When you turn 65 your friends say things like, “Do you still have the fire in the belly?” and, of course, the response is “Yes, but it’s probably Mexican food.”  Others send you books on fanning the flames of marriage because the fastest growing divorce rate is for couples in their 60’s. AARP has turned up the heat on supplemental insurance and the financial advisors are preparing me for cutting back and dialing down.  Fires go out for one reason or another. It doesn’t matter what age you are.  Either through neglect or exhaustion or a host of other reasons the fire fades. Oftentimes we simply run out of reasons to expend the energy it takes to keep the fire going.  In 2 Timothy, Paul’s admonition to Timothy is to keep the special gift ablaze. To stir it up and not let the fire die.  The Message says it this way: “God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.”

People ask if we have a theme for the conferences.  No, we don’t.  But we do have a purpose and that is to stir up the gift and stir up the giver as well.  People often assume having the gift of giving means you are always enthusiastic and engaged about giving.  It’s not true, is it?  For all of us there are times when we are going through the motions or frustrated and disappointed or so inundated with requests and commitments that our enthusiasm lags.  We tire of being cultivated and ministered to and being invited to special events.  We know we shouldn’t and we fight it but we grow weary of doing good.  While the fire doesn’t go out it dwindles.  That is why we look forward to being together like this.  It stirs up the flame of our gift and gives us the encouragement we all need.  If you are new to The Gathering (and many of you are) we welcome you to a place you can renew the flame and stir up the gift.

Not only does the gift need rousing but the giver as well.  We all need to be stretched and challenged.  We get settled in our thinking or spend all our time with people who think just like us – or say they do.  This year we have intentionally included some classes and resources that are going to challenge some of us. I expect to hear some people leaving classes saying, “I never thought about it that way before.”   We are going to address some issues we have not in the past because we know they are important. We’re not being provocative or looking to incite any controversy.  I might have done that before I turned a respectable 65.  No, we come here to connect and be encouraged but we also come to learn and to grow.

Right from the start, I hope we will think about Paul’s words to Timothy and be especially mindful of these three words while we are here.  God wants us to be bold with our giving.  He wants us to be creative and try new things that entail some risk.  You’ll meet some resource people here this week-end who are doing bold ministry but I hope you will also meet your peers who are doing bold things in their giving. People like Henry Kaestner, the Green family and the Lujans.  Not everything is going to be a success but they are stretching themselves intentionally.

God also wants us to be loving in our giving. Sometimes our boldness overshadows this and we get swept up with being ahead of the curve and lose our connections with people.  We are so anxious to solve big problems with big solutions that we unknowingly reduce people to statistics.  Be open to those unpredictable moments when something may not be measurable or bold but it is born in the heart of God.  David Weekley and I had similar experiences this year in which we were surprised by our susceptibility to an inexplicable desire to respond to the needs of children. That was out of character for both of us but we followed that prompting and are grateful for it.

Finally, Paul encourages Timothy to be sensible and to train himself to use his gift well. We have people here who have spent a lifetime in the discipline of giving. Tim and Janet Johnson, Bill and Jeanie Haas, Jack and Marcia Modesett are just a few.  If you find yourself sitting next to them, take advantage of that.  That’s great counsel from Paul for all of us. It’s also one of the chief benefits of The Gathering.  We learn how to use our gift responsibly and to grow in our use of it for God’s glory.

May I add one more thing for those of us who are older?  Paul never forgets to remind Timothy of the importance of the elders laying hands on him and ordaining him to this work.  Be encouraged by how many young men and women are here this week-end and how much it means for you who are older with the advantage of experience and perspective to put your hand on their shoulder and encourage them.  I mean that literally.  Take them by the arm or put your arm around them or just grab their hand.  They are our legacy and our extended family.  Let’s do our part in helping them stir up the gift to be bold, loving and sensible.

Welcome to all of you – young and old.  You are here for a reason and a purpose.