53 Plus a Lifetime

In one of the most contentious battles in US Senate history, party polarization was palpable in Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s recent appointment ... and continues as midterm elections approach.

“When will the States of America legitimately reclaim her first name?” we wonder. We desperately need to pray for more unity in our nation … and may it start with us.

“But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”  Galatians 5:15 (NLT) 

Even in sharing this verse I can picture members of either major party accusing the other of being the malicious instigator. Help us, Jesus! May churches across this fractured nation humbly demonstrate a more perfect union!

Liberals and conservatives vehemently disagreed with each other on principle, process, and person in the Supreme Court nomination hearings—voting almost unanimously along party lines.

Let’s take a deep breath and ponder four bipartisan agreements that may have alluded us in the turmoil. It’s so hard these days to find common ground, but both sides would no doubt agree that: 

1) Our country is fiercely divided, 

2) The stakes were extremely high, 

3) Age 53 is relatively young, and

4) 53-plus-a-lifetime is likely VERY long and hugely significant.

Scarcity (one of only nine Supreme Court seats) collided with abundance (potential for decades of influence).

In most over-fifty contexts, we tend to emphasize the scarcity—not abundance—of significant years remaining. We project that a 53-year-old may have a dozen or so productive years left, before settling down to enjoy the fruit of his or her labor.

Although surrounded by notable exceptions, we often assume influence will shrink during these later years. We don’t instinctively see this as a season to unravel constitutional dilemmas, make long term commitments, go into hard places, or take on other consequential challenges.

Most other public service assignments are restricted by two-to six-year terms, recurring-term limits, or a mandatory retirement age.

“At 53, he is young enough to serve for decades...” the New York Times spotlighted.

Political differences aside, let’s underscore and contemplate this broader, far-flung potential of ‘53-plus-a-lifetime’.

I think of our friends, Bob and Charlene Pagett, who started Assist International in their early fifties. “It was the best decision we ever made together,” Bob shared with me.

Pardon the introspection, but I was 53 when we founded YES! Young Enough to Serve. 53-plus also causes me to reflect (again) on my father-in-law, Don Popineau, who passed away last month at the age of ninety. He turned 53 the year I met him.

Earlier, my young-adult perception of Papa Don’s future was limited by traditional retirement stereotypes—as he closed up shop on his residential painting career. But at 53 he was no common retiree. Many wonderful encores followed, highlighted in my Half Two book dedication.

If we persistently follow God’s leading, over-fifty-plus-a-lifetime can be a VERY significant adventure, impacting generations. We’ve seen this potential lived out. Testimonies of a great cloud of witnesses offer compelling and convincing arguments—far beyond reasonable doubt.

Remember, Church, we are the Bride of Christ, and this is no short-term engagement. Together we’ve been elected to serve and court our Supreme Savior for a lifetime.

There is no higher calling, and there are fortunately more than nine seats available at our upcoming marriage supper—room for many more to join us from all directions ... right and left, east and west, north and south.

Help us, Lord, to more fully embrace our own lifetime kingdom potential ... and to nurture that same potential in others.

Home With Jesus

Our dear father/father-in-law “Papa Don” passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 11.

(Of course, we all remember another Tuesday morning, September 11, seventeen years ago—that was anything but peaceful.)

While our tears continue to flow, we have such a peace and are blessed by a life so well lived.

More than any other individual we know, Papa Don laid out for us a vivid portrait of second-half kingdom potential. His example of fervent living for Jesus in life’s final decades was a huge inspiration as we started YES! just over ten years ago.

The outpouring of love for this great man of God is almost overwhelming. He touched so many lives with his tender, gracious, loving spirit.

And boy, did he ever enjoy the journey!

We’ve heard some people at his ripe age of ninety declare that they’ve outlived all of their friends. Not Papa Don. He had a constant stream of friends and family—all ages—visiting and calling him in his final days—and showing up at his memorial celebration.

The above photo, taken by his grandson Clint Popineau, was from this past Spring on his last visit to Life Pacific College, a nearby Christian college where Papa Don attended chapel faithfully for the last ten years and stayed meaningfully connected to the students, faculty, and staff.

We didn’t just respect Papa Don because of his advancing age. He lived out the admonition Paul gave to Titus: Older men need to live lives (i.e. in the present) that are worthy of respect. Don lived in the present and made the most of his moments here on earth.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

Psalm 23:4 (NASB)

Thank you, too, for living lives worthy of respect. Those of you who go all out for God touch us deeply and help inspire others to serve Jesus to the very end.

See you soon, Papa Don!

Plugging In

Leading an interdenominational Christian ministry, we are tempted to go silent on subjects that might highlight doctrinal differences.

We easily find common ground when talking about God the Father and about Jesus the Son. Prayer, serving, and making disciples tend to be safe ground from a doctrinal perspective, even though we may vary a lot in our practical application.

But discussion of the Holy Spirit can make some people uneasy. The truth is, we all believe in the Trinity, including the Holy Spirit, but there are differences of opinion on how the Holy Spirit operates today. Pentecostal and charismatic churches see things differently than fundamentalist churches.

Early on, we had a Baptist pastor ask us directly how broadly we were stretching the stakes of our YES! tent.

We’re not theologians. We love seeing how God uses a variety of denominational, interdenominational, and non-denominational churches to reach the world. From the start, YES! took on serving projects with volunteers from a variety of churches blessing both denominational and non-denominational ministries and churches.

We’re blessed to serve side-by-side with those who may interpret Scripture differently than us. And we love hearing people from non-Charismatic churches talk openly about the Holy Spirit.

Bottom line, we need the Holy Spirit actively involved in our lives, both individually and corporately. We can’t leave the power cord unplugged. We need the Holy Spirit to help us overcome fear, at all stages of life, perhaps even more in later years as some of our natural strength dissipates. He is our Advocate, Helper, and Comforter.

May we all fully embrace the love of God expressed through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We need all of Him. We can’t get the job done in our own strength.

And thank you for standing with us, as we challenge adults to bravely step out into new, unchartered waters, with the Holy Spirit here to encourage and empower.

Are We Assets or Liabilities?

ONE CHALLENGE WE FACE WITH CHRISTIAN ADULTS ON THE PLUS SIDE OF FIFTY is the fact that Jesus went to the cross at age thirty-three. We don’t have accounts of Him traversing the pre-frail, frail, and dependent years.

We do, though, get to observe what He was doing as He approached death: praying, serving, and making/shaping disciples. Alongside his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed. He taught and broke bread with His disciples and served them by washing their feet. He also brought salvation to a repentant thief hanging on the cross.

Judy’s dad, ‘Papa Don’, is getting closer to the end, and he is certainly eager and ready for heaven. He is in convalescent care, very dependent on others to care for him. Hospice is now also helping to provide care.

But, as with his earlier robust, pre-frail, and frail years, Papa Don finds a way to speak into the lives of others. He continues to share the love of Christ. Even in this dependent state, he brings comfort and hope to others—as he greets visitors or passes out Cracker Jack boxes and tracts in the dining hall.

If most aging adults were like Papa Don, we probably wouldn’t need to pound the YES! Young Enough to Serve drum so vigorously. But we see Christian retirees in robust health tempted to live only for themselves. Add physical frailty to the mix and serving others moves completely off their grid.

Would you pray that we’ll make more significant headway in the months to come? We want to ignite a spark in the hearts of leaders who are on the fence with respect to our active older population. Are they a benefit to our churches and society at large, or are they a problem or drain on society?

We think the glass is more than half full—much more YES! than NO!—while still acknowledging challenges these later seasons present. With God’s help, let’s say YES! to that potential and draw out their best.

Your partnership with us in this task is incredibly meaningful and encouraging. Thanks for seeing the potential that some may miss.

Together with all generations
YES! inspires adults over fifty
to pray, serve and make disciples.

More Than a Buzz Word

Do you ever get tired of certain words?

We have a love/fatigue relationship with the word “intergenerational.” Sorry, it’s one of our YES! core values, but we confess that we sometimes grow word-weary and try our best to not overuse it.

Allow us to explain a bit further. Intergenerational may sometimes sound like a buzz word or a passing fad churches may or may not find appealing or relevant. Because the word itself doesn’t appear in Scripture, some see it as a new, experimental, optional concept.

But, digging deeper, it’s clear God intends for all of us to have healthy, intentional relationships extending beyond our peer group, both up and down the age ladder—and both inside and outside our extended families.

We both grew up in churches privileged to know and love adults much older than us. We didn’t slap an “intergenerational” label on it … it was a perfectly natural expression of being part of our church families and the Body of Christ.

We felt loved by older adults, and we loved them. Praying at the altar on Sunday nights was common for both of us, and older adults were right there, praying fervently for us with a warm hand on our shoulder.

But, unfortunately, with our over-the-top embrace of age-segregation ‘experiments’, generation gaps have grown wider—both inside and outside our churches.

We can’t grow satisfied with just multi-generational churches, although they may be a step closer to that word we’re trying to avoid saying all the time.

Imagine bragging about having a multigenerational family—complete with grandparents, parents, and children—but then we discover your family relationships have fairly rigid age borders:

Your grandparents only interact with their spouse and peers. “Flitter on love flowing outside their peer group to their adult children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.” Your kids ignore relationship and advice from anyone outside their peer group. Multi-, yes. Healthy, no.

Thanks for grasping this inter_______ biblical calling and mission. Whew, almost said it again!

Savoring Seasons

With Spring’s cheerful arrival, we’re reminded of life’s unique seasons. What season are you in?

1. Spring: Our first couple blossoming decades of life focus on development and preparation, with lots of days spent learning both inside and outside the classroom.
2. Summer: Our seemingly endless summer over the next several decades centers on establishing a career, or multiple careers—and for many of us, marrying, establishing a home, and raising a family.
3. Fall: The nest empties, careers end, extended family grows, aging parents struggle and eventually bid us adieu. And in this season, often laced with more freedom, new encore adventures are pondered, and a few physical challenges may worm their way in. While many adults have prepared well financially, prayerful contemplation of this season’s real purpose is often postponed, shaped by the culture around us, or figured out on the fly.
4. Winter: Diminishing strength and vitality lead to life’s final breath—on this side of eternity. For some, this season is agonizingly long. For others it’s abbreviated. Some find ways to reach out to others even in this period of profound, personal need. And some people face death almost instantaneously, never really experiencing winter, whisked away unexpectedly in an earlier life season.

You might find your toes dipped into a couple seasons. Our careers are still active, but Judy and I mostly identify now with life’s third season.

We recently posted a podcast with our friends, Richard and Leona Bergstrom, who wrote Third Calling: What are you doing the rest of your life? They (like YES! and Half Two) are focused primarily on life’s third season and our respective callings within this opportune time.

Too often many of these incredible years get squandered and sequestered. Yes, God redeems, but let’s realize that missing the mark has consequences ... in our lives and in the lives of others. And momentum, too, is a valuable commodity as we approach our frailer years.

Actively serving God in our robust years often carries over into the pre-frail and frail years—adding special meaning, purpose, relationships, and joy. If we avoid risks and serving when healthy, starting when our strength dissipates is unlikely.

What are we doing the rest of our lives? Let’s not wait for all the stars to align. The time to follow God’s calling is now. Let’s listen actively to His voice, step out today, savor this season, and give Him our best.

Looking Out for the Interests of Others

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

It's so easy to get caught up in looking out for our own interests. I know it is meant more broadly, but I like to interpret 'others' to mean those who might otherwise be viewed as competitors. It's becomes a great reminder that we're all in this together. A 2:4 One special!

Directing a nonprofit has its challenges, and it's sometimes easy to focus only on how we will strategically move YES! Young Enough to Serve forward. Will we financially break even this month? Who might write a review on Amazon for Half Two? What church will invite us to speak? Who might we add to our board of directors? How will we expand our outreach?

Taking this Philippians passage to heart causes us to shift our attention beyond YES! and to think about other ministries' needs ... other nonprofits facing similar struggles. Immediately, I thought of books in our ministry field that I've read, appreciated, but hadn't yet reviewed. That was easy ... I just went to their Amazon pages and added reviews on a couple of them.

YES! is focused on the kingdom potential of adults over fifty, so let's remember to think about others under fifty. We're on the West Coast, so let's prayerfully consider others' needs and opportunities on the East Coast. We are US missionaries; let's look out for missionaries serving in other countries. We have strong ties to our denomination, so let's show concern for churches and ministries outside our denomination.

This isn't meant to be just a theoretical mind-bender. Let's put it into action.

Host a High Tea

Here's a fun, timely May 2018 idea my wife Judy wants to share with you. It's more targeted to women, but guys can help with this, too. We like that it's doable for many older adults, an opportunity to practice hospitality, and a simple way to bless other ministries from coast to coast. Because of the royal family connection, Judy will focus her tea on gathering items for Royal Family Kids' Everybody's Birthday boxes, but you can pick some other cause near and dear to your heart.

A Godly Leader's Legacy

“Write to me at Billy Graham, Minneapolis, Minnesota.”

Wow, how cool was that? Just his name, city and state. If we could only figure out how to spell Minneapolis!

Obviously, ‘America’s pastor’ was revered for more than his earthly mailing address. He helped change the eternal address of millions of people around the world through a profoundly simple, compassionate proclamation of the gospel—and a call to decision.

JUST AS I AM WITHOUT ONE PLEA…

“If you have friends, they’ll wait.” Of course, what could be more important than waiting a few extra minutes while a friend prayed at the altar to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and follow Him as Lord?

A friend and counselor to twelve US presidents. That, too, was impressive.

But beyond his address, eloquence, and influence, we love the humility and integrity of this great Christian leader.

Early on, Billy Graham recognized that American evangelists had been commonly sidetracked by scandal in three primary outside-the-pulpit areas: sex, money, and power. Beyond personally resolving to not fall into these traps, Rev. Graham insisted on ministry paradigm shifts to further protect himself from these pitfalls.

It’s hard to think of a more trustworthy man than Billy Graham, yet he insisted on having safeguards in place to keep himself from sexual compromise, financial greed, and the corrupting influence of unbridled power.

We, too, need to set limits and welcome accountability, like Billy Graham did, to help us and those we serve stay on a fruitful path. We are not immune from alluring temptations that might derail us.

Thank God for the integrity of both the message and the messenger!

May God impress on all of us that it’s not just His Word coming from our lips that commands respect. It’s also our living out lives that match up with His Word.

Both Billy and his wife Ruth chose to be buried in simple pine plywood caskets built by prisoners from the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Even in death the Grahams made choices highlighting the redeeming love of Jesus.

In some ways it’s the end of an era. But may we learn much from the legacy of this strong, integrous, and humble Christ-follower.

Sideline Celebration!

As we talk about older adult potential, we sometimes hear this admonishment: “Don’t settle for the sidelines. Get back on the field.”

But men over fifty are not likely to make their way back to the NFL's playing field. Oakland Raiders' legendary kicker and quarterback, George Blanda, retired just shy of his 49th birthday. No NFL player has outlasted Blanda … yet.

Tom Brady, at forty, is well beyond the typical QB retiring age. We love seeing these decades-younger ‘older athletes' excel, still young enough to lead their teams to victory ... or come awfully close.

We know longevity in professional sports is different than life, but there comes a time when the sidelines become a better fit than the playing field. While no one shows up for a game just to watch the sidelines, there is a whole lot of meaningful activity going on just beyond those out-of-bounds markers.

Cameras will often shift attention to the sidelines to focus on an inspiring coach, an injured player, athletic trainers, other players reviewing plays and waiting for their opportunity go back on the field. And camera operators themselves don’t set foot on the playing field during the game. Most of us wouldn’t see the game without those off-field cameras.

I like how YES! supporter Phil Oates framed it in his endorsement of Half Two, “Retirement does not mean sitting on the sidelines. Slowing down does not mean stopping.”

We know some people bemoan the fact that they’re no longer in the limelight, no longer a key on-the-field player. But off the playing field doesn’t mean God is finished with us. There are so many key, vitally important roles waiting for us—off the field.

This past Sunday’s Super Bowl was personally exciting and meaningful. Until the 2017 season, I’ve never been an Eagles fan. But when Nate Sudfeld joined their roster earlier this season, I suddenly found myself rooting for this East Coast team. Nate is the son of Ralph and Michelle Sudfeld. Michelle served on our YES! board of directors for three years. Nate’s grandfather, Bob Pagett, is the former pastor of Christian Life Center, our home church. He and his wife, Char, are founders of Assist International.

Nate was the backup quarterback to Nick Foles, MVP of this year’s Super Bowl. While Nick got most of the accolades Sunday, sideline quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Nate Sudfeld knew their roles were significant, too. While valiantly leading the Eagles to the playoffs, Wentz had a season-ending injury in December, causing Foles to step from the sidelines onto the playing field. 24-year-old Nate stood on the sidelines, offering encouragement and support, fully engaged and ready if needed to take center stage in professional football's premiere event.

All three Eagle quarterbacks are deeply committed Christians, and their faith helps shape how they live both on and off the field.

This photo from the Daily News in Philadelphia captures yesterday’s parade, with Nick Foles passing the Vince Lombardi trophy to Carson Wentz, while Nate Sudfeld takes a pic of the huge crowd. Only one of these three quarterbacks took a snap Sunday, but they were all an integral part of the team … and will be wearing the Super Bowl ring.

Seeing Ralph and Michelle’s excitement over their son’s involvement on the 2018 World Champions team reinforces for me how important sideline roles can be.

God may not have you on the playing field right now. But know you still have an important role to play. It may be on the sidelines. It may be in the stands. Stay alert … stand if you are able. Celebrate being on the winning team. God is not finished with us yet!

May Our Character Line Up with Our Prayers!

We were recently blessed to attend the baby dedication of our first granddaughter, Hadley Grace Wick, at National Community Church in Washington, D.C.

We appreciated how the pastor asked Jonathan & Emily ahead of time to identify five characteristics they’d love the Lord to instill in Hadley.

They listed: Compassion, Humility, Bravery, Generosity, and Authenticity. While Hadley is a bit young to comprehend this prayer, you can be sure these qualities reflect what our kids want their own lives to exhibit—and it’s what they’re hoping to see in us as well.

We love how God works up and down the generational chain, using our kids and grandkids to challenge us to live lives worthy of respect. This generation to generation thing isn’t only moving from oldest to youngest. God wants to use younger adults, teens, children, even babies—to continue building His character in us.

Yes, Hadley will learn lots over the years from her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. But when it comes to character, much more is caught than taught. May WE, too, live compassionately, humbly, bravely, generously, and authentically!

What are five qualities you want to characterize your life?

New Year Resolve

Many of us have grown accustomed to a New Year’s first few weeks. Sometimes a hopeful-new-then-disappointing pattern surfaces … when optimism and good intentions quickly collide with old habits and reality.

Early January resolutions come with firm resolve that this year will truly be different … only to upset the applecart just days or weeks later by succumbing to familiar shortcomings.

So …  we miss a day on our 5-or-10K-step Fitbit goal; our TV-watching creeps above our new maximum threshold; we eat more than we should; we miss a day of Bible reading; we unnecessarily correct our spouse.

Of course, we know we should get right back in the saddle after getting knocked off our New Year’s prize show horse. But that once-invigorating saddle climb can feel a little less exhilarating the second and third time around. Self-doubt weighs us down as we struggle to get our feet back in the stirrups.

Truth is, we are called to daily pick up our cross and live for Christ. It’s a daily walk, not an annual pilgrimage.

We find that encouraging. Let’s not beat ourselves up over yesterday’s missteps. Let’s do better right now … today. “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)

Even with occasional setbacks, let’s stay optimistic as we face this new year.

Let's set some good goals and live lives that count.  May God bless you each new day in 2018!

Second Sunday Lunches

Sometimes dreams take a while.

As you may know, one of our dreams with YES! has been to more intentionally connect generations.

We see value in peer relationships, but we also see how vital beyond-peer relationships are, too.

We don’t like the idea of choosing one over the other, but sometimes our personal bandwidth forces us to prioritize, at least in the short term.

This month at our home church, Christian Life Center, we initiated our Second Sunday lunches, combining college students with adults over fifty. With about eighty in attendance and with a host of college students eagerly wanting to get to know more seasoned adults, we couldn’t have been more thrilled with how this first experimental lunch worked out.

With Scripture to back us up, we knew we couldn’t sit idle and just focus on only more of the same. We had to move in on nurturing these relationships between generations.

As expected, we were fortunate to bring in many more adults in the 50-70 age range and students, who were unable to attend our Thursday lunches because of employment, schooling, and other commitments.

Many adults have commented on the sincere interest these college students have displayed toward adults decades older. Many of these students are Asian, and we are frankly not accustomed to such warm respect.

When we share stories in other churches about how these students are so intent on making these connections with older adults, many heads nod, affirming how right this is.

We long to see that same eagerness coming from older adults, asking how they might connect more effectively with younger people. As we see this happening, our heads nod, affirming how right this is.

While still in embryonic stages, please pray this fervent love and zeal between generations will spill over to many other churches. And we hope to continue nurturing the relationships our adults have with their peers as well.

May both flourish!

Prepared

The storms of life. Some minor, and some catastrophic, as we’ve recently witnessed with Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Irma in Florida, and Maria in Puerto Rico. Praying, too, for the earthquake victims in Mexico, Las Vegas shooting victims’ families, and now the fires closer to home, here in California.

A huge thousand-year, Texas-size storm brings perspective. Our hundred-year storm from last year now seems tame and minor in comparison. But God cares about us amid the big and smaller storms of life.

We, along with you, are praying for God’s provision in the lives of those affected by these horrific storms, floods, earthquake, and fires, along with the many people who are helping in the rescue, cleanup, and restoration efforts.

In both Matthew and Luke we read that the coming of the Son of Man will be like it was in the days of Noah.

People were going about business as usual, and suddenly the day of reckoning was upon them. With no meteorologists, weather satellites, or CNN news reporters to warn them, these people who had scoffed at Noah’s incredible ark project found themselves drowning without recourse.

Let’s not think we’re more sophisticated and that we’ll be able to buy some time, preparing at the last minute to get our lives in order spiritually. Let’s be prepared for Christ’s return, which could happen before you reach the next paragraph or in the distant future. Truth is, His coming has never been closer than right now.

We see some people who fail to heed the storm warnings and we think, “how foolish.” But let’s look at our own lives, and ask God to help us heed every warning from Him.

One such warning appears in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “Warn those who are idle and disruptive.” In the present, idleness may seem innocent and harmless, but when storms hit we can see idle living’s disruptive result. As God gives us strength, let’s run from idleness, and stay prepared for future storms.

And thanks for your part in challenging others to prepare their hearts now for Christ’s imminent return.

The Gift of Hospitality

Hospitality. What a fun gift to exercise in these summer months.

With so much needed emphasis on the first word in the Great Commission, GO, we can sometimes lose sight of ministry possibilities literally in our own backyard.

For some, the ‘get up and go’ already got up and went. The going diminishes, from Go-Go to Slow-Go and finally to No-Go. In life’s final stages, our living radius is much closer to home--- or our homes move to environments with better physical access and amenities.

Of course, hospitality requires some effort. When people struggle to maintain, it’s difficult to even think about entertaining others in their home.

We may think of lavish, home-cooked meals and nicely decorated tables as synonymous with hospitality. But it’s not a gift reserved for home economics majors, Pinterest enthusiasts, or younger adults with boundless energy.

Hospitality starts in our hearts, as we make room for Jesus and others to enter our lives and make themselves at home.  If we wait until our lives or homes are perfect, we miss the point and miss out on lots of opportunities to share the love of Christ.

We are blessed to live in an area of the country people enjoy visiting. We love hosting out-of-town guests and local friends as well. Sometimes we admit to not being intentional enough about exercising hospitality. But every time we do it, our lives become richer.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1 Peter 4:9

We encourage you this summer, as God gives strength, to offer hospitality to both close friends and to someone you’d like to know better---like the neighbor down the street who has not yet been invited to your home.

It doesn’t have to be a gourmet extravaganza. Keep it simple and do it more often. Even coffee or tea on your deck, patio, or porch. Let’s invite others into our imperfect lives, and watch God do something fresh and exciting.

A Taste of My Own Medicine

We are all guilty at times of walking away from Half Two potential, in its various forms.

Serving in this area of ministry, you’d think I’d know better. One June evening a few years ago as I flipped through TV channels, I saw that the San Francisco Giants led the Houston Astros 10-0 after five innings. This game had a foregone conclusion; I was not about to waste my time watching it. I even told Judy that I felt sorry for the fans sitting through the remaining four innings. “There is no way they will come back,” I said with smug authority.

I was right. Houston didn’t mount a comeback. Not surprisingly, the game ended with that same fifth inning score, 10-0.

What I failed to observe, though, by changing channels so quickly, was that the Giants’ pitcher Matt Cain had a perfect game going. Those fans, whom I pitied earlier, were fortunate enough to witness the first perfect game ever in the Giants’ franchise, the 22nd perfect game in Major League Baseball history. Cain also tied Sandy Koufax’s record for the most strikeouts in a perfect game, 14. Better than a no-hitter, a perfect game means no opposing team member reaches first base.

And I, a strong advocate for Half Two potential, missed out on the live drama of those last four innings. I was so right about the outcome—and completely wrong.

And the pity I was feeling for those fans? Ironically, it’s the same kind of “bless your heart” pity Judy and I sometimes sense from people when they hear we’re working with older adults. They, too, haven’t reached first base in grasping how exciting Half Two ministry can be.

Footloose and Fancy Free

We received this note recently from a church leader responsible for second half adult ministry:

Would love to see ideas about getting the seniors group in my church off of their retired rear-ends and ministering. I fight the "I'm retired, let the younger ones do it" all the time. The seasoned, experienced, seniors group---with the most time on their hands and the most seasoned experience---don't want to commit to ongoing ministry. 

They want to be footloose and fancy free. Take off any time they want, go visit grandchildren any time they want. While I understand, that means they don't commit to ministry through our church. The Bible even instructs the elders to mentor the young ones. But nope, 'we are retired and ready to play.'

Most of what I hear is the issue of neglecting the elderly in church. I don't neglect them; I beg them to be involved, and they mostly say no.

Our retirement culture has a tight grip on some folks, and it's a mindset that has been allowed to germinate for years, often unchallenged by the Church.

With our focus on serving, we're often tempted to poke fun at the leisure lifestyle. But we're aware that some real ministry and life impact also takes place within that context.

At one church I unwittingly remarked about Christian retirees who seem plagued with an addiction to cruises. After speaking I was greeted by a precious couple who told me they go on two cruises a year and take a suitcase filled with Bibles to share with the cruise staff. Touche! 

I must respectfully take issue with the premise that visiting grandchildren equates to a disregard for ministry, but I do understand the frustration of working with capable adults who conclude they've moved beyond serving through their local church. Adults who have been tied down geographically for decades because of job responsibilities often have a natural craving to hit the road more often.

It's true that many perceive retirement as a right of passage from having a boss to now being their own boss---with a plethora of other new entitlements.

How 'bout seeing retirement as removing an earthly master so our heavenly Master can have at us in a deeper, unhindered way?

Having younger voices in our leadership mix helps to both encourage seasoned adults and challenge the retirement status quo, leading to some breakthroughs. Some retirees need a fresh wind of the Spirit. It's hard to get the cross-breeze blowing when only like-minded peers (sharing similar self-centered visions of the American dream) surround them.

Many young adults today have a high sensitivity to social injustice. Ageism (neglect and devaluing of older adults because of their advancing age) gets their attention. But social injustice cuts both ways. They can also see injustice in able-bodied retirees living only for themselves.

Before becoming too critical of retirees who scatter, let's remember that the Great Commission starts with "GO!" Here are some links to friendly advice for leaders who want to go deeper on this subject:

• Go for the Head

• Go for the Heart

• Go for the Hands and Feet

• Go Ahead, Take Some Chances

Please let us know when you see some movement among the footloose and fancy free at your church!

And please chime in with your own thoughts on this important motivational challenge. I haven't retired yet and would love to continue learning more.

The Madness of March

Have we all gone mad?

Each year the NCAA delivers March Madness to America through the game of basketball. Earlier first-round upsets and more recent come-from-behind victories ushered in new levels of madness as winning teams now move on to the Final Four.

And, of course, in this media-frenzied presidential election year, it seems like every Tuesday has a Super prefix. Madness can just as easily describe our political climate. Everybody seems mad about something, and presidential candidates have tapped into the madness.

Between now and the November election, Ms. Clinton will turn 69, Mr. Trump 70, and Mr. Sanders 75.

Hillary, Donald and Bernie---three of the five final top contenders for president---are competing past the ripe age of 68. So much for our perception that America doesn't support the serving potential of older adults!

While hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in this trio of older presidential candidates, many churches sadly fail to capitalize on the serving potential of capable older adults sitting in their pews.

In spite of glaring examples to the contrary, we act as though adults over 68 almost universally want to retire, travel and fade comfortably into the sunset. We expect little beyond their tithes. And, yes, we sometimes encounter stiff resistance when trying to open older hearts to higher expectations. It goes both ways.

Let's return quickly to the more playful subject of basketball, adding a couple courtside reflections related to second half adult ministry.

The second half is often special and the most exciting. It's not enough to compete well in just the first half. Many games are decided in the closing minutes of the game. Let's perk up and move to the edge of our seats, and see what God will do with adults in life's second half. The game is far from over.

Finally, have you noticed how a full court press demands buy-in from every defensive player on the court? At YES! we see the need for all generations to share in inspiring each generation. Without the support of the whole team, a full court press breaks down quickly. 

We need all five generations showing concern for seasoned adults, and these adults need to spread their special seasoning to every generation. We come up short (literally, vertically challenged) when each generation fends for themselves. Horizontal, peer relationships are important, but they are just one part of God's overall game plan for us.

Allow this final buzzer three-point shot to sink in as the closing minutes of March swirl around us: 

1. Let's value older adult potential within our churches---not just in presidential politics!
2. Let's treat the second half like it really matters---not just in basketball!
3. Let's engage a full court press---with help from all generations!

Uniting the Charlie Browns

Celebrations of Advent are over. It’s now time to invent 2016. While we don’t have full control over how things will look by this time next year, we can see visions and dream dreams.

Sometimes we’re not quite ready to put the past behind as we go into the New Year. Some of us may still be surrounded by remnants of Christmas.

I struggled a bit in taking down our Christmas tree. It was still healthy, tall and vibrant, full of good memories and had a story of its own. But it was time.

If you saw our tree, you probably wouldn’t immediately associate it with a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

Living in a redwood forest, it’s tough to settle for an artificial tree or pay for a pricey tree.

A few years ago I was determined to use a small redwood tree on our property for our Christmas tree. But redwoods are pretty sparse in the branch department. Our Jewish neighbor Michael, also frugal, saw my predicament and suggested that I tie two trees together. It was a huge improvement, but we still had a Charlie Brown rival that first year.

We have since upped the ante, and this time tied seven trees together. It was still a bit whimsical, but it was homegrown and had its own special beauty.

We’ve learned that when you tie enough Charlie Browns together you can have a healthy looking tree. Freshly cut and immediately placed in water, these trees have greater longevity than a tree you’d buy off the lot.

We’ve also learned that having just a base for our seven flimsy trees is inadequate. For this invention to succeed, we needed a secure connection above as well. By tying the tips to a bolt in the ceiling, our small cathedral of redwoods stood tall and secure---as one.

And, of course, we can’t help but reflect on how healthy a family, church or ministry can look when we stand together in unity. We may singularly feel inadequate, but when enough of us Charlie Browns get together, look out! We’ve got something beautiful.

Moving on from the past, let’s stay grounded, nourished and securely connected above---as we unify to invent 2016!

Lovin' Late Bloomers

I don't know if I had ever tasted persimmons before. They showed up unexpectedly at our doorstep.

No, it wasn't a gracious neighbor dropping them by. They literally fell out of the sky.

Let me back up a bit. We live in a redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's beautiful but sometimes shade from the towering trees can be a bit overpowering. It starts getting dark pretty early at our home. A late afternoon drive into town, just ten minutes away, can feel like we've suddenly changed time zones, moving from the shadows into brilliant sunlight.

So earlier this year, being a thoughtful, problem-solving husband,  I surprised my wife, Judy, by cutting down four large deciduous trees on our property while she was away---to help provide more sunlight and to create a better view of our 200-foot redwoods. (We couldn't see the forest for the trees.)

As you might already guess, this was one of those thoughtful surprises that wasn't appreciated to the degree I was hoping. Summer solstice and climate change teamed up for some unseasonable heat. Judy immediately began cherishing the good ol' days of more filtered sunlight.

Some of our shade plants also protested, making it clear they too weren't ready for more sunshine.

(Be patient. Don't lose sight of the big picture. We can plant some new trees that will grow back in twenty years to cover my mistake. What's the big deal!?) 

Okay, enough of the downside and my failure to consult with the love of my life. We did have one occupant on our property that welcomed the new burst of sunshine. A sweet, unexpected surprise came in the form of a formerly barren fruit tree---now bearing persimmons!

Never Knew What We Had

We've lived in our current home for 17 years. One of our favorite deciduous trees stands right outside our kitchen door. Great shape, beautiful green leaves, lush, healthy. We never complained about it not producing fruit because it never even crossed out minds that it was a fruit tree. We just appreciated its other qualities.

But once the aforementioned tree-cutting invited more sunshine in, this particular tree surprised us with its deeper, unique, God-ordained purpose: producing persimmons.

Hmmm. It's not much of a stretch to make some spiritual applications. Know any likable, older someones who have yet to discover they were created to bear fruit? Are we as leaders quietly casting large shadows by acquiescing to low late-season expectations---also allowing former bearers of fruit to presume their days of harvest are over?

High-Hanging Fruit

We hear a lot about the practicality of going after low-hanging fruit. "Go for the easy ones." But in this case I didn't really have a choice. The fruit was all hanging high. It took a tall ladder and a telescoping pole pruner to reach the fruit. I then played a quick-handed game of snip and catch. (For the record, I was 11 for 11 until my streak ended. Then a few plummeting persimmons slipped through my bare-handed grasp. Next time I'll use a baseball glove. :)

Truth is, some of our folks are producing fruit that we as leaders may not easily see or affirm. It may not be of the apple and orange variety that we're used to, and some of it may even seem a bit far-flung, out-of-sight and out-of-mind. Some good fruitfulness is getting overlooked beyond the carefully packaged fruit baskets of our traditional programs of ministry.

Celebrate fruit-bearing wherever it may occur!

We understand how going after low-hanging fruit builds confidence, critical mass and momentum, but let's be honest. There is a lot of high-hanging fruit that we're completely ignoring, and it won't necessarily be reached through formally sanctioned programs of our church.

Some of our adults are going after this high-hanging fruit outside the boundaries of our established programs, and they need to be highlighted and applauded. It counts for the kingdom!

We're told only 1.2% of new Christian converts are over the age of 60, also moving older adults themselves into this hard-to-reach category. This high-hanging fruit can cause some church leaders to wonder if it's worth the effort. But the rewards are eternal and can lead to much more fruit-bearing and life change than our feeble minds can fathom.

December Harvest

Surprisingly, our vine-ripe persimmons are perfectly ripe and very tasty---even though we waited until mid-December to pluck them. It's a strange time of year to be harvesting fruit, but there they were, still clinging to the branches after an early frost helped strip nearly every leaf. Waiting patiently after all these years and late into the season, they were finally picked and appreciated.

I confess that I had some doubts as I looked up at those high-hanging persimmons. Had I waited too long? Will the fruit still be good? Will the risk of climbing a tall ladder be worth it, or am I just pursuing dying, mushy, overripe fruit?

We know some folks in their later seasons of life seem destined to die fruitless, never discovering their greater purpose in life. Sadly, perhaps we and other leaders aren't expecting anything special to emerge from their lives. Their spiritual fruit-bearing potential hasn't even crossed our minds. But they, like our late-harvested persimmon tree, deserve our understanding and enthusiastic support of who they were meant to be.

Their fruit may show up in higher branches, seemingly out of reach or out of touch with the mainstream. A bit more effort and ingenuity may be needed to steward this less common fruit---to keep it from wasting away on the vine and to avoid being bruised by indifference and unnecessary hard landings.

This can be especially true in the December of life when it's unseasonably late, cold, and difficult---when people are at risk of becoming overly ripe if put off too long.

Thanks, Lord, for this unexpected new gift of persimmons from an older tree we thought was barren! May it remind us of our urgent calling, as we trust You for more late-season December miracles.

These were his instructions to them: "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields." Luke 10:2 (NLT)

Polar Opposites

Polar opposites.

The more we dig into Scripture, the more we see the value of connecting polar opposites.

·      Jesus said that it was the sick needing a touch from the Great Physician.

·      The rich young ruler was asked to give his riches to the poor.

·      The free are instructed to visit the imprisoned.

·      By Jesus’ example Christians are encouraged to hang out with sinners. Light needs to go into dark places.

We are also struck by how much we benefit from these connections. It’s not just a one-way proposition.

When the disciples tried to shove the kids away, Jesus didn’t start talking about how much the kids needed the disciples’ wisdom in their lives. He talked about how much they needed to become like children.

One of the hallmarks of YES! is our passion to see generations connect in more meaningful ways. Younger and older, polar opposites, moving from avoidance or dutiful tolerance to hearts that deliberately engage and love those at the opposite end of the age spectrum.

That’s one of our prayers as we finish this eighth year of YES! We thank you for your engagement in living a life intent on pleasing Him---as we continue this journey together.

May we finish 2015 well and look for opportunities to touch those far different from us.

And may the One who left the security of heaven and took on mortal flesh inspire all of us to reach outside ourselves.

Merry Christmas!