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For 17 years, Tim Russert sat at the head of the table on Meet the Press every Sunday morning as millions of viewers tuned in to find out what was going on in the minds of the world’s leading politicians. I rarely tuned in, because I was getting ready for church, and I suspect this is the case with many of you. But during the week, you, like I, heard significant sound bites from Meet the Press on other news programs—a tribute to Mr. Russert’s accomplished skills as an honest and intrepid investigative reporter.
Russert’s sudden death by heart attack at the age of 58 stunned those he worked with—and millions of others. For me, it was even more stunning to hear what his co-workers had to say about the man. While they acknowledged Tim Russert as “the consummate reporter who worked as hard or harder than anyone in the business,” colleague after colleague said more about the person than his work. It is noteworthy that the two books Russert penned in life were not about his work as a reporter. They were about family, and the critical role of fathers in the lives of their children.
Between 2000 and 2030, the number of Americans over age 65 will double to 72 million people and by 2050 will reach 82 million, resulting in an increase in the proportion of the total population in this age group from 12 percent to 20 percent. During this time, projections show a shift in proportion of the age categories such that those over the age of 75 will constitute over half of the adults 65 and older. Much of this change will result from the unprecedented four-fold increase in those over the age of 85. In fact, people who live to be 100 years old or older (Centenarians) represent the fastest growing age group in our country.
In this century, people are expected to reach 120 years of age, generally considered by scientists to be the maximum age for human beings. These gains in life expectancy, while representing great successes in public health and medical care, are not being greeted enthusiastically nor with optimism by society, but instead with tales of impending doom, grounded in depressing realities like the rising cost of medical care for older persons and other concerns.
May 19, 2008
Baby Boomers and New Realities of Today's Church
The Present Future by Reggie McNeal offers six realities facing the church today and what we can do about it.
As Baby Boomers search for significance, meaning, and purpose for their lives, the local church is one place they will look. Today, local churches and the worldwide church are going through profound changes. In order for churches to minister effectively to Boomers in their search, pastors and church leaders must understand the changing spiritual dynamics confronting the church and our culture.
In his book, The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church (2003, Jossey-Bass Publishers), Reggie McNeal gives us six new realities confronting the church:
Continue reading "Baby Boomers and New Realities of Today's Church"…
May 6, 2008
Young at Heart
With an average age of 82, this group of seniors sings to standing-room-only crowds.
Young at Heart is a group of senior citizens in Northampton, Mass., led by their director, Bob Cilman. They perform contemporary songs by bands like Sonic Youth, the Ramones, and Coldplay. They regale audiences with songs that are honest, intelligent, and at times even deep, taking a 90-minute nonstop show from theater stages to prison yards, moving listeners from laughter to tears and back to laughter. We’re offering you a link so you can enjoy for yourself the Today Show’s Bob Dotson’s American Story.
Dixie and I went to see an afternoon showing, wondering if we’d be the only ones in the theater. We had to sit on the third row from the front! The place was packed with patrons ranging from young children to adults with walkers. We rate all our movies on a scale of one to ten, ten being the best. We gave Young at Heart a solid fifteen and decided right there to move to Northhampton so we could join the group ourselves!
Q: I keep forgetting things and it scares me. Do you think I have Alzheimer’s Disease?
A: Most often we find that memory changes are due to the normal processes of aging and include episodes of what have become known as “senior moments.”
How often over the course of your life have you misplaced your car keys, forgotten a birthday, or lost your car in the parking lot? Until recently, you probably would not have been concerned about these events. However, the current focus on the issue of memory loss and Alzheimer’s Disease has produced a paranoia surrounding the occurrence of these “senior moments.” Changes in the memory process, however, are likely to occur because of chemical changes in the brain where the memory is stored.
March 31, 2008
Sometimes Words Are Needless
Unique ministry opportunities are often available when you least expect it.
Mike and Marie Meaney of Bellevue, Washington, have a unique ministry in their retirement years.
After completing 40 years in their respective careers as caterer and teacher, they knew God wasn’t through with them. Sensing God’s direction, Marie, on her 60th birthday, flew to Lusaka, Zambia, Central Africa, to assess needs of teachers and students.
She returned home and began writing a curriculum for children at risk. She developed teacher training seminars and raised money for African schools.
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