The Wisdom of Age

As we grow older we have more experiences, we learn from our mistakes and our successes, and we can look back and see things in a different perspective. That is wisdom. That is more than just knowing facts. That is knowing life. All things being equal, we grow wiser as we grow older, especially as believers, who have the Holy Spirit to help us in this quest for wisdom.

Ultimately, this wisdom comes from God. James 1:5 says “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” All wisdom comes from God, including the wisdom that comes with age.

Many of us on the senior side of life look at children running and playing so hard and we say, “I wish I had his energy.” I can relate to that statement. It’s true that we do want more energy and more vitality for our bodies and minds, but there’s a flip side to that. What we lack in energy and strength, we make up for in wisdom. We can look back and see what was really important – loving God and His word, loving others, and seeking to know Him on a deeper level.

That is true wisdom, dear reader.

King Solomon was known for having wisdom and for writing about it. There is a lot of wisdom seen in his writings in Ecclesiastes. Song of Solomon, and the book of Proverbs. He experienced everything, wrote about many things, had everything that anyone could imagine, yet in the end, he said it was all “vanity, and a chasing after the wind.” (Eccl. 2:26). His ultimate conclusion was to “fear God and keep His commandments. (Eccl. 12:13). As he grew older he too realized that the ultimate wisdom was found in honoring God and having a relationship with Him.

May we seek God – His wisdom, His face, His depth of love for us -and grow closer to Him. May that be our prayer and our goal as we grow older – and wiser!

God be with you as you read these words. Take care, and God bless.

Pastor John

My wife and I took her mother to her doctor’s appointment today. My mother-in-law is a trip. She likes to have fun, which she did after her visit with the doctor. She left from the exam room to go to the lab and get some tests done. The sign on the lab area of the office says “Let someone know you are here.” So, with full confidence and in a clear voice, she said “I’m here!”

The lab tech had her back turned and was staring at her computer. She jumped like she’d been shot! My mother-in-law just laughed and laughed. It’s not often you get to enjoy a laugh at the doctor’s office, but she enjoyed this one!

Sometimes you just need to let someone know “I’m here!”

Blessings,
Pastor John

What Seniors Need – Seniors Need to be Real

It’s time to get real about getting real – really! What does that mean? It means we need to be realistic about the things we struggle with. It also means we need to express it and not leave it locked in our hearts. That means that when they do express their pain or their frustration, the rest of us need to be willing to listen.

For some seniors, it is easy to be real – “I’m 80 years old and I’m gonna do what I want to. You don’t like it? You don’t have to do. That’s the way it is.” Others can express what is on thier mind without being so abrasive. So the question remains -Why is it hard for some of us to be real with what we feel, what we think, and the struggles we are going through?

Right now, I can think of three reasons why we struggle to be real with those around us. I’m going to talk about each one of them. The three reasons that come to mind are pride, fear, a feeling of hopelessness.

Sometimes pride keeps me from letting people know I am struggling in body, mind, or spirit. “What would people think?” comes to mind for a lot of us, including me. “If people knew I am feeling tired or dizzy at workout, won’t that make me look bad? I want people to think that I have it all together. What they don’t realize is that everytime I “have it all together”, I forget where I put it! I am not one to freely show or talk about my struggles. Part of that is pride.

Fear keeps me from doing new things, testing out new ideas, pursuing God-sized projects, specifically the fear of failure, of not measuring up to the task. Its not just that I am afraid of failure or afraid of what other people think. Its also a fear that I am not up to the task, that I don’t have what it takes, that I’m not enough. May I say this loud and clear? That’s a lie from Hell, and you and I need to stop letting those lies filter down into our brain and into our heart. The Bible says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or pride, but in humility serve one another. ” (Phil. 2:3). Fear and pride hold us back from being real, from being vulnerable.

Finally, a sense of hopelessness cripples courage and faith and prevents forward progress in life. It prevents us from being real. An “I give up. It will never get any better. God can’t change me. I can’t let people see these feelings. People will think that not only I am weak, but that God is weak too, that He can’t do anything to help. Another lie from the pits of Hell.

I want to encourage all of us to dig deep into Jesus, be vulnerable, allow ourselves to be real, focus on Him, and leave the rest in His hands.

Until next time,

Pastor John

What Seniors Need – Seniors Need Each Other

(This piece is about seniors needing each other in peronal, practical, and spiritual ways. Personal reflections are at the end, or clearly marked in the piece.)

When people come together to accomplish a task, they get a lot more done. I have seen this recently in Man of LaMancha practice. Each of the four practices for musicians only has been intense, confusing at times, and productive. In the end we met our objectives for that rehearsal. Sometimes it was like swimming through mud, but we got through it together. Each of us contributed our skill and our input, and we got the job done. None of us could have done this on our own. Although most were not seniors, the principle still applies, we all need each other. For seniors, that is especially true. Yes, we need each other for practical assistance.

We also need each other for personal reasons. We need companionship. We need company. We need somebody from the church or community to check on us and minister to us. Are we sick? Injured? Backslidden? Depressed? A widow or widower? Even for those who are active in church and community, they may feel isolated and may be cut off from the help they so desperately need. Recently, I needed several people to help me get through some confusion over scheduling for Man of LaMancha. It took a whole team to straighten my out! Not only did I need them practically, but I also needed them personally. I needed that encouragement and the affirmation I received on a fairly deep level. My chief encourager in this life is my wife, Karen. Can you relate? Do you understand? My website, www.pastorjohnsseniormoments.com tries to provide those two types of help – practical and personal.

But the biggest and most important reason we need each other is spiritually. We need people to ask us questions about the Bible, to talk things through about Bible characters or passages, to pray for us, to pray with us, to remind us that God is with us, that He loves us, and He is there for us. We need people to sharpen our iron. Prov. 27:17 says “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (NLT)

Aside from spiritual activity listed above, aside from needing each other in practical, personal, and spiritual ways, there is one Savior who ties it all together, who “works everything together for good for those that love Him, who are called according to His purposes.” (Rom. 8:28) At the center of all our needs and all our hearts, we need Jesus in every way. He’s the connector to our souls, to all who believe in Him. To those that don’t … Well, I hope you know Jesus.

(Personal reflections: I need people and Jesus in all these ways. I bet you do too!)

My reading Genesis Chapter 11

I live in fear, it is what keeps me back. I use my past hurts as an excuse to protect me. If I was not abused then I would be who I set out to be. But, this is not what God wants for me, or for you. He wants us to be fearless. I mean after all we have His power in us. To access that power is a whole nother process.

Fearless

In today’s reading we hear about the tower of Babel. How when people come together with a common goal, and common language they can do anything. Let’s look at this from the perspective of conquering our fears.

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Is The Bible a Reliable Source?

Knowing What We Believe and Why

Part One:   Was “The Bible Written To Control People?”

This is a popular claim made by some today but is it truth, an assumed fact, or just a baseless opinion? In order to address this claim that seems to question the purpose of the Bible, we must first look at how the Bible came together. Rather than arguing its contents (which I will address in another article) we need only to first review it’s history in order to understand its very existence.

To start, the bible is not one book but instead contains 66 books written by 40 different authors over an estimated 1600-1800 year period of time. The different books were written in 13 different countries and in three separate original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.(1) The Old Testament writings (39 scrolls) were written over a span of 1600-1700 years. King Ptolemy II of Egypt around 285 B.C. commissioned the royal librarian, Demetrius of Phaleron, to collect by purchase or by copying all the books in the world. He wrote a letter to Eleazar, the high priest at Jerusalem, requesting six elders of each tribe, in total seventy-two men, of exemplary life and learned in the Torah, to translate it into Greek, naming it the Septuagint.(2) They used a collection of books which included the Pentateuch (1st five books of the bible written by Moses), the prophets, the poetical books, wisdom and historical books. They were all written on long scrolls of various materials separately as stand-alone records by the individuals. The books chosen to be included in this Canon (meaning rule or measuring stick, for their high standard) were chosen for their historical content, spiritual value, and authority. The authorship also needed to meet a high degree of certainty as well.

The Old Testament scrolls were mainly collected and copied by scribes and read in the synagogues. In Luke 4:17-21 Jesus asks for the Isaiah scroll, which was written about 700 years earlier, and reads from it in the synagogue. Approximately 250 Old Testament scriptures are quoted directly by New Testament writers and approximately 750 times indirectly. The Old Testament scrolls that we now have were readily available over 2000 years ago for each New Testament writer in order to make such specific references. (2 Tim 4:13, Dead Sea Scrolls) This very act of referencing the Old Testament scrolls during that time verifies their acceptance and reliability as they were widely acknowledged as authoritative and sacred. The 27 New Testament scrolls were known as memoirs or letters of the apostles and highly sought after. They were copied and circulated among christian believers (Col 4:16). It is estimated that all 27 New Testament scrolls or books were written within approximately 62 years after the death and resurrection of Christ. The last book was written by John the Beloved between 70-95 A.D. on the Island of Patmos in the Revelation to John.(3) Early believers sought to possess the copies of the Apostles writings as these letters were recognized and accepted as equal to Old Testament writings as early as the Apostles time (2 Pet 3:16). Other letters were written but not by the Apostles and were not widely acknowledged as authoritative or containing spiritual impact in their contribution. Authorship and reliability were also key factors in consideration for inclusion.

Books, as we know them today, were not formulated until around the 3rd Century A.D. The first known book, which was called a Codex (a single leaf book) had not been conceived or created during the lives of the Biblical writers. The Latin Vulgate Bible was first translated by Jerome from Hebrew and Greek in 390-405 A.D. and contained Old Testament scrolls and New Testament letters all in one book.(4) Christianity was despised by the Jews and considered an outlawed religion by the Roman Empire from the time of Christ up until around 300 A.D., which was about the time of Constantine. Having copies of the Apostles writings often meant death to the possessor. Why would so many individuals willingly and voluntarily choose to put their own lives in danger just to be able to read and possess the early writings of the Apostles while also having to hide from the vast and powerful reach of the Roman Empire?

Almost none of the Old Testament writers had met or known each other. However, some kings who wrote records of their experiences or interactions with God, did in fact know some of the prophets who lived and also wrote during their reign (King David was alive during the time of Samuel the prophet and Nathan the prophet, covering the books of 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Samuel, and the 1st Chronicles). The New Testament eyewitnesses and writers did know each other and all gathered together in one place at one time as mentioned in Acts chapter 15. About 14-15 years after the ascension of Christ all 12 Apostles met with the Apostle Paul in Jerusalem for a pivotal meeting to discuss the gospel message to the gentile believers. The first part of the Bible’s content, the Old Testament, can be summarized as a historical account of the origin of man in the Garden of Eden and man’s choice of independence from God. This inevitably resulted in the consequential fall out of fellowship with his creator. The Bible then goes on to tell us of how God selects a specific group of people, the Israelites, in order to reveal Himself to them that He might be known to all men. God promises the Israelites that a future Messiah would be sent by God to restore mankind’s broken relationship with Himself. The New Testament shows how Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, stepped into history and is the fulfillment of all the prophetic promises. These accounts are written in specific details by eyewitnesses who, all but one, paid with their life for testifying to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Foxe’s Book of Martyrs)

Not only were the New Testament writers persecuted, tortured and killed for what they witnessed and testified to, but also some of the individuals who translated the bible centuries later to make it available to us today. Jan Huss was martyred on July 6, 1415, for reading and preaching from the bible and for making it available to his congregation. Many of his congregation were martyred with him for reading and testifying of what was written in it. William Tyndale died October 6, 1536, burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English for common people to read as forbidden by the church.(5) Martin Luther was kidnapped by his friends around 1517 A.D. and hidden away for 6 months until he could translate the Bible into German to avoid being killed by the Catholic church in order to stop him.(6)

If the claim that the bible was written to control people was in fact true, why did the Roman Church and the Church of England ban it from the public, specifically church going believers, by penalty of death up until the reformation in the mid-1500’s?(7) Looking at history it would seem that the early church leaders withheld the bible in order to keep the people from learning the truth written in it which gave leadership the ability to not only control, but to also take advantage of the people(95 thesis by Martin Luther 1517). John 8:32 says, “If we know the truth, the truth will make us free.” This would seem to be the opposite impact of what the popular opinion states.

Could it be that the Bible stories were written to inspire freedom which depends on knowledge of the truth? Isn’t ignorance a greater danger to people being controlled than correct information? Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” If the bible was written to control people why is it currently banned in over 50 countries that demand control of what people do, read and even think?(8) Wouldn’t these countries want to use the Bible to control people if that is its purpose? Do people care enough to find out the facts about what they believe? Atheist or Christian, believer or non-believer, the bias does not matter if we do not have the facts on what we believe or why we believe it. I have come across many who present assumptions or restate old claims they have heard in regards to things of eternal importance. I like to ask for facts or support in these types of conversations but I usually find out most people cannot back up or provide evidence regarding their parroted assumptions or opinions.

It’s important to show why we believe and not just what we believe. Since the bible was not written by one person but by many, it would have taken an impossible conspiracy to fulfill the claim. A conspiracy concocted during a time before a codex or book was even invented to make one book possible. Also, there is no historical evidence to suggests that the writers knew all their accounts would be collected into one book! Again, the Bible is 66 different books, written by 40 writers in 3 languages from 13 countries by men who lived hundreds of years and miles apart. Because the majority of these men were not even alive in the same centuries, it would seem highly improbable for them to have been able to conspire together in their writings. By revealing its history and pertinent facts to its construction, I hope you can draw your own conclusion on whether or not the Bible could have been “written to control people”. To the contrary, we can surmise how humanly impossible it is to have a harmonious compilation of prophetic writings that support the same theme threaded throughout each historical accounting.

Many think the Bible is amazing and inspired in its collection and provision by the forethought of people who were moved by it’s great value and importance. It’s possible to understand why an estimated 5 billion people have desired to own it, putting some still at great risk today. This book can be seen as a miracle in itself through its very compilation and unchanging preservation throughout the centuries.

It is interesting that the Bible is the most popular selling book in the world and has been since the tracking of book sales started.(9) In 2015 it was estimated that approximately 5 billion Bibles have been printed and sold throughout history. It is the number one bestseller every year even though it is no longer listed on any of the bestseller lists.

Based on historical evidence, was the Bible written to control people? You be the judge.

Footnotes:

1. How we got our Bible by Chuck Missler
2. http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2016/03/31/A-Brief-History-of-the-Septuagint.aspx#Article
3. Christiancourier.com by Wayne Jackson
4. Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls Dr. Craig Lampe Ch 5
5. http://www.accordingtothescriptures.org/prophecy/353prophecies.html
6. www.lineagejourney.com/episodes/episode-24-martin-luther-captured-castle/
7. Huffpost 5/20/2013 Why Christians were denied Access to their Bible for 1000 yrs
8. www.christianitytoday.com/…/top-50-countries-christian-persecution-world-wa
9. https://www.quora.com/Which-has-sold-more-copies-the-Bible-or-the-Koran

Written by Mick Templeton Rockford Wa.,

7 years full time Licensed youth pastor, associate pastor, currently a Bible and Apologetic’s teacher and seminar speaker on the History of the Bible, Is the Bible the Word of God, The Person and work of Jesus, Foundational Theology, How to Witness to the Cults, Street Ministry

What do Seniors Need – part 2

(This continues the series of posts about what seniors need. Last week was on physical and practical needs and encouragement. This week we will focus on the ultimate need of seniors – and of all of us – the need for Jesus in our everyday lives and beyond. Personal reflections will be at the end, to keep us focused on Jesus.”)

The greatest need that seniors, and all of us have is Jesus. We need Him in every area of our lives, and in every possible way. I would like to focus on three ways that seniors in particular need Jesus.

For one thing, it is hard getting older. As our body ages, things work differently than they used to – bodies, minds, and emotions are slower. For me, processing thoughts and feelings is harder. That is why I, and many of my fellow seniors, need not only physical and practical help, as mentioned last week. We also need encouragement directly from the Lord. We need Jesus for encouragement. Others can encourage us with their words, which is good, but only Jesus can encourage and comfort us at the core of our being. He is fully capable of doing that, and we definitely need that from Him.

The second way we need Jesus is in our failures. We need Jesus when we fail because we need Him to comfort us, and to lead our hearts to the truth – Did we mess up? Is there something You are trying to teach me in this? Is my attitude sour or my focus on myself instead of others?” We need Jesus to work in our hearts to reveal these things. Maybe it wasn’t our fault after all. He can reveal that to us as well. Whatever the case, we need His advice, comfort, insight, assurance, and peace. All are available because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

That brings us to the third way we need Jesus. We need Jesus not only now but literally forever. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” I asked Jesus to save me when I was a teenager. Have you experienced that too? Have you given your life, your soul, your will, to Jesus? I asked Jesus to forgive me and come in to my heart. When I asked him to come in, He did, and that was for eternity. God doesn’t do anything half way, including saving our souls. As a pastor, I will ask this question directly – Have you given your life to Jesus Christ.? If you have, and if you are growing in Him, then you will understand. If you haven’t, then you need to do that right now. In your own words, ask Him to save you and take over.

Blessings,

Pastor John

(Personal reflections: When I call on Jesus and let Him work in my life, He does. He is my helper and savior. I for one am glad that He is.

Coping With Emotional Trauma

How I cope with emotional trauma has not been healthy. I know it has not, but it is what has kept me somewhat sane. If not sane, but kept me from going into a psychiatric hospital regularly. Through my coping with emotional trauma I raised three special needs kids, stayed married to a man with brain injury and am now homeschooling my youngest child.

How I learned to cope is to hide from the world. I do not go out of my house very often. I use the excuse that my knees hurt to much for me to get out, or that it is too expensive as I need to use the taxi. I do not even like going to see the doctor. I know this is not a healthy way to live, but it is what keeps me sane.

My connections are my daughter who lives with me, and my husband that I talk to regularly on the phone or on the internet. The reason my husband and I do not live together is some of the reason why I live with PTSD. Maybe I can share some of that story in another post. But, just to say right now my husband is growing and changing. The Lord is working on his heart and mind.

Now at 48 years old I am tired of living like this. I need more, I deserve more, God needs more from me! I started counseling recently through Faithful Counseling online. That is when I found out I have PTSD. They helped me find out how my past traumas affect me and why I do things I do.

Then Teresa did an interview with Sanda Allyson. I do the show notes for every podcast Teresa does. So, I have the privilege of hearing the interview before anyone else. God started speaking to me about how a lot of my struggles are from spirits that generational sins, trauma, and my own sins let in. That I needed to let God do the battle for me by fully submitting to God.

It is a process of letting God search deep in me, to find and expose my deep hurts, sins, and spirits. Stuff that has been there for many many years. It takes awhile, a lot of prayer, journaling, and changing how I live my life. I cannot say it is always fun and easy. Far from that, it is painful, a bit scary to let go of what has become part of me. But, I know it has to be done. I know God has a great plan for my husband and I, but first we need to clear out all the old cobwebs of a life lived for our flesh.

If you recognize any of this in you, if you find you are in a similar struggle. I would love to come aside and we can support each other in healing. God made us to do life in community and that is why He called me to start my community website. Please feel free to check out my site and see if it is for you. Finding God Community

What do Seniors Need? – part 1

(This will be the first of a series of writings about the needs of senior citizens – needs of body, mind, soul, and so much more. It comes at the front edge of the launch of Pastor John’s Senior Moments, a site I created for senior citizens.)

It would seem a simple question – “what do seniors need”. Like everyone else, they need food, water and shelter. They need family to support and surround them as they get older. They need friends, and sometimes their friends move away or move on to glory. This week, I want to emphasize the need for strength and encouragement.

The inspiration for this writing comes from the “gentle joints” class at the senior citizen center that my wife and I went to this morning. I came in to the class being tired due to a short night’s sleep. That’s not a good way to start the class. One of the things that happen when I get that tired is that my back gets tight. Keisha, our leader, keeps finding new muscles in me and in all of us. She found quite a few this morning. Ouch!

I was determined that even though I didn’t feel like stretching my muscles, I would move them anyway. I needed strength, and it wasn’t going to come if I didn’t get things moving. In any situation, you and I may not be able to do much, but we can always do something. We can always keep moving, even if it is slow, awkward, or uncomfortable. One example of that in this “gentle joints” class is Miss Hetti.

Miss Hetti is 95 years old, and doing amazingly well. She walks wtihout a cane at a faster than expected pace. She has a clear mind, and it is fun to have a conversation wtih. She’s a little bit hard of hearing, but my goodness, at age 95 she’s entitled to have something wrong wtih her! She uses the strength she has to move the best way she is able. If its kicking the feet or moving the knees quickly, she will wiggle her feet. If its raising her arms, she will do that, just not as high or for as long a time as others. The point is that she keeps moving. She provides encouragement to all of us. I look at her and think “If she can do this, I can too.”

I am doing this series of writings to encourage senior citizens and to let others know that we have unique needs as senior citizens. One of those needs that I noticed is strength for the body. We also need strength for our soul in the form of endurance, determination, and faith. When the body is hurting, it affects the mind and the emotions. This is where we need the encouragement from those around us, and from the scripture. The logo for the website has this scripture, which I need to live out every day: “They will still grow fruit in old age. They will stay fresh and green.” – Ps. 92:14

God bless you in your journey, and in your walk with the Lord today. –
Pastor John