Recently, I came across (once again) Watchman Nee's book, Sit, Walk, Stand -- a book that I first encountered while in college. A short Google search alerted me that several subsequent authors have used similar titles to explore the wonders of the New Testament book of Ephesians.
Nee's thesis is that the life with Christ can be charted in three somewhat overlapping phases: Sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning, Walking with the master, serving others and sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God, and standing firm in society for what you have come to believe through the process of the first two phases. Retirement tempts us to redouble our efforts in the first two, taking time away from developing in the third.
As with the prophets of old, people around us don't always like the stands we take. In fact, if you want to be popular, don't take a stand on anything. But "standing" for the values of the Kingdom of God is exactly what some of us "retirees" are asked to do.
Is it easy? No. Does is make you popular? Not necessarily. Is it fun? No. Is it our task as retirees who have put in our days "sitting" at Jesus' feet and "walking" with Christ through his kingdom on earth? It may well be.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Idle in Retirement???
I fear that this BLOG has sat idle for considerably longer than I have. Since the last post, I have served occasional pulpit supply for vacationing pastors, and had the good fortune to serve as Visiting Guest Pastor for three months in a nearby church.
I have nearly completed a book called re:Confirmation which encourages parents and young people to engage in the process simultaneously. I am currently leading an in-home book study called The Invitations of Jesus.
But in many cases, as our age increases, so does the age of those we are called to serve. Both in the church context, and in the community, we work with people who are addressing the issues of aging, of losing a loved one, of facing terminal illness.
My wife Dotti and I engage three or four times a week in out-loud readings of scripture or scripture-based material. We visit with others whose worship style differs from our own, allowing them to join in the process of preparing us for heaven, where we shall all gather together to worship God.
So I'll dust off the BLOG, just in case any of you wish to join us in the journey
I have nearly completed a book called re:Confirmation which encourages parents and young people to engage in the process simultaneously. I am currently leading an in-home book study called The Invitations of Jesus.
But in many cases, as our age increases, so does the age of those we are called to serve. Both in the church context, and in the community, we work with people who are addressing the issues of aging, of losing a loved one, of facing terminal illness.
My wife Dotti and I engage three or four times a week in out-loud readings of scripture or scripture-based material. We visit with others whose worship style differs from our own, allowing them to join in the process of preparing us for heaven, where we shall all gather together to worship God.
So I'll dust off the BLOG, just in case any of you wish to join us in the journey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)