Class Offerings - Lifelong Learning

Unlocking the Secrets: Forensic Science in Action

September 8, 15, 22, 29
 

• 10-11:30 AM CT
• Longview Mansion
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Cost: $80

Facilitator: Heather Lenzy, Manager, Forensic Biology and CODIS units, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

Each week, hear from a different TBI agent on the following topics and the last week enjoy a tour of the TBI headquarters.

• Sept. 8 – DNA
• Sept. 15 – Microanalysis
• Sept. 22 – Latent Prints
• Sept. 29 – Tour of TBI Headquarters including Firearms and Drugs Units

Demystifying AI: Practical Tools for Everyday People

September 8, 15, 22, 29; October 6
 

• 2-3:30 PM CT
• Longview Mansion
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Cost: $80

Instructor: Cory Kronheim, Founder, CEO, SM Advisors 

Curious about the world of artificial intelligence (AI) but unsure where to start? Let Cory Kronheim, founder and CEO of SM Advisors, help you take your first step. Join this fun, friendly five-week course designed just for AI beginners.

In a relaxed, no-pressure setting, you’ll discover how AI tools like ChatGPT can help you plan trips, write family stories, explore new hobbies and stay connected in our digital age. Whether you’re tech-shy or simply eager to learn something new, you’ll gain practical skills, boost your confidence and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow lifelong learners. Come see how AI can add creativity, convenience and joy to your everyday life! 

Movies & Meaning: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Golden Age

October 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17
 

• 10-11:30 AM CT
• IN PERSON & ZOOM
• Longview Mansion
• Cost: $80

Instructor: David Webb, Publisher, Author and instructor of Bible and Film at Apologia

Explore the art and history of American movies, from their silent beginnings through the golden age of Hollywood to the downfall of the studio system in the 1950s.

Lecture topics include the film industry’s East Coast origins and its western relocation, the key role of genres in the growth of the studio system, the turbulent but vital creation of the Production Code, Hollywood’s response to the Great Depression and the star system as devised by the industry’s idol makers.

This is an interactive course that combines lecture and discussion. Each week, you will be assigned a classic film to watch outside of class and study questions to consider after viewing the film; the next class meeting will begin with a group discussion based on your responses to these questions. Please note that some of the questions will ask you to examine the film from a biblical worldview perspective.

Music at the Mansion

October 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17
 

• 2-3:30 PM CT
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Longview Mansion
• Cost: $80

Facilitator: Janet McMahan (’75), Performing Artist, Writer & Producer

Back by popular demand, Music at the Mansion returns on Oct. 20. Join us for five fun-filled Monday afternoons of toe-tapping, handclapping and brain tickling tunes. From the celebratory to the cerebral you'll be entertained, educated and enlightened the sounds, the history and the very essence of a broad spectrum of genres.

Bring your curious heart, your adventuresome spirit and get ready to feel soothed, energized, encouraged and inspired…all the things music does best. In a article from Johns Hopkins, the writer stated, "If you want to firm up your body, head to the gym. If you want to exercise your brain, listen to music.”So do your brain a favor and join us for Music at the Mansion!

Cooking and Southern Hospitality

September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
 

• 2-3:30 PM CT
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Avalon House
• Cost: $80
• Capacity: 18

Instructor: Mary Nelle Chumley (’53), Lipscomb University Special Event Hostess

Meet with Mary Nelle Chumley for another opportunity to find out about cooking the “easy way.” You will be able to watch demonstrations for making food from a different food category each week. You will also learn shortcuts in planning, cooking and serving meals. Best of all, at the end of each class we will “eat what we learn!” Different recipes are highlighted each semester.

How the World Became So Dangerous

October 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18
 

• 10 – 11:30 AM CT
• IN PERSON & ZOOM
• Cofer’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church; 3915 Franklin Pike
• Cost: $80

Instructor: David French, J.D. (’91), Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Policy, Lipscomb University College of Leadership & Public Service

This course will look at the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and our new cold war with China and ask, "What went wrong?"

At the end of the Cold War, the United States was the dominant power in the world, liberal democracy had triumphed, and great power conflict seemed like a distant memory. What went wrong? Why does it feel like the world is coming apart, that a general war in Europe is a very real possibility, and that China could try to seize Taiwan?

This course will try to explain why we got here, and what we might be able to expect in the future. Foreign policy isn't a subject that excites most Americans—at least not until something terrible happens, when it is too late to avert catastrophe. This course will attempt to answer the question: “Is a catastrophe on its way?”

Aging Well Series: Thriving In Later Life

October 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18
 

• 2-3:30 PM CT
• IN PERSON & ZOOM
• Longview Mansion
• Cost: $80

Instructor: Richard Garman, M.D. (’76), Retired Primary Care Physician and Medical Director with Hospice

Topics in this five-session series are:

Oct. 21: The Hidden Hazards: Avoiding PFAs and Environmental Toxins. Lecture one will also address what is successful aging: beyond survival to quality of life.

• What are PFAS and where are they found
• Health impacts of chronic exposure
• How do we reduce our exposure to environmental toxins

Oct. 28: Growing Older on Regenerative Ground: Aging and the Land

• What is regenerative farming?
• Soil health and its impact on food nutrients and our microbiome.
• Growing your own food as a form of physical, mental and social well-being
• What kinds of foods should we eat and what should we avoid
• The role of elders as stewards of land and tradition

Nov. 4: Movement for Life: Exercise and the Aging Body in Natural Spaces

• Benefits of exercise for mobility, heart health, cognition, and well-being
• Importance of movement in the natural environment
• Different types of exercise
• Adapting routines with aging and illness
• Relaxation Response
• Mindfulness
   

Nov. 11: Better Together: Socializing, Belonging and Community as We Age

• Health Impacts of loneliness vs. social connection
• Managing grief
• Importance of spirituality and volunteering

Nov. 18: At the End: Aging, Death and the Medical System

• In the provider’s office; what should you ask
• Legal matters: wills, power of attorney and advanced care directives

• Understanding long term care, palliative care, and hospice options

   

As the Page Turns Book Club: Chapter 9

September 17; October 8, 29; November 19 
 

• 10-11:30 AM CT
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Longview Mansion
• Cost: $80

Instructor: Kay Wyatt (’69), Lipscomb Academy English Professor (Retired)

Join us this fall for Chapter 9 of “As the Page Turns Book Club,” which will meet on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Please consider joining the book club for some interesting discussions!

• Sept. 17: We will discuss "The Door-to-Door Bookstore" by Carsten Henn about a man who delivers books to special customers and is their most important connection to the world.
• Oct. 8: "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt shows how the great rewiring of childhood because of smart phones and social media is causing an epidemic of mental illness.
• Oct. 29: We will discuss "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles, which tells the story of Count Alexander Rostov, who in 1922 is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol Hotel in Moscow for the rest of his life.
• Nov. 19: "Lessons in Liberty" by Jeremy Adams gives “Thirty Rules for Living from Ten Extraordinary Americans.”

America's Civics Lesson - Fall 2025 Edition

September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 22, 29; November 5, 12
 

• 1-2:30 PM CT
• ZOOM ONLY
• Cost: $110

Instructor: Linda Peek Schacht (’72), Lipscomb University Faculty (Retired)

Join Linda Peek Schacht ('72) for one of our longest running Lifelong Learning classes. Since 2016 she has brought her White House, U.S. Senate, corporate communication and think tank board experience to a discussion of local, national and global events through the lens of leadership and communication.

This fall's topics include the information ecosystem that has given news influencers more impact than journalists, technology and AI's impact on journalism and democracy, and the ongoing political, policy and legal battles that could redefine key institutions and concepts of our democracy and global alliances. Occasional guest speakers and scholars from journalism, politics, policy and government will share their perspectives.

Adult Beginning Piano Class 1

September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; November 5
 

• 5:30 -6:30 PM CT
• Piano Lab at McMeen Music Building
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Cost: $265
• Capacity: 10

Instructor: Dr. Jackie Edwards-Henry, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Piano, Mississippi State University and Adjunct Instructor and Collaborative Pianist, Lipscomb University. Assisted by student intern Jonathan Edde 

For the third semester, adult piano classes will be offered through a collaborative effort of Lifelong Learning and the School of Music at Lipscomb University.

Adult Beginning Piano Class 1 is for students ages 25-75+ with little to no previous background in music or piano. This hour-long class will meet once per week for 10 weeks. Only 10 spaces are available and will be filled on a first-come, first-reserve basis.

Adult Piano Class R&C (Resuming and Continuing)

September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; November 5 
 

• 6:30-7:30 PM CT
• Piano Lab at McMeen Music Building
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Cost: $250
• Capacity: 10

Instructor: Jackie Edwards-Henry, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Piano, Mississippi State University and Adjunct Instructor and Collaborative Pianist, Lipscomb University.

For the third semester, adult piano classes will be offered through a collaborative effort of Lifelong Learning and the School of Music at Lipscomb University.

Adult Piano Class R&C is for students who have had a year or more of piano study and can read treble and bass clef. The class will begin with a review of basic pitch and rhythm notation and will feature a variety of styles of repertoire, chord construction, lead sheets, improvisation and ensemble playing.

This hour-long class will meet once per week for 10 weeks. Only 10 spaces are available and will be filled on a first-come, first-reserve basis.

Women Warriors: An Examination of Service, Sacrifice and Trauma

September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 2 
 

• 10-11:30 AM CT
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Longview Mansion
• Cost: $80

Instructor: Karon Uzzell-Baggett, OTD, OTR/L, LT COL, USAF, Retired

Women are the fastest growing veteran demographic, but the experiences and needs of these selfless warriors are unique. This course will examine these unique issues and ways that women warriors can address trauma in their lives.

How to Paint from Photographs

September 4, 11, 18, 25; October 2
 

• 1-3:30 PM CT
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Longview Mansion
• Cost: *$350 Printed photos and all materials are provided except for your canvas. The canvas size and brand are up to you.
• Capacity: 10

Instructor: Mattie Ree Neal (’20 Academy), Artist in Residence, Lipscomb University 

In this class we will create a studio painting from photo reference. All subject matter is welcome. You may like to paint a portrait of a loved one, a favorite pet or a special landscape. I will walk you through each stage of the process. We will cover important concepts in class as a group, and I will give individual feedback, easel-to-easel as you work. All levels of experience are welcome!

Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

*Due to Lipscomb’s special relationship with Mattie Ree Neal, we are excited to offer this workshop to our Lipscomb community for a discounted rate of only $350!

Native Plant Gardening Applied

October 23, 30; November 6, 13, 20 
 

• 10-11:30 AM CT
• IN PERSON ONLY
• Longview Mansion
• Cost: $80

Instructor: Paul Prill, Ph.D., Lipscomb University Professor (Retired); Certified Master Gardener of Davidson County; Certified Tennessee Naturalist

Get ready to get your hands a little dirty as we move from the classroom to the yard to think about how to install a native plant garden at your house. Along the way, we will talk about why native plants are important, how to prepare a site for a pollinator patch/urban meadow and how to keep costs down.

• Session 1: Beginning Stages - How to evaluate your site and begin preparation for planting. We will move outside to identify some invasive plants and begin the process of removing a few of them outside of Longview.
• Session 2: Bringing nature home. We don't have to leave our yards to have an experience of nature. Nature is all around us if we refocus our attention. We will talk about how to identify what is in your yard, both plants and fauna (insects/small mammals/etc) and the roles they play in a regenerative ecosystem.
• Session 3: Too many choices. How does a person select among the myriads of choices offered at nurseries, online catalogue and plant sales? We will talk about strategies for determining ways to research plants and plant communities as well as explore some websites which specialize in native plants.
• Session 4: Lowering costs without lowering impact. We will talk about some simple propagation strategies which will enable you to walk out of class with some plants as well as learn how to grow your own using seed germination, division and basic techniques for cuttings.
• Session 5: Nature's Best Hope. This class will take place at the instructor's yard—weather permitting—to recap all we have talked about during the previous four weeks. Sometimes in the face of extreme heat and weather patterns, news about insect and bird declines and the effects of urban sprawl, we can lose any hope that what we do makes any difference. We will learn some basic strategies for overwintering native plant gardens to maximize their success and their contribution to the environment over the years.

Hope Against Hope: Faith in a Time of Uncertainty

October 23, 30; November 6, 13, 20 
 

• 2– 3:30 PM CT
• IN PERSON & ZOOM
• Longview Mansion
• Cost: $80

Instructor: Russell Moore, Editor in Chief of Christianity Today; Bill and Crissy Haslam Endowed Distinguished Visiting Professor of Faith and Reason Lipscomb University

In a time marked by anxiety, cultural exhaustion and seemingly uncontrollable chaos, many wonder whether true peace is even possible. This five-week class explores how Christian hope is not a form of escapist optimism but something far deeper and more enduring—a way of living in sanity and joy even when the world feels unmanageable.

Drawing from biblical texts, especially the sixteenth chapter of Matthew, and theological insights from figures like Augustine, Bonhoeffer, and Wendell Berry, we will explore the difference between cheap hope and real hope—and why giving up control might be the beginning of a renewed life.

• Week 1: The Age of Panic and the Myth of Control
  We open with the cultural diagnosis: why our current moment is defined by both panic and boredom—two sides of the same illusion of control. We’ll explore the imagery of the god Pan, the meaning of “panic,” and why the cultural conditions of low certainty and low control are spiritually devastating. 
  Biblical focus: Matthew 16:1-12—the search for signs and the “sign of Jonah” Theological theme: How Christian hope is not grounded in control, but in resonance with a voice we do not engineer.
• Week 2: The Panic of Meaning We Cannot Manufacture 
  Why do we so often feel numb, bored, or disappointed even when we “have it all”? This session explores how panic masquerades as busyness and boredom—and why rediscovering true meaning requires relinquishing the demand that life feel meaningful on our terms. 
  Biblical focus: Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi. Literary and philosophical voices: Hartmut Rosa, Thomas Merton, Wendell Berry.
• Week 3: The Panic of a Future We Cannot Predict 
  We’ll consider our culture’s obsession with forecasting, from doomsday politics to horoscope spirituality, and why this kind of control leaves us paralyzed. How Christian eschatology helps us live into mystery rather than against it. 
  Biblical focus: Matthew 16:21–23 — “Get behind me, Satan!” Theological question: What does it mean to follow a Messiah who walks toward the cross rather than away from it?
• Week 4: The Panic of Desires We Cannot Fulfill 
  This session looks at the ‘limbic capitalism’ of our age—pornography, digital addiction, consumerism—and how the endless stimulation of the self leads to emotional and spiritual deadness. Why Jesus’ way is not repression but reformation of desire. 
  Biblical focus: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself…” (Matt. 16:24–26) Resources: Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship, Augustine’s Confessions, monastic tradition.
• Week 5: Hope That Doesn’t Disappoint 
  We conclude by examining what real Christian hope looks like in daily life: not a denial of danger, suffering, or death, but a life in which meaning is discovered, not manufactured. Biblical focus: The Transfiguration and the call to “listen to Him.” 
  Application: Cultivating ears to hear in an age of noise and numbness. Ending with Romans 4:18 — “In hope, he believed against hope.”