Baby Boomers
“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”
Psalm 145:16
There are over 70 million of us born between 1946 and 1964. We are called Baby Boomers. No group in American history has ever been so studied and analyzed. And, because we consume over 51% of all products, no company can overlook us. What a humble bunch we are!
Leith Anderson writes, “Boomers operate differently and expect to be treated differently. Those who are baby boomers instinctively understand this.”
What are some of the character traits of boomers?
•They expect quality. They shop for it. They’ll drive to it.
•They are the multi-choice generation. They prefer shopping malls, superstores, and 500 channels on the TV.
•Time is the new money. They will spend money on DSL, cell phones and email, whatever it takes to save time.
•They tend to be low on commitment and loyalty. Their attitudes about marriages, jobs, churches and denominations surely reflect this.
•Many tend to be more conservative than their parents but are more tolerant of diversity (consider the major social issues of our day).
•They tend to be on a constant quest for self-fulfillment. With many in mid-life, this trait has intensified.
Boomers, now that you’ve hit mid-life with a vengeance and dabbling with old age, remember – God knows you best. Why don’t you look to Him to find the ultimate quality relationship, to learn how to make the most of your time, to learn commitment and loyalty, to discover Godly values, and at last, to find the key to lasting fulfillment.
I’m Just Curious
“They are darkened in their understanding, and separated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.”
Ephesians 4:18
I’m just curious…
Why is it, in a culture increasingly obsessed with the environment and protecting all species, that so many of these same folks are for destroying the lives of unborn children?
I’m just curious…
Why is it that value-free sex education, that should be teaching safe sex to save lives, is advising young people on an unsafe approach that could kill them? Entrusting your life to a thin rubber shield, when the failure rate is so high, is bewildering indeed.
I’m just curious…
Why is it in a culture where the supreme virtue is often tolerance, so many are so intolerant of the name of Jesus Christ or Biblical convictions?
Don’t things like this make you just a little bit curious too?
America’s Favorite Memory Verse
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Do you know what seems to be America’s favorite memory verse? “God helps those who help themselves.” People say it all the time, usually in the form of friendly advice. What people don’t realize is that this verse is not in the Bible. It was given to us by good ole Ben Franklin.
But it sounds so good and makes so much sense – common sense – that many people believe it as truth. In the process we can get in God’s way – trying to help God out in doing things that we feel need to be done. We may get results by taking matters into our own hands, but it surely isn’t faith. Real faith means trusting God and doing things His way.
Yes, I know. God gave us a brain to use to make wise decisions. But taking matters into our own hands is not faith. So, if you’ve made a mess of things by buying into Ben Franklin’s philosophy more than God’s Word, seek the Lord’s forgiveness and ask God’s help in cleaning up the mess.
Dang, I Did It Again
“For I am not practicing what I would like to do but am doing the very thing I hate.”
Romans 7:15
Dang, I did it again! The very thing I thought I had licked in my life, I did it again. Is that how you feel about a sin or a bad habit you just can’t seem to overcome?
Well, you’re not alone. All of us are born with a sinful nature, a sinful bent. Sure, we are a creation of God that He Himself says is very good. But we’ve all been poisoned by sin and we’re incapable of overcoming this poison on our own strength. The fact is we need a cure, a doctor; we need to be saved from this deadly condition.
The good news is we can be. That’s why God became a man in the person of Jesus. He is the Great Physician and came to save us from this deadly poison of sin. He forgives us and gives us the power to overcome what we can’t defeat with our own strength.
He provides the Holy Spirit to do what we ought to do by giving us the inner desire and discipline to want to. It’s found through faith—faith in Jesus Christ. He gives us the victory that we can never give ourselves.
Homosexuality, Marriage And The Church
“the precepts of the Lord are right…”
Psalm 19:8
The idea of re-defining marriage within the church to include same-sex unions is really an issue about Biblical authority and interpretation:
Is Scripture God’s word or man’s word about God?
Is Scripture true or is it filled with errors?
Does Scripture reveal absolute truth or simply general principles?
Jesus said this about Scripture, “Do not think that I came to abolish the law of the prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” He later stated in a prayer to His Heavenly Father, “Thy Word is Truth.”
If Jesus is wrong about Scripture, He’s surely not worthy to be called the Son of God. We may as well just do what we want.
But if He is the perfect Son of God, then He is right about Scripture. This means scripture is trustworthy and true. Our calling is to believe and obey God’s word as true. It’s not easy and we all fall short, but believing God’s word is always best.
Origin Of Marriage
“But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.”
1 Corinthians 7:2
A hot topic in the news these days is marriage. “Is it still relevant?” “Does it need to be redefined?” In every culture for thousands of years, marriage has been defined as a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman. The only exception has been polygamy.
Never, though, has marriage been defined as a same-sex union. Now, in the 21st century, some so-called enlightened men and women have decided that society and laws should be changed to re-define marriage.
The idea of marriage originated with God when He created man and woman. In its origin, marriage was intended to be between one man and one woman. God’s word gives two reasons for the ideal: companionship and pro-creation. You can read more about it in Genesis 1-2, the first book of the Bible. Thus began the family as God intended.
Has 21st century man become so arrogant and selfish that we suddenly decide to redefine what God has ordained? I hope not.
Old Age Ain’t For Sissies
“And even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and deliver you.”
Isaiah 46:4
Old age sure ain’t for sissies. In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon would agree. He wrote of how the things we take for granted when we’re young cause us to lose delight in living when we’re old.
Our eyesight grows dim—we start with reading glasses and then move to bifocals. Our hearing grows weak. We’re constantly saying “huh?” to our spouse. We have time to sleep late but we wake up early. Our hands start to tremble. Our desire for sex diminishes.
Old age isn’t for sissies, and without God it can be meaningless. But with God, there is wisdom, strength, joy, and the hope that when the body finally gives out, there is life—real life—in heaven with God. It’s something to remember when you’re young and when you’re old.
The Busiest Man Who Ever Lived
“Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.”
Mark 6:45-46
He was exhausted, completely worn out from dealing with people and their problems. What He needed was a rest. He got away to spend some time alone with God. When He did, His spirit was renewed and refreshed. When the crowds came, He was able to respond, to care for them and meet their needs.
His name was Jesus Christ and He was the busiest man who ever lived. He accomplished more than anyone did before or since his time here.
We live in a very fast-paced world with great demands on our time, yet no one has ever been busier than Jesus when He walked on this earth. Why not learn from Him when you’re frazzled, exhausted, and burned out. Take some time to be with God. If Jesus needed some time alone with God, surely we do as well.
What On Earth Am I Here For?
“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21
What on earth am I here for?
Have you ever asked yourself that question? Rich Warren asks that question in The Purpose Driven Life.
Are you clear on your life purpose? Can you write it down?
It seems the average American thinks life is all about working hard, raising a family, doing your best, making enough money to retire (the earlier the better), and then finally doing what you want to do when you want to do it. But by mid-life, this philosophy makes a person cry, “What on earth am I here for?” It’s like slowly drowning in an ocean of emptiness.
But I have good news. We can know what on earth we’re here for. It begins when we get to know our Creator through the person of Christ. Our Creator, God, loves us and has a purpose for our life. And our role is to trust Him and obey Him through His written word.
So don’t waste your life. Get to know your Creator personally. I promise you’ll become clear about what on earth you’re here for.
The Day America Told The Truth
“…every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
Judges 17:6
In the book, The Day America Told The Truth, Patterson and Kim found that in every region of the country 90% of the people believe in God. But when they asked them how they made up their mind on issues of right and wrong, they found people do not turn to God or religion to help them decide about moral issues of the day. They concluded, “There is absolutely no moral consensus at all.”
In other words, people believe there is a God but He has no relevance to their everyday life. True belief in God is about trust and obedience. We trust Him to know and want the best for us, so we obey His command and His word. It’s radically counter-cultural, but it’s the best way to live.
Having Jesus as Lord means loving God enough to trust and obey Him, and loving your neighbor as yourself. It connects God with morality in a way that is good for all.
The Most Difficult Job
“Behold, children are a gift from the Lord…”
Psalm 127:3
Have you ever considered what’s the most difficult job in life?
It’s the job of parenting; the challenge of guiding a child through the demands of growing up in this world and helping that child become all he or she was created to be.
The Bible provides timeless insight. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” The way he should go means according to his bent. This means we have to be students of our children—learning to recognize their God-given abilities and interests. We’re also to help our children develop their strengths, as well as curb and check their weaknesses.
Once we become students of our children and teach them right and wrong—with a lot of prayer—the promise of God can be realized. The challenge is a great one, but the rewards of seeing our children become mature, productive adults makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Kindness
“But [a] fruit of the spirit is…kindness”
Galatians 5:23
Do you know one character trait that is always appreciated? The Biblical proverb tells us. “What is desirable in a man is kindness.”
In the movie The Fugitive, the character played by Harrison Ford performed several acts of kindness. The fugitive even risked his own life to save the life of a boy who was being neglected in a busy hospital emergency room. The cop, obsessed with chasing him, began to question whether this fugitive could have really killed his wife. You could just hear the cop thinking, “Cold-blooded killers don’t do nice things like this.”
Acts of kindness inspire us, whether it’s taking time to help an employee at the office, or defending a person who is being picked on by bullies. The recipients of these acts of kindness are always grateful.
The one person who comes to mind when I think of kindness is Jesus Christ. He shows us that God is kind. And because He is so kind to us, we are to be kind to one another.
Especially in a busy world where so many seem to be looking out for number one, acts of kindness are always appreciated.
Deceit
“He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.”
Proverbs 2:7
In the movie Liar, Liar, Jim Carey starred as the profane attorney who was incapable of lying for an entire day after his son makes a birthday wish that his dad would stop lying.
Lying has become a pervasive problem. Have you fallen into the habit?
It seems that today’s “me first” mindset places very little value on honesty and personal integrity. Truth is sacrificed on the altar of self-advancement. At the time, you may think that lying will make your life easier, but one lie almost always requires another and another and another. You have to remember everything you said to keep from confusing your lies.
But when you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said. That makes life a lot less complicated!
Which life have you created for yourself?
There’s only one way to break the bondage of a lie, and that’s with the truth. Seek to live with integrity and honesty and you’ll find a new freedom for living.
How? The truth is found in Jesus Christ. Find Him, and find the truth, the power, and strength to become a person of integrity.
Riddled With Guilt
“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.”
Psalms 51:2-3
Are you riddled with guilt?
You need to be free from guilt for it saps you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When it comes to guilt, the best way to avoid it is simply to do what is right.
When you don’t, you first need to confess your sin to God with a genuine desire to get things right. I promise that when you pursue the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ, with an attitude of seeking to get things right it will free you of guilt. He wipes the slate clean.
Second, seek forgiveness from those that you’ve wronged. Make restitution.
Third, forgive yourself. Some struggle with this, but you should recognize that when God has forgiven you, you can forgive yourself.
Fourth, don’t confuse forgiveness with the removal of consequences. God forgives immediately, but you have to deal with the consequences of your sin.
The good news is you can be free of guilt when you seek to get things right— God’s way.
Tolerance And Diversity
“…walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance for one another in love…”
Ephesians 4:2
Why is the tolerance and diversity movement so intolerant of Biblical Christianity?
If tolerance is the supreme virtue of the politically correct, why is there such hypocrisy, such intolerance of Christian values?
If diversity is about openness and acceptance of all people, why do the diversity police seek to enforce their man-made rules on Biblical Christianity?
Maybe it is because they don’t understand the true definition of tolerance and diversity. Tolerance means accepting people even if you completely disagree with them, and not trying to force them to believe what you believe.
Christianity doesn’t try to force anyone to believe in Jesus, but seeks to explain why it is a great way to live and believe. If you are really open-minded and tolerant, I hope you’ll consider it. You’ll find the church one of the most diverse groups in the world.
Forgiving Our Enemies
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us.”
Ephesians 4:32
In 1962 in Montgomery, Alabama, a young, unknown Baptist preacher came home to find a large crowd gathered in front of his house that had just been bombed.
He quickly ran inside to see if his wife and daughter had survived. Miraculously, he found that they had not been harmed. He comforted them before going back outside to the large angry crowd.
They had gathered with chains and weapons to retaliate against the white community for such a despicable deed. He told them there would be no retaliation saying, “Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to forgive those who persecute us. Now go home.” Thus, began the legacy of an amazing man with a unique spirit—Martin Luther King, Jr.
What King did on that occasion isn’t natural—it’s supernatural. The ability to forgive our enemies who have wronged us is often beyond our natural ability, but it is the Spirit of Christ. It is true Christianity. It is a power available to us all and it can change the world.
The Local Church and Neighborhood Bar
“…not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”
Hebrews10:25
Have you ever thought of the similarities of the local church and the neighborhood bar?
In both places:
People come looking for fellowship.
People want to go where others know their name.
People want to go where they are accepted.
People want to go where their spirits will be lifted.
People are united around one theme.
People go where they like the music.
Like a priest, the bartender serves by listening to people’s troubles.
But the differences are profound:
The bar is centered on booze and the church is centered on Jesus Christ.
The bar offers a way to escape problems. The church offers a way to face them, get through them, and overcome them.
The spirit inside the bar lowers one’s guard when it comes to temptation and sin. The spirit of the true church encourages people to turn from sin and turn to God.
In short, the neighborhood bar may be a substitute for the church, but it never comes close to providing the meaning and purpose found in a Christ-centered church.
Know Peace In War
“Fight the good fight of faith;”
1 Timothy 6:12
William Tecumseh Sherman said, “War is Hell.”
A pastor friend said to me, “War is not Hell. Hell is a place where certain people deserve to be, but war is a place where innocent women and children are killed. And they don’t deserve that.”
No doubt war is horrible. It is something no sane person wants. Yet many people are asking, “Is war ever right?”
Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and to seek to be peacemakers. Certainly, every Christian should. God’s Word teaches that God has ordained government to administer justice, to defend and protect the citizens, and to punish evil. How do we reconcile what seems to be contradictory teaching in God’s Word? Jesus teaches us about the attitude of the individual and, later in God’s Word, we learn about the role of government.
So let us pray for our government leaders and military personnel to protect and defend its citizens, to administer justice and to punish evil effectively. Let us pray that when we have to go war for the cause is just, that we’ll be blessed with victory and a minimal loss of life.
Self-Help
“Seek from the book of the Lord and read…”
Isaiah 34:16
Do you ever get tired of all the self-help information in society?
There are books, radio programs, and numerous talk shows that urge you to take a look at who you are and then change yourself by your determined will.
Have you tried all that information and yet you’re still discouraged by repeating the same old habits?
There are some things that self-help cannot help, things like disease, overcoming certain sins, and most of all, death.
But I have good news for you. God has a plan for us that goes beyond our own abilities. It’s something supernatural. It comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who supernaturally changes us where we can’t change ourselves. As a bonus to that faith, He promises us victory over death and eternal life. So if you really want to help yourself, look beyond yourself to the only One who can save you and give you the ultimate victory—Jesus Christ.
Appointments
“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3
Most of us have a pretty full plate, and that Daytimers and smart phone calendars can fill up quickly. How do you keep your priorities in place?
Let me suggest three appointments you don’t want to miss:
A regular daily appointment with God. Pick a time of the day to meet with God to communicate with Him through prayer and Bible study. When it comes to appointments, this one is the most important.
A weekly appointment in church. This is key if you claim to be a Christian, or have an openness to investigate Christianity. Remember, being in a church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car, but it does help you stay close to God and get right with your fellow man.
A weekly date with your spouse, if you’re married. You don’t have to be a Christian to do this. The weekly date helps you stay close with your spouse all week long, and it can rekindle those romantic fires.
These are three of life’s most important appointments to keep on your calendar. Give ‘em a try.
Keep Your Eyes on The Goal
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.”
Psalms 119:10
Walking through freshly fallen snow, a father wanted to teach his son a key lesson in life. He said, “Son, I’m going to walk to that tree fifty feet ahead in a perfectly straight line. Then I want you to do the same.”
The father walked to the tree. He turned to look at his son and they both observed the perfectly straight tracks in the snow. Not wanting to fail the test, the son looked at his father and began to walk. He looked down at his steps and veered to the left. He looked up and corrected his course. He looked down again. He veered to the right and had to correct his course once more.
Arriving at the tree, his tracks told the story of his failure.
His father explained, “Son, as long as you focused on me, your tracks were straight. The moment you took your eyes off me, you got off track. The key is keeping your eyes on the goal.”
So it is in life. There is one primary goal and if it becomes the heart and focus of your life it will be the key to eternal success. That goal is following the Lord. Keep your eyes on Him, and He will keep you right on track to where you need to go.
Is Divorce OK?
“Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him…whether it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.”
Mark 10:2
People often ask me, “Can I get a divorce and still be right with God?” Many want to know if divorce is ever okay.
Jesus was asked that question and He responded by talking about marriage. The right question to ask is “How can I make the most of my marriage?”
Here’s a hint. Several years ago Myron Augsberger did a survey that found that even in a culture where one of every two marriages ends in divorce, Christian marriages where the couples are active in the church only end in divorce one out of every forty marriages. And more amazing is the fact that for Christian marriages where the couple has a daily devotional life, there is only one divorce out of every four hundred marriages.
Going to church and being a Christian doesn’t guarantee success in marriage, but it sure does help the odds. And with one out of every two marriages not making it, these are the odds I’m going to take. So if you’re contemplating divorce and wondering if it is okay, why don’t you ask instead, “what can I do to make the most of my marriage?” With God’s help, you’ll discover marriage as God intends it to be.
Bodily Abuse
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Christianity teaches that the body is the temple of God’s spirit and that we are to take care of our bodies. But gluttony and obesity in America is at epidemic levels. And primarily among teenage girls and young women, the sin of gluttony can result in the opposite extreme—an eating disorder.
The original intent of those who suffer from eating disorders is to take care of their bodies by eating less. But over time they can become obsessed by controlling their food intake in a way that is similar to gluttony, but with the opposite effect.
There are three main types of eating disorders:
Anorexia—eating too little or being rigidly obsessed with avoiding perceived unhealthy foods
Bulimia—binge eating and then throwing up or taking laxatives to avoid weight gain
Exercise Bulimia—an obsession with exercise without enough caloric intake to replace the caloric output
Each of these can bring great harm to the body. And like all addictions, whether food, booze, drugs, or sex, the addiction substitutes for the place of God in the addicted person’s life. If you or someone you know suffers from an addiction that harms the body, seek God’s forgiveness and His help. Other qualified counselors can then come alongside to help achieve victory over the unhealthy addiction.
Financial Security
“Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom.”
1 Chronicles 29:11 (TLB)
There is a ton of financial insecurity today. When the economy is good, people worry it may go in the tank. When it’s bad, as it has been the last few years, pessimism reigns. All this adds up to a lot of financial insecurity especially after the holidays and bills come due.
But there is one key to financial security—understanding that God owns it all. That’s not easy to do. For many, it is the toughest decision they ever make. That’s why Jesus said you’ve got to choose where you’re going to put your trust in God or money.
Trusting in money in the form of a job, bank account, or investments—without God—always leads to worry, anxiety, and a spirit of greed or hoarding.
Trusting in God brings inner peace. His principles, as found in the Bible, teach us how to be good money managers. God promises to meet our needs—not our wants, but our needs.
So in these days of financial insecurity, find your security in God—not money. Understand He owns it all and seek to manage His money His way. It’s the key to financial security.
