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MARCH/APRIL/MAY 2011 Q
WORSHIPTHE
LORDYOUR
GODANDSERVE
HIMONLY.
MATTHEW4:10
WORSHIPTHE
LORDYOUR
GODANDSERVE
HIMONLY.
MATTHEW4:10
Churches are encouraged to copy and distribute this publication
to all adults 55 and older in their congregation.
While sitting on the point overlookingscenic Payette Lake in the
heart ofIdahos mountains, I noticed movement at
the bottom of the cliff. It was an osprey
launching itself over the water. It worked
its elegant wings until it found an updraft.
Then it relaxed. Fascinated, I watched itglide in lazy circles
effortlessly riding an
invisible thermal up and up until it was
eye-level with me. It continued to rise. High
above me it headed out across the lake.
In that osprey I found a wonderful
metaphor for those of us well into the third
trimester of our lives. With family raised
and career established, we are free to
break away and soar: soar up to wherenew vistas of opportunity
unfold, where
uncharted waters can be explored, where
long-cherished dreams can be pursued.
Biblical examples come quickly to mind:
Abraham responding to the momentous call
of God at the age of 75; Moses launching
the most revolutionary freedom movement
in history at the age of 80; and Anna,
the first to preach Jesus as
redeemer, at the age of 84.
My life has been deeply
impacted by retirees who
soared on wings like eagles. There
was Dr. H. Orton Wiley, esteemed earlyNazarene leader, who at
the age of 83
filled blackboards with theological truth
that still excites me today. There was Dr.
Clovis Chappell, who at the age of 85 was
so feeble he could hardly totter over to
the podium at a pastors conclave. Yet his
inner man burned with such intensity that
it set my soul on fire. On that day I was
raised from the dead of disillusionment
and despair at the lowest time of myministry. I am quite sure
that I would
not be who I am or have done what by
Gods grace Ive been able to do apart
from those two stalwart men of God who
soared on wings like eagles.
Then there were the big three in my first
church: retired couples who formed the
INSIDE...
Soaring
Upcoming
Event
From the Smile File
Christ in the
Holy Land
and more...
Continued on page 3
Rev. Darrell Rotz
Prime Time
Coordinator
877-240-2417
[email protected]
by C. S. Cowles
They will soar on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:39)
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8/6/2019 PT_SPRING_11
2/4Olivet Nazarene University . . . A Proud Sponsor of
OCTOBER 4-7, 2011Upcoming Prime Time Event
The 2011 Prime Time Smoky Mountain Retreat is promis-
ing to be an exciting, inspiring, and life-changing event.
Esteemed and loved by countless stu-
dents and congregations over the years,
key note speaker Rueben Welch is sure
to inspire and challenge retreaters. Dr.
Welch possesses an incredible wealth
of biblical knowledge and a true gift
for explaining the profound in every-
day terms.
Totally committed to spreading the
gospel, Brian Arner, will thrill and move
retreaters with music and his depth and
sincerity of spirit. Says Jerry Nelson,
Denver First: I heard him sing and I find
myself scrambling for superlatives . . .
Im eager to hear him again.
Nestled along the banks of the Little Pigeon River,
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is the primary gateway to the
Great Smoky Mountains. The Smoky Mountains offer
a magnificent array of panoramic
views, glorious foliage, and an end-
less array of sight-seeing options.
Brimming with country charm, Pigeon
Forge offers picturesque beauty and
activities for every age. This quaint
little town has 50 family-friendly at-
tractions, 6 outlet malls, and over 100
craft, gift and specialty shops. A con-
venient trolley system makes hourly
stops in the Music Road parking lot.
In addition to inspirational worship
times, Prime Time Smoky Mountain
has planned seminars specifically de-
signed for senior adults, great fellow-
ship opportunities, and outstanding
excursion opportunities are available. You can join the
group as we go to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat at Miracle Theater and the Titanic museum,
or you can strike out on your own at one of Pigeon
Forges many attractions.
OCTOBER 4-7, 2011MUSIC ROAD HOSPITALITY HOTEL & INN
P IGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE
Dont miss an opportunity to participate in this great event.
Register today!
Register today at: amc.nazarene.org
For informational brochures, registration information, and other
questions contact:
877-240-2417 (toll free phone) - [email protected]
(email)
http://www.amc.nazarene.org/http://www.amc.nazarene.org/
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8/6/2019 PT_SPRING_11
3/4Prime Time Ministries and Prime Time Connection.
inner core of my tiny congregation.
They wrapped their accepting,
loving, and enabling arms around
our young family, and bore us
up on wings like eagles. And
then there was the elderly districtschool superintendent who
not-so-
gently confided that sermons do
not have to be eternal in order to
be immortal. Though a bitter pill
to swallow, especially for one who
thought he had to deliver the whole
counsel of God in every sermon,
he taught me one of the most
valuable lessons of my preaching
life: namely, that the mind cannotabsorb what the seat
cannot
endure.
One of todays most exciting
frontiers are people who in the
prime time years of their lives
launch second and third careers. I
have a cousin who since retirement
has made 23 mission-trips to
southern China, continuing the
pioneering work begun by our
grandfather in the early 1900s.
She raises money, gathers Bibles,
and collects study materials for
Chinese believers. She is soaring
on wings of an eagle, and loving
every minute of it.
I have another cousin on the other
side of my family who in semi-
retirement felt called to resurrect
the Stone Corral Community Church
established by our ancestors in
the 1870s. It had fallen upon
hard times and died. He secured
the deed to the property, chased
out the birds and animals in
the abandoned building, and
rounded up scattered remnants of
the congregation most of whom
were also retirees. Together they
refurbished the building, enlisted
a retired pastor to lead them, and
today averages well over 100 in
worship. My cousin who plays thepiano for their services is
soaring
on wings like an eagle.
And so it goes all across the land.
Retirees are teaching classes,
feeding the homeless, enrolling in
seminary, refurbishing churches,
going on mission trips, tutoring
disadvantaged children, visiting
nursing homes, writing letters ofencouragement, all the while
having
the time of their lives.
Dr. William McCumber, pastor,
educator, author, and long time
editor of Holiness Today, died
recently. I had the privilege of
following him as pastor of Atlanta
First Church many years ago.
After retiring for the third time, he
accepted the call to pastor his home
church in Gainsville, Georgia, at
80 years of age. He was still going
strong at the time of his passing at
age 87.
I was thinking about him as I
stepped out to begin my early
morning devotional walk. I looked
up. Stretched across the sky was the
glowing contrail of an airplane set
on fire by the rays of the rising sun.
Barely able to see the glint of the
airliner I thought: There goes Bill,
soaring on wings like an eagle.
Soaring. Thats what I want to do
until I too soar on eagles wings to
be with my Lord.
Continued from page 1
Soaring
The LawsMurphy Missed . . .
Law of the mechanic: After
your hands become coated with
grease, your nose will begin to
itch or drip.
Law of the road: When you
change from a slow lane to a
fast lane, the fast lane becomes
slow and the one you just left isnow the fast lane.
Law of the bath: When the
body is fully immersed in warm,
soothing water, the phone rings.
Law of the rug: The chance
of an open-faced, jelly sandwich
landing face down is directly
correlated to the price and
newness of the carpet.
Law of the shoe shopper: If
the shoe is a comfortable and a
perfect fit, it is ugly.
Law of the theater: The
people whose seats are farthest
from the aisle arrive last.
Get It Right, Teacher!
On the 4th of July, the
teacher was telling her pre-
school children about God and
country. She said: God has
blessed us in our United States
of America and we are all free!
A little girl shot up her hand and
said: I am not free, I am four.
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GlobalMinistryCenter
PrimeTimeMinistries
7001PrairieStarParkway
Lenexa,KS66220AddressServiceRequested
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Dr. Amy Hansonto Be Featured atSmoky Mountain
Prime Time Retreat
Amy Hanson, speaker,
teacher, writer, andconsultant, is passion-
ate about helping senior
adults discover a life of
Christ-centered meaning
and purpose. She for-
merly led the active adult
(fifty-plus) ministries at
Central Christian Church in Las Vegas. Today,
she unites her doctorate in gerontology with
her ministry experience to educate and equip
pastors, denominational leaders, students,health care
professionals, and older adults on
the unique opportunities of an aging America.
A very popular seminar speaker at the Kansas
City Centennial Prime Time Retreat, Amy
Hanson will be speaking on Tuesday evening
and Wednesday morning at Pigeon Forge.
For more information about Prime Time Smoky
Mountain retreat call 877-240-2417 (toll-
free) or visit www.amc.nazarene.org.
Christ in theHoly Land
By Darrell Rotz
The aroma of Christs pres-
ence still fills the sacred,
biblical sites. What a thrill to
lead clergy pilgrims across
the Shepherd Fields to the
Bethlehem birth cave and on to Nazareth, the Jordan River, and
the
Sea of Galilee. We could almost hear Jesus calling Zacchaeus
from the
sycamore tree in Jericho. We stood on hillside slopes in Galilee
visual-
izing Him feeding the thousands. We listened again to the
incomparable
Sermon on the Mount. We sat under the same olive trees in
Gethsemane
and heard His agonizing prayer. We stood in reverence at the
place of
the skull and rejoiced beside the gardens empty tomb. There was
an un-
deniable, affirming presence of our risen Savior in all the
moments of our
pilgrimage. Our theme song: I Walked Today Where Jesus
Walked.
Now, we have returned to our ministry assignments with a fresh
and
renewed call to proclaim the amazing gospel! How I wish that all
our
Nazarenes might experience Christ in His homeland! Perhaps many
of
you will join my next pilgrimage in March 2012.
Rev. Darrell Rotz is hosting a 10 day Holy Land Pilgrimage,
March 5-14, 2012. To request a brochure or more information
email: [email protected].
