davidbowerkingwood

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Over the years, as I began to get older, the inevitability of age and retirement began to more frequently flick through my thoughts. As I’ve written before in “A Surprising Discovery,” I really had no idea how much age would impact my life and my perceptions of life.

Although “A Surprising Discovery” was written several years ago, the process of discovery has continued and my perceptions continue to change as time passes.

Retirement

I had not made any firm plans for my retirement, I honestly had no idea what I would do with my life after I retired from full-time work. I had worked for over 36 years in the home-building business which is one of those businesses that never stops; there is something going on seven days a week and it is all too easy to let oneself fall into the trap of never stopping.

Sadly, I saw many young men fall into that trap and find themselves pressured by family and friends to give it all up. I began to warn new employees of the necessity of creating a sustainable pace; to not let themselves fall into the trap of constant work!

I was able to remain in the business for 36 years, because I had developed what was for me, a sustainable pace which adequately balanced work with family life.

My tentative plan had been to work until I was 75 but changes in several areas persuaded me to retire when I was only 71. That has been a very good decision and my wife and I have been greatly blessed over these last 16 years.

God’s Unexpected Plan for my Life, Dallas Theological Seminary

Although I had not made any plans for my retirement, it appears God had it all worked out! Two completely unexpected events would bring changes that caught me by complete surprise. I had been forced to drop out of Dallas Theological Seminary because of serious financial reversals as a young man. My failure to graduate had been a continuing source of disappointment all my life.

You can imagine my joy when I received a letter informing me of a new program created by DTS wherein those who had not finished their work would be allowed to return and finish their studies and graduate. I reacted immediately and was later told my application was the first one they received for the new program.

After a delay of 46 years I finally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary. I was finally able to complete what I had started as a young man! At that point, I still had no idea of what I would do with my life; I was teaching a class at church but that was pretty much it.

Around two years after graduating, I had a mild heart attack which required open heart surgery and five by-passes, within a year I had a stroke but now seem to be stabilized with medication. After the passage of another year a second life-changing development would be revealed by the Lord.

Global Media Outreach

In January of 2012, one Sunday morning at church, we heard of an organization devoted to evangelizing the world over the internet. Both my wife and I saw what a perfect fit this would be for me so I volunteered immediately. After a period of training, I was approved as a new online missionary for Global Media Outreach.

Since then I have had the privilege and opportunity to work with people all over the world and provide them help and encouragement in their pursuit of Jesus Christ and a Christ-honoring life. What is really working out well is the fact I can do this from home; my age limitations are not impacting my ability to help others find Christ and grow in their faith.

Yesterday morning, I passed, what is to me, a small milestone; by God’s grace I have now helped over 8,000 people in their search for spiritual truth. I am amazed by God’s grace to an old man; God’s hand of grace and mercy has provided a purpose for life that I had never imagined. I feel so greatly blessed that Jesus Christ has placed me in a position to serve as a vessel he can use.

Global Media Outreach keeps a running record of contacts served; the following came out Friday morning:

Name – David Bower
Username – rdavidbower
People Helped – 8003
Replies Received – 16813
Your Response Rate
This Month – 17%
This Year – 15%
Last Year – 12%

I am truly thankful to our gracious and loving Lord for the opportunity he has given me to serve him!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20