Danish Pastor as a Guest

Karen and I said "So long" to Pastor Ruben Knudsen today as I put him on a Delta/Air France flight to Paris then to Copenhagen. Ruben spent ten days with us and we grew to love and respect him.

I met Ruben a few years ago in Randers, Denmark where my old friend Peder Poulsen lives. Peder had come to many of our seminars in Norway back in the Eighties and we have been friends ever since. Peder left the State Church many years ago and planted a Free Church in Randers. He took Ruben under his wing and he now succeeds Peder as Pastor of the Randers OASE Free Church.

Ruben is a very discerning fellow who discovered early in his ministry that the marriage and family relationships among his parishioners were moribund, lethargic and failing. Many of his friends lived in chronic misery. When I was near Randers speaking at a, "Equipping Lay Persons" conference Ruben asked me to preach on Sunday morning and afterward asked for some time to chat. That is when I learned how many of the marriages there are in trouble.

Ruben mentioned that some 40% of the married women in Denmark admit to having regular extramarital affairs. In fact, many "experts" in Denmark suggest that adultery and pornography are good for a marriage because they can "liven them up". That sounds crazy but evil is bold; very, very bold!

Ruben also noted how many of the Danish men are chronic users of pornography and he wanted to learn how to minister to them and to all marriages. So, I invited him to come to the USA and attend a Pure Hope Men of Valor Conference. He arrived last Tuesday and left today after learning from many of our local Pastors, Counselors and Christian leaders. He left filled with excitement and hope.

We in the USA are also facing an epidemic of family relationship problems along with pornography. Sweeten Life Systems is working hard to help Pastors, Lay Ministers and Counselors improve their skills of ministry to couples. One of the most important things we are doing is focusing on parents of children with a disability. The stresses on these couples is overwhelming and they can certainly use our wisdom and support.

I will follow up with Ruben in August by doing two training sessions in Denmark. Please support us with your prayers. Europe is in crisis and we have a lot to offer the Christians there. This includes Russia.

If you want to be on our mailing list send me your email to gary@sweetenlife.com

Too Much Stress? Chill Out!

A recent research study discovered that many Americans are stressed. Do you why? The survey says it is too much debt. Too many bills to pay. Too much buying and too little saving. Who would have thunk it? I am shocked! Shocked!

Not really. I am surprised that it has taken so long for it to catch up with us. We are not in an era of GREED but of Galloping Greed! How many more toys will it take before we are satiated? Always one more toy? Seems like it.

Look at Greece. They have over spent and over promised their people so much for so long that they are being bailed out by the one nation that saves: Germany. Spain is close behind them and so is Portugal. (The USA is also sending them $$$$$)

But despite the crisis of overwhelming debt the Greek people are not spending less and saving more. Nope, they are rioting. Who is rioting? The government workers and students and retirees, all of whom are getting their living from the government. These rioters killed three bank employees. Burned them to death and kept the fire trucks away from the burning bank. GREED! Galloping Greed.

When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn? See that poster above? It is an ad for a group that wants to destroy the government. It appears they are succeeding.


Do you want to discover a life of less stress? Go to my web page and download my materials.

Innovative Christians

Fast Company is a magazine dedicated to promoting businesses that are "on the fast track" of innovation, growth and change. In the last issue they focused on HTC, a company in Taiwan they described this way:

Until recently, the name HTC meant little to consumers. Now the Taiwanese Google-phone maker is in the spotlight. Chairman and cofounder Cher Wang tells us about HTC's culture and her biblically infused thinking.

I hope you will read the article and take note of how a Christian can lead a company into one of the top spots of creativity in the world. In my view, we need many more like HTC and its Chair Cher Wang.

Do you know of any creative, innovative, cutting edge people and companies or not for profits?

Why Are Christians Behind in Innovation?

I just read the Ashoka story again and it is wonderful. Take a look yourself at their web page and see what can happen to bring great changes in a family, community or nation when ordinary people feel called to do something great.

I believe that the Christian community has the greatest power for good that the world has ever seen. Whey are we so far behind when it comes to developing ways to foster innovation and change. Maybe I am wrong, and I hope you will tell me that I am wrong, but commercial and secular non-profits seem to go all out to enroll people in programs and processes to change the world.

Microsoft spent $9,000,000,000.00 in 2008 on Research and Development. They are the biggest and richest group of software producers in the world yet they are spending nine billion dollars on ways to grow.

Asoka works hard to discover men and women who are making a difference and then funds their efforts. This is R&D in Social Innovation. What Christian groups seeks to find cutting edge ministries and creative innovators they can support financially? Most churches won't even honor and support their own people let alone strangers.

I will close by asking my readers to pray about supporting innovators wherever they can be found. I hope God's spirit raises up thousands of cutting edge men and women who will lead the way into the 21st Century.

When there is no God? Chaos!

"A couple of Swedish parents have stirred up debate in the country by refusing to reveal whether their two-and-a-half-year-old child is a boy or a girl. . . .

In an interview with newspaper Svenska Dagbladet in March, the parents were quoted saying their decision was rooted in the feminist philosophy that gender is a social construction. 'We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mould from the outset,'

Pop's mother said. 'It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead.' "



June 23, 2009

Are the Swedes alone in denying reality? Evidently the mother has chosen a female role. What would happen if she chose to be a male and got pregnant?(

If it is a female, I would like to see her stand and pee.)

Beautiful Chapel Design

You have to see this chapel as a great design that is inspirational and creative as well as inexpensive.

African Hope

Many of us have prayed for Africa and sent money to support the ministries there. The American government has sent trillions of dollars to help Africa. How has it worked?

My good friends just returned from a ministry trip to Africa. They are deeply compassionate people and spend money and time giving themselves to help people in need. They returned beaming with warm remembrances of the people but faces lined with worry about the future of Africa.

According to my them, there are Non-Governmental Organizations on every corner. Most of them are dispensing money, medical services, advice and comfort to the people. They and Government Groups have been doing this for several centuries yet the situation is unimproved and even worse. Why?

It reasons are simple. The top leaders are corrupt. They despise their own people and see that as long as the people are poor, sick and traumatized the western nations will send them money. So, it pays to have sick, miserable people.

Take a look at this web site for some insights about what will help Africa.

Preventing AIDS

In one of the best articles I have read about this subject, Christianity Today, tells about how one of the most important AIDS experts in the world supports monogamy and other faith based ways to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa.

I hope you will read the article and report it widely among the media.

Gary Sweeten

Galloping Greed

I read an interesting blog post today about the ways we have gotten ourselves into such a mess economically. Take a look and see what you think.

The blogger mentioned a hallowed name in Christian missions and contemporary theology, Leslie Newbingin. Rev Newbingin was an Anglican Missionary in India for many years. When he returned to England upon retiring he saw that England had almost completely lost her way as a Christian nation.

I spent two weeks in Kenya in 1983 and came back to Oxford for a week before my return to the USA. I think my reaction to England must have been somewhat like Bishop Newbingin's. He and I had both been in nations where Christianity was fresh, exciting and dynamic. Both had come to faith in Jesus Christ through Missionaries from England's Anglican and Methodist groups.

Back in Great Britain, things were not so great. In fact, the churches had essentially lost their faith and had become museums of a prior era. In Kenya congregations gathered on every corner at the beat of a drum. Indian was similar. That missionary faith was growing and expansive in attitude. Millions were coming to faith and the churches of all sorts were growing, often despite severe persecution.

The people in England had grown fat and demanding. An entitlement mentality led citizens to expect the government to take care of them and whining replaced worship. The denominations were bureaucratic and the leaders self serving while preaching about serving the poor.

Bishop Newbingin began to write and preach about regaining a missionary or missional attitude. he saw that unless Christians had a passion to evangelize the homeland England was doomed. The galloping greed of the West was creating havoc and self destruction.

The same can be said about the USA. Unless we regain our passion for reaching unbelievers and sharing the good news with our neighbors and friends the current crisis will cause us all to be spiritually crushed. Jesus said it plainly; "You cannot serve both God and Money."

Let us seek God's direction and power to preach the good news with faith, hope and love. Let us regain that missionary spirit that led the US to send missionaries around the world to take the good news to others. Homeland missionaries are desperately needed in the USA today as the primary antidote to the economic crisis.

Gary Sweeten

Gary Sweeten in Denmark

For my friends who wish to pray for my upcoming trip to Norway and Denmark, here is the schedule.

Ja, her kommer en pdf fil som indeholder programmet.
Vi begynder mandag morgen i København og tirsdag morgen i Silkeborg.
Jeg er med begge steder.
Der er tolk på i København – jeg har ikke arrangeret noget i Silkeborg pt. Jeg regner ikke med du skal tolkes.
Gina vil gerne hjælpe med overnatning. Lige nu har jeg ikke besluttet hvordan vi kommer fra København til Jylland. Måske med aftentog. Så har vi tid til at sidde og snakke.
Jeg regner med du har kontakt med Gary i forbindelse med norgesarrangementet så du får noget på plads med rejseplanerne. Hvad forestiller du dig?

Mange hilsner

Peder Poulsen
Familierådgiver, cand. theol.
Midgaardsvej 4, DK 8920 Randers NV
Tlf/SMS 2043 6732
http://www.farmen.info/

Gary Sweeten

Russian Ministry

We are very excited to announce that The Lord has opened a way for us to publish Listening for Heaven's Sake in the Russian language. It helps us reach the goal of training Christians how to have a "Lifetime of great relationships". It is safe to say that relationships were severely damaged by the Seventy years of Socialist rule.

Socialists talk a lot about caring for ordinary people but the walk is far different. The USSR reminds me of the Madoff Investment Company that scammed ordinary people out of some 50 Billion Dollars. They even ripped off religious groups and other charities but always talked as though they loved the poor and would do anything for them.

Our books all focus on how ordinary people can live lives more abundant and free and how they can be a blessing to others. These ideas are rare in Post-Communist Russia and this little book can liberate thousands of people.

Take a look at Listening for Heavens Sake on the Russian site similar to www.amazon.com

Pray the the Holy Spirit will use it to be a doorway to healing and growth. Visit the web site of our ministry in Russia. Much of it is in English.

www.liferoute.ru

Gary Sweeten

www.sweetenlife.com

A Pillar of International Missions

Go into all the world and make disciples!

One of my favorite Seasoned Believers is Donna Thomas. She and husband Charles founded a concept that has revolutionized world missions. Their idea was to partner with local ministers and Christian leaders in various nations and support them with funds, education, love and friendship. It worked then and it works now. They called it, "Project Partners" because they partner with nationals as equals.

The idea that Western Ministries ought to develop friendships with national Pastors and support their indigenous ways to evangelizing and church growth is revolutionary. It has led to some of the fastest growing and healthiest groups I know in India, China and Mexico. They are planting thousands of churches and equipping multiplied thousands of "Barefoot Pastors" to evangelize and disciple the new converts.

I received a memo from Donna and I want to share her need with you. Please pray for her trip to visit Samuel Stevens and The India Gospel League, one of the dynamic ministries she and Chuck founded years ago.
Dear Gary,

I am leaving for India October 29th to attend Samuel’s son’s wedding and also to lead, teach, train, etc. in various meetings there. I will leave India on the 11th of November and arrive home on the 12th.

On a trip like this I need prayer partners that will stand with me that I may be useful to the Lord in all circumstances. If you would be a prayer partner with me, please ... let me know.

Blessings,
Donna S. Thomas
3560 Towne Drive
Carmel, IN 46032
317-876-9884
http://www.cvministries.org/

Click on Donna's web site and buy one of her books. She is a great writer and speaker.

Gary Sweeten
http://www.sweetenlife.com/

Russian Economy

Gary and Galina near Moscow

When I talk about my trip to Russia I am often greeted by Americans and Europeans who say, "Their economy is really great. It isn't in trouble like ours is it?" This is dead wrong. How in the world can we in the West assume that the Russian economy is in great shape?

Maybe because what we read in the papers and hear on TV. They usually report how much money the Russian government is taking in through their oil and gas revenues and assume, wrongly, that the citizens of Russia are benefitting greatly from the billions controlled by The Kremlin.

Remember that Russia is not a Democratic Republic built on Capitalism. Most of the Russian people live from hand to mouth and have to work two or three jobs to pay rent and eat. Even those with high jobs in the military, police, government and medicine must try to eke out a better living by using their cars as a taxi or taking bribes.

Bribes are everywhere. Ikea was not able to open their store in Moscow for eight years because they refused to pay a large bribe. It is often impossible to find an office space or run a business unless you pay bribes.

Our taxi was stopped one day and the driver had to pay a $40.00 fine ON THE SPOT to the officer. That is a huge fine to a taxi driver and much more than he would make by driving us and more than the officer can make in his salary. As they say, "We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us".

Prices in Moscow are sky high but the people make very little. The Kremlin is rich in oil revenues but the common citizen gets little or none of it. A few thousand oligarchs get it all. This is one reason why so many churches can only exist if they get support from Western friends.

Pray for our Russian friends. They are doing a great job of spreading the good news to thousands. They are loyal Russians who love their country and are not trying to change it. They are far too busy trying to survive to get involved in politics.
Gary Sweeten

http://www.sweetenlife.com/

I'm Home

My rented three room flat in Moscow with a stove from the Forties. It is "worth" about $300,000.00 to buy.

I arrived safely in Cincinnati after a long but uneventful flight from Copenhagen to Paris to Northern Ky. Flying is glamorous! It is so wonderful to have people in blue uniforms and white surgical gloves do a full body search of your entire person while you stand spread eagle with no shoes or self respect in front of hundreds of adoring international visitors.


The lines and rules get more ridiculous all the time, to say nothing of the increased cost to the paying public. But I thank God for America. Despite the frenzied reactions to every failure in life by overanxious officials we are still a great place to live. But, the "government first" folks will soon turn us into a smaller version of Socialist Europe if we are not careful. They will take the money from those who work and give it to those who don't.

Our European and Russian friends are terrific and are doing great things for God. Revival and Reformation are needed there and God is blessing them individually but few churches are growing. Keep them in your prayers for Christians in Europe remain America's friends despite the rantings of many of their leaders.

We are, however, so wealthy and have life so good here even after the money crises. We are blessed and I am thankful to be home.

We are moving. With another new grand baby we need a bit more room. We have bought a condo in Mason with a basement. Now those beautiful kids will actually have a bed to sleep in. Go to my daughter's blog to see the photos. http://hookedonhouses.net/

Gary Sweeten
http://www.sweetenlife.com/

Watching History Occur in Real Time

I just finished watching President Bush deliver a fifteen minute speech on the banking crisis that was designed to educate us and calm us and move us so we will support the buy out of bad mortgages worth some $700 Billion Dollars. It is amazing to watch history books being written before our eyes.

I received an email from Linda Prince, a long time friend and a strong supporter of McCain-Palin. She is, however, first and foremost a Believer. Here is her message.
TEN ABSOLUTES NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION:
1. The Bible will still have all the answers. 2. Prayer will still work. 3. The Holy Spirit will still move. 4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people. 5. There will still be God-anointed preaching. 6. There will still be singing of praise to God. 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people. 8. There will still be room at the Cross. 9. Jesus will still love you. 10. Jesus will still save the lost. ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS STILL IN CONTROL?

'I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.' Ps 121:1-2

Why Does Congress Hate Us?

Congress refuses to give us any relief in the high price of fuel. There is no question that high prices are partly the result of increasing demand from China and India as well as Russia and Eastern Europe. And, a lot of that is the fault of the USA's policies under Reagan.

Yep, President Reagan led the fight against Communism and won it hands down with the collaboration of Maggie Thatcher and Pope John Paul. "But," you ask, "How did that bring about the increase in oil and fuel prices?" Under Communism, the people in Russia, China and the Eastern Bloc were starving. And, they were forbidden to travel or buy cars. Then "Along came Ron!"

Reagan's tough talk and tough walk pulverized Gorbachev and the Chinese and they folded like a cheap deck chair. Now Russia and China along with the nations of the former Commie Bloc started throwing off the chains of repression and the money began to roll in.

Money brings goods and cars and refrigerators, bigger houses and international travel. Those former starved citizens of the Communist countries decided that they like the Middle Class lifestyle much better than poverty so the are consuming like crazy. The President of China recently responded to the G7 leaders who called for less carbon emissions by saying something like the following:

"Do you think we are crazy? You have been enjoying the fruits of capitalism for many years and now you want us to go back to a planned economy?!? We will never do that. We are building roads and cars to fill them so be quite about our emissions."

Al Gore fainted and the Congress punted by refusing to allow us to add more oil to the mix and so they decided to keep gas prices high. The Chinese and Russian leaders are more capitalist than our leaders.

Why do the Representatives want us to spend so much on energy when they could easily offer us relief? Oh, yes, and Obama said he was not unhappy with the high gas prices but thought they had risen too fast. What's that all about?

Thanks for the Memories

The Norwegian Flag

We launched a new ministry focus this week, and it was a great success. Two friends came from Oslo, Norway and assisted us in casting a vision for ways Seasoned Believers can be of great benefit to younger men and women. It was awesome.

Our friends have had distinguished careers in public service and health care for many years in Norway. That, along with servant leadership in church and community groups allows them to challenge Americans to invest our lives in passing the baton to the next generations of servant leaders.

Their talk hit just the right spot for us and I am looking forward to learning more from them. Norwegians have much to teach us.

Happy Birthday Uncle Gary

On June 28 we celebrated my 70th birthday which actually occurred on May 5.
The video is from Sam and Laifong and boys in Singapore.

The Influence of Jesus and the Church

There is a buzz in business circles today that can be traced directly to the story of the Good Samaritan and the other teachings of Jesus. The buzz is called by names such as "Corporate Social Responsibility", "Going Green", "giving Back", "Pay it Forward", etc. It is the pressure for businesses to take "Corporate Responsibility to be Good Citizens". See the web on Social Responsibility at:http://www.csrwire.com/News/11286.html

In some ways, business is learning from non-profits and churches who have touted caring, sharing and bearing burdens for generations. Currently that message is being adopted by many in the for profit world and it is having a big impact on good works around the world.

Bill and Malinda Gates are taking the message to heart by giving billions to a foundation as are Nike and Warren Buffet. So much money is having an effect but it can also be a hassle for how is it best invested? Charity can be good or bad for the recipients and the people who we are trying to help. I am currently reading, "When Charity Drives out Dignity" by Glenn J. Schwartz, a missions executive who sees the good, the bad and the ugly of missionary help.

Schwartz cites several examples of good intentions that have gone awry and actually hurt the people they wanted to help. He also lists several the kinds of works that are good. If you are interested in helping the poor and downtrodden as well as those who don't know Christ, read the book.

I was very happy to see that the work we do to partner with local leaders has his strong approval. He also likes ministries such as Sweeten Life Systems because we do the leadership training necessary to keep local groups strong.

So, whether you are a foundation, a responsible business or a ministry, consider supporting our focus on leadership development around the world.

Gary Sweeten
Sweeten Life Systems

Ignorance of Citizens

Have you seen the You Tube video of the beautiful young woman on the TV show who did not know Europe was a continent? She was also bumfuzzled about learning Hungary was a nation. Well, ignorance is not restricted to beauty queens in America.

I often read Norwegian papers because I have many Norske friends and have visited that beautiful land many times. I recently read that their largest paper, The Aften Posten, reported on a Norwegian reporter who ranked American Presidents from best to worst. It is an annual game in the US as well as Norway and it is a silly but harmless past time.

The Professor, Mr. Moen, ranked George W. Bush as the worst in history. That may be true. I do not know. What concerned me as his rationale for naming Mr. Bush the worst. Here they are: Bush started the Iraq War, he was wrong about Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, he defied international opinion on a host of other issues, from the Kyoto agreement to rules for an international court, and his tax measures have widened the gap between rich and poor.

Mr. Moen's opinions are as valid as your or mine. However, Mr. Moen has no right to offer wrong information. As you read his reasons, which are patently untrue. Not a matter of judgment, but false?

The first person to pick two of Moen's reasons that are false will get a copy of one of my books.

Click comments and tell me which are historically inaccurate.