Healing Power of Forgiveness

There was a great program on CSPAN Today about Forgiveness. Sally Quinn was the moderator and the panel consisted of Martin,Doblmeier, Filmmaker
Thomas Moore, Author, Kenneth Briggs, Author

It was a Forum on The Power of Forgiveness sponsored by the Fetzer Institute Washington, District of Columbia (United States) ID: 202144 - 03/12/2008 - 1:55 - $29.95 View in Video Library

Kenneth Briggs talked about his book The Power of Forgiveness, published by Fortress Press. The book examines the idea of forgiveness in overcoming personal, national, and international struggles.

The book includes interviews with Elie Wiesel, Sister Helen Prejean, and others and contributions from other writers. It is based on a documentary film by Martin Doblmeier. Mr. Briggs was joined in a panel discussion at this event at the National Press Club to launch the book. It is part of the Fetzer Institute Campaign for Love and Forgiveness

http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/cspan.csp?command=dprogram&record=558860299

Jeremiah Wright and Liberation Theology

Easter is all about liberation. The biblical theology of liberation is a focus on bad people receiving forgiveness and a new start. Unfortunately, left wing liberals have changed the meaning completely.

Jeremiah Wright preaches , division, racial distrust and bitterness along with refusal to forgive. As a result, he is considered to be a scholar among the liberals.

While agonizing on the cross Jesus asked God to forgive the people who betrayed him. They did not deserve it or earn it. They did not even ask for it. Despite all the barriers Jesus asked God to forgive them.

I can understand as a human being why Dr. Wright would hold a grudge but I cannot understand why a minister of the good news would preach such a distorted message. Some say it is because he is a "Prophet". In my view, a Prophet's message is a call to righteousness, peace and forgiveness. Wright's message is the opposite and it has set back racial relationships 100 years.
Wright is wrong! His message is an unbiblical cal to bitterness and vengeance. Thankfully, we Evangelicals are preaching peace and love to all people, even Rev. Wrong.

So, here is the real prophetic message. Love one another as God in Christ has loved you.

hearing God

For the readers who come to this blog regularly I suggest that you also try my Seasoned Believer Blog. I am writing on "hearing God" at this time.

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http://seasonedbelievers.blogspot.com/

Blessings,

Gary Sweeten

gsweeten@cinci.rr.com

Forgiveness and Healing

Is it possible for us to be healed of our mental, emotional and physical ailments and still hang on to bitterness and unforgiveness?



As a therapist I say "NO!"
As a Christian Minister I say, "NO, NO, NO!"

Muslim fanatics are models of what happens when there is no forgiveness and no mercy or grace.

Unforgiveness or bitterness means that I harbor a desire for revenge. I want the person who harmed me to suffer. That is natural and normal but Jesus died so we could live super-natural and above normal lives.

Forgiveness does not mean we must immediately feel differently about the harm done to us. Hurt feelings are different from harboring vengeful ideas and doing vengeful acts. Our emotional feelings can catch up with the spiritual act of forgiving. Forgiveness is an act of the will. It is a decision. Feelings follow decisions not the other way around.

Gary Sweeten
Sweeten Life Systems
A 501c3 non profit charity

Peace with All

It is a great time to listen to the rants of Jeremiah Write and James Cone. Their bitterness and rage at Whites and the American government is deep within them and they have obviously missed the message of Easter. Easter celebrates forgiveness and peace as opposed to anger, bitterness and anxiety.





I seriously doubt that any of my readers will let these two "Ministers of the good news" know that I am offering them release and the way of forgiveness. But it is not my purpose to share the good news to them but to others who might have missed the liberating message of new life and new joy by listening to hate mongers like the two men mentioned above.


As Hebrews 12 says, "Be at peace with all and the sanctification without which we cannot experience God. Beware lest any of you miss the message of grace and allow a root of toxic bitterness grow up and defile many generations."

Those who grew up hating African Americans, White people, Japanese, Germans or the Hatfields and McCoys need to hear that release and healing is possible this Easter. Peace is possible if we take the gift of God's grace and allow the Spirit to free us.


Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us how to forgive and live in peace. Today is the day of salvation. I wish the James Cone, one of the creators of what is wrongly called, "Black Liberation Theology" would follow King instead of Marx and preach peace instead of war.


It is not easy to forgive but it is possible and it will heal what ails us. I was deeply wounded by friends not long ago and it took some time for me to let go of the bitterness. I was finally able to do so through the Holy Spirit and now I can pray the Lord's Prayer with freedom. PTL!



Gary Sweeten
Sweeten Life Systems

Black Liberation Theology by James Cone

Obama's Pastor follows Cone in theology. Read what they believe.

Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community. . . .

Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love. James Cone

Cone believes that God is to be made in the image of man.
I believe that man has been created in the image of God.

Not For Profits

He Re Fired!

Do you wonder why many business and educational executives are switching careers to get involved in non-profit-charities? Or, do you wonder which is easier to lead? I have the answers.

First, I left a career as a university administrator to do ministry. I have a Master's Degree in Higher Education and a Doctorate in Counseling. Yet, I was drawn by the Lord to use my training and skills to lead a church and other charitable organizations.

Like many executives, however, I am always on the lookout for business opportunities to make money and help people get work. In 1989 we established a Professional Counseling Clinic and In Patient Psychiatric Hospital. It was a ministry and a a professional career. In 1994, after heart problems surfaced, I retired to go back to ministry.

I can tell you for certain that leading non-profits is harder than heading a profit organization. Here are more stories from executives who decided they needed to use their talents and training to help charities. Many find it a real challenge.

Testimonies from The Chronicle of Philanthropy

While charities often try to lure executives from the business world, some former corporate executives are finding themselves drawn to nonprofit work — though there are some bumps along the way, reports The Financial Times.
Connie Duckworth, a retired advisory director at Goldman Sachs, founded Arzu Rugs, a nonprofit group that helps Afghan women sell the rugs they weave, after a visit to Afghanistan.

Kelly Fiore, who worked for Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs, left the business world and created Charity Folks, an online marketplace that auctions items and events donated by public figures; though it is a business, 80 percent of donations go to charity, the newspaper reports.

“I loved the intellectual challenge, and both organizations were phenomenal to work for from a career-development standpoint,” Ms. Fiore says. “But I started wondering what I was doing every day and what effect I was having on the world.”

Business people who make the transition to nonprofit work face several hurdles: the lack of technology and other support, lower pay, and cultural differences between business and charity, for example. But executives can also contribute their business skills to nonprofit management.

John Wood, who left Microsoft to start Room to Read, a group that supports literacy and education in several countries, says: “I tell our team that we want to run Room to Read with the compassion of Mother Teresa but the focus and tenacity of a blue-chip company.”

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Because the USA is growing retired Executives and Retired Workers faster than we are growing Kudzu, it is important that most folk not Retire but Re fire!

Before you build that over sized mansion on the 18Th hole, think about networking with other Seasoned Believers to find ministry opportunities and stay alive spiritually, emotionally and physically. People who work and volunteer live longer, happier and healthier lives. What is so bad about that???

Contact Sweeten Life Systems

P.O. Box 498455

Cincinnati, Ohio 45249