Sermon Recap--"Getting Older?"

I had a tremendous shock to the ego this past week. In a "meet and greet" with the 2008 ICO staff, we were all hanging out and eating Ice Cream and talking to each other. We are going to be hanging out a good bit this summer and will be working as a team in ministry. There was 24 people in the room and the conversation of ages came up. It was then that I realized that I am getting older. I graduated high school in 1988. Only 3 of these "kids" were even born then. Oh my! I thought I was hip, cool and in touch with the culture around me. Now I just think I am old.



Then I am reading and stumble upon the text for the morning. It did little to cheer me.



Ecclesiastes 12

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.

Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop.

Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire.

Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.


The scipture even tells us that we are aging. So, I am getting old. I did what anyone in a mid-life crisis would do. Buy a new car? Nope. Find a new wife? Nope. Get a new hip haircut? Nope.


I went parasailing. (Gasps)


You think you are shocked--you see why I did not tell my mom until we were driving home. (laughter)


Sarah did it, too. (raised eyebrows)


Douglas did it, as well. (big gasps)


It was great. Sarah and I were far more scared than Douglas. He was a superhero flying 500 feet in the air above Myrtle Beach, looking down at the waves, hotels, stingrays and jellyfish.


He has no fear to speak of. He has no self-esteem issues. He believes he can do and be anything he wants.


His parents are not so lucky.


We have baggage--we have doubts--we have fears.


Solomon reminds us to remember our creator when we are young. Life chokes away the desire to remember and appreciate. We become cynical and full of bitterness. Oh, if we could just be children of FAITH forever and trust God and enjoy the ride that he puts before us.

Before we went airborne--the captain of the boat told us to hold on and not stand up. Basically, he said to sit on our rears and fly. We did as we were told, and were launched higher than high and had a great experience.


Solomon says, "Remember," Christ says, "Follow." I say, "Dare to trust God, he may take you to places that you, in your old age, thought were impossible. Perhaps you will be changed and a great example of childlike faith will emerge.


Let me know what he does--where he takes you--how he reverts the aging process--in your life this week.

click to enlarge (notice the happy kid, mom and somewhat unsure dad)