Remembering A Dark Past

Yesterday, millions of Americans celebrated the annual observance of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the announcement of slavery's abolition in the state of Texas. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln almost three years prior to this date, it was not until June 19, 1865 that the first official declaration of freedom for all slaves was made in Galveston, Texas. On that day, General Gordon Granger and 2,000 of his men arrived to take possession of the state and enforce the law that Lincoln's signature had put in place three years earlier.

This is a day that brings joy to every freedom loving American. However, it is also a day that brings to memory one of the darkest parts of our great nation's history. Though not every slave was treated as badly as others, most accounts and photos we see from the 1850's and 1860's tell a grim tale of human oppression.

The basic problems are these:

1. A slave's person is deemed the property of another human being.
2. A slave's will is completely subject to the "owner's" authority.
3. A slave's labor is obtained against their will by coercion.

Truly, one of the most sinister and perverted states of mind any man can have is to view another human being created in the image of God as his own property. Consider these basic Bible principles:

1. Since all human beings are created in the image of God, they are all equally worthy of our respect (Genesis 1:28).
2. All human beings are loved equally by God (John 3:16).
3. Every man and woman is to love their fellow man as themselves (Matthew 22:39).

It is difficult to imagine very many scenarios that violate more principles of God's word than the practice of slavery. And though this nation has come a great distance in the past 150 years, the problems of racism still exist (and perhaps always will). As long as there are men and women who will not demonstrate love and compassion for everyone on an equal plane, this will always be a problem -- amongst all races.

At the very least, let's do our part to show the world that the people of God will not only speak about "the golden rule," but will actually live it as well. The next time you hear someone use a derogatory racial term, let them know (kindly) that you do not concur. The next time someone stereotypes a certain group or tells an off-color joke about a certain set of people, don't laugh (not even that nervous and uncomfortable laugh). This is an area where we can have a significant impact on a regular basis.

Let your light shine every day.

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"I Can't See Any Harm In It"

Sometimes, we cannot see the harm in something simply because we have not bothered to actually look for it. Consider these guidelines when determining whether an action is right or wrong:

1. The Personal Test: will doing this make me a better or worse Christian?
2. The Social Test: will doing it influence others to be better or worse Christians?
3. The Practical Test: will the results of my doing it be desirable?
4. The Universal Test: if everyone should do this, would it enhance or degrade society?
5. The Scriptural Test: does the Bible endorse it or is it forbidden -- even implied as wrong -- by the word of God?
6. The Stewardship Test: will my doing this constitute a waste of talent God gave me?
7. The Character Test: what will be the influence of my moral & spiritual stamina?
8. The Family Test: will it bring discredit & dishonor to my family, and will it embarrass them?
9. The Publicity Test: would I be willing for friends, fellow Christians, the elders, and the preacher to know about it?
10. The Common Sense Test: does it agree with plain, everyday, ordinary common sense?
11. The Fairness Test: is it honest, and it is practicing the "Golden Rule"?
12. The Problem Test: is it potentially harmful to me and / or others?

No matter what "it" may be, if "it' fails even one of these tests, we ought to be wise enough to see the harm therein. On such a case, abstinence is the only policy.

Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, ESV

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The Lady Who Sat In Front Of Me

Several years ago while living in the state of Florida, I had occasion to travel to Alabama. I departed from the Tampa Bay area early on a Sunday morning, stopping to worship with a congregation of the Lord’s church in northern Florida. This is a congregation I had visited -- and had even preached at -- in days gone by.

On that day, the sermon was sound and informative, the singing was uplifting and instructive, and the Lord was worshiped in both spirit and truth (John 4:24). These are all privileges most New Testament Christians can enjoy on a weekly basis. This time around, there was one experience which has made a lasting impression upon me, and it was all thanks to the lady who sat in front of me.

Now, let it be known that my attention was focused on my privilege and obligation of worshiping the Lord. However, the very nature of our worship assemblies affords us opportunities to make an impression upon one another. The lady who sat in front of me was truly a splendid example for me in her involvement and participation in worship.

From the time the song-leader blew the pitch of the first song on his pitch pipe, this Christian woman was focused and ready to sing heartily to the Lord. — and sing heartily she did! Despite the fact that she was sitting on the pew in front of me, I could hear her vocalizing the words of every song in an alto voice which had no doubt weakened over the years. It was obvious that this was no deterrent for her, however, because she sang every lyric with great fervor and faith. As she sang the words, “anywhere with Jesus I can safely go,” I knew that she meant them, and that she was admonishing me (Colossians 3:16) toward the same assurance.

When the time came for “the collection for the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:1), I was impressed by her obvious forethought. As the men stood before the microphone to say a prayer in connection with the offering, the lady who sat in front of me opened her Bible and removed a check. I do not know the dollar figure she penned on the “amount” line. But this I do know: This Christian had purposed in her heart what she would give (2 Corinthians 9:7), and she was doing so in an obvious spirit of appreciation and cheer.

As the preacher mounted the pulpit, I noticed that her hands were already grasping her well-worn Bible. Almost without exception, the fair-minded lady who sat in front of me turned the pages of her Bible, comparing the words of the speaker with the very words of the Lord (Acts 17:11). Her attentiveness and apparent thrill in hearing the gospel preached shone through. I have no doubt that she considered the Lord’s day assembly to be the highlight of her week. Although she had probably heard many of these same verses of Scripture hundreds of times before, the lady who sat in front of me did not appear to be bored. On the contrary, she seemed to treat these words as if she was hearing them for the very first time. I learned so much on that Lord’s day.

Certainly, just being able to participate in worship myself was well worth the stop. However, I carried much more encouragement with me on that day than I left behind. What troubles me is that people do not understand the influence they can and indeed will exert. I do not believe the lady who sat in front of me knew the impact she had on me that day — an impact which has not
waned some four years later! We are constantly influencing others in one of two ways: For good, or for bad. There are no in-betweens.

When I hear people bristle at the Biblical role of women in the church, I think about the lady who sat in front of me. She was not only content with her role, she was thrilled to fulfill it. She sat on a pew with what appeared to be two other widows, but her spirit of contentment and thanksgiving were exemplary.

When the period of worship had ended, the lady who sat in front of me made a point of welcoming me, and thanking me for attending Bible class and worship. I would someday like to shake her hand and place in it this article. But if that never comes to pass, I would like to meet her again in the sweet by and by to say, “thank you.”

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The Art Of Imitation

It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. One of the talents upon which I prided myself as a "wee lad" was imitation and character impressions. I would carefully observe and give my best imitation of famous athletes, actors, recording artists, etc. I was even
able to use this gift to irritate my big sister. Did you know that God cares a great deal about whom and what you imitate?

The African Grey Parrot (pictured above at right) is almost universally considered one of the most intelligent birds in the world. Reports of "Greys" with 1,000-word vocabularies is not uncommon, and presumably, a five-year-old "Grey" has similar understanding to the average five-year-old child! African Greys have an uncanny ability to mimic voices and sounds...which, of course, caused me to ask for one as a kid (I never got one). For a hilarious and remarkable illustration of this bird's amazing abilities, see the video I've posted below.

Whether we are willing to acknowledge so or not, we all put our imitation skills into practice on a daily basis. The way we speak, the mannerisms we use, and our general outlook on life are often virtual mirror images of our parents, or some other influential person in our lives. Imitation is
indeed an unavoidable practice. God acknowledges so in His word. Imitation is neither good nor bad inherently. The determining factor in our approval (or disapproval) in God’s sight is how we use our observation and imitation techniques.

When John wrote under the inspiration of God, he implored Christians to use discretion in selecting both whom and what we imitate:

Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God
3 John 11, ESV

God would not have His people to be naïve. It would be a mistake to surmise that we are immune from inappropriate imitation. Likewise, it should be obvious to every man that the Lord will not accept attitudes and actions which conflict with His will.

John’s plea for our wisdom here comes down to choosing role models. Basketball great Charles Barkley was dragged into the spotlight several years ago for renouncing his responsibility as a role model. Who should our role models be in life? More specifically, for this study, who should our role models be in the spiritual realm? God cares!

An example of God’s concern for our role model selection is the case of Diotrephes. In the brief epistle of Third John, we learn of Diotrephes, a man who earned a place in the annals of the New Testament church for his haughty spirit. There can be no doubt that the original recipients of John’s letter were quite impressed by the illustration of Diotrephes. When they were instructed not to “imitate evil” in the context of Diotrephes’ behavior, the point was most assuredly well taken.

Truly, the same warning must be heeded today. May we never find ourselves using spiteful and unkind methods to accomplish our own agendas. Likewise, we are repeatedly warned of the dangers of wanting to be like the world (including the religious world) around us. The nation of Israel was warned of the foolishness of such a decision on more than one occasion. The Lord instructed them in one place...

...take heed that you be not ensnared to follow them [heathen nations], after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? - that I also may do the same.’
Deuteronomy 12:30, ESV

The same foolish mistakes men make today are merely repeats of those made in the long ago.
How sad it is that some churches of Christ feel the need to “compete” with the denominational world in anything! The sectarians have failed to meet God’s challenge of resisting conformation while promoting transformation (Romans 12:1-2). Now some congregations of the Lord’s church are imitating something that has already failed! Solomon, in his wisdom, said it best: “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Neighbor, we have something, Someone too good to emulate to become involved in “keeping up with the Joneses!” The Lord cares who and what we choose to imitate. Shun all that is evil, and imitate that which is good, and you will be eternally grateful for having done so.

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A Position For Everyone

The sport of rugby has been frequently on my mind for the past two months. At almost 30 years of age, I will play my first season of competitive rugby this spring.

I knew very little about this sport, other than what I had seen from watching a collective total of about 30-minutes on television. I played football for many years, and what I saw in rugby was essentially American football without pads. The more I learn about the game of rugby, the more I find out how wrong I was in such an assumption.

American football actually grew out of rugby. When rugby came across the Atlantic from the British isles in the mid-19th century, various changes were made to resemble what we now see in our football games. But good old fashioned rugby has maintained a presence -- albeit much, much smaller -- in the U.S. to this very day.

As I learn the basic laws (yes, they're called "laws," not "rules") and strategies of rugby, I am fascinated to see how much skill, mental focus, and tactical savvy are required to be successful on the rugby pitch (football fans would say "field").

One of the reasons rugby is such a great game that can be enjoyed by anyone is the wide array of skill sets and body types that are fit for competition. Though rugby players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they have ever been, you will still see players who range from hulks to featherweights. Of course, when one of those featherweights gets cornered by one of those hulks, the results usually end up as a bone-crunching highlight on YouTube. Nonetheless, when one of those little guys breaks out into the open, those monstrous front-liners have no chance at running him down.

Rugby is a game that is based on teamwork -- 15 men performing their widely varying roles as individuals with the ultimate goal of helping their fourteen teammates emerge victorious at the end of the game. Usually, the side that plays with the strongest concept of teamwork emerges victorious at the end of 80 minutes.

Thinking about this reminds me of Paul's God-breathed words to the church of first century Corinth (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Just as a rugby club is made up of many members with varying abilities and duties, the body of Christ (i.e. the church of Christ, Ephesians 1:22-23) is made up of many individual members. Each man and woman whom the Lord has added to the church (Acts 2:47) is vital in the growth and harmony thereof.

Rugby teams filled with selfish players rarely win. Churches filled with self-absorbed, uncaring people are far from what the Lord designed. Are you a member of the Lord's body? If so, are you helping or hindering your spiritual family from attaining "the prize of the upward call" (Philippians 3:14)?

Is your attendance at the assemblies of the church encouraging others in their faithfulness? Is your participation in the evangelistic efforts of the church encouraging the participation of others? Is your giving enabling the church to expand their reach in carrying out "the great commission?" Do your words and attitudes serve to edify (build up) the individual members of your church family?

These and other questions will help you and me in determining the manner in which we are helping (or hindering) the growth of the local body of Christ.

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It's The Thought That Counts

Having trouble deciding what to get the friends and family on your gift list? Here's an idea: Animal feces?? Hey, like they say, "It's the thought that counts." Aye, but who in the world thought of this?!?!

Sure enough, as further proof you can purchase virtually anything on the internet auction giant, eBay, an organization has placed Rhino dung up for sale.

The International Rhino Foundation is auctioning seperately on four pieces of dung from endagered species of Rhino. The proceeds will help fund conservation efforts.

Each piece is dried, mounted in a clear trophy case, and labeled with the kind of rare Rhino that produced it. How fancy!

At the time of this writing, there had been 43 bid between all four......um.......items. The high bids thus far range from $510 to $560. Shipping costs $16, which makes me wonder how the ones shipping these items will respond to the question, "Does this package contain anything fragile, liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous?"

For the record, close-up photos of the Rhino droppings were available, but I refuse to gross our loyal Food For Thought readers out with that sort of imagery.

So, if you are one who participates in the tradition of gift giving during the holiday season, what are you giving? The kids want the latest and greatest toy, the teenagers want the slimmest, coolest cell phones and mp3 players, and the adults want gadgets, cash, and stuff to lay around the house. This certainly is not intended to discourage such a tradition -- I enjoy gift giving myself.

However, when all the kids' toys have been donated to Goodwill, when the teenagers' cell phones and iPods have been replaced by ones with newer technology, when all that stuff laying around the house has been sold for unbelievably low prices at yard sales, what will be left?

Yes, when all is said and done, all that expensive "stuff" will have the same end as the Rhino dung!

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
2 Peter 3:10, NKJV

The phrase "burned up" in the New King James version could more literally be rendered, "laid bare." The English Standard Version translates that phrase with one word: "exposed." For, on that day, even that which was our pride and joy will be exposed for what it truly was: a temporary treasure.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness...?
2 Peter 3:11, NKJV

So amid all the gift giving this holiday season, remember to give what really counts. Your love toward your fellow man, your righteous example and counsel to your children or grandchildren, and the gift of eternal life to any who would know the gospel.

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How To Follow In The Footsteps Of Jesus

From time to time, we sing an old hymn entitled, Footprints Of Jesus. The chorus of this song reads...

Footprints of Jesus, that make the pathway glow; we will follow the steps of Jesus where e'er they go.

For those who understand the nature of Christ (God's Son and the Savior of mankind), following in the footsteps of Jesus is the prime objective. Consider the words of Peter's God-breathed message...

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:21, ESV

But how does one truly follow in Christ's footsteps?

B -- Believe in him (John 1:12)

Y -- Yield to him (Romans 12:1)

G -- Go to him in prayer (1 John 5:14-15)

R -- Read & study his word (2 Timothy 2:15)

O -- Obey his commands (John 15:14)

W -- Work for him (1 Corinthians 15:58)

I -- Ignore the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11)

N -- Nothing held back (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

G -- Give talents and resources (Matthew 25:20; 2 Corinthians 9:7)

I -- Increase in fruit (John 15:8)

N -- Neglect not God's gift (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6)

G -- Gather with the saints (Hebrews 10:25)

R -- Redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:4)

A -- Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

C -- Conquer Satan and temptation (James 4:7; Matthew 26:41)

E -- Expect Christ's return (Hebrews 9:28)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18, ESV

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Polly Want A Wake-Up Call?

Parrots can be a noisy nuisance sometimes, but there is at least one Muncie, Indiana family that may never complain about that noise again.

Shannon Conwell and his nine-year-old son awoke about 3 a.m. last Friday to find their home on fire after hearing their Amazon parrot, Peanut, imitating a fire alarm. The smoke alarm was functioning properly and had activated, but it was the bird's matching call that awoke Conwell. Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, Conwell grabbed his son and the bird on his way out of the house.

Paul's God-breathed words to the church in first century Corinth were as follows:

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you then, be imitators of me.
1 Corinthians 4:15-16, ESV

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV

When you follow the example of a true-hearted Christian, you are following Paul. When you follow the Godly example of a Christian who is following the lead of Paul, you are following Christ. Your words stake claim to being in the light of Christ. When people imitate your faith and manner of life, are they (by connection) following Christ?

The Conwells of Muncie, Indiana learned how crucial an effective imitation can be. Men and women outside the body of Christ need an accurate imitation of Christ -- sounding the warning cry, and leading others to safety.

When people imitate your faith and manner of life (and they will), will they be led toward or away from safety?

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'Twas A Sheep, Not A Lamb

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a poet. Poetry can be an effective teaching tool. I sometimes wish I had such a talent, but I have always been convinced it is wise to recognize one's own limitations.

Nonetheless, when I come across an especially outstanding poem, I like to share it with others. The following is from the pen of a man named James Smith, whom I know nothing about other than the fact that he wrote this thought-provoking poem:

'Twas A Sheep, Not A Lamb

It was a sheep, not a lamb that strayed away,

In the parable we are told;

A grown-up sheep that had gone astray...

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

Out in the meadows, out in the cold,

'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought:

Back to the flock and into the fold,

'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

And why for the sheep should we earnestly long

And so earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger, if they go wrong,

They will lead the young lambs astray!

For the lambs follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray;

If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long

Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

So, with the sheep we earnestly plead,

For the sake of the lambs today,

If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost

Some sheep may have to pay.

Paul's God-breathed admonition to Timothy was to, "be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12, NKJV). Never underestimate the impact your faithful service to the King of Kings (or lack thereof) has on those around you.

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Ezra's Example Of Success

Ezra descended from the lineage of Hilkiah, the high priest (Ezra 7:1). However, Ezra was not able to serve in such a capacity himself during the time of captivity. Still, he gave his time in study of the Scriptures (Ezra 7:6).

Ezra became one of Israel's great restoration leaders. He led the reconstruction of the temple as well as the effort to restore the religious life and institutions of the people. Ezra was very successful in accomplishing these tasks. The following statement is most revealing as we consider the source of his success:

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Ezra 7:10, ESV

Notice Ezra's focus in these three areas:

1. He set his heart on the study of the Scriptures
2. He set his heart on the doing of the Scriptures
3. He set his heart on the teaching of the Scriptures
   

In can neither do nor teach something with which I am unfamiliar. Personally speaking, I cannot repair a radiator on a car, nor could I teach anyone else how to do so. Why? Simply because I have not applied my mind to study the discipline of auto mechanics.

God requires study of his word for the purpose of our own obedience as well as the transmission of his divine truths from one man to another, from one generation to the next.

Your success and mine is a direct result of how well we know the Bible.

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How To Be A "Joy-Giver"

Are you interested in bringing your Christian brothers and sisters joy? Follow these guidelines, and you will be a great source of encouragement for the family of God:

1. Walk in truth (2 John 4)
2. Love the truth (2 John 6)
3. Abide in truth (2 John 9)
4. Welcome no untruth (2 John 9-11)

(Click here to read the brief book of Second John)

The result will be joy among the people of God!

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I Don't Wish To Be This Oscar Mayer Weiner

The 27-foot fiberglass Oscar Mayer Weinermobile was ticketed Thursday morning in Chicago after its driver parked it on Michigan Avenue and left it on the side of the six-lane road with the hazard lights blinking.

Parking on a street marked "Parking/Standing Prohibited Anytime" is a $50 violation. As it turns out, the famous Weinermobile is not above the law -- even in Chicago, a city long known for its love of hot dogs.

The Weinermobile is currently on a nationwide tour promoting a contest to sing the Oscar Mayer jingle in a commercial.

Is there a lesson in this? Of course!!

In addition to obeying posted road laws, this ought to remind us how careful we must be as we go about our daily business. A smaller, less hotdog-shaped vehicle may have gone unnoticed by traffic cops; but a red 27-foot hotdog on wheels...well...not a chance.

If we identify ourselves as disciples of Christ by our daily confession (through both words and actions), we can expect people to be keeping an eye on us. Some may do so out of curiosity, and others in an effort to catch you "messing up."

No matter what, though, let's always be on our guard to reflect the light of Christ into a world of desperate darkness. No, not to "put on a good show" and try to convince others we are something we actually are not; rather, to glorify God in the process of doing what we know to be right.

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16, ESV

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A Tribute To Grandma

On July 31, 1919 in Wadsworth, Ohio, Marcella Ruth McMullen was born to Clarence and Audrey McMullen. My mom's mom, now Marcella Ruth Vaughn, turns 88 today. The photograph at right was taken circa 1920. The one to the left shows my grandma on the left with her baby sister, "Dot."

My grandma is one of the strongest, most resilient, and most virtuous women I have ever known. Here is just a small handful of events from her life:

1. She grew up during "The Great Depression" of the 1930's.
2. She saw her young husband shipped off to the South Pacific during World War II.
3. Two of her daughters (including my mom) were stricken with Polio in the 1950's. My aunt Judy was severely affected by this terrible disease.
4. She faced great heartbreak when her first husband and high school sweetheart (my grandfather) became unfaithful, resulting in a divorce.
5. Her second husband, "Tippy," passed away in 2004.

Lest you get the wrong impression, my grandma has lived what I would deem a happy and fulfilling life to this point. She has wonderful friends, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even one great-great-granddaughter! However, when I think about some of the "storms" she has weathered in her 88 years, I am so thankful for her righteous example. Giving up would have been the easy, and, perhaps natural thing to do. But grandma never gave up!

She raised her three children the right way, showing them the importance of serving God even in the midst of hard times -- without the support of her husband. When I think about the way my own mother taught me, I am well aware of the fact that she passed down what her own mother taught her many years ago. It brings to mind this passage from the New Testament:

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

2 Timothy 1:5, ESV

Not that I am presuming myself to be some modern-day version of Timothy, but whatever success I have in serving the Lord and his church, I owe an immeasurable debt to my grandmother, Marcella, and my mother, Jill.

How thankful we can be for the influence of righteous people in our lives!

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A League Of Their Own

For the benefit of those of you who may be new to Food For Thought, we have a standing tradition on Fridays. We look through the headlines to find some bit of wacky, amazing, or completely off-the-wall story that will help illustrate a spiritual principle.

Today's amazing story comes to us from Baldwin Harbor, New York. Here's the story as told by Carl Macgowan of NewsDay.com:

That wasn't Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens on the mound Wednesday at Baldwin Park. And the hurler wasn't trying to strike out ageless Mets infielder Julio Franco.

The Yankees and Mets veterans are mere rookies compared to Mickey Werner, 93, of Baldwin, and Paul Rotter, 86, of Woodmere, who faced one another Wednesday in a senior league softball game.

In fact, Werner is older than Clemens, 44, and Franco, 48, -- combined.

"Oldtimers game" took on new meaning when Werner's Mets took on Rotter's Dodgers. And the senior southpaws, the oldest players in the five-team Long Island Senior Softball Association, said they don't plan to retire anytime soon.

"Why should I?" Rotter said. "As long as I can play, I'll keep playing.

""Pitching is just swinging the arm and pushing the ball forward," said Werner, a retired New York City physical education teacher, who gave up one run in three innings in his club's 9-6 victory.

Rotter, a former special ed teacher, was the losing pitcher after allowing nine runs in six innings.

Werner drew a walk in his only at-bat against Rotter, and Rotter singled the only time he batted against Werner. Both were replaced on the basepaths by pinch runners.

The minimum age requirement to play in the senior softball association is 68. Innings are suspended when a team scores five times, and games last only seven innings.

League commissioner Joe Friedman, 71, of Oceanside, who plays for the Dodgers, said safety is a priority for the league. "If people don't feel physically fit, we ask them to get a doctor's note," he said.

Werner's daughter, Ellice Bekier, 59, of Valley Stream, said she only worries about her dad on hot, humid summer days. She watched Wednesday's game with evident pride.

"He's a kid at heart," she said of Werner. "How many people even have their fathers at 93?

"Werner's and Rotter's longevity amazes their teammates. Rotter pitched both ends of a doubleheader last week, said Dodgers manager Harry Schwarzkopf of Woodmere.

"He also pitches fast-pitch on Sunday," said Schwarzkopf, 76.

Dr. Craig Levitz, director of sports medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, said most of his patients are seniors. With minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, older athletes can stay on the playing field longer, Levitz said.

"One reason they're living longer is they're more active," he said. "The reason they're playing at that age is that they've been playing for 20 years" or more.

The Dodgers and Mets Wednesday looked as if they could keep playing for another 20 years.

"You don't get old from playing softball," said Dodgers player Arnie Raichek, 75, of Oceanside. "You get old from not playing softball."

Whether or not you are a sports fan is immaterial when it comes to a story like this. 96-year-old Mickey and 86-year-old Paul ought to serve as reminders of the great things our more "seasoned" folks can accomplish.

Certainly, some enjoy better health in old age than others. The ravages of time will eventually wear down even the most physically fit (see Ecclesiastes 12:1-8) - even fellows such as the incomparable Jack Lalane!

Still, the multitude of important work being done in God's kingdom by our older brothers and sisters is worthy of our noticing. It is so important for Christians who are "getting up in age" to stay as involved as they are able in the work of the church. Aside from the glory brought to God in the process of their good works (see Matthew 5:16), staying involved in kingdom labor provides valuable time for younger Christians with those who have garnered wisdom through the years.

The Bible says...

"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness."
Proverbs 16:31, NKJV

"The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair."
Proverbs 20:29, ESV

To the younger saints...be thankful and take advantage of the wisdom that can be imparted by our older brethren.

To the older saints...the kingdom of God needs your abilities, even if that entails nothing more than mentoring the younger generations within the Lord's church. The wisdom you have collected through a life of righteousness is a splendor - yea, a crown of glory to be admired!

R2