Old Cars Make the Best Hot Rods

So just this afternoon I was having nachos and a great discussion with a close friend.  We got to talking about how there have been times in our lives when we felt more effective, powerful and energetic in our ministries.  And to be honest, with so much amazing young & talented ministers around, and many close by me daily, it's easy to second-guess one's effectiveness as gravity pulls at your youth.  Maybe you haven't witnessed it first-hand, but once in a while I catch a glimpse into our culture where youth seems to be exalted to the point that experience, maturity, wisdom and all else that age provides, seems to be pushed aside or treated lesser than.  Certainly this is not the case in all matters, thankfully.  But there is evidence that sometimes the younger are favored over the older--and I understand.  I really do.

The reality is that I just ain't as cool and hip as I once [perceived that I] was.  My son wants to go to a Saliva concert. He didn't think it was too funny when I said I bet they can't play worth spit.  I'm thinking we should get tix to Collective Soul or Tom Petty.  And who the heck is Saliva?  But I regress...

Back to the conversation today: In the context of our conversation I said I once felt like I was a real "Hot Rod" in ministry, meaning that there was excitement, transformed lives for Christ... LOTS of transformed lives.  There was energy and growth, both numerically and spiritually.  God was making leaders and ministry was rockin!  And now, I just don't have that same feeling at times.  Then it occurred to me: antiques make the best hot rods!  There was a car show in Wichita recently that attests to this statement.

Make no mistake about it--as I'm working to build a leadership team for our new service launch I will be seeking out young people to be on board.  I want them; I need them; WE need them and they need to use their gifts and I will do all I can to equip and empower them to be all they can for the King.  Even now we have several high school & college students on our team, and even a middle-schooler who is part of our tech team and he does an awesome job.  There's room for more on our team, young and old!

But for myself, and perhaps even some of you who may feel like you have lost your cutting edge, energy and usefullness, let me encourage you that God is not done with us yet!  Read up on it: youth may have been chosen and sometimes used mightily by the Lord, but in most cases, there was a seasoned adult God used to mentor, to guide, to empower and lead and that's when amazing things happened.  It was through an old man and woman that a nation was born.  It was the faithfulness of mature women who ministered and enabled powerful ministries to excel.

Check out 2 Kings 6,
¹ The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. ² Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”
   And he said, “Go.”  ³ Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”
   “I will,” Elisha replied. ⁴ And he went with them.    They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. ⁵ As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”  ⁶ The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. ⁷ “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
 
No matter who you are or how old, I believe that if you are willing, God is more than able to restore your cutting edge and use you to do amazing things for His glory.  So go ahead, wait upon the Lord, keep focused on Him, and do not disqualify yourself for any reason.  Mount up on those eagle's wings and soar for His glory!
 
In His Grip,
Todd