Here's the church and there's the steeple...

“Here's the church and there's the steeple.
Open the door and see all the people.”

Mature Christians know that the Church is the people, not a steepled building. Buildings are wonderful structures, but unlike people, they are not living, breathing, interdependent beings, for whom Jesus died.

In a recent two-part podcast (Jan 10) interview with Cavin Harper and Sarah Greenstreet of ElderQuest Ministries, I (Wes) was asked about obstacles holding the church back from being more intergenerational.

Do you ever get asked a question, give an answer on the spot, and then continue to mull over the question in weeks to come?

This question prompted me to think post-podcast about my dad, who passed away over two decades ago. He was a successful building contractor, overseeing the construction of over a thousand homes in the Pacific Northwest.

He had his core construction crew and also worked with a myriad of subcontractors. Fostering close relationships between the various subcontractors wasn’t a priority. He mainly wanted them to work efficiently and stay out of each other’s way.

Houses/buildings have many parallel systems and fewer interdependent systems. The electricity and plumbing operate independently. The brick masons, painters, and carpet layers may have little interaction, and that's okay. You might say they ‘tolerate’ each other.

When the power goes out at our house (and it does!), we can still use our sink and non-electric stove. By contrast, our body’s digestive tract would shut down without the circulatory and nervous systems.

We know there is a temptation for pastors and leaders to operate like building contractors. The ‘body’ of Christ can sometimes drift to a more manageable ‘building’ metaphor, content with tolerant relationships.

Rather than operating like general medical practitioners, with keen awareness of the complex, interdependent nature of the body, some pastors thrive as successful contractors. Like my dad, they appreciate what each tradesperson brings to the table but may be less apt to focus on interdependent relationships, including intergenerational.

We’re here to support pastors and churches in this arena. Let’s all remind ourselves how much we need each other as the body (not the building) of Christ.

Some Side Effects May Occur

Have you ever listened intently to all of the possible adverse side effects as certain medications are advertised on TV?

It’s hard to believe they’re investing exorbitant advertising dollars in a commercial that spells out such a demoralizing array of devastating side effects.

In a more positive direction, we’re often blessed to see very favorable side effects when we follow our prescribed-by-God calling.

As you know, we’re called to address the untapped serving potential of adults in life’s second half, particularly in the USA. This, too, was the focus of our recent Finishing Strong video series.

We recently learned that one of our videos, Disciple Makers, with our youngest presenter, Daniel Jaquish, is now posted as far away as Australia, being used on the Navigators Military Ministry website to inspire young officers in that nation’s military service. 

Michael Schmid (with the Navigators ministry) shared with us, “The Deputy Director of the US Navigators Military Ministry visited with me personally yesterday, having been so impressed by what he heard from Daniel that he wanted me to help nationally in developing more disciplers like him among young officers.”

Also, this video spurred a Space Officer at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to ask Daniel to mentor him in launching discipleship ministry at his base.

Michael also shared that two churches, led by friends pastoring in the Northeast and Nebraska, are using the video to launch discipleship emphasis ministries in their congregations.

We never know the far-reaching impact of our efforts when God leads us. Some of the effect falls right in line with our mission statement. And other wonderful ‘side effects’ thankfully occur, expressions of God at work, far beyond our finite goals.

Is Our All Too Small?

J.B. Phillips authored a powerful book you may have read, Your God is Too Small.

Somewhat parallel to that classic reminder, we like to pay close attention to what follows when someone says, “It’s ALL about…”

While we’re passionate about older adult ministry, we recognize that it’s not ALL about us and older generations.

We’re passionate about younger generations, but we know it’s not ALL about them either.

“For God so loved THE WORLD.” We like the bigness of that picture. He loves the poor, the elderly, the unborn, ethnic minorities and majorities, the young, the rich and middle class.

And while our passions may draw us to a specific cause or people group, it’s ALL about the ALL, y’all!

We confess that it makes us kind of sad when we hear that a church is ALL about young families. Don’t get us wrong. We, too, love young families.

But young families without older generations around will take on weights of responsibility God intended to be shared more broadly. The vibrancy of our later years will be diminished if we’re generationally isolated.

With extended longevity, four-generation families are common. May our churches reflect that as well!

Some communities, of course, have a narrower generational mix, making age breadth a more difficult goal.

We recall seeing “This is not your grandparents’ church!” advertisements for new church startups in earlier years. We know this meant the worship and other style preferences would be a departure from earlier generations. We get that.

We love it, though, when churches have a unified Thanksgiving-celebration spirit. Imagine receiving a Thanksgiving invitation from a family member declaring “This is only for young families” or, “This is not our grandparents’ Thanksgiving” or, “Sorry, mature-adults-only this year.” Ouch!

Is our ALL too small?

While embracing fresh creativity, let’s make church an intergenerational affair! Like this month’s Thanksgiving meal, it’s not ALL about what’s on the table; it’s about who feels welcomed around that table as well.

The Element of Surprise

Have you been surprised by anything lately?

Some people tell us that they don’t appreciate surprises. “Why not let the cat out of the bag earlier…so they can look forward to it?” they might say to a surprise-party planner.

While we’re not throwing many surprise parties, we do like surprising people…challenging hidden assumptions and helping them see things in a new light.

Through YES! we like surprising people with:

• Younger people who actually care about older adults

• Generosity and thoughtfulness

• A commitment to excellence

• Biblical truth that runs counter to even our Christian culture.

Even though it strikes at the core of our mission, older adults still surprise us with the remarkable difference they’re making in the lives of others. God also surprises us with unexpected momentum in a season when many expect us to slow down or stop.

Our Finishing Strong video series is surprising people and helping to build ministry momentum.

“Wow, I thought only older adults cared about older adults.”

“I’m not used to seeing such high production quality in older adult ministry.”

“Free? Are you kidding me? You’re just giving this away?”

These are new opportunities to touch lives around North America and beyond.

Should we be surprised by God’s goodness? Yes and no.

Yes, knowing we’re undeserving should keep us always in a surprised state of awe and appreciation.

And no, because God is good. All the time! He is good.

A Work of Art

Our newest YES! board member, Art Gaeta, has flunked retirement several times. At age 77 he just signed another year-long public high school contract, teaching Spanish in Gilbert, Arizona.

He's still nearly two decades shy of matching Queen Elizabeth’s work longevity, but he loves his daily interaction with students.

For most of his life as a Christian, Art has been very open in sharing his faith with others. At his age, his sense of freedom has only increased.

While showing regard for school guidelines, Art looks for ways to give an answer for the hope that lies within. And what’s the worst they can do to him at this age for pushing the boundaries a bit? Fire him?

As the 2021-22 school year ended, Art was asked to oversee an afternoon detention class for delinquent students. He felt led by the Lord to have a heart-to-heart talk with these students.

He first reminded them in no uncertain terms where some of their poor choices could lead them.

He then shared his personal testimony of how Christ had redeemed his own rebellious life and set him on a better path. Several students met with him the next day, wanting to know how they could get right with God.

These are real lives being impacted because Art chooses to listen to God’s voice, which is what led him back into the classroom.

Vocational retirement is a good choice for many, but it doesn’t have to be the only choice or a permanent choice. May the Lord continue to give Art health, strength, and favor as he serves so faithfully.

Adding Breadth

When we started YES! over fourteen years ago, we were anxious to ‘flip the script’ with regard to older adult ministry.

We knew a ton of potential was being ignored, and changes were needed in how churches and individuals approached this life season.

As we ourselves become more seasoned, it feels now more like a push to broaden the script—rather than flip it. Broader serving, generational connections, prayer, disciple making. “Doers of the Word, not just hearers.”

From the start, one person who significantly motivated us and broadened our horizons was Dr. Amy Hanson—young, well-educated and passionate about older adult potential. Years later we’re deeply honored to now have Amy serving on our YES! board of directors.

We can all use some help and broader perspective in Finishing Strong. We’re blessed to share our first of eight videos with you, our YES! Champions, some of whom have enabled us to broaden our outreach through this series. The other videos will begin to circulate soon, but we want to give you a headstart so you can pray for a broader awakening as these videos are released.

To help us build momentum, please share this www.finishingstrong.video link with others who might benefit from this Finishing Strong series.

This is truly a life season full of both challenges and promise, as Amy so eloquently shares in this introductory video.

A Break from Routine

Hope you’re enjoying some very special times this summer.

We love serving, and we love vacations! We need rest and a break from our usual routines.

This isn’t vacation-related, but allow us to share a ‘secular’ resource that we’ve found helpful, a break from our typical promotion of Christian resources/ministries.

Eldera is an organization committed to connecting older mentors (age 60+) to a child (and their families) somewhere in the world, usually outside the U.S.

Zoom is used for fun, weekly video chats.

Judy loves connecting with Soyon, a delightful, 10-year-old Korean girl. These half-to-full-hour conversations are so rich.

Soyon’s English has shown steady improvement, and her initial shyness dissipates as she shares stories about her school, summer camp, arts and crafts, and family activities.

Judy, in turn, shares about what’s going on in her life and has enjoyed passing on ideas/stories/games our kids and grandkids have enjoyed. A special friendship has blossomed.

Soyon is not yet a believer in Christ. With both freedom and discretion, Judy shares what Jesus means to her personally. Similar to a public-school environment, Eldera is not a faith-based organization. (Mentors are vetted, and calls are recorded, for child safety.)

Training calls with other mentors put you into contact with adults from all walks of life, another ‘salt and light’ avenue.

If this opportunity sounds intriguing, click on their website and prayerfully consider applying. If you’re under 60, please pass this information on to a mature, 60+ Christian.

Please let us know if you choose to connect with Eldera. We’d love to hear about your experience.

Relationship. Relationship. Relationship.

Serving in a generationally-focused ministry, we enjoy learning about key character traits of Millennials, Gen Xers, Boomers, Builders, etc.

But something is missing when we study generations in these contexts. These generational names connect to significant historical events and seasons, but nothing in the names themselves infer relationship to other generations.

By contrast, think of the built-in relational AND mutual responsibility contexts ascribed to roles within families: parent/child, brother/sister, aunt & uncle/niece & nephew, grandparents/grandchildren, etc.

We can quietly drift away from the Church as the family of God when we focus too much on generations in isolation from one another. When Scripture calls us to love one another, it’s not just referring to our peers.

It's easy to dismiss our own responsibility when we settle for dismissive stereotypes like “those Millennials … they just don’t get it!”

If we’re talking instead about our niece or nephew, it becomes more natural to simultaneously wonder how well we are doing in our role as aunt and uncle.

Relationship. Relationship. Relationship.

We love encouraging churches to become stronger families of God by valuing the vertical. By that, we mean valuing peer-to-peer relationships AND those age-vertical relationships like we see embedded in so many of those family titles.

May God grant us all favor and intentionality in our peer groups AND with those both older and younger!

Oh, We Wish!

We all have our wishes.

We wish Covid would completely disappear. We could wish an upcoming surgery and rehab were behind us. We may wish it were summer. We wish we were on the other side of that big project coming up.

And, of course, those “can’t wait” words of excitement make their way into our vocabulary.  Can’t wait for the big trip, can’t wait for retirement, can’t wait to see our grandkids.

If we’re in a dark tunnel, we’ll rightfully strain our eyes to see the light at the end of it.

But as we flip our daily or monthly calendars, we realize each day we have is precious. Lord, help us—even as we look forward to the possibility of better days ahead—not to wish away our hours, days, months and years!

Of course, we’re excited about eternity and heaven … our lives to come after we depart from this earth.

But let’s also embrace the moment. Let’s not wish the gift of time away. May the Lord give us grace to face today—full of faith and hope.

We’re grateful for our 2022 calendar, rich with both ministry and relaxation. Even as we look forward with eager anticipation, may we be fully present in the now. Appreciative and attentive to whom and what’s before us today.

Humble Resolve

The horrible tragedy of war in Ukraine is still unfolding, but it’s clear that almost everyone outside Ukraine underestimated the tremendous resolve of the Ukrainian people.

We’ve been going through the book of Daniel, highlighting his humble resolve as he faced insurmountable odds.

Humble resolve is a needed ingredient throughout life, but the character trait becomes more vivid when we face times of testing.

Humble | Adjective

GENTLE, respectful, modest, courteous, unpretentious.

Resolve | Noun

DETERMINATION, firmness, intent, purpose, strength of character, grit, guts, desire, intestinal fortitude.

The Ukrainian leaders know they are the underdog in this battle. They know they need help beyond their tenacious resolve.

Seeing what those Ukrainian leaders, civilians, and soldiers face can make our challenges seem pretty miniscule by comparison.

But we, too, may feel overwhelmed by obstacles we’re facing today.

Let’s strengthen our resolve to follow Christ to the end, no matter what life may throw at us. And let’s be humble enough to admit our need for help … from God and others.

And let’s pray desperately for the people in Ukraine, the many refugees fleeing, and the many nations coming to their aid.

How Will You Celebrate Recovery?

One lesson Covid has taught us is that it’s okay to back away from activities that put us unnecessarily at risk. Conversely, we’ve learned to take calculated risks.

We certainly can’t erase all risk in life, and overly cautious isolation carries risks of its own. Some people have jobs where they’ve risked their lives nearly every day for others. We gratefully admire their courage.

At some point we hope to live through this pandemic and look back. We’ll likely identify times when we were overly cautious and perhaps other times when we took unnecessary risks.

We’ve lost many friends to Covid, some vaccinated and some not. Some were already close to death’s door, and Covid put them over the threshold.

Some seemed otherwise fairly healthy, and those losses are especially tough.

One concern we share as this pandemic continues much longer than most expected: Are we becoming more timid and risk-adverse to the point that our behavior won’t change much once the pandemic is behind us?

We know the trajectory of older adult behavior is sometimes difficult to turn around. Will “erring on the side of caution” continue to be our mantra when certain risks are behind us?

You may be familiar with the ministry of Celebrate Recovery, focused on breaking free from life-controlling issues. What are we doing to celebrate recovery from a recent bout with Covid? Or, how will we celebrate when the risks of Covid are eventually behind us?

Let’s continue to be bold risk-takers in sharing our faith, in living daily lives that reflect more faith than fear. Let’s not allow Covid to permanently sideline us or redefine us as ‘too old to serve.’

Let’s be safe and care-full, full of care for others.

All Things

Just weeks into this new year, we’ve already been touched by the passing of several wonderful Christians who have left a powerful legacy.

Minutes after reading through a compelling December interview with Dr. George Wood, our former pastor and Assemblies of God general superintendent, we learned of his death.

In the interview Dr. Wood commented on the familiar passage where Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

As he pointed out, this passage can be easily misunderstood, like unrealistic hyperbole.

The reason I didn’t understand it was because he was in prison. He’s in a prison cell, he is chained to a guard, and he is saying, “I can.” And I want to shout at him through the tunnel of time, hey, Paul, don’t you realize you can’t do anything, your traveling days are over, your epistle writing days are nearly done? You're not planting churches anymore. People aren’t being healed under your ministry.

Then it dawned on me one day that prison was the hardest thing God ever asked him to do. And what that phrase means is I can even do this. 

And that has been meaningful to me in this time when I’m fighting stage 4 cancer. I can do this through Christ who strengthens me, whether He chooses to heal me on this side of the Jordan or heal me on the opposite side of the Jordan. I’ve never felt spiritually stronger in my life than I do now.

And even as the Apostle Paul, Dr. Wood, and others drew close to their final breaths, they continued to touch many lives, ours included.

Some of our Young Enough to Serve heroes have reached the end of life ‘on this side of Jordan’. Yes, we can face even death with Christ beside us, giving us hope and strength.

With that understanding and assurance, being Young Enough to Serve, too, is not just wishful thinking. Many find ways to serve and impact others, up to the very end.

Down to Earth

Because the Christmas story is so familiar, we sometimes forget how truly radical it is.

“Down to earth” is an admirable quality: Real, not putting on airs, humble. And what could be more down-to-earth than Jesus leaving heaven and making His lowly stable entrance? 

A teenage virgin travels out of town by donkey in her final month of pregnancy ... such an impossible, improbable beginning saga for God’s only Son!

In our upwardly mobile culture, we tend to look for better and avoid eye contact with those struggling.

We’re certainly not opposed to higher education, financial equity, and interaction with people seemingly higher up the food chain. 

But from the very start of this story, God identifies with people in humble circumstances. Apart from divine revelations through angels, a star and bright lights, Jesus in the manger would be off our radar … not a scene we’d be drawn to.

What a reminder to pay attention to those around us in desperate, dismal situations.

More than three decades later, in Matthew 25, Jesus encourages us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, show hospitality to strangers, provide for those needing clothes, and look after the sick and imprisoned. 

44-45 (NIV) “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Having a servant’s heart means we humble ourselves and look at others with compassion, eyeball to eyeball, as though we’re looking into the eyes of Jesus.

Now, two millennia later, the manger scene still beckons. It’s not too late to visit Jesus, bearing gifts. And yes, we’re still young enough to serve!

Thanks ’n Giving

November … Thanksgiving. With more excitement to come in December.

What a special time of year. Such a significant time of families and friends gathering. For some a continuing reality, for others treasured memories, and sadly for some profound sadness.

People with a deep sense of gratitude often respond with unleashed generosity. Stifle the thanks, and selfishness follows close behind. Thanks and giving are definitely joined at the hip...or the wishbone.

Jesus connects these dots many times. The parable of the forgiven servant in Matthew 18 comes to mind. Instead of gratitude for his undeserved mercy and huge-debt forgiveness, he puts a choke hold on his fellow servant who owed him a much smaller debt. No gratitude, no generosity.

Jesus reminded his disciples that they had freely received, and in response He challenged them to freely give.

We’re chaplains, not therapists, but we know if we’re struggling in generosity, we need to evaluate our sense of gratitude. If we’re struggling with our gratitude, taking faith steps toward greater generosity is a good prescription.

Both Judy and I were blessed to be raised by grateful and generous parents who lived through the Great Depression. Experiencing life in that era made them more frugal, but it certainly didn’t diminish their gratitude or generosity.

We have so much to be thankful for! May gratitude to God permeate our lives and lead us on generous paths.

Count Your Blessings

In times of loss and discouragement, it’s easy to fix our eyes on our loss, someone or something we cherished but no longer have.

In a recent conversation with an 83-year-old widower, he pointed to a significant later-life turning point as he grieved the loss of his wife after 53 years of marriage.

After some time had passed, he was able to stop complaining to God about his substantial loss, and he began thanking Him for their many years together.

Turning points like this are so healthy and help keep us on a course where we can still reach out and help others … even after our profound personal losses.

The longer we live, the more losses we accumulate. How we face and frame these losses may determine our quality of life and longevity going forward.

Having faith to know God has not deserted us when we face tough times keeps us young enough to serve. It’s part of the legacy we who are older can share with those younger. God is faithful … all the time!

We know that grief is a process that takes time, even time to question why and to sometimes never fully understand.

Our faith, though, is strengthened when we see older believers moving forward with a spirit of gratitude.

Our losses don’t have to trigger a downward spiral or “the beginning of the end.” We hopefully have many years, even decades, of fruitfulness ahead.

As God brings comfort and gives strength, let’s count our blessings, and name them one by one.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Find Us Faithful

Judy and I were privileged this month to lead a couple breakout sessions at a national senior adult ministries conference in Branson, Missouri. About eight hundred adults from around the US attended.

The conference theme, Find Us Faithful, is from a beautiful song written by Steve Green, who helped kickstart our time together with some inspiring music.

The expanded lyrics say, “May all who come behind us find us faithful.” We love the generation-to-generation emphasis embedded in these words. But we first have some work to do in those coming behind us even finding us!

(There is a bit of irony in leading a Building Better Bridges Between Generations session while in a sea of grey and white hair.)

Even while Covid lingers we sense a growing openness in churches to become more deliberate in connecting generations, a significant part of our calling since starting YES! nearly fourteen years ago.

Again, we underscore how much we need younger people in our lives!

One ‘younger’ adult who just joined our YES! board of directors is Dr. Amy Hanson. Amy has always been at the top of our list as someone who exemplifies the richness of a younger adult reaching out to those older.

If you’ve wondered if under-fifty adults have something to offer in this over-fifty-five-focused ministry, wonder no more: 

Amy’s Educational Background

o  B.S. Bible/Family Ministry 

o  M.S. Gerontology 

o  Ph.D. Human Sciences/ Gerontology

Brief Employment History

o  Active Adult (50+) Ministries Director at Central Christian Church, Henderson, NV 

o  Author, Consultant and Speaker at amyhanson.org on older adult ministry

o  Instructor with the Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha 

God has allowed such wonderful people to come alongside us.

May He find us all faithful!

Parallel Visions

No matter how many times you’ve read through the Bible, isn’t it amazing how certain verses seem to jump off the page for the first time? In our recent reading of Acts, chapters 10 and 11, the story of Cornelius and Peter was one such page-jumper.

First, we love how Luke describes Cornelius in the Message:

“a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer.”

Comparing this description to our mission statement, he sure sounds like a YES! man to us … praying, serving and making disciples.

For those of us in the Gentile camp, these chapters are hugely significant. God is concerned about all races, not just the Jews.

We like to draw parallels, knowing God’s love extends to all races and all generations. In God’s kingdom there are no second-class citizens. What stands out here is how God used both Cornelius, a Gentile, and Peter, a Jew, to bring unity and understanding. And it still got a little dicey along the way.

Applying this same principle to intergenerational unity, let’s look for God to give parallel visions to both the young and old. If unity is our desired destination, we don’t typically get there alone. 

This is not an authoritarian “father knows best” exercise, just as it was not a “Jews know best” revelation for Peter and Cornelius. In fact, here the path-to-unity story starts with Cornelius.

As we strive for unity between generations, let’s humbly expect God to plant that unifying vision and desire in both young leaders and older sages. 

Off to College and Stuck at Home

As we ponder 2020-21’s upheaval, many wonder how the pandemic will impact our churches going forward.

Through our lenses, we see Covid putting churches through two vivid simulations, one mirroring young adults and another mimicking late adulthood.

Right now, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. :) Allow me to clarify.

Resembling our early passage into adulthood, it’s as though the whole church went away to college this past year, leaving familiar and established church-attendance routines behind and entering a new phase—where physical church attendance was not expected. 

As with young adults shifting away from their moorings, this season can become a critical faith juncture. Many begin to question their need for local fellowship with believers. And some walk away from their faith entirely.

Losing people to virtual or other churches is a practical concern, but personal faith loss is the bigger danger, with eternal consequences. Are more people now adrift in their walk with Christ? Do they know they’re missed?

At adulthood’s older extreme, Covid also introduced an up-close and personal glimpse into the life of the shut-in. Obviously, some of us were more tethered to home than others, but stay-at-home orders introduced unwelcomed limitations and isolation, similar to some challenges our frail elderly face.

Hopefully, a deeper empathy and lasting concern for housebound adults will emerge. For most of us, Covid restrictions represented a long but temporary setback. For the infirmed and housebound, however, major restrictions continue. For them, online church services, visits, phone and Zoom calls represent continuing lifelines. Even though they can’t be physically present on Sundays, they’re still part of our church body, right? 

Let’s not forget those adrift and the frail as our personal freedoms return. Let’s pick up the phone, initiate a thoughtful visit, and/or share a meal.

We’ve been called again to liberty. Paraphrasing Galatians 5:13, let’s not selfishly squander our freedom. 

Through love let’s serve one another.

Half-Empty or Half-Full?

We’re sometimes confronted with the half-empty or half-full question when talking about adults in life’s second half. Is the glass half-empty or half-full?

It’s a good question for determining one’s basic life outlook. Some die-hard optimists immediately answer ‘half-full’, and others may gravitate toward a ‘half-empty’ response. But our pen wants to move farther down to the “not applicable” checkbox.

It’s true that some adults may have about half the physical or mental quickness of earlier years, but certainly not everyone in life’s second half runs at half-steam. For some the glass appears nearly dry, and for many the water is at the brim and trickling over … such a broad range of levels, moving both up and down during these later years.

Every month we’re notified of ministers from our denominational fellowship who recently passed away … a poignant reminder that our time here on earth is short. We can’t live in denial about this reality or our blessed hope … eternity with Christ!

It’s also a cue that we need to be raising up younger ministers, passing to them a full and vibrant vision for every life stage. As Jesus said in John 10:10 (NIV), “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

And part of our YES! mission is to remind people, young and old, of how rich and purposeful these later years can be.

Our YES! board met recently at beautiful Mount Hermon. Serving with a spiritually mature, age-diverse board is an incredible blessing and honor.

Our younger board members took the lead in pulling us together in worship.

Dr. Amy Hanson joined us for a meaningful hour via Zoom. At 47 years young, Amy has been drawing out older-adult potential for nearly three decades.

Right now, our cups are full and running over.

Wherever we are in life’s journey, let’s reaffirm that God is not finished with us. Building our lives on His firm foundation, we put our trust in Him alone … we will not be shaken!

Accepting Limitations

We love this thought shared with us recently by one of our former pastors, Bill Dogterom, an esteemed professor at Vanguard University:

Thinking about the gift that limitations are to creativity - the musician with eight notes, the artist with three primary colors, the athlete with a field of play, the dancer with body and gravity, the architect with an odd shaped piece of land - each one approaching their art, aware of the limitations - and enabled by them. Acceptance. Then… beauty and wonder.

A burgeoning limitation list is not uncommon in life’s later years. We can prevent, pray through, and fight off some limitations, but how cool, too, when we allow limits to bring focus and enablement.

Complaining about limitations doesn’t move the musician, artist, athlete, dancer or architect forward.

Special beauty and wonder await us as we learn to accept some of the limitations bordering our life’s canvas.

The Apostle Paul grew to accept his ‘thorn in the flesh’, which was no doubt accompanied by limitations and personal adjustment. Whatever that nagging thorn was, it didn’t bring his ministry or life to a screeching halt.

May our infinite God creatively use our finiteness to bring Him glory!

Thank you for cultivating and investing in potential—sometimes shaped and undeterred by our limitations.