Rejoicing in Retirement
By Bill Perry and Cindy Perry
()
About this ebook
This is a story about the differences between the world’s view of retirement and God’s view of retirement. For example, the world says store up your treasures for yourself, but the Bible says be a cheerful giver. The world says just take care of number one, but the Bible asks you to be a caregiver for others. The world says when you retire it’s time for fun and travel, but the Bible asks you to use your extra time in retirement for service to the Lord.
I’m sure that when God created Adam and Eve he expected them to live their entire lives in the Garden of Eden. However, they broke the only rule they were asked to follow and were put out into the world to tend the soil and produce children. The Bible tells the story of how God tried to convert future Adams and Eves to live in perfect submission to him, but it didn’t work out the way God hoped it would. The Old Testament is a story of God trying to control disobedience to him, by flood, judges, kings, and prophets. In the New Testament, God introduced a role model for people—Jesus. Revelation explains what will happen if man fails to follow God’s will on earth, but instead follows his own will.
The story of the Bible is repeated in the lives of people as they mature. In early childhood they do as Adam and Eve did, rebelling from control with a severe case of self-centeredness. As people mature, parents, colleagues, bosses, family, and culture cause them to accept responsibility for their own life. God never gives up on his people and slowly matures them through their experiences of successes and failures plus the written word of God. As an old song proclaims, God is the potter and we are the clay.
During this maturation process people build a foundation which will guide them through retirement. Jesus the great builder tells this story of two builders. One builder uses the world’s blueprint for retirement by taking the easy road and builds his foundation on sinking sand. The other builder uses God’s blueprint to build his foundation on “the rock” which is Jesus, and with that foundation all things become possible.
Many retired or soon-to-be-retired Christians search for what they should do during retirement. If as a retired Christian you believe what Jesus said—I am the vine and you are the branches—then the Bible says the sweetest fruit can be on the retirement branches. Trust God and let Jesus lead you through that time in your life that God has set aside for you to do great things.
Bill Perry
Cindy married Bill Perry over 50 years ago and together they are lifetime Christians who are now rejoicing in retirement God’s way. Bill has written over 50 books including several for Christian children including “What Does God Look Like?” He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. Cindy was a professional volunteer until she and Bill started a very successful business in IT quality. They sold the business after 30 years and retired. Both are lifetime philanthropists. The gift they are most proud of is a twelve-room pavilion attached to the Dr. Phillips Hospital in Orlando. The Perry Pavilion is a place for out of town visitors to stay while their loved one is in the hospital. Bill and Cindy are members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Windermere.Bill and Cindy are currently developing additional products to empower Christians to build a more meaningful life based on God’s way versus the world’s way. These products will include a self-study course and a disciple-led course based on their book. In addition, there will be articles, video clips and other resources available on the lives of Christians retiring God’s way. For more information visit: RETIREMENTGODSWAY.ORG
Related to Rejoicing in Retirement
Related ebooks
How to Finish the Christian Life: Following Jesus in the Second Half Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Your Next Thirty Days of Relationships Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLifetime Guarantee Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5All In Student Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Catholic Guide to Spending Less and Living More: Advice from a Debt-Free Family of 16 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Good Book: 40 Chapters That Reveal the Bible's Biggest Ideas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGuard Your Heart: Hearing God to Master the Nine Issues of Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBelieve Kids' Edition: Think, Act, Be Like Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlive to God - Good Advice on Sex, Dating and Discipleship for Young Christians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIt Starts at Home: A Practical Guide to Nurturing Lifelong Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGod Loves Your Work: Discover Why He Sends You to Do What You Do Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God's Purpose for the Next Season of Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Before You Live Together Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finishing Well: A God's-eye view of ageing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJoyfully Single in a Couples’ World: Knowing Contentment, Peace, and Fulfillment—Now Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIs Your Home A Jesus Home? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChoosing the Extraordinary Life: God's 7 Secrets for Success and Significance Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Faith at Home: A Handbook for Cautiously Christian Parents Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScrap Paper Reflections Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdult Bible Studies Summer 2024 Student Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGod, Who Are You Anyway?: I Am Bigger than You Think Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLiving in Anticipation of the End-Time: The Conflict between Good and Evil Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll Things in Common Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Truth Is Better: God Is Ready to Square with His People-The Bible Is Pretending Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChristian Family Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYou Have the Power to Change Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSoft Cake Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStart Here...: The Beginning Point for Starting a Daily Devotional Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Christianity For You
Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories We Tell: Every Piece of Your Story Matters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Less Fret, More Faith: An 11-Week Action Plan to Overcome Anxiety Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5NIV, Holy Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Rejoicing in Retirement
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Rejoicing in Retirement - Bill Perry
ReJoicing in Retirement
Bill and Cindy Perry
FOR MORE IDEAS ON RETIRING GOD'S WAY, VISIT
www.retirementgodsway.org
ReJoicing in Retirement
Copyright 2015 William E. Perry
Published by EA Books, Inc. at Smashwords
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from The Living Bible copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc. All rights reserved.
Scriptures marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptures marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-941733-30-1
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Praise for ReJoicing in Retirement
Christian retirees are in the envious position of being able to provide exceptional service to the Lord. Their capabilities have been tested over many decades; they have experienced both failures and successes; they have developed an effective leadership capability; they have built longtime relationships and know the value and need for risk taking. Now they are in a position to give back to their community for the blessings they have received over a lifetime.
Dr. D Michael Lindsay,
President of Gordon College,
Author of View From The Top
You have lots of good sage counsel—these pages, and your lives have reflected what you have written. I congratulate you for an excellent writing style—you are succinct, readable, and your sense of humor and ability to turn a phrase is attention getting.
Dr. Jim Henry,
Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church Orlando,
Past President, Southern Baptist Convention
There are many books written about the financial aspects of retirement; however, this book focuses on what Christians should actually do as they navigate the retirement years. Through an artful parable style, Bill Perry has explored this topic from a biblical perspective and has revealed God’s plan for retirement and the special blessing that awaits those who retire God’s way. I highly recommend this book to those in retirement years, but perhaps more importantly, to Christians who have not yet planned for retirement.
Mark Goldstein, President
Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce
Table of Contents
Introduction - Retirement Is That Time in Life God Has Set Aside for You to Do Great Things
Chapter One - Why the Bible Is the Best Book Ever Written on Retirement
Chapter Two - How Is Retirement Defined in the Bible?
Chapter Three - What Does the Bible Say Should Be in Our Retirement Plan?
Chapter Four - When Does the Bible Say We Should Retire?
Chapter Five - What Activities Has God Reserved for Retired Christians?
Chapter Six - Shifting Gears for Your Retirement Years
Chapter Seven - Managing the Money Entrusted to You by God
Chapter Eight - Using Your Retirement Time Effectively
Chapter Nine -Acquiring an Encore Career
Chapter Ten - Healing Troubled Relationships
Chapter Eleven -Actively Blessing Others
Chapter Twelve -Compassionate Caregiving
Chapter Thirteen -Documenting Your Legacy: How You Will Be Remembered
Chapter Fourteen -Distributing Your Treasure
Chapter Fifteen -Learning How to Grow Old with Joy
Chapter Sixteen -Who Is Gabriel?
What Are Cindy and Bill Doing During Their Retirement?
Acknowledgements
Copyright
Endorsements
INTRODUCTION
Retirement Is That Time in Life God Has Set Aside for You to Do Great Things
This is a story about the differences between the world’s view of retirement and God’s view of retirement. For example, the world says store up your treasures for yourself, but the Bible says be a cheerful giver. The world says just take care of number one, but the Bible asks you to be a caregiver for others. The world says when you retire it’s time for fun and travel, but the Bible asks you to use your extra time in retirement for service to the Lord.
I’m sure that when God created Adam and Eve he expected them to live their entire lives in the Garden of Eden. However, they broke the only rule they were asked to follow and were put out into the world to tend the soil and produce children. The Bible tells the story of how God tried to convert future Adams and Eves to live in perfect submission to him, but it didn’t work out the way God hoped it would. The Old Testament is a story of God trying to control disobedience to him, by flood, judges, kings, and prophets. In the New Testament, God introduced a role model for people—Jesus. Revelation explains what will happen if man fails to follow God’s will on earth, but instead follows his own will.
The story of the Bible is repeated in the lives of people as they mature. In early childhood they do as Adam and Eve did, rebelling from control with a severe case of self-centeredness. As people mature, parents, colleagues, bosses, family, and culture cause them to accept responsibility for their own life. God never gives up on his people and slowly matures them through their experiences of successes and failures plus the written word of God. As an old song proclaims, God is the potter and we are the clay.
During this maturation process people build a foundation which will guide them through retirement. Jesus the great builder tells this story of two builders. One builder uses the world’s blueprint for retirement by taking the easy road and builds his foundation on sinking sand. The other builder uses God’s blueprint to build his foundation on the rock
which is Jesus, and with that foundation all things become possible.
Many retired or soon-to-be-retired Christians search for what they should do during retirement. If as a retired Christian you believe what Jesus said—I am the vine and you are the branches—then the Bible says the sweetest fruit can be on the retirement branches. Trust God and let Jesus lead you through that time in your life that God has set aside for you to do great things.
Chapter One
Why the Bible is the Best Book Ever Written on Retirement
"I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance" (Ephesians 1:18 NLT).
I’m only a few months from retirement, and I’m still not sure what I’m going to do in those years.
Bill sank into his favorite chair next to his wife. The Bible tells me God has a plan for me, and since retirement will be a large segment of my life, that plan must include my years as a retiree. My uncertainty would end if God would just e-mail me a copy of my plan.
Cindy flipped a page of the book she was reading. It’s not going to happen, Bill. None of our retired friends ever received a retirement plan from God.
She lowered the book to her lap and looked at him. You know, we have enough money to retire, and I don’t hear our friends whining about having nothing to do. Have you forgotten Monday is not the first day of the week? Sunday is. God set aside that day for rest and reflection. So let’s pretend each day until your retirement is Sunday, and use that time to figure out what you’re going to do on your first Monday.
Bill mulled that over.
In the silence, Cindy continued. Somebody must have figured out what a world-class retirement should be like. Let’s begin by talking to some of our closest friends, and piggyback on their experiences. We know a lot about what they’re doing. What we don’t know is why they’re doing it.
A light bulb clicked on in Bill’s brain. Let’s do it. Tell you what I think we should do—let’s split up and each talk to two or three friends. Then on Saturday morning we can discuss what we learned. Then perhaps we can work out our retirement plan.
We already have a retirement financial plan,
Cindy said. What you want is a retirement action plan.
Exactly!
***
On Saturday morning, Bill and Cindy sat down at their kitchen table with their notes and a pot of coffee. Bill poured himself a big cup. I talked with Paul and Ruth, and I think we agree they’re obsessed with money. I learned why. It’s because they don’t want to ever be a burden to their children.
He glanced at the next item on his list. "Since I play golf with Noah, I know golf is his life, but he never seems to want to do anything for anybody. This bothered me until he told me that