Gal 6 2 Gal 6 5 Every Period

Gal. 6: 2 Gal. 6: 5

Every Period of Life Has Its Own Challenges 10 20 Teenage Years 30 Young Adult Years 40 50 Mid-Life Years 60 70 80 Golden Years 90

"When I had journeyed half of our life's way, I found myself within a shadowed forest, for I had lost the path that does not stray. " Dante

Every Period of Life Has Its Own Challenges Many Men Mid-Life Crisis “ 2 nd Childhood” Some Women Many “The Change” 10 20 30 40 50 Mid-Life Years 60 70 80 90 • Not a disease – (that you catch) • Real Problem • Preventable?

“Second Adolescence” Four Enemies 1. His Body (Losing his looks, hair, shape) 2. His Work (Monotony in what was exciting) 3. His Wife & Family (Trapped by his responsibilities) 4. His God (Accusing him of selfishness, laziness, & lust)

“Second Adolescence” Four Enemies 1. Her Body (Losing her looks, hair, shape) 2. Her Work (Monotony in what was exciting) 3. Her Husband & Family (Trapped by her responsibilities) 4. Her God (Accusing her of selfishness, laziness, & lust)

What Is Going On In The Mid-Life Period? Transition From Youth to Older Period “…a time of struggle and a feeling of being struck down by life. ” (Daniel Levinson, Myers, 1998) Aware of our own mortality B I R T H Time Since birth = Time Left D E A T H

What Is Going On In The Mid-Life Period? Many begin to focus on self • Not been able to do • Not going to be able to do • What wanted – not obtained • How they had to “accommodate” others Middle Age has an effect ü Please parents On boththe male and/ boss female ü Serve company ü Give in to the mate ü Do for the children ü “Time to do something for me”

The Burden of Middle Age 40’s – 50’s – 60’s Painful Process of Maturing

The Burden of Middle Age I. The Middle Age “Burdens”

I. The Middle Age “Burdens” A. Not Handle Changes of Life Well • • • Body Changes (Can’t do what used to do) Children Growing up / Grown / Grandchildren Empty Nest Parents growing older / require care / pass Peer pressure of others in age group who seem to have more, do more, seem happier

II. The Middle Age “Burdens” A. Not Handle Changes of Life Well B. Goals Reached / or Not Reached Not where wanted to be by this time Financially – not there Career not as successful Not have things hoped to obtain Or – Reached my goals - now what? Peer pressure of others in age group who seem to have more, do more, seem happier Cause: Materially Minded Result: Looking For Excitement

II. The Middle Age “Burdens” A. Not Handle Changes of Life Well B. Goals Reached / or Not Reached C. Busy Lifestyle • Career at its peak • Overworked • Unable to enjoy life – Do what I want • More demands on time than ever • Many things may be neglected (Spiritual / Family)

II. The Middle Age “Burdens” “Burdens A. Not Handle Changes of Life Well B. Goals Reached / or Not Reached C. Busy Lifestyle Set The Stage Spiritual Decline / Family Trouble Extra-Marital Affair (Adultery)

The Burden of Middle Age I. The Challenges of The Mid-Life II. Causes of Extra-Marital Affairs

II. Causes of Extra-Marital Affairs Prov. 2: 17 “Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God. “ } } Marriage Deteriorates Faith Gets Weaker

Two Causes At The Root Faith Gets Weaker Marriage Deteriorates Little time for spiritual (Matt. 6: 33) Little time for each other (Eph. 5: 25 -28) Not study as should (Acts 17: 11) Let up on Communication (1 Pet. 3: 1 -7) Not pray as much (Dan. 6: 10) Emotional Needs Not Met (Opens door for another) Happens Gradually (Heb. 2: 1)

! ! ! Danger ! ! ! “It Will Never Happen to Me!” 1 Cor 10: 12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ” “It became clear to me early in my counseling experience that affairs were much more common that I had ever imagined. But now, after years of marriage counseling, I have come to realize that almost everyone, given the right conditions, would have an affair. ” - Dr. William F. Harley, Jr. Surviving An Affair, 16

Faith Gets Weaker & Marriage Deteriorates Having A Mid-Life Crisis (Hard time with transition) Show attention Builds ego - flirting Adultery!

The Burden Of Middle Age I. The Challenges of The Mid-Life II. Causes of Extra-Marital Affairs III. Things To Do To Help Prevent Problems

III. Answers / Do To Prevent Problems A. Work Daily Building Your Faith • Study (Rom. 10: 17) • Pray (1 Thess. 5: 17)

III. Answers / Do To Prevent Problems A. Work Daily Building Your Faith B. Not Neglect Your Marriage • Cleave (glued) to mate (Matt. 19: 4 -6) • Take time for each other (Eph. 5: 16) • Share your lives / Communicate (1 Pet. 3: 7) “ When you stop to think about it, privacy isn’t something that improves marriages. It’s honesty and openness that improve marriages. The more information you have about each other’s thoughts and activities, the easier it is to meet each other’s needs and resolve conflicts. Privacy actually blocks access to that important information, and that ultimately lead to marital failure” - Dr. William F. Harley, Jr. Surviving An Affair, 41

III. Answers / Do To Prevent Problems A. Work Daily Building Your Faith B. Not Neglect Your Marriage C. Reset Goals To Emphasize The Spiritual • Purpose is to serve God (Ecc. 12: 13) • Spiritual matters first (Matt. 6: 33) • Wrong goals – destroy (Matt. 19: 16 -22)

III. Answers / Do To Prevent Problems A. Work Daily Building Your Faith B. Not Neglect Your Marriage C. Reset Goals To Emphasize The Spiritual D. Learn to Accept Changes In Life • Aging is part of life (Ecc. 12: 1 -6) • Children growing will happen (Ecc. 1: 4) • Parents passing away is reality • Risk of losing children greater • Changes in employment

Ex-GP Dr Hugh Bethell believes that there’s no such thing. “A mid-life crisis is really just what happens to people because of life events. Life starts to change, your kids grow up and leave home, you’re getting bored of work and think you should retire, and it all happens when you’re between 40 and 65. ” http: //www. healthypages. net/feature. asp? newsid=3609

The Way One Manages This Phase Of Life Can Make Or Break What Your Whole Life Legacy Is Or Will Be! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ”

Hear the Word of God--- Rom. 10: 17 Believing In Your Heart--- Acts 16: 31 Repenting Of Your Sins--- Acts 2: 38 Confess Christ Is The Son of God- I John 4: 15 Be Baptized Into Christ--- Gal. 3: 26 -29 Be Faithful Until Death--- Rev. 2: 10; I Cor. 15: 58 “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ”