Types of Prayer

Seeking Prayer-Soaking Prayer

Dr. Francis McNutt has been a wonderful teacher and mentor for the body of Christ for some 30 years. He was the first person to teach us about the concept of soaking prayer. I have benefited from that process ever since. Dr. Maurie Loomans voiced a provocative thought about soaking prayer on January 7, 1997. Maurie said,

"Whereas Soaking Prayer calls us to focus our Calls for God's healing and delivering power to be released on a particular person or for a particular need, Seeking Prayer emphasizes the desire to only Seek God's will and presence. After He shows up we will hear and follow His voice about what to pray about and what other actions to pursue. Dr. McNutt is also a master at Seeking God's direction and teaching on Seeking Prayers.

There is a big difference between having our agenda set in a cognitive fashion and an agenda that comes from the Holy Spirit. Both can be legitimate and both can result in a dynamic prayer life. However, it seems to me that the "Spirit led times" are more effective and efficient. It also follows that those praying are more likely to follow up and act accordingly when they hear God's voice and not just the call of a human to act.

As St Paul said, "I will pray with my spirit and I will pray with my mind also. I shall sing with my spirit and sing with my mind also." ICO 14:15

When do you find yourself most open to the touch of God?

Gary Sweeten

A lifetime of great relationships with God, self and others. (SM)

Hearing God Workshop Coming Soon

A "Double Your Money Back" Guarantee!

If you don't hear the Lord speak clearly while attending the workshop on March 15 I will give you double your registration fee back!

+++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
You spoke and we listened. Our surveys said you are hungry to rest in the love of God and hear His voice. In response we are taking a Half Day on March 15 for “Talking and Listening to God”.

Forty years ago I learned how to abide in Christ and listen to the Holy Spirit through “Dialogue Prayer”. It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life and ministry.

Bring your family and friends to an experiential day of learning this simple process in the midst of a worshipping community. (Groups may wish to learn together.)

When Saturday, March 15, 9:00-12:30

WHERE Crestview Presbyterian Church

9463 Cincinnati Columbus Rd

West Chester, OH 45069513.

777.6555 (p)

Sign ups: (Seating is Limited. Register Now.)
No Fee but Registration is required: gsweeten@cinci.rr.com or 513-697-6494
Name, address, email and telephone number
Materials and Details will be sent to registrants
Worship and praise are included
A lifetime of great relationships©

DIRECTIONS
9463 Cincinnati-Columbus Road (Rt. 42),
West Chester, OH,
2 miles north of I-275

Come and touch the hem of His garment

Faith, Hope and Love

These three remain, Faith, Hope and Love and the greatest is Love. I CO 13

Is there any doubt that Senator Barack Obama is one of the most exciting candidates for office that we have ever seen? He is in my mind and I have seen and heard a lot of candidates.

It is hard for people to understand why he is so inspiring but I think it is clear. He speaks and people have hope. The winner of the election will be the person who inspires not only hope but is also able to connect with the electorate to promote faith and love. Mr. Obama has the hope but can he deliver on faith and love?

St. James said that faith without works is dead. Hope without action is also dead. However, Obama may be able to communicate all of these spiritual intangibles. We desperately need to experience faith, hope and love. The USA needs them and our world needs them. Especially we in the West need all three of St. Paul's trinitarian liturgy of faith, hope and love.

Why do we, the G 8 nations, who are so rich and so extremely successful, need to be inspired with spiritual values? Because we are so incredibly wealthy in material goods we no longer need to work long hours to get more than enough.
Wealth can lead people to a loss of appreciation for what we have.

Wealthy folk tend to develop an "Entitlement Mentality" that sees what we have been blessed with as something we deserve. Just think how many people now speak of things we once only hoped and prayed to achieve as though they were our right to automatically possess.

Perhaps the most powerful book on this topic is The Fourth Great Awakening by the Nobel Prize winning Economist Robert William Fogel. His analysis of the issues and problems we face is unique and incisive. He says we need to share our spiritual values and beliefs with others and especially the poor. And who is best able to do that? The Seasoned Citizens who have excess time, knowledge, wisdom, experience and finances.

Sweeten Life Systems is dedicated to unleashing and mobilizing Seasoned Believers so they can mentor others with spiritual, emotional, relational and family values.

You can support these efforts with prayer, finances and servant hood. Get involved. You have a lot to give.

Gary Sweeten

gsweeten@cinci.rr.com

Paula's Guess

Paula thinks the percentage of Seasoned Citizens in the Greater Cincinnati are is 67.5%. That comes out to about 1,687,500 people.

That's a lot!

Seasoned Believers All Around Us

How many people in the Greater Cincinnati Area are 45 and older? There is a total of 2,477, 826 people living in the Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana counties around the 275 Beltway.

How many do you think are Seasoned Citizens?

The person, other than Ron Tate to who compiled these data, will get a free book from Sweeten Life Systems.

Opportunities for Seasoned Citizens

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics,

16.2 percent of the work force was comprised of employees aged 55 and older in 2005;

by 2050, this number is slated to grow to almost one-fourth (23 percent)

A survey released on Sept. 25 by Monster.com found that organizations weren't adequately prepared for the impending "brain drain" brought on by employees who retire. They knew these shortages were looming, but only 23 percent had plans in place to identify the knowledge that needed to be protected.

Among other pieces of advice, the survey recommended that employers create incentives to keep their older workers around.

The shock and shame of this trend comes from the fact that if we did a survey of churches we would find that almost none of them have planned for ways to keep their Seasoned Believers and Leaders engaged in meaningful ministries. In the headlong rush to replace Elders with Younger, there is an unfortunate lack of planning on how to retain the knowledge and wisdom of those with years of experience and insight.

This is not a hidden way to keep youth from being involved. That is essential for the health of the people and the organization. We must recruit and train younger members. We must allow them to design their own programs and tend to their own needs. However, this does not mean that it is wise to have a wholesale replacement of the Elders with people who have no institutional knowledge. Nor does it make sense to completely displace the people with the most time, energy and disposable income.

It is foolish to ignore Seasoned Believers. No smart organization rejects the insight and support of an important group of "Customers". As the photo above shows, SeeBees can offer all kinds of creative and dynamic gifts and talents to a congregation. Here thaty have planned and implemented a special service at their church.

Sweeten Life Systems works with churches to develop ways all of God's children are able to worship, learn and worship as well as discover their gifts and use them for the Kingdom.

What do you think is the best way to include every age group?

Gary Sweeten

Consultant to Seasoned Believers