Saturday, September 30, 2006
Responding to Muslim Violence To the Pope
Most of us are amazed at the way so many Muslims have reacted to the Pope's statements about the necessity of any religion to reject violence as a way to evangelize. One would think that Muslim leaders would consider just how awful it would look to audiences around the world if they did exactly what the Pope was criticizing. Yet, many Muslim leaders went immediately to their marketing departments and organized large, violent protests stating that the Pope and other Christians should be immediately killed.
Why would a marketing department demand such an irrational course of action?You might ask why I state that the Muslims were guided by their paid marketers. It is simple.
1. The Muslim marchers are mostly illiterate and yet they had signs in well painted English.
2. Who knows English? Paid marketers?
3. Why English? So CNN and The New York Times and other western media can read it and show it to Americans.
4. So the signs are for our American consumption not the locals. They really want the left wing liberal media to react and they did. The Times actually criticized the Pope not the Mulims! I suppose they are afraid of being bombed.
5. Local Muslims can not read or understand what the Pope said so someone paid by them developed the slogans, painted the signs and told them what to say.
6. Western marketing moguls are behind the protests. That may be why they were so dumb and counter productive.
How do we respond?By rejecting violence but realizing how REACTIVE and out of control many Muslims are to any perceived slight. Reactive people do not think things through or make decisions on rational reasons.
They are at the mercy of their own emotional problems and inner discussions.We need to pray for them to know Jesus Christ.
Take a look at John Piper's blog on this topic.Resource Library / Taste & See Articles / By Date / 2006 / How Christians Should Respond to Muslim Outrage at the Pope's Regensburg
The Process of Change in Coming to Christ
A few posts ago I showed some photos of the Greater Cincinnati Baptist Association Pastors who gather weekly at the Life Way Counseling center Offices in Blue Ash to discuss leadership, influence and change.
As a person with deep Baptist roots I am happy to say that these men are deeply commited to Christ and to growing the church in healthy ways.We are discussing ways to influence people as God brings changes in their lives and I am promoting the idea that all change is incremental, step by step and usually slow over a period of time.
The problem lies in an instant mashed potato society that expects change to be quick and easy.I have developed a way of showing what I think is a biblical way to describe the stages of change from being against God, called scoffers in the Bible, to being sold out to Jesus.
The above article notes how reactive many Muslims are to anything that is contrary to its teachings. However, many Muslims are coming to faith in jesus Christ through visions, dreams, seeing Jesus and through the lives of missionaries. It is rarely a sudden and dramatic change. Most of the time conversion comes over many years and many witnesses.
More later on this point.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Life Way Supports Pastors
Perhaps you have heard the following statements.
As goes the leadership of an organization so goes the organization.
An organization, like a fish, rots from the head down.
Where are they? I must find them! I am their leader!
After trying to train lay people for many years with little successes in church organizations to show for my effort I began to re-think my approach. Although I still love to work with non-clergy, it is a fact that people look to their pastors for setting the pace for organizational growth and change. So, for the past few years I have poured myself and my talents into strengthening pastors and their families.The stats about leaders and their family life are dismal.
Unfortunately, many of the current magazines and seminars supposedly designed for ministers and church leaders make the situation worse not better by pushing pastors to try harder and do more, thus facilitating an impossible, works righteousness approach to the Christian life.
Take a look at some of the data from seminary research:
75% dropout after 15-20 years
Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry monthly due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their church.
Most become Chaplains, Counselors, Insurance Sales
80% say ministry impacts families negatively
40% have conflicts with member monthly
70% have no close friends1/8th pastors consider quitting
This equals about =44,500 people
© Joseph Umidi @ Regent University,Virginia Beach,VA.
We at Life Way Ministries are dedicated to offering free, confidential counseling, coaching, support and training for ministers from any and every denomination. We are currently helping several leaders, their wives and family members who are suffering from burn out, depression, conflict shell shock and emotional/sexual misconduct.
Pray for us as we develop more channels of support and prevention.
Another Blogging Change
I am still learning how to blog so it is not easy to get to the ministry blog. So, I have cut and pasted the address for you to try. http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com/
Go there for past minsitry posts.
This did not work well. I am returning to one and only one blog. Having two sites is too complicated for me to maintian with my very limited time.
From now on both personal and ministry items will appear here.
I am still learning how to blog so it is not easy to get to the ministry blog. So, I have cut and pasted the address for you to try. http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com/
Go there for past minsitry posts.
This did not work well. I am returning to one and only one blog. Having two sites is too complicated for me to maintian with my very limited time.
From now on both personal and ministry items will appear here.
Grants and Faith Based Ministry in Ohio
Many people are disturbed about some of the things that have happened in our state politics over the past few years. I am not too familiar with these activities but I do know that Ohio leads the nation in funding Faith Based Groups. That is awesome.
Several years ago, Governor Bob Taft signed into law a bill setting up an office of Faith Based funding. It is the only state in the union to have done so. Ken Blackwell is greatly supportive of these actions and is a man of faith himself. I have known Mr. Blackwell for many years and hope he will continue his support as Governor.
Life Way Ministries is a Faith Based Non profit charity and is thereby able to receive such grants from the state and federal governments. Last year we received a word from a friend that we needed to really emphasize "At Risk Families" in our ministry. I joined a consortium of groups applying for grants to support marriage and family life among poor and Black families.
PTL, we have already received two grants, one of which has a small amount for Life Way included in it. Beech Acres is coordinating the grant writing and coordination along with Carol Adelard of Healthy Visions. Go to http://www.beechacres.org/family/home.asp for more information.
The research is clearly on the side of faith based involvements in developing healthy families and we at Life Way are moving out to network with churches and ministries to build greater momentum for healthy family life.
Many people are disturbed about some of the things that have happened in our state politics over the past few years. I am not too familiar with these activities but I do know that Ohio leads the nation in funding Faith Based Groups. That is awesome.
Several years ago, Governor Bob Taft signed into law a bill setting up an office of Faith Based funding. It is the only state in the union to have done so. Ken Blackwell is greatly supportive of these actions and is a man of faith himself. I have known Mr. Blackwell for many years and hope he will continue his support as Governor.
Life Way Ministries is a Faith Based Non profit charity and is thereby able to receive such grants from the state and federal governments. Last year we received a word from a friend that we needed to really emphasize "At Risk Families" in our ministry. I joined a consortium of groups applying for grants to support marriage and family life among poor and Black families.
PTL, we have already received two grants, one of which has a small amount for Life Way included in it. Beech Acres is coordinating the grant writing and coordination along with Carol Adelard of Healthy Visions. Go to http://www.beechacres.org/family/home.asp for more information.
The research is clearly on the side of faith based involvements in developing healthy families and we at Life Way are moving out to network with churches and ministries to build greater momentum for healthy family life.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
The Blue Ash Airport Days
For ten years the Blue Ash folks have celebrated flight and
honored American
troops with an airshow and patriotic celebrations.
This year the sky divers brought the largest flag to ever fall from an airplane hooked to a diver. The photos that follow show the sequence of the fall and the size of the flag.
The airplane shown here was not the jump vehicle but one that was used to make some incredible twists and turns at high G Forces.
For ten years the Blue Ash folks have celebrated flight and
honored American
troops with an airshow and patriotic celebrations.This year the sky divers brought the largest flag to ever fall from an airplane hooked to a diver. The photos that follow show the sequence of the fall and the size of the flag.
The airplane shown here was not the jump vehicle but one that was used to make some incredible twists and turns at high G Forces.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Ministry Blog
I am still learning how to blog so it is not easy to get to my ministry blog. So, I have cut and pasted the address for you to try. I hope you make it for I have some good posts there.
http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com/
Many blessings,
Gary
I am still learning how to blog so it is not easy to get to my ministry blog. So, I have cut and pasted the address for you to try. I hope you make it for I have some good posts there.
http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com/
Many blessings,
Gary
Why Do We Prefer Works of the Law to God's Grace?
I am working on a book now to explain this strange truth.
Do you remember the song Grace that is greater than all of my sin?
It was always one of my favorites. I was acutely aware of my failings and guilt as a young man and it drove me to run from God, just as scripture predicts. It is the kindness of God that brings us to repentant. The Law of God drives us to ourselves and our own performance.
If you are laboring under the impression that you must do more to please God and make Him like you or love you or forgive you, come back to your senses and accept His free gift to the party of Good News.
I am working on a book now to explain this strange truth.
Do you remember the song Grace that is greater than all of my sin?
It was always one of my favorites. I was acutely aware of my failings and guilt as a young man and it drove me to run from God, just as scripture predicts. It is the kindness of God that brings us to repentant. The Law of God drives us to ourselves and our own performance.
If you are laboring under the impression that you must do more to please God and make Him like you or love you or forgive you, come back to your senses and accept His free gift to the party of Good News.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
My Address and Information
Gary R. Sweeten, Ed. D.
Leader Coach & Consultant
Touching Leaders, One Heart at a time
Touching Organizations, One Leader at a time
Touching Communities, One Organization at a time
Touching Nations, One Community at a time.
Touching Eternity, One Day at a time (C)
Life Way Ministries, Inc
11161 Kenwood Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
www.lifewaycenters.com
Ministry blog
http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com/
513-769-0304 (Fax)
513-300-5065 (Hand)
Gary R. Sweeten, Ed. D.
Leader Coach & Consultant
Touching Leaders, One Heart at a time
Touching Organizations, One Leader at a time
Touching Communities, One Organization at a time
Touching Nations, One Community at a time.
Touching Eternity, One Day at a time (C)
Life Way Ministries, Inc
11161 Kenwood Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
www.lifewaycenters.com
Ministry blog
http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com/
513-769-0304 (Fax)
513-300-5065 (Hand)
Monday, September 11, 2006
Sadness at Fifth Year Anniversary
I have been sad today. It is the anniversary of 991. If you go to my ministry blog you can see some photos of the days a group of us spent at Ground Zero ministering to the First Responders.
Tears often come to my eyes after seeing a film about 911 or hear a particularly sad story about a person that died.
I also get frustrated and angry when I hear politicans who want to hide their heads in the sand about the current dangers from radical terrorists.
But mostly my heart goes out to the people who lost loved ones. The terrorists got exactly what they wanted. Osama actually did a cost benefit analysis of the money he spent on the exercise and what it cost America. He concludes that it was well worth the 500 million dollars he spent for it cost the USA 500 billion dollars, to say nothing of the cost in lives.
How do we defend ourselves for the future? I do not think it possible to prevent all attacks. All they have to do is slip through our defense one time and they win again. They are betting millions that we can't stop them every time.
I bet they are right, especially with so many Americans helping them by revealing our secret intelligence weapons. The New York Times will exult loud and long when Osama gets around the terrorist telephone bugging programs they showed to the world.
We won WWII by superior strength and superior intelligence. We still have them but the NYTimes is doing its best to cripple both. Why do they hate America so much?
I have been sad today. It is the anniversary of 991. If you go to my ministry blog you can see some photos of the days a group of us spent at Ground Zero ministering to the First Responders.
Tears often come to my eyes after seeing a film about 911 or hear a particularly sad story about a person that died.
I also get frustrated and angry when I hear politicans who want to hide their heads in the sand about the current dangers from radical terrorists.
But mostly my heart goes out to the people who lost loved ones. The terrorists got exactly what they wanted. Osama actually did a cost benefit analysis of the money he spent on the exercise and what it cost America. He concludes that it was well worth the 500 million dollars he spent for it cost the USA 500 billion dollars, to say nothing of the cost in lives.
How do we defend ourselves for the future? I do not think it possible to prevent all attacks. All they have to do is slip through our defense one time and they win again. They are betting millions that we can't stop them every time.
I bet they are right, especially with so many Americans helping them by revealing our secret intelligence weapons. The New York Times will exult loud and long when Osama gets around the terrorist telephone bugging programs they showed to the world.
We won WWII by superior strength and superior intelligence. We still have them but the NYTimes is doing its best to cripple both. Why do they hate America so much?
Friday, September 01, 2006
Memories Are Made of This
There are a lot of songs from the Fifties about nostalgia. Some of them still bring back chills to match the ones I get when I see the beautiful girls from the class of 56 and remember how they made our blood boil way back then.
The New Year's Eve
We did the Town
The day we tore the goal posts down
We will have these moments to remember
How about:
Shine on
Shine on silver moon,
Up in the sky
I ain't had no lovin since
January, February, June and July
Karen and I still love Little Richard, Ray Charles and Elvis. They just don't make em like that any more.
The old TV shows are still being watched by our kids and grandkids. Despite the cheezy special effects and the grainy videos those stories are funny and timeless.
My daughter and son-in-law have a few seasons of Dick Van Dyke and their children love to watch them better than almost any other modern TV show. Perhaps that is why we call it, "The Golden Age of TV".
I recently received a web address from Will Black, a very young 68 himself, about the old shows. See if you like this presentation. http://objflicks.com/WhenLifewasInBlack&White.htm
I am in a fit of nostalgia right now since I returned from southern Illinois and the 50th reunion. It was a good thing to do. Thanks to all the team that made it possible.
Gabe Sweeten
Ina, Illinois
There are a lot of songs from the Fifties about nostalgia. Some of them still bring back chills to match the ones I get when I see the beautiful girls from the class of 56 and remember how they made our blood boil way back then.
The New Year's Eve
We did the Town
The day we tore the goal posts down
We will have these moments to remember
How about:
Shine on
Shine on silver moon,
Up in the sky
I ain't had no lovin since
January, February, June and July
Karen and I still love Little Richard, Ray Charles and Elvis. They just don't make em like that any more.
The old TV shows are still being watched by our kids and grandkids. Despite the cheezy special effects and the grainy videos those stories are funny and timeless.
My daughter and son-in-law have a few seasons of Dick Van Dyke and their children love to watch them better than almost any other modern TV show. Perhaps that is why we call it, "The Golden Age of TV".
I recently received a web address from Will Black, a very young 68 himself, about the old shows. See if you like this presentation. http://objflicks.com/WhenLifewasInBlack&White.htm
I am in a fit of nostalgia right now since I returned from southern Illinois and the 50th reunion. It was a good thing to do. Thanks to all the team that made it possible.
Gabe Sweeten
Ina, Illinois
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