Sitting on a plane amidst youthful boarder boys, and distinguished businessmen, all engaged in the latest technological entertainment or restoring their sleep deprived lives. Here I sit feeling a bit outdated with printed materials, such as an Economist focused on 2011, a Jewish magazine arguing about the relevance of the 10 Commandments today and my Bible. I am pondering deeply what I have just read from world experts about the times in which we are in, placing more emphasis on the statistical facts given, and am left wondering? It seems somewhat dismal for this generation arising.

 As we prepare to take the baton from the baby boomers, are we ready? Are they ready to pass it? ??? There is talk of this being a year of hope and yet already they aren’t sure in month 3 if this will be possible? There seems to be a huge SHIFT taking place in so many arenas, from paper to fully digital, from America to China to India, from surpluses to enormous debts, from a roller coaster stock market, fearful investors, foreclosed big houses, empty big box stores and malls, bankruptcies. What if California declares bankruptcy as a state???

It seems we are somewhat hanging by a string and yet this is not even accounting for extra costs if a natural disaster sweeps over us, war breaks out, Iran launches a nuclear bomb, or a cyber terrorist hacks the web, and the entire internet including governments lose communication….. Where is our hope? Really? Where are our hearts? For both of our generations?? We BOTH need to own this SHIFT.

Are our elders hording and spending their inheritance living for today and pouring it into health and youthful looks? And are we reaching to the older generation asking for their help, and the wisdom and insight to help us? Or are we simply thinking we are little gods that don’t need anyone’s help or instruction because we KNOW it all. If it breaks we can buy a new one. At this rate we will be fortunate to be able to afford anything by the time we are done paying off school debts, car loans, family debts, and increased costs of living, assuming we get a good job??

I am overwhelmed as I read this. Simply wondering. Then I put it all away and grab my worship music and my Bible. I turn my head downward and literally begin to pray and ask the Master of the economy what He shall say. My desire is to know HIS thoughts. Where are we, and what shall my desire and stance be on this SHIFT?

As a teacher and a communicator to mediate both generations it is my single desire to please my LORD by getting it right. I can see at this point the company around me is somewhat taken aback at the holy bubble I have chosen to enter, and yet ask me if I care? He takes me to Psalm 71. I read it 3 times and meditate on it with increasing revelation He shows me so much. In desperation, the Psalmist calls to God to save him and deliver him from all that is going on and that shame would not fall on him. I feel too there is an unseen flood arising and that many will begin to turn on authentic sold out Christ followers. Not free lukewarm faith flyers but true disciples. The time is upon us in which, Bibles, 10 commandments, etc. are being pulled from Constitutions, schools, courts, and easily forgotten. Interestingly, the King James Bible is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year. What an anniversary for you, “O Word of God”? “Forgive us Lord,” and yet…. The psalmist then reflects on how God has been His God since youth and given him confidence.

Many of our baby boomers have grown up knowing the powerful word of God. They know how to pray. They founded and declared freedom and independence handed down on godly principles for North America. The psalm talks then of how they conspire against God. Saying He has forsaken them. I feel as a younger generation we are doing this, as we dismiss their God fearing ways, hymns, dutiful prayers, scripture memorization, etc…. And yet the psalmist declares all of this (almost mirroring the sighing prayers of the elders that are ahead of us) as a SHIFT in verse 14. A BIG SHIFT that declares, “BUT as for me, I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more.” I have this picture of preaching this to our Classic Senior Service and encouraging them too to TAKE ON this SHIFT. Not to shy away or bury their heads. Imagine if they began to rise up no matter how feeble (v 9) and declare, “Yes LORD these are the facts of what is happening today… BUT as for ME, I WILL ALWAYS HAVE HOPE!” Always!” Just as the psalmist declares … “I can only be responsible for my heart and ‘YES’ it will have hope! And you know what? I’m just going to continue to praise you more and MORE!! For you never change … you have ALWAYS been faithful. YOU ARE THE ROCK OF AGES….. “ Rather than pointing fingers we begin to reach a hand to God and a hand to this younger generation. You see He doesn’t stop there… in praise he asks for the HOPE of declaring, though old and gray, that they could indeed, “Tell the next generation of your power, your might to all who are to come” (v 18)! They go on to be reminded despite the confusion that seems to be falling on others (v24) “There is NONE like you!”

Oh when I think on this great truth and strategy given to us thousands of years ago, how I long to refreshingly remind us what the Spirit teaches me even here on the plane. Do I pour out my great love and hope in my Lord to my children with increasing song, joy and praise!? Do they look at me and want the God that I hold to despite what is taking place around me? Do they see that I am unmoved because my hope lies only in One. In our GREAT GOD.

Kelowna is the city where God has me stationed. I am called to be an ambassador to this younger generation and yet for some reason we have the largest population of seniors in all of Canada. Am I working to teach such a God inspired truth even here, that Canada may in time wonder how Kelowna made the SHIFT so strongly so smoothly despite all odds that worked against us? If our hope is in HIM…. then what’s the worry? I’ve got some serious praising to ignite as I step off this plane on Kelowna soil again…actually forget that… it’s burning here already in seat 16D. Who knows when I will see these people again? We are all Kelowna bound.

Your turn. Read Psalm 71. Read it again and just meditate on it. Modernize it in your words when you think of our current state as a world, as a nation, as a city, as you think of this next generation arising and how the SHIFT will take place, and then to you personally. Where’s your heart, and what shall be your part?? I encourage you in your own words to rewrite the psalm as the psalmist of 2011 looking around and then down at your own heart only to turn heavenwards and praise the MASTER of all… our Great God. In Him shall we put our hope both now and forevermore.