Having arrived at “senior status” myself I am always looking for pointers on how to successfully navigate life within this life stage.  In the previous two articles I relayed some tips for seniors gleaned from publications I access in my personal reading.  Before we move on to part 3, here’s a review of points from parts 1 and 2.  We should make it our goal to (1) admit we are seniors (2.) assess our past and prepare for the future (3.) educate ourselves regarding health issues (4) accompany one another to activities and even doctor visits (5) set new priorities and commitments  (6.) account for our financial status and goals.These are all significant goals to pursue to help us stay on track in life’s walk, but there are two more I would like to propose that will keep us focused and protected from selfishness, which is a struggle for a great percentage of seniors.

(7.) Attend church and community activities. We know the necessity of church attendance (it’s a biblical command) and forsaking God’s house and fellowship with our church family, when we are physically able, will rob us of the joy of relationships with others and turn us inward, creating an attitude of self-pity.  (We must make our “world” bigger than ourselves!)  Community activities give us opportunity for recreation and open doors to share our faith with those outside our church family.

(8.) Approach others and encourage them to attend church and activities with you.  Our efforts to be an influence on others will increase our awareness of God’s enabling  us to be used as His tools for accomplishing His purposes through us.  We grow as we help others to grow!

Senior adult, how are you doing in the areas considered thus far?  Make a personal evaluation, and ask God to help you make improvements in any weak areas.

As most of you know, there is a wedding this week that’s kind of a big deal. On Friday, April 29th, Prince William will be married to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London. This wedding has been “the talk” for some time now and much anticipation has been stirring around this event. No doubt thousands of Americans, as well as countless others from around the world, will tune in to watch this historical event unfold.

This story has perhaps claimed most of its notoriety due to whom the young prince is marrying. Catherine “Kate” Middleton, unlike the vast majority of royal brides over the last several hundred years, does not come from a royal family nor an aristocratic background. Therefore, her story is a true fairytale. You know, just like when the handsome Prince Charming fell for an unassuming Cinderella. This story has a similar narrative.

Throughout the newscasts, special reports, and countless updates for this “royal” event, I was reminded of a similar fairytale.   Read more…

This is my first blog since becoming Music Minister at Eastland Baptist Church, and I would first like to say how my family and I feel so wonderfully blessed to have been led here by the hand of God. The church people have been so very kind and welcoming in numerous ways, and the Tulsa area is full of friendly people as well. Secondly, I want to thank God for blessing us with our new church family.

As with any new job there is a time of training and learning what the job entails. Many times this information is summarized as the “job description.” I have written job descriptions for positions I have held over the years and it always amazes me how much has to be written to accurately describe the procedures in order to enable the next person to do the job successfully. Even though some tasks may seem elementary and mundane, details are imperative for efficiency. Read more…

In my last article I set out to communicate some thoughts from an article I read listing “Ten Goals for Senior Adults.”  The first two (1. admit you are a senior adult and 2. assess your past and prepare for the future) are foundational to a proper perspective on this senior adult living thing.  Consider these next four goals, which have a natural connection to the first two:

3. Avail yourself of education regarding health issues.  We live in a very health conscious culture which has produced many agencies and much publicity about about nutrition, exercise, and all the things involved in wellness.  As seniors we can take advantage of free health screenings and classes to inform us, and therefore, equip us to take better care of ourselves.  “An ounce of prevention” is truly worth a “pound of cure.” Read more…

Si usted pudiera alterar alguna cosa o circunstancia en su vida con el tan solo ondear en el aire una varita mágica, ¿Qué es lo que le gustaría cambiar?

• ¿Cambiara su computadora vieja por una nueva o su teléfono celular?
• ¿Cambiara su casa o el carro que usted conduce?
• ¿Cambiara a su cónyuge? O a lo mejor no cambie su cónyuge, pero, ¿Quizás pudiera cambiar la manera que ellos piensan, en la manera como miran, o porque no decirlo, quizás quisiera cambiar al habito que ellos posees?
• ¿Revolucionaria su estatus financiero? ¿Pudiera agregar diez mil dólares más a su salario? ¿Quizás se daría así mismo una buena herencia que venga de parte de un familiar distante?
• ¿Transformaría su apariencia? ¿Quizás el color de su piel, la forma de su cabello o su altura?
• ¿Pudiera cambiar o modificar la forma en la que otros piensan de usted?
• ¿Se daría a usted mismo el regalo de una buena salud? O ¿Muchos años más de vida?
• ¿Le gustaría cambiar un atributo acerca de su pastor o su iglesia? Read more…