Grandpa.. Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days

grandpa.gif (34993 bytes) Introduction:

Last week while on vacation we went home to visit my parents.
My uncle Leonard had just been sent home from the hospital so we went down to see him.
As I stood up to leave I saw a picture that I had forgotten.
It was a picture of my Grandfather and Grandmother.
It had been taken at Olin Mills in the early sixties.
My aunt had the original enlarged.
As I stood and peered into the face of my grandfather -- in living color -- for the first time in many years, an avalanche of long forgotten memories, feelings and emotions came flooding back.
It was an overwhelmingly bittersweet experience.
No. All of my memories of my Grandfather are sweet beyond words, but there is one thing that makes them bittersweet to me.
I remember how I used to love to hear my grandfather talk about the good old days.
the cost of an ice cream cone, a barrel of flower or a days wages.
There were many things that were not good about the old days
1. Racism
2. Mothers and children lost at birth.
3. Poor medical care.
4. Two world wars.
But, there was also much that made old days good.
The experience has caused me to rethink the words to a popular country western song by the Judds.
Grandpa.. Tell me 'bout the good old days

Sometimes it feels like,

this world's gone crazy

Grandpa, Take me back to yesterday

When the line between right and wrong,

Didn't seem so hazy

Chorus

Lovers really fall in love to stay

Stand beside each other come what may

A promise really something people kept

not just somthin' they would say and then forget

Families really bowed their heads to pray

Daddies never really go away

Wo Wo grandpa, tell me bout the good old days.

Grandpa, everything is changing fast

we call it progress

But, I just don't know

and Grandpa

let's wonder back into the past

then paint me the picture of long ago

Chorus:
I'm really impressed by the accuracy of the insight that the song's author had. I can't help but wonder if he wrote this song with a Bible in one hand and a news paper in the other.

Discussion:

Contrary to what many are saying, there is much to be thankful for today.
1. We endured two world wars in the first half of this century, but it has been almost 50 years since the last one.
2. Contrary to what the media prophets of doom are telling generation X, the possibilities for the future are very bright for those who will, study, prepare and work hard.
3. According to a recent edition of Forbes Magazine, Americans are better off financially than they have ever been. And yet ,they feel worse about the future than ever.
4. Why? There are many things that are not better when compared to the good old days.
The beginning of our slide began with a loss of belief in absolute truth.
1. Truth is no longer considered to be objective but subjective.
2. Those who believe that there is no such thing as absolute truth are arguing for the absolute truth that there is no absolute truth (a logical absurdity).
3. Illustration: Call someone to the pulpit to ask how long they feel my Bible is, then use a ruler the settle the disagreement.
4. Those who say there is no absolute truth are arguing with Jesus.
  John 1:14 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
  
  John 1:17 (NKJV) For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
  
  John 4:23-24 (NKJV) "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
  
  John 8:32 (NKJV) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
  
  John 8:44 (NKJV) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
  
  John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
  
  John 14:17 (NKJV) "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
  
  John 15:26 (NKJV) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
  
  John 16:13 (NKJV) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
  
  John 17:17 (NKJV) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
5. At least 110 times the new testament affirms there is such a thing as truth.
6. We are raising a generation confused about what the truth is.
7. One of the most popular movies around today is "The Bridges of MadisonCounty." It's billed as the most touching love story of the year. It's about adultery!
8. Love Boat? It's fornication boat.
9. Our children are constantly bombarded by mixed messages about right and wrong on TV and the cinematic screen..
"Lovers really fall in love to stay."
1. Not lust and infatuation.
2. Define love 1 Corinthians 13 and Eph 5:23 ff.
3. I don't love you anymore.
"Stand beside each other come what may" Permanency of marriage Read Matt. 19
1. Warn our children they will marry someone they date.
2. 2 Cor. 6:14:ff.
"A promise really something people kept not just somthin' they would say and then forget."
1. Christians keep their word.
  Colossians 3:8-9 (NKJV) But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
  
  Mark 5:30-34 (NKJV) And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" 31 But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'" 32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."
2. There can be no healing without the truth.
3. Matthew 12:34-37 (NKJV) "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
4. Matthew 5:37 (NKJV) "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
5. Tell the truth in marriage counseling etc.
be careful with your time. "Families really bowed their heads to pray. Daddies never really go away
1. My grandfathers last two weeks.
2. retired people
3. do something constructive with your time.
4. Hebrews 13:3 (NKJV) Remember the prisoners as if chained with them; those who are mistreated; since you yourselves are in the body
Conclusion:
Let's get back to Christ and his word and make these the Good New Days.
Sermon Prepared by David E. Parks © (dave@wcofc.org) 1996,

Waterford Church of Christ, Waterford, MI.

© David E. Parks 1998

David E. Parks

dave@wcofc.org

Last updated Friday, April 06, 2007 09:25 AM

This page has been acceessd since April 6, 2007