Special Days Childrens Day Mothers Day Fathers Day

Special Days • • Children’s Day? Mothers’ Day? Fathers’ Day? What about… • GRANDPAS’ Day? • GRANDMAS’ DAY?

GRANDPARENTS Are they to be dis. Carded? Are they to be re. Cycled? Are they to be Cared for?

Respect for the Aged Day • In Japan, as with many other countries in Asia, especially Buddhist countries, being old means being wise. In fact the elderly are celebrated once a year in Japan with a holiday called Keirou no hi (Respect for the Aged Day). I believe that Japan is the only country in the world that has a national holiday dedicated to senior citizens.

Senior Citizens are Living Treasures • Senior citizens have always fascinated and charmed me. Since I was a small boy, I have always loved hearing their stories about the world and how things used to be. I have found that the older the person is, the more wonderful the stories they tell. I wonder why young people today don’t seem to care much about the thinking of the elderly. How could anyone who has survived to a ripe old age not have some real gems of wisdom to tell? • by Mike (in Tokyo) Rogers

OLD IS GOLD!? I. GOLDEN STATISTICS—IS OLD GOLD? A. When is Old? B. When is Old Gold? • The Golden Scriptures • The Golden Samples • The Golden Statements

II. GOLDEN SERVICE – CAN OLD BE GOLD? A. Be a Spiritual/Community Consultant B. Be a Servant in the Church C. Be Enterprising in your Silver Sixties and Golden Seventies

A. WHEN IS “OLD” OLD? When does Someone Attain Old Age? 1. At what age do you consider yourself old? - the Malaysian Government considers 56 years as old.

Are you Old when you are… • Over 80 Golden Years? • Over 70 Golden Years?

2. What are the physical or mental indications that tell you that you are old? a. Hard of Hearing? b. Waning Vision? c. Aches and Arthritis/Rheumatism setting in? d. Difficulties with Diet and Digestion? e. Forgetting and Failing to remember?

Statistics: Typically, the beginnings of change in the five senses are as follows • Hearing – the mid 40’s • Vision – the mid 50’s • Touch – the mid 50’s • Taste – the late 50’s • Smell – the mid 70’s Because individuals cope differently, the effect of those aging losses differs with individuals

B. IS OLD GOLD? 1. a. i. ii. For GOD, Old is Gold – Consider these Golden Scriptures Isa. 46: 4 (NIV) Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; …… and I will rescue you. Psa. 37: 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

iii. Psa. 71: 9 Let my mouth be filled with praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. iv. Psa. 71: 18 Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. v. 1 Tim. 5: 9, 10 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty.

vi. Psalm 92: 12 -15 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him. ”

b. Consider these Golden Samples i. Caleb: - Forty years old; forty and five years; fourscore and five years old. Josh. 14: 6 -14 I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now…. . give me this mountain. ii. Anna: - a widow of about fourscore and four years. Lk. 2: 37, 38 worshipped night and day, fasting and praying iii. Moses: - Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. Deut. 34: 7

2. For Certain Others, Old can still be Gold – Consider these Golden Statements:

a. Satchel Paige Age is a question of mind over matter. b. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

b. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow For age is opportunity no less Than youth itself, though in another dress, And as the evening twilight fades away, The sky is filled with stars invisible by day.

c. Samuel Ullman: Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Melinda Doolittle of American Idol was eliminated from the Contest – she may have been the oldest of the sixth season finalists, but Doolittle said you’re never too old to do something new.

“The biggest thing that I will take away is that I know that I was really scared to do this at the beginning, and the fact that I was able to step out and do it even in the midst of fear kind of just gave me an outlook on how strong God has helped me become and how much I’ve grown from it” she said. “I found my own voice as opposed to my own voice singing background and I couldn’t have asked for more from this experience. ” Melinda Doolittle

3. For the person Concerned – Old can be Gold. Over the years, he has accumulated: a. More Experiences – Be they Blissful, Blessed and/or Bitter b. More Expediency to handle People in Practical situations c. More Expertise – in spiritual, mental, physical, social, professional skills, etc.

4. For others Connected with the person – Old may or may not be Gold. a. For the Person concerned. To be Gold to others: i. Grow Old Gracefully – Grumble not! i. Live out God’s Graces beautifully – Grouch not! Tit. 2: 2 -5 iii. Be Relevant and be a Referent – Get out of the shell!

b. For other People i. Treat them not as Old nor leave them out in the Cold – get their Advice 1 Tim. 5: 4 ii. Treasure them as Gold and bring them into your Fold – be their Associates. 1 Tim. 5: 1, 2 • Respect them and Regard their being • Consult them and seek their Counsel

Thus far: I. GOLDEN STATISTICS – IS OLD GOLD? Now: II. GOLDEN SERVICE – CAN OLD BE GOLD? A. BE A SPIRITUAL/COMMUNITY CONSULTANT

B. BE A SERVANT IN THE CHURCH 1. Practise good deeds – Well reported of for good works; 1 Tim 5: 10 2. Pass on good counsel – That they may teach the younger…. to be…. Tit. 2: 2 -5 (NIV) 3. Pursue Purposeful Development – Be relevant and be a Referent! Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed 2 Tim. 2: 1 IN A LIFE-LONG PROCESS OF LEARNING

C. BE ENTERPRISING IN YOUR SILVER SIXTIES AND GOLDEN SEVENTIES Psa. 90: 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

A Senior reaching his Seventy • Blessed th 70 Birthday

LIFE BEGINS FOR A SENIOR IN HIS SEVENTIES • Up to the Seventies – God intends Life to be a Blessing. • After the Seventies – Life is God’s Bonus Day by Day enjoy His Blessing, and be a Blessing

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Links on Website: 2007 and 2008 Speaking Schedules Lord’s Day Ruminations Berita Bethel Loaves and Fishes Basketful of Fragments CNY Animal Year Studies Assembly History (Filled Full) (Album on Historical Photos)

Old is Gold! The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock” • Psalm 92: 12 -15

Old is Gold • May the Good God • Grant you many Golden Days ahead: Blessed of Him – to be Gold for Him And Being a Blessing to Others That they may know With Christ in you Old is Always Gold!

To ALL GRANDMAS and GRANDPAS Blessed Grandparents’ Day To all of you. Have a Good Day today and all the days through.