Some of you probably recognize these words as from the Bible. It is James 1:2-4.  It says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  At your first glance, you may think this does not make good sense.  Why should I be happy or consider something joyful that may be difficult or even painful in my life?  There is a common philosophy that seems to be going through the church that says, “God wants me happy.”  I do not agree with this, but I do know the Lord promises us joy.  The Lord is working in our lives to bring about a maturity of faith and character.  I think we all concur we learn more in tough times than we do in smooth sailing.  Please let me take one moment to discuss a very strong belief of mine.  I do not believe that God hurts us to teach us a lesson. If God was a man, He would be arrested and jailed for child abuse if He did some of the things that people accuse Him of doing.  So I want to be very emphatic--I do not believe that God hurts or abuses us to teach us a lesson.  We are His children.  The reason James tells us to count it all joy is because he wants us to look at the situation from a different perspective.  To be exact, it is God’s perspective.  God cares about us enough that He is alright with us going through some troubles to make us stronger, more mature believers.  Most of us could use a little more patience.  God is trying to develop patience in your life, so we will stand believing for His blessings even when things do not go as planned.  If you are presently in a difficult situation, don’t give up on your faith.  Instead, try looking at it from God’s perspective and believe for His favor in your life.  Paul said, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  Let us meet our challenges with faith in the goodness, grace and all powerful ability of our Creator. 

I have been the Director of this Senior Center for almost eighteen years.  I have learned one thing for sure.  Aging is not for sissies.  Older adults are tough people and they have to be.  Life certainly can be hard on our elderly.  They deal with sickness, death of friends, loss of agility, money constraints, and many other things including their own mortality. Yet, they do this with great courage.  So maybe I am preaching to the choir, but I think all of us need encouragement from time to time.  In your troubles, don’t walk away from your faith, only believe.  And when God does something great for you, please share it with me.

Blessings,

Eric

 

 
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Well, it appears summer has arrived.  For the most part, I am glad to see it.  I don’t particularly care for hot weather, but I do love the sunshine.  As many of you know, I had a busy spring.  Besides working two jobs, I catered a meal for 100 people, we had the grand opening of our new church building, my wife turned 50 years old, please don’t tell her I mentioned this, and my middle son got married.  Wow!  I really did not know if I could pull it off but somehow we managed to get everything done.  I believe there is wisdom in Psalms 37 to bless our lives.   The verses begin by saying, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity”.  In other words, don’t get upset when you see the unrighteous doing well, because it is short lived.  We all want to prosper and have peace but we want it to be long lasting, not fleeting.  Therefore, we want to be men and women of integrity.  So let’s discuss these four qualities that should be normal lifestyle attitudes for each of us.

The first command is to “trust in the Lord.”  This seems so easy, yet it is so difficult to master.  I am one that tries to figure everything out for myself, especially concerning problems.  Trust is a confident reliance on the integrity, veracity, or justice of another, and in this case the Lord.  I should have total confidence that the Lord is protecting and providing for me, because He loves me.  So this summer, I’m going to try to trust more in the Lord and not myself.

Delight yourself in the Lord.   We have a large number of people in this part of the country that are religious.  However, are they “delighting themselves in the Lord or fulfilling a religious duty”?  Is there real intimacy with Him and do they enjoy being in God’s presence?  Do you still have a quiet time with the Lord, where you pray and read the Word?  I would encourage you to try this and you will see the benefit.

Commit your way to the Lord.  Commit is similar to the definition of trust, but may go a little deeper.  It says to devote, pledge, or to consign.  Again, this is more than merely being religious.  He is asking us to commit to Him.  What does the Lord want us to commit?  Let me answer that by asking another question.  What doesn’t the Lord want us to commit to Him?  Everything can be trusted to the Lord.  To me, it means I need to seek God’s wisdom before I start my daily activities.

The last command the Lord tells us to do is to “Rest in the Lord.”  This doesn’t mean one can sleep in church.  The scripture actually says not to fret and cease from anger.  Are there things cluttering your mind like anger, bitterness or unforgiveness?  Do you realize how destructive these qualities are to you?  Decide today to forgive and walk in peace with both God and man.  I fully believe that if we will do these things, “trust, delight, commit and rest”, we will have a “blessed summer”.  
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As you get older, your risk for type 2 diabetes increases. You're also at higher risk if you have a family history of diabetes; but you're never too old to lower your diabetes risk. Studies have shown that modest weight loss through healthy eating and increased physical activity is highly effective in preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes in people over age 60.

Getting Started: How to Get Moving
Physical activity can improve your strength, flexibility, and balance. Start by setting small goals for yourself, like: "I will walk for 10 minutes, three days this week." Add a little more activity each day until you reach at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Ask your health care provider which activities are safe for you. Before any physical activity, be sure to warm up for a few minutes to get your body ready. Try shrugging your shoulders, tapping your toes, swinging your arms, or just move in place.

Five Ways to Be More Physically Active
There are many types of physical activity you can do at little or not cost, such as walking or doing chair exercises. Find an activity you can enjoy. This will make it easier to stick to your schedule and reach your goals. Try these simple suggestions:
Around the house: Things that you do every day are an opportunity to be more active. Stand up from a chair and sit down again without using your hands or rise up and down on your toes while standing and hold onto a stable chair or countertop. Try putting away the TV remote and get up to change the channel. You can also walk around the house when you talk on the phone or check out a fitness video from your local library and follow along.
Around Town: Becoming more active can also be a great way to meet friends. Try joining a local walking group. Always walk in safe places such as a shopping mall, museum, or a community center, and make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
While Running Errands: Make physical activity part of your regular routine. Park the car farther away from stores or restaurants. If you take the bus or train--and the neighborhood is safe--get off a stop earlier and walk the rest of the way. Go for a brisk walk between errands.
With Your Family: Getting your family involved can make physical activity more fun. Teach the younger people in your life the dances you enjoy. You can even plan a trip to the local pool and go for a swim together. Moving around in the water is a great activity that is gentle on your joints.
Get Outside: When you can, take your physical activity outside. Simple activities such as planting a gardern or washing your car are great ways to get more active. You can also walk with friends or family at the local zoo, nature park, or outdoor walking path.

This message has been brought to you by the National Diabetes Education Program. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Diabetes Education Program is jointly sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the support of more than 200 partner organizations.
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When my boys were much younger, they played park league baseball. I have an abundance of good memories of those years and met many nice people during the games. Actually, I met Teri & Steve Cobb and Mayor Hudspeth at the baseball park. Park league was fun, but at the end of the year all the coaches would vote on the outstanding young ballplayers and come up with an "All-Star League". It was "the best of the best" and so much fun. The children enjoyed it even more than regular season, because the level of competition increased.

Well, around here we have our own "All-Star League". It is our volunteers. According to the dictionary, a volunteer is "One who enters into any service of his own free will; who takes title under a deed made without valuable consideration." To me, a volunteer is someone who believes in and loves the agency and the people they serve. For some reason, we tend to down play the value of people who donate their services and respect those who are paid. I honestly believe this is a backward value. Volunteers serve not because they are paid to do so, but because they believe in the mission. Are their services important? They are absolutely invaluable.

Think about this statement before you dismiss it. Jesus could have never accomplished His work without the help of His volunteer disciples. Sure, I know He could have supernaturally done something, but in the natural realm He was dependent upon His disciples. He needed them to continue the work after He was gone. Jesus placed the responsibility of His ministry on volunteers. Were they expert ministers? Hardly, but they did have passion about the mission.

Our volunteers are priceless jewels to this agency. There is no way we could accomplish the things we do without their help. I don't want to elevate one help over theother, but thank God we have women who decorate our center, people who help in the office, some who help deliver Meals on Wheels, aerobics instructors, and a Board of Directors--just to name a few. It suffices me to say "God bless you for your efforts". They truly are the "All-Star Team" around here. Volunteers, if you can possibly come to the Volunteer Banquet, we would like to honor you. Wear your favorite baseball jersey if you have one.

Blessings, Eric Kelleher
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In 1968, Jim Wilson, owner and editor of the Murray Ledger and Times, approached the Murray Women’s Club with the idea of starting an organization which would offer services of various importance to the elderly residents of Calloway County.  After discussing the plausibility and need for such an agency, the plans for the Murray Calloway County Senior Citizens agency were drawn up.

The  agency began operation in June 1972 and was originally funded by a grant under Title III of the Older American’s Act of 1965.  This grant has been renewed in succeeding years.  The current Title III grant is administered by the Purchase Area Development District and Vicki Williams is the Aging Planner for the Purchase area.

In January 1975, the organization entered into a program administration contract with the Bureau for Social Services, Department for Human Resources.  This contract was for the provision of services funded under Title VI of the Social Security Act.  October 1, 1975 Title VI was replaced with Title XX.  Also, in January 1975, the Murray Calloway County Senior Citizens was incorporated as a private non-profit corporation.  In both employee and client relations, the agency complies with all civic rights laws. 

The general overall purpose of the agency is to provide services to senior citizens in order to help prevent institutionalization and help the individuals live self-sufficiently in their own homes.

The Senior Citizens Board is the decision-making body and it is composed of representatives from the community and closely related organizations.  The Executive Director is employed full-time and has the responsibility of supervising all other employees and volunteers.

In the beginning, the Senior Citizen’s office was housed in various locations with the greatest amount of time spent inside St. John’s Episcopal Church.  It had several satellite sites.  Some sites were the Douglas, Ellis, Hazel, and Dexter centers.  There were area directors in charge of providing services to their prospective part of the county.  In 1991, the office and senior center were located together in the Weaks Community Center.  Also, the Hazel Center was still in operation.  Late 1999, the Hazel Center was closed due to low attendance.  December 5, 2000 the Weaks Community Center building was destroyed by fire.  The Senior Center moved to 1st Methodist Church for three days, Woodmen of the World for six months, then to St. Leo’s Catholic Church for two years.  In May 2003, we returned to the new and improved Weaks Community Center.

 Here is a list of the directors since inception.  The dates that they served are approximate.  

Verona Grogan        1972 to 1975

Alan Blaustine          1975 to 1977

Tripp Thurman          1978 to 1985

Jacqueline Conley    1985 to 1991            

Verona Grogan         1991 to 1992            

Eric Kelleher             1992 to 1997

Randy Smith             1997 to 1999            

Eric Kelleher             1999 to present*      
*Voted Senior Center of the Year in 2001
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  I think everyone wants to view themselves as a winner.  Then I guess we have to ask ourselves the question, “What is my definition of winning?”  I’ve heard it said that, “He that has the most toys at the end wins.”  Is life really about amassing money or things?  To me, there is very little value to this philosophy.  So how would you define winning?  The Bible has a great deal to say about winning.  It actually says that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us and that we can do all things in Jesus Christ.  The following statement is made about Jesus as He was maturing.  The Bible says that, “Jesus grew in stature with both God and man.”  I find this statement fascinating.  To be a winner is to achieve both spiritually and physically.  I also believe there is a definite priority to life.  If I put spiritual things first, then I have the right mindset to work on the other important areas in my life.  One of my favorite verses is Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.”  So seeking God is the priority and may be the secret of success in all areas of life.  Could it really be that simple?  Obviously we have to be attentive to all areas of life, but when our priorities are right, then we have the right to have the supernatural wisdom of God as a resource for our natural lives.   I don’t know about you, but I have found that I need his direction for my life.  It seems the Lord wants to help us in everyday life.  How can we possibly love our spouses, rear our children, find the right career, make good financial decisions, and love our neighbor as ourselves without His help?  He cares and will lead us when we are in right relationship with Him.

John D. Rockefeller said, “The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”  I love this quote and see the wisdom in it.  Most things that we do would not be considered “Rocket Science.”  So I guess Mr. Rockefeller is saying to pay attention to the mundane tasks of life and do them well.  If we are attentive to these, we will add the same care to the more important details of life.

So, here is my philosophy to winning in twenty ten.  Make your number one priority to seek the Lord.  Form a deep relationship with Jesus.  Secondly, ask Him for the wisdom to live life successfully.  The last thing is to apply yourself wholeheartedly.  Anything worth doing is worth doing right, so give everything you have even to the small mundane tasks.

Blessings,   Eric Kelleher
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Looking Ahead 01/18/2010
 
 
Can you believe that we have just started another new year? How quickly they seem to go. The year 2009 will live in most of our memories because of the way it started. Of course, I'm speaking of the ice storm. I have never been more impressed with Murray/Calloway County as I was during the ice storm. It seems like Calloway County rose to the occasion to serve each other. There were many individuals and organizations that did a splendid job of serving. However, what I noticed is almost everyone did their part to contribute to the success of a serious situation. It may sound a little silly but I thank God for the opportunity of living through the 2009 ice storm. I would add though, I hope never to have that opportunity again.

So I wonder what 2010 has in store for us. Will I get rich or famous, or do something great like win the Nobel Peace Prize? I think not. I would dare say that it will hold some challenging times, some good times, some joyful times and probably times that we never want to repeat. I trust that whatever 2010 has in store for us, the Lord will carry each of us through and we will be more mature Christians on the other side. I love the words the old song writer Horatio G. Spafford penned: "Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." The Lord has called each of us to walk by faith and not by sight. We have to trust that He is Lord in ALL times and in ALL times we are to give thanks. He never said that "Life is easy" but He did say "His grace is sufficient."

Micah 6:8 is a verse that means a great deal to me. It is one of those verses that helps to steer my life. It says, "He has shown  you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." The part of this verse that ministers to me is that He tells us two things to do that deals with people and only one that deals with God. To do justly and to love mercy has to do with my fellow man. I need to do what is right and to desire good things for others. God bless you in 2010. My prayer is that you walk in health, laugh with your friends and family and have enough resources that you can help others along the way.

Blessings, Eric Kelleher
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Hello and welcome to our new Murray Senior Citizens Web site. We're very excited to have it, particularly so we can put our monthly meal menu online. We serve a nutritious, hot lunch Mon.-Fri. at 11:30.
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