Dear Grandkids,
In addition to Legacy Building and Scuba Diving that I shared in my last post, here are the other two values that will drive my retirement years.
The Value of Disciple Making – As followers of Jesus, aka disciples, we are commissioned to also make disciples. This is not just something that pastors are called to do. In a sense, disciple making was a part of my job when I was a pastor. But it was no less a part of my calling as a believer. Most believers think that disciple making is for the “professionals.” Not true. And most believers think that disciple making is not something that they are equipped to do. Also not true.
Disciple making is not rocket science. But there is an intentionality behind it. You have to be willing to be with people. Disciple making is as much about “withness” as anything. Here are a few things that I think go into making disciples – which even believers that are young in their faith can do WITH others:
- model what a walk with Jesus should look like
- talk about Scripture together
- help them grapple with the tough questions of the faith
- coach them to think about everything from a biblical worldview
- be available when life is hard
- help them learn how to fight the enemy of their soul
- demonstrate grace and authenticity
- point them to great books
Bill Hull in his book The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ says, “Discipleship isn’t a program or an event; it’s a way of life. It’s not for a limited time, but for our whole life. Discipleship isn’t for beginners alone; it’s for all believers for every day of their life. Discipleship isn’t just one of the things the church does; it is what the church does.”
I’m hoping that my best years of disciple making are still ahead of me.
The Value of Step Taking – You probably already know that Nona and I walk… a lot. Like, every day. Getting our steps in is important to us because we know that it helps keep us healthy. We both have step-taking goals that are high priority to us. Often we are out the door and walking the neighborhood by 6 AM – especially in the summer as we try to beat the heat. I’m convinced that we are as physically healthy as we are because of our step taking.
But step taking also has crossover to my relational health. I created an acrostic using the word STEP to remind me of 4 questions I need to ask everyday:
- S – Who do I need to SERVE today?
- T – Who do I need to THANK today?
- E – Who do I need to ENCOURAGE today?
- P – Who do I need to PRAY for today?
Just asking these questions each day helps me to be as relationally intentional as I am with my health. Sometimes the answers are really obvious but sometimes I have to think a bit. But always when I take the time to think these questions through there are people that come to mind that I need to follow through with. So both physically and relationally, step taking has tremendous value for me.
Legacy building. Scuba Diving. Disciple making. Step taking.
As I move forward with the last third of my life these are the values that will drive my retirement days.
In my next post (and last retirement post), I will try to answer some of the questions that I am being asked when people find out that I have recently retired. Stay tuned.
Never forget that you are very loved,
Pop Pop