iRetire4Him Podcast

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Hal Habecker

Ministry: Finishing Well

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergFebruary 12, 2024Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

106: Invited to Impact

Part 1 in the 3-Part Event Offerings & Trips Series

Learn more about Retirement Reformation’s Recreating Retirement Small Group Study, a unique curriculum designed to help retirees discover purpose and meaning at different stages of retirement. Bruce emphasizes its flexibility for small groups in churches, community centers, or even living rooms.

In way of taking action, special guest Cindy King joins the conversation, highlighting the crucial need for wraparound grandparenting in the foster care system. She gives practical ideas for helping foster care families, so you can start supporting your own local foster and adoption families today.

We’re also excited to share details about upcoming trips to Belize and Tanzania this spring – and you’re invited! Tune in to the third segment to hear about Bruce’s vision for those trips, and find more information at www.RetirementReformation.org/compelled (Belize trip) and www.RetirementReformation.org/safari (Tanzania trip).

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Cindy King

Ministry: Keystone Family Alliance

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergJanuary 29, 2024Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

105: Wraparound Grandparenting Action Steps

Part 3 in the 3-Part Wraparound Grandparenting Series

It’s time to recognize the dilemma of foster care in America and realize the support that retirees can offer! According to Retirement Reformation founder Bruce Bruinsma, that’s the first step – awareness. Well, then it’s time to take action! This episode shares so many practical examples of what “wraparound grandparenting” might look like for retirees.

Focus on the Family’s VP of Advocacy for Children, Robyn Chambers, promotes wraparound grandparenting as an easy “on ramp” for Christian seniors to serve in the area of fostering/adoption. Everyone has a gift to give. Here are a few simple support ideas Bruce, Jim, and Robyn discussed:

Mentoring teens that will soon leave the foster care system, teaching them basic life skills and lessons
Giving foster/adoptive parents a break or night off

Helping with household tasks like cooking, cleaning, or getting groceries

More ideas and information can be found in the downloadable Legacy of Love ebook. Robyn also mentions the resource WaitNoMore.org that encourages and equips “family allies” to take a more hands-on support approach.

Bring this idea to your pastor and church family. Let’s show the world how much the Church values children, foster/adoptive families, and retirees. Reformation in the foster care system in this country can start with YOU!

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Robyn Chambers

Ministry: Focus on the Family

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergJanuary 15, 2024Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

104: A Solution to the Foster Care Crisis

Part 2 in the 3-Part Wraparound Grandparenting Series

The iRetire4Him Podcast continues in its discussion of wraparound grandparenting, giving listeners more details, examples, and reasons to participate. Host Jim Brangenberg and Retirement Reformation founder Bruce Bruinsma delve into this concept, a solution to the crisis in foster care and adoption.

With 115,000 kids in need of homes and a lack of long-term support for foster parents, wraparound grandparenting involves engaging seniors aged 55 and older to provide a supportive network for fostering and adopting families. Bruce shares insights from his personal experience and highlights the positive impact of wraparound grandparenting.

Special guest Shayne Baker discusses Every Child Arkansas, an initiative addressing the foster care dilemma through collaboration. As the episode unfolds, Bruce emphasizes the importance of seniors engaging in meaningful ways to combat loneliness in their own lives while making a lasting impact on children and families. Learn more about wraparound grandparenting and how you can get involved at RetirementReformation.org/wraparound Look for the pop out bar to download the booklet "Legacy of Love."

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Shayne Baker

Ministry: Every Child Arkansas

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergJanuary 1, 2024Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

103: Wraparound Grandparenting

Part 1 in the 3-Part Wraparound Grandparenting Series

Explore the revolutionary concept of wraparound grandparenting in this episode of iRetire4Him. Jim and Bruce delve into the crisis in the U.S. foster care system, introducing a solution that involves a support network of seniors for foster parents. Sharing a personal fostering story, Bruce emphasizes the impact of community support and discusses challenges in the foster care system.

During the second segment, we see how wraparound grandparenting can breathe life into your marriage. Brad Rhoads shares about helping married couples find meaning, purpose, and growth. When an older couple takes on a project like wraparound grandparenting – to come alongside a younger family that is fostering or adopting – they will inevitably grow and become stronger. Not to mention how significant a senior support network can be in the lives of couples that are fostering/adopting.

Discover the potential of wraparound grandparenting, providing relief for foster parents and a sense of community for seniors. Learn more about this "Legacy of Love" initiative on the Retirement Reformation website.

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Brad Rhoads

Ministry: Grace Marriage

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergDecember 18, 2023Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

102: Intentionality, Focus, Service, & Advocacy

Part 3 in the 3-Part Retirement Reformation Manifesto Series

As we wrap up this series on the Retirement Reformation Manifesto, this episode reviews the final four principles and teaches us how we can put them together to represent the power of Jesus in our lives.

Intentionality and focus challenge the “American Dream” of retirement because they steer us toward Kingdom building activities and away from solely self-gratification. These two principles lead us to action steps like service and advocacy. Taking purpose-driven action contributes to our revitalization and shows the world that new opportunities exist, even during retirement.

Jon Hirst was someone who supported the idea of Retirement Reformation from the start, and he hops on in the second segment to talk with Jim and Bruce. Jon talks about the importance of putting all of the Manifesto principles together in Christ, not just looking at them separately. This helps each of us to grow and live out the Manifesto’s key verse, John 15:16: you’re chosen to bear fruit! At the end of the day, it’s about the balance of faithfulness and fruitfulness.

A couple of “action steps’ are coming soon through Retirement Reformation! You’ll be able to participate in a Legacy of Love (wraparound grandparenting) and intergenerational prayer ministry. Sign up to receive the bi-weekly iRetire4Him newsletter email, and we’ll make sure to announce when these ministries are ready for your involvement.

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Jon Hirst

Ministry: Generous Mind

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergDecember 4, 2023Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

101: Contentment, Stewardship, Love, & Community

Part 2 in the 3-Part Retirement Reformation Manifesto Series

You don’t need to feel “bamboozled” when it comes to retirement. Bruce and Jim walk through the next four principles in the Retirement Reformation Manifesto (the first two principles were covered in the last episode).

Contentment gives us clarity to make better decisions. Stewardship isn’t only about finances, as we learn to steward our days. Love is the biggest reformer of the retiree and makes all the difference. Community is our source of connection that guards against loneliness, helps us discover purpose among our peers, and should be intergenerational for greatest impact.

Guest Wes Wick acknowledges that a lot of “un-learning” needs to happen when it comes to retirement, and segregating older generations in our churches and communities is detrimental. His ministry YES! promotes engagement between all ages and highlights the Community principle of the Manifesto well.

Retirement Reformation is a movement, not just a ministry. Take some time to review, meditate on, and share the Manifesto. Bruce also recommends reading the Gospel of John in the Bible, too. Then put the principles into practice by getting involved with the Retirement Reformation resources:

- Oxygen for Life: a weekend event for your church

- Recreating Retirement: a 10-session workshop

- Retirement Voices: hear from individuals in different stages and walks of retirement – coming soon!

- Intergenerational Prayer Ministry: coming soon!

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Wes Wick

Ministry: YES! (Young Enough to Serve)

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergNovember 20, 2023Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

100: Freedom and Preparation

Part 1 in the 3-Part Retirement Reformation Manifesto Series

Retirement Reformation’s founder, Bruce Bruinsma, shares a very important part of retirement for him – the Retirement Reformation Manifesto. What’s that? It’s 10 core principles that will encourage, embolden, and guide you as you prepare for and live out your retirement.

What’s the point of following the Retirement Reformation Manifesto? If you follow it well, you’ll impact others for the Kingdom by bearing more and more fruit! This episode highlights the first two principles of the Manifesto: freedom and preparation.

During the second segment, Brian Kluth wants to encourage you to “look through the windshield at what’s the come, not through the rearview mirror.” God has so many great things on the horizon for each of us (Ephesians 2:10).

Listen and discover how to live out the Manifesto principles in your own life. Review the Manifesto yourself, commit to following it, and share it with a friend. This is also a great resource to walk through with your small group.

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Brian Kluth

Ministry: Retirement Rewired

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergNovember 6, 2023Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

99: It’s OK to Ask for Help

Part 3 of the 3-Part Conversations We Have to Have Series

As we grow older, we’re gonna need help!

We all reach an age where we stop being able to do everything on our own. In your case, that might be now, soon, or further down the road. Either way, it’s an important conversation to have. In this practical episode of the iRetire4Him Podcast, Jim and Bruce discuss experiences from their own lives.

Bruce talks about the conversations he’s currently having with his wife Judy about the help they now need and what help they might need in the future. Jim shares what he and wife Martha are living out now as the primary caregivers for his own 90 year-old parents. In both instances, they emphasize the fact that it’s OK to ask for help!

In the second segment of show 99, Bob Tiede gives a great explanation of when and why believers should retire. As the co-author of Leading with Questions and a team member of Leadership Devlopment at CRU, Bob often spends time with younger men, and he encourages other seniors to intentionally pour into the younger generations. Reach out to Bob if you’d be interested in coaching within CRU.

If you have more questions and ideas about these conversations we’ve been having on the podcast lately, let us know! You can send us a message on the Retirement Reformation Facebook page or email Jim@iWork4Him.com.

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Bob Tiede

Ministry: Leading with Questions

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergOctober 23, 2023Christian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire

iRetire4Him Show #98 - #2 of 3-Part Series: Conversations We Have to Have: Leisure has value, but it doesn’t have purpose

#2 of 3-Part Series: In general, Americans have bought into the lie that retirement should be 30+ years of pure leisure. But that’s not a sustainable way of life! Retirement Reformation founder Bruce Bruinsma reflects on the example that God gives of 6 days of purpose and 1 day of rest. As retirees, we can still find the necessary rest and fun in retirement without trying to make rest and fun the driving factor during our retirement years.

Doug Hunter with Pinnacle Forum is 75 years old but nowhere near slowing down! He spends most of his time engaging with Christian leaders at Pinnacle Forum, to make a difference in the marketplace, but he also serves on several boards, sharing his wisdom and experience. He’s a shining example of living with purpose over leisure and encourages iRetire4Him Podcast listeners to ask God how He wants to use them.

Bruce also shares a bit more about their Oxygen for Life events that are taking place across the nation and Retirement Reformation’s goals for reaching as many retirees as possible with the message that you have purpose and God wants to use you as long as you have breath in your lungs!

Mid-Segment Special Guest: Doug Hunter

Ministry: Pinnacle Forum