Missionary Funding

I am in Georgia this week attending an annual event to raise money for missions. It is part of the Assembly of God world missions' focus and they are amazingly productive in motivating churches and individuals to support missions with their offerings.

Tr-County Assembly (TCA) and Lead Pastor Brad Rosenberg are leading the pack of churches in annual giving. Pastor Brad is following in the footsteps with his father and founding Pastor Hugh Rosenberg as a trend setter in reaching the world with the good news of Christ's victory over death.

I am very impressed with the AG fervor and balance in local, national and world evangelism. they are able to continue in the tradition of an Evangelical emphasis on God's word, their own traditions of operating in the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the biblical emphasis on social and practical works in the community. And, they have a lot of fun. The joy of the Lord is definitely part of their character. Even in the midst of a genuine interest in people being saved and healed they are enjoying the blessings of salvation.

I am also learning about giving. The generosity of the AG people and their churches is astounding. The believe in supporting their missionaries and the put their money where their mouth is. The live out their convictions and that is more than I can say for many denominations.

I hope I can learn how to be more generous and how to challenge Christians to give with a cheerful heart to spread the gospel far and wide.

Sin and Cold Weather Deaths

I have been posting on the topic of sin. I trust you will remember that my definition of "SIN" or the "Fallen Nature" includes all the traumatic issues that occur in nature. The tsunami a few years ago was the result of an earthquake that reminded us of just how fragile and broken "Mother Earth" really is. In my thought, this is evidence of the Fall. As scripture says, "Thorns and thistles cover the ground". When sin entered the earth the perfect, peaceful and life giving earth was changed into a place of trauma, death and destruction.

Here is the latest evidence.

In Ukraine 27 people have frozen to death since the thermometer dropped last week. Authorities in Romania said 11 people had succumbed to the chill, and in the Czech Republic the toll was 12.

In Russia and Ukraine and other Eastern European countries alcoholism is rampant. The ministry of our friends there does everything possible to take the gospel of Christ and His healing love to those nations and those people. Only the gospel widely preached and practiced will set them free from addictions.

Many of these deaths are the result of drunkenness. Sober people rarely fall into the cold snows and die from exposure. The people there were deeply wounded by Socialism and alcohol is a way to dull the pain. Pray for Liferoute.com and the team of courageous Christian's who are raisin g up an army of love, truth and power.

Jesus came to rid the world of sin. His birth reminds us that we can live free and enjoy His healing in our daily lives. Why live as though Jesus never came to earth to set us free? Accept your freedom and your place in the kingdom of God.

Jesus heals the broken hearted and sets the captives free."

Russia is Progressing

I called Galina a few days ago to wish her a very happy birthday. She had just returned from the graduation ceremony for the school Liferoute has set up to train Peer Helpers for the Christian Community.

The school is called, "School for the Care and Cure of Souls and this is the Module for teaching Power Thinking or how to renew the mind according to the scripture.

Galina was feeling great because the students showed such high retention and application of knowledge and skills. Let's face it; the Bolsheviks left Russia in a terrible state of irrational thinking. The Communists filled the heads and hearts of the people from childhood onward with lies, myths, misunderstandings, fears and reactivity that it will very likely take generations for the culture to recover.

The Liferoute School for the Care and Cure of Souls will serve as a beacon of light in an otherwise dreary and hopeless culture. Pray for Galina, her team and the wonderful Russian people. Pray also about ways you can support the Liferoute Ministry.

Friends

I mentioned in my last post about the volunteer team here in Russia. They work so hard and face so many barriers that I am amazed at their courage and perseverance.

One Pastor travels for 75 miles each way to lead the groups in Moscow. He and others get there early to clean up, set up food and drinks and even put light bulbs in so we can see. They take them out after the groups or they will be stolen. They bring toilet paper, towels, bread, meat, tea, coffee, etc. They actually have to make the place work every time.

Pray for space that is theirs.

Why Minister Internationally?

I have been traveling a lot over the past 15-20 years and some of my friends and church supporters are not very happy about it. They ask a lot of questions indicating that they are somehow slightly or greatly aggrieved that I spend so much time helping people other than Americans.

"Why are you doing this, Gary? Aren't the problems and concerns in America worthy of your best efforts?" It sometimes feels like sibling rivalry. The same issues that roiled the Smothers Brothers who made millions saying, "Mom always loved you best."

I do love my brothers and sisters in Singapore, China, Scandinavia and Russia. But, warm, caring feelings are not enough to cause me to fly in a seat half the size of my backside to stay in cramped quarters and work all day and all night. (Nor is it the glamour or being an "international minister".)

It was the call of God that originally got me on those airplanes and it is the confirmation of the Spirit that keeps me going. The Lord has confirmed my call by showing me the critical importance of having American Christians involved in the spiritual, social and economic growth of the developing world. Unless you live in a cave it is obvious that many citizens around the world are very reactive to U.S. foreign policies. However, once they get to know us a Christians and humans the people tend to like Americans.

I leave Tuesday for Russia and Denmark for two weeks. I need your prayers and your financial support. There is tremendous warfare raging in Russia that tears at the souls of Russian Christians. It is very expensive to live in Russia and the costs for Believers and churches is even higher emotionally and financially.

Sweeten Life Systems does its best to support the work but rent, travel costs to the various Russian cities and daily living is difficult so those who volunteer must give up jobs to serve Christ. We are trying to raise funds to provide small stipends and grants for the teachers. They appreciate all we do.

The only hope for peace, security and economic stability is God and we are supporting our Russian friends as they trust God in their desperate circumstances. Help us help them.

Sweeten Life Systems

P.O. Box 498455
Cincinnati 45249

What's Going On?

Human Resources for Good

Many of you may wonder why I have photos of books on my blog. Here is the reason. Each of them represents an issue that I find important.

The Fourth Great Awakening was written by Robert Fogel who contends that we are now in the midst of a giant spiritual event. Dr. Fogel won the Nobel Prize for his ideas about the economic and political impact of revivals and awakenings yet most of us have never heard of him.

Fogel indicates that the First Great Awakening resulted in the American Revolution; the second in the Emancipation of Slaves and the third in the United States Government's adopting many social safety nets. In the past an awakening was focused on distributing economic and political resources to those previously left out of the main stream. The Fourth s different.

The current situation in Europe and America finds us with many needs but most are not economic or political since we have achieved equal opportunities for all our citizens in those two areas. However, there is one huge arena where resources are not distributed equally. That is in the spiritual or non-material realm.

Fogel says the issues and concerns of this Awakening are the corruption of materialist ideas, the rise of a pro life ethic, interest in values to school curricula, a re-emphasis upon personal morality and values, strengthening family life, etc. All of these we are seeing played out today in our personal, social and political lives. There is a concern about the bureaucratic nature of government systems and the need to return to personal responsibility.

Fogel indicates that the Fourth Great Awakening began with the Sixties Jesus Revolution and will continue as those men and women grow and mature and are mobilized into social and spiritual action. This is one of the reasons I am mobilizing Seasoned Believers to get involved in the issues of today.



Here we are at the intersection of one of the greatest spiritual moments in history. Now what will we do with it? Contact me if you are interested in discussing your role in the Fourth Great Awakening. Maybe you can be a Paul Revere whose primary role was to ride all over the New England area warning the residents that, "The Redcoats are coming!"

Maybe you will preach about spiritual issues or take a role in helping families live bette rlives with God. God has prepared His people for just such a time in history. Let's roll!

Support us at:

Gary Sweeten

Sweeten Life Systems

P.O. Box 498455

Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

gary@sweetenlife.com

Pray for Christians in Indonesia

It is frightening for Christians in Asia to see the rising attacks against them and their children. Historically places like Indonesia have been rather tolerant about minority groups such as Christians. Recently however, hate filled groups in that largest Muslim nation in the world have become filled with rage and threats.

A recent story on Fox News tells how the students and teachers in one school have been forced to leave the school grounds because of threats of violence.

Several years ago I was in Singapore to teach. At the Hotel Asia where I stayed I met a man of about fifty at breakfast and we chatted for awhile. I assumed he was a Muslim but in a very short while he said, "I saw you praying over your food and decided to come over to talk. I am a Christian and want to have some fellowship while I am in Singapore."

He related how a group of vigilante Muslims had attacked his home kampung or village and he and the others had barely escaped into the jungle. According to this man it was getting more dangerous by the day for children to attend Christian schools and go to church buildings. He asked for our prayers.

The rising intimidation of radical Muslims around the world is also affecting Western nations. Muslims are scaring many leaders into submission in Europe and allowing them to get away with crimes of intimidation against lapsed Muslims and other "infidels".

Pray for these Muslims to meet Christ and follow the Prince of Peace rather than Mohamed the Warrior.

Call From Russia

I spent an hour last night on the phone with Galina, a friend in Moscow. Galina is a Christian Psychiatrist and Psychologist. I met her in 1992 and invited her to come to Cincinnati to study our approach to the healing and growth in the church. She is a brilliant and dedicated Believer who has dedicated her life to helping the poor and needy break the cycle of destruction.

She heads a team of dynamic Believers who are training Christians in churches and para-church ministries all over the former USSR. The work they are doing to "Heal the broken hearted and set the captives free" as it says in IS 61, is remarkable and unique.

As you know, Russia has declared war on the former satellite of Georgia and that is causing great pain and anxiety among the people of both nations. I am planning to travel to Moscow in October to continue training the leaders so they can train more people "How to fish".

Please pray for the Liferoute Team and for my trip. Whether the Russians will allow me to reenter that country or not is questionable.

Pray for our finances. This trip will be very expensive because flights are costing more and hotels are some of the highest in the world. You may donate to Sweeten Life Systems by sending it to P.O. Box 498455, Cincinnati, 45249.

For Such a Time as This

George Whitfield First Great Awakening & Mother Teresa-International Heroine in the Fourth Great Awakening

When Believers are in the midst of a revival, a reformation or an awakening they often miss it. One reason is that humans get so caught up in the affairs of daily life that they miss God’s Spirit moving. It is easy to get confused about when God is on the march when we do not see any evidence of revival in the culture. We are surrounded by so much junk in the media and so much trauma in society that it appears as if God's Spirit has been removed from our country.

But make no mistake about it, God is moving in a big way. In my view, He has a plan to make some great changes. In fact, revivals and awakenings are all about change so conflict rather than peace is the hall mark of the Spirit. Think back about the stories in the Bible. Every time God was about to make a big move we hear about the debauchery and evil in the society.

I am sure you remember the stories about the conflict between David and King Saul. David was chosen and anointed by God to be the future King of Israel. This made the current King Saul very jealous. The result was an all out war by Saul and his troops on God's anointed successor. They were out to murder him.

The times were desperate. It looked pretty grim for David. We know how the story ends but David and his friends did not know the final chapter during those terrible times. David had no army to fight against the overwhelming odds of Saul’s mighty army but he believed God's word and set out to fight Saul.

David was able to recruit some mighty warriors to fight with him. In I Chron 12:32 we can read how one group called, "The men of Issachar" threw their lot in with the future King. They took a huge risk. Had they lost the fight, everyone who supported David would have been killed.

Why would they take such a risk? A verse in I Chronicles tells us why.

"The men of Issachar were people who understood the times and knew what Israel should do." This is what is always needed for God's people to succeed. They must understand the times and the seasons. They need discernment. God inspires those people we call entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs understand the times and know what it is that the church should do. They know what to do and how to do it at the right time in the right way. Now is the right time for Seasoned Believers to rise up and change the world. We live in a unique time with unique opportunities to make a difference in media, politics, business, education, family life, medicine and the arts.

There are millions of Seasoned Believers who are followers of Christ and filled with His Spirit. These men and women are wise in their professions and skilled in the Word of God. All they need is an opportunity to join with other like minded Believers and release their talents and gifts.

See my web page for more information.

http://www.sweetenlife.com/

My Anniversary

It was fifty years ago this month when I had a life changing experience with God. There I was, Jonah like in a car trying to outrun God and the revival meeting at the little Baptist Church in my home town of Ina, Illinois. But I failed. Nobody can outrun God's Spirit.

Where can I go from your Spirit...? Nowhere.

Ten years before I had come to Christ but the intervening years had taken a toll on my walk with the Lord. My Grand Dad Taylor with whom I was very close, had passed away and I was lost in a jumble of fears, anger and rebellion.

Pastor Fred Boatright was holding a revival at our church and everyone was praying for me so I decided to "Get out of Dodge" and escape the pull of God's conviction and love. But I could not escape. God had a plan for me and He pursued me to accomplish that end.

Many years ago a homeless man in London took to writing poetry and leaving it under the door of a newspaper writer. The poetry was so good that the paper decided to hunt the author down. Much to their surprise they found him to be an alcoholic who lived under a bridge. He wrote the following words.

The Hound of Heaven
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat -- and a voice beat
More instant than the Feet --
"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."

I pleaded, outlaw-wise,
By many a hearted casement, curtained red,
Trellised with intertwining charities;
(For, though I knew His love Who followèd,
Yet was I sore adread
Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside.)

The final verse:

Now of that long pursuit
Comes on at hand the bruit ;
That Voice is round me like a bursting sea :
"And is thy earth so marred,
Shattered in shard on shard ?
Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest me !
"Strange, piteous, futile thing !
Wherefore should any set thee love apart ?
Seeing none but I makes much of naught" (He said),
"And human love needs human meriting :
How hast thou merited --
Of all man's clotted clay the dingiest clot ?
Alack, thou knowest not
How little worthy of any love thou art !
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save Me, save only Me ?
All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home :
Rise, clasp My hand, and come !"
Halts by me that footfall :
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly ?
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest !
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest me."
Anon

Despite the old English this poem indicates much of my journey. God sent a wild sea to tame a rebellious Jonah. He sent jealous brothers to bring Joseph to maturity. He caught me while driving a 57 Ford to a night of gambling and drinking. That was almost exactly fifty years ago and I am so thankful He would not let me go.

Is The Church Dead in America?

A lot of people are pessimistic about the church of Jesus surviving. I am concerned about the state of Christian leadership in America but frankly I am not too worried about the church.

Oh, yeah, I agree that the church as we have known it for the past few centuries will not likely survive. However, that might be great for spiritual growth.

I don't see very many Christian leaders who really want to lead. Oh, I see a lot of people who want folks to conform to their programs and preaching but not many really want folks to get fired up, get on board with Jesus and get going into the world to make a difference.

What is it about Christians that they are ferociously into control? Why do so many leaders complain about the lack of motivation among their members? I learned from Steve Griebling the truth that everyone is motivated. But, they are not very motivated to do what we want. This makes preachers pretty uncomfortable because they have a wonderful plan for others.

When I was assigned to oversee the small groups at College Hill Church I jumped at the opportunity. I had a wonderful plan for how the groups needed to operate and what they should do. I quickly discovered that certain groups had been going for years and they had no intention of changing just because I came on staff. These people told me in no uncertain terms that they liked what they were already doing and had every intention to stay the course.

The church women had run "circles" for a long time and they liked them just the way they were. This was my baptism into church power structures. I learned from these people a very, very important lesson. Here it is. "If it ain't broke, don't change it!"

I suddenly became a great and successful ministry leader. I stumbled into what was working and I affirmed it and blessed it and marketed it. I blew the horn for women's circles and all kinds of small groups that were considered old fashioned and out of tune by "the experts". I mentioned them in the announcements, listed them in the bulletins and wrote glowing reports for the annual meetings.

The experts were missing what their "customers" wanted and I was forced to acknowledge that these men and women actually loved their old fashioned styles and were learning to follow Jesus more fervently be being in them. And, over time some of them caught the wave of innovation and tried some of my new ideas.

Find what works and affirm it.
Find what is broke and fix it.
Find people that want to do things and support them.

God is at work and He has given us the church but it has many forms. Get fired up and get going.

Comments or brick bats?

Need a coach? Call me! 513-697-6494