{"id":286419,"date":"2024-08-14T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T04:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/growing-older-without-growing-old-dennis-barbara-rainey\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T16:54:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T20:54:04","slug":"growing-older-without-growing-old-dennis-barbara-rainey","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/growing-older-without-growing-old-dennis-barbara-rainey\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Older without Growing Old: Dennis &#038; Barbara Rainey"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What Bible teachers do you trust? Would you realize if they taught something &#8216;off&#8217;? How do you handle the ideas and false teachings your kids have questions about? Join Allen Parr for a discussion on biblical literacy and discernment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you have fears about growing old? Worried about aging gracefully\u2014mentally, physically and spiritually? Listen in as Dennis &#038; Barbara Rainey share advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47000,"featured_media":280865,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/45a53a82-9fec-4ebd-a52f-b1c90152cf61\/audio.mp3","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:26:09","filesize":"23.98M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"2024-08-14 04:00:00","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2913],"tags":[2793],"podcast_series":[8786],"cwp_profile":[3051],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-286419","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-empty-nest-and-midlife","tag-growing-old","podcast_series-growing-older-without-growing-old-dennis-barbara-rainey","cwp_profile-dennis-and-barbara-rainey","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/06\/image-scaled.jpg?w=1024","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/286419\/growing-older-without-growing-old-dennis-barbara-rainey","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/286419\/growing-older-without-growing-old-dennis-barbara-rainey","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"SrGYURkQmR\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/growing-older-without-growing-old-dennis-barbara-rainey\/\">Growing Older without Growing Old: Dennis &#038; Barbara Rainey<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/growing-older-without-growing-old-dennis-barbara-rainey\/embed\/#?secret=SrGYURkQmR\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Growing Older without Growing Old: Dennis &#038; Barbara Rainey&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"SrGYURkQmR\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"spectra_custom_meta":{"secondline_imported_guid":["45a53a82-9fec-4ebd-a52f-b1c90152cf61"],"audio_file":["https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/45a53a82-9fec-4ebd-a52f-b1c90152cf61\/audio.mp3"],"duration":["00:26:09"],"filesize":["23.98M"],"_thumbnail_id":["280865"],"show_notes":["<ul>\n<li>Help make YOUR mark: Your donation supports crucial resources for families and includes a special FamilyLife Pen and <a href=\"https:\/\/donate.familylife.com\/august-2024\/urgent-need\/?cru_source=FLTD24&amp;cru_medium=Icare&amp;cru_campaign=August2024&amp;_gl=1*i7nrhi*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MTcwMTQ3ODQuQ2owS0NRandwTnV5QmhDdUFSSXNBTkpxTDlOZnNmVlp5TUhEOU55WG14QjFTbVhFb3FLTUFlM3dsRGZlLUUtaTh5U2NjN0hfSnNVQnNZc2FBbVhnRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MTk2MDk5NjM3Mi4xNzE4NjM0NDIz*_ga*OTI3MTAyODQ4LjE2OTUxMjkzOTk.*_ga_85G8JM3S5D*MTcyMzQwNzQ5MC42MzkuMS4xNzIzNDA5NDc2LjQ2LjAuMTI4NjI3MTUzNg..&amp;_ga=2.4838195.1899240771.1723407491-927102848.1695129399\">Brant Hansen's book, \"Unoffendable\"\u2014join us today!<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Connect with Dennis and Barbara Rainey at their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theraineys.org\/post\/do-you-need-hope-have-you-been-disappointed-with-god\">website<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>If you enjoyed this episode, check out previous podcast\u00a0episodes featuring the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/guest\/dennis-and-barbara-rainey\/\">Raineys<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Don't miss out on the \"<a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/weekend-to-remember\/\">Weekend to Remember<\/a>\" events happening nationwide!<\/li>\n<li>Find the new Homebuilders series, newly redesigned as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.artofmarriage.com\/\">FamilyLife's Art of Marriage<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Find resources from this podcast at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/radio-resources\/\">shop.familylife.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/past-radio-resources\/\">See resources from our past podcasts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find more content and resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/app\/\">FamilyLife's app<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303\">Apple Podcast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/familylife-podcast-network\/\">FamilyLife Podcast Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"],"transcript_content":["<p>FamilyLife Today\u00ae National Radio Version (time edited) Transcript<\/p>\n<p>References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete.<\/p>\n<p>Growing Older without Growing Old<\/p>\n<p>Guests:Dennis and Barbara Rainey<\/p>\n<p>From the series:Growing Older without Growing Old (Day 1 of 3)<\/p>\n<p>Air date:August 14, 2024<\/p>\n<p>David: Hey, there; David Robbins here. Before we get started today, I just have to say I cannot wait for you to hear from a special couple we have in studio with us today. It is Dennis and Barbara Rainey, who got us started on the journey of FamilyLife\u00ae almost<\/p>\n<p>50 years ago as our co-founders. I\u2019m so grateful to have them back. I know you will enjoy hearing their familiar voices and some of the stories and process they\u2019re in as they\u2019re continuing to grow and helping to change their corner of the world. So enjoy hearing, again, from Dennis and Barbara Rainey.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: How you live now determines how you will become older later. You don\u2019t prepare for becoming older when you\u2019re 60 or 70, although it\u2019s never too late to start: \u201cHow do I want to finish the race?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: Welcome to FamilyLife Today, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I\u2019m Shelby Abbott, and your hosts are Dave and Ann Wilson. You can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: This is FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, I am pretty excited about today.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: So am I.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, we have Dennis and Barbara Rainey BACK! You\u2019re back in the FamilyLife Today studios.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, it feels really good.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Does it really?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I\u2019m so happy.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes!<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: It feels absolutely awesome.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Does it?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I\u2019ve been watching you guys from out in the control room; and hey, run with it, baby. You\u2019ve got the stuff. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, we learned from the best.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I have to tell you this story.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Here we go; [Laughter] I knew he was just going to take over.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes, I am going to take over on this one.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Hey, Bruce; can you turn his mike down, or off, or something? [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I was in Orlando. I spoke here to a group called Kingdom Advisors, a big convention they had; and Barbara and I concluded it. After it was over, a radio listener came up, and she said, \u201cWell, I just have to tell you: I listened to you for years\u2014you and Barbara\u2014for years; and when you went off the air, I was bummed. But I decided I\u2019d listen to Dave and Ann.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: By the way, we were pretty bummed, too. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: No you weren\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>She said, \u201cIt\u2019s like, \u2018Dennis and Barbara who?\u2019\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: She said, \u201cWe love them; they\u2019re so good!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u201cWe love them; we think they\u2019re the best.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: That was really fun.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I thought, \u201cThat\u2019s a great story that I want to use on air.\u201d What better way to join you than to say\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014at least, there was one person. [Clapping]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It was probably your mom. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>But anyway, if you don\u2019t know, this is the founder and president couple of FamilyLife. We\u2019re sitting in these chairs because of you guys; we\u2019re not here apart from you. This job is a glorious job for us. We\u2019d never be here without you, so thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Well, none of us would be here without God\u2019s favor\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u2014and His ordering our steps. Wouldn\u2019t you agree, sweetheart?<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Very much, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; I can\u2019t wait to talk about what we\u2019re going to talk about. But I do want to say this: we have a unique perspective on this job, I think.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I would think you might.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Because there were people that came on staff at our church\u2014and I was a founder of that church\u2014and they came on staff. You can tell: \u201cHey, they\u2019re just glad to be there.\u201d They\u2019re walking in buildings they didn\u2019t build, and they\u2019ve never had the sweat that we did. You\u2019re glad they\u2019re there, but we know\u2014being a founder of a church; you were founder of this\u2014we know there were sleepless nights; and there were nights you didn\u2019t know if God would provide and all those things.<\/p>\n<p>You laid it all on the line. So every time we walk in the studio, we never walk in here, like, \u201cHey, we\u2019ve got a good thing going.\u2019\u201d We think, \u201cThey built something we didn\u2019t build; we are, literally, on their shoulders\u201d; and we are so humbled.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014so grateful.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: That\u2019s so sweet.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: We fall on our face and just thank God for what you did. Our mission statement, when we took over, between ourselves, was: \u201cDon\u2019t mess this up. [Laughter] Just don\u2019t mess this up.\u201d That\u2019s not a very inspiring mission statement.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: We\u2019ve told you this, Dennis; but the very first recording day, we laid on the floor of the studio\u2014and we both were holding hands\u2014laying on our stomachs on the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: We weren\u2019t on our knees; we were on our faces,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014saying, \u201cLord, we don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing. We can\u2019t do this apart from You.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes, sure.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And I know that you guys have felt that, too: \u201cWe can\u2019t do this apart from You.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: But we\u2019re excited about this topic today.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, I got to hear some of your thoughts last year in November about growing older but not becoming old. I had never even heard that term before when you laid that out with about 17 of us in a hunting lodge in South Dakota. I took notes, and I\u2019m not going to look at my notes; I\u2019m just going to say, \u201cTell us about this journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Well, let me add this, too, Dave; because I feel like\u2014as we\u2019re traveling, speaking, talking to couples\u2014as their kids leave, and they\u2019re empty nesters, there\u2019s this loss: loss of identity, loss of purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I\u2019ve had so many couples say, \u201cWe don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing anymore. What are we supposed to be doing with our lives?\u201d I think today is going to answer that question.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Well, it\u2019s our hope it would. This journey started for us way back in the 1970s when I snuck in a seminary class at Dallas Seminary that Dr. Howard Hendricks taught. He talked about this elderly woman in her 90s; and she would greet him by saying, \u201cWell, Prof, what\u2019s the best five books you\u2019ve read in the last six months?\" He said, \u201cThat woman was more alive than a lot of my students that I have at the seminary.\u201d [Laughter] He made a deposit in my mind. He made a deposit of thinking about: \u201cHow do you go through the process of growing older without becoming old?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: And there\u2019s a big difference.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: There is a big difference; and if you aren\u2019t purposeful about this, it\u2019s going to happen.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Right.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: It absolutely is going to happen.<\/p>\n<p>I had a conversation last week with a friend of mine named Scott. His dad had just died at the age of 90. Scott had gone to his [dad\u2019s] office after the funeral was over, and he just looked around at everything. He found this camo backpack. In [my] phone call with him, he said, \u201cDo you know what I found in that backpack? My dad was 90 when he died, okay?\u201d He said, \u201cTextbooks.\u201d He was taking two college courses.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: What?!<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Taking classes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014in his 90s.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u2014in his 90s. And his mom mowed the lawn for the church they attended, and his dad kept the place up a bunch. He was purposeful all the way to the finish line. This was an executive, who founded one of the major corporations in America\u2014his dad was.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Wow.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: So I thought, \u201cWhat a great image of that backpack.\u201d My friend Scott has that backpack in his office\u2014I haven\u2019t seen it yet\u2014I\u2019m going to go see it, here, in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It\u2019s the image to say: \u201cDon\u2019t quit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I think Barbara is on the track.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: She\u2019s in seminary.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I was going to say that; I\u2019m glad you did.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes, she\u2019s going to be in her 90s, getting her doctorate.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: She better not be. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, he doesn\u2019t want me to go\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I look forward to eating her cooking, again, someday.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, he doesn\u2019t want me to keep going. [Laughing]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, since we\u2019re talking about this in this state\u2014we\u2019re in Florida\u2014this is, for a lot of people, the dream: \u201cWhen I\u2019m finally done, I can just go there and play pickleball every day,\u201d\u2014which, by the way, I love to play pickleball\u2014but that\u2019s sort of the goal, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: It is.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: You get a little amped up about this, Dennis.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: If that\u2019s your values, this is Nirvana right here. But if you\u2019re about the kingdom\u2019s work\u2014about what God\u2019s up to\u2014which, was it Amy Carmichael, who said, \u201cWe have only a few hours before sunset to win the victories, but all of eternity to celebrate them\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: It\u2019s true.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: She made the statement that it is, in time, that we make deposits for eternity. I think, at the heart of it, is growing\/the concept of growing. We need to be growing when we\u2019re young, younger, middle-aged, and as we move into our 50s, 60s, 70s. We never stop needing to learn, and growing, as we look at the finish line.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; so how is it for you guys since you retired from FamilyLife? [Laughter] I\u2019m laughing, but have you heard that? Because people walk up to us, in the Detroit area, and say, \u201cHey, so now that you\u2019re retired, how\u2019s life?\u201d I say, \u201cI\u2019m working harder now than I ever worked in my life!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: We need to put our brains together and come up with a better word for retirement, because that\u2019s\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014a new word.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I just say, \u201cIt\u2019s re-tired: I put new tires on, and we\u2019re going. We\u2019re going faster than ever.\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: That\u2019s a good one.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: I like that, too.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Re-tire.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I call it \u201crefirement\u201d; so refiring, heading toward the finish line with fresh fuel\/fresh fire. I think God has an assignment for every living person\u2014I do\u2014you wouldn\u2019t want to miss that. You wouldn\u2019t want to arrive in heaven and find out you missed His calling for your life.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Now, have you slowed down though? You\u2019re doing different things.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Right.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You\u2019re not walking in a building every day; you\u2019re not leading a big, huge organization. Do you feel like you\u2019ve slowed down?<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: No, we haven\u2019t. But I think what you just said is the important ingredient; because I think we tend to think\u2014when we\u2019ve done this main part of our lives, whether it\u2019s raising kids or the main job\u2014then we\u2019re done. I think God\u2019s purpose for us changes. I think it evolves as we grow, and He takes us in new frontiers. You\u2019ve heard about men, who are retired, who work in schools; or women, who are retired, who do different things. I think we just need to expand our vision for what God might have for us in a season that doesn\u2019t include full-time employment in a career. And I think that takes some creativity; I think it takes focus. It\u2019s not going to come in an envelope in the mail, and say, \u201cHere\u2019s your next assignment\u201d; you have to look for it; you have to pray.<\/p>\n<p>You have to think through: \u201cWhat has God equipped me to do?\u201d and \u201cWhere can I use these gifts for the kingdom and for serving the church, the body of Christ?\u201d That may take some time and energy, but He has that for all of us.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Tell us what you would both be feeling, had you really retired\u2014and now, you\u2019re just kind of sitting around, piddling about\u2014what would you feel in your heart, Dennis? Would you be frustrated?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I think I\u2019d feel purposeless\u2014I think I\u2019d feel like I didn\u2019t have a destination; I didn\u2019t have a mission I was on\u2014something I was about that was worth getting up in the morning for. And I think I\u2019d become lazy. I think there\u2019s a lot of things that could happen.<\/p>\n<p>I have this written down: \u201cHow you live now determines how you will become older later.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: What does that mean?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Well, it means you don\u2019t prepare for becoming older when you\u2019re 60 or 70, although it\u2019s never too late to start.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Right.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: But you get a vision for your life: \u201cHow do I want to finish the race?\u201d Barbara and I want to finish it together. We just celebrated our 51st anniversary. We also celebrate 27 grandkids\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: [Laughter] Congrats!<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u20146 married kids\u2014and so we have all kinds of tensions on us. But I don\u2019t think God designed faith to be without tension. It\u2019s impossible to please God without faith, and I think the nature of life is to give us obstacles and things that we have to confront. We have to decide how we are going to live: \u201cAre we going to walk by faith and trust God?\u2014get to know Him?\u2014and make sure we\u2019re living out His best in the midst of these circumstances? Or are we going to put the gear in neutral and coast?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, I don\u2019t think God ever called us to live in neutral; and I don\u2019t think He designed us to sit back and twiddle our thumbs. The question you asked Dennis; my immediate thought was: \u201cBoredom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: You\u2019d be bored.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Boredom; that\u2019s correct.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: If I didn\u2019t have something to get up and do, I would be bored. Now, I\u2019m the type that\u2019s going to find something to do; because I just don\u2019t like sitting around, so I would find something to do. I just think it\u2019s really super important to be productive, because the natural tendency is to become lazy. The natural tendency is to quit trying, to quit working hard at anything; and that\u2019s just contrary to what God made us to do.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: So Dennis, talk to us: \u201cHow do we grow older and not become old?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014especially, younger.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: There was a little gem that Barbara and I found in the book of John, the last chapter in John. Now, think about it\u2014it\u2019s the last chapter\u2014these are some of Christ\u2019s last words.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara, why don\u2019t you share with our audience what we just discovered in this passage as Jesus had a confrontation with Peter?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes, John 21.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, you know that one, don\u2019t you?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Hang with us on this, because some of the best advice you\u2019ll ever hear comes from the mouth of the Savior about growing older at the end of this passage.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: The background of this passage I think is really cool, because this is after the resurrection. Jesus appears; and then, sometimes, He doesn\u2019t appear. The disciples are out on the boat\u2014they\u2019re doing what they always have done\u2014they\u2019re out there fishing, and they\u2019re not catching anything.<\/p>\n<p>Who knows how long it\u2019s been since they\u2019ve seen Jesus?\u2014if it\u2019s been a couple days or if it\u2019s been a week, but they\u2019re out there fishing. They see this person on land, and they don\u2019t know who it is. He asks them about their catch; and then, they go in [to shore]. He\u2019s made breakfast for them\u2014He has a fire built on the shore, and the flames are growing\u2014and He\u2019s cooking fish. Essentially, He says, \u201cCome have breakfast with Me.\u201d They sit, and they begin to talk.<\/p>\n<p>And then, after they have breakfast, they begin hearing from Jesus; He says: \u201cFeed My sheep,\u201d and \u201cTake care of My sheep.\u201d He has a specific conversation with Peter; and He said to Peter three different times, \u201cSimon, son of John, do you love Me?\u201d and then He says, \u201cFeed My sheep,\u201d and \u201cShepherd My sheep.\u201d And then, at the very end, on the third time, He says, \u201cSimon, son of John, do you love Me?\u201d And Peter was grieved; because He asked him a third time, \u201cDo you love Me?\u201d And Peter said to Jesus, \u201cLord, You know all things; You know that I love You.\u201d And Jesus said to him, \u201cTend my sheep.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And then, Jesus said, \u201cTruly, truly I say to you, when you were younger you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you,\u201d\u2014meaning dress you\u2014\u201cand will bring you where you do not wish to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, think about the definition of getting older. Does that not sound like getting older? You get where you can\u2019t dress yourself; you can\u2019t go where you want to go; and someone else takes you where you don\u2019t want to go. I remember, in my mother\u2019s later years, when her back door neighbor\u2014who was her really good friend\u2014came over one day, and said, \u201cI\u2019m moving.\u201d My mom said, \u201cWhere?\u201d And she said, \u201cMy kids think it\u2019s time for me to move.\u201d They packed her up, and they moved her; and didn\u2019t really even ask her. I didn\u2019t even hardly know the woman\u2014but the heartache that I felt for her\u2014that she was being taken someplace she didn\u2019t want to go. Well, this is what Jesus was talking about.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Before you share the rest of what Jesus said, a friend of mine\u2014Dr. John Hannah, who has a think a double PhD in church history; a brilliant teacher at Dallas Seminary\u2014I was sitting, talking with him one afternoon. He just made a very profound statement about getting older; he said, \u201cAs you get older, your world shrinks; so your options are reduced. Your world gets smaller; how are you going to handle it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: When you said that, Dennis, I thought, \u201cI know;\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014\u201cwe\u2019re there: the world shrinks;\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: It does shrink.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014\"opportunities shrink; everything shrinks. And you don\u2019t like it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: No; no, you don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Right. So now, just brace yourself for Jesus\u2019 words. \u201cHow do you handle this?\u201d\u2014He has two words; listen to this.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Verse 19: \u201cNow Jesus said this signifying by what kind of death he [Peter] would glorify God.\u201d So that\u2019s sort of a parenthetical little statement that John puts in there for readers, like us, to know.<\/p>\n<p>But then, Jesus turned back to Peter. Immediately after He said these declarations about\u2014\u201cYou\u2019re going to be taken where you don\u2019t want to go,\u201d and \u201cSomeone else will gird you,\u201d\u2014\u201cHe said to him, \u2018Follow Me.\u2019\u201d In the context of Jesus\u2019 statement, in verse 17, about getting old\u2014that someone\u2019s going to take you where you don\u2019t want to go, someone\u2019s going to dress you, all of these things are going to happen\u2014\u201cYou still follow Me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And when we realize the context of that\u2014that Jesus was saying, \u201cThis is what\u2019s going to happen to you when you get old; I\u2019m giving you advanced notice. But in the midst of all that, as hard as it\u2019s going to be, keep following Me.\u201d The most important thing we\u2019ve realized, in getting old, is continuing to be a disciple: \u201cDon\u2019t stop being a disciple,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t stop following Jesus,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t stop walking with Him,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t stop confessing your sin,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t get lazy in the Christian life.\u201d I think that\u2019s everybody\u2019s tendency\u2014is to get lazy in the Christian life\u2014we think, \u201cI\u2019ve been there; I\u2019ve done that; I deserve a break.\u201d We don\u2019t deserve a break.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: No, no.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: God has called us to follow Him.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And not just because He\u2019s called us, but it brings us life.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Well, sure; yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: When we walk with Him, there\u2019s such fulfillment.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Oh, it\u2019s an adventure.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: And what is a disciple? Do you know the essence of a disciple?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014learner.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u2014learner; that\u2019s exactly right. Now, think about that.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u201cNever stop learning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Jesus is saying, \u201cHow are you going to run your race all the way to the finish line?\u2014keep learning; keep getting to know Me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: \u201cKeep learning\u201d; yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u201cKeep growing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That\u2019s good.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u201cKeep growing.\u201d That\u2019s really the \u201cAha\u201d for all of this with us. It\u2019s kind of like we came in the back door of this, because I didn\u2019t really start out here when I was studying this. I just kept chewing on it, thinking, \u201cHow do we do this thing of not becoming old?\u2014a codger, a gripey, complaining\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Who wants to be around people who are unhappy, and gripey, and miserable, and all of those things? I don\u2019t think that\u2019s what God has for us.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, I think what you said earlier: \u201cIf you\u2019re not intentional, you become old.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Exactly.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You just become old.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014because there aren\u2019t opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: You\u2019re fighting gravity.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, you\u2019re going to go there. It\u2019s like the Weekend to Remember\u00ae: \u201cYou\u2019re going to drift toward isolation; you have to fight for oneness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m thinking, when you said that earlier\u2014\u201cBe a disciple to the very end,\u201d as you\u2019re reading from John\u2014I thought, \u201cThat\u2019s my mission statement. I don\u2019t want to quit before He calls me. I want to run to the finish line, just like He said, \u2018Follow Me,\u2019 to the very end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: We only have a few minutes left, and you\u2019re full of stories. You both have stories of mentors you have watched do this well, who are inspiring. I\u2019m wondering if you could just close with one of these stories of one of the people you\u2019ve watched grow old well\u2014not growing old\u2014they\u2019ve gotten better. Could you end with one of those great stories?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Dr. Bill Bright was the founder of the organization, Campus Crusade for Christ\u00ae, as you guys know. Bill showed us how to live when he lived; but maybe, some of the greatest lessons he taught were as he was dying of pulmonary fibrosis. If you know anything about this disease, you literally strangle to death\u2014you can\u2019t breathe\u2014the lungs harden up; they don\u2019t do the job of absorbing oxygen into the blood stream.<\/p>\n<p>We did over 6,000 broadcasts when we led this radio ministry. His broadcast is one of the top five\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave and Ann: Really?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u2014only months before he died. He was on oxygen; you could hear the machine in the background, occasionally. As he was in the process of dying, do you know what he did? He gave me about 15 to 20 things to do. [Laughter] All of a sudden, I stepped out of the room, took off my mask, and I was outside there, and thought, \u201cWhat did he just do to me? He just delegated all these assignments to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t put my mask back on\u2014I just burst the door open\u2014and I said, \u201cBill Bright, you\u2019re a mess! You just gave me a bunch of stuff to do, and you\u2019re moving on to heaven.\u201d And he threw his hands up in the air, and threw them down on his lap, and just laughed, sitting up, just like, \u201cAttaboy, son; keep going. You\u2019re not done yet, so don\u2019t quit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: So that was in the last weeks of his life?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Last weeks of his life; we taped a number of broadcasts that we did with him. Some people teach you how to live; some people teach you how to die; and some people do both. That was a sweet, sweet relationship; because when I went to work for him, it was selfish\u2014I just wanted to be on mission\u2014and he did a great job of talking about the Great Commission and fulfilling God\u2019s purpose for your life. Now, I\u2019ve served on staff for 53 years: no regrets; absolutely, no regrets.<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: I\u2019ve heard so many stories about Dr. Bright over the years, and I\u2019m always in awe of how he finished well. He ran the race well, yes; and he finished well. I hope that that story that Dennis just shared with us is one that makes you think, \u201cI want to finish well, too\u201d; because it certainly makes me feel like that.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Shelby Abbott; and you\u2019ve been listening to Dave and Ann Wilson, with Dennis and Barbara Rainey, on FamilyLife Today. You can hear Dennis Rainey\u2019s interview with<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Bill Bright in his last days of his battle with pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that eventually took his life. You can go to FamilyLifeToday.com in the show notes and find the link there to Dennis Rainey\u2019s conversation with the founder of Cru\u00ae, Dr. Bill Bright.<\/p>\n<p>I hear stories like the ones that have been shared today, and it really just makes me so grateful for the ministry of FamilyLife\u2014that\u2019s been going strong, now, for 40 years\u2014and how God has used it to impact marriages, parenting, families all over the country and all over the world. I hope that you have been impacted by it as well.<\/p>\n<p>This month, the month of August, we are looking to raise $250,000 in new funds by the end of this month. So if you\u2019ve been impacted by FamilyLife, the ministry of FamilyLife Today, or a Weekend to Remember, or any kind of effort by this ministry has helped you\u2014has helped your marriage, has helped you in your parenting, has helped you walk with Jesus even closer\u2014I\u2019d love for you to jump in and partner with us in order to continue to make this ministry one that impacts marriages and families all over the world.<\/p>\n<p>You can do that simply by going online to FamilyLifeToday.com and making a donation there. Or you can give us a call at 800-358-6329 to make your donation. Again, that number is 800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d And thank you so much for being a part of the solution when it comes to this ministry. We are so grateful for you, who support us, and make it possible for us to reach families and communities around the world.<\/p>\n<p>Now, tomorrow, Dennis and Barbara Rainey are back again with the Wilsons to talk about continual devotion to Jesus, and staying active as you get older, really just aging with purpose. That\u2019s coming up tomorrow; we hope you\u2019ll join us. On behalf of Dave and Ann Wilson, I\u2019m Shelby Abbott. We will see you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLife Today is a donor-supported production of FamilyLife\u00ae, a Cru\u00ae Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.<\/p>\n<p>We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?<\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2024 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<p>www.FamilyLife<\/p>\n"],"transcript_url":["https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2024-08-14.pdf"],"_edit_lock":["1749588957:47000"],"_edit_last":["47000"],"theme_header_position":["Sticky"],"post_header_is_sticky":["default"],"is_header_overlay":["0"],"episode_type":["audio"],"date_recorded":["2024-08-14 04:00:00"],"enclosure":["https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/45a53a82-9fec-4ebd-a52f-b1c90152cf61\/audio.mp3"],"_seopress_redirections_type":["301"],"_seopress_redirections_logged_status":["both"],"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":[""],"_g_feedback_shortcode_3502ce14f7d2f3762f138ec3eb7b2cac3c753022":["\n\t\t\t\t[contact-field label=\"Name\" type=\"name\"  required=\"true\" \/]\n\t\t\t\t[contact-field label=\"Email\" type=\"email\" required=\"true\" \/]\n\t\t\t\t[contact-field label=\"Website\" type=\"url\" \/]\n\t\t\t\t[contact-field label=\"Message\" type=\"textarea\" \/]"],"_g_feedback_shortcode_atts_3502ce14f7d2f3762f138ec3eb7b2cac3c753022":["a:17:{s:2:\"to\";s:29:\"margaret.coyle@familylife.com\";s:7:\"subject\";s:88:\"[FamilyLife - A Cru Ministry] Growing Older without Growing Old: Dennis & Barbara Rainey\";s:12:\"show_subject\";s:2:\"no\";s:6:\"widget\";i:0;s:14:\"block_template\";N;s:19:\"block_template_part\";N;s:2:\"id\";i:286419;s:18:\"submit_button_text\";s:6:\"Submit\";s:14:\"customThankyou\";s:0:\"\";s:21:\"customThankyouHeading\";s:26:\"Your message has been sent\";s:21:\"customThankyouMessage\";s:30:\"Thank you for your submission!\";s:22:\"customThankyouRedirect\";s:0:\"\";s:10:\"jetpackCRM\";b:1;s:9:\"className\";N;s:9:\"postToUrl\";N;s:14:\"salesforceData\";N;s:12:\"hiddenFields\";N;}"],"_uag_css_file_name":["uag-css-286419.css"],"_uag_js_file_name":["uag-js-286419.js"]},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/06\/image-scaled.jpg",1024,1024,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Margaret","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/margaret-coylefamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Do you have fears about growing old? Worried about aging gracefully\u2014mentally, physically and spiritually? Listen in as Dennis & Barbara Rainey share advice.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"<ul>\n<li>Help make YOUR mark: Your donation supports crucial resources for families and includes a special FamilyLife Pen and <a href=\"https:\/\/donate.familylife.com\/august-2024\/urgent-need\/?cru_source=FLTD24&amp;cru_medium=Icare&amp;cru_campaign=August2024&amp;_gl=1*i7nrhi*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MTcwMTQ3ODQuQ2owS0NRandwTnV5QmhDdUFSSXNBTkpxTDlOZnNmVlp5TUhEOU55WG14QjFTbVhFb3FLTUFlM3dsRGZlLUUtaTh5U2NjN0hfSnNVQnNZc2FBbVhnRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MTk2MDk5NjM3Mi4xNzE4NjM0NDIz*_ga*OTI3MTAyODQ4LjE2OTUxMjkzOTk.*_ga_85G8JM3S5D*MTcyMzQwNzQ5MC42MzkuMS4xNzIzNDA5NDc2LjQ2LjAuMTI4NjI3MTUzNg..&amp;_ga=2.4838195.1899240771.1723407491-927102848.1695129399\">Brant Hansen's book, \"Unoffendable\"\u2014join us today!<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Connect with Dennis and Barbara Rainey at their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theraineys.org\/post\/do-you-need-hope-have-you-been-disappointed-with-god\">website<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>If you enjoyed this episode, check out previous podcast\u00a0episodes featuring the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/guest\/dennis-and-barbara-rainey\/\">Raineys<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Don't miss out on the \"<a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/weekend-to-remember\/\">Weekend to Remember<\/a>\" events happening nationwide!<\/li>\n<li>Find the new Homebuilders series, newly redesigned as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.artofmarriage.com\/\">FamilyLife's Art of Marriage<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Find resources from this podcast at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/radio-resources\/\">shop.familylife.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/past-radio-resources\/\">See resources from our past podcasts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find more content and resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/app\/\">FamilyLife's app<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303\">Apple Podcast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/familylife-podcast-network\/\">FamilyLife Podcast Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2024-08-14.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>FamilyLife Today\u00ae National Radio Version (time edited) Transcript<\/p>\n<p>References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete.<\/p>\n<p>Growing Older without Growing Old<\/p>\n<p>Guests:Dennis and Barbara Rainey<\/p>\n<p>From the series:Growing Older without Growing Old (Day 1 of 3)<\/p>\n<p>Air date:August 14, 2024<\/p>\n<p>David: Hey, there; David Robbins here. Before we get started today, I just have to say I cannot wait for you to hear from a special couple we have in studio with us today. It is Dennis and Barbara Rainey, who got us started on the journey of FamilyLife\u00ae almost<\/p>\n<p>50 years ago as our co-founders. I\u2019m so grateful to have them back. I know you will enjoy hearing their familiar voices and some of the stories and process they\u2019re in as they\u2019re continuing to grow and helping to change their corner of the world. So enjoy hearing, again, from Dennis and Barbara Rainey.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: How you live now determines how you will become older later. You don\u2019t prepare for becoming older when you\u2019re 60 or 70, although it\u2019s never too late to start: \u201cHow do I want to finish the race?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: Welcome to FamilyLife Today, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I\u2019m Shelby Abbott, and your hosts are Dave and Ann Wilson. You can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: This is FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, I am pretty excited about today.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: So am I.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, we have Dennis and Barbara Rainey BACK! You\u2019re back in the FamilyLife Today studios.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, it feels really good.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Does it really?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I\u2019m so happy.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes!<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: It feels absolutely awesome.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Does it?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I\u2019ve been watching you guys from out in the control room; and hey, run with it, baby. You\u2019ve got the stuff. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, we learned from the best.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I have to tell you this story.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Here we go; [Laughter] I knew he was just going to take over.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes, I am going to take over on this one.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Hey, Bruce; can you turn his mike down, or off, or something? [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I was in Orlando. I spoke here to a group called Kingdom Advisors, a big convention they had; and Barbara and I concluded it. After it was over, a radio listener came up, and she said, \u201cWell, I just have to tell you: I listened to you for years\u2014you and Barbara\u2014for years; and when you went off the air, I was bummed. But I decided I\u2019d listen to Dave and Ann.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: By the way, we were pretty bummed, too. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: No you weren\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>She said, \u201cIt\u2019s like, \u2018Dennis and Barbara who?\u2019\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: She said, \u201cWe love them; they\u2019re so good!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u201cWe love them; we think they\u2019re the best.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: That was really fun.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I thought, \u201cThat\u2019s a great story that I want to use on air.\u201d What better way to join you than to say\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014at least, there was one person. [Clapping]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It was probably your mom. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>But anyway, if you don\u2019t know, this is the founder and president couple of FamilyLife. We\u2019re sitting in these chairs because of you guys; we\u2019re not here apart from you. This job is a glorious job for us. We\u2019d never be here without you, so thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Well, none of us would be here without God\u2019s favor\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u2014and His ordering our steps. Wouldn\u2019t you agree, sweetheart?<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Very much, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; I can\u2019t wait to talk about what we\u2019re going to talk about. But I do want to say this: we have a unique perspective on this job, I think.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I would think you might.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Because there were people that came on staff at our church\u2014and I was a founder of that church\u2014and they came on staff. You can tell: \u201cHey, they\u2019re just glad to be there.\u201d They\u2019re walking in buildings they didn\u2019t build, and they\u2019ve never had the sweat that we did. You\u2019re glad they\u2019re there, but we know\u2014being a founder of a church; you were founder of this\u2014we know there were sleepless nights; and there were nights you didn\u2019t know if God would provide and all those things.<\/p>\n<p>You laid it all on the line. So every time we walk in the studio, we never walk in here, like, \u201cHey, we\u2019ve got a good thing going.\u2019\u201d We think, \u201cThey built something we didn\u2019t build; we are, literally, on their shoulders\u201d; and we are so humbled.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014so grateful.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: That\u2019s so sweet.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: We fall on our face and just thank God for what you did. Our mission statement, when we took over, between ourselves, was: \u201cDon\u2019t mess this up. [Laughter] Just don\u2019t mess this up.\u201d That\u2019s not a very inspiring mission statement.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: We\u2019ve told you this, Dennis; but the very first recording day, we laid on the floor of the studio\u2014and we both were holding hands\u2014laying on our stomachs on the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: We weren\u2019t on our knees; we were on our faces,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014saying, \u201cLord, we don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing. We can\u2019t do this apart from You.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes, sure.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And I know that you guys have felt that, too: \u201cWe can\u2019t do this apart from You.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: But we\u2019re excited about this topic today.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, I got to hear some of your thoughts last year in November about growing older but not becoming old. I had never even heard that term before when you laid that out with about 17 of us in a hunting lodge in South Dakota. I took notes, and I\u2019m not going to look at my notes; I\u2019m just going to say, \u201cTell us about this journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Well, let me add this, too, Dave; because I feel like\u2014as we\u2019re traveling, speaking, talking to couples\u2014as their kids leave, and they\u2019re empty nesters, there\u2019s this loss: loss of identity, loss of purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I\u2019ve had so many couples say, \u201cWe don\u2019t know what we\u2019re doing anymore. What are we supposed to be doing with our lives?\u201d I think today is going to answer that question.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Well, it\u2019s our hope it would. This journey started for us way back in the 1970s when I snuck in a seminary class at Dallas Seminary that Dr. Howard Hendricks taught. He talked about this elderly woman in her 90s; and she would greet him by saying, \u201cWell, Prof, what\u2019s the best five books you\u2019ve read in the last six months?\" He said, \u201cThat woman was more alive than a lot of my students that I have at the seminary.\u201d [Laughter] He made a deposit in my mind. He made a deposit of thinking about: \u201cHow do you go through the process of growing older without becoming old?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: And there\u2019s a big difference.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: There is a big difference; and if you aren\u2019t purposeful about this, it\u2019s going to happen.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Right.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: It absolutely is going to happen.<\/p>\n<p>I had a conversation last week with a friend of mine named Scott. His dad had just died at the age of 90. Scott had gone to his [dad\u2019s] office after the funeral was over, and he just looked around at everything. He found this camo backpack. In [my] phone call with him, he said, \u201cDo you know what I found in that backpack? My dad was 90 when he died, okay?\u201d He said, \u201cTextbooks.\u201d He was taking two college courses.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: What?!<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Taking classes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014in his 90s.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u2014in his 90s. And his mom mowed the lawn for the church they attended, and his dad kept the place up a bunch. He was purposeful all the way to the finish line. This was an executive, who founded one of the major corporations in America\u2014his dad was.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Wow.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: So I thought, \u201cWhat a great image of that backpack.\u201d My friend Scott has that backpack in his office\u2014I haven\u2019t seen it yet\u2014I\u2019m going to go see it, here, in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It\u2019s the image to say: \u201cDon\u2019t quit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I think Barbara is on the track.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: She\u2019s in seminary.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I was going to say that; I\u2019m glad you did.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes, she\u2019s going to be in her 90s, getting her doctorate.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: She better not be. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, he doesn\u2019t want me to go\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I look forward to eating her cooking, again, someday.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, he doesn\u2019t want me to keep going. [Laughing]<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, since we\u2019re talking about this in this state\u2014we\u2019re in Florida\u2014this is, for a lot of people, the dream: \u201cWhen I\u2019m finally done, I can just go there and play pickleball every day,\u201d\u2014which, by the way, I love to play pickleball\u2014but that\u2019s sort of the goal, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: It is.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: You get a little amped up about this, Dennis.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: If that\u2019s your values, this is Nirvana right here. But if you\u2019re about the kingdom\u2019s work\u2014about what God\u2019s up to\u2014which, was it Amy Carmichael, who said, \u201cWe have only a few hours before sunset to win the victories, but all of eternity to celebrate them\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: It\u2019s true.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: She made the statement that it is, in time, that we make deposits for eternity. I think, at the heart of it, is growing\/the concept of growing. We need to be growing when we\u2019re young, younger, middle-aged, and as we move into our 50s, 60s, 70s. We never stop needing to learn, and growing, as we look at the finish line.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes; so how is it for you guys since you retired from FamilyLife? [Laughter] I\u2019m laughing, but have you heard that? Because people walk up to us, in the Detroit area, and say, \u201cHey, so now that you\u2019re retired, how\u2019s life?\u201d I say, \u201cI\u2019m working harder now than I ever worked in my life!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: We need to put our brains together and come up with a better word for retirement, because that\u2019s\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014a new word.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I just say, \u201cIt\u2019s re-tired: I put new tires on, and we\u2019re going. We\u2019re going faster than ever.\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: That\u2019s a good one.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: I like that, too.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Re-tire.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I call it \u201crefirement\u201d; so refiring, heading toward the finish line with fresh fuel\/fresh fire. I think God has an assignment for every living person\u2014I do\u2014you wouldn\u2019t want to miss that. You wouldn\u2019t want to arrive in heaven and find out you missed His calling for your life.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Now, have you slowed down though? You\u2019re doing different things.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Right.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You\u2019re not walking in a building every day; you\u2019re not leading a big, huge organization. Do you feel like you\u2019ve slowed down?<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: No, we haven\u2019t. But I think what you just said is the important ingredient; because I think we tend to think\u2014when we\u2019ve done this main part of our lives, whether it\u2019s raising kids or the main job\u2014then we\u2019re done. I think God\u2019s purpose for us changes. I think it evolves as we grow, and He takes us in new frontiers. You\u2019ve heard about men, who are retired, who work in schools; or women, who are retired, who do different things. I think we just need to expand our vision for what God might have for us in a season that doesn\u2019t include full-time employment in a career. And I think that takes some creativity; I think it takes focus. It\u2019s not going to come in an envelope in the mail, and say, \u201cHere\u2019s your next assignment\u201d; you have to look for it; you have to pray.<\/p>\n<p>You have to think through: \u201cWhat has God equipped me to do?\u201d and \u201cWhere can I use these gifts for the kingdom and for serving the church, the body of Christ?\u201d That may take some time and energy, but He has that for all of us.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Tell us what you would both be feeling, had you really retired\u2014and now, you\u2019re just kind of sitting around, piddling about\u2014what would you feel in your heart, Dennis? Would you be frustrated?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: I think I\u2019d feel purposeless\u2014I think I\u2019d feel like I didn\u2019t have a destination; I didn\u2019t have a mission I was on\u2014something I was about that was worth getting up in the morning for. And I think I\u2019d become lazy. I think there\u2019s a lot of things that could happen.<\/p>\n<p>I have this written down: \u201cHow you live now determines how you will become older later.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: What does that mean?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Well, it means you don\u2019t prepare for becoming older when you\u2019re 60 or 70, although it\u2019s never too late to start.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Right.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: But you get a vision for your life: \u201cHow do I want to finish the race?\u201d Barbara and I want to finish it together. We just celebrated our 51st anniversary. We also celebrate 27 grandkids\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: [Laughter] Congrats!<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u20146 married kids\u2014and so we have all kinds of tensions on us. But I don\u2019t think God designed faith to be without tension. It\u2019s impossible to please God without faith, and I think the nature of life is to give us obstacles and things that we have to confront. We have to decide how we are going to live: \u201cAre we going to walk by faith and trust God?\u2014get to know Him?\u2014and make sure we\u2019re living out His best in the midst of these circumstances? Or are we going to put the gear in neutral and coast?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, I don\u2019t think God ever called us to live in neutral; and I don\u2019t think He designed us to sit back and twiddle our thumbs. The question you asked Dennis; my immediate thought was: \u201cBoredom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: You\u2019d be bored.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Boredom; that\u2019s correct.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: If I didn\u2019t have something to get up and do, I would be bored. Now, I\u2019m the type that\u2019s going to find something to do; because I just don\u2019t like sitting around, so I would find something to do. I just think it\u2019s really super important to be productive, because the natural tendency is to become lazy. The natural tendency is to quit trying, to quit working hard at anything; and that\u2019s just contrary to what God made us to do.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: So Dennis, talk to us: \u201cHow do we grow older and not become old?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014especially, younger.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: There was a little gem that Barbara and I found in the book of John, the last chapter in John. Now, think about it\u2014it\u2019s the last chapter\u2014these are some of Christ\u2019s last words.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara, why don\u2019t you share with our audience what we just discovered in this passage as Jesus had a confrontation with Peter?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes, John 21.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Yes, you know that one, don\u2019t you?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Hang with us on this, because some of the best advice you\u2019ll ever hear comes from the mouth of the Savior about growing older at the end of this passage.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: The background of this passage I think is really cool, because this is after the resurrection. Jesus appears; and then, sometimes, He doesn\u2019t appear. The disciples are out on the boat\u2014they\u2019re doing what they always have done\u2014they\u2019re out there fishing, and they\u2019re not catching anything.<\/p>\n<p>Who knows how long it\u2019s been since they\u2019ve seen Jesus?\u2014if it\u2019s been a couple days or if it\u2019s been a week, but they\u2019re out there fishing. They see this person on land, and they don\u2019t know who it is. He asks them about their catch; and then, they go in [to shore]. He\u2019s made breakfast for them\u2014He has a fire built on the shore, and the flames are growing\u2014and He\u2019s cooking fish. Essentially, He says, \u201cCome have breakfast with Me.\u201d They sit, and they begin to talk.<\/p>\n<p>And then, after they have breakfast, they begin hearing from Jesus; He says: \u201cFeed My sheep,\u201d and \u201cTake care of My sheep.\u201d He has a specific conversation with Peter; and He said to Peter three different times, \u201cSimon, son of John, do you love Me?\u201d and then He says, \u201cFeed My sheep,\u201d and \u201cShepherd My sheep.\u201d And then, at the very end, on the third time, He says, \u201cSimon, son of John, do you love Me?\u201d And Peter was grieved; because He asked him a third time, \u201cDo you love Me?\u201d And Peter said to Jesus, \u201cLord, You know all things; You know that I love You.\u201d And Jesus said to him, \u201cTend my sheep.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And then, Jesus said, \u201cTruly, truly I say to you, when you were younger you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you,\u201d\u2014meaning dress you\u2014\u201cand will bring you where you do not wish to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, think about the definition of getting older. Does that not sound like getting older? You get where you can\u2019t dress yourself; you can\u2019t go where you want to go; and someone else takes you where you don\u2019t want to go. I remember, in my mother\u2019s later years, when her back door neighbor\u2014who was her really good friend\u2014came over one day, and said, \u201cI\u2019m moving.\u201d My mom said, \u201cWhere?\u201d And she said, \u201cMy kids think it\u2019s time for me to move.\u201d They packed her up, and they moved her; and didn\u2019t really even ask her. I didn\u2019t even hardly know the woman\u2014but the heartache that I felt for her\u2014that she was being taken someplace she didn\u2019t want to go. Well, this is what Jesus was talking about.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Before you share the rest of what Jesus said, a friend of mine\u2014Dr. John Hannah, who has a think a double PhD in church history; a brilliant teacher at Dallas Seminary\u2014I was sitting, talking with him one afternoon. He just made a very profound statement about getting older; he said, \u201cAs you get older, your world shrinks; so your options are reduced. Your world gets smaller; how are you going to handle it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: When you said that, Dennis, I thought, \u201cI know;\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014\u201cwe\u2019re there: the world shrinks;\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: It does shrink.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014\"opportunities shrink; everything shrinks. And you don\u2019t like it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: No; no, you don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Right. So now, just brace yourself for Jesus\u2019 words. \u201cHow do you handle this?\u201d\u2014He has two words; listen to this.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Verse 19: \u201cNow Jesus said this signifying by what kind of death he [Peter] would glorify God.\u201d So that\u2019s sort of a parenthetical little statement that John puts in there for readers, like us, to know.<\/p>\n<p>But then, Jesus turned back to Peter. Immediately after He said these declarations about\u2014\u201cYou\u2019re going to be taken where you don\u2019t want to go,\u201d and \u201cSomeone else will gird you,\u201d\u2014\u201cHe said to him, \u2018Follow Me.\u2019\u201d In the context of Jesus\u2019 statement, in verse 17, about getting old\u2014that someone\u2019s going to take you where you don\u2019t want to go, someone\u2019s going to dress you, all of these things are going to happen\u2014\u201cYou still follow Me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And when we realize the context of that\u2014that Jesus was saying, \u201cThis is what\u2019s going to happen to you when you get old; I\u2019m giving you advanced notice. But in the midst of all that, as hard as it\u2019s going to be, keep following Me.\u201d The most important thing we\u2019ve realized, in getting old, is continuing to be a disciple: \u201cDon\u2019t stop being a disciple,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t stop following Jesus,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t stop walking with Him,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t stop confessing your sin,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t get lazy in the Christian life.\u201d I think that\u2019s everybody\u2019s tendency\u2014is to get lazy in the Christian life\u2014we think, \u201cI\u2019ve been there; I\u2019ve done that; I deserve a break.\u201d We don\u2019t deserve a break.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: No, no.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: God has called us to follow Him.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And not just because He\u2019s called us, but it brings us life.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Well, sure; yes.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: When we walk with Him, there\u2019s such fulfillment.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Oh, it\u2019s an adventure.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: And what is a disciple? Do you know the essence of a disciple?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014learner.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u2014learner; that\u2019s exactly right. Now, think about that.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u201cNever stop learning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Jesus is saying, \u201cHow are you going to run your race all the way to the finish line?\u2014keep learning; keep getting to know Me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: \u201cKeep learning\u201d; yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u201cKeep growing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That\u2019s good.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u201cKeep growing.\u201d That\u2019s really the \u201cAha\u201d for all of this with us. It\u2019s kind of like we came in the back door of this, because I didn\u2019t really start out here when I was studying this. I just kept chewing on it, thinking, \u201cHow do we do this thing of not becoming old?\u2014a codger, a gripey, complaining\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Who wants to be around people who are unhappy, and gripey, and miserable, and all of those things? I don\u2019t think that\u2019s what God has for us.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, I think what you said earlier: \u201cIf you\u2019re not intentional, you become old.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barbara: Exactly.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You just become old.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014because there aren\u2019t opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: You\u2019re fighting gravity.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, you\u2019re going to go there. It\u2019s like the Weekend to Remember\u00ae: \u201cYou\u2019re going to drift toward isolation; you have to fight for oneness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m thinking, when you said that earlier\u2014\u201cBe a disciple to the very end,\u201d as you\u2019re reading from John\u2014I thought, \u201cThat\u2019s my mission statement. I don\u2019t want to quit before He calls me. I want to run to the finish line, just like He said, \u2018Follow Me,\u2019 to the very end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: We only have a few minutes left, and you\u2019re full of stories. You both have stories of mentors you have watched do this well, who are inspiring. I\u2019m wondering if you could just close with one of these stories of one of the people you\u2019ve watched grow old well\u2014not growing old\u2014they\u2019ve gotten better. Could you end with one of those great stories?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Dr. Bill Bright was the founder of the organization, Campus Crusade for Christ\u00ae, as you guys know. Bill showed us how to live when he lived; but maybe, some of the greatest lessons he taught were as he was dying of pulmonary fibrosis. If you know anything about this disease, you literally strangle to death\u2014you can\u2019t breathe\u2014the lungs harden up; they don\u2019t do the job of absorbing oxygen into the blood stream.<\/p>\n<p>We did over 6,000 broadcasts when we led this radio ministry. His broadcast is one of the top five\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave and Ann: Really?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: \u2014only months before he died. He was on oxygen; you could hear the machine in the background, occasionally. As he was in the process of dying, do you know what he did? He gave me about 15 to 20 things to do. [Laughter] All of a sudden, I stepped out of the room, took off my mask, and I was outside there, and thought, \u201cWhat did he just do to me? He just delegated all these assignments to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t put my mask back on\u2014I just burst the door open\u2014and I said, \u201cBill Bright, you\u2019re a mess! You just gave me a bunch of stuff to do, and you\u2019re moving on to heaven.\u201d And he threw his hands up in the air, and threw them down on his lap, and just laughed, sitting up, just like, \u201cAttaboy, son; keep going. You\u2019re not done yet, so don\u2019t quit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: So that was in the last weeks of his life?<\/p>\n<p>Dennis: Last weeks of his life; we taped a number of broadcasts that we did with him. Some people teach you how to live; some people teach you how to die; and some people do both. That was a sweet, sweet relationship; because when I went to work for him, it was selfish\u2014I just wanted to be on mission\u2014and he did a great job of talking about the Great Commission and fulfilling God\u2019s purpose for your life. Now, I\u2019ve served on staff for 53 years: no regrets; absolutely, no regrets.<\/p>\n<p>Shelby: I\u2019ve heard so many stories about Dr. Bright over the years, and I\u2019m always in awe of how he finished well. He ran the race well, yes; and he finished well. I hope that that story that Dennis just shared with us is one that makes you think, \u201cI want to finish well, too\u201d; because it certainly makes me feel like that.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Shelby Abbott; and you\u2019ve been listening to Dave and Ann Wilson, with Dennis and Barbara Rainey, on FamilyLife Today. You can hear Dennis Rainey\u2019s interview with<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Bill Bright in his last days of his battle with pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that eventually took his life. You can go to FamilyLifeToday.com in the show notes and find the link there to Dennis Rainey\u2019s conversation with the founder of Cru\u00ae, Dr. Bill Bright.<\/p>\n<p>I hear stories like the ones that have been shared today, and it really just makes me so grateful for the ministry of FamilyLife\u2014that\u2019s been going strong, now, for 40 years\u2014and how God has used it to impact marriages, parenting, families all over the country and all over the world. I hope that you have been impacted by it as well.<\/p>\n<p>This month, the month of August, we are looking to raise $250,000 in new funds by the end of this month. So if you\u2019ve been impacted by FamilyLife, the ministry of FamilyLife Today, or a Weekend to Remember, or any kind of effort by this ministry has helped you\u2014has helped your marriage, has helped you in your parenting, has helped you walk with Jesus even closer\u2014I\u2019d love for you to jump in and partner with us in order to continue to make this ministry one that impacts marriages and families all over the world.<\/p>\n<p>You can do that simply by going online to FamilyLifeToday.com and making a donation there. Or you can give us a call at 800-358-6329 to make your donation. Again, that number is 800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d And thank you so much for being a part of the solution when it comes to this ministry. We are so grateful for you, who support us, and make it possible for us to reach families and communities around the world.<\/p>\n<p>Now, tomorrow, Dennis and Barbara Rainey are back again with the Wilsons to talk about continual devotion to Jesus, and staying active as you get older, really just aging with purpose. That\u2019s coming up tomorrow; we hope you\u2019ll join us. On behalf of Dave and Ann Wilson, I\u2019m Shelby Abbott. We will see you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLife Today is a donor-supported production of FamilyLife\u00ae, a Cru\u00ae Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.<\/p>\n<p>We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?<\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2024 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<p>www.FamilyLife<\/p>\n","theme_header_position":"Sticky","post_header_is_sticky":"default","is_header_overlay":"0"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/286419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47000"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=286419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=286419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=286419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=286419"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=286419"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=286419"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=286419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}