It dawned on me that there is perhaps a segment of church membership that is being overlooked — the “older” people. Actually, our senior citizens constitute a greater percentage of our population now than ever before.

Growing old is God’s plan and is a natural process which should not be feared. To fear old age is like being afraid to look at the view after one has trudged carefully up the rugged mountainside.

Age has been compared to the top of the mountain while youth is the valley and adulthood is the mountain side. The view from the top is always better and more revealing. To want to remain young would be like limiting our view to only what can be seen in the valley around us.

Many have seen the accomplishments of those who had lived the majority of their lifetime. Tennyson at 80 wrote “Crossing the Bar.” Cato learned Greek at 80. At 60, Chaucer wrote “The Canterbury Tales.” Noah Webster at 70 wrote his monumental dictionary.

Observe some examples of “older people” who are still “living” and who are making noble contributions to His church and to society. God can use the elderly. Our faith is strengthened when we study the lives of God’s “older people” like Moses, Joshua, Abraham, and Paul. God can use you too!

God’s “older people” are asked to instruct (Titus 2:1-5), to counsel (1 Kings 12; Job 12:12), to set the good example (Titus 2:1-8), and to build for the future (Matthew 25:34-46). The value of an older person’s experience and influence is seen especially as he helps to temper the foolish ambitions of younger people. The younger person is to respect (Ephesians 6:2-3), to support (1 Timothy 5:4-16), and to consider the “older people.”

Too often “older people” get to feeling like they have outgrown their usefulness and are nothing but a burden to their loved ones. Whether or not an older person is a burden depends a lot on his own outlook on life and his attitude. Age generally does not bring about a change of character. It only solidifies and magnifies those qualities that have been a part of his life for years.

Don’t lose the spirit of adventure and the desire to learn and grow. Keep a good sense of humor and you will make your loved ones and friends rejoice that God has spared you all these years so that they too can be blessed with your life and influence.

Copied from the Gospel Gleaner

Doctors tell us that we need to examine ourselves. Many tumors can be felt and we can see moles that change color or shape. We need to look and feel in order to catch these problems early.

The Bible also teaches self-examination. Paul said, “Examine yourselves...” (2 Corinthians 13:5). James writes of looking in a mirror to examine ourselves (1:23). Some questions someone put together for spiritual self-examination include:

Am I so CRITICAL that I see only a person’s failures and not his or her good points?

Am I so CHILDISH that people must handle me gently lest I be offended?

Am I MATURE ENOUGH to handle hurts and disappointments without making everyone else miserable?

Do I HURT people while boasting, I believe in saying what I think?

Can I be completely TRUSTED with confidential information?

Am I guilty of making SARCASTIC REMARKS about the success others have had?

Am I big enough to admit when I am wrong, or do I seek to excuse myself by BLAMING OTHERS?

Do I excuse my sins, while self-righteously CONDEMNING others?

Are others UPLIFTED and ENCOURAGED through their association with me?

Do I follow after peace, or do my words and actions PROMOTE STRIFE?

Adapted: Submitted by Doris Rosie

Suppose we start this very day,
To live our lives in a different way.
Suppose we vowed and constantly tried,
To help those in trouble on life’s wayside.
If we showed by our deeds a hint of His love,
Wouldn’t earth be a bit more like heaven above?

ON MONDAY:
Look for a smile today and return it with one of your own.
Give someone faith and hope, it’s such a beautiful loan.
ON TUESDAY:
Gather a thought that’s kind, one that’s sincere and deep.
Be sure to pass it along for such are too precious to keep.
ON WEDNESDAY:
Forget yesterday’s sorrows, mistakes, sadness and pain.
Lift your heart with hope as flowers to sun and rain.
ON THURSDAY:
Offer a word of comfort and prayer to help someone in need.
A little thoughtful gift, some flowers, or a smile makes us all rich indeed.
ON FRIDAY:
You shall not pass this way again, so do any good you can do.
Don’t put it off till tomorrow or the chance may be lost for you.
ON SATURDAY:
Today will soon be a memory, so don’t let it come to an end,
without a smile, without a song, or just a word from a friend.
ON SUNDAY:
Don’t let worry and care depress you, or brush your joy away.
But arise and give thanks to God above, for His love and another “Blest Day.”

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Remember our Monday work sessions at 7:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. It is important that we have a profitable hour or two each week in order to get SCB work done in time.