Redd Alert

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.”

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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.

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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

In our last computer get together, suicide was our topic.  I spoke in written form about causes that affect some individuals to choose the suicide path.

You may say, “I have never thought or will never think of being a suicide statistic.” Yet, Dr. David Jeremiah, the pastor of Shadow Mountain Church in California, has noted that many of God’s people have “Giants” in their lives.

In the Old Testament giants were present as the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land. They were actual people that threatened the lives of God’s people.

Later, David faced Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-51)

Today, many of God’s children face several ‘Giants” in their lives that intimidate and do not allow them to have a joyful life in the Lord.

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Let us now take a look at some of these “Giants” that Dr. Jeremiah referenced, they may be one, two or ALL of the following.

* After commenting on Dr. Jeremiah’s “Giants” we shall claim scripture pertaining to each one.

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These 12 “Giants” invade our lives and seek to destroy the work of God in us.

1. Fear
2. Guilt
3. Doubt
4. Discouragement
5. Temptation
6. Procrastination
7. Loneliness
8. Anger
9. Failure
10. Worry
11. Resentment
12. Jealousy

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FEAR:

• Fear disregards God’s plan for us; after all His desire for us is that we walk not in fear, but in the power of His love.

• In a way when we live in fear we let it distort Gods purpose for our Life. Fear causes one to not believe God’s promises and could cause one to disobey God’s principles.

How can you overcome fear?  Claim scripture from God’s Word as fear is being disobedient to God.

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DISCOURAGEMENT:

• Discouragement is bound to hit us at one or two points in our life.  However, to dwell upon discouragement can cause problems.

• The best way to combat discouragement is to recognize what makes you vulnerable to it.  Then you can keep it at a distance.

• Basically, according to Christian psychologist, Larry Crabb, there are four factors that cause discouragement to be a giant in our life:  Note:  two of these are giants by themselves.

1. 1. Fatigue
   2. Frustration
   3. Failure
   4. Fear

How do you respond to discouragement?  Do as Nehemiah did, cry out to God, continue the work that He has given you to do and concentrate on the big picture.  Claim the encouragement of God’s promises that He is with you.

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FATIGUE:

• Fatigue is a factor that makes us vulnerable to discouragement.  Sometimes we push ourselves too hard.  Though It is necessary to work hard,  it is also necessary to rest and recuperate.

When we are tired, we have trouble accomplishing our goals.  Therefore, we become discouraged.

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FRUSTRATION:

Frustration is a factor that faces us at some time in our lives.

• Nehemiah’s workers in (Nehemiah 4:10)  faced both fatigue and frustration.  They had worked 25 to 30 days without a break and as a result they were tired and their strength was failing.

• In order to finish the wall they were faced with the frustration of moving the prior stones that the Babylonians had left when they tore down the old walls.  However, they persevered  and completed the task at hand.

• If you live your life without purpose or you can not accomplish the task that you have set out to complete, you will become frustrated

You can live life three ways; you can live out, wear out, or burn out.

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FAILURE:

Failure is a factor that affects people in various ways.  Failure is not always the issue, it is how you respond to that particular failure.

I truly believed in my playing and coaching sports, that a setback was a setup for a comeback.

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LONELINESS:

Loneliness is a “giant” that manifest itself in different stages in life.

One thing that is encouraging despite the fact your life may be devoid of human relationships is that God is always with you.

Many of us have passed through one or more of these stages in our lifetime.  It is not a sin to be lonely, but it can be a sin if you indulge in it and allow it to turn to self pity.

Whether you are a lonely single, a lonely spouse, a lonely survivor or a lonely senior citizen, you can be a servant for our Lord with a purpose.

Many lonely servants go to the mission field either as a short-term or long term missionary.

Dr. David Jeremiah has suggested four ways to accept loneliness and how we can escape from loneliness engulfing us by:

• Acknowledging not denying we are alone
• Accepting God’s provision for our loneliness
• Allowing God’s Word to fill our heart and mind
• To activate a network of Christian friends.

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WORRY:

• Worry is future focused.  Worry can not change the future nor can it control the future.

In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus said, “Don’t worry” three times.  These are our marching orders for defeating the “giants” of worry.

Jesus was not saying we should not plan or be concerned about things in life that concern us spiritually or morally. He meant do not worry about things over which you have no control that paralyze you and those who depend upon you.

Jesus said to focus on only one thing in life, the Kingdom of God and the values which it stands for. To win over worry, we need to set our priorities.

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GUILT:

David had two “giants’ in his life.  Early in his life he faced Goliath and later, as King David, he had to deal with the “giant” of guilt.  Defeating the guilt in his sin was far more difficult than dealing with Goliath.

Two Psalms – Psalms 32 and 52 give us the story of how David lived with his sin (Psalm 32) and confessed his sin (Psalm 51).

• In Psalm 32 David agonized over his sin while in Psalm 51 he admitted his sin.

• In Psalm 32 David could not even talk to the Lord about his sin nor could he talk to anyone else about it.

Guilt had shut David down into a world of sorrow and silence.  He stayed in that world until God sent Nathan the prophet to confront him.  Then David realized it was time to admit his guilt.

The admission of Psalm 51 is something that all of use need to use as we open our facebook to God.

It is not just for David in his time and situation but also for Lou Redd to admit to my Lord my sin, and accept responsibility for it.

This will allow me to restore the joy and fellowship with my Lord and refocus upon what He has called me to do.

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The last one we shall deal with in this time frame is temptation (we shall cover the other six next time).

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TEMPTATION:

The word temptation is exposure to the possibility of doing the wrong thing.  Acting upon that exposure is where sin comes into our life.

There is a good passage that speaks of temptation.  1 Corinthians 10:12-14 speaks of standing firm and the fact that God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

If we resist the Devil, he will leave us.

We need to flee from temptation.  Whatever it is that blocks you from a right fellowship with God, you need to flee from that temptation.

• We all need to resolve to get off the low road of non-commitment and live on God’s high road.
• The high road is not free of temptation, but it provides a route of escape.

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I leave you with scripture that may help you to defeat those “giants” that we dealt with in this part 1 of giants.

Fear:  Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, he is the one that goes with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you.

Fear:  Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation, who shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life, of who shall I be afraid?

Discouragement:  2 Corinthians 4:16

Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Discouragement:  Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, wait I say on the Lord.

Loneliness:  Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. Though you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

Loneliness:  Matthew 28: 20

Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Worry:  Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Worry:  Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Guilt:  Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us

Guilt:  Isaiah 43: 25

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions or my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

Temptation:  Romans 13:14

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Temptation:  Hebrews 2:18

For in that He himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

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I wish to thank you for the many kind remarks that you have provided in regard to the blog.

I ask that you to encourage your family, friends and church members to read the material.  If church members and friends would also urge others to read the information, perhaps they would be encouraged as well.

Until the next time, may you have peaceful journeys.

Lou

In the last blog I introduced myself and explained what the Middle and Older Adult ministry would focus upon.  Now I would like to speak to you in regard to why it is necessary for the church to turn their attention to this particular age group. 

Let us begin by looking at the Age Wave in order to catch the middle and older adult awareness. 

The age wave began to break in the mid 1990′s as the first of 76 million U.S. baby boomers turned 50. 

Looking at this ever growing demographic the church needs to, if they have not done so, adopt a new paradigm in reaching older people beyond “happy time travel” and “covered dishes”. 

Church leaders need to recognize and tailor ministry to include;  

1. Middle adults 50 to 70. 
2. Older adults 70 to 80.
3. Mature adults 80 and over. 

Older adults that are in many churches are an untapped resource.  In my case, significant living is very important to me.  Most older adults have a yearning to do something significant with their lives.  May you ask the question, “What has your church done or is planning to do to provide significance in the second half of your older adult lives membership?”

Let me leave you with some facts in regards to middle and older adults: 

1. The number of people over 65 will be greater than people 18 and younger. 
2. They comprise 20% of the population. 
3. 87 million older adults are estimated to be alive by 2040. 
4. At present, if a woman survives to the ag of 65, she can expect to live on the average another 19 years, five which shall be years of dependency. 
5. For men, life expectancy after 65 is approximately 15 years, with three years of dependency. 
6. 34% of all Americans are 50 years of age or older. 
7. Every 7 seconds another person turns 50. 
8. People age 65 number over 35 million, representing one of  eight Americans. 
9. The projection of the “older” Americans is 20% by 2030. 
10. More than 200 Americans reach age 100 each week.

Now that we have become aware of the ministry need for reaching the middle, older, and mature adult population, we shall move to the steps of  how to organize a group in each church.  This will be covered in our next blog.

Lou