forum this month. They received an informative lesson on the benefits of composting and instructions on making a functional compost system for their homes one day. Union County, NC, provided this opportunity thanks to the outreach program they offer to the local community.  The Living-Ed students are often given these opportunities to broaden their understanding and learn from different people in their weekly forums and regular field trips. 

Ms. Dillion works for the Union County office’s Agriculture and Natural Resources department. She began by explaining the Union County outreach program and how it works. Most counties in the U.S. have a program like this. She explained that she worked for the Fairfax County outreach program in Virginia before moving to North Carolina. She described the organization’s goals as bringing unbiased research based on science. 

Ms. Dillion focused on educating the students about the benefits of composting. It is an excellent form of recycling that can be done for the environment while still offering immense nutrients to plants. She transitioned to the process required to develop compost at home. She offered the students hope by informing them that composting is possible to a degree while still living together in dorms. Too many people are frightened by the idea of taking the leap and failing, but Ms. Dillion brought encouragement and boosted the student’s confidence in their abilities.

She went into more detail on the different techniques and tools for making compost. Showing examples of bin composting versus tumbler composting and warning them of a common misconception about using a tumbler composter. It is meant to be a single batch, meaning they add once, wait until the compost is made, remove it, and then start the process again. 

The students come from a wide range of backgrounds, and they are all grateful to hear from a local speaker on a topic to which they may not have been previously exposed. The new knowledge they gained on composting can be applied in their current situation at the dorms and in the future. The students left the forum with a greater appreciation for the art of composting and more of a drive to work and make their own.

Mr. Chet Carpenter: Stages of a Lifelong Learner in Christ

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Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

The Bible relates many character traits of both the Father and Jesus Christ. These traits will become part of our character as we seek to follow Christ’s example and be more like Him. In a recent forum, Mr. Chet Carpenter expounded upon a specific character trait that the Father and the Son share: learning. He coupled this with teaching us the four pillars of becoming lifelong learners.

Mr. Carpenter pointed out that we should be lifelong learners in Christ. He used four pillars for learning: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together, and learning to be. These four points were developed by Dr. Zhou Nanzhao, who had an extensive career in pursuing and administering education. While Mr. Carpenter used these as the basis for his forum, he pointed out that many of the world’s ‘wisest’ people and lifelong learners attain knowledge and education from worldly sources and their own experiences. While they may find kernels of fundamental knowledge and truth, they are not starting with the true source of knowledge and wisdom, God’s word, which is the Bible (2 Corinthians 3:17). 

To be lifelong learners, we need to learn to know. We must have a desire to seek knowledge and continue learning. Ecclesiastes 12:7-14 showed King Solomon’s desire to seek as much knowledge as he could, and he eventually concluded that God’s word is the foundation of knowledge. Our desire to learn applies not just to the physical but to the spiritual. We should seek to grow in understanding of the Truth, allowing us to grow as Christians.

The second pillar Mr. Carpenter mentioned was learning to do. Once we know something, we need to act on it. In God’s future kingdom, we’ll apply everything we’ve learned in our lifetime. Hebrews 5:14 explains how knowledge should be applied. We must do this to see results.

Once we apply our knowledge, the next stage is learning to live together. Meaning, learn to build others up. “Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” in the Church are an example of this, according to Ephesians 4:10-12. We can use the Holy Spirit in us to help “iron sharpen iron” (Prov 27:17). 

The final stage is learning to be. We are to be children of God (1 John 3:1), and in God’s future kingdom, we will be the product of what we learned in this life. The Bible shows us that we are to be like Christ, obedient and holy.

Mr. Carpenter provided us with an insightful forum on how we can become lifelong learners and how this is necessary for our physical and, most importantly, our spiritual lives. Christ must be our foundation on which we place these four pillars of learning.

Mr. Gerald Weston: The Road to a Successful Life

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Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

Mr. Weston began his recent forum to the students by asking, “What do you want out of life?” Many go through life by living in the moment, making money, and focusing on having fun without figuring out what life is about. Only when people realize they are nearing the end of their lives do they usually begin to reflect on what they have achieved. Mr. Weston spoke to us about how to live a successful life and how we can get there.  

Firstly, we need to consider the big picture. Matthew 6:33 states the ultimate purpose of life, which is to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt 6:33). Life is short, and there is no comparison between our life now and the eternal life we are promised if we stay faithful throughout our lives.  

After talking about the big picture, Mr. Weston then narrowed the focus of his forum to how to achieve what we want now. As young adults, we will be entering the stage of life where we can marry and have careers. For us women, he discussed the importance of getting an education but not choosing a career over being a homemaker and wife. Men should consider how their career choice and job opportunity will impact their ability to support a wife. Mr. Weston then pointed out that whether male or female, we should all be working diligently now because “The soul of a lazy man desires and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” (Prov 13:4). Diligently working means being teachable and working hard. Achieving success, being more than the average person in our life and our job, isn’t so hard when we work hard and take pride in doing a good job. Knowing our life is short, Ecclesiastes 9:10 exhorts us to work while we can and do it with our might.  

 Mr. Weston’s forum implored us to think about our goals in life and how we can achieve them by looking far into the future and right around the corner. We need to take the time to reflect now on what we want from life instead of waiting until near the end, when we can do little to change it. We need to consider our goals in life! 

Mr. John Strain: Finish What You Start

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Author: Caleb Loy| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

Human nature tends to make us run when life becomes challenging. Drawing on his experiences as an Ambassador College student, a salesman, and a minister, Mr. John Strain urged the Living Education students to finish what they started.

Mr. Strain began by reminding us that we have a few months left of Living Education, which is nearly 18% of our time here. While the end of the program may be rushing closer, there is still time for us to analyze where we are and improve upon it.  He challenged us to think about how we will finish our school year. No matter how good a start we had, if we end poorly, that is what we will take away.

The brain rewards completion. Completing projects provides us with a hit of dopamine, which encourages us to do it again. The brain can be rewired, whether for good or bad, and it is up to us to develop it positively. He gave the example of when we started praying. When we started, it was difficult, and there was little desire to do it, but it became easier after consistently doing it. It’s not easy at all times, but it’s still easier. Famous poet Henry David Thoreau said, “All endeavour calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hours toil.”

However, some endeavors in life can never really be complete. He discussed how our venture to grow in God’s character has no end date. Daily, we need to put to death the old carnal spirit until we get resurrected as spirit beings. 

In closing, Mr. Strain asked if we knew what the average for life in general was. He gave a definition that his brother had once told him. Average is the best of the worst and the worst of the best. He encouraged us to strive to become better than average, to fight that last mile, and to give it all we have through these last two months of Living-Ed. Embrace the last 18% of the program and end on a high note. None of us wants to be just average—do you?

Mr. Stephen Elliott: The Skill of Reading

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Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

Everyone reads daily, whether for school, work, or pleasure. Given its prominent role in our lives, have we ever considered that it is a skill we don’t just learn when we’re young but continually need to develop? Mr. Stephen Elliot gave a forum on the importance of reading and how to develop this skill further now and throughout life.

Mr. Elliot stated that knowledge is in print, and to gain this knowledge, we need to read. Reading expands our vocabulary and enables us to educate ourselves. As we read a wide variety of books and other printed sources, we come across new words, which forces us to learn what they mean and how to use them. Books give us access to a wide variety of information, from history to science, that educates us without having to be in a classroom. Upon the creation of the internet, we gained unlimited access to this knowledge in digital form. 

In addition to explaining the value of reading, Mr. Elliot shared with us how we can improve our reading skills. Tony Buzan’s book, Speed Reading, provides insight into how we can achieve this. With time, our reading speed and comprehension rate will increase. He also showed us how to read news online effectively and efficiently. We should learn to skim for key elements within the articles and compare multiple sources. 

Reading is a vital skill that we use every day and need to take seriously and work to improve. By reading more, we increase our vocabulary, educate ourselves, increase our comprehension rates, and learn how to compare different text sources. The next time we reach for the remote for the TV or scroll through YouTube, consider reading a book on the subject instead.

Mr. Michael Heykoop: Is the Identity of Israel Important?

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Author: Caleb Loy| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

This past Thursday, Mr. Michael Heykoop shared a forum on the identity of modern-day Israel. He explained that this church doctrine is strongly frowned upon by many outside of the church and potentially misunderstood by those inside. This doctrine can and has been misused throughout history. People can take it to argue their superiority over others if they are descendants of the ancient tribes. Mr. Heykoop encouraged us to see the importance of this doctrine and how it dramatically impacts our job as Christians, but does not determine our salvation. 

Mr. Heykoop said learning Israel’s modern-day identity is crucial to understanding prophecy. Jeremiah 30 calls the last days the time of Jacob’s trouble. Understanding who these people are helps us prepare for the approaching times. The second key is that it assists us as we preach the Ezekiel warning. This understanding is vital to doing the work and mission God has commissioned us to do. 

Mr. Heykoop came to a close by reminding us that God does not judge our salvation on nationality but on character. Acts 10 shows that God gave the Gentiles His Spirit before baptism, showing how He works with all people. We have been covering this topic in our Biblical Doctrines class for the past few weeks, allowing us to appreciate Mr. Heykoop’s lesson. He said that learning the identity of Israel is of utmost importance, but whether we are direct descendants does not. What matters is that we are citizens of Christ through our baptism. 

Mr. Jonathan McNair: PowerPoint Power

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Author: Caleb Loy| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

How to do slide decks and better… and why

Mr. Jonathan McNair talked with us about the skill of making PowerPoint Presentations, which he argued we need to develop to succeed in today’s world. He encouraged us to use these skills to grow and thrive in our professional and educational futures.

He clarified that this was not a discussion of PowerPoint alone but all slide decks. Mr. McNair effectively introduced why becoming capable in this area is so important by highlighting various books written on terrible slide decks and how to fix them. What drove the point home was the comic with the punchline “Death by PowerPoint.” 

Mr. McNair broke down his talk into two major components: the basics and the finer points. He told us that we needed to think about our slides last. We should first develop what we want to say, then build the slides to assist us, not make them our notes. When we read off the slides, it creates a disconnect with those who are listening to us. This is not a new concept, however. He compared it to a teacher in college who would write on the blackboard the entire time and seldom pay any attention to the class. Slides should be something we use to leverage attention to ourselves, not something to hide in. 

Mr. McNair also taught that it is essential to create a consistent look and feel with the text; less is more. Individuals often put too much information that the viewer cannot take in. All this does is create confusion and distract the audience. Along with the amount of text, the size is equally important. There is no point in putting any text on the slides if the audience cannot read it. The same is true with photos. They should enhance the meaning of what is being conveyed instead of having them just because you think it would make your presentation more “colorful.” 

Digging deeper, Mr. McNair discussed effects and transitions from slide to slide. He said that they should be simple, as, in most cases, the audience does not need fancy swirling transitions to keep them entertained. It would generally undermine our credibility. Instead of taking the time to add intricate transitions and effects, he recommended focusing on the “meat” of the presentation. 

Mr. McNair reminded us that slide decks should only be a launching point for us to explore our topic. While notorious for detracting from a presentation, they can significantly enhance its effectiveness. While we do not use slides daily, we are excited to apply this knowledge to future projects. We were encouraged to develop excellence both in building slide decks and throughout our lives.

Mr. Michael Elliott: Lessons from Ecclesiastes

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Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

Young people have a lot of decisions ahead, big and small, all of which can significantly affect us. When Mr. Michael Elliott was our age, he was also trying to figure out what to do with his life, what kind of education to get, and what job to pursue. In his recent forum, Mr. Elliott went through one book, Ecclesiastes, which gives advice on finding happiness and the secret to life. 

The twenty-first book of the Bible, Ecclesiastes, was written by King Solomon as “He was trying to find things that made him happy, and he thought that this would give him happiness and give him meaning in his life.” As Solomon did, we wrestle with questions such as “What am I spending my time on? What have I achieved in my life? What’s the value in life?” This thought comes naturally once we realize life is fleeting. Life is more than material wealth, which never fulfills us, as Ecclesiastes 2:1 and 5:13 both point out. Life can be fulfilling and enjoyable if we look to God and have the proper perspective. 

King Solomon realized that life is short. We must make the most of it now because every day is a gift from God. We need to live our lives enjoying it in the present and obeying God because our eternal salvation, our future, depends on it. The day of our death will be better than the day of our birth because our next waking moment will be in the kingdom of God if we have been faithful (Ecc 7:1). We want to be remembered as a person who walked according to His ways and stayed strong even amid trials that He might allow us to go through.

God intended for our short time on earth to be enjoyable, and He provided the Bible to help us avoid the pitfalls that hinder this. We need to learn the Bible and live by what it says.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”