Celebrating Our Faith-Family!

There was a time in my life when I was flattered to have a target on my back! Now that I am one of the seventy-million or so aging Baby Boomers (born: April 7, 1951, and a card-carrying AARP member!), I am no longer on the radar of businesses who are targeting a much younger generation of consumers. There was a lot of consumer power focused on my generation back in the day. We were part of what fueled the post-World War II economy! That was then and this is now!

I should have known that what was going around would be coming around. My beloved mother was lamenting in her seventies and early eighties after a shopping spree at the local clothing department stores (JCP, Kohl’s and the like), “Mike, they just don’t make clothes for someone my age anymore!” I know what she means every time I pick up a piece of men’s sportswear with stretchy-fabric, I find myself declaring, “These are for young, slim guys. Not me!”

This brings me to my current lament. After shopping my neighborhood grocery store numerous times lately for Diet Rite soda and coming home empty-handed, I decided to engage the management only to be told, “Keurig/Dr Pepper has stopped making it!” “What?” I said to myself. “Do they know who I am? I’m a bonified Boomer with cash! What’s the issue?” How can they deny me one of my favorite evening time soda options? Diet Rite has been so satisfying, and it perfectly checks the boxes of my soft drink preferences – dark-colored flavor, no calories, no caffeine, and no sodium!

This dilemma has sent me to the Internet for answers and I have painfully discovered the reason for its discontinuation. In short, it’s because the emerging target age group with today’s consumer power card is Gen Z (born 1995 to 2012). And do you know what? They refuse to purchase soft drinks that are labeled “diet!” And it’s painful to acknowledge that this next generation of consumers includes most of my grandkids!

I guess you can see why I’m smelling a “skunk in the woodshed!” in all of this. You may be feeling my pain (and I hope some of you are!) Not only have I been denied one of my favorite go-to beverages, Keurig/Dr Pepper has now attempted to pit me against my beloved grandchildren! And everybody who regularly reads this blog knows why I’m so conflicted.

Let’s be reminded how I close out these weekly articles with a signature paragraph that includes the words, “doting grandparent!” All I can say is, “Keurig/Dr Pepper, you are now messing with my family!” I suspect that most of you can see that all this venting and bluster is intentionally exaggerated! (Though, I do sincerely lament, why pick on my Diet Rite?!)

However, I do want to end with some serious reflections about family. Love them no matter what they choose or do. And the same is true of your faith-family. Prize, promote, and pray for them! And thank God for how they encourage you and give you opportunities to be so proud.

Last Sunday, at Springfield First, we had a near capacity crowd. We are blessed to be a United Methodist Faith Community celebrating over 200 years of history through worship, study, evangelism, and ministry here in the Capital City. We just celebrated another significant milestone. We are now “debt free” after a concerted corporate effort to pay down more than eleven million dollars of building debt.

During this past Lord’s Day service, our worship leaders called upon us numerous times to Praise God by exclaiming, “We are debt free!” It was a great and uplifting service, but now and in the weeks ahead, we are prayerfully anticipating what God has in store for our church in this next chapter and years ahead!

I am proud to be a member of our church and reminded of this each time I sign off in this blog that I am blessed to serve as “an active churchman!” I join many others in our faith community and from other churches and denominations who can also exclaim with the Apostle, “I thank my God every time I remember you… I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel!” (Philippians 1:3-4).

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
©2018-2025 All rights reserved.
Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

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