Comments on: Old People at Church http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:04:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: anton http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-15746 anton Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:37:35 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-15746 think that the dividsioan between older and younger, are largely non-existent..chekc out this vid of old people doing ballet..I find it inspirational http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe2_ixh1H90 think that the dividsioan between older and younger, are largely non-existent..chekc out this vid of old people doing ballet..I find it inspirational

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe2_ixh1H90

]]> By: G'ampa C http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14978 G'ampa C Sat, 16 Sep 2006 21:07:53 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14978 What a mistake we have made (my opinion) in segregating ourselves in the church by age. From nursery on, we are trained to be with our own age/development level/education level/marital status/ etc/ etc. We lose the knack for relating to others outside our little group. When I think back on the Basses, Ruth and Buster Lewis, and others, I am reminded that it should not be so. How they blessed me and my children!!! Not long ago, I was calling volunteers for prayers over a mission group, and I called one of our "older" members to donate 30 minutes. He was so excited to be asked, but he had never, ever been asked to do such a thing before. He has been a member of our church 15 years or so, all of them retirement years, and has never been asked to spend even 30 minutes praying for a special group or problem. He told me that sometimes he felt like the church had put him out to pasture before God was through with him. How sad is that? What have we missed by assuming that wrinkles are equivalent to retirement from life, that someone who is retired is no longer of use to the church? What have we missed by not creating events and circumstances which bring old and young together? As I look in the mirror (not as kind as it used to be) and review my own mortality, I am reminded that God is very, very old indeed, and age should not be a factor in fellowship and involvement. If the older generation has no value, why does God let people live so long? I think older folks, babies, children, students, parents and all have great value, and sometimes we just box ourselves up in our own age group cubicle and forget that. We miss a great deal by distancing ourselves from other age groups, both younger and older. We miss a great deal, indeed. What a mistake we have made (my opinion) in segregating ourselves in the church by age. From nursery on, we are trained to be with our own age/development level/education level/marital status/ etc/ etc. We lose the knack for relating to others outside our little group. When I think back on the Basses, Ruth and Buster Lewis, and others, I am reminded that it should not be so. How they blessed me and my children!!!
Not long ago, I was calling volunteers for prayers over a mission group, and I called one of our “older” members to donate 30 minutes. He was so excited to be asked, but he had never, ever been asked to do such a thing before. He has been a member of our church 15 years or so, all of them retirement years, and has never been asked to spend even 30 minutes praying for a special group or problem. He told me that sometimes he felt like the church had put him out to pasture before God was through with him. How sad is that?
What have we missed by assuming that wrinkles are equivalent to retirement from life, that someone who is retired is no longer of use to the church?
What have we missed by not creating events and circumstances which bring old and young together? As I look in the mirror (not as kind as it used to be) and review my own mortality, I am reminded that God is very, very old indeed, and age should not be a factor in fellowship and involvement. If the older generation has no value, why does God let people live so long?
I think older folks, babies, children, students, parents and all have great value, and sometimes we just box ourselves up in our own age group cubicle and forget that. We miss a great deal by distancing ourselves from other age groups, both younger and older. We miss a great deal, indeed.

]]> By: Kathy http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14959 Kathy Sat, 16 Sep 2006 14:25:15 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14959 Wrinkles - God's gift wrap, preparing us for His ultimate gift, life eternal with Him. Bring 'em on, LORD! Maranatha, LORD Jesus, Maranatha!!! btw-I wrote a piece about this May 30th this year. If you're curious: http://beauangelkitty.blogspot.com/2006/05/wrinkled-gift-wrap.html Wrinkles - God’s gift wrap, preparing us for His ultimate gift, life eternal with Him. Bring ‘em on, LORD!

Maranatha, LORD Jesus, Maranatha!!!

btw-I wrote a piece about this May 30th this year. If you’re curious:

http://beauangelkitty.blogspot.com/2006/05/wrinkled-gift-wrap.html

]]> By: Mark http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14958 Mark Sat, 16 Sep 2006 14:15:12 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14958 Actually, I've noticed that the converse is also true: wrinkles also go where frowns have been. Look at an old person, especially around the mouth, and you can tell whether they spent more time smiling or frowning. When I made that observation, I resolved to develop smile wrinkles. Time will tell... Actually, I’ve noticed that the converse is also true: wrinkles also go where frowns have been. Look at an old person, especially around the mouth, and you can tell whether they spent more time smiling or frowning. When I made that observation, I resolved to develop smile wrinkles. Time will tell…

]]> By: Beverly http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14957 Beverly Sat, 16 Sep 2006 14:13:33 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14957 i remember my grandmother's front porch and how it seemed holy when all her friends were out there rocking in their chairs talking about life. I remember peeking through the dusty old wooden slats of the shade hoping to get a glimpse and listening to the wisdom..this think tank on my grandmother's front porch in Montgomery, Alabama taught me many things and they had no clue..or did they... Old people are treasures that I fear our society has dumped..this makes me sad. i remember my grandmother’s front porch and how it seemed holy when all her friends were out there rocking in their chairs talking about life. I remember peeking through the dusty old wooden slats of the shade hoping to get a glimpse and listening to the wisdom..this think tank on my grandmother’s front porch in Montgomery, Alabama taught me many things and they had no clue..or did they…
Old people are treasures that I fear our society has dumped..this makes me sad.

]]> By: dentchaz http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14956 dentchaz Sat, 16 Sep 2006 13:16:37 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14956 Actually it was Mark Twain (not Jimmy Buffett) who said it first in "Following the Equator", but only a real PHead would know that. Here are some others..."Years may wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul" from Samual Ullman. "With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come" from William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. Actually it was Mark Twain (not Jimmy Buffett) who said it first in “Following the Equator”, but only a real PHead would know that. Here are some others…”Years may wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul” from Samual Ullman. “With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come” from William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.

]]> By: carolyn dycus http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14955 carolyn dycus Sat, 16 Sep 2006 13:08:14 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14955 Mike, it's good for me to know that you, a young person of only 50, wanted to remove a couple of wrinkles on your brow. I continue to be convicted of my own human resistance to my image in the mirror when I can plainly see the work of gravity and age. I am embarrassed by my vanity and avoid mirrors whenever possible. One solution: Hang out with those at least my age or older and we don't see one another's wrinkles! : ) The best solution: Remember Proverbs 31:30. Mike, it’s good for me to know that you, a young person of only 50, wanted to remove a couple of wrinkles on your brow. I continue to be convicted of my own human resistance to my image in the mirror when I can plainly see the work of gravity and age. I am embarrassed by my vanity and avoid mirrors whenever possible.

One solution: Hang out with those at least my age or older and we don’t see one another’s wrinkles! : )

The best solution: Remember Proverbs 31:30.

]]> By: Larry James http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14954 Larry James Sat, 16 Sep 2006 12:24:12 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14954 Such truth and so early in the morning! Such truth and so early in the morning!

]]> By: Terry http://preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14953 Terry Sat, 16 Sep 2006 12:15:48 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/16/old-people-at-church#comment-14953 My favorite class at North Atlanta is the Seniors Fresh Faith class. I joined it before I was legally a senior. I just love all the people in that class. My favorite class at North Atlanta is the Seniors Fresh Faith class. I joined it before I was legally a senior. I just love all the people in that class.

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