Healing the Inner Child
The reality of thorny issues, difficult problems, relational conflicts, illness and sickness is plainly stated in the Bible and written in our daily papers. We humans have a fallen human nature, live in fallen world and battle against fallen spirits. Thus, the Christians battle against the world, the flesh and the devil is a constant issue.
Hurricane Charley recently struck the USA, killing several people and destroying numerous homes and businesses. This is evidence of a fallen world. God may sometimes send storms as a punishment for sin but that is rare. Hurricane Charley was more than likely the result of nature.
We can see a combination of the flesh and the devil in the evil acts committed at Columbine High School and the homicide bombers around the world. There is no simple psychological theory that explains mass murder and suicide. Can we understand evil on such a scale without considering the evil one?
But the flesh is also a culprit in many of our problems. Scripture uses several strong images to indicate that we humans are scarred deeply by life's experiences. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we can find many references to a wounded heart and soul. I have seen first hand what St. James in 1:13-15 calls holes in the soul. He uses a Greek term, epithumia, that indicates that a person's soul is easily damaged by insults and or spiritual neglect.
After church we had lunch with our two grandchildren, Jacob, nine and Lily, two and I was reminded of how easily little children pick up on both good and bad things around them. Life or death are in the power of the tongue. PR 18:21 so I am careful to speak only about things that will build these children up and not tear them down.
I have spent almost my entire professional life trying to heal people with holes in their souls from the traumatic events of childhood. Buckets of tears have been shed by men and women talking about the pain of an uncaring, distant father or a harsh mother. Thank God, it is possible to bring new life to the bruised inner child of a successful adult. Jesus came to Heal the broken hearted and set the captives free. IS 61
It is never too late to have a happy childhood but an ounce of prevention is worth a pind of cure.
Rich Halter and I leave August 19 to bring inner healing to Russian Christians. The entire nation has suffered from unimaginable trauma for over seventy years. The number of persons who must live with holes in their souls is almost 100%. Please pray for us. The future of the people depends on Christians being healed.
Monday, August 16, 2004
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Politics, War and Dissent
This morning I chatted with a man about John Kerry and the Viet Nam Vets Against the War. He was a student while I was on the staff at the University of Cincinnati but he had no memory about the riots, the war or all the protests.
When I explained how my life had been threatened by the radical students and that we received warnings weekly from the FBI about threats of bombing and physical attacks in the dorms he was unimpressed and skeptical.
I remember all too well the night I discovered that the automatic alarm system had been deliberately broken into and turned off in my 14 story residence hall putting 600 students and my family in danger.
We were not amused when the Weather Underground and Students for a Democratic Society called us pigs who deserved to die.
We were not laughing when Jane Fonda at the VVAW called for alll of us to become Communists and cause a violent revolution against the United States. (John Kerry was the head of the VVAW)
I was shocked when Kerry slimed all the American soldiers with charges of war crimes and admitted that he was a war criminal.
During this time I was a proud liberal Democrat who hated Nixon and distrusted all Republicans.
However, when I discovered that many of the anti war stories were lies and these "peaceniks" were using violent attacks to get their way, I began to question my commitment to the left wing.
Next week I will visit Russia for the twelfth time and try to bring love, truth and healing to the people, churches and businesses that were victims of the Communists.
Two years ago Karen and I visited Cambodia. This is a place where Communists unleashed by our failures in Viet Nam to kill millions of innocent people.
I cannot forget how the peaceniks betrayed our nation. Nor can I forget how some of them threatened my life in the "name" of peace. After Joyce Reichman, one of their leaders, came to Christ she confessed that they had planned to kidnap me and beat me senseless because I was a pig who turned her in to the cops. I was saved only by God's miraculous intervention.
Many of these folks were sincerely for peace and I bless them.
However, now we know from recently opened USSR files that some were stooges for the KGB.
This morning I chatted with a man about John Kerry and the Viet Nam Vets Against the War. He was a student while I was on the staff at the University of Cincinnati but he had no memory about the riots, the war or all the protests.
When I explained how my life had been threatened by the radical students and that we received warnings weekly from the FBI about threats of bombing and physical attacks in the dorms he was unimpressed and skeptical.
I remember all too well the night I discovered that the automatic alarm system had been deliberately broken into and turned off in my 14 story residence hall putting 600 students and my family in danger.
We were not amused when the Weather Underground and Students for a Democratic Society called us pigs who deserved to die.
We were not laughing when Jane Fonda at the VVAW called for alll of us to become Communists and cause a violent revolution against the United States. (John Kerry was the head of the VVAW)
I was shocked when Kerry slimed all the American soldiers with charges of war crimes and admitted that he was a war criminal.
During this time I was a proud liberal Democrat who hated Nixon and distrusted all Republicans.
However, when I discovered that many of the anti war stories were lies and these "peaceniks" were using violent attacks to get their way, I began to question my commitment to the left wing.
Next week I will visit Russia for the twelfth time and try to bring love, truth and healing to the people, churches and businesses that were victims of the Communists.
Two years ago Karen and I visited Cambodia. This is a place where Communists unleashed by our failures in Viet Nam to kill millions of innocent people.
I cannot forget how the peaceniks betrayed our nation. Nor can I forget how some of them threatened my life in the "name" of peace. After Joyce Reichman, one of their leaders, came to Christ she confessed that they had planned to kidnap me and beat me senseless because I was a pig who turned her in to the cops. I was saved only by God's miraculous intervention.
Many of these folks were sincerely for peace and I bless them.
However, now we know from recently opened USSR files that some were stooges for the KGB.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Beliefs Help Kick the Drug Habit
In the long, challenging road to recovery from drug addiction, who is most likely to continue to remain drug free, seeking support from Narcotics Anonymous? Former addicts with stronger spiritual beliefs tended to be the most faithful attenders of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, found researchers at London?s Centre for Research on Drugs and Health. This had direct implications for recovery because, "NA attendance was associated with reduced drug use," or relapse, they noted.
Interviewed six months after they had successfully stayed off drugs for six weeks, the recovering addicts with stronger spiritual beliefs were not only more likely to remain involved in NA, but also tended to view a potential future relapse as something for which they would be personally responsible. Willingness to accept personal responsibility helps curtail future drug use, the investigators noted.
Consequently, the researchers found that spirituality does not encourage passive helplessness, but on the contrary encouraged clients to take more personal responsibility for staying off drugs.
"We found no evidence to suggest that clinicians should discourage spiritual beliefs on the assumption that these might...create helpless 'victims of circumstance,'" the researchers stated. In fact the findings of this study showed the opposite.
Knowing God is healthy in a number of ways.
In the long, challenging road to recovery from drug addiction, who is most likely to continue to remain drug free, seeking support from Narcotics Anonymous? Former addicts with stronger spiritual beliefs tended to be the most faithful attenders of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, found researchers at London?s Centre for Research on Drugs and Health. This had direct implications for recovery because, "NA attendance was associated with reduced drug use," or relapse, they noted.
Interviewed six months after they had successfully stayed off drugs for six weeks, the recovering addicts with stronger spiritual beliefs were not only more likely to remain involved in NA, but also tended to view a potential future relapse as something for which they would be personally responsible. Willingness to accept personal responsibility helps curtail future drug use, the investigators noted.
Consequently, the researchers found that spirituality does not encourage passive helplessness, but on the contrary encouraged clients to take more personal responsibility for staying off drugs.
"We found no evidence to suggest that clinicians should discourage spiritual beliefs on the assumption that these might...create helpless 'victims of circumstance,'" the researchers stated. In fact the findings of this study showed the opposite.
Knowing God is healthy in a number of ways.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Evangelical Men are Superior Lovers
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/008/26.44.html
Christianity Today has published another great blog by interviewing a scholar who has just written a book citing research about conservative Christian men. The link is above.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/008/26.44.html
Christianity Today has published another great blog by interviewing a scholar who has just written a book citing research about conservative Christian men. The link is above.
Conservatives are More Positive than Liberals!
Despite media fears that state the opposite, research by a non-Christian psychologist indicates that Fundamentalists are much more positive in outlook than are Moderates and or Liberals. The former President of the American Psychological Association supervised a team that compared various religious groups according to mental health and mental attitudes. Dr. Martin Seligman, an internationally known Professor at Penn revealed the results that mirror what we already know from scripture.
Their definition of "Fundamentalism" is what we call Evangelicals.
Abstract: 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 than those from moderate religions, who were in turn more optimistic than liberals. The liturgy and sermons showed the parallel pattern of optimism.
...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.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What can we conclude from this? We ought to at least take pride in the fact that Evangelicals are producing resilient and mentally healthy members. This has tremendous implications for our children and could be a major aspect in our outreach to families. We need to tell the unchurched that church helps people develop health, peace, love and success.
Continue to preach hope, healing and change and your flock will grow and prosper.
A few days ago I wrote about the enormous benefits of church
attendance for African Americans and today about the benefits
of faith on mental health.
The devil lies about faith and conviction but he cannot get by with it
when we havethe facts.
The Great Physician continues to bless His people in multiple ways.
Despite media fears that state the opposite, research by a non-Christian psychologist indicates that Fundamentalists are much more positive in outlook than are Moderates and or Liberals. The former President of the American Psychological Association supervised a team that compared various religious groups according to mental health and mental attitudes. Dr. Martin Seligman, an internationally known Professor at Penn revealed the results that mirror what we already know from scripture.
Their definition of "Fundamentalism" is what we call Evangelicals.
Abstract: 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 than those from moderate religions, who were in turn more optimistic than liberals. The liturgy and sermons showed the parallel pattern of optimism.
...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.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What can we conclude from this? We ought to at least take pride in the fact that Evangelicals are producing resilient and mentally healthy members. This has tremendous implications for our children and could be a major aspect in our outreach to families. We need to tell the unchurched that church helps people develop health, peace, love and success.
Continue to preach hope, healing and change and your flock will grow and prosper.
A few days ago I wrote about the enormous benefits of church
attendance for African Americans and today about the benefits
of faith on mental health.
The devil lies about faith and conviction but he cannot get by with it
when we havethe facts.
The Great Physician continues to bless His people in multiple ways.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Attitude of Gratitude
Get a cup of tea and count your blessings. This is one of the best andidotes for stress, depression and worry.
Years ago an Alabama mother gave a new bride the following recipe
For washing clothes. This is an exact copy as written and found in
an old scrap book.
1. Bild fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water.
2. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert.
3. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.
4. Sort things, make 3 piles. 1 pile white,1 pile colored,1 pile work britches and rags.
5. To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with
boilin water.
6. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and then
bile. Rub colored don't bile, just wrinch and starch.
7. Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrinch, and starch.
8. Hang old rags on fence.
9. Spread tea towels on grass.
10. Pore wrinch water in flower bed.
11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
12. Turn tubs upside down.
13. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.
Brew cup of tea,sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
Paste this over your washer and dryer and next time when you think things
are bleak, read it again and give thanks for your blessings.
http://lifewaycenters.com
Get a cup of tea and count your blessings. This is one of the best andidotes for stress, depression and worry.
Years ago an Alabama mother gave a new bride the following recipe
For washing clothes. This is an exact copy as written and found in
an old scrap book.
1. Bild fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water.
2. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert.
3. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.
4. Sort things, make 3 piles. 1 pile white,1 pile colored,1 pile work britches and rags.
5. To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with
boilin water.
6. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and then
bile. Rub colored don't bile, just wrinch and starch.
7. Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrinch, and starch.
8. Hang old rags on fence.
9. Spread tea towels on grass.
10. Pore wrinch water in flower bed.
11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
12. Turn tubs upside down.
13. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.
Brew cup of tea,sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
Paste this over your washer and dryer and next time when you think things
are bleak, read it again and give thanks for your blessings.
http://lifewaycenters.com
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Can You Sing?
The most recent wave of persecution of house churches by the Chinese
Government began in January 2004, when the DVD 'The Cross,
Jesus in China' became available. Between one hundred and one
thousand house church leaders are currently imprisoned, receiving
sentences of up to three years, reports
mission agency Open Doors. Brother Zhong from central
China tells of his first imprisonment, which lasted 33 days:
All of our house church leaders were arrested in a raid by
the National Security Office while we were training them.
In prison, our heads were shaved, and we were interrogated
for days. We were told that the other inmates were waiting for
their chance to beat us up when we were sent to
our cells. Up until then, every new prisoner had been beaten up.
I entered my cell shaking with fear. It was a fearsome sight:
sixteen other prisonersstanding in two rows, fists ready. My
heart was beating hard, and I prayed rapidly for help.
Suddenly, the leader of the gang asked 'Why are you here?'
'Because I am a Christian,' I answered, timidly, expecting
the first blows. 'You don't beat people up?' he asked. 'No,'
I answered. The next question surprised me: 'Can you sing?' '
Yes,' I replied, wondering where this was heading. The gang
leader told me to sing. The song 'I give myself as a seed' came
to mind, so I sang. The words are:
Who doesn't have a brother or sister? Who doesn't have a wife
and child? Who doesn't want to be with his family? Who doesn't
want to be among his relatives? But if the Lord calls me to carry
His Cross, I would ignore them all, even if they passed by my house.
Tears ran down my cheeks as I sang. The Holy Spirit came in our
midst, and half of the other prisoners were in tears when I
finished. The leader stepped forward and clapped me on the
shoulder. He then asked me to read the Gospel to them. They
wanted to hear it every day.
One day, when we sang again, a guard came to ask what we were
doing, and who was responsible. I stood up, and was punished. I
had to take off my clothes and stand against the wall in a very
uncomfortable position. The leader stood up and demanded to
be punished as well. Many of the others also stood up, demanding
the same punishment. The guard became very angry, and stormed
out of the cell. One of the other inmates became a Christian that day.
I was released soon afterwards, because my wife managed to pay
my bail. My time in prison impaired my health, but the spiritual
gain was worth far more. I am very grateful to God.
Source: Open Doors
Pray for the Chinese brothers and sisters!
The most recent wave of persecution of house churches by the Chinese
Government began in January 2004, when the DVD 'The Cross,
Jesus in China' became available. Between one hundred and one
thousand house church leaders are currently imprisoned, receiving
sentences of up to three years, reports
mission agency Open Doors. Brother Zhong from central
China tells of his first imprisonment, which lasted 33 days:
All of our house church leaders were arrested in a raid by
the National Security Office while we were training them.
In prison, our heads were shaved, and we were interrogated
for days. We were told that the other inmates were waiting for
their chance to beat us up when we were sent to
our cells. Up until then, every new prisoner had been beaten up.
I entered my cell shaking with fear. It was a fearsome sight:
sixteen other prisonersstanding in two rows, fists ready. My
heart was beating hard, and I prayed rapidly for help.
Suddenly, the leader of the gang asked 'Why are you here?'
'Because I am a Christian,' I answered, timidly, expecting
the first blows. 'You don't beat people up?' he asked. 'No,'
I answered. The next question surprised me: 'Can you sing?' '
Yes,' I replied, wondering where this was heading. The gang
leader told me to sing. The song 'I give myself as a seed' came
to mind, so I sang. The words are:
Who doesn't have a brother or sister? Who doesn't have a wife
and child? Who doesn't want to be with his family? Who doesn't
want to be among his relatives? But if the Lord calls me to carry
His Cross, I would ignore them all, even if they passed by my house.
Tears ran down my cheeks as I sang. The Holy Spirit came in our
midst, and half of the other prisoners were in tears when I
finished. The leader stepped forward and clapped me on the
shoulder. He then asked me to read the Gospel to them. They
wanted to hear it every day.
One day, when we sang again, a guard came to ask what we were
doing, and who was responsible. I stood up, and was punished. I
had to take off my clothes and stand against the wall in a very
uncomfortable position. The leader stood up and demanded to
be punished as well. Many of the others also stood up, demanding
the same punishment. The guard became very angry, and stormed
out of the cell. One of the other inmates became a Christian that day.
I was released soon afterwards, because my wife managed to pay
my bail. My time in prison impaired my health, but the spiritual
gain was worth far more. I am very grateful to God.
Source: Open Doors
Pray for the Chinese brothers and sisters!
Honesty and Genuineness
Francis H.C. Crick, 88, co-discoverer of one of the most important scientific findings of the 20th century, the recognition of the double helix structure of DNA as the blueprint of life, died Wednesday at San Diego's Thornton Hospital. He had colon cancer. Crick's powerful intellect and willingness to cross the boundaries of scientific disciplines led him and colleague James D. Watson to understand the "twisted ladder" structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, which carries information about heredity. What they learned was that each strand of the double helix could become a template for copying an organism's genes, and that replication is the way that every living cell has been created.
This article appeared in many newspapers. Yet, the whole truth is not revealed about the underhanded ways in which Crick and Watson got their information in the first place and how they conveniently left a brilliant woman out of the story.
In late February 1953, Rosalind Franklin, a 33-year-old physical chemist working in the biophysics unit of King's College in London, wrote in her notebooks that the structure of DNA had two chains. She had already worked out that the molecule had its phosphate groups on the outside and that DNA existed in two forms.
Two weeks later James Watson and Francis Crick, at the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge, built their now celebrated model of DNA as a double helix. They did it not only through brilliant intuition and a meeting of compatible minds, but also on the basis of Franklin's unpublished experimental evidence, which had reached them through irregular routes. She did not know that they had seen either her X-ray photograph showing unmistakable evidence of a helical structure, or her precise measurements of the unit cell (the smallest repeating unit) of the DNA crystal.
As Watson was to write candidly, "Rosy, of course, did not directly give us her data. For that matter, no one at King's realized they were in our hands."
This admission says that Crick and Watson stole Dr. Franklin's work and never recognized her contribution to their Nobel Prize. As an educator, author and scientist I understand the desire for fame, fortune and a fabulous future. As one wag said, "I can resist anything but temptation". However, the fact that Watson and Crick, 50 years later, are still getting the credit for discovering the structure of DNA is amazing because the true story is so well known.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We live in a time when a sizzling story is more important than real substance. It is more important to have fame than reality. When Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free" He used a term that means truth is "unvarnished reality". So much about our world seems to be based upon fantasy rather than reality.
Politicians openly state that they are going to "spin" their messages and ideas around major themes that are not reality and the news reports the spin as if they didn't know it is not factual.
Even in church circles there is much promotion of fanciful ideas on revival, church growth and the Christian life. In 1983 I wrote a book entitled Rational Christian Thinking and the title was rejected by many of my friends because being rational was seen by them to be contrary to faith. It seems that many prefer "Magical Christian Thinking" and flee from things that are rational, factual and real.
But Jesus created the universe. He is the author of facts, the generator of reality and always opened up the unvarnished truth. Of course, it got Him killed but He never turned to spin rather than truth. Spin sets us up while truth sets us free.
Now that Dr. Crick, who often attacked the veracity of the Bible and Christianity, has met his Maker he may be wishing he had not lied to get the Nobel Prize and lied to turn people away from God. In the end God's truth shall always prevail.
Francis H.C. Crick, 88, co-discoverer of one of the most important scientific findings of the 20th century, the recognition of the double helix structure of DNA as the blueprint of life, died Wednesday at San Diego's Thornton Hospital. He had colon cancer. Crick's powerful intellect and willingness to cross the boundaries of scientific disciplines led him and colleague James D. Watson to understand the "twisted ladder" structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, which carries information about heredity. What they learned was that each strand of the double helix could become a template for copying an organism's genes, and that replication is the way that every living cell has been created.
This article appeared in many newspapers. Yet, the whole truth is not revealed about the underhanded ways in which Crick and Watson got their information in the first place and how they conveniently left a brilliant woman out of the story.
In late February 1953, Rosalind Franklin, a 33-year-old physical chemist working in the biophysics unit of King's College in London, wrote in her notebooks that the structure of DNA had two chains. She had already worked out that the molecule had its phosphate groups on the outside and that DNA existed in two forms.
Two weeks later James Watson and Francis Crick, at the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge, built their now celebrated model of DNA as a double helix. They did it not only through brilliant intuition and a meeting of compatible minds, but also on the basis of Franklin's unpublished experimental evidence, which had reached them through irregular routes. She did not know that they had seen either her X-ray photograph showing unmistakable evidence of a helical structure, or her precise measurements of the unit cell (the smallest repeating unit) of the DNA crystal.
As Watson was to write candidly, "Rosy, of course, did not directly give us her data. For that matter, no one at King's realized they were in our hands."
This admission says that Crick and Watson stole Dr. Franklin's work and never recognized her contribution to their Nobel Prize. As an educator, author and scientist I understand the desire for fame, fortune and a fabulous future. As one wag said, "I can resist anything but temptation". However, the fact that Watson and Crick, 50 years later, are still getting the credit for discovering the structure of DNA is amazing because the true story is so well known.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We live in a time when a sizzling story is more important than real substance. It is more important to have fame than reality. When Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free" He used a term that means truth is "unvarnished reality". So much about our world seems to be based upon fantasy rather than reality.
Politicians openly state that they are going to "spin" their messages and ideas around major themes that are not reality and the news reports the spin as if they didn't know it is not factual.
Even in church circles there is much promotion of fanciful ideas on revival, church growth and the Christian life. In 1983 I wrote a book entitled Rational Christian Thinking and the title was rejected by many of my friends because being rational was seen by them to be contrary to faith. It seems that many prefer "Magical Christian Thinking" and flee from things that are rational, factual and real.
But Jesus created the universe. He is the author of facts, the generator of reality and always opened up the unvarnished truth. Of course, it got Him killed but He never turned to spin rather than truth. Spin sets us up while truth sets us free.
Now that Dr. Crick, who often attacked the veracity of the Bible and Christianity, has met his Maker he may be wishing he had not lied to get the Nobel Prize and lied to turn people away from God. In the end God's truth shall always prevail.
Monday, August 02, 2004
Why Look for a Christian Therapist?
Research tells us why.
Despite their popularity with patients, psychologists largely ignore the role of clergy. While psychologists routinely collaborate with professionals in medicine and nursing, one key group of professionals is consistently overlooked: the clergy. A recent research review found that a scant .02% of the studies in leading psychology journals considered clergy in their data.
A group of researchers from the University of Hawaii and the National Institute for Healthcare Research (NIHR) surveyed eight leading psychology journals from 1991 to 1994. Each article was reviewed to see if it contained statistics that examined "the role or use of religious professionals."
The reviewers found that of the over 2,400 studies examined, only four assessed the role of the clergy in mental health.
This lack of attention to the role of the clergy in mental health is alarming. Recent surveys have found:
-Four out of ten Americans seek assistance from clergy members in times of personal distress while only 8% go to a mental health professional.
-Clergy are more likely than psychologists and psychiatrists combined to have a person with a mental health diagnosis come to them for assistance.
Surveys have found that one in three psychologists report a strong interest in religion and 73% to 90% of clergy indicate a desire to receive more training in mental health issues.
Research tells us why.
Despite their popularity with patients, psychologists largely ignore the role of clergy. While psychologists routinely collaborate with professionals in medicine and nursing, one key group of professionals is consistently overlooked: the clergy. A recent research review found that a scant .02% of the studies in leading psychology journals considered clergy in their data.
A group of researchers from the University of Hawaii and the National Institute for Healthcare Research (NIHR) surveyed eight leading psychology journals from 1991 to 1994. Each article was reviewed to see if it contained statistics that examined "the role or use of religious professionals."
The reviewers found that of the over 2,400 studies examined, only four assessed the role of the clergy in mental health.
This lack of attention to the role of the clergy in mental health is alarming. Recent surveys have found:
-Four out of ten Americans seek assistance from clergy members in times of personal distress while only 8% go to a mental health professional.
-Clergy are more likely than psychologists and psychiatrists combined to have a person with a mental health diagnosis come to them for assistance.
Surveys have found that one in three psychologists report a strong interest in religion and 73% to 90% of clergy indicate a desire to receive more training in mental health issues.
Malaysia Tries to Stop Film Viewers
As you know, I travel regularly to Singapore and other countries in Asia. It is a surprise to many Americans to learn that the largest and most active Muslim countries in the world are here not in the Middle East. Indonesia, Malaysia, India, etc have millions of Muslims and there are many ways to reach them for Christ. Films may be the most effective.
The following news story recently tells about one struggle to contain the Christian message by Muslim governments.
Malaysian censors have passed Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ uncut, but have stipulated that only Christians may see the movie.
Officials have granted access to all ages when the picture opens in a few weeks by awarding the religious epic a Uncut rating, but steered clear of opening it up to the south-east Asian country's non-Christian groups.
... Film censorship board secretary Lukeman Saaid told Variety: "It's a deeply religious movie. We live in a multiracial country and we needed to show sensitivity toward other religions, particularly Islam."
Christians account for 9% of the 24 million population, which includes Malays, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups, while about 66% are Muslims.
Tickets for the picture, which so far has taken a staggering $609m at the global box office, will only be sold through churches and the distributor Fox International will not be allowed to advertise.
Malaysian identity cards do not list the bearer's religion, so there will be plenty of opportunity for non-Christians to obtain a ticket through a friend and sample the picture for themselves
It is an amazing opportunity for God to educate Muslims and other non-Christians about the basics of Christianity. The film has drawn millions of Muslims and others to theatres in other Muslim countries.
As you know, I travel regularly to Singapore and other countries in Asia. It is a surprise to many Americans to learn that the largest and most active Muslim countries in the world are here not in the Middle East. Indonesia, Malaysia, India, etc have millions of Muslims and there are many ways to reach them for Christ. Films may be the most effective.
The following news story recently tells about one struggle to contain the Christian message by Muslim governments.
Malaysian censors have passed Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ uncut, but have stipulated that only Christians may see the movie.
Officials have granted access to all ages when the picture opens in a few weeks by awarding the religious epic a Uncut rating, but steered clear of opening it up to the south-east Asian country's non-Christian groups.
... Film censorship board secretary Lukeman Saaid told Variety: "It's a deeply religious movie. We live in a multiracial country and we needed to show sensitivity toward other religions, particularly Islam."
Christians account for 9% of the 24 million population, which includes Malays, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups, while about 66% are Muslims.
Tickets for the picture, which so far has taken a staggering $609m at the global box office, will only be sold through churches and the distributor Fox International will not be allowed to advertise.
Malaysian identity cards do not list the bearer's religion, so there will be plenty of opportunity for non-Christians to obtain a ticket through a friend and sample the picture for themselves
It is an amazing opportunity for God to educate Muslims and other non-Christians about the basics of Christianity. The film has drawn millions of Muslims and others to theatres in other Muslim countries.
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Race, Religion and Longevity
In a nation obsessed with racial and cultural diversity the facts about minorities and religious faith have been strangely absent from the dialogue. There is one astounding statistic about African American longevity and church attendance that is rarely if ever mentioned in the debates about faith based organizations and health care.
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.
Church Attendance
In a nation obsessed with racial and cultural diversity the facts about minorities and religious faith have been strangely absent from the dialogue. There is one astounding statistic about African American longevity and church attendance that is rarely if ever mentioned in the debates about faith based organizations and health care.
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.
Church Attendance
-
White life expectancy Black life expectancy
Never Attend......77 Years== 67 A 10 year difference
Less than weekly 80 Years== 75 A 5 year difference
Weekly or more...83 Years== 80 A 3 year difference
- Whites who attend services more than weekly gain an average of six years in longevity. This is terrific advertisement for religious practice.
- African Americans who attend services weekly or more gain a whopping 13 years in life expectancy. The difference in longevity between Whites and Blacks is almost totally eclipsed by church attendance.
- Attending church more often than weekly raises Blacks life expectancy to that of whites who attend weekly or less. Despite all the criticism leveled at Christians and churches the data are clear. Even as bad as we are, Jesus still heals, delivers and gives peace.
Is it not racist to fail to encourage religious commitment by Blacks? It is not wrong to discourage both Blacks and Whites to attend religious services? Is the left wing of American politics promoting sickness by attacking religion?
Can We Take Criticism?
Dr. Bill Cosby is on a tear. He is challenging the African American's to do something to support educational and moral behavior among young people. Over the past few months Mr. Cosby has given much heat and taken it back as he spoke out against the problems among African American families and many Christian leaders have cautiously applauded him.
Recently he included the Christians of America in his criticisms. According to Cosby, Muslims are much better at protecting their children that we are. Wow! What an attack on our image at a time when Christians want to show we are superior to Islam. Can we take it? Is that true?
In a recent Christianity Today article, Stan Guthrie wrote about Cosby's remarks and added his own insights. They can be accessed at:
http://christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/130/54.0.html
The CT blog is a great way to stay connected to religious news.
Cosby's most recent speech at Hilton Head, South Carolina can be read at:
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/story/3712634p-3319284c.html
Cosby has an Ed. D. from Temple University and is a famous television producer, philanthropist, humorist and educator.
Dr. Bill Cosby is on a tear. He is challenging the African American's to do something to support educational and moral behavior among young people. Over the past few months Mr. Cosby has given much heat and taken it back as he spoke out against the problems among African American families and many Christian leaders have cautiously applauded him.
Recently he included the Christians of America in his criticisms. According to Cosby, Muslims are much better at protecting their children that we are. Wow! What an attack on our image at a time when Christians want to show we are superior to Islam. Can we take it? Is that true?
In a recent Christianity Today article, Stan Guthrie wrote about Cosby's remarks and added his own insights. They can be accessed at:
http://christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/130/54.0.html
The CT blog is a great way to stay connected to religious news.
Cosby's most recent speech at Hilton Head, South Carolina can be read at:
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/story/3712634p-3319284c.html
Cosby has an Ed. D. from Temple University and is a famous television producer, philanthropist, humorist and educator.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Why so Much Fear of Confession?
I spend a lot of time meeting with Christian leaders who are in pain, confusion and sadness. There is no task on earth greater than leading, shepherding and caring for God's people. By God's Providence I stumbled upon Organizational Development and Change Agentry as a great minor while getting a doctorate. Because of my studies I learned a great deal about how organizations function or fail to function.
Consultants, writers and management training gurus all tend to agree that leading and managing a non-profit organizations is ten times harder than the same task in a profit organization. And, leading a church is the hardest of all non-profits to manage.
One reason may be that Christians seem to labor under the misaprehension that their leaders should be perfect. Not long ago a pastor was convicted about his lack of strong leadership and poor management style. After consulting a brother in Christ, the pastor decided to admit his sins, weaknesses and failures and ask the congregation for forgiveness.
While most of the congregation agreed with the process and gratefully forgave him, a few were horrified that he was so transparent in admitting his weaknesses. Despite St. James' admonition to "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so you can be healed," several pillars of the church attacked the pastor for his honesty.
One man said, "People will be encouraged to sin of they think their pastor is a sinner." Another complained that no one would respect such a weak and vulnerable man in the future.
St. John made it clear that we all sin and need to confess it to the church. St. Paul sang from the same page adding that we all fall short of God's glory. However, many Bible believing men and women resist the notion that we are all Christian sinners who need the healing balm of confession, repentance and forgiveness. It requires Genuine inner knowledge and an Authentic desire to have a clear conscience but it is worth the cost.
It is impossible to be healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically without admitting our sin and guilt. Maybe this is why there are so many unhealthy Christians and ill churches.
I spend a lot of time meeting with Christian leaders who are in pain, confusion and sadness. There is no task on earth greater than leading, shepherding and caring for God's people. By God's Providence I stumbled upon Organizational Development and Change Agentry as a great minor while getting a doctorate. Because of my studies I learned a great deal about how organizations function or fail to function.
Consultants, writers and management training gurus all tend to agree that leading and managing a non-profit organizations is ten times harder than the same task in a profit organization. And, leading a church is the hardest of all non-profits to manage.
One reason may be that Christians seem to labor under the misaprehension that their leaders should be perfect. Not long ago a pastor was convicted about his lack of strong leadership and poor management style. After consulting a brother in Christ, the pastor decided to admit his sins, weaknesses and failures and ask the congregation for forgiveness.
While most of the congregation agreed with the process and gratefully forgave him, a few were horrified that he was so transparent in admitting his weaknesses. Despite St. James' admonition to "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so you can be healed," several pillars of the church attacked the pastor for his honesty.
One man said, "People will be encouraged to sin of they think their pastor is a sinner." Another complained that no one would respect such a weak and vulnerable man in the future.
St. John made it clear that we all sin and need to confess it to the church. St. Paul sang from the same page adding that we all fall short of God's glory. However, many Bible believing men and women resist the notion that we are all Christian sinners who need the healing balm of confession, repentance and forgiveness. It requires Genuine inner knowledge and an Authentic desire to have a clear conscience but it is worth the cost.
It is impossible to be healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically without admitting our sin and guilt. Maybe this is why there are so many unhealthy Christians and ill churches.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Authentic to the Core
I received a helpful comment from a friend about the post on Genuineness. He sent me another blog about being Authentic and I fully agree with it. During church not long ago I had an insight about coveting. Scriptural admonitions are not God's way of being a kill joy but His attempt to warn us about dangerous practices.
When Moses led the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt God told him to pay attention and follow the rules so they would not get any of the diseases that victimized their slave masters. God's desire then and now was to help His people find an abundant life.
So why tell us not to covet? What is the harm? Here is my newest idea about that. When I covet my neighbor's house, car, job or wife I cease to give thanks to God for what I have. I cease to enjoy the life in the moment and exchange real, genuine, authentic life for a fantasy that lies in never-land.
Several years ago Dr. Wm Wilson, a well-known psychiatrist at Duke, studied depressed Christians and discovered that they prayed differently than those who were not depressed. The difference? Few if any prayers of forgiveness, gratitude and thanksgiving. The attitude of gratitude will result in joy while coveting ends in disappointment, bitterness, anxiety and depression for covetousness is never satisfied with today.
I received a helpful comment from a friend about the post on Genuineness. He sent me another blog about being Authentic and I fully agree with it. During church not long ago I had an insight about coveting. Scriptural admonitions are not God's way of being a kill joy but His attempt to warn us about dangerous practices.
When Moses led the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt God told him to pay attention and follow the rules so they would not get any of the diseases that victimized their slave masters. God's desire then and now was to help His people find an abundant life.
So why tell us not to covet? What is the harm? Here is my newest idea about that. When I covet my neighbor's house, car, job or wife I cease to give thanks to God for what I have. I cease to enjoy the life in the moment and exchange real, genuine, authentic life for a fantasy that lies in never-land.
Several years ago Dr. Wm Wilson, a well-known psychiatrist at Duke, studied depressed Christians and discovered that they prayed differently than those who were not depressed. The difference? Few if any prayers of forgiveness, gratitude and thanksgiving. The attitude of gratitude will result in joy while coveting ends in disappointment, bitterness, anxiety and depression for covetousness is never satisfied with today.
I AM
I was regretting the past and fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:"My name is I am
"He paused waited. He continued,
"When you live in the pasted its mistakes and regrets, it is hard.
I am not there.
My name is not I WAS.
When you live in the future,with its problems and fears,it is hard.
I am not there.
My name is not I WILL BE.
When you live in this nominated is not hard. I am here,My name I AM."
Helen Mallicoat
Being Real, Authentic and Genuine means that we are aware of our inner life and allow God's Spirit to bring self-control. One way to grow in the fruit of the Spirit is to ask ourselves if we are really aware of what we are thinking, feeling and envisioning. How is it possible to be authentic if we have no understanding about the desires of the soul? Study the word of God and discover the desires of His heart as well as the content of your own soul.
Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
What Is Real?
One of the main things I teach in the Lifeskills' training is how to become more genuine. According to most researchers on management, counseling, marriage, family health, parenting, health care, agree that there are only a few relational skills that are key to success. Being real or genuine is one of them.
My friend Larry Chrouch says, "Once we can fake genuineness we have it made in life." I read a Cincinnati Enquirer article this morning about the enrollments in 2004. To my surprise, Marketing has more students than any other program. Why so many marketers?
One of the goals of marketing is to "sell the sizzle not the steak". Marketing is all about trying to influence people. I must admit that it is tempting to put on an act in order to influence others. This, however, can lead to self delusion if I begin to think that sizzle is my substance. Finding the real me, Being Genuine, is difficult when sizzle is dominant.
Being Genuine is also difficult for those who grew up in dysfunctional homes that had unwritten rules about ways to act. In my home a favorite phrase was, "What will people think" implying that the perceptions of others was more important than Genuineness. This can lead to behavior based on the Commandments:
Don't talk;
Don't feel;
Don't be honest;
Don't ask questions;
Don't reveal reality to anyone else.
This leads to a false and uncertain self analysis.
Genuineness is:
Knowing my own thoughts and feelings;
Naming my own thoughts and feelings;
Stating my own thoughts and feelings;
Managing my own thoughts and feelings.
Many of us are unaware of what we really think, feel or want in life and live according to the perceived desires of others. This leads us to attempt to "read minds" and try to behave in accord to the unspoken desires of those around us. This is death by perception rather than life by reality.
Comments?
One of the main things I teach in the Lifeskills' training is how to become more genuine. According to most researchers on management, counseling, marriage, family health, parenting, health care, agree that there are only a few relational skills that are key to success. Being real or genuine is one of them.
My friend Larry Chrouch says, "Once we can fake genuineness we have it made in life." I read a Cincinnati Enquirer article this morning about the enrollments in 2004. To my surprise, Marketing has more students than any other program. Why so many marketers?
One of the goals of marketing is to "sell the sizzle not the steak". Marketing is all about trying to influence people. I must admit that it is tempting to put on an act in order to influence others. This, however, can lead to self delusion if I begin to think that sizzle is my substance. Finding the real me, Being Genuine, is difficult when sizzle is dominant.
Being Genuine is also difficult for those who grew up in dysfunctional homes that had unwritten rules about ways to act. In my home a favorite phrase was, "What will people think" implying that the perceptions of others was more important than Genuineness. This can lead to behavior based on the Commandments:
Don't talk;
Don't feel;
Don't be honest;
Don't ask questions;
Don't reveal reality to anyone else.
This leads to a false and uncertain self analysis.
Genuineness is:
Knowing my own thoughts and feelings;
Naming my own thoughts and feelings;
Stating my own thoughts and feelings;
Managing my own thoughts and feelings.
Many of us are unaware of what we really think, feel or want in life and live according to the perceived desires of others. This leads us to attempt to "read minds" and try to behave in accord to the unspoken desires of those around us. This is death by perception rather than life by reality.
Comments?
Saturday, July 24, 2004
What Is Real?
This is a question asked of the old horse in the book, The Velveteen Rabbit and often asked by me when I read so much hype and gory in the press. The following story illustrates just how difficult it is to know real from unreal.
At the fish counter, farm-raised salmon looks just like wild salmon. But as the COLOR ADDED labels cropping up in supermarkets suggest, the aquacultured fillet's pinkish hue is a testament to engineering, not nature. The labels refer to the food additives canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. Without them, the flesh of farmed salmon - which don't eat the krill that colors the wild ones - would be gray.
Complicating matters further, different retail buyers prefer different pinks. So clever fish farmers use the SalmoFan - a reference that, like paint chips, lets them pick a color. Add the right amount of chemical and get anything from bubble-gum bright to dusty rose. Hoffmann-LaRoche, which manufactured the supplements (now made by DSM Nutritionals), gave the fan away with 2003 shipments.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.02/start.html?pg=3
Almost every day I read stuff that I know is untrue yet it is promoted as factual. One of the strengths of my training is an ability to smell hype. For example, Michael More's film is mostly hype and gore but few facts. That will not matter to those who prefer "Urban Legends" to true facts. (Truth in scripture means, "Unveiled Reality".)
Among Christians we also have persons who prefer "Urban Legends" or "Spiritual Legends" that emphasize fear not faith; despair not hope and anger not love. Whomever is elected President we shall be safe in America and we shall not lose our freedoms. No matter what people say, God is in control of our future not the Republicans or Democrats.
"Lo, I will be with you until the end of the age." Jesus
This is a question asked of the old horse in the book, The Velveteen Rabbit and often asked by me when I read so much hype and gory in the press. The following story illustrates just how difficult it is to know real from unreal.
At the fish counter, farm-raised salmon looks just like wild salmon. But as the COLOR ADDED labels cropping up in supermarkets suggest, the aquacultured fillet's pinkish hue is a testament to engineering, not nature. The labels refer to the food additives canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. Without them, the flesh of farmed salmon - which don't eat the krill that colors the wild ones - would be gray.
Complicating matters further, different retail buyers prefer different pinks. So clever fish farmers use the SalmoFan - a reference that, like paint chips, lets them pick a color. Add the right amount of chemical and get anything from bubble-gum bright to dusty rose. Hoffmann-LaRoche, which manufactured the supplements (now made by DSM Nutritionals), gave the fan away with 2003 shipments.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.02/start.html?pg=3
Almost every day I read stuff that I know is untrue yet it is promoted as factual. One of the strengths of my training is an ability to smell hype. For example, Michael More's film is mostly hype and gore but few facts. That will not matter to those who prefer "Urban Legends" to true facts. (Truth in scripture means, "Unveiled Reality".)
Among Christians we also have persons who prefer "Urban Legends" or "Spiritual Legends" that emphasize fear not faith; despair not hope and anger not love. Whomever is elected President we shall be safe in America and we shall not lose our freedoms. No matter what people say, God is in control of our future not the Republicans or Democrats.
"Lo, I will be with you until the end of the age." Jesus
Disaster, Chaos, FEAR, Anxiety and Pain (Are on the Decrease)
From Time Magazine, July 26, 2004)
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040726-665068,00.html
According to a sweeping U.S. government study conducted by 20 federal departments and agencies and released last week, the kids are actually doing just fine. By almost any important measure, the report was bursting with good news:
teen birthrates are at record lows;
teen crime rates are plummeting;
kids are swearing off cigarettes
(the smoking rate for high school seniors is the lowest it has been in 29 years),
staying in school (87% of young Americans now earn high school diplomas)
getting much of the basic health care they need (immunization rates are high, for example, with 90% of kids getting vaccinated against hepatitis B and a record 81% against chicken pox).
"There are a lot of favorable developments," says Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which contributed to the report. The survey used 25 health and social indicators to evaluate the approximately 73 million under-18 Americans, and on the whole, the investigators declared themselves exceedingly pleased.
For all the heat generated by the number of Americans without health insurance, fully 88% of kids do have coverage. What's more, 83% of children are considered in good or excellent health, and 81% of kids under 7 live in homes in which no one regularly smokes anymore.
Domestic life is becoming more stable too. Currently, 68% of children live with two married parents. While that's down from 77% a generation ago, it's a figure that has at least stayed steady for nearly a decade, suggesting that the long demographic decline of the two-parent household may have been arrested.
in 89% of those two-parent households at least one parent is working full time.
In addition, kids have been doing a better job of staying out of trouble. The number of violent crimes committed by teenagers plummeted 78% from 1993 to 2002--and the number of teen victims fell commensurately. "Over the last decade, 4.2 million serious crimes against youth did not occur that would have [otherwise] occurred," says Lawrence Greenfeld of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Gloom, doom, despair and fear are giving way to faith, hope and love.
FEAR =
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Take heart. God is at work among us.
Write your response to me at gsweeten@lifewaycenters.com
From Time Magazine, July 26, 2004)
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040726-665068,00.html
According to a sweeping U.S. government study conducted by 20 federal departments and agencies and released last week, the kids are actually doing just fine. By almost any important measure, the report was bursting with good news:
teen birthrates are at record lows;
teen crime rates are plummeting;
kids are swearing off cigarettes
(the smoking rate for high school seniors is the lowest it has been in 29 years),
staying in school (87% of young Americans now earn high school diplomas)
getting much of the basic health care they need (immunization rates are high, for example, with 90% of kids getting vaccinated against hepatitis B and a record 81% against chicken pox).
"There are a lot of favorable developments," says Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which contributed to the report. The survey used 25 health and social indicators to evaluate the approximately 73 million under-18 Americans, and on the whole, the investigators declared themselves exceedingly pleased.
For all the heat generated by the number of Americans without health insurance, fully 88% of kids do have coverage. What's more, 83% of children are considered in good or excellent health, and 81% of kids under 7 live in homes in which no one regularly smokes anymore.
Domestic life is becoming more stable too. Currently, 68% of children live with two married parents. While that's down from 77% a generation ago, it's a figure that has at least stayed steady for nearly a decade, suggesting that the long demographic decline of the two-parent household may have been arrested.
in 89% of those two-parent households at least one parent is working full time.
In addition, kids have been doing a better job of staying out of trouble. The number of violent crimes committed by teenagers plummeted 78% from 1993 to 2002--and the number of teen victims fell commensurately. "Over the last decade, 4.2 million serious crimes against youth did not occur that would have [otherwise] occurred," says Lawrence Greenfeld of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Gloom, doom, despair and fear are giving way to faith, hope and love.
FEAR =
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Take heart. God is at work among us.
Write your response to me at gsweeten@lifewaycenters.com
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Lay Ministry
I have always had a strong passion to see ordinary men and women develop all their talents and gifts for the Lord whether or not they are paid as a minister. For the past 40 years I have done many things to develop and equip strong lay pastoral care and lay counseling programs in the USA, Russia, Norway, Singapore, etc. Over 200,000 men and women have bought our books, taken our seminars and moved boldly into special ministries of care, counsel and healing.
After all these experiences I have some insights.
Complaints do not mean the member is upset; nor is it a request for us to act on the Complaint. It is simply a sign that there is
Conviction by the Holy Spirit. Conviction always makes us uncomfortable and so we complain.
Beg the Lord for Complaints!
Look for Complaints.
Rejoice in Complaints!
They mean He is at work.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds;
out of our deeds we form habits;
out of our habits grows our character;
and on our character we build our destiny.
Henry Hancock
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This Fall I will be teaching a series of lessons on leadership, influence and lay ministry. There are hundreds of seminaries in the United States, all of which are designed to train professional clergy. For every full time, ordained clergy person there are hundreds of Christians. Yet, there are few if any places lay men and women can go to get trained in the practical skills of ministry.
This is my attempt to "Equip equippers to equip the saints to DO the work of the ministry". It will be for----
Sunday school teachers
Small group leaders
Community workers with the poor
Lay pastors
Lay counselors
Evangelists
Adult teachers
Administrators
We will help you define your call, gifts, talents, passion and ministry. We will teach you how to deal with Complainers and help them stop complaining about the same things all the time.
So, hang on and we will let you know when and where we shall meet.
I have always had a strong passion to see ordinary men and women develop all their talents and gifts for the Lord whether or not they are paid as a minister. For the past 40 years I have done many things to develop and equip strong lay pastoral care and lay counseling programs in the USA, Russia, Norway, Singapore, etc. Over 200,000 men and women have bought our books, taken our seminars and moved boldly into special ministries of care, counsel and healing.
After all these experiences I have some insights.
- Any pastoral leader who attempts to provide personal counseling and personal pastoral care to his/her congregation will fail to develop a growing, healthy church.
- Pastoral leaders have very little ability to change, influence and stimulate members to grow. Our influence has an effect only when we are in tune with the Holy Spirit. Most of what preachers, teachers, counselors and pastors say in our attempts to influence others is wasted, lost and useless.
- If leaders would learn some simple tools of the trade that all professionals counselors know they could prevent burn out, family conflicts, overwork, anxiety, fear of the board members, etc.
There are simple biblical principles we can learn to help us improve our influence. Most Christian leaders fear one of the most important signs of impending change though the influence of the Holy Spirit and our efforts. The key to effective influence is:
Looking for and Welcoming Complaints!
Complaints do not mean the member is upset; nor is it a request for us to act on the Complaint. It is simply a sign that there is
Conviction by the Holy Spirit. Conviction always makes us uncomfortable and so we complain.
Beg the Lord for Complaints!
Look for Complaints.
Rejoice in Complaints!
They mean He is at work.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds;
out of our deeds we form habits;
out of our habits grows our character;
and on our character we build our destiny.
Henry Hancock
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This Fall I will be teaching a series of lessons on leadership, influence and lay ministry. There are hundreds of seminaries in the United States, all of which are designed to train professional clergy. For every full time, ordained clergy person there are hundreds of Christians. Yet, there are few if any places lay men and women can go to get trained in the practical skills of ministry.
This is my attempt to "Equip equippers to equip the saints to DO the work of the ministry". It will be for----
Sunday school teachers
Small group leaders
Community workers with the poor
Lay pastors
Lay counselors
Evangelists
Adult teachers
Administrators
We will help you define your call, gifts, talents, passion and ministry. We will teach you how to deal with Complainers and help them stop complaining about the same things all the time.
So, hang on and we will let you know when and where we shall meet.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
LifeWay Counseling Program
For the past 15 years we have operated the LifeWay Counseling Centers. For 7 of those years we also had an in-patient unit that was unique in the world in several respects. It was Christ-centered and biblically based as well as having a strong emphasis on involving the entire community of residents in their own healing and growth. I designed the program to mimic that which I had done at College Hill Church when we intentionally designed events to develop a healing community.
The primary source of healing and change is not the therapist but the client and his/her support system-including the Lord. At the LifeWay Unit we carefully involved all the residents in the ministry. We taught them how to commit acts of care, prayer, share and mutually bear each others' burdens. With the power, love and truth of God flowing so mightily we saw awesome results in the lives of the residents.
You can learn how to carry out many of the healing community practices by reading Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty and by listening to our radio program 9:30 AM on WAKW 93.3 FM in Cincinnati.
People need the Lord and they need the healing of the Lord's people.
Our Motto
Changing leaders, One heart at a time
Changing churches, One leader at a time.
Changing communities, One church at a time.
Changing nations, One community at a time
Changing eternity, One day at a time.
Gary Sweeten
For the past 15 years we have operated the LifeWay Counseling Centers. For 7 of those years we also had an in-patient unit that was unique in the world in several respects. It was Christ-centered and biblically based as well as having a strong emphasis on involving the entire community of residents in their own healing and growth. I designed the program to mimic that which I had done at College Hill Church when we intentionally designed events to develop a healing community.
The primary source of healing and change is not the therapist but the client and his/her support system-including the Lord. At the LifeWay Unit we carefully involved all the residents in the ministry. We taught them how to commit acts of care, prayer, share and mutually bear each others' burdens. With the power, love and truth of God flowing so mightily we saw awesome results in the lives of the residents.
You can learn how to carry out many of the healing community practices by reading Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty and by listening to our radio program 9:30 AM on WAKW 93.3 FM in Cincinnati.
People need the Lord and they need the healing of the Lord's people.
Our Motto
Changing leaders, One heart at a time
Changing churches, One leader at a time.
Changing communities, One church at a time.
Changing nations, One community at a time
Changing eternity, One day at a time.
Gary Sweeten
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