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Your Life’s Story

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Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated reading time: 6 min.

The Presiding Evangelist of the Living Church of God, Mr. Gerald Weston, spoke to the Living Education students for a forum presentation.

 He prompted us to consider what our life’s story will be and how we want it to turn out, and he urged the students to make the most of every opportunity and to avoid regrets. 

God Directs Our Lives 

Mr. Weston introduced this topic with a song, literally. He read the words of the song My Way, popularized in 1969 by Frank Sinatra. This song is written from the perspective of someone looking back on his life, and he is proud that he lived it his way. Mr. Weston said that our way is actually the worst way, and pointed to Proverbs 16:9 to show that it is really God who directs our life. 

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

Our Story

Much of our life is already determined by things we do not have control over. Our parents, family, and upbringing leave lasting effects on our life, even if we do not see it immediately. Mr. Weston illustrated this by recounting how he never thought he was like his dad, until he got to be his dad’s age. Then, he began to catch himself saying and doing things like his dad. But we should not feel bad about our upbringing, even if it was flawed—and everybody’s was, in some way. Rather, Mr. Weston exhorted us to embrace it—you can’t change it now—and understand it. 

The Little Things 

A central theme of Mr. Weston’s forum presentation was the small opportunities that changed his life—things that, at the time, he never would have guessed would be impactful. He recalled his mother introducing him to baseball and swimming as a kid. He developed a habit of running during lunch hour at school, and this small habit propelled him to keep exercising his whole life. Even his early experience hunting and fishing had an unforeseen value. When he pastored in Mississippi, he visited church members whose husbands were not in the church. Being able to talk to these men about their hunting and fishing adventures helped “show them this minister was halfway normal.” 

Those Little Things Become Big

Mr. Weston continued showing the big effects of small things in his life. He recalled how his time as a kid in South Dakota ended up paying dividends, almost literally, through his later years. It was there that he had his first job—kind of. He started shoveling snow off of people’s sidewalks and driveways with all the other local kids. As insignificant as this seemed, it taught him that there is value in work, no matter how menial. This realization led him to work hard in a variety of jobs, whenever he could, earning money and gaining experience and character. This desire to work hard carried into Ambassador College, where he worked for two years on the custodial crew setting up chairs. This job did not seem significant, but it proved invaluable. Later in his life, he was in charge of an auditorium in Chattanooga that needed thousands of chairs set up, and the contracted people were not getting it done on time. Mr. Weston used his experience to manage over 100 ushers and get the job done! Even the smallest, most menial experiences can make a major impact later in your life. 

Smallest to Biggest

Mr. Weston continued to emphasize the small things, little opportunities that could pop up today or tomorrow—opportunities that may seem inconsequential, but can have lasting impacts if we are diligent and make the most of them. In 1983, Mr. Weston’s wife asked the wife of the director of the summer education program (camp), “What do you have to do to go to camp?” It turned out that Mr. Weston’s ticket to camp was that he swam. This went all the way back to the swim lessons his mom took him to. He was not the fastest or the best, but he had gotten his lifeguarding certification and others, and that had unexpected results: Mr. Weston went to camp as lifeguarding staff. And year after year, Mr. Weston got the chance to go back. This had a massive impact on his life and experience. Mr. Weston then said, “I’ve often made the statement: everything I know, I learned at camp. And this applies to organization, to delegation, and to working with situations [. . .].” 

“The opportunity to go to summer camp taught me skills and lessons that I would never have learned any place else. And it really was just because of my wife asking that question and the fact that I knew a little bit about swimming.”

Mr. Weston

God opened a door that changed Mr. Weston’s life with a simple question and a little knowledge. The smallest things can have the biggest impacts. 

Avoid the Small Regrets Too

Mr. Weston expanded the topic of small opportunities to share some insight about common, seemingly small actions that we will regret, and gave us tips to avoid them. First, he said, “Do not overreact.” We should take time in our responses and not be hasty. Second, he said, “Learn as much as you can from your parents.” He looked back on his own life and realized the things he wished he could have asked his father and the time he could have spent with his mother. Third, he said, “Do not be critical of others.” It damages friendships and seldom helps people. Lastly, he said, “Do not waste time.” This does not mean we always have to be productive. It means we should spend more time meditating, doing things like hunting or fishing or just getting outdoors more. Otherwise, we will regret how we spent our time when we look back.

“It is our nature to waste and throw away our lives, because time is life.”

Mr. Weston

What Is Your Story Going to Be?

Are we going to look back on our life and be satisfied, or are we going to regret those small mistakes and missed opportunities? Concluding, Mr. Weston reminded the students to consider their actions today. 

“The things that happen today may have far greater impact on your overall life, on your whole story, than you could ever imagine. Take advantage of every opportunity you have.”

There are opportunities that come up every day that may be once-in-a-lifetime chances. We should take them; we should create that life story with no regrets, full of success. 
For tips on maximizing and even creating small opportunities, read a Summary of Dr. Winnail’s Forum on The Path to Achieving Your Goals.

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.

Take a Risk and Do Something

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Author: Nathan Kroon | Student Leader, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated Reading Time: 3 min.

Mr. Tyler Wayne began this forum by telling the Living Education students about his experiences in self-starting businesses.

In his life, he had previously made four, including a contracting company and a coffee food truck. He explained what he felt was the most important thing he got out of the lifespans of these businesses: experience. This helped him to better grow his ability to handle risk management. Mr. Wayne instructed the students on how to better be able to handle the risks that they will have to take in their own lives.

Common Entrepreneurial Risks

Mr. Wayne explained many of the types of risks that can occur in the world of self-starting businesses. The first is “operational error,” which has to do with accidents on the job or equipment malfunction. Secondly, “incorrectly bidding,” meaning that you miscalculate the cost or scope of an asset or project. Finally, “customer satisfaction,” meaning that your work may not meet the customer’s expectations, and they may withhold their payment (which may prompt you to bring lawyers into the matter, thereby creating bigger problems). One personal example of operational error for Mr. Wayne occurred when his wife used a new truck they had bought to tow their coffee shop around, which ended up getting caught in the underside of a bridge, because it was just a little taller than their previous vehicle! In a way, they had also incorrectly bid the height of the bridge, as well. From this, they were still able to gain valuable experience, even when it may have cost them.

Risky Business

Mr. Wayne gave several steps as to how to better deal with risky business. First is to assess and mitigate, which requires researching what you are doing, planning it all out, starting small in order to gain experience in your work, understanding what you are getting into, not biting off more than what you can chew, learning to deal with setbacks, and, finally, getting after it. He mentioned to also keep in mind the 99% Rule, meaning that out of every hundred times you run the scenario, you will fail one time. When you do end up failing, being able to mitigate the damage is essential for keeping good business. If it ends up going poorly, you will still gain experience from it, and learn how to better deal with it the next time.

Mr. Wayne concluded his forum by stating bluntly, “Everything you do in life is a risk!” Your career, education, and relationships are all risks. Every choice you make has an opportunity cost, so it’s better for you to take risks, make mistakes, and grow in experience. Do something!

Nathan Kroon is a Student Leader at Living Education. He originally hails from Washington State and is a 4th generation Christian. Currently, he works at Headquarters as a Video Editor and is the Lead Landscaper at the LivingEd dorms. His hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, drawing, and watching movies.

Build on a Rock

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Author: Nathan Kroon | Student Leader, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated Reading Time: 4 min.

Dr. Douglas Winnail began this forum by addressing how much the world has changed in comparison to the world he grew up in.

For example, sixty years ago, homosexuality was relatively unknown and transgenderism was barely a concept. Dr. Winnail said that when he was in high school, several guys smoked cigars at graduation—and that was a big deal—yet today, deadly drugs like fentanyl are rampant in our world and accessible to people of all ages, even children.

Today, people tend to go along with rising and fluctuating trends in our culture, rather than building a solid foundation of God’s way of life—as illustrated in the parable of building a house on a rock or shifting sand (Matthew 7:24-27). In colonial America, well over 90 percent of people were professing Christians. Yet today, over 42  percent of young adults are non-religious, and 29 percent of all adults are as well. As more and more young people lose their religion, their children will likely lose theirs, too. This does not bode well for individuals or our nation. There are many factors in our modern society that are influencing people—especially young people—to discourage them from building a godly foundation for their lives.

The Impact of the Internet

Ever since the creation and popularization of the internet, there has been a dramatic increase in secular activities in our world, as well as religious skepticism. This has turned many people into critics and pessimists and made it easy for deceptive “politically correct” movements to dominate the media and the internet and turn our nation’s public education systems into brainwashing facilities. Today the positive aspects of Western history and culture—especially our Bible-based moral foundation—are ignored and denigrated while dangerous liberal agendas are promoted. The Internet is a powerful tool that is undermining fundamental biblical values that once guided our nation and individuals in our nation.

What makes the Bible special?

The United States of America was founded on godly principles, but those principles are quickly disappearing and becoming unheard of. Leaders like Abraham Lincoln and John Adams used the Bible as a guide in their personal lives and presidential careers, but now children and teachers often ridicule a student who might bring a Bible to school or quote it in class. It did not used to be this way. King David had a profound respect for God’s word and he regarded God’s law as a lamp to his feet and a light to his path (Psalm 119:105)—but we are losing that vital perspective today.

Dr. Winnail concluded by encouraging the students to study the Bible diligently and pray every day. He then gave several points on what makes the Bible unique among other religious books of the world. The Bible has been accurately preserved by the Jews throughout history (Romans 3:1-2). The Dead Sea Scrolls have confirmed that the ancient text of the books of the Bible has been almost immaculately preserved. Unlike other religious books, the Bible contains hundreds of prophecies that have come true and accounts of historical events that have since been verified  by artifacts and ancient documents. The Bible also provides answers to the big questions of life: why we are here, what happens when we die, and what the future holds for mankind. Sadly, we live in an age when biblical illiteracy is widespread and growing, and few are even aware of the value of biblical principles for living. This is why it is important for young people to build their lives on the Rock that is Christ and the word of God.

Nathan Kroon is a Student Leader at Living Education. He originally hails from Washington State and is a 4th generation Christian. Currently, he works at Headquarters as a Video Editor and is the Lead Landscaper at the LivingEd dorms. His hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, drawing, and watching movies.

Working in the Maintenance Department

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Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated reading time: 4 min.

Here’s a look at the students in the Maintenance Department for the Living Education work/study program. 

Maintenance can cover a wide range of duties, and it can be different from company to company. So what is it like working as a student in the Maintenance Department here at the Living Church of God Headquarters? Today’s post answers that question by exploring the duties of two Maintenance Department employees: David Smith and Andrew McNair. This post also features personal comments from the students about their position and their experience working so far. 

Andrew McNair works as a Maintenance Assistant, maintaining the building and grounds and assisting on renovation projects. 

Andrew McNair is one of two students working in the Maintenance Department. Prior to accepting this position, he had experience with carpentry and renovation, but he has learned many new skills in this position and developed greater proficiency with skills he already had. He described how he learned more about the nuisances of painting and carpentry projects in this position. 

Andrew’s Main Roles in the Maintenance Department:
  • Loading equipment truck for Church services (every week)
  • Inspecting emergency exit signs (at least once a month)
  • Inspecting fire extinguishers (at least once a month)
  • Checking the office grounds for trash
  • Assisting with renovation projects 

Most fun part of the job? “A couple days ago, we started organizing the tools and stuff, because there are a lot of random things back there [the maintenance corner of the warehouse storage area]. It was great to see it all sorted out finally. There’s a lot of chaos back there.”

Most challenging part of the job? “Not really knowing how long we’ll being doing a project or what the next step will be. Who knows? It could be a week-long project or twenty minutes. It can be all over the place.”

Most recent renovation project? “We were putting up some doors upstairs over some printing paper on a shelf. We started working on it, and we were halfway done when we discovered it was impossible to put door hinges up there based on how the walls were built. It’s drywall and nothing behind it. We weren’t able to finish it, but it was a neat project to start.”

David Smith is also a Maintenance Assistance working to maintain the building and grounds and assisting on renovation projects.

David Smith is the other student who works in this department. Prior to working with the Maintenance Department, he did not have a great deal of experience with carpentry or electrical work, but now he has developed skills in both of these areas and is confident in his ability to “build a wall with two-by-fours and sheet rock.” 

David’s Main Roles in the Maintenance Department:
  • Being grunt labor for projects
  • Replacing light bulbs
  • Inspecting emergency exit signs (at least once a month)
  • Inspecting fire extinguishers (at least once a month)
  • Checking the office grounds for trash

Most fun part of the job? “Sometimes, you get to hit things out with hammers. That’s really low-brow but it’s the most fun part. One time there was a piece of furniture that we needed to fit in the dumpster, so we got to hit it with a sledge-hammer to make it smaller.”

Most challenging part of the job? “Probably the lack of consistency, because some days it’s non-stop work and then others you jump from one task to another. What you’re doing one day may or may not be completely separate from what you’re doing the next day.”

Most recent renovation project? “Today we went to the girls’ dorm and fixed random things. We fixed the alarm by doing the high-skill labor of replacing some batteries. We fixed a leak in the roof that was causing water damage. We tried to fix the downstairs bathroom, but that’s a problem that needs actual plumbers.”

Working and Learning: Part of the Living Ed. Experience. 

All of the work/study positions not only provide students with an income, but also give valuable experience that will benefit the students throughout their lives. Both David and Andrew are learning new skills and honing those they already possess. Working in the Maintenance Department involves a variety of projects and tasks—so much so that unpredictability was the most challenging aspect of the position for Andrew and David—but all of those projects are good experiences in a hands-on type of job. I’m sure these workers will never shirk away from a home renovation project now!

We did a similar post discussing working in the Living Education Department that you may find interesting.

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.

The Meat of the Word

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Author: Nathan Kroon | Student Leader, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated Reading Time: 4 min.

Before he was cast down to Earth, Satan deceived one third of the angels.

Mr. Stuart Wachowicz began this forum by recalling this account from Revelation 12 and then stating that he has personally seen many ways in which Satan has tried to subtly leak false ideas into the Church, similar to how he did with the angels. One way is through over-speculation. Many newcomers in the Church are often curious about biblical history, prophecy, or doctrine that they may not be aware of. They often look forward to sermons on subjects that other churches may deem obscure and consider these messages to be the “meat” of the word. As a result, other sermons that discuss matters they have already heard about, such as how we should live God’s way of life, may not be as attention-grabbing or important to them. Some may believe they are only being fed the “milk” of the word and not the integral meat. Mr. Wachowicz stated that many people have left the Church in the past in search of this meat in the wrong places. How can we, as Christians, determine what is the real meat of the word and what is not?

Of Lambs and Wolves

Mr. Wachowicz instructed the students that one way to better receive the true word is to be of one mind and not seek to cause division among brethren. Paul warned his own brethren in Acts 20:29, writing, “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” He knew that these “wolves” would come preaching false ideas that would divide the congregations around them. Many people, in their pride, think they inherently know better and therefore only look for wolves that “show their teeth,” overlooking those “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” These preachers usually do not start outright with their wild ideas, but twist Scripture to fit their own point of view, getting people intrigued. We must therefore be able to discern real truth from speculation by studying the Bible on our own and watching our speakers’ examples to see if their conduct aligns with God’s way of life. The real meat of the word will never be found in flimsy speculations!

Word vs. World

We need to be willing to ask what criteria God will use to determine whether or not to grant us eternal life. Mr. Wachowicz read 1 John 2:15 to instruct the students not to prioritize the ways of the world and reminded them that those who perform the will of God and receive His word abide forever. Mr. Wachowicz stated that it can be difficult for us because we are set apart and different from everyone else, but we need to abide nonetheless and be of godly character. “Mr. Armstrong had a way of getting to the key point,” he said, “and he often said that character is knowing right from wrong and having the courage to do what’s right.” At times, we may become angry with the ways of the world, but we must be patient and merciful because the world has not yet received God’s revelation. We need to be praying for God’s guidance and searching the Scriptures for help in our way of living. The real meat of the word is living by the truth and learning the statutes that God has laid out for us. It is what will help us enter the Kingdom of God. Therefore, it is important to hear sermons that may seem like they are restating facts and truth that you have heard before because, as imperfect humans, we need to be constantly reminded of areas where we can improve in our way of living.

Nathan Kroon is a Student Leader at Living Education. He originally hails from Washington State and is a 4th generation Christian. Currently, he works at Headquarters as a Video Editor and is the Lead Landscaper at the LivingEd dorms. His hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, drawing, and watching movies.

It’s the Roaring ’20s Again!

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Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated reading time: 4 min.

The Living Education students hosted a 1920s-themed dance for over 40 young adults in the local congregation. 

This event was several months in the making. It began when Kezia proposed a themed dance, and what could be a more apropos theme than the ’20s? She rallied the students together to transform the guys dorm into a venue straight out of the 1920s. But what did it all look like? Let’s take a little tour. 

Arrival

It is a brisk Saturday evening. You pull into a church parking lot across the street from the LivingEd. dorm. You make your way across Thompson Road and up the concrete driveway. You knock on the front door, and it swings open for you. You receive a hearty welcome from the hosts. You walk into the dorms and back in time, to the 1920s.

Welcome to the Speakeasy

The house is flooded with soft, warm light. There is a red telephone booth ahead and slightly to the right of the door, by the stairs leading to the second story. Your eyes gravitate up. There is a string of twinkle lights wrapped around the light fixture. More hang between the light above your head and the light in the living room. Another string of lights hang between the light and the telephone booth. It dangles across the top of the booth and then wraps around the handrail going upstairs. 

You look to the right. There is an open entrance. Hanging from the trim of this entrance are more twinkle lights, outlining the walkway. Through the opening is the billiard room. There is a pool table squarely in the middle, on which two guys and two girls are playing team 8-ball on the table. The guys are dressed in formal and nice looking dress clothes, apropos of the ’20s. The girls are wearing flapper dresses, formal gloves, and headdresses. 

You turn to the left now. There is an entrance to a study room. Two tables are set up, and people are crowded over one. You glimpse between two people and see that they are playing some sort of card game. The room erupts in laughter and movement for some reason you can’t put together. Before you can figure it out, one of the hosts says, “The food is this way.”

There’s a Dance Floor Too

You follow them out of the hallway by the front door and into the living room. There are no couches, and it has been cleared to create a dance floor. You notice a red cloth suspended by the light. This red cloth extends from the bookshelf on the other side of the room to the light and then to the bookshelf near you. It gives the dance floor a defined shape and feeling. On the dance floor, a fair amount of people are dancing to ’20s music. You feel the limits of space in the room as you slide by the bookshelf and under the red cloth to get to the other side. 

The host directs you to the patio, where you find a buffet table lavishly adorned with cloth and stocked with hors d’oeuvres. To the left of the table is patio furniture and part of a regular couch stashed to make space for the dance. The house  is warm from the dancing, and the patio provides a cool (no pun intended) place to relax and get a snack.

Snack Table on the Patio

After you get a plate, you hear the dancing paused for a moment. The hostess announces a few games of trivia. The first person to say the answer gets a small prize: moon pies (in existence since 1917)! There’s questions about the most famous events of the ’20s, and prizes given out for a few rounds. Then, the dancing continues and everyone returns to their previous activities. You stick around, dancing and catching up with friends you haven’t seen for a while, even seeing people from across the country. At 9 pm, the event is not formally over, but the Living Ed students begin the process of cleaning up. You make your way out the front door, across the street, and back to the church parking lot, content with the memories you know hold. 

This was not the only event at the LivingEd. dorms in January; they also did a Bingo Brunch for local widows! 

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.

Focus on Your Goals

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Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated reading time: 4 min.

The head of the Mail-Processing Department, Mr. Gaylyn Bonjour, spoke to the students in a recent forum.

He emphasized the importance of setting goals, common mistakes people make when setting goals, and the need to adjust goals periodically. To begin, Mr. Bonjour explained the significance of focusing on a small set of goals by putting them ahead of other priorities in life. To illustrate this intense focus, he turned to an example from Christ.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13:44–45, NKJV

Set a Good Goal

To focus on a goal, Mr. Bonjour explained, we must first set a goal. Too often, life distracts us and we spend our days with no direction because we never set a goal in the first place. If we want to choose our path, our destiny, we have to set goals. But this should not be done in a rushed, haphazard way. Mr. Bonjour recalled an all-too-common situation: A friend of his spent years in college and got student loan debts. When he got out of college, he decided he liked a different field better and all that time and money was wasted. Mr. Bonjour gave some advice to avoid this: get internships, talk to people in the field you’re interested in to see if you truly like it, and ask God to help you discern and guide you in the right direction. God promises he will guide and teach those who are willing to be taught!

“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”

Psalm 25:9

Another key to goal setting is to set achievable goals. Mr. Bonjour referenced the adage, “Success begets success.” Making sequential goals keeps a real-life objective in front of us at all times, and it makes it easier to adjust to the curveballs that life throws at us. 

When Do We Adjust Our Goals?

Sometimes, Mr. Bonjour continued, our goals bend to the environment around us. This can be good or bad. He told the story of some brothers who started a chicken farm to make “a million dollars.” Not a bad goal. After they stocked their chicken house, a few of the new chickens died (not unusual), and they decided to put in an alligator pond and feed the dead chickens to the alligators. In a couple years, they found the alligator farm was thriving and making more money than the chicken farm! They switched priorities and began only growing chickens to feed the alligators. They adjusted their short-term goal and priority to match reality!

But bending our goals to the environment is not always good. Mr. Bonjour pointed to the examples of the Israelites, who started with good goals as set by Moses and Joshua, but soon drifted away, thinking they would have better success following pagan gods.

How do we know when to bend our goals and when to stay firm? Mr. Bonjour gave the answer: “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Once we start down a path, we may get a better look at it and realize it is not leading where we want to go. We must evaluate and prove our goals as we live. We cannot stop moving forward, but we can continually check to ensure our goals align with God’s way. This will keep us moving in the right direction. 

The Most Important Goal

Mr. Bonjour concluded with a stirring reminder. He turned to Romans 10:4 and read, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).

He explained that the word “end” in this verse means the end result, the goal. Becoming perfect—as Christ was perfect—is the goal of keeping the commandments. Mr. Bonjour gave the students the most important goal: become like Christ. And he gave them the way to get there: keep the commandments. 

Mr. Bonjour also gave a fantastic forum about living the give way of life: Be A Giver.

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.

Is Earth a Privileged Planet?

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Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated reading time: 5 min.

Evangelist and Tomorrow’s World presenter Mr. Richard Ames gave the Living Education students a forum presentation on our privileged planet.

Mr. Ames presented a powerful proof of God’s existence: the improbability of the planet earth. He directed the students to a documentary and book with the title The Privileged Planet. Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay Richards authored the book and starred in the documentary, and they challenge the Copernican Principle in a fascinating way. 

Mr. Ames’ Opening Comments

Mr. Ames introduced the documentary by expounding on a certain worldview that influences much of modern society and thinking: the Earth is just a tiny speck floating in a vast universe, and the fact that Earth is perfectly suited for life is only a cosmic quirk, one that no doubt has happened elsewhere. Mr. Ames appealed to the book Pale Blue Dot, in which Carl Sagan highlights the insignificance of the tiny Earth in a massive universe. When one looks only at size comparisons, the Earth is insignificant. However, there is more to consider. 

Mr. Ames pointed out the vast improbability that the universe exists in a stable expansion, referring to Stephen Hawking’s The Nature of Space and Time.  He also referenced solar eclipses. The sun and moon align precisely, an improbability that has greatly helped mankind—but more on that later. Ultimately, our planet is a pale blue dot, but it is a very special pale blue dot. After this introduction, Mr. Ames began the documentary.  

What is the Copernican Principle?

The documentary began with Copernicus, the Polish mathematician who derived the Heliocentric model—which presents the planets as orbiting the sun—rejecting the ancient Greek perspective of the earth being stationary. Fast forward to the beginning of the twentieth century: Astronomer Edwin Hubble peered through the Hooker Telescope (the most powerful of the time) and discovered that many of the nebulae thought to be dust clouds were in fact galaxies just as large as our own. The universe seemed to grow overnight. Now that the universe was known to be incomprehensibly large, contemporary philosophy and astronomy merged to form the Copernican Principle. 

Copernican Principle: humans, on the Earth or in the Solar System, are not privileged observers of the universe.

Peacock, John A. (1998). Cosmological Physics

Life in the Vast Universe

The Copernican Principle dictates that life must exist elsewhere. If not, Earth is unique and occupies a privileged spot. Thus the search for extraterrestrial life began, and it continues to this day. This search is conducted by a reactive method—radio telescopes analyzing radio waves for signs of intelligent life—and a proactive method of finding and examining planets that could hold life. 

Given that the laws near earth are proven to be in effect throughout the universe, the best model for a planet that sustains life is Earth. When researchers began to compile a thorough list of the factors that make Earth suitable for life, a different picture began to emerge. While the universe is massive, the Earth is quite unusual. It possesses an unusual atmosphere, an odd core—hot enough to have molten metals move and create a magnetic field—that protects that atmosphere, water and other elements, a large moon that regulates tides, a certain distance from the sun, and many more factors. Even its position in the solar system is unique, as gas giants protect Earth from rogue celestial bodies. Astronomy proved that the universe is big; astrobiology proved that the factors for a life-bearing planet are bigger. The notion that the universe is teeming with life is not as alluring as it once was. 

An Unlikely Connection 

This documentary honed in on a specific concept. Is humanity a privileged observer of the universe simply because we can observe the universe at all? This question strikes at the heart of the Copernican Principle. The authors of The Privileged Planet saw a correlation between factors for life and factors that enable scientific observation. For instance, the atmospheric composition of the Earth is critical for life, yet it is also transparent, allowing us to observe the sun, moon, stars, and wider universe. Also, a large moon and a certain distance from the sun are necessary for a planet with life. This creates a likelihood for solar eclipses, and these are perfect opportunities to view the sun. In fact, solar eclipses in the 19th led to a number of discoveries that greatly aided humanity. In the 20th century, the fact that light is bent by gravity was proven during a solar eclipse. 

It is another odd “coincidence” of the universe that the conditions for life are exactly the conditions for scientific discovery. In essence, intelligent life exists in a place with characteristics only beneficial to intelligent life. This, when coupled with the many other improbabilities of the universe’s nature, points to purpose. 

The Earth: Center of the Universe

The documentary ended with that correlation between life and discovery, but Mr. Ames made a fascinating remark before he began the documentary. There is no way of knowing whether the Earth is the center of the universe now, but there is a time when it will be, because God will dwell on Earth. 

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”

NKJV Revelation 21:3 

Ours is a pale blue dot with a great big future.

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.

It’s all fun and games until someone yells “Bingo!”

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Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated reading time: 2 min.

To bring a little fun and games to the Charlotte congregation, the Living Education students hosted the inaugural Bingo Brunch at the women’s dorms. 

On a cloudy Sunday morning, to kick off our return to classes and the second semester, the students set up refreshments and decorations in the women’s dorm for a round of bingo games for local widows. The food for the brunch portion included mini-muffins, cinnamon rolls, sandwiches, and the main entree: chicken and waffles! 

The decorations transformed the whole dorm for the event. There were hand-drawn signs and some larger-than-life dice on the buffet table that featured fancy platters with all the food perfectly placed. Inside the living room, three large tables were set up with folding chairs to fit the guests comfortably. All the tables were adorned with vibrant tablecloths and flower centerpieces that brought energy and excitement to the room. 

The Games Begin

Mr. McNair kicked off the first round… and explained the house rules. Each table became a team and competed with the other tables. If anyone at that table got Bingo, it was a point for their team. After five rounds, prizes, ranging from pens to applesauce would be handed out to the winning team. The tables chose curious team names: the Winning Team, the Packers, and the Yodeling Yaks. One team seemed to dominate the playing field: the Packers (If only the “real” Packers also had that kind of luck that day). At the end of three rounds, the guests were sent home with a commemorative Living Education mug to remind them of their time spent with the 2023 students. 

Afterward, the students got together and cleaned up what was left behind—all while feasting on leftovers, Ellie’s favorite part. We then sped off to their next activity—a game night with friends and nachos, or watching the Packers game that night.

This was the first event the students helped host since the Living Education Alumni Dinner in 2022.

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.

Jesus’ View of the Old Testament 

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Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated reading time: 4 min.

For his forum presentation, Mr. Kenneth Frank detailed how Jesus quoted the Old Testament and how He confirmed its authority. 

Scripture after scripture, precept upon precept, Mr. Frank went through the numerous times that Jesus referred to the Old Testament, showing both specific implications from Christ’s words and also His general perspective. Mr. Frank proved this truth: if you believe in Jesus Christ, you must believe in the authority and accuracy of the Old Testament. 

The Old Testament Is Scripture

Mr. Frank turned to a few passages in which Christ referred to the Old Testament. First, he mentioned John 5:39, where Christ calls the Old Testament scripture. In Matthew 5:17, Christ refers to the Scriptures as the Law and the Prophets, a division of the Old Testament that was common in the first century. And to alleviate any remaining doubt, Christ also referred to the Old Testament as the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, which refers to the Writings section of the Old Testament (Luke 24:44-46). 

These divisions cover all the books in the Jewish canon. In fact, Christ quoted directly from 14 of the 22 Old Testament books (by the Hebrew reckoning), and never once challenged the canon, though it was well-established and defined by that point. 

Old Testament Characters Are Real People

Efficiently and effectively, Mr. Frank presented the instances wherein Christ referred to the people in the Old Testament as real. In Mark 2:25, Jesus cites David eating the showbread to the Pharisees to justify His disciples’ actions. He also challenges those around Him by stating that the queen of Sheba “came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42). 

Christ treats these individuals as real, not as characters in a story or allegory. After all, would not this statement undermine Christ’s greatness if the queen of Sheba who visited Solomon was just a myth? Countless times, Christ refers to characters from the Old Testament, from Abel to Lot’s wife, and never once does He insinuate that they are only fictional characters. 

Old Testament Stories Are Real

What does Christ say about controversial stories like those of Jonah and Noah? Mr. Frank pointed out that Christ compares His own resurrection to Jonah being spewed out of the whale’s belly (Matthew 13:40). Christ refers to the flood (Matthew 24:39) and other stories doubted by many in the world today, even professing Christians. 

Old Testament Prophecy Will Come to Pass

Mr. Frank then pointed to the scriptures that show that Christ verified Old Testament prophecy. Christ referred to a prophecy He was fulfilling, “and He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:21). He confirmed John the Baptist coming as Elijah (Mark 9:12-13), and He spoke of future fulfillments of prophecy with certainty (Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:21-22). 

Christ’s Personal Relationship with the Old Testament

Before concluding, Mr. Frank covered the passages highlighting Christ’s personal relationship with the Old Testament. Summarizing, Christ understood that the Messianic prophecies were referring to Him (John 5:39), and He personally submitted to the Old Testament. Christ made the law full and did not do away with even a single word (Matthew 5:17-19). Mr. Frank pointed out that Christ even set the example of using scripture to justify His disciples (Matthew 12:3-5), showing Christ’s reverence for the Old Testament.

Trust the OT because Jesus Did

Mr. Frank concluded that Christ unilaterally presented the Old Testament as factual, binding, and important. He validated characters and stories, and His continuous uplifting of Scripture leaves no doubt: Christ trusted and revered the Old Testament. In fact, it was about Him. As Mr. Frank eloquently stated, “Both Testaments are primarily about Him. It was only natural that He quoted and referred to the OT so often, to substantiate that He fulfilled the many OT prophecies.”

“Both Testaments are primarily about Him [Jesus Christ].”

Mr. Frank

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.