Do Not Go to These Places
We have enjoyed the Olive Garden for many years but they have lost our business. They were rude and unfriendly and refused to allow us a simple favor so we will with hold our future business from them.
Also, we have had many problems in France, especially the airport. The people there are unfriendly, unhelpful and try hard to help us miss our next flight. I flew through Rome my last trip to Moscow and it was pleasant and efficient.
Why do business with companies or countries that hate us and who do not want us but lust for our money. The French can't even keep their airport from falling down let alone get us on the next flight.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Ministry Blog
Take a look at my new ministry blog at
http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com
Here you will find teaching and ideas about my ministry through Life Way Ministries, Inc. a non-profit ministry that supports Christians around the world. I discuss the church, ministry, healing, equipping and counseling.
Take a look at my new ministry blog at
http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com
Here you will find teaching and ideas about my ministry through Life Way Ministries, Inc. a non-profit ministry that supports Christians around the world. I discuss the church, ministry, healing, equipping and counseling.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Mother in Law
About 18 months ago Karen's Mother, Hazel Guriel, fell while at her home in Illinois. She became dizzy from the flu and was hit pretty hard on the head when she fell. As a result we moved her to Cincinnati and it was a wonderful addition to our family.
We just celebrated Hazel's 90th Birthday. Just think, from 1916 unto 2006! What memories and big events. She is a great story teller and the grand kids and great grand kids love to hear about "The good old days".
She can remember the 1918 flu epidemic, WWI, The Depression, WWII, Pearl Harbor, Korea, Viet Nam, etc, etc, etc.
If you have some older relatives make sure you allow them time to share their memories with the younger generations. How they met their spouse; dating; music; wars; depressions; etc. The kids need to learn from their elders.
About 18 months ago Karen's Mother, Hazel Guriel, fell while at her home in Illinois. She became dizzy from the flu and was hit pretty hard on the head when she fell. As a result we moved her to Cincinnati and it was a wonderful addition to our family.
We just celebrated Hazel's 90th Birthday. Just think, from 1916 unto 2006! What memories and big events. She is a great story teller and the grand kids and great grand kids love to hear about "The good old days".
She can remember the 1918 flu epidemic, WWI, The Depression, WWII, Pearl Harbor, Korea, Viet Nam, etc, etc, etc.
If you have some older relatives make sure you allow them time to share their memories with the younger generations. How they met their spouse; dating; music; wars; depressions; etc. The kids need to learn from their elders.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Thanks for the Prayers
As some of you know I have suffered from strep throat for about a week. Thanks to medicine and prayer and rest I am recovering.
I had been feeling well until this infection hit me hard. The contrast was huge and it caused me to think about how much I can take wellness and wealth for granted. When I was feeling well I could not remember how it feels to be ill. But after my throat swelled up and I ached all over I suddenly remembered why health is so important.
When I am back in the USA I easily forget how hard life is for many billions around the world. In Russia I saw thousands of destitute people, many of them drunk on very cheap vodka, who lived in shacks beside the railroad tracks. But now I am surrounded by American wealth and I really love it. I grew up in poverty and I can remember that I do not wish to go back to it.
Thanks for the calls, prayers and sympathy. Thanks to God we have good medicine. "All good gifts come down from the Father above."
As some of you know I have suffered from strep throat for about a week. Thanks to medicine and prayer and rest I am recovering.
I had been feeling well until this infection hit me hard. The contrast was huge and it caused me to think about how much I can take wellness and wealth for granted. When I was feeling well I could not remember how it feels to be ill. But after my throat swelled up and I ached all over I suddenly remembered why health is so important.
When I am back in the USA I easily forget how hard life is for many billions around the world. In Russia I saw thousands of destitute people, many of them drunk on very cheap vodka, who lived in shacks beside the railroad tracks. But now I am surrounded by American wealth and I really love it. I grew up in poverty and I can remember that I do not wish to go back to it.
Thanks for the calls, prayers and sympathy. Thanks to God we have good medicine. "All good gifts come down from the Father above."
Marc O'Hara is the Winner
My old friend Marc correctly responded with the answer. It was FDR who wrote that Social Security funds would last only a few years. FDR was my hero as a child. Dad was a left wing Democrat that loved Roosevelt-pronounced Roooozi-velt- and thought he and the other Democrats could do no wrong and I followed in his footsteps.
FDR was a great man who understood reality as well as politics. He would not have a chance of winning the Presidency today because he did not fit the current beautiful man profile of a candidate. But he understood something about economics and that the government could not pay for everything forever. That is another reason many current voters would reject him. Nowadays politicians must promise everything to the citizens.
I think we need to return to the law that said only taxpayers can vote. If a person pays for an item it seems more important.
Take a look at my new ministry blog at http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com
My old friend Marc correctly responded with the answer. It was FDR who wrote that Social Security funds would last only a few years. FDR was my hero as a child. Dad was a left wing Democrat that loved Roosevelt-pronounced Roooozi-velt- and thought he and the other Democrats could do no wrong and I followed in his footsteps.
FDR was a great man who understood reality as well as politics. He would not have a chance of winning the Presidency today because he did not fit the current beautiful man profile of a candidate. But he understood something about economics and that the government could not pay for everything forever. That is another reason many current voters would reject him. Nowadays politicians must promise everything to the citizens.
I think we need to return to the law that said only taxpayers can vote. If a person pays for an item it seems more important.
Take a look at my new ministry blog at http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com
A New Blog by Gary
I am starting a new blog to focus on my professional and ministry life so I can restrict Brave Heart to personal and family issues.
You can find it at
http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com
I am starting a new blog to focus on my professional and ministry life so I can restrict Brave Heart to personal and family issues.
You can find it at
http://gsweetenministryblogspotcom.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Who Wrote This???
"For perhaps 30 years to come funds will have to be provided by the States and the Federal Government to meet these pensions. But after that it would be necessary to move to voluntary contributory annuities by which individual initiative can increase the annual amounts received in old age.
It is proposed that the Federal Government assume one-half of the cost of the old-age pension plan, which ought ultimately to be supplanted by self-supporting annuity plans."
If you can who wrote this I will by a cup of coffee for you.
The answer will be shown later.
"For perhaps 30 years to come funds will have to be provided by the States and the Federal Government to meet these pensions. But after that it would be necessary to move to voluntary contributory annuities by which individual initiative can increase the annual amounts received in old age.
It is proposed that the Federal Government assume one-half of the cost of the old-age pension plan, which ought ultimately to be supplanted by self-supporting annuity plans."
If you can who wrote this I will by a cup of coffee for you.
The answer will be shown later.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Formal Ecucation is Failing
I just read an article in the WAll Street Journal's online version OpinionJournal OpinionJournal@wsj.com. It is the best online paper I receive and I strongly suggest that you subscribe to it.
The article is pasted in below and it affirms the research I did on my doctoral dissertation about training lay and professionals in 1974-75. We have known since the sixties how to help people grow and change. We know what works and what does not work. We know the educational methodis that work and those that do not work. Yet, for the most part, schools, universitis, seminaries and churches continue to pursue outmoded and non-working models to train our children, youth and adult.
(The) Discovery News reports on a new study that suggests "a growing number of people are retaining the behaviors and attitudes associated with youth":
A "child-like flexibility of attitudes, behaviors and knowledge" is probably adaptive to the increased instability of the modern world, [British biologist Bruce] Charlton believes. Formal education now extends well past physical maturity, leaving students with minds that are, he said, "unfinished."
"The psychological neoteny effect of formal education is an accidental by-product -- the main role of education is to increase general, abstract intelligence and prepare for economic activity," he explained.
"But formal education requires a child-like stance of receptivity to new learning, and cognitive flexibility." . . .
"People such as academics, teachers, scientists and many other professionals are often strikingly immature outside of their strictly specialist competence in the sense of being unpredictable, unbalanced in priorities, and tending to overreact."
This would explain the lack of discipleship in most churches and seminaries.
I just read an article in the WAll Street Journal's online version OpinionJournal OpinionJournal@wsj.com. It is the best online paper I receive and I strongly suggest that you subscribe to it.
The article is pasted in below and it affirms the research I did on my doctoral dissertation about training lay and professionals in 1974-75. We have known since the sixties how to help people grow and change. We know what works and what does not work. We know the educational methodis that work and those that do not work. Yet, for the most part, schools, universitis, seminaries and churches continue to pursue outmoded and non-working models to train our children, youth and adult.
(The) Discovery News reports on a new study that suggests "a growing number of people are retaining the behaviors and attitudes associated with youth":
A "child-like flexibility of attitudes, behaviors and knowledge" is probably adaptive to the increased instability of the modern world, [British biologist Bruce] Charlton believes. Formal education now extends well past physical maturity, leaving students with minds that are, he said, "unfinished."
"The psychological neoteny effect of formal education is an accidental by-product -- the main role of education is to increase general, abstract intelligence and prepare for economic activity," he explained.
"But formal education requires a child-like stance of receptivity to new learning, and cognitive flexibility." . . .
"People such as academics, teachers, scientists and many other professionals are often strikingly immature outside of their strictly specialist competence in the sense of being unpredictable, unbalanced in priorities, and tending to overreact."
This would explain the lack of discipleship in most churches and seminaries.
Papa Scrambles at Scrabble
Grandson Jacob is the champion of Scrabble despite his tender age and low level of schooling. As you can see from the photo he took of me I was stunned to have a "B" when I needed another letter.
Jacob regularly beats the adults at a lot of games and Grand Daugher Lily seems to have the same gift. Even in games of pure chance they always come out ahead.
There are few activities in life that can build emotional, relational and economic health than board games.
When we had our in-patient hospital many of the patients had never spent time with their families and most never played games, We could see the damage that did when they grew up without learning basic relationshl skills, how to win and h0w to face failures.
Grandson Jacob is the champion of Scrabble despite his tender age and low level of schooling. As you can see from the photo he took of me I was stunned to have a "B" when I needed another letter.Jacob regularly beats the adults at a lot of games and Grand Daugher Lily seems to have the same gift. Even in games of pure chance they always come out ahead.
There are few activities in life that can build emotional, relational and economic health than board games.
When we had our in-patient hospital many of the patients had never spent time with their families and most never played games, We could see the damage that did when they grew up without learning basic relationshl skills, how to win and h0w to face failures.
Story Telling With Verve
Hazel's Great Nephew Joshua is a born entertainer
and he joined her in re-telling some dramatic stories about her childhood. This one had to do with Her oldest brother getting his arm shot off in a hunting accident.
As you can see, Josh added a lot of emotion, intensity and "facts" to the tale.
Hazel's Great Nephew Joshua is a born entertainer
and he joined her in re-telling some dramatic stories about her childhood. This one had to do with Her oldest brother getting his arm shot off in a hunting accident.As you can see, Josh added a lot of emotion, intensity and "facts" to the tale.
Happy Father's Day
Son Timothy and Wife Shelley found the perfect gift for me this year. In the midst of Hazel's 90th Birthday Bash they remembered me and wrapped up two dozen geezer-golf balls from Titleist.
These are soft and made for old guys with a slow swing speed.
It was just one more aspect of the week that made it into a wonderful experience. No aspect og family life is better than playing games and telling family stories. Now I have 24 balls to add to my low score mythology.
I hope all my golf buddies also got good dad and grandad gifts.
Son Timothy and Wife Shelley found the perfect gift for me this year. In the midst of Hazel's 90th Birthday Bash they remembered me and wrapped up two dozen geezer-golf balls from Titleist.
These are soft and made for old guys with a slow swing speed.It was just one more aspect of the week that made it into a wonderful experience. No aspect og family life is better than playing games and telling family stories. Now I have 24 balls to add to my low score mythology.
I hope all my golf buddies also got good dad and grandad gifts.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The Lucas Children
Celebrating Hazel's 90th Birthday with her children, grand and great grandchildren, nephews Terry Lucas and his three kids Meg, Matt and Johs as well as Fred Davis and wife Sally and daughter Sharon and other friends was one of the highlights of my life. In fact, having Hazel move here 15 months ago proved to be a great gift for all of us.
As I teach generational family blessings I have a lot of great new stories and anecdotes to tell. We played Pinochle, Scrabble, swam and told old timey stories.
What a joy to see our kids and grandkids laugh, play and listen to tales about Terry's dad Mike, a real WWII hero.
Celebrating Hazel's 90th Birthday with her children, grand and great grandchildren, nephews Terry Lucas and his three kids Meg, Matt and Johs as well as Fred Davis and wife Sally and daughter Sharon and other friends was one of the highlights of my life. In fact, having Hazel move here 15 months ago proved to be a great gift for all of us.
As I teach generational family blessings I have a lot of great new stories and anecdotes to tell. We played Pinochle, Scrabble, swam and told old timey stories.
What a joy to see our kids and grandkids laugh, play and listen to tales about Terry's dad Mike, a real WWII hero.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Mighty Men of God in Russia
Perhaps the single greatest need in all of the former Soviet Bloc is for God to raise up thousands of strong and healthy males. Along with Steve and me are six good men.They hail from several different denominations and they love God. They lead men's groups for recovery, counseling and Christian care.
It is unusual to see this many sober males with smiles, good skills and a relationship with God.
Perhaps the single greatest need in all of the former Soviet Bloc is for God to raise up thousands of strong and healthy males. Along with Steve and me are six good men.They hail from several different denominations and they love God. They lead men's groups for recovery, counseling and Christian care.
It is unusual to see this many sober males with smiles, good skills and a relationship with God.
Key Leaders With Steve in Russia
Costas and Gallina are brilliant and insightful
Russians who have been active in leading and
publishing materials for Recovery Groups
, She
translated Listening for Heaven's Sake and His company will publish and distribute it along with A.A. and other Recovery Materials.
Costas also translated for Steven when he ministered to a Men's Group. We are very thankful for their assistance.
Pray for good sales and many readers to receive help. Pray that we can publish other books.
Costas and Gallina are brilliant and insightful
Russians who have been active in leading and
publishing materials for Recovery Groups
, Shetranslated Listening for Heaven's Sake and His company will publish and distribute it along with A.A. and other Recovery Materials.
Costas also translated for Steven when he ministered to a Men's Group. We are very thankful for their assistance.
Pray for good sales and many readers to receive help. Pray that we can publish other books.
I Don't Believe
It does not bother me if people do not believe in a round earth for I do and I have flown around it. It does not bother me that some people do not believe in flight. I do and have flown overseas over 100 times and I belong to several frequent flyers' programs. It does not bother me if people do not believe in God. I do and I have spoken with Him and have personally experienced Him many times.
I cannot understand, however, why a person who believes in a flat earth would desire to join the round earth society. I cannot understand why a person that refuses to accept flight would want to join the frequent flyers' associations.
But I am most mystified about why an atheist would want to join a Christian Church. Even more so, why an atheist wants to be the "pastor" of a Christian Church. Why would Satan want to belong to a heavenly choir or a mouse join the local cats' club? It just does not go together.
Yet, we continue to read about people who go to seminary and then become involved in a Christian church in order to destroy its traditions and teachings. Read this dispatch.
From time to time throughout their colorful careers, UT journalism professor Robert Jensen and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church pastor Jim Rigby have come under attack for their outspoken views of the world. Jensen's biggest stir swirled around his post 9/11 remarks suggesting that U.S. policies provoked the attack. For Rigby, it was his ordination of an openly gay elder and his willingness to bless same-sex unions that once threatened his standing in the Presbyterian Church.
Now Jensen and Rigby have teamed up Â? this time as parishioner and pastor Â? to challenge the conservative wing of the Presbyterian hierarchy, which seeks to have Jensen tossed out on his atheist ear. Jensen grew up in the Presbyterian Church but later rejected organized religion altogether. He joined St. Andrew's late last year after striking up a friendship with Rigby. For the last two years, Jensen has led a monthly series of political film screenings at the church. "It's hard not to feel at home there," Jensen said. "It's a very welcoming church."
In November, St. Andrew's formally threw out the welcome mat for Jensen, who then wrote aofop-ed article about his experience. The article, which opens with the provocative line "I don't believe in God," first ran in a December edition of the Hindustan Times, one of India's two largest English-language newspapers. The item barely created a ripple in India, but when the Houston Chronicle picked it up in March, conservative Christians went bananas. "I hadn't received this much of a reaction since 9/11," Jensen said. "It really got people going."
Rigby tried to quell the uproar with an opinion piece titled "Why We Let an Atheist Join Our Church." Religion, he explained, "is not about groveling before a savior, it's joining in the work of saving our world." (A subsequent article Rigby wrote on the same subject is playing to appreciative audiences on the left-leaning Web sites of AlterNet and The Huffington Post.)
I do not believe in movies but I want to run a chain of theatres.
I do not believe in sports but I want to own a professional team.
I do not believe in education but I am president of a college.
I do not believe in America but I want to be President.
At least it was the Communists not the Priests and Ministers who attempted to kill the church in Russia. In America it is the clergy that are trying to kill it.
It does not bother me if people do not believe in a round earth for I do and I have flown around it. It does not bother me that some people do not believe in flight. I do and have flown overseas over 100 times and I belong to several frequent flyers' programs. It does not bother me if people do not believe in God. I do and I have spoken with Him and have personally experienced Him many times.
I cannot understand, however, why a person who believes in a flat earth would desire to join the round earth society. I cannot understand why a person that refuses to accept flight would want to join the frequent flyers' associations.
But I am most mystified about why an atheist would want to join a Christian Church. Even more so, why an atheist wants to be the "pastor" of a Christian Church. Why would Satan want to belong to a heavenly choir or a mouse join the local cats' club? It just does not go together.
Yet, we continue to read about people who go to seminary and then become involved in a Christian church in order to destroy its traditions and teachings. Read this dispatch.
From time to time throughout their colorful careers, UT journalism professor Robert Jensen and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church pastor Jim Rigby have come under attack for their outspoken views of the world. Jensen's biggest stir swirled around his post 9/11 remarks suggesting that U.S. policies provoked the attack. For Rigby, it was his ordination of an openly gay elder and his willingness to bless same-sex unions that once threatened his standing in the Presbyterian Church.
Now Jensen and Rigby have teamed up Â? this time as parishioner and pastor Â? to challenge the conservative wing of the Presbyterian hierarchy, which seeks to have Jensen tossed out on his atheist ear. Jensen grew up in the Presbyterian Church but later rejected organized religion altogether. He joined St. Andrew's late last year after striking up a friendship with Rigby. For the last two years, Jensen has led a monthly series of political film screenings at the church. "It's hard not to feel at home there," Jensen said. "It's a very welcoming church."
In November, St. Andrew's formally threw out the welcome mat for Jensen, who then wrote aofop-ed article about his experience. The article, which opens with the provocative line "I don't believe in God," first ran in a December edition of the Hindustan Times, one of India's two largest English-language newspapers. The item barely created a ripple in India, but when the Houston Chronicle picked it up in March, conservative Christians went bananas. "I hadn't received this much of a reaction since 9/11," Jensen said. "It really got people going."
Rigby tried to quell the uproar with an opinion piece titled "Why We Let an Atheist Join Our Church." Religion, he explained, "is not about groveling before a savior, it's joining in the work of saving our world." (A subsequent article Rigby wrote on the same subject is playing to appreciative audiences on the left-leaning Web sites of AlterNet and The Huffington Post.)
I do not believe in movies but I want to run a chain of theatres.
I do not believe in sports but I want to own a professional team.
I do not believe in education but I am president of a college.
I do not believe in America but I want to be President.
At least it was the Communists not the Priests and Ministers who attempted to kill the church in Russia. In America it is the clergy that are trying to kill it.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Listening For Heaven's Sake 
Listening is being translated and published in Russian now! Many years ago we gave Galina the rights to all our materials but the maddeningly long time it takes to get books translated and published has led to delay after delay. Thank God for the final product for it is desperately needed.
Pray for money to be donated so more of my books can be published in Russia.
Listening is being translated and published in Russian now! Many years ago we gave Galina the rights to all our materials but the maddeningly long time it takes to get books translated and published has led to delay after delay. Thank God for the final product for it is desperately needed.
Pray for money to be donated so more of my books can be published in Russia.
Mother-In-Law's 90th Birthday
Karen's mother, Hazel Guriel, was born in 1916 in Perry County, Illinois and has lived there ever since except for the last year.
Relatives came from California, Texas, Florida, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio to celebrate with her. As you can see from the photo Hazel is a ball of fire who survived the great flu epidemic of 1918, two World Wars, The Great Depression, the deaths of three husbands and single parenthood to live with joy and vitality.
Karen's mother, Hazel Guriel, was born in 1916 in Perry County, Illinois and has lived there ever since except for the last year.
Relatives came from California, Texas, Florida, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio to celebrate with her. As you can see from the photo Hazel is a ball of fire who survived the great flu epidemic of 1918, two World Wars, The Great Depression, the deaths of three husbands and single parenthood to live with joy and vitality.
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