Save America Ministries

Chuck Crismier: What do you do if you've passed the age of 50? Maybe the age of 60, or 65, or 70? What do you do when you pass those watermarks, those marks along our trajectory as human beings? That's the big question of our program here today on Viewpoint. I'm glad that you've joined us. It's conversation with ever-increasing conviction talk that transforms you. You say, "Well, what does this have to do with me?" Well, how old are you? Now, I'm just asking you. I don't see your face, so it's okay, ladies, it's okay for me to ask you that question. Men, it's okay to ask the question: how old are you?

Well, some might say, "Well, I'm getting younger and younger, better every day." Some people feel that way, some people don't. Interestingly, it used to be that 40 was over the hill. When I passed 40, my wife gave me three area-wide birthday parties. That's right. Then when she turned 40, I literally sent her over the hill. I took her out into a desert area in California and put her up in a hot air balloon and sent her literally over the hill, filming the whole thing.

Well, you might be over that hill, but today over 40 is just kind of beginning. Now they say 60 is the new 40. So, where does that put you? Today on Viewpoint, we're going to be talking about that. Again, I'm glad that you have joined us. Believe it or not, this matter of aging Americans is a very big deal. In fact, let me share some facts with you here. From 2004 to 2024, that's 20 years, the share of Americans aged 65 and older increased from 12% to 18%.

Then, how about perceptions of aging? Well, 49% of adults aged 65 and older say they're aging extremely well or very well. Why? Well, that's because 60 has become the new 40. By comparison, 30% of those younger than 65 expect to age similarly well, but more worried about their later years are the younger folk who aren't very excited about aging. Adults age 50 and older make up slightly over a third of the United States population, accounting for roughly 36% to 37% of all residents in the country.

That's a lot of people, friends. That's about 125 million Americans. Wow, that's a lot. And how about the states that have the highest number of seniors, people ages over 55? Well, it's California, Florida, and Texas. They have the largest total senior populations in the US. But then behind those are Maine, Florida, and West Virginia, which have the highest percentage of seniors relative to their total population. But over 124 million were age 50 or older in 2024.

Amazing. So today on Viewpoint, we're going to take a look at this because it's very significant. Did you know that one of the premier characteristics of aging in the United States is loneliness? Did you know that? It poses severe public health risks. Social isolation and chronic loneliness cause physical damage just as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. How many of you are cheering yourself on for heart disease, stroke, and dementia?

I hope not. But there's an answer to all of this and we're going to be talking about it here on the program today. So welcome to Viewpoint. I'm Chuck Crismier. It's conversation with ever-increasing conviction talk that transforms. And joining us is an over-the-50 guy. His name is Arnie Cole and he's written a book, a co-authored book called The Over-50 Advantage. The Over-50 Advantage. Now, that may be curious to you. Why would you gain an advantage over 50? Well, we're going to talk about that here because there's hope for you. There's hope for all of us.

And believe it or not, it was not until I turned 48 that the Lord spoke to my heart: "Son, you've been pleading the cause of men long enough. I want you to plead My cause in the land as a voice to the church, declaring vision for the nation at America's greatest crisis hour." Wow, at 48 years of age. Well, wonders never cease, do they? So today, Arnie Cole joining us here to talk about this issue, the Over-50 Advantage. Arnie, it's good to have you on the program from Nebraska.

Arnie Cole: Well, thanks for having me, Chuck. I sure appreciate being here.

Chuck Crismier: Well, you've got all these statistics, and statistics are kind of idle things out there. So we want to talk about real life, where most of us live. And so in order to get with this program, since you're coming here to talk to us about over 50, I have to qualify you as an expert witness. Is that okay?

Arnie Cole: Yes.

Chuck Crismier: Okay, that's what we lawyers do. As trial lawyers, we qualify our expert witnesses. So, how old are you?

Arnie Cole: I'm 75.

Chuck Crismier: Okay, so you qualify. You qualify. And you're a male. You're 75. And so you qualify as being over 50. And you've been over 50 now for 25 years, right?

Arnie Cole: That's right. Yep.

Chuck Crismier: Okay. Now, there was a guy by the name of Moses. And he was over 50 too. In fact, he was 40 when God sent him out to the wilderness to get some education into what it meant to live in the wilderness. And he was there for 40 years. And then God told him at age 80, "Now get back in there to Egypt and lead My people out." That's an over-50 advantage, isn't it?

Arnie Cole: It sure is. A tremendous advantage.

Chuck Crismier: It's amazing. And when Joshua took over the reigns from Moses to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land, he was about 60 years of age. And he carried on warfare for 24 years. That's an over-50 advantage too, isn't it?

Arnie Cole: It sure is.

Chuck Crismier: But we don't think about those things in those terms, do we?

Arnie Cole: No, we sure don't. Not at all.

Chuck Crismier: Yeah. So age is not the big thing to God. It's what's behind the age and what He's prepared us for to do after the age of 50, I think.

Arnie Cole: That's correct.

Chuck Crismier: Now, you have a background. You were involved there at Pepperdine University, Department of Education, there in Southern California for quite some period of time. How has that prepared you for over 50?

Arnie Cole: So, my background, I'm a researcher, social scientist, and I did all my academic work at Pepperdine: BA, Master's, and Doctorate. And then I went into working with people with disabilities, helping them win their day. And for me, I sold my companies when I was 45 in California. And I didn't find Jesus until I was 47.

Chuck Crismier: Really?

Arnie Cole: Yep. On my boat on the way to Alaska, and I got caught in a killer storm. And I think you guys call it a foxhole conversion, but I gave my life to the Lord and everything changed after that.

Chuck Crismier: And now, now you're with Back to the Bible. We'll have to talk more about that because it has something to do with over age 50 advantage. We'll be right back, friends. I think you're going to want to get a copy of this book, The Over-50 Advantage. It's going to stir in your mind and heart. Hope is on the horizon. Stay in there. We'll be right back.

Guest (Male): Once upon a time, children could pray and read their Bible in school. Divorces were practically unknown, as was child abuse. In our once great America, virginity and chastity were popular virtues and homosexuality was an abomination. So what happened in just one generation? Hi, I'm Chuck Crismier and I urge you to join me daily on Viewpoint where we discuss the most challenging issues touching our hearts and homes. Could America's moral slide relate to the Fourth Commandment? Listen to Viewpoint on this radio station or anytime at saveus.org.

Chuck Crismier: He became a believer at age 47 after years and years of creating companies and then sold them. Was on his way on a trip to Alaska, and a great storm hovered over him like the storm that Jesus had to quiet with the disciples. And Arnie, our special guest today, felt like he was on the end of the road and he made a covenant or a promise to God. What was that, Arnie?

Arnie Cole: "If You save me, I'll live my life for You."

Chuck Crismier: "If You save me, I'll live my life for You." Well, it's kind of like Peter. God called him to walk on the water there during the storm and he got out out there on the water, but he looked at the wind and the waves and he had to cry out to Lord, "Save me! Save me!" Well, that's what you did, isn't it?

Arnie Cole: Yep. Yep. In my life, Jesus Christ totally changed my life.

Chuck Crismier: How did that lead you ultimately to Back to the Bible, that organization that's been around since time began?

Arnie Cole: Yes, we've been around a long time. That's for sure. I started being called to do work for ministry. I just felt a calling. I was on fire for Jesus and did some work with YWAM. I don't know, Youth with a Mission. I call them Youth without any Money. And worked overseas in the Middle East and places like that.

And then I worked for some other organizations, Mission Aviation Fellowship. And then there was just being semi-retired, retired, I felt kind of restless. And I saw this ad for this Bible teaching company in Nebraska of all places. I'm from Southern California. I'd never heard of Back to the Bible. I was a relatively new believer, about four years. And so I asked my pastor who was mentoring me, "Have you ever heard of this Back to the Bible?"

And he started singing our theme song, "I love to tell the story." Anyway, lo and behold, my wife and I sell everything and we move here to Lincoln, Nebraska. And I've been with Back to the Bible now for 22 years. So it's been—and what I brought to the table, what they wanted me to do is to figure out what the new day is to reach people and get them back to the Bible.

Chuck Crismier: Well, it's interesting, this all happened after you were 50 years of age. And no wonder you've written a book, The Over-50 Advantage. Why do you think it's an advantage?

Arnie Cole: You know, our group that's over 50, we are the wealthiest, we have the most income that we can give away. We don't have kids. In other words, you're not raising kids. We have money. We can be generous. And so we have a tremendous advantage over the rest of the population in the US.

Chuck Crismier: All right. So in other words, not only does this facilitate a greater opportunity, but it also presents a greater challenge and stewardship responsibility before God.

Arnie Cole: Yeah. And what our—you know, I'm a researcher. So we, you know, we study, just did a big study on the US population, the state of Christianity in America. And so this group, us over 50, we've convinced ourselves that most of us have that we deserve this life. You know, like if you've ever watched one of those Viking advertisements on TV where it's usually a husband and a wife, they're drinking a glass of wine, no children, and they're overlooking on this ship with this beautiful stateroom. And it's basically you deserve to be comfortable, catered to. And if you live this Viking kind of life, you're going to have one of the most exciting, peaceful lives money can buy.

Chuck Crismier: Well, it's interesting because that's exactly what we call that an entitlement mentality. And we tend to think that it's the young people, particularly Generation Z and millennials that have this tremendous entitlement mentality, which they do. But then again, there's a similar kind of entitlement mentality among the seniors, aged 50 and older and certainly 65 and older, that, "Well, I've done my work. I've done my thing. And now I'm entitled to take what I have developed, however much that might be. You may not be wealthy but you're certainly better off than a lot of millennials and Generation Z. So you think you're entitled to do what you want, to kick back, rest, chase a little white ball around a grass green somewhere, or whatever it is. Play pickleball for the rest of your life." And ultimately, that's not very fulfilling or satisfying, is it? What do you think?

Arnie Cole: No. No. Matter of fact, our research shows that some of the most lonely, miserable people are also the most self-centered and self-focused people. So we have all these resources, all this opportunity to do things for the Kingdom and instead we have this mentality of, "I served my time. I deserve. I deserve this. I deserve that." Matter of fact, my wife and I learned this when we retired the first time at 45. I had this thing: I've done all this work. Now I deserve this. And as Christ followers, that's one red flag is when we start thinking we deserve something, we deserve to be comfortable, when really being comfortable is a curse.

Chuck Crismier: Well, indeed it is. It's interesting you should say that because just a week ago we did an interview with Molly Engelhart where she was talking about—it was an article she had written for the Epoch Times—that this idea of pursuing comfort was actually not helpful, was not good for people's health, was not good for the community, was not good for the nation. And comfort could actually be a serious negative if we rely upon it. So that's what you're saying too. And it's not that you want to be uncomfortable, but comfort itself is not something we ought to be pursuing as followers of Jesus Christ. Only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last. I will never forget that, learning it as a kid. And I've never ever forgotten it. In fact, I remember it ever the more so as time goes on. Now, I've got a few years on you, Arnie. Five years on you. Six years on you, actually. And what I've discovered is that the last 31 years, actually 33 years since we formed Save America Ministries to rebuild the foundations of faith and freedom, have been actually as much or more fulfilling, more joy-filled, than the first 30 years there in Southern California practicing law and teaching school and so on, where I made a whole lot more money. And I don't make any money doing what I do today. I rely totally on what the Lord has made available. And my wife and I don't fret about it. We don't think about it because there's something about serving the Lord as He has called you to do that is more fulfilling than anything else. What say you?

Arnie Cole: So, Chuck, your listeners, they really need to listen to what Chuck is saying because our research shows us that two-thirds of us retirement age over 55 report boredom as a daily experience. Two-thirds. Can you imagine that? Studies show a lack of purpose in retirement. It not only shortens our life expectancy by years, but it also it makes us miserable.

Chuck Crismier: Well, I think that's the reason why my father never believed in retirement. He was a pastor for 50 years, including 14 years in evangelistic work across the country. And then after that, he was a hospital chaplain for 20 years. So he had a total of 70 years.

Arnie Cole: You know, Chuck, it's not in the Bible, retirement. It's not a biblical concept.

Chuck Crismier: No, it's not. It is not a biblical concept. It's an American concept or maybe a European concept now, but it's not an American concept and it's certainly not a biblical concept. So the question is, okay, this is where we live. We live in this environment. We swim in this environment, which is basically our culture is not about Christ, it's about me. In fact, so much about me that a few years ago as I was leaving the Chicago O'Hare Airport, there was a massive billboard along the roadway there that said, "Me, me, me." That's all it said. "Me, me, me." Well, the latest is on television. They're now promoting the Self Credit Card. Can you believe that? It's all—first we had selfies, first we had me, then me-me, then me-me-me, then we had selfies, and now we have a Self Credit Card. It's all about me. Wow. Amazing. And that's exactly what the Apostle Paul said it would be like just before the second coming, I think.

Arnie Cole: Yes, I think you're right.

Chuck Crismier: Okay, but we live in this area. Don't you think—it seems to me that this is a time when we would want the Holy Spirit to capture our minds and our hearts. We can't all do the same thing. God gives us all kinds of different gifts and talents and so on, and different financial situations. But there's a place, it seems to me, for everyone over 50 to actually be saying, "Hey Lord, I've done all this, I've expended my life in the pursuit of this, that, or the other. What do You want me to do now? How can You best use me to prepare the way of the Lord in people's lives?" How would you define it?

Arnie Cole: Oh yeah. I think it all comes down to your daily prayer life to pray for opportunities. That's the number one thing is to open your mind up to, "Okay, this is a new chapter. I need to rewire. Instead of retire, you need to rewire." I like that. You start focusing on people and others. And now is the time that you can actually live out the Great Commission like never before. So it's a tremendous opportunity. And it's an opportunity that most of us don't pray for opportunities, look for opportunities. And what we've found is mature believers, people that read the Bible every day, don't mentor or disciple anyone and don't serve in any other situation. It's all about me.

Chuck Crismier: You know, it's interesting, there was a voice in the past, distant past, who said, "Happiness is a door opening outward." Happiness is a door opening outward, not inward toward me, but outward. And I thought in context with that, the Rolling Stones who sang that famous song, "I can't get no satisfaction. But I tried, and I tried, and I tried, but I can't get no satisfaction." I think that's the story of a lot of people and they don't realize it. They're not satisfied, something's wrong, something's not fulfilled, there's not any real happiness and certainly no joy. Except if I happen to get a hole in one on the golf course or something. And so we're living in a situation where the opportunity is there to line up with God's design, His will, His word, His ways to really make a difference and get satisfaction. Why don't we do it?

Arnie Cole: You know, one quote I hang on to is from Francis Chan. He says, "Our greatest fear should not be failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." Oh my goodness. It's not failure, but succeeding at things that don't really matter. Yeah. And really that's what it comes down to is winning that golf game, going to bingo, doing those kinds of things. Maybe succeeding at things that have no impact in someone else's life. But when you think about it, that would be exactly Satan's plan for us is to think we're done, we deserve, we have all this resource, ability, and we have time like nobody else has time. And so the best thing he can do is to get you to take yourself out of the game.

Chuck Crismier: It's like living in a prison with no bars of your own making.

Arnie Cole: That's very good, Chuck. That is very good. I mean it's sad, but it's true. Think about it. Think about it. It's crazy.

Chuck Crismier: All right friends, here's the book, The Over-50 Advantage. There's going to be a lot in this book that we're not going to be able to get to, but we're laying the foundation. This is a very big deal for you, for me, for all of us. Get a copy of the book. It's a $19 book yours for $16 on our website saveus.org, saveus.org. Call us 1-800-SAVE-USA, or write to us at Save America Ministries at P.O. Box 70879, Richmond, Virginia 23255. Writing a check at $6 for postage and handling. The Over-50 Advantage. Take advantage of it.

Guest (Male): There is so much more about Chuck Crismier and Save America Ministries on our website, saveus.org. For example, under the marriage section, God has marriage on His mind. Chuck has some great resources to strengthen your marriage. First off, a fact sheet on the state of the marital union, a fact sheet on the state of ministry marriage and morals, saveus.org. Marriage, divorce, and remarriage. What does the Bible really teach about this? Find all of this at saveus.org. Also, a letter to pastors, the Hosea Project, saveus.org. And many more resources to strengthen your marriage. It's all on Chuck's website, saveus.org. Again, you can listen to Chuck's Viewpoint broadcast live and archived at Save America Ministries website at saveus.org.

Chuck Crismier: Noah was 500 years old when God told him to build an ark. 500 years old, my friends. He was over the hill for sure. Over the hill for sure. But he said, "Yes, sir." Abraham was 75 years old when God said, "I want you to get out of your comfort zone in Ur of the Chaldees and I want you to go to the place that I'm going to show you." Wow. And he said, "Yes, sir." And began to act accordingly. So what has God said to you? Anything? Have you been willing to hear His voice? How do you hear His voice? Well, first of all, we have to be willing. Maybe we need a storm in our life like our special guest Arnie here today who was sitting on Easy Street after selling his companies on a sailing trip to Alaska and had a moment of met his question mark for his life in a moment of truth in the Valley of Decision and said, "Okay, Lord, here I am. If You save me from this tempest, I'm going to follow Your truth and I'm going to do what You asked me to do." God had a captive audience of our special guest Arnie Cole at that moment. And guess what, my friend? He has a captive audience of you right now. That's right, He just does. There's a reason we're doing this program today and it ain't to try to make people 50 years of age feel better. It's about enabling us to be better. In other words, to fulfill God's intended purpose in our lives so that we can, at the end of these lives, expect and be grateful that God will say when we stand before Him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Arnie, as you think about that, those words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," does that have any kind of a really significant ring in your heart?

Arnie Cole: So, yeah, you know, for me as I get older and study people as a researcher, the one thing that becomes very clear to me is people don't slow down enough to think about what truly is a win for me. We, as we get older, I notice especially Christ followers, we get grumpy, criticizing others is one of the biggest spiritual struggles of people over 50. And we don't think about what truly is a win. I mean, is it a win for the last three years of your life you can spend in the nicest nursing home in town or in a memory care facility that is just absolutely wonderful? I mean, is that really a win? We're so fear-based of running out of money that really not taking risk is one of the four biggest regrets of people's lives that are over 50. Think about it.

Chuck Crismier: I agree with that because we're all afraid. In fact, we're being inculturated to be afraid. You listen to the radio, you watch TV, you watch these ads that you've got to get ready for retirement, you've got to get ready for retirement, you've got to do this, you've got to do that, you've got to be ready for retirement. And it's all about me. It's all about coming to a place of total comfort. In other words, shedding all pursuit and all meaning in life. I'm just going to ease back and drift into oblivion. Isn't that kind of what we're being seduced into?

Arnie Cole: Oh, I think so. And just to sit back and criticize others. I mean, that's the other thing is we sit on the bleachers but we're not quiet on the bleachers, we criticize others. So it even makes relationships tougher, which comes to another regret is not prioritizing relationships. In other words, we're so critical of and getting our opinion out there, we're fear-based, we don't prioritize getting along with people, and then these relationships start to fall. And then we find, well, we're not very happy. Well, I wonder why. People aren't happy around us either.

Chuck Crismier: Well, that's right. And idle hands are the devil's workshop.

Arnie Cole: Oh yeah. But somehow the—and part of it is the Christian community, okay. You know, I'm a late-in-life conversion, but you have to—and Chuck, you know that you're an advocate by trade, okay. When you're over 50, you have to be your own advocate not only on your health. I'm talking about your spiritual health. So at my church, the one thing they want me to do is to volunteer in the nursery. Well, you know, I've been CEO of companies since I was 25. And yes, I could volunteer in the nursery. I mean, I help with my grandkids daily. So yes, I can do that. But you know, I said, "Well, you know, I've got this set." "No, if you could just work in the nursery, that's really all we need." And so I've learned you have to become your own advocate because, and I think it's because most of us old people, we don't look for opportunities, so they assume you don't want to do anything. So you got to get out there and show people that you care for them and do something for others.

Chuck Crismier: Well, Jesus said, "Give and it shall be given unto you." Give. And we think of that in terms of money or in terms of material things. How about time? Time is the most important commodity that we have and everybody has exactly the same amount, 24 hours a day. Time, time, time. And isn't it interesting, the song, the ballad that came out what was in the 60s, it says, "Time, oh good, good time, where have you gone?" So we get to the end of our life or moving forward after 50 and then 60 and 65, and we say, "Time, oh good, good time, where have you gone?" Well, are we investing ourselves? Do we really think that we have no value in the Kingdom of God? I think the biggest problem here is we just don't have any vision. And where the scripture says, "Where there's no vision, the people perish." And people over age 50 and onward are perishing in many respects, and others are perishing because we are not investing our time. Can you imagine what, let's say there are 124, 125 million adults over age 50 in America. That's what they say. Little over a third. Let's suppose that 20% of them are true followers of Jesus Christ. That would be a huge number of people, 20-some million people, who would be involved in the Kingdom of God who are not. Can you imagine the effect that that would have?

Arnie Cole: It's just crazy. It is just crazy. Now, another thing, we've been brainwashed. Chuck, you may not agree with me, but you take ever since the Billy Graham Crusade, the Jesus film, there has been—we have been sold this bill of goods that someone else, a professional Christian, can do a much better job than we can.

Chuck Crismier: Isn't that a crock of whatever. That is an absolute deception. If that were true, then God would never have been able to use Moses. He would never have been able to use Joshua, never have been able to use the Apostle Paul. I mean, we have totally fooled ourselves. Abraham would have been out of the question. So, what happened to us? It's a spirit of selfishness, isn't it?

Arnie Cole: Well, part of it is our fault for believing it. But then on the other side, I've added up all the claims of salvation in the last 15 years and it's over 1.2 billion. These are Christian organizations with claims. So you have these massive claims that we have been convinced, at least from a research standpoint, I would say with 90% assuredness, we've been convinced that some organization, pastor, group, celebrity person can do a much better job than us. And the problem is research is now showing that these claims, if this is true, then why is Christianity in decline in the United States? For every one person that comes to know the Lord, six are disassociating. And worldwide, you've got in Germany where you have one in 19 is walking—one person saved for every 19 that walk away. We have thought the world is being evangelized, and when in fact it's just been marketing ploys to get us to sit on the bleachers.

Chuck Crismier: Brother, I'm so glad to hear you. You're a researcher and this is what your research has shown. And it's totally contrary to all the marketing mantras that we hear within ministry organizations about how wonderful and the tremendous the revival that's taking place all over the world and so on. What you've just shown is it ain't true. And so what we need to do, we can't do everything. Edmund Burke gave a statement we need to remind ourselves of this, back in not-so-jolly old England. He said, "I can't do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do, and by the grace of God, I will do." Now, that doesn't necessarily mean, you know, if there's a need, for instance, in childcare in your church, okay. But maybe there are those who are more likely to do the job there and your gift may be better used elsewhere. I don't know. I don't know. But one of the problems that I see in "churchianity" and I've watched this for 50 years back and forth across the country and that is pastors looking for worker bees. They're not looking for people who are called. They're looking for worker bees. That's a problem because it's lacking in motivation. We have gifts, we have talents. What is your gift? What is your calling? Maybe you are called to minister to kids. Maybe that's the greater thing. But whatever it is, let's be open to what God would say in our hearts, yes, at this very moment, friend, at this very moment. Today may be the first day of the rest of your life. We'll be right back.

Guest (Male): Have you ever considered what the early church was like? Many people are developing a heart longing for a greater fulfillment in our practices as Christians. A recent study showed 53,000 people a week are leaving the back door of America's churches in frustration. What is going on? Why has there not been even a 1% gain among followers of Christ in the last 25 years? Could it be that God is seeking to restore first-century Christianity for the 21st century? Jesus said, "I'll build my church." Is Christ by His Spirit stirring to prepare the church for the 21st century? The early church prayed together and broke bread from house to house. They were family and it was said by all who observed, "Behold, how they love one another." Incredible. But the same can be found right now. Go to saveus.org and click Cell Church. We can revive first-century Christianity for the 21st century. It's about people, not programs. It's about a body, not a building. That's saveus.org. Click Cell Church.

Chuck Crismier: A wonderful book of encouragement and vision for those of us 50 and over. The Over-50 Advantage is the title of the book. What you do still matters. In other words, you matter, my friend, you matter. And it's a $19 book, yours for $16 on our website saveus.org, saveus.org. You can give us a call, 1-800-SAVE-USA. That's 1-800-SAVE-USA. Or write to us at Save America Ministries, P.O. Box 70879, Richmond, Virginia 23255. Writing a check at $6 for postage and handling. You see, what we're doing here, right now, we're discipling for destiny. This is a form of discipleship. Not for the beginning of your life in Christ, but for further along in your life in Christ. Or perhaps you're coming to Christ in a later year like Arnie Cole did, our guest today, who at 47 or 46, whenever it was, when he came to the place of submitting his heart, his life to Jesus Christ. Was at a turning point. Now what do I do? I've had all these corporations, these businesses, I've sold them now, I've made my mark. Now what do I do? At that point, the only purpose he had in his life was, "Well, go out and have fun. Relax, take it easy, fulfill the American dream of going out and just playing whatever." But it's not fulfilling. I'm thinking, Arnie, about the statement of—I think it was—it might have been Erich Fromm. No, it wasn't him. It was a guy coming out, a psychiatrist coming out of the Holocaust.

Arnie Cole: Victor Frankl.

Chuck Crismier: Victor Frankl. That's who it was. Victor Frankl. He said, "He who has a why to live can withstand almost any how." A lot of people are saying, "Well, you know, it's just so difficult and I don't feel this and I don't feel that and I don't feel worthy and I don't feel this, I don't..." You know what? The problem is you don't have a why to live. You don't have a purpose. You are not embracing a purpose that God has for you. And so you're floundering around, flipping like a fish out of water. We need to jump back into the waters, God's waters, that will give us a meaning and a purpose for times like these, don't you think, Arnie?

Arnie Cole: Oh yeah. Yeah. And you know, Frankl also said something that I've always liked. He said, "God did not create us to live in reaction, but to be co-creators of a meaningful life." You know, and so many of us are bitter and for, you know, what was dealt to us. But we're really, God gave us this tremendous opportunity to be co-creators with Him of a meaningful life for ourselves, and that's by pouring our lives in into someone else. Another thing, Chuck, I've heard someone say that a lot of us older folk are so concerned about our legacy and how we're going to be remembered. And this one author I read and I wish I would have written it down, but he said, "Forget how you're going to be remembered, your legacy. I mean, yeah, that's fine and dandy. Punch the card today. Do something today that matters and stop worrying about what people are going to think of you when you're dead and gone." So it's—you know, our whole concept here at Back to the Bible is using the—engaging the Bible daily for yourself and with someone else. But to think about how am I going to win the day for Jesus each and every day? And you know that has—if you know your Bible well, winning the day, the Lord didn't speak so much about wanting us to be comfortable. It was in fact just the exact opposite of that. It's a challenge then for us to get out of that mindset, "someone else can do it better" or "we deserve this." Or the worst thing is there's not going to be—somehow after all these years, God's going to abandon us. There's not going to be enough money, there's not going to be enough this or that. And that scarcity—and I've talked to people who have had literally tens of millions of dollars who are worried about what's going to happen if I run out of money.

Chuck Crismier: Well, fear paralyzes faith, doesn't it?

Arnie Cole: It sure does.

Chuck Crismier: Yeah. And there are elements of fear that lurk about in our minds and our hearts as we get older. And if we give into them, it paralyzes the life of faith, which is where fulfillment lies.

Arnie Cole: Well, and also, Chuck, we haven't talked about it, but and I'll cut our group a little bit of slack: when your health goes, that creates a different challenge.

Chuck Crismier: That's true. That's true. But however, what sociologists and medical personnel are saying is we are actually contributing to our health problems because we're not giving ourselves to purpose. In other words, we're dealing with loneliness, which actually is killing us from the inside out.

Arnie Cole: Yeah. Yeah. It's—and attitude and an attitude of gratitude. I know I went through a spell in my 60s of where I had two forms of cancer. I had like nine surgeries and then I had a couple of heart attacks. So I went through a period of maybe four years spending a lot of time in the hospital. But I would notice some of these older people who had some problems, but they were mean, yelling at the nurses, just not finishing well. Oh my goodness. And I just thought—and I really, I'd learned this from my mom. Her thing was—she had this verse, "This is the day the Lord has made and I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it." And during this time, it became my mantra to get, "Okay, the Lord created me for this specific time. Am I going to be a testimony against God's power and glory by being a grump and making people's lives miserable, or is this what the Lord has given me and I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it?" And it really just getting that mindset, even during the time when your life is, you know, you're sitting in chemo booths and doing all this stuff, it's just it's amazing what a positive focus on Jesus—you know, our goal is to move closer to Jesus today than we were yesterday. And I've tried to live that.

Chuck Crismier: You know, I'm thinking as we're chatting about a dear friend of ours who was an uneducated guy. He was a Marine initially, but he was uneducated. He didn't—he wasn't a military man, he just happened to have been a Marine for a few years. And then he saw an opportunity to seize an opportunity to start and lead the first Postal Instant Press store in America. It was in Pasadena, California. The guy was starting this franchise, and so my friend said, "You know what? If you will allow me to run this store, I will set it up as a model for all of your other stores across the country." The very first store. He had no experience. So he got in there and he did that. Then he bought six more territories for more stores. So by the—he had seven stores or territories when he decided, "You know what? I've been working for this now. I'm successful. I'm going to sell them all at 48 years of age and and now I'm going to do—I'm going to invest the rest of my life directly in the Kingdom." Now, it wasn't that he wasn't doing Kingdom work in through the print shop, which he was. It was amazing. But from that time on, he said, "Now I'm going to take all the abilities that I have." He was an administrator by gift and at heart. And he began to do that and became the executive pastor of a fast-growing church. How would somebody without an education, without any ministry—he didn't go to Fuller Seminary, he didn't go to any cemetery, I mean seminary. No, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to do that and for the rest of his life, that's what he gave himself to.

Arnie Cole: Wow.

Chuck Crismier: So you know, we've seen people like that and unfortunately they're very few and far between because most people don't have that vision. They just don't seem to have a vision, a Kingdom vision for their life. What would it take? What do we have to do to get that Kingdom vision for our life?

Arnie Cole: You know, it is so individually, you know, you have to figure this out. I know for me, as a non-believer, I was a boater and one of my boat's names was Galatea, the perfect woman, this is before I was a believer. My other—another boat was called Una Mas. So it was always one more drink, one more marriage, one more this, one more that. Wow. And then the boat I was in the storm in was called Kindred Spirit, like, "Oh, you know, this new agey, we're all one with nature." Well, you know, that's fine and dandy to say when you're sitting, you know, in a restaurant. When you're out in the ocean and you're faced with 75-foot waves, we're not kindred spirits. You know, this—we are not in charge of our destiny. It is the Lord and His will, not "I can't use my positive thinking to get me out of this." And it's just amazing how if you can just put your trust in Jesus, how that can change everything. But you got to let go of the fear, the worship of your comfort, and you will see that your life will start to change and you'll be a happier person and guess what? People will like to be around you.

Chuck Crismier: Yeah. You know, it reminds me of another person. You mentioned boating. This gentleman inherited a boating magazine from his father out there in Ventura, California. And he was very, very wealthy and came to the Lord. And you know what he said? "I'm going to sell my boating magazine. And I'm going to take the resources, kind of like what you did, I'm going to take the resources now and I am going to do something for the Kingdom of God." So he started a publishing company. For what purpose? To publish Christian books. In addition to that, he used his wealth and his experience and his contacts to spread the good news as best he could for the gospel in our country and in California. And he was such a blessing, a blessing. And he passed just about a year ago, but what a blessing that man was to everyone around him. He used the resources and what God gave him and invested it for the Kingdom. I think that's the word we need to grab: investment.

Arnie Cole: Oh, I agree. So powerful. So powerful.

Chuck Crismier: Okay. Very quickly, Back to the Bible. We've been talking about the Bible, getting back to the Bible. Is anybody coming back to the Bible? How many? What are you doing?

Arnie Cole: Yeah, people—so in America, we just did a study, the state of Christianity in America. 70% of all Americans believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins, died on the cross, they believe in the Trinity, all of these things. But they have the head knowledge but the heart knowledge, they don't follow Him.

Chuck Crismier: Exactly. And that's exactly what Jesus ridiculed and just went after the religious leaders of His day. He said, "You got it all in your head, but your hearts are far from Me." That's what God is looking for. Thanks so much, Arnie. We're right at the end of the program. The book, friends, The Over-50 Advantage. This is an inspiring book. Hope is on the horizon for you with regard to the matter of your age, wherever you are. This is the challenge that you face for the years to come. There's fulfillment ahead if we'll walk by faith. $16 will put the book in your hands. It's on our website saveus.org, call us 1-800-SAVE-USA, and become a partner. We're preparing the way of the Lord for history's final hour, even through your life and your commitment today. God bless and be a blessing.

Guest (Male): You've been listening to Viewpoint with Chuck Crismier. Viewpoint is supported by the faithful gifts of our listeners. Let me urge you to become a partner with Chuck as a voice to the church, declaring vision for the nation. Join us again next time on Viewpoint as we confront the issues of America's heart and home.