Let the Older Teach the Younger

ctf • March 1, 2016

We often speak in churches about ministry of the older to the younger in the midst. But to even say these words seems trite, considering their importance. What do we really charge Believers with when we say the words? We mean these Paul-and-Timothy relationships; and not just between the men in the congregations. The Bible gets even more specific with instructions that the older women should teach the younger.

“I don’t know, Dr. Jackson – kids are so cocky these days. They probably think I have nothing to offer them.” That sounds like something “you know who” would say – doesn’t it? I once heard a pastor point out to the obvious that “non-Christians watch Christians.” Just look at all of the attention any errant Christian gets in the media, to the reproach of the Kingdom before the world. But our pastor also said “Christians watch Christians.” We do. You have no idea what young eyes and hearts are fixed upon you at any moment. You can lead by example. You don’t have to say a word. But there is also another way. You could talk to them.

At one church I got to talking with a few of the teenage boys at the pot luck. They pointed over to an older man in the congregation saying, “Yeah Mr. ___ is so cool. He’s the man!” When I later told the elder what they said, he was surprised. “Well, I didn’t know they felt that way about me.” Think of the old country song, “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful.” And –you– don’t know what young eyes, elder saint, are looking on you with a great longing; wishing you would tell them the truths that you know; truths that can only be learnt by a walking and an abiding in Him over the decades of experience in service that you have – which they don’t.

It’s true, not all of the young are so teachable. But many are! Today I’m meeting for coffee with a shining young man of God. His gifts and calling are given in a tribute of sacrifice to the Lord God and to His Kingdom. I love this young fella. He’s so my brother. I see my Jesus in him – so strongly! He asked – me. Why. Because he knows I wouldn’t say no to him. Many of our wonderful young saints – both guys and girls – are just watching and waiting for the elder saint of the same gender who knows the way ahead for them, whom they can count on to at least “give’em the time of day.” Will you? Will I? Pray to the Lord of the Harvest for this next generation of the Church. Have the courage to step out when He points you in the direction of a young person He knows will be open to your mentorship. And be the leaders to the children of the millennium in the Church. You won’t be sorry that you did.

Keep praying. Keep thinking,

DrJ

By Bob Dugas May 23, 2025
NS-29 Launch
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As many of you may know, I appreciate space. Not space around me, although the older I get the more I appreciate that as well. The things in the heavens fascinate me and have for a large chunk of my life. I love working with our telescopes, allowing people to see for themselves objects that the Lord made on the 4th day of history. When I was younger I followed our Space Shuttle program, and over the years I have had the opportunity to see a couple of those shuttles around the country. Now it is great to see all the renewed interest in exploring the heavenly creation. I know most of it is for evolutionary reasons, yet over and over again something is discovered that points to the trustworthiness of God’s Word. After all, we are to study His creation as Genesis 1:28 states. On a recent trip to El Paso, it occurred to me that Blue Origin’s launch facility is in west Texas somewhere. After some quick searching I realized we were within an hour and half of it, and there was a rescheduled launch window during the time of our meeting. So, with some persuading of my colleagues, we arose early one morning to make the launch. We made it with just minutes to spare. It was spectacular! The whole launch to just beyond the Karman Line (space boundary, 62 miles/100km) and return of the rocket and capsule is about ten minutes total. While Blue Origin is best known for its New Shepherd rocket that carries paying customers to space and back with the biggest windows ever in a capsule, this NS-29 launch was purely experimental with a payload of instruments to measure simulated lunar gravity. Even though it was not a Saturn V, Space Shuttle, Starship or Falcon launch, it was great to hear and feel a launch for the first time, from blast off to the sonic boom return. It has piqued my desire to see a bigger launch now. As I began to reflect on what I experienced, the Lord reminded me of His design. Earth, our home planet, is so well designed for life. There is literally nowhere in all the universe like it. Yet He gave us the ability to discover creation beyond it. The only reason we can launch rockets and do space exploration is because He set it up in an orderly way. Physics works because He established it to work in a predictable fashion. As much as we may never understand everything in the universe from our position here, it works on an ordered reality that is reinforced by God’s Word. This is what drove Sir Isaac Newton in his understanding of physics. He wrote, “The motions which the planets now have could not spring from any natural cause alone but were by an intelligent Agent.” Evolutionists may come up with theories about the origin of things in the heavens, but over and over again they are being shown through experimentation and observation to be wrong. The Lord set the order of everything in the beginning and sustains it by His Word (Hebrews 1:3). So as you look to the heavens tonight, gaze into the depths of space and observe the different facets the Lord placed up there for our eyes (Genesis 1:17). Peer through a telescope at the lesser light of the moon with marvel and anticipation of further human study in the coming years. Check out the amazing observations being made by the James Webb telescope from deep in space. All of these place a perspective of how awesome our Creator is and how much we depend on Him. Our design becomes more and more obvious with every discovery, yet in our universe we appear so minuscule and fragile. Thanks be to God that His infinite focus has, is and always will be here on us! Blessings.
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