God's Plan Has Worked!

Many years ago the board of LifeWay Ministries Inc sought God about how to design our ministry. We heard Him speak and have followed ever since. The gist of what we hard can be summarized this way.

"Work with partner in the nations where I send you. Freely you have received and freely you shall give. Train them; equip them; love them; support them and set them free to follow me."

God knows what He is doing. I receive emails, letters and telephone calls from people all around the world who tell me that they are "Growing to go into the world and preach the gospel and then Going to grow in the faith, hope and love of God."

One of our students resigned from her very lucrative job to get a Master's Degree in psychology and has written special materials for people in Nepal. Using Listening for Heaven's Sake Kirsten helped the Nepalese develop an entire vocabulary about Christian relationships.

Our model has been to set up seed corn farms that intentionally planted and nurtured seed corn that would then be planted by other farmers instead of being eaten. Seed corn is strong, hearty and resistant to disease, pestilence and droughts. We equip leaders with the same characteristics so they can withstand the attacks of the evil one and still move out to bring hope and healing to those in need.

With seed corn churches and para church groups all around the earth we know that the gospel will go forth long after our demise.

What is God's Love Doing in the Former USSR?

A recent article in Christianity Today tells the story about Nigerian named , Sunday Adelajah, who traveled to the Ukraine, USSR to study journalism in 1986. He found not only how to write but Christ. After some time Sunday established a Bible study in his home. However, he soon found that racism among the people kept "respectable" people away.
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/151/42.0.html)

Much to his chagrin, Sunday's message of hope and healing appealed to the dregs of society. Alcoholics, criminals, prostitutes and other unseemly characters began to study scripture and many found the Savior. Through the Savior they found healing and changed lives. Now that house Bible study has over 25,000 members and is actively involved in politics, social work and education. During the recent mass marches his church provided tents, food, water and prayers.

Sunday and other Evangelical Christians are witnessing for Christ and telling about His plan of healing and responsibility. They are also doing much, much more. In the same way that Evangelical Christianity provided the foundation for democracy in Europe and America, it is also a key to freedom and democracy in the former USSR.

When I read about Pastor Sunday I am thrilled. It is my strong contention that our ministry in the former USSR is a powerful voice for democracy. Not because we get directly involved in politics for we do not. However, we provide the processes and health necessary for those damamged by centuries of dictatorships to think, decide, get involved in church activities and vote their conscience.

For ten years I have been teaching my friends how to form committees, discuss issues, listen respectfully and come to a decision among them selves without getting into fist fights. Management of conflict is essential to developing a democracy.

One of the Christian Bible colleges where I taught had a severe problem. Their students were so in used to open discussion and handling differences that their small group Bible studies often ended in shouting matches or worse. Galina trained the faculty and students how to relate with Genuineness, Respect, Empathy and Warmth. Amazingly, they began to cooperate and support each other even if they did not agree on the meaning of baptism. As Christians learn how to debate, discuss, dialogue and still love one another they will be leaders in the new nations.

PTL! Lives are being changed and democracy is flourishing in the former USSR. Pray for Lifeways Russia, the name of our Russian Ministry, and for those emerging democracies.

Ps. Before long a representative of Lifeways Russia will be here to raise money for their life changing and nation changing work. More on that later

Old Wine

A few years ago a young,energetic pastor told me I was Old Wine and should get out of the way so he and his youthful colleagues could take over. Old, I am, and agreeable to allow the younger generation to flex their muscles and use all that excess energy to change the world. I have no qualms about encouraging the young to get changed, get organized and get going for Jesus.

It also struck me that this young man was a bit ignorant of scripture and of wine. Wine that is properly aged is the good wine offered to the first guests wine is fermented for just the right amount of time before it is sold or offered to a guest you wish to impress. New wine is a metaphor for untried, cheap and raw.

The single most important resource in Christianity is older wine. Not people like me who already gave up a professional career as a college dean to serve in Christian work. We have already taken all we have and are into a vocation for Jesus. No, the resources I am speaking about are those men and women who had careers as engineers, doctors, plumbers, salespeople, technicians, and painters to now volunteer to give the remaining years of their lives to ministry.

There are, however, some problems. It is not that the people are not willing or not gifted, energetic, wise and able. The problem is this: most pastors and churches don't know how to organize them into a meaningful volunteer force. There are no Wineskins for the OLD Wine. (The real problem lies in the fact that there are few wineskins for the new wine either and that the church has no idea how to "Equip the saints to do the work of the ministry."

If the church leaders are deluded into thinking that lay members have nothing to offer except their money they will not build the organization necessary to recruit, train, organize and mobilize the volunteers into a powerful volunteer army.

Then the church will have to build a structure that can supervise and keep the volunteer army prepared and edified.

Are you interested?

Jesus People Cincinnati

From 1967 to 1973 I served on the Dean's staff at the University of Cincinnati. It was a time of confusion, conflict and challenge to our nation and our traditional values. As a Christian I was shocked to see the immorality and debauchery at UC. Drugs, rock and roll and rebellion ruled the day. At least on the surface.

We who ministered on college campuses around the country saw another side to things. Yes, there were riots, pickets and problems but we came to see that "Whenever Satan comes in like a flood God will raise a standard against his attacks. Proof of that scripture exists all across this land in the pastors, elders and Christian leaders who came to faith during that era.

I received a Christmas note from a pastor this afternoon. He presently serves in an upscale region of a large city as a minister and Christian counselor. Back in the Seventies he was a seriously troubled student at UC living a life of hedonism and chaos. As Associate Dean I was asked to lead a retreat for a fraternity to bring some peace and reconciliation among the various factions who were destroying the meaning of brotherhood and teamwork.

The retreat was a quite successful but the most important thing that happened was the testimonies of several men who had recently come to Christ. The honesty and genuineness of their heart felt sharing changed the entire sense of the gathering and later several other guys also attended church and came to faith. I was an amazed midwife who simply showed up at a university sponsored conflict resolution retreat and saw God work miracles in the heart of these young men.

The media covered the antics of the radical and violent groups like Students for a Democratic Society but almost never saw the importance of what God was doing in Christian groups. In 1970 about 50 SDS members gathered in Wisconsin, I believe, and the national and international media were in a frenzy, spending millions of dollars on ink to cover their story.

At the same time 17,000 students gathered at Urbana and pledged themselves to serve Christ forever. Many also pledged to serve Him in overseas missions. The Christian media covered it, of course, but rarely a word on TV or in the New York Times.

The next time you meet a Christian in his/her forties and fifties ask them where and how they met the Lord. The just may be part of that remarkable Jesus Movement that shook the world and brought millions to Christ. Karen and I were fortunate enough to have God push us into the Jesus Movement where we opened our house to hundreds of those young men and women.

Do it again, Lord! Do it again!

Family Letter 2004
by Gary and Karen Sweeten

Each year gets shorter and faster because it also gets better, far better. The aches and pains of aging are pale compared to the richness of the friends we used to call our children. Nothing quite compares to the joy of hearing our grandkids call us “Papa” and “Grandma”. Julie and Dave Knispel have Jacob (9) and Lily (2). Tim and Shelley promise more joy and excitement with a baby on February 14. Both families live within 20 minutes of us and we love to see them regularly.

Now we know why so many friends and family love grandkids. They are definitely easier than your own kids but they have better parents.

We are thankful for good health and wonderful medical care. After a couple of visits to Christ Hospital I can continue my travels and local ministry. Sometimes medicine is part of the problem. They can cure or kill. With adjustments in the medication I have managed to return to sanity and good health, at least for now. Prayers are appreciated for a strong heart.

We celebrated our 15th year at LifeWay Counseling Centers in September. The gift was a great new space. The Lord inspired us through Jim Donovan to see that our call is similar to guiding folks through white water rafting. The new design simulates a river with a fountain to greet each person and a prayer room for the deep water of peace. Hurting people regularly experience relief and healing from Jesus’ living waters found at Life Way.

Gary finds himself on foreign soil for several months each year with LifeWay Ministries Inc, Intl. The Lord’s plan is coming to fruition in many nations. He told us to establish equipping centers that can stand for decades. God’s love is thriving in Siberian labor camps, Asian cities and Ethiopian hospitals. It makes those long flights worth the trouble.

Personally, Karen works at LifeWay and enjoys her “Secret Club” whose members are sworn to confidentiality on pain of death. For twenty years they have supported each other with tears and laughter and remain best friends. We enjoy our warm association with the people at Harvest Fellowship. Golf has become a spiritual habit for Gary and he has widened his outreach to play weekly with needy pastors and leaders.

We always enjoy seeing old friends and hearing how God is creatively constructing their lives. May He who is able to do more than you can imagine give you His perfect peace.

12002 Maxim Ave Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

Famed atheist sees evidence for God
by David Roach

Amazing conversion of an agressive atheist.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Antony Flew, a legendary British philosopher and atheist, has changed his mind about the existence of God in light of recent scientific evidence.
Flew -- a prolific author who has argued against the existence of God and the claims of Christianity for more than 50 years -- first revealed his change of mind in a video of a discussion with several others at New York University organized by the Institute for Metascientific Research. The video, released in December, is titled, "Has Science Discovered God?"
Flew said he is now best described as a deist -- a person who believes God created the universe but is not actively involved in people's lives today.

For the rest of theis great story go to www.pastor.com

This is the web site of Rick Warren

The Magnificat

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

Sing It!

My soul shall magnify the Lord
My soul shall magnify the Lord
And my spirit shall rejoice in God my Savior
For He who is mighty has done great things
And holy is His name

Call me and I will teach it to you.

How to be Strong

One of the great themes of scripture is found in the birth of Jesus story. It can be summarized as: God works through weakness.

There is a drive in the human heart to seem strong.
We reject grace and pretend we are worthy;
We reject mercy and act as though we are holy;
We refuse His work and try to do the works ourselves.

• But none of these pretend games work. At the last we all have to admit that, as the old song goes, I am weak but He is strong.
  
  God chose a weak little girl to be one of the great heroes of all history.
  He trusted a very young girl to carry the Messiah, the hope of the entire world.
  He brought forth the Messiah without the effort or strength of a man.
  He chose Mary from a poor little tribe of unlearned people living in a tiny country away from the famous and rich.
  He put the life of Mary and the Messiah in danger because she was unmarried.
  He had the Messiah born in Bethlehem, an obscure town named after bread.
  God placed the baby in an unsanitary barn with the smell of hay and manure instead of rich oils and powders or the scent of disinfectants.
  Joseph died while Jesus was as a child and grew to manhood with no earthly father.
  Jesus bought salvation and healing through death.

Why do we assume we must be competent and always perfect?

Heresy and Foolishness

The Gnostics said that true orthodox Christians were wrong in believing God had taken a human body. Gnostics believed then and now that the human body was evil but the Spirit of God was pure so the two could not intermingle.

Some of them distinguished between Christ, whom they acknowledged to be divine in some sense; and the man Jesus who was at most an instrument through whom the divine Christ spoke. They held that the man Jesus did not become the bearer or instrument of the Christ until the Spirit descended upon him at his baptism. Additionally, they held that the Spirit left him before the crucifixion.

Others affirmed that there was never a man Jesus at all, but only the appearance of a man, through which wise teachings were given to the disciples.

Modern doubters simply say that miracles are impossible. I once heard a man say that the people who wrote the Bible were not lying when they said Jesus was born of a virgin. They were just ignorant farmers who did not understand where babies came from. As a farm boy I can assure you that we know a lot about procreation. My friend came down from Chicago and saw our cow. When we told him milk came from this big bovine he laughed at us and said, “It does not. I get milk at the store.”

We farmers actually bred cows, chickens, horses and sheep so we knew well what the process entailed. Some leftist theologians are too smart by half to think farmers are so dumb they minunderstood procreation.

Creedal Christians affirmed that Jesus was conceived through the action of the Holy Spirit, that he was born and had a real physical body. He was special from the first moment of his life, and not just from the date of His baptism.

The cover story of Newsweek last time was the birth of Jesus. the editor spoke on TV and said he thought much of scripture was a myth but not a lie. He believes that the resurrection occurred but not the parting of the Red Sea by Moses. If raising Jesus from the dead was not too big for God why would parting a bit of water be a problem?

Too clever by half? Too much emphasis on "booklearning" will make people mad!

Why Write a Creed?

The written documents we call creeds were written for a particular purpose, usually to combat some heresy or deal with a problem. Look at the Apostles' Creed and see that it communicates some powerful truths. In fact, I prefer to simply state that this is my personal statement of faith for it contains the essentials of Christianity.

God is the Creator of all things. Ths directly attacks the Gnostic heresy that the created world is evil. Thus, nature, our own bodies and minds are the products and purpose of God.

Second, Jesus is the Son of God and truly God and is Lord of all things.

Third, Jesus was born of a virgin.

These all point to the nature of God and of Jesus and the Trinity.

It is short, to the point and easily remembered for literate and non literate believers alike.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
The Creator of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
And sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
Whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

Remember it!

A Conversation With the Apostles in 65 A.D.

How would you as a Christian leader make sure that your flock understood the importance of the birth, life and death of Jesus? According to legend, the Apostles were sitting around a nice fire one night eating fish and discussing these issues. Well, said Peter the Mighty Mouth, I think it is impossible to teach all this to our people in The Way. Why, one year 3,000 or so came to faith in Christ and we cannot even find people to follow them up let alone teach them everything.
Soon an argument arose with much heat and little light. After some time of getting nowhere, John, who had previously been known with his brother as “The Sons of Thunder” spoke up. Well, fellows, I think we need to start by simply telling them over and over what we believe.

But that won’t work, shouted Peter. The Rabbi Himself said that if everything was written down it would fill more books than there are in the whole world.

Hold on Pete, and listen for a minute. I have a plan that I think can work. I agree that some of us are a bit too wordy to do this but Brother Luke is a doctor who knows how to sum up important things in a few words. Why not let him show us how to do it.

They all looked at Luke and finally he said, "I think that might work. At next week’s prayer meeting each of us can come with one sentence about what we think was most important about the Rabbi and God’s work. We can take turns to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak and cover all the main issues. I will write it all down so we can remember.

When they came together it started this way.

Peter, of course, was first. As a Jew I have to say that I believe in God the Father Almighty

John was next and he said, Maker of heaven and earth.

Thomas was quick to interject, And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord

In this manner, every one of them was able to state his most important belief.

When they were all finished, the results became to be known as:

The Apostles' Creed

Prepare for Christmas

Advent is Latin for “The Arrival” While Lent is a time of preparing ourselves for the Death and Resurrection of Jesus and Advent is a time of preparing ourselves for the Coming of the Savior.

It has only been since the invention of the printing press in 1450. The very first book to be produced by Gutenberg was a Bible. Guttenberg produced a revolution. Just 75 years later in 1518 Luther sent his 95 statements to the bishop, Fr. John Staupitz, who took them to the Pope and the Reformation began.

One of Luther’s’ greatest contributions was to translate the Bible into the common language of the people. Leaders and laity could read scripture themselves. Before this the masses certainly could not read and many priests had only a rudimentary knowledge of it. So, for over 1500 years communication of the good news was made difficult by the fact that people could not read.

How would you teach the truths about God, Jesus, salvation, grace, the trinity, the virgin birth, etc? Before this, most priests and Brothers knew little. The Ten Commandments, 12 Apostles, Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm. A few might know the Apostles’ Creed.

Other ways to teach came with songs, stained glass windows, plays, reenactments and rituals in worship. In my trips to Russia I learned that the Eastern Orthodox Church developed stringent rules about their physical movements. They always crossed themselves from to bottom and left to right. The pinkie finger and the ring finger were always pressed against the hand to represent that Jesus was fully God and fully man. The other three fingers represent the Trinity.

An Advent celebration was one way to teach the people about God, Jesus, Mary, the virgin birth, angels, prophets, the trinity, etc. In the 4th Century a Pope developed a six week period of teaching the various aspects leading up to the Mass of Christ: Christmas.

It was meant to prepare the people for that great high mass. It was a time of daily reflection, repentance, thoughtfulness and humility. People could remember the rituals, candles, songs and actors even if they could not read about them personally. The next time you drive through a live crèche scene remember that this idea came about some 1600 years ago as a way to keep you focused on the meaning of Christmas.

Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.

Tradition lives in conversation with the past, while remembering we are where and when we are and that it is we who have to decide.

Traditionalism supposes that nothing should ever be done for the first time, so all that is needed to solve any problem is to arrive at the supposedly unanimous testimony of this homogenized tradition.

Jaroslav Pelikan

The liturgical year was one way to teach people about the mighty acts of God, so celebrate them this year.

Merry _____________

Since the Christian heritage of the United States was banned in 2050 it is necessary to write out a list of all words that are related to that heritage. I am asking all patriotic citizens to suggest new words to be added. We must be vigorous in this search lest the Religious Right violate the separation of church and state.

Holiday for it comes from Holy Day
Peace because Jesus is the Prince of Peace
Help the poor for that is a biblical concept
Forgiveness must never be mentioned by a public institution
All laws regarding theft, fraud and robbery are to be stricken since they originate in the Ten C__________ (I cannot say the word)
Loving your neighbor may no longer be stated for obvious reasons
Government employees must stop using good bye since it comes from God's Blessings on you
Good will toward all is stricken

The use of PLUS Signs is forbidden for it is a cross

The use of saints and angels in the names of cities must be changed. Frank instead of San Francisco; Matt instead of San Mateo; Lost instead of Los Angeles; Santa Fe is now just Fay;

Any government employee named Jesus must change his name.

The Declaration of Independence shall be changed to say: We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all of the human species have evolved with equal rights and responsibilities including life if the government agrees, liberty under control and the pursuit of the common good for the poor and downtrodden.

Any suggestions?

We Wish You a Merry _____________

Since the term "Merry Christmas" has been legally replaced by "Happy Holidays" Brave Heart wishes to assure you that God has not really lost this battle. The ignoramus who react so strongly and fearfully to any term relating to God and Jesus have actually helped our case grow in impact.

First, I need to remind you that the devil always overplays his hand. He tries too hard so his anxiety causes him to make a lot of mistakes.

Second, the devil and his unwitting henchmen attack the wrong things and cause the Army of God to rise up and destroy evil and darkness.

Third, Jesus will win the war and be with His people until the end.

The term Christmas comes from the tradition of celebrating a High Mass on the natal day that marks the Savior's birth. Mass of Christ became Christ's Mass and later Christmas. It's common usage has obscured its original meaning so losing it from the franca lingua is not a great calamity.

This is especially true for the term chosen by the ignorant secularists has much more spiritual meaning. From where does the term, "Holiday" arise? It clearly springs from, "Holy Day". Thus, the unwitting secularists have spread the good news even farther by choosing to emphasize the "Holiness" of the day and the "Holiness of God".

I trust you will join me in wishing each and every person a "Happy Holy-Day" to commemorate the birth of the Messiah.

Happy Holy Day
Happy Holy Day

Gary Sweeten
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www.lifewaycenters.com

Leaders in Pain

I just read a great article. You can get it at

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/1512763

The author says many of the things about pastors and their families that I have been discussing for several years.

The church is the most difficult organization to lead and manage that there is on the face of the earth. One wag commentated that "Ministry is not difficult; it is impossible."

1. The Devil hates church leaders and does everything possible to derail them. This is especially true of those who lead large congregations. I can recount many stories about leaders in very large, dynamic churches who fell ill; had accidents; saw their children struck down; were infiltrated by sick or demonic members; were sabotaged by staff; were accused of crimes by a family member or disgruntled member.

2. Are very, very, very isolated. An isolated minister is toast. Ego, fear of losing face, embarrassment, etc can keep a leader from admitting his failures and asking for assistance.

3. Talking Grace and Mercy but living by the Law and Perfectionism. One of my clients admitted that he preached Grace but always expected perfection from himself. The result was depression.

4. Conflict at home. We can all deceive others but we cannot deceive our wives and kids. I cannot count the number ot times a leader has said something like, "Listen, honey, you cannot say that. It will ruin my ministry". He thinks, of course, that the lies will not ruin his ministry and his marriage. (I have never met a man who fell into pornography or adultery who was not mad at his wife. Anger management is critically important.)

For several years I have focused on helping leaders and their families with free, confidential, professional counseling. I do many workshops, seminars and sermons but I always pray that the leaders will come to me for safe and secure ministry.

Call me if you know a leader in pain

Equipping the Ship's Crew

By first serving as a follower, a leader subsequently can best understand his followers. Hegel – Philosophy of Mind (1830)


While teaching in Sweden I learned that the term used in Ephesians 4:11 about the call of leaders to "Equip the saints" is translated in Swedish as the same term for "Outfitting a ship of war". Now we have to admit that Naval Commanders know the importance of proper preparation and planning. This was especially true for Viking commanders.

I wish Christian leaders were as keen at equipping their Christian crew as captains were at equipping their colleagues to sail the high seas. After all, this is the command of the Holy Spirit in scripture. But who is the crew on the "Good Ship Grace"? Who has bee called and appointed as the ones who are supposed to carry out the "works of service" in the church and world?

If we who lead the organizations we call churches and parachurch groups do not know the answer to this question we may have missed the whole point of things. Somehow the message has become distorted over the years and those called to lead or Captain the vessel have started to do all the work of the ministry. In complete disobedience to God's commands the clergy now try to do everything.

Teach
Inspire
Command
Man the guns
Trim the sails
Heal the sick and wounded
Discipline the crew
Navigate
Cook
Clean
Steer
Stand guard 24 x 7

This leaves the crew with little of importance to do. The result is a luxury cruise with most of the able bodied people sitting around sipping cool drinks and a few harried individuals doing all the work. One wag defined football as "50,000 people who desperately need exercise watching 22 men who desperately need rest run up and down a field and beat each other senseless." It also be the definition of most churches.

This makes the job impossible and ridiculous. But worst of all it makes the mission fail. Why would any ship's captain try to do all the work? It would be insane for anyone heading and organization to attempt to do all these things.

Why has the church been impotent in modern times? Its greatest crew assets are sitting and sipping, waiting to be equipped for ministry. They all desperately need to be Mobilized, Trained and Released in to the works of the Lord.

Some leaders actually adopt the crew approach but fail to train the crew. They say things like, "Every person a minister" but have no training school for equipping them in the practical aspects of ministry. That kind of short sightedness will result in many of the crew becoming casualties and a very sloppy ship.

Every person is gifted, talented and sable to minister in ways both large and small. Most of what I learned about Christian leadership came from people like Tom Seith, Frank Baker, Gary Booth, Larry Chrouch, Jim Keister, Maurie Loomans, Ken Shull and other "Lay" people who were engineers, researchers, scientists, businessmen and planners not clergy. But thay had commitment, integrity, structure and patience that apply in every organization.

Natural ability without education has more often raised a man to glory and virtue than education without natural ability. Marcus T. Cicero


If I have seen further…it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. Isaac Newton

Searching for Leaders

The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
Edward Gibbon

The past ten years I have spent a lot of time supporting Christian leaders and their families. I really enjoy working with leaders for by helping them improve their own lives affects so many others. I have always been interested in the influence of effective leaders and take particular notice when a film or TV program has a story showing what happens when the leaders are effective or ineffective.

My family gave me the gift of a great leadership movie for my birthday last May 5. It is Master and Commander and, like many films, takes place on the high seas during hostilities. The ships' Captain has to pastor, inspire, judge, discipline, heal and guide the ship and its crew. He must deal with inadequate, weak and untrained staff and the gossip that accompanies them.

One of the most interesting and educating events occurs when the Commander has to confront and rebuke his closest friend. He cannot allow his personal feelings stop him from doing what is right and best for the ship and its crew and its mission. Tough leadership is often required from a leader, especially one whose journey takes him months among hostile forces to accomplish.

Another point was the fact that the Captain had to plan for a long journey and make sure the crew included men with all kinds of skills and knowledge. This made him a school principal as well as a ship's captain. The men had to be equipped to do their work. Some of the men were very young and inexperienced while others were grizzled veterans of many sailing and this makes for a challenging educational experience. (More on this later.)

If you want to lead, study this film and others like it. They can inspire and offer examples of both good and lead decision-making. If you have any suggestions of good films write me a comment or send an email to gsweeten@lifewaycenters.com


What I need is someone who will make me do what I can. Ralph Waldo Emerson

What it Takes to Lead and What Hinders Leaders

The things that make good headlines attract our attention because they are on the surface of the stream of life, and they distract our attention from the slower, impalpable, imponderable movements that work below the surface and penetrate to the depths. But of course it is really these deeper, slower movements that, in the end, make history, and it is they that stand out huge in retrospect, when the sensational passing events have dwindled, in perspective, to their true proportions. Arnold Toynbee

Dr. Ranier's research also found the many leaders have another weakness: A lack of patience. Many say they are so "Task Oriented" that they simply cannot slow down and plan what they are doing.

When I was working as a rough-neck in the oil fields of southern Illinois and southern Indiana I had an experience that remains burned into my memory. The "Driller" had mistaking chosen to place the rig on the side of a hill so it was slightly off balance. This meant that every them we tried to start a new drill the rack would hang straight down while the hole was crooked.

My partners on the floor were restless, impatient and full of energy. When the pipe hung on the side of the hole they would cuss it and kick it while I stood by and suggested that we carefully edge the 60 foot steel pipe into the hole and straighten it after it had started into the hole.

Benjamin and Freddy looked at me like I was an alien and cussed me as well as the two tons of pig iron. "You smart _____ college guys think you know so much. You just want to talk not work." I laughed. These guys thought that hyperactive anger was a mark of hard work even if the job was never accomplished and the rig and crew were all beaten up.

Many pastors have the same attitude. Their motto is, "Go faster!" As long as they are busy it seems as though progress is being made. Impatience can be a strength as well. Far too many churches essentially grind to a halt and rarely ever accomplish any task. However, any task that does not help accomplish your mission and vision is worse than worthless. A worthless task is one that is fun or relaxing but has no other payoff. One that actually takes us away from our goal and mission is destructive.

Arnold Toynbee said:

The things that make good headlines attract our attention because they are on the surface of the stream of life, and they distract our attention from the slower, impalpable, imponderable movements that work below the surface and penetrate to the depths.

But of course it is really these deeper, slower movements that, in the end, make history, and it is they that stand out huge in retrospect, when the sensational passing events have dwindled, in perspective, to their true proportions.

The old administrative adage is: Plan your work then work your plan.

I help a lot of leaders understand their strengths and weaknesses and how to recruit others who compliment them so they together make a well-rounded team. An impatient leader needs a good planner. A slow plodder needs a visionary. Creative types need those who follow through.
"Even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto."

Discipleship and Equipping the Saints

Many years ago I attended a big conference on evangelism and discipleship in Dallas, TX. In the convention hall several of us had booths advertising our ministries to the attendees and my booth had a big sign indicating that we were dedicated to, Equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. I was surprised to discover that quite a few of the delegates and attendees were offended by the statement.

One lady came by and stopped dead in her tracks to stare at our biblical mission statement. Pointing at the offending sign she asked in an accusatory tone, "What do you mean when you say you are Equipping the saints? What saints are you talking about?"

I attempted to say that we meant all Christians because every one of us is a saint but she interrupted me very forcefully before I finished with, "Oh no! We are not all saints. You're not a saint and I'm not a saint!"

To her, a saint is one who always has a halo around his/her head. In Roman Catholic theology it is a person who has no sin or guilt in his/her life. To me a saint is any person whose life is set apart for God and holiness. When we came to know Christ we were at that moment set apart for Him and His Kingdom.

But being born again into God's family does not mean we are mature and perfect in following the King. Just as a baby needs to grow and mature into maturity so does a child of God need to be trained, taught and equipped to walk and talk like a mature person.

I have two children and two and a half grandkids. My children are fairly mature but still learning and growing. One of the best ways to grow up is by having kids and rearing them. The grandkids range in age from nine to two to a fetus in the womb. Each child requires different levels and differing types of education.

Some Christians need Milk others Meat and some need Ministry Skills. Just as every one of my kids and grandkids must learn a trade or profession every believer is called to a specific, God designed and gift fulfilling Ministry. This may seem elementary but it is where we all must start if we are to follow God's call to Disciple, Heal and Grow.

As Dr. Rainer has found, however, few leaders even know that they are called in scripture to Equip the saints almost none know how to design a Discipleship process to fulfill the Bible's command.

This leaves me frustrated! My undergraduate degree was in Elementary and Secondary Education so I learned about designing a curriculum for children and youth and the skills necessary to help kids learn.

My graduate degree was in Student personnel and I learned how adult men and women best learn and how to design a learning community on campus.

My Doctorate focused on Educating and Training Counselors so I learned how to set up a curriculum that included TIPS (Theory Into Practical Service). I have seen lay care and lay counseling centers all over the earth so I know they can be very effective.

Designing and implementing a system to develop the church into a community of care, counsel and learning is not easy but it is possible. My frustration comes when I see that so few churches, leaders and seminaries understand the most basic elements of developing a growth system.

Leaders' Weaknesses

Dr. Thom Ranier, a Prof at Southern Seminary in Louisville, is a prolific writer and researcher on leadership and church growth. In one of his many research projects Ranier asked Pastors to list their top weaknesses. Here is a summary of the top five mistakes.

Weakness #1: Pastoral Ministry

Almost three out of four leaders told us their number one leadership weakness was providing personal pastoral ministry. Our definition of pastoral ministry included counseling, doing hospital visitation, and performing weddings and funerals, to name a few of the responsibilities.

"If I get a consistent criticism," a Nevada pastor told us, "it is my failure to live up to the expectations to minister to each person individually. But if I live up to all of their expectations, I wouldn't have time for sermon preparation, personal evangelism, and just plain ol' dreaming. I constantly live with this tension but refuse to give up time from the other responsibilities. "

In our research we discovered that leaders of effective churches spent 10 hours per week in pastoral care while leaders of the comparison churches spent 23 hours doing the same type of ministries.

"It finally hit me one day," said Tom J., a senior pastor from Oklahoma. "I was doing all of the hospital visits, counseling, home visits, and nitpicky ministry for two reasons. First, I received affirmation for doing it. Second, I avoided criticism for not doing it. Neither is a legitimate reason for doing things the way I was doing them."

He paused for a moment, and his tone indicated a serious reflection. "But you know what really got to me? I realized that I was being disobedient to Scripture. When I try to do all the ministry, I am depriving the people in the church of their God-given call to do ministry."

So why did the leaders of the effective churches say pastoral ministry was their number one leadership weakness? The issue, it seems, is one of balance.

"I am constantly dealing with the tension," Jack M. of eastern Tennessee told us. "I know my primary calling, according to Acts 6, is to be in prayer and the ministry of the Word. But when the critics tell me I am not caring enough, I wonder if I am too insensitive to their needs. I wish I was a strong enough leader to know just exactly what to do."

My comments: Jack M. still hasn't gotten it right. According to Ephesians 4:11 and following the leaders primary task is to "Equip the people so they can DO the works of serving the Lord and people." Complaining members are simply trying to get the leaders' attention. Like a wailing baby the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Any senior pastor who spends that much time giving personal counsel and support to parishioners is misdirecting and misusing his gifts and energy.

Our seminaries are failing to prepare graduates for real ministry.

ALERT! When I arrived on the staff at a large church as Minister of Discipleship the ministers spent between 10 and 15 hours each week delivering personal care and counsel. After we started training Lay Helpers and Lay Pastors they spent ZERO hours and our lay people did the rest of the care.

You want to know how we did it? Read our book, Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty
Call 513-769-4600 to purchase or go to Amazon.com

Is There a Crisis Among Pastors?

According to some we are facing a great and growing crisis among church leaders. It is great because the failings and weaknesses of a single pastor/leader affects hundreds of members in addition to the leaders and their families. Second, in addition to the human cost there is an enormous financial cost when leaders fail. I recently wrote to some of our supporters.

I am deeply concerned about the health and influence of Christians and the church. I was called from CHPC in 1989 to develop LifeWay Counseling Centers. Ever since I have helped hundreds of distressed, wounded and ineffective Christian leaders. Many who seem successful in religious life are at a crisis at home, church and soul. Some face exhaustion, sexual involvement, financial disaster and congregational conflicts. Some of my best friends have succumbed to divorce and scandal because they refused to ask for help. It goes without saying that a church with such leaders cannot be healthy.

During my sixteen years with CHPC I learned the necessary ingredients of leading a thriving congregation. We had a great staff, strong elders and turned on laity. They taught me numerous lessons about organization, purpose, planning, focused priorities and the importance of staying spiritually healthy. CHPC invested heavily in its leaders and I spent hundreds of hours counseling and equipping leaders at our sister churches. Even so, most churches cannot thrive without ongoing consultation.

I presently coach and counsel a significant number of struggling ministers and elders, coming along side them at life-changing times. I see them during church splits, moral crises or family dissolution. Boomer leaders are especially vulnerable to burn out, confusion and spiritual crisis. Confidential, safe and capable expertise is hard to find. This summer I calls from several leaders who asked for help from people who led them into catastrophic results. Now it may be too late to save them and the church from disaster.

To whom can a pastor or elder go for help when problems arise at home or with a parishoner? Several men discovered that people they thought were able to keep a confidence gossiped and destroyed a solid career. This is why I offer my confidential counsel, wisdom and prayers when a crisis occurs.

Calls come to me from all over the USA and the world from missionaries, pastors, evangelists and Christian counselors have gotten themselves into embarrassing and sometimes sinful problems. Adding to the crisis is the fact that few places are safe for them to go and even fewer people have the clinical expertise to unravel the web of deceit, marital pain, church anger and depressive symptoms.

As a Clinical Counselor I have both training and expertise in working with church and family systems that are deeply bruised and facing a loss of hope. I am also deeply committed to health of everyone concerned. Without a healthy leader the church cannot be strong; without a strong church the world will never hear the gospel and outreach, discipleship and missions will fail.

A healthy church family is critically important to society and the Kingdom of God. It is the goose that lays the golden eggs for Christian growth.

What is a Fundamentalist?

This term is one of derision and misunderstanding in today's world for it is devoid of an accurate meaning. In the early part of the 20th Century many theologians and preachers were challenging the authority and accuracy of the Bible. As science gained ground in American schools and seminaries the Bible was assumed to be less reliable by some leaders.

This view naturally led doubts about Creation, Jonah and the whale, the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Those who held a "High View" of scripture reacted by reaffirming that there are certain "FUNDAMENTALS" of the Christian faith. One writer who vigorously presented these views was Curtis Lee Laws who coined the term "Fundamentalism" and spread its meaning around the nation.

A broad spectrum of Christian leaders like the term and joined in a wide group who promoted the fundamentals and fought against "Modernist/Liberal" ideas that attacked the Bible and historic Christian doctrines such as salvation by faith in Jesus' death and resurrection. Modernist leaders called the cross a "Bloody religion" and rejected it in favor of "Caring and peace".

These folks also rejected modernist tendencies among Christians such as movies, smoking make up on women, dancing, drinking, etc.

In England a Fundamentalist is described not on anti-modernist views but solely about one's commitment to the fundamentals of the faith. In America, this would be called an Evangelical. So, fundamentalists and Evangelicals will agree on theology but may disagree on social issues.

At this time in our history we are very confused about the differences because both Evangelicals and Fundamentalists are together on some social and political issues such as gay marriage and prayer in school. We neeed to carefull describe who we are and what we want to promote and/or restrict lest we become ensnared in political issues at the cost of our evangelistic success.

The term Evangelical means more than someone who "evangelizes" or shares his faith. It describes a group that agrees with certain theological commitments. My doctoral dissertation was on the topic of developing a pastoral care and counseling system for Evangelical churches. I describe an Evangelical as one who subscribes to the historic faith found in supernatural Christianity and a search for truth that includes scientific inquiry.

The Left Wing and Fundamentalists

One thing about the left wing media such as the Washington Post and the New York Times dueing the recent election. They cannot stand us but do not really know why. Almost every article I read and every leftist pundit I heard who spoke about the values of Evangelicals in the election were wrong.

• Most cannot describe what qualifies us to earn such a name.
• None that I heard can distinguish an Evangelical from a Fundamantalist
• Most do not know the difference of Christian conservatives and Islamic Fundamentalists
• Many say they wish to attract us to their political party and start the wooing by calling us dumb, stupid, evil and easily read. They also add to that, "mean, racist and hateful". Then they cannot understand why we do not join their party.

Maybe we can discuss these issues later but for the present I will simply paste in the abstract from one the most famous psychologists in America, Martin Seligman. Read what he has to say about conservative/fundamentalist religions.


Abstract from Optimism and Fundamentalism
by Marvin Seligman, Ph D

Explanatory style from nine religious groups, representing fundamentalist, moderate, and liberal viewpoints, was investigated by questionnaire and by blind content analysis of their sermons and liturgy.

Fundamentalist individuals were significantly more optimistic by questionnaire than those from moderate religions, who were in turn more optimistic than liberals. The liturgy and sermons showed the parallel pattern of optimism.

Regression analyses suggested that the greater optimism of fundamentalist individuals may be entirely accounted for by the greater hope and daily influence fundamentalism engenders, along with the greater optimism of the religious services they hear.

Dr. Seligman is not a fundamentalist and has served as President of the American Psychological Association.

Moral Values and Christianity

Mark Daniels writes a great blog about many topics. However, as a Lutheran Pastor Mark regularly discusses tough issues. For 20 years I have taught in the workshops, seminaries and conferences of Lutherans in Norway, Sweden and Denmark They are a verychallenging audience when I talk about values. The Lutherans are well trained to think theologically and always return to the issue of grace. I have learned a lot from them andthink you will find Pastor Mark's remarks well-written and insightful.

I hope some of you will read his blog

http://markdaniels.blogspot.com/2004/11/what-about-Christian-faith-and-moral.html

With all the noise about the election and morality it is a very needed article.

Church and Blood Pressure

Right now I am experiencing rather high blood pressure. I am not sure why but I am looking at two possible sources.

1. Maybe my prayer life is not as vigorous as it could be and needs to be to say peaceful. Jesus promised us peace if we would abide in him. I believe that is true because I have experienced more peace when I am attending church regularly and engaging in prayer, worship and Bible reading.

When I experienced severe chest pains on a flight to Singapore a doctor was discovered on the flight and he found my blood pressure to be very, very high. I told him to leave me alone for town minutes and my pressure would be lower when he returned.

"What are you going to do?" he asked. "Pray in the Spirit," I said. I prayed and it did come down.

2. I am in a special research study that requires me to take some new medicine. I am afraid it has a bad side effect that causes higher pressure.

In either case I know that worship is good for me. Just look at the following article.

People active in the church and who study the Bible appear to have lower blood pressure than people who are less religiously active, according to a new study from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. examined the health and habits of people 65 and older over a 6-year period. They found that people who attended religious services at least once a week showed lower blood pressure readings than folks who attended less often.

Researchers also found that people who tuned into religion programs on television or radio had higher blood pressure than those who did not. Dr. Harold G. Koenig tells OnHealth that finding may be due to the fact that people who resort to broadcasted religious programs may be too old or too sick to leave the house.

"Involvement in the religious community may have very important health benefits," Koenig says. "Religious people cope better with stress," which may explain why they have lower blood pressure, he adds findings arrive when many studies have linked religion to better health. Koenig says he's not recommending doctors to convert or prescribe religion for patients, but to be aware that faith can be a factor in one's health. The study appears in the summer issue of International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine.

So, prayer, worship, study and fellowship are actually good for my body as well as my soul! And, as my dad would say, "All that benefit for only a couple of dollars a week."

American Beliefs and Healthy Living
© Gary Sweeten

What are the deepest beliefs of Americans? Why are so many national politicians shocked by the fact that so many of us are interested in voting?

According to most polls the majority of us come from a Christian tradition. About 42% of all Americans attend religious services weekly. Some 95% of Americans believe in God. This is more than those who attend all professional sports in an entire year.

So, why is there so much news about sports and so little about spiritual matters?

In 1985 George Gallup found that 72% of Americans said that My whole approach to life is based on my religion. (This includes politics!)

We are the most religious western nation in the world. This is shocking because the country is divided 50/50 in politics. America, for all her weaknesses, is a religious nation.

One wag noted that India is the most religious country in the world and Sweden the least. America is a bunch of Indians ruled by Swedes.

Research shows that 91% of blacks, 93% of Hispanics and 88% of whites report a religious affiliation. Even more startling is the numberof regular attendance:

51% of blacks,
48% of Hispanics
43% of whites

attend services weekly or more often.

Sixty four percent (64%) of blacks in the national sample were members of religious communities (churches)

Fifty nine percent (59%) of whites and

Forty three percent (43%) of Hispanics. Participation in religious activities outside weekend services is also high with 47% blacks, 41% whites and 31% Hispanics saying they are in church during the week as well as on Sunday. (See Social Capital @ http://www.cfsv.org/communitysurvey/results6.html)

In a nation obsessed with racial and cultural diversity the facts about minorities and religious faith have been strangely absent from the dialogue.

One statistic about African American longevity and church attendance makes the absence of a good dialogue especially puzzling. The data are rarely mentioned in the debates about faith based organizations.

An article by Hummer et al in Demography Journal, 36:273-285 in 1999, Blacks who attend church live much longer than those who do not.

Attendance+++++++++++White expectancy+Black expectancy
Never++++++++++++++++++++77 Years+++++++67 = 10 year difference
Weekly or Less+++++++++++++80 Years+++++++75 = 5 year difference
Weekly or more+++++++++++++83 Years+++++++80 = 3 year difference

Whites who attend services more than weekly gain an average of six years in longevity.

African Americans who attend services weekly or more gain a whopping 13 years in life expectancy. The normal difference in longevity of Blacks is almost completely eclipsed by church attendance. In fact, attending church more often than weekly raises Blacks life expectancy to that of whites who attend weekly or less.

Is it not racist to fail to encourage Blacks to develop religious commitment?

It is malpractice and wrong not to encourage both Blacks and Whites to attend religious services.

Is the ACLU promoting sickness by attacking religious freedom?

Are Evangelicals Just Like the Taliban?

Wow! The red hot rhetoric during the political season has brought out a lot of strong critics of Evangelical Christians. When many voters said they supported Bush because of "Values" a lot of Left Wing Democrats became very upset.

Since I wrote my doctoral dissertation on Evangelical theology I observed this phenomenon with great interest as well as astonishment at the heat and ignorance displayed by all sides. Perhaps both the anger and the lack of knowledge come from TV talking heads who book only politicians on their shows to speak about the interests of Evangelicals.

Oh how I longed to get on some of the shows myself. I wanted to tell them a few things about my values as an Evangelical Christian. One of the most disturbing facts that emerged from the debate has to do with the fact that most politicians misunderstand us and the effect of Christian faith on our behavior. In fact, many of our own leaders do not understand the benefits of faith in Christ.

First, Christians who "Walk the talk" as well as "Talk the walk" live longer, healthier and happier lives. Even the poll taker George Barna does not report the data and benefits accurately. He says that Believers are just as likely to divorce as atheists. This may be true and it has a simple explanation. As St. James said, "Faith without works is DEAD!"

For those who "Talk the walk" but fail to "Walk the talk" conflict and pain are inevitable.
Many research studies show that Christians who attend church weekly or more divorce about one half as often as those who attend less than weekly. The key is not salvation but commitment and fellowship with learning and worship.

I recently wrote and presented a paper for the Children's Hospital Psychiatric Department. In it I covered many of the studies about the effects of faith on mental, emotional and physical health. I will present some of the more interesting results on those blog in the future. It will motivate you to prayer and worship.

And, what about us fundamenatlists being just as mean and bitter as the Taliban? That accusation is a lie.

• Every charity hospital in the world can be traced to Judeao-Christian ideals.
• Almost all advances in the compassionate treatment of women and children come from the Bible.
• The freedom of slaveworldwide can be traced to Christians.
• etc
• etc
• etc
• More later
  
  
  
  
  

Thanksgiving 2004 and George Washington

Many national politicians strongly argue that the USA is a secular nation. Some are so REACTIVE that any public display of religion and/or spiritual life is met with horrified screams about the necessity of the "Separation of church and state". (Reactivity is a hysterical, overly emotional reaction to an insignificant event.)

I would like to remind everyone to take a deep breath, calm down and think clearly for a moment.

1. A political office holder who prays, sings and attends church is not a "church" so any private, personal act is not establishing a church.

2. When the government's organization such as the Boy Scouts uses the term, "God" it is not setting up a church.

3. A church is an officially organized body like Episcopalian or Roman Catholic Denominations.

4. Separation of church and state means that the government cannot establish a national denomination. Many European countries have official, tax supported denominations. I know of no Evangelical or fundamentalist who wants a state, tax supported denomination.

Let us celebrate George Washington's faith while recognizing that he is not setting up a denomination's church

As our nation celebrates Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, it is helpful to remember what our first president said about Thanksgiving Day on October 3, 1789:

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour;

and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be;

that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war;

for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;
for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;

to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually;

to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed;

to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us);

and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord;

to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us;

and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Politics and Personal Faith

I am a passionate believer in Christ and the church. I am also a passionate believer in the separation of any particular church or denomination and the state. However, I am completely dedicated to using Judeo-Christian values to judge our laws.

The early years of American colonial life were the marked by an amazing lack of religious and church going fervor. Pioneers, men searching for easy fortunes and women of poor virtue swarmed to the New World in search of easy money, escape from oppressive families or a new start. For most, church attendance was not the way to get any of those things.

In those early years we also saw the only time in our history when we had the state paying to support a particular church/religion. The strongest Christian denominations in the Colonies were Episcopalians and congregationalism (The Puritans) They got the colonies to pay their clergy and build their churches.

The Presbyterians were the third largest denomination but refused to take any tax monies from the government. They had fought hard to be liberated from England's control and they were not about to return to state control just because of a few dollars.

The Baptists were few and far between in the early days and refused to allow the state to have any influence over them or their budgets.

We must recognize that separation from finances and governmental oversight did not mean a lack of influence of religion and God from the state. The Colonists had suffered greatly in Europe and Great Britain because the state promoted a specific denomination. England was Roman Catholic at first but pulled away to become Anglican/Episcopal. This resulted in a series of wars.

The Scots desired freedom and Protestantism and the Catholic rulers in London fought them. Luther, Calvin and many others fought over freedom of religion and freedom of political ideas.

Many Europeans fear the religious instincts of American politicians for good reasons. The fear that we want a return to a theocracy. Nothing could be farther from the truth for most of us Americans.

Americans tend to approach faith in a personal way. Personal prayer, personal worship, personal conduct. However, we also want to apply our core values to law and government.

Europeans and some American Liberals tend to approach religion from a group perspective. While conservatives by and large think of people and religion Liberals tend to see Politics and legal constraints. This sets us up for great misunderstanding.

Posting and Resting

I have not been very active on the blog the past few weeks. The election and moving offices have kept me busy and I have not been feeling well.

I have struggled with the gunch gunch, a mysterious disease that causes aches, pains, coughing and a sore throat. In addition I have experienced for the first time in my life high blood pressure. 10 days ago it was 181 over 89!

I have also started a new blog on another channel. It will focus on the Care and Cure of the Soul and can be accessed at

http://soulcare.typepad.com

This has been my passion for many years and I have attempted to teach pastors, missionaries and leaders how to improve their skills at this craft.

I will continue to post random thoughts on growth, healing, renewed thinking, politics and prayer while using the other site to teach about the ancient art of seelsorge: caring and curing the soul.

A kid in Arizona wrote the attached

NEW School prayer.


Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot;
My soul please take,

AMEN!

Russian News!

Hot off the press. Dr Chentsova is developing a business plan with all the trimmings and in accord with her great team of lay leaders. Why is this big news?

Under the Communist rule, no one, repeat; NO ONE was allowed to set goals, plan, develop a mission or vision. In fact, to show any initiative was an invitation to a free trip to Siberia and a prison term doing hard labor in a gulag.

Since 1991 I have been trying to help the Russians learn how to take initiative and develop plans to run their own ministry teams. This is basic in America but radical stuff in Russia for it has never, ever been done before. This is an illustration of why it is so difficult to get the Russians to develop healthy teams. Everything, including church ministry, was commanded by the top officials.

Lifeways Russia is doing nation building. Russia cannot succeed as a democracy without a Christian revival.

Pray for us and donate to the Russian fund generously.

Lifeways Russia
c/o LifeWay Ministries, Inc
11161 Kenwood Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242

Funny Video Art

Slate has a hilarious (and hilariously long) video outtake of John Edwards fussing with his hair. It's part of a collection assembled by comedian Harry Shearer, now on display at a Washington art gallery.

Slate's comment on the Edwards clip:

"For a guy who's been known derisively to the Bush crowd as the Breck girl," observes Shearer, vice presidential candidate John Edwards seems "way too interested in his hair." He tries to straighten it with his fingers. A makeup technician approaches with a comb, but the senator likes it just so and does the combing himself. He signals he's ready for hair spray by closing his eyes expectantly, like a child. Then Edwards and the technician straighten a little more with their fingers. Please don't tell me that thing in his hand is a compact. Oh, dear. It is.

We are on the Move

It was a bit over 15 years ago when LifeWay Hospital and Clinic opened its doors to provide Christ-centered therapy for hurting men and women. Our in-patient unit was located in a beautiful wing of the Emerson A. North Hospital in College Hill. It was owned by the Franciscan Sisters whose Mission Statement was, "To continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ."

We opened four other offices over the years and closed the hospital unit. I also launched a new ministry to pastors and churches called LifeWay Ministries that equips lay people around the world. We have seen many, many changes.

The LifeWay Counseling Center office and clinic was providentially located on Route 42 and I-275 midway between 71 and 75. There we have remained until this week when we move to Blue Ash. (See www.lifewaycenters.com for directions)

We have purchased a business condo that is better in many ways than our present location.

• We are more easily accessed from Ronald Reagan, 71 and 75.
• It is designed to be a counseling center.
• It is a quiet, secluded and peaceful area in Blue Ash.
• We are on the first floor with easy entry and surroundings.
• We have a special prayer/meditation room in the center of the facility.
• There is a conference/group room for teaching, meetings and ministry.
• The offices are soundproof, beautiful and warmly decorated.

We will be open for business on Monday, October 25.

513-769-4600
513-789-0304 (Fax)

Political Debates

After watching and reading about the current presidential kerfuffle, I am struck by the reporters' aversion to plain speaking. The media consistently describes both Senator Jerry and President Bush as being "harsh, attacking, mean, bitter and cruel". I have several observations:

1. Political debates need to be hard hitting and truthful challenges based on ideas, facts and a search for truth. These things may hurt the other person's feelings.

2. Many reporters do not want truth and factual debates but a harmonious love fest that obscures reality.

3. Christians have guidance on this issue from scripture. It tells us that by "Speaking the truth in love we can grow up in every way... (Eph 4:15) This is the very best approach to a good debate for it balances facts and reality with compassion and unselfishness.

The biblical standard is not easy but we can, with the Holy Spirit, get close. In Matthew, Jesus discusses in detail how we are to handle difficult issues that can cause anger, bitterness and revenge.

5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin.

But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

The Great Teacher lays out a well defined, three step approach to public and private disputes.

Step One, anger is dangerous, so be careful. However, it can also be helpful if it energizes us enough to clean up a relationship and speak the truth in love with a personal COMPLAINT that goes something like this: "I do not agree with my opponent's position on abortion. Here is my position and why."

Step Two, if we don't handle anger it will get worse, enter the yellow zone and turn into accusations and personal attacks. At step two Jesus uses the term; Raca, stupid, dumb or mentally deficient and will lead us to be judged ourselves. "My opponent is just ignorant about abortion and is not smart enough to understand its outcomes."

Step Three the red hot zone of a character assassination that leads to hell either figuratively or actually. "My opponent loves to punish women by denying them abortion rights for he is a racist woman hater." Or, "My opponent enjoys killing babies and is a racist who is trying to eliminate African Americans."

As you watch the debates and listen to the candidates, learn to distinguish among these three approaches. Sometimes the challenge is a Complaint that says, "I disagree with ___." That is legitimate even when reporters do not like it. However, when pols say things like, "He is a liar, a cheat, a coward, a malcontent or a deserter" they have stepped over the line.

23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

One of the highlights in the current election came when President Bush was asked about Senator Kerry's war record. The President answered by saying, "Mr. Kerry was more courageous than I. He served honorably and put himself in harm's way and I never did." A low time came when VP Cheney cursed out a member of the Congress.

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The Web of Life

Two smash hit children/s movies released in the past few years are The Lion King and Finding Nemo. I like each of them a lot for they teach some great lessons about respect for life and the Webb of life.

In Lion King all life has worth. When the evil uncle kills his brother, The Lion King, and blames it on his nephew, he is clearly shown as an evil villain. In many places there are songs and teachings on the importance of the Webb of life and the importance of every living animal in that Webb.

Sometimes it gets a bit too much of the New Age in style but the current culture of death in America today needs a strong dose of childrens' resources to turn the tide.

Nemo has an opening scene that is very pro life. Nemo's father and mother are excitedly anticipating the arrival of new babies after mommy plants all her eggs just outside their cave home. Unfortunately, a big, strong fish swoops down and eats momma and all the eggs but one. That one egg becomes Nemo and the rest of the movie depicts Marlin frantically trying to save him from all kinds of dangers. He learns to be resiient and to keep trying despite the odds against him.

Movies are powerful communicators of values and ideas. Find those that teach your kids about the importance of love, life and respect. It is not too late to prevent them from killing us when we are old.

Reverence for Life or Culture for Death?

Every time I try to watch Chris Matthews on Hard Ball I get frustrated. His shoot from the hip arrogance on issues he obviously knows little about is irritating. He is the poster boy for "Often wrong but never in doubt."

Tonight, Sunday, October 10, one of the panel members noted that Kerry's response at the last debate about abortion was "wishy washy" or something similar. Chris interrupted, of course, and proceeded to correct the guy. He then lectured us on how social issues about the sanctity of life should be kept out of politics. He went on to quote the Bible, "Give unto Caesar..."

The right to life is protected by the Constitution and the Constitution was founded on the Bible. However, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not only for Jews and Christians.

Why do we say Hitler was wrong for killing millions? He had no reverence for life.

Does Chris mean that any politician that reverences life is crossing the church-state barrier? Almost all our laws come from our Judeo-Christian heritage. Civil rights come from scripture certainly not evolution. We Christians protect the weak and vulnerable while evolution promotes survival only of the fittest. That legal protection comes straight from scripture not from science.

Why did John Kerry think killing in Viet Nam was wrong? Was it based on evolution or Catholic moral reasoning? Roman Catholic teaching found in scripture.

Perhaps Chris is better at knowing scripture than Howard Dean. Dean placed his favorite book of the Bible, Jonah, in the New Testament and written by two different people. That is amazing scholarship! I just got out an old, dusty Bible and, voila, Jonah is still in the Old Testament.

Chris, why not follow the moral teachings of your church and admit that taking innocent life is wrong? All current Protestants who support the protection of innocent life do so as the result of reading Roman Catholic scholars. Are we Protestants more consistent with the Catholic teachings than you and Kerry?

The Lord says, "I set before you death or life. Therefore, choose life."

How should this nation be remembered? As a place where the lonely, sick and weakest of our citizens could find refuge or where the strong can take the lives of the weak for any reason whatsoever? The two candidates make the choice very clear.

Local Christian Resources

Pastor Russ Smith of Covenant Presbyterian Church, the oldest Protestant church in Cincinnati, has placed a web link to the Cincinnati Art Museum Exhibit about Petra:Lost City of Stone. Check it out on the resources page of www.covfirstchurch.org

Tell your friends about it and let Russ know what you think. He wants to create more cultural resources if it works well.

Now that the Freedom Museum is open is would be good totake a tour of it. The Freedom Train was built and run by Christians.

Faith Based Health


Almost everyone agrees that attending the church of your choice is healthy. The more we attend, the healthier we get. But, healthiness is not limited to less disease. It also leads to healthier behavior. Research recently published online says:

Involvement in faith-based programs, school clubs, and sports positively influences youth not to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Students who are involved in faith-based programs, school clubs, or sports are more than 50% less likely to use substances than students not involved in these activities.

Data reported are from the third iteration of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati's Student Personal Drug Use Survey, which is conducted every two years.

The 2004 survey included over 64,000 students from 186 public and private schools in 10 counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

To access the entire dataset, please visit http://www.oasis.uc.edu/. For more information, please contact Rhonda Ramsey-Molina, President of the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati.

I recently heard NPR attack President George Bush for promoting faith-based support groups. The reporter clearly failed to share the numerous research studies about faith and healthy behavior as well as recovery. It is up to us to get the word out. Despite having research facilities that can dig these things out NPR failed to do so.

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I have been writing about the command of Jesus to "Go as lambs among wolves" and "bless people with peace/shalom." Now we can see why. Jesus wants everyone to have the chance to experience shalom or health, prosperity, wholeness, salvation, eternal life and safety.

Drugs, alcohol abuse, sexualy promiscuity, violence are modern wolves in sheeps clothing. Getting kids involved in Christian activities will defeat those wolves.

What should we do about NPR? Bless them with shalom.