World History Humanities Heather Schwagmeier 2nd Semester May 20, 2005

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World History HumanitiesHeather Schwagmeier2nd
Semester May 20, 2005
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Welcome

• Greetings and welcome to this, the final
  portfolio of my sophomore year in AE21
  Distributed Education. In the following
  presentation, you will find a basic overview of
  what I have gained from the World History
  Humanities class over the course of this
  semester. This will be formatted into artifacts
  of actual work Ive produced, combined with
  reflections, all organized into 10 essential
  goals called Journey to Excellence.

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Table of Contents

• Acceptance of God
• Commitment to the Church
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Responsible Citizenship
• Healthy Balanced Living
• Intellectual Development
• Communication Skills
• Personal Management
• Aesthetic Appreciation
• Career and Service

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Artifact J2E 1Acceptance of God

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• Journal CLQ
• 4/7/05
• Courage lies in the eyes of the Japanese Samurai,
  who readily stands to face 12 foes and possibly
  his death in order to merely protect his lord.
  The lord doesnt have to be a personal friend he
  doesnt have to owe him anything, yet the samurai
  stands to the challenge simply because it is his
  duty.
• Courage lies in the eyes of Abraham, his knife
  raised high above the form of his precious child,
  the steel glinting in the sun and reflecting in
  his innocent eyes.
• Courage lies in the eyes of Joseph, lying
  deserted by his own blood in the heathen prisons
  of a foreign land yet with a fire in his soul
  forcing him to continue to trust in his God, and
  to face another day.
• All of these concepts come to mind when the
  thought of courage is mentioned for both go
  perfectly along with the quote in this weeks
  page by Ambrose Redmoon, Courage is not the
  absence of fear, but rather the judgment that
  something else is more important than fear.
• In the case of the samurai as well as that of
  every soldier for every army throughout the ages,
  loyalty and love for ones country or leader
  proved itself to be more important than the fear
  of dying, or being imprisoned, or being tortured.
  
• In the case of Abraham, serving his God and being
  obedient to His words was what held the higher
  importance, even above sparing the life of the
  one thing that he loved more than anything on
  earth. That is courage in the greatest degree,
  in my mind.
• And lastly in the case of Joseph, even when all
  odds and all discernable forms of humanity were
  either against him or had forgotten him, he still
  remained true to El Shaddai-jireh, and maintained
  his courage to trust in His plan for his life.
• Table of Contents

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Artifact J2E 1Acceptance of God

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• Journal FREE
• 5/4/05
• And now I was wondering if
• I was wondering if
• I was wondering if I might have been somebody
  other than myself
• Could I have been
• Parking lot attendant
• Could I have been
• Millionaire up there on 5th avenue
• Could I have been
• Lost late at night in Central Park
• Could I have been
• Your little sister
• Could I have been
• Anyone other than me
• (David J. Matthews)

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Artifact J2E 2Commitment to the Church

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• Retell Live Interview
• 11/08/04
• Good morning, once again this is Heather
  Schwagmeier reporting live from the streets of
  Avignon, France, in Medieval Europe, using the
  revolutionary Epoch Explorer to serve as your
  window to the past. Today were focusing on the
  forming power of the Roman Catholic Church in
  this area, and its new and different approach to
  worship. Just to give you a little background on
  this story, Ill share briefly with you the basic
  underlying premise of this movement that is
  dependence upon human teachings and human
  authority to promote and enforce them. The
  priests serve as mediators for the people they
  are the only way to convey prayers, repentances,
  or pleas to the Most High God. Also promoted is
  the veneration of the saints who have passed on,
  and the dependence on supposed holy relics and
  figures for luck and surety of safety, healing,
  and protection from evil.
• Along with these practices comes an emphasized
  form of sin and punishment. Penance is necessary
  to pay for your sin, and to earn forgiveness. Ah
  wait, I see a man making his way to the chapel
  now.
• Sir, you seem to have a very heavy heart
  todaywhy the sad expression?
• Ive committed a terrible sin against God and
  against heaven. I am going to the chapel now to
  beg the priest to plead my case before God, so
  that perhaps I can earn forgiveness, for I
  havent the money to purchase an indulgence.
• My goodness, sir, you must have done something
  truly awful to be feeling like this. May I ask
  what crime you committed?
• I have been studying the Holy Scriptures in my
  home for two weeks now. I was given a copy of
  the Gospel of St. John by a young man in the
  marketplace. I know that I am not worthy to read
  the words of God, and yet I did anyway. I know
  that I am far out of my place, for a lowly farmer
  such as I should never have that privilege. I
  only hope that the Lord will have mercy on me.
• But sir(pause)well I wish you luck.
  Goodbye.
• Goodbye.
• As we just witnessed, the reading of Gods word
  by commoners is forbidden in this day in age.
  The priests alone are allowed to read the Holy
  Scriptures. However lately, a group of mountain
  people that have come to be known as the
  Waldensies have been passing out hand written
  copies of scripture, which is most likely what
  this man had received. Actually, as Im watching
  the crowd, there appears to be someone handing
  out small sheets of paper in an alleyway across
  the street. Lets see who this person is.
• Excuse me miss, but what is it that you have on
  these pieces of paper?
• You dont appear as though youre from hereare
  you with the church?
• No miss, I report the news of happenings in
  your area to a country far away.
• Ah I seewell in that case Ill tell you. On
  these papers are copies that myself and my
  company have written in the mountains, away from
  all this oppression from the church. We feel
  that every child of God has the right to read His
  word and understand it for themselves. There are
  several of us here today, spreading the word to
  as many people as we can.
• So are you a part of the Waldensian company?
• Yes I am.

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Artifact J2E 3Interpersonal Relationships

• Heather Schwagmeier
• English
• Journal CLQ
• 1/11/05
• Of all religions, the Christian should of course
  inspire the most tolerance, but until now
  Christians have been the most intolerant of all
  men. ATTRIBUTION Voltaire François Marie
  Arouet (16941778), French philosopher, author
• I didnt really have a favorite per say of the
  FFT quotes this week I just happened to agree
  with this one quite a bit. The funny part is
  that this statement was originally made nearly
  400 years ago, and yet it is still true today.
• In the SDA church and other conservative
  churches particularly, its often observed that we
  have little to no tolerance of other perhaps more
  liberal beliefs. It seems as though the
  outstanding line between tolerance and acceptance
  has been severely smudged in many peoples minds.
  This results in dramatic reactions to the first
  changed idea or general procedure. This has been
  my experience locally as of late, anyway. I am
  by no means saying that this is true
  everywherehowever it is definitely true in some
  cases. It shouldnt be true anywhere.
• A quote from someone infinitely wiser than I
  reads, Blessed are the peacemakers. This
  should be the role of those on the middle ground
  in this issue.
• Table of Contents

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Artifact J2E 3 Interpersonal Relationships

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• Journal
• 2/2/05
• In our relationships with each other, honesty is
  of great importanceas without it, other people
  will never really get a full grasp of who we
  truly are, if you want to get down to it.
  Without honesty, what is left to assess? For
  with honesty comes trust, and without trust, no
  one can find contentment in a relationship. This
  is common sense. However, honesty must be
  delivered in such a way as to not rub any fur the
  wrong wayand a lot of times, the truth will do
  so. So here is where tact comes in. Sometimes,
  it is even necessary to withhold certain pieces
  of information in order to spare another persons
  feelings. All of these things are interwoven
  locked in a delicate balance. There is no way to
  describe it, there is no way to write a guide for
  ityou just have to guide your thinking, and act
  in the moment.
• Honesty and trust are the notes and the
  instrumenttact is the song, the melody, the
  rhythmthat makes the other two something
  beautiful.
• Table of Contents

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Artifact J2E 4Responsible Citizenship

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• JournalSelfish/Unselfish
• 1/04/05
• The event that dominated the news on television,
  the radio, the papers, and our minds over
  Christmas break was the horrible tale of macabre
  and tragedy that unwound on December 26th in
  Asiathe earthquake and subsequent tsunami that
  has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of
  people. When things of this magnitude take
  place, billions of smaller stories and
  experiences take place as welland it is these
  stories that collectively leave the legacy from
  each climatic eventwhether it be joyful or
  sorrowfulthat occurs in our earth.
• Therefore, the two selfish or unselfish things
  that were most memorable to me from this
  Christmas break related to the Asian tsunami
  tragedy. It was amazing to see the outpouring of
  sympathy that came from each corner of the globe.
  Billions of dollars have been donated by both
  private and federal donors. Its times like
  these that remind us that the world hasnt
  totally lost its heartthere are still those out
  there who are willing to be the ones to give
  their own selfless love and resources during
  these times of hopelessness for our fellow man.
  Everywhere you can imagine, people are rallying
  together to collect supplies and financial
  donations that can be sent to aid the victims.
  This may not be one specific event, but it is
  what sticks out in my mind as an act of
  unselfishness right now.
• The incidents related in this weeks TIME article
  convey the cold, exact opposite. It was only a
  few hours after the tsunami devastated the
  coastal regions of India that looters ransacked
  the ritzy hotels that had been demolished by the
  waves. This, to me, is a heart wrenching act of
  selfishness. To take jewelry from the bodies of
  unfortunate people that simply couldnt find any
  way to make ithow heartless can one be?
• Table of Contents

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Artifact J2E 56Healthy Balanced Livingand
Intellectual Development

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• Journal HOM
• 2/16/05
• The rifleman steps to his mark, carefully
  loading shells into the chamber of his weathered
  Smith Wesson as he walks. He scans the
  horizon, and then fixes his steady gaze on the
  target 300 yards away. With one swift movement
  the gun is at his shoulder and a shot shatters
  the midmorning silence. Off. The shooter
  mutters under his breath, analyzing his fault.
  Slightly off to the right. Again, he places the
  stock to his shoulder, pressing it close to his
  cheek and narrowly watching the lines on his
  sight. Instantaneously the axis of the two lines
  and the centre of the target meet and a second
  shot rings through the air. Much closer, but now
  left of centre.
• Taking a deep breath, the rifleman once more
  fixed his eyes on the target and meticulously
  adjusted his position. Amidst his silver eyes
  his pupil suddenly dilates and in that instant he
  pulls the trigger and then points the barrel to
  the sky. He looks directly at the target. His
  face slowly forms a smile of satisfaction as he
  catches the safety on his gun and turns away.
• The road to accuracy is one of undying
  determination.
• To achieve accuracy is to defy yourselfyour own
  natural tendency to failure and false
  assumptionand achieve that which is withheld
  from you.
• Table of Contents

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Artifact J2E 7Communication Skills

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• Gandhi PaperFinal Draft
• 3/11/05
• The air was eerily silent as the crowd stood
  mesmerized by the two stern men before them.
  Some warily eyed the British gendarmes a few
  hundred yards away, their hands on their clubs
  and whispering amongst themselves. The idea that
  had just been presented to them was so
  frightening, yet at the same time seemed the
  embodiment of everything they had ever hoped for
  here in South Africa. Each man matched the gaze
  of the two men, searching for their sincerity.
  It was found.
• The first man was small, but in his eyes there
  was a burning determination that was evident to
  any who looked upon him. They were told his name
  was Gandhi, and he had taken up the burden of
  this fight for freedom with the man situated at
  his side. His name was Carmen a successful
  Muslim trader and shrewd businessman.
• Would you all please join me in burning your
  passes? the voice of Mr. Carmen sliced through
  the silence.
• In that same instant, a gendarme shouted angrily
  and charged to him, firmly striking him in the
  back with his club and grasping the mans arm.
• These passes are the property of the British
  Empire, and I will arrest the next bloody coon
  that tries to burn one!! he roared.
• Without hesitating, the trader looked intently
  into his face, and dropped his pass of tainted
  freedom into the blaze.
• The gendarme tensed and stood motionless for a
  moment, then exploded furiously, Take him away!
  And may any who dare to try burning another pass
  enjoy the same fate!!!
• Gandhi knelt and picked up the box containing the
  rest of the passes. Without looking at the crowd
  or the gendarme, he strode calmly to the fire and
  threw them in one by one. The face of the
  gendarme blackened, and he gratingly walked
  toward the small man, clenching his fist tightly
  around his club and raising it high over Gandhis
  arm. The blow knocked the passes into the dust
  and sent Gandhi reeling. The officer watched
  menacingly, his club still raised, but Gandhi
  still proceeded to gather the scattered passes
  and place them solemnly into the fire.
• Savagely, the gendarme beat him into the ground,
  raining blows down upon his back and head.
  Bleeding and barely able to breathe, the brown
  man still used his last ounce of strength to
  reach his hand out, grasp one final pass, and
  throw it into the blaze.
• The smoke filled the nostrils of the watching
  crowd, the fire reflected on their eyes, and in
  their souls there was ignited by this solitary
  man a raging inferno of the spirit of freedom.
  They were inspired, they were determined, and
  they were ready to fight.
• Mahatma Karamchand Gandhi was a man of phenomenal
  wisdom and logic he had an undeniable sense of
  justice, he knew how to win devoted loyalty, and
  he always had an answereven when it was silence.
  He exercised all of these qualities throughout
  his lifes work of providing freedom and justice
  to the Indian people. (continued on next slide)

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Artifact J2E 7Communication Skills(contd.)

• From his very first experience concerning the
  injustices inflicted on the Indians by the
  British Empire, Gandhi was a detonated man on a
  mission. Within the hour of being thrown off of
  a South African train because of his race, he was
  resolved without even the slightest doubt that
  this immoral inequality must be stopped. His
  ways were set, and he did not stop until he had
  reached his goal. More than once he found
  himself at the threshold of death for the sake of
  his peoples liberty. His knowledge prohibited
  him from giving an inch from even wavering for a
  second.
• There was never an instance when he held his
  tongue at the appearance of injusticeeven in the
  faces of judges, prime ministers, and kings, this
  humble little man of no office at all spoke the
  truth and laid out the facts and plans that
  should be acted upon. About him there was an
  almost supernatural determination there never
  appeared the slightest hint of doubt in the mans
  being. As promptly as he recognized the
  situation, he took action.
• This aura, this presence, was felt by every
  person to come in contact with Gandhi. Even his
  nemesis could not deny his shrewd way, sharp mind
  and kindly manner. There was certainly reasoning
  for his causethere was deep passion and love
  that shined through in the way he carried himself
  and executed the situations that arose. This he
  demonstrated to the people, and for that they
  came to know him as Bapu, or father. He truly
  loved his people, so much that he risked his life
  in fasting so that they would stop hurting one
  another. This feeling was certainly
  reciprocated, for his plan worked.
• Gandhis manner of speaking was such that it was
  firm and direct, yet the good intentions and
  appeal were what his listeners came away with and
  responded to. His reasoning was made simple and
  accurate, and related perfectly to his audience.
  His listeners were hooked from the first word,
  and his fiery passion and ambition was spread
  like an epidemic throughout the empire.
• The man did not ever make an attempt to raise
  himself above his people in fact he made efforts
  to humble himself to and below their level. They
  did not fear him in any way, and saw him as their
  equal. This strengthened their love and devotion
  to their universally claimed Bapu, and made them
  attentive to his logical promptings and
  directions in all that they dealt with during
  this revolution.
• Each situation that arose was dealt with in the
  simplest manner, yet it was the simplicity of it
  that made it brilliant. Gandhis logic surpassed
  his enemies expectations, and in this way he was
  able to blow them away with his responses to
  their obstacles. Even when stood before a judge
  and threatened with years of imprisonment, he
  spoke the truth and did not back down. When
  threats substantiated and he was thrown into
  jail, he still was not shaken, and continued to
  strategize and plan his attack on the British
  injustice. Under the revolt of the very people
  he was trying to save, immediately action was
  taken to end the usurpation of his command of
  non-violence. His methods were not anticipated,
  and were never forecasted, but were always potent
  to his purpose.
• Gandhis aim was the fall of stained liberty, and
  that he received through the giving of his life.
  
• One man. One reason. One world. His soul
  became a model. His reason was fulfilled. And
  the world was forever changed.
• Table of Contents

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Artifact J2E 8Personal Management

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• Research Paper FINAL DRAFT

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Artifact J2E 9Aesthetic Appreciation

• Heather Schwagmeier
• Humanities
• RetellPoetry
• 1/20/04
• It charged the ages
• It began the tide of new things
• A river of luxury
• A pool of tragic new ways
• Before, steps were slow
• Before, change wasnt a sunrise
• A long process
• An ebbing of stone concealing
• In the heart stirred
• In the centre it began
• There was the pulse
• There was the soul
• On came advances
• On came long strides

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Artifact J2E 10Career and Service

• The above is a photograph of Marengo, Indiana
  where I committed a great deal of my community
  service hours this year volunteering after a
  devastating F5 tornado struck the area last
  Memorial Day weekend. More photos of the damage
  and relief work can be seen here.
  http//www.marengotornado.com/photos/
• Table of Contents

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Reflection J2E 1Acceptance of God
Little by little, acceptance of God is
established over the vast amount of time that
together forms our lifetimes. It is my
understanding that to fully accept something you
have to first fully grasp what it is, and friends
we are nowhere close to trying to grasp who God
really is. In my mind that is simply stunning,
and this is what drives me onward and forward
toward understanding more about Him and growing
to know and accept Him more for Who He is and
what He has done for me. This year has been a
rollercoaster of learning processes, all of which
I know have been planned far in advance to
rattle all my chains, push all my buttons, and
turn absolutely everything upside down in order
for me to get a better glimpse of the reality
that is my world, and realize the God that I must
depend on in it. Ive lost friends I thought
would be here forever, and yet Ive gained ones
that I know without doubt will be. I have
soared, I have plummeted to the depths of my
being, and thus I emerge with this God is
everlasting, and He and He alone is my Rock,
Shelter, Fortress, Comfort and Strength. My
only hope is that this realization will
strengthen and multiply this summer and in the
years to come as I go through high school and
college, and thusly pursue my career whatever it
turns out to be. This is the one truth that
keeps shoving itself in my face no matter how
many times I try to ignore it may I learn not to
ignore it in the future, but to accept and learn
from it, and to show others the profit of
allowing it to guide you in every day. Table of
Contents Artifact J2E 1 Acceptance of God
Artifact J2E 1 Acceptance of God

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Reflection J2E 2Commitment to the Church

• At the present moment, there is a lot I could
  say about the faults that I see personally within
  the attitude of the Seventh-day Adventist church
  and particularly their attitude on certain
  things. However, it goes without saying that
  every organization is not without downfalls or,
  you might say, bad seeds, and I would much
  rather comment on the positive aspect of church
  commitment than grumble to no end of its
  shortcomings.
• Every bird has a nest. Every fox has a hole.
  In the same way, every Christian needs a
  community. This community is the Church. The
  church is the soil that enriches and solidifies
  the volatile young Christian, and provides a home
  and niche for the seasoned disciple of Christ
  seeking to save souls.
• The church also provides the Christian with a
  firm set of doctrines, a manifesto in which they
  can set their sites and place their goals. It is
  this church that is their embodiment of how to
  approach Christ. What is more paramount than
  this? It is this Church that is responsible for
  laying the foundation of the whole of their
  spirituality, as well as their salvation for
  eternity.
• This importance is the discovery that Ive made
  quite a while ago. The discovery that Ive made
  recently is that there are choices. The church
  is what you believe, not what you inherit. Id
  always thought that I had analyzed everything
  that went on in my church and believed them all
  on my own, but now my eyes are open to reveal my
  amusing ignorance that in turn reveals the fact
  that I have work to do. I firmly still believe
  that the Seventh-day Adventist doctrines are the
  truth, however it is their outlook and the way
  that they are currently being presented and the
  hundreds of variables all over the world that
  trouble me. It is this concern that is now my
  exhausted reflective thought.
• Table of Contents Artifact J2E 2 Commitment to
  the Church

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Reflection J2E 3 Interpersonal Relationships

• Over the course of this year Ive come to the
  conclusion that there is one specific thing that
  is absolutely paramount to form and maintain
  lasting relationships, and that is trust. Im
  gradually learning to completely thrive upon it.
  However, though this sounds simpleand it is to a
  degree there are a plethora of other qualities
  that tie into trust. These include things such
  as honesty, loyalty, devotedness, dependability,
  and a hundred other things that can make every
  friendship, romantic relationship or otherwise
  extremely complicated if you try to make note of
  it all.
• The point that I am trying to make is simply
  that it all seems to break down to trust, always.
  If you can trust, you know you have a friend.
  And also it seems, if you know without shadow of
  a doubt that you can trust, then you can love.
• In life, we are deemed a purpose before our
  eyes ever seen the rays of the sun. To fulfill
  this purpose, first and foremost we must
  establish a relationship with God, and then we
  must establish relationships with those whom He
  has planned for us to come in contact with along
  lifes path. There are only a few tools we need
  one is faith, one is direction, and the other is?
  Trust. So interesting how a world so complex can
  possibly be broken down into one simple
  principle
• Perhaps it cannot. Perhaps I am merely a
  dreamer who fantasizes about the day when
  everyone will learn to trust one another, and
  this is a goal purely unreachable a mere childs
  fairy story. But what if enough people had that
  idea? What if enough people wanted that badly
  enough? How interesting a thought that is I
  wonder what might happen.
• Such is a dream such is a wondering.
• Table of Contents Artifact J2E 3 Interpersonal
  Relationships Artifact J2E 3 Interpersonal
  Relationships

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Reflection J2E 4Responsible Citizenship
To become a responsible citizen of the world is
to become aware of the world. You must become
conscious of your surroundings cognizant of
those in it, and of their role in the world, for
they very well may affect you. There are a
billion things all going on at once, and it is
our responsibility as human beings and more
specifically as disciples of Christ to become
observant of them. We must learn everything
possible about our world and its past for several
reasons, but for one which is of greatest
importance because it is our mission field. To
quote one of my previous journals, this world is
a big place, with a big past, and we have only a
small part in it, but we can make a gigantic
difference with proper determination and tools.
There is no reason for anyone anywhere to deem
themselves unimportant or cast out, because as
Ive mentioned before, theres a purpose for
everyone! Our mission is simple get out there
and get your hands dirty. Go ye into all the
world. When going on a trip its always a
good idea to get a clue as to where youre going.
You study up on your destination buy some
guidebooks, consult an agent perhaps, and
absolutely carry a map with you. Its no
different in our mission for Christ. We are to
take His word to where again? Yes, the world.
Ergo it seems logical that we should become
responsible citizens. Study up on our world.
Learn about its past, find out what makes its
people tick, what rouses their spirits, what
gleams in their eyes hearts minds souls most
dear. What do they want? Where are you going?
Where are you taking Christs message dear
Christian? Where are you going with His word?
Table of Contents Artifact J2E 4 Responsible
Citizenship

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Reflection J2E 5Healthy Balanced Living

When the phrase healthy balanced living is
mentioned, particularly in a Seventh-day
Adventist setting, it generally conjures up
images of health seminars, vegetarian meat
substitutes, and lifestyle centers. All of these
things are fine and good and have tremendous
benefits to the physical well being of humans, I
have no doubt, however what seem to be of
infinitely more importance are the matters of
spiritual and mental health. It is our mind and
spirituality that form the person that we are
and in the end determine our salvation and the
impact we have on others. On the other hand,
without physically maintaining ourselves, it is
impossible to support our minds, and without our
minds we cannot support our spirituality. So in
the end, the three of these things are interwoven
to form the essence of our character, which is
obviously of the utmost importance. In order to
maintain these things, we much observe our input.
Our food, our friends, the material we read or
listen to everything it must all be censored
carefully until we know is something that we are
genuinely sure we want inputted into our
character. Of course we dont want to become
paranoid. It would be impossible to analyze
absolutely everything before having any exposure.
Pretty soon youd be locked up in a flat white
room with no windows. Guards must be exercised.
Hello judgment. To judge the things around you
righteously is extremely difficult, and its been
proven that theres only one way to do it with
Christs help. Again, it all comes back to
simply trusting Him. Theres actually only
one perfect Influence. Without it you quite
literally would be all alone in a white room.
That Influence is Jesus. So what I am learning
is that He is the rule to go by He is who you
compare to every time you meet someone or every
time you wonder to yourself, How am I really
doing? Table of Contents Artifact J2E 56
Healthy Balanced Living and Intellectua...
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Reflection J2E 6Intellectual Development

• From day to day, it is the development of our
  minds and that in its capacity that allows us to
  look back upon the time we have spent and own a
  sense of accomplishment. For without having
  gained some intellect, what have we really
  gained? For if it was just money, that can be
  taken away by thieves. Freedom, by those unjust
  captors who have taken it so many times in the
  past from those who have died in prison. If one
  does not gain knowledge or skill from something,
  one does not gain anything at all.
• Therefore, it should be a goal to find things
  from which it is sure to gain such wisdom, skill,
  or thoughtful experience. For instance, I am
  (forgive me, but I can think of no better phrase)
  psyched out of my mind at the prospect of
  spending the summer working at Alaska Camps this
  year, for a number of reasons. First of all,
  there is of course the fact that it is Alaska, a
  gorgeous place that I have never been before and
  have always wanted to go. Secondly, this
  experience has proven itself time and time again
  in the past in the lives of others to be one of
  great spiritual development, and flat out life
  changing things have happened here. Now, it is
  sheer luck combined with some great friends and
  loving parents, and nothing else that has gained
  me this experience. However in the future, I am
  going to make it a goal to find more of these.
• My point in stating all of the above is this
  what are we doing here? We go around from day
  today, fulfilling some sort of task that we seem
  to derive some sort of meaning from. But could
  we be gaining more? Could we be doing more
  elsewhere? What if we were trying harder?
  Such a thought such what ifs could go on into
  oblivion, and yet what if?
• Table of Contents Artifact J2E 56 Healthy
  Balanced Living and Intellectua...

22
Reflection J2E 7Communication Skills

• As mentioned in previous reflections of this
  presentation, in this life we are given a mission
  by the King of the universe that is to go into
  the entire world and give His message of eternal
  salvation to them in such a way that they will
  accept it, believe it, and learn to live it for
  the rest of their lives. A tall order, but it
  can most definitely be done with the right
  skills, the foremost of which being faith and
  trust in God, and the next being communication.
  Communication is absolutely essential to fulfill
  this mission ordained to we, the disciples of
  Christ.
• Not everyone is gifted with excellent
  communication, however, everyone is gifted with
  the ability to recognize it and adapt somewhat.
  It is this fact that has become key to the
  mission work of not only the Seventh-day
  Adventist but all Christian missions around the
  globe, inside the United States and abroad. This
  is how we maintain our church, and deeper yet,
  this is how we maintain ourselves as people
  within our relationships.
• What is a friendship without communication?
  What is a romance without it? What is a family?
  None of these can stand without open
  communication, in which all those involved
  understand one another and are in tune with each
  others ideas. Such a setting seems so rare
  anymore, particularly in the family setting. And
  we wonder why the divorce rates are skyrocketing?
  No one talks anymore. If theres a problem,
  mouths are clamped shut, or worse, fingers are
  pointed and a yelling match is initiated. No,
  what is necessary is open discussion both people
  earnestly trying to understand and perhaps
  compromise. Such a thought. Such a revolution.
  
• Table of Contents Artifact J2E 7 Communication
  Skills Artifact J2E 7 Communication Skills
  (contd.)

23
Reflection J2E 8Personal Management

• At the beginning of the year, the topic of
  personal management was not one that I excelled
  greatly in, and for that matter it is still not,
  because to put it quite bluntly, it is at this
  moment forty minutes until I must turn this
  portfolio in. I am truly deeply shamed to say
  that I am woefully behind in my manner of
  managing my time. This week was particularly
  stressed with computer problems, its true, but
  much of the time I can help my procrastination
  and dont. Much of the time I assume it hurts no
  one but me, but lately I am coming to realize it
  damages others too and even if it was only me,
  think of the penalties for such idiotic and
  careless behavior. I am ashamed to say that I
  was not doing well in this department then, as I
  am not now.
• However, AE21 as a whole is without a doubt the
  place to teach you personal management the hard
  way. Without it you will sink, miserably sink.
  Self discipline is rampant, and before you know
  it youre finding yourself using planners and
  datebooks, scratching off time schedules and
  smiling in contentment as you do so. A very
  satisfying feeling just keeping it up is the
  trick.
• The illustration of the puppy and a rolled up
  newspaper actually fits this scenario quite
  nicely. Mess up enough times and eventually you
  will learn. The slower of the litter will learn
  the most gradually. This is my second year at
  this, so I suppose that would be me. ? So, as a
  plan to better myself in this area next year, I
  can only use this over-used cliche,
• Try, try, and try again.
• Table of Contents Artifact J2E 8 Personal
  Management

24
Reflection J2E 9Aesthetic Appreciation

• To begin, I must give you a bit of background
  on me and the topic of myself and the arts. The
  arts are what I am most passionate about
  writing, music, and photography are my top three
  career choices, and they are what I fill my spare
  time with while Im in school. Their simplicity
  soothes me, while their complexity keeps my mind
  at work I cannot get enough.
• These things have always been my passion, with
  the possible exception of photography however
  this was the case at the beginning of this year,
  this hasnt changed much over the duration of
  this course, though there have been some definite
  challenges and joys in that realm during this
  class.
• To begin, Jane Austen was a very interesting
  experience that I admit was, at first, a bit
  frustrating, but I was soon caught in the
  language and style of writing, as well as the
  period of the book. This was soon reflected in
  my own writing, and I also caught myself using it
  in my speech!
• My biggest challenge this year was writing
  organized papers. Ive never been incredibly
  good at it, and this year was definitely no
  exception, though I do think Im starting to get
  a much better understanding of what to do. All
  thats left now is doing it. The last paper was
  the most eye-opening on this subject.
• Table of Contents Artifact J2E 9 Aesthetic
  Appreciation

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Reflection J2E 10Career and Service

• This year my community service hours were
  largely contributed in Marengo, Indiana as a part
  of Indiana Disaster Relief after a horrific act
  of nature devastated the entire town. This was
  one of the most incredible experiences Ive ever
  been through. To see what can happen in an
  instant to see how ones life can change over
  the matter of a few hours, and how picky mother
  nature can be it boggles the mind and leaves you
  breathless.
• I worked in a food and supply distribution
  centre much of the time, while the rest of the
  time I followed a chainsaw crew, helping in the
  removal of trees and other debris. While my mind
  was filled with awe at the power of sin and
  nature, I remarkably was on an incredible high
  because I was able to help these people in such a
  time of need. I really loved the time I spent
  down there. My muscles ached, I got next to no
  sleep, there was no air conditioning and I was
  hot and sweaty, but I felt outstanding. I
  greeted everyone with a smile and it made me feel
  even more amazing when some of these people that
  had just lost their homes would smile back, just
  because they were seeing a friendly face.
• To me thats what service is all about. Giving
  someone that friendly face when they need it
  most and being there when you dont have to be,
  but when someone else really needs you to. Its
  just a feeling unmatchable. That is what has
  changed me.
• Table of Contents Reflection J2E 10 Career and
  Service