Some of you know Jeannie’s story. For more than four decades, she lived independently, by herself. She was not happy five or six years ago when her adult children told her it was no longer safe for her to be behind the wheel of her automobile. That loss of independence was an adjustment, into which she eventually settled. But in the years since, with her eyesight failing and her mobility weakening, it was becoming clear to her children, if not to her, that she needed help.
Earlier this year, while Mary Ann and I were visiting Jeannie, staying in her guest room in her condo, we spent an afternoon touring a residential care facility with her, talking and thinking about what some of the advantages of living there might be. She was reluctantly considering her options. She knew that going up and down stairs was becoming more challenging, and a day would come when she wouldn’t be able to make the climb. Her eyesight had faded to the point that she could not see that some of the food in her refrigerator had spoiled. Still, the thought of moving from her spacious two-bedroom condo to a one room unit in a residential facility was hard for her to process.
The following day, as Mary Ann and I awakened, preparing to pack up our car and head home, we found Jeannie was experiencing whole body tremors. She could not stop shaking. We called an ambulance, and the paramedics brought her downstairs and took her to the emergency room for observation and testing. Over the next week, doctors ran a series of tests and found the results inconclusive. They were able to rule out any number of diagnoses, but unable to determine what was causing the tremoring.
By the end of the week, it was clear to everyone that Jeannie would not be going back to her condo. Within a few weeks, she had settled into that one-bedroom unit in an assisted living center for seniors. The adjustment to her new surroundings took a toll on her body and her mind. We all began to see memory issues emerging. She now needed a wheel chair to get around her apartment. As you might expect, the new reality brought the dark clouds of depression.
After years of seeing incremental declines in Jeannie’s abilities, and marveling and how remarkable a woman she was, navigating her mid 90’s, we arrived today to her 97th birthday dinner sobered by the reality of the more precipitous decline we have all seen taking place this spring and summer. To watch the body and mind in decline is a hard reality to face for all of us – especially for Jeannie.
Having celebrated my own 70th birthday earlier this year, I have found myself thinking a lot more about how we face the reality of aging in a way that honors God. I’ve had a number of books that have helped shape my thinking about the journey I’m on. A decade ago, I read a book written by a 70-year-old gerontologist called Finishing Well To The Glory Of God (https://us.list-manage.com/U_0P5p9D7s2?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) (the interviews I did with him (https://us.list-manage.com/u33_1Jna8ZR?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) are still online). That same year, I read a book called The Third Third Of Life (https://us.list-manage.com/8A7X4CR6xku?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf). And in the past several years, I’ve been helped by two books written by my friend Robert Wolgemuth called Gun Lap: Staying In The Race with Purpose (https://us.list-manage.com/IjR8ocB747j?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) and Finish Line: Dispelling Fear, Finding Peace, and Preparing for the End of Your Life (https://us.list-manage.com/wox5tM2Rj2j?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
(As a side note – some of you may not know that we have a group of men who meet on Fridays to talk together about thriving spiritually in the last laps of life. It’s our own Gun Lap group, and Jim McMurry helps pull it all together each week. If you’re interested in finding out more, reach out to Jim and he’ll get back to you).
I’ve also gone back and reviewed a series of messages about aging that I first heard some two decades ago. Professor Howard Hendricks from Dallas Seminary, then in his mid 80’s, spoke to a small group I was part of about a biblical understanding of aging. Those lectures have been preserved online (https://us.list-manage.com/T1rz9ESNsqm?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf)wrapped in a podcast hosted by Dr. Michael Easley.
Here's just a sample of what Dr. Hendricks shared in his lectures:
“There are two lines in every person's life. There is a lifeline, and there is a purpose line, and the moment the purpose line evaporates, it is just a question of time before the lifeline goes as well...”
“If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next world. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this world...”
“You constantly need to ask the question I hope you have asked prior to this – why did God place me on the planet?... People constantly ask me, ‘What are you going to do when you retire?’ I said, ‘You've got to be kidding. I'm going to continue to do what I'm doing right now and have been for over 51 years at the seminary and prior to that in a pastorate, and that's building into the lives of other people.’ But what happens if I become incapacitated? I can no longer travel, no longer move, no longer speak? Then I will spend those remaining years praying for those like you that God has left on the planet to fulfill the mission He has given you.”
We need to be proactively thinking about how we will invest our lives for God’s glory should He tarry and should we live into our 80’s or 90’s or beyond. Our so called “golden years” may be filled with all kinds of challenges, as the writer of Ecclesiastes notes. In chapter 12, he calls our senior years the “evil days” that come – days in which we will say to ourselves “I have no pleasure in them.” He paints a bleak picture of the physical decline that comes with aging and tells us to be spiritually prepared for what may lie ahead.
In the memorable words of Moses, in Psalm 90, we are told:
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:10–12).
As we are aging, Mary Ann and I keep reminding ourselves of the kind of old people we want to be for as many years as God may give us breath. Kind, gracious, loving, productive, unselfish people, still producing the fruit of the Spirit even when life becomes increasingly more challenging. We want to be numbering our days and gaining a heart of wisdom.
As we prayed at dinner tonight, thanking God for our 97-year-old mother and mother-in-law, I prayed silently “Lord, for however many days I have remaining, help me to be a blessing and not a burden. Help me to continue to seek first your Kingdom and your righteousness. May I live on mission all the way to the finish line.”
ROMANS BIBLE STUDY WITH CURTIS THOMAS
As I was thinking about being productive in my later years, I heard this week from Curtis Thomas. Because of the interest in his upcoming class on Romans, and because some who want to take the class can’t come on Monday nights, Curtis is adding a second night for the study each week. So if Monday doesn’t work for you, let Curtis know and plan to attend the study on Tuesday evenings beginning September 15. For more information or to register, contact Curtis at c-b.thomas@sbcglobal.net (mailto:c-b.thomas@sbcglobal.net). Or call or text: 501.680.8583.
MEN'S END OF SUMMER HANGOUT
This Friday night. 6:00 pm at church.
Food. Fellowship. Some friendly competition.
If you’ve been in Forge Groups this summer, our Men’s Hangout is a chance for all the Forge groups to get together. And if you haven’t been in one of the groups, you’re still invited to come. It’ll be a great time to get with other men from the church for some relaxed fun.
Here’s the info.
AWANA REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Our Awana Kickoff night this fall is Wednesday, September 2. And we are running out of space quickly. If you haven’t signed up your kids yet, do it now! You can (https://us.list-manage.com/ZGvjkt6HLuC?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) click here to register now.
Don’t forget – if you’re a member at Redeemer and you’d like to minister to and love on kids each week, here’s the perfect opportunity for you to pitch in and serve. Contact Laura White and let her know you’re interested. Laurawhite811@gmail.com (mailto:Laurawhite811@gmail.com)
NXTGEN SINGLES & YOUNG ADULT HANGOUT
As summer winds down, the NxtGen group is gearing up for fall. If you are college aged or young adults, plan to join with others from the church for the NxtGen fall kickoff on Saturday, September 5 at the Gurney’s house. Contact Pastor Matt for more info or if you have questions. mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com (mailto:mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com)
NEW MEMBERS CLASSES
If you’ve been attending Redeemer for a while and would like to know more about what it means to officially become a member of our church, you’re invited to our upcoming New Members Meeting on Friday night September 11 and Saturday morning September 12.
WOMEN'S FALL GATHERING
Ladies, mark your calendar for Monday night, September 14. That’s the night for the Women’s Fall Gathering – an evening filled with great fellowship and great food.
If you’re planning to attend, please let us know. Click here to register (https://us.list-manage.com/HPpxkszIsUD?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
FIRST FALL ROOTS HANGOUT
The first Roots Hangout with the Perkins this fall is coming up on Saturday night, September 12. Students, have you blocked out that evening yet on your calendar? Is it on your to do list? It should be.
MEN'S FOUNDATIONS STUDY
Every stable structure is built on a firm foundation. And to help strengthen the spiritual foundation of all the men in our church, we will be kicking off a two-year class this fall called Foundations – And Why They Matter. The first of our three fall meetings for the Foundations class will happen on Thursday night, September 17 at 7:00 pm at the church. The remaining class dates for this fall and next spring are listed below.
Although it’s not a requirement, men who will be taking this class will be helped by getting a copy of Paul David Tripp’s book Do You Believe: 12 Historic Doctrines To Change Your Everyday Life (https://us.list-manage.com/TGkeeNAvGYZ?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) and to read chapters 1-2 before the first class.
The class will be highly interactive and discussion based.
Men, put these dates in your calendar now and plan to join us for the Foundations class this fall and next spring.
FALL BIBLE STUDIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
This fall, the men and women of the church will have Bible study opportunities.
The men will be starting and extended study through the book of Genesis. Two class times each week – Tuesdays at lunch or Thursday evenings. Here’s the info. Or click here to register (https://us.list-manage.com/12v1pGPqbn9?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
Meanwhile, the women will be spending this fall going through the first eight chapters in the Gospel of John. The study will take place on Monday nights or Tuesday mornings. All the details can be found here (https://us.list-manage.com/LsMDmvX3W0V?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf). Sign up now to be part of the study this fall.
REDEEMER FALL EVENTS CALENDAR
If you’d like to take a look at all we have planned for this fall at Redeemer, the Fall Calendar is ready to be downloaded (https://us.list-manage.com/16oMfg4bEXo?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf). Or you can pick up a copy at church on Sunday.
READY FOR SUNDAY
Here is out preview (https://us.list-manage.com/rYlooSIJmN0?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
If we’re going to walk in a manner worthy of our calling as Christians, and if we’re going to preserve the unity of the Spirit that is so precious to Christ, there are four essential virtues that will be necessary. Sunday as we continue to look at the book of Ephesians, we’ll look carefully at the virtues the Bible commends as indispensable for each of us as members of one another in the church.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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