React or Respond
For many years I was defensive and reactive to the innocent comments of other people. You know the joke. Two psychiatrists met in the hallway of a psychiatric hospital and one said, "Good morning, doctor. How are you?" and the other thought to himself, "What did he mean by that?"
Once whileworking at the University of Cincinnati, One of my profs introduced me to a colleague and said, "Gary is a country boy trying to act like he is from the city." I was immediately anxious, worried and upset. It was impossible to get that phrase out of my mind. It was a very small thing that got a very big reaction.
Such a reaction indicates an inner sense of stress, anxiety or nervousness. When we have a minor experience but react to it in a major manner we are simply releasing some of the energy, anger or frustration that is inside us. So, instead of saying, "That makes me mad" we need to admit that "I am making myself mad when I see you do such a thing."
Consider the following scale with 0 as perfect peace and 10 as extreme reactivity. Most of us come from families that fell somewhere in between those two extremes. A normally anxious family may be 4 to 6 on the scale but a family suffering from alcoholism, suicide, illness or abandonment will probably be a 7 or 8.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
Family distresses act like earthquakes and the resulting stress, anxiety, and trauma are tsunami-like in their ability to devastate family members far from the original quake. Imagine what happens when sexual abuse occurs in a family. Gran Dad Jones forces his grandchildren to perform acts of sexual intimacy with him. However, no one admits this for several years. Will the victim's children and grandchildren be effected even if they are unaware of the crime?
Yes! Sexual abuse is a Huge earthquake sending tremors into the entire family system. The abuse victim will keep the secret but act differently toward everyone else in the family. She will not be able to develop a truly intimate connection with siblings, parents or a future husband and children. The tsunami wave does damage across the family for many generations.
Now we can see why some people are very reactive. They simply absorbed the wave of anxiety from silent relatives and carried it about like a water soaked sponge ready to let loose with a stream of water at the first slight.
What can we do? Seek healing from Jesus.
Read Isaiah 61
Monday, January 31, 2005
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Why Give Others So Much Power Over Our Lives?
A few weeks ago Dr. Lawrence Summers, President of Harvard, made several statements about why there are the lack of women in the hard sciences. He indicated that some prefer to rear children while others preferred non academic careers. He also indicated that nature or genetics might play some role but he hoped he was wrong.
The comments stirred a firestorm. One woman, Nancy Hopkins, a Ph. D. Who teaches biology at MIT, walked out lest she throw up because his words so upset her. Why, would a brilliant woman give that much power to the words of a man with whom she so strongly disagrees?
She ruminated and reconsidered what Summers said and allowed the words to eat away at her self confidence. She said, He shouldn't admit women to Harvard if he is going to announce when they come that, hey, we don't feel that you can make it to the top.
She is saying she should not have been admitted to Harvard.
Dr. Hopkins is obviously a very smart person. She graduated from Harvard in 1964 and currently teaches at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. MIT is known as a premier university in science, engineering and technology. Despite all these facts, Dr. Hopkins feels threatened; scared and unable to compete.
She is suffering from FEAR:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Every fact ponts to the ability of Dr. Hopkins to compete with men. She competed and won over most males despite the advantages they had in technical subjects in the 50's and 60's yet it is not enough to keep her calm. She is still ruled by False Evidence not FACTS.
Anyone as nervous and unsure of her abilities can be sent into a nervous frenzy with any unkind word. In this case it happened to be Lawrence Summers but it could be almost anyone's utterance that could fan the flames already burning in Dr. Hopkins' mind.
I do not wish to be harsh about this lady or others like her. To the contrary, it is my desire to set them all free from the words and opinions of others. When we know who we are the comments of others will run off us like water off a duck's back. However, when we are unsure of ourselves or our abilities we are racked with anxiety and sadness or even depression.
No person can cause you to be anxious or depressed unless you give them the power to alter your thinking.
To whom do you give the power of life and death?
Today I have set before you death or life. CHOOSE LIFE! JE 31:31
A few weeks ago Dr. Lawrence Summers, President of Harvard, made several statements about why there are the lack of women in the hard sciences. He indicated that some prefer to rear children while others preferred non academic careers. He also indicated that nature or genetics might play some role but he hoped he was wrong.
The comments stirred a firestorm. One woman, Nancy Hopkins, a Ph. D. Who teaches biology at MIT, walked out lest she throw up because his words so upset her. Why, would a brilliant woman give that much power to the words of a man with whom she so strongly disagrees?
She ruminated and reconsidered what Summers said and allowed the words to eat away at her self confidence. She said, He shouldn't admit women to Harvard if he is going to announce when they come that, hey, we don't feel that you can make it to the top.
She is saying she should not have been admitted to Harvard.
Dr. Hopkins is obviously a very smart person. She graduated from Harvard in 1964 and currently teaches at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. MIT is known as a premier university in science, engineering and technology. Despite all these facts, Dr. Hopkins feels threatened; scared and unable to compete.
She is suffering from FEAR:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Every fact ponts to the ability of Dr. Hopkins to compete with men. She competed and won over most males despite the advantages they had in technical subjects in the 50's and 60's yet it is not enough to keep her calm. She is still ruled by False Evidence not FACTS.
Anyone as nervous and unsure of her abilities can be sent into a nervous frenzy with any unkind word. In this case it happened to be Lawrence Summers but it could be almost anyone's utterance that could fan the flames already burning in Dr. Hopkins' mind.
I do not wish to be harsh about this lady or others like her. To the contrary, it is my desire to set them all free from the words and opinions of others. When we know who we are the comments of others will run off us like water off a duck's back. However, when we are unsure of ourselves or our abilities we are racked with anxiety and sadness or even depression.
No person can cause you to be anxious or depressed unless you give them the power to alter your thinking.
To whom do you give the power of life and death?
Today I have set before you death or life. CHOOSE LIFE! JE 31:31
Thin Skin
Sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me.
There is a desperate need in America to memorize and actualize this old saw. The two most common complaints that bring people to see a counselor are depression and anxiety. These maladies are called "Mood Disorders" and they bedevil millions of people in the USA and around the world.
What causes so many people to feel anxious and or depressed? The most common factor is the way we send think about life events. Much to my concern, modern Americans are deluged with false and harmful information about the things that cause us trouble. So much of the media, the legal profession and the PC Community speak as if words themselves cause us lasting harm.
The recent exposure of Roman Catholic priests who sexually molested young men and women is evidence of terrible sins and crimes. These acts by any person are reprehensible but when done by a clergyman they are almost unspeakable. The men who were responsible should pay the full penalty of the law.
In spite of that fact, when courts and lawyers imply that sexual attacks cause permanent or at long term mental and emotional damage they are wrong. This view is doing more harm than good to the victims and to society in general.
it is not the actual events that cause long term mental and/or emotional damage. What harms us are the ways we think, ruminate and conclude after the events have passed.
When a victim ruminates in a way that deposits anger, fear, self-victimization and personal weakness within his soul the damage can be long term. If, however, the victim thinks about his/her strengths and ability to move on the scars will become stars as one preacher famously says.
One of the best things we can do is help people develop resiliency or the ability to "bounce back" from adversity. Our national symbol needs to be the plastic clown my kids had. They would knock it over but it always bounced back up. We must teach kids and adults to "Take a licking and keep on ticking."
Teaching people how to speak words that edify is admirable and I have written books and papers on that process. However, the world is a fallen, broken painful place and if we expect it to always be gentle, kind and warm we are setting ourselves up for great disappointment.
I cannot change the actions of every person who might verbally attack me but I can prepare myself for adverse actions by renewing my mind. I can be resilient and mentally tough.
Do not be conformed to this sinful world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
RO 12:2
Sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me.
There is a desperate need in America to memorize and actualize this old saw. The two most common complaints that bring people to see a counselor are depression and anxiety. These maladies are called "Mood Disorders" and they bedevil millions of people in the USA and around the world.
What causes so many people to feel anxious and or depressed? The most common factor is the way we send think about life events. Much to my concern, modern Americans are deluged with false and harmful information about the things that cause us trouble. So much of the media, the legal profession and the PC Community speak as if words themselves cause us lasting harm.
The recent exposure of Roman Catholic priests who sexually molested young men and women is evidence of terrible sins and crimes. These acts by any person are reprehensible but when done by a clergyman they are almost unspeakable. The men who were responsible should pay the full penalty of the law.
In spite of that fact, when courts and lawyers imply that sexual attacks cause permanent or at long term mental and emotional damage they are wrong. This view is doing more harm than good to the victims and to society in general.
it is not the actual events that cause long term mental and/or emotional damage. What harms us are the ways we think, ruminate and conclude after the events have passed.
When a victim ruminates in a way that deposits anger, fear, self-victimization and personal weakness within his soul the damage can be long term. If, however, the victim thinks about his/her strengths and ability to move on the scars will become stars as one preacher famously says.
One of the best things we can do is help people develop resiliency or the ability to "bounce back" from adversity. Our national symbol needs to be the plastic clown my kids had. They would knock it over but it always bounced back up. We must teach kids and adults to "Take a licking and keep on ticking."
Teaching people how to speak words that edify is admirable and I have written books and papers on that process. However, the world is a fallen, broken painful place and if we expect it to always be gentle, kind and warm we are setting ourselves up for great disappointment.
I cannot change the actions of every person who might verbally attack me but I can prepare myself for adverse actions by renewing my mind. I can be resilient and mentally tough.
Do not be conformed to this sinful world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
RO 12:2
Monday, January 24, 2005
Christian Family Systems
I love to teach a class about family systems. I find that much of what is written and taught in America is a shallow, narrow western view of family life that bears little resemblance to the biblical view.
Our view is flat and dull for it focuses on only the martial couple and their kids. Such an approach leaves out much of the richness of the scriptural approach and makes it almost impossible to understand what the Bible teaches about families.
I am often asked to teach a class about marriage from Ephesians 5 and explain what it means for a woman to submit to her husband. I suppose that assignment is not impossible but it is very difficult. T%he framework for marriage is laid in Genesis 1, 2 and 3. One must understand the creation ordinances or Ephesians 5 means little.
I am currently teaching about the biblical family at a local church and we are having a blast. It is so much fun and causing so much insight and discussion I want to do the same for pastors and leaders. Write and let me know what morning would be best for pastoral couples to meet for two hours each week and learn how to better understand your own family as well as the family of God.
A Christian leader cannot understand or appreciate the church family and how to lead without first digging into his own family of origin. It will empower you to change your life and make leadership much easier.
I love to teach a class about family systems. I find that much of what is written and taught in America is a shallow, narrow western view of family life that bears little resemblance to the biblical view.
Our view is flat and dull for it focuses on only the martial couple and their kids. Such an approach leaves out much of the richness of the scriptural approach and makes it almost impossible to understand what the Bible teaches about families.
I am often asked to teach a class about marriage from Ephesians 5 and explain what it means for a woman to submit to her husband. I suppose that assignment is not impossible but it is very difficult. T%he framework for marriage is laid in Genesis 1, 2 and 3. One must understand the creation ordinances or Ephesians 5 means little.
I am currently teaching about the biblical family at a local church and we are having a blast. It is so much fun and causing so much insight and discussion I want to do the same for pastors and leaders. Write and let me know what morning would be best for pastoral couples to meet for two hours each week and learn how to better understand your own family as well as the family of God.
A Christian leader cannot understand or appreciate the church family and how to lead without first digging into his own family of origin. It will empower you to change your life and make leadership much easier.
Defense Mechanisms
When I was in graduate school I was amazed to find out that psychologists and counselors had developed a list of the common ways we humans try to fool ourselves. These self manipulations are called, "Defense Mechanisms" and seem to be there to keep us from facing our own dysfunctions.
Denial: You completely reject the thought or feeling.
"I'm not angry with him!"
Suppression: You are vaguely aware of the thought or feeling, but try to hide it.
"I'm going to try to be nice to him."
Reaction Formation: You turn the feeling into its opposite.
"I think he's really great!"
Projection: You think someone else has your thought or feeling.
"That professor hates me.""That student hates the prof."
Displacement: You redirect your feelings to another target..
"I hate that secretary."
Rationalization: You come up with various explanations to justify the situation (while denying your feelings).
"He's so critical because he's trying to help us do our best."
Intellectualization: A type of rationalization, only more intellectualized.
"This situation reminds me of how Nietzsche said that anger is ontological despair."
It would seem that Christians would be free from such things because we cannot even get into the Kingdom of God without admitting that we are sinners and as such we have no business being in such a holy place. This is the paradox of Christianity. Only the needy can qualify to be holy. Perhaps this is why St Paul grew into admitting that he was, "The worst of all sinners."
The news is full of Christians and others who seem to delight in fooling themselves. Just tonight I heard an abortion doctor attacks Roman Catholic Church for burying the remains of several hundred babies. Here is a man who is busily engaged in killing thousands of innocent babies each year and he seems to have no remorse or guilt. However, his hidden pain and guilt come out by charging that the priest and people are doing harm to the feeling of the mothers who asked him to kill their babies.
I am reminded of Abe Lincoln famous story about a man who killed his parents in cold blood and then asked for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan. It tasks a lot of brass to face a court and say that you are the victim when in fact you are the murderer. But this is what the doctor is doing. He has violated the Hippocratic oath of ethics used for over two thousand years to ban abortions and yet blames those who are lovingly and respectfully giving a decent burial to hundreds of innocents torn from the womb of their mothers.
My daughter in law is expecting a baby soon and we have had the joy of seeing the baby kick her so hard that she jumps in shock. This is a wanted child and we are doing everything we can to give Shelley and the baby the finest medical care. Anyone who could ruthlessly kill that child must live with no conscience or be in such a self delusion that Defense Mechanism fails to adequately describe his malady.
Are these people in denial? Can they not see the child's movements and hear his heartbeat? We heard it beat fast and strong. Is he deaf or just tone deaf?
I think it is called, Projection!
When I was in graduate school I was amazed to find out that psychologists and counselors had developed a list of the common ways we humans try to fool ourselves. These self manipulations are called, "Defense Mechanisms" and seem to be there to keep us from facing our own dysfunctions.
Denial: You completely reject the thought or feeling.
"I'm not angry with him!"
Suppression: You are vaguely aware of the thought or feeling, but try to hide it.
"I'm going to try to be nice to him."
Reaction Formation: You turn the feeling into its opposite.
"I think he's really great!"
Projection: You think someone else has your thought or feeling.
"That professor hates me.""That student hates the prof."
Displacement: You redirect your feelings to another target..
"I hate that secretary."
Rationalization: You come up with various explanations to justify the situation (while denying your feelings).
"He's so critical because he's trying to help us do our best."
Intellectualization: A type of rationalization, only more intellectualized.
"This situation reminds me of how Nietzsche said that anger is ontological despair."
It would seem that Christians would be free from such things because we cannot even get into the Kingdom of God without admitting that we are sinners and as such we have no business being in such a holy place. This is the paradox of Christianity. Only the needy can qualify to be holy. Perhaps this is why St Paul grew into admitting that he was, "The worst of all sinners."
The news is full of Christians and others who seem to delight in fooling themselves. Just tonight I heard an abortion doctor attacks Roman Catholic Church for burying the remains of several hundred babies. Here is a man who is busily engaged in killing thousands of innocent babies each year and he seems to have no remorse or guilt. However, his hidden pain and guilt come out by charging that the priest and people are doing harm to the feeling of the mothers who asked him to kill their babies.
I am reminded of Abe Lincoln famous story about a man who killed his parents in cold blood and then asked for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan. It tasks a lot of brass to face a court and say that you are the victim when in fact you are the murderer. But this is what the doctor is doing. He has violated the Hippocratic oath of ethics used for over two thousand years to ban abortions and yet blames those who are lovingly and respectfully giving a decent burial to hundreds of innocents torn from the womb of their mothers.
My daughter in law is expecting a baby soon and we have had the joy of seeing the baby kick her so hard that she jumps in shock. This is a wanted child and we are doing everything we can to give Shelley and the baby the finest medical care. Anyone who could ruthlessly kill that child must live with no conscience or be in such a self delusion that Defense Mechanism fails to adequately describe his malady.
Are these people in denial? Can they not see the child's movements and hear his heartbeat? We heard it beat fast and strong. Is he deaf or just tone deaf?
I think it is called, Projection!
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
How Can We Improve the Church?
Earlier I wrote about the power of a local church and a group of churches. Now I want to say a few words about increasing our effectiveness as an organization.
I would say that the biggest single problem facing us is the confusion about the task of church. This leads to confusion about what leaders are to actually do and that causes confusion about how to train church leaders.
Because I was a school teacher and coach of softball, track and basketball I know a bit about preparing people to play a game. One must first know what game we are playing and it is here that the church is terribly confused. In fact, it seems to me that most seminary, Bible school and workshop leaders assume the church is supposed to be a combination of a pep rally and a study hall. A great deal of focus is placed on what kind of music the assembly is supposed to hear to jazz them up and the kind of costumes the cheer leaders are supposed to wear.
Thousands of articles are written and speeches given about whether we should still use old fashioned pom poms or do we need to simply show streamers on the closed circuit TV monitors. Now we are subjected to a huge debate about how many arenas we can gather in on Sunday to watch the pep rally beamed from one central site to other sites.
After the inspiring pep rally led by beautiful Dallas cheerleaders, a really handsome and slick talking motivational speaker gets up and spends twenty minutes in study hall firing the crowd up to adopt his BHAG (Big Harry Audacious Goal). At the end of the talk the crowd is sent out to implement the BHAG.
As a coach I know this. Those poor slobs will get killed on the court. They have completely confused the pep rally with coaching. Coaches train through detailed drills and repitive practices not "Chalk Talks" and "Cheerleaders" how to play their position and how to play as a team.
A coach must train the players differently for basketball and softball. Some drills like stretching and endurance are the same but all the skill positions are different. One does not need to learn how to "pick and roll" in baseball but it is an essential drill in basketball. I am appalled that small group leaders, elders and care givers are almost never drilled in the simple skills of their roles.
But here is the good news. The fact that the church has survived and still thrives despite terrible leadership and training indicates that it is really a supernatural organization. Only God could keep such a poorly led organization alive. It is alive and it is still touching lives. PTL!
Ps Just imagine how well a church could function if the coaches actually knew what game they were playing and how to prepare their players for that specific game.
Earlier I wrote about the power of a local church and a group of churches. Now I want to say a few words about increasing our effectiveness as an organization.
I would say that the biggest single problem facing us is the confusion about the task of church. This leads to confusion about what leaders are to actually do and that causes confusion about how to train church leaders.
Because I was a school teacher and coach of softball, track and basketball I know a bit about preparing people to play a game. One must first know what game we are playing and it is here that the church is terribly confused. In fact, it seems to me that most seminary, Bible school and workshop leaders assume the church is supposed to be a combination of a pep rally and a study hall. A great deal of focus is placed on what kind of music the assembly is supposed to hear to jazz them up and the kind of costumes the cheer leaders are supposed to wear.
Thousands of articles are written and speeches given about whether we should still use old fashioned pom poms or do we need to simply show streamers on the closed circuit TV monitors. Now we are subjected to a huge debate about how many arenas we can gather in on Sunday to watch the pep rally beamed from one central site to other sites.
After the inspiring pep rally led by beautiful Dallas cheerleaders, a really handsome and slick talking motivational speaker gets up and spends twenty minutes in study hall firing the crowd up to adopt his BHAG (Big Harry Audacious Goal). At the end of the talk the crowd is sent out to implement the BHAG.
As a coach I know this. Those poor slobs will get killed on the court. They have completely confused the pep rally with coaching. Coaches train through detailed drills and repitive practices not "Chalk Talks" and "Cheerleaders" how to play their position and how to play as a team.
A coach must train the players differently for basketball and softball. Some drills like stretching and endurance are the same but all the skill positions are different. One does not need to learn how to "pick and roll" in baseball but it is an essential drill in basketball. I am appalled that small group leaders, elders and care givers are almost never drilled in the simple skills of their roles.
But here is the good news. The fact that the church has survived and still thrives despite terrible leadership and training indicates that it is really a supernatural organization. Only God could keep such a poorly led organization alive. It is alive and it is still touching lives. PTL!
Ps Just imagine how well a church could function if the coaches actually knew what game they were playing and how to prepare their players for that specific game.
The Local Church is Important
Christianity Today had a great article about the depth and breadth of the church in a recent CT blog. http://christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/001/30.50.html
In it, the author said many of the things I have argued for many years. For example, no religion, group, movement, political ideology or business does as much good for people as the churches of Jesus Christ regardless of denomination. While ministering at Ground Zero I saw hundreds of Christian pastors, lay volunteers and chaplains but no groups of atheists, ACLU members or Muslims.
I believe in ecumenical associations. In fact I helped start a couple of them and I still coordinate HOPE for Cincinnati along with some others. However, were it not for the local church there would be no local ministries; no international missions and no finances for any of them to operate.
Only in the church can we teach, inspire and mobilize thousands of people every week to follow Christ and do good works. IBM, Microsoft and ATT only wish they had this kind of access.
The next time you have a friend or colleague lambast Christians for not doing enough to help the poor, care for the needy or acting like hypocrites, you can readily agree. The church admits it is only for sinners so the fact that hypocrites show up is no great surprise. That is like criticizing Alcoholics Anonymous for having a bunch of drunks in their meetings!
We agree that we are sinners. Perfect people need not apply! But it is all those imperfect, stumbling sinners and hypocrites who are "Healing the broken-hearted and setting the captives free."
Yes, the next time you are confronted by a sneering agnostic, agree with him but also ask: "What group in American society is doing more than the hypocrite Christians and their churches? Can you name a single group that gives more or works harder to help people?
If they can name a single group that is doing more I will buy them a Starbucks latte.
The rap by those who love abortions is that we Christians want to produce unwanted babies but refuse to care for them. In point of fact, Christians provide at least 90% of all adoption and problem pregnancy care. Churches provide over 75% of all child care and 90% of all counseling for all people.
Is it enough? Nope! Can we do better? Yep! Are we ashamed and need to stop doing good things? Nope? Will we gladly accept these agnostic complainers into our fellowship and love them anyway? Yep! It is always exciting to welcome a new group of hypocrites into the church.
Christianity Today had a great article about the depth and breadth of the church in a recent CT blog. http://christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/001/30.50.html
In it, the author said many of the things I have argued for many years. For example, no religion, group, movement, political ideology or business does as much good for people as the churches of Jesus Christ regardless of denomination. While ministering at Ground Zero I saw hundreds of Christian pastors, lay volunteers and chaplains but no groups of atheists, ACLU members or Muslims.
I believe in ecumenical associations. In fact I helped start a couple of them and I still coordinate HOPE for Cincinnati along with some others. However, were it not for the local church there would be no local ministries; no international missions and no finances for any of them to operate.
Only in the church can we teach, inspire and mobilize thousands of people every week to follow Christ and do good works. IBM, Microsoft and ATT only wish they had this kind of access.
The next time you have a friend or colleague lambast Christians for not doing enough to help the poor, care for the needy or acting like hypocrites, you can readily agree. The church admits it is only for sinners so the fact that hypocrites show up is no great surprise. That is like criticizing Alcoholics Anonymous for having a bunch of drunks in their meetings!
We agree that we are sinners. Perfect people need not apply! But it is all those imperfect, stumbling sinners and hypocrites who are "Healing the broken-hearted and setting the captives free."
Yes, the next time you are confronted by a sneering agnostic, agree with him but also ask: "What group in American society is doing more than the hypocrite Christians and their churches? Can you name a single group that gives more or works harder to help people?
If they can name a single group that is doing more I will buy them a Starbucks latte.
The rap by those who love abortions is that we Christians want to produce unwanted babies but refuse to care for them. In point of fact, Christians provide at least 90% of all adoption and problem pregnancy care. Churches provide over 75% of all child care and 90% of all counseling for all people.
Is it enough? Nope! Can we do better? Yep! Are we ashamed and need to stop doing good things? Nope? Will we gladly accept these agnostic complainers into our fellowship and love them anyway? Yep! It is always exciting to welcome a new group of hypocrites into the church.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Why Does a Good God Allow Evil?
This is a question that everyone must ask at some time in his/her life. In the aftermath of the WAVE we are all asking it.
I have seen several preachers on TV trying to explain why God allowed 150,000 or so people die in Asia. None of them did a very good job of it. The things they said would have been good grist for a graduate class in philosophy or religion but it sounded shallow, trite and callous on TV. When Larry King asks in that husky voice, "Can you explain why a God of love would killed all those innocent babies?" you know you cannot give an adequate answer in the 60 seconds you have been allotted.
Many of the well-known Christian media hogs tried to answer him but they all failed miserably. It was a time for humility and that is a commodity little seen in the likes of the people who seek the klieg lights and 15 minutes of fame. Trying to communicate to a mostly pagan culture the concept of God's Sovereigny and Original Sin is a hard sell at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. They failed to convince even me with their prattle about everyone in this poor countries deserving death.
I did not hear him speak about this tragedy but Robert Schuller did the best job of fielding a hot grounder to third base a couple of years ago when Pat Boone's Grandson was paralyzed in a fall. Larry lowered his perfectly pitched for TV voice and asked, "Dr. Schuller, why did God allow this to happen to this boy?"
Dr. Schuller, smiled and said boldly, "Anytime a person asks God why he is not looking for an answer but for an argument." Brilliant! Fantastic. An answer worthy of Jesus to the Pharisees because it puts the pressure back on Larry where it belongs. This is an unanswerable question.
I have thought of a great corollary to his answer.
"Larry, we may not understand the immutable nature and will of God perfectly but we do know what He expects of us after a tragedy occurs. We are to love our neighbors and surely the people in Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc are out neighbors. God says, 'Roll up your sleeves and go to work! Do what you can for the survivors regardless whether they are Muslim Hindu or Christian. Send money, food and medicine. Heal the broken hearted and set the captives free.'"
Some things are just to high for us to answer. Not because there is NO answer but because in the middle of human pain the answer cannot be heard, or understood or comprehended. But at the right time God will reveal His heart to us and we will finally understand.
This is a question that everyone must ask at some time in his/her life. In the aftermath of the WAVE we are all asking it.
I have seen several preachers on TV trying to explain why God allowed 150,000 or so people die in Asia. None of them did a very good job of it. The things they said would have been good grist for a graduate class in philosophy or religion but it sounded shallow, trite and callous on TV. When Larry King asks in that husky voice, "Can you explain why a God of love would killed all those innocent babies?" you know you cannot give an adequate answer in the 60 seconds you have been allotted.
Many of the well-known Christian media hogs tried to answer him but they all failed miserably. It was a time for humility and that is a commodity little seen in the likes of the people who seek the klieg lights and 15 minutes of fame. Trying to communicate to a mostly pagan culture the concept of God's Sovereigny and Original Sin is a hard sell at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. They failed to convince even me with their prattle about everyone in this poor countries deserving death.
I did not hear him speak about this tragedy but Robert Schuller did the best job of fielding a hot grounder to third base a couple of years ago when Pat Boone's Grandson was paralyzed in a fall. Larry lowered his perfectly pitched for TV voice and asked, "Dr. Schuller, why did God allow this to happen to this boy?"
Dr. Schuller, smiled and said boldly, "Anytime a person asks God why he is not looking for an answer but for an argument." Brilliant! Fantastic. An answer worthy of Jesus to the Pharisees because it puts the pressure back on Larry where it belongs. This is an unanswerable question.
I have thought of a great corollary to his answer.
"Larry, we may not understand the immutable nature and will of God perfectly but we do know what He expects of us after a tragedy occurs. We are to love our neighbors and surely the people in Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc are out neighbors. God says, 'Roll up your sleeves and go to work! Do what you can for the survivors regardless whether they are Muslim Hindu or Christian. Send money, food and medicine. Heal the broken hearted and set the captives free.'"
Some things are just to high for us to answer. Not because there is NO answer but because in the middle of human pain the answer cannot be heard, or understood or comprehended. But at the right time God will reveal His heart to us and we will finally understand.
I Am Proud to be a Christian Right Now
The Tidal Wave that hit in the Indian Ocean was one of the mot terrible things to occur in my lifetime. It is impossible to imagine the destructive power of that wall of water.
I just received an e mail from Samuel Stevens, President of India Gospel League, who is organizing an effort to help as many survivors as possible. One of the things that makes his job os hard is the fact that over 20 of his "barefoot pastors" have been killed or are missing along with many of their loved ones.
Many of the Media pundits have been suggesting that we in America should donate to charitable groups to impress the Muslims in Asia and the Middle East. Such a suggestion shows just how crass and ignorant such people are. First, the radical Muslims will not change. They hate America because the unsaved mind is hostile to God. These terrorists kill all who are loving because that is what excites the most terror.
They have kill doctors and nurses and teachers and children to incite terror. To show the Russians how much they hated them the rebels killed some of their own female terrorists and killed small children and teachers on TV. Never trust the media to get such a story right. Their instincts are wrong and their judgments are wrong.
Second, I have donated to a Christian charity involved directly in the recovery effort and will probably donate more. I do it out of compassion and concern not politics. I do it because Jesus told me to. I do it because this is what Christians do all the time. We do it not for fame or glory or to manipulate salvations. If that were the motive it would not be truly loving the people.
I am proud because Christians once again are motivated by the love of Christ.
The media know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
The Tidal Wave that hit in the Indian Ocean was one of the mot terrible things to occur in my lifetime. It is impossible to imagine the destructive power of that wall of water.
I just received an e mail from Samuel Stevens, President of India Gospel League, who is organizing an effort to help as many survivors as possible. One of the things that makes his job os hard is the fact that over 20 of his "barefoot pastors" have been killed or are missing along with many of their loved ones.
Many of the Media pundits have been suggesting that we in America should donate to charitable groups to impress the Muslims in Asia and the Middle East. Such a suggestion shows just how crass and ignorant such people are. First, the radical Muslims will not change. They hate America because the unsaved mind is hostile to God. These terrorists kill all who are loving because that is what excites the most terror.
They have kill doctors and nurses and teachers and children to incite terror. To show the Russians how much they hated them the rebels killed some of their own female terrorists and killed small children and teachers on TV. Never trust the media to get such a story right. Their instincts are wrong and their judgments are wrong.
Second, I have donated to a Christian charity involved directly in the recovery effort and will probably donate more. I do it out of compassion and concern not politics. I do it because Jesus told me to. I do it because this is what Christians do all the time. We do it not for fame or glory or to manipulate salvations. If that were the motive it would not be truly loving the people.
I am proud because Christians once again are motivated by the love of Christ.
The media know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Monday, January 10, 2005
I'm Back
Wow, the Christmas holy days along with family gatherings sure ate into my blog time. Our son Tim and his wife Shelley are getting ready for a new baby due on Valentine's Day so we have been happily busy. There is nothing like grand kids.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Since I have not been on the road quit as much this fall I have been able to work with lots of pastors, elders and their families. This is my first love for a healthy local church is the key to evangelism, world mission and cultural change. And, a healthy, vibrant leadership team is central to a healthy church. And, a healthy marriage and family life are central to a healthy leadership.
A friend asked me recently if I was doing what I had always wanted to do. The answer is yes, but I did not know I always wanted to do this. In fact, I never, ever knew anyone who flew around the world to help build healthy Christian leaders and healthy Christian churches. This caused me to meditate about the ways God prepared me to do what I do.
I was caught by the Holy Spirit at age 20 and brought to my knees in humility. Just after that dramatic experience I heard the clear call of God to go to college. I had not pursued higher education but decided to work and make some money.
I attended a local community college because it was inexpensive and easy to enter. It proved to be a wonderful experience. The guidance counselor, Betty Ann Ward, modeled warm love and respect toward all of her students and made me want to be a counselor.
I taught school for five years and learned a lot about education, teaching and working with people. But most of all, I learned how to equip the students to help each other. For four years I taught all subjects to 30 to 35 kids in the 5th and 6th grades. It was an impossible task. So, I learned how to motivate the smarter kids to help the slow ones. I used small groups, buddy systems and self motivation. The children learned far more from each other and me than they would have learned from me alone.
Finally, I was forced to coach all sports. I had to coach to make enough money to survive. I am glad they made me do it. This is where I learned still morecabout discipleship and equipping the kids to do the work. The coach was not allowed to play so I had to prepare the team in advance to go out and perform. After the game begins it is too late.
These lessons combined in my mind to prepare me for ministry. Unfortunately, the western church has adopted a model that is from the Old Testament not the New. The OT model had the Priest doing all the holy activities. The NT model has all God's people performing. Teaching and coaching children taught me how to do just that.
More later!
Wow, the Christmas holy days along with family gatherings sure ate into my blog time. Our son Tim and his wife Shelley are getting ready for a new baby due on Valentine's Day so we have been happily busy. There is nothing like grand kids.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Since I have not been on the road quit as much this fall I have been able to work with lots of pastors, elders and their families. This is my first love for a healthy local church is the key to evangelism, world mission and cultural change. And, a healthy, vibrant leadership team is central to a healthy church. And, a healthy marriage and family life are central to a healthy leadership.
A friend asked me recently if I was doing what I had always wanted to do. The answer is yes, but I did not know I always wanted to do this. In fact, I never, ever knew anyone who flew around the world to help build healthy Christian leaders and healthy Christian churches. This caused me to meditate about the ways God prepared me to do what I do.
I was caught by the Holy Spirit at age 20 and brought to my knees in humility. Just after that dramatic experience I heard the clear call of God to go to college. I had not pursued higher education but decided to work and make some money.
I attended a local community college because it was inexpensive and easy to enter. It proved to be a wonderful experience. The guidance counselor, Betty Ann Ward, modeled warm love and respect toward all of her students and made me want to be a counselor.
I taught school for five years and learned a lot about education, teaching and working with people. But most of all, I learned how to equip the students to help each other. For four years I taught all subjects to 30 to 35 kids in the 5th and 6th grades. It was an impossible task. So, I learned how to motivate the smarter kids to help the slow ones. I used small groups, buddy systems and self motivation. The children learned far more from each other and me than they would have learned from me alone.
Finally, I was forced to coach all sports. I had to coach to make enough money to survive. I am glad they made me do it. This is where I learned still morecabout discipleship and equipping the kids to do the work. The coach was not allowed to play so I had to prepare the team in advance to go out and perform. After the game begins it is too late.
These lessons combined in my mind to prepare me for ministry. Unfortunately, the western church has adopted a model that is from the Old Testament not the New. The OT model had the Priest doing all the holy activities. The NT model has all God's people performing. Teaching and coaching children taught me how to do just that.
More later!
Monday, December 27, 2004
God's Plan Has Worked!
Many years ago the board of LifeWay Ministries Inc sought God about how to design our ministry. We heard Him speak and have followed ever since. The gist of what we hard can be summarized this way.
"Work with partner in the nations where I send you. Freely you have received and freely you shall give. Train them; equip them; love them; support them and set them free to follow me."
God knows what He is doing. I receive emails, letters and telephone calls from people all around the world who tell me that they are "Growing to go into the world and preach the gospel and then Going to grow in the faith, hope and love of God."
One of our students resigned from her very lucrative job to get a Master's Degree in psychology and has written special materials for people in Nepal. Using Listening for Heaven's Sake Kirsten helped the Nepalese develop an entire vocabulary about Christian relationships.
Our model has been to set up seed corn farms that intentionally planted and nurtured seed corn that would then be planted by other farmers instead of being eaten. Seed corn is strong, hearty and resistant to disease, pestilence and droughts. We equip leaders with the same characteristics so they can withstand the attacks of the evil one and still move out to bring hope and healing to those in need.
Many years ago the board of LifeWay Ministries Inc sought God about how to design our ministry. We heard Him speak and have followed ever since. The gist of what we hard can be summarized this way.
"Work with partner in the nations where I send you. Freely you have received and freely you shall give. Train them; equip them; love them; support them and set them free to follow me."
God knows what He is doing. I receive emails, letters and telephone calls from people all around the world who tell me that they are "Growing to go into the world and preach the gospel and then Going to grow in the faith, hope and love of God."
One of our students resigned from her very lucrative job to get a Master's Degree in psychology and has written special materials for people in Nepal. Using Listening for Heaven's Sake Kirsten helped the Nepalese develop an entire vocabulary about Christian relationships.
Our model has been to set up seed corn farms that intentionally planted and nurtured seed corn that would then be planted by other farmers instead of being eaten. Seed corn is strong, hearty and resistant to disease, pestilence and droughts. We equip leaders with the same characteristics so they can withstand the attacks of the evil one and still move out to bring hope and healing to those in need.
With seed corn churches and para church groups all around the earth we know that the gospel will go forth long after our demise.
What is God's Love Doing in the Former USSR?
A recent article in Christianity Today tells the story about Nigerian named , Sunday Adelajah, who traveled to the Ukraine, USSR to study journalism in 1986. He found not only how to write but Christ. After some time Sunday established a Bible study in his home. However, he soon found that racism among the people kept "respectable" people away.
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/151/42.0.html)
Much to his chagrin, Sunday's message of hope and healing appealed to the dregs of society. Alcoholics, criminals, prostitutes and other unseemly characters began to study scripture and many found the Savior. Through the Savior they found healing and changed lives. Now that house Bible study has over 25,000 members and is actively involved in politics, social work and education. During the recent mass marches his church provided tents, food, water and prayers.
Sunday and other Evangelical Christians are witnessing for Christ and telling about His plan of healing and responsibility. They are also doing much, much more. In the same way that Evangelical Christianity provided the foundation for democracy in Europe and America, it is also a key to freedom and democracy in the former USSR.
When I read about Pastor Sunday I am thrilled. It is my strong contention that our ministry in the former USSR is a powerful voice for democracy. Not because we get directly involved in politics for we do not. However, we provide the processes and health necessary for those damamged by centuries of dictatorships to think, decide, get involved in church activities and vote their conscience.
For ten years I have been teaching my friends how to form committees, discuss issues, listen respectfully and come to a decision among them selves without getting into fist fights. Management of conflict is essential to developing a democracy.
One of the Christian Bible colleges where I taught had a severe problem. Their students were so in used to open discussion and handling differences that their small group Bible studies often ended in shouting matches or worse. Galina trained the faculty and students how to relate with Genuineness, Respect, Empathy and Warmth. Amazingly, they began to cooperate and support each other even if they did not agree on the meaning of baptism. As Christians learn how to debate, discuss, dialogue and still love one another they will be leaders in the new nations.
PTL! Lives are being changed and democracy is flourishing in the former USSR. Pray for Lifeways Russia, the name of our Russian Ministry, and for those emerging democracies.
Ps. Before long a representative of Lifeways Russia will be here to raise money for their life changing and nation changing work. More on that later
A recent article in Christianity Today tells the story about Nigerian named , Sunday Adelajah, who traveled to the Ukraine, USSR to study journalism in 1986. He found not only how to write but Christ. After some time Sunday established a Bible study in his home. However, he soon found that racism among the people kept "respectable" people away.
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/151/42.0.html)
Much to his chagrin, Sunday's message of hope and healing appealed to the dregs of society. Alcoholics, criminals, prostitutes and other unseemly characters began to study scripture and many found the Savior. Through the Savior they found healing and changed lives. Now that house Bible study has over 25,000 members and is actively involved in politics, social work and education. During the recent mass marches his church provided tents, food, water and prayers.
Sunday and other Evangelical Christians are witnessing for Christ and telling about His plan of healing and responsibility. They are also doing much, much more. In the same way that Evangelical Christianity provided the foundation for democracy in Europe and America, it is also a key to freedom and democracy in the former USSR.
When I read about Pastor Sunday I am thrilled. It is my strong contention that our ministry in the former USSR is a powerful voice for democracy. Not because we get directly involved in politics for we do not. However, we provide the processes and health necessary for those damamged by centuries of dictatorships to think, decide, get involved in church activities and vote their conscience.
For ten years I have been teaching my friends how to form committees, discuss issues, listen respectfully and come to a decision among them selves without getting into fist fights. Management of conflict is essential to developing a democracy.
One of the Christian Bible colleges where I taught had a severe problem. Their students were so in used to open discussion and handling differences that their small group Bible studies often ended in shouting matches or worse. Galina trained the faculty and students how to relate with Genuineness, Respect, Empathy and Warmth. Amazingly, they began to cooperate and support each other even if they did not agree on the meaning of baptism. As Christians learn how to debate, discuss, dialogue and still love one another they will be leaders in the new nations.
PTL! Lives are being changed and democracy is flourishing in the former USSR. Pray for Lifeways Russia, the name of our Russian Ministry, and for those emerging democracies.
Ps. Before long a representative of Lifeways Russia will be here to raise money for their life changing and nation changing work. More on that later
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Old Wine
A few years ago a young,energetic pastor told me I was Old Wine and should get out of the way so he and his youthful colleagues could take over. Old, I am, and agreeable to allow the younger generation to flex their muscles and use all that excess energy to change the world. I have no qualms about encouraging the young to get changed, get organized and get going for Jesus.
It also struck me that this young man was a bit ignorant of scripture and of wine. Wine that is properly aged is the good wine offered to the first guests wine is fermented for just the right amount of time before it is sold or offered to a guest you wish to impress. New wine is a metaphor for untried, cheap and raw.
The single most important resource in Christianity is older wine. Not people like me who already gave up a professional career as a college dean to serve in Christian work. We have already taken all we have and are into a vocation for Jesus. No, the resources I am speaking about are those men and women who had careers as engineers, doctors, plumbers, salespeople, technicians, and painters to now volunteer to give the remaining years of their lives to ministry.
There are, however, some problems. It is not that the people are not willing or not gifted, energetic, wise and able. The problem is this: most pastors and churches don't know how to organize them into a meaningful volunteer force. There are no Wineskins for the OLD Wine. (The real problem lies in the fact that there are few wineskins for the new wine either and that the church has no idea how to "Equip the saints to do the work of the ministry."
If the church leaders are deluded into thinking that lay members have nothing to offer except their money they will not build the organization necessary to recruit, train, organize and mobilize the volunteers into a powerful volunteer army.
Then the church will have to build a structure that can supervise and keep the volunteer army prepared and edified.
Are you interested?
A few years ago a young,energetic pastor told me I was Old Wine and should get out of the way so he and his youthful colleagues could take over. Old, I am, and agreeable to allow the younger generation to flex their muscles and use all that excess energy to change the world. I have no qualms about encouraging the young to get changed, get organized and get going for Jesus.
It also struck me that this young man was a bit ignorant of scripture and of wine. Wine that is properly aged is the good wine offered to the first guests wine is fermented for just the right amount of time before it is sold or offered to a guest you wish to impress. New wine is a metaphor for untried, cheap and raw.
The single most important resource in Christianity is older wine. Not people like me who already gave up a professional career as a college dean to serve in Christian work. We have already taken all we have and are into a vocation for Jesus. No, the resources I am speaking about are those men and women who had careers as engineers, doctors, plumbers, salespeople, technicians, and painters to now volunteer to give the remaining years of their lives to ministry.
There are, however, some problems. It is not that the people are not willing or not gifted, energetic, wise and able. The problem is this: most pastors and churches don't know how to organize them into a meaningful volunteer force. There are no Wineskins for the OLD Wine. (The real problem lies in the fact that there are few wineskins for the new wine either and that the church has no idea how to "Equip the saints to do the work of the ministry."
If the church leaders are deluded into thinking that lay members have nothing to offer except their money they will not build the organization necessary to recruit, train, organize and mobilize the volunteers into a powerful volunteer army.
Then the church will have to build a structure that can supervise and keep the volunteer army prepared and edified.
Are you interested?
Jesus People Cincinnati
From 1967 to 1973 I served on the Dean's staff at the University of Cincinnati. It was a time of confusion, conflict and challenge to our nation and our traditional values. As a Christian I was shocked to see the immorality and debauchery at UC. Drugs, rock and roll and rebellion ruled the day. At least on the surface.
We who ministered on college campuses around the country saw another side to things. Yes, there were riots, pickets and problems but we came to see that "Whenever Satan comes in like a flood God will raise a standard against his attacks. Proof of that scripture exists all across this land in the pastors, elders and Christian leaders who came to faith during that era.
I received a Christmas note from a pastor this afternoon. He presently serves in an upscale region of a large city as a minister and Christian counselor. Back in the Seventies he was a seriously troubled student at UC living a life of hedonism and chaos. As Associate Dean I was asked to lead a retreat for a fraternity to bring some peace and reconciliation among the various factions who were destroying the meaning of brotherhood and teamwork.
The retreat was a quite successful but the most important thing that happened was the testimonies of several men who had recently come to Christ. The honesty and genuineness of their heart felt sharing changed the entire sense of the gathering and later several other guys also attended church and came to faith. I was an amazed midwife who simply showed up at a university sponsored conflict resolution retreat and saw God work miracles in the heart of these young men.
The media covered the antics of the radical and violent groups like Students for a Democratic Society but almost never saw the importance of what God was doing in Christian groups. In 1970 about 50 SDS members gathered in Wisconsin, I believe, and the national and international media were in a frenzy, spending millions of dollars on ink to cover their story.
At the same time 17,000 students gathered at Urbana and pledged themselves to serve Christ forever. Many also pledged to serve Him in overseas missions. The Christian media covered it, of course, but rarely a word on TV or in the New York Times.
The next time you meet a Christian in his/her forties and fifties ask them where and how they met the Lord. The just may be part of that remarkable Jesus Movement that shook the world and brought millions to Christ. Karen and I were fortunate enough to have God push us into the Jesus Movement where we opened our house to hundreds of those young men and women.
Do it again, Lord! Do it again!
From 1967 to 1973 I served on the Dean's staff at the University of Cincinnati. It was a time of confusion, conflict and challenge to our nation and our traditional values. As a Christian I was shocked to see the immorality and debauchery at UC. Drugs, rock and roll and rebellion ruled the day. At least on the surface.
We who ministered on college campuses around the country saw another side to things. Yes, there were riots, pickets and problems but we came to see that "Whenever Satan comes in like a flood God will raise a standard against his attacks. Proof of that scripture exists all across this land in the pastors, elders and Christian leaders who came to faith during that era.
I received a Christmas note from a pastor this afternoon. He presently serves in an upscale region of a large city as a minister and Christian counselor. Back in the Seventies he was a seriously troubled student at UC living a life of hedonism and chaos. As Associate Dean I was asked to lead a retreat for a fraternity to bring some peace and reconciliation among the various factions who were destroying the meaning of brotherhood and teamwork.
The retreat was a quite successful but the most important thing that happened was the testimonies of several men who had recently come to Christ. The honesty and genuineness of their heart felt sharing changed the entire sense of the gathering and later several other guys also attended church and came to faith. I was an amazed midwife who simply showed up at a university sponsored conflict resolution retreat and saw God work miracles in the heart of these young men.
The media covered the antics of the radical and violent groups like Students for a Democratic Society but almost never saw the importance of what God was doing in Christian groups. In 1970 about 50 SDS members gathered in Wisconsin, I believe, and the national and international media were in a frenzy, spending millions of dollars on ink to cover their story.
At the same time 17,000 students gathered at Urbana and pledged themselves to serve Christ forever. Many also pledged to serve Him in overseas missions. The Christian media covered it, of course, but rarely a word on TV or in the New York Times.
The next time you meet a Christian in his/her forties and fifties ask them where and how they met the Lord. The just may be part of that remarkable Jesus Movement that shook the world and brought millions to Christ. Karen and I were fortunate enough to have God push us into the Jesus Movement where we opened our house to hundreds of those young men and women.
Do it again, Lord! Do it again!
Family Letter 2004
by Gary and Karen Sweeten
Each year gets shorter and faster because it also gets better, far better. The aches and pains of aging are pale compared to the richness of the friends we used to call our children. Nothing quite compares to the joy of hearing our grandkids call us “Papa” and “Grandma”. Julie and Dave Knispel have Jacob (9) and Lily (2). Tim and Shelley promise more joy and excitement with a baby on February 14. Both families live within 20 minutes of us and we love to see them regularly.
Now we know why so many friends and family love grandkids. They are definitely easier than your own kids but they have better parents.
We are thankful for good health and wonderful medical care. After a couple of visits to Christ Hospital I can continue my travels and local ministry. Sometimes medicine is part of the problem. They can cure or kill. With adjustments in the medication I have managed to return to sanity and good health, at least for now. Prayers are appreciated for a strong heart.
We celebrated our 15th year at LifeWay Counseling Centers in September. The gift was a great new space. The Lord inspired us through Jim Donovan to see that our call is similar to guiding folks through white water rafting. The new design simulates a river with a fountain to greet each person and a prayer room for the deep water of peace. Hurting people regularly experience relief and healing from Jesus’ living waters found at Life Way.
Gary finds himself on foreign soil for several months each year with LifeWay Ministries Inc, Intl. The Lord’s plan is coming to fruition in many nations. He told us to establish equipping centers that can stand for decades. God’s love is thriving in Siberian labor camps, Asian cities and Ethiopian hospitals. It makes those long flights worth the trouble.
Personally, Karen works at LifeWay and enjoys her “Secret Club” whose members are sworn to confidentiality on pain of death. For twenty years they have supported each other with tears and laughter and remain best friends. We enjoy our warm association with the people at Harvest Fellowship. Golf has become a spiritual habit for Gary and he has widened his outreach to play weekly with needy pastors and leaders.
We always enjoy seeing old friends and hearing how God is creatively constructing their lives. May He who is able to do more than you can imagine give you His perfect peace.
12002 Maxim Ave Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
by Gary and Karen Sweeten
Each year gets shorter and faster because it also gets better, far better. The aches and pains of aging are pale compared to the richness of the friends we used to call our children. Nothing quite compares to the joy of hearing our grandkids call us “Papa” and “Grandma”. Julie and Dave Knispel have Jacob (9) and Lily (2). Tim and Shelley promise more joy and excitement with a baby on February 14. Both families live within 20 minutes of us and we love to see them regularly.
Now we know why so many friends and family love grandkids. They are definitely easier than your own kids but they have better parents.
We are thankful for good health and wonderful medical care. After a couple of visits to Christ Hospital I can continue my travels and local ministry. Sometimes medicine is part of the problem. They can cure or kill. With adjustments in the medication I have managed to return to sanity and good health, at least for now. Prayers are appreciated for a strong heart.
We celebrated our 15th year at LifeWay Counseling Centers in September. The gift was a great new space. The Lord inspired us through Jim Donovan to see that our call is similar to guiding folks through white water rafting. The new design simulates a river with a fountain to greet each person and a prayer room for the deep water of peace. Hurting people regularly experience relief and healing from Jesus’ living waters found at Life Way.
Gary finds himself on foreign soil for several months each year with LifeWay Ministries Inc, Intl. The Lord’s plan is coming to fruition in many nations. He told us to establish equipping centers that can stand for decades. God’s love is thriving in Siberian labor camps, Asian cities and Ethiopian hospitals. It makes those long flights worth the trouble.
Personally, Karen works at LifeWay and enjoys her “Secret Club” whose members are sworn to confidentiality on pain of death. For twenty years they have supported each other with tears and laughter and remain best friends. We enjoy our warm association with the people at Harvest Fellowship. Golf has become a spiritual habit for Gary and he has widened his outreach to play weekly with needy pastors and leaders.
We always enjoy seeing old friends and hearing how God is creatively constructing their lives. May He who is able to do more than you can imagine give you His perfect peace.
12002 Maxim Ave Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
Famed atheist sees evidence for God
by David Roach
Amazing conversion of an agressive atheist.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Antony Flew, a legendary British philosopher and atheist, has changed his mind about the existence of God in light of recent scientific evidence.
Flew -- a prolific author who has argued against the existence of God and the claims of Christianity for more than 50 years -- first revealed his change of mind in a video of a discussion with several others at New York University organized by the Institute for Metascientific Research. The video, released in December, is titled, "Has Science Discovered God?"
Flew said he is now best described as a deist -- a person who believes God created the universe but is not actively involved in people's lives today.
For the rest of theis great story go to www.pastor.com
This is the web site of Rick Warren
by David Roach
Amazing conversion of an agressive atheist.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Antony Flew, a legendary British philosopher and atheist, has changed his mind about the existence of God in light of recent scientific evidence.
Flew -- a prolific author who has argued against the existence of God and the claims of Christianity for more than 50 years -- first revealed his change of mind in a video of a discussion with several others at New York University organized by the Institute for Metascientific Research. The video, released in December, is titled, "Has Science Discovered God?"
Flew said he is now best described as a deist -- a person who believes God created the universe but is not actively involved in people's lives today.
For the rest of theis great story go to www.pastor.com
This is the web site of Rick Warren
Monday, December 20, 2004
The Magnificat
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Sing It!
My soul shall magnify the Lord
My soul shall magnify the Lord
And my spirit shall rejoice in God my Savior
For He who is mighty has done great things
And holy is His name
Call me and I will teach it to you.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Sing It!
My soul shall magnify the Lord
My soul shall magnify the Lord
And my spirit shall rejoice in God my Savior
For He who is mighty has done great things
And holy is His name
Call me and I will teach it to you.
How to be Strong
One of the great themes of scripture is found in the birth of Jesus story. It can be summarized as: God works through weakness.
There is a drive in the human heart to seem strong.
We reject grace and pretend we are worthy;
We reject mercy and act as though we are holy;
We refuse His work and try to do the works ourselves.
One of the great themes of scripture is found in the birth of Jesus story. It can be summarized as: God works through weakness.
There is a drive in the human heart to seem strong.
We reject grace and pretend we are worthy;
We reject mercy and act as though we are holy;
We refuse His work and try to do the works ourselves.
- But none of these pretend games work. At the last we all have to admit that, as the old song goes, I am weak but He is strong.
God chose a weak little girl to be one of the great heroes of all history.
He trusted a very young girl to carry the Messiah, the hope of the entire world.
He brought forth the Messiah without the effort or strength of a man.
He chose Mary from a poor little tribe of unlearned people living in a tiny country away from the famous and rich.
He put the life of Mary and the Messiah in danger because she was unmarried.
He had the Messiah born in Bethlehem, an obscure town named after bread.
God placed the baby in an unsanitary barn with the smell of hay and manure instead of rich oils and powders or the scent of disinfectants.
Joseph died while Jesus was as a child and grew to manhood with no earthly father.
Jesus bought salvation and healing through death.
Why do we assume we must be competent and always perfect?
Heresy and Foolishness
The Gnostics said that true orthodox Christians were wrong in believing God had taken a human body. Gnostics believed then and now that the human body was evil but the Spirit of God was pure so the two could not intermingle.
Some of them distinguished between Christ, whom they acknowledged to be divine in some sense; and the man Jesus who was at most an instrument through whom the divine Christ spoke. They held that the man Jesus did not become the bearer or instrument of the Christ until the Spirit descended upon him at his baptism. Additionally, they held that the Spirit left him before the crucifixion.
Others affirmed that there was never a man Jesus at all, but only the appearance of a man, through which wise teachings were given to the disciples.
Modern doubters simply say that miracles are impossible. I once heard a man say that the people who wrote the Bible were not lying when they said Jesus was born of a virgin. They were just ignorant farmers who did not understand where babies came from. As a farm boy I can assure you that we know a lot about procreation. My friend came down from Chicago and saw our cow. When we told him milk came from this big bovine he laughed at us and said, “It does not. I get milk at the store.”
We farmers actually bred cows, chickens, horses and sheep so we knew well what the process entailed. Some leftist theologians are too smart by half to think farmers are so dumb they minunderstood procreation.
Creedal Christians affirmed that Jesus was conceived through the action of the Holy Spirit, that he was born and had a real physical body. He was special from the first moment of his life, and not just from the date of His baptism.
The cover story of Newsweek last time was the birth of Jesus. the editor spoke on TV and said he thought much of scripture was a myth but not a lie. He believes that the resurrection occurred but not the parting of the Red Sea by Moses. If raising Jesus from the dead was not too big for God why would parting a bit of water be a problem?
Too clever by half? Too much emphasis on "booklearning" will make people mad!
The Gnostics said that true orthodox Christians were wrong in believing God had taken a human body. Gnostics believed then and now that the human body was evil but the Spirit of God was pure so the two could not intermingle.
Some of them distinguished between Christ, whom they acknowledged to be divine in some sense; and the man Jesus who was at most an instrument through whom the divine Christ spoke. They held that the man Jesus did not become the bearer or instrument of the Christ until the Spirit descended upon him at his baptism. Additionally, they held that the Spirit left him before the crucifixion.
Others affirmed that there was never a man Jesus at all, but only the appearance of a man, through which wise teachings were given to the disciples.
Modern doubters simply say that miracles are impossible. I once heard a man say that the people who wrote the Bible were not lying when they said Jesus was born of a virgin. They were just ignorant farmers who did not understand where babies came from. As a farm boy I can assure you that we know a lot about procreation. My friend came down from Chicago and saw our cow. When we told him milk came from this big bovine he laughed at us and said, “It does not. I get milk at the store.”
We farmers actually bred cows, chickens, horses and sheep so we knew well what the process entailed. Some leftist theologians are too smart by half to think farmers are so dumb they minunderstood procreation.
Creedal Christians affirmed that Jesus was conceived through the action of the Holy Spirit, that he was born and had a real physical body. He was special from the first moment of his life, and not just from the date of His baptism.
The cover story of Newsweek last time was the birth of Jesus. the editor spoke on TV and said he thought much of scripture was a myth but not a lie. He believes that the resurrection occurred but not the parting of the Red Sea by Moses. If raising Jesus from the dead was not too big for God why would parting a bit of water be a problem?
Too clever by half? Too much emphasis on "booklearning" will make people mad!
Why Write a Creed?
The written documents we call creeds were written for a particular purpose, usually to combat some heresy or deal with a problem. Look at the Apostles' Creed and see that it communicates some powerful truths. In fact, I prefer to simply state that this is my personal statement of faith for it contains the essentials of Christianity.
God is the Creator of all things. Ths directly attacks the Gnostic heresy that the created world is evil. Thus, nature, our own bodies and minds are the products and purpose of God.
Second, Jesus is the Son of God and truly God and is Lord of all things.
Third, Jesus was born of a virgin.
These all point to the nature of God and of Jesus and the Trinity.
It is short, to the point and easily remembered for literate and non literate believers alike.
The written documents we call creeds were written for a particular purpose, usually to combat some heresy or deal with a problem. Look at the Apostles' Creed and see that it communicates some powerful truths. In fact, I prefer to simply state that this is my personal statement of faith for it contains the essentials of Christianity.
God is the Creator of all things. Ths directly attacks the Gnostic heresy that the created world is evil. Thus, nature, our own bodies and minds are the products and purpose of God.
Second, Jesus is the Son of God and truly God and is Lord of all things.
Third, Jesus was born of a virgin.
These all point to the nature of God and of Jesus and the Trinity.
It is short, to the point and easily remembered for literate and non literate believers alike.
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