IS YOUR NEW LIFE EVIDENT?

Debbie and I live on a wooded hillside overlooking two ponds. Our home is surrounded by trees of many kinds, but mostly pines. It is a constant job picking up branches and raking pine cones and needles! But the upside is that I feel like I wake up every morning in the Appalachian Mountains! We love it – in spite of the constant yard work!

Every spring I notice the new growth on our pines. It’s a sprig of light green at the end of every branch! It starts out about a half-inch long and then gradually grows with the spring to become an extension of the branch for the new year! The bright, light green stands in contrast to the darker green of the rest of the tree! The new life is clearly evident - even on our oldest pines which are my age!  

 

This has recently caused me to wonder about my own life. Having reached the mid-70’s, is there still new growth evident in my life? After meditating on this for several weeks, I’ve concluded that with us, it may be a matter of choice.

I suppose there are a number of options we can choose as we age. When/if we step out of the workforce, we may cease to grow in knowledge and experience. It is common to feel ‘put-out-to-pasture’ for retirees. The drive to continue learning and giving can diminish.

I can speak to a tendency to withdraw and isolate – made even stronger when handicaps such as mobility, health, hearing or vision challenges persist. But still – the choice remains.

If we ask the question: ‘Does God initiate new growth in our lives with every new year?’ – the answer likely varies.

My bias is that He does!

However, we must accept and respond to the growth opportunities that He provides and initiates!

Allow me to illustrate:

When I was a young pastor, I tried to be faithful to visit my elderly parishioners – especially shut-ins.

 

I had vowed to take good care of this group because my own grandmother had been ignored by the church as she grew older and unable to attend regularly! She purchased a wooden communion cup holder from Rex Humbard Ministries. When he served Holy Communion on television, she prepared her own communion and took it with him!

 

I didn’t want my older members to be forgotten!

 

But visiting them was sometimes hard. Many had lived hard lives with many disappointments. They were tired and overcome with physical challenges and sorrows. They were discouraged, alone and forgotten.

 

So many times, I heard the comment: “Pastor, I don’t know why the Lord doesn’t just take me home?”

 

Being young and filled with hope and expectation, these were hard words to hear. Repeatedly, I expressed my opinion to them with a simple statement that I believed to be true: “If the Lord wanted you to be home with Him – He’d have taken you! Since He’s left you here, it must mean that He still has work for you to do.”  And then I'd encourage them to look around to see what they could do to serve Him.

 

I meant it as a challenge, of course, but I don’t recall that it ever made a difference in the lives of my older members.

Life has a way of rounding out our experiences. Now, I’m that older person! My hearing capacity is about 25% what it was when I was the young pastor! This makes social settings confusing and stressful for me! I admit that I often simply choose to avoid these uncomfortable situations.

My comfort place is my study. I pray,  read, write and send out notes from that space. I occasionally am asked to speak at a few select churches. I enjoy these opportunities, but my anxiety level escalates significantly as a result. 

So, all of this contemplation leaves me with the initial question: “Is there indication of new life evident in Hal Haire?”

It’s a personal question, I realize that. I know what I want the answer to be. After years of recruiting, training and deploying leaders, I want the answer to be a hearty ‘YES!” And I’d like that new growth to be evident to others – just as the new growth on our pine trees is so clearly evident!

I want to keep growing and learning. I want to stay in the mainstream. I have a desire to stay relevant and engaged. I want to be an available resource to my God! I want to remain deployable!  I’ve never charmed to the thought of being predictable!  I’ve been a catalyst throughout the years of my active ministry; I want to maintain that role throughout my life!

So, today, I’m waiting before the Lord of my life inviting Him to show me the new things He is calling me to. What new knowledge does He want to initiate? What fresh direction does He desire me to move into? What new arena might I become involved with that would allow me to increase His influence?

I hope that whenever you look my way, some of that bright new green will always be reflected! And I pray this to be true for you, as well!

RETHINKING RETIREMENT

The ancients had a proverb:  "Whom the gods love, die young."  This maxim was frequently misunderstood by people.  This observation did not mean that those whom the gods loved were taken from this life in their youth.  Rather, it implied that, if the gods love a person, no matter what age they attain - even if they go over the biblical three score and ten - they still maintain the gift of essential youth.  

The implication is that there is a quality that some maintain which enables them to stay relevant, focused and energetic.  In America, we have just elected a man who is 78 years of age to be our next president.  We watched him campaign tirelessly over recent months, often making appearances in three or four states within one day.  Whether you support him or not, it is clear to observe that he speaks with relevance, clarity and passion.  He is quick-minded and able to respond without confusion or delay.  During his first term [2016-2020] we did not see his hair turn grey or any dulling of his capacities - even though he aged from 70 to 73 during that term.  

I'm currently reading a book that was published in 1973, in which I found the following quote regarding retirement:

There has been a good deal of research into the problem of retirement. In an aging population, and with social security pensions, there are many more people who now retire from work, because they have to, while they still have a fair time to live.  In such retirement, the researchers show, there is a good deal of unhappiness, and most of it has its source in boredom.   [from William Barclay's DAILY CELEBRATION, Vol. 2, p.264]

Now there are certainly genetic issues that are relevant to our aging process.  There seems to be little that we can do to alter the genetic package that we've inherited.  But there are certain decisions we can make and practices that we can adopt that may impact - even enrich - our retirement years.

When I was preparing to retire [in 2017], I deliberately read a number of books to guide me into that process.  I found Bob Buford's to be most helpful [and they are available online at very low prices].

• Half Time: Changing Your Game Plan
• Finishing Well: What People Who Really Live Do Differently
• Beyond Half Time: Practical Wisdom for Your Second Half
• Game Plan: Winning Strategies for the Second Half of Your Life
• Stuck In Half Time

He is obviously focused on helping people find fulfillment, meaning, and fruitfulness in their latter years.

 

I observe a phenomenon that may make this topic even more important to future generations.  In working with younger people as a pastor, I have noticed a pattern of thinking that is prevalent among the later generations.  For information’s sake:

1.   Boomers:             born from 1946-1964

2.   Generation X:       born from 1965-1980

3.   Millennials:           born from 1981-1995

4.   Generation Z:       born from 1996-2012

Many Millennials and those from Generation Z have adopted aggressive plans to make a lot of money and retire early!  Boomers have already been very successful in gaining wealth, much of which will be passed to Generation X in the form of inheritances.  Projections for Millennials is also for them to be highly profitable.  Already we see that their vocation choices are driven by monetary goals rather than talents, interests or skill-sets. 

There will certainly be challenges for these younger generations if they indeed attain their goal of early retirement.  Will there be a crisis of meaning as they enter into a life of limitless leisure?  Will they be able to sustain a sense of purpose?

To attain this objective of remaining relevant, we must resist strong tendencies that emerge as we age.

• The trap of thinking that our greatest achievements are behind us!  

Look it up!  There are many examples of people whose greatest success came late in life!  

Consider Harlan Sanders who was fired from a dozen jobs before starting his restaurant, and then failed at that when he went out of business and found himself broke at the age of 65.  But then things worked out when he sold his first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in 1952.

•  The trap of disengagement!

As we age, there is a strong and natural tendency to withdraw socially.  Seniors no longer enjoy going out at night.  Home becomes a safe respite with low demands and increased leisure.   We benignly begin to give up our dreams and settle for what we've already accomplished.  Unbeknownst to us, however, by doing so we become increasingly irrelevant!

• The trap of losing our sense of wonder!

To stop learning is to stop growing!  The average four-year-old asks between 300 and 400 questions per day!  There is so much that they need to learn about!  

I decided as a young seminary student to become a lifelong learner.  I challenged myself to read a book every week.  I saw that to maintain vitality and relevance, I would need to continue growing in wisdom and knowledge!  I was not always able to maintain this pace, but it continued to be my goal.  As a retired person, I recently noticed that I had slacked off in this area.  So, I have re-challenged myself to reestablish this goal in my life!

• The trap of disinvesting!

Investing in others is a key to remaining vital and fruitful.  

 

My favorite illustration of this is from a geographical reference observed in the Holy Land of Israel.  The Sea of Galilee in northern Israel is fed by underground springs, but primarily by the Jordan River which, in turn, flows out from the Sea of Galilee and flows along the eastern borner of Israel, eventually emptying into the Dead Sea.

 

The Dead Sea has no outlet and consequently becomes a collecting area for minerals that are subject to evaporation and a consequently heavy mineralization!  As a result, it is the saltiest body of water on earth!

 

We too, must learn that to stay healthy and vibrant, we must learn to have an outflow!  We must invest in others!  So many around us could benefit from the wisdom and experience that we have gained throughout our lives!  We must find those who are needy and hungry and nurture them!  Doing so will keep us young!  

JON'S RETIREMENT PRAYER

Kind and Gracious God,

We are gathered here today to acknowledge Your guidance and protection of a man and his family! 

Thank You for birthing Jon into a home where he would receive spiritual direction and a grounding in his faith!  Thank You for keeping him sensitive to these leadings throughout his life. 

As a young man, he decided to enter into a role with the United States Navy that would involve him in an adventurous life of challenges, developing leadership and significant influence.  You have watched over him, blessed him and protected him throughout these years of service. 

Also, as a young man, you brought along a young woman to be his helpmate.  Tracie and Jon have now walked together for nineteen years.  Their marriage has been blessed with two outstanding kids: Rylie and Coltin.  They have brought joy, delight, fun, and challenges to Jon and Tracie.  They are also treasured by two sets of adoring grandparents:  Warren and Cindy Kerstetter and Hal and Debbie Haire. 

This family’s journey has not always been easy.  The Navy’s responsibilities took Jon away for seven month periods numerous times in his early career.  This thrust Tracie into a role of dual parenting during these tours of duty.

One of those times away, the ceiling of their kitchen fell down.  With Jon away, Tracie had to make all of the arrangements for the repairs to be made.  It was stressful, but she is a very competent and capable person. 

She has supplemented Jon’s work all through the years by being a mentor to younger wives and girlfriends.  She has stood with Jon and has supported him every step of the way.

It was a challenge for Rylie and Coltin too!  Having to give up their daddy for these lengthy periods had to have been hard.  One of my favorite pictures is of the two of them standing on the shore of the Thames River – all dressed up to welcome their daddy home – while waving at him as his sub drew near to the Groton Base.  What a day!

They have grown through the many changes thrust upon them, including the move from the cold and northern influences of Groton to the warm and southern influences of Rockledge.  Such significant changes for young teens was a shock!  Yet they have learned to embrace their new home and have established themselves well in their new home!  The stable and consistent environment of a loving and caring mom and dad have seen them through it all!

We were also there a number of years ago when Jon was pinned – again on the Groton Base.  The kids and Tracie were central to this ceremony along with the men and women of Jon’s shop.  It was a special day!

We thank You, Lord, for always bringing him home!  We thank You for the deep devotion You have cultivated in him for his family!  I’ve seen his consistent expression of love for his wife and children over and over again, through kisses, hugs, and playful contact!  He is a great dad and husband, and Tracie is a wonderful mom and wife!

This family has been blessed.  The U.S. Navy has been blessed!  All those who have served under Jon’s command have been blessed.  His family has stood and watched all of this with pride! 

We all rejoice at this joyful occasion and the new opportunities that will follow this ceremony. 

Help Jon, O Lord, with the challenges of this change.  Twenty-two-plus years of wearing the uniform and fulfilling his responsibility is a long time.  The adjustments he will have to make will likely be uncomfortable.  Help him to make this transition with grace and to bring his excellent work ethic and passion to any new opportunities that may arise.

Once again, kind and loving Lord, we thank You for all that You have done to guide, protect, and provide for this family!  Although we honor Jon today for these years of service, we – at the same time – honor his family. 

May Jon’s strength, wisdom, experience and determination carry him into the new adventures before him.  Help him to continue to bless those he may work with.  May his future be secure and may he always be aware that You walk with him.

We entrust him and his family to You today, Sovereign God, and we lift our prayer to You in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

HOW ARE YOU DOING SPIRITUALLY?

I’d like to talk a little about my retirement.  For over forty-two years, I led Free Methodist churches.  Leading a church is a weighty responsibility.  I entered the ministry as a young zealot who had high passion, creative dreams and little experience.  I quickly ran into adversity and discovered that it would be my constant companion. 

One of the things I did right was to develop disciplines that would help me stay connected to God.  Early on, I decided that it would be a good idea for me to read through the Bible every year.  I also knew that prayer was important and have tried through the years to maintain a vital prayer life with God.  I also decided to try my best to read a book every week.  That helped to keep me growing and gave me an ever-expanding pool of wisdom to draw on when writing messages. 

A final discipline I’ll mention was that of journaling.  I have a number of log books and journals that record my ups and downs through these years.  It was a good way for me to take my own temperature and monitor my spiritual and emotional health.  Reading back through those journals is not a fun exercise;  my level of honesty shocks even me at times.

But, at the end of May that all came to an end.  I no longer had responsibility for a congregation.  I suddenly faced days with no agenda, no meeting, no messages to prepare and no calls to make. Although I had read numerous books to help prepare me for this transition, I still felt like a nomad dropped into the middle of a desert.

 

For a while, I continued my disciplines of prayer and Bible reading.  But gradually, they became infrequent and then nearly non-existent.  Through the summer and fall, my preoccupation was with the many jobs that needed done around our new home in Enon Valley.  I had a yard to put in, a garage to finish, and a lot of landscaping to care for.  My day began with the news and some breakfast and then I went out to work until the sun went down.  I came in, cleaned up, ate supper, and read or watched TV until an early bedtime. 

It was as though the ministry aspect of my life came to an end.  I must admit that it was nice to be free of the burdens that had weighed me down for so long. 

I found myself relishing the privacy of my new life.  I began to shun opportunities to be with other people.  Sundays lost their joy for me.  I began to feel stress when we went to church.  I arranged to arrive exactly on time and leave immediately when the service ended.  I’ve been increasingly isolating myself since Travis' death, and retirement seems to have exacerbated that tendency. 

• When these kind of things happen, what does it take to awaken you to the realities of your situation?  
• How does one wake up?  
• Is there anybody in your life who calls you to accountability?  
• What systems surround you that might help you to make corrections and get back on track?

I think those are good questions. 

For me, my accountability systems – weak though they were – were tied to my role as a pastor.  When I retired, they evaporated.  I began to walk a gradual decline that was leading not to moral depravity, but to ineffectiveness and unfruitfulness.  I was no longer making a difference in my world.  I had reasonably isolated myself and severely limited my sphere of influence. 

I’d say that was a gigantic win for the enemy of my soul. 

Consider Psalm 139 from The Message. 

A David Psalm

139 ^1-6 God, investigate my life;
    get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
    even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
    I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
    before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
    then up ahead and you’re there, too—
    your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
    I can’t take it all in!

^7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
    to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

^13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

^17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
    God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
    any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
    And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers—out of here!—
    all the men and women who belittle you, God,
    infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, God,
    see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
    Your enemies are my enemies!

^23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
    find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
    get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
    then guide me on the road to eternal life.

In this wonderful psalm, David acknowledges the sovereignty of God in a personal way:

·     God’s knowledge of us is complete!

·     God’s presence is inescapable!

·     God created us marvelously and uniquely!

·     God’s thoughts toward us are relentless!

·     God’s enemies are my enemies!

But before he ends his psalm, David adds a significant postscript.  In more familiar words: 

Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

David apparently had a sense of false dependency.  He knew how good he was at posing.  At the deepest part of his core, he knew that he needed to open himself to the penetrating view of an all-knowing, all-powerful, omni-present and passionately loving God! 

It must have been said with a good measure of fear and humiliation.  Can you even begin to imagine inviting God to look deeply into your heart and thoughts?  C’mon, we’re all hiding things within that if brought to light would make us look as miserable and defeated as Larry Nassar. 

What really matters is that we’ve fallen short of our own expectations for ourselves – let alone God’s desires for us. 

When I was serving at the New Middletown FMC, I invited my staff members in at least once per year for evaluation discussions.  I tried to challenge each of them to improve and grow.  I modeled a godly life before them and encouraged them to do the same for all the people who worked with them in their departments. 

For my own health, I submitted to my conference superintendent and participated in a small group of pastors who met for accountability, support and training once-a-month. 

But all of these tended to be geared toward performance and growth.  Most of us have few (if any) interventions that are directly related to our spiritual condition. 

I recently wrote a blog article and mentioned a man who, on a few occasions, sought me out when I was a student on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan College and asked me how I was doing spiritually.  I added the comment that no one has asked me that question in years. 

Now, a friend quickly responded on Facebook by asking me how I was doing spiritually.  Of course, it was done in humor.  But in reality, I need someone to ask me this question from time-to-time;  and if you’re honest, so do you.  Not on Facebook, of course, but in a quiet, intimate, genuine setting. 

Listen, the hymn writer captured the essence of our problem when he described us as “Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”  I don’t know about you, but that’s where I live. I don’t like it;  as a matter of fact, I hate it! 

Years ago I heard Chuck Swindoll talk about being a living sacrifice as described in Romans 12:1,

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy,

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing

to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Swindoll went on to point out that the problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps climbing down off the altar!

I propose to you this morning that in order to maintain a high level of consistency and commitment, we need

1.  A frequently renewed commitment to God,

2.  One that is characterized by measurable practices,

3.  And a systematic plan for evaluation executed through submission to a band of brothers (sisters) who love us and have high expectations for us! 

FIRST:

A frequently renewed commitment to God.  What better than engaged involvement in weekly worship?  Not just attendance!  The fact that you put your body in the seat every Sunday doesn’t tell us anything about your relationship to God.  A book was written years ago with the title:  Worship Is A Verb!  My take-away from Sunday worship will be in direct relationship to:

How (or if) I prepared for worship

How I connect with others before, during and after worship

How focused I stay on hearing from God throughout worship

How I respond to God in my heart, soul and spirit.

SECOND,

My measurable practices will be easily evaluated by myself and my band of brothers/sisters.

•       Am I eating His Word daily?  Let’s not get hung up on this.  I’m not talking about consuming chapters or checking boxes.  Use something as simple as “Our Daily Bread”, “The Upper Room” or some website.  Maybe you could listen to CD’s of the Bible on your way to work every morning?  Just find some way of getting a bit of God’s Word into your life daily!

•       Do I have an open and ongoing dialogue with God?  Is the channel open?  Am I talking to Him and listening for Him?  Be creative!  This could be during your daily commute or as you exercise.  It could be in the shower or in a prayer closet.  Don’t laugh.  I recently invited a nephew over to go through my boxes of books.  As we talked, he told me that he has established a prayer closet.   I’m deeply impressed with his commitment to be a godly man, husband, father and worker!

THIRD,

Do I have a band of brothers (sisters)?  Have I given them the right to ask me the hard questions?  Are we committed to hold each other accountable to such a level that we’ll show up at one another’s door if we miss a meeting without notice? I need this, don’t you?  I need someone with flesh on who will pursue me and grill me and stay with me until the work is done!  If you don’t have this – and that’s going to be the case for the majority of us – how can I get one?

Talk to your leadership for guidance about this. 

Take initiative and invite some men (women) to meet and talk about this.

Talk to someone you admire and respect and tell them you’d support them if they started up a group. 

We need interventions!  We need correction.  We need forgiveness.  We need assurance. 

You’ve been given a pretty clear road-map of how to establish your path in a way that will provide these things.  You’re the only one who can make it work! 

By the way, how are you doing spiritually?  

Here Are The Reasons

I attended the annual sessions of the Pittsburgh Conference on Friday and Saturday.  While there, we captured the following picture including the four most recent pastors of the Kittanning Free Methodist Church.

Hal, Wayne Sawyer, Forrest States, and Mel McRoberts

At the conclusion of the conference, Bishop Roller read Forrest States' name out as the new pastor of the Kittanning Church.  That made it official:  I'm retired!

An old friend came up to me during the conference with a very blunt question:  "Hal, why are you retiring?"

Being 65 had almost nothing to do with my decision;  actually, I had expected to lead a church well beyond this age.  However, there are several answers to his question.

Foremost is that I recognized I'm not leading with the same passion, enthusiasm and creativity that has characterized most of my ministry years. I vowed to myself many years ago that I would step out when I realized that was happening.

A second reason is my hearing deficiency!  In spite of buying some very expensive hearing aids, I still struggle in most settings.  I'm thankful I can still hear, but the loss is far more of a problem than most people realize!

Another reason:  I didn't like being a 'commuting pastor'.  The 62-mile trip took 75 minutes to drive. I found myself increasingly fighting sleep while driving.  Because of the trip's expense, I slept on the floor in my office two nights a week - that got old fast!  ;-)   Being away from Debbie three days a week was challenging.

There are other reasons, but I'll omit them here.  Suffice it to say that I'm excited about our future. Debbie and I have been given the blessings of good health and a strong marriage.  There are things we look forward to pursuing individually and as a couple.

Only yesterday we had lunch with Dale W____, Free Methodist Missions Director for the Middle East.  We crossed paths with him a number of times while we were in China.  He opened doors for us to consider in his area! Exciting possibilities!  :-)

But today, I'm very grateful for the family and friends who wish us well on our new journey!  The Kittanning FMC congregation was very gracious in parting with us.  I'm very excited for them as they welcome Pastor Forrest (and Elsie) States this morning!  I believe their future will be bright and fruitful!

Last weekend, Debbie hosted a very enjoyable retirement party for me (with a lot of help from our kids and her family)!  I was honored!  I've received lovely cards and gifts!

I've said it many times and I'll say it again:  When the Bible talks about the prosperous man - it's talking about me!

Kind and Gracious God,

Thank You for helping me through these many years of schooling and ministry!  

Thank You for my family and their love and care!

Thank You for the abundance of friends You've blessed me with through the years!

Thank You for the kindness and cooperation of my congregations!  I have many memories of exciting times of ministry to ponder during these retirement years!  

And thank You for the hope of a renewed purpose and direction for the years that remain!  

May I always be Your faithful servant...

Amen. 

Getting Ready...

Debbie took me to a consignment shop yesterday and bought me a new pair of blue-jeans!  I'll be needing more blue-jeans starting in June.  By the way, if you know anyone who wears a 41 long, I'll soon have some suits to give away.

I just took a call from my friend, Dave Rose, who now lives near the beach in South Carolina.  He asked me what my plans are for the summer.  This is not the first time I've been asked that question...

I'm feeling kind of guilty that I don't have a good answer.  Am I supposed to have plans?

To be honest, I'm looking forward to not having plans.  I'm kind of excited about waking up and developing a plan for the day spontaneously.

I will begin my Appalachian Trail countdown in June:  nine months and counting...   That will consume more of my thoughts and time as months progress.  There are foods to gather and prepare;  drop-boxes to buy, fill and plan;  gear to acquire;  and transportation to arrange.  I'll also be planning a few shake-down trips to test gear.

I eagerly look forward to spending more leisure time with Debbie.  My recent schedule has kept me away from home several days a week, so we've got some catching up to do!  I think we're both excited about that!

We talk a lot about being involved in a church.  We'll be able to sit together and worship for the first time in forty-two years!  What a new and wonderful experience that will be!  We want to be involved.  We look forward to leading a small group in our home!  We have enjoyed teaching on marriage and parenting over the years.  We each have areas of measured expertise that we'd love to continue sharing with others.

I hope I can continue a mentoring role with some younger leaders;  no sense letting these years of experience sit on a shelf!

I've struggled to know what to do with my books.  I've accumulated many of them.  They've been the tools of my trade!  I have a sentimental attachment to them and find it unbearable to think of parting with them. But, in reality, I know that I'll not use them much in the future.  They've been a ready resource through the years, but I shouldn't need them now.

I'll certainly keep some that have deeply impacted me.  God has used books to mold me through the years. There have been so many times that I have known God had me reading a certain book at a specific time! This has been one of His primary ways of shaping me!  Even now, I'm being deeply impacted by reading Bob Buford's book, Finishing Well.  Let's just say that it is transforming my view of retirement!

I think I'm most excited about extended time for study and prayer in the mornings.  The 'schedule' has always limited this time through the years. Now that the 'schedule' will be more relaxed, I can enjoy cultivating an even deeper relationship with my Lord!  I'm VERY excited about that!

I'm confident that He is planning some great adventures for us!  I recently asked Deb if she'd go back to China with me?  To my great surprise, she said, "Yes, for a year."   I was delightedly shocked!  There have been so many times when I have read the Free Methodist Missions Hotline and longed to respond to a need for a short-term fill-in.  I expect that kind of assignment to be in our future!

We have been given so much!  So much wealth.  So many privileges. Tremendous opportunities.  Awesome relationships!  We want to give back!

I have some determinations:

• help others
• avoid traps (like TV)
• work with Samaritan's Purse
• bless our local church
• missions travel
• re-visit China
• be a prayer warrior
• stay physically active
• be a resource for God to use as He pleases

I also look forward to growing my skill at writing.  A few have suggested that I write a book!  That seems like a rather large dream to me, but I do have a few ideas banging around in my head.  Blogging will continue to be an outlet and source of therapy for me.  I enjoy creating humorous, interesting and stimulating articles that people enjoy reading...

As my years of "official ministry" draw to a close, I look forward to the future with anticipation.  I'm grateful to God for extending His great grace to me through the years!  

I'm reminded of an outline I heard from a pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh many years ago.  He outlined the Apostle Paul's life:

• In his early years, the Apostle Paul was vigorous in defending his apostleship:  "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ..."
• In his middle years, his description changed somewhat:  "Paul, the least of the apostles..."
• In his latter years, we see the fulfillment of his downward mobility:  "Paul, the chief of sinners..."

I can identify with this downward mobility!  John said it well:  "He must increase and I must decrease!"  

So be it!  Amen.

The Easing Of A Burden

I had an unusual feeling while driving to Kittanning this morning that reminded me of something that took place many years ago.

In the early 1990's (25 years ago), I was leading the Oakland Free Methodist Church in East Liverpool, Ohio.  I was 40 years old.  A friend, John Kelley, and I had designed a program of small groups that was being used in the Pittsburgh Conference at the time to help its pastors stay healthy and connected.

I was leading a Pastoral Support Team for my area that included a fine group of local Free Methodist leaders:  Dave Stout, Norm Eckert, Fred Schreffler, Wilbert Bischoff, and Delmar Logston.  We met monthly for a couple of hours to study, share, and pray together.  We had a good group and enjoyed challenging and supporting each other.

Fred was leading the First FMC in East Liverpool at the time and was drawing near to his retirement.  At our meeting, he shared the following story [testing my memory here, but I think most of the details are correct]:

[I'm going to tell Fred's story in the first person]
"Many years ago, while serving as associate pastor to Glenn Hughes at New Brighton, I received my first appointment to the New Cumberland, West Virginia FMC.

Esther had just had a baby, so I made the early Sunday morning trip to New Cumberland alone.

As I drove down the Ohio River and crossed to the West Virginia side, I felt a burden of responsibility settling down on my shoulders.

With retirement now just a short while off, I'm just beginning to feel that burden lift!"

Fred was such a respected member of our group!  He had more wisdom and insight into the scriptures than most of us and we loved it when he began to share his thoughts with us!  If anything, Fred was probably under-appreciated over the years for the contributions he made to his churches through the deep teaching that he provided.  I know that he had a powerful impact on my father-in-law, Ken Whippo.  Fred's teaching grounded Ken in his new faith and consequently bore tremendous influence in Debbie's family system!

I am now a little over a month away from my own retirement.  I was praying as I drove to Kittanning this morning (a great way to redeem the time). Somewhere along the way this morning, I felt the burden beginning to lift.  It was a good feeling!

PS  -  Fred,  If someone directs your attention to this blog, please know that you had a good and strong influence in my life!  Thank you for being a faithful student of God's Word and an even more faithful teacher of His eternal truths!  I believe you've earned a great reward in Heaven!

Happy Old Year?

What are the lessons learned during 2016?

I mean, really, shouldn't we take at least a few minutes to reflect on a whole year of life  before we embark on another?

365 days is a long time!  A person has a plethora of experiences over a period of twelve months.

To be honest, I'm not even sure I can remember what happened back in January!  About the only part of me that seems to be getting better these days is my 'forgetter'.  This is often embarrassing to me.  For instance, just the other day, I forgot to shut the car off; it ran all night long!  Lucky for me no one came along and drove it away!

But still, faulty though I am, I want to try to distill the things I've learned during this year.

I think my greatest self-revelation is that I have no close friends. Now, of course, there's Deb; she's always been my best friend (and always will be). And, of course, many who read this blog are friends, too. In that sense, Debbie and I literally have friends from all around the world!  I'm humbled and amazed to realize that my blog is read by people from many different countries.

And yet, I have no close friends. Close friendships have stabilized me through the years! They've added color to my life!  They've helped me to fill the spaces. We've worked together and played together.  I've shared my fears, dreams and secrets with them. They've done the same with me.

But today, there's a poverty in this area, and in many ways I suffer as a result. To a large extent, I believe going to China helped create this dearth.  The end result is a unique and lonely sense of isolation. It's sort of like a solitary confinement of the soul.

I cry out to my God as the new year dawns:  "Oh God, help me to find a man (or a few men) with whom I can share life!"

Another significant observation is that I have begun to lose my sense of purpose. (Like you, I can see the connection between this and my first observation.)

I have been strongly driven by my passion for God throughout my life!  But changes have evolved.  Being a pastor has challenged me for four decades.  In spite of the lethargy and carnality I've faced, God has helped me to keep my face forward and my faith strong.

But, I find I'm growing weary.  Not weary of walking with God, but weary of leading the church. I know there's a toll we pay in this role. Pastors tend to isolate themselves. I've been fortunate (partly by intention) to have maintained meaningful relationships within the churches I've served and among fellow pastors.  But, again, this has not been so over the past two years (since our return from China).

I'm still working to diagnose this dilemma.  Some would counsel: "It's time to retire, Hal."   But I'm not so sure that's the answer. I've never been a pursuer of retirement. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have dreams and goals!  I could relish awakening every day with a clean slate. But is a free schedule really the answer to a diminishing sense of purpose?  I don't think so...

I'm aware that my purpose derives from my Creator!  I also believe that as long as He leaves me here, He intends to use me. So, as another year ends, I find myself at His feet - listening and waiting.

This fact alone raises my sense of anticipation!  Even though I'm not the man I used to be.  Even though my memory doesn't respond as quickly as it once did. Even though my energy level has abated.  Even though I make more mistakes than before (some of them publicly).   I'm willing to offer Him what I am and what I have!

How about you?

Could you benefit from a ruthless assessment such as you've just read? Are you courageous enough to explore your soul?  Would an honest evaluation launch you into 2017 with a greater sense of direction.

For the record, I recommend it!  😀

RETIREMENT CONGRATULATIONS

I just wrote a letter to a friend who is retiring from the ministry.  This may be the first time I’ve written such a letter.

I feel a little ashamed because I have quite a few friends who have retired in recent years, but I never wrote letters of congratulations to them.  L 

I suppose every pastor feels that his/her season of ministry was unique.  However, those of us who began in the 1970’s have seen a massive amount of change over five decades:  cultural, economic, social, and leadership.

Some changes:

·       We started with no computers to assist us.

·       Research involved going to a nearby university library.

·       Home visits were a priority when we started.

·       Annual (or bi-annual revivals) were part of the norm

·       Dress expectations have relaxed.

·       The requirement of being prepared to speak three times-a-week have lessened.

·       The church culture has changed dramatically.

·       We adapted to the pastor/CEO transition.

·       We survived the ‘worship wars’ of the 80’s and 90’s

The stress of ministry has magnified which each decade. 

We’ve lost some partners along the way.  Some decided that ministry was not what they had desired or expected and moved on to other ventures.  Some, unfortunately, fell to temptation, depression, or burn-out.  A few others found pleasing roles in para-church organizations or administrative roles that provided a buffer from ministry stress.

Most of us have struggled at one time or another with personal crises, feelings of being overwhelmed, financial challenges, family concerns, along with the responsibility of caring for a congregation facing similar issues. 

Although being ‘on call’ does not become a factor with great frequency, it is a reality that invades even our rest and relax times.  Plus, all of us have counseled individuals in the supermarket, WalMart or at a graduation party. 

However, we’ve also enjoyed amazing perks that accompany our work:

ü  The joy of helping someone to grow in Christ

ü  The satisfaction of seeing someone “get it”

ü  Leaders who have been recruited and trained

ü  Baptisms

ü  Affirmations

ü  Control of our schedule

ü  Pastor’s Appreciation month

ü  Dinner invites

ü  Gifts/cards

In light of all this, I congratulated my friend on maintaining high standards and personal integrity throughout his years.  I wished him a joy-full future and a fulfilling satisfaction in forming his new future.  I wish this for all my pastor-friends who have officially retired.  It won’t be too long and I’ll be joining you.

Retirement?

Well, the day is almost here!  After many years of working and many different jobs, she's decided it's time!

I probably won't get all the details right, but I'll give it my best shot. 

Right out of high school, her Aunt Dorothy (Whippo) brought her into the credit department of the Kaufmann's Department Store in Rochester, Pennsylvania.  She worked with a group of beautiful, young women who all became friends.  Her Grandma Whippo lived within walking distance of this store and Debbie often spent the night with her!  During a year when her parents forbid me to see Debbie, her Grandma allowed us to meet occasionally at her apartment!  He he he he...  She loved this job!

Then - after two years at Roberts Wesleyan College - she returned home to work as a receptionist for a country doctor;  everyone called him 'Doc Kennedy'.  He invited her into his office one day to watch him deliver a baby.  In the process, he looked over and saw her going pale.  He quickly instructed her to put her head between her knees.  She loved this job!

Before we were married, we made a trip to Lexington, Kentucky.  Debbie acquired a position in the loan department of the largest bank in the city:  First Security National Bank.  As newlyweds, we became close friends with several of the young women she worked with.  We had an opportunity to let our light shine on those double-dates!  Debbie loved this job!

After almost two years, Debbie got an opportunity to be hired in the Development Office of Asbury Theological Seminary.  Here she worked with some wonderful people such as Bill Brunk and Kathleen Demeray.  She was able to walk to work instead of driving to center-city Lexington.  Debbie loved this job!

Then, Travis was born!  We moved to Jeannette, Pennsylvania, where I started to lead my first church.  Then, we moved to McClellandtown where Troy and Tracie were born.  Did Debbie continue to work?  Oh yes!  We kept her quite busy!  She loved being a mother and homemaker!

Upon arriving in East Liverpool, Debbie decided to take in several other children to supplement our income.  Our kids grew up playing with Franky and Angela and Abby and Michael and Louis.  I was often met by five or six children when I would walk in the door at the end of the day!  Although it was a noisy and sometimes messy job - she loved it!

When the kids started to school, Deb was hired to be a teller at the Tri-State Federal Credit Union in East Liverpool.  She made some great friends there and came to know many of the local residents through her work.  Their flexibility with her hours was generous and Debbie loved this job!  However, when the summer-off flexibility ended, she had to quit to be with the kids.

For one year after that she worked for her brother, Wally, at the farm.  She left East Liverpool at 5:00 AM, so she could deliver pigs to Pittsburgh - I'm not kidding!  Then, upon her return, she power-washed pig pens.  The upside:  she got to see her folks every day!  I don't really think she liked this job very much!

Then, we moved to Spencerville, Maryland, where Debbie fairly quickly was hired by a nice man to be office-manager of his small, air-conditioning shop.  It was a mile from home and he was very generous with Debbie regarding pay and necessary time off.  She loved this job!

Several years later, we landed in Akron, Ohio, where Debbie and I became 'respite' and 'shelter' parents to a long line of behaviorally challenged children.  We ran a licensed home for the Shelter Care Agency for nearly six years.  Eventually, I was hired at Cornerstone Church, which left Deb carrying the bulk of responsibility with our kids.  I doubt that she'd say she loved that job; but it was very fulfilling for us!

After Akron, we landed in New Middletown, Ohio.  Debbie was quickly hired to work as a teacher's aid for the learning disabilities class.  Debbie became really close friends with her teacher, Cindy;  they were an incredible team.  Debbie loved the children and seeing improvements in their learning skills!  She worked in this position for nine years and loved every minute of it!

Then...then I dragged her off to Changchun, China, where I was contracted to teach English to university students.  The first semester, Debbie was asked to teach a freshman pronunciation class.  Although overwhelmed, her students quickly fell in love with her and she enjoyed the experience. 

The next semester, the school did not ask her to teach.   So, Debbie became active as a private tutor and developed some very special relationships as a result.

At the beginning of our second year in China, the school asked her to teach full time - which she did until we left Changchun!  She taught science majors, freshmen, graduate students, and even a class of the brightest students in the university!  She made a deep impression on her students and enjoyed every part of the experience!

Upon our return to the United States, Debbie reacquired a position as an aid at Springfield Elementary School.  However, the trauma of adjustment, Travis' death and a very different class culture has caused her to struggle;  as a result, she has decided to retire!

Yep, you heard me right!  At the young age of sixty-five she's calling it quits.  She already talks about volunteering at a church's coffee shop.  She's also mentioned the possibility of a part-time job.  So, we'll see.  But, officially, the word's out.  Forty-seven years after starting at Kaufmann's - she's finished! 

And I say a hearty congratulations to her!  She's done it all with such grace and class!  She's truly an amazing woman.  Why?

Because along with all the jobs described above, she's

• kept me comfortable and happy,
• raised three kids,
• stayed actively involved in all our churches,
• taught classes,
• maintained friendships,
• kept our home organized,
• used her gift of hospitality throughout, and
• generally improved every life she's touched.

The world needs good examples today!  I suggest that my wife is as good an example as you're going to find!  I wish her rest and joy and peace and lots of time for reading. 

My biggest wish for her?  I hope she writes her book!  She has so many stories treasured up in her heart!  I truly hope she gets them out on paper for the world to enjoy!

Anyway, this Tuesday, November 24, 2015, is her last day!  Yay!