Thu 5 Apr 2012

Confronting Society’s Aging Myths

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry
No Comments

Approximately one out of every five Americans is 65 years of age or older, the numbers are growing.

As the years and quality of life are lengthened, old age is being redefined. For example, some sociologists are extending middle age up to 65.  People from 66 to 75 are referred to as the young old.  Those from 76 to 85 are considered old and if you are 86 and above you may be called the frail elderly.

We spend one-forth of our lives growing up, and three-fourths of our lives growing old.

Although our society spends time and money helping older people understand teenagers, very little time and money is spent helping younger people understand those who are older.  In fact, there is a tendency on the part of younger people to isolate older people away from their activities.  Perhaps this is a way that some of the younger generations deals with their fear of death.

Confronting Myths

We need to confront the ignorance and myths of society’s understanding of aging and older people by providing accurate information.  In fact, interview some old people and you may get a surprise.  Let us briefly look at some of these myths.

  • Myth:  A majority of those over 65 are senile.
  • Fact:  Only two to three percent of those over 65 are in some form of an institution.
  • Myth:  A large percentage of the aged are living in facilities for long-term care.
  • Fact:  Less than five percent of those over 65 and less that 10 percent over 75 live in long-term care facilities.
  • Myth:  Aged drivers have more accidents than younger drivers.
  • Fact:  Drivers over 65 have 24 percent fewer accidents than younger drivers under 65.
  • Myth:  It is almost impossible for older people to learn new things.
  • Fact:  Over 70 percent of older people go back to school, take courses, or obtain a degree each year.
  • Myth:  In general, most older people are alike.
  • Fact:  Older adults maintain their uniqueness as individuals at any age.

There are many instances that we could cite where older adults are not much different than younger people.  There are care ministries that older individuals are called to begin or be part of. Vacations with a purpose (my name for mission trips) are a part of some seniors’ lives.

Ministry is not restricted to someone above the age of 21 or below the age of 55.  

The Holy Spirit calls all people to spread the Word.

To you older adults, do not accept society’s misconceptions about your capabilities and worth. Begin or join a ministry in your church.

You, as a person that reads this blog regardless of your age can, through your bulletin or church newsletter, make your congregation aware of these myths.

If the older adult (50 plus) group or any individual are a part of a special ministry, I would like to know about that blessing that you are part of.  Please email me at singergosp@aol.com or by standard mail at, Lou Redd, 8720 Ridge Rd. Apt 110, Ellicott, City, MD 21043.  I would like to feature you in a future blog.

Next Time

My next post shall deal with the churchs’ responsibility to older adults. We shall consider special ministries for, Older Adults, Older Adults and Respect,and how to retain older Adults in churches.

An Invitation to “Ports of Call” – An Older Adult retreat

May I take the opportunity to invite you to our second annual older adult retreat.

Date:  May 21-23, 2012.

Location:  Skycroft Conference Center, Middletown MD

Theme:  “Ports of Call.”  Imagine you are cruising with us as we enjoy three days of fun, learning, singing, and a day-long excursion doing hands-on mission work.

This is a perfect retreat for individuals, church groups, or clubs.

Keynote Speaker:  Rev. Len Strozier, pastor of Woodbury Baptist Church in Woodbury, GA.  Worship Leader:  Ken Tipton of Calvary Baptist Church.

The Cost:  $75.00 per person (includes motel room, all meals, and all activities).

To register online visit, www.bcmd.org/ports or by phone at, 800-536-6759.

More details of this event is listed on the Upcoming Event section.  You can access it at the top of this page.

Just a Thought

“The man who starts out going nowhere generally gets there!”

God Bless!

Lou

 

Tags: , , , , ,

 

Mon 30 Jan 2012

Recalculate our Spiritual Lives

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry, Uncategorized
No Comments

Time to reboot and let the Holy Spirit recalculate our spiritual lives.

Happy New Year to each and everyone of you!  2011 was a year filled with great opportunities for service involving family, friends and our community.

As we look for opportunities in 2012, let us align ourselves with Christ as He came down to earth to seek and save those who are lost.  Let us remember that He came to serve others upon this earth and taught His followers how to minister His lessons.  Lessons that are sound and meaningful today.

Everyone that Jesus spoke to felt His love and compassion.

Let us go and touch the lives of others who need to meet Him or need to revive their relationship with Him.  Let us not worry about the world’s political correctness but rather worry only about our spiritual correctness.

It does not matter what age you are as any age can provide a true witness.

A number of people have asked about the age range I am trying to reach with my blog.  Though my calling in ministry is with older adults, I try to call attention towards Godly principles and how one may be of service with his or her fellow man or woman regardless of age.  I write for all ages and churches by providing facts that can be used in their ministry strategies with regards to builders, boomers, and those in generation X.

  • Builders – born prior to 1946
  • Boomers – born from 1946-1964
  • Generation X – born from 1965-1980

*   *   *   *

Current affairs.

As I am writing this blog,  I read that the Baltimore Sun newspaper headline is, “A big to do list in Annapolis.”  The Maryland State General Assembly began its session on January 11, and has a large number of issues to deal.   To be specific, Gender Identity and Same-sex marriage.

Spiritual point of view.

My concern, from a spiritual point of view, is the growing support for same-sex marriage.  We as Christians need to stand up and support the Biblical view in regards to homosexuality and God’s view on same-sex marriage.  God provided marriage as one man one woman.

Prayer.

I would like to ask you to pray, as God leads, pertaining to these vital issues facing our State.

Perhaps you could or need to organize a group from your church to be part of a rally that is going to Annapolis to let our legislators know how we feel about this sinful practice.  Perhaps you could draw up a petition for your members of your church to sign.

All it takes for sin and evil to thrive is for God’s people to do nothing.

Do not be ashamed to be the salt of the earth as proclaimed in Matthew 5:13.  Take action against the evil of this world!

“Graying” of the church.

Next time we shall review some statistics in regard to the graying of the church.  In the meantime, may I suggest to you of the encore generation the new Billy Graham book, “Nearing Home.”

I have provided a preview link of Nearing Home located at the bottom of the page.  Enjoy.

Lou

 

 

 

Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well – by Bill Graham

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.  -Acts 20:24 (ESV)

Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life,” says Billy Graham, known by many as God’s Ambassador. “I would have never guessed what God had in store for me, and I know that as I am nearing home, He will not forsake me the last mile of the way.”

In Nearing Home this man of faith-now in his nineties-explores the challenges of aging while gleaning foundational truths from Scripture. Billy Graham invites us to journey with him as he considers the golden years while anticipating the hope of being reunited with his wife, Ruth, in his heavenly home that eclipses this world. ”When granted many years of life, growing old in age is natural, but growing old with grace is a choice,” says the author. “Growing older with grace is possible for all who will set their hearts and minds on the Giver of grace, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Join Billy Graham as he shares the challenges of fading strength but still standing strong in his commitment to finishing life well.

“Explore with me not only the realities of life as we grow older but also the hope and fulfillment and even joy that can be ours once we learn to look at these years from God’s point of view and discover His strength to sustain us every day.”

-BILLY GRAHAM

Click here to read a preview of “Nearing Home.”


 

Tags: , , , ,

 

Fri 23 Sep 2011

Finding our Evangelistic Voice

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry
No Comments

I have been away from the diner for a long time, and it is great to see you all again after my vacation at Howard Hospital and Holy Cross Rehabilitation Center.

Our last discussion involved transformation of a person as he gives himself totally to the Father and His Son.

We covered the concern that some of us have that we have become lost in the world’s culture and therefore have lost our voice.

We learned that some are willing to send money for global ministries, but when it comes to glocal (local) ministries some are afraid that they will be politically incorrect if they speak of our Master to someone.

Personally, I want to be spiritually correct.

The questions are not how many people come to the 9:30 service as opposed to the 11:00 service or is the music the type we appreciate, but rather how can we find our evangelistic voice?

___________________________________________________________

 

Finding our Evangelistic Voice

You see, Jesus proclaimed that we are to be “salt” and “light” in our world and I fear that some Christians are flickering lights.  We need to be salt in our character before we can be effective as light.

The image of salt and light speaks of the eagerness to get out the message of Jesus Christ.  Transformation means we are to recapture the salt and light concept that Jesus lived.  We need to mirror Jesus in how we live.  The question is how does the church (people) fit into glocal evangelism?

Is the church the only true vessel for the kingdom of God?

No, but it is the local practical expression of it and it is the most underutilized vehicle for expanding the kingdom.

Instead of attempting to change society by more religious workers, we ought to focus on utilizing and transforming people who are already on the inside sitting in our pews.  If we are to truly be kingdom centered and truly transformed, we would not be fearful of sharing our faith within a perverse world.  We are to have faith not fear.  We need to overhaul our evangelistic life.

Can following Jesus ever be private?

No!  We as the Christian community must make a connection with the outside world.  For the most part community means different people.  The world itself means common unity.

I think the church today has confused community with socialization.  We come together for worship and let ourselves be a community.  The idea to me is to take that message and proclaim it to the surrounding community.

Connection is crucial

Connection is crucial to using your evangelistic voice in your glocal church (your Jerusalem).   Hebrews 12:1-3 indicates that the gospel proclamation is personal not private; it is a picture of connection.  Connection helps us with our call as Christians and that reflects the kingdom.

Glocal missionaries cause Glocal Impact

Glocal impact is where we challenge every member to serve the community locally and glocally.

Therefore the church is to be ready to serve God as the glocal missionary in order to have a glocal impact.  The Church (community unity) can have everyone be part of the action.

Is Transformation Possible?

Transformation is possible because we are in an interactive relationship with God,  accountable with other believers, and responding to ministry opportunities.

If we were all transformed, perhaps the church could turn the world right side up.

Next time we shall look at Renewed and Revived.

In His

Lou

Tags: , , , , ,

 

Tue 21 Jun 2011

Transformation

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry
No Comments

Transformation:  More Than Turning Over a New Leaf

Glad we are back in the diner where it is nice and cool.

At the conclusion of our last get together, I had left us with the thought of how the Boomer and the Builder generations could have an impact on tomorrow’s church. One thought is being “transformational in the church.”

Transformational = Transformed

In January, I along with other pastors, studied a book and attended a conference entitled “Transformational Church.”  I found both the book and conference interesting, and in my opinion very thought provoking.

I began to think about churches that I had belonged to and ones that I had pastored.  I thought of how many of them were not transformational and now sadly realized that in turn we/people were not transformed.

Stepping Up our Glocal Efforts

We need to find our voice as stated by Bob Roberts Jr. in his book Transformation;  “Not only, in my estimation, do we need to remain global in our evangelism but we need to step up our glocal efforts.”

What would our churches look like if the entire body of people like me would be mobilized and touch the people we come in contact with the message of Christ?

So how did we lose the evangelistic voice that we once had?


First:  We became lost in modern thought within the world.

We began to think that individuality, reason, science, and optimism would build a church rapidly.  True, the church did produced results and momentum,which in return caused results to reign supreme.  The church then began to look at the results and quoted God in creation, “It is good.”

The truth of the matter was we needed to examine the results that we were getting.

In other words, the church unwittingly merged with the same operating principles of governments and corporations but with only different products.

Secondly: The church became lost in consumerism.

We became lost in consumerism as the church began to think that the services that it provided had to be entertaining in order to make the gospel palatable to all.

This may have had increased the numbers of attendance, but did it increase the spiritual level of the church?

The church may have increased in size, buildings, budget, and yet we may not have succeeded in transforming lives.

Thirdly: We became lost in mega-mania.

Surely there are other factors that have affected the church, but I believe that in our church culture we think size proves success.

If you look at the Great Awakenings in America, the evangelistic movement did not, for the most part, consist of massive crusades but rather through small churches that touched their communities.

I feel that many churches today have lost their voice for their communities and according to Bob Roberts Jr:  “The question is not should churches grow, but why should they grow?”

I wished I had more time here at the diner, but let me leave you with some thoughts that I gleamed from my study of the “Transformational Church,” by Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer.

  1. The apostle Paul had an evangelistic voice.  He did not travel to places on his missionary journeys – he traveled to people.
  2. Real transformation or change starts with a new life not a new leaf.
  3. Real transformation or change is a process not a destination.  It is an encounter to mirror Jesus.
  4. Real transformation or change is letting go and grabbing hold.

Let us think about going glocal as well as global by letting ourselves be transformational and regain our evangelistic voice.

Have a great week and next time we will have new menus with new selections at the diner.

Lou

 

 

Tags: , , , ,

 

Fri 13 May 2011

Fixing A New Generation Gap

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry
No Comments

Fixing a new generation gap by doing things with or through the Encore Generation.

As we sit at our table in Redd’s Diner, we want to look at some basic facts as we review some statistics in regard to boomers.

The first of the “baby boom” generation are now turning 65 at the rate of 8,000 a day.

They are the healthiest, best educated and wealthiest in the nation’s history.

As we celebrate their vitality we discover that they are a generation that;

  • Loves the Beatles and Springsteen.
  • Crusaded to end a war and stop the spread of “nukes.”
  • Powered a new technology explosion.
  • Fueled the feminist movement.
  • Joined the battle for civil rights.

However, according to Jim Toedtman, Editor of the AARP Bulletin, there are challenges facing these Boomers who have saved too little, eaten too much and borrowed beyond their means.

It is not a fight among generations; it is a family working through the process.

In my estimation the problems that our society is experiencing were not caused by any single generation, nor can any single generation solve the problem.  It is not a fight among generations; it is a family working through the process.

According to a leading real estate firm, due to the 2010 real estate cost, more home buyers were looking for multi-generational homes.  With that statistic in mind, my thoughts in regard to ministry with or through the Encore Generation becomes my focus.

“Wake up son or daughter, I am still able to be erect each day.”

A ministry to older adults implies that older adults are passive receivers in the relationship.

There is the thought that you give me something because I am too old to contribute anything in ministry.  My response, “wake up son or daughter I am still able to be erect each day.”

A ministry with or through older adults is a ministry that all generations do together.  That way everyone in the family of God is serving together.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

What churches fail to recognize in many cases is the potential to grow a church by growing the number of senior adults (one of the largest unchurched people groups) who comprise over 20% of our population.

Christian Boomers Characteristics

As we leave this session we shall look at some characteristics evident in Boomers commitment to ministry discovered and provided to us in a recent LifeWay “think-tank.”

  1. Active Christian boomers love the Lord and their church.  They want to continue to be involved, lead and/or serve.
  2. They see the church, para-church ministries as platforms for investing their skills and expertise in service that will make a difference.
  3. Their dollars will follow their heart.  They may tend to do more designated giving for ministries that become close to their interests.
  4. Conflict in the church could cause them to leave permanently.
  5. Their attendance may be sporadic, interrupted by impromptu activities with grandchildren, short trips, vacations or illness.

*   *   *   *

At our next time together I look forward in speaking to you more about these characteristics, as well as,  see what impact tomorrow’s church can make on the Boomers,and the Builders generation (which is my generation).

Go and serve, Lou

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

 

Wed 12 Jan 2011

Reboot For 2011

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry
No Comments

When we left the big table at Lou Redd’s diner, I gave you some things to think about for today’s session around the table.  I left you with the idea of doing things with or through older adults.

I would like for you to hold onto that thought until the next time we meet mainly because I would like to take this time for us to focus upon ourselves as we hit the new year head on.

New Year’s Resolutions?  How about rebooting yourselves instead?

I never do New Year’s resolutions; instead, I like to think of it as an opportunity to reboot.   And just like you have to reboot your computer ever so often, you must reboot yourself at least once each year.  In other words, you must evaluate or re-evaluate yourselves periodically.

Let’s do a 2011 Reboot

Beginning with me let us look at some things we can do to reboot as we begin 2011.

  • Realize that church is not a noun; it is a verb.  Do something to improve the thing you have been complaining about.
  • Break the Bible into manageable portions for reading purposes.  Do not try to read it all in one month.  Our goal is to let God speak to us thought His Word, not speed reading.
  • Select a Bible study workbook that fits into your everyday work and family schedule.  Select one that fits your personality and lifestyle.  If you choose one that is a five-day-a-week study with daily homework, you will need to work at pacing your progress.
  • Choose the right time that you can spend in prayer with our Lord.  It may be morning or night or at several intervals during the day.
  • Take the time to take several families in your church, or church community under your care.   You  do not need to take on the whole world.

Stop and get your bearings

Before we leave this topic of rebooting, we all need to stop and get our bearings.  Beginning with Lou Redd we all need to ask the following questions prayerfully in the presence of God:

  • What is one thing I could do this year to increase my enjoyment of God?
  • What is the single most important thing I can do to improve the quality of my family life this year?
  • In which spiritual area of my life do I want to make progress in this year, and what will I do about it?
  • What is the single biggest time waster in my life, and what will I do about it?
  • What is the most helpful new way I can help my church?
  • For whose salvation will I pray most fervently this year?
  • What single thing that I plan this year will matter in 10 years? In eternity?

So let us evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live 2011 with biblical diligence.

It is now time for us to leave the diner, and go back to work thinking about doing things with and through older adults.

Until the next time,

Lou

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

 

Thu 9 Dec 2010

The New Old; Wake Up Church

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry
No Comments

Welcome back to Redd’s Diner as we find ourselves sitting around the big table discussing issues involving, “Savvy Seniors”which are part of the “Encore Generation.”

*   *   *   *

Seniors are living longer and doing more in their later years than some people give them credit for.

Even in my own church some members are questioning why we are spending more for youth programs than we are for golden agers, and as I have stated before in my blog musings, seniors make up the larger percentage of our country’s population.  Even in our evangelistic outlook, seniors comprise one of the largest unchurched groups.

*   *   *   *

Society, in general, fails to look at seniors as individuals with skills and knowledge based upon a wealth of experience and history.

Today, let us look at a group that church executives have identified as the “new old.”  They are the boomers that bring much to the church, but often are “unnoticed.”

When you look at baby boomers such as my daughters (early 50′s), terms such as old, elderly, senior, golden-agers, etc. do not seem to fit or describe boomers.  Many of these boomers, who were involved in youth ministry, are now entering their fifth and sixth decades of life.

So you may be asking what changes do they bring?

  • Baby Boomers are approaching aging in a different way than the preceding generations  They have no desire to spend their retirement years sitting in a rocking chair or playing shuffleboard.
  • Just as when they were young, they are interested in changing the world.
  • They do not want to get old and are doing everything they can to stay healthy and look young.
  • Even if they continue to work, they work at jobs where they can make a difference in society.

The church has bought into the myth that younger is better.

They believe that a growing church has a lot of young people, and if you have too many older adults that must mean that you are a dying church.

Instead, we have the potential to grow a church by increasing the number of older adults because millions of adults over the age of 50 are not Christians.

If we will be intentional about reaching these people for Christ, our churches will grow, especially when you consider that there are 78 million boomers, many of whom are not connected to the church.

As you leave the diner, think about the distinction of doing things with or through older adults rather than seeing them as just older adults.

I also want you to do something that is an option.  Look up Dr. Amy Hanson’s website www.amyhanson.org. She is a specialist in gerontology.  Her book, “Baby Boomer and Beyond: Tapping The Ministry Talents and Passions of Adults over 50,“  has provided much of the material for this blog.

Until next time, blessings.

Lou

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Thu 28 Oct 2010

The World We Live In: How Do We Choose to Deal With It?

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry
No Comments

When we last met together on the written page, I promised that we would look at how diverse our world’s population has become.  We will do that; after saying, “Wow I never thought about that before.”

What is the next step that can be the most humanitarian thing you have ever done?

  • Would you develop or ignite a personal vision to help someone, or some group, in order to be “salt and light” as God’s Word refers?
  • Would you develop a behavior to impact others?

According to the Mitsubishi Research Institute the diversity of our world can be assessed in several ways.  If we shrink the world’s population to a village of 100 people.  It would look like the following:

  • 57 Asians
  • 21 Europeans
  • 14 from the Western Hemisphere
  • 8 Africans

Of these 100 villagers:

  • 52 are female, 48 are male
  • 70 are non-white, 30 are white
  • 70 are non-christian, 30 are christian
  • 89 are heterosexual, 11 are homosexual
  • 59% of the wealth is held by 6 people
  • 80% live in substandard housing
  • 70% are unable to read
  • 50% suffer from malnutrition
  • 1 is near death, 1 is near birth
  • 1 has a college education
  • 1 owns a computer

Learning to live and embracing all that entails in a diverse culture is the heart of our survival.

What does it mean to you?

As you look at the list that you just read, what stands out that makes you want to do something about the problem?  As a servant of my Lord, I want to reach those and bring them to Christ.

At a Billy Hybels’ Summit in 2007, he introduced me to a stirring thought, “Holy Discontent.”  From that moment on I looked at the evil in the world and vow to fight it with more vigor.  However, I am not talking about evil as the only problem that we can help solve.

Let me use a personal example; I entertain in senior centers, churches, as well as, other venues.  Generally, I pick the style of music in regard to Gospel, 50′s, 60′s and so forth.  One of the senior centers that I entertain in has a large number of Asian participants.  Instead of doing comedy and ballads, I select a more upbeat music program in order to create audience participation.

What does this tell you?

Sometimes in order to be ministry effective we must get out of our comfort zone.  We might have to volunteer in a homeless shelter, or we might be convicted to learn a language in order to meet a need.  Dealing with diversity does not mean ignoring it; it means you are meeting a need head on with love for all people.

A pastor once told me that my age group does not keep pace with their younger counterparts.  I told him to ask a geezer like me to do something and it gets done.

We are not far behind in the electronic race.

According to Verizon FIOS:

  • Older adults 65-74 access the Internet at rates higher than many expected with 58% stating they regularly log on.
  • 28% of those over 65 discuss Internet health care information with their doctors, compared with 33%  of those under 65.

This short piece of information speaks of information necessary for me to listen to.

  1. It indicates that all age groups can be wired for the future.
  2. Each age group can have a desire for its individual members to know about world problems and do something about them.

All ages must consider the following and then identify one or more problems.  Then our “Holy Discontent”  will move us to do something.

  • What about the poor?
  • Who will care for the sick and dying?
  • Will anyone visit the prisoners?
  • Who will clothe the naked?
  • Who will take in the orphans?
  • Who will give water to the thirsty, and community to the outcast?

Remember Popeye and his famous statement, “That’s all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more?”

When all ages in our churches and communities recognize what is going on around us and we are stirred with “Holy Discontent,” we will become Popeye people loving our neighbors as ourselves.

The next time we have lunch together at Redd’s Diner (the written gathering) we shall look at the new old and their problems.

In His service

Lou

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

 

Fri 6 Aug 2010

Public Service

Posted by Lou Redd under Older Adult Ministry
No Comments

In our last blog we spoke about the message we send to others.  I said, “that as we lift our heads and our attitudes in a more positive manner, our actions become positive as well.”

During past tough economic times, according to a March 7th article in  Parade Magazine, there was a decrease in volunteering.  However, today there is a compassion boom of people helping others.

An exclusive new Parade Poll of 1008 respondents demonstrate that our nation is in the midst of a volunteering boom. Thus, this blog will deal with how and why so many Americans are working to improve our communities and the world.

*   *   *   *   *

Public service has become more than a phrase or a school requirement in our country.

According to CEO, Patrick Corvington of the Federal Corporation for National and Community Service, public service has now become a way of life.

  • Many people who are out of work are now volunteering to stay connected in their communities, as well as, help keep their job skills sharp.

Corvington also explains that 94% respondents believed that it is important to be personally involved in a course that they believe in and 90% said they are working hard to teach their children the importance of activism.

Parents are leading by example.

Parents are leading by example, talking to their children about issues and causes, and urging them to follow role models who are working for positive change.

It seems that compassion counts more than ever.

One of the respondents polled is an attorney who volunteers at an elder-care facility and takes his young daughter with him.  He teaches her that those out of the public view need attention.

What would you do if given a $100,000?

One of the questions asked  the 1008 Americans in the Parade poll was, what would they do if given $100,000 to donate to charity?  I have listed the top ten responses:

  1. Food and shelter for the needy
  2. Disease research
  3. Disaster relief
  4. Animal welfare
  5. Youth programs
  6. Poverty relief/job assistance
  7. Education
  8. My religious charity
  9. Global environment
  10. Public health

It seems that a lot of people have been reshaped for service as the “mindset of Christ” becomes the focus instead of our “me” focus.

As we have looked briefly at the why people are becoming involved in more volunteerism, let us now look at the how aspect of the respondents.

Making a difference.

Almost all of the respondents (98%) have engaged in at least one activity to make a difference.

  • 91% to the hungry.
  • 30% helped organize a fund raising event.
  • 32% participated in service projects such as clean up at a local beach, park, or public area.
  • 24% volunteers at a soup kitchen or food bank.

What do you think is responsible for this great change in our country today in regard to this boom in volunteering?

In my study I have found it is not what but who.

In today’s population, based upon the Parade Poll, there are three distinct types of Americans who are driving the change in our communities and country.

“Yeppies, Rapid Responders, and The Mission Minded”

Just as this 76 year old was glad to see  how the Boomers changed some of the ways we do church, I am now glad to meet the new groups which are the “Yeppies,” (Young, Engaged Problem Solvers), “Rapid Responders,” and “The Mission Minded.”

  • “Yeppies” rely on social media and socializing to fuel their activism and volunteerism.  They have faith that individuals can solve social problems.  They are open to a variety of causes.
  • “Rapid Responders” are not out to improve the entire world.  Their focus is more personal as their causes tend to stem from specific problems such as health or a neighborhood issue.  Responders often organize community events to raise awareness or money for the causes.
  • “The Mission-Minded” consist of older Americans for the most part who are motivated by their faith.  To them, supporting basic needs like food and shelter is a faith duty.  They feel that the world’s problems can be fixed by faith groups.

There you have it in a few paragraphs, but I assure you, I shall study these groups in my future research.

Next time, we shall look at our diverse population.

Lou

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

 

Tue 1 Jun 2010

The Messages We Send

Posted by Lou Redd under Uncategorized
No Comments

In our last blog we dealt with your personal encounter with our Lord and how the Holy Spirit moves you into a relationship that gives you a positive eternal life guarantee to heaven.

Once we accept that guarantee the Lord expects you to work for Him.

No matter what vocation you have you are expected to be a full-time Christian in that vocation.  The message we send to others around us will determine the effectiveness of your full-time Christian experience.

Words are powerful tools; they can build up or tear down.  You and I can not carelessly say whatever we want and then expect a quick apology to heal all wounds.  Even words spoken in haste can deeply hurt someone.

Of course, not all messages we send are verbal.  Facial expressions and body language can communicate acceptance or rejection, like or dislike, love or hate.

We should also consider whether we are making the most of every opportunity to encourage those around us.  We can be tremendous instruments of God’s blessing to others if we will closely monitor what we communicate.

The apostle Paul instructed believers in Ephesians 4:29 in regard to words.

  • “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment so it will give grace to those who hear.”

That does not just mean that we should avoid cursing, but gossiping as well.  What we say should bless others.

Many times we have been victims of the power of words.  Parents, teachers, other authority figures, and friends have encouraged or discouraged us through their words.
  • The tongue has influenced nations; Hitler destroyed nations with his lies while Churchill energized England with his words.

How effective we are in living the Christian life also involves involving the examples of Christ-like living and how joyful and appreciative are we in what He has given us in life.

When students in school would ask me if I was rich I would reply,

  • “Yes, I have a God who loves me, a Savior that died for me, and Holy Spirit that guides me, a family that loves me, and many church people who are my friends.

If I would react with a negative response, why would anyone want to belong to Christ?

We, of course in living the Christ-like life, need to obey the Christ-like principles as given in His Word, but we need to convey to others how much we really care.

Each person must have a sense of belonging, worthiness, and competency.  When you accept Christ as Lord these three emotions fulfill those basic needs.

  1. Through our belonging to God, we feel acceptance.
  2. Through the worthiness evident by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we feel loved.
  3. Through the competence made possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we feel secure.

Why not speak like, live like, and look like our God has satisfied those basic needs.  Then you can pass on the message to others.

Through a personal relationship with Jesus anyone can find freedom from the negative messages they have endured.

Look for opportunities to build people up by your words and your style of living.  I leave you with the thought of what we should do as we wait upon the Lord:
  1. Continue to do what you believe to be the right thing, trusting in the Holy Spirit (John 16:13)
  2. Listen for guidance God may be giving you through your pastor or other church leaders.  (Acts 17:11)
  3. Pray and seek God’s guidance.  let Him help you think outside the box. (Isaiah 55:8)

Our next get together we shall deal with, “A Positive Side During Economic Troubles.”

Lou

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

 

Next Page »