davidbowerkingwood

When I retired, I had absolutely no idea what I would do in my retirement years, no plan of any sort. The changes taking place in my company had opened the door for my graceful departure and I had decided the time had come for me to step aside; what was to be my life after retirement was still something of a mystery to me.

I don’t recall feeling any concern about the post-employment phase of my life and started the gradual process of adjustment which retirement would require of me.

Phase 1 of God’s Plan for my Golden Years

My failure to complete my seminary studies as a young man, had left me with that feeling of something unfinished which we’ve all experienced at one time or another. It was in December of 2008, four years and three months after my retirement, that the Lord would reveal phase 1 of his plan for me. I got a letter from Dallas Theological Seminary announcing a new program to permit students who had done work at seminary but did not graduate to return to school and complete their studies.

I was beside myself with excitement and reacted immediately; this was a wonderful opportunity I could not fail to pursue. Later, as I recall, I was told my application to the new program was the first one they received. By God’s grace, I was able to enroll at DTS to begin my studies the very next semester which started in January of 2009 and was able to graduate in May of that year, walk across the stage, and receive my diploma from Dr. Mark Bailey, President of Dallas Theological Seminary.

A Happy and Long-awaited Moment!

Wow, the burr under my saddle that had pestered me for 46 years was finally gone!

Phase 2 of God’s Plan for my Golden Years

In July of 2011, my wife suggested I write a blog; my initial reaction was negative as I protested, I was no writer. As wives are known to do, she did not let the matter drop and eventually she prevailed and I decided it might not be such a bad idea. I had recently been doing a small amount of genealogical research and had experienced some regret that I had never had the opportunity to discuss any deeper subjects with my father, or either of my grandfathers.

It occurred to me the blog could be one way of leaving a record of my thoughts on the deeper matters of life and spirituality for my children and grandchildren, etc. That way, they would never have to wonder what I thought about the deeper things of life.

To my surprise, it turned out I sort of enjoyed writing after all and have now published 426 essays over a period of almost 9 years. Generally, I try to publish one essay a week as the Lord moves me. At least my descendants will not have to wonder what I thought about the deeper things of life.

Phase 3 of God’s Plan for my Golden Years

In January of 2012, I saw a video, at church, about an organization that was seeking volunteers, Global Media Outreach. It was an online missionary program that one could participate in from home using a computer. Being a computer enthusiast, that seemed like a natural for me to follow up on. I sent in an application, was accepted and then took a training course for new applicants; on February 8th of 2012 I was accepted into Global Media Outreach as an “Online Missionary;”this Saturday, February 8th of 2020, will be my eighth anniversary as an online missionary with GMO.

Since then, I have devoted several hours each day to working with people all over the world and found it a great blessing! Recently I got an email from GMO requesting all online missionaries update, as needed, their personal information as GMO was getting ready to initiate a new operating program and wanted the information transferred to the new program to be as accurate as possible.

While checking that out, I re-discovered some data that had been accumulated by GMO on the work I had been doing for them; they regularly update the information based on our activity in the recent past. I thought it was interesting and decided to share it with my readers in the hopes of encouraging someone to join in the efforts at GMO.

Following is a world map showing the countries where I have worked with a total of 4,357 individuals and gotten 14,034 replies as of 2/6/2020.

Impact Map for David Bower

A Golden Opportunity for You!

I feel so blessed the Lord is using me in a productive way and encourage you to join me in this effort. You can set your own pace and spend as much time or as little time as your schedule permits. The only thing GMO asks is to abide by their rules and try and respond to seekers within 24 hours. For you this can vary from a few minutes a day to several hours a day depending on how the Lord moves you.

If you would like to check this opportunity out, here is the website where you can do just that: Global Media Outreach.

I would like to think GMO could offer you a “Golden Opportunity” for whichever phase of life you presently enjoy! May the Lord bless your “Golden Years” as he has blessed mine!

Looking Back

You’ve heard the expression or something equivalent, “the blinding glare of hindsight.” When looking back over our lives, we can see certain patterns with much greater clarity and definition. As I look back over mine, I can see the hand of the Lord dealing with me in loving grace and mercy. The promise God has made to each of us in Proverbs 3:5-6 becomes so real to me as I apply it to my life.

Many of the most significant events in my life were unexpected and unplanned; the Lord was working out his plan for my life and I had no idea what was coming. I have learned to make peace with that; accepting both the good and the bad as a manifestation of his gracious direction of my life. I think often on Paul’s statement in Philippians 4:11-13 where it is written:

¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

While I, admittedly, am still learning, I’ve made great progress. My prayer for you is to rejoice in the Lord as his plan for your life unfolds before you!