Wrinkled but Not Ruined: Counsel for the Elderly
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Most books that seek to help elderly persons major on sociological or psychological studies. Here is something different! Adams sets forth biblical commands and principles that will help pastors, families, and churches minister to elderly believers in a Godly manner. Adams applies scripture to the problems and opportunities of old age, dealing with the issues before they become problems.
- Applies Scripture to the problems and opportunities of old age
- Addresses the specific challenges of counseling the elderly
- Explores aging as a process of loss
- Preface
- Introduction
- What Is Aging?
- Some Preliminary Considerations
- A Different View of Aging
- Planned Obsolescence
- The Problem of Illness
- Discouragement, Depression and Despair
- Loneliness
- Self-Centeredness
- Anger, Bitterness and Cynicism
- False Expectations
- Planning and Scheduling
- Introspection
- Complaining
- Doctrinal Problems
- The Conclusion of the Matter
Top Highlights
“I suggest that we think of aging as a process of loss.1” (Page 1)
“In addition, there is the loss of companions and friends. The most serious may be the loss of one’s spouse” (Page 4)
“Hope is essential as one looks forward to death. The Christian gladly looks forward to meeting his Lord upon dying. Death, as we said, is far better because for him it means to be with Christ. However, there are false expectations both here and for the future with which counselors must reckon. Let’s look at a few.” (Page 73)
“Those who hold to the instantaneous sanctification doctrine can only despair after a time. After all, in old age there are enough trials (physical and otherwise) to bring out the fact that there is much sin remaining in a believer, and that he has by no means achieved perfection—or even ‘life on a higher plane’ than other Christians. Only if he is blinded to reality, is extremely egotistical, or avoids introspection altogether could he ever conclude that he has reached ‘cloud nine.” (Pages 106–107)
“Christians should grow old dynamically, not statically. If your counselees lie down and play dead, that’s sin. Tell them to get up, run, walk or crawl (if that’s the best they can do), but at all costs keep moving toward the goal (Philippians 3:14). There is a great deal of difference between growing older and growing old! The world is full of good starters who—in the end—turn out to be great disappointments.” (Page 24)