Growing up in Christ

I am writing again on my other blog. It has my thoughts on being a Seasoned Believer with maturity, talents and gifts that God will use to change the world.

Many of my friends are Seasoned Believers with no place to unleash their ministry skills. The world is dying for a lack of Christian service and many churches are dying for want of ministry. At the same time there are multiplied millions of well off, mature believers with enormous personal experience and business acumen who are wanting to find meaningful places to help people.

What is the hold up?

Who is to blame?

Sanford's Hole in the Soul

Gov. Mark Sanford said Tuesday that he "crossed lines" with a handful of women other than his mistress--but never had sex with them. The governor said he "never crossed the ultimate line" with anyone but Maria Belen Chapur, the Argentine at the center of a scandal that has derailed his once-promising political career.

"This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story," Sanford said. "A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day."

During an emotional interview at his Statehouse office with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sanford said Chapur is his soul mate but he's trying to fall back in love with his wife.

No one in his right mind would say these things. How can his "spiritual adviser" allow him to further ruin his already tragic life? Counselors, Pastors and Coaches take note: When our client has lost his way we must step in and make sure he is protected from himself.

Any grown man who so loses himself to another woman has proven that he is living on the surface of things. He is out of touch with his soul and that leads to a loss of conscious choice about reality.

Mr. Sanford was under the care of a "spiritual adviser' who, by overemphasizing consciousness failed to help him plumb the depths of despair and pain in his soul that only God can heal. James Chapter 1 says

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to

The term here, evil desire, can be translated, "Hole in the soul" and that is exactly what men in midlife must allow God's Spirit to heal if they are to escape the trial and temptations of a "soul mate".

Obedience and strengthening the will are useless unless we allow God's Spirit to bring up all the old pain and hurts and heal them. Face your pain; face your guilt; face your weaknesses and allow God to heal that hole in the soul.

God is our soul mate. Only God can fill that heart shaped vacuum in the soul. To think a woman can fill my soul is raw idolatry.

Quantum Physics and Spirituality?

Does the weird science found in quantum theory proves that God is real? Well, no, that is a matter of faith. However, quantum theory certainly destroys the notion that science rules God out of the question.

For example, Albert Einstein, perhaps the greatest scientist we had in the modern era, heard that some research studies had implied that two particles could instantly communicate with each other. But that is not the amazing part. It was true even if they were billions of miles apart.

That is when Einstein made the famous comment, "God doesn't play dice with the universe" and assumed he had closed the issue. However, the physicist Neils Bohr, a strong proponent of quantum uncertainty, replied, Einstein, "Stop telling God what to do."


Because of its bizarre implications, quantum theory has been used to investigate everything from free will and the paranormal to the enigma of consciousness. Several serious physicists have devoted their lives to the study of such ideas, including Bernard d'Espagnat. In March, the 87-year-old Frenchman won the prestigious $1.5 million Templeton Prize for years of work affirming "life's spiritual dimension."

I suggest that you read the Wall Street Journal's article and think it over for yourself.

Based on quantum behavior, Dr. d'Espagnat's big idea is that science can only probe so far into what is real, and there's a "veiled reality" that will always elude us.

Gary Sweeten

Prayer is Good for Us

Two researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found data that supports what we who believe experience daily, God is good. No wonder we call it "Good News".

Way back in the Seventies I started studying the relationship between health and faith. Now, modern research methods have allowed us to see that being spiritual adds more to longevity than exercise and many other health building activities.


Go to my web site and buy my books for more good stuff.

Gary Sweeten

Satisfied?

It is hard to be content. St. Paul said that he had learned to be content despite the circumstances, and let's fact it, Paul had CIRCUMSTANCES!

I find it easy to complain even when my circumstances are pretty good compared to most people. I am spoiled and like it that way.

I have noted before that there has been a ten fold increase in the diagnosis of depression and anxiety since 1900. Maybe the times we live in now are worse than back then. From 1900 to 1950 there was WWI, the flu epidemic killed over 20 million young people, a worldwide economic collapse put some 30% of US citizens out of work.

WWII killed 50 million people and the Korean War, the cold War and international tensions between the USSR and the USA led many in America to build nuclear shelters in their back yards. Stress? You betcha.

Let's face it, world conditions are not sweet and peaceful but life is much better now than in 1900. In fact, we live twice as long now as then. The lack of resilience. People in earlier times expected times to be hard and they expected to bounce back. They "Took a licking and kept on ticking."

Here is the ART of Peaceful living.

A-Adversity is real, daily and to be expected. Adversity is not God's punishment or always my failure. Resilience is important.

R-Renew my mind. Take Pessimistic Thoughts Captive.

T-Trust God. He will care for us.

See my web page tor more materials.

Gary Sweeten

Jesus: The Great Change Agent

A powerful video of Steve Harvey introducing a change agent you can believe in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCd_ANIKys&feature=related

Gary Sweeten
www.sweetenlife.com

Go to Panera for Fellowship

Panera Bread is a great place to meet and have fellowship around the fireplace as we drink some tea or coffee and eat a sweet roll. This afternoon Karen and I went out to Milford to get the kids from school while Julie and Dave celebrated Dave's birthday.

I needed to download a patch from the Internet but I did not have the password for Dave's WI FI and I was stuck. What could I do? I was frustrated for a few minutes before I remembered that there is a new Panera Bread in Milford and I jumped into my car and drove up to seek their free WI FI connection.

I stopped in front of the store and opened up my browser and was immediately rewarded with a connection. because it took so long I had to leave and pick up Lily from school but I returned to Panera and did my computing. while there I overheard two mature males discussing the Bible and Jesus. They carried on their chatting for thirty minutes and got up to leave, when I said, "sitting by the fire and discussing the Lord is pretty sweet isn't it?"

The two men stopped and we had a great little chat although we had never met before. With believers no formal introduction is needed and we exchanged cards, blog information and web addresses. The address for the leader's church is one I suggest you look up. http://www.prodigal180.com/ tells all about their vision and it seems very good to me.

Both of these men are Seasoned Believers who have served and followed God for many years. But now they are interested in getting off the "padded pews" and into some meaningful ministry.

I am fascinated by the numerous fellowships, groups and chatting societies that gather at Panera. Maybe we need to learn from the Bread Company how to develop an attractive space for people to gather.

Gary Sweeten

http://www.sweetenlife.com/

From Russia with Love

I was in Russia for two weeks and we had a great time. I was able to sp;end a good bit of quality time with the leadership team and discuss what they see as the keys to healthy ministry. It was agreed by the whole group that learning the ABCD process of Renewed Thinking was the best thing that happened in their learning.



Now the team is responsible to carry the materials and processes to other churches and towns around Russia. In the next couple of weeks on of the men, a Pastor, will make to big trips to teach a new crop of students. Then, later, he flies to the work camp set apart for alcoholics and drug addicts. The camp is over a thousand miles from Moscow and it is filled with a combination of alcoholic boys and hard boiled criminals.



The groups being set up and supported by our friends have proven to be very powerful in rehabbing the young men struck in those camps. Now, Pastor A___ wants to set up a church just for the men who come to faith in Christ and get off drugs through the Christian groups. If you are interested in supporting Pastor A ____ let me know. His church will be designed especially for those coming out of drugs and prison.

One of the best things I saw upon landing in Copenhagen was a water fountain. Yep, a plain old water foungtain. Every drop of water drunk of used for tea in Russia must be bought. Ahhh! The simple pleasures of Denmark.

Gary Sweeten

Copenahgen, Denmark

Apples of Gold

The first book I wrote on the topic of interpersonal relationships was called Apples of Gold, the title coming from Proverbs 25:11

Like apples of gold in a silver setting

Is a word nicely said in the right circumstances

Hardly a week passes that I don't speak with someone that mentions the importance of taking the "Apples of Gold" classes. This is despite the fact that we changed the name from Apples of Gold to Listening for Heaven's Sake many years ago. Yet, in the experience and memory of people the class and book were always Apples of Gold.

That title really says it. When we examine its origins the focus is not just on listening but the importance of speaking and relating that are appropriate to the circumstance. Know what to say and when to say it are really critical to building effective relationships.

I was struck this week by how few people know how to carry on a conversation. Few of us ever have a true dialogue because our need to focus on ourselves keeps most conversations at the level of a duo-logue; two people both talking about their own ideas and interests.

A dialogue, on the other hand, takes a subject and bores down into it in order to exegete or examine the topic from a joint perspective. This requires a great deal of loving self control. Love that places the other person's need to be heard and understood is a must in a dialogue. Let's face it; most of the time I am not as interested in what others have to say as I am in what I have to say. There is a constant temptation to listen to myself whether I am adding anything to the conversation or not.

Loving self control means that I can control my own tongue in order to allow you to speak to share your insights, ideas and concerns. The fruit of the Spirit always starts with agape love and is shown in joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience and self control. A good dialogue requires these fruit to really blossom and bloom.

If all I do is talk about myself and share my insights, even as superior as they are, we shall never move deeply into the heart of any matter. This may be why that book from our early ministry was so appropriately named Apples of Gold. It is not enough to Listen, for Heaven's Sake. It is also necessary to speak in ways that the focus can stay on my partner in the dialogue.

Yes, the Listening book is better and actually teaches the same things we wrote about in Apples. However, the title is not as good.

You can order Listening for Heaven's Sake from Equipping Ministries

http://www.equippingministries.org/

Great relationships

The data are in and the results are no surprise. People are looking for great relationships in this life.

Despite the widespread disillusionment with organized religion people are flocking to people and events that promise a better "spiritual relationship". Who doesn't want and need a better relationship with God?

Divorces are happening all around us, even to people who teach and preach about the "Sanctity of marriage". How can that be and why do so many remarry almost immediately? People want a great relationship with their family.

It isn't just marriages that are failing, so are companies. We spend more time with work colleagues than we do with our spouse and kids. The stresses and strains of work and the pressures of being so different in style, personality and preferences brings on an enormous amount of conflict and loss of effectiveness at work.

The Sweeten Life Systems' tag line is "A Lifetime of Great Relationships!" Our crew is dedicated to personal growth in our relational skills so we have the ability to help you grow in your relationship with God, family, friends, co-workers and yourself. And, we know how great relationships work or conversely, do not work. It is not rocket science.